The Metal
Tenacious DThe Pick of DestinyNot too long ago, I got swept up in the Guitar Hero craze that has made an impact on how people interact with their video games. I had played the first game in the series a couple times and it was right after South Park did their signature spoof on the game that I finally gave in and picked up Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock at the local Wal-Mart. The next couple of days were marked by the gentle clicking of the controller buttons and the occasional cursing streak when I missed a big solo.....
It was upon playing GH3 that I discovered "The Metal" for the first time. The track is located in "The Hottest Band On Earth" setlist. Overall, one of my favorite songs to play on the game. Even if "The Metal" bears the classic Tenacious D stamp of not taking itself seriously, it still ends up being a fairly respectable rock song with a vicious guitar riff that rivals the works of Dio.
I've always enjoyed Tenacious D's music, but I hadn't really invested much time in listening to their latest musical effort The Pick of Destiny. Obviously, I'm not their biggest fan because I hadn't even seen the movie of the same title until a couple days ago, but to be honest, it looked kind of stupid to begin with. I wasn't far off with the cinematic critique, but the music still turned out to be entertaining. Either way, you can get a taste of "The Metal" through a variety of mediums, but I would recommend the video game to get the full experience.
Dice
Here is a song I never would have heard had I not heeded the advice of my friend and fellow contributor Steve. "Dice" came across my radar while I was watching an episode of the NBC spy show Chuck. Specifically, the song made its appearance on the episode "Chuck vs. The Sandworm. Aside from the interesting storyline and multiple cliffhangers, the spy program showcases an excellent soundtrack of both popular and underground artists. However, Chuck has not cornered the market on Finley Quaye's handiwork. "Dice" made a previous appearance on The O.C.
Despite another shameless plug from the Lonely Note, I would have to say that "Dice" has enjoyed a very active life on my recent playlists. A great track for a rainy day mix.Finley Quaye - Dice
Into the Night
Santana feat.
Chad KroegerUltimate Santana
At any given time, I'll make rash decisions that may or may not expand my horizons a bit. It just so happens that the day "Into the Night" came on the radio, I was in the mood to give this song a fair listen and, let the record show, my opinions have changed slightly for the better regarding Santana and company.
Over the last decade, I have found myself steadily loathe the music that Chad Kroeger's Nickelback and Santana produce. Don't get me wrong, I recognize that both groups have well established roots in the rock community, but I couldn't help but lose a little respect for Santana after hearing "Smooth". And his recent pairings with the likes of Michelle Branch and Baby Bash haven't helped his rock credibility either. One would think that Carlos could play with a better caliber of talent. C'mon, the guy wrote "Black Magic Woman"!
As for Nickelback, I loved their debut album The State, but every album after has been a replay after replay of the same song, but with a different title. Of course, I'll bring your attention to the infamous "How You Remind Me of Someday" song comparision that has floated around the internet. Click here to listen. My main problem with the band is they can't seem to sound genuine in their music. It just seems like every time I hear Nickelback on the radio, it's tailor-made for pop stations. Not exactly what I envisioned for the band when I heard their very first single "Leader of Men". Now that song rocked!
Overall, "Into the Night" achieved what I had believed was impossible. Namely, I could listen to either one of the involved artists without immediately changing stations. In fact, the track has been in my regular rotation ever since the first listen.
