Rocktober the 21st

Motion City Soundtrack - Last Night I Fell In Love Without You (acoustic)

This version is an alternate release to the album version released in 2008 and off the Gossip Girl Soundtrack. The original version if off the 2007 album 'Even if it kills me'.  

The album version is the opening track and is played in a completely different way. It is played much faster and also includes a key change whereas the acoustic version is much slower, accompanied with piano and string instruments. It is a striped down which gives the song a new dimension. 

The music video is set with the band playing the song on a beach which looks to be in with a beach party.  It also features a young couple who make their way to the beach where the band are playing. As the song progresses the night falls and the couple watch a firework display. 

Song Rating: 8/10

Video Rating: 7/10

A great example of how a song can sound when it is played in a completely different manner. 

Rocktober the 19th

Bloc Party - Real Talk

Off the bands fourth album 'Four', Real Talk is track number 4. The album was released in 2012 and was the much anticipated album for the band as they had come back from a temporary hiatus (of 4 years).

The album has a feeling of their first album which is much more striped down and more instrument orientated and was a great move from the band. 

The song really does strip it down back to basics. A simple beat with a broken up off beat guitar and bass strumming pattern. The verse is again just as simple with Kele singing the words on each beat. The chorus follows the pattern of the verse with an added guitar part thrown in. The songs does have a Red Hot Chilli Pepper style about it and of anyone was the listen to the song part way through they could possible think they were listening to the RHCP's. 

There is no music video with this song as is wasn't released as a single. 

Song Rating: 8/10

Video Rating: n/a

A song reminiscent of the band we first heard and proof that they are still very talented songwriters. 

Rocktober the 17th

Eels - Last Stop This Town

Last stop this town was a 1998 single released from the Eels second studio album 'Electro-Shock Blues'. 

The song begins with a 3 bar intro before E starts with the verse. The drums follow to give the song more body. The bass then joins in on the second verse and the song is well under way. The chorus has what sounds to be a sample being mixed over a distorted effect. The interlude is a breakdown of the effects and sample before going back the the main melody. The song has a nice twinkle, Christmassy end to it. 

The music video has E from the Eels singing directly to the camera. At his side is a carrot being supported on a stand. A strand on hair is taken from E and injected into the carrot. As the video progresses the carrot transforms into E. They both sing parts of the song and it finishes with the carrot being placed into a toy robot. A different points of the video there is also shots of the band stood on rotating platforms. 

Song Rating: 7/10

Video Rating: 8/10

Rocktober the 15th

Pete Townshend - Save It For Later

The original song was released by the UK ska band 'The Beat' in 1982. It was a popular song in the US but it was Pete Townshend who was able to change the structure of the song and give it a fresh feel. 

It was just as The Who broke up and Townshend went solo that he took this song on a few years later. What he had done was strip the song down to a skeleton form and simplicity format. 

Pete regularly performed this song on tours, but he did struggle with the tuning. He had to contact Dave Wakeling of The Beat to get the correct tuning, which turned out as D A D A A D instead of D A D G A D which he originally presumed. He also played on the words and suggested that there was as another meaning behind the song but it was a tongue in cheek comment. 

Pete Townshend released a version of Save It For Later on his 2006 re-issued album White City : A Novel as a bonus track, the album was originally released in 1985.

The main structure of the song is a basic structure where the verse and chorus are song to the same repetitive melody of the song. 

A great song that is great to play along to as well as creating your own style. 

Song Rating : 8/10

Video : n/a

Rocktober the 13th

The Wedding Present - Kennedy

Kennedy was the only single of The Wedding Presents second album 'Bizzaro'. It was released in 1990 and was a top 40 song. 

From the very beginning you automatically get a sense of how the song will go. A fast strumming intro by Gedge is quickly followed by the rest of the band. The verse if repetitive which is repeated throughout the song. As the song progresses the song becomes instrumental and the pace continues up to the last note. 

The music video isn't one for those who suffer from motion sickness as there are lots of shots that spin around all the band members. The whole video is of the band playing so in other words. A very low budget video. 

Song Rating : 7/10

Video : 5/10

Rocktober the 12th

The Smiths - What Difference Does It Make?

Released in 1984, the song is found on their self titled first album. It was also one of their best positioning songs which reached number 12. 

From the very beginning, the song highlights the talent that this band have, and more importantly, how influential they will become. Johnny Marr opens the song in his unique sounding way. Morrissey, a talent himself starts the verse off. The band make the easy transition between verses and chorus and capture the 1980's Manchester musical ball that is sweeping the nation. Morrissey also gives us another glimpse of his versatility by going falsetto at the end. 

There was no music video released along with the song but there is a live performance used as a music video at a later date. 

Song Rating : 7/10

Video : n/a

Rocktober the 10th

Queens Of The Stone Age - Little Sister

QOTSA Released 'Little Sister' in 2004. It is taken from their fourth album 'Lullabies to Paralyze'. The song was originally started a few years previously but it never transpired. 

The song has a clock like beat as throughout the song and there is a constant and repetitive beat created on the 'cowbell'. The riff is also simple and is started off by Josh Homme who is then joined by the rest of the band (now without Nick Oliveri who was sacked from the band earlier that year). The chorus is catchy and again simple in its construction. Towards the end of the song Homme blasts a unique sounding solo which he carries to the end. 

The music video is also just as simple as the song itself. The band are stood within a square which is lit up, and the rest of the room is dark with dark red and blue lighting. They are playing to a large screen which is showing images of dancing women. Quick shots flick between the members of the band and this style of video goes well with the song. 

Song Rating : 8/10

Video : 7/10

Rocktober the 8th

Fleetwood Mac - Oh Well (part 1)

Released in 1969 and was composed in 2 parts. Part 1 is a more up tempo song and Part 2 being a more instrumental classical song.  When the band performed live only Part 1 was played. 

The song starts with a fast blues style solo. The next layers of guitar and bass link in giving the song more back bone. Peter Green comes in with the verse which is just him singing with no instrument support. Then all the band erupt back into the intro. As the song progresses the song follows suit of the intro/verse. As the song comes to another silence break, a more slower Spanish style guitar plays which is followed by piano and cello. 

There is no music video for the song. 

Oh Well was also deemed as the song that crossed the paths of heavy blues and metal and also was followed by other bands such as Led Zeppelin. 

Song Rating : 9/10

Video : n/a

Rocktober the 7th

Chuck Berry - Johnny B Goode

One of the most iconic and recognised guitar songs of all time. This song has many claiming to be the creation of rock and roll and to be honest. I think I agree. The song was released in 1958 and no doubt will stand the test of time.  

The opening riff is easily recognisable as Chuck Berry's solo instantly sets the mood of the song. It's going to be up-beat, happy, something to dance to. A boy does it deliver. The lyrics are also simple as Chuck sings about Johnny keeping to story of the song easy to follow. 

The song has been covered many times and has featured in numerous films and TV shows. It's also a song for the guitarists out there who want to emulate their rock and roll idols. 

Song Rating : 9/10

Video : n/a

Rocktober the 6th

Band of Skulls - The Devil Takes Care Of His Own

Released in 2011 off the second album 'Sweet Sour', The devil takes care of his own was the first single that continued to showcase the talent of the Southampton rock trio. 

The song starts with Russell Marsden on the guitar with a nice crunch distortion setting. He is then joined by Emma and Richard of the band. The verse has Russell and Emma confirming their vocal talents to harmonise well, and with a simple but striking song structure, the song develops into a crunchy collection of rock layers. 

The music video is shot in a Japanese television studio. The band are performing in front of an audience and all is being watching by the production/director of the studio. As the song progresses the director becomes more and more aggravated and starts to turn on his team. The fighting continues through the studio and those involved in the fighting using a form of Kung-Fu.  

Song rating - 6/10

Video rating - 7/10

Simplicity is sometimes best

Rocktober the 5th

Reuben - Moving To Blackwater

The second single for Reuben and taken off the first album 'racecar is racecar backwards'.  In comparison to their first single 'Freddy Kruger' this is a little more softer, lighter. But it also showed the diversity of a very talented young band. 

A light intro starts the song with a simple descending riff. The verse keeps the simplicity flowing with just the drums and bass being used. Jamie Lenman then joins in with guitar. The chorus builds but not going over the top with the distortion. The song progresses well with a section of strings added more character to the song. 

The video is a low budget video, but what do you expect from a new band? Set in Brighton the video starts with a male character running in his pants. The the band meet up and spend the day hanging out with the male character and his partner. The couple are getting progressively more passionate and end up at their house. They following morning the man picks up the phone and talks to a women which on camera looks like the girl he was with the following day/night, had he been with her twin? 

Song rating - 8/10

Video rating - 7/10

Great diversity from a band with lots of potential. 

Rocktober the 4th

Led Zeppelin - Over The Hills and Far Away

Over The Hills and Far Away is the third track off Led Zeppelins fifth studio album 'Houses of the Holy' released in 1973

Jimmy Page starts the song with a quick guitar riff which he repeats. Then a 12 string joins him with playing in unison. Robert Plant starts the vocals by entering in the repetition. As the song progresses the song builds and then the song bursts into a fierce rhythm. Page adds beautifully fitting solo and is able to keep the theme of the song flowing. 

Even though an official video was not released, a promo video was released, archived footage from 1977 and 1979 was used in this video. 

Song rating - 8/10

Video rating - 6/10

Rocktober the 3rd

The Raconteurs - Salute Your Solution

Released in 2008  and at the same time as their second album 'Consolers of the lonely' Salute Your Salution was one of their best selling songs. 

The song has heavy distorted riffs throughout with quick vocals in the verse giving this song a catchy rhythm. A small break in the song at the interlude is filled with another heavy guitar effect before bursting back into the main riff for the ending.

The music video is put together using black and white still photos placed together giving the appearance of stop motion. It is shot in what looks as a recording studio. A very clever and simple video. 

Song rating - 7/10

Video rating - 7/10

An enjoyable song and one I recommend to get into The Raconteurs if you have never heard any if their other material. 

Rocktober the 2nd

Airborne Toxic Event - Sometime Around Midnight

ATE self titled album released in 2009 had 'Sometime Around Midnight' and was an instant hit. 

The song is an autobiographical song based around the lead singer who met his former girlfriend out in a bar when he realised he still had feelings for her. The lead singer Jollett took 3 days to write the song. 

The song begins with an emotional string section which sets the tone of the song. As the song progresses the body and structure builds, building up to a more powerful ending and emotions are easily distinguished with the listener able to related to what Jollett must have been feeling. 

The video also reflects this moment with Jollett writing the song and a dark abstract mood of the video captures the feelings/emotions that Jollett would have encountered when coming face to face with a former love. 

Song rating - 7/10

Video rating - 7/10

A dark song for those dark moods. Good song. 

Rocktober the 1st

Foo Fighters - The Pretender

Released in 2007 from the album Echo, Silence, Patience & Grace

It is one of the most successful Foo Fighters songs that they have released and is a fans favourite to get 'the party rocking'. 

It originally started as a song called 'silver heart' and the only section they had was the chorus. After a short break and time away from the song Grohl added the verses and bridge and upped the tempo to give it more bounce. The song has different layers with a single guitar and vocals at the beginning and strings being brought into the intro. As per Foo expectations the song thunders into heavy riffs and mosh building chorus'. A small 'breather' is thrown in, giving those listening to catch up before the end of the song ruptures back into the heavy riff. 

The music video is set in an aircraft hanger with all members of the band standing in front of a red screen. On the other side of the hanger a single member of what looks to be riot police stands behind a black line. As the song progresses the 'officer' is joined by other riot police and as the song increases blood levels the riot police are ready to charge and they do such that. Once the slow interlude of the song breaks back into the heavy chorus the red screen behind the band explodes and what looks like red water showers everyone ending with Dave Grohl on his hands and knees. 

Song rating 10/10

Video rating 10/10

A great rock song. 

ROCKtober

Rocktober

I've been seeing all these campaigns to quit things for October, such as STOPtober - give up smoking

Go sober for October - give up drinking.

Well I want to try something different. I want to bring something into people's lives. Give them the opportunity to try something new, something that they've known about but never given it a chance. I'm talking about ROCK!! No not the sort you find up hills and mountains, but rock music. 

Now I know that straight away some of you will think long greasy hair, black sweaty t-shirts and head banging. Well there maybe some of that (just a little) but what I'm trying to highlight the form of rock that is around and that not people know about or would normally classify as rock. There are thousands of rocks songs and many (MANY) of those that have been influential. Some artists have used forms of rock songs, licks, riffs in their songs and there will be some who will not know that it came from a rock song. 

What I want to do is highlight songs that have been influential, fundamentally important, set the bench mark, not only for me but that have also shaped the world of music that we all love. 

Please keep watching, reading and let the world of rock inspire you!