CD Review: Death Magnetic, By Metallica

By the time that Metallica's long-awaited new album, Death Magnetic, hit record store shelves on Tuesday, September 12, 2008, I had already been let down by the band so many times that I no longer trusted them to give me my money's worth.  For several months before it's release, I had been hearing that this album would be a return to their glory days.  Unfortunately, I had heard that from the band when they finished their previous effort, the very dismal sounding St. Anger, back in 2003.  This time around, I just couldn't fall for the hype again.  Needless to say, I approached this album with more than a little trepidation.  To say that I was skeptical would be putting it mildly.

I suppose if I were to be completely honest, there was a part of me that actually wanted to hate this album simply out of spite; hating it would have been the perfect revenge for being disappointed so many times!  Still, no matter how hard I tried to hate it, I just couldn't bring myself to do so!  I have to say that James and the guys have finally delivered on the promise that they made so long ago.  This album is truly amazing from start to finish.  After one listen, all of my doubts had been erased.  I was grinning from ear to ear; at last, the real Metallica is back!

This is the album that should have followed And Justice For All.  In fact, it is not surprising to me that many reviewers have drawn comparisons between those two albums.  When you listen to both of them back-to-back, their does seem to be a very logical progression from one record to the next.  Death Magnetic sounds like what should have been the next step in Metallica's natural evolution following the Justice album.

While some elements of the more recent Metallica sound do remain, they are used differently than they have been in the past.  There is still the great sense of melody that was seen on the Load and Reload albums, but these new elements don't sound as strange on this record, because they are woven into the context of the band's former style, creating a much more subtle change in the band's overall sound.

On Death Magnetic, the band has returned to the more intricate arrangements and complex melodies seen in their earlier albums.  This outing also brings us some blistering guitar solos from Kirk Hammett, which had been noticeably absent in the recent past.  The vocals for all tracks are intense; they really pull you into the song.  There is also some truly outstanding drum work by Lars.  Choosing a favorite track here has proven to be difficult as they are all worthy candidates, but The End Of The Line did stand out to me, as did The Unforgiven III and Cyanide.

I certainly never thought that I would get to say these words again, but fans of Metallica's early work rejoice!  This album is what we have been waiting and praying for since 1988, and our patience has finally paid off!  Go and get it; I promise, you won't be disappointed!

Speculation On The Forthcoming Album By Metallica

Author's Note: The following article was originally written in 2008, just a few weeks prior to the release of Metallica's "Death Magnetic" Album

* * * * *

To be honest, I'm not really sure that this is a subject I even want to speculate on.  I have always been a huge fan of Metallica's early work, but I have to confess that I have been sorely disappointed by all of their more recent releases.  In fact, my feelings on this matter are so strong, that after hearing the songs which were released as singles from these records, I have emphatically refused to buy any of their albums that came after their 1991 self-titled CD, often referred to as “The Black Album.”  Yes, I am one of those old-school metal-heads who feels that the real Metallica has not made a record since their 1988 album ...And Justice For All.

Being a musician myself, I understand the artist's need for growth; artists must grow and change to stretch their creativity.  However, I do feel that if the change is too drastic, then it begins to feel fake.  This is what happened to Metallica.  The musical style that was embraced by the band on their Load album, as well as its successor, the redundantly titled Reload, was just too much of a curve ball for many fans to accept.

The songs on these records were well written and well performed, so the quality of the music is not what I took issue with.  These songs sounded like a completely different band; the music just wasn't Metallica.  I felt that they were trying to be something they weren't just so they could appeal to a wider audience.  I felt that they cheated their loyal fans by doing this, because there was still a lot of unexplored territory and potential for artistic growth within the framework of their former style, and they took the easy way out by making more accessible music that appealed to those who would jump on the bandwagon of any artist who happened to be hot at the moment.

The band's next release did very little to help matters.  The album, 1998's Garage, Inc., was a collection of cover material.  While the guys did return to their metal roots on some of the songs, playing tunes by Black Sabbath and Mercyful Fate, there were also some very odd song choices made.  To me, this band just sounds completely out of their element when covering tracks by the likes of Bob Seger and Queen!

Needless to say, this album was another letdown for me; so you can imagine how stoked I was when in 2003, I heard that Metallica was planning a new release, and that said album would be a return to the old days.  I waited eagerly for the release date, and when it came, I dropped by my local record store to preview the album before buying.  I have to say, St. Anger was not a complete disappointment, as it was heavier than the previous records had been, and some of it was actually tolerable.  But again, I just felt like they had missed the mark.  This album sounded to me like an attempt at the more modern metal sound that was getting big at the time; lots of dropped-tunings, very heavy on the bass, and no guitar solos.  I was crushed.

While I am interested in seeing what the next CD sounds like, I'm sure you can understand that after so many letdowns, I am a bit wary; I don't want to raise my hopes again, only to see them dashed in the end.  I know that the talk about this album is that it will be a return to Metallica's former glory.  I very much hope that this will be the case, but I have heard that song before, and I will not hold my breath to see it happen this time!

How To Select The Perfect Christmas Gift On A Limited Budget

With the Christmas season fast approaching, we are once again faced with the challenge of finding just the perfect gift for each person on our holiday list.  Seeing the joy on a loved one's face when they open your gift is always a wonderful feeling; unfortunately, most of us wind up spending more than we can really afford to get that reaction.  For many of us, this can become a source of stress that causes the true joy of Christmas to be lost.  The dilemma of trying to figure out what to buy and how to get it without plunging yourself into financial ruin can be overwhelming to say the least.

However, there are many ways that you can avoid these yuletide traps.  Holiday gift giving needn't become a stressful or expensive endeavor.  With a little thought and creativity, you can give your loved ones uniquely personal gifts that are relatively inexpensive and sure to bring a smile to their faces.  For example, everyone knows that we all love to enjoy holiday treats, so edible gifts are always a safe bet.  Baking brightly decorated cookies or any variety of sweet bread, or maybe even making some other type of treat like homemade fudge or bread pudding will undoubtedly be appreciated.  Or, if you aren't much for cooking, you could buy some little dishes or holiday tins and fill them with candy.  Most discount or dollar stores have a wide selection of such things that are very affordable and very cute!

For those of you who enjoy arts & crafts, your hobby can open up another great gift giving possibility.  Many craft stores can offer great ideas for easy gifts to fit any budget.  If you knit or crochet, you can make sweaters, scarves, hats, or any number of other personalized gifts.  Those who enjoy scrap booking can make remembrance books for almost any significant event in a loved one's life.  This will give them a keepsake to be treasured for years to come...and these ideas barely scratch the surface!  In fact, there are so many different types of crafts that the possibilities here are almost endless.  Gifts of this nature can also give you the satisfaction of knowing that you are giving a one-of-a-kind gift that will have a deeply personal meaning to your loved ones because you have put a lot of time, thought and love into its creation!

If you happen to be a bargain hunter who enjoys frequenting garage sales, thrift stores, or flea markets, this can offer a wonderful avenue for finding great gifts at a fraction of their original cost.  For the careful shopper with an eye for quality merchandise, it can be possible to find almost anything this way.  You can give a wonderful present for pennies on the dollar, and no one will be the wiser!  If you attend these events regularly, you can pick up things at any time during the year and store them away for future giving.

And here's another great tip for those who come from very large families.  Since most people have children to buy for, and that is usually a parent's main focus at this time of year, it may be beneficial for the adults in the family to get together and draw names before your gift exchange.  This way, each person will only have to buy one gift, and everyone will have something to open.  It will allow you to still make the holiday special for the little ones, while ensuring that no one is left out!

No matter how you choose to go about finding that perfect gift, I think it is helpful to keep in mind the unique and individual personality of the person for whom you are shopping.  Sometimes, when we aren't sure what to buy, we tend to pick out things that we think they would like, or things that we would like them to have.  Instead of “flying blind” like that, I think it is helpful to focus on their specific likes and dislikes.  For example, if your loved one is the artistic type, give them a supply of materials necessary to create in their chosen medium.  If they enjoy a certain sport, a unique collectible related to that sport makes a great gift; you could even give them a pair of tickets to a game!  Wherever their interests lie, they will be more likely to enjoy your gift if it is chosen with those interests in mind!

So to those of you who dread the coming Christmas season, I would just like to close by saying don't lose heart.  Hopefully my suggestions have shown you that it is possible to have a holiday that is stress and worry free...and these are just a few ideas to simplify gift giving; I'm sure that if you do some investigating, you'll be able to find countless others as well!  As I said before, all it takes is a little ingenuity! 

CD Review: Saints Of Los Angeles, By Motley Crue

Being the rock fan that I am, I was really stoked when I heard that Motley Crue would be releasing a new album in the summer of 2008.  The album's first single was the title track, Saints Of Los Angeles.  The song was shipped to radio in advance of the release, and heavily played to promote the record.  It is based on the strength of this tune that I couldn't wait to get my hands on the album.  The song had that classic Crue vibe; it was solid hard rock with an in-your-face attitude.  Needless to say that by the time the release date was finally announced, I was chomping at the bit.  I had already pre-ordered the disc from amazon, and eagerly awaited its arrival.

When it finally came, I was momentarily at a loss.  I was sort of disappointed at first, because I was expecting a classic Motley record that would stand up well next to their 1989 masterpiece, Dr. Feelgood.  Unfortunately, this wasn't what I got.  Don't get me wrong, I am not saying that I hated it or anything...at least, not completely.  However, I have to say that it definitely took me a couple of listens to warm up to this one.  There is more than enough good material here to make the disc worth buying; it has many strong points...one of them being some very menacing guitar work on the part of Mick Mars...but overall, I didn't feel that it was the Crue's best effort.

The album kicks off with a spoken-word intro, reminiscent of the band's 1983 album, Shout At The Devil.  It then segues into the slightly punk-influenced Face Down In The Dirt, which is a decent track, but not one of my personal favorites.  The next track, What's It Gonna Take, was the first that really stood out to me.  It has a great groove, and the wah-wah guitar tone used on the chorus just suits the song perfectly.  Also, this song is one of two...the other being the title track...that contain exceptional vocals by Vince Neil.

Next up, we have Down At The Whiskey.  This is a fun tune, but again, not a favorite.  The music is enjoyable, but the lyric is a downright cheesy ode to the band's club days.  The nostalgic feeling of this song adds to the cheese factor.  I guess I am not terribly interested in hearing a band whose members are now entering middle age attempt to relive the debauchery of their lost youth!  In my opinion, you wouldn't be missing much if you skipped this one altogether.

This brings us to my reason for buying the disc in the first place.  Saints Of Los Angeles is classic Crue in every sense.  The combination of Tommy's thundering drums and Nikki's pounding bass are about as subtle as a concrete baseball bat to the base of the skull, to which Mick's growling guitar is the perfect complement; he really bares his fangs on this one, folks!  On top of all of this, add Vince's shrill shrieks, and viola, instant masterpiece!

I found the track after Saints to be pretty interesting as well.  MF Of The Year is another heavy tune where Mick shines.  As for the remaining tracks, they are cool enough, but in my opinion, there was nothing else of real interest until I got to track eleven, This Ain't A Love Song.  I guess it was just my type of song.  Again, the other tracks aren't necessarily bad, they are just not what appeals to me personally.

I think my biggest problem with this album is that it lacks cohesion; the song styles are all over the place.  This is definitely an album that you will have to hear and judge for yourself, though.  Some may like the tracks that I did not care for, while others may agree with my assessment.  As I said earlier, it's a strong record with enough good songs to make it worth the cash, but overall, not the best Motley Crue record.

CD Review: Anomaly, By Ace Frehley

As a longtime fan of the band with whom he gained fame, I have loved Ace Frehley for a majority of my life.  While he isn't necessarily the most technically proficient guitar player in the world, he has a completely unique style of playing that is all his own.  His sound is instantly recognizable; it was one of the best things about Kiss as a band, and has influenced many people, myself included, to take up the guitar themselves.

Being a loyal fan, I always support Ace's solo efforts, just as I do with every other member of Kiss, both past and present.  That being said, I shouldn't have to tell you that I was among the first in line to purchase his fifth solo album, Anomaly, when it was released on September 15, 2009.  I placed my order that very day.  For the next week, I waited eagerly for the CD to arrive from Amazon.  When it came, I felt a mixture of excitement and nervousness, as I unwrapped it and dropped it into my player for its inaugural spin.

I wasn't really sure what to expect from Ace this time, considering that he had not released a solo album since his 1989 disc, Trouble Walking.  My excitement came from the anticipation of finally hearing the record that he had been promising fans for the last twenty years, but I was nervously hoping that what I was about to hear would be worth it.  Still, I was optimistic in spite of my trepidation, so I hit the play button and tried to keep an open mind.

I wish I could say that I was blown away by this masterpiece, and I spent the rest of the day rocking out as it played over and over.  Unfortunately, that was not the case.  The first time through, Anomaly left me hollow with disappointment.  It actually took a couple of listens for me to get it.  By the third time through, I was starting to hear what Ace was trying for.  The main things that I found fault with on this CD were its lyrics, which in some cases sound like they were written by a fifth grader, and the often sub-standard vocals...most notably on the song Pain In The Neck.

To Ace's credit, the guitar playing remains strong throughout.  The CD does have some really great moments, but to be honest, Anomaly isn't quite as strong of an album as I was hoping for; it isn't completely terrible, but I felt that Ace could have done better.  After all, he'd had more than twenty years to write and record it.  In that amount of time, he could have (and should have) produced a brilliant opus of staggering magnitude.  I mean, heck, that's five years longer than it took for Axl Rose to record the elusive Chinese Democracy for crying out loud!

To be honest, only about half of the twelve tracks here are really good.  Four of them are just so-so, and two of them are flat out stinkers.  In most cases, the lyrics are hopelessly cheesy.  There is even a spoken section in one tune that is just laughable.  On the good side, the few strong tracks that the album does have really do a lot to make up for its multitude of other flaws.  The tracks that really rock here are: Foxy & Free, Outer Space, Sister, Fractured Quantum, an instrumental cut called Space Bear, and a great cover of the Sweet classic, Fox On The Run.

Although it pains me to speak harshly of The Spaceman, I would only recommend this for die-hard loyalists like myself.  The casual fan would probably be bored by it.  Your best bet would be to listen to preview samples and spend a buck a song to download the ones you like, rather than laying out full price for too much filler material.

More On The Use Of Insulting Words

Recently, I published an article discussing my opinions on the use of insulting words.  I was surprised and very gratified to receive some very positive and thought-provoking responses to my words.  The comments that I received from those who read that piece raised some very good points on the issue that I had not considered when I wrote the original article, and I felt that those points should be addressed; hence, this companion article!

Before I get into the specifics on this, I want to be perfectly clear about the fact that I was in no way advocating the use of these words for abusive purposes.  Thankfully, my readers realized this and understood what I was trying to communicate.  My intention was to open a respectful and civil dialog on the subject, and if the replies that I received are any indication, then I succeeded in doing that; my readers certainly gave me much to consider.

One of my readers pointed out that while there are many insulting words that have been "reclaimed" by the groups at which they are aimed, their use should remain exclusive to that group of people.  This is a very valid point, because when these words are used within the particular group that they describe, they take on a completely different connotation; they are used with an understanding and acceptance that robs them of their usually hateful meaning.  She went on to say that their are some words which she felt could never be "reclaimed" in this way.  One of the examples she gave of a word which cannot be "reclaimed" is the horrible "r" word used to refer to those with mental disabilities.  This is also valid.  In this case, even when such a word is being used in jest, a person with severe mental disabilities may or may not have the capacity to make the distinction between joke and insult. Let's face it, that distinction often treads a very fine line, even for those who are in full possession of their faculties.  Therefore, it would always be hateful to use such a word.

Another of my readers stated that while she understood my point, she felt that the examples that I cited from my own experiences were unique to my specific case, and didn't necessarily justify the use of these words by everyone.  I have to say that I completely agree with her point as well.  Whenever you may be in doubt as to whether you will insult someone by choosing a particular word, it is wise to take the safe path, and not do it.  These are all perfectly reasonable and logical truths, and I never intended for my previous article to dispute them in any way.  I was merely trying to communicate my personal belief that if you allow yourself to become insulted by a non-hateful use of any word, then you are giving those words a power over your life that they should never have.

I guess my belief about this was shaped by my upbringing.  I grew up with Cerebral Palsy, and knowing that I would probably be teased and ridiculed by the ignorant, my parents taught me that my own opinion of myself was far more important than what others said about me.  The most important thing was to like the man I see in the mirror.  This was a lesson that they drilled into my head over and over from the time I was a small child.  This gave me a very strong sense of self, and a very thick skin.  So for me, even when these words are being thrown at me in a hateful manner, I tend not to care as much as some would. 

Regardless of what others may say, I know exactly who and what I am...and what's more, I like who and what I am.  I do not define myself according to the opinions of others.  Since I have this wonderful inner knowledge of myself, why should I waste my energy feeling negative because of the hateful words of an ignorant idiot who doesn't even know me well enough to make such an assessment of my character in the first place?  The way I see it, that person's opinion should never matter to me.  That makes sense, doesn't it?

Can Insulting Words Ever Carry A Positive Connotation?

The idea for this article came to me some time ago during a conversation by instant message with one of my Internet friends.  I found the conversation so interesting that I wanted to write about it but I was hesitant, because it was a very sensitive topic, and opinions about it are likely to be polarized at best.  I spent the days that followed thinking about our talk; I just couldn't get it out of my mind, so I decided for better or worse to sit down and express all of my thoughts on the matter.

What were we discussing, you ask?  Well, I'm still not sure just how we got started on the subject, but we got into this great debate on the use of the word fag, and other such insulting terms.  Like me, this friend was also gay, and he was saying that he wished people would realize how hurtful that word is, and how angry it always made him to hear it used.  He also remarked about how surprised he was that some of his other gay friends did not seem to mind its use, and sometimes even referred to themselves as fags.

I told him that the way I saw it, there were two ways to look at the situation.  First, I let him know that his point of view was definitely not wrong; there are many who agree with him.  Many gay people are horribly insulted by the word fag, and other such slurs...even when they are used in jest.  But on the other side of the coin, there are a lot of people out there, (of which I am one), who believe that there are some instances when those words can have a positive connotation; it all depends on the context in which they are being used.  Some people feel that those words are only insulting when it is obvious that they are being used in a manner that is meant to be deliberately hateful and hurtful. 

You see, words in and of themselves are never good or bad; it is the manner in which a person uses them that makes them either good or bad.  And just because certain words have come to be associated with negativity does not mean that they can't have any kind of positive meaning.  These words only become insulting when it is clear that the users intention is maliciously hateful; otherwise, they are only words...and words can only have as much power as we allow them to have in our lives.

Allow me to illustrate my point with examples from my own life.  When I first realized that I was gay, the whole idea of it made me very uncomfortable; I was very much in denial about it.  I did a lot of reading and research trying to understand my feelings, and learn about life as a gay person.  I even did counseling for a brief time, and one of the suggestions that they made to help me get comfortable with who I was is to have a sense of humor about the whole thing...to laugh about it as much as possible and poke fun at yourself in a good-natured way.  So that's what I did.  I joked about it and often referred to myself as a fag in a humorous way.  Doing that helped me in such a profound way.  Without it, I am not sure I would have been able to become comfortable with my sexuality at all...and I am absolutely certain that I would not have been able to do it as quickly as I did.

I have a very good friend who was there for me through much of this difficulty.  We shared so much during that time, and are so close because of it.  She is now known affectionately as my favorite fag-hag, and I am her favorite fag!  When we refer to each other in this way, there is nothing hateful or negative or malicious about it at all.  The terms are used very playfully and affectionately.  It is a very positive vibe between us.  In fact, many of my straight friends use the word fag in reference to me...always with the same affection, of course.

So to me, use of the word fag is not always necessarily a negative thing.  As I said earlier, it is only negative when the word is being used with hateful intentions.  And you can always tell the difference between the hateful use of the word and the type of use that I have described here.  I think that the key to making sure that you don't offend anyone is simply to always use the word with extreme caution and care.  You have to use your own judgment on a case-by-case basis.  In each case, you must know the people around you very well, and just be sensitive to their feelings about its use.  If they hate it and are offended by it, don't use it around them; however, if they do not mind it being used in a playful way as I have described here, then I feel it is okay to do so. 

CD Review: The Final Frontier, By Iron Maiden

If you have read any of my past music reviews, you know that I have a fairly broad taste in music; I embrace many styles and genres with hard rock and heavy metal being a particular favorite.  Having been a hardcore rock fan since my teens, I am always excited when one of my favorite bands release a new recording.  Even after all these years I still rush to the record store and try to be the first in line to grab the newest efforts by the metal bands I love.  I guess I will forever be a teenager in that regard.

When it comes to finding great metal, the legendary Iron Maiden has consistently managed to stay in my list of the top ten metal bands.  They are one of the bands whose music I never hesitate to purchase, because I know I will like more of their songs than I dislike.  Through the years, they have released some albums that I have liked better than others, but there has never been one that I considered bad enough that it could not be listened to.  Their music has long been known for intricate melodies, meticulously strung into grand, sweeping arrangements.  Their lyrics are filled with imagination, telling stories that you can easily visualize in your head as you listen.

Unfortunately, their latest effort, The Final Frontier, was a huge letdown for me.  I would definitely categorize it as one of their albums that I like less than the others.  It isn't necessarily horrible, but it isn't all that great, either!  It definitely falls short when placed up against their classics.  The sound quality and production are top notch, as always, and there are several good moments on it, but a majority of the record is just bland and boring!

First of all, the record is too long to listen to in a single sitting; it contains ten songs, and clocks in at a whopping seventy-six minutes.  On past albums, they could easily improvise with enough imagination to hold the listener's interest through one of their trademark ten minute arrangements, but that just doesn't seem to be the case here.  The melodies on this record just seem to ramble along without any clear or logical structure, and they are so repetitive that you may find yourself nodding off midway through the song.  Listening to this gave me the impression that the band had just run out of ideas, and had to resort to recycling many of their past riffs.

Also gone is the wonderful lyrical imagery usually present in Iron Maiden songs.  The lyrics, just like most of the melodies, felt completely uninspired to me.  This is particularly true on many of the longer numbers.  They just seem to rattle verse after verse without any clear, strong choruses!  The singing is strong, as Bruce Dickinson's voice has always been top notch, but again, there is just not much in what he is singing to spark your interest.

There are a couple of moments of the old Maiden brilliance on the record to me; tracks seven and eight, titled Starblind and The Talisman respectively, are both excellent songs that are a bit closer to the band's glory days.  Aside from those, the rest of the record just falls flat in my opinion.  As much as it saddens me to say it, this is the first of Iron Maiden's albums to disappoint me, but I guess every great band is allowed to have at least one dud in their album catalog.  Sorry to trash the album after all the work you put into this one guys, but I gotta call it as I see it...better luck next time!

CD Review: The Song Remains Not The Same, By Black Label Society

I have to start this review by saying that this is one of those albums that you really have to hear for yourself to decide if it is good or not.  In fact, when I first heard it, I wasn't even sure that I wanted to write a review of it because I felt it would be too difficult to accurately describe it!  This is a very odd record for a band like Black Label Society to put out.

Those of you who are familiar with the music of Black Label Society know that the band is one of the loudest and heaviest rock bands in existence.  Their sound is built on Zakk Wylde's throaty, growling vocals, and his wall of massive, bombastic, earth-shaking guitars...both of which possess about as much subtlety as a Louisville Slugger to the base of the skull!

On this CD, all of that changes.  If you do purchase this CD, be prepared for one hell of a curve ball!  The Song Remains Not The Same is a collection of (mostly) acoustic versions of four of the songs from the band's 2010 release The Order Of The Black, with a few outtakes and other assorted odds and ends thrown into the mix for good measure.

Maybe this is just my opinion, but I think this record is just too far "out of character" for this band.  It just didn't sound quite right to my ears to hear this band go unplugged.  Don't get me wrong, listening to this album is not entirely unpleasant; the record isn't necessarily bad, but for me, it was simply too different to be counted among their best work.  I listened to it several times, each time hoping that it would grow on me, but no such luck!

On the good side, the instrumentation is beautiful.  Zakk does some exceptional work on the guitar, and some really great piano playing as well.  However, I think the biggest downfall of this record is the vocals.  Zakk's rough and gritty style of singing is simply not suited for acoustic music or ballads.  In addition, he has always had a grunge-like moan in his voice, very similar to that of Alice In Chains singer Layne Staley.  When he is singing heavy rock, he can pull it off, because the guitars and the overall volume of the music has a tendency to cover that up a bit.  But here, the acoustic instrumentation makes that "moan" in his voice much more pronounced; that became annoying to me after the first few songs!

I know that everyone has different tastes, so in the end, you will have to listen to this and judge for yourself.  In my opinion, though, this was only an average album.  It wasn't completely awful; there were several things that I did enjoy about it, but it just isn't a good representation of what Black Label Society is all about.  If you are new to their music, I would definitely recommend starting with something else.  I would rate this one at about three out of five stars!

CD Review: Scream, By Ozzy Osbourne

For those of us who enjoy heavy metal music, the release of an Ozzy Osbourne album is cause for celebration!  Every serious fan of the genre knows that you can always count on Ozzy to deliver the goods.  After all, they don't call him The Prince Of Darkness for nothing!  Anyone familiar with his long and storied career knows that he will inevitably go down in music history as one of the most famous (and infamous) performers of his time.

His latest opus, forty-nine minutes of frenzied loudness entitled Scream, landed on record store shelves on June 21, 2010, and was quickly snatched up by legions of salivating fans.  I was one of those fans and, like most, when I received my copy in the mail, I tore open the package and rushed immediately to my stereo.  So what is my opinion of his latest effort?  Read on to find out.

As much as it saddens me to have to say this, I think that Oz was a little off his game on this one.  There isn't really anything wrong with this album; it's enjoyable enough.  I can't say that it's necessarily bad, but it definitely does not reach the high caliber of his past efforts.  I think this is the first time in his career that he has left me with a feeling of complete indifference!

On the performance front, Ozzy's voice is still top notch, and the songs are solidly crafted, but they don't reach out and grab the listener as they have in the past.  Instead, they just kind of fall flat, offering a generic, watered-down representation of who Ozzy is and what he does.  There's just nothing much here to get truly excited about.

The funny thing is that I can't really explain why; it's something intangible.  Somewhere along the line there's a missing ingredient, and whatever it is, it makes all the difference.  This time around, the music just lacks that spark of true creative magic that has always been present on Osbourne's previous efforts.  Personally, I think this is due, at least in part, to the absence of former guitarist, Zakk Wylde.  Current axe man Gus G spends the entire album attempting to copy Zakk's trademark sound.  Sadly, it just plain doesn't work.  If you want the guitars to sound like Zakk, then let Zakk play them, for crying out loud!

There are a couple of real bright spots here...namely track number three, Soul Sucker, and track number five, Diggin' Me Down, both of which are great.  Aside from those, nothing else really stands out.  So after everything is said and done, the music here is just average.  Ozzy is definitely capable of producing much better work than this.  Casual fans need not spend their money here; this one is for the die-hards only!

The Top Twenty Greatest Singers Of All Time

A good singer is one of the most crucial ingredients in making good music.  A good singer and a well written song have proven to be an unbeatable combination, but what really makes a good singer?  Well, I think everyone has a different answer to that question, but for me, there are a few ingredients that must be present.

In my opinion, the first quality is that a good singer must have more to offer than just the ability to carry a tune.  That is a good start, of course, but I also think that they must be able to convey emotion in their singing.  They must be able to interpret and deliver a lyric in a unique way that moves people.  It should be obvious that the song has a deep meaning to them when they sing it.  I have to confess that without these emotional elements being present, the mere ability to hit the correct pitch is unimpressive to me.  I would much prefer a singer who is passionate about what he or she sings.  Even if their vocal skill is a little rough around the edges, that is still better to me than someone who is technically perfect, but delivers the song in a flat and lifeless way that is devoid of any feeling.

Also, I think it helps if their voice or some element of their delivery has a unique quality that sets them apart from all other singers.  These unique qualities are often difficult to describe or define, but when they are present, they can create sheer magic.  I am happy to have the chance to tell you about some of the singers that I feel meet these standards.  So without further adieu, here is my list of the greatest singers of all time.  I hope you agree with the choices.

Steve Perry – As the vocalist for the group Journey from 1978-1996, Steve's soaring vocal lines were some of the most beautifully crafted and heartfelt melodies ever put to vinyl.  Steve is one of the few singers with the rare ability to truly use his voice as an instrument.  His vocals went beyond merely adding words on top of the music.  He truly added magic to their songs with his vocal melodies.

Doug Pinnick – Doug is the vocalist and bass player for the heavy metal group King's X.  Very few vocalists have ever pulled me in the way Doug has.  With the soulful quality of an old-school gospel singer, he pours every fiber of his being into each note.  Although his singing style may seem mismatched for heavy metal, it is indeed the perfect complement to this band's uniquely melodic style.

Paul Stanley – Because of their image, the quality of KISS' music has often been unfairly overlooked.  Paul's vocals are, in my opinion some of the best around.  Not only can he sing well, but he makes every note exciting and fresh, even in songs that he has been performing for over 30 years.  He also has proven his vocal prowess by performing in musical theater.  One listen to his performance in “Phantom Of The Opera” is enough to convince even the most staunch skeptic that this man is a great singer!

Jeff Keith – With a vocal style that is steeped in passion, and a distinctive rasp that is instantly recognizable, Jeff led Tesla to fame as one of the most respected and musically skilled bands of the so-called “hair metal” crowd.  His moving vocals, delivered with a warm, down-to-earth ease, gave his songs an emotional depth that few other bands of the genre could deliver.  This remained true even when he was singing up tempo rock!

Sam Cooke – There is really not much that I could say about Sam that hasn't already been said.  I mean, just listen to him!  His vocal acrobatics are astounding, and flawlessly delivered.  Just play “Bring It On Home To Me” once!  If you aren't hooked, you have no heart!

Josh Groban – Josh is simply amazing.  The warmth of his wonderful, rich baritone feels like a soft blanket on a cold December day.  Possessing a vocal maturity that is extremely rare for performers of any age, his ability to sing so perfectly in any language that he chooses is nothing short of mind-boggling!

Stevie Nicks - Whether performing with Fleetwood Mac or as a solo artist, Stevie is truly one of a kind.  I think Stevie's strongest asset as a singer is her ability to mold her voice any way she wants to.  It makes here an ideal harmony singer, because she can complement any singer that she sings with.  Her unique voice has a very haunting quality about it that is perfectly suited to the mystical, ethereal themes expressed in her lyrics

Chris Robinson – Chris is the perfect blend of old-school soul, gospel, and blues.  His style effortlessly propels The Black Crowes southern rock sound to greatness.  I love the simplicity of his singing.  His vocals are real and honest; they don't pretend to be anything they're not.  They demand to be loved just as they are...warts and all!

Marvin Gaye – The king of the begging love song, this legend's legacy will always remain untouchable by any mere mortal.  No one had it like Marvelous Marvin; he was the very definition of soul!

Elvis Presley – They didn't call him the king for nothing!  Perhaps the best known and most beloved rock & roll singer of all time, Elvis was a true original in every sense of the word.  His smooth voice and passionate performances were like no other.  He truly does stand in a class by himself.

Tina Turner – Raw, gritty, and unstoppable.  The only way I can describe her is to borrow one of her song titles...Simply The Best!

Aretha Franklin – A first class diva in every sense of the word, Aretha is truly worthy of the title “Queen Of Soul.”  All you have to do is listen to the conviction in her voice as she demands your R-E-S-P-E-C-T, and you will agree that there is no one else like her!

Patsy Cline – A smooth tuneful voice, impeccable phrasing, and the ability to express profound emotion in a way that no one else could, the sheer elegance of Patsy's voice was completely intoxicating!

Pat Benatar – You wouldn't think that someone with Pat's background would even consider singing rock, but rock she did.  Although she was classically trained as an opera singer and had a seven octave vocal range, Pat not only pumped out one rock hit after the next for over twenty years, she also managed to kick down many doors for women in rock along the way!

Melissa Etheridge – One listen to her music and you will be blown away!  Gutsy and immediate, Melissa expresses things in her songs that we can all relate to.  I think we have yet to see the best that she has to offer!

Aaron Neville – His voice is one that gives me goosebumps.  It is completely unique and haunting in a heavenly sort of way.  When he sings a song, it becomes his totally.

Luther Vandross – Another one known for his astounding vocal acrobatics, Luther could easily move his mostly female audiences into a frenzy!  His recent loss was a true tragedy to the music world!

Rob Thomas – Best known as the singer for the group Matchbox Twenty, Rob's one-of-a-kind vocal style, along with his considerable songwriting skills make him a musical force to be reckoned with.  It will be very interesting to follow his artistic path, I think.  In my opinion, we still have several years of great music yet to come from Mr. Thomas!

Etta James – Totally timeless.  After years in the music industry, she can still belt them out like nobody's business!

Rockapella – This is the one exception on my list, in that they are a group instead of a single vocalist.  I felt they were worth including here, however, since their music is entirely dependent on vocals.  They are an a Capella vocal group, and oh my God, do they smoke!  Their voices weave to create the most jaw-dropping and technically perfect harmonies I have ever heard in my life; deep emotion permeates every note!  I highly recommend them if you have never heard them.

Well, there you have them, my favorites.  I hope you all enjoyed reading about them as much as I enjoyed sharing them with you!  Happy listening!

Musical Genres: Music Of The 1970's

Being the huge music lover that I am, I have always embraced a wide variety of styles from every time period.  I was born in 1970, and although I was just a kid making his way through the single-digit ages, I really enjoyed many artists that were popular during that first decade of my life.

I was exposed to many of these artists by several of my cousins, who were teenagers at that time.  I had two different sets of cousins on my mother's side of the family who often served as my babysitters, and they always had their FM radios blaring.  Between one set of cousins or the other, I was privileged to receive a full education in Seventies rock!  I developed a great love for the music of groups like ELO, Fleetwood Mac, Styx, Foreigner, Foghat, Journey, REO Speedwagon, Led Zeppelin, and a nearly endless list of others.

Now, whenever I hear any one of these artists, I remember fondly those days of being watched by my older cousins.  They were truly great babysitters.  When they sat with me, they always made me feel like they enjoyed looking after me, and really wanted me around.  They took me with them whenever they visited friends, and even their friends would let me join in whatever they were doing.  Since I had trouble walking sometimes due to my disability, they used to pull me around in my little red wagon.

They would take me to the park and push me on the swing, or let me play Frisbee with them.  Then, their were other times when everyone would just hang out in their basement, shooting pool on their pool table.  Every once in a while, if I was lucky they would give me rides on the back of their motorcycles.  That was so much fun for me, and has given me a love of motorcycles that has stayed with me to this day.  I remember as a small skinny six-year-old feeling so important and grown-up on the back of those bikes!  And throughout all of this activity, the music of the aforementioned artists was always present.

I have so many memories from that time, but there is one in particular that stands out in my mind.  Once when my cousin Kevin was babysitting me, he was entertaining me by doing "air guitar" to his Led Zeppelin records using a pool cue as his "guitar."  He kept posing and making funny faces while I clapped and laughed gleefully.  Then later, when lunch time came, he put me up on his shoulders, and carried me a few blocks down the street to buy me a burger and fries.

Sadly, this was one of the last times that I spent with him. Unfortunately, he and his younger sister Lori were killed in a car crash in March of 1977; he was eighteen and she was seventeen.  I was seven at the time.  I can still remember spending that day with Kevin vividly, however.  And every time I hear a Led Zeppelin song, I can see Kevin and his pool cue!

Thanks for the wonderful memories, cousin!  Rest In Peace!

Musical Genres: Hair Metal Bands Of The Eighties

Call me crazy, but I completely love the hair bands of the eighties!  I realize that I may be dating myself a bit by admitting it, but this has to be my favorite music of all time.  I grew up with many of the great rock bands from this era, such as: Dokken, Tesla, Motley Crue, Cinderella, and a host of others.  I still listen to all of these great bands, and I continue to see them in concert whenever they are in my area!  To date, I have attended more than 300 concerts and counting.

There are so many reasons why I love this music.  First is the fact that most of the vocalists actually sang, and you could understand the words.  This cannot be said of today's heavy metal bands, whom I like to refer to as "the cookie monster bands."  One listen to any of these bands will prove that to be an accurate description.  Secondly, even though many parents at that time objected to the lyrical content of these bands, the lyrical content of today's artists makes those offenses seem tame by comparison.

Also, being a guitar player myself, I can appreciate this music because it does take a much greater level of technical skill to play it than it does to play today's metal.  This is most clearly evident in the lack of guitar solos.  Once a staple of the heavy metal form, the guitar solo has all but completely vanished from most rock today.  Consider the work of many of the amazing players from from the Eighties, like Yngwie Malmsteen, Joe Satriani, Steve Vai, or Eric Johnson, just to name a few.  The talent of men like these is monumental; in my humble opinion, the staggering level of musicianship to be found in the recordings of these artists easily surpasses anything that today's guitar players have to offer by an extremely wide margin.

They say that guitar solos have become passe; they say that they want to do other, more "creative" things.  Well, you will have to forgive me, but that argument simply won't wash with me!  Music is just like life; you get back exactly what you put into it.  And in my language, that excuse translates into only one statement: "I'm too lazy to put in the practice that it really takes to learn my instrument!"

When I listen to music, I like for the songs to make me feel something; the music of the Eighties does this.  They sang about having fun and enjoying life.  They sang about keeping hope alive when you were down.  The music had this amazing, electric energy, and a spirit of eternal youth!  When I listen to the music of most metal bands today, all I feel is depressed.  There is so much hatred and rage, so many morbid depictions of death.

I used to be an avid CD collector, and I would readily try any new band that came along.  Unfortunately, I have been let down by so many bands in recent years that I have ear-marked what little money I have in my CD budget for buying only the new releases by old bands.

Does "The Gay Agenda" Really Exist?

The term "gay agenda" first came into widespread use in 1992.  It is a phrase that continues to be used by certain anti-gay religious groups who oppose the gay lifestyle, and who feel threatened by the fact that so many gay people are demanding their equal rights under the law.  They seem to feel that so-called normalization of the gay lifestyle would only come at the expense of heterosexuals.  What sort of convoluted logic they used to arrive at that monumentally ridiculous conclusion is anyone's guess, but many believe it nonetheless.

We've all heard them spouting their malicious rhetoric that us gay folks are a threat to the sanctity of family and marriage, but when you really get down to brass tacks, all of this is clearly nothing more than a scare tactic.  The term was invented, and has consistently been used as a propaganda ploy to convince everyone that gay people have some sort of “hidden agenda” and are deviously plotting to infiltrate the ranks of what they consider to be "moral" society.  It always amazes and saddens me that there are so many who really believe this garbage.  Anyone who has had any sort of exposure to the gay community, whether they are gay themselves or know someone who is, can attest to the complete and utter absurdity of such claims.

The irony in all of this is that when the term first entered the public vocabulary, there was no such thing as a "gay agenda."  In reality, the anti-gay religious groups who coined the phrase shot themselves in the foot by doing so.  Their belief that a "gay agenda" did exist brought more attention to gay issues and the plight of gay individuals; all they really did was help to bolster the gay rights movement.  In many ways, their anti-gay campaign actually resulted in the complete opposite of its intended effect; it had an almost renewing effect for those who were involved in the fight for gay equality, motivating them to work even more diligently.

Thanks to the exposure that the gay rights movement received as a result, the gay community did develop an "agenda" of sorts, but the true meaning behind it was actually far less sinister than the term itself implies.  The only intention of the so-called "gay agenda" has always been to achieve fair and equal treatment under the law for LGBT persons.  We have never wanted to be given "special" rights as many of these groups have alleged.  We have simply been asking for equal access to the same liberties that others in society already enjoy.

Some of the social changes pursued by the gay community include the right to marry whomever we choose and have that marriage legally recognized, the right to adopt and raise children, the right to hold a job based solely on our qualifications for that job, and the right to serve openly in the military without fear of harassment or violence.  In all of these situations, a person's sexuality has no bearing on his or her abilities to succeed, and should therefore not become an issue which excludes them from the opportunity to do so.

Over a period of several years, gay rights organizations have made progress toward realizing those goals.  The progress has been slow, of course, but that is to be expected.  Every major shift in societal thinking is always hard-won, and often takes years to achieve.  However, the fact that this progress has come in small steps does not lessen its significance.  Gay marriage has now become legal in several states, and more are expected to follow soon. Since this article was originally written, the “Don't Ask, Don't tell policy instituted by the military has been repealed, allowing open service by gay and lesbian individuals.  Adoption has also passed in a handful of states, but is still blocked by most.  But in spite of all this, many of the basic rights that most enjoy have continued to be denied to or revoked from those of us who are gay.

Unfortunately, with each step taken toward the realization of equality, those who oppose the gay lifestyle have collectively become more and more disgruntled.  Realizing that their original statements about the so-called "gay agenda" hold no validity, they began to back-peddle, quickly redefining what they consider to be the threat posed by this mythical "agenda."  Among other things, they make the outrageous claim that the only reason that we want to secure the full benefits of legal marriage is so that we can use the marriage tax credit to support organizations that will destroy heterosexuality, and that once we achieve this, we will divorce one another for the sole purpose of mocking the sanctity of the institution of marriage.  And as unfortunate as it sounds, the lies do not stop there.  They have made a whole list of other equally insulting claims, which are so utterly ludicrous that they do not even deserve to be dignified with a response!

Luckily, the majority of sane, rational people do not believe any of this to be true.  Most can easily see this nonsense for exactly what it is: a completely unwarranted and malicious attempt to smear the character of a community of kind people which only wants to be treated with the same dignity and respect that every human being is entitled to, and be left to live their lives in peace!

That's Not What MY Bible Says

I usually don't advocate censorship in any form, nor do I see very much that I find offensive enough to raise a fuss about.  In fact, I am often amused by those who are so offended by something on the Internet that they are motivated to loudly demand its removal.  Most of the time when I view something that has been considered offensive, I have to confess that I usually can't figure out what the big deal is.  And believe me, if you knew who was writing this, that statement would carry a lot of weight.  I am a person who has very definite and passionate opinions about what is or is not offensive!

For the most part, I tend to avoid these kind of debates because I feel it is a waste of time and breath to argue with idiots who refuse to listen to reason no matter how much evidence you can produce to show them they are wrong.  But that has all changed for me now.  I was online recently, just innocently browsing through You Tube, when I came across a video that stopped me in my tracks.  It was a music video for a song called The Bible Says, By Donnie Davies.  (See Video Below). Sounds harmless enough, right?  I mean, what's the worst that you could hear in this song?  Surely no more than a few over-zealous rantings from another religious nut case, which are easy to ignore and certainly nothing new to most of us.

So, just for kicks, I decided to watch it for myself.  It turned out to be a song (or a parody of a song) denouncing homosexuals and homosexuality, in which the lyrics state that "God Hates Fags."  Of course, this kind of offensive, hateful garbage is nothing new to us gay folks; we have been hearing it for so long that we've pretty much learned to tune it out and chalk it up to ignorance.  I don't usually get offended by the use of insulting words; after all, they are only words.  Unless they are clearly and deliberately hateful as this was.

Before I get into my personal commentary on this particular video, I have to say that I read several of the user comments accompanying it.  Most of them said that it was meant as a joke, and should not be taken seriously.  But there were also a great many others who found it extremely offensive.  After checking out the website for his organization, which he calls Love God's Way, I definitely fall into the latter category.  The site states that Davies is a reformed ex-gay that has been healed of his homosexual desires, and that he is now on a mission to save everyone from these deviant sexual behaviors.  To me, devoting an entire website to this kind of hatred is no joke; if it was meant to be one, the joke has been carried too far.

As far I'm concerned, whether this was serious or meant as a joke is irrelevant.  Either way, it is in extremely poor taste and I am not amused!  I have to say that the word offended doesn't even begin to cover my reaction!  This is one of the most appalling things that I have ever had the misfortune to witness.  As a gay man who considers himself a Christian, this absolutely sickens me!  It is nothing more than a blatant misuse and abuse of God's word.

This kind of nonsense is the exact reason that I don't put any stock in organized religion.  I simply refuse to tolerate the outrageous level of hypocrisy present in most churches.  Not even to mention the verbal and emotional abuse that many gay people like me are likely to suffer at the hands of people who claim to be loving, God fearing Christians.  I have just seen so much un-Godly activity going on in so many of the churches that I have been to, that my attitude toward organized religion has been irreversibly soured.

Two things: first of all, God does not hate, He loves!  To associate His name with any form of hatred is the height of blasphemy!  God is never the cause of pain or hate.  He heals and restores, and He has commanded us to love one another and not be judgmental. And please notice that I used the word commanded, not the word requested!  This is obviously something this "devoted Christian" has forgotten...if he ever knew it in the first place, that is.  Secondly, I happen to believe that this kind of Spiritual bullying is not acceptable and should never be tolerated under any circumstances.  Everyone should be welcomed to enter God's house without fear of being judged, and without being made to feel uncomfortable.  In my eyes, there is absolutely no justification for excluding any group of people from having the freedom to worship as they choose.

To conclude, it is painfully clear to me that this poor soul wouldn't know God if Jesus himself walked up in human form and slapped him across the face!  If he did, he would realize that The Lord weeps for him in his blindness and ignorance!  I hope he receives mercy on judgment day...he is definitely going to need it!