Thursday, June 18, 2009
Thursday, March 26, 2009
Review: Mastodon's "Crack The Skye".
What the heck happened here?
Nevermind. I already know what happened.
The mainstream beckoned, and Mastodon responded. Hook, line, and sinker. They tipped their hand by allowing Springsteen and Pearl Jam producer, Brendan O'Brien within 10 feet of their creativity. Not that O'Brien is a bad producer, it's just that Mastodon is in a whole other stratosphere creatively, and someone like O'Brien could only squelch it, which in my opinion is proven by the vocals of the album.
How else can we explain the fact that there are 14 songs on the new effort by the great and mighty Mastodon, and 7 of those songs are simply the same songs without the vocals.
In other words, they already knew most of the vocals sucked and they compensated for it by offering those songs instrumentally. When was the last time you bought a cd with the songs offered vocally and also as a "score"? How about NEVER.
Smart move though. It saves the album from going totally in the crapper.
All in all, I give it 3 Stars, simply for the instrumental quality. These guys could take the Jackson Five's Greatest Hits and make it a worthy listen.
So, if you're a Mastodon fan, definitely buy Crack The Skye. Just be prepared to listen mostly to the score without the vocals.
Nevermind. I already know what happened.
The mainstream beckoned, and Mastodon responded. Hook, line, and sinker. They tipped their hand by allowing Springsteen and Pearl Jam producer, Brendan O'Brien within 10 feet of their creativity. Not that O'Brien is a bad producer, it's just that Mastodon is in a whole other stratosphere creatively, and someone like O'Brien could only squelch it, which in my opinion is proven by the vocals of the album.
How else can we explain the fact that there are 14 songs on the new effort by the great and mighty Mastodon, and 7 of those songs are simply the same songs without the vocals.
In other words, they already knew most of the vocals sucked and they compensated for it by offering those songs instrumentally. When was the last time you bought a cd with the songs offered vocally and also as a "score"? How about NEVER.
Smart move though. It saves the album from going totally in the crapper.
All in all, I give it 3 Stars, simply for the instrumental quality. These guys could take the Jackson Five's Greatest Hits and make it a worthy listen.
So, if you're a Mastodon fan, definitely buy Crack The Skye. Just be prepared to listen mostly to the score without the vocals.
Monday, February 16, 2009
Ourstage: Get to it!
Here's the link: http://www.ourstage.com/myprofile/home
Probably the most competitive website out there for musicians to get their music heard. The folks over there are serious about voting and keeping it as above board as possible. If you think it's another "get your friends to vote a thousand time for your song", think again.
It's peers judging peers, strangers judging strangers. Your song sinks or swims based on it's merit and appeal to the listener. Just like real life.
So, record something and upload it to Ourstage and see if it flies with the big boys. There's a ton of categories to place it in, and oh yeah, there is some big cash to be won if your dog hunts.
BTW, this is an unsolicited, unpaid endorsement simply because I think those folks are serious about music, and when that happens it's just plain good for Rock and Roll!
See ya over there!
Keep rockin',
Rev
Probably the most competitive website out there for musicians to get their music heard. The folks over there are serious about voting and keeping it as above board as possible. If you think it's another "get your friends to vote a thousand time for your song", think again.
It's peers judging peers, strangers judging strangers. Your song sinks or swims based on it's merit and appeal to the listener. Just like real life.
So, record something and upload it to Ourstage and see if it flies with the big boys. There's a ton of categories to place it in, and oh yeah, there is some big cash to be won if your dog hunts.
BTW, this is an unsolicited, unpaid endorsement simply because I think those folks are serious about music, and when that happens it's just plain good for Rock and Roll!
See ya over there!
Keep rockin',
Rev
Saturday, February 14, 2009
Ten Songs I Can't Live Without
What's your significant landmarks in music? By that I mean, what are the songs that really mean something to you? What songs do you replace when your IPod goes down and you lose 4,000 tunes (which incidentally happened to me)?
I am constantly reminded which songs have been my "go to tunes". I am reminded when I realize I haven't heard them in a while, or I lost them in the shuffle, or I have a sudden memory jog after thirty years of not hearing them, etc.
In my mind I have a list, which for me is like not having a list at all, because it competes with tons of other stuff that varies in importance (or non-importance).
So, I find my hopelessly disorganized self never writing them down, and rediscovering each one, ironically when needed the most, or serendipitously convenient for the moment.
After basically not performing any research other than thinking about it, or glancing at my IPod, here is a list of songs I cannot live without. I know this because I have listened to them thousands of times and never get tired of them.
The following is completely without order, one not being more important than another, but hold a place of equal importance simply because they mean something to me.
1. Spoonful - by Cream (the 16:48 live version from the Wheels of Fire album).
I have probably listened to this song more times than any other over the course of the last 40 years. Why? Because I happen to think it is singly the greatest rock and roll song ever performed, by one of the greatest rock and roll bands ever assembled. Notice I said "performed" and not "written". As written, which I believe was originally by Howling Wolf, and covered by virtually every blues rock band of the era, from Canned Heat to Alvin Lee, it doesn't stand up against this cover by Cream. It's not even so much that it's Spoonful, as it is the freelance jam that takes place between the opening brief vocals and the closing brief vocals. It's the 13 or so minutes of improvisational jamming between Clapton, Baker, and Bruce that makes it a song that I could never live without. It is a music lesson in how to not craft a song, but rather, how to be a song. It is downright existential. It moves the soul. I know, it continues to move mine time after time, with each listening experience being as fresh as the first one.
2. On The Road Again - by Canned Heat.
Don't ask me why. I can't pinpoint it. It's the sitar like intro. It's the haunting blues harp, played as masterfully by the late Alan "Blind Owl" Wilson, as is his vocals. It reminds me of a time when music was much more simple and uncomplicated. It's Canned Heat for crying out loud, the poster band of Woodstock (which fuels my anger every time I think about why this band is not in the Hall of Fame yet). "The Heat Belongs In The Hall"! It's a feel good song.
3. Black Sabbath - by Black Sabbath.
The title song from the album of the same name. I remember as plain as day the first time George Skinner brought the record into the senior lounge and saying something to effect of, "You guys have to hear this"! (I can also recall similar situations and scenarios surrounding the first screenings of Lynyrd Skynyrd, the Allman Brothers Band, and many others). The song, "Black Sabbath" was different though. Little did we know then that we were live witnesses to the virtual birth of "heavy metal". Tony Iommi's "devil's triad" chord progression was sending a permanently indelible message to my brain that would remain firmly implanted to this day. I still get the same chill that runs up my spine to the back of my neck every time I hear the break in after the gentle rain sound effect. Let's not forget the Morticia Addams-like figure on the album art work either.
4. Winter And My Soul - by Grand Funk Railroad.
I know, I know. I could have picked "Sin's A Good Man's Brother", or "Inside Looking Out", or any other song off their second and third albums (the first one never really got off the ground). But, I picked this one. I think it's Mark Farner's vocals. Or maybe the jazz style bass rhythm of Mel Schacher (one of the great rock bassists of all time, by the way, bar none), or the fine tuned precision drumming of Don Brewer (no slouch either). In any event, it's the one GFR song I would miss if I couldn't access and listen to from time to time.
5. Barracuda - by Heart.
The best song by Heart, in my humble opinion. It defines for me their greatness and place in rock history. The Wilson sister's crowning accomplishment from a song registry that goes on and on. I love to play it on my drums. It's just a powerhouse tune to listen to, and a fun song to play.
6. Spanish Castle Magic - by The Jimi Hendrix Experience.
Simply a great song from the Axis: Bold As Love album, the Experience's second effort. This was the original lineup (all gone now with the recent passing of drummer Mitch Mitchell). The bass work of Noel Redding on this song was his finest in my opinion, just a real compliment to Jimi's guitar (which wasn't easy). Great song by a great band. I love listening to it over and over and over and...
7. All Your Love - by John Mayall and the Bluesbreakers.
Eric Clapton breaks out as a guitar superstar on this album, commonly referred to as the "Beano" album (because of the album cover showing Clapton reading a Beano comic). Featured on the album is bassist John McVie of future Fleetwood Mac fame, and drummer Hughie Flint. Of course there is Mayall, who literally ran a true life "school of rock", as basically every major musician of any future importance passed through his portal of tutoring and nurturing. John Mayall is about 75 now and still touring and making music. "All Your Love" is one of the shining gems on a very important, and very historical early blues rock album.
8. Dazed And Confused - by Led Zeppelin.
The greatest song off of the arguably greatest album in rock and roll history by arguably the greatest band. It's the best song they ever did with no argument as far as I'm concerned. It has it all. While every one of my peers were fawning over "Whole Lotta Love", I was (and still am) appreciating the farther reaching tentacles into my soul that Dazed and Confused accomplished. It just scratches me where I itch, especially as a drummer. Bonham blew me away. Talk about getting into someones head.
9. East-West - by The Paul Butterfield Blues Band.
My hero of the blues, and personal guide and teacher of the blues harp. Paul Butterfield. Over the years, Butterfield has been typecast and pigeonholed a "bluesman". No argument from me. He is all of that. But he's also so much more. I have this personal philosophy that I'm not sure is shared, or even considered by rockphiles over the years, that Butterfield, particularly on this song (off his second effort of the same name) established the pattern for what would become known as the psychedelic/jam band era. Think about it as you listen to "East/West". Two guitar players in the persons of Mike Bloomfield and Elvin Bishop, in what I believe was the first developed 13:00 plus instrumental featuring two guitarists sharing back and forth on the leads and rhythms. Intermixed is a completely innovative harp instrumentation with Butterfield playing in the third position key. Notice as well how much of this song would show up about five years later in the long, drawn out stylish jams of the Allman Brothers, or in jams by the Dead or the Airplane. How freakin' cool is it that this was innovated by the band that broke down the barriers of the acoustic Newport Folk Festival, by backing Dylan on his first electric excursion? We owe a debt to the Butterfield Blues Band for following their heart and soul and not sticking to the status quo.
10. Interstellar Overdrive - by The Pink Floyd.
Yup. It's "THE" Pink Floyd. At least back then, pre-David Gilmour, when Syd Barrett's genius ruled the roost. Some think ISOD is noise. Perhaps most of it's nine minutes is, but I'll trade off the noise for the first few minutes of the opening and ending. What a song! This stuff just wasn't being played yet in the early days of British discotequeing! Psychedelia in it's most primitive stages. The Floyd was stretching it's collective mind (o.k., even if it was was by chemical means), and yes, Syd became a casualty, but there are casualties suffered in all expansions of any field. Syd gave it up for the greater good of music, which places him in the annals of rock greatness. Shine on you crazy diamond! Floyd had to pass through there to get to the Dark Side of the Moon!
Well, there you have it. I only picked ten. I could have picked one thousand easily. You'll note the ten is from the classic era. That's just because it was my formulative years. I am thinking of doing a future list from what I'm listening to from the modern era.
Hang in there. Keep an open ear. Let the music thrill you and form you. Let it take you to the places it wants to. Ride the waves, and let the music lift you above the cares and troubles. It has it's job in the universal spectrum of things. Let it work for you.
Rock on and be blessed!
Rev
I am constantly reminded which songs have been my "go to tunes". I am reminded when I realize I haven't heard them in a while, or I lost them in the shuffle, or I have a sudden memory jog after thirty years of not hearing them, etc.
In my mind I have a list, which for me is like not having a list at all, because it competes with tons of other stuff that varies in importance (or non-importance).
So, I find my hopelessly disorganized self never writing them down, and rediscovering each one, ironically when needed the most, or serendipitously convenient for the moment.
After basically not performing any research other than thinking about it, or glancing at my IPod, here is a list of songs I cannot live without. I know this because I have listened to them thousands of times and never get tired of them.
The following is completely without order, one not being more important than another, but hold a place of equal importance simply because they mean something to me.
1. Spoonful - by Cream (the 16:48 live version from the Wheels of Fire album).
I have probably listened to this song more times than any other over the course of the last 40 years. Why? Because I happen to think it is singly the greatest rock and roll song ever performed, by one of the greatest rock and roll bands ever assembled. Notice I said "performed" and not "written". As written, which I believe was originally by Howling Wolf, and covered by virtually every blues rock band of the era, from Canned Heat to Alvin Lee, it doesn't stand up against this cover by Cream. It's not even so much that it's Spoonful, as it is the freelance jam that takes place between the opening brief vocals and the closing brief vocals. It's the 13 or so minutes of improvisational jamming between Clapton, Baker, and Bruce that makes it a song that I could never live without. It is a music lesson in how to not craft a song, but rather, how to be a song. It is downright existential. It moves the soul. I know, it continues to move mine time after time, with each listening experience being as fresh as the first one.
2. On The Road Again - by Canned Heat.
Don't ask me why. I can't pinpoint it. It's the sitar like intro. It's the haunting blues harp, played as masterfully by the late Alan "Blind Owl" Wilson, as is his vocals. It reminds me of a time when music was much more simple and uncomplicated. It's Canned Heat for crying out loud, the poster band of Woodstock (which fuels my anger every time I think about why this band is not in the Hall of Fame yet). "The Heat Belongs In The Hall"! It's a feel good song.
3. Black Sabbath - by Black Sabbath.
The title song from the album of the same name. I remember as plain as day the first time George Skinner brought the record into the senior lounge and saying something to effect of, "You guys have to hear this"! (I can also recall similar situations and scenarios surrounding the first screenings of Lynyrd Skynyrd, the Allman Brothers Band, and many others). The song, "Black Sabbath" was different though. Little did we know then that we were live witnesses to the virtual birth of "heavy metal". Tony Iommi's "devil's triad" chord progression was sending a permanently indelible message to my brain that would remain firmly implanted to this day. I still get the same chill that runs up my spine to the back of my neck every time I hear the break in after the gentle rain sound effect. Let's not forget the Morticia Addams-like figure on the album art work either.
4. Winter And My Soul - by Grand Funk Railroad.
I know, I know. I could have picked "Sin's A Good Man's Brother", or "Inside Looking Out", or any other song off their second and third albums (the first one never really got off the ground). But, I picked this one. I think it's Mark Farner's vocals. Or maybe the jazz style bass rhythm of Mel Schacher (one of the great rock bassists of all time, by the way, bar none), or the fine tuned precision drumming of Don Brewer (no slouch either). In any event, it's the one GFR song I would miss if I couldn't access and listen to from time to time.
5. Barracuda - by Heart.
The best song by Heart, in my humble opinion. It defines for me their greatness and place in rock history. The Wilson sister's crowning accomplishment from a song registry that goes on and on. I love to play it on my drums. It's just a powerhouse tune to listen to, and a fun song to play.
6. Spanish Castle Magic - by The Jimi Hendrix Experience.
Simply a great song from the Axis: Bold As Love album, the Experience's second effort. This was the original lineup (all gone now with the recent passing of drummer Mitch Mitchell). The bass work of Noel Redding on this song was his finest in my opinion, just a real compliment to Jimi's guitar (which wasn't easy). Great song by a great band. I love listening to it over and over and over and...
7. All Your Love - by John Mayall and the Bluesbreakers.
Eric Clapton breaks out as a guitar superstar on this album, commonly referred to as the "Beano" album (because of the album cover showing Clapton reading a Beano comic). Featured on the album is bassist John McVie of future Fleetwood Mac fame, and drummer Hughie Flint. Of course there is Mayall, who literally ran a true life "school of rock", as basically every major musician of any future importance passed through his portal of tutoring and nurturing. John Mayall is about 75 now and still touring and making music. "All Your Love" is one of the shining gems on a very important, and very historical early blues rock album.
8. Dazed And Confused - by Led Zeppelin.
The greatest song off of the arguably greatest album in rock and roll history by arguably the greatest band. It's the best song they ever did with no argument as far as I'm concerned. It has it all. While every one of my peers were fawning over "Whole Lotta Love", I was (and still am) appreciating the farther reaching tentacles into my soul that Dazed and Confused accomplished. It just scratches me where I itch, especially as a drummer. Bonham blew me away. Talk about getting into someones head.
9. East-West - by The Paul Butterfield Blues Band.
My hero of the blues, and personal guide and teacher of the blues harp. Paul Butterfield. Over the years, Butterfield has been typecast and pigeonholed a "bluesman". No argument from me. He is all of that. But he's also so much more. I have this personal philosophy that I'm not sure is shared, or even considered by rockphiles over the years, that Butterfield, particularly on this song (off his second effort of the same name) established the pattern for what would become known as the psychedelic/jam band era. Think about it as you listen to "East/West". Two guitar players in the persons of Mike Bloomfield and Elvin Bishop, in what I believe was the first developed 13:00 plus instrumental featuring two guitarists sharing back and forth on the leads and rhythms. Intermixed is a completely innovative harp instrumentation with Butterfield playing in the third position key. Notice as well how much of this song would show up about five years later in the long, drawn out stylish jams of the Allman Brothers, or in jams by the Dead or the Airplane. How freakin' cool is it that this was innovated by the band that broke down the barriers of the acoustic Newport Folk Festival, by backing Dylan on his first electric excursion? We owe a debt to the Butterfield Blues Band for following their heart and soul and not sticking to the status quo.
10. Interstellar Overdrive - by The Pink Floyd.
Yup. It's "THE" Pink Floyd. At least back then, pre-David Gilmour, when Syd Barrett's genius ruled the roost. Some think ISOD is noise. Perhaps most of it's nine minutes is, but I'll trade off the noise for the first few minutes of the opening and ending. What a song! This stuff just wasn't being played yet in the early days of British discotequeing! Psychedelia in it's most primitive stages. The Floyd was stretching it's collective mind (o.k., even if it was was by chemical means), and yes, Syd became a casualty, but there are casualties suffered in all expansions of any field. Syd gave it up for the greater good of music, which places him in the annals of rock greatness. Shine on you crazy diamond! Floyd had to pass through there to get to the Dark Side of the Moon!
Well, there you have it. I only picked ten. I could have picked one thousand easily. You'll note the ten is from the classic era. That's just because it was my formulative years. I am thinking of doing a future list from what I'm listening to from the modern era.
Hang in there. Keep an open ear. Let the music thrill you and form you. Let it take you to the places it wants to. Ride the waves, and let the music lift you above the cares and troubles. It has it's job in the universal spectrum of things. Let it work for you.
Rock on and be blessed!
Rev
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