Monthly Archives: May 2009
GUNS N’ ROSES – The Spaghetti Incident?
Guns N’ Roses – The Spaghetti Incident? (1993, Geffen Records)
1. “Since I Don’t Have You” [The Skyliners] … 4:18
2. “New Rose” [The Damned] … 2:38
3. “Down on the Farm” [U.K. Subs] … 3:28
4. “Human Being” [New York Dolls] … 6:48
5. “Raw Power” [The Stooges] … 3:11
6. “Ain’t it Fun” [The Dead Boys] … 5:05
7. “Buick Makane/Big Dumb Sex” [T. Rex/Soundgarden] … 2:39
8. “Hair of the Dog” [Nazareth] … 3:54
9. “Attitude” [The Misfits] … 1:26
10. “Black Leather” [The Professionals] … 4:08
11. “You Can’t Put Your Arms Around a Memory” [Johnny Thunders] … 3:35
12. “I Don’t Care About You” [Fear] … 2:17
13. “Look at Your Game, Girl” [Charles Manson] … 2:34
Band:
Axl Rose – Lead Vocals, Keyboard, Kazoo
Slash – Guitar, Lead Vocals, Backing Vocals
Duff McKagan – Bass, Lead Vocals, Backing Vocals, Guitar, Drums
Gilby Clarke – Guitar
Matt Sorum – Drums, Percussion, Backing Vocals
Dizzy Reed – Piano, Keyboard, Backing Vocals, Percussion
Additional Musicians:
Michael Monroe – Lead Vocals
Carlos Booy – Guitar
Mike Staggs – Guitar
Richard Duguay – Guitar
Mike Fasano – Percussion
Eddie Huletz, Stu Bailey, Eric Mills, Rikki Ratchman, Blake Stanton – Backing Vocals
Produced by: Guns N’ Roses, Mike Clink, Jim Mitchell
The last album that the so-called “real” Guns N’ Roses would ever record together was a album of covers and thus, in my opinion, a bit of a downer due to the odd collection of songs. It was meant as a placeholder (much like GN’R Lies) to keep the fans satisfied until the next original studio album arrived. Of course, that album, Chinese Democracy, arrived FIFTEEN YEARS later with only Axl & Dizzy making the trip.
There’s a strong punk influence on the album (I bet Duff was in heaven), but punk rock has never really been a favorite genre of mine. The real standout is the album’s opener, The Skyliners’ “Since I Don’t Have You”, which itself was kind of an odd choice for an cover album made up of mostly punk bands (and Charles Manson).
The parallels to GN’R Lies continue as Axl made sure to put another controversial track on the record (although it is unlisted on the album’s track listing) — “Look at Your Game, Girl”. It was written by Charles Manson. Supposedly, the rest of the band protested, but as usual, they folded to the demands of Axl who insisted this song be included. The only GNR members to perform on the track were Axl & Dizzy. Surprise surprise!
Anyway, this album is more of a curiosity than anything essential. Sad note for the old school GNR to end on.
Highlights: “Since I Don’t Have You”, “Ain’t It Fun”, “Hair of the Dog”, “Attitude”, “I Don’t Care About You”
www.gunsnroses.com
www.myspace.com/gunsnroses
SAIGON KICK – The Lizard
Saigon Kick – The Lizard (1992, Atlantic Records/Third Stone Records)
1. “Cruelty” … 2:41
2.” Hostile Youth” … 3:18
3. “Feel The Same Way” … 2:43
4. “Freedom” … 4:13
5. “God Of 42nd Street” … 4:00
6. “My Dog” … :52
7. “Peppermint Tribe” … 4:53
8. “Love Is On The Way” … 4:24
9. “The Lizard” … 4:02
10. “All Alright” … 3:55
11. “Sleep” … 1:01
12. “All I Want” … 3:45
13. “Body Bags” … 3:22
14. “Miss Jones” … 2:39
15. “World Goes Round” … 4:55
16. “Chanel” … 2:46
Band:
Matt Kramer – Lead Vocals
Jason Bieler – Guitar
Tom Defile – Bass
Phil Varone – Drums
Produced by: Jason Bieler
Often wrongfully labeled as a “hair metal band” because of the power ballad “Love Is On The Way”, Saigon Kick is really more of a pop metal/alternative rock hybrid. Trying to do both things at once. How savvy of them! Or schizophrenic.
“Love Is On The Way” is one of the greatest hair ballads of all-time, but songs like “Freedom” and “My Dog” are pure alternative metal. This genre jumping makes the album very hit or miss… mostly miss. A few songs are really catchy (“Feel The Same Way” and “Love Is On The Way”), but so much of the rest is alternative garbage to my ears or plain weird (“Chanel”).
I’d say this album is for hardcore Saigon Kick fans only, but how can a band have a hardcore fan base at all when the band itself isn’t even sure what they are? Just stick to any of the hundreds of hair metal compilations that feature “Love is on the Way” and leave the rest alone. I wish I did, I bought this used about 10 years ago and regretted it.
Highlights: “Cruelty”, “Feel The Same Way”, “Peppermint Tribe”, “Love Is On The Way”
www.mattkramer.net/saigonkick.htm (Matt Kramer’s Saigon Kick Webpage)
VELVET REVOLVER – Contraband
Velvet Revolver – Contraband (2004, RCA Records)
1. “Sucker Train Blues” … 4:28
2. “Do It for the Kids” … 3:56
3. “Big Machine” … 4:26
4. “Illegal i Song” … 4:18
5. “Spectacle” … 3:42
6. “Fall to Pieces” … 4:35
7. “Headspace” … 3:43
8. “Superhuman” … 4:16
9. “Set Me Free” … 4:08
10. “You Got No Right” … 5:35
11. “Slither” … 4:08
12. “Dirty Little Thing” … 3:58
13. “Loving the Alien” … 5:49
Band:
Scott Weiland – Vocals
Slash – Guitar, Backing Vocals
Dave Kushner – Guitar
Duff McKagan – Bass, Backing Vocals
Matt Sorum – Drums, Backing Vocals
Additional Musicians:
Douglas Grean – Keyboard
Produced by: Velvet Revolver, Josh Abraham, Douglas Grean, Nick Raskulinecz
I was slightly disappointed when this album came out, which I’m sure stemmed from my extremely high expectations. 3/5 of Guns ‘N Roses (Slash, Duff, Matt) + Stone Temple Pilots (my favorite alternative band) singer Scott Weiland sounded like it could’ve been one of the best hard rock releases of the decade.
I don’t quite think the album is that good, but it’s certainly a well-done release with very little filler and it was nice to hear songs like “Slither”, “Set Me Free” and “Fall to Pieces” on the radio besides the usual nu-metal/post-grunge garbage. If you’re looking for something as ferocious as Appetite for Destruction or any of the blues-influenced GNR hard rock, you’re not gonna find it here (though I suppose “Slither” comes close). If anything, Contraband is a mix of modern alternative rock and the melodies of Stone Temple Pilots (“Loving the Alien” could’ve easily been on a STP album). It’s an album well worth exploring.
The album was released with three different color sleeves: red, white and black. I picked up the black version.
Highlight: “Sucker Train Blues”, “Do It for the Kids”, “Big Machine”, “Illegal i Song”, “Fall to Pieces”, “Set Me Free”, “You Got No Right”, “Slither”, “Dirty Little Thing”, “Loving the Alien”
www.velvetrevolver.com
www.myspace.com/velvetrevolver
HEAVEN & HELL – The Devil You Know
Heaven & Hell – The Devil You Know [Exclusive Best Buy Edition] (2009, Rhino Records)
1. “Atom and Evil” … 5:15
2. “Fear” … 4:48
3. “Bible Black” … 6:29
4. “Double the Pain” … 5:25
5. “Rock and Roll Angel” … 6:25
6. “The Turn of the Screw” … 5:02
7. “Eating the Cannibals” … 3:37
8. “Follow the Tears” … 6:12
9. “Neverwhere” … 4:35
10. “Breaking into Heaven” … 7:03
Bonus Best Buy Exclusive DVD:
Making of The Devil You Know
Band:
Ronnie James Dio – Vocals
Tony Iommi – Guitar
Geezer Butler – Bass
Vinny Appice – Drums
Produced by: Ronnie James Dio, Tony Iommi, Geezer Butler
Dio-fronted Black Sabbath is back! Okay, not technically, but we know it’s true. When Ronnie James Dio reunited with Iommi, Butler and Appice (once again replacing Bill Ward who once again opted out) to record 3 new songs for the Black Sabbath: The Dio Years compilation and then go tour, I think most people knew (even if the band says they didn’t know) it was only a matter of time before a full new album came from this group.
It’s hard to believe in 2009, they’ve delivered classic heavy metal album that sounds like it just as easily could’ve been released in 1983. “Bible Black” is a great Dio Sabbath tune and my favorite on the record, but the band delivers with the gloomy, plodding heavy metal they are known for all. “Eating the Cannibals” is really started to grow on me, it’s one of the few songs on the album that is a fast-rocker through and through, which I’m actually a bit disappointed we didn’t get more of.
Due to the plodding nature of the album, I didn’t immediately take to some of the songs, but as I keep listening, I’m enjoying them more and more. Definitely a top release for 2009.
Of course, Ronnie’s voice is still great. The guy hasn’t stopped releasing music with one band or another since 1958 (!!!) and at 66 years old, his voice is showing no sign of weakness.
Highlights: All of it
www.heavenandhelllive.com
www.myspace.com/heavenandhelllive
