Music Junk Selection #4: Injected

INJECTED – BURN IT BLACK

     Next on the docket as Music Junk approved is the band Injected and their only major label release from 2002, “Burn It Black.”

                                                             GENRE: Rock

                                                             SUB-GENRE: Gun Metal

                                                             MEMBERS: Danny Grady, Jade Lemons, Steve Slovisky, 
                                                                                   Chris Wojtal

     This one may rub a few people the wrong way, but maybe not… but it probably will, and I’m okay with that… I think.  Anyway!  If I could describe Injected in one concise sentence it would be this: Injected is a brutally tight, heavy rock gathering that brings new interest to a genre that is typically saturated with douche lead singers wearing flat billed baseball caps.  I could really go on railing on that kind of music (and I want to sooo badly), but I'm going to move on and focus on what THIS band had done right.  In comparison to the other bands performing this kind of heavy rock, there was something about Injected that seemed much more genuine and it's hard to put my finger on it, but I'm going to try.  It never felt like they were trying too hard to sound badass or cool, but more like this sound was just a part of them and that it was inevitably going to come out if they picked up instruments.

     They seemed to have an outlook on their music that cared about dynamic, that brought the volume down and then exploded right at the moment you wanted that you didn’t know you wanted.  An outlook that relied on stomping, aggressive, yet interesting rhythms within their riffs.  Killer on all accounts.  Injected was an incredibly refreshing group considering the kind of music they played that sadly released only one album on a major label in the early 2000s and disbanded from a series of band and label complications before officially releasing anymore material.

     Now let's get specific.  What makes these guys different from other bands in this genre?  The most notable quality would be the singer, Danny Grady, and his unique delivery.  You can probably hear the sound of the singer from bands like Five Finger Death Punch, Volbeat, or Slipknot in your head just thinking about this genre of rock.  That frat-boy “rocker” sound, and it’s not a good one.  Danny is not like these gentlemen.  Instead, his voice is the perfect mix of control and lack of control.  Like a graceful drunken stumble.  A voice that finally compliments this style of music instead of sounding forced or instantly shallow.  A very rare sound for a rock group; so rare that I’m not sure I can point to another band that sounds quite like it.  Aside from Danny, their riffery is solid as mentioned before and their drummer, Chris Wojtal, understood where the bass kicks needed to be in relation to the riff to make the most of it.  This genre is the fast food of music, but this is the best, greasiest burger you’ve ever had.  So tasty.

The first track on the album is “When She Comes” and it gives the listener only a moment to prepare themselves before a satisfyingly heavy riff comes in and immediately induces head bobbing.  Definitely a contender for my favorite opening track to an album.

                                                              WHEN SHE COMES

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QWJEHtS2R2I

The next track “Used Up” is another great riff that never lets up on the rhythmic hits.  The vocals build in all the right places and that sense of build is magnified in the chorus when the vocals split, one descending and the other ascending.  But likely my favorite part of the song is the one menacing chord that is struck right before the pre-chorus.

                                                              USED UP

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U6xDlws8V5E

The last track I would like to show would be “Blood Stained Glass” and despite its title it isn’t as heavy as the others; a little more subtle.  The guitar takes an interesting direction and the solos are a weird mix of melodic, syncopated, and edgy, but it works.  Danny sings fairly dialed back for a good portion of the song and then let’s you have it when you need it.

                                                              BLOOD STAINED GLASS

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=19oRA77pLZM

To do the brief version, these are the qualities that make Burn It Black a solid album:

1. Rhythmically Interesting Riffs

2. Unique & Genuine Sounding Vocals

3. Brutally Heavy Guitar Sound

4. Punches It When It Needs Punched

5. Drums & Guitar Are Perfect Compliments

Injected had independently released an album (Hammered & Enamored) when they were all just kids back in 1995 and there isn't too much of a reason to find it, but they did have all of the material that was set to be on their next record (The Truth About You) leaked online which has a good portion of enjoyable stuff.  I will likely be uploading that music on my Youtube channel so you can listen to it there.  Aside from that, thank you for reading this and I hope I gave you something new to add to your regular listening.

Official Music Junk video links here:
When She Comes - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QWJEHtS2R2I
Used Up - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U6xDlws8V5E
Blood Stained Glass - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=19oRA77pLZM

Music Junk Selection #3: The Major Labels

THE MAJOR LABELS - AQUAVIA

     Keeping the genres on a good rotation here, the next artist I want to shine the spotlight on is “The Major Labels” and their one and only album “Aquavia."

                                                      GENRE: Pop

                                                      SUB-GENRE: Power Pop

                                                      MEMBERS: William "Bleu" McAuley, Mike Viola, Ducky Carlisle

     'A collection of songwriting and production veterans' is how I would describe these gentlemen and Aquavia should be evidence to that statement.  The Major Labels is a side-project from 2008 that was an outlet for a few artists to do something a little outside of their regular sound.  The choice to do this was a good one as this project ended up sounding something like unreleased Beatles tunes WHICH is obviously a big claim, but one I’m willing to make.  These guys have a strong grasp on what a pop song should sound like if you want multiple generations shouting it at the top of their lungs in the car and then listening quietly and introspectively to the very next track.  There are songs that are fun, some are seriously progressive, and some are both, all while maintaining a theme across the album that is reminiscent of something that would have been on pop radio in the sixties.  This album is a modern songwriting achievement and shows that artists today can still have an amazing sense of what the human ear and psyche is actually wanting out of a song.

     One of the qualities that helps The Major Labels stand apart from other pop groups are the singers, Bleu and Mike Viola.  Both of these men are prolific songwriters and have been recording and releasing music since the 90s.  Mike Viola co-produced and sang lead vocals on the title track for “That Thing You Do” and has consistently been putting out music with the Candy Butchers, as well as a solo act since then.  Bleu, while having not done something quite as ‘name-droppy’ like That Thing You Do, has a unique and attractive voice and has been writing some great pop as a solo act for a decade and a half (along with a number of other side-projects).  The Major Labels is closer to Viola’s sound, but with the addition of Bleu’s voice and flare it makes the music reach a new level of power and conviction.  This is what made the Beatles great and it's what makes The Major Labels great: One band with two gifted songwriters that worked well with one another.  Ducky Carlisle, while not being a songwriting powerhouse, has had decades of production experience and that undoubtedly brings a consistently professional sound to the record.

The album starts off with a couple fun tracks, but it doesn’t really lay into your musical senses until track 3 with “Velveteen Queen.”  The melody moves to pleasantly expected places as well as the powerful unexpected places, all coupled with a traditionally sweet chord progression.  Unadulterated songwriting greatness.

                                                              VELVETEEN QUEEN

The next track I would like to highlight is “Hummingbird.”  This is a beautifully written acoustic piece that is paired with a gentle and moving melody.  Any joker with an acoustic guitar can write a song and meet the criteria to be considered a song, but Viola and Bleu do it to a caliber that few can, while still working with so little.

                                                              HUMMINGBIRD

The last track I want to talk about is the 3-part song “The Sweet.”  Definitely an interesting song that takes a different direction than what is expected and really demonstrates the care for craft that they have for their music.

                                                              THE SWEET

In the end The Major Labels bring a pop sensibility that otherwise seems to have been lost a long time ago, making Aquavia a real diamond in the rough.  Here are the specific good qualities of this gem:

1. Songs That Go Places

2. Rich Chord Progressions

3. Vocals With Interest & Character

4. Genuinely Moving Ballads

5. Not Over-Produced

There is only one album by The Major Labels, but I hope that they come to their senses, get back together, and make another record.  They are all still making music in some shape or form in other projects, but here’s to the hope of them reuniting for a follow up to Aquavia.  I hope that I gave you something new to add to your regular listening and thanks for taking time to hear these guys in the first place.



Official Music Junk Video links here:
Velveteen Queen - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0sy1_Y55OLY
Hummingbird - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sOPmGchnHeY
The Sweet - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BcRGN2Nu1gg