Just getting something off my chest

As I'm sure most people know, I am an....enthusiastic ...metal fan, but this does NOT mean I don't appreciate other kinds of music. But I'm fed up of people saying I dont know anything about music, because I don't like whats "in".

The band that I seem to be defending most is Slipknot. True, their music is a select taste, and I wouldnt dream of telling people to like them. But I am SICK of people insulting Corey Taylor's singing ability. Again, screaming is a select taste, but he can back it up with a fantastic singing voice. Listen to songs like "Snuff" and "Vermillion Pt 2" from Slipknot, or "Bother" and "Through Glass" from Stone Sour, THEN say he can't sing!!!

On that matter, some people dont seem to understand the strain screaming is. Corey Taylor has performed in the studio and live consistently for 10 years, and is STILL singing and screaming the way he always has. Look at M.Shadows (Avenged Sevenfold singer). After 2 albums of screaming, he needed throat surgery and can no longer scream. Screaming is NOT just noise, it is a talent, but obviously better suited to metal music.

Now, indie music. Each to their own, but all indie sounds the same to me. But people who like Oasis have NO RIGHT WHATSOEVER to insult Corey Taylor and proper screamers. Oasis are a band who have made it through masterful songwriting by Noel Gallacher, and crappy singing from Liam Gallacher. Seriously, next time you listen to Oasis, listen to his voice, it is AWFUL!!!! But it suits the music, and as said before, Noel Gallacher is a brilliant songwriter.

Below I have compiled a list of singers who don't get the credit they deserve, simply because they scream. Look them up, and ACTUALLY think about what their throats are going through, then comment.


Robb Flynn (Machine Head)
Max Cavalera (Soulfly, Sepultura, Cavalera Conspiracy)
David Draihman (Disturbed)
Phil Anselmo (Pantera, Down)

Having been at Serj Tankian's gig at the ABC on 1st Sept, I began thinking. During the set, Serj performed a Beatles cover. I don't know the song, not being a massive Beatles fan, but it was a great performance. He also incorparated Abba's "Money Money Money" into his own song "Money".

This got me thinking about cover songs. I have always believed that covers can NEVER be better than the original, even good covers. It's my belief that the original recordings of the song is HOW the song should always sound, and changing this, it makes the song worse, even if it's only a fraction worse.

However, there are cover songs out there that could be considered to break this rule, Look at Jimi Hendrix's cover of "All Along the Watchtower". Written by Bob Dylan originally, even Dylan said Jimi's cover is better. Then there's Nirvana's cover of "Man Who Sold The World" from the Unplugged performance. Such a powerful song, better (many proclaim) then Bowie's original.

There are many cover songs like this (Muse's Feeling Good is another excellent example) so does this mean I am wrong?

I leave it up to you to decide...

I haven't wrote a serious blog in a while...

I'm writing concerning 2 massive summer gigs I went to, and twice I have been left disappointed.

2007: Red Hot Chili Peppers:- After waiting for 5 hours (!) for the band to come on, I watched and enjoyed the gig, only for them to walk off stage without playing, possibly, their greatest song, Under the Bridge. I wasn't the only fan that noticed this descrepency. Why would a band as established as the Chilis, miss out a massive fan favourite, and a masterclass in songwriting.

2008: Radiohead:- Forgetting the pissing rain, the massive queues for drinks and the most ignorant fans on the world (who puts an umbrella up at a gig??? WHO???) I was left disappointed when Radiohead, who had delivered a blinding set, left without playing Creep and Street Spirit, my personal favourites of their back catalogue.

Two gigs, both roughly around the same time of the year, both leaving me slightly disappointed. Why do bands of such high calibre insist on taking something away from their fans performance. I mean, couldn't the Chilis have stopped freestyling for 5 minutes to play Under the Bridge. Couldn't Radiohead have sacrificed one of the songs they played from In Rainbows for at least ONE of the aformentioned songs? I leave the desicion up to the readers.