Machine Head are currently celebrating the tenth anniversary of their album Through the Ashes of Empires and frontman Rob Flynn has dedicated a series of posts to the album via the band's Facebook page. Late last week, Flynn included an unreleased song called "Pins and Needles" from 2002 with his blogs. Come check it out!
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LUIYqL7px7E[/youtube]
Apparently Rob Flynn hates the living crap out of this song and I can almost see why… sort of. Like the man himself says, the vocals are pretty terrible and essentially sit head-and-shoulders above everything else. Basically all your attention to drawn to them, which is bad. The music, however, is actually pretty damn good and is worth commending at the very least. Flynn took to the band's page saying:
"I know I've complained wildly about how shitty this song "Pins and Needles" is, and really, after just listening to it for the first time in 10 years, it's still just fucking awful!! One of the worst songs I've ever written when it comes to my vocals and vocal ideas, WHEW!!! I always thought the music was cool though and eventually used this as part of the 2005 "Roadrunner United" sessions. I had originally enlisted Brock from 36 Crazyfists to sing it and he didn't do too much better than me, so I fired him. I got Tim Williams from Vision Of Disorder to sing on it, and after rejecting his first couple attempts, he nailed one of the best vocals I've ever heard, he totally KILLED it! He crushed my version into the dust and allowed me to be able to listen to this song again. His version is called "Army Of The Sun".
I’d like to say Thank You to Dave McClain for saying "fuck this song" Why I'm putting this out I have no idea, I cringe listening to this, AGH! **barfs**. So here goes!
Without further adieu, here is the song that never made it on to "Through The Ashes…" ladies and gentlemen, I give you "Pins and Needles.". Happy Birthday TTAOE."
