Category Archives: music

movies, music

Saw “Straight Outta Compton” today and it was surprisingly really good!

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I would do this review in my usual review form but I’m not at my home computer. I’m on an IPad so I’ll just make this review quick.

Just saw the movie, “Straight Outta Compton”, which is a film biopic about that famous rap group the N.W.A.

I thought this film was excellent. I really enjoyed it. Even though I’m not much of a fan of hip hop, I do know it’s history and I do know that N.W.A started the whole hip hop genre. Even if Ice Cube and Dr. Dre didn’t actually play themselves in the film, they were played by actors, it was still cool to see them in a movie together.

I liked learning about the history of Eazy E, the rapper who started the N.W.A. I think the actor who plays Eazy E who is Jason Mitchell did a phenomenal job playing him. Mitchell deserves an Oscar nomination for that role, I think.

It’s interesting learning about the history of hip hop ’cause believe me, you’ll learn a lot.

Yeah, people are complaining that there is a lot of sex and nude women in this movie but hey, that’s the hip hop world. That’s how that world is like. When you become part of the hip hop and black community, you’re gonna see a lot of that in that world… a lot of naked black women. I didn’t mind seeing all the naked black chicks in the film ’cause I thought it was cool!

Anyway, I’m not a very big fan of hip hop but I can listen to some of it, though. I do like Dr. Dre, 2Pac, Biggie, Snoop, Eminem and that’s probably about it. After seeing this movie, makes me want to listen to N.W.A. and check them out. I’ll look them up in Apple Music.

I saw this movie ’cause it looked interesting to me. It can get violent, intense, sad, funny and enjoyable. A lot of different emotions throughout this movie.

I thought it was a very well-made film and one of the best of this year. This film is definitely worth checking out. This is a film for fans of hip hop and non-fans. If you’re a non-fan, this film you should see just so you can learn about the history of hip hop. I thought the film was real good and glad I saw it. Think I’m definitely gonna get the BluRay when it comes out.

Score for “Straight Outaa Compton” = 5 out of 5 stars as in excellent.

Kev

music

Music I’ve been listening to on this vacation…

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You can betcha I brought my IPad with me to the South Carolina vacation so I can have some tunes to listen to so I won’t be bored during the long car ride or at the vacation rental home.

Music I’ve been listening is that I listened to this local band called the Blind Owl Band on the way up. I also listened to Beth Hart’s new album, “Bettr Than Home” again which is a really good record.

I also started listening to a lot of this band called the Heartless Bastards. That band is phenomenal and really good. You wanna hear a really good rock band listen to the Heartless Bastards. Erika Wennerstrom has a beautiful voice and she’s a great rock singer. Their new album, “Restless Ones” is their best album, though.

I’ve also been listening to a lot of David Bowie. I’ve heard most of Bowie’s newer music over the years but never his earlier music in the 70’s and 80’s. I’m a huge David Bowie fan. Always have been. Thanks to Apple Music, I get to listen to the rest of his discography of albums ’cause there are so many I haven’t heard yet. In another post, I’ll list my favorite Bowie albums when I get done listening to them.

Kev

music

Gene Simmons investigated by LAPD for child porn but Gene is innocent…

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You can love Gene Simmons or hate him all you want but he’s definitely innocent in this one.

Apparently somebody used one of his computers and downloaded child porn. Do you think someone like him would do something like that? Hell no. It’s possible that someone must of played a nasty prank on him or one of his bandmates were using his computers or it could be somebody that he knows.

Of course, I’m sure many Gene Simmons haters are gonna think he’s guilty before proven innocent but Gene is not being accused of anything here. Not a “suspect”.

http://www.ew.com/article/2015/08/21/search-warrant-gene-simmons-home

Things like this is why you shouldn’t allow other people to use your computers. You can’t trust everyone even people you know well. Make your computers password protected and changed them at all times.

Kev

music

Shredding maybe great but don’t forget about melody…

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Here’s a great article on guitar playing where it explains that most guitarists today overlook “melody” but all they want to do is show off and play fast notes all the time. This is one thing that I’m trying to work on in my own guitar playing. Trying to sound melodic. Trying to make my lead guitar solo’s sound like someone singing a song. The goal is you want your lead playing to sound memorable and you want to play something that someone can remember.

Of course, it is definitely possible to mix playing with a melodic feel and shredding together ’cause I can think of two guitarists who are great at that. Those two guitarists are Joe Satriani and Al Di Meola (two guitarists who are my heroes). Even though those two guys can shred on guitar, they are still able to pull off sounding melodic at the same time.

A lot of guitarists out there overlook melody. Most guitarists just want to show off and try to impress people but if you really wanna impress people and melt their faces, melody is key.

I’ve watched a lot of interviews with Joe Satriani and he would always say things like “Forget finger exercises, learn to try to sound melodic each time you play”. Joe never agreed with finger exercises. Ya know, scale exercises and chromatic exercises that help you play fast. Nobody wants to hear that shit… people want to hear music and that’s what I’m trying to work on myself. Why do you think Joe Satriani sounds musical all the time? He knows what he’s talking about. You should check out his new record, “Shockwave Supernova”, it’s really good.

Check out this interesting article…

http://www.guitarworld.com/session-guitar-shredding-great-know-how-play-melodies

Kev

music

Alice In Chains: Yes to Layne Staley, No to William Duvall…

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Well I just got done listening to all studio albums by grunge rockers, Alice In Chains on Apple Music. Listened to the three Layne Staley era albums “Facelift”, “Dirt” & “self titled” albums… I also listened to their EP “Jar of Flies” which I heard so many times. I also listened to the two William Duvall era albums, “Black Gives Way to Blue” and “The Devil Put Dinosaurs Here”.

I’ll have to say that the Layne Staley era albums were absolute masterpieces. I’d have to say that “Jar of Flies” would have to be my favorite of theirs, though. “Jar of Flies” the 7 track EP is a masterpiece and one phenomenal record… that is one album I’ll never get tired of listening to ever.

I listened to the two William Duvall albums today and I wasn’t so thrilled by them. Jerry Cantrell played killer guitars on both records, of course but I’m not so thrilled with Duvall’s singing. To me he’s just a Layne copycat and trying so hard to sound like him. Duvall does sound like Layne when he sings but not even close. No one could ever copy Layne’s vocals ’cause Layne has his own distinct style. Plus Duvall can’t write lyrics and create vocal melodies the way Layne did. Layne was the better songwriter than Duvall.

Alice In Chains is a great band, I just prefer the Layne era. So I don’t think I’ll support the Duvall era. I think my favorite Alice In Chains records would have to be their “Jar of Flies” EP and “Dirt”.

In my opinion, this band should have never went on without Layne ’cause to me Alice In Chains is Layne and no other singer. I think the band made a huge mistake continuing on without Layne after he died.

Kev

music

Video: See Beth Hart perform a cover of “I’d Rather Go Blind” by Etta James…

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Beth Hart is freakin’ amazing. Those pipes she has, wow. Beth is pretty much today’s version of Janis Joplin and that’s what makes Beth pretty cool.

Plus Beth’s songs are pretty tight and she’s one helluva performer too.

When will America stop supporting garbage like Lady Gaga, Nicki Minaj, Katy Perry and start listening to some real talent like Beth Hart?

I wish I could see Beth live myself if she’ll ever play a show around the Albany area.

Kev

music

More on Megadeth…

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Well I just finished listening to the rest of Megadeth’s discography of albums. My opinion still stands on those two albums “Risk” and “Super Collider”… they weren’t very good albums. I think the reason “Risk” wasn’t very good is ’cause Dave decided to do some experimenting to techno & electronic music along with metal which doesn’t work so I’m actually with most Megadeth fans that “Risk” wasn’t a good album… plus the songwriting was pretty weak. The album was too “pop” and it didn’t sound metal enough. As for why “Super Collider” their latest record wasn’t good is ’cause it sounded more like a hard rock album then metal and Dave’s singing on it was pretty weak. Don’t get me wrong, though, Chris Broderick was an insane and talented as hell guitarist for sure… I just wished the songwriting could have been better.

Hopefully Dave Mustaine won’t let us down again for the next Megadeth album with their new guitarist, Kiko Loureiro. Hopefully they go back to the thrashy and heavy Megadeth we all want. See? Megadeth goes different directions too much like Metallica. From what I heard of the previews that Dave have been showing us during the behind the scene stuff of their next album, their next album sounds like it might be thrashy and heavy.

I love Megadeth… been a longtime fan. I never got to see Megadeth live in concert yet but would love to someday, though. They are one phenomenal band.

Kev

music

Wanna hear a badass song by Megadeth? Check out “The Scorpion”…

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I’ve been listening to Megadeth albums on Apple Music over the weekend and earlier this morning I heard their album “The System Has Failed” which in my opinion is one of their best albums. So I think I’ve pretty much heard all of Megadeth’s studio albums now. While most of Megadeth’s music is really really good; however, there were two albums that I never really liked. Those two albums are “Risk” and “Super Collider”. Maybe I’ll give “Super Collider” another listen and maybe it’ll grow on me… I only heard it once a long time ago but I’ll listen to it again this week.

I do love Megadeth though. Most of their music is great stuff but of course, their first 6 albums are their best stuff. I’d have to say that “Peace Sells”, “Rust In Peace”, “Youthanasia” and “Countdown to Extinction” is their best work. I do love “Thirteen” and “Endgame” too, though.

I’ve always been a big Megadeth fan. Dave Mustaine is a great singer/songwriter & guitar player. I can’t wait for the next Megadeth album which should be out soon.

Kev