Will Hoge – ‘Tiny Little Movies’ – Album Review

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Will Hoge is now on at least a dozen albums and I was completely blown away by what I heard.  “Tiny Little Movies” is just what it says.  It is 11 songs that each one feels like its own tiny little movie.  He brings a little Americana music mixed with his Country and Rock & Roll roots and if you thought John Mellencamp painted a true picture of Middle America and its problems, Will adds more color and texture to that painting and brings it in to the 21st Century.  This isn’t Country though so don’t be concerned. Think more in terms of  Springsteen and Petty and you will have an idea where I place him.

Will’s ability to tell a story that can be bleak at times and uplifting at others is a shot in the arm and shows the power that can be found in music.  His lyrics are an honest interpretation of what is going in America and at times a giant slap in the face.  His genius lies in the words as well as the music and it is that gritty voice that draws you in and makes you care about what he has to say.

The album can rock out with songs such as my personal favorite “The Overthrow” which doesn’t speak too fondly of today’s leaders and Will takes on the slimiest of people in “Con Man Blues” filled with some dirty, blues guitar.  With “The Curse”, I’m taken back to his early days with albums like ‘Blackbird on a Lonely Wire’ with a little more catchy groove and chorus.  I mentioned Petty earlier, I feel his influence all over “That’s How You Lose Her”, it is splendid. Continue reading “Will Hoge – ‘Tiny Little Movies’ – Album Review” →

My Sunday Song – “Blindman” by Whitesnake

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For My Sunday Song #203, we are going with a song of ‘Ready an’ Willing’ with the track “Blindman”. This is a deep cut and not a single and one of the songs that is the reason I love the early Whitesnake sound so much.  Okay, actually this song is not originally a Whitesnake song, but a David Coverdale song as it was released on his solo album back in 1977 called…well…’White Snake’.  So, I can use for this set of Whitesnake songs, I am covering the cover version he did with his band. I don’t think that is cheating.

The song is a pure blues rock track.  Think Free or Bad Company as it has that same killer vibe.  It starts off as slow burner and builds slow until it becomes a full on scorcher.  Bernie Marsden and Micky Moody both hammer it home on the guitar and Bernie’s solo helps make the song such a classic song.  You can’t forget the ryhthm section of Ian Paice on drums and Neil Murray on bass either.  They keep the pace and groove going perfectly.  And listen closely to the beautiful keyboard playing of Jon Lord.  They all standout in their little moments.  However, the highlight is that sultry David Coverdale vocal style.  His vocal talent lies perfectly fit for the blues rock sound.  With this more of a slow song, David exudes all the heart he needs to give the song the powerful, emotive feel it needs.

Continue reading “My Sunday Song – “Blindman” by Whitesnake” →

Friday New Releases – July 3, 2020

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Happy July 4th Weekend.  Man, this country needs to celebrate something because right now, there hasn’t been much worth celebrating.  This country is more fractured than ever, hopefully the rise of protests will actually bring some much needed and long overdue change.  We will see.  Anyway, back to the music.  There aren’t many releases this week because usually releasing around a holiday isn’t good for sales, but no one told these artists.  There is only one I am actually interested in (in Blue) and hopefully there is something for you. Tell me what you want to hear and what I missed.  Thanks and have a great weekend!!

  • download-11  Trapt – Shadow Work – (Crash Collide):  This California based rock band is back on their 8th album and I have followed them off and on through all their line-up changes and they still have the lead singer and bass player as original members which I am good with.  It is solid, modern rock and something great to have on when I need something a little heavy. Looking foward to see what they bring to the table this time around after 4 years since the last one.

  • A1qn0cDqM4L._SX522_  Willie Nelson – First Rose of Spring – (Sony Music):  Willie is back!!  That is enough for me.  I might get around to this one when I have time as he as earned that.

Continue reading “Friday New Releases – July 3, 2020” →

Whitesnake – ‘Flesh & Blood’ – Album Review (The David Coverdale Series)

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After The Purple Tour, the band would continue and finally record a new album full of all new original Whitesnake songs.  This would be the first album of new material since ‘Forevermore’ back in 2011.  This would also be the first album that Joel Hoekstra gets to actually perform and play songs that he actually helped write and record and not be a Deep Purple cover band.

Speaking of writing, David likes to write with his star guitarists.  This time though, David really has 2 star guitarists that are both very capable and talented writers.  David has 3 songs written with Reb Beach and 4 written with Joel.  And to get even better, he has 2 written with both of them.  And to go even one step further, they all co-produced the album along with Michael McIntyre.

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‘Flesh & Blood’ was supposed to come out in early 2018, but was delayed in to the Summer of 2018 due to an illness with David. This is actually the 2nd time an illness had delayed an album. If you remember this happened back for the 1987 album and John Sykes almost staged a coup and move on with out David.  Yeah, and that didn’t end well for John. Continue reading “Whitesnake – ‘Flesh & Blood’ – Album Review (The David Coverdale Series)” →

Kiss – ‘Alive!’ (1975) – Album Review (The Kiss Review Series)

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With ‘Dressed to Kill’ out and sales only slightly better than ‘Hotter Than Hell’, the only thing the band really had going for them was their live shows.  Their record label was nearly bankrupt and Kiss was about to lose their record deal and it was about to all coming to a crashing halt. The band had yet to receive any royalties after their pittance of an advance and their manager, Bill Aucoin, along with the band were ready to sue and get out of the contract.

In a last ditch effort to save the label and the band, Neil thought a Live album was the way to go.  The Live shows is where people finally understood what Kiss was all about.  With Gene Simmons spitting blood and breathing fire, with Ace Frehley’s electrifying guitar solos, Paul Stanley’s charm in his dialogue to the crowd and Peter Criss’ drum riser and solo, Kiss was a Live band that needed to be heard LIVE!!  Plus, this was cheaper than an album, so they could afford to do this route.

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‘Alive!’ was recorded over four stops on the Dressed to Kill Tour.  You had May 16 at Cobo Arena in Detroit, Michigan, naturally; June 21 at Cleveland Music Hall in Cleveland, Ohio; July 20 at RKO Orpheum Theater in Davenport, Iowa; and July 23 at Wildwoods Convention Center in Wildwood, New Jersey.  With four shows recorded, they could piece together a perfect live album…well…maybe not!

Continue reading “Kiss – ‘Alive!’ (1975) – Album Review (The Kiss Review Series)” →

June 2020 Purchases – Vinyls & CDs

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Welcome to the June Purchases wrap-up and what a month it was.  After not visiting an actual record store in 2 months due to the Covid Stay at Home Orders, I was out in force when the opened back up.  And this time it wasn’t just vinyl and CDs, there were a couple other surprises that were music related.  And then there were a stack of albums I picked up that I didn’t have to buy which is always cool.  Let’s get started.

First up was my trip to Repo Records and Noble Records as they were two of the first to open. I wanted to spend a little at both to show my support and I did just that.  First up was Repo. I was worried we would have to wear masks and gloves, but thankfully neither store required but we could if we wanted to do it.  Which I didn’t because we left the masks at home on the counter.  I didn’t really find anything at Repo’s until I stumbled across a brand new copy of Tesla’s Psychotic Supper.  It was new and sealed so no real deal on it, but it was cheaper than what Amazon was offering and since it is on a list of albums I want, I got it.

IMG_2121 Continue reading “June 2020 Purchases – Vinyls & CDs” →

My Sunday Song – “Forevermore” by Whitesnake

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For My Sunday Song #202, we are going to talk about a more recent Whitesnake called “Forevermore” off the 2011 album of the same name.  It is the final song on the album and I don’t know if David has ever ended an album with a song as strong as this one…maybe “Sailing Ships” and this even has that epic feel.  This might be the best song he has written in 20 years if not ever!

“Forevermore” is such a beautiful song both lyrically and musically.  Lyrically, it could be about a woman that his been with him for years and he is thinking about all the good times and the bad that they had.  She makes him feel safe and he will be with her forever and ever.  Or…it could be about music.  Music has been his love his whole life.  He is looking back at all those years and those years are his career.  The place where he feels at home is with his music, his songs.  They are his heartbeat and they give him so much love and joy.  However you interpret the song, there is no denying an unwavering love and passion for whoever or whatever David is writing about.

Musically, the song starts off as a beautiful acoustic track filled with keyboards that give the song an airy, calming feeling.  The song then slowly starts to build in to a full on explosion of sound with a slow and stunning guitar solo orchestrated by Doug Aldrich.  The rhythm section of the band adds a unique sound that gives a slight middle eastern vibe to it.  The song screams epic.  It feels larger than life.  It breathes a confidence that this is something special.  And David, oh David, he gives the performance of all performances.  You can tell this song means something to him and as his delivery has purpose and meaning and conveys an emotional attachment like no other.  Job well done sir!!

R-2842716-1504845082-5209.jpeg Continue reading “My Sunday Song – “Forevermore” by Whitesnake” →

Friday New Releases – June 26, 2020

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I can’t believe June is now over. When the Covid-19 stay at home orders started, the days creeped on by and first and then when we got in to a routine, they started flying and now we are over 3 months later and time seems to be going faster.  At least we aren’t on stay at home orders anymore.  Enough babble, we have to get to the main point of this post…the new releases that are out.  There are not a lot of choices today as Covid strikes again with several releases being moved til later (thank you Kansas and Neon Trees). I’m really only interested in one and curious in another.  There are in Blue.  Let me know what you want to hear or if I missed anything that should be noted.  Thanks for stopping by and have a great weekend!!

  • 91IUojOZMmL._SX522_  Will Hoge – Tiny Little Movies – (Edlo Records / Thirty Tigers):  I discovered Will on his second album back in 2003 and was instantly blown away.  He has certainly grown since then and is one hell of a story teller.  His protest songs are amazing and the musicianship is outstanding as well.  Basically, he can do no wrong.  Any new music from him is welcomed with open ears!!  If you like country flavors with a little rock and folk, then grab this one now.  This ain’t your bro-country and thank God for that!!

  • 91LeZW7FD0L._SX522_  Grey Daze – Amends – (Loma Vista / Concord Records):  Chester Bennington is back from beyond.  This was a project of Chester and I believe it was his first band.  They were able to finish the album with Chester’s vocals and I have liked what I’ve heard so far.  He is missed!!

Continue reading “Friday New Releases – June 26, 2020” →

Kiss – ‘Dressed to Kill’ (1975) – Album Review (The Kiss Review Series)

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When the band completed ‘Hotter Than Hell’, they quickly went right back on tour.  That album only had the one single, “Let Me Go, Rock & Roll”, which quickly fell from the charts. That wasn’t the only thing that fell quickly, so did the album sales.  Their label, Casablanca, was hemorrhaging money with Kiss on Tour and the album doing poorly.  As a result, the band was yanked off tour to record a new album.

When they get in the studio, the producer for the record was no longer Kenny Kerner and Richie Wise as Casablanca had no money to pay anyone.  So the owner of the record label, Neil Bogart, stepped in and recorded the album.  Which isn’t really a problem as he has a ton of experience…in the pop and dance music world.  Not in Rock & Roll.  And it would be evident as the heavier sound of the band on the first two albums, was a little more pop sounding on this one.  Don’t fret, it still rocked out, but not as hard.

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Imagine you are in a band and you are now starting to write your third album in about a year’s time.  You have to be one heck of a writer to come up with that much music in such a short time.  Well, Kiss didn’t have the songs.  So, what did they do.  They pulled a couple songs from their Wicked Lester Days and re-worked them.  Now, only 8 more to go.  Paul wrote three of them, Gene got two, Ace got one and then Paul & Gene wrote one together and what a song it was.  More on that in a minute. Continue reading “Kiss – ‘Dressed to Kill’ (1975) – Album Review (The Kiss Review Series)” →

Whitesnake – ‘The Purple Tour (Live)’ – Album Review (The David Coverdale Series)

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We are now to the final Live album I will be reviewing for the band.  Since their reunion back in 2003, Whitesnake has overloaded the general public with Live albums.  Seven to be exact!!  Now, those seven do cover several eras of the band, but still Seven!!  The Purple Tour Live album is the latest and it covers an era of the band I have yet reviewed for a live album…the Joel Hoekstra era.  Yes, I define my eras by the lead guitarists.  I know Reb is still one of those guitarists, but this is Joel’s first.

And interesting note, do you know who the longest running member of Whitesnake is aside from David, of course?  That is right, it is Reb Beach.  He has been with the band for 18 years.  Then Tommy Aldridge would be a close second although his years were not consistent years like Reb, he was in and out 3 times.  The current line-up is as follows:

  • David Coverdale – vocals
  • Reb Beach – guitar
  • Joel Hoestra – guitar
  • Tommy Aldridge – drums
  • Michelle Luppi – keyboards
  • Michael Devin – bass

And it is a pretty solid line-up.

IMG_2060 Continue reading “Whitesnake – ‘The Purple Tour (Live)’ – Album Review (The David Coverdale Series)” →