Yep, you read that right. Sir Elton John is going to be doing a tune with Alice In Chains on their upcoming album “Black Gives Way To Blue”. For the record I usually don’t do a ton of press release stuff but this is above and beyond Musicgoat worthy. I mean think about it, Elton John and Alice In Chains? I couldn’t have made it up if I tried. Can’t wait to check it out.

Anyway, here is the rest of the press release with some statements from the Jerry Cantrell. Read it and let us know what you think in the comments below… Read the rest of this entry

Well I have a few gems for you this week.  I have a new metal band that I have been listening to for the past month (and should’ve told you about long before today). And an artist who was on a previous podast that has released a masterpiece of intimate and inspiring acoustic rock. Here ya go.

Deflagration “A Call To Arms” (Metal)

This stuff is damn heavy and breaks some new ground ta boot (I can’t quite pinpoint it but you’ll see what I mean). I’ve been listening before and during my workouts for over a month now and this stuff gets me really – and I mean REALLY – jacked up (which reminds me, try not to listen around your buddies that drink whiskey, unless you are looking to break up a fight).

Anyway, they kind of remind me of the band Pro-Pain (I think its the singing). Oh and don’t just take my word for it. I’ve shared their stuff with some of my live and bleed metal buddies and here are their comments;

Mark on Facebook – “Dude! I checked out Deflagration and it was awesome! Thanks!”

Bob on Facebook – “I like them. They sound different. I like the sound though. I might have to get the CD.”

My favorite tunes are “Split Wide” and “Color and Ash”. Bottom line, if you are a metal fan, you are gonna like these guys. These tunes will fit nicely in a playlist along side Slayer, Testament, Exodus, Metallica, Slipknot and many of the newer bands of that ilk. Check them out on MySpace or CDBaby.

Rob Anthony – “While the World Sleeps” (Acoustic Rock/Americana)

Speaking of metal, Rob Anthony is an ex-thrasher who has learned how to turn it up by turning it down. He has crafted a great acoustic album.

Even though I know it’s borderline heresy in the indie world, I’ve been listening a decent amount of top 40 rock, country and adult contemporary lately as part of my songwriting self-education. The stuff on this release could EASILY go toe to toe with almost anything on the pop charts. The top-notch songwriting is both timely and timeless.

His performance is very personal and very intimate. He will tap your psychy and bleed the emotion out of you on nearly every tune.  There is really no way to pick a few favorites because I love pretty much every tune on the disc. And for all of you cover tune nuts, you will want to check out his take on the DePeche Mode tune “Personal Jesus”.

Bottom line, if you haven’t heard him, you are missing out. Check him out on the official Rob Anthony Site or on CDBaby. Then tell everyone you know because he deserve to be heard. Oh and be on the lookout for an interview with Rob in the near future. We’ve been in contact and are trying to find some time in our schedules.

I normally don’t review multiple bands from the same record label but when I stopped by the Small Stone Recordings website, I was side tracked for a few hours and ended up burning up about thirty bucks on downloads, so I figured why the hell not. Here’s a word or two about a label and a few of the bands that you should check out.  Read the rest of this entry

One of the trickiest parts about blogging and podcasting about a wide variety of music styles – in other words, being the Musicgoat – is that you run the risk of alienating readers and listeners of one particular style of music.

For instance, I will do a hard rock/metal oriented podcast one month, follow it up with an indie acoustic country show the next month and then post a review on a Hip Hop artist that has caught my ear the next. As you can imagine certain fans – within either genre – could get a little annoyed and therefore not stick around (which is a bummer but you can’t please everybody right?).

Anyway, I knew this would make it more difficult to build an audience but this is the most honest way for me to approach a music site. I knew I couldn’t talk about one style over and over when there is just to much to like from many other genres. Also, I knew that there were others out there who like to mix it up as well and I figured this would pose a great opportunity to find them.

Now, why am I telling you this? Well I just learned the other day that the Musicgoat made number 36 on the list of Top 50 Twitter Users in Hard Rock and Metal.

What that means is that I haven’t completely alienated the metal community, in particular one of its biggest proponents, Marc Mark Carras (RockMyMonkey.com and HeavyAsHell.com). Mark, the author of the list, is one hardcore fan of all things metal. Having him endorse the Goat is an honor. Thanks Marc!

The list also features some pretty high profile rockers, writers and labels so you might want to look through to see is there is anyone you might want to follow. Check it out! And if you want to follow me, be my guest. Just look to the right in the sidebar under “Find Me Online.

I was flipping through eMusic the other day when I noticed a new release by an old favorite of mine, Extreme. I was a little apprehensive at first but figured what the hell, I’ll download it. Boy am I glad I did. Here is a quick review.

The title of the release is “Saudades De Rock“. In the opening line on the track “Slide” Gary Cherone sings “Find a groove and then drop the hammer.” That pretty much sums up most of the tunes on the release.

One of the reason i was a fan of Extemes music was because I am a sucker for good guitar. I always loved Nuno’s guitar work and this release did not do anything to change that. He is one of a seemingly dieing breed of guitarists who can dance over the fretboard, navigating a path of tasty grooves throughout every song.

The whole CD is about what you would expect from Extreme if you were a fan of some of the their popular stuff like “Pornograffitti” and/or “Three Sides to Every Story” but they do venture into new territory and pull it off well.

Bottom line, if you love active guitar, meaty grooves and solid songwriting, this is a no-brainer.

FEED YOUR POD! If you are interested in downloading any music – including the stuff discussed in this post – while at the same time supporting Musicgoat.com, click on the image above or use either of the following Musicgoat-friendly links: eMusic, Amazon.
THANKS and YOU ROCK!

Grab your studs, your air guitar and a beer (or three). I keep the intensity level high as you and I check some out some tunes from all over the metal spectrum.

Press play and listen as we explore some newer metal music ranging from Hard Rock to Thrash.

[audio:http://musicgoat.com/podcast/mmp034_heavy_metal_res.mp3]
Click Button To Play | Right-Click To Download

Here are the songs heard on this podcast and the links to each artists website;
Robot Lords of Tokyo - “Mergatroid” (get it free on eMusic)
Robot Lords of Tokyo – “Belly Full of Greed”
DC4 - “Candy Caine” (get it free on eMusic)
SNEW - “Got Love” (get it free on eMusic)
SNEW – “She’s A Real Gunslinger” (get it free on eMusic)
American Angel – “Turns to Grey” (get it free on eMusic)
Top Johnny – “X-Tasy”
Exodus – “Children of a Worthless God” (get it free on eMusic)

Websites Mentioned on this podcast;
SNEW frontman interview on the Classic Metal Show

Most of these and a ton of other great artists can be found on the Pod Safe Music Network.

Are you ready for a healthy dose of crunch? You better be damn it because it’s on. A little screamin, a little crunch and nothin but head bobbin, fist pumpin metal goodness for your listening enjoyment.

You are about to listen to what could possibly be my best metal podcast yet!

Press play and brighten your f#$@%n day.
[audio:http://musicgoat.com/podcast/mmp028_metal_crunch.mp3]
Click Button To Play | Right-Click To Download

Here are the songs heard on this podcast and the links to each artists website;
Dream Evil – “Fire Battle in Metal” (get it free on eMusic)
FEFF – “I’ll Tell You”
Sevendust – “Deathstar”
Warrel Dane – “When We Pray” (get it free on eMusic)
Ground Mower – “Down”
Pride Tiger – “The Lucky Ones”
Supagroup – “Born in Exile”
Paradise – “Lady Luck”

Other sites and podcasts mentioned in this show;
Live Metallica with King Diamond ..very cool
Heavy metal christmas album on the way (yep you read that right)
Mike Cameo’s Indie Top 10 Rock Podcast

Most of these and a ton of other great artists can be found on the Pod Safe Music Network.

If you are a fan of metal music, classical music or even both, then today is your lucky day. I was surfing around and came across this video by a band called Apocalyptica doing a cover of Metallica’s “Fight Fire With Fire.”

Now this isn’t your everyday local cover band version either. These dudes put a whole new spin on it. First, as you watch the video, you’ll notice that Read the rest of this entry

You and I both have our ideas about what life must be like for rock bands on the road. Whether it the penthouse suites and first class treatment of superstars like Bon Jovi or the lonely outsider depiction outlined in Bob Seger’s melancholy classic “Turn the Page.” Today you get a chance to see – and hear – for yourself what it’s like for lesser known, harder working bands to be on the road.

For a few weeks now, I have been following a guy named Micheal Butler around the Midwest. Micheal Butler is the host of one of my favorite podcasts called the Rock and Roll Geek Show. Since he is also the hired gun on bass for the band Jetboy – who is on tour with Ratt frontman Stephen Pearcy – he is documenting snippets of the tour on video and audio for all to see.

Unlike much of the scripted reality stuff Read the rest of this entry

Thanks for the introduction CK. I’m glad to post for you, it’s an honor. Ok, my first entry into the Goat, so here we go. I feel no pressure. (Yea, right.)

Now that yet another of my favorite bands has decided to “pursue individual interests,” I’m left again to wonder what the future holds for myself musically. I look to Serj Tankian (lead vocalist, System of A Down) to heighten my interest immediately.

Serj is unloading the bands’ first solo project on October 23rd, oddly titled, “Elect The Dead.” He has been pushing his project almost overwhelmingly on Myspace.com.

Although only two singles have been released, it’s obvious that this album will not sound much like System at all. Serj amuses with Read the rest of this entry