Category: My Sunday Song

My Sunday Song – “Psychosane” by Adrenaline Mob

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For My Sunday Song #466, we are talking Adrenaline Mob’s killer track “Psychosane”. Adrenaline Mob was Mike Portnoy’s first project after leaving Dream Theatre. Also in the band were singer Russel Allen (Symphony X) and guitarist Mike Orlando who were the chief songwriters to the song as well. The song is from their 2013 debut album, ‘Omerta’, which went to #70 on the Billboard 200 album chart.

The song was inspired by the movie ‘American Psycho’ where Christian Bale’s character would be acting totally sane and then a minute later would be totally unhinged cutting people up. The song appears to be describing a sane person that suddenly has a rush of feelings coming across your mind that is an intense, adrenaline filled, psychotic episode that will see you going bat shit crazy and completely destructive. You should embrace the feeling and act upon it and then all will be right with the world. It seems to be living with like a Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde type of feeling.

Musically, the song is an intense, bombastic metal track that comes at you like Mike Tyson craving an ear. Portnoy’s drums are massive and a gut punch to your soul. The guitar riff by Orlando is simply nasty, leaving you scratching at your skin trying to shake that feeling of dread. Allen’s vocals are menacing and evil with a grit to it that echoes in your mind driving you insane. You get a spoken part by Allen repeating over and over “Going psychosane / Motherfucking psychosane“. The guitar solo is lethal and Orlando even throws in an old school talk box despite the overall sound being a very modern rock piece in the same vein as maybe Godsmack or Shinedown. The song lives up to the bands name as an Adrenaline filled metal track that will leave you wanting to destroy anything or anyone in your path.

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My Sunday Song – “Celebrity Skin” by Hole

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For My Sunday Song #465, we are talking a song from a band I never got into, however, I loved this song. That song is “Celebrity Skin” and the band is Hole. Fronted by Courtney Love, Hole was an alt rock/grunge band from the 90’s. The album, titled ‘Celebrity Skin’, was released on September 8, 1998 and the title track was released as a single on the same day. Back in a time where you didn’t have 5 singles out before the album even came out…the good old days. The song only went to #85 in the Hot 100, but went all the to #1 on the Alternative Rock Chart even going to Platinum status selling over 1 million copies.

The song was written by Courtney Love, Eric Erlandson and Smashing Pumpkins own Billy Corgan. The song was inspired by the year the band took off so Courtney could pursue her Hollywood acting career. It highlights the struggle of maintaining an image in the public eye. It talks about how superficial and hollow that image really is. One minute you are the talk of the town and the next you are yesterday’s news. It even takes a line from Dante Gabriel Rossetti’s poem, “A Superscription” which is “Oh, look at my face / My name is might-have-been”. Heck even the name of the song “Celebrity Skin” is taken from a porno magazine that shows pictures of naked celebrities.

Musically, that opening riff is killer and was contributed by Billy Corgan…and it sounds like something he’d play. The song itself is a slight change of direction for Hole as it is a lot more polished and even a little poppier, but the subject matter still reflects a darkness they are used to exploring. The crunchy guitars from Eric, the thumping bass from Melissa Auf der Maur and heavy drum beat from uncredited Deen Castronovo (Journey) really drive the song forward. Courtney’s vocals are great as she has a little grit to her voice giving it a needed edge for the darker tones, but the chorus she is silky smooth and giving a light & fluffy sound to accentuate the ridiculousness of the celebrity image. A short song as it is under 3 minutes, but it is powerful and effective and a nice kick in the teeth. With the big hooky chorus, I was all in. Still never got in to the band though.

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My Sunday Song – “Do What You Will” by Big Wreck

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For My Sunday Song #464, we are going to talk about the killer track “Do What You Will” by Canadian/American rock band, Big Wreck. Thanks to my buddy Deke for introducing me to this band and sending me a couple of CDs which included the album this song is from, ‘Albatross’. The album came out on March 6, 2012 in Canada, but the U.S. didn’t see it until almost a year later on February 19, 2013. This song isn’t a single, but probably one of the best deep cuts on this album (and there are many).

The song was written by lead singer Ian Thornley. I’m not sure what the lyrics mean exactly, but there is a freedom to them. An exhilarating sensation throughout. When it says “Let ’em out / Let ’em out of the cage”, it feels like it is saying let go of your inhibitions and go full throttle in life. You might crash and burn, but you will feel alive. Then I wonder if it is about a bad relationship that has ended. Instead of fretting on it, let it go and move on with your life. Leave the person behind and let them deal with it the way they want to deal. They can deal with your ashes left behind as you’ve moved on and it isn’t your concern anymore.

What is with that laugh at the beginning of the song. It is quick and throws you for a loop until that blistering riff comes in. It has a crunch and a bite to it. It is mean, vicious yet exciting and thrilling at the same time. It feels a little like grunge, but not depressing in the least. When that first verse comes in, the bass lets loose with a killer groove. Vocally, Ian is a throwback to someone like Chris Cornell as his deeper tone and delicious scream get to the heart of the song. The harmonies are amazing and at times I feel a strong Beatles influence in the song. I like how it rocks out and then there is a slower break which builds in intensity before exploding with a huge Ian scream, more of that sweet riffing and they are back in your face delivering the goods.

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My Sunday Song – “Icky Thump” by The White Stripes

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For My Sunday Song #463, we are going to talk the still applicable song today, “Icky Thump” by The White Stripes. Why do I say still applicable today? Well, the song is about immigration and was written back in the George Bush administration in 2007. As you know, immigration is a hot topic today with all the ICE raids and Border Patrol operations (who were recently in Charlotte arresting a lot of people). It is a topic that I don’t see going away anytime soon. The song was released on April 26, 2007 and went to #26 on the Billboard Hot 100 and even #1 on the Alternative Charts going Platinum selling over a 1 million copies. Very successful for sure.

The song was written by Jack and Meg White and they were really having fun this track. The title, ‘Icky Thump’ comes from a Northern English phrase called ‘Ecky Thump’ which are both euphemisms for the word ‘Hell’. I guess that means the song means Hell Hell. Jack is a staunch Democrat and was completely against all the immigration talk back in the day and wanted to remind everyone that the Whites in the U.S. were immigrants at one time too. If they have a problem with immigration they should kick themselves out for that very reason. He was pointing out the hypocrisy of it all. This whole idea of the song is still relevant today.

The song is about a guy that takes a trip to Mexico and has no problems going South into Mexico (unlike those trying to go North into the U.S.). He meets a woman who houses him and feeds him, but she then assaults him and holds him hostage. Which I am sure he greatly deserved. A very weird song lyrically, but the flow is something only Jack White can do.

Musically, it is pure garage rock with lots of distortion. Jack makes his guitar speak a language that is hard to fathom how he does it, In case you are wondering, Jack used a 1959 Univox synth and during the solo he used Zvex Wooly Mammoth and a DigiTech Whammy pedal to get that really cool sound. Meg’s drums were a constant pounding beat like a marching army. It is a rip roaring track that is everything I love about The White Stripes. It is amazing that these two people can make so much incredible music.

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My Sunday Song – “Hole In My Hand” by Day of Fire

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For My Sunday Song #462, we are talking Day of Fire’s massive song “Hole in My Hand” off their 2006 album ‘Cut & Move’. The Christian Rock band out of Nashville, Tennessee bring us their second album that was produced by Pete Thornton who had worked with Limp Bizkit. Not quite the same type of music, so an interesting choice, but a good one. The song was written by Gregg Hionis, Joseph Alan Pangallo and Richard Joshua Brown

The song could mean a lot of things. I’ve seen that people think it is about addiction or even relationships troubles. For me, I don’t think that at all. I think the song is about struggles with faith. The struggles he has had in life have chipped away at his faith. The title of “Hole in My Hand” could related to the stigmata and I think represent for him his struggles in faith. He is reaching out to his friend, Jesus, in helping bringing the light back in to him. The hole in his hand is a reminder of what he has been through and with God he can stand tall and have the fire burning back in his heart to lift him up. A very uplifting song despite it being a rather dark song overall.

Musically, I love the tone of the guitar, it is sharp and cutting. The drums are heavy and loud and together they give you a feel of desperation and struggle. Singer, Josh Brown, has such a grit to his vocals it bleeds of despair yet a hint of hope. The quieter, darker verses counteractive by the uplifting and bigger choruses show us the possible light in burning brightly and ready to be let loose. The song ends with the guitar, bass and drums exploding and then it all quietly fades away. A very nice touch.

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My Sunday Song – “Shout It Out” by Red Dragon Cartel

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For My Sunday Song #461, we are talking Jake E. Lee’s Red Dragon Cartel and their song form the debut album, “Shout it Out”. The album came out on January 28, 2014 and debuted at #69 on the Billboard 200. While this song was used to promote the album, it did not chart anywhere. For me, it is one of the coolest and best songs on the album. The band consisted of Jake E. Lee, Darren James “D.J.” Smith, Ronnie Mancuso and Jonas Fairley and what a combination of talent. However, they all didn’t necessarily play on the song…we will get to that.

The song was written by Jake E. Lee and Ronnie Mancuso and it appears to be a call to action. Not for anything good though. It is about excess and fame. Doing whatever it takes to get to the top. Find your inner demon and let it loose. Kick everyone down until the can’t take it anymore. Dominate, win and get all the excesses that come with it. Fame and fortune at all costs.

Musically, it is a heavy song. Almost industrial in nature. Jake’s riff has a really killer groove to it that isn’t played the whole time, but is throughout the song. And like every good guitar song needs is a great solo and he delievers. What I like about it is a little different than his playing in the song. It gives it a new dimension. The chorus is so big, I love the cadence of the vocals by Darren. His deliver is deliberate and so menacing too. There is a gang style vocal to the chorus too that takes it all up a notch. The verses are sang slow and like it is the devil on your shoulder, then he goes so high in the vocals and back to a low evil tone. The drums are pounding, metallic in tone and you can feel every beat. A beast of a track and a song that makes you stop and take notice.

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My Sunday Song – “Lights and Thunder” by White Lion

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For My Sunday Song #459, we are going to discuss the epic White Lion song “Lights and Thunder”. The song was the first single off their fourth album ‘Mane Attraction’ and the song came out in March 1991. It was an unusual song for a single due to its length at over 8 minutes long. By far, their longest song up to this point in time. That would change in 2008 when they released “Sangre de Cristo” from their album ‘Return of the Pride’. “Lights and Thunder” actually charted in the UK at #95, it charted, I didn’t say it charted very high.

The song was written by Mike Tramp and Vitto Bratta and talks about a Utopian society where there is no fighting, no religion, no kings and only peace, love and happiness. Yep, a make believe world that will never exist. It was a statement that the world is really fucked up (imagine if that was written today as it is more so now) and there is too much fighting, too many wars and simply too much.

Musically is where this song is so badass. It was inspired greatly by Led Zeppelin’s “Achilles Last Stand” and is full of very complex moments, tempo changes and full on rock epicness. This was the opening track of the album and what a way to kick things off. It starts off with some weird keyboard sounds, some drum fills echoing in from all sides and a little Vitto guitar solo…totally wicked. The song explodes in to full band mode, the drums are heavy as hell and the barrage of snare hits is crazy almost like machine gun fire. Mike Tramp sings with an almost angelic-like vocal delivery welcoming you to the utopian world. He goes all gritty during the chorus. Before one of the instrumental breaks, there is a lot of spoken words from various leaders around the world including Martin Luther King, George Bush, and many others all letting us know how bad things are down here.

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My Sunday Song – “Do Her Wrong” by AtomSmash

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For My Sunday Song #468, we are talking “Do Her Wrong” by the band AtomSmash. The song is off their 2010 album, ‘Love Is In The Missile’ which was the label debut on Jive Records. “Do Her Wrong” was the lone single from the album and after only 4 months and 25,000 units sold of the album, Jive Records dropped them. Wow! Is the song and the album that bad? No, not in the least. Is it that good, No, not in the least. But is it fun! Hell to the yes!! The song did hit #30 on the Mainstream Rock Chart and actually #1 on Sirius XM’s channel Octane

The song was written by Serg Gabriel Sanchez and is basically about a guy that is no way looking for love. He’s out there sowing his wild oats and simply wanting sex and only sex. He says the woman can be the one, this perfect angel who makes love like a hooker (he says it worse than that), but she will never be able to tame him. He will always find a way to do her wrong…so why bother trying. Not a real deep song, but that is not why I like it.

The reason is the music and how it makes you feel. Sometimes you need a mindless song that has the right beat, the right hooks and all you want to do is crank it up and rock out. That is THIS SONG!! The lyrics are teenage humor fodder, but the music is hard rock at its most catchiness. The band is Serg on vocals, Alex “Z” Zilinski on guitar, Luke “Cowboy” Rice on guitar, Mark “Taco” Annino on drums and Arnold Nese on bass. The drum beat is explosive, the guitar riffs and bass are heavy and the song simply soars. Vocals by Serg are awesome as he has this slight grit, a great sounding Rock voice. He sings the song like he means it and that is what sells me on the song. He believes these corny lyrics and that is half the fun.

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My Sunday Song – “Defying Gravity” by The Veer Union

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For My Sunday Song #457, we are talking “Defying Gravity” and no, this is not the Wicked song of the same name. This one is by the band The Veer Union and is off their 2016 album ‘Decade’ which celebrates the band’s 10 years of existence. The song was the first and maybe only single and was released on December 11, 2015 while the album was not released until January 29, 2016. For this album, the band wrote five new songs and pulled five songs from around 10 years back that were never used. But we are here to talk “Defying Gravity”.

The song was written by Crispin Earl and is about his battle with depression. The song details how the singer has been impacted by depression. How it weighs him down and he has no energy to do what needs to be done to fight it. He is looking for the strength as he knows he has to lift himself up to beat this horrible disease. If you have suffered from depression, you know how the weight of it holds you back. For him, defying the gravity that is holding him down is what it will take to fight his way out of it. It is such a hard battle fighting the demon inside. It is a daily struggle, a constant struggle. It can be fought and you don’t have to do it alone. There is help out there, but asking is the hardest part.

Musically, it is heavy like the subject matter. If you haven’t heard The Veer Union before, think a cross between Breaking Benjamin and Sevendust. Those are probably two good bands to compare them too. The guitar riffs are brutal by Dan Sittler, the drums are destructive from Tyler Reimer and I love how it goes from really heavy in the chorus while being melodic to a softer tone during the verses. Crispin Earl handles the clean vocals and you can hear the pain and emotion in his vocals. He is singing from his heart. I’m not one that usually likes unclean vocals, but bass player, Amal Wijayanayake, does a great job with the screaming vocal parts not to mention his bass playing along with rhythm guitarist Ryan Ramsdell keep the song moving forward. The unclean vocals aren’t overdone and only serve as an added texture to the song. I think it adds to the overall darkness of the heavy subject.

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My Sunday Song – “Bounce” by Emphatic

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For My Sunday Song #456, we are talking “Bounce” by the Nebraska band Emphatic. The song is on their big label debut, ‘Damage’, which was released on July 12, 2011 and went to #23 on the US Hard Rock Charts. The first single was “Bounce” which went to #23 on the US Mainstream Rock Chart. I don’t remember when I first heard it, but when I did, I was hooked. It was one of those songs I would put on repeat as it had so much energy.

The song was written by lead guitarist, Justin McCain and the song itself is pretty basic rock & roll stuff. It is all about S.E.X. It is about two people that are extremely passionate about each other and they are longing to get together to do…well…to do the deed. He wants to slap her back tattoo, give her a kiss and give her a ride…whatever that might mean (nudge, nudge, wink, wink). Bounce, of course, is the word he chose to use to describe the deed and it completely and utterly works. Who doesn’t love a good “bounce” with the woman (or person) they love?

Musically, the song does truly “bounce”. I heavy, high octane track with blistering guitars from Justin, pounding drums by Josh Freese and some heavy bass work by Paul Bushnell. Vocals were handled by Patrick Wilson and he has that rock & roll grit that fits a song like this. The chorus is one major hook with the repetitive “Bounce, Bounce” and sucks you in. Such great pop-sensibilities with this song as well. Very radio friendly. A song that is as musically fun as those lyrics. A good time was had by all with this one.

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