Quote/Unquote

Danny Spitz / Anthrax
Status: Card Returned Signed
Ok, this guy gets the all time “Coolest of all the Guitarists” award in my book.  Yesterday I recieved a package from Danny ( !a pacakge! ), inside he signed the card sent to him as well as including an autographed stage shirt, relax it was washed.  3 guitar picks that he said is used in studio during rehersal for the current Anthrax tour with Rob Zombie (I could tell they were used, these picks were worn to hell).  And two tour promo pictures, both of them autographed by Danny. These pictures were the 4 x 6 type you get from your local photo shop.  They even said “Printed by Shutterfly” on the back.  This guy gets big “Props” in my book.

I found this album last night and thought I would give it a listen.  It is actually Stephen Pearcy (the former lead singer for Ratt, member dem?).  He has re-recorded Ratt’s greatest hits using other musicians from the 80’s era.  When Ratt was formed, in San Diego in 1978, the original name of the band was Mickey Ratt.  It wasnt until 1982, when Pearcy dumped the original line up, moved to L.A. and picked up the well known line up and shortened the name to just Ratt. 

Some of the biggest highlights are George Lynch and Tracii Guns on guitar.  George Lynch is one of my all time favorites and Tracii Guns was one of the original founders of Guns n’ Roses. He later parted ways with Axl and started L.A. Guns.

Its actually quite good if you like this kind of music, and I do.

This is the new group put together by Tom DeLong, the former Blink 182 guitarist.  I have really enjoyed this album since I got it.  Its got that Blink 182 "overtone" in the rhythm, but without all that heavy punk style drums that Blink albums had.  The lyrics are also alot deeper than the Blink 182 "party" lyrics.  I'd give it an 8 out of 10.  Just listen to the sampler on amazon.com and judge for yourself. 

I'll be honest.  I got this album the other night because I got sucked into one of those VH1's Behind The Music episodes.  I have always been kind of a fan of Pantera.  But I never really gave their music too much of a listen beyond the 5 or 6 songs that were actually popular.  Darrell Abbott has always been kind of a favorite musician of mine.  When I was younger and played guitar, I tried to model the sound of my guitars after his.  I even had the Korg G3 effects board to make it sound just like him. It did sound like him, but my talent was no where near his.

After watching the behind the music episode the other day, I got anoter hankerin' for some Pantera…so BOOM, instant gratification, I went and got "Far Beyond the Great Southern Cowboys Vulagar Hits." It's kind of a play on words.  This album is the best of their "Cowboys From Hell", "Far Beyond Driven", "The Great Southern Trendkill", and "Vulgar Display of Power." So you really get a good taste of what they are all about.  I give it the ole, 5 star rating.  Highly recommended.  But be warned… this isnt "feel good lets get some ice cream and take a walk with the wife" music.  This is more or less "dammit we're out of ice cream and the wife wants me to cut the grass again" music.

Unfortunatley, Darrell Abbott was shot and killed on December 8, 2004.  Which is really too bad for the music world.  Pantera can be attributed with keeping the "Heavey Metal" scene alive during the 90's "Grudge" craze and on through today.  I'll be the first to admit, most "Heavy Metal" is nothing more than screaming and loud guitars having little or no talent what so ever, but I wont say that about Pantera.  This band was a tight unit musically and really explored some new ground when everyone else wanted to put on a flannel shirt and do the same thing that folks out of Seattle pioneered. 

Eddie Vedder, Chris Cornel and Kurt Cobain were geniuses as well in their own right.  But I think that is as far as the grudge scene went with originality.  Everyone else just kind of copied them.

I have been waiting for this album for 5 years.  And it was well worth it.  Tool does not disappoint in this one.  Danny Carrey is still the master of drums.  Some of the things he does is just inconceivable.  Tool stay true to their sound in this one and the meanings to the songs are just as deep as they ever were.  Highlights: Vicarious, Jambi, The Pot.  Check it out.

Either Rob found religion or found his feminine side.  This album is nothing like his past albums.  I wouldnt even categorize this one as Hard Rock.  Highlights: American Witch and The Devils Rejects.  Maybe his is trying to reinvent himself.  I give it a 2.  All other albums Rob Zombie has been affiliated with I would have easily given 7+.

I've had this album for a few days now and have tried to find some interest in it and I just can't. In my opinion Pearl Jam started their decline after their 2nd album. Ever since then it has just been a world wind of discs containing nothing more then Eddie Vedder's skewed political views and tired, screaming vocals. Accompanied by 2 guitarists that think they are Keith Richards. This album was a big disappointment to me. I liked the new song World Wide Suicide, but that may be just becuase they play it every ten minutes on the radio. There was one other song that was tolerable on the album, "Unemployable". The rhythm in this song is great, however I cant really tell what the point is because as usual Eddie's lyrics are unintelligable. I was just realy disappointed, but then again I havent been a big fan of Pearl Jam in years.

A few weeks ago, I made a remark in a post that I think the ability to download music off the internet has helped the music industry by forcing artists to put out better material so that consumers will by their merchandise or attend the shows.  Because the album sales are pretty much a wash.  Since most of the music downloads today are illeagal, the artist doesnt make a penny on CD or album sales.  Its a case of technology putting the consumer on a higher playing field then the record company.  And I personally dont blame them.  Who wants to shell out 15 bucks for an album that really only has one or two good songs on it (I know “Good Songs” is subjective and opionated but, its my damn blog).  Anyways, the record industry and artists alike have had to find some way to combat this problem and get consumers to by the albums.  Well, I read last night where one artist has finally figured it out. 

Prince, of all people, has decided to hide “Purple Tickets” inside his new albums that come out next month.  Its kind of like a Willie Wonka style gimick.  Who ever gets one of these purple tickets will recieve an all expense paid trip to Prince’s house in Hollywood for a private performance.  Now im not a big Prince fan, but the idea I think is great. 

I actually first heard this band on the Madden 06 video game.  The entire album is pretty good, kind of a punk feel to the vocals, but the actual music reminds me a lot of old school Metallica.  Before they became Rock’s most hated band. 

Remember when Guns and Roses came out with their second album, Use Your Illusion.  You were all excited cause the first one was so damn good.  You open the package and “What the Hell?”  Axl went soft on us.  Same here.  Got a little artsy fartsy with this one.  Still a good album, but a few songs made me wonder what was going on.  But I still stand by the first Beautiful Creatures album. Although it came out in 2001, I would out it up against most 80’s Hard Rock albums and be pretty confident of the outcome.

This was the first CD I ever owned.  I turned it into MP3 format last night and have been listening to it allday.  I remember when I got this CD.  I got it from Mike for christmas one year.  I got him Poison – Open Up and Say Ahhhh.  We got these for each other even though we didnt own CD players.  We were just hoping our parents would come through for christmas so that we could listen to these CDs.  Ah yes good times.  How can I remember that one might ask.  Im full of useless information.  Here is somemore for ya, Mike also got 2 other CDs for Christmas that year.  I bet he doesnt remember but I do.  Eagles – Greatest Hits and Bon Jovi – New Jersey.  How about that one buddy.  I bet you didnt remember that.