Death & Raw

Since it's Halloween here stateside let's get thematic for a moment. Today we shine a light on one of the most influential and legendary Death Metal bands to come out of the Florida Metal scene. I of course speak of Death. A band who's influence on the genre can still be felt today. There were two Live albums released in '01 to help Chuck with his medical expenses at the time. Both feature the 'The Sound Of Perseverance' era lineups. I will focus on the first release 'Live In LA, Death & Raw'  to showcase an incredibly talented band.

Death originally formed under the name Mantas way back in '83. Formed by Guitarist and Vocalist Chuck Schuldiner, the band toiled in the underground in the early 80's, releasing nearly two dozen Live tapes and Demos before releasing their first album in '87. The band initially started out playing what would become Death Metal before incorporating elements of Progressive throughout the years. The band has somewhat of a revolving lineup. In fact the band never had the same lineup on records. In a rare case Bassist Steve DiGiorgio and Drummer Gene Hoglan play together on two records. While having a rotating lineup wasn't bad considering the players had played with the likes of other metal giants like, Obituary, Massacre, Testament, Six Feet Under, SYL, and King Diamond to name a few. The albums never lacked talent or were weak musically in any sense. Death ultimately turned out seven albums and two Live records during their run.

By '99 Chuck was working on his other band Control Denied when health issues began to take hold. In May of '99 it was discovered that a tumor that causes brain cancer and popped up. Chuck began treatments for it and by Oct of '99 he was given a clean bill of health. Sadly the cost of medical procedures had run quite high. The family was unable to pay the costs. Several benefit shows and auctions were held and the Metal community came together as a whole to assist Chuck's family with the cost. Sadly in May of '01 the cancer had returned. With treatment ongoing the side effects of chemo began to take hold leaving Chuck weak and his condition weakened as he became ill with an pneumonia. Sadly Chuck passed away on Dec. 13, 2001 due to complications from the cancer. In the years since Chuck's passing legal issues with unreleased material from both Death and Control Denied have come and gone. Death's legacy is handled by their former manager and the family. Several reissues have been recently released. Former members of Death are currently out on the road as a tribute band called Death To All. The shows are a tribute to the man referred to as "The Father Of Death Metal".

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Live Around The World

Continuing on with the Jazz theme for Live records, we shift to another Jazz legend in Miles Davis. A while ago I profiled the classic David record 'Kind Of Blue'. Shifting to his later period of work, 'Live Around The World' focuses on his later more modern style of playing. Originally released in '96, five years after his death, the album pulls material recorded in various places from '88 to '91. Clocking in at just under 71 minutes, this single disc captures Davis during his latter more synth infused periods. Included in this album are two covers. "Human Nature" is a spin of a Michael Jackson track and "Time After Time" is a take of the classic Cyndi Lauper track. Overall this is still a great Davis record, but to a newcomer to the Jazz scene this record may be a little harder to get into. For someone new I would recommend starting points for Davis with the major releases. Albums like 'The Complete Birth Of The Cool', 'Kind Of Blue' 'Bitches Brew' and 'Sketches Of Spain'. Any of those records are excellent starter albums. Even better if you listen to them in that order to see the progression. In any case keep your inner cool cat hip and happy and grab this Live record, ya dig?

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Live At Birdland

Time to Jazz the blog up some. Yes bad puns aside, the next couple of posts will feature some Jazz legends. First up we have the great Sax legend in John Coltrane. Most people who don't really enjoy Jazz will still know the name Coltrane. A legend who basically turn the Jazz world on its ear. Recording several great pieces over the years and playing with other legends like Miles Davis and Thelonious Monk. This is a bit of a different Live album in the sense that it does feature two studio tracks in addition to the four Live cuts.

'Live At Birdland' marks Coltrane's fourth Live record. Recorded Live on March 6, 1963 and October 8, 1963 at the legendary Birdland Jazz Club in New York. Originally just 5 tracks, 3 Live cuts and 2 studio pieces, 'Live At Birdland' got an extra Live cut when issued onto CD. It also includes a false start at the start of the opening cut "Afro Blue". At just under 44 minutes, this Live album captures everything the Coltrane was, a great player with an even greater band. Just listen to the intense opening cut and you'll see what I mean.

For people not that big into Jazz I tend to recommend Coltrane as a starting point for listening. Albums like 'Settin' The Pace', 'Blue Train' and 'My Favorite Things' are three great albums to pick up. Each showing a different period if you will. As all three were released on different labels. Don't be afraid to give Jazz a try, I love the genre and it does take some time to get a like for it, but it's worth it.

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Live From MSG

Quite a large Live album for this post. Double Live album to be exact, with well over two hours of simply great rock and blues. Take two musical giants in Eric Clapton and Steve Winwood, throw them on tour and what do you get? An awesome night of music for one, but you also get a killer double Live album. Simply titled, 'Live From Madison Square Garden', this album captures two giants of rock and blues doing what they do best.

Recorded over the nights of February 25th-28th 2008 at New York's Madison Square Garden, this '09 release showcases two legends. Pulling material from their days in Blind Faith together, to solo material, to covering rock/blues classics. Two plus hours that only leaves you wanting another encore. The show in addition to being released on CD was also issued out on DVD. I was lucky enough to catch this tour when it rolled through Phoenix. This was one of the best shows I've ever seen. If you get the chance to see either Clapton or Winwood before the call it day, do yourself a favor a go, you will not be disappointed.

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Gig

We leave the Land Of The Rising Sun to go back to our DIY roots and Punk Rock. This time it's the Circle Jerks. I have previously profiled the Circle Jerks here, as well as some related bands, namely Black Flag and OFF!. The band is citied as one of the more influential Punk bands of the first wave of Punk. Featuring in its ranks original Black Flag vocalist Keith Morris and Bad Religion guitarist Greg Hetson. The band is currently on hiatus, but pretty much split up again. They have reformed a few times with various members over the years. Fun fact, former Megadeth Guitarist Chris Poland was briefly a member of the band after his dismissal from Megadeth. But for this one we feature the bands only official Live release, the aptly named, 'Gig'.

Released in '92, even though tracks were recorded during the bands final tour in '90, 'Gig'  is simply 22 tracks of Punk that clocks in at just under 40 mins. This Live album captures the band in what would be their final form before their first hiatus. Capturing the band still in fine form and showcasing material from all the albums to date. The band would disband for a few years with Hetson continuing to play with Bad Religion and Morris taking up everyday jobs for a bit. The band reunited briefly to turn out another album, but has been pretty much inactive since the decades start. Nevertheless the Circle Jerks remain influential for a whole new generation of Punks.

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Tokyo Warhearts

Staying in Japan for this post. Noticing a theme yet? This time we'll go with some wild and crazy Fins. Children of Bodom have been making a name in the thrash/melodic metal circuit for a good fifteen years now. Perceived by same as some what of a joke band due to their tendency to cover songs and put the Bodom spin on it. See my post on 'Skeletons In The Closet' for proof on that. The band has put out two live albums to date. For this one though I'm going back to their first one, 'Tokyo Warhearts'.

Initially released in 1999, the album was released on the Finnish label Spinefarm Records and was limited to 10,000 copies. More recently the album got the Picture LP treatment and was reissued. The album was recorded at Club Citta in Tokyo Japan on July 10th and 11th 1999. This album is 11 tracks of blistering guitar solo and keyboard solos from a young band. Young enough that just a year before the bands keyboardist virtuoso Janne Warman was still in school and couldn't tour with the band. The band perfectly captures their two albums to date, 'Something Wild' and 'Hatebreeder' on this Live album. This is where people began to notice the talent of such a young metal band. Of course the band continues to put out material pretty steadily despite issues with frontman Alexi 'Wildchild' Laiho. Not to mention the band has had one lineup change since releasing their debut in '97. That's pretty impressive. Even more impressive is the band actually dates back to '93 when they cut a few demos as Inearthed, before "splitting up" and "reforming" as Bodom. You can kinda see the tongue in cheek here as the Intro samples "Crockett's Theme" from the TV show Miami Vice and at the start of "Touch Like Angel Of Death" it opens with another Jan Hammer gem in "Hummel Gets The Rockets" from the '96 movie The Rock. And in a nod to Japanese Metal, at the end of the Guitar battle, you'll hear a bit of Loudness.

I've been lucky enough to see Bodom twice now. Well sort of. The first encounter was actually a meet and greet. Around the time the bands fourth record 'Hate Crew Deathroll' came out I was at the time on a Thanksgiving vacation with the ex wife to Arizona. Somehow or another I found out they were doing a signing before their gig out there at one of the local record shops. In some miracle of sorts I managed to convince the ex wife to go out and stand it line with a bunch of metal heads to get some CDs signed. She agreed and to this day I proudly display my signed copies of 'Something Wild' and 'Follow The Reaper'. The latter album was actually the first Bodom record I bought. Still love that record too. Forward to '08 and I'm now living in Arizona and the Gigantour Tour made stop in Phoenix, well Mesa, but no one knows where Mesa is, so it's easier to say Phoenix. Solid lineup that year with High on Fire, Job For Cowboy, In Flames, Children Of Bodom and Megadeth. Outdoor shows in Arizona are usually safe. You know it's gonna be hot and you know you gotta stay hydrated. Throw that out the window as that day it decided to rain off and on through out the show. The odd weather even prompted Alexi to quip, "I didn't know you had rain in Arizona". Highlight of Bodom's set that night though, the impromptu sing along to "Don't Stop Believing". Like I said tongue in cheek at it's finest. Despite the rain, which caused me to leave a few songs before the end of Megadeth's set, it was solid show.

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