Fucking hell, I just realised I haven't acknowledged the death of Paul Gray on this blog. A bit weird since I've listened more to Slipknot than Dio and Pete Steele combined, and they both got the nod (here and here). I don't know where my head's been at lately. Things have been weird in the Snusgrop household. Sorry 'bout that.
Anywho, this is my sort-of tribute to the late Paul Gray. Since he and drummer Joey Jordison wrote most if not all of Slipknot's music, it makes you wonder where the band will go from here. I suppose Craig Jones could fill in on bass as he was originally guitarist for the band before switching to "samples", but songwriting-wise I guess it's up for grabs.
The main question I suppose is if whether the band is willing to continue on without him. Slipknot's had the same nine member for eleven years which is impressive enough, so would they be able to go on? I'm sure one side of them wants to keep going because that is undoubtedly what Paul would've wanted, and the other I bet would just want to throw in the towel. Only time will tell I guess.
What we do know for sure is that for years Slipknot served as a big gateway into heavier music for kids worldwide, not unlike the effect Metallica had in the early 90s albeit admittedly on a smaller scale.
On a more personal level I can only repeat what I've said in previous in posts that Slipknot was the soundtrack for large parts of my afformative years, and their impact will always be felt. After all, they made the 22nd best album of the 90s. Not to mention they made the 16th best album of 2008. That's gotta count for something.
As will the fact that I wrote nothing nearly as extensive about the deaths of Dio and Steele, which I suppose is proof enough of how much Slipknot has meant to me.
I've compiled some of my favorite Slipknot songs from their first three albums. I would've included tracks from their fourth and latest album, 2008's All Hope Is Gone but unfortunately that cd got lost when I moved to my current home and has never been seen since. Wherever it is, I hope someone is enjoying it. You can hear samples for that album here and here.
Rest in peace, Paul Gray. Thanks for all the great music and thanks for introducing more people in than anyone can count to the wonderful, beautiful and comforting world that can only be described in three simple words:
Heavy. Fucking. Metal.
(mp3) Slipknot - Surfacing
(mp3) Slipknot - Spit it out
(mp3) Slipknot - Only one
(mp3) Slipknot - Scissors
Available on S/t (1999)
(mp3) Slipknot - People = shit
(mp3) Slipknot - Disasterpiece
(mp3) Slipknot - Skin ticket
Available on Iowa (2001)
(mp3) Slipknot - Three nil
(mp3) Slipknot - Duality
(mp3) Slipknot - Before I forget
Available on Vol. 3: The Subliminal Verses (2004)
10 comments:
The deaths of Peter Steele and Dio hit me much harder than Paul Gray but I still feel terrible for him and the band. I've been a fan of Slipknot for years and years and I still put them on once in a while. I've been wondering about their future since before Paul died though- it seems the members are involved in so many other things (muderdolls, stone sour, joey works with everyone else) that Slipknot is more of an afterthought. All Hope is Gone is a great cd though, one of the best things they've done so I guess they're still keeping it going. I hope the band stays together. I'd like to see them come through this. They're a great band that could become legendary if they keep at it.
I wonder why you didn't put any of Mate. Feed. Kill, Repeat on here. It's some of their best work.
MFKR has some good stuff on it, but it's hardly "some of their best work".
There's stuff on there that showed promise but was later re-recorded and perfected on their first two albums.
Songs like Only One, Slipknot (aka sic) and Killer Are Quiet (aka Iowa) are infinately better on the album versions.
Yes, very much Slipknot provided a gateway into heavier music, for kids, and adults too. I'm not sure Metallica did at all. Pantera did. Metallica provided a gateway into Metallica's back catalogue, and not much else--except MAYBE the other big three of thrash--but rarely if that. If so, the only way Metallica provided a way into heavier music is if kids moved from them to Slayer, then went on from there. If so, they would have stopped listening to the Black Album a long time ago. I'm not saying Metallica are bad--they are huge talents, for the MOR end of heavy music. Perhaps Metallica turned some people on to Pantera however--who went heavy and good just when Metallica went the opposite. You can hear death metal in Pantera. They're a big way in. Pantera and Slipknot were the heaviest shit ever to get to number one, sell out huge arena, etc. When I say Slipknot, I mean Iowa. That is their good album. They were big, and they just went mental--as heavy as they could go. That took real courage. It is their masterpiece. It is Paul Gray's legacy. It's a great one.
If Metallica turned people on to Pantera they were a gateway to heavy music.
Not sure what your point is, but thanks.
My point was Iowa is the heaviest album ever to get to number one, and if 'kids' were listening to that, no wonder the world is now so fucked up!
Pantera also went heavier when they were at their peak of popularity--far Beyond Driven, Southern Trendkill.
THAT is bringing people in, going heavier as you get bigger. That takes courage. That is balls.
What the hell has this conversation got to do with Metallica? Nothing. You brought them up.
And, no, thank YOU.
Great, now I have sociopaths reading my blog. Super.
Oh well, everyone's welcome.
For 'sociopath' read 'someone who really knows about the shit you are taking about!'
Come on, there's got to be some of us out there!
:)
Yes, sir. Of course, sir. Whatever you say, sir. You are absolutely correct, sir.
Please ask your doctor for some more pills please, sir.
Please don't find out where I live and kill me in my sleep with your peculiar ramblings, sir.
Ramblings which you most likely write in your own feces before typing them on your feces-encrusted computer, sir.
I'm not gonna read your blog anymore. You sound too weird.
See what you've done, Mick?
You nutter.
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