Category: Pop Music

Friday New Releases – April 12th

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A number of new releases this week across a vast array of genres.  There is probably something for everyone this week.  We have Alternative, Christian, Indie, R&B, Country, Metal, EDM, AOR, Bubble Gum Pop and who knows what else.  There a few that interest me, but don’t necessarily excite me where I am running out and buying anything. A few I want to listen to and they are highlighted in Blue as always.  Let me know what interests you or if I missed anything.  Enjoy listening and have a great weekend!!

  • 81wqiwabv8l._sx522_  Band of Skulls – Love is All You Love – (SO Recordings):  This English band is back with their 5th album and they are quite interesting and worth a listen.  They are part Blues Rock, Indie Rock, Stoner Rock and just plain Hard Rock.  They are a little of everything and that is what is great about them.  Give them a try if you haven’t already.

  • A14oFsF98hL._SX522_  Danny Gokey – Haven’t Seen It Yet – (Sparrow Records):  Christian artist and former American Idol hopeful releases his fourth album and I was pleasantly surprised by how good his last album was that I will be checking this one out as well.  It is towards the pop realm in Christian music, but his voice is fantastic and the lyrics are great.  If you need something uplifting, this should fit the bill.

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Friday New Releases – April 5th

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Welcome to April and another Friday of new releases.  This week there are a handful of decent releases but nothing I am freaking out about.  There are a couple I will give a spin and others I will have to see when I can fit it in…if at all.  My choices are highlighted in Blue.  Let me know what interests you or if I missed anything.  Thanks for stopping by and have a great weekend!!

  • 71BTfniLtdL._SX522_  Mike Tramp – Stray from the Flock – (Deko Music):  The former White Lion frontman continues his long solo career with another new release.  Since we will never get White Lion again, I will take this as his solo stuff is usually interesting although I don’t like everything, he still gets a listen.  I haven’t heard anything yet and I will wait until I can spin the whole thing all at once.

  • 81PvBHmmkLL._SS500_  Brooks & Dunn – Reboot – (B&D2/Sony):  Okay, I give country music a hard time…well because new country sucks.  But Brooks & Dunn aren’t new country.  They have been away for a long while and I am happy they are back.  However, I am disappointed it isn’t new material. Instead it is re”boots” of old classics with today’s country artists.  I did say today’s country sucks, so this ain’t too promising. The Kacy Musgraves one could be cool though.

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Friday New Releases – March 29th

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March is over and it will go out with a ton of releases this week.  There is something for everyone with this many releases.  We have metal, rock, alternative, country, R&B, jazz and christian music all to be heard and spun.  Actually, for me, there isn’t much I am interested in and I will highlight those in Blue.  Let me know what you found and if I missed anything.  Thanks for stopping by and have a great weekend.  If you want to see a bunch of the new releases coming over the next couple months, click New Releases here or at the top of the page.

  • 61e23dfEOBL._SS500_  Billie Eilish – When We All Fall Asleep – (Darkroom/Interscope Records):  Okay, this one is on my list because it is my oldest daughters favorite artist right now and apparently a lot of people are digging her.  She is VERY DARK in her attitude, music and especially the lyrics.  But she has something that is the “IT” factor right now.  A lot of her stuff is a little too weird, but some songs really knock it out of the park.  I will be listening to this one a lot…and not all by choice.

  • 81mrsy-ui6l._ac_ul115_  L.A. Guns – The Devil You Know – (Frontiers Records):  Is this the real L.A. Guns or one of the two touring bands with the same name??  Kidding…a little.  Either way, I will give it a spin and see what this old band still has to offer.

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Turntables & Vinyl #19 – She Met Sabrina Carpenter

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Turntables & Vinyl is my journey through music.  Most of the time it is about my vinyl purchases, but occasionally it is about my musical experiences.  This time it is actually about my youngest daughter’s musical experience.

My youngest keeps bringing up the fact she has never met anyone famous while her older sister has gotten to meet so many famous people including Matt Nathanson, Tori Kelly and actor Keegan Allen.  So, when she found out former Disney star, Actress and Singer Sabrina Carpenter was coming to town she mentioned she wanted to go to the show.

Now, my daughter never really asks to go to concerts (except for Shawn Mendes, but that is another story) so I immediately told her we would go.  She asked about getting to meet her and I reminded her that if it was too expensive, we would not be able to do it.  On the day of pre-orders for the tickets, I go online and look up ticket prices and you know, they weren’t terrible for the meet & greet.  Well they were, but her birthday was going to be shortly after the concert and I thought it would make a great early present.

They were offering two packages, the expensive one that gave you a tour of the Tour Bus as well as a personal meet & greet with Sabrina for individual pictures.  The other lesser expensive one (but still expensive) was no meet & greet, but Sabrina was going to do a  Q&A with the VIPs and a group picture, no individual photo.  You also would get an autographed show setlist and a special gift from Sabrina.

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Billy Idol – ‘Whiplash Smile’ – Album Review (The Billy Idol Series)

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After the tour for Rebel Yell, Billy Idol continued to live like he was on tour.  The drug use was getting worse, his relationship with Perri Lister was over and even his manager, Bill Aucoin was absent due to his own drug issues.  Billy’s world was slowly spiraling out of control.  And so was his ego.

When work was started on his next album ‘Whiplash Smile’, Billy’s ego started to get in the way.  He wanted control.  He wanted to write all the songs.  He wanted to add more synthesizers, more sounds, more stuff that wasn’t Steve Stevens.  And it is noticeable in the music.

What is also noticeable, is that with everyone leaving his life, the loneliness found its way into the music.  And an album that found about as much success as its predecessor, it wasn’t not quite the Billy Idol album people wanted or critics even liked.  It was an album that would lead to the end of a relationship between musicians that really needed each other.

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Friday New Releases – March 22nd

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After last week, we need a bunch of new releases and this week you get just that.  This week is also heavy on the rock side which suits me fine.  A whole lot to choose from here.  Hopefully you will find something you like. I know I have quite a few I am interested and one that is on pre-order and can’t wait to dive into and re-explore.  All my choices are highlighted in Blue.  Let me know what you are looking forward to hearing and if I missed anything.  Thanks and have a great weekend!!

  • 819unabimsl._ss500_  Harem Scarem – The Ultimate Collection Box Set – (Frontiers Records):  A 14 CD set spanning the entire Harem Scarem Career.  This is massive and I can’t wait.  I haven’t gone through their albums one by one in a long, long time…to long in fact.  This will be fun and should keep me busy for quite some time.  What’s your favorite album?

  • 91S5DWfazkL._SX522_  Motley Crue – The Dirt Soundtrack – (Eleven Seven Music):  The Crue is back with a Netflix Biopic and a soundtrack to boot.  The soundtrack has four new songs (sort of) and is a greatest hits collection.  It doesn’t look as sweet as the Queen movie soundtrack (now that is how you do it).  Let’s hope the songs are better than the movie looks.  So far, not overly impress with The Dirt song that was released and there is a cover of Like a Virgin by Madonna…that ain’t helping things look any better.  We will see…

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Avril Lavigne – ‘Head Above Water’ – Album Review

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Avril Lavigne is now on her 6th studio album and the first since 2013’s self-titled release.  That is a long gap and she has been missed.  Avril has gone from this skater girl with a punk and rock attitude to a more mature, pop sound that is both beautiful and elegant.

The problem with the release is it is safe, there is no more edge to her songs.  There is nothing to differentiate her from every other person on the radio even having Nicki Minaj appear on “Dumb Blonde”.  Yes, please…have a hip hop artist in your song so it gets played on the radio (that is sarcasm, btw).  One time, she led the pack, now she is trying to keep up.

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The opening track “Head Above Water” is strong and “Tell Me It’s Over” as well as “I Fell In Love With the Devil” aren’t bad either, but the album felt like so much filler and after 6 years, I hoped she had something more to say.  Also, when the aforementioned “Dumb Blonde” is the most upbeat, fun song on the album, that is a problem.

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Friday New Releases – March 15th

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After last week’s big set of releases, we come to this week where there is really nothing much.  Only one that interests me and it is highlighted in Blue.  Which is good because I am still tearing through the Whitesnake Slide It In Box Set.  Let me know if there is something for you or if I missed anything.  Thanks and have a great weekend.

  • 7155y9fijdl._ss500_  Gary Hoey – Neon Highway Blues – (Mascot Label Group):  Since there is so little out this week, I am blue.  And when you are blue, you need the Blues so I will throw this one on.  Plus Gary can freaking play a mean ass guitar.  What else do you need!!!

And that is it for me…these are the rest…

  • 4170VyshMuL._AC_US436_QL65_  Greyson Chance – Portraits – (GCM)
  • 616x2u9njKL._AC_US436_QL65_  Jerry Garcia Band – Electric on the Eel (Live) – (Jerry Garcia Family LLC)
  • 91sz46CbwVL._AC_UL115_  Fallujah – Undying Light – (Nuclear Blast)
  • 71rgNUnV+9L._SX522_  Snarky Puppy – Immigrance – (Ground Up Music)

Friday New Releases – March 8th

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Finally!!  A fantastic week of releases.  There have  been some okay weeks, but this one has the most so far that I am interested in this year.  So, I am not going to ramble on and on…my choices are highlighted in Blue.  Let me know what you are interested in hearing or anything I might have missed.  Happy Friday!!

  • 61oj5jpg5pl._sx522_  Whitesnake – Slide It In (35th Anniversary Ultimate Special Edition) – (Rhino Records):  Whitesnake has a knack for delivering fantastic box sets, if you don’t believe me just check out the Unzipped and ’87 Box Sets I have reviewed.  This one seems even better.  6 Cds including the US & UK releases remastered, live shows and demos/remixes and whatever else they throw in.  Oh, and you get a DVD full of videos and interviews…No Brainer!! Ordered and will be at the house when I arrive home from work

  • 91kmjiflhzl._ac_sx200_sy200_  Tesla – Shock – (Universal Music):  Tesla has been going strong since the 80’s and this one brings us a little twist.  Producing the album is none other than Phil Collen from Def Leppard.  Teslas has opened for Lep many, many times and a bond has been formed.  Can’t wait to hear what Phil pulled out of the guys…I am sure it will be fantastic.

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Jon Fratelli – ‘Bright Night Flowers’ – Album Review

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The voice of The Fratellis is back with his second solo album, ‘Bright Night Flowers’. If you are looking for that Fratellis fun, upbeat sound, that is not here.  What you get is the unique Jon Fratelli sound with a slowed down tempo and a hauntingly beautiful album.

For those melancholy evenings, this is the perfect album.  You get 9 songs played in a way that if the lights are down low and you are alone, it is the companion you were looking for.  It will take you, wraps its arms around you and wallow in your sadness…in a good way.

Filled with songs themed around love and heartbreak, this album is actually a breath of fresh air in Jon’s songwriting and such a wonderful change of pace from The Fratellis.  When a lead singer steps away from his band, this is how it is done.

Magical songs such as “Serenade in Vain”, the piano led “After a While” and the slightly country-tinged “Evangeline”, take you on a musical journey that you never want to leave.  I would score the album a 4.0 out of 5.0 Stars.  The album is endearing and is easily an early favorite in my Top Albums of 2019.

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