Cover Song: Placebo (Depeche Mode)- I Feel You

This post is quite awesome as it features two of the best UK bands of all time as well as two huge favorites of mine. Back in 1999, Placebo released a cover they did of the great Depeche Mode song “I Feel You.” Originally the song was released as a fan club-only cassette in 1999, as well as a bonus track on the American edition of Placebo’s album, Black Market Music. Later on in 2003 as part of a bonus disc for Sleeping With Ghosts, it was released again. Depeche Mode is not an easy band to cover and do it well but, Placebo did it justice and the way Brian Molko sings, he really made it his own. I thoroughly enjoy both versions and each has their own vibe. I think you’ll enjoy this.

Placebo- I Feel You:

 

 
Depeche Mode- I Feel You:

 

Great Music Videos: Liam Gallagher- One Of Us

Today, I got a notification about a new video for Liam Gallagher’s “One Of Us.” I’ve already heard the song a couple weeks back and loved it. This video though, takes it to a whole other level. It’s been a long time since a video has moved me but, this one got me. Liam’s new video was written and directed by Peaky Blinders creative duo Steven Knight and Anthony Byrne, so you know there is some depth behind this. And oh boy, does it have that. If you are unaware of the long going feud between Liam and his brother Noel, you should definitely look into that before watching this video. What a poignant and powerful video and statement. Enjoy this song and video.
Liam Gallagher- One Of Us:

 

Memorable TV Performances: Sunny Day Real Estate on 120 Minutes

Sunny Day Real Estate are one of those bands that I’ve always had a special connection with. Ever since I first heard them, I knew that this band was something I had to listen to. I’ll never forget hearing their song “Seven” for the first time and thinking about how great this was. Their performance on the MTV show 120 Minutes is one for the books. This morning when I woke up, I had their song “In Circles” in my head and it was in the cards for me to post about that 120 Minutes performance. Their debut album Diary, is one of the best albums of the 90’s. That album has influenced and inspired countless bands and artists over the years. If you’ve never listened to that album, you should really do that!

Sunny Day Real Estate on 120 Minutes:

 

 
Bonus Video of SDRE performing “Seven” on Jimmy Fallon in 2009:

 

Album Rank: Slipknot

Ever since Slipknot’s new album, We Are Not Your Kind came out, I’ve been hooked on it. We Are Not Your Kind is one hell of an album. In my opinion it’s the best album they’ve released since Volume 3: The Subliminal Verses. This new one has some of the darkest/heaviest lyrics since Iowa and musically it’s got a really interesting balance of Volume 3 and the self titled debut. With all that in mind, I thought a new ranking of Slipknot’s albums would be quite fitting.

All Hope Is Gone:

 

.5 The Gray Chapter:

We Are Not Your Kind:

 

Slipknot:

Volume 3- The Subliminal Verses:

Iowa:

Band Of The Week: Seizures

Late last year I went to see Cult Leader and God Mother at The Satellite and the opening band, Seizures, completely blew me away. I was totally intrigued by this band and their performance and I had to know more. I had previously described them as having this really cool early Thrice vibe ( a la Illusion Of Safety) mixed with a bit of Botch and The Dillinger Escape Plan. I still stand by that only now, I’ve heard “In A Valley Of Twilit Meres” new song from their upcoming album Reverie of the Revolving Diamond, and there is so much more to this band than just that. Seizures is a band that offers the heavy music world a whole lot of awesomeness. By mixing post hardcore, mathcore and bits of jazz, they have a sound and style that is ferocious and brutal yet delicate and oddly soothing. Seizures is the type of band that today really needs. They have all the right pieces from being absolute beasts live and their quality of music and songs really shine. Give Seizures a moment of your time and you’ll see why I think they are a band you should be in the know of!

 

Reverie Of The Revolving Diamond:

 
The Sanity Universal:

 

Title Tracks: Placebo

If there’s one band that has the title track down, it’s Placebo. Since their inception in the mid 90’s, Placebo has been one of the most consistent bands to release quality albums and songs. They are also one of my all time favorite bands and their live shows are always stellar. Throughout the years, my appreciation for Placebo has grown stronger and stronger for their willingness to evolve and stay true to themselves without compromising their artistic integrity. Take a moment and explore these gems.

Without You I’m Nothing:

 
Sleeping With Ghosts:

Meds:

 

 
Battle For The Sun:

 

 
B3:

 

 
Loud Like Love:

 

Cover Songs: Rancid does Operation Ivy

Operation Ivy is one of those bands that has long played a crucial role in influencing and inspiring countless punk bands. They are also one of those bands that if they were to reunite, it would be beyond welcomed with open arms. After the break up of Operation Ivy, two of the members (Tim Armstrong and Matt Freeman) would go on to form Rancid. Sadly though, a full fledged reunion probably won’t ever take place. The group has stated a number of times that Operation Ivy reunion is unlikely to happen. Singer Jesse Michaels addressed reunion issues in a Myspace blog many years ago citing the legal and logistic difficulties in getting the four members together for a reunion, as well as the fact that the band “never belonged in a big rock club in a one to two thousand seat joint.” He concluded the post with the following: “[Will] it happen? The most honest answer is probably not.” Luckily though, during Rancid’s US tour in 2006, Armstrong and Freeman played select tracks from their previous band’s catalog. At a performance at the Warfield Theatre in San Francisco on December 17, 2006, Michaels reunited with Armstrong and Freeman to perform the tracks “Unity” as well as “Sound System”. It was his first time on stage with the two in over 15 years

 

Unity:

 

 
Knowledge:

 

 
Sound System:

 

 
Green Day and Tim Armstrong- Knowledge:

 

Against The Grain: Vitriol

Death metal is a very interesting sub-genre. It’s never easy to get into but, when you really sit and listen to some of the bands from that genre, you can hear some pretty amazing things. There is a real technical aspect to playing like that be it guitar, bass, drums or even “singing.” There is a band that is about to release their debut album that has really made me pay attention to the genre. I’d like to introduce you to Vitriol. This trio based out of Portland, Oregon, have made a record that is as explosive and ferocious as something that a band like Morbid Angel might release. The technical veracity that this band plays with along with the neck breaking savagery that is emitted while listening will have you wanting to listen again for the little things that you might have missed. The band which features Kyle Rasmussen (vocals/guitars), Adam Roethlisberger (vocals/bass) and Scott Walker (drums) proved on their 2017 EP “Pain Will Define Their Death” that they are not a band to miss. Their debit album “To Bathe from the Throat of Cowardice” (out Sept 6) is one of the most brutal and heaviest albums I’ve heard all year. I have a feeling that Vitriol will be a name many in the extreme metal circles will be talking about for a long time.

Vitriol- Crowned In Retaliation:

 

Vitriol- Pain Will Define Their Death:

 

 

 

Ultimate Set List: Sevendust

Sevendust is one of my favorite bands. They have always put on a great live show. There is one thing about seeing Sevendust though that gets old and that’s their set list. They have been playing a lot of the same songs for so long that my want to see them these days isn’t all there. I was talking with a friend of mine the other day about what songs we’d want to see them play, and I knew that I was going to make this ultimate Sevendust set list. So without further delay, here it is.

 

Guideline 1: What line up of the band would it be

Guideline 2: Where would you want to see the show

Guideline 3: maximum 25 songs (In order of how the set should go)

Lineup: Clint Lowery, Lajon Witherspoon, Morgan Rose, John Connolly, Vinnie Hornsby

Venue: Fonda Theater, Los Angeles

Setlist:

01) Tits On A Boar
02) Splinter
03) Will It Bleed
04) Waffle
05) Seasons
06) Trust
07) Rumble Fish
08) Shine
09) Too Close To Hate
10) Not Today
11) Dirty
12) Denial
13) Confessions (Without Faith)
14) Dark AM
15) Angel’s Son
16) Broken Down
17) Life Deceives You
18) Redefine
19) Kill The Flaw
20) The End Is Coming
21) Suffocate
22) Home

Encore:
23) Thank You
24) Bitch
25) Black

Anticipated Albums- Liam Gallagher- Why Me? Why Not

Ever since Liam Gallagher of Oasis released his solo album As You Were in 2017, it’s been in constant rotation. It’s a great album and debut and one that proves he can make it on his own without his brother Noel. Now, a couple years removed since As You Were, Liam is back again with a new album, Why Me? Why Not, and based on the songs released so far, this one is going to surpass his debut (which says a lot). The songs so far, “Shockwave,” “The River,” “Once” and “One Of Us” are, in the words of Larry David, pretty, pretty, pretty good. I was and still am a big Oasis fan, and would love a reunion but, if Liam keeps putting out albums and music like this, I’m good with just going to see Liam live.

 

Shockwave:

 

 
The River:

 

 
Once:

 

 
One Of Us: