Random thoughts and viewpoints on great bands and their music. I am a huge fan of classic metal and hard rock. It's what I grew up with, and what I continue to grow with. Feel free to post or comment, I really dig chatting with fellow music snobs. MUYA!
Back again after the summer! I didn't plan on taking so long, but I'm back. I have been listening to lots of new stuff this year, and will have a nice list of my faves for you to check out in December when I do my Top 15 of 2012. For todays post I'm going with a classic band that really doesn't have any bad records. There are people who like the classic stuff, with the original lineup, and there are fans who prefer their later albums. The band is Motorhead, and I'm going to pick an album from each part of their career that I feel is their best. From the "classic era", my fave album is 1979's Overkill. This was only Motorhead's 2nd album, and the band was already setting the stage for their true sound, and influencing thousands along the way. This album, along with Bomber (from the same year!), and Ace Of Spades (1980), were to forever etch Motorhead into the history of music, and bring a new heavier, faster style that had not been seen or heard. I know the first time I heard Motorhead, they were far and away the loudest, dirtiest and fastest band I had ever heard. Lemmy's buzzsaw bass and vocals, and Phithy Animal's double bass drumming was pretty radical to a kid who was into KISS, Cheap Trick, UFO and Alice Cooper. I didn't like them that first time, but after getting into metal in the early 80's, Motorhead was always a fave.
Overkill kicks off with some of the best double bass ever, with the classic title track. From there the album is full of clever lyrics, blistering guitar work, and Lemmy's legendary growl. To me, Motorhead was always a heavier, sped up version of the classic bands from the 50's and 60's. Fave tunes like No Class and Damage Case are great examples of Lemmy's penchant for writing classic rock tunes in the vein of The Beatles and Buddy Holly. Throw in some punk attitude, a little AC/DC, and you'll hear where they are coming from. A brilliant record.
Motorhead has carried on over the years, with a few lineup changes here and there, and a list of stellar albums. In the past 17 years, Lemmy, along with guitarist Phil Campbell and drummer Mikkey Dee, have released a string of albums that not only retain the classic Motorhead sound and vibe, they surpass it. Of all these records it's hard to pick one, but today I will say 2004'sInferno. One of Motorhead's heaviest releases, it contains not only flat out metal in tunes like Terminal Show (featuring Steve Vai) and In The Name Of Tragedy (my fave), it also has rockers like Down On Me and Lifes A Bitch. The record closes with the country/blues style of Whorehouse Blues, a track that shows that Motorhead can and have played a myriad of styles. I like to keep my posts short, and my love for this band cannot be written in a few paragraphs. They are underrated. They are completely unique, and have spawned many imitators. Lemmy is 67 years old, and is playing music with a quality and integrity that is lost amongst so many of the newer bands. Long live Motorhead.
As Always...Remember To Support The Bands You Love And Buy Their Albums!
From the "classic era", my fave album is 1979's Overkill. This was only Motorhead's 2nd album, and the band was already setting the stage for their true sound, and influencing thousands along the way. This album, along with Bomber (from the same year!), and Ace Of Spades (1980), were to forever etch Motorhead into the history of music, and bring a new heavier, faster style that had not been seen or heard. I know the first time I heard Motorhead, they were far and away the loudest, dirtiest and fastest band I had ever heard. Lemmy's buzzsaw bass and vocals, and Phithy Animal's double bass drumming was pretty radical to a kid who was into KISS, Cheap Trick, UFO and Alice Cooper. I didn't like them that first time, but after getting into metal in the early 80's, Motorhead was always a fave.
