Category Archives: music

In defense of the Lou Reed & Metallica project…

This project is creating a lot of controversy. A lot of Metallica haters are bashing this project  like crazy, but then of course, no matter what Metallica does in music makes them bad guys. I’ll always be a big Metallica supporter and they will always have my back, no matter what they do. I’ll always love the band.

I am looking forward to hearing this project. I hope I’m not the only one. Over at their website, it was said that Lou Reed wrote all the songs for the album, “Lu Lu”. Metallica just backed him up. Like the website site said, Lou originally was going to have the songs for a theatrical play in Berlin, but I guess he decided to give the songs to Metallica instead.

Why would Metallica want to do this project with Lou Reed? The project sound really silly and weird, but honestly, it’s the right thing to do. Lou Reed is a hard rock & metal singer/songwriter, he always has been if you think about it. Especially all the stuff he did with the Velvet Underground. Lou’s original songs may not have distorted guitars and growling voices but they are still hard rock songs.

On top of that, Lou is willing to collaborate with just about anybody in the music business. He already has collaborated with just about everyone in the music business when he performs on stage. In the studio, he collaborated with Nico with the Velvet Underground.

When Lou Reed and Metallica jammed at the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, it felt right. I certainly felt that Lou was a member of Metallica. The chemistry was there. Watch the video below. Lou looks so awesome with the guys, that’s why the project works.

While this Lou and Metallica project maybe controversial, I think it’s going to be a good one and interesting. Many people accuse these guys of being ego’s and greedy. People think it’s all about money and attention whoring, but it isn’t. It’s about the music. When they jammed together at the Hall of Fame, it just sounded the right thing to do. It’s about the musicianship. The style was the right fit. That’s how I believed it came together. It didn’t come together for nothing.

Plus, I’m sure Lou is a big fan of Metallica and I’m sure Metallica is a big fan of Lou. They always wanted to play music together and it’s the right time for it to happen. I’m looking forward to hearing the first single off of “LuLu”, I’m sure they will release something soon.

Don’t bash something that hasn’t come out yet. Just hear the music first and then you can make your opinion.

Kev

Correction: The new Jeff Bridges album is his second album, not his first…

The new album Jeff Bridge’s just put out is not his first, it’s actually his second. His first album was called, “Be Here Soon” released in the year 2000. So Jeff Bridges have been doing music for a long while actually. It’s understandable why people may think his new album is his first ’cause his music career is just starting to get known because of that movie, “Crazy Heart”.

Kev

CD Review: Jeff Bridges

So I listened to the new Jeff Bridges album this afternoon while I did my chest workout at home today. Yes, the star of movies such as “Starman”, “TRON” and his most famous role as the Dude in “The Big Lebowski”, finally releases an album after all these years. What took him so long to find out that he had musical talent and to show it to the public? I have no idea, but I’m sure the film, “Crazy Heart” in which he plays a country musician gave him the idea to start a music career of his own.

I would have to say that I was pretty impressed with his debut album. It was actually very good for a country album. Surprisingly enough, Jeff Bridges new album sounds like old school classic country. Stuff that you would hear in the 60’s and 70’s. Most of the album is mostly mellow songs. There maybe like one or two upbeat songs, but they still have this classic sound. I was also impressed that this album has longer guitar solos and most country albums of today don’t have guitar solos.

Let me ask you a question. Do you like old time Kenny Rogers, Willie Nelson, Waylon Jennings or even Hank Williams Sr.? Then you would probably love this album. If you’re a country music fan and if you only like that mainstream country pop/rock like Toby Keith or Keith Urban, then you wouldn’t like this album.

Back to Jeff Bridges, it’s not just country music on it. There’s a little bit of everything on the album. Some of it can be rock and some can be a little jazzy. The songs can be a little dark and haunting at times. When Jeff sings, you can really hear the emotion and passion in his vocals. He can really sing good.

Over the years, there have been many actors turned singers like that list I did in this blog before, but I think Jeff is one that actually has real talent. If he wanted to, he could probably quit doing movies and concentrate on his music career. I have this feeling he’s going to do that soon. I’m sure his album will be a huge seller, I predict it will be no. 1 in the Billboard 200 for a few weeks. We’ll see it how the album sells. I’m sure it will do well. I’m sure this album will land him a bunch of nominations for the Country Music Awards as well.

This album is a true country record. The way country music is supposed to sound. Jeff and T. Bone Burnett probably heard all of this mainstream country pop/rock crap and thought to themselves, “This isn’t real country music, we gotta make a real country album”. And they did.

Even if you’re not a country fan, I suggest you listen to this album. You don’t even have to be a country fan just to listen to the Dude sing, because it’s fuckin’ awesome. He’ll probably concentrate on his movie career more than music, but who knows, maybe he will retire movies for music. I’d love to see him go on tour ’cause I would see The Dude in concert for sure.

Kev

Report: Liam Gallagher suing his own brother for lies about Oasis break up…

Wow, these two are still fighting like little 12 year olds. Oasis broke up last year, Liam and Noel Gallagher are still fighting publicly through the press. I’m on neither side ’cause both of these guys are assholes. Liam finally can’t take anymore bullshit and he’s planning on suing Noel, for lies about the band breakup.

Read more on it, here.

I’ve heard the new music of Liam’s new band, Beady Eye and been hearing new music by Noel’s solo stuff as well. Both sound exactly like Oasis, it all sounds the same to me. Both of their singing voices sound the same, it’s weird.

I used to love Oasis, but I think they’re losing my respect. They’re a couple of unprofessional egotists who suffer delusions of grandeur. Both are not innocent. They’re both acting like idiots. Liam’s suing Noel for lies about the breakup? Well I’m pretty sure Liam told his share of lies as well.

I’m sure this lawsuit won’t even land in court the judge is going to look at this and say, “Geee, what a couple of a 12 year olds.”

Kev

 

BREAKING NEWS: “The West Memphis Three” freed from prison after 18 years…

After 18 long years in  prison, murder suspects: Damien Echols, Jesse Misskelley Jr., and Jason Baldwin known as, “The West Memphis Three” were free from prison, after the judge accepted their plea for their release. On May 5th, 1993, the three suspects murdered three boys, but they maintained their innocence and said they didn’t do it ever since. The reason this story relates to music is because these guys wore all black and were big fans of heavy metal music.

Read more on the story, here.

Well, after 18 years in prison, and now they’re on the outside, they’ll have to get used to freedom. They won’t be used to it, trust me. It’s very difficult for people getting out of prison after so many years, and then they have to re-build their lives. It’s going to be a long and difficult journey to get their lives back together.

So the question do you have to ask is this. Do I agree with them being let out?

No. I don’t agree with it. It’s not justice for their victims and their families. Who knows they’ll do it again after this. I don’t trust them being out.

A lot of people would think it’s great news and maybe exciting, but honestly, I find it pretty scary as hell. If I was part of their victim’s families, I would have been outraged as hell.

Read the full story on the “West Memphis Three” case here at wikipedia.

Kev

Thought: I think it’s wrong to kick KISS off the Michael Jackson tribute concert…

Angry fans were outraged that KISS were booked for the Oct. 8th Michael Jackson concert in Wales. The promoters heard, and just like that, they kicked the band off the lineup. The reason? Gene Simmons agreed that Michael Jackson was a pedophile and child molester years ago.

The band haven’t responded to being kicked off the concert yet, but I’m sure they will have something to say about it soon.

Read the full story, here.

In my opinion, the promoters didn’t have to boot KISS off the show just because fans didn’t want them on. What Gene said about Michael was years ago. If Gene agreed to sign up to play the show with KISS, then I’m sure he had a change of heart with Michael Jackson now. The promoters claim they did it because they wanted to do justice to Michael’s memory with this tribute.

Well, the reality is, they just disrespected Michael’s honor just by booting KISS off the show. Michael have always been a huge fan of KISS. I’m pretty sure M.J. would have wanted them on the concert if he was still alive right now. They need KISS for the show.

On top of that, Gene isn’t the only person in the world who thinks M.J. was a pedophile. There are plenty of people who think of M.J. the same way.

Kev

Actors turned musicians over the years…

An actor’s movie career can certainly help their music career if they play an instrument or sing. In celebration of Jeff Bridge’s releasing his debut solo album today, I thought it would be fun to name all the actors turned musicians over the years. Some of you may even be surprised of some of them

Here’s the list, I’ll name 15 of them in no order:

  • Billy Bob Thornton – He’s released a few albums of his solo career and a few albums with his other band, the Boxmasters.
  • Steven Seagal – The 80’s action star is a guitar player and singer. He had his own songs featured for his own films and released some albums. He’s been playing with his band Thunderbox, for years.
  • Johnny Depp – Yep, Johnny is a guitar player and have collaborated with other bands & artists. He used to play for his two former bands, The Kids and another band called, P.
  • Kevin Bacon – He’s in his band with his brother Michael, called the Bacon Brothers.
  • Scarlett Johansson – She released an album full of Tom Waits covers a few years back.
  • Joaquin Phoenix – He sang and played guitar for the movie “Walk the Line” but shortly after, joked about a so called rap career which he never released an album. His rap career turned out to be a hoax. Who knows, maybe someday he will do a real album down the road. Not a rap album, but maybe he can do a rock n’ roll or a country album.
  • Jack Black – An actor turned musician who actually has some talent. He’s a good singer and I love the Tenacious D. I wish they would get together to make another album.
  • Adam Sandler – His music career became very popular when he did “The Chanukah Song” on SNL, later he got himself a record deal and released his debut album, “They’re All Gonna Laugh At You” in 1993.The album have been certified platinum 2x’s.
  • Jared Leto – He has his band with “30 Seconds to Mars” and they’re still together. Making new music and touring.
  • Bruce Willis – This action star is a harmonica player and singer. He has also released a few solo albums but he haven’t released a new album in a long while.
  • Gary Sinise – He plays bass guitar for the Lt. Dan band, which is named after his character from the film, “Forrest Gump”.
  • Clint Eastwood – Clint is a pianist, and he has composed his own music for some of his films that he directed. He have never released any albums of his own yet.
  • Jamie Foxx – Jamie released his first album “Peep This” in 1994 just a few years after his first film, “Toys”, came out.
  • Gwyneth Paltrow – Her music career started to get recognized after her movie, “Country Strong”. She never really released any full length albums yet, but she has released a few singles.
  • Brittany Murphy – Before her death, she was going to launch a music career but she only did one song with Paul Oakenfield. The name of the song is “Faster Kill Pussycat”, you can hear it in youtube.
I’m sure there’s plenty more but these are the most notable ones. I’m probably going to get Jeff Bridge’s new album this week.
Kev

RIP: Robert Johnson

73 years ago today, the music world, the music world lost another music legend. That is legendary bluesman, Robert Johnson. Known for hits such as “Travelling Riverside Blues”, “I Believe I’ll Dust My Broom” and “Sweet Home Chicago”. Robert Johnson inspired the careers of Eric Clapton, Jeff Beck, Jimmy Page, Keith Richards, and more. Robert died at 27 years of age, it was long rumored that he was poisoned by a jealous man because Robert had an affair with his wife. RIP Robert.

Kev