Nine Inch Nails – The Downward Spiral

Nine Inch Nails came to me by accident, but at a time in my life when it was needed. Great music can do that, drag you out of a hole kicking and screaming, to show you that there are others out there that can relate, that other people share in your experiences, and that they can turn such anguish and anger into something beautiful. Beautifully terrifying and macabre, but beauty is in the eye of…

Continue reading

Arsis – A Diamond For Disease

Finally I can get to something Metal! I was introduced to Arsis many years ago by my guitar teacher, whom had a fantastic taste in music and expanded my horizons into the underground. I went in wanting to learn something by Slayer right off the bat (which did somehow happened, don’t ask me). Granted I had been playing bass for a year or so before, but this is all irrelevant to the article at this…

Continue reading

Joe Satriani – Shockwave Supernova

Many of the worlds greatest guitarists started out with an even better teacher. And about 25% of the time it would seem that teacher was Joe Satriani. Pretty much anyone who takes up the instrument with serious ambition for superior technical skill will delve into his many, many albums. I’ve followed his music for a while, keeping up with the last few albums, and occasionally treking down to Massey Hall to take in his concert…

Continue reading

Santana – Woodstock 1969

I can’t remember the first time I heard Santana. I don’t mean to imply that it never left an impression. My whole life I’ve been exposed to his music and ideas in many forms, whether through the sultry, seductive guitar playing through the speakers, or the general message of peace and love which permeates the character of my grandparents. I remember in the early teen years sifting through my grandfathers record collection in the darkly…

Continue reading