Category Archives: music

music

Lou Reed & Metallica finally uploaded the full track of new song, “The View”…

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Lou Reed & Metallica have finally posted the full track to their new song, “The View”.

Like usual this song is getting negative feedback everywhere. Metallica is not the only one getting bashed for this collaboration. Lou Reed is also getting bashed on. In fact, from facebook to forums to blogs, it’s Lou Reed is getting bashed the most. I mean, really? Bashing Lou FUCKING REED! COME ON!

Lou Reed is a rock n’ roll legend himself who made it big with the Velvet Underground and his solo career. I truly believe that most people of today’s generation don’t understand the legacy of Lou Reed. He’s a very important musician.

In this song, Lou is the narrator, he’s the one telling the story. When James is singing, he’s playing a different character. The lyrics are very dark and a bit creepy, yes, but they are supposed to be.

The songs on the album are about a young dancer named, Lulu, who was abused. Sounds like the album is going to be about sexual abuse, rape, and all that stuff. They were inspired by the work of Frank Wedekind, a german play writer. It was also inspired from the silent movie, “Pandora’s Box“.

This isn’t a Metallica album, it’s a side project for both of them. Technically, this is actually Lou’s project, Metallica is just a backing band, period. I’m sure Lou Reed and the boys in Metallica already knew this album is going to create a stir in the music world, but these guys feel that these stories need to be told. They want to help draw more people to the Lulu stories.

They did a very good job of it so far. Despite the negative feedback, the album is already getting a lot of attention. So that’s good. It’s called controversy. Could this album sell well? I think it’ll be successful. It’ll get a lot of people curious and they’ll want to listen.

The LuLu stories are about sexuality and cynicism. When Wedekind first wrote the plays in 1890’s in Germany, he created a lot of controversy there too. Now it’s happening with Lou Reed & Metallica. In my opinion, these songs weren’t made to be for your listening entertainment. They want to get you to know who Lulu is and what she’s about.

As you can see in the lyrics of the song, Lou is telling the story in Lulu’s perspective. So that makes it that Lou is actually playing Lulu herself in the musical.

Listen to the song, here.

After doing research on Lulu and learning about this character, I’m intrigued. It makes me want to read the Frank Wedekind’s plays and see the “Pandora’s Box” 1932 film.

Kev

music

Report: Sly Stone, from funk & soul hit maker to hobo…

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Legendary funk singer, Sly Stone, once had the American dream that everyone wants. Fame & Fortune. He had it all. He used to live in a huge mansion in Beverly Hills that was once owned by John Phillips of The Mamas & the Pappas. Due to a drug addiction and financial problems, Sly Stone lost everything. This is coming from a guy who had a very successful music career back in the day. Most famous for songs such as “Dance to the Music”, “Everyday People”, “Thank You”, and more.

What is Stone doing now? He is living on the road, in a small camper van. While he did lose everything he got, what he didn’t yet lose is his love for music. He continues to make music on a laptop computer. Plus, he just released an album of his hits re-recorded with other artists.

Read this interesting article, here.

This should be a lesson for you musicians out there as well. Are you sure you bands out there want the fame & fortune? It’s a risky and dangerous world. It’s not as glorifying as you all think it is.

Michael Jackson was even experiencing the same thing before his death. He lost Neverland Ranch and he was about to lose everything as well.

It doesn’t matter how famous you are. You have to be good with money or else you’re in trouble. Despite Stone becoming homeless, he is still remembered as a music legend no matter what. He can’t lose his legacy, that’s for sure.

He’s a pretty talented guy, I wish him well.

Kev

music

My five favorite songs off of Nirvana’s “Nevermind’…

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Well since today officially marks the 20th Anniversary of Nirvna’s iconic album, “Nevermind”, which is an album I love dearly, I thought it would be cool to post 5 of my favorite songs off the album. I love the whole album really, but these 5 songs are my absolute favorite. Enjoy the list…

“Breed”
(I would say this is the heaviest song off the whole album. The riff is tight and Kurt’s vocals are angry. I think this is one of the best songs off the album)

“Territorial Pissings”
(This is almost like a thrash metal song, it’s a fast, couple of minutes tune, just wish it could have been a little longer…)

“Something In the Way”
(This song is very powerful, a lot of emotion here. Kurt’s been accused of not having any feeling in his music but you’re wrong. Kurt doesn’t write songs for no reason, he had to be feeling something here…)

“Lithium”
(Starts off kind of mellow and the chorus is all pissed off and in your face, love it.)

“In Bloom”
(Kurt’s music maybe very simple, but that’s what I liked about him. This is a pretty catch tune. I’ll never get tired of this tune even if I had to get forced to listen to it all day long. I think this is the best single off the album.)

Kev

music

Cool Video: Lou Reed & Metallica, posts 90 minute clip of “The View”…

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I think the reason this Lou Reed & Metallica project is getting so much negative feedback is because, there are too many young kids who are strictly into metal, and they don’t really listen to classic rock much. Kids of today’s generation, probably don’t understand the music of Lou Reed that it may be possible that they never listened to Lou’s music before. It’s mostly Lou’s vocals being trashed on. The spoken word style.

If you listen to Lou’s earlier music with the Velvet Underground and his solo albums, especially “Transformer”, Lou always sang that way, the spoken word style. He’s been singing that way for years.

I just think people aren’t used to a spoken word singer fronting a metal band. All of Lou’s songs are very poetic and they all tell stories as well. It’s very appropriate to do them spoken word. He can actually sing for “real” on some of his songs, he only gives the songs whatever feels right.

Lou Reed is a talented artist and storyteller when it comes to his songs. I’ve been listening to Lou’s music for years, I just love his stuff.

I’m liking what I’m hearing in this project so far. It must be hard for young fans in this generation to appreciate Lou Reed. It’s a good thing actually. This Lou Reed & Metallica project will help Lou draw more listeners for his older music.

Kev

music

Happy 62nd Birthday, Mr. Bruce Springsteen!!!

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While Bruce Springsteen is celebrating his 62nd birthday today, there are heavy rumors online that the E Street Band maybe calling it quits for good. I bet the reason is, they feel they can’t go on without Clarence Clemons, their most recognizable member of the E Street Band. I agree, it isn’t the E Street Band without Clarence, sad but true. Bruce and the rest of the band plan to get together into a meeting to announce the band’s future. I have a feeling that Bruce and the E Street Band maybe hanging it up for good.

This still doesn’t mean that Bruce is retiring from music though, just the E Street Band. I’m sure Bruce will continue to release albums without the band. We’ll have to wait and see.

Bruce is the man. I’ve always loved his music too. I even like his newer stuff as well.

Here are a few of my favorite songs of his below…

Kev

Books, music

Report: Neil Young writing memoir titled, “Waging Heavy Places”, set for a Fall of 2012 release date…

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There are a lot of rock stars writing their own autobiographies/memoirs lately. Everyone from Ozzy to Sammy Hagar to Dave Mustaine to Eric Clapton to Slash, the list goes on. Neil is about to join the memoir bandwagon as he is writing one himself titled, “Waging Heavy Places”, set for a Fall of 2012 release date. Blue Rider’s publishing company President says this book promises to be a revealing book about Neil’s life and music career that fans always wanted.

More on it, here.

I’m a big Neil Young fan. I have a little over 10 of his albums and still counting. I just love his music. He’s an inspiration to me. I’ll be sure to read this book.

What other rock musicians that need to do a memoir who haven’t done one yet? I’ll name five others… Jimmy Page, David Bowie, James Hetfield, Dave Grohl, and Bono (singer of U2). They would tell interesting stories.

Kev

music

BREAKING NEWS: After a 31 year long career, R.E.M. hangs up the mics…

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In the year 1980, Michael Stipe formed the band, R.E.M. himself. The band released 15 albums in their career and they had a slew of mainstream radio hits. R.E.M. had hit songs such as: “It’s the End of the World As We Know It”, “Stand”, “Losing My Religion”, “Shiny Happy People”, “Everybody Hurts”, “Bang and Blame”, “What’s the Frequency Kenneth”, etc. You can still hear all of those songs on your FM radio stations to this day.

Their latest album, “Collapse Into Now”, which they just released earlier this year, peaked at No. 5 on the Billboard 200. I’ve been a fan of R.E.M. for years. While this is pretty shocking and unexpected, I understand them of why they want to hang it up. Bands don’t stay together forever, that’s just the way it goes.

Read what the three guys have to say about their, break up, here.

Even though they’re calling it quits, I’m sure they’re still going to be releasing material. Not new studio albums, but I’m sure they’ll release some live albums and maybe unreleased stuff. They might even make a DVD about their long career.

No matter what you think of R.E.M., they are legends and they were very successful. Michael Stipe is a talented singer, and I’ve always admired Peter Buck as a guitarist. I’m pretty sure the three guys will move on to other musical projects. Maybe that’s why they want to end it, to explore other musical opportunities.

Kev

 

music

3 Unreleased Nirvana songs surface the web, in celebration of “Nevermind’s” 20th Anniversary…

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Nirvana is celebrating the 20th Anniversary of their iconic album, “Nevermind” this year, and three unreleased tracks hit the web. Be aware that these tracks are just demos, so the sound quality is not going to be that great…but they still rock.

Enjoy them, here.

I love Nirvana. Nirvana’s, “Nervmind”, was released on Sept. 24th, 1991, so that day will officially mark the 20th.

“Nevermind”, means so much to me. That was the album that first got me into Nirvana, of course. I first saw, “Smells Like Teen Spirit”, video on MTV for the first time when I was a kid and I was blown away. I just had to buy that album. I probably played that album to death. I still have that album to this day and still listen to it. I’ll never get tired of that album. It was the best rock album of the 90’s for sure.

Kev

movies, music

Report: Is Tyler Bates the new composer for Zack Snyder’s “Man of Steel”???

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Rumors are hitting the web this week that film composer, Tyler Bates, could be the new composer for Zack Snyder’s, “Man of Steel”. The reason this rumor started because he was listed in IMDB, in the credits as composer. So far, no official press release about it from Warner Bros.

It could be true because Tyler already worked with Zack for “300”, “Watchmen” and “Suckerpunch”.

This is starting to worry Superman fans, ’cause the John Williams main theme could be ignored. I don’t think so. In every Superman movie, there is the John Williams score just different versions of it. J.W.’s didn’t score every Superman flick, only the first one.

If Tyler is indeed the composer for, “Man of Steel”, I think it’s still a possibility they will still use the J.W.’s score, but a different take on it. They shouldn’t really ignore the theme completely and they probably won’t. Hope they won’t ignore it anyway.

Kev

music

Cool Video: Metallica & Lou Reed posts 30 second clip of new song titled, “The View”…

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Lou Reed & Metallica have posted their first song online, well, a little bit of it anyway. As usual a lot of people are bashing the hell out of it. Saying it’s crap because it’s METALLICA!

Below is a short clip of one of the songs off “Lulu”, the name of this song is titled, “The View”.

What people don’t seem to understand is that these songs on the album were originally supposed to be a German musical for theater. So these songs are supposed to sound like a musical. The way Lou Reed is singing the vocals, that’s the way he always sang. It isn’t really singing really, it’s just spoken word stuff which is what Lou is great at, plus he’s a really poetic lyricist. Maybe this German play was supposed to be backed up by a hard rock band and Metallica was the good fit for that. Everything you’re gonna hear on this album, is all Lou Reed, he composed everything. He just gave these songs to Metallica for them to back him up.

I wouldn’t badly judge this song on a 30 second clip, though. Before saying, “it sucks”, wait until you hear the full song and then you can make your opinion. I liked what I heard so far.

Kev