Nicotine & Rock

New Article Coming Soon

2010-09-03T03:01:00.003-04:00

For my readers, I am currently working on another article highlighting a couple of bands no longer active, who likely have gone under the radar, but deserve some recognition for being awesome, even if it only happens on this small blog.

In the meantime, to see if anyone will comment- I'll posit the following question: if you had the power to get one, and only one band back together again, or even just change a lineup to one you prefer, what band would it be? Also, try and keep it fairly realistic- i.e. no bringing back people from the dead- though if you're comment depends on it, that is fine too.

As I do not want to spoil the upcoming post, I will start with a band not in the article. The first one that comes to my mind is The Smashing Pumpkins- featuring the Corgan, Iha, Wretzky, and Chamberlin lineup. I think this one is self-explanatory. At any rate, I hope to see some comments, and I'll be posting soon. Until then,

ROCK ON!!

Fusion From Down Under

2010-08-05T23:57:00.011-04:00

As some of you may already know, I have a fairly broad taste in rock music. As a result, I admire and respect bands that bring new twists, sounds, and innovations to the ever-expanding genre. With that being said, I was recently invited to check out a group I had previously heard of, but never actually listened to. You may be wondering who this band is. The answer, is none other than the John Butler Trio.

Within the past several months, this Australian three-piece outfit released their 5th studio album entitled April Uprising. The record was 3 years in the making, and is the first one sporting the current lineup of frontman John Butler, bassist Byron Luiters, and percussionist Nicky Bomba. For those new to the band, like myself, the Trio has gone through several changes over the years. Reportedly in a 2004 issue of Rolling Stone, Butler said, "I've learned it's not always about having the same players for 5, 6, or 10 years, it’s having the right chemistry for these songs at this time..." This was a very interesting take- one that I had never considered. Yet it makes perfect sense, as this allows a band to evolve musically, without members venturing into a slew of side projects, leading fans to wonder if the original band is going to reconvene and make new music.

As I said earlier, April Uprising was 3 years in the making, and without a doubt, was definitely worth the wait. According to the band, the album takes some musical influence from dancehall, roots, and rock [I would also add modern folk and alternative]. The end result is a bluesy, folk-alternative sound, that while seemingly familiar on the surface, offers a unique, enjoyable listening experience. As there is a substantial 15 tracks, and this post is pretty long as it is- I'll talk about a couple of songs, and give a wrap-up of the album

The John Butler Trio's latest LP begins with the solid, anthemic 'Revolution', which contains slow tempo versus and a faster upbeat chorus. This culminates in some nice riffing, leading to a fade out. Thus, 'Revolution' creates an effective buildup for the rest of the album. The next song is the highly catchy 'One Way Road'. This was the first single released off the album, and was the second song I heard by the band. 'One Way Road' is hands-down, a true gem. The studio version is really high energy, but the live acoustic performance [not on the album] is even better, as it showcases both Butler's technical skill, and the soul behind the track. I have been given approval to bestow upon you all, said version version of 'One Way Road'. [Just right click, save link as, and enjoy]. Moving along, the Trio continues with 'C'mon Now', another spirited song, before slowing the pace a little with 'I'd Do Anything'. Between 'Ragged Mile' and 'Fool For You', the band has a vast variety of offerings, from tracks that range from the heavier to the lighter fare, keeping listeners enthralled during the duration. If it wasn't already abundantly clear, you, the audience, could easily hear how all the different stylings influenced the band in each track [e.g. folk (Ragged Mile) and alternative (Close To You)]. The John Butler Trio picks up the energy again with two great, mainstream appealing tunes called 'To Look Like You' and the more somber 'Mystery Man' before closing out the LP with the acoustic-folk 'A Star Is Born'.

All in all, April Uprising is a fantastic album, that combines elements of many subgenres to create a refreshingly different sound. The John Butler Trio's talent is also prominently displayed throughout the record, and one cannot help giving them respect and praise. This is clearly a band that has a passion for their music, as evidenced in each track. I encourage you readers to go check out the album, and don't forget to download the acoustic track above. As always...

ROCK ON!!

My Enigma with Tegan and Sara

2010-06-09T01:27:00.004-04:00

I would like to preface what I'm about to say in this post with a simple statement: I love these artists.

I can't recall how long ago it was, but 'Speak Slow' was played on one of the now defunct radio stations I used to frequent, and just like that I was introduced to the Canadian sister act, Tegan and Sara. I liked the song, and their sound, but did not really look much into the duo at that time.

Fast forward a few years.

In late 2009, I was in dire need of some new music to add to my iPod for the bus rides to class, so I naturally turned to the place where I figured I could find some- the radio, in particular, free internet radio via iTunes (Seriously, if you have iTunes, utilize this, its great… and FREE). I was perusing, listening for anything that caught my ear, when I happened to hear the song 'Nineteen' by Tegan and Sara. After recognizing the artists, I decided to storm the internet to listen to more of the pair's material.

Through my search, I found a link to their first performance on The Interface on Spinner.com (a link to all Interface performances is this way ----> ).
This four song set contained strictly acoustic renditions of the songs 'Back In Your Head', 'The Con', 'Nineteen', and 'Dark Come Soon' off the twin sisters' latest album at the time The Con.

Armed with only their two voices, three guitars (they had a 3rd guitarist), and xylophone (on 'Back In Your Head'), Tegan and Sara sounded absolutely phenomenal. They truly did an outstanding job, especially in terms of vocal performance, where they fed off one another to create very pleasant harmonies. If they hadn't already won me over, they surely did after I saw the videos. In fact, I liked the performance so much, I downloaded the mp3 version that Spinner offered and separated it into 4 different tracks. In my opinion, these are better acoustic takes than found elsewhere (e.g. Live Session on iTunes), though Take Away Shows (link on side) also got good Tegan and Sara footage.

Interestingly enough, during this time, when I had first started going to Spinner regularly, Tegan and Sara were releasing their album Sainthood and had done a second performance on The Interface- this time, a full band one. The four songs included in the Sainthood set were the tracks 'Hell', 'Alligator', 'On Directing', and 'The Cure'.

These songs were quite different from the ones from the first performance, mainly due to the electric sound. Once again, Tegan and Sara (and band) did not disappoint and gave me more reason to love them. My favorites were the fast-paced 'Hell' and the lighter fare of 'The Cure'. I was further elated when I learned in March that the two were releasing the Sainthood Interface set on a limited vinyl pressing for Record Store Day, which I was lucky to pick up (the place I went to literally had only 1 copy of this).

At this point, I started to compare both the stripped down acoustic tracks and the full band songs to their album version counterparts, and this is where the criticism comes in. THE LIVE TRACKS WERE VASTLY SUPERIOR!! I know the aforementioned statement is just my opinion, but I want you, the reader of this post, to take a good while and listen to one version, followed by the other. Conceivably, many of you will at least be able to see where I'm coming from, and maybe even some of you will be believers. The nuances in each of the live tracks help create magnificent sounding products that are just better than the original versions. For example, the decision to use a brighter, less warm guitar tone on 'Hell' gave the tune a different, more fitting sound. I could go on and on, but I'll let you find them on your own, especially since this post is quite long as it is. Perhaps credit should also be given to the crew of The Interface who are responsible for the sound of each performance. Lastly, I know some of you will say there are bands out there that are known for being better live acts, and I will agree this is true- case in point: Phish. It is possible that this is the case, though I'm not entirely sure.

At any rate, I think we can all agree that the sisters of indie rock, Tegan and Sara, kick some major ass, and I hope one day I will get to see them in person when I have some cash.

I have updated the links on the side, and will probably add at least one more. If you would like to be linked, just say so in the comments section. For those that may want to be featured, instructions are in the post 'Back in Black'. I will try and include a small paragraph on this on the side in the near future. Next time on Nicotine & Rock: should groups trying to recreate an influence's sound lose credibility? Until then…

KEEP ROCKIN'!

Are You Sick Of Sarah? ... I'm Not!!

2010-06-02T23:09:00.007-04:00

Driving away from my now alma mater (it feels weird to say it), I decided to put on the radio to my college station for both sentimentality and really loving the indie rock that came across the airwaves I happened to hear in recent days. I wasn't expecting a lot, as I am not a lucky guy, but the universe had other plans. I popped on the radio while a song was in its closing. And then it happened.

The next song came blasting out of the speakers, and right off the bat I was pumped. The pounding drums, the guitars feeding off one another- it was all just perfect.

Q: So what was this song?
A: 'Not Listening' by a band, whose name is all too ironic and hilarious to me for personal reasons, called Sick Of Sarah.

After checking out the band and hearing some other songs, I became a fan. This five-some of ladies know how to pack a punch and create some kick-ass, adrenaline pumping music. However, their self-titled album is a fairly diverse one: offering up alternative sounding tracks as heard on 'Daisies' and 'Bittersweet', to the semi-acoustic like on 'Give Me A Reason', to the punk as on both 'Mr. Incredible' and 'Not Listening', and to the acoustic ballad as on 'Fall'.

The album was mixed and engineered very nicely as the instruments and vocals sound great coming out of a nearly 10 year old 2.1 Altec Lansing setup, as well as a pair of earbuds when listening on my ipod. The instrumentals are crisp, even with distorted guitars. The vocals are clean, with Abisha Uhl delivering a solid lead performance. Jessica Forsythe laid down some sick drum beats, and I'm loving the fact that above everything else, the drums really catch my attention and stand out the most- this may be different for different people though, as maybe I'm actually more accustomed to listening for it as a drummer (even though I play multiple instruments). Furthermore, neither instrumentals nor vocals are overpowered by something else- everything is very audible, which earns it a thumbs up. It's a huge rarity to find an album where you can actually sit down, walk, go to the moon, or jump around on a pogo stick while blindfolded, and actually listen to the whole thing while still enjoying every single minute. I will say that it is arguable that Sick Of Sarah truly may have done it.

I encourage those who stumble upon this blog and are in need of some new tunes, to check this band out- I've even put them in the top 'Bands You Should Know' mini-segment at the top (that's how good I think they are). 'Not Listening', 'Mr. Incredible', 'Give Me A Reason', and 'Breakdown' are definitely songs to listen to- though as I've said before, the album delivers a variety of sounds and the tracks I suggest are more of 'put this on your workout playlist' than the complete scope of the record. (For a fuller range, just pick and choose some of the ones I mentioned earlier). Hopefully, I have educated some of you, and if you already heard this band prior to about 2 weeks ago, that is awesome, and keep on supporting them.

I'll have a new post in a short while, but in the meantime...

ROCK ON!

Back In Black

2010-06-02T23:08:00.001-04:00

Hello readers.

For those who are new to the site (and those who were around long ago and may be coming back), please feel free to comment on all posts- I like hearing back from you, and it helps me better gauge my audience.

I am also open to discussion about all things rock- that you can also post in the comments section.

If you want to be featured on the site (** c'mon people- it's free advertisement for your band**), shoot me an e-mail (provided through my profile) with the subject line 'Feature: [insert your band name here]' and in the e-mail, either include: 1.) a digital file (or several) @ 256 kbps or higher preferred, though it can be lower- it's just, and I'm sure you already know, the higher the bitrate, the truer the sound that's reproduced, or 2.) a link to a website where I can listen to your music. Feel free to talk about yourself and/or band in the e-mail as well. I'll probably ask a few questions about your band in a follow up e-mail for information to include in a post as a mixed bio, Q/A session, and discussion on the music.

Realistically, I'm not expecting much-- but it would be great to have comments, willing participants be featured on the blog, and a good, open environment to talk about the music. Now to hit the lights, do a sound check, and open the doors to this venue once again.

Thanks
- Management

Defining An Artist In The Music World

2007-09-13T23:34:00.000-04:00

Hello readers, it's been awhile.

I would like to talk about something tonight that just "grinds my gears". First I will pose a question- What is an artist [from a music standpoint]?

I define an artist as someone, or band [meaning group of musicians who collaborate], who creates every aspect of a song [lyrics, chord progressions, riffs, percussion, bass lines, etc.] and performs their creation, to some degree, playing an instrument, whether guitar, bass, drums, piano, etc.

The mass media keeps pounding it in the heads of people that no talent pop musicians are, and should be considered, artists. Every time I see something like this in the newspaper or on TV, I become stricken with rage. THEY ARE NOT ARTISTS!!!!

I have never heard a famous musicians speak out about this topic until tonight when I happened to be channel surfing. Dave Grohl, one of my personal favorites, talked about how people like Britney Spears should not be considered artists. My day was complete until directly after, there was a segment that followed about the very question I posed up top as well as on Dave's comments. The one guy on the program said that Dave was wrong and should re-think it. I say- you sir, are an idiot. Furious, I decided to talk about this here.

Leave a comment about your definition as per the question.

ROCK ON!

Tragedy In The Rock Community

2007-03-23T21:06:00.000-04:00

As many of you may know already, the lead singer of the Classic Rock band Boston, Brad Delp, was found dead at his house in New Hampshire on March 9, 2007. The cause of death is reported to be a suicide by carbon monoxide poisoning. According to sources, a note was found with his body. Delp was part of one of the best bands in Rock history, and contributed a lot to the music world. He will be greatly missed by all who were affected by his vocals as well as the Rock community that he helped shape.

It's Been Awhile

2006-12-31T12:58:00.000-05:00

Hello again everybody, especially my blogger family!!

I had to take some time off due to school and it probably will happen again in a couple of weeks, but for the time being I am back.

As many of you know, this is not an easy time for me right now and I want to thank all of you who have sent me e-mails. I will try and get back to all of you ASAP.

I have a lot of new music to share with all of you that you may or may not like, to each their own. This was seemingly a decent year in the world of Rock and I hope the trend continues to move forward into the future.

HAVE A SAFE & HAPPY NEW YEAR!!

Featured Artist- Toby Lightman

2006-09-25T14:57:00.000-04:00

25 year old singer/songwriter Toby Lightman is N&R's featured artist. Her new album released on Atlantic Records on July 25, 2006, is Bird on a Wire. It is the follow up to her debut and compiles 13 songs, which blend acoustic/folk rock and R & B. Her record was given a 3 star review by USA Today.

To hear the track "My Sweet Song", just click the title.

For more info, you can check out her website- www.tobylightman.com. For those interested, I have her current tour dates, just leave a comment requesting them and I will post them up.

ROCK ON!!

New Artist and MP3 Link-- Coming Soon

2006-09-24T16:56:00.000-04:00

For you readers out there, I have been sent a link featuring an mp3 from a new artist. If you like acoustic/alternative/folk rock, then you will like this artist. I will post up the link in an article as soon as I hear back- it will give background on this artist and other info. Stay tuned-- I should hear back during the week.

ROCK ON!!!

Yahoooooooooo!!!

2006-09-04T01:19:00.000-04:00

College rules!! I will probably post infrequently now [as if I haven't already]. This message would have come sooner, but it took over a day to get the internet to work. I hope to continue to visit some of the great sites still- Long Range, Beaks, Beamish's, etc.

ROCK ON!!!

Attention Readers

2006-08-27T01:03:00.000-04:00

If anyone knows good instrumental music [acoustic only is preferable, but anything will do] please inform me.

ROCK ON!!!

August Is Dubbed "Month Of Classic Rock"

2006-08-08T21:46:00.000-04:00

New 'Band Of The Month' posted, and its not just one band. A plethora of Classic Rock bands that made and shape Rock-N-Roll and bands who should never fade out of a CD player, mp3, etc. are featured.

For Those About To Rock, We Salute You!!

You Never Know What You'll Find On Late Shows

2006-08-08T21:02:00.000-04:00

A week or so ago I put on the Late Show with David Letterman just in time to see the musical guest. From the second I was watching I was hooked. It was nothing like I had ever seen in a rock band. There were about 15-20 people on stage. There were multiple guitars, multiple drums [one kit and a few toms], I think more than one bass, many singers, and the Letterman bandleader, Paul Schaffer, was playing the keyboards as a special guests.

The band is Broken Social Scene, a Canadian indie group featuring 10 members from various other indie bands from Canada and who tour and record with a ton of guests. I think I read somewhere that BSS tours with an average of 15 people, something that goes against the standard. The group played the song "Fire Eye'd Boy" [this performance is on youtube- link provided so you can see huge group]. The song is damn good, and they have some other good songs like "7/4 (Shoreline)" which is on the self-titled new album from 2005.

Upon further research of Broken Social Scene, I found out that they have been serious contenders in the Juno Awards in 2003, 2004, and 2006, where the band won 'Alternative Album Of The Year' in 2003 for the album You Forgot It In People and in 2006 for Broken Social Scene. They were nominated in 2004 for 'Video Of The Year' and in 2006 for 'CD/DVD Artwork Design Of The Year'.

I have to say, it was nice finding some talent on late night talk shows that aren't already famous [not to say that I hate that; I watched Alkaline Trio on Conan O'Brien and 30 Seconds To Mars on Carson Daly]. If you are ever up and there's nothing on, check out the music on the late shows, you never know what you might get.

ROCK ON!!

SSSSSLLLLLOOOOOOOOOOWWWW

2006-07-30T17:34:00.000-04:00

This is the slowest summer in music I can remember. There are no new albums out worth mentioning, so I'll revert to one that I haven't done. Stadium Arcadium by the great Red Hot Chili Peppers is a damn good double release. These guys still got great tracks in them as seen in virtually every single song on the 2 discs.

The only worth while concert this summer that I know of is Ozzfest. I will go on record as saying that this is probably "the greatest Ozzfest in the history of the show". This year, bands like Black Label Society [whose concert is like a religious awakening], Avenged Sevenfold [who puts on a great show], the stylings of the most insane speed metal band Dragonforce [check these guys out if you like speed metal at its finest], and plenty more.

New band of the month coming August 1.

ROCK ON

New Segment Of N&R

2006-07-08T00:35:00.000-04:00

I think it is time I do an "Artist of the Month" thing. Every month I will pick a band either from my catalogue or new groups I find online at websites like purevolume.com [link on the side].

Thanks to Warren, we have an N&R Band of the Month. It will always be located at the top right above the profile.
For July 2006: 30 Seconds To Mars

Feedback is appreciated.

Works In Progress

2006-07-08T00:00:00.000-04:00

Now that school is over, I have had some free time on my hands, some of which has been devoted to songwriting. I will try and tell you the experience of writing for all the instruments solo [this is the first time I have ever really done so; all others have been with at least one other person].

Being a drummer and guitarist, I tend to start a piece with the guitars because melody is much harder to compile than rhythm. I have had a lot of success with this so far to an extent. I have been in a musical phase- I like the acoustic songs right now and the two tracks I have been writing, while they are currently on an electrical guitar clean tone, would probably sound better as acoustic tracks. The problem is for each song I have parts on the guitar, only parts. They are good, but everything I have tried so far after to complete these tracks have been lackluster and too cliche. I also try to write music for two guitars- for one of these songs I have done so, and the other is fine without it [tip: harmony can always be added as needed].

I haven't tried the percussion on any so far, but I have ideas, one of which I will probably use when recording time comes. Bass, since I can't play well, will probably follow the guitar's root note, something I would like to avoid, but only time will tell if I can do what I hear in my head. Lyrics are impossible. You never really realize how good a well written song is until you actually try to write one yourself. This is the last thing I worry about.

If I ever finish these tracks, I will try and post them up on here.

ROCK ON!!

6 Words I Never Thought I'd Say

2006-07-02T23:38:00.000-04:00

I like a "reality" TV show [I guess that is what I would catagorize this particular show under.] The network VH1 put out a show that they should be proud of. The show is none other than Super Group. The premise- its exactly as the name suggests: take 5 musicians from Rock and make a new super group.

The band members:
1.) Bass- Evan Seinfeld [Biohazard]
2.) Drums- Jason Bonham [son of Led Zeppelin legendary drummer John Bonham; many credits including Jimmy Page, Slash, solo works and more; see Wikipedia]
3.) Lead Guitar- Scott Ian [Anthrax]
4.) Lead Guitar- Ted Nugent [Ted Nugent]
5.) Vocals- Sebastian Bach [Skid Row]

Look at the list for a moment and ask yourself, "How can this not be a super group?"

Anyway, the band had to prepare for a show in Vegas [which is where the show was] in 12 days. The 5 members also had to deal with making a name- they decided on Damnocracy [FIST and G-d War were scrapped]. The songs they chose to perform were almost all covers- each of the members' bands were represented by at least one song ['Stranglehold', 'Cat Scratch Fever', 'Youth Gone Mad', 'Punishment', and others]. Damnocracy also did covers of other classic bands such as AC/DC ['Sin City' and 'T.N.T.'] and Motorhead ['Ace of Spades'] in addition to one original track entitled 'Take It Back'. I just saw the last episode and the show fuckin rocked. I wish I was there. Bonham was really damn good on drums [I was surprised because I had never heard him before]. The Nuge- I knew he was good, but I did not know he was fuckin awesome. Everyone of them was great.

The good news is Damnocracy has continued to play music after the VH1 show and hopefully we will see a record and tour by those guys. If you missed this show and are a fan of Rock "History In The Making", then check for reruns of online.

ROCK ON!!

Graduation Day----- 6/20/2006!!

2006-06-19T21:09:00.000-04:00

It is the end...... finally!!! These are lyrics that are fitting for this occasion, and this is by far one of the greatest songs in Rock history.

Good Riddance (Time Of Your Life) by Green Day
Another turning point
A fork stuck in the road
Time grabs you by the wrist
Directs you where to go
So make the best of this test
And don't ask why
It's not a question
But a lesson learned in time

It's something unpredictable
But in the end is right
I hope you had the time of your life

So take the photographs
And still frames in your mind
Hang it on a shelf of good health
And good time
Tattoos of memories
And dead skin on trial
For what it's worth
It was worth all the while

It's something unpredictable
But in the end is right
I hope you had the time of your life

It's something unpredictable
But in the end is right
I hope you had the time of your life

It's something unpredictable
But in the end is right
I hope you had the time of your life

CONGRATS CLASS OF 2006!!!

Fleet Week & Memorial Day

2006-05-29T22:36:00.002-04:00

This past Friday I went to Fleet Week in Manhattan's Pier 88. It was great to go on some active ships and meet some of the men and women who are serving in the Army, Navy, and Marines. They greatly appreciated the turnout and support. I would like to point out that the US Armed Forces are Jimi Hendrix fans. How do I know? The words "Voodoo Child" were spray painted on the turret of a tank inside the USS Kearsarge. I would post a picture, but it is on my cell phone.

Today, I went into Manhattan via Staten Island and saw briefly some of the ships stationed in the pier over there. However, today's visit to the city was for the exhibit Bodies. For those who don't know what this is, it is a large showing of actual preserved bodies. It is great for those interested in the human anatomy in that the bodies are seen without skin and in everyday poses. I learned a lot from the displays about how intricate we humans really are. They also show various parts of the body, as well as body parts due to certain to disease. It is a little pricy, but well worth it and going at a pace to read everything and see everything, it takes between 2.5-3 hours.

SKYNYRD RULES!! FREE BIRD!!!

Explanation Time

2006-05-15T22:32:00.000-04:00

I have recently been deeply listening to the legendary band called none other than Lynyrd Skynyrd. The band was Southern Rock all the way. They had a ton of hits on the album Pronounced Leh-Nerd Skin-Nerd including "I Ain't The One", "Tuesday's Gone", "Gimmie Three Steps", "Simple Man", and one of the greatest songs in Rock history, "Free Bird". Just think, this was one regular album, not even greatest hits. Amazing stuff. It's a shame that the original band was involved in a terrible plane crash which killed three of the members.

Now to the part that I need clarified. I saw something on VH1 that involved I think the singer, Ronnie Van Zant and Neil Young. There was a myth that Van Zant was buried in a Young t-shirt and in 2000, a group of people dug up his grave to find if it was true. I know that Ronnie didn't much care for Neil Young through the lyrics of "Sweet Home Alabama", but I need to know what this feud was about.

Super Tuesday

2006-04-30T10:49:00.000-04:00

May 2, 2006 is one of, if not, the biggest and most anticipated album release dates in history. Highly revered bands are putting out new stuff after what seems like a lifetime of waiting. These include Pearl Jam and a favorite over at this blog, Tool.

Pearl Jam's new self-titled studio album is their first in at least three years. During this time period, they released a shitload of live albums. The single released on iTunes including two tracks off the album ["World Wide Suicide" and "Unemployable"] were amazing and 30 second previews of the rest of the CD sounded like Pearl Jam of old. Eddie, Stone, and the gang are back with a vengance.

Tool is the other huge name on this Tuesday's schedule. FINALLY!! It has been a half of a decade since they released Lateralus. Maynard James Keenan started a side project during these years called A Perfect Circle, which has released three albums [two originals; one remakes with a twist]. This new album, 10,000 Days, I have been told, is Tool at its best. The little bit I have heard definately supports this claim.

Another great band [lesser known, but have a solid following], Thursday, also releases their new album entitled City By The Light Divided. This CD sounded good, but not as good as the last album War All The Time, which was a truly a remakable, deep album.

T-minus 5 hr 6 min and counting...

Modified Chicken Dance [NHL Style]

2006-04-30T10:44:00.000-04:00

Na-na-na-na-na-na-na;
Na-na-na-na-na-na-na;
Na-na-na-na-na-na-na;
The Rangers Suck!

Na-na-na-na-na-na-na;
Na-na-na-na-na-na-na;
Na-na-na-na-na-na-na;
THE RANGERS SUCK!!

DEVILS WIN SERIES: 4-0 SWEEP!!

Nothing Is Better

2006-04-26T21:55:00.000-04:00

It is back, after nearly 2 years. I am talking about PLAYOFF HOCKEY!!!! It is by far the most dramatic post season out of any sport and to prove it I will give examples by Tim Cowlishaw on Around The Horn:

1.) In baseball there is always last licks for the home team
2.) Football can be won by a measley field goal
3.) In hockey, it is even- no last licks, a goal is a goal is a goal; OT is played until a goal is scored

Being a DEVILS fan, I have a lot of experience with the OT, especially from the 2000 Stanley Cup Championship against the Dallas Stars. I stayed up for the multiple 2 OT games (this was before networks implemented a no commercial during OT play). I watched Game 5 go to 3 OT as the Devils tried to win it all on home ice, but a deflection by Modano ended my hopes of home ice victory at 1:18 AM. In Game 6, an absolutely beautiful play involving Patrik Elias (NJ), Hatcher (Dal), and Jason Arnott. In 2 OT, Elias passed the puck in the corner of the Dallas zone, pressured by the defenseman Hatcher. The puck went straight to Arnott, who was in front of the goal. As Belfour, the Dallas goalie, went down to block it, Arnott lifted it in. The puck passed and I celebrated with my dad at 12:48 AM.

Right now, my team is man handling the NY Rangers (the biggest rivals). The series is 3-0 in favor of NJ. The win tonight gave Brodeur his 21st career playoff shutout as the Devs won 3-0. This is the 14th consecutive win and the 8th consecutive loss for the Rangers. Nothing is sweeter.

BRODEUR IS BETTER; HE IS THE BEST EVER!!!

LET'S GO DEVILS!!!

Carpe Diem.

A Huge Burden Lifted

2006-04-01T13:03:00.000-05:00

Over the past few weeks I have been racking my brain over the senior paper. Well, the day finally came yesterday, where we handed in the final draft. It was a great feeling knowing the pressure was off. Unfortunately, the workload won't be minimal until Friday.

I know I've been saying that a movie post review will arrive, and it will soon. The movies will be Snatch, Seven, The Thirty Nine Steps, Sin City, and V for Vendetta. They probably won't all be in one post and I will most likely have the first one up by tomorrow night, possibly a little earlier.

What Is The IRL Thinking?

2006-03-26T14:31:00.000-05:00

Today, IRL rookie driver Paul Dana (30) died today after a very serious two car collision. This happened in the practice run of the Toyota Indy 300. The Rahal Letterman Racing team pulled its other two drivers- Buddy Rice and Danica Patrick from the race which is still scheduled to go on. The other driver, Ed Carpenter, was awake and alert in a Florida hospital.

Carpenter crashed into the wall and his car eventually stopped in the middle of the track. As other cars avoided him, Dana hit dead on going in the vicinity of 200 mph.

As a NASCAR fan, this brings up memories of the late Dale Earnhardt, who was killed in a crash on the final turn at the Daytona 500 on Feb 18, 2001.

Why is the IRL going to go ahead and have a race today? This is a very serious tragedy for the sport. Also, the IRL, who banks off Danica Patrick's popularity and is waiting to see her get a win, is continuing despite the team's pullouts. A few hours is not enough time to allow mourning. An ESPN radio broadcaster said the IRL should wait at least a day before going on, something I fully agree with. If they take the time, they will most definately receive less ridicule, but if they don't, expect heavy criticism by the sports media.

Movie reviews coming soon.

A N&R First

2006-03-22T23:50:00.000-05:00

I have been straying for a little bit, but it is time to talk about music once again, afterall, the site is called Nicotine & Rock. I received an e-mail Wednesday night about a newly signed talent (2004) named Brandi Carlile. From what I have seen, this is someone who is a musician to the core. Unfortunately, I didn't have too much time to see much more about her, but I have some mp3s for you readers to check out.

"Fall Apart Again"
http://redmusic.com/downloads/Brandi_downloads/FallApartAgain.mp3

"What More Can I Say"
http://redmusic.com/downloads/Brandi_downloads/WhatCanISay.mp3

"Throw It All Away"
http://redmusic.com/downloads/Brandi_downloads/ThrowItAllAway.mp3

I have previewed the mp3s and will say they are not bad. If you are a fan of acoustic, chill music, with harmonized vocals, this is perfect for you. Brandi is currently on tour now, her website has more info- www.brandicarlile.com.

Code Green

2006-03-17T16:46:00.000-05:00

Happy St. Pattys Day!! It's that time of year when everyone needs to pull out a Flogging Molly CD and play some celtic punk rock. Peter Griffin once said, "Let's drink til we cant feel feelings anymore." His head is in the game.

Have fun and drink responsibly.

It's Only Rock-N-Roll

2006-03-11T15:48:00.000-05:00

While reading my NY Post newsletters, I stumbled across an article involving the writer of the Pink Floyd classic The Wall.

Roger Waters [writer] is scheduled to play Tel Aviv this summer. He was noted to have criticized the security fence being constructed in the West Bank to protect against terrorist attacks. Waters agreed to perform after Israel withdrew from the Gaza Strip.

However, a group of "Palestinian" artists has written to Roger Waters asking him to cancel his concert. Sliman Manour of the Palestinian Association for Contemporary Art said, "How can someone who wants to look like a leftist in the world - fighting against the Berlin Wall, for open borders and for love between people - come to Israel while they are still building their wall and hold a musical event?"

*************************************************************
As far as I know the Berlin Wall and the West Bank fence are two entirely different things.

The truth was that East Germans did not like the Communist controlled society. They saw the West had more economic opportunity and political freedoms, and as a result, many left for the West. The East was economically threatened due to a heavy loss of labor. To prevent any further loss, the Berlin Wall was constructed, by East German troops in 1961. The migration numbers went down drastically. The Berlin Wall essentially trapped people longing for freedom under a Communist system.

As far as I know, the West Bank fence was built to protect Israeli citizens from terrorist attacks, not trap people. Any good leader knows that National Security is vital to the existance of its nation.

I hate the fact that these so called "artists" are trying to make this political. If Waters wants to perform, then he has every right to do so.

Hey "Palestinian artists"- Just SHUT THE F*** UP!!

Wipe Out!

2006-03-10T09:50:00.000-05:00

We have imagery!!

New post soon.

For Grunge Fans (And 90s Mainstream)

2006-03-07T13:04:00.000-05:00

I've been hearing a ton of Soundgarden, Cornell solo work, Mother Love Bone, and Temple Of The Dog, and am thinking about buying these albums. Any advice?

The Man In Black And The Academy

2006-03-06T17:59:00.000-05:00

On Tuesday I bought the movie Walk The Line because I heard from lesser music aficionados that it was a decent movie. After watching the cinema, I thought the movie kicked ass, plain and simple. You don't need to be a fan of Johnny Cash or his music to be entertained by this film. From what I have heard, Joaquin Phoenix had to learn how to play the guitar for his role. He also had to sing in Cash's stylings. Both were done very well. Resse Witherspoon's portrayal of June Carter Cash was also great. Walk The Line did fairly well in the Golden Globes, but did not fare too well in last nights Academy Awards. The only award taken was by Resse Witherspoon for best actress. To close: if you want to be entertained, check this movie out.

Now on to the Academy Awards- I am concerned about where these are going. There were only 3 songs up for an award- all of them were performed on stage. In my opinion, all three were terrible. One of them was a rap/hip-hop song called "It's Hard Out Here For A Pimp" for the movie Hustle And Flow. Somehow, this song won. As I have said before, rap does not constitute as music. Was the academy smoking something when they chose this as best song?

You've Come A Long Way

2006-03-03T22:37:00.000-05:00

In the annual listing by Pollstar (trade magazine), Starland Ballroom was ranked the #4 selling concert/nightclub in the WORLD!! It has beat out big names including the Hammerstein and Roseland Ballrooms, the Electric Factory (PA), the Avalon (MA), and many House Of Blues spots.

Starland sold 207,000 tickets in 2005- 50,000 more than in 2004, the inaugural year. This is more than every spot in the NY Metropolitan Area and then some (as stated before).

Hey, not too shabby for a 3000 person venue hall, essentially in the middle of nowhere. On April 15 of this year, it will be even better thanks to the new smoking ban in public facilities in all of NJ. Now we won't die of emphazima just by walking into the place.

KEEP ON ROCKIN STARLAND!!

Minneapolis- A Music Haven?!

2006-02-27T22:38:00.000-05:00

Now everyone who was alive in the 90s knows that Seattle was the birth place of the music that ended the 80s metal- the Grunge movement. Bands like Pearl Jam, Nirvana, and others created and popularized this new music about the darker side of life. You cannot turn on any rock radio station and not hear songs like "Smells Like Teen Spirit", "Alive", "Even Flow", "In Bloom", etc. Clearly, Seattle earns a spot on in rock music's heart.

When I mention Minneapolis, most of you think of it as just a place in Minnesota. What you may not know is that Minneapolis was a rock music source of 90s mainstream alternative. The bands Semisonic and Soul Asylum were great mainstream bands whose songs are still listenable.

"Misery" and "Runaway Train" are two great tracks by Soul Asylum. They have even had the honor of being parodied by Weird Al Yankovic with his release of "Syndicated Inc." (parody of "Misery") off the album Bad Hair Day.

Semisonic has had a few good songs, but simply put, none are better than "Closing Time" off Feeling Strangely Fine. The lyrics are great:

"Closing time, open all the doors and let you out into the world;...
"Closing time, time for you to go out to the places you will be from;...
"Closing time, every new beginning comes from some other beginning's end"

The melody is extremely catchy, as most mainstream alternative classics are. The piano opening, bridge, and closing mold perfectly to the distorted power chords of the tune. Someone compared this song to being great like "Good Riddance (Time of Your Life)" by Green Day (pre-sell out era). This is a very valid comparison in my opinion because this song is almost a decade old, but has the feeling like you can listen to it for many years to come. I still enjoy listening to this song from time to time and play ad lib solos to it.

Another band was The Rembrandts, who only really had one huge hit in "I'll Be There For You", which was popularized by the shoe Friends. New up-and-comers Motion City Soundtrack also hail from Minneapolis.

Maybe it's time to consider Minneapolis a landmark in the history of rock-n-roll.

P.S.- I want to add the lead guitarist from Pearl Jam to the list of shredders (top 10), but I am not sure if it's Stone Gossard or Mike McCready or both (the website is very confusing to me and I'm dead tired)

A Tribute: Tragedy Of February 19

2006-02-22T22:33:00.000-05:00

This post is a little late, but nevertheless, must be posted.

On February 19, 1980, Rock-N-Roll was forever changed. Ronald Belford "Bon" Scott was found dead in London, in the back of a car where he had passed out the night before after a drinking binge. Bon was the legendary vocalist of AC/DC from between 1974 to 1979.

Scott, a Scot whose family moved to Australia (a move which the Young family made as well), was a pop star in Australia in the 1960s in the group The Valentines and followed by his stint in the band Fraternity. He saw AC/DC play in Adelaide in August 1974 when the band had its original singer Dave Evans. In September of that year, Scott had joined the group.

AC/DC would undergo several lineup changes in the 70s: Phil Rudd (drums)- 1975; Cliff Williams (bass)- 1977.

The supergroup had recorded 4 albums in 4 years between 1976 and 1979- (in order) High Voltage (the reason my other blog is called what it is), Let There Be Rock, Powerage, and Highway To Hell. The band had finally reached gold album status in the US in 1979 with Highway To Hell. Things were going AC/DC's way.

However, February 19, 1980 would shock the world. After Bon's untimely death, AC/DC would go back to work. On April 8, 1980, the band announced they had found a new singer- Brian Johnson of the band Geordie. Angus Young had said Bon had seen Brian once and liked him and if Bon liked him, he must have been good. Angus also added that he had never liked many people. Johnson would begin recording that year and AC/DC released its most popular album, Back In Black, later that year. Johnson and the band would also record many other albums throughout the 80s.

Scott attributed a great deal to AC/DC. Personally, my favorite album and the one I find most accomplishing of AC/DC's is Powerage. Every song is filled with raw emotion, blazing guitars, powerful singing, pounding drums, rythmic bass. This album not only showed the talent of the band, but was Bon Scott's best vocal performance.

Thanks for the music you left upon the world Bon Scott.

They Have Given Up On Us

2006-02-15T21:27:00.000-05:00

Yes, they have given up on us. By they, I mean free radio (who else would I mean?). The winter of 2005 brought the message of a harsh reality- big name stations were going to change their format from the norm to talk radio with brief intervals of music.

"Thee station"- 92.3 K Rock was probably the best rock station in the NY City area, filling the airwaves with a balance of modern mainstream to alternative to hard to classic rock, as well as adding in some talk radio which was always funny. This was "my station". I had heard the news on "The Booker Show" on my way home from school in December. The D.J. had said in a conversation that most big rock radio stations all across the country were changing formats over. As of January, 92.3 K Rock became 92.3 Free FM. I gave a listen to David Lee Roth (yes, the Van Halen singer) in the morning who replaced the irreplaceable Howard Stern. As I recall, it wasn't that bad. I turned it on another time after that one afternoon and realized that 92.3 needed to be deprogrammed off my favorites list. They had lost the music, especially when I was driving and needed the tunes. Now in the NJ area, there is only one good modern alternative station, G 106.3, and one good classic rock station, Q 104.3.

So this is how free radio is going to compete with their pricier competition in satellite radio. What the hell!? Call me crazy, but there is no competition. They have made it crystal clear- anyone who gives a shit about music, and doesn't like commercials, should switch to satellite radio. Then there are people like me, who can't afford satellite radio. My solution was a tape adapter for my iPod so I can have an indispensable amount of music at my fingertips. Unfortunately for some, new cars only have CD players, so they don't have this luxury, although CD's are better than nothing.

That day on "The Booker Show" he had said that "rock radio stations" were the ones changing the format. There was no mention of any other format, just rock (conspiracy?). What the hell!? The only formats that deserve to be on FM radio are rock, jazz, blues, classical, and I'll even put country (even though I can't stand it). All of these are music; it takes talent to compose and perform these pieces.

Free radio, rest in peace, unless you bring the music back.

Neo-Classical Speed Metal

2006-02-12T20:57:00.000-05:00

I received a ton of iTunes money for my birthday a few weeks ago and have been browsing their database for some music to buy. I came across a band that I've seen about 6 months ago. I decided to buy one of their albums.

Dragonforce is a British neo-classical speed metal band. I don't know how they were able to record these 8 tracks off Sonic Firestorm. The tempo is insane- I have never heard double bass played like this-- ever. As a fan of some prog metal and 80s metal, I think these guys were definately worth the $7.92. If you are a fan of fast paced, guitar soloing and drum bashing then check out Dragonforce.

People with iTunes have an advantage of previewing, but I think J&R's website has previews as well as Circuit City's website.

SNOW DAY TOMORROW!! OVER 18"!!

Hidden Pictures

2006-02-06T23:19:00.000-05:00

There are 75 bands in this picture. How many can you find out.

I haven't even put a dent in it.

Top Shredders Of All Time

2006-02-02T17:56:00.000-05:00

The last topic was great, but now I have an even more difficult question:

*****Name the top three (3) shredders of all time*****

My picks in order:
3.) Angus Young
2.) Jimi Hendrix
1.) John Petrucci

If you've never heard of John Petrucci, you are a deprived rock fan.

Theme Song

2006-01-12T23:35:00.000-05:00

This question arises from one of Beak's comments and the Spanish "A Team":

****Choose your theme song****

I'm going to say my theme song is "Brain Stew" from Green Day.

We Need A Revival

2005-12-05T18:56:00.000-05:00

For those of you readers who don't know much about Jazz, thats OK, because I don't know much either. What I do know is that there has been a trend for the worse. I found out I am an old school cat when it comes to Jazz. I really enjoy the uptempo tunes with faster rhythms. I've been listening to John Coltrane recently, and the man is a genius, as is his band. Everyone playing an instrument is talented and they fuse to form an excellent sound. There are others that I have heard, but none I like as much.

Smooth Jazz is something that isn't bad, although most of it sounds alike. There are good artists in the lot of them. However, the percussion is not the same as in the 60s. If you listen to Coltrane and then Jazzmasters, you will not find the same craftsmanship. Most Smooth Jazz has electronic drums, which gives it a different feel than the Old School. Newer music also shows an increase in guitar, acoustic with nylon strings (most likely a classical acoustic). This is not necessarily a bad thing. One of my favorite Smooth Jazz pieces, with some elements of rock, was done by John Petrucci (Dream Theater guitar virtuoso) and Jordan Rudess (Dream Theater master pianist).

I would like to see more artists in the Jazz world go and bring back the classic stylings of Coltrane instead of continuing this trend.

"DO THAT THING I LIKE!!" - Tony Reali (PTI)

One Hell Of A Halloween

2005-11-02T22:02:00.000-05:00

I went to the Thrice concert on Halloween night at starland. What a show! I saw Thrice once before on the Civic Tour with Dashboard Confessional last summer. They played a 45 min set, which seemed short. This time, they played an hour and a half. All the good stuff on Artist In The Ambulance was played although I am still pissed that they haven't played the normal version of "Stare At The Sun"- they did the acoustic version of it at both shows, and they didn't play "All That's Left". Thrice played brand new material as well as older classics.

Since it was Halloween, all four bands including their respective roadies, dressed up in costume. Veda came out as mummies. The Bled were cowboys and indians, being from the SW. Underoath came out as Slipknot- masks, jumpsuits, and even the garbage can drums for a short cover of "Duality". Thrice had the most original costume. It took me a couple of seconds to figure it out. Wearing light blue polo shirts, red ski caps, and light blue adidas athletic pants, they went on as Team Zissou from The Life Aquatic- very original. They also chucked out a bunch of red hats, but unfortunately neither my friends nor I got one. Definately a great way to spend Halloween.

On the previous Thursday, I saw Armor For Sleep at starland. It was the second time I did, and they rocked. It was even better than the other time.

ROCK ON!

A Great Band

2005-09-26T23:09:00.000-04:00

If you have never heard of Dream Theater, get the albums A Change Of Seasons, Awake, and Train Of Thought. The musicianship of this band is impeccable-- John Petrucci on guitar and Mike Portnoy on drums and percussion is a winning combination. The rest of the band only enhances the listening pleasure.

One song I have come to love and admire is the seven part, 23+ minute "A Change Of Seasons". This song I got a few years ago on a mix and thought it was alright. The more my taste broadened for good music, the more open minded I became. Finally I popped the mix into my computer and listened to the song again a week and a half ago. This song is probably the only 23 minute song that can keep the listener on the edge of their seat. The flow of each part is smooth, the instrumentals are mindboggling, the vocals are powerful. Everything works with no odd parts, something which seems very rare nowadays.

I can rant on and on about Dream Theater, but I don't think my praise can do them justice. Experience the skilled and mastered craft of great music NOW!

ROCK ON!

Overrated Bands

2005-08-30T16:59:00.000-04:00

There are two bands which are super overrated. I feel it is my duty as a musician that I let everyone know.

The first band on my list is 311. What the !@#$ is so great about these guys. They blend in reggae, rap, and some rock and fuse it into their music. People I talk to like these guys, but truthfully they suck.

The next one is My Chemical Romance. I listen to these guys every once in awhile. Here's my problem with them. All there songs sound alike and they put too much distortion into their songs. Live performances I have heard are not that great because they overpower the vocals with the instruments so the end product is garbled sound. My Chemical Romance is listenable, but get very old, very fast. I would rather listen to The Used, better songs and variations, better live performances.

ROCK- N'-ROLL!

I Am In Awe--You Need To Check These Guys Out

2005-08-16T17:08:00.000-04:00

Last week, my good friend told me to check out this band called BEDlight For BlueEYES on purevolume (the link is on the sidebar). So I did, and was amazed at what I heard. These guys from Berkeley Heights, NJ know what they are doing, and they are doing it well.

They have a very unique sound, one that I am particularly fond of. However, I have never heard it played out until now. Bedlight blends astounding vocals (the singer actually had a vocal scholarship to a prestigious Boston music school- bio from purevolume), to truly amazing guitaring. The end result is an album full of great songs. What makes them unique is the guitaring. Bedlight for blue eyes incorporates harmonious guitars into their music, which is Alternative Rock. This I have never heard done before, they are the pioneers. I give that two thumbs up because it sounds great.

The band has only been around for just under two years, and has received much acclaim from magazines such as AP (Alternative Press, a huge rock magazine), listing them with Green Day on a ranking. This was done with Bedlight putting out a three song demo. Check out purevolume for the full story. It just goes to show you that with hard work, determination, creativity, and talent, you can hit it big in under two years.

"The Dawn" was released today under NJ's Trustkill Records, and I bought it from iTunes because I got a bonus song. You can preview three new tracks, and download the demo ones, although, on the new album you get polished up versions of them, plus stuff not on purevolume.

ROCK ON!

!@#$

2005-08-16T13:27:00.000-04:00

Again, something happened and I had to miss one of the most coveted shows of the year. This year worked cut my plans short of going to see the Warped Tour, last year I left for vacation the day it came to NJ. Why am I always forsaken?

Draft Dodger

2005-08-01T10:35:00.000-04:00

New information about one of the best musicians the world has ever seen was released yesterday. James Marshall Hendrix, better known as Jimi, escaped military service by pretending he was gay. He told military psychiatrists he was fantasizing about bunk mates and was in love with one of them. He was discharged in 1962 at the age of 19 from Fort Campbell, Kentucky. This new information was discovered by Charles Cross, Hendrix biographer, by uncovering medical records. The records show how Jimi was able to exploit the military's suspicions about his unconventional style to get discharged. Before this observation, people had believed Hendrix's story of breaking his ankle in a parachute jump (he was a paratrooper.)

YOU LEARN SOMETHING NEW EVERYDAY

I Can't Believe I Didn't Post This A Month Ago

2005-07-31T11:11:00.000-04:00

News came out last month that the pianist/lead vocalist Andrew McMahon, frontman for the band Something Corporate, was diagnosed with Acute Lymphatic Leukemia. He is in LA right now undergoing treatment. Doctors say he will make a full recovery, but the Warped Tour this year will have to go on without the band.

We're praying for you Andrew, and hope that you are well soon.

GET WELL SOON

Payola Problem No Surprise

2005-07-30T13:24:00.000-04:00

I have been reading a lot of articles about this whole payola scandal. For those unfamiliar with payola, it means that record companies are bribing radio personnel with money or gifts in return for more spins (plays) for their artist. SonyBMG has paid $10 million to NY to settle charges and now has agreed to hire an overseer of promotion practices. The executive VP of promotion has been fired as well.

This really shouldn't come as much surprise to people. Record companies sign artists for one reason- making $$. Musicians do their job, hopefully, for fun and to express themselves creatively. The $$ ain't to shabby either once you've hit big. There was without doubt, at least to me, that record execs would do anything to get artists played. And in this highly publicized case, that was what happened. Corruption lies everywhere, you just need to probe deep enough to find it. Greed can also destroy people's lives, a theme displayed here and in the movie The Village.

As for the musicians, chances are they have no idea how the record companies are promoting them. They also are not the ones paying radio personnel off with gifts, making them even less innocent in this matter. This is one instance where the whole guilt by association does not work because it is the record companies job to promote their artist.

For the record, I dislike SonyBMG because of their damn safeguards on CDs. It's because of that that I could not upload an album on iTunes.

SOLO TO THE PET ROCK!

Ozzfest Part 2

2005-07-29T17:12:00.000-04:00

As I mentioned in the earlier post, I wanted to speak to my friend before I made any judgments. I asked him how Iron Maiden was and he said they were amazing. Then I asked him about Black Sabbath, and he told me they didn't play the night he went because Ozzy had become sick. This is one possible reason why the band didn't play on one night, but as the Post said, Black Sabbath was a main attraction and had to play at least one set. As far as some other bands, Shadows Fall and As I Lay Dying, I was told were also good in addition to Black Label Society.

ALWAYS ABOUT THE MUSIC! S.D.M.F.'s RULE!

To All My Readers

2005-07-28T20:29:00.000-04:00

I have just made a new blog, in which I'm going to post about some current stuff. The link is on the side. It was only appropriate to name it after an AC/DC album. I have one post up and I want to hear your opinion on the issue.

News From Ozzfest

2005-07-28T15:33:00.000-04:00

At the PNC Bank Arts Center in Holmdel, NJ, probably the best metal/hard rock concert took place on Tuesday & Wednesday. The tour is the yearly Ozzfest, which although I've tried to go, I've always been unable to. Anyway, today the NY Post had an article about it- a brief review. In it he talked about Black Sabbath and Iron Maiden- the two main headliners (not to take anything away from my BLS).

He gave a comparison of both- who did better on vocals and instrumentals as well as a comment. Here's how they ranked:

Vocals: Maiden
Instrumentals: Black Sabbath
Overall: Maiden
Comments: Ozzy needs to quit off. He couldn't sing in tune, he couldn't sing, he couldn't keep in time.

I think that the Post writer is probably right about Ozzy. Black Sabbath will go down as one of the best bands of all time, but his health condition will not permit him to do more touring. The article also said that their was talk amongst many fans saying it was going to be the last show.

I will have to post a P.S./follow-up or a comment about this because I want to hear first hand stuff from my friend who I haven't spoke to yet.

ROCK ON!

Price For Music & Other Stuff

2005-07-25T20:34:00.000-04:00

On Saturday, I went to J&R Music World in Manhattan. For most of the non-NY area readers, these guys usually have everything for the lowest price. It is at this moment, that I realized that the price for CDs has gone up during the past year or two. I usually get stuff the day it comes out so I get a bargain price. Even that is $10.58. Now the good-average price is roughly $13-14 less tax. I firmly believe that it should be a lot cheaper, but what can you do? If the record company still gets the demand, they will supply, and people will buy.

I've found that iTunes has just about everything (they don't have Zepplin, Radiohead, AC/DC, Metallica). All the stuff is usually around $10 and there is no tax on anything. Sometimes they do special stuff with a new album (ex: they did a pre-sale of the new Foo double album and gave an extra 2 previously unreleased tracks, gave a digital songbook, and bonus interview video for $18; sometimes the cost of an album in a store). I think I might just push Apple sales up, although I would still prefer to buy an album if I can because I like the artwork, however I would pay $10 over $15 and screw the art.

If I thought music prices were drawn high, real estate is worse. Reading the paper, people would pay hundreds-of-thousands or even millions just to live in Manhattan. In an apartment. I would rather buy a huge plot of land in the Midwest and build a house, like Ted Nugent and his ranch. That's how you do it.

ROCK ON

Vermont & Rock

2005-07-18T12:46:00.000-04:00

As most of you already know from The Beak, I took a trip for the last four days to see him in VT. It is even more rural than my NJ, which about 50 yrs ago was just like the area. Most of you have already heard about the voyage with Scooter and all that happened. Although for a the Friday I explored Burlington and Williston. I visited the local music store, which was slightly smaller in size than my local one, but didn't have the selection of mine. Their prices on the guitars and basses were pretty good though.

I had one problem with the area- the radio stations sucked. I had found 5 country stations, 2 rap stations, 4 classical, and only 1 alternative rock station. I can understand the country music here, but not the rest. Although, some of the people listened to AC/DC, as that was the band playing throughout the bar and in a couple of cars. There should have been more rock, especially classic rock. I was just happy I brought my iPod for my music fix.

While in VT, I also reminisced about the greatest jam band of all time, Phish. These Vermonters have built a legacy. I was in Burlington last year on the weekend where Phish played their last show in Coventry. The hotel put out (for free) these 30+ page newspapers which were a tribute to the band put out by The Burlington Free Press. I also bought the 2 papers, one of the day of and one of the day after papers. I have now framed all of them, but have yet to hang them up. The radio did not play any Phish tunes, which is a little strange because they have such a mass following, and if they can have all that classical music going, why not have some jam band stuff? It baffled me.

Now back in NJ, I have my radio and TV. My adventures in VT are over now, and I am happy to say, there is no more country.

301 Days Later

2005-07-14T23:43:00.000-04:00

FINALLY!! There is a superior being who is looking out for me. The NHL is so close to officially ending the lockout, which had been going on for 301 days. On July, 13, the NHL and NHLPA have agreed in principle to a new 6 year collective bargaining agreement. All that's left to do is write it out and get it ratified by the NHLPA members and the NHL Board of Governors.

The new deal is set to bring changes in certain areas of the game, which rumors hold include the following:
1.) bigger goals
2.) shootout to end tie after certain amount of overtime played
3.) size of goalie equipment
4.) elimination of the 2 line pass rule

There might be more, but this is what I have heard all over FSN and ESPN. The 2 line pass rule sucked and like what they are planning on doing. I have mixed feelings about the rest, especially about the goalie changes. I am a proud New Jersey Devils fan. My goalie Martin Brodeur is arguably the best goalie of all time. He has already broken records and is about 25 shutouts away from breaking the all time record for that. Unfortunately, Brodeur during the last season, al beit getting yet another 40 win season (a record of his) he did not play like Brodeur of 2000 and 2003. The loss of this season could have easily killed his shot at the shutout record, but I am pulling for him all the way. These changes could also damage his shot at continuing other records as well.

As I have stated before, I am a proud Devils fan. Hockey is undoubtedly my favorite sport and cannot wait to see its return. Larry Robinson has just been named our head coach (again). I have no fear about making the playoffs as the Devils are about 99.9% to make it every year. I have watched miracles on the ice happen, especially in the postseason. I have stayed up for all the games in 2000 for going to extra periods; one going until 1:18 AM because they had not installed the 'no commercial break until the end of a 20 min overtime', and more than 2 until 12:30 AM. I have gone to many games in the Continental Airlines Arena and was fortunate enough to make it to the 2003 Parking Lot Parade.

HOCKEY- THE GREATEST SPORT IS BACK!!!!

Time Off From Bashing "Music"; Some New Stuff In Rock

2005-07-09T17:56:00.000-04:00

I've decided to lay off bashing rap for now. Have no fear, there's plenty more where that came from. It has hit my attention that there have been a few albums released, one of which blows the crap out of some others.

At about 1 AM on July 3, I heard the song "Burn It Down" by Avenged Sevenfold on Headbangers Ball. It was alright, and I decided I would check out the band. Noon time I put on iTunes to preview the stuff, and I was in awe. I bought the album City Of Evil which came out 1 month ago. The first song "Beast And The Harlot" is phenomenal.

I love the album. The drumming is great. The guitars work in harmony for the instrumentals. "Beast And The Harlot" has some insanely tough guitar solos in harmony with one another. Their style is metal instrumentals, singing/harmony vocals, and even a couple of acoustic tracks

In my opinion its like Iron Maiden, with less vocal performance and more double bass. I also downloaded some old songs off Waking The Fallen. I hope I am able to go see them on the Warped Tour when it hits Jersey.

"NOW I CAN UNDERSTAND, IT'S SORROW THAT FEEDS YOUR LIES"

The Case Against (C)Rap: Volume III

2005-07-08T17:12:00.000-04:00

I dedicate segment III to lyrics.

The fact of the matter is, rap doesn't have any. All they do is make up their own words and call each other n*****s. Other tracks have stuff about screwing some cheap whore and smoking crack. And their videos have no concept behind them either. These "lyrics" and electronic drum beats should not constitute a song. Warren and Annush could both vouch for this fact.

Although I am not a much of a fan, however I like it better than rap, the classic folk songs all have lyrics and most of them tell a story. My dad's favorite, Harry Chapin, did a lot of this in his brief time on this planet. There are also countless others like Simon and Garfunkel who did this also.

Then you've got rock. Some songs try to send a message, others are part of a concept album and tell a story, and others are mostly music. You've also got some songs that last 1 week-infinity. It is inevitable that some songs are going to have that timeless effect while others are going to define a career (1 hit wonders).

Green Day has had countless hits, most of them on International Superhits, one of my favorite albums. The song "Good Riddance (Time Of Your Life)" originally on Nimrod, is one of those acoustic songs that will last forever. The sound is catchy and has a pretty timeless message, although it wasn't their intention.

The group from my home state, Thursday, has lyrics that are very deep and take some analyzing, but all portray a message.

Some groups have rhyming songs, others do it in free verse. However, they write lyrics. No making up words, no n-words. There maybe something about a whore and drug use.

ROCK OUT! LONDON, AMERICA MOURNS WITH YOU!

The Case Against (C)Rap: Volume II

2005-06-28T13:32:00.000-04:00

I dedicate this segment to concerts/live performances.

I go to concerts frequently- they are my favorite thing to see. Whether it's Black Label Society, Thursday, or Taking Back Sunday, I know that these guys are going to give their all and perform their asses off for my entertainment by playing the songs I like. The same applies to jazz, blues, and even folk/country artists. The crowd gets into the music and so do the artists.

Rap is a whole different ball game. Even Steve Harvey agrees (check his skit in The Original Kings Of Comedy) that Rap sucks. When you pay to see a rapper, they bring their entourage and there are a ton of people yelling the same shit. Call me crazy, but you couldn't pay me $1,000,000 to go within 5 miles of that.

I am not sure if rappers have multiple people play different sets, but in my shows, there are often 2-4 extra bands that play about a 25-35 minute set each. The headliners I have seen range from 45 min-1hr and 20min. They are not stingy when playing their hits and pleasing the fans. Most of the time, you might find a band that really sucks (Like Yesterday is one that I highly suggest that you stay away from) or a band that can headline in the future (Scatter The Ashes for those who like mostly instrumental).

When a concert is really good, you'll come out with a ton of songs stuck in your head, sweat soaked, and maybe battered (from the mosh pit or crowd surfing). My best show was in November and it was freezing outside. We didn't bring jackets because they end up smelling like smoke. We also had to wait outside for about 1/2 an hour. By the end I was sweating my ass off, and on the way home I had the windows rolled down to get cooler. Thanks TBS and Atreyu. I highly doubt rap can do that.

END OF ROUND 2: ME (2), RAP (-2)

The Case Against (C)Rap: Volume I

2005-06-22T17:37:00.000-04:00

I still can't figure out what people find so good about rap. It bothers me and most of my rock brethren that no-talent "artists" are making millions of dollars for doing close to nothing. People who are innovative and work hard deserve the millions, like Bill Gates and Jim Cramer, not these monkeys.

Volume I will consist of (1) of many arguments which all revolve around the same basic idea- rap is not music. In this segment, the topic will be electronic machines.

Are people just getting lazy? I think not; they are getting to the consumers at a much easier rate. There is not even a backing band playing when a rap artist is performing. Rap consists of an electronic drum machine, which in all rap songs is the same. There might be some electronic piano or strings added to make it sound more elaborate. The truth is, they might fool some people, but they certainly won't fool me.

Spinning albums I am split over. I don't think there is any skill in doing this, seeing as how I saw a program on TV which showed all the technique. It's all in the wrist, and I am a drummer. I don't like it in a regular situation, but I can make an exception. Incubus does it and it does add a little something to the track. Rap and hip-hop suck and sound awful.

In Coney Island, one of the rides that they had played loud rap and hip-hop on three loud speakers. I had the unfortunate pleasure of getting stuck in the area and had to endure a very long and excrutiating 10 minutes hearing it. I tried my iPod on all the way with some metal, but to no relief. By the end, I was deaf and even dumber for listening.

For all the (c)rap lovers who read, stick around. There's plenty more where this came from.

SUPPORT LOCAL BANDS AND UNDISCOVERED TALENT

New Foo Album Out Now- Do You Feel The Love

2005-06-15T18:11:00.000-04:00

Yesterday, the new Foo Fighters double album was released. I bought mine at Best Buy, because anywhere you go, THE FIRST DAY IS ALWAYS MARKED LOW!

I listened to each track on the rock album, and I must say, the sound of the instruments sounded great, which is something the band did work on by building a classic recording studio. The instruments sounded like they did on There Is Nothing Left To Lose and The Colour And The Shape. Vocal wise, Dave has accumulated a somewhat raspy voice since the band started, but the singing was good. They have incorporated harder guitar riffs, more instrumentals and solos.

I didn't really listen to the acoustic album fully, but the band does play; the bassist and drummer can be heard. They added background sounds as well as harmonica. Originally Dave's message on their website that some guests would surprise fans. I took this to mean rap/hip-hop people, but to my happiness I didn't see any on the credits (I think).

I am proud to say this album is better than the last; the sound is better and more classic Foo. The vocals are good. The band is good. GO GET THE ALBUM. The mainstream sound is great for all rock lovers from here to kingdomcome.

ROCK ON PEOPLE

PS- another good release was the Hawthorne Heights re-release which comes with all the original songs, seven bonus tracks, a DVD, and extra SILVERSTEIN (a great band) DVD.

NY Times Needs To Rehire

2005-06-08T21:38:00.000-04:00

In the Sunday NY Times, Mr. Jon Parales published an article called "The Case Against Coldplay." In the article, he complements Coldplay's music ability. He also writes how the lyrics are about self-pity, which in his own words is among the top 3 or 4 things written about in most music (just look at the Blues and the whole Grunge movement.) From the piece, it sounded as though he is not a fan of self-pity bands and probably hated bands like Nirvana (a kick ass band with a personal favorite musician, Dave Grohl also in the Foo Fighters and Probot.) Parales then goes on to say that he doesn't like the vocal performance on the album because they play the songs at that transition from his lower voice to his high, and his British accent makes the singing like an annoying sound.

I am a fan of Coldplay, not one of those die hards, but I listen to some of their songs. I read the article and became furious. If the music sounds good, then it must be good. Chris Martin's voice having the heavy British accent is not his fault. The only way to get rid of it is through a speech coach, which is a waste of money. People in the north say things with a different way than south, and people in the northeast have different dialects (NYC and Boston.) It's part of who you are and where you come from.

On Tuesday, I went to iTunes and previewed the album to hear it, and indeed it was filled with some good tracks and studio stuff. If you liked the previous one like I did, you'll like this one. Although I think "Clocks" and "The Scientist" the best, the album X&Y is a good follow up album.

Parales also had a problem with Coldplay using the same drumbeat from a previous song. I don't think he mentioned, but they also used the same chord progression in "Speed Of Sound" as on "Clocks". Musicians know what I'm talking about when I say 'what is the big deal?' Do you know how many bands use similar stuff to make new songs. My favorites including AC/DC and Alkaline Trio have done this as well as The Darkness, and many others. Not only do they do it because a slight change can make a brand new sounding song, but also because they need to be able to add vocals. A singer can sometimes only really sing in one key very well. This is what limits a band's creativity to expand when playing a verse, hense why a bridge allows them to move from key to key and go back for the vocals. This is utilized a lot in metal like Metallica, Anthrax, Iron Maiden (although they guy can sing.)

For the record, I have a few questions to ask the NY Times writer.
1.) Do you like the group Five For Fighting?
2.) If yes to #1, why do you not like Coldplay? (accent is NO excuse)
3.) How about Something Corporate, do you like them?

In the end it really doesn't matter what the so called "expert critic" says, it's what people like me think of the album. Just for kicks, Five For Fighting is an immensely popular group as well as Something Corporate. And there is no doubt in my mind that X&Y is going to sell big in the UK and U.S.

CAN YOU FEEL THE ROCK WITHIN, WORLD

Can A Gimmick Band Be More Than That?

2005-06-05T17:28:00.000-04:00

Gimmicks have become an essential role in the entertainment industry. A simple catch phrase can become a staple in todays society, which is for some reason, asfixiated with pop culture; or something someone does at a concert, show, or ball game; or anything else I forgot to mention. Usually people have a gimmick to promote the thing that they are doing. It also helps not only the popularity, but profits, because after all, $$ makes the world go round. In the world of rock-n-roll (not the fake stuff like rap), some bands continue to play off a gimmick. I believe The Who was the first to really have a gimmick in the world of rock- at the end of each show, they would break their instruments, a trend which continues to this day. Even greats like Hendrix (who had multiple) have had their gimmicks. The question is can (modern rock) gimmick bands be more than just a gimmick?

When the band The Darkness first was being played on the TV or radio in the U.S. there were a few things people (at least I did from parts 2-3) focused on- 1.) the singer has a damn high voice in certain parts of their songs; 2.) the singer does one nude scene in every video; & 3.) the bassist wears the same clothes. Some of my fellow Rock-o-holics said the guy sang like a freakin alterboy staying late with a priest. And so it became that The Darkness would be known for their high pitched choruses as their gimmick.

As events would have it The Darkness's popularity skyrocketed, and they were being played on every medium from here to infinity. The songs "I Believe In A Thing Called Love" and "Growing On Me" were immensly popular.

I first heard The Darkness on MTV Europe's 10th anniversary special concert special which was filmed in England. I had never heard anything like their stuff since like 80's metal and Skid Row and Iron Maiden. MTV 2's Hard Rock Live featured a live show by the band some explanations on their songs.

Well, The Darkness is a truly kick ass band. Frontman Justin Hawkins is one the best guitarists I have ever seen. He can fingertap and solo with the best of them. The rest of the band including Justin's younger brother Dan (guitarists) complement the songs. The band in an interview said they began playing because they felt rock-n-roll was somehow dying and the last great guitarist was Kirk Hammett, lead for Metallica (obviously he hasn't heard of my man Zakk Wylde.) I admire what they are doing and how they're doing it. They are bringing back the 80s metal style, selling tons of albums, getting airtime on the radio and TV, and selling out shows. They know full well that the way they sing definately got people to hear them, but the guitar riffs really let the musicians appreciate them.

ONE NATION UNDER ROCK

A Wrong Way To Open A Banana

2005-06-01T19:07:00.000-04:00

Somehow this came up at a very messed up lunch. Someone (were not going to mention any names) opened up a banana starting from the bottom, holding the stem as the handle. So for the 25 min. our table argued on the right way to open a banana. Most of us opened them from the stem. Since this person's family came from the Ukraine during the USSR times, he named it the Stalin Method. Can there be a wrong way to open a banana? I am not sure although it does seem a bit odd to not use the stem which is there and makes the opening easier. People post some comments.

Alkaline Trio's New Album And More Good Music

2005-05-27T21:27:00.000-04:00

For those in need of new rockin music, now is the time to get some. On Tuesday, one of personal favorite bands, Alkaline Trio, put out their second album with Vagrant Records. Crimson is kick ass, packed with punching songs. They've gone on Fuse and Conan O'Brien to promote the album already. They also did an autograph signing in Fords, NJ, and my good friend brought me a signed copy. It has some odd songs but they all sound amazing. The track "Sadie" is about the Charles Manson ordeal filled with good harmonizing vocals and strings. It was about time something new came out from someone because I was going crazy.

Also, for more music to get you through the day, check out the song "Get Well Soon" by Reggie And The Full Effect. The video was pretty damn funny about the Loch Ness Monster going through a tough divorce and turning to alcohol. The Foo Fighters new album doesn't come out until June, leaving me to remain at the edge of my seat.

This summer is going to be an awesome one for concerts. The Warped Tour is great, Ozzfest is mindboggling, Alkaline Trio's jamming, and the F.F. should be starting their tour in the summer. I am about to explode just thinking about the greatness.

ROCK ON READERS

The Foo F-ilosophy- A Tribute To A Decade Under The Influence

2005-05-17T23:28:00.000-04:00

About a month ago I went to the Foo Fighters homepage looking up info and found out the new album is coming out in June. I got the first single "The Best Of You" from iTunes with a free credit of mine. The classic Foo sound on the albums The Colour and the Shape and There Is Nothing Left To Lose stick out in my mind as some of the best songs and best sounding tracks of mainstream modern rock. Their last album shyed away from that going to a more heavy, distorted sound, but they've gone back to their classic sound. I personally can't wait until the double album is released. In all this, frontman Dave Grohl put a message on their website. Here is just a small bit.

"It [the album In Your Honor] will surprise you. It surprises me. Almost a year in the making, from 5 hours of bedroom demos, to warehouses being built from the ground up, to months of rehearsals, to the construction of an 8,000 square foot classic recording studio, to the recording of 40 songs, to the final track list of 20 songs, it is by far the most ambitious project I have ever had anything to do with in my entire life.
There are subtleties. There are complexities. There are extremities. There are familiarities. There is orchistration. There is simplicity. There is a pile of blown speakers on the floor. Never before have we ever put so much effort into the making of an album. 1st record- 6 days. 2nd record- 2 months. 3rd record- 3 or 4 months (but mostly just drinking and BBQ) 4th record- 2 and a half weeks. 5th record- writing, rehearsing, recording = 9 months. You can decide for yourselves. There are a few guests. They may seem strange to you. They don't seem strange to me. I just love music. Music can be faceless. It can be nameless. After all, it's the sound that makes your hair stand on end, right? It will."
-- Dave Grohl, Foo Fighters

These guys put a lot of effort into the album. What especially hit me was the last couple of sentences. I too love music, as long as it's rock or blues or jazz. Although I really hope that his guests are not rap artists; the world doesn't need another Run DMC/Aerosmith song or Jay-Z/Linkin Park. What we do need is a rebirth of classic blues, and uptempo jazz as well as better modern rock. I will admit I like the blues and jazz stuff, not only because the songs get you in a good mood but also because they are intricately written. Plus it was this stuff that really created rock-n-roll when mixed together.

Dave's philosophy is one that is ingenious, but only to an extent. I mean as long as the music can create that mood of out-of-this-world ness, then yeah, it can be whatever, whether you're into rock, jazz, etc.. I'm currently writing songs, most are a more alternative rock sound, some are a pop/punk/alternative, and some are harder. The sad thing is that now, if you are a band and release an album in one genre, people expect more of the same. That's probably why Dave started the band Probot which the singer from Motorhead was in. They are a hard rock band, while Foo Fighters are a more mainstream alternative. Grohl was also the drummer in Nirvana, probably the greatest grunge band of all time. He has music ambition and keeps putting out gold. The Foo Fighters music is timeless, and they are one of my top 10 bands.

ROCK ON THROUGH TIME

Over $300 Later

2005-05-14T20:59:00.000-04:00

Finally I got myself some recording software. Today I tried using one of those crappy, small tape-recorders to record my guitar, and then listen to it to get a drum beat. It was nearly impossible to hear with the speakers all the way up and the sound was so distorted that it hurt my hears. I eventually did get a beat. I'm pleased at the sound so far, and I'm trying to write lyrics based on the book 1984. Over the summer, I hope to get some people over and get recording. I've been shopping around for awhile and liked what I saw at musiciansfriend.com and I placed my order. I can't wait to finally get to hear my songs on my computer. It's going to kick ass. Alright, I'm going to write some lyrics. If anybody's got good ideas for songs, let me know.

ROCK ON!

A Not So Reunion Tour

2005-05-12T17:53:00.000-04:00

One of the best metal bands of all time and one of my personal favorites, Anthrax is playing a New York area reunion show at the Starland ballroom. 3 of the 5 in the band now are staying for the show and 2 aren't, including John Bush on vocals and and Rob Caggiano on lead guitar. Why they decide to tour without these two guys I don't know. Maybe the two had personal business to attend to. The thing is, I love Anthrax now better than back in the day. They have better songs now in my opinion, although I will say I have only heard a few songs of theirs from the old Anthrax. Dimebags appearance on the album "W.C.F.Y.A." was great. In addition, If I was either John or Rob, and wasn't asked to go on tour, I would be a little pissed off about the whole thing and maybe think about starting a side project band.

KICK ASS PEOPLE

Metallica, Don't Read This

2005-05-06T20:38:00.000-04:00

The issue of the legality of downloading music has been in question for a few years ever since Metallica sued Napster. This was when I really hadn't done much downloading. It was about the time when I realized that I didn't have the $14 to buy a CD that I became good friends with my computer and when I got my cable modem installed- I was in heaven. And so for a few months I was in music bliss; until the govenment stepped in and now is prosecuting people for downloading illegally. I think the government has better things to worry about: who's paying their taxes, the war in Iraq, the economy, but that's just me.

In a previous article (I don't know why people haven't commented), I mentioned all the safeguards put on CDs now to protect the content. I wouldn't be surprised if tapes came back. Overall, they have shittier quality than CDs, but no safeguards and and as a bonus, they are much more affordable. The industry needs to change. If I went out to Sams Club and bought a pack of 100 blank discs it costs me approx. $10, slightly more if I go for cases. Add on a little ($1 for record company, $1 for packaging, $1.50 for band) and you have a CD that costs roughly $4.50-$5.00. I would pay $5 for a CD, but $14 is rediculous, and anything higher is rape.

Let's take a minute and weigh the pros and the cons of buying CDs and downloading music for free for consumers and the bands.
Consumers:
CD purchase Pros: 1) get the actual studio quality of the CD; 2) you get the artwork {some albums actually have it}; 3) you get the lyrics; **4) you support the band**
Downloading Cons: 1) you need to wait at least 1-2 months before a good version of the song is up for downloading; 2) you don't get the artwork and the other stuff; 3) you might miss out on a bonus DVD and internet stuff
Bands
CD purchase Pros: 1) they make money / download pros: 1) if you are an upcoming band, you can spread the word and get out there {ex: I saw the local band Echo Screen at Starland Ballroom and they gave out demos for free. They also put themselves on purevolume, and now have an EP out on a record label and played The Bamboozle and upcoming Warped Tour (NJ only).}
Download Cons: 1) bands lose money

Only you, the viewer, can decide if you want to download music for free or buy the album. As for me, when tapes make a comeback, don't say I didn't tell you first.

ONE UNIVERSE UNDER ROCK MY PEOPLE

Politics In Music

2005-05-06T20:17:00.000-04:00

Over the span of months in 2004, when the election was coming up, a slew of musicians put out partisan political messages either in songs, albums, or campaign tours. To be fair I will say that the overwhelming majority were liberal and favored Kerry and encorporated major acts/bands such as the Dave Matthews Band and Bruce Springstein. Others like P. Diddy pariticipated in the "Vote or Die" campaign to get more young people at the polls- a bipartisan effort. However, the question is does politics belong in music?

Yes I feel that music is a means of expressing oneself. But the answer is simply-NO! Politics should not be in music. Especially when the issue is taking such an extreme that it becomes offensive.

Incubus is a kick ass band. I loved the songs "Drive", "Wish You Were Here", "Nice To Know You", and others. In 2004, they put out an extremely liberal biased song to which a disturbing video was shown. For those who don't know what I'm talking about, the song "Megalomaniac" was released in on A Crow Left of the Murder. What disturbed me was that the band, in the video, implied that President Bush was Hitler. In my mind there is no comparison between the two. The evils of the Nazi regime were gross violation on human rights. In the WWII era, Hitler had persecuted and murdered by mass genocide 6,000,000+ Jews as well as countless Gypsies, and the physically and mentally handicapped. The Nazis led by fear; the SS patroled the streets; people who broke laws were killed. Bush has not set up Concentration Camps anywhere, nor has he degraded certain peoples by forcing them to differ themselves (as proof, in the election he got more hispanic and African American votes than in 2000). He does not lead the US by military force like Hitler, nor does he have a "Final Solution". It is from this that we can logically conclude that such claims are libel.

There are also others- Rise Against released their track "Give It All", which the song itself was not biased, but the video was hinting at reform to get Bush ousted from office.

I'm not going to go into detail about every single band that does this, but if bands want to discuss politics, do it on C-SPAN, go on the news channels. Don't put out libel because who knows, you might get sued. As for nonpartisan efforts to get people to vote and tours supporting a candidate, I don't see anything wrong with that.

ROCK ON PEOPLE--POST A COMMENT!!

The Day Is Here-Tonight!

2005-05-01T01:15:00.000-04:00

The best TV show ever created is finally returning with all new episodes. That is right, Family Guy is back. Apparently when Adult Swim first put the show on the air, the viewers came and the show's popularity skyrocketed. Obviously FOX noticed and decided to put out brand new episodes. I am proud to say that I started watching when it originally aired on FOX, and continue to watch it. The writing is hilarious and the characters are genius for making the perfect animated sitcom. Especially my man, Stewie.

Also airing is American Dad, brought to you by the creators of Family Guy. This show is also funny as hell, but is not in my opinion Family Guy is better. The pilot episode aired some months ago. It is actually highly political in a joking sort of way.

Family Guy airs at 9 PM on FOX 5/1 & American Dad airs at 9:30 PM on FOX 5/1. And by the way- don't forget about King of the Hill (7 PM) and the Simpsons (8 PM)

The Decline of Media- Fuse and Y100

2005-04-29T11:41:00.000-04:00

As most of you already know, most music entertainment is based on the crap that most braindead people listen to. MTV sucks, VH1 was never good, and now my beloved Fuse has started to turn more to the dark side. Fuse came out almost 2 years ago to replace the crappy network called Much Music which originated in Canada and migrated to the US. From these ruins a network was born- and started out as a full blown rock music network. Everytime I turned Fuse on, all I saw were great videos streaming across America, entertaining me and the other fans of the world. I don't exactly remember when, but sometime in their second year, the formatting of that network began to change for the worse. More crap began to air. Although Fuse is still about 85-90% or more rock, with Steven's Untitled Rock Show (now 1 hr), Rockzilla, Uranium, Power Fuse (4 or 5 hrs), and #1 Countdown-Rock, it is disheartening to me that a network that used to be 110% Rock would have to stoop to this level to gain more viewers.

I also don't know how many people are aware of this story, but the alternative rock radio station Y100 (100.3) in Philadelphia, which was popular in the Delaware Valley area, was thrown off the air for reasons that are illogical. Apparently the company Radio One took it over and left the people high and dry without a single Alternative Rock station. Well, they are fighting back- they made a website where you can sign a petition. They are looking for support and need your help. An online radio station was created by the people from Y100. Fortunately, I live where I can get K ROCK, G106.3, and jumbled WMMR, because if I where these people, I would probably be screwed and extremely pissed.

www.y100rocks.com to find out all about the story in detail and the petition. SPREAD THE WORD

If the trend of this decline in media of rock continues, the world will be a shittier, more angry place. It is up to us rock devotees to help out where we can and stop the destruction of our music.

ROCK ON MY PEOPLE

Music and Safeguards

2005-04-29T10:34:00.000-04:00

The music industry is becoming so worried about piracy, that they are installing a ridiculous amount of safeguards on the albums being sold to the public.

A WARNING:THIS CAN HAPPEN TO YOU-- On Tues April 26, I went out to Best Buy and bought the new Acceptance album Phantoms. I got back and popped on the computer and put the CD in. I then went to iTunes to upload it to my ipod and found out it didn't work. Starting to get pissed off, I then found out I needed to install a program from the CD just so it can be read on my machine. This first part took 10 min. The disc then allowed you to make 3 hard copies using their softaware and also upload the songs to digital tracks as a wmv file (this actually was a cool feature, BUT the only way I could listen to the tracks on the Windows Media Player.) This was about another 10 min. I then thought I would try iTunes again with the digital tracks, but the tracks could not be converted into a useable iTunes format-another 5 min. later. After crushing my drums for a couple of minutes, I looked to see if I can return the CD and so it turns out I can exchange it. I also had to buy the album of iTunes for it to work on my ipod.

The point is, music is not about the money, because if you are good enough, you will have fans actually go out and buy the album and spread the word. Stay on the road and do some tours and you will find out that you will make money. For bands and other crappy "pop" musicians who are in it for the money, I strongly urge you to re-evaluate your decision, but also watch the South Park episode with Cartman's Christian rock band Faith + One. It is directly aimed at you, and although I laughed my ass off, you might not. If you want, you can probably download it for free.

The music industry needs to think about the patrons. Albums should not be so safeguarded so that you need to digitally upload the tracks just to hear them on your computer, or have to purchase it twice (CD and iTunes) just to get it on an ipod and CD player. Rumors have circulated that this new safeguarding tool will be used on all albums shortly. And if it does, may the Lord have mercy on our souls.

BTW- The Acceptance album Phantoms was awesome. I encourage all Alternative Rock fans to go and check it out. To all Acceptance fans, it lives up to the expectations. On it they also re-recorded "Permanent" from Black Lines to Battlefields so the vocals are about the same, but the guitars, bass, and drums are more meatier than before.

KEEP ROCKIN

The Blog: Mission Statement and About The Blogger

2005-04-28T23:59:00.000-04:00

It seems that currently, our society is in a phase where tabloid magazines, reality TV shows, and rap/hip-hop/or whatever the fuck you want to call it, dominate the so called "American culture." However, there is hope for the rest of us who HATE, with an intense passion, all of that crap. It's the solitude and escape that can only be found in rock music, good wholesome sitcoms, and sports (football, hockey, and baseball). Here on "Nicotine & Rock" we will talk about all styles of grade A- American rock music, and also the aforementioned; whatever the hell comes up. I am a drummer and guitarist and have gone to many kick ass shows. I am also a S.D.M.F. Anyone and everyone is welcome to give their opinion in this open forum, and I personally encourage it. We don't have to agree on stuff either (in case you were wondering). Also for the record I would also like to state that "I HATE RAP!!"

*A message to all rock musicians- BTW, people don't be afraid to ask others for tabs on stuff. I will try to assist on stuff I know, just ask.

**Another message for rock musicians- if you are releasing an album or playing a gig, just e-mail (address is under profile) me and I will try and put it on the site under whatever you are advertising (coming soon)

ROCK ON MY PEOPLE