Category: Pop Music

Friday New Releases – June 2nd

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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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“My First Time” with Journey’s ‘Frontiers’

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Love It or Hate It, Journey went down a whole new path with the release of ‘Frontiers’. After the incredible success of the album, ‘Escape’, the ballad became King for Journey. Some feel it was the start of the downfall, others think it is the pinnacle of their success. I think it is a little of both.

With the success of ‘Escape’, Journey was catapulted into the stratosphere of popularity. They were one of the biggest bands in the world.  Steve Perry had the most recognizable voices on the radio and probably one of the absolute best voices on the radio at the time…if not ever.  The man could sing.  But for some reason I still hadn’t bought a Journey album.  When I heard their second single of their latest album, ‘Frontiers’, I finally bought my first Journey album.  The single was for “Faithfully”.

There is so much to love about this album and there is so much to pick on the band for about this album.  Let’s start with the picking on piece first as it is the most fun.  Oh, where to begin…

Let’s start with the album cover…I picture of a futuristic, robotic looking head or maybe a futuristic, human head.  Not sure I get it, but I know it has to do with the name of the album, ‘Frontiers’ as I think the band was saying they were reaching into a new frontier. The amazing artwork from the previous albums was no more.  The whole continuity between all the other album covers was gone…and is sadly missed.

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David Bowie – Cracked Actor (Live Los Angeles ’74) – #RSD

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One of my main goals on Record Store Day on April 22nd was to obtain a copy of the David Bowie album ‘Cracked Actor’.  Thankfully, I succeeded.  It fast became one of my favorite LPs I have in my ever growing collection.

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The year was 1974, David Bowie was king and touring supporting the Diamond Dog album. The album was recorded live at Universal Amphitheatre in Los Angeles on September 5th, 1974.  The Theatre only sat around 5,000 so it was a nice intimate setting and quite small to what David was able to fill later in his career.

Let’s first talk about the packaging of the record.  It is a very nice, high quality, high glossed album cover.  So high glossed, I couldn’t avoid being seen in the cover as I was taking pictures.  I tried so many angles.

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Friday New Releases – May 19th

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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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Everywhere – “Man Up” feat. Rebecca Nohr

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Everywhere is back with a brand new single called “Man Up”.  If you remember from last year, I featured their fabulous E.P., Fiction Act, which you can check out by clicking on the album name.

The song is a high energy pop song with a heavy European, electronic sound that makes you want to get out of your chair and hit the dance floor.  The song features the lovely voice of Swedish singer and songwriter, Rebecca Nohr.  She adds a new flavor to their sound and she nicely compliments Max Berga’s vocals.  As discussed below, the song “Man Up” is about just that…being a Man and how hard it is to live up to that standard with what life throws at you.

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Friday New Releases – May 12th

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Happy Friday!!  Quite a few I am interested to listen to this week.  Not sure how much merit they have, but I still want to give a listen.  There is a little something for everyone as there is rock, country, pop, hip hop and even a TV show soundtrack.  I hope there is something for you.  I have quite a few I want to at least give one listen to just to try it out and those will be highlighted in Blue, as usual.

  • 51atuZsoUGL._AC_US218_  Harem Scarem – United – (Frontiers Records Srl):  This Toronto, Canada band is out with yet another release just three years after their last one.  I believe this is number 14 or 15, I have lost count they have so many.  Down here in the U.S., they are not a household name mainly because they came out as this type of music was killed off by Grunge.  If you haven’t heard of them, check them out as I am sure they have something you will like.  I only discovered them about 10+ years ago and I am so glad I did.  I now have every album and even some rarer ones.  I can’t wait for this one and haven’t heard any song yet as I want to hear it all at once.  They video below is posted without me even viewing it first.

  • 170x170bb-99  Zac Brown Band – Welcome Home – (Elektra Records):  I am not a huge country fan and find myself criticizing a lot of the current country cowboys that are there as they are are too polished and songs are pure and utter crap.  Zac Brown is so not that for me.  He is what I do like about country.  I am eager to hear this one.

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The Police – “Roxanne” – The 45 Single (1978)

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In the continuing sage of the vinyl filled box I found another 45 single and this one was by The Police.  It was for the song “Roxanne” which is one of their signature songs.  Sadly, I don’t have a cover jacket for it.  The sleeve it was in was for Columbia Records; however, the single was released by A&M so I know it is not the right sleeve.  No matter, the single still plays regardless.  Below are the Original UK cover (left) and the alternate cover in the UK (right – is Stewart picking his nose???).

And here is mine…

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Friday New Releases – May 5th

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The first Friday in May is upon us and there is not a ton of stuff out this week.  There are a few artists I am interested in and a bunch I am not.  Hopefully you can find something you will like.  The ones I will listen to first are highlighted in Blue (as usual).

  • 170x170bb-15  Chris Stapleton – From A Room: Volume 1 – (Mercury Records):  In only his 2nd release, Chris Stapleton seems like he has been around awhile…which he has but not as a solo artist.  After the huge success of his debut album I am really interested in hearing what he now brings us.  I actually hope it is more of the same as his first album was spectacular.  If the first single is any indication of what is to come, then we are in for a treat.

  • 170x170bb-8  Blondie – Pollinator – (Noble ID, LLC):  Debby Harry and group are back again with another new release.  This is their 11th studio album and honestly i am surprised (and glad) that they are still putting out albums.  There are still 3 original members including Debby so I guess that still makes a complete enough band to make them still worth hearing and not a Debby Harry solo album.

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Friday New Releases – April 28th

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It is the last Friday of April…amazing how time flies.  We have a lot of albums coming out today, but nothing that really excites me.  I will pick a couple to listen to, but it looks like a good week to get caught up on previously released albums from the last couple weeks. I hope you can find something that tickles your fancy.  Mine are highlighted in Blue.

  • 170x170bb-49  John Mellencamp – Sad Clowns & Hillbillies – (John J. Mellencamp):  Always a fan of the former Mr. Cougar.  Whatever he puts out I always give a spin and see what he has to offer. I haven’t heard anything yet so not sure what to expect.  I do know it is his 23rd release and will feature Carlene Carter throughout.  We will see…or I guess we will hear soon enough.

  • 170x170bb (82)  The Cranberries – Something Else – (The Cranberries & BMG): It has been 5 years since a Cranberries release and that is way too long to go between albums especially for a band as talented as them.  Glad to get some new material even if it is only 3 new songs.  The rest are acoustic and orchestral versions of 10 previous hits. I am not overly greedy so I will be happy with the 3 new singles even thought I would have preferred a full album of new songs.

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“My First Time” with Hall & Oates’ ‘H2O’

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The first cassette I remember having was a gift from a girl up the street named Rosemary.  It was the album ‘H20’ by Hall & Oates.  I no longer have the cassette, but when I was out this past year shopping for vinyl, I found the album and had to snatch it up.

Even today, this is one of my favorite albums.  I was in the car with my girls the other day and my oldest daughter was flipping radio stations (which is constantly happening).  This song was starting up on one station and I asked her to stop.  I told her this was the very first cassette I ever had and she actually let the song “Maneater” play through.  I think the girls actually enjoyed the song.

After that happened, I thought this would be a great album for the “My First Time” series. H2O was the band’s eleventh studio album and ended up being one of the biggest, if not the biggest, of their career.  The album was released on October 4th, 1982 and went to #3 on the Billboard Album charts for 15 weeks.  The album has sold around 4 million copies and has been certified double platinum.  I know I have been the owner of at least 2 or 3 of those copies.

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