Chinese Democracy

Guns N' Roses - Chinese Democracy cover

Looks like the album might be released before actual democracy in China, after almost a full decade of work. Probably too much to ask the album to live up to ten years of hype and anticipation, I, for one, will be trying to keep an open mind, and hope it is at least good, and please please please not overproduced, though sadly it will probably be closer to Use Your Illusion II than I.

On a side note, I see that Clay Aiken has a new album out titled A Thousand Different Ways made up of covers of “classic” love songs. Sure, there are a thousand different paths to blandness…

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David Gilmour – Blue Light

You might consider Dave a titan among men like I do, but pro-Syd and pro-Roger fans can always say they never did anything like the video “Blue Light”.

David Gilmour, "Blue Light" concept video 1984

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AC/DC – Sin City

AC/DC have got an unfair bad rep. Sure they have hardly evolved since the first album, but they are the best at what they do.

I am an especially big fan of the Bon Scott era. This video of Sin City performed in Paris has got everything, leering whiskey poet Bon Scott, crazy duck-walking Angus Young and the bloody tightest rhythm section in rock and roll.

Side note: Angus Young uttered one of the best ever quotes in music. On being told his band was accused of making the same album over and over, 12 times to be exact: “That’s a dirty lie!” Angus blurts, “The truth is that we’ve made the same album over and over 14 times!”

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Rick Miller – Bohemian Rhapsody

Basically, one guy singing Bohemian Rhapsody with 25 different voices. Amazing, hilarious too. His Steven Tyler and Mick Jagger are particularly impressive, but that shirt has got to go.

Rick Miller performs Bohemian Rhapsody

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Nirvana – All Apologies

Like them or not, Nirvana was the voice of a generation. Their MTV unplugged performance was perhaps their most unusual, and with no small irony the sum of everything they were. Great musicianship, subtle nuances, angst (yes it has become a cliché, so sue me), all their everything.

Of the original compositions, All Apologies was particularly devastating, and of course with those lyrics: “Married…Buried…”. Yes, Courtney, we still blame you.

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Foo Fighters – Everlong

Actually, just Dave Grohl and his guitar in an outstanding acoustic performance of Everlong, the song that made me go from “Foo Fighters? Yeah they’ve got some catchy songs” into a raving fan boy.

Everlong Acoustic

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Mark Goffeney – Last Dance With Mary Jane

Mark Goffeney was born without arms, but he not only managed to learn to play the guitar with his toes, he plays it well. The only word that describes this man is “amazing”.

This is a video of him playing Tom Petty’s Last Dance With Mary Jane in Bolboa Park, San Diego. Now, I probably (maybe?) can play this particular song as well as he can, but I sure as hell cannot sing as well. Truly inspirational.

Read an article about Mark in Ability Magazine.

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David Bowie – Heroes

David Bowie of course needs no introduction. This is a fine live performance of “Heroes” (obligatory quotation marks) from September 2002, Berlin. I rate it higher than the celebrated 1985 performance at Live Aid.

And may I add David looked very good for someone in his fifties… not that I have tendencies like that or anything…

David Bowie - Heroes (live)

Stream of Passion – Calliopeia

Okay, the synchronised head-banging is pretty goofy (I might have found it cool when I was 16…) but this progressive metal band founded by Dutch progressive master Arjen Lucassen has got the goods musically. The lead singer Marcela Bovio was heavily featured on the Human Equation, the last Ayreon album, and I daresay she is one of the best female voices in metal. As for the band itself, as a friend opined “they remind me of Evanescence, but I can’t quite put a finger on what’s different…ah yes, they don’t suck”. Plus Marcela is much hotter than whatshername…

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Pearl Jam with Chris Cornell – Hunger Strike

Stealing a good idea from Crooks and LiarsLate Night Music Club, here’s Pearl Jam with guest Chris Cornell performing Temple of the Dog’s Hunger Strike, Santa Barbara 2003. Its not everyday you get two of the best hard rock singers of the 90s on the same stage, singing the same song.

Hunger Strike live - Pearl Jam with Chris Cornell