Papa Roach – ‘Crooked Teeth’ – Album Review

‘Crooked Teeth’ is Papa Roach’s ninth studio album and with it they show no signs of slowing down.  The band sounds incredible and delivers another solid release.  Where bands like Linkin Park have completely changed their style, Papa Roach hasn’t changed their sound too dramatically.  And why should they as they do it so well.

Papa Roach still brings the rap in their songs, however, the album is more melodic and has a very modern rock sound.  With any rock album, it sounds best cranked up as loud as you can take it.  Like they did with their last album, ‘F.E.A.R.’, they have also added a couple of collaborations with some spectacular guests including Skylar Grey and Machine Gun Kelly.

The album opens with “Break the Fall” and gives you the rap lyrics you would expect and then cranks up the metal with the classic Papa Roach sound.  The album comes out of the gate swinging and doesn’t let up with the title track, “Crooked Teeth”.  The first single off the album is a scorcher that attacks you from all sides with the pounding drums and screaming vocals and powerful guitars.  You see that even after 24 years, the band has not lost a step.

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Friday New Releases – June 16th

Happy Friday!  It is time for more new releases and one I know everyone on earth is waiting to hear…that is right…Nickelback!!  Your local police will be thrilled to have new Nickelback music to play and torment their prisoners.  There is quite a lot and a little for everyone so take a look and start listening.  My choices are highlighted in Blue.

  • 170x170bb-1  Nickelback – Feed the Machine – (Nickelback II Productions):  Nickelback is back (no pun intended) to bring more enjoyment to our senses (this was supposed to come out as sarcasm, but sometimes it is tough to show that in writing).  Will I give it a listen???  Maybe, not sure yet.  I figured I would mention it since so many people do buy their albums and go see them in concert.

  • 170x170bb-59  Cheap Trick – We’re All Alright! – (Big Machine):  The first of two childhood favorite bands with new albums.  First up is Cheap Trick.  I am glad to see them still cranking out new tunes as this is their 18th studio album and they actually released one last year as well.  Will I give this one a listen…hell yeah!.

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Linkin Park – One More Light – Album Review

Linkin Park goes 180º in direction with ‘One More Light’.  The heaviness from ‘The Hunting Party’ and anything else they have done is thrown out the window.  Instead, Linkin Park goes entirely POP!!  No heavy guitars, very little in the realm of rap and overall full on aggressiveness is gone.

The closest you get to old school Linkin Park is “Good Goodbye (feat. Pusha T & Stormzy)”. This is one of the few songs I do like despite the dumbest lyric in history brought to us by Pusha T…

“Goodbye, good riddance
A period is after every sentence”

Really!!  A period is after every sentence???  That is the best you could come up with to rhyme with good riddance. Suckish!

The first single, “Heavy”, is great, but only because of Kiiara’s voice.  She brings an elegance to the song that is needed. A few other songs I did end up enjoying included “Talking to Myself”, “Invisible” and “Sharp Edges”.  They were catchy even if unoriginal.  The remainder of the album meandered along and was completely forgettable.

‘One More Light’ is not worth your time. I might have liked it if I didn’t know it was Linkin Park.

5 keepers out 10 songs – 50% (2.5 out 5 stars)

#200WordChallenge

Friday New Releases – June 9th

It is Friday yet again and there are even more albums out and ready for you to go buy, stream or do with it as you will.  Not a lot this week, but one critical one for my kids.  The ones I will check out are highlighted in Blue.  I hope there is something for you.

  • 170x170bb-70  Katy Perry – Witness – (Capitol Records):  After 4 long years since Prism, Katy is back and better than ever…well…maybe not.  She has released 3 singles are ready and I have to say I am not that impressed.  I only like the first one “Chain to the Rhythm”, the rest have been kind of awful (especially “Bon Appetit”).  And I have to mention how awful the album cover looks to me.  Not off to a good start.  I will still give it a try though, but expectations are now pretty low.

  • 51qQOMb6CqL._AC_US160_  Lady Antebellum – Heart Break – (Capitol Nashville):  Lady Antebellum is back after three years and the members doing a little stuff on their own.  They are pure pop country, but I love Charles Kelley’s voice and Hillary Scott’s as well.  Put the two together and wow!!

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Harry Styles – ‘Harry Styles’ – Album Review

I wasn’t planning on doing a review of this album until my daughter asked if I was doing a review.  It made me think that maybe she wanted me to do a review, so after numerous listens of the album, here is my review.

Before I listened to the album, I really didn’t know what to expect.  I know what I hoped to hear and that was an album that was nothing like One Direction, his former band.  The Harry Styles solo album needed to show creativity and give us a different look than what we have seen before.  The pressure for him to deliver is huge.  I know I didn’t care for Zayn’s album (although “Pillowtalk” was an amazing song) so I was hoping this didn’t end up giving me a similar feeling.

Gladly, I wasn’t disappointed.  I was actually pleasantly surprised.  Harry delivered an album of very diverse songs yet they seemed to be cohesive at the same time.  Sonically, the album is pure British.  It has a lot of British musical influences and stylings.  I hear the essences of the Beatles, the Rolling Stones, Elton John, Arctic Monkeys, Oasis and even Robbie Williams.  And looking at the songwriting credits, I see Harry has his hand in all the songs which is a good thing…just how much of the writing he did is unknown.

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Friday New Releases – June 2nd

Can you believe we are already in to June???  Crazy!  And it has already gotten crazy hot here in Charlotte…and it isn’t even Summer yet (officially).  At least there are some Hot New Releases to keep you COOL!!!  There are only a handful I am looking to grab and they are highlighted in Blue.  I hope there is something that you are interested in getting.

  • 170x170bb (85)  U2 – The Joshua Tree (Deluxe) – (Island Records):  I can not believe it has been 30 years since this album was originally released. I was a senior in High School and this album was huge.  It is one of the world’s best selling albums.  U2 is commemorating the 30th anniversary with a new Deluxe Edition and a World Tour celebrating this album.  Who can forget all those great songs “Where The Streets Have No Name” “I Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For”, “Bullet The Blue Sky” and “With Or With Out You”.  There is a 2CD Deluxe Edition which includes a live album of the Joshua Tree Tour and a SUPER DELUXE Edition which is a 4 CD set and includes 2 additional discs or remixes and rare songs from that time.  I definitely will be checking this out.

  • 81XAcRTPPLL._AC_UL160_SR160,160_  Adrenaline Mob – We the People – (Century Media):  Russell Allen (Symphony X) and Mike Orlando are back with their 3rd full length release.  The first two were great metal albums and I am not expecting anything less than spectacular with this one.  Climb aboard and check out the rush that comes with listening to these guys.

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Gregg Allman Passes Away – A Southern Rock Legend

We have lost another music icon today.  The great Gregg Allman has passed away at the age 69. The co-founder of one of the great Southern Rock Bands, The Allman Brothers Band which he started with his brother Duane way back in 1969.

Gregg and his band brought such classic songs as “Midnight Rider”, “Melissa”, “Whipping Post” and “Ramblin’ Man”.  Gregg suffered from Hepatitis C back in 2007 and had a liver transplant in 2010.  He had been ill lately and has lost his battle.  He will be missed, but his music will live on forever.

Thanks Gregg for the great songs!!

Picture By Alberto Cabello from Vitoria Gasteiz (Gregg Allman) [CC BY 2.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0)%5D, via Wikimedia Commons

Friday New Releases – May 26th

It is the last Friday of the month and Monday is Memorial Day here in the States which means we have a 3 Day Weekend.  Sadly, it is never a big week for new releases, but there is one I am excited about…Mark Slaughter solo album!!  That is really the only and it is highlighted in Blue!!

  • 51ipyjZGtlL._AC_US218_  Mark Slaughter – Halfway There – (EMP Label Group):  Mark Slaughter is back with another solo album and I am so glad to have him back with new music.  If Slaughter is not putting out albums, at least he is.  If this first song, “Hey You” is any indication of what is to come, then strap in and be prepared to have your ass rocked off!!

  • 51-BJ81LmbL._AC_US160_.jpg  Foreigner – 40 – (Atlantic Catalog Group) – Yet another greatest hits release…as if there wasn’t enough of those out for the band.

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New Releases (updated)

For those new to the site, I have a page that contains a list of the New Releases out now or coming in the very near future.  I update it weekly (mostly weekly).  The list is of all albums I am interested in, albums I have heard about, or albums that are getting a lot of buzz.  Hopefully you can find something you can’t wait to get your hands on.

I also post the Friday New Releases every Friday for those great releases that are coming out that day to keep you in the loop.  Keep an eye out for those.

There is a link at the top of the home page that you can go to every time you visit.  Or you can just click right here on NEW RELEASES.  Below is the current list as of this morning.  I recently added Kenny Wayne Shepard Band, George Thorogood, Katy Perry, Imagine Dragons, Styx and so many more…I hope you enjoy

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Friday New Releases – May 19th

Another Friday has arrived and as school starts to wind down for some and Summer is coming, there are a bunch of new albums for you to choose from.  Anything strike your fancy???  There are a few for me and they are highlighted in Blue.  There are more I want to hear, but these three are the ones I will attack first. Enjoy!

  • 170x170bb-34  Linkin Park – One More Light – (Warner Bros):  Their new song “Heavy” is doing well on the charts and features Kilara.  My kids love this song and it doesn’t sound like the Linkin Park of old.  I am interested in seeing what the rest has to offer.  I haven’t been thrilled with their current releases and hoping for some return to greatness with this one.

  • 170x170bb-2  Papa Roach – Crooked Teeth – (Eleven Seven Music):  Big fan of Papa Roach and so glad they are back with some more hard rock.  The Deluxe Edition of this gives you a live concert from The Fillmore in Detroit.  That means the Deluxe is a must grab for me.

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