mewzak: Filter's in Texas. Still counting down to the album!

Filter is currently in Texas playing some gigs this week and into the weekend. I'm hoping for some live videos to be posted but haven't found any yet! But here are some other tidbits to share in the meantime.

Here's an awesome fan review done by Jason "Tatty" Tatman:

Read it on facebook

Hey now FILTER fans!

We are now officially a month away from the release of FILTER's highly anticipated 5th studio release, The Trouble with Angels! As most of you know reviews have been popping up online and if you've been reading them, they have all been extremely positive! I am known around most parts as Tatty, from good ol Bardstown, KY. I have been an avid fan of FILTER since their start in early 1995, and a friend of Richard Patrick's throughout the years. I luckily have seen FILTER in concert 20+ times spanning each tour over the last 15 years. You could say I am FILTER’s #1 fan of all time ;) I'm not afraid to say that I am - hey ohh!

I have been given the pleasure of listening to The Trouble with Angels in advance and thought you all may like to have the die-hard FAN perspective of this unbelievable FILTER album. I haven't just listened to it once, no no, I've listened to it many times now - daily... not by choice either, I just can't stop listening. I must say to you all that it is absolutely genius from start to finish. Rich has been quoted saying he spent a lot of time listening to Short Bus and Title of Record prior to the creation of this album to get back to his roots. Well I'm here to tell you that he has done it people, TEN-fold! He’s even brought the symbol used on Short Bus (which he refers to as the ‘zoom-zoom’) back to the cover of The Trouble with Angels! Talk about awesome!!! That should say something right from the start folks.

When I listen to Angels it sounds as if all the music from every album prior has been put it into a blender, poured into a glass and served with a huge grin! It is loud, artistic, powerful, in your face, honest, original, melodic, never boring, and FILTER at its best! I guarantee that being a FILTER fan you will LOVE it in every way, and have a very hard time:

A) Making it to the next song without starting the one you're on over first

B) Not wondering over and over 'How the hell can this guy be so freaking talented?'

C) Taking this CD out of your player once you've put it in

Now like I said, I have been an avid fan of FILTER from the very beginning so what I just stated should say a lot about Angels my friends. Richard's vocals are better than ever. The man is a freak of nature, belting out his signature screams and singing unbelievably. For a man who's been screaming the way he has over the years, his voice hasn't changed a bit (if anything, it has for the better). I don't just say this to kiss ass or brown nose or anything of the sort. My opinion of this album is absolute truth, and I wanted to pass my first impressions on to you all! I'm good like that \m/

So let’s start – I am guessing most all of you have listened to song #1 already, ‘The Inevitable Relapse,’ which is also the first single. Quiet at first with Rich singing softly underneath a low bass line, typical FILTER, and then BAM – Rich is off screaming ‘I’LL GIVE YOU SOMETHING THAT YOU’RE WAITING TO SEE!!!’ A perfect start to this mind blowing album. To me with this line he’s not only getting a point out about this song, but also making a statement to anyone who’s criticized his past couple albums as being softer than usual that he’s back and better than ever. The song is intense and raw, telling a tale of self destruction and the light at the end of the tunnel. Awesome right off the bat!

From here we’re taken to track #2, ‘Drug Boy,’ a song originally written for 2002’s The Amalgamut. I heard the rough version of this back then (at the time called Indulgence, no words to it just music) and it was bad ass then, but he has really beefed it up since and brought it to life! It takes you on a journey through his memories when he was younger, running around and being a hooligan like most of us have in our hay days. Very loud, dark, extreme, and sounding like the FILTER we all know and love! There's even shades of organs in it at times. Incredible!

Alright, now on to track #3 – ‘Absentee Father.’ Hold on tight! This is one of my personal favorites off the whole album. It starts off with Richie’s trademark scream – YEEEEAAAAAHHHHH!!!!! Then BOOM, we’re off - like a roller coaster going 90 mph down a hill through twists, loops and turns heads banging the whole way! This song is like a mix of every FILTER song put together into one. From start to finish it is extraordinary, very original, and sets the mood for the album very well. It seems to be a tale of Jesus not speaking back to our world when we’re so desperate for him at this point in time. Very very awesome..

Okay, let’s move to ‘No Love,’ track #4. Banging drums boom in sync while the sound of guitar feedback is heard in the background, until it breaks into one of the coolest & hardest starts to any FILTER song. By this point in the album your neck will probably be sore already from all the head banging you’ve been doing thus far, so be careful... The song breaks away from its heaviness at times into a great groove of bass, drums and guitar harmonics while Rich sings about love being lost twenty years ago. If I were to guess, he may be contemplating his current feelings in regards to a past friendship he had with a certain other artist he used to be in a band with. Just a guess, I could be wrong – so don’t take my word for it. This is a terrific song that keeps its strength and pace from start to finish – again, very original and very FILTER! Unlike the song’s title, you will find much love in it.

Time for what some of the reviewers have been calling the album’s ballad, song #5 ‘No Re-Entry.’ I call it an awesome mind trip of a song. Hard to decipher who or what he’s trying to get his point across to in this one, I’ll leave that to you all, but it is an incredibly beautiful song. The vocals are powerful throughout, especially in the chorus when he screams out with amazing strength:

‘They put the pages back in your bruised book!!

They put the pages back with rusty hooks!!!!’

You won’t believe your ears, it’s simply beyond words. It is layered with excellent guitars, bass, drums, and organs. There’s even a keyboard or guitar solo in the middle that is out of this world. A lot of you will probably find this to be your favorite, especially the ladies out there ;)

‘Down with Me’ starts off right away with pure FILTER power, and then takes you on a nice mellow ride before throwing you 100 yards into the air in the middle of the song and towards the end. The chorus is very catchy, it’s sure to stay with you. ‘Catch a Falling Knife’ has all the traditional FILTER elements from Short Bus and Title of Record. This song is, just like every other song on the album, bad-ass. Rich has stated this is a tribute to Jaycee Dugard, the girl who was kidnapped in 1991 and found alive with her capture 18 years later. A very emotional & powerful song.

The title song ‘The Trouble with Angels,’ is like all the other epic songs in every way. He contemplates faith, and questions the horrific crimes and sins priests commit against those who seek their guidance for hope and eternal life after death. The music fits exactly with the message of not only the song but the whole album. Perfect for the title track! ‘Clouds’ is the second to last track, a very great song. I love it all the way through. The sound is different in a way, beautiful and trippy. Not too heavy, not too light and Rich sings along with it perfectly. You just might feel like you’re flying through the clouds when listening to it. Last but not least is the acoustic remake of the song FILTER originally made for the movie 2012 soundtrack ‘Fades Like a Photograph.’ I think it’s a definite solid ending. Re-recorded just for this album, piano has been added and the acoustic direction was an excellent way to go with this song. You all are going to love this version, but want a lot more once it’s over. Luckily you can hit replay and listen to the album all over again as many times as you want. I guarantee you will for days, weeks, months and years! This is sure to be considered by most the best rock album of the year!

Well, there you have it! Tatty’s take on FILTER’s ‘The Trouble with Angels.’ I expect great things for FILTER in the coming months after the release of this brilliant album. Before I listened to this, my favorite FILTER CDs were, in this order:

1. Short Bus

2. Title of Record

3. The Amalgamut

4. Anthems for the Damned

Now my new list of favorites are, in this order of course:

1. The Trouble with Angels

2. Short Bus

3. Title of Record

4. The Amalgamut

5. Anthems for the Damned

Yes it is that good people - count down the days my friends! FILTER is back with a vengeance, and better than EVER!!! I cannot wait to see them on this tour and hear the new songs played live along with all the other epic excellent classics as well. Now backed by the awesome guitarist Rob Patterson, kick ass bassist Phil Buckman, and the tried and true unbelievable drummer Mike Fineo, they are sure to rock harder than anyone else you will see on tour this year! FILTER to me is the best, most original rock band out there now-a-days. Rich has a style and talent that compares to no other. His originality and honesty in his music matches no other band on the market. He’s made it to Album #5 now, which is a milestone in this day and age. Let’s all give this man a huge round of applause for all he’s accomplished in the amazing life he’s lived, for keeping FILTER alive for us – his fans, and also for making another one of the best rock albums ever – ‘The Trouble with Angels!!!!’ Thank you Rich - Job VERY well done my friend! ;)

- Jason ‘Tatty’ Tatman

FILTER

The Trouble with Angels – available to all August 17, 2010

Label: Rocket Science Ventures

Tatty’s Rating: \m/ \m/ \m/ \m/ \m/ (out of 5)

Here are some more older pics: