Heavy Rotation: 12-21-2010

WAYNE

1. Deftones - "Diamond Eyes"
2. Dio - "Donington UK: Live 1983 & 1987"
3. Black Breath - "Heavy Breathing"
4. Ludicra - "The Tenant"
5. Kylesa - "Spiral Shadow"
6. The Red Chord - "Clients"

MARK

1. Dawnbringer "Nucleus"
2. Cee-lo Green is the Soul Machine
3. Michael Jackson "Thriller"
4. SlipKnot "Vol 3"
5. Iron Maiden "The Final Frontier"
6. Kvelertak

MYCHE

1. Captain Beefheart
2. Dave Moore
3. Jamey Johnson "The Guitar Song"
4. Eddie Hinton
5. Waylon Jennings
6. David Zollo

Heavy Rotation : 12-13-2010

WAYNE

1. Ghost - "Opus Eponymous"
2. Kvelertak - S/T
3. Tool - "Aenima"
4. Iron Maiden - "The Final Frontier"
5. Trap Them - "Seizures in Barren Praise"
6. Angel Witch - S/T

MARK

1. Kanye West "My Deautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy"
2. Michael Jackson "Thriller"
3. Gojira "The Way of All Flesh"
4. Mos Def "The Ecstatic"
5. Bette Midler "Cool Yule"
6. Iron Maiden "the Final Frontier"

MYCHE

1. Doug Sahm "Live in Austin"
2. Jamey Johnson "The Guitar Song"
3. The Sword "Warp Riders"
4. Waylon Jennings
5. Nick Drake
6. Allen Toussaint "The Great Mississippi"

Heavy Rotation: 11-30-2010

WAYNE

1. Ghost - "Opus Eponymous"
2. U.S. Christmas - "Run Thick in the Night"
3. Rotting Christ - "Thy Mighty Contract"
4. The Crown - "Doomsday King"
5. Satyricon - "Nemesis Divina"
6. Darkthrone - "Transilvanian Hunger"

MARK

1. KANYE WEST - "My Dark Twisted Fantasy" and it's B-sides
2. Two awesome Hip Hop compliations my friend Arbrea gave me
3. Ben Folds - "Lonely Avenue"
4. Joni Mitchell - "Blue"
5. Rihanna - "LOUD"
6. Stone Sour - "Audio Secrecy"

MYCHE

1. David Zollo "The Big Night"
2. Richard Thompson "Henry The Human Fly"
3. Grizzly Man Soundtrack (Richard Thomspon)
4. Preservation Hall Jazz Band
5. Willie Nelson
6. The Chariot "Long Live"

Heavy Rotation: 11-21-2010

WAYNE

1. lots and lots of Immortal
2. Nasum - "Human 2.0"
3. Melechesh - "The Epigenesis"
4. Mercyful Fate - "Don't Break the Oath" & "Melissa"
5. Kvelertak - S/T
6. The Ocean - "Anthropocentric"

MARK

1. Ben Folds and Nick Hornby "Lonely Avenue"
2. Ceelo-Green "The lady Killer"
3. Beyonce "I am... Sasha Fierce"
4. Commodores "The Ultimate Motherfucking Collection"
5. Iron Maiden "The Final Frontier"
6. Idina Menzel "I Stand"

Sorry about my lack of metal....Not sorry about the good stuff on my list.

MYCHE

1. My Queensryche Top 25 from 4-27-10 playlist
2. Brian Eno "Ambient 1"
3. Nick Drake
4. Jeff Beck "Who Else"
5. Bill Evans
6. Nick Cave "The Boatman's Call"

Heavy Rotation 11-15-2010

WAYNE

1. Def Leppard - "High n Dry", "Pyromania" , and "Hysteria"
2. Crowbar - S/T
3. Deathspell Omega - "Paracletus"
4. Death Angel - "Relentless Revolution"
5. Black Breath - "Heavy Breathing"
6. Cloudkicker - "Beacons"

MARK

1. Def Leppard - "High n Dry", "Pyromania" , and "Hysteria"
2. Ben Folds "Lonely Avenue"
3. Beyonce "I am Sasha Fierce
4. Kool and the Gang "Wild and Peaceful"
5. Devin Townsend
6. Stone Sour "Audio Secrecy"

MYCHE

1. My mother-in-law's flute solo at the Athens Symphony 11-13-10 (she's very good)
2. Marisa's grandmother's recorded performance of "Silent Night" (she was a very good pianist)
3. Richard Thompson "Shoot Out The Lights"
4. Bill Evans
5. Keith Jarrett
6. My New Orleans-inspired playlist

Heavy Rotation 11-8-2010

WAYNE

1. Devin Townsend
2. Judas Priest "Sin After Sin"
3. Kylesa "Spiral Shadow"
4. Agalloch "Marrow of the Spirit"
5. Woe "Quietly, Undramatically"
6. Tank "Filth Hounds of Hades"

MYCHE

1. Devin Townsend (afterglow in effect)
2. Sanctuary's two albums
3. Bob Dylan: The Bootleg Series Vol. 9
4. Raul Malo "Sinners & Saints"
5. Big Star's first two albums
6. King's X

Mark
1. Devin Townsend
2. Queensryche "Live Evolution"
3. Iced Earth "gettysburg"
4. Michael Jackson "Thriller"
5. Iron Maiden "The Fianl Fronteir"
6. Suzanne Vega "99.9 deg"

Heavy Rotation

Here's what we've been chowin' down on lately:

WAYNE

1. Pantera "Cowboys from Hell - 20th Anniversary Edition"
2. Judas Priest "Unleashed in the East"
3. Black Anvil "Triumvirate"
4. Dokken "Under Lock and Key"
5. Kylesa "Spiral Shadow"
6. Venom "Welcome to Hell"

MYCHE

1. Gregory Isaacs (R.I.P.)
2. Accept "Blood of the Nations"
3. King's X early albums
4. Devin Townsend
5. The Sword "Warp Riders"
6. Love (I was reading a biography on them, so listened to them as my soundtrack)

Mark

1. Devin Townsend
2. Iron Maiden "The Final Frontier" (still)
3. Bang Camaro's two albums
4. Def Leppard "High n'Dry"
5. Chilling Thrilling sounds of the Haunted House.
6. Mos Def "The Ecstatic"

Hooks Ranking: Iron Maiden "The Final Frontier"

So look what we have here, a new feature here on Hooks! We take an album and each of us ranks the songs. Then we take an aggregate of all of our lists and show that list. Now, the aggregate does have its limitations: there is no consideration for "non-linear" love or hate from a song. In other words, each song gets the value of its rank from each person, we add up all three, then rank them from the lowest score to the highest. But I think it works pretty well.

I think it's interesting to look at rankings like these. We all love Iron Maiden, and all think this album is great - but for slightly different reasons. That's what I love about music. So subjective...

MARK

Mother of Mercy
When the Wild Wind Blows
Coming Home
The Talisman
Satellite 15...The Final Frontier
Isle of Avalon
The Man Who Would Be King
El Dorado
Starblind
The Alchemist

WAYNE

Mother of Mercy
Satellite 15...The Final Frontier
Isle of Avalon
When the Wild Wind Blows
The Man Who Would Be King
Starblind
Coming Home
El Dorado
The Talisman
The Alchemist

MYCHE

Isle of Avalon
Coming Home
Satellite 15...The Final Frontier
The Talisman
Mother of Mercy
El Dorado
When the Wild Wind Blows
The Alchemist
The Man Who Would Be King
Starblind

AGGREGATE

Mother of Mercy
Isle of Avalon
Satellite 15...The Final Frontier
Coming Home
When the Wild Wind Blows
The Talisman
The Man Who Would Be King
El Dorado
Starblind
The Alchemist

Rock n' Roll Hall of Oversights

by Myche

Every year when the Rock n' Roll Hall of Fame names their nominees it seems there's more heated discussion about who's not on the list than who is. On one hand, I believe that for the most part the Rock N' Roll Hall of Fame has gotten a lot right - you just can't argue with most of that list. But no doubt they have blown it over the years. What really ticked me off is when I read that they were considering reducing the minimum amount of time between an artist's first release and induction from 25 to 20 years because they thoguht there was going to be a lull coming up soon. All they want to do is make the induction show more "interesting" and "popular" by having younger acts inducted. They shouldn't be focusing on adding anybody that came out after 1990 with all those people they have looked over in the past.

I also have a problem with some younger bands getting in before older bands that were huge influences on them and their genre. Good for Metallica for getting in, but they shoudl have waited until several other hard rock/metal artists got in: Alice Cooper (who is on this year's list of nominees), Deep Purple, Judas Priest, Motorhead, Iron Maiden, and Dio.

So I have a solution. Someone should start a Rock n' Roll Hall of Oversights. Have about ten artists inducted from the start, then follow the same rules as the Hall of Fame and add about five or so a year thereafter. Then, if the Hall of Fame ever gets it right and inducts one of the Oversight members - have a special "De-induction" feature at the Oversight. I bet there would be years when the induction of the Oversight Hall would be more interesting than that of the original.

That being said - here's a little banter on some oversights (besides those hard rock/metal ones I listed above). I could go on and on, but I will try to contain myself.

Tom Waits - Finally he made the list of nominees this year. They better not embarass themselves and not put this one in its rightful place.

Jethro Tull - I just don't think they get the respect they deserve. I don't get it.

KISS - Say what you will about them, there's really no doubt they belong. It seems that someone has a (battle)axe to grind at the hall.

Rush - I'm a fan, and I think they deserve it. But I get it that there are many folks (particularly girls) that just can't stand them. But each member is just an absolute BEAST on their instrument and they have done it their way for 37 years. Nobody sounds like Rush, they are one of a kind.

Todd Rundgren - He should be in based on his work as a producer alone (Badfinger, Meat Loaf Bat Out of Hell, the debut of New York Dolls, XTC Skylarking), but is one helluva artist in his own right.

Nick Lowe - Besides all of his great songs and his work with Rockpile, he produced the first five Elvis Costello albums, the first three by Graham Parker, and The Pretenders debut.

Richard Thompson, Graham Parker, Randy Newman, Roxy Music, Big Star, Doug Sahm.

Ok, I'll stop - these were just the ones that are currently on my mp3 player...

Hook of the Day - Accept "Teutonic Terror"

Ok, let's take inventory here:

Sparks
Fire
Two flying V's
A guitarist named Wolf
A seriously vibrating top bass string
A shirt that says "Heavy Metal Til I Die"
More fire
Guitar formations GALORE
Back-to-basics kickass vocals
Yes, even more FIRE!

I have no further suggestions for them - just killer. And they are coming to St. Charles on October 9th. That place may never be the same. This is from their awesome new album "Blood of the Nations." Spread the word...

Hook of the Weekend - Iron Maiden "The Wicker Man"

Obviously.

Pink Floyd to Sweet F.A.

Never done this before here on Hooks, but I thought it would be nice to pull back the curtain for our readers to see a candid, uncensored conversation between two of the contributors. It started out innocent enough with some Pink Floyd banter. But then it takes on a life of it's own. Start at the bottom:


Re: Um, is Gilmore going to do one gig on the Wall tour?
From: Wayne Graham
To: Michael Johnson

hahaha....yeah, I doubt Sweet F.A. wants to be talking about Sweet F.A. right now. My guess is that they'd like to put that whole episode behind them and get back to driving the ice cream truck. (...Wayne quipped as he was looking for a job)


People who like Kix REALLY like Kix. Seems a pretty generic band to get your panties in a twist over. I can see cases made for superfans of Kings X or The Cult but KIX?


Seriously, let's "off" Jim Florentine and Don Jamison and show up for the inevitable open call for replacements? Or, better yet, pull a DeNiro in King of Comedy and stalk Eddie Trunk. (have you seen that movie? It's awesome. One of Scorsese's most underrated films)


On Fri, Jul 16, 2010 at 10:16 AM, Michael Johnson wrote:

I've never heard any Sweet F.A. either. I just looked them up at allmusic.com and there's no bio, but their discog shows that their first album came out in 1980. It might be worth finding to at least say we know what the hell we are talking about, Sweet F.A. wise. Not that for the life of me I can think of when that would come in handy. Any doubt we are the only ones talking about them today, besides the guys in the band and the other dudes that work at the loading dock with them?

If I remember, I will bring that book with me on Sunday.

Kix isn't too bad, but there's no way in hell that deserve that kind of status on that list. The author let his bias get out of hand a bit. Which, in his defense, he may explain in the forward. I think he wrote it to get a reaction. And he definitely stretches the boundaries of the term "heavy metal", which I'm willing to listen to someones interpretation of...

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
From: Wayne Graham
To: Michael Johnson

Sent: Fri, July 16, 2010 10:01:21 AM

Subject: Re: Um, is Gilmore going to do one gig on the Wall tour?


I would guess that it is, in fact, "Fuckin' Ass". In fact, I seem to recall confirmation of that in an interview with those guys in Metal Edge Magazine back in the day. (Yes, I apparently read an interview with Sweet FA and remember portions. And no, I'm not sure if I've ever heard a note of their music)


I tried to look them up on Wikipedia, but, shockingly, there is no entry for them.


I have to read that book. Kix wasn't tooo bad I guess. They had a cool enough logo, which is more than I can say for, I dunno, Jackyl with a Y.


On Fri, Jul 16, 2010 at 9:57 AM, Michael Johnson wrote:

What do you suppose F.A. stood for? The possibilities are virtually endless. Although I'm pretty sure "Fuckin" and "Ass" are either separately or jointly featured.

I have a book called "Top 500 Heavy Metal Albums Of All Time" by Chuck Eddy that was put our I'm guessing around 1991 or so (it's out of print). Some things follow suit how you would think they would, but he has I think three Kix albums in the top 20. And there is a Teena Marie album in the top 10. It's such a conversation piece.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
From: Wayne Graham
To: Michael Johnson
Sent: Fri, July 16, 2010 9:39:38 AM

Subject: Re: Um, is Gilmore going to do one gig on the Wall tour?


No, I haven't a clue who Mitch Perry is, either. hahahahaa


I love the Amazon, track by track reviews. Because no one bothers saying anything unless they either really love something or really hate it, so it's always passionate, and therefore, hilarious.




If this guy loves Keel and Dokken this much, then, yeah, I think he'd school us on Danger Danger. And Warrant. And Kix. And London Quireboys. And Sweet FA. And all assorted line-ups of Faster Pussycat and LA Guns.



On Fri, Jul 16, 2010 at 9:35 AM, Michael Johnson wrote:

I got the impression that he feels that Dokken is the gold standard, but I could be wrong.

A Guiffria video comes on Metal Mania every know and then. I seem to recall he was major eye candy for the ladies.

I hope that doesn't mean you know who Mitch Perry is. I had no fucking clue who that guy was.

Like I said, I was smiling/laughing at damn near every word in that review. He'd be an interesting guy to meet. I bet he would be telling us stuff and name-dropping to all hell and we wouldn't have a clue.

He probably knows Danger Danger, including the name of that teeth rocking rhythm guitarist I was ranting about the other night...

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
From: Wayne Graham
To: Michael Johnson

Sent: Thu, July 15, 2010 5:28:32 PM

Subject: Re: Um, is Gilmore going to do one gig on the Wall tour?


I wonder where Dokken ranks for this guy vs. Keel. He name-drops them twice. Does he listen to Dokken and say "God, I just don't get why people listen to THESE GUYS when they could be listening to Keel" or wether he fills his diaper every time he hears "Burnin' Like a Flame"


I had to look up Gregg Giuffria



On Thu, Jul 15, 2010 at 4:44 PM, Michael Johnson wrote:

If that song was an 8/10 or greater, his head would have exploded before hearing either Mitch Perry's tasty licks or Giuffria's backing vox on the closing track!

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
From: Wayne Graham
To: Michael Johnson

Sent: Thu, July 15, 2010 1:57:50 PM

Subject: Re: Um, is Gilmore going to do one gig on the Wall tour?


I wish I had video of this guy trying to not hate "Just Another Girl" after pretty much going apeshit over every track that came after before it. hahahaha


On Thu, Jul 15, 2010 at 1:49 PM, Michael Johnson wrote:

Shit, I just looked this up at Amazon, and laughed at approximately 500 things in this guy's review of Keel "The Final Frontier":

Keels 3rd studio album is another great forgotten album. This is the second Keel album i got after loving the self titled album. This album has a much more commercial sound than the first 2 Keel albums but still has some great rocking songs. This band sounds a lot like Dokken and this album was by far there most succesful peaking at #53 on the billboard charts and having 2 minor hits.

1.The Final Frontier- 10/10 A great rocker with a great intro. The riff rocks and the chorus is excellent. Ron Keel's vocals are great as always. The soft melodic bridge is great and Ron Keel's awesome scream leads into a great shredding solo. A classic!

2.Rock And Roll Animal- 10/10 Another great rocker with a good intro. The riff is great and the chorus rocks aswell. Ron Keel's vocals are strong once again. More great shredding too in the great dual guitar solo. Another classic! Jaime St. James of Black N Blue contributes backround vocals to this song too.

3.Because the Night- 10/10 A great cover song! I've never heard the original but this version is excellent! The song is lighter more melodic song than the first 2 but it's still great! Another great guitar solo, this solo is slower and more melodic and fits the song perfectly. The second solo is excellent aswell. Excellent vocal performance by Ron Keel too!

4.Here Today, Gone Tomorrow- 8/10 Another good song. This has a real commercial feel to it and isn't as strong as the first 3 songs. The chorus is strong and the solo is good but it doesn't measure up to the other songs.

5.Arm and a Leg- 9/10 A good rocker. The riff is good and the chorus is excellent. Ron Keel's vocals are great and the guitar solo shreds. A good song although not as good as the classics on the album.

6.Raised on Rock- 10/10 A great rocking song. Backround vocals by Michael Des Barres and rythym guitar by Joan Jett. A great chorus and an awesome solo.

7.Just Another Girl- 6/10 A decent poppy song similar to the Dokken song Burning Like A Flame. The chorus is pretty good but the solo is very good. I'd consider this song a filler.

8.Tears of Fire- 10/10 A great power ballad. One of the best I've ever heard. Ron Keel's vocals are excellent and the chorus is great. A beautiful song and the lyrics are great. A great harmonized guitar solo too. Mitch Perry plays rythym guitar on this song too. A classic that should have been a bigger hit than it was. This ballad reminds me of Dokken.

9.Nightfall- 10/10 A great short acoustic instrumental. This is just acoustic guitars and done in a classical style.

10.No Pain, No Gain- 10/10 A great fast rocker with an excellent riff and great vocals. The chorus is great aswell and Gregg Giuffria contributes backround vocals to this song. An excellent dual guitar solo with some great shredding. A classic!

This album was released in 1986 when hair metal dominated the charts with Ozzy Osbourne's The Ultimate Sin, Bon Jovi's Slippery When Wet and Van Halen's 5150 topping the charts. Overall a great melodic metal album similar with some high profile guest musicians. Fans of Dokken, The Scorpions Quiet Riot and 80's metal in general should own this.

Ron Keel- Vocals, Guitar, Keyboards
Marc Ferrari- lead Guitar, Vocals
Bryan Jay- Lead Guitar, Vocals
Dwain Miller- Drums, Vocals
Kenny Chaisson- Bass, Vocals

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
From: Wayne Graham
To: Michael Johnson

Sent: Thu, July 15, 2010 12:52:09 PM

Subject: Re: Um, is Gilmore going to do one gig on the Wall tour?


hahahahaaa........I love that someone else in the world knows who Keel is


On Thu, Jul 15, 2010 at 12:48 PM, Michael Johnson wrote:

I will make Mike Portnoy my bitch if they overstay their welcome.

What would be an amazing turn of events is if Maiden played "The Final Frontier" in its entirety, but not their version.

Keel's circa 1986.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
From: Wayne Graham
To: Michael Johnson

Sent: Thu, July 15, 2010 12:28:12 PM

Subject: Re: Um, is Gilmore going to do one gig on the Wall tour?


I keep accidentally seeing or reading things here and there, so I know a few numbers they're doing, but I haven't looked at a setlist. I haven't gotten the sense that they're doing Final Frontier in its entirety.


If we're lucky, Dream Theatre will play 3 hours and Maiden will just show the Final Frontier video a couple of times and call it a day.


On Thu, Jul 15, 2010 at 12:26 PM, Michael Johnson wrote:

I have not (and don't want to) seen a setlist so far from the IM tour. I would guess it will be a little bit of everything, maybe 2-3 new songs. I would be shocked if they did the whole Matter of Life and Death thing where they play the whole album in entirety - particularly since it's not even out.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
From: Wayne Graham
To: Michael Johnson

Sent: Thu, July 15, 2010 11:56:55 AM

Subject: Re: Um, is Gilmore going to do one gig on the Wall tour?


yeah, it'd be nice if we were all going together, but it didn't shake out that way. It'll be great, though......


I'm getting itchy for Maiden.


On Thu, Jul 15, 2010 at 11:56 AM, Michael Johnson wrote:

Oh, I forgot that we were going to different shows. I would go nuts as well!

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
From: Wayne Graham

To: Michael Johnson
Sent: Thu, July 15, 2010 10:37:03 AM
Subject: Re: Um, is Gilmore going to do one gig on the Wall tour?


If you guys get Gilmore and I don't...I'm going to riot...hahahaa


On Thu, Jul 15, 2010 at 10:34 AM, Michael Johnson wrote:

That is a great idea on their part. If we could only be so lucky. I would think they would have the tapes rolling at that one for a DVD release. And I'm ok if that's the only way I see it. No need to get greedy here.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
From: Wayne Graham
To: Nancy Frankel; Michael Johnson
Sent: Thu, July 15, 2010 10:23:59 AM
Subject: Um, is Gilmore going to do one gig on the Wall tour?


http://www.brooklynvegan.com/archives/2010/07/david_gilmour_s.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed:+BrooklynVeganFeed+(brooklynvegan)




Have either of you heard anything about this?

Bad Iron Maiden Videos

by Myche

So I just saw the new Iron Maiden video for "The Final Frontier." I'm going to give it a rousing thumbs down. I probably would have loved it when I was nine years old. No sign of the band in lieu of overdone special effects? I'm surprised they didn't do it in 3D, since that's all the rage these days.

Oh well. It doesn't really matter. I'm still stoked about seeing them on Sunday.

But in honor of this crappy video, below is what I beleive is their worst video. I've always wondered how this ever saw the light of day. But at least the boys are in it...

Maybe if everyone says pretty please, Wayne will play a good video from Maiden later this week.

Hook of the Day - Kvelertak "Mjød"

This just plain old makes me want to fuck shit up.

RIP Ronnie James Dio

Obviously, anyone with even a casual interest in heavy metal is feeling a massive loss over the passing of Ronnie James Dio. The eulogies are pouring in from those who knew him or were touched by his unique talent (or both), and, by any yardstick, he was a scholar and a gentleman.

But he's more than just Heaven and Hell or The Last in Line or Mob Rules or Rising or Holy Diver, if that's possible. Metal has so many unique and varied tributaries and digressions. As metal's subgenres have spread talons over the globe and the decades since Tony Iommi's opening mission statement on track one of the first Sabbath record, it's difficult to imagine a unifying leader for the army until today. As metalheads united on Facebook and Twitter to remember and reflect today, it became clear that the genre has lost its greatest icon to date.

On a personal note, it was RJD's reunion with his Black Sabbath bandmates for the first Heaven & Hell Chicago appearance in 2007 where I first gathered with my esteemed co-contributors to this blog, Queensryche Myche and Mark Hanner. One Nancy Frankel--now also an extremely dear friend--was unable to attend the show, and I happened upon a CraigsList ad posted by Myche selling the ticket. When I went to his house to make the exchange (which I'm shocked actually happened, as, upon reflection, I kinda lowballed him on the price), he was wearing a Queensryche shirt. It was a good omen, to say the least.

After having parked my fat ass in the complete wrong section for the duration of Megadeth's opening set, I then found my true spot next to Myche and Mr. Hanner and the incomparable Ms. Amber Tillett for Heaven and Hell's set, my first experience with Mr. Dio. It was an unforgettable night, and any show attended since without the attendance of these true blue headbangers--not to mention without Nancy or the enthusiastic Dio-disciple Glenn Fancher or the amazing rock soldiers they've all brought into my life--is poorer for it.

Maudlin ramblings from a sad man who just lost a hero? Perhaps. Amber asked me late last year what I love most about metal, and I didn't give her much of an answer, perhaps because I was drunk. Possibly because I was stoned. Maybe even because Mastodon just happened to be fucking my braincase off at that exact moment. But now I have an answer.

It's because nothing on Earth makes me feel more connected to an actual community than when I've got those fucking horns up with a pack of frothing-mad metal maniacs. Horns that everyone and their brother knows Dio came up with.

Thank you Nancy for flaking on that show. Thank you Myche for replying to my email. Thank you Mark and Amber for so warmly receiving me into your troop of magnificent bastards. Thank you Patty, Lee, Dan Filowitz, Dan O' Brien, Darryl, Zach, Erica, Natalie, Margaret, Anup....the whole lot of you for your enthusiasm and your energy at all these shows since.

And thank you Mr. Dio for everything.

HEAVY ROTATION

WAYNE

1. Halford - "Resurrection" and "Crucible"
2. Howl - "Full of Hell"
3. Deftones - "Diamond Eyes", "White Pony" & "Around the Fur"
4. Coalesce - "Ox" and "0:12 Revolution in Just Listening"
5. Judas Priest - "British Steel" and "Defenders of the Faith"
6. Alice in Chains - "Black Gives Way to Blue" and "Facelift"

New Y&T Video: "I'm Coming Home"!!!

From their first studio album in 13 years, Facemelter (out 5/21 on Frontier Records), here's the new video release for the track "I'm Coming Home".

Heavy Rotation

WAYNE

1. Deftones "Diamond Eyes"
2. Judas Priest "Unleashed in the East" and "Sad Wings of Destiny"
3. Alice in Chains - "Black Gives Way to Blue" and "Dirt"
4. Slayer "Seasons in the Abyss"
5. Iron Maiden "Rock in Rio"
6. Mercyful Fate - "Melissa" and "Don't Break the Oath"

MYCHE

1. Merle Haggard "I Am What I Am"
2. Funkadelic "Free Your Mind and Your Ass Will Follow"
3. Parliament "Motor Booty Afair"
4. Tom Waits "Orphans"
5. John Prine "John Prine"
6. Big Star "Keep An Eye On The Sky"

Heavy Rotation

WAYNE

1. Deftones - Diamond Eyes
2. Iron Maiden - Seventh Son of a Seventh Son and Maiden England
3. Black Breath - Heavy Breathing
4. Cathedral - The Guessing Game
5. The Abominable Iron Sloth - The Id Will Overcome
6. Taint - All Bees to the Sea

MP3 Randomization: 04-22-10

WAYNE

1. Pearl Jam "Mankind"
2. Iron Maiden "The Apparition"
3. Obituary "List of Dead"
4. Meshuggah "Rational Gaze"
5. Patsy Cline "A Poor Man's Roses (or a Rich Man's Gold)"
6. Lamb of God "Black Label"

MYCHE

1. Richard & Linda Thompson "The Egypt Room"
2. UFO "Natural Thing"
3. Between the Buired and Me "Ants of the Sky"
4. Black Sabbath "Who Are You"
5. Y&T "Black Tiger (Live)"
6. Bill Evans "I Wish I Knew"

MP3 Randomization: Tax Day

WAYNE

1. Deftones "Feiticeira"
2. Clutch "When Vegans Attack"
3. Serpent Throne "Led by Vultures"
4. Yob "Doom #2"
5. Triptykon "Abyss Within My Soul"
6. Melvins "Suicide in Progress"

MYCHE

1. Pete Townshend "Love Ain't For Keeping"
2. Love "My Little Red Book"
3. Ray LaMontagne "Gossip In The Grain"
4. Y&T "Rocco"
5. David Allan & The Arrows "Blues' Theme"
6. The Band "If I Lose"

Heavy Rotation

WAYNE

1. Disfear "Misanthropic Generation"
2. Judas Priest "Unleashed in the East"
3. Ozzy "Diary of a Madman"
4. Keelhaul "Keelhaul's Triumphant Return to Obscurity"
5. Sodom "Persecution Mania"
6. Nachtmystium "Assassins: Black Meddle Part 1"

Heavy Rotation

WAYNE

1. Black Tusk "Passage Through Purgatory"
2. High on Fire "Snakes for the Divine"
3. Nasum "Human 2.0"
4. Carcass "Heartwork"
5. Pantera "Reinventing the Steel"
6. Brutal Truth "Need to Control"

Hook of the Day - Thirty-five minutes with Baroness

Thanks to SludgeSwamp for bring this to my attention...

Hook of the Day - Lair of the Minotaur "Evil Power"

Lair's getting pretty good at stuff like this, no?

Immortal + Benny Hill theme

My week is all downhill from this point.

Heavy Rotation

Here's what we've been loving the past week or so-ish


WAYNE

1. Black Breath "Heavy Breathing"
2. Misery Index "Pulling Out the Nails"
3. Weedeater "God Luck and Good Speed"
4. Trap Them "Filth Rations EP"
5. Faith No More "King for a Day, Fool for a Lifetime"
6. Ludicra "The Tenant"

Hook of the Month - High on Fire "Frost Hammer"

Top 6 Artists/Bands You Would Like to See Live for the First Time (that aren’t dead or disbanded with a very low likelihood of reforming):

MYCHE

1. Saint Vitus
2. Billy Joe Shaver
3. Immortal
4. Big Star
5. Nevermore
6. Burning Spear

WAYNE

Let's just assume that Led Zeppelin reunion ain't in the cards. That said:

1. Pink Floyd either as a unit (fingers crossed) or seeing Waters and Gilmore separately, which I have yet to do
2. Faith No More
3. ZZ Top
4. Pig Destroyer
5. Soundgarden
6. Napalm Death

MP3 Randomization: 02-23-10

Been a long time. What the hell...

MYCHE

Whitesnake "Give Me All Your Love"
Todd Rundgren "Mountaintop"
Genesis "Frustration"
Frank Zappa "Dupree's Paradise"
Cheap Trick "Oh Boy"
Wolves In The Throne Room "I Will Lay Down My Bones Among the Rocks and Roots"

WAYNE
Mayhem "Life Eternal"
Autopsy "Ridden with Disease"
Nine Inch Nails "Demon Seed"
Helmet "Tic"
High on Fire "Speedwolf"
Marduk "As a Garment"

In case you're wondering how many times I've listened to Iron Maiden since signing up for a last.fm account

Look what I just discovered on my last.fm page:



For an accurate impression of my reaction when I saw this, skip to 1:18.

Myche's 2009 Wrap-up

Top Albums

1. Baroness "Blue Record"
2. Devin Townsend “Ki”
3. Queensryche “American Soldier”
4. Chickenfoot “Chickenfoot”
5. Immortal “All Shall Fail”
6. Napalm Death “Time Waits For No Slave”

Baroness just improved on “Red Album” with “Blue Record”, which I did not think possible. Dev was supposed to release all four albums in his current series in 2009, which would have probably been overwhelming. I prefer “Ki” over “Addicted” at this point, can’t wait for the next two. Queensryche is the sentimental pick here, but they ignited something in me with this album. I was nervous when it was coming out, but the absolutely exceeded my expectations and had me listening to them almost non-stop this summer. Chickenfoot? Really? Yes. I just had to put it on here. It is such a fun, solid rock record. Very well done. If Van Halen ever gets around to putting something out, they better space it out from anything Chickenfoot does to avoid comparisons. I was shocked how good it was. Lastly, Immortal and Napalm Death brought it in a big way with their releases, leveling everything in their paths…

HMs: Hot Leg “Red Light Fever”, Bang Camaro “Bang Camaro II”, Mastodon “Crack The Skye”, Allen Toussaint “The Bright Mississippi”, Devin Townsend “Addicted”, W.A.S.P. “Babylon”

Top Live Shows

1. Baroness/Earthless/U.S. Christmas/Admiral Of Black @ Reggie’s – What a special night this was – the night before Thanksgiving. Oh, was I ever giving thanks after this one. All four bands rocked my socks off, and each one was better than the last. Earthless blew me away with their improvisational instrumental jam and were a great warm up for Baroness. Then Baroness did what they do and just finished me off (interesting that this was the third time I’ve seen them and by far the best – where to go from here?). I didn’t want to listen to any heavy music the next day, I was spent. Right on.
2. Todd Rundgren @ Park West – I’m not a total TR disciple, but I was so glad to have gone to this show. He did “A Wizard, A True Star” in entirety, and opened the show with Utopia. Big time showmanship.
3. Father’s Day Funk Fest @ Arie Crown Theatre – Front row center balcony seats provided unobstructed viewing of the Funk. Eye candy galore. I had to sort things out in my head the next day…
4. Wolves In The Throne Room/A Storm Of Light/Krallice @ Bottom Lounge – Didn’t know a great deal about any of the bands going into this show, but each one was mesmerizing. Pretty damn intense.
5. Gojira/The Chariot @ Logan Square Auditorium – I love this venue, and the intensity from both bands was stellar. Gojira could go head-to-head with about anyone in my book.
6. Raul Malo @ Martyr’s – My son’s first concert (in utero, but still…). It was the perfect show for the occasion.

HMs: It was a record year for me in the amount of shows, so it’s always hard to narrow it down – Electric Six/Bang Camaro/Leslie @ Double Door, Jeff Beck @ Park West, Leonard Cohen @ Chicago Theatre, Napalm Death @ House of Blues, Melvins @ Double Door, Styx/REO/.38 Special @ Charter One, Judas Priest/Whitesnake @ Charter One, Dethklok/Mastodon/High On Fire @ Aragon, Shrinebuilder/Rwake @ Empty Bottle

Disappointments of 2009

1. The only real “festivals” I went to were big ones in Grant Park: Lollapalooza & Jazz Fest. Would have liked to hit some of the smaller ones.
2. Immortal did not tour the U.S., and when they plan a short tour for 2010, they exclude Chicago. Not happy about that at all.
3. Only seeing Tin Lynott six times. Got get that up in 2010. Ha ha…

Highest Hopes for 2010

1. New albums that are supposed to come out: Two more Devin Townsend releases, Y&T finally?, maybe Queensryche?
2. Concerts scheduled: P-Funk, Merle Haggard/Kris Kristofferson, W.A.S.P., Kreator
3. Concert hopefuls: I heard a rumor that Roger Waters is planning to tour “The Wall” in 2010-2011. Adding to the rumor was that it might be a Pink Floyd reunion. I would be ecstatic with the former, the latter would be the biggest tour imaginable only topped by a Zeppelin reunion. I’m not holding my breath. Also, a headlining tour by Devin Townsend (I’d like to see that occur at Bottom Lounge or Empty Bottle, by the way). And lastly, bring back Doom Fest!!!!!
4. I need to hit some quality Chicago music festivals that I did not get to in 2009: American Music Festival @ Fitzgerald’s, Hideout Block Party, Reggae Festival.

Top Pre-2009 Music Discovered in 2008

1. Big Star! – I have had their “Third/Sister Lovers” for about 15 years, but with this year’s release of the “Keep An Eye On The Sky” box set, I really sunk my teeth in to the genius that is Big Star. I’ve played them a ton and am not tiring.
2. Lid “In The Mushroom” – Eric Wagner from Trouble’s project from 1997. Don’t know why it took me so long, but glad I ran into a fellow Trouble fan who set me straight.
3. Loudon Wainwright III
4. Solitude Aeturnus
5. John Cale “Fragments of a Rainy Season”

Top DVDs

May not be 2009 releases, but I first saw them in 2009:

1. Fish “NEARFest”
2. David Gilmour “Live in Gdansk”
3. David Gilmour “Remember That Night”
4. Wattstax

Top Music-related Books Read

1. Richard Thompson “Shoot Out The Lights” 33 1/3 series
2. White Bicycles – Joe Boyd
3. Please Kill Me – Legs McNeill
4. For The Record – George Clinton and P-Funk (Oral History) – Dave Marsh (editor)
5. For The Record – Sly & The Family Stone (Oral History) – Dave Marsh (editor)

Wayne's So Late It's Almost Not Worth Doing, But To Hell with It, Here It Is Anyway Best Albums and Other Odds and Ends List of 2009

Favorite Albums of 2009

1. Baroness "Blue Record"

2. Kylesa "Static Tensions"
3. Converge "Axe to Fall"
4. Mastodon "Crack the Skye"
5. Napalm Death "Time Waits for No Slave"
6. Struck by Lightning "Serpents"

Honorable Mention a.k.a. Albums That Could Easily Sneak Into the List, Depending on What Day You Ask Me (no particular order):

Slayer "World Painted Blood"
Cobalt "Gin"
Revocation "Existence is Futile"
Goatwhore "Carving Out the Eyes of God"
The Red Chord "Fed Through the Teeth Machine"
Keelhaul "Keelhaul's Triumphant Return to Obscurity"
Burnt By the Sun "Heart of Darkness"
Skeletonwitch "Breathing the Fire"
Doomriders "Darkness Come Alive"
Coalesce "Ox"

Album That I Got Around to in 2009 That Would Pretty Much Destroy a Good Number of the Above, but it Came Out in 2008, So Said Albums Listed Above Lucked the Fuck Out

Trap Them "Seizures in Barren Praise"


Classic Band Not Named Judas Priest or Iron Maiden That I Listened to a ShitTon of in 2009

Thin Lizzy


Favorite Live Shows of 2009

1. Dethklok/Mastodon/Converge/High on Fire at the Aragon Brawlroom

2. Judas Priest at Northerly Island
3. Baroness at Reggie's on Black Wednesday
4. Keelhaul at Beat Kitchen
5. Gojira at Logan Square in May
6. Metallica with Machine Head and The Sword at Allstate Arena