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!

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."

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.

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.

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.

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...

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!

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?