For too long those of us who have been around long enough to remember the 70's have had to endure posers, rip-offs and a bunch of substitute teachers, well those days are gone. The Strokes were the first inkling of it, but now with bands like The White Stripes, The Hives and Black Rebel Motorcycle Club the invasion is in full scale. Sure there were a few bands that held their collective heads high and mighty, claiming they were better than Jesus. The only problem is, that bands like Linkin Park, Papa Roach and System of a Down were just louder and hungrier. Well they have had their fill at the proverbial trough, and its time to move out of the way or die. Less the wailing guitars and pounding drums that are finally making their way back to our airwaves consume them.
As detailed in my Stokes review, I firmly stand behind these guys. Their music is refreshingly good, from the beginning of the album to the end. Despite the over playing of Last Night I still believe these guys can be a solid event attraction.
But that is just the beginning, I'm sure most of you have heard the single "About A Girl," from the White Stripes. The interesting thing here to note is that the rest of the album doesn't sound like the single, less punky more rock and roll. I recently got this album and was very surprised to hear the more rocky guitars and drums on the rest of the album. Tracks like Dead Leaves and the Dirty Ground, I Think I Smell a Rat, and This Protector, just really really rock. Again here we have an entire album of great material, from start to finish.
What Ever Happened To My Rock and Roll is the question posed to us from Black Rebel Motorcycle Club. And this new favorite band of Noel Gallagher's are set to explode onto the music scene with this great song. I watched the video on MTV.com and was instantly enthralled. These guys have done a great job of merging 70's punk and rock, with 80's early industrial for a really rocking sound. If this song gets picked up and put on the radio we are going to have a phenomenon on our hands. This song is an anthem, a rock anthem, and a damn good one.
The Hives are the punkier of all these groups; the current single Hate To Say I Told You So is just fantastic. Of all the "The" bands currently set to break out and take control of your children's minds, these guys are the craziest of the bunch. Singer Howlin' Pelle Almqvist wails into the microphone "Who's your favorite band?" The crowd in unison always screams back, "THE HIVES". Hailing from Sweden, and attributing their success to their mysterious benefactor RANDY FITZSIMMONS these guys really are a fun band. They dress in black and white, wearing of all things ascots; they look like a 60's pop band, and sound a lot heavier. Singer Pelle Almqvist is a mix between Iggy Pop, Mick Jagger, Janis Joplin and whom ever else you can think of.
And I just want to say it's about damn time. My CD player has sat flaccid like an unusable penis, while I waited and prayed for someone, anyone to come onto the scene and sweep away all this anger angst ridden bullshit. I'm an angry guy but I don't want to listen to that shit, I want to rock out. Rock music is supposed to make you feel good, make you want to pick up a guitar and wail away like your favorite stars. I want to go to a show and see the band on stage belting out their anthems and convincing me to follow them to the Promised Land, whether it is sex or drugs, it's only rock and roll, but what can I say I love it.
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