Scott's Metal Track of the Day - Too Many Puppies by Primus

Today's Metal Track is Too Many Puppies by Primus. This is off of the band's 1990 debut album Frizzle Fry. It is about the band's perception on war and how many soldiers are too young to go to war. It is a play on the idea of "the dogs of war." This video was recorded in 1990 but was not released until 2003.

This was the first song Les Claypool ever composed. He wrote it 6 years before the it was released on the album. In case you didn't know, Primus also wrote and performed the original South Park Theme song.

Thanks to Stone for the recommendation this morning!

Scott's Instrumental Metal Track of the Day - The Fish (Schindleria Praematurus) by Yes

In honor of the passing of Chris Squire yesterday, today's Instrumental Track is The Fish (Schindleria Praematurus) by Yes. Even though there is a short vocal section on here I still count it. Chris was the bassist and co-founder of the English progressive rock band. This is off of their critically acclaimed 1971 album Fragile.

This particular song is a solo effort by Chris and features his outstanding bass playing. Schindleria Praematurus is the name of a prehistoric fish. One of the band members recalled the lead singer calling him up one night saying "I want the name of prehistoric fish in eight syllables. Call me back in half an hour." He looked it up and found the answer (Schindleria Praematurus) in the Guiness Book of Records.

RIP Chris!!

Easy Like Sunday Morning Track - Change by Blind Melon

Today's Easy Like Sunday Morning Track is Change by Blind Melon. This is off of their self-titled 1992 debut album. The band rehearsed and recorded some of the album in Durham but they eventually moved back to Seattle to finish the bulk of the recording.

Sadly, lead singer Shannon Hoon died of a drug overdose while on tour in 1995. His drug counselor advised against him going on tour but he did it anyway. Remember kids, Drugs Are Bad!

Weekend Wildcard - Perfect Strangers by Deep Purple

This Weekend's Wildcard is Perfect Strangers by Deep Purple. This is the title track off of their 1984 album by the same name. This song is about reincarnation. It's a conversation between oneself from their past life and their present self. The song tells about memories this person has from their past life, but they (past and present self) "must remain perfect strangers" to each other. This song has been covered by the likes of Iron Maiden, Dream Theater, and Dimmu Borgir.

Scott's Metal Track of the Day - The Wait by Killing Joke

Today's Metal Track is The Wait by Killing Joke. This is off of their 1980 debut self-titled album. I grew up listening to Metallica's cover of this song on their 1987 cover album Garage Days Re-Revisited. Metallica's version was used in the movie School of Rock.

Killing Joke, while not extremely popular, were influential to other bands such as Nine Inch Nails, Soundgarden, Tool, Nirvana, and Marilyn Manson.



Here is the Metallica version

Scott's Metal Track of the Day - Hammer Smashed Face by Cannibal Corpse

OK so I picked today's Metal Track just because I wanted to post the clip from Ace Ventura. I'm not really a fan of Cannibal Corpse (They are a little too much for me) but thought thought this was funny enough to post given the name of the song and the use in the movie.

Today's Metal Track is Hammer Smashed Face by Cannibal Corpse. This is the opening track off of their 1992 album Tomb of the Mutilated. Evidently Jim Carrey is or was a fan of the band and that's how they ended up performing this song in the movie. This song's not that bad.



And here is the Ace Ventura Clip

Scott's Metal Track of the Day - Welcome Home by Coheed and Cambria

Today's Metal Track is Welcome Home by Coheed and Cambria. This is off of their 2005 album Good Apollo, I'm Burning Star IV, Volume One: From Fear Through the Eyes of Madness. Whew that is a long title. This video was cut about 2 minutes shorter that the album version.

This is one of their most popular songs due to its catchy riff. It was featured in the video game Rockband as a playable track. It has also been used by numerous sports teams such as the Atlanta Hawks, Buffalo Sabres, Boston Celtics, and WWE.

Scott's Metal Track of the Day - Home Invasion/Regret #9 by Steven Wilson

Today's Metal Track is Home Invasion/Regret #9 by Steven Wilson. This is off of his latest album Hand. Cannot. Erase. which was released earlier this year. I think this song is absolutely fantastic. The final 5 minutes (Regret #9) are just amazing. The keyboards (synthesizer?) and the guitar solo by Govan just ooze with emotion. Some of the best music I've ever heard in my life. TURN IT UP LOUD!



Here is Guthrie Govan recording the solo. So good.

Scott's Instrumental Metal Track of the Day - Mana by Equilibrium

Today's Instrumental Metal Track is Mana by Equilibrium. I don't even remember how I came across this song last week but I checked it out and it's pretty epic. This is the closing track off of the German folk metal band's 2008 album Sagas.

Mana is a word meaning "power, effectiveness, and prestige" and comes from the Austronesian language which is widely dispersed throughout Maritime Southeast Asia, Madagascar and the islands of the Pacific Ocean.

Easy Like Sunday Morning Track - When I said I Do by Clint Black

In honor of our 7th wedding anniversary, today's Easy Like Sunday Morning Track is When I Said I Do by Clint Black and Lisa Hartman Black. This was the song we used for our first dance at our wedding.

This Husband and Wife duet is off of his 1999 album D'lectrified. The album title is a reference to the entire album being recorded without any electrical instruments. This song won the Academy of Country Music Award for Vocal Event of the Year in 1999.

Happy Anniversary Jessica! I love you! I was going to sing this for you this morning but I figured I'd let ole Clint handle that for me.

Weekend Wildcard - Texas Flood by Larry Davis

This Weekend's Wildcard is Texas Flood by Larry Davis. He released this track as a single only back in 1958 and remains his biggest hit. It was later made famous by the late Stevie Ray Vaughn who recorded it as the title track for his 1983 debut album Texas Flood.

Although Davis later became a guitar player, Fenton Robinson provided the guitar on this song while Davis provided vocals and bass.



Here is a sensational performance of Texas Flood by Stevie Ray Vaughn

Scott's Metal Track of the Day - The Night and the Silent Water by Opeth

How about a little Opeth to get your weekend started off right?

Today's Metal Track is The Night and the Silent Water off of their 1996 album Morningrise. This song was written about Mikael Åkerfeldt's grandfather who had just died before the recording of this album. This song is fantastic, as expected with Opeth, with some good melodies mixed in with death metal.

If you listen to nothing else, at least skip to the 7:45 mark. Great stuff!

You sleep in the light
Yet the night and the silent water
Still so dark...

Scott's Metal Track of the Day - Jessie by Paw

Today's Metal Track is Jessie by Paw and comes by special request. My coworker's husband sent me this CD today to include in the mix. I had never heard of the band before which is odd because I was all about some grunge in the early 90s.

This is off of their 1993 debut album Dragline. This song, along with others on the album, was featured on the video game Road Rash when it was released on Sega Saturn, Sega CD, Playstation, and 3DO. I haven't had a chance to make it through the album yet but I'm definitely digging it.

Thanks to Steve Loncosky for the request!

Scott's Metal Track of the Day - The Mephistopheles of Los Angeles

Today's Metal Track is The Mephistopheles of Los Angeles by Marilyn Manson. This is off of his most recent album, The Pale Emperor, which was released earlier this year. This is the best track off of the album in my opinion and it was originally slated to be the album title.

The song compares Manson's career with the German folklore character Faust who sold his soul to become a rock star. In that tale, Faust made a pact with the Devil in order to gain knowledge and magic powers. The Devil sent a demon named Mephistopheles as his representative to deal with Faust. At the end of the deal, the Devil would claim Faust's soul and he would be eternally damned.

Manson considers this album to be his "payment in full" claiming that his last few albums "lacked focus". He stated that since Holy Wood he had "not made something with the sheer utter fearlessness and anger and force of before."

Scott's Metal Track of the Day - Our Fotress is Burning... II Bloodbords by Agalloch

As promised yesterday, today's Metal Track is Our Fortress is Burning... II - Bloodbirds by Agalloch. This is the 2nd part of a trilogy or songs on their 2006 album Ashes Against the Grain.

Scott's Instrumental Metal Track of the Day - Our Fortress is Burning... I by Agalloch

Today's Instrumental Metal Track is Our Fortress is Burning... I by Agalloch. This is part I of a trilogy of songs on their 2006 album Ashes Against the Grain. I'll follow up tomorrow with part 2. It's a pretty laid back song with a little country western twang thrown in.

Easy Like Sunday Morning Track - Summer Breeze by Seals and Crofts

Just in time for summer, Today's Easy Like Sunday Morning Track is Summer Breeze by Seals and Crofts. This is the title track off of the duo's 1972 album by the same name. It has been used in numerous movies and TV shows such as Dazed and Confused and Freaks and Geeks. They actually use a toy piano as a backing instrument which gives it a unique sound.

Weekend Wildcard - Pop a Top by Jim Ed Brown

Lots of memorial posts lately :(

In honor of the passing of Jim Ed Brown, this Weekend's Wildcard is the 1967 classic country song Pop a Top. It was written by Nat Stuckey in 1966 and Jim recorded it the following year. Many of you are probably more familiar with the Alan Jackson cover song from the late 90s.

Jim first gained fame in the 1950s with his two sisters in the group The Browns. In March of this year it was announced that The Browns would be inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame. Since his health began to decline, Jim was inducted earlier this month. He died this past Thursday from lung cancer. Jim was an active member of the Grande Ole Opry from 1963 until his death.

RIP Jim! We'll Pop a Top in your memory.

Scott's Metal Track of the Day - Coma Machine by Between the Buried and Me

"You teach us what was
You teach us what was ...out there"
Be ready to have this stuck in your head. So good.

Today's Metal Track is Coma Machine by Between the Buried and Me. This is off of their upcoming album Coma Ecliptic which comes out next month. It is absolutely fantastic and has me super excited about the new album. I don't think they can top Parallax II but I would love to be proven wrong.

This trippy video “follows the wanderings of an unidentified man, stuck in a coma, as he journeys through his past lives... It showcases the character preparing for his journey and is him basically saying bye to his old demons/life. This footage adds dialogue to the story and I think that is very unique.” (Tommy Rogers)

Scott's Metal Track of the Day - The Bloody Verdict of Verden by Christopher Lee

In honor of the passing of Sir Christopher Lee today's Metal Track is The Bloody Verdict of Verden off of his 2010 album Charlemagne: By the Sword and the Cross. Yes, the man who played Dracula, Saruman, and Count Dooka was a metalhead! It's amazing that he was still releasing metal in his 90s.

RIP!

Scott's Metal Track of the Day - Mosley by August Burns Red

Today's Metal Track is Mosley by August Burns Red. This is a B-Side track off of their 2007 album Messengers. It's about a friend of the band's who died in a car accident when he was only 18 years old.

Scott's Metal Track of the Day - 512 by Lamb of God

Today's Metal Track is 512 by Lamb of God. This track was just released yesterday as the second single to their upcoming album VII: Sturm und Drang which is German for Storm and Stress. This will be the first album by the band since Randy Blythe's arrest in Prague on suspicion of manslaughter related to the death of a teen at one of their shows in 2010. He spent 5 weeks in prison without bail and was later acquitted in 2013.

Blythe wrote the lyrics to the song in Pankrác Prison cell number 512. Most of his time was spent in a basement dungeon. He said "I couldn't even see the sun to tell what part of the day it was. It was just steadily lessening levels of gloom." These were the thoughts that inspired the lyrics for "512".

Scott's Instrumental Track of the Day - The Best of Times by Guthrie Govan

Today's Instrumental Track is The Best of Times by Guthrie Govan. This is off of his 2012 Late Night Sessions Series 2 which is a package that comes with 5 solo tracks, backing tracks, extended jam tracks and video performances as well as complete tab and notation.

Easy Like Sunday Morning Track - (I Just) Died in Your Arms by Cutting Crew

Today's Easy Like Sunday Morning Track is (I Just) Died in Your Arms by Cutting Crew. This is off of the British band's debut 1986 album Broadcast. While this song was a major hit on its own, many people immediately think of the SNL skit with Will Ferrell and Horatio Sans as wedding singers who only know the opening section of this song.


SNL Skit

Weekend Wildcard - Breezeblocks by Alt-J

Another request from James Purcell for his bachelor party. This Weekend's Wildcard is Breezeblocks by Alt-J. This is off of the British band's 2012 debut album An Awesome Wave.

Scott's Metal Track of the Day - Grease Paint and Monkey Brains by White Zombie

I'm on James Purcell's bachelor party and his request for today's Metal Track is Grease Paint and Monkey Brains by White Zombie. This is off of their 1995 album Astro-Creep: 2000.

Scott's Metal Track of the Day - By Demons Be Driven by Pantera

By Demons!!!!  Be Driven!!!!

Today's Metal Track is By Demons Be Driven by Pantera. This is off of their 1992 album Vulgar Display of Power. The intro and main riff to this one is brutal and terrifying. That blood curdling sound that Dime creates with his guitar will send you running for the hills. It reminds me of the sound the barons of hell made on Doom when you first encounter them. Also terrifying.

I plan on jamming to Pantera this weekend with Jimmy!



Here are the Barons of Hell. Skip to 15 sec mark.

Scott's Metal Track of the Day - Territory by Sepultura

Today's Metal Track is Territory by Sepultura. This is off of their 1993 album Chaos A.D. The footage shown in the video is from Israel and the Palestinian territory. This territory has been the subject of much violence throughout history.

Towards the end of the video you can see a newspaper clipping about the signing of the Oslo Accords. These are a set of agreements between the Israeli government and the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) to start a process to reach a peace-treaty to fulfill the "right of the Palestinian people to self-determination".

WAR FOR TERRITORY!!

Scott's Metal Track of the Day - Killing in the Name by Rage Against The Machine

Today's Metal Track is Killing in the Name by Rage Against The Machine. This is the lead single off of their self-titled 1992 album. This song is about revolution against institutional racism and police brutality. Easily still relevant over 20 years later. The songs suggests that members of the US Police are also members of the Ku Klux Klan. "Some of those that work forces, are the same that burn crosses." This was released 6 months after the LA Riots.

Funny story about this track. The song earned its notoriety in the United Kingdom on February 21, 1993, when BBC Radio 1 DJ Bruno Brookes accidentally played the full uncensored version of the song on his Top 40 countdown, leading to 138 complaints.

Scott's Instrumental Metal Track of the Day - Dysphoria

Today's Instrumental Metal Track is Dysphoria by Cloudkicker (AKA Ben Sharp). This is off of his 2008 album The Discovery. If you like what you hear, go here for more. He uses the "name your price tool" for all of his digital releases.