I concur with the latter U2. While I do enjoy No Line on The Horizon, it almost felt rushed at times and had they worked on it a bit more and fleshed out some of the tracks, it would have been better. And while I enjoy the POP album, that is the "wrong turn" amongst the majority of U2 fans. How To Dismante and All That You Can't Leave Behind were fantastic albums. Most groups in a lifetime have one album that is their best. U2 has 3 and in each decade, which I can't even think of a band that can say that, Joshua in the 80's, Achtung in the 90's and All That You Can't Leave behind in the 00's. Now, can they rebound from this album and create another masterpiece is TBD.
I was listening to "Rejoice" by U2 earlier and it reminded me so much of that early energy they had, that song is my favorite early U2 track (pre Eno/Lanois).
I remember Def Leppard trying to go "grunge-lite" with the Slang album in the 90's and that was a disaster. As for Metallica, ...And Justice opened the mainstream public eyes to the band, and the Black Album kicked down the door. 
Now, time for me to get some game-time in, and I will be listening to Talk Talk tonight. 
Global: @Armeros
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Mental Maden, I hope you don't think for a second I was aiming anything at you. I had YouTube comments, friends comments, etc. in mind when I mentioned nostalgia vs an artist's progression. It was a general comment that relates to anything with me.
So, in response to your response...
My take on Metallica, for example (short and simple opinions)...
"Kill Em All" - Heavy. Raw. Angry. Good. Dated.
"Ride The Lightning" - Heavy. Semi-Polished. Thought-provoking. Dated.
"Master of Puppets" - Heavy. Polished. Masterpiece. Ground-Breaking. Timeless.
"...And Justice For All" - Heavy. Technical. Different. Dated.
"Metallica" - Heavy. Mainstream. Different.
"Load" - Limited Heavy. Mainstream. Average.
"Reload" - Very Limited Heavy. Unfocused. Below Average.
"St. Anger" - Raw. Angry. Unfocused. Rushed. Mostly Forgettable.
"Death Magnetic" - Heavy. Angry. Thought-Provoking. Masterpiece (save Unforgiven III).
On Anthrax...
During the Belladona era, I feel "Persistance of Time" was their greatest with him. "Among the Living" was great for it's time, but I feel it's dated to a time and they were still learning their craft.
I enjoyed the early John Bush era of Anthrax, but it got very uninspired for me after the second effort with him.
I completely agree with you on the comment about fame and success of these bands. Metallica, Anthrax, Megadeth all seemed to lose their focus on what got them to where they were.
As a part-time musician, my take on this is this:
Once fans have established an identity of who you are... when you abandon that identity while musically experimenting as you progress, it can come off to those who were fans of your initial (raw) work as insincere, unfocused and forgettable.
I feel all 3 of these bands forgot who they were along the way, but all 3 look to be returning with a good mix of their roots +a mix of what styles they picked up along the way very nicely (awaiting new Anthrax w/Belladona).
I'm no expert on metal either. I know who I know and always am discovering bands I missed or new ones emerging.
Testament and (my favorite) Overkill were probably the only 2 bands of this genre/era to never let me down along the way and happy to say they're still heavy and raw 20+ years later.
Sorry to interrupt this thread with a metal rant, Azure. You said maybe we'll go off on different topics along the way tho...
\m/
To Ameros:
U2 is a phenomenal band. I was trying to find a song by them that I could suggest for Azure's list last night... but as a passive fan of theirs I was unable to find one amongst their huge list of songs.
Does U2 have a song you think might be a fitting suggestion for Azure?
This is where a guy like me who dabbles in and out of music genres needs some insight. I get some exposure from basic radio and very limited from television, friends, etc.
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Oh, don't worry I didn't take it as anything but friendly discussion anyway. This is a topic (music, not just metal) that I'm very passionate about and enjoy the heck out of discussions like this. It's all opinions from my side anyway, so they are all to be taken at 100% face value.|
Originally Posted by SupaFreak
Mental Maden, I hope you don't think for a second I was aiming anything at you. I had YouTube comments, friends comments, etc. in mind when I mentioned nostalgia vs an artist's progression. It was a general comment that relates to anything with me.
\m/ |
I do disagree wholeheartedly that Kill Em All, Ride the Lightning and the Belladonna Anthrax sound dated though. To me, those are all timeless albums and when I put them on, the last thing I think of is "dated". Ok, some of the production value (especially Kill em all) are rough, but I think the music is still as vital as stuff done today. My personal favorite album of theirs is Kill Em All, mainly because I came into being a metal fan by way of the 80's California hardcore punk scene. So the hardcore overtones of that album appeal to me to this day as does the first Garage Days (do NOT even mention the 90s re-release!) . (And if you haven't ever thought of the punk overtones, take another listen) So on that we'll just have to respectfully agree to disagree.
I'll admit I pretty much gave up on them a few years back. Some Kind of Monster was the straw that broke the camel's back for me. I've only had a cursory listen to Death Magnetic on iTunes after someone in another thread sang it's praises. I will say what I heard from it was good, but I'm still not convinced (but I do have an open mind) that it's as classic as many let on. When you've put out the dreck that they have since Load, I'm sure anything close to the mark sounds like the angels singing.
@Mental Maden @Maden Mental
"....you are now tackle free for life."-ShoNuff
Have ya heard All Nightmare Long off Death Magnetic? I hear a bit of Kill Em All influence mixed with some of their later styles. I was sold the second I heard this song...
\m/
I liked Death MAgnetic and St. Anger as albums, though St. Anger probably ranks lowest on my list. Death Magnetic really broguht a good attempt at reviving classic Metallica, however like it's predecessor St. Anger, I heard a lot or repetition in the songs as far as lyrics go (and no, not just the choral parts). I beleive Metallica to still be a good band capable of delivering good heavy metal, but their creative prowess seems to be waning.
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Originally Posted by SupaFreak
I tend to lean more towards the heroic side but with a dark edge... so I'll link some "vigilante" - hyper songs.
Overkill "Bring Me The Night" Arch-Enemy "My Apocolypse" Annihilator "King of the Kill" Skinlab "In For The Kill" Skindred "Stand For Something" Straight Line Stitch "Black Veil" Otep "Confrontation" |
Overkill was wickedly fast! Im still sore from the head banging. I used to have a roommate that played Helloweens Keeper of the Seven Keys album (on cassette tape) along with Alice Cooper nearly every night. Bring Me the Night made me remember that time. I know that the Overkill is definitely different that Helloween, but there is something about the pacing that made me think of them.
I like the drums at the beginning of the Arch Enemy song. Can I assume that the lead is Angela Gossnow and not Johan Liiva? Hate to say it, but I cant really tell. At any rate, I think female lead singers in metal bands (especially death metal ones) are refreshing. Some give you contrasting melodic voices while others add to the grittiness of the song with that guttural throat sound. Its really cool when they can do both. Ill have to listen to other Arch Enemy songs to see where Ms. Gossow falls. As a side note, I think she voices one of the characters on Metalocalypse from time to time.
Annihilator really had power. King of the Kill made me want to PVP! Hehe. I really need to start learning how to PVP effectively. The problem is that when people were ready to team up and show me, I was working on revamping some of my Level 50 builds. I still want to get better at it though. But I think Im going to keep this song in mind when Im training.
I found the vocals for In for the Kill less exciting than in the ones in the previous song, but the instrument playing definitely drove the song (and me) forward as I listened to it. There was a part where it sounded like they had someone singing harmony. I was really hoping for more of that, but its a good song still.
The Skindred song just compelled me to drive around in a car shooting things up. Grand Theft Auto: Paragon City. LOL
Black Veil reminded me of another roommate that I had that would spend nights in his room screaming at the wall and singing lyrics to songs like Metallicas Sanitarium and One, along with Nine Inch Nails Head Like a Hole and other European remixes of NIN songs. I'm so glad I dont have roommates anymore. But I do miss the screaming wait that sounded rather wrong.
Anyways to change the subject As a final note, Otep is a great band? Is Otep a band now, or is it just the lead with a bunch of regular instrument players? At any rate, Ive always like their/her work.
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I'm the same way. My musical tastes are dependent on my mood. |
Originally Posted by Armeros
What I listen to is based on my mood. So, one day I could jam out to the Cars and the next it's Nine Inch Nails or the Rolling Stones "Paint It Black", it endless.
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This reply reminded me to add some The Cars' songs to a different playlist I have. And I could definitely see using "Magic" in a YouTube video, using a little tongue-in-cheek humor with the words of the song with elements of the game.
Let's see. I like Nine Ince Nails, but I really perfer remixes and mashups of Trent's work.
As for "Paint It Black," it's a great song to listen to. Love the guitars in the beginning that are followed by the drums. I see it uses on a dark scrapper or tank. I could also see it for a vigilante or rogue. I also like "Sympathy for the Devil", but I not entirely sure how to incorparate that song into my playlist...unless maybe my character was a demon...oh yeah, I have a demon summoner too.
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OMFG...|
Originally Posted by Blood_Beret
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Please tell me this song is not on Guitar Hero or Rock Band. My fingers are getting arthritic just thinking about it.
I'm impressed.
btw, I clicked around afterwards and I think there was someone that was playing that same song for the world's speed record. They clocked him at 320 BPM near the end of the song!
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Just saw your post, and I am going to have to think about it. They do have a lot of songs to choose from, so I am going to give you a list of tracks off the top of my head:|
Originally Posted by SupaFreak
To Ameros:
U2 is a phenomenal band. I was trying to find a song by them that I could suggest for Azure's list last night... but as a passive fan of theirs I was unable to find one amongst their huge list of songs. Does U2 have a song you think might be a fitting suggestion for Azure? This is where a guy like me who dabbles in and out of music genres needs some insight. I get some exposure from basic radio and very limited from television, friends, etc. |
The Unforgettable Fire - "This song was the soundtrack to a game I played in the late 80's called "Articfox" from Electronic Arts. Personal bias, as this is one of my favorite U2 songs, atmospheric, strings...this song was the song that hooked me on U2.
Bullet The Blue Sky - for those with dual pistol characters, a fantastic song from the Joshua Tree, even better live (and I hate live recordings/albums).
M O * O (did not think that would be redacted) - while not so thematic, it is by far U2's biggest stretch into electronica (glad they visited, but even happier they decided not to pursure this style of music). Along with "Vertigo" as aggressive a U2 song as they have recorded.
While I can't say that their music is easy to put with superhero/supervillain themes, these 4 songs are a start. To me U2 music is more mood oriented music than anything. There are lots of anthems, "Sunday Bloody Sunday", "Where The Streets Have No Name", I could go on but I would have to delve into it some more with more time. Either that, or I am not too creative at all!
EDIT - had to throw in one non-U2 that is a great album in it's own right, Pearl Jam "Ten", just an awesome record.
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I'll agree with Ameros' two major U2 suggestions
Bullet the Bluesky Great atmospheric song. And I agree it's a great live song, which is rare for me to say. I don't typically care for live recordings either.
Sunday Bloody Sunday Probably my favorite U2 song. There are a lot of great live recordings of this one as well, but I prefer the studio version and it's inclusion of violin.
Also, while they might not be thematically obvious, early U2 has always had a "time of war" sound to me.
I Will Follow
Two Hearts Beat As One
New Year's Day Stiff competition for my favorite U2 song.
Seconds
Like A Song
Red Hill Mining Town
Ok, so it's just an excuse to post some cool music. Sue me.
@Mental Maden @Maden Mental
"....you are now tackle free for life."-ShoNuff
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Originally Posted by MentalMaden
I'll agree with Ameros' two major U2 suggestions
Bullet the Bluesky Great atmospheric song. And I agree it's a great live song, which is rare for me to say. I don't typically care for live recordings either. Sunday Bloody Sunday Probably my favorite U2 song. There are a lot of great live recordings of this one as well, but I prefer the studio version and it's inclusion of violin. Also, while they might not be thematically obvious, early U2 has always had a "time of war" sound to me. I Will Follow Two Hearts Beat As One New Year's Day Stiff competition for my favorite U2 song. Seconds Like A Song Red Hill Mining Town Ok, so it's just an excuse to post some cool music. Sue me. |
Like a Song is so awesome!! Can't believe I forgot that one. That is such a "roll the down the windows and sing it until your lungs explode" song. The early U2 was more aggressive, when Steve Lillywhite was producing them (heavy on the drums and bass), it can be especially heard on the "War" album.
Mental, kudos for those tracks and the "War" theme. You would think I would have thought about that....especially since the freakin' album is called "War".
Global: @Armeros
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"Official Park Ranger of the Shadow Shard"
You don't know how bad I wanted to put the mellow but haunting "40" on that list. Oh screw it. This has always felt like the weary soldier coming home to me. Also the studio version is pretty short and I've always felt the Red Rocks version gives this song the justice it deserves. The audience part at the end is just awesome.
Azure, I'm inspired and I'm going to put together a "war" themed playlist for you.
@Mental Maden @Maden Mental
"....you are now tackle free for life."-ShoNuff
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Originally Posted by Azure Lightstar
Annihilator really had power.
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i saw them open up for testament on the practice what you preach tour.they had just done allison hell and man were they good before them was wraithchild america ..what i great night as they were all good!
oh and any metallica after injustice really isnt worth listening too...maybe 2 tracks on black.but thats stretching it!
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GFTMFT|
Originally Posted by Severe
oh and any metallica after injustice really isnt worth listening too...maybe 2 tracks on black.but thats stretching it!
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Amen Old Schooler
@Mental Maden @Maden Mental
"....you are now tackle free for life."-ShoNuff
now if you would only listen to manowar your day would be complete! :P
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Saw them one time in the Orange Bowl for the Joshua Tree Tour. The BoDeans and Buckwheat Zydeko opened for them, they closed with "40" and the fans were singing the song even after the show was over and they were all heading home. It resonated all over the stadium, it was one of the coolest moments for me going to concerts. Another was when the toured for All That You Can't Leave Behind and it was at the Bank Atlantic Center. They started off with Elevation and the crowd started bouncing and I swear the building was moving, it was so freakin' awesome!!
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Originally Posted by MentalMaden
You don't know how bad I wanted to put the mellow but haunting "40" on that list. Oh screw it. This has always felt like the weary soldier coming home to me. Also the studio version is pretty short and I've always felt the Red Rocks version gives this song the justice it deserves. The audience part at the end is just awesome.
Azure, I'm inspired and I'm going to put together a "war" themed playlist for you. |
Global: @Armeros
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I'd be interested in seeing some of the playlists this thread has mentioned/generated so that I can listen to them and switch up my TF music a bit.
@Rorn ---- Blue Baron ---- Guardian
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I'll work on getting some of my lists together and displayed. At the moment though, I'm still going over the suggestions that everyone has provided me (see earlier in the thread). |
Originally Posted by Vauluur
I'd be interested in seeing some of the playlists this thread has mentioned/generated so that I can listen to them and switch up my TF music a bit.
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I really want to give input on all of the suggestions, because people took the time to reply. Basically I'm going to playlist.com, Itunes, and on youtube to find the songs to listen to and making notes which I then typed back into the forum. Sometimes, I'll even put the entire group into Jango and listen to related music.
I'll also see about putting together something on playlist.com, and I will post a link later this week. That way, you can just use your web browser to listen to the song. Unfortunately, not all the songs are available.
I don't recommend adding this one...
o.O
What?
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Got a LOL out of me.
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Originally Posted by SupaFreak
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@Mental Maden @Maden Mental
"....you are now tackle free for life."-ShoNuff
I was expecting an abbreviation that begins with WT, but LOL works too... >
Delayed response... sorry....
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Overkill was wickedly fast! Im still sore from the head banging. I used to have a roommate that played Helloweens Keeper of the Seven Keys album (on cassette tape) along with Alice Cooper nearly every night. Bring Me the Night made me remember that time. I know that the Overkill is definitely different that Helloween, but there is something about the pacing that made me think of them.
I was familiar with Helloween back when. Singer of our band at the time was really into them. Really only one song I every liked by them. "Savage", and even then... not so much. Overkill has been my favorite of the genre for 24+ years now.
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I like the drums at the beginning of the Arch Enemy song. Can I assume that the lead is Angela Gossnow and not Johan Liiva? Hate to say it, but I cant really tell. At any rate, I think female lead singers in metal bands (especially death metal ones) are refreshing. Some give you contrasting melodic voices while others add to the grittiness of the song with that guttural throat sound. Its really cool when they can do both. Ill have to listen to other Arch Enemy songs to see where Ms. Gossow falls. As a side note, I think she voices one of the characters on Metalocalypse from time to time.
I know her name is Angela Gossnow, yea. I recently got introduced to them and am still learning about them. I do tend to listen to a wide range of music... so I tend to be a late bloomer on finding out about some bands right away. I've not heard Arch-Enemy do anything else than gutteral vocals yet... but something about her makes a lot of what I hear diverse song to song... which is impressive to me. *digs intelligent, empowered females*
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Annihilator really had power. King of the Kill made me want to PVP! Hehe. I really need to start learning how to PVP effectively. The problem is that when people were ready to team up and show me, I was working on revamping some of my Level 50 builds. I still want to get better at it though. But I think Im going to keep this song in mind when Im training.
Yea, when I first heard that song... PvP was the first thought in my head too. I'm out of the PvP loop myself (dunno if I should blame that on age, friends, developers or who). Doesn't help none of my builds ready to be competitive yet. I'd just be a pavement decoration to the experienced crowd at this time.
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I found the vocals for In for the Kill less exciting than in the ones in the previous song, but the instrument playing definitely drove the song (and me) forward as I listened to it. There was a part where it sounded like they had someone singing harmony. I was really hoping for more of that, but its a good song still.
I'm honestly not a huge fan of these guys. This is the only song I've heard from them that I can connect with slightly. I try to help promote them when I can because the drummer (Paul Hopkins) is my High School friend and we got into music together after a stupid fight and 10 day expulsion. Shame I stuck it out with the guitarist when we all had differences back when (no, I wasn't the singer in case ya wondering... *shudder*... bassist). Life coulda been a bit different...
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The Skindred song just compelled me to drive around in a car shooting things up. Grand Theft Auto: Paragon City. LOL
Everything I've heard from these guys recently, I've absolutely loved.
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Black Veil reminded me of another roommate that I had that would spend nights in his room screaming at the wall and singing lyrics to songs like Metallicas Sanitarium and One, along with Nine Inch Nails Head Like a Hole and other European remixes of NIN songs. I'm so glad I dont have roommates anymore. But I do miss the screaming
wait
that sounded rather wrong.
Straight Line Stitch blows me away with the range they have. Plus, this may sound politically incorrect and don't care if I do, but it's sooooo nice to see stereotypes shattered. And shattered with such awesomeness...
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Anyways
to change the subject
As a final note, Otep is a great
band? Is Otep a band now, or is it just the lead with a bunch of regular instrument players? At any rate, Ive always like their/her work.
Again, another band/artist I've just recently been introduced to. When you're partnered with a blue-grass gospel guy for 9 years in business as I was until 2007, it's not easy to find time to get exposure to what's out there.
I'm glad you gave them a listen, even if they weren't to your liking (not sure if any are or not) and taking the time to post a response. Hope with all the feedback you received you compile a list to your liking.
I partook in an obscene hoedown... and with that... I post no more links to my YouTube page.
The Red Hot Chili Peppers were another example of a band who success came after several albums of work and an evolution of their sound.
I am a U2 fan and they are almost the poster child for evolving. Take their early work which was heavy on the drums/bass and when Eno/Lanois came into the picture, they developed their sound and their biggest success followed (The Joshua Tree). Then, they re-invented their sound in the 90's (Achtung Baby). They are not the most technically talented individuals, but as a band, they play on their strengths and create some great music (IMHO).
Well...back to the grind
I don't begrudge any long term band or evolving, but I do think with metal that the power comes from youth. I'd also argue that it was Metallica's Black Album that gave them their mainstream success and that And Justice for All.... was merely the precursor yet still contained their basic song structure from their earlier albums. Despite the much criticized mix I still consider it the "old" Metallica.
@Mental Maden @Maden Mental
"....you are now tackle free for life."-ShoNuff