August 2022 Purchases – Vinyl, CDs and Books

August is over and so is Summer. School is back in session and it was a very busy month. Between vacation, getting one of my daughters off to college and traveling for work, I didn’t have much record store time. As a result, my selection is rather small compared to some of my months. But doesn’t mean there isn’t enough to show off so lets get in to it.

We will start off with my record shopping while on vacation as I did pick up a few things. First up was a Joe Satriani for the album, ‘Not of this Earth’, which I already have. But I didn’t have this cover. I had never seen this before, so my rule…if you haven’t seen it before, you buy it. And I did…

And that holds true for one my next finds at the same record store. I picked up Kiss’ ‘Psycho Circus’ on CD as it was at the lowest price I’d seen in awhile. Then I saw a maxi-single for “I Was Made For Loving You (Live)” for the Alive III album. I had never seen this before, so I bought it…

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Switchfoot – Switchfoot 2021 Tour (Charlotte Metro Credit Union Amphitheater – October 14, 2021) – Concert Review

A week after the Alice Cooper and Ace Frehley shows at Charlotte Metro Credit Union Amphitheater, I’m back for another show. This time around we are seeing Switchfoot as they open for one of my favorite bands, Needtobreathe. I had never seen Switchfoot and like a lot of their songs so I was excited to see them as they are a great compliment to Needtobreathe. A great double bill.

Now there was an opening act called The New Respects. They are a family band out of Nashville and were pop, funk, rock and a whole lot of fun. The lead guitarists is a young lady by the name of Zandy Fitzgerald who was mad woman on the guitar. She also had a lot of style and you could tell she had some star potential. She was very likable. The interesting thing about The New Respects is they are the background singers for Needtobreathe during the show so very cool that Needtobreathe gave them the opening slot to shine on their own. I don’t have a decent photo of them, but when you get to the Needtobreathe Concert review, they will pop up there so go check that review out as well.

Back to Switchfoot, the band is a rock band out of San Diego, California and lead singer Jon Foreman has the surfing, hippie thing going that brings a certain charm to the band live that you don’t necessarily get in their studio albums. Seeing him perform is a different experience.

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Friday New Releases – August 20, 2021

Happy Friday! We’ve made it through another week and not a moment too soon. I am ready for this weekend. Thankfully, we also have a ton of new releases to listen to this week (like most weeks lately. There are only a couple I really want to hear and I have marked those in Blue. There are others I’m curious about, but we will see if I have the time. Check out all the releases and let me know what you want to hear this week and let me know what album releases I may have missed. Thanks so much for stopping by and I hope you all have a wonderful weekend.

  • 81bYHjvl9vL._SS500_  Anderson East – Maybe We Never Die – (Low Country Sound / Elektra): Anderson’s last album, ‘Encore’, was exceptional. I am hoping for more of the same. If you like country mixed with soul, R&B and Americana, then this will be right up your alley. Can’t wait to give it a spin.
  • A1V5INA0ecS._SX522_  Switchfoot – Interrobang – (Fantasy Records / Concord): Switchfoot is always labeled as a Christian act, but they are so much more. They are alternative, a little post-grunge and power pop and I like it all. I am also a big fan of Jon Foreman’s vocals. I will be seeing them in concert in a couple months as they open for Needtobreathe so this will be a good show.
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Friday New Releases – June 19th, 2020

Welcome back, you made it through another week and you should be proud as who knows what the world threw at us this week as each week it seems to be something worse than the last.  But at least the world is giving us some new music and that makes it all better.  There are a handful of new music I am looking forward to getting and those are marked in Blue. Let me know what you are interested in, if anything, and tell me what I missed.  Thanks for stopping by and I hope you have a fabulous weekend!

  • 81Lc7IrBXqL._SX522_  Whitesnake – The ROCK Album (2020 Remix) – (Saltburn / Rhino):  In the first of 3 albums in a new series by Whitesnake, the Rock album is a bunch of remixes of old songs with one new one I believe.  The other two will be out later in the year and in to next year are The Love Album and The Blues Album.  I am glad the Rock starts it all off.  This will finish up my David Coverdale Review series nicely until the other albums come out that is.

  • download-12  Switchfoot – Covers E.P. – (Fantasy Records / Concord):  Ah, I love me some Switchfoot and although not an album of new material, we get a small collection of cover songs.  At least these aren’t your standard fare. You get a cover from Frank Ocean, The Chainsmokers, Vampire Weekend and more.  Should be interesting.

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Top Albums of 2019

The year is almost over so it is time to look back at what was awesome in music during the year.  I have already looked back at the Top Rock Albums of 2019 (click to read).   This list will cover all other genres that I listened to over the year including Pop, Country, Christian and whatever other genre you want classify these albums.  Rock is my favorite genre and that is why it gets it’s own list, but that doesn’t take away from any of these choices as I think they are great on their own.

I feel I didn’t get to as many as I would have liked as the year seem to get away from me.  I did spend a lot of time on a few series such as finishing The Billy Idol Series, The Kiss Bootleg Series, the Kiss Box Set 6 Part Series and starting the David Coverdale Series.  These consumed a lot of my time.  What I am trying to say is I missed a lot.

Note:  These albums were my favorites and not necessarily the most played on the radio (which I hate the radio) or even the biggest sellers.  There aren’t the trendy indie bands on everyone else’s top albums list (okay, there might be one or two).  These are just what I came across during the year and connected with me in some way and some thanks to my kids.  So, we might as well get started…

#10 – The Highwomen – ‘The Highwomen’

61lneK+2aVL._SL1200_  A Country Super-Group consisting of Brandi Carlile, Natalie Hemby, Maren Morris and Amanda Shires.  I have not been digging Country lately, but the women on country rock.  I found this to be enjoyable and was really digging the songs “The Highwomen”, a rework of the the Jimmy Webb classic “The Highwayman” as well as “Redesigning Women” and “Crowded Table”.  Check them out.

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Switchfoot – ‘Native Tongue’ – Album Review

I have followed Switchfoot since around 2003 with their fourth album ‘The Beautiful Letdown’ and now some 16 years later they bring us their eleventh studio album, ‘Native Tongue’ and yes, I am still a fan.  The new album brings us more of the same and yet travels down a new road as well.

The album has a familiar Switchfoot sound that is at times pure rock, at times pure spiritual and at times au natural almost Earthy feel to it.  They try so many different musical styles, including a little EDM, but they were able to keep it cohesive.  That is in part to what seems to be a theme throughout and that is “Love”.  Whether it is God’s love, human love and love on some different level, I don’t know, but the songs all seem to be connected.

The opening track, “Let it Happen” has this spiritual feel with a little bit of rock thrown in and the message to it about letting love just happen as well as letting life just happen.  The rock comes in full force with “Native Tongue”.  The heavy tribal drums and bass sound kick this up a notch and was a great choice as the first single.  And then you get the church feel of “All You Need” and with that chorus I can picture a worship team singing it out loud during service.

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Friday New Releases – January 18th

Last week did not have a bunch of releases and this week isn’t that much better, but there are at least more than last week.  And there are a few I am actually interested in giving a spin.  Those will be highlighted in Blue.  There are a lot of Metal releases for those that like it a little bit harder than the rest. Hopefully there is something that will interest everyone.  Let me know what you like or what I might have missed.  Thanks and have a great weekend.

  • 51MBbKnI7-L._SS500  Switchfoot – Native Tongue – (Fantasy Records):  The Christian/Alternative band is back with their 11th Studio album. I came across the band back in 2003 with their 4th album ‘The Beautiful Letdown” and have been a fan since.  They can be pop, rock and sometimes even a beachy California Surf feel, but they are always consistent and the songs have a great message or story. I love Jon Foreman’s voice and I usually find very little wrong with their music.  Give them a try.

  • 91DhO9wlMHL._SX679_  Papa Roach – Who Do You Trust? – (Eleven Seven Records):  After less than 2 years since their last release, ‘Crooked Teeth’, Papa Roach are storming back on the scene.  I like it when bands don’t wait the obligatory 2-3 years for new music.  The last one was great so hoping for more of the same.

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What to Expect for New Music in 2019?

2019 is upon us and it is always fun anticipating what new albums are and will come out in the year.  There are quite a few we already know about, but some haven’t been officially announced or even a date set yet.  From what I have gathered around the internet, here are the bands that should have new albums out in 2019, but no dates announced yet. The ones I would give a try (and my kids) will be highlighted in Blue.  The ones with Dates Announced are at the bottom of this post.  The list is building up nicely!!

  • Adele
  • Billy Eilish
  • Coldplay
  • The Defiants
  • Eclipse
  • Greta Van Fleet – (rumor already for new music)
  • Hootie & the Blowfish (new tour has been announced)
  • Megadeth
  • Michael Sweet
  • Miley Cyrus
  • Prince
  • The Raconteurs
  • Rob Zombie
  • Stryper
  • The Cranberries
  • Taylor Swift
  • Tesla – Shock (Produced by Phil Collen of Def Leppard)
  • Tori Kelly
  • Whitesnake – Flesh & Blood (should be March)

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My Sunday Song – “Dark Horses” by Switchfoot

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.

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The Top 20 Songs of 2016

It is time for the Top 20 Songs of 2016.  My previous post, if you missed it, was the Top 20 Rock Songs of 2016.  Go check it out by clicking on the link.  These 20 songs are all other genres other than rock.  Some were popular and chart toppers and others were not.  They are my favorites, that touched me in some way.

If you missed the Top Rock Albums of 2016 or the Top Albums of 2016 (that were not Rock), just click on the link and go check them out.

Let’s get started…

20. “24K Magic” by Bruno Mars off the album ’24K Magic’: Ok, I love this song.  There is something about Bruno that I enjoy.  It is what you come to expect from Bruno and that isn’t a bad thing.  Very catchy and makes you want to dance.

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