Stryper is currently touring in support of the 30th Anniversary of their break-through album ‘To Hell With the Devil’. The album was released back on October 24, 1986 and became the first Christian Metal album to go platinum. It was the best selling Christian metal album all the way up to 2001 when P.O.D. outsold it with their album ‘Satellite’ (another great album).
The videos for the album were on regular rotation on MTV which was so unusual for a band that was labeled as Christian. They actually made it cool to listen to music about Christ. They are the reason why I still listen to Christian music today (well Christ has a lot to do with it too). Most Christian music was fairly boring and somewhat cheesy. But not Stryper. They had screaming guitars, pounding drums, deep bass and soaring vocals. Perfect for the so called Glam era that was overtaking the radios at the time.
The band had its own gimmicks. The hair of course…wow!! The hairspray bill alone must of have been outrageous. The most memorable was them wearing the yellow & black leather outfits during their shows (which they will don again during their anniversary tour for the album). The band also handed out bibles to the crowd (I never got one). I did see them live on their tour in support of the next album ‘In God We Trust’, but was not close enough to get a bible.
Airbourne is out of Australia and let me tell you they will rock the hell out of you. ‘Breakin’ Outta Hell’ is the band’s fourth studio album and they are really going all out on this release. If you are in to the 80’s rock sound and love AC/DC and Quiet Riot, you have found the band to carry that torch. The songs are heavily influenced by those bands both in vocals and sound. The album came out on Spinefarm Records back on September 23rd, 2016.
The album comes out of the gate swinging and does not stop until the last note is played. It never slows down and there are no power ballads, it is just loud, head banging rock & roll…like it should be.
There are basically 5 types of songs on this album. Songs referencing Hell, songs about Rock, songs about Fighting, songs about Drinking and songs about Sex. No surprise because what else is there to sing about?
The Afters are a Christian Pop/Rock Band out of Texas and have been around for over a decade. If you aren’t familiar with them, you have missed out on some great music and you should go back and give them a listen. ‘Live On Forever’ is the band’s fifth studio album and was released a little over a week ago by Fair Trade Services (formerly INO Records).
I have had this album on repeat a lot over the past week and it gets better with every listen. If you like upbeat pop songs with a slight rock edge, then The Afters are what you have been wanting to hear. The album is full of positive and uplifting songs all with a Christian message. I always feel good after listening to their music and that is what brings me back time and time again.
The album kicks off with one of my favorite songs they have ever done. It has a heavy drum beat and a darker, more rock tinged sound. The song is “Shadows” and will leave you wanting more. All songs have positive Christian messages, so not going to rehash what each song is trying to say.
When I first heard that Meat Loaf and Jim Steinman were doing another record I was very excited. I know they are usually hit and miss records, but when they hit…they hit it out of the park (Bat Out of Hell 1 & 2). That is why this was a sad album review for me to write. The reason is because one of our great rock vocalist is great no more. Meat Loaf’s voice is shot.
This is quite possibly the worst album I have ever heard and especially the worst album of the year. Meat Loaf’s vocals are no where in the same realm of the greatness it was and as a result it turns this album into a sad realization of his future as a singer. Jim Steinman’s music can’t save the album because when you hear Meat’s voice it actually makes the music sound horrible as well.
There were several female vocalists brought in to accompany Meat, but they don’t sound good enough either to save this album. There is not one song on this record I will keep in my music library…not a one!
Can you fall in love with an album or an artist by hearing only one song? The answer for me is a resounding YES!! That happened to me many moons ago when I heard one of the coolest songs I have ever heard. The song was “Not That Cool” by Will Hoge. The song was about me. He reached into my soul and wrote this song just for me. Ok, he didn’t really, but it felt like it was.
Not That Cool” was about a young man that wants to talk to a women but the only problem was he doesn’t feel cool enough to approach her and use a corny line. It was me. I am so not cool and could never have the courage to walk up to a pretty woman and give her a line. I was a little too shy for that. However, I still managed to snag a very beautiful woman and somehow she agreed to marry me. Almost 15 years later, we are still together.
This was the song that introduced me to the amazingly talented, singer, songwriter Will Hoge and the album was ‘Blackbird On A Lonely Wire’. The album came out in 2003 on Atlantic Records and was his 2nd studio release with a major label. After hearing “Not That Cool”, I immediately went out and bought the whole album.
Will Hoge has been described as Americana, Alt. Country with a Southern Rock flair and it fits him perfectly. This album throws in a little pop as well as some blues aspects to various songs. The album flow is wonderful and the songs are well placed.
After the fun of “Not That Cool”, he goes straight into another upbeat song “”Be The One”. The song keeps the energy going with a radio friendly song that sadly I never heard on the radio. Then he slows things down a little with “King of Grey” and brings a little country to the sad feeling song.
Things pick right back up with a Tom Petty sounding song called “Secondhand Heart”. The song style would fit perfect on any Petty album. “Hey Tonight” comes next and adds a little pop back into another very radio friendly song.
“Doesn’t Have to Be That Way” brings a little blues sound mixed with his raspy rock voice and when you hear it you will realize why it is my second favorite song on the album. The song shows off his voice and song writing talents.
“It’s A Shame” has a little darker tone and a nice rock sound to it. A great follow-up to “Doesn’t Have to Be That Way”. Will adds a little piano into another country song called “Someone Else’s Baby”. A great sounding song.
Will Hoge rocks out on the next song “TV Set”. A very fast, fun paced song that will get you moving. I love the way he mixes genres in his songs and from one song to the next. Somehow it works.
“Better Off Now” is another song that has a Petty sound and might be a big reason I like this album as I am a big Tom Petty fan. “All Night Long” goes back to full on rock song and races through with heavy beats and great guitars.
Will changes pace again on the final song “Baby Girl”. He pulls out the acoustic guitar and slows it down with a beautiful ballad. A sweet love song and the longest song on the album at over 5 minutes.
Overall it is a fantastic album and my favorite Will Hoge album mainly because it was my first. If you aren’t familiar with Will Hoge, this is a great introduction. He has over 8 studio albums and numerous extended play and live albums so there is plenty to enjoy. I haven’t had the pleasure of seeing him live yet, but I feel it is probably where he shines. I hope you check him out and if you do, let me know what you think.
‘Hard Love’ is Needtobreathe’s sixth studio album and one I have been anticipating for quite awhile. Needtobreathe is one of my favorite bands and their last album wasn’t one of my favorite albums they have done. It had a darker tone and overall message and didn’t leave with me the great feeling I usually have with a Needtobreathe album.
When I heard about the new album, I was hoping they would lighten up a little and to my surprise they did more than that. They actually did deliver a much lighter, happier sounding album, but so much so that it feels more like a pop album. A POP ALBUM??? Needtobreathe is a southern rock, country, folk and straight up rock band. They are a Christian based band. They are not a POP Band. Maybe working with Gavin DeGraw on the song “Brother” influenced them greatly.
If you listen to their songs on this album, there is a drum machine. Not real drums, but a freakin’ drum machine. And dance grooves on some of the songs. WTF??? My mind is spinning, what is going on. The world has gone crazy!.
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.
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).
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.
The Dirty Clergy release their new album,’Rattlesnake’, today (July 1st). They are five guys from Winfield, Alabama who have come together to deliver a solid, straight-up rock album. ‘Rattlesnake’ is their second album and released on Happy Daze Records.
The production quality of this album is what I would call simple. There are no extraneous, unnecessary pieces added to the production. It is raw, gritty and has a live quality to the whole album. You can hear the drums, the guitars, and the bass equally. Nothing overpowers the other and makes for a great full sound.
2 Loud 2 Old Music 