I've posted about Welsh band Red Room Therapy before. I sill think that they are fucking brilliant, I still think they have the talent to go somewhere, and I still think if they get the right exposure they will be the next big thing. A couple week ago I was lucky enough to get a message from them on Twitter, I had been selected for a give away, then got an email, they were sending out a limited edition copy of their first single 'All In The Mind,' ahead of their album being release. Thank guys :)
Début album, also titled 'All In The Mind' is great. It is well worth a listen to any one look fro some decent music. 'Cold, Pt. 2' has fast become one of my favourites, they guitar riffs are catchy, and the drawn out vocals are top notch. It reminds me a lot of another band and I can't quite put my finger on who, which will probably annoy the hell out of me for the rest of the day. Of course previously released songs 'All In The Mind,' and 'Sailing Stone,' respectively open and close the album. Sailing Stone is a chilled out no stress song that will be stuck with you for days. All In The Mind, the title track, amps you up from the start, and leaves you desperate for more of the album. 'Leave Me Alone' is the perfect song for every teenagers angst, or just anyone who is pissed off at work... 'Leave me the fuck alone..' All in all the album is fantastic, expecially for an unsigned band who've done it all themselves. Well done lads! 'All In The Mind' is available on Spotify now. Go check it out, you will not be disappointed.
AC/DC drummer (former drummer?) Phil Rudd will be wearing the black and white stripes soon if the recent allegations against him are proved to be true. Rudd joined the legendary band in 1975, before leaving in '83, with the band stating 'personal problems' and conflict with rhythm guitarist and founding member Malcolm Young, who tragically has also had to leave the band in recent months. However Rudd rejoined the band in 1993, and has been with them until the recent legal troubles he faces. On November 5th Rudd was arrested and charged with attempting to procure murder (ie hire a hit man...) threatening to kill the arresting officers and possession of methamphetamine and cannabis. Rudd has previously been convicted for drug offences in 2010, however the charges were dropped so he could still tour with AC/DC. Although the procuring murder charge has been dropped for there not being enough evidence I highly doubt he'll get off with it so easily this time. Rudd faces up to 7 years in prison if he gets found guilty. But let's be fair, when it comes to rock stars, or famous people in general, they don't exactly get the prison sentences they normally deserve... Stay tuned for my next post on rock star arrests. The only statement the rest of AC/DC have released so far is via their Facebook page, "We've only become aware of Phil's arrest as the news was breaking. We have no further comment. Phil’s absence will not affect the release of our new album Rock or Bust and upcoming tour next year." And with the release of the new video for 'Play Ball,' the first single to be released from up coming 17th studio album 'Rock or Bust,' where Rudd has been replaced with drummer Bob Richards. Nothing has been confirmed by the either AC/DC or any other involved party as to whether Rudd is out for good, but it's looking likely. 'Rock or Bust' is released 2nd December 2014. Rudd is due in court over the allegations November 27th.
I have mixed opinions on MTV. What started as a major boost to the music industry has now become a commercialised home for the drivel of pop music that plagues us now. And has gave the world crap reality TV that was otherwise unnecessary. No one needs to watch 16 years olds who've been knocked up FYI. But congrats MTV, with Sundays EMA's you've done something right. Black Sabbath frontman, and all around fucking legend Ozzy Osbourne was honoured with the Global Icon award. A very well deserved award for a man who has dedicated his debauchee life to music. The Prince of Darkness has sold over 100 million albums, both with Sabbath and with his solo stuff, the man is a living, breathing rock god. And can still give it shit live! Seeing Sabbath at Hyde Park in July is one of the highlights of my life, and I'd highly recommend any who gets the opportunity to go see them to seize it. I know I will. And with Ozzy's Global Icon award it was only fitting to have a tribute to him. Long time friend and past collaborator, and an icon in his own right, Slash performed Ozzy's 1980 hit "Crazy Train" with Myles Kennedy and The Conspirators and Biffy Cylro frontman Simon Neil. And of course the performance was no Ozzy Osbourne, but no one can be, it was brilliant. And of course in true Biffy style Simon Neil performed topless, which is always a bonus. Because who doesn't want to see hot half naked rockstars?! http://www.mtv.co.uk/slash/videos/crazy-train-slash-ft-myles-kennedy-the-consiprators-plus-simon-from-biffy-clyro-live-2014-mtv-ema#!/play/slash/videos/crazy-train-slash-ft-myles-kennedy-the-consiprators-plus-simon-from-biffy-clyro-live-2014-mtv-ema
So Papa Roach released the video for their new track "Face Everything And Rise" a couple days ago and already has over 250,000 hits on YouTube, and already I'm obsessed and listening to it on repeat on YouTube... Not only is the song incredible and very inspirational the video is amazing.
"I will face everything and rise, never gonna quit until I die. Angels keep falling from the sky, I'll take their broken wings and learn how to fly," has to be one of my new favourite lyrics, poetic as usual from the guys. As I've mentioned in previous posts Papa Roach are one of my favourite bands, and I am pretty much hooked on every song they have. But here are my five favourite videos, in no particular order because only being able to actually pick five was hard enough without putting them in an order.
"Last Resort" was the first single to be released from Papa Roach's second album "Infest," and is the song that threw them into stardom. Both the lyrics and the video is about depression, trying to show people that music is the salvation they've been looking for, that when it's all gone to shit music will be there for you unconditionally, music will help and make it better. I know when I'm pissed off singing (very badly...) along to this helps. The video is simple but effective, and while sometimes having an over the top dramatic video will help a song, it should still be about the music and what it's trying to say, and Papa Roach nailed it with this one.
"Between Angels And Insects" was the third single from "Infest," and had it come out earlier it could have been the soundtrack to "Fight Club." With almost direct quotes to Tyler Durden, "Working jobs that you hate, for that shit you don't need," the song shouts (sings?) the same message, a comparison which helped me get an A for my post modern culture exam, thanks guys! With the anti-consumerism theme of the song, the video is perfect. The band playing in a stripped back setting, an empty garage, they still rock the shit out of it like it was a full on stage show. And the video has the right amount of creepiness and freakiness to keep with the "Fight Club" parody. The whole thing with the camera going through eyes and walls and insects is just weird, but great cinematography. And the song has one of my all time favourite (and possibly next tattoo) lyrical lines in it, "This reality is really just a fucked up dream."
First released as just the music video, later as a download version, "Hollywood Whore," was the first single from their sixth album "Metamorphosis." A kind of fuck you to Hollywood and the entertainment industry, this song has a total Motley Crue vibe to it, and has similar themes to The Subways 2011 single "Celebrity." As the opening guitar sounds, the 'Hollywood Whore' starts to wake from where she is passed out on the floor, pretty much mimicking the lyrics. As the video goes on the 'Whore' tries to put herself back to together before completely disintegrating, covering the band in blood and other shit. The video also shows a lot of close ups of the band, particularly Jacoby, which is great 'cause not going to lie he is a total babe. Again like with "Between Angels and Insects," the video portrays what is in the lyrics, the 'Whore' is a metaphor for the Hollywood, and her destruction is what the band are saying, corruption will fuck you over.
"I Almost Told You That I Loved You," was the third single from "Metamorphosis." I feel like one of the reasons I love both the song and the video is because of how sleazy they both are. Throughout the majority of the video, set in a brothel, the band look completely oblivious to the fucked up debauchery going on around them. There's not really much to say with this one, the song is about sleaze, the video is sleaze, and I fucking love it.
The only song on the list that wasn't actually released as a single, "One Track Mind" features on "Time for Annihilation." Another sleazy song, more about a love hate relationship, a masochistic love. There isn't an "official music video" for this song, rather just a live performance that sums up Papa Roach. Jumping about, rocking out, crowd going wild, looking beautiful and sounding amazing. What's not to love.
I could actually sit here all day babbling shit about Papa Roach, or just how Jacoby is a babe... But I won't bore anyone with that. And I have housework to do.. Or Netflix to watch...
Papa Roach's new album, F.E.A.R. will be out January 27th 2015. A US tour with Seether has just been announced, which hopefully means they'll come to the UK... Pretty please :)
The Subways killed it at The Tunnels in Aberdeen on Friday night. Absolutely killed it. I've seen a lot of bands, and paid a lot more for tickets, and not a lot of them match the energy and talent of The Subways. They've been a favourite of mine for years, and for some reason I've never got around to actually seeing them until now. I already can't wait for the next tour. The Tunnels is a relatively small venue, and when the dates were announced I was surprised they weren't playing somewhere bigger. But I do love a smaller gig, and to be honest they could have been playing in a pub to 10 people and still been fucking brilliant. Billy and Charlotte spent the entire set jumping and bouncing about the stage. It was obvious the band was having just as good a time as the crowd was. The opening beats to "Oh Yeah" started and the crowd went wild. Singing along, jumping about, dancing, everyone was clearly loving life. Myself included. The set list was full of the classics, which there are a lot of, as well as including some of the songs from their up and coming album. The older material went down a total storm, and the new songs were received well. A strange move though,"Rock & Roll Queen", one of the bands biggest and most popular songs, was played half way through the set list. Most bands save the biggest hits for the end, the encore, but then The Subways are not most bands. "Rock & Roll Queen", unsurprisingly had the crowd going mental. Another change from the normal gig format, there was no encore. Billy took to the mic near the end stating they think that encores are bullshit, and they were just going to play through instead. More bands should try this. It saves that whole awkward 5 minutes where everyone stands there knowing the band will be back. That and with the whole having to leave stage through the crowd in The Tunnels thing would have just been unnecessary hassle. Ending the night with "It's A Party" properly set it up for a night out after the gig, and had everyone bouncing again. All in all, the venue was a great choice, the crowd was decent (not the usual drunken arseholes pissing people off and that person constantly taking photos/videos of the entire thing) and The Subways were fantastic. Please come back to Aberdeen soon guys! The new self titled album is out in February 2015, but if you pre-order it the first half is available for instant download. Head to thesubways.net for details. And just because I love the song so much (I've been told it sounds like a description of me...) here's a video for "No Heart, No Soul."
So moving on from Sixx Am's Modern Vintage, there has been a lot of talk about their cover of The Cars song "Drive." I will admit I had never heard of the song before, and have no idea what the original sounds like, but I love the cover version. Ironically right now I'm sitting listening to Alice Cooper, "Poison," that I only first heard back in 2004 when Groove Coverage did a cover/remix of it. Sad but true. This has left me thinking, there are some brilliant cover songs out there, some bizarre cover songs, and some truly terrible ones. So here goes my top cover songs.
George Michael's "Careless Whisper" is not something you would ever find me just casually sitting chilling listening to. Ever. Pretty much I would never be voluntarily listening to it. Add in some heavier guitars, Shaun Morgan's vocals (which in my opinion sound's hotter than George Michaels...) and I'll be singing along. Find it on 2007's "Finding Beauty in Negative Spaces"
Metallica is not a band that should be covered lightly. Many people have tried, many have failed. Kerrang! managed to get it right with their "Master of Puppets Revisited" tribute album. And while the whole album was a fitting tribute to an amazing band, the only cover that has stuck with me over the years is Bullet's cover of "Welcome Home (Sanitarium)". There are a lot of similarities between the two, but they've still managed to make it their own, while keeping the haunting feeling Metallica inspired all those years ago.
Nirvana - Lake of Fire
I had no idea this was even a cover until recently. And no offence to Meat Puppets, but Nirvana have totally owned it. Listening to the original version of "Lake of Fire" it sounds like one of those totally horrendous youtube covers that people still insist on uploading. Check out the video of Nirvana and Meat Puppets playing it together at MTV Unplugged in 1993 here, or find it on Nirvana's "MTV Unplugged in New York" album.
Aiden - Drain You
From Nirvana covering a song to a song by Nirvana covered. Seattle goth-rock band Aiden covered Drain You (I could be wrong with this) for another of Kerrang! Magazine's tribute albums, and gave the song a heavier sound, more like their own style than Nirvana's grungey chilled out vibe. The song works both ways, and I totally love both versions, depending on the mood I'm in. I can't remember which Kerrang! tribute album (if it actually was any of them) it was on, but find it on youtube here.
I always thought that "Tainted Love" was a cover of Soft Cell, but after googling it just now, I've discovered it was actually released in the '60's... Please tell me I'm not the only one who didn't know this?! And the original... Well it's a lot more upbeat.. After years of Manson's cover it sounds strange. Good but strange. Manson's darker, heavier version is more to my style, like with Careless Whisper, I wouldn't listen to the original but the cover is great. Find it on "The Golden Age Of Grotesque"
First of all, having to spell whisky in the (very wrong) Americanised style kills me a little on the inside. "Whiskey In The Jar" was actually a traditional Irish folk song back in the day, before being recorded by The Dubliners, released by Thin Lizzy then Metallica performed it, and people just kinda forgot about any other version. Metallica's is definitely my favourite version. Find it, with other covers, on 1998's "Garage Inc."
Eight years after Nine Inch Nails released an emotional "Hurt," Johnny Cash covered it. And had a lot more success with it. Cash's cover is haunting, full of pain, and quite frankly makes the hairs on the back of my neck stand up every time I hear it. It's gone from a soulful gothic rock song to a (for lack of a better word) depressing country rock song, that will never be forgotten. (And we are deliberatly going to ignore Leona Lewis butchering the song on X Factor...)
HIM have got a fair few cover songs in their discography, and I am completely biased but there all great. I am a total fan though! "Dark Light" was the first album I bought after going through that whole awkward I love dance music stage... Anyone else remember DJ Rankin? No just me then.. Neil Diamonds version is just too... cheesy for me. HIM have taken it and put their "love metal" spin on to it like they do with every other song they've covered (and created) and it just works. End of. HIM are great.
I am in no way a fan of Faith No More, they've got a couple of alright songs, and they were just plain fucking weird at Hyde Park. Still not sure why the hell they were dressed as ministers. Anyway moving on, War Pigs is probably my favourite Black Sabbath song. I'm not the type to take well to bands who slaughter my favourite songs in covers, so lucky for Faith No More their cover is actually pretty good. It's not Black Sabbath amazing, no one will ever be able to sound like Ozzy, but it is acceptable for an cover.
Sixx AM, commonly referred to as Nikki Sixx's "side project," are a ban unique in their formation. Motley Crue bassist Nikki Sixx, producer James Michael and Guns 'n' Roses guitarist DJ Ashba got together back in 2007 to form Sixx AM, to release a one off album to accompany Sixx's heart wrenching tale, "The Heroin Diaries." Now, 7 years on the band have released their third studio album yesterday, and today announced a first headline tour. Guy's feel free to bring this to the UK please, just saying. "The Heroin Diaries", both the book and album, is brilliant, and after hearing "Life is Beautiful" for the first time on Kerrang!'s music channel I was hooked. Years later and I still am, and can recite passages from the book, I've read it that many times. Not only does it give a pretty insane insight to drug addiction but it scares the shit out of you. A great anti-drugs tool. Second album, "This Is Gonna Hurt," also served as an accompaniment to a book, again with the same title. This time, the book is filled with breathtaking photos taken by Sixx, with his commentary on life in general, and the stories behind the images. The lyrics from "This is Gonna Hurt" remind me a lot of the post modern culture ideals I studied at uni. Please no one ask me to explain that one, I still don't know how the hell I passed the exam.
Nikki Sixx Instagram
Now, onto "Modern Vintage," the third album, released yesterday, and I've already lost track of how many times I've actually listened to it already. Little bit obsessed maybe, but that's what I do with music. I can't actually decide on a genre that it fits into, the name itself, being an oxymoron, suggesting exactly what it sounds like. "Before It's Over" sounds like something you would have heard in decades past, or at a circus. It's not a song you'd quite expect from them but it works. A refreshing change to the usual dark and deep lyrics from Sixx AM. "High On The Music" is the type of song that can describe the way I feel about music, that it's an addiction. The debut single from the album, "Gotta Get It Right," is an inspiring anthem that has the potential to stand the test of time. All in all "Modern Vintage" is a great new album from Sixx AM. It's a change in direction from their previous releases, but they still make it work for them. A lighter sound, but still with meaningful and inspiring words.
It's been too long again. Between work getting crazy for a while, going on holiday again, way too many hangovers to even try to count and breaking my laptop... again.... The rest of my review from Hyde Park will be coming (I know it's been months...) but my poor tired ill brain just can't cope with that today. Like I said, it's been a busy summer, with a lot of exciting things going on.... I know that's no excuse for neglecting this blog, but I'm back, and I plan on keeping it going this time... So a quick (and probably boring) update of my life in the last few years... I graduated.. with a 2:1, after a very stressful few months. And I got a bit overly excited to throw the hat in the air... Cause what's the point in graduating if you can't do that? Now it's the totally depressing search for a "grown up" job. Someone please just give me a job? I also went to Marmaris twice, not quite sure why we were allowed back into the country after the first time. Both times were pretty wild, but what happens in Marmaris stays in Marmaris so I will not be sharing any of the stories here.. Despite how hilarious my friends think some of them are. There has been way too many nights out, some for a reason, most just for the banter or to relax after work. I feel like I may drink too much. But that's enough about me... I'll get on with the real posts now!
So as I said in my last post on Friday I sacrificed my need for sleep and got a 7am flight to London with my dad to go to British Summer Time at Hyde Park. Words honestly can't describe how amazing a day it was. The weather behaved itself for the first time in British history, with the sun being out in all it's glory (26 degrees, and I have the sun burn to prove it) and the rain stayed away until like 9pm, because even the rain couldn't miss out on seeing Black Sabbath!
There was three stages with various bands playing throughout the day, but with the above line up we stayed at the Great Oak Stage the whole day. With the timings being released via the BST phone app in the morning of the show we decided that none of the clashes were really worth missing the main stage for. And with only 30-45 minute breaks between the bands it was literally run to the toilet, get a (expensive) pint from the bar and fight back through the crowds.
First up was Soulfly. For Soulfly BST was the opening date on their current UK tour. What an opening act! I've only recently listened to a few of their songs prior to going to BST, so I didn't really know what to expect. I had a vague idea that it was one of the guys from Sepultura, but that was all. After a (quite literally) jumping performance at BST they are the latest band to be added to my ever growing Spotify playlist.
With special guest Igor Cavalera (former Sepultura drummer and brother of vocalist/guitarist Max Cavalera) for a cover of Sepultura's Roots Bloody Roots it was more than just a Soulfly set. The crowd spent as much time jumping about as the band did onstage. Despite their early stage time Soulfly are a band who could easily have headlined the event, as were the other bands playing.
It's been too long! I thought finishing uni would give me more time, but I've been busy! Work, trying to catch up with friends that I hardly see, more work, 10 crazy days in Marmaris, more work and a weekend in London. It's been great. At the start of last month I went back to Marmaris for a ten day holiday. It was far from relaxing, and it took me a good week to recover from it. From finding many creeps, near death experiences in a waterpark (I was the idiot who slipped getting into a tube on one of the slides, luckily the guy at the top caught me in time before I fell head first down it...) a lot of near falls (I am very clumsy) and a concussion. That I gave myself, after headbutting my friend nearly falling out of the fly fish watersport. Google it, it's fucking scary! But despite all my 'accidents' I had a brilliant time, drank way too much alcohol and have already booked it for August. :) London was a lot more sober, a lot less accidents but just as brilliant a time. Friday my dad and I went to Hyde Park for Black Sabbath Time. It was indescribable. So, so good, one of the best gig's I've been to! Saturday we headed to a Rock 'n' Roll tour around London. The stories the guide told us were incredible. Things you couldn't even imagine. And of course a London music tour wouldn't be complete without a trip to Abbey Road. I'm not really a Beatles fan but when in Rome.... Stay tuned for my reviews of the bands at BST. I promise it'll be soon!
Continuing from my post/rant on Saturday (find it here) I've just read on Rocksound that Max Green had left Escape the Fate. And not only has he done this, he's joined up with Falling In Reverse. Escape the Fate formed in 2004, releasing début album 'Dying Is Your Latest Fashion' in 2006, which has one of my all time favourite Escape the Fate songs, 'Situations,' a beautiful and sleazy track, so obviously I would love it. By this time the line up of the band had already changed around, something that would go on to continue through their career. In 2006 lead vocalist Ronnie Radke was involved in an incident resulting in a death, and following his broken probation conditions ended up in jail. The other members of the band kicked him out, and in my opinion it wasn't a malicious thing, it was for the good of their career. Which to be fair is what most bands do/have done in this situation, Vince Neil being one of the few exceptions, but he was only locked up for 15 days... Radke was then replaced with former Blessthefall vocalist Craig Mabbit, and you can tell there is a difference in vocals on their subsequent releases but it still sounds amazing. Green had left the band in early 2011 due to addiction problems, but later rejoined the band, left again, came back, and finally announced on the 9th of May that he's left the band. Just days later he's joined Falling in Reverse, the band Radke formed while in prison and launched upon his release. While I've only recently started to listen to Falling In Reverse they becoming a constant feature in my daily playlists. But is there a conspiracy here? It's hard to believe that Green joining FIR just days after leaving EtF is a coincidence. Surely this was a planned move, and it could be said Green was looking for the best way to piss off his former band mates? Because if EtF's vision isn't what Green wanted any more then surely the best solution is to start from scratch? Or maybe the original line up will one day be back together under FIR? Who knows. Now some may argue that the bassist of a band is not the most important feature in it, but these people have clearly not listened to Motorhead. Lemmy once, controversially, said in an interview (if I remember right, which I probably don't, it was in Kerrang!) that bassists are just failed guitarists, however this was in relation to his failed attempt to learn guitar and moved on to the bass. But jesus chirst, he plays it in his own way, many of the riffs in their music coming from him, and not just guitarist Mikkey Dee. However the change in bassist within Escape the Fate has not caused any noticeable changes in the music, although I'm sure it's been turmoil for the other members. Escape the Fate is no stranger to line up changes and I'm sure that this latest change will not affect the quality music they put out there. Escape the Fate have just released the video for 'Picture Perfect', the fourth single from their fourth studio album, 'Ungrateful.' Another hit from EtF. Falling In Reverse have released the video for their cover of 'Gangsta's Paradise' from the Punk Goes 90's 2 album. A strange but good cover, rap meets rock, with their style thrown into the mix. I'm looking forward to see what comes next with both bands. Although this latest change in line ups may have thrown away the peace they bands appear to have formed with each other. This is going to get interesting. If anyone has any thoughts they want to share please do, I'd love to hear them. And find me on Twitter.
This is something that I came across on Twitter the other day. And it's so true. Now I'm not saying I know everything about all the members of the bands I listen to, in fact some bands I don't even know any of their names. To be it's about the music that's being put out there, not who's in the band. Although a pretty face (or hot body, lots of tattoos, cool hair, whatever....) to look at does help. The amount of people who can give every detail of the vocalist or front man/woman but doesn't know the names of the rest of the band, or what they look like, is in my opinion not a fan. I will admit, there are 'bands' I have posters of, that is really just the front man... But a half naked Ville Valo is really hot and I (did) need some motivation to get through my uni work or what ever else I'm doing. But at the same time, I know he's been to rehab, is friends with Bam Margera (who is also hot) and that's about it. I don't really know the names of the other band members, and I don't pretend otherwise. Although I have no idea how to even pronounce these so that could have something to do with it. This isn't just the fans though, the media buys into it too. Rarely will there be an interview with or feature on a band member who isn't the front man/woman without the rest of the band present, unless they've been involved in a scandal. It tends to be all or front. Although when looking at the 'legends' from the past, they are all as in the spot light as each other. That could just be because they all have so many stories to share though. Thing that you or I could never even imagine. Seriously, Nikki Sixx's autobiography (another slight obsession of mine, and he's still pretty hot for his age) is full of things that are so crazy they could be made up. Another band I know absolutely nothing about, Through Colour. Another Twitter find, and another brilliant band. Broken is a new favourite song. The first like 10 seconds of All Singing All Dancing Baby! did however, make me think my Spotify had gone back to playing adverts. But after I got over my confusion (easily done) it's another great song, and another one starting to become a favourite (that list is endless, so I don't know if it's really favourites any more..) And you never know, I might even one day (probably soon) learn their names... If anyone has anything to share please do. (I like to argue/talk shit...) And if anyone feels like reading the very pointless and random stuff I post on Twitter find it here.
AC/DC is a legendary band. There is no question about this. It is astounding that they have never had a UK number 1, considering some of the shit that has... Everyone remember the Ketchup Song? Yeah that made it to number 1! The highest AC/DC have made it in the UK charts is to number 4 at the end of last year after yet another Facebook campaign to beat X-Factor for Christmas Number 1. But AC/DC's status is not what's keeping them in the media at he moment, it's the replacement of founding member Malcolm Young, while he recovers from an illness. Some are for it, some against. Personally I say it's a good thing. No band want's to go out on the back burner, and that's not a fate fitting to AC/DC. Yes it sucks, and it won't be the same band without him, but AC/DC deserve a proper send off before they go. And I know it sounds pessimistic looking at it in this way, but let's be fair, they are getting older, and like all the other legends we know and love they won't be here forever. Some bands can replace members and get it right. Some turn to shit. I mean the joke that is 'Guns 'n' Roses' now adays... Axl Rose go please just fuck off and stop trying. It's over. But so many more bands have been able to pull it off. Escape the Fate has had a few line up changes, they still sound amazing, Lynyrd Skynyrd reformed after the devastating fateful plane crash, AC/DC have had to do it before, and I'm more than sure they can nail it again. And anyone who disagrees needs to get over themselves and the past.
Everytime I post I say that I'll be doing it more often, but uni just kept taking over my life. Well, it's all over now and I'm still trying to readjust to this. I feel pretty lost without any lectures to go to, or course work to take over all my free time. Please someone tell me what people actually do apart from work? Seriously, I think I'm going to go a bit more crazy than I already am. The last eight months have been so stressful, between uni and all the many work related dramas, but now it's all settled down I can get my life back, and I can have time to actually post on here. I can do all the things I've been putting off. Because doing anything that wasn't uni related has left me feeling guilty while I've had course work to do. I have a list of things I want to write about, and a list of new bands to check out, along with my old favourites, and the many new albums coming soon. So hopefully this will become more interesting, and more regular! But that's all for now, I have work to get to.
On Friday, after a very stressful week, very, very little sleep and probably more caffeine than I should have drank in a month let alone a week I finally handed in my dissertation. Instead of the freedom I expected to feel, I actually felt like I was going through a break up. A bad and emotional break up. Buzzfeed (the best and worst thing to happen to a student) has a post about how it's like being in a relationship. And it is. Every step of the way can be compared to a relationship, and to be honest it's not a great one. When you first start to write the proposal it's like when you start seeing someone. You're looking at the options available, adding up the pros and cons of giving it a go, then finally deciding yes, this is the one. You start to write it and your excited about it. You look forward to a hot date (ie hours at your laptop) with it. You loving think about how it's going to be done, what methods to do etc. Then you get really into it and it's starting to be the opposite, it's not what you first thought it would be. It doesn't like it when you go out with your friends, in fact anything you do that isn't spending time with it is unacceptable.You feel the guilt of not being there. It will literally take over your entire life, and when you try to do other coursework it feels like your cheating on it. Then it comes to the hand in week. It's a frantic rush to try to fix anything that's wrong with it, before finally accepting there is nothing more you can do, and you have to let it go. The bus journey out to uni I felt physically sick, I wanted to cry. It was horrible. Handing it in felt like I was loosing a part of myself, and on the way home I felt lost. It was gone ans there was nothing I could do about it. So the solution, put on a brave face and go meet the girls. You do your hair (for the first time in a long time), try to make yourself look like a real human being again.You drink a lot of cocktails. It's finally gone! Then reality hits and you realise you still have coursework due, so you get started with it and it feels like your cheating. Until finally you get your final grade, the point when you know you never have to see it again and quite happily burn all the stuff it's left at your place. The acceptance it's over and you can finally move on with your life.
I know I said in my last post that I'd post soon (blatant lie) and it was going to be about my feelings towards Kurt Cobain's death (it is coming I promise) but my life has been taken over by dissertation this week. Please ignore any stupid spelling or grammar mistakes, but my brain is so fried I managed to spell my own name wrong earlier. I know... I have no idea what day it is any more, I have cramp in my hands from typing, probably damaged my eyes from sitting at my laptop for like 14 hours a day and just generally don't really know what's going on any more. I have 1 day, 12 hours and 14 minutes left until my dissertation deadline, and then I'm going to book my next tattoo t celebrate, since I have work on Friday night and can't drink, Then just two weeks of uni left and I can finally get my social life back,. I've missed it a lot. It feels like since I moved away from home (and by that I mean like 40 miles) I've kind of lost touch with a lot of my friends. Fair enough we still text, snapchat and whatsapp all the time, but I can count on one hand the amount of time I've seen most of my friends this year, and probably on two hands the amount of times I saw them last year. I am also sleep deprived, stressed, on a caffeine withdraw and two glasses of wine down right now so....
This has been an emotional week, with Saturday being the 20th anniversary of Kurt Cobain's tragic death, and today being my 23rd birthday, a sign I am getting old.
I've celebrated with a crazy night out, a lot of shots, a meal with my parents and tonight the cinema to see the new Captain America film, all fitted around the on going challenge of dissertation. Just a week and a half until it's over.
I also got what I can honestly say is the best birthday present I have ever received from my dad today, on top of the tickets to go see Black Sabbath in Hyde Park this summer, beyond excited for that!
Nirvana, Nevermind Platinum disc, which I sat and stared at for a good five minutes! Best present ever! I have a huge obsession with Nirvana as previously mentioned, and they would be my all time top band living or dead I could go see! Stay tuned for my next post, hopefully up tomorrow, my Nirvana obsession and why I believe it wasn't suicide! Until then, find me on twitter here.
This is another rant of a post, but it's something that has annoyed me for a long, long time, and something that really annoyed me yesterday. When bands announce they are doing UK tours they really need to start remembering that the "UK" is not just England, if that's the case then please just announce an English tour and stop getting my fucking hopes up! So many times I've seen bands announce tours, got excited and then realised they are not coming to Scotland. And I'm sure this is something that Welsh and Irish fans experience as well. It's time consuming and expensive enough as it is going to gigs when (generally) the only Scottish date is Glasgow, that already involves three hours on a mega bus (never a fun experience, especially with the post gig hangover the next morning) and a hotel overnight (which has left me staying in some pretty questionable hotels and hostels over the years). Tying to get to England for a gig would be a nightmare, and I'm not suggesting that bands should travel as far North as Aberdeen (although the AECC was good enough for Motorhead a few years back, just saying) it would be enough for them to just come anywhere in Scotland. It really pisses me off that just cause I live here I can't make it to gigs, and it isolates fans that don't have the money to travel that far, or are two young to be allowed to go on their own. Luckily for me age has never been an issue, with my dad sharing my music taste he's always been more than happy to take me to Glasgow in my younger teenage years, and I've always been grateful for that. Thanks to him I've had the opportunity to see bands that otherwise I could only dream of.
Two posts in one day. I came to the conclusion that it's not really procrastination if I do something productive right? As much as I complain about it my dissertation isn't really that bad, I get to Twitter stalk musicians and read music magazines....
And time for another new discovery, Red Room Therapy. I'm not going to lie here, when I first saw the name of the band my first thought went right to 50 Shades of Grey and the red room of pain. Yes unfortunatly I've read it, and yes I read all three of them, but I wanted to know what happened. And if it would get any better. It didn't. It was painful to read. And as much as she wants to say it's not Twilight (another painful book to read) it is. It's Twilight with bondage.
Anyway back to Red Room Therapy. They are a Welsh band about to release their début album this year, with a few songs already on Spotify and a number of videos on YouTube you should check them out. When listening to them I was reminded of Three Days Grace, in the style of the vocals, and Paramore and Foo Fighers in the music. Already sounding like a polished band, I can't wait to hear the album when it's out.
If you've read my post about favourite bands you'll know about my teenage years obsession with Seattle band Aiden. While I still love their music, through a number of reasons the band is pretty much over, with a final album being planned.
One of these reasons could be attributed to the solo career of Wil Francis, lead singer, front man and total babe. Under William Control, Francis has had success, and is days away from releasing his newest album, The Neuromancer. (Release date 4th April)
As the cover shows, teased through his Instagram profile, Francis is still hot as hell. This another of 2014's released that I'm very excited for, and stay tuned for my overly excited review of the album.
Through social media Francis has promoted the release with links to altpress.com debuting his new video, the latest being yesterday's Revelator. Another haunting song true to William Control's style, if this is anything to go by I can't wait to listen to the full album. A lyric video for Illuminator has been posted online too, and it fast became another favourite song of mine, a list that is endless, and grows on a weekly basis.
That's it for now, it's time I stopped procrastinating and got back to my dissertation. There's another couple of bands I've recently discovered that I'll be posting about soon. If you want to find me on twitter here, I post a lot of random shit. And again if anyone want's to fill out my dissertation questionnaire find it here. Until next time.
Once again it's taken me a while to blog, but unfortunately I have so much coursework to do and my work is still pretty crazy. But I only have one month left of uni, which is really scary. Time to make some big decisions, namely if my sanity can cope with actually doing my masters. Terrifying times ahead. On the plus side, when uni is finished I will (hopefully) have more time to blog, and more time to check out new music. Which is also a plus side. And working full time means I can afford to buy even more CD's, to add to my collection sitting on my bed room floor, maybe time to invest in another CD rack...
Another new band I've discovered from Twitter, A New Day, a pop rock band from Essex. Listening to them for the first time the other day I was reminded a bit of Simple Plan, a little bit of Bowling For Soup and a little bit Death Cab for Cutie, although more upbeat. I can really see them as the type of band that would be featured at the Bait Shop in The OC. And the video for Faith In Me is brilliant, I love that it's like watching a TV. Check it out
Face The Ocean is another band I'v been listening to. They have a more chilled out sound to them, perfect for coursework background music, or a lazy hangover day. They kind of sound a bit like Dirty Pretty Things at times, a little bit like All American Rejects, and a bit like something I can't put my finger on just now. Having just finished a UK tour the band announced of their Facebook yesterday they are taking a short break but have some big announcements coming soon. Can't wait! Check them out on Spotify or YouTube!
Now it's time for me to go back to drinking too much coffee so I can stay awake at work tonight.
If anyone wants to fine follow me on twitter find it here. And again if anyone can fill out my dissertation survey I will love you forever! Thanks :)
A friend sent me this link a couple hours ago, and it's got me in a bit of a rage. Music should not be about gender, it's meant to be a form of escapism, a way to relax at the end of a shit day, something to inspire you or to keep you going when the bastards try to get you down. While doing a literature search for my fourth year dissertation I came across a journal article that basically said that women are only interested in rock music because they are/want to be groupies. Now while I will admit that I think some of the guys in the bands I like are hot that is not why I listen to them. I listen to them because they make good music. I want to make a career in the music industry so I can fuck my way around rock star's but because I love music, a passion I've always had. Take The Pretty Reckless for example, so much of the press coverage they get (and not just main stream but from music publications too) is about Taylor Momsen, the "pretty young blonde" who likes to dress provocatively, and was naked for like 20 seconds of the video for Heaven Knows. But when male band members are topless no one bats an eye. No one gives a shit that Biffy Clyro play top less all the time. Fair enough rock music started out as a predominantly male industry, but it's the 21st Centuary. Get with it people! Another new discovery of mine, recently signed Glasgow band Altered Sky. Check them out. Where I Belong is a brilliant song, "If I close my eye's will I still be your fairytale?" is a line that is pretty unforgettable line, and with a female singer and drummer I wish you all the best getting people over there outdated stereotypes about music. If anyone would like to de me a huge favour and fill out this survey as part of the research for my dissertation I will be very grateful. Thanks!
After my last post I watched The Vow, another total weepy film. I cried most of the way through it, and unfortunately I still feel emotionally broken. So round two tonight. [Spoiler Alert here] Also, if I woke up in hospital after a coma and Channing Tatum told me we were married I really don't think I would question it. Today has been another total failure of a day. I've been trying to do coursework for most of it, but I've been struggling to stay focused. It's been hard going, and I've got to the point now where I give up. I've also given up on my healthy eating by ordering a take away and ice cream. Because really eating junk food and finding another emotional film on Netflix should make me feel better? The one positive from my day is that I've discovered a new band. Save The Reckless is an Edinburgh band with their debut EP, Sink or Swim released last year. When listening to The Pretty Reckless earlier Spotify started playing one of their songs, "The Nose Ring Doesn't Make You Pretty," and I had to hear more. I've now been listening to "What're You Hiding From" on repeat all day. It is definitely one of my new favourites. Everyone should go check them out. On a final note, if anyone wants to be so kind as to take five minutes to fill out my survey for my dissertation I would be very very grateful! Thanks :)
Uni has taken over my life. Literally. I am currently surrounded my notes, scraps of paper, text books and stationary. I've finally in fourth year discovered the easiness of colour coding notes. Kinda late now. And with the 12,000 word dissertation, presentation, lit review, essay and film analysis I have due in the coming weeks of course I'm having daily breakdowns. At the moment its only 8.30pm and I can barely stay awake, between working, the stress of uni work and the noise the god damn seagulls outside my window have been making on a nightly basis at 3am I've hardly slept for a long time. I keep bribing myself into getting on with work, you know half an hour more and I get a brownie (fucking up all of my healthy eating plans) but of course I burnt the brownies, as in a broke a fork trying to figure if they were totally inedible burnt. I give up on baking, just like I feel like giving up with life right now, or crying. Crying always helps. Which brings me to the actual point of this post. The five films that make me cry the most. And trust me it was hard to narrow it down to just five of them. I cry at films a lot, fuck it I even cry at Hollyoaks. Sad films totally break me.
Number one on the list is also one of my favourites, Remember Me. Not only can you stare at a beautiful, non-vampirey Robert Pattinson, they story is actually really good. I don't want to give away any spoilers but the ending. Holy shit, it comes out of no where. And its heartbreaking. If you haven't seen it before you need to.
Next, The Lion King. Mufasa.
Number three, every girls (secret?) favourite, The Notebook. Cause if you don't cry at least once in this film you have no heart or soul.
Anything with Leo Dicaprio in it, cause you know he dies in just about every film he's in. And it's not fair, he's way to beautiful to keep on dying. And it's really about time he got an Oscar for it. Just saying.
The Impossible. I've only watched it once, I couldn't bring myself to watch it again. It's like Marley and Me, where you don't watch the end cause you know what's happening, but through the whole damn film. My dad actually cracked a joke about being surprised there was no flooding from how much crying I was doing. Bad idea watching it in the cinema before going for a meal. Panda eyes!
And now I'm going to find a film to cry my eyes out at, and try to get an early night before the seagulls start up again. If anyone has any suggestions for good crying films feel free to recommend them? And hopefully tomorrow I'll be able to concentrate more on my coursework.
Pretty much all of my posts lately have been about music, and while I am obsessed with it, that's not the only thing. So here's my top 5 obsessions (excluding music).
Spiderman.One of the few cartoons from my childhood I'd quite happily sit and watch again, I fucking love Spiderman. The Toby Maguire films not so much, at the time I loved them, but after the recent remake there is no comparison. Plus, Andrew Garfield is so much hotter. Being in Florida for my 21st it felt appropriate to go meet Spiderman and get a photo with him, and of course just the photo wasn't enough, so I paid a stupid amount of money to get the big comic book cover version to put on my wall. Cause that's normal right?
Another one from the childhood, The Lion King. I know pretty much every word to the film(s). And I cry every single time Mufasa dies, and every time I hope that he'll open his eyes. Sad and pathetic maybe, but I don't care. I love it. And Hakuna Mutata has clearly influenced my life, since I tend to say no worries at least 10 times a day. A previous post from months ago, "What's My Age Again?" goes more into detail about The Lion King and why it kicks ass so much, and it's technically educational...
Meerkats. I blame Compare the Market and their halarious talking meerkat adverts. If you don't know what I'm talking about then where have you been hiding for the last few years? There are so many of them, this one being one of my favourites. Simples.
Shopping is another one. I just can't help myself, if I can spend an entire week without shopping it's an achievement. Whether it's going to actual shops where I generally spend most of my money in Primark (I'm a student, it's cheep, and I change my mind on what clothes I actually like way too often to spend more money on them) or online, where I normally spend the rest of my money on CD's on Amazon. I can't fit all my clothes in my wardrobe, I have no where put all my CD's and the same goes with DVD's. I think I may need some kind of shopping rehab. Or someone to make me save. Then I might be able to afford things like all the tattoos I want to get, gig's I want to go to, or maybe a holiday that isn't the cheapest option we could find!
Tattoos. I love them. Currently I have three of them, and I'm planning on booking the next one soon. And then the three others I've already decided on after that... Obsessed.
It's been a while, sorry life got in the way again. And a bit of writers block. But I'm back! Last month's issue of Classic Rock magazine had a long and interesting article on the death of rock music. It's been a long time coming and it's something that had been immanent from the start. But it's not rock music that's dying, it's the music industry itself. No one gives a shit any more. We just pick and choose the songs we want, not genres that we love. Our generation has become lazy with music, we don't listen to a whole album any more to discover the unknown songs, hell people don't even buy the whole album any more! Our generation will go on iTunes (the ones that will actually pay money for songs) and buy the latest single's from the charts and that's the extent of their music knowledge, what is played on the radio and what they've been told is popular. Today we still remember bands such as Metallica, Motley Crue, Motorhead, Slayer, Guns 'n' Roses, among others, the legends of rock, but they are dying out too, Motley Crue have already announced their final tour, Guns 'n' Roses have faded through their line up changes, Motorhead have cancelled tours due to front man Lemmy's declining health. In a decades time we won't have these bands any more, and personally I can't see many of the bands we have today being remembered in 30-40 years time. People will buy the band t-shirts sold in high street stores (I admit I've done this too) without knowing who they really are or what their music was, they just do it cause it's fashionable. But music isn't fashion, for me it's a way of life.
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