Random Music Thoughts Vol 3.

1. $91 for AC/DC tickets...R U Kidding me? What happened to $12.50.

2. Cool Metallica picture on the front cover of Rolling Stone. Will have to purchase and hang on the wall.

3. Dear Sharon Osbourne...Stop making a mockery of Ozzy. He doesn't need to do a Christmas Variety Show Special. Prince of Darkness? Hello!

4. Get well soon Travis Barker.

5. The new AC/DC song...growing on me..it will be interesting to hear the rest.

6. Death Magnetic...4/5 starts outta 5.

7. It's funny seeing my 13 year old son digging "Let There Be Rock" in the Rock Band 2 tv commercial. Great song.

8. I tried...i said tried to watch "Sid and Nancy" last night...but I couldn't tell what the heck they were saying more than half the time, so I had to tune elsewhere.

9. Airbourne's Runnin Wild album...5 outta 5 stars...completely rocks like a good classic hard rock, don't give a effe what you think band. Awesome. This is what the rock scene needs more of.

10. I read that David Gilmour said there will be no reunion tour....give it a rest. I've heard no reunion tour for 25 years.

11. Great interview with Duff about today's rock scene...just what I was referring to. http://www.ultimate-guitar.com/news/interviews/duff_mckagan_america_isnt_very_rock_n_roll_anymore.html

Video of Week: Fastway: All Fired Up (for Klang)

This or That

Lennon or McCartney: Absolutely Lennon. He was the true leader and sound of the band. Sorry Paul, you are and will always be second fiddle to John.

Bon or Brian: Bon. I'm old school and like the more raw young sound of early AC/DC. The early albums within the exception of Powerage, generated more hits per album than the Brian stuff after Back in Black.

Vai or Satriani: I have to go with the teacher here more than the student. Joe's sound is more real and more thought out rather than just a bunch of daloodle daloodle, daloodle.

Steve Perry or Anel Penada: Are freakin kidding me?

Ozzy or Dio: Ok so here's an interesting one. Ozzy was the original but both have their unique qualities. Ozzy has that distinct voice and Dio had a more hard "rock-in-roll-in-your-face" voice. Counting their solo career, I'm going with Ozzy. His solo was more successful...besides you don't Dio and family have their own tv show.

The Sex Pistols or The Clash: Nobody is more rotten than Johnny.

Don Henley or Glen Fry: Going with Don Henley...with songs like Those Shoes, Hotel California and a string of solo hits....what did Don Henley do....Lyin Eyes and Miami Vice?

Marilyn Manson or Alice Cooper: I'm gonna have to give Marilyn props here. He's taken the whole shock-rock to whole new level...sorry Alice.

Les Paul or Fender: I've played a Fender all my life and wanted a Les Paul all my life and finally got one a couple of years and lets just say I haven't picked up my Fender in a while. Plus you can't beat the Candy Apple Quilt top look of a Les Paul. Classic Sunburst is cool too.

Randy Rhodes, Jake E. Lee, or Zakk Wylde: Rather than pick one...I'm givng a surprised order....1. Jack E. Lee, 2. Randy Rhodes, 3. Zakk Wylde. Although Randy was the original his solos weren't very heavy or difficult. Zakk's solos all sound the same. Even the rhythm parts sound all the same. Jake is a little more heavier player and gets the nod.

Jimi Page or Jeff Beck: I think Jeff Beck is an awesome guitar player...but I think Jimi is a more well rounded player.

Shirley Manson or Gwen Steffani: I had to throw this in because they are both absolutely hot..but Shirley gets the nod..she's more dirty.

David Lee or Sammy: No better frontman than Diamond Dave. Sammy is better doing solo than he was sharing a stage.

More to come.

Video of Week (end): Airbourne - Runnin' Wild

Concert Review: Cheap Trick - Sept 10, 2008, Nobelsville, IN

Cheap Trick opened for Heart and Journey the other night and I will say was my favorite of the three. They only played 7 songs but left you wanting more. They opened with That 70s Show Song (in the street) and ran through a few classics, Surrender, If You Want My Love You Got It, The Flame, I Want You to Want Me and closed with Dream Police. I will say they can still rock and for their age they still look as cool as ever. To me they blew Journey and Heart off the stage. Rick Nielson can still get the crowd going and can still rock on guitar. My favorite guitar this time around was a Gibson Les Paul that had the Beatles faces on them.It took everything I had not to jump on stage and take it from him. 5 out of 5 stars

Concert Review: Heart - Sept 10, 2008, Nobelsville, IN

Heart opened for Journey the other night sandwiched in between Cheap Trick and Journey.I will say Nancy Wilson looks as HOT as ever and still rock and Ann Wilson can still belt out notes and not crack. They played 7 songs including Straight On, Barracuda, Magic Man, Dreams (sung by Nancy). They also played Going to California by Zeppelin and Reign On Me by The Who. They closed with Crazy On You which is a personal favorite of mine. 4 out of 5 stars.

Concert Review: Journey - Sept 10, 2008, Nobelsville, IN

To much of my shugrin, I did go see Journey the other night. The opening acts were Cheap Trick and Heart which those reviews will follow. Journey this time around has a new singer, Arnel Pineda. He's the closest thing to Steve Perry in looks and vocals. Maybe a little too close. They open with a couple of classics before they played a few of their new songs from the new album, Generations. The crowd (and myself) pretty much was going to fall asleep. It wasn't until they played Don't Stop Believin before the crowd got into it. Then they pretty ran the show from there with all the classics. Faithfully, Open Arms, Separate Ways, Wheel in the Sky, etc. They even threw in a couple of songs that weren't mainstream hits in La Do Da, Feeling That Way and Mother, father sung by the drummer who himself sounds like Steve Perry as well. They closed with Lovin, Touchin and Squeezin...which to me was a surprise. I figured they should have done Don't Stop Believin, but oh well. Over all the concert was 3.5 out of 5 stars

Video of Week: Black Sabbath - Paranoid

Metallica-Death Magnetic

I'm diggin the new Metallica. St. Anger had to grow on me. It took a little getting used to with the "no snare" that Lars regrets. But I actually prefer the no snare...thud thud thud thud. Gave it a heavier sound. With Death Magnetic, you can tell the difference without Bob Rock. My fav so far is Cyanide.

"All-Time" Favorite Album/Song

How long do you need to wait until an album or song is considered an "All-Time" favorite? A friend at work today said that his dad said that the new Eagles double album was his one of his "All-Time" favorites. Of course it came out just a little over a year ago. The son of course said that is a pet-peve of his. So then I asked, ok how long until it can be labeled "All-Time" status. He said 2-3 years. I've asked a few others and they range from 5, 10, 20 and even got a exact 7 years. For me...If it goes back to "Front to Back"...In 2 years, if I still love every song front to back then it becomes "All-Time" status after that 2 years have expired.

Video of Week: Metallica - King Nothing

My 3 Rants: Rant #3 - Front to Back

How many albums can you name front to back, every song a great song? EVERY song, no skipping, no fast forward, and no greatest hits. At work today I barely came up with 10. I could probably drum up a few personal choice favorite albums to round out 15. And maybe 5 one miss on an album to make the list up to 20. Here's at least my 10: U2-Atchung Baby!, Metallica - Black Album, Boston-Boston, AC/DC - Back in Black, Garbage - 2.0, Motley Crue - Shout at the Devil, Guns n Roses - Appetite for Destruction, Britny Fox - Bite Down Hard, Airbourne - Runnin' Wild, and Journey Escape. Of course a couple of those are personal favorites. But as I said before, where's that next band that everybody has to get their album, not just for one song not just two songs.....but every song...front to back. The Jonas Brothers? Hanna Montana? Soulja Boy? Maybe Metallica's new one will be my savior.

My 3 Rants: Rant #2 - Journey

Recently I purchased the new Journey 3 disc set. 2 studio cds and 1 dvd which I'll get to. I heard the rumor a few months ago they discovered the new singer, Arnel Pineda with his band The Zoo on YouTube. So of course I had to check it out for myself. I watched The Zoo's live show which looked like it was at some party hall. The band itself was just ok but Arnel sounded like the second coming of Steve Perry. You name it, Faithfully, Don't Stop Believin', Open Arms, Who's Crying Now....He hit every note just like Steve. So while I was at Wal-Mart recently I purchased their 3 disc set. The first CD is all new stuff which I will be candid and say it was pretty lame. Nothing rockin right off. The third disc is a live DVD which is sort of funny since they just got this guy, they must have filmed the first show and put it out. The second disc is what my rant is about: Here's the playlist: Only the Young, Don't Stop Beleivin, Wheel in the Sky, Faithfully, Any Way You Want It, Who's Cryin Now, Separate Ways, Lights, Open Arms, Be Good To Yourself, and Stone in Love. Live work...no. All new recordings with the new singer. Are you kidding me. I feel for Steve Perry. I have the feeling while I'm listening to it that Steve is getting ripped off. I don't quite understand why Journey had to do this. These were all classics to begin with. Don't F$#@ with classics. Not to mention it's a cheap way to make a buck. Unfortunatly I purchased a ticket to next Wednesday's concert(before I purchased the Album(s). Now I'm forced into NOT being able to boycott or be out $35 bucks and stand up my friends who talked me into buying the ticket in the first place.

My 3 Rants: Rant #1 - Local Radio Station

So there this Hard Rock/Metal radio station about 50 miles south of where I live. Each morning they devote the 8:00am hour to "The Big-Hair Buzz Cut of the Day" which features a Hair Metal band from the mid-to late 80s. Some of the bands they featured: Bon Jovi, Poison, Winger, Warrant, and so on. But recently I was freakin outraged. They played the Metallica song "Fade to Black"...are you kidding me?????? Metallica is NOT, I say again NOT a Hair Band. In fact Metallica despises hair metal, glam metal, posers or whatever you wanted to call it. So Mr McKay, please keep Metallica for Manditory Metallica and not the Big Hair Buzz Cut of the day.