Category: Pop Music

American Authors – ‘Seasons’ – Album Review

Published on by 2loud2oldmusic9 Comments

American Authors is one of those bands I had heard about due to their hit “Best Day of My Life” from 2013, but I had never wanted to take a deeper dive.  It is not because they weren’t any good band, it is just not my type of music.  It is too pop and generic and nothing really interested me.  Well, with the release of their third album, ‘Seasons’, that has now changed.

The reason for that change is simple, they have two songs on the album by a couple of my favorite singers right now, Billy Raffoul and Bear Rinehart (Needtobreathe).  You see, those two put out a song…I will listen and American Authors only reap the benefits…or do they…we will have to see.

I don’t know much about the band, so I will get straight into the music.  American Authors are really good at writing, happy type, uplifting songs and the opening track, “Stay Around”, is just that.  It is an uptempo and fun song that sounds exactly like an Imagine Dragon song with that drum beat and the lyrical phrasing.  Good song, but come on if you are going to copy any one why the hell would you copy Imagine Dragons?

The next song is one of the best on the album called “Say Amen”.  It features new singer Billy Raffoul and is probably why I am biased about loving this song.  It is a darker song for American Authors and I like this darker edge to the band.  Bill’s Jeff Buckley style vocals work well with singer Zac Barnett who I think changes his vocals to be a little more in Billy’s style which is great because Billy’s vocals have a lot of texture and character.

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Friday New Releases – March 1st

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Happy Friday and welcome to another Friday of New Releases.  If you like hard rock and heavy metal, might be a good week for you…otherwise, not much else.  For me, it is slim pickings this week with only 2 I am mildly interested and a decent Tom Petty greatest hits collection.  Outside of that, nothing else for me. My choices are in Blue.  Let me know if there is something you like or anything I missed.  Thanks and have a great weekend.

  • 51tEDu1QeKL._SS500  Queensryche – The Verdict – (Century Media Group) – Ever since Geoff Tate left, I haven’t given them much of a fair shake, but that will change with this album.  I am going to give it a spin and see wha the buzz is about.  Todd La Torre definitely has the chops as the lead singer so he deserves a chance.  I will let you know what I think.

  • 81r6evhbjnl._ss500_  In Flames – I, The Mask – (Eleven Seven Music):  This band has been around since 1994 and yet I didn’t discover them until their last album ‘Battles’ in 2016.  I will check this out and maybe start exploring their back catalog of about 11-12 albums.  They are a Swedish metal band if you were interested, pretty heavy stuff.

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The Original Vs. The Cover – “Nothing Compares 2 U”

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Welcome to another edition of The Original Vs. The Cover.  This time we are going to compare the song “Nothing Compares 2 U” to the original and the best cover of the song.  The Original was performed by the band The Family and the Cover was famously performed by Sinead O’Connor.  The song was written by Prince and he did perform this song in 1984 or so and it was finally released in 2018 so I can’t count that as the original since it wasn’t released before The Family’s version.  Prince did release a version with Rosie Gaines in 1993 which was again after both versions

The Family? What?  You never heard of them?  Not surprising.  The band was a creation of Prince as another outlet for HIS music to be released.  He was very controlling and involved in every aspect other than singing and performing.  As a result, after they released 1 album, 2 singles (which this song was not one) and after only 1 show, the lead singer, Paul Peterson aka. St. Paul, quit.  He felt Prince was too controlling and he felt restricted.

THE FAMILY

The Family’s version was never released as a single and you probably never heard this version before.  I hadn’t until I decided to do this song for the post.  I had trouble finding it and only found it on that Tube of You.

The is very stripped down.  It is mostly an organ playing with horns and keyboards.  No percussion whatsoever.  Paul Peterson’s vocals are really great and the backing vocals of Susannah Melvoin played nicely with Paul’s vocals. Paul had a haunting, painful feel to them which the song seems to have a lot of pain.

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Friday New Releases – February 15th

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Welcome to the day after Valentine’s Day. I hope everyone was with the one you love or at least loving the one you were with.  And if you didn’t have anyone, that is okay too.  Maybe there is something on here you could love.  There is a little for everyone.  My choices are highlighted in Blue.  Let me know what you are interested in and what I might have missed.  Have a great weekend.

  • 71c2NqTqsmL._SX522_  Avril Lavigne – Head Above Water – (BMG):  Avril Lavigne, what can I say.  I actually dig her stuff.  I am not afraid to admit it.  Even if she married the guy from Nickelback.  I won’t hold that against her.  I haven’t heard anything off this one yet, but that won’t deter me from giving it a listen as she has earned that respect. Oh yeah, the cover of the album is quite nice!

  • 51FqalwhnlL._AC_US436_QL65_  Jon Fratelli – Bright Night Flowers – (Cooking Vinyl Ltd):  I love the Fratelli’s so can’t wait to hear Jon do another solo album.  His last one I enjoyed so why would this one be any different.  Give him a try, you will like it.

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Billy Idol – ‘Don’t Stop E.P.’ – Album Review (The Billy Idol Series)

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After the demise of Generation X and Gen X, Billy would follow Bill Aucoin, his manager and Kiss’ former manager, to New York City to start a solo career.  When Billy signed on with Gen X as their manager, he quickly learned that the star of this band was not the band, but its lead singer, Billy Idol.

When Billy got to New York, he met a lot of interesting people and really loved the club scene…and of course, the drug scene was something he enjoyed as well.  If you read his book, “Dancing With Myself“ you can find out all about it so I won’t spoil the details here.

Billy was introduced to a guitarists at this time that would become just as big a part of Billy’s solo career as he was.  He met Steve Stevens.  There is no Billy Idol sound without Steve and his guitar playing is what makes Idol’s solo songs that much better.

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With Steve Stevens in tow along with Phil Feit on bass and Gregg Gerson on drums, the band set out to record Billy’s first solo album.  As a teaser and build up to his career, it was decided an E.P. would be put out, I guess to whet everyone’s whistle and draw up buzz on the singer.  ‘Don’t Stop’ was the result.  It was more of a dance album than the former punk sound Billy had and you could see the magic being developed on what would become an amazing run of albums in the 80’s.

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Michael Bolton – A Symphony of Hits – Album Review

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I will give props to Michael Bolton for actually re-recording the songs with a symphony orchestra and not just phoning it in, but I don’t see the need for basically another greatest hits package of songs from 30 years ago that feels tired and boring and left me missing the days of this Michael Bolton…

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#OneSentenceReview

Thanks to SuperDekes for the idea…go check out his #OneSentenceReview of Canadian Rockers Max Webster: Live Magnetic Air (1979).

Friday New Releases – February 8th

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Happy Friday!  I can’t wait for the weekend!  Why you ask?  Duh, no work and all music all the time!!  Not a whole lot this week, but a couple I will try out and they will be highlighted in Blue.  Let me know if there is anything for you or let me know what I am missing out on.  Hopefully there is something for you…I know that Bolton one is calling everyone’s name…”Listen to me (insert name here)”.

  • 41SejAdLM+L._SS500.jpg  7eventh Time Down – Brand New Day – (BEC Recordings):  A Christian rock band or pop rock…whatever you want to call it…I will give it a try.  I have enjoyed their first few albums and there is always one or two songs that blow me away so hoping for more of that.  I just like the positive messages and the good grooves.  Check them out! (Update…I guess I need to stop doing these three weeks ahead because this got moved to March 1st…sorry about that).

  • download-9  Sister Hazel – Fire E.P. – (Croakin’ Poet Records):  I remember their 90’s hits (or at least “All for You”) so why not see what they have to offer in 2019.  They are doing a lot of E.P.s.  They did two last year (Water & Wind) and now comes Fire.  I think I missed the other two so I will check this one out and go back and listen to the others.

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Friday New Releases – February 1st

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Wow, how are we already in to February. Time flies when you’re having fun.  We are having fun…right???  Anyway, we don’t have a ton of releases…only 6 on my list this week.  And maybe I will give them all a listen, I haven’t decided.  There are two on my list this week for sure, the rest will make some time, if at all.  Let me know if there is anything you are interested in or if I missed anything.  Thanks and have a great music weekend.

  • 91-I4azk34L._AC_UL115_  Tom Petty – The Best of Everything: The Definitive Career Spanning Hits Collection 1976-2016 – (Geffen Records):  An extensive greatest hits collection for the Tom Petty fan consisting of 38 tracks from his Heartbreaker work, his solo work and even his Mudcrutch work.  It is a pretty great track list with 2 unreleased tracks and an essay by Cameron Crowe.  All just spectacular and must have for every Petty fan.  (UPDATE:  Apparently this got moved at the last minute to March 1st because when I wrote this up it was due to drop on Feb. 1st…sorry about that)

  • 81kCbwr4GjL._SX522_  American Authors – Seasons – (Island Records):  This pop rock, alt rock band is back with their 3rd album.  They have pretty great songs, but this one is attracting me more because of the two songs I have heard are exceptional.  One with Billy Raffoul on it called “Say Amen” and the other is “Neighborhood” with Bear Rinehart from Needtobreathe.  These are two people I really, really like and want everything they do so this is on my list for sure.

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Friday New Releases – January 25th

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Now we are in to full swing in the new year.  The albums are starting to come out and today we have a long list of releases. There will hopefully be something for everyone.  There are bunch I am interested in, but might not necessarily buy right now.  They will be streamed to start with and I will pick up the ones I like the best.  My choices are highlighted in Blue.  Let me know what you like or are interested in.  Thanks and have a great musical weekend.

  • 41XHjCPQ-aL._AC_US436_QL65_  Starbreaker – Dysphoria – (Frontiers Records):  Tony Harnell and Magnus Karlsson team up again with the band’s third album and first in over 11 years…damn…way too long.  It is metal, it is hard rock and it is usually great.  Can’t wait to hear this one.

  • 61MGNjF1EfL._SS500  Rival Sons – Feral Roots – (Atlantic Records):  Rival Sons are one of those bands you just fall in love with immediately when you hear them. Now on their 6th studio album they just keep getting better.  They are straight up rock & roll with a heavy blues influence and worth a listen.  Give them a try.

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Friday New Releases – January 18th

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Last week did not have a bunch of releases and this week isn’t that much better, but there are at least more than last week.  And there are a few I am actually interested in giving a spin.  Those will be highlighted in Blue.  There are a lot of Metal releases for those that like it a little bit harder than the rest. Hopefully there is something that will interest everyone.  Let me know what you like or what I might have missed.  Thanks and have a great weekend.

  • 51MBbKnI7-L._SS500  Switchfoot – Native Tongue – (Fantasy Records):  The Christian/Alternative band is back with their 11th Studio album. I came across the band back in 2003 with their 4th album ‘The Beautiful Letdown” and have been a fan since.  They can be pop, rock and sometimes even a beachy California Surf feel, but they are always consistent and the songs have a great message or story. I love Jon Foreman’s voice and I usually find very little wrong with their music.  Give them a try.

  • 91DhO9wlMHL._SX679_  Papa Roach – Who Do You Trust? – (Eleven Seven Records):  After less than 2 years since their last release, ‘Crooked Teeth’, Papa Roach are storming back on the scene.  I like it when bands don’t wait the obligatory 2-3 years for new music.  The last one was great so hoping for more of the same.

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