Make the final stand, and die with a beer in your hand!
Eric Clapton - Me And Mr. Johnson
Reviewer: Brent Lockman
Rating: 9/10
The thing I love so much about Eric Clapton is no matter what he does, no matter what music he chooses to play he never ceases to both surprise and amaze me with what he comes up with. In this case Clapton is paying tribute to yet another great Blues musician, one of my personal favorite’s actually: Robert Johnson.
Clapton is no stranger to doing the tribute thing, he’s played with everyone from Buddy Guy to B.B King, hell if you can name a legend in Clapton’s time he’s probably played with them at some time or another. So this album doesn’t really surprise me, as if you’ve worked with the living, start paying tribute to the grateful dead? I suppose the world could use another tribute album to Jerry Garcia, but that’s not what we’re talking about here.
And I can just see the GD fan/lynch mob coming after me after that one.
Anyways as I was saying the entire album is Clapton paying tribute to Robert Johnson, the blues musician who legend has it… you know what if I have to tell you the legend of Robert Johnson than most likely will not enjoy this album whatsoever, I loved it because like I stated I am very much a fan of Johnson’s work.
It was really nice hearing his music updated (well sort of), as let’s face it the quality of some of the recordings are just plain horrid, but I guess it’s all they had at the time), and given a spin by someone you KNOW will show Johnson’s songs the proper respect they deserve. Clapton covers songs from pretty much all across the man’s career, including songs like “Hellhound on my trail”, “Love In Vain”, and much to my happiness “The Devil And Me Blues” which is my favorite Johnson song.
The song selection is kind of like a setlist in a sense that not everyone is going to be completely satisfied, personally I would have loved to hear “Sweet Home Chicago”, but then I got to thinking I seriously doubt Clapton would want to follow up the Blues Brothers, so let’s forget about that one shall we?
Beyond that there is nothing really bad to this album, it’s as close to perfection as we’re going to get, a true living legend in our time, playing the music of a legend from another time, Really is there anything Eric Clapton can’t do?
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Glass Casket - We Are Gathered Here Today ( Abacus/Century Media )
Reviewer: Brent Lockman
Rating: /10
Kids say the craziest things these days.
Ok that was lame
I have not decided whether the fact that metalcore is about as abundant as melodic death days, is a good thing or a bad thing. The way I see it though is if every one of these albums is half as good Glass Casket’s debut album “We Are Gathered Here Today” then brothers and sisters it is definitely a good thing.
Like a lot of albums in this genre the record is little more than organized noise, but at least it’s enjoyable. Brutal and technical as hell guitar parts meshed together with harmonies, topped off with delightful song titles like “Fisted and Forgotten”, “Scarlet Paint And Gasoline”, and “A Grey AM You Will Never Get, and right there you have an album that their older genre mates should very much be taking notes on, or at least paying attention.
The most amazing thing about this band if you haven’t caught on by now is their age. There is not a member in the band old enough to legally vote in the United States, and at their age they have managed to create an absolutely stellar debut album, and yes I did say debut, which right there is a testament to how good these kids really are.
The only drawback I can find to the record is very similar to the one that afflicts Ion Dissonance’s latest album, that being unless you are ether open minded, or a fan of the genre you most likely will not like this. I can’t see why not mind you there is definitely enough here to satisfy any metal fan looking for something like this to listen to. So really pick it up, give it chance you’ll like it.
Trust me
Have I ever steered you wrong?
Well that was fun.
On My current chopping block:
Stormlord - The Gorgon Cult
Tankard - Beast of Bourbon
Benighted - Insane Cephalic Production
Fleshcrawl - Made Of Flesh
Fear Factory - Archetype
Frozen Shadows - Hantises
Dark Funeral - De Profundis Clamavi Ad Te Dom
fucking LOVING this Tankard album, it's basically what Goat Horn is to Doom Tankard is to thrash, only the other way around cause they've been around for a LOT longer.
so last night with the aid of Fred I came up with a band idea, it's called Beukazart(and yes it means nothing), and the first song called "Grumpy is the only one worthy of life"...
Laying waste to the care bear family
because grumpy's the only one worthy of life
killing em all with my trusy chainsaw
I sure could do this all damm night.
Yup... I'm about ready for that rubber room I think.