Friday New Releases – February 9th

Happy Friday!!…or is it?  Well of course it is, it’s new release Friday.  There is not a whole lot I am pyched to listen to this week.  Some I might give a spin, but only one will get listened to today for sure and it is highlighted in Blue.  Otherwise, not much else that is exciting me.  Let me know what floats your boat.  Thanks.

  • 41VSwhV-ZFL  Franz Ferdinand – Always Ascending – (Domino Recording Co.);  The Scottish indie rock band is back with their fifth album.  I have been a fan since the beginning which is strange for me as I usually don’t like the whole indie rock vibe, but Franz gave me a nice retro rock feel with a lot of distortion.  I don’t know what this one has to offer yet, but I will give it a listen.

  • 61CbMAk5zzL._AC_US320_QL65_  Toto – Greatest Hits: 40 Trips Around the Sun – (Sony Music)
  • 51O8TIeBEuL._SS500  Sister Hazel – Water – (Croakin’ Poet Records)
  • 51xgRMToKcL._AC_US320_QL65_  Voodoo Circle – Raised on Rock – (AFM Records)
  • 51cKSEatsBL._SS500  Dashboard Confessional – Crooked Shadows – (Fueled by Ramen)
  • 61l+GoCpryL._SS500  MGMT – Little Dark Age – (Columbia Records
  • 5130EnGGISL._SS500  Elevation Collective – Evidence – (Elevation Worship Records)
  • 61By-XPHFoL._SS500  Social Club Misfits – Into the Night – (Capitol CMG Label)

Friday New Releases – January 19th

Another Friday, another set of new releases. There isn’t a whole lot, but some I am really interested in getting a hold of and those are highlighted in Blue.  As the year gets ramped up it will keep getting better and better each week (hopefully).  Let me know what interests you this week.  Have a wonderful weekend listening to the new music.

  • A1xq1wGYAGL._AC_UL115_  Whitesnake – The Purple Tour (Live) – (Rhino Records):  Whitesnake did The Purple Album to celebrate all things Deep Purple and then they toured it.  Here is the end result of that tour.  A CD and DVD of the tour is something worth getting a hold of for sure.  Whitesnake have been releasing a lot of live albums lately and I love they are doing that.  It is nice getting things from each era of the band.  Check out the video for Burn and then grab hold of the album.

Continue reading “Friday New Releases – January 19th”

My Sunday Song – “I’m Not Alright” by Sanctus Real

My Sunday Song #74 is “I’m Not Alright” by Sanctus Real.  This is the 2nd time Sanctus Real has made this list and it is another impactful song.  This song is off their 2006 release called ‘The Face of Love’.  It was a #1 song for them on the Christian charts and garnered them a Dove Award nomination for Rock/Contemporary Recorded Song of the Year.  Sadly, they didn’t win.

The song spoke to me in the fact that we aren’t all alright.  We are all broken in mind and spirit.  We are sinners.  The song is his confession that he is broken and that only through God, he is healed and he feels safe.  I can so relate to this song.  I think we all feel broken sometimes.  I know for me when I feel this way, I find that Christian music and God help me get through it.  Sanctus Real delivers songs that are meaningful and relatable.  They are going through the same thing I am going through and it has helped me so many times.

In an interview with 1cubed.com, the band talked about the recording of the song and how the song was originally titled “I’ll Be Fine”.  They felt they were lying to themselves and being fake.  They felt the need to be honest with themselves and everyone that you won’t always be fine.  It turned into this wonderful confession.

Continue reading “My Sunday Song – “I’m Not Alright” by Sanctus Real”

Turntables & Vinyl #11 – The Holiday Treasure Trove

Oh the Holidays!  The end of the year.  Christmas time.  The time John is not supposed to buy any albums since it is the holidays and it is my birthday time period so no record purchases as people need to have something to give me as a gift.  Well, that didn’t quite work this year.

I did set aside a list of albums people could buy for me for Christmas and/or my Birthday and I made sure that anything I picked up was not from that list.  December turned out to be a treasure trove of purchases, gifts and free stuff.  I definitely hit the jackpot with a crap load of albums to listen to and some day write about.

It all started mid-November when the Coke reward program was giving away $5 Amazon gift cards for every 10 bottle caps redeemed.  Well, I had been collecting them at work as I do drink one Coke product everyday and on really stressful, busy days, maybe two.  The $5 Amazon Gift cards were actually $10 because they allowed you to redeem it twice.  After setting up a several more accounts with different email addresses, I was able to redeem $40 worth of caps (I would have done more, but I ran out of caps).  What did I get with the $40 from Amazon?  Music of course.  I picked up the following:

Continue reading “Turntables & Vinyl #11 – The Holiday Treasure Trove”

What to Expect for New Music in 2018!

2018 is upon us and always fun anticipating what new albums are and will come out in the year.  There are quite a few we already know about, but some haven’t been officially announced or even a date set yet.  From what I have gathered around the internet, here are the bands that should have new albums out in 2018, but no dates announced yet. The ones I want will be highlighted in Blue.

  • Godsmack
  • Exodus
  • Shinedown
  • Stone Temple Pilots (I know this is coming as they have said)
  • Jack White – Boarding the House Reach
  • Vance Joy
  • The 1975 – Music for Cars
  • Ace Frehley
  • Arctic Monkeys
  • Avatar
  • Avril Lavigne
  • Bastille
  • Borns
  • Bon Jovi
  • Bring Me the Horizon
  • Bullet for My Valentine
  • Celine Dion
  • Charli XCX
  • Cowboy Junkies
  • DevilDriver
  • Echosmith – Inside a Dream

Continue reading “What to Expect for New Music in 2018!”

Top Songs of 2017

It is time for the Top 20 Songs of 2017.  My previous post, if you missed it, was the Top 20 Rock Songs of 2017.  Go check it out by clicking on the link.  These 20 songs are all genres other than rock.  Some were popular and chart toppers and others were not.  They are my favorites, that touched me in some way so don’t expect any indie bands or anything trendy.  If you want that go to one of the cool sites out there, this ain’t it.

If you missed the Top Rock Albums of 2017 or the Top Albums of 2017 (that were not Rock), just click on the link and go check them out.

Let’s get started…

#20 – “Something Just Like This” by the Chainsmokers featuring Coldplay off the album ‘Memories…Do Not Open’:  This song was a family favorite during the year.  The one song the wife liked as well as all the kids and as a result, I heard it a lot and it grew on me to where I stopped and listened to it when it came on the radio.  A catchy little song with a great beat.

Continue reading “Top Songs of 2017”

The Top Albums of 2017

The year is almost over so it is time to look back at what was awesome in music during the year.  I have already looked back at the Top Rock Albums of 2017 (click to read).   This list will cover all other genres that I listened to over the year including Pop, Country, Christian and whatever other genre you want classify these albums.  Rock is my favorite genre and that is why it gets it’s own list, but that doesn’t take away from any of these choices as I think they are great on their own.

Note:  These albums were my favorites and not necessarily the most played on the radio (which I hate the radio) or even the biggest sellers.  There aren’t the trendy indie bands on everyone else’s top albums list.  These are just what I came across during the year and connected with me in some way.  So, we might as well get started…

The #1 Album of 2017

A1gOoT2DCZL._SL1500_  Colton Dixon – ‘Identity’:  What??? Not Taylor or Harry or Ed??  Nope!!!  Colton Dixon’s album ‘Identity’ was the album that did it for me this year.  Colton’s very pop album, but a Christian based album, is what I found to be best this past year.  The album was a loosely based concept album which was broken down into 3 parts – The Mind, The Body & The Soul.  He was able to rock out, dance, and slow it down all with precision.  You couldn’t help getting caught up in the messages of the songs and I am still listening to it even though it came out real early in the year.  That says something right there.

Continue reading “The Top Albums of 2017”

Friday New Releases – November 10th

Welcome to another Friday New Releases and this week is a biggie.  Why?  Because Taylor is finally releasing her long awaited new album.  I put it at the top because it will be the most played album in our house (I have two girls that love her).  But don’t fret!  There is plenty of other releases for everyone.  I have a ton of rock records that I can’t wait to spin and they are highlighted in Blue.  I hope there is something for you.  Enjoy!

  • 61fam+0-OYL._AC_US218_  Taylor Swift – Reputation – (Big Machine): Get ready because the old Taylor is DEAD!!  This is a new Taylor Swift and from what I have heard so far, I would agree.  Taylor is reinventing herself now with each new release and I don’t see it as a bad thing.  At least for me, the new songs are more interesting than the prior songs.  I actually might like this new direction.  We will see as I will definitely hear it enough to become familiar with it.

  • 61qd3pEQ1nL._AC_US218_  Sweet & Lynch – Unified – (Frontiers Records):  Now here is where I will begin.  Michael Sweet & George Lynch were brought together by Frontiers Records as one of their special projects and usually they end up as a one time deal, thankfully, this one is not. We are now given a second release and they are touring.  Maybe this will last a little while.  I always need more rock & roll.

Continue reading “Friday New Releases – November 10th”

Friday New Releases – October 27th

Welcome to the last Friday of October and the last set of new releases for the month.  Halloween is coming up in a few days and maybe there is something on here that will be a treat for you…or maybe you buy it, it sucks and then it is a trick…either way I hope there is something for you.  The ones I am interested in are highlight in Blue.

  • 61M1TfV-VoL._AC_US218_  Stereophonics – Scream Above the Sounds – (Stereophonics / Parlophone):  These Welsh boys are back with another new album.  After 20 years together, they haven’t missed a beat.  They are on a steady diet of one new album every two years and without fail, he were are with their latest.  If you don’t know them, check them out and see why they are top of my list this week.

  • download  Red – Gone – (Provident Label Group):  This Christian metal band is straying from their Christian roots with this album and delivering a mainstream rock record.  They even do a Sia cover on the album.  This could be interesting.  I will definitely cue this one up as well,

Continue reading “Friday New Releases – October 27th”

Friday New Releases – October 6th

Welcome to October and of course, I have a list of new releases for you to check out.  There are definitely some I am getting this week and I will talk about those as they will be highlighted in Blue.  There are not a ton, but hopefully you will find something.  I know I have.

  • 61VQ92of-mL._AC_US160_  Whitesnake – Whitesnake (30th Anniversary Edition) – (Parlophone Records):  Duh!! No Brainer!!!  I can’t believe it has been 30 years since this album was released.  I have it on Vinyl, but I want this CD see.  With classics like “Still of The Night”, “Here I Go Again” and “Is This Love” you can’t go wrong with this one.  The only downside is the Super Deluxe Edition, which I ordered, is on hold until October 27th.  Oh well, still can’t wait to get ahold of it.

  • 61FIqt+D+pL._AC_US218_  The Darkness – Pinewood Smile – (Canary Dwarf Ltd):  The glam metal band that glorifies the excess of 80’s rocks brings us their new album.  After 5 albums has the schtick gotten old?  We will see.

Continue reading “Friday New Releases – October 6th”