DUN DUN DUHHHH…
Just kidding I found another really cool video with a guy and his guitar. What more do I need to say? A little bit more I am sure but this guy has amazing talent and produces a great song. He has a few more videos up on youtube I suggest that you check him out his name is Andy Mckee. I will post a few more things about some more artists so be on the look out.
I just found a cool site that allows you to stream metal into your life. I am pretty sure that I am the last metalhead to jump on this boat…but man is it fun to finally be here. I never really paid much attention to the streaming music craze, but now my eyes have been opened. I usually listen to the BRC’s radio broadcasts. For those of you that don’t know the BRC it stands for the Black Rock Coalition. It was created in the late 80’s to give black artists a way to get their music heard. Some great bands are there I suggest that you check out some of the artist and radio shows.
Now the new metal station that I have found is called MetalRadio.com pretty cool. It is the best way to find some new metal that I can’t find anywhere else. I just love listening to new music and finding new bands. This is my curse I am always looking for great music in any genre, that is why my CD Collection is probably going to have to have a room unto itself. That is of course when I get the money. They are playing Dragon Lord - Born to Darkness as I type this SCHWEET!! Now I don’t know about you guys but I am certainly enjoying this. None of that cookie cutter type metal here. I am happier than a pig is slop. Why didn’t anyone tell me the goodness of streaming music? Or am I just an idiot that missed the boat when it first started? I think it is more of the second but I just wanted to pass on my discovery along. Keep practicing.
I found this Jaco Video also while searching for Christian Mcbride. Here is the master at work. Jaco made a instructional video and someone was nice enough to post in on youtube. So now we can all enjoy some tidbits from one of the greats. It is in 10 sections so just find the one that you want to watch and go from there.
This video contains two of my favorite artists Pat Methaney and Christian Mcbride. They are both such great masters of their insturments respectively. I just love how they can go in and out of the key and just make it work so well. The groove is soo tight and deep you could drive a Mack truck through it. Methaney has the mad doctor vibe going on that is just unmatched. Just enjoy the video and thats all that I can say.
This is a special Happy Birthday to the one who changed the way people hear, see, and think about playing the bass. I am talking about the one and only Jaco Pastorius. He was taken way too soon from this earth. It would have been amazing to see what he would be doing with music right now. One of my favorite quotes from he goes as follows.
Reporter: Where do you think the future of music is headed?
Jaco: Well I am getting on a plane to go to Miami after this…
That kind of bravado is seen often today but rarely was it actually backed up. I suggest that everyone today listen to either Jaco or Hejira just to get in the mood and honor a fallen hero.
I know that my skills on the guitar are very limited. I still get harmony and melody mixed up…that is probably why I should take lessons but that is another story. I have stumbled upon another master of the acoustic guitar. His name is Erik Mongrain. He makes me wish that I had more time to gather my thoughts on how to approach my music and the instruments. His method is a little unorthodox but that is never a bad thing in my humble opinion. He has a great sense of rhythm and melody. I enjoy the musicality (I don’t even know if this is a word) of his playing. I don’t have that sense of musicmanship yet. Everyday I am reaching for that point where I can play something extremely beautiful. Until then it will all have to sound like crap. You have to start somewhere right…? Without further ado the videos
Ali Farke Toure his collection of music is amazing. Called the African Bluesman his music is laced with sublte tones of American blues with African Influences. His most famous work was with Ry Cooder, he broke into the American lexicon of world and blues artists at the same time. He unfortunately passed away recently. However, his music will live forever.
The Word is Out and Word of Mouth Revisited by the Jaco Pastorious Big Band are must haves. Under the direction of Peter Graves many of the greats in music today play together to bring the music back to life. People like Victor Wooten, Randy Brecker, and Peter Erskin to name a few bring their own interpretations to the music. It is an impressive album for those that enjoy music.
The older album that you should run to get his Heijra by Joni Mitchell. I have a soft spot in my heart for Joni Mitchell. She is one of the great songwriters of our generation. Her views of the music industry are spot on. She has lived through the glory days of the music industry and the mess it has become now. This album is magnificent, Jaco Pastorious on Bass, Pat Metheny on Guitar, Chick Corea on the ivory. I suggest you also get the DVD Shadows and Light they are all there and it is another amazing show of musicmanship. I have my copy of both and the CD ususally doesn’t leave my player. I need to re-watch the DVD again. Have a great day and keep the guitars squeelin’
I know I might have stepped on a few toes with my rant last time…but I don’t care! I still stand by my word that music today has lost some of its power. The artist has less control over their sound. If you want a big label contract you have to conform to the standard of the other bands or groups in your genre. You wont hear anymore music like Black Sabbath. Just to Prove my point here are some videos with Sabbath enjoy…
Now can you honestly say that a group like Black Sabbath could exist today?
I am not talking about just any old metal either. I am talking about the stuff that we all know and love. Like Metallica, Judas Priest, Anthrax, Slayer, Death, Cannibal Corpse, Ozzy, Black Sabbath, and a slew of other groups that had completely different sounds. You could pick out a Sabbath tune from a mile away. Each band or artist had something that distinguished them from the others.
I hate to say this but that isn’t the case today. The groups that I know and love now are being reduced to the same drivel that exists on the radio today. I think Brian Poshen said it best it is Metal by Numbers. Most of the new bands that you hear on the radio all have the same basic sound. That is total crap! Once one band makes a splash in the charts the record labels scurry to find a band with a similar sound anc transform them into the same band. When did the artist die to make a few quick bucks with a flash in the pan hit? You won’t see too many bands like our favorites from the 80’s and the early 90’s. I know before anyone says that I am looking through some pretty rosy colored glasses about those times. However name me some bands today that have had some sticking power besides System of a Down, Tool/A Perfect Circle, and some other band that I can’t think of right now. You can’t can you…real metal only had a select group of people who listened. Each group had their core group of fans who were die hard listened to the albums over and over again. We don’t have that today it is unfortunate. It has all become about the money and the thrill of being a star. What happened to the days where the band were fans of the genre first then musicians. The producers and labels understood that and let them do their thing. I just want one more band to break the mold and continue to break the mold with great songs and albums that hearken to days of yore.
I wish Metallica would make more songs like this Fade To Black They don’t get much better than that. I guess that I am sentimental towards the older groups because I grew up listening to them. They became a part of me. Maybe I am being too cynical of the new groups but with bands like Nickleback, Creed, Three Doors Down, and Audioslave passing as rock or metal I will gladly take old school anyday. I know some of you might like Audioslave but I think it is a mockery. First you have Rage Against the Machine and Soundgarden two incredible bands and put them together what do you get? Not exactly what you were expecting right… I know they have some poignat lyrics every now and then but nothing compared to what they could have done. Damn producers and labels killing most of the creative flow of artists. They can’t grow and mature like they used to. Sorry for the rant I just thought that it had to be said. If you disagree I would like to hear why I am a jackass. Until then keep em squealin’
I just wanted to introduce you guys to one of my bass heroes Yves Carbonne. He is an extended range bassist. Before we start the bashing, let me just say this to each his own and leave it at that. If you don’t like tough deal with it. It is his way of expressing himself through music let him do whatever he wants.
He is playing an eight string fretless bass in the videos that I will post. He is an amazing player from France. Yves is truly a master of the bass. His compositions are so well thought out and you can feel his soul coming out in every line that he writes. One of my favorites is Holy Spirit. It is one of those songs that makes you fall in love with music all over again.
Here is another video with Yves and fellow erb’er Jean Baudin of Nuclear Rabbit and Elements of Surprise fame, they are playing one of Jean’s pieces entitled Vanishing. Here is another video of these two playing Every Breath You Take.
Yves will be releasing a solo album some time in the near future. I will have a review of the album when I get my grubby paws on it… so be on the look out. Here is Yves personal website check out some of the tunes and enjoy. Here is his myspace page and enjoy the music there.