Metal Monday, Psycho Lead Singer Edition

Ahhh Guns and Roses. Or if you prefer, Axl Rose you son-of-a-bitch!


The band was strong and talented enough not only to give metal a much needed shot in the arm in 1988, but to survive the Grunge Apocalypse of '92. Axl is one of the best vocalists in rock and roll, Slash an innovative and interesting guitar player, Izzy Stradlin a talented writer. Appetite For Destruction is a sharp edged classic while Use Your Illusion I and II are masterpieces. They are the soundtrack to my senior year in high school. Use Your Illusion I and II are easily the equal of say Led Zeppelin IV.

In fact, GnR should have been the Led Zeppelin of the 90's. Unfortunately Axl couldn't let that happen because he's a controlling nutcase, primadonna. I've hated the man for 20 years.

We all know the standards, November Rain, Estranged, You Could be Mine and many others. I  love the fact that I thought these songs were awesome before they became hits.

With that in mind we'd like to present a list of underrated GNR songs:

The Garden: Bluesy and menacing with a strong and heavy baseline. You can just tell that something evil is about to happen. Alice Cooper sings on it as well.

Locomotive: Great opening drum and bass line. Slash's guitar sounds like a train. The intro is great and the rhythm strong throughout. Slash's riffs in the bridge a great.

You Ain't the First: Izzy Stradlin's acoustic slap at lover. If you've ever been jilted, and you have, this song is for you.

Get in the Ring: The band slams the media. Why not? It's a fun song and one of those anyone can use in their own life.

Breakdown: Overwrought and epic, seemingly filled with wisdom, at least for an 18 year. Also a lot of fun. With piano, banjo and several sounds thrown in Breakdown is a musical explosion. The intro is fantastic. Throughout the song surprises.  We don't know another song quite like it.

Monday Metal, Seriously you Think that's Metal Edition

In A Line through the Desert, at Patricia's graduation party, Jake and his friends debate a vexing question of the late '80s: Is Bon Jovi Metal?

The answer today is of course not. But in 1988 that wasn't so clear. Bon Jovi songs had hooks. They had ripping guitar solos. They had power chords.

You don't think Dead or Alive is Metal?:

That's was the 18 year old virgin Jake Bloom argued.

How about Lay Your Hands on me?

That intro is flipping awesome. Again you got power chords, analmost Angus like hook, and a ripping guitar solo. Ahhh, I recall the first time I heard this song. A crisp September morn in the Hudson River Valley. The intro seemed to accompany the light mist reflecting back the rays of the autumn sun....that's as much imagery as you'll ever get form me, folks.

Then there's Bad Medicine:

Just a great catchy riff and when you got Sam Kinison in your video, one is in for a good time. It was an 80's thing.

Sweet mother of god, the babes. Look, younger reader(s). This was the 80's there was no internet. If you were lucky you had an older brother with some Playboys. I was not lucky. So this was it.

I mean, come on:

Or how 'bout:

I  mean, holy god:

[Hey, why does the blonde get two pics?-Ed]

What do you mean, 'why?'.

[Did you really spend ten minutes watching that video and snipping-Ed]

Did I ever.

Mrs Stroock: Why were you listening to Bad Medicine?

Me: 'You don't wanna know.'