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New Music Monday Blog Drowning Pool Resilence

In this Music Monday blog, we are going to get into the new release from a 2000’s hard rock and metal band, who is Drowning Pool.  The record is called “Resilience.”  We are going to get into the history of the band and then into the music.  Let us get into the history of Drowning Pool.

History

Drowning Pool was founded in 1996 in Dallas, Texas founded by C.J. Pierce, who is the guitar player, and Mike Luce, who is drummer.  They met Stevie Benton, who is the bass player, and then Dave Williams, who is the original lead singer.  Their first record, which is “Sinner” was released in 2001 and band went into the mainstream when they played Ozzfest. Dave Williams was founded dead in his tour bus.  He had some heart problem that he did not know about.  In 2003, Drowning Pool replace Dave Williams with Jason Jones.  They shift the music style from the dark to more of mainstream sound.  They band release their second record called Desensitized in 2004.  They band had success with a single called “Step Up” however, the record did not do that well.  Jones band left the band in 2005.  Ryan McCombs, who is the former ex singer of Soil at the time, replace Jones on vocals in 2005.  In 2006, the band recorded a new song for The Saw movie.  The band then signed a record contract with Nikki Sixx’s new record label, which is Eleven Seven Music.  Drowning Pool released their third record called “Full Circle” in 2007.  In 2009, the band released their first live record called “Loudest Common Denominator.”  The band started working on their fourth record which would be self-titled.  The record was released in 2010.  This mark a first in the band’s history that the band had the same lead singer on two records in a roll.  The band started working on their fifth record, however, Ryan McCombs left the band to reunite with his former band, who is Soil, in 2011.  Drowning Pool replaced McCombs with Jasen Moreno in 2012.  That same year, they released their first single, which was called “In Memory Of,” for their up coming record on the ten anniversary of their original lead singer’s death.  It was a tribute song for Dave Williams.  “Resilience” was released in 2013.  This is the record that will be featured on this blog.  Let us get into the music.

Track List:

Anytime Anyplace

The opening track is in your face and driving music.  There is some nice heavy guitar, drums and bass.  I love the singing from the singer.  It kind of reminds me of their first lead singer.  The drumming is pretty solid.  This is a pretty heavy song and reminds me of the music from their first record.  Jasen singing is solid and lyrics are very good.  This is a great opening song to “Resilence.”

Die For Nothing

I love the beginning for the music.  There is some soild guitar, bass, and drumming playing here.  I love Jasen’s singing on “Die For Nothing.”  He wrote some solid lyrics.  This is a pretty solid song and straight in your face.  I love the guitar break towards the end of the song.

One Finger and a Fist

I love the start to the song.  It is just Jasen singing.  I love the pace of this record and song.  I love the drumming, bass and guitar playing on this song.  This song is clearly going around the singer which was the case on most of their songs on the first record.  I love they have gone back to that for their roots.  This is Drowning Pool music.  Jasen has written some nice lyrics and his singing is pretty solid.  There is a quick guitar solo towards the end of the song.  This is song is in your face from the start to the finish of the song.  I can understand why this was a single off this record.

Digging These Holes

I love the guitar riff at the beginning of the song.  I love the drumming and bass playing.  The singer is singing is spot on with some great lyrics.  I love the guitar and bass playing towards the end of the song that lead into a pretty good guitar solo.  This is a pretty solid song.  It is in your face but in a nice way.  The ending could have been better.

Saturday Night

This is another single off this record.  I love the music at the beginning of the song.  I love the singing from the lead and back up singers.  I love the lyrics  on “Saturday Night.”  I love the guitar break between the singing.  The drummer is playing his ass off on this song.  What was that?  That was a great guitar riff that should have been explored at the end of the song.

Low Crawl

I love the music at the beginning.  The drumming is off the charts with some nice support from the bass player.  I love the singing from Jasen with some great lyrics.  I love the pace of the guitar playing.  There was some great guitar work at the middle part of the song.  I love the drop off on the heaviest of the song to a nice calming music just to be built back up to main riff.  I love the ending to this song with some music in your face with the singer screaming.

Life Of Misery

I love the guitar playing at the beginning.  I love the drumming and bass playing.  I am not fan of Jasen’s singing at the beginning of the song.  It does not fit but it starts to fit deeper in the song.  There is some solid music and great lyrics.  I love this song but I did not like the beginning on the singing side.  I guess it is one of those songs that needs to grow on me.   There is an awesome guitar solo with some awesome hard-hitting drumming at the end of the song.  I love how the guitar player echos the singer.   The bass player is right in your face.  This is a great song.  I am glad Drowning Pool is back.

Broken Again

This is classic Drowning Pool guitar riff at the beginning with the effects on it.  The drumming and bass playing is solid.  During the main riff it drops off but the singing puts it in your face in a nice way.  Jasen wrote some nice lyrics on this song.  I love the pace of this song.  He has a pretty good range on this song.  I am glad they let the bass go to front line at the end of the song.  I love the well placed back up vocals on this song.

Understand

I love the sound sample that they use with a nice drum intro.  The guitar playing is solid.  The music drops off into versus.  I just do not like all the effects on the singer vocals.  They put it off pretty quickly to some nice singing over some heavy music.  They wrote some awesome music on “Understand.”  Jasen wrote some great lyrics on this song.  I am glad they let the bassist run front before it was covered back up by the guitar player.  I love the ending.

Bleed With You

I love the nice heavy gutiar riff to a nice acoustic guitar riff.  The music is pretty solid on this song.  There is some nice music and great lyrics.  I love pace and theme of this song.  This song, which is “Bleed With You”, should be their next single off this song.  I love the meaning of this song.  I love the singing towards the end of the song.  This band knows they have a great singer and they are using him in all the right ways.  This song is a great example.

Skip To The End

I love the guitar and drumming work with the bass echoing at the beginning.  I hate all that reverb on the singer’s vocals.  The music is OK.  It is kind of let down for being the last song.  Jasen wrote some great lyrics on this song.  I am not a fan of this song. It is kind of disappointing song before the bonus tracks.

In Memory Of

This song is memory of their first lead singer, who was Dave Williams.  It is first song they record with Jasen.  I have to say  they put some thought behind this song.  The music is pretty solid.  I love the lyrics.  I love the guitar work on this song.  The semi guitar solo throughout the song.  Drowning Pool did a great job on this tribute to their first singer and long time friend and music brother.

Blindfold

I love the Black Sabbathish guitar riff with effect at the beginning.  I love the drumming and bass playing on this song.  The drumming is off the charts.  I love the singing and lyrics.  For being a bonus track, “Blindfold” shows the world that this band has some great unreleased songs.  I love the ending of this song.

Original Line Up:

  • Dave Willians – Lead Vocals
  • Mike Luce – Drums
  • C. J. Pierce – Guitar
  • Stevie Benton – Bass

Current Line Up:

  • Jasen Moreno – Lead Vocals
  • C.J. Pierce – Guitar
  • Stevie Benton – Bass
  • Mike Luce – Drums

Former Lead Singers:

  • Jason Jones (2003 to 2005)
  • Ryan McCombs (2005 to 2011)

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.drowningpool.com

Twitter:  @DrowningPool

Closing, I am glad this band has went back to their roots.  I love the last two records with Ryan McCombs of Soil.  Jasen Moreno has taken to band back to their roots and to another level.  I also love the record they did Jason Jones and I understand why he was let go from singing.  This record from start to finish ids solid from the music, lyrics, and singing.  They have a great singer and I hope he is around for a while.  I am really looking to seeing this band live.  I grew up listening to this band when they had Dave Williams.  I love their performance on WWE or WWF Summerslam PPV.  I was sad to hear of his death.  I thought it was death of the band too.  I loved their next record but it was not Drowning Pool.  I came back to the band on Ryan’s second record and loved it.  I was pretty upset when he left for his crappy band called SOiL.  I love this record and I love Jasen’s singing which is better than Ryan.  The music is Drowning Pool and they found ways to work with their new singer.  This is a solid record and I believe this record is just the start for this great band to return to the mainstream.  Go get some!  Drink it!  Enjoy it!  Metal it!  \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email:  djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter:  @djweiser

New Music Blog Candlebox Love Stories And Other Musings

In this music blog, we are going to check out the latest record from Candlebox.  The record is called Love Stories And Other Musings.  Candlebox was founded in 1990 in Seattle, Washington.  They have put out five studio records.  This is their second release since reforming.  They are touring under this record.  Let us get into the music.

Youth In Revolt

This song has a nice guitar riff with a nice flow on the drums.  The orignal singer still has a strong singing voice for these sets of songs.  This is a great opening song for this record.  This song has very well written lyrics.

Sweet Summertime

This song has a nice calming and a great rhythm to the song.  It has a nice guitar work.  The lyrics are average and he has written better lyrics in the past.

Believe In It

This song has a nice guitar and drum riffs.  I am loving the bass line on this track.  It comes back to the focus on the singer, which there is nothing wrong with that.  Kevin has written some uplifting lyrics on this song.  There is also an awesome guitar solo, which is very nice to heard it coming from a band from grunge era of the 1990’s.  Candlebox was always different then the rest of their peeps of their era.

She Come Over Me

There is a slow start to the song with a calming drums.  Kevin sings over the drums with a nice soft melody.  It has a nice guitar work and great drum beats in the later part of this track.  I love the lyrics.  He has been one of my favorite lyricist in the 1990’s.  I love the pick up towards the end of the song.

Turn Your Heart Around

The start of this song has a nice drum intro with a smooth guitar riff over it.  Turn Your Heart Around has a nice rhythm on melody from the singer.  The song picks up in the middle of the it with more awesome guitar work.  Kevin has written some great lyrics again.

Lifelike Song

I love this heavy guitar riff with some great drums and great melody from Kevin on vocals.  Kevin has written lyrics that are in your face but keeping it true to the classic Candlebox sound.  Most great singers really do not need back up vocals but this song has some well placed back up vocals.

Come Home

At the beginning of this song, there are nice drums and guitar work in the song “Come Home.”  Kevin once again singing very nicely on this song.  Overall, this is a very well written track.  I am really love the drums on this song.  It has a very nice ending to it.

Bady Loves Me

Baby Loves Me has a nice guitar riff at the beginning.  Once again, Kevin has written some well lyrics.  There is some great drums on this track.  This is an extremely well written song.

Them Eyes

Them Eyes has the classic Candlebox song with great drums to guitar work.  Kevin has been really strong throughout this record.  This great tune is perfect to finish off the new original songs before they re-record their big hits from the past.

Here are the rest of the tracks that are re-record hits.

Far Behind

You

Cover Me

Change

Simple Lesson

Here is the current line up of Candlebox:

  1. Kevin Martin – Vocals, Guitar
  2. Peter Klett – Lead Guitar
  3. Scott Mercado – Drums
  4. Sean Hennsey – Rhythm Guitar
  5. Adam Kury – Bass

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.candleboxrocks.com

Twitter:  @candlebox

In closing, I am glad to see Candlebox back but I was really not a fan of this one.  I love their last one, which was called “Into The Sun.”  It just seems like Candlebox rushed this record out but I could be wrong.  However, I am just happy to have this band back together, I want to see what their next set of songs will sound like.  There are some gems on this record.  Overall, I know this band really well and I know they can put out a solid record like they have done in the past.  If you are a fan back in the day of Candlebox, you need to come out and check this band out today.  If you are just getting into them, go back and check out there earlier records.  Go get some!  Drink it!  Enjoy it!  Metal it!  \m/

Cheers!

Bill Weiser

Email:  djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter:  @djweiser

New Blog Linkin Park Living Things (2012)

In this blog, we are going to take a look at the new record from Linkin Park called Living Things.  Linkin Park was founded in 1996 in Agoura Hills, California.  Linkin Park has sold over 50 million records world-wide and has won two Grammy Awards.  In the beginning they took the style of nu metal and rap metal and made their style.  By their third record, which is Minutes To Midnight in 2007, they began to study other music influences.  That record had the third best debut for any new music that was release that same year.  Living Things is their fifth record in their studio career.

What am I expecting from this record?  I am looking for them to go back to their old school ways to get their first fan base happy but keep on the pace from their Minutes To Midnight.  I believe they will try to build on that and their fourth record, which is A Thousand Suns.  How much I do not want to see but I am expecting to see little more of the rap feel on this record.  I believe Chester will be screaming more on this record than what he has not in the last few records.  Linkin Park found their sound and I believe they will build on it in Living Things.

Here is the band members of Linkin Park on Living Things:

Rob Bourdon – Drum

Brad Delson – Lead Guitar

Dave Farrell – Bass Guitar

Joe Haln – Turntables, keyboards, and Samples

Mike Shinoda – Vocals, Rhthm Guitar, Keyboards, Piano

Chester Bennington – Vocals

Lost In The Echo

Lost In The Echo starts out with keyboard and turntables work.  It has a nice drum beat with rapping over the top and nice back up vocals.  It has a nice smooth flow to the song.  Chester comes in with a nice singing lines.  This song has a nice flow to it.  This song has some nice turntables work on it.  Nice beat for the opening song, this set the mood of the record.  It is a very well written record.  This is great opening track for Living Things.

In My Remains

In My Remains starts out with a nice turntables and samples with some keyboard.  Drums roar with the bass to give it a nice intro to the song.  I love the music that  Chester is singing over and then guitar comes in few seconds after the intro.  Mike does a great job on the back up vocals.  I love the feeling of this song and very well written lyrics to it.  I love the drum work in this song.  This is a great song.  I love it!

Burn It Down

Burn It Down was their first single of Living Things.  It starts out with a nice keyboard to samples along with some turntables.  Nice back up guitar riff to balance everything out.  I love the lyrics in this song.  This song has a feel that it should have been off the Minutes To Midnight.  I love the singing by Chester and the back up singing.  Mike rapping makes sense for this part of the song.  It is not forced like most of the time.  However, the later part of their career, they have learned to place his rapping in the best part of the song.  It is more impactful now.  I feel this song could have guitar solo.  I love the ending of Burn It Down.

Lies Greed Misery

Lies Greed Misery has a nice keyboard and now the samples with Mike rapping over it.  I will say dude can rap his ass off in these songs.  I am not a rap fan but  he has done a great job on this record.  I love the rhythm of the rap.  I love the singing from Chester.  It is right fit for the theme of the song.  There is the scream that made Chester famous.  Nice ending to this song.

I’ll Be Gone

I’ll Be Gone has a nice build up intro to the song and then the kick in on the guitars.  It drops off with Chester singing with a nice samples and keyboard behind him.  It has a nice drum beat with bass pushing the song to another level.  This is a thinking man’s song.  I really love the flow of this song.  I have to say this song is one of the best ones off this record so far.  I would not be shocked if this is their next single off Living Things.

Castle Of Glass

I love the samples to the keyboard and then the nice singing from Mike.  The drums have a nice simple feel to it that fits the song.  Castle Of Glass has a nice driving feeling to it.  I really digging the singing from Mike.  I like the lyrics and the guitar work.  I really wish they would play this song live.  This is a really good song.

Victimized

Victimized has a nice samples and a crazy drum beat.  Drummer is very underrated to all the drummers that are playing music right now in their generation.  Rob has played his ass off in this whole record.  I love how Chester is screaming which fits it and Mike has a nice rap to follow.  This is a pretty angry song.  Victimized is a quick and to the point song.

Road Untraveled

Road Untraveled has a nice sound effects follow by keyboards.  This band is always looking to do something different which is good but it is starting predictable.  Mike has written great lyrics and singing his heart out on Road Untraveled.  I love the feeling from the drums and the flow of everything else.  I feel this song could use a guitar solo not a guitar playing low-end.  Another thinking song to add to my list.  There is not too many you can say that about Linkin Park.  This is a great song.

Skin To Bone

Skin To Bone has a nice intro.  I love the drums at the beginning.  Nice work from Joe on this song.  He has taken over this song so far which is an awesome thing.  I love how they use Chester in this song.  This is not one of my favorite songs but I love the feel of it.  Plus, it is nicely written song.

Until It Breaks

Until It Breaks starts with a nice rap from Mike.  Once again, they are placing him very well for the non rap fans in the world.  He is more and more making me start to like rap.  I love the music behind him.  I really love the rap lyrics from Mike.  He did a great job on this song.  Just like Mike, they learned to place Chester in great spots.  This is a great song.  I really love it.

Tinfoil

Tinfoil has a classic Linkin Park intro that we all have grown to love from this band.  This song is a nice intro to Powerless.

Powerless

Powerless has a nice keyboard along with some good lyrics being sung over the music.  Powerless has a nice simple bass and guitar lines with a very good drum beat.  It also has a well placed back up vocals.  This is a very well written song.  This band has pour their heart out on this song.  It is powerful and impactful with a nice drive.  It is a nice finish to this record.

Here is their websites and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.linkinpark.com and www.lpunground.com

Twitter:  @linkinpark

In closing, Linkin Park has grown on me over the years.  I remember when they roared on the scene and pushing the limits of music.  They have change the scene of music and influenced several newer bands.  I have enjoyed their last three records and not really a fan of the first two.  I never was a rap fan but they have grown on me.  This record is not their best but it is right behind Minutes To Midnight to me.  They do a great job on their live show and I was kind impressed by it.  This is going to be a pretty strong statement but I believe Linkin Park is today’s Pink Floyd.  They know when to explore their sound and change some things.  They are a very talented band and they will be around for a long time.  I just hope their Burn It Down song is not their good-bye song.  I will be looking forward to seeing them live again and I will be joining their fan club.  Go get some Living Things!  Drink it!  Enjoy it!  Metal it!  \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email:  djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter:  @djweiser

Space Was Cool

Let’s talk about music in this blog.  I just got some new music from a local Chicago Band.  Kind of new to the scene but has the former lead singer of Left Setter.  They have bended a few different styles together to make this a unique type of band.  Let’s talk about who is in this band before I really get into their music and how to follow this awesome band.

Band features the follows:
Nick Langis (lead singer)
Rick Lyons (guitar)
Kevin Rodgers (bass)
Miro Krivens (Drum)

They are on Facebook (www.facebook.com/spacewascool).  I believe Kevin Rogers that runs the Facebook is also in the band.

Now on to the music but I will say this in each blog.  This is what I think of the music and don’t get it to heart on anything I say on it.  You need to check it out and draw your thoughts on it.  There is music that is out there I really don’t care about and people love it.  Anyways on to their music.  There is a few songs on Left Setter Facebook.  Go There and check out the music and “like it” then share it with your friends.  Many people think that these bands just make it without help from their fans.  Fans have a huge control the direction a band can go like the following showing up for the shows, posted it on facebook or twitter (social media) and there is a classic word of mouth.   Anyways back to the music, on Left Setter facebook the music there is just staight work with a little Prog and 1960’s LSD rock.  I am not saying they use drugs like the rockers in that day.  I really don’t know.  They have that music feel.  They are a little heavier then those great bands of that era.