Label: Daykamp Records Released: December 4, 2007 While hard rock is probably one the easiest genres to play, it is probably one of the hardest at which to succeed. It’s has been played by so many for so long that it’s really hard to be a standout. Sure, the old hard rock regulars will flock to anything that reminds them… Read more »
After writing that Blackmore’s Night review, I had to post something as a reminder that Richie Blackmore wasn’t always pathetic. I guess knowing that he once did some great stuff makes his sad attempt at bring the renaissance to rock even worse. Label: Polydor Released: 1976 Any disappointment that Deep Purple fans must have felt when Richie Blackmore departed in… Read more »
Label: VH1 Classic Records Released: December 18, 2007 Frankly, I expected the third volume of the Kissology to be the least essential. While the Revenge tour material was likely to be decent and the Unplugged reunion with Ace and Peter shouldn’t be missed, the rest followed them through their years of touring with the make-up back on and the stage… Read more »
Label: VH1 Classic Records Released: August 14, 2007 I’d be surprised if anyone expected the Kissology installments to get better as they progressed just because the band clearly peaked during the period covered by Vol 1. I didn’t find it odd that Vol 2 didn’t have the thrill of the first one, but I was surprised at what a step… Read more »
Label: Get Off My Bach/MRV/Caroline/EMI Released: November 20, 2007 In light of the number of 80s hair metal has-beens trying to cash in on a sadly nostalgic public, I didn’t have tremendously high hopes for Sebastian Bach’s latest, his first album in eight years. The upside of this record is that Bach didn’t entirely bow to the past. From the… Read more »
Label: Rhino Released: November 13, 2007 A cover here and there isn’t a bad thing and often playing covers helps a band know itself. But there’s a big difference between the occasional cover that pops up on an album or a live set and releasing a whole album of someone else’s songs. This trend, similar to the current trend of… Read more »
I have a copy of Queensryche’s new covers collection, cleverly titled Take Cover, for giveaway. I’ll send it to the person who has the best definition for what a queensryche actually is. The best answer might be serious or it might be funny, who’s to say. Go ahead and post your answers in the comments and I’ll choose a winner… Read more »
Label: Bad Reputation Released: November 2007 in Europe (June 13, 2006 in North America) The Flairs play a brand of hard rock that falls somewhere between glam and punk. Shut Up and Drive is a peppy album of chunky rhythms and snotty vocals that seldom lets up. Aside from a 3/4 female line-up, it’s nothing out of the ordinary. The… Read more »
Label: self-released Released: September 18, 2007 There are bands that do most things right, but the few things they lack make all the difference between being good and lousy. Fell Far Behind is just such a band. They have many of the pieces in place: They’re tight, they understand hooks, they’re polished and the production on Reaching the Red Line… Read more »
Label: Equal Vision Records Released: September 4, 2007 After finding a fair amount of success with 2005’s All’s Well That Ends Well, Chiodos were in a position to coast safely into their next album. Instead, they chose to further break out of the emo-screamo scene that spawned them and follow their arena-sized prog-rock dreams. Bone Palace Ballet has some leanings… Read more »