Metallica

Ok, if you read my last blog you know that I am "in-between" in age. This means that when I as a teenager the biggest band around was Metallica. I started listening to Metallica when I as in 6th grade, the And Justice For All.... album (yes, it was on vinyl). Then, when I was a freshman, they came out with the black album, "Metallica". These two albums inspired me to learn how to play drums and guitar. The writing for these albums was pure genius. After "Metallica" came out I started listening to some of their earlier albums such as "Master of Puppets" and "Ride the Lightning". The albums represent the roots of modern hard rock and heavy metal bands such as Disturbed, System, Tool, and many others. However, after "Metallica" the band went through a change and started writing songs that were more hard rock than metal. Although I liked many of these songs, I was worried about the direction of the band. The band tried to get heavier with their last album "St. Anger", but they missed the mark. The album had a terrible sound and the songs were poorely constructed and written. I had almost given up on the band but then I read an article about how the next album wound be more like earlier efforts. The band decided to call the album "Death Magnetic" and judging by the 2 songs released for radio play, the album will live up to its billing. I hope it does!

I'm Old

I decided to go back to school last Thursday thinking that I needed a fresh start and new opportunities. You would think this would make me feel younger, right? Well, I'm 33 years old and will be turning 34 in a couple weeks. I attended some other classes on campus and have realized that I am now part of the "old crowd". I was talking to one of my co-workers who did not know I was going back to school. He was making fun of the "old crowd" because he said his classes with older people are more boring. At first, I took offense, but than I realized that he probably would not be telling me this if he thought I was old. So maybe I'm just in-between. I think I'll start a new crowd, the "in-between crowd" - too old to be cool, but to young to be boring. I can live with that.