Metal Music

New Music Monday Blog Queensryche Self Titled (Todd La Torre Verision)

In this Music Monday blog,  we are going to get into the other verision of Queensryche.  I realize how confusing this is about the band.  It is what it is until their next court hearing.  Queensryche fired Geoff Tate and hired Todd La Torre as their new lead singer.  Let us get into the history of this band.

History

Queensryche was founded in 1982 in Washington.  Chris DeGarmo met Mark Wilton to form a band called Joker.  Mark Wilton met Scott Rockenfield and Chris met Eddie Jackson.  They changed the name to The Mob.  Geoff Tate joined but he was not interested in playing metal covers.  The band recorded their first EP called Queen Of The Reich.  The band discovered there was another band with the same name of The Mob.  They rename the band Queensryche from their first EP.  The key is they misspelled it.  Queensryche was signed EMI Records in 1983.  They supported the EP with a tour by opening up for Quiet Riot and Twisted Sister.  After the tour, they went into the studio to record The Warning, which is their first studio release, and it was released in 1984.  Their second record was called Rage Of Order in 1986. In 1988 Queensryche release their first Concept Record which is known as Operation: Mind Crime.  The band toured with Metallica, Guns and Roses, and Def Leppard.  After that successful record, the band put out in 1990 their must successful and most selling record known as Empire.  Just like Mind Crime, Empire pumped out several hits and the record reached #7 on the United States music charts.  The band appeared on MTV Unplugged and released Live record with Operation:  Mind Crime.  The band took time off but in 1994 they released the follow-up to Empire which is Promise Land.  Like most Metal bands, they took a hit when the grunge scene hit the mainstream.  The band put out their final record with original lead guitar player Chris DeGarmo.  The record was called Hear In The Now Frontier.  The record had two hits but record itself did not do good.  Chris left the band and it was not made public why he left the band.  He is now a full-time pilot.  Chris was replaced by Kelly Gray and he produced their next release called Q2K in 1999.  Just like Hear In The Now Frontier, the fans did not like the direction of the band.  The band was forced to play in clubs and theaters like most of their peers.  The band put out their second live record in 2001 and fired Kelly Gary for ongoing problems and personal habits.  In 2003, the band enter the studio to worked on Tribe and reports that Chris DeGarmo worked with the band again.  He helped co write four songs but he never rejoin or decline that he was part of the band.  However Kelly Gary’s replacement was Mark Stone, which work with Tate on his first solo record, Mark Stone finished the record as the second guitar player.  The band went on tour with Dream Theater to support in 2003.  In 2004, Queensryche got a ton of interested from fans when they announced they are going to do a follow-up to the 1988’s release Operation:  Mind Crime.  Operation:  Mind Crime II was released under new record label Rhino in 2006.  The band put a greatest hits called Signs Of The Time with Chris DeGarmo on one new song.  In 2007, the band put out a cover record that was called Take Cover.  Mark Stone left the band to work on his side project called Speed-X but there was reports that he was fired from the band.   Mark was forced to record both the lead and rhythm guitar parts for American Soldier, which was three concept record, that Queensryche put out.  It was released in 2009.  Dedicated to Chaos was the final record with Geoff Tate  and it was released 2011.  The band had a meeting without Tate and they decided to outsource their fan club and fire their band manager, who is Tate’s wife.  The band hired Todd La Torre as the lead singer.  Geoff Tate filed a lawsuit against the band on that he has the rights to the name.  The judge ruled that Tate and his former band mates could use the name until the next court date which is in November of 2013.  This blog is on the Todd La Torre version of the band.  Let us get into the music.

Song List

X2

The intro is almost something off their first few records.  I believe their EP.   I love it.  This is Queensryche.

Where Dreams Go To Die

I love the opening that blends from the intro track.  I love the guitar work and drums with the kick in from the bass.  This is a killer start.  Damn!  Holy Shit!  This is Queensryche!  I love the drop off into acoustic guitars like normal Queensryche.  The singer, who is Todd La Torre, sounds just like a young version of Geoff Tate.  This band will not loss beat but get better.  This song has anything to say about the rest of the record.  The lyrics are pretty good.  There is some pretty good music here and it takes me back to the first few records.  There is a great guitar solo towards the end of the song.  This is a great opening song.

Spore

I love the effects on the one guitar at the beginning of the song.  I love how Todd just jumps into the song.  I love the music and the lyrics.  I have listen to this great records a few times.  I did not like this song at first but it is really growing on me.  There is some nice lyrics.  The drumming is awesome with some great bass line to shadow it.  The guitar players have done a great job.  The music break and back to the main riff. It breaks up the song and give it a soul. It has a nice ending.

In This Light

The music on this song is so old school Queensryche when they first started.  Todd is singing very nicely on this song.  I love the lyrics on this record so far.   Mike and Parker have some nice guitar work on this song and so far on this record.  This song has a nice pace to it.  I love the drum roll before a great guitar solo.  There is a nice ending to a song.

Redemption

I love the guitar and drum action at the beginning.   I love the start of Redemption.  I love how it was short and to the point.  Todd’s singing is solid with some great lyrics.  I never thought I would hear another Geoff Tate in my time but here is Todd.  I am glad he is around and Queensryche found him.  I love melody in this song.  I love the guitar solo towards the back half of this song.  The effects on the vocals is perfect throughout this record.  I love the ending.

Vindication

I love the fast pace and the driving guitar riff with some great playing from the Scott, who is the drummer, and Eddie, who is the bass player.  I love the slight drop off when the singer comes in which just feels like it.  I love the time changes.  Todd has some nice lyrics and melody.  He so fits this song.  Damn!  Scott is playing his ass off on this song.  Nice touch on the guitar solo towards the end of the song.

Midnight Lullaby

Here is another intro track for the next song.  I love this one because it is pretty creepy in a good way.

A World Without

I love the acoustic guitar at the beginning with a slight overdrive guitar over the top.  Todd singing and melody is spot on in this song.  There is some nice lyrics on this track.  This song has a nice pace for being a slower song.  This is some great music from Queensryche in a very long time.  The drums, bass, and guitars are well done.  I just feel this guitar solo is a little forced but still good.

Don’t Look Back

I love the music at the beginning of the song.  It has a great fast pace to it.  Todd just jumps into with some great lyrics.  I have to say this is one of my favorite songs so far off this record.  I love the music break about the halfway point.  It might have been short but it is still a great song.  Nice ending.

Fallout

I love the drums, bass, and the one guitar playing at the beginning with a nice guitar solo over the top.  Todd might sounds like Tate but he has put his own twist to make it his own.  I love the lyrics and melody.  The back up singing is so much better on this record than the Tate’s version of Queensryche.  I love the guitar solo towards the end of the song.  It has a nice ending.

Open Road

I love the guitar work and perfect drum beat at the beginning.  Todd has some nice singing with some great lyrics.  I love the touch of the keyboard during the short guitar solos.  Man, this is a great song.  I love the long guitar solo towards the end of the song.  I love the ending of the song and perfect song to exit from this great record before the bonus tracks.

Queen Of The Reich (Live)

The music is spot on for a live performance.  When listening to this song, I would have never guess that was not Geoff Tate singing.  Todd has done a great job on this song.  When a band does not have their original singer, it is never the same.  Queensryche and Journey are one of the few bands I can say that can play their old songs like their old songs.

En Force (Live)

Just like “Queen Of The Reich” there is no drop off from the singing.  Everything is spot on from the original song.  I have always loved this song.  This is a nice live recording.

Prophecy (Live)

Just like the last two live song, this song is no different.  Todd is singing just like the original song.  The music is spot on like old Queensryche.  This is not one of my favorite songs from Queensryche but I am happy they are playing more of the older songs.

Orinigal Line Up

  • Geoff Tate – Lead Vocals
  • Chris DeGarmo Guitars, Backing Vocals
  • Michael Wilton – Guitars
  • Scott Rockenfield – Drums
  • Eddie Jackson – Bass, Backing Vocals

Current Line Up

  • Todd La Torre – Vocals
  • Michael Wilton – Lead And Rhythm Guitars
  • Parker Lundgren – Lead And Rhythm Guitars
  • Eddie Jackson – Bass, Backing Vocals
  • Scott Rockenfield – Drums, Percussion, Orchestral Arrangements

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.queensrycheofficial.com/intro.cfm

Twitter:  @queensryche

In closing, I am pretty impresssed with this record with the new lead singer.  I have been doing a ton of thinking on the older records from this great band.  I have to say Mike was not lying when he said they are going back to “The Warning” and their EP music.  Todd gives them power to it.  I have always loved their old records.  Do not get me wrong.  Opertional Mindcrime and Empire are great records.  I just felt as a huge Queeensryche fan that the first few greats were better than those big selling records.  I also realize that put them on the map to the mainstream music scene.  Queensryche came into my life with the record, which was “Hear In The Now Frontier.”  I am not old school metal head and I wish I was.  I am in my mid 30’s and grew up with sisters that love the hard rock and metal scene.  I loved that record and started to explore their record.  I understand most fans of this band feel about that record and I agree.  I have always put that record to my heart.  I love this record and I will play the crap out of this record.  I just might have to but a new one and that will be the first since Van Halen’s Balance record.  The music is Queensryche and they did a great job writing on it.  Todd did a great job on this record. He is replacing one of the best metal singers of all time.  Tate is in my top five metal singers of all times.  It is hard to replace a guy like that, however, I believe he has done it.  He does not like sound like Tate but Todd comes extremely close to it.  He has his own twist and uses it in the right ways.  This is a Queensryche record.  It is not like that Tate version of Queensryche.  Just what I said in that blog, Geoff needs to take some time off.  I believe he is burn out and needs a long vacation.  I know what that does to a rock star, however, “quality is always better than quantity,” said Todd La Torre (www.blabbermouth.net.)  I have to agree with what Todd has to say.  After listening to this record, there is no doubt that this Queensryche will win the court case this fall.  Geoff Tate was last member of the original five to join the group and has put out three solo records (The third record is his version of Queensryche.)  I am proud of this band I really hope I can see them on tour.  I highly recommend this record.  Go get some!  Drink it!  Enjoy it!  Metal it!  \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email:  djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter:  @djweiser

Credit Source:  (I pick up the history part from wikipedia.)

New Music Monday Queensryche Frequency Unknown (Tate Version)

In this Music Monday blog, we are going to get into the new release from Queensryche and it is called Frequency Unknown.  This release is the Geoff Tate version of the band.  Queensryche spite with their lead singer and former band mates are fighting over the name.  The other Queensryche will be releasing a new record with their new lead singer. I will have that review here soon.

History

Queensryche was founded in 1982 in Washington.  Chris DeGarmo met Mark Wilton to form a band called Joker.  Mark Wilton met Scott Rockenfield and Chris met Eddie Jackson.  They changed the name to The Mob.  Geoff Tate joined but he was not interested in playing metal covers.  The band recorded their first EP called Queen Of The Reich.  The band discovered there was another band with the same name of The Mob.  They rename the band Queensryche from their first EP.  The key is they misspelled it.  Queensryche was signed EMI Records in 1983.  They supported the EP with a tour by opening up for Quiet Riot and Twisted Sister.  After the tour, they went into the studio to record The Warning, which is their first studio release, and it was released in 1984.  Their second record was called Rage Of Order in 1986. In 1988 Queensryche release their first Concept Record which is known as Operation: Mind Crime.  The band toured with Metallica, Guns and Roses, and Def Leppard.  After that successful record, the band put out in 1990 their must successful and most selling record known as Empire.  Just like Mind Crime, Empire pumped out several hits and the record reached #7 on the United States music charts.  The band appeared on MTV Unplugged and released Live record with Operation:  Mind Crime.  The band took time off but in 1994 they released the follow-up to Empire which is Promise Land.  Like most Metal bands, they took a hit when the grunge scene hit the mainstream.  The band put out their final record with original lead guitar player Chris DeGarmo.  The record was called Hear In The Now Frontier.  The record had two hits but record itself did not do good.  Chris left the band and it was not made public why he left the band.  He is now a full-time pilot.  Chris was replaced by Kelly Gray and he produced their next release called Q2K in 1999.  Just like Hear In The Now Frontier, the fans did not like the direction of the band.  The band was forced to play in clubs and theaters like most of their peers.  The band put out their second live record in 2001 and fired Kelly Gary for ongoing problems and personal habits.  In 2003, the band enter the studio to worked on Tribe and reports that Chris DeGarmo worked with the band again.  He helped co write four songs but he never rejoin or decline that he was part of the band.  However Kelly Gary’s replacement was Mark Stone, which work with Tate on his first solo record, Mark Stone finished the record as the second guitar player.  The band went on tour with Dream Theater to support in 2003.  In 2004, Queensryche got a ton of interested from fans when they announced they are going to do a follow-up to the 1988’s release Operation:  Mind Crime.  Operation:  Mind Crime II was released under new record label Rhino in 2006.  The band put a greatest hits called Signs Of The Time with Chris DeGarmo on one new song.  In 2007, the band put out a cover record that was called Take Cover.  Mark Stone left the band to work on his side project called Speed-X but there was reports that he was fired from the band.   Mark was forced to record both the lead and rhythm guitar parts for American Soldier, which was three concept record, that Queensryche put out.  It was released in 2009.  Dedicated to Chaos was the final record with Geoff Tate  and it was released 2011.  The band had a meeting without Tate and they decided to outsource their fan club and fire their band manager, who is Tate’s wife.  The band hired Todd La Torre as the lead singer.  Geoff Tate filed a lawsuit against the band on that he has the rights to the name.  The judge ruled that Tate and his former band mates could use the name until the next court date which is in November of 2013.  This blog is on the Tate version of the band.  He has several artist and former members of the Queensryche band.  Let us get into the music.

Track List

Cold

There is some strong action from the drums and an awesome guitar riff.  Tate’s singing is really strong.  I am not a fan of the lyrics.  I can barely hear the vocals in the song.  It just seems like the guitar is right by the recording mic the whole time.  There is a nice guitar solo towards the end of the song.

Dare

There is some nice guitar work and drum action at the beginning.  Tate is more to the front as the guitars seems like they are in the background.  I am not a fan of the lyrics.  It just seems like these first two songs the lyrics were rushed to get the record out to the public.  I am not sure how I feel towards the middle of the song.  I love the guitar build up from the break and the ending.

Give It To You

I love the acoustic guitar at the beginning of the song.  I really do not like Tate’s singing in this song.  Once again, I am not a fan of the lyrics.  This song has a good pace to it.  There is a nice guitar solo towards the end of the song.  There is some great music so far on this record.

Slave

I really love the guitar work at the beginning of the song.  The drums and bass are pretty solid too.  I love the guitar work when Geoff Tate comes in singing.  Once again, I am not fan of the lyrics and singing, however, it is better than the first few songs.  I am starting to see an ongoing theme in  this record to me.  There is some nice drumming towards the end of the song.

In The Hands Of God

I am not sure how I feel about the beginning of the song.  The guitar work is a little weird for Queensryche music.  I am not a fan of lyrics but his singing is pretty good.  I really do not like the back up vocals on this song.  The low to high singing is not working for this song.  I kind of like the guitar solo.  This is a bad song from start to finish.

Running Backwards

I like the guitar work and the drums and bass are pretty strong in this song.  Running Backwards has a nice start to the song.  I am not a fan once again of the lyrics.  It is a little better than the rest of the record.  It just seems like they put Tate’s vocals in the background to the rest of the band.  There is a nice guitar solo in the back half of the song.

Life Without You

Life Without You has a strong guitar and drumming work.  It calms down like old Queensryche.  I am not sure on how I feel about the drums and bass during the main riff.  I just feel the lyrics were rushed but this is the best set of lyrics on this record.  I do like the bass work towards the back half of the song.

Everything

Everything starts out with some nice piano work and almost like drum machine that Linkin Park would use in their music   The music seems so far in the background.  The guitar and bass are pretty good.  Geoff Tate has some good singing but the lyrics I could do without.   Tate sounds like he is singing in the metal box.  The chorus on this song is really good along with the lyrics.  I believe this is one of the better songs on the record.  The guitars on this record are too much in the front over the rest of the band.

Fallen

I love the drums and the guitar work at the beginning of the song.  I can hear but barely hear the second guitar solo.  I do not like the lyrics on this song.  The music is pretty solid on Fallen.  There is a nice guitar solo towards the back half of the song.  Please, do not sing over the guitar solo and it did not fit.  There are some songs it fits but not here.

The Weight Of The World

I love the acoustic guitar at the beginning of the song.  I can do without the reverb and delay on Tate’s vocals.  I kind of do not like his singing and melody.  Plus, on top of all this for being the last song the lyrics are pretty bad.  This song just seems too slow for everything that is going on in the song.  There is a pretty neat guitar solo towards the end of the song.

Re-record Hits

I Don’t Believe In Love

I really love this song and I get why bands re-record their hits.  I have to say this a really bad version of this song.  The guitar sounds too bright and Tate has too much reverb on his vocals.  It just seems so empty.  The back up vocals are bad.

Empire

The guitar seems different and drums are too bright.  I can barely hear the bass and once again Tate has reverb on his vocals.  It is not as bad as I Don’t Believe In Love.  The back up vocals are a little better on this song.  This is a pretty solid re recording of Queensryche classic song.

Jet City Woman

It is something with the studio where they recorded all these songs.  They seems so empty and the guitar solo seems a little different than the original.  Tate’s vocals are like the original but there is still too much reverb.  Towards the end of the song, it seems like kids are doing the back ground vocals with Tate.  This is bad version.

Silent Lucidity

It is something with the studio they are recording in because all these songs seems very empty and has a ton of holes in them.  This one seems ok and better than the rest of the songs.  Tate just seems like he is singing a little different in this version.  It is not good but it is far from the original song.  It is just another bad version.

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.queensryche.com

Twitter:  @queensryche @geofftate

In closing, I am a huge fan of Queensryche and I was sad to hear they broke up.  I was excited to see each version come up with music.  I have to say this version of Queensryche is NOT Queensryche.  Sorry Tate!  I love your singing and I will still support you and your former band mates.  This record is Tate’s solo record and it is a shame that the Queensryche name is all over this record.  This hurts the brand than helps it.  I will say this is better than Tate’s first record. His second solo record was better than these two records. I have not heard the other version of Queensryche minus Tate.  Who knows that might be bad too.  The parts I have heard I am a little excited because the new singer sounds like a younger Tate.  Plus, I love the fact they are going back to the earlier records.  If this was a Tate solo record, I would have loved it and I still do to some point.  I have to block the name out to maybe it will grow to like this record.  There are some pretty good songs but there are too many fillers.  I believe Tate needs to take a year off from lyric writing and relax.  I believe he is over work and burn himself out.  Please, let me know what you think of this record.  Go get some!  Drink it!  Enjoy it!  Metal it!  \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email:  djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter:  @djweiser

Credit Source:  (I pick up the history part from wikipedia.)

New Music Monday Blog Filter The Sun Comes Out Tonight

In this Music Monday Blog, Filter is the feature band and the new record called “The Sun Comes Out Tonight.”  Filter is well-known in the 1990’s for their huge hit “Hey Man Nice Shot,” which everyone thought they were talking about Kurt Cobain shooting himself.  It is still mystery of what they were singing about.  Filter had several hits in the 1990’s and I have been a fan since.  Let us get into the history of this band and then the music.

History

Richard Parker, who is one of founding member of Filter, played guitar in a band called Nine Inch Nails.  He tour for NIN record “Pretty Hate Machine.”  Richard left the band after the tour and began a new project which would be called Filter with Brain Liesegang.  Filter signed record company in 1994 with Reprise Records.  “Short Bus” was released in 1995 with the big hit “Hey Man Nice Shot.”  They had another hit off that record called “Dose.”  Filter went back into the studio in 1998 to start working on their second record which would be release in 1999 and it was called “Title Of Record.”  They had a three singles which are “Welcome To The Fold,” “The Best Things,” and the huge hit song “Take A Picture.”  Filter went into the studio in 2001 to begin work on “The Amalgamut.”  It was released in 2002 with hit songs like “Where Do We Go From Here,” and “American Cliche.”  Sales of the record were short because of Richard Parker entering Rehab which led to lack of touring and support for the record.  Filter took a break from touring and recording.  Richard Parker team up with members of Stone Temple Pilots to form the supergroup called Army Of Anyone.  Army Of Anyone put out their first record and did not sale very well.  Richard disappointed with the success of that Supergroup project which lead to their break up in 2007.  Filter finally went into the studio to record their fourth record in 2007 and their first since 2002.  The record was called “Anthems for the Damned.”  It was a more serious record than the rest that was released in the past.  The record was finally released in 2008 and had hits like “Soldiers Of Misfortune” and “What’s Next.”  In 2008, Filter started to work on their fifth record called “The Trouble With Angels.”  There was no singles off this record, however, this record brought Filter back to their first three records.  The fan base holds this as their cult classic.   The band enter the studio to record their sixth record which is the one that will be reviewing in this blog and it is called “The Sun Comes Out Tonight.”  The band put out their first single called “What Do You Say.”  Let us get into the music.

Track List

We Hate It When You Get What You Want

The open track has that classic Filter sound to it.  The programming and sampling is awesome.  Richard Parker sounds great.  The drumming and bass work is right there with the old school sound.  Richard has some great lyrics on this song.  Filter keeps it going after their last release, which was “The Trouble With Angels.”  This is a great opening track.

What Do You Say

The first single off this great record is “What Do You Say.”  Just like the opening track, “What Do You Say” starts out like the old Filter sound.  I believe this band never really loss its sound.  They were experimenting on their fourth record.  There is nothing wrong with that and still was a pretty good record.  Richard is singing is solid with some awesome lyrics.  He has his screaming going on in this song.  The music from the guitar, bass, and drums are solid.  I love the music breaks in “What Do You Say.”  This is a perfect first single off this record.  It also has a nice ending.

Surprise

I love the start of this song with the samples and acoustic guitar.  Richard’s singing is really good on this song.  This song reminds me of “Take A Picture.”  He has out did himself on this song.  The drums are really good.  This song right now is my favorite song off this record so far.  I really enjoyed the build up towards the end of the song.  “Surprise” has a nice and fitting finish.

Watch The Sun Come Out Tonight

I love the effects on the samples and the vocals.  Richard comes in with an awesome guitar riff that turns out to be the main riff.  Once again, I tip my hat to him for having some solid lyrics and music.  I am loving the drums and bass on this song.  It is a perfect back up to the singing and guitar.  I love the ending of this song.

It’s Got To Be Right Now

I love the guitar effects on the one guitar.  The other guitar is same riff but really solid.  I love the singing and the lyrics.  This song seems like it could have been part of their 1990’s records.  The drums and bass are simple but this is perfect for the song.  It is what the song is calling for in its theme and process.  This is not the best song but not the worse on this record.  The lyrics are to the point and love the build up for the ending.

This Finger’s For You

The drums kind of has a flare from Led Zeppelin but a little bit heavier at the beginning.  I love the guitar and programing while Richard sings.  There is some pretty solid music and lyrics on this song.  The drums and bass are about where they need to be with the process of this song.  The music is awesome and this can be turn up without leaving anything behind.  The title of the song explains everything.  I love the music break with a semi guitar solo.  I love the sampling drums at the end of the song.

Self Inflicted

I love Richard screaming at the beginning.  It brings me to the old school of Filter.  This song seems like “Hey Man Nice Shot.”  I love the lyrics.  They are straight to the point and have some meaning.  I love the verses music and then the pick up for the chorus.  Parker has written some great music for this song.  I love the pace of this song.  It has a nice ending.

First You Break It

I love the acoustic guitar and pace at the beginning of this song.  Once again, this song reminds me of “Take A Picture.”  For programming metal band, their Ballard or slow songs are really good.  They make sense and not what you expect from them.  The lyrics and music are solid.  This is up there as one of my favorite songs off this record.  The drums move this song not the singer or guitar player.  The drummer leads us to a nice journey of music.  I love the singing towards the end and the build up.

Burn It

I love the programming at the beginning of the song.  The guitar in the background is a nice touch.  When it comes forward, it is right in your face.  The lyrics are pretty solid for the theme of this song.  I love Richard’s singing.  He is on it like back in the 1990’s.  I just wish and hope this band gets some looks from this record.  There is a nice pace to music and the drums are really solid off this track.  Richard has a nice guitar solo towards the back half of the song.

Take That Knife Out Of My Back

The sampling and programming is slow and nice to the point.  The lyrics are simple but perfect.  I believe this is the last song they wrote for the record.  I love the guitar riff in the song.  Richard’s screaming is perfect along with the drums and bass playing.  There is a nice pace to the song.  This is a pretty solid song towards the end.  I believe this should be the second single off this record.  It has a nice ending.

It’s My Time

I love the piano action at the beginning of the song.  I love the lyrics along with the music.  This is thinking music but to me this is thinking about growing up listening to this band.  Damn, time has went by pretty fast.  Richard has still has it as a song and lyric writer.  These songs make me want to get back into music.  This is a great song.

It’s Just You

The beginning of this song reminds of something off Owl City record.  However, Filter put their twist on it. There is some solid music and lyrics.  I am so proud of this band of what they are and what they have become in the world of hard rock and metal.  I love the lyrics and it comes straight from the heart.  I love the ending and this is a perfect ending to this great record.  FILTER is BACK!!!  Last record is the same thing.

Here is original Line Up:

  • Richard Patrick – Vocals, Guitars, Bass, Programming, Drums, Producer, Engineer
  • Brian Liesegang – Programming, Keyboards, Guitars, Drums, Producer, Engineer
  • Matt Drvenkar – Answering Machine Vocals
  • Kevin Hanley – Additional Guitar Noise

Here is their current Line Up:

  • Richard Patrick – Lead Vocals, Guitare
  • Jonathan Radtke  – Guitar, Backing Vocals
  • Phil Buchman – Bass Guitar
  • Jeff Friedl – Drums
  • Elisa Mallin – Drums

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.officialfilter.com

Twitter:  @OfficialFilter @RichardPatrick

In closing, I have not been disappointed with this band’s music since they started.  They have not put out a bad record.  I am not a huge fan but I will say I have becoming more and more of huge fan.  I believe this record has put me to the point I have become a huge fan.  I have grown up listening to this band and I was too stuck in the past,which meaning like the 1970’s and 1980’s.  I believe their was nothing wrong with that. I still follow this band like Candlebox, Stone Temple Pilots, Cold, Soundgarden, and Alice In Chains.  There are band I wish would have kept on going but this band I am glad is still going.  They put out a solid record and you need to support them.  If you are new to this band, please, go back and check out the rest of their music.  I highly recommend this music.  Go get some!  Drink it!  Enjoy it!  Metal it!  \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email:  djweiser13@comast.net

Twitter:  @djweiser

Credit Source:  (I pick up the history part from wikipedia.)

New Music Monday Black Sabbath 13

In this special Music Monday blog, we are going to take a look at a record many of us have been waiting for in years.  We are talking about the new music from Black Sabbath.  This is the first new studio record from Black Sabbath with Ozzy as the lead singer in about 35 years.  I have to say this record has went over really well with everyone in the world.  This record went #1 in the first week in 50 countries.  Let us get into the history of this great pioneer metal band and then the music.

History

Black Sabbath was founded in 1968 under the name of Earth.  As they have learned later on they found there was another band under the same band name of Earth in England.  Earth changed their name to Black Sabbath in 1969 from 1963 horror movie Black Sabbath.  They wrote their most haunting and evil song after their band name.  Black Sabbath was signed to Warner Bros in the states.  They release their debut record of Black Sabbath in 1970.  The record companies push Sabbath back into the studio in June of 1970 to record their second record.  It was supposed to be called “War Pigs.”  Warner Bros changed the name to “Paranoid” and lead with the title track as their first single.    “Paranoid” was released in early part of 1971 and went to #2 on the music charts.  In the early part of 1971, the band enter the studio to record “Master Of Reality.”  Following the World Tour of “Master Of Reality,” the band took break from touring and recording.  However, in June 1972, the band was back in the studio recording “Vol. 4”, it would be released in later part of 1972.  In the summer of 1973, they enter the studio, which was a house outside of Los Angeles, to record “Sabbath Bloody Sabbath.”  The record was released in the later parts of 1973 after a long and beat up time to come up with music and ideas for “Sabbath Bloody Sabbath.’  Sabbath went on a World Tour for the year of 1974.  In the early part of 1975, the band started working on “Sabotage.”  It would be released in July 1975.   Also in 1975, the record company put out the band’s first greatest hit, which was called “We Sold Our Souls For Rock And Roll.”  In 1976, Black Sabbath added a keyboard player, who was Gerry Woodruffe, to their next record, which was “Technical Ecstasy.”    It was released on September 1976.  In 1977, Ozzy quits the band just before Sabbath was supposed to be entering the studio.  Dave Walker was brought in to replace Ozzy on vocals.  They performed live with their new song “Junior’s Eyes.”  Ozzy had a change of mind on leaving the band and wanted to rejoin the band in January 1978.  Ozzy was welcome back but all the new songs they wrote with Dave Walker had to be tossed because Ozzy could not sing those songs.  “Never Say Die!” was released later part of 1978 and it marked the last studio recording for Ozzy in Sabbath for a while.  The band return to LA area to start working on new songs but the band was doing too much drugs and drinking way too much.  Ozzy had no ideas and did not want to practice. Ozzy was busy getting drunk and doing drugs. Tony fired Ozzy and had Bill Ward his buddy and lead singer he was not the singer of Black Sabbath anymore.  The band went through several line up changes in the 1980’s.  Ronnie James Dio replace Ozzy on vocals and this was the most success the band had in the 1980’s.  They also had Ian Gillin, who was from Deep Purple fame, on “Born Again” record as the lead singer, which to this day it is cult classic.  Then the band had Tony Martin and Ray Gillan, who replaced Glenn Hughes.  Glenn Hughes was on the record “The Seventh Star.”  Glenn to this day still does not remember recording that record with Tony.  At this time in Sabbath, Tony was the only original member of the band.  This record was supposed to be Tony’s first solo record but the record company said no to the idea.  Finally, in 1997 Black Sabbath with all four original reunited for a tour on the Ozzfest.  They would play along the side of Ozzy’s solo band.  The band did several recordings in Europe for their live record called “Reunion” that was released 1998.  It also mark the first time in years that the band recorded new music in a studio with Ozzy.  They recorded three songs but only two made the live record.  In the spring of 2001, the band went into the studio with Rick Rubin to start working on new record with Ozzy on vocals but Ozzy was called away to finish up his solo record “Down To Earth.”  Black Sabbath reunited with the Heaven And Hell line up and toured with Dio.  The band later started to work on new songs for the new Black Sabbath.  The band released the new record, which was “The Devil You Know,” under the band name of Heaven And Hell.  The band toured the world until Dio received some bad new about his health.  Ronnie James Dio pasted away on May 2010 from stomach cancer.  The Stand Up And Shout Cancer Fund is still active to this day and please support.  Rest In Peace Dio!  In November 2011, Black Sabbath reunites with Ozzy on vocals in the studio with producer Rick Rubin.  Bill Ward could not play the drums because of other things going on in his life.  There are several different stories out there about this situation.  Brad Wilk of Rage Against Machine was called in to play drums on the record.  “13” was released last week in the United States.  It has mark the first studio record from Black Sabbath in 18 years and the first with Ozzy in 35 years.  Let us get into the music!

Track List

End Of The Beginning

The classic dark dooming guitar riff from Tony at the beginning.  It is supported by some great drumming and bass playing.  This song reminds of something off the early Black Sabbath.  This is really creepy.  I love how Ozzy is singing over the guitar playing.  This song is extremely haunting and awesome.  I love the lyrics.  This is a great opening track to this great record.  I love the pick up towards the middle of the song.  I also love the fact that Ozzy has no effects on his vocals.  He also sounds really good on his singing.  Tony has a nice guitar solo towards the end of the song.  I love how they let the drums and bass fill the spaces during the guitar solo.  I mean there is a rhythm guitar but it is not over the top like most rhythm guitars with the solo.

God Is Dead?

God Is Dead? is  the first single off this record.  Just like the opening track, this song is pretty creepy.  They have found the fountain of youth on this record so far.  I love the guitar work.  The drums and bass is pretty solid.  They have out did themselves on the music.  Once again, Ozzy has no effects on his vocals.  He sounds like old school Ozzy.  I love the pick up for the chorus and then the music pulls back to the background during the versus while Ozzy’s vocals are pushed forward over the music.  The band has written some great lyrics and music.  This is a great song for a single.  This record seems like it could be forty years old.  Tony has a great guitar solo towards the end of the song.  I love the time changes on this song.

Loner

I love the start to Loner with the solid guitar, drums, and bass.  This song seems like it would have been part of “Master of Reality” or “Vol. 4.”  This is classic Ozzy singing and lyrics.  I am really loving the fact there is no effects on his vocals.  I am really enjoying this guitar solo and I love the effects that are put on the Tony’s guitar.  Brad has done an awesome job on the drums.  Tony did a pretty good job on the ending guitar solo to finish up the song.

Zeitgeist

Tony has the Planet Cavern acoustic guitar sound going.  Bard playing the congas is a very nice touch.  This is the only time that Ozzy has effects on his vocals and it is perfect.  The bass is just right from one of the best in the business.  I love the lyrics on Zeitgeist.  Tony has some great guitar work towards the end of the song.  It is a nice touch for the song.

Age Of Reason

Brad has some awesome drumming and the bass and guitars are solid.  Ozzy is singing is solid and lyrics are really good.  I am loving the pace of this song.  I love how this song developed with the some keyboard action in the middle of the song.  I love the music on this song.  There is awesome guitar riffs throughout this song.  Tony puts together a pretty good guitar solo in the later parts of this song.  It has a perfect ending.

Live Forever

The guitar riff is pretty solid with the drums and bass at the beginning of  “Live Forever.”  The main riff is classic Black Sabbath.  Ozzy has his classic singing with some great lyrics.  Once again, it seems like this song could have been off one of their earlier records.  This is one of my favorite songs so far off this record.  Tony has a solid guitar  solo towards the back half of the song.

Damaged Soul

I love the sample or sound effects they use at the beginning of the song.  I love how the drums, guitar, and bass comes into the song.  The music is pretty solid.  Ozzy has some reverb on his vocals but it fits where they are taking this song.  Classic Tony’s guitar riff bleeds throughout this song.  I love the double vocals from Ozzy.  It gives you the crazy feeling that the song is trying to get out.  Tony has some pretty awesome guitar breaks and solos throughout this song.  The music is awesome on this song.  I am loving the ending guitar solo.

Dear Father

“Dear Father” is the final song off the record before we get into the bonus tracks from special edition from www.bestbuy.com.  There is classic Black Sabbath music and Ozzy singing and lyrics are solid.  I am loving the pace and the feeling on this song.  It is a perfect song to finish this comeback record.  Brad is killing it on the drums.  He is not Bill Ward but if someone told me Bill Ward played on this record, I would have believe them.  I love Ozzy’s melody on this song.  The rain storm is perfect and echoes the time in the past and the record that put them on the map.

Methademic

I love the start of this song.  Tony has a nice acoustic guitar riff.  It is a thinking music.  It then slams right into your face with the distorted and evil guitar riff.  The bass and drums are solid.  Ozzy is solid on his vocals and lyrics.  This song has a good pace to it.  Tony has an awesome guitar solo in the later part of the song.    It has a nice ending to the song.

Peace Of Mind

“Peace Of Mind” has an awesome guitar riff.  It is deep, dark, and thick.  Ozzy has some awesome singing and lyrics also on this song.  Brad drum beat is simple but it is to the point.  I love how the guitar and drums echo off each other.  I love how this song ends.  It is perfect.

Pariah

I love the beginning of Pariah.  There is an awesome main riff.  Bulter is all over that bass along with Tony’s guitar work.  Dear lord, this has to be the best song of the bonus tracks and maybe the record itself.  This has to be a song they never used back in the day.  This is a great song.  I love how they moved the guitar down to an acoustic in the later part of the song.  It goes back to distorted and Tony has guitar solo that fits this song.

Naivete In Black

“Naivete In Black” is the finally song from the bonus tracks and the record.  I love the fast pace of the song.  Ozzy has been pretty solid throughout this record.  The lyrics are done up really well.  I love the movements of the riffs.  Tony has a nice guitar break in the middle of the song.  I love the ending to this song and the riff going out.

Current Line Up

  • Ozzy Osbourne – Lead Vocals
  • Tonny Iommi – Guitars
  • Geezer Bulter – Bass

Special Guest Drummer

  • Brad Wilk – Drums

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.blacksabbath.com

Twitter:  @OfficialSabbath

In closing, I am glad Sabbath reunited and put out mind-blowing new record.  It seems like they never broke up and all the music between did not happen.  Geezer Bulter did a great job on the lyrics and bass playing.  Ozzy did a great job helping write the music and the singing.  Tonny Iommi was off the charts good on the guitars.  Brad Wilk from Rage Against The Machine was as close as you are going to get on drums to Bill Ward.  I was pretty sad to see Bill Ward was not playing drums on this record.  I do not understand why but I saw the reports and stories.  It is funny to think that Ozzy was picked on by Geezer and Tony in school would end up fronting one of the pioneers of metal music.  “13” was a solid record from start to finish that is including all the bonus tracks.  I do not know which one is my favorite or favorites.  I enjoyed listening to all the songs.  I am looking forward and hoping to hear more new music from this line up of Black Sabbath.   I highly recommend this record from the old school metal guys or the new to the music of metal.  Go get some!  Drink it!  Enjoy it!  Metal it!  \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email:  djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter:  @djweiser

Credit Source:  (I pick up the history part from wikipedia and some from stories I heard throughout the years.  Most came from Talking Metal and Eddie Trunk.)

New Monday Music Blog Left Setter Irene

In this Monday Music Blog, we are going back to 2009 where a local Chicago Hard Rock band, who is Left Setter, puts out a record called Irene.  I decided to go back and listen to this record to write a review because I heard they reunited for a few shows in Chicagoland area this summer of 2013.  There is very little information on the history of this band.  I will have to get with the band to get the history of it.  This is their third release from Left Setter.  Let us get into the music.

Refuse To Care

This song starts out like a 1990’s hard rock music.  It also has a little baby bedtime music theme.  There is a nice simple guitar and off beat bass line.  There is some nice drumming also in this song.  This song sounds like something that Stone Temple Pilots would do in their career.  I do not know about that heavy breathing in the later part of the song.  George has some nice guitar work towards the middle of the song.

Last Days With You

There is some nice heavy guitar work at the beginning and then simmer down.  There is some nice bass and drum work on this song.  It has a nice support to the guitar and vocals.  I like the lyrics on this song.  This song is in your face but you do not realize it until you get to the later parts of this song.  I am loving the bass work towards end of the song with the guitar over the top of it.  Nice touch on the ending.

Good Mourning America

I love the guitar work at the beginning.  I can hear the Beatles influence in this song and a touch of Stone Temple Pilots again.  I wonder if this is what the Beatles would have sounded like in modern-day.  The lyrics and musics has Beatles sound of their heyday or the 1960’s Classic Rock bands.  This song is short and gets to the point.  I like the ending of this song.

March Into The City

March Into The City starts out with a nice bassline and a perfect guitar riff.  It is not over the top like most guitar players normally do in their songs with the bassist.  I love the simple drum beat.  I am also loving the effects on the vocals.  I am loving the build up of this song.  I love the lyrics.  I am loving the endings of the last few songs.

Bobby Deniro

Boddy Deniro has a little punk feel to the song.  It is fast pace and with nice music.  I am not a real fan of the back up vocals on this song.  I just feel it is forced and it is not natural to the song.  George has some nice guitar work from clean to dirty effects on his guitar.  Nick is singing extremely well on this song.

Collide

Collide has some piano work on this song with a nice guitar work over the top of it.  I am love the drums and bass work on this song.  It makes this song powerful.  I am loving the lyrics and singing from Nick.  The back up vocals are perfect on this song.  The piano gives this band another element in a positive light.  George has a nice guitar solo towards the end of the song.

Thief Without A Conscience

I love the beginning of this song.  It has a little Red Hot Chili Peppers feel to it at the beginning.  I love the drums, bass, and guitar work to set the stage to this song.  I love the lyrics.  Nick kind of sounds like Don Dokken off Shadowlife.  This is a deep and well thought up song.  Left Setter put some thought when they wrote this song.

Women And Children First

Women And Children First starts out like an AC/DC song.  It goes to the main riff like something in your face.  I love the theme and the lyrics of this song.  The music is very well written.  I love the drumming and the bass work.  The backbone of the band is playing their ass off on this song.  It has a nice ending to the song.

Drowning Muse

The last song on this record starts off like something you would heard from Beatles or Pink Floyd in early part of their career.  This song more I think about it reminds me Dazed Or Confused from Led Zeppelin or Planet Cavern from Black Sabbath.   Nick wrote a nice melody and lyrics on this song.  I love the pick up towards the end of the song.  I am loving the drumming.  It comes back down to where it was before.  This is a thinking man’s song.  I am loving the ending with Nick just singing it out.

Here is the line up off Irene:

  • Nick Langis – Lead Vocals, Keyboards
  • George Langis – Guitars, Vocals, Piano
  • Sean Keenehan – Drums, Vocals, Percussion
  • Turan Yon – Bass Guitar

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.leftsetter.com

Twitter:  no twitter account

Where to buy their records?

Their Website:  www.leftsetter.com

CD Baby:  www.cdbaby.com

Closing, I love this record and Left Setter did a great job on all of their songs.  You can hear their influences through out this record.  Neil Young move over Left Setter has taken your spot for today’s youth.  They had some thoughts of time on our government and this is what music is for and the art of it.  The songs that are my favorites are  March Into The City, Last Days With You, and Collide.  If you live in the Chicago area, you need to check out this band during this summer.  If you do not live in Chicago and is a fan of great music, you need to check them out.  Go get some!  Drink it!  Enjoy it!  Metal it!  \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email:  djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter:  @djweiser

New Music Monday Blog Texas Hippie Coalition Peacemaker

In this Music Monday blog, we are going to get into one of my favorite new artist in the last five years.  I have been a fan since their indy release where I pick it up from www.CDbaby.com.   The band is called Texas Hippie Coalition and the record is their third, which is called Peacemaker.  This band was formed in the northern part of Texas in 2008.  They tour to support from coast to coast for “Pride Of Texas.”  THC, who is Texas Hippie Coalition, calls their music “Red Earth Metal.”  They were influenced by the southern hard rock and some country.  THC signed with Carved Records and release their first national release which is called “Rollin’.”  “Rollin'” topped on the United States Heatseekers, which is entering or new music, at number 29.  “Peacemaker” was released in 2012 under the same record company and this is the record that will be review in this Music Monday blog.  Let us get into the music.

Hands Up

Hands Up starts out with a nice guitar work at the beginning.  It has some great drums and bass work too.  I love the singer’s vocals.  He has the classic rock to Pantera twist to his singing.  This has a nice driving feel to the song.  I love the feeling of this song and this is a great opening track.  I love the start so far to the record. Great ending to the song too.

Damn You To Hell

I love the start of this song.  It reminds me of something from Pantera back in the day.  This is a really great start for THC on this record.  Damn You To Hell has a nice driving feeling to it.  I really enjoying the guitar solo towards in the end of the song.  I love the lyrics and they are right in your face.  This song has a nice ending.

8 Seconds

I love the start of this song from the drums, bass, and guitar.  I love how the guitars bend and twisted between each other.  I love the lyrics and the melody.  This is a great song.  There is some nice guitar breaks  towards the middle of the song.  I love the build up to the end of the song.  Nice ending from the guitar and the drums.

Outlaw

I love the start of this song.  It has a metal country feel in his vocals.  There is some nice drums and guitar work.  I really enjoying the lyrics.  This is one of the best songs I heard from this band.  I love the chorus riff from the guitar.  I love the pace of this song too.  It has a nice guitar solo towards the end of the song.  It has a nice ending to the song.

Turn It Up

Turn it Up has some nice guitar work with some great drums and bass.  I love the singing from the singer when came into the song.  You can tend that it is about to snap into something heavy, which it does during the chorus.  I love the lyrics to this song.  This band could be huge in the 1990’s or even the 1980’s.  I love the pace to this song.  This is a great song.  So far this record is not a disappointment.  I love the guitar solo towards the end of the song.  There is some well placed back up vocals which makes sense in this song.

Wicked

I love the throw back 1980’s heavy guitar riff.  It rides on one note with the bass echoing it.  It is heavy as hell and I miss that in songs today until then.  I love the lyrics from the singer.  It has some great lyrics.  This song reminds me the good old days of metal.  I love the pace to this song.  There is a nice guitar solo towards the end of the song.  This is a great song.  I love how they ended the song.  Perfect on the fade out towards the end of it.

Don’t Come Lookin’

I love how they started out with the acoustic guitar and back to the distorted guitar.  It also had a nice short guitar solo towards the beginning of the song.  This song is a well written song.  They did a great job in all parts of the band on this song.  I love how they are bring the touch of the acoustic guitar.  I love the guitar solo towards the end of the song.  I have not heard some good guitar solos from a newer metal group in a long time.  It is very nice to hear it.  It has a great ending like all the rest of the songs.

Sex & Drugs & Rock And Roll

This song has some great guitar work and I love the effect that they put on it at the beginning.  I am also loving the acoustic guitar touch to this song just like Don’t Come Lookin’.  The singer is singing his heart out of this song.  There is some well written lyrics on this song.  He has some great ideas on songs.  I love the theme of this song.  I love the touch on the singing at the end of the song.  This is a great song.

Paw Paw Hill

I love the start of this song.  It has a heavy folk and southern theme.  It comes in with some great guitar work that is heavy as hell.  I love lyrics that touch on the sweet leaf and moonshine.   This song has a nice pace to it.  He has written some great lyrics on this song too.  I feel this song needs a guitar solo to break up the singing.  Asides that, this is a great song.

Peacemaker

I love the beginning of the song with the singer and the high-end bass riff.  Bassist goes lower as the song goes on with the nice touch with the guitar and drums.  I love the lyrics.  I have a feeling this song has back meaning that will come out in the later part of their career.  There is some nice guitar work from the rhythm and the lead.  I love the guitar solo towards the end of the song.  This is a great song.

Think Of Me

I love the piano action and the nice over the top guitar solo.  I really love the singing from the singer and the lyrics.  There is some great guitar work when it hits the main part of the song.  This is a great song and I did not see this one coming from this band.  I love the theme and lyrics in this song.  THC did a great job writing this song and record.  This is today’s power Ballard taken to the next level.  Nice guitar solo towards the end of this song.  I love the fact that they finish this song with the piano and then go back to the drums, guitar, and bass.  I love how they ended the song with the piano and the singer.

Here is the current line up of Texas Hippie Coalition:

Big Dad Ritch – Vocals
John Exall – Bass
Wes Wallace – Guitar
Gunnar Molton – Dummer

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.theoutlaw.com

Twitter:  @THCOffical

In closing, I am really happy with this record.  THC did a great job on this record and I love the process of this band as they move through their career.  I enjoy the music and the feeling of the old times when I was growing up listening to Pantera and White Zombie.  I am glad there is a band like Texas Hippie Coalition.  I am looking forward to seeing this band live.  I hope to see more music in the next few years.  This band is for really and I will write any review to get more people to know this band.  This is modern-day metal and I hope they stay together.  I hope one time in my life I could have some beers with this band.  Go get some!  Drink it!  Enjoy it!  Metal it!  \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email:  djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter:  @djweiser

New Music Monday Blog Aerosmith Music from Another Dimension!

In this Music Monday Blog, we are going to get into the latest and overdue record from Boston Legends known as Aerosmith.  Aerosmith’s last record was Honkin’ On Bobo which was released in 2004.  It has been twelve years for original music and that record was Just Push Play in 2001.  Aerosmith was founded in 1970 in Boston.  Aerosmith signed with Columbia Records in 1971 and in 1973 Aerosmith debut record hit the shelves.  Aerosmith is a really successful band in American history.  They have sold over 150 million records worldwide and 65.5 million in the United States.  Aerosmith was put in the Rock and Roll Hall Of Fame in 2001 and listed in Rolling Stones 100 Greatest Artist Of All Time.  Aerosmith has put out 15 studio records, 5 live records, 11 greatest records, 68 singles, and 7 video records.  We are going to do the latest from this band and it is 15th record, which is called Music From Another Dimension!  Let us get into the music.

LUV XXX

There is a voice in the opening track.  It gives you an outer space type of feel and sets theme of this record from Aerosmith.  I am loving the drums, bass, and guitar work at the beginning of the song.  I am not liking the singing and effects on Tyler’s vocals.  I am not a fan of lyrics either.  The music is old school Aerosmith but the singing is something you would hear from Moroon 5.  The music kind sounds like Love In Elevator and melody.  I am love the guitar break from Joe Perry.  Joey Kramer still has it on the drums.  Great music but just bad lyrics on this song.  I hope this not a theme throughout this record.

Oh Yeah

Great drumming at the beginning of Oh Yeah, the guitar has a late 1970’s feel to it.  I am not too sure on the lyrics just like the opening track.  The music is pretty solid with a nice guitar break and then a little guitar solo from Joe.  I am not a fan of singing and lyrics.  This record is missing something and it feels like it was rushed even though they took forever to out this record.  I did like that ending to Oh Yeah.

Beautiful

What is up with the beginning of this song?  Come on stop reliving the rap days of Aerosmtih and Run DMC.  Steve you can not rap and same thing with the rest of your band members.  This song is really bad.  They should have put a rapper on this song.  It would have been a little better because the music is pretty solid.  I love the guitar solo from Joe.  I am glad there was a good solo at least.  So far this is the worse song out there and on this record.

Tell Me

I am love the beginning of this song.  It has nice singing from Steve and acoustic.  Please cut off the reverb on Steve’s vocals.  You are not the greatest singer in the world but you do hold your own.  I did not like how the drums came into Tell Me.  I am kind of liking the lyrics on Tell me.  This is a pretty solid song.  So far this is beyond the best song on the record.  This is what I am looking from this legendary band.

Out Go The Lights

Out Go The Lights has a some solid guitar and drumming that echoes some from their earlier work.  Joey has some solid drumming and bass playing from Brad.  The lyrics are pretty good too.  Steve is singing like he did in the past.   Is this record turning period in the right direction after the first three bad songs? Joe has a solid guitar break in the first quarter part of the song.  This is a pretty solid song.  It has well written in every part of this band.  I am loving the back up singing too.  There was a great stop and the start-up from the drums.  Joey then rides the cow bell into sunset.  The back half of the song has some nice trade-off from all the guys in the band while Steve just chills in the background.  There is a nice touch on the fade out of the music for the ending.

Legendardy Child

This song sounds like something off Get A Grip or Just Push Play.  There is a solid start to the song.  I am enjoying the lyrics and guitar work.  The drums and bass are right there up to Aerosmith standards.  So far, Aerosmith has turn the corner on this record.  This is another good song.  Joe has a great guitar solo towards the end of the song.  I like the ending of Legendary Child.

What Could Have Been Love

This is the first Ballard on this record.  I like Steve’s singing and Joey and Joe’s playing on this song.  The lyrics are well written.  I do enjoy their ballads in the past so this one lives up to those songs.  Joey has some great drumming on this song.  There is some great melody.  I just feel this song does not need back up singing.  This is a great song.  I love the ending to the song.

Street Jesus

Street Jesus start out with a sample from the street and the guitar comes in.  It is an average to below average guitar riff.  Steve’s singing is average.  I have heard better from this band.  The main part of the song is Ok.  I really not liking this song.  The title is a little cheesey.  I like the drum beat and the bass playing on Street Jesus.  I could do without the rest of the members on this song.  I really do not like what they did at the end of the song.  At least Joe has a great guitar break and solo in the middle of the song and it sounds like the two guitar players are trading off solos.   I could not finish listening to this song that how bad it was for me.

Can’t Stop Loving You (feature with Carrie Underwood)

Here is another Ballard song on this record.  Steve and Carrie are a good fit on this song.  Their voices and vocals fit perfectly together.  This song has a nice pace to it.  I love how they bend together.  I am also liking the music.  It has a little country touch to it and it is not because Carrie is singing on this song.  Please, cut the reverb off Steve’s voice.  This is a well written song and it is one of my favorites so far on this record.  I love the fade out of the song at the end.

Love Alot

I love the drum action at the beginning.  There is some great music but the lyrics are a little weak again.  I am enjoying the melody that Tyler has on Love Alot.  I just feel there could be better lyrics than the ones that are on this song.  I just feel he is singing the same thing over and over.  I know there are different words but it echoes too much.  I really did not like the ending of the song.

We All Fall Down

The start of We All Fall Down has some singing with piano work which is well written.  Steve has a nice melody and is singing great.  Here is another slow song and the lyrics are average.  They are livable to what I have heard on this record.  To be honest, drums and bass are great on the song but Aerosmith could live without them on this song.  I am loving the guitar riff on this song but really do not need them.  It might make more sense towards the end of the song for the guitar, bass, and drums.  I really not a fan of the ending.

Freedom Fighter

Freedom Fighter has a great bass, guitar, and drum working.   I am not a fan of the singing and the lyrics.  This is pretty bad song.  I really love the music on this song but I could do without the lyrics and singing.  I do not know where they came up with this song.  To me, this is not Aerosmith.  Is this a Joe Perry solo song that he brought over to Aerosmith? I know he has done that in the past and had some success with it.  This song does fall short but I love the ending of the song.

Closer

I love the effects on the guitar at the beginning and a well written riff.  I love the blues singing from Steve.  It fits the feeling of the song and the theme.  The music is pretty good and nice blues guitar solo between versus.  I am also enjoying the lyrics.  It has a pretty solid ending to the song.

Something

The beginning sounds like something from a hockey game and video game.  I am enjoying the guitar playing.  Joe sounds like Gene Simmons after a bender.  He did get better as the song went on but please Joe play the guitar and do back up vocals.  You are not a lead singer.  I do not know how I feel towards this song.  It has a pretty good ending.

Another Last Goodbye

I am enjoying the piano and flute playing at the beginning.  Steve singing is pretty good also and with some really good lyrics.  Steve is singing his heart out on this song.  This is a great song to end this bad record.  Please, do not get me wrong there are some gems on this record.  Damn!  Steve really hit it on this song.  His singing is the best I have heard from him in a long time.  I have to be honest this song could be shorter.  The lyrics getting pretty boring as the song goes on with the singing at the very end of the song.

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.aerosmith.com

Twitter:  @aerosmith

Closing out, I will be really honest on this record.  Is there are some good songs and gems on this record?  Yes, there is but they are not great song or up to Aerosmith’s standards.  I feel they cut them short on many of these songs.  I just feel this record is missing something.  Is the band getting along and are they talking about their music?  I just feel they are not talking to one another.  Two summer ago, Aerosmith almost replace Steve Tyler as lead singer.  I do not know how much of that put into this release.  I just know they have been working on this record for a while.  I am glad they are still together.  I am glad they are touring and I might have to see them this upcoming summer.  I saw them at Tiger Stadium with Kiss and Slavia.  It was one of the best shows I saw that year.  I believe that is the last time I was in Tiger Stadium.  Well to wrap this up, I have to say just because I did not like this record and dogged on it.  It does not mean you will not like it.  We as music fans have a ton of chances to listen to the record before we buy it.  Just what I said there are some good songs.  I just feel there are too many filler songs to get this record out to the people.  Let me know your thoughts.  Go get some!  Drink it!  Enjoy it!  Metal it!  \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email:  djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter:  @djweiser

New Music Monday Blog Hard Rock And Metal Dream Line Up

In this Monday music blog, we are going to talk about my fantasy line up for a Hard Rock and Metal band.  Some of these artists might or might not be part of a metal or hard rock group.  It is kind of marriage of music.  They can be alive or dead.  With the growth of these “Super Groups” this could be a fun topic and I am looking at these artists to be together pass their prime of their career.  Let us get into the line up.

Drummer

I have three drummers in mind just in case if you can not get one.

  1. Jason  Bonham (Led Zeppelin) – I believe his hard and soft hitting would bend in to the thought pattern of this band.
  2. Neil Peart (Rush) – Just like Jason Bonham, Neil does the same thing in Rush and could be a better drummer.  It has been a debate for years with friends.
  3. Robb Reiner (Anvil) – Robb is a really good drummer.  He can keep up with Jason and Neil but the problem he plays too hard at times.  I was going to throw Keith Moon (The Who) but he has the same problem.  I love Robb’s drumming in Anvil and he brings the item of thrash metal and speed that Jason and Neil do not.

Bassist

I have three bassists in mind that could support the drummer and build a solid backbone to this fantasy band.

  1. Joey Gittleman (The Mighty Mighty Bosstones) – Joey coming from Ska band with some punk background would give an item that might work or not work in this fantasy band.  This band needs a bassist that will dance but sit in the pocket and Joey is one of the best in the Ska Scene.
  2. Cliff Burton (Metallica) – I believe we did not get to see the true Cliff Burton because he died too soon.  The short body of work shown me enough to put Cliff at the top of the list  Cliff could sit in the pocket with the drummer but go off and dance around any guitar player.
  3. Pete Way (UFO) – Pete’s style could help seal up the drums to the guitar players while still run around like Cliff did in Metallica.  The problem I would have Pete is lack of pushing the limits.

Keyboard

This player needs to be special and another support item to this band. I have three idea players. There are some rich players that play this instrument.

  1. Paul Raymond (UFO) – He will be a great fit. He is use to play with a great guitar player and bassist. Plus, he will play guitar when it make sense in the song over the keyboard and the other way around. Let us face it, not all songs needs two guitar players or keyboards in it.
  2. Tuomas Holopainen (Nightwish) – He plays both the support as back up and yet can go to the lead over the guitar or bass. He is not a very good singer even though he did sing on the first two records of Nightwish. He could help with the song writing and lyrics.
  3. Billy Joel – I know what you are thinking when I am suggesting Billy Joel. He is a talented player on the piano. The only problem is playing more of a keyboard and not be the lead singer. He can sing a few songs but could be a great back up singer for the lead. Just like (Nightwish), he can help with the sing writing.

Rhythm Guitar Player

This band might not be need two guitar players but if we are going to fill it.  Here is the idea three players.

  1. Paul Raymond (UFO) – see above.
  2. John Sykes (Whitesnakes, Blue Murder, Thin Lizzy) – John  can do everything between lead vocals, lead, and rhythm guitar.  There could be a nice balance between two lead guitar players.  John has done a few of that in Thin Lizzy or Whitesnake.  He could be a good fit in this band.
  3. Chris Garza (Sucide Silence) – This band being a newer band.  There is a short body of work.  This band is an extreme metal group with some speed.  It might give something different than all the classic rock members that I have been naming.

Lead Guitar Player

The lead guitar player needs to be someone special that will not take over the group and make it all about him or her.  He will need to know his role a super group.  You can take out like Eddie Van Halen, Jimi Hendix, etc.

  1. Chris DeGarmo (Queensryche) – This guy was it as far as great metal lead guitar players back in the back in the 1980’s.  He was very underrated.  Everyone had their man crush on Eddie Van Halen, Kirk Hammit, etc.  Chris just like John Sykes can sit in the pocket but when it comes to the solo.  Your mouth will drop to the floor.
  2. John Sykes (Whitesnakes, Blue Murder, Thin Lizzy) – see above.  John could go back and forth, which could be a good thing.
  3. Robby Krieger (The Doors) – Robby like Chris DeGarmo is underrated guitar of his era.  He could fit what the song is doing and the theme of it.  He is a very good player and could support the drums, bass, keyboard, and singer.

Lead Singer

I had a lead singer in mind through out this whole process and I wish  I could head this music from this band.  Here are my three lead singer.

  1. Jim Morrison (The Doors) – Jim could bend his style into in any music and I believe the band could fit this music around his lyrics and poetry.  He was the start of the hard rock and metal music.  His dark themes in his lyrics will go with all the music from all these great artists.
  2. Kevin Martin (Candlebox) – Kevin is an awesome singer.  Kevin’s singing style has an attitude in all songs even in love songs.  Kevin would bend his style to this band. Kevin is a great lyric writer.
  3. Ronnie James Dio (Dio, Rainbow, Black Sabbath) – Why not Ronnie?  Dio is one of the best lead singer in the history of hard rock and metal.  Dio could sing in all styles.  He loved the fantasy so some of these artists could get along with him and write some great music.

Line Up:

  • Jim Morrison (The Doors) – Lead Vocals, Spoke Words
  • Chris DeGarmo (Queensryche) – Lead Guitar, Back Vocals
  • Paul Raymond (UFO) – Rhythm Guitar, Keyboard, Back Vocals
  • Joey Gittleman (The Mighty Mighty Bosstones) – Bass Player, Back Vocals
  • Jason  Bonham (Led Zeppelin) – Drums

In the end, this was tough.  I thought this would be easy.  I realize these band members might not get along.  Jim with his drug and drinking problems would cause a ton of issues in the band alone.  Jim and Jason would be out all night with Joey but Joey would head home after a while.  Chris does not want to be a star nor touring artist that’s why he is not in Queensryche.   Paul would be the leader to keep everyone in line.  The music that this band would put out would be something else.  I would love to hear this music but there are a ton of different styles and I do not know how they would get along.  If you take Joey out on bass and put Cliff, would Cliff put more harmony in this group? Would Kevin or Dio as the lead singer make more sense?  Asides, Jason on drums put Neil on drums.  There are several questions.  How would Eddie Van Halen, Jimmy Page, etc on guitar.  What about Geoff Tate. Tim Ripper Owens, and Rob Halford on vocals?  There are several more questions.  What about extreme metal singer at vocals?  Like Chris Burns?  I like this line up being a fan of them.  Go get some!  Drink it!  Enjoy it!  Metal it!  \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email:  djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter:  @djweiser

New Music Monday Blog Soundgarden King Animal

In this Music Monday Blog, we are going to look at the reunion record of Soundgarden.  King Animal was released in the later part of 2012.  Soundgarden was founded in Seattle, Washington in 1984 by Chris Cornell and Kim Thayil.  Soundgarden was the first of the Seattle Grunge bands to sign with a major label in 1988.  They found their success in the 1990’s like the rest of their friends like Alice In Chains, Nirvana, etc.  The band broke up in 1996 because of create direction issues.  They reunion in 2010 and King Animal followed shortly after that.  Soundgarden has six studio records including this record.   They also have one live record, four greatest hits records, and six EP’s.  Let us get into the music.

Songs

Been Away Too Long

This song is the first single off of King Animal.    Nice overdrive guitar riff at the beginning and then the drums come in with the bass.  Chris still has his voice and kept it healthy.    This song is something you would hear off their record called “Down On The Upside.”  It has a nice pace to the song.  This is a great comeback song for this great metal group.  There is some great music on this song.  Great finish to the song.

Non-State Actor

I am loving the guitar effect and the opening riff with a strong backbone from the drums and bass.  I am loving the music and great placement from the singer for his singing lines.  I am loving the lyrics on the last two songs.  There is a nice pace to the song.  I love the short guitar solo from Kim.  This band was never afraid to put guitar solos in their songs.  Nice finish to this song.

By Crooked Steps

I love the drums and guitar work set in the background at the beginning of the song.  It sounds like it comes slowly to the front and then snaps right into your face.  I am loving this song so far.  This reminds me of old school Soundgarden.  It has that deep dark theme in the music and lyrics.  The guitar riff is simple but it fits for what the band is trying to do in this song.  Nice guitar break and solo from Kim in the later part of the song.  This song is my favorite song so far on King Animal.  I am loving the well placed back up vocals with Chris singing over the top of it.  I am loving the building up for the ending of the song.  It has a great finish.

A Thousand Days Before

A Thousand Days Before starts out with some nice guitar work.  I am loving the drumming on this song and Chris comes in with the bass player.  I am loving the timing of the bass when it enters the song.  He does not starts with the drums when most bass players starts playing with the drums.  There is some great guitar work on this song.  It is a little slower pace to the rest of the songs from the beginning of the record.  Chris puts some thought in singing on this song.  I love the lyrics.

Blood On The Valley Floor

This song has that old school Soundgarden guitar playing, which is what made them famous.  It has that Classic Black Sabbath dark evil guitar riff.  I am not saying this is a Black Sabbath guitar work.  It has the sounds of it.  This is something I could hear off their first few records.  I am loving Chris’s singing on Blood On The Valley Floor.  This is one of my favorite songs.  Great drumming towards the end.

Bones Of Birds

There is some great guitar work at the beginning of Bones Of Birds.  This song is slower than the rest of the songs.  It is perfect timing for a slower song.  There is some solid drumming and bass work on this song.  Chris has a nice melody and lyrics in this song.  There is some well placed simple keyboard work on this song.  This is a very well written song.  The music echoes the feeling of the lyrics that Chris wrote for Bones Of Birds.  This is a great song.  I love it.  Nice touch on the end of the song with a simple bass line too.

Taree

Taree starts out with drums and guitar work that echos something off Superunknown.  This sounds like something between Black Hole Sun to Fell On Black Days.  Taree sounds like a loss track off Superunknown.  This is a great song.  I am loving it.  It is one of my favorite song on this record so far.  I love the guitar break in the middle of the song.  This is a great comeback record so far.  All the songs do not sound like fillers.  Soundgarden has put their soul into all of these songs so far.

Attrition

Attrition starts out with some nice guitar work at the beginning of the song.  I am loving the melody in this song.  There is some great double vocal singing.  One is high and the other is low.  Nice touch and well placed.  There is some great drumming and lyrics also on this song.  This song was straight to the point.  I love the ending of this song too.

Black Saturday

Black Saturday has nice acoustic guitar work with congas in place of the drums.  I love the dancing bass playing with some great singing from Chris.  The drums come in but they play the background.  I love the build of in this song.  The distorted guitar comes in but does not over power the rest of the music.  This is extremely well written song.  This song has some nice rhythm and pace to the music.

Halfway There

Chris with an acoustic guitar playing while singing.  The drums just like the last song comes in but it is more of backup with the bass playing.  I love main and chorus riff.  There is a ton going on in this song.  Yet another well written song from Soundgarden.  Chris has written some great lyrics.  I love the meaning and theme behind them.  Kim has a great guitar break to semi guitar solo.  This is the new Soundgarden.  This song defines the new Soundgarden sound in their music.  This band has a turn a corner unlike their other peers.

Worse Dreams

Worse Dreams has some great guitar work at the beginning of it.  I love the drums and bass line at the beginning.  This is one sick bass line.  It is well placed with the drums.  The guitar echos the bass playing.  The music is pretty powerful.  This band is pushing the limits of music on this song.  This song sounds like something off The Doors hey day.  It is like Soundgarden took their sound and mixed it with the The Doors sound in this song.  I am loving this song.

Eyelid’s Mouth

Eyelid’s Mouth has some drums and bass work with guitar work in the background.  The main riff is something else and powerful.  Chris has some good singing.  There is one part of this song that sounds like deeper Alice In Chains singing.  There is a nice pace to this song.  I am loving the back up vocals on this song.  I love the guitar solo towards the end of the song.  This touch on the fade out for the end of the song.

Rowing

Rowing starts out with a nice bass line and drums.  I am loving the singing.  I am loving that double vocals.  This song has a folk feel to it.  I love the touch on the guitar playing.  The lyrics I could live without but they fit perfectly for this song.  Chris is baring his soul on this song.  Rowing has a nice build up to it.  Kim has a nice guitar solo towards the end of the song.  This is nice finish to this comeback record from Soundgarden.

Current Line Up

  • Chris Cornell – Lead Vocals and Rhthm Guitar
  • Kim Thyil – Lead Guitar
  • Matt Cameron – Drums and Backup Vocals
  • Ben Shepherd – Bass Guitar and Backup Vocals

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.soundgardenworld.com

Twitter:  @soundgarden

In closing, I have been a fan of Soundgarden growing up.  I did not like them at first and they grew on me over time.  Once I understood what they were doing and they were one of the few bands that I liked back in the 1990’s along with Alice In Chains, Candlebox, Cold, and Stone Temple Pilots.  I and everyone else was excited to hear they were getting back together.  I was hoping they would put out some new music and here is some new music since their last record called Down On The Upside in 1996.  King Animal gives the hardcore fan everything that they expect from Soundgarden.  Soundgarden gives the fans and music listeners more  and I am talking about a new sound we have not heard from this band.  I am talking about the songs like Halfway There and Rowing.  King Animal is a great comeback record and I love the direction of this great band.  I am hoping they stay together and keep putting out new music.  I am looking forward to seeing them live this summer.  I recommend this record and let me know what you think of this new music.  Go get some!  Drink it!  Enjoy it!  Metal it!  \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email:  djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter:  @djweiser

New Music Blog State Of Tours And Music Industry

In this music blog, we are going to talk about the state of the music industry and what bands have to do to make their money.  We love our music throughout human life.  It was pasted down from Generation to Generation.  We went from Bach to Flo-rida.  I realize how that sounds.  Being a metal head, I enjoy all music.

Bands in the past would put out record and tour to support that record.  They would get their income from record sales.  As many of you know that is not the case.  With the birth of the internet, we as listeners found ways to get music at a cheap price or free.  Napster took a ton of heat back in the day.  It was the Facebook for college student for music.  One person would buy the music and then “share” it with other people for education purpose. Transferring files from computer to computer.  How is  this different with cassette taping when a radio station played the music.  It is really is not.  The question is downloading the digital files is the cause of the lack of CD sales.  This pie graph shows us from 1980 to 2010 of the percentage of way people buy their music.

The Credit to voluntaryXchange

As you can see the growth of the CD in the late 1980s to 2003.  In 2010, CD is about 50% of the sales of how music listeners get their music.  People are still buying music so why do we always say the Music Industry is dying.  Here is my thought.  We look to Wallstreet and seeing the big Record Companies saying their bottom line is just bad.  They have the big acts like the Rolling Stones, Bon Jovi, etc.  There are ton of Independent Record Companies, Bands make their own record label, and or they are selling their music on their own website.  This article has some great information (Why We Shouldn’t Worry About The Decline Of The Music Industry?)  Here is some data from this article from Frobes.  Music groups in 2003 put out 38,000 new albums but in 2008 music acts put out 75,000 new albums.  With the state of economics, bands keep putting out music in 2010 at 75,000 new albums.  Bands are still putting out more music in 2010 then 2003 when CDs were at its peak as far percentage of sales from the pie graph above.  Here is the stat that proves from this same article (www.forbes.com).

From 1999 to 2009, concert ticket sales in the US tripled from $1.5 billion to $4.6 billion, vastly exceeding the growth of inflation and population growth.

I wonder how much of percentage is coming from the big acts with their high ticket prices.  People want to be entertained and they want to forget about their bills or lack of jobs.  I wonder how much effects physical or digital copy with the lack of money.  The lack of funds is the money going more to the live music then the studio music.  I was talking to friends and others about this issue.  I am finding people are picking live music by how good the new studio records.  It is the opposite from what was going on before the 1990s.

Let us take a look at pretty successful hard rock band.  The band is going to be Bon Jovi.  At the height of their power, Bon Jovi was a huge group back in the 1980’s.  We are going to look at their most successful record in their prime and their latest record.

Here is the stats:

Bon Jovi – Slippery When Wet sold 28,000,000 in the world and went in the United States 12x Platinum.

Bon Jovi – The Cicle sold 3,000,000 in the world and went in the United States Gold

What does this say about the band or the music industry?  I do not think it is a negative look at Bon Jovi.  I believe it shows that people are not buying records as much as they use to in the past.  These stats do include downloads.  I believe what is happening on record sales.  People are buying one or two songs that they like from the album asides buying the whole like they did in the past.  Let us look at another artist but current.

Here is the stats:

Britney Spears – …Baby One More Time sold 30,000,000 in the world and sold only 12,144,000 in the United States.

Britney Spears – Femme Fatale sold 3,000,000 in  the world and sold 769,000 in the United States.

Britney Spears came into the scene 10 years after Bon Jovi as far as a recording artist.  I believe we are seeing a trend from these numbers.  Numbers do not lie.  As far as big record companies and well known artists their sales are down.  If we go beyond the well known artist and big record companies, there are new bands coming up and doing very well.  I realize some are doing it for the love for the music and that is why most bands get into this career.

In closing, let us face it and it is true.  People are downloading singles and not buying the whole records.  I am old school on getting and listening to my music.  I love getting the hard copy but over the last few years.  I have been downloading my music.  Here is why I am doing it.  I have not time to sit down and order or go to a record store.  Two it is to storage files in a computer then having CDs and racks all over my place.  I believe this is happening in the book industry too.  People are buying less and less paper backs or hard covers and downloading their books into their Nook, Kindle, or Tablets.  We are getting into the computer age and this is the change that most people do not like it.  Music being an art will live on and people will spend their money on this product.  Live music will live on and bands and artists will make their money their. As music fans we need to support the bands. If you have pick, it is fine. Just make sure you are buying your music in any form.  Go get some!  Drink it!  Enjoy it!  Metal it!  \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email:  djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter:  @djweiser