Posts Tagged ‘thoughts’

Daily Reload: Black Sabbath, Trent Reznor, Pantera + More

Kevin Winter, Getty Images Here’s a look at the top stories of the day on Loudwire and around the Web: – Black Sabbath are progressing a new album, as Ozzy Osbourne & company are holed up in a Malibu recording studio. Find out the new details here: [ Loudwire ] – Nine Inch Nails leader Trent Reznor has revealed his involvement as a consultant for the Beats by Dre headphone company and announced that it’s led to “a number of very interesting projects.” [ Loudwire ] – Former Pantera singer Philip Anselmo says that quotes he made about Zakk Wylde taking part in a reunion of the band have been taken out of context. [ Loudwire ] – Ever wonder where the dark and rather spooky lyrics for Metallica ‘s ‘Enter Sandman’ came from? Get the story here. [ Ultimate Metallica ] – Kiss open up about making the ‘Monster’ album, their current lineup, the Kiss Kruise, and their thoughts on the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. [ Ultimate Classic Rock ] – Smashing Pumpkins singer Billy Corgan reveals that he contemplated suicide on multiple occasions. [ Diffuser.fm ] – Jane’s Addiction , Slash , and goth godfather Peter Murphy are among the top acts for the inaugural UR1 festival. [ Rock Music Report ]

10 Best Red Hot Chili Peppers Songs

Stuart Wilson, Getty Images It's been a Rock and Roll Hall of Fame career for the Red Hot Chili Peppers , and we're attempting to count down the 10 Best Red Hot Chili Peppers Songs. To help narrow things down, we're keeping it to original tracks, which knocks out their splendid covers of 'Higher Ground' and 'Love Rollercoaster,' but there's still so many other great songs to choose from. From their early days as a college rock/party band through their present day reign as chart-topping hitmakers, singer Anthony Kiedis and bassist extraordinaire Flea have kept the band's spirit lively and sound extra funky. They've been joined on their mission by guitarists Hillel Slovak, Jack Sherman, DeWayne McKnight, John Frusciante , Arik Marshall, Jesse Tobias, Dave Navarro , and Josh Klinghoffer and drummers Jack Irons, Cliff Martinez, D.H. Peligro, and Chad Smith , and have rarely missed a step. So let's take you to the songs you love, take you all the way, and count down the 10 Best Red Hot Chili Peppers Songs: ? 10 'Suck My Kiss' From: 'Blood Sugar Sex Magik' (1991) ? ? Red Hot Chili Peppers may have gotten more commercial around the 'Blood Sugar Sex Magik' era, but 'Suck My Kiss' still had the energy and ferocity of some of their early albums. The track is driven by Flea's ferocious bass playing, while Anthony Kiedis delivers overly-amorous lyrics about his partner's obvious sexiness. Listen to 'Suck My Kiss' ? ? 9 'Brendan's Death Song' From: 'I'm With You' (2011) ? ? 'Brendan's Death Song' is a new tune, but it makes our 10 Best Red Hot Chili Peppers Songs as an example of a band connecting as one, letting their emotions from a traumatic experience flow simultaneously in perfect harmony. The group penned the track for late Los Angeles club owner and close friend Brendan Mullen, who gave the band their first break. Anthony Kiedis said the song was instantaneous after he delivered the news to his bandmates, and his voice, in particular, reaches emotional levels not heard prior on the band's records. Listen to 'Brendan's Death Song' ? ? 8 'Californication' From: 'Californication' (1999) ? ? The title track from Red Hot Chili Peppers 'Californication' album definitely shows the band's dance-with-the-dark side of life in Hollywood. The group delves into the superficial nature of modern society, with references like “ Space may be the final frontier / But it's made in a Hollywood basement ” and “ Pay your surgeon very well to break the spell of aging ” lamenting an increasingly plastic world. The song would reach No. 1 on both the Mainstream Rock and Modern Rock Tracks charts. Listen to 'Californication' ? ? 7 'Knock Me Down' From: 'Mother's Milk' (1989) ? ? Still reeling from the death of guitarist Hillel Slovak, Red Hot Chili Peppers found themselves in the midst of a band shakeup, with Chad Smith and John Frusciante eventually coming on board. Anthony Kiedis was also coming out of rehab and wrote this song about his withdrawal and realizing that if Slovak could die, he too was invincible. Listen to 'Knock Me Down' ? ? 6 'Dani California' From: 'Stadium Arcadium' (2006) ? ? The character of Dani California was first conjured up by Anthony Kiedis in 1999's 'Californication' and continued her journey in the 2002 single 'By the Way,' but with 2006's 'Stadium Arcadium,' the singer used the character as a representation of many women he knew in his life and built a full song around her. The video featured the band representing the different eras and genres of music that influenced their style. The group would win Grammy awards for Best Rock Song and Best Rock Performance by a Duo or Group With Vocal for the track. Listen to 'Dani California' ? ? 5 'Breaking the Girl' From: 'Blood Sugar Sex Magik' (1991) ? ? 'Breaking the Girl' found singer Anthony Kiedis dipping into his personal life for material. The singer revealed in his 'Scar Tissue' autobiography that the song was about the turbulent relationship with his ex-girlfriend, and also his father's relationship with women. The track is driven by Chad Smith's percussive instrumentation, and Flea's initially hypnotic and later aggressive bass playing. Listen to 'Breaking the Girl' ? ? 4 'By the Way' From: 'By the Way' (2002) ? ? 'By the Way' earns its spot among the 10 Best Red Hot Chili Peppers tracks for its ability to show the band's strengths. The John Frusciante guitar line demonstrates a melody-driven style, while Chad Smith and Flea deliver a full-on audio assault on drums and bass. Singer Anthony Kiedis told Kerrang of the song, “I thought that single was an ?ber-bombastic assault of non-commercialism.” The track is No. 8 on Loudwire's Top 21st Century Hard Rock Songs list. Listen to 'By the Way' ? ? 3 'Give It Away' From: 'Blood Sugar Sex Magik' (1991) ? ? If ever there were a guitar lick and drum beat that told you exactly what band it was, 'Give It Away' is that song for Red Hot Chili Peppers. While the lyrics may seem nonsensical, the group revealed on VH1's 'Behind the Music' that the track comes form the idea that the more that you give, the more you receive, so why not give it all away. Kiedis would later say that his girlfriend at the time, Nina Hagen, inspired the lyrics, after she gave him a jacket he liked from her closet. Listen to 'Give It Away' ? ? 2 'Scar Tissue' From: 'Californication' (1999) ? ? 'Scar Tissue' is a must for the 10 Best Red Hot Chili Peppers Songs. The cut would serve as the band's first single marking the return of guitarist John Frusciante to the lineup after dealing with the substance abuse issues. The track itself featured themes of life and resurrection, which reflected not only Frusciante's return but other band members' abilities to emerge from their past demons as well. The moniker would also serve as the title for Anthony Kiedis' future biography. Listen to 'Scar Tissue' ? ? 1 'Under the Bridge' From: 'Blood Sugar Sex Magik' (1991) ? ? The song that catapulted the band to superstardom was also one in which Anthony Kiedis laid his soul bare for all to see. The track was about the singer's heroin addiction and his own isolation the deeper he got into the drug. The lyrics initially were part of a poem, and producer Rick Rubin reportedly convinced the singer to explore them as a song. The track also featured a wide style shift, from the somber opening guitar chords through the mid-tempo drum beats up to the climactic finale. Listen to 'Under the Bridge' ? ? What Is Your Favorite Red Hot Chili Peppers Song? So there you have it, our 10 Best Red Hot Chili Peppers Songs? Did we get it right, or with the birds are we sharing our lonely view? There's still plenty of great songs that just missed out on the list. What would you add and what would take away? Let us know your thoughts in the comments section below. ?

Daily Reload: Rage Against the Machine, Black Veil Brides + More

Kevin Winter, Getty Images Here’s a look at the top stories of the day on Loudwire and around the Web: – Has it really been 20 years? Rage Against the Machine ‘s groundbreaking self-titled debut album is being reissued in multiple formats with plenty of audio and video bonus content to celebrate its 20th anniversary. [ Loudwire ] – January will be here before you know it, and to get you prepped for what’s to come, Black Veil Brides have unveiled the album title and artwork for their next album. [ Loudwire ] – Guns N’ Roses ‘ Las Vegas residency may be good for more than playing shows. Guitarist DJ Ashba says recording is on the agenda, as well. [ Loudwire ] – Kiss are once again absent from the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame ballot. Paul Stanley shares his thoughts on the snub and if they would attend if chosen. [ Ultimate Classic Rock ] – Dethklok are building the buzz for their new ‘Metalocalypse: Dethklok Dethalbum III’ by issuing a sneak peek at the “making of” their deluxe edition documentary DVD. [ Rock Music Report ] – Train is not exactly the steadiest mode for touring these days, so after the cancellation of the Railroad Revival Tour, Band of Horses have moved quickly to book new shows. [ Diffuser.fm ]

Top 10 Albums of 1992

Karl Walter / Ethan Miller / Frank Micelotta, Getty Images Looking back on the best albums of 1992, we find an eclectic mix of acts who helped lead a creative infusion of new ideas on the standard hard rock and metal formulas. It was a time when we learned that hard rock and metal could be grungy ( Stone Temple Pilots , Alice in Chains ), groovy ( White Zombie ), proggy ( Dream Theater ) and politically infused ( Rage Against the Machine ). And it also proved to be a year when some established bands like Pantera and Megadeth delivered their most essential works. So let's take a look back in time with our list of the Top 10 Albums of 1992. ? 10 'Angel Dust' Faith No More ? ? It's hard to dismiss Faith No More 's 'Angel Dust' from the Top 10 Albums of 1992 when it yielded so many quality songs. The album, the band's second disc featuring Mike Patton as frontman, proved to be a worthy successor to 1989's 'The Real Thing.' Songs like 'Land of Sunshine,' 'A Small Victory,' 'Everything's Ruined,' and their odd cover of the Commodores' 'Easy' all connected with audiences, but it was the lead single, 'Midlife Crisis,' that ended up being the big hit on this record. Listen to 'Midlife Crisis' ? ? 9 'Meantime' Helmet ? ? Was there a bigger buzz band in 1992 than Helmet ? It seemed as though everyone caught up to the rockers with their sophomore set 'Meantime.' The unique riffs of singer/guitarist Page Hamilton combined with the powerful low-end coming from drummer John Stanier and bassist Henry Bogdan made Helmet a critics list favorite. 'Unsung' became an anthem for the alt-metal scene and 'In The Meantime' earned the band their first Grammy nomination for Best Metal Performance. Listen to 'Unsung' ? ? 8 'Psalm 69: The Way to Succeed and the Way to Suck Eggs' Ministry ? ? Industrial metal favorites Ministry continued to evolve with 'Psalm 69: The Way to Succeed and the Way to Suck Eggs.' This was arguably the band's biggest release, with the propulsive 'N.W.O.' leading the way. Al Jourgensen 's 'ding-danging' on 'Jesus Built My Hotroad' was pure genius. Plus, the sample-infused 'Just One Fix' kept things interesting. Listen to 'N.W.O.' ? ? 7 'La Sexorcisto: Devil Music, Vol. 1' White Zombie ? ? The music world caught up to White Zombie in 1992. Though grunge had taken over, there was room for some variations on the metal genre, and White Zombie's groove-and-funk metal filled a niche. The hard-hitting yet equally danceable 'Thunder Kiss '65' became the first radio hit for the band, while 'Black Sunshine' went on to become one of Zombie's most popular live songs. Listen to 'Thunder Kiss '65' ? ? 6 'Images and Words' Dream Theater ? ? Dream Theater's 'Images and Words' has to be included among the best albums of 1992 as it was the disc that put the band in the collective conscious of metal and prog-loving fans. James LaBrie 's vocals on 'Pull Me Under' made it worthy of becoming the band's first commercial hit. Plus, the overall playing of guitarist John Petrucci , bassist John Myung, and drummer Mike Portnoy on this record set the tone for plenty of masterful records to follow. Listen to 'Pull Me Under' ? ? 5 'Rage Against the Machine' Rage Against the Machine ? ? Rage Against the Machine's first three singles didn't connect, but 'Freedom' finally brought Rage to the masses almost a full year after their debut album release. Once they finally hit, new fans discovered such concert gems as 'Killing in the Name' and 'Bullet in the Head.' Zack de la Rocha 's politically-charged vocals and Tom Morello 's dextrous guitar playing was unlike anything going on in rock at the time and provided a blueprint for many acts of that ilk to come. Listen to 'Freedom' ? ? 4 'Core' Stone Temple Pilots ? ? The second wave of grunge began in '92, and Stone Temple Pilots led the way. With the blistering opening of 'Sex Type Thing,' Scott Weiland introduced a brand new voice to the game. But while STP showed they could rock out with tracks like 'Wicked Garden,' it was the bluesier, moodier songs like 'Plush' and 'Creep' that set them apart from their peers. 'Plush' became one of the biggest hits of the '90s. Listen to 'Plush' ? ? 3 'Countdown to Extinction' Megadeth ? ? Megadeth's 'Countdown to Extinction' is a must for the 10 Best Albums of 1992, and is one of their best works. There was plenty of rich material for Dave Mustaine to address on this classic effort. 'Symphony of Destruction' spoke to themes of political power, and the memorable video ended up being censored due to MTV's concern over an “assassination” scene. 'Sweating Bullets,' meanwhile, offered a schizophrenic look at society and how our conscious handles events. Listen to 'Symphony of Destruction' ? ? 2 'Dirt' Alice in Chains ? ? Alice in Chains released possibly their best album, 'Dirt,' in '92. Buoyed by support from their 'Singles' soundtrack song 'Would?,' the disc got off to a fast start. A string of hard rocking hits including 'Them Bones,' 'Angry Chair,' and 'Down in a Hole' followed, but their fourth single 'Rooster' proved to be their most ambitious song. Finding the perfect blend of moody and aggressive vocals, Layne Staley took Jerry Cantrell 's words about his soldier father and helped craft an instant classic. Listen to 'Rooster' ? ? 1 'Vulgar Display of Power' Pantera ? ? Coming in at No. 1 on our list is Pantera's 'Vulgar Display of Power,' which was a must for any self-respecting metalhead in 1992. 'Mouth of War' became the band's first-ever charting single with sibling rockers Vinnie Paul and Dimebag Darrell leading the way. The album's fourth single, 'Walk,' with its stop-and-go time signature and Phil Anselmo's legendary vocals, would eventually become an iconic track. Twenty years later, it's one of the most covered songs in metal. Listen to 'Walk' ? ? What Are The Best Albums Of 1992? There you have it, the best albums of 1992, in our humble opinion. There was plenty of great music that arrived that year and here's your turn to let us know what we missed. Should iconic metal acts like Iron Maiden and Black Sabbath be there for 'Fear of the Dark' and 'Dehumanizer'? What about the very solid Social Distortion record 'Somewhere Between Heaven and Hell' or a pre-'Dookie' Green Day with 'Kerplunk.' What album is missing and what disc shouldn't have made the list at all? Let us know your thoughts in the comments section below. ?

Daily Reload: Corey Taylor, Green Day, Soundgarden + More

Mary Oullette, SheWillShootYou.com Here’s a look at the top stories of the day on Loudwire and around the Web: – How does Corey Taylor keep it all straight? The singer tells all about Slipknot ‘s future, Stone Sour ‘s ambitious concept album and his thoughts on the inaugural Knotfest. [ Loudwire ] – Green Day ‘s ‘¡Uno!’ record isn’t due in stores until next week, but you can get an early listen to the disc via the band’s Facebook page. [ Loudwire ] – Soundgarden are ramping up quickly to their first album since 1996. Now’s as good of a time as any to reflect on the 10 Best Soundgarden Songs. [ Loudwire ] – Does the new Killers album kill? Check out the review on ‘Battle Born’ and see where it stacks up to their past work. [ Diffuser.fm ] – Kids 40 years ago had some pretty great music to listen to. David Bowie , Rolling Stones , Pink Floyd ! See what were the 10 Top Albums of 1972. [ Ultimate Classic Rock ] – How’s the buzz on indie upstarts Citizen? Check them out for yourself when the band hits the road Sept. 25 in support of their debut EP, ‘Young States.’ [ Rock Music Report ]

Daily Reload: Randy Blythe, Papa Roach, Fozzy + More

Here’s a look at the top stories of the day on Loudwire and around the Web: – What would you imagine life in a Czech prison to be? Lamb of God‘s Randy Blythe talks about his stay overseas and his thoughts on returning for trial. [Loudwire] – There’s no doubt Papa Roach‘s music has made a connection over the years. Singer Jacoby Shaddix talks about what ‘The Connection,’ which also

All That Remains’ Philip Labonte Discusses Right to Bear Arms in Op-Ed Piece

All That Remains singer Philip Labonte was ready to speak his mind on guns and the right to bear arms in an Op-Ed piece he penned for Alternative Press, but in light of the recent shootings in Colorado, he’s taken the time to address his thoughts after the events for the magazine as well. His initial position was that he felt that Americans have the right to bear arms, and