SCREAM FOR ME #2

No band... NO BAND, can play live as well as this band does and perform with the energy they do, at the age they do it at. Legendary God Fathers of Metal, THE BEST band from NWOBHM (New Wave Of British Heavy Metal), IRON MAIDEN built their reputation on relentlessness. Touring, the shows, album covers, songs, prescence... It's ALL been relentless.

"We're an uptempo metal band and we have built a certain reputation over the years, if we can't deliver today in the same manner we did when we were in our 20's, we have no business in this business." -Steve Harris.

This has been one of the hardest songs of theirs to pick. This is not a solid number 2. I knew it was going to be a number 2 song by Iron Maiden, I just didn't know for which song it was going to be. I so wanted to put Rhyme of the Ancient Mariner in there. Great masterpiece epic song, right? Then I thought about Seventh Son of a Seventh Son. Another lengthy powerful epic song. So I went to look for a song that defined Iron Maiden. Fast... the song needs to be fast. Has a past, this song needs to be from an album from a ways back when the band was defining themselves. Signature, there needs to be some signature sound that Iron Maiden is known for. Crowd rocker, this needs to be a song that the crowd goes mental for and is played every time they go on tour.

Well hell, that's easy then.
Fast? yes - one of their fastest
Classic? yes - Piece of Mind 1983
Signature? yes - Steve Harris' galloping bass
Get's the crowd going? - yes, and we scream at the top of our lungs.




The picture above is the actual valley where the infamous charge took place that the song is dipicting. Look closely for the cannon balls. This is what the infamous Troopers of the British Army faced head on in their charge.

Thus I give you not just a song, but an anthem. If you've ever felt the rush of lighting your hair on fire and going for broke, this is your song. This song will make you look death in the face and laugh at it. MANIACALLY!!!

THE TROOPER!!!!! Regular and Live editions.
By the way... Watch Harris' fingers on the bass. If you use a pick, you're a pussy.

Entering the tri-fecta with #3

Getting into the THREE. Three is the magic number. What's your top THREE? FATHER SON HOLY SPIRIT. So many lists are top THREE. THREE strikes your out. 2 out of 3.

So much revolves around three. Okay... That was all filler.

Getting into my core sound/genre of music to which I'm known for. METAL. There is no band, not one, that has embodied the machismo Conan the Barbarian style of METAL than Manowar. Pure man music. Oh yeah, women love them to. But, this is a man's band, pure and simple.

You want loud? No one is louder than Manowar. Set the world record in 1984, broke it twice since.
1976 - The Who @ 126dB
1984 - Manowar @ 129.5dB
Bands that have achieved 132dB, Rolling Stones, Motorhead, AC/DC, KISS, and Iron Maiden.

2008 - MANOWAR @ 139dB.
The threshold of pain? 130dB.

Manowar takes it's shows seriously. Their recent show in which the set the dB record. Involved: 7-semis, 8 buses, crew of 100, 450,000 watts of lighting, 150,000 watts of sound equipment, and 40,000 watts of stage amps.

They are often referred to as cheesy. They don't care. Their mantra is DEATH TO FALSE METAL. This is the kind of metal you ride into battle with. If Odin himself had a house band, it would be Manowar.

So my BROTHER and SISTERS of METAL. HAIL AND KILL AND DEATH TO FALSE METAL. I give you our anthem.

#3 CARRY ON - MANOWAR!!

track 4

Well... it has no lyrics, comes from the Great White North, and is named from the airport code in Toronto.

Why it's YYZ what else?

Why this song? Not sure, there are tons of Rush songs I love. But, something Rush is so well known for is their amazing musicianship. Pure musical craftsman. Their drummer, Neil Peart who has a masters in English, writes all their lyrics. To top it off is a drummer to which all are compared to. Unfairly, however. Alex Lifeson's guitar work is amazing and at times seems chaotic, but there is very high skill there in the tightness in which he plays. Geddy Lee the soprano voice he's known for has faltered over the years, but still sings will great passion and he rocks the jazz bass and plays keyboards with his feet at the same time. There is no better way to appreciate Rush than to see them play live. And there is no better song that can display their amazing talents than YYZ. To relax, listen, and be amazed. This is one of the best performances ever caught on video. And yes, it does sound like a porno soundtrack a bit, even with a money shot section.

Enjoy
#4 - YYZ, by Rush.

Cracking the top 5

Yeah, my apologies for this taking much longer to arrive at. I took a bunch of time off to entertain myself for 8 days or so. I didn't do a damn thing with this blog until well... TODAY.

Hell I can't even comment on something upsetting me in the world, which is rare. I've been out of touch. Uh-wait, got one. Milk prices. A local news station did a special "extra" on the cost of food, especially dairy. From the maker to the distributor to the seller, it was the same excuse - gas prices. Okay, fair enough and seems logical. Prior to the high prices, I watched the price of a gallon of milk go from 2.99 to 3.39. So I'm complaining about .40? Not so much the cost, but the principal. Just last week I bought a gallon of milk, it was $3.29. Just a day ago I bought another one for $3.39. The difference other than 10 cents? Gas dropped 15 cents a gallon. So WTF? I remember when gas started to dip in the summer then went up a touch then started it's decline we're in now. Gas stations said, "It typically take 4-6 weeks for the prices of oil to reflect at the pump." My fucking ass it does.

My next song is one of sorrow. I dedicate it to my guardian angel. He's been put to the task and through the ringer with me many a time in my life. From attempted suicide to wondering how I just made it through dodging traffic in Rome, Italy. I've tried to cast Christ and his puppets out of my heart and soul many times in my life, but they keep coming back and will not give up on me. At the risk of sounding cliche, the answers are all right infront of me with a 2.5' tall female version of me and suddenly life's tasks are all brilliantly relevant and clear to me.

Iced Earth - Watching Over Me
My #5 Song

Pausing the music list: Veterans Day

Ahh Veterans Day. The day in which the jolly fat marine in his red and green camo halo drop from the sky leaving good boys and girls lots of ammo and a new rifle around their footlocker.

Seriously... words can't describe the gratitude and debt we owe all soldiers past, present, and future. We owe it to their great service to never discourage a young one's heart from defending the freedom in which they were raised.

All facets of our military are important, but I want to say a special word to men and women who I feel go above the call everyday.

Leathernecks, Devil Dogs, Marines. You are without a doubt our finest line of defense. You don't question, you simply do the job. You are the reason when the common man sees the American flag there is a sense of warmth and comfort that falls over us. To the men and women of the USMC who have answered the call of duty without question to defend my life from enemies foreign and domestic, I thank you with all my heart and am indebted to all your sacrifices.

Learn something today, research those who've died for your freedom. Take a moment, not just today, EVERYDAY to thank a veteran. This should get you started on learning something.



Lt. General Lewis 'Chesty' Puller - 2nd cousin to George S. Patton (greatest U.S. General of all time), was a marine. That should say enough right there. However, he is the most decorated and one of the finest examples of marine duty that has ever lived. In my opinion.
19 Time has led marines into battle. Has received 53 awards, most notably Purple Heart, 3 Air Medals, Bronze Star, 2 Legion of Merits, Silver Star, Distinguished Service Star, and the Navy Cross FIVE TIMES!!

He has fought in Battle of Guadalcanal, Cape Gloucester, Peleiu, Inchon and Chosin Resivoir where he is quoted as saying:

"We're ssurrounded. That simplifies our problem of getting to these people and killing them."

Chesty, I dedicate this song to you and all the Marine Corp Units past, present, and future. In honor of Marine boot camp "Good Night, Chesty Puller, wherever you are."

Moving on to #6

There are things in life I can't explain. Between this 6 and 7, a new thing came into my life. I can't explain it, I won't explain it. But... It's cool and I like it.

Like so many things we can't explain... out of fear, out of hatred, or out of love for thine ownself to which I must be true we don't explain for our mere protection of knowing something so special it's best kept within ourselves.

Back in 1998 I had one of those moments when something to which words can't explain came through my life. This force of whatever it was is known to very few special people (not tards), but real people I seldom open to.

Pink Floyd is a band I can't explain, but in the darkest days of my life whenever I've needed something to pick me up, they were always there. And it's not like I went to the shelf and got their CD. They appear on the radio or a tape or CD of their slides out from the car seat. They have many, many great songs. But, there is one that is rather personal to me.

High Hopes, by Pink Floyd

Back on track... America and Song #7

Today is a new day and tomorrow is as well. We got a brotha' in the White House and the world is going to change.

President of Russia announces he's eager to have dialogue with Obama. Then he announces he's moving missiles to the border of Poland. This is of course after Russia blamed the U.S. for Russia's economic issues. Well when we fix the world, you must then pat us on the back and claim us as those who saved the world.

I don't know why I'm even talk about that... Moving on.

Back on my top 10 songs of all time. Any regrets so far? I don't think so, I love so much different types of songs and styles. There will be an honorable mention when it's all said and done.

I like some punk music, but I'm not sure what exactly IS punk music. If it's just rebelious, then great that's what I like. Some of it is crap and just noise with no substance. Sex Pistols I think are okay, but not great. I love The Clash, but some will say they're a more modern version of punk. Misfits gave punk pure speed and death and help launch thrash metal. Motorhead is punk in it's early days and heavily influenced by the blues as well. SKA is well... A hornier version of punk? Somewhere in between The Clash, Misfits, SKA, and everything else lies Rancid. They're punk, modern, and not Green Day.

Enjoy.. Rancid - Ruby Soho (great fun song)

A Time for Change... no song #7 again.

If you don't know the importance of this election, you're in a coma ward at your local hospital. The changed and above picture represents those who gave all they could to insure your voice in the democratic process of elections.

McCain is a great man for serving his country and doing the deed so fearlessly. For that and for any soldier I am eternally grateful that you served our nation without any regret or hesitation. However, you are not fit to lead this nation into the future.

Obama, you not only have my vote you carry my hopes and dreams and future and I will work as hard for America as you for us. This is what makes a leader, not someone who asks, but tells you what is fucked up and needs to be fixed. This, this is a hero.

When I first heard this song, I had a different image. After this political season and my passion for you to be President combined with knowing our challenges ahead of us, I dedicate this song to you.

Heroes of our Time - Dragonforce. At the very least, try to enjoy Herman Li on guitar. He's insane, but try to listen to the lyrics and know where we as a nation are standing on the cusp of.

Time out to Stump

Normally I don't get into this crap. I don't put signs up on my front lawn and I don't put political bumperstickers on my car. But, for the first time in my life I'm inspired at least this much (which is huge for me), to say who I'm voting for and who I'm backing.

If you make less than $250,000 a year and you're voting for McCain/Palin, please get the fuck off of my planet. You are a sheep, you are a lemming, you hate anyone not of your race or religion, you glorify war only for the deaths of others who disagree with your idealism. You aren't worth more to me than a maggot and I spit upon you and your spawn.

Barack and Joe represent all that is purely American. A Christain man with a Muslim/African name and a blue collar hard ass from Pennsylvania. They understand the backbone of America - The Middle Class. They have proven that hardwork and pulling yourself up by your own bootstraps has it's rewards. They have both faced what many of us face everyday. Car accidents, death, racism... Life changing a attitude altering moments, yet they marched on because they belived in themselves and that we as a country are far better than what the current Administration has made us look. We are the shinning beacon on the hill and it's time is NOW for that light to be re-lit.

So... There is NO #7 Song for today. Instead I have somethings I want to share with you and dedicate a song to Barack Obama and Joe Biden.

to Joe and Barack, you ARE one of us
Working Man, Rush




And if you're not voting then watch this...