Year: 2017

The Winery Dogs – Dog Years: Live in Santiago & Beyond 2013-2016 – Album Review

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The same day I received Def Leppard’s Hysteria 30th Anniversary Box Set, I also received this gem, The Winery Dogs ‘Dog Years: Live in Santiago & Beyond 2013-2016’.  The Special Edition set includes the Live concert filmed in Santiago, Chile on both Blue-Ray and DVD as well as the concert on 2 CDs.  Lastly, you get a bonus EP of Dog Years.  I will go through each for you, but I won’t go song-by-song as there are 30 songs in total and I can’t write that much and you would get bored with me repeating how great each song is…mostly.

To avoid typing out all the songs, I will get lazy and show you the back cover of the CD with the song listings.

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My Sunday Song – “Love The Way You Lie ” by Eminem (featuring Rihanna)

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For My Sunday Song #55, I am going with Eminem’s “Love The Way You Lie”.  The song features Rihanna and is one of my favorite Eminem songs and favorite songs period.  The song was released on June 25, 2010 and is on the album ‘Recovery’.  It is one of Eminem’s most successful song selling over 6 million copies, hitting #1 on almost ever chart, receiving numerous Grammy nominations and winning the Billboard Award for Best Rap song in 2011.  To say this song struck a chord with a lot of people is an understatement.

Why do I like this song?  Easy…it is bringing to light a very dark subject matter that isn’t talked about enough.  Domestic Violence.  The song is about a couple in an abusive relationship that refuses to separate despite the dangerous situation they are in.  The song is very graphic and so is the video which I will discuss shortly.  The song’s dark theme and powerful music along with the combination of Rihanna’s vocals and Eminem’s aggressive rap encapsulates every emotion that you would imagine this kind of relationship would garner.  I also love how the song jumps from pleasant views to the violent aspects and back and forth.  It really makes the song impactful.

What I also find interesting about the song is that it actually mirrors both singers life.  Eminem was in an abusive relationship with his ex-wife Kim and of course every one knows Rihanna’s history with her former boyfriend Chris Brown.  Knowing their history adds so much credibility to the song.

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Friday New Releases – September 1st

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August was not a great month for new releases, so September has to be better…right??  Yes and No.  Yes, September is loaded with some great possible new releases.  But No, it isn’t this week.  Next week starts the onslaught of new releases and you won’t be disappointed.  There a couple I will listen to this week, but not overly excited about any of them.  My choices are highlighted in Blue (and sadly no good rock albums this week…for me at least).

  • 61xqcyFYOYL._AC_US218_  The Script – Freedom Child – (Sony Music):  The Irish band is back with their 5th studio album.  The are decent enough pop band.  My daughter and I saw them several years ago for some radio station Christmas show and I have to say that they weren’t very good live.  Or at least at this event.  I could not understand what the singer was saying or even singing.  We were disappointed.  Their studio stuff is way better.  Let’s hope we get some decent pop songs.  My expectations aren’t real high so shouldn’t be disappointed (better not be).

  • 41U-VT1fUBL._AC_US218_  Dixie Chicks – DCX MMXVI Live – (Columbia):  The Dixie Chicks are always entertaining.  I am glad to see them still putting out music.  This one seems like an interesting collection of the latest tour.  It includes 2CDs and I believe a DVD of the show.  Should be a nice set.

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Apple Music vs. Amazon Music Unlimited

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Back when I first started the blog, I did a comparison of Apple Music vs. Amazon Prime Music.  Apple Music easily won that battle as the Music streaming service with Prime was very limited.  That has since changed.  Amazon now has their own full streaming service called Amazon Music Unlimited.  During Amazon Prime Day last month, Amazon offered the service for $0.99 for four months.  I figured for that price, it was worth a try. Now, it is time to see how Amazon Music Unlimited compares to Apple Music.

Apple Music vs. Amazon Music Unlimited

 There are definite differences between the two and one is edges out the other and as a result, one will no longer be used. First, lets talk about what each service offers and which is the better service for that item.

Music Selection

There are two features that I think are the most important. The first feature is music selection. What artists and songs does each service offer? Are they artist I like? Is the selection enough to satisfy me? Here is what I have found:

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“My First Time” with Stone Temple Pilots – “Purple”

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When Grunge came on the scene, I refused to listen.  I was still a hard rock enthusiast and didn’t quite get this new style of music.  I will admit that I never got the fascination with Nirvana, even to this day I don’t get it and I don’t think I ever will. I am sure I am in the minority. I didn’t care for Soundgarden or Pearl Jam either at the time, but have since found them both to be outstanding with Soundgarden now my favorite of the two.  But there was one band out of the Big Four, that I found to be incredible.  They were Stone Temple Pilots.

I didn’t jump on board with the first album although it started me leaning in their direction.  It was ‘Purple’ that was “My First Time” experience with Stone Temple Pilots.  When I heard the song “Vasoline”, I was hooked and there was no looking back.  The late, great Scott Weiland was one of the greatest frontmen in Rock and the swagger and charisma he brought to the stage is unmatched by most singers.

The band might have been considered, Grunge, but to me it was more like the rock & roll I grew up loving.  Yes, they had the Grunge elements, but the way these guys played just screamed Rock and that is probably why I connected with them more than the others.  The band consisted of the following members:

  • Scott Weiland – lead vocals
  • Dean DeLeo – guitar
  • Robert DeLeo – bass, backing vocals
  • Eric Kretz – drums

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My Sunday Song – “Barracuda” by Heart

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My Sunday Song #54 is by the one and only Heart.  The song is “Barracuda” off their 1977 album ‘Little Queen’.  The song was their second highest charting song at the time and it was their second Top 20 hit peaking at #11.  “Magic Man” was their only song higher charting at #9.

Why do I like this song?  Easy, that guitar riff that opens the song and is played throughout is enough!!  It was one of their heavier rock songs and showed they could kick some serious ass.  The aggressiveness of the music and the lyrics made them a powerhouse and I think made people take note of how great they can be.  This was the song that made me a Heart fan.

From what I can find on the song, it is mostly about Ann Wilson’s disdain for their former label Mushroom Records.  Apparently Mushroom Records had placed ads in magazines/papers that hinted that Ann & Nancy were lesbian lovers having an incestuous relationship.  Needless to say, this angered her greatly and from great anger comes great music. (thanks to Songfacts.com).  You can see the add that was placed by clicking on HEART AD. That would have pissed me off as well.  The band left the label shortly thereafter and the rest is history.

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Friday New Releases – August 25th

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It is the last Friday of August and school is back in session for most people (my kids actually start this coming Monday).  August has really sucked for new releases (for the most part).  This week is no different. There is only one I am interested in and it is Degreed.  I already have enough Motley Crue as I have Girls, Girls, Girls on Vinyl and CD and plus they aren’t really offering anything I don’t already have.  Queen of the Stone Age has a new album out as well, but really don’t care…never have.  Man, I am just a downer today…sorry.  My interest is highlighted in Blue.  September looks to be a much better month for releases as Fall generally is the best time of the year for new albums as everyone wants to get it out before Christmas.

  • download-2  Degreed – Degreed – (Gain/Sony):  Degreed came to my attention thanks to a little label called MelodicRock Records and I have been following them ever since.  They are a melodic rock band with a very modern sound and are actually pretty great.  Give them a try if you haven’t.  Each album has some gems (CD is out next week, MP3/Streaming today)

  • 518DpWvkoML._AA160_  Queens of the Stone Age – Villains – (Matador Records)

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Scooby-Doo and KISS – Rock and Roll Mystery – Movie Review

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For some reason, my youngest daughter has been fascinated by the band KISS.  I am sure it stems from all the KISS albums and videos I have. When she was younger, we would joke that her tongue was like Gene Simmons, so the Demon became the character she liked best.

My youngest also loves Scooby-Doo.  So when KISS and Scooby-Doo joined forces for a video, naturally she had to have it.  And being the great father and Kisss fan that I am, I made sure she had it.

Instead of me trying to be creative and explain this hard to explain movie, I will let the editors of Amazon.com do it for me…

Get ready to Rock! Scooby-Doo and the Mystery Inc. Gang team up with the one and only KISS in this all-new, out-of-this-world adventure! We join the Gang at Kiss World – the all-things-Kiss theme park, as they investigate a series of strange hauntings. With help from Kiss, they discover that the Crimson Witch has returned to summon The Destroyer from the alternate dimension of Kissteria! The evil duos ghastly plan, to destroy the earth! Can the Gang’s cunning and Kiss’s power of rock save the day?! Tune in to this Rock and Roll Mystery for some thunderous, heavy FUN!

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Def Leppard – ‘Hysteria’ 30th Anniversary (Deluxe Edition) – Album Review

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Thirty years ago on August 3rd, 1987, Def Leppard released their fourth studio album, ‘Hysteria’.  Little did they know this ground breaking album would go on to sell over 25 million records, produce 7 hit singles and go to #1 on the Billboard Charts.  The album was a labor of love for the band as it took several years to record and they struggled so much during this time.

There were so many setbacks during the recording of the album.  First, Robert John “Mutt” Lange turned down the producing job for the record after he had recorded “High & Dry” (my personal favorite) and “Pyromania” although he did help in the initial song writing for the record.  The band went through several producers during the recording including working with Jim Steinman of ‘Bat Out of Hell’ fame.  Their relationship did not go smoothly and he was later fired (they paid him a lot of money to get out of the contract so it must have gone badly). Later in the process, “Mutt” did come back and produce the final product and then history was made.

The second big obstacle was Rick Allen’s car accident that severed his arm.  Yes, the drummer of the band lost an arm.  With all respect to the band, they did not abandon Rick.  They stood by him and supported him until he was capable of playing the drums with one arm using an electronic drum set and a set of foot pedals to compensate for the lost arm.  It definitely was a trying time.  I won’t go into much more as you can watch the documentary included to learn more.

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My Sunday Song – “Vasoline” by Stone Temple Pilots

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For My Sunday Song #53, I have gone with “Vasoline” by Stone Temple Pilots.  This is one of my favorite STP songs…one of many.  The song was the second single off their second album ‘Purple’.  It is also the second most successful song they had.  It reached #1 on the U.S. Billboard Rock Album Tracks chart for two weeks.  The most successful song was “Interstate Love Song”.

What do I like about this song?  That opening bass part is flat out amazing.  The best part of the song.  I also dig the uptempo, fast driving feel to the song.  The guitar solo is also fast, but impactful.  And of course, Scott Weiland’s vocals.  The song is short at under 3 minutes, but what an impression it leaves.

In researching the song, I found out how they came up with that sound effect on the bass.  Robert DeLeo ran his bass through a wah wah pedal.  As I am a fan and not a musician, I had to look up “wah wah pedal”.  Here is what wikipedia says…

A wah-wah pedal (or simply wah pedal) is a type of electric guitar effects pedal that alters the tone and frequencies of the guitar signal to create a distinctive sound, mimicking the human voice saying the onomatopoeic name “wah-wah”. The pedal sweeps the peak response of a frequency filter up and down in frequency to create the sound, a spectral glide, also known as “the wah effect”.

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