Friday, February 28, 2014

None More Black

AC/DC
Back in Black
1980, Albert Records
produced by Mutt Lange

Angus Young - lead guitar
Malcolm Young - rhythm guitar
Cliff Williams - bass
Phil Rudd - drums
Brian Johnson - vocals

singles - 
  • You Shook Me all Night Long/ Have a Drink on Me
  • Hells Bells/ What do You do for Money, Honey
  • What do You do for Money, Honey/ Back in Black
  • Rock and Roll Aint Noise Pollution/ Hells Bells
No other band has come back from the tragic death of their frontman better than AC/DC. Bonn Scott died in February of 1980, and by July the band had hired new singer Brian Johnson and released their follow up to Highway to Hell. This has become the best selling album of their careers.

The album cover is all black with the band name and name of the album outlined. This apparently was done as a show of mourning for their deceased singer, and unlike the parody allbum by Spinal Tap, the record company did not approve. I'm sure this also influenced Metallica when they designed their own black album a decade later.

This album is absolutely a must have for any fan of rock or metal. It shows that even after a seemingly career ending tragedy, a band with a distinct sound can still carry on and be successful.

Sunday, February 23, 2014

The Revolution will be Bloggerized

I'm about to write all about old news.  And by old, I mean it has already been happening for a few years, but not necessarily covered by the local press/news media.  By now, it may be pretty clear that I'm a big fan of radicalism, or possibly just a radicalist tourist.  It is easy in this country to sit back and talk about taking the power back, and being able to rebel against the status quo and government like our patriot heroes of old, and as our constitution has given us the right.  But usually, realistically taking our government back seems like a longshot, not to mention completely unnecessary.  Also, it is usually crazy reactionaries like the Tea Party that cry about taking the country back.  Back from whom?  Did another nation invade and set up a puppet government, and I missed it?  

The problem with the Tea Party expressions of "revolution" is the extreme hyperbole used for fear mongering.  Tactics like this mask the true xenophobic, selfish and greedy aspirations of the conservative right.  No US congress, or executive branch would ever repeal the second amendment.  Also, civil rights is essential for strong family and community values, even if those civil rights smack traditional religion right in the face.  


what is going on in this picture?
However, there have been several instances recently of the people standing up when it has been absolutely necessary, and taking back their countries from tyranical, oppressive, and irresponsible regimes.  My friend, and blogger extraordinaire, writes for EA World News, and the Interpreter.  He has covered the Arab Spring as it unfolded in Tunisia, Egypt, and Libya, the situations in Syria, and recently, the issues in the Ukraine.

Below are a few links to places I go to for news, getting far more and better information, and often first hand accounts of what is going on in places like Egypt, the Ukraine, Venezuela, and Syria.