Monthly Archives: March 2009

Getting back in the swing of things….

Yeah, yeah, I haven’t done much in the way of posts this month so far, but that changes today! The plan is to do a review everyday for the rest of the week.

PLUS — the very first Metal Excess interview! That’s right, on Friday I’ll be posting a Metal Excess Q&A with Italian metal band Idols Are Dead. Consult any of the links below for more info on the band in your preparation for Friday. =)

www.idolsaredead.com
www.myspace.com/idolsrdead
www.youtube.com/idolsrdead

BUCKCHERRY – 15

Buckcherry – 15 (2005, Eleven Seven Music)

Track Listing:
1. “So Far” … 3:19
2. “Next 2 You” … 3:28
3. “Out of Line” … 4:22
4. “Everything” … 4:23
5. “Carousel” … 4:31
6. “Sorry” … 3:46
7. “Crazy Bitch” … 3:22
8. “Onset” … 3:35
9. “Sunshine” … 4:12
10. “Brooklyn” … 3:59
11. “Broken Glass” … 3:31

Band:
Josh Todd – Lead Vocals
Keith Nelson – Guitar, Backing Vocals
Stevie D. – Guitar, Backing Vocals
Jimmy Ashhurt – Bass, Backing Vocals
Xavier Muriel – Drums, Backing Vocals

Additional Musicians:
Mark Watrous – Keyboard

Produced by: Mike Plotnikoff, Paul DeCarli, Keith Nelson

This album kinda passed me by, even though I picked it up soon after it was released. I was happy the band was back and had a huge rock radio hit with “Crazy Bitch” (then later a pop hit with “Sorry”), but outside of “Crazy Bitch”, I didn’t really listen to the album much. Sometimes, when I buy many CDs within a short span of time, some get lost in the shuffle and not played as much. Perhaps 15 suffered that fate.

And that’s just too bad because this album is REALLY good. In fact, I’d place it right behind my favorite Buckcherry album, 2008′s Black Butterfly. Whatever Josh Todd & Keith Nelson are doing since bring the group back, it’s working for me. There’s a looser, heavier 70s vibe than what was found on their self-titled debut and Time Bomb.

A good handful of songs here have been a part of their live show when I’ve seen them: “Next 2 You”, “Broken Glass” (which sounds even better live), “Out of Line”, “Everything”, “Onset”, and of course “Sorry” and “Crazy Bitch”.

Highlights: “Next 2 You”, “Everything”, “Sorry”, “Crazy Bitch”, “Onset”, “Broken Glass”

www.buckcherry.com
www.myspace.com/buckcherry

SOS – Adult Situations

SOS – Adult Situations (2008, self-released)

Track Listing:
1. “Walk of Shame” … 3:14
2. “Fear & Ferocity” … 3:31
3. “Do You Want to Go Bowling…?” … 2:38
4. “Daddy Like” … 2:58
5. “Wasteland Temptress” … 3:15
6. “Hypoxyphilia” … 4:34
7. “Frames” … 4:11
8. “The Bane of Joe Smolinsky” … 4:08
9. “Half Mast” … 2:26
10. “The Thing Is…” … 4:20
11. “Life of Love and Peace and Harmony” … 2:46
12. “Separation to Survive” … 4:13

Band:
Adam Mastrosimone – Vocals, Bass
Ted Matwijiw – Guitar, Vocals
Mike SOS – Guitars, Vocals
Travis Harrison – Drums, Percussion
Brett Thompson -Drums, Percussion

SOS brings a New York hardcore metal sound and adds a bit of stoner rock and alternative metal. This isn’t the band’s first release, but it is the first I’ve ever heard and it’s a decent release and the whole album has straight-forward gritty, dirty punch to it. The sound isn’t really similar to any so called “modern” acts. The album could’ve easily been released in the late 80s/early 90s alternative & hardcore metal scene.

This normally isn’t my type of music, but there are a few bright spots here and SOS is definitely a band loaded with potential.

www.sosnyc.com
www.myspace.com/sosnyc

“We’ve Got Pop!”

Who remembers THAT incredibly annoying catchphrase when The Nashville Network became The National Network (AKA – The New TNN)? Of course, they went on to become Spike and annoy me in different ways, but there’s neither here nor there!

You see, I’d like to take a break from the music talk to plug another project of mine…

It’s Panels On Pages, a comic book-rooted geek culture site. Certainly you would like to read reviews and thoughts on all of your favorite toys, comics and movies past present and future, wouldn’t you? If it’s geek culture, it’s gonna be there. So bookmark the site, add it to your little Google Reader, sign up at the POP! message board and enjoy. You can also start with my review of Fables Vol. 11: War and Pieces.

Basically, a bunch of us over at the Wizard Universe message board decided it would be fun to get our own site going. It’s a nice little business venture that we’re doing for kicks.

THE LAST VEGAS – The Last Vegas

The Last Vegas – The Last Vegas (2008, self-released)

Track Listing:
1. “High Class Trash” … 3:46
2. “So Young, So Pretty, So What” … 4:01
3. “Loose Lips” … 4:46
4. “Good Deal for Bad Times” … 2:58
5. “Velvet Cream” … 3:26
6. “Just One Look” … 5:36
7. “Room at the Top” … 3:45
8. “Another Lover” … 4:01
9. “White Lies” … 5:00
10. “The Cruelty” … 3:00
11. “Dead Roses” … 3:09
12. “Love Me (When I’m Bad)” … 5:21
13. “Outta My Mind” … 3:03

Band:
Chad Cherry – Vocals
Adam Arling – Guitar
Nate Arling – Guitar
Danny Smash – Bass
Johnny Wator – Drums

I had heard a really cool song on one of the local rock stations that had a strong 80s hair metal vibe. After listening to a few of the lyrics and going a Google search, I came up with nothing. So, eventually I figured out which station it was I had been listening to and hit up there play list and found out the song was The Last Vegas’ “I’m Bad”. I knew I had to check out this album, as was actually surprised when I went to their site to find out this 2008 self-titled release is actually their 2nd full album.

Anyway, a sign of the times, “I’m Bad” is available exclusively as an iTunes download… it’s not on this album! Just seems really odd to me to have an album and a single out, yet, the single isn’t on the album. But upon closer inspection, seems like this album was self-released and “I’m Bad” is a single released under Eleven Seven Music (the home of Motley Crue, Buckcherry, Trapt, SIXX:AM). Well that gives me hope. I’d love to see Eleven Seven Music President Nikki Sixx help with the writing/producing of their next album (not that they really need the help). A quick check reveals a new album will supposedly come out Spring 2009.

This release is being push more as a digital release, but I picked up the “limited pressing” digipak. I much prefer having a physical copy of music over a digital copy. So, despite my disappointment over not getting “I’m Bad”, I still really wanted to check out the band and they’re very good. How good? Good enough to score the opening slot for Motley Crue’s Saints of Los Angeles 2009 tour ! See how it all ties in together?

No songs jump out as “hair band-ish” as “I’m Bad”, but it’s all still a good mix of glam, sleaze and garage rock. Even a bit of southern rock and punk seeps in from this Chicago-based group. The album has a very rough feel and it’s a nice refreshing take from some of the slicker rock acts out there. It’s good time rock ‘n’ roll with a very loose “who cares” feel.

Highlights: “High Class Trash”, “So Young, So Pretty, So What”, “Velvet Cream”, “Just One Look”, “Room at the Top”, “The Cruelty”, “Love Me (When I’m Bad)”

www.thelastvegas.com
www.myspace.com/thelastvegas

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