Prying Open My Third Eye! A Look Into The Musicians That Inspired Me

APCTOOL91 · 12-12-2009, 10:52 PM

Trent Reznor

You can't mention alternative music in the past 20 years without thinking of one man...Trent Reznor. Reznor has become a leading force in the alternative wave, from his release of Nine Inch Nails' 1989 debut album "Pretty Hate Machine" to 2008's "Ghosts I-IV." Reznor has made a name for himself, not only as a musician but as a producer. Its not just Reznor's lyrics or voice, but the main fact that he can bring in some of the best musicians to help his record amazing music.

Trent released NIN's debut album "Pretty Hate Machine" with critical acclaim, songs like "Down In It" and "Head Like A Hole" made the album very successful and brought them into the limelight. Its raw and unique sound will send chills down your spine and make you ask for more.

NIN then released "Broken EP" which brought hard hitting tracks and seemed a much more "heavier" sound than "Pretty Hate Machine." It also spawned the hit songs "Wish" and "Happiness In Slavery," (the latter produced a very controversial music video).

The album "The Downward Spiral" became and is still to date their highest selling album, and spawned the singles "Hurt" and "Closer" which were personal songs that expressed his own angst and his own "downward spiral."

It would be five years before NIN would release any new material, Reznor battle depression and drug abuse, but would eventually enter rehab and used music as an output for his experiences. "The Fragile" utilized unique sounds and introspective lyrics to convey his message.

NIN would release their next two albums "With Teeth" and "Year Zero" and would end Trent Reznor's relationship with Interscope Records and would become an independent artist. The album "The Slip" would be released for free on the NIN website and its punk and fast feel helped it become downloaded about 1 million times. "Ghosts I-IV" a 36 track instrumental album, which used many different instruments and more creativity was also released.

Trent Reznor's influence on music is infinite. His credibility with NIN and his production/remix credits, which include Marilyn Manson, David Bowie, and Queen cement his legacy in music. He has had a profound impact on myself, as I find his music and producing skills to be some of the best.

What to listen to:

APCTOOL91 · 04-01-2010, 12:40 PM

Zack de la Rocha

With one of the most outspoken and fierce voices in the music industry, Zack de la Rocha established himself as the vocalist of Rage Against The Machine and a voice of the people. He became a driving voice in politically charged music with lyrics fused with an alternative-funk-rap metal sound led by Tom Morello and his innovative guitar techniques, Tim Commerford an his deep and funk infused bass lines, and Brad Wilk's hip-hop and hardcore drumming, RATM became a household name, whether you liked them or not.

Zack de la Rocha was born in Long Beach, California and his family and heritage played a major influence on his life which he used in his lyrics. His father Roberto de la Rocha was a driving force in bringing Chicano art to the mainstream, his grandfather was a Mexican revoltionary who was a member of the EZLN, and his mother was an Anthropoligist who reloacated Zack to Irvine, CA where he would experience racism first hand and would meet future bandmate Tim Commerford.

Zack's musical influences drew from punk acts like The Clash, The Sex Pistols, and Bad Religion and would become part of the band Inside Out which gained notoriety in the underground. After Inside Out broke up he would meet Brad Wilk and Tom Morello, who were in the band Electric Sheep and invited his friend Tim Commerford to come play with them, thus Rage Against The Machine was born.

Rage Against The Machine released their 1991 demo "Rage Against The Machine" and it inked them a deal with Epic Records and released their debut album of the same name in 1992. Led by the songs "Killing In The Name" (noted for its use of the word ****) and "Know Your Enemy" (Maynard James Keenan sings during the bridge) RATM took music to a whole 'nother level and stamped their influence on music.

RATM relased "Evil Empire" in 1996 and noted for their hit song "Bulls On Parade" which showcased one of Tom Morello's techniques in using the killswitch it is also layered with other great songs like "Tire Me," "Vietnow," and "Revolver" (one of my favorites). The group continued strong and Zack voiced his opinions even more and became evem mor involved in fixing social issues.

Eventually RATM relased two subsequent albums, "The Battle of Los Angeles" (1999) and "Renegades" (a cover album released in 2000). The band would dissolve due to creative differences and Zack left to do solo work. After collabarating with other artists and supposedly working on a solo album RATM reunited in 2007 at Coachella and played in North America, Australia, Japan, New Zealand, and Europe. He also released a 5 song EP with Jon Theodore (The Mars Volta) under the name One Day As A Lion in July of 2008.

Zack lyrics has always struck me from the simpleness of "Killing In The Name" in which he repeats "**** you I won't do what you tell me!" to the haunting narrative "Maria" where he sings "Of Yanqui guns for blood debts on the loan/Of smoldering fields, rape, rubble and bones/Of graves hidden trapped up in visions of war/Of nothing, no one, nobody, no more." Zack has always approached music in a straightforward way to send across his message. Although, I don't write any politically charged music myself his lyrics are still impressive and is one of the few musicians who don't just speak, but do.

What to listen to:

APCTOOL91 · 04-19-2010, 03:24 PM

Breaking NEWS! Well everyone, I've decided to write my first narrative out of this whole Music Journal, "Tool: A Personal Narrative Into My Own Musical Evolution." It will be up hopefully by this weekend!

AL42228 · 04-20-2010, 09:34 PM

You got some good artists there... Tool and Perfect Circle is def. my fav outa that.

shred · 10-18-2010, 03:45 AM

Is this in order of preference or just random?
Reason I ask is it's very similar to mine.

12-12-2009, 10:52 PM	#11 (permalink)
APCTOOL91 TOOL's biggest tool Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Pittsburgh, PA Posts: 57	Trent Reznor You can't mention alternative music in the past 20 years without thinking of one man...Trent Reznor. Reznor has become a leading force in the alternative wave, from his release of Nine Inch Nails' 1989 debut album "Pretty Hate Machine" to 2008's "Ghosts I-IV." Reznor has made a name for himself, not only as a musician but as a producer. Its not just Reznor's lyrics or voice, but the main fact that he can bring in some of the best musicians to help his record amazing music. Trent released NIN's debut album "Pretty Hate Machine" with critical acclaim, songs like "Down In It" and "Head Like A Hole" made the album very successful and brought them into the limelight. Its raw and unique sound will send chills down your spine and make you ask for more. NIN then released "Broken EP" which brought hard hitting tracks and seemed a much more "heavier" sound than "Pretty Hate Machine." It also spawned the hit songs "Wish" and "Happiness In Slavery," (the latter produced a very controversial music video). The album "The Downward Spiral" became and is still to date their highest selling album, and spawned the singles "Hurt" and "Closer" which were personal songs that expressed his own angst and his own "downward spiral." It would be five years before NIN would release any new material, Reznor battle depression and drug abuse, but would eventually enter rehab and used music as an output for his experiences. "The Fragile" utilized unique sounds and introspective lyrics to convey his message. NIN would release their next two albums "With Teeth" and "Year Zero" and would end Trent Reznor's relationship with Interscope Records and would become an independent artist. The album "The Slip" would be released for free on the NIN website and its punk and fast feel helped it become downloaded about 1 million times. "Ghosts I-IV" a 36 track instrumental album, which used many different instruments and more creativity was also released. Trent Reznor's influence on music is infinite. His credibility with NIN and his production/remix credits, which include Marilyn Manson, David Bowie, and Queen cement his legacy in music. He has had a profound impact on myself, as I find his music and producing skills to be some of the best. What to listen to: __________________ “We all die. The goal isn't to live forever, the goal is to create something that will.”- Chuck Paluhniuk http://www.last.fm/user/RogueS7a7us

04-01-2010, 12:40 PM	#12 (permalink)
APCTOOL91 TOOL's biggest tool Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Pittsburgh, PA Posts: 57	Zack de la Rocha With one of the most outspoken and fierce voices in the music industry, Zack de la Rocha established himself as the vocalist of Rage Against The Machine and a voice of the people. He became a driving voice in politically charged music with lyrics fused with an alternative-funk-rap metal sound led by Tom Morello and his innovative guitar techniques, Tim Commerford an his deep and funk infused bass lines, and Brad Wilk's hip-hop and hardcore drumming, RATM became a household name, whether you liked them or not. Zack de la Rocha was born in Long Beach, California and his family and heritage played a major influence on his life which he used in his lyrics. His father Roberto de la Rocha was a driving force in bringing Chicano art to the mainstream, his grandfather was a Mexican revoltionary who was a member of the EZLN, and his mother was an Anthropoligist who reloacated Zack to Irvine, CA where he would experience racism first hand and would meet future bandmate Tim Commerford. Zack's musical influences drew from punk acts like The Clash, The Sex Pistols, and Bad Religion and would become part of the band Inside Out which gained notoriety in the underground. After Inside Out broke up he would meet Brad Wilk and Tom Morello, who were in the band Electric Sheep and invited his friend Tim Commerford to come play with them, thus Rage Against The Machine was born. Rage Against The Machine released their 1991 demo "Rage Against The Machine" and it inked them a deal with Epic Records and released their debut album of the same name in 1992. Led by the songs "Killing In The Name" (noted for its use of the word **) and "Know Your Enemy" (Maynard James Keenan sings during the bridge) RATM took music to a whole 'nother level and stamped their influence on music. RATM relased "Evil Empire" in 1996 and noted for their hit song "Bulls On Parade" which showcased one of Tom Morello's techniques in using the killswitch it is also layered with other great songs like "Tire Me," "Vietnow," and "Revolver" (one of my favorites). The group continued strong and Zack voiced his opinions even more and became evem mor involved in fixing social issues. Eventually RATM relased two subsequent albums, "The Battle of Los Angeles" (1999) and "Renegades" (a cover album released in 2000). The band would dissolve due to creative differences and Zack left to do solo work. After collabarating with other artists and supposedly working on a solo album RATM reunited in 2007 at Coachella and played in North America, Australia, Japan, New Zealand, and Europe. He also released a 5 song EP with Jon Theodore (The Mars Volta) under the name One Day As A Lion in July of 2008. Zack lyrics has always struck me from the simpleness of "Killing In The Name" in which he repeats "** you I won't do what you tell me!" to the haunting narrative "Maria" where he sings "Of Yanqui guns for blood debts on the loan/Of smoldering fields, rape, rubble and bones/Of graves hidden trapped up in visions of war/Of nothing, no one, nobody, no more." Zack has always approached music in a straightforward way to send across his message. Although, I don't write any politically charged music myself his lyrics are still impressive and is one of the few musicians who don't just speak, but do. What to listen to: __________________ “We all die. The goal isn't to live forever, the goal is to create something that will.”- Chuck Paluhniuk http://www.last.fm/user/RogueS7a7us

04-19-2010, 03:24 PM	#13 (permalink)
APCTOOL91 TOOL's biggest tool Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Pittsburgh, PA Posts: 57	Breaking NEWS! Well everyone, I've decided to write my first narrative out of this whole Music Journal, "Tool: A Personal Narrative Into My Own Musical Evolution." It will be up hopefully by this weekend! __________________ “We all die. The goal isn't to live forever, the goal is to create something that will.”- Chuck Paluhniuk http://www.last.fm/user/RogueS7a7us

04-20-2010, 09:34 PM	#14 (permalink)
AL42228 Groupie Join Date: Apr 2010 Posts: 36	You got some good artists there... Tool and Perfect Circle is def. my fav outa that. __________________ Dj AL

10-18-2010, 03:45 AM	#15 (permalink)
shred Groupie Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Australia Posts: 3	Is this in order of preference or just random? Reason I ask is it's very similar to mine.