Metallica enters the studio with Rick Rubin and apparently the magic reappeared, just listen to the opening riff . It’s haunting, beautiful, and powerful. It seems Metallica dug deep in there catalog and discovered the ingredients that made them great. They went back to the Garage Days. Maybe this is why they are known as the riff masters and have sold more than a 100 million records. If the rest of the record holds up, then we can say ‘They’re Baaaaack’.

Learn from the best. Listen, observe, write, and record.

The Day That Never Comes

The Day Technology Killed The Music: Once upon a time musicians dropped out of high school to embark on their musical journey. Now, a sixteen North Carolina boy dropped out of school last year to devote himself to playing ‘Guitar Hero’.

New Streams: Florida band Anberlin is streaming their track ‘Feel Good Drag‘ that’s about to go to rock radio. Hollywood platinum glam band Buckcherry is now streaming new tracks titled To Drunk and Rescue Me which will appear on their upcoming album ‘Black Butterfly‘. Lastly, Oklahoma City rock act Hinder have new tracks on their myspace.

Signings: Phoenix based pop/rock band The Summer Set have signed to The Militia Group

More Money Please: The Los Angeles time ran an article titled ‘More Than A Song‘ that discusses record labels and artists deserving a bigger piece of the pie from video games and online music. “Labels and artists have the right to seek as much as they can for the use of their works, even if they end up setting too high a bar for some companies to clear.”

China Blocks iTunes: Apple’s iTunes has been blocked in China after Olympic athletes downloaded a pro-Tibet album from the site. Consumers in China began flooding Apple help forums with complaints that they could not access iTunes. This is typical for atheist China…

Top Hard Rock Albums:

Kid Rock ‘Rock N Roll Jesus’ – 101,426 (Still on Fire)
Disturbed ‘Indestructible’ – 19,807
Trapt ‘Only Through The Pain’ – 11,291
Saving Abel ‘ Self Titled’ – 8,705
Linkin Park ‘Minutes To Midnight’ – 8,650
Shinedown ‘The Sound Of Madness’ – 8,078
Guns N’ Roses ‘Greatest Hits’ – 7,464
Motley Crue ‘Saints of Los Angeles’ – 7,314
Daughtry ‘Self Titled’ – 6,988
Seether ‘Finding Beauty’ – 6,445
Norma Jean ‘AntiMother’ – 5,720
Flyleaf ‘Self Titled’ – 5,323
Avenged Sevenfold ‘Self Titled’ – 4,078
Poison ‘Best of Poison’ – 3,541

Unsigned Chicago band Shock Stars has posted some new tracks titled Love/Hate So Chicago and World Is On Fire. Very cool uptempo guitar oriented tracks.  Our favorite track is World Is On Fire that opens up with an intense melodic lead ala Soul Asylum’s ‘Somebody To Shove‘.  Finally a band referencing another era; miracles can happen.

We hear from today’s artist that writing greats songs and being original seems impossible due to the lack of inspiration. New rock musicians aren’t inspired by today’s rock artists and that can be said across the board of all genres. The truth is, nobody is taking chances, even Simon Cowell reiterated that during the last season of American Idol. If we want to put music back on the map then inspiration needs to flourish again.

It’s a simple equation; no inspiration = no creativity = nothing.

Want to get inspired? Start listening to music that came from different era’s. Start stealing ideas as plagiarism is fine as long as it’s great.

This is what the world was listening to on August 20th:

August 20th in 1962 – Breakin Up Is Hard To Do by Neil Sedaka

August 20th in 1967 – All You Need is Love by The Beatles (The Kings of Melody)

August 20th in 1969 – Honky Tonk Women by The Rolling Stones

August 20th in 1979 – My Sharona by The Knack

August 20th in 1980 – Magic by Olivia Newton-John (100% vibe)

August 20th in 1982 – Beat It by Michael Jackson (Listen and observe. You won’t create a great pop record listening to Justin Timberlake. Michael Jackson wrote his songs, assisted in video direction, and created his dance moves. Always steal from the best. If you don’t heed our warning, you may as well create an embarrassing shameful cover like this)

August 20th in 1985 – The Power of Love by Huey Lewis & the News

August 20th in 1987 – Who’s That Girl by Madonna (Compare this to Madonna’s recent Timbaland (Ringtone producer) produced bland dance track 4 Minutes. What’s missing? Real musicians, theatrics, substance, dynamics and originality. This isn’t brain surgery folks.)

August 20th in 1987 – Women by Def leppard (Compare this track with today’s generic rock music. Let’s not forget to thank producer Mutt Lange for creating the 15 million platinum monster)

August 20th in 2001 – Fallin by Alicia Keys

What do you do from here? Listen, Study, Observe, Write, and Record. If you’re to lazy to even try to get inspired, you will never make it. Send new music to tips@kingsofar.com

Reactive Record: So far in 2008 we’ve had a few singles that could easily be deemed as “reactive”, basically meaning it will get some kind of actual reaction out of you and light up a station’s phone lines, most notably with Katy Perry’s “I Kissed a Girl” & Flobots “Handlebars”. Former Myspace Records (now A&M/Octone) band Hollywood Undead is a less intimidating, mask wearing, genre bending group that calls themselves a mix between hip/hop & screamo. The new single “Undead”  is definitely capable of generating a fair amount of lovers and haters. Is this a ridiculous track from a ridiculous band or one worthy of some radio play? Either way it should get people paying attention to what’s coming out of their speakers.

#1 in Ireland: Irish piano/rockers The Script have Ireland’s #1 album on iTunes. Don’t dismiss them as Maroon 5 wannabes with their hits “We Cry” & “The Man Who Can’t Be Moved”, this is a band that has potential to make an impact worldwide. Check out those singles and “Before The Worst” on their myspace.

Bringin’ The Rock: Netherlands rockers The [New] Shining bring back some 90’s soaring vocals on their track “Red Eyes” and Dallas, TX rockers Miser also have some noteworthy tracks with their cover of the Cranberries 90’s hit “Zombie” and their second single “Zen”.

Quick Picks:

Rise Against – “Re-Education (Through Labor)” – another hit from this Chicago, Illinois punk band.

Brandon Heath’s track “Give Me Your Eyes” is nearing the top of the Christian chart, similar to 2007 breakout artist Mat Kearney.

Also worth a listen is indie act Deas Vail , new singles from recent major label signing The Urgency “Fingerprints” , and the interesting new single Ricochet from Shiny Toy Guns (They brought the rock for this one.)

Soundcheck is written by Dallas who currently attends San Francisco State University and works on the Live 105 (KITS) Action Team.