http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U-fVB0kRwJY
This track is from my second album The Walrus Chronicles (In case you're keeping track). I'm having trouble uploading it to MP3.com, but it's available on reverbnation: http://www.reverbnation.com/mikesfdupjourney
Please enjoy.
Edit: MP3 now available on MP3.com:http://www.mp3.com/artist/mikes-fd-up-journey/songs/
And Myspace: http://www.myspace.com/mikesfdupjourney
It's been a while since I've done a blog, so here I go with the top 3 bands in my list of favorite bands. This next one is a legendary metal band, in my opinion the best metal band of all time. They started with one lineup and by the mid 80's only had the original bassist left. They gave heavy metal one of its first and most iconic mascots, the ever evolving, creepy and awesome creature known as Eddie. If you don't know who it is by now, it's time to Up the Irons!
#3 Iron Maiden
Bruce and the boys have kept Metal alive for over three decades now (although, between us, let's pretend the 90's never happened). Their recent movie Flight 666 shows that they can still kick major arse on stage. Their often thought provoking lyrics, intense and intricate instrumental work and Herculean vocals have earned the band an elite status amongst metal fans, and rightfully so. I recently made a list of 5 bands that I would love to have been a part of, and Iron Maiden was one of them. Maiden is essential listening for anyone interested in hard rock or metal. From their early punk-like intensity to their world conquering epics, the boys have proven time and again that they are the greatest metal band of all time. Here's to Bruce, Dave, Adrian, Janick, Nicko and Steve A.K.A. Iron Maiden
Top Albums:
#5 Seventh Son of a Seventh Son (Sure, this was possibly Maiden's softest album due to the use of Synths but Maiden did not settle for making pop songs, unlike some of their peers. The songs here are among their finest. Moonchild starts off with an ominous verse with an acoustic backing before exploding into a really cool synth section with guitars a blazin'. Infinite Dreams is among Maiden's best ballads. Can I Play with Madness is energetic and fun, a bit of a departure from their typical dark sound. The Evil That Men do is one of my all time favorite Maiden tracks and has their signature galloping bassline and a killer chorus. The title track is epic and majestic, very strong atmosphere to it. The album ends with Only the Good Die Young which features a reprise of the verse that opened the album.)
#4 Piece of Mind (Maiden's second album with Bruce Dickinson, and the first album to feature theessential lineup. It is a strong album, even if it does feel like Number of the Beast part 2. Where Eagles Dare is a powerful opener based on a 1968 WWII spy film. Revelations dispels any rumors that Maiden are Satanists. Flight of Icarus is a catchy rocker based on the myth of the boy who flew too close to the sun on wings of wax. Die with Your Boots On is another great rocker. The Trooper is one of the essential Heavy Metal songs with an awesome riff and solo. It's so good that I'll even forgive it for having Russians as the villains. Still Life contains the album's name as one of its lyrics. To Tame a Land is one of Maiden's underrated album closers. It took me a while to appreciate it.)
#3 Number of the Beast (The album that earned Maiden its notoriety. I never really cared for Invaders, but it's an energetic opener. Children of the Damned is a great anthem. The Prisoner, based on the TV show, is another adrenaline pumping rocker with a great chorus. 22 Acacia Avenue is part 2 of the story of Charlotte the Harlot. The title track has earned Maiden some fierce enemies (religious groups) but has one of the most iconic opening passages in all of Metal. C'mon, Bruce's "Yeah" is f'ing legendary. Run to the Hills is the big single off the album that puts the mistreatment and slaughter of the Native Americans at center stage. And the album closer is the gothicmasterpiece Hallowed Be Thy Name, possibly the best Metal song ever written. The slow opening and orgasmic conclusion make this the best 7:11 of your life, or end of it.)
#2 Iron Maiden (The self titled album that started it all. This is noticeably different in soundfrom the later albums due to the raw production, punkish lead singer Paul Di'Anno and original line-up, more or less. Prowler is an immediate, in your face rock song with a great riff and vocals. Remember Tomorrow shows Maiden's softer side with subdued melodies combined with the occasional heavy riff. Running Free is the most mainstream and straight-forward rocker Maiden ever made, and a damn catchy one. Phantom of the Opera is the album's epic, really raw and awesome riffing. Transylvania is one of Maiden's few instrumentals, probably the best one. Strange World has great lyrics. And of course, Iron Maiden, the album's title track and the band's calling card is a great rocker and closing track.)
#1 Powerslave (The most epic album Maiden ever made, before A Matter of Life and Death, is also my favorite. This was Maiden at its absolute peak. They perfected the formula that they began with Number of the Beast and refined with Piece of Mind. Aces High is a high velocity opener, probably the best NWOBHM album opening track besides Ace of Spades. Two Minutes to Midnight was the first Maiden song I ever heard and features one of their best guitar solos. Losfer Words (Big 'Orra) was Maiden's final Instrumental, and a strong one at that. Flash of the Blade has an awesome opening riff. The Duelists has a great gallop to it. The title track is one of Maiden's best songs ever and is about the idea of a leader being treated like a god while alive, but in the end he ends up being no less susceptible to death than a commoner, a "slave to the power of death". Rime of the Ancient Mariner, based on the poem by Coleridge, is the most epic Maiden song ever. 13.5 minutes of outstanding guitar, drums, bass and vocals. Definitely an homage to 70's Prog rock and an amazing end to a heavy metal landmark.)
Top Songs:
10) Number of the Beast (I used it in one of my videos. That scream is awe-inspiring.)
9) Two Minutes to Midnight (My first Maiden song.)
8 ) The Reincarnation of Benjamin Breeg (Really heavy riff after a slow intro, Maiden is still rockin' in 2000's)
7) Killers (Killer song from the second album, no pun intended)
6) Fear of the Dark (Great crowd song)
5) Prowler (Who says Maiden needed Bruce to rock?)
4) Alexander the Great (Great atmosphere and instrumental passages)
3) Rime of the Ancient Mariner (EPIC!!!)
2) The Evil That Men Do (Turn up the speakers and blast it full volume.)
1) Hallowed Be Thy Name (The Ultimate Metal Song.)
My cover of Black Sabbath's Paranoid with 2 versions of vocals
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I'll be releasing a cover song soon.
I just got it in the mail, and I have a smile on my face. I'm glad the members of Green Day are still pushing themselves and not releasing the same album over and over again like other mainstream bands do *cough* AC/DC *cough*. Definitely one of the top 3 in their catalogue.
It's not for those who think they peaked on Dookie though. It's slick and more like a classic rock album than a pop punk album.
I'm graduating soon and didn't get to finish my series of lists before then so I'll at least get this one done before Monday. This next band helped save the music industry from the mind-numbingly stupid excesses of Hair metal. Tragically cut short in 1994, the year when my #5 pick happened to rise to fame. These three were the Beatles/Cream of our generation and arguably the last great rock band.
#4 Nirvana
This trio was one of the greatest alternative/grunge bands of all time. Not just for their own music, which was always awesome and heartfelt, but for helping to bring the musical underground to the mainstream for a short period of time in the 90's before everything went downhill in the second half of the decade with the rise of pop stars and boy bands. Kurt is one of my heroes. He lived and died believing in the integrity of his music and his art. He chose not to sell out, I hope not to sell out either. He was a rebel: check out his performance at the MtV music awards: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z8y5ibUBw1k&feature=PlayList&p=88D51868B9C9ABE1&playnext=1&playnext_from=PL&index=19 It's funny that he had bad blood with one of the other bands on my top 10 list, specifically Axl Rose from GNR. Kurt Cobain was the last great rock star, everyone after him lacked his charisma and spirit. His fellow band members were no slouches either. Krist Novoselic and Dave Grohl were an awesome rhythm section and Dave has went on to be on some great albums and do cool collaborations with everyone from Lemmy to Queens of the Stone Age. Here's to Kurt, Krist and Dave A.K.A. Nirvana.
Top Albums:
#5 Incesticide (The b-sides album. This contained some great lesser known songs from the band. It wasn't cohesive like their other studio albums, but it had some cool songs. New Wave Polly was a cool twist of the track from Nevermind. Dive has a great bass line to it and has a great churning quality, similar to Bleach-era songs. Sliver is a cool childhood song. Been a Son sounds like it could have been on Nevermind. And don't forget the best song of the album, Aneurysm. Arguably the best song that Nirvana ever wrote, this has everything: quiet loud dynamic, screaming, strong instrumental performances from everyone, and great lyrics. I prefer a different version that was on the "With the Lights Out" box set, but the song is legendary anyway.
#4 Bleach (This was early Nirvana, pre-Dave. The music is definitely reminiscent of late eighties sludge music, in a good way. Some fans insist that this is their best album because it was their least commercial one. It's a good album, but the top 3 are legendary in my mind. This was a great blueprint though. About a Girl, the soft song, could compete with the best of Nirvana's softer songs. Blew has a great, dirty feel to it, the bass is thick and the vocals go really well with it. Floyd the Barber, dark and foreboding, another great early track. Love Buzz, a cover song, has a cool Egyptian riff and mysterious vibe to it. And of course there's School which has one of my favorite choruses of all time "No Recess!"
#3 Nevermind (The first of 3 legendary albums. This could act as a greatest hits of Nirvana. It's a perfect album with no filler. Some might complain about the clean sounding production, but I think it adds to the timeless nature of the music and the band. Smells Like Teen Spirit, Overplayed but not Overrated, this 'throwaway', Pixies-esque tune changed the music industry. It's a battle cry and spawned one of the best music videos of all time. In Bloom is a tongue-in-cheek tune with possibly Kurt's best guitar solo. Come as You are is a haunting ballad-type song with a great bass line and hauntingly prophetic refrain "I don't have a gun". Lithium, the song they played at their infamous performance on the MTV music awards in 1992, has some funny self-effacing lyrics. Polly is a dark tale of abuse set to soothing music. Something in the Way is a very quiet and haunting song that has a cool bonus song after it. Wait for it...)
#2 In Utero (The final studio album. This album tested the loyalty of all the posers who claimed to be Nirvana fans even though they only knew Smells Like Teen Spirit. This album proved that Nirvana was a great rock band: they didn't settle for making themselves more radio friendly, in fact they lashed out on songs like Radio Friendly Unit Shifter which has an awesome noise rock aspect to it. Serve the Servant is like the opposite of Smells Like Teen Spirit, instead of roaring onto the scene with youthful abandon, this tune laments the loss of youth. Scentless Apprentice is great aggressive rock with some awesome drumming. Heart Shaped Box is the big single and has a cool riff and a crazy video, especially the alternate version with Kurt in a field of poppies. Rape Me is just a freaking awesome song with an explosive finale, and it's a metaphor kiddies. Dumb is a soft song, but a great one. All Apologies, is the track that ends the album in a very majestic fashion with the unsettling refrain "All alone is all we are." Just imagine how great the 4th album could have been if they had kept experimenting like on In Utero. A shame that we'll never see it. It would have had "You Know You're Right" on it most likely.)
#1 Unplugged (Now I know that I'll get some heat for this choice. It's their softest album. They barely have any electric instruments on the album. There's no aggression here. Screw that, this album is wonderful. This album is Kurt Cobain's obituary. What's interesting is that the cover songs steal the show. Sure the new twists on some great Nirvana songs like On a Plain, Pennyroyal Tea, All Apologies and Come As You Are are appreciated. Jesus Don't Want Me For a Sunbeam is delivered with a great melancholy voice. The Man Who Sold the World is arguably the best performance on the disc, trumping Bowie's original. The three Meat Puppets songs are awesome, especially Oh Me and Lake of Fire. My favorite track on the album is Lead Belly's Where Did You Sleep Last Night. Not only a great blues song and requiem for Nirvana, but possibly one of the most moving and scary performances of a song I've ever heard. Check out the video for yourself, when Kurt seemingly sees death itself waiting for him after his screeching yell. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eglOHphhpcg Understated album, but an epic way for the band to end.)
Top Songs:
10) Smells Like Teen Spirit (The Anthem of the 90's. Not their best song but definitely the song of the decade.)
9) About a Girl (Beatle-esque.)
8 ) The Man Who Sold The World (They nailed it.)
7) Rape Me (Just an Awesome F-You to everyone who messes with you!)
6) Come As You Are (Hell, I covered it!)
5) School (No Recess!!!!)
4) All Apologies (Very understated and powerful.)
3) Where did You Sleep Last Night (Brilliant Cover, chilling and transcendent.)
2) You Know You're Right (If only there were a fourth album just as good as this final official Nirvana track)
1) Aneurysm (F***ing awesome song.)
Ok, It's been a while since I've done one of these, but I'd really like to finish them before I graduate so here we go. This next band holds a very important place in my heart. Their music got me into rock music of all sorts, specifically into collecting and really appreciating various different bands from Nirvana to Jimi Hendrix to Motorhead, etc. They also helped motivate me to become a musician. If they could do it, so could I.
#5 Green Day
This trio has been together for almost as long as I've been alive. They helped revive punk in the wake of the grunge movement and the death of hair metal. Possibly the most successful band to come from the punk scene, Green Day has transcended that simple category (no offense to Punk as a genre) and have proven to be versatile songwriters. For those who say that they are sell outs, I say that's bull. Sure they got a major label deal, but their music didn't suffer from it, it actually got even more creative. They took over the world twice, once in 1994 with Dookie and again a decade later with American Idiot. I appreciated their influence on me enough to found the Ultimate Green Day Fan Union during the peak of my Green Day fandom. They may no longer be my favorite band of all time, but I owe them my taste in music and my life. More on that later. Here's to Billie Joe, Mike and Tre, or as the fans like to call them, Green Day
Top Albums
#5 American Idiot (OK. This one has the most relevance in terms of my life. I was in dire straits during my freshman year of college. I was still reeling from breaking up with a long time girlfriend, all my buddies were off in different states for college, my grandmother passed away, I was commuting to college and therefore wasn't as able to form new friendships... It was tough. I had little to no positive things in my life. Except this album. This album, and to a lesser extent Green Day's other albums, gave me hope. Sure I hear some fans dismiss the album because it's not like their earlier albums (i.e. Dookie), but since when is musical growth a crime? OK I admit the image (makeup) change was questionable, but it did go well with the whole theatrical aspect of the album. The songs on here are pretty much all good in one way or another. Boulevard... and Wake Me... are on the light side and were my early favorites before delving further into the albums deep cuts. American Idiot, St. Jimmy and Whatsename are closest to old school Green Day. Jesus of Suburbia and Homecoming are really cool epics that frame the album's story arc. They have a mixture of influences: Queen, The Who, The Clash, Meatloaf, etc. The slower songs like Are We the Waiting and Give Me Novocaine add a nice layer of depth and also give the album breaths before more rapid fire songs like St. Jimmy and She's a Rebel. My personal favorite song is Letterbomb, it has a cool intro and builds quite nicely. Anyone who doesn't like the album is missing the point.)
#4 Warning (This is considered a Black Sheep by many Green Day fans, which is unfortunate. It was one of the least successful albums that they released and that's a shame because a lot of my favorite songs are on here. Warning is a great opening track and the music video for it is hilarious. This was one of the first hints of Green Day's political side, to a small degree. Blood Sex and Booze is a fun song about, well you can probably guess from the title. Misery is an oddball song that tells a story about different people with unfortunate fates, the music sounds nigh Russian, which is a plus. Jackass has one of my favorite choruses by Green Day: "Everybody loves a joke. But no one likes a fool. And you're always cracking the same old lines again. You're well rehearsed on every verse. And that was stated clear. But no one understands your verity". Waiting is my sister's favorite Green Day song. Minority is the most balls to the wall song on the album and it's a great anthem for the underappreciated, like Green Day was by 2000. Macy's Day Parade is one of my favorite Green Day songs of all time, it shows how well Billie Joe could evoke an emotional response with a 3.5 minute song, I even tried playing it in episode 4 of my miniseries (check my videos if you want a refresher.))
#3 Dookie (the landmark album that catapulted Green Day to success. The song list is epic. Longview has a legendary bassline leading into a song about playing with "yourself", shall we say, the first of two songs on the album to deal with that, the other being All By Myself. Welcome to Paradise version 2 has a more alternative edge to it than the earlier version, but it kicks butt either way. Basketcase is the timeless single about insecurity that all adolescents go through at some point. When I Come Around is probably their best love song, but you can't argue with that riff either. She is the lesser known single from the album that was apparently about his ex girlfriend and at one performance of it, Billie Joe was actually naked, lol, I just found out today, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/She_(Green_Day_song). In the End is a great song about a guy poking fun at a girl's love interest. FOD is one of my favorite tunes on the album, it really explodes in the second half of the song as Billie Joe drops the f-bomb. All by Myself is the hidden track a few minutes after FOD, and it's hilarious and sung by Tre Cool. )
#2 Kerplunk! (what? A Green Day album better than both Dookie and American Idiot? Yes, Kerplunk! is a lost gem. It was Tre Cool's debut with the group, and it's amazing. 2000 Light Years Away is a yearning love song about long distance relationships. One for the Razorbacks has a great riff and an explosive verse. Welcome to Paradise version 1 is more punkish in sound and is, according to some, the more authentic version, I think both are great for different reasons, check out the mash-up video I did in my videos section:http://www.gamespot.com/users/brickmanfalcon/video_player?id=KiRmwmOt5b8LvDLW . Christie Road is one of Green Day's most iconic songs, definitely one for true fans. Dominated Love Slave is a hilarious faux country song sung by Tre Cool. 80 is a ****c melody and if I'm not mistaken is actually a reference to Billie Joe's then future wife Adrienne Nesser. Android is a cool song about aging/death/ questioning humanity?, it has a punkish beginning, haunting mid/late section before exploding again. No One Knows is depressing, but in a good way, early indication that Green Day could pen more introspective songs. And arguably the best song on the album is Who Wrote Holden Caulfield?, great riff and lyrics, early Green Day at its finest. )
#1 Nimrod (Yeah, this smorgasbord of songs is my pick for best Green Day album. It's halfway between the snotty pop punk of Dookie and the arty collage of genres of American Idiot. The album sees Green Day at its hardest and softest points, with plenty of great hooks, riffs and melodies in between. Some say that if the song list was more concise, then it would be their best album. F*** that! It is their best just the way it is. Nice Guys Finish Last has one of my favorite music videos ever. Hitchin a Ride has a real cool retro vibe to it (a precedent for Misery, I guess) that explodes in the chorus and bridge/solo sections. Redundant is one of my Sister's favorite Green Day songs. Scattered has really lovely vocal melodies to it. Platypus (I Hate You) is pure aggression. Last Ride In is one of Green Day's rare instrumentals, has a real surfer vibe. Reject is a great punk song about standing up for yourself, I'm guessing that a certain "All American" band got their name from the chorus of this song. Take Back is Green Day's 1+ minute attempt at a thrashy/hardcore song, it's decent. King for a Day kicks off the final trilogy of songs on the album, this is a tale of childhood cross-dressing, this is hilarious live (check out Bullet in a Bible). Good Riddance (Time of Your Life) was, before Boulevard of Broken Dreams, Green Day's biggest ballad/single, it's ironic that this is used for weddings and other occasions since the title suggests that he's glad that it's over, "Good Riddance". Prosthetic Head is a cool laid back song about superficiality that ends the album on a mellow note. Awesome album.)
Top Songs:
10) Boulevard of Broken Songs (check this out http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UF08xPMTq80)
9) Brain Stew (one of the first riffs I learned on guitar. Iconic)
8 ) Reject (probably my favorite song from Nimrod. Simple and to the point)
7) Going to Pasalacqua (Early gem from Green Day's pre-Tre era)
6) Letterbomb (my favorite song off American Idiot.)
5) The Saints are Coming (cover with U2. Very moving music video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=seGhTWE98DU)
4) Favorite Son (my favorite non-album track. It reminds me of Creedence Clearwater Revival's Fortunate Son).
3) Macy's Day Parade (My favorite sad song by Green Day)
2) Who Wrote Holden Caulfield? (The highlight of Kerplunk!)
1) Welcome to Paradise (both versions are awesome; this is my all time favorite Green Day song. The riffs are amazing, yet simple.)
I've been promising this for a long time now, but I can finally confirm that a Byzantium music video is on its way. Any MFUJ fans out there should totally check it out when I upload it later this week. I've already filmed the drums and bass sections. Anyone who has watched my Brickmanfalcon/Slate miniseries should recognize the drummer as the Shadowy Figure who corrupts Slate. The bassist is a new character, well not new to me, but to you. I won't ruin the surprise, but he's funny and awesome.
I'm filming Brick's guitar segment and Slate's vocal segment on Thursday. I'll splice those together with the footage I filmed today.
The tone of the video reflects the tone of my band: tongue in cheek humor with a bit of cold hard reality in there. Satire rooted in truth. My latest album, The Walrus Chronicles, is more concerned with socio-political issues. But this is from my first album, and still has that playful feel to it. Stay tuned for the official video coming soon.
Byzantium:
lyrics by William Butler Yeats
musical arrangement written and performed by Mike's F'd Up Journey.
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