Poison Something to Believe In Review

When it comes to Poison in general, I am not a fan of this band.  Most of their songs are not great musically and their lyrics were generic lyrics based on girls and partying. Unlike how most bands of the 80's made up for their easy lyrics with amazing instrumental technique, this band never excelled that far and their music suffered for it.  Their look was also one of the worst looks in hair metal.  While a lot of the bands of the 80's wore make up looked feminine, Poison was the band that took it over the top.  On their album cover for "Look What the Cat Dragged in" they look like full on girls.  However, they did have one song I came to appreciate and give them props on. That song is "Something to Believe In".

The first thing I will say is that Bret Michaels actually sounds good vocally on this song.  He clearly is singing what he feels and it sounds very authentic.  While his vocal style may not work in every song this band does, it works well in this song.  His voice really adds to the sorrowful tone the song is expressing.  The piano is very effective in setting up the song's tone and really is key in carrying the song.  I feel that if the piano wasn't in the song, the song wouldn't be as effective, so that was a good move on the band's part.  However, the one major problem in this song is C.C. Deville's guitar solo. My biggest problem with it is how repetitive it is.  He does a lot of  playing the same note 3 or 4 times in a row and it really sticks out.  It isn't a problem if he did once or twice but he does it many times through out his solo.  He tries to disguise it by bending the note a different way each time he picks it, or he just plays it fast.  However,  he doesn't hide it well and since he does is so much you catch on to it.  He should of either made it shorter and simpler like in White Lion's song "When the Children Cry" or keep it in a more narrow set of notes such as Skid Row's  "I Remember You".  He made the mistake of trying to sound technical when he really wasn't being that technical.  

Where this song really shines is in the lyrics.  It starts off with Bret Michaels singing about a pastor  stealing money, not practicing what he preaches and then transitions into a story about a Vietnam Veteran not being welcomed backed to U.S. after he came home from the war.  He sings about how people treated the Vet badly.  The second verse is really what inspired this whole song.  It is about Poison's manager who had past away and how the band felt about that.  Bret Michaels said that his managers death is what caused him to write this song.  Overall, the lyrics in this song are very deep and the message is about trying to stay positive and finding something to believe in when you are going through rough times. 

This is without a doubt one of Poison's best songs.  While it doesn't change my view on this band overall, I still have to give them credit for this song.  It is deep, it is authentic, it's music really reflects the tone and message well.  C.C. Deville's guitar solo is nothing special and actually hurts the song in my opinion, but even with it I still enjoy listening to this song.  I give "Something to Believe In" a 4 out of 5.  

Breaking Benjamin Diary of Jane Review

Breaking Benjamin is a fairly controversial band among rockers and metal heads.  To some people, they are a decent rock band, while others see them as posers that were just part of a trend.  Whatever you think of the band, they are one of the most successful bands of the 2000's and still have a good career going today.  Where as a lot of other bands of the 2000's have faded, such as Trapt, Three Days Grace, and Seether, Breaking Benjamin has still been able to maintain a decent following.  In my opinion, this band was at their best when they came out with "Diary of Jane". 

Musically, this is one of the heaviest songs of their discography.  It starts out with a soft, slow build up that then breaks out into a heavy, hard hitting intro.  While the instrumental work in this song isn't the most impressive I've ever heard, it is still pretty good.  It has a good energy and the guitar work really hooks you.  Benjamin Burnley's vocals work very well in this song.  His deep voice really works well with the lower tuned guitar and he is able to really carry the song.  One of the things that I consider a flaw in this song is the guitar solo before the bridge.  In my opinion the guitar solo was too short and not a lot was done with it.  It wasn't awful but it was short and not executed to the best it could be.  This isn't a huge fault though and it doesn't kill the song for me musically.  

The songs lyrics are about wanting to be in a relationship.  The message of the song is about someone who is in love with a girl but she is not in love with him.  The entire song is basically telling a story of how this man is trying to win her love even though she is not interested in him.  I must say, that the lyrics of this song are constructed very well.  The phrases are well executed and they have a good flow. Overall, the band did a great job with this song lyrically. 

With good music and lyrics that flow like a story, this is one of the best songs that this band has ever made.  The heavy guitar hooks you and the lyrics are really catchy and tell an interesting story.  While people believe that these guys are not worth paying attention to, they have to at least give them credit for this song.  With "Diary of Jane" they proved that they were a talented band with huge potential, and it explains why they still have appeal today, even though so many other bands of their time have faded.  I give"Diary of Jane" a 4 out of 5. 

3 Things That Can Improve Worship Music

When it comes to Worship Music, there is a lot of good things in it.  The music is energetic, it is uplifting, and it is well written.  I myself play on the worship band at my church once in a while.  However, just like anything else in this world, there is always room for improvement.  I am not writing this to bash or attack Worship Music, I am only giving my thoughts on how it can improve and make a bigger impact.  I would also love to know your thoughts and how you think that Worship Music can improve.  With that, here are 3 things that can improve Worship Music.

1.  Add More Songs To The Mix

Now there is nothing wrong with Hillsong, Jesus Culture, or Elevation Worship as they are talented bands filled with great musicians that make great music.  However, there are also a ton of great Christian artists out there that are just as good as these three bands are.  Bands like Jars of Clay and Switchfoot are very good, and have also made an impact on Christian Music that could really benefit the Church.  Churches should also not be afraid to incorporate different genres as well.  There are plenty of good Christian Rap, Country, and Rock and Metal bands that can really boost a Church musically.

For the record, I am not advocating for the Church to perform Devil Wears Prada or Extol, even though I would give a church props for being bold enough to do that.  I am talking about bands like Stryper, POD, Skillet, and some songs from Disciple and Demon Hunter. Yes, it would be a lot of work but it would be good, because these different genres bring a feel and energy that Hillsong and Elevation Worship don't have.  The last way that Churches can add more songs to their mix is by writing their own songs.  Many Churches all over the world have very talented musicians that can write great songs.  Again, I know it would be a lot of work, but if done right the pay off would be worth it. Each individual church would be unique and that uniqueness would make a bigger impact.  I get that Churches want their identity to be in God and not themselves, which is good and noble, but just by human nature everybody is going to be different, there is no way around that.  As long as their motivation is in the right place and it is not for money, their is nothing wrong with making their own music in my mind.

One Good Example is Jesus Take The Wheel By Carrie Underwood

2.  Increase Stage Enthusiasm

This one varies depending what church you go to or watch.  Some Churches encourage you to get into your performance and have fun with it.  Others stand on stage like statues and don't really give much energy into their performance.  This can be a problem because if you don't appear to be enjoying yourself, then why should your audience?  This also creates a bad impression for people who are attending your church for the first time.  It doesn't give a new person a reason to comeback and even if the pastor is good, the person is never going to forget how dull and lifeless the Worship band was and that will result in someone not choosing the Church.  I also think that big stages and big productions are helpful as well.  Now, some people don't like this because they feel it can be a distraction from God. I do believe that you can go to far, but it takes a lot to get to that point.  If you're setting off fire canisters, that is over the top but big lights and visual projector effects can be effective.  Also, I feel like it depends on the motivation.  If it is about money, people will know and the church will pay for that motivation.  However,  it can really be used to communicate a songs message more effectively and as a result make a bigger impact. 

3.  Don't Be Afraid of Sorrowful and Lamenting Songs

One of the biggest criticisms about Worship Music is that it is all happy music.  Growing up in a Church and watching other churches online, I can understand this criticism.  While I like a lot of the positive, uplifting, God celebrating Worship Songs, I have to admit, that tone takes up about 95% of the songs.  This is a problem for several reasons.  The first problem is that when you sing that message so much, it becomes hollow and loses its meaning.  People don't take it as seriously because they've heard it so much that people become numb to it.  Another problem is that to someone who is not a Christian and doesn't listen to Christian music, it feels fake.  That doesn't mean that the motivations of the musicians are fake or that they are not passionate about the songs. The problem is that when you constantly sing about how happy you are and you are constantly celebrating you come off as unauthentic because no one is that happy all the time.  You will run into problems in life and everyone knows that.

 One of the biggest problems though is that happy music doesn't do anything for people who are in a bad place.  If someone is sad, going through hardships, or questioning their spirituality, happy music won't do much for them because they can't relate to it.  By playing a song about sorrow and mourning, you give that person something to relate to and they feel like someone else understands them.  This gives them comfort in knowing that they are not alone and that other people understand them.  Now, you can argue that it's the pastor's job to acknowledge hardships but I feel that the message sticks better in song.  What I mean is that when you play a song that goes with what the pastor is talking about, the message becomes more clear and sticks with you better.  It reinforces the pastor's message and makes the message more memorable.  Now of course the question comes, what kind of sorrowful songs do you have in mind?

 Some of the best examples that come to mind are songs like, Flood by Jars of Clay, Dive by Disciple, and Going in Blind by POD.  The specific reason I chose these songs is because of how the lyrics are written.  Flood is about feeling like you are drowning and you are calling out to God for help.  Dive is about going through hard times but still having the determination to get through the hard times no matter what.  Going in Blind is about not knowing what to do in hard times and God guiding you back and showing you where to go.  What these all have in common is that they acknowledge people's pain while also giving them hope.  We are admitting that we suffer and go through hard times while at the same time giving hope to those suffering.  It is authentic but not hopeless and that is very powerful. Songs like these can make a certain impact that happy songs cannot and in some ways they resonate better then happy songs.  Now does that mean there is no place for happy music in Worship Music?, of course not.  Celebration is very important as well and should never be ignored.  However, it is just one piece of the puzzle and if the Church leaves out sorrow and mourning, then Worship Music won't make the full impact that it can.  

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Unite Rev Review

I have stated in another blog post that I like this band and their music.  While they are one of the more poppy visual kei bands, they are still very heavy with very well composed music.  They are, for the most part, a more uplifting band with positive music.  The very first song that I ever heard from this band was Rev.

Musically, this is definitely one of the bands more heavier songs.  The build up in the beginning itself starts out with heavy, deep sounding guitar that leads into a main intro where everything is heavy.  The guitar continues with the heavy chords, the drum work is heavy as well.  This really builds up the energy in the song and is really effective in keeping the listener engaged. The way the music is composed  almost makes you think you are listening to a story.  With the verse sounding down and depressing, the pre chorus shows hope, and then the chorus is the happy ending.  It is done very effectively and really helps to communicates the songs message.  The guitar solo is another great point in this song.  Shiina Mio bust out a very melodic solo that builds up to the final pre chorus and it is done very effectively.  It isn't technical but it doesn't need to be.  It is a brief melodic solo that is supposed to set you up for the final portion of the song and it does it very effectively.  Vocally, this is one of Yui's best songs.  He really captures the song perfectly by how he sings each section.  In this song he is able to match his vocals with each section very well.  When the song is depressing so are his vocals. When the song is happy, so are his vocals.  Also, this is one of the few songs that he sings a lot of English in.  The verses in this song are completely in English and Yui actually sings it pretty well.  He does have a bit of an accent, but you still understand him and he is able to make himself sound very good vocally.  

Lyrically, this a song about pushing yourself to be better and do great things.  Like I said earlier, this is one of the few Unite songs with a lot of English in it.  The verses are completely in English and basically talk about pushing and wanting to be something great.  The rest of the song is completely in Japanese with the exception of Revolution at the end of the chorus.  The lyrics in both verses are exactly the same though.  The band probably did this to make it easier on Yui.  While this is a turn off to some people, it doesn't bother me.  The verse is constructed well enough that they can use it twice though. Overall, the lyrics are great and well written, they flow well and really get the point across.  

When it comes to Unite, this is a unique song.  Musically, this is one of their heaviest as well as one of their best vocally.  Yui does a fantastic job on vocals and the band really busted out a very energetic, yet deep song.  The lyrics are uplifting and really communicate to someone about striving for more.  I consider myself to be very fortunate to have this song be my introduction to Unite.  It is a great song and really showcases this bands talent.  I give Rev a 4.5 out of 5.   

Are Ballads Bad For Rock and Metal?

When it comes to soft music, or ballads, in metal in rock opinions can get strong sometimes.  Some people think they are a good thing because it brings out the soft, emotional side of a rocker.  Other people hate them because they think that those songs are just easy hits to get bands fame.  Basically, they believe that if you make a ballad then you have sold out.  However you feel about this kind of song, they have become very common today and most bands, if not every band has one.  With that, lets answer the question of are ballads bad for rock and metal?

Let's start with the good things about ballads.  One thing I like about ballads is that they do bring out the emotional and vulnerable side of a rocker.  This is good because one of the biggest elements of rock and metal is being real.  A metal band cannot be angry and rebellious all the time or they are being fake, as Tommy Lee of Motley Crue once said.  One good example of this is "Something To Believe In by Poison".  This is a good example of a song coming from the heart.  Bret Michaels found out that Poison's manager had died from a heroine overdose and that devastated him.  He wrote this song to express what he was feeling and it was a good way to express his pain.  Another good example is "One Day Too Late by Skillet".  John Cooper stated that he wrote this song to express how much he loves his family.  These are good songs because they are real and you get a real sense of authenticity from the people who wrote them.

Even though good things can come from ballads, there are some bad things about them as well.  While they can be very effective at expressing a rockers emotional side, they were also used by bands and record labels to make an easy hit song.  This reduces ballads as nothing more then easy money makers.  This problem was huge in the 80's.  While a lot of bands wrote ballads that came from a real place, most bands either wrote them for a hit or were forced by their record label to write them. While not all them were bad songs, they were over done to the point that ballads became cliche.  There were so many of them that were clearly inspired by nothing more then to get an easy hit that they lost their meaning.  By 1993 people were tired of ballads and it was one of the reasons for the rise of grunge.  This was made clear by songs like "More Than Words by Extreme" and "Nobody's Fool by Cinderella".  The music wasn't bad, but the lyrics were so generic that people didn't take them seriously.  As a result, many of these bands and the ballads they wrote would fade into obscurity along with ballads being virtually unused in rock and metal until the 2000's.

So after looking at to good things about ballads as well as the problems with them we ask, are they good or bad for rock and metal? The answer, in my opinion, is that they are good for rock and metal.  While they can be abused and used as nothing more then a cash grab, they can also be one of the biggest forms of honest expression.  It makes rockers look human and it shows that rock and metal is about more then anger and rebellion.  After the 80's, newer bands have learned from that era and as a result most of the ballads today are authentic and more people can relate to them then before.  Ballads are also more diverse today then they were in the 80's.  Most ballads in the 80's were about relationship with women, but today they are also about loving your family, the death of a loved one, self reflection, and the list goes on and on.  To people who see ballads a sign that a band has sold out or that think you're not a rocker if you like them, I say look a little deeper and see what inspired a band to make that ballad.  Just because it isn't heavy or rebellious, that doesn't make it rock or metal.   

         

Alice In Chains No Excuses Review

Out of all the grunge bands of the 90's we remember 4 of them today.  They are Nirvana, Sound Garden, Pearl Jam, and Alice in Chains.  Out of all those bands, Alice in Chains is considered by many to be the heaviest and most technical of all the grunge bands.  Through out their career they have had many in your face songs that are considered by most to be more metal then grunge.  Even the band themselves have admitted to having mostly metal and hard rock influences.  However, they were also able to tone it down and take it slow when prompted.  One of their best slow songs is "No Excuses".

Out of all the slow songs that Alice in Chains has made, "No Excuses" is the easy listening song. The acoustic guitar sounds very soothing and relaxing.  The drum work is pretty basic, but for a song like this you don't want to be over the top so this is a good thing.  The bass lines in this song are very catchy and adds to soothing sound that this song goes for.  I have to give props to the vocal work in this song.  While I don't think that Jerry Cantrell and Layne Staley are the best singers on the planet, they do have a good vocal combination that not a lot of bands have and this is one song that showcases that combination very well.  They sound good singing together and as a result it creates very good sounding vocal work on this song.

Lyrically, this is a song about knowing someone with drug addiction.  By this time, it had become clear to Jerry Cantrell and the rest of the band that Layne Staley had drug problems.  He had become addicted to heroine and the band was concerned.  This song addresses that and basically talks about dealing with someone in that state.  Jerry Cantrell was basically saying that he wants to help Layne overcome his addiction but even if he didn't they were still friends.  These lyrics are clearly personal and truly reflect what the band is feeling and that is what makes good lyrics, is when you know they are personal.

Clearly, this is a very personal song to the band and they executed it very well.  The music is good and is pretty unique to the genre that they were associated with.  Lyrically, it is coming from a real place that expresses what the band is feeling.  This makes the song real  and very expressive, which is very important in music.  I give "No Excuses" a 4.5 out of 5.
    

Demon Hunter One Thousand Apologies Review

Demon Hunter is considered by many to be one of the best modern Christian Metal bands. They are  known for their interesting combo of melodic metal and metalcore.  Over the years the band has developed quite a catalog of good music.  With so many great songs like (Carry Me Down) and (Last One Alive), this band has quite a catalog. One of my favorite songs from this band is One Thousand Apologies.

The song has a heavy, yet sorrowful melodic tone that really works well with the lyrics of the song.  The melodic guitar playing really creates and carries that sad tone that really defines the song.  None of the music in this song is tricky or super technical but it still sounds great and the music does a great job of bringing out the message it is going for. The vocals in the song are great as well.  The sad, melodic melody really brings out the lyrics and makes the listener feel the sorrow this song is expressing.  While there is some growling vocals in this song, it doesn't happen much and in a song with this kind of tone I don't think that is a bad thing.  For a song that has a slower beat and music that doesn't really sound super heavy, I am not sure it would be a good thing to have a lot of growling vocals in this song.  My only problem this song is in the bridge.  My problem with it is that it is repetitive and repeats the same lyrics over and over.  I feel it would have been better if they added a few different phrases or instead did a melodic guitar solo.  However, this is a minor problem that really doesn't effect the song overall.  

 The lyrics in this song are great and are written in a way that works for both Christian and Non Christian people.  The song is about realizing the mistakes you have made and feeling sorry for them.  To Christians this can mean they are apologizing to God while Non Christians can see it at as apologizing to someone they were in a bad relationship with or someone they hurt.  Demon Hunter was really able to bridge the gap between Secular Music and Christian Music with these lyrics. Contemporary Christian Music should really pay attention to this song, lyrically, and learn from.  See, part of the problem with Contemporary Christian Music today is that it does a good job celebrating God and his glory, but that is mostly all it does, (with a few exceptions).  There is not much music that expresses sorrow or allows someone to lament in the Contemporary Christian Music Scene.  This is a problem because it leaves out a big part of being human, we all feel sad and we all feel regret.  If we don't acknowledge that side then we are not being real and are not relating to people in that state.  Demon Hunter does a great job expressing that side of humanity and they do it very effectively.   

Like I stated in the beginning, this is one of my favorite Demon Hunter songs.  Musically, it is expressive and really captures a tone that matches the lyrics perfectly.  The vocals do a fantastic job of communicating the lyrics to the listener.  The lyrics in the song are fantastic.  People can understand them and relate to them, if they are in that state.  I give One Thousand Apologies a 4 out of 5. 

Top 5 Songs Used In Horror Movies

Along with music, I love good horror movies.  Through out time and time again, both have merged well together and created memorable moments for the songs and the movies that used them.  For this list I will be counting down the top 5 songs used in horror movies.  In this list I will not be using strictly songs that were written for the movies they were in.  I will be using songs written for a specific movie, as well as songs that were made famous by being featured in a horror movie.  With that, here are the top 5 songs used in horror movies.  

5.  Midnight, The Stars and You by Ray Noble and Al Bowlly, From The Shining

One thing I always found interesting about the big band music of the 20s all the way through the 50s was how people use it for so many different moods today.  One big example of this is (Midnight, The Stars And You) that was used in (The Shining). Lyrically, this is supposed to be a romantic song about being in love with someone.  However, when you listen to the song in (The Shining) it makes you feel uneasy and uncertain.  Some people think that this is a good thing because it is making the music relevant again.  Other people hate it because they feel it is ruining what the songs were originally supposed to be like.  Either way, I like this song a lot.  It is simple, but very catchy and flows very well.  Al Bowlly does a great job singing this song, even though he doesn't have a lot of lines.  However, with the lines he does have, he delivers them well and makes them sound great.  This is a song that really did its job effectively in the movie it was placed in.  When I heard this song in the movie I felt uneasy and it made me wonder what was coming next.  Ever since then, I have wondered, do I play this song when I am on a date?, or when I am in a Halloween maze? Either way, this a good song that does it job very effectively in (The Shining).

4.  Tiptoe Through The Tulips by Tiny Tim, From Insidious

   

I remember when I first heard this song after hearing (Living in the Sunlight) while watching (Spongebob Squarepants).  I found the song very funny and it just made me laugh hard.  However, my perception on that changed after watching (Insidious).  The way that song was used in the movie scared the crap out of me and ever since then I haven't been able to listen to it the same.  Now, every time I hear this song I feel uneasy and always want to look around for anything suspicious.  It is very ironic because Tiny Tim was actually considered a very funny musician.  Throughout his career he always got to people to laugh and enjoy his music by the use of his high voice.  However, in (Insidious), it is used to set up a scare with a ghost boy that just takes you by surprise.  Ever since then, this song has become a staple in this movie series. Every time someone hears this song they think of (Insidious).  

3. Love Kills By Vinnie Vincent Invasion, From Nightmare on Elm Street 4

When it came to horror movies in the 80s, metal was a great thing to pair up with them.  One good example of that is (Love Kills).  While this song is more of a relationship song, the music has an eerie feel to it that works very well for the movie.  The acoustic guitar plays a big part to create that uneasy feeling and Mark Slaughter's voice really takes it over the top.  The man is a good singer and he really captures the uneasy mood the song needs.  While Vinnie Vincent isn't the greatest guitar player in the world, he still does a good job on this song and he is able to play a style that fits the movie very well.  

2.  Dream Warriors by Dokken, From Nightmare on Elm Street 3 Dream Warriors

Dream Warriors is considered to be one of the best songs to be the theme of  a horror movie.  With Don Dokken's awesome vocals and George Lynch's great guitar playing,  you can get a real great song and this is one of their best.  George Lynch starts of with that slow guitar build up and then it transitions into a heavy rock song.  Through out the song the band keeps a good balance between heavy rock n roll and eerie creepy music and they execute it very well.  The main intro and the chorus bring out the heavy side, while the build up and verse focus more on the eerie feel to match the movie.  Overall, not just a great song for the movie but a great metal song.

1.  Hip To Be Square by Huey Lewis and The News, From American Psycho

  

When it comes to the movie American Psycho, the one scene that sticks out in every body's mind is the scene where the guy is murdered while the song (Hip To Be Square) is playing.  This is one of those songs that couldn't be further from the horror movie genre, but they still managed to work it in.  Music wise, this is a clearly upbeat song that is about that makes you want to have fun.  Lyrically, it does fit with the main character and that is the reason why it works in the movie.  The lyrics can be translated to represent the main character and that is why it fits.  However, aside from that, you wouldn't think it would work in the movie.  For me, I can still listen to the song and enjoy while not thinking of the movie.  

TNT Intuition Review

I have stated in a previous post how underrated this band is.  They have a great singer and the musicians are really great.  What separated these guys from a lot of other 80's bands was how uplifting they were.  Unlike how most bands were about partying and rebelling, these guys were about lifting people up and making someone feel good.  They did have some partying and rebelling songs, but overall they were about lighting up someones mood.  One song that makes that very clear is their song (Intuition).

The first thing I love is the opening guitar riff in this song.  It has a good heavy rock sound that really hooks you into the song.  The guitar solo in this song is also very good.  It has a great melodic, European inspired sound that is really catchy and actually very unique for 80's.  The best part of this song is in the vocals.  Tony Harnell with his high vocal range creates a very good uplifting vocal melody.  He is also a very energetic in his singing and that really helps the listener to get more engaged in the song.  There are also some keyboard parts in the song as well that really helps to post the positive feel of the song.  You don't hear keyboards in the entire song, but when it comes in, it really helps shape the feel of the song.  Musically, TNT did a fantastic job on this song.

Lyrically, this song is about being who you are and appreciating who you are.   It is about not doubting yourself and never letting people tell you differently. The message is really good and very uplifting, if you are in a bad mood then these lyrics will get you in a good mood.  Along with a good message, the lyrics are constructed very well.  The phrases flow well and as a result, the singer can communicate the message more clearly and effectively.  

This song is one of the best songs I have every listened to from this band.  The music is great, the lyrics are uplifting and very well written. Tony Harnell is a very good singer and this song brings out one of his best vocal performances. Even today, the guy is still a fantastic singer.  I give Intuition a 4.5 out of 5.