Do you like to Rock? I sure do, and one band that can always be relied upon to bring the Rock is Monster Magnet, fronted by one of the last great American rock gods, Dave Wyndorf! It is true that this particular Sunday morning is kind of a suckfest, because it’s the first day of Daylight Saving Time, which blows, because that means we have lost one hour of precious weekend sleep. Lame City. So, let’s focus instead on how much better this morning will be, now that we have a new Monster Magnet tune and video to kick our asses into a waking state. You’re welcome!
This rad clip, “Ejection,” is actually a smokin’ hot, rocket-fueled cover of a tune by Lemmy’s old band from the ’70s, Hawkwind! Fans may recall that Monster Magnet previously covered Hawkwind’s “The Right Stuff” on 2004’s Monolithic Baby!, so you know that Dave is a big fan. The original song is a true ’70s classic and couldn’t be a better indication of what to expect from the new album! I also enjoy the visuals of what looks like the band performing while floating across the vast cosmos as a volcano erupts in the background. Or something like that.
“Ejection” is the second single from MindFucker — Monster Magnet’s eleventh studio album — which will be released on March 23rd, 2018 via Napalm Records. Enjoy!
I’ll say one thing about 2010: it was a better fucking year for new music here at the Chickpad. Some of you might recall that when compiling my “Year End” list of 2009, I couldn’t even come up with ten CDs that I could admit to having listened to, let alone liked. That was weird, but what can I say? Today’s music just isn’t yanking my chain the way new records used to get me all hot and bothered, even as recently as, say, two or three years ago. Fans of the Rad Blog know that I wrote about Art and various facets of Pop Culture exponentially more often than I ever wrote about new music or bands that were turning me on. The times, they are a-changin. By semi-switching alliances from Music to Art I know I missed out on a lot, but I did discover ten aural gems this year that I think you should have in your record collection.
MGMT, Congratulations
I tagged the sophomore effort by Brooklyn’s MGMT as Album of the Year way back when it was first released at the beginning of 2010, and my mind hasn’t changed. In 2010, who else but MGMT is releasing albums crammed full of homages to surf music and Brian Eno? No one else, except maybe…
Mark Ronson & The Business, Record Collection
Everything old is new again! The thoroughly sublime and appropriately entitled Record Collection is the best album of 80s music in twenty-five years!
Posies, Blood Candy
Blood Candy proves that The Posies are the closest thing we’ll ever see to a second incarnation of TheBeatles.
CameronMeshell, Prizefighter
Shreveport, LA in 2010 is a very long way from London, England in the 70s, but that sleepy little town has nevertheless managed to spawn singer / songwriter / multi-instrumentalist Cameron Meshell, whose blissfully malleable vocals conjure the heady ghost of the late, great Freddie Mercury like no ouija board ever could. Discover Cameron Meshell at his finest on his knockout second full-length release, Prizefighter.
Gripweeds, Strange Change Machine
Best. Sixties. Revivalist. Band. Ever.
Ratt, Infestation
Shamelessly unapologetic worshipper of the ’80s Metal that I am, if you’d told me last year that in 2010 I’d be putting an album by Ratt, Los Angles-based icons of Hair Metal, on my list of favorite CDs, even I would have laughed you off the face of the Earth. So no one was more surprised than me to hear Ratt, valiantly holding on to most of its original line up (RIP Robin Crosby), sounding as on top of the rock world as they did in 1987, serving up a collection of classic metal songs with more visceral sex appeal and crunchy, loud guitars than you could imagine. Someone tell me where these guys are hiding their time machine.
Hawkwind, Blood of the Earth
Hawkwind have been a band for longer than most people reading this have even been alive. I am not fronting when I say that the songs on Blood of The Earth will appeal to all genres of metal, prog and hard rock fans of bands as varied as Zodiac Mindwarp, JimiHendrix, The Pretty Things, Yes and Nine Inch Nails. Must own!
American Bang
Except for MGMT, southern rockers American Bang are the only “new” band on this list, because they kick ass and take names. I mean, don’t they just look like they rock? If I were 25 years old I’d be in the front row of their shows throwing my panties on the stage. Plus their bass player writes a food blog!
Robert Plant & The Band of Joy
This collection of Americana covers by rock god legend Robert Plant and his amazing Band of Joy makes the list because their magical show at the Bowery Ballroom this winter was the best show I attended all year. Led Zeppelin!
Bryan Ferry, Olympia
It’s about his voice. Olympia hasn’t exactly checked in as a critics’ favorite, but as far as I’m concerned, the former Roxy Music front man could sing a menu and I’d get on board.
How about you guys? Feel free to leave your top picks in the comments!
I was first introduced to the British metal band Hawkwind way back in the eighties when I was in College, and you were probably just an egg. The song I like best from that era of the band is called “Psychedelic Warlords Disappear in Smoke,” because I love song titles that are complete sentences on their own. “Psychedelic Warlords” – besides having one of the best titles ever – is also like the most mind-blowing acid trip to listen to. If you haven’t already heard the song, you will just have to take my word for it.
A lot of metalheads know about Hawkwind only because Lemmy Kilmister of Motorhead was in the band at one point in the group’s 41-year history. In order to be a true, self-respecting headbanger you do really need to have that fact in your hipster cache of useless knowledge. But not everyone knows that the band is actually still recording. In fact, Hawkwind has a new CD due for release on August 10, 2010 (on Plastic Head Music) called Blood of The Earth, and it is just insane.
Blood of the Earth is the band’s first new album in five years, contains eleven songs and features special appearances from violinist Jon Sevink (The Levellers), BBC personality Matthew Wright and a posthumous performance from the band’s late keyboardist Jason Stuart. I cannot stop listening to this album.
Confirmed track listing for Blood of the Earth is as follows:
1. “Seahawks”
2. “Blood Of The Earth”
3. “Wraith”
4. “Green Machine”
5. “Inner Visions”
6. “Sweet Obsession”
7. “Comfey Chair” (note: I am hoping this title relates to the punch line from that great Monty Python Skit)
8. “Prometheus”
9. “You’d Better Believe It”
10. “Sentinel”
11. “Starshine”
I am not fronting when I say that the songs on Blood of The Earth will appeal to all genres of metal, prog and hard rock fans of bands as varied as Zodiac Mindwarp, Hendrix, The Pretty Things, Yes and Nine Inch Nails. Blood of the Earth will be available for North American fans on compact disc and limited-edition 180-gram, clear, double vinyl that includes a vinyl-only bonus track. Hawkwind are planning to tour later this year in support of Blood of the Earth. You know you gotta be there!
For rocking hard enough to crack a skull, The Worley Gig Gives Blood of the Earth Five out of Five Stars!
