Friday New Releases – January 26th

We are already to the end of the first month of the year and some good ones so far.  And we are ending the month with some even better.  My choices are highlighted in Blue.  There should be a little something for everyone this week.  Let me know which ones you want or if I missed something. I have a lot to get through this weekend. Have a great weekend!!

  • 51drvzx1HXL._AC_US436_QL65_  Rick Springfield – The Snake King – (Frontiers Records):  I love me some Rick Springfield.  I am not afraid to admit it.  I was a fan as a kid and he was my first concert my sister and I went to go see.  Back in 2004 with his album Shock/Denial/Anger/Acceptance, I garnered a new found respect for him and have been following him with more gusto.  The new album is more blues rock and a nice change of pace.  He keeps trying new things and keeps getting better.  I enjoyed the single “Little Demon” and expect great things to come.

  • 51v+QhAMSAL._AC_US436_QL65_  The Poodles – Prisma – (GAIN/Sony):  The Poodles have returned after a little break and some little side projects.  My only disappointment with this album is it is not new material.  It is a cover’s album which I am not always a huge fan of.  I will listen, but worried.  I don’t want it to be karaoke and from what I hear with “It’s No Good” tells me it won’t be.

  • 71D3-gx6QWL._AC_US320_QL65_  Phil Campbell & the Bastard Sons – The Age of Absurdity – (Nuclear Blast):  Motorhead guitarists has his own band and they come at you with dirty, gritty rock and exactly what you need.  I am looking forward to devouring this release and blowing out the speakers!

  • 81ecqHGgigL._AC_UL320_SR320,320_  Delta Deep – East Coast Live – (Frontiers Records):  Delta Deep delivers their first live album which is great considering I was unable to attend a show they did last year.  Def Leppard’s own Phil Collen is on guitar and Stone Temple Pilots’ own Robert Deleo on Bass, Forrest Robinson on drums and the great vocals of Debbi Blackwell.  I got in to them thanks to my Bro-in-law as he did the sound for all their live shows.  This should be good…no great!!

  • 51G7Rl0IUQL._SS500  John 5 & The Creatures – It’s Alive – (60 Cycle Hum Records):  As much as I loved his last solo release with the Creatures, a live version is a no brainer.  Can’t wait to dive into this and to see what I missed when they came to town last year.

  • 51Yxg96OwEL._AC_US436_QL65_  Ammunition – Ammunition – (Frontiers Records):  Former members of Wig Wam together again…enough said.  This will get some spins for sure.

  • 610iD9H20BL._AC_US436_QL65_  Beth Hart & Joe Bonamassa – Black Coffee – (J&R Adventures)
  • 610nS59X3WL._AC_US436_QL65_  Loudness – Rise To Glory – (Frontiers Records)
  • 81fzC5lehlL._SX522_  Steve Hackett – Wuthering Nights: Live in Birmingham – (Inside Out Records)
  • 61rO-rGDKCL._AC_US436_QL65_  Armik – Pacifica – (Bolero Records)
  • 513h3-GeRCL._SS500  Machine Head – Catharsis – (Nuclear Blast Entertainment)
  • 51wWqRI4uCL._AC_US218_  Craig David – The Time is Now – (Insanity Records)

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”

Friday New Releases – January 12th

Happy New Year and welcome to the first Friday New Releases of 2018.  Why is this the first since it is the 2nd Friday of the new year?  Well, it is the first week with any new releases worth mentioning.  And there are a few worth mentioning…at least for me.  The ones I want are highlighted in Blue.

  • 511sBdx2nNL._AC_US218_  Joe Satriani – What Happens Next – (Sony Music):  The Satch man is back and I couldn’t be happier.  Well, I could if someone sent this to me in CD or vinyl form.  Since that won’t happen, I will stream it for now.  He is my favorite guitarists and I love how is able to make the guitar sing in each song.  He is amazing.  Looking forward to more great stuff especially since this album features Glenn Hughes on Bass and Chad Smith on Drums.  This should be awesome!!

  • 51tYnOokeJL._AC_US218_  Black Rebel Motorcycle Club – Wrong Creatures – (Abstract Dragon):  The American rock band out of San Francisco returns for the 8th studio album.  I love their retro, gritty, distorted guitars with a punk edge.  The song I have heard sounds like what I expect and I expect great things!

  • 51HdK4bnAQL._AC_US320_QL65_  Anderson East – Encore – (Elektra Records):  I heard the song “All On My Mind” that was written with Ed Sheeran and I liked what I heard.  Not real familiar with him, but if the album is anything like the song, sounds like it could be great.  Plus, the man is dating Miranda Lambert!!  Damn!!

  • 61wl74tSw7L._AC_US436_QL65_  Dr. Demento Covered in Punk – Various Artists – (Demented Punk):  Ok, I heard the Cramp’s song “Garbageman” performed by William Shatner and it is fucking awesome!!!  Excuse my language, but it is!!!

  • 51eq-HJ-G-L._AC_US436_QL65_  BØRNS – Blue Madonna – (Interscope Records):  I really enjoyed his last album for its uniqueness, his voice and the songs.  I am hoping for a step up with this release.  His music is labeled as many things including indie pop, psychedelic pop, synth pop, electronica pop and alt rock and it is every one of these labels.  Not my usual cup of tea, but I dig it!!

  • 81vupQOdcKL._SX522_  Camila Cabello – Camila – (Simco Ltd)
  • 61pq+-U8L6L._SS500  Bob Marley – Kingston Sessions: Vintage Years – (JA Records)
  • 61d--C0G8ML._AC_US436_QL65_  Tinsley Ellis – Winning Hand – (Alligator Records)
  • 51Y-lsZ6qhL._AC_US436_QL65_  Corrosion of Conformity – No Cross No Crown – (Nuclear Blast Entertainment)
  • 61kb1KK1gSL._AC_US436_QL65_  Leaves’ Eyes – Sign of the Dragonhead – (AFM Records)
  • 61XwZ9-Di1L._SS500  Black Veil Brides – Vale – (Republic Records)

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!”

RSO (Richie Sambora & Orianthi) – Making History E.P. – Album Review

Richie Sambora and Orianthi are back with their second E.P. this year.  From what I understand, they have written 70 songs together and recorded 25.  They plan on releasing them as E.P.’s so that means with 2 down (5 songs each), we have 3 more to look forward to in 2018? I hope that is the case as I am up for that. Before we get to those, we have to review the 2nd E.P., ‘Making History’.

The first E.P. ‘Rise’ was not what I expected from these two at all.  With both being exceptional guitar players, I was looking for a guitar based album and they did not come close to that on the first one.  Thank God they redeemed themselves with this album.  They brought the guitars on ‘Making History’.

With the opening track and title track “Making History” you know that they are doing what we wanted them to do.  They are rocking out.  The guitars on this one are exceptional with an almost Def Leppardesque sound from around the “Euphoria” era at times.  The guitar solo is the best thing they have done so far and it is all what I asked for so why should I complain.  Of course I have one negative on the song.  The vocals aren’t the best.  I feel the production is lacking (Bob Rock is the producer which is surprising).  Richie and Orianthi don’t sound like they are singing together and I don’t know if it is the effects they put in her vocals, but something is missing with the chemistry and the mix with the two of them singing together.

Continue reading “RSO (Richie Sambora & Orianthi) – Making History E.P. – Album Review”

Friday New Releases – December 15th

This is the last Friday New Releases for the rest of this year.  I don’t have anything for the next two weeks. If you haven’t released by this date, you will miss the Christmas rush so you might as well wait until January or be lost the hubbub.  Not much out this week.  The only one I am interested in is the live Linkin Park album and it is highlighted in Blue.  Let me know if there is anything for you.

  • 814YHlOdhFL._SX522_  Linkin Park – One More Light Live – (Warner Bros):  This was recorded off their most recent tour and just months prior to Chester Bennington’s death.  This for me is a must have for any Linkin Park fan to get one of Chester’s final performances.  I have heard the song “Crawling” from this show and it is outstanding. I am sure the rest will be as well.

  • 51ERsLlYB-L  Asking Alexandria – Asking Alexandria – (Sumerian Records)
  • 51Ya6AzwKsL._AC_US218_   John Williams – Star Wars: The Last Jedi – (Walt Disney Records)
  • 71GhXjjrIML._SX522_  G-Eazy – The Beautiful & The Damned – (RCA)
  • 61CoYwpB0GL._SX120_SY120_  N.E.R.D. – No One Ever Really Dies – (Columbia/Sony)

Friday New Releases – December 8th

The closer we get to Christmas, the fewer good new releases coming out.  That doesn’t mean that aren’t any, just fewer to choose from.  For me this week, there are only two Live albums I am interested in hearing and they are highlighted in Blue.  Let me know if there is anything you see that you like.  Have a great day!!

  • images  Collective Soul – Live – (Suretone Records):  One of my favorite bands from the 90’s and from Georgia.  I have followed them since their first single “Shine” way back in 1993 and they haven’t disappointed me ever!!  I am looking forward to a live album as I don’t have one of those in my collection for them.

  • 61KX5d0LirL._SY300_QL70_  Deep Purple – The Infinite Live Recordings, Vol. 1 – (earMusic):  Deep Purple has been killing it this past year with a new album and so many treats associated with that new album. Now we have a live album as well.  That is all I need to hear.  Thanks and turn it up!!

  • 91G9cZ63fOL._SX522_  Circus of Power – Four – (Noize in the Attic)
  • download-1  Story of the Year – Wolves – (Story of the Year)
  • 61gxmQsSKGL._AC_US320_QL65_  Culture Club – Live at Wembley World Tour 2016 – (Cleopatra Music)
  • 619Oq4V4E1L._AC_US436_QL65_  Luke Bryan – What Makes You Country – (Capitol Records)
  • 91DPED-TXzL._AC_UL115_  Walker Hayes – boom. – (Monument Records)
  • 51qiaHny6mL._AC_US436_QL65_  Belle and Sebastian – How to Solve Our Human Problems Part 1 E.P. – (Matador)

Stone Temple Pilots – “Meadows” – Single Review

Back on November 14, 2017, Stone Temple Pilots announced their new lead singer, Jeff Gutt, and released their new single “Meadows”.  Through an exhaustive search of over 15,000 submissions they finally found the guy they were looking for in Jeff.  Over the past year, they  have been working together and honing their skills to make sure the band sounded as good as ever and that they gelled.  They didn’t want a Scott Weiland clone, but they needed someone that could pull off the old material as well as the new material (soon to come).  Not only can Jeff sing, but he writes as well.  That combination was what STP was looking for with a new singer.

Scott Weiland was one of the most iconic frontman any band had ever seen.  He is irreplaceable and STP will never be the STP they were with Scott.  A lot of fans won’t be accepting of Jeff for this reason and they are going to be too judgmental of anything new STP puts out.  That is a crying shame because STP isn’t trying to be that STP anymore.  They are trying to move forward with a new sound and honoring the days past.

With the release of “Meadows”, the band has stepped into the future without abandoning anything from the past.  Musically, the song sounds like STP and why wouldn’t it.  These are the same musicians and songwriters of the music from days gone by so of course it is going to sound like STP.  Jeff Gutt sounds amazing. With tinges of Scott’s sound, but not imitating him, you can hear Jeff’s own style shine through.  I think it was a great song choice for the introduction of Jeff as it bridges that gap between new and old so well.

Continue reading “Stone Temple Pilots – “Meadows” – Single Review”

Maroon 5 – Red Pill Blues – Album Review

Maroon 5 started off their career as a Pop/Rock/Funk band back in the very early 2000s and brought us the masterpiece debut album ‘Songs About Jane’.  15 year later the band is still going strong with the newest album called ‘Red Pill Blues’.  The resemblance between these two albums is relatively zero.  The Rock/Funk part of the band is non-existent and all you have is glorified POP!

Don’t get me wrong, there is some pop music I like.  However, there is something about pop music that irritates me and that is most songs on pop radio seem to think the actually have to be “featuring” a hip-hop artist or at least another artist.  Singers and bands today don’t seem to be able to do a song that is strictly their own.

Maroon 5 now believes in that theory whole-heartedly.  As a result, they have six songs, that is right 6!!!, on their new album that feature another artist.  They are as follows:

  1. “What Lovers Do (Feat. SZA)
  2. “Help Me Out (duet with Julia Michaels)”
  3. “Who I Am (Feat. Lunchmoney Lewis)”
  4. “Whiskey (Feat. A$AP Rocky)”
  5. ‘Don’t Wanna Know (Feat. Kendrick Lamar – yeah for like 10 seconds)”
  6. “Cold (Feat. Future)”

Continue reading “Maroon 5 – Red Pill Blues – Album Review”

Friday New Releases – December 1st

We are now in December and only 24 more days until Christmas.  Here are some great gifts to give…new album releases!!!  There is a wide variety of music this week so there might be something for everyone today.  My picks are highlighted in Blue.  What do you see that you like and want to get from Santa???  Let me know. Also, if you want to purchase an album, you can easily click on the link below the album and it will take you straight to iTunes.

  • 91wwrHTyssL._AC_UL115_  Chris Stapleton – From A Room: Volume 2 – (Mercury Nashville):  I am so glad there is a Volume 2 because ‘From A Room: Volume 1’ was sensational.  I am looking forward to what he taps into for this one because if it is anything like the outlaw country / southern rock vibe of the first one, you will be in for a treat.

  • 616S2tyrKrL._SS500  Down ‘N Outz – The Further Live Adventures of… – (Frontier Records):  Joe Elliott from Def Leppard returns with his side project that celebrates the music of Mott the Hoople, British Lions & Ian Hunter.  This time it is a live concert and another reminder of how great their music was.  It deserves to be celebrated.  As a Joe fan, no brainer for me.

Continue reading “Friday New Releases – December 1st”