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.
