For the past 4 weeks I was unable to post my blog due to technical issues, but now that its resolved I've got to make up for lost time. So instead of one band this week I will do something different.
This week I will be posting songs from bands who pretty much just had that song or One Hit Wonders, now keep in mind that I have not listened to EVERY single song from these artists so if there is another song from them that you know of that I did not list please post a comment about it.
Now I know I'm basically list a bunch of songs but right now I'm very busy with chores and after school activities and usually get home every night around 9 P.M. SO this is what I can offer right now.
.38 Special
1. Caught up In you
2. Hold on Loosely Airbourne
1. Runnin' Wild
2. Too Much, Too Young, Too Fast The Allman Brothers Band 1. Ramblin' Man Badfinger
1. Day After Day
2. No Matter What Billy Idol
1. Mony Mony
2. Dancin With Myself
3. Rebel Yell
4. White Wedding Boz Scaggs
1. Lido Shuffle The Byrds
1. Turn, Turn, Turn Chubby Checker
1. The Twist The Contours
1. Do you Love Me Crash Test Dummies
1. Mmm Mmm Mmm Mmm
2. Afternoons & Coffeespoons Donovan
1. Atlantis Don Mclean
1. American Pie Eddie Money
1. Take Me Home Tonight
2. Two Tickets To Paradise Elvis Costello 1. Alison
Eric Carmen
1. Hungry Eyes Faith No More 1. Epic Grand Funk Railroad
1. The Loco-Motion
2. Some Kind Of Wonderful The James Gang
1. Funk #49 John Parr
1. Man In Motion J. Geils Band
1. Centerfold Kansas
1. Carry on Wayward Son
2. Dust in the Wind Living Colour
1. Cult of Personality Marvin Berry
1. Earth Angel "Cover of The Penguins" Neil Young
1. Old Man
2. Heart of Gold Peter Schilling
1. Major Tom Rainbow
1. Since You've Been Gone
2. Stone Cold Steppenwolf
1. Magic Carpet Ride Stray Cats
1. Rock this Town
2. Stray Cat Strut
Three Dog Night
1. One
2. Joy to The World
Thompson Twins
1. Hold Me Now Toto
1. Hold the Line
2. Africa The Tubes
1. She's A Beauty White Stripes
1. Seven Nation Army Yes
1. Owner of a Lonely Heart
Now this all I could come up with so far so please add more so everybody else will see some good songs by some okay artists
This Weeks band I have chosen is..................
DEF LEPPARD!!!!!!
Def Leppard is a British hard rock/metal band which was first in 1977, when lead singer Joe Elliot missed a bus from his low paying job. He was walking home and met with guitarist Pete Willis, Pete talked about how he a started a band called Atomic Mass. Joe played guitar and wanted to try out for the band, Pete and eventually the rest of Atomic Mass which consisted of Rick Savage on bass, and Tony Kenning on drums, all met at Joe's house. He demonstrated his abilities on guitar while singing Purple Haze, the rest of the group decided to add him in as a lead singer instead. In the course of the tryout Joe made a suggestion of a different name, Deaf Leopard was his suggestion but was soonly changed to Def Leppard in similarity to Led Zeppilin.
In 1978 after the band had only played one gig at a local high school, they adopted another guitar player by the name of Steve Clark. Just a few months later they recorded their first EP and right after the recording Tony Kennings left the badn due to personal reasons and was replaced with young 15 year old drummer Rick Allen.
Throughout 1979, the band developed a loyal following among British hard rock fans and were even initially considered the leaders of the new wave of British heavy metal which was eventually claimed by Iron Maiden. Their growing popularity led to a record deal with the major label Phonogram/Vertigo (Mercury Records in the US).
In 1980 they released their debut album "On Through the Night" the album didn't do very well alot of comments stated that the band was trying to hard to please American listeners with singles like "Hello America". Then in 1981 after recruting famous producer Mutt lange (Who produced with bands like AC/DC, Foreingner, and The Boomtown Rats). He helped them achive their potential and release their second album "High 'N' Dry" even though the album had unimpressvie sales, the video following the song "Bringin' On the Haartbreak" brought the band alot of visibility in the United States, that by the time the album released in America the the tour was scheduled for the band to open up for Ozzy Osbounre.
Phil Collen a guitarist looking for a job replaced Pete in 1981 when he was fired due to excessive alchohol abuse. Phil helped record the third album "Pyromania" whichs lead single "Photograph" turned Def Leppard overnight into a household name, supplanting Micheal Jacksons Beat It as most requested video.
Fuelled by "Photograph" and subsequent singles "Rock of Ages" and "Foolin" Pyromania went on to sell six million copies in 1983 (more than 100,000 copies every week in that year) and was held off the top of the US album charts only by Michael Jackson's "Thriller" The album has since been certified Diamond.
In 31 December 1984, drummer Rick Allen lost his left arm in a car crash on the A57 in the hills outside Sheffield when his speeding corvette swerved off the road on a sharp bend and went through a drystone wall. Despite the severity of the accident, Rick was committed to continuing his role as Def Leppard's drummer. He practiced drumming with pillows and realized that he could use his legs to do some of the drumming work previously done with his arms. He then worked with Simmons company to design a custom electric drum set. The other members of the band supported Allen's recovery and never sought a replacement. During this period, Mutt Lange eventually returned to the fold as producer, and Allen's triumphant comeback was sealed at the 1986 Donnington Monsters of Rock festival with an emotionally charged ovation after his introduction by Joe Elliott.
After many delays the fourth album "Hysteria" was released, Hysteria immediately topped the charts in its first week of release. Hysteria is one of only a handful of albums (and the third in rock history) that has charted seven singles or more on the US Hot 100: "Women" (#80), "Animal" (#19), "Hysteria" (#10), "Pour Some Sugar on Me" (#2), "Love Bites" (#1), "Armageddon It" (#3), and "Rocket" (#12). It remained on the charts for three years and has sold 18 million copies worldwide.
Following Hysteria, the band quickly set out to work on their fifth album, hoping to avoid another lengthy gap. However, Steve Clark's alcholism worsened to the point that he was constantly in and out of rehab. Recording sessions suffered from this distraction, and in mid-1990, Steve was granted a six-month leave of absence from the band. Clark never reached the end of his leave, dying from an accidental mix of prescription drugs and alcohol on 8 January 1991 in his London home. The remaining band members decided to carry on and recorded the album as a four-piece, with Collen mimicking Clark's style on his intended guitar parts.
The fifth album "Adrenalize" was fianlly released in 1992, the album simultaneously hit number 1 on both US and UK charts and staying there for 5 more weeks. The album gave great hits such as "lets Get Rocked" and "Have you ever needed someone so bad".
Lately Def Leppard been doing really good rwith releasing 6 more albums up to this date and still bring good old fashioned Brititsh Heavy Metal. This band and Bryan Admas are the first two artists I remember hearing as a young child.
This Weeks band of the Week is a short and quick one, becuase I have been really busy..............
THE FOUR TOPS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
The Four Tops, I know its a jump from the other genres but I love the Motown/Soul bands of the 50s-60s. Anyway this "Group" more than band, started in 1954 with a couple of high school students who sang for birhtday parties. The quartet decided to remain together and the called themselves The Four Tops, without any hit records to their name, The Tops toured frequently, developing a polished stage presence and an experienced supper club act.
During there early Motown years they recorded songs to please the listeners with the writing came there first single "Baby I need your loving", with Levi Stubbs as the main vocals and the other three backing him up. The first follow-up single, "Without the One You Love (Life's Not Worth While)"
After Scoring Number 1 with "Baby I Need Your Loving" the band went through a song writing strom pushing out singles every minute. This band and The Temptations were the top of the time, There is not much to explain about them thats why I chose them for this short blog.
I love these bands all the songs are written from there heart and they sing with there soul. In 2008 the lead singer of The Four Tops, Levi Stubbs died of a stroke. He will always be remembered as one of the best singers of all time.
Top 5 Four Tops Songs
5. Bernadette
4. Standing in the Shadows of Love
3. I Can't Help Myself (Sugar pie, Honey Bunch)
2. Reach out "I'll Be Threre"
1. Without the one you love "Life is not Worthwhile"
This Weeks Band is, oh and brace yourself this is a LOOOOOOOONG one................................
METALLICA!!!!!!!!!!!!
In My opinion there's old Metallica and there's new Metallica, and new Metallica sucks.
Metallica first formed in Los Angeles, in early 1981 when drummer Lars Ulrich put an ad in a local magazine. Guitarist James Hetfield and Hugh Tanner answered the ad. Although he had not formed a band, Ulrich asked Metal Blade Records if he could record a song for the label's upcoming compilation "Metal Massacre" Slagel accepted, and Ulrich recruited Hetfield to sing and play rhythm guitar.Ulrich used Metallica for the name of his band. A second advertisement was placed in a magazine for a lead guitarist. Dave Mustaine answered, and, after seeing his expensive guitar equipment, Ulrich and Hetfield recruited him. In early 1982, Metallica recorded its first original song "Hit the Lights" for the"Metal Massacre" compilation. Hetfield played bass on the song and Lloyd Grant was credited with a guitar solo. Giving them a new hit single, which got so much attention they had the opportunity to play live shows.
In 1983 Metallica brought forth their first album "Kill 'Em All" which the band had initially called it "Metal up your Ass" but their record company urged them to change it, they agreed. Anyway Kill "em all received high praise from all corners of the music industry, selling many albums and gaining great amounts of good reviews. The album was acclaimed for its high speed guitar solos and James Hetfields growling vocals, and making it the first influential thrash metal album.
Throughout the tour of Kill 'em all Hetfield and Mustaine had personal conflicts mainly according to Mustaine's drinking problem, the conflicts eventually had risen to a fist fight between the two. This fight had sent Mustaine out of the band, they replaced him with guitarist Kirk Hammett.
1 year after the release of Kill 'em all the band had released their second album "Ride The Lightning" two words I can say about this album "Hell Yeah". Anyway though this is the album that most people call the "bridge" from Kill 'em all and Master of Puppets. This album not only retained the thrash metal style from Kill 'em all with songs like "Trapped under Ice", but was innovative with the more long and symphonic songs like "Fade to Black" this is definitely my favorite Metallica album.There isn't a single song on this album that is bad.
2 years later Metallica released their highest praised album "Master of Puppets", right of the bat we here the intro to "Battery". A slow acoustic guitar solo that takes about one minute it slowly quiets down and then it BLOWS! your balls off with a heavy guitar crashing over everything in its path. Then the drums fill in with the guitar picking up speed, all of a sudden James Hetfields razor sharp vocals beating down on you then after Battery, The main title's song plays and it just melts your mind with expert crafted guitar, vocals, drums, and bass. "The Thing That Should Not Be" starts off with the bass playing a real mellow dark kind of sound, like as if something is lurking under water. It kicks in with this badass riff that's just awesome and the lyrics to this song are equally as awesome. Next we start to here the opening to the song "Welcome Home "Sanitarium"" A guitar plays a chord that gives the sound of emptiness, the drums and bass come in just as dark and slow. We here Hetfield's dark voice enter, this song sings about someone who is mentally trapped and alone. And what do we get after that morbid and depressing but still good song? Why "Disposable Heroes" a hard grinding song that destroys every song in existence trying to be loud, and I don't mean noise loud like death metal a more harmony loud where I can actually understand what they are trying to say. The songs meaning is my favorite out of all of them, it talks about a young man forced to join the military. He is sent to battle as basically another useless soldier ready to die in a war he never wanted to be in, the term "Hero" means a certain individual who has done a great deed. This song states all soldiers are just a bunch of disposable heroes just to be used and tossed aside. Next we have a rather peculiar song entitled "Leper Messiah" I assume this song is about worship and sacrificial tributes, but really its about certain people in the past who talked with people who had leprosy who were usually sent to live alone, but instead of helping them they made them feel guilty to donate money. The next song is an instrumental called "Orion" there's not much to say except that it is really good for an instrumental, and that bassist Cliff Burton a member of Metallica who died from a terrible bus accident, they played this song at his funeral. The final song on Master of Puppets is "Damage Inc" the song is simply about all the mindless destruction that is in this world.
Another 2 years later Metallica tried very hard to follow up with another album with the it we got "...And Justice for All", this is a very good album but not really one of my favorites. All the songs are great as usual but my two favorite are "Blackened and Dyers Eve", as i said before Cliff Burton died from a terrible bus accident before this album was started so the band had started try-outs for a new bassist. Out of all the try-outs only one made the cut and the irony was that it was the guy everyone in the band had hated, the guy Jason Newsted. Dealing with him the started the album, this album is defenitly there most angry mainly due to the fact of Burton's death. Not only did they take their anger and make music with it, they blew off steam by getting angry at Jason. He dealt with it cause he wanted to remain in the band.
Now 3 years later Metallica brings us "The Black Album" this album had pleased and angered fans and when I say angered I mean they bought and burned copies of the album in their anger. But to those who are new to Metallica you are probably wondering how in the hell did they make it that bad, the answer is they didn't. The reason why some fans got upset is that the accused them of selling out with more mainstream sounding songs which isn't true the only songs that sounded mainstream were Enter Sandman and well that's pretty much it and Enter Sandman sucks. Boo F###ing Hoo one Metallica song sucks get over it, and coincidentally and I find this funny the song "Sad But True" plays. The song starts like any other good Metallica song guitar roaring in like a truck stampeding toward you , and man I love the lyrics behind it. It talks about how their is this "Being" within you and it pretty much is your lifeline it controls you and defines makes you what you are without it you are NOTHING. Then is the song "Holier Than Thou" and man does this song put people in their place, the base of the songs meaning is about my favorite kind people HYPOCRITES. But seriously I hate hypocrites. Next is "The Unforgiven" Written by James Hetfield, Lars Ulrich, and Kirk Hammett, this song was a new style for Metallica. They wanted to try a song with a heavy verse and a soft chorus, something not scene in rock or metal music much. Its very dark and powerful, the meaning is about a child forced to do the demands of older and evil men and ends up growing into one of those men. The next song is called "Wherever I May Roam" its a more lively song talking about living life on the road choosing your own laws and freedoms and screw everybody else. Then "Don't Tread on Me" demands respect, this song can be looked at by many different point of views one being American's wars for Independence, another just plain and simple Don't mess with me or I will mess with you.
"Through The Never" is the next track off the album, talking about mans eternal quest for knowledge in an infinite space. Now if perfection were real it would be this song "Nothing Else Matters", this song can mean a variety of things that's the beauty of its so musically well done with the lyrics speaking words of shear wisdom. It might be a softer song but I couldn't imagine it any other way its just amazing. The next song "Of Wolf And Man" is a song going back to the more hard rocking type, its a fun little song talking about how when we change some things change more than others the song uses a werewolf for example. Then there's "The God That Failed" the song starts off with a bass and drum playing a real rough beat then the guitar comes in on one side of the speaker than the other, simultaneously switching until eventually bring the two together.The lyrics demonstrates people who worship "God" and expect to get something in return but never do, its a really great song. With only two songs left on this Great album the next is "My friend of Misery" which starts off with the best bass solo I have ever heard leading into the rest of the band joining in. The song talks about those who intentionally make themselves miserable to gain attention but never do and only get more miserable. The final song is "The Struggle Within" I don't know i don't really care much for this song, it isn't as bad as Enter Sandman but its not really great. Anyway the black album is Metallica's strongest selling album and a really great one.
Over 5 years later Metallica begins what I call "The Decline" because every album after The Black Album just got worse and worse it started with "Load" Metallica's sixth album. Uuuuhh is all i can really say it has two just two really good songs "King Nothing" and "Until It Sleeps" the one I want to talk about is King Nothing. The song is so good it almost makes up for the crappy album it was released on. It talks about how people go through life wishing for money, fame, and good fortune but hidden behind these wishes is greed. And sometimes when you wish for something you get it and the consequences that come with it.Now Load was bad but "Reload" was a slight improvement it came out 1 year later it wasn't as bad as load but instead of one golden, A+ song we get a bunch of little C- songs that are eh.
Now those whiners about The Black Album being to mainstream should look at "St Anger" than say The black Album is mainstream St Anger released 6 years after Reload. Now an important thing happened in those 6 years for one bassist Jason Newsted left the band for personal reasons so right off the bat we lost an important part of Metallica, they replace him with some guy named Robert Trujillo from "Black Label Society" or whatever I don't really care. So the album comes out and what I hear is a distorted mess on some tracks and very mainstream songs on other tracks, the sound is very different from Metallica is normally doing. But I don't know maybe they were experimenting it pleased some people just not me.
Now 5 years later Metallica releases their most current album "Death Magnetic" and my god did it have a lot of advertisements I couldn't go anywhere without hearing the god forsaken single "The Day that Never Comes" it got to the point where I just wanted it to come out so I didn't have to hear about it anymore. It came out wasn't great but a great improvement on St Anger but I won't listen to the album on my free time.
Anyway Metallica is kind of similar to the rise and fall of Rome starting off small and growing to be one of the strongest bands or armies around then tragically failing and dieing out, but in this case making money off of stupid things such as "Guitar Hero Metallica".
Top 10 Best Metallica Songs
10. King Nothing "From Load"
9. Escape "From Ride The Lightning"
8. Battery "From Master of Puppets"
7. Motorbreath "From Kill 'Em All"
6. Dyers Eve "From ...And Justice For All"
5. Ride the Lightning "From Ride The Lightning"
4. The God That Failed "From The Black Album"
3. The Four Horsemen "From Kill 'Em All"
2. Disposable Heroes "From Master of Puppets"
1. Nothing Else Matters "From The Black Album"
It was a calm and cold night and my family and I had gone out to a restaurant for my sons 13th birthday. He was so happy and seeing him happy made me happy, I watched him carefully run around the restaurants, it was one of those kids of places that have arcade games and prizes for if you win enough tickets. It started to get late and I told my son “just 10 more minutes Eric”, he smiled and nodded and went back to his playing. My wife and I sat back at the table; we hadn’t talked much anymore not since our big fight for her cheating on me. We found it was in best interest to stay together for our son’s sake, he walks over to us smiling and holding a rather large box, I looked at it and saw it was one of those giant water guns. I told him “Congratulations” and let him keep it.
We headed into the parking lot of the restaurant and it was very foggy, then the feeling struck my spine, we were being watched. I rushed my family into the car without alerting them, I calmly started the engine and we were off. We had driven for a good 30 minutes so I felt as though we were safe, we come closer to our neighborhood but we had to pass through this more rural intersection to get there. We reach the stop sign and I looked both ways as a good driver was supposed too, so then we pass through the intersection and I think cautiously. My wife screamed “LOOOK OUT!!!” then out of the opposite lane came a black sedan it t-boned our car sending us spinning; four guys came out all loaded with weapons. They opened fire; bullets flew everywhere piecing the cars metal. The noise scraped my ear drums as if thousands of people were all at once screaming in my ear at the same time. Even worse were the sounds of my family, I tried to free myself but my seatbelt wouldn’t unlatch almost as if someone tampered with it, the bullets ceased. The men had said nothing but only got back into there car and drove off, I looked back trying not to think of the terror I might see. They were both shot and dead, I screamed in agony “NO!!!” I thought to myself “my whole family is dead, why?”My family’s blood all over me and the car was almost destroyed; I finally got out of the seatbelt and escaped from the car. I didn’t have my cell phone I had left it on the kitchen counter back at home, didn’t think I would need it.
A car eventually came; I was stuck in shock in my car. They saw the destroyed car and came to help. I told him “call the hospital”, he pulled out his phone and called 911.As the emergency assistance approaches I thought of the situation at hand, I wasn’t injured and my family is dead. The ambulance finally arrived and me lying on the cold ground watching the lights flicker from above; they picked me up and put me on a stretcher. I saw them take out my son and wife and watched them place the black bag over there heads signifying that they were both dead. As they transported me to the hospital I thought to myself, how could this happen? I was so deep in thought I couldn’t even pay attention to what the ambulance attendants were telling me. We arrived at the hospital and they wheel me in and my injuries aren’t that serious, I mainly wanted to see my son. So after they cleaned me up I went out to the lobby and the nurse behind the desk told me that my car was towed here so I could get anything I needed out of it. I went out and found my car laying a parking space; it had looked like Swiss cheese from all the bullet holes. I look in the cars glove box to get some registration forms and just then I noticed a small piece of paper fall out, it was all crinkled so I unraveled it and I looked at its message.
The bill of a hit I had put on my wife over a year ago, just shocked in the moment I thought why I had gotten the hit. I was angry but I wouldn’t mind as much if they did it when she wasn’t with us, many questions brewed in my head “why now and not a week after I had made the deal? Why when I was with her and not when she was alone?” “WHY? WHY? WHY?” Then my screaming was interrupted by a small beeping noise, I looked under the car to see what it was. I pulled a little black box form under the car and was awestruck by what I’m holding. “They were tracking me” I said, that explains how they found me and my family, “but why?” I asked. I walked back into the hospital and waited, the nurse called me back “they’re ready for you” she told me, I walked back into the area where they keep the dead and I see my son. He was just lying there; I looked at him and thought “I will kill them for this”. Right after I leave the area the police arrive and take me I to there station, they put in this cold metal chair. A shiver runs up my spine with the thought of them finding out about the hit I had made. They ask me blunt questions “do you know anyone who would want to hurt your family”, I lied and said “no”. They question me for over 3 hours asking more questions which I would lie to each of them, they finally finish the questions but tell that I am a suspect. They allowed me to leave the station but not go anywhere far just back home; I take a cab back to my house and on the way back. I reach in my back pocket to grab the money to pay the cab driver and find the crumpled piece of paper, I open it up and straighten it out and find the most upsetting message.
On the back of the bill of my wife’s hit, it read on the back “Don’t make a mess”. I couldn’t take it they had to pay for this but how would I find them? I reach my house and pay the cab driver; I walk up to my front door with the paper clenched in my fist. I pulled out my keys to unlock the door but I find it is already unlocked; I slowly opened the door thinking there might be another hit man in the house to finish the job. I find my house torn up and destroyed on the inside; I walk around what’s left of the inside of my house. Everything is broken or on the floor, they wanted to know something and whatever it was they didn’t find it. I looked at the crumpled bill and see a very faded address and think “really?” they had actually put the address of where the bill was printed, idiots. I leave my torn house and on my way out I find the picture of me and my son fishing when he was 5 years old, “I will get them for what they did” I said to myself. Since I’m in a suburban area there aren’t any taxis so I walk toward town, walking much faster, walking with determination in my eyes. I am stopped by a police car, two officers come out and handcuff me and say “you’re under arrest for the murder of your wife”. We reach the police office where I had just come from and the once again integrate me but with very different questions more like accusations though. The detective tells me “we received information pointing toward you being the cause of your wife’s death”, “it wasn’t me” I lied. “Either way we will hold you here in the station until the mystery is solved” the detective said, “NO! I have to find my sons killer” I stated. When the detective came to put me in my cell I reached down and grabbed his gun from his holster, pointed it toward his head and told him to do what I say.
We walked out of the little room; I was wearing a large straight jacket the officer had given me with the officer’s gun pointed back at him. He walked behind me casually as I had instructed, he had calmly looked at all his fellow officers as if nothing were wrong. He took me to his car in the parking garage, I got in while he stood there with his hands up, and I sped off through the garage knowing full well that officer would call for help. I read the faded address and drove there fast as I could, it was dark around 6 pm but it was winter so it gets darker earlier in the day. I found myself at the docks and saw a lot of really worn and old buildings; I looked for the right one with the address on the paper. And I found it; I slowly walked up to it and opened the very large door. It creaked louder than anything around, it was also very dark and a lot of rats and bats all around. I stumbled through the warehouse until I came across a lit up room, I moved with caution and pulled out the gun ready to fire. I stand at the edge of the door with my back against the wall and my gun pointed toward the ceiling. I leapt in the doorway only to find, three dead men all shot in the head. All of them just lying there as did my son, these were the very same men but one was missing.
Just then I heard a large BANG down the hallway of the room then the rustling of the bats and rats, I sprinted toward the sound in hopes I would find my sons killer but no it was a stray police officer searching for me. I found a window on the first floor that was slightly broken so I climbed out, I cut my side on a shard of glass and couldn’t help but yell in pain. The cop of course noticed and ran toward the scene thankfully I had gotten out and started running on the docks, I see in the distance a silhouetted man running. He isn’t a cop though “this has to be him” I said. I began to chase the strange man growing closer and closer, the amount of fog around the docks made the chase feel like an eternity. I finally reach a distance close enough to fire upon the man; I pull out my gun and aim for his leg. BANG! I shot once and hit him right behind his knee, he fell to the ground and I walked up to see the face of the man who had shot my son. The man lay face down in the wood of the docks, I grab his shoulder to see his identity but only find more pain.
“No” I whispered, “you? You did this? You’re behind this? WHY!” the man snickered in happiness almost an evil laughter. “My own brother, why?” all he did was laugh, slowly it grew louder and louder until even the small animals around us were in terror. I punched him right in the face again demanding an explanation, he only spoke once and said “the fault lies with you”. I unclenched his shirt from my fists and let him go, he got up and limped away I just sat their on my knees thinking about what he had told me. “He’s right” I said, “DAMMIT!! He’s right” I sobbed. A line of police came and took me away I screamed as they did “NO!!!” I felt the fear in them around me; it took over five men to pull me back. I was trying to run but I didn’t even know where just run and run until my heart stop aching. I knew it was my fault but I didn’t want to accept it, the police put me in the car and I stayed silent the whole ride to the prison. The police had told me they found out about the hit on my wife and that I would be going away for a long time for it.
I arrived at the prison with gloom feelings, I knew that it was my fault but I still couldn’t accept it. The guards took me the warden; I knew it was him because they’re always the same looking guy. Fat slightly bald and talks in that somber tone that makes it seem like you did nothing wrong. He told me my trial would be in two days, although I really didn’t listen much I was to distracted with my own personal thoughts. When the guards took me to my cell I had noticed I was alone in it, I found that to be better than being with some overreacting loudmouth who wouldn’t shut up. My days in prison weren’t as hard as people describe mainly because I never left my cell, and I didn’t eat.
The day came for my trial, I saw the guard come to bring me to the police car. He unlocked the cell and grabbed my arm; it was harder to walk because I had chains wrapped around my ankles. It was raining when he brought me outside, I sat in the car and remained silent in both speech and thought throughout the car ride. We arrive and I walk inside and sit in my seat. My lawyer next me, he’s one of the ambulance chasers that take any case they can. I didn’t have much confidence in my case I didn’t care either way though, I just wanted to die from the terrible thing I had done. The trial commenced and it was unbearable. It went on and on about how it was my fault, I chose not to listen so I just nodded when necessary. I couldn’t stand the fact that my sons death was my fault. “I find the defendant guilty” the judge had said, they pulled me out of my chair and took me back to the car. The rain showered down on my face hiding the tears I had shed from the feeling of regret, and just then I saw him standing there on the sidewalk my brother. He just stood there and when the cops brought me to the car he walked up to me and said “Revenge is a taste that is bitter-sweet, but karma is mouth-full that cannot be chewed or swallowed” and he walked away in the rain the police officer put me in the car and drove me off to prison. I realized why then, why it had happened. My sheer ignorance led me to put a death sentence not on just my wife but my son as well. So I watched out the car window as my freedom was taken away by the one and only person who has that kind of power. Myself.
The Offspring One the best hard rocking punk bands I know, The band was formed by guitarist Dexter Holland and bassist Greg K., who met on their high school cross country team, under the name "Manic Subsidal". The decision to form a band came outside of a Social Distortion concert when both were refused entry. Doug Thompson was added for vocals, and Kevin "Noodles" Wasserman, the school janitor, was welcomed into the band, allegedly because he was old enough to purchase alcohol for Holland and Kriesel, both of whom were under the legal drinking age.The band used Thompson's friend, Jim Benton, as their drummer. Thompson was eventually forced out of the band, while Benton left. This led to Holland taking over on vocals, and James Lilja joining as the drummer. The band changed their name to "The Offspring" in 1985.
In March 1985, the band teamed up with producer Thom Wilson (of The Dead Kennedys, Social Distortion, and The Vandals fame) to record their first album. Then in 1988 the band signed a record deal with a small-time label, Nemesis Records. In 1989 The band released their first album "The Offspring", the album had negative reviews but is renowned for being one of the best punk albums ever, for the sheer raw power and Dexter Holland's speedy voice.
Just 3 years later the band released their second album "ignition" this album gained more positive reviews but didn't do so well in sales. This album is one of their least discussed albums. 2 years later their third album "Smash" is released, this album not only got great reviews but sold very well in the stores due to its main three singles, Come out and play, Gotta get away, and Self Esteem.
1997 brings the fourth album "Ixnay on the Hombre", this is a really decent album. in my opinion the first album that every track I liked. Anyway this album did very well in both areas of the music industry, strong reviews and strong sales. Charting 5 singles. Just 1 year later the band releases one their all-time best album "Americana", Every song on this album is awesome some more than others though. "NOTE I hate Pretty fly for a white guy, but I find it ironic that the meaning of the song counter-acts with its popularity". This is by far there best selling album, even though having only four singles this album sold much, more than any other.
The fascination I have with Americana is that how it relates to lives of ordinary people, each song has a clear meaning and it can relate to some people very well. For example the song "Staring at the Sun" describes life as "Maybe life is like a ride on a freeway Dodging bullets while you're trying to find your way Everyone's around, but no one does a damn thing It brings me down, but I won't let them." Initially what the song is talking about is kids in school who want to change themselves to fit in, but don't realize what they're losing because of it. It basically is saying, Don't think I'm going to change to adapt to you while you're changing/hurting/losing yourself. Every song on that album has a meaning such as that one.
2 years later after the great success of Americana it would be hard to at least come close to another album on the same level. BUT! not only did they bring the next album up to Americana's level, the album nearly exceeded it. The album "Conspiracy of One", although it did not sell as much as Americana the songs were a lot different in a good way. It works like this as the band grew up the music matured more and more, the loudness and noise from their first album similar to children when they are young. The teenager trying to make it big and have fame with there first decent selling albums Smash and Inaxy on the Hombre. Young adult with Americana looking back on the past seeing all the misfortune that they had endured, and now there music at its peak of both quality and maturity with Conspiracy of One.
Conspiracy of One gave songs of the higher power, a certain charm each song brings that can relate to any kind of person. And again delivering an album where each and every song is AWESOME!. All the songs did however relate to the title of the album, each song speaking of an individual that is going through a hard process.
3 years later they come out with there worst album "Spilnter", I cant stand this album so I'm not even going to discuss it. In 2008 the band release their most current album "Rise and Fall, Rage and Grace" all i can say is "Its Okay"
Top 5 BEST Offspring songs
5. I Choose
4. Come Out Swinging
3. Way Down The Line
2. Dammit I Changed Again
1. The End Of the Line
P.S. I can pretty much discuss each song on both Americana and Conspiracy of One the same way i did with Staring at the Sun.
I wake up on a warm summer day at seven’ o’clock. ”God dammit it’s early”, I said I got up took a quick shower and went into the kitchen. Then I hear a knocking coming from the door. It was my eleven year old friend Kris, “you look tired”, he said. He walked in and said hello to my parents as usual, so then I get dressed and my mom grabbed her car keys and said “let’s go get your friends”. We drove off and it was a pretty quiet ride other than the radio on the low volume. We finally arrive at Connor the oldest of my friends age 16, and wouldn’t you know it he is still asleep. Kris and I crept to his open bedroom window covered by a bed sheet and tried to wake him up, it wasn’t easy. He finally woke up got dressed while Kris and I waited in his driveway he came out and was quite happy to see me, and then we left. Now were off to the next stop Will’s house, on the way Connor and Kris were talking a little in the back of the car about what we’ll be doing today. From what I could tell they seemed pretty excited. We arrive at Will’s house and he’s waiting in the driveway, he gets into the car and we drive on back to the house. It was a lot livelier in the back now with 14 year old Will in the car, but it didn’t seem to bother anyone.
We arrive back at the house around noon, the four of us pile into my room gathering the “items” we wanted to bring on the walk around the neighborhood. So we head on out the door I tell my mom we’ll be back in while, as we were leaving I snatch a lighter out of my moms car. It doesn’t take long for Connor to pull out the firecrackers, not far from the house there is a abandoned trailer surrounded by trees and bushes. All four of us go in and start lighting firecrackers around different parts of the trailer, then Kris finds a discarded glass bottle we thought it would be funny to stick a couple of those firecrackers in their. We must of put almost six or seven in that bottle and the moment Will lit that fuse we were out of that trailer and down the street before we heard a loud POP!, we decided to check on it later.
So now were walking and talking and then we come across an old rusty wagon in a ditch. Kris picks it up and brings it along and then we reach a large hill, Kris puts the wagon down on the ground and gets into it. And since Kris is the youngest he is the stupidest, he rides it all the way down then Connor said to me “I have an idea about that wagon”, I had a good thought on what Connor was thinking. At the bottom of that hill was a boat launch with just tons of different shellfish on the open areas without water. Will finds a decent sized crayfish and Connor hands the creature a firecracker and strangely it holds it pretty tight, even after we light it and put him down. “I never liked shellfish” I said, after we examine the remains of what’s left of that crayfish, we headed back up the hill and about halfway we stopped and moved into a nearby patch of land surrounded by trees. Connor then starts laying out many different fireworks and tying fuses together, he told kris “let me see that wagon”, Kris excitedly handed Connor the wagon. Connor placed the wagon over top of the fireworks leaving the fuses out in the open. We all hid behind nearby trees when Connor lit it and we waited, just then BOOM! The wagon shot up in the air and the sound echoed it seemed for miles. I had noticed some neighborhood watch people had heard the explosion and I saw them coming down the hill, I informed my friends and we ran down a nearby street. Will noticed a shack in the hidden in woods, we raced into the shack all at once before anybody saw us. I said “Will go see if their gone”, he crept out on a tree branch and whispered “they’re gone”. So we all left the shack and hurried back home before anybody else saw us.
We got back to the house around two’ o’clock and we went into my room and had a nice drink and a snack. Then my dog started to bark I went into the living room to find out why, it was Zach. My friends and I went outside to welcome Zach”the mellower 15 year old”, we all walked back into my room. Kris excitedly told Zach all the things we had done, Zach smirked and then had some food. Then I turned on the TV, there was a summer special airing. An 8-bit cartoon called Code Monkeys it was obviously an adult show with language and adult humor, but we didn’t care we watched it for hours. Some time later my mom said “Time to go”, so we all squeezed into the car Me, Zach, Kris, and Will were in the back and Connor in the front seat. We had all found the little toy guns in the backseat, I handed Connor the most realistic looking gun and we in the back kept the more colorful ones. It was a hot day so naturally the car windows were open, halfway to our destination Connor pulled out the toy gun and pointed it out the window Will and Zach did the same. Kris and I hoped that we wouldn’t get pulled over, we didn’t.
We arrived at the destination the town’s local movie theater “Were going to see The Simpsons Movie” I said. My friends cheered with excitement especially since today was the first showing for the movie. Since the movie wasn’t going to start for thirty minutes, we went over to the Safeway next-door to buy candy and food for the movie. In the parking lot Zach noticed this fat man, he looked to be about thirty or forty years old. Zach said “dude he’s wearing a Yu-Gi-oh backpack”, Yu-Gi-oh being an outdated pre-teen fad. Zach, Kris, and Connor pursued this man, asking him blunt questions in such a tone it was pretty obvious they were making fun of him. Will and I went into Safeway when we were cut off by an old scraggly woman “are those your friends?” she asked, “yeah so?” Will said, “They’re picking on that man” she said, “Then go talk to them” I said. After that short prosecution Will and I roamed the store for some candy and food, we bought tons of candy and food, seven different types of coffee oriented energy drinks and plenty of chips. After we were rung up and paid for the food we searched for the others, they were in the parking lot laughing pretty loudly. I asked them “did you get in trouble?” “No” Zach said, “The dudes mom came over and yelled at us” Connor said while laughing. Kris checked his watch and noticed that the movie would start soon. When we reached the theater and all the food we bought we hid in our clothes because the theater didn’t allow outside food. We sat in the back row handing each other food and conversed about how the movie would be. Then it started.
After the movie we headed out of the theater still with most of the food we went in with. We got in the car and drove off, on the way back we talked about how great the movie was and then we made a wager. “Whoever chugs their coffee energy drink first gets the last candy rope” Connor said, all of us got the tall boy cans and started chugging. The first to finish was Connor and god he did not feel good from it, but he did share the candy with us. About halfway home we stopped at a local gas station and I had noticed Kris’s dad waiting by his truck. Kris got out and I handed him the remainder of my coffee energy drink and I said “here drive you’re dad crazy with this stuff” he smiled, and got into his fathers truck we waved as they drove off.
We arrived back at my house around six’ o’clock my mom said “I’ll get dinner ready”, we all went inside. My dad was home at the time and greeted all my friends, I asked “who wants to help set up the tent?”. Will was the only one who offered to help; Will and I went into my front yard and laid out the pieces for the tent. He propped up the poles and I placed the tarp over it, before we knew it, it was time for dinner. We went inside and smelled the food it was Digiorno pizza, we all had a couple of slices. Then I heard a car pull up it was Wills parents, we all said our goodbyes to Will and then he left with his parents. Now it’s just me Zach and Connor.
Around nine’ o’clock we were in my room watching Code Monkeys then we noticed there is still one more coffee energy drink, then Zach sprung an idea “whoever drinks this without puking gets twenty dollars”. There was a catch he had put in salt, leftover candy, other drinks, and dirt it was more of a paste than a liquid. Zach went first and only got two good chugs, I didn’t even attempt but handed it to Connor he said “if I chug this whole thing you both give me twenty dollars”, it’s a deal! Zach and I said. Then Connor downed the pasty liquid in less than two minutes, Zach and I were just astonished by it and gave him his deserved money.
At ten’ o’clock we went into the tent; we sat in it for about an hour plotting. “We’ll hit this house”, Zach said, although it was midnight I still considered it the same day. Zach and I crept out of the tent quietly and hopped over my fence while Connor went inside to “get rid of” what he drank earlier. Zach and I waited in the driveway for about a half-hour, Connor snuck out quietly and said “Gary your mom’s homemade iced tea cured me”, we laughed quietly. ”And by the way don’t go in your bathroom” Connor said, we slowly walked up the driveway and out on the street. We walked for a while until we found the house we were looking for, a former friend we all knew and didn’t like. Connor got out his mortar unraveled the very long fuse and said “when Zach lights it run”. Zach lit it and Connor threw it at the silhouetted house and we ran like never before, we were back at the tent got in before it happened then we heard the biggest explosion I ever heard all that day.
We talked to each other quietly pondering about if we did anything to get caught.
Even after the night fell silent once again, we all decided that it is time for bed. As I lay there with two of my best friends next to me, I relived the day in my head over and over knowing there would never be another birthday like this one, the greatest day ever.
NOTES: I wrote this 2 two years a ago a week after that day i didn't bother to check it for any mistakes, just so i can see how well it looks from that amount of time. Other than that remember I was fourteen so my writing skills I hope have improved.
This week I have chosen for band of the week............
SYSTEM OF A DOWN
System of A Down or SOAD, is an American hard rock band formed in 1994. Lead singer Serj Tankian met guitarist Daron Malakian in 1992, while they both shared the same rehearsal studio in different bands. They formed a jam band called Soil (Serj on vocals/keyboards and Daron on guitar) with Domingo Laranio (drums) and Dave Hakopyan (bass). Around this time, they also met Shavo Odadjian. After about a year, with one supposed jam session recording and one live show, Dave and Domingo left, thinking the band wasn't going anywhere.
The band later broke up and Tankian and Malakian formed a new band "System of a Down," adapting the name from a poem Daron wrote entitled "Victims of the Down". The band released their first album in 1998 Entitled "System of A Down". The album gained several positive reviews, but had a message of rebellion within each song and remains my favorite SOAD album.
In 2001 tha band released their second album "Toxicity" This album had only one big difference with their first album, the amount of popularity this album gave with its singles Chop Suey,Aerials,and Toxicity. This album I feel has a very appealing sound which is why it attracted people to it, rather than the In-Your-Face songs from the first album.
Only 1 year later SOAD released their third album "Steal this Album!" this album did not have as much commercial success as Toxcity but it gave another original sound for the band. It leaned back more toward their first album's sound but tweaked it a little making it more different. It still is a great album and not as bad as there next two albums.
In 2005 SOAD released their fourth and fifth album simultaneously "Mezmerize/Hypnotize" these two albums pretty much abadoned origianlity and gave it a new mainstream shine. The albums did sell very well but I honsetly dont like either of them, thats my opinion though other people might like it.
Nowadays the band is on hiatus and it is unknown whether or not there will be a new album, but really if they did that bad on there last two I'm not sure if I want to hear a new album. But still System of A Down remains one of the most original bands of all time, their first three albums are more than enough for me.
