Saturday, June 21, 2008
First Day of Summer
We have finally reached the official start of summer and boy am I happy. Softball is going great. We are 3-5 but our record does not indicate how we have played. We haven't really hit the ball well as a team. I am in the longest slump of my life and even the softball looks like a golf ball right now. I will say that I am proud of myself though because all the hard work I put in to get in shape and lose the weight I did has paid off in spades. No matter how hot it has been or how many games we play on a given day I feel fresh and am able to recover really quick. Exercise does really help my friends. I want again to throw a shout out to Hunter and Michael Watts for another great baseball season. I just want you guys to know that I follow you from 412 miles away and am always searching for information on how your seasons are going. Kudos!!!!! Ms. X and I are doing fantastic and I have never been happier with anything I have done in my life. I hope it can continue on like this forever. I am going out tonite with a buddy of mine who is turning 30 years old. Oh my!!!!! I live for these times....I love punishing someone for all of their sins...!!!! Lol....I will give you an update as to what is going on a little later.
Monday, June 09, 2008
New Music Update
Lately, some new albums have come out and after playing them on my stereo and computer and ipod for a while now I think I can give a pretty good review of each record. So, here we go:
1. Testament--The Formation of Damnation--One of my favorite thrash bands of all time. Actually, they are my favorite. This group was I believe even better than Metallica but never got the credit or the publicity that Metallica did. After Alex Skolnick departed from the band, a big piece of the band went with them. Well after a decade Mr. Skolnick returns to the Testament camp to fill out the original lineup and proceeds to push this album and band back to great status. Key Tracks: More Than Meets the Eye and Dangers of the Faithless.
2. Journey--Revelation--Welcome to the band Mr. Pineda. A prediction I made came true and Arnel Pineda became the new lead singer of Journey and I must say I am genuinely impressed by the product that has been released. I was anticipating the new record from Journey after going thru vocalists like shit thru a goose but I think the band finally has settled on a singer that sounds enough like Steve Perry but maintains an originality to his voice that they can finally move on forward. As a whole I give this a record a very good to an excellent rating. The only dumper song is in my opinion "What I Needed". Even that is an okay tune but I believes it stands out against the rest of the tracks. The standouts are: Never Walk Away, What It Takes To Win, and Turn Down the World Tonight. As a side note, along with this release the band went in and recorded 11 of Journey's greatest hits. Some people may look down upon this but let's be honest here folks, Steve Perry is never coming back and when you hear Arnel rip into these songs you should feel very comfortable that the legacy of these songs is safe now. I defy anyone to listen to the new versions and not hear Steve Perry in them.
3. Asia--Phoenix--A great, great band from the 80's that had classic roots stretching back to the early 70's Asia disbanded at the end of the decade and although Geoff Downes kept a bastard version of the group alive in the 90's it was not the same. Finally, in '06 the original Asia regrouped for a reunion tour. Thankfully, the guys realized that being together is much better than being apart and recorded Phoenix. Like the Phoenix this band has risen from the ashes to punctuate a great musical statement started back in 1982. Top Highlights of the Record: Never Again, and An Extraordinary Life.
Each of these records are great listens and the common thread is that the bands have roots based in the past. I truly believe you can move forward by never forgetting your past. These bands have successfully done this. Holla if you hear me...Another update coming soon.
1. Testament--The Formation of Damnation--One of my favorite thrash bands of all time. Actually, they are my favorite. This group was I believe even better than Metallica but never got the credit or the publicity that Metallica did. After Alex Skolnick departed from the band, a big piece of the band went with them. Well after a decade Mr. Skolnick returns to the Testament camp to fill out the original lineup and proceeds to push this album and band back to great status. Key Tracks: More Than Meets the Eye and Dangers of the Faithless.
2. Journey--Revelation--Welcome to the band Mr. Pineda. A prediction I made came true and Arnel Pineda became the new lead singer of Journey and I must say I am genuinely impressed by the product that has been released. I was anticipating the new record from Journey after going thru vocalists like shit thru a goose but I think the band finally has settled on a singer that sounds enough like Steve Perry but maintains an originality to his voice that they can finally move on forward. As a whole I give this a record a very good to an excellent rating. The only dumper song is in my opinion "What I Needed". Even that is an okay tune but I believes it stands out against the rest of the tracks. The standouts are: Never Walk Away, What It Takes To Win, and Turn Down the World Tonight. As a side note, along with this release the band went in and recorded 11 of Journey's greatest hits. Some people may look down upon this but let's be honest here folks, Steve Perry is never coming back and when you hear Arnel rip into these songs you should feel very comfortable that the legacy of these songs is safe now. I defy anyone to listen to the new versions and not hear Steve Perry in them.
3. Asia--Phoenix--A great, great band from the 80's that had classic roots stretching back to the early 70's Asia disbanded at the end of the decade and although Geoff Downes kept a bastard version of the group alive in the 90's it was not the same. Finally, in '06 the original Asia regrouped for a reunion tour. Thankfully, the guys realized that being together is much better than being apart and recorded Phoenix. Like the Phoenix this band has risen from the ashes to punctuate a great musical statement started back in 1982. Top Highlights of the Record: Never Again, and An Extraordinary Life.
Each of these records are great listens and the common thread is that the bands have roots based in the past. I truly believe you can move forward by never forgetting your past. These bands have successfully done this. Holla if you hear me...Another update coming soon.
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