Hidden Treasures

When I first started writing in this blog, it was to periodically introduce folks to my diverse musical tastes.  Since then it has evolved into opinions and stories.  With all that is going on in the world today, I figured what a better time to shut my door, turn on the CD player and listen to some great music.  In this edition I am going to introduce you to three recordings that I felt deserved a better fate in the eyes of the public.  I am also going to introduce a new recording from a legendary Canadian band.  So turn it up and here we go.

KISS – Music from the Elder

 The year of was 1981 and KISS decided to release an album that was a little off center of the women and party anthems they were known for.  The result was the orchestrated album called Music from the Elder.  This concept CD was based on a short story created by Gene Simmons, their bassist.

This album demonstrated this bands willingness to experiment with sounds and music while staying true to them.  The truly symphonic feel can be heard on such tracks as “Just a Boy”, Odyssey” and “The Oath”.  A tender KISS was given to us with the track “A World Without Heroes”, as well as a defiance one, “Mr. Blackwell”.  The rock and roll attitude that made KISS the band they were at the time is prevalent on the Ace Frehley track, “Dark Night”.  The closing tracking, “I” lets us this rock and roll attitude once again with Paul Stanley and Gene Simmons trading vocals.  This is something that, unfortunately, these two co-captains did not do enough of within KISS. 

To add to this must have of any CD collector, there are two instrumentals, “Fanfare” and “Escape from the Island”. 

The key to this CD is the operatic harmonies presented by the members of KISS and the creative process that was undertaken to step outside of their creative box.  At the time of its release, The Music from the Elder album was a commercial disappointment in comparison to their other recordings with justification. 

Motley Crue – Motley Crue

In 1994, Motley Crue decided to do something that was almost unheard of unless you are AC/DC or Van Halen.  That was have the same success they had with a different singer and a completely different sound.   The CD introduced as to the new singer / guitarist John Corabi.  With this introduction was their heaviest set of songs to date.  It was full of hooks and heavy blues.  Throughout this CD, you can hear the double guitar mixes that had not been on previous Motley Crue sets.

This CD saw them take on subjects not really known to these monsters of mayhem.   The ultimate party boys wrote about such topics as child abuse, “Uncle Jack” and life away from their families on “Misunderstood Man” and the gentle, ”Driftaway”.   Though heavy, this CD gave us sing along with “Poison Apples”, "Loveshines”, and “Welcome to the Numb”.   Have no fear; the Crue boys do give a nice, loud tribute to their partying ways in “Hooligan’s Holidays”.

This would be the only recording with John Corabi as Motley Crue did end up bringing the original vocalist back into the fold a few years later.  The opinion is held by myself that if this CD came out with a different band name that it would have deserved a more commercial and critical fate. 

So these are two selections and trust me I have plenty more that I will be sharing with you over time.  I may be listening to the next one right now. 

"A Mistake"

I was reading my daily news as I usually do when I came across a very interesting article.  A disgraced RCMP Police Officer was fighting to keep his badge after an sexual assault at a party.  I believe we have to look at the facts a little closer when it comes to this one.  So, here we go.

Constable Mario Jimenez went to a farewell party on November 10, 2008.  During this party he cornered a female officer and fondled her breasts and according to evidence sexually berated her.  These are the facts.  They are not disputed in the least little bit. 

In June 2010, the ruling came down from a disciplinary board that he essentially attempted to rape a fellow officer.  Now I know what you are thinking, case closed.  Well, unfortunately, it is not closed.  This alleged “officer” is seeking his badge back while he is sitting at home waiting for his appeal.  Here is where this gets a little disgusting on his part.  Once again follow me.

Constable Mario Jimenez stance is that he is not the person that everyone is perceiving him to be.  He even has letters from no less than four fellow females officers that said they would have no issue working with him.  When I think of this, I can think of one person who would have a problem working with him.  The lady that was at the party.  Let us not forget about her in this. 

A side note since this man is presenting himself as a person who is not an animal at all. Since joining the RCMP in 2007, Constable Mario Jimenez has been investigated for showing up drunk to work several times, another assault on a female, and had damaged a cruiser while on duty. 

These are the facts.  Please judge for yourself because I already have.  If this was me or you, we would have been through the court system, which he was by the way.  He did get a deal to avoid jail.  If this was me or you, we would have lost our jobs, period.  Now where this is an RCMP officer, who is suppose to obey the laws that they enforce, the fact he believes that he should have his job back is beyond comprehension. 

More importantly, would you want him protecting you knowing what he is capable of?

Finally Free

“Finally we are free.” That was the quote from a sixty year old Egyptian protester when their President stepped down after 18 days of protests demanding him to resign. Their President Hosni Muberak had been in power for 30 years and the citizens had seen enough of his rule over them. There were many unique factors of this protest and demand. The location was the Middle East, where uprisings are generally put to rest as soon as they occur. It was peaceful and with the sheer number of citizens involved, this was also an unheard of feat. However, this would be the most surprising; the Egyptian military was present the entire time of the protest and largely did not get involved with dispersing the crown.


We need to look at what brought this about. On the outside looking in, it is a classic case of the rich getting richer and the poor getting poorer. In the thirty years that President Hosni Muberak was in power, it was said that he amassed over $40 billion in assets and these were spread around the world while the majority of the citizens of Egypt were living at or below the poverty level.

This is in mind the Egyptian citizens took to the streets and fought with their voices the lock on power, government corruption and the large differences between the rich and the poor.

Since their voice was heard, the military has dissolved power and has promised elections to the citizens.

This is a brief summary compared to what really happened. This is the point in the future that will interest me. What happens if promises are not delivered? History of neighbouring African nations has proven that this may happen even if the world is watching. What will happen if other uprisings occur in neighbouring Middle Eastern countries? In the end, will the citizens be fully prepared for what may happen next? Not one person will be able to predict what may happen next.

In going back to the protestor that proclaimed, “Finally we are free!” I ask, are they?

I Cannot Read Properly

A little thing happened that I was told not to take personal but too late, I did and here we go.....




That is right folks; I have discovered that I do not know how to read properly. Actually, I will tell you why also. I, unfortunately, was sent a list of classic books that people should have read while alive. I know this was a made up list by someone who was just giving their opinion. However, I looked at this list and realized I was not read the proper books and that was the opinion of not one person but many. I had read three of the hundred that were listed. Now I will admit that I go through spurts on how much I read. I have read three great books in the last month and sometimes life takes hold and I do not get the time. Now I will attempt to read almost anything put in front of me. I like to learn and books do that for me. They also do something else. In a world and life where tons of everything can get to you, taking a break by putting on a CD and reading a book is a great escape. I turn off my phone and no one is allowed to contact me. That is just the way I am.



Now that I have explained this, I will explain my issue. Who has the right to tell me what I should escape too. In high school I had to the read “To Kill a Mockingbird” and hated it. It was not until later in life that I picked it up and read it again that I enjoyed it. Then my mind starts thinking like this. Does this mean the fine folks that do not enjoy reading what I read are not enjoying themselves when they pick up a romance novel, news paper, magazine or comic book? I know a lot of people like this and if it what makes them happy then why not. Who are we to say because what people read are not the “classics” then they are not worth it. If the end means is escape and it makes you happy, why not?



This may be a better example. I wrote poetry and working on a few other writing projects that will see the light of day soon. I have been told by family members that they do not enjoy them. However, they do enjoy this type of book and article. Good for them. Not everything written in for everyone and I understand that. Why others cannot I do not know.



I say this as I am sitting at my favourite coffee shop / bookstore looking at a book that I will be purchasing this week sometime after I am done reading the book I am reading. By the way, I am reading Thomas Harris – “Black Sunday” and the book I am looking at is has actually two stories in it. It is called “The Tale of Two Cities” and “Great Expectations” by Charles Dickens. I hear that these are classics but I will not be reading them because of that. I will be reading them because I want to.



Now that I have finished my rant about that, I have more. So here we go.....



I have had the pleasure of meeting a lot of people in my time. All of them have something they do as a hobby or fun. They like to challenge themselves and I think it is great and fully support them for it. It cleanses their souls we will say.



Some of these fine folks will actually put their work out for everyone to see. That takes gut and here is why I say this. A piece of that person is being revealed that has never been revealed before. I applaud you and your courage to do this. I will even go as far as saying that I may not even like it but I will encourage you to put it out there. So in saying this I have a message for those who criticize it. Back off!!! Just because you do not like, understand and you would not have done it that way, does not mean you have the right to say what is good or not. It is not a career, people are just sharing and it makes them happy. So why not encourage that.



I often wonder how much talent is hidden because of people who do not get it and decide to say negative things. Sad really.

Remembering Potential

I have never made it a secret that I like all kinds of music. To walk into a CD store and buy something new can be fun. One of these trips over this Christmas made me start thinking about how we look at human potential. I know what you are thinking. How could a simple walk into a CD store get that thought brewing? Well, walk with me and find out.

Since this occurred over Christmas, I picked up a specially package Jeff Buckley collection. Actually it was a studio and live CD. For those you do not know Jeff Buckley passed away after his first and only CD made in a studio. I was looking at this CD and then started thinking about how many times an artist has passed on and we hear how the person was never going to be given the opportunity to reach their potential. Let us think about that for a second. What if what the person gave us was all they were suppose to give us?

Most of the artists that have passed along during the years, early in their careers may have hit their peak when we discovered them. The list goes on and on; Jimi Hendrix, Gram Parsons, Janis Joplin, Kurt Cobain and Jeff Buckley. What if their creations that were given to us as time went on were not anywhere close to what they already had? This has happened to many people that we listen to every day. That list would include Bob Dylan, Neil Young, Bon Jovi and Pearl Jam to list a few. So really we do not know what may or may not have happened if artists that have left us would have been the genius they portrayed themselves to be.

Now, let us take this one step further. Losses in each person’s life happen every day. Naturally, we mourn those people who have left us and do this for years. Deep down we are celebrating what each person has given to us such as memories and impact. Do we ever say that they did not reach their potential? We hold on to everything that one person gave us and thank them. The memories we have for those that are close to we are unselfish and we appreciate all of it. These people are the ones we know and love.

This is something to think about. As well as this, why do we celebrate and cherish our loved ones but want more from people we do not know and the only effect they had on us were some songs? Especially, when we know that they have families that have to feel what they have lost.

Vigilante or Hero?

Vigilante or Hero?

A lot has been made in these parts of the world about a very simple trespassing and firearms case. Nine months ago, in a small community nearby called Burton is where all of this took place. Around 2:30 in the morning, a neighbour of Lawrence Manzer heard trespassers going through his yard. Now in this community there had been vandalism being applied to homes, so naturally the owner wanted to get rid of these trespassers. As this gentleman was confronting the three trespassers, Lawrence Manzer decided to assist him like any good neighbour would. So, Lawrence Manzer grabbed his shotgun and shells and proceeded to assist his neighbour. The sixteen year old involved were sitting on the ground when police officers arrived. Lawrence Manzer’s neighbour asked him to put away the gun shortly before they arrived. The youths involved were ticketed for a liquor offense, the neighbour for assault (later dropped) and Mr. Manzer was charged also for “possessing a weapon for a dangerous to the public peace.” Here is where the whole case gets interesting. Follow me on this one.

There has been a huge public outcry that has actually hit the west coast of Canada. I live on the east coast and Canada is a very big country. This gentleman has been getting support and funds from all over. Now let us look at the facts of this.
1] The kids were drinking and no harm was done to the properties in question.
2] They were drinking and were ticketed for such by the police offers that finally did arrive.
3] Mr. Manzer did not call the police and decided to take matters in his own hands.
4] He brought a shotgun and in no way was his life even close to being threatened.
When a person just looks at the facts, what Mr. Manzer did was illegal. Instead of calling the police and letting them do their job, he took matters into his own hands. Once of the defense used was he was protecting his property. The kids were not on his property.
If this were me or anyone else, we would have been charged because what we did was illegal. For him, it was illegal too. The most frustrating part of this whole crime is that Mr. Manzer has gone on record as saying he has won the public opinion. Well I would like to know what percentage of the public actual supports him and are they going to be bringing out guns whenever something happens. I do not want to live there.
It reminded me of a huge legal case up here involving a gentleman called Robert Latimer. If you want look this one up but I will say he went to jail even though he had the full country’s support. He went to jail because euthanasia is illegal here in Canada.

Now you may think this is an extreme example however I think that he honestly believes he was in the right even though the law states he is not. In the end all he is going to get is a fine. The same as the kids that night who were breaking the law too. I bet they actually were very sober when the police were finally called in.

Changes

I do not know about you but I wake up every morning and I have to get a cup of coffee before the thoughts of speaking to anyone enters into the equation. It has been this way for over twenty years and I do not plan on changing that tomorrow. Can you imagine what it would be like if I had tea, cocoa or water? I shiver at the thought of that.

I think we all are programmed to do the same. Think about it. When you wake up in the morning, you kiss your partner, get in the same car and go to the same job.

Now what if it all was different for us?

The one reason that that sends a shiver down our spine is an old phrase, “The devil you know, not the devil you don’t”. A lot of us stay in places because we know what to expect when we arrive there. It does not matter if we want to be there or not.

A lot of us stay in relationships we do not want because we know what to expect. Same with our jobs and the things that make us unhappy or unfulfilled. It is easier than not know what to expect at all. This goes with anything that we do truly.

Now with this in mind, I have a friend who is trying to change her exceptional life. I have to say not only is she trying to change her mindset but she is documenting it on a blog also. EVERYDAY!!! Her name is Tilly Rivers and lend her support in doing something that most of us are too scared to do.

The blog address is this……. http://pulse.yahoo.com/_HUR33NJ3ZHEDUWGTCXOCJU2BYA

I read it in the morning while having my coffee.