Joe Satriani "Ice 9"

Recent Purchases

Hellbilly Deluxe 2: Special Edition - Rob Zombie: Sales must be slow for the original Hellbilly Deluxe 2 that came out in February. Rob repackaged the new CD adding 4 new mediocre songs plus a DVD with very limited videos of "behind the scenes stuff as well as a video of Alice Cooper's School's Out. 2 outta 5 stars.

Blood of Nations - Accept: Accept has reinvented themselves without singer Udo Dirkschneider and replacing him with former T.T. Quick singer Mark Tornillo. Accept doesn't miss a step here. In fact I'll say it's an upgrade at this point in their career. Some gems on the CD are The Abyss, Shades of Death, Time Machine, Kill the Pain and Pandemic 5 outta 5 stars.

War is the answer - Five Finger Death Punch: After catching FFDP at Mayhem Fest I decided to pick up War is the Answer. This is another CD worth the money. Hard to See, Bulletproof and No One Gets Left Behind are the gems here. They do a decent cover of Bad Company. Also Canto 34 shows off the bands instrumental talent. 4.5 outta 5 stars.

Painkiller - Judas Priest 3.5 outta 5 stars.

Marilyn Manson - Holy Wood 3 outta 5 stars.

I recently picked up Rolling Stone's THE BEATLES 100 GREATEST SONGS. I can't disagree with the top 10, however some of my personal favorites didn't crack the top 20. Although you will notice my list will be heavy John Lennon songs (favorite Beatle). Coming in at #1 for Rolling Stone was A Day In A LIfe. I would have it in my personal top 20. But Hey Jude and Let It Be...come on!...Let it be is horrible. I only have one Paul song coming in at 7.

Rolling Stone
1. A Day In A LIfe
2. I Want To Hold Your Hand
3. Strawberry Fields Forever
4. Yesterday
5. In My Life
6. Something
7. Hey Jude
8. Come Together
9. While My Guitar Gently Weeps

My List (RS)
1. Tomorrow Never Knows (18)
2. I Am The Walrus (33)
3. Nowhere Man (66)
4. Strawberry Fields Forever (3)
5. Ticket to Ride (17)
6. You're Going to Lose That Girl (27)
7. Eleanor Rigby (22)
8. Help! (15)
9. In My Life (5)
10 Across the Universe (84)

Tomorrow Never Knows, the last track on Revolver began the turn in their music. The song Lennon found his first true relief from the real world and the bands celebrity. It was the change from the Beatlemania Beatles into what I consider "real musicians/songwriters" Beatles. Before they were a pop band kicking out number one hits on the top 40 list. Rubber Soul started a small change in music and continued to Revolver.

Loser (John 5) - The First Time

Recent purchases 6/10

Here's some recent purchases. Some disappointing, some more than expected.
1. John 5 - The Art of Malice - 5 outta 5...This guy just keeps getting better and better. It's a front to back, every song's a good one.
2. Ozzy Osbourne - Scream - 2 outta 5...I will say this was a little disappointing. Ozzy himself didn't sound too confident in the release. I would have much more preferred a more Black Sabbath sound like the NIB release with Primus or Stillborn with Black Label Society. "Soul Sucka"....seriously???
3. Krokus - Hoodoo - 5 outta 5...this was a pleasant surprise. Hoodoo Woman and Born to be Wild are top tracks on this one.
4. Ratt - Infestation - 1 out of 5...Another disappointing outing. "More of the same" is all I have to say.
5. Scorpions - Sting in the Tail 2.5 outta 5...This is a repeat of their last album. The album starts out really good then drops off into a bunch of ballads trying to recreate Still Loving You. I much prefer the 70s Scorpions but overall this ok.
6. Hole - Nobody's Daughter 4 outta 5...call it Courtney's Comeback. She still sounds awesome and I highly recommend then new VH1 Classic's Behind The Music: Courtney Love. Skinny Little Bitch, Pacific Coast Highway are the top two on this one and a sad Letter to God.
7. Airboune - No Guts, No Glory - 2.5 outta 5. After their kick-ass debut five star Runnin' Wild, this album with 16 tracks is pretty much more of the same. I was hoping for something new and fresh.
8. The Lions - Let No One Fall - 5 outta 5. Here's a surprising fresh new "sleaze rock" band. Have a rough GnR sound. Although it's a 6 song EP, all six songs totally rock.

We will miss you Ronnie.

This week we lost one of Metal's most recognizable icons. A huge loss to the Metal genre. Metal fans from around the world will miss you.

Worth a Listen

Here's some new stuff I've been playing lately thats worth a listen.

1. Skinny Little Bitch - Hole - Courtney's comeback is on the right track. Heavy and basic.
2. Gimme Riot - Lions - This band out of Austin, Texas is hitting the big time over in Europe. Their 6 song EP Let No One Fall is now available here in the states and each song is as good as the first. Think Velvet Revolver
3. The Abyss - Accept - With new singer Mark Tornillo from the New Jersey local T.T. Quick sounds just as good as former Accept singer Udo. The Abyss is heavy and has some great riffs from Wolf Hoffman. Excited to hear the rest of the album.
4. Ghost - Slash/Ian Atsbury (The Cult) - This opening song off the new Slash album features Ian Atsbury from the Cult. This is probably one of the better songs on it.
5. We're all gonna die - Slash/Iggy Pop - Great song with a little punk.
6. Sting in the Tail - Scorpions - typical 80s scorpions sound
7. Poster Child - Lions - another great song off the 6 song Let No One Fall EP.

Today's Rant: Courtney's Comeback

Today I'm reading post bashing the new Hole song Skinny Little Bi$#@. Phrases like 90s rehash, give it up, druggie go away, and stuff like that. I'm here to say then someone STEP UP TO THE MIC! Where's the next great RocknRoll Beeatch then??? I hear names like Taylor Swift, Fergie, Lady Gaga, etc....WTF...but no new Rock Queens...It's ok if Axl Rose punches out a photographer. Nobody seemed to mind...except for the photographer. It's very "Rock"...Rock stars wouldn't be rock stars without the Sex, Drugs, RocknRoll and any other Mayhem they can get themselves into. So what if she's a addict I say. That's her life. She chose that life. All the greatest rock stars in music history were at one time an addict...including The Beatles. I for one like the song. It's brash, it's hard, and Courtney's voice sounds as good as ever. It could be worse but it isn't.

70s vs 80s/90s Scorpions

Something I'm figuring out now about the Scorpions was not a lot of people have heard the pre-1979 Scorpions. When you say Scorpions most people think Rock You Like a Hurricane, Still Loving You, Winds of Change, No One Like You, Tease Me, Please Me and others. I can remember like it was yesterday when my best friends uncle gave me his Best of Scorpions Vol 2. The funny thing was I was expecting those songs to be on there. But instead songs like Top of the Bill, Speedy's Coming and They Need a Million were the highlights from the 70s records. Long before Matthias Jabs, Rudy Schenker and Rock You Like an 80s Hair Metal Hurricane, there was Michael Schenker and Uli Jon Roth on Guitars. The first 5 albums I must say are old school Heavy Metal. Listen to early Judas Priest, old Black Sabbath, and the first 2 albums from Iron Maiden. Uli Jon Roth I must say is a underrated lead guitarist. Lonsome Crow (1972), Fly to the Rainbow (1974, Virgin Killer (1976) and Taken by Force (1977) are the just as much the roots of early metal. My personal favorite is Taken by Force. The last Uli Jon Roth Album. By the time Jabs joined the group and switching record labels to RCA, they became too commercial. To the point of get a song on the radio or MTV was more important the music itself. Love at First Sting was their first album success in the MTV era. Rock You Like a Hurricane was so overplayed and can't be taken serious as song. I understand hits means sales (money)...but isn't it supposed to be about the music. Any band member will tell you it's about the music. Why do you think all these old bands nowadays are going back their "meat and potatoes" sound that got them started?
Playlist:
1. Top of the Bill
2. The Sails of Charon
3. Steamrock Fever
4. Longing for Fire
5. They Need a Million
6. Your Light
These are 5 MUST in any Scorpions fan playlist.

video of the Week: Airbourne "Too Much, Too Young, Too Fast""

Worth a Listen

Here's a few tunes worth a listen.
1. Stillborn - Black Label Society (featuring Ozzy Osbourne)
What I like about this song is it's vintage Ozzy. It has a 1973 feel about it. Very dark and not too much production like the new Ozzy stuff. In fact Ozzy should go back to the basics. I know he's 60+ years old but Black Rain wasn't bad but like the previous albums was way over produced.
2. Gimme Riot - Lions
I got the single off of Classic Rock magazines free "One's to Watch in 2010". These boys from Austin, Texas are a cross between Velvet Revolver and AC/DC. The unfortunate thing is is the full 6 song EP Let No One Fall is a Import and is not on iTunes. You can listen to the rest of the killer EP at http://www.ilike.com/artist/Lions/album/Let+No+One+Fall.
3. Cold Hearted Man - AC/DC off of the new Backtracks: Studio Rarities
This is vintage Bon Scott. It sounds like it should have been on the Powerage Album.
4. Paraskavedekatriaphobia (Friday the 13th) - Fozzy
This is Wrestler Chris Jerico's Metal Band. His voice is actually pretty good although it sounds a bit like Ozzy.
5. Painkiller - Judas Priest
Great Album, Great heavy song.
6. mOBSCENE - Marilyn Manson
If you like heavy guitarist John 5 and Marilyn Manson, this is the song for you.

Video of the Week: AC/DC "Shot Down in Flames"

2010 Albums to look forward to.

1. Airbourne - No Guts, No Glory, April 20
2. Ratt - Infestation, April 20
3. John 5 - The Art of Malace, TBA
4. OZZY - TBA, TBA
5. Krokus - Hoodoo, May 25
6. Accept - TBA, TBA
7. Scorpions - Sting in the Tail, March 23
8. Linkin Park - TBA, TBA

video of the Week: Judas Priest "Painkiller"

Random Thoughts 02/10

1. New Rob Zombie HBD2 is a little disappointing. I would like to see John 5 show off a little more. Other than the single releases; What? and Sick Bubblegum, the album lacks in crunch.
2. What in the world is going on in the Aerosmith camp. A. Steven Tyler threatening a lawsuit. B. Joe saying Steven auditioned for Led Zeppelin. and lastly C. Joe saying they are considering a female replacement.
3. Anxious to hear the new Airbourne and Ratt (although early leaks of the new singles have been disappointing.)
4. Love the new Fozzy, wrestling's Chris Jericho's band.
5. Nothing against Zakk, but I'm excited to hear Gus G with Ozzy this summer. Look up Firewind on iTunes to hear Gus G on guitar. Think cross between EVH and heavy Steve Vai.
6. What happened to VH by the way. Where's the new album? Where's the "World Tour"?
7. I heard the new LIVE Satriani....too much echo in Paris.
8. Ace needs to come to Indy.
9. Tracii Guns needs to give up the band name.
10. The Grammy awards Best Hard Rock Performance for AC/DC's War Machine and Best Metal Performance for Judas Priest's Dissedent Aggressor is a joke. It was more a lifetime achievement award. They've had much better performances. The Grammy's are a joke. Just as the Rock n Roll Hall of Shame. Congrats otherwise.

Video of the Week: Rob Zombie "Sick Bubblegum"

Recent purchases

Here's a few purchase of late. Some good, some bad, some just plain suck.

1. John 5 - Remixplotation, Vertigo, The Devil Knows My Name, Songs for Sanity, and Requiem
All 5 of these albums kick total a$$. Some heavy industrial metal guitar riffs. Highly recommended.
2. Cheap Trick - In color and in black n white
Great classic album. The funny thing is the weakest song on the album is the studio version of I Want You To Want Me. Go figure.
This goes back to when they just played good Rock n' Roll before the 80s
3. Peter Framton - Now
Not a bad album, but not a favorite. Fingerprints is a much better one that is all instrumental. This one Peter sings on. Not that he has a bad vocals. Just not a good Rock voice.
4. Smashing Pumpkins - Zeitgeist
The bands just not the same since the turn of the century...not to mention the loss of guitarist James Iha.
5. Steel Panther - Feel the Steel
It's pretty funny the first time through. This faux metal band (see Spinal Tap) makes fun of Hair Metal with its looks and song lyrics. But after one listen you discard them from your iTunes.
6. Tora Tora - Surprise Attack
This album I would say is 2.5 out of 5 for that carbon copy late 80s Metal. Worth one listen
7. UFO - You Are Here
I was kind of disappointed when I heard this. I was highly recommended UFO from someone. Although this lineup is more recent, it just didn't do it for me. The riffs were pretty good with Vinnie Moore, but the vocals with Phil Mogg were disappointing.

Rob Zombie Show Killed in Indy (5 outta 5 stars)

I checked out the Rob Zombie show last week (11/16/09). I will say that was one of the best shows I've ever seen. I've heard he is hit or miss and that night he was hit. The show opened with Capt. Clegg and the Night Creatures, the Psyco-Billy band from the Rob's movie Halloween II. There were sort of a Stray Cats meet the Munsters. Although I was not familiar with the songs, they were intertaining. The second act was a joke. The Nekromantics. Two guys looked a cross between Kid n' Play meets Vanilla Ice. They too had the Pycho-Billy sound. I did like the stand up coffin bass the lead singer was playing but that was about it. Now as for the Zombie show...17 crushing songs...including 3 White Zombie and 3 new ones, which by the way most at most concerts you can feel the croud crenge in their seats when bands play new material...but not Zombie. All 3 new songs (although the new album is not out yet and has been pushed back to after the first of the year) totally rocked and the crowd was into all three new ones. Never once did anyone sit in their seat. The band opened with Sawdust in the Blood as the band marched onto the stage in military fashion wearing some halloween masked straight out of a horror flick. Then blasted right into What Lurks on Channel X? Then right into my favorite Superbeast. It's not that often I hear a band play a favorite right at the start of the show. He closed with 2 different encores. The first with a new tune Werewolf Women of the SS and then Lords of Salem. They closed the show with fan favorite Dragula. John 5 was impressive although during his solo I would have liked to have heard something from one of his solo albums.

Setlist
1. Sawdust on the Blood
2. What Lurks on Channel X?
3. Superbeast
4. Super-Charged Heaven (White Zombie)
5. Living Dead Girl
6. Demon Speeding
7. More Human Than Human (White Zombie)
8. Sick Bubble-Gum (new)
9. House of 1000 Corpses
10. Never Gonna Stop (Red, Red Groovy)
11. Scum of the Earth
12. What? (new)
13. American Witch
14. Thunder Kiss '65 (White Zombie)

Encore
15. Werewolf Women of the SS (new)
16. Lords of Salem

Encore II
17. Dragula

I would not have taken any songs out of the setlist but I would have like to have added Feel So Numb.

John 5 - Restacking My Deck

I just saw Rob Zombie last week in Indy. (which BTW I give 9 outta 10 stars for his show at the Murat). Now typically most Zombie songs have great guitar solos or any solos at all. So watching the concert I had no idea that John 5 was a shredder. And by watching him walk around the stage I wouldn't have guessed he's a metal guiarist. For one he plays a Telecaster. Not know for metal. For two he plays his guitar up so high like David Byrne of the Talking Heads and shakes his head like he's one of the Monkeys. It wasn't till the next day I was checking out his website online to discover his Bio. He's played with David Lee Roth, Marilyn Manson, Rob Halford, special guest on Hour 1 on the Scorpions last album and now Rob Zombie. He also has 4 solo efforts. I check them out on iTunes and I was really surprised....REALLY surprised.

1. Requiem (personal favorite)
2. Songs for Sanity
3. Remixploitation
4. Vertigo

The dude can shred. His style his heavy quick and even throws in a little chicken-pickin'. I've just post my new rankings over to the right. I have to put him in the top 5 all time...crazy huh?

Metallica My Way: Top Ten Metallica Songs

Old Metallica, New Metallica and everything in between. I will say first after a recent show of theirs, I did enjoy hearing the old stuff but was disappointed not to hear at the very least some in between stuff (St Anger, Load, Reload, Garage Inc).
Personally I didn't grow up on Metallica. I remember the early days of Metallica in high school. They were regarded as strictly as thrash or speed metal. If you liked thrash/speed metal, you didn't like anything else. I wasn't like that. I had a wider range of taste when it came to Rock/Hard Rock/Metal. At that time when they first came out I didn't really care for them at all. I was more into Classic Hard Rock/Metal of the Judas Priest, Iron Maiden, AC/DC, Van Halen, Scorpions and Black Sabbath. It wasn't until the MTV performance of Enter Sandman that I went out and purchase my first Metallica cassette. Now of course the rest of Metallica followers thought Metallica sold out going Metal-Mainstream. I will also say every Metallica fan as well as Metallica themselves hate St. Anger. After watching Some Kind of Monster I see why Metallica hates the album. But as a fan I think it's one of their better albums. It progressed from the previous 90s albums. It fits perfectly in between the 90s albums and Death Magnetic. It's harder than the 90s stuff. Plus I never once heard a song from that album on local radio which is fine with me. NO overplay. Here's my Top Ten Metallica song. Some old, some new and some in between.

1. Of Wolf of Man
2. Frantic
3. My Friend of Misery
4. Shoot Me Again
5. Seek and Destroy
6. Eye of the Beholder
7. King Nothing
8. Some Kind of Monster
9. Cyanide
10. Sabbra Cadabbra

Check Jerry's Brain: Alice's Comeback

I will first admit I was very skeptical with the Alice in Chains comeback without the late Layne Staley. After his death in 2002 I was for sure that was the last of AIC. With the new Black Gives Way To Blue I wasn't even sure I would give it a listen. Now I will say after the first listen I was impressed from the very first song to last. Even though I feel some songs lose their way with thier new singer (which only appears on four songs). I will just say now Jerry carries the band now and with all do respect to Layne, Jerry carried more than I thought during the early years. The album opens with a little long All Secrets Known. A little dreary for an opening song. The song is only 4:45 but as slow as it is, seems a little too long to get the real opening song Check My Brain which is probably the best song on the album. Now on When the Sun Rose Again and Private Hell you can hear the haunting influence of Layne's voice. It's almost eery. The closing song is Black Gives Way to Blue which which is a personal tribut to Layne. It's a very sad and you can even feel the pain the band has and still is going through.

Better Than Expected:
1. Check My Brain
2. Your Decision
3. Black Gives Way to Blue
4. Take Her Out
5. Private Hell
6. When the Sun Rose Again

Skip throughs:
1. Last of My Kind
2. Acid Bubble
3. A Looking in View
4. Lessoned Learned

How come Slade doesn't get their due?

How does a band like Slade get their due. The Glam/Hard Rock group from Woverhampton, England has had some of their songs go on to become hits from other bands. Even catipulting a band like Quiet Riot into the stratosphere. Yes in the early 80s they had a MTV video hit with Run, Run, Away. But it seems not too many music fans every talk about them being a huge influence on other bands. I recently purchased one of their greatest hits albums and it's not bad surprisingly. Here some covers that I found:

Coz I Luv You - The Wonder Stuff
Cum on Feel the Noise - Bran Van 3000, Quiet Riot, Oasis
Goodbye to Jane - Van Halen, Britny Fox
Mama Weer All Crazee Now - The Runaways, Quiet Riot, The Fargone Beauties, and Mama's Boys
Run Run Away - Great Big Sea
Merry Christmas Everybody - Oasis

Top Ten Hard Rock Singer

1. Dave King
2. Rob Halford
3. Ozzy Osbourne
4. Bon Scott
5. James Hetfield
6. Ronnie James Dio
7. Axl Rose
8. Klaus Meine
9. Steven Tyler
10. Chester Bennington

Kiss: Do the right thing.

As we all know Kiss now has the lineup Tommy Thayer and Eric Singer in the makeup of Ace and Peter. Paul says that no band member owns their makeup Kiss character which last I read that wasn't true and that Gene and Paul own theirs. When you went to a Kiss concert you went to see Gene, Paul, Ace and Peter...not The Demon, Starchild, Spaceman and Catman. You went to see Ace's guitar smoke or hear him sing Shock Me or 2000 man. No distrespect to Tommy Thayer and Eric Singer. I understand what Paul is saying but any Kiss fan that goes to see them now will not be seeing in my eyes Kiss. You'll be seeing a "put together of musicians" version of Kiss. As for the new album Sonic Boom. I'm not impressed. Ace's new album Anomoly, although lacking lyric writing, blows the Sonic Boom away. His guitar work is heavy and on top of his game. His voice still sounds as good as ever. I didn't understand why Kiss re-recorded (again) their top hits and packaged them with the new Sonic Boom. Then again, that's Gene for ya. Bottom line...Tommy and Eric use your own makeup.

10 New Songs Worth a Listen

1. What? - Rob Zombie
2. Your Decision - Alice in Chains
3. Fox on the Run - Ace Frehley
4. End of the World - Dead by Sunrise
5. Broken, Beat & Scarred - Metallica
6. When the Lights Go Out - Cheap Trick
7. Headcrusher - Megadeth
8. A Right of Passage - Dream Theatre
9. Take Her Out - Alice in Chains
10. Modern Day Delilah - Kiss

Alice In Chains:Check My Brain

10 new songs i heard today worth a listen

1. Highway Star - Buck Cherry (Deep Purple cover)
2. Crawl Back In - Dead By Sunrise (Chester Bennington, Linkin Park)
3. Outter Space - Ace Frehley
4. Now We Run - Steve Vai
5. Get It Up - Chickenfoot
6. Bone House - The Dead Weather (Jack White)
7. Good Morning, Good Morning - Cheap Trick Live (The Beatles cover)
8. Check My Brain - Alice in Chains
9. New Divide - Linkin Park
10. Fly Farm Blues - Jack White (It Might Get Loud - Single)

Pick of the Week: Chickenfoot

First I want to start out saying that growing up I was a pretty big Van Halen fan until "1984". I was aslo a huge Sammy Hagar (solo) fan up until "...55". And when the two join forces in 86 I had my doubts. I wasn't a fan. I thought they sold themselves out. They did infact all the way to number one. I also grew up a huge Joe Satriani fan. Joe is my #1 with EVH a distant second....so when i first heard that Chickenfoot was coming about I once again had my doubts. Now I'm hear to say it took only one listen to every song from start to finish and thought this is what Van "Hagar" should have sounded like. Heavy riffs, no keys, Michael Anthony's backing and decent vocals...infact the vocals on this album were much more impressive than I anticipated. Sammy's like what 72? But sounds better now than when he first started with VH. I understand that Edward has not listened to the album nor does he have a desire to. Eddie if you are listening, listen carefully: Listen to the album one time and go back to Dave, Wolfie, and Alex and say we must top this. Your band is "the one band" that HAS to get back to the sound that defined your career...forget about getting to #1 or pleasing the casual fan. Do it for Rock! Now back to Chickenfoot. The first two songs starts with a what I will call a "Joe" songs Avenida Revolution and Soap on a Roap. Heavy riffs that are reminicant of recent Joe albums. The third song, Sexy Little Thing starts a string of "VH songs" until "Get it Up" which has the vintage "Joe" sound as well as a heavy "Down the Drain". Following are a couple of ballad-esque songs. This album is definately a 5 out of 5 star album to my surprise. Great job gents and Eddie... the ball is in your court now to kick up a notch.

5 Great ones:
1. Down the Drain
2. Get it Up
3. Soap on a Roap
4. Turnin Left
5. Avenida Revolution

The next 5 Great ones part II:
1. Bitten by the Wolf (Bonus Track available on iTunes)
2. My Kinda Girl
3. Runnin Out
4. Oh Yeah
5. Sexy Little Thing

Pick of the Week: Nevermind the Bullocks 5 out of 5 stars

I wouldn't say i grew up on punk or even gave it a the time a day until recent years. I've become to appreciate it more today. But only the true punk bands, not the posers that put out the "punk pop". But as i was reading John (johnny rotten)Lydon's autobiography did i discover something i didn't know about The Sex Pistols. Not only were they only together 2 years they also had only one studio album. How can such an influential band have such an impact on punk music of the 90s and today..well I'll tell you how..I recently purchased Nevermind the Bullocks, Here's the Sex Pistols and I will say it's one of the best "front to back" albums I've heard. The entire album is full of fist pumping, middle finger-giving, energizing, political anthems. Green Day today does have their radio-friendly "punk pop" but i think after stepping out with American Idiot, they felt like they needed to use the same formula instead of making the next step. To me the Sex Pistols made the music for themselves rather than to get radio play or even for their fans. But that also could have been part of their downfall. (as well as many other issues) But back to the album, personal favorites, Sub-mission, Anarchy in U.K., God Save the Queen, and EMI, the jab at the record company that dumped them, New York and Holiday in the Sun.

Green Day's 21st Century Breakdown 3 out of 5

After listening to Green Day's newest album 21st Century Breakdown for the 5th time,
the album really doesn't kick in until track 6, Christian's Inferno. Classic Punk. From there the album goes in and out of true punk and catchy pop. I would prefer they had not gone the concept direction after coming off of American Idiot. Here's a quick peak:

5 worth a listen:
1. Peacemaker - personal favorite
2. Horseshoe's and Handgrenades - probably the hardest song on the album
3. Last Night on Earth - has a Beatles-esque White Album sound
4. Christian's Inferno - where the album takes off
5. See the Light - a perfect closing song

5 to forget:
1. 21st Century Breakdown
2. Know Your Enemy
3. Last of the American Girls
4. Static Age
5. 21 Guns

A quick peeve of mine. If you present yourself as a "trio" then be a trio...for live shows they use a lead guitar player and studio musicians. If Rush, the Police and ZZ Top can do it, then surely a self-proclaimed punk band can do it.

Live Pet Peeve

My newest peeve. All these bands on the road now performing complete albums from the past. Example:
Judas Priest: British Steel
Aerosmith: Toys in the Attic
Green Day: 21st Century Breakdown
The Cult:Love
Motley Crue: Dr. Feelgood
There's a few i'm leaving off.
I'm a big fan of the deep cuts. Not a fan of the music generals that decide what are going to be the singles to get the radio play. They are deciding what you will listen to. But anyway some of these songs from these albums are marginal and to sit through the show as a casual fan it may be like pulling teeth. Now I'm a fan of those bands and wouldn't bother me so much but to the casual fan they would rather hear more of the hits.

Duff McKagan's Loaded: Sick

Check out the new Duff McKagan's Loaded Sick new album Sick. 5 outta 5 stars. It includes 4 of 5 songs from the EP Wasted Heart from last fall including a alternate version of Wasted Heart. 15 songs and a digital booklet on itunes. Total kick-a Seattle rock.

Bucket List

5 Bands I gotta see before i go.

1. Van Halen with DLR
2. Metallica (mark this one off in Sept)
3. David Bowie (missed a couple of years ago..won't do that again)
4. Loaded
5. Chickenfoot

Great Aerosmith Dream On Version

Which R U: Album or Song Buyer

Since the inception of iTunes you have the choice of a favorite song or complete album. Of course there's the occaional "album only" purchase which in other words the album probably sucks and they're counting on you to pay 9.99 for a sucky album but that's a whole another blog....but for now..I'm an Album lover for many reasons. I come from the Album (yes old) generation. One, the artwork of the album. I used to spend the first hour reading the liner notes or examining the front cover. Two, I'm a huge deep cut fan. The songs that are deep into the album that get no airplay at all...so in other words i don't have to worry about getting burned out the the single that the record company wants you to listen to. Plus when I scroll through my ipod, I will listen to albums...not songs. If i wanted to do that, I would just listen to the radio or internet radio. I love listening to albums front to back...even the sucky ones. I also like completing collections..in order to do that I must have the entire album. I listen to music at least 8 hours a day..whether it's in the car, at work (which let's me do so) or in my studio at home. So i do have the time to listen to whole albums rather than singles. By just buying singles, you're cheating yourself out of the really good stuff.

Chickenfoot

I think Joe Satriani and his new band Chickenfoot with Sammy Hagar, Michael Anthony, and Chad Smith just raised the bar for Eddie Van Halen for the next Van Halen album. I just listen to the 2 new tracks at www.chickenfoot.us and holy crap this is what the Van "Hagar" era SHOULD HAVE sounded like. No keyboards just unbelievable rockin guitar with Sammy vocals and the traditional Michael Anthony backing. Look for the new album in early June.

Heaven and Hell: Black Sabbath

Black Sabbath's newest change. Their name. With Dio as the frontman with the original members of Sabbath have changed their name to Heaven and Hell. A message they are sending their fans is that they will not be playing any of the old Sabbath classics (fronted by Ozzy) at their shows. Being a Sabbath fan since like forever, (I prefer the Ozzy era), I'm not taking to the name change. To me it would be like Van Halen offically changing their name to Van Hagar during the Hagar era. Or AC/DC changing their name to Back in Black and refusing to play the Bon Scott stuff at their shows. Now I will say the Black Sabbath with Dio sounds pretty good but they other than Mob Rules and Heaven and Hell, what other BS songs with Dio turned into classics? I would be very dissapointed to go the show and not hear Iron Man or Paranoid. At least keep the name and just not play the Ozzy stuff.

Worth a listen

1. Dark Days by Duff McKagan's Loaded 4.5 stars. Duff's side project's first album is very punk and very dark but highly recommended. Last years Wasted Heart EP is much better produced but only contains 5 songs and is just a tease.

2. Under it All by New American Shame. This band's 1999 release if very "American Rock 'n Roll" borrowing the AC/DC forumula.

3. Orgasmatron by Motorhead. A little different from Lemmy but heavy.

4. Wheels of Steal by Saxon - Early British Metal, raw but classic.

Who is the greatest Rock "Star"?

What is a Rock "Star"? A Rock "Star" by my opinion is a legendary rock star that when walks into a room every head turns. There is a vibe that you feel when they enter the room. They have to have had several hits with their band. They pretty much don't give a F@#$ what anyone thinks of them. Say anything that comes to mind no matter the outcome.They obviously had to have been a drug addict at some point right? I can think of about 5 or so and one comes to my mind that tops the list. Stephen Tyler. He's got the look. He's got the voice. He's got the hits. He's got the fans. He's got his own Guitar Hero game that feature's his exclusively his band. He's also been a drug addict. He would be recognized on the street by anyone. Plus a 25 year old girl at my work think's he's just the bomb (even in his 60s). The other 4 that come to mind. Bono, Mick Jagger, Jim Morrison and Nikki Sixx. I know Nikki was from the hair metal era which gets little deserved respect. But after reading his Herion Diaries: A Year in the Life of a Rock Star, I have more respect for him.

Why is it?

Why is it that most bands from the 70s, 80s, and 90s whom have had a catalog of hits go on tour now with new material but no one wants to hear the new stuff. It's pretty much like pulling teeth just getting through the new songs. I know why they do it. They have to. They have to promote their own album. Let's take Journey for instance. I saw them last fall and they every song they played was a radio hit at some point in time except for 3 songs from the new album that the crowd just growned through. Now on the other hand you bands like Metallica, AC/DC and U2 that put out new material and the crowd goes just crazy for it. Is it because they are still relevant? Is it because of the new generation picks up on these bands from Guitar Hero and Rock Band and that makes them cool? Or is it just a matter of taste? Or just some of those old bands just never evolved to the music of today. Some bands always say "well, on our next album, we're going back to their old sound", which they never do and why do it? Why not take a lesson from Metallica? They for example have never peaked. They always come out bigger and better with every ablum and it never sounds the same.

Recommendation! 2.0

Friday I checked out on FUSE, Metal: A Headbanger's Journey. "Metal" was a 2005 documentary directed by Sam Dunn with Scot McFadyen and Jessica Wise. The film follows 31-year-old Sam Dunn, a Canadian anthropologist, who has been a heavy metal fan since the age of 12. He sets out across the world to uncover the various opinions on heavy metal music, including its origins, culture, controversy, and reasons it is loved by so many people. Great interview with Dio and Vince. Although he didn't explore every metal genre or sub-genre. He did have a interesting breakdow chart of metal.

Early metal (1966−1971)
- Cream - Jimi Hendrix - Blue Cheer - Deep Purple - Led Zeppelin - MC5 - Mountain - The Stooges - Black Sabbath

Original hard rock (1974−1979)
- Thin Lizzy - Blue Öyster Cult - Aerosmith - Ted Nugent - AC/DC

Shock rock (1968−1983)
- Arthur Brown - Alice Cooper - New York Dolls - Kiss - Ozzy Osbourne - W.A.S.P.

Early punk (1976−1979)
- The Ramones - The Damned - Sex Pistols - The Clash - The Dead Boys

Power metal (1976−present)
- Scorpions - Judas Priest - Rainbow - Accept - Manowar - Dio - Yngwie J. Malmsteen - Helloween - Blind Guardian - HammerFall - Primal Fear

New Wave of British Heavy Metal (1979−1983)
- Motörhead - Saxon - Iron Maiden - Angel Witch - Girlschool - Tygers of Pan Tang - Diamond Head

Progressive metal (1970−present)
- Uriah Heep - Rush - Queensrÿche - Savatage - Fates Warning - Voivod - Dream Theater - Meshuggah - Symphony X - Evergrey

Glam metal (1973−1990)
- Slade - Sweet - Hanoi Rocks - Mötley Crüe - Twisted Sister - Poison - Cinderella - Skid Row

Pop metal (1978−present)
- Quiet Riot - Van Halen - Whitesnake - Def Leppard - Europe - Dokken - Lita Ford - Ratt - Guns N' Roses - Winger - Warrant - Doro - The Darkness

Stoner metal (1982−present)
- Witchfinder General - Trouble - Candlemass - Cathedral - Kyuss - Today is the Day

Original hardcore (1980−1986)
- Agnostic Front - D.O.A. - The Exploited - Bad Brains - Misfits - GBH - Discharge - Dead Kennedys - Minor Threat - Black Flag

Thrash metal (1983−present)
- Metallica - Slayer - Anthrax - Megadeth - Exodus - Overkill - Kreator - Destruction - Sodom - Testament - Nuclear Assault - Death Angel - Pantera - Sepultura - Children of Bodom

First wave of black metal (1981−1986)
- Venom - Bathory - Mercyful Fate - Celtic Frost

Norwegian black metal (1990−present)
- Mayhem - Darkthrone - Immortal - Gorgoroth - Emperor - Satyricon - Enslaved - Dimmu Borgir - Cradle Of Filth (UK)

Grindcore (1987−present)
- Napalm Death - Carcass - Repulsion - Exhumed - Extreme Noise Terror - Cephalic Carnage - Brutal Truth

Death metal (1985−present)
- Possessed - Death - Morbid Angel - Obituary - Deicide - Cannibal Corpse - Immolation - Autopsy - Nile - Dying Fetus

Swedish death metal (1990−present)
- Grave - Entombed - At the Gates - Unleashed - Dismember - Arch Enemy - Soilwork - In Flames - Dark Tranquility - The Haunted

Metalcore (1985−present)
- Corrosion of Conformity - Suicidal Tendencies - Dirty Rotten Imbeciles - Machine Head - Stormtroopers of Death - Hatebreed - The Dillinger Escape Plan

Grunge (1988−1993)
- Green River - The Melvins - Soundgarden - Mudhoney - Nirvana - Alice in Chains - Mother Love Bone - Stone Temple Pilots - Pearl Jam

Goth metal (aka Doom metal on the DVD) (1990−present)
- Paradise Lost - Tiamat - Therion - Type O Negative - My Dying Bride - Anathema - Theatre Of Tragedy - Katatonia - Opeth

Industrial metal (1988−present)
- Ministry - White Zombie - Godflesh - Nine Inch Nails - Fear Factory - Marilyn Manson - Static-X

Hard alternative (1985−present)
- Faith No More - Jane's Addiction - Prong - Living Colour - The Smashing Pumpkins - Rage Against the Machine

Nu metal (1994−present)
- Biohazard - KoЯn - Slipknot - Limp Bizkit - Godsmack - Coal Chamber - System of a Down - Disturbed - Kittie

New Wave of American Metal (2000−present)
- Shadows Fall - Lamb of God - Darkest Hour - Chimaira - Killswitch Engage - Unearth - God Forbid

1980, 1982, 1983 or 1984: The greatest year in Hard Rock

1980
AC/DC - Back in Black
Motorhead - Ace of Spades
Ozzy Osbourne - Blizzard of Oz
Judas Priest - British Steel
Black Sabbath - Heaven and Hell
Iron Maiden - Iron Maiden
Rush - Permanant Waves
Saxon - Wheels of Steel
Scorpions - Animal Magnitism
Def Leppard - On Through the Night
Van Halen - Woman and Children First

1982
Judas Priest - Screaming for Vengance
Iron Maiden - The Number of the Beast
Scorpions - Blackout
Motley Crue - Too Fast for Love
Van Halen - Diver Down
Aldo Nova - Aldo Nova

1983
Def Leppard - Pyromania
Metallica - Kill Em All
Quiet Riot - Metal Health
Motley Crue - Shout at the Devil
Iron Maiden - Piece of Mind
Accept - Balls to the Wall
Dio - Holy Diver
Ozzy Osbourne - Bark at the Moon
AC/DC - Flick of the Switch
Krokus - Headhunter
Kiss - Lick it Up
Fastway - Fastway
Dokken - Breaking the Chains
Y & T - Mean Streak
Helix - No Rest for the Wicked
Night Ranger - Midnight Madness
Vandenburg - Heading for a Storm
Kix - Cool Kids
Triumph - Never Surrender
Zebra - Zebra

1984
Van Halen - 1984
Bon Jovi - Bon Jovi
Metallica - Ride the Lightning
Judas Priest - Defenders of the Faith
Iron Maiden - Powerslave
Twisted Sister - Stay Hungry
Dokken - Tooth and Nail
Scorpions - Love at First Sting
W.A.S.P. - W.A.S.P.
Accept - Balls to the Wall
Ratt - Out of the Cellar
Whitesnake - Slide It In
Dio - The Last in Line
Quiet Riot - Condition Critical
Deep Purple - Perfect Strangers

I'm gonna have to pick 1983. This is when Hard Rock/Metal really took off and more notice on MTV. More great front to back albums...plus what happen
to an album every year. Used to you could count on a new studio album every year by your favorite band. But now you get over-produced drawn out 6 month recordings followed by a 2 year tour. I'm glad to see that this year Ozzy is going back to back years with new material (due Thanksgiving). Long live the Prince of Darkness.

Recent Purchases

Duff McKagen's Loaded - Wasted Heart - Hot Stuff, sounds cross between GNR and Velvet Revolver
Dio - Killing the Dragon - Very good guitar work. Probably Dio's best vocals in recent memory
Motley Crue - Saints of Los Angeles - 3 good songs: S of LA, Down at the Whiskey, and MF of the Year
Judas Priest - Nostradamus - Pretty heavy but opposite spectrums from the early Rock-a-Rola, British Steel and 80s albums. It's also risky putting out a concept album.
AC/DC - Black Ice - More like Stiff Upper lip side 2
Lynch Mob - Lynch Mob - Much better than Wicked Sensation
Cheap Trick - Woke Up with a Monster
Cheap Trick - Authorized Hits: It was 7.99 at Walmart. Has most of the hits including That 70s Show theme song. Was dissapointed it didn't have the more heavy Gonna Raise Hell and Need Your Love from Dream Police.
Sebastian Bach - Angel Down: I finally completed the album off iTunes...but well worth the $7 to complete it. Very heavy plus Axl appears on 3 tunes including Aerosmith's Back in the Saddle

This or That 2.0

1. Mick Jagger or Steven Tyler - I have to go with the original bad boy Stone.
2. Lynch Mob or Dokken - I hate to say it but this is one time that the guitar player WAS the band and not the singer that holds the name. Lynch.
3. Steve Harris or John Entwistle - Steve Harris...nobody plays bass faster but more freely plus the song writing skills are beyond comprehension.
4. Roger Daltry or Robert Plant - Daltry
5. Rock of Love or Supergroup - Supergroup, more about the music, not the lifestyle
6. Bret Michaels or Sebastian Bach - Oooh tuff one but everyone knows how if feel about Bret and I just heard a Eddie Trunk interview with Sebastian Bach and I think I've had the wrong impression. I truely believe he is a true rocker and is about the music and not the fame.
7. Green Day or Blink 182....Before American Idiot I would have said Blink 182 but that album says Green Day is more than just 3 snotty kids playing music for slackers.
8. Rush or Dream Theatre - I'll have to say Rush...they've had more mainstream hits.
9. Death Magnetic or Kill 'em All - I may have to go with Kill 'em All...I like the rawness of the sound.
10.Frampton Comes Alive or Cheap Trick Live at Budakon - Cheap Trick in a landslide

LIVE!

Top 10 live albums
1. Judas Priest: Live
2. AC/DC: Live in Paris
3. Green Day: Bullet in the Bible
4. Britny Fox: Long Way to LIVE!
5. Cheap Trick: Live at Budakon
6. Ozzy Osborne: Speak at the Devil
7. Fastway: Say What You Will LIVE!
8. Joe Satriani: Live at San Fransisco
9. Journey: Greatest Hits Live
10. Motley Crue: Red, White and Crue

Recommendation!

Eddie Trunk Show...10am-1pm Saturday mornings on iTunes radio KNAC.com
Great interviews with rock stars and great stories of the evolution of bands, songs and life on the road as well as music from the artist....This week guest: Joe Lyn Turner of Rainbow.

For Sale!

1 copy of Chinese Democracy.....$1

Ten Deep Cuts Worth a Listen (Gems)

1. Soul Stripper - AC/DC '74 Jailbreak
2. Longing for Fire - Scorpions In Trance
3. What's in it for Me - Nazareth No Mean City
4. Red Hot - Motley Crue Shout at the Devil
5. Megalomania - Black Sabbath Sabotage
6. Tomorrow Never Knows - The Beatles Revolver
7. Lightning Strikes - Aerosmith Rock in a Hard Place
8. The Rage - Judas Priest British Steel
9. Til the End of Time - Whitesnake Good to be Bad
10. House of Pain - Van Halen 1984

VH1s Top 100 Greatest Hard Rock Songs

I recently viewed VH1s Top Greatest Hard Rock Songs. I loved it. Great interviews. Great "where are they now" and best of all - updated. As for he list itself, I was pretty impressed. There were a few hit and misses:

Misses:
1. #100 Sammy Hagar: I can't drive 55. - There's only one way to rock! Come on.
2. #96 Kansas: Carry On Wayward Son - Top 10 worst songs ever.
3. #90 Jethro Tull: Aqualung - After Metallica getting dished????
4. #63 Survivor: Eye of the Tiger - No Rocky Songs Please
5. #40 Poison: Talk Dirty to Me - No Pop Metal or Poison (which I'll get to later)
6. #89 Journey: Any Way You Want It - Love Journey, wrong list

Hidden Gems:
1. #54 Faith No More: Epic - a song that started the whole Metal/Rap. There were made fun of at the time.
2. #34 Heart: Barracuda - Glad to see the early Heart here.
3. #52 The Runnaways: Cherry Bomb
4. #49 Iggy Pop: Search and Destroy
5. #44 Cream: Sunshine of your love

As for the top 10, I also enjoyed. I'm not sure i would have put Welcome to the Jungle at #1. I would have dropped them down to 6 or 7. You could have put all 10 in a bag and shake them up and any order would have been fine. My personal #1 Paranoid.

Now for the only thing I didn't like at all.....Bret Michaels as host. Shameless promotions for his new release. Or his t-shirt that said "Bret Michaels Rock On". He thinks he's more popular than he really was. Like he was Robert Plant or David Lee Roth or even Vince Neil.

Chinese Democracy Review: Thanks a lot Rolling Stone

Thanks a lot Rolling Stone. Thanks a lot David Fricke. Rolling Stone Issue 1066-"The most anticipate record ever". Thanks for letting waste me my 50 min of life listening to this sad excuse of GNR. "Axl made it worth the wait"...After the opening track Chinese Democracy there's not much left. Mostly sound like mid 90s rehashed trying to change our sound rock. Not to mention the opening song is rockin hard core, then the rest sounds too mellow and not to insult Shirley Manson but the sounds like Axl singing with the rest mid-90s Garbage. Worth a listen Track 1 and 14...Don't waste your time with the rest.

Video of Week: Judas Priest - You've Got Another Thing Comin'

Video of Week: Ozzy - What Gets Me Through

My (new) 3 Rants: Rant #1 - Heard the new Duff

I took a listen to Duff Mckagen's Loaded this morning. Not bad. It' kind of like a cross between GNR and Velvet Revolver. But here's my issue: I'm not a big fan of using your name in the bands name. I understand that if you just call it Loaded no one would probably know who you are or take a listen...but Velvet Revolver didn't use the name Slash's Velvet Revolver. You just need better marketing management.

My (new) 3 Rants: Rant #2 - Queen....errr Bad Company?

The other day I heard the new Queen song Celebrity. Paul Rodger is now at the helm for the frontman replacing the (big) hole that Freddy Mercury left many years ago. Two good examples of successful bands with new lead singers...AC/DC and Van Halen went on with new lead singers and had very successful results. But Freddy Mercury to me is one that cannot be replaced. I'm not a Queen fan and I don't know of any Queen fans....but I would like to know what they think of the new Queen. The new song starts out sounding like Bad Company or The Firm or Free then when the chorus comes in, it sounds a lot like the old Queen...just without Freddy....sorry change the name of the band boys..call it King or Bad Free or Firm King but don't call it Queen.

My (new) 3 Rants: Rant #3 - On the cover of the Rolling Stone

Call me a traditionalist. I'm not against change...infact I like new stuff...but when it comes to the cover of the Rolling Stone...not just the cover but the whole magazine has changed to the more traditional size magazine. "It's handy, It's convienent"...blah blah blah..I don't care what their Publisher says it's really about them saving printing cost in the economical times. But sorry I prefer the old size...it was different than the other music or any other magazines. The size stood out on the newsstand so it was easy to find. Plus there's the tradition. Not to mention the font size seems smaller and of course the older I get the harder to read...but mostly I'm a collector of the magazine and like to hang my favorite covers which used to be much larger...plus the photo spreads were much larger.

Video of Week: Metallica - Whiskey in the Jar

Video of Week: Rainbow - Death Alley Driver

Video of Week: Cheap Trick - That 70's Show (In the Street)

Who?

What so great about the Who?....ok so maybe they have 5 great songs and maybe, just maybe 5 ok songs out of their entire catalog. I watched a recent concert of theirs on cable and a lot of it was a bunch of mish mash waiting for the great ones. The concert itself was ok. Looked pretty recent. Roger didn't look so good. Pete tried to do his patented windmill strokes on his guitar during Babe O'Riley, but at his age he might want to be careful.

5 great:
1. Baba O'Riley
2. Who Are You?
3. Won't Get Fooled Again
4. Behind Blue Eyes
5. Eminence Front

5 Ok:
1. My Generation
2. I Can't Explain
3. Love Reign O'er Me
4. Sqeeze Box (maybe)
5. You Better You Bet (maybe)

Other than that, just a bunch of mish mash. Too folksy to be called "the loudest band in the world"..what because they can turn their amps up on squeeze box? No disrespect but hello overrated. They were good for an occasional anthem but not enough substance in the rest of the works.

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.

Label Today's Rock Music For Me Please

The other day at work I posed the question of what we call the rock music of today. I had a couple replies but nothing solid. One said just "Rock", another "unoriginal" which I thought was clever. We've had progressive rock, heavy metal, hard rock, glam rock, arena rock, old rock is now has been called classic rock since it came out, grunge, speed metal, thrash, art rock, hair metal and so on and on. And I also want to ask the question where is the one or two bands of this decade or generation that will change the face of music? It's the middle of 2008 and it hasn't happened yet to my knowledge. Elvis of the 50s, Beatles/Stones of the 60s, Zeppelin/Sabbath of the 70s, VH/and I'll throw in Motley Crue in the 80s just for the sake of breaking out of L.A. with the Glam/Hair Metal and power ballad(s),and Nirvana/Soundgarden in the 90s. I also posed the question about mainstream. One funny reply to me was how is alternative music alternative if its mainstream. Maybe we are just so caught up in all the American Idols of the world and reality/look at me world of reality television and YouTube or Guitar Hero video games. I think why some of these old bands going back out on tour at the age of 40/50/60 is for the fact 'they can'. We just don't have that one big rock band that everybody has to go see. Nobody is standing out from the rest. Everyone has their own favorite bands BUT not everybody has the same favorite bands. But the word that keeps coming back to me is "unoriginal".

Random Music Thoughts Vol 2.

1. Dear Ozzy, you don't need to make truibute albums about other bands. Other bands make tribute albums about you.

2. Dear AC/DC, Wal-Mart? Are you kidding me? You're not the Eagles. I understand your stance...but come on, you'll sell more on iTunes the first day than you will in a month at Wal-Mart.

3. Dear Velvet Revolver, Do whatever you have to do to get Josh Todd of Buck Cherry for your new lead singer.

4. Dear Snack King...how about those snack recipes.

5. Dear Kell88, close the lid please.

6. Dear Eddie Van Halen...how about putting out a instrumental album

7. Dear Stones, keep rockin until you die.

8. Dear Billy Idol, I like the new stuff.

9. Dear Journey, as much as I like the new singer from The Zoo, you still need Steve.

10. Dear Lars, leave the snare off the new album...it's ok - let it go....it sounds better without it.

Video of Week: AC/DC - It's a Long Way to theTop

Video of Week: Judas Priest Diamonds & Rust (live)

Life Changing Moments

"No one expects the rug to be yanked out from under them; life-changing events usually don't announce themselves. While instinct and intuition can help provide some warning signs, they can do little to prepare you for the feeling of rootlessness that follows when fate flips your world upside down. Anger, confusion, sadness, and frustration are shaken up together inside you like a snow globe. It takes years for the emotional dust to settle as you do your best just to see through the storm." - Slash

Video of Week: Hear 'N Aid - Stars

Band of the Month: Aerosmith

Aerosmith was one of the most popular hard rock bands of the '70s, setting the style and sound of hard rock and heavy metal for the next two decades with their raunchy, bluesy swagger. The Boston-based quintet found the middle ground between the menace of the Rolling Stones and the campy, sleazy flamboyance of the New York Dolls, developing a lean, dirty riff-oriented boogie that was loose and swinging and as hard as a diamond. In the meantime, they developed a prototype for power-ballads with "Dream On," a piano ballad that was orchestrated with strings and distorted guitars. Aerosmith's ability to pull off both ballads and rock & roll made them extremely popular during the mid-'70s, when they had a string of gold and platinum albums. By the early '80s, the group's audience had declined as the band fell prey to drug and alcohol abuse. However, their career was far from over -- in the late '80s, Aerosmith pulled off one of the most remarkable comebacks in rock history, returning to the top of the charts with a group of albums that equalled, if not surpassed, the popularity of their '70s albums.

In 1970, the first incarnation of Aerosmith formed when vocalist Steven Tyler met guitarist Joe Perry while working at a Sunapee, NH, ice cream parlor. Tyler, who originally was a drummer, and Perry decided to form a power trio with bassist Tom Hamilton. The group soon expanded to quartet, adding a second guitarist called Ray Tabano; he was quickly replaced by Brad Whitford, a former member of Earth Inc. With the addition of drummer Joey Kramer, Tyler became the full-time lead singer by the end of year. Aerosmith relocated to Boston at the end of 1970.

After playing clubs in the Massachusetts and New York areas for two years, the group landed a record contract with Columbia Records in 1972. Aerosmith's self-titled debut album was released in the fall of 1973, climbing to number 166. "Dream On" was released as the first single and it was a minor hit, reaching number 59. For the next year, the band built a fan base by touring America, supporting groups as diverse as the Kinks, Mahavishnu Orchestra, Sha Na Na, and Mott the Hoople. The performance of Get Your Wings (1974), the group's second album and first produced by Jack Douglas, benefitted from their constant touring, spending a total of 86 weeks on the chart.

Aerosmith's third record, 1975's Toys in the Attic, both commercially and artistically. By the time the album was recorded, the band's sound had developed into a sleek, hard-driving hard rock powered by simple, almost brutal, blues-based riffs. Many critics at the time labelled the group as punk rockers, and it's easy to see why -- instead of adhering to the world-music pretentions of Led Zeppelin or the prolonged gloomy mysticism of Black Sabbath, Aerosmith stripped heavy metal to its basic core, spitting out spare riffs that not only rocked, but rolled. Steven Tyler's lyrics were filled with double entendres and clever joke and the entire band had a street-wise charisma that separated them from the heavy, lumbering arena rockers of the era. Toys in the Attic captured the essence of the newly invigorated Aerosmith.

"Sweet Emotion," the slyly funky first single from Toys in the Attic, broke into the Top 40 in the summer of 1975, with the album reaching number 11 shortly afterward. Its success prompted the re-release of the power ballad "Dream On," which shot into the Top Ten in early 1976. Both Aerosmith and Get Your Wings climbed back up the charts in the wake of Toys in the Attic, peaking at number 21 and 74 respectively. "Walk This Way," the final single from Toys in the Attic, was released around the time of the group's new 1976 album, Rocks. Although it didn't feature a Top Ten hit like "Walk This Way," Rocks went platinum quickly, peaking at number three.

In early 1977, Aerosmith took a break and prepared material for their fifth album. Released late in 1977, Draw the Line was another hit, climbing to number 11 on the U.S. charts, but it showed signs of exhaustion. In addition to another tour in 1978, the band appeared in the movie Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band, performing "Come Together," which eventually became a number 23 hit. Live! Bootleg appeared late in 1978 and became another success, reaching number 13. Aerosmith recorded Night in the Ruts in 1979, releasing the record at the end of the year. By the time of its release, Joe Perry had left the band to form the Joe Perry Project with vocalist Ralph Morman, basssist David Hull, and drummer Ronnie Stewart. Night in the Ruts performed respectably, climbing to number 14 and going gold, yet it was the least successful Aerosmith record to date. Brad Whitford left the group in early 1980, forming the Whitsford-St. Holmes Band with former Ted Nugent guitarist Derek St. Holmes.

As Aerosmith regrouped with new guitarists Jimmy Crespo and Rick Dufay, the band released Aerosmith's Greatest Hits in late 1980; the record would eventually sell over six million copies. The new lineup of Aerosmith released Rock in a Hard Place in 1982. Peaking at number 32, failed to match the performance of Night in the Ruts and the record showed that the band was out of ideas. Perry and Whitford returned to the band in 1984 and the group began a reunion tour dubbed "Back in the Saddle." Early in the tour, Tyler collapsed on stage, offering proof that the band hadn't conquered their notorious drug and alcohol addictions. The following year, Aerosmith released Done with Mirrors, the original lineup's first record since 1979 and their first for Geffen Records. Although it didn't perform as well as Rock in a Hard Place, the album showed that the band was revitalized.

After the release of Done with Mirrors, Tyler and Perry completed a rehabilitation program. In 1986, the pair appeared on Run D.M.C.'s cover of "Walk This Way," along with appearing in the video. "Walk This Way" became a hit, reaching number four and receiving saturation airplay in MTV. "Walk This Way" set the stage for the band's full-scale comeback effort, the Bruce Fairburn-produced Permanent Vacation (1987). Tyler and Perry collaborated with professional hard rock songwriters like Holly Knight and Desmond Child, resulting in the hits "Dude (Looks like a Lady)," "Rag Doll" and "Angel." Permanent Vacation peaked at number 11 and sold over three million copies.

Pump, released in 1989, continued the band's winning streak, reaching number five, selling over four million copies, and spawning the Top Ten singles "Love in an Elevator," "Janie's Got a Gun," and "What It Takes." Aerosmith released Get a Grip in 1993. Like Permanent Vacation and Pump, Get a Grip was produced by Bruce Fairburn and featured significant contributions by professional songwriters. The album was as successful as the band's previous two records, featuring the hit singles "Livin' on the Edge," "Cryin'," and "Amazing." In 1994, Aerosmith released Big Ones, a compilation of hits from their Geffen years; it went double platinum shortly after its release.