Month: October 2018

White Lion – The Albums Ranked Worst to First

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When Danish musician, Mike Tramp moved to New York in 1983, he met this guitar whiz by the name of Vito Bratta and a little band was formed by the name of White Lion (I am sure I over simplified things).  A bass player and drummer were added, a record label was signed and the debut album was ready.  The debut, ‘Fight to Survive’, was finished and the record company hated it and refused to release it.  Oh yeah, they dropped the band as well.  The album eventually was released and then the bass player and drummer were added, labels went bankrupt and it all started all over again.  Not the most auspicious start.

The band’s classic line-up was set with Mike, Vito, James LoMenzo (bass) and Greg D’Angelo (drums).  A record deal was in place with Atlantic and in 1987, the band released ‘Pride’ and success was finally had…at least for a few years.  One thing the makes the band a little different than other bands of the era is that every album has at least one (usually more) song that is political in nature or at least some social commentary to it.  Where this worked on some albums, it totally didn’t work on others.  As a kid, I could care less about political or socially conscious songs, give me Sex, Drugs and Rock & Roll.

I was a fan of White LIon’s in the late 80’s and early 90’s so I thought I would rank their albums as I have some familiarity with all their stuff and felt I could judge them properly.  With only 5 studio releases, this one isn’t as long as some of the others I have done which is a nice change of pace for me.

Sit back and see how the albums are ranked and maybe it will spark an interest to go listen to some White Lion.

WORST – RETURN OF THE PRIDE (2008):

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Whitesnake – ‘Unzipped’ Box Set – Album Review

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Fans have been clamoring for some acoustic Whitesnake (at least according to David Coverdale) and boy did they deliver the goods with this set.  It is a 5CD/1DVD Box set that spans the career of Whitesnake and even some Deep Purple. What all do you get?  Well, let me show you…

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If that isn’t enough for you to see, then read the sticker from the front of the box…

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And how many songs is 96 songs?  Well, the list is extensive.  See if you can read this list because there is no way I am typing all this stuff out for you.  I love you guys, but not that much!!

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My Sunday Song – “Bawitdaba” by Kid Rock

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For My Sunday Song #115, we are tackling “Bawitdaba” by Detroit’s own Kid Rock.  The song comes off his mutli-platinum selling album ‘Devil Without a Cause’.  The song came out in 1999 and the song had moderate success on the radio, but massive success on MTV.  He seemed to be everywhere in 1999/2000.

The song is a mixture of hop-hop and a little nu-metal and that combination threw Kid Rock into the mainstream, pop culture and made him a star.  Love him or hate him, he was a major part of pop culture at the time.

The lyrics weren’t poetic genius, the song made absolutely no sense, and it is hip hop which I have never been a fan.  However!!  I couldn’t help but love this song.  There was something about driving down the road, with the windows down (I didn’t have a convertible), music cranked up as high as it would go and sing the ridiculous line of “bawitdaba da bang a dang diggy diggy diggy said the boogy said up jump the boogy”.  It was awesome!!

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Friday New Releases – October 26th

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Happy Friday and welcome to the last Friday of October.  Halloween is just around the corner, but sadly not much to scare up in the releases this week.  There a couple I might check out and if I get in the early Christmas spirit, maybe the William Shatner Christmas album will get a spin…but seriously doubt it.  My choices are highlighted in Blue. Let me know what interests you, if anything, and let me know what I am missing out on this week.  Thanks and have a great weekend.

  • 51cDoAXQKKL._AC_US436_QL65_  The Struts – Young&Dangerous – (Interscope):  It has been a couple years since the Struts debut and they felt like they might the next big thing.  But for me, the Jury is still out as they seem to be more of a novelty act than anything.  The lead singer is a little over the top now and seems to be trying too hard to be something he really isn’t.  I haven’t been overly excited of what I have heard so far, but I will give it a listen as they did interest me at one time.  Man, I am really selling this one aren’t I!!!

  • 41t8Gq4R4-L._AC_US436_QL65_  Boy George & Culture Club – Life – (BMG):  Boy George is back and with Culture Club.  That alone is enough to sell this one.  I don’t know why, but this one interests me. I haven’t heard anything on it yet (not even the video posted below), but I want to hear it.  It will get a spin mainly out of curiosity.

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The Alarm – ‘Equals’ – Album Review

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Has there ever been a band that you loved and then suddenly stopped paying attention to any new releases?  The Alarm was that for me.  I followed them throughout the 80’s and after 1989’s album ‘Change’, just stopped listening to new stuff.  No reason, just stopped.  It is strange and I can’t figure out why.

So when I saw they had a new album being released, something told me to listen to it.  Now if I wasn’t doing this blog, would I have cared or paid attention?  I can’t answer that, but the thing is I did pay attention and I did listen to their new release this time.  And I am hear to tell you I am so glad I did.

Now Mike Peters is the only original member still in the band and usually that would bother me, but Mike was always my draw anyway.  I loved his vocals, his delivery and his style and with him still at the mic, I am still getting what I liked.

From the first notes of the opening track, “Two Rivers”, there was a familiarity to it with the minor exceptions of some electronica sounds which I don’t recall the band ever doing.  However, that was a minor distraction.  Mike Peters sounded amazing and he hadn’t lost anything which is amazing considering he has been around singing since the late 70’s.

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Ace Frehley – ‘Spaceman’ – Album Review

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In the last 10 years, Ace has been quite productive with four solo albums, including this one over that time span.  How many albums has Kiss put out (studio albums, not greatest hits or live albums)?  Only 2 with no signs of anything new coming.  I would say Ace is winning in this category.

Ace’s new album is a throwback of sorts.  Let’s start with that cover.  The cover is paying homage to the photo shoot from his 1978 Kiss solo album which was 40 years ago.  Here is the picture I found on pinterest…

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The album title as well is a throwback to his days as “The Spaceman” in the Band.  He will always be the Spaceman in my book (even though Tommy Thayer is killing it as that character in the band now).

The whole album has a reflective feel to it.  As Ace has gotten older (and sober), he seems to be reflecting on the past and with songs like “Bronx Boy” and “Rockin’ with the Boys” (the first two singles) you definitely get that feeling that he now appreciates his past, embraces it and thinks fondly of it.  Heck, even the cover song he does, “I Wanna Go Back” (Eddie Money cover), is looking back.  And makes me think he wants the Kiss job again.

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My Sunday Song – “Who Can It Be Now?” by Men At Work

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For My Sunday Song #114, we will discuss the song “Who Can’t It Be Now” by Men at Work.  The song was off the Australian band’s debut album ‘Business as Usual’ and went all the way to #1 in the US Billboard chart thanks in large part to MTV.  MTV didn’t have a ton of videos around 1982 and this would was in constant rotation as a result.

The song is so recognizable when the first note of the Greg Ham’s saxophone kicks in.  The sax is the better than a guitar riff in this case.  Originally the saxophones was only played in the middle of the song, but the record producer felt it was such a great hook that it should be the main musical focus of the song.  And I would say he was correct.

The song was written by singer Colin Hay and was about a place he lived in St. Kilda, Victoria.  The apartment complex at the time was in a shady part of town and all these scary figures would be around.  Someone was selling drugs on his floor and would mistakenly knock on his door and that might have frightened him a little based on the lyrics in this song.

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Friday New Releases – October 19th

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Welcome to a HUGE Friday!!!  There releases are massive and numerous. What more could you ask for.  This is the first time in a very long time where I have 3 releases that are on order for the same day.  I am going to love the mail man this week.  The albums I am interested in are highlighted in Blue and the first 3 are the ones on order.  Let me know what you looking forward to hearing and which ones I might have missed.  Enjoy and have a great musical weekend!  I know I will!!!

  • 81PZVtcGBVL._SX522_  Greta Van Fleet – Anthem of the Peaceful Man – (Republic Records):  These young lads are constantly getting compared to Led Zeppelin and you know what?  Who cares.  Zeppelin isn’t putting out any new music so I am going to enjoy this.  At least the young generation is still making Rock & Roll.  This is their first Full Length studio album and I get wait to unwrap the vinyl.

  • 51EQXYr3IZL._AC_US436_QL65_  Whitesnake – Unzipped – (Rhino Records):  5 CDs and 1 DVD of Whitesnake Unplugged.  20 years worth of music including Starkers in Tokyo and Starkers in Warsaw, Paris, Germany and so much music.  I can’t wait for this one either.  It is going to be non-stop music.

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Matt Nathanson – ‘Sings His Sad Heart’ – Album Review

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Matt Nathanson is one of my all time favorite singers and songwriters, no doubt.  If I had to list my Top 10 Bands or Artists, Matt would be there along with Kiss and Def Leppard (if you follow me, you know I love those two bands so that is high praise).  Why do I love him and his music so much?  Well, this album is a shining example of why.

Speaking of the album, this album took a long journey.  No, not Matt writing and recording it.  A literal long journey.  The album was shipped Friday October 5th (the day of release) from Nashville, Tennessee.  It stated it would not be to me until Thursday, October 11th which I thought was strange as North Carolina is not that far from Tennessee (well not really far). When I looked up the tracking #, the package suddenly appeared in San Juan, Puerto Rico.

Now I am not great on geography, but San Juan isn’t anywhere near North Carolina the last time I checked and doesn’t seem the normal traffic route for a package.  Needless to say, it din’t arrive by the 11th as stated.  The USPS finally corrected themselves and I did receive it on Saturday, October 13th. It could be worse, I might not have ever received it.

‘Sings His Sad Heart’ is exactly that.  An album of songs that are about “loss”.  Sounds depressing, right?  It is far from it.  Matt’s pop sensibility is second to none.  He can write an album chock full of catchy tunes that stay with you and never leave.  His mixture of that pop sound with folk and rock blends so nicely together that his music makes you feel like you have known the songs and the album your whole life.

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Alice Cooper – Concert Review (Charlotte, NC 10-9-2018)

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Ok, I am in no means an Alice Cooper aficionado, I am a casual fan at best.  However, I have always wanted to see Alice live, but never actually went.  Well, as I am getting older and so is Alice, I realized that we won’t be around much longer and I better go see him while I am still around and so is he.  So after my pal Deke went and wrote about it at Thunder Bay Arena Rock, he convinced me to finally do it.  And let me tell you, I am so glad I did.

Now, if you want better pictures go to Deke’s blog as he had front row I believe.  I wasn’t so lucky and I am too cheap!  But I did get pictures and they suck because my phone sucks.  So I apologize up front for that.

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My wife decided to join me on this concert experience and I am glad she did as it made the night that much more special that she was with me.  Plus, it is nice any time we get a date night.  No kids!!!

Now my wife is a little height challenged so she had trouble seeing. Me, I am 6’2″ so I had only minor issues as the guy in front of me was a little taller than me.  But that is okay, I got to see most everything.  Okay enough about that, let’s get to the show.

The show opened with Alice’s voice welcomes you to the nightmare and the band comes exploding out with “Brutal Planet” which was such a great opening song and there was no holding back.  Alice comes strolling out with this coat and cane and never has a 70 year old man looked so cool!!  He owns the stage and has such presence that you are completely drawn to him.  And the way he swings that cane around, those band members better not be standing close or they will get knocked on their ass.  Hell, Alice swung the cane so hard against a speaker that the damn cane broke.

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