First things first, something to get you good and hungry...
It seems that these days that it always seems to look like I'm the only one at work who knows just exactly what the hell he's doing. See, I go in every morning, usually around 3am, sometimes as early as 2am, and I go in with the mindset of, "OK, let's get our shit done, clean up, and get the hell out of here. Of course, 9 times out of 10 my team leader has different things in mind. Boneheaded decisions, a lack of orginizational skills, and an apparent desire to crush morale within my entire department, and I'm usually there one, two, sometimes up to four hours later than I am supposed to. Then my manager will come in, ask us all why things aren't done yet (it's usually around 9 or 10am at this point), and all I can say is, "Sorry, team leader's too busy having us just doing stupid shit." I even told my department manager last Wednesday, that I get a lot more done when no one else was there to help me. See, last Wednesday, I was the only one in my department scheduled, and no shit, I got a hell of a lot more done. My manager laughs and says he understands perfectly. It's pretty sad when I get a lot more done at work when I have no one to help. Speaks volumes, as a matter of fact. I think they need a new person leading my department, and I think it's not much of a guess as to who that should be. I mean come on, seems like I'm doing everything myself anyway. Goddamn awe-inspiring. I barely sleep, I work harder than anyone else in that place, and I have close to nothing to show for it. Something's gotta give, BROTHERS!
2nd Chance CD of the Week Nightwish Imaginaerum (2011)
Tracklist Taikatalvi Storytime Ghost River Slow, Love, Slow I Want My Tears Back Scaretale Arabesque Turn Loose the Mermaids Rest Calm The Crow, the Owl, and the Dove Last Ride of the Day Song of Myself Imaginaerum
In 2007, I first caught wind of the Finnish band Nightwish. There was an ad on TV promoting their then-new album, Dark Passion Play, with a short clip of the single "Ameranth" playing in the background. I was morbidly curious, and decided that the next time I got the chance to hit the mall, that I was gonna pick it up. A few weeks later, I did, and became a fan almost immediately. Since then , I've been trying to hear various songs from them, from the era of their original singer, the opera-trained Tarja Turunen, to current vocalist Anette Olzen. Since Dark Passion Play, I had been chomping at the bit to hear some new materail. Then I caught wind of the album Imaginaerum being recorded. I was already chomping at the bit as it is. Finally, the symphonic metal band from Finland were finally coming back, but little did I know that the end result would end up being their true masterpiece. Then, even months later, I hear that the new album was going to be a concept album, which I'm a sucker for anyway. On top of all THAT, come to find out that it's currently in the process of being turned into a movie as well. Trust me, opeining day, I will be all over that. I even hear that the members of Nightwish are going to make a cameo appearance in the film as well.
The "concept" of this concept album tells the story of an aging writer on his deathbed, riddled with dementia, the best memories of his life leaving his memory long ago. He slips into a coma, and while in his coma, begins the search for his memories so that he can take them with him when he dies. The album starts off with "Taikatalvi," which is sung in Finnish by bass player Marco Hietala. I looked up the translation and the gist of it is basically, "This is my story," and elaborates on that thought. Once the track ends, while sounding almost like a nursery rhyme in the process, the floodgates open with the first single from the album, "Storytime." From then on, Anette Olzen and Marco Hietala trade vocal duties and even duet a couple of songs as well. Notable tracks depicting this would be "Ghost River," "I Want My Tears Back," and "Last Ride of the Day." My favorite song on this album has to be "Rest Calm," a seven minute epic, and, in my view, the centerpiece of the entire 75-minute album. Imaginaerum has quickly been put on my list of my 10 favorite albums of all time, which is a rarity. To further attest to the album's greatness, it won the Album of the Year award in Finland after only FOUR WEEKS on the charts. That's insane, and it's certainly gotten my notice. It should get yours too.
So I'm feeling a little lazy this time around. A lot of working and running around all over the place will do that to you. So I'm going to go the equally lazy route and share some random thoughts with you all. But first...I need some coffee. Excuse me...
OK, now I'm ready.
Random Thoughts, part...I lost count
- Finally that hillbilly idiot Skylar Layne has been voted off American Idol. I'm sorry, but that chick just irritated the shit out of me every time she was on my TV. I mean, that grin she had was the stereotypical country moron smile TO A T! She didn't really have much to offer and she had no variety to her. That's why Elise got voted off, that's why Kellie Pickler didn't win Season 5. They couldn't offer anything of variety. At least they weren't good enough to show any variety. Then again, it could be worse. It could still be Sanjaya from Season 6 on there.
- One of SourceFed's videos today talked of a high school student from...I forget where...who was bullied so much that he brought in a stun gun to ward them off. He was of couse, arrested as a result. My opinion on this? Good. I was bullied pretty much throughout all my years in school, and for someone to have to go this length just to defend himself has GOT to open up some eyes on the subject of bullying. Hasn't anyone learned ANYTHING from Columbine? Jesus H Christ.
- I know this happened weeks ago, but Rick Santorum has dropped out of the Presidential Race. And he endorses that money hungry piece of garbage Mitt Romney in the process. Oh well. At least there was one thing that I agreed with Santorum on: his stance on Puerto Rico. Seriously, it's a United States territory, translation - We OWN that shit. Learn English. Period.
- I've always been a fanboy of just about anything related to DC Comics. My closest friends and family know this, ad nauseum. But DAMN, "The Avengers" looks to be EPIC! I must see this movie, and I must see it NOW!
- Martha Hart has filed ANOTHER lawsuit against the WWE in order to keep them from using the image, name, and footage of her late husband Owen, which pisses me off to no end. Anyone who's a wrestling fan knows that Owen Hart was a damn fine wrestler, and that he loved the line of work he was in. And I'm pretty sure that he would have wanted to be remembered as such. The other wrestlers loved him, the promoters loved him, and any fan worth his salt loved seeing him perform. Let the man's legacy live on, and quit trying to make money off his death, you stupid bitch.
- MCA from the Beastie Boys passed away a couple days ago, and I was shocked. I was never THAT big a fan of the Beasties, but I know a great loss in music when I see one. I was shocked when Kurt Cobain committed suicide. I cried when Freddie Murcury died in 1991. I didn't see that big of a loss when Amy Winehouse died, but it was still baffling to know how young she was. There has only been one singer that made me happy that they had passed on, and that was Left Eye. Sorry, this is gonna be unpopular as hell but I absolutely, positively, HATED TLC with the greatest of passions. Predictably enough, the rest of the group never recovered from that. Thank GOD!
- Men, if you're ever put in the "Friend Zone" by a girl that you really like, walk right up to her, call her out on it, tell her how much of a frigid bitch she is, and walk away. Trust me, I've been "Friend Zoned" more times than any person is willing to count, and I wish I had done this every single time. You all should too. Tell 'em Scotty sent ya.
That's it. Yep, a short one this time around. Whenever I get a little more motivation, I'll write a more lengthy blog next time. Until then, just do what you can with this one, huh.
April 1 brought about a day that every wrestling fan in the world looks forward to. And that day is WrestleMania. Football has the Super Bowl, hockey has the Stanley Cup, the winner of the Masters gets an ugly jacket, but for professional wrestling, WrestleMania is the place to go. This year was one of the best I've seen in years. I was disappointed with the event's opening match this year, as one of my favorite wrestlers, Daniel Bryan lost the World Heavyweight Championship to Sheamus in just eighteen seconds. I feel that both men are excellent athletes and had they been given about fifteen minutes or more, there was potential there to steal the show right from the get-go. But THE match that I was looking forward to, and no it wasn't John Cena v The Rock. Hell in a Cell...Triple H...Undertaker. Easily the match of the year already. I was standing the whole time, wrought with every emotion a fan can muster in one match. See the three main events this year each had something going for it. Cena v Rock had the "big fight" feel to it. CM Punk v Chris Jericho for the WWE Championship had two great wrestlers putting on a clinic for over 20 minutes. Hell in a Cell...for me? Had one big thing going for it. Pure, raw, emotion. Not since Chris Benoit winning the World Title in 2004 was I so emotionally invested in a match in my 20-plus years as a wrestling fan. And all in all, this year's WrestleMania made me proud to be a wrestling fan.
A few weeks later, Heather, her mother, her mother's best friend Susie, and I went up to Bluffton, South Carolina to see her brother get married. After countless incometant trogoliditic morons causing accident after pain-in-the-ass accident, making a six hour road trip into a to10-plus hour hell ride, we made it in one piece. With one wedding down and another to go (mine), the next fourteen months are sure to be exciting, chaotic, and a long road to the happiest day of my life (TAKE TWO!). I'm hoping to bring in as many friends and family as possible, and I'm ready ot get this one right. Our wedding's gonna be in Ohio, my homestate, my hometown, and knowing me, I'll be screaming "YES! YES! YES" Daniel Bryan style all the way out of the church after kissing my bride. I wanna make it perfect, I wanna make it right, but at the same time, I wanna add in a little bit of humor into the festivities. I mean, come ON, this is me we're talking about, right? lol
2nd Chance CD of the WeekIron Maiden From Fear to Eternity: The Best of 1990 - 2010 (2010)
Tracklist The Wicker Man Holy Smoke El Dorado Paschendale Different World Man on the Edge The Reincarnation of Benjamen Breeg Blood Brothers Rainmaker Sign of the Cross Brave New World Fear of the Dark
Be Quick or Be Dead Tailgunner No More Lies Coming Home The Clansman For the Greater Good of God These Colours Don't Run Bring Your Daughter...to the Slaughter Afraid to Shoot Strangers Dance of Death When the Wild Wind Blows
Ah, yes, Volume 2 of the Best of Iron Maiden. And to be honest with you, this is the era of the band that I gravitate more towards. It was during this era that Maiden started leaning more towards progressive metal tendencies, and I've been a sucker for that sorta thing over the years. I like that more epic feeling sound, and I have for a very long time. This double CD set covers material from their 1990 album No Prayer for the Dying up until 2010's The Final Frontier. Side note, Final Frontier? Awesome friggin' album. But I digress. Continuing on...the opening song, "Be Quick or Be Dead" kicks you squarely in the knickers, and every song after that, spanning both discs, continues to do the same. As with Somewhere Back in Time, this album adds in a couple of live versions of some of their songs, including "Fear of the Dark," "The Clansman," and "Man on the Edge." The latter of the two were from the short era that lead singer Bruce Dickinson left the band and he was replaced by Wolfsbane vocalist Blaze Bayley. I've heard the original versions of these songs sung by Bayley, and trust me, BROTHERS, I was not impressed in the least. But these live versions were recorded after Dickinson returned to the band. And Bruce KILLS "Man on the Edge," "The Clansman," and "Sign of the Cross" like it's nobody's business. I, for one was impressed. Now, in my previous blog, I said that "Aces High" was my favorite Iron Maiden song from the 1980's. But THIS? From Fear to Eternity included my favorite Iron Maiden song of ALL TIME! So much in fact, that just by that song alone, I wanna fine the album it came from. What is it? Take a listen...
Taken from the band's comeback album of the same name, this song is wrought with that epic, emotional feel I wish I was able to muster. Trust me, if I had the vocal range to belt this baby out, I would do it at every karaoke bar I encounter from now on. Singing well is one thing, but adding emotion to it? That's a whole different ballgame. That's something I have not perfected yet. And I hope I get to one day. But anyway, track down Somewhere Back in Time AND From Fear to Eternity. I promise, you will NOT be disappointed.
It appears that I've all but forgotten what a good night's sleep actually feels like. Ever since I got switched to mornings about two months ago, my schedule has amassed to "sleep, work, sleep some more, work, rinse, lather, repeat." Needless to say it's been kicking my ass worse than any bully I've encountered in my school years. And believe me, BROTHERS, that is a LOT. Couple that with the fact that my department team leader is just about as sharp as a bowling ball makes things a little bit harder. I mean, seriously, I'm trying to get my OWN work done, and it never fails. About two hours left of work, I've just about got everything done, and BAM! Last minute bullshit that I have to deal with, which somehow makes me up to two hours, maybe more, late in getting off from work. So you can imagine my joy and amazement when I came back from our vacation and I was told that he was gonna be gone for a couple weeks. Thank. Friggin. God. And, predictably, those weeks that he was gone, I was working with no pressure. Get work done, go home. Get work done, go home. That is, until this waste of space came back TODAY, and I was (surprise, surprise) late getting off work. Again. Trust me, there have been many times in the past couple of months where I was just ready to quit my job, right then and there. I'm not there to babysit anybody. I'm not there to do someone else's job for them cuz they can't handle it. I'm there to take care of my own business. I'm there to bust my ass for myself, not nursemaid any incompetant douchebags that can't handle doing their own job. That's the way I see it. I'm right, they're wrong. That's all there is to it.
- Side random thought: Parents these days should still be allowed to whoop their children's asses when needed. Maybe that way when they get brought along to places like my store they'll behave like they're supposed to. Trust me, I've had plenty off ass whoopings handed to me as a child, and I can tell you firsthand that I've earned EVERY one of them.
Anyway, moving on...
A lot of things going on these past couple of months. Our Ohio vacation has come and gone, and with great success, I must say. Visiting my parents every year is always a good time, and this year was no different. This time I had Heather in tow, and it was a relaxing week that we both needed. Just about everyone in my family, from my mother, to my sister...yes, sister...to just about anyone else you can think of, had the pleasure of giving us the grand tour of everything. Granted, I'm an un-country country boy from a small town, so I'll admit there's not a whole hell of a lot to tour, per se, but we all made it fun, regardless. But something different, something special happened on our first night there. I've talked about putting the pieces of a puzzle together, and on February 29, I made the final step I've needed to make for a long time. My friends were in on it for months. My family was in on it for months. Everyone was in on it, and all I needed to do was man up, and get it done. What happened, you ask?
I proposed.
That's right, BROTHERS. I waited til it was me, Heather, my parents, my grandmother, and my aunt gathered together at the house, and for the second time in my life (and hopefully the last), I asked a woman I love dearly to marry this beer drinking, broken down bag of bones. In that instant, I finally experienced that "perfect moment" that was referenced in the movie Star Trek: Insurrection. The Perfect Moment in a person's life was defined in that movie as a moment where time just seems to stand still, and you feel that need to relive that moment over and over again. Why is this, you ask? Because of the answer I got, that no one in a million years would ever think I'd get again.
She said yes.
Now, my future feels certain, for the first time in years. I'm in love with someone that loves me back, with someone who wants to spend the rest of her life with me, no matter what flaws or shortcomings I have. I've been happy this past year, happier than I could ever hope to be. But not only do I have that, but I also have the added bonus of being validated. I've finally been proven right, after years of confusion and uncertainty. And on June 22, 2013, we get to stand in front of our closest friends and family, in my homestate of Ohio, and I finally get to say what Heather has been trying to tell me for months, and that everyone deserves a second chance. And any mistakes that were made when I was married the first time, I know not to make again, as I'm older, wiser, and more mild-mannered than I was in my youth. That makes me feel good about myself, and that's a feeling that I haven't had since at least 2002. So to those of you that have stood by me through every step of the way, I say thank you, and I love you. You know who you people are.
2nd Chance CD of the Week Iron Maiden Somewhere Back in Time - The Best of: 1980-1989 (2008)
Track List Churchill's Speech Aces High 2 Minutes to Midnight The Trooper Wasted Years Children of the Damned The Number of the Beast Run to the Hills Phantom of the Opera The Evil That Men Do Wrathchild Can I Play With Madness Powerslave Hallowed Be Thy Name Iron Maiden
After hearing 2010's The Final Frontier a couple of years back, I've finally felt compelled to dip my toes into some of Iron Maiden's earlier material. Obviously I'm glad I did, cuz if I wasn't I wouldn't be featuring them here, now would I? This is more of a "Volume 1" of sorts, as this CD chronicles the best songs of their 80's era. The second volume, From Fear to Eternity, would cover their music from the years 1990 to 2010. But that's a blog for another time. Back to this one. If you're a Maiden fan, you'll be happy with the tracklist presented here. My all time favorite 80's Maiden song, "Aces High" starts the album following a snippet of a speech made by Winston Churchill. What follows is classic British heavy metal at its finest.
All the notable classic tracks are here, such as "The Number of the Beast," Wasted Years," and two personal karaoke favorites of mine, "The Trooper," and "Run to the Hills," among the 15-track setlist. What puzzles me a little bit is that there are a few live versions of a couple of the songs that are on here. Songs like "Iron Maiden," and "Wrathchild" serve as examples. Those two songs were originally sung by the band's first vocalist, Paul D'Anno, but on the live versious, it's current singer Bruce Dickinson on the mic. As a matter of fact, D'Anno isn't featured on here at all. I love that and I hate it at the same time. Sure, Dickinson KILLS on the live tracks, and he sounds great, but at the same time Paul D'Anno is all but forgotten. I'll take what I can get though, as it's still a damn fine compilation.
Thumbs up.
Next blog I post, I'll rand and rave some more, as well as cover Iron Maiden's second compilation album, From Fear to Eternity. Then next on the chopping block is the new Nightwish CD, Imaginaerum. But like I said, a different story for a different time.
My first blog of the year and it's taken a little longer than it usually does to post one of these. So what lol I've been on a real funky schedule lately. I've been put on mornings, which is usually lead-in to full time. So it looks like good times and good money are ahead. And as far as I'm concerned, it's about damn time. It's been nearly five years since I've been hired by Publix, and for the first time since I've been hired by the company, it feels like all of my hard work has been finally paying off. There have been so many times in my career that I've felt like I've wasted my time, and that me busting my ass has been overlooked, but no longer. Finally, I don't feel like I'm just in it to grab a paycheck and go. I finally have something worth looking forward to. And that makes me feel good about my job. Kinda weird really. But what the hell, I'll go with it.
Tax time, well, for me at least, has come and gone, AND I've still gotta little bit of money to spare. My big purchase this year was (finally!) a smartphone. Yes, the Killer has joined the Land of the Living. That, and, as always this time every year, plane tickets. At the end of this month me and Heather are heading up to Ohio for a week to visit my family. This is actually a big step for me. I mean, don't get me wrong, I go up there every year around this time, and it's always been a good time every year. This time it's different, because this is the first time since Jennifer that I've brought a girl I've been seeing back home to meet the family. So that kinda gives you a little clue as to how serious our relationship is. It's gonna be a good time, for sure. I just know that it's going to be a lot colder than what she's used to. Given the fact that she's born and raised in Florida, yeah, that's gonna be a litte bit of a shock. I'm looking forward to seeing that reaction more than anything :-D
2nd Chance CD of the Week Van Halen A Different Kind of Truth (2012)
Tracklist Tattoo She's the Woman You and Your Blues China Town Blood and Fire Bullethead As Is Honeybabysweetiedoll The Trouble With Never Outta Space Stay Frosty Big River Beats Workin'
I could probably write a book on my lifetime experiences, live or otherwise, about my favorite band of all time, Van Halen. The first Van Halen album I've heard from beginning to end was Fair Warning, which my dad owned the cassette to. I was nine years old. The first CD I ever owned was For Unlawful Carnal Knowledge, which I bought in Japan when I was 14. Their album Balance changed my life forever, again at age 14. There've been so many issues with the band over the years. The ugly departure of original and current singer David Lee Roth, the coming and going of second vocalist Sammy Hagar, to Eddie Van Halen being in and out of rehab so many times they might as well have a revolving door in place, and that is only to name a few. Ever since 1998's trainwreck Van Halen III I've waited patiently for new material from the band, no matter what the lineup was. When the band announced a reunion tour in 2007, I was bombarded with a ray of hope. Original bassist Michael Anthony was no longer with the band, which I can live with, even though he's one of my favorite musicians. Being replaced by Eddie's 20-year-old son Wolfgang, the band announced early last year that a new album was in the works. To say that I was excited would be like saying that the bomb dropped on Hiroshima was nothing more than a wet fart. Fast forward to this year, and the song "Tattoo" was released to the public. It took me a couple listens but it really grew on me, and I had hoped it would. And then, the big day came...February 7, just a few short days ago, A Different Kind of Truth hit stores all over the world. Needless to say, my heroes in rock have still got it. For years singer David Lee Roth has sounded like shit as a vocalist, dating back to his solo album, 1994's Your Filthy Little Mouth. But on A Different of Truth, he's sounded better than he has in years. Wolfgang Van Halen is a beast on the bass guitar, as he's a great fir for the band. Eddie and Alex Van Halen sound better than ever on guitar and drums, respectively. The album kicks off with the aforementioned "Tattoo" and just continues to kick you in the face for the next 50 minutes. Roughly half the songs on this CD are rewrites of music they've done in their early club days, pre-first album. Not necessarily a bad thing, as finally a lot of these songs have finally hit the official light of day, such as "She's the Woman," "Bullethead," "Big River," and "Blood and Fire." One of the more fun songs on the album would be "Stay Frosty," which is reminicent of "Ice Cream Man" from the band's debut 1978 album. Some other personal favorites of mine would have to be "You and Your Blues," "As Is," and the blistering "China Town." I really didn't know what to expect to hear when I first bought this album, I just know that I wanted it to be as good as their classic material from the 70's, 80's, and 90's. But after a couple of listens, I'm going to have to say that I was surprised, amazed, and ultimately satisfied with the end product. Welcome back guys. It's about time.
At the tail end of my "healing process," all that was left was confusion. The fear, the hurt, the despair, was all gone. Only confusion and uncertainty remained. Back in January my mind was set. After the way things panned out with one of my ex-girlfriends, I thought it was just simply time to give up. On Florida, on the whole dating thing, and just head home back to Ohio and forget it all. At the time, I thought and felt that everything I knew about being a man was wrong, and that I was in the wrong place to find what I was looking for. There I was, still in my studio apartment (RIP Castle Killskull), nowhere to go in my job because of the constant ineptitude I've had to deal with. Nowhere to do, and nothing more I can truly do with my life as it stood at that moment in time. The spirit of the Scottish Killer was truly broken and there was just simply nothing left for me here.
I can gladly say that three months later I was proven very much the contrary.
A week after I came back from my vacation I met probably the most wonderful human being I have ever encountered. There she was, all of about five feet tall...with shoes lol...and she noticed, from the very beginning, how utterly nervous I was for our first date. Nervous? No, I was horrified. I was sweating like a pig the whole time, I stuttered and stumbled over my words in a way that made my high school self say, "Damn, this dude's got problems." Surprisingly enough, she laughed the whole thing off, which allowed me to do the same. The words came, my anxiety faded, and the rest, as they say, is history. I've truly met the love of my life, finally and at last. This Clark Kent had finally found his Lois. And trust me, at the beginning, I fought it tooth and nail. I was ready to just see her a couple of times and then end things before it began. I figured, "Nah, it ain't gonna work out. Just like always." They say that most people notice when someone captures your heart, but for me, it came out of nowhere, and with time. My faith in true love had been restored, and my faith in the basic good in people had been reunited. Heather McMahon, I love you dearly and deeply. With you, a lot of the anger and confusion has faded, and at the end of it all, there's only you. I'm grateful for everything you've done for me, and I'm thankful that you were the one you finally open my heart once more.
No, I'm not done with this section yet.
I've taken a lot of people out of my life this year as well. People I
thought I could trust. Turns out these people were so wrapped up in
their own bullshit to even worry for a second about me. These are
people that I will never welcome back, for any discernible reason. So
goodbye to all of you, you know who you are. I've mentioned you all in
this column and a refuse to do so again. Also, today, I look back at
how truly miserable I was at my old store location. I was never really
truly liked by most of the people working there, I know that, and I'm
fine with that. I was working in a system that was just simply not
working, no matter what I tried to do to improve. All of my hard work
went unnoticed and unappreciated, and I felt like I spent the first four
years of my career wasting my time. I honestly feel that you have to
enjoy what you do for a living in order to be good at it. And after a
while, work stopped being fun for me, and as a result, I stopped
caring. I was at the point where I was just in there for the paycheck,
and that was it. I ended up moving out of my small, no bedroom
apartment, moved in with Heather in July, transferred stores, and I
can't be more happier than I am these days. The people there recognize
my hard work, they appreciate it, and hell, they even thank me for
coming in to work. Hey, don't thank me, it's what I get paid for. Most
of the customers even ask for me by name because they know that I know
my shit, and I'll go out of my way to help them out.
My quest to take over the universe may just see the light after all lol.
This year, I've done a "Random Thoughts" column or two, and I decided that I'm gonna post the best of them here, not only from this year, but for previous years as well, for your amusement. As always I hope you either get a good laugh or you become offended as hell. Either one's good for me.
The Best of Random Thoughts
- To parents with kids that are throwing a fit cuz they're not getting what they want...Shut your kid up or I will.
- I'm sorry, but fat is not a disability. Get your fat ass out of that electric wheelchair and go to the damn gym!
- Good God Almighty, did Gwen Stefani's solo music go down the shitter or what?! I recently heard one of her new songs, and it sounds like something out of an old school, 8-bit video game. And trust me, if your music sounds like I should be playing Nintendo right now, that's when you know you suck. No Doubt was decent, get THEM back out there.
- When someone tells you that they aren't trying to be a pain in the
ass, guess what? That means that they actually ARE trying to be a pain
in the ass. Trust me, after seeing tourist after tourist over the
years, I know these things.
- If you are a white person, be a white person. If you are an African
American, be an African American. Don't be a white guy pretending to be
black. Me, I'm a small town, pasty faced white boy. I talk in
coherent sentences, I rock out whenever I can, and I think that 50 Cent
needs to be shot one more time. I'm not racist, I'm just for not being
afraid of who and what you are.
- Since I was 4 years old, I knew that Van Halen was the GREATEST BAND IN THE UNIVERSE.
- I don't care how hot she may or may not be. Beyonce has got to be one
of the most annoying people on the entire planet. Every picture I see
of her and she's smiling, it's that kind of knowing smile that says,
"Yeah, that's right, I'm a bitch." Not to mention that her music is by
far some of the worst I have heard in my lifetime. And then, "If I Were
a Boy" hit the airwaves. The first thousand times I heard it, I
thought to myself, "Hey...she's actually attempting to write a decent
song." After that, I realized just how damned WHINY she sounds
throughout the song. No thanks. Oh, and Beyonce, Destiny's Child
sucked too, by the way.
- Justin Bieber....seems that he's EXTREMELY popular among the
prepubescent female community. Coincidentally, he's also just as
popular among the adult homosexual male community. So if you've got
Bieber Fever, and you're not 12 years old OR a girl, you've got a lot of explaining to do.
- I REALLY don't understand the appeal of reggaeton. And no, it's got
nothing to do with its racial background. Every song, EVERY DAMN SONG,
has the same exact beat to it. There's no originality behind that.
Which means there's not one bit of talent behind it. And I'm sorry, but
I only listen to talented musicians.
Those were my best ones over the years, and trust me, BROTHERS, there'll be plenty more to come throughout the year.
It's that time of the year again, kiddies. It's time for...
2nd Chance CD of the Year
(Originally written 9-13-11)
Dream Theater A Dramatic Turn of Events (2011)
After looking at all the CD's I've reviewed this year, it's a
no-brainer that this ends up being the album of the year for me. I've
been a huge fan of Dream Theater since 2009, and after seeing them at
Hard Rock this year, was made into an even bigger fan than before. I
honestly believe that their performance there outshined my first ever
concert experience with Van Halen, in Tokyo, in 1995.
Tracklist One the Backs of Angels Build Me Up, Break Me Down Lost Not Forgotten This is the Life Bridges in the Sky Outcry Far From Heaven Breaking All Illusions Beneath the Surface
This album is an interesting one, and one that I have been looking forward to since hearing their previous CD, Black Clouds and Silver Linings (2009). Since
then, founding drummer Mike Portnoy left the band, citing that he
wanted to take a break from writing and recording. The rest of the band
wanted to continue at the breakneck pace they had been known to go, so
Portnoy left. In the meantime, Avenged Sevenfold's drummer, Jimmy "The
Rev" Sullivan unexpectedly died from an enlarged heart at the age of
28. They enlisted the services of Portnoy to take over the drums while
recording A7X's Nightmare album. After completing the record and
supporting tour, Portnoy made the attempt to return to Dream Theater,
which they declined, saying that they were already on the search for a
new drummer. Enter Mike Mangini. Mike Mangini was famous for replacing
Paul Geary in the band Extreme in 1995. By the time Mangini joined
Dream Theater, however, the songwriting had already been completed. At
that point, all the band did was send the completed tapes to Mangini so
that he can lay down his own drum track, and "add his own shit too."
The result is A Dramatic Turn of Events, released today. I
honestly don't think they could have gotten anyone else to replace Mike
Portnoy, as I feel that Mike Mangini is fitting in quite well. The main
thing that I was worried about upon hearing about the release of this
album was that Portnoy was one of the main songwriters in Dream
Theater. Thankfully, the music did not suffer from Portnoy's departure,
as A Dramatic Turn of Events is just as good as anything Dream
Theater had come out with. Hell, I would say it's one of their best
albums in years. With songs like "This is the Life," "Outcry," and the
album's lead single and opening track, "On the Backs of Angels," it's
hard to argue that point. If I had to introduce anyone to Dream
Theater, this would be the album to start them off with. Definitely
worth a listen.
Thumbs up.
This is obviously my last blog of the year. Hopefully I'll put another one out either next week or the week after. Until that time, Happy New Year, and remember, kids, only YOU can help stop tourism. To close things out, probably my best lyrical work EVER!
1000 Days - completed 7-18-10 after about a week of writing
I. Clarity
Afternoon, mid-July, the whole landscape changed, so did I I stood frozen, diamond in my sights What once was darkness had now become my light
I had my dream once, and it still stands Take these matters into these two hands You have to know this wasn't my plan Even I still can't understand
Then one day, anyone's guess My steel resolve was put to the test I set out to place my bets For in my dreams she always says "yes"
It's all just a dream, but it's my dream...
II. Conflict
What more must I say, to not face this again? My heart's light and heavy at the same time...
Pilgrimage to the north Ever looming, neverending Wage a war in myself "Never break your heart again." From the rich, to the poor Mix these signals, sending Die within but live to tell "Never let you hurt again."
I am pulled to shreds, sings, but sinks instead I am in conflict with my own heart Gain, but lose it all, right from the start
Whipped and weary, full of fear Pride is tested, breaking near Anxiety please disappear "Just do this for yourself."
...I am at a crossroads Which way do I turn? I'm another lost soul Which bridge do I burn?
III. Rise
Like two stars crossing, two ships passing I'm left a beaten man Waited far too long It's too late to turn back
My heart's been yours this whole time These words, yours as I write Why do I feel like I'm torn apart? When did this war begin with my heart?
As far as I can tell, there's no one left but me It's all been explained, but it's only Greek to me...
IV. Fall
"Wake up, young soldier. This nightmare is ending. Those three words, repeating, they're now never-ending."
This heart of mine sits still Those three words cost me dear I'd take it all back if given the chance To make it disappear
A thousand days, the angels sang Now they no longer speak The words came out, as my heart breaks I've never felt so weak
I look to the skies, The stars in your eyes I wish that you were mine Oh, I wish that you were all mine...
In 2007, I first caught wind of the Finnish band Nightwish. There was an ad on TV promoting their then-new album, Dark Passion Play, with a short clip of the single "Ameranth" playing in the background. I was morbidly curious, and decided that the next time I got the chance to hit the mall, that I was gonna pick it up. A few weeks later, I did, and became a fan almost immediately. Since then , I've been trying to hear various songs from them, from the era of their original singer, the opera-trained Tarja Turunen, to current vocalist Anette Olzen. Since Dark Passion Play, I had been chomping at the bit to hear some new materail. Then I caught wind of the album Imaginaerum being recorded. I was already chomping at the bit as it is. Finally, the symphonic metal band from Finland were finally coming back, but little did I know that the end result would end up being their true masterpiece. Then, even months later, I hear that the new album was going to be a concept album, which I'm a sucker for anyway. On top of all THAT, come to find out that it's currently in the process of being turned into a movie as well. Trust me, opeining day, I will be all over that. I even hear that the members of Nightwish are going to make a cameo appearance in the film as well.
