Led Zeppelin is a top ten classic rock band. This is not a ranking blog, it’s a re-look at Led Zeppelin’s final studio album. Why? This is the age of the proctology exam of classic rock albums. There are many video and written blogs devoted to this process, and surprisingly the audience is more than … More In Through the Out Door: Revisiting Led Zeppelin’s Final Studio Release
Success in the music industry is fickle, a creature of timing, promotion, talent, and luck. Here are five albums I own that sadly were neglected and passed into history. Larry Lee, Marooned. The sweet, polished vocalist of “Jackie Blue” of the Ozark Mountain Daredevils. Offered a solo album where he wrote or co-wrote the songs, … More A Dozen Debut Albums that Failed Expectations, but are Deserve a Listen
As a wannabe guitar player, I’m drawn more to smooth sets of chords forming an irresistible melodic progression. A catchy and inventive guitar riff is a thing of beauty for the soul. Riffs seem most closely associated with rock’n’roll, which I agree, but they can be found across musical genres. Riffs catch the ear, and … More Riffing: Music Artists Who Who Utilize the Technique
I’m not a big fan of glam, spandex-wearing, big hair bands of the 1980s-1990s. Van Halen and The Cure are about as close as I get to the hairspray and makeup genre. Mötley Crüe is not my thing, which makes it seem odd that I would pick up a book written by bassist Nikki Sixx … More Nikki Sixx: Author
Remember when Iron Butterfly’s “In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida” was played at parties? What a junior high trip that was. Turn down the lights, turn up the music and get your groove on. Long songs are truly an art form. Let me qualify that. I don’t mean long, repetitive, meandering and self-indulgent noise, half of which is a drum … More Best Songs Longer Than 10 Minutes
This was one of the most eclectic years in music. It was easy to hear any kind of music on the radio or placed on the charts. Radio was becoming equally divided between AM and FM stations, and crossover songs between genres was common. This was the heart of classic rock, a mixture of pop, … More Best Albums of 1975
I watched a video of a well-known musician demonstrating his favorite Led Zeppelin guitar riffs. He is a damn good guitar player. I agree with most, but not all of his selections. Jimmy Page wrote some creative and memorable guitar arrangements. He is sometimes accused of lifting passages of other songs or at least being … More Top Ten Led Zeppelin Guitar Songs
Thirty years of Pearl Jam. I thought it would be fun to look at their first album, Ten, and their most recent studio release, Gigaton. These two albums couldn’t be more different. Initially, the brooding, aggressive sound of this band did not register with me. However, I love many brooding, aggressive bands, the case here … More Pearl Jam (Part 2)
What makes an impressive debut album? A million copies sold? Hit singles? Your face on the cover of Rolling Stone? Having fans and critics stand up and take notice. Lasting impact. The start of something greater. These are ones that are familiar to me. This list is certainly not inclusive and is obviously just my … More Impressive Debut Albums
The job of the drummer is to drive the train. The exceptional drummers do so taking you on a journey you’ve never traveled. The best grooves get your attention, but aren’t showy. Yes, drummers can be self-indulgent with exaggerated playing, tiresome soloing and drum kits that need their own zip code. It’s very difficult for … More Best Drum Grooves
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