James Durbin, 'Stand Up' -- New Song

James Durbin has a new single! Remember Durbin from American Idol? He's working on his debut album now and he promises us a rocker. Until then, here's a single "Stand Up," featured on the album NFL Official Gameday Music, Vol. 2. The song is very commercial, which means great things for Durbin I suppose.

Why Was 'That Song' A Single?

I am sometimes surprised by the songs some bands release as singles.

I'm not sure how much that matters today, but back in the 80s, it was singles that broke a band. Hysteria, for example, started off badly, with "Women" only getting to #80, and the album not taking off until the next single, "Pour Some Sugar on Me." Appetite for Destruction, similarly, had "Out Ta Get Me" as the first single, "Welcome to the Jungle" as the second and broke on the back of the third, "Sweet Child o' Mine." In hindsight, how was "Sweet Child" not the right choice for the first single? In the same way, I can't believe that Motley Crue never released "She Goes Down" as a single off Dr. Feelgood. It is certainly a better song than "Don't Go Away Mad" or "Same Ol' Situation" let alone "Without You." On the other hand, both their previous albums where so terrible that it's amazing that they managed two good singles off each, and thus saved their career.

While "Living in Sin" is a terrible song, after the first three tracks, New Jersey was a write off in my book. There's just nothing else on there worth releasing. How did "Never Say Goodbye" make the cut as a single from Slippery When Wet, but "Raise Your Hands" (which they still play live), "Let It Rock" and "Social Disease" all were deemed not single worthy? I always thought "Wild in the Streets" was also a single, but it seems that it was the B-side of "Never Say Goodbye" from what I can find on Google. Either way, both of those songs are filler.

Now I KNOW that many of you think New Jersey is a great album, so you won't agree with everything I said, but what songs were you surprised never made it to be a single?

Guns n' Roses, Heart Nominated for Rock n' Roll Hall of Fame

I know, I know - you don't care about the Rock n' Roll Hall of Fame. But here we are: Guns n' Roses was just nominated. And, when it comes time to count the ballots, I think they will get in and easily so. Here's the entire list of Rock Hall candidates for this new class:

Beastie Boys
The Cure
Donovan
Eric B. & Rakim
Guns 'N Roses
Heart
Joan Jett and The Blackhearts
Freddie King
Laura Nyro
Red Hot Chili Peppers
Rufus with Chaka Khan
The Small Faces/The Faces
The Spinners
Donna Summer
War

Of course, GNR won't be the only band that gets in when the ceremony happens on April 14, 2012 in Cleveland, Ohio. I predict the Beastie Boys, Heart and the Spinners will get in too.

Let's think of the induction ceremony for a moment. If GNR gets in (and they will), it may well be a hot debacle. Remember when Van Halen was inducted? The Van Halen brothers didn't even show up and neither did David Lee Roth. Well, I predict WAY more bedlam amongst the GNR crowd... unless we're all stunned and the much-awaited reunion of original members happens right during the induction ceremony. GNR has had so many replacement members, it will be hard to argue who gets in and who doesn't. Obviously the original members and maybe Matt Sorum. Beyond Sorum, maybe Dizzy Reed. I don't think anyone else qualifies. Do you?

Stuka Squadron, 'Tales of the Ost' - Album Review

I buy Classic Rock and Metal Hammer every month. One reason I do that is to hear new bands. For some time now, Metal Hammer has regularly featured a song called "Stuka Squadron" by a band of the same name as part of what it calls "the new wave of traditional metal." I wonder if I'd be as cynical about the NWOBHM if I'd been there for that phrase to be coined? But, I digress.

A year or so later, Stuka Squadron finally have their CD out - Tales of the Ost. The basic plot line is that all the songs are about being in the Luftwaffe and they wear German army gear in their photos and - I presume - on stage. There's obviously scope for this to be offensive, but as it stands, the schtick about them being demon possessed, evil warriors of the air comes across like Manowar: very cheesy but amusing all the same.

Their title song took a long time to grow on me because the way their vocals often follow the riffs seemed a bit pedestrian, but the more I listen to it now, the more I love it. This is exactly the sort of music metal should be - the titles and lyrics at first glance would surely have offended your parents in the 80s, the guitars are heavy, the riffs are good, and they are calling us all to join them as warriors of metal. The verbiage on their website is all ridiculous. They call their fans Squadroneers (like Hammerfall call theirs "templars"). Everything about this band is over the top and ludicrous. I love it.

'17 Girls in a Row' - New Steel Panther

Time to discuss a new Steel Panther track. Today it's "17 Girls in a Row" from the upcoming Balls Out. I like the song. Hate the cover art. Discuss.

Happy National One Hit Wonder Day

Did you know that today is National One Hit Wonder Day? The "holiday" has been around since 1990. A few years ago, VH1 Classic even did a big "One Hit Wonder" countdown. They put RATT on their list (with "Round and Round") but obviously you and I know they were wrong on that one. I suspect there are many Glam favorites that are really "one hit wonders" - no matter how great their actual catalog. I love lots of songs that were never singles, let alone chart hits. And it really is quite an accomplishment to have a hit on Billboard.

I wonder if Twisted Sister fits the "one hit wonder" classification? They've got a pretty great and decent-sized catalog, but no song of theirs is known more than "We're Not Gonna Take It." And Aldo Nova had "Fantasy." Then there's Vixen with "Edge of a Broken Heart" and Trixter with "Give It To Me Good." Now that I think about it, I guess Saigon Kick fits the "one hit wonder" category too thanks to "Love Is On the Way."

So who else from the glam metal heyday are "one hit wonders?"

Songs Bands Regret the Most?

I suspect all bands that have been around awhile have at least one song they regret recording, let alone releasing. There are songs that were duds out of the gate. Don't forget the tunes that just sound dated and embarrassing these days... and then there's those attempts where bands tried to drastically alter their sound in an effort to appear "current."

When I think of songs bands might regret, my mind immediately goes to Motley Crue and "Brandon." Continually mocked, the song is basically a dud. I know Tommy Lee wrote the tune when he was emotional and happy at the birth of his son Brandon... but the song doesn't exactly fit Motley, now does it? Other regrettable duds off the top of my head? Well, there's Bon Jovi's entire Bounce album.

A long time ago, Yahoo! Music selected Poison's "Every Rose Has Its Thorn" as the most embarrassing song of the 80s. Now "most embarrassing" and "most regrettable" are not exactly interchangeable, but close. I completely disagree with Yahoo! and I actually think "Rose" is one of the most iconic songs of the 80s, but I digress. We're talking about songs we think bands regret today... so give 'em to me: what are your thoughts?