As I did shortly after last Christmas, I went and blew a good chunk of my Xmas money today (which is all I get anymore; the presents are dwindling). I like to think of it as my late Christmas to myself. But anyway, I went to the only place within twenty minutes that sells more than just greatest hits and new releases and treated myself to a CD extravaganza. Seriously, I know I had to have been holding over twenty CD's, picking and choosing which ones to put back on the shelf (Skid Row went back on the shelf for about the fifth time, as well as Twisted Sister).
But anyway, I ended up buying nine CD's in all. And I can proudly say that NONE of them were greatest hits! Eight of them are studio albums and one is a compilation of three different live albums. Of the eight studio albums, four of them were released after 2003 (I'm staying to my New Year's Resolution to check out more modern music!) So here's what I got, in order of how I predict I will enjoy them (the one I think I will enjoy the most being at the top):
1.
Alive! Boxset,
KISS (Boxed set of three live albums and a live concert)
2.
Sticky Fingers,
The Rolling Stones
3.
Riding With the King,
B.B. King & Eric Clapton
4.
Get Born,
Jet
5.
Steppenwolf 7,
Steppenwolf
6.
Mighty ReArranger,
Robert Plant and the Strange Sensation
7.
Baby 81,
Black Rebel Motorcycle Club
8.
Echoes, Silence, Patience & Grace,
Foo Fighters
9.
Last Splash,
The Breeders
Okay, so here's what I'm going to do. I'll randomly pick a CD from the pile, listen to it, and post my thoughts and rating for it (keep in mind, my ratings are very strict; a 3 out 5 is considered 'good' for me, as in I would recommend it). After I've listened to each CD, I'll post my rankings of them and compare them to my original, pre-listen rankings. (Yes, I know, this is one of those journals that is more for me than it is for you but hey, it's what I want to do.) And just so's ya knows, I'll post this journal after each review, so I don't lose what I'm writing. So if you're reading an incomplete journal, it just means I haven't gotten to all the CD's yet. Now, without further ado, the CD's...
Riding With the King,
B.B. King & Eric Clapton
This album is pretty much what I thought it was going to be, which is a great collaboration between two long time friends.
Riding With the King is a collection of covers and re-works from B.B. King and Eric Clapton that works very well as the two great bluesmen trade off lead vocals and lead guitar. Jimmie Vaughan and Steve Gadd jump into the mix to turn this album into a solid, millenium tribute to traditional blues.
The title track is the perfect song to lead off with. It serves to remind you that you
are riding with the kings of the blues, and that the album you're about to experience is a textbook example of the blues. "Marry You" is fairly upbeat, with King & Clapton singing together and drawing a picture of the two friends smiling as they harmonize together. "Three O'Clock Blues" is one, long fiery jam that holds up well for being eight minutes on the same two strings.
"I Wanna Be" is a bit different, with a more modern feel to it. It has a little more distortion in the guitars, more prominent drums and additional background effects. The weaving of B.B.'s and Eric's voices is on display here, and the effect is nothing short of magnificent. "Worried Life Blues" is perfect music for rockin' on the porch as the sun goes down. The album rounds out with the foot-tapper "Days of Old", the jazzy, two-string "When My Heart Beats Like a Hammer" and a Ray Charles-worthy version of "Come Rain or Come Shine".
Like I said, I got exactly what I wanted out of this album. There was no "first single" song that stood out, and certainly no filler songs to bulk up the album. King & Clapton simply deliver on what they do best: killin' the blues.
Rating (out of 5)
Steppenwolf 7,
Steppenwolf
I bought this album because it
didn't have "Born to Be Wild" or "Magic Carpet Ride" on it. I wanted to try and dig deep into the vaults of classic rock and find a good album that had faded a little bit. Lo and behold, I happen upon
Steppenwolf 7 while flicking up and down the rows of a CD store.
This is a rock-solid album from the Canadian rock band Steppenwolf. A good beat throughout the whole album, some good guitar licks and "Lynyrd Skynyrd gone psychadelic" vocals all mesh together to produce a respectable album that the vast majority of people have either forgotten or never heard of.
The most obvious thing about this album is that there is no song that jumps out at you as being familiar, like "Born to Be Wild". And again, that's what drew me to this album; a fresh look at a band I used to think was a two-hit wonder. "Forty Days and Forty Nights" has some great vocals and guitar interludes, a standard classic rock song. "Foggy Mental Breakdown" is probably the first and only instance of 'mountain rock'; harmonicas, ramblings about mountain dew and steely acoustic guitar.
"Snowblind Friend" is straight country, which somehow works right in the middle of the album. However, it's right back to rock and roll with "Who Needs Ya'", with a mean riff and great groove. The oddly-titled "Earschplittenloudenboomer" is a wonderful instrumental piece, rich with many instruments and sounds, including a radio bit from an old German guy.
This album was a nice find for me; not exactly a "diamond in the rough", but more like a gem in the rough. There is no one song that really leads the album, but the lineup of songs is solid and stands for a good listen. If you're looking for a decent classic rock album that you've never heard, I recommend picking this one up. It's a good taste of rock and roll as it was in 1970.
Rating (out of 5)
Baby 81,
Black Rebel Motorcycle Club
It was apparent from the first ten minutes of listening to this album that I was in foreign territory. This is one of my attempts to catch on with a more modern rock band. I'm not really familiar with this sound, though; it's sort of alternative, then again it's sort of "modern classic". Regardless of labels, Black Rebel Motorcycle Club definitely embody the "modern" sound for rock and roll bands.
There were four songs that I enjoyed the first time I listened to them: "Berlin", "Weapon of Choice", "666 Conducer" and "Lien on Your Dreams". These are the songs that have more of a classic rock sound to them. They've got heavy guitars, catchy vocals and lyrics and a great drum sound (a thunderous sound; not the flat sound that a lot of drummers have). When B.R.M.C. really get goin' on a song, they know where to take it and deliver to the fullest. The four aforementioned songs are the highlights for me, as they are prime examples of what a modern rock and roll band should sound like, in my opinion of course.
The rest of the album... meh. A lot of the songs seem stuck in the same gear; that slow, dragging gear that gives you a headache because it never really goes anywhere. The vocals keep echoing, the guitars keep droning, the drums have the same hit over and over... it gets repetitive.
I find it fitting that the entire image/art that goes with the album is in black and white. That's the kind of picture I get in my mind from most of the songs: black and white, somewhat undefined. I don't mean to knock on the album, it's just that some of the songs lack a strong direction.
I previewed their album previous to this one, and it had a softer, acoustic touch to it. I think I might enjoy that one a little more, so I think I might pick that one up. I've also heard that their first two albums were stronger as well. So this might be just be a case of picking up the wrong album from a good band.
Overall, this album fell a little short of my expectations. There were four solid songs that I'll probably listen to again, but with thirteen songs total, there's just a few too many songs that cloud up the atmosphere of the album. I was expecting a little more "rock" from a so-called "rock and roll band". I won't say I'm done with B.R.M.C., but this album didn't win me over.
Rating (out of 5)
Mighty ReArranger,
Robert Plant and the Strange Sensation
This is the first of the CD's to surpass my expectations. I thought this would sound too weird for me, that I wouldn't like it because I'd be expecting Led Zeppelin but would instead get some weird noise. But I have to say, this "strange sensation" that Robert Plant is singing with is quite wonderful to listen to. Is it just me, or does everything Robert touch nowadays turn to gold? This album with the Strange Sensation, his duet with Alison Krauss, his reunion with Led Zeppelin... it's been a good few years for Robert recently.
But anyway,
Mighty ReArranger. The obvious, stand-out track is "Shine It All Around", a bouncy little number that manages to be both catchy and deep at the same time. It's the song that initially drew me into the album. Another song that caught my ear was "Tin Pan Valley", which has Robert talking about leaving the talk show couches behind and reaching a higher ground. His singing about living on former glory really rings true and gives him credibility. The best thing about "Tin Pan Valley" though is how the entire song is soft and slow before Robert wails, "Like this!" and you're pinned back by a hammering riff. Great stuff.
Robert has a great band of musicians around as well to compliment his vocals and lyrics. The Strange Sensation (as they're called) go outside of the traditional "guitar/bass/drums" guidelines and add in foreign instruments, many of them from half a world away. It really adds dynamic variety, like on songs such as "Another Tribe" and "All the Kings Horses". But of course, there are guitar riffs and solos aplenty to please those hoping to catch some Zeppelin-esque tunes. "Takamba" has some beastly guitar parts that sound terrific, not to mention a funky guitar solo. "Dancing in Heaven" is another bright spot. It sounds pretty much like you would think it would; Robert singing in his "heavenly" voice, an echoey guitar and a shuffling drum beat.
If you haven't realized it by now, I really enjoyed this album. It has an infectious, spiritual aura about it; a smart, intellectual vibe that allows the music to articulate itself while still remaining pleasantly vague. It's worth a listen for anybody, Zeppelin fan or not. A fine effort from Robert and his Strange Sensation.
Rating (out of 5)
Get Born,
Jet
Ahh man, I was so psyched up to finally listen to this album! I was expecting to hear one of the greatest hard rock albums of the 21st century coming through my speakers. But alas, Gibson1976, I was mislead as to what this album was really all about. I was surprised to find out there are just as many
slow songs as there are faster, rock out songs. Which isn't bad, as long as the slow songs work.
Obviously I love the songs "Are You Gonna Be My Girl" and "Cold Hard Bitch", the two most upbeat and rockin' songs on the album. Those were exactly the kind of songs I was looking for; killer riffs with vocals and chrouses that will reel you in hook, line and sinker. I have to tell you, I had high hopes for this album after the first three songs knocked me out ("Rollover D.J." is another great rock and roll song).
But then the slow songs came in. And as you might know, I'm not a HUGE fan of slow songs. I can appreciate them if done correctly. And I won't goes as far as to say that Jet's slower songs aren't good, but they are inferior to their more fiery songs. Let me put it this way: I got excited whenever I would hear an upbeat song start, and I kind of groaned a little bit once the fourth ballad started up. And again, I attribute most of this to my expectations of this album being a straight up rock and roll album, along the lines of Jet's fellow Austrailians AC/DC.
I came so close to giving
Get Born four stars. I figured that with all the aforementioned songs, and a few more solid ones like "Get What You Need" and "Last Chance", that this album could get a four-star rating. But the slow songs kept dragging the pace down, and I kept waiting for
one more catchy song to really justify a four-star rating. But, it never came.
Although I do like this album and I will be listening to select songs from it many times again, it fell about two inches short of being a great album. I swear, just one more knockout punch and I would have slapped it with that fourth star. Nevertheless, I'm giving a
strong three star rating.
Rating (out of 5)
Last Splash,
The Breeders
What the hell, I bought an indie rock album?! Yes, I consciously bought
Last Splash when I saw it at a bargain price of $4 (used). I bought it because of the song "Cannonball", easily their most popular song. I have a little story behind that song: *Ahem!* Back in the summers of my childhood, my uncle would drive my cousin and me around in their Jeep with the top uncovered. My uncle used to wear his sunglasses and drum on the steering wheel with "Cannonball" blasting through the speakers, singing completely out of key while trying to look like Joe Cool. It's just an odd memory I have that has an odd connection to that song. But anyway, that's why I bought this album.
I'm sure there are many people who love this album. But this just really isn't my thing. Of course I love "Cannonball", but none of the other songs really stood out like that one. "Flipside" sounded promising, but the song was in full rock mode and the vocals never came in! It's not an instrumental; it's a full track sans vocals. Very odd, I thought they missed a great opportunity for a cool song there. But I'm sure they had a reason for it.
There are a few songs that I could probably listen to on a semi-regular basis: "No Aloha", "I Just Wanna Get Along", "Divine Hammer", "Saints" and "Drivin' on 9" (the album has a very strong finish). They're all decent songs that kept my interest. But much like the Black Rebel Motorcycle Club album, I felt far away from home listening to this album. There's a lot of abstraction in the songs, a lot of swirling and quirky sound effects.
I didn't expect to love this album, and I don't. But I can respect it as a good indie rock album. I'm not familiar with indie rock at all, but this foray into indie territory was pretty cool. I heard some different stuff and actually liked a few songs besides "Cannonball". But again, this isn't really my thing. This isn't a hateful two-star rating, more like a "not right for me but still good for people who like this kind of stuff" two-star rating.
Rating (out of 5)
Sticky Fingers,
The Rolling Stones
I bought this album because I'm trying to eradicate my greatest hits album I have of the Stones. I'm buying their studio albums so as to get a real feel for who they are as a band, and to uncover great-but-forgotten rock and roll songs. I had very high expectations for this album and I can easily say I was not disappointed.
"Brown Sugar" is, of course, a killer rock and roll song. I've loved that song forever, and it still sounds just as good today (with that swinging beat and raunchy lyrics) as it did when I first heard it. "Sway" is a very cool song as well, singing about "the demon life" and whatnot of a musician who's constantly on the road. I know "Wild Horses" is a fan favorite, but I've never really liked it. I can't really explain why, but it's never clicked with me.
"Can't You Hear Me Knocking" is the highlight of the album for me. I love it when I find an old song on an old album like this. A great, bluesy riff, great verses that sway back in forth in trance. Add in a saxophone solo in a dream-like breakdown sequence and you've got a great song! The guitar solo that follows that is spectacular as well, leading into the final crescendo of the song. This track alone justified my purchase.
"You Gotta Move" is an interesting little diddy, with Mick Jagger imitating an old Delta blues singer with the backing of a raw, acoustic blues rhythm. "Bitch" adds a nice touch of brass to a mean, rockin' blues rhythm. A classic example of the Stones' rockier side. I had a feeling I was going to like "I Got the Blues", and I was right. I love the line "Love is a bed full of blues", that just sounds like a definitive Jagger line to me. Then who should jump into the mix at 2:13 but my man Billy Preston! That wrenching organ solo is ecstatic.
"Sister Morphine" doesn't really get going until the middle of the song, after Charlie Watts' drum crash. It's a decent song, but certainly not my favorite off the album. "Dead Flowers" is a country-esque song about falling deep into drugs. It's a curious little piece; I'm not sure if it's completely serious or somewhat of a joke. Either way, it's a good song with a catchy drumbeat. The album ends with "Moonlight Mile", a rare, behind-the-scenes glimpse into the true Mick Jagger, not the rock star persona he portrayed. It's a beautiful ballad, with strings and horns and soulful vocals that are "just a moonlight mile down the road". A fine ending to a more-than-fine album.
This album had every thing I was looking for. It had the straight-forward rock and roll songs ("Brown Sugar", "Bitch", "Can't You Hear Me Knocking"), the knees-deep in blues songs ("Sway", "I Got the Blues", "You Gotta Move") and a few ballady songs that worked in nicely but didn't drag the album down ("Wild Horses", "Moonlight Mile"). This album was exactly what I needed; rock and roll, in every essence of the word. The songwriting duo of Jagger & Richards pulled off another shining album, one of the best I've heard in a long time.
Rating (out of 5)
Echoes, Silence, Patience & Grace,
Foo Fighters
"The Pretender". That's the reason I had to have this album. That opening track is just astounding, so many dynamics in play. Dave Grohl's voice is so intense and Taylor Hawkins' drums sound so urgent... it's like the apocalypse is rapidly approaching. When Dave growls, "What if I say that I'll never surrender?!", you just want to stand up and beat your chest along with him. The song keeps building the entire time, from the clean-picked intro to the electrifying explosion of the ending. I found myself enamored with the chorus, always a good sign for me. It's a great political anthem and starts the album off with a bang.
I have to admit, I wasn't expecting much from the rest of the album. But I was surprised by how well the lineup of songs holds its own after the grandiose opener. "Erase/Replace" has nice little groove to it that caught my attention, definitely a cool song. "Long Road to Ruin" was another good song, kind of the ballady type but not totally sappy. Great vocals from Dave on that one. "Come Alive" is a standard alternative rock speaker-buster that keeps the album chugging along.
"Stranger Things Have Happened" is a nice little acoustic piece, a chance to slow down for a second and enjoy a slower song. "Cheer Up, Boys (Your Make Up Is Running" has a great title, and the song itself is almost just as good. "Ballad of the Beaconsfield Miners" is a serviceable acoustic instrumental in memorium of the Beaconsfield mining mishap. "Statues" adds in a nice touch of piano late in the album. "But, Honestly" puts some much-needed electric firepower back into the album, cranking the pace back up a little. The album ends with the slowest song on the list, "Home", which finally "echoes" the album's title.
Man, Dave Grohl's got some real fire in him. His vocals are aggressive yet not overly macho. His guitar playing is mean and loud but not overbearing. Most of the songs on the album work very well, whether they're heavier or slower songs. But with only one stand-out track and a couple tracks that could have been saved for bonus tracks on a compilation album down the road, I can't give the album a "great" rating, even though it is one of the better albums I've heard from 2007. It's very solid, but not solid gold.
Rating (out of 5)
Alive! Boxset,
KISS
I'm so glad to have all three of KISS' live albums now. KISS, moreso than any other band I've ever heard, needs to be heard live to be fairly judged. I already had
Alive III, so I knew what I was getting there. But
Alive! and
Alive II are even better than I thought they were going to be! So many songs get a boost when they're taken into a live setting: "Firehouse", "Nothin' to Lose", "Parasite", "Rock Bottom", "Let Me Go, Rock 'N' Roll", "Ladies Room", "Makin' Love", "Shock Me", "I Stole Your Love", "God of Thunder". All of these songs get a substantial upgrade when played live, a certain element that raises them to another level.
Anyone who's a true fan of KISS knows that KISS' studio outputs can't measure up to their live shows (which might explain why they have so few listeners on Last.fm). These live albums are the true representation of what KISS is. The guitars are meaner, the vocals are rawer, the drums are more thunderous and the crowd noise transports you right into a KISS concert circa 1977.
The trademark sounds of a KISS show can be heard throughout the entire boxset: the siren wailing at the end of "Firehouse", Peter's egotistical demanding drumo solo in the middle of "100,00 Years", all the girls in the audience erupting as the opening notes of "Beth" ring out, the crowd howling in delight as Gene starts spitting blood and breathing fire well hitting ominous notes on his bass, the deafening pyrotechnics at the beginning of "Deuce", Paul riling up everyone in the arena with his between-songs banter and chanting, Ace singing like a rambled drunk on "Shock Me"... it's all in there.
This box set isn't just a few live albums packaged together, it's another fine example of KISS knowing what their fans want and putting out a great product. I mean not only did I get four great live CD's, there was also a full-color, fifty-plus page booklet that came with it, all for thirty bucks! The
Alive! boxset was exactly what I needed to reignite my interest in KISS. There were a few studio tracks on
Alive II that I had never heard (like "Rocket Ride" and "All-American Man") that were a nice find as well, only placing this boxset more in my favor.
Even though I've never been to a KISS concert (though I hope to go some day), these live albums will tide me over for years and years to come if need be. I wanted the best, and man I sure got it!
Rating (out of 5)
So after listening to all the albums, here's how they ended up ranking (number next to an album indicates how many spots up or down it moved in relation to my pre-listen rankings):
1.
Alive! Boxset,
KISS
2.
Sticky Fingers,
The Rolling Stones
3.
Mighty ReArranger,
Robert Plant and the Strange Sensation (+3)
4.
Riding With the King,
B.B. King & Eric CLapton (-1)
5.
Get Born,
Jet (-1)
6.
Echoes, Silence, Patience & Grace,
Foo Fighters (+2)
7.
Steppenwolf 7,
Steppenwolf (-2)
8.
Baby 81,
Black Rebel Motorcycle Club (-1)
9.
Last Splash,
The Breeders
B.B. King & Eric Clapton
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Generated on 10 Nov 2009
