Taster Session #3

Happy New Year!
2015 has given us some great material (which I'll be discussing next week) but to finish what's been a pretty decent year in music, it's time to dust off the Taster Session posts and take a look at five singles from albums that'll (hopefully) be released in 2016. If the year can be judged based on this snippet of music, we'll hopefully be in for another treat!

"Dark Energy" - The Cult           (listen here)
From the album Hidden City (5/2/16)

Our first taste of the new year comes from The Cult bringing us a song that definitely doesn't sound like The Cult I know! Don't get me wrong, it's still Hard Rock but their typical clean-toned Guitar and 4/4 rhythms have been replaced with crunching riffs and tribal drums. Luckily, Ian Astbury is still with the band and he's certainly still capable of carrying a top notch vocal line so it doesn't sound like a tribute act yet. Based on this song, I'm definitely looking forward to their new album, even if the album cover is a bit Prog Metal-ish for The Cult.


"Victorious" - Wolfmother           (listen here)
From the album Victorious (19/2/15)

If the previous song was a good example of a band straying away from their typical sound and producing something awesome, this is a great example of a band sticking with their guns and also producing something awesome. I've yet to listen to Wolfmother's third album that I'm guessing the band weren't exactly proud of when they essentially leaked it online with no announcement or anything BUT this title track is exactly what I expect when I listen to the band. A bouncing rhythm, heavy Guitar riffs, Andrew Stockdale wailing away and a catchy chorus, all wrapped up in a neat package.
I'm not sure if the band intentionally broke into a cover of "Paranoid" - Black Sabbath mid-song or if it just sort of happened during a particularly good recording take but I'm glad they left it in! Unlike several previous entries on Taster Session posts, I've actually listened to another tune teased from the upcoming album entitled "City Life". Let's just say that those two tracks combined have made me VERY excited for February 19th. VERY excited!


"Fatal Illusion" - Megadeth           (listen here)
From the album Dystopia (22/1/16)

When Super Collider was released, Metalheads all over the world felt like Megadeth had gone too commercial and accidentally recorded a Hard Rock album instead of a Metal one. Can't say I blame them, as it only really had one song worthy of Megadeth's name ("Kingmaker"), even if there were some decent tunes peppered throughout. However, this track sounds like the band have sorted themselves out and gone back to proper Thrash!
There's a strong "Peace Sells" feel about this track, whether it's in the opening bass riff or tempo change mid-song. If that was the band's intention, good on them! Hopefully the rest of the album will have the same energy and aggression, even if the band have pretty much said that they don't just want to write Rust In Peace over and over again. Yeah, consider me pumped for this as well!


"This City Made Us" - The Protomen           (listen here)
From the album Act III (??/??/??)

I'm not sure when their third album will come out but since a single's been released, I'm guessing it'll be 2016. Anyway, as I've said before, I'm not a huge fan of these guys but every now and then, they nail it. This is one of those songs that they've nailed! If you like late 80's Queensryche, do give this one a listen. It may not have a memorable solo or any of the frills of 80's Metal but it does have each band member giving it their all and coming up with something that actually makes me want to listen to more of their material, even if I thought their earlier work was a little pompous for video game inspired Rock opera.


"Lords Of Summer" - Metallica           (listen here)
From the album ???? (??/??/??)

Remember how Metallica were going to release a new studio album this year? Even Iron Maiden got The Book Of Souls out this year and their lead vocalist was busy kicking cancer's arse so I'd love to hear their excuse! So far, the closest thing to a new album tease is a demo version of a song which may or may not appear on the (as of yet) untitled 2016/17 album. Much like Megadeth's "Peace Sells" tribute, this sounds like Metallica's way of saying "So you want more ...And Justice For All, huh?" and even though this is just a demo track, I'm liking what I'm hearing.
It's full to the brim with heavy riffing and even if the mix isn't perfect or even acceptable for a studio album release, it's given me faith in the band's ability to deliver a suitable follow up to Death Magnetic that'll hopefully make up for Lulu. Hopefully the band will turn this track into a fleshed out studio version and not just keep it as a B-side that they'll occasionally play live. Also, I know this song was first heard in 2014 but the way I see it, it's to promote something that'll likely come out in 2016. Therefore, it counts!

So yeah, looks like the "Next Time..." trailer for 2016's album releases is full of action, at least on the Rock/Metal side. There are also a few albums from 2015 I've yet to listen to like the last ever Motorhead album (RIP Lemmy) and a new one from ELO...or should that be Jeff Lynne's ELO?
Once again, have a Happy New Year and I'll see you all in 2016!

Tenology: Great Christmas(ish) Songs

Hurrah! It's Christmas 2015 and nobody seems to give a crap. Ah well, at least there are a few good Christmas tracks to listen to and I literally mean "a few". For the most part, Christmas music is terrible and even the decent tracks will sound like babies crying through bagpipes after several forced listens in supermarkets or on adverts.
However, much like good songs on Meat Loaf albums, you can find some great Christmas tracks among the shite if you know where to look. I had planned on writing a Tenology post about ten of those songs but at the time of writing this post, I couldn't find ten that I actually love listening to.
With that in mind, I've extended the parameters to include songs that sound like they fit in with the Winter season. I felt this was appropriate because it gives you something relatively festive to listen to if you're sick of Mariah Carey and Michael Buble, even if they aren't technically Christmas songs. Right, let's see how this goes!

1. "Merry Xmas Everybody" - Slade

Let's get this one out the way, as I'm sure some of you despise it. I really like Slade but get annoyed by the fact that this seems to be their most famous song. I guess it means none of the band will ever go poor due to Christmas licensing royalties but it's a shame that some of their Glam Rock or even Hard Rock tracks don't get the same level of attention. Anyway, I'm supposed to be talking about this song. Having seen Slade perform it live without Noddy belting out "IT'S CHRIIIIIIIIIIIISTMAAAAAAAAAS", I think it's fair to say Noddy Holder makes this song what it is. I like it but it's definitely towards the bottom of my top Christmas song list.

2. "Fight The Good Fight" - Triumph

The first Christmasish song in the list, mostly due to the intro having a choir, synth and acoustic guitar. It's a top notch Hard Rock song in general but it just seems to sound right around this time of year. Also, depending on your attitude towards Christmas, a song about keeping strong in the face of adversity might be right up your alley.

3. "Step Into Christmas" - Elton John

Most Christmas songs have some kind of musical or lyrical gimmick to make them stand out. Sadly, this is often the thing that gets on everyone's tits when overplayed. What's nice about this track is that as well as being a solid Glam Rock tune, there's nothing about it that gets up your nose. It's just a bog standard song that's pleasant to listen to, which is what most of us need to balance out the noise of everything else.

4. "Wanted Dead Or Alive" - Bon Jovi

I'll admit this link is a little tenuous but the gentle chimes at the start are enough for me to think of Christmas, which makes you ponder why they were included in the first place as they have nothing to do with the Wild West like the rest of the song. Next time you're at a festive market and hear wind chimes (assuming there's a stall selling wind chimes), imagine the rest of this song playing and you'll understand why I've included it on this list.

5. "In Dulci Jubilo" - Mike Oldfield

An instrumental Folk song with two guitar solos? Count me in! This is probably my second favourite Christmas song as, again, it's very difficult to get angry about any part of it. It's also one of the few Christmas songs I would ever want to dance to, if I had to dance. Sadly, because it's an instrumental, I get the feeling that it's often snubbed when it comes to Christmas tunes on the radio or TV. Luckily, it'll always have a place in my heart unless something horrible happens to me with this song playing in the background.

6. "Fooling Yourself (The Angry Young Man)" - Styx

It might not be to everyone's tastes but if you can stand Pop Prog, you'll probably enjoy this one next December. A combination of an upbeat rhythm with semi-festive sounding synth makes this more of a Christmasish song than some of Styx's other tracks such as "Mr Roboto" or "Renegade". Also, the final synth solo definitely sounds like something out of a Christmas tune.

7. "Merry Christmas Everyone" - Shakin' Stevens

I'll admit, this song is JUST starting to annoy me. It's the opening line, more than anything. "Snow is falling, all around me, children playing, having fun...". That hasn't been the case for the last, I dunno, five years at least. Snow never falls at Christmas and kids aren't having fun, they're all indoors either bored or checking the same three webpages over and over again. However, after that line, the song gets a lot better. It's merry, it's catchy and it's inoffensive...unless you're a touchy Muslim, of course.

8. "Good Company" - Queen

I may be clutching at straws here with this Beatlesque number but hear me out! Firstly, there's the lyrical content. It's telling you to take care of your close associates and "keep good company", something that some people definitely need to remember at Christmas. Secondly, there's the use of ukulele and a bouncy rhythm, making it sound like the kind of bubbly yet catchy song you'd expect to hear at Christmas. Thirdly, Brian May's guitar tones almost sound like woodwind instruments, something that isn't uncommon in a Christmas track. Finally, and this isn't really a valid point but I figure why not go for it, the album this track hails from was released on the 21st November, which is close enough to Christmas for me to feel it earns a place here.

9. "Father Christmas" - The Kinks

THIS is my favourite Christmas song. Fantastic riffs, awesome chorus, it's a proper rocking Christmas song that actually has the balls to reveal Santa Claus' identity in the first verse, which is probably one of the reasons you don't hear it on the radio. Bottom line is I love it to bits and have yet to get annoyed by it, especially since I only really listen to it one month a year...maybe two, if I stumble across it whilst listening to other Kinks songs.

10. "Killing In The Name" - Rage Against The Machine

Hey, this IS sort of a Christmas song! It was a Christmas No. 1 in the UK so it's as much of a Christmas song as any of the toss that comes from The X Factor every fucking year. It's the only time in the last decade that I've actually been excited to hear the Top 10 countdown for Christmas and I doubt anything will ever top the moment that I heard that first power chord from the song on the radio.


Are there any non Christmas songs that remind you of the festive season? Let me know in the comment section or on Twitter along with the reason why if you're not too busy preparing for tomorrow.
Have a merry Christmas and I'll see you next week for something different!

Showdown: Cover Versions, part 2

I said I'd return to these posts and here we are! Last time, I compared covers and originals of iconic Rock/Metal songs in the Showdown format. This time, I'm going to look at ten Rock/Metal covers of Non-Rock songs before deciding which is better. To clarify my definition of "Non-Rock", basically anything along the lines of Pop, Hip-Hop, R&B or Electronic. In other words, genres that don't rely on Guitar solos, screeching vocals or any other Rock trope, even if they do use instruments popularised by Rock music.
Whilst I'm (almost) always going to prefer a Rock/Metal version, I'll try to be fair with the verdicts and decide based on reasons other than "Rock > Pop". Right then, let's get started!

ROUND ONE: Stayin' Alive
Bee Gees - A classic "Disco" hit that you'll either like or despise, as I don't think it's actually possible for someone with a fully functioning brain to love this song. It's catchy and it's got a solid riff if you can ignore the Saturday Night Fever aspect of it. However, since this is a blog dedicated to Rock/Metal, I won't spend too long talking about Non-Rock tracks so the bottom line is it's OK.
Ozzy Osbourne - That's right, the Prince Of Darkness has recorded a Metal cover of one of the biggest Disco tunes of all time. The most bizarre thing about this is that it actually sounds pretty great, even if it is very tongue-in-cheek. His voice fits the vocal melody as I mentioned earlier, the solid riff sounds even better with a bit of weight behind it. It probably would've been better if it didn't have the corny synth though.
VERDICT - Considering the cover is essentially a massive piss-take from the "Crazy Train" references to "I. AM. DISCO MAN", I do like the sound of the Guitar throughout this track and the solos fit in very well too. At the same time, there's something about the vocal/Guitar combination in the original that can't be replicated. Both are solid tracks in their own right but I'm awarding the win to the Bee Gees, since their version of "Stayin' Alive" is a far superior Pop song than Ozzy's version is a Metal song.

ROUND TWO: Word Up!
Cameo - A funky little number with a catchy chorus and great vocals. Despite being a decent song, it sadly feels very flat most of the way through. It's in dire need of some energy or at least something to differentiate the verse and chorus a bit more. Still a good song though.
Gun - Did you think I was going to talk about the KoRn version? I mean, their cover is probably a bit more faithful but it's easily Gun that have the best cover. They've taken an 80's R&B track and made it their own to the point that the Cameo original just sounds naff after listening to this. It's powerful from start to finish and that solo doesn't sound half bad either.
VERDICT - Obviously it's Gun as they've successfully done what any great Pop to Rock cover version should do; turn it up to 11 and get your head banging!

ROUND THREE: Tainted Love
Gloria Jones - I'll confess, I originally thought this was originally recorded by Soft Cell but it turns out their 80's Pop cover pales in comparison to this 60's Soul track. It has an upbeat tempo, great backing vocals and a simplistic yet foot-tappingly catchy riff. So now it's time to look at the Marilyn Manson cover, right?
Scorpions - WRONG!! I can't fucking stand Marilyn Manson's music and his Industrial cover of another cover can balls, as far as I'm concerned. No, instead I'm comparing the original to a lesser known cover by Scorpions on their 2011 album, Comeblack. It's not the best cover this band have ever recorded (I actually prefer their version of The Who's "I Can't Explain") and it's certainly not the band at their all-time best but it's a great Hard Rock rendition of an old tune that's had its fair share of covers. They probably could've improved the flimsy solo, though.
VERDICT - I really like both versions here. I would say both are great examples of Soul and Hard Rock tracks respectively but I'm awarding the win to Gloria Jones as I tend to enjoy songs with slightly faster tempos, even though the heavier sound of the Scorpions cover is great for headbanging.

ROUND FOUR: Smooth Criminal
Michael Jackson - Fuck, that synth riff is tasty, isn't it? Easily one of Jacko's stronger songs in my eyes (along with "Beat It") but it helps when you've got someone like Quincy Jones producing it. The funky Guitar in the middle-eight could've been less choppy and the string intro is a little unnecessary but other than that, it's a sweet tune.
Alien Ant Farm - I'm not sure if it's the sign of a shit band or excellent cover when you can only name one song by a group and it isn't even theirs. I'm going to be kind and assume excellent cover, as that's what this is. It's as faithful as you can get for a Nu-Metal cover of a Michael Jackson track and as far as vocals go, this band do a bloody good job of reaching MJ's level.
VERDICT - Another tough call here. I love the heavier style of the cover but also enjoy the synth effects of the original. I would also listen to both versions if given the choice so I suppose it's only fair to award both Michael Jackson AND Alien Ant Farm the win here, as I'd only be awarding a single victory based on something insignificant and not representative of the track's strength.

ROUND FIVE: Hard To Handle
Otis Redding - I was also surprised to learn this was the original, since the cover is arguably a lot more well known. This is definitely the more soulful of the two tracks with heavier emphasis on brass and vocals, along with less on Guitar and percussion. However, if you've heard the cover then you'll probably find this version a bit too slow.
The Black Crowes - A Soul classic transformed into a Southern Rock hit. Several aspects remain the same, such as the use of piano and the song's structure, although it's definitely been given the Rock Cover treatment of adding a Guitar solo and improving the drums. Vocals might not be as strong as Otis Redding's but the important thing is the chorus still sounds great!
VERDICT - It's pretty hard to be non-biased on this one, as the original is a great example of Soul music but the cover is a good example of Rock music too. I'm awarding it to The Black Crowes as I personally believe their cover has a stronger mix and actually has an outro instead of just fading out.

ROUND SIX: Rasputin
Boney M. - Another Pop hit from the Disco scene that I'm not even a little bit ashamed to say I like. Starting off with a neat little drum intro before breaking into a Turkish-inspired melody. The chorus is catchy enough to stay with you long after the song's ended too, which always helps.
Turisas - I wouldn't call this a well known cover but it definitely deserves to be! Unlike Ozzy's cover of "Stayin' Alive", this example of Pop Gone Metal doesn't sound ridiculous. It actually turns a solid Disco tune into an epic Metal track. Everything works, from the fiery lyrics to the Guitar melodies. Definitely worth checking out if you like Metal and the original track!
VERDICT - Another case where I want to award the win to both of them, as both tracks deserve to be highly regarded in their genre. However, I'm going to go with my gut and award the win to Turisas for being ambitious and fantastic with their cover.

ROUND SEVEN: The Safety Dance
Men Without Hats - I've previously said on this blog that "The Safety Dance" is one of my favourite Non-Rock songs due to it being catchy and merry without getting too annoying. There's not much else to say other than that really.
Status Quo - Vocally speaking, this is quite a good choice of cover song for Status Quo. However, musically speaking, it falls a bit flat for me. The synth melody from the original is replicated on Guitar but something about it just sounds off. It also doesn't sound like a proper Rock or Pop song; instead, it's a strange hybrid of the two.
VERDICT - As much as I like Status Quo, I don't think their cover of this song deserves a win. Men Without Hats will always have the greatest version of this song but I'll welcome any attempt from bands to try and cover it.

ROUND EIGHT: Feeling Good
Cy Grant - As far as I can tell, this is the earliest recorded version of this song. It's definitely more Jazz-oriented than Nina Simone's cover, which is generally considered to be the original, and a lot smoother than her version too. Whilst her cover allows the music to take a bigger step forward, both tracks have strong vocal performances although sadly neither song is to my taste.
Muse - Ignoring the fact that I'm contradicting myself by discussing a cover of a cover, this is one of the first Muse songs I actually bought (after "Knights Of Cydonia") and I still like it now. It's a faithful cover that doesn't get pompous or self-obsessed like I've come to expect Muse to do with their music, although I feel like I can't enjoy it as much now that I've noticed Matt Bellamy's breath intakes at the start.
VERDICT - It's very hard to defend the original when the cover has superior recording technology and a better use of each band member/instrument...so I won't bother. Muse wins this one.

ROUND NINE: You Spin Me Round (Like A Record)
Dead Or Alive - Yep, it's another 80's synth track! I can't say I love the vocals, which has that sort of wailing Spandau Ballet type sound, but the use of vocal harmonies in the chorus makes them sound a lot better. That and the Pop rhythm make this an enjoyable track to listen to. It's not as great as "The Safety Dance" but it's memorable and OK to hear every now and then.
Sweet - I was VERY surprised when I first heard this as I'm sure you will be too. I'm pretty sure they've actually blended one of their own songs (maybe "Sweet F.A"?) into it but once the vocals kick in and you can take in the heavy galloping rhythm, it becomes very clear that you're listening to a proper Hard Rock track. If I had to pick anything up, I'd say that the drums could do with tightening up. They sound a little muted in comparison to other instruments and with everything else that's going on, some powerful drumming could've made this cover something special.
VERDICT - The original is probably a better Pop song than the cover is a Hard Rock one, although I do think this is a great cover. However, I think the win should go to Dead Or Alive here. If you like this cover, check out the rest of the album by Sweet as they've got a damn good cover of "Blitzkrieg Bop" on it too.

ROUND TEN: I Shot The Sheriff
The Wailers - Fuck me, they weren't kidding with that band name, huh. The backing vocals sound like a bloody piss take, like something off the fucking Muppets. If you can listen past that, the music is great but the song itself deserves to lose infinity points for that vocal line. I mean, I'm not a fan of Reggae by any standards but Jesus Christ, this is painful to listen to.
Eric Clapton - Thank the heavens, the high pitched shite has gone and has been replaced by smooth vocal harmonies! This cover isn't really anything special musically speaking, but what do you expect with Eric Boring Clapton? I used to think that Clapton added the little riff between the verse and chorus (the only reason I like listening to this song) but he didn't even create that. His only service to this track is making it less shit, which I suppose is better than doing nothing at all.
VERDICT - Clapton's cover could've/should've added a little Guitar solo in there somewhere but even if it is a fairly dull cover, Eric Clapton still wins this due to how bloody terrible the original is. Talk about ending on a high note, eh?


I'll admit that I found it quite tricky to locate ten Pop/Non-Rock songs with Rock/Metal covers for this blog so if you've got any that you recommend, feel free to send me them on Twitter or the comment section. Bear in mind I'm only counting ones that have been released on proper albums, not Live versions that are played at secret gigs or something.

The Darkness - Blast Of Our Kind Tour

Last night, I had the chance to go and see The Darkness at the O2 Academy in Leeds, where they were promoting their latest album (which I've reviewed on this blog) and putting on a hell of a show in the process. Before I go into details about the main event, I need to talk about the warm-up act; The River 68's.

It's a fact of life that every modern band has a completely shit warm-up act so I wasn't expecting much from this gig. What we ended up getting were two Scottish boys completely in love with themselves playing the same song over and over again but with different lyrics that you couldn't hear over the venue's terrible vocal acoustics. Since there were only two of them on stage, one of the chaps had to play guitar whilst stamping out a bass drum rhythm and the other got to wail away on vocals as he danced and stroked himself to his mate's basic chord playing.
It was already pretty bad before the one on guitar starting blowing away on the harmonica, the most pointless instrument ever to stain Rock music, but I could forgive all of that if they weren't so fucking boring! It was just the same shit over and over again without any backbone or energy designed to entertain intellectually vacant pissheads, something they could've avoided if they bothered to bring a bloody drummer or decided to play a song that didn't sound like the most basic Southern Rock B-side.
Having listened to a couple of their studio recordings afterwards to compare their work, it seems they know someone capable of playing the drums and injecting a bit of excitement into their music. Unfortunately, their performance left me bored shitless and even though the last song had quite a good melody that would've sounded a lot better had it not come after half an hour of tedium, there was nothing about The River 68's that made me want to give them any of my money for their "art".
But enough about that; let's talk about The Darkness!

After about two minutes of an audibly-painful synth intro, the band appeared on stage and burst into "Barbarian", album opener from Last Of Our Kind. Credit where due, all of their songs sounded nearly identical to the studio versions from the powerful riffing to the falsetto vocals and each member of the band (including the new drummer) was on top form. Justin Hawkins makes a damn fine frontman for the band as his on-stage antics definitely made the night even more entertaining.
In between and often during songs, he would joke with the audience and tell amusing anecdotes. In fact, after the audience started chanting "YORKSHIRE! YORKSHIRE!", the band gradually broke into an impromptu song about areas in Yorkshire which may or may not be turned into a fleshed out track in the near future (if it is, you heard it here first folks!). Along with "The Yorkshire Song", the setlist contained most of the band's greatest hits, some of the best songs off the latest album and pretty much every track off the band's 2003 debut, Permission To Land.
I'll admit, I was disappointed that they didn't play "Last Of Our Kind" or "Open Fire" but on the plus side, I've been introduced to several awesome songs that I'll be purchasing and listening to on repeat for the next couple of weeks. All in all, it was a great evening full of entertainment that I would definitely recommend to fans of a good old fashioned Hard Rock show, although you should be warned that the band do literally pause songs to chat with the audience so if that bothers you, you might want to steer clear.

Unlike Motley Crue, these guys are still touring and (presumably) releasing new material which will be promoted with another tour, so if you get the opportunity to buy tickets for these guys, jump on it! It's just a shame these guys had to release a Deluxe Edition of their latest album that contains a whopping five extra songs too unimpressive to include on the main tracklist, a sin which automatically earns any band a middle finger from me until it fucking stops happening.

Guitar Hero 3: Legends Of Rock

About eight years ago, I received Guitar Hero 3: Legends Of Rock for the Wii for Christmas. It was my first playable experience with the GH series and is still one of my favourite games today (although likely down to nostalgia, even if it is a good game by its own right). It's also responsible for developing my taste in music and introducing me to some of my favourite bands so it'll always hold a special place in my heart, even if it did divide fans who felt the series died when Activision acquired it.
Regardless, the game had a hell of a soundtrack. Iconic Rock songs from decades past, fun modern songs for budding guitarists and insane face-melters to test the seasoned pro. Similar to my post about Rock Band 4, this post will be looking at each of the tracks on the MAIN SETLIST with my personal opinion-based verdict on each of them. If you want me to talk about bonus songs, sorry but I'll only be talking about two of them that are unlocked via Career Mode. Anyway, let's get started!

"3's & 7's" - Queens Of The Stone Age
Starting off...negative, I'm afraid. I despise the drumming that sounds like it's trying too hard to be "different" for the first 80 seconds until Joey Castillo finds a groove that works and the chart has too many chord-based strumming sequences for me to enjoy it as much as others. What really seals my hate for playing this song are the rhythm changes that took me SO DAMN LONG to get used to though. THUMBS DOWN.

"Anarchy In The U.K." - The Sex Pistols
A recognisable Punk anthem, yes. A standard chart, also yes. A rerecording that stays pretty faithful to the original, I guess so. Looking positive, right? WRONG! It's the Sex Pistols and that automatically makes it terrible. They're the epitome of why Punk is a joke of a genre, from their "edgier-than-edgy" attitude towards actually talented Rock musicians during the apex of their career to their fucking shit music. Also, note how I said "standard chart" earlier. It's not a fun chart, it's just a chart. It's got chords, sustains and a 4/4 rhythm with strumming to match. They have no place in Guitar Hero so it's an obvious THUMBS DOWN.

"Barracuda" - Heart
Solid riffing right here and even though it's not near the top of my favourite song list (Hell, it's not even one of my favourite Heart songs), it has a decent chart for where it's placed in Career Mode. A good introduction to gallop-strumming that isn't as difficult as the average Iron Maiden song. The main negative about playing this song is that it's a choke minefield but as far as the music goes, it's a THUMBS UP.

"Before I Forget" - Slipknot
If you thought "3's & 7's" had a load of three note chords, just you fucking wait until you play this one. Awkward chord changes-a-plenty and challenging strum patterns...HOWEVER, if your skills are up to scratch, it can be fun to play. Painful if you've not played in a while but fun up until about three minutes in where the chord sequence becomes even more of a hassle. It also fits in well with the angry 12-year old feel that the Activision Guitar Hero games all share. THUMBS UP.

"Black Magic Woman" - Santana
Good choice of Santana in my books. They could've either gone with a live version/cover of one of his lesser known songs that contains frantic soloing for a higher tiered track but instead opted for one of the most popular ones, putting it just over the halfway point. Granted it's a little bit dull up until "Gypsy Queen" but it's not a terrible choice, especially when it lines up well with the Career Mode plot. You know, if you care about that sort of thing...which I do. THUMBS UP.

"Black Sunshine" - White Zombie
I like the song and I think this is a good cover of the original but now that I've listened to other White Zombie tracks, I'm starting to doubt that this is the best choice. After you've played the killer riff a few times, it all starts to feel a little repetitive. Maybe "Super Charger Heaven" would've been a better choice, as it's got to be the same sort of tier and the lyrics would've made for amazing foreshadowing in the Career Mode plot (as there are many subtle hints in the venues). However, this chart is good for players who want to practice consistent strumming with changing frets simultaneously, I guess. Plus I DO like playing the song. Ah what the heck, THUMBS UP.

"Bulls On Parade" - Rage Against The Machine
So the game is called "Legends Of Rock" and they couldn't get endorsement from Eddie Van Halen or the Jimi Hendrix estate just yet, resulting in Tom Morello from RATM making an appearance. I can buy this, since Morello does have a unique playing style, but of all the songs to pick that showcase his talents, this is the one they pick? A mediocre track with a solo that sounds like someone scratching a nail over a lenticular sleeve? I get that they needed an easier song for early on in the game but it could've been one with more balls like "Guerrilla Radio". THUMBS DOWN.

"Cherub Rock" - Smashing Pumpkins
Considering my entire knowledge of this band before playing the game came from an episode of The Simpsons, I was impressed when I first heard this track. Good riffs, decent solo, an enjoyable song to play! It's also one of the band's better known tracks and slots perfectly into the venue/tier of Career Mode. Overall, it's a perfect fit in the game, which is more than can be said for literally every other Smashing Pumpkins song in GH. THUMBS UP.

"Cities On Flame With Rock And Roll" - Blue Oyster Cult
I know I said no bonus songs but in my eyes, this and the five other Co-Op Career encores are still part of the main setlist even if you do need a friend playing with you to unlock them. Anyway, this is the best song in the game. No arguments, it fucking is. It has an amazing chart, it's a great quality cover and it plays in Career Mode shortly before you're arrested for accidentally setting fire to the neighbourhood (some of you just realised that, didn't you?). Very few charts in the entire GH series have made me as happy as I've been whilst playing this so it's a categorical THUMBS UP from a band who honestly deserve more songs in GH/RB.

"Cliffs Of Dover" - Eric Johnson
Arguably the easiest song of the final tier but definitely the catchiest. Once you get past that intro solo, the verse and chorus will have you tapping your feet along to this cheerful little instrumental. What's more, it has one of those rare charts that syncs perfectly to the rhythm and is made slightly easier if you get a feel for the music...yeah, I just said that. Trust me, songs like this and "What I Got" - Sublime are special. They're entertaining beyond the guitar chart you're playing or song you're listening to. Anyway, before I get even more carried away, it's an easy THUMBS UP.

"Cult Of Personality" - Living Colour
Another rerecord for Guitar Hero with more insane solos, if ever that were possible in this song. This song is probably the cause of a lot of smashed plastic guitars but if you can best it, you're in for a treat. Excellent hammer-on riffing and furious shredding make this an iconic GH track, even if it isn't an iconic Rock hit. Definitely a THUMBS UP.

"The Devil Went Down To Georgia" - Steve Ouimette
The Final Boss of the game and, for some fucking reason, unplayable on the Wii as a complete song. Even though I've never actually played it to the end outside of the battle, it's a fucking sweet end to the game. It requires every skill you've picked up from mastering the game on Expert and makes defeating "the Devil" much more satisfying than if you did it to some other random Metal track. THUMBS UP.

"Even Flow" - Pearl Jam
I would call this a pretty underrated chart, as there isn't really a dull moment throughout the entire track and considering you unlock it about halfway through the game, it's neither mind numbingly easy or blisteringly difficult. It's the perfect balance between challenging and fun (as those who find the track simple to play are likely going for an FC, which CAN be mildly challenging). A great choice for the game too, as there are a limited number of Pearl Jam songs that'd be as fun as this one. THUMBS UP.

"Helicopter" - Bloc Party
I'll be honest, I like the song but it doesn't really feel right for GH3. If anything, it feels like a bonus song that somehow made it into the main setlist. The chart isn't anything special up until a rapid strumming section in the middle and whilst my knowledge on modern Indie Rock isn't spectacular, I'm pretty sure they could've found a better replacement that worked better in Co-Op Career (ignoring the "6 6 6, I think it's 6" line in the song). THUMBS DOWN.

"Hit Me With Your Best Shot" - Pat Benatar
Aside from a fun solo, the song isn't really anything to shout about. However, it's a good track for inexperienced players who have just started (in other words, me when I first started playing) and since it's in the first tier, it rightly belongs in the game. The downside is that experienced players will probably find it boring but hey, it's not the easiest song in the game. That'll be coming a bit later. THUMBS UP.

"Holiday In Cambodia" - Dead Kennedys
A Punk song that doesn't suck on guitar by one of the few Punk bands I can get behind! I knew this song before playing the game so was surprised to hear a weird cover of an extended version with a shitty intro and solo. Luckily, the rest of the song has a fantastic chart that may be a bit strum heavy but it's far from boring. The only downside is that it's a fairly weak cover but apart from that, THUMBS UP.

"Knights Of Cydonia" - Muse
My God, did they pick the right Muse song. A combination of the rapid strumming and the hammer-on triplets can make this pretty damn hard for novice players but fucking awesome for experts. Not only is it one of Muse's most popular songs but it's easily their most fun, right ahead of "Hysteria" and some of the more modern tracks that wouldn't have been available before the release of this game. Similar to nailing the descending triplets in "Cities On Flame With Rock And Roll", not much can beat the thrill of nailing the "Bohemian Rhapsody" moment of this song. THUMBS UP.

"Kool Thing" - Sonic Youth
From that epic high, we crash down with an almighty MEH thanks to Sonic Youth, another band from that episode of The Simpsons that myself and probably the guy at Activision responsible for putting this soundtrack together sort of knew about. It's a wet chart with awkward strumming thrown in but instead of talking about how indifferent I am to this song, here's something for you to look out for next time you play it. You know how the guy goes "Tell it like it is!" during the middle-eight? On the Wii version (and presumably others), it always cuts to the bassist with the epic facial hair like he's supposed to be saying that line. It makes me laugh imagining that that's the character's voice. That's all. Oh sorry, wait. THUMBS DOWN. NOW that's all.

"La Grange" - ZZ Top
Controversial opinion time; I personally prefer the GH3 cover of this song to the original. The mix is a shitton better and it doesn't fade out during the solo like the studio version does. Just like any good ZZ Top song, the song is more about the riffing and less about the vocals so it was a solid choice for the game. Not just that but it's a hell of a fun tune too. THUMBS UP.

"Lay Down" - Priestess
One of the many songs in the GH/RB franchise that have skyrocketed a band into further popularity after the game's release, and with good reason. The chart is fun, the song is heavy and whilst it's hardly anything special in or out of the game, it's an all-round good egg. The solo could've been a little bit better, as opposed to just copying the vocal melody like many shitty Guitar solos before, but it's a good filler track for the game. THUMBS UP.

"The Metal" - Tenacious D
When I first heard this song, I knew about Tenacious D and, I confess, I didn't really like them. This song didn't help with my preconceived opinion, even if it does have a fun guitar chart. I still find it kind of annoying to listen to now, even after becoming a fan of The D (phrasing, BOOM!). Something like "Master Exploder" or "Tribute" would've been a far better choice, the latter especially since both the song and game's Career Mode have similar antagonists. THUMBS DOWN.

"Miss Murder" - AFI
To Hell with whatever Rock credibility I have, I quite like this song. At least I like it until the screamy middle-eight section where the song literally and figuratively slows everything down. It has a catchy bassline and the guitar is quite fun for its placement in the Career Mode setlist. I'm guessing this song is popular in the U.S amongst the younger demographic, hence its inclusion in the series after Activision took over. Either way, I'm gonna be generous and give it a THUMBS UP.

"Mississippi Queen" - Mountain
It might be a Rock Radio staple but it's hardly a fun track to play on GH. Even fans of the band or Classic Rock genre would probably agree that there are much better songs that could've been covered for the game. It was likely picked because someone at Activision loved the tune, or maybe they'd just finished watching that episode of The Simpsons with Smashing Pumpkins and Sonic Youth, since that also contains this song. Shame he didn't go for "Shining On" - Grand Funk instead. THUMBS DOWN.

"Monsters" - Matchbook Romance
The final encore from Co-Op Career Mode and quite a challenging Guitar chart at that. Much like "Helicopter", it doesn't feel as worthy as other songs on the main setlist but luckily what it does have going for it is a strong solo that'll come as a surprise to anyone who's never played the track/heard the tune. On that alone, I'm giving it a THUMBS UP as it's fun to play and decent to listen to.

"My Name Is Jonas" - Weezer
Before I played "Cities On Flame With Rock And Roll", this was probably my favourite track to play on Expert guitar. The acoustic hammer-on sections and electric outro are incredibly fun to play for guitarists who have just mastered Expert and whilst the rest of the song is a little chord heavy, it's still a blast to play. As for whether this is the best Weezer song to pick...well, it's probably the most fun Weezer song on Guitar pre-2007 and since it comes from the Blue Album, I'm guessing there aren't many more tunes they could've picked that the fans would be happy with. So yeah, THUMBS UP.

"The Number Of The Beast" - Iron Maiden
Fuck. Yes. Great chart (even if the solo is slightly undercharted), amazing song, perfect tie-in to Career Mode and it's the original version! This song introduced me to Iron Maiden and, I suppose, Metal as a genre. It was the first Metal song on my iPod and I haven't looked back since. THUMBS UP!

"One" - Metallica
It took me a while to appreciate this song. I like the main riff but it just takes too long to get into and once it gets to the solo, it becomes a nightmare. However, Metallica fans love this song and it definitely belongs in the final tier of GH3. I'm not certain which Metallica song could've been better although maybe "Master Of Puppets", since that's probably more of a signature song and fits in with the theme of the Career Mode plot a bit more. Whatever, THUMBS UP.

"Paint It, Black" - The Rolling Stones
Definitely the right choice in Rolling Stones song. It might not have much going on after the first couple of riffs/choruses but it's one of their better riff-based songs that are popular enough to deserve a spot. Shame all the other Rolling Stones songs that'd appear in subsequent GH games would be inferior to this one. You'd think GH would get some belting Stones songs, what with them being one of the few Classic Rock bands on the Activision CEO's iPod along with Aerosmith and Led Zeppelin. THUMBS UP.

"Paranoid" - Black Sabbath
Completing the Holy Trinity of Black Sabbath songs in GH games is probably the easiest track of the three to play. However, it's still fun to play and the cover version is easily as good as the original. There's a bit of odd charting with three-note chords before two-note chords in the verses but it's still fun and certainly worthy of appearing in this game. THUMBS UP.

"Pride And Joy" - Stevie Ray Vaughan
I fucking hate this song. I hate the Blues riff, I hate the sound of Stevie's voice, I hate the awkward soloing and I hate that it's actually quite a popular track because it means any reason I have for shitting all over this song is personal. I suppose it's a good choice in terms of difficulty but it just sounds like such a fucking boring, uninspired song. THUMBS DOWN if you're like me and abhor this track but otherwise, it's alright.

"Raining Blood" - Slayer
Definitely another song that's notorious in the GH community for being such a bugger on your wrists. However, once you nail the strumming patterns and lock down the note sequence on that mental bit after the intro riff, it's actually pretty damn fun! It's no "Cliffs Of Dover" or "My Name Is Jonas" but it provides plenty of thrills for the expert player. It's basically the Running Of The Bulls of the GH franchise. THUMBS UP.

"Reptilia" - The Strokes
Everyone likes The Strokes, right? They seem like one of those bands that nobody has anything bad to say about even though they're not that amazing. This track, however, is definitely one of their good ones with a pretty fun chart too. "Last Nite" could've worked too but I think I prefer listening to this song. THUMBS UP.

"Rock And Roll All Nite" - KISS
This is one of those songs that would've been highly requested if it didn't end up in GH. However, in a way, I'm glad this version made it before the original as the cover uses the solo from one of the live versions. It's a lot more fun than the original/rerecord but if I had to choose any KISS song to be in the game, I would've chosen from many others instead. "I Stole Your Love", "Detroit Rock City", "Hotter Than Hell", "Love Her All I Can", "Uh! All Night", the list goes on. However, this song is likely more popular than all of those combined so I suppose it's a good choice in general. For me personally though, it's a THUMBS DOWN.

"Rock You Like A Hurricane" - Scorpions
Obviously this is a great choice! It's a hugely popular Rock song with a powerful riff and excellent solos. Regardless of what Scorpions songs would be more fun on Guitar, this song is a perfect choice for the game. Not only that but the cover version sounds better than the 2011 rerecord by Scorpions themselves. THUMBS UP.

"Sabotage" - Beastie Boys
Hmmm. Tough choice. On the one hand, I quite like the song and don't hate playing it. Plus, it's definitely one of the best choices of Beastie Boys songs for the series (seriously, why hasn't GH or RB used "Fight For Your Right" yet?). On the other, I doubt anyone would've complained if the Beastie Boys never even touched these music games. Actually, there'd probably be someone. Some stupid cunt somewhere. I'm gonna go with my gut on this and say THUMBS UP, as it's introduced through Co-Op Career and the bass in this song fucking rocks.

"Same Old Song And Dance" - Aerosmith
Yeah, this song was picked because someone at Activision likes the fucking song. You want a fun Aerosmith song on Guitar, you go to the Toys In The Attic or Rocks albums. "Walk This Way", "Back In The Saddle", "Toys In The Attic", "Rats In The Cellar", something other than this Bluesy number. It's not bad on Guitar but it's not amazing either. Plenty of better Aerosmith songs to choose from, this should've been given to Guitar Hero: Aerosmith. THUMBS DOWN.

"School's Out" - Alice Cooper
An easy choice to make if you have to pick an Alice Cooper track. His biggest hit that also happens to have fun riffs and moderately challenging solos. However, I can't say I enjoy playing it that much. I'm not overly fond of the song itself but choosing any other Alice Cooper track instead of this one would be madness in my eyes. That being said, it's a shame neither GH or RB have used "Feed My Frankenstein" as that'd be fantastic on Guitar. Oh well, THUMBS DOWN due to personal taste again.

"The Seeker" - The Who
Hey, it's a song that I also wrote about for Rock Band 4! The main differences are that this cover has doesn't sound as good as the original AND there's an annoying strumming section in the middle, hence why I preferred its use in RB4. With that in mind, maybe a different song by The Who would've been better for GH3. Maybe something like a cover of the original "My Generation", I dunno. However, I remember this song being the main reason I asked for GH3 for Christmas when I was previewing some of the songs on iTunes so it seems only fair that I give it a THUMBS UP.

"Slow Ride" - Foghat
Slow by name, slow by fucking nature. This song is basically only good at being a gentle introduction to a new difficulty. You'd be hard pressed to fail on this one if you're moving from Medium to Hard or even Hard to Expert. However, much like "Mississippi Queen", it's a Classic Rock song that nobody would miss if it were magically removed from the series. THUMBS DOWN.

"Story Of My Life" - Social Distortion
Ah yes, that funny sounding one with what feels like the perfect Star Power path on Expert. It may be pretty repetitive on Guitar but in a very fun way. It's a shame they couldn't get the original version of this song instead of a cover but it's still a perfect choice of song and gets a THUMBS UP from me.

"Stricken" - Disturbed
I guess if they had to pick a song by Disturbed, any track is as good as the last since they all sound damn near identical. At least this one has a pretty fun solo and a solid riff, although I can't say I love the song. Either way, I still play it from time to time so THUMBS UP.

"Suck My Kiss" - Red Hot Chili Peppers
Even though I had some difficulty playing the main riff of this song when I was still learning Expert, I bloody love this track now. Great solo and a great choice, since they're one of those bands where you can pretty much choose any fun song and get away with it. It's one of the band's more...how can I put this..."action-packed" songs so it's got that going for it, although "Under The Bridge" or "Dani California" would've also been good. THUMBS UP.

"Sunshine Of Your Love" - Cream
Whilst it's good to have Cream in GH (even if it is a cover), I despise this song. I don't like the riff and I bloody hate the outro, not to mention the godawful solo. I would've gone with "White Room" instead of this but for a second tier track, I suppose this song fills a gap. However, that's all it does as there isn't really anything fun about this song on Guitar. You can thank Eric Boring Clapton for that. THUMBS DOWN.

"Talk Dirty To Me" - Poison
The second song in Career Mode is a bit of a step up from "Slow Ride" although it's still a warm-up song so don't expect much. It has a fun little outro and the solo's not bad. Plus the chorus is fun to play, especially with the volume cranked up. I would say "Nothin But A Good Time" would've been a better choice but that was already used in GH:80's so it has to be a THUMBS UP.

"Through The Fire And Flames" - DragonForce
A bonus song unlocked by beating Career Mode and also widely considered to be the hardest song in the entire GH franchise...and I bloody love it. Ignore the insane chart for a moment, put aside the corny lyrics that plague the well known DragonForce tracks and forget about the shit this band have been getting from people accusing them of speeding up their music in the studio (I've seen them live and can confirm that's horseshit), I actually like the song a lot and listen to it for reasons other than GH. Admittedly most of those reasons are down to Brutal Legend but it's still a decent tune by my standards with a great chorus and intro melody. Obviously it belongs in GH and even though I can beat it on Expert, I've never managed to 5 star it yet. However, I have come close (about 7,000 points away) and one day when I return to playing GH after I get bored of Rock Band, I will get there! THUMBS UP.

"Welcome To The Jungle" - Guns N' Roses
Ugh, this fucking song with its annoying lyrics and shiteawful solo. The song that caused the schism between Axl Rose and Activision, resulting in no more GNR tracks in GH. This is one of the rare times where I actually side with Axl and blame the other party for fucking things up. Most people will say that this is a great song but those people clearly haven't considered how bloody awesome "Paradise City" would've been in GH, even if it would've messed the tiers up. If that song and Slash's appearance in the game was responsible for the lawsuit and not this one, at least something good would've come as a result of the dispute. THUMBS DOWN.

"When You Were Young" - The Killers
Finally, here's a song by a rubbish band. It's not even fun on Guitar, it's just fucking chords and strumming. It's only in the game because OHMYGODILOOOOOVETHISSONG as idiots/Killers fans say. At the time of this game's development, there were hundreds of Alternative bands that deserved a song in the game over these wankers. Needless to say THUMBS DOWN.


Right, let's tally it all up! If my maths is on the ball, it's 32 Thumbs Up vs. 15 Thumbs Down. Pretty clear win for Guitar Hero 3: Legends Of Rock right there. Next time I do one of these posts, I'll probably pick a game from the Rock Band series but hopefully I won't be doing another video game post until 2016.

Music Videos: Dos & Don'ts

DISCLAIMER: This post has been a bit of a rush (as I forgot to prepare a post this week) so I apologise if the standard is a little shitty.

Music Videos are definitely more of a Pop staple than a Rock one but ever since MTV's birth in the early 80's and the rise of the Hair Metal genre, Rock and Metal bands have been releasing music videos to promote their material for the last three decades. Some are straightforward performance based ones, some are more narrative with a clear story to them and others are purely conceptual with random ideas thrown together to make a fun abstract video to watch.
However, just like anything that requires talent or imagination to make, there are plenty of opportunities to go wrong. In this post, I'll be listing some of the Dos and Don'ts of how to make a decent Rock/Metal music video. As is always the case with Dos & Don'ts posts on this blog, my writing is almost entirely opinion based with a few facts thrown in. If you have any feedback or suggestions regarding the Dos and Don'ts of Music Videos, let me know in the comment section.

DO choreograph it properly
This is the kind of thing 11-year olds whose Youtube accounts consist of hundreds of videos of them playing video games with Linkin Park in the background completely fail to do so bands have no fucking excuse. Regardless of what's happening in your video, make damn sure that it fits in with the music. Cut to a different camera before or after a significant part of the song, slide your explosive special effects in during an explosive part of the song, have some fun with it for Christ's sake.

DO keep most of the song intact
I can understand the need for editing tracks to make them more suitable for promotion but if you have to hack apart a song so much that you're removing more than 90 seconds of it, you've picked a bad song to release as a single. I also can't understand the logic in trimming a track by a few seconds, as it seems like an unnecessary change to make. A song should be something that band has written with meaning, not just as a tool to make shitloads of cash. If a band are comfortable with heavily cutting up something they've created like a slab of donner meat in a kebab shop, chances are they don't give a shit about their own music and are likely only in it for the money/fame, hence the music video.

DO make it impressive
The best music videos are easily the ones that are memorable, that leave you wanting to watch it again regardless of your opinion towards the song. In fact, if a music video is THAT impressive, it might make you enjoy the song purely through positive association. If you're making a performance video, don't just have the band standing about playing like it's an ordinary rehearsal. If you're making a narrative video, tell a great story that's made even better with the song as a soundtrack. If you're making a conceptual video, make it stand out; don't just be weird for the sake of weird, be weird with style.

DON'T interrupt your song
Modern Pop-Rock/Alternative bands have a habit of doing this and it's bloody annoying. You'll be listening to the song, enjoying yourself and the video that you're watching, and the band decide to pause whatever's happening just for a shitty joke or self-indulgent moment. It ruins any kind of pacing in both the music and video, something that younger bands seem more inclined to do as opposed to older Rock/Metal acts that give a bigger shit about the quality of their music.

DON'T let your ego get out of control
Basically any video that has one or more of the band surrounded by women. It's bad enough when the band think "Hey, let's make a video showing a crowd of fans going mental over us", it's even worse when they imply the crowd are so into the show that they're ready to be fucked by whoever puts their instrument down first. This also includes music videos that show the band living out some kind of non-sexual fantasy like being superheroes or something, since being Rock Stars apparently isn't enough for these guys. I want to be entertained, not watch some arseholes entertaining themselves. It's the equivalent of vocalists who get the audience to sing most of the song at gigs.

DON'T underestimate a simple idea
You can throw a huge sum of money at a project without any drive or passion and it'll end up as a soulless piece of shit. Money doesn't automatically make something good, it merely makes a good thing better provided enough care goes into it. There are music videos that cost barely anything to make and are more iconic than any big-budget piece, partly down to the simplicity of it...that and it being amusing or impressive, as I said before. The point is a big expensive video can be cool but so can a cheap yet creative one. Don't overlook this just because you want to swing your dick about with a multi-million dollar advert.

Apologies again for the lateness of this post. If you have any ideas or requests for me, feel free to either use the comment section or Twitter!

Showdown: Cover Versions

It's taken me a long time to write this post, even though it's incredibly basic in principle. Last time I wrote a Showdown post, I was weighing up the tracks on Whitesnake's Purple Album against the Deep Purple originals. I had planned on writing more Showdown posts between now and then but never really knew what to write about. However, after hearing a decent Rock cover version of a new Pop song last night, I had an idea.
In this first post of (hopefully) quite a few, I'll be looking at select cover versions and comparing them to the originals in the Showdown format. Instead of just throwing in a bunch of random covers that I prefer/hate, I've decided to limit my choices either to iconic tracks that have lesser known but equally strong covers OR popular songs that are actually covers of originals most people might not even know about.
Since I wrote about non-Rock songs last week, I'll be limiting this post just to Rock/Metal songs and covers. If I get around to writing another of these in the future, I'll include Pop and other non-Rock genres then. Also, if it isn't obvious, I'll be discussing the original, then the cover, then my verdict on which is better. Time to get this fight started!

ROUND ONE: You Really Got Me
The Kinks - One of this band's signature songs and a damn good one at that. It's considered to be one of the earliest "Hard Rock" tracks in existence but regardless of whether you think it's Hard Rock, Garage Rock or just plain old Rock, it's a hell of a song. Heavy guitar riff (for the 60's), catchy chorus AND verse, fitting solo, all in the space of just over 2 minutes.
Van Halen - A solid cover with great vocals from David Lee Roth that helped propel the band to success when promoting their debut album. By and large, it's a pretty faithful cover except for a couple of differences after the second chorus. Eddie Van Halen beefs up the guitar solo to include more tapping and after he's finished, the final verse is a bit of a comedown with softer drums and no guitar melody. Considering it's only a short song, you shouldn't really need to slow things down in the middle.
VERDICT - An easy decision for me but honestly, both songs are good. However, the comedown in the Van Halen cover sort of spoils it for me. I like a song that can keep things consistent from start to finish without needing a breather in the middle so I'm awarding this win to The Kinks.

ROUND TWO: Blinded By The Light
Bruce Springsteen - I've made my thoughts on Bruce Springsteen perfectly clear on the blog before but this song isn't completely terrible. His voice doesn't sound as bloated as it usually does but I'm still not in love with the track. It sounds like too much of a cruise ship performance for me to really enjoy it, although I do prefer Bruce's original lyrics in the chorus.
Manfred Mann's Earth Band - It might be about as faithful as a pissed up Italian whose wife is away for the weekend but this is the version everyone knows, and with fairly good reason. "Wrapped up like a douche" confusion aside, it's a catchy little number that's easily more memorable than the original, thanks to the soft chorus after building up through the verses. This band took a mediocre cover and made it special, which is always the sign of a good cover, regardless of your opinion of how good either song actually is.
VERDICT - Bruce was always going to lose this one in my books but at least here, I can back up my prejudice against this rubbish vocalist. The lyrics might be better in the original but practically the entire song is better to listen to during the cover, so Manfred Mann's Earth Band win this one hands down.

ROUND THREE: Hurt
Nine Inch Nails - Up until the last episode of Rick And Morty season 2, I wasn't really feeling this song. It's a slow burner but definitely rewarding if you sit and properly listen to it, although the minute of static noise at the end kind of stops this song from being one you want to listen to all the way through repeatedly. Still, the vocals are dripping in the amount of self-loathing that a song like this deserves. A powerful tune by a band I normally wouldn't care for.
Johnny Cash - Can we count Country music in this post, since it's technically not Rock? Ah whatever, it's close enough. There's been confusion in the past about whether this was the original or not but the pain behind the song is still there, albeit having moved from anger to depression. It might be less powerful than the original when it comes to the instruments that are used but it's equally as powerful when it comes to how the song actually sounds.
VERDICT - Tough one, this. They're both excellent in their own right and I would recommend both songs. However, since the Johnny Cash cover doesn't have the wasted minute at the end, I'm awarding the win to Johnny Cash this round. Maybe some of you will prefer the NIN original because of that minute where you get to just sit and reflect but for me personally, I'd rather spend that time listening to something new. Also, whilst I'm on the subject of great Johnny Cash covers, do give his rendition of "Cat's In The Cradle" - Harry Chapin a listen!

ROUND FOUR: Paranoid
Black Sabbath - An iconic Metal (or Rock, depending on your genre qualifications) song that is easily recognisable and arguably overplayed in comparison to other Black Sabbath tracks. I've always found the solo a bit dodgy on this recording, not because of the notes that are played but rather the actual sound of Iommi's guitar playing. It's also quite a flat song once you're used to other Rock tracks of the same decade so whilst I loved it when I first heard it, it's definitely one that's lost magic over time.
Megadeth - There are a couple of covers of this song but I've chosen Megadeth because it's one of the first covers I heard of this track. The tempo's a little faster, the guitar's a little heavier and the vocals are a lot better. I can't say I regard Ozzy's vocals highly but Dave Mustaine's just seem to fit better with this song. The only flaw in this track is the ending, which gets a little silly and ruins what I would've otherwise called a perfect cover.
VERDICT - Purists will no doubt find a million ways in which the Black Sabbath version trumps any and every cover but I would much rather listen to the cover in almost any given situation over the original. I still like the original but if I had to choose a winner, it'd be Megadeth.

ROUND FIVE: Knockin' On Heaven's Door
Bob Dylan - A song that's been covered an inordinate amount of times by a variety of artists but ultimately, this recording is the source. Bob Dylan's soft, soulful song about a sheriff hanging up his guns has a poignant quality to it that I've yet to hear in any other cover. It really does sound like the swan song of a man who's reached the end of the line and is ready to accept his fate. Not only is it a fantastic track where Bob Dylan actually sings instead of whines but it's one that really shouldn't have been covered to a lesser degree by any band, especially not these fuckknuckles...
Guns N' Roses - Gone is the sombre tranquillity from the original, gone are the simple guitar melodies or battle-fatigued vocals and gone is any shred of quality that Bob Dylan's recording had. Rather than perform a song with the emotion it deserves, Axl decided to shout and mewl all the way through it whilst Slash enjoys an unnecessarily long jerk-off sesh as the band make this song all about fucking them. Listening to this again to prepare for this post has made me hate Axl even more than I did before, as I bet it was him who wanted to cover/ruin this track in the first place.
VERDICT - Do I even need to say it? Some of you might think I chose this track just to have a dig at GNR but I reckon I could choose any cover of this song, whether it's Eric Clapton's shitty Reggae version or Avril Lavigne's stripped-back B-side, and still give the win to Bob Dylan. However, that being said, I will rarely miss the opportunity to stab and twist the knife into Axl Rose's vocal work.

ROUND SIX: Baby, Please Don't Go
Big Joe Williams - A Blues song from the 1930's, Big Joe Williams' original is stripped back and lacking in any kind of power but that's to be expected, really. It's still a decent Blues song but combine the poor recording quality with the basic structure and it's unlikely to strike a chord with you, unless you're a Blues fanatic. Again, this track has been covered a hell of a lot and most covers will probably be better than the original so in a complete contrast to the last example, I've decided to pick a cover that didn't make me want to punch the vocalist.
Aerosmith - The added bass, drums and additional guitar melodies really make this track. The driving rhythm and fast pace give it an edge that Big Joe never could've pulled off with a nine-stringed guitar and his foot. Perhaps the aggression in the vocals doesn't fit to perfection with the lyrics but this is definitely a song for a more contemporary Rock audience. Blues fanatic or not, you have to love that bass though.
VERDICT - I'm not a massive fan of old Blues songs as they do little to captivate me but even if I did like the original, I'd have to be crazy to not award this to Aerosmith for a top quality cover.

ROUND SEVEN: Can't Find My Way Home
Blind Faith - Maybe this isn't a notable Rock song but it's been covered more times than a piss-stain on a white carpet and I still love it as much as I did when I first heard it. Everything about it is simple yet so, so effective. However, it's the vocals that really shine here, although the high pitch might put some listeners off. Luckily, I'm not one of those listeners and this song will always hold a special place for me. For this comparison, I've picked a cover that does something...a little different with the cover.
Black Label Society - Whilst I like a few of this band's heavier songs off the same album, this cover feels inappropriate. It starts off well with strings and piano but when Zakk Wylde sounds like he does, I'm not sure why they chose to cover a song that requires delicate vocals. Not only that but towards the end, Zakk decides to turn it into slosh by mindlessly shredding all over the fucking place. If Zakk was feeling a little insecure about his skills and wanted everyone to know that he's a shit-hot guitarist, he should've picked a different song to whack it out to.
VERDICT - A poor choice of cover for BLS, although it could've worked if Zakk Wylde stuck to the piano like a good boy. There are a few bands who have covered this song that may have stood a better chance than the one I chose (such as Styx and Stuffy Shmitt) but Blind Faith definitely trump Black Label Society on this one.

ROUND EIGHT: Born To Be Wild
Steppenwolf - A solid driving anthem and another contender for the earliest "Hard Rock" track in existence but it's also had its fair share of covers over the years. Crunching guitar riffs and a short but strong chorus are usually what make these songs stand out, and that's certainly the case with this easy rider too. It's just a shame the track fades out during what sounds like a good solo too.
The Cult - Why the fuck did they slow the tempo down? Maybe they wanted it to sound more like one of their songs but if that were the case, surely they would've played at their standard 140 bpm instead of fucking about with the song. Also, is it me or does Ian Astbury sound like he's taking the piss with his vocals on this one? I love him as a vocalist and the Electric album is definitely in my good books but this cover really brings both him and the album down.
VERDICT - If someone were to write a book about how to record a good cover version, Rule #1 should be "Don't cover Born To Be Wild or Gimme Some Lovin" as I've never heard a solid cover of either of those two tracks, and The Cult's recording should act as a black flag for any other bands who think they can get away with a shitpoor/experimental cover of an iconic song. Steppenwolf all the way here.

ROUND NINE: Hanging On The Telephone
The Nerves - I feel like this should be common knowledge by now but the version of this song you probably know is actually a cover of a track by The Nerves. As far as the music, structure and vocals goes, it's all pretty sound. There's nothing really wrong with the song but it's all just a bit flat, if you ask me. There's nothing about it that stands out if you've heard the cover as it's pretty much just the same verse/chorus over and over until the end. Good effort but I can see why the Blondie cover is the preferred track.
Blondie - A perfect example of how someone has taken a song and made it their own. Blondie's cover adds a few extra instruments and a brief middle-eight that spices things up a tad. Overall, it's a short and punchy tune that's faithful to the original in all the places that count and different enough to make it better to listen to.
VERDICT - Opinion is a deciding factor for most of these songs but when a track is improved by a tidy solo or perhaps more fitting instruments, it's not exactly a difficult decision to make. Blondie may not be a fantastic band outside of their well known Rock singles but they easily win this round.

ROUND TEN: Summertime Blues
Eddie Cochran - Time to end on another Blues Rock track and what better than another short number that's had a string of covers. The bizarre thing about this song is that I've never heard a cover which keeps the same tempo as the original which, in my opinion, make this song enjoyable. The bouncing rhythm, low vocals and clean guitar riff without any complications make this a great gem from the 50's, which is something you won't hear me say that often.
Rush - Yep, Rush are one of the bands who have covered this one. I was tempted to use the more well known covers by either The Who and Blue Cheer but to be honest, they all make the same mistake in going overboard with the heavy riffing and slowing down the tempo so it's irrelevant as to which one I compare with the original. I suppose I should add "Summertime Blues" to the list of songs that no band should ever cover, if this is the standard.
VERDICT - Please let me know if a band has recorded a truly faithful cover of this track, as I'd be willing to give it a shot. Until that date, it's fair to say Eddie Cochran will always be superior.


If you have any covers that you recommend over the originals that I've listed in this post, let me know. I'll probably return to cover versions in a Showdown post sometime in the future although I'll happily welcome recommendations of tracks to listen to for that as well.

Tenology: Non-Rock Songs

Here's another post that was requested via Twitter and one I've actually quite enjoyed thinking about. I've made it well known on this blog that I'm a big Rock and Metal enthusiast but there are songs belonging to other genres that I like too, although I'm definitely not as knowledgeable about Pop, Soul, Hip Hop or others.
That being said, I've been asked to write up a post detailing some non-Rock/Metal songs that I enjoy listening to so here are ten of my favourites in no particular order. Also, I'm not counting songs that have strong Rock elements so that rules out quite a few songs I enjoy such as "Super Freak" - Rick James and bands like The Beatles, assuming you call them Pop instead of Rock.


1. "Crazy" - Seal

I was torn between this one and "Na Na Hey Hey Kiss Him Goodbye" - Steam. In the end, I chose this track because I felt it had less of a Rock vibe than the other, although I probably like them both the same. I don't really know many Seal songs outside of this one and "Kiss From A Rose" but I think, gun to head, I prefer this one. It may go on a bit too long but it's still got a good mix and a strong vocal-based chorus, just as good Pop songs should have.


2. "The Safety Dance" - Men Without Hats

Fair warning, this isn't the only "cheesy" 80's Pop One-Hit Wonder on this list and you're lucky I was able to condense it down to just a couple. If I had to post 20 tracks, you could've expected to see "Walk The Dinosaur" - Was (Not Was) and "Opposites Attract" - Paula Abdul, to name a few. Anyway, I fucking love this song. Sorry but I do. It's incredibly catchy, the lyrics aren't as inane as other Pop anthems and it's short enough to not get annoying.


3. "You Can't Hurry Love" - The Supremes

Cards on the table, the game Donkey Konga is probably responsible for my love of this song. It's about as inoffensive as you can get and it has a good little rhythm to it. I could probably forgive any song that you can do the Carlton Dance to without too much effort unless it's absolutely fucking terrible and fortunately, this song isn't absolutely fucking terrible. It's the aural equivalent of a hot water bottle on a cold evening, that's roughly how nice it is.


4. "Weapon Of Choice" - Fatboy Slim

To borrow the parlance of knobheads, back in the day I was really into Fatboy Slim. There were several tracks to choose from for this list such as "That Old Pair Of Jeans" and "Praise You" but I ended up going with "Weapon Of Choice" simply because I could happily sit and listen to it on repeat for hours. Even though it's the same tune over and over again (which is pretty much Pop music summarised), it's catchy enough to sound awesome.


5. "On Our Own" - Bobby Brown

Bit of 80's Hip-Hop/Pop for you! It's not exactly an amazing song and it's definitely pretty forgettable but every time I heard it, I can't help but hum along to the backing vocal melody. That's about all there is to say on this song other than it's not the only track I've picked that can be heard in Ghostbusters II...


6. "(Your Love Keeps Lifting Me) Higher And Higher - Jackie Wilson

Even if I first heard this song in a godawful film, my perception of the song wasn't forever tarnished by Eddie Murphy in fat drag. As soon as that bass comes in, the song is just fantastic right the way through to the end. The mix of each instrument is layered perfectly and the whole song just oozes happiness, which isn't something I usually look for in a song. However, it's abundantly present here and I'm glad for it, as should you be.


7. "Part-Time Lover" - Stevie Wonder

Another song that works perfectly with the Carlton Dance! There are several decent Stevie Wonder tracks but this is easily my favourite. I remember hearing it years and years ago but not knowing who it was by or what it was called. For years, I thought it was just an awesome cover of "Maneater" - Hall & Oates but after being used in an episode of Never Mind The Buzzcocks, I bought it straight away! It's hard to pinpoint exactly why I love this track but I reckon the general melody is probably the main reason.


8. "Cobrastyle" - Teddybears

You'll probably know this song if you listen to it, at least you might if you watch American TV shows. I wasn't sure if I should include this, as it samples the piano riff from "Good Thing" - Fine Young Cannibals (a song I was also tempted to include on this list if it had less Rock elements) but I think it belongs here, especially when you compare it to the average music I review on this blog. At the risk of sounding like a teenage moron, it's got a great beat and chorus, even if I have no idea what the guy's rapping about.


9. "Rock Me Amadeus" - Falco

Most of you will probably choose "99 Luftballoons" - Nena as the best German Synth-Pop track of the 80's. Whilst I do love that track as well, it's got to be "Rock Me Amadeus" that earns the spot on this post. It's one of those tracks that I'm determined to learn the difficult lyrics for like "We Didn't Start The Fire" - Billy Joel or "Life Is A Rock (But The Radio Rolled Me)" - Reunion but until then, I'll just have to enjoy this wedge of 80's goodness.


10. "Green Onions" - Booker T. & The M.Gs

You know a song is special when it's instantly recognisable and enjoyable from the first couple of notes. Since it's an instrumental track, it's quite short and doesn't have a lot going for it other than the main blues riff. However, it's a solid tune and great to hear every now and then...mind you, it's quite close to Rock what with it being a Blues track. I'm sure it'll be fine, since I've mentioned loads of other non-Rock songs throughout this blog that I also like.

Next week, I'll be back to Rock/Metal related posts but if you have any more requests, feel free to let me know either on Twitter or the comments section of this post. Also, if there are any Non-Rock/Metal songs you like that you would recommend to to me, let me know!

Motley Crue - The Final Tour

For those of you who haven't had their ear to the ground of the Rock/Metal scene, Motley Crue announced that they're calling it quits after going on one last hurrah and performing a Greatest Hits setlist all over the world. Unlike other bands such as Judas Priest who lie about going on a farewell tour just to fill more seats, Motley Crue have made a big deal about how this is genuinely the end and two days ago, I was lucky enough to catch them in Manchester before they fade away.

The warm-up band (The One Hundred) were fucking shite. They sounded like a generic screaming Metal band populated by thirteen year olds and their older brothers. So yeah, I don't recommend paying for anything by these guys based on what I heard.
Luckily, they were just a warm-up for a much better warm-up. Eventually, Alice Cooper and his band hit the stage and played a selection of hits from "Poison" to "No More Mr. Nice Guy". This isn't the first time I've seen Alice Cooper live but it was definitely the better performance. The first time, Alice Cooper was on his own at a charity gig with musicians from other bands such as Ian Paice and Brian May. However, since this was an Alice Cooper show, he had more time to play his own songs with all the theatrics involved.
I'm not really a huge Alice Cooper fan but his vocals are still as strong as they were when he recorded them all those decades ago, plus he really knows how to put on a freaky show. The only problem was that some of the stage theatrics (such as dressing as a massive Frankenstein Monster and running about shouting during the end of "Feed My Frankenstein") can be greatly distracting from the music so if you just want to hear Alice Cooper songs, you might find it a little off-putting. Then again, his shows have always been about shock and awe so if you go in expecting that, you won't be disappointed.
So yes, I enjoyed Alice Cooper's segment of the show. Now onto the main event!

Motley Crue came out with a roar and opened with "Girls, Girls, Girls", joined by pyrotechnics and two scantily clad ladies dancing about and occasionally providing backing vocals. They played a great selection of tunes from various albums with a few mediocre ones every now and then, such as a cover of "Anarchy In The U.K.". Not that it makes any difference as they're no longer touring after this year but the band are all still on top form. There are a few blemishes here and there such as Vince Neil's inability to sing longer vocal phrases without pausing throughout (very noticeable during "Live Wire" and "Dr. Feelgood") but everyone in the band and audience still had a great time.
There were also a couple of odd moments during the show, like Nikki Sixx's "follow your dreams" monologue about stealing his dad's penknife that he seemingly recited without taking a single breath. Along with this, there were the obligatory instrumental solos that bands seem to be doing more and more now. Mick Mars decided to impersonate Eddie Van Halen with a loud but obnoxious guitar solo, clearly fancying himself as some sort of virtuoso. Ordinarily, I wouldn't mind a good guitar solo that gets progressively more frenzied before ending on an all-out showstopper but this one sounded more like an air conditioning unit that's beyond the point of being totally fucked.
Unlike guitarists such as Slash or Steve Vai who have mastered the art of their instrument, Mick Mars seemed to rely heavily on smacking his fretboard and strings like a cat pawing at a laser pointer or a blind man trying to put out a fire on his crotch. It would've sounded a lot better if there was less feedback and you could actually hear each note he was playing, unless of course that was the intention after all. Maybe he's played much better solos at other gigs but I wasn't impressed after this one. Hey, speaking of using noise to cover things up, let's move onto the other spectacle of the show; the drum roller coaster.

If you haven't seen it before, I recommend checking it out on Youtube but basically, Tommy Lee starts a drum solo and as he does so, his kit is lifted into the air and spun around as it follows a track to another part of the stage, still with him playing all the way through. It's a pretty awesome sight and I was looking forward to seeing it in person. It started off with "O Fortuna" (or the scary operatic music used in teasers for The X Factor when they want to create the illusion of drama) and eventually broke into Tommy starting the beat as his kit slowly levitated.
A good start, yes, but things gradually fell apart (not literally). Instead of creating a drum solo himself, Tommy was drumming along to a remix of several tunes as he spun across the arena. This would've been fine if the remix contained Motley Crue songs, since that's what people paid to hear. Hell, I would've been satisfied if he stuck to Rock tracks, as there were snippets of Led Zeppelin and Black Sabbath in the mix. Regretfully, the remix was mostly shitty Pop music and Dubstep, loud enough to cover up any actual physical drumming from the actual physical fucking drummer.
It was a hell of a stunt that, in my eyes, flopped miserably as soon as I recognised "Uptown Funk". Bad remixes, unimpressive solos and unnecessary covers aside though, it was a great show that ended on a single encore performance of "Home Sweet Home", a fitting swan song for these iconic Hair Metal heroes...even if I do suspect Tommy Lee wasn't really playing the piano. But yes, I had a fun night and even if I am being quite harsh on the band, I have massive respect for them for not completely phoning it in.

Many other Hair Metal or 80's Hard Rock acts probably would've let arrogance get in the way and put on a shitty show. It would've been incredibly easy for any of the band members to sack the whole thing off and say "Hey, it doesn't matter if this goes to shit. I've still got millions upon millions to my name!". Maybe one of them did in their own way or will do on their last ever gig but as far as I'm concerned, they put on a hell of a show. It's things like this that make Motley Crue different to Guns N' Roses, for example.
Bottom line is I enjoyed both shows, even if they had a few faults. The band came together as a cohesive unit and rocked an entire arena. I can't recommend seeing these guys live as that opportunity has expired (unless you've got a time machine on you, in which case I do recommend popping back and seeing them play!) but if you haven't done already, do give their earlier albums a listen; particularly Theatre Of Pain.
Motley Crue are one of those bands who are capable of writing insanely catchy songs AND top quality filler tracks too. They're not just hair spray and eyeliner, they're decent musicians if you give them a chance. The next gig I'm going to will be in December as I'm seeing The Darkness in Leeds. I've already reviewed their latest album on the blog but I'll give the show a write-up as well, assuming I'm not inundated with ideas for the rest of the year.