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Various Artists Blackmore's Castle |
Lion Music LMC079 |
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Another tribute album from the home of Lion Music and their artists. Featured on this 13 track tribute are Mister Kite, Lars Eric Mattsson, Reign Of Terror, Eric Zimmerman, Condition Red, Iron Mask, Winterlong and Arabesque amongst others. This is a showcase for those artists as much as it is one for fans of Richie Blackmore and his projects. The emphasis is naturally on Deep Purple, plus a few Rainbow cuts. This is not recommended to fans and collectors of Purple and Blackmore. The production is mixed and the performances are ok, but as already stated, this is going to please fans of the individual artists more than it will fans of the great guitarist. |
| Dogpound The Hellbum | Lion Music LMC082 |
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Dogpound are another Swedish hard rock outfit. Their debut album is rather good - much like so many other Swedish bands. This is a blend of classic European hard rock, with a more contemporary production style and song delivery. The band offer up plenty of hooks and vocal melodies, delivered over 11 hard rocking guitar driven tunes. The sound has a slightly dark edge to it, with some crunching guitar tracks (End Of Days and When The World Comes Down for example), flanked by some more melodic numbers such as Bleed and Way Up High. Even better, the vocals are first rate and occasional harmonies help build the choruses. The band have clearly taken their time putting this together, with layers of instrumentation and well structured songs. All delivered with great performances and some very strong lead vocals. Fans of Swedish hard rock and the wider genre of European hard rock - delivered with a contemporary sound - should really check these guys out. It won't be the first time you hear from them. |
| Various Artists MTM Volume 9 | MTM Music 0681-82 |
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This isn't MTM's strongest compilation - out of the 9 volumes so far, there is certainly a lot to compare against. Here though there are still some great highlights. The opening track is the album's best - Afterlife is the preview track from the upcoming Jeff Northrup / Paul Shortino album and if this is anything to go by, the album will be a clear winner. There's also a preview track from Danny Danzi - his long awaited new album will be released early 2004. It's a great song, but has already been featured on his previous label's own sampler. Unreleased tracks from Faro, Zar and Xing are ok. I have no idea who Xing are at this stage. A preview of the new 2004 released Shiva album holds great promise again - another to look forward to. And the Japanese bonus track from the excellent Radioactive album is very enjoyable. The one preview track I'm not sold on is the new one from Seven Wishes. Not a lot of spark there, but I'll reserve judgment as it's only a rough mix. |
| Anand Joy 4 Ever | Lion Music LMC081 |
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Anand is a very talented guitarist - like most of those signed to Lion Music. He was born in South Africa, of Indian background and lives in Holland. Ok then! His debut album is another slice of instrumental shred-guitar, with a twist of progressive rock. The band features drummer Mike Terrana (isn't he on everything?) and a guest spot from Derek Sherinian on one track. All very tasteful stuff for instrumental fans, with a solid production, if not as crisp as it could be.
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| Franky Perez Poor Man's Son | Lava/Atlantic 83552-2 |
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Franky is the son of Cuban emigrants and is a resident of Florida via Las Vegas. His music is best described as ethically influenced acoustic pop/rock. The delivery of the music is all fairly laid back, but there is enough variety to impress. A few tracks pick up the pace and a few others turn in a more modern direction, with some production effects varying things up. Nothing here for traditional melodic rock or AOR fans, but those partial to a bit of storytelling mid-western pop/rock a la John Mellencamp might find something a little different to enjoy here.
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Snake Charmer Backyard Boogaloo |
MTM Classix 0681-83 |
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This is the first release in MTM's new line-up of Classix re-issues. This one is being billed as a lost classic, but from all reports, this one isn't too lost. It's just over 10 years old and can be found on ebay without too much trouble. But, no doubt, this re-release will make it even easier to find as well as cheaper. And this version adds an additional bonus track on top of the 2 Japanese bonus tracks included. So if you will - it's the complete package. The band features vocalist Goran Edman, so there's your first reason to purchase. Ad keyboard sensation Jens Jansson and Benny Jansson on guitars, plus Per Stadin on bass and Anders Johansson on drums and the band is complete. This is very tasty melodic pop/rock. Very smooth (very Swedish) and very good. Someday You're Gonna Love Someone was written by Mark Baker and has been recorded by Mark Free and She Made Me Fall is a Jeff Paris/Bruno Ravel composition, which is basically a prime era-Paris rocker. There's also a Bowie cover (Life On Earth). A good release, no doubt. Whether it was the most obvious choice for a re-issue is unsure, but Goran Edman fans without this will already be lined up to buy it. |
| Crystal Ball Hellvetia | Nuclear Blast |
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Swiss rockers Crystal Ball have always been able to record good albums, and this is no different. This is pretty stock standard European hard rock in the vein of Shakra or classic Gotthard - you are familiar with that straight AC/DC style rhythm. But Hellvetia packs a powerful punch and sounds a million bucks, with a wall of hard edged guitars backed by a solid rhythm section and some very strong lead vocals. And rounding off this good value release is some well written and memorable European hard rock songs.
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| Metal Shop Hole Patrol | Indie |
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This is a bit of fun...Metal Shop are in fact Danger Kitty - or used to be. The LA based band travel around putting on tribute shows to the best metal there ever was and have now put together a CD of originals. But I should clarify, this is more an EP. The total running time is just over 20 minutes and if you take out the spoken word segways, there are only 5 tracks on here. And sadly, it's retailing at near full price. So be aware of the running time. The music itself is fabulous. Dirty lyrics, piss taking stories and gross out sexual descriptions are all the order of the day, delivered in a high-quality 80's rock fest that pays tribute to bands of the day like Poison, Def Leppard and Motley Crue. But - 20 minutes running time? Not good enough. It would be interesting to see what they could come up with if they took themselves seriously. |
| Naked Heart Further Proof | Marlin Records MR20032 |
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Naked Heart area new Aussie metal outfit that play a mix of nu-metal and straight ahead modern rock. It's well enough produced and has a chance at reaching a fan base - no doubt. But that fan base won't include me or general fans of melodic rock and most artists featured here. Biggest draw card on the album is a cool version of Kylie Minogue's pop hit Confide In Me, modernized and metalized.
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Fatal Attraction Simplicity Rules |
Adrenaline Records ADR0022 |
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This is an unusual little release. This is very pleasant light weight AOR/Westcoast with a good sense of melody and plenty of catchy songs that feature some tasty lead guitar breaks and some good harmonies. In places it sounds very reminiscent of Joseph Williams era Toto (Fahrenheit), except a European version. You could also compare to some of Tommy Denander's projects like Sayit, Prisoner and Talk Of The Town. Good solid melodic rock that will appeal to fans of the European version of the style. |
| Peter Frampton Now | Sony |
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This is Peter's first studio album in 9 years - can you believe that?! What is represents is a man who has mellowed a little, but who is also ware of his heritage and his classic sound. This mixes both and should please all fans of the guitarist/singer/songwriter. There's some straight ahead rock, some bluesier moments and some fine mature acoustic driven pop also. That voice is unmistakable and the quality of the songs is as strong as any album since his heyday. |
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Rich Davenport Laugh Out Loud |
TTS Records TTS001 |
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Interesting album this. It's 7 tracks of stand up comedy and 2 musical tracks which pay homage to Rich's love of hard rock music. So it's a comedy release with a musical bonus. The comedy routine is (as is all comedy) an acquired taste and will best suit UK residents, who will have some clue as to who all these characters are. The musical tracks are solid and enjoyable enough, but not a reason on their own to purchase the album. Check Rich's site out for more details and samples. |
| Jamie Meyer It's All About Me |
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Jamie Meyer is another portrayer of smooth high quality modern pop/rock that seems to be in abundance recently - with the likes of Martin Stenmark, BB Mak, Miles Above, Clay Aiken and Mikael Erlandsson. Jamie is Swedish (where good music is seemingly everywhere) and has recorded a very solid album of enjoyable pop rock songs. It's not a long album, but it is quality. Musically this mirrors the vibe of Stenmark and Miles Above and comes highly recommended for those that love this brand of melodic modern pop/rock. It's guitar driven, but has a pop heart and the sweet vocals and catchy choruses help keep the feeling light and breezy. |
| Honestly Have A Nice Life | Indie |
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Honestly are a rather good USA nu-breed/modern rock outfit that to date are still independent. I have no doubt that once labels get to hear this, a deal will be offered. As far as good melodic nu-breed goes, Honestly are one of the better bands I have heard this year and I rank them up there with Waltham and Cauterize as best new-comers in the genre for 2003. The bands sound is easily comparable with Goo Goo Dolls and more importantly, the John Rzeznik lead GGD. They have a good ear for melodies and sharp choruses (a softer Cauterize come to mind) and will impress those that take a listen. The songs themselves compare to the more melodic mid-tempo style of the GGD's and utilize layers of acoustic and electric guitars. Lots of lush melodies, harmonies and feel good songs make this a well worthy recommendation - especially for modern music fans. |
| Rikki Rocket Glitter For Your Soul | Indie |
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This is actually rather good. In fact, it's better produced than the last Poison album. No doubt Rikki pocketed some of the recording budget for Hollyweird and went home and recorded this - a covers album that pays tribute the glam and 70's rock genre. We've got The Sweet, Bowie, T-Rex, Starz and more covered here - all within the true spirit of the originals. Featured on the CD are Bret Michaels, C.C. DeVille, Blues Saraceno, Jizzy Pearl, Gina Shock, & Chuck Garric. It's all good fun and comes recommended to fans of Poison and the glam genre. I wasn't expecting much, but was pleasantly surprised. It rocks rather nicely indeed.
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| Kenny Loggins It's About Time | Sony Music |
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Oh, WTF? This is just awful. Dire… Kenny was once a bit of a legend, supplying a few wonderful soundtrack anthems and some equally great commercial melodic rock during the 80's. He has one of those fabulous raspy rock voices that is just made for pumping soft rock anthems. But in recent years he's grown (very) old and has been doing adult contemporary and kids' stories. This all new studio album came with some hype, but is just crap. This is sugary, bland, featureless, adult contemporary pop that would be better served helping you get to sleep. Heaven Help The Man, he isn't Footloose anymore.... |
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Various Artists Where Blues Meets Rock |
Mascot Records PRD 71382 |
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This is a nice blues rock compilation featuring the likes of Paul Gilbert/Jimi Kadd, Michael Lee Firkins, Rob Lamothe/Craig Erickson, Dave Hole, Steve Fister and more. Good solid stuff for lovers of blues guitar/vocal with a little kick. There's not really much more I can say, apart from making you aware of the album! There's 14 tracks and lots of blues! Not much of a review folks, but if you own Gary Moore's Still Got The Blues - check this out. |
| Rik Emmett Good Faith | RikEmmett.com |
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Rik, Rik, Rik, Rik Rik......seriously now! It's time to rock again - please! I'm a huge Rik Emmett fan - the man is a monster talent. Wonderful singer, great songwriter and a master musician that can play/write and adapt to any style. He is also very happy writing at his own pace, releasing his own records online and independently and has recorded several in the last few years alone. Which means we have all this by now....we have the instrumental, we have the jazz, we have the blues, we have the Cajun....what we don't have is the ROCK! I'm a long time Triumph fan and a devotee of Rik's first two solo albums. I also have most of the indie releases. Good stuff. But enough's enough - time to put on the electric guitar again and turn the amp on. Rock my friend - it's what you do best and where you built your fanbase from. This album is largely jazzy pop. The opening track Unconditional Love is very catchy - in a Cajun blues kinda way - but the rest of the album is very laid back soft ballads / jazzy pop. Quality yes, but it's time for a change.... |
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Paul Gilbert Paul The Young Dude |
Universal japan |
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Paul's a bit of a legend really. The talented guitarist/songwriter/singer/multi-instrumentalist has released a string of solo albums now - not to mention bonus tracks and live recordings. This Best Of sums up the studio tracks with a well rounded 17 songs, plus that very cool obligatory bonus live CD for the Japanese pressing. If you liked a few Gilbert songs or haven't invested in his releases yet, start with this best of - as it's full of catchy guitar driven melodic rock/pop. Although Paul's voice isn't the best in the business, his guitar playing is and the vocals have a warmth necessary to make the songs work. I still love, amongst many others, Girls Who Can Read Your Mind, which brings me to mention what a fabulous lyricist Paul is. Really cleaver songs from a very talented guy. New track I'm Not Afraid Of The Police is also a highlight, with some great hooklines. Recommended for old and new fans. |
| Conspiracy The Unknown | Inside Out |
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Conspiracy is actually the second album to feature the Yes duo of Chris Squire and Billy Sherwood together. This is prime-time progressive high-tech pomp/rock with plenty of Yes influences mixed in with high-tech pop and the more straight ahead rock of World Trade, which was Billy's other claim to fame. I'm sure most fans of progressive pomp/pop already have this, but if you haven't been made aware of it, or forgot about it - it's never too late to grab it. Lots of melodic hooks are intertwined in the songs, which are for the most part fairly straight ahead. Only 1 song passes 10 minutes and one other 7 minutes. Good stuff for fans of the guys and the genre. |
| Snake Eye Wild Senses | Brennus Music BR8106 |
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Snake Eye plays a brand of European hard rock that is wholly guitar driven, but not overly heavy. Just your classic Bonfire level of heaviness. Musically the guys are pretty tight, with a solid sound thanks to the mix. There are also some good guitar riffs and a few memorable choruses, which is always good to see. Sadly, there is a complaint and for me it's the vocalist. If I can't appreciate the singer, I have a hard time getting into the rest and I don't like the tone of these vocals. They are pretty rough, although come chorus harmony time, are far better. Combine the songs and the singer and the result = average European hard rock. |
| Nazca Nazca | Brennus BR8106 |
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Nazca are off to a good start by employing Dennis Ward to mix and master this album. And the good news continues. Thanks to that tight mix, the sound is impressive and the songs offer a bit of variety. It's 100% European hard rock, but there are short progressive passages, some melodic choruses and not every song runs full speed. I'm also quite partial to the vocalist, who sounds like Richard Marx goes metal, mixed with some Jeff Scott Soto. Certainly above average as far as the genre goes and one of the better albums of it's type reviewed here. |
| Thursday War All The Time |
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Thursday are yet another American modern rock outfit that are vying for your hard earned cash. Must admit that I like a fair range of modern rock these days, but it doesn't extend as far as these guys. Horrible songs, barely any melody and certainly nothing in the way of catchy choruses or memorable hooks. Far too modern for these delicate ears and therefore I would suggest most readers of the site also steer clear.
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Thunderbolt Demons And Diamonds |
Massacre Records |
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More power metal from Europe. This time it's in the form of Thunderbolt. This is another one where I am having problems with the vocalist. I just don't like his tone and the slight accent in the delivery of the songs. Nothing wrong as such, just a personal dislike for the style. Musically it's not as tight as some other power metal releases featured here in this round of reviews. Certainly better stuff out there than this, without there being anything wrong with this. There's a lot of competition out there for your dollar and I think it could be better spent. |
| Rage Sound Chaser | SPV |
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I'm not totally sold on the singer, his tone is darker and gruffer than you might expect from your "average" metal singer. But sound wise there are no complaints here. Soundchaser is a 53 minute, double kick drum fuelled sonic bombardment of your ear drums, with the pace barely slipping under frantic. The band have a stack of album's under their belt and this is yet another project for power house drummer Mike Terrana. Fans of power metal will already be familiar with the band - those that like it really heavy, but still rhythmic and (a little) melodic, should check Rage out. |
| Vanilla Fudge The Return | WorldSound PPR77625-2 |
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The Fudge are back....yes, Carmine Appice, Tim Bogert, Vince Martell and Bill Pascali have recorded this album of cover songs from yesterday and today, all in the true spirit of the band's original organ drenched blues rock sound. What's most amusing is some of the choices included - in amongst a couple of originals and some great old classic rockers are covers of the Backstreet Boys. But seriously reworked into 70's blues classics. Tragic or funny stuff - depending on your outlook. Regardless though - it's enjoyable and very much classic Fudge on offer. |
| Derek Sherinian Black Uptopia | Inside Out |
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To put it simply, Derek's new solo album (which has been out sometime now) is a fabulous feast of over the top instrumental noodling, doodling and rocking. It's a brilliantly varied set of songs, ranging from the epic movie theme style, to the flat out hard rock, to the move intricate technical side, which borders on progressive. I'm not a big fan of instrumentals, but Sherinian knows how to structure songs to keep the listener entertained. The songs stand up on their own, but an added bonus is the star studded line-up, which includes Steve Lukather, Yngwie Malmsteen, Simon Philips, Zakk Wylde, Tony Franklin, Billy Sheehan and Brian Tichy. Lukather is the main player on the album, so it's as much a showcase of his talents as it is Sherinian's keyboard brilliance. |
| Yellowcard Ocean Avenue | Capitol Records CDP 72435 39844 |
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Yellowcard are a Florida based outfit that specialize in high-energy modern rock/aggressive nu-breed with an in your face guitar sound in the same vein as Blink 182 and the more punkish nu-breed style bands. One could compare them to Cauterize, but they are less melodic, more modern and a little punkier than those guys. It's a well produced, good time set of songs, which will appeal to the modern rock fans out there. But I don't rare them as highly as other bands that have been mentioned on this site and they don't quite slot into this scope as easily as bands like Cauterize or Marvellous 3. |
| Colin Hay Man At Work | Compass Records 743652 |
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Colin Hay and his band Men At Work were one of the first bands I ever really got into in a serious way, back at the start of the 80's. Their songs never took the predictable route - there was always a twist in the tale and for that reason remain fresh to listen to today. Much the same goes for Colin's solo work, which these days is largely acoustic based. Not quite as catchy as Men At Work, they are nevertheless of great quality - in a folky pop kind of way. This album features re-workings of some early hits and lesser known solo numbers. Once again, it's largely acoustic based and stripped back, but the quality of the songs and Colin's rich earthy voice make it an essential purchase for those that may have forgotten about the band and Colin's songs, or those that missed a few along the way. |
| Wild West Second To None | Brennus |
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Wild West are a French melodic hard rock outfit that play a brand of European hard rock with slight leanings towards a bluesier/southern rock kinda feel. At the very least, most of the songs have a kind of swagger to them. It's a good solid album that is well produced and features 11 songs - none of which sound like they shouldn't be there. The delivery by the band is also impressive and will appeal to fans of some of the bands coming out of the USA in the early 90's with that big bluesy hard rock edge. My only thought on how to make it even better would be some bigger choruses. |
| Anet Talented Girl | TB Records |
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Anet is none other than Anette Ducharme, the same Canadian lady that has helped pen a couple of classics with Tom Cochrane from his Mad Mad World album. This album was co-produced by Red Rider's John Webster. This album is more aggressive in places than you would expect. Some fine modern rock songs are included, with Fake and Talented Girl both radio worthy. There are some Avril Lavigne, Tori Amos, Garbage moments along the way, as well as a dose of that distinctly different "Canadian" factor. A strong album for fans of alternative/modern female fronted rock. I'd like to include more about the album, but the album sleeve is totally unreadable and the lyrics printed one line after another without punctuation. What's the point of that? |
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Gary Moore Live At The Monsters of Rock |
Sanctuary SANCD215 |
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Another Gary Moore live album...great, just what the world needs. I used to be a big Moore fans, through the early 80's to the early 90's. Kind lost interest after that and haven't heard a single album that has really grabbed me since Still Got The Blues. This live album was recorded on the Monsters Of Rock tour in the UK earlier this year. The set list is fairly predictable. Gary has never had the greatest voice and here in particular it sounds pretty awful. But the guitar playing is still faultless. This recording sounds ok, but the performance to me sounds fairly flat. I am not sure why he wanted to make a live album out of this – money no doubt. To sum up it's none too impressive. Even my favourite Out In The Fields sounds well in trouble! For Gary Moore die-hards only. I'm going back to Wild Frontier and Run For Cover for my fix of the great guitarist. |
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Various Light Of Day - A Tribute To Bruce Springsteen |
School House Records SHR0022-2 |
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Another tribute, but a more interesting one here. This is a double CD, 37 track compilation of Springsteen classics. But what's cool (for me at least) is that the majority of the tracks are from Bruce's recent catalogue. The main style over the 37 tracks is acoustic based rock. Lots of stripped back versions and wholly acoustic versions. Good stuff for Bruce fans and fans of softer acoustic pop and easy listening adult contemporary. For melodic rock heads, the inclusion of Tom Cochrane doing a very laid back Secret Garden, or John Cafferty doing E Street Shuffle are the main draw cards. Also included are Nils Lofgren, Matthew Ryan, Willie Nile, Joe Ely and Graham Parker. A little too laid back for most, but some interesting moments. All proceedes got towards Parkinson's Disease charities. Great stuff. |
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Various Stairway To Rock - A Tribute To Led Zeppelin |
Edel 0147732ERE |
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Yet another tribute album.... This project was put together by currently in demand producer Fabrizio V.Zee Grossi. In keeping with Grossi's style, the production is quite modern and layered with various effects. Makes for an interesting listen - although the mostly heavy alternative and rap-rock approach will turn any traditional hard rock fans off instantly. Covering the various Lep tracks are Robbi Robb (w/ Steve Lukather), George Clinton, Joe Leste, Tracci Guns, Gilby Clarke, Jeff Pilson, Greg Bissonette, Mike Inez, Robert Trujillo, Ice T, JM Scattolin and Grossi picking up any parts not filled by the above. Best tracks are Robb's Whole Lotta Love, the rap-metal alternative Immigrant Song and the orchestral All My Love. Elsewhere I'll skip most of the tracks. For die-hards or alternative music fans only. The sub-scores may look a little strange - to explain, these are great songs (the originals) produced immaculately, but the style is not worthy of a higher rating. |
| Aviary Ambition | Aviary Music AV-1000 |
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Aviary's new album is one for the fans - without any question. If you haven't discovered the band, this still might act as a worthwhile listen if you are into 70's pomp/AOR in the vein of early Styx and Kansas. This album is a collection of songs recorded after the debut album in the late 70's. The dust has been blown off, the tracks remastered and it's now available for long suffering fans of the debut, who only ever had that one album to live off. A finer collection of 70's pomp could not be found. And as an added bonus, some liner notes from our very own Stephen B Allen - Mr. Pomp or TAFKAMP (Noticeboard regular) Nice job all round. |
| Chris Emerson Chris Emerson | Monomy Music 80269-39082-2 |
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Chris is a Boston based singer-songwriter whose music is a blend of Midwestern roots rock and southern country rock, with more emphasis on the pop rock a la Don Henley and Steve Windwood. One of his tracks was used on the TV series Dawson's Creek, which should serve as a good PR for him. The music is pretty laid back acoustic driven pop rock. Strong vocals are the highlight, but the pace never passes slow to mid tempo. It's well produced and features some fine guitar playing in spots. Nice laid back soulful stuff for late night listening or something relaxing. |
| SR-71 Axl Rose EP | Indie |
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The lead track on this 4 track EP (2 versions of 1 song) is the only real concern to fans. The song Axl Rose signifies a return to the band's more melodic pop friendly approach that made the debut so popular. The band's heavier last album really struggled, so one hopes this is a sign of things to come. The song, while lyrically satirical, is a fired up rock anthem with a great little chorus and a far more melodic friendly lead vocal. Not really worth the price of the EP (especially with the outrageous overseas shipping cost), but at least it's a song that will keep fans eager for a new album. |
| Saracen Red Sky | Now & Then Records NTHEN 44 |
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Saracen recently made their first live appearance in 18 years. Not bad guys! The band reformed last year to record this album, a review for which is horribly overdue. Sorry...but for those that haven't already bought it and played it to death - here's a few thoughts. This is basically one of those cult gems that will appeal to progressive and pomp rock fans. It's well produced, but the main feature is some wonderfully overblown and pompus rockers that vary from Boston-like in heaviness to Dream Theater-like. Quite a variation, but always coated in layers of keyboards and harmony vocals. The album runs just over 70 minutes, so there's plenty to get into and plenty of good value. |
| Scott Sudbury Get The Picture | Indie |
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This album is an indie release, but Scott is being eyed by various record labels for a wide release. I have no doubt you will be hearing more of Scott in the months ahead. This album is a collection of simply presented, uptempo, feel good pop rockers with a modern nu-breed feel. But at the heart of each track is a cool hook and a memorable chorus. It's commercial, no bullshit pop rock on offer and I'm impressed with the quality of songs. Fans of bands like Waltham, 40ft Ringo and Rubber should check out Scott's site and sample some tunes. Highly recommended for fans of this style of music. The album deserves a bigger review, but that doesn't dimish the quality of the music on offer. |
| Yardbirds Birdland | Favored Nations FN2280-2 |
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A new Yardbirds release...amazing... I really though the buzz on this release has been quite muted. The album features the band with guest spots from Steve Lukather, Joe Satriani, Jeff Beck, Slash, Brian May and Goo Goo Dolls vocalist John Rzeznik on the blues pop of For Your Love. The album sticks true to the band's roots - blues based classic rock, with the guest spots adding texture to an otherwise impressive set of songs. Fans of classic rock and blues should be aware of this. The release is worldwide through Vai's Favored Nations label. |
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Charlotte Martin In Parentheses |
RCA 82876 53966-2 |
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Charlotte Martin's debut release is sadly only a 4 track EP. I say sadly, as it's rather good and if there is any justice in the world, she will find herself doing great things over the coming years. The style of the EP is female piano adult pop - or Tori Amos to be precise. One track is a little jazzy, one adds a little rocking guitar, but it's piano and vocal at the forefront here. If you are a Tori Amos fan, then I recommend checking this lass out - she has an impressive voice and knows a good tune. |
| Condition Red II | Lion Music LMC077 |
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Another heavy progressive title from Lion Music of Condition Red. These European prog-rockers are an interesting combo of sorts, featuring Lars Eric Mattsoon, Alex Masi (guest on 3 tracks) and Gerald Kloos backing the vocals of Ella Grussner. Her vocals are quite smooth over what is essentially a pretty heavy backing track. It's one of the more interesting releases in this genre this year. It's a little progressive, a little shred worthy and a little contemporary with those female vocals being rather trendy lately - especially when the sound turns neo-classical. Rather interesting and worthy of investigation should you be into female vocals on heavy rock albums. |
| Marcel Coenen Guitar Talk | Lion Music LMC080 |
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Marcel's instrumental guitar-shred album is one for fans of Yngwie/Tony McAlpine style shredding and noodle-doodling. There are thankfully a few tracks which slow it down a little - and allow more appreciation of the talent on offer. The album is well enough recorded, maybe a little thin on production, but shred-fest fans will find a lot to digest here. Those not into instrumentals have probably stopped reading already, so that's fine... |
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Various Beyond Inspiration - A Tribute To Uli Jon Roth |
Lion Music LMC078 |
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Uli Jon Roth is one of the more influential guitar players and songwriters of the classic rock/70's era. So this tribute album is not sort of material to pick from. I heard that Roth was not too pleased to see a tribute album to him released. Oh well, as long as the song royalties are paid, there's not much be can do about that! The songs obviously cannot be questioned here - just the performances. The album features many of Lion Music's roster including Neal Grusky, Eric Sands, Lance King, Cyril Achard, Lars Eric Mattsoon, Alex Masi, Joop Wolters, Rolf Munkes, James Byrd, Paul Nelson and Gerald Kloos. This is very much an affair for fans of the artists involved and some Uli Jon Roth fans. The good news is that the production is solid and the performances are all pretty consistent. |
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Kick The Kangaroo Bits & Pieces |
Atenzia Records ATZ02024 |
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KTK are from Denmark and play a blend of modern rock, pop and nu-breed. In some cases it's fabulous, in others it's more on the side of alternative and not so appealing to melodic fans. But this little compilation from Atenzia Records is far more melodically friendly, with the label choosing the best songs for the occasion. The guys really can write a catchy song and for nu-breed fans there will be few better collections than this album. The second track in (out of 12) Last Kiss is utterly essential for any fan of a good hook. The strong lead vocals and subsequent harmonies are a highlight. Good album - but for modern rockers only. |
| The Plastics No Class Youth | TB Records TB0100 |
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The Plastics serve up an enjoyable mix of glam and 80's hard rock a la Poison and Pretty Boy Floyd. Like fellow glamsters Shameless, the guys are trying to put the genre back on the map. The band has a slightly punkish delivery which reminds me a little of Michael Monroe's in your face attitude. The songs aren't quite as catchy as the aforementioned artists and like Shameless and many other glam acts, the production is pretty thin. Why is that so often the case with this genre? In any regards, worth a listen if these bands appeal, but not the best of bunch. |
| Tyrant Thunder Down Under | Indie |
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Tyrant are as Aussie as AC/DC and Rose Tattoo - and funnily enough, those are the two main influences of the music presented here. This is second album for the Sydney based band - and sees them blowing away their debut with a set of high-octane pub rockers that will please fans of good honest, no shit hard rock. I don't think the singer is the best in the world, nor is the production, but the energy the boys have shines through. The songs themselves are pretty simple, but effective - much like those of AC/DC. Good, no frills guitar dominated hard rock that will definitely find some fans. Play it loud and enjoy a beer while blowing your ears apart. |
| Honeydip Number One On Mars | Indie |
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I really like these guys. Honeydip are yet to record a full album, but have a couple of good value EPs behind them. They won a local talent show, but are yet to break through with a record contract. This is guitar driven, uptempo nu-breed or Cheap Trick/Enuff Z Nuff style pop rock. It's pretty simple, straight ahead melodic rock, mixing electric and acoustic guitars, but it's as good as many others out there on the market. The only downside, it's only an EP, putting some off purchasing. Time for a full album guys. |
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Mercury Fang Liquid And Sunshine |
Rivel Records RRCD008 |
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Mercury Fang are another great Swedish hard rock outfit. This album is mixed by Pontus Norgren, so the sound is very tight. The style is European hard rock, with some interesting twists, including piano parts in the hard rocking opening track. The songs are slightly progressive, but always rocking and chorus friendly. The band have a slightly unusual sound, which makes for a good variation on the usual European/Swedish style. This is not going to be for everyone, but if you are looking for something a little different, but still rocks and is well produced, then have a listen. |
| Mars Hill Sink Of Swim | Indie |
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This debut Mars Hill album is produced by Stryper's Michael Sweet. The band have a cool sound - mixing a traditional hard rock sound with a more modern song structure and lead vocal. Nice to hear the vocalist can really sing though. There are some fine melodic moments here and fans of Michael sweet would be well advised to check out his influence over this album. There's plenty of acoustic guitars in the mix and a range of temps included, from ballads to rockers. The album features a good set of songs that is more modern than it is classic, but it's all very melodic and not surprisingly, well produced. Well worthy of checking out. |
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Southern Gentlemen Double Your Pleasure |
Leviathan Records 20032-2 |
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This is Southern Gentleman's second release, the band featuring former shred-guitarist David T Chastain on guitars and vocals. These days he has toned it way down and prefers southern boogie in the vein of Allman Bros and Lynyrd Skynyrd (also reviewed here) and ZZ Top. Naturally there is plenty of guitar riffs throughout this album and lots to enjoy for guitar fans in general. But you will need a love of all things Southern. Solid production and enjoyable songs - if this genre is up your alley.
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Cardboard Cyndi Cardboard Cyndi |
Indie |
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Cardboard Cyndi features the talents of Lauren Scheff (brother of Chicago's Jason) on vocals, bass, guitar and piano. Guests include Christian Tolle on guitars, John Keane on drums, plus Darin and Jason Scheff on background vocals. The band have been getting solid reviews for this album, which is very much rooted in modern rock territory - nu-breed even... The album is quite varied, featuring acoustic and electric based tracks and touches of rock and pop - from psychedelic fuzz-rock to Beatle-esque pop harmonies. Well rounded and well written, the album will appeal to those that like modern pop/rock with a slightly eccentric twist. |
| Holy Mother Agoraphobia | SPV |
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Traditional USA metal is the best description of Holy Mother. Good solid production, hard hitting, in your face guitars and an aggressive streak that fans of Megadeth, Dirty Looks and the like will relate to with ease. The band have help from drummer John Macoluso (TNT, Yngwie) and guitarist Herman Frank (Victory). That helps bring in a European feel that will broaden this album's appeal. I haven't heard past records, but this is actually the band's 5th album.
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| Luvplanet Luvplanet | SSM001 |
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Luv Planet is the new project for Mark McGee - lead/slide guitarist for Gregg Allman & Friends since 1995 and prior to that guitarist/songwriter for Vicious Rumors (1986 - 1995). This album/band has nothing in common with either of these other duties Mark has been involved in. Luvplanet is acoustic driven pop, featuring two female lead vocalists. It has a slightly country twinge, a little sweet southern harmony in amongst the songs, which are pop at heart. It's well recorded, well performed and the music is rather enjoyable. Just be aware of the style and the fact it's quite laid back and nothing in line with what Mark has been involved in previously. |
| Strange Celebrity Remedy | Curb/Warner Bros. WD2-886252 |
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Out of the blue, these modern rockers appeared, with a debut album co-produced than none other than Danny Wilde. And the popular singer/songwriter is featured as co-writer on 6 of the album's cuts. Style wise the band are modern pop rock, with a mix of electric and acoustic guitar driven tracks. The album features strong melodies and harmony filled vocals, but the delivery will not appeal to old-school fans. It's very much in the modern pop vein. But fans of such bands as 3 Doors Down, Tonic and Matchbox Twenty (to name a few) should find a lot to like about this album. Plenty of good tunes and very enjoyable vocals. |
| Robertson Brothers Here |
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Australia's Robertson Brothers have a small name for themselves as vocalists on the theme song for long-running soapie Home And Away. They are also known for delivering some sweet and soft AOR friendly tunes. Their new album Here is sadly closer to the soapie theme than anything AOR. This is so sickly sweet that you need to brush your teeth immediately after hearing it. The vocals are so girly that a good dose of Megadeth is needed as a follow up. Yes, the harmonies are lush and layered in a Nelson-ish style, but damn, this is so soft, it makes Air Supply sound like death-metal. |
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Allman Brothers Band Hittin' The Note |
Sanctuary |
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Another band - like Skynyrd - that are still going strong, in spite of everything that has been thrown at them. And like Skynyrd, these guys deliver a solid selection of southern blues drench rockers. This may have a little more twang in it, but it still rocks and the guys should be pleased they can deliver such quality in 2003. The songs lengths see the band get pretty adventurous - 9 minutes, 12 minutes and a couple more over 6. This means there is plenty of extended blues jams and instrumental doodling...great stuff for fans of the band. Blues rock fans without this CD should correct the oversight immediately. |
| Rose Falcon Rose Falcon | Sony Music CK 85116 |
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Rose is the daughter of Billy Falcon and quite a star in her own right. This is an 8 track CD (long EP, or short LP - your call) of simple, feel good melodic pop songs. Like her father, she knows a good hook and a strong melody - no surprise to see that Billy co-writes the songs. The style is pure modern pop, but with strong guitar support and a sense of Midwestern earthiness. In a couple of instances I can hear comparisons to Belinda Carlisle and the Go Go's. This is pure pop of the highest quality, with a real sense of fun and there's no reason to doubt Rose will carve out a career of her own over the coming years. |
| Brett Garsed Big Sky | Paranormal Records 1909-37028-2 |
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Brett Garsed is a bit of a legend on these parts. He's toured and recorded with Australian legend John Farnham, then did the same with Nelson (for their mega-selling debut) and also taught guitar at MIT in LA. He's currently back home with Farnham and has recorded this great instrumental rock album. The album takes for form of a power trio and runs the gamut of emotions - from flashy solos to soft reflective passages. Brett uses varied tones, effects and styles to deliver the songs. The track times run from a simple 4 minutes to a complex 8 minutes plus. A very good guitar album, especially for those fans of Satriani, Vai and others like Neal Schon and Aldo Nova. |
| Razamanaz Razamanaz | Perris Records PER11729 |
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This project is Britny Fox guitarist Michael Kelly Smith's side project. This album was recorded in 1993-ish, but never released until this year. And you know what? It's better than the current Britny Fox album. Well worth a look for fans of the band and the guitarist. The sound remains a little raw, but the energy and the style of the band should please most fans of American late 80's/early 90's hard rock. The 15 tracks included here make for good value and although the quality is mixed at times - as is the delivery - it's generally good stuff. |
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Kristy Krash Majors A Tribute To The Ramones |
Perris Records PER01232 |
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Pretty Boy Floyd vocalist KKM has recorded this collection of Ramones songs, er...well, I'm not sure why, but here it is. It's basically a little indulgence of Kristy's behalf. The album runs thru 13 tracks and as expected, only runs 33 minutes in length. There really aren't any overblown Steinman-esque punk songs are there? The quality of this is pretty raw....it's varied from acceptable to bloody awful. As for fans wanting to buy this - I can't see why they would, but if you are a Ramones fan, maybe then. Pretty Boy Floyd fans should keep well away and stick to the official full band releases. |
| Pandemic Angry Sky | dbAggressive DMG 1211-2 |
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Pandemic perform their own brand of modern American hard rock, with a slightly dark tone to their songs and a sound that generally is pretty contemporary with what is going on with many rock bands in America circa 2003. Which means traditional hard rock/melodic fans may not get into this. The music is solid enough, but I am not sold on the vocalist, who comes across a little flat here. May not be the case live, but it is on the record. An ok record, but one for fans of modern melodic hard rock, not those looking for something in the classic vein. |
| Rivera Bomma Invisible Force | Indie |
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The duo of Johnny Bomma and Rod Rivera have recorded an interesting album of Christian hard rock. The style is almost melodic metal, with a strong guitar driven sound. There's a little bit of Yngwie shredding in there and generally some solid traditional hard rock sounds. From the band's bio: "New Jersey's Rivera / Bomma aren't concerned with being part of the current trend. In fact they've never been overly concerned with what the mainstream audience has deemed "popular". Frontman, John Bomma explains, “It would be real easy to write songs that would appeal to the Top 40 crowd, but, because of our musical influences and our openness to the holy spirit we write from our hearts.” Wearing their musical influences on their sleeves, the eleven songs on Invisible Force are filled with the majestic melodies and pulsating rhythms made famous by seventies arena heroes such as Rainbow, Deep Purple, Blue Oyster Cult and others." The whole package sounds pretty good - but especially so when the band slow it down a little. The uptempo stuff could use a tighter production, but on the slower stuff, the band's passion really shines through. watch for some inspired guitar soloing throughout. |
| Evick Anachronism | Indie |
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The bio says that Evick "were raised in the blue-collar heart of this area, Manassas, Virginia. Influenced by the early sounds of Van Halen and the showmanship of KISS, yet equally touched by the roots rock of timeless artists such as Bruce Springsteen and John Mellencamp. EVICK combines all of these elements to be a new voice of the middle class, the workingman's musician and songwriter." Quite a mix...the debut album reflects that. There are some tracks that feature a snappy contemporary rock sound, elsewhere it's more commercial Midwestern melodic rock. There's a certain earthy feel to the music, which features some solid melodic hooks and enjoyable pop/rock guitar riffs. On a few tracks I catch a glimpse of LA sleaze, delivered with a bluesy swagger. The vocalist is easy to listen to and has a great tone. These guys may have recorded this independently, but for fans of Midwestern rock n roll with a sense of good fun and a mix of traditional and nu-breed sounds, this should definitely be checked out. Good stuff |
| The Fifth The Fifth | Ghost Tower Records |
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The Fifth features Roy Cathey, former vocalist for Cold Sweat. His new band has released this 5 track EP via their website www.the-fifth.com. The band have also turned in a more modern direction, with tuned down guitars, heavy modern rock riffs and a more aggressive lead vocal. The songs are dark and heavy, and don't feature any huge choruses as such. They rock and they certainly are heavy, but the lack of choruses and the modern rock approach may turn traditional melodic fans off a little. A solid production quality helps.
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Double Eclipse Freedom To Function |
Thirteen 772 Music CDTHIRT002 |
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Double Eclipse are a UK based hard rock outfit. This album has been out a while now and this review is long overdue. The guys play a fairly straight forward brand of guitar driven hard rock. The album features 10 tracks, so there is no overstaying their welcome. This is solid stuff, recorded on their own, so the production suffers just a little - nothing extra money wouldn't fix. Song wise, there are some good choruses and memorable songs, but a bigger production might have helped add power to the delivery of these songs. And the vocalist could use a similar boost. At times the delivery is a little same-ish. The guys have recorded and enjoyable album, but could use a little help to reach the next level, which I am sure they are capable of. |
| Narnia The Great Fall | Nuclear Blast |
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This is Narnia's third album. The band has recorded a very solid album here and I wonder fi they shouldn't be better known than they are? The band has their own creative version of European prog/metal, running through 9 songs that run from 1.49 to over 14 minutes in length. The band clearly has that European feel to it, and to the vocals, but those vocals are clear, precise and are very "normal" compared to some of the shrill tones used in progressive metal. Certainly one for fans of the heavier and more varied side of metal, but musically interesting and well produced. |
| Lynyrd Skynyrd Vicious Cycle | Sanctuary |
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Dang, them southern boys still got it. Yes, after many years and several line-up changes, the Skynyrd are still at it. This new studio album features some great southern/blues rock tracks, with a slightly beefed up guitar sound driving the record. The boys sound in fine form, the record is immaculately produced and songwriter Jim Peterik is featured as co-writer on several tracks. What more could you ask for? Kid Rock makes a guest appearance on a remake of Gimmie Back My Bullets. Points off for that, as the rest of the record is easily strong enough to stand on it's own, without this little gimmick.
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Phil Bardowell & Day After Rain A Perfect Day |
Indie |
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Best known for his current role as lead vocalist in Unruly Child, Bardowell is also known for his role as vocalist in Magdalen. This solo album is produced by UC's Bruce Gowdy, but isn't anything closely related to his current band. This album is a step in a different direction and features a fairly stripped back acoustic driven sound that is way softer then Unruly Child and more in line with The Rembrandts, but in a more modern pop style. It's not as instant, nor as catchy as traditional AOR, but it is a very well crafted and mature slice of melodic friendly music. |
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Magic Freak Society Magic Freak Society |
Indie |
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Magic Freak Society will be most notable to melodic rock fans for featuring keyboard/piano player Mark Mangold (Drive, She Said, The Sign). As the name and the album cover indicated, this isn't AOR. What it is, is very good retro 60's and 70's classic rock. Keyboards and piano feature heavily throughout, but so does the guitar and rhythm section in a tightly packaged set of tunes. The vibe is very loose and there are plenty of extended instrumental sections, including some flashy organ solos, but also some bluesy Midwestern rock n roll. It's all a little psychedelic and groovy, but it's certainly something pretty original.
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