Monthly Archives: July 2009
LINKIN PARK – Hybrid Theory
Linkin Park – Hybrid Theory (2000, Warner Bros. Records)
1. “Papercut” … 3:05
2. “One Step Closer” … 2:36
3. “With You” … 3:23
4. “Points of Authority” … 3:20
5. “Crawling” … 3:29
6. “Runaway” … 3:04
7. “By Myself” … 3:10
8. “In the End” … 3:36
9. “A Place for My Head” … 3:05
10. “Forgotten” … 3:15
11. “Cure for the Itch” … 2:37
12. “Pushing Me Away” … 3:12
Band:
Chester Bennington – Vocals
Rob Bourdon – Drums, Percussion
Brad Delson – Guitar, Bass
Joseph Hahn – DJ, Sampling
Mike Shinoda – Emcee, Vocals, Beats, Sampling, Guitar
Additional Musicians:
The Dust Brothers – Beats on “With You”
Ian Hornbeck – Bass
Scott Koziol – Bass
Produced by: Don Gilmore
Linkin Park was/is one of the better bands to fuse rock with hip hop. It’s not a genre I’m in love with, but Linkin Park can pull it off. They weren’t goofs like Crazy Town or Limp Bizkit trying to prove just how much they were into hip hop, they’re really more of rock band that just happens to use beats and an emcee. The rap factor is always used to enhance the songs, not be the songs and that’s why this album works and is one of the best rock album of the early 2000s.
“Crawling” is my favorite track and is one of the best “nu metal” songs ever. “One Step Closer” was the album’s first single and was pretty popular, but it wasn’t until I heard “Crawling” that I knew I had to own this album. I had bought the album around the same time I bought my first car, so I gave this one a lot of play in MY car in MY CD player with a big grin on my face.
I can’t say I’m a big Linkin Park fan (their follow up disappointed me), but I’m a big fan of this particular album. The band is really good at writing great melodies to fit the angst found in the lyrics. When this album came out, Chester Bennington scored several cool points for me in an interview where he was asked about his voice — he said he got his voice by screaming his lungs out to Judas Priest in his bedroom when he was younger.
The album itself was a HUGE success. It’s one of the biggest hits of the 2000s and is one of only eight albums released in this decade to achieve diamond status (1o million+ sold) from the RIAA.
Highlights: “Papercut”, “With You”, “Crawling”, “Runaway”, “In the End”, “Place for My Head”, “Pushing Me Away”
KIX – Blow My Fuse
Kix – Blow My Fuse (1988, Atlantic Records)
1. “Red Lite, Green Lite, TNT” … 3:54
2. “Get It While It’s Hot” … 4:24
3. “No Ring Around Rosie” … 4:34
4. “Don’t Close Your Eyes” … 4:15
5. “She Dropped Me The Bomb” … 3:46
6. “Cold Blood” … 4:16
7. “Piece Of The Pie” … 3:48
8. “Boomerang” … 3:44
9. “Blow My Fuse” … 4:00
10. “Dirty Boys” … 3:42
Band:
Steve Whiteman – Vocals, Harmonica
Ronnie “10/10″ Younkins – Guitar
Brian “Damage” Forsythe – Guitar
Donnie Purnell – Bass, Keyboards, Backing Vocals
Jimmy “Chocolate” Chalfant – Drums, Percussion, Backing Vocals
Produced by: Tom Werman, Duane Baron and John Purdell
In the 80s glam scene, many bands were influenced by either Aerosmith or AC/DC. Kix took their inspiration from AC/DC and were one of the better bands to do so, probably because they spent so many years working the northeast bar circuit to hone their craft and actually were blue collar guys as opposed to the L.A. bands that mooched off their girlfriends for support until they “hit it big”.
This album, their fourth release, was their biggest hit featuring the popular “Don’t Close Your Eyes” and “Cold Blood”. It eventually went platinum, but sadly, Kix never achieved the success they deserved. I think it may have been a case of having a hit so late in the run of the 80s glam scene that ANY momentum the band built with this album was gonna come to a complete halt soon anyway.
This is a great and dare I say essential 80s rock release and everyone owes it to themselves to give at least one Kix album a try. I’m kinda torn between my favorite Kix album being either this or Hot Wire (which featured “Tear Down the Walls”, one of my favorite power ballads).
I picked this one up used in 1999 for $3.99, I believe. Not a scratch on it.
Highlights: “Get It While It’s Hot”, “No Ring Around Rosie”, “Don’t Close Your Eyes”, “She Dropped Me The Bomb”, “Cold Blood”, “Piece of the Pie”, “Blow My Fuse”
HIM – Razorblade Romance
HIM – Razorblade Romance [U.S. Reissue] (2003, BMG Music/Universal Records)
Original Release: 1999, BMG International
1. “Your Sweet Six Six Six” … 3:57
2. “Poison Girl” … 3:51
3. “Join Me in Death” … 3:37
4. “Right Here in My Arms” … 4:00
5. “Bury Me Deep Inside Your Heart” … 4:15
6. “Wicked Game” … 4:05
7. “I Love You (Prelude to Tragedy)” … 3:10
8. “Gone With the Sin” … 4:22
9. “Razorblade Kiss” … 4:18
10. “Resurrection” … 3:39
11. “Death Is In Love With Us” … 2:58
12. “Heaven Tonight” … 3:18
13. “Sigillum Diaboli” … 3:54
14. “One Last Time” … 5:09
Band:
Ville Valo — Vocals
Mikko “Linde” Lindström — Guitar
Mikko “Migé” Paananen — Bass, Backing Vocals
Mika “Gas Lipstick” Karppinen — Drums, Percussion
Jussi-Mikko “Juska” Salminen — Keyboards
(I couldn’t nail down a definite list of credits for this album, I saw many sites giving credit to a number of different members. If you have any corrections, please let me know.)
Produced by: John Fryer
A friend of mine, who is way more into the whole emo/goth movement than I am, suggested this band to me years ago, as they were building their fan base in the U.S., so I gave them a shot. My initial purchase was Dark Light, but later I picked this reissue up. Compared to the original Finnish release, this reissue features three additional songs thrown in: “Your Sweet Six Six Six”, “Sigillum Diaboli” and a cover of Chris Isaak’s “Wicked Game”.
Like I said, goth isn’t my style. I’m hair metal guy, but this album is really catchy and has some great moments full of mood & atmosphere. Lead singer Ville Valo has described HIM as being “love metal”. I couldn’t listen to it often, it’s much too melancholy and down at times, it’s easy to get caught up in the music and lyrics. This is really good “I’m goth, depressed and I wanna be loved” stuff! Many parts of this album remind me latter day Sentenced.
Their cover of “Wicked Game” is really cool (and is a rocker) and for some reason, I think if they covered a Motley Crue song, it would be amazing. Something like “You’re All I Need” or “Without You”.
Highlights: “Your Sweet Six Six Six”, “Poison Girl”, “Join Me in Death”, “Bury Me Deep Inside Your Heart”, “Wicked Game”, “Resurrection”, “Death Is In Love With Us”, “Heaven Tonight”
CINDERELLA – Night Songs
Cinderella – Night Songs (1986, Mercury Records)
1. “Night Songs” … 4:03
2. “Shake Me” … 3:44
3. “Nobody’s Fool” … 4:49
4. “Nothin’ for Nothin’” … 3:33
5. “Once Around the Ride” … 3:22
6. “Hell on Wheels” … 2:49
7. “Somebody Save Me” … 3:16
8. “In From The Outside” … 4:07
9. “Push Push” … 2:52
10. “Back Home Again” … 3:30
Band:
Tom Keifer – Vocals, Guitar, Piano
Jeff LaBar – Guitar
Eric Brittingham – Bass
Fred Coury – Drums
Additional Musicians:
Jon Bon Jovi – Backing Vocals (“Nothing for Nothin’” and “In From the Outside”)
Barry Bennedetta – Guitar
Jeff Paris – Keyboards
Jody Cortez – Drums
Jim Drnec – Drums
Produced by: Andy Johns
Wow, check out that cover. These guys were trying REALLY hard to fit in with the rest of the 80s glam bands. As for sound, they were doing that too. It’s still sounds like the Cinderalla I’m familiar with (Keifer’s voice is unmistakable) but with less hard rockin’ blues and more hair metal.
This is a solid debut from one of the 80s most underrated hard rock bands. It’s not the generic hair metal release that I’ve seen others try to peg it as. A few songs (“Night Songs”, “Somebody Save Me”, “In From the Outside”) show what the band would later become on Long Cold Winter and Heartbreak Station.”Nobody’s Fool” was the band’s biggest hit, and it’s good, but it’s been used soooooo many times on 80s rock compilations, I think I could go the rest of my life without hearing it and be okay.
Mercury labelmate Jon Bon Jovi sings backing vocals for two songs. In addition to that, he helped the band get noticed by Mercury and Bon Jovi took the band out on their Slippery When Wet tour. This no doubt helped propel Night Songs to the triple platinum status that it has attained.
Highlights: “Night Songs”, “Shake Me”, “Nobody’s Fool”, “Nothin’ for Nothin’”, “Somebody Save Me”, “In From the Outside”
LIZZY BORDEN – Menace To Society
Lizzy Borden – Menace To Society (1986, Metal Blade Records)
1. “Generation Aliens” … 4:30
2. “Notorious” … 4:14
3. “Terror on the Town” … 5:23
4. “Bloody Mary” … 4:40
5. “Stiletto (Voice of Command)” … 3:32
6. “Ultra Violence” … 4:09
7. “Love Kills” … 5:23
8. “Brass Tactics” … 3:27
9. “Ursa Minor” … 4:00
10. “Menace to Society” … 4:08
Band:
Lizzy Borden – Vocals, Backing Vocals
Alex Nelson – Guitar, Backing Vocals
Gene Allen – Guitar
Michael Davis – Bass
Joey Scott Harges – Drums
Produced by: Lizzy Borden and Jim Faraci
Okay album. The band is kind of generic at this point and I don’t think Lizzy’s theatrical voice really fits the L.A. metal music sound all that well. Menace To Society is pretty much a mixture of W.A.S.P., glam metal and NWOBHM and it just doesn’t work for me.
The only true standout is “Ursa Minor” which sounds more like what you would hear from the amazing Master of Disguise album (when the man/group had turned more to shock & theatrical rock). There are a few other decent songs, but I prefer later Lizzy albums. I bought this along with Master of Disguise a few years ago and I quickly tossed this to the side.
Highlights: “Terror on the Town”, “Bloody Mary”, “Love Kills”, “Ursa Minor”
DEEP PURPLE – Perfect Strangers
Deep Purple – Perfect Strangers [Remastered] (1999, Mercury Records)
Original Release: 1984, Mercury Records
1.”Knocking at Your Back Door” … 7:04
2.”Under the Gun” … 4:38
3.”Nobody’s Home” … 3:59
4.”Mean Streak” … 4:21
5.”Perfect Strangers” … 5:28
6.”A Gypsy’s Kiss” … 5:12
7.”Wasted Sunsets” … 3:55
8.”Hungry Daze” … 4:58
9.”Not Responsible” … 4:47
BONUS TRACK
10.”Son of Alerik” … 10:07
Band:
Ian Gillan – Vocals
Ritchie Blackmore – Guitar
Roger Glover – Bass
Jon Lord – Organ, Keyboards
Ian Paice – Drums
Produced by: Deep Purple
I bought this album close to 10 years ago basically just for “Knocking at Your Back Door”. I ended up liking “Perfect Strangers” as well, but quickly disregarded the rest of the album. It was nothing more to me than bad 70s keyboard/organ heavy rock. That was then, this is now and this album rocks!
I’ve become much more easy going when it comes to 70s hard rock/metal acts like Rainbow, Black Sabbath and Deep Purple (all three of these bands kinda ran in the same circles, didn’t they). After initially passing this album off as an oddity for something released during the 80s, I can now appreciate the “classic” sound Deep Purple brought to this comeback release. In striving to to match their “classic” sound, Deep Purple ended up putting out something in 1984 that didn’t really sound like anything else going on at the time and as much as I love the 80s, that’s really cool of them and it payed off in a big way.
This would be the popular “Mark II” line up of the band making the comeback. Deep Purple hadn’t released an album since 1975 and the Mark II grouping hadn’t released one since 1973. The reunion was a success with the album reaching #6 on the Billboard charts and the subsequent tour selling out. The album went on to go platinum in the States and double platinum in the UK.
The 1999 remastered version features the instrumental bonus track “Son of Alerik” which previously had only been released as a B-side to the “Perfect Strangers” single.
Highlights: “Knocking at Your Back Door”, “Under the Gun”, “Mean Streak”, “Perfect Strangers”, “A Gypsy’s Kiss”, “Wasted Sunsets”, “Hungry Daze”, “Not Responsible”
Happy Independence Day!
I hope all of you Americans out there are enjoying our nation’s birthday! I’m taking a break from the album posting, but we’ll be back in the swing of things tomorrow!
VELVET REVOLVER – Libertad
Velvet Revolver – Libertad (2007, RCA Records)
1. “Let It Roll” … 2:32
2. “She Mine” … 3:25
3. “Get Out the Door” … 3:14
4. “She Builds Quick Machines” … 4:04
5. “The Last Fight” … 4:03
6. “Pills, Demons & Etc.” … 2:54
7. “American Man” … 3:56
8. “Mary Mary” … 4:33
9. “Just Sixteen” … 3:59
10. “Can’t Get It Out of My Head” … 3:58
11. “For a Brother” … 3:26
12. “Spay” … 3:06
13. “Gravedancer” … 8:42
Band:
Scott Weiland- Vocals, Keyboards
Slash – Guitar
Dave Kushner – Guitar
Duff McKagan – Bass, Backing Vocals
Matt Sorum – Drums, Percussion, Backing Vocals
Produced by: Brendan O’Brien
The second (and final) Scott Weiland-fronted VR album sounds a lot like his old band Stone Temple Pilots. The band seems to have traded some of the heaviness of Contraband for a bit more melody that showcases Weiland’s voice much better with its diversity. This isn’t surprising though with longtime STP producer Brendan O’Brien producing this record.
The album didn’t fare as well as their debut, as of this writing it hasn’t even gone gold (their debut was 2x platinum), but it’s just as strong. It took some time for Contraband to grow on me, but I immediately loved this album for it’s similarities to STP (“She Builds Quick Machines”, “Pills, Demons & Etc.” and “American Man” sound like they would’ve fit on No. 4). I was surprised and disappointed this album didn’t catch on despite debuting at #5 on Billboard and that Weiland left the band less than a year after this release. I know drugs played a part in that, but I’m sure if the album had been more successful, the group would’ve been more determined to work things out.
There is a hidden song on Track 13. It starts at about 4:43 and is called “Don’t Drop That Dime”.
This is one of only two albums Weiland claims to have recorded sober (STP’s Core being the first).
Highlights: “Let It Roll”, “She Builds Quick Machines”, “The Last Fight”, “Pills, Demons & Etc.”, “American Man”, “Mary Mary”, “For a Brother”
EDGUY – Hellfire Club
Edguy – Hellfire Club (2004, Nuclear Blast Records)
1. “Mysteria” … 5:44
2. “The Piper Never Dies” … 10:05
3. “We Don’t Need a Hero” … 5:30
4. “Down to the Devil” … 5:27
5. “King of Fools” … 4:21
6. “Forever” … 5:40
7. “Under the Moon” … 5:04
8. “Lavatory Love Machine” … 4:25
9. “Rise of the Morning Glory” … 4:39
10. “Lucifer in Love” … 0:32
11. “Navigator” … 5:22
12. “The Spirit Will Remain” … 4:12
Band:
Tobias Sammet – Vocals, Keyboards
Jens Ludwig – Guitar
Dirk Sauer – Guitar
Tobias Exxel – Bass
Felix Bohnke – Drums
Additional Musicians:
Oliver Hartmann – Backing Vocals
Thomas Rettke – Backing Vocals
Produced by: Edguy
Great release from Edguy, even though it’s not a highly acclaimed album from many of Edguy’s so-called “fans”. It’s heavier than previous Edguy efforts yet includes an orchestra for many of the songs.
The catchy power metal songs are still here though. “Mysteria”, “We Don’t Need a Hero” and “King of Fools”, are particularly infectious and it’s another release to offer proof that Sammet is one of the best voices in rock & metal.
I first got into Edguy with Rocket Ride, which is another album derided by Edguy fans, but I loved it and went back and picked this one up. It’s not over the top with the ode to 80s melodic metal that Rocket Ride had at times, but on Hellfire Club, the signs are showing of a band that’s more concerned with having fun than being credible in the eyes of critics… and that’s a good thing.
Highlights: “Mysteria”, “The Piper Never Dies”, “We Don’t Need a Hero”, “Down to the Devil”, “King of Fools”, “Forever”, “Lavatory Love Machine”
IRON MAIDEN – Killers
Iron Maiden – Killers [Enhanced Edition] (1998, Sanctuary Records/Metal-Is Records)
Original Release: 1981, Capitol Records
1. “The Ides of March” … 1:45
2. “Wrathchild” … 2:54
3. “Murders in the Rue Morgue” … 4:19
4. “Another Life” … 3:22
5. “Genghis Khan” … 3:06
6. “Innocent Exile” … 3:53
7. “Killers” … 5:01
8. “Prodigal Son” … 6:11
9. “Purgatory” … 3:21
10. “Twilight Zone” … 2:34
11. “Drifter” … 4:48
Band:
Paul Di’Anno – Vocals
Dave Murray – Guitar
Adrian Smith – Guitar, Backing Vocals
Steve Harris – Bass guitar, Backing Vocals
Clive Burr – Drums
Additional Musicians:
Dennis Stratton – Guitar
This the second and final album to feature Paul Di’Anno on vocals and I like it much better than their debut. Iron Maiden had some punk influence, but I enjoy Killers much more because it sees Iron Maiden settling into a much more typical NWOBHM sound (which isn’t a bad thing). The album still shows the beginnings of the galloping metal the band would produce with Bruce Dickinson though. The addition of guitarist Adrian Smith (replacing Dennis Stratton) greatly helps bring the band to the next level as well.
Though I like Di’Anno’s vocals, I agree with what the band his vocals were not and would not fit in with the musical direction they wanted to go in. The signs of a mismatch were showing on this album, most glaringly on “Prodigal Son”. He doesn’t offer up a bad performance on the album, it’s just a case of not fitting in anymore (he was a great fit for their more raucous debut though).
To be honest, I don’t have much more to say about this album because I don’t have much of an emotional connection to Iron Maiden (and certainly not to the Di’Anno albums), but it’s definitely a classic metal release and I recommend it over the band’s debut for anyone who is curious about pre-Dickinson Iron Maiden.
Produced by: Martin Birch
Highlights: “Wrathchild”, “Murders in the Rue Morgue”, “Another Life”, “Genghis Khan”, “Prodigal Son”, “Purgatory”, “Twilight Zone”
www.ironmaiden.com
www.myspace.com/ironmaiden
www.pauldianno.com
www.myspace.com/diannothebeast
