sing a long

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This album came out in 2003. Hard to believe it’s been 15 years. This song, “Home,” and “Wake Up” are my favorites off this album. This represented somewhat of a “shift” in my musical tastes away from the extreme metal bands of the 90’s. They still kicked ass though. I was going through my playlist the other day and realized there’s a lot of TDG in there.

For me 2003 was a pivotal year. My football career was coming to an end, I had married my first wife at 19, and was planning to go to graduate school in a couple years. Music was still a big part of my life and continues to be today. During most of the mid 2000’s I listened to TDG, Breaking Benjamin, Linkin Park, Seether, Papa Roach, Godsmack, Disturbed, Mudvayne, 10 Years, and Green Day’s “American Idiot.”

During 2007, I heard a “new” band on the radio. They had a song called “Misery Business” that was getting a lot of airplay and a female lead singer. Not as heavy as most of the stuff I’ve posted here but I thought they were really good. Not at all an “emo” band like some music critics labeled them. Reading about them I learned they were from Tennessee and were called Paramore. Their singer was super cute and seemed really down to earth as did the other band members. I remember her saying something about not doing drugs. She also had one hell of an amazing voice. Maybe the best I had ever heard (today there is no “maybe” about it… ). I was surprised to find she was six years younger than me.

Her name? Hayley Williams.

(But back to TDG. Great song! Funny that YouTube “censored” the word “hit.” Never liked the “dad” in this video. What’s up with the “wifebeater” shirt? Is he supposed to be some kind of tough guy? Better work on those arms, asshole… )

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One of the first bands I ever listened to. Way back in the early 90’s. This is from 2012. I have a much younger cousin that loves this stuff. He must have gotten it from me... Enjoy!

Best YouTube Comments:

“This is awesome.”

“Unless humanity learns from the mistakes of the past, we’re doomed, there can be no way only death and misery.”

“Fuck yes!!!”

[a9127]

From 1984!

Best YouTube Comments:

“The 80's were really the golden age of metal weren't they?”

“Those guitars... Love this evil sound. Heavy metal masterpiece.”

“They should have known not to play with the powers of Hell" most epic vocal line EVER.

“Just cause your born in 2001 doesn't mean you can't enjoy shit 20 years old.” (Me: 20 years? 1984? I wish… )

“Goddamn THIS IS BADASS. No one’s doing rock like this now.” (Me: Very few, if any. Doubt any current musicians were even born yet. I barely was… A friend in high-school played this in his band. That's how I know of it. )

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Since I’m kind of going through an “80’s thing” lately, might as well share one of my other favorite bands from that era. According to Wikipedia, Accept was a German heavy metal band from the town of Solingen, originally assembled by vocalist Udo Dirkschneider, guitarist Wolf Hoffmann and bassist Peter Baltes. Their beginnings can be traced back to the late 1960s. The band played an important role in the development of speed and thrash metal which emerged in the early to mid-1980s. Accept achieved commercial success with their fifth studio album “Balls to the Wall,” which is the band's only album to be certified gold in the United States and Canada.

The album starts off with the hit “Balls to the Wall” and never lets up. My favorite songs are “Losing More Than You Ever Had” and “Guardian of the Night” although there’s not a single moment of weakness on the entire record. Of course it wouldn’t be until the mid-nineties that I would become aware of Accept or this heavy metal masterpiece.

I named my first Corvette (which was black of course) “Guardian of the Night” and had a friend airbrush it on the back. The ZR-1 would, I guess, be “Guardian of the Night IV.” What I always liked most about this song was the sheer awesomeness and emotional impact of the lyrics. The singer has fallen for a girl who had obviously been in an abusive relationship “when I found her she was dying, trying to kill herself, maybe you don’t know what you've done, but all you want to do is wrong” and they were now together. Her “ex” isn’t able to let her go and has it out for the singer (and maybe the girl too). The lyrics “burn your hate in my soul,” “stainless steel of a sword,” and “you came to kill for someone who’s gone” make this pretty clear.

I always took “Losing more than you ever had” to mean the singer is going to kill the guy if he didn’t drop it and decided to come after him or the girl. Violent certainly, but great stuff if you’re into it. And if you’re NOT… then you should listen to something else.

(Interestingly, my mom and dad were mostly concerned about the “gay” album cover not the violent content. I have written several times that I’m sure at least my mom suspected I was gay. It wasn’t until my relationship with Stephen/Stephanie that they began to finally understand their son. By the way, I looked it up recently and it is on The Advocate’s list of 60 “homoerotic” album covers.)

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My introduction to Breaking Benjamin was “So Cold” from “We Are Not Alone” in late 2004. I played it for my “ex” once, even she liked it. A friends band opened for them here in Indy. Was sure this was the direction modern rock was heading… I was wrong…

Best YouTube comments:

“This band doesn't know how to write a bad song.”

“I got the shivers while watching this. Breaking Benjamin is Amazing.”

“I still can't believe this song came out in 2007 who is listening in 2356?”

“My favorite song by Breaking Benjamin... he has a great personality.”

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From 2006. Video sponsored by Amnesty International.

Best YouTube Comments:

“The song is (really) about a person battling with drug abuse (addiction). The video actually has nothing to do with the song.”

“The song was specifically written by Jesse Hasek about his first cousin, actor Brad Renfro and his drug addiction. Brad Renfro appeared in the original video before his subsequent death in January 2008.

(Me: This is correct. Listen carefully to the lyrics, it’s clearly about trying to reach out to someone who you love and care about that is struggling with addiction. The lyrics “silver hollow sliver piercing through another victim” seem to leave no doubt. Still it’s a great song no matter how you interpret it. I give it a 10 of 10 on the “intensity” scale. Awesome. Powerful. Always affects me because it hits very close to home. )

“I have to hold back tears while watching this. Great fuckin band.”

“They couldn't have made this song any better if they tried…”

“My mother listens to this type of music and I love her so much for getting me into a HUGE habit of listening to this type of music.” (Me: It’s from 2006! Gee, thanks…

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From their first EP “Opiate.” Recorded New Year’s Eve 1991-92 at the Jello Loft, Los Angeles.

Best YouTube Comments:

“Now I don't need coffee. Thanks.”

“so fitting for so many...”

“Fucking EPIC SHIT!!!!”

“? ..!”