As for all of us, sometimes you have to admit that you are wrong. And that moment has arrived (again) for me today. For those who have been following my blog/site for a while, they know how I feel about covers. I've always said that some songs are better left alone. If you want to re-do an original song okay but you better make sure that it is bloody well astonishing. Well, perhaps you have heard of a band called: Led Zeppelin? And that they have created, years and years ago, this little tune called: Stairway to Heaven? And that you should keep your hands of it!!! Yes... Well... About that... It just so happened that some people did not keep their hands of it. Oh no, they got their hands on it all right. Big Time!!! And you know what??? It is as good as the original and it has something extra... Yes, that's right, it is as good as the original and it has a little extra that makes this fantastic song now to a fantastic plus song. Here is the video clip of Led Zeppelin being honored in the Kennedy Center in Washington. If you don't want to go through the speech of Jack Black and the documentary clip,the music performed by various artists, starts at the eight minute. All I have to say now is: I was wrong and I am so pleased with that!!!

This is purely coincidental. It is Sunday, I can't sleep and I always wanted to get my hands on some gospel music, so I did. This could have happened to me on any other day of the week but there you go. (If you want to see something into this, feel free to do so as long as you don't bother me with it.) Anyhow, this is about the Sounds Of Blackness. They are a multiple award winning choir, vocal and instrumental ensemble, says Wikipedia, from Minneapolis/St. Paul. This group has had and still has members that have written and or sung, for and with, other world famous stars. Some of their members are famous in their own right. Their music is gospel. Now don't get me wrong but this is modern day gospel music. What I mean to say with that is: you can hear disco, hip-hop and dance influences in their songs. Very creative, easy on the ears and definitely not the kind of "I will push my religion down your throat" kinda music. Happy go lucky, so to speak. Here's a collection of their work, enjoy...

This man is the first rapper who made it big. Thanks to Kurtis Blow rap music became known and accepted. His debut album (and that's the album underneath) also named Kurtis Blow was the first rap album that was commercially successful. (This happened in 1980.) The sounds you hear on this album can simply not be compared to any of the rap albums of today. It contains real instruments  like guitar, bass, drums and keyboards. Today this would all have been sampled. It is what makes this album so wonderful "old skool". Not all the songs are "rapped" either. Kurtis sings some songs as well and it is clear that even though "rap music" was on the rise, the record company was still trying to be on the safe side by keeping some "normal" songs on the album too. (Google the song: Takin' Care of Business.) This album also contains the first rapped political message with Hard Times. To say it simple and clear, without this album of Kurtis Blow rap music would have taken a longer and different road in order to arrive where it is now. A beautiful piece of musical history, enjoy...

He is the example of American rap music. His first album sold over a million copies in the first week. His slow and softly spoken rap style made him stand out of the then ongoing gangster rap. Snoop Dogg has been accused of using violent and discriminating language towards women. He's been arrested numerous times and has been in jail. As a rap artist Snoop Dogg is known for inimitable free styling. He has a very creative and rich vocabulary and knows how to use it. Underneath you will find a compilation of his most successful and most popular tracks. Enjoy...

Teddy Pendergrass was one of the finest voices in soul music. He rose to fame as the lead vocalist  of the band Harold Melvin and the Blue Notes. After he'd left this band he had a successful solo career. A smokey voice with a little bit of grit. A vocal that stayed mainly in the lower registers and can be compared from sometimes with the voice of Barry White. The songs that Teddy Pendergrass has left us with, are in the styles of soul, disco and r&b. Besides a wonderful voice that we can hear in his songs let's also admire the subtle bass lines and the smooth rhythms of the drums. The melodies of the songs show what an incredible craftsman Teddy Pendergrass was. Here is a compilation of his work with Harold Melvin & The Blue Notes as well his solo work. Enjoy...

Hello everybody, it is time again for the absolute weekend starting masterpiece. This time we are going back in time to the days when I was very young and was listening to a radio that had to heat its light bulbs first before any sound came out of the speaker. The music tape wasn't on the market yet and getting the list of hits every week and buying the latest single was what had to be done.  The song is from 1967 played by a then unknown band called The Doors. The song is Break On Through and when you use this link you can see an explanation by the remaining members of the band of how the song came together. Have a great Friday everybody...

The first words when I started listening to this were: THIS IS BRILLIANT!!!! Aina has created and album that is astonishingly good. Mind Blowing!!! I think I'm allowed to utter the words: Audible Paradise!!! This is the album: Days of Rising Doom. This music style is called metal opera. Now before you think: Oh no, this is one of those violent hard rock things again, I would actually ask all those "not rock appreciators" to give this album a try. (And everybody else as well of course.) Don't put it on very loud but just as some blend in back ground music. This is indeed opera. And when we are talking opera, this... This is done with sheer grandiosity including a (children) choir and an impressive amount of musicians and vocalists. The musical pieces (because this is way beyond a few songs put together) are composed by Amanda Sommerville and executed by a group of extraordinary skillful people. What a huge amount of talent has been gathered in order to create this masterpiece of an album. What a sublime creation of ambiances, atmospheres and impressions. This album is an obligation for everybody who claims to like music. If I did not know any better I would say that this is out of this world. It has been a very, very long time that I have been so surprised and astonished by an album. Enjoy!!!

Music wise in this second episode of BGT there were only two artists whom I consider worth mentioning. The first one is Jordan O'Keefe. 

The boy is cute, he has a good voice and plays the guitar well enough to accompany himself. (The assets for a starting artist are all there.) For me however, there are a kazillionbillion people like that and besides that his audition was flawless, I found it hard to discover something, that made him standing out from any other aspiring musician. After this audition I can say that yes, he's above average, compared to what has been shown so far but he will have to dig deeper to impress me...

The second video clip will show you Richard and Adam. They are brothers, classical trained vocalists and they sing: The Impossible Dream.  Have a look.

Now, to me, this is an audition that shows more originality and the vocal quality that you can hear is simply wonderful. This performance is moving and the combination of the voices bring up a harmony that is outstanding. If these boys choose the correct song for the next round, there is no doubt that they will go to the finals and even may win... Actually scratch that. I state here and now: Richard and Adam will reach the finals. (Let's see how good my musical instinct is...)

This is fantastic, loud, wild and aggressive rock music. A joy for everybody who has something against anything. Great riffs, lovely drumming and a nice mean bass bridging caps and gelling it all together. Wonderful vocals are placed on a musical bed of noise. The songs are filled with guitar scratches and extra dirty sounding samples, it blends in, just as it should be and the result is a rock sound, that can teach a lesson to every rock band of today. The voices are low, creepy and scary. There is moaning, screaming, announcing, stating, singing and shouting. White Zombie is a band that knows how to entertain the ears in a creative, rocking and wanting for more kind of way. So imagine how surprised I was to discover influences as : pop, country, rockabilly, punk, and soul music in their playing style and sound. To say it simple: This is very creative rock music, that is a pleasure to discover or hear again and again and again. A great contribution to the phenomenon that is rock. Enjoy...

A wonderful "project/band" that creates, easy on the ears, metal music. Avantasia is from German origin and a certain similarity with Helloween is audible from time to time. Avantasia has had the cooperation of more than 20 vocalists and about 20 different musicians. This will give a large musical setting and I regret not to hear a more diverse collection of sounds but the albums that I have published here, are obviously well worth the space. Fast and melodic, the drums do a great job, the guitars are lovely to hear and the bass is bridging perfectly. The vocals are a pleasure to listen to and I think that every hard rock fan, string instrumentalist,  drummer or vocalist should have a listen to this even if the only reason would be that it will give you a larger conception of how good and entertaining music can be. I want to thank Manue Masson for bringing this band/project to my attention. Enjoy...

         The Metal Opera I + II                         Lost In Space I + II