Who's Evanescence now?

Ben Moody, John LeCompt, Amy Lee, Will Boyd, Rocky Gray 2003

Evanescence was the first concert I ever saw, way back in 2004. The band's debut album Fallen was selling like hotcakes after several blockbuster singles, and their music was all over the radio, tv, and in the movies (remember that horrible Daredevil film). It was a great show at the Target Center, with wonderful opening acts Breaking Benjamin, Threed Days Grace, and Seether rocking hard and laying the groundwork to my love affair with concerts. One particularly memorable moment was when Amy Lee joined Seether onstage to perform the hit single "Broken". It's pretty unlikely that anyone will see the two perform this duet single again, Lee was dating Seether's Shaun Morgan at the time but the relationship has since turned volitile (though in breakup produced Evanescense's second album hit "Call Me When Your Sober" and Seether's "Breakdown").

Morgan responds to "Call Me When Your Sober"

I've seen all four bands several times since this first concert, but even by 2004 Evanescense, the band that crafted the super popular Fallen and won Best Hard Rock Performance and Best New Band at the Grammy's, was falling apart.


Moody, Hodges, Lee

When one thinks of the original Evanescence, or at least the original mainstream Evanescence, usually the pic posted at the start of this article comes to mind. Officially though, the three youths pictured above, Ben Moody, David Hodges, and Amy Lee, were the band during the recording of Fallen. While John LeCompt (rhyme guitar), Will Boyd (bass), and Rocky Gray (drums) were made part of the group in 2002-03 as touring musicians, none of them play on Fallen. LeCompt did co-write track eight "Taking Over Me", and Gray originally wrote track six, "Tourniquet", for his band Soul Embraced. Boyd while not contributing to Fallen did co-write two unreleased songs and contributed to pre-Fallen works Origins and Evanescence EP. Moody (guitar,percussion, co-producer), Lee(vocals, choir arrangements), and Hodges (piano, keyboards, string arrangements) wrote all the other songs, and studio artist provided additional instruments.



In December 2002, Hodges left the band feeling he was leading the group in a more Christian direction than Lee and Moody wanted. March 2003 saw the release of Fallen which would eventually go 7 times platinum and stayed in the Billboard to 50 for over a year, one of only eight albums to do so. To promote the album the band, now officially consisting of Moody, LeCompt, Lee, Boyd, and Gray, headlined the Nintendo Fusion tour. This would be the only mainstream tour with this lineup as Ben Moody, who had been writing music with Amy Lee since 1995, left the group in October during the European tour citing 'creative differences'. Terry Balsamo of the rock band Cold quickly replaced him.

In 2004, flying high with awards, massive album sales, and globally successful tours, Evanescence released a live album Anywhere but Home with the current Moody-less lineup. The CD contained all the tracks from Fallen with the additions of a Korn cover and an Amy Lee original. After more heavey touring, the band took a break and began working on their second album in 2006. Taking Moody's place as guitarist, Balsamo co-wrote 11 of the 13 tracks with Lee (LeCompt also co-wrote a song) and the album was a large success following the strong lead off single "Call Me When Your Sober" and Fallen's large fanbase. Bassist, Will Boyd, left the band in 2006 not wanting to go on another big tour and be with his family. Tim McCord replaced him on tour, and the album went double platinum.


Lee, Balsamo, Gray, LeCompt

Heavily touring behind the new album, the band made headlines in May 2007 when LeCompt was fired by Amy Lee for unconfirmed reasons. Commenting on the firing, LeCompt said via his myspace, "I have now become just another of the people fallen by the wayside on the revolving door of her life. It’s funny how many of us there are now. I guess it’s good for lyrical content, though. Maybe I will be among the blessed to have a song written about me, too. Maybe the song will be “Call Me When You’re Broke”. Drummer, Rocky Gray, quit the band immediately following his friend's firing, with Will Hunt and Troy McLawhorn from the band Dark New Day taking their spots on tour. Following the promotion of their second album, Evanescence took a long break and just this past February returned to the studio to begin work on their third album which is supposed to be out in August or September 2010.


Ben Moody, John LeCompt, Carly Smithson, Rocky Gray & Marty O'Brien

As Evanescence is perparing to retake the world again, a second Evanescene group has emerged. After leaving Evanescene, Ben Moody released a solo cd and worked as a contributing songwritter to several albums including Kelly Clarkson, Celine Dion, and Daughtry (he also worked with Hodges on several occasions). Following LeCompt and Gray also severing ties with Amy Lee, Moody reached out to his former bandmates wanting to re-enstate the sound they had established on Fallen. Bringing in Moody's friend Marty O'Brien on bass, the un-named group began holding auditions for a lead singer. They settled on American Idol finialist Carly Smithson, who performed Evanescene's hit single "Bring Me to Life" on American Idols LIVE! Tour 2008. On June 22, 2009 the group offically annouced themselves as We Are the Fallen, a throwback to Evanescence's famous first alum and the fact that three of the members are fallen members of Evanescence, and released their first single. In March the group is heading out on their first tour with HIM, and their debut album coming in May.

Apparently two Evanescences will be on the roand and in the airwaves in 2010, though I'm doubtful that they will team up for any dates.

One Last Round

If America was personified into a single person, it very well could be Johnny Cash. He was a progressive who cared deeply about tradition. He is was highly religous but unfundamental. He has a checkered past, and an illustrious career. Johnny Cash, the man in black, is an artist who has endoured the test of time, trajedy, and a music industry constantly in flux. Hank Williams burned out at 29. Elvis conqured the world but failed to see 50. Johnny Cash lived to be an old man at 71, rising and falling in popularity, but leaving behind a catalouge and a legacy few artist could hope for. After six decades in music, Johnny Cash is America; stripped to its raw bones.



His latest and final effort, American VI: Ain't No Grave, is one more triumphant round for the Man in Black with his late career savior and producer Rick Rubin. Cash's second posthumous record released three days before what would have been his 78th birthday, Ain't No Grave is an old man, weathered and worn by life's long hard dirt road, staring out the window and seeing his own grave dug and ready. In the studio, feverishly laying down tracks while dealing with his failing health and recently loss wife, June Carter, Cash doesnt fear the end. He faces it head on, humble and certain in his convictions what the end will bring; where tomorrow's outside of life will pass. Armed in his final load, Cash carrys fantastic songs penned down by friends (Kris Kristofferson), forerunners (Bob Nolan), followers (Sheryl Crow), and comtemporaries (Elvis Presley) recarved in his hard legendary baritone-cotton vocals. This is Cash's best album under Rubin, as an overall experience. Though it lacks the powerhouse singles that cemented the importance of previous American Albums like "God's Gonna Cut You Down", "Delia's Gone", "Rusty Cage", or his career epitaph in the NIN cover "Hurt", Aint No Grave, with the possible exception of the title track, stands with no mountain high causing no valley low. The album, as an album, is greater than its predecesors because it is a sermon. Track built on track culminating in a statment summing up a man's final hours, thoughts, hopes, and emotions. As great as their previous endeavours were, Cash and Rubin never fully reached his sublime before. A great deal of this accomplishment must be slated to Rick Rubin, who largely crafted the album alone following Cash's death and picking through the around fifty tracks Cash had recorded during the American V sessions. Rubin's genious as a producer often hides behind Johnny's magificent remaining shadow, but it deserves high praise here, crafting moments of striped down honesty and deep personal introspection into a masterwork rather than a masterpiece.


I heartly recommend this album, and if possible, ask that the roughly 32 min finale be listened to in full, at least once. Hear the whole sermon intact, and experience one of America's own blood and bone artist's final words. The first CD I ever bought with my own money was Johnny Cash's Superhits, and digging through the man's back catalouge in my young life has rarely lead to disapointed. American VI: Ain't No Grave is a great album start to finish dealing with the universal morality all men must face, and the great beyond many of us pine for. On the final cut, a soothingly bitter cover of Elvis's 1961 "Aloha Oe", Johnny Cash says a heart warming farwell to his listeners, seemingly already off in paradise awaiting his left loved ones future embrace. In the soundwaves he left behind, I know I'll meet Johnny again and again and again.

Amazing Music Moment

For a while now this has been one of my favorite Amazing Music Moments. Not only because it was cool to see KISS reunited with the original lineup and back in makeup, but also because it's pretty WTF. Tu-Pac, the since murdered gangster rapper, on stage at the 1996 Grammys giving an award to Hootie and the Blowfish for best Pop performance by a duo or group with legendary 70s metal rockers KISS standing around him. How does time not unravel at such an occurance?

As amazing as that moment undoubtedly is, it is not the real focus of today's blog entry, but rather a back drop. I thought that was the craziest KISS moment, but doing a little research I found one that if not equal to the 1996 Grammy's appearance it is at least a close second. Watch:


Did your head explode? That's 90's Country Music mega star, Garth Brooks, performing the KISS classic "Hard Luck Woman" with KISS on the Tonight Show with Jay Leno. KISS were still un-masked at this point, July 1994, with their members consisting of Paul Stanley, Gene Simmons, Bruce Kulick (guitar), and Eric Singer (drums). Now you must of course be wondering, how the fuck did this possibly happen? Well let's check the facts jack.



Coinciding with KISS's 20th Anniversary, the KISS tribute album Kiss My Ass: Classic Kiss Regrooved was released by Mercury Records. Originally Gene Simmons wanted the tribute album to include hard rock/metal groups like Mozart, Dramarama, the Melvins, Nine Inch Nails, Stone Temple Pilots, Alice in Chains, Kurt Cobain, Thurston Moore, and Ozzy Osbourne, but due to contract entanglements none of these groups possible inclusions materialized. Instead, the album features mostly alt-rock 90s acts like the Gin Blossoms and Toad Wet Sprocket along side bigger music industry names like Lenny Kravitz and Garth Brooks. Though the album recieved mixed reviews from fans and critics, the record did reach Gold status.
The Album's Tracklisting is:
1. "Deuce" by Lenny Kravits w/ Steve Wonder on Harmonica
2. "Hard Luck Woman" by Garth Brooks w/ KISS
3. "She" by Anthrax
4. "Christine Sixteen" by Gin Blossoms
5. "Rock and Roll All Nite" by Toad Wet Sprocket
6. "Calling Dr. Love" by Shandi's Addiction
7. "Goin' Blind" by Dinosaur Jr
8. "Strutter" by Extreme
9. "Plaster Caster" by The Lemonheads
10. "Detroit Rock City" by The Mighty Mighty Bosstones
11. "Black Diamond" by Yoshiki

Wow Steve Wonder playing Harmonica on a KISS tribute album, this truly is an Amazing Music Moment.

Bonus
The band Shandi's Addiction is a one time group performance from Maynard James Keenan (Tool, A Perfect Circle) Tom Morello (Rage Against the Machine, Audioslave) Billy Gould (Faith No More) and Brad Wilk (Rage Against the Machine, Audioslave). Their name being taken from the KISS song "Shandi" as a word play to the band Jane's Addiction.

Oh Boy

Being a fan of any band or artist, one should always draw a hard line between the artist and their art. Why it's great to love and indulge in both, it is hardly required. Eventually one of them will disapoint you. For example Axl Rose is often a pig-headed idiot, punching camera men, fighting with bandmates, delaying concerts for hours, and taking a fifteen year break between albums, but his work with GN'R is awsome. You can easily love the music and hate the person(s) who crafted it. It can also go the other way. For example, perhaps you love Regis Philbin, his shows, his charities, his charming personality. Does this mean you have to love or even like his album of Dean Martin covers? Certainly not. Ted Nudgent is a crazy right-wing nutjob, but Cat Scratch Fever kicks ass. KISS have sham replacements pretend to be original members, but KISS rocks. Johnny Cash loves Jesus, but he's the fucking man in black. The list goes on endlessly, Alan Sparhawk is a mormon, Alice Cooper thinks Sarah Palin is intelligent, Brother Ali is a Muslim, Dave Navarro supports Peta, Phil Spector murdered his girlfriend, and so on.

So why am I ranting about this? Well this week I was given a harsh reminder that people I generally respect/worship artistically, may have some idiotic beleifs. Let me replay my experience in amauteur play format.

Act 1: Curiosity
Checking upcoming cd releases at www.tophitsonline.com/newalbums.htm, I discovered that Waylon Jenning's son Shooter had a new album out May 1. Intreged, being a super casual Shooter Jennings fan I decided to look into the album and see if it was worth buying (plus I heard Stephen King had contributed to the concept album). The image on Shooter's myspace though made me uneasy.

Looks like some Big Brother/New World Order nonsense; could still be a good album though.

Act 2: Fact Checking (more commonly known as Wiki)
The greatest website ever created informed me that Shooter's new album was inspired by the work of David Icke and Alex Jones. Oh no, like Megadeath's recent Endgame, it looked like the crazies were seeping into my music world. For shame. But for those who do not know these two men's madness, here's a taste.


Crazy motherfuckers.

Act 3: The First Interview
Hearing Shooter was inspired by looney radio host Alex Jones, I decided to youtube search Shooter on Jone's show, and because youtube is so kind the video came up. Shooter was talking about his new album and Jones played the frist single, Wake Up, to his equally crazy audience. The song was alright I guess, feels like crappy Pink Floyd, but towards the end when the guitars kick in it gets considerably better.
(You can listen to the single yourself here http://www.myspace.com/shooterjennings)
From there Jones and Shooter dive into a retarded discussion of conspiracy theories, global goverment, and the hidden evils of our world we all need to wake up to. Sad but expected. Then Jones made a statment that floored me. Asking Shooter how his legendary father would view the world we live in today, Jones inserted,"We already know Willie Nelson is on are side against the New World Order." OH MY FUCKING GOD!! No, not Willie. Willie Nelson, an artist I fucking love, who has crafted such wonderful albums and songs, not to mentioned the man who founded Farmaid, Biodiesl, and spearheaded the fucking Outlaw Country Movement. Noo!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Act 4: Interview 2
Forget Shooter Jennings and forget his new album, now I was on a mission to find out whether or not Willie was pro Alex Jones and his crazy world of lies and conspiracies. I found two episodes of Willie being interviewed on Jone's show, and I became a very sad panda. Listening to both shows, recorded a year apart, it was obvious that Willie is indeed friends with Jones, even doing a chairity event with him (funny Willie mentions that he hopes his friend Johnny Knoxville from will stop by). So sad to know one of my heroes, who supports Democracts, gays, family farms, and great music has fallen in with charletans and douche-bags.


Act 5: The world is upside down
Reeling from the impact of learning some of Willie's worldview, I was shaken, trying to make apolegetics for one of my favorite musicans. "Hey Willie is friends with everyone, of course a couple crazies are going to sneak in. It happens to the best of us." Reality wasn't far behind though, and the final nail in the coffin came when I saw a video in the recommended youtube playlist featuring Bill O'Reilly and Wille Nelson. I figured, hey why not, I just got done watching Willie talk to one dude I deeply dislike why not make it two. I was to be shocked again.

Wow. I guess I can criticize Bill for calling himself a patriot for being able to perdict super bowl picks (retarded), but on Willie........I have to say I agree with Bilbo on this one, much as I hate to admitt it.

Act 6: Finale
I'm going to see Willie Nelson on May 26 at Black Bear Casino. I still love his music, and always will. I agree with the legend on many social issues, and apparently disagree with him on others. Thats ok. As much as I'd like to think Willie was untouchable, a purely good sage who knows the truth, in fact he's just as falliable as me or anyone else. I'm on the road again, but my eyes are a little more open to my surrondings.

The Guess Who and Foghat at Black Bear Casino?

Last week I was curiously wandering the Black Bear Casino website when somthing caught my eye: The Guess Who and Foghat coming May 7!! Holy shit. The Guess Who are an awesome 70's canadian rock band, and hey why not hear 'Slow Ride' live as an opening act. It looked like Black Bear was finally making it up to me for replacing Chuck Berry with Chubby Checker last November playing with Little Richard (actually I shouldnt be mad at Black Bear, we all know the blame really lays on Chuck Berry; that money grubbing bastard) until I did a little research. Let's check the facts Jack.

The Guess Who
Original Lineup(1965):
Chad Allan, Randy Bachman, Jim Kale, Garry Peterson, Bob Ashley
Classic Lineup(1966-70):
Randy Bachman, Burton Cummings, Jim Kale, Garry Peterson
Lineup(Today):
Derek Sharp, Jim Kale, Laurie MacKenzie, Garry Peterson, Leonard Shaw

Just glancing at the aboved lineups, you think to yourself well we're ok, Jim Kale and Garry Peterson are original and classic lineup members still in the band. Yeah, but here's the bad news, Jim Kale is the bass player and Garry Peterson is the drummer. That's cool and I guess the rhyme section on classic hits like 'American Woman' 'These Eyes' 'No Sugar Tonite' and 'No Time' will sound authentic, but guess who's missing from today's lineup? Randy Bachman, lead guitarist, and Burton Cummings, lead vocals and keyboard, who together co-wrote all the groups chart topping numbers leading them to being inducted into the Canadian Music Hall of Fame in 1987. A true reunion did take place from 2000-03, but now Cummings and Bachman have both moved on from the group. Both men are renowned artist outside of the Guess Who, especially loved in Canada, and Bachman is alos a member of Bachman-Turner Overdrive, the group that gave us such Classic Rock Hits as 'Aint See Nothing Yet' and 'Taking Care of Buisness.' Derek Sharp joined The Guess Who in 2008, Laurie MacKenzie in 2006, and Leonard Shaw in 1990 rouding out Kale and Peterson's new lineup. Hmmmmm is this the Guess Who than? Let's try Foghat before answering.

Foghat
Original Lineup (1968-75)Dave Peverett, Rod Price, Tony Stevens, Roger Earl
Peak Years (1976-1981) Dave Peverett, Rod Price, Craig MacGregor, Roger Earl
Todays Lineup: Charlie Huhn, Bryan Bassett, Craig MacGregor, Roger Earl

Again, things dont appear too bad on paper. It seems that several key members of Foghat are still with the group, playing 'Slow Ride' across the great American nostalgia concert scene, but sadly the facts hurt this illusion. Like today's Guess Who, Foghat's retained originals are the drummer and the bassist. Dam. Apparently the ride for Foghat died in 1984 when the hits ran out, but they were reserected by drummer Roger Earl with a new lineup two years later. Lead vocalist Dave Peverett, also formed his own Foghat band for American tour duty in the late 80s. The two rival touring Foghats were mercifully morphed back into the original lineup on the advise of legandary producer Rick Rubin(WTF) in 1993; releasing a comback album and touring until 2000. Since than, Dave Peverett, rhyme guitarist and lead vocalist, and Rod Price, lead guitarist, have both died and original bassist Tony Stevens has left the group to from his own band (replaced by his original replacement Craig MacGregor). Replacements Charlie Huhn, formerly of Ted Nuguent's band, joined as lead vocalist and rhyme guitarist and Bryan Bassett as the new lead guitarist in 2000. Should we still can this Foghat?


The answer to both bands legitimacies is an apathetic "No." These are simply glorified cover bands with the financial advantage of having the original band's name, and a couple original members. As good as the remaining bassists and drummers for both bands proably are, they are not essential enough to consitute being their former bands. Would you consider Ringo Starr and George Harrison, touring with two fill-ins, as the Beatles? I dont think so. I'm not saying dont go to Black Bear for this show, it might be great especially if you're hunger for some live cuts of classic tunes, but dont think you really saw the Guess Who. Or Foghat.

*Foghat Bonus*
Technically two Foghats exist again.(Help us Rick Rubin) After leaving the group in 2005, Tony Stevens formed his own band Foghat band simply named Slow Ride; playing covers, original material, and Foghat classics. The group also features Eddie Zyne the former drummer of Dave Peverett's Foghat. The funny thing about the Slow Ride band though, is that Tony Stevens was not in Foghat when they recorded the 1975 hit, and neither was his replacement Craig MacGregor. Instead the band's producer, Nick Jameson, played on the track and the entire album Fool for the City. Such deception out there in the classic rock world.

Self Titled Albums with Self Titled Songs

In Duluth, MN, Wilco have come and gone wowing the Northland once again and even becoming an offical Duluth band as bestowed on Jeff Tweedy and Co. by Mayor Don Ness. Listening to Wilco's latest studio album, the self titled Wilco which also contains a self titled song, I got to thinking; What other bands have a self titled album containing a self titled song? After a few hours scrounging my mind and the interent here are my findings, let's go on a musical journey.


First up The Monkees. Yes, the music industry created band executives hoped would capitalize off the continuing wave of Beatlemania. So in the summer of 1966, Americans recieved the group, the band, the song, and the show all called the Monkees. Davy Jones became a teen idol and the Monkees, much to the ilk of people like Jan Werner of RollingStone Magazine, recoreded some great songs. Eventually they did learn to play their instruments.



In 1970, Black Sabbath released their infamous first album which laid the ground work for the heavey meatl genre. The band, the album, and the first track were all named after 1963 Boris Karloff horror film Black Sabbath which inspired the four British boys from Birmingham to abandon their previous band name Earth, and experiment dark heavey music. Needless to say, they inspired generations of headbangers to come, and reaffirmed Satan's place in Rock and Roll.



One of the greatest rock supergroups of all time, Bad Company, consisting of members from Free, King Crimson, and Mott and the Hoople bursts onto the scene in 1974 with their self titled release. Lead by vocal king Paul Rodgers and named after the 1972 film starring a young Jeff Bridges, Bad Company scored a slew of hits throughout the 70s and early 80s, and their self titled track is a Classic Rock stable to this day.



In 1977, God himself, Lemmy Kilmister, graced creation with the release of Motorhead's first studio album. The first album and the first track tell you everything you need to know about this band's 35 year history: they're the loudest, heaviest Rock N'Roll band under the sun. Interestingly, in 2000 Motorhead released their 16th album We Are Motorhead which also features the song "We Are Motorhead." Should this count on my list? Does Lemmy love Jack Daniels? Hell Yes!




Pioneers of the New Wave of British Heavey Meatal, Iron Maiden released their debut album in 1980 and would go on to become one of the founding pillars of todays metal sound. Sung by the groups original lead singer Paul Di'Anno, the title track is a raw furrey of twin guitars, pounding drums, and punk gutter vocals. These guys were just getting ready to take over the world and this track remains in their set list 30 years later; go Eddie!


Yet another metal band, Metal Church's 1980 debut is an often forgotten metal classic. Amazing drumming accompanied with a balance of speed and brooding Sabbath-esqu work, the title track is the epidomey of great really 80s metal. Sadly the group called it quits last July following their performance at Rocklahoma, but the Church remains an amazing alternative to anything your organist might anoint the congregation with this Sunday.



Apparently the early 80s was a good time for self titled albums containing self titled songs. Minor Threat released it's first EP, Minor Threat, in June 1981, and though the band folded in 1983, they left a huge influence on the American hardcore punk scene. The final self titled track on the EP, is fit to form hardcore punk banter over a punching guitar, and the number ends just as abruptly as the band themselves. Apparently they were only a minor threat.



Everyone loves David Bowie, but everyone does not love the band he formed in 1988. The group started, stopped, started, and disbaned on Bowie's whim to either endulge or escape this solo career, and completed two albums. Critics often write off Tin Machine as a failed attempt from Bowie to re-invent himself once again, but as far as we're concerned, looking at their self titled song from the self titled album, what's cooler than seeing Bowie bearded and in a rock band? At least here, Tin Machine rocks. (Maybe I should listen to the whole album)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eNw45DYfAlM (Youtube wouldnt let me embedd the song so use the link)


Waylon Jennings' second country supergroup, the Old Dogs released their self titled album with its self titled lead off tune in December 1998. At a combined age of over 250 years (1,750 dog years), country legends Waylon, Mel Tillis, Bobby Bare, and Jerry Reed spend their lone release running through new songs crafted by famed author Shel Silverstein. No new tricks needed here, as the legends do what they've always done; sing great songs.
http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=10:fnfpxqqjld0e (sample of song available at the bottom of the page)


A side project/group that never fully got to materialize, Rebel Meets Rebel was recorded on and off again between 1999-2004 and consisted of legendary country outlaw David Allen Coe and the entire metal band Pantera minus volcalist Phil Anselmo. Any chance of the group touring or recording new material was destroyed in December 2004, when lead guitarist Dimebad Darrell Abbott was murdered onstage while performing with his other group Damageplan. Dime's brother Vinnie Paul Abbott (drummer) produced and released their work with Coe and Rex Brown (bassist) as an album in 2006. Rebel Meets Rebel was well received by meatal fans, the album and self titled track blending metal with southern rock.



Metal's latest supergroup, Hellyeah formed in 2006 releasing their self titled debut the subsequent year, and consisting of Chad Grey and Greg Tribbett(Mudvayne), Tom Maxwell (Nothing Face), Bob Zilla (Damageplan), and Vinnie Paul (Damageplan, Pantera). As metal as these boys are, and as the lead off self title track showcases, the album also has a dirty country music backdrop. They're wearing cowboy hats for a reason.



In 2008, Rage Against the Machine vocalist Zack de la Rocha teamed up with former Mars Volta drummer Jon Theodore to form One Day As A Lion. The duo dropped a five song EP in July to strongly positive reviews, and promised a full fledge album by the fall. The album and a supposedly planned tour have yet to materialize, with Rocha doing sporatic shows with this former band. Will One Day as a Lion release new music or tour? Will Rocha and crew make a new RATM album? We have no answers, so enjoy the self titled last song off One Day as a Lion's sole release.



Back to where we started. Unlike the other artist listed, Wilco's self titled song came off is seventh album and not its debut. Way to break the mold Mr. Tweedy.


Well that's the list. Can you name any other hat-trick bands? Later in the week I'll post a blog on bands that almost made the list, some of them arguably should have been included. I mean cut Motorhead a break, but than again...they are Motorhead.