Rain

The Tea Party - Coming Home I really, really like that guitar solo (3:33) for some reason. That B-bender and the tone, I suppose...

Beware of comb filtering if it's not exactly at the same time though.

https://deadline.com/2022/11/keith-levene-dies-founding-member-of-the-clash-and-pil-was-65-obituary-1235170798/ Only 65.

When I started playing electric (I was 12), there was a little shop owned by a very sweet old lady, in her house actually, where she sold wicker furniture and all sorts of decorations, but at the back of the store, there were a few guitars and an electric bass. I think her late husband previously operated a larger musical instruments section in the store, and she downsized but kept a few things when he passed. Since I couldn't afford a whole pack of strings (that poor, yeah), I bought individual strings from her, something the real music store didn't offer. Gibson they were. And the picks I got from her too. I'd leave the store with my tiny paper bag wih one string and 2 Gibson picks in it... Total rock star! I hated them but they weren't any worse than the alternatives I could find, and at least they were black. Very plastic-y and very short-lived. More like a promo item than an actual pick.

Skinny Puppy - Addiction (Second Dose)

Black Sabbath - Seventh Star

The Cure - Seventeen Seconds

I guess it's a matter of timing. Metallica came into my life at the right moment, and that moment happened to be the Ride the Lightning-Master of Puppets era, which most would consider their peak. I was 12 or 13 and always looking for the heaviest and fastest music, but I also felt that a lot of the emerging thrash metal bands weren't writing very good songs, even if I appreciated the all-out aggression. Metallica appeared to have better tunes and sense of balance. Their songs "worked" for me, the structures were right. It didn't feel like just a bunch of riffs. And I was - and remain - a huge fan of James Hetfield as a rhythm guitar player. I'd rather listen to him playing rhythm than to most guitar players soloing. That man's right hand is like a jackhammer. Anytime I want to put my picking hand back in shape, Metallica is the ticket. As for Lars - can't stand him or his playing. Read an article not that long ago saying that Hetfild practically didn't have any drums in his in-ear mix. He is leading the band, Ulrich just plays on top of it - or tries to. And it actually sounds exactly like it. Megadeth came into the picture a bit later, and though I could appreciate some of it, their first few records didn't seem as consistent as Ride the Lightning and Master of Puppets. Then there was that Mustaine character and perhaps even more importantly, his voice. I can't get past it. If Hetflied's voice hadn't evolved from Kill 'Em All to Ride the Lightning (and from that one to Master of Puppets), I am not sure I would have been as much of a fan. That being said, I can appreciate what Megadeth is doing, and I KNOW they have some incredible material - stuff off of Rust in Peace and all. But it isn't for me. Last year I dug out So Far, So Good - that's probably the one I listened to the most back in the day. I'd not heard it in over 30 years. I REALLY liked some of the songs but the leads were total chaos to my hear. Just really fast and all over the place - and making no sense at all as far as I was concerned. Funnily enough, my ex played with the lead guitarist who played with them on that album here a few years ago and we hung out and became "friendish", and talked guitar and Randy Rhoads and all on Facebook - but one day something triggered him and he went into the strangest, most esoteric conspiracy theories and veered deep into anti-Semitism. And that is one of the few things I have absoluely no tolerance for. This seemed to align with the natural antipathy that I have always felt towards the Mustaine brigade. I know it isn't rational, but it seemed to reinforced my impression about him and his band, from a human perspective. As much as I can't stand Lars, for me, that's still better than Mustaine (with all due respect to Mustaine's great talent).

You know, I grew up a Metallica fan, and he somewhat seems like a cool guy, so I tried to like Kirk's playing, But I get a tooth ache every time I hear him. His vibrato is so weird and all over the place, it just kills me. And that's just one thing... Ultimately he is one of my biggest influences - I listen to him and go: this is exactly how not to play.

I was thinking of him when I mentionned Sabbath. Incredible singer. I am also a huge fan of his work with Deep Purple. Speaking of which, I guess I should also mention Tommy Bolin, one of my favorite rock guitarists of that era.

Agreed about Gillen. I believe that there's a version of Sabbath's The Eternal Idol with him on vocals. I should be looking into this. I love that record. Tony Martin, the guy who replaced him, is also overlooked.

Jeff Buckley - Grace

Iggy Pop - Nightclubbing.

Dio - Born on the Sun (You can tell it's a Dio song because there's a rainbow and a gypsy)

May look like nothing but I am struggling real hard to resit the urge to post every song from Bowie's Berlin Trilogy.

The Ramones - Born to Die in Berlin

Motorhead - Iron Horse/Born to Lose

Black Sabbath - Born Again

Black Sabbath - Born to Lose

Sword - FTW (Follow The Wheel). Rick Hughes is a fantastic singer. Glad I got to see them live when they opened for Metallica and Metal Church in 86.

Another funny hockey-related anecdote... My neighbor to the left is a Canadian guy named Chris. He roots for Boston and Toronto. Then there's me, also Chris, also Canadian, and also a huge Boston fan. Then a couple of years ago, a new neighbor moved into the house to the right of mine. His name was also Chris, not Canadian but from New England and, you guessed it, he was a Bruins fan too. How does that happen?! It's like a living, human Boston Bruins slot machine. 3 B's in a row, and all named Chris. Oh and the guy who lives in front is from Rhode Island. His name isn't Chris, but you can figure out what team he roots for. Since I often wear Bruins jerseys and sweaters, we eventually realized we all had that in common. Chris to the right moved last year, sadly enough. But still, pretty much every time I see a neighbor outside, it's hockey talk. Like last week, I stepped out of the house to meet my Postmate driver. Chris : Hey. Me: Hey. Him : The Bruins, eh? Man… Me: Right, eh? Man… Both: G’night. Things that really matter require very few words.

That was the case tonight - Boston was playing Toronto, and the Leafs won. Techically, I should be happy for the winner no matter what. BUT Montreal was playing Vegas (whom I really don't like) and lost. It would not be so bad if it did not mean that Vegas, who had the same number of wins as Boston before this game, now has one more win. So it's like Boston was double defeated. This negates all the rest. Therefore, I'm miserable. That therapist's got his work cut out for him, I tell you.

Reminds of that one time in Moscow, when I was waiting in line at the grocery and there were a few very happy fellows behind me buying vodka. Them: You Canada?! Me: Yes. Them: Ah!! You hockey? Me: Yes. Them: Russia hockey too. You friend!!! Look, look: Vodka! Canada hockey, Canada friend! Friend Vodka! Say what you will about stereotypes, they sure can bring people together at times. lol

Just because they don't wear high heals and make up doesn't mean they're not a good band. Sheesh.

I remember Pelle Lindbergh! A phenomenal young goalie. What a tragedy... It was a huge shock for me to hear of his passing, and it was all over the news back home as well. The Flyers have always had a warm spot in my heart. I grew up in the 70's, so, that is hockey for me, and they were a huge part of it. Got this book a while back, but haven't had the chance to get to it yet. Maybe I should get started...