Iron Maiden - Dance of Death (2003)

This is the second Iron Maiden album I owned, after Number of the Beast of course. The music on this album is so cool, heavy stuff and melodic soft stuff. It really works for me. And WOW what great songs. The title song is so epic it boggles the mind. I don't think there is a bad song in the lot, just great music.

Lineup:
Bruce Dickinson – Vocals
Dave Murray – Guitar
Janick Gers – Guitar
Adrian Smith – Guitar, Vocals
Steve Harris – Bass, Vocals, Keyboards
Nicko McBrain – Drums

Favorite Tracks: Dance of Death, Paschendale, Face in the Sand, Rainmaker, Gates of Tomorrow

Tracklist:
1. Wildest Dreams
2. Rainmaker
3. No More Lies
4. Montségur
5. Dance of Death
6. Gates of Tomorrow
7. New Frontier
8. Paschendale
9. Face in the Sand
10. Age of Innocence
11. Journeyman


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JOn

Led Zeppelin - Led Zeppelin I (1969)

Zeppelin I is such a great album for the Hard Blues Rock people. It is one of my favorites because of that. Now when people think Led Zeppelin they usually then thinks Stairway to Heaven, Stairway is a great song and IV was a good album but it is not the best stuff in their catalog. Just listen to the guitars and vocals on You Shook Me, thats cool music. Also as a little factoid, they stole Dazed and Confused from a beat musician in San Francisco and turned it into their own song.

Lineup:
Jimmy Page - Guitar, Vocals
Robert Plant - Vocals, Harmonica
John Paul Jones - Bass, Organ, Keyboards, Vocals
John Bonham - Drums, Vocals

Favorite Tracks: You Shook Me, Black Mountain Side, Dazed and Confused

Tracklist:
1. Good Times Bad Times
2. Babe I'm Gonna Leave You
3. You Shook Me
4. Dazed and Confused
5. Your Time Is Gonna Come
6. Black Mountain Side
7. Communication Breakdown
8. I Can't Quit You Baby
9. How Many More Times

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JOn

The Who - Live At Leeds (1970)

Live at Leeds is probably one of my most favorite live albums. It is solid rock from start to finish. It really captures the awesomeness of The Who live at their peak. Their studio albums are great and the Rock-Operas are cool but this sound is so heavy that it is the best.

Lineup:
Roger Daltrey – Vocals, Harmonica, Tambourine
Pete Townshend – Guitar, Vocals
John Entwistle – Bass, Vocals
Keith Moon – Drums, Vocals

Favorite Tracks: Heaven and Hell(!!!), My Generation(!!!), Magic Bus(!!!!), A Quick One While He's Away

Tracklist:
1. Heaven and Hell
2. I Can't Explain
3. Fortune Teller
4. Tattoo
5. Young Man Blues
6. Substitute
7. Happy Jack
8. I'm a Boy
9. A Quick One, While He's Away
10. Amazing Journey/Sparks
11. Summertime Blues
12. Shakin' All Over
13. My Generation
14. Magic Bus

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JOn

White Zombie - Astro Creep: 2000 (1995)

White Zombie is one of those bands that really stood out from everyone else out there. Their sound at the time was so unique and so different then the other metal out there that makes them so interesting. I have pretty much the whole White Zombie catalog with all the early EPs and rare stuff that i will be uploading eventually.

Lineup:
Rob Zombie - Vocals
Sean Yseult - Bass
J. - Guitar
John Tempesta - Drums

Favorite Tracks: Super Charger Heaven, More Human Than Human, Grease Paint and Monkey Brains

Tracklist:
1. Electric Head Pt. 1 (The Agony)
2. Super-Charger Heaven
3. Real Solution #9
4. Creature of the Wheel
5. Electric Head Pt. 2 (The Ecstasy)
6. Grease Paint and Monkey Brains
7. I, Zombie
8. More Human Than Human
9. El Phantasmo and the Chicken-Run Blast-O-Rama
10. Blur the Technicolor
11. Blood, Milk and Sky

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JOn

Black Sabbath - Sabotage (1975)

Black Sabbath's 6th studio album, Sabotage, is the first in a long line of their underrated albums. This album includes Megalomania which is one of my all time favorite Sabbath songs. All of the songs are great on this album. It's a rockin' album thru and thru.

Lineup:
Ozzy Osbourne – Vocals
Tony Iommi – Guitar
Geezer Butler – Bass
Bill Ward – Drums

Favorite Tracks: Megalomania, Hole in the Sky, Symptom of the Universe, The Writ

Track List:
1. Hole in the Sky
2. Don't Start (Too Late)
3. Symptom of the Universe
4. Megalomania
5. The Thrill of It All
6. Supertzar
7. Am I Going Insane (Radio)
8. The Writ

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JOn

Metallica - Kill 'Em All (1983)

This is Metallica's first studio album, recorded just after recuiting bassist Cliff Burton and guitarist Kirk Hammett, who replaced Dave Mustaine now of Megadeth fame. The album is an awesome show of their early sound, a no frill speed metal that gives, like they say, no remorse. Their later stuff where they get more experimental is great too but this is what started it all.

Lineup:
James Hetfield – rhythm guitar, vocals
Lars Ulrich – drums
Cliff Burton – bass guitar
Kirk Hammett – lead guitar

Favorite Tracks: (Anesthesia) Pulling Teeth(!!!), Phantom Lord, Jump in the Fire

Track List:
1. Hit the Lights
2. The Four Horsemen
3. Motorbreath
4. Jump in the Fire
5. (Anesthesia) Pulling Teeth
6. Whiplash
7. Phantom Lord
8. No Remorse
9. Seek & Destroy
10. Metal Militia

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JOn

Alice Cooper - Billion Dollar Babies (1973)

This is the last album by the Alice Cooper Group and probably their most famous. Billion Dollar Babies is a music masterpiece that really put Alice Cooper on the map, but they did have hits before with School's Out and Eighteen.
This is a great album and you should all check it out if you are interested. I will eventually upload some more AC albums (definitely Killer which is a superb album).

Lineup:
Alice Cooper - vocals
Glen Buxton - guitar
Michael Bruce - guitar, keyboards, backing vocals
Dennis Dunaway - bass, backing vocals
Neal Smith - drums

Favorite Tracks: Generation Landslide, Elected, Billion Dollar Babies, I Love the Dead

Track List:
1. Hello, Hooray
2. Raped and Freezin'
3. Elected
4. Billion Dollar Babies
5. Unfinished Sweet
6. No More Mr. Nice Guy
7. Generation Landslide
8. Sick Things
9. Mary Ann
10. I Love the Dead

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JOn

Bill Ward - When The Bough Breaks (1997)

Bill Ward was the original drummer for Black Sabbath, one of my most favorite bands. He even did vocals on two (three depending how you count) songs for sabbath. This album is truly great, Ward has a great sound to his voice, Powerful and some range to it too. The music is great too, it is not all heavy but it isn't soft rock either. There is a beautiful video for Children Killing Children that you can see on youtube. Check it out.

Lineup:
Bill Ward - Vocals
Keith Lynch - Guitar
Paul Ill - Bass
Ronnie Ciago - Drums

Favorite Tracks: Childre Killing Children, Hate, Please Help Mommy (She's a Junkie)

Track List:
1. Hate
2. Children Killing Children
3. Growth
4. When I was a Child
5. Please Help Mommy (She's a Junkie)
6. Shine
7. Step Lightly
8. Love & Innocence
9. Animals
10. Nighthawks Stars & Pines
11. Try Life
12. When the Bough Breaks

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JOn

Black Sabbath - The Mob Rules (1981)

Anything Sabbath did after Ozzy left usually gets passed over by casual fans and it is really a shame. This is the second album with legendary vocalist Ronnie James Dio and it is just as good or maybe even better than any Ozzy album. The songs are great and the vocals really shine.

Lineup:
Tony Iommi - Guitar
Ronnie James Dio - Vocals
Geezer Butler - Bass
Vinny Appice - Drums

I just saw this lineup 2 months ago and it was great. They are still going around and i would highly recommend seeing them. This is a one off tour so its pretty much now or never.

Favorite Tracks: Slipping Away, Falling Off the Edge of the World (GREAT SONG!!!), and Over and Over

Track List
1. Turn Up The Night
2. Voodoo
3. The Sign Of The Southern Cross
4. E5150
5. The Mob Rules
6. Country Girl
7. Slipping Away
8. Falling Off The Edge Of The World
9. Over And Over

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JOn

Jane's Addiction - Nothing's Shocking (1988)

This is a GREAT album, in my opinion it's Jane's Addiction's finest. Ritual and the "live" album are great but the don't have anything on this. The whole album rocks from start to finish. One of my favorite things about Jane's Addiction albums are the bass lines, they are just so cool and interesting. But the whole sound is great awesome too, solid and aggressive.

Lineup:
Perry Farrell - Vocals
Dave Navarro - Guitars
Eric Avery - Bass, Acoustic Guitars
Stephen Perkins - Drums
with
Angelo Moore - Saxophone
Flea - Trumpet
Christopher Dowd - Trombone

Favorite Tracks: Up The Beach, Ocean Size, Ted, Just Admit It..., Summertime Rolls, Idiots Rule, Jane Says, and Pigs in Zen

Track List:
1. Up The Beach
2. Ocean Size
3. Had A Dad
4. Ted, Just Admit It...
5. Standing In The Shower...
6. Summertime Rolls
7. Mountain Song
8. Idiots Rule
9. Jane Says
10. Thank You Boys
11. Pig's In Zen

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JOn

Tony Iommi and Glenn Hughes - Fused (2005)

The great Tony Iommi teams up again with ex Deep Purple Vocalist Glenn Hughes for another superb solo album. Iommi, if you didn't already know, is Black Sabbath, probably one of the greatest hard rock bands ever. The sound of this album is hard rock, alternative almost, with the soulful vocals of Hughes. I think Glenn is one of the best vocalists that Iommi has played with. Dio has great range and an awesome sound but I really love the powerful, soulful sound of the vocals on this album. Great guitar work and killer vocals.

Lineup:
Tony Iommi - Guitar
Glenn Hughes - Vocals, Bass
Kenny Aronoff - Drums
Bob Marlette - Keyboards, Bass

Favorite Tracks: Wasted Again and I Go Insane (esp. this song, this song is epic)

Track List:
1. Dopamine
2. Wasted Again
3. Saviour of the Real
4. Resolution Song
5. Grace
6. Deep Inside A Shell
7. What You’re Living For
8. Face Your Fear
9. The Spell
10. I Go Insane

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JOn

Dr. Timothy Leary - Turn On, Tune In, Drop Out: The Original Motion Picture Soundtrack (1967)

Timothy Leary guides Ralph Metzner on a trip helped by Rosemary Woodruff set to psychedelic music. It is something interesting to say the least. If you are curious, check it out.




Featuring:
Timothy Leary Ph.D - Guide
Ralph Metzner Ph.D - Voyager
Rosemary Woodruff - Divine Connection

Music:
Maryvonne Giercarz - Veena
Lars Eric - Guitar
Richard Bond - Tabla

Track List:
1. Turn On, Tune In, Drop Out
2. Trip: The Turn On
3. Trip: The Tune In
4. Trip: The Beginning of the Voyage (Heart Chakra)
5. Trip: Root Chakra
6. Trip: All Girls Are Yours
7. Trip: Freak-Out
8. Trip: Freak-Out (Continued)/Genetic Memory
9. Trip: Re-Entry (Nirvana)
10. Trip: Epilogue (Turn On, Tune In, Drop Out)

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JOn

The Breeders - Last Splash (1993)

This great album is Kim Deal (of Pixies fame) and her twin sister Kelley. The album is catchy and I just can't get enough of it. There is just something about female vocals in rock that really works for me. Anyways great album, great songs, I'm sure you will recognize Cannonball.

Band Lineup:

Kim Deal - Vocals, Guitar, Moog, Casiotone
Kelley Deal - Guitar, Vocals (and lead vocals on I Just Wanna Get Along)
Josephine Wiggs - Bass, Vocals, Cello, Drums on Roi
Jim MacPherson - Drums
with
Carrie Bradley - Violin, Vocals

My favorite tracks:
Drivin' On 9 esp. but really the whole album, not a bad track in the bunch.

Track List:

1. New Year
2. Cannonball
3. Invisible Man
4. No Aloha
5. Roi
6. Do You Love Me Now?
7. Flipside
8. I Just Wanna Get Along
9. Mad Lucas
10. Divine Hammer
11. S.O.S.
12. Hag
13. Saints
14. Drivin' On 9
15. Roi (Reprise)

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JOn

Pixies - Surfer Rosa (1988)

The Pixies' first album is a beautiful thing indeed. It is definitely my favorite Pixies album with its raw alternative sound. I really love the interplay of the male and female vocals from Black Francis and Kim Deal. The guitars are aggressive and the songs are energetic and catchy. Check out this great album and then check out the rest of their stuff. Doolittle, their second album, is more popular but I think that this one is really better.

Band Lineup:

Black Francis - Vocals, Guitar
Mrs. John Murphy (Kim Deal) - Bass, Vocals
Joey Santiago - Lead Guitar
Dave Lovering - Drums

My favorite tracks: Bone Machine, Something Against You, River Euphrates, Where's My Mind, Oh My Golly!, I'm Amazed, and Brick is Red. I do realize that that is pretty much the whole album but its a great album so I don't care.

Track List

1. Bone Machine
2. Break My Body
3. Something Against You
4. Broken Face
5. Gigantic
6. River Euphrates
7. Where Is My Mind?
8. Cactus
9. Tony's Theme
10. Oh My Golly!
11. Vamos
12. I'm Amazed
13. Brick Is Red

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JOn

Charles Manson - Lie: The Love and Terror Cult (1968)

Don't judge the music by the person, let the music speak for its self. This is a great album no matter what you think of Manson. Give it a chance, you might be surprised what you hear.

My favorite tracks: Ego, Mechanical Man, Home is Where You're Happy, Sick City, and Eyes of a Dreamer.

Track List:
1. Look At Your Game Girl
2. Ego
3. Mechanical Man
4. People Say I'm No Good
5. Home Is Where You're Happy
6. Arkansas
7. I'll Never Say Never To Always
8. Garbage Dump
9. Don't Do Anything Illegal
10. Sick City
11. Cease To Exit
12. Big Iron Door
13. I Once Knew Knew A Man
14. Eyes Of A Dreamer

for more Manson music check out http://mansonmusic.blogspot.com

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JOn

Pink Floyd - The Piper at Gates of Dawn (1967)

Pink Floyd's first album from when they were led by the iconic Syd Barrett is nothing short of a psychedelic masterpiece. Syd's genuine and somewhat childish lyrics such as Matilda Mother and Bike combined with the erratic power of his guitar as in Interstellar Overdrive combine together making one of the greatest albums in Pink Floyd's spectacular career. The album starts with Astronomy Domine which is a beautiful trip into the far reaches of outer space. Then Lucifer Sam with its James Bond-esque riff drenched with acid. Pow R. Toc H. is a instrumental featuring Roger Waters' trademark "animal noises." Following is Take Up Thy Stethoscope and Walk with its frantic vocals and long psychedelic interlude. Then we have Interstellar Overdrive. This is one of the greatest instrumentals ever. First that killer riff then off into uncharted territory. Ending the album is Bike which is a beautiful love song where Barrett offers up all of his worldly possessions.

Band Lineup:
Syd Barrett - Vocals, Guitar
Roger Waters - Bass, Vocals
Richard Wright - Keyboards, Vocals
Dave Mason - Drums

My favorite tracks: Astronomy Domine, Pow R. Toc H., Take Up Thy Stethoscope and Walk, and Interstellar Overdrive.

Track List
1. Astronomy Domine
2. Lucifer Sam
3. Matilda Mother
4. Flaming
5. Pow R. Toc H.
6. Take Up Thy Stethoscope And Walk
7. Interstellar Overdrive
8. The Gnome
9. Chapter 24
10. Scarecrow
11. Bike

RIP Syd Barrett 1946-2006
Syd Barrett was a great musician and it is sad that he lost himself but please try and remember him not for his craziness but rather the music.

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JOn

Siouxsie and the Banshees - The Scream (1978)

This is the first album from Siouxsie and co. It is harsh and raw, a great punk album different from their later "goth" stuff. It opens with an eerie instrumental and then goes into the fast bass of Jigsaw Feeling. The cover of the Beatles' Helter Skelter is one of the best versions I've ever heard. The musical and lyrical content of the album is just superb. Switch is probably the best song on the album, though there isn't a bad one in the lot. I just can't get enough of this album.

Enjoy.

Band Lineup:
Siouxsie Sioux - vocals
John McKay - guitars, saxophone
Steven Severin - bass
Kenny Morris - drums, percussion

My favorite tracks: Helter Skelter, Nicotine Stain, Suburban Relapse, and Switch.

Track List
1. Pure
2. Jigsaw Feeling
3. Overground
4. Carcass
5. Helter Skelter
6. Mirage
7. Metal Postcard (Mittageisen)
8. Nicotine Stain
9. Suburban Relapse
10. Switch

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JOn

Jefferson Airplane - After Bathing At Baxter's (1967)

Jefferson Airplane's 3rd album, 2nd with Grace Slick, is a psychedelic masterpiece. After Bathing At Baxter's opens with some melodic feedback that segues into Pooneil, one of my favorite songs, and we are flying from there on. The live version of Pooneil included in the bonus tracks was originally meant to open the album up but it was declared to long for a single so the shortened it. Thankfully we have the live version because it is one of the best versions of the song there is. Martha is a nice ballady song written about the 14 year old daughter of the mayor of Sausolito, CA who would run away and go to visit the band. The Last Wall of the Castle is a bluesy pyschedelic song by their lead guitarist Jorma Kaukonen. Rejoyce is Grace Slick writing about James Joyce's "Ulysses." Spare Chanyge is a long, psychedelic instrumental that spotlights bassist Jack Cassady and Jorma. The album ends with the beautiful anthem Won't You Try/Saturday Afternoon. The bonus tracks include like I said a superb live version of Pooneil, Martha (MONO), an alternate version of Two Heads, and Things Are Better in the East. Things Are Better... is a beautiful and poetic ballad written by Marty Balin during the time of their next album. Tagged on the end of Things Are Better... is a version of Young Girl Sunday Blues with the vocals removed.

This is a must have album for any Airplane or psychedelic music fan.

Band Lineup:
Marty Balin - Vocals (and guitar?)
Grace Slick - Vocals, keyboards
Paul Kantner - Rhythm Guitar, Vocals
Jorma Kaukonen - Lead Guitar, Vocals on The Last Wall of the Castle
Jack Cassady - Bass
Spencer Dryden - Drums

My favorite tracks: The Ballad of You & Me & Pooneil (esp. the live version), Watch Her Ride, Spare Chaynge, and Wont You Try/Saturday Afternoon.

Track List
1. The Ballad Of You & Me & Pooneil
2. A Small Package Of Value Will Come To You, Shortly
3. Young Girl Sunday Blues
4. Martha
5. Wild Tyme (H)
6. The Last Wall Of The Castle
7. Rejoyce
8. Watch Her Ride
9. Spare Chaynge
10. Two Heads
11. Won't You Try/Saturday Afternoon

Bonus Tracks
12. The Ballad Of You & Me & Pooneil (Live - Long Version)
13. Martha (Mono Single Version)
14. Two Heads (Alternate Version)
15. Things Are Better In The East

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JOn

The Music Blog is now open

Hey all,
I've discovered the wonderful world of music blogs just recently and thought that i must jump on the bandwagon. What will be shared here is my favorite music, which ranges from Psychedelic to Punk to Jazz and beyond. The next few posts will be some of my favorite albums so enjoy.

JOn