Malcolm Young

Malcolm Young, founding member of AC/DC, died today at the age of 64 after battling dementia for the last several years. AC/DC has been of my favorite bands for a long time, and although his brother Angus was the face of the band, Malcolm and his rhythm guitar was the driving force behind the band. Malcolm is probably the greatest rhythm guitarist ever. Dementia forced him to retire in 2014, and was replaced by his nephew Stevie on the album Rock or Bust. But on every other album, he was there, laying down that bluesy beat that was so integral to their music. Along with several bass players, most notably Cliff Williams, and several drummers, including Phil Rudd, AC/DC provided one of the best rhythm sections in all of music.

After Bon Scott died in 1980, it wasn't certain the band would continue. But Brian Johnson came in, the band put out one of the greatest albums in rock history in Back in Black, and never looked back. For my money, along with The Rolling Stones, AC/DC is probably the greatest straight ahead rock and roll band on the face of the earth.

Malcolm is now gone. Brian Johnson was replaced by Axl Rose due to hearing problems. Cliff Williams recently retired from the band. I think it's safe to say that AC/DC as we have known it is no more. Angus will continue but it will never be the same. RIP Malcolm.

Tom Petty

"You can stand me up at the gates of hell

but I won't back down"

Yesterday was a sad day in the music world. Many of us woke up Monday morning to hear about the tragic events in Las Vegas at a country music festival. It's a scary world we live in when we can't even enjoy music without fear of being attacked. My heart goes out to those affected (although this kind of thing affects us all in one way or another) by this senseless violence. Then as the day went on we learned that Tom Petty had been rushed to the hospital after suffering a heart attack. Initial reports claimed that he had passed away; these were later retracted and word came out that he was clinging to life. Tom did pass away last night, and the world has lost another musical giant.

Tom Petty (along with his band, The Heartbreakers) was one of those rare musicians that could transcend genres. Yes, he was a rock artist, but he appealed to lovers of all music genres. Some of his music could be very bluesy; some of his music had more of a folk or country vibe. He was no nonsense, either. He did what he wanted to do and didn't care what others thought about it. The man declared bankruptcy just to get out of a terrible record deal - just to prove a point.

Petty's musical career started out in the early 1970s in the band Mudcrutch. After little success, Petty and band members Mike Campbell (one of the most underrated guitarists in the world, by the way) and Benmont Tench (one of the best keyboardists in the rock world) formed Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers with two new members, and the rest is history.

Tom and the Heartbreakers put out some incredible music over the years, and Tom put out some fantastic solo albums as well. Tom was also one-fifth of the supergroup The Traveling Wilburys, along with Bob Dylan, Roy Orbison, George Harrison, and Jeff Lynne of Electric Light Orchestra. Mudcrutch reunited in 2007 and put out two albums - I highly recommend checking them out. Fans of the animated show King of the Hill will know that Tom also voiced the character Lucky - who marries Hank's niece Luanne. One of the coolest things Tom and the Heartbreakers ever did was back Johnny Cash on his 1996 album Unchained, which included a cover of Petty's song "Southern Accents." They also played on Cash's follow up album American III: Solitary Man, with a cover of the song "I Won't Back Down." Tom's career was rich and he has left us as one of the greatest American rock musicians in history.

I'm not quite sure when I first heard Tom Petty - my brother bought the CD Into the Great Wide Open when it came out in 1991. A few years later the song "Mary Jane's Last Dance" came out and I bought the greatest hits album that song was on. I was hooked from then on. Petty was one of the great songwriters - his songs were catchy and easy to sing along to, but still had substance and meaning. Someone wrote yesterday that Petty was rock's greatest writer of opening lines; I think that's a fair statement. Tom Petty will be missed immensely by those closest to him as well as his many fans around the world.

The documentary Runnin' Down a Dream is available to stream on Netflix. It tells the story of Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers and is a great watch. It's four hours long so it might take a few sittings, but it's worth it.

NFL anthem controversy

I've been thinking a lot today about the controversy surrounding the protests of the national anthem at NFL games and feel the need to let some of what I am feeling off of my chest. Please understand that I love the United States of America. It is a wonderful country of opportunity and provides one of the highest standards of living in the world. I've lived in a third world country and I've seen first hand the crushing poverty that many people live with every day throughout the world. I'm grateful and feel blessed to live in the USA. But I'm also not blind to the mistakes this country has made. I'm not blind to the injustices that many still face. I grew up white in one of the safest parts of the country and live there again today. I don't know what it's like to fear for my life walking home from school or work. I don't know what it's like to worry if I'm going to be shot if I get pulled over by police. But many people in this country do. And many of them play professional football.

These protests are not about disrespecting the military. They are about bringing awareness to the injustices that they see in this country. Many people say they should protest in another manner - perhaps. I agree it may not be the best way to do it. But it has garnered attention. It has made their voices heard - if only we would actually listen to what they are trying to say instead of just focusing on their "disrespect" of the flag. Maybe they feel this is the only way to be heard. Only a handful of protests were still happening until the president began his usual Twitter tirade. Yesterday's protests were a response against him. Can we please stop talking about how our employers would fire us if we didn't stand? How many of us have jobs that require us to stand for the national anthem before work? Firing somebody for such a thing would be illegal - it's a violation of our constitutional rights. We don't force children to recite the Pledge of Allegiance (at least we shouldn't) and nobody should be forced to stand for the national anthem. I shouldn't have to say why forced patriotism is a scary thing. It's a slippery slope. I will always stand for the national anthem, but I respect the right of those who don't, for whatever reason.

I feel fairly confident that nearly all of the players in the NFL have some sort of connection to a veteran of the United States military. They love and respect our military and veterans; as I've previously stated, that is not what this is about. Some may take it as disrespectful and that's fine. That is their right. But I have read many comments from veterans over the last few days who support these players' right to protest. They fought for that right, and many have watched buddies die for that right. Many veterans may feel the opposite. I understand that and respect that as well and I am grateful for all veterans' service. My father and father-in-law both served in the military and I thank them.

I hope that this can lead to better discussions about how to solve these issues rather than continue to bicker about them and divide us even further. Unfortunately we have a president who seems to want nothing more than try to divide us. We need to ignore his childish antics and work together to make this country and world a better place for all of us to live in. It would be nice if he would focus on the real issues at hand - natural disasters taking a toll on our own country (yes, Mr. Trump, even though they speak Spanish in Puerto Rico, it is part of the United States), three earthquakes in Mexico that have devastated our neighbor to the south, another church shooting, looming war with North Korea and too many other things to list. But I doubt that will happen anytime soon.

Many will likely disagree with me about this and that's fine. I will NOT be boycotting the NFL. Of the countless sports teams out there, there is only one I am passionate about. That is the Denver Broncos. I have been a fan since my childhood in the mid 1980s and I will never stop loving them. Brandon Marshall protested last year and while I didn't necessarily agree with it, I respected his right to do so. Brandon made efforts to reach out to the Denver Police Department and have discussions about how to fix the problems these players are seeing. I admire him for that. I will continue to respect the right these players have to stand up (or take a knee) to make their voices heard.

Foo Fighters - Concrete & Gold

Foo Fighters - Concrete and Gold. Roswell Records, 2017.

Not many things better than coming home from work on a Friday and having the brand new album from one of your favorite bands waiting for you. It doesn't disappoint, either. I've been a fan of the Foo Fighters since their first album and have loved every one since. This one is a good balance between their straight up rock songs and their slower songs. My favorite tracks are "Run," "Make it Right," "Sunday Rain," and "Concrete and Gold." The title track has a heavy Pink Floyd influence (at least to my ears). Dave Grohl is one of the most talented musicians on the face of the planet and his knowledge and admiration of many different styles of music that has come before him is something I have always admired. I often wonder what might have happened if Kurt Cobain was still alive - would Dave have remained in Nirvana? I have my doubts - I think he likely had that itch to be a front man and do more than sit behind the drum kit. This is the first album that keyboardist Rami Jaffee has been credited as an official member of the band (he is also a member of the Wallflowers). It's not my favorite Foos album (that's a hard one between The Colour and the Shape and Wasting Light) but it's a solid effort that will certainly see more time on the turntable.

Bruce Springsteen - Born to Run

Bruce Springsteen - Born to Run. Columbia Records, 1975.

I'm currently reading Bruce Springsteen's autobiography with the same title as this classic album. I always enjoy reading about my favorite musicians and learning their stories; Bruce's story is one that is well reflected in his music and in the kind of person he is. The Boss was raised in working class New Jersey, in a poor neighborhood. He saw music as a way out and worked his tail off to make it in the music business.

My first exposure to Springsteen was the album Born in the U.S.A. The title song, "Dancing in the Dark," "Glory Days,"and others were mainstays on the radio and MTV throughout the '80s. It took me a long time to look into his earlier music, like Born to Run. Bruce and The E Street Band released two albums prior to Born to Run, but it was this one that exploded and brought superstardom to Bruce and the band. It's one of those classic albums that everybody should own; the massive sound of the E Street Band and Bruce's unbelievable songwriting abilities are at their finest.

Born to Run is by no means my favorite Springsteen album, however. I prefer his more stripped down work - albums like Nebraska, The Ghost of Tom Joad, The Rising (written in response to 9/11; if you haven't listened to this one, do yourself a favor and do so), and Devils and Dust among my favorites. That doesn't mean I don't love his upbeat rock albums like this one, Born in the U.S.A., and Wrecking Ball, because I do. But I think in order to truly appreciate Springsteen as an artist one must listen to his "lighter" side (although many of his darker songs are of the slower variety). His songwriting and storytelling abilities are amazing. He is one of the voices of working class America and has maintained a connection to his own working class roots, and I've always respected him for that.

When I was serving as an LDS missionary in Peru, I heard the song "Born in the U.S.A." on a bus. It brought tears to my eyes. Yes, I know it's a protest song, but don't ever think that Springsteen doesn't love this country as much as anyone else. He just sees the injustices that come with it, and he felt like young men dying in Vietnam (including his own friends) in a war that many saw as unnecessary was one of those injustices.

From "Born to Run":

The highways jammed with broken heroes

On a last chance power drive

Everybody's out on the run tonight

But there's no place left to hide

Together, Wendy, we can live with the sadness

I'll love you with all the madness in my soul

Someday girl, I don't know when,

We're gonna get to that place

Where we really want to go

And we'll walk in the sun

But till then tramps like us

Baby we were born to run

Soundgarden - King Animal

Soundgarden - King Animal. Soundgarden Recordings, 2012.

It's been awhile since I've posted. I wish I didn't feel like I need to post this; for those who don't know Chris Cornell passed away last evening. Chris was one of the great voices of my generation; he was the voice of grunge, however you wish to define it. Soundgarden was around long before Nirvana or Pearl Jam and Chris and his bandmates were such a huge part of why that scene exploded the way it did. The music of Soundgarden and Temple of a Dog were a large part of the soundtrack to my junior high and high school years - Superunknown was such a masterpiece and saw the band get the recognition they deserved.

After 1996's Down on the Upside, Soundgarden didn't release another studio album until King Animal in 2012. It's vintage Soundgarden. Chris also enjoyed a successful solo career (my favorite solo album being his acoustic live album Songbook) and fronted Audioslave with members of Rage Against the Machine.

Cornell's death has been ruled a suicide; much like Robin Williams, it's hard to make sense of it. Certainly there are demons that many of us have that the rest of us can't see. The band performed in Detroit the same night he was found unresponsive in his hotel room. Seemingly everything was fine; obviously he was dealing with much more than he felt he could handle. It's heartbreaking to think of those who get to that point and feel like there is no other option. My heart goes out to his wife and children, his bandmates, and all those who know and love him personally. He will be missed.

Johnny Cash - Out Among the Stars

Johnny Cash - Out Among the Stars. Columbia/Legacy Records, 2014.

In one of my previous posts, I mentioned that growing up my exposure to vinyl records was essentially the music that my parents had. Johnny Cash was one of those artists my parents listened to, and I heard a lot of his music growing up. It took me a while to fully appreciate artists like Johnny Cash, but he has certainly become one of my favorite artists. Out Among the Stars is a posthumous album, released 11 years after his death in 2003. Rather than try to describe how this album came about, I'll simply use the words of his son John Carter:

"My father had many visions. He was known for them. And like so many other great men, when he pursued them; he did so with all his heart. He only gave one hundred percent - no matter the endeavor. If it were a show tour, a new record, or a fishing trip, he gave his whole heart.

Dad had several primes in his life. Some were spiritual, some creative, some professional; sometimes all three came together for him. His beginning at Sun Records was one. Another was the time around the release of the live prison records. Also at the end of his life, his body frail, but his spirit determined and vibrant. Another of my father's primes occurred in the early 1980s. It is somewhat lesser known but Dad relapsed into pain pill addiction around 1980. It was a few years later in the first half of 1983 that he found recovery. Though his creativity at this time is not as highly regarded by some fans as other times, still he was of perfect voice, content, and of hopeful heart during this recovery.

When I heard these recordings for the first time in so many years what I immediately noticed was the joy in his voice - his spirit was soaring. I heard the vibrant joy. When these recordings were made he was as full of passion and love as any other time in his life - at a true prime.

I am honored to present this previously unreleased album, originally produced by the master Billy Sherrill; this record captures my father at a time in his life when he was wholly focused. These recordings have never been heard before now. So listen for his vision, listen for the essential delight of being alive, being free, and within you may find a true picture of who the man really was."
                                                   - John Carter Cash, December 2, 2013, Hendersonville, TN

One of the things that I most enjoy about Johnny Cash is his ability to mix both songs of very dark material and gospel and other more cheerful songs. This album is another fine example of that. In "I Drove Her Out of My Mind" Cash essentially tells his wife/girlfriend that he's going to drive them off of a cliff. But then you have songs like "I Came to Believe" that is just a beautiful gospel song. His ability to do this I think shows what kind of man he was - he dealt with a lot of demons, made a lot of mistakes, and was far from a perfect man - but his faith in God never wavered. He knew where to turn for healing of his soul. And that internal struggle has produced some of the finest music this country has ever produced. Long live the Man in Black.

Side note: Marie bought me the awesome sign earlier this week. 

Cheap Trick

Cheap Trick is one of those bands that I knew their radio hits - "Surrender," "I Want You To Want Me," "Dream Police," "The Flame," etc., but that was pretty much it. My first exposure may have been their song "Mighty Wings" from the Top Gun soundtrack (my parents had the soundtrack on cassette - I find it funny now that my parents listened to a soundtrack with Cheap Trick, Kenny Loggins, Berlin, Teena Marie, Miami Sound Machine, and Loverboy).Collecting vinyl has allowed me to delve more deeply into their catalog, and they have quickly become one of my favorite bands. They have some incredible songs that don't get radio play. I don't have all of their albums, but of what I have so far I have to say In Color is my favorite. The songs "Big Eyes" and "You're All Talk" are just two of the coolest songs you are going to hear anywhere - I really enjoy "Southern Girls" as well. "Gonna Raise Hell" off of Dream Police is another great one. Their early stuff from the late 1970s is their best in my opinion, but their music from the 80s is enjoyable as well. Rick Nielsen has become one of my favorite guitar players and has one of the most unique fashion styles in rock music - he makes bowties and cardigans cool. Just a great, fun band - they recently released Bang, Zoom, Crazy...Hello in 2016, with Rick's son Daxx on drums. Original drummer Bun E. Carlos (best name in rock?) remains a member of the band (according to the band) but hasn't been involved with any band activities since 2009-2010. It seems like a complicated situation, but whatever. They continue to put out good music, which can't be said for a lot of other bands from this era.

Sturgill Simpson - Metamodern Sounds in Country Music

Sturgill Simpson - Metamodern Sounds in Country Music. High Top Mountain Records, 2015.

Sturgill Simpson is living proof that authentic, heartfelt country music still exists, but he also proves that he is not simply a clone of classic country acts. He may sound somewhat like Waylon Jennings, but he takes a very innovative approach to country - yes, it does have that old outlaw feel, but it's also been labeled by some as "psychedelic country." He is one of the leaders trying to take country music back to its roots but also move it forward in a different direction than what is being played on the radio. This is Sturgill's second album; the follow-up to this one, 2016's A Sailor's Guide to Earth has been nominated for album of the year at this year's Grammys, going up against Adele, Beyonce, Justin Bieber, and Drake. Most people watching the Grammys won't have a clue who Sturgill even is. But hey, Beck won last year, so maybe he's got a shot (I'd be cool with Adele winning too - she's an amazing talent as well).

This album has some great songs on it, and one of my all-time favorite song titles: "Turtles All the Way Down." My other favorites are "Living the Dream," "Long White Line," "A Little Light," and a cover of When in Rome's "The Promise." It takes a lot of talent for a country artist to turn an '80s new wave/pop song into a stripped down country ballad, but Sturgill pulls it off beautifully. If you are a fan of authentic music, and tired of the watered down "country" coming out of Nashville these days, give Sturgill a try. I don't think you'll be disappointed.