I've written hundreds of articles over the years on a wide variety of subjects. There are very few topics that I won't touch. One of them is religion. Another is politics.
I'll be honest: I don't like Donald Trump. I made this decision long before he ever ran for office. I just don't like how he treats people at times. It's disrespectful. However, I have no problem with people who voted for him. He has done some good things like improve relations with North Korea, sign legislation that helps musicians make a better living and restoring funding for the Special Olympics. However, he has also done and said things that just defy common sense and logic.
I try to stay out of political discussions whenever possible, but I do get sucked in from time to time. Earlier this week, I made the mistake of presenting a rational argument against a couple of die-hard Trump followers. I stated that most illegal immigration in the U.S. is due to people coming here legally through travel visas and then overstaying their visa periods. I supported my argument with five articles on the subject from national news organizations. The Trump fans called me "stupid" and an "idiot," and dismissed my articles as "fake news" (keep in mind, they were from NBC News, NPR and other sources). I stated my case in a calm, rational manner and didn't stoop to their level of ignorance, insults and name-calling. Those are bullying tactics that only make bullies look bad.
No politician is perfect, but I can't remember ever seeing such division over one president before. I hate seeing political arguments in my social media news feed every day. I also see repeated stories from people in other countries who feel bad for us as a nation in having Trump as our leader. I also don't understand how people can be so blindly loyal to Trump. I mean, this is the person who stated that windmill noise causes cancer! It really doesn't seem like he thinks before he speaks a lot of times.
After this week's effort, I decided that politics just ain't for me. People are going to believe what they want to believe, no matter what someone else may say or do. I just wish that politicians would work together to address problems like homelessness, affordable health care, quality education, protecting our environment and living wages for everyone. There's too much disparity. Politics is the only industry I can think of in which it's socially acceptable to bash your opponent, and they spend millions of dollars a year doing this every campaign season. Oh well, I'm out. Besides, I'd rather rock, anyway!
Until next time, have a great week, everyone!
Wednesday, April 17, 2019
Saturday, April 13, 2019
It's Not Easy Being A Star Wars Fan
For us Star Wars fans, seeing the first preview for Episode IX was the highlight of our day yesterday. We can't wait to see The Rise of Skywalker when it reaches theaters on December 20th! One thing I've noticed in the Internet age is that for every positive reaction, there are always a handful of negative reactions. I've seen this more and more with every movie that's come out since the prequels.
I was five years old when the first Star Wars movie came out in 1977. It was the summer before I started kindergarten, so I was really too young to appreciate it. I didn't get into Star Wars until 1980. My mom bought me my first Star Wars action figures for Christmas that year: Chewbacca, Yoda and C-3PO. By then, I was hooked! My dad took me to see The Empire Strikes Back for the first time the following August, the day after my brother was born.
I was eleven when Return of the Jedi came out. I remember seeing some mixed reviews by movie critics. Some of them thought the Ewoks were silly, and roasted George Lucas about having a second Death Star. As an adult, I can see their points. Back then, however, I was so enamored by Star Wars that I just didn't care. I proudly wore my Star Wars shirts to school and played with my action figures and read the Marvel comic books at home.
The Empire Strikes Back is still my favorite movie of all-time. It has great themes of hope and betrayal. It also gave us Hoth, Dagobah, Cloud City, carbon freezing, Lando, the bounty hunters, Yoda, and "Luke, I am your father!" I refused to believe that Vader was Luke's father until Return of the Jedi. I see a lot of the parallels between Vader and Luke in other personal relationships at times.
Star Wars isn't the only science fiction series that I enjoy. I remember watching the original Star Trek series and some of the movies with one of my cousins when we were kids.(I could never get into the Next Generation or any of the other Star Trek series that followed, though.) I also enjoyed Gil Gerard's Buck Rogers show and the miniseries and TV show V. I read the Marvel Star Wars comics and the ROM: Spaceknight and Micronauts series that were based on toy lines. The writing and artwork were what captivated me.
I went to the special edition screenings of A New Hope and The Empire Strikes Back, and was excited to hear that the prequel movies were happening. They weren't as great as the originals, but they did give us some cool things like Jango Fett, Yoda wielding a lightsaber and Anakin Skywalker's transformation into Darth Vader. The Gungans were kind of annoying, and the whole Trade Federation was confusing for a lot of viewers. Hayden Christensen wasn't that great as an actor, either.
A lot of people have heavily criticized The Force Awakens and The Last Jedi. I didn't like the fact that Han and Luke died, respectively, but I also knew that these movies were part of a nine-movie series that has to end eventually. They're setting the stage for new generations of heroes, just like Obi-Wan and the Jedi Council set the stage for Luke, Han, Chewie, Leia, Lando, the droids and the Rebels to be the focus of the original movies.
I've also heard a lot of people complain about the stand-alone movies Rogue One and Solo. Rogue One was one of the best Star Wars movies ever, in my opinion. It sets the stage for A New Hope nicely. Solo wasn't the best movie in the world, but it was a fun movie that was nicely done by director Ron Howard. It helped us establish how Han won the Falcon from Lando and how he met Chewie, among other things. That's what us diehards care about more, anyway.
I'm eagerly anticipating Episode IX. It was great to see Billy Dee Williams back onscreen again in the trailer, and a lot of us are wondering if the insidious laugh at the end means that Emperor Palpatine will be back. I'm also wondering how they will incorporate footage of the late Carrie Fisher. I take all movies with a grain of salt: they're an escape from reality for a few hours that we all need at times. I'm sure I'll see this one at least a couple of times in the theater so that I can absorb all of the nuances and pick out favorite moments. I'll do the same when I buy the movie on DVD too.
Well, that's all I have for now, so until next time, have a great week everyone - may the Force be with you!
I was five years old when the first Star Wars movie came out in 1977. It was the summer before I started kindergarten, so I was really too young to appreciate it. I didn't get into Star Wars until 1980. My mom bought me my first Star Wars action figures for Christmas that year: Chewbacca, Yoda and C-3PO. By then, I was hooked! My dad took me to see The Empire Strikes Back for the first time the following August, the day after my brother was born.
I was eleven when Return of the Jedi came out. I remember seeing some mixed reviews by movie critics. Some of them thought the Ewoks were silly, and roasted George Lucas about having a second Death Star. As an adult, I can see their points. Back then, however, I was so enamored by Star Wars that I just didn't care. I proudly wore my Star Wars shirts to school and played with my action figures and read the Marvel comic books at home.
The Empire Strikes Back is still my favorite movie of all-time. It has great themes of hope and betrayal. It also gave us Hoth, Dagobah, Cloud City, carbon freezing, Lando, the bounty hunters, Yoda, and "Luke, I am your father!" I refused to believe that Vader was Luke's father until Return of the Jedi. I see a lot of the parallels between Vader and Luke in other personal relationships at times.
Star Wars isn't the only science fiction series that I enjoy. I remember watching the original Star Trek series and some of the movies with one of my cousins when we were kids.(I could never get into the Next Generation or any of the other Star Trek series that followed, though.) I also enjoyed Gil Gerard's Buck Rogers show and the miniseries and TV show V. I read the Marvel Star Wars comics and the ROM: Spaceknight and Micronauts series that were based on toy lines. The writing and artwork were what captivated me.
I went to the special edition screenings of A New Hope and The Empire Strikes Back, and was excited to hear that the prequel movies were happening. They weren't as great as the originals, but they did give us some cool things like Jango Fett, Yoda wielding a lightsaber and Anakin Skywalker's transformation into Darth Vader. The Gungans were kind of annoying, and the whole Trade Federation was confusing for a lot of viewers. Hayden Christensen wasn't that great as an actor, either.
A lot of people have heavily criticized The Force Awakens and The Last Jedi. I didn't like the fact that Han and Luke died, respectively, but I also knew that these movies were part of a nine-movie series that has to end eventually. They're setting the stage for new generations of heroes, just like Obi-Wan and the Jedi Council set the stage for Luke, Han, Chewie, Leia, Lando, the droids and the Rebels to be the focus of the original movies.
I've also heard a lot of people complain about the stand-alone movies Rogue One and Solo. Rogue One was one of the best Star Wars movies ever, in my opinion. It sets the stage for A New Hope nicely. Solo wasn't the best movie in the world, but it was a fun movie that was nicely done by director Ron Howard. It helped us establish how Han won the Falcon from Lando and how he met Chewie, among other things. That's what us diehards care about more, anyway.
I'm eagerly anticipating Episode IX. It was great to see Billy Dee Williams back onscreen again in the trailer, and a lot of us are wondering if the insidious laugh at the end means that Emperor Palpatine will be back. I'm also wondering how they will incorporate footage of the late Carrie Fisher. I take all movies with a grain of salt: they're an escape from reality for a few hours that we all need at times. I'm sure I'll see this one at least a couple of times in the theater so that I can absorb all of the nuances and pick out favorite moments. I'll do the same when I buy the movie on DVD too.
Well, that's all I have for now, so until next time, have a great week everyone - may the Force be with you!
Saturday, April 6, 2019
Bucky's Top 17 Sevendust Songs
Hi everyone,
I've been on a bit of a writing kick lately. As some of you probably already know, I started doing some freelance writing a few months back. I've written hundreds of articles on a wide variety of topics. Some of them have involved music and coming up with a greatest hits list of songs by different artists.
It's always hard for me to narrow down an artist's work to just ten songs, because there are so many other deserving tracks that just narrowly miss the cut. When it comes to my favorite band Sevendust, there's no way I could possibly pare my list down to just ten songs! I decide to come up with this list of 17 songs for the following reasons. Enjoy!
17. Waffle - Home. A gritty song with another positive message. It makes me think about how important it is to have something to keep me going when I'm going through a lot in life. It's also a killer track when played live!
16. Dirty - All I See Is War. Producer Elvis Baskette helped the band continue to evolve their sound, and this was the first song that most of us heard that showcases that. It's not aggressive as some of their older albums, but it still rocks hard. This tune really gets all five members of the band involved in the vocals and put all of their musical talents in the spotlight.
15. Pieces - Next. This one usually gets the people in the pit riled up at their shows. It's a fast-paced, fun song that has also been used to open their sets at different times. I love the energy that the band and their fans give off when this one's played live!
14. Hope - Chapter VII: Hope and Sorrow. Some people have panned this album as being Sevendust's weakest effort. I enjoyed this one just as much as all of their other albums. This song in particular really stands out for me. I love the contrast between Lajon's soulful vocals and Morgan's intense screams. They really balance each other out rather well and handle the different emotions that the song encompasses.
13. Too Close to Hate - Sevendust. This was one of the first Sevendust songs that I really started to enjoy. The dark undertone of the guitars and lyrics really kept my attention after listening to the album a few times. It's been one of my favorite tracks for well over a decade.
12. Decay - Black Out The Sun. This album took Sevendust in a new direction musically, and it was one that a lot of us fans really enjoyed. The percussive style of the guitars meshes seamlessly with Morgan's drums. Even the lyrics have a bit of percussion to them.
11.Sickness - All I See Is War. The first song from the newest album that I was drawn to. Everything about this song is sick: the lyrics, Morgan's screams. and that incredible guitar solo during the bridge! Another subtle message about people who have done others wrong.
10. Live Again - Animosity. Another powerful song from Animosity with an inspiring message. One of only two songs on the album that I haven't heard the band play live yet. (The other is T.O.A.B.) It gives hope to people who are at their lowest point. LJ's extended vocal during the outro is amazing, too!
9. Corrected - Scorpion King soundtrack. Vinny's opening bass line is what initially drew me in to this song. It's a soundtrack song that could have easily been included on Animosity or Seasons. A rare gem that would be wonderful to hear live one of these days.
8. Driven - Alpha. Alpha is such a heavy, aggressive album and "Driven" is a prime example of that. It's been a very motivating song for me when I've been stuck in a rut. It keeps me going and moving toward my goals.
7. Shine - Animosity. I love the positive message in this song. I'm glad the guys have brought this tune back into their sets in recent years. "Trying to find myself" really has been "the hardest thing I've ever done" sometimes. Another tune that flat-out rocks from my favorite Sevendust album, and one of my favorite records of all-time.
6. Gone - Time Travelers and Bonfires. The original version on Seasons is good, but the reworked acoustic version is my TTBF jam! I loved this rendition ever since I first heard it. Lajon's vocals are crisp and I love how they mixed in some electric guitar. After I heard it for the first time, I thought to myself, now, THAT's how you rock an acoustic song!"
5. Thank You - Kill The Flaw. I've heard this song at my last 11 Sevendust concerts in a row, and I'm perfectly fine with that. It brings me back to the Kill The Flaw listening party I attended at Architekt Studios in Butler, New Jersey a few years ago and the magnificent weekend I had, getting to see the guys play live three times in three days on the East Coast. It also reminds me of all the great family members and friends that I'm very fortunate to have in my life.
4. Face to Face - Seasons. A great "fuck you" song that's a big middle finger to anyone who's ever screwed you over in life. Lots of anger in this song, and Morgan's lyrics are brutal. I usually sing along to his lyrics alone when I'm rockin' out to this song in my car. The "swing batta batta swing" lyrics also remind me of all the times I've talked baseball with Morgan after shows. It's a perfect track for those days when you're pissed off by what someone did to you, no matter if it was today or ten years ago. It's no wonder that Sevendust usually ends their encore with this one. It epitomizes the pent-up feelings that a lot of us have had at one time or another.
3. Angel's Son - Animosity. The song was written as a loving tribute for their fellow musician Lynn Strait from the band Snot, whose life was tragically cut short in a car accident several years ago. The song took on new meaning for me at my first Sevendust show. That was the night that LJ's brother lost his life. The guys continued on with an abbreviated but powerful set that included this song. Since then, this has been my go-to song every time I hear of a friend or family member who has passed away. I can't help but get goosebumps when Clint sings "I know you never said goodbye, I had so much left to say" during his second chorus. An inspiring song that gives me hope and strength every time I hear it.
2. Denial - Home. This is unquestionably one of the best metal drum songs ever! Morgan kills it on the kit, which is why I was upset when I saw that the official music video for this track cuts his spectacular solo. The lyrics "the more you spit out your mouth, the less I believe" also remind me of certain people that I no longer associate with. A very heavy song that should be in any Sevendust playlist.
1. Black - Sevendust. This is the first song off of Sevendust's self-titled 1997 debut, and was also the very first song that I heard them play live back in 2002. The band sometimes leads off their sets with this tune, and it's very easy to see why. The iconic guitar riff and rhythms throughout keep me banging my head along with every note. The lyrics "I'm minding my own business, I ain't doin' nothing wrong" are also how I try to live my life.
These are my top 17 Sevendust songs right now. The first four are set in stone, but the rest vary depending on the day and the kind of mood I'm in. I could have easily listed another 20-30 songs or more, but I wanted to keep this list relatively short, because I didn't want to bore you guys. I may do a top list of Sevendust moments, but that'll have to wait until after my next Sevendust concerts this spring. May is shaping up to be a busy month!
That's all I have for now. Until next time, have a great weekend, everyone!
I've been on a bit of a writing kick lately. As some of you probably already know, I started doing some freelance writing a few months back. I've written hundreds of articles on a wide variety of topics. Some of them have involved music and coming up with a greatest hits list of songs by different artists.
It's always hard for me to narrow down an artist's work to just ten songs, because there are so many other deserving tracks that just narrowly miss the cut. When it comes to my favorite band Sevendust, there's no way I could possibly pare my list down to just ten songs! I decide to come up with this list of 17 songs for the following reasons. Enjoy!
17. Waffle - Home. A gritty song with another positive message. It makes me think about how important it is to have something to keep me going when I'm going through a lot in life. It's also a killer track when played live!
16. Dirty - All I See Is War. Producer Elvis Baskette helped the band continue to evolve their sound, and this was the first song that most of us heard that showcases that. It's not aggressive as some of their older albums, but it still rocks hard. This tune really gets all five members of the band involved in the vocals and put all of their musical talents in the spotlight.
15. Pieces - Next. This one usually gets the people in the pit riled up at their shows. It's a fast-paced, fun song that has also been used to open their sets at different times. I love the energy that the band and their fans give off when this one's played live!
14. Hope - Chapter VII: Hope and Sorrow. Some people have panned this album as being Sevendust's weakest effort. I enjoyed this one just as much as all of their other albums. This song in particular really stands out for me. I love the contrast between Lajon's soulful vocals and Morgan's intense screams. They really balance each other out rather well and handle the different emotions that the song encompasses.
13. Too Close to Hate - Sevendust. This was one of the first Sevendust songs that I really started to enjoy. The dark undertone of the guitars and lyrics really kept my attention after listening to the album a few times. It's been one of my favorite tracks for well over a decade.
12. Decay - Black Out The Sun. This album took Sevendust in a new direction musically, and it was one that a lot of us fans really enjoyed. The percussive style of the guitars meshes seamlessly with Morgan's drums. Even the lyrics have a bit of percussion to them.
11.Sickness - All I See Is War. The first song from the newest album that I was drawn to. Everything about this song is sick: the lyrics, Morgan's screams. and that incredible guitar solo during the bridge! Another subtle message about people who have done others wrong.
10. Live Again - Animosity. Another powerful song from Animosity with an inspiring message. One of only two songs on the album that I haven't heard the band play live yet. (The other is T.O.A.B.) It gives hope to people who are at their lowest point. LJ's extended vocal during the outro is amazing, too!
9. Corrected - Scorpion King soundtrack. Vinny's opening bass line is what initially drew me in to this song. It's a soundtrack song that could have easily been included on Animosity or Seasons. A rare gem that would be wonderful to hear live one of these days.
8. Driven - Alpha. Alpha is such a heavy, aggressive album and "Driven" is a prime example of that. It's been a very motivating song for me when I've been stuck in a rut. It keeps me going and moving toward my goals.
7. Shine - Animosity. I love the positive message in this song. I'm glad the guys have brought this tune back into their sets in recent years. "Trying to find myself" really has been "the hardest thing I've ever done" sometimes. Another tune that flat-out rocks from my favorite Sevendust album, and one of my favorite records of all-time.
6. Gone - Time Travelers and Bonfires. The original version on Seasons is good, but the reworked acoustic version is my TTBF jam! I loved this rendition ever since I first heard it. Lajon's vocals are crisp and I love how they mixed in some electric guitar. After I heard it for the first time, I thought to myself, now, THAT's how you rock an acoustic song!"
5. Thank You - Kill The Flaw. I've heard this song at my last 11 Sevendust concerts in a row, and I'm perfectly fine with that. It brings me back to the Kill The Flaw listening party I attended at Architekt Studios in Butler, New Jersey a few years ago and the magnificent weekend I had, getting to see the guys play live three times in three days on the East Coast. It also reminds me of all the great family members and friends that I'm very fortunate to have in my life.
4. Face to Face - Seasons. A great "fuck you" song that's a big middle finger to anyone who's ever screwed you over in life. Lots of anger in this song, and Morgan's lyrics are brutal. I usually sing along to his lyrics alone when I'm rockin' out to this song in my car. The "swing batta batta swing" lyrics also remind me of all the times I've talked baseball with Morgan after shows. It's a perfect track for those days when you're pissed off by what someone did to you, no matter if it was today or ten years ago. It's no wonder that Sevendust usually ends their encore with this one. It epitomizes the pent-up feelings that a lot of us have had at one time or another.
3. Angel's Son - Animosity. The song was written as a loving tribute for their fellow musician Lynn Strait from the band Snot, whose life was tragically cut short in a car accident several years ago. The song took on new meaning for me at my first Sevendust show. That was the night that LJ's brother lost his life. The guys continued on with an abbreviated but powerful set that included this song. Since then, this has been my go-to song every time I hear of a friend or family member who has passed away. I can't help but get goosebumps when Clint sings "I know you never said goodbye, I had so much left to say" during his second chorus. An inspiring song that gives me hope and strength every time I hear it.
2. Denial - Home. This is unquestionably one of the best metal drum songs ever! Morgan kills it on the kit, which is why I was upset when I saw that the official music video for this track cuts his spectacular solo. The lyrics "the more you spit out your mouth, the less I believe" also remind me of certain people that I no longer associate with. A very heavy song that should be in any Sevendust playlist.
1. Black - Sevendust. This is the first song off of Sevendust's self-titled 1997 debut, and was also the very first song that I heard them play live back in 2002. The band sometimes leads off their sets with this tune, and it's very easy to see why. The iconic guitar riff and rhythms throughout keep me banging my head along with every note. The lyrics "I'm minding my own business, I ain't doin' nothing wrong" are also how I try to live my life.
These are my top 17 Sevendust songs right now. The first four are set in stone, but the rest vary depending on the day and the kind of mood I'm in. I could have easily listed another 20-30 songs or more, but I wanted to keep this list relatively short, because I didn't want to bore you guys. I may do a top list of Sevendust moments, but that'll have to wait until after my next Sevendust concerts this spring. May is shaping up to be a busy month!
That's all I have for now. Until next time, have a great weekend, everyone!
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