Friday New Releases – July 13th

Are things heating up where you live?  They are here.  Damn it has been hot!  Sadly, the music this week is not really…hot.  There is not a whole heckuva lot screaming at me, but I am sure I will get to some of it eventually.  Maybe a good time to play catchup on releases from earlier in the year that I missed.  I do have one I want and it is highlighted in Blue.  Let me know what interests you or what I missed on the list.

  • 031918_n2b_product_images_vinyl  Needtobreathe – Forever on your Side: Niles City Sound Sessions – (Atlantic):  A four song E.P. from Needtobreathe is always welcome.  Anything new from these guys is welcome.  One of my favorite bands and this one is music created from their time spent at Niles City.  Here is what they say about it…”Forever On Your Side (Niles City Sound Sessions) was recorded with the producer trio Niles City Sound (Leon Bridges) out of their studio in Ft. Worth, TX. The 4-track collection of songs and collaboration represents a creative leap for the band, who usually self-records and produces out of their home studio, Plantation Studios, in Summerville, SC.”  I have the 10″ Pink Vinyl on order and sadly won’t arrive until the end of September so for now I will stream or grab the CD.  Oh yeah, my wife and I have a date night to see Needtobreathe in August.  Yes…I am a fan.

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Matt Nathanson – “Way Way Back” – Single Review

Just a few short weeks ago, Matt Nathanson brought us a Def Leppard Tribute E.P. titled ‘Pryomattia’ which was a really nice surprise and damn near perfect.  Well, now Matt brings us an actual new song called “Way Way Back” which is supposed to be from a yet unannounced new album coming “soonish” as Matt puts it.

If there is one thing Matt Nathanson can do and that is write a great song.  The man has a way with lyrics and he delivers another sensational song.  The story is of a love lost but letting that person know that they won’t find someone that loves them as much as you did.  That when they realize what they lost they can find you in their memories.

I love lyrics like “Didn’t know that forever only meant forever till you found someone better” which is what I think most people really believe.  And “Radio just wanna hurt me, put you in every song” as who hasn’t gone through a break-up and every song on the radio reminded you of that person.  The song is so relatable and Matt has a way of making everything simple and crystal clear.

It is a love song that only Matt can write.  It is a fun, catchy little tune that will get you singing and “do-do-doing” right along.  If this is any indication of what is to come on the new album, I guess Matt will get more of my money as this will go on pre-order immediately when available…in vinyl of course!!

I would give this one 4.5 out of 5 stars if I had to rate which I guess I do since this is a review.  Give it a listen or go buy now and help support the artist.  It is the least you can do so we keep getting great new music from them.

 

 

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Friday New Releases – July 6th

Welcome to July and the first Friday of releases.  I have to admit, there isn’t any of these I am excited about so might be skipping this week. I am guess that it this is the week of our Independence here in the States that not many bands wanted to release anything and get lost in everyone’s vacation time period.  Hopefully there is something for you.  I will post videos for each so you can have something to got through. Here is hoping next week is better.

  • 51fFyEEk1PL._AC_US436_QL65_  Kissin’ Dynamite – Ecstasy – (Metal Blade Records)

  • 61YzzaqCgGL  Vixen – Live Fire – (Rat Pak Records)

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Bryan Adams – Diana 12″ EP

Back in 1984, Jim Vallance and Bryan Adams wrote a fun song about a young lady that was about to marry her Prince…literally.  The song was about Princess Diana or so it is assumed.  The song is taken from the viewpoint of a gentleman who had seen Diana in a magazine and then on TV and fell in love with her.  “Diana” was his profession of that love for her and he begged her to leave the life she was about to enter and be with him.

We know that she didn’t do that, sadly, as she might still be with us today.  “Diana” was supposed to be on Bryan’s album ‘Reckless’; however, he left it off as he didn’t want to upset the Royal Family.  He also probably didn’t want to make them mad and screw up his dual Canadian & British citizenship.  The song has actually never been released on any Bryan Adams album or compilation.  It is probably his most popular non-album song.

“Diana” was released as a B-Side to the song “Heaven” and it was released as this very special 12″ 3 Song E.P. which I came across in a collection of vinyl I picked up.  Bryan used to play the song in concert on a regular basis, but upon Princess Diana’s death he has since put the song to pasture and no longer plays it live.  I did find a rumor that stated that Bryan actually did date Diana after her split from Prince Charles.  Now of course, it is solely a rumor and has never been stated as fact by Bryan or anyone from Diana’s camp.  It was a rumor started by one of Bryan’s ex-girlfriends.

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Friday New Releases – June 29th

We are at the end of another month and what a way to end it.  There are so many releases this week I hope there is something you can find and enjoy.  My vacation will be ending this week and then back to work next, so I am going to try and do nothing for a couple days except listen to music.  My choices are in Blue.  Let me know what you are feeling and if I missed anything.  Have a great weekend!!

  • 51tBEraJ-2L._SS500  The Wild Feathers – Greetings from the Neon Frontier – (Reprise Records):  This is where I will spend most of my time.  I really think these guys are great.  They are a mixture of Rock, Folk, Country and blend it all together so nicely.  It is always a listening pleasure and so much to take in.  Give them a try and as this is their third studio release, go back and get the other two.

  • A1-BihGWkML._SX522_  Guns N Roses – Appetite for Destruction Super Deluxe Edition – (Geffen Records):  What can I say about this one.  One of the greatest debut albums by any band and now we get the ultimate deluxe edition.  I can’t afford the big daddy release as I just bought the Def Leppard Vinyl collection (Volume One) so I will end up settling for one of the lesser expensive releases.  Either way, it is nice to have for the collection.

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Friday New Releases – June 22nd

Vacation starts after close of work today and I can’t wait.  I wish there was a ton of new music to listen to but sadly that is not the case.  The are only a couple I will give a listen and I know one I had to pick up for my daughter (on vinyl of course).  I actually think there is more for my kids this week than me.  And actually the 5 Second of Summer was released last week. My choices are in Blue, which ones are you interested in or what have I missed.  Have a great weekend as I know I will have a great next week…NO WORK!!

  • 61HMCRxKBuL._AC_US436_QL65_  Panic at the Disco – Pray for the Wicked – (Fueled by Ramen LLC):  Panic is on the top of the list this week.  Why?  Well, because my oldest loves this band.  She is going to Atlanta to see them since they aren’t coming to Charlotte.  I am sure I will be hearing this for some time and actually I don’t mind.  They are pretty darn good.  We should have the vinyl sitting on the doorstep when I get home…if my daughter doesn’t get to it first.

  • 510x3-DT1oL._SS500  Ben Rector – Magic – (OK Kid Recordings):  Ben Rector returns and I really like this Singer/Songwriter’s style.  He tells great stories and has a great voice so there isn’t anything he has done I haven’t enjoyed.  This is on the lighter side, but some days you just need that to relax.

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Friday New Releases – June 15th

Are things heating up for you?  Well, the new releases are heating up!  Okay, maybe they are lukewarm; however, there are a few worth checking out and mine will be in Blue.  Let me what you are looking forward to hearing.  There are live albums, Blues, Pop, Rock and electronica…something for everyone. If you like 90’s artists, there a several back this week that might be worth at least a stream or two.  Have a great weekend!!

  • 61PHqjoSN2L._AC_US436_QL65_  The Darkness – Live at Hammersmith – (Canary Dwarf Ltd):  The 80’s Hair Metal throwback band are back with a live album and wasn’t that what we were waiting to hear! This might be first up on the stereo today for me.  These guys would have been huge in the 80’s!!  Turn it up because I Believe In a Thing Called “Live”…see what I did there!!  Here is the original video as I didn’t see a live one for this release.

  • 51jjidBu5YL._SS500  Mike Shinoda – Post Traumatic – (Warner Bros):  The co-lead singer of Linkin Park is set for his first solo release and his first music since Chester Bennington’s passing.  As a fan of Linkin Park this is a no-brainer.  I am really interested to see where he takes it and how he responds to Chester’s death.  It should be a great release.

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Journey – Concert Review (Charlotte, NC June 9th, 2018)

Yesterday, I did the review on the Def Leppard part of the show (since they opened the show they should get the first review).  Now, it is time to talk about Journey’s portion of the show.  After seeing Lep, I was really pumped and excited to finally see Journey live.  I have never had the pleasure and I can’t believe I missed them in the Steve Perry years.  Journey has survived all these years because they have something a lot of bands don’t really have and that is songs.  Journey’s hits are some of the most loved and admired songs ever.  I mean  “Don’t Stop Believin'” might be the most recognizable song around the world.

The band is still pretty much in tact.  At least the band from the era I grew up with. You have founder Neal Schon, Jonathan Cain, Ross Valory and Steve Smith.  All these guys were there doing the early 80’s and their heyday.  11 years ago they added vocalist Arnel Pineda who they found off Youtube and let me tell you what a find he was.  I still wish they would have done more with Jeff Scott Soto, but oh well.  Arnel is pretty darn good vocalist.

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The stage set up was slightly different than Def Leppard’s, but not by much.  They both used the big 40 Foot screen in the back and the 3 large screens up top on the front of the stage.  Journey stripped back all the risers and platforms that Def Leppard used and had a much simpler set up.  Piano on the left, drums in the middle, Ross and Neal up front and Arnel all over the place (more on that later).

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Matt Nathanson – ‘Pyromattia’ E.P. – Album Review

We interrupt the normal Tuesday’s Memes scheduled to talk about something amazing…Matt Nathanson surprised his fans with an announcement of a new album and released it the very next day.  The album was only a 6 song E.P., but who cares.  Any new music from Matt is super fantastic.  The only problem is that it wasn’t actually new music.  It was an E.P. full of cover songs.

Now, they aren’t just any cover songs.  They are from my all time favorite band, Def Leppard.  If you don’t know, Matt Nathanson is a metal head.  I realized that a few years ago when I saw Matt being interviewed on the VH1 show “That Metal Show” with Eddie Trunk.  Matt gushed on and on about his rock and metal influences and it made me appreciate him more than I already did.

Matt is also one of my all time favorite artist and he can do no wrong in my book. So, let’s throw Matt together with Def Leppard songs and you have what could possibly be the greatest combination in music history.  I am not kidding!!

When I saw the track listing, I was a little disappointed with a few choices as they seemed obvious and then stunned at some others as I couldn’t imagine what he would do with it.  The songs are as follows:

  1. Pour Some Sugar on Me
  2. Bringin’ on the Heartbreak
  3. Comin’ Under Fire
  4. Hysteria
  5. Stragefright
  6. Promises

With cover albums you either need to nail it perfectly or completely re-imagine the song.  Matt completely re-imagined the songs.  He plays them acoustically and even adds some string orchestration to them.  He takes these songs and makes them his own and does an absolutely impressive covers album.

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Friday New Releases – June 8th

Happy Friday and welcome to this week’s list of notable releases…at least notable in my book.  There is only one MUST HAVE and a couple others I will get to as well.  Take a look and let me know what you are looking forward to and what I might have missed.  My choices are highlighted in Blue.

  • 4846771  Tremonti – A Dying Machine – (Napalm Records):  The Creed and Alter Bridge guitarist strikes out on his own with his other band Tremonti.  This time he takes on lead vocals and fronts one hellavu hard rock band.  If you are a fan, then this is a MUST HAVE in your collection as it is mine.  The band bring us their fourth album…that is right…their fourth and we can never get enough.

  • 51ePleVw4rL._SY300_QL70_  Sunstorm – The Road to Hell – (Frontier Records):  The great Joe Lynn Turner brings his vocals to the band’s fifth album and the man can still sing at just 66 years young.  The Hackensack-ack-ack-ack born singer has fronted a few bands you might have heard about…Rainbow and Deep Purple.  He still brings the fire and intensity with Sunstorm.  Check them out.

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