Crank It Up To Eleven! 12.30.08: The Year-End Edition

Posted by Sandeep Murali on 12.30.2008

The year-end edition of Crank It Up To Eleven! takes a look at a few albums that the big names managed to put out this year.





Hello there peeps and welcome to the final edition of Crank It Up To Eleven! for the year 2008. I was originally gonna write a column about something else, but then former 411music columnist and fellow Hair Metal fan Tollah started a thread in the forums that made me change those plans. You know, 2008 has been a really good year for rock & metal. So many bands from yesteryear came back from obscurity and gave us hours worth of quality material to listen to. In this column, we shall look at a few of those records and see how and why the said artists have metamorphosed:

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Talk dirty to me:

Comments/ letters go here.

Rabia says: "sandeep, you are quite right on the Axl Rose issue. if it was all about money, he would have made a nostalgia album recycling Appetite for Destruction to cash in on the nostalgic mood in the consumer market. instead he has produced a highly complex album that takes time to digest in a world where people dont want to make time.

If money was Axl's concern, he should be very happy seeing GNR songs being used in Guitar Hero. this helps increase downloads for these songs and any profits to be made come to axl more than anybody as he owns the GNR name. "

An excellent point there. Anyone who knows the basics of copyright laws will know that every time "Sweet child o' mine" is commercially used, Axl Rose (along with the others) makes money. If he was in it out of greed, he'd have shut the hell up and let things go on as they are now, because those darn plastic guitars seem to be flying off the shelves. So haters, please. Think before you bash.


Bouquets, brickbats, whatever you got; throw ‘em this way. It's all good.

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We are Still the champions:

Year two thousand and eight AD saw some names that were by and large written off make strong comebacks and remind the new kids on the block that they still got some fight left within. Some of them stuck to their tried and trusted guns, some explored new avenues while some went back to their roots to win back the fanbase they supposedly turned their backs to. No matter the path chosen, they all ended up making great music, and that's all that counts:

Judas Priest: Nostradamus

In case some of you didn't know, Priest got back together with Halford a while ago. In fact, this would be the second studio album since the reunion. And it's nothing like their previous efforts. "Nostradamus" is a concept album about the famous 16th century seer of the same name. Instead of focusing on all out metal mayhem, the Birmingham based veterans have given the album an "Epic" (no jokes) feel. Elaborate orchestrations and multi-layered arrangements can be seen throughout the album. Of course, The leather clad ma's voice is as crisp as ever and those trademark highs are still there in full strength.


So what's the catch? Well; it's a two disc concept album. That means you gotta listen to it from end to end. Several times. Frankly, I cannot see too many potential buyers having that sort of patience. This isn't the kind of album that you buy on impulse after hearing bits 'n pieces over the radio or in HMV. It requires a whole different type of "ear", if you may. But the good thing is, it's worth it. Highly recommended for those who aren't afraid to broaden their horizons a bit.






Like I said, this won't mean much. But here's a compilation of some solos from the album. "Alone" is my pick of the album.

Motley Crue: Saints of Los Angeles

Quick: What are the first words that come to your mind when you think Motley Crue? "Sex, drugs 'n rock 'n roll", right? Well, you wouldn't be far of the mark when it comes to "Saints of Los Angeles". Corny titles such as "Chicks=Trouble" and "Mutherf*cker of the year" adorn the tracklist. But surprisingly, it all works. Because it's Motley F'n Crue! Tracks such as the ones mentioned above plus "Face down in the dirt" take us back in time when big hair and spandex were all in rage. I understand that there aren't too many takers for the music style these days, but it's still nice to know that not all of rock 'n roll auctioned their family jewels off on e-bay for mass acceptance.


That being said, there's certainly is a lot of room for improvement. For one, the production seems; off. If "Death Magnetic" (which we will get to shortly) was too loud for some, SOLA is the polar opposite. Even with headphones on, I felt like I was listening to a live show from outside the concert hall. The album has severely compromised dynamics when it comes to audio quality, and that's a shame. So should you get it? Absolutely. But only if you were a fan of the band in the first place. Else, you'll be hurling expletives six minutes into the record.


Lastly, special props go to Mick Mars who continues to tour bravely despite his well documented health problems. Rock on, Mick.

Motorhead: Motorizer

In this age of uncertainty and turmoil, there are only a few of things you can be absolutely sure of: The sun will always rise in the east, cockroaches will be the only creatures to survive the eventual nuclear holocaust and until that time, Motorhead will rock your socks off in unmistakable fashion. Lemmy and the boys have a formula that works and every single fan of the band wishes that they keep sticking to the formula as long as they perform. Well, fret not coz that's exactly what "Motorizer" is all about. The first track that my randomized playlist threw in my face was "Heroes" and I immediately felt at home. Typically aggressive riffs topped by Lemmy's raspy voice, the track is all you can request from Motorhead. The whole album is in the same vein. Unlike Nostradamus, there are no surprises here and that's a good thing.


To sum it up, if you're a Motorhead fan, you already have this album. If you aren't, but would like to get into the band, start here and work your way backwards. It won't be a disjoint journey at all.

Metallica: Death Magnetic

Ah, what can be said that hasn't been said yet? Unless you have been living under a rock, you surely must have heard of the miraculous come back that Metallica made after the world admonished them for the abomination that was St. Anger. Unlike most metalli-fans, I happened to like the much maligned Load/ Reload combo and never did see them as attempts to connect to the Grunge fanbase. However, St. Anger put me in a tough spot and I really couldn't find too many things to defend the band with. The band was in a very bad place back then and looking back, I can clearly see why Newstead wanted out.


But that was then; this is now. Having strengthened the artillery with the services of Ex-Ozzy/ Suicidal Tendencies bassist Robert Trujillo (who is one hell of a performer, I must say), Metallica was clearly a different animal. Free of the inner demons that haunted them a while ago, The band, together with Producer Rick Rubin, sat down and searched within themselves to find the hunger and passion that helped them come up with their first three albums. And boy! Did they deliver or what!


For the album has in abundance what endeared Metallica to their original fanbase. Brutal, breakneck speed, umpti-gazillion riffs, in your face solos and of course, lyrics that deal with death and destruction. It's no Master of puppets, but it is very VERY close. Cliff; his soul be blessed, would be very proud of the boys.


I do wish that Lars turned the snare level down by a notch though.





- Just in case you thought Trujillo wasn't Metalli-material. NONE SHALL DEFEAT THE CRAB!

Guns 'n Roses: Chinese Democracy

Yes, we're all aware of the fourteen year yadda yadda yadda. Now, can we move on to the album proper, please? Contraband made it clear to the fans that Velvet Revolver wasn't really going for the G'nR (Ironically, the whole deal over who the "Real" G'nR is is eerily similar to the whole China-Taiwan dispute over who the "Real" China is) sound. So with that door closed, fans (at least some of us) looked forward to Axl and his new BFFs making some more of that gritty, yet bluesy Rock 'n Roll that caught us by the scruff of our neck all those years ago.


Anyone who listened to the tracks the "New", "Real" G'nR performed in various venues knew that those elements were there, but the game moved on. And those are the guys who didn't complain when Chinese Democracy finally came out. Like I said in last week's column, this album is ANYTHING but an Axl solo effort. Contributions from Buckethead for one, are easy to spot, at the very first listen. The album has several layers to it and unless one gave it a few listens, I'll have to say that their opinion on it isn't very valid. Even if they listened to the leaked tracks/ live performances before. "Madagascar" for instance, is markedly different from the versions heard before (That Bach surely wasn't kidding, eh?).


So what's the final word?


It's not the ol' G'nR. For that, you'll have to fish out your Appetite for destruction / Use your illusion Tapes/ CDs. Chinese Democracy has elements from those efforts, but it is much more than that.


It's not one for the staunch Axl hater/ Slash defendant either. They can always go back to the aforementioned albums plus the two records Velvet Revolver came up with. Two records, dare I say, aren't really all that good.


But if you have an open mind, loved G'nR in the past and do realize that whining about the "Fourteen year" deal is futile because let's be frank, Axl owes none of us a dime; then give the album a fair shot. I guarantee ya: There's something in it for everyone.


Other than these, the year also saw Queen+Paul Rodgers Come out with The cosmos rocks, Tesla with Forever more (which I have reviewed HERE ), Def Leppard with Songs from the sparkle lounge and Whitesnake with Good to be bad. I haven't got around to listening to the last two (In fact, I was oblivious of the Whitesnake album until Tollah mentioned it). If any of you guys have given them a spin, please do leave a comment on what you thought about them.




Now for something different:

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Nobody's fool:

While spending some free time prowling Youtube; I came across this clip:






As expected, the merciless armchair critics on Youtube practically butchered the poor guy with everything ranging from "Your playing sucks" to racially charged insults. Well you know what? Fuck the haters. It takes genuine passion to learn a song and to perform it. Sure, the guy isn't the best singer around nor is it the best rendition of the song, but who cares? He is pursuing something that he truly cares about and unlike the haters, HE'S ACTUALLY DOING SOMETHING ABOUT IT. Rock on, brother. Just make sure you hire a proper singer for your band when you eventually put one together.

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Never say goodbye:

A shout out to my friend Brandan who was diagnosed with a serious health condition a li'l while ago. Keep the faith brother... I know you're strong enough to make it through.



Rock on and see y'all next Tuesday. Happy New Year, folks!