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 :)
