Brian’s review of Tool – Undertow

I remember like it was yesterday.  I was watching MTV videos and the video for the Tool song “Sober” came on.  It contained claymation figures and some disturbing images.  I was hooked and had to purchase it.  The album is called Undertow.

As a second album I would have to say it was well made, but not their best album.  In my opinion, most bands make a breakout album; this band gets better as each album comes out. 

The songs on this album are simple and direct.  Dark and grungy feeling come to mind for me.  It took me a few listens before my appreciation started to mature. The album will intimidate you with its disturbing and thought provoking lyrics but don’t give up on it at first listen.  Thanks to MTV and their videos I grew to love the song “Sober” with its infectious bass groove and steely guitar riff that doesn’t seem to end!
 
“Prison Sex” is my next favorite piece which has even more of a grunge sound with an interesting twist.  Yes we all loved the bands with their big hair and big guitar solos but sorry this album doesn’t have it.  It does have awesome bass guitar riffs like on the songs “Intolerance” and “Bottom” which seem to fit the entire atmosphere of the album. 

When you integrate the unique style with which Adam Jones plays the guitar and Maynard’s disturbing and eye opening lyrics, “Undertow” makes you want to sit in a room all by yourself and your CD player and try to search out the meaning of every song.  If that wasn’t enough, song 10 “Disgustipated” starts on track 10 and ends up on 69.  Track 10 – 68 are blank and then it gets weird.  We have some tribal music with some animal sound effects and some spoken disturbing lyrics.  Speaking of disturbing, check out the inside cover of the album….nuff said. 

This album is very complex and may take a few listens.  Angry and emotional come to mind also.  Blow the dust off your old copy and reopen your mind, you just might have a new appreciation for it!  If you don’t have the album or haven’t heard of Tool and want something different you’ve come to the right place.

If you don’t already own this album, you can get a copy at Amazon!

Review of Led Zeppelin’s IV

Timeless. That is the only word that best describes this album. All eight of the songs are classic. This band built quite a reputation with “Yardbirds” founder Jimmy Page on guitar, Robert Plant’s undeniable rock persona and vocals, John Paul Jones on bass and Mr. John Bonham, one of the most respected and talented drummers of all time.

Little did they know back then that not only would IV stand the test of time but they would be regarded in many circles as the greatest rock band of all time; and having the greatest rock album of all time.

Folksy is another word that comes to mind. It definitely makes every song stand out when it’s played. I don’t know anyone who doesn’t start singing along when “Black Dog” comes on and you hear Hey hey mama said the way you move, gonna make you sweat, gon’ make you groove, or It’s been a long time since I rock and rolled from “Rock and Roll“. If you deny this you are lying!

“Stairway to Heaven” no matter how many times it’s played you listen. It’s just too beautiful to turn off! “Misty Mountain Top” picks up the pace nicely and gives me an awesome visual of embarking on a nomadic journey. “Going to California” is one of those songs anyone can relate with. If you have ever moved from somewhere you’ve lived for a long time you definitely will have an aching in your heart.

Let’s face it, when most people think of Led Zeppelin, Robert Plant comes to mind with his powerful voice and lyrics but if you really take the time to listen you will hear some of the best musicianship ever put out on any album.

Check out John Paul Jones on bass during “Rock and Roll“, some beautiful mandolin played on “The Battle of Evermore” by none other than guitarist Jimmy Page and John Bonham’s drumming on “Four Sticks” because he played with four sticks at the same time!

There is no doubt in my mind that this is regarded as the number one album by many people. Put your’s back in the CD player and give it a listen. I’m sure you won’t have any doubts either. One thing is for certain, there is no dust on my copy!

Available on iTunes

There are a lot of bands that have put out good covers of songs over the years, but very few bands have put out entire albums of non-originals that really blow me away except for this one. Metallica’s Garage Inc. takes some of the best songs in rock history like “Whiskey In a Jar” by Thin Lizzy, “Turn The Page” by Bob Seger and “Stone Cold Crazy” by Queen just to name a few. Metallica gave them a little kick in the a$% to make you forget the originals.

Not only are mainstream bands covered, but songs by King Diamond, Mercyful Fate and Diamond Head are pulled off quite nicely and also pretty impressive considering you just don’t hear of bands covering these artists.

I think it’s great that a heavy metal band covers the hard hitters but Metallica also expands their talents to cover the punk band The Misfits, not to mention 70’s hard rock bands Blue Oyster Cult andLynyrd Skynyrd. Skynyrd’s “Tuesdays Gone” is done so well I distinctively remember playing it three times in a row when I bought the album, I couldn’t believe how well it was performed.

For all us long time fans you will find Garage Days Revisited on disc two in its entirety along with some awesome Motorhead covers and a couple of randomly yet funny songs “Last Caress” and “Who Cares” that you might want to turn down when the kids are around.

When a band like Metallica puts out two CD’s of cover songs from their favorite artists that they grew up listening to, you have a collection of songs of pure metal bliss. After the release of “Load” and “Reload” many fans thought they lost their heavy edge but take just one listen to this album and you will realize they have never rocked harder.

What are you waiting for? Buy this if you don’t already have it. If you do already have it, dust it off and turn it up!

When you think of heavy metal what comes to mind? Usually people associate heavy metal with some type of satanic origin. Until 1983 when a group from California decided to change that mindset. Originally called Roxx Regime, this band was formed to put their Christian beliefs into their music. Hence the name Stryper, Salvation Through Redemption Yielding Peace Encouragement and Righteousness.


Their most popular album containing the most hits to date was “To Hell With the Devil” released in October of 1986. I don’t know if many people know or remember this, but this was the first Christian album able to be purchased at Walmart and Kmart. Every song on the album was well written and hard rockin except for the two power ballads “All of Me” and “Honestly” that feature beautiful vocals from lead singer Michael Sweet and and some great keyboards.


The rest of the album has some hard rockin tracks. It starts out with the ominous instrumental “Abyss” that sends a chill down your spine leading right in to the next track on the album “To Hell With The Devil” and the lyrics stating “Speak of the devil, he’s no friend of mine” stating the obvious direction of the album. “Calling on You“, “Free“, “The Way” and “Rockin The World” are my particular favorites that any Christian or 80’s metal fan could never get tired of. The awesome guitars, vocals and harmonies on this album are just what the doctor ordered. Maybe that’s why you could always find this album in the best seller rack along with Poison, Cinderella and the other hair bands of the era.


If this album isn’t in your collection you should pick it up. It has a perfect balance between hard rock and an uplifting message that is just as important today as it was back then.

I have always considered myself a very patriotic person. I often get emotional when I watch a military funeral and see the guns being fired as they salute a fallen soldier. Having watched one on TV the other day it immediately reminded me of AC/DC’s “For Those About to Rock, We Salute You“, so I decided to dust it off this month and give it another listen.

In my personal opinion this is a decent album. Many people tend to want to compare it to AC/DC’s classic “Back in Black” but frankly there is no comparison to a masterpiece like that!

I would have to say that there are only four songs on this album that deserve recognition. Song number one, the title track, is just a great rock anthem. It has a killer intro that gets you pumped like no other. It starts out slow but finishes strong. Godsmack has used this song at the beginning of some of their shows, gets the crowd fired up, a great idea!

The second song, “I Put the Finger on You” is a very energetic song that seems to keep you charged up and ready for the rest of the album to come. Just when you thought your volume couldn’t go any higher, you find yourself reaching for the button on your CD player.

Song number three is the most typical of our AC/DC boys. It doesn’t get much more sexual than, “Let’s Get It Up.” How about those lyrics? “Loose lips sink ships, so come aboard for a pleasure trip“, It’s high tide so let’s ride“, “the moon is risin and so am I“, priceless!

The album then goes on a lull until song seven, “C.O.D.” Just makes you rock out whether you like it or not with it’s raw sound and lyrics like, “Call out the devil in me“. Everytime I hear it I think of the Highway to Hell album cover. Just look at it and you’ll know what I mean.

As I stated earlier, stop comparing this to “Back in Black“, none of AC/DC’s albums will ever touch it. “For Those About to Rock” will offer the same as every other AC/DC album, raw, guitar driven sexual lyrics that we have all come to know from the band. Based only on the four songs I’ve listed above, if anyone asks me if I think the album rocks, yeah I would still salute it!