COLUMBINE.

Before I get into the details of this band, I first have to tell you a shocking and horrifying story. I think there are many people out there who can share in this experience with me as it is my firm belief that there is one out of every bunch (you'll get what I mean in a second). So this kid I went to school with... crazy as hell, always doing the most random shit. He would show up everyday in a different costume, go to the gym as a gorilla on occasion, jumped off buildings into pools (which I guess isn't that crazy)... but to put it in short, he did so much crazy shit that eventually we started calling him "Crazy James." It just fit. At one point him and I actually discussed going to prom together, only I would wear a tux and he a dress. But that never panned out (neither here nor there). Anyways, so I haven't seen or spoken to this kid in about 6 months or so. He started biking across America with very little money in his pocket as some sort of exhibit of peace (don't ask me, I have no idea). Well I was frigen flipping through the tv channels the other night, and there he was on Big Brother. And at first I was like holy shit, how the hell did that happen. But then I realized, it's James... is there anything he couldn't do? Or wouldn't do for that matter? Ok well not a week later my little sis sends me this link; I unsuspectingly clicked. It was James, with his unit in some other guy's mouth. Gay porn. Well I never. I have nothing against homosexuality, by all means, do what you do. But the shit was just shocking. You think you know someone and then you see them doing gay porn. I guess he really is capable of anything... forever living up to the name of Crazy James. And the whole porn thing, well whatever, there is one out of every highschool's graduating class I'm sure, except for that small ass town in the middle of nowhere in North Dakota. But I could be wrong.

Sorry I had to release my shock to someone.

Anyways... so yea COLUMBINE. Gothic industrial pretty much sums it up. Don't ask me but personally I find something sexy in the oddities of a boy who chooses to wear tight pants, 8 inch high boots, and paints his face white. I think it all leads back to my curiosity with the singer of Orgy and his sexual allure. But whatever. Who cares about my crazy interests. Anyways, their music is amazing. Super deviant and heavy. If you are not into electro this is definitely not your deal. However, if you find yourself a fan of Aphex Twin, this might be down your ally.

The boys are a duet and currently unsigned. A little voice inside of me tells me they probably don't want to be signed (or it could be the fact that under the Music Label section it says "no one owns us"... either way). The vibe of "fuck society" is prevelant in almost everything about them. So... if you are dark, enjoy crazy gothic sex deviant electro music, and are truly open minded to good music... check them out. I was certainly taken.

Rilian

Ok so I have never been a big fan of Christian music. Don't get me wrong, I am a born and raised Catholic, but there is something that gets me about people trying to push their religion on me... and that's what I feel like it does sometimes. It's good in church, or maybe to listen in your own personal time, but I have never been crazy about the idea of it becoming mass distributed. However, there are situations where it has done well for itself... but I feel only because the lyrics can be tied to other life situations outside of Christianity. For instance, P.O.D., big time Christian band, but when you read some of their lyrics, it's not Jesus this and God save me that... I feel it to be better that way. Someone's relationship with God is a personal thing, but to make it easy for people of other religions to listen to... it has to have some other appeal.

Anyhow, now that I've dropped some antics on you, I am about to drop a Christian band right on top of that. Knowing what you know now about my skepticism for Christian music, you can easily understand why I wouldn't recommend just any Christian band. Only something that would have a mass appeal, and seems to keep that relationship on a more personal level instead of pushing it on everyone else.

The name of the band is Rilian. It's primarily one extremely talented guy with the help of a couple others. I am not sure what the band's standing is at the current time; to me it seems this guy (Jared) has a lot to say about his life choices and is over-flowing with emotion in an artistic manner... so he is letting it out, but I don't know what his plans are as far as finding some permenant band members. It says on his MySpace that he took part in developing Anberlin and you can definitely hear much of that in his current music production through some of the breakdowns and a lot of the vocals. Listen to "Love Song." It is amazing, one of the best songs I've introduced my ears to this year. If this band finds some stable ground, I think Jared and whoever he finds to make final home of Rilian would definitely have a great future in the industry.

Anyways, as always I encourage you to take a listen. Click on the name of the band and it will take you to their homepage. If you enjoy a bit of indie/alternative, this ought to tickle your fancy. Enjoy :-)