Friday New Releases – May 27th

It has been an incredibly busy week and I am looking forward to some new music.  Friday’s new releases have some good choices to try.  See if there is anything that excites you.  My top choices are highlighted in Blue.

  • 61E-SCkAK2L._AA160_  Paul Gilbert – I Can Destroy – (Pronghorn) – The former lead guitarist for Racer X and the Mr. Big lead guitarist releases his latest solo album I Can Destroy. The first 2 songs I have heard rock out hard and his guitar work is amazing.

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#TBT – Favorite albums of 2009

For Throwback Thursday, I am going to look back to the year 2009 and my favorite albums from that year.  These might not have been the most popular or the best selling albums, but they are what I enjoyed most that year.  So here are my favorites (in no particular order):

51znVwcqQQL._AC_US160_W.E.T. – W.E.T.: A perfect melodic rock album from members of Talisman, Eclipse and Work of Art. Great flow from beginning to end. Jeff Scott Soto is the lead singer and I have been a fan of all of JSS’ solo work and his work with Talisman and now with SOTO (see my artist profile on him here).  Highlights are “One Love”, “Brothers In Arms” & “Comes Down Like Rain”.

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Elevation Worship – Here as in Heaven – Album Spotlight

I am going to change things up a bit with something not Pop or Rock.  I am a fan of Christian music, mostly of the rock nature. I have never been much for worship music.  Of course, I have some from artists like Kutless, Chris Tomlin and Jeremy Camp.  It was just never my go to choice.

I have the great pleasure of living in Charlotte and not far from Elevation Church’s main campus in Blakeney.  It was there I  discovered Elevation Worship.  Ok, I didn’t discover them, I was introduced to their music. The energy they bring to each church service is amazing and I found them to be extremely talented musicians and singers.

Last year, they sold out Time Warner Arena here in Charlotte and recorded the live album “Here as in Heaven”.  I am quite bummed that my family  and I were not able to attend, but thankfully there is an album to enjoy.  The album came out in February of this year and I have enjoyed every minute of that album.

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Candlebox – Disappearing in Airports – Album Review – 91%

Candlebox was formed around 1990 and have been together off and on in some fashion for over 25 years.  I have to admit have never been a huge fan of them over that time.  Of course, I enjoyed their big hit “Far Behind” and I do have their greatest hits album. I never went and listened to any of their albums in full from beginning to end.

That has all changed.  When the album came out back in April 2016, I thought what the heck, I will give it a listen.  WOW!!!  This was not the album I was expecting at all.  I had to make sure I was actually listening to the correct band and album.  It was such a refreshingly, unexpected and incredible listening experience.

I know I am a little slow in getting a review out, but that is because I couldn’t stop listening long enough to actually write a review (and also because life gets in the way sometimes).  I finally feel it is time for me to let the world know that Disappearing in Airports is so worth listening to and a must have for any one remotely interested in Candlebox or any one reading this review.

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Def Leppard – Deep Dive Playlist

Def Leppard is my all time favorite band. I have everything they have ever put out musically for both albums and DVDs.  I have seen them in concert at least 6 times, but I hate I missed their Las Vegas Viva Hysteria show (have it on DVD though but not the same).

They have 2 Diamond Albums (sold more than 10 million copies) – Pyromania and Hysteria.  I don’t think there are many bands that can say they even have one.  Everyone loves their songs “Pour Some Sugar on Me” and “Photograph” and I certainly do as well.

However, the reason I am a fan is because their non-single songs.  They can be just as good or even better than their singles.  We are going to dive into their Deep Cuts and I will let you know what I find to be their best Non-Singles.  I hope you enjoy.

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Friday New Releases – May 20th

Another week and a ton of new releases.  I will never be able to listen to them all, but there are several I am looking forward to giving a spin.  I will bold in blue the ones I will definitely be listening to over the next week.

  • url  Sick Puppies – Fury – I have been a fan of Sick Puppies since their album Dressed Up As Life.  They have put out some great hard rock albums.  I am not sure what we will get with this album as they have a new lead singer.  That is usually not a good sign and most of the time the magic is gone and the bands can fade away.  I will give it a listen and try to keep an open mind.

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#TBT – James Bay – Chaos and the Calm

Okay, this isn’t much of a throwback considering this album came out last year.  However, my site didn’t exist at that time and I want to talk about how great this album is.  And I mean GREAT!!

James Bay is a shining light in today’s bubblegum pop crap that stinks up the radio.  He is the hope of the future of music.  The true talent of all the oversaturated one-hit wonders that music companies force-feed us on a daily basis.  Maybe I am overstating it a little, but the young man is talented.

I think what I am so excited about is the potential this young man has in his craft.  He is only 25 years old and you can see the talent and thinking about what he could create over the next 20 years makes me smile.  Now the music company doesn’t need to screw it up. They need to develop him as an artist and mold him a long & lasting career.  Don’t demand hits, give him the room to create them and grow as a musician.

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Music Is Magic, Part 2 – Playlist

I had to do a second Music is Magic Playlist because there were so many songs from the 60’s-80’s that I didn’t get any for the 90’s – 10’s (You can see Music is Magic Part 1 here).

I don’t feel the ones from the 90’s – 10’s are as good or popular as the previous years, but there are some great songs.  It does give you a glimpse at how music has changed over the decades.

Enjoy…

“Blood Sugar Sex Magic” – Red Hot Chili Peppers

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Train – Top 20 Songs

Train holds a very special place in my heart.  Mainly due to the fact it is the one band my wife and I enjoy together.  We have seen them in concert at least 4 or 5 times and twice we took our kids.  For my wife and I, there is just something special about their songs and their music.

Train Meet & GreetWe like them so much we even paid for the Meet & Greet on one of their tours as an anniversary present for ourselves.  They were extremely pleasant and gracious.  If you haven’t seen them live, you must. Pat Monahan is a great frontman as he is energetic, funny and he makes you feel like you are part of the show.

We also like them because my brother-in-law was the recording engineer on their Drops of Jupiter album for which he received a Grammy nomination (he didn’t win).  Maybe I can get him to tell us about that experience for another time.

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Music is Magic – Playlist

If you don’t believe magic is real, you haven’t really listened to music.  Music can instantly change your mood.  It can even let you travel through time by taking you back to a special memory.  Music can make you laugh, make you cry and make you feel so many different things.  It can make you dance and soothe your soul.

If that is not magical, then I don’t know what is.  In honor of all that, here are my favorite “magical” songs.  Sadly, there are so many songs to choose from, I ended up with a list that only covered the ’60’s – ’80’s.  I have to do another list for the ’90’s-’10’s.

“Do You Believe In Magic” – The Lovin’ Spoonful

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