This week, like last week, has one album I'm seriously looking forward to more than the other releases. Last week, it was a supergroup made of members of 80s Rock Bands. This week, it's an 80s Metal Superstar.
Ozzy Osbourne-Ordinary Man: Possibly the last studio album from the famous metal legend who started out fifty years ago with Black Sabbath. This album has a large number of guest talent, such as Seattle's own Duff McKagan of Guns N Roses on bass, the Red Hot Chili Peppers' Chad Smith on drums, who has also drummed for hard rock singers Sammy Hagar and Glenn Hughes, Slash contributing guitar work, a duet with Elton John, tracks with Post Malone and guitar work from Rage Against the Machine/Audioslave guitarist Tom Morello. Ozzy sums up his career in the title track as such, "Many times I've been the bad guy, been higher than the blue sky and the truth is I don't wanna die an Ordinary Man." I am seriously looking forward to this release tonight and also hope to soon hear when "She Is Here" and "She Is Everywhere" will be released, in terms of major releases in music I'm looking forward to this year.
Thursday, February 20, 2020
Thursday, February 13, 2020
2/14/2020 Releases of Note/Mini Movie Review
The Birds of Prey album and movie were both awesome, the movie also had Heart's "Barracuda" and Joan Jett's "I Hate Myself For Loving You," as well. It was also nice to see Mary Elizabeth Winstead since she played Ramona Flowers in the Scott Pilgrim movie, and Margot Robbie was awesome. The movie reminded me of Deadpool and the Harley Quinn comics I've loved in the last decade.
Not much is happening musically this week that I feel is going to be really great, there's only one release I'm looking at that makes me really feel it'll be good.
Black Swan-Shake The World: This is an album by a Frontiers Records supergroup, in other words, a group the label made out of members from bands they've signed. In this case, you have singer Robin McAuley (best known for his work with Michael Schenker), guitarist Reb Beach (Winger/Whitesnake), bassist Jeff Pilson (Dokken/T&N/Dio/Foreigner), and drummer Matt Starr (played with a band named Mr. Big and Ace Frehley, but not the drummer for Ace Frehley when I saw him). The result is a powerhouse rock hand that does feel like it's "shaking the world" as the album title states. Part of this is the good blend of guitar, bass and vocals especially on the title track, which has been a single since last December. This might be because Reb Beach and Jeff Pilson also made a cover of Ozzy Osbourne's "I Don't Know" for a tribute album some time ago, so they have good chemistry because they know each other. Reb Beach also worked for Dokken for a short time, but I don't remember if Pilson was with the band during that time or not. Anyway, this sounds, from the singles and samples, like a fun release, and I'm really looking forward to it.
Not much is happening musically this week that I feel is going to be really great, there's only one release I'm looking at that makes me really feel it'll be good.
Black Swan-Shake The World: This is an album by a Frontiers Records supergroup, in other words, a group the label made out of members from bands they've signed. In this case, you have singer Robin McAuley (best known for his work with Michael Schenker), guitarist Reb Beach (Winger/Whitesnake), bassist Jeff Pilson (Dokken/T&N/Dio/Foreigner), and drummer Matt Starr (played with a band named Mr. Big and Ace Frehley, but not the drummer for Ace Frehley when I saw him). The result is a powerhouse rock hand that does feel like it's "shaking the world" as the album title states. Part of this is the good blend of guitar, bass and vocals especially on the title track, which has been a single since last December. This might be because Reb Beach and Jeff Pilson also made a cover of Ozzy Osbourne's "I Don't Know" for a tribute album some time ago, so they have good chemistry because they know each other. Reb Beach also worked for Dokken for a short time, but I don't remember if Pilson was with the band during that time or not. Anyway, this sounds, from the singles and samples, like a fun release, and I'm really looking forward to it.
Thursday, February 6, 2020
2/7/2020 releases of Note
Last week brought the surprising releases of new singles from Demi Lovato and Hayley Williams, as well as three tracks from Billy Ray Cyrus. This week looks to be rather interesting, with four notable releases scheduled.
Birds
of Prey album-An album of pop, rap and alternative pop singers who are all women tied in to the new DCEU movie about Harley Quinn and the Gotham City superheroine group Birds of Prey. The Birds of Prey traditionally include Black Canary, who is a professional singer who has the "Canary Cry," a hyper-sonic scream that can shatter windows and flip over cars. A song is credited to her on the album. Another typical member of the group is the Huntress, who is typically depicted as a crossbow-wielding super-sniper who wants revenge on the mob. In this movie, the character will be played by Mary Elizabeth Winstead, who played Ramona Flowers in the Scott Pilgrim movie. The album features songs by Normani and Megan Thee Stallion, Saweetie, Halsey and K.Flay. I have heard Normani and Megan Thee Stallion and Saweetie's tracks and they are really good, fitting the movie and Harley's character. Halsey and K.Flay also do great work and I look forward to hearing their songs.
Green Day-Father of All...: The major alternative rock band is back with an album that takes aim at the BS of the current administration. I thought for a while I wouldn't like Green Day due to how political they are, then I saw Billie Joe Armstrong in the Joan Jett documentary and heard some of their music on Spotify which helped with some of the anxiety and anger I was feeling politically at the time, so I'm hoping this will help a lot of people who feel isolated and roughed up right now.
Richard Marx-LIMITLESS: I mainly know Richard Marx as a songwriter rather than hearing him sing his own music, but he does have a nice rock-pop style and I feel this album will be worth checking out.
J.J. Cale-2 Meter Sessions #461: J.J. Cale is a 1970s blues musician responsible for songs covered by more popular artists, such as "After Midnight," (Eric Clapton) "Call Me The Breeze," (Lynyrd Skynyrd) and "Crazy Mama" (Billy Ray Cyrus). There aren't many of his more famous songs on this album, but it's always nice to hear such an influential artist, especially since J.J. Cale passed away in 2013.
Thursday, January 30, 2020
1/31/2020 releases of note
This looks to be less busy than last week, but busy nonetheless, with several good releases aimed for tonight. Last week also brought the surprise releases of new singles from Pearl Jam, Demi Lovato and Hayley Williams, so there might be some nice surprises this week as well.
Glenn Hughes-Justified Man 1995-2003: A box set of five Glenn Hughes solo albums from the 90s and 2000s. Included is "Addiction," one of my favorite albums of his, with a live performance of the Deep Purple song "You Fool No One."
Gary Moore-Live in London: A live release of the late British Blues singer/guitar player, including his songs "Still Got The Blues" and "Parisienne Walkways." Moore was also influential in the Hard Rock scene, with Bob Daisley making a tribute album for him a couple years ago that included contributions from Eric Singer, Doug Aldrich and Glenn Hughes.
Clint Lowery-God Bless the Renegades: Lowery is best known as the guitarist for Sevendust, and wrote the riff for the Stryper song "Yahweh." Here, he plays a grungy, alternative rock/hard rock album with some theological themes present.
Glenn Hughes-Justified Man 1995-2003: A box set of five Glenn Hughes solo albums from the 90s and 2000s. Included is "Addiction," one of my favorite albums of his, with a live performance of the Deep Purple song "You Fool No One."
Gary Moore-Live in London: A live release of the late British Blues singer/guitar player, including his songs "Still Got The Blues" and "Parisienne Walkways." Moore was also influential in the Hard Rock scene, with Bob Daisley making a tribute album for him a couple years ago that included contributions from Eric Singer, Doug Aldrich and Glenn Hughes.
Clint Lowery-God Bless the Renegades: Lowery is best known as the guitarist for Sevendust, and wrote the riff for the Stryper song "Yahweh." Here, he plays a grungy, alternative rock/hard rock album with some theological themes present.
Thursday, January 23, 2020
1/24/2020 Releases of Note
As opposed to last week being relatively quiet, there are quite a few releases on Spotify already on my radar scheduled for this week. This seems to be the week Frontiers Music SRL is releasing several of their albums, them being an Italian label that holds the rights to several 80s bands, bands in that style and supergroups they made with the members of those 80s bands.
Blue Oyster Cult-Hard Rock Live in Cleveland 2014: As a Godzilla fan, Blue Oyster Cult holds a special place in my heart, and I saw them in 2014, so this album will likely be very close to what I saw back then. Songs like "Don't Fear The Reaper," "Cities on Flame With Rock and Roll" and one of my personal favorites, "Black Blade" are on this album and I look forward to a stroll down memory lane.
Jorn-Heavy Rock Radio II: Executing the Classics: A covers album from the Norwegian Metal Band and Ronnie James Dio enthusiast. This actually features songs from non-metal acts, such as Bryan Adams, Foreigner and Russ Ballard. However, there's still songs from harder rock acts, such as Deep Purple and Dio, Jorn's favorite.
Elton John-Live From Moscow 1979: A live album of pop sensation and expert pianist Elton John from behind the Iron Curtain. It includes hits like "Don't Let The Sun Go Down On Me," "Rocket Man" and "Bennie and The Jets." There's also a "Saturday Night's Alright For Fighting/Pinball Wizard" Medley, as well as a Medley of "Crocodile Rock" and two Beatles' songs, "Get Back" and fittingly enough, "Back in the USSR."
Mamas Don't Let Your Babies Grow Up to Be Cowboys-Lukas Nelson and Shooter Jennings (The Ranch Netflix)-The Netflix show "The Ranch" releases its soundtrack tonight, and of note is the sons of Waylon Jennings and Willie Nelson singing one of their dad's biggest hits.
Blue Oyster Cult-Hard Rock Live in Cleveland 2014: As a Godzilla fan, Blue Oyster Cult holds a special place in my heart, and I saw them in 2014, so this album will likely be very close to what I saw back then. Songs like "Don't Fear The Reaper," "Cities on Flame With Rock and Roll" and one of my personal favorites, "Black Blade" are on this album and I look forward to a stroll down memory lane.
Jorn-Heavy Rock Radio II: Executing the Classics: A covers album from the Norwegian Metal Band and Ronnie James Dio enthusiast. This actually features songs from non-metal acts, such as Bryan Adams, Foreigner and Russ Ballard. However, there's still songs from harder rock acts, such as Deep Purple and Dio, Jorn's favorite.
Elton John-Live From Moscow 1979: A live album of pop sensation and expert pianist Elton John from behind the Iron Curtain. It includes hits like "Don't Let The Sun Go Down On Me," "Rocket Man" and "Bennie and The Jets." There's also a "Saturday Night's Alright For Fighting/Pinball Wizard" Medley, as well as a Medley of "Crocodile Rock" and two Beatles' songs, "Get Back" and fittingly enough, "Back in the USSR."
Mamas Don't Let Your Babies Grow Up to Be Cowboys-Lukas Nelson and Shooter Jennings (The Ranch Netflix)-The Netflix show "The Ranch" releases its soundtrack tonight, and of note is the sons of Waylon Jennings and Willie Nelson singing one of their dad's biggest hits.
Thursday, January 16, 2020
1/17/2020 Releases of Note
It looks to be a mostly quiet week this week on Spotify, but there could be some surprising singles. Last week, Ozzy Osbourne released the third single from his upcoming album "Ordinary Man," which he's going on tour for with Marilyn Manson this summer. It was the title track and featured piano and guest vocals by Sir Elton John, which was a nice surprise. Also, according to Wikipedia, Slash has contributed some guitar work to the project. The first single for the album for the upcoming DCEU Superheroine film "Birds of Prey" was also released, and Amazon.com states every track will be sung by a woman. The film's character Black Canary gets a song, and Lesbian Alternative Rock/Pop singer K.Flay has a track, her second contribution to a licensed Warner Brothers movie, the first being Tomb Raider in 2018, which was one of the best video game movies I've ever seen.
Anyway, onto the upcoming releases:
Duane Allman/Eric Clapton-Jamming in 1970: This may be a vinyl-only release, but it would be a good addition to any classic rock collection. Eric hired the Allman Brothers' guitarist to help him complete the Derek and the Dominos album Layla and Other Assorted Love Songs. One August night, the two were fiddling around and producer Tom Dowd let the recording tapes roll. I imagine there will be more than a few blues jams, Blues music was a big passion of both guitarists, both have recorded the Blues classic "Goin' Down Slow" and a song that sound like a jam session on the album is the Blues standard "Key to the Highway."
The Moog Machine-Switched On Rock: Based on the MP3 tracks listed for this, this seems to be late 60s, maybe early 70s rock songs performed on a Moog synthesizer. Favorites of mine such as "Jumpin' Jack Flash," "Get Back" and "Hey Jude" are listed and I figure it's at least worth a listen for curiousity's sake.
Anyway, onto the upcoming releases:
Duane Allman/Eric Clapton-Jamming in 1970: This may be a vinyl-only release, but it would be a good addition to any classic rock collection. Eric hired the Allman Brothers' guitarist to help him complete the Derek and the Dominos album Layla and Other Assorted Love Songs. One August night, the two were fiddling around and producer Tom Dowd let the recording tapes roll. I imagine there will be more than a few blues jams, Blues music was a big passion of both guitarists, both have recorded the Blues classic "Goin' Down Slow" and a song that sound like a jam session on the album is the Blues standard "Key to the Highway."
The Moog Machine-Switched On Rock: Based on the MP3 tracks listed for this, this seems to be late 60s, maybe early 70s rock songs performed on a Moog synthesizer. Favorites of mine such as "Jumpin' Jack Flash," "Get Back" and "Hey Jude" are listed and I figure it's at least worth a listen for curiousity's sake.
On 1/21, there will be a Blind Faith MP3 release of their live performance in Hyde Park in 1969. Blind Faith was another supergroup Eric Clapton made, most famous for the song "Presence of the Lord." This song was famous enough live recordings of it while Clapton had Derek and the Dominos have been released. I feel Clapton has since regretted the song because I've known from experience Christians can develop a cult around a celebrity who is willing to praise Jesus, then immediately slam them into the wall when they do something not up to their moral code, rather than realizing every person sins and we all need forgiveness for the people we've hurt.
Tuesday, January 14, 2020
Reviews of Favorite Albums
Doing a pair from 1973 today, been feeling nostalgic to that year since I hit 73 playlists of what I'd call "Party Rock" in Spotify.
Lynyrd Skynyrd-Pronounced Leh-Nerd Skin-Nerd (1973): The Debut album of Jacksonville, FL Rock Band Lynyrd Skynyrd, bringing a lot of classic rock to the air waves. We start with I Ain’t The One is a swampy powerhouse rocker with a solo by Allen Collins about an obsessive woman. Tuesday’s Gone is next, a somber farewell to a woman departing on a train with the solo performed by Gary Rossington, who performed most of the solos on this album. This song was later covered by Metallica on their Garage, Inc. album, with Gary Rossington playing the solo again. Gimme Three Steps is next, an upbeat rocker about a man who is threatened by an aggressive man who thinks our narrator dancing with his girl at a club called The Jug. This is followed by Simple Man, a ballad with a solo by Gary Rossington about practical life advice from your parents. This song’s lyrics were apparently thought up when Ronnie Van Zant took a shower after a conversation with Gary about their parents and grandparents. Things Goin’ On criticizes the Nixon administration and still works for the current one, especially with the song’s barbs about careless attitude to war, spending and pollution. Mississippi Kid, an acoustic number, is next, about a tough son of a gun who should not be messed with as he heads to Alabama. Poison Whiskey follows it, a grungy rock song about the dangers of drug use, something that became a recurring theme in Lynyrd Skynyrd’s music, with the next album’s “The Needle and The Spoon” and Street Survivors’ “That Smell.” Last, but definitely not least, in fact, it is most, is Free Bird, is an epic ending with a wailing solo by Allen Collins, driving you to the highest heights of excitement that rock can bring.
Ringo Starr-Ringo (1973)-Ringo Starr has had the most fascinating solo career of all the members of The Beatles to me, mainly because of the guest appearances of so many other famous musicians on his albums. On his first solo effort after the breakup, the first track, “I’m The Greatest,” was written by and features backing vocals and piano by John Lennon. George Harrison provides guitar and Billy Preston, who was on The Beatles’ “Let it Be” and “Abbey Road” sessions plays keyboard. Klaus Voorman, who was on John and George’s solo albums, provides bass and John has Ringo refer to himself as “Billy Shears,” a name he was referred to on Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band. The 3rd track, “Photograph,” was written by Ringo and George, and due to its somber tone and lines like “Every time I see your face, it reminds me of the places we used to go/But all I’ve got is a photograph and I realize you’re not coming back anymore,” the song has become a tribute to George Harrison. “You’re Sixteen, You’re Beautiful and You’re Mine,” (written by the Sherman Brothers of Disney fame) features a kazoo solo by Paul McCartney, while Ringo Starr wrote “Step Lightly” and shows off his tap-dancing skills in the song. Paul also contributed the love ballad “Six O’Clock” and sang backup and played synthesizer on it. To me, “Ringo” almost feels like the lost last Beatles album, and with it ending with Ringo thanking everyone who helped him, including John, Paul and George, it feels like a better note for the best band in history to end on than Phil Spector ruining “The Long and Winding Road.”
Lynyrd Skynyrd-Pronounced Leh-Nerd Skin-Nerd (1973): The Debut album of Jacksonville, FL Rock Band Lynyrd Skynyrd, bringing a lot of classic rock to the air waves. We start with I Ain’t The One is a swampy powerhouse rocker with a solo by Allen Collins about an obsessive woman. Tuesday’s Gone is next, a somber farewell to a woman departing on a train with the solo performed by Gary Rossington, who performed most of the solos on this album. This song was later covered by Metallica on their Garage, Inc. album, with Gary Rossington playing the solo again. Gimme Three Steps is next, an upbeat rocker about a man who is threatened by an aggressive man who thinks our narrator dancing with his girl at a club called The Jug. This is followed by Simple Man, a ballad with a solo by Gary Rossington about practical life advice from your parents. This song’s lyrics were apparently thought up when Ronnie Van Zant took a shower after a conversation with Gary about their parents and grandparents. Things Goin’ On criticizes the Nixon administration and still works for the current one, especially with the song’s barbs about careless attitude to war, spending and pollution. Mississippi Kid, an acoustic number, is next, about a tough son of a gun who should not be messed with as he heads to Alabama. Poison Whiskey follows it, a grungy rock song about the dangers of drug use, something that became a recurring theme in Lynyrd Skynyrd’s music, with the next album’s “The Needle and The Spoon” and Street Survivors’ “That Smell.” Last, but definitely not least, in fact, it is most, is Free Bird, is an epic ending with a wailing solo by Allen Collins, driving you to the highest heights of excitement that rock can bring.
Ringo Starr-Ringo (1973)-Ringo Starr has had the most fascinating solo career of all the members of The Beatles to me, mainly because of the guest appearances of so many other famous musicians on his albums. On his first solo effort after the breakup, the first track, “I’m The Greatest,” was written by and features backing vocals and piano by John Lennon. George Harrison provides guitar and Billy Preston, who was on The Beatles’ “Let it Be” and “Abbey Road” sessions plays keyboard. Klaus Voorman, who was on John and George’s solo albums, provides bass and John has Ringo refer to himself as “Billy Shears,” a name he was referred to on Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band. The 3rd track, “Photograph,” was written by Ringo and George, and due to its somber tone and lines like “Every time I see your face, it reminds me of the places we used to go/But all I’ve got is a photograph and I realize you’re not coming back anymore,” the song has become a tribute to George Harrison. “You’re Sixteen, You’re Beautiful and You’re Mine,” (written by the Sherman Brothers of Disney fame) features a kazoo solo by Paul McCartney, while Ringo Starr wrote “Step Lightly” and shows off his tap-dancing skills in the song. Paul also contributed the love ballad “Six O’Clock” and sang backup and played synthesizer on it. To me, “Ringo” almost feels like the lost last Beatles album, and with it ending with Ringo thanking everyone who helped him, including John, Paul and George, it feels like a better note for the best band in history to end on than Phil Spector ruining “The Long and Winding Road.”
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