Calum Scott – ‘Only Human’ – Album Review

Published on by 2loud2oldmusic7 Comments

Calum Scott’s debut release, ‘Only Human’, came out on Friday, March 9th. A day surrounded by albums from some Hard Rock artists such as Judas Priest, Myles Kennedy, Three Days Grace and even Jimi Hendrix, how did this pop artist catch my ear?  Easy, two years ago this former Britain’s Got Talent contestant released a cover of Robyn’s “Dancing on My Own”.  That song made me stop and take notice.  It was absolutely fantastic (more on it later).  I have been anxiously awaiting an album from him ever since.

And now, the long wait is finally over.  Calum Scott is a cross between many artists.  I would say he is a little bit Sam Smith (without the depressing ass songs), a little bit Adam Levine (his vocal stylings only), a little Gavin DeGraw (catchy pop love songs) and a little bit of James Bay (his first record and even a little of his guitar sound).  He is the best of all those people rolled into one.

There are 14 tracks on the CD version  of the album (vinyl only has 11) so I won’t go through all the songs in detail, but I will highlight several of my favorites.  First off, there are two types of songs throughout the album.  You get the love song ballads and the upbeat pop songs.  I have to admit, I am a sucker for a good love song and Calum has no short supply.  The ballads are beautiful showcases of his amazing, soulful vocal abilities.

Continue reading “Calum Scott – ‘Only Human’ – Album Review” →

My Sunday Song – “Dark Horses” by Switchfoot

Published on by 2loud2oldmusic2 Comments

For My Sunday Song #86, “Dark Horses” by Switchfoot is my choice.  The song is off their ‘Vice Verses’ and the single was released on July 20, 2011.  It reached #1 on the Billboard Christian Rock Songs and #1 on the Billboard Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles (I don’t really know this chart very well).  It went to #5 on the Rock Alternative Charts as well.  Needless to say, it did very well for the band.

What I like about Switchfoot is they have Christian roots, but can pass as a mainstream act as well.  They are able to get the message out and most people don’t even realize they are getting a positive, heartfelt message of some kind whether it is religious or some point they want to get across.  I love how he can turn that message into such great music.

“Dark Horses” might be a familiar term to those in the sporting world.  A dark horse is a term used to describe a person, team or horse that is not well-known but rises to the top.  The song is talking about the homeless children that aren’t well known, but they have something to offer if they were just given the chance.  Jon & Tim Foreman are wanting to spread the word and put the focus on helping these homeless kids so they have that chance to shine.  For Jon, these kids are the kids he sees on the streets of his home town in San Diego and he works with the organization Stand Up For Kids.  I agree with the band and we shouldn’t write them off, they deserve a chance to shine and succeed just as much as anyone.

Continue reading “My Sunday Song – “Dark Horses” by Switchfoot” →

Friday New Releases – April 6th

Published on by 2loud2oldmusic14 Comments

It is already April and I can’t believe how fast time flies.  We just got back from New York City for a family vacation and what a great time we had.  I love that city!!  Now, what do we have new this week you might ask.  Well, we have a lot of different things, Metal, Rock, Southern Rock, Pop, Christian and so much more.  My choices are highlighted in Blue.  Let me know what you want, if anything.

  • 91P3HWlQIsL._SX522_  The Dead Daisies – Burn It Down – (Spitfire Music):  John Corabi and boys are back with yet another Dead Daisies release.  They are pumping out the music and thankfully so.  Since Corabi came on board, I have really loved these guys.  And coming of Corabi’s recent Live album playing his one Motley Cure album in its entirety, I am ready for some more.

  • 31iUJMAkz3L._AC_US320_QL65_  Thirty Seconds to Mars – The New Album – (Interscope):  Jared Leto and company are finally returning with some new music.  He shares his time between movies and music and although I like his movies, he is one of the few actors that actually has some musical chops and Thirty Seconds to Mars rarely disappoints.  Looking forward to this one as I have loved the first song and here it is…

Continue reading “Friday New Releases – April 6th” →

Kiss – “I Was Made For Lovin’ You” (The 45 Single)

Published on by 2loud2oldmusic13 Comments

Disco era Kiss!  Does it get any better than that??  Well, yes it actually does.  Nonetheless, it was still Kiss and still awesome.  I was out at my favorite little record spot and came across a 7″ single of Kiss and of course I had to have it.  It was the 1979 single off the Dynasty album called “I Was Made For Lovin’ You”.

The single was only the band’s second Gold single and it went on to sell over a 1 million copies so needless to say, it was a hit.  Which proved Gene and Paul correct that during the Disco era, anyone could write a disco song.  Speaking of writing, this was the first time Kiss co-wrote a song with Desmond Child and it wouldn’t be the last.  It was also Desmond’s first hit he ever had.  The song was also written by Paul Stanley and Vini Poncia who played piano on the song and did backing vocals.

The really isn’t much to talk about in regards to the song.  Think disco and you know what the song sounds like.  You can get up and dance to it and sing along to the catchy, pop chorus.  It is simple.  One thing I guess I can talk about is that wikipedia has the 7″ single listed at 4:01, but my version has it at 3:57 which might not seem like a lot, but that is a big difference.  The song is already cut down from the album version which was at 4:30.  Not sure if I have a different version or wikipedia is just wrong.

Continue reading “Kiss – “I Was Made For Lovin’ You” (The 45 Single)” →

C.F. Kip Winger – Solo Box Set Collection – Album Review

Published on by 2loud2oldmusic8 Comments

Kip Winger finally re-releases his solo albums after a time period where they were out of print.  The big difference this time is he has released them only in a box set simply called the Solo Box Set Collection.  The set includes 5 CD including his 4 solo album as well as a bonus CD of bonus tracks from all the Japanese editions of his albums and one new song.

Before Kip started with his solo albums, you would know he was in the band Winger, obviously.  Winger’s last studio album prior to the solo albums was 1993’s ‘Pull’ (and one of my favorite Winger albums).  After this album, the band sort of dissolved and wasn’t doing anything anymore.  Then in 1996 Kip started his solo career.  That solo career produced 3 studio albums, 1 acoustic album and now some Classical pieces that he did not include in this set.

Before we get into the music, let’s talk about the set itself.  It comes in a very sturdy box that was nice and thick, well made and should last a long time.  The one thing you notice is the sad figure on the cover.  I am sure it is some famous painting or something, but I do not know who it is or what the story is with the picture.  Another thing you notice is Kip’s name.  He now puts C.F. Kip Winger as his name.  He has been doing that with his Classical pieces he has written and now it is spilling over into his other solo work.  The C.F. are his initials for his name Charles Frederick Kip Winger.  Maybe “Kip” didn’t sound professional enough for the classical music scene.

IMG_0643

Continue reading “C.F. Kip Winger – Solo Box Set Collection – Album Review” →

My Sunday Song – “Modern Day Cowboy” by Tesla

Published on by 2loud2oldmusic10 Comments

For My Sunday Song #85, it is time to go with a western feel with “Modern Day Cowboy” by Tesla.  The song was the band’s second single on their debut album ‘Mechanical Resonance’ released in December of 1986. The single was released in 1987 and peaked at only #35 on the US Mainstream Rock chart which surprises me that this song and these guys didn’t blow up more than they did.

The song became an instant favorite of mine the second I heard it with that monster opening guitar riffs with Frank Hannon and Tommy Skeoch.  Then the song changed up the guitars to acoustic and then back and forth with the electric guitars.  The two were simply scary good.  The whole cowboy theme song was probably take due to the success of Bon Jovi’s “Wanted Dead or Alive”.

“Modern Day Cowboy” takes you through some of the bad boy cowboys through time starting with Billy the Kidd; then going to the Original Gangsters Al Capone and Bad Boy Jones; and finally moving to present day with our leaders of U.S.A. & the U.S.S.R. and their six guns or in this case nuclear weapons.

Continue reading “My Sunday Song – “Modern Day Cowboy” by Tesla” →

Friday New Releases – March 30th

Published on by 2loud2oldmusic18 Comments

Is it the end of March already?  There have been so many great releases this month that I am almost wore out.  I said almost!  There are several more releases I need to hear before the month ends and those are highlighted in Blue.  This week there is Hard Rock, Metal, Country, Pop and maybe a little for everyone.  Let me know what you want to get a hold of and listen to constantly.  Have a great weekend.

  • 619gKzSrjGL._SS500.jpg  Red Sun Rising – Thread – (New Razor & Tie):  Red Sun Rising are on their 2nd Studio album (not including 2 independent releases).  The first one was a surprise discovery for me.  It flew under the radar but struck a chord and now I am glad they are back for some more.  They are a hard rock/post-grunge style band that just deliver the goods.  Check them out.

  • A1zhKPaFD6L._SX522_  Rob Zombie – Astro-Creep: 2000 Love Songs of Love, Destruction And Other Synthetic Delusions of the Electric Head – (Universal Music):  Rob Zombie and a live album!  That is really all I need to say.  I don’t always like everything they put out on a studio album, but a live album captures are all the classic Zombie sound and with John 5 and band at his side, you can expect sheer perfection in sound.  This one needs to get turned up as loud as it will go.  I didn’t find a video release yet promoting this album…sorry.

Continue reading “Friday New Releases – March 30th” →

Shinedown – “Devil” – Single Review

Published on by 2loud2oldmusic10 Comments

With Shinedown, when they release a song or an album you know what you are going to get.  They have a sound and a style that works and they don’t stray far from that formula.  With the new album coming on May 4th, ‘Attention, Attention’, Shinedown is trying to do just that…get your attention.

The album is basically a concept album  The songs will take you on a journey of a person who is starting in a very dark, ominous place and take you all the way through to the other side where this person is done battling his mind and his issues and coming out a changed person.  I love concept albums so I can’t wait to get ahold of this an take this journey.

The first single is “Devil”, which is the first song on this story through the mind.  According to Brent Smith in an interview with Billboard, he states the following:

“‘DEVIL’ is about being afraid, ‘DEVIL’ is about being terrified of not only yourself, in some respects, but the world around you, and understanding that there are so many things and so many different situations and people and places and atmospheres and exposure that human beings are put in front of on a daily basis, [and] the world can be a really difficult place to navigate. So that’s where the story starts.”

Continue reading “Shinedown – “Devil” – Single Review” →

Stone Temple Pilots – ‘Stone Temple Pilots’ (2018) – Album Review

Published on by 2loud2oldmusic18 Comments

Stone Temple Pilots are back with a brand new album and a brand new singer.  As you probably already know the story, their original lead singer was one of the most iconic lead singers of any band, Scott Weiland.  Scott had a lot of troubles with addiction and was in and out of the band several times.  He was replaced with Chester Bennington of Linkin Park, but Chester left to focus solely on his original band.  Since this time, both singers have passed away and will never rejoin the band.

Now STP has a decision to make.  Do they continue as a band?  The answer to that is obviously YES or I wouldn’t be doing a review of their new album.  Do they get a new lead singer that is completely their own person and nothing like the previous singer or do they get one that sounds just like Scott Weiland?  The answer to that will come later, but first let me explain why I asked that question myself.

In history, bands have always replaced lead singers.  There are two types of replacements..1) The singer that sounds nothing like the original singer and 2) the singer that sounds just like the old lead singer.  Depending on which one you choose can have a different impact on the band.  I think throughout history we have seen both work, however, for me there is only one solution.

Let’s look at the first, the new singer sounds nothing like the original singer.  There are many examples of that happening and quite successfully…Deep Purple has done it, Black Sabbath, Rainbow and even Van Halen.  Let’s look at Van Halen…with David Lee Roth (the original singer) and Sammy Hager (the replacement) were totally polar opposite singers and styles.  However, each band  was extremely successful in their own right.  Why you might ask? Because the band sound was still Van Halen and the songs were great.  Also, there was no real comparison between the two.  It was really two different bands that just happened to have the same name.  I personally like both versions (I am little more partial to David’s era just because I liked that sound a little better).

Continue reading “Stone Temple Pilots – ‘Stone Temple Pilots’ (2018) – Album Review” →

My Sunday Song – “Numb” by Linkin Park

Published on by 2loud2oldmusic2 Comments

For My Sunday Song #84, I am going with “Numb” by Linkin Park.  The song is the third single and the final track on their second album ‘Meteora’. The song only reached #31 on the Top 40 charts which is okay because it reached #1 on the Alternative Songs chart where it stayed for a mere 12 weeks.

This song to me was one of the band’s most powerful songs they had ever done up to that point.  It was a very dark song and I love dark songs.  The subject matter was about kids having to live up to their parent’s expectations and failing. Living as outcasts from their parents and from the world around them.  They are smothered and aren’t allowed to be themselves.  I have a feeling that more people feel that way then don’t.  With Chester Bennington’s death last year, it makes me think how personal this song might have been for him as he sang it with such emotion and feeling.

The video for the song was amazing in that it depicted that very theme with a girl struggling to fit in and having issues with her peers at school and her parents.  She ends up cutting herself and the marks spell out Numb on her arm.  A real tragic story.  The video also intersperses shots of the band performing in a church and I wonder what they were wanting to conveying with that imagery.

Continue reading “My Sunday Song – “Numb” by Linkin Park” →