Another Friday and another long list of New Releases. The wife has gone to Michigan to tour lighthouses with her parents and left me with the kids. I am going to need something to listen to so I don’t go crazy this weekend. Good thing there are a bunch I am interested in listening to…and they are highlighted in Blue!
Tenth Avenue North – Followers – (Provident): Tenth Avenue North is a pop/rock Christian band out of Florida. They have been playing since 2000, but their first album didn’t come out until 2008. Now on their 5th album, I am expecting more of the same energy from the new album and looking forward to it.
Another fantastic Friday of new releases. There are so many albums coming out today that if you can’t find one you like, you are not looking hard enough. Alter Bridge’s new album is the one I am going to get immediately and crank it up on the way to work. The other ones I am interested in hearing are highlighted in Blue. I talk about a few them, but there are just so many I want to listen to this week. I hope I can get through them all.
Alter Bridge – The Last Hero – (Alter Bridge): Alter Bridge is back and in full force. They are one of the best rock bands out there and have the hardest working man in the music business as lead singer, Myles Kennedy. He has one of the best voices for rock as well. Mark Tremonti on guitars, Brian Marshall on Bass and Scott Philips on Drums…what else do you need.
Bon Jovi announced their new tour dates in support of their upcoming album ‘This House is Not For Sale’. Not sure how excited I am about seeing them again as I have seen them several times. Plus, they are not coming to Charlotte so I will not be traveling anywhere to see them. But maybe you can.
People who have seen them in concert recently have already heard the whole album, but I have only heard three songs off the new album. Two are okay “This House is Not For Sale” and “Knockout”. The third song, “Labor of Love”, is just plain awful. Nothing is GREAT!! so far. Here is to still holding out a little hope for some great songs.
Bon Jovi Tour Dates
February 8 – Greenville, SC @ Bon Secours Wellness Arena
February 10 – Atlanta, GA @ Philips Arena
February 12 – Sunrise, FL @ BB&T Center
February 14 – Tampa, FL @ Amalie Arena
February 16 – Birmingham, AL @ BJCC
February 18 – Nashville, TN @ Bridgestone Arena
February 19- St. Louis, MO @ Scottrade Center
February 21 – Oklahoma City, OK @ Chesapeake Energy Center
February 23- Dallas, TX @ American Airlines Center
February 25- Las Vegas, NV @ T-Mobile Arena
February 28- Sacramento, CA @ Golden 1 Center
March 1 – San Jose, CA @ SAP Center
March 4 – Phoenix, AZ @ Talking Stick Resort Arena
March 5 – San Diego, CA @ Viejas Arena
March 8 – Los Angeles, CA @ The Forum
March 14 – Denver, CO @ Pepsi Center
March 16 – Memphis, TN @ FedExForum
March 18 – Columbus, OH @ Nationwide Arena
March 19 – Cleveland, OH @ Quicken Loans Arena
March 22 – Indianapolis, IN @ Bankers Life Fieldhouse
Airbourne is out of Australia and let me tell you they will rock the hell out of you. ‘Breakin’ Outta Hell’ is the band’s fourth studio album and they are really going all out on this release. If you are in to the 80’s rock sound and love AC/DC and Quiet Riot, you have found the band to carry that torch. The songs are heavily influenced by those bands both in vocals and sound. The album came out on Spinefarm Records back on September 23rd, 2016.
The album comes out of the gate swinging and does not stop until the last note is played. It never slows down and there are no power ballads, it is just loud, head banging rock & roll…like it should be.
There are basically 5 types of songs on this album. Songs referencing Hell, songs about Rock, songs about Fighting, songs about Drinking and songs about Sex. No surprise because what else is there to sing about?
James Bay was in Charlotte Sunday night, September 25th, 2016. Of course, my daughter and I had to go when we heard the concert announcement back in April. When tickets went on sale, I got busy at work and completely forgot to go online and buy them. When I went on that night at home, it was SOLD OUT!!! Needless to say, my daughter was not very happy with me on that day.
I went back on to the ticket site and signed up for a text notification if any tickets become available. May comes and goes with no luck. June, pretty much the same thing until around the end of the month on June 29th. We were on vacation in Myrtle Beach and sitting in a restaurant, so I can get some seafood, when a text message pops up on my phone. I told my daughter that when we got back to the condo, we would order the tickets. Nope!! Wasn’t good enough. She was not having that. I had to go on my phone right then and there, in the restaurant, and buy the tickets. Which I did! We now had 2 tickets to the show.
Glenn Hughes, the self-proclaimed ‘Voice of Rock’ is back with a new solo album coming out November 4th called ‘Resonate’ on Frontiers Music Sri. This is his first in 8 years which is way too long. Glenn’s first single is out now and called “Heavy”.
All I can say is that this 65 year old still kicks some major ass. His vocals just keep getting better which can’t be said for everyone that has been performing as long as he has. I love the new song and now I can’t wait for the album.
“Heavy” is a straight up Rock song with some great guitars by the amazing Soren Andersen (I am a fan) and some drum work that is absolutely incredible…of course it is as it’s Chad Smith from the Red Hot Chili Peppers (I only think appears on this song not the whole album).
I like the fact that Glenn doesn’t sit still. He just keeps putting out music. His most recent work with the band California Breed was a smashing success and this album could be the same.
Give “Heavy” a listen and let me know what you think.
When I first heard that Meat Loaf and Jim Steinman were doing another record I was very excited. I know they are usually hit and miss records, but when they hit…they hit it out of the park (Bat Out of Hell 1 & 2). That is why this was a sad album review for me to write. The reason is because one of our great rock vocalist is great no more. Meat Loaf’s voice is shot.
This is quite possibly the worst album I have ever heard and especially the worst album of the year. Meat Loaf’s vocals are no where in the same realm of the greatness it was and as a result it turns this album into a sad realization of his future as a singer. Jim Steinman’s music can’t save the album because when you hear Meat’s voice it actually makes the music sound horrible as well.
There were several female vocalists brought in to accompany Meat, but they don’t sound good enough either to save this album. There is not one song on this record I will keep in my music library…not a one!
I am not sure what my fascination was with this album in High School. The album had already been out for 3 or 4 years and ‘Pyromania’ was the big album at the time. For some strange reason, I kept using things from that album for school projects.
One project was for art. I needed a subject matter for a drawing, so I picked the album cover of ‘On Through the Night’ to draw. I spent a lot of time on it and I think I did a pretty good rendition of the cover. I am not an artist, but I tried. I don’t know if I could do it again though.
Robert John “Mutt” Lange could quite possibly be one of the greatest music producers there has ever been. He is personally responsible for some of the biggest selling albums of all time. He is the man behind the music, literally.
He started producing albums in the 70’s where he produced Graham Parker’s album ‘Heat Treatment’ and worked with the City Boys. He also worked with the Boomtown Rats which gave him his first real breakout album was their 1978 album ‘A Tonic for the Troops”.
But the big break came with the success of his work with AC/DC. He produced the 1979 album ‘Highway to Hell’ and then the 1980 classic ‘Back in Black’ which is the second largest selling album of all time at over 50 million albums. ‘Back in Black’ was one of the albums I picked up just recently (read about it here). He went to do another album for AC/DC in 1981, ‘For Those About To Rock We Salute You’.
Can you fall in love with an album or an artist by hearing only one song? The answer for me is a resounding YES!! That happened to me many moons ago when I heard one of the coolest songs I have ever heard. The song was “Not That Cool” by Will Hoge. The song was about me. He reached into my soul and wrote this song just for me. Ok, he didn’t really, but it felt like it was.
Not That Cool” was about a young man that wants to talk to a women but the only problem was he doesn’t feel cool enough to approach her and use a corny line. It was me. I am so not cool and could never have the courage to walk up to a pretty woman and give her a line. I was a little too shy for that. However, I still managed to snag a very beautiful woman and somehow she agreed to marry me. Almost 15 years later, we are still together.
This was the song that introduced me to the amazingly talented, singer, songwriter Will Hoge and the album was ‘Blackbird On A Lonely Wire’. The album came out in 2003 on Atlantic Records and was his 2nd studio release with a major label. After hearing “Not That Cool”, I immediately went out and bought the whole album.
Will Hoge has been described as Americana, Alt. Country with a Southern Rock flair and it fits him perfectly. This album throws in a little pop as well as some blues aspects to various songs. The album flow is wonderful and the songs are well placed.
After the fun of “Not That Cool”, he goes straight into another upbeat song “”Be The One”. The song keeps the energy going with a radio friendly song that sadly I never heard on the radio. Then he slows things down a little with “King of Grey” and brings a little country to the sad feeling song.
Things pick right back up with a Tom Petty sounding song called “Secondhand Heart”. The song style would fit perfect on any Petty album. “Hey Tonight” comes next and adds a little pop back into another very radio friendly song.
“Doesn’t Have to Be That Way” brings a little blues sound mixed with his raspy rock voice and when you hear it you will realize why it is my second favorite song on the album. The song shows off his voice and song writing talents.
“It’s A Shame” has a little darker tone and a nice rock sound to it. A great follow-up to “Doesn’t Have to Be That Way”. Will adds a little piano into another country song called “Someone Else’s Baby”. A great sounding song.
Will Hoge rocks out on the next song “TV Set”. A very fast, fun paced song that will get you moving. I love the way he mixes genres in his songs and from one song to the next. Somehow it works.
“Better Off Now” is another song that has a Petty sound and might be a big reason I like this album as I am a big Tom Petty fan. “All Night Long” goes back to full on rock song and races through with heavy beats and great guitars.
Will changes pace again on the final song “Baby Girl”. He pulls out the acoustic guitar and slows it down with a beautiful ballad. A sweet love song and the longest song on the album at over 5 minutes.
Overall it is a fantastic album and my favorite Will Hoge album mainly because it was my first. If you aren’t familiar with Will Hoge, this is a great introduction. He has over 8 studio albums and numerous extended play and live albums so there is plenty to enjoy. I haven’t had the pleasure of seeing him live yet, but I feel it is probably where he shines. I hope you check him out and if you do, let me know what you think.
Tenth Avenue North – Followers – (Provident): Tenth Avenue North is a pop/rock Christian band out of Florida. They have been playing since 2000, but their first album didn’t come out until 2008. Now on their 5th album, I am expecting more of the same energy from the new album and looking forward to it.
2 Loud 2 Old Music 