Ripping Off VH1

I have been thinking this over for about the last twenty minutes or so, and have compiled my forty favourite metal songs of all time. REMEMBER: These are my personal favourites. I don't care if a song was left out that inspired a generation. If I don't think it's as good as these, it won't be on here. There will be "heavy metal," "death metal," "Nu-Metal," "progressive metal," and even some "metalcore," on here.

WARNING: "Crazy Train," and "Welcome to the Jungle," will not be making an appearance. I love those songs, but they definitely aren't the first thing that I look for on my iPod. Anarchy will ensue I'm sure.

Now when I say metal, this doesn't mean my list is just going to be Megadeath, Iron Maiden and Metallica only. I like all sorts of stuff. So if you're expecting to just see a bunch of stuff from the late 70's through to the early 90's, you've come to the wrong place. Born in '92, what do you really expect of me?

40. Killing in the Name - Rage Against the Machine
39. Symphony of Destruction - Megadeath
38. Loyalty - American Head Charge
37. Contractor - Lamb of God
36. Spoils - Protest the Hero
35. Die With Your Boots On - Iron Maiden
34. Perfect Insanity - Disturbed
33. Enter Sandman - Metallica
32. War? - System of a Down
31. Nothing Remains - Chimaira
30. Cloud Connected - In Flames
29. Cowboys From Hell - Pantera
28. Nothing Left - As I Lay Dying
27. Gematria (The Killing Name) - Slipknot
26. Two Weeks - All That Remains
25. My Plague - Slipknot
24. Schism - Tool
23. Know Your Enemy - Rage Against the Machine
22. Panic Attack - Dream Theater
21. Free Fall - In Flames
20. Chiron - All That Remains
19. (Sic) - Slipknot
18. Revenga - System of a Down
17. Sequoia Throne - Protest the Hero
16. Sleep Now in the Fire - Rage Against the Machine
15. Sworn to a Great Divide - Soilwork
14. Born of a Broken Man - Rage Against the Machine
13. BYOB - System of a Down
12. Aerials - System of a Down
11. Set to Fail - Lamb of God
10. Aenima - Tool
09. One - Metallica
08. The Prisoner - Iron Maiden
07. Forgotten (Lost Angels) - Lamb of God
06. The Unforgiven III - Metallica
05. Sequoia Throne - Protest the Hero
04. Chop Suey! - System of a Down
03. Ticks and Leeches - Tool
02. Toxicity - System of a Down
01. Before I Forget - Slipknot

I Just... I Hate You.

Music.

Remember when music was, good?

Yeah, me neither.



Here are the top ten most downloaded songs on the Canadian iTunes chart for the 7th of November 2009.

1. TiK ToK by Ke$ha
2. Fireflies by Owl City
3. Sexy Bitch by David Guetta
4. Bad Romance by Lady Gaga
5. Party in the U.S.A. by Miley Cyrus
6. 3 by Britney Spears
7. Meet Me Halfway by Black Eyed Peas
8. Russian Roulette by Rihanna
9. Whatcha Say by Jason Derulo
10. I Gotta Feeling by Black Eyed Peas


Jesus. Christ.

See this is one of the things that make me think that most people are at the very least, semi-retarded. Of all those songs, "Fireflies," is the closest thing to a rock or metal song... That's just fucking ridiculous.

What ever happened to people listening to bands like, System of a Down, Rage Against the Machine, Tool, or CCR? To be fair, Tool isn't in the iTunes store, but I can almost guarantee that a Madonna or a bullshit Kelly Clarkson song would be higher on the charts than "Schism," or "Prison Sex."
I understand that people are entitled to their opinion. I also realize that their opinion, is inferior to mine. Still though, I am dumbfounded that people have all seem to have reverted to listening to songs with no other meanings than, "you drunk enough to fuck yet?," or "man... fuck, my bling's the shit yo."

Does anyone else miss songs that had good musicianship? One can only take so much synthesized, uninspired crap, until they snap and beat up a nun. Speaking of uninspired, when did it become acceptable to have a number one single that mainly consisted of the words, "Tonight's gonna be a good night..."? Wow, thanks for the protip there, Fergie.
Songs like "Sober," "Chop Suey!," and "Sleep Now in the Fire," actually meant something. Guess what, eventually they were condemned by certain groups because people were being influenced by them, instead of having their minds turned into mush.

Don't get me wrong. I'm not some guy trying to pass himself off as a deep, caring and overly serious person, by saying I wish more songs had a serious message to them. I too listen to songs that are simple. The difference between say, a typically simple Britney Spears song, and a song by Iron Maiden, is that her songs usually have a single beat that gets progressively more annoying throughout. On the other hand, Maiden actually can play their instruments and can create several DIFFERENT riffs and breakdowns.

The biggest problem with music though is how it's marketed. Obviously it would be easier to sell a kid a Jonas Brother's backpack, than it would be to sell them an In Flames backpack. It's also kind of hard to promote a sit-com that stars Serj Tankian and Corey Taylor, I would guess.
The problem is things like those don't revolve the music at all. It's just a public popularity test, that doesn't factor in what they do. Play music.

It seems that so many people in this American Idol age use this tried and true method:

-Make an album.
-Get semi famous.
-Then release another album that sounds the same.
-Get REALLY famous.
-Get their own television show or cologne.
-Market to stupid people.
-???
-Profit.
-Celebrity sextape.
-Comeback tour.
-Second failed sitcom.
-Celebrity rehab.
-Failed marriage.
-???
-Divorce... oh, and profit somehow.
-MORE profit.
-???
-E! True Hollywood Story Special.


It's not only music anymore. It's a culture now.

I don't know about you, but I for one have decided that I will begin bowing to the Chinese. Who knows, if I play my cards right, I could make it as a footstool.


"When you lose small mind, you free your life..." - System of a Down (Aerials)

George Carlin is God

Whether you agreed with him or not, whether you loved him or you hated him, you can't help but to respect him. George Carlin was one of the most influential people of all time. Now in case you aren't aware of who he was, Carlin was a highly regarded (well unless you're very religious,) comedian and overall badass.

In my personal opinion, he was a genius. He did not simply accept things as they were. If there was something that was ridiculous, he wouldn't just sit back and accept it, he would call someone a fucker, and point out how we should learn to think for ourselves. What a foreign concept, right? Thinking for ourselves... might be useful someday.

Along with that, Carlin was always pointing out the hypocrisy in people, governments and religion. Of course that type of opinion was trying to be silenced by those people. Those people, who preach tolerance but can't tolerate clashing ideals.

This really isn't meant to be some kind of a biography, it is simply written to remind myself and others (yes I know that no one reads this,) that there are still people who hate stupid bullshit. Someone who hates all the hypocrisy that surrounds us. Now obviously George Carlin isn't around anymore, but his opinions and words are still around to make people think, if even for a brief second.

The Best Five Albums of the Last Ten Years

Everyone has a certain musical artist that they've come to love. Usually we love that artist because of consistency. They're the special musicians who produce amazing work over and over again. While, most bands struggle after their first album, there are a select few who keep it going for years.

With that, I'll share what I personally think are the best five albums of the last ten years.

#5.

Appeal to Reason
Artist: Rise Against
Notable Songs: "From Heads Unworthy" and "Whereabouts Unknown"



Just an overall great listen. Every song is catchy, and transitions seamlessly from track to track. A solid mix of rock and alternative sounds. The band has an amazingly fresh sound. Not one to conform to the hundreds of bands out there, Rise Against show a lot of old school punk sounds in their work, while maintaining a unique modern edge.


#4.

Mezmerize
Artist: System of a Down
Notable Songs: "Radio / Video" and "Question!"

This album is just... well it's simply insane. Sporadic and random. Amazing guitar riffs and drum work. Of course all of this is highlighted by their lead singer, Serj Tankian. Very abstract and influential commentary that deal with issues of both society, and modern politics.


#3.

Iowa
Artist: Slipknot
Notable Songs: "Skin Ticket" and "My Plague"

Probably one of the angriest albums ever created. Unlike most "aggro" albums, Slipknot once again, does not just throw in lyrics that sound catchy. They write lyrics that actually mean something. I know, how strange is that? Filled with great drumming by Joey Jordison and the growling verses spat at you by Corey Taylor, the band manages to punch you right in the face with their sound. At the same time you want to just come back for more. Iowa, is simply put as a sick, disgusting and beautiful sound.






#2.

Overcome
Artist: All That Remains
Notable Songs: "Days Without" and "Do Not Obey"

Everything is amazing. The drumming - flawless. Some of the sickest guitarwork that's been heard work in awhile. And Phil Labonte's mix of vocals is astounding. Every song of the album is catchy, while five or six, could easily be successful singles.


#1.

The Battle of Los Angeles
Artist: Rage Against the Machine
Notable Songs: "Born of a Broken Man" and "Sleep Now In The Fire"

Only very recently has this band become one of my favourites. Although having only listened to the album four or five times, songs like "Born of a Broken Man" have been played in my head by the dozen. A solid mix of hip-hop, rock and funk, every song is a classic that will undoubtedly receive their fair share of playtime on my iPod. Much like the aforementioned "Mezmerize," this album takes upon itself the duty of not only questioning, but influencing our society and political systems. With refined aggression, extraordinary musicianship and a strong lyrical message, "The Battle of Los Angeles" is the best album to be released in the last twenty years.