The much touted, 10-years in the making Guns ‘N Roses record Chinese Democracy appears to have 9 songs leaked. The project by front man Axel Rose is infamous for the amount of time taken to create the album, which is not currently scheduled for release. Dr. Pepper even took a swing at some free publicity offering a free can of soda to “everyone in America”* if it is released this year.

Well, I had a listen and the songs generally rock. They more than rock actually, and Axel could make a lot of people eat their words… including Dr. Pepper.

One small thing struck me though. In the title track, he start consists of background noise and people talking. The problem is there a bit that is in Japanese! From about :34 – :37 you can hear a man say what sounds like, “Eto… Sumimasen, honto?” Which in English is, “Ummm… excuse me, really?”

** Clip coming soon… need to update the audio player.
[See post to listen to audio]

* Offer void if you are Slash or Buckethead.

With the recent tragic death of Heath Ledger, the actor’s self-described obsession with singer/songwriter Nick Drake has come to light. “I was obsessed with an artist by the name of Nick Drake,” Ledger explained in a September 2007 interview. Indeed, Ledger has been compared to Drake in both melancholy temperament and manner of death; both died from an overdose of antidepressant medicine, though Drake’s death is considered a suicide.

I hope a few more people can discover Nick Drake, an artist I have long liked, through this post. In his lifetime, Nicholas Rodney Drake was reclusive, depressed, and rather unsuccessful. He shunned live performance and as a result failed to find much following during his recording years, 1969 – 72.

Yet during those years Drake produced three sullen records marked by his “breathy vocals, strong melodies, and the acoustic-based orchestral sweep of his arrangements” (AMG). His songs have an overwhelming melancholy air about them as Drake fingerpicks his way through each album.

He became disillusioned to the point of unhealthy introversion as a result of his music’s mediocre success. By 1974 he was living with his parents and having little contact with the outside world. With producer Joe Boyd, Drake tried to record a fourth record. “It was chilling. It was really scary. He was so… he was in such bad shape he couldn’t sing and play the guitar at the same time” Boyd recounts from these sessions (Wikipedia).

On November 25, 1974, Nick Drake died from an overdose of medicine used to treat his depression. His mother found him in his bed with no note left to explain. The lack of a suicide note has led to some controversy over the nature of his death. Nick’s sister Grabrielle has stated, “I personally prefer to think Nick committed suicide, in the sense that I’d rather he died because he wanted to end it than it to be the result of a tragic mistake. That would seem to me to be terrible: for it to be a plea for help that nobody hears” (nickdrake.com).

As the 70’s passed, Nick Drake’s musical legacy remained low, but by the 80’s his name was being thrown about by other musicians as an influence while his cult status grew.

Fame’s fleeting flame finally burst into the general public’s conscience in 2000 when Volkswagen licensed the title track of Pink Moon for a car commercial. Suddenly, Drake’s music found the audience he longed for in life. Sales leaped, movies soundtracks came calling, and other artists called out in admiration of the tragic singer. In 2004, Drake achieved his first music chart success with two singles to coincide with a radio broadcast, narrated by Brad Pitt, about Drake.

Interestingly, Heath Ledger also directed and starred in a black and white video treatment of Drake’s song “Black Eyed Dog,” featuring the actor drowning at the end. The song’s title refers to Winston Churchill’s description of depression. The video has yet to appear on the internet and was screened only twice.

The Albums

Five Leaves Left (1969) takes its name from a Swan cigarettes rolling paper warning the consumer when only five “leaves” remained in the pack. Drake was a noted marijuana smoker, though the common practice in Europe then, as today, is to roll one’s own tobacco.

[See post to listen to audio]

Thoughts of Mary Jane evokes a pastoral setting in the England of old, perhaps sitting riverside in spring meadows, with elegant flute and string arrangements. My favorite of the album.

[See post to listen to audio]

Time Has Told Me is a gently rolling ballad with gentle piano chords, subtle picking, and amazing electric guitar accents.

“Time has told me
You’re a rare, rare find.
A troubled cure
For a troubled mind.”

[See post to listen to audio]

Day is Done: beautifully haunting.

Also don’t miss: Way to Blue, Man in a Shed

Bryter Layter (1970) is a continuation of Drake’s folksy sound and is more polished with its sweeping instrumentals. The album is also a bit more upbeat with a more prominent percussion. The title is a pun on a common BBC weather forecast that it would become “brighter later.”

[See post to listen to audio]

Hazy Jane II, the second track on the record and first with vocals, is immediately noticeable as a departure from the tone of Five Leaves Left. Rolling drums and upbeat brass are about as happy as Nick Drake gets.

[See post to listen to audio]

One of These Things First is a great tune with rambling piano and timeless lyrics.

[See post to listen to audio]

Fly is a song for reminiscing about leaving with some great harpsichord work.

Also don’t miss: At the Chime of the City Clock, Northern Sky

Pink Moon (1972) clocks in at less than 30 minutes and is a return to bleak and bare acoustic songs. This is Drake alone, guitar and piano, with no other musicians accompanying.

[See post to listen to audio]

Pink Moon is the song that brought Drake into the limelight with its inclusion in the aforementioned Volkswagen commercial. This is one of those songs I have listened to so much I rarely return to it, but when I do it always delights. His best song in my opinion.

[See post to listen to audio]

Road features some great finger picking and reminds of a road trip on a lonely, deserted highway at dusk.

Also don’t miss: Which Will, Know

For more information, check out the documentary Nick Drake: A Skin Too Few. You can find it over at YouTube.

Part 2, Part 3, Part 4, Part 5

It’s been a long time since they rock and rolled…. but Monday night in London Led Zeppelin did just that at London’s O2 venue. The reviews are starting to roll in… The verdict is it was a resounding success!

I have listed here the most complete source of reviews, video, and photos on the internet. In particular, the videos of ‘Kashmir’ and ‘Stairway To Heaven’ and simply amazing.

For the very latest, prowl the forums at LedZeppelin.com. The NME articles below are among the best. Torrent links when available!

Update 1: 2007/12/12 First audio boot is available at Dime a Dozen (FLAC 601.61 MB), but site is restricted to registered members, of which they are accepting no more

Update 2: Rapid Share links to audio from 8 songs (probably taken from Youtube videos)

Update 3: Mininova torrent link and Tape Trader’s Den torrent link!! Full sets, but can’t check it until later….

Set List

• ‘Good Times Bad Times’
• ‘Ramble On’
• ‘Black Dog’
• ‘In My Time Of Dying’
• ‘For Your Life’
• ‘Trampled Under Foot’
• ‘Nobody’s Fault But Mine’
• ‘No Quarter’
• ‘Since I’ve Been Loving You’
• ‘Dazed And Confused’
• ‘Stairway To Heaven’
• ‘The Song Remains The Same’
• ‘Misty Mountain Hop’
• ‘Kashmir’
  Encore:
• ‘Whole Lotta Love’
• ‘Rock And Roll’

Reviews

LedZeppelin.com: O2 Reunion Concert Forum (the best place for the latest breaking news)

LedZeppelin.com: Track By Track Review (from forum member)

ABS-CBN News: Led Zeppelin Returns With Rocking London Reunion

AOL News: Led Zeppelin Roars Back in Reunion Show

BBC News: Led Zeppelin Return To The Stage

BBC News: Press Views: Led Zeppelin

Billboard: Led Zeppelin Triumphs At London Reunion Show

Billboard: Led Zeppelin Dazzles At Joyous London Concert

Bloomberg.com: Led Zeppelin Wows 20,000 London Fans, First Concert in 19 Years

CNN: Led Zeppelin Can Still Rock

Daily Mail UK: The Presleys, McCartney, And The Jaggers: The Night The Rock Clans Gathered For Led Zeppelin Reunion

Jam! Showbiz: Led Zep Gets The Ball Rolling (minute by minute rundown)

Guardian Unlimited: Led Zeppelin (5 Star Review)

Guardian Unlimited: Led Zeppelin Lets the ‘Good Times’ Roll

LedZeppelin.com: Long Review (by forum member)

Los Angeles Times: Led Zeppelin Rocks Again In London

Minnesota Daily: Jason Bonham Kicks Off Led Zeppelin Reunion On Monday Night

MSN: Led Zeppelin’s Live Reunion: Rockin’ ‘Good Times’

NBC 17: Led Zeppelin Reunites, Shines For London Concert

NME: Led Zeppelin Reunion: The Full Report

NME: Led Zeppelin Reunion: The Review

NME: Led Zeppelin Reunion: The Fans’ Verdict

NY Times: Led Zeppelin Finds Its Old Power

Portfolio.com: Warner Gives “No Quarter” Over Led Zeppelin Video Clips

Rolling Stone: The Full Report (mirror)

Seattle Times: Led Zeppelin Works Fans Into A Frenzy

The Sun UK: LEDgendary: Zep Can Still Rock

Telegraph UK: Led Zeppelin: Then It Got Better Still

Times Online UK: The Mothership Of All Reunions

Toronto Star: Led Zeppelin Send Their Faithful Into Frenzy

VH1: Led Zeppelin Break Out Classics, Play A Song Live For The First Time At Reunion Show: Report

Uncut: Zeppelin Close Historic Show With Rock and Roll

Uncut: Led Zeppelin Return – Our First Review!

Note: Warner Brothers has begun to take down Youtube.com videos. Those idiots just don’t get it, do they?

Video Clip: Black Dog (5 min 25 sec, full but shaky)

Video Clip: Black Dog (2 min 19 sec)

Video Clip: Black Dog (from BBC News)

Video Clip: Dazed And Confused (2 min 4 sec)

✭Video Clip: For Your Life (7 min 26 sec)

Video Clip: For Your Life 2 (29 sec)

✭Video Clip: Good Times, Bad Times ➔ Ramble On (8 min 51 sec total, RO at 3 min 50 sec)

Video Clip: Good Times, Bad Times (4 min 30 sec, full + introduction)

Video Clip: In My Time Of Dying 1

✭Video Clip: Kashmir (8 min 31 sec)

Video Clip: Misty Mountain Hop (1 min 56 sec)

✭Video Clip: Nobody’s Fault But Mine (9 min 34 sec, full)

Video Clip: Ramble On (2 min 58 sec)

Video Clip: Rock And Roll (5 min 17 sec)

Video Clip: Rock And Roll (42 sec)

✭Video Clip: Since I’ve Been Loving You (7 min 35 sec)

Video Clip: Since I’ve Been Loving You (1 min 9 sec)

✭Video Clip: The Song Remains The Same (6 min 50 sec, full)

Video Clip: The Song Remains The Same (42 sec clip A)

Video Clip: The Song Remains The Same (42 sec clip B)

✭Video Clip: Stairway To Heaven (9 min 19 sec, full)

Video Clip: Stairway To Heaven 2 (1 min)

Video Clip: Trampled Underfoot (2 min)

✭Video Clip: Whole Lotta Love (7 min 36 sec)

✭Video Clip: Jimmy Page With Violin Bow (42 sec)

Video Clip: Reunion Show (Black Dog clips)

Video Clip: Crowd Shot (What Song?) (46 sec)

Video Clip: Crowd After 1st Encore

AP Video: Song Remains The Same At Zeppelin Reunion

BBC Breakfast Show (5 min 57 sec)

BBC News: Zeppelin Wow Their Fans At Gig

BBC News: Led Zep’s Song Remains The Same (with Black Dog Video)

BBC News: Led Zeppelin Fans’ Reaction

BBC Video Report With Live Footage

CBC Video Report

CNN: Producer Niles Rodgers Discusses The Concert

Daily Telegraph AU: Led Zeppelin Reunion (with video goodness)

ITV News Report With Black Dog Clips (2 min 4 sec)

Various Concert Footage (Derringer)

Photos

Flickr Set: Photos From Pramit

Flickr Set: Photos From p_a_h

LedZeppelinPics.com: Concert Pics (great set!)

NME: Led Zeppelin Reunion Photos

Rolling Stone: Led Zeppelin Returns: Photos from the Reunion Show and More

Rehearsal Photos

[See post to listen to audio]

The other day I was organizing my music library, cleaning up ID3 tags and adding artwork, when I came across an interesting factoid about Aerosmith’s 1997 record Nine Lives.

Now, I’ve never been a huge Aerosmith fan but the intro scene of Dazed & Confused where “Sweet Emotion” is played as a 70′s muscle car turns the corner in slow motion is hard to beat. I also fondly remember having Nine Lives on a road trip to Colorado when it first came out.

As I searched for cover art, I was surprised to uncover two different versions. The initial cover depicted the cat figure in a well known Hindu parable as Lord Krishna (see left for a traditional depiction). In it, Krishna dances upon the head of the naga (snake) Kalia to punish him for poisoning the surrounding area. The Aerosmith version adds a cat’s head and female anatomy to the popular imagery, which Hindu’s claimed was the equivalent of showing Christ on the cross with the same additions.

Not only the cover was changed, but some retailers opposed the CD art as well, which depicted scenes from the sexually explicit Kama Sutra.

So, the cover was changed and two different versions of the CD art were distributed. This site, though, of the American Hindu Anti-Defamation Coalition, debases the use of this artwork yet prominently displays the cover. Huh?

The record’s hits include “Falling in Love (Is Hard on the Knees),” “A Taste of India,” and I’ve included my favorite of the bunch, “Pink.”

Paul penned it, George played bass on it, John prefaced it with “We’ll listen to that now. He he he. Oh, look out!,” and Ringo, umm…., Ringo did as usual and safely kept measure.

The version presented here is from Beatles Anthology 3 though the song originally appeared on Abbey Road (but you knew that already). The Anthology version is longer at 3:26 and more ethereal in tone as compared to the album’s at 1:57.

There is some confusion to the origins of the lyrics. One camp claims it is inspired by a rabid fan (Diane Ashley) enacting the titular words on Paul’s bathroom. In the 2006 documentary Moody Blues: Classic Artists, the group claims the song stems from a groupie doing the same to member Ray Thomas, and successfully spent the night. The next day the story was related to Paul… and the rest is history.

Whatever the origin, the song found it’s way as the last song of a surreal triptych with “Mean Mr. Mustard” and “Polythene Pam,” each song flowing into the next.

Tom Bissel’s excellent essay on the song rather bleakly sums up the Anthology version.

It is an interesting song the way Trimalchio: An Early Version of the Great Gatsby, published in 2000, is an interesting book.

That is, its rough. Paul hits a bad note at 1:07 at the end of “She worked at 15 clubs a day.” But, it is noteworthy to see how the song progressed from wah-wah psychedelic guitar fills to the more upbeat final version.

At the end we are given a peak into the song development as Paul describes a vision where one of the verses is more “classical” as he hammers out a “In My Life” style keyboard riff.

Like geothermal forces turning coal into diamond, the Beatles duly transformed this song. I’m just happy we get to see both versions.

She came in through the bathroom window
protected by a silver spoon
But now she sucks her thumb and wonders
By the banks of her own lagoon

Didn’t anybody tell her
Didn’t anybody see
Sunday’s on the phone to Monday
Tuesday’s on the phone to me

She said she’s always been a dancer
She worked at fifteen clubs a day
And though she thought I knew the answer
Well I knew what I could not say

And so I quit the Police Department
And got myself a steady job
And though she tried her best to help me
She could steal, but she could not rob

Didn’t anybody tell her
Didn’t anybody see
Sunday’s on the phone to Monday
Tuesday’s on the phone to me

Note: More versions of this song can be found on the bootleg Black Album. Joe Cocker also released an enjoyable cover version.

So, I have decided to add a new featured section on my blog to give me a venue to tell you about some of the coolest tracks I find. It will be called ‘Tune Blog‘ (for now).

In addition to my commentary you will be able to stream the song for your enjoyment. So, what is the best way to read them? Why, listen to the song as you read, of course! Start looking for them soon.