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.

Def Leppard - Def Leppard

Happy Halloween!
OK, let's look at this new Def Leppard album.

Def Leppard are one of those bands that the casual Rock fan probably will have heard of but will be unable to name more than about three of their songs. This probably isn't helped by the band's (or maybe just Joe Elliott's) idiotic decision to keep most of their back catalogue off services such as Spotify and iTunes, making it even harder to discover just how great this band were during the first couple of years of their career. However, if you have listened to & enjoyed a wide range of this band's music released between now and the mid-80's, this album might be to your tastes.
The eponymous album is named so because the track listing is essentially supposed to capture the essence of Def Leppard throughout their career, containing a little bit of Pyromania, a little bit of Slang and a generous helping of Hysteria. This is glaringly obvious from the album opener, "Let's Go", a song that I believe was deliberately written to conjure memories of better songs from the band such as "Pour Some Sugar On Me" or their last single "Undefeated". It's a decent song but a tepid introduction, especially with a name like "Let's Go" that implies action and excitement when performed by a band such as Def Leppard.
I wish I could say it's just the album opener that falls a bit flat but there are a few other deflated notes here and there too. For starters, Joe Elliott's singing lack the power that a good Hard Rock vocalist needs and there are several songs that suffer as a result of almost bored sounding vocals ("Invincible"). Then there are generic Hard Rock songs designed to be listened to a few times and then forgotten ("Wings Of An Angel"). At the end of the day, this isn't a triumphant comeback album, nor is it an experimental journey into the 21st Century for these 80's Rockers. It's a beefed up nostalgia trip for fans of heavily produced Arena Rock.

However, considering this is what the band pretty much promised during the promotion for Def Leppard a few months ago, I can hardly hold this against them. True to their word, there are many scattered fragments of the band's better known material peppering these songs such as the use of Hysteria era guitar synths and tones in "Dangerous" and "We Belong" respectively, not to mention the obligatory power ballad in the form of "Last Dance". Classic Def Leppard fans won't be disappointed and it may even reignite your passion for the band's older works if you've since gone off their material.
Not only that but the band have seemingly taken heavy inspiration from other Rock songs during the writing process for this album. "Blind Faith" is eerily similar to Soundgarden's "Black Hole Sun" at times and "Man Enough" flat out copies most of the structure to Queen's "Another One Bites The Dust" (even if, in my opinion, it does a far better job than Queen's song did). In fact, it's worth mentioning that Rick Savage's bass playing is possibly one of the album's shining positives, not just because of "Man Enough".
On top of this jaunt down memory lane, there are a couple of tracks that stand out due to trying something a bit different, such as acoustic number "Battle Of My Own" which achieves the impossible by making an acoustic song sound powerful. There's also "Energized" which gives the band a bit of a modern twist with electronic drum effects that will likely divide opinion on whether this is a good track. It doesn't sound like it was used as a gimmick to entice new fans (unlike the use of dubstep in The 2nd Law - Muse) but when paired with the aforementioned flat vocals, it's unlikely to strike a chord.

Def Leppard (album) won't win many new fans, if any at all. What it will do is give you several solid driving songs or stadium anthems to bang your head or stamp your feet to and since that was likely the band's intention, they've done a good job. It's not an amazing album but it is one I'd recommend to friends and family if they just wanted a collection of glamorised Hard Rock with a track listing that reads like Spinal Tap's discography to play in the background of their daily activities.
A lot of work has clearly gone into this album and I didn't dislike the majority of the songs so it's definitely not bad; it's just not great either so don't expect much from it. My rating for the album is 6/10 due to the good quality but lack of standout amazing songs. I would recommend giving it a listen before purchasing but you'll be lucky to find all the songs anywhere online for free.
After all, Def Leppard don't want you stealing their music because stealing something that someone else has created and listening to it for your own personal enjoyment is far worse than stealing something that someone else has created and tweaking it just enough to get away with calling it your own song, shortly before making damn sure people pay before listening to it. These guys would never think of doing that.


EDIT: The album is now available on Spotify, although the rest of their original material isn't at the time of posting this edit.

Fire Of Unknown Origin - Blue Oyster Cult

I wasn't sure what to write about this week as the only posts I could think of were video game related. In the end, I had a think about classic albums that I could review and since Halloween is coming up, I decided to revisit the "spookiest" album I've listened to as I've got next week's post planned already. I mean, just look at this fucking cover and tell me you're not even a little bit unnerved!

Blue Oyster Cult are definitely highly regarded in my books and Buck Dharma (Donald Roeser) is probably one of my all-time favourite guitarists. Their 70's hits such as "Godzilla" and "Cities On Flame With Rock And Roll" are all built around instantly memorable and immensely powerful riffs, often blurring the line between Hard Rock and Metal to the point that I still find myself disputing it even as I type this up.
However, there was always an air of mysticism about them, whether it was in the supernatural lyrical themes from tracks such as "(Don't Fear) The Reaper" or the progressive elements that were less about showing off the ability of each band member and more on creating an atmosphere within the song ("Astronomy"). This album is the pinnacle of their mainstream mystical side.
Gone are the crunching guitar riffs and in come the piercing synths, giving the album a mysterious vibe which echoes from start to finish. Title track and album opener is perhaps a little bit too...shall we say "disco" to be called one of the band's best songs but it does get one thing right. It's not rocking a heavy riff and power chords. Yes, I probably would've preferred THAT song but this is not what the album is about. If the title track/album opener sounded nothing like the rest of the album, it'd be a slap in the face to anyone who listened to it and got their hopes up.

Fortunately, the rest of the album does a better job of blending Synth Rock and Riff-Based-Rock, as evidenced by tracks like "Heavy Metal: The Black And Silver" and "Burnin' For You", one of the band's most popular songs. Despite using similar lyrical themes throughout the record due to the band's hopes of getting the bulk of it onto the soundtrack for the animated mindfuck that is Heavy Metal, there's a decent level of variety running through the album that gives each track a rightful place.
For example, "Sole Survivor" is a slow yet haunting tune with a simplistic riff that I can almost guarantee you'll want to listen to again several songs later, whereas "After Dark" is a fast and borderline goofy rocker that some may argue is ruined by the use of keyboard in the chorus but I would personally say is a minor flaw in a track with a killer solo and some fine drumming. The only downside to this is that it's unlikely you'll be able to casually dive into many of these songs if you just want a catchy tune whilst driving to work or making dinner.
"Burnin' For You" aside, the album doesn't contain tracks designed to be featured on Best Rock Anthems CDs and, depending on personal taste, probably won't introduce you to your new favourite song. The album's strength comes from the overall quality of the material, not the individual quality. If you listen to it from start to finish and find one track you like, it's a safe bet that you'll find at least one more you'll also enjoy and with albums like Blue Oyster Cult and Spectres under their belt, there's always room for growers in a collection of showers.

Fire Of Unknown Origin is an album that'll strike a chord with you if you let it. Not by how amazing/bad it is but how different it is to any other Rock album you'll hear. If I told you about an album that was loaded with Synth whilst still belonging to the Hard Rock genre, you'd be more likely to imagine music similar to Europe or Journey than what the album actually sounds like. However, I admit it's not for everyone and whilst I still do enjoy a large portion of the album, I regret the fact that I can't simply jump into random tracks from it in the same way I can with other Hard Rock or Blue Oyster Cult albums.
It's an album that's worth a listen and multiple revisits over time, so I think a 7/10 is a pretty decent score. If you're looking for spooky music to play on Halloween, this is officially my recommendation. Then, once Halloween passes, do yourself a favour and give some of the earlier Blue Oyster Cult albums a listen, particularly Secret Treaties. Lots to enjoy on that one!

Rock Band 4

A while ago, I was asked to write a blog post about my opinion on each of the on-disc tracks for Rock Band 4. I didn't want to write this post right after the game came out as I needed time to play each song on Expert Guitar (only) and see if any of them grew on me over time.
However, now that I've played every track in the game and listened to songs that were previously unavailable on Spotify, here's what I think about all 65 songs in the game followed by my verdict on whether you should get the game based on soundtrack and how it ties into gameplay.

"Ain't Messin' Round" - Gary Clark, Jr
Here's a song that definitely isn't "Gimme Some Lovin" - The Spencer Davis Group. I know that because I actually quite like that one whereas this is just...well, it's got everything that would make a track OK to play. Active solo, interesting strum pattern, all that jazz and yet I'm bored almost all of the way through it. I get the feeling this track was added not because it'd be really great to play but because it was by Gary Clark, Jr. I've heard that name a lot recently but if this is the best he's got to offer, I have no idea why. THUMBS DOWN.

"Albert" - Eddie Japan
This is one of the few songs that really surprised me with how much I enjoyed it, despite not knowing or remembering it after a listen on Spotify beforehand. Sure, it's pretty simple but it's still got a fun chart if you can tolerate easy tracks. It also proves modern Indie tracks can be fun without being mindless strumming/chord-fests (more on that later). THUMBS UP!

"All Over You" - Live
Whenever I see a 90's Alternative song on GH/RB, part of me dreads the oncoming slog of dull chord progressions and strumming. This song is no different. It's not so easy that it's dull but it's not really fun either. Can't say I know much from this band except one of their newer singles so for me, it's THUMBS DOWN.

"Arabella" - Arctic Monkeys
Well now I know why "Feel Like Makin' Love" - Bad Company wasn't in the game. This song pretty much rips off the chorus without shame. On the plus side, it has a surprisingly sharp solo that might catch you off guard. It's also not bad to play more than once so I suppose it's worth a THUMBS UP.

"At Night In Dreams" - White Denim
Yes, yes, yes, love this one! HOPO riffs, fun rhythm, top choice! This and "Albert" are the kind of songs to pick if you're going for a modern Indie/Alt soundtrack, not the shite that was in Rock Band 3 or Guitar Hero 5. Songs that are cheaper to license but actually fun to play. Do I even need to say THUMBS UP on this one?

"Birth In Reverse" - St. Vincent
Bit of a funny sounding one, this. Still, it's got a solid chart. Some hammer-ons here and there, a bit of fun chord strumming and a somewhat industrial sound (not the musical genre). I can see myself playing this frequently and not wanting to physically drown myself afterwards so THUMBS UP.

"Brown Eyed Girl" - Van Morrison
It's hardly known for being an amazing guitar song but hey, it's not that bad. If you like easier songs and enjoy the actual tune (that's probably an overriding factor for any of these tracks), you'll like playing this one too. I bet this is a fun one on Vocals too but as far as Guitar goes, it's another THUMBS UP.

"Caught Up In You" - .38 Special
I recently bought a compilation album by these boys and even though this and "Hold On Loosely" are their biggest songs, they're definitely not the best. Either way, it's got a pretty challenging solo at the end that comes out of fucking nowhere after an otherwise gentle Southern Rock track so watch out for that. I quite like the song although maybe another 80's Rock song would've been better...eh, still a THUMBS UP.

"Cedarwood Road" - U2
Wow! U2 are finally in a music game...I mean, they're finally in a music game with guitar...I mean, they're finally in a music game that people have heard of...I mean...fuck it, it's still legendary band U2! With these guys on board, they're bound to pick some good tunes, right? What's this first one? A boring track off the recent album that was almost universally despised after it invaded everyone's iTunes account? Yeah, THUMBS DOWN.

"Centuries" - Fall Out Boy
This song gets points for sampling "Tom's Diner" but that's pretty much it. It's a fucking dull riff played over and over in between moments of doing sod-all. Surely there are more fun tracks than this? Or are Harmonix waiting to release "My Songs Know What You Did In The Dark" as DLC shortly before Guitar Hero: Live comes out? Whatever, THUMBS DOWN.

"Cold Clear Light" - Johnny Blazes And The Pretty Boys
This is one of the few songs I hadn't heard before the game came out and it's definitely stuck with me as being a highlight of the game. It hasn't got the greatest Guitar chart in the world but it's still a very fun track with a Bluesy rhythm and a catchy chorus. THUMBS UP without a doubt.

"Dead Black (Heart Of Ice)" - Soul Remnants
I'm not a fan of deep screaming in Metal and it always makes me think of a bunch of lanky 13-year olds in a garage practicing for the school's talent show. Either way, it's a fairly fun chart, I guess. Probably more challenging than fun but at least it didn't bore me so for now, it's getting a THUMBS UP.

"Dream Genie" - Lightning Bolt
Oh dear God, what fucking shit is this? Essentially, it's the "Visions" or "Antibodies" of the game for RB2/RB3 fans except those songs were actually fucking songs. A repetitive riff that's tricky to play if your calibration is even slightly off, dull whiny sustains and a sound that encapsulates everything wrong with the modern Experimental Rock scene. Everything about this track can eat an STD infected pus-covered dick. THUMBS DOWN.

"The Feast And The Famine" - Foo Fighters
I wasn't impressed by the new Foo Fighters album BUT there were a couple of tracks I enjoyed on it, even if they were pretty much old rope. I was expecting "Congregation" to be in the game but wasn't annoyed when this song made it in...at least that was until I played it. I know most of the Foo Fighters that people like are DLC already but come on, surely there were better tracks to pick than this. "Bridge Burning" deserved a spot over this Pearl Jam imitation. THUMBS DOWN.

"Fever" - Black Keys
Similar to the last song, I can understand a need to put more modern tracks in a game that's essentially been on hiatus without putting out new tracks for several years. However, what I can't understand is picking a track that's so fucking boring! "Gold On The Ceiling" would've been the obvious choice for each band member's benefit, especially with Guitar Hero: Live coming out soon. THUMBS DOWN.

"Follow You Down" - Gin Blossoms
There are 90's Alternative tracks like "All Over You" and then there are tracks like this. THIS is a good 90's Alternative track. Sure, it might not be that fun on Guitar but it has its moments and it's not just miserable chord strumming for three minutes. THUMBS UP.

"Free Falling" - The Warning
Are we still, as a society, producing songs that are just tepid four chord progressions without any flair or notable riffs? Combine this with moaning vocals about how everything's shit and I think it's safe to say The Warning came about 20 years too late. Godawful. THUMBS DOWN.

"Friday I'm In Love" - The Cure
Would've preferred something like "A Forest", "Inbetween Days" or "Love Song" but it's good to see The Cure are still getting recognised, even if the songs aren't particularly amazing. However, I can imagine a lot of people who are into The Cure enjoying this track so I suppose it's not a dumb choice, just not the best one. THUMBS UP.

"Hail To The King" - Avenged Sevenfold
On a technical level, the chart for this song could've been improved with more lead guitar in the verses instead of just rhythm. However, what you do play is pretty awesome and definitely fun for Guitar players who love a constant but steady stream of HOPOs. Also, good choice of track considering the band's bigger songs are already available. THUMBS UP.

"Halls Of Valhalla" - Judas Priest
Not entirely sure why this song off the new album was picked when a track like "Dragonaut" that was actually released as a single probably would've had a better Guitar chart. I know Judas Priest have caused trouble when it comes to licensing tracks in GH/RB before so maybe Rob Halford wanted this song to be in the game to promote it as an upcoming single or something. Ah well, at least he picked one of the album's better tracks with challenging guitar. THUMBS UP.

"I Am Electric" - Heaven's Basement
A solid modern Rock track with more than just chord strumming, although there is a fair bit of regular strumming. Luckily, it's a decent tune if you like your Rock to be angry. Hopefully we'll see more Heaven's Basement tracks hitting Rock Band in the future! THUMBS UP.

"I Bet My Life" - Imagine Dragons
I have to admit, more than anything I'm just glad this isn't "Radioactive". I love the acoustic version of that track but hate the studio one. Anyway, this song has strumming, chords and repetition. Not one I enjoyed playing or hope to play again unless I exhaust all the other tracks I actually enjoyed. But hey, it's Imagine Dragons! I recognise that name from another song so they deserve a place in the soundtrack, right? Wrong. THUMBS DOWN.

"I Miss The Misery" - Halestorm
This is the only Halestorm song I knew before RB4 so needless to say I was pretty happy when it was confirmed to be playable. Turns out the Guitar chart is slightly more fun than I originally thought, even if it is still pretty easy. Probably a good one to play at parties as I imagine it's quite tough to fail this one unless you're fuckawful. It's a THUMBS UP from me.

"I Will Follow" - U2
I get the logic behind this choice. It's not the band's most well known song but a) it's a good tune, b) it's not the most dull warm-up song there is (even if the entire song is chords and strumming) and c) it might introduce people to U2 material they hadn't heard of. After all, U2 DLC has pretty much been confirmed so chances are we'll get a chance to play "Vertigo" or "Desire" or whatever U2 track you like in the future. Yeah, I'll give this a THUMBS UP.

"The Impression That I Get" - The Mighty Mighty Bosstones
It's no secret that I prefer playing on the Activision Guitar Hero engine so I knew I was always going to prefer the Band Hero chart to this one, even though they are almost identical. The alternating chord strums are there as well as the rapid strumming choke minefield in the chorus. However, it's still a great tune that will always remind me of Donkey Konga. Any track that reminds me of Donkey Konga will pretty much get a pass from me but if the song is great in its own right, you know it's getting a THUMBS UP.

"Kick It Out" - Heart
I was hugely surprised when this song was announced. I thought it was an awesome deep cut that I'd stumbled upon by accident when perusing Heart's back catalogue so learning I'd be able to play it in Rock Band was a massive bonus. Obviously, tracks like "Magic Man" and "Crazy On You" would've been preferred by most players but I get the feeling that master recordings from Dreamboat Annie are unavailable so this is a solid pick under the circumstances. THUMBS UP.

"Knock 'Em Down" - Duck & Cover
Well would you look at that! It's a Punk song that's actually pretty damn fun to play on Guitar as well as Bass! It's got a Green Day riff but without the Green Day smell all over the rest of the band, not to mention a tidy little solo that's fun as well. Another surprise for me, another THUMBS UP.

"Lazaretto" - Jack White
I keep telling myself to just be glad it's not the Shite Wipes but then it gets all weird in the middle. However, that riff does sound pretty tasty and it plays exactly as you would expect. Top this off with a Diet Rage Against The Machine solo and it's not a bad track if you can tolerate the experimental shite throughout. Sod it, THUMBS UP but only just. It's tripping the line and I'm being generous here, only because I'm enjoying the game overall.

"Light The Fuse" - Slydigs
Remarkably forgettable and about as generic as modern Rock can get. That's all there is to say on this. THUMBS DOWN.

"Light Up The Night" - The Protomen
Despite the charm and hype about The Protomen being in Rock Band, this is not a very fun song on Guitar. The only thing going for it is the fact that it's a hell of a catchy tune that only grows on you over time. Hopefully "This City Made Us" will make its way onto Rock Band as DLC, as that would be much more fun to play but sadly came out after production on the game started. THUMBS UP if you like the song, which I do.

"Little Miss Can't Be Wrong" - Spin Doctors
Pretty much the "Tones Of Home" of the game, for any GH:WOR fans reading. A funky little number with great Guitar and perfect for parties, especially if you want to show off your skills on the plastic instrument to a bunch of drunk teens who are too busy filming shit Vines or waiting to play "Uptown Funk". THUMBS UP.

"Little White Church" - Little Big Town
If you're not allergic to Country, this is definitely one to try out. Guitar isn't complicated although the solo might catch you off guard. So far, this game is doing a good job of picking easy but fun songs for the inexperienced player. As for the furious fretting enthusiast, wait your turn. Believe me, there's plenty for you as well. THUMBS UP.

"Mainstream Kid" - Brandi Carlile
This song has a right cunt of a Guitar chart, unless you're all about that awkward strumming and chord sequences. In which case, this is your Shambala. For me personally, the chorus reminds me too much of another song I hate and the annoying guitar chart lands this in THUMBS DOWN territory.

"Metropolis Pt 1. The Miracle And The Sleeper" - Dream Theater
Initially, I was kind of disappointed that they chose this track over "Under A Glass Moon" but that feeling faded away after actually playing the song. As I tweeted shortly afterwards, this song would've sold me on Dream Theater were it included in GH:WT instead of "Pull Me Under". It may be long and have more time changes than a flight to Australia but if you can master those guitar solos, you're in for a treat! THUMBS UP.

"Milwaukee" - The Both
I'll not lie, I was caught snoozing during that intro solo and I suffered for it. Once that passed, I started to enjoy the track although the chorus reminds me of another song I can't quite place. Either way, there's plenty to keep Guitar players occupied in this track so it gets a THUMBS UP.

"Miracle Man" - Ozzy Osbourne
Yes, it's not one of his bigger hits but almost all of them are already available via on-disc songs or DLC. Despite this, it's actually pretty awesome. I'm always happy to play an Ozzy track that doesn't have Randy Rhoads tickling the fretboard and whilst I possibly would've preferred "Centre Of Eternity" or "Hellraiser" before listening to this one, a single playthough convinced me that Harmonix made the right choice. THUMBS UP.

"My God Is The Sun" - Queens Of The Stone Age
Even a blind hermit could've predicted that a QOTSA song from the new album would be on-disc, I'm just annoyed they went for this one instead of "If I Had A Tail". Sure, that track would've had a lot of sustains and probably would've bored the drummer to death but it wouldn't have been as cruddy as this one...I think. THUMBS DOWN but only if you didn't care about the new QOTSA album. If you liked the track, you'll like playing it.

"No One Like You" - Scorpions
About time someone made use of the Comeblack album full of re-records! There's some issue with Scorpions master recordings which basically meant every game after Guitar Hero 3: Legends Of Rock lacked any of their songs...until now! This is possibly the most well known and least offensive re-record that Harmonix could've picked for the game; the fact that it has moderately fun Guitar is purely a bonus at this stage. I mean, now we know Comeblack masters are available, that opens up possibilities of playing "Blackout", "The Zoo" and "Rock You Like A Hurricane" again. Oh yeah, sorry, got off topic for a moment. THUMBS UP for this one.

"The One I Love" - R.E.M
Eh, consider me uninterested in this song. Yeah, it's well known and probably the only popular R.E.M. song not in Rock Band (unless you count "Shiny Happy People" but I don't think even the band would count that one) so it fills a quota of getting a well known track into the game. Personally, I would've gone with "Pop Song 89" for the superior Guitar chart. Yeah, THUMBS DOWN here. It's a track I've played once and after sightread FCing it, I feel no need to try it again.

"Panama" - Van Halen
"Hey guys, Van Halen are coming to Rock Band!"
"Oh awesome, it's about time! Which track?"
"Panama".
"...oh. The one with the twat of a solo".
That's the internal dialogue that went on in my head and probably other heads too. Yes, it's great that Van Halen are finally here even though Van Halen DLC for Rock Band would probably be 80% inferior charts to GH:VH. Yes, the song is fairly fun until the solo. However, it's a track I enjoy that I don't want to play unless I have to or it's the best of a bad bunch of random tracks. For that reason, THUMBS DOWN.

"A Passage To Bangkok" - Rush
Opting to go for a filler track from 2112 instead of many of the other live show staples of Rush ("Freewill"? "A Farewell To Kings"? I'd even take "Finding My Way" or "Bastille Day"!), Harmonix maybe made a bit of a tactical error here. It's a decent song that I enjoy listening to but not very fun for Guitar players, although I imagine the Bass makes up for it. This song maybe would've been a decent DLC choice but as far as on-disc songs go, got to be a THUMBS DOWN I'm afraid.

"Pistol Whipped" - Tijuana Sweetheart
Do you like mad HOPO riffs? How about fast paced rhythms and frantic strumming? If so, apply inside! Seriously though, this is a short and sweet track included to appease Guitar players who want to be challenged when going for an FC. THUMBS UP.

"Prayer" - Disturbed
One of Disturbed's earlier songs that might challenge players who are making a transition from one difficulty to another. However, players who have mastered the difficulty they're on will probably find this relatively simple. Also, spoiler warning, don't expect a complex solo or anything like that. Remember, this is modern Metal and guitar solos are tricky! THUMBS DOWN.

"Recession" - Jeff Allen ft. Noelle LeBlanc and Naoko Takamoto
I don't know any of those three names but the expression "too many cooks spoil the broth" comes to mind after playing this, or rather "too many cooks end up giving the entire restaurant the screaming shits". In a summary, moderately challenging and not enjoyable. Therefore, THUMBS DOWN.

"Rock And Roll, Hoochie Koo" - Rick Derringer
I started really getting into this track about a week before it was announced for the game. Turns out the Guitar chart is just as fun as could be hoped for, although it's tiered a little bit too high (should be a 6 instead of 7). Before I give this the obvious THUMBS UP for being really fun on guitar, shout out to Harmonix for going with the original recording instead of the re-recording like Activision probably would've done. Anyway, THUMBS UP.

"The Seeker" - The Who
One of the few well known songs by The Who not playable in Rock Band. Definitely a good choice and the Guitar chart is so much better than the GH3 one, mainly due to getting rid of that annoying strumming part sandwiching the solo. Solid choice once more! THUMBS UP.

"Short Skirt/Long Jacket" - Cake
I've been waiting for this song to be playable since hearing it in full and my expectations were met accordingly. Fun and easy song with a killer riff and (presumably) some fun vocal harmonies. The only downside to this song is that it might make you miss the show Chuck. THUMBS UP.

"Somebody Told Me" - The Killers
I understand that some people like The Killers for some fucking reason and if you're one of those twats, you'll probably enjoy this song. For everyone who's actually listened to more than about four bands, you'll probably dislike the repetitive chords and shitty quality of this track. Good choice if you've been waiting to play this song for a while but for me, it's a clear THUMBS DOWN.

"Spiders" - System Of A Down
When I learn of System Of A Down in a rhythm game, I immediately assume it's going to be a nightmare on Guitar. This song completely flies in the face of that with a gentle chart up until the solo. I can't say I'm a fan of this song and probably would've preferred something like "Vicinity Of Obscenity" but hey, SOAD on disc means there's hope of more from them in future, even though a few of their tracks were removed from the store due to licenses running out. Sadly, it's a THUMBS DOWN for this one.

"Start A Band" - Brad Paisley ft. Keith Urban
Quite a bit of Country in this game, isn't there? Luckily, for the most part, it's pretty great and this is no exception. Plenty of fun Guitar to keep you happy and a pleasant sound to match it. I'd definitely play this one again although I didn't enjoy it as much as, say, "Cold Clear Light" or "Rock And Roll, Hoochie Koo". Still great, though. THUMBS UP.

"Still Into You" - Paramore
Even though I kind of like "Misery Business", I generally don't give a flying toss about Paramore. I find their music just as whiny and teen-focused as other American Rock bands but I could forgive that if the song was fun to play or even listen to. This song isn't either of those. They might as well have put one of Paramore's other songs on like "Wanna Take Me To Prom?" or "It's, Like, So Hard Being 17 And Hot". THUMBS DOWN.

"Superunknown" - Soundgarden
After Guitar Hero put out a load of Soundgarden DLC, I was hoping that this track would get some love in the future as it's the only Soundgarden song I've listened to outside of a rhythm game that I really wanted to play. Turns out my instincts were right and it is indeed awesome on Guitar. Tough solo but easily passable if you've got pocket Overdrive stashed away. THUMBS UP.

"Suspicious Minds" - Elvis Presley
First things first, this is a big catch for Harmonix. Kudos to the team that fought for Elvis Presley in the game and managed to pull it off without relying on a live version or shitty remix. However, if this is the most fun Guitar song they could choose from, I honestly wouldn't care to get any more Elvis again. I already disliked this track before but now I've played what's basically the same riff and a few chords/sustains over and over again, I fucking hate it. If there is DLC in future, hopefully "Burnin' Love" "Her Latest Flame" will be available. THUMBS DOWN.

"That Smell" - Lynyrd Skynyrd
At this stage, I honestly have no idea what the deal is with Lynyrd Skynyrd licensing. At first, I thought it was only the first album and One More From The Road. But now it seems there are a few tracks from the third album and Street Survivors that are available? Anyway, I'm not a massive fan of this song on its own but I must say, it does have a killer Guitar chart. It's not as fun as "Call Me The Breeze (Live)" or even "Sweet Home Alabama (Live)" but it's a good choice for the game. THUMBS UP.

"Tongue Tied" - Grouplove
Can't help but think of "Japanese Boy" - Aneka when I hear this shit. It sounds like one of those songs that's used in an advert for a camera or some shit. As far as the chart goes, it's everything you'd expect from pretentious Indie wank. Strumming and chords and a big heap of boredom until the last part of the song, which is too little too late. Unless you're one of those wanker game journalists who laments the inclusion of older music and wants to hear bands that are even too obscure for Apple's Track Of The Week, THUMBS DOWN.

"Toys In The Attic" - Aerosmith
Excellent choice of Aerosmith track here! There was a danger of Harmonix choosing a new song that wasn't on Guitar Hero: Aerosmith like "I Don't Wanna Miss A Thing" or something shit off the new album. Instead, they went for the song with the most fun Guitar chart in all of GH:A and didn't fuck with that chart too much when translated it to RB. Spot on work, guys! THUMBS UP.

"Turn It Around" - Lucius
Didn't I cover this song already? I actually had to watch charts for this track and "Tongue Tied" on Youtube just to remember which interchangeable toss was which. Bottom line is this is as terrible as that song with all the passion and personality of a leaflet on banking thrown into the already cruddy mix. Songs like this were probably included because Harmonix were running low on cash and needed to license something cheap to bet the numbers up to 65 songs. THUMBS DOWN.

"Uptown Funk" - Mark Ronson ft. Bruno Mars
Fuck me, Disco is making a comeback in the form of this ubiquitous shite! I pointed out on Twitter that whilst there's nothing exactly offensive about this song, I still hate it. In the end, I decided to give it a bash just in case it turned out to be one of those songs with a fun chart and it doesn't even fucking have one of those. It's just the same shitty chords or occasional strum punctuated by long moments of doing sod-all. A song included just to be played at parties would be fucking shite for Guitar players at parties. THUMBS DOWN forever, motherfunkers.

"V-Bomb" - Dark Wheels
A solid Alternative song with a passable chart and a few cool sounding riffs. A decent mix of strumming and HOPOs here, yeah it's alright overall. Nothing special but I didn't hate playing it and I can imagine it being enjoyable for players who have just got to grips with a certain difficulty. THUMBS UP although if I had to rate all the tracks I'd like, this would likely be near the bottom.

"Violent Shiver" - Benjamin Booker
There's something weird about the riffs that play periodically throughout this song. They sound like someone trying to play the solo in "Leaving Here" - The Who on Rock Band but fucking up every other note. It's an OK song, I guess. Not hugely fond of the chart but it's a country mile ahead of other picks for this game. Still, being better than crap doesn't make this great otherwise everything other than "Dream Genie" would be awesome. THUMBS DOWN.

"The Warrior" - Scandal
This song was probably picked for nostalgia's sake as there's nothing really special about it other than it was in GH:80's. Dull track with a catchy chorus but an otherwise forgettable Guitar chart. Probably should've gone with a more fun but still easy GH:80's chart like "Heat Of The Moment" - Asia. THUMBS DOWN.

"What's Up?" - 4 Non Blondes
A piss easy chart that's only fun if you imagine that He-Man video whilst playing. It's got a place in the game although mainly for vocalists who want to sound like a drunk chick on a roller-coaster. It's not as bland as some strumfests and there are a couple of sustain based solos that you might like but for me personally, it's got to be a THUMBS DOWN.

"The Wolf" - Mumford & Sons
Oh great, more generic Indie crap! Hope you like chords and strumming because that's all you're gonna get from this lot. Another band who are in the game because of their name, not their talent. Easily a THUMBS DOWN if you want fun charts.

"You Make Loving Fun" - Fleetwood Mac
Really? Still no "The Chain" after seven years of getting Fleetwood Mac in GH/RB? Either the master recording for that song's gone and all hope is lost or rhythm game developers have a collective blind spot towards that awesome song. Anyway, they went ahead and picked a track off Rumours just to play it safe, I guess. It's not amazing but it's what you'd expect from Fleetwood Mac. Sort this into the "you'll like it if you like the song/bad" category or, if you're me, THUMBS DOWN.

"Your Love" - The Outfield
Last song right here! Seems like a good choice for the game, since it's pretty well known, although the Guitar reminds me too much of "Summer Of '69" - Bryan Adams for me to truly enjoy it. It's worth noting that you can't drift off during the last solo, as there are so many random chord changes during the steady strumming that you'll end up making mistakes if you're caught snoozing. Other than that, it's tolerable I guess. Not amazing but far from crap. Not far enough to avoid a THUMBS DOWN from me though.


So that's my verdict on the entire soundtrack. 35 thumbs up, 30 thumbs down. Just under 54% of the songs are good, in my books. Of course this might be different for you and I'd recommend listening to the tracks before deciding whether you want the game or not but before I finish this post, I'd like to give you my verdict on Rock Band 4.

Considering how much has been removed from Rock Band 3 (instruments, game modes, number of songs, challenges and small but useful features), Rock Band 4 is a pretty large step backwards even when you look at the things that have been added. It's also a bit of a slap in the face when you look at the price, as it's currently selling for about £55 as a digital download which is nothing short of a fucking con for what you get.
Rock Band 4 is obviously going to be more fun if you have a load of DLC but a game shouldn't rely on extra content to be acceptably enjoyable, which this game does. If you're on the fence about getting RB4, wait until it comes down in price or they patch in some extra features as I have the feeling this game was rushed to get it out before Guitar Hero: Live.
I like the game and it's a lot better for Guitar players than Rock Band 3 where the on-disc soundtrack is concerned (in my opinion) but it's not quite as awesome as, say, Lego Rock Band or Rock Band 2. If you have contradicting views or simply want to share any thoughts on the game/soundtrack, do so in the comments. If you also have any other posts that you'd like me to write, let me know on Twitter and I'll see what I can do!

Tenology: Amazing Album Openers

When I review an album on this blog, one of the first things I'll talk about is the album opener. The simple reason for this is because it's the first track you'll listen from the record but, as well as that, the album opener is designed to introduce you to the band's latest release.
Think of it like a new film that's just come out; the lead single from a new album is a two minute trailer whereas the album opener is the first scene after all the production company logos have been shown. If that opening scene is crap, you're less likely to enjoy the film than if the opening scene was excellent and that same principle applies to albums too.
If an album opener is boring or completely inappropriate for the overall sound of the following songs, you've already started on a literal and figurative dull note. Nailing track number one can make all the difference and this post is designed to celebrate the ones that got it just right.

As is often the case with Tenology posts, I'm not putting these in any particular order as there are still plenty of albums I want to listen to and almost certainly many album openers which are better than some of these choices. I'm also not counting any album openers from an album I haven't fully listened to, as it might be a great track but completely wrong for the start of the record.
However, out of every album opener I've listened to and can remember, these are the ones that stand out as being particularly awesome.


1. "Rock Brigade" - Def Leppard from On Through The Night

Most of you will know late-80's material from Def Leppard when they were aiming for an American audience with stadium anthems like "Pour Some Sugar On Me" but before they became huge, their material was had more of a rough-edged sound. Their riffs were more complex, the tracks had better rhythms (although points to the band for sticking with a one-armed drummer and still sounding pretty great) and the lyrics weren't all about generic topics that Hair Metal bands were making millions out of.
"Rock Brigade" perfectly encapsulates the bands talents in their youth with a perfectly layered and performed track that any Classic Rock fan is bound to tap their feet or bob their head to. In fact, On Through The Night is possibly one of my all-time favourite albums and the album opener is one of the reasons why. I definitely recommend this album to anyone who likes Thin Lizzy or Blue Oyster Cult style Classic Rock!


2. "Aces High" - Iron Maiden from Powerslave

OK, maybe I lied when I said I wouldn't discuss Iron Maiden for a while but don't worry, I won't spend long talking about this track. After all, I talked about the album AND this song in more detail here but I will say that it was a tough decision between this track and something like "Prowler" or "The Wicker Man". In the end, I went with my gut and picked something I'd previously raved about but if you've read my Iron Maiden album shout outs, you'll know I was pretty positive about most of the band's album openers over the years.


3. "Rock And Roll Preacher" - Slade from Till Deaf Do Us Part

Slade are mostly known for Glam Rock but in 1981, they decided to toughen up a bit and release Till Deaf Do Us Part, an album that likely inspired many Hair Metal and Hard Rock bands that followed. "Rock And Roll Preacher" combines the cheeky Glam sound from their 70's material with a heavier riff, some apocalyptic organ work and Noddy's rasping vocals that the band are arguably most well known for. The album itself is pretty decent and it has an awesome title track but it's definitely the album opener that steals the show here.


4. "Wake Up Dead" - Megadeth from Peace Sells...But Who's Buying?

I was torn between this and "Holy Wars...The Punishment Due", as both are fantastic album openers. However, whilst I rate Rust In Peace much higher as an album, I chose "Wake Up Dead" because of the unrelenting force behind the entire track. I love "Holy Wars" but once "The Punishment Due" starts, I tend to lose interest until the final solo starts again and yes, I know this track slows down towards the end but if you listen to it, you'll agree that it's hardly dull. In short, I felt "Wake Up Dead" acted as a better introduction to a collection of Thrash Metal than "Holy Wars...The Punishment Due" but honestly, both tracks deserve spots on this list (so does "Skin O' My Teeth" from Countdown To Extinction).


5. "Kielbasa" - Tenacious D from Tenacious D

I tend to absolutely despise tracks with a false start or silly ending as they completely piss all over the rest of the song. It takes a truly outstanding track to make me forget about a duff start or look past an unnecessary ending and "Kielbasa" is one of those...sort of. If you know anything about Jack Black, you'll know any band with him in isn't going to take itself too seriously. The first song on an album with him on the front cover has got to combine awesome music with amusing lyrics, something the D seamlessly pull off in a tune unashamedly named after a dick. "Kickapoo" could also be on this list although if you haven't seen The Pick Of Destiny film, some of the magic may be lost on you.


6. "The Heretic (The Lost Child)" - W.A.S.P. from The Headless Children

If you made a Venn diagram for music with circles reading "Over five minutes", "Doesn't lose energy throughout" and "Doesn't rely on the same riffs until they're played to death", you'd probably be hard pressed to find a truly great Heavy Metal track that would fit between more than two of those choices...well, hard pressed to find one that ISN'T "The Heretic (The Lost Child)". Clocking in at over seven minutes, this album opener may seem a bit tiresome on paper but trust me, it's a hell of a ride from start to finish. I'd recommend the album to anyone who likes Heavy Metal and Hair Metal, as the two genres are combined perfectly here.


7. "Rock & Roll Feeling" - Styx from Man Of Miracles

Another album I've already discussed on the blog and with good reason. I said there that I loved this album and that includes the upbeat album opener. Having listened to the other Styx albums from the Wooden Nickel days, this is easily the best introduction to a Classic Rock/Prog album that sounds like the best song The Doobie Brothers never recorded. You could argue that it's not progressive enough to be a good album opener for Man Of Miracles but since the album is a fair split between Rock and Prog, it's not a bad decision to place this at the top of the track listing.


8. "Help!" - The Beatles from Help!

Maybe I'm biased because this is actually the first album I bought and listened to but "Help!" is definitely my favourite Beatles album and the title track could well be in my Top 10 or Top 20 favourite Beatles songs. It's a pretty simple track with some underrated guitar licks and a catchy rhythm. What's more, it isn't wasted on anyone who hasn't seen the film (which I still love watching now) and manages to stand up on its own feet. It may not be as instantly memorable as "Twist And Shout" or "Hey Jude" but it kicks off a great album on the right note.


9. "A.I.R." - Anthrax from Spreading The Disease

It's an unwritten rule that every Thrash Metal album (especially from The Big 4) needs to start on a fast paced, angry bastard of a track. "A.I.R." starts off a bit slow but not before long, every band member is pushing their skills to the limit. It's an explosive opening to a furious album and definitely beats any Metallica album opener, despite following a similar formula with soft starts and rapid riffing.


10. "Highway To Hell" - AC/DC from Highway To Hell

Everyone knows this track. Everyone. If they don't, they're not worth talking to about music. It's arguably the most iconic Rock song and whether you like it or not, you have to admit that it's the band at their best. What some people might not know is that the entire album contains similarly awesome tracks as well, although the title track introduces the whole thing. This is another example where I was torn between two songs from one band and in the end, I decided on this one instead of "Rock N Roll Train" from Black Ice, although if that album were released in the 70's instead of Highway To Hell, that track would probably be as overplayed as this one.

Those are my ten personal favourites of the ones that I've heard but since I had a list of 45 album openers to whittle down, here are some honourable mentions that would've probably made a top 20 (also in no order of personal preference).

"Back At The Funny Farm" - Motorhead from Another Perfect Day

"More Than A Feeling" - Boston from Boston

"School" - Supertramp from Crime Of The Century

"Demon Eyes" - The Answer from Everyday Demons

"Neon Knights" - Black Sabbath from Heaven And Hell

"Immigrant Song" - Led Zeppelin from Led Zeppelin III

"Highway Star" - Deep Purple from Machine Head

"I Live For The Weekend" - Triumph from Progressions Of Power

"Back In The Saddle" - Aerosmith from Rocks

"Let It Rock" - Bon Jovi from Slippery When Wet


If there are any album openers you feel belong on this list, let me know in the comments. I may have left them out because I haven't heard the whole album so chances are I'll agree with you. If that is the case, I'll have to give the rest of the album a try in future.

Zipper Down - Eagles Of Death Metal

Kicking off the first non Iron Maiden review is one from kooky Alternative Rockers, Eagles Of Death Metal. After a long period of silence, the band have finally returned although their first song from the album didn't impress me when I discussed it on this blog a few months ago. Time to see if the rest of the album struck a fuzzy power chord.

After seven years of absence, it's understandable for a band to come back with the same formula as their best known work. Eagles Of Death Metal try to do just that with a selection of Garage Rock perfect for the heavily nostalgic fans who want more from the power duo of Jesse Hughes and Josh Hommes. Yes, this is another Eagles Of Death Metal album and whilst there are a couple of tracks that deviate from the typical sound of this group, it's more or less what you'd expect if you've listened to an entire album before Zipper Down. It's just a shame that those albums sound a lot better than anything on here.
My opinion on album opener "Complexity" hasn't changed in the slightest, it's still the band at their most average and sounds like the kind of song you'd hear in the background of a scene at a college bar in an American drama. However, I hesitate to call it a bad track as it sets up the rest of the album perfectly. If you love the track, you're in for a treat with the remaining ones but if you felt completely underwhelmed, get ready to feel this way for another half an hour.
If this album was played to the person who claimed they sounded like the "Eagles of Death Metal" before they stuck with that name, they'd probably be known as the "Strokes Of Classic Rock" as that's a far better description of the band's music that works on several different levels. It's an Indie Alt/70's Rock blend that occasionally works but doesn't quite hit home for me on Zipper Down. You've got faster songs that sound like lesser known Slade tracks on speed ("Got A Woman") and slower tunes akin to the softer melodies of bands like Wings ("I Love You All The Time"), along with a cover of a Duran Duran song that isn't catchy or upbeat ("Save A Prayer"), although it's worth mentioning that the vocals are spot on here even if the music is unimpressive.

The album could've done with a few more tracks like "Skin-Tight Boogie". It starts off with maximum fuzz on the bass and gets progressively weirder as more instruments and tones are introduced but it all works, even if it doesn't sound like the kind of song the band are known for writing. I've said before that I'm happy for bands to rely on the same sound for consecutive albums if the sound is good but when it starts to get a bit stale, it's time to mix it up a little.
Zipper Down will please fans of modern Alternative Rock that doesn't get carried away with itself. Most of these songs are pretty simple tunes with extra vocal and synth effects although the album seems less focused on heavy crunching riffs than Peace Love Death Metal, so that could be problematic for some of you. Mind you, it probably won't for those who enjoyed the mediocre Rolling Stonesesque sound of Heart On filler tracks. It's just a shame these guys couldn't write another belter like "Wannabe In L.A" or "Speaking In Tongues" along with all the average songs they rewrote for this album.
Anyway, tough call with this album. I always find myself divided by personal and unbiased opinions when it comes to scoring albums. Sometimes, I get really lucky and both opinions intertwine but I don't feel like this will be the case here. Music reviewing websites will likely praise the sound and style of this album whereas I feel like it doesn't deserve any higher than 4/10 for a collection of forgettable songs with the band's same formula that have been played really well. If you have an opinion on this album feel free to share it in the comments along with whether you believe I'm right to call it out on being unremarkable or wrong for not appreciating something that is clearly "art".