(Please don't take this as a complete list, I got tired of collecting hits albums and imports... there were more...)
Feb 7, 2012
How Does Willie Afford All That Weed?
(Please don't take this as a complete list, I got tired of collecting hits albums and imports... there were more...)
Feb 6, 2012
Van Halen - A Different Kind of Truth
I grew up in the era just after Van Halen's heyday, but I always knew of them and considered myself a fan. I was probably a little more comfortable with the hook-laden, straightforward songwriting Sammy Hagar brought to the table with the second incarnation of VH. I even saw them live once, but despite my slight preference for Van Hagar, David Lee Roth IS the voice of Van Halen.
When I heard VH was coming back with DLR at the helm and even recording a new album, I thought "that's nice" and it elicited some sort of warm, fuzzy feelings… but I wasn't expecting much. When the first single, "Tattoo," was released, I expected even less. The lazy, awkward delivery of Roth made me think the legendary band should probably just stick to the oldies on tour this year. It's a dopey song, quite honestly, though Eddie's playing keeps it from being a complete disaster.
When I got ahold of the new album, A Different Kind of Truth, I didn't make actually listening to it a priority. It sat on my computer and phone for a bit. I avoided reading any early reviews because I didn't want to feel bad for them prematurely though.
When I finally listened, my eyes grew wide (metaphorically). After the clunky "Tattoo," I suddenly began feeling not just warm-and-fuzzies, but downright excitement as the riffs began racing and Roth shook off his rust. Wow. This thing rocks!
I listened to the full album as I lay in bed the other night, but I didn't doze off once. How could I? I was transported back to the early 80's when rock was still kind of dangerous: me an 8 year old sneaking the occasional look in on Friday Night Videos to see this wildly clad band tearing up the stage; me dropping coins in the Pizza Inn jukebox to hear their latest hit and not understanding why I dug this loud stuff so much.
Van Halen still sounds a little dangerous and a lot of loud. David Lee Roth is still the swaggering, half-crazy ringleader as Eddie shreds impossibly and Alex thumps away on the drums. Sure, they miss the background vocals of former bassist Michael Anthony, but the sound hasn't changed that much. The signature VH sound is mostly still intact, and musically, Wolfgang Van Halen is a way more than adequate replacement for Anthony.
Though every song isn't memorable, the balance of the album yields good to spectacular results. "Bullethead" is probably the heaviest song VH ever put out, and it's catchy as hell. "As Is" is a grinding Motorhead-like shredder that lets Roth go absolutely nuts. "Stay Frosty" and "Big River" are other standouts, but aside from "Tattoo," nothing here comes close to suck.
A Different Kind of Truth is more than a nice little reunion album to give the band a few new tracks for the live shows. It's a necessary rock album. It's the welcome return of rockstar overindulgence and the perfect antidote to all the angst that still hangs around mainstream rock years after grunge's high point. The album more than holds its own in the hallowed band's catalogue, possibly even fitting in so well that it's like '85-2011 never happened.
If you want a star rating… I'd say 4 out of 5 stars, but obviously, this isn't really a review… just a bunch of random thoughts. This is a solid album and fans will find much to enjoy here. Hopefully a new generation will be introduced to something that rock has been missing for a long time, too …fun.
Feb 5, 2012
Super Blow I: Jason vs Brantley
In honor of today's "big game," FTM is getting into the act with a battle between two douchebag heavyweights. Jason Aldean versus Brantley Gilbert. It's up to you to pick the suckier artist between the two. Use your previous biases, the attached stat comparison and the two videos below to make up your mind, then vote in the poll at the bottom! It's that simple! There are no winners here, but without a doubt, the winner is the bigger loser!
Click for a closer view!
Feb 3, 2012
Feb 2, 2012
OMG Reviews: Josh Grider - Slow
by Brittany Fant, 14-year-old music fan and aspiring reviewer
Listen to the song here.
O.M.G.! Josh is sooooo cute! (But don't worry, Hunter Hayes, I'm still marrying you!) Guys my age can't grow beards like that. Well, Johnny Rames can, but he got held back 3 years. Anyway, nice beard. The cover makes me think this song will be RLY good!
Listen to the song here.
Ummm no. This song is too SLOW, hahahaha! And it's about old people stuff, like jobs and getting married and having kids. It is sweet though. I mean, if a guy wrote something like this about me, I'd pretend it was awesome, depending on how hot he was LOL. Josh has kind of an accent but I can't tell where it's from. I just know it sounds, you know, country.
I guess some people in Texas or Mexico might slow dance to this song at their Friday night hoedowns or something. I don't like slow music unless it's Taylor, so this isn't doing N-E-THING 4 me. Why is this CUTE guy singing boring music?!??? He should rock out like HUNTER! On a side-note, what is a hoedown? I thought that was what Ashley Sikes did in the band hall last week LOLZ.
N-E-Way…. this just isn't very good… but I'll give it an extra point because of sssooooooo much hoooottttnissssssssss.
1 1/2 Heart Hands out of 5.
Flashback Country Album Cover Parodies
Out of sheer laziness or the sentimentalism toward finding an old flash drive full of these, here are some favorite parody country album covers from FTM's past.
Feb 1, 2012
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