All things Metallica

http://justifiedarrogance.blogspot.ca/2014/11/metallica.html
"This is another standalone essay. Consider the lack of a link a nod to Metallica's ignominious past with the activity of file-sharing".
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"Cliff Burton. Napster."
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"Maybe it was about revenge against a group of people who spent the better part of ten years telling Metallica who they were".

Interesting, makes sense I guess.
You can read the entire blog post here - http://justifiedarrogance.blogspot.ca/2014/11/metallica.html

S.D. wrote:

Troublezone wrote:

LuLu is a disgrace!
If Metallica wanted to get all "artistic" they could have done it under a different name. Why attach an album like that with the likes of Kill 'em All, Ride the Lightning and Master of Puppets? Never though i'd say this, but LuLu makes the Load albums sound great. Even St Anus sounds better, but not by much... I still hate that one too!
I guess when you get rich, you don't care about integrity anymore.

Metallica owns the rights to their name and can do whatever the hell they want with it.  If the band truly wanted to record that album with Lou Reed that WAS integrity.  Mindlessly recording variations of the same album over and over again just so you don't piss off your closed-minded fanbase is the worst kind of sell-out there is.  

Plus, Metallica recording LuLu doesn't have any impact on their earlier catalog.  Ride The Lightning didn't suddenly become a worse album because St. Anger or Lulu existed.  

I agree with this statement 100% and once again, I am the only person on the planet that liked 'Lulu', sure its worse album that Lou Reed ever did, but I enjoyed it, an interesting bit of music IMO.

Maybe Reed's mistake was using Metallica, trying to turn them into a metallic version of the Velvet Underground was not going to successful with fans of Metallica, who for the most part dream of the day Metallica will do 'Master of Puppets: Part II' and Lou Reed fans who's large part of his audience are musical snobs look down their noses at a band like Metallica.

I think S.D. is on to something (for better or worse) when it comes to his point about Ride the Lightning Part II: Cruise the Thunder.

And btw, I'm assuming, S.D., that you're a dude, if I'm wrong, let me know - I just default to seeing this place as a sausage fest aside from 80s Metal Lady...

I think for an example, you only have to look at Queensryche and Operation: Mindcrime II, which turned out to be a Tate solo project in all but name, but people ate it up. This is for one of two reasons: you have the weekend warriors who see a familiar name and snap it up by default, because, "OMG, Mindcrime!"

But you also have fans who, even as much as they may be following a band's development, hide the odd manly tear when thinking of halcyon days of yore and dare to hope that magic can be recaptured. Some of these people will never be satisfied, some will be satisfied at first and then drop off into "ugh" territory, and some will absolutely love the nostalgic shout-out.

Now, this worked for QR, which is a much smaller band than Metallica. Imagine how many millions Metallica would sell if they stopped talking about or releasing teasers of the music they were working on, then started doing a ton of press about how this is a sequel to one of the old albums. We'd almost all bitch about it, but you know we'd also all go out and pick the damn thing up - even if our curiosity was totally morbid.

It's not really a BAD thing, probably more human nature in action, but I'd almost be willing to bet big money that this is how it would play out.

This might be of interest to some of you...

Quote :

METALLICA will celebrate this year's "Record Store Day" with the release of an exact duplication of the band's 1982 demo tape "No Life 'Til Leather" as a limited-edition cassette on April 18. The artwork was made from METALLICA drummer Lars Ulrich's own copy and will feature his handwriting.

Says METALLICA in a statement: "In 1982 we recorded seven songs that became our initial calling card known as 'No Life 'Til Leather', and it led us to our first record deal. Tthe rest, as you some of you may know, is history!

"On Record Store Day, April 18th that demo tape will be available as a limited-edition cassette (yes, cassette!!) at your favorite neighborhood record store and Metallica.com.

"We've been digging through the archives, gone to the original source material and re-mastered it to maximize the sound potential for 2015 without altering the original mixes in any way.

"Recorded with the first line-up of the band that appeared live as METALLICA, 'No Life 'Til Leather' has never been commercially available until now. Look for expanded versions coming on CD, vinyl and a collector's set sometime this summer.

"We hope you enjoy this little walk down memory lane with us and that you will continue to join us in supporting independent record stores around the world. Visit RecordStoreDay.com for a list of independent retail stores taking part in Record Store Day."

"No Life 'Til Leather" was recorded on July 6, 1982 at Chateau East Studio, Tustin, California and it features the following tracks:

01. Hit The Lights
02. The Mechanix
03. Motorbreath
04. Seek & Destroy
05. Metal Militia
06. Jump In The Fire
07. Phantom Lord

"No Life 'Til Leather" recording lineup:

James Hetfield - lead vocals, rhythm guitar
Lars Ulrich - drums
Dave Mustaine - lead guitar
Ron McGovney - bass

Speaking to RollingStone.com about "No Life 'Til Leather", Ulrich said: "It's time for us to put out some next-level reissues and do the song and dance of the catalog that everyone else has done; the U2s and the LED ZEPPELINs and the OASISes. Instead of starting with 'Kill 'Em All' in 1983, we figured we'd go back another two years to when the band was formed in 1981."

He continued: "This is the second demo that we made and circulated. I sat in my bedroom and wrote on the J cards and went to the post office and sent it around to all the tape collectors around the world. Now, 20, 30 years later, it has become synonymous with the pre-'Kill 'Em All' era."

METALLICA is currently working on material for its tenth studio album for a tentative late 2015/early 2016 release. The new CD will follow up 2008's "Death Magnetic".

METALLICA has spent a lot of time outside the studio in 2014, with activities that included a string of European all-request shows last summer, being guests of honor at a film festival, and playing a week-long residency on "The Late Show With Craig Ferguson".

I'd grab this if it were cheap and I could find it, but I'm more interested in the expanded CD version mentioned in the article. Although I imagine I probably already have every song that could end up on an expanded edition.

Eyesore wrote:

I'd grab this if it were cheap and I could find it, but I'm more interested in the expanded CD version mentioned in the article. Although I imagine I probably already have every song that could end up on an expanded edition.

I would hope that the band on future deluxe editions for their albums would add live shows. The first one's that come to mind for the "Kill 'Em All" tour, would be the show at the Metro from Chicago on 08-12-1983. That's the same show from "Cliff 'Em All", where Kirk has his guitar grabbed by some audience members. There are also six bootlegs out there from the "Seven Dates of Hell Tour" w/Venom in February of 1984, including the Aardschokdag Festival in Zwolle. With a little work done to that one, it would be killer. Other possibilities are the Heavy Sound Festival from Poperinge in the summer of 1984 or Kirk's first show from Dover, N.J. Those are the nuggets I'm looking for, otherwise I'll probably pass. I already have the gold C.D's of both Kill 'Em All and Ride The Lightning.

This gave me reason to be interested in Metallica again, at least for a few minutes!

Eyesore wrote:

I'd grab this if it were cheap and I could find it, but I'm more interested in the expanded CD version mentioned in the article. Although I imagine I probably already have every song that could end up on an expanded edition.

Nice idea in theory, but I have no use for a cassette tape in 2015. I'd rather have a cd as well. Wonder if Dave Mustaine had any say in this? Even if he signed off on those recordings, I can't imagine he won't have some comment.

MetalGuy71 wrote:

Eyesore wrote:

I'd grab this if it were cheap and I could find it, but I'm more interested in the expanded CD version mentioned in the article. Although I imagine I probably already have every song that could end up on an expanded edition.

Nice idea in theory, but I have no use for a cassette tape in 2015. I'd rather have a cd as well. Wonder if Dave Mustaine had any say in this? Even if he signed off on those recordings, I can't imagine he won't have some comment.

I'd like to get the tape...not sure how much it'll cost or if I can find it. I'd also get an expanded CD version for sure.

It's a nice collectible if nothing else.

I'm in for the CD version, and the cassette if I can find it. I am glad to see that Metallica is opening their vaults with these planned reissues. I know they have a ton of goodies they can offer the fans.

Now that MegaDave is finally going to feature on an official Metallica release I'm guessing he'll be banging down the door of the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame again! 

I've got a digital copy of the original tape so I can't be bothered with this.

I have a cassette copy of a cassette copy of a cassette copy of a cassette copy of NLTL. I'll be grabbing this cassette and the cd

I haven't bought a cassette since the 1980s, don't plan on changing that either.

I don't think many people have but its a cool collectible. I have a couple other useless cassettes that have came in box sets that I haven't touched. Pearl Jam and Smashing Pumpkins have released their early demos that way. Its cool in a nostalgic way, kinda like how vinyl is again. Will cassettes make a come back? hell no but its a cool collectors item.

Cassettes have already made a comeback. Many bands are releasing them again, especially metal bands.

metalinmyveins wrote:

Eyesore wrote:

I'd grab this if it were cheap and I could find it, but I'm more interested in the expanded CD version mentioned in the article. Although I imagine I probably already have every song that could end up on an expanded edition.

I would hope that the band on future deluxe editions for their albums would add live shows. The first one's that come to mind for the "Kill 'Em All" tour, would be the show at the Metro from Chicago on 08-12-1983. That's the same show from "Cliff 'Em All", where Kirk has his guitar grabbed by some audience members. There are also six bootlegs out there from the "Seven Dates of Hell Tour" w/Venom in February of 1984, including the Aardschokdag Festival in Zwolle. With a little work done to that one, it would be killer. Other possibilities are the Heavy Sound Festival from Poperinge in the summer of 1984 or Kirk's first show from Dover, N.J. Those are the nuggets I'm looking for, otherwise I'll probably pass. I already have the gold C.D's of both Kill 'Em All and Ride The Lightning.

I don't give a damn about live stuff unless the band really changes it up live. Give me unreleased tunes, rare tunes, demos, etc. That stuff is far more interesting to me.

Eyesore wrote:

metalinmyveins wrote:

Eyesore wrote:

I'd grab this if it were cheap and I could find it, but I'm more interested in the expanded CD version mentioned in the article. Although I imagine I probably already have every song that could end up on an expanded edition.

I would hope that the band on future deluxe editions for their albums would add live shows. The first one's that come to mind for the "Kill 'Em All" tour, would be the show at the Metro from Chicago on 08-12-1983. That's the same show from "Cliff 'Em All", where Kirk has his guitar grabbed by some audience members. There are also six bootlegs out there from the "Seven Dates of Hell Tour" w/Venom in February of 1984, including the Aardschokdag Festival in Zwolle. With a little work done to that one, it would be killer. Other possibilities are the Heavy Sound Festival from Poperinge in the summer of 1984 or Kirk's first show from Dover, N.J. Those are the nuggets I'm looking for, otherwise I'll probably pass. I already have the gold C.D's of both Kill 'Em All and Ride The Lightning.

I don't give a damn about live stuff unless the band really changes it up live. Give me unreleased tunes, rare tunes, demos, etc. That stuff is far more interesting to me.

Except, Metallica was never a band that had all these songs written, which never showed up on albums. Lars has talked about this at great length in the past. He's never understood why a band sits around writing 20+ odd songs, knowing that only 8-10 would eventually make the album. Demos could certainly be used, but those have been around in the bootleg world for years and don't excite me. The only rare tunes that were covers that the band hasn't released from those early days were "Sucking My Love" by Diamond Head and "Let It Loose" by Savage. It's surprising that neither were released throughout the years, perhaps this is the point for those to surface.

Witchfinder wrote:

Cassettes have already made a comeback.  Many bands are releasing them again, especially metal bands.

Which makes me happy. I never stopped liking cassettes. Obviously, when I got a CD player, my format focus shifted, but I always picked up tapes through the years, if the CD was expensive or if I came across stuff for cheap.

Plus demos need to be on cassette. When I avidly collected punk/hardcore records and such, my main focus was demo tapes and it bummed me out in the early 2000s when so many hardcore bands started doing demos on CD. I still bought them because I wanted the music, but I missed the tapes. In the hardcore scene now, CDs are the most useless thing (since, you know, most hardcore kids are...kids). Cassettes, vinyl and bandcamp....plus, I assume illegal downloads...are the primary formats.

Witchfinder wrote:

Cassettes have already made a comeback.  Many bands are releasing them again, especially metal bands.

I hate 'em. It's a format that should have died a long painful death and gone extinct.

MetalGuy71 wrote:

Witchfinder wrote:

Cassettes have already made a comeback.  Many bands are releasing them again, especially metal bands.

I hate 'em. It's a format that should have died a long painful death and gone extinct.

I hate them also, terrible format for music

manny wrote:

MetalGuy71 wrote:

Witchfinder wrote:

Cassettes have already made a comeback.  Many bands are releasing them again, especially metal bands.

I hate 'em. It's a format that should have died a long painful death and gone extinct.

I hate them also, terrible format for music

Vinyl I get. The artwork, the sound, the experience of dropping the needle. That's all well and good. But tapes?

I just have such vivid, horrible memories of playing tapes till they warped and were unplayable, unwrapping a yard of tape from the inner workings of my Walkman and trying to re-wrap it back in with a pencil and cassettes getting stuck and eaten in my car stereo. Never mind the actual sound quality. I just can't get nostalgic for that format. It's terrible.

Cassettes have such a short shelf life I don't understand why anyone would go back.

Cassettes are terrible but they are having their own nostalgic comeback. Boo!

My appreciation for cassettes is largely tactile and aesthetic. I've always thought they looked cool. As a kid I liked the way it felt to pop the tape in my player. In my teens, I liked the way it felt to pop the tape in my car stereo. I still think popping in a tape feels cool.

I like the way layouts look on cassette better, when they are made for cassette. Many of the 70s albums that had layouts made for vinyl looked dumb on cassette, because the cover would only be the top half, with white or tan or whatever below.

I also like the way the insides of a cassette in its case sound when they get jiggled around.

Also, when I was around 10 or so, I owned about 8 or 9 tapes. This older guy who was at a party at my aunt's house once (when I say older, he was probably like 23 or something) was talking to me about Celtic Frost (I had no idea who they were), and he told me he owned around 200 cassettes. That became my goal number of cassettes to own, as it sounded like the most ridiculously large music collection a person could own. Heh.