Ozzy Osborne - Tribute to 80's Metal - Blog 2 of 3

Well, in thinking long and hard about another Metal band of the 80's that deserves recognition for rip roaring, in your face, drunken, piss your parents off Heavy Metal it turns out coincidentally that it's a band started from another front man from the War Pigs themselves, Black Sabbath. That's right; I'm talking about the Prince of Darkness himself, Ozzy Osborne.

Again, I'm not talking about Ozzy himself as the sole bringer of the Heaviest Metal, but the band he put together right after he left (or was kicked out of pre Dio) Sabbath that included the legendary guitarist Randy Rhoads, bassist Bob Daisley, and drummer Lee Kerslake.

Blizzard of Ozz, The group's first album was released in 1980 in the U.K. and then in early 1981 in the U.S. The lyrics talked about spooky stuff like the devil the occult (pretty standard Metal stuff, really). But Ozzy had an Ace in his pocket, Randy Rhodes! Randy Rhodes guitar playing was second to none (maybe to Eddie Van Halen at the time- but that's another blog entry all on its own) and the band was technically proficient enough to create great heavy music outside of the normal Metal formula. I think to this day "Crazy Train" is still played in every football stadium in America before a big series of downs or when the home team gets possession of the ball (no pun intended).

I'm not exactly sure why anyone would leave at this point unless they mistook Ozzy's drunken blubbering for "your fired" instead of "I'm wired" or something to that effect. But Kerslake and Daisley would be replaced with Tommy Aldridge and Rudy Sarzo shortly before the next release of Diary of a Madman. This is when the most legendary of Metal mishaps occurs that makes Spinal Tap look like regular scholars! A drunken Ozzy picks up what he thinks is a fake bat that a fan throws on stage and proceeds to bite the head off of it...not thinking "Hmmmm? Boy this thing feels kinda warm. And man it's sorta twitching? Anyway, A bunch of rabies shots to the stomach later and Ozzy is back in rare form.

Not long afterwards, Randy Rhoads was killed in a bizarre plane accident, bringing the band's bat eating days to a screeching halt. Ozzy fell into a massive depression and was soon let go from Jet Records. Now! all of you musicians out there looking to get the attention of a record label executive... this is how you do it. Show up drunk at an Epic Records meeting with two doves, free one, and then bite the head off the other in the same manner as Ozzy did with the bat.

Osborne got the deal and was signed to the label. Jake E. Lee became Osborne’s new guitarist (another Ace in the hole) for the 1984 studio effort Bark at the Moon. While it didn't match the consistency of Blizzard of Ozz or Diary of a Madman, the record was damn good and scared the crap outta me when I was a kid.

So there it is...3 brilliant albums during the Heavy Metal days of the early 80's. This concludes Metal blog 2 of 3. Next up...6!66!...can anyone finish this line?

Top 25 Long Term Music Web Searches - What's the world coming to?

Here are the exact searches done on all major search engines over the last year that mention a music artist. This list is in order from the most searches to the least with the least still receiving it's fair share of web traffic and visibility. You know they say... a keyword search is psychologically how that person thinks about what they are looking for and if society is still thinking of music as an art form then I think we are in BIG trouble!

Most of these artists have the brain capacity of a walnut and are products of the big record label machine. There are a few artists on here that are actually doing something different while also making a statement besides "I wish I were at the club grinding on you baby 'cause you make me so hornay!!! Come out yo' trailer and play with me. Teach me about the Chicken of the Sea..." If it weren't for some of these legitimate artists (particular names left out) then I would just completely give up hope on music as an art form and just call it a commodity to be abused by Wal-Mart. Oh wait, that's already happening.

Anyway. Enjoy. And feel free to buy the commodities below.

1. paris hilton
2. jessica simpson
3. panic at the disco
4. eminem
5. akon
6. beyonce
7. 50 cent
8. britney spears
9. weird al
10. lil wayne
11. lindsay lohan
12. slipknot
13. justin timberlake
14. korn
15. evanescence
16. shakira
17. system of a down
18. linkin park
19. metallica
20. hilary duff
21. disturbed
22. christina aguilera
23. nickelback
24. jibbs
25. jennifer lopez

Gwen Stefani - The Sweet Escape (FULL ALBUM)

1. Wind It Up

2. The Sweet Escape

3. Orange County Girl

4. Early Winter

5. Now That You Got It

6. 4 In the Morning

7. Yummy (ft. Pharrell)

8. Flourescent

9. Breakin' Up

10. Don't Get It Twisted

11. U Started It

12. Wonderful Life

13. Candyland (Bonus)

ROGE POST DELETED THE LINK
ILL REPOST THE ALBUM ONCE A HQ RETAIL RIP LEAKS!

:-)

DIO - Tribute to 80's Metal! - Blog 1 of 3

I've planned a 3 blog post about the beloved dark art of what is known as Metal music and thought to myself..."What would be the criteria for a band making it in this 3 part series of POWER, MYSTERY, REBELLION, THE COLOR BLACK, and of course, THE DEVIL?" Well, the first band that came to mind was DIO. Not Ronnie James Dio in particular, although his incredible Metal journey through Elf, Rainbow, and Black Sabbath are not with out outstanding Metal music merit of the highest honor. No, what I'm talking about is the '83-'84 DIO, the band with the original line up of:

ex-Rainbow bassist Jimmy Bain
ex-Black Sabbath drummer Vinny Appice (Carmine Appice's brother)
ex-Sweet Savage guitar shredder Vivian Campbell (BOW DOWN ALL YE' METAL FANS)
and of course the man himself, Ronnie James Dio fronting this cast of Metal all stars (while also playing keyboards).

THIS LINE UP IS WHAT I CONSIDER 80's METAL AT IT'S FINEST HOUR. Dio was one of the top U.S. concert attractions with the most over-the-top stage acts of its time loaded with lasers, explosions, a giant dragon, and a 5 foot 4 inch Ronnie James Dio belting out huge vocals that make Danzig sound like Tweety Bird on Helium.

And how can I forget to mention one of the most under rated Metal guitar heroes of all time, Vivian Campbell? If you have never heard this man rip on guitar then you really need to pull yourself out of your hole and get either Holy Diver or Last in Line as these albums showcase not only Metal at it's finest, but big ripping guitar riffs with buzz saw shredding as well.

Even though DIO has continued on to record many more albums and continued to feverishly tour, there hasn't been a line up as powerful and momentous as the mid-eighties DIO.

Dear Henry Rollins...

Dear Hank,

The lumpy lil men (and lady) of Yo La Tengo have a not so new album as I'm sure you know. I am Not Afraid of You and I will Beat Your Ass. I figure most readers of this blog already have it or heard it, but hey i figured i'd put it up. In case you like to stream dope audio and haven't hit this one up yet...

Radio Indie Pop

They got hot channels such as an all Ramones channel, Unsigned Channel, Alt-Country Channel, and an album of the month (currently YLT's IANAOFAIWBYA).

Hank, you know I dig these guys, and I have found it an enjoyable listen. But it did trail off a bit for me towards the last third of the album. The opener "Pass the Hatchet, I think I'm Good!"... smacks of that nice bridge the Hoboken three oft pull off between the fuzzed out pulsing energy of a track like "I, Bartleby" and something a bit more straight forward or, egad, dare I say, poppy.

The second jam, "Beanbag", however, sets the tone for where the album as a whole seems to be going... right into the "Season of the Shark". Good stuff no doubt, but definitely more on their melodic, gentler side... accented by very light and delicate vocal stylings of Ira, Georgia, and James, and their, and with a couple of those jams that drip off their love of Fakebook influences.

Georgia brings down the landslide in "I feel like going home". One thing this trio quite often pulls off is some feeling of sincerity. They don't appear to be dialing it in, and they definitely aren't a afraid to move their styles around or borrow from influences... They may have traded in some of their "do wop do bops" from Summer Sun's "Nothing But You and Me", but quickly picked up some Burt Bacharach meets Chicago Horns on "Hey, Mr. Tough" (I think they are talking about you, Henry... don't be mad.)

Not to harsh on James vocal joint, but "Black Flowers" left me a lil cold. The strings were just a lil too syrupee and came off a bit as bad Elanor Rigby.

To bring it all home though I did rather enjoy the Fender Rhodes on the psychedelic rave-up... "I Should have Known Better".

So in conclusion, Hank, I give it ten out of twelve inches.

yours,
topple

ps - thanks for ruining black flag.

I AM SO SORRY!

Hey guys, Im so sorry there havent been any updates because Ive been in Boston for the long weekend and FORGOT to tell you guys :-( I tried accessing the site from my dad's BLackBerry, but damn Merrill Lynch blocked it. Again, Im so sorry about not telling you guys, but Im back now and Ill look around for some new stuff.

-matt

P.S. - Ray, how did you know I was on vaca? Thats creepy

Drag My Ass Out of Bed and Into the Bar - Primus Concert Review and more...

This is really just a justification for the cash I dumped in concert tix. And a way to kill another hour at work on a Friday.


Primus @ Austin Music Hall, Austin, TX
Wednesday, November 1st, 2006
of the rocks

My ass was draggin, but i knew the pork-filled cheese-sailors would not disappoint. The Austin Music Hall is a large, cavernous warehouse of a venue. The security is a drag. At least on your way in. It's not that they are mean or malicious, more that they just seem like they have no clue whatsoever. Like someone called them up 10 minutes before the gig, and was all, "hey, can you come help out at the show tonight... pick up Tommy and Juan on the way over and figure out something to do about searching people, will call etc."

negotiated a nonexistent will call booth and strolled in. got there in time for the end of the Drums n' Tuba set, and enjoyed the 10 minutes I heard, although I can't comment on it too much, as i was at the back of the warehouse buying some tall Lonestars at that point. I kept pondering why Primus comes to this venue when in town. Stubb's out door closes down by midnight, but as the night would come to an end by 11:45 anyway, that couldn't be the issue.

I went for a lung dart on their smokers patio in the set break. slammed in with other folks eagerly awaiting Primus' first return since the Tour de Fromage. Re-entered and as I flanked the crowd looking for entry into the dense mass in front of the stage, I came up with a viable solution to my question of why they play this big ol, bad soundin barn. Once you get into the thick of the crowd, no one is gonna bother you no matter what you light up.

In short time the boys took the stage... the requisite "YOU SUUUUUUCK’s” sounded out... with the fainter, yet more fun "Lerrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr" popping up and between them.

Their musical musings and teasings immediately revealed the beginning of "To Defy". I'm not sure what happens in moments like this, but my head dips forward, the bangs fall down, the bobbing commences as my beer hand rises in salute. It was on. I don't know too much to say than... Herb is sick, Ler is nuts, and Les, mmmm, he's the Colonel. It took till mid-way through Pudding Time (CHILDREN!) to get that crazy ol, strolling-hopping duck walk thing going... but by now it's too late. Everyone is accenting their favorite line and air filling on herb's zucka-zucka-DATS. I dunno, I love a Primus crowd... the requisite alterna-metal guys with their almost Goth, with a lil bit of trailer girlfriends. Plenty of shaved on the side's long on top dews. It’s definitely picked up some of the tour kids who can handle a thicker jam, but it's aight. (STRING CHEESE RIP).

Les rambled on a bit when he pulled out the upright for Tweekers, but the highlight was easily an affable Ler goaded into singing "his new song", which by his own admission is about Nachos. Let's see if i can remember the lyrics, "Ohhhh nachos, yes... you are cheesy". After the lil impromptu which I’m imagining was as rare as Ler on the Bastard Banjee... but perhaps not. They then launched into Seas o Cheese. But I, I, I, will always be blown away by Eleven.

The Set list: To Defy the Laws of Tradition, Pudding Time, Those Damned Blue Collar Tweekers, Seas of Cheese, Mr. Krinkle, Eleven, American Life, My Name is Mud, Jerry was a Racecar Driver

Encore: Here Come the Bastards


Gob Iron @ the Parish, Austin, TX
Friday, November 3rd, 2006
Gob Iron

It was a banner week. No rest as Thursday brought rehearsal for the soon to be Austin-based rock-juggernaut, Taco Leg. Friday found me stepping away from the Mexican Brown Grass and into some much higher grade entertainment. Exhausted but floating roughly 14 inches off the ground I made my way to the Parish to check out Jay Farrar in his latest outing... Gob Iron.

A quick stop at my favorite shelter-benefiting, church-affiliated bbq pit "Holy Smokers" provided me with a belly full of brisket, coffee, and an insanely hot pickle that Gus (read: the smoker) cures himself. I couldn't finish the whole pickle so half of it had to travel with me to the show. (In case anyone is actually near Austin on a Thursday, Friday or Saturday night, you'll find Gus and the Holy Smokers between the church and the parking garage at 5th and Trinity.)

It's a new thing for the Man from Uncle (Tupelo), and this was their first show of the tour. The shows are set up with Anders Parker (of Varnaline and solo endeavors) opening with phenomenal help from Mark Spencer (I didn't know the name before showing up, but he definitely left the most lasting impression... so much so, I’m now checking out his origins in a alt-bluegrass? group known as The Blood Oranges).

I figured it was gonna be a bit of the ol country, working class, love lorn, blues, and it was. I was tired, the beer was cold, and everything was all right. Perfect for the toe to heel; drink swilling sway that took all the energy i had left for the week. So it's not grab you by the throat type music. An acoustic guitar on Parker and a Strat on Spencer... but it certainly had its transcendent moments. To be fair you can't have your transcend, without your stuck in the blahs. but I tend to roll with it. Spencer traded between a lap steel and the strat, but in either case he gave that crystalline high end tele through a twin reverb that finds its home in the "good" country (as opposed to the "hot/new" country).

Next Jay came out for a solo set, excluding a few tracks where Mr. Spencer again came out to add that wonderful color... clean and clear like a Nashville cat. He played all new stuff as far as i could tell, except for a couple of later Son Volt tunes (Highway 61, Okemah and the riots, etc.)

The final set saw all three gob ironers on stage and rotating instruments between pretty much every song. Everyone took a turn on bass, drums, guitar, and keys. It was definitely raw, and definitely the first night of the tour. But it was exactly what I needed on Friday. I'm turning these concert reviews into personal journals aren't I?
So back to the music.

The third set was good ole garage rock. The first two sets delivered what I expected from the above linked Gob Iron web page... more melancholy channeled this acoustic strumming and humming accompany harmonics... but the last set was the dirty Uncle Tupelo feel of Chickamauga (a tune Jay has belted out in his last "Jay Farrar and canyon" tour), and the shameless three chord fist pump of Son Volt's "Drown". So warts and all it was a blast.