Kevin's Watch

Yes, Shankar was sort of Harrison's musical guru. Aside from teaching George the sitar, he played on many of Harrison's recordings. I'm a BIG lover of Harrison's music, and it's amazing to think how incredibly different it would be if not for Ravi.

you're dead right about that F&F!

B careful w/the Shenkar Syl! Rudy Shenkar is a guitarist 4 the Scorpions and his brother Michael was lead guitarist 4 them 4 a while...Michael is also well known 4 starting UFO. Here's ur Scorpions trivia question: Who was the original lead guitarist 4 the Scorps? 2 clues: he has (or had) long blonde hair and (last I heard) he is living as a kinda 'spiritual recluse' in Arizona.

In case you guys didn't know, new music always hits the shelves on Tuesday. The link I posted a page back ( www.billboard.com/billboard/releases/index.jsp ) should give a current list.

Not much new stuff out there that catches my eye. If you like the Evanescent song off the Daredevil soundtrack, their album is out today. Oleander also has a new album out today.

If you've never heard of them, Voivod (featuring ex-Metallica bassist Jason Newstead) put out their self-titled album today. I saw their video on Uranium (Much Music channel... soooo much better than MTV and M2 which is really starting to suck as well). I was... what's the total opposite of impressed?

Metallica has picked Rob Trujillo from Ozzy's band (before that, also with Suicidal Tendencies and Infectious Groove) as their new bassist. To replace Trujillo, word has it Ozzy's considering... Jason Newstead. It's a strange world. Confirmed tour dates for the Summer Sanitarium tour at www.metallica.com/tour/ .

Also, picked up System of a Down's new album, Steal This Album, today. It rocks. I'll give a full review of it later if anybody wants it.

I also got Zwan's new album for the wife today. I haven't yet heard it.

Godsmack also just got a new bassist, don't know his name, but the new stuff is better than ever...

Ok, recap. System of a Down's new album is pretty damn good. I like Toxicity better, but I believe Steal This Album is more advanced musically.

I can't say I really care for Zwan. There's a couple of good songs, but it's mostly like some of their older, forgetable stuff.

I picked up Scars by Soil. Not bad. Half Godsmack, half Alice in Chains, but less than both (it just lacks something, probably originality). Good work-out music or something to keep you awake on a road trip for a while.

I think I'm gonna make a trip to the used music store and trade in some of my poorer choices (yeah, I did the Columbia House thing) for some 60s and 70s stuff. Zeppelin, Steppenwolf, Stones, etc. Anybody have any suggestions? Stuff that rocks, but low on the cheese factor.

Purchased Zwan's "Mary Star of the Sea". I'm a huge fan of The Smashing Pumpkins and I wanted to give this a listen. "Honestly" is a wonderful track although the album is not one of my favorites. I always enjoyed the darker, sombre moods that the Pumpkins created and Zwan is more upbeat and guitar driven. I'd give it 2.75684 out of five stars.

Also purchased Evanescence's album although the title eludes me. It's kind of a modern gothic rock meets Linkin Park. Female lead singers are a weakness of mine and this one does not disappoint. I'll need to give the whole album a few more listens before I can get a good handle on it but right now I'll give it 2.49653 stars out of five.

FMI's picks:
Audioslave's "Like a Stone"
Cold's "Stupid Girl"
Coldplay's "Clocks"

Looks like Marylin Manson has a new album out, The Golden Age of Grotesque. I'm not a huge fan of the man, but I do have a small appreciation for his music and outspokenness.

I used to think Manson was a total A$$ but after hearing him speak to several interviewers I have grown to respect his intelligence and opinions although I don't always agree with them. And I must admit some of his music is pretty good!

I agree, Brinn. Exactly.

I'm listening to a new record by a new band called Bowling for Soup. Their CD is called Drunk Enough to Dance.

That have that one song, the girl all the bad guys want, right? I don't like that song too much. It's catchy but I don't like the lyrics. Maybe I should try some of their other stuff.

Not really a 'new band' though - Ever heard of 'The Bitch Song'? That was from their previous album 'Let's Do It For Johnny', and did quite well (compared to other similar artists, that is).
'Emily', from Drunk Enough To Dance, is a good one, though.

· Mary Star Of The Sea (CD & DVD) - Zwan

I've got that CD, but not the DVD. It's pretty good, but Corgan's older stuff with The Smashing Pumpkins is, imo, a lot better.

Just having got back to the States, I picked up Metallica's new album, St. Anger. I've been a fan of their stuff up to this point, never going with the whole selling out theory, but this album is just... well, I'm not going to say it's bad, but when I put a Metallica CD and listen to it for the first time, I expect a lot more. This album doesn't deliver. Maybe they're trying too hard to be hard. Maybe losing Newstead unbalanced them. Dunno. All I know is that Hetfield sounds flat and all the instruments sound like they've been turned down to accent his vocals. There's a couple good tracks, but even those are marred by some really cheesy over-lyrics.

Despite what the band's feelings are on the subject, next time I'm burning the album before I buy it.

I surprisingly like the new Metallica album. It sounds different than most of the crapola they play on the radio and that alone is a good enough reason to like it. No way these guys sold out.

ooooooo musical disharmony in Morinmoss! I downloaded Toxicity by System of a Down--couldn't stand it!

It's growing on me the more I listen to it, but it's just missing that certain oomph a new metallica album usually packs for me. Maybe it's a kind of evolved music style thing, more artistry but less impact? Anyway, I still think the instruments are a little bit too weak. I like it, but I don't think it stands up to their older stuff.

I'm kind of surprised you didn't like Toxicity, Danlo. It's one of my favs.