Easy Like Sunday Morning Track - Every Rose Has Its Thorn

Today's Easy Like Sunday Morning Track is Every Rose Has Its Thorn by Poison. This is off of the band's 1988 album Open Up and Say... Ahh! Although Poison has had a ton of big hit over the years, this was their only number 1 hit.

Weekend Wildcard - If This Is It by Huey Lewis and the News

This Weekend's Wildcard is If This Is It by Huey Lewis and the News. This was the fourth single off of their 1983 album Sport which launched the band in to stardom. For the scenes where the band is buried up to their heads, the members claim to have actually been buried. The band later spoofed the scene during a cameo appearance for the movie Amazon Women on the Moon.

Scott's Metal Track of the Day - Good Mourning/Black Friday by Megadeth

Good Mourning/Black Friday by Megadeth is the Metal Track of the Day. This is off of their 1986 album Peace Sells... but Who's Buying. I felt this was appropriate for today. Be safe out there today. Maybe you can find some sales on Megadeth albums!

Scott's Metal Track of the Day - Bulls on a Parade by Rage Against the Machine

Come Wit It Now! Today's Metal Track is Bulls on a Parade by Rage Against the Machine. This is off of their 1996 album Evil Empire. The band had already experienced success with their first album in 1992 but this song took them to the next level.

The bass line and Tom Morello's unique guitar technique are standouts in this major hit. This technique includes toggling between two pickups - one on and one off - while rubbing his hands on the strings over the pickups to create the effect that someone is scratching a vinyl disc.

Scott's Metal Track of the Day - Act of Contrition by Shadows Fall

Today's Metal Track is Act of Contrition by Shadows Fall. This is off of their 2004 album The War Withing which is still probably their best album. This one is loaded with great riffs and solos. The best part is the second half of the solo starting at about 2:32. The last couple of seconds are cut off at the end of the video but you don't miss much.

Scott's Metal Track of the Day - Native Blood by Testament

Today's Metal Track is Native Blood by Testament. This is off of their 2012 album Dar Roots of Earth. This song is about Chuck Billy's (singer) Native American Heritage.

Scott's Instrumental Metal Track of the Day - The Traveler by Scale the Summitt

Today's Instrumental Metal Track is The Traveler by Scale the Summit. This is the closing track off of their 2013 album The Migration. This video shows Chris Letchford playing through the song in the Rocky Mountains. It's not a live recording but he still shows you the techniques used in the song which includes a lot of finger tapping.

Easy Like Sunday Morning Track - Three Times a Lady by the Commodores

Today's Easy Like Sunday Morning Track is Three Times a Lady by the Commodores. This is off of their 1978 album Natural High. Lionel Richie said he was inspired to write the song because of a comment his father made about his mother. His father said to his mother "I love you. I want you. I need you. Forever" hence the three times a lady.

Weekend Wildcard - I Need You Tonight by INXS

This Weekend's Wildcard is I Need You Tonight by the Australian rock band INXS (Pronounced "In excess"). This is the first single off the band's 1987  album Kick. This song was INXS's biggest hit and was their only song to hit #1 on the US Charts.

This is a classic 80's music video that won 5 MTV Music Video Awards including Video of the Year in 1988. It was also listed at #21 on MTV's greatest music videos of all time.

Sadly, in 1997, singer Michael Hutchence died from what was ruled a suicide. Many fans believe that his death was an accident and his wife indicated in a 1999 interview with 60 minutes that he may have died from autoerotic asphyxiation but this was never confirmed.

Scott's Metal Track of the Day - Die, Die My Darling by Misfits

Today's Metal Track is Die, Die My Darling by the Misfits. This single was recorded in 1981 but was not released on any of their original studio releases. Glenn Danzig, the lead singer, released the single in 1984 on his own label 7 months after the band broke up in 1983.

The title of the song comes from the 1965 British horror film Fanatic which was released in the U.S. under the title Did, Die My Darling. The artwork on the back of the single was done by Pushead who is famous for his artwork for Metallica. Speaking of Metallica, they covered this song on their 1998 cover album Damage Inc.

Scott's Metal Track of the Day - Rosetta Stoned by Tool

Today's Metal Track is Rosetta Stoned by Tool. This comical song is off of their most recent album, 10,000 Days, which was released in 2006. This is a very detailed, first person account of man's alien encounter. The title of the song is an obvious reference to historical Rosetta Stone and being stoned. Was this a real experience or was he just stoned?

During his encounter, he is given the details of mankind's ending as a warning. He was suppose to deliver the message and save mankind but he forgot to write it down and now he can't remember what they said.

"And after calming me down with some orange slices and some fetal spooning, E.T. revealed to me his singular purpose. He said. "you are the chosen one. The one who will deliver the message. A message of hope for those who choose to hear it, and a warning for those who do not." Me! The chosen one. They chose me!!!! And I didn't even graduate from *&%$ high school!!"

When this first came out, it took a while for the fans to figure out the lyrics since they were not included with the CD. You'll see why when you listen.

Scott's Metal Track of the Day - Now We Die by Machine Head

Today's Metal Track is Now We Die by Machine Head. This is the opening track off of their newest album, Bloodstone & Diamonds, which was released earlier this month. I just listened to it for the first time today. So far I like it but with metal it takes a few listens for it to really sink in. Enjoy!

Scott's Metal Track of the Day - Iron Tusk by Mastodon

Today's Metal Track is Iron Tusk by Mastodon. This is off the band's 2004 album Leviathan. This was the album that really put Mastodon on the map. This song is brutal from the very beginning and never lets up.

The entire album is loosely based on Moby Dick. This song is about killing the "Physeter catodon" which is the scientific name of the giant sperm whale. In the book, Ahab is on a quest to seek revenge on the whale that destroyed his ship and severed his leg at the knee.

"Engage monster
Wreaking vengeance
Assault with all martial rage
Sail on"

Scott's Instrumental Metal Track of the Day - Hold On by Cloudkicker

Today's Instrumental Metal Track is Hold On by Cloudkicker; the name that Ben Sharp releases all of his music under. This is the opening track off of his 2008 album The Map is Not the Territory.

Ben is truly a lover of music and it is made evident by the way he releases his music. You can download all of his music from his website by using the name your price option. Like what you hear? Go download some: http://cloudkickermusic.com/music.

Easy Like Sunday Morning Track - Rhiannon by Fleetwood Mac

Today's Easy Like Sunday Morning Track is Rhiannon by Fleetwood Mac. This song is off of the bands second self-titled album which was released in 1975. This was the first album to include Stevie Nicks and Lindsey Buckingham and became the band's first major success.

This song was written by Stevie Nicks about a Welsh witch named Rhiannon that she read about in a novel titled Triad. Stevie found out later that Rhiannon originated actually a Welsh goddess and was surprised to find out that her lyrics still applied.

Weekend Wildcard - Darlington by Hans Zimmer (Days of Thunder)

Doing the NASCAR Racing Experience today so I figured I would pick an appropriate song.

This Weekend's Wildcard is Darlington composed by Hans Zimmer. This is off of the Days of Thunder Film Score. It was not included on the Official Soundtrack. It was finally released in 2013 for the first time. Famous guitarist, Jeff Beck provides the guitar work throughout the films score.

Scott's Metal Track of the Day - The Frayed Ends of Sanity by Metallica

Today's Metal Track is The Frayed Ends of Sanity by Metallica. This is off of their 1988 album ...And Justice For All. This album marked the end of an era for Metallica (The best era). The success of this album and the video for "One" pushed the band into the mainstream. Three years later, they completely took the world by storm with the Black Album.

This song is about, you guessed it, losing sanity. The person is struggling to maintain a grip on reality: "Twisting under schizophrenia, Falling deep into dementia." He is very paranoid, thinking everyone is out out to get him and starts believing in crazy conspiracies. In the end, he even becomes skeptical of himself:

"Old habits reappear
Fighting the fear of fears
Growing conspiracy
Myself is after me
Frayed ends of sanity
Hear them calling
Hear them calling me!"

Scott's Metal Track of the Day - Obey the Beard by Psychostick

In honor of Movember, today's Metal Track is Obey the Beard by Psychostick. Thanks to Walt for bringing this song to my attention today. This comical track is off of the band's latest album IV: Revenge of the Vengeance which came out last week. Apparently this song has been out much longer since this was posted on YouTube last year.

Scott's Metal Track of the Day - Fatal Tragedy by Dream Theater

Today's Metal Track is Fatal Tragedy by Dream Theater. This is another one off of their outstanding 1999 concept album Metropolis Pt. 2: Scenes from a Memory.

In the song preceding this one, Nicholas learns that he was a girl, Victoria, in a past life. During this song, Nicholas learns from an old man that a girl, Victoria, was murdered (Fatal Tragedy) and that the details surrounding the murder are still a mystery. From there, Nicholas becomes obsessed with unveiling the truth about the murder of his past self.

Scott's Metal Track of the Day - Ten Speed (Of God's Blood and Burial) by Coheed and Cambria

Today's Metal Track is Ten Speed (Of God's Blood and Burial) by Coheed and Cambria. This one is off of their 2005 album Good Apollo, I'm Burning Star IV, Volume One: From Fear Through the Eyes of Madness (Whoa, that's a mouthful; Let's just say IV, part 1).

This is a pretty funny song about Claudio (The writer) and his subconscious which happens to be a possessed Ten Speed bike. Ten Speed keeps telling Claudio to kill off a character in the story but he doesn't want to because he loves her.

"But are you going to kill her off?"
"It's not your decision. I love the character, she stays."
"Yeah, well the only thing love's done is put you in this position; I say kill her off!"
"Yeah, but you say a lot of things... and how does that work? You're a bicycle"

Scott's Instrumental Track of the Day - Jessica by The Allman Brothers Band

As a follow up to Saturday's post, today's Instrumental Track is Jessica by The Allman Brothers Band. This fantastic jam is off of their 1973 album Brothers and Sisters. This video is from a live performance in 1982. How baller is Dickey Betts with that hat, shades, shirt, stache combo?

Not many people know this but I actually wrote this song for my lovely wife Jessica. Now, how The Allman Brothers released it in 1973, I don't know. Are they psychics, time travelers, wizards? I don't know. No one questions The Allman Brothers. At least that's what their lawyers told me.

Easy Like Sunday Morning Trac- The Thrill is Gone by B.B. King

Today's Easy Like Morning Track is The Thrill is Gone by B.B. King. This song was originally written by Roy Hawkins and Rick Darnell in 1951 which is a version of a similarly titled 1931 song written for the Broadway revue George White's Scandals. King's 1969 version became a huge hit and earned him the 1970 Grammy for Best Male R&B Vocal Performance. This video is from a live performance in Montreux in 1993.

Weekend Wildcard - I'm No Angel by Gregg Allman

This Weekend's Wildcard is I'm No Angel by Gregg Allman. This is the opening and title track off of his 1987 album I'm No Angel. Gregg is better known as a founding member of The Allman Brothers Band along with his brother Duane.

"Come and let me show you my tattoo"

Scott's Metal Track of the Day - Throes of Perdition by Trivium

Today's Metal Track is Throes of Perdition by Trivium. This is off of their 2008 album Shogun.

I think this song is about a guy who is being attack by everyone in the world; "Blind-folded and gagged stood waiting, With the whole world, my firing squad." He also talks about being stabbed in the back numerous times and that he just is so use to it that he disregards it.

Pull another knife out
Stick it with the rest of them
When my back is full
Turn me around to face it

Scott's Metal Track of the Day - Runes to My Memory by Amon Amarth

Today's Metal Track is Runes to My Memory by Amon Amarth. This is off of their 2006 album With Odin on Our Side. The band provides you with an excellent display of shirtless headbanging in this video.

It's videos like this that make me want to have long hair. Obviously that is not in the cards for me. I'll stick with the bald headbanging. More aerodynamic and less intrusive to headbangers in close proximity. At the last Opeth concert I got a continuous face full of hair from the dude in front of me.

Scott's Metal Track of the Day - In My Darkest Hour by Megadeth

Today's Metal Track is In My Darkest Hour by Megadeth. This classic is off of their 1988 album So Far, So Good... So What! Unlike most metal songs, this song has an emotional concept behind it related to isolation and loneliness and how when the narrator most need help, the ones he counted on were not there.

In my hour of need
Ha, you're not there
And though I reach out for you
Wouldn't lend a hand
Through the darkest hour
Grace did not shine on me
It feels so cold, very cold
No one cares for me

Scott's Metal Track of the Day - Kings of the Carnival Creation by Dimmu Borgir

Today's Metal Track is Kings of the Carnival Creation by Dimmu Borgir. This is off of their 2001 album Puritanical Euphoric Misanthropia.

I ran in to an old friend and fellow metalhead, Paul, this past weekend and told him about the blog. He is a big Dimmu fan and recommended that I post this track.

Scott's Instrumental Metal Track of the Day - Ka$cade by Animals As Leaders

Today's Instrumental Metal Track is Ka$cade by Animals As Leaders. This is the opening track off of their most recent album, Joy of Motion, which was released earlier this year. This is another solid song by the band that is on par with their other effort. A little bit of djent, a little bit of solos, and a lot of technicality.

Easy Like Sunday Morning Track - Miracle by Foo Fighters

Today's Easy Like Sunday Morning Track is Miracle by Foo Fighters. This is off of the second CD on their 2005 album In Your Honor. This second CD contained acoustic songs compared to the hard rocks songs on the first CD. John Paul Jones from Led Zeppelin plays piano on this song. Dave Grohl is a big Zeppelin fan.

Weekend Wildcard - Mr. Blue Sky by Electric Light Orchestra

This Weekend's Wildcard is Mr. Blue Sky by Electric Light Orchestra. This is off of ELO's 1977 double album Out of the Blue which was one of the most commercially successful albums released by the band.

Frontman Jeff Lynne locked himself in a wooden cabin in the Swiss Alps to write the album. After not coming up with anything for 2 weeks the sun shone in and he saw the beautiful Alp. He then wrote Mr. Blue Sky and 13 other songs over the next two weeks.

The song was played as a wake-up call to astronaut Christopher Ferguson on Day 3 of STS-135, the final mission of Space Shuttle Atlantis.