Month: June 2024

My Sunday Song – “Song For Lennon” by Shugaazer

Published on by 2loud2oldmusic6 Comments

For My Sunday Song #417, we are on to another band from Paul Laine called Shugaazer. This was a much more modern sounding Paul then we are used to and you know, I quite dig it. The song this week is called “Song for Lenon” and it is on the band’s only album, 2003’s ‘Shift’. The band consists of Paul Laine on vocals, Chris Matheson on guitar, Roland Churchill on drums and Shane Demers on bass. The song was written by Paul Laine and someone named Par. I didn’t see it in the credits but it could be either Stuart or Patrick “Par”enteau as both were thanked on the album and Patrick took the photographs used in the booklet. If you know, let me know in the comments.

Paul Laine had this to say about “Song for Lenon” when he spoke to MelodicRock.com back in 2003.

“Like many others, I have always been a huge fan of John Lennon and the Beatles. I had just watched the film “Imagine” and I was very moved by his compassion for other people, as well as his love for Yoko. He had a real passion for things he felt strongly about and was not afraid to speak out about them. I was thinking to myself…I wonder what John would talk about if he was still around today…how would he see the world? How would he see his own life and the impact he had on other people? Would he still write about love and peace? I felt compelled to write a song for him expressing my own thoughts and feelings, and in a way, express some feelings that I thought he would have too, if he were still alive.”

I think that explains nicely what the song is about.

The song opens slowly, with a gentle build in the song while we listen to Lennon speaking. Paul comes in with the first verse and during that the full band kicks in. The song is a power ballad and is tender and peaceful as Lennon while the choruses are more powerful like Lennon’s impact on the world. The melodies and the layering of Paul’s vocals are so killer. You can feel the emotion he is trying to get across. Musically, a very modern rock song sound, no 80’s style this time around. The drums are powerful, the guitars are sweeping and the keys add the right amount of texture. All blended nicely together with Laine’s vocals. A very well crafted tune.

Continue reading “My Sunday Song – “Song For Lennon” by Shugaazer” →

Friday New Releases – June 14, 2024

Published on by 2loud2oldmusic13 Comments

Another Friday has come and more releases are here for your listening pleasure. This week I want to hear the new Black Country Communion, Dirty Knobs and even a collection of Ratt Rarities. I also want the Linsdey Buckingham box set, but for now it is only the digital version. The CDs will come in August. What do you want to hear this week? Let me know and let me know what I missed so everyone can know about it as well. Thanks for stopping by and I hope you all have a great and wonderful weekend.

  • Black Country Communion – V – (J&R Adventures)
https://youtube.com/watch?v=OfS37sqWCHM%3Fsi%3D_c48-JpTx8FKqavQ
  • Mike Campbell & the Dirty Knobs – Vagabonds, Virgins & Misfits – (BMG Rights Mgmt)
https://youtube.com/watch?v=FhGeeldeedk%3Fsi%3DzdSfkWQZykBN2e2h
  • Ratt – Rarities – (Deadline Music) – Vinyl July 5 and no video…
Continue reading “Friday New Releases – June 14, 2024” →

Def Leppard – ‘Live Bites’ (Bootleg CD) – Album Review (The Def Leppard Collection Series)

Published on by 2loud2oldmusic47 Comments

Sometimes, when you buy a bootleg CD you have no idea what you are buying. This is one of those cases. I couldn’t find anything about the release other than the front cover. All it said was “Def Leppard – Live Bites” and it listed out a handful of classic Leppard songs. And it was cheap. Those two things were all I had to go on, so I bought it.

When I received the CD in the mail, It didn’t offer much else to it either. It did have a full track listing, but it was only 11 songs and from the looks of it, not a full live show…only pieces. There were two songs from ‘Slang’ and nothing later that told me it was from around 1997 at the very least. There was nothing in the booklet…ha! booklet…one sheet of paper…so not really a booklet…that gave me any indication of where these songs were recorded. The back of the CD had something that said the following…

Having sold over 65 million albums worldwide since their debut release in 1980 and proved themselves as one of rock music’s hardest working and consistently powerful live bands, Def Leppard remain one of only five rock groups who can claim two separate original 10 million-plus selling albums.

Yeah…that was no help.

Continue reading “Def Leppard – ‘Live Bites’ (Bootleg CD) – Album Review (The Def Leppard Collection Series)” →

The Collection: Ep. 17 – In Depth: Queensryche’s ‘The Warning’ featuring Deke from The Distortion Den

Published on by 2loud2oldmusic3 Comments

This week my buddy Deke and I are on a our 2nd show in the series called “In Depth” and each episode we will pick an album and dive a little deeper in to it. We decided we would do a mini-Queensryche series and go from their E.P. up to ‘Promised Land’. In May, we went deep on the band’s E.P. simply titled ‘Queensryche’. This month, we are diving in to their debut full length album, ‘The Warning’. So, if you like a little Queensryche then come check it out as you get some fun facts and our thoughts on the sound, the songs and the band.

Deke is from the Distortion Den and from the blog world as well. Go Check him out at the links below…

YouTube – thedistortionden

Website – https://superdekes.wordpress.com/

So go check it out as it is live now on June 10, 2024 at 8pm. Thanks for stopping by and please click “Like” and hit “Subscribe” as it helps out the site when you do.

And in case you missed it, here is the video for the E.P….

Bon Jovi – ‘Greatest Hits: The Ultimate Collection’ (2010) – Album Review (The Bon Jovi Collection Series)

Published on by 2loud2oldmusic28 Comments

After the Circle and subsequent tour, I am guessing the band was taking a little break because it would be 3 more years before another album. In the meantime, why not another greatest hits package since the last one was ‘Cross Road’ which was about 15 years earlier. This time around it was simply called ‘Greatest Hits’. Well, that is unless you bought the 2 CD set which was called ‘Greatest Hits: The Ultimate Collection’. The package was released on October 29, 2010 and it di really well going Gold in the U.S. and selling millions in Europe going multi-times platinum in numerous countries.

One thing they did with this release is that depending where you lived, what version was available. All single disc versions had 2 new songs on them. All 2 CD versions had 4 new songs on them. The difference was the U.S. version on had 26 songs while the International version (Europe/Australia) had 30 tracks and Japan had 31. The U.S. didn’t get any songs from 7800º Fahrenheit, International got 1 and Japan were blessed with 2 (including “Tokyo Road” of course). I will say it does suck they ignore that album here and only give us one from the debut. And it does effect my score. There is nothing else to say about the release so let’s get to the music as there is a lot to get through so I hope you’ve had a nap and are well rested.

DISC 1:

The first disc kicks off with “Livin’ On A Prayer” from ‘Slippery When Wet’. It opens with a wicked bass line, finger cymbals and a talk-box. But that wasn’t all that was great about it, it is the story of Tommy & Gina in “Livin’ on a Prayer” that makes this such a great song. Jon has a way of making the songs human and easy to connect with. The everyday person with problems just like you so the songs feel personal.  The song is loosely based on Desmond and his girl-friend as she worked in a Diner, but he was a taxi driver and not working at the docks.  It was that Blue Collar feel to the song that made it resonate with so many people.  It was a time when Bon Jovi actually wrote songs that told a story that connected with people and not try to write just to make a hit. 

“You Give Love a Bad Name” is next and also from ‘Slippery’. It was originally written for Bonnie Tyler and called “If You Were a Woman (and I Was a Man)”, but the song did nothing so Desmond Child re-wrote it for Bon Jovi and the rest is history. The song went to #1 and the beginning of the rise to super stardom had begun. The song checks all the boxes, big chorus, epic guitar solo, killer bass line, pounding drum fills and pure intensity. The song will have you singing along instantly as the song feels familiar and exciting. You can’t get it out of your head.

Continue reading “Bon Jovi – ‘Greatest Hits: The Ultimate Collection’ (2010) – Album Review (The Bon Jovi Collection Series)” →

My Sunday Song – “Save Me Tonight” by The Defiants

Published on by 2loud2oldmusic10 Comments

For My Sunday Song #416, we are going back to The Defiants and this time around we are talking about “Save Me Tonight” from their self-titled 2016 album. The Defiants are Paul Laine, Bruno Ravel and Rob Marcello and basically they are Danger Danger 2.0. Better, stronger and have aged nicely. The Defiants don’t get much notice here in the States and that is too bad as songs like this show this band has the goods to take over the world. If this was the 80’s, they would be as big as Bon Jovi…at least I think they would…they are better then today’s Bon Jovi at least.

A ballad that is full of so much heartbreak and heartache. The song is about a man who is fallen so deeply in love with this woman, but she is leaving and it is over. He is in so much pain and he wants her to come back and save him and give their love one more chance. There are some great lines that highlight the pain such as “They say love never dies but it sure leaves a scar” and “And all that’s left behind is a tattoo on your heart”. A beautifully written song.

But how beautiful is it really? Is it too sappy? No, not in the least. The Defiants put on a master class on how to perform a ballad. The music is tender, heartfelt and aches with the pains of the lyrics. The opening synths give it an almost atmospheric tone like floating through the air. The guitar tone is almost weeping and that solo will leave you breathless. But the winner is those vocals by Paul Laine. The notes he hits are amazing, the angelic tones, the emotiveness of his words is crazy good. Paul is still one of the finest vocalists out there today. He still has it in spades. If you ever thought the ballad was dead…here is proof it is alive and better than ever.

Continue reading “My Sunday Song – “Save Me Tonight” by The Defiants” →

Friday New Releases – June 7, 2024

Published on by 2loud2oldmusic29 Comments

It is the first new release post of June and we already have a major release. Yes, Bon Jovi is back with their new album ‘Forever’. With Shanks still on board, my hopes are not high for this one but I will listen as I always have hopes they will be good again. I have it on order and it will get reviewed, but not until it’s slot in the Bon Jovi Collection Series that is currently running. Maybe 3 more months. I also want to hear the Loverboy Live album from 1982…their prime!! What are you interested in hearing this week? Let me know and what we may have missed. Thanks for stopping by and I hope you all have a wonderful weekend!

  • Bon Jovi – Forever – (Captain Kidd Corp / Island Records / UMG)
  • Loverboy – Live in ’82 – (earMusic / Edel Music & Entertainment)
  • Apocalyptica – Plays Metallica, Vol. 2 – (Throwdown Entertainment / BMG Rights Mgmt)
Continue reading “Friday New Releases – June 7, 2024” →

Def Leppard – ‘Montreal: The Classic 1996 Broadcast (Bootleg CD) – Album Review (The Def Leppard Collection Series)

Published on by 2loud2oldmusic54 Comments

The band’s first show in this beautiful city since August 1992 for the Adrenalize Tour sees them at the Centre Molson in Montreal, Canada on September 15, 1996. A tour that ran from May 9th, 1996 through to April 27th, 1997 in support of their new album, at the time, ‘Slang’. No more ‘In the Round’, the band played on the traditional end stage set-up, but instead of 20,000 people, the place held anywhere from 5,000-9,000 people. No more massive shows, they were no doing a straight up rock show with less lights and less everything. A pure rock & roll show.

This show was broadcast on the radio in Montreal and southern Canada as well as across the U.S. And what we have here is a wonderful bootleg of that show across 2 CDs. A fun fact, a month later on October 23, 1996, the band would enter the Guinness Book of World Records for being the first band to play on three continents in a 24 hour period. That has nothing to do with this release, but figured why not throw that in for good measure. Back to the bootleg, this one sounds fantastic, there appear to be no errors in the track listing as far the titles are right, and the pictures are even of the era of the band. Finally, a bootleg with no mistakes.

Well, it was completely devoice of mistakes actually, the opening track “Rock! Rock! (Till You Drop)” actually fades in part way through the song. I am guessing someone forgot to hit “record” on the tape deck. Otherwise, the only issue. The song sounds great, but man, they are playing it at warp speed. They then go into a track from ‘High & Dry’ that doesn’t get played enough, “Another Hit And Run”. The guitar work is sensational on this one and has a great solo. Then we get “Animal” and then the ballad “Have You Ever Needed Someone So Bad” which for me is one of the better songs on ‘Adrenalize’.

Continue reading “Def Leppard – ‘Montreal: The Classic 1996 Broadcast (Bootleg CD) – Album Review (The Def Leppard Collection Series)” →

The Collection: Ep. 16 – Wrap-Up May 2024

Published on by 2loud2oldmusic10 Comments

We are to the end of another month so it is time to what 2 Loud 2 Old Music added to the collection this month. We hit a couple local shops including Noble Records and Mad Jacks. I also ordered some new releases from Amazon and bought a few things off Discogs including one I’d been wanting a while. In fact, had to sell a couple things to be able to afford it. If you like Kiss, Aerosmith, Motley Crue and Billy Idol, then it is a must see. If not, you should still see all that is in store. We have cassettes, CDs and Vinyl for you this week. Enjoy!!!

So go check it out as it will be live tonight right now, June 3, 2024 at 8pm. Thanks for stopping by and please click “Like” and hit “Subscribe” as it helps out the site when you do.

And for those that like to see all the stuff in one shot…here you go…

Bon Jovi – ‘Live at Madison Square Garden’ (2009) – DVD Review

Published on by 2loud2oldmusic24 Comments

Bon Jovi at this point is still putting out material on a steady basis. This time around we get their 5th live video called ‘Live at Madison Square Garden’. It was released on several different dates around the world, but here in the U.S., it was released on May 11, 2010, but elsewhere around the world it was released in November 2009. In the States this thing did go to #1 on the Video charts.

The show was recorded on July 14 & 15, 2008 in New York City at the famous Madison Square Garden…I know, that was a shock given the name of the video. It was directed by Anthony Bongiovi and Brian Lockwood, glad to see Jon keeping it in the family. The version I have is the DVD, but if you buy the Blu-Ray, you get the great documentary we discussed last week, ‘When We Were Beautiful’. The story around that DVD centered around the free Central Park show which was like a day or so before these fine concerts. The band was tight and ready to go.

The video doesn’t waste anytime and once you hit play, the band is there ready to go at full speed. They open with the song “Lost Highway” and not just because I don’t like that album, but what an awful song to kick off the show with. They used to kick off with something so powerful and energetic that this falls flat. With that being said, this is probably the only mistake they make the whole night. You get a band that is still in their prime, Jon’s vocals sound amazing and the band is as tight as ever. They go in to “Born to Be My Baby” and then Jon pulls out his acoustic guitar, Richie picks up his slide guitar and they go in to “Blaze of Glory” and things pick up from there.

Continue reading “Bon Jovi – ‘Live at Madison Square Garden’ (2009) – DVD Review” →