Tag: James Michael

Scorpions – ‘Humanity: Hour 1’ (2007) – Album Review (The Scorpions Collection Series)

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For their 16th Studio album, Scorpions wanted to shake things up a bit. But before they could do that they needed to get a producer and that seemed like a daunting task. They had hoped to work with Dieter Dierks yet again, but that didn’t work out yet again due to contract issues. They brought a ton of producers to Germany to interview including Roy Thomas Baker, but the band wasn’t exactly pleased with those results. In the end they settled on two producers. They chose James Michael (lead singer of the band Sixx A.M.) and famed songwriter/producer Desmond Child. They each had their own specific expertise that was utilized on the production. James worked on the guitars, drums and bass while Desmond concentrated on the vocals.

So, Rudolf Schenker, Mathias Jabs, Pawel Maciwoda and James Kottak were in one studio with James while Klaus Meine was in another with Desmond. Desmond believes that if a singers vocals are in great shape, you will get a great performance so Desmond had Klaus basically take vocal lessons every day for an hour before they recorded the vocals. They brought in vocal coach to help Klaus warm up his vocals each and every day. The album is full of songwriters from outside the band as well, but the band still is on every song. You get Eric Bazilian (Hooters), Marty Frederiksen, Jason Paige, Russ Irwin, James Michael, Desmond Child and there are even more.

The band started recording in October 2006 and had about 30 songs and by the second recording process they had another 20 songs. The album was going to be a concept album that was developed by Desmond Child and futurist Liam Carl. It was based on a civil war between humans and robot, it is very apocalyptic in nature and at times very dark. Which is why a number of songs were thrown out because they were too dark. The album needed some more upbeat style songs and those were added, but they were all based around this concept and all tied together because the songs were about humanity. The album was called ‘Humanity: Hour 1′ and was released on May 14, 2007 in Europe and August 28, 2007 in the U.S. We were introduced to a very modern sounding Scorpions album, but at the same time, it still sounded like the Scorpions. All I know is that when I heard this album, I was back on board the Scorpions’ train and been riding it since. Sit back and get ready for the best Scorpions album in decades!!

A woman robot welcomes us to Humanity: Hour 1 as “Hour 1” is the start of the war. The earth-shattering drum beats, the Sabbathy guitar riffs and then Klaus comes in and sounds amazing as he introduces the reasons behind our downfall and that humans tried to play God with their machines causing all the problems we are now facing. It is a heavy, intense and rocking opening track. Very modern and very brutal and a solo that will rip your face off as the battle rages on. A killer opening track and one of their most aggressive tracks…ever!! And what is even cooler about this one is that the guest guitarist is none other than the mighty John 5.

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My Sunday Song – “What Were You Expecting” by Halestorm

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For My Sunday Song #237, we are going to discuss the song “What Were You Expecting” by Halestorm off their 2009 debut album. The song was not a single, but for me helped me get in to the band especially when I found out the song was co-written by Lzzy Hale, James Michael from Sixx A.M. and some due name John Lowery or you might know him as John 5. That was enough for me as John 5 is king!!

The song is about a guy that got a little taste of Mz. Hale and couldn’t get enough. He was desperate to be with her again, but she didn’t really give a crap. She wasn’t in to him and to her it was more of a one night stand than anything serious. He was down on his knees begging for more and she just yelled at him to get up off his knees and be a man and go away. What I love about it is the reversal of the roles. Usually you get this viewpoint from the guys point of view so it is refreshing for the woman to be that way. Lzzy continues to push the boundaries and show there is nothing a man can do that she can’t do better!!

Musically the song totally rocks out. There is an opening eerie guitar riff that sounds like John 5, but it doesn’t show he played on the song so if not, good job by Joe Hottinger on that sound. That guitar sound comes back during the bridge and then the chorus explodes and Lzzy goes all out and sounds so tough and flippant to the guy it is awesome. Arejay Hale pounds away and the drums and with Josh Smith they lay the foundation and rhythm of the song. Sometimes it is great just to put the pedal to the floor and go all out and that is what they do with this one.

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My Sunday Song – “Private Parts (Feat. James Michael)” by Halestorm

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For My Sunday Song #236, we are going to dig deep in to the song “Private Parts” by Halestorm. The song features Sixx A.M. lead singer James Michael and is off the band’s 2012 album ‘The Strange Case of…’. The album wasn’t a single, hell, it wasn’t even on the main album. The song was only on the Deluxe Edition of the album. Since I am a fan of James, this song really stood out for me and quickly became a fan.

The song is not a sexual song at all as you might expect with a song called “Private Parts”. No, the song is about something so much deeper. It is about a couple that has been together, but she is having trouble getting him to open up. She wants him to let her. Communicate. Be there in the moment. She wants him to show her his private parts…she wants what is inside his heart. She feels like she has done something wrong and is starting to feel like their love isn’t real. He loves her, but for some reason he can’t talk about it. It is actually quite beautifully written and played out in the song as you get the She said/He said approach to the lyrics.

The song opens and has a power ballad feel to it. It only has a piano playing at a slow tempo accompanying the vocals. Then the chorus explodes with a more rocking track. I love how Lzzy sings a line and James answers back as you get to see the conversation played out in the song. His voice compliments hers quite nicely. The song has a great melody and is so catchy it sweeps you up and takes you along for the ride. I find it to be such a beautiful song and nice to see the softer side of the band.

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Sixx A.M. – The Albums Ranked Worst to First

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What started off as a side project for Nikki Sixx of Motley Crue, became a full fledged band and lasted 5 studio albums.  They started off to only do a soundtrack to Nikki’s autobiography ‘The Heroin Diaries’ and then the rest is history.  Sixx A.M. consists of Nikki Sixx, DJ Ashba and James Michael.

It has been hit or miss with me for this band. I either loved it or it was so-so at best.  Still, always some great songs on every album and all worth having, some just get played more than others.  I have started collecting them on vinyl and there is only one I can’t get and that is ‘This is Gonna Hurt’, so Nikki – get that one out on Vinyl, would you please.

The band is now recording four new songs for a Greatest Hits album.  So, until then, let us re-visit their albums and rank them from the best one to the wort one.  And let’s get started…

WORST – PRAYERS FOR THE BLESSED, VOL 2 (2016)

The second album of a double album along with Prayers for the Damned was the final album (so far) by the band and not the best way to end.  The power and heaviness of Damned was missing from this album.  I guess with the title being Prayers for the Blessed it isn’t as dark as Vol. 1.  If you click on the title you can read my review back when it came out.  I rated it pretty good and it is, but my least favorite of the bunch.

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