Death Magnetic - A 2nd Review

Back in September I posted a review for Metallica's new album Death Magnetic. As I was listening to one of the songs in the car this morning I started to think back at how my opinion has probably changed from this original review, so here is an update on it of sorts.

The lyrics are still mostly trival although I have found a few that have grown on me. "How can I be lost when I've got no where to go" from Unforgiven III this probably one of the best lyrics I have heard this year. In fact that song is probably the only bright spot lyrically in the entire album. I also finally found the reference of Death Magnetic in the last song on the album called My Apocalypse talking about the end getting closer and death pulling him in. At least I maybe have a little more perspective on the odd name.

My biggest gripe is over the sound quality. The crazy thing was that it took Guitar Hero to make it obvious to people. The entire album was released as extra download for Guitar Hero III and when people began to play them there is noticeable less distortion on those tracks than the other on the CD. It turns out the music is compressed on the CD in order for it to be louder (similar to the way that commericials are always louder on your TV). The side effect is a loss in sound quality which in today's world is a big deal. I can really hear it towards the end of The Day That Never Comes and spotty on those tracks. But the better the stereo you have the more glaring obvious the distortion becomes and it is really kinda of annoying and unpleasant.

This time around I believe I would give it 4 stars and notch up from the original review. This is better than about anything out there and is a true rebirth of Metallica. I love the album and I think it deserves all the praise it has received. The songs are energetic, heavy and well put together. The beginning riff of The Day That Never Comes still gives me chills. I could see myself at a Metallica concert screaming out some of these songs along with the band.

Despite my limited listening, this is my album of the year hands down.

YTCracker - Nerdrap Entertainment System

This is something I had been meaning to tell Big Red about. But then we did lists on our favorite video games and we are always talking about music, so I figured this would be a good entry. I found out about YTCracker when one of his songs was featured in commercials for G4's X-Play. It was catchy sampling from an old Nintendo game DigDug with a sound byte from Gauntlet, I think. I searched the Internet and found all kinds of info on YTCracker. (his name still makes me chuckle)

You can go to his website http://www.ytcracker.com and download alot of his music for free, including Nerdrap Entertainment System. It features 7 songs with the background rhythm being supplied by music from classic Nintendo (NES) games. I still haven't quite been able to place them all and have even searched the net for help. So if anyone out there can help me figure them out, drop me a note. The subject matter of his raps revolve around nerdy subjects: video games, computer programming, hacking, file sharing and most of all revenge against the stupid jocks.

The opening to my favorite track, N.E.S., starts out with the famous Contra code: Up, Up, Down, Down, Left, Right, Left, Right, B, A, Start! For someone who grew up with the NES, that is like crack man! Another one of my favorites is Surgerunner in which he talks about his longing affection for Surge, super sugar soda that was the answer to Mt. Dew. I wondered whatever did happen to that?

Anyone, take a walk down memory lane and see if you can get all the references. I know I probably fit into this category a little more than Big Red but it is a good time and it is free. So you got nothing to lose! Go download it!

Death Magnetic - A Review

Metallica's Death Magnetic came out last week and I have listened to it a few times through really well so I feel like I should put in my two cents.

Every one's anticipation for the release probably fell into one of two categories: excitement at a return to form or a dread of what could come next. I have tried to stay away from other reviews of this album wishing to form my own opinion but it is hard not to see some of the headlines saying this was a return to their old self as in And Justice For All. That is lofty expectations for a group of guys 20 years older than they were making that album. The side of dread represents the group of people that were turned off by St. Anger and the subsequent documentary Some Kind of Monster. These days I am a little softer on my thoughts of St. Anger. It has grown on me as something different and at least fueled by some deep issues within the band and the anger that came out. There are a couple gems in there: Invisible Kid and All Within My Hands. My take on Death Magnetic is somewhere in between those two extremes.

I find this album to be more of a tribute to themselves than a return to form. I don't know if what I am hearing is something new or just a rehash of what they have already done. There is some And Justice For All moments in there but to me it seems more like Load/ReLoad just a little faster at times. One song is even titled Unforgiven III. The Day That Never Comes reminds me the most of Load and specifically the song Hero of the Day in lyrics and tone. Although I could see the comparison to One but I would never put it on that pedestal. The opener, That Was Just Your Life, is fully fueled metal but then the album fades over the long haul just like their following tour undoubtedly will. Although I would still pay to see one of their shows and would be singing right along with The End of the Line and Broken, Beat & Scarred.

Overall, the music is good. It sounds much more like Metallica and not like they are trying to copy the modern metal scene. The lyrics are bad at best, most of the time terrible ("whatever don't kill ya make ya more strong"). I thought they were more well thought out in St. Anger. The soloing is back and a very welcomed addition. Kirk keeps proving his worth as they get older. Lars's drums at least sound normal on this release if not predictable in his rhythms. The darker tone is a stab at reclaiming their youth and I think it would be unfair to believe that they could play as fast and hard as they did 20 years ago. After all that is what maturing as an artist should be; become more technical in your play and playing for deeper reasons. Handicapping them for age, which given what they've done to their bodies and the style they play is pretty good chunk, this is a very good album bordering on awesome. For every knock I would have on it, I could find just as many positives. I don't think it deserves all the criticism that the lofty expectations the name Metallica brings (return to form believers) nor does it warrant all the fan boy praise that is out there (those afraid of another St. Anger). I believe many other hard rock/metal bands out there would love to have made this album. *** - 3 Stars

EDIT: Check out a page on some of the chart success Metallica has achieved this this Album. http://new.music.yahoo.com/blogs/chart_watch/13450/week-ending-sept-14-2008-metallica-and-the-hard-rock-pantheon