The Smashing Pumpkins - Siamese Dream (1993)

Over six million albums sold of Siamese Dream was the turning point for The Smashing Pumpkins. I've never been a huge Pumpkin fan but, it goes over because the diversity of the material. It's also known vocalist Billy Corgan was suicidal and very depressed at the time. I've heard it may have had something to do with his weight gain and he had become such a nervous wreck about his relationships, the image of how he thought of himself led him to go see a therapist. The album was produced by Butch Vig who had just done Nirvana's Nevermind. It's interesting that sometimes when bands don't get along at all they could still make something special. From the alternative rock scene you could say that they were one of the most original bands at the time. I'm not a huge fan of Corgan's singing, later on his singing is more whiny but, he's a great lyricist. Siamese Dream had hit big, they were nominated twice at the Grammy Awards for the album in 1993 or 1994. I would rate it second to Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness, there next album. Songs to check out "Cherub Rock", "Today" and "Disarm".

1. "Cherub Rock" – 4:58
2. "Quiet" – 3:41
3. "Today" – 3:19
4. "Hummer" – 6:57
5. "Rocket" – 4:06
6. "Disarm" – 3:17
7. "Soma" – 6:39
8. "Geek U.S.A." – 5:13
9. "Mayonaise" – 5:49
10. "Spaceboy" – 4:28
11. "Silverfuck" – 8:43
12. "Sweet Sweet" – 1:38
13. "Luna" – 3:20

Van Halen - Van Halen I (1978)

This is the album that started it all! It's one of the most important hard rock albums of all time and it's about time for me to share my thoughts of the debut album. In 1978, I have no clue what the music scene really was like because I didn't live in the 70's or 80's but, Van Halen was an instant attraction to the rock community. Gene Simmons prior to the album said Van Halen would never make it and he was very wrong as they turned into one of the biggest spectacles after Van Halen, they set the eighties trends and packed rafters every night. They had it all, Eddie Van Halen one of the best guitarists of all time who can melt your face and the very energetic David Lee Roth on vocals. It didn't matter if you were male or female, everyone could like Van Halen. They did the extensive tour opening up with Black Sabbath and they hit it big soon after. The album's instrumental "Eruption" is what made Eddie one of a kind, I've never heard anybody do what he did before Van Halen I. Songs to check out "Runnin' With the Devil", "You Really Got Me" and "Jamie's Cryin'".

1. "Runnin' with the Devil" 3:34
2. "Eruption" 1:42
3. "You Really Got Me" (Ray Davies) 2:38
4. "Ain't Talkin' 'bout Love" 3:49
5. "I'm the One" 3:46
6. "Jamie's Cryin'" 3:29
7. "Atomic Punk" 3:03
8. "Feel Your Love Tonight" 3:42
9. "Little Dreamer" 3:23
10. "Ice Cream Man" (John Brim) 3:19
11. "On Fire" 2:57

Alice in Chains - MTV Unplugged (1996)

Easily my favorite Unplugged performances by ones of my favorite bands. It's not there best release but, if you enjoy the slower songs it is definitely for you. My dad had the album back in the day, I've been listening to them forever and it's especially sad to hear one of Layne's last stuff with the band. It was even more depressing watching the actual show and he looked like he'd been on a drug binge. A cool tale from the show is Mike Inez had something written on his guitar saying friends don't let friends get haircuts because Metallica had cut there hair and were in attendance. I noticed on the CD version they edited out when Layne messes up on the lyrics to "Sludge Factory". One of the biggest disadvantages from the televising show was that it didn't feature "Killer is Me" one of my favorites they did that night. That song had been featured in any album, I always wondered if that was a song that didn't make the self entitled album for whatever reason. It could be a song they wrote after that album since Inez wasn't playing bass because Scott Olsen was playing bass on that song so I'm unsure of the origin of that great track. A like all Alice in Chains, if you've never heard it you must have lived under a rock. Songs to check out "Over Now", "Killer is Me" and "Nutshell".

1. "Nutshell" – 4:58
2. "Brother" – 5:27
3. "No Excuses" – 4:57
4. "Sludge Factory" – 4:36
5. "Down in a Hole" – 5:46
6. "Angry Chair" – 4:36
7. "Rooster" – 6:41
8. "Got Me Wrong" – 4:59
9. "Heaven Beside You" – 5:38
10. "Would?" – 3:43
11. "Frogs" – 7:30
12. "Over Now" – 7:12
13. "Killer Is Me" – 5:23

Ministry - Psalm 69: The Way to Succeed and the Way to Suck Eggs (1992)

It doesn't get any better if you're into industrial metal with Ministry's Psalm 69. This is the album that got them more noticed and were even nominated for the best metal performance for "N.W.O." at a Grammy's Awards Show. Nine Inch Nails had just gotten the genre super popular and it's one of those important albums because there was the cult thing happening. Still to this day no one seems to recognize this as one of the greatest metal records of the nineties and the atmosphere they created was something new and innovative. It's a shame because they're one of the fiercest and dark bands you'll come across. It's brilliantly aggressive in a different kind of way because it has the thrash attack with the industrial sound which they blend it like no other. It's horribly massively sounding, few picked there influence up and they put spins on it like Rammstein. It's as cutting edge as anything I've heard and it's not new at all but, it's there style which I highly admire. They produce great albums, this is like the Master of Puppets of industrial metal in my opinion. Songs to check out "Just One Fix", "Jesus Built My Hotrod" and "N.W.O."

1. "N.W.O." 5:31
2. "Just One Fix" 5:11
3. "TV II" 3:04
4. "Hero" 4:13
5. "Jesus Built My Hotrod" 4:51
6. "Scare Crow" 8:21
7. "Psalm 69" 5:29
8. "Corrosion" 4:56
9. "Grace" 3:05

Candlebox - Candlebox (1993)

Following up from other Seattle acts, Candlebox's debut did very well selling. They had good singles as at this time popular music was actually somewhat good in the rock field of course. It's kind of mysterious how a lot of bands went nowhere when they had such potential. Either the people listening on the airwaves got tired, personal problems within the bands, record companies shunned them for not selling it in there parameters of what they're goals in sales were. Even though there from Seattle and were considered alternative rock/grunge there's definitely blues influence in there songs they don't appear to me as grunge really. It's nothing new really, it sounds like it's from the nineties. I never understood why the song "You" was so popular, I still think it's overrated even though it's considered one of there best songs. I just never saw anything in that song. If you're into stuff like Collective Soul or Live, perhaps this is a good revisit. Songs to check out "Far Behind", "Cover Me" and "Change".


1. "Don't You" — 3:12
2. "Change" — 6:24
3. "You" — 4:56
4. "No Sense" — 4:49
5. "Far Behind" — 4:59
6. "Blossom" — 4:30
7. "Arrow" — 3:13
8. "Rain" — 6:58
9. "Mother's Dream" — 4:31
10. "Cover Me" — 4:46
11. "He Calls Home" — 5:03

Megadeth - Cryptic Writings (1997)

I believe this is one of the first Megadeth albums I heard, ultimately the one that got me into them. It's not a popular pick, the common use of the word sell out had been ringing in the ears and minds whenever I read something about Cryptic Writings how people on the internet felt about it. I always thought of this album as Megadeth hooky album. Like what Metallica did with Load, I guess in someways this was Megadeth's Load. Nowhere near as good as Load though but, it has the same blues influence in the songs. I remember being really addicted to this album when I was in seventh grade, listening to it on the bus in the morning on the 15 minute bus ride to my middle school. You can only go so far doing thrash metal your entire life that how could one not get tired and push for a new musical direction. I also believe Dave Mustaine didn't think he could repeat another Rust in Peace and in my opinion never has has come close. This is the last time with the classic lineup as well. I think Mustaine was showing more care for his vocals and lyrics too at this time because there had been maturity growth within the start of the band to Cryptic Writings. People who try to be critics are usually narrow minded and ignorant, who cares if it's a commercial release it's Megadeth. So fucking what..wrong band but, you get my point. Songs to check out "Trust", "Sin" and "Almost Honest".

1. "Trust" 5:12
2. "Almost Honest" 4:09
3. "Use the Man" 4:04
4. "Mastermind" 3:48
5. "The Disintegrators" 3:05
6. "I'll Get Even" 4:19
7. "Sin" 3:06
8. "A Secret Place" 5:25
9. "Have Cool, Will Travel" 3:40
10. "She-Wolf" 3:38
11. "Vortex" 3:23
12. "FFF" 2:47

Dave Matthews Band - Everyday (2001)

Everyday brings back good memories to me as this was what I was listening to back in 2001. I never got into the band itself but, I loved this album. Flipping some of the songs for the first time in probably years, I know a good majority of the lyrics from the songs and I'm not even a fan. My first exposure to them was the music video for "I Did It". It was popular and I'm sure it was the number one album in the world it just always did it for me. I was one of the many million who had gotten that CD, I think I got it along with U2's All That You Can't Leave Behind. Which I'm not a U2 fan but, that's what I grew up listening to as nothing hits me like any of the other material but the two albums they did that I enjoyed. I guess I always had a ear for music because jesus christ I was like nine or ten going on my journey to become a music enthusiast. I don't normally like acoustic based stuff like Jack Johnson(gross) but, exceptions can be made. Songs to check out "Everyday", "The Space Between" and "I Did It".

1. "I Did It" – 3:36
2. "When the World Ends" – 3:32
3. "The Space Between" – 4:03
4. "Dreams of Our Fathers" – 4:41
5. "So Right" – 4:41
6. "If I Had It All" – 4:03
7. "What You Are" – 4:33
8. "Angel" – 3:58
9. "Fool to Think" – 4:14
10. "Sleep to Dream Her" – 4:25
11. "Mother Father" – 4:24
12. "Everyday" – 4:43