The Music Tank

I’m writing this on a Sunday again. Not only is it a slow news week, but I’ve been awake for almost 3 hours and I’ve done nothing. So, in an effort to feel productive, I bring you this weeks Stranger Than Fiction!

I’VE READ THIS WEEK’S STRANGER THAN FICTION AND IT FUCKING SUCKS

Trust me, I write it, I know. A bunch of headlines came up and I made note of them, but they’re all far too stupid to get into detail. I’ll just run them by you quickly.

• Sean “Diddy” Combs still denying any involvement in the murder of Tupac Shakur
• DMX doesn’t know who Barack Obama is and dropped lots of F and N bombs in regards to Obama in a TeamSugar interview
• Gene Simmons competed in a pizza eating contest in New Zeland, trying to outdo the man going for the world record
• Iron Maiden voiced their dislike for Blabbermouth

THE KENNEDYS ARE DEAD, LONG LIVE THE KENNEDYS

From Music-News:

Jeff Penalty, the second replacement vocalist for punk upstarts the Dead Kennedys, has left the band in a “not amicable split.” Jeff explained the situation: “It’s likely that, if asked, the band will attribute my departure to scheduling conflicts brought about by my documentary work, but in reality it’s a tediously long story involving personality conflicts, creative differences, arguments about splitting money equally, arguments about how the band should be run, arguments about the wisdom of hiring a band manager whose other star client was a Christian folk artist, arguments about whether we should or shouldn’t go on MTV, and arguments about many other wretched things… I thought about quitting numerous times over the past year, but I officially did so on Thanksgiving when I found out that the band had been recruiting a new singer behind my back and had even played a secret show with one at a bar in my neighborhood.”

Jeff Penalty redeems himself after helping this punk rock karaoke act go on. After reading this article again, I noticed something a bit disturbing. Well, it’s disturbing for a Dead Kennedys fan at least.

…arguments about whether we should or shouldn’t go on MTV…

Hold the phone! The Dead Kennedys, or at the very least this karaoke act parading as the Dead Kennedys should not go on MTV. They have a fucking song called “MTV Get Off The Air” for fuck’s sake!

Dear Dead Kennedys-lite,

Fucking stop.

Sincerely,

-The Music Tank

BLACKMAGE’S TOP 10 ALBUMS

Honorable Mentions

Bad Religion’s “Stranger Than Fiction” remains one of my favorite punk albums from an active punk band. Reel Big Fish’s “Turn The Radio Off” gets a nod for being the first ska album that I could enjoy. The Dead Kennedys albums, though not all of their content is current, are albums that I’ve throughly enjoyed. Primus’ “Sailing The Seas of Cheese” gets a nod. Kyuss’ masterpieces “Blues For The Red Sun” and “Welcome To Sky Valley”. Anything by Led Zeppelin. Anything by Eagles of Death Metal. Slayer’s “Show No Mercy”, “Reign In Blood” and “God Send Death”.

#10 Death From Above 1979 - You’re A Woman, I’m A Machine

This is probably the best random purchase I’ve ever made. At the time I had only heard about Death From Above 1979 from the scenesters around town and hasn’t paid much attention to them because of that. When I was in the music store that day the art got my attention and at ten bucks it wasn’t a bad deal. The entire album blew me away and has seen a lot of play time since.

# 9 Queens of the Stone Age - Lullabies To Paralyze

You’ll be seeing a lot of this on the list. I got on the QOTSA band wagon well after “Songs For The Deaf” had seen it’s release and I was stoked about a new QOTSA album. Initially, I was dissapointed with the album because it didn’t have the same “Songs For The Deaf” feel to it. Once I realised there was [somewhat of] a seperate theme to this album, I enjoyed it more.

#8 Queens of the Stone Age - Songs For The Deaf

This started my QOTSA fandom. I had heard “No One Knows” about twenty millions times between radio airplay, the music video and having the mp3 on my computer. I picked up the album and enjoyed how it flowed and the clever radio gag that ran throughout the album. It’s good driving music to boot.

#7 Queens of the Stone Age (Self Titled)

Between Lullabies to Paralyze and Era Vulgaris, I wanted to get more QOTSA music. I picked up Rated R and their self titled album. The latter ends up at #7. This album was incredible. A lot of different sounds but not so much an overall theme. Much different that Lullabies or Songs For The Deaf.

#6 Weezer (Self Titled Blue Album)

I used to be in the habit of only buying CDs for one, two or a handful of songs and never really listening to the whole album. Weezer suffered this fate at first. It wasn’t until the annoucement that Weezer songs would be feautred in Guitar Hero 3 and Rock Band that I sat down and gave my Weezer albums a serious listen. I listened to the Blue Album and never got past that. I think I listened to this album front to back for about a week and a half straight. It’s good stuff.

#5 Daft Punk - Discovery

I’m not a very big fan of techno/eletric music at all. I wasn’t a big fan of Daft Punk’s previous effort, “Homework”, either. “Discovery” was quite the enjoyable album though. I couldn’t tell you why. I loved Interstella 5555 (basically the video album that goes along with this) as well. Just a fun record that I really enjoyed.

#4 The Planet Smashers - Life of the Party

I’m only ankle deep in the whole ska scene. I picked up Reel Big Fish’s “Turn The Radio Off” and “Why Do They Rock So Hard?”, but couldn’t listen from front to back. I’d seen The Planet Smashers’ “Super Orgy Porno Party” music video and I thought it was great. So, in the music store one day, twenty dollars hand and no idea what to buy, I pick up “Life of the Party”. Excellent album. Again, it was another one of those front to back listens for at least a week.

#3 Tom Waits - Real Gone

I’ve heard lots of Tom Waits. There’s lots to hear. The first album of Mr. Waits I heard was “The Heart of Saturday Night” and then much more after that. While all of it is very well done, “Real Gone” is probably my favorite Tom Waits album to date. Why? Tom really strayed away from his usual music style and even didn’t play the piano at all on this album. Oh, and there’s some guy named Les Claypool on a few tracks. He’s in that band, maybe you’ve heard of it, Primus? Great record.

#2 Queens of the Stone Age - Rated R

Bet you’re getting tired of hearing about this band, eh? It was hard putting “Rated R” at number 2. Much like the self titled album, “Rated R” had no theme to it and contained songs of different stylings. As well as Josh Homme, Nick Oliveri and Mark Lanegan provided vocals and made for an overall awesome album.

#1 Queens of the Stone Age - Era Vulgaris

I don’t know to this day what makes “Era Vulgaris” better than “Rated R”. The album has the same feel. Dare I say that “Era Vulgaris” is “Rated R” part 2. Maybe it was the Bulby advertisement campaign. Maybe it was the hope that it would be better than Lullabies. Whatever the magic is, it helps put “Era Vulgaris” at the top of my list.

And there you have it. Will this list change? Oh, probably.

Take care folks. Remember, this article is Rated R. Restricted to everyone, everywhere, all the time.