Hand a guitar to just about anyone, and they will play the opening riff to “Smoke On the Water.” It’s instinct.
And that is a testament to Deep Purple’s indelible place in music history. Continue reading
hard rock
Record #467: Blue Öyster Cult – Agents of Fortune (1976)
I have a fever, and the only prescription is more cowbell.
Immortal comedy sketches aside, I’ve never been too terribly aware of Blue Öyster Cult. So my expectations for Agents of Fortune were a blank slate.
Record #466: Aerosmith – Toys in the Attic (1975)
Despite their indelible place in rock and roll history, this is only the second Aerosmith record to pass through my record collection. Their debut, Dream On, came and went without much of an impression.
Toys in the Attic, however, is a much more memorable beast.
Record #438: Audioslave – Audioslave (2002)
I’ve never been a huge Rage Against the Machine fan. I’m not sure if I’ve ever knowingly listened to Soundgarden. In fact, I still get Soundgarden and Savage Garden confused.
But in 2002, I was watching Fuse and the video for “Like A Stone” came on, and it blew my freaking mind.
But in 2002, I was watching Fuse and the video for “Like A Stone” came on, and it blew my freaking mind.
Record #315: Deep Purple & the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra- Concerto for Group and Orchestra (1969)
Classic music and metal have always has a strange sort of kinship. Both explore the outer reaches of human emotion through big, dramatic bombast. When you think about it, metal is sort of like the long haired, torn jeaned cousin to the straightlaced, tuxedoed classical music. They may argue over Thanksgiving dinner, but at the end of the day, they still love eachother.
And on Concerto for Group and Orchestra, we’re in for a family reunion.
Record #308: Bad Company – Bad Co. (1974)
I have never given Bad Company much thought. They have some good singles on the classic rock station (Bad Company chief among them), but I never would have guessed that they were a supergroup comprised of members from Mott the Hoople, Golden Earring, and Paul Rodgers–all bands I HAVE given much thought.
Record #280: Jethro Tull – Aqualung (1971)
“Yeah AQUALUNG,” quoth Ron Burgundy during his epic flute solo, a nod to the group’s place in rock history as “that metal band with the flute dude.” Which is a little reductive, especially considering that the flute is prominently featured exactly ZERO times in the title track. Also because Jethro Tull isn’t exactly metal.
Record #2: Aerosmith – Dream On (1973)
I got this record from my dad’s collection, which is fitting, since my dad was living in Boston in the 70s, when and where Aerosmith was making a name for themselves as a great local rock band.
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