Led Zeppelin is a very hard band to cover and do justice. There has only been a select few over the years that are worth while. A friend of mine pointed out this cover that the fabulous blues guitarist Joe Bonamassa did. While the vocals aren’t the greatest, the arrangement is great! Joe really nails Jimmy Page’s tone and compliments his style. So here is Joe Bonamassa’s cover of Tea For One from the underrated album Presence.
Pearl Jam has been one of the most constant bands to release albums and tour all the while staying honest to themselves. They don’t mind putting out albums that may not go over well with the masses, but as long as they are keeping it real, that’s all that matters. Here is the ranking of all their studio albums from not their best to their best.
It’s really crazy to think that it has been ten years since I turned 21 and Nine Inch Nails released With Teeth. I remember the day it was released very well. It was the day of my 21st birthday (May 3rd). A few weeks before I had attended a listening party for the album and was very excited to know that it would be coming out on my birthday, added incentive of sorts. I remember putting the cd on in my friends car and blasting the ever living guts out of it, thinking to myself wow, this sounds great.
Originally the album was to be called Bleedthrough and was a concept based on the exploration of “loss and possible discovery of self, along with alternate layers of reality and perception set inside a nightmare you can’t seem to wake up from; with lots of feedback”. Not long after though Trent stated that the name was changed because “it was supposed to be about different layers of reality seeping into the next, but I think some people were thinking about blood or a tampon commercial”. “‘Bleedthrough’ is no more,” Reznor wrote in a message posted on nin.com, “as the songs and concepts matured, the focus and theme of the album shifted somewhat–leaving me feeling that title was inappropriate. Or you could just say I changed my mind. Yes, the new album has a title and track list, and no I’m not telling you what it is yet”. During the writing of the album Trent began to realize that the songs didn’t fit in to the concept and could stand alone without the need for an all encompassing concept. It was during this time that Trent was also heavily inspired by the use of more analog electronic effects and instruments, specifically tape delay and modular synthesizers, The drums on the album are courtesy of Josh Freese and Dave Grohl.
To me, With Teeth is as close as Trent will get to going back to that “RAW” feeling like he did with Broken. There are so many great songs on this album. The live versions of these songs translate so well. I had the opportunity to see them during this album and it was a great show. Songs like “You Know What You Are,” “The Line Begins To Blur,” “The Hand That Feeds,” “Beside You In Time,” and “Right Where It Belongs,” still stand out to me from those shows. I just wish Trent would play “Getting Smaller” at more shows!!
With Teeth stands up 10 years later and sounds fresher than most of the generic rubbish that is being churned out these days. Trent always stays true to where he is at in his life. This album truly represents getting his life in order and reflecting on the past as to not fall back down that trail again. With Teeth is and was the logical next step in the evolution of Nine Inch Nails. Here hoping that evolution continues!
Since announcing their return in 2014 I’ve had the pleasure of seeing Failure a bunch of times. Each time I’ve seen them my level of excitement grows, and I’m continuously left in awe and with the feeling of inspiration. May 1st at the Ventura Theater left me with that feeling and then some. The bands 90 minutes set was roaring, filled with all the songs that I love, and to top it off they played three new songs from their upcoming album The Heart Is A Monster. The first of the new songs “Hot Traveler” was the first song of the set, and it really got things going. The song itself seems like it picks up right where Fantastic Planet left off. Of the two other new songs “Mulholland Drive,” was a really sweet and pleasant song that evoked the sensibility of say “The Nurse Who Loved Me.” The other new song “Counterfeit Sky” was a classic Failure song that had all that you’ve come to love about the band. The crowd was really into the set as well. Seeing them in Ventura as opposed to Los Angeles, presented a different vibe that was seemingly in a more relaxed setting that allowed the band to be a bit more free in what they chose to play and how they interacted with the crowd.
Ken Andrews voice is pristine and really conveys the lyrics in such a way that it leaves chills up your spine (in a total good way). Greg Edwards ability to create the most simple guitar leads yet make them so intricate and vital is astonishing. Kellii Scott is one of the most underrated drummers I’ve ever heard. He plays with such passion and intensity.
The only bad part of the night was the opening band. First off there should have been no opening band. Just give Failure 2 hours to play and let them do what they do. This opening band called Hy Brazil, was terrible. These guys have no clue what they want their music to be. The only intriguing thing about them was that they had a harp player in the band. The singer was embarrassing, humping the microphone stand like he was Steven Tyler in the 80’s, and trying to sing like he had pipes. Enough about that band, they didn’t deserve the chance to open for Failure.
Failure delivered exactly what you would expect them to do and then some as always. Thank you Ken, Greg and Kellii for another great night of music and inspiration and on my birthday weekend is a major plus!
Failure Setlist:
1. Segue 4 (new segue)
2. Hot Traveler (new song)
3. Frogs
4. Another Space Song
5. Counterfeit Sky (new song)
6. Saturday Savior
7. Segue 3
8. Dirty Blue Balloons
9. Pillowhead
10. Undone
11. Stuck On You
12. Macaque
13. Mulholland Drive (new song)
14. Heliotropic
Encore:
15. The Nurse Who Loved Me
16. Smoking Umbrellas
17. Daylight
In 2002, Henry Rollins put together a compilation album of different singers, taking on Black Flag songs. The album was made to raise money and awareness for the West Memphis Three. This album featured some really amazing covers of Black Flag songs. Some of the singers that took part were, Iggy Pop, Lemmy, Corey Taylor (Slipknot/Stone Sour), Tom Araya (Slayer), Mike Patton, Tim Armstrong and Lars Frederiksen (Rancid), Cedric Bixler- Zavala (At The Drive-In/Mars Volta), and so many more.
Rise Above: 24 Black Flag Songs To Benefit The West Memphis Three:
Serj has one of the more distinctive voices in heavy music. He also has a knack for creative melodies that resonate really well with different songs and types of music. Here are a select few songs that Serj has guested on over the years. Some you may have heard and others not so much.
Strait Up- Starlit Eyes (Snot Tribute)
Tony Iommi- Patterns (Iommi)
Deftones- Mein (Saturday Night Wrist)
Dog Fashion Disco- Mushroom Cult (Anarchists Of Good Taste)
Hed P.E.- Feel Good (Broke)
Limp Bizkit- Don’t Go Off Wandering (Demo- Unreleased)
When System Of A Down first came on the scene, it was something intriguing and exciting. Their debut album was released in June of 1998. At first they enjoyed a bit of success following the release of the singles for “Sugar” and “Spiders.” It was also during this time that they went out on tour with Metallica, Slayer and Ozzfest. The group’s big break arrived when their second album Toxicity was released September 4, 2001 and debuted at No. 1 on the charts. Even through the events of September 11, Toxicity would go on to see over 3 million copies in the US and has since sold over 12 million copies worldwide. With songs like “Chop Suey,” “Toxicity,” and “Aerials,” it’s no wonder this album went on to be as big as it was.
Personally, I enjoy the first album more. The message is still the same throughout all their albums, but the sense of urgency of the delivery on the first album really comes through. The production on the first album is a bit more raw as well. Not to take anything away from how good Toxicity is, that album to me just has a bit too much polish on it, almost to the point of being too theatrical. The first two System albums are awesome. It’s too bad they couldn’t carry on this level after. Their follow ups were miserable and lackluster.
The Refused are ALIVE!!!! Today the band announced the name of their new album entitled “Freedom” and released their first new song in over 17 years called “Elektra.”
i’m really loving the return to form of bands trying to write albums. One band that I’ve heard recently that released a great album is Royal Thunder. This four-piece rock band based out of Atlanta, Georgia, blends the timeless elements of heavy classic rock, 90’s grunge and progressive rock. Frontwoman Mlny Parsonz vocals are powerful, emotional, and oh so striking.The balance of their guitar tone, mixed with the thunderous drums and bass really solidify the impact this band has and can continue to make. In 2007 Royal Thunder self-released their debut EP and started touring. By 2010 Relapse Records took notice and signed the band starting with an official re-release of their self-titled EP and later in 2012 releasing their full length debut, CVI. Their newest album Crooked Doors, is a masterful piece of epic rock. Just listening to the first song on the album “Time Machine,” you know this band means business!
Since tomorrow I’ll be posting a review about the Faith No More show I’m attending tonight, I thought today would be a good idea to share one of the worst covers I’ve ever heard with you all.
