Author: 2loud2oldmusic

Friday New Releases – July 22nd

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This is a very quiet week for new releases.  Only one new one that I am eager to hear, Leeland’s ‘Invisible’.  There are 2 greatest hits that you should check out if you don’t have all their stuff already – Dio and Dragonforce.  Outside of that, not real excited about the others.

  • 515hrNs8fbL._AC_US160_  Leeland – Invisible – (Provident) – It has been about 5 years since their last album. The band’s line-up has changed significantly and only 2 members left.  If you like Christian music, they are worth giving a listen.

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Billy Joel – “It’s Still Rock & Roll To Me”

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Did you know that Billy Joel’s song “It’s Still Rock & Roll To Me” was #1 on this date, July 19th, back in the year 1980?  And amazingly was his first #1 single!!  He had been releasing albums since 1971 and this was his first #1???  Incredible!!

If I am not mistaken, it was also his first Gold Record, but the song went on to sell over 2 million copies in the U.S. alone.  It is featured on his album from 1980, ‘Glass Houses’ (which I proudly have on vinyl that I have recently rediscovered).

From what I can gather, the song is about how the press was talking up the “new wave” of music at the time and He thought that this so called “new sound” wasn’t really new but it was just rock. It seems also that the label said he needed to change up his style and sound to stay relevant. He felt he would stay relevant and it didn’t matter how he dressed or what he did.  Below is the video and check out the lyrics below.  Enjoy!

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Friday New Releases – July 15th

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I have been waiting for this Friday since I found out Needtobreathe was releasing a new album.  That pretty much means I don’t give a rat’s ass about anything else coming out today.  There are some I will check out after several days of listening to ‘Hard Love’.  Those will be highlighted in Blue.

  • needtobreathe-hard-love  Needtobreathe – Hard Love – (Atlantic):  Nothing else matters.  This is the release to check out.  They have been one of my favorite, if not my favorite, band over the last decade.  “Happiness” is classic Needtobreathe so I have high expectations this release.

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#TBT – The Coolest Songs of the 80’s – Playlist

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The 80’s was a great time in music for me. It was the time I started really getting obsessed about with it.  There were so many great songs, thanks to the dawn of MTV, during this time. They exposed us to so many more bands that our radio stations were not playing.

There are good songs, great songs, rock songs, dance songs, pop songs and some songs that are just too damn cool.  This list is what I felt were the really cool songs of the decade.  Cool could be the subject matter or the overall sound of the song and of course it is very subjective.  I wasn’t very cool back in the day so my definition of cool might not equal yours.  Come to think of it…I am not cool now.  Oh well, I hope you enjoy the playlist.

Red Rider – “Lunatic Fringe”

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Carey Durham – Mr. Music – Album Spotlight

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I used to work with Carey in Atlanta until I moved up to our corporate offices in Charlotte. About 2-3 weeks ago, I ran into Carey in our Charlotte office not realizing he had moved up here a few months earlier (he is working in a different building than I am which is why I hadn’t seen him earlier). I also came to find out that he had released his first full length album back in April 2016.

Now I knew Carey was an extremely talented violinist, as he has performed at company events, but the extent of his talent I had no idea.  He was kind enough to supply me with a copy of his album and I told him I would give it a listen. Let me tell you that I am so glad I did.  I was blown away by the musicianship, the vocals and the production of the album.

How would I describe his album ‘Mr. Music’?  I would say it is a blend of hip-hop, jazz, R&B and a little blues.  A total fusion of many different types of music. The flow of the album is exceptional and it will really put you in a great mood. What I also like about the album is its broad appeal to audiences.  My wife and I both loved it and both of daughters as well. I think that speaks to the fact that really good music can impact anyone and everyone.

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Melanie Martinez – Cry Baby – Album Spotlight

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Melanie Martinez was on Season 3 of The Voice and Team Adam.  She didn’t win, but she was able to transition to a record deal with Atlantic Records.  Her first full length album is ‘Cry Baby’ and was released last year on August 14, 2015.

I don’t know if I would have listened to this album on my own.  The only reason I really know about her is my oldest daughter.  Melanie is one of her favorite artist.  When we were on vacation a couple weeks ago, we came across her record in the Vinyl section of a store and I let her get it.  And of course on the car ride home, we had to listen to the album (no, not on vinyl as my car is not outfitted with a turntable – we streamed it).

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Def Leppard – High & Dry – 35th Anniversary

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Today, July 11th, marks the 35th Anniversary of Def Leppard’s best and heaviest album, ‘High & Dry’.  Everyone knows the albums ‘Pyromania’ and ‘Hysteria’, but the album that started it for me was ‘High & Dry’.  My brother had their first album on vinyl ‘On Through the Night’, but that album didn’t really do much for me.  I liked it, but it was lacking in a lot of areas.

It was this album that changed my views on Def Leppard.  This album is what a Rock & Roll album was supposed to sound like.  Once I heard this album, my world was never the same.  Def Leppard became a part of my life and has not stopped since.

What was so special about this album?  For starters, the producer was the legendary, Mutt Lange.  He went on to produce ‘Pyromania’ and ‘Hysteria’ as well.  Mutt Lange was able to take the elements that were missing on their first album and put them together here.  The improvements from their first album to here are huge.  They sounded like a band that had a plan and an idea of who they were that they didn’t have before.

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Switchfoot – “If the House Burns Down Tonight”

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Here is my 2nd song I was going to share from their new album “Where the Light Shines Through”.  I am only sharing this one because it is my new FAVORITE song.  I heard it and was instantly in love with this song.

It starts out with slow burn and then is a blazing fire of rock.  It spoke to me because as I was listening to the lyrics, I immediately thought that if my house did burn down, I would be okay with it as long as my beautiful wife and kids were by my side.  They are all that matters to me.  None of my personal belongings matter and they aren’t going to remember me when I am gone.

I think people lose sight of that and think they must have the latest and greatest and most expensive item because they feel it defines them, but it is your family, friends and who you are to them that defines you.  I am proud to be a husband to my wife and a father to my kids and friend to my friends.

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Switchfoot – “Looking For America (feat. Lecrae)”

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The new Switchfoot album,’Where the Light Shines Through’, is incredible and there were 2 songs that really spoke to me that I have to share.  The first one is “Looking for America (Feat. Lecrae)”.  The second one I will post tomorrow.

“Looking for America” is so timely for the tragic events of this week.  First the tragic killings of Philando Castile and Alton Sterling by the police and then last night’s equally tragic killings of 5 police officers in Dallas, Tx.  Words can not express how I feel about these events and I feel this great country is losing itself.  When I heard this song, I pushed repeat and continued listening to it the whole drive home from work.

I know the song isn’t about the killings this past week, but about America’s problems overall.  However, it is seems so relevant for what is currently going on that I felt I needed to share.

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Friday New Releases – June 8th

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I don’t have a long list of releases, but there are some I have been waiting on for awhile like Chevelle and Switchfoot.  Plus a few more that I can’t wait to hear which are all listed in Blue.

  • 51N-+Um45UL._AC_US160_  Chevelle – The North Corridor – (Epic):  It has been 2 years since their last release, so I am excited for some new music from these guys.  The songs I have heard so far, have been great.  I hope the rest of the album is as well.

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