The Rock Monster

Tuesday, March 21, 2006

new Pearl Jam forthcoming

by F.J. Delgado
originally posted March 8, 2006 on A Letter Never Sent

The brand spanking new Pearl Jam single is available for free MP3 download on their official site (link below), and I've been listening to it non-stop today. It's pretty badass, and things look good for the 8th studio album.

The song sounds like some songs off of Yield and Vitalogy. As Eddie Vedder has mentioned in recent articles, one can definitely hear some punk influences, as well as some sweet Who-inspired touches.

To be completely honest, "Worldwide Suicide" is probably Pearl Jam's best lead single in more than a decade.

Pearl Jam could bust a move up the Letter Never Sent Best Bands of All Time list after this new studio record, we'll just have to wait and see.

download new PJ here ----> http://bootlegs.pearljam.com/wwslogin.aspx

UPDATE

One of the gentlemen in charge of online promotion for the new Pearl Jam record got in touch with me with the album cover artwork.

Here it is:

also... the below is reprinted from the following Rolling Stone article:

MAY

Pearl Jam
Pearl Jam
Out: May 2nd

"A couple of rock songs, a couple of ballads -- it's not rocket science," says Pearl Jam guitarist Stone Gossard about the band's new disc. Not that he wants to undersell the hard work the band put into its eighth studio album, and its first studio record for Clive Davis' J Records. Pearl Jam entered Seattle's Studio X in November 2004, each member armed with ideas. After whittling about thirty songs to sixteen working tracks, singer Eddie Vedder took the rough sketches and wrote lyrics for them. "That took a while," says Gossard, "but it was worth the wait: He wrote some beautiful lyrics for this record." The title, Pearl Jam, reflects the group's most collaborative effort yet: It produced the album together, along with Adam Kasper; each member will receive writing credits; and, for the first time ever, guitarist Mike McCready contributes lyrics, to the album closer, "Inside Job."

The boys are also bracing for a yearlong world tour, to kick off in late spring. "All of our new stuff is so much fun to play," says Gossard, on a break from rehearsing the album's first single, "Worldwide Suicide." "I can't wait." (AUSTIN SCAGGS)

Saturday, February 04, 2006

Better Than the Dave Matthews Band: Maryland's Own O.A.R.

Yes... quite a blasphemous and crazy thing to say, don't you think?

Well, this particular Maryland kid has been saying just that for about 4 years now, and the claims of grandeur have been finally justified in the form of a mainstream breakthrough, which was inevitable.

Forming near Rockville, MD, the founding members of O.A.R. all attended Ohio State University in Columbus, OH. At OSU, they picked up the sax player that was to give them their signature sound, which, along with a raggae-dominated approach and a party-like mood to their songs and lyrics, continues to define the band to this day. The band started out as the ultimate frat band, but has evolved into a touring force with a sterling, hard-earned reputation for a kickin' live show and solid major studio releases (2 thus far).

Hard work and determination have paid off after years of blood, sweat, and tears, and these Maryland boys have conquered all the major rock hotspots in order to become successful: New York City, California, the Midwest, Boston, Philadelphia, and, of course, their own backyard in the NOVA/DC/MD corridor.

Top 11 O.A.R. Songs

1. That Was a Crazy Game of Poker
2. Black Rock
3. 52-50
4. Hey Girl (NOT any of the studio versions, only the live versions)
5. City on Down
6. Dareh Meyod
7. Trajedy in Waiting (early live version)
8. Program Director
9. Night Shift
10. Road Outside Columbus
11. Old Man Time

much more to come, including MP3's

Monday, January 09, 2006

new Strokes: First Impressions of Earth

get First Impressions of Earth now, it fucking rocks, and could quite possibly be their best record.

finally, the Strokes pretty much nailed the production, and the songs are solid.

It's sweet to hear that those old school motown basslines and more complex drumming are finally back, Julian Casablancas' lyrics have improved exponentially (he also sounds clearer and more dynamic) , and the two-part guitar interplay sounds fresh and exciting (recognizing of course that it's all derivative).

The bands I hear most when listening to this record: the Velvet Underground, Radiohead, the Doors, Pink Floyd, the Pixies, the Cars, the Stooges

Check out what both Family Guy and David Cross have used in their humor, and one of the most loved and hated bands to surface in a very long time.

HurricaneAndrew: I'd like to hear your final judgement on this record when you make your final grade on it.

The Strokes Review Archive

Is This It?

Room on Fire

More blogs about the Strokes.

Tuesday, December 27, 2005

Best Rock Bands of All Time List

I've always enjoyed ranking bands. Distinguishing the great bands from the rest has always been a subjective and even frivolous way to pass some time, but at least it's fun to attempt to sort through the veritable cornucopia of bands that I've listened to over the years.

One thing that critics and fans have always failed to do is differentiate between their favorites and the best artists.

It's something I've always been guilty of myself.

Recently I've come to suggest that there are three distinct categories with which to judge artists: "favorite" (the bands an individual prefers without regard to talent/ influence/ success), "important" (influence and contributions to their genre both during their heyday and after their time), and the obvious "best" (the superlatives, the giants, taking into account everything previously mentioned in an attempt to rank based on merit).

Obviously, using these categories as guidelines, anyone can justify putting Enrique Iglesias as their favorite artist because they think "Escape" is bar none the best song to dance it out to, but not as the best without making a serious audiophile laugh.

I also enjoy breaking down bands by decade or period (for example I consider '65-'75 and '87-'97 or thereabouts the two best ten year periods of rock n' roll), but I'll probably wait to compile such a comprehensive list.

For now, I'll reveal my best of all time (a rather grandiose title considering rock is only 50 years old) lists pertaining to both bands and individual artists. For sake of argument, people like Tom Petty and Bruce Springsteen are considered individually, despite working with well-known backing bands such as the Heartbreakers and the E Street Band. Bob Marley had the Wailers, and even Bob Dylan had the Band backing him for a time. These also go to 11...

Best Rock Bands of All Time

1. the Who
2. the Rolling Stones
3. Led Zeppelin