Listening To CCR

There are so many wonderful new bands and artists in the world today and I have not been able to keep up with the current trends. The latest albums in my collection includes those of Bonjovi, Alter Bridge, James Blunt and Matchbox twenty to name some whereas I have some Children Of Bodom and Cradle of Filth albums too. I have however not given so much interest to the likes of Kings of Leon or Foo Fighters. Have I hereby proved my love towards Rock and Roll? Yeah, I am more into rock and roll rather than any other genres.

Not forgetting to mention that, these days have been very hard on me and finding myself some spare time to listen to music has been a long gone story. However, right at the moment I am listening to Credence Clearwater Revival and I guarantee there are few in fact null amounts of audiences who don’t love CCR. I have been a CCR fan for a long time now. Listening to CCR numbers right now is taking me way back to those Fairy Land Days when I used to creep into an Indian teacher’s room and play the CCR records. On top of that, the CCR music takes me floating to those days when I was in my village, free and wild, reckless and carefree. The picture of my village is looming in the back of my mind and the feeling of my presence in my village is surreal.

I can never get enough of listening to CCR, John Fogerty rocks. I think I'll get some of my good old days snaps of me wandering around my village in a very new future.

Covers VS Originals

I personally enjoy cover songs in a live concert. I love hearing new upcoming and not very popular bands coming up the stage and doing all time great songs of great legends of the past. The reason why I love those cover songs is that I too can hum along them when they perform some of my favorites whereas when they do their originals I can't sing along with them because their songs are not very popular and probably those which I have never heard. So this makes me prefer cover songs in a live concert.

On contrary to this originals can be enjoyable at times but mistakes are ignored. If it is about a jam then originals are important and originals are must. But if it's only for having fun and crying through the bottom of your lungs along with the performers on stage, cover songs work great.

Surrendering By Alanis Morisette

I am an Alanis Moriestte fan. The song which I have been hearing for the last couple of days is the one called Surrendering. Wow man this song is great and makes me shake my body hehe. The lines are encouraging, the tone is melodious and the vocal which I don't have to say anything are what make this a great song. This song is great not just because I am an Alanis Morisette fan. The chorus of the song which says "and I salute you for your courage and I applaud your perseverance and I embrace you for your faith in the face of adversarial forces that I represent". Just listen to this one whenever you get a chance. Alanis Morisette is Goddess and I am her disciple I should say.

Weird Music Video

Some music videos are just too weird and embarrassing to watch. Only today I happened to see a music video of Jennifer Lopez featuring LL Cool J and it was funny. I never liked watching these R&B videos but somehow I ended up watching it today. The weird thing about this video is that Jennifer could be seen walking with snow falling but wearing minis. Haha it is funny you know. We can see people on the streets walking with heavy jackets and all but Jennifer, she is walking along the road on minis. Was something there to keep her warm? This is a number one crap video. After seeing that scene I stopped watching any more of that video. This music video is a real trash.

Bassist Countdown

The bass department plays a very significant role in a song. Have you ever imagined a song where there is no bass played? (I am talking about a rock band not having key boardist). Out of a number of great bands only a few bassist have been in the spotlight. My personal ranking of the bassists goes this way. The top five bassist of all time:

1. John Myung : The bassist of a great band ‘Dream Theatre’. This man is the top bassist of all time in my perspective. Just listening to the albums is not enough to know his talents. You need to watch live videos of this band and judge for yourself. He plays his fingers more than a small time lead guitarist.

2. Flea : The bass guitarist of Red Hot Chili Peppers is another great bassist. I have not seen more energetic and electrifying bassist as Flea. He is probably the back bone of the band.

3. Sting : How can Sting be left out in this countdown. He is a great musician and a good bassist. He is not afraid of doing such experiments with different genres in mucis and so far he has been successful in doing so. The god in bass playing business is Sting.

4. Timothy B. Schmit : The bassist of Eagles is also one of the best bassists in the world of musicians. The bass lines he has played in the hit ‘Hotel California’ shows that how good and melodious he can be with the bass guitar.

5. Robert Trujillo : The latest bassist of Metallica is also in my rankings. He is one of the most aggressive bassist of all time. Formerly played bass with a number of renowned band he has finally landed on the team’s platform of Metallica. He suits well with Metallica and the band members have clicked well enough. Metallica should be grateful for having such a great bassist after Jason Newsted left the band.

Alter Bridge

One of my favorites among the new generation bands is Alter Bridge which contains three former members of Creed with a new vocalist. I had been into creed for so long and now it’s Alter Bridge. Though they have just released only one album so far called the One Day Remains they have gained popularity. Metalingus is a good one but the one which I hum the most is ‘Open your eyes’. This one is a melodious song with the creed essence in it. Mark Tremonti is always good with his riffs and pluckings. Though Mark Tremonti has not been rated among the top technically qualified guitarists of the world, he is the best to me. The backbone of the currently non-existing band Creed as well as the new active band Alter Bridge is Mark Tremonti. After the one and only album by Alter Bridge they are silent for the past thirteen months above and hope they would be back with a bang with a new album. Alter Bridge surely rocks.

Hotel California Vs. Lajalu Muskanle

In my view the into of the song "Hotel California" by "The Eagles" is one of the classic intros and its a masterpiece. Probably everyone directly or indirectly involved in music would have had played of hummed this tune. The guitar work is fantastic and as I said earlier this tune could be heard all over the places like gigs, jamming sessions, concerts etc.

I would like to mention the name of the song the intro of which I regard as the quality and the likes that "Hotel California" possesses. The song I am talking about is "Lajalu Muskanle" by the band "Kalind" though this happens to be a remade version. The intro of this song played in guitars is simply great. Dudes of every corners of Kathmandu streets could be heard playing this tune. This is a great song indeed.

The comparison I have made here doesn't relate to the music as a whole. But it compares them in proportion. How can a nepali song be compared head to head with an english song when those english songs have huge market and a huge mass of audience. But comparing the song in the ratio of the scope "lajalu muskanle" is as good and big as "hotel California".

Deep Purple With Steve Morse

The legendary band Deep Purple needs no introduction at. The masterpiece riff played by Richhie Blackmore is in each and every musician's as well as the listeners mind. Lately I happened to see a live video of Deep Purple which featured Steve Morse on guitars. The improvisation and jamming session he does in the song 'Smoke On The Water' is simply fabulous. He first plays his own improvised intro and eventually starts the original riff. The initial plays of this particular number by Steve Morse is great and pauses before he starts the main original riff and the cheers go high from the audiences.This riff is so great and it brings the same amount of pleasure and enthusiasm whenever its being played, be it on the radio stations or videos or live shows, no matter who is performing it live. No one will forget this piece of masterpiece riff played and composed by Richhie Blackmore. Let us pay a tribute to this great riff. Hum with me. Tat.... tat....... taaaat.... Tat.....tat........taadaaaa......Tat...tat....taaaa.....ta.... We all came out to.......... For further lyrics check out the www.lyricsfreak.com/d/deep+purple/smoke+on+the+water.

Lead Guitarists

The lead guitarist of a band is always the most disgusting factor for me. I don't like lead guitarists a bit. There are so many bands in the world and all the lead guitarists are equally good and couldn't be compared against each other. You name some like the legends Eddie Van Halen or Steve Morse or Steve Vai but I don't like any one of them. I simply don't want to listen a lead guitarist playing a very long and boring solos during the bridges. I simply can't stand lead guitarist showing off by playing solos in the middle of the song. If the solos are short and melodious then its good but if the solos are simply an elongated one without melody and just playing them in a full speed is not praiseworthy. The counters are good to hear. Hehe, though I like the blues solos very much and I hate the rock solos played by some great guitarists like Richie Sambora, Richhie Blackmore or Slash. They suck rather than rock.

The Real Professionals In Music

I had never got so close to the band Dream Theatre besides a couple of songs by them. Recently I happened to see a video of Dream Theatre and that was when I got a kind of addicted to Dream Theatre. They are a bunch of original and real professionalsin music. The name Dream Theatre suits them very well and they are the real dream theatre. Their music is beyond everyone’s imagination and they themselves being artists, they are a group which represents theatre. I judge every band by watching them perform live. The vocalist has no such showmanship and doesn't need one. His vocal is great and the music they play is great. The drummer Mike Portnoy is one of the source of inspiration for many drummers of the later generation of John Myung. The guitarist John Petrucci needs no introduction to those who are music maniacs. The bassist is the one I always look upon in a band and the bassist of Dream Theatre is a genuine bassist. You will love watching his fingers play and roll when he plays bass. He is super fast and he is one of the greatest bassist of all time in my list. All in all Dream Theatre is a great band perhaps the greatest in their genre referred as the progressive rock.

Tracy Chapman’s Change

I have only listened to some hit numbers of Tracy Chapman like the “revolution song”, “fast car”, “give me one reason” and “baby can I hold you tonight”. Recently I happened to listen to her other songs as well. It was when I realized Tracy’s songs are so good and as we all know Tracy Chapman’s singing style is very peculiar with a soothing melody. My latest favorite song by Tracy Chapman is the one called “Change”. The lyrics go like this, “If you knew you would die today, would you change?” This is exactly what makes me ponder on my life right now. I have been the same for years and never tried to change my attitude and my norms and ethics, I have always stuck to my own principals. This song perhaps jerked me and made me wake from my deep sleep. Yes I need to change myself. There is no question of knowing when I would die still I need to change my self before dying. Who knows when the death arrives? Before dying I would change. The message of this song is a good one and inspiring as well. So I have made up my mind to change myself before I die.

Blues Remains Blues

The Blues Genre in music is more addictive than anything. I have a friend who is so fund of listening to blues that he even refuses to go to his girlfriend’s birthday party when he starts jamming blues with a couple of same headed guys. And I like to be by his side and indulge myself deep into the world of blues. When they jam they usually do the numbers like cocaine, hey joe and the likes. And when I am home alone I listen to Jimmi Hendrix, J.J. Cale and Eric Clapton to name a few. I also like the one ‘Tuesday’s gone’ re-done by Metallica hehe. The pain, the joy, love, hatred, respect, feelings everything is there in blues. There is no show off in blues and that’s why blues will always be there forever like the way it used to be a couple of decades back.

Frankie J Sucks When He Sings More Than Words

More than words is an anthem in the romantic and love songs. The song does not need any descriptions and need no exaggeration at all. Recently I happened to see a video of the newly re-sung version of More Than Words by Frankie J and it’s a total crap. I wonder if anyone would like to hear this version twice and if someone does listen to this song twice the listener is a no music lover. This is a whole waste and I guess Frankie J doesn’t know how to sing and how to rejuvenate a song. The real charm, excitement, joy and all the bliss which the original song creates is largely superior to Frankie J. Frankie J just screwed up such a very good love song. This is crap and I think Extreme should not have permitted Frankie J to re sing that song. Frankie J does not know how to respect a great music and a great song.

Velvet revolver's She Builds Quick Machines

The debut album of Velvet Revolver called “Contraband” did not do well commercially in and around my local market. But the recent video called ‘she builds quick machines’ by Velvet Revolver is a very good one. The previous album Contraband had the same flavor of the early 90’s metal with long solos but this one is a bit different and does have the new flavor of nu-metal genre. I really love nu-metal and this is a very nice song with a very beautiful video. Every thing changes and so does the music. Eventually Velvet Revolver has adapted with the new genre and they have done it in a great style. It’s really nice to see Slash back in action and he rocks for sure. It is always fun to watch your heroes come back and this time around Slash with his team has made a strong comeback. Velvet Revolver is also a bunch of music virtuosos and experienced in such category.

Alanis

Every time I write a blog I feel something’s missing until I don’t write about Alanis Morisette. Has anyone ever seen such an energetic and who cares attitude girl or a woman? Probably not. There is only one female in the world who is of such category and its Alanis Morisette. Her songs, her voice, her lyrics and her attitude is what makes me so fond of her. Every time I see the video called ‘Thank You’ I forget the entire world and the sorrows that are in me. It feels so good watching Alanis Morisette. When you like something about someone you like everything about it. Same thing has happened to me. Whatever clothes Alanis Morisette puts on I like them. Though other girls or women wear the same clothes but Alanis seems so peculiar in the same get up. Hehe that’s probably why I like Alanis so much. Wish she makes a program to visit Kathmandu in the future. I would jump off the Dharahara to see her. However I am not worth being called Alanis’ maniac because I don’t even have a single album of Alanis. Thinking of buying all the albums released so far by Alanis when I am able to earn some money the serious way.

CCR’s Who’ll Stop The Rain

Wow man this is also a very great song not just because CCR is one of my favorites. The more I hear this song the more I learn and discover the theme of the song. In fact its damn true that no one can stop the rain. There are so many things in life which you just don’t like or you would never want them but you have to take them for granted. There is no option at all and you can never run away from them. When you are in such condition and you hear this song, it inspires you a lot. Though the music and melody is a hard rock and roll of the bygone days, it is surely a nice song. You got to give an ear to this special one and I bet you will like it. This is my perspective of hearing and understanding this song and I have a very little doubt that my perspective is wrong.

What's Up The Video

The video of the song called "What's up" by the "Four non-blondes" is nice to watch. All four ladies look great and that's the best part of the video for me. The bassist, the lead guitarist, the drummer and the vocalist wow man they are really cool. The only thing which I did not like about this video is the lead vocalist's guitar. The guitar I feel does not suit the music and the attitude of those girls. Had it been a classic givson it would have looked better. I don't know which guitar is being played by Linda Perry but the model of that guitar doesnt suit them at all. Some mexican dudes with large round hats and ponchos playing that guitar would be better and not rockers playing it and that too by such a grunge girl singing what's up.

Hell Freezer Over - The Eagles

This album could have been regarded as the best album of all time only if the song called 'love will keep us alive' weren't there. There are altogether 15 tracks which are: get over it, love will keep us alive, the girl from yesterday, learn to be still, tequilla sunrise, hotel california, wasted time, pretty maids all in a row, i can't tell you why, new york minute, the last resort, take it easy, in the city, life in the fast lane and desperado. All the songs are great except the second one. The song called lyin eyes could have made the ablum the best instead of love will keep us alive. After a long break or vacation whatever, this album is quite nice and is worth listening. If you know how this album was named its good and for those who don't know I want to explain. The story goes like this. Eagles used to be a great band. After a dispute all the members quit eagles and before they departed they said 'we won't get together again unless and until the hell freezes over. After 14 years or so they managed to reunite and thus named the album hell freezes over.

Too Much Aired Song

I was so excited about the latest Linkin Park’s new video which was due to be premiered in the VH1 Music Channel. The date which I don’t remember on which it was supposed to be premiered however I got the chance to watch the new video. I am not sure if it was aired the first time or not. After that premier day every time I scan through music channels I see that video and its really irritating me. The song is aired on an on and there is no stopping which is disgusting. However in other perspective the music channel has no other videos to air so I have to compromise and think that someone like me who had been eagerly waiting for that new video could get a chance to watch it. Same thing happened when Avril Lavigne’s new single video called the ‘Girlfriend’ was premiered. Anyways the Linkin Park’s new video is good to watch but not again and again.