Tuesday, December 23, 2008

Gloria!

Merry Chistmas Snakers!

In honor of the holiday season, I have posted a Christmas song instead of something that is real rockin'. I must confess...I love Gloria Estefan. Below is her rendition of Nat King Cole's "The Christmas Song." I prefer his version, but you can't argue with Gloria and her Miami style.

Know how I know you're gay? I know it's comin'

Enjoy some Gloria Estefan and from all of us here at The Snakepit...happy holidays!


Tuesday, December 16, 2008

Watch: Disturbed - Prayer

Hello Fellow Snakers - In my opinion, Disturbed is one of the better modern bands out there. They keep it real. Sure alot of their songs sound the same, but so do AC/DC's.

Check this song from Disturbed off their album, "Believe." The song, "Prayer," is Disturbed's best track off that LP. Another one word song title from Disturbed? Say it ain't so! If you're a fan, you hopefully know what I'm talking about.

Anyway...check it. Disturbed's "Prayer."


Monday, December 15, 2008

Watch: Avenged Sevenfold - Bat Country

Killer solo, killer song, killer video, Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas reference. What's not to love? This song brought Avenged Sevenfold to the mainstream and out of the metalcore (I don't like that word) genre.

Check it...Avenged Sevenfold with Bat Country.

Friday, December 12, 2008

Dimebag Darrell


What a great musician and great man...


Four years ago (and four days), guitarist Dimebag Darrell Abbott was brutally murdered while playing a show with his then current band, Damageplan.


We still have his memories...


Dimebag was in Pantera before they split in the early 2000s and, in my opinion, revolutionized guitar harmonics. Check out some his finest work with Pantera...Cemetary Gates.














Thursday, December 11, 2008

Watch and Listen to: Jesse and the Rippers, Forever

As cheesy as this song is, it still kicks ass. You know why it kicks ass? Because Uncle Jesse/John Stamos kicks ass.

Why does Uncle Jesse always wind up jamming with the Beach Boys during his musical projects? i.e. the Tanner family trip to Hawaii. Full House...anyone??? Is this thing on? So who here is from out of town? OK, I'll stop...

Check it: Uncle Jesse and The Rippers' hit single, "Forever."

Musical Roots

When I was a sophomore in high school, I listened to Motley Crue for the first time - on a serious level. I had heard singles before on the radio and on Beavis and Butt-head (what a great show), but I never really sat down and listened to an album. I got the Crue's Greatest Hits CD that year from a buddy of mine and fell in love with it. Being a drummer, Tommy Lee's beats spoke to me. They're not the most complicated with intricate time signatures and he's certainly not the most technically saavy drummer - but he always plays with showmanship and passion. Plus, he's wreckless and and always thinking outside the box when it comes to solos.

With that being said, check this video below. It's a drum solo video from 1987 - with Tommy using his infamous rising, revolving and rotating drum kit. It might not have the "wow factor," but for 1987 it was original and bad ass.


Tuesday, December 9, 2008

Watch: The Decline of Western Civilization II: The Metal Years

If you are fan of hard rock and hevay metal from the 70s and 80s, you have to see The Decline of Western Civilization II: The Metal Years. Teased hair, leather and nasty-ass shredding...this is the movie for you. I have only seen this movie on VHS, but if someone knows where to locate this on DVD, please let me know ASAP!

If you are not a fan of the era when metal was king, you should watch this movie just for laughs instead.

Check this clip from the film, below, to wet your appetite and catch a glimpse of Paul Stanley in all his glory. Below that, check out Chris Holmes from W.A.S.P. - another band from the hair metal era. If you don't want to watch the whole video, fast foward to the 3:50 mark for pure craziness. Decadence to the max...




Friday, December 5, 2008

Listen To: Sour Girl

Hello all of you snakees or snakers...whatever the term is for people that actually read by blizz-og. If you're looking for something a little older to listen to, but still has such a fresh sound, go to your local mom & pop record store. Peruse the selection, pull out No. 4 by Stone Temple Pilots and re-discover the genius that was and is Scott Weiland. You can't argue with Weiland and the single, Sour Girl, off this album kicks ass. It's a trippy song you can totally chill to.

If you don't feel like going to the record shop, check the video below. Peace!

Wednesday, December 3, 2008

Becoming The Album

As 2008 is winding down, I want to know what you thought the best album of the year was. Please hit me up with your suggesstions and thoughts...I am always curious to hear what people think about the current state of music.

In my opinion, the album of the year was Bullet For My Valentine's "Scream Aim Fire." It definitely wasn't the album I listened to the most during the year, but for albums that came out in 2008, it wins.

Why was Bullet's LP the best? Had the elements of metal in the ingredients, of course: solid opening riffs, great choruses, great solos and of course a great bonus: harmonized solos. Check out Waking the Demon off Bullet's LP. It's a real killer song, a little too much for screaming for me, but the song still rocks.

Atreyu's "Lead Sails and a Paper Anchor" was the album I listened to the most during 2008...it came out in late 2007, but singles are still being released off of the album today. Check their single, Blow. All elements of metal included, plus a big ending. That's whendrummers know...they can showcase their shit (skills).



What was your favorite album of 2008?

Friday, November 21, 2008

Appetite For Anticpation

Wow...the day is actually upon us. A few hours from now, W. Axl Rose's rock/nu metal masterpiece, Chinese Democracy will hit store shelves. Exclusively at Best Buy, of course!

I had all but given up on this CD. When the album was first announced, casettes were still in production. I was real skeptical about this album since I saw GNR II in concert. It blew. No Izzy, Slash, Steven Adler/Matt Sorum and of course Duff. I mean the new lineup really sucked live, but they must be better studio musicians...

After hearing a few cuts off the album, I was really impressed. I wanted to hate the album so bad, but Axl knows how to make his fans crave his music - and he has done so. His tracks are tight with a lot more electronic influenece on the sound. Certainly not as raw as Appetite and Lies.

Here is the title track:



Maybe a year from now, Slash and the gang will leave Velvet Revolver completely behind and go back to Axl. For now, we must deal with Buckethead...

Tuesday, October 28, 2008

the snakepit's decor

Special thanks to Maven for the bad ass heading at the snakepit!

Show some love to his site!

Monday, October 27, 2008

Liner Notes

Good Afternoon Ladies and Gentlemen,

Snake Child at your service. I'm a twenty-something music fanatic - I love playing it, listening to it and the lifestyle that goes with it. This blog won't just be about what songs/albums I'm listening to this week - it will have plenty of that - but it will also give my take on the attitude of songs and the pure bad assness that may or may not jive with riffs, beats, lyrics, etc. New instruments, music videos, leather goods...If it rocks or really sucks, you can probably find it at the snakepit.

I started as one of those kids who starts beating down on couch cushions, pots and pans, human flesh, etc. I was about four at the time. My love of music stemmed from there...I naturally gravitated toward the drums since I loved to hit things with wooden sticks. From there, I joined the school band when I was nine, learned how to read music and begin formal training with all things percussion. I was able to learn the rudimentary playing methods for lots o' instruments. I got lightly made fun of by peers and such, but it was all good. I knew that came with being in the school band. I gave up the school band thing when I was 12 and moved to the pursue the garage band thing. It's been a crazy journey ever since. Meeting nutty people, weird biker chicks, lots of guys with mullets and really talented dudes.

My main overall musical genre is rock, baby...I can talk music for days. Hair metal, heavy metal, bluesy, hard rock, grunge - you name it, I have an opinion. Drop me a line if you ever disagree with anything or think something rocks.

WELCOME TO the snakepit!