Needtobreathe – The Albums Ranked Worst to First

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Back in 2006, my brother told me I had to listen to this album called ‘Daylights’ by the band Needtobreathe. I had never heard of them and I trust my brothers opinion since he did bring me in to the Kiss world when I was like 6.  He said they were a Christian Rock band and they were amazing.  Well, he was sort of right.  They were awesome, but they aren’t just a Christian rock band.  They are a rock band who happens to be Christian and a lot of their views are in their music, but they aren’t bible thumping.  They are telling honest stories that will hopefully impact you in some way.

And impact me they have.  Their music is what I go to when I need inspiration, I need to feel better or I just need some good roots rock music sometimes with a Southern Rock flair.  For me, it is all good and there is no “Worst Album”.  After 6 studio albums, 2 live albums and numerous E.P.’s, they are still one of my all-time favorite bands out there and I hope they continue for years to come.   The band is as follows:

  • Bear Rinehart
  • Bo Rinehart
  • Seth Bolt
  • Josh Lovelace

I am keeping this list to just the 6 studio albums and let this be your gateway in to the band.  Remember, these are in order of my least favorite to my very favorite and that might not be your order, but that is fine.  It is only my opinion.  So be kind. And here we go…Needtobreathe!!

WORST – THE HEAT (2007):

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Deep Purple – ‘Last Concert in Japan’ – Album Review (The David Coverdale Series)

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‘Last Concert in Japan’ only saw a release due to the death of guitarist Tommy Bolin who died in December of 1976.  The album was released shortly after in March of 1977 in Japan.  The record company was in a rush to capitalize on his death is all I can think why this was released. The band was done, all parties had moved on and the record company thought it would be an easy cash grab.  Now I have no proof, this is pure speculation but it is what record companies do.

This album captures the Mark IV line-ups last show in Japan as the title says at the Budokan Hall which I believe they set a record for attendance at that time.  The release is not a full show and it was streamlined down to fit on only one LP.

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There are a lot of problems with this album.  First off, the mix. It is pretty crappy as the release was done in such a hurry that the master tracking really suffered and let me tell you it shows.  And if that wasn’t enough, let me just say the guitar playing is less then stellar and I believe Jon Lord was used a lot more in places that there should have been more guitar.  The reason being is Tommy Bolin had been doing drugs quite heavily the night before and according to Glenn Hughes, he feel asleep on his arm for 8 hours and couldn’t play.  And based on what I hear, I believe he might be telling the truth.

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My Sunday Song – “Washed by the Water” by Needtobreathe

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For My Sunday Song #162, we are going to discuss “Washed by the Water” by Needtobreathe.  The song is off their 2007 album ‘The Heat’ and in 2009 it won the GMA Dove Award for Rock/Contemporary Recorded Song of the Year.

The story of the song is about an incident that happened to their dad at their church.  Their father was the preacher and apparently some gossip went around and things were said about him and his wife that in the end turned out to all be false. Their father held his ground and kept his integrity in tack during the whole process.  Bear and Bo were so impressed by their dad that it inspired this song.  It goes to show you that your kids are always watching you and they see how you act and that can be really impactful.

The song has this whole church, gospel vibe to it with the organ and keyboards.  At the same time, there is southern rock feel to the song.  I love that church vibe as it really emphasizes the story.  And let’s talk about the lyrics.  There aren’t a lot, but what is there is powerful.  The title alone of “Washed by the Water” is fantastic, but it is the following lines are the most impactful to me…

Even when Earth crumbles under my feet
Even when ones I love turn around and crucify me
I won’t never ever let you down
I won’t fall
I won’t fall
I won’t fall as long as you’re around me

Their dad showed them the importance of faith and standing up for what you believe no matter what the devil throws at you and it sounds like he threw a lot at them.  We are defined by our choices and our actions, pretty impressive in my book.

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Friday New Releases – September 20th

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Another great Friday with another huge selection of releases.  However, the selections aren’t “huge’, if you know what I mean.  There a handful I am interested in hearing, but nothing I am running out and buying.  Streaming for me on these…unless one is so good it warrants a purchase.  I wonder if I have gotten through all the ones from last week (I am writing this two weeks out)  but I doubt it.  Anyway, my choices are highlighted in Blue.  Let me know what you want to hear or if there is anything I missed.  Enjoy and have a great weekend!!

  • 81ejtYxP8SL._SS500_.jpg  Keane – Cause and Effect – (Island Records):  Keane’s debut in 2004, ‘Hopes and Fears’ was fantastic and their second was pretty great as well.  As a result, I do enjoy checking out anything they put out.  Nothing has lived up to those two releases, but still find a golden nugget in each release and they hope is the same on this one.  “Is It Any Wonder” why I would keep trying?  Not really.  Great English Pop.

  • 81IXOqiMnXL._AC_UL115_.jpg  Slash with Myles Kennedy & the Conspirators – Living the Dream Tour (Live) – (Snakepit Records):  Let’s see…Slash √…Myles Kennedy √…both of them together √…and Live √…I don’t think I need any other reasons to “check” this out do I.

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

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The Deep Purple tour for the album, ‘Come Taste the Band’ ended in March of 1976.  After that tour, we saw the end of Deep Purple as the band called it quits (at least until the early 80’s).  David Coverdale was now without a band, but music was still in his blood and new music was ready to come out.  In August of that year, David entered the studio and recorded his debut solo album called ‘White Snake’.

Hmmm…that name rings a bell.  Where have we heard that before?  Oh yeah, the album name would become the inspiration for his band name which would come a couple years later.  For now, we will focus on the album, ‘Whitesnake’.

The album was released on February 9, 1977 and the album cover featured David on the cover with a “white” snake curled up behind him ready to strike.  The album I have is actually a 1988 release consisting of a 2LP set with both ‘Whitesnake’ and David’s follow-up solo album ‘Northwinds’ which we will discuss later.  The package was a gatefold and consisted of commentary by Mark Rutherford.

The album was produced by ex-Deep Purple bassist Roger Glover which is a cool Purple connection.  But as we know with David, he likes to attract great guitarists and use them to help him write the songs.  On this album, that guitarists was Micky Moody formerly of the band Juicy Lucy.  Moody and Coverdale wrote 4 of the 9 songs together and this pattern of finding great guitarists would continue on until today (2019).

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Kiss – Agora Ballroom 1974: The Cleveland Broadcast – Plus Bonus Cuts (Bootleg Series) – Album Review

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On April 1st, 1974, Kiss played at the Agora Ballroom in Cleveland, Ohio.  It was broadcast live on the radio and we have that show captured right here on another in the Bootleg Series.  This is probably one of the most famous of the bootlegs and one the band seems to like as well.

Kiss was signed only 6 months earlier on November 1st, 1973 to Casablanca records and Casablanca was heavily promoting them and this bootleg contains 3 such promotions.  The Agora Ballroom show, 3 songs from the ABC In Concert performance from March 29th, 1974 and their appearance on the Mike Douglas Show on April 29th, 1974.  It is Kiss at their infancy.

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The recording is from a broadcast and it is sounds really great.  Now do remember that this is a bootleg and so the sound isn’t perfect, but I think it is a true representation of the band’s live show and how cool to have such an early show. The sound is a little flat as the bass is a little understated (okay, a lot understated) and only one strong guitar sound (Ace).  The guys are eager, they are hungry and they are tearing it up.  There are no explosions, no one is breathing fire, it is straight up Rock & Roll. Well, there is the siren for “Firehouse”, but that is it.

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The Defiants – ‘Zokusho’ – Album Review

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Recently, I looked up the definition of the word “fun” in the Oxturd Dictionary and it told me the definition was “to be Defiant”.  I thought that sounded about right.  So, how could I be defiant.  Well, the quickest and easiest way was to pick up the latest release by the band The Defiants.  I figured that fit the bill of “fun” quite nicely.

And I was right!

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The band consists of three members all stemming from the band Danger Danger.  They are Bruno Ravel on bass, Rob Marcello on guitar and Paul Laine on vocals.  And to make the Danger Danger connection even stronger, drummer Steve West filled in on the kit for this recording.  Since Danger Danger still exists with lead singer Ted Poley, they couldn’t use that name so they came up with their own.

 

‘Zokusho’ is the band’s second album and the word actually means “sequel” or “next chapter” in Japanese which is actually what this record is.  The band picks up right where they left off on their debut.  If you liked 80’s rock and the whole melodic rock scene, let me tell you that it doesn’t get much better than this.

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My Sunday Song – “Cops” by Needtobreathe

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For My Sunday Song #161, we are now taking over with the next 10 songs coming from one of my favorite bands Needtobreathe. A rock band with a Southern Rock sound, folk, Americana, gospel all with a Christian background and some of the best songs I have ever heard.  I usually try to stick with the non-singles, but as I want more people to know this band, I won’t always stick with that philosophy…although this song is just that.  The song this week is called “Cops” and it is a B-Side for the song “Keep Your Eyes Open”. The song is also a bonus track on the LP version of the album ‘The Reckoning’ from 2011.  Yes, the LP has the bonus tracks!!

The song is one of the bands heaviest songs and completely rocks out.  The reason for that is the subject matter of the song. Needtobreathe has always been labeled a Christian band, but they are not.  They are a rock band that has a Christian upbringing and that subject matter bleeds in to the music from time to time.  But that is not their focus.  They don’t deny they are Christians, they just want to play music and have a good time…nothing wrong with that.

The song is about the Christian people that are trying to tie the band down as a Christian band.  The constant opinions about how they are disappointing God when they don’t sing about him and they should be out there spreading the word.  Sorry, they are a Rock band first and they are not apologizing for that.  The band likens this pressure to being chased by “Cops”…so there you have it.  I find it funny how Christians are supposed to be holier than thou, but yet they are the first to cast the stone and point the finger when they should be looking in to that mirror themselves.  Another problem I have with religion although I am a Christian, their hypocrisy is sickening at times.  Soapbox, getting down now.

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Friday New Releases – September 13th

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Welcome to Friday new releases on this Friday the 13th.  And let me tell you this is a lucky Friday…no bad news here.  There are an abundance of releases this week that I am excited about and it might be the best week in quite a long time or even all year.  There are over 25 on this list and maybe 1/2 I am interested in at listening to once. How long is that going to take…it could be next September.  My choices will be highlighted in Blue.  Let me know what you see that you like and what I might be missing (could there be anything???).  Thanks for stopping by and have a great weekend!

The most important…

  • 717mqiZN3dL._SX522_  The Defiants – Zokusho – (Frontiers Records):  Man, I am super excited about this one.  Paul Laine and the Danger Danger boys are back with their second release and if it is half as good as the debut, then we are in for a treat.  The first 3 songs they have previewed are sensational!!  So expectations are HIGH!!  I don’t usually listen to songs that are previewed on albums I am anxious about, but I could wait.  If you like 80’s brand rock with modern productions, you will be in for a treat.

  • A1EaP+943DL._SX522_.jpg  Tom Keifer – Rise – (Cleopatra Music): The voice of Cinderella is back with his 2nd solo album.  His first was fantastic and nothing less is expected on this one.  His blues rock and the gravely voice is just what the doctor ordered so grab a copy and crank it up.  A great weekend is ahead.

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Extreme – The Albums Ranked From Worst to First

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Extreme has been around since 1985, but there debut album didn’t come out until 1989 and that one wasn’t as successful.  However, their second album ‘Pornograffitti’ took them to the next level and brought them in to the mainstream.  It was that album that I became a fan and it was through the song “More Than Words” that introduced me to the band.  That song was nothing like the rest of the album and thank goodness.  What I found on their records was a much more interesting band.

Extreme had an intelligence to their music and lyrics.  For the first couple of albums, there was a childlike whimsy to the lyrics, but musically they were heads and shoulders above everyone else.  They were lumped in to the Hair Band genre which was unfair as they weren’t anything like those bands.  What I also loved about them is their use of Portmanteau.  They way they would meld two words together to make a new one.  They did this on all but one album…you have Pornograffitti, Politicalamity, Evilangelist and Americocaine.  These songs always tackled a very serious topic in a very intelligent way.

The band broke up between 1996 and 2004, but thankfully got back together.  They have only released 5 albums to date which is way too few.  We need more.  Until then, we will rank their 5 albums from the Worst to the First. I hope you enjoy.

WORST – SUADADES DE ROCK (2008):

If this is the band’s worst album, then dang, the rest must be incredible because this is a really great album.  So why is it at the bottom?  I will tell you.  First, I have only had 10 years with this album and the rest I have had 25-30 years.  Second, there are more tracks I didn’t like on this one then the others. Simple enough.  I didn’t like the opening track “Stars” for starters and a few others, plus I actually had a few issues with Gary Cherone’s vocals. They weren’t as crisp as before.  Musically though, this thing is great.

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