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Readers' Choice

SOMEONE PLEASE EXPLAIN TO ME WHY I SHOULD BE NICE TO ALTER BRIDGE

 Wednesday, November 11th, 2009 at 2:30pm by

Seriously. Because every time Vince or I make a snarky comment about the band or vocalist Myles Kennedy, one of you gets your panties in a twist. And while one of you gets your panties in a twist pretty much no matter what anyone at MetalSucks says about any given band, for some reason the outcry of support for Alter Bridge particularly irks me.

Yes, this band is better than Creed, but so is shingles. And Kennedy is a better singer than Wife Beater McGee, so but so was the dude singing on the subway this morning. Neither of these assertions negates the fact that Alter Bridge is boring, paint-by-numbers corporate rock. I just cannot take this shit seriously.

So if one of you Alter Bridge apologists has a legitimately good argument as to why I’m not giving this band a fair a shake, I’d love to hear it. Is there something really sophisticated about the music that I’m just not hearing? Are Kennedy’s lyrics, like, overwhelmingly moving or something? The whole thing is just way over my head, I guess.

I solicited suggestions for good Alter Bridge songs over Twitter, and longtime reader Richaod recommended this track “Blackbird.” I admit that it’s far better than I was expecting, but I also wanna be upfront: there is nothing about this song that makes me think I will ever feel any desire to listen to it again.

-AR

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  • Tim-o-tato

    I remember the first time I heard the first track from their first CD, i was really high. Having said that, the intro riff is fucking awesome. Squeeeeels, and alternates galore. I hearted it lol
    Then came the solo! Fucking epic….lol Then the rest of CD blew my mind as well…
    Metalingus i think its called is track 5 off that cd, and it is the true Mark Tremonti heaviness that he has tried to put out there for soo long. I just really enjoy that CD….

    On the other hand, Black Bird is a shitty music, made for shitty people. Nothing about that album IMO is good. Except for the title track…PERIOD…

    So, to make a long story short, Mark Tremonti is the only thing I like about Alter Bridge, because he is an exceptional musician…..

    • Tim-o-tato

      ***”Is shitty music, made for shitty people”***

    • http://dmxrr15@hotmail.com IsntaTOTALdouchebag10

      Both CD’s have some great songs. You do not have to like them, because yes a lot of their stuff is very “accessible” but the talent that Tremonti has is off the charts. He can play ANYTHING, some of the solo’s he pulls off on blackbird are better than 95% of the shit out there. Miles Kennedy has a very great voice and can sing with a lot emotion, also a great guitar player. Listen to both CD’s, have an open mind, you will find stuff you like I am sure and some stuff you don’t.

      • Tim-o-tato

        Yea, I must admit I didnt give Blackbird much of a chance, due to some reviews I read. Also, before the album dropped I got a single if it, with a few songs. I was not impressed. I will listen again. I would only being hurting myself if I didnt…lol

        And yes, Mark is the shit. I watched him and Myles do a private acoustic show here in Cali, and it was just purely amazing…awesome stuff…

  • builtforsin

    Not metal, who gives a fuck.

    Feel free to tare me a new asshole for not having taste, or being a dick, or whatever, but this is a metal site, for metal.

    • TJ

      Or the grammar police could *tear* you a new asshole…

  • Marc

    Axl your entirely correct.

    • Marc

      **you’re**

      • Superhans

        the grammar police is out in force!

        • Superhans

          or should i say… are out in force haha

  • Hammer_Smashed_Hurtt

    I lost respect for Mark Tremonti when he stated repeatedly that no amount of money in the world would get him on stage with Scott “Fake Jesus”/”Its good to be King” Stapp, and Lo and behold…..what have we hear..

    • Tim-o-tato

      That is true, that is why I have tried for a long time not to pay attention what people do off stage or outside the studio….baby mamma drama….
      Let the music speak for itself…lol

  • Hammer_Smashed_Hurtt

    *Here

    Sorry.

    • Deaner

      At least you didn’t get caught by the grammar Nazis like those other guys.

  • SP420

    This band is shit. Anyone whining about justified negative comments said about them are incorrect and probably only have one testicle.

  • I killed a Dunky

    Axl Rosenberg Im going to answerYou with a question.. now with this I aint diggin ALTERBRIDGE, but I should remark the talent of Myles Kennedy.. so if he is so boring why teh hawk did LED FUCKIN ZEPPELIN started a Project with Him possibly having Him as THE NEXT LED ZEPPELIN SINGER?

    • RomuluXX

      Because Led Zeppelin decided their new direction was going to be…boredom

    • Kuranes

      Led Zeppelin is not starting a project with him. They rehearsed with a bunch of people and decided none of them would work out.

      • gnarlk

        led zepplin were overrated garbage anyhow…

        • josh

          the comment above can be documented as the STUPIDEST post in the history of this website. and gnarlk should have his mother slapped. And not get paid, like she typically does.

          • http://www.facebook.com/people/David-Hulsey/653830783 David Hulsey

            I agree with him 100% Overrated garbage sums up Zeppelin pretty well.

          • http://www.myspace.com/michaelarry Michael

            um…no. blasphemous. im shocked someone could say this because of the influence led zeppelin has had on every band in the history of rock/metal….

  • http://www.facebook.com/people/Rik-Powell/286400508 Rik Powell

    I like them, but I also like a lot of bands you guys constantly talk shit about, so whatever.

  • Slaughterhouse

    I think Tremonti is very tasteful in his guitar playing. He is actually a damn good player! Not the best, but very good! Myles is a great singer. If you listen to the album, you can hear some Cornell in him. Its fucking great!

  • http://www.facebook.com/people/Jason-Crispen/100000169530540 Jason Crispen

    i can name a few bands off the top of my head that are FAR worse that you guys continually give coverage to: attack! attack! and five finger shit punch. i’m not really a fan of this band because i just hear creed with a different singer. really wish this band was out before creed, then i wouldn’t have that automatic comparison in my head. but it’s not the worst band you could listen to…

    • http://www.myspace.com/uglydirge aaron m.

      yeah, but it’s not like they actually LIKE attack attack! or five finger death punch.

      • http://www.facebook.com/people/Jason-Crispen/100000169530540 Jason Crispen

        still, no such thing as bad publicity! they suck. you know they suck. i know they suck. metal suck knows they suck. let them suck their way to obscurity. no more coverage.

  • Discipleofthewatch

    My cousin Jonathan likes Atler Bridge.

  • Discipleofthewatch

    *Alter Bridge

  • Trux

    So if one of you Alter Bridge apologists has a legitimately good argument as to why I’m not giving this band a fair a shake, I’d love to hear it….

    Because Alter Bridge is far better than …. Buckcherry ??

    And just for the record… I am not a fan of alter bridge but I can recognize that Myles has talent…..

    • http://www.facebook.com/people/Jason-Crispen/100000169530540 Jason Crispen

      99.9% of bands are far better than buckcherry

      • gnarlk

        even hatebreed’s better than buckcherry…

        • http://www.myspace.com/michaelarry gmlarry

          ^lol, i actually dont agree on that one. hatebreed is pretty bad and at least buckcherry can be fun and goofy to listen to.

  • Lybrium

    I dont know axl, Im not a huge fan but…Check out the song “Watch Your Words” The lyrics at least have a strong message, Guitars are tasty, the rhythm section doesn’t quite bore you to death. A few smart people have said there are only two types of music: Good and Bad, my panties sure aint in a bunch here but, this surely isn’t in the same spectrum as Lady Gaga and The Jonas Bros. Cmon.

  • thehatemachine

    I am a huge fan of this band. I think that lyrically this band is one of the best out there to capture the darkness and strife that people of our generation feel and think but can never find a good way to express. I don’t see the “corporate rock” aspect at all. I have been thinking alot lately about how lame most all metal bands these days really are.
    I hear no real feeling or emotion in most of the bands i read about on this site. New metal is all about being a fucking poser. Its all cookie cutter lameness.
    Even the leads in all of the new shit are copycat bullshit. Maybe its because im older than most that post on here but i still find myself going back to music that had real emotion and real playing. Technique is shit if there are no dynamics in the playing.
    Tremonti as i see it is a musical genius. Myles is in a league of his own.Music these days is so fucking whored out and transparent that it makes me sick. Very few albums in the last 10 years have grabbed me for more than a few days before i am bored to tears with them.
    Both Alter Bridge cd’s have not left rotation at my house for a year now. How many cd’s can you guys name that only have maybe 1 filler song on them? Blackbird is an instant classic.
    I dont know that i would classify A.B as metal though some of it is pretty ripping . I guess the kids these days are trying to carve out their own niche in metal but you kids still have alot to learn about how to grab human emotion and make something real out of it.

    • gibberish

      never listened to Alter Bridge OR Creed, but you get a nice, shiny, brand-spanking new +1

    • Fufkin

      This.

    • cyrollan

      +1

      Check out “One Day Remains” – gripping riffing and soloing. I swear, kicking Scott out of the band unlocked a full array of talent from these fellas. And I happen to have been a huge Mayfield Four fan… anyone heard of them?

    • Lybrium

      “…I hear no real feeling or emotion in most of the bands i read about on this site. New metal is all about being a fucking poser. Its all cookie cutter lameness.”

      I don’t know about that man, there are a lot of great metal bands, it is a rich and variable spectrum of music, and many of them can be read about on this site.

      BTW, I like alter bridge.

  • You Don’t Know Me

    Not really into this band. I never got what the big fuss was about. I do like the song “Metalingus” though because it’s catchy and heavy.

    • gnarlk

      they have a song called “metalingus”? dear lord…

      • Dani

        meatlingus really is an awesom song

  • SHOCKTROOP

    yea. i don’t get it either. I saw them live because they had silvertide (a kickass philly old school rock band) opening up for them on their tour. but alter bridge was total garbage. although tremonti can shred his ass off

  • This Shit Sucks

    I only listened to Alter Bridge BECAUSE of Myles Kennedy. His previous band, The Mayfield Four, was fucking sweet (one record was at least….Second Skin). He still couldn’t save this shit-stain of a band. Tremonti is good, no doubt about it. This still isn’t a good arguement…

    • cyrollan

      Fallout was better.

  • Miguel G (Peru)

    I think that they are a very good rock band, but the whole Creed thing haunts them up and people discard them instantly. They have a solid rythym base, and Tremonti an Kennedy are so good in their roles that they are on their own league.

    Such a weird phenomenon, these guys as Creed sold 10 million records in 5 years an then everyone seems to hate them. Late 90′s bands like Limp bizkit shared a similar fate……

  • Joshie

    Every Alter Bridge song that I hear sounds like you could throw some random shots of army dudes over the music, and you have your next Kid Rock/Three Doors Down “RAWK” recruiting video that plays before every movie. Throw some Nascar over the top of it all just to drive the point home.
    Alter Bridge is what Jello Biafra would refer to as “government music”. Bland dredge to requires no thought to lull the masses.

    • gnarlk

      this crap’s the modern equivalent to journey. tailor made to ed hardy/tap out wearing suburban crackers everywhere…

  • Fufkin

    What Rik said. But seeing as nobody else is setting their supporters stall out, I will continue and bore. Because they’re a good rock band, with good songs, regardless of the stigma of that other band.
    Myles Kennedy – one of the best singers out there, talented guitar player too. Tremonti – a guitar player that constantly pushes himself to be better in Alter Bridge and develop his craft. They’re incredible live – their gigs are really life affirming and they really give their all onstage, it’s honest and they seem very down to earth. It’s why they managed to earn a strong following over here in Europe despite the obstacle widespread mockery of the C word. And that’s also because it’s simply not boring, paint-by-numbers corporate rock.
    And it irks me that sometimes you two back the astonishingly dull horses with such gusto (Chimaira anyone? Jesus Christ that band is the dullest thing to ever walk the earth with powerchords) while harpooning others who simply don’t deserve the bad publicity and hate. Um, like Alter Bridge.

    But really, never in a million years would I expect some of the too-cool-for-schoolcore brigade that stomp around here in the comments section to like them. But that’s why I like this site – it provokes reactions; scorn and support. Mostly scorn.
    Viva scorn.

    • Mike

      I agree with what you say about Alter Bridge ^^

      I find it strange that you guys at Metalsucks spout off so much praise for that shit singer in Killswitch Engage (not to mention Chimaira’s singer and Randy Blythe) and trash this guy who has an exceptionally powerful voice and can sing with emotion. I enjoy their rock music (definitely not metal) and Tremoni and Kennedy are both very talented. I can’t really make any more of an argument than that (you either enjoy them or you do), but perhaps you should give their albums a few listens before making a judgment and ignore the fact that 3/4 of the members were once in Creed. Remember, Corey Taylor is a great singer yet he makes his money in Shitknot.

      • Mike

        enjoy them or you don’t**

  • El Peras

    I think Nickelback could be considered corporate rock, but Alter Bridge is still far from that spectrum of bands. By the way, I never liked their first CD, however Blackbird has some kind of positiveness in his lyrics that combine pretty well with the (moderate) aggressivenes of the music and I have been listening to that album many times, specially the last song “Wayward One”, man….did I like that song….I even translated it to Spanish to see what I was singing lol

    Oh, well, credit where credit’s due, me likey Alter Bridge.

  • pariah

    loving iwrestledabearonce pretty much removes the right to say shit about other bands. except if you’re 14, but something tells me the MS staff are older than that.

    sorry, i don’t make the rules!

  • Superhans

    hear hear

  • DustintheWind

    This shit is fuckin terrible. As far as the “not TRU or BROOTAL enough bands” that this site’s readers usually rip on, give me Thursday, Glassjaw or Brand New over Alter Bridge, Disturbed or Finger Eleven anytime…

    • http://www.facebook.com/people/Jason-Crispen/100000169530540 Jason Crispen

      brand new is fantastic

      • http://www.myspace.com/michaelarry gmlarry

        1

  • Cat Tyrson

    Perhaps they are good musicians… But so what? There are millions of great musicians in the world. The bottom line is that this fuckin’ band sucks ass. Creed sucked. Alter Bridge Sucks. Both bands have tor had the creative spark of a dried up pile of dog shit. If you guys want to say these bands suck… well, that’s your right. It’s your opinion… and in this case you are 110% on the money.

  • Mewis

    I dont really see how anyone can think this band is corporate bullshit… but hey whatever. I think myles may pretty much be the best rock singer alive, period. I also dont see how anyone could say this band sucks… sure you may not like em, but the members of this band can outplay and outwrite just about everyone that posts on this site.

    But once again leave it to you overzealous, know it all, elitist metal faggots to sum up a band (or just about any band really) who takes their music more serious than you take your porn collection (which we all know is numero uno) and sincerely makes what they do their life work, with one word.

    Besides, axl dont you like iwrestledabearonce? I mean lets get real here, can you really not hear the blatantly obvious difference in talent and ability between the bands?

    Kennedy and Tremonti are pretty much as good as it gets when its come to true modern songwriters, unfortunately alot of people prematurely judge this band because of the creed thing. Stupid if you ask me.

  • Mewis

    Axl, you like a iwrestledabearonce… it almost negates your ability to have a fun and readable blog, or believe any opinion you may have. And so does this. This band is absolutely incredible, even if you dont like their music no one here can even remotely say they “suck” and believe themselves.

    How in the FUCK is an 8 minute song the epitome of corporate bullshit? Get real dude. There is not a singer, anywhere in metal that even touches myles kennedy.

    It honestly kind of sickens that anyone with two ears can listen to this song and not hear, the raw talent and emotion in this track. Its pretty rare if at all i see anyone here really posting any music of this calibre.

    • Mewis

      I mean for christake axl… really? Listen again dude… you give me boys in daath mad props all the time surely you can hear the musical value in this stuff.

      I’d bet emil would even back tremonti as a hell of a guitar player, and pretty much the nicest guy in rock, as well as true appreciative metal head.

      But hey whatever…

  • http://stuffyouwillhate.com Sergeant D

    Richaod is a quality internet figure

  • chtimixeur

    First things first. Just listen to their albums. It’s not like there are dozens of them : they just released 2 CD’s, and One Day remains is probably one of my highlights of the 00′s. This album had great riffs, strong melodies, and a guitar oriented production. One Day Remains, Shed My Skin, Metalingus & The End is here are still on heavy rotation at my place. it’s not metal, but rock-wise, this band smokes pretty much all the other american bands of the last decade.

    Myles Kennedy is a fantastic singer. Listen to his voice in his previous band (the mayfield Four) : he just sings like a mofo on songs like 12/31 or Summergirl. His voice is simply surreal. The guy is also extremely humble. I met the band after a show last year, and these guys are great with their fans.

    Blackbird got a lot of praise from their fans, but I didn’t really love it like the first one : there were a few fillers, and I didn’t like the “modern rock” production. Still a good record though (Blackbird, Ties That bind and Come To life all rock).

    My advice : listen to this band and forget about Creed. That’s the only way you’ll end up liking them.

  • david

    Why like Alter Bridge? Because everyone likes the music when you’re at the county fair. Heck, you need some kinda background music when you’re trying to bounce pennies in the jar and win a goldfish.

  • Mike

    Why don;t you ask Vince? He is the one who was praising Shinedown for putting out a great corporate rock record. I don’t think Alter Bridge are that different and their guitar player is a hell of a lot more talented than anyone in that band. Plus yes, Myles is a great vocalist and he makes the songs much more emotional and memorable then you typically find on the radio. Black Stone Cherry is another great corporate rock band.

  • Nick

    I saw Creed in like 1997/1998 at some small club. Just because of that I will be close minded and not give Alter Bridge a chance lol.

  • bmshredder

    It’s just Axl’s opinion, which doesnt mean a whole lot. I’m a huge metalhead and just want to say I frequently go on this website more for humor and entertainment, not for musical enlightenment. Most of the bands Axl and his other writers promote are garbage with exceptions to Chimaira, Gojira, Daath, and maybe a handful more. Alter Bridge is alright. I guess I’m a fan of music that actually has a clear vocal melody sometimes so Kennedy does a good job there. Axl, you know your’e a little douchebag right?

  • d.struction

    this is the shit that shit scrapes off the bottom of its shoes. period.

  • Myles is a dork

    This song sucks ass. This sounds like bad Creed. Actually, all Creed is bad Creed, but this sounds like Creed with a fill in for Jesus Stapp Superstar. Like the Marky Mark kareoke character in that Rock Band movie…

  • Actual Singer

    As a classically trained singer, I feel like I have to take some pretty serious issue with the concept that Myles Kennedy is “just” a better singer than that cockwad Stapp. The range and control that he has is unheard of in his genre, and still extremely rare in any others. (and don’t come back to me with the Shinedown guy or Chris Cornell, because they don’t compare in this regard.) I’ve seen him do everything he does in the studio live as well. It seems that the band is getting panned almost entirely for not belonging to a certain genre. “Corporate rock” isn’t really a genre, it’s a polarize-by-association sort of label like “Liberal” or “Terrorist”, and injurious to legitimate discussion and intelligence in general.

    If you don’t like it, that’s fine, everyone has their own preferences and arguing pure preference is a pointless impasse. But there simply is no learned and objective measure by which Alter Bridge can be judged poorly. There is (or should be) a difference between what we like and what we recognize as skillful. No, they won’t be innovating a new genre any time soon, but that really isn’t their goal, and not every band should be expected to. That’s an entirely separate concept from making good music. And that’s what they do. Go ahead and flame me now.

    • cyrollan

      beautiful reply. if i were to declare someone as “winning this argument”, it would be you. (please don’t mistake this for sarcasm)

      • grammartwo

        I completely disagee. Corporate rock is not a genre but it certainly is a convenient way to encapsulate music with little artistic merit. It’s very helpful in the age of the internet. If you like these guys or Creed then, yes, the term Corporate Rock is helpful to you also. It makes sense in terms of the final product, it’s application doesn’t mean these guys or anyone tagged as such are not skilled. And I don’t think that’s “injurious to legitimate discussion and intelligence”. “Range and control”, “skillful”. Really? So you’re equating talent with good music or art? American Idol clearly has had some people who can sing but can they create art? Fuck no. As a “classically trained singer” you should know better…

        You know who else can sing? Celine Dion.