[Some of] My Favorite Albums (Part 2 of 3)

This is the continuation of a prior post: Part 2 of 3.

See the prior post, numbers 13-10, to get up to speed.

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#9.
METALLICA: RIDE THE LIGHTNING (1984)
For those metal fans, all I have to say is "Fade to Black" and you'd know the greatness to which I am referring: Ride the Lightning. This is one of those under-heralded albums that you turn on, and as a metal fan you're like: "Damn that song is on this album too?" And the majesty keeps delivering with "Creeping Death," "The Call of Ktulu," and "For Whom the Bells Tolls," amongst many others. This was Metallica's second album, the transition album between their extremely thrashy first album Kill 'Em All (1983), and their more classic sound beginning on Master of Puppets (1986). It's a raw album, without being raw for raw's sake. Metallica wasn't trying hard to be cool (like one could say about Kill 'Em All), they were just playing badass music, and it comes across on the album.

Favorite Lyrics: "Stranger now, are his eyes, to this mystery, he hears the silence so loud. Crack of dawn, all is gone, except the will to be. Now they see what will be, blinded eyes to see, for whom the bell tolls, time marches on." - For Whom the Bell Tolls

Album Cover: Average/good. The lightning is cool, I guess.

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#8.

ARCADE FIRE: THE SUBURBS (2010)

Sooo good. As I said in my post about Arcade Fire awhile back, they are just awesome. Balanced, their music is well balanced. The Suburbs moved Arcade Fire back into the folksy feel that I love, after their slight/sort-of departure into the rock sphere with Neon Bible (2007) -- which, don't get me wrong, was a very good album in its own right. This album is solid, straight through, with only one exception. The song "Month of May" could go to hell for all I care. The lyrics are all literal and matter of fact: "Gunna' make a record in the month of May." I guess they took it too literally when people say to write about what you know. It's like, uhhh... okay. Tell me something personal, and I'll appreciate it more than a narrative. It's like putting "It is your birthday." on a banner instead of "Happy Birthday!" See The Office. But anyways, I love this album very very much. I lucked out and was able to see them for their live recording for the Unstaged series posted to Youtube. I especially love the songs "We Used to Wait" and "Sprawl II (Mountains Beyond Mountains)."

Omg! I was at this show!

Favorite Lyrics: "So can you understand? Why I want a daughter while I'm still young. I wanna hold her hand and show her some beauty, before this damage is done." - The Suburbs

Album Cover: Good. A car parked looking at the side of a suburban home. Gets the point across. I like the colors.

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#7
IRON MAIDEN: LIVE AFTER DEATH (1985)

This is the live album of live albums. It is the only live album I would ever consider putting on a list of favorite albums. I am biased, of course, because it is Iron Maiden, the greatest band in existence after Wyld Stallyn, of course. So, Live After Death, is a sick album. It was released in 1985 arguably at Iron Maiden's peak. They had just released the holy trio of albums -- Number of the Beast (1982), Piece of Mind (1983) and Powerslave (1984). They released these consecutively, while touring on the most epic of tours ever, the WORLD SLAVERY TOUR. Haha! So evil! Then, what do they decide to do? Oh I don't know, release a live album of the most epic material they will ever create!! "What do you do when a bird shits on you?" The Rime of the Ancient Mariner! Hallowed be Thy Name! Running Free! Run to the Hills! The Trooper! Powerslave! Number of the Beast! I literally can't name all of the awesomeness that poured out of this album, because my fingers would start to bleed. They (my fingers) would surely hate me, and I still need them for law school, and other things. Needless to say, the vinyl with a sleeve in good condition would be an excellent gift for me at some point (this is directed at all of my single hot-chick friends who want to impress me -- but only the blonde ones). This album came out when Iron Maiden was selling out stadiums three nights in a row... oh the 80's, where art thou? (Note to self: IN THE PAST... *tear* ) The quality of this live recording is unmatched by any live recording I've heard since.

Favorite Lyrics: "She came to me with a serpent's kiss, as the eye of the sun rose on her lips, moonlight catches silver tears that I cry. So we lay in a black embrace, and the seed is sown in a holy place, and I watched and I waited for the dawn." - Revelations (on Piece of Mind)

Album Cover: Very good. "Eddie" is busting up from hell, probably breaking from some badass metal chains or something. Either way, he is making the metal hands (indicating that epic qualities in the abstract are abound), and the metal face (indicating that Jesus is shredding on an electric axe somewhere in the universe). Love it. Whenever I see it, I smile, like seeing really short short-shorts on a girl that should be wearing normal-sized-girl pants.

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#6
JUDAS PRIEST: SAD WINGS OF DESTINY (1976)

Okay, well after rating Live After Death so highly, I'm rethinking the placement of this album on the scale -- it is surely deserving of "favorite" status, but maybe a little lower on the list. Oh well, too lazy now, forge ahead. Sad Wings of Destiny is the first album on the list that doesn't have that one bastard step-child of a song. Suburbs had "Month of May," Ride the Lightning had "Trapped Under Ice," just like Use Your Illusion II had "Shotgun Blues." But this masterpiece, flows, and I mean dayum it flows. A lot of the songs lead into one another. It is crafted by the master guitarist artisans K.K. Downing and Glenn Tipton -- the true founders of the dual guitar battle. It punches you in the face out of the gate with "Victim of Changes," easily one of Priest's best songs, and a true metal legend of a song. (Victim of Changes is probably one of my favorite songs.) The album then immediately cuts into "The Ripper" based on Jack the Ripper, of English lore/reality, a great percussion-driven beat machine. Next, it softens into "Dreamer Deceiver," and lets you catch your breath, with, frankly, some quite beautiful vocal melodies, and soft acoustic. But! Don't fear, it transitions into its faster pace cousin, delivering on the electric guitar in "Deceiver." Then Priest, does WHAT!?!?, they drop some piano on your fat stank ass with the "Prelude" to "Tyrant," another classic priest anthem. It rolls through "Epitaph" and "Genocide," great stand-alone songs, closing out with "Island of Domination," a perfect album closer with high pitch Halford vocals, and some very "riffy" guitar bits (for the 70's). This is not a hardcore album by any means, but it is very very good. It is pure and honest to the proto-metal sound of the late 1970's. Sad Wings was Priest's second album, released in 1976.

Favorite Lyrics: "Once she was wonderful, once she was fine, once she was beautiful, once she was mine. Now change has come over her body, she doesn't see me anymore. Now change has come over her body, she doesn't see me anymore. Changes, victim of change." - Victim of Changes

Album Cover: Great! I love the angel's spread wings, trying to protect himself from the flames. It encapsulates epic ideas, like battles on ethereal plains... or something? Or maybe its a stone angel, immune to flame? Who knows, it looks badass, and this is a blog about badass stuff... and me.

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#5

RUSH: 2112 (1976)

This is a rock album. This album changed a lot of lives, and influenced a lot of musicians in the rock and later metal scenes. Just watch the recent documentary made about RUSH, Behind the Lighted Stage (2010) and you'll see people talking about RUSH you wouldn't have guessed, like Sabastian Bach of Skid Row, Kirk Hammet of Metallica, some dude from Rage Against the Machine (I think), and even Jack Black of Tenacious D. Even if you aren't a RUSH fan you might enjoy it, it's surprisingly well made (for Canadians. haha, just kidding, I love Canadians... well... only the blonde ones). The story behind 2112 is simple (well, the story of the making of the album, not the story ON the album, which is a total mind fuck). RUSH had put out three albums by the time of 2112, RUSH (1974), Fly By Night (1975) and Caress of Steel (1975). The albums got progressively less popular, and were flops on the pop charts. RUSH figured their number was up, so they decided to say fuck you to the studio by putting out one last album, totally whack, with a 21 minute song on one side of the album called "2112." The other side of the album actually contained 4-5 good songs that the studio ultimately used for air-time and promotion. Well, surprise surprise, the album, and the song, 2112, was an epic, and massively popular. It tells the story of a man fighting the priests of the temples of syrinx in the future with his guitar. Whack. But, the music is notable for its complexity, yet simplicity in listening. It is filled with plenty of time changes to keep your interest, and some really good guitar solos and riffs. Neil Peart on the drums is heralded as probably the best living drummer in the world. Their technical mastery easily makes up for the fact that there are only three of them in the band ("the holy triumvirate"): Geddy Lee (vocals and bass), Alex Lifeson (guitar), Neil Peart (drums/percussion). Listen with care.

Favorite Lyrics: "What can this strange device be? When I touch it, it gives forth a sound. It's got wires that vibrate, and make music. What can this thing be, that I've found? See how it sings like a sad heart, and joyously screams out it's pain. Sounds that build high like a mountain, or notes that fall gently like rain." - 2112 [Act III. Discovery]

Album Cover: Memorable. Simple and memorable. I will always remember the star.

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Tune in next week, kids, for the final installment of the best albums ever created by humans.


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Iron Maiden & Dio: Blood Brothers!

The best band in the world playing one of their best songs? Iron Maiden, Blood Brothers:

"Blood Brothers" from Brave New World (2000).

It's no secret, Iron Maiden is my favorite band, hands down. No one comes close to the sheer perfection that they put out. They have the heavy and epic quality; they have the melody, they have the time changes; they have decent lyrics. Most importantly, to me, is their character. They never really were a band that got into drugs that big, they write about movies and weird demons and shit, and they drink a lot. If I were in a metal band, it would be modeled exactly after Maiden: 1 vocalist, 2 guitarists (1980's maiden), 1 bassist, and a drummer.

On their most recent tour they have been dedicating the song to Ronnie James Dio. He died in May, 2010 from stomach cancer. Dio was one of the best heavy metal singers ever -- a true classic. He was in Rainbow, Black Sabbath, and his own self-named band Dio. I always liked Blood Brothers a lot, but their dedication to Dio makes it mean just that much more.

Ronnie James Dio (1942-2010)

c. 1970's

Cheers.

Most Epic Rock Songs Ever (Revised)

This is the compendium of the most epic rock and metal songs ever! No other lists matter. This is the list.

Note: For all of you idiots out there, epic does not necessarily mean badass or cool, or some other quality found in a "good" song. Epic is grand is scope -- it is a song that takes you on a journey.

Legendary guitarist Ritchie Blackmore (Deep Purple; Rainbow).

His bands make two appearances on this list.

20) Carry On My Wayward Son by Kansas
19) You Took the Words Right Out of My Mouth by Meat Loaf 
18) Bat Out of Hell by Meat Loaf 
17) I'd Do Anything For Love by Meat Loaf
16) Love, Reign O'er Me by The Who

15) Baba O'Riley by The Who (suggestion made by Eric Sedler)

14) Paradise City by Guns 'N' Roses (suggestion made by Dan Blum and Eric Sedler)
13) One by Metallica
12) Bohemian Rhapsody by Queen
11) Fade to Black by Metallica
10) Rime of the Ancient Mariner by Iron Maiden
9) Civil War by Guns 'N' Roses
8) Mistreated by Ritchie Blackmore/Rainbow
7) Estranged by Guns 'N' Roses
6) Victim of Changes by Judas Priest
5) 2112 by Rush

2112 (The Opening)

As the song is 20+ minutes I just posted the opening part here.

It would have been higher if it played like one song, but instead

it plays more like 5-6 linked songs.

4) Stairway to Heaven by Led Zeppelin

Stairway to Heaven

It would have a higher score if it's build-up was shorter.

3) Child in Time by Deep Purple

Child in Time

Epic epic song, it has a good build up and nice crescendo.
It would have beat November Rain if Ian Gillan's voice
was less squealy.

2) November Rain by Guns 'N' Roses

November Rain

Beautiful/weird music video, and epic Slash playing on guitar.
Perfect mix of vocals and piano.

1) Free Bird by Lynyrd Skynyrd

Free Bird

The studio version is better (with the organ). Only organ beats piano,

just like rock beats scissors, just like the North beat the south.

Most Mentions
1) Guns 'N' Roses (with 4 songs)
2) Meat Loaf (with 3)
3) Ritchie Blackmore (with 2 (1 in Deep Purple, 1 in Rainbow))
4) The Who (with 2)
5) Metallica (with 2)

If you think your list is better -- don't care -- suck it.

Notable Mentions: 21st Century Schizoid Man (King Crimson), The Ballad of Billy the Kid (Billy Joel), Hallowed Be Thy Name (Iron Maiden), Heaven and Hell (Black Sabbath), Rainbow in the Dark (Dio), Paradise by the Dashboard Light (Meat Loaf), Immigrant Song (Led Zeppelin), The End (The Doors).

The Dichotomy of Kill 'Em All

Another quick post during finals:

Metallica's first album Kill 'Em All has always been a mixed bag for me. It's pretty much the definition of thrash metal. It's got a dichotomy though, it's a pretty good album overall, but with that said, there are some songs on that album that I have a hard time listening to.

Metallica's Kill 'Em All (1983)

First, you have songs like Seek and Destroy, No Remorse, The Four Horseman, and Hit the Lights, which are just epic straight through head banging delight.

Seek and Destroy at Tushino Airfield.
(funny because bassist Jason Newsted sings the first part, very terribly)

And then you have some less-than-critically acclaimed songs, which just kind of rail on the guitar for a couple of minutes, claiming to be a song. Songs such as Metal Militia, Phantom Lord, Whiplash, Motorbreath, fall into this category -- the category of "we-are-trying-too-hard-to-be-like-a-more-badass-version-of-Motorhead."

Don't get me wrong, I can still listen to these songs, and I love Metallica, and Kill 'Em All, but you'll find me skipping them more often than not.

xoxo 

-dWis

The Founding Founders: Led Zeppelin

The early Rock pantheon is occupied by only a few hallowed souls. But who makes this short list? Where did the best genre of music come from? We have to consider, at least, Black Sabbath, Deep Purple, and Led Zeppelin as the primary founders. If these bands were late 18th Century American statesmen, then they would rank up there with Benjamin Franklin, George Washington, and Alexander Hamilton... undoubtedly.



Indeed, veritable historians believe that the two histories -- that of the American founding and of Heavy Metal -- may have been intertwined. Some recently discovered evidence indicates that Ben Franklin was a satanist, and that he mistook Black Sabbath as an ally. In fact, Black Sabbath wasn't a Satan tribute band, and in addition, they were quite the opposite of an ally. Black Sabbath, Deep Purple, and Led Zeppelin, being ENGLISH, were the enemy! (duh)

Veritable historians believe that Ben Franklin

may have been the first Black Sabbath fan... and a satanist.  

Because of Mr. Franklin's mis-perception of the Founding Fathers of Heavy Metal ("FFHM"), he adamantly supported them. At late hours, eyewitnesses occasionally saw him wearing heavy metal t-shirts -- which must have been really odd apparel for the time period. He was also seen shopping at Hot Topic once.

One of Mr. Franklin's other favorite bands was the mighty Led Zeppelin. This morning I heard one of their songs playing over the system in my apartment building... which is awesome, by the way. Quick aside: My building plays some random ass music, but it's always awesome -- from 99 Luft Balons to Land Down Under (hilarious music video).


You should know who Led Zeppelin is. If you don't, then I hate you, and you should rethink your life. I mean seriously, Led Zep has become a music icon... unlike Uriah Heep (whom I'll cover in a post down the line). Zeppelin started in 1968, and by the 70's were in full swing as (what I call) a proto-metal hard rock band. They did crap-tons of drugs, and probably sexed lots of women. They are often cited as one of the FFHM, contemporaneous with Black Sabbath and Deep Purple.

Now, it is hard to say exactly where metal came from -- most say Black Sabbath, which is likely -- but there are some examples of early songs that were very metal indeed. In-a-gadda-da-vida is surely a proto-metal song, but Iron Butterfly, despite having a kick ass freggin' name, were quite low on the Iron, and very high on the Butterfly (and drugs, I mean c'mon "In-a-gadda-da-vida"? Really? In the garden of eden, perhaps?). So while you have an early band, with a kick ass song, and name, the band was definitely not metal. They are like the Vikings discovering America -- they discovered the best thing in the world, once, but they just didn't recognize it at the time.

Leif Ericsson c. 1000 A.D.

Some fools actually cite a Beatles song (Ticket to Ride) as an early metal song. The Beatles were the Beatles. They were good at what they did, I guess. But they were not metal... please. I really don't see a plausible argument for saying the song Ticket to Ride is metal.. at all. Proponents say that it is metal because of its repetitive bass line. ...Well those people are idiots, and clearly know nothing about metal (after all, they are Beatles fans). See, e.g., Cliff Burton; Steve Harris; Geddy Lee (for an example of an epic bass-player-front-man with a metal as shit voice (at 4:07; also, the RUSH guys look like they are having lots of fun early-on in this video)).

So, in conclusion, "they are who we thought they were" -- Sabbath, Deep Purple, and Led Zep are the real founding fathers.

Have a happy thanksgiving everyone!