From: jks2x@faraday.clas.Virginia.EDU (Jason)
Subject: Re: Want Metallica info
Organization: University of Virginia
Date: Tue, 7 Apr 1992 20:10:43 GMT


>
>> 	As for what the band is like:  Their basic attitude (at least
>> before the new album) is 'fuck the business'.
>
>not true. perhaps for KEA and even RTL, but that's definitely not the
>way MOP was written. and for sure not AJFA. they were not out to fuck
>the business. in the beginning they were out to 'fuck everybody' of
>course, being intelligent souls like they are, and maturing with age,
>they realized that this was childish and adopted a more mature
>attitude.

	When I said "fuck the business" I meant it in the 'we
don't care what they want' way, not the 'lets screw them over'
way.  I think that all of their albums up to and including AJFA
were written this way.  Elektra kept telling them to tone down the
lyrics a bit because people were getting offended (heaven forbid!).
They also tried to get the band to make their music more "acceptable 
to the general public."  They told Elektra that if the company didn't 
like it they'd find another one that did.

>
>>  They did everything
>> in their power to resist attempts by the record biz to control them.
>
>like what? as if they had any power over the company.
>
	See my above paragraph.

>> One of their biggest things was not making any videos.  They shattered
>> that by making the video for 'One'.  Now they don't seem to have a 
>> problem with them (though a lot of _US_ do).  
>
>the question you should ask is why they didn't do videos. why not?

	Because Lars said in the mid 80s that they thought videos
were the ultimate form of comercialism and that they'd never make
one.  Then they did.  I'll admit One was one of the best videos I've
seen, but that doesn't change the fact that is _is_ a video.  

>making videos? i don't see sepultura or megadeth or slayer fans
>bitching and moaning because their favorite band makes videos?

	That's because Megadeth, Sepultra and Slayer never thoroughly 
denounced videos.

>
>> They also write lyrics
>> that actually make you think.  You really don't get as much of this
>> on the new album as with the middle three (KEA wasn't as lyrically
>> deep as RTL, MOP, and AJFA).
>
>i wouldn't call RTL particularly deep. the concepts on it certainly
>aren't novel, with the possible exception of 'creeping death' i'm not

	Oh?  Fade to Black doesn't make you think about suicial 
depression?  Ride the Lightning doesn't make you think about capital 
punishment?  For Whom The Bell Tolls doesn't make you think about 
conventional warfare?  Also I don't think Trapped under Ice is _just_ 
about someone who's freezing to death.  Like you said Creeping Death
is one of the most lyrically different songs around.  Songs don't 
have to have novel lyrics to have powerful lyrics.
 
>saying it's not good or not intelligent, but it certainly doesn't
>compare to AJFA. MOP is better, but i feel that AJFA is their lyrical
>pinnacle. i agree that the lyricas on METALLICA are different, but
>that's because the subjet matter is very different from that on
>previous albums. there's a definite shitf away from the actual world
				     ^^^^
Freudian slip? ;-)

>that you can see, tuch, feel and experience and toward a more inner,
>mental state of being. the concepts are more difficult to grasp, but
>certainly as good as any other album, except perhaps AJFA.

	Find me a central theme in the black album.  Master is
written around manipulation, AJFA is about war and societal
injustices (hence the name of the album).  I heard James say that
they didn't plan the albums this way, they just happened.  When
writting RTL they were stuck on death, for example.  Also, some
of the new lyrics fly dirrectly in the face of several of their
other songs.  For instance:  Don't Tread on Me vs. Blackened,
Disposable Heros and For Whom the Bell Tolls, (there are many more,
I just chose one from each album except KEA).  Some of the songs
on the new one are lyrically good.  Enter Sandman, despite being
eMpTyV's song-of-the-month last summer/fall is a great song with 
good lyrics.  What's the subject of Wherever I may Roam, other
than someone who doesn't want to settle down?  Granted I haven't 
listened to the new one nearly as much as the older 4, but the
depth just isn't there.

>>
>> 	Trivia question for all you Metallifans out there:  What
>> was their ORIGINAL name?  I'll tell you in my next post.
>
>if it's the one i'm thinking of (which i only heard dave mustaine
>mention once) it's kind of hilarious. thank god they never recorded
>under it...i'll leave the secret open though...
>
>-kev.
>
>slatanist@mac.dartmouth.edu

	I'd put the answer in here, but it's only been a couple
days.  You're right, though, it is really funny.  Look for it in
a few days.

-Jason

--
"One day I'll get what's mine through the persistence of time"
						    -Anthrax 'Time'