Throwback Thursday: Fleetwood Mac's Rumours

Rarely does such internal struggle and strife lead to insane amounts of musical and commercial success. Such a thing is normally the undoing of any group, be it musical or not. However, in the case of Fleetwood Mac, skyrocketing success is exactly what happened after the release of their 1977 hit album Rumours. Recorded primarily at Record Plant in Sausalito, CA at the time, the band was wanting to further their commercial success after having put out a well received album Fleetwood Mac in 1975. This became difficult however when the band started fighting amongst themselves, as many of them were in failing relationships with one another (guitarist Lindsey Buckingham with singer Stevie Nicks and keyboardist Christine McVie with bassist John McVie. Drummer Mick Fleetwood was also having troubles with his own wife at the time).

Rumours of course got its title from all the rumors flying around in the press during the recording of the album regarding the fighting as well as a 10th anniversary tour for the band with all of its original members. These intense situations however provided the inspiration for almost the entire album lyrically which is why the title itself was suggested by John McVie when saying to the band that all the songs they were writing sounded like journals/diaries they were writing to one another. By the end of the drug ridden and emotionally intense recording sessions however, Fleetwood Mac had come up with something the likes of which the world had never heard before, spawning four hit singles and other commercially successful tracks. Despite the band being in such miserable shape, they were very creative in their approaches to recording technique-wise and song writing.

The music itself on Rumours is a very impressive blend of both acoustic and electric instruments. Buckingham on many of the tracks played both acoustic and electric guitars to give the songs a more powerful and melodic feel. Christine McVie primarily played a Hammond B3 organ, but also did many tracks on a standard piano as well. What REALLY made a lot of the album shine was the three part vocal harmonies on tracks like The Chain between Buckingham, Nicks, and Christine McVie.

One of the most well known tracks from Rumours has GOT to be Go Your Own Way. It's played on every single rock and pop radio station even to this day. You can't even go into a department store without hearing it at least once. Buckingham wrote the song about his relationship with Nicks and how it wasn't doing so well (go figure). The verses are pretty straight up palm muted power chords, due to the focus being on what is being sung. When the forever immortalized chorus kicks in however, the vocal harmonies come in and the rest of the band picks things up instrumentally. Even if you aren't much in the way of a music aficionado you can get into it by just dancing around and singing along to the easy to learn chorus.

The Chain while somehow NOT one of the singles released from the album is another one of Fleetwood Mac's most famous songs that also gets a lot of radio airplay even to this day. It is one of the most musically complicated due to multiple acoustic and electric guitar tracks done with lots of flashy finger picking, the triple vocal harmonies, and the structure of the song itself. It starts off with just acoustic that has almost a ghostly feel to it. Of course gradually other instruments come in, but again it's the triple vocal harmonies between the three vocalists that give The Chain its shine. In a sense it almost feels like a polished up bluegrass song, but in a good way. The only reason I would find this peculiar at all is because the band is half British. However, it definitely ends in a rocking way when at the end the tempo picks up with a bassline from John McVie that is so thick that you could hold it. Then of course Buckingham wails away on electric guitar while the vocals and the rest of the song gradually fades out.

All in all, even those who don't care much for pop music could appreciate the fine workmanship that went into Rumours because despite what many people think it takes some serious skill to put out a pop rock album of that caliber. Plus, the fact that five musicians who were having such a difficult time getting along and were also strung out so much from partying could work together to make something that is still selling many copies to this day is a very respectable and remarkable thing. There really isn't a single track on there that is actually bad or even filler. It's rare that I would say this, but Rumours really is one of those albums that EVERYONE needs to have, even if they aren't a music nut.

Rumours, by Fleetwood Mac receives 5 out of 5 stars.

Track List:

1. Secondhand News
2. Dreams
3. Never Going Back Again
4. Don't Stop
5. Go Your Own Way
6. Songbird
7. The Chain
8. You Make Loving Fun
9. I Don't Want to Know
10. Oh Daddy
11. Gold Dust Woman

Buy the album on Amazon:

 http://www.amazon.com/Rumours-Fleetwood-Mac/dp/B000002KGT/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1405053949&sr=8-1&keywords=Rumours

Metal Drummer Mike Portnoy Disses New Pink Floyd Album

You would think that after 20 years, a new Pink Floyd album would be pretty rad news to EVERYONE right? Apparently it's not. Former Dream Theater and current Winery Dogs drummer Mike Portnoy according to posts he made on his Facebook account feels differently. Quite the opposite, it would seem.

Portnoy seems to feel that the band has gone through way too many line-up changes and anything put out now would just be disrespectful to former members. He says, “What’s this about a new ‘Pink Floyd’ album? Last I checked, Roger Waters is no longer in the band and Richard Wright & Syd Barrett are dead.”

The upcoming album titled Endless River is based on left over recordings with deceased keyboardist Rick Wright from sessions for their previous album The Division Bell. In relation to this subject Portnoy went on to further elaborate by saying, “If these are leftovers from The Division Bell sessions, then just put em on a TDB Special Edition release! It’s disrespectful to Roger & everything he built for all those years!”

After hearing a LOT of flack from angry Floyd fans all over the internet (can't say I blame them for feeling that way), Portnoy made another post in response saying, “OK, I’ll meet the Gilmour fans half-way and say IMO, the ‘real’ Pink Floyd is BOTH Gilmour/Waters TOGETHER….Piper at the Gates of Dawn was a Syd album, The Final Cut was a Waters album and A Momentary Lapse of Reason/TDB are Gilmour albums…the ‘magic’ was Waters/Gilmour TOGETHER.”

It's kind of understandable how Portnoy can feel this way. In all honesty, he probably isn't the only one with such views. However, having been 20 years since the last Pink Floyd studio album was released many fans along with myself are probably more than willing to overlook Waters's absence from the band. Anything Floyd will more than likely not disappoint. Even without Waters, the rest of Pink Floyd are extremely talented musicians.

Pink Floyd Confirms New Album!

A couple of days ago some utterly FANTASTIC news was leaked onto the internet via a tweet via Polly Samson, Pink Floyd guitarist David Gilmour's wife: The band was preparing to release a brand new album titled Endless River this October based on recordings from the band's previous album The Division Bell, released 20 years ago. Just today via the band's website this news has been confirmed.

Unfortunately former bassist/vocalist/songwriter Roger Waters will NOT be returning to the band or contributing to the record in any way. It's a shame, but on the bright side the album WILL include some of the last recordings that keyboardist Rick Wright did with the band that have not seen the light of day until Gilmour and drummer Nick Mason returned to them last year. Gilmour along with Phil Manzenera, Youth, and Andy Jackson will be producing the record.

There were hints last year that Gilmour was up to something when long time Pink Floyd backing vocalist Durga McBroom-Hudson was seen in a photo to Instagram last year of sessions that were assumed to be for Gilmour's follow-up to his 2006 solo album On an Island. However, she has since also confirmed in addition to what Samson and the Pink Floyd website have said that the sessions were for the Floyd album.

It seems like this is shaping up to be something rather special. Then again, it IS a new Pink Floyd album. It's a shame that Waters won't be involved (at least that's the story at this point, but we'll see what happens), but it will be nice to hear some new Pink Floyd for the first time in forever. My generation will finally know the joy and privilege of getting a new Floyd record the day it comes out. I'm sure they won't disappoint.

5 70's Rock Bands/Artists You May Not Know About

The 1970's is an era of rock n' roll with many astounding bands that get overlooked unless you are digging around and specifically looking for them. Today I've decided to do you a favor and do a little bit of the work for you. Here are five awesome bands and artists from the 1970's that you may not have known about.

1. Rainbow

In 1975, guitarist Ritchie Blackmore was becoming sick of the direction his band Deep Purple was taking, so he gave the band his notice and then proceeded to leave to start something new that was more to his liking. This lead him to team up with young singer Ronnie James Dio who was still fairly fresh on the music scene at the time with his blues band Elf. Together, they made three studio albums and one live album packed full of medieval themed hard rock/heavy metal. Dio's powerful vocals that sang of swords and sorcery combined with Blackmore's lightning fast melodic guitar playing and the playing of the other all-star musicians in the band created music the likes of which the world had never heard before or has since. One well known tune that does get airplay on rock stations once in a while is Man on the Silver Mountain.

2.  UFO

UFO began in 1969, but did not meet with much success until 1973 when they recruited Scorpions guitarist Michael Schenker, who was only 18 years old at the time but already had a reputation. The addition of Schenker gave the band a distinct edge because not only could he play loud and shred it up, but he could also play more soft and melodic pieces as well. The band would make 4 studio albums and one live album with Schenker in the 70's until he quit in 1978 due to his alcohol abuse. The band would continue on, but would not see anywhere near the success they did with Schenker. One of the most well known songs from this period of the band's history is Doctor, Doctor which does once in a while get some airplay.

 
3. Montrose

Before Sammy Hagar started singing songs like I Can't Drive 55 and Heavy Metal, he was in a band called Montrose, lead by then well known blues rock guitarist Ronnie Montrose. The band began in 1973 when after finishing a tour with Edgar Winter Group Montrose wanted to start something completely new that he would be in charge of. This lead to him being introduced to Hagar by his producer Ted Templeman. Hagar then went to Montrose's house, showed him some songs he had written, and the two instantly got to work. The band would go on to make two albums in its original line-up, though the first album Montrose was more successful. A great deal of tension built up between Hagar and Montrose however and in February of 1975, Hagar left the band. Montrose would however continue on and in the 2000's before Montrose's death the band did reunite a few times. Two of the most well known songs from this era that Hagar still performs to this day are Rock Candy and Bad Motor Scooter.

4. Robin Trower

English guitarist Robin Trower is one musician who does seem to get overlooked quite frequently, unfortunately. However, that is not to say that he is a slouch for he certainly is not. In the 1970's he put out multiple albums with his own style of blues rock which sounded like blues blasted into outer space combined with a bit of Jimi Hendrix technique. He had been in a prog-rock band called Procal Harem until in 1973 he decided to strike it out on his own with bassist/vocalist James Dewar and drummer Bill Lordan. The band has gone through multiple line-up changes over the years, but Trower has remained constant. With Dewar he made some of his most successful albums with current concert staples like Too Rolling Stoned, Bridge of Sighs, Day of the Eagle, and Little Bit of Sympathy.

5.  Buckingham-Nicks

Before joining Fleetwood Mac in 1974, guitarist/vocalist Lindsey Buckingham and vocalist Stevie Nicks had a folk rock band called Buckingham-Nicks. They were living together and in a relationship at the time, so a lot of their musical chemistry came from that. They did open for some larger named acts like Janis Joplin, Jimi Hendrix, Jefferson Airplane, etc. By 1973 the band was signed to Polydor Records after having moved to Los Angeles and they recorded a self-titled debut album. Unfortunately it was not very successful and has not been released on any format after 1973 despite the duo's success in Fleetwood Mac and as solo artists. The songs are on YouTube and the album is available on Amazon. It is definitely worth the time to listen to them.

Top 5 WORST Performances of the National Anthem

The anthem of the United States of America is a powerful song. It is enough to make anyone remember the pride they feel for their nation, especially when it is performed well. However, there have been times throughout recent history especially where it has been sung by celebrities who were not exactly the best choice for having perform it at public events. When this happens it detracts from the patriotic emotion we are supposed to feel and makes us instead focus on the horrible singing/performance of the one butchering it. This Independence Day we are taking a look at the five worst performances (in no particular order) of The Star Spangled Banner.

1. Roseanne Barr at Jack Murphy Stadium 1990

If you are somehow able to make it through the entire minute that this video goes on for, you my friend are made of some tough stuff. I mean, seriously. You must have ears of steel to be able to withstand Roseanne's ear grating voice, especially when she gets to the high notes of the song. You could tell she really wasn't giving a crap. It doesn't surprise me that the audience started booing in unison fairly quickly. Whoever thought it would be a good idea to let Roseanne do this must have either been drunk or had never heard music before. I feel it is a disrespect to America to have let such a travesty occur.

2. Michael Bolton at Red Sox vs. Yankees 2003

Now what makes this performance so bad isn't the fact that the singing itself is bad. Quite the contrary. Michael Bolton has a nice soulful voice. However, he stops right in the middle of the song to look at the lyrics written on his hand in the most blatant fashion imaginable. This elicits a lot of booing from the crowd, as should be expected. If you can't even memorize the words to the song, you shouldn't sing it. Even Rosanne as bad as she was at singing the song at least had the words memorized...

3. R. Kelly at Boxing Match 2005

It's ok to make the national anthem your own. It's fine to put in small personal nuances to make your performance unique. However, it is NOT ok to completely change it up by making it sound like some modern funky dance get-down kind of tune that you would shake your booty to in the club. This song is supposed to fill people with emotion and spirit. You're supposed to listen to the words and hear how powerful they are, not dance to some groove being laid down. This is another blatant disrespect to the song.

4. Kat DeLuna Dallas 2008

This isn't as painful to listen to as the Roseanne version, but it still is awful nonetheless. DeLuna tries her absolute best as a pop diva to put out the best performance she can but there are so many times throughout the song where either her voice completely cracks. She tries several impressive vocal runs, but of course she failed miserably. She just tries too hard to go above her range and it shows in the most amusing ways. It isn't the worst performance I've listened to, but DeLuna was just trying way too hard and she fell flat on her backside.

5. Hillary Clinton Iowa 2007

This one comes down to amusing circumstances. This was not meant to be an actual performance. During a visit to Iowa while running to be a candidate for presidency in 2007, her microphone clipped to her lapel picked up her singing along with everyone else in the crowd to the national anthem. This video shows that the senator clearly has no talent for singing at all whatsoever and it would probably be best if she stuck to politics.

Throwback Thursday: Thickfreakness, by The Black Keys

Once upon a time there was a duo from Akron, Ohio who had a blues band. These men took the art form back to its earlier roots but made it more gritty and raw. This band was known as The Black Keys. All this however was long before they started making the pop oriented radio hits that we all know today. Back in 2001 singer/guitarist Dan Auerbach and drummer Patrick Carney found success as an indie band producing their own music. Their first album The Big Come Up found them an unusually high amount of success for an independent group. This success then lead them to be signed by Fat Possum Records to record their second album Thickfreakness.

Released on April 8, 2003 Thickfreakness was also a success, partially due to the fact that a track from the album titled Set You Free was featured in the 2003 film School of Rock. The sound of the album has a very distinct sounding older feel to it due to the fact that it was recorded on an early 1980s Tascam 388 8-track recorder. While Auerbach and Carney did receive an advance payment from the record company, they had to use it to pay their rent. Carney says in the liner notes of the album that the older sound results from what he calls his patented "medium fidelity" recording techniques. Surprisingly most of Thickfreakness was recorded in a single 14 hour session in Carney's basement.

Set You Free is a very upbeat and lively blues rocker. In fact it almost has a Jimi Hendrix/Cream vibe to it, except heavier and grittier. Honestly, this isn't surprising considering The Black Keys' having similar musical roots as both these artists did back in the 60's. It does showcase some of Auerbach's respectable blues soloing chops quite well. He isn't the most flashy or skilled guitarist out there, but Set You Free definitely proves that he can write a damn good song and add some good melody. While the lyrics are definitely not of a happy overtone, the music itself will still put a smile on your face and make you want to crank it up as loud as you possibly can.

Hard Row is a more mid-tempo road rambling type of tune. It's something that produces a mental image of just ambling down a road at a normal pace. The lyrics are what one would typically expect from an old school blues sounding song. They are pretty simple, but they talk about deep feelings of being alone with no one by your side to comfort you after walking out on the one who was really there for you. The guitar tone is what makes this tune absolutely KILLER, though. The old school medium fidelity quality of it just gives it this gritty edge that is difficult to find in popular music in more recent years.

Thickfreakness is a MUST have for anyone who is either a fan of the blues, garage rock, or even both. It shows what you can really do even with the least of equipment, proving you don't have to go big budget in order to put out a quality album. The songs are memorable, soulful, and crank-worthy. Even those who have been listening to the blues for decades will find plenty of things to enjoy about Thickfreakness. I personally love it and think you will too.

Thickfreakness, by The Black Keys receives 5 out of 5 stars.

Track Listing:

1. Thickfreakness
2. Hard Row
3. Set You Free
4. Midnight in Her Eyes
5. Have Love Will Travel
6. Hurt Like Mine
7. Everywhere I Go
8. No Trust
9. If You See Me
10. Hold Me in Your Arms

11. I Cry Alone

Buy the album on Amazon:

http://www.amazon.com/Thickfreakness-Black-Keys/dp/B00008O31H/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1404449147&sr=8-1&keywords=Thickfreakness

The Mention of Nickelback Could Get You Arrested?

Now I know that Nickelback has received a LOT of chastising and fueled many people's hatred (and honestly I'm not entirely sure why), but what just happened in Idaho brings things to a whole new level. A ridiculous one, if you ask me.

Here is what happened. At an Idaho gas station a motorist was blaring a song by Nickelback at top volume from his vehicle. 23-year-old Dylan Swinford along with 22-year-old Riker Morrow made a complaint about it, but by the time their questioning was over Swinford was in handcuffs while Morrow was taken off for further questioning.

However, the two gentlemen filmed this encounter with the police for about five minutes and then put it up on YouTube for the entire world to see. The two deputies from the Kootenai County Sheriff’s Office were under the impression that they either had or were trying to get weed.

One of the officers in the video is quoted saying:

“I watched him get out of your car. He walks away, and he says, ‘Yeah, nickel sack, for sure.’” 

Morrow (behind the wheel), protests:

“No, Nickelback; that guy was blaring Nickelback” Unfortunately for Morrow though the officers weren't buying the story. “He’s not talking about Nickelback,” the same officer said later. “We weren’t born yesterday. That’s a bull— story.”

If you ask me, it sounds like another case of police just hearing what they want to hear so that they can fill their quota or because they want to feel like they are all high and mighty. Fortunately, the matter is being looked into according to a statement from Lieutenant Stu Miller of the sheriff's department.

Miller says:

“It’s a personnel issue,” Lieutenant Stu Miller says. “We take this type of thing very seriously and we tell our people all the time to do their job as though someone is always watching, and they are always watching.”

I guess the moral of this story is not to say the word 'Nickelback' in public. It seems to be as taboo as speaking the real name of He Who Must Not Be Named.