Month: April 2025

D’Luna – ‘Monster’ (2024) – Album Review (The Jeff Scott Soto Series)

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If you’ve followed along when I did the Jeff Scott Soto Series, you will notice a trend where Jeff can’t say no. If a friend of his asks him to sing on their album, he usually says yes, even when he shouldn’t. Is this project one he should’ve said NO!? Let’s find out.

Guitarist, Dave Deluna, is the namesake behind the D’Luna name. This is his album, his concept, his everything…well, Jeff Scott Soto does contribute to the song writing as well, but this is Dave’s baby. I am not familiar with Dave at all before this album and the only reason I know about it is because of Soto as if you can’t tell from the number of reviews I’ve done on Jeff from the list at the bottom, I’m a big fan.

The rest of the band consists of Philip Bynoe (bass), Dan Meyers (keyboards), Oren Halmut (drums) and occasional guests on certain songs. And if you need to describe the style of music on this album, it would be heavy! Heavy guitars, heavy drums, heavy bass and straight up heavy rock. Throw Jeff in the mix and all should be right with the world…right???

The album definitely starts out strong with the title track “Monster”. Nasty riffs, with an almost Vai-esque style to it (for a brief moment at least). Jeff’s vocals are strong, intense and serious. But there is a cool surprise with this one as it also features King’s X, Dug Pinnick, on vocals with Jeff. The two make a powerful force. The guitar work on this one is solid, no denying that my only complaint is the solo doesn’t match the song really.

Continue reading “D’Luna – ‘Monster’ (2024) – Album Review (The Jeff Scott Soto Series)” →

The Collection: Ep. 54 – Kiss Bootlegs from John Humphrey’s Collection

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A couple weeks ago, John Humphrey, from the band Seether, sold off his entire Kiss Collection. Well, all but his vinyl. There were some really cool stuff in their and I wanted a piece of it. I lost out on some 8-Tracks, but I did win two lots of Bootleg CDs and they have arrived. We will go through all 38 Bootleg CDs and there is some really cool stuff in there.

So go check it out as it will be live tonight at 7pm, April 28, 2025 on YouTube. Thanks for stopping by and please click “Like” and hit “Subscribe” as it helps out the site when you do.

My Sunday Song – “We All Die Young” by Steelheart

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For My Sunday Song #430, we are talking Steelheart’s “We All Die Young”. It is the first song off their 1996 album “Wait”, but that is not where you know it. You probably know it from the 2001 movie “Rock Star” with Mark Wahlberg. It was a song sung by the band Steel Dragon in the movie.  Miljenko Matijevic did the vocals for Mark on this song which makes sense as he did them with Steelheart and he co-wrote the song with Kenny Kanowsk.

The song deals with mortality and how fragile life is since we know that death is basically inevitable. The knowledge of that can be isolating and lonely as well as crush your dreams if you let it overpower you. The challenges in life can be overwhelming and take its toll on you if you let it.

The song starts with a slow build and is 80’s style hard rock song even though this was actually 1996. Miljenko’s vocals are freaking insane. Not too many singers can hit the high notes like he can. It is impressive to say the least. The song is not a high energy rocker, but more slow burner with some heavy ass drums and wicked guitar playing, but nothing comes close to outshining Miljenko’s screams and falsettos. A truly killer song.

Continue reading “My Sunday Song – “We All Die Young” by Steelheart” →

Friday New Releases – April 25, 2025

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We have around 50 albums for you this week. It is insane. How insane? Well, I have the first 7 on the list on pre-order!! The most I’ve ever had in one week. Thankfully, it was a slow month for new releases for me up to this point so average out over a month, not too bad…I keep telling myself that. What are you wanting to hear or get this week or what did we miss? Thanks for stopping by and have a great weekend.

  • Billy Idol – Dream Into It – (Dark Horse Records)
  • H.E.A.T. – Welcome to the Future – (earMusic)
  • Ghost – Skeleta – (Loma Vista Recordings)
  • Harem Scarem – Chasing Euphoria – (Frontiers Records)
  • Whitesnake – Access All Areas: Live – (Rhino Records)
  • Will Hoge – Blackbird On A Lonely Wire (Will’s Version) – (Will Hoge)
  • Frehley’s Comet – Live +1: The Expanded Version) – (Friday Music Two)
  • Samantha Fish – Paper Doll – (Rounder Records / Concord)
  • Willie Nelson – Oh What A Beautiful World – (Legacy Recordings)
  • Sting – Sting 3.0 Live – (A&M Records)
  • The Sex Pistols – Live in the U.S.A. 1978 – (Ume)
  • Stereophonics – Make ‘Em Laugh, Make ‘Em Cry, Make ‘Em Wait – (EMI / Universal Music)
  • Yngwie Malmsteen – Tokyo Live – (Music Theories)
  • Simple Minds – Live in the City of Diamonds – (BMG Rights Mgmt)
  • Coco Jones – Why Not More? – (High Standardz / Def Jam / UMG)
  • Smokey Robinson – What The World Needs Now – (Gaither Music Group)
  • Jeff Goldblum & The Mildred Snitzer Orchestra – Still Blooming – (Decca Records / Universal Music)
  • Robin Trower – Come And Find Me – (Artone Label Group / Provogue)
  • Machine Head – Unatoned – (Nuclear Blast X Imperium Recordings)
  • Wednesday 13 – Mid Death Crisis – (Napalm Records)
  • Art Nation – The Ascendance – (Frontiers Records)
  • Russ Ballard – Songs From the Warehouse/The Hits Rewired – (Frontiers Records)
  • James And The Cold Gun – Face In The Mirror – (Loosegroove Records)
  • Eyes – Spinner – (Prosthetic Records)
  • Sunflower Bean – Mortal Primetime – (Lucky Number)
  • Eluveitie – Anv – (Nuclear Blast)
  • Landmvrks – The Darkest Place I’ve Ever Been – (Arising Empire)
  • Conan – Violence Dimension – (Heavy Psych Sounds)
  • Caliban – Back From Hell – (Century Media Records)
  • Coffin Feeder – Big Trouble – (Coffin Feeder)
  • Ancient Bards – Artifex – (Limb Music Publishing)
  • Game Over – Face The End – (Scarlet Records)
  • Cancer – Inverted World – (Peaceville)
  • Trick or Treat – Ghosted – (Scarlet Records)
  • Employed to Serve – Fallen Star – (Spinefarm Music Group)
  • Cosmic Cathedral – Deep Water – (InsideOutMusic)
  • Oak – The Third Sleep – (Karisma Records)
  • Rodeo Boys – Junior – (Don Giovanni Records)
  • Jawdropped – Just Fantasy E.P. – (Fire Talk)
  • Cloth – Pink Silence – (Rock Action Records)
  • Viagra Boys – Viagr Aboys – (Shrimptech Enterprises)
  • Fib – Heavy Lifting – (Julia’s War Recordings)
  • d4vd – Withered – (Darkroom / Interscope Records)
  • William Tyler – Time Indefinite – (Psychic Hotline)
  • Samia – Bloodless – (Grand Jury Music)
  • WesGhost – Am I Dreaming? – (Columbia Records / Sony Music)
  • Uwade – Florilegium – (Ehiose Records / Thirty Tigers)
  • Hannah Rose Platt – Fragile Creatures – (Xtra Mile Recordings)
  • Stephen Stanley – Trustfall – (Sparrow Records / Capitol CMG)
  • Tucker Wetmore – What Not To – (Back Blocks Music)

Art of Anarchy – ‘Let There Be Anarchy’ (2024) – Album Review (The Jeff Scott Soto Series)

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Art of Anarchy has been around since 2011 and this is only their third album. Granted, these guys have been busy with other projects, however, their biggest problem has been lead singers. They are now on their third album and third lead singer. It started with Scott Weiland from Stone Temple Pilots, then it was Scott Stapp from Creed and now it is Jeff Scott Soto for their latest album, ‘Let There Be Anarchy’. Hmmm…did you notice a trend on the singers names????

And the fact they have had three lead singers, two of which have been sued by the band for lack of promotion, you start to wonder if the problem is the singers or the band. I personally think it is a combination of both because Weiland and Stapp are not known for being the most stable personalities, but I am sure the band had to play a role too. For me, the biggest problem with Art of Anarchy is that they have no sense of identity. Three albums, three very different sounds and nothing that makes them cohesive so you know it is the same band. No signature sound. And that my friends, bugs the crap out of me.

The band is full of talent as you have Tony Dickinson on bass, Jon Votta on guitar, Vince Votta on drums and Ron “Bumblefoot” Thal on lead guitar. Their current singer is the only reason I bought the album as it is none other than Jeff Scott Soto (and if you notice at the bottom of the post, I’m a massive fan as I’ve done 86 posts on him to date). That is a lot of talent.

Continue reading “Art of Anarchy – ‘Let There Be Anarchy’ (2024) – Album Review (The Jeff Scott Soto Series)” →

The Collection: Ep. 53 – Paul Laine (Danger Danger, The Defiants and so much more)

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This week on The Collection, we are talking one of my all time favorite singers and one of the nicest guys in the world…Paul Laine. I’ve followed Paul since his debut solo album in 1990 all the way to today through his bands Danger Danger, The Defiants, Dark Horse, Shugaazer and everything else. We go through his catalog so join me and I hope you discover something you’ve been missing.

So go check it out as it will be live tonight at 7pm, April 21, 2025 on YouTube. Thanks for stopping by and please click “Like” and hit “Subscribe” as it helps out the site when you do.

And if you want to watch the Interview I did with Mike Ladano 4 years ago with Paul Laine, check it out below…it was a blast!!

My Sunday Song – “Echoes From The Past” by The Poodles

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For My Sunday Song #429, we are rocking out to “Echoes From The Past” by the Swedish band The Poodles. It is the opening track to their 2006 debut album ‘Metal Will Stand Tall’. And it does that throughout the album. This is one of the standout tracks on the album (which might be why it is first) and was written by Jakob Samuel, Pontus Norgren, and Chris Goldsmith. And fun fact, both Jakob and Pontus were members of the band Talisman which was fronted by Jeff Scott Soto and Marcel Jacobs. Jakob was actually the drummer and here he is the singer.

The song talks about failing whether it is from a success or a relationship. Apparently the failure is frequent with the person in this song as God is laughing at him wondering if he’ll ever learn. It seems to be about how fame is so fleeting and can disappear as quickly and easily as it was obtained. The echoes of that fame keep coming back to haunt him. But it could be a doomed relationship. It failed and they both ran. He calls out to her and if she were to call out to him, he would be there. Either interpretation works as once the song is out there, the interpretation is in the ears of the listener and what it means to them.

When you hear The Poodles, you are immediately transferred back to a time when the Glam and Melodic rock scene was at its peak around the world with acts like Bon Jovi and that ilk…well in Sweden that genre never has seemed to die out as they are putting out some great bands with The Poodles leading the charge. The opening track of the album, “Echoes From The Past” comes roaring out of the gate with its pounding drums and gritty guitar riffs. Jakob’s vocals have a grit to them and yet sound so silky smooth and his vocals can soar to the heaven’s. It is full of hooks and harmonies and everything you want in a great rock song. The first time I heard this song, I was hooked and a massive fan.

Continue reading “My Sunday Song – “Echoes From The Past” by The Poodles” →

Friday New Releases – April 18, 2025

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Happy Good Friday. And because it is Good Friday, the releases are really light this week. Easter has that effect on releases, sorry. Don’t fret, next week’s releases are HUGE!! And I Mean HUGE!! I have 6 on pre-order next week, none this week. I hope there is something for you, but if not, you are saving money!! Thanks for stopping by and have a great weekend!

  • Melvins – Thunderball – (Ipecac Recordings)
  • Mayday Parade – Sweet – (Many Hats Endeavors)
  • Neil Young – Coastal Soundtrack – (Reprise Records)
  • Hawkwind – There is No Space For Us – (Cherry Red)
  • Laurenne/Louhimo – Falling Through Stars – (Frontiers Records)
  • Julien Baker & Torres – Send a Prayer My Way – (Matador Records)
  • Lunchbox – Evolver – (Slumberland Records)
Continue reading “Friday New Releases – April 18, 2025” →

The Original vs. The Cover – “Crazy Horses”

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We haven’t done an Original vs The Cover in quite a long time, so I thought I’d do one. And why not pick something a little out of the ordinary and pick a song from The Osmonds…yes, that’s right, The Osmonds. The song is off their 1972 album called ‘Crazy Horses’ and was written by Alan, Wayne and Merrill Osmond. The album saw the band go from a boy band into this grown up guys band. They finally get to write and pick the songs where the label had done that prior to this album. It is probably the heaviest song they have ever done.

The single was really big going to #2 in the UK and #14 in the U.S. It brought a new audience to the band that had been mostly women and now the guys were taking notice. The song was actually banned in several countries as they thought the song was about drugs as Horses is sometimes used for heroin. And there was a line about smoke in the air and that was mistaken for drugs as well. But this is The Osmonds, the song was actually about the big gas guzzling cars of the 70’s and how they were not good for the environment. The brothers were actually a little ahead of their time with an environmental song.

It has been covered by so many bands over the years, but I wanted to pick the version that made me love the song and that was a cover by the Swedish band, The Poodles. Their version was the opening track to their 2018 covers album called ‘Prisma’. I don’t like covers album, generally, but this one kicked some major ass. Let’s get to the music.

THE OSMONDS:

Continue reading “The Original vs. The Cover – “Crazy Horses”” →

The Collection: Ep. 52 – What’s In The Box? (55 CDs including Journey, Dokken, Sammy Hagar and more)

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My buddy, Mike Ladano, at Grab a Stack of Rock had a friend named Len Labelle who was selling his CD collection. Mike sent pictures out and I was so in on buying as so many pieces that I needed. Len & Mike are in Canada and shipping was going to be expensive to the States, so I made sure to buy enough to make it worth it…and it so was. 55 CDs later and we have a ton of great stuff to add to the collection. If you like Journey, Dokken, Sammy Hagar, Tesla, Slaughter and more…you’ll like this.

So go check it out as it will be live tonight at 7pm, April 14, 2025 on YouTube. Thanks for stopping by and please click “Like” and hit “Subscribe” as it helps out the site when you do.