Stone Temple Pilots - No. 4 (1999)

STP's 4th was there closest thing to matching the hard rockness of there debut album Core. Unfortunately, Scott Weiland had gotten arrested around time of the release. It can be said that this album has a little bit of everything the earlier albums had but, I think ultimately they found there sound after Tiny Music and that's why this one is the only Pilots' album that slightly resembles the effectiveness that made the other albums strong and groundbreaking. Yes, groundbreaking...they didn't sound like any grunge band ever and I'll debate that they fall into the category hard rock where they just wrote songs that were in a good time to rip off the grunge style which is bullshit. I think they sound more like Led Zeppelin than anyone. Sounds to check out "Down", "Heaven & Hotrods" and "MC5".

1. "Down" 3:49
2. "Heaven & Hot Rods" 3:26
3. "Pruno" 3:14
4. "Church on Tuesday" 3:00
5. "Sour Girl" 4:17
6. "No Way Out" 4:19
7. "Sex & Violence" 2:54
8. "Glide" 5:00
9. "I Got You" 4:15
10. "MC5" 2:42
11. "Atlanta" 5:19

Faith No More - Angel Dust (1992)

I don't think I can deny my love for Faith no More as this post is probably going to be really bias. Just warning... To describe how influential this album is to the rock community is understated because it's the most influential album of the nineties!! I assume this could be the time where hard rock was at it's highest in the nineties as well. Alike Metallica's Black Album, Angel Dust was at the right time and place is why this album is and was largely successful. It wasn't a lot like there first album with Mike Patton in The Real Thing because this is the first one where Mike Patton used his one of a kind creativeness and song writing skills to the works of Faith no More as they got rid of Chuck Mosley while a lot of the material was already written. Angel Dust is a trip but an awful good one with likes of "Crack Hitler", "Midlife Crisis" and "Be Agressive."

1. "Land of Sunshine" 3:44
2. "Caffeine" 4:28
3. "Midlife Crisis" 4:21
4. "RV" 3:43
5. "Smaller and Smaller" 5:11
6. "Everything's Ruined" 4:33
7. "Malpractice" 4:02
8. "Kindergarten" 4:31
9. "Be Aggressive" 3:42
10. "A Small Victory" 4:57
11. "Crack Hitler" 4:39
12. "Jizzlobber" 6:38
13. "Midnight Cowboy" 4:12
14. "Easy"

Bush - Sixteen Stone (1994)

Ironically, I just heard Bush had just reunited a day ago or so. In memory of Bush, Sixteen Stone there first album was by far my favorite. The production and sound of the post-grunge I believed defined the nineties after Nirvana in my opinion. I think lead singer Gavin Rossdale sounds a lot like Kurt Cobain maybe a little better but, the band did come after Nirvana so people can say they were a ripoff. All that really matters is that they wrote this amazing album which had two #1 singles and there debut album entered at #4. Besides they recorded the material a lot cleaner than Nirvana. The thing I dislike about the album is not the music but the front cover, i'm not sure what the hell that thing is. I think the picture of the dog on the backside of the booklet would've been more suitable but, i've never been told or heard what's the deal with all the numbers and such. Songs to check out are "Everything Zen","Little Things" and "Comedown".

1. "Everything Zen" - 4:38
2. "Swim" - 4:56
3. "Bomb" - 3:23
4. "Little Things" - 4:24
5. "Comedown" - 5:27
6. "Body" - 5:43
7. "Machinehead" - 4:16
8. "Testosterone" - 4:20
9. "Monkey" - 4:01
10. "Glycerine" - 4:27
11. "Alien" - 6:34
12. "X-Girlfriend" - 0:45

Alice in Chains - Alice in Chains (1995)

I'll try not to be too bias as this is one of my favorite albums of all time. I don't care what anyone says about this release but, it's very underrated even though it debuted at #1. To me Alice in Chains self entitled never got the credit that it deserved. When I see them live I never hear people screaming for "God Am" like I would be hoping for and usually the crowd is wanting hits like "Man in the Box" and "Them Bones". This is as classic as Dirt and Facelift. I'm not sure if a lot of people know this but, this was pretty much suppose to be intended as a Jerry Cantrell solo record because the band at the time took a hiatus and Layne was struggling with heroin big time. Eventually everybody came back together and finished the record even though they knew Alice couldn't tour anymore and the longevity of the band seemed uneasy because of circumstances within the band. Songs to check out are "Again", "Heaven Beside You" and "Sludge Factory".

1. "Grind" 4:45
2. "Brush Away" 3:22
3. "Sludge Factory" 7:12
4. "Heaven Beside You" 5:27
5. "Head Creeps" 6:29
6. "Again" 4:05
7. "Shame in You" 5:35
8. "God Am" 4:08
9. "So Close" 2:45
10. "Nothin' Song" 5:40
11. "Frogs" 8:18
12. "Over Now" 7:03

Mastodon - Leviathan (2004)

I bought this album at Streetlight Records to get into the material as i'm seeing them open up for Alice in Chains in a couple of months on the Blackdiamondskye tour. When I first opened the CD the case I noticed had broke cause the bottom hinged was snapped off originally by the previous owner. Not a good start as this cost me ten bucks or so. First off, my introduction album was Crack the Skye I didn't like Remission when they first came out so I dismissed them until there newest album. Obvious candiate one of the bands of the future. I'm sure Mastodon gained most of there popularity by touring with Metallica which was a good move for Metal music that Metallica always is bringing these younger bands on lengthy and large tours for exposure such as Mastodon themselves, The Sword and Gojira. This album obviously has to do with Moby Dick as the coverart and song title relations. It's a concept album which i'm not a fan of single entities like I get the feeling that a lot of bands do this because they become inspired to a high degree when it'd be better to put the inspiration of that entity in one song not based on all tracks. I've always paid more attention to the music than whats been said anyway. Obviously, these guys are tremendous musicians and more importantly creating a different kind of feel with there songs with the awkward tempo changes and they have there own unique way of constructing the songs. It's hard to critique something fresh and artistic. I did a good job of not labeling them stoner throughout. Songs to check out are "Blood and Thunder", "Iron Tusk" and "Island".

1. "Blood and Thunder" 3:49
2. "I Am Ahab" 2:45
3. "Seabeast" 4:15
4. "Ísland" 3:27
5. "Iron Tusk" 3:03
6. "Megalodon" 4:22
7. "Naked Burn" 3:43
8. "Aqua Dementia" 4:12
9. "Hearts Alive" 13:39
10. "Joseph Merrick" 3:33

Mad Season - Above (1995)

The Seattle supergroup Mad Season consisted of Layne Staley(Alice in Chains), Mike McCready(Pearl Jam), Barrett Martin(Screaming Trees) and John Saunders(The Walkabouts). Above was the only release by the band and no surprise it didn't work out because originally 3/4 of the band were all sober and fresh out of rehab and the second being that they all belonged to another band. It was a side project that turned into a big deal as they made there first single land #2 with "River of Deceit" on the Billboard Rock Chart and the album went gold. A lot of hope was put into making the band to help struggling heroin addicted Layne Staley to possibly stay away from the Alice in Chains life and into this sober band which didn't pan out. No surprise that it wasn't critically acclaimed as the material is said to be not upbeat, slow and sludgy a equation to not be liked by mainstream. I disagree with Rolling Stone's review of Above, I really think this is just four guys exploring music outside of the main projects where there accustomed to be playing at shows each and every night. It has hint's of Pearl Jam with Alice in Chains, a totally awesome grunge album. It blows my mind that someone told me it took less than a week for the writing process of Above. Songs to check out "River of Deceit", "I Don't Know Anything" and "Long Gone Day".

1. "Wake Up" 7:38
2. "X-Ray Mind" 5:12
3. "I'm Above" 5:44
4. "River of Deceit" 5:04
5. "Artificial Red" 6:16
6. "Lifeless Dead" 4:29
7. "I Don't Know Anything" 5:01
8. "Long Gone Day" 4:52
9. "November Hotel" 7:08
10. "All Alone" 4:12

Anthrax - Stomp 442 (1995)

Of the eve of the Big Four movie, I recently got a new Anthrax record. To be honest, i'm not familiar with anything from the Bush era other than We've Come for you All. In the debate of Anthrax singers Bush and Belladonna, it's obvious to me that I prefer Joey Belladonna just despite he was in all the classics like "Caught in a Mosh". Insult to injury, Dan Spitz lead guitarist stepped out of Anthrax and wasn't part of the band anymore. The sound by no surprise doesn't sound anything like Among the Living or Spreading the Disease. It's the worst release by Anthrax obviously. It's still heavy and everything but, lacks great songs. I don't recommend bad albums and it isn't bad it's just that everything they've done is just hands down better. Songs to check out are "Random Acts of Senseless Violence", "Riding Shotgun" and "Fueled".

1. "Random Acts of Senseless Violence" 4:02
2. "Fueled" 4:02
3. "King Size" 3:58
4. "Riding Shotgun" 4:25
5. "Perpetual Motion" 4:18
6. "In a Zone" 5:06
7. "Nothing" 4:33
8. "American Pompeii" 5:30
9. "Drop the Ball" 4:59
10. "Tester" 4:21
11. "Bare" 5:29

Volbeat - Rock The Rebel/Metal The Devil (2007)

It's been a long time since I've been influenced by a band that's fairly new. Volbeat's style is one of a kind like I instantly digged them when I heard them. It seems the more i've been listening to there material such as Rock the Rebel/Metal the Devil it seems to be as this band can be holding the flag for hard rock and heavy metal in the future. That is a bold statement but, i'm confident enough to say it after going to see two of there gigs while they were out in the United States supporting Metallica. Elvis Metal or whatever they're classfied as it's probably a good idea to check out this album or any other. I never obtain brand new CD's as my forte is to get them used for half the price but, it's worth it when you blast the tunes of "Sad Man's Tongue", "The Garden's Tale" and "A Moment Forever".

1. "The Human Instrument" - 4:29
2. "Mr. & Mrs. Ness" - 3:47
3. "The Garden's Tale" (feat. Johan Olsen of Magtens Korridorer) - 4:51
4. "Devil or the Blue Cat's Song" - 3:15
5. "Sad Man's Tongue" - 3:05
6. "River Queen" - 3:41
7. "Radio Girl" - 3:45
8. "A Moment Forever" - 3:42
9. "Soulweeper #2" - 4:02
10. "You or Them" - 4:11
11. "Boa (JDM)" - 3:45

The Big Four Movie (2010)

I went to Santana Row to watch the original thrash legends, Anthrax-Megadeth-Slayer and Metallica. Indeed they weren't actually playing there but they were there on the big screen. It's probably the closest thing to do as going to the actual concert but very fun atmosphere. Anthrax was up first and put on a great show playing a hits setlist like "Indians" and "Caught in a Mosh". Megadeth was after and the place started pouring down with rain during the first couple of songs. Always solid, they played "Sweating Bullets" and "Peace Sells" and more. Slayer came on guns blazing with "World Painted Blood" and I used that time to go take a bathroom break as they're a good band but by far my least favorite out of the big four. Slayer played "Mandatory Suicide", "Seasons of the Abyss" and the anthem "Raining Blood" which were my favorites from last night from there set which seemed longer than Anthrax and Megadeth put together almost. Metallica was up and "Creeping Death" came on and I was in crazy headbanger mode. They went into "For Whom the Bells Toll" which was one of the favorites in the theater. Metallica always puts on amazing shows but, one thing really bothered me was that several people left during "Nothing Else Matters" not sure if they came back I know some did but, who cares Metallica makes slow songs as great as the fast ones. At the cover slot on the setlist all the big four bands came out to do Diamond Head's "Am I Evil?" which was totally amazing to see Metallica and Dave Mustaine play together. It was a cluster of metal moments just seeing Mustaine and Hammett hugging and everyone just getting along. A very memorable night and Lars confirmed that there will be a DVD release and in the intro declared for more shows of the big four possibly in America. All I can do is cross my fingers and be patient everything goes fine because if so a lot more people will be seeing the metal show of a life time.

Megadeth - Countdown to Extinction (1992)

Arguably Megadeth at there finest level, Countdown's eleven track masterpiece is the defining Deth album. Several songs still featured in setlists night after night and killer riff after riff. Once again I scored another classic in the used section at a record store in Mountain View. I have heard the songs a million times via my iPod and it's one of the best heavy metal albums of all time. It also features my favorite Megadeth lineup Mustaine-Ellefson-Friedman-Menza. Also it's the most commercially release to date. It's definitely there heavyiest sounding album. I think if you've never actually heard the material already from this album be sure to check out "Sweating Bullets", "Skin O' My Teeth" and "Ashes in your Mouth".

1. Skin O' My Teeth
2. Symphony Of Destruction
3. Architecture Of Aggression
4. Foreclosure Of A Dream
5. Sweating Bullets
6. This Was My Life
7. Countdown To Extinction
8. High Speed Dirt
9. Psychotron
10. Captive Honour
11. Ashes In Your Mouth

Grotus - Mass (1996)

I first came across Grotus, as I heard in a Mike Patton interview when asked about it in 1992 who could be the next big thing in music. He responded with the San Francisco band Grotus. Knowing how intelligent Mike Patton is about music I decided to buy this album which I had dug out of the used section for a very low price and snatched it. I didn't know what to really expect but, the material is sub-par. I mean nothing catches my ears but it has a different feel to it. I'll probably have to listen to another album by them but Mass by Grotus is a so-so album with all experimental alternative rock stuff which could grow on me. Songs to check out are "Hand to Mouth", "A Bad Itch" and "Ebola Reston".

1. "That's Entertainment" - 2:32
2. "A Bad Itch" - 3:20
3. "White Trash Blues" - 3:56
4. "Ebola Reston" - 4:12
5. "Hand to Mouth" - 2:57
6. "T'Ain't Nobody's Bizness If I Do" - 4:04
7. "Sick" - 3:04
8. "Collect 'Em All" - 4:25
9. "Wild Bill" - 3:30
10. "The Bottom Line" - 3:31
11. "Back in the Day" - 4:10

Jerry Cantrell - Boggy Depot (1998)

After the dismantle of Alice in Chains, Jerry Cantrell decided to do a solo album. When I bought this many years later in 2010 at a record store I was only familiar with the singles to be honest even though I'm a huge Alice in Chains fan. In 11th grade I even did Jerry Cantrell's "My Song" for my music project although I was on the verge of fainting in front of the whole class in what had to be the most embarrassing moment in my life. Anyways, I was intrigued when I heard there was material on the record that didn't make it on the self entitled Alice in Chains album that made it on the solo record. It could be referred to as the real follow up to the self entitled Alice in Chains because if you read the credits both Kinney and Inez are credited. Ultimately, I can't really complain about anything from the record as it's solid but not Alice in Chains good despite some are worthy on being on one such as "Dickeye", "My Song" and "Between".
1. "Dickeye" 5:07
2. "Cut You In" 3:23
3. "My Song" 4:07
4. "Settling Down" 6:12
5. "Breaks My Back" 7:07
6. "Jesus Hands" 5:37
7. "Devil by His Side" 4:50
8. "Keep the Light on" 4:49
9. "Satisfy" 3:35
10. "Hurt a Long Time" 5:41
11. "Between" 3:37
12. "Cold Piece" 8:29

Stone Temple Pilots - Tiny Music...Songs From the Vatican Gift Shop (1996)

This album definitely brings me back to the time I was living down in the Bay Area. My father had this on cassette and we'd always listen to it while we went anywhere. I was looking through the used CD's at Rasputin and I crossed paths with Tiny Music at 1.95. It was a must buy at that low price. Sometimes you get lucky skimming in the unorganized used section but, I was pretty lucky to get it dirt cheap as it was on stands for a couple bucks more. It always seemed to me that STP's third album never got the respect that the previous two albums did. Purple and Core are great albums but it could make an argument of that Tiny Music can possibly have more depth than the previous releases. You can definitely tell there's Led Zeppelin influence in this album which is the thing I like about Stone Temple Pilot albums always sound different and none sound the same. It's a good idea for any band to make diversity a priority while recording songs as they did an excellent job of exploring musical talents within the band to go further into there musical capabilities. Songs to check out are "Trippin' on a Hole in a Paper Heart", "Big Bang Baby" and "Pop's Love Suicide".

1.	"Press Play"	Stone Temple Pilots	1:21
2.	"Pop's Love Suicide"	D. DeLeo, S. Weiland	3:40
3.	"Tumble in the Rough"	S. Weiland	3:18
4.	"Big Bang Baby"	R. DeLeo, S. Weiland	3:21
5.	"Lady Picture Show"	R. DeLeo, S. Weiland	4:06
6.	"And So I Know"	R. DeLeo, S. Weiland	3:56
7.	"Trippin' on a Hole in a Paper Heart"	E. Kretz, S. Weiland	2:54
8.	"Art School Girl"	R. DeLeo, S. Weiland	3:32
9.	"Adhesive"	R. DeLeo, S. Weiland	5:31
10.	"Ride the Cliché"	D. DeLeo, S. Weiland	3:15
11.	"Daisy"	R. DeLeo	2:13
12.	"Seven Caged Tigers"	D. DeLeo, S. Weiland	4:17

The Darkness - Permission to Land (2003)

I remember watching the music video for "I Believe in a Thing Called Love" and being like what the fuck is this? The Darkness is not your average hard rock band because they just are hitting criteria from different kind of rock genres like it could be mistaken for hair metal or something out of the eighties. Now being a fan and introducing them to friends, I begin with the you'll either love them or think there the most annoying band ever. I've heard a lot of both but, no one can really discredit the release Permission to Land. It went number one in the U.K. and sold extremely good around the world. It's a great album and I'm glad to of got it at a low price. My only problem with the record is that the album seems short if you listen to it through. I think listeners will be intrigued by the ridiculousness of some of the songs like "Get Your Hands Off My Woman" and "Black Shuck"
.

1. "Black Shuck" – 3:20
2. "Get Your Hands Off My Woman" – 2:46
3. "Growing on Me" – 3:29
4. "I Believe in a Thing Called Love" – 3:36
5. "Love Is Only a Feeling" – 4:19
6. "Givin' Up" – 3:34
7. "Stuck in a Rut" – 3:17
8. "Friday Night" – 2:56
9. "Love on the Rocks With No Ice" – 5:56
10. "Holding My Own" – 4:56

Jeff Buckley - Grace (1994)

I will be doing little reviews of what albums i'm checking out these days. I picked up an album recently at Borders on Santana Row since i'm on vacation in San Jose right now. I've been skimming for a record for a bit while i've been down on vacation that my buddy from the United Kingdom Shakil Tahsin recommended me. I had been going through problems with a fellow lady friend and I was telling him all about it. I kind of feel good talking about it like getting it out of my system has been extremely hard. The irony was that he had been blown away by now deceased Jeff Buckley, that it helped him in a similar way which was served as an antidote to myself. The album Grace by Jeff Buckley is not what I'd ever be caught listening to back in the 8th grade because let's face it I had the routine of blasting bands like Metallica and Megadeth as I got out of school everyday for nearly half of my life. The style of Buckley's was a drastic turn or a guilty pleasure.
It was one of the albums I must have even though I downloaded it and put it on my iPod. At 8.99 it was an instant pickup. I loved listening to it in the car as it's a completely different experience listening to it while you're on the road and introducing the material to friends. To me it's an album without fillers, for instance arguably the most beloved song from Grace is Leonard Cohen cover "Hallelujah" which is my least favorite song from the album. Songs to check out are "Last Goodbye", "Grace" and "Corpus Christi Carol".

1. "Mojo Pin" (Jeff Buckley/Gary Lucas) – 5:42
2. "Grace" (Jeff Buckley/Gary Lucas) – 5:22
3. "Last Goodbye" – 4:35^[30]
4. "Lilac Wine" (James Shelton) – 4:32
5. "So Real" (Jeff Buckley/Michael Tighe) – 4:43
6. "Hallelujah" (Leonard Cohen, arr. Jeff Buckley) – 6:53
7. "Lover, You Should've Come Over" – 6:43
8. "Corpus Christi Carol" (Traditional/Benjamin Britten) – 2:56
9. "Eternal Life" – 4:52
10. "Dream Brother" (Jeff Buckley/Mick Grondahl/Matt Johnson) – 5:26