Stale Single #5: Far Behind

Song:  Far Behind
Artist:  Candlebox
Album:  Candlebox
Year:  1993

Does anyone still remember Candlebox?  Man, they were the shit for like a minute in the early to mid '90's. Then, well, they faded from the public consciousness.  Which is too bad...I think they had some real talent and should've been a lot bigger.  I mean, fuck, Creed was HUGE.  Why couldn't have Candlebox been as big as them?

Song #5 on the Candlebox self-titled album is the track Far Behind.  I liked this song from the first time that I heard it.  I feel like Far Behind had a throwback feel (like to the 80's) but with a more modern edge to it.  I dug it...and still kinda do.

Far Behind was one of the songs from their debut album that actually got quite a bit of airplay (at least in Tampa) during that time.  Which makes sense, because it was one of the standout tunes on the album.

Anyway...Candlebox disappeared for most of the early 2000's while the members went off and did other stuff.  But, but, but, they are back on the scene, baby!  So, go on and get your nostalgia on and go see 'em live.  Check out their website, here.

Stale Book Review #50: Alice In Chains

Alice In Chains: The Untold Story by David De Sola

Cost: $4.00US

Page Count: 341 (with lots of footnotes and resources after)

A bit of history: When I was 16, my friends and I were totally psyched to learn that the completely awesome Van Halen was coming to the area supporting their album For Unlawful Carnal Knowledge. So, we piled into 3 or 4 cars and headed to the Orlando Arena (the O-Rena) for the show.  The lights came up for the opening act:  Alice In Chains.  We knew of the band...they had one album out, at the time (Facelift) and thought they would be super cool.  Letdown...they sucked.  Actually, the band was quite good, but the singer, Layne Staley, was obviously bombed out of his mind.  They finished up and a dozen or so people clapped.  At least Van Halen was awesome.

Listening back to the Alice in Chains catalog, you can really get a sense of the immense power and talent of Layne Staley.  While The Untold Story goes into the formation of the band, dynamics, etc...it's always abundantly clear that the crux of the story is on Layne.  To read about his start with the band, decline, and his eventual death were just heartbreaking. We all know the outcome of Layne Staley's life but it was the decline...damn...that was heart wrenching.

What was nice to read about was the jocularity and just how damned funny that the Alice in Chains guys really are.  This is a band that created some of the most somber (yet rocking) tunes on the '90's.  So, this was kind of cool to read.

Finally, enough can't be said about Jerry Cantrell.  He is the creative and driving force of that band, and always has been.  A true talent and, seemingly, stand-up guy.

Anyway, if you are a fan of Alice in Chains go ahead and give The Untold Story a read.  

Stale Book Review #49: Nine Inch Nails

Bobcat books presents the story of Nine Inch Nails by Tommy Udo

Cost: $0.75US

Page Count: 256

Trent Reznor and Nine Inch Nails deserved a much better book than the short unauthorized biography cobbled together by Tommy Udo.

Without question, Nine Inch Nails changed the musical landscape when they (he) released the album Pretty Hate Machine in 1989. Sure, bands like Skinny Puppy and Ministry were creating albums in the same vein around the same time.  However, Pretty Hate Machine took the gristle of those bands, polished them up, and made "industrial music" safe and palatable to the masses.

Over the years, Reznor has continued to churn out classic albums his own way and with a certain amount of musical integrity.  Basically, Trent Reznor has created a beast that is held in the highest regard of rock and roll.

The Story Of Nine Inch Nails fails to build up to this level.  Very little of the book is new or revelatory. If anyone has read articles (or even fucking Wikipedia) about the band, they would have a pretty firm grasp of what the band's history is or what they are all about.

It's no wonder this book is Unauthorized.  There's no way in hell that Reznor would sign on for this...basically a book version of Behind the Music.

One striking thing about this book:  Udo spends sooooo much time during the period of The Fragile. For the life of me, I cannot figure out why.  Maybe it's the author's favorite NIN album?  Maybe he wrote the book during the time of release of the album?  Fuck...I just don't know.  Couldn't figure it out during reading and still cannot now.

Anyway, in a nutshell:  If you are not aware of Nine Inch Nails AT ALL, then maybe this book will be good for you.  Because if you aren't familiar with the band then I'm sure it would be a fun read under the rock you currently live under.  However, if you are at least vaguely familiar with the band then it would be best to skip it.

Stale Book Review #48: Petty

Petty by Warren Zanes

Cost: $6.00US

Page Count: 337

I pretty much never hide the fact that Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers have been the soundtrack to my life.  Therefore, I do believe that they are one of America's greatest rock and roll bands.  Hall of famers, millions of records sold, millions of dollars made, and brilliant musicians on every single instrument. Doesn't hurt that all members are mostly from my home state of Florida.

Whenever something new is released about Tom Petty, I tried to read or view it.  At this point, I am not sure why.  There has been such a breadth of reporting on this man and his band that anything new written rarely reveals anything new.  That is really the reason I wanted to include this book in the Stale Reviews blog.  Warren Zanes, the author, has actually gotten Petty to open up about some things that I have not read before.  So, I have got to give the writer credit here.

ONE:  Zanes, somehow, got Tom Petty to open up about the period where he lived in a little shack and shut himself up from the world.  During this time, Tom was fighting with drug use...something in which I had not read about before.  Sure, Tom Petty has consistently talked about marijuana use throughout his career.  He's even discussed his dalliances with cocaine.  But, to my memory, Petty has never discussed his use of the harder stuff.  It was interesting and I am glad he was able to open up about it.

TWO:  Bugs.  Tom Petty's longtime roadie and confidant, Bugs, was finally given his credit and he also opened up in Petty.  Bugs has famously been against taking part in any interviews.  It was refreshing to read what a major player in Heartbreaker history had to say.

In all, I would say that Warren Zanes's Petty is a worthwhile read.  Of course, I am biased.

Pick it up...Tom Petty rocks.

Stale Book Review #47: The Paths We Choose

The Paths We Choose by Sully Erna

Cost: $0.75US

Page Count: 273

I really didn't have much in the way of expectations when digging into The Paths We Choose.  Sully Erna is the frontman in the rock band Godsmack.  Since I am not really a fan of the band, and really have only heard maybe three of their songs, this book wasn't high on my list to read.  But, I love a good rock biography and had a few hours to kill…so, I picked it up.  I am going to do this one in list form, as it just feels right.

Here are some things I learned:

1.  I had no idea that Sully was a drummer.  Just thought he was a singer.

2.  I had thought that Godsmack had just arrived on the rock scene out of nowhere.  Not so, my friend.  Sully and his boy did the whole grind…working shit jobs, kept on going, built a following…respect for the grind, dude.

3.  For some reason I thought these guys were from Jersey.  Nope, Boston, yo.

4.  Sully grew up poor and had to fight for everything.  It shows in the band.  Hardscrabble, hard-fought music…it's always been a struggle for Sully.

5.  The name Godsmack is NOT about heroin.  Look it up.  It's actually a funny story.

The Paths We Choose is a breezy, late afternoon, kind-of read.  If you dig a good music biography and decent coming up story, check this out.  Sully writes a book just a little bit differently than, say, Billy Idol.  There is no glamorization about the spoils of a hard fought fight…this book is all about the fight.  

Stale Single #4: Joe Black

Song:  Joe Black
Artist:  Paul Sanchez
Album:  Wasted Lives and Bluegrass
Year:  1994

Paul Sanchez is a very nice guy.  He's also got the city of New Orleans crawling through his blood.  Both times I got to meet and speak with Paul, he was always gracious and really wanted to talk about the city he holds so dear.  Seriously…VERY nice person.

Paul was the longtime rhythm guitarist for New Orleans-born rock band, Cowboy Mouth.  In my humble opinion, that band has not been the same since Paul Sanchez left.  No disrespect to the fellas left in the band (John Thomas Griffith is a fantastic guy, too).

Anyway, Joe Black is a funky little number on the Wasted Lives and Bluegrass album.  I'm not sure why I picked this one to highlight on Stale Reviews…maybe it's the sweet little run that Paul plays on this track.  Maybe because it's just a fun song that clocks in at a little over of two minutes.

Maybe it's because I just like it!  It's my blog…I can do what I want.

Joe Black's lyrics don't really jibe with the upbeat rhythm of the guitar playing.  The lyrics are melancholy and a little bit fucked up.  But, I am  the kind of person that likes the juxtaposition of happy-feeling music with downer lyrics.

Paul did well on this one.

It also struck me that this album is also over twenty years old.  Damn!

Stale Book Review #46: Running With Monsters

Running With Monsters by Bob Forrest

Cost: $0.25US

Page Count: 230

I probably passed by Running With Monsters at least 20 times before picking it up and looking at the cover.  Bob Forrest isn't really a household name.  His former band, Thelonious Monster, was barely a household name back in their heyday…even though the band was pretty good.  Hell, I though this was just another memoir of another wannabe, former drug addict, etc…

Turns out, I was sorta right.

Here's the deal:  Forrest is a substance abuse counselor these days.  That is awesome and admirable.  I did work in the same field and it is both challenging and fucking difficult.  So, kudos Bob.

But, back in his drug using days, Bob was a hell-raisin' hang-on.  He was friends with the Chili Peppers, Gibby Haynes, Jonny Depp, River Phoenix, and on-and-on.  But, you know what?  Nobody gives a fuck who you hung out with, Bob.  I figure if they had crack or smack,  you would've hung out with them.  However, I felt that Forrest's relationships with a few of these characters was far more interesting than his actual story.  Sadly, the stories of the rich and famous WERE Bob's story.

The most interesting relationship Bob had with someone you would know would be that with John Frusciante.  Frusciante, if you were born under a rock, is the former virtuoso guitarist with the Red Hot Chili Peppers.  Not only does John have a prodigious ability with a guitar…he also has a prodigious appetite for drugs.  His life got real weird and real bad and Bob Forrest may have had a hand in saving his life.  That is very cool.

In fact, I think that Bob Forrest has had his fingerprints on the saving of many of lives..both famous and not.  I have the feeling that Bob would deny this fact, or at least downplay his role.

Anyway, I read this book in half a day.  You should, too.  There is just something about the story that hooked me…can't quite put my finger on it.  But, Running With Monsters has a quality that makes you want to read on.

In a lot of respects, Running With Monsters is a very typical Hollywood, musician, rags to riches to rags story.  But, in a lot of ways it's not.  Bob Forrest is a unique individual:  a little fucked up, a lot introspective, and, apparently, cares deeply about people.