Golden Oldies

Alright, since I have been a bit lazy on keeping up with this I figured I'll share with you a few of my favorite songs from back in the day when I was first exposed to the music I listen to today, and perhaps what got me hooked in the first place.

To start things off, I grew up in a small town with 1 radio station repeating the hottest Country hits over and over. I was exposed to some classic rock that my parents occasionally played but for the most part everyone I knew listened to country music, all my friends parents, pretty much it was the norm. Well, I can't say I was one of the "haters" of country music since it was really mostly all I was around as a small child and to this day when those classic 90's country songs are played my nostalgic senses are heightened. Entering into my early to late teens, I must have decided I would break out of the norm and start listening to some different stuff. Ironically right about the time I started breaking away from the rules of society and doing what teenage kids do, not listening to parents advice, giving into peer pressure, trying to 'be cool' and fit in, and all the other stereotypical traits of a lost teenager looking for a clear path through the jungle known as high school. Well, I did all those things and during the brunt of it all, not only was I exposed to alcohol, drugs, tobacco, and other stuff you aren't allowed to do under the age of 18, I found another thing perfectly legal and, like a dog, could be considered 'Mans other best friend' which was music. Rock music to be precise. I don't really feel the music had anything to do with my actions during those years, more it gave me companionship when friends weren't around and there was nothing more going on, as well as it gave us something to chug beers to and drive down the endless dirt roads.

That logic still holds true for me, perhaps more than ever. At a time when I am supporting a family, putting my wife through Nursing School, helping her raise our daughter and soon to be son, working full time, and really not having any more ambition left, music is still my outlet to just relax and let my mind rest. Although some might argue "doesn't that mean your mind is constantly at rest?" Well, yes and no. I am listening to music every free chance I get, but my mind is far from rested.

So hear are a few tracks/albums that, off the top of my head, I can remember really getting me started with my love of music, I'll throw a couple from different genres to get a true sense of what I listened to back then, and try and put them in some sort of chronological order somewhat of a timeline of how it all went down:

Album: Tom Petty "Into the Great Wide Open"
Track: Two Gunslingers



Album: Nirvana "MTV Unplugged in New York"
Track: Plateau




Album: The Offspring "Smash"
Track: Bad Habit




Album: Metallica "And Justice For All"
Track: The Shortest Straw



Album: Rage Against the Machine "Rage Against the Machine"
Track: Killing in the Name Of




Album: Megadeth "Countdown to Extinction"
Track: Psychotron




Album: White Zombie "La Sexorcisto : Devil Music Volume 1"
Track: Soul Crusher



Album: Slayer "Seasons in the Abyss"
Track: Skeletons of Society




As you can briefly see, there is somewhat of a progression (or digression, depending on the reader) going on hear. Although these are just a few of the tracks that jumped out to me without thinking too hard, this is where it all started. I can remember specific times listening to these songs as well as many others. This concludes todays music ramble. I had planned on doing my taxes tonight, but I am tired, and that was the last thing I felt like undertaking at 9:30 pm tonight. And by the way, 9:30 is late for me nowadays, I'm getting old, but I'm still young at heart, as evidenced possibly in the music I listen to. I don't ever see myself breaking away from rock and roll/metal. Say what you want, its hear to stay. Later.

Buck's X - A little late never hurt anybody

If you know anything about me, especially those who probably don't know me at all and are my 'friends' on Facebook, know I am pretty into music. I've been heavily into the discovery phase the last probably 3 years and am constantly seeking out new good music. It does exist to those who say rock is dead. Every once in a while, while seeking out new stuff I stumble upon a band that has been around for a long, long time that slipped through the cracks for whatever reason. The latest discovery of mine, which to some of you may sound odd that I have never listened to them, is a band called King's X. King's X have been around since the mid to late 80's and have released a number of albums which I've recently had the graces of listening to. Its no wonder I like these guys, them being a combination of 90's grunge, 80's hard rock, funk, groove, soul, with melodic vocals and guitar riffs like no other. According to my lazy, quick research of these guys, they are fairly well known and to the music community are considered one of the most underrated bands in history (hence, why I've never heard of them).

The album that hit me with the most punch was the album "Dogman". King's X - Dogman was released in 1994, about the time I first really started listening to music, but not obsessed with it as I am now. Who knows what would have happened if I had my hands on this stuff back then. Probably nothing, but you just neva, neva know do ya. There literally is not a bad song on this album. Each one on initial listen sent those lusting shivers down my spine, which is my queue that there is something special. Take a listen to these songs if you haven't already heard them and tell me this isn't timeless music that even someone today, having never heard the band before and is exposed day to day at the forefront of the latest bands around the world, can be utterly amazed at. Right now, I am really having a hard time trying to pick out a couple songs as examples because they are all 5/5 star material.

Title Track - "Dogman"



Pretend




Slower Ballad - "Cigarettes"



If you like heavy rock, blues, funk, pop, soul, metal, or anything in between you should not have a problem enjoying this band, and especially this album. It's a diamond in the rough and instant classic for me up there with AC/DC Back in Black, Metallica's Black album, Alice in Chains - Facelift, Nirvana - Nevermind, and of course anything Tom Petty.

To top all this new discovery mumbo jumbo of mine off, I was informed that King's X will be playing in Reno on April 12th this year with one of my favorite local Reno hard rock bands "The Swamp Donkey" opening for them. Actually this is what sparked my interest in checking out the band in case you were wondering. Without my Facebook contact to the world I would have never came upon this. It really is the main function of Facebook for me, discovering new music and sharing it with those interested. So if these songs weren't enough, might I tell you this dude performed probably THE BEST Jimi Hendrix cover in recorded history at Woodstock 94'. See below. Also, go get this CD along with many of their other ones.

King's X - Manic Depression (Jimi Hendrix Cover)

End of the year, discovery of the year!

So I've already posted my top albums of the year as well as honorable mentions. It wasn't until merely days after I posted the honorable mentions that there were a ton of albums that I totally forgot about and felt a little uneasy that they didn't appear on the list. But the list was published and there is no turning back. Now that the year has officially passed, and since I posted my Top Albums lists, I have read a slough of other peoples end of the year lists in which, surprisingly, each list was very unique. There wasn't a whole lot of overlap from list to list, which means that there is either a shit load of good album out this year, or everybody is different and likes different shit. I tend to think that this year produced a shit load of good albums. I myself was very impressed to say the least.

One album/artist in particular really struck a chord with me, which I discovered from a friends end of the year top 10 list on Facebook. Cobra Khan - Adversities not only rocked my socks off, it became one of my favorite albums of the year as of right now. I know several albums have done that to me throughout the year and after time they fizzle out and a new album came along and stole the thunder. However, after backtracking Cobra Khan and downloading everything they have ever done I am completely blown away with their sound, style and overall awesomeness factor. These guys combine everything I love about heavy rock music and mold it together to produce a sound that is hard to resist. Combining elements of classic thrash metal, modern hardcore, face melting sludge metal, and groovy stoner rock fuzz, Cobra Khan's relentless discography is crack cocaine to my addict ears. I would say starting with their first full release, Helgorithms (2008) Cobra Khan sounded like Kyuss on steroids. There are several cuts off this album on youtube that were actually produced music videos and many of you may have already seen me post links to on facebook recently. Here is a cut that combined with the video is sure to please some. The track is called Liquid Separation: Take a look and listen to the sound which is unrivaled by most artists out there. I love it.



I found the video to be quite amusing and interesting at the same time. I myself, enjoy the pleasures of gourmet food and this video pretty much indulges in a banquet of it while creepily maintaining the vision the music portrays.

Helgorithms initially won my heart over the new album Adversities after I viewed the 4 or 5 videos on youtube and realized the power of the lead singers voice. However, the new album, Adversities, takes the game to another level. Adversities incorporates more of the keyboard into the mix, which actually Helgorithms did too, and is able to produce a homogeneous heavy rock vibe that works. I always like to describe music to people by comparing the sound to other artists with similar sound. I would say Adversities and Cobra Khan, as a whole, is hybrid mixture of Soilwork meets Kyuss, and Alice in Chains meets Machine Head. Just by that reference alone one would assume these guys are fucking insanely bad ass. And one would be correct on that assumption. While I write this I am uploading the entire disc to youtube from their latest album Adversities and will include a link here in a minute (since there wasn't much of it up there). I encourage all of you who are into any of the music I post about, or any of the bands in comparison to check out Cobra Khan.

Maybe I'm a little awestruck at this time since I just discovered them, but I think there is truly something about this band that any music enthusiast would agree is not only unique but masterful. And I trust the source from whom this band was noticed from. His list contained 3 out of my top tens in his top ten, thus encouraged me to check this band out, which was the only one I hadn't yet heard on his list. Thank you. If you read this you know who you are. Either way, I love this shit and wanted to get it off my chest and also wanted to add to this blog and not have it slip into the voids of bloggery failure.

Here are a couple highlight tracks off of Adversities from my youtube page which contains the whole album as well as many other tracks from other artists that I couldn't originally find on youtube:





Here's another one off Helgorithms that I found has such a cool sound. Female chant-like vocals over dark, fuzzy, guitar licks that create a beautiful sound in my humble opinion:




Let me know what you think of these guys and like always, let me know if you have more suggestions for me to listen to. Enjoy!