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What I'm Thankful For This Thanksgiving of 2009

metalodyssey — Thu, 26 Nov 2009 16:48:30 +0000

Happy Thanksgiving to all from Metal Odyssey. Yes, I will eat whatever the heck I feel like eating today, plus the quantity of food I eat is my own personal business too. To all the people who watch what other people eat and tell others how and what to eat… go eat rice cakes today and stare at yourselves in the mirror, you artificial and pompous fools.

I am thankful for:

My incredible wife and beautiful twin daughters… and our new cat toby.

My courageous and strong father.

My mother and father in-law.

Alright, an extra special thanks to my mother in-law… this past Summer she gave to me, her unreal good stereo system… what a sweetie.

Nonny.

My sister and brother in-law and their two daughters… o.k., their dog too.

My Best Metal Buddy Scott and his fine family.

My sister is in Heaven and I am thankful for her son and daughter.

My mother is in Heaven too… I am thankful for all the love and memories.

My faith, God and all of the guardian angels who have worked overtime for me and my family.

For all my cousins, aunts and uncles who are the good ones. In other words, the ones who are not self absorbed in their own minds and know I still exist.

Good friends and helpful neighbors.

My country – The United States of America, The Land of the Free… I hope and pray it stays this way.

Armed Forces of The United States of America – these men and women in uniform protect us all every minute of every day.

Rock and Roll – especially Heavy Metal and all of it’s genres.

Punk Rock

Motorhead, Misfits, W.A.S.P. and Slayer… my top four.

Lynyrd Skynyrd and their 2009 album – God & Guns

Cheap Trick and ELO

Anthony Bourdain and No Reservations

Ghost Hunters and Ghost Adventures

World Champion New York Yankees and the New York Giants

Planet Earth… the best and only planet we can all live on. If only we all could get along…

I’m very thankful for being introduced to this album by The Everly Brothers, (Don and Phil Everly), as a child. My mother had this album and it was my first introduction to the amazing world of Rock and Roll. This 1958 album was a true enjoyment and will forever be an unreal lifetime memory.

I’m extra thankful for being alive to be thankful for all of the above.

A Reckless Thanksgiving

Sara McIntosh — Thu, 26 Nov 2009 15:49:04 +0000

Recent events provided many things to be thankful for—at least in my mind. 1) At the box office

MOTORHEAD - "THE ONE TO SING THE BLUES" WAS MY 1991 RECORD CONVENTION FIND

metalodyssey — Thu, 26 Nov 2009 02:54:59 +0000

Back in the early Spring of 1991, my girlfriend, (now my wife), and I ventured down to the New Haven Coliseum in New Haven, Connecticut… to frolic through a record convention. Record conventions are the best. I am guilty of not going to enough of these glorious events in my lifetime. Regardless, this record convention was chock full of vinyl, CD’s and all things Rock memorabilia that I could ever wish for. Oh yeah, there was Heavy Metal aplenty at this record convention back then… tons of it. The only parameter I needed to follow at this show was to narrow down my search, (I was not loaded with cash back then and I’m still not). Motorhead was at the top of my search list, going to this record convention. There was quite the choice of Motorhead vinyl, cassettes and CD’s to buy there… I settled on the 7″ vinyl, (45 rpm), The One To Sing The Blues. Even though I can’t remember what I actually paid for this Motorhead record, compared to purchasing a 12″ album import at the time, it was a good deal. Seven dollars keeps coming back to me, as to the purchase price though.

We left that record convention that day with just a couple of purchases. The other purchase I will save for a future post, (it was a cool piece of vinyl as well). I still own this Motorhead 45 rpm, rediscovering it recently as it was hidden away in my collection. Am I psyched that I still have it after 19 years? You betcha. I would safely guess this Motorhead record is kinda rare. The backside cover to this record sleeve has the header – Motorhead On Tour, it lists the U.K. concert dates for February 1991. There are 14 concert dates listed. Also on this backside record sleeve cover, are the complete lyrics to The One To Sing The Blues. Sure, I look back and wish I gobbled up every Motorhead vinyl treasure there was at that record convention, nonetheless, I am content with what I do have. This little record has it’s rightful place in my record collection, it being a Motorhead collectible and finding it with my wife, (then girlfriend), makes for a great memento.

Here is additional info on this Motorhead 45 rpm, The One To Sing The Blues:

Side A: The One To Sing The Blues

Side B: Dead Man’s Hand

* This record being bought in the U.S., is an import… with a Made In The U.K. sticker on the front sleeve of my copy I own.

* The One To Sing The Blues later appears on the Motorhead 1991 album – 1916. The backside record sleeve states this song as: Taken from the forthcoming LP/MC/CD “1916″

* The record label(s) as designated on the backside of the record sleeve and record: WTG Records and Epic

Motorhead, as they appeared on The One To Sing The Blues and Dead Man’s Hand:

Lemmy Kilmister - bass and lead vocals

Wurzel – guitar

Phil Campbell – guitar

Philthy Animal Taylor – drums

Sean Riley & The Slowriders

Canilho — Thu, 26 Nov 2009 02:25:55 +0000

Sean Riley & The Slowriders, são uma banda portuguesa de Coimbra, que estão a fazer algum sucesso onde quer que actuem.

“…Neste álbum em que Sean Riley & The Slowriders se confirmam inspirados e atentíssimos escritores de canções, o tom assombrado de Farewell ganha uma outra luminosidade. Se existem fantasmas, dançam sob o sol da tarde, confiantes e imponentes aos olhos de todos.”
in Público-Ipsilon

“É um álbum de histórias, de viagens, de quem gosta de viajar sem destino com uma boa banda sonora como companhia.”
in Expresso

“…não deixa de surpreender o fôlego e a coesão quase conceptual do novo Only Time Will Tell…Um disco exemplar e apaixonante.”
in Blitz

“São histórias de amor e desejo, de pecado, de Deus e do Diabo, embrulhadas em estruturas rock..n..roll, bluesy e folk de clima hedonista.”
in Disco Digital

Podem ouvir esta e outras músicas na respectiva página do MySpace da banda -> MySpace/SeanRyleyMusic

Giving Mick Jagger the gift of time. Not that he needs it.

evpcd — Thu, 26 Nov 2009 02:08:44 +0000

I guess when it comes to giving Mick Jagger a present, you got to think the guy has just about everything.
I mean what could you possibly give him he either couldn’t buy himself or doesn’t already own?
Clothes. Nah.
Wine. Boring.
Hmmmmmm, how ’bout a nice watch?

Well that’s exactly what Ahmet Ertegun gave Mick Jagger back
sometime in the early 70’s.
An Eterna Matic Concept 80 wristwatch.
He had engraved on the back, Mick Here’s to a Million or 2? Ahmet.
My guess he was talking about the sales of an upcoming album.
Maybe Sticky Fingers or Exile given the time period.
Since at this point The Stones had just recently come on board with Atlantic, it’s not unusual Ahmet was hoping for a long and successful relationship with them.

Ahmet co-founder and executive of Atlantic Records used his personal skills in negotiating the signing of The Rolling Stones to Atlantic when they were shopping for a record company to distribute their independent Rolling Stones Records label.

He personally “did the deal” with Mick Jagger, when other labels had actually offered the band more money.

This watch was later donated by Jagger to an auction run by LA radio station KMET-FM back in 1973 in a week long auction they ran to raise money for the victims of the Nicaraguan Earthquake.
Mick was of course married to Bianca at the time, and her having family there got Mick very involved in this worthy cause.

The Stones gave a benefit concert in LA and donated at the proceeds to help the victims.

A unique piece of memorabilia owned by Jagger with a great history behind it .

A RARE TICEKT STUB FROM THE STONES NICARAGUAN BENEFIT SHOW IN LA.

Rock and Roll Meets Coffee and a Roll!

Carl — Thu, 26 Nov 2009 01:37:18 +0000

Wow! That was a pretty cheesy title, huh? Sorry…but it got you thinking!

My dear friend Kimmi is the very awesome founder and voice of TheRockDeli.com!

It has not happened as of yet, but if all things work out (as God leads – of course!), I will be advertising JavaFit Coffees on her station! She said she tried it already and even gave it to some band members to try and this is what she said, “Tried the coffee and had the whole band try it as well and it was a hit! No one added anything other than regular sugar/creamer…”

You couldn’t pay for a testimonial like that! So, whether or not you are hearing JavaFit spots right now, go listen to the Rock Deli and support Kimmi as she helps up-and-coming bands make their way onto the public scene!

JavaFit Energy Extreme 62

“Nothing goes better with the Rock Deli than a cup of JavaFit Energy Extreme coffee!”

~ Carl

Crappy Album Covers #187 -- Food on Vinyl IX

strider — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 22:00:16 +0000

Welcome, Ladies and Gentlemen to the sub-series that never ends! FOOD ON VINYL! Martha and her ugly

Slayer - World Painted Blood.

Doni — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 19:43:22 +0000

Trilha sonora do CAOS.

Essa é a única definição que encontrei para o novo álbum do Slayer, maior banda de Thrash Metal do Mundo.

Dave Lombardo definitivamente é mais competente do que o Paul Bostaph que também sempre foi um grande baterista, impressionante como ele continua com a mesma pegada dos anos de ouro da banda e já tem lá seus 40 anos.

Jeff Hanneman e Kerry King continuam a maior dupla de guitarras do Metal, entrosamento perfeito.

O vocal do Tom Araya continua intacto, se você ouvir South Of Heaven da década de 80 e WPB, não vai notar diferença.

Nem vou comentar música por música, até por que é álbum para ouvir de ponta a ponta e repetir, como eu fiz.

Logo quando você coloca “World Painted Blood”, a música de abertura, já nota que é o bom e velho Slayer.

O melhor CD de Metal do Ano.

link do CD.

World Painted Blood

3 Bands That Matter

carlosdev — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 14:06:55 +0000

Music is important. It inspires us, consoles us, uplifts us and comforts us. It is part of what defines us each as individuals. It is a highly personal and subjective thing. What appeals to one person may not necessarily appeal to another. Some people love jazz, others swear by heavy metal, others find meaning in hip hop. For some music is just a means to dance, a conduit to acquiring a lover. For others music is a means of rebelling, of setting ourselves apart from our parents or our community.

We all listen to music for different reasons and with different ears. Like you, I have a great passion for music but I was lucky enough to have a professional interest in it. During the late 80s and 90s, I was a music critic for a variety of publications, mostly the San Jose Metro newspaper but also Calendar Magazine (which would become SF Weekly) and a myriad of online and print magazines. During that time, I was exposed to a wide variety of music from avant garde to alt-country, from reggae to punk, from death metal to Christian rock.

In a real sense, it just means I have an opinion. Of course, we all have an opinion but I was fortunate enough to have a vehicle for expressing it (in an era before blogs, there weren’t a whole lot of those). I tried to use that vehicle wisely. It’s very easy to point a finger at someone’s music and say “that sucks,” or in a more critical way, “that is the aural equivalent of Ex-Lax.” It’s very easy to tear things down, after all. Finding something worthwhile in music you’re not particularly connected to is much harder, and only the really good critics can do that. I have to admit I took an easier route – I tended to only write about bands that I found some connection to. Fortunately, that was fairly easy – I had access to a whole lot of music and there were a lot of performers that caught my ear.

“Bands That Matter” is a terribly subjective appellation. Matter to whom, for example? And how do they qualify? I will admit that this is a somewhat dodgy endeavor, as my English friends might say. For one thing, I’m picking three bands at random that I think are worthy of putting on a pedestal. Some of them are well known, some not so much. I will admit this is more of a self-portrait in my musical taste than a real scholarly effort to discover bands that have made a serious effect on music in general, but I think when you see the list below you will admit that all of these bands have had some sort of impact on music, society or both although truly, some impacts have been more profound than others. One thing to remember – these aren’t necessarily the three bands that matter most, even to me. They are just three of the bands that matter. There are certainly many more that do, which is why this will be an irregular series.

It would be easy to lead off with the Beatles and/or John Lennon here, but I’m restricting my three to bands that are extant in one form or another. This isn’t a list of major hitmakers, although some of these bands have had their share of success on the charts. Mostly these are bands/performers who have either had something to say, or something to share and I think you will agree, the world is a better place for having all of them in it.

Many bands have come and gone since this band burst onto the scene in 1979 but I can’t think of many that have operated for 30 years without changing membership at all. The same four individuals who played on their debut album Boy are still playing in the band today. Unlike other bands that have kept stable, U2 hasn’t been afraid to re-invent their sound from time to time. They’ve gone the pop route, they’ve gone the arena rock route but even when they haven’t been as successful, they’ve always stuck to their convictions.

From the beginning, the band has exhibited a social consciousness, exemplified by their lead singer Bono. As the band would become more and more successful, he would become a tireless advocate for the poor, the starving and the downtrodden. He has lobbied nations and individuals to take a stand to help those in need for various charities, going all the way back to his work in Band Aid, of which he was an integral part. He is one of the most charismatic front men in the business and he has used that to capture the attention of the world media for causes that are important to him ranging from world hunger and AIDS to social justice and global warming. His compassion for his fellow human is exemplary in a business where most rock stars are the definition of self-centeredness.

Bono and his guitarist The Edge have a knack for creating soaring, soul-stirring music that grabs you by the throat and doesn’t let go. Few bands make you want to stand up and cheer for nearly every song in their repertoire, but that’s how U2 affects most people. While they are not as confrontational as, say, the Clash their songs nevertheless cannot be ignored. When you hear “Pride (In the Name of Love)” or “Sunday Bloody Sunday” you cannot really treat them as background noise – they require a response, emotionally or intellectually. Agree or disagree with the bands politics (and they aren’t really political in the sense that they are active campaigners for politicians or a particular political party) you will find yourself responding to their music.

Part of that is due to the guitar work of The Edge. He is the kind of player that plays from the inside out; his style is distinctive but easily accessible. His sound is the equivalent to a falcon in full flight; it soars and moves at speed but can swoop down at any time without warning and tear at you. Before you know it, a piece of you is missing.

REQUIRED LISTENING: The Joshua Tree is their commercial breakthrough, although the band had success prior to that both at home, in the UK and here in North America. It contains many of their signature hits, such as “I Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For” and “Where the Streets Have No Name.” It also has lesser-known songs like “In God’s Country” which are among their best. However it must be said that I have a particular fondness for The Unforgettable Fire which not only contains one of their signature songs (“Pride (In the Name of Love)”) but also two of my very favorites, the title cut (see below) and “A Sort of Homecoming.”

THEY’RE PLAYING MY SONG: The song that has the most meaning to me is the title track from The Unforgettable Fire. It was off the album that marked the beginning of their fruitful collaboration with producers Brian Eno and Daniel Lanois and is one of the rare songs in their repertoire to make extensive use of keyboards in the mix. I still think of it as the quintessence of U2 although there are those who might disagree. More of a soundscape than a song, “The Unforgettable Fire” shimmers with layered guitars and synthesizers while Bono’s voice rings clear as a bell over the aural landscape. I still get chills whenever I hear it.

BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN

The Boss burst out of Asbury Park, New Jersey on the shoulders of the saucy Latin-spiced “Rosalita” and hasn’t looked back since. He has one of the most rabid fan bases of any performer in rock and roll, and while some regard him as more of a cult item, there is no doubt that Springsteen is one of the most influential performers of his generation.

Few others can lay claim to being the voice of the working class, and in these difficult times we need his voice more than ever. Springsteen’s values are blue collar to the core and American in their essence. While working the bar circuit on the Jersey shore, he assembled the legendary E Street Band, a group of musicians who would complement Springsteen like peanut butter and grape jelly; while Springsteen is the focus of the band being the lead singer, primary songwriter and guitarist, he might be just a great songwriter with a blue collar focus if it weren’t for his musical partner-in-crime saxophonist Clarence Clemons.

There’s something about their collaboration that is truly magical; one can’t think of his great hits “Born to Run,” the aforementioned “Rosalita” and “Dancing in the Dark” without Clemons’ sax. The Big Man is the yin to Springsteen’s yang and in live performances the chemistry between the two is electrifying.

The rest of the band ain’t too shabby either, with Mad Max Weinberg on drums, Garry Tallent on bass, Danny Federici on organ, Roy Bittan on piano, Little Stevie van Zandt (and while van Zandt was pursuing other musical directions, Nils Lofgrin) on guitar and later, his wife-to-be Patty Scialfa would join the clubhouse.

Springsteen has not been without controversy; when the Reagan campaign appropriated his song “Born in the USA” Springsteen was outspoken with his annoyance. He is a lifelong Democrat who has leant support over the years for Bill Clinton, Barack Obama and Michael Dukakis along with a plethora of candidates for office in New Jersey, not to mention weighing in on subjects near and dear to the heart of his own constituency.

Springsteen’s appeal lays in his ability to get to the heart of the common man. In that sense, his album titled The Ghost of Tom Joad is no accident; Springsteen himself is a latter-day Tom Joad, a decent man with honest values horrified at the liberties taken with the working class. In some ways, he has been able to cross party lines; there are an awful lot of Republicans that I know who think The Boss is Da Bomb and have “Hungry Heart” and “The River” on their iPods.

One of the things Springsteen has managed to do successfully is keep his mystique intact. You don’t see a lot of him in the tabloids and he doesn’t do a lot of interviews. While he has contributed songs to movies like Philadelphia and The Wrestler, he is very careful who he allows to use his music and he has been known not to license his songs to filmmakers when he hasn’t been satisfied with the content or the quality of the movie they’re making. For someone with the kind of popularity he enjoys, he has more or less managed to stay out of the public eye and yet when his concert tour comes through any given city, there is a feeding frenzy to snap up the tickets.

You can safely say that Bruce Springsteen comes from a long and honorable line of musicians that include guys like Pete Seeger and Woody Guthrie, and he keeps the traditions of their music for the common man alive. Springsteen, more than any pop star today, is identified with a specific voice and I don’t mean his singing voice. He is the voice of the factory worker, the mechanic, the construction worker, the farmhand. He sings for the grocery clerk, the waitress and the road worker but you don’t have to be one of those to appreciate his music….or the man.

REQUIRED LISTENING: There are three albums that no Springsteen fan should be without – not that Springsteen fans are without any of his albums. In chronological order, they constitute his most fertile creative period and while he continues to create compelling, important music today I suspect that it is these three albums he’ll be remembered for; Born to Run, an album that would cause him to become the first man to be on the cover of Time and Newsweek in the same week; The River, an epic double album set that is in many ways his most ambitious work of his career and his commercial apex Born in the USA which brought Springsteen out of cult status.

THEY’RE PLAYING MY SONG: When I think of Springsteen, I hear “Jungle Land” off the Born to Run album. This is a song that captures desperation and despair, the triumphs and tragedies of being young and free. It is epic in scope and stirring in places, often juxtaposed by quiet moments of self-doubt and self-realization. The heroes and heroines of “Jungle Land” are flawed but doing their best in a world that has become perdition. Sometimes, it’s not escape that’s important but merely the act of attempting to and that’s what “Jungle Land” is all about.

SIGUR ROS

After the first two bands on this list, I’m sure there are an awful lot of people shrugging their shoulders, rolling their eyes or just saying “Huh?” Certainly this Icelandic band doesn’t have the pop chart success of either Springsteen or U2, nor do they have the presence in the mass consciousness of Americans in general.

That’s not to say that we are the be-all and end-all of world opinion mind you. In fact, in their home country Sigur Ros are much admired and highly popular. More than that, however, they are creating a style of music that is unique and compelling. Whether or not that has any kind of lasting impact on music in general remains to be seen. I can tell you that what they are trying to create should have a lasting impact, if music is to mean anything in the coming decades.

One of the problems I have with modern pop music is its soullessness. The primary motivation to creating music seems to be in moving units, selling albums; making money, in other words. Music is being made by committee, with hired gun songwriters cranking out safe, homogenized songs that are in turn gotten hold of by celebrity producers and session musicians until the performer lends whatever stamp they can on the vocals. It is what “American Idol” is all about and quite frankly symbolizes everything I can’t stand about popular culture in general.

Sigur Ros make music for all the right reasons. They never pursued success; it found them. After one of their songs was used on the soundtrack for Vanilla Sky, people responded and began to seek them out. Eventually their songs would appear in commercials and on blogs. Suddenly there was a demand for them and the band found themselves touring the world, all the while wondering how on earth they got there.

One of the reasons Sigur Ros appeal so much is that while they are proudly Icelandic and carry the values instilled in their upbringing in that society with them, their music is accessible on a global level. While some of their earlier albums were sung in Icelandic, they have taken to giving up lyrics almost completely. Singer Jon Thor “Birgi” Birgisson sings in a combination of nonsense syllables and a kind of free-form Icelandic poetry to create his own language which he calls “Hopelandic,” a play on the title of the band’s debut album.

Birgisson sings in a falsetto that swoops and flutters like a seabird, soaring one moment and whispering the next. His bandmates provide music that washes over you like the cold waters of a mountain stream, enveloping you like a fog. Often their music is quiet and simple, utilizing mostly acoustic instruments. From time to time, the band will exercise their rock urges and when they do, they are overpowering.

What I like best about their music is that it isn’t meant to be listened to, at least as far as I can tell; it’s meant to be experienced, to be felt. It is literally music for the heart, and nearly every song elicits an emotional response. This is not a band that wants to make you angry although some of their themes involve subjects that might be upsetting. This is a band that wants you to feel, and then act on those feelings.

They’re currently on a bit of a hiatus while their members are working on some side projects but they are due back with another album next year. In the meantime, seek out their music, find a quiet place and listen. You will be richly rewarded.

REQUIRED LISTENING: Heima/Hvart is the soundtrack album of their astonishing concert film Heima. The band performed a series of free concerts in a variety of venues around Iceland after returning home from their world tour off of the Takk album. The first disk contains songs from that film; the second, Hvart, contains demos and outtakes of music from throughout the bands career. However if you really want to get an essence of what the band is both live and musically, see the DVD if you can find it.

THEY’RE PLAYING MY SONG: Although in many ways atypical of Sigur Ros’ sound, the track that first placed this band into my heart is “#8 (A.K.A. Popplagio).” From their 2002 album () (which is essentially untitled – as are all the songs on it), the song starts off slow and dream-like, with vocalist Birgisson warbling bittersweet over an almost dirge-like tune. However, the eleven-minute magnum opus doesn’t stay that way. With drummer Orri Pall DyRason signaling the change with a low, unsettling drumbeat, Birgisson steps up with soundless vocals soaring over an unnerving guitar-bass riff, the music swelling until reaching a crescendo of crashing drums and guitars. The effect is invigorating, much like a plunge into a frigid Icelandic lake after a session in a sauna. It’s hard to do anything but applaud and admire upon hearing it.

These Foolish Men

hermithaven — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 01:11:13 +0000

These foolish men They sit amongst themselves Amongst the buffalo hides These foolish men They

¿Reunión de Sôber?

diegus — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 23:25:28 +0000

Son numerosos los rumores que corren acerca de la posible reunión del grupo madrileño Sôber, que des

Rob Frank at the top of Entertainment Business Battling Cancer!

newleafrob — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 22:30:49 +0000

December 1, 2005 my career was on top of the world. I was working with some of the biggest celebrities, in the country music industry, and had just finished the first national homecoming for Vietnam veterans that gained world exposure and turned out to be a history channel documentary. My mother’s health was still good enough to travel and a few months earlier my parents were my guest at Operation Homecoming USA and rubbing elbows with all of the Joint Chief of Staff to the President of the United States. In January 2005, I had directed and produced the Inaugural Ball for the President and First Lady.

I was just finishing a grueling tour- Nashville, Branson, Chicago, Davenport, Branson, Nashville, and on to Loveland to surprise my mom and dad for Thanksgiving all over a nine day stretch. God was already preparing me for the guest I hated for many years prior to December 2005. I look back on the tour and God let me see all the people that meant a lot to me and were close to my heart. My busy family, that never has much time for me when I travel, had all the time in the world. I remember thinking as I headed back to Branson after a great holiday how fortunate we were to spend time together. Everything was great as I parted back home knowing I needed rest before my military USO tour that would start five days before Christmas.

Amarillo, TX 2:00am it was evident to me that the uninvited guest had arrived not knowing hours from that moment my life would change forever. My temperature was 104 degrees and my focus was on home because I knew that something was crippling me on the inside. All by myself I traveled across Oklahoma praying to God that he would let me make it home, as God spoke to me through the radio- through song. I passed out in a rest stop bathroom. When I came to a man would not help me telling his son I had too much to drink. They thought I was drunk.

The only way I was able to make it to the hospital from that trip was through my faith in God. I knew I was extremely sick. I really was in so much pain my doctor was amazed I lived through the journey home. Prayer, scripture, and God’s voice got me home nothing else. All the teaching from my past kept running through my head along with memories from my childhood. If you really believe in God and really need his help he will see you through was clear to me that day. Even when you know there is a storm ahead, he will carry you to the storm and will help you to face your Uninvited Guest. When God is preparing you for a storm in your life who do you call out to? Who do you trust? Do you pull over to the side of the road and die or do you keep your eye focused on the solution and keep driving? Do you let the others who ignore your cry for help convince you to give up? The attitude that you choose and your faith will see you through!

Los Parroquianos - Gota de Lluvia

blogmaster — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 22:09:30 +0000

MISFITS "LAND OF THE DEAD" - MY RARE, RED VINYL COPY ARRIVED IN THE MAIL!!

metalodyssey — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 15:33:22 +0000

Yesterday, November 23, 2009, was a very good day in the life of this Misfits fan, uh, fiend. You see, as I innocently walked to my mailbox, (which is on the front roadside), I stared up towards the front door to my house… what is that I see? It was a very large bubble mailer, flat and the size of a record album… extremely beautiful looking from afar. My heart began to race as I felt a tad of perspiration come upon my forehead, my legs took me as fast as they would go to this mysterious package. Holding my crap/junk mail in my left hand, I bent down to pick up this glorious bubble mailer with my right hand. The return address read: Cinder Block/FFP… from Rancho Cordova, California… what a wonderful return address indeed. You see, I pre-ordered Misfits Land Of The Dead, (the first pressing and red vinyl version), back on October 15, of this year and it is now in my hands! Yeeaaahhhh baaabbbbbyyyyy!!

The excitement that rippled throughout my body and mind, at this moment of knowing Land Of The Dead was in this bubble mailer I was holding, was a moment I will not forget for a very long time. There are only 1,000 copies of the red vinyl version! Hello, can we all say… rare? Being a Misfits fan/fiend for so long, the sheer exhilaration of finally nailing down one of their rare vinyl singles – is a Horror Punk dream come true for me. With over a month passing by since my initial order, I began to worry, that maybe I was not going to be one of the lucky ones to get a red vinyl copy of Land Of The Dead. Worry no more! Cinder Block is the distribution/mail order company that the Misfits web site uses for selling all things… Misfits. A huge Horror Punk kudos to Cinder Block for landing me a copy and making good on my order! Plus, a bonus Horror Punk kudos to Cinder Block for the protective packaging they used for shipping… my copy of Land Of The Dead is mint/spotless!

The backside of this 12 inch vinyl single has the complete lyrics for both songs: Land Of The Dead and Twilight Of The Dead. A brief write-up regarding the connection between George A. Romero, (the legendary film director for the Living Dead movie series) and Jerry Only, is also on the backside of this 12 inch single. I purchased both of these Misfits songs on itunes as well, needing digital copies is a must. It just feels damned great to order what is known to be a rarity and actually get it! I spent a total of $15.94 on this Misfits gem, (including shipping), this is not shabby when you consider what this same red vinyl version is going for on ebay currently. My best Metal buddy Scott, well, he informed me this red vinyl version is selling in the $60.00 to $75.00 range! (I wasn’t tracking this info myself, due to my waiting nervously for my own copy to arrive in the mail). Let me say this, it was worth every cent to get this Misfits single on vinyl. I am a psyched out dude today and it feels great.

Misfits as they appear on Land Of The Dead:

Jerry Only – bass & vocals

Dez Cadena - rhythm & lead guitars

Robo AKA Julio Roberto Valverde Valencia – drums

The album artwork by Arthur Suydam gets my vote for 2009 Album Cover of the Year, spanning all the Rock Music genres. As a fellow artist, it is hard for me not to stare at this cover with art appreciation.

Ain't No Rest for the Wicked

Sara McIntosh — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 04:33:53 +0000

Adding to the already long list of characters putting in their two cents on financial regulation, we

Audioslave

youalreadyknowwhoitis — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 04:16:57 +0000

Audioslave – Show Me How To Live

On my rock sh*t today. If you want to listen to a really good album, definitely listen to Audioslave’s self-titled debut album from 2002. Back in high school, my buddy Los put me on to Rage Against the Machine. Then after Zach de la Rocha left the group, I kept listening to the rest of the band when they formed Audioslave.

When I go to the gym (about once every 3 months) I really can’t listen to hip hop. Just doesn’t get me pumped up enough. I usually keep this album, Rage’s Evil Empire, the Red Hot Chili Peppers’ Greatest Hits (with Dani California added in) and a little Lenny Kravitz in the I-pod Nano and I’m good to go. Maybe I should visit the gym this week seeing that they automatically debit my bank account monthly whether I go or not. Ehhh…we’ll see. No promises.

Check after the jump for a couple more videos.

Audioslave – Cochise

Audioslave – Gasoline (Live at Late Show with David Letterman)

Relive "Classics" From the 1960's on WVPT

davidmullins — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 02:51:51 +0000

In this “new” program, memorable music appearances on “The Ed Sullivan Show” from the 1960s include: The Beatles, the Rolling Stones, the Doors, the Beach Boys, the Animals, the Mamas and the Papas, the Young Rascals, Diana Ross and the Supremes, Petula Clark, Gerry and the Pacemakers, Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons, Sly and the Family Stone, Tommy James and Herman’s Hermits. “Ed Sullivan’s Rock and Roll Classics – The 60’s” – hosted by Paul Shaffer. Tune in for this special program Saturday November 28^th at 5pm on WVPT. And you can pledge your financial support to keep great programs on WVPT!

Siempre en el recuerdo Freddie

diegus — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 23:11:16 +0000

Tal día como hoy, un fatídico día 24 de Noviembre de 1991 el sida se llevó consigo a uno de los mayo

The Citadel's production of Rock N' Roll

propublications — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 22:17:55 +0000

I’ll admit when I first walked into the theatre to see the Citadel’s production of Tom Stoppard’s Rock N’ Roll I hadn’t the faintest idea what I was in for. Some friends had an extra ticket and asked me to go. It was a free night out, so I was only too happy to oblige and didn’t ask any questions because the enticement of the words rock and roll were enough to draw me in.

Had I bothered to read the playbill beforehand I would have realized that it wasn’t a history of rock and roll as much as it was a history of Czechoslovakia’s incipient democratic movement. The movement, which began in 1968 and culminated in the Velvet Revolution (or Gentle Revolution, as the Slovaks call it) that saw the peaceful overthrow of the communist government in 1989, was led by a group of individuals that were inspired to write a manifesto of sorts criticizing the communist government of the time of all sorts of human rights transgressions, called Charter 77.

One of the violations that precipitated the charter was the arrest of some of the members of a Czechoslovakian band, long seen as symbols of non-conformity in the country’s under-ground culture, the Plastic People of the Universe.

The play struck me as an intellectual struggle between the ideologies of two of its main characters: Jan and Max. The former represents the young intellectual movement devoted to western music and the ideas of free expression and rebellion and the realization that communism was a failed exercise; whereas the latter is an academic enthralled with the ideals of Marxism – or socialism in its purest form.

It took me about fifteen or so minutes to begin enjoying the play, but even then it was a bit tentative. I found some of the interactions disjointed and somewhat alienating, but perhaps that could be attributed more to my unfamiliarity with the subject matter. At times, I also found the dialogue to be somewhat stilted. It sounded pretentious in a way, like two undergraduates talking to one another after finding that they had a small audience.

There were parts that I enjoyed immensely, however. For example, there’s a scene where Jan is talking with his friend Ferdinand (purportedly based on the last Czechoslovakian President Vaclav Havel) in his living room about why he won’t sign a petition prior to the Charter that Ferdinand is presenting him with. He said something about it being “moral showboating” or something to that effect and that if Ferdinand and his buddies really wanted to help they should offer their services to the families of the prisoners. Jan then goes onto say that the petition would have no effect in swaying the government’s position because the government makes all the rules in that game and that’s the game Ferdinand and his friends are playing too; whereas in music, especially the case of the Plastic People of the Universe and their fans, they don’t care about the government’s rules. They play by their own rules. After all that was the original ethos of rock and roll, right? Rebellion.

Ultimately, in Jan’s mind, the effect of music was implied to be greater.

Unfortunately, the power of music was not great enough to convince my party to stay until the end of the play. The two and a half hour commitment proved to be too great and we decided to leave after the first act. One of the people I was with said it would have been easier to peel their skin off then sit for the remaining act. A bit harsh, perhaps, but I went along. And now, the following day after reading a bit more about the events in Czechoslovakia at the time and the role that dissidence and subversion play in overcoming oppressive regimes I find myself regretting the decision to follow along.

Crappy Album Covers #186 -- A Parent's Horror

strider — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 22:00:03 +0000

A parent’s horror: Ukuleles. On tour, no less. Pay admission, you get to hear a whole orchestr

Pirate Radio was Meh

maia1111 — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 20:32:13 +0000

I think anyone would walk into a movie like this with high expectations. This formula should work: great soundtrack from the 60’s, rock and roll pirates stealing the airwaves and giving the young people what they want to hear, nose-thumbing at the establishment, with a dose of a couple of top rate actors, Kenneth Branagh and Phillip Seymour Hoffman.

First off, I felt the whole arc of the movie was ruined taking out any tension and conflict by giving us the Cliff Notes synopsis in subtitles before the movie even came on. What was the point of that? Show me, don’t tell me after I just paid $10.75 to park it in a seat for two hours. Much to my dismay I found it painfully cheesy in moments, dragged out and uncomfortable to watch. Even Kenneth Branagh’s airs “I’m going to shut this filth down” seemed campy and theatrical. Most of his sing-songy melodrama came off as a rookie theater major, like he was basking in the limelight of his very first “A Midsummer’s Night Dream” Shakespearean debut. It was a bit over-acted which just added to the whole camp/cheese factor. Maybe because what the formula seemed like a slam dunk – the whole drugs, sex and rock and roll, and women clamoring for the bad boy pirates on the water (even the unkempt, obese one – anything to sleep with a pirate!) – we can’t fathom it being bad. I found the movie uninspiring which leaves me little to write about. I have a difficult time writing about things that don’t compel me and am not crazy about spending my valuable time picking apart a movie either – to ignore it is a much better use of my time.

That said, I can’t even in good faith say, “Wait for it to come out on DVD.” I would relegate this movie to, “If you get bored on a long 15 hour flight to Bangkok and it happens to be in the movie queue then I guess you could watch it.”

Zappa Plays Zappa

overprocessed — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 20:18:07 +0000

Photos from the Zappa Plays Zappa show at Stubb’s, in Austin, Texas.

The performance by Zappa et al playing his father, Frank’s music. Check them out if you ever have the opportunity, even if you’re NOT a Zappa fan. Why? Because it will be one of the best musical performances you’ll ever see. Special guest appearance by Eric Johnson. Steve Vai has been known to materialize as well.

D.A.M.N. 11-23-09: Audioslave- "One and the Same"

tylerwoodbridge — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 18:00:56 +0000

It’s been quite a few days since my last blog entry. Today is the lucky day for my (few) readers, however, as I’m pleased to announce a new DAILY (or so I hope) entry series.

This is the first entry in the D.A.M.N. (Daily Awesome Music Nugget) series. The goal of “D.A.M.N.” is to share songs, performances, solos, and clips of music that I find to be epic, gnarly, boss, brutal, sick, or whatever synonym of “awesome” one can use. I will continue to write my album reviews, as I love the album format and will defend and promote it until the end of the time. In this day and age, however, most people seem to respond to and embrace the “single” format more. This blog is for those people, the ones who don’t necessarily choose to listen to music by the album, be it by necessity or choice. Also, I will not necessarily be covering big hit songs, just ones that on the day I write, that I find to be especially awesome.

Without further ado, it’s time to move on with my entry. Today’s song is Audioslave’s “One and the Same.”

The band Audioslave.

This song, simply put, kicks twelve kinds of ass. From the funk-wah guitar intro/chorus of Tom Morello to the punchy groove of the rhythm section, from Chris Cornell’s passionate vocal to the tightness of the composition; there’s so much to like about this song. It’s not hard to get into at all, it’s very funky and poppy, and has a very positive vibe. I can’t say enough about Morello’s guitar work in this tune, it’s everything a Morello fan would want and more. The arpeggiating solo and his effective riffing are fist-pumpingly and toe-tappingly divine.

I can’t get enough of the breakdown immediately following the solo. With only Brad Wilk’s pseudo-tribal drums and Chris Cornell’s monster vocals pulsing through my ears, I find myself clapping and bobbing my head along. This song is a rock grenade with the pin pulled and is guaranteed to improve your mood. Highly recommended.

Hope you enjoyed my first Daily Awesome Music Nugget and will listen to this impeccable piece of rock.

LINKS:

YouTube

SongMeanings

Last.FM

The Beatles

masaburit — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 09:44:59 +0000

Que se puede decir de ellos, crearon estilo en la música, en el peinado, en el vestir, fueron unos genios que perdurarán por siempre. Tantas y tantas canciones que fueron y serán éxitos por siempre jamás. Fueron interpretados por todo tipo de cantantes y estilos de orquestas, no se puede decir mas de ellos, unos genios.

: Los Beatles

Sargent Peeper

Alguien puede opinar de otra manera a lo que digo yo?

Solo se les puede poner más adjetivos positivos, a ellos, porque es diferente a sus parejas .