Rock Music

Hozier – Wondier or Wankier?

~ Cave_Guy ~ 5 Comments

When I first heard “Take me to Church” – I completely lost it – “What is this crap spewing forth from my new favorite radio station?”

And it kept spewing:

It made the song of the day

It made the song of the week

It made the friggin’ song of the year

Hozier is the anointed saint of music for 2014 and I hate this song!!!!

hate-this-song

A hymn about sex – and it is not subtle

Not even a little bit

It blends two things that don’t blend well in a clunky and brutal manner – like say — one of those weird Japanese desert flavors.

Grab two scoops of == Whale Shark Ice Cream ==

I love Whale Sharks – soothingly beautiful giants gently coasting in pristine blue tropical waters —- and who doesn’t like ice cream?

But together? – I get a reaction like I get from this song. It is a queasiness in my spirit.

And this fish is not even cooked – just chopped up and mixed in.

Yuck!  Stop it!

I hate this song and all it stands for.

 

And now for something completely different:

Angel of Small Death & the Codeine Scene – Hozier

This is soulful and rich. It has nodes of gospel and blues. It is intense – this dude is from Memphis, right?

No—-Ireland? —- And it is that same guy who perpetrated the gratuitous crime of a song detailed at the start of this post?

Huh?

Color me with a big ol’ paintbrush of converted to this beat.

This is a great song.

Yes, it mixes genres up – but the blend is tasty this time around.

This is ===Raspberry Swirled Vanilla with a Chocolate drizzle === [or whatever epic flavor you want to add].

Bitter raspberry on cool vanilla with quality rich cocoa – does not get better than this.

Cheers from the Cave!

 

 

Notes on the title for this post:

Wondier is “Wonder” with that Hozier “i” added. (I know, hilarious wordplay)

Wankier is “Wanker” with that Hozier “i” added. For further explanation of the word “Wanker” – I suggest you move to England or simply watch “Spinal Tap” —in fact, everyone should watch Spinal tap at least once every 5 years to remind themselves of the beauty and tragedy with humor in all of rock music.

Dire Straits.Romeo and Juliet

~ Cave_Guy ~ 13 Comments

Romeo and Juliet

 

I recently took a little stroll around the WP neighborhood and hit a post about Dire Straits Making Movies – http://80smetalman.wordpress.com/2014/05/22/great-rock-albums-of-1981-dire-straits-making-movies/ – It caught my attention for a couple reasons: I like this entire record and it hides my sentimental favorite from Mark Knopfler.

This one always stops me in my tracks.

I am like that deer on the side of the busy highway – just standing there – the sound and speed wash over me.

I am still

(Up here in the wild Northeast – this is a common sight— not me having a “time stop” moment when a song plays—but the bit about seeing a deer standing patiently on the side of the road.)

*Anyway – I digress much so back to the post at hand.

Last night I am driving and from out of the blue – this song plays on the radio – this song never plays on the radio. You might hear “Sultans of Swing” or “Money for Nothing” – but not this.

It still works

Yep, defenseless fawn me watching all the big metal boxes on wheels and nothing I can do.

I am stupefied from the first little guitar pluck.

He nails that fated to fail with loaded dice romance thing beautifully —- he takes us with him — so we can all ride in the leaky love boat and sink in the lake of the human condition.

All of us know this lake – it is a short ride around the corner – the bar next to it always full of desperate patrons, who, after drinking two more than they should.

Will hum this tune

Great song

Cheers from the cave!

 

 

This year’s nominees are (mostly) wack!-Rock n’ Roll Hall of Fame 2015

~ Cave_Guy ~ 9 Comments

Joan Jett and the Blackhearts – Here starts the “one hit wonder” phase for the hall.

“Hey dude-Joan Jett rocked and she was hot-I know she had another song after  I love Rock and Roll – I just can’t think of it –hang on let me google this.”

If that is the typical reaction- I ask you – Hall worthy? – I think not.

Bill Withers – at least his “one” hit was so good that I almost don’t have to list it.  Ain’t no Sunshine is something else –but again –I have to google to find something else.

Before you say that I am not a dedicated music fan because I don’t know the catalog of these important artists — really —- seriously —- Music fans are crazy and subjective —but find me one – just one— that had either of these “classic-serious-music-stars” tattooed on them anywhere – I don’t care how drunk they were!!!

It has not happened.

 

Now let’s get to serious Artists:

In the spirit of: We need to add Ringo because all the other Beatles are in separately and we need the complete set.

“Let’s make up an award that will fit him.”

Hey- I got it – he always chooses excellent musicians to hang out with- how about AWARD FOR MUSICAL EXCELLENCE—Really RRHOF? If Joan Jett gets in for her insightful lyrics—why not man up and put Ringo in for his great writing like … “no no no no I don’t smoke it no more, I’m tired of waking up on the floor.”

I blame the  Kiss induction of last year for these “treasures” going in. It lowered the bar and declared open season in Cleveland for all the flash.

The others I have no problem with:

Lou Reed and SVR are icons. If you ever heard “Sweet Jane” on the radio or were ever lucky enough to be there when Stevie stepped on a wah wah pedal—MAGIC BABY, MAGIC!

Paul Butterfield is good honest hardworking blue-collar blues.

Green Day is an actual successful rock band in an era devoid of actual successful rock bands.

I don’t know -The “5” Royales – but I will give the hall the benefit of the doubt.

 

BUT-deny “The Smiths”?  Whatever you think of Morrissey- this band was a game changer.

I also would have put Kraftwerk in ahead of that first batch I mentioned.

But hey- I am just a simple blogger.

Cheers from the cave!

 

 

 

 

New York and a Radiohead Mood.

~ Cave_Guy ~ 6 Comments

Item One:

Some dude walks around N.Y.C with a hatchet and takes random whacks at people in uniform- we think he might be a terrorist, or maybe a whacko—or a combo of the two—–and this could be a copycat deal that will spread across the country like the ice bucket challenge.

Not only are we afraid of an isolated brutal act—we are afraid of it trending on twitter and turning into a plaque of insanity.

Item Two:

A doctor risks his life to go to Ebola ground zero and work with “Doctors without Borders” – helping those that are in more trouble and lack more resources than us reasonable people can imagine.

This guy is a hero.

No wait-he caught that crap-The dude brought that shit back to Brooklyn—his neighbors are calling him a big jerk face scumbag.  Ebola is here.

Shut down all flights in and out of Africa right now!

This and other reasons (which I don’t wish to discuss) make me reach for something to pour on my wounded psyche.

Radiohead works.

I love you creepy bastards- I am starting to feel better already.

Muted Cheers from the Cave!

In other news: I have been working on my blog by taking the “Blogging 201” thingee that is going on now-

http://dailypost.wordpress.com/courses/blogging-201-branding-and-growth/

You may notice some changes as I clear my vision and put a little pizazz in my “brand”—Oh yeah- I am a brand baby!

This Will Destroy You- They move on tracks of never ending light.

Image ~ ~ Cave_Guy ~ 2 Comments

Post Rock

It does not shake us – it does not rattle us — it calls us

lake-george02-invert

This image is from an early morning shoot at the lake a few weeks ago- it is a mundane effort that I originally over-saturated and turned gold.

Then I wondered what would happen if I inverted the whole thing for the opposite effect.

Boom Baby!~  Black becomes white- yellow becomes blue – warm to cool and we are on to something. It takes it from warm reality to cool dream—-just one little [Ctrl-i] click of the keyboard and we have magic.

This Will Destroy You- They move on tracks of never ending light.

This song pulls me in to a void of contemplation-not a bad thing or a good thing; more like another realm of the mind thing—like stepping outside of yourself in order to take a little gander.

I think this band is from Texas and this is soothing stuff.

The blue image starting me thinking of this tune.

Below is the image that started this:

lake-george02-inver-smAnd sorry for using arty words like invert and saturation in a post.

Is that black metal or death metal? … And btw those are some bangin’ gauges.

~ Cave_Guy ~ 5 Comments

I had to ask- I could not let it go-There was this kid listening to his music and I had to ask.

As a music fan who prides himself on not discounting any genre, (even something sounding still warm from being forged in the bowels of hell) this was a valid question.

The answer, a somewhat indignant – “This is death metal”

The difference as explained to me: Black metal is more rhythmic with complex guitar work while Death is more smash and thrash.

I will have to go with that because I am swimming a bit out of my depth here.

And I understand that part of the attraction is to reinforce the alienation that the listener wants to bathe in.

If that is your deal dude—go for it.

It just surprised me that I could insult someone by simply suggesting this sacred (or more correctly “anti-sacred”) death metal is associated with that whimpy-assed-candy-coated black metal.

Excuse me – I am a stranger here in electric land.

I got away with it mostly because I am just a curious and amicable middle aged person with all the malice worn off me at this point in my life.

I want music that inspires me and touches me- I do not want to summon up demons.

Mostly because they tend to want to hang around and don’t fall for those subtle hints— like…..”er hey guys, yeah it was real fun dancing around the fire and all but I got to put some ointment on these burns and crash, big day at work tomorrow—-so—er see you later?”

They tend to get under your skin and move right in.

Continue reading →

Bob Marley Legend-Cave Top 10

~ Cave_Guy ~ 16 Comments

I-am-legend

Bob Marley Legend

Another of my cave top ten and I don’t care if it’s a greatest hits compilation.

I also don’t care if Will Smith had an un-natural love for it in “I am Legend”.

This record contains all the great Marley tunes that are easily consumable by anyone if they care to listen.

It is like a set of easily digestible and quality reggae that works for the initiated and uninitiated alike.

(At least until the re-release added a few numbers of a more “gamey” flavor)

Jimi once said “Are you experienced” – You don’t have to be – Listening to this one record over and over will get you as much practical education as is necessary to become a full-fledged Marley fan.

That’s right- You do not have to smoke copious amounts of marijuana and spend countless nights out in the street being warmed by a burning trash can.

Listen and learn.

Listen and let it wash over you.

I love Bob Marley!

The Pretenders

~ Cave_Guy ~ 10 Comments

The Pretenders first record is one of my favorite records of all time and a capstone to my collection. I am throwing on a song from it because another blogger was talking about this album and fired me up!

Thanks to stephan1001 over at http://1001albumsin10years.wordpress.com/2014/08/17/the-pretenders-the-pretenders-1980/ for getting me motivated to do a short post

You can’t pick a bad song-even my least favorite “Brass In Pocket” is better than 98% of all commercial rock music produced since 1950- and it is only my least fav because the rest of this record is so damn strong.

The power and energy in this candy coated but bittersweet melodic punk music is unrivaled.

Chrissie Hynde is the Queen of Rock Music.

The Pretenders first record is nothing short of brilliant.

I love it and all it stands for.

It has got me working on a post to unveil my top 10 records ever made (long overdue) and will come out on a blog near you real soon.

And just in case you need to see this song in a softer light to feel the genius of it- I offer you this:

SPOILER ALERT: THIS IS ONE THAT MADE THE LIST

Cheers from the Cave!

Reflections on “Bad”

~ Cave_Guy ~ 7 Comments

“The great thing about being music insane instead of regular insane is that you hear songs in your head instead of voices”

Yeah—I said that in another post which I may or may not have published-

Anyway, it’s 3:07 in the morning and I am wide awake-“Wide Awake, I’m not Sleeping’—to quote a line from Sir Bono. Maybe it’s that super moon outside which has us all a little wired-the werewolves are just a little more hairy and track you down a little faster!

“Bad” is playing in my head as I shift positions and filter through all my 99 problems until I decide they will dissipate to solutions and I will get up and write a blog post.

It is “leave this hollow place and break away into the half-light…through the flame” that makes the trouble all run from me.

The power in that line and the power in this song has me in a trance.

I have never been to Ireland so forgive me if my vision of a place where Christianity and mysticism combine with rain to keep the land green and Guinness flows naturally to fill a pint glass are a little off. (That is my feeling and I hope to check that with an actual visit in the not too distant future)

This song could only have been made by an Irish band-it has all of that in it and more.

“Bad” was an anthem in the much maligned decade of the 1980’s. We forget about the quality.

“If I could, If I could, I would let it go”

You can interpret this classic anyway you want.

I see it as the never ending struggle to escape the bonds that bind us to whatever we struggle with—being wide awake gives us a chance to look at them clearly for what they are—they are temporary-the permanent is still being formed.

Hey, that is just me.

Just a guy who writes about rock music and is wide awake under this big bright moon.

moon-5

 

Rainbow in the Dark Deconstructed

~ Cave_Guy ~ 14 Comments

rainbow-in-the-dark-22234

 

1983- This is heavy metal

Before we argue over clean and dirty vocals-before we get into speed metal or death metal or black metal.

If you reached for the pure stuff back then- you reached for Ronnie James Dio

The keyboards sound like trumpets to usher in the new age.

“When there’s lightning – you know it always bring me down
Cause it’s free and I see that it’s me
Who’s lost and never found”

From Zeus to Thor to the Almighty himself-lightning has been used to signify a supreme deity in all cultures since the beginning of time.

The special relevance we put on this force of nature does speak volumes about what is rejected in this song. He is alone in the dark and wants to keep it that way.

Well…almost alone…

“Do your demons – do they ever let you go
When you’ve tried – do they hide – deep inside
Is it someone that you know”

He knows his demons and knows he can’t escape them. (I hold out hope in the belief that everyone can get to a place where the hounds of hell will stop their pursuit and give each person some peace-it goes beyond the scope of this post and they don’t ever stop until we make a choice to face them down—-but I digress…)

 

“There’s no sign of the morning coming
You’ve been left on your own
Like a Rainbow in the Dark
A Rainbow in the Dark”

Rainbows need light to exist or more accurately they need light to appear to exist since they are more optical illusion that actual entity.

Often seen as a sign of hope and renewed spirit after a storm has passed.

There must be some light in Dio’s dark place to make a rainbow-even if it is just the light of creative energy——-that wonderful thing that happens when pain and struggle produces an artistic array of spirit.

The force that turns inspiration into magic.

A power so great that it can take depression and form a wave that a whole crowd can be swept up in.

Power to take many who feel alone and connect all the dots to bring them together with one voice.

This music seems to emanate from depression and anger.

Emotional anguish turned and polished until it shines clean.

Dio makes metal out of rock.