Category: Pop Music

Friday New Releases – September 7th

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It is the first Friday of September and there is a long list of releases.  Everyone starts putting out their new albums in the Fall and there are some big ones coming, but let us focus on today.  The ones I am looking forward to are highlighted in Blue.  Let me know what you want to listen to and which ones I might have missed on the list.  Thanks and have a great music weekend!!

  • 917OiMivKZL._SX522_  Alter Bridge – Live a the Royal Albert Hall (feat. the Parallax Orchestra) – (Napalm Records):  I am surprised by another live record after last year’s release.  That is ok.  There are some different songs in the set list and a little orchestra along with it.  I will give it a listen and then decide on buying.

  • A11xhBfgFwL._SX522_  Lenny Kravitz – Raise Vibration – (Roxie Records):  I have always loved Lenny so this is a no brainer to stream.  His last few have been so-so so again I will stream it before I buy it.  Just so you know, I don’t always do that as I do have 4 or 5 albums on pre-order without hearing a lick.  Only a few bands get that special treatment.

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Friday New Releases – August 31st

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The last Friday of August and we go out with a little bang.  Not a huge bang.  September is going to be huge so get ready for the ton of new releases coming your way.  There are a handful I am interested in this week and those will be highlighted in Blue as usual.  Let me know what you want to hear or you are going to get.  Leave me a comment because I always miss some good releases.  I hope you have a great weekend and Happy Listening!!!

  • download-3  The Veer Union – Decade II: Rock & Acoustic – (Rock Shop Entertainment):  This is a greatest hits package with a heavy side and a softer, acoustic side.  I have enjoyed Crispin Earl’s vocals (and only original member) so I will give this one spin.  I was hoping for new music, but this will do for now.  I will admit, I do like the cover of “Numb” by Linkin Park.  That might be worth it all by itself.

  • 814FHRdGWaL._SX522_  Alice Cooper – A Paranormal Evening at the Olympia Paris (Live) – (earMusic):  I am hoping to see Alice here in Charlotte in October and this will be a great way to prep for his live show.  Alice’s last studio album ‘Paranormal” was absolutely FANTASTIC!!  His band is also awesome and live, it is one helluva a show.  Can’t wait!!

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Needtobreathe – Concert Review – (August 21st, 2018 Charlotte, NC)

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I don’t get to enough Live shows each year. I wish I could get to more, but when I do get to attend it is always worth the time and money.  Seeing your favorite band is always the best thing ever.  There is nothing like hearing your favorite songs live as they are always a little different than the studio album and a good band can make them even better.  Thankfully Needtobreathe is a good band…hell…they are a great band.

If you follow my site, you know Def Leppard and Kiss are two of my favorites.  Needtobreathe is right up there with them for me.  I have every album on vinyl and I have now seen them live 3 times (which isn’t a lot, but I don’t usually see too many bands more than once).

Let’s get to the adventure of the show.  My wife decided she would attend the show with me this time as my daughter doesn’t really know the band and she had no interest.  My wife knows they are one of my favorite bands so she thought it would be a fun night and a good chance for us to have a date night…no kids!!!  She even made a playlist on her phone so she could familiarize herself with the band.

I get home from work that night and I can see something is off with my wife when I get home.  I asked her if she was okay and she lied and told me she was fine, but I knew something was off.  I gave her the opportunity to back out and that I would either go alone or drag my oldest daughter.  My wife toughed it out and went as she didn’t want to disappoint me.  It turns out she felt she was getting a kidney stone and if you have had one you know how painful that is.  I will let you know by the end of the night she was feeling fine and even started enjoying herself.

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My Sunday Song – “Edge of Seventeen” by Stevie Nicks

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For My Sunday Song #105, I am bringing to you “Edge of Seventeen” by the wonderful and talented Stevie Nicks.  The song was released as a single in 1982 and appeared on her 1981 album ‘Bella Donna’.  The song reached all the way to #11 on the Billboard Hot 100 just missing going Top Ten.

This is one of my favorite songs by Stevie and it is from a time where she could do no wrong whether it was her solo work or her work with Fleetwood Mac.  She was everywhere.  She didn’t have this beautiful, angelic vocals of the pop stars of that era. She was graced with a little gritty voice that is even better and is pure rock & roll.  And if I had to pick my favorite female vocalists, she would be at or near the top.

The song is about death.  It was written due to the death of two individuals.  First one was John Lennon (heard in the lyric…”With their words of a poet / And a voice from a choir”) and the other death was her uncle.  Her uncle was diagnosed with cancer and within weeks died and all those emotions she was feeling came out in the song.

What I also love about the song is the line “Just like the white winged dove” and then the chorus of “Whoo, Whoo, Whoo” which sounds like the bird is singing.  The dove is symbolic of the spirit leaving the body and she flies away she sings.  It is really a beautiful visual.

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Friday New Releases – August 17th

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Happy Friday!  or is it??  There is nothing that is tickling my fancy this week.  Well maybe, the Yo Yo Ma, but that is really it.  Hopefully there is something for you.  Since there is nothing for me, I will leave you with at least videos for all of these so you can if it is something you like.  Hopefully next week offers more.  Let me know what interests you, if any, and let me know what I missed because maybe it will be something I like.

Have a great weekend!!

  • 61YoePBjDAL.jpg  Doro – Forever Warriors/Forever United – (Nuclear Blast)

  • Sweetener  Ariana Grande – Sweetener – (Republic Records)

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Friday New Releases – August 10th

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As we get further into August things keep getting better.  One more really, really busy week ahead at work and hopefully things can relax a little.  To help me get over the stress, there are a handful of releases I am going to check out and maybe you will as well.  I have highlighted my choices in Blue.  Let me know what you are interested in and if I missed anything interesting (which J. will tell you I usually do!!)

  • 41ZjEis7TUL._AC_US436_QL65_  Rhett Walker Band – Rhett Walker Band EP – (Provident Label Group) – I really dig Rhett’s music.  It is Christian rock with a little southern rock and blues thrown in.  A great combination.  Always powerful and thought provoking at times and all around a joy to listen to when you drop the needle (or push play on your phone…either way works).  My only sadness is that it is an EP and not a full length album…hopefully soon.

  • 51hgLuCCTjL._SS500  Jason Mraz – Know – (Atlantic Recordings):  Jason Mraz finally releases a new album after 4 years…it seems much longer.  The Mr. A to Z wordsmith has a way of writing that is unmatched.  He can go pop, reggae, hip hop and anywhere he wants and it is always fun to follow along.  High hopes for the new stuff as always.

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Friday New Releases – August 3rd

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We are not into August. Summer is in full swing, but releases are not.  Only a handful this week and nothing I am overly excited about, however, there a couple I will listen to as I listen to everything they put out…they will be highlighted in Blue (as usual). Let me know what you have a hankering for this week or if I missed anything.  Enjoy and have a great weekend!!

  • 518UpIs4YxL._AC_US320_QL65_  James – Living in Extraordinary Times – (BMG):  James has been around since 1982 and have been solid all along so I will give it a listen for that reason.  I am not ready to run out and buy anything, but a good stream will suffice nicely.

  • 51XTXkyOEeL._SS500  Phil Wickham – Living Hope – (Phil Wickham):  This Christian singer has one heckuva voice and always has some standout tracks on his releases so of course this one will be played.  Always happy to fly his flag when he puts something out and this will be no different.  Give him a try!!

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Friday New Releases – July 27th

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Finally!  A week with a few releases I am actually interested in.  There is still not a ton of releases, but hopefully something you like.  My choices are highlighted in Blue.  At work, I am in the middle of budget season and my time is limited, but I will find time for a few of these selections.  Let me know what I missed and what you are interested in listening to this week.  Thanks and have a great weekend.

  • 616DTDnRtSL._AC_US436_QL65_  Dee Snider – For the Love of Metal – (Napalm Records):  Dee Snider’s last release, We Are the Ones, was exceptional.  This one is supposed to be harder and better so we will be popping it on first on the way to work.  Let’s hope another great album has been made.  If the below song is any indication, it will be.

  • 817yyfE8W5L._SX522_  Halestorm – Vicious – (Atlantic Record):  Lzzy Hale and the boys are back in full force.  It feels like it has been ages since new music, but it has only been 3 years since the last album and a little over a year since the last E.P., but that is too long for me.  When this band turns it up, watch out, they will blow your ears off and this sounds like it will do just that.

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Friday New Releases – July 20th

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Wow!  What a crappy week for releases.  Not in what is being released, but the lack of releases.  There isn’t much to choose from.  I hope there is something for you, but it is slim pickin’s.  Have a great weekend!!  I will at least stick a music video with them if there is one so you can check them out.

  • 51sT8Mvbj3L._AC_US436_QL65_  Rick Astley – Beautiful Life – (BMG Music):  Ok, I am a little interested in checking this one out, I will admit it. And I just noticed this got bumped up and released last week…sorry about that.

  • 61Bw1MqavoL._AC_SX200_SY200_  Powerwolf – Sacrament of Sin – (Napalm Records)

  • 51YpyZt+uoL.jpg  Paul Carrack – These Days – (Carrack UK)
  • 91vhMBEG4DL._SX522_  Al Di Meola – Elegant Gypsy & More (LIVE) – (Earmusic)

Les Paul and Mary Ford – ‘The Hit Makers!’ – Album Spotlight

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Several months back, I came across this beauty in a collection that I had to have.  It was Les Paul and Mary Ford’s ‘The Hit Makers’ from 1955.  The original album came out in 1953 and was a 10″ record. This one is a 12″ re-release just two short years later and it added four more songs than the original.

Now it is pretty simple as to why I would want an album that is 63 years old.  The album features Les Paul.  This amazing guitarist and guitar builder is known worldwide and I couldn’t pass up the opportunity to have some of his music in my collection.  And it doesn’t disappoint.  I could go into the history of Les Paul, but will save that for another post some time in the future.

Les Paul and Mary Ford met in the Summer of 1945 and married four years later.  They recorded numerous albums together and ‘The Hit Makers!’ is a greatest hits collection of their music. The album is a mixture of instrumentals highlighting the great guitar playing of Les Paul and songs with Mary Ford singing away.  Shortly after the release, the hits started to dry up a little as the start of something called “Rock & Roll” hit the radio airwaves.

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