Linkin Park covers The Beastie Boys & Rare Song By The Cure: Five Finger Death Punch, Linkin Park, Breed 77, The Cure

"BLEED IT OUT / SABOTAGE"   LINKIN PARK

A week ago I saw the Linkin Park concert movie, Live In Berlin.   The band wanted to bring their fans together the night before the next day release of the new CD, Living Things.   Chester's voice is unparalleled, he FEELS every word he's singing, screaming, or rapping.   The concert ended with "Bleed It Out" (as expected) but the band tossed in the Beastie Boys "Sabotage" in the mix!!   The new CD is incredible, if Linkin Park comes to Florida, I'll be seeing them for the sixth time!

"REMEMBER EVERYTHING"  FIVE FINGER DEATH PUNCH

Their style may not be for everyone but I've become a fan after seeing them dominate the 98Rockfest.   So much energy and emotion in their music, never more evident than in "Remember Everything" from their American Capitalist CD.   The video shows a child growing up in an abusive household and as his life progresses the memories stick with him and affect his future.   Powerful visual imagery!

 

"THIS TWILIGHT GARDEN"  THE CURE

"No one will ever take your place" is repeated by Robert Smith during this tranquil, beautiful love song.    The Cure put this song as the B-Side to their 1992 song "High".   I think it's one of the best songs they've ever recorded and definitely ranks as a "hidden treasure" song.   The Cure added the song to their career spanning box set, Join The Dots:  B-Sides and Rarities 1978-2001.  

"ZOMBIE"             BREED 77
A heavy metal cover of The Cranberries memorable anti-war alternative hit.   "Zombie" was inspired by the endless civil war strife in Ireland.  "Violence causes the silence" and "in your head, they're dying".    If ever a song deserved a mosh pit to get out the aggression, Breed 77's cover is the perfect outlet.   They're a British hard rock band who really sing like they feel the importance behind these memorable lyrics.

A Tribute To The Troups In Kuwait: Five Finger Death Punch, Faber Drive,The Eels

"BAD COMPANY"   FIVE FINGER DEATH PUNCH

From the comments all over Facebook, Five Finger Death Punch put on the best show of the 4 major bands at RockFest.    The highlight of the show was lead singer's Ivan Moody's intro to "Bad Company".   He said, "We just returned from our 2nd tour of Kuwait, most bands don't go once, they can't keep us out of there.  From our heart, I don't care about politics, your opinion of why we're there, it's about our brothers and sisters serving for us.   This one is dedicated to the men and women protecting us." 

"SECOND CHANCE"   FABER DRIVE

Love the Groundhog Day references!!  Faber Drive were discovered by Chad Kroeger of Nickelback and their songs were featured on the TV show, Kyle XY, a teenage sci-fi mystery drama show.   Regardless of their potential boy-band moniker, "Second Chance" rocks with a message of seizing opportunity before it's lost forever.   It's a fun video, great message, and has a Jimmy Eats World inspired sound.

"A LINE IN THE DIRT"   THE EELS

"I drew a line in the dirt and dared her to set across it, she did."   A haunting ballad by the Indie Lo-Fi band best known for the soundtrack songs.   The song wrenches your emotion with the piano, falsetto voice, then takes an hopeful uplifting tone midway through the song.   It's an odd pairing of desolation and beauty in a 3 minute song.

 


 

Newt Gingrich in a Rock Video?: Lita Ford, Rage Against The Machine, Loverboy, Five Finger Death Punch

"BACK TO THE CAVE"  LITA FORD

80's hair band, leather pants, big Texas hair, killer guitar solos, with a twist:  a true female guitar hero.  Carmelita Ford, the sex kitten of the late 80's metal scene started off in 70's playing guitar with Joan Jett in the Runaways.   After going solo, Lita didn't see much success until Sharon Osbourne became her manager in 1988 and Lita's solo career skyrocketed including a #1 duet with Sharon's husband.   She was living in Sarasota, FL for awhile but has since moved to a Caribbean Island.

 

"TESTIFY"  RAGE AGAINST THE MACHINE
Punk, thrash, hip hop, political activists, RATM attacked all of the hypocrisy of Washington and injustices in the world with a fury.   Zack De La Rocha's freestyle raps rivaled Public Enemy's Chuck D.   Guitarist Tom Morello's use of feedback, creative tapping, and "tricks" put him on any list of Greatest Guitarists of All-Time.  "Testify" challenges all of  the "promises" given by  Al Gore, George W. Bush, and even sneaks in Presidential candidate, Newt Gingrich. 

"THIS COULD BE THE NIGHT"   LOVERBOY

A lot of hard rockers on today's blog, let's take it down a notch with a power ballad by Canada's Loverboy.   Mike Reno's vocals soar on this beautiful love song.   Who couldn't love the great opening line:  "Ask any girl, in this lonely world, ask any girl, she'll say Make It Last Forever"  

 

"THE BLEEDING"  FIVE FINGER DEATH PUNCH

With a band name inspired by a martial arts movie title, Five Finger Death Punch began as a very aggressive metal band.   Their cover of Bad Company's self named hit gave FFDP a radio favorite.   This DISTURBING video from their debut CD features more of a death metal sound.   There were 4 versions of the song, one unplugged, one without the screaming, but this highly intense video needs the scream-o version.