Album: Led Zeppelin - I

you may remember seeing the words "fuck led zeppelin,this is where it's at" over on the ritual room facebook page

it's a good thing that those words were posted anonymously as i'd hate to show up at someone's house and ruin their day with some nude air drumming to some "moby dick"

the battle has raged on for centuries as to who was the first heavy metal band

was it led zeppelin?

was it black sabbath?

bands have broken up...friends have been lost...plates have been smashed at the dinner table...

and the only answer i give to anyone that has posed that question to me is: go and listen to each band's first album...then come back and talk to me

but honestly...when it comes to each band's recorded output...i can listen to all of led zeppelin's albums over and over again

when it comes to black sabbath...you only really need their first 6 albums (yeah...that's right...sit down guy wearing the MOB RULES t-shirt)

but i digress

i was first turned onto led zeppelin by one of my teachers back in high school...and the first time my parents heard me listening to them...it blew their minds as i was listening to things they had grown up with

you can't deny the powerhouse that is/was drummer john bonham

or the laid back bass from john paul jones

or the hot licks from jimmy page

or the caterwauling nonsensical vocals of robert plant

that's right....i just used the terms "hot licks" and "caterwauling"

also....like you've never stood in front of a mirror and sang along to "dazed and confused" into a comb

yeah...me either

also...why hasn't a cover band called ZEPPATH happened yet? (and yes...they would only cover zeppelin and sabbath)

so...just go on ahead and give that DL down there a little poke

DL: led zeppelin I

Tour Dates: Mark Lanegan US West Coast Tour Dates

I'm realising that this blog has slowly evolved into more news and tour date listings than actual music uploads, but I hope that's cool with ya'll. I usually just end up posting news that I get stoked about and want to share, but I'll try and upload more singles and stuff in coming days when I'm not so busy. Anyways. Here's a moment we've all been waiting for.... Mark Lanegan west coast US tour dates! Acoustic! Not with Isobel!

These dates were just confirmed:

Sun 12-Jun Hollywood Hollywood Forever Cemetery
Tue 14-Jun San Francisco Great American music hall
Thu 16-Jun Portland Wonder Ballroom
Fri 17-Jun Seattle Neptune

Tour Dates: Melvins Residency Tour

From Ipecac:

"Two nights in each city. Two sets each night. No opening act.
The first night's first set will include songs from Lysol and Egg Nog, followed by a second set from Houdini. The second night's first set will feature Bullhead in its entirety, followed by a second set from Stoner Witch.

May 13, 2011 - Seattle, WA @ The Crocodile
May 14, 2011 - Seattle, WA @ The Crocodile

May 16, 2011 - San Francisco, CA @ Great American Music Hall
May 17, 2011 - San Francisco, CA @ Great American Music Hall

May 27, 2011 - Austin, TX @ Mohawk
May 28, 2011 - Austin, TX @ Mohawk

May 31, 2011 - Chicago, IL @ Double Door
June 1, 2011 - Chicago, IL @ Double Door

June 3, 2011 - Boston, MA @ Paradise Rock Club
June 4, 2011 - Boston, MA @ Paradise Rock Club

June 6, 2011 - Brooklyn, NY @ Music Hall of Williamsburg
June 7, 2011 - Brooklyn, NY @ Music Hall of Williamsburg"

Serious Melvins news. I'm already giddy with excitement for the Seattle shows and am writing off all other show prospects in May to attend at least the second night. ...Nothing else really needs to be said, does it?

Single: Sub Pop Edition #28 Various Artists - "Alice Cooper Tribute"

An amazing Alice Cooper tribute 2x7" released for the Sub Pop singles club in 1991 that definitely doesn't surface all that often. This single features covers done by Sonic Youth, These Immortal Souls, Gumball and Laughing Hyenas. Many thanks to this awesome blog for this rip! We love us some Alice around these parts.

1. These Immortal Souls - Luney Tune
2. Gumball - Under My Wheels
3. Sonic Youth - Is It My Body?
4. Laughing Hyenas - Public Animal #9

DL: "Alice Cooper Tribute Single"

Album: Earthless - "Sonic Prayer"

This is "Sonic Prayer" by Earthless, which is best described as a 40 minute jam of furiously heavy, psychotic riffs and, well, this is massive. (Massively groovy). Truly a giant, psychedelic masterpiece of an album that will have you completely hooked as soon as the first riff gets going. Also, you can buy assorted Earthless goodies here.

1. Flower Travellin' Man

2. Lost in the Cloud Sun

DL: "Sonic Prayer"

News: New Track by Mark Lanegan Released For "Rage Untethered" Game

That's right, new Mark Lanegan material! The track is called "Burning Jacobs Ladder" and was released/created for the "Rage Untethered" game trailer. (Fortunately it really doesn't disappoint despite the sellout undertones. I don't really blame Lanegan for doing something like this for the money/hype, either). Anyways, I'm loving the new track and am waiting on pins and needles for his next solo album. You can stream and download "Burning Jacob's Ladder" for free here.

And I definitely have to give a special thanks to Mark (a different Mark, obviously. Yarm. No, not that one either) for the tip on this one!

RIP

Mike Starr (Alice in Chains) allegedly died today after being arrested for drug possession just last month. Sad news as he was only 44 and Alice in Chains was just getting going again. Read more here.