Month: March 2017

Friday New Releases – March 31st

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It is the last Friday of the month and even the last day of the month.  There are over 20 albums on the list today including from some old times like Neil Diamond and Bob Dylan up to newcomers like La’Porsha Renae and Jackie Evancho (ok, she isn’t that new, but she is young).  There are also quite a couple 90’s artists back such as Jamiroquai and Ice T’s Body Count.  Only a few I am really interested in hearing right away and they are highlighted in Blue.  I hope there is something on this list that will brighten your day.  Friday new releases are just a great way to end a busy week.

  • 51ahfe18l2l-_ac_us160_  Brother Firetribe – Sunbound – (Spinefarm):  Yes, I know this album came out last week, but I had excluded it from the list for some strange reason. I wanted to highlight the release so I added it to this week’s new releases…Brother Firetribe comes to us from the great country of Finland.  They are a hard rock and AOR band and is a 5 piece band.  ‘Sunbound’ is their fourth release and after three previously stellar releases, I am looking forward to more magic from this band.

  • 170x170bb-5  Mastodon – Emperor of Sand – (Reprise Records):  Mastodon is heavy metal band from Atlanta, Georgia where I lived for 45 years prior to moving to Charlotte.  These guys are heavy metal and deliver the heavy to the extremes. They are unlike most bands I listen to and it is nice to change it up a little.  I have followed their career for awhile and can’t wait to give a listen.

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Turntables & Vinyl #6 – “Re-Spin” Led Zeppelin & Van Halen

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Ever since I started the whole resurgence in my vinyl collection which started from nothing just 10 months ago, I have been trying to put together “The List” of all the albums that are a must have for my collection.  The list is long and it is going to be expensive to put together.

For me, albums from the 70’s must be in vinyl as that was the medium of choice at the time.  That means that I need to have Led Zeppelin, Black Sabbath, Aerosmith, early AC/DC, Queen and of course KISS, just to name a few.  I am off to a good start with KISS thanks to the box of records I mentioned back in the first Turntables & Vinyl post.

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The 80’s is the decade I grew up in and fell in love with music so there has to be a ton of vinyl from those years as well.  Def Leppard, Van Halen, more AC/DC, Motley Crue, Whitesnake, Ratt and any other rock band from that era.  The collection is growing, but the list doesn’t seem to get smaller.

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“My First Time” with The Police’s ‘Synchronicity’

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My First Time is about the ‘first’ album I received or bought for a band and sadly, my first album for The Police was ironically their last.  MTV had played their previous songs quite often and I loved “Don’t Stand So Close To Me” and “Every Little Thing She Does is Magic”, but it wasn’t until “Synchronicity II” that I finally decided to actually buy one of their records.

I picked up the cassette for ‘Synchronicity’ back in 1983 and later I did pick up their entire collection on CD by buying their box set which had all their albums.  I have since sold all the previous copies and when I was out vinyl shopping last year, I found ‘Synchronicity’ and snatched it up.  It cost $8 which was about the same price I paid for the cassette back in the ’80’s.

The Police were not an ordinary pop rock band.  For me, their lyrics were intelligent and not the bubble gum crap that was on the radio.  The songs made you think and look deeper into what they were saying.  At least they did for me.  It was the first time I felt music could be smart.

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My Sunday Song – “Oceans (Where Feet May Fail)” by Hillsong United

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I have actually had several people suggest this next song for My Sunday Song.  In that case, My Sunday Song #32 is “Oceans (Where Feet May Fail)” by Hillsong United.  The song was released in 2013 and was the second single from their album ‘Zion’.  The song went to #1 and won a Dove award for Song of the Year.  At almost 9 minutes, the album version of the song is epic in length.  The radio version is a normal length at around 4 minutes.

The song is about Faith and how sometimes you have to take that leap of faith and trust that God will have your back and watch over you.  At least that is how I interpret the song.

The song is a worship song and is based off scripture. I found an article by Nate Irvine at Metro Youth Network that goes into the scripture if you are interested.  You click on the link and explore that aspect of the song.  Here is the scripture.

…the basis for the song is Peter being called out on the water by Jesus in Matthew 14

It is a beautiful song and I am glad people recommended it.  I hope you enjoy it as much as I have in writing about it for this post.  Have a great Sunday and a great week.

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Friday New Releases – March 24th

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Are you ready for Friday New Releases?  There are an absolute abundance of records today.  So many to choose from and where the heck do you begin.  I have more I want to hear than I have any week this year.  It is going to be busy non-stop music week.  I hope there is something for you.  The ones I want are in Blue and I can’t wait to get started!!!!

  • 61olilqtlgl-_ac_us160_  Colton Dixon – Identity – (Sparrow):  Colton Dixon has finally returned with a new album.  Colton is a Christian artist and he is a former American Idol Alum, but don’t let any of that scare you away.  He is an amazing talent.  This album is broken up into three parts about the spiritual journey of your Body, Mind & Spirit and should be very interesting.

  • 170x170bb-19  James Blunt – The Afterlove – (Atlantic Records UK):  The fifth studio album from James Blunt drops today.  I have followed him since the beginning even after hearing “You’re Beautiful” way too many times.  He always delivers stellar songs and he has a unique voice that I enjoy over and over.

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John 5 & the Creatures – ‘Season of the Witch’ – Album Review

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John 5 is one of my favorite guitarists and there isn’t much of his work I don’t have.  I came across him while listening to Rob Zombie and from that point I was hooked.  I now have all his solo albums and a lot of his work with Marilyn Manson and of course, all his Rob Zombie albums.

He has done so much more with guest spots on so many albums including a couple on Ace Frehley’s last album, ‘Origins, Vol. 1’.  His real name is John William Lowery, but goes by John 5 thanks in large part to the stage name given to him while working with Marilyn Manson.  The name stuck and he has used it ever since.

He is now on his 8th solo album and this one is entitled ‘Season of the Witch’.  The darkness, morbid sound he had with both Rob & Marilyn is still prevalent on this album as well.  Once you are in the darkness, it must be hard to get out…however, you don’t want him to get out.  This is his speciality.

His band The Creatures consists of Ian Ross and Rodger Carter and together these 3 musicians take you on a nightmarish musical journey that is ‘Season of the Witch’.  The 13 track instrumental album takes you from metal all the way to evil bluegrass.  Strap yourself in and be prepared for the terror of John 5 & the Creatures.

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My Sunday Song – “Stronger Than We Think” by Danny Gokey

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Welcome to My Sunday Song #31.  I am back in the driver’s seat after my wife picked the last 10 weeks.  For the next 10 weeks we are back to the Christian Artists and songs that have a positive message and have connected with me in some way.

First up we have “Stronger Than We Think” by Danny Gokey off his latest album ‘Rise’. If you want to read the review of that album click on “RISE”.  The first song on the album is “Stronger Than We Think” and I loved how timely it felt for everything crazy going on in this country right now.  Everything does seem much darker, but there seems to be a fire igniting in all of us and we realize we are all so much stronger than we think we are.

That fire for me is my faith and my family.  Without both of those, I would probably be a mess right now.  I want everyone to realize they are definitely stronger than they think and there is nothing you can’t do if you set your mind to it.

Take a listen and take the words to heart.  Play this song in the morning while you are looking in the mirror and sing the words real loud.  I hope they motivate you.  I personally haven’t done that as it would wake my whole family as I get up earlier than they do for work. I usually sing it loudly in the car…I don’t want anyone’s ears to start bleeding so that seemed like a safe place.  Enjoy!

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Chuck Berry – R.I.P. – A Rock Legend!

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One of the founding fathers of rock & roll and a true pioneer has passed at the tender young age of 90.  Charles Edward Anderson Berry or better known as Chuck Berry had such classic songs like “Maybellene”, ‘Johnny B. Goode” and “Roll Over Beethoven”, that inspired so many young kids in the 50’s to turn to rock & roll music and rebel against their parents…in a great way!!!

His guitar work and songs mixed rhythm and blues into what is now known as Rock & Roll.  He was a legend and his music will live on forever.  And to think, if it wasn’t for Marty McFly, we might not have had his music (kidding – Back to the Future joke).  Thank you Mr. Berry for all your greatness.

Here is a video with him and Keith Richards doing “Nadine” back in 1987.

Picture is By Universal Attractions (management) (eBay item photo front photo back) [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons

Friday New Releases – March 17th

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Happy Friday.  What are you in the mood to hear today?  You have a lot of variety and can listen to blues, rock, christian worship, classical pop, pop, alternative, metal and movie scores.  There are even a couple of 80’s bands back (Depeche Mode and Greg Kihn).  Whatever you like, let me know what floats your boat.  Mine are highlighted in Blue.

  • 170x170bb-22  Gary Clark Jr. – Live North America 2016 – (Warner Bros. Records):  This is probably the best one on the list.  Gary Clark Jr. live doesn’t get much better. If you haven’t heard him before, you are missing out.  He is a helluva a guitar player. He is blues, rock, soul, r&b and blends it all nicely together.  Listen to the video below and you will be like..DAMN!!! This man is awesome!!.

  • 170x170bb-3  Elevation Worship – There is a Cloud – (Elevation Church):  This church is just down the road from us and they do a great live show every year at the Spectrum Center that always sells out.  We have seen them several times at church (when we go) and they are amazing.  If you like Worship music, this is one of the better, more talented groups out there.

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‘Album Cover Album’ Edited by Storm Thorgerson & Roger Dean – Book Review

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I have had this coffee table book for at least 7-8 years.  My wife knows of my love for music and she got me this book on album covers that mostly covers the 50’s to the 70’s. Thankfully, there aren’t that many words and it is mostly a picture book as that is all I can really handle.

Album artwork was really at its peak in the 70’s and the book commemorates that era with this great collection of album covers. The collection was first released in 1977 and has been updated many times since.  This edition from 2008 was the newest edition at the time. They included a Preface by Peter Gabriel and an additional Foreward by John Wetton of King Crimson.

One of the coolest things about the book is it is edited by two of the masters of album artwork.  First you have Storm Throgerson, the founder of the company Hipgnosis and they were famous for their album covers for Pink Floyd among others.  He also does an additional Foreward.

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