Who doesn’t like Robert Smith and The Cure? Let me see those hands…keep them up, I’m still counting. I can’t count that high, okay put them down, let’s move on. Today we are going to celebrate all things The Cure in this collection of memes. I have been all around the internet gathering memes for the band. And it took all of like 10 minutes as there are so many. I hope you enjoy them!
Friday, I’m In Love…
Continue reading “Tuesday’s Memes – The Cure”
Tom Keifer brings us his second solo album and pretty much let’s you know that he means business. Now known as the Keifer Band, the album has that band feel. They are tight and solid and they blow your freaking ears off. This album is loud, it is raucous, it is dirty, it is gritty, it is out and out nasty at times and all in a good way. The band is Tony Higbee (lead guitar), Billy Mercer (bass), Jarred Pope (drums), Kory Myers (keyboards) and Kendra Chantelle and his wife Savannah Keifer (backing vocals).
The thing I noticed most about this release is the guitar sound. Tony Higbee is a beast and tears it up song after song. His guitar has that dirty blues rock guitar sound that hits you in the gut in a way that knocks your breathe away and is satisfying all at the same time. That gut wrenching, distorted sound is the masterpiece of this release next to Keifer’s songwriting and vocals which is why we are in the first place.
Tom Keifer puts to rest any thoughts of a Cinderella reunion because after you hear this you realize you could care less to go back and revisit after such an outstanding release. You get two opening tracks that are heavy and badass with “Touching the Devine” and “The Death In Me” and then he slows it down with the well-written “Waiting on the Demons” before getting slapped in the face again with “Hype” and Higbee’s killer guitar sound.
The coolest and best song for me on this album is “Untitled” as it has this eerie guitar opening riff that turns in to a nasty blues riff and Keifer comes in with a deeper vocal before hitting that signature high pitch vocal we all know and love. Tom slows it down again with the epic sounding “Rise” which is exactly what he has done. He has had vocal issues, legal issues and health issues and like the phoenix, Tom has risen to give us one of the best albums he has ever done.
“All Amped Up” is exactly as it sounds. A return to the heavy and the good times. And then we get to the only two songs I wasn’t overly thrilled with “Breaking Down” and “Taste for the Pain” as they both were a little dull and felt like filler. But don’t be disheartened as “Life Was Here” brings the energy back and Tom delivers another great track. The album closes with the acoustic track “You Believe in Me” which is only a guitar and Tom’s vocals. It is quite beautiful and a nice way to go out.
I have loved this album and has been on almost non-stop since its release. Tom Keifer brings his roots and influences full force with one of the best Hard Rock Blues album I have heard in a long time. Like a fine wine, Tom keeps getting better with age and shows no signs of slowing down. The production and songwriting were top-notch and that guitar sound was the most killer part of the whole package. For all of those things, I give it a 4.5 out of 5.0 Stars with a Track Score of 82% (9 out of 11) since there were only 2 out of 11 songs I didn’t care for. An incredible release that will certainly make my Top Rock Albums of 2019 list at the end of the year.
For My Sunday Song # 164, we are talking about “Difference Maker” by Needtobreathe. The song was the debut single off their album ‘Rivers in the Wasteland’ from 2014. The song reached #16 on the Christian charts and might be one of the most powerful song they have ever written lyrically.
The song is best described by Bear Rinehart himself. I found this on the Newreleasetoday.com website. It is an article written by Kevin Davis when he interviewed Bear about the song. Bear states the following…
This song is my story of trying to understand my role in God’s plan. We were on tour with a secular artist, Taylor Swift, playing to 20,000 and even 50,000 people per night. We felt like we were doing what we were supposed to be doing. Despite our efforts, I didn’t feel like we were having the impact we are called to have.
I think God was asking us at this time, “What are you doing this for? Are you doing it for Me?” And, I think that’s where this song was birthed. That confusion is almost a good thing. The bridge says “I am on the fence about nearly everything I’ve seen.” I meant that in how the whole band was going through a “we surrender to God” kind of way.
We don’t need to be concerned about what happens after we’ve given up this gift we have to God. That was really powerful for us. We had ambition and let that take too much of a priority in things that led us down a road that wasn’t good. I think that in trying to re-prioritize, God wants us to sacrifice those things, those idols in our lives. Some idols for us were wondering what the outcome was going to be, that we had the upper hand or maybe we were the best band out there, or we thought we were the most clever at it.
I feel like the beginning of the song is us asking ourselves are we really difference makers. How valuable are we, really? Towards the end of the song it comes around that God makes us a part of what He does, which is so crazy. It starts with us realizing that we don’t get to make the rules. We don’t control it, and we don’t get to say what the timing is. It’s not because of our talents. He doesn’t need that. He needs our willing hearts.
Continue reading “My Sunday Song – “Difference Maker” by Needtobreathe”
Welcome to October and the first Friday of new releases for the month. And what a month this will be. I already have something on order for every Friday of the month so it will be my favorite day of the week. Who are we kidding, it already is my favorite day. Now even more so. There are only 2 releases I really care about this week and they are highlighted in Blue. Let me know what has your interest peaked this week or if I missed anything. Thanks for stopping by and have a wonderful weekend!!
The Darkness – Easter is Cancelled – (Canary Dwarf LTD): The Darkness returns with their sixth studio album and if you love that whole retro glam rock feel, then this will be right up your alley. No one does Glam today like these guys do. From the ear-piercing falsettos to the screeching guitars, it is all a blast and this should be no different. Check them out.
Whitesnake – Slip of the Tongue (30th Anniversary Deluxe Edition) – (Rhino Records): Whitesnake brings us yet another box set celebrating one of their big albums. This is the 3rd and the 30th Anniversary Edition of ‘Slip of the Tongue’. The other two were ‘Slide it In’ and ‘1987’ and the were fantastic. Full of live songs, rare songs and remixes and remasters and everything you could want and this one is no different. This is on order but it will NOT be home when I get there as for some reason Amazon isn’t giving me release day delivery. I’m a little pissed, but I guess I will get over it. Check out David’s unboxing video below…Continue reading “Friday New Releases – October 4th”
This was a show I was really eager to see. I became I real fan with Scott Stapp’s 2nd solo album ‘Proof of Life’ and when he released his third solo album ‘The Space Between the Shadows’ and announced a tour, I was all over it. I got on line and bought 2 tickets and we were able to get 2nd Row. And to top it off, the show was at the McGlohon Theater in Charlotte which is a really small venue and it was an old church. A great spot for a show.
The show started at 7:30 and we ended up getting there around 7:00 which was early….at least I thought it was. There weren’t too many people there, so I thought I had the time wrong. I mean it was sparse. When the opening act Sunflower Dead came on, the crowd was pretty thin. I give the band some credit as the crowd just sat there like a bump on a log and these guys were up there giving it their all. Sunflower Dead is a Metal band from California who used to wear make-up and costumes but now have a more normal look, you could say.
They were pretty great. Heck, my wife enjoyed it and that is saying something. The lead singer, Michael Del Pizzo, was a beast on stage. We were so close and when he would come to the end of the stage, he would look right at you and give you this look. I swear I thought he was going to jump down and kick my ass (I’ll admit, he would have won). And the coolest thing, he played the accordion. Yes, that is right. They are an Accordion metal band. Hell to the Yeah!!!
Continue reading “Scott Stapp – Concert Review (Charlotte, NC. October 1st, 2019)”
When I head David Hasselhoff (or The Hoff) was putting out a new album of cover songs, I told myself that I have to listen to this for the train wreck that it is going to be. I mean The Hoff has never been popular in the States for his vocal talent and yet, I was intrigued.
David has put together an eclectic list of covers and the most interesting part is the line-up of musicians he was able to get to assist with these covers. Let’s look at the cover songs and those individuals who helped out.
Track List:
Continue reading “David Hasselhoff – ‘Open Your Eyes’ – Album Review”
I realized I have been making a lot of purchases and yet not everything makes its way on to the site. I figured I would do a wrap up each month of all my purchasing I have made even if they made it on the site during the month or even might make it on to the site down the road.
This month I ended up at a pop up sale by Noble Records at Cafe Moka over in the Waverly shopping complex in Charlotte, NC. He does these every couple months and when I get to go, I always score some great releases. However, there probably won’t be any more pop ups for a while as Noble Records is finally opening a brick & mortar store in October and I couldn’t be happier. Another place to go hangout and search for records whenever I want. This trip was no different. Major scores.
First up is The Goo Goo Dolls classic album, ‘Dizzy Up the Girl’. It is hard to find albums from around this time and I found this one and more…
And if that wasn’t cool enough, I found a 2LP Yellow Vinyl limited edition of Third Eye Blind’s album ‘Third Eye Blind’. It would have fit in nicely with my Turntables & Vinyl Post on Colored Vinyl a few weeks back.
Continue reading “September Purchases – Vinyl & CDs”
For My Sunday Song #163, we are going to dive in to the title track from their 2009 album, ‘The Outsiders’. The opening track to an album that went on to win a Dove Award for Rock/Contemporary Album of the Year. At this point in their career, this was the best effort.
The song is about how the band feels with their place in the music industry. Being from a small town in South Carolina with a very small music scene, the band never quite felt like they were fully accepted in to the music industry. They feel like they are outsiders in a business they have been in for about 10 years at this point. With that feeling of being an outsider also allows for a freedom. A freedom to do whatever they want creatively and musically. That freedom has led to some amazing songs (this one included).
The song opens with Bo picking on a banjo, then Bear comes in singing then some hand clapping and some good foot stomping beats. The country style opening lends its way to a rock song with some southern flair which is something they do best. They keep that Americana, folk feel in their sound and turn the song into an anthem for a whole generation of people that feel they are outsiders in whatever group they are in. It is a rally to embrace it and accept it and take advantage of it at the same time. Ironically, their fan club is actually called “The Insiders”.
Continue reading “My Sunday Song – “The Outsiders” by Needtobreathe”
Welcome to the last Friday of the month and the last of the September new releases. Let me tell you there are a bunch. There seems to be a little for everyone from Metal to Pop to Christian to Country to Jazz to Electronica to Soundtracks. You name it and it is probably here. I have a few I am interested in and will stream, but nothing that I am running out and buying until I have heard it first. Those choices are highlighted in Blue. Let me know who you want to hear and what I might have missed as it is known to happen (quite frequently actually). I hope there is something for you. Have a great weekend.
Hellyeah – Welcome Home – (Eleven Seven Music): The band’s sixth studio album and first since losing founding member and drummer, the great Vinnie Paul. Luckily for us, he is featured on this album so fans need to grab this for that fact alone. For me, the band is hit and miss. They are hard and heavy, no doubt, and sometimes I need it that way. It will get blasted in the car for sure (and at home).
Steel Panther – Heavy Metal Rules – (Steel Panther): Yet another release by the Steel Panther. Let me tell you they don’t hold back on this one. Their porn rock has kind of grown old for me and I really wish they would do a straight up rock record that isn’t such filth. It was funny at first, now it is old and boring. I will give it at least one listen, but honestly, not expecting much…sorry guys. Seeing them live is where the fun is really at so go check them out.Continue reading “Friday New Releases – September 27th”
I am not sure how you review a greatest hits album. The songs are supposed to be all good because it is…well…a greatest hits compilation. The term “great” is already applying to all the songs. With that being said, this is more of a review of the whole package as I picked this up on vinyl recently and thought it was spectacular.
The cover was the first thing I noticed. The red color was so bright and shiny, the metal of the aircraft looked like real metal and the the rivets were raised and you could run your finger over them and feel each bump.
The package was a gatefold like all good 2LP sets should be. Although not a single picture of the band to expand both sides, it is still a great set of pictures to feel up the space. Let me tell you, having the LP release, these pictures are really large and so crisp and clear. Excellent work was put in to the release.
There was an insert included that all the writing credits of the songs used on one side and a letter from Dave Grohl from September 18, 2009 about the band.
Continue reading “Foo Fighters – ‘Greatest Hits’ – Album Review”
2 Loud 2 Old Music 