sing a long

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"They lived only to face a new nightmare. The war against the machines."

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From 1987. Had to steal it from my mom and dad's collection...

Best YouTube comments:

"This record has held up over the years as it doesn't sound dated...."

"Thrash is not played as before. Damn, this shit is a nuclear bomb."

"Brain destroying!"

"Fuck yeah."

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Admittedly I have zero music or artistic talent. That’s why I admire others who do. Always a good student and athlete, my sole venture into music was inspired by this scene from “Wayne’s World” (1992).

Somehow I persuaded my mom and dad to let me take drum lessons and buy a drum set. My natural coordination and ability to “beat the shit” out of things were my only “gifts.” My musical “career” was short lived as my mom got tired of the banging down in our basement. So I ended up concentrating on football from middle school through college (I was an All-American linebacker) then getting my Ph.D. a few years later. Still, I wonder what might have been… Sigh…

Best YouTube quotes:

“I think the fact that I really love this scene is because Dana Carvey actually plays the drums.”

“No fucking way, you left out him saying ‘I like to play’.”

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Best YouTube comments:

“Metallica were absolutely untouchable here!”

“Everyone, it is faster than studio. Album version is around 197 bpm, this is a little over 210.”

“If I had a fucking time machine...”

“If someone asks you what metal is just show them this video.”

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Their debut single. From 2000. Saw these guys live once. Awesome.



Best YouTube comments:

“I feel so much anger.”

“Most brutal metal scream.”

“The bass player scares me.”

(My wife’s comment was “What the fuck is that?” )

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Best YouTube comments:

“Anybody here from when this song actually came out?”

“When i am listening this, then i am thinking about this generation, what is listening to. "

“Dat headshaking made always me laugh in childhood.”

“This song is so Beatifuel i like much.”

“My best rock methal band and John Dolmayan is my best drummer.”

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Especially for Boner. I’m sure you’ve heard this one on the radio. Maybe if we’re lucky we’ll get invited to her next party…

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Thought I’d post something different. Not what I normally listen to… Best thing about this video is the Redhead on the subway. Look for her around 2:11.

Best YouTube Comments:

“5.12.2018??”

“Who came here just to see the views?”

“This song nearly killed me once.”

“Like this so I can feel accomplished in life.”

“I remember watching this in like 4th grade thinking that this video was the coolest thing ever, but now it just makes me flat out uncomfortable.”

(Looked her up. Of course I did… Her name is Hyuna—also spelled HyunA and Hyun-ah. She is a star in her own right, and was born in 1992—so she is 20 here.)

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Against my mom’s objections, my dad took me to see Terminator 2 for my birthday. I remember the exact date: August 19, 1991, a Monday. He would always take two weeks off in August and we typically went on vacation somewhere in Michigan. Of course I wanted a Harley Fatboy just like the one in the movie. In 1992 I got my first dirt bike and learned to ride. The Harley had to wait several more years…

Best YouTube comments:

“Fuck”

“T2 the reason why I rode a bike, it was no Harley but it was still bad to the bone.”

“In 1991 there was no cooler band than G&R and there was no cooler movie than T2. I was 9 when this video dropped and I lost my mind with its sheer awesomeness. Parents wouldn't take me to T2 in the theaters so me and my friend theater hopped after buying tickets for a different flick.”

(Me: Sounds like something I would have done but at least my dad took me to see it. And we didn’t say “dropped” back then. But yes it was “sheer awesomeness” or as a late 80’s or early 90’s kid would actually say, “totally awesome.” )

“My favorite Guns and Roses song. That intro is amazing. I just saw them in concert. Slash is worth the admission alone. I highly recommend everybody go see them.”

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Ann and Nancy Wilson.

Best YouTube Comments:

“I leaving my teens when this song hit the airwaves. And that was the era when Western music (or any music for that matter) was at it's peak, and I was in my beloved Penang. Some combination. Music has degenarated to the shit we are listening to today. But we have the music of yesteryears to sustain us.”

(Me: Not everything today is shit. And there was bad music back in the 70’s and 80’s. This song however is a classic.)

“She's so beautiful, and her voice is so fucking awesome.”

“When this song comes on the radio I roll the windows down and crank it up. Love this song!!!”

“That singer is sexy AF.”

“If I didn't watch the video, I'd not have believed it was from 1977! It sounds quite modern.”

"Hayley Williams mom?"

(Sorry, couldn't help adding that last one. Except that I think Ann is the age of my mom. I was born "before 1985" and Hayley was born "after 1985" We could go in endless circles debating who is better. But yeah, I basically agree with the Ann/Hayley comparisons. They're both beautiful and talented with amazing voices. Would love to hear Hayley do "Crazy on You." )

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Growing tired of all those fake ads on CNN that imply that “born before 1985” makes me someone’s grandpa and trying to get me to join AARP or get the senior discount at McDonald's. Saw yet another one today...

Maybe they’re right?

Anyway, time to grow up. Gonna quit listening to all the bands I’ve posted on here and start listening to something more “age appropriate.”

Best YouTube comments:

“OMG this cannot be serious.”

“Now try new improved Geritol with added Cannabis!”

“This is by far THE BEST video I've ever seen in my entire life!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! A spiritual song.”

“Now I'm a little weirded out knowing this exists. Know if they ever did anything like The Doors, Mama's and the Papa's, Janis Joplin, Creedence Clearwater Revival, Joan Baez, and artists like that?”

“I still love the Welk show and I'm 23.”

(In reference to one of the comments above I'm positive they did "Break On Through" by the Doors. )

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Best YouTube Comments:

“Tool is like Pink Floyd for angry people...”

(Me: Best comment. You can stop reading. )

“One of the most badass songs EVER… ”

“I remember I got this album when I was 13. I saw people get beat up in the street, people stabbed. The blackout we had that summer brought out a lot of shit. I remember this song and album made me wonder about people and how they ticked. I'm 28 and it seems to make complete sense now.”

(Me: He must be from Detroit too. )

"Grunge has nothing to do with metal. Its just Seattles special way of saying softcore punk, take the example for every grunge band Nirvana. Tool isnt progressive metal, its munge. munge is metal grunge (why grunge isnt metal because then munge wouldnt exist due to being redundant) that was created by tool, the lead singer confirms this. also, pink floyd isnt prog its Psychedelic Rock, also confirmed by pink floyd themselves. Rush is a hair band, not prog. Progressive is a subgenre area that flip flops, just like indie. Prog metal rn is starting to meld into a technical area ex. Angel Vivaldi, Within the Ruins, Sea in the Sky. Its bound to change soon, just like it has been changing in cycles for years because progressive is only considered progressive if it is a new sound, just like indie."

(Me: Wow. Wasn't aware of any of this... Hell when I bought this album in 1997 the most I had to worry about was explaining "Hooker With a Penis" to my mom. Do you think this guy feels strongly? Time to put down the bong dude. )

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As I’m sure you can tell from looking at my posts in this thread, I grew up listening to this stuff. I’ve even made reference to this particular song in the real-life story of how my first girlfriend, Stephanie, and I got together. In high-school, I used to listen to “Vulgar Display of Power” probably more than anything else, before football games. Even my students know this stuff! I was talking with one just before the semester ended, we were discussing cars and music. He knew this song as well as others from this album. He was born in 1997, five years after this was released.

In December 2004, Darrell Abbott (aka “Dimebag”), Pantera’s lead guitarist was murdered during a concert, along with several other people, by an insane fan. I remember that day.

Today we received the sad news that Pantera’s drummer and Darrell’s brother Vinnie Paul Abbott, passed away. There were many songs I might have chosen. But this one works. RIP Vinnie 1964-2018

Best YouTube Comments:

“Music like this is part of a healthy balanced life style.”

“I could headbutt a tank while listening to this.”

“This is Pantera's most badass song, really makes me wanna break shit.”

“This song is good for working out.”

“Excuse me while I go run through a glass door.”

[bronwen]

[bronwen]

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Favorite lyric: “Motherfucker you don’t understand pain and hate…” If you’re not familiar with these guys and you wonder why he kind of looks like Korn, interesting fact: Jonathan Davis did sing on this album. This was another one I used to listen to before high-school football games.

Best YouTube comments:

“My God the energy is massive!!!!!!”

“Igor is beast. He beats the shit out of those drums! RIP China cymbal! Pretty sure it's cracked and he just keeps going.”

“Brutal!!!”

“behold epicness”

“Pure ferocity.”

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The early 2000’s. If you are a fan of this style of music, it doesn’t get any better. And if you aren’t…

Me (as a kid): “Grandpa what did you listen to when you were still a teenager?”

Grandpa: “Well Andy, we had the Lawrence Welk show and sometimes we listened to the Beatles, or Elvis, or the Beach Boys, if our parents weren’t around.”

Sometime in the distant future…

My grandchildren: “Grandpa what did you listen to when you were still a teenager?”

Me: “This…”

My grandchildren: “Fuck yeah!!!”

RIP Paul Gray 1972-2010 RIP

(Autopsy results were released that stated Paul had died of an overdose. It happens way too often. Drugs suck. Many people are amazed I’ve never done drugs or even smoked weed. My “release” was always through music, sports, and fast cars. As some of you know, my girlfriend in high-school was transgender. During one of our games an opposing player called her a “guy.” I beat the crap out of him right then and there and was ejected. We still won the game. Barely. I was our defensive captain and starting middle linebacker. Coach didn’t say anything but had me in his office the next week. He was not happy but he understood why I did it. He told me “Learn to control it. If you had stayed in the game you could have fucked up their entire offense. Remember that next time.” Some of the best advice I’ve ever received.)

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OK, one more for today and I’ll stop. “Monsters of Rock” that year also featured Ozzy, Kiss, Sepultura, and Korn. This was two days before my birthday. From their album “Soul of a New Machine” released in 1992.

(Anyone notice the MTV logo? Do you think they would play anything like this today? )

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Used to play this all the time at the place where I workout until they switched from “rock/alternative” to a "club mix." Shit, I'm the youngest person there (30's) at that time (like 1 or 2 AM) if not the only one there. There's a 70 something man that comes in later. Great guy, but it's fun to watch his reaction to the music. He doesn't even like the Beatles.

Awesome song. Very intense. Was nominated for a Grammy for “Best Rock Song” last year.

Why do I wish K was my girlfriend?

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From “World Downfall” (1989). I would not learn of it until the early 90’s when an older friend let me borrow his CD. The first song of it's type I ever heard.

Best YouTube Comments:

“One of my all time favorite bands. Pete Sandoval (drums) is a machine!”

“Metal was real back then.”

“THE DEAD SHALL RISE, FROM THEIR GRAVES, TO DESTROY, HUMANKINDDDDD!!!!!!!!”

“Shut the fuck up most of you are even too young to remember the release of this album.”

[a9127]

Best YouTube Comments:

“Besides great metal, great workout gym music!”

“Love Killswitch when Howard Jones was the lead singer.. This is the song that made me really start to like metal..”

“so powerful, the singer is incredible”

“Bruh my mom listens to cannibal corpse and shit like ingested.”

“the hell you people talkin about ? metalcore ? dude this has some killer riffs .....I call it music....”

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1988 would be the last year we lived in New York. The next year we would move back to Michigan. On my WordPress site I’ve written about my Dad taking me to see the ball drop on New Year’s Eve. Too bad he didn’t take me to this.

Best YouTube Comments:

“Kerry shaved his head in 1994.”

“Back in the day when security used to beat the shit out of you.”

“I was fuckin there.”

(Seriously, I wasn’t even aware of Slayer for a few more years. However they would become one of my favorite bands of all time. And I have seen them live. Check out the wall of Marshall's. )

[a9127]

Best YouTube Comments:

“Till this day i can hear this song and feel the same as the first time i heard it: SO FUCKING POWERFUL... both lyrically and as composition. And the most important thing of all: Layne's voice was SO FUCKING AMAZING! The world of Rock lost a brilliant singer back in 2002.”

“I'm the man in the box, buried in my shit.”

“They share many more characteristics with metal than they do grunge. Plus, they almost always toured with metal bands.”

“Oh god have mercy, this song is dammmm awsome (sic).”

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“Violence” was released on September 5, 2000. Not as well known as Linkin Park, Korn, Limp Bizkit, or Staind, Nothingface was perhaps the best and heaviest of the “nu-metal” genre that was popular in the late 90’s and early 2000’s. I heard this song late at night on a local “alternative” station and went out and bought it the next day. The entire album is brutal and never lets up. Great to workout to. “Bleeder” peaked at #32 on the U.S. Mainstream Rock charts in 2001.

RIP Matt Holt 1977-2017.

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Best YouTube Comments:

“121 Motherfuckers.”

“Back when MTV was okay.”

“I hope this line up reunites one day, I would kill to see them play live. This the real Sepultura!”

“Loved how he switched the lyrics in that part to "racist piece of shit." LOL

“Born in '93, and it boggles my mind that MTV was playing music like this in my lifetime. The earliest era of MTV I remember was when they played pop videos early in the morning, and Real World type shit during the day.” (Me: So there ARE good things about being born "before 1985." )

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Amy needs to be included in the “Divas” thread. Will have to do something about that. Haven’t listened to this one in a long time. Used to have “Fallen” and this album “The Open Door.” My “ex” was always suspicious of why I liked Evanescence so much.

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Hayley maybe more than any other artist represents my gentle “better” side. So do many of my other favorite artists. Quite a few of them are posted in the “Divas” thread. This song however represents my “other” darker side...

Used to listen to this a lot before football games in college. Each player had his own way of preparing. Rap and Metal were very popular and still are. Many of my students who play for our universities’ team do the same thing! We talk about this stuff all the time. Sometimes I workout and lift with them. Would love to get out there again but I don’t know if a “thirtysomething” linebacker would help much. Besides I’ve used up all my eligibility and been to training camps so there would probably be some kind of NCAA violation if I did actually play. Anyway, back in the day, I would sit quietly in front of my locker listening to this album through headphones until it was time to take the field. Almost better than ‘roids.

True fact: “God Hates Us All” was released on September 11, 2001.

Best YouTube Comments:

“So much hate in this record...I love it!”

“Darkest Slayer song.”

“It blows my mind that Tom is a Catholic Christian and yet he's willing to sing about god like that.” (Me: So am I. This is one perspective. You don’t have to agree with it. I don’t necessarily agree with it. It’s just a fucking awesome song. Still wouldn’t play it for the nuns in my old Catholic grade school in Detroit. )

“Brutal as fuck!!!”

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From 1992. Very different from what I usually post. My mom and dad couldn’t understand the lyrics and it’s not heavy like the other stuff I listened to so never got in trouble… Hope you enjoy.

Best YouTube Comments:

“I thought losing my wallet was bad.”

“Beavis & Butthead brought me here.”

“Oh yes awesome."

“Love this song. I play it at parties.”

“I use a gps tracker for mine now.”

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Taylor

Getting very close to 1,000,000,000 views on YouTube. Of the two songs, I probably like “Ready For It?” a little more. But I like this one a lot too. Especially the segment featuring “baseball bat” and “motorcycle” Taylor. She’s going to be here at Lucas Oil Stadium on September 15. We (my wife and I) are going. What? You thought my wife would let me go by myself?

Best YouTube Comments:

“The zombie part was a nice touch.”

“Stream guys we just need 42million to complete 1B.”

“The red Taylor is like the teacher when I left my homework at home but she's better.” (Me: I never had a teacher like Taylor Swift. I used to get in enough trouble as it was… )

“I love you song best music like.” (Me: I think I know what they mean. )

“My grandma watched this and she wants to know...WHAT DID YOU DO?"

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Best YouTube Comments:

“Totally awesome.”

“Dying Fetus for SuperBowl 2019 half-time show.”

“John Gallagher has been bald since he was a teenager. These guys are in their 40's but you'd never know from their energy.”

“This music is scaring me.....”

“Sick brutality.”

[a9127]

Yes. I’m going to see Taylor Swift tomorrow. No. I don’t think she’s planning to do this song.

From 2003. One of my all time favorites. This kind of music is probably how I made it through my teens and early 20’s without doing drugs. Great stress reliver. Also great to listen to before games. My way of preparing before a game was to sit quietly at my locker with headphones listening to the most aggressive and violent music (including hardcore rap) I could find until it was time to head down the tunnel. Always worked for me.

Never played much of this on dates however, most women and girls I knew hated this stuff. My “ex” once asked “Why do they say “motherfucker” all the time?” My current wife is more tolerant of it but doesn’t really like it. Don’t listen to it as much now that I’m in my 30’s but still workout to it. It’s fun to reminisce.

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“Hellbilly Deluxe” was Released August 25, 1998. Can’t fucking be 20 years? I promised this song on my “Munsters” post so here it is. It’s been fun sometimes on TLB. I’ll miss many of you.

Best YouTube comments:

“Who else is here because Rob Zombie is literally your childhood?” (Me: Not exactly my “childhood” but yeah, high-school and teens. Guess this stuff brings back memories.)

“I'm fifty and he's still part of childhood!” (Me: More like it. Except I’m not that old. Although they are saying “30” is middle age... Just bury me now.)

“Living dead girl + fast car = speeding ticket” (Me: No comment… )

“Best day of my life was when I went and saw Rob in concert. Such good memories.” (Me: I’ve seen him too. Many years ago. Awesome! But if you really know me, it would have to be seeing Hayley and Taylor this year.

“What are you thinking about?”

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Thought I’d go back, way back… This one I’m pretty sure is older than me. I discovered it on a CD featuring hits of the 1980’s.

Wish I had his drumset to mess around on. If my wife saw that thing show up at our house she’d probably be on the phone with her divorce attorney faster than if I had brought Taylor Swift home from the concert a couple weeks ago…

Best YouTube comments:

“I'm a metal dad at 52. My kids and wife don't understand the 80's music.”

“The 80's were great.” (Me: Yeah they must have been. Amy Lee, Hayley Williams, and Taylor Swift were all born during that decade.)

“Fight the good fight is also a good song.” (Me: My favorite Triumph song. Posted this one because I thought it would have more appeal.)

“I'm 66. My son was born about the time of Triumph.” (Me: Dad! What are you doing on YouTube? Bet you were really checking out Dame Tu Cosita.” )

“Absolutely fucking awesome !!!!!!!!!”

[a9127]

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!!!!”

“? ..!”

[a9127]

Hard to top the picture above of two dinosaurs fucking but I'll try. That was probably the best post I've ever made on here.

This one brings back a lot of memories. 23? Hell, I'm still 18!

Best part is at 1:10-1:21. That's Janine Lindemulder.

(Travis Barker, drums. )

[a9127]

Unfortunately, they did not, to my knowledge, ever make an official video for this song. TDG was one of the last bands I really got into. Like “Breaking Benjamin” they offered a more modern sound away from the “heavy metal,” “thrash,” “alternative,” and “nu-metal” I had essentially grown up with.

There are no weak points on this album as far as I’m concerned. The cover art with the family evicted from their home, burning in the background, is also very intense. Really hard to pick a “favorite” here but I think it would be this track. I seem to remember reading an interview with them where they mentioned Black Sabbath as one of their influences. Though they are totally different and decades apart, I can hear that “ominous” sound in many TDG songs.

Best YouTube Comments:

“His voice when he says ‘fuck’.”

“This song scares me a lil...”

“He said ‘THE shit’ meaning it’s awesome.”

“Must learn this song on guitar.”

“I love the beginning its amazing.”

(Me: One person on another post said if you could play the intro you were "guaranteed to get laid…” )

[a9127]

Something newer for a change. From the album “Human” featuring singer Matt Walst. On April 1, 2014, the band released "Painkiller" on iTunes. On April 8, 2014, the song was released to US rock radio stations. Two months later, it reached No. 1 on the Billboard Mainstream Rock chart. The second single, "I Am Machine", also reached No. 1.

My hatred of drugs is not exactly a well-kept secret. This is a hard hitting “wake up call” for a lot of people. I have many friends from when I was younger who are no longer with us. Born in the 1980’s, somehow I managed to stay away from the entire drug “scene.” I’m sure football, academics, fast cars, loud music, and beautiful women helped a lot.

[a9127]

Had posted the “official” video over a year ago. Realized it got changed and/or deleted. This is the lyric video based on the radio version of this song. Very powerful and intense subject matter. Surprisingly heavy for today.

Favorite lyric is “Send my regards to Hell.”

Dan Smith, vocals.

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One of the first hard rock/heavy metal albums of the early 80’s. “Too Fast for Love” was released in the US by Elektra records two days after I was born. I’m sure my parents played this for me after they brought me home from the hospital…

Favorite songs are this one of course, LiveWire, and Take Me To The Top. I mentioned in an earlier post I had a brief “fling” with learning to play drums about ten years later after seeing “Wayne’s World.” Tommy Lee was my favorite drummer as a kid. Wish I could play like that. As far as I’m concerned, “modern” hard rock started with “Blizzard of Ozz,” “The Number of The Beast,” and this album.

Best YouTube Comments:

“That guitar solo was the sexiest thing I've ever listened to.”

“This music is an orgasm!!!” (Me: You should see her profile pic… )

“Its funny howe (sic) they are like heavy sexual too. "Get a piece of your action." Definitive Crue or to me “should be" or "as it is meant to be." Near metal perfection, and that compliment does not come easy or lightly.” (Me: Did you notice any sexual references in this song? )

“Love the sleaze of this song.”

“Too Fast For Love and Shout at the Devil are by far the best Crue albums. Tommy and Mick's playing ARE the band.”

“They were playing this at a time when record companies were all about new wave, yet these guys were successful in spite of it.”

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From the album “Peace Sells but Who’s Buying?”

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Stevie Nicks

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Amy Lee

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Since I already posted Kelly to the “Divas” thread I might as well share the song that made me a fan. I have said that she might have the greatest voice ever—especially in modern music (rivaled only by Hayley Williams IMHO ). As you can probably tell from most of the songs I post to this thread that I wouldn’t have followed “American Idol” in 2002. Umm… too busy with football, college, and listening to nothing but “extreme” and “nu” metal maybe?

Anyway, it was the Summer of 2005. Was visiting one of the schools that had offered me a teaching position. Heard this amazing voice coming from someone’s office “Here I am once again…” had to stop to listen she was that good. Also the drumming stood out. Finally, after a little research back home I learned that the singer had won “American Idol” three years earlier and already was a major recording artist. Sorry, Kelly… It’s just that all that hard rock and “nu-metal” I grew up listening to must have damaged my brain. Of course I watched the video for “Since U Been Gone.” Like on repeat...

The drummer on the record is Shawn Pelton a graduate of Indiana University’s School of Music who has performed with many major artists. He was also the drummer on Saturday Night Live for many years. His strong beat and creative fills along with Kelly’s powerful voice and emotional lyrics make this “pop” song stand out from the rest. I always take time to listen to it whenever it comes on anywhere. I have it in my playlist and of course my wife has the CD.

I wouldn’t hear another singer who would get my attention like that for two more years. The song was “Misery Business.” Hayley, like Kelly, also has an amazing voice. In fact sometimes I get them “mixed up” if I hear one of their songs on the radio and I’m not paying attention.

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I’m glad I discovered Kelly Clarkson (previous post) in the Summer of 2005. Totally ashamed that it took me three years from American Idol to learn who she was… Never did drugs but I think most of the music I grew up with destroyed brain cells.

This is what I was still listening to in 2005. Remember buying this CD. Yes, those are clips from “Saw” in the video.

“I want to play a game.”