The album Rated R by Queens Of The Stone Age is impeccably extraordinary. I still remember hearing this album in the summer of 2000. It was the perfect album for that time and has remained a favorite of mine for many years. One of the things I remember most about the first time I heard this album was the closing song “I Think I Lost My Headache.” The trip of this album is quite a journey that, when you get to this song, it really encapsulates it. Songs like this especially one albums such as Rated R, make a pretty fun and interesting statement.
Queens Of The Stone Age- I Think I Lost My Headache:
Chevelle is one of the most under appreciated and underrated bands out there. For over 20 years now, they’ve been one of the most consistent rock bands out there. Now in 2021, Chevelle is gearing up to release their ninth (yes, I said 9th) studio album, Niratias (Out March 5th). The first single and video for “Self Destructor” is out now and it’s a banger for sure. When we can go out and enjoy live music again, I guarantee that when they play this song live, it’s going to kick some major ass.
A couple days ago there was a huge David Bowie celebration. Tons of artists took part in this by performing Bowie’s songs. A good portion of these performances were accompanied by Mike Garson, David’s longtime piano player. Among the people performing on this night were, Trent Reznor, Billy Corgan, Dave Navarro, Ian Astbury, Gavin Rossdale, Corey Taylor, Taylor Hawkins and so many more. I saw a few of these performances floating around and there were 2 that really stood out to me. It’s no surprise that the ones Trent Reznor performed were my favorite. He picked “Fantastic Voyage” from Bowie’s album, Lodger as well as “Fashion” from Scary Monsters (and Super Creeps). He was joined by Mike Garson and Atticus Ross on both songs along with his wife Mariqueen on the latter. Both of these turned out great. I do have to say that Trent’s dance moves during “Fashion” are quite fun to watch.
Heavy music is a huge favorite of mine, in case you didn’t notice. The sheer energy and magnitude from that genre really hits home. One sub-genre that I’ve always been fond of is the Thrash Metal. There’s something about the speed, intensity and prowess that pulls it all together. Recently, I was introduced to a band hailing from Virginia that has nailed the Thrash style. Enforced is a band that has all the right stuff down to the blazing riffs, pummeling breakdowns, and hard pounding rhythms. They remind me a little of the band Power Trip (R.I.P. Riley Gale) as well as early Slayer and Kill Em All era Metallica. Enforced will be releasing their new album, Kill Grid on March 12 (via Century Media). These guys are primed to become one hell of a band to see live, once shows are allowed again. In the mean time check out the these two songs from their upcoming album.
Back in 1997, Jane’s Addiction reunited for a tour with Flea from the Red Hot Chili Peppers on bass instead of Eric Avery. To coincide with that tour, the band released a compilation album called Kettle Whistle featuring live tracks, demos and two new songs (“Kettle Whistle” and “So What”) featuring the “Relapse Tour” lineup. I remember being really excited about this record for some reason. One track on the album has always stood out to me and that is the version of “Three Days.” This live version was taken from their 1990 show at the Hollywood Palladium and it’s absolutely astounding. It’s one of those live versions that far supersedes the studio version.
Jane’s Addiction- Three Days (Live at Hollywood Palladium 1990):
There are certain title tracks that not only summarize the album but also set a tone. For instance, with Neurosis and the title track to their highly influential and amazing album, Through Silver In Blood, the moment the first beat hits, you know you’re in for one hell of a ride. The layers of sludgey distorted guitars, the pummeling drums, bombastic bass, vocals the create a sense of urgency and summon the depths of the underworld, soundscapes that strike bits of fear and chills in your body along with the sheer magnitude of volume being emitted, it’s no wonder that Neurosis and this album set a blueprint for the post metal movement. Clocking in at a little over 12 minutes, “Through Silver In Blood” is one of those songs that not only is epic by nature it takes on a whole other life of its own. I’ve had the pleasure of seeing Neurosis perform this song live a few times and every one of those times, this song rattles the room and the audience becomes so hypnotized by it that, when you look around and see the waves of heads banging and swaying, it’s breathtaking. This title track is one of the best ever and this album is a masterpiece.
During these odd strange times, there have been a slew of bands doing fun covers (check out the Two Minutes To Late Night folks for some really great ones). One cover I heard recently, that I’m really enjoying is by one of the bands I’ve featured on here many times, Interstelar. They did a version of AC/DC’s “Highway To Hell” and defintely made it their own. Singer Jason Kothman’s voice makes this very cool and unique in a very bluesy sort of way. Do yourself a favor and crank this one up and have some fun!!!
So, 2020 was a pretty meh year but, at least we did get some killer albums out of it. If you haven’t yet checked out the best albums of 2020, do that! In the meantime though, here’s a list of the most anticipated albums for 2021.
Against Me Alphamega Amenra Anthrax Architects- For Those That Wish To Exist Ashes Divide? At The Gates Baroness Birds In Row Cane Hill- Krewe De La Morte Jerry Cantrell Chevelle Contranistas Converge The Cure Daughters Dead Cross Death From Above 1979 Every Time I Die Exodus- Persona Non Grata Foo Fighters- Medicine At Midnight Ghost Gojira Guns N Roses? If It Kills You Judas Priest Kanga- You and I Will Never Die Kerry King King Woman Less Art A Light Within Mastodon Megadeth Metallica Nine Inch Nails Silent Trust The Smashing Pumpkins Spirit In The Room Times Of Grace Vein Chelsea Wolfe Youth Code Rob Zombie- The Lunar Injection Kool Aid Eclipse Conspiracy
Next up on Audioeclectica.com’s 2020 End Of The Year Lists, the Best Albums of the year. The stipulation is that said album/EP had to have been released this year.
This list is also in NO PARTICULAR ORDER (Except 1-10, there’s too many good ones to put a number on them)!!!
01) Greg Puciato- Child Soldier: Creator Of God 02) In Parallel- Fashioner 03) Run The Jewels- RTJ IV 04) Killer Be Killed- Reluctant Hero 05) Bush- The Kingdom 06) The Smashing Pumpkins- Cyr 07) Nothing- The Great Dismal 08) Deftones- Ohms 09) En Minor- When The Cold Truth Has Worn Out It’s Miserable Welcome 10) Trivium- What The Dead Men Say 11) Horseneck- Fever Dream 12) O’Brother- You and I 13) Marilyn Manson- We Are Chaos 14) Sevendust- Blood and Stone 15) Be Well- The Weight and The Cost 16) Umbra Vitae- Shadow Of Life 17) End- Splinters From An Ever Changing Face 18) Nine Inch Nails- Ghosts V and VI 19) Clint Lowery- God Bless The Renegades 20) Loathe- I Let It In And It Took Everything 21) Strangelight- Adult Themes 22) Ken Andrews- What’s Coming 23) Pallbearer- Forgotten Days 24) Sparta- Trust The River 25) Jesse Draxler- Reigning Cement
Next up on Audioeclectica.com’s 2020 End Of The Year Lists, the best songs of the year. The stipulation is that said song must’ve appeared on an album/EP released this year.
It’s also worth noting that these songs are my favorites from each of their respective albums.
Vote for your favorite in the comments section. At the end of the month, I will release the results of the readers poll.
This list is also in NO PARTICULAR ORDER!!!
01) Greg Puciato- Evacuation (from Child Soldier: Creator of God):
02) In Parallel- Leave It With The Ghost (from Fashioner):
03) Killer Be Killed- From A Crowded Wound (from Reluctant Hero):
04) Deftones- Radiant City (from Ohms):
05) Nothing- Say Less (from The Great Dismal):
06) Marilyn Manson- Broken Needle (from We Are Chaos):
07) The Smashing Pumpkins- Purple Blood (from Cyr):
08) Trivium- Bending The Arc To Fear (from What The Dead Men Say):
09) Bush- Blood River (from The Kingdom):
10) Run The Jewels- Yankee And The Brave (from RTJ IV):
11) Horseneck- Pen15 (from Fever Dream):
12) En Minor- Mausoleums (from When The Cold Truth Has Worn Out It’s Miserable Welcome):
13) Loathe- New Faces In The Dark (from I Let It In And It Took Everything):
14) O’Brother- Soma (from You and I):
15) Umbra Vitae- Mantra Of Madness (from Shadow Of Life):
16) End- Pariah (from Splinters From An Ever-Changing Face):
17) Clint Lowery- Alive (from God Bless The Renegades):
18) Be Well- Confessional (from The Weight and The Cost):
19) Ken Andrews- Sword and Shield (from What’s Coming):
20) Sevendust- Blood From A Stone (from Blood & Stone):
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