Something metal this way comes...

This week, in honor of my essay on Motley Crue, I was listening to metal. So I'm gonna post a couple songs and talk about why they're awesome, like always.

Oh and before i forget about the sketch part, like I did last week, this is the drawing I did this week:

It's a devil. I did it all scribbles on purpose. I don't know why. Thought it would look cool.

In any event, I thought a devil was appropriate for metal week.

First song, let's go Motley:

This song is called "Kickstart My Heart". It's one of the most bad ass rock and roll songs I've ever heard. A little background, Motley Crue is (they are still touring and making new music) a Glam Metal band that from LA. They made their debut in 1981. The members have been the same since 1981 except for on one album when the singer changed, but that was temporary.

As it stands, Motley Crue consists of:

•Nikki Sixx- Bass guitar and primary songwriter
•Tommy Lee- Drums, Piano and Backup vocals
•Mick Mars- Lead and Rhythm Guitar
•Vince Neil- Lead Vocals and Rhythm Guitar

The goal for Motley Crue was to be the biggest, loudest, raunchiest, sleaziest, sexiest, most aggressive, bad ass, drug using womanizing, car buying and most in your face band ever.

Suffice to say, they succeeded. Motley Crue was and still ridiculous. Without a doubt they were the best at what they did. No one ever has or ever will be able to do what Motley did for rock and roll. More than anything though, they revolutionized the way a show is put on live and the attitude it takes to be a bad ass rock and roll group.

Today, all 4 members of Motley Crue no longer use drugs and only two of them (Neil and Mars) still drink, but only on occasion. They had to stop sometime right? Otherwise they'd all be dead. As it is, Nikki Sixx has survived being dead twice. Both times of a heroin overdose. Seriously, how rock and roll is that? Being dead twice and being like, "Nope, I think I'll live a bit longer." He probably had a nice conversation with the devil while he was croaked.

Some other Motley songs I like:
-Girls Girls Girls
-Shout at the Devil
-Primal Scream
-Saints of Los Angeles
-Wild Side
-Smokin' in the Boys Room (which is actually a cover song, not written by Motley)

NEXT SONG:

This song is called Under a Glass Moon and it's by a group called Dream Theater off of their album, Images and Words. DT is one of my favorite groups of all time because they have such a heavy sound with a lot of hair and mojo, but still are one of the most musically and technically complex groups out there. They are often praised for the technical excellency of each of their musicians.

Currently, Dream Theater is:

•John Petrucci- Guitar
•Mike Mangini- Drums
•John Myung- Bass Guitar
•Jordan Rudess- Keyboard/Synthesizers
•James LaBrie- Vocals

On this song, the drummer is Mike Portnoy who was actually their original drummer and a founding member of the band. He remained with DT until this past year when he and the rest of the group had a falling out of sorts and he felt he had no other choice but to quit the band.

A quality of Dream Theater that I really appreciate is that each of their songs are so long, you really get what you pay for in terms of length of the album. Also, each song showcases the talent of all the musicians in the band at one point or another. The solos are nuts. Especially the guitar solos. I've never heard anyone play guitar like John Petrucci.

Also, Dream Theater often plays in time signatures that would be impossible for most bands out there to keep up with. Their songs are rhythmically engaging and musically extremely challenging. 

NEXT (and last) SONG:

This is called The Devil's Orchard by a band called Opeth from Sweden. I don't have much to say about them. They basically speak for themselves in the music. I will say this though, I got the chance to see them live once and they were unreal. One of the best shows I've ever been to.

Here are some other bands to check out if you're interested:
-Beardfish
-Avenged Sevenfold
-SixxAM
-Methods of Mayhem
-Pain of Salvation
-Five Finger Death Punch (specifically the song Bad Company. Shit is unreal)

Thanks for reading y'all! I know metal can be tough for some people to get into, but it really is a great genre of music. And awesome for those days when the expression on your face might as well be a middle finger to everyone walking by you.