Metallica "Death Magnetic" (2008)

Five years since the release of 2003's risky album "St. Anger", Metallica comes out with "Death Magnetic".  Death Magnetic is a big change from their 2003 release, but I think most fans will find it's material very remenicent of their older albums is some ways. Lars Ulrich (Metallica's drummer) described the album as being the missing link between 1988's ...And Justice for All and 1991's self titled release, better known as The Black Album.

One big noticable change from St. Anger is the guitar efforts of lead guitarist Kirk Hammett.  The guitar solo's are back and they really let him out of the cage. Many of the solo's feature some of Hammett's classic pentatonic work, along with a lot of work using the harmonic minor scale. (That's the middle-eastern sounding one, see my Music Theory blog). Another lead aspect you will find is dual guitar harmonies, much like you would find on the  ...Justice album.

In many ways this is like a classic Metallica album, but this album has a little something for everyone. The song "The Unforgiven III" shows a softer side of the band and their is a nice piano arranged almost neo-classical feel. The vocal delivery is great and the song is full of emotion. Metallica loaded up some thrash on this album, too. Songs like "Broken, Beat & Scarred", "All Nightmare Long", "The Judas Kiss" and "My Apocalypse" (just to name a few) show off that the band can still thrash it up better than anyone else today. Also, the designated ballad of the album, track 4, "The Day That Never Comes" was the first song from this album to hit the radio. For those of you who have yet to hear it, the best way I could descrive it is let's say if  the classic songs "Fade to Black" and "One"  had a child, it would make "The Day That Never Comes" which starts out soft and ends hard.  New bass player Robert Trujillo has his presence greatly felt, too. The instrumental of the album "Suicide and Redemtion" (Yes, I said "instrumental" their first in 20 years) Robert displays some fine bass playing and pretty much everyone in the band has a moment to shine in this one sone which clocks as about 10 minutes long.

Over-all, I think this is an amazing album and if you're one of those fans who gave up on Metallica after St. Anger, you might want to rebuild that bridge and give "Death Magnetic" a shot. I know I said it sounds like a classic Metallica album, but don't expect it to directly sound like one. Remember, they are older now, so, the lyric themes are going to be a bit more mature and it's all new material; however, in my opinion this album is worthy to be placed with some of Metallica's best work ever.

You don't have to take my word for it. You can go to www.metallica.com where they are streaming all the songs for everyone to listen to in full length.

Hello, fellow "My Fox Bostionians", my name is Matt and is you're interested in the world of music theory, then sit back and hopefull you will learn something from this and use it to your musical advantage.

Before we get started, allow me to quickly give you a little bit of background info about myself. I have been playing the guitar (Electric, Acoustic 12 string guitars and some bass) for about 6 years now. Also, took up on some piano, too. I am a deep studier of music and even if I look like you "average rocker" I take my music and the music I study very seriously and am interested more than just a simply lifestyle. Trust me, you might learn something. ;-)

Okay, this blog post isn't just for guitarists but keep in mind that I, myself am a guitarist and that's how I learned music, so if I post too many guitar-bias references, please let me know and I will comment back to help clear some of the fog. I will try and aim this for all levels of musicians.

Okay, let's get started. Oh, by the way, this: "#" means "sharp" and this: "b" means flat. (Sharp is up a half step, Flat is down a half step)

Scales: Scales are very important in music, if not the most important part of music. For you beginers out there that think you're going to get by on just learning songs and not having a mind to know what key you are in and what scales built that song, unless if your name is Eddie Van-Halen, that's not going to happen.

Why study scales? 1. For technical skill and knowlege. Through a scale you will i ncreasr your strength with both hands and improve your dexterit, control and coordination using both hands together. 2. Scale studies should take you all through your instrument, assuring you that you will master difficult registers, locations and complex movements. 3. For the knowlege of theory in scales you will play more musically. You will improve your abilities to hear and play in refection. (Learning by ear). 4. Because I said so.

The Major Scale

Scale formula from Root "C": C  D  E  F  G  A  B  C

C major is often thought of as the simplest key, because it either has sharps or flats, as does it's relative minor of "A minor".  There is only one major scale, unlike the minor that has many variations. (We will get into that later.) Every major has a relative minor (See bottom of page) and I will explain how both fit together.

The Major Pentatonic Scale

Scale form. from Root "C":  C(R)  D(2,9)  E(3)  G(5)  A(6,13)

This scale is called the "Major Pentatonic" because the interval from "C" to "E" is a major third, and helps to define the chord "C Major" found in this scale (C,E,G). Also, the word "Pentatonic" comes from the Greek/Latin "penta" meaning five. There are five notes in this scale.

When two numerals are shown to the right of a letter in the scale formular (Ex "D", above) the note has two functions or titles in the scale and its chords. As you can see, "D", in the major scale is both the 2nd not and the 9th and the "A" is both the sixth and the thirteenth.  This is only in effect when playing in two octaves.

The Natural Minor Scale

Scale form. from Root "C": C D Eb F G Ab Bb C

Scale form. from Root "A": A B C D E F G A

This is the "Natural Minor Scale". (You saw the title, right? haha). The Natural Minor Scale is really the major scale started from the 6th degree. That means A Natural Minor equal C Major making "A minor" C Major's relative minor. Get it? To make a major scale into the Natural Minor you flat the major 3rd to a minor third and flat the sixth and the seventh, as shown above in the scale in root "C".

The Minor Pentatonic Scale

Scale formula from Root "C":  C  Eb(b3)  F  G  Bb(b7)  C

Shown above you can see that we're calling Eb a "Flat third" because in the C Major scale the third note is "E". In the C Natural Minor scale, however, the "E" is flat. (Minor third). This scaled is also called the Minor Pentatonic because the scale contains 4 different tones. (And if you're asking about that 6th note, the C, that is just finishing up the scale with the high root octave, not a seperate note).

The Blues Scale

Scale formula from Root "C": C  Eb  F  F#  G  Bb

As you can see above, the Blues Scale is really the minor pentatonic scale with another nore added, the sharp fourth. ( or flat 5th, if you will) which is "F#". This one note, however, adds an insteresting and powerful sound and it is of a great importance in rock, blues and jazz improvisations. For all you B.B. King, Jimmi Hendrix and Stevie Ray Vaughan fans out there, this scale will be a treat for you. And yes, I do realise I just names three guitar players so, don't bother pointing that out! haha.

The Harmonic Minor Scale

Scale formula from root "C": C  D  Eb  F G Ab B C

In this "Harmonic Minor" scale, you take the Natural Minor and and sharp the "B" from a Bb of the minor, to a B-natural. This scale gives off a very unique middle-eastern like tone. For you Metallica fans out there (Yes, I know guitar-bias) listen to the guitar solos on "Wherever I May Roam", that is a great example of this type of scale.

The Melodic Minor (Jazz Minor) Scale

Scale formula from Root "C": C  D  Eb F  G  A  B  C

This is the Melodic Minor (Jazz Minor) scale. In the Harmonic Minor we took the Natrual minor scale and made the "B" note in that scale sharp from Bb. In this scale you not only make the Bb a B natural, but you do the same to the sixth, the Ab now becomes an A-Natural. One thing I learned in music is it makes a pretty cool effect in sound if you accend using the Natural Minor and decend using the Melodic Minor. It also makes a good finger excesise so your fingers don't get to fizzed in playing in the same positions all the time. Try it out!

Here is a list of major keys and the relative minor to it's right

C Major  -  A minor

D Major  -  B minor

E Major  -  C# minor

F Major  -  D minor

G Major  -  E minor

A Major  -  F# minor

B Major  -  G# minor

Bb Major - G minor

C# Major - Bb minor

F# Major -  D# minor

G# Major -  F minor

Eb Major -  C minor

Well, that's all for now, fellow My Fox Bostonians, of course this isn't all and everything about music scales, but I hope you learned something from this and gave you a strong foundation for other scales and modes to be used in the future. Any questions about this or music in general feel free to ask me and I will get back to you, or if you want to drop a comment to let me know what you think of this lesson, feel free to give me your commentary, I would appreciate it.

Thanks for reading,

Matt Ouellette, Fall River, MA

As I was driving into work this morning, a cover of The Who's "The Real Me" came on my iPod. I'm not usually one to favor a cover version over the orginal but when I first heard this cover version back in 1989, I was hooked. The band? W.A.S.P.

That's right - a W.A.S.P. song was better than the original Who song. Blackie Lawless kicked some butt back then (and probably still does).

So, that got me thinking. What other cover songs out there are better than the originals?  What are your picks?

This is one of the best movies and if you have not seen this movie tell what you really think.

Ted Neeley-Jesus Christ

Carl Anderson-Judas

Ted Neeley has been playing this role of Jesus Christ For over the last Thirty Years and The Music was by Andrew LLoyd Webber and Lyrics By Tim Rice. this movie was a perfect 10+ and if you want to see the Movie go to On Demand Channel 1 and scroll down until you find the movie: Jesus Christ Superstar and it is avalible until September 4th2008

Send me a blog and tell me what you think about that Movie:Jesus Christ Superstar.

God Bless,

:) Casimir Zigulis

i dislike archuleta. he has one beat, one tone, you know my dislike for the kid. Who in their right mind, besides people who loved sinatra, would listen to an entie album by this kid. He isn't as amazing in my eyes as everyone says.

cook on the other hand is  not going to make the best album he could because on thing will get in the way... American Idol. the first album will be forced and not as easy as his singer should be. after that initial album he'll be top of the charts and hit after hit... like daughtry, but again daughtry didn't win, but he's put out a lot of hits...

i just can't stand a lot of the idols that have been out there, but i won't lie, i have cook's billie jen on a few mix tapes.

who do you think will still be around n 15 years.

Hey Guys!

Had to share this w/you! Was in Hyannis Friday night at a bar called the Roo Bar (right on Main Street...very cool) .. My friends and I were passing by and heard ive music.  We were kinda on a 'pub crawl' so we figured we'd 'pop' in, mind you this was only our second stop! Well the band in there, 57 Heavy was unbelievable!  Our pub crawl went no further, they were AMAZING!  They could sing different genres so you never knew what was up next! 

I definately will go back to see them .. great time had by all .. if you are in the area you should go take a listen .. great cover band!!

~smiley

It was one of my favorite places, and now it is gone.

Tom's Tracks, an independent record store on the East Side of Providence, RI is out of business.

Truth be told, I haven't been to Tom's in years, as I sadly don't get to visit Providence very often. Last weekend though, I walked down Thayer Street and it bothered me to see this local landmark erased from its storefront, almost like it never existed.

I can't say I was surprised, as I know how the internet and download services like iTunes have ravaged independent music sellers. I just hoped that somehow Tom's, close to Brown University, and not far from the Rhode Island School of Design, would find a way to stem the powerful economic tides against it.

Tom's Tracks was not a very big store. But I could spend hours browsing through cabinets of vinyl, used and new, domestic and imported. And since I was usually there after work, I stood out in my suits and ties. It's funny isn't it? The people with the multi colored mohawks and tattoos fit right in, but I was the odd ball at Tom's.

Tom's Tracks was a lot like the record store in Nick Hornby's great book (and film) High Fidelity. Tom's had attitude plus. But that's OK, so can I sometimes. Tom himself could be cantankerous and blunt. But you know what? He was also extremely knowledgeable and helpful. And he would chase down anything I might be looking for. It didn't matter how rare or off the wall something might be, Tom would always find it for me. And the people he hired were exactly the same way.

That's why I always enjoyed visiting this record store. It was a colorful and always memorable event. Add a dose of great music, and how could  you go wrong?

I know time marches on, and nothing lasts forever. But I wish time could have left this little slice of life alone. Shopping for music on the internet, or downloading a file, is simply not the same. And when I ask a teenager about the Traveling Wilburys (you should have seen what I went through to get that sold out boxed set), only to be asked. "Who's that?" you know something in our fabric has been lost forever.

I have way too many 45's, 12" singles, and imported CD's at home. But far too few of them still have the "Tom's Tracks" sticker still on them. And I will treasure them always.

For those of you who have lost a favorite shop, I know how you feel. And for those of you too young to know what I'm talking about, all I can say is, you missed something very special.

Bob Ward

*for accompanying photos please click here.

The day started out bright, sunny and hot. I could not have asked for better weather for a music festival right on the water. I love music but have a hard time naming one band or one genre of music that is my favorite. The Newport Folk Festival 2008 at Fort Adams State Park, hosted by The Festival Network turned out to be the perfect festival for me.

The musical lineup was varied enough to keep me interested and entertained. Cowboy Junkies started the day off. My favorite band of the day as Red Rooster. A great sound all around and somehow it even made me feel nostalgic....I hope to be able to catch a show of theirs when they make it to Boston!

Trey Anastasio played as the rain started and then true of many PHISH fans, people danced along ignoring the torrential rains that fell for about 90 minutes. After Trey The American Babies and Stephen and Damien Marley kept the crowd on their feet.

We ended our day listening to Jim James of My Morning Jacket.

Aside from the bands, there were the vendors...of every kind. I am partial to the jelwery vendors and was able to get a beautiful handmade silver bracelet from Isabelle's Glass and I see some additional online shopping in my future. If jelwery was not your thing there were artists of other kinds as well. One that really struck my interest as I walked past was Peace Love Studios of Jeffrey M. Sparr. As Mr. Sparr statte son his website, "Fedoras, long dresses, suits, cigars, and Martinis remind us of a simpler time.".

Going to the Newport Folk Festical was one of the best ways I could have spent a summer day. I will certainly be heading back next year.

      As a live music enthusiast, I always look forward to the summer festival season.  Its at these events that an average fan is able to see 6 or 7 bands over the course of a day.  Saturday in newport was no exception. 

       A few must sees were on my list for my Saturday afternoon at the legandary Newport Folk Fest.  The first band of the day was also one of my must see bands.  The Cowboy Junkies took the stage promptly at 11:30 and played a soothing ,perfectly placed set, that really set the tone for the rest of the afternoon.  Having been a Junkies fan for a fair number of years, and never seeing them live, I was really excited for their set.  They played tunes that spanned the length of their tenure, from their much acclaimed Trinity Sessions, which came out close to twenty years ago, to their very strong latest effort, At the End of Paths Taken, released a little over a year ago.   

     My next must see was Trey Anastasio, founding member of Vermont band Phish.  Anastasio was all smiles as he took the stage to play a true  acoustic set.  Drawing extensively from the Phish catalog, much to the delight of a majority of the crowd.  Anastasio sounded and looked like a man that was  happy as ever up on stage.  After dealing with a few personal demons over the last year, Anastasio came across as a musician on a mission to get to the top of the mountain once again. 

   Later in the afternoon, during a downpour of epic proportions, My Morning Jacket front man Jim James played a set full of his bands music. Being a fan of  My Morning Jacket  James was my final must see of the day.  James has a great voice which was on full display under the Harborside tent.  He played for over an hour during which time the downpour subsided and the sun started poking through the clouds.  If you don't know about My Morning Jacket they are playing a Saturday night show September 6th at Boston's Bank of America Pavilion.  I recommend this show for anyone looking for a new band to blow their mind. 

     All in all, Newport Folk is a great festival.  Its a nice mix of scenery,music and good vibes.  Three stages, vendors of all sorts, and an eclectic mix of bands make Newport Folk a true summer destination. 

I am fine for any help that can be given to people in a bad mortgage situation  Cutting interest rate so people can refinance   But there is just one thing  WHAT DO YOU WHEN YOUR MORTGAGE IS MORE THEN THE VALUE OF YOUR HOME ????   It does not help that the market values have gone way way down  At one time a few years ago my home was worth over $425,000   Now even though I have put almost $15,000 in home improvements I am lucky I can get $320,000.00    The reason people are in forclosure is not just the fact they are at an adjustable rate but because there  mortgage balance is higher then what the home is worth  So my question for the day  " How can people refinance when you are in a situation like this ?? "      Give up

  YOU CAN'T !!

Thank you    

the ting tings played last night at club hell in providence. L LOVE opened, they're a local electronic band. it's a duo of guys, who were wearing top hats last night, and they played for about 30 minutes, they had some good beats but ended up sounding all the same by the end of their set. they had a few songs you just had to shake to. but electronic type music isn't my scene.

so about a half hour after L Love played it was time, with about 300 people in the crowd, we were all ready, 10.05 they take the stage. they are a duo from across the pond, a girl and a guy. they both can play guitar, the guy plays the drums, and the female singer plays a keyboard, and a drum you'd find in a marching band.

they played all their amazing songs, and a new one to me "traffic light". their beats are solid and the lyrics are catchy and get stuck in your head.

"That's not my name" was so good live, but i'm used to listening to it with yo gabba gabba remix in the back ground. "great DJ" was one that had everyone singing along, as if it was a cookout. it's high energy, and loud! third to last they played their big hit over here in the states, "shut up and let me go".

i highly suggest you listen to them on youtube, then go out and buy the album.it's just really catchy and some people can't stand that type of things. .. my selling point for the ting tings, they had vinyl records for sale at the show.

over all it was a great close quatered club, with no pyrotechnics and the music wasn't all distorted from being played in a place way to big for their sound. next time they come around, i doubt it would only be 6 bucks, and i highly doubt it would be at club hell, maybe lupo's heartbreak.

so yesterday was the big day. the day i adore most in a year.

WARPED TOUR 08. i went as a volunteer to pick up recyclable product off the ground and from bands and such. The Warped Eco Iniative has picked up morethan 19,000 lbs of trash this year alone.  you read that correctly NINETEEN THOUSAND pounds of trash, just off the ground, not picking it out of trash or anything like that. it was a great cause and the bands, and the workers at the copmcast center all really appericated the hard work.

once 6:30 rolled around we were relieved from our duties and were able to do whatever we wanted. I walked overto the hurley stage, my friend is amazing and allowed me and my two friends on the side of the stage while a couple ofbands played. we the kings. Devil wears prada, AND greeley estates.  they were so awesome live, you would not have believed the crowd.

with tornado warning in efect we all got to a safe place, around 4, the storm came through, it wasn't too bad a ton of rain. it was a lot easier picking up bottle while everyone was waiting for the ok to go back in, and it wasn't as gross picking up the bottles and cans they were all rinsed off. the lightining was beautiful, as it usually is when you're in a safe place and feel no worries about the storm.

i saw my favorite band, say anything. The opened strong and stayed strong the lead singer Max Bemis we shocked at how many people showed up for that set. I'm a little upset they didn't play their biggest hit "baby girl, i'm a blur" i was excited to hear "woe" and "every man has a molly" so all and all the five songs they did play were high energy and the crowd we electric.

the horrorpops, a rockabilly band, played all their good songs, great dance beat, well as dancy as rockabilly can get. the lead singer patricia is a presence to stop and watch, she commands attention, and not only does she sing.... She plays the stand up bass. i'm slightly dissapointed they have not found new Go Go Dancers. They are worth the time if you ever get the chance. they have toured with dropkick murphys that's how some of you might know them.

greeley estates, the band is somewhat new to me, but they have great music, the drummer BChamp is energetic, and a character to say the least. they have breakdowns in their songs that just get your lood pumping and you feel the need to move around. the way they treat their fans is a breath of fresh air. i would love to see them again, and again.

Devil wears prada, they are a lot like the old school senses fail, a lot of deep throaty yells and a lot of stage use. the singer has a baby face and braces and he sounds nothingl ike you think he would. Again This band is greatful for their fans and to my surprise they actually thanked god for their fame and their fans. which was commendable, considering there were only like 4 christian bands this warped tour. i imagine they have a strong view in polotics, but i didn't get that far into conversation. haha.

the last i saw, We the Kings, they have like 7 members they are all over the stage, they are in your face with melodies and hypnotic rythms. you can't help but to nod your head, tap your foot and at the very least sing the lyrics. the red haired lead singer is attenion grabbing. he hasa sense of humor too, which i love in a band, he was wearing an Nsync shirt for their acoustic set. i have nothing bad to say about this band, except they needed to play longer, they needed the extra ten minutes.

the rain storm changed the schedule so i missed a couple of bands but the ones i did see i enjoyed. i saw like 3 songs by the gym class heroes, it was a solid set, and travis mccoy, lead singer and Matt, the drummer are extremely down to earth and will stop for anyone who wants a picture, which was kind of them.  but all and all it was a nice cool day.

next time you go somewhere please put your plastic bottles in the recycle bags/bins. there were so many bottles on the ground i was almost disgusted at the amount of trash there was. i took a picture of my best friend and i in front of the pile of RECYCLABLE!!! not trash. it is a huge pile and it should make people who care about the enviornment a little happier knowing thios GENERATION is leaving a mark, in a positive way. when only 10 people pick up that much trash it just goes to show what a classroom could do, or a cub scout troop could do. or let alone, a house can do.  Our booth was 100% solar powered, but alas we could not set it up due to the rain threat.

it was great and i will never forget the people i met and the friends i made. til my next concert

The announcement of a new song by Guns N' Roses appearing on the Rock Band 2 video game (due in September for Xbox 360) has this harcore GN'R fan wondering if the decade and a half wait for 'Chinese Democracy' is almost finally over.

According to the official website (www.gunsnroses.com), "Shackler's Revenge" is the new song will be featured on the forthcoming Rock Band 2 game, as well as 'Chinese Democracy'. Apparantly, this song was not one of the ten new Guns N' Roses songs that were leaked on to the internet in June. Nonetheless, it will likely find its way online long before the videogame's release, due on September 14th. It's also rumored, but not confirmed, that the band will perform at this year's MTV Video Music Awards, slated for September 7th.

Of course, this is not the same GN'R from 1987, when 'Appetite For Destruction'  stormed its way into the consciousness of teenage America. That album has since become a staple of rock radio; most stations that promote themselves as "classic rock" will play Welcome To The Jungle", "Sweet Child O' Mine", and "Paradise City" on a regular basis. No, the 21st century version of Guns N' Roses is vastly different. Axl Rose is the lone remaining original member (as well as the guy calling all the shots behind the scenes), with musicians formerly from bands such as Nine Inch Nails, The Replacements, and Psychedelic Furs helping to make up the rest. According to some reports, 'Chinese Democracy', which has been the official album title since 1999, has cost upwards of $13 million, making it a running joke in the music industry as the most expensive album never made.

However, with the June leaks, long suffering fans of Guns N' Roses have something to be optimistic about.  Studio quality tracks surfaced of songs the band had been performing live since 2001, including "Madagascar", "The Blues", and the album's title track. Rumors persist that 'Chinese Democracy' may involve a series of releases, such as one album per year over the next three or four years; allegedly, the band may have recorded up to 70 songs. So what has been a long, long wait for the Guns N' Roses faithful may finally be rewarded with something epic.

To be a Guns N' Roses fan, you need to have a little "patience".

Well Fellow Bloggers:

I had the opportunity to see my favorite singer of all time. Better yet I'll call her my idol! Bostons own Diva "Donna Summer" made a recent appearence at the Bank of America Pavillion on July 12th. And from what I saw, She hasn't lost her touch. Starting out with a song off her new CD called "Crayons" "The Queen Is Back" And she wasn't kidding. She is back! I happen to recently purchase the new Album myself, And to my amazement, it's awesome. I call it a potpourri of different styles of music she has put together. A little of her disco, to some delta blues chords, a little folk, even a little Celtic to my point of view of course. She also played her traditional songs we all love. From Bad Girls, to Hot Stuff, to Macarthur Park, and many others ending with the what I call traditional song "LAST DANCE".. But for this show it was to promote the new songs from Crayons. Like "S.T.A.M.P. Your Feet", "Mr. Music", with the help of 3 talented male dancers not to mention a greak back-up trio. One of my favorite cuts from the new Album "Be Myself Again" I enjoyed the show very much. If any of you fellow bloggers went to this show feel free to comment. I certainly hope she comes back to the area. After all Boston is her hometown...GENERALE ...Here are a few You Tube Clips of songs from her New Album "Crayons".

First link song titled-S.T.A.M.P. Your Feet

Next Clip Mr. Music

Final Clip "The Queen Is Back"