Latest Reviews

The Samurai Cab Co. - Self Titled (EP)

Tue, 23 Aug 2011 10:11:07 +1000

In 25 words or less: An infectious cocktail of energetic rock that has healthy doses of power pop, classic rock, hard rock, a streak of punk and choruses you will be struggling to get out of your head..

The Samurai Cab Co. - now there’s a band name that you won’t forget that easily, and I tell you what, nor will you forget their infectious brand of power pop rock in a hurry either. Hailing from Connecticut, USA, some of you may already be familiar with Chris McCarvill, the bands lead vocalist and bass player, current member of House Of Lords and who has also played with the likes of Dokken, Jeff Scott Soto, Mike Vesscera (Obsession, Loudness, Yngwie Malmsteen) and Twisted Sister guitarist Eddie Ojeda. Likewise, BJ Zampa, drummer for the SCC can also be found not far away from Chris McCarvill playing with the likes of House Of Lords, Dokken, Obsession and Eddie Ojeda. And whilst Chris shall tell the story in the interview you can read right here, it was that association between the two that led to the creation of the Samurai Cab Co. back in 2008 after finishing up with the Dokken tour.

Whilst a full length album is currently in the works, last year the band released a four track EP which certainly have left my ears eagerly awaiting more. An infectious cocktail of energetic rock that has healthy doses of power pop, classic rock, hard rock, a streak of punk and above all each song hits you with a chorus you will be struggling to get out of your head. If I was forced to name a few similar artists as a reference point for who Samurai Cab Co. remind me of, well let me fire Ryan Roxie’s band Roxie 77, Enuff Z Nuff and Tal Bachman at you, all 3 certainly know how to write some amazing rock inspired by healthy doses of classic rock and pop from the 70’s and 60’s and that’s certainly the vibe I get from SCC.

The beauty of the songwriting on this EP courtesy of Chris McCarvill is that just when you think you have a song worked out, there is a little twist and turn here and there to keep your listening ears on your toes. Lead track I’ll Be Fine, remember what I said about the band being an “infectious cocktail”....even right down to the guitar solo, the track has an undeniable swagger and a video clip that you need to watch! Plastic Rose brings out a slightly darker and punkier side from the bands repotoire. Your Eyes on the other hand, well those glorious vocal harmonies nearly head into The Eagles territory, my favourite song off the EP. Getting Closer delivers a bit more of a rockier punch and some big yeah, yeah, yeah’s....now don’t we all love those in a chorus!

Having recently finished up the recording of the new House Of Lords album, let’s hope the Samurai Cab Co. guys can get onto recording and releasing some new tracks as my ears certainly can’t wait!

Track listing:
I’ll Be Fine
Plastic Rose
Your Eyes
Getting Closer

Night Ranger - Somewhere In California

Wed, 17 Aug 2011 13:38:51 +1000

In 25 words or less: If all music sounded like this, the world would be a much happier place..

Guess what? Night Ranger are still around! Yeah that’s right, the band that brought us ‘Sister Christian’ and ‘When You Close Your Eyes’ back in the 80’s are still and have been making music for many years after their biggest hits. 2011 sees Night Ranger team up with Frontiers Records to release ‘Somewhere In California’, their first album since their 2007 release ‘Hole In The Sun’ which was a departure from the usual melodic rock fans were used to. Is this new album as good as they once were back in the 80’s? Look, it’s hard to compare as these are different times, things change, bands evolve and that’s what Night Ranger have done, but with this album it is a welcome return to the AOR / Melodic rock that at one time made them a household name we all know and love, but with an updated sound and it’s amazing.

Lead single ‘Growin’ Up In California’ is a melodic ride through a story about funnily enough, growing up in California, it’s got that signature harmony vocal and hook that makes you love this kind of music . Powering through more melodic rockers such as ‘Lay It On Me’ and ‘Bye Bye Baby (Not Tonight)’ we hit the first big ballad on the album, a must for a band from this era, ‘Time Of Our Lives’ is what I love about power ballads, well, the fact that it is one is a perfect start, but the feeling is there, the sentiment is there and I believe it. Just so you know, I’m finding it hard to type one handed with my lighter hoisted up in the air, but I’m managing. It’ll be hard to top this one as my favourite on the album. I swear if this hits a key change, I’m not even reviewing the rest of the album because it can get no better… phew, we’re safe.

I have to say that I’m impressed with the blend of melodic rock delivered here, it’s for lack of a better word accessible, it’s the kind of music that makes you smile, that makes you tap your foot to every song and if all music sounded like this the world would be a much happier place. ‘No Time To Lose Ya’ sounds like it should be on a commercial and had me bopping along like it was. ‘It’s Not Over’ is melodic goodness and continues to show shades of Night Ranger of old but whoa… ‘End Of The Day’ where have you been hiding? This is AOR at its best and a killer track this far in to the album is a beautiful bonus. Rounding out this album is ‘Say It With Love’ close to one of my favourite tracks on the album, a stand out rocker is the perfect way to finish off what was an album with more hooks than crochet night at Shady Pines retirement village.

Night Ranger have not only proven that ‘(You Can Still) Rock in America’ but now with this album they should be able to continue to rock not only in America but all over the world. Welcome Back.

Track listing:
Growin' Up In California Lay It On Me Bye Bye Baby (Not Tonight) Follow Your Heart Time Of Our Lives No Time To Lose Ya Live For Today It’s Not Over End Of The Day Rock N’ Roll Tonite Say It With Love

Black Veil Brides - Set The World On Fire

Wed, 17 Aug 2011 13:21:35 +1000

In 25 words or less: I wish more bands made albums like this, it’s heavy, it’s melodic and it’s going to set the world on fire…given the chance.

OK, this is rockin’! I’m five seconds into this album and I already know it will be a winner, straight out of the gate I am impressed. Black Veil Brides are back with their newest album, and their second in less than a year following on from their debut We Stitch These Wounds they now give the us Set The World On Fire and it truly means business. New Religion leads us off and is full of melodic metal riffs and a big chorus that already has me hooked! If this is what I’m in for then bring it on! The title track keeps the big choruses and big riffs coming but it’s when we hit Fallen Angels that I’m completely sold on this album, I would’ve been happy with a one track album if this was the song. This is a song full of ‘whoa ohs’ big gang choruses, harmony guitar solos and pure metal awesomeness! I need to side note here; don’t let the look of the band deceive you or turn you away, I’m telling you right now, give this a go, yeah that’s right, I’m telling you here, not even as a sum up at the end of the review! That’s how good this is.

As the album progresses it just makes me love the fact that these guys are making music like this, they’re bringing back the look, the rock, the thing that I feel has been missing for far too many years. God Bless You gives us a riff that you will be hooked on as soon as the song starts, but it’s a song like Rebel Love Song that has me here shaking my head; it’s ridiculously good, I could name 12, no, 15 bands that probably WISH they had written and recorded this song. I can almost hear the jealousy from these bands purely because of this song. The album takes a turn and hits us with a ballad called Saviour, oh but one of those special ballads that builds up and rocks the outro, throw in a few screamo vocals for good measure (the first of only two on the album) and hey presto, big rock ballad! In fact, I can’t fault anything I’ve heard here on this album, it continues with Legacy the second single from the album which encompasses everything that BVB sound like they are and want to be. Ritual reminds me of the best song that Lostprophets never wrote but for me the album ends perfectly with Youth And Whisky a big track with chunky riffs and showed that from start to finish Black Veil Brides meant business.

Musically these guys can play, I mean really play, the musicianship on Set The World On Fire is pristine, it’s not too technical that it’s messy and not too full that it’s over bearing. It’s a perfect blend of metal, glam rock, hard rock and hardcore. They’ve found the right balance and they best not move as to tip the scales, they can stay right where they are with what they’ve created. It’s killer!

I wish more bands made albums that sounded like this, it’s heavy, it’s melodic and it’s going to set the world on fire… given the chance.

Track listing:
New Religion Set The World On Fire Fallen Angels Love Isn’t Always Fair God Bless You Rebel Love Song Saviour Legacy Die For You Ritual Youth And Whisky

Check out our interview with Black Veil Brides right here....

Electric Mary - Long TIme Coming (EP & DVD)

Wed, 17 Aug 2011 11:19:30 +1000

In 25 words or less: Electric Mary, “rock n roll the way it used to taste”, yes indeed....and doesn’t it taste good...

The Aussie classic rock behemoth that is Electric Mary have just released their latest studio offering titled Long Time Coming. For those of you that have not seen Electric Mary do what they do best and that’s play live...the DVD that also comes part of the Long Time Coming release will complete the puzzle for you. Recorded at Sydney’s Gaelic Theatre, the DVD captures the Electric Mary live energy that has seen them in demand worldwide, supporting the very bands that form part of the Electric Mary DNA, Deep Purple, Glenn Hughes, Judas Priest, Whitesnake, Alice Cooper and playing with the biggest names in rock on festival lineups such as Hellfest.

But first, let’s go back to the six new tracks on the EP. For those of you familiar with Electric Mary’s past releases, you will be pleased to know that the new songs deliver more of the same foot stomping riff mongering, pounding rhythms and those distinctive Rusty Brown vocals that just bleed ROCK. Opening track O.I.C is one of the more immediate tracks on the album with the big gang chorus vocals of, yep you guessed it, O.I.C and could those guitar riffs sound any fatter? Stained and So Cruel really take me back to the days of Electric Mary’s first album Four Hands High, these songs are slow burners as opposed to the frenetic bombast of No One Does It Better Than Me or One Foot In The Grave from the last album, Down To The Bone. All Eyes On Me in 2 minutes, 8 seconds tells the tale of Electric Mary’s appearance last year at Hellfest Festival in France, “this is what I want, this is what I need”, wise words Rusty, as Electric Mary is what Australia needs, a rock band in the true, classic sense of the meaning rock band!Lies and Nobody’s Perfect round out the EP and the latter track actually has crept up on me, listening to the EP whilst writing this review, I think this might actually be my favourite track on the EP. Knowing the bands that have influenced Electric Mary, it’s great to finally hear those vocals of Rusty sing a lyric with the word “mountain”...yeah Electric Mary sure is rock the way it used to taste.

Having seen Electric Mary perform live, what, nearly 20 times now over the years, this DVD is at least now evidence to what I have been telling anyone that cares to listen...or in most cases, not listen, Electric Mary in my opinion are undoubtedly Australia’s greatest live rock band. Whether or not you appreciate their songs, one thing that cannot absolutely be denied is these guys are the best in the business at what they do, built from years of experience playing with some of Australia’s biggest names in rock. Recorded back in April 2010, the songs featured are largely from the bands previous release Down to the Bone, but we do get a great version of Nobody’s Perfect off the new EP. The quality of both the sound and video footage on this DVD is top class, this is no dodgy one camera recording. Nothing can quite capture the thunderous, blood, sweat and beer drenched experience that is a real live Electric Mary gig, but this DVD is about as close as you can get.

Electric Mary, “rock n roll the way it used to taste”, yes indeed....and doesn’t it taste good! Ladies and gentlemen, it’s time to give your aural and visual senses a does of rock, Electric Mary style.

Track listing EP:
1. O.I.C
2. Stained
3. So Cruel
4. All Eyes On Me
5. Lies
1. Nobody’s Perfect

Track listing DVD:
1. Let Me Out
2. No One Does It Better Than Me
3. Luv Me
1. Gasoline & Guns
2. Nobody’s Perfect
3. One Foot In Grave
4. Hey Now

Check out our interview with Electric Mary right here....

Black Label Society - The Song Remains Not The Same

Wed, 17 Aug 2011 07:32:58 +1000

In 25 words or less: This album displays the other musical side and a showcase for the songwriting abilities of one of the most defining guitar players in metal of the last 20+ years...

In keeping with his prolific tradition, in the year following their killer release, Order Of The Black, Zakk Wylde and his Black Label Society return with The Song Remains Not The Same, an offering of unplugged versions of tracks from Order Of The Black, as well as other tracks recorded during these sessions. In that unwieldy first sentence of mine, the important word is “unplugged”, which is the format in which these songs have been recreated so to speak, albeit with some electric guitar solos. I for one eat these types of albums up alive, taking them as the opportunity to see another musical side of an artist, or to really strip back songs to their bare bones and maybe even hear them interpreted in a totally different way. With this context in mind, this album delivered in spades on my own personal expectations.

The album kicks off with Overlord which in it’s unplugged format has a far less menacing tone, instead taking on an almost Alice In Chains type somberness with the vocals and guitar riff, but for the best part, the song retains a similar structure to the original. Parade Of The Dead is the type of song I was hoping to hear on this album, gone are the crushing guitar riffs of the original and instead replaced with piano and strings. A good song is a good song, as the saying goes and along with the previous track, Riders Of The Damned in it’s more musically subtle form serves as a reminder that underneath the usual avalanche of guitars, Zakk Wylde really can write a killer song. Darkest Days features as a largely identical version as on Order Of The Black, but if anything it’s more acoustic guitar based. We do however have a second version on this album featuring a duet with country music singer John Rich (Lonestar, Big & Rich), but perhaps second time around it could have been entirely sung by Rich, just to offer up a complete variation.

The second half of the album turns to covers, including a rendition of Simon & Garfunkles Bridge Over Troubled Waters, which us Aussies will already be familiar as it was a bonus on our version of Order Of The Black. No doubt probably a concept many may struggle to comprehend...Zakk Wylde doing Simon & Garfunkle, but it’s great to get that insight into some of Zakk’s true musical influences. My first introduction to the Blind Faith classic, Can’t Find My Way Home, actually came from the House Of Lords version in the early 90’s which in true House Of Lords of fashion (a band I absolutely love I must add) was pomp personified. Zakk’s version keeping in theme with this album is anything but, in fact a word to describe this version for me is haunting. An amazing vocal performance and a nice restrained guitar solo to outro the song which I felt was building into a grand ending, but we will leave that to House Of Lords’s version! Ending the album is an instrumental acoustic guitar version of The First Noel which the boys released last Christmas.

The Song Remains Not The Same serves as an intriguing companion piece to the Order Of The Black and therefore an essential addition to the Black Label Society collection. However, above all it displays the other musical side and a showcase of the songwriting abilities of one of the most influential guitar players in metal of the last 20+ years.

Track listing:
1. Overlord
2. Parade of the Dead
3. Riders of the Damned
4. Darkest Days
5. Juniors Eyes
6. Helpless
7. Bridge Over Troubled Water
8. Can’t Find My Way Home
9. Darkest Days (John Rich album version)
10. The First Noel

Check out an earlier interview with Zakk Wylde right here....

Outloud - Love Catastrophe

Thu, 11 Aug 2011 08:29:28 +1000

In 25 words or less: Continuing right where the bands debut left off, Love Catastrophe is an album full of driving anthemic rock with little twists and turns stylistically...

Forming in 2008, Outloud blasted onto the melodic rock scene with their debut album We’ll Rock You To Hell And Back. With both Bob Katsionis (guitar and keys) and Mark Cross (drums) members of Greek melodic metal band Firewind, 2010 proved to be a defining moment for Outloud. With Firewind guitarist Gus G being otherwise committed with Ozzy Osbourne, 2010 saw Firewind taking a year off and in addition to that, drummer Mark Cross parted ways with Firewind. The upshot of this downtime, Love Catastrophe, the brand new album from Outloud, just released on AOR Heaven. Continuing right where We’ll Rock You To Hell And Back left off, Love Catastrophe is an album full of driving anthemic rock with little twists and turns stylistically. This time around it’s a far more assured collection of songs having been written and composed by a more cohesive band benefitting from the experiences of sharing a stage together and recording that first album.

We Came To Rock kicks off the album and is everything you would expect a track with this title to be - a fist pumping anthem, opening song in your live setlist boys, but am sure you have that sorted already! Melodic rocker Falling Rain, probably my personal favourite with it’s intro harmony lead guitar break, a super melodic chorus, little musical touches throughout the song such as those booming outro drums, it’s a song that for me epitomises the difference between the bands debut album and Love Catastrophe. Live Again sees the volume amped up, the heaviest song on the album and sees the band lyrically tackle something a little different, dealing with society today, as they similarly do with Clean Hands, a song about what your actions may bring you in life.

Waiting For Your Love features as the first single and video and will be stuck in your head immediately, but believe me, there is much more to this album than this song! The Night That Never Ends almost takes me back to Europe pre The Final Countdown era, what a cracking track this is with some killer guitar and keyboards. Having first heard vocalist Chandler Mogel at Firefest Festival in 2008 when singing for Talon, it’s been great to sit back from afar and follow his evolution as a singer and Someday is his certainly his moment to shine on this album, a soaring acoustic driven ballad also featuring the female vocals of Deana Dee who has also worked with Geoff Tate (Queensryche) and Terry Brock (Strangeways). An album that is strong from start to finish, the closing and title track is another that will leave you with another chorus that will be stuck in your head and if that doesn’t, then surely the outro of whoaaa, whooaaa, whooaaa’s will!

Whilst I am sure back in 2009 after the release of their debut album, some (including myself for that matter!) may have had some doubts whether we would see a second album from Outloud given their other commitments, the guys have certainly hit back in the best way possible with an album that has left me now waiting to see what they deliver with album 3!

Track listing:
1. We Came To Rock
2. Falling Rain
3. Live Again
4. Waiting For Your Love
5. The Night That Never Ends
6. Someday
7. Underground
8. Isolation Game
9. Clean Hands
10. Love Catastrophe

Check out our interview with Outloud vocalist Chandler Mogel right here....

ANDREAS NOVAK - NOVAKATION

Wed, 10 Aug 2011 08:10:14 +1000

In 25 words or less: Andreas Novak is an artist to check out that's for sure, the Swedish AOR / Melodic Rock scene is alive and well.....

A new addition to Melodic Rock Records is some awesome AOR / Melodic Rock courtesy of Swedish singer / guitarist Andreas Novak current frontman for House Of Shakira. This is his second solo album and is most definitely this is an album people need to tell you about as it really is a killer record. There's so many shades of different styles in the songs and his vocals are perfectly suited to these songs. To me it has a Journey-esque feeling with its diversity and that's a good thing!

The opening track is 'Highway To Anywhere' which is a perfectly created AOR song, I think I heard a little subtle tribute to 'Don't Stop Believin' in there too, nice. If the album continues on this strength we may be looking at a classic. The album runs through some more AOR gems but it's when we get to 'Keep This Flame' we get to hear not only his soaring vocals but his amazing guitar work, a killer track that's a stand out so far. There hasn't been a bad song yet, some of it may be considered as filler but they are still good tracks just not the stand outs that they're in the midst of.

The album kicks up a notch with 'A New Hope' now this is awesome!! If a second single was to be released after obvious choice 'Highway To Anywhere' it'd have to be this one. 'Light Years' is another stand out as the album starts to come to an end. Novak's guitar work on all the tracks is at the forefront but never too in your face which is exactly how you want it. The next track sounds like it should've been Bad English's biggest hit, wow, this one 'Yesterday's Rain' is second to last and has jumped out as a surprise rocker, check this one out for sure if only for it's guitar outro. If you think this track sounds famililar, then yes, it also features on W.E.T’s smashing release of a couple of years ago.

Finishing off the album is an acoustic driven track '2009' that should've been earlier on the album to let 'Yesterday's Rain' shred it out until the end. But nonetheless it's a great AOR track and a great end to a great album. Andreas Novak is an artist to check out that's for sure, the Swedish AOR / Melodic Rock scene is alive and well.

Track listing:
Highway To Anywhere
I Must Be Mad
Days Of Our Lives
Dare To Believe
Keep This Flame
No Vacation
Part Of Your Plan
A New Hope
Light Years
Mr. Cred.
Yesterday's Rain
2009

DAVID COOK - THIS LOUD MORNING

Wed, 10 Aug 2011 08:02:21 +1000

In 25 words or less: If you've never heard of him well now is your time to discover David Cook....

The stigma associated with being an American Idol truly isn't something that people care about as they do here at home with Australian Idol as American Idol has proven to be a launching ground for multi platinum selling artists such as Daughtry, Kelly Clarkson and Carrie Underwood to name a few but along with them is David Cook. His debut album was huge in the States and produced some songs that were instant classics and now he's back with his new release 'This Loud Morning' and it's good. Damn good. If you like radio friendly rock that has a melody and a chorus then this is for you.

Opening song 'Circadian' sets the tone for the album and it doesn't slow down from there. Producer Matt Serletic probably most notable for his work with Matchbox Twenty gives these songs that perfect mix that gives you layers of sounds, multiple layered guitars and the vocals out front. The sound on 'This Loud Morning' is stellar. Through tracks such as 'We Believe' and personal favourite 'Fade Into Me' we hear David Cook put his all into the songs and this can be heard mostly on the big power ballad 'Take Me As I Am' which needs to be a single and if I have anything to do with it, it will be. I don't though, so here's hoping it just ends up as a single. I haven't found a track I don't like yet which is always a sign of a great album in my opinion. Lead single 'The Last Goodbye' comes in at number 8 and for those that haven't heard it, hits a groove that has you tapping along in no time.

The album rounds out with some more quality tunes, each as good as the next but my favourite track on the album is actually a bonus track on the deluxe edition of the album called 'This Is Not The Last Time' how this didn't make the cut of the final 12 tracks amazes me. It's killer. It even gives us the only key change of all the songs, always a winner in my books.

I really do love it when an artist releases an album of just quality rock songs. David Cook has backed up a strong debut with in my opinion a truly great second album and one that you should most definitely check out. If you've never heard of him well now is your time to discover David Cook.

Track listing:
Circadian
Right Here, With You
We Believe
Fade Into Me
Hard To Believe
Take Me As I Am
Time Marches On
The Last Goodbye
Paper Heart
4 Letter Word
Goodbye To The Girl
Rapid Eye Movement
This Is Not The Last Time (deluxe edition)
Let Me Fall For You (deluxe edition)

3 DOORS DOWN - TIME OF MY LIFE

Wed, 10 Aug 2011 07:56:09 +1000

In 25 words or less: This is an album of well written and performed songs, give it a go before you dismiss it. Just sayin'...

If there's one thing that 3 Doors Down will never do it's reinvent the wheel. These guys have a distinct sound that they stick with it and it works, hey, if it ain't broke why fix it? This new album from 3 Doors Down is great as are their others but what this album gives us is a feel of growth as a band and a huge production at the hands of Howard Benson (Daughtry, Creed, P.O.D), basically these songs sound great.

The title track kicks off the album and it made me think of ZZ Top, listen, you'll hear it, followed up by another rocker and first single lifted from the album in 'When You're Young' which I really dig. 'Heaven' and 'Back To Me' are two stand outs on the album, lyrically these hit me the most, I can see either of these being singles. My favourite though comes in the sound of second single 'Every Time You Go' which has a catchy chorus and is easily in my opinion the best track on the album.

'What's Left' is a big rock ballad that hits that perfect formula and leads directly into one of the heaviest songs on the album in 'On The Run' which is awesome. I can give or take 'She Is Love' I'd put that as my least favourite on the album so far, ahhh there's the guitars, better. As we start to round out the album I start to worry it'll just be filler but how wrong am I? 'My Way' is second to last and far from filler, a big rocker, but not as much as the last track 'Believer' which is a perfect way to end the album, great lyrics, big guitar solo and killer groove, nice work 3 Doors Down, enjoyable album!

The deluxe version of the album includes acoustic versions of the first two singles 'When You're Young' and 'Every Time You Go' which gives the songs a new dynamic and a bonus track called 'The Silence Remains' which could've very easily and should've been included on the standard release. Also included is a demo of 'Train' lifted from their last album as a little bonus.

Overall, another great rock album from a band that people like to write off, they shouldn't, this is an album of well written and performed songs, give it a go before you dismiss it. Just sayin'

Track listing:
Time Of My Life
When You're Young
Round And Round
Heaven
Race For The Sun
Back To Me
Every Time You Go
What's Left
On The Run
She Is Love
My Way
Believer
When You're Young (Acoustic)
Every Time You Go (Acoustic)
The Silence Remains
Train (demo)

Simple Plan - Get Your Heart On

Wed, 10 Aug 2011 07:50:12 +1000

In 25 words or less: We're talking about Simple Plan here, not The Beatles - Have a listen, you know you're curious..

I'm going to start this review with my summary of this album so you don't instantly dismiss it. It's actually really, really good. This is a fun record that sees Simple Plan try out somewhat of a new sound and feel for the songs on this album. Basically if I gave this to you and said "Hey put this on and tell me who it is..." you wouldn't get it first go. I love what they've done with their sound and this record 'Get Your Heart On!' They're still the same band, yes a little young and immature at times but if you were to compare this to their debut album you'd think they were two different bands.

Opener 'You Suck At Love' sets the tone for the power pop rock we're in store for and it doesn't stop from there, 'Can't Keep My Hands Off You' features Rivers Cuomo from Weezer and you can most definitely hear the Weezer influence on the track. First single and perfectly created song 'Jet Lag' that is a duet with stunner and under rated singer Natasha Bedingfield is catchier than the common cold and has proven that as it has been a hit on radio all over the world, the song, not the cold. It's easily my favorite song on the album, and I find myself humming it around the house often, proof of a well written musical groove. Lyrically some of the songs on the album leave a little to be desired on tracks like 'Astronaut' and 'Loser Of The Year' but you almost forget that as you're bopping along to the infectious music they've created.

'Freaking Me Out' features Alex Gaskarth from All Time Low as the bevy of guests on the album continues and is a great song, at times electro but it hits a chorus that will have you singing it in no time. The turn it takes next is to a song called 'Summer Paradise' one of those token "Hey this would be perfect for a movie or a commercial so let's put it on an album and see what happens..." I can give or take this one, it's such a variation from the pervious songs and feels like it was just thrown in. What they do next was beyond unexpected from me, a big power ballad called 'Gone Too Soon' a great effort with that one, even kicks in a key change, a power ballad rule. The album finishes off with a couple of rockers in 'Last One Standing' and 'This Song Saved My Life' which features some fans on backing vocals, it's a good way to finish off what has been a fun pop rock album.

As I said, it's a really good record, yeah lyrically they can be a bit silly, borderline ridiculous at times but that's what they do, we're talking about Simple Plan here, not The Beatles. So if you want a good fun pop rock album with songs that will have your foot tapping along on every one then why not give this a go? Go on... You know you're curious.

Track listing:
You Suck at Love
Can't Keep My Hands Off You (feat. Rivers Cuomo)
Jet Lag (feat. Natasha Bedingfield)
Astronaut
Loser Of The Year
Anywhere Else But Here
Freaking Me Out (feat.Alex Gaskarth)
Summer Paradise
Gone Too Soon
Last One Standing
This Song Saved My Life

All Time Low - Dirty Work

Wed, 10 Aug 2011 07:44:20 +1000

In 25 words or less: A great mix of power pop punk rock. Nice work All Time Low, nice work indeed. It's far from dirty..

Power pop rock is such a great genre, infectious songs that just make you feel happy, you can sing along with the whoa oh's and know that you're in for a 3 minute 30 second burst of energy. This is exactly what you get with the newest release from All Time Low entitled 'Dirty Work.'

From the start of the album it just doesn't slow down. The opener 'Do You Want Me (Dead?)' sets the tone for the entire album as it rocks through tracks such as first single from the album 'I Feel Like Dancin' which is co-written by Rivers Cuomo from Weezer, 'Time Bomb' which is co-written by Pierre and Charles from Simple Plan, this song also incidentally features at the end of the album as a bonus acoustic version and my personal favorite 'Just The Way I'm Not' which is co-written and produced by musical genius Butch Walker. There hasn't yet been one bad song in this power pop goodness, fingers crossed for the remainder of the album.

As the albums rocks along and gives us 'No Idea' a great melodic song, we hit the acoustic portion of the album with 'A Daydream Away' which is a nice little ditty and any song that lyrically uses 'Douchebag' in it is OK with me. I have no idea how to pigeon hole 'That Girl' it's an interesting track, almost a rockin' reggae beat at times, reminds me a little bit of what Sugar Ray used to do to an extent. Oh here comes some pop punk, 'Heroes' has a great groove, happy with this one indeed with the sentimental lyric "If we stand for nothing, we'll fall for anything..." deep.

I was hoping the next song didn't need to be mentioned as the title takes up a whole page. 'Get Down On Your Knees And Tell Me You Love Me' is a song that starts with hand claps so it's an early win, the song is pretty good it even features a guitar solo, lyrically I think I get the gist of it, sounds like some shit went down in someones life, glad we all got to share that with them. 'My Only One' again sounds different to all the above, a killer song but it's almost like the album has been split in two as the early power pop has gone but that's not saying the second half of the album is bad at all, just different. The album finishes with um... 'Merry Christmas, Kiss My Ass' a tale of love and loss and hatred ha ha. I like this one, it's relatable. This would've been a perfect Bowling For Soup song, it's poppy and unless you're listening closely you'd think it's a lovely little song. It's not. It's clever.

Overall I liked this one, a great mix of power pop punk rock. Nice work All Time Low, nice work indeed. It's far from dirty.

Tracks:
Do You Want Me (Dead?)
I Feel Like Dancin'
Forget About It *
Guts
Time Bomb ***
Just the Way I'm Not **
Under a Paper Moon
Return the Favor
No Idea #
A Daydream Away
That Girl ****
Heroes
Get Down On Your Knees And Tell Me You Love Me
My Only One ***
Merry Christmas, Kiss My Ass *****
Time Bomb (Acoustic version) #

Produced By:
Mike Green
Except where noted below:
* = John Fields
** = Butch Walker
*** = Matt Squire
**** = David Kahne
***** = U4L
# = Remixed by U4L

Eddie Vedder - Ukelele Songs

Wed, 10 Aug 2011 07:36:13 +1000

In 25 words or less: I recommend this even if you've never been a fan of Eddie Vedder, as this is a perfect place to try something different.

Arguably one of the most distinctive voices in rock music as the front man of Pearl Jam now for over 20 years, Eddie Vedder has once again stepped away from the band to release a solo album, his first being the 'Into The Wild' soundtrack in 2007. This one though is somewhat different and sees Eddie give us an album of songs performed entirely on ukulele. Yeah, interesting huh... I mean the title of the album gives that away but let's discuss.

I have to admit, I didn't think I'd like this but it's in fact the exact opposite. This is such a diverse concept that it has me hooked, the songs are simple, innocent and at times haunting. Vedder I feel is close to the only artist that could pull something like this off though, I mean I couldn't even think of anyone else in the music industry that would suit this so kudos to Vedder in taking a risk on something like this. There are 16 tracks on the album, majority written by Vedder besides six tracks that are covers taken from as far back as the late 1920's and are perfectly suited for the ukulele and this project.

Glen Hansard from The Swell Season guests on 'Sleepless Nights' and puts his distinctive style on to the song as he takes lead vocals with Vedder with some great harmonies, and folk rock singer Chan Marshall joins Vedder on 'Tonight You Belong To Me' which is a beautiful duet. The album ends with a cover of 'Dream A Little Dream' and is a perfect way to finish this album.

I really enjoyed this one, it's perfect background music for a summers day as you sit and just take in the world. I recommend this even if you've never been a fan of Eddie Vedder, as this is a perfect place to try something different.

Track listing:
Can't Keep
Sleeping By Myself
Without You
More Than You Know
Goodbye
Broken Heart
Satellite
Longing To Belong
Hey Fahkah
You're True
Light Today
Sleepless Nights
Once In A While
Waving Palms
Tonight You Belong To Me
Dream A Little Dream

Swedish Hitz Goes Metal

Sat, 23 Jul 2011 09:32:17 +1000

In 25 words or less: Metal versions of Roxette, Abba and Ace Of Base songs...you know you wanna!

Swedish Hitz Goes Metal...if the title isn’t obvious enough for you, then let me explain what Swedish Hitz Goes Metal is exactly. Well Swedish Hitz Goes Metal contains metal versions of songs from three of the biggest ever Swedish pop bands, namely Abba, Roxette and Ace Of Base. I really can’t explain it anymore simply than that! The album is the brainchild of Tommy ReinXeed who hails from the North of Sweden. Having released 4 studio albums with his own band ReinXeed, his huge passion of performing metal versions of his favourite songs has led to this release.

Containing 14 tracks (refer below to the track listing below), the album has certainly been produced and mixed mighty finely by Mr ReinXeed. In a musical sense, the tracks bounce between straight ahead hard rock and a more traditional European style metal, with symphonic keys and shredding guitars in every song. Vocally, I can’t help liken Tommy ReinXeed to a tamer version of Justin Hawkins from The Darkness, but at times he more than matches those trademark Hawkins high notes. As far as the song arrangements and interpretations themselves, well for the most part the songs remain faithful to the originals, albeit done in a metal and hard rock sense. There are a few little curveballs here and there thrown in for good measure, particularly Roxette’s Sleeping In My Car given the full Dragonforce styled metal treatment.

For anyone who is familiar with the likes of The Black Sweden, At Vance, Rock Sugar, Northern Kings who have similarly released metal versions of some of the biggest ever pop songs, then you will definitely find much enjoyment in Swedish Hitz Goes Metal. Track it down and make sure you give your friends a little head trip at your next party!

Track listing:
1. Mamma Mia
2. The Look
3. Money Money Money
4. The Sign
5. Summer Night City
6. All That She Wants
7. Super Trouper
8. Joyride
9. Intermezzo No.1
1. Sleeping In My Car
2. The Winner Takes It All
3. Beautiful Life
4. Lay All Your Love On Me
5. Listen To Your Heart
 

Rival Sons - Pressure & Time

Thu, 21 Jul 2011 10:54:26 +1000

In 25 words or less: If you love classic rock, you will love Rival Sons, that’s all I need to say.

Well from the outset, it must be said that the Rival Sons are indeed a collection of little contradictions that prove you should never judge a book by it’s cover. Firstly, this, the Los Angeles based bands third release is put out by Earache Records, most famous for extreme thrash, metal, grindcore and the like...Rival Sons sound nothing like this. Next up we have the fact that the band is from Los Angeles, the band certainly sound like they are from anywhere but Los Angeles. As for their Storm Thorgerson (Pink Floyd, Led Zeppelin, Muse) designed cover...well, I haven’t quite got in my own mind how to interpret that. But one thing that isn’t a contradiction is the fact that this most highly anticipated album is certainly bound to deliver on the expectations.

Clocking in at just a touch over 30 minutes, for lovers of all things classic rock, these 10 songs are likely to be some of the best things you have heard this side of the 70’s. Where the likes of the truly god awful Wolfmother failed, Rival Sons have a soulfulness and authenticity that shines through in these songs, made all the more believable by the fact that this album was written, recorded and mixed in 20 days...you can’t make this kind of album if it’s not in your musical DNA to being with. Coming with this not suprisingly then is a truly live sound and honest rawness throughout.

Pressure & Time has a real soundtrack feel, or perhaps the feel of the type of album you would listen to on a roadtrip, check opening track All Over The Road....crank it loud and let those rollocking fuzzy distorted guitars kick those eardrums. The groove of the bassline inYoung Love mixed with John Fogerty’esque swampy vocals sounds like a bastard child of The Doors meets Credence...but I will end it there even trying to name check obvious influences. They are littered throughout these songs, but the beauty is that never does it feel like this is anyone other than Rival Sons. If it’s not the swagger and groove, or the driving guitar riffs, it will be the addictive simplicity of the chorus’s that make this album so damn hard to stop listening too. So hard in fact that I am ending this review right here and now and getting my groove on.

USA has Rival Sons and The Black Crowes, Northern Ireland has The Answer, Australia has Electric Mary, Sweden has Graveyard....it’s certainly a good time for classic rock lovers all around the world!

Track listing:
1. All Over the Road
2. Young Love
3. Pressure and Time
4. Only One
5. Get Mine
6. Burn Down Los Angeles
7. Save Me
8. Gypsy Heart
9. White Noise
10. Face Of Light
 

Pop Evil - War Of Angels

Thu, 21 Jul 2011 09:33:52 +1000

In 25 words or less: If you love modern American rock you will lap up War Of Angels, if you don’t love, then move on...

So who are Pop Evil exactly, well, these rockers from Michigan have just released their 2nd album War Of Angels. With their name representing the melodies and hooks present in a lot of the bands songs (Pop) and their dirty, rollocking had rock riffs (Evil), it’s a pretty accurate assessment of what to expect aurally from Pop Evil. Having been on a major label for the release of the first album, frustrated by the continued delay in releasing War Of Angels, a few months back the band showed just how much that record contract meant to them by ripping it up on stage in front of thousands of fans. The result, We Are Angels now being released by eOne Music.

Let’s get one thing stated up front, if you are one of those haters of modern American rock/metal that is likely to be played as an opening theme song in WWE or a sports program, and you have no respect for bands such as Papa Roach, Puddle Of Mudd, Theory Of A Deadman, Fuel, Drowning Pool, Hinder, insert your own here......etc, then Pop Evil definitely aren’t going to change your views on this style of music. If however you give a tick to all the above, then you might have just found your new favourite band.

Opening track Last Man Standing is exactly that kind of anthem I described above, with crushing modern rock riffing and with lyrics such as “we’re going head to head, can you handle it, I’m taking you down, I’m the last man standing” it would be no suprise to hear that this song has already been all over UFC, NHL and Nascar. Another pedal to the floor rocker Bosses Daughter features Motley Crue guitarist Mick Mars on songwriting duties and has one of the albums killer chorus’s. Epitaph is a rollercoaster ride through 80’s and 90’s metal riffing, with a Rage Against The Machine like breakdown. Meanwhile, producer Johnny K (Airbourne, Disturbed, Sevendust, Machine Head) has helped to give some serious balls to the “Evil” side of this album.

Where the band really excel however is their Pop side with the album featuring some soaring melodies and hooklines that should be all over radio. Look no further than the likes of Monster You Made, Let It Go Next Life and Purple, sure these songs aren’t anything we haven’t heard already, but Pop Evil do what they do equally as well.

War Of Angels musically isn’t likely to change your life, but if like me, you know the music you like and are comfortable in those shoes, then Pop Evil are definitely a worthy addition to your collection and I can guarantee at least a couple of these songs will be stuck in your head!

Track listing:
1. Last Man Standing
2. Epitaph
3. Broken & Betrayed
4. Monster You Made
5. Let It Go
6. Boss's Daughter
7. Daisy Chain
8. Purple
9. Black & Blue
10. Next Life
 

Sister - Hated

Wed, 6 Jul 2011 12:29:56 +1000

In 25 words or less: With Sister’s brand of punk fuelled sleaze rock, you will either love them or hate them, what you choose is up to you...

For all you Swedish sleaze rock loving people out there, then Sister are a band you need to get onto pronto, that is, if they haven’t already found you! With their debut album Hated dropping a few weeks ago, Sister are armed and ready to join the likes of Crashdiet and Hardcore Superstar leading the charge of the Swedish sleaze movement that’s invading ear drums worldwide...including right here in Australia!

Raw, sleazy, loud, heavy and addictive...that’s what you can expect from Sister and Hated. With Tobias Lindell (Hardcore Superstar, Crashdïet, Europe) mixing the album, it was a given that this album would be a massive sounding bunch of songs, whilst still retaining the punk edged rawness. There’s a definite mix of the 80’s sounds of bands like W.A.S.P and Motley Crue, then there’s modern day sleaze punk merchants such as The Erotics.

The opening trio of Body Blow, Bullshit & Backstabbing and first single Hated, feature an assault of fist pumping gang vocal chorus’s, some crushing guitar riffs and lyrics and vocals from Jamie spewing forth a “fuck you” attitude. As Sister state themselves “we do what we want both with our music and in our lives. If you have a problem with it, well that’s your fuckin’ problem.”

Once you get past the opening trio of songs, Sister deliver more of the same...and depending on which side of the Sister fence you sit, then that will either be a good thing, or a bad thing. My personal favourite couple of tracks, Wherewolves on Blackstreet and Spit on Me will certainly appeal to Wednesday 13 and Murderdolls fans. The haunting piano and acoustic driven Would You Love a Creature is in stark contrast to the rest of the album, but rest assured the album finishes in slamming style with Too Bad for You and Drag Me to the Grave.

With Sister, you will either love them, or hate them, what you choose is up to you...

Track listing:
1. Radioactive Misery
2. Body Blow
3. Bullshit & Backstabbing
4. Hated
5. Motherfuckers (Like You)
6. Werewolves on Blackstreet
7. Spit on Me
8. The Unlucky Minority
9. Would You Love a Creature
10. Too Bad for You
11. Drag Me to the Grave 

Whitesnake - Live At Donnington 1990

Wed, 6 Jul 2011 09:56:30 +1000

In 25 words or less: Essential for any Whitesnake fan wishing to relive the bands true glory days and to hear one of the bands definitive and supremely talented lineups.

“Here’s a song for ya....” ah, the dulcit tones of David Coverdale. Well, this release sure brings back memories of my teenage years attending a high school were hard rock ruled the classrooms and trading tapes (no CD’s when I was in high school!!) and plastering pictures from Metal Edge magazines all over your folders was the done thing. Now, those memories are not of when I saw Whitesnake’s Here I Go Again video for the first time....but actually of this concert. Whitesnake live in 1990, on August 18th headlining the Monsters Of Rock at Castle Donnington, now better known as the Download festival. So back to those memories, well you see, one of the people in that tape and music trading circuit was an English girl who had family connections back home in the UK and they actually recorded this concert live from radio. That poor taped cassette nearly got worn out from being played so much, so for me, I know this concert as well as I know any other Whitesnake album. With a digitally remastered sound now on CD, hearing this release is now heaven to my ears...

If you have read a few of my other reviews, then you will know that I am personally not a big fan of CD only live concert releases. What this concert has over other releases is it has the complete show on DVD as part of the release package. Unfortunately the promo relelase I am doing the review from, does not contain the DVD and judging from the trailer (refer to the right of the screen) the video quality may not be perfect, but hey...this is recorded back in 1990! But, wait, there’s more....extensive footage is also included from the recording and writing sessions for the Slip Of The Tongue album and footage from the archives of the Liqour And Poker World Tour. So regardless of the video quality....this DVD contains footage essential for any Whitesnake fan.

Featuring a band that includes guitarists Steve Vai and Adrian Vandenberg, Rudy Sarzo on bass and Tommy Aldridge on drums, this is arguably the best Whitesnake lineup ever! Ok, well at least it’s my definitive Whitesnake lineup. Blasting their way through the set, songs from the just released Slip Of The Tongue album feature heavily, as to be expected, with of course the given’s such as Still Of The Night, Is This Love, Here I Go Again and Ain’t No Love In The Heart Of The City.

Coverdales voice is simply stunning throughout and he is at his charismatic best with his between song banter. The overall live rawness gives it a true authentic live sound that is rarely matched today in modern recorded live releases. The inclusion of guitar virtuoso Steve Vai in the band certainly adds a differen’t dynamic to the Whitesnake sound that hadn’t been heard up until that time. For the true Steve Vai fans, For The Love Of God and The Audience Is Listening from his then, recently released Passion And Warfare album makes an apperance. Not to be outdone, a nearly 5 minute Tommy Aldridge drum solo features as part of Crying In The Rain and the hopefully not forgotten Adrian Vandberg shines with his 7 minute solo piece of Adagio For Strato which merges into Flying Dutchman Boogie. Now that’s a lot of instrumental and solo tracks as part of a Whitesnake concert, when there are songs like The Deeper The Love, Give Me All Your Love and Wings Of The Storm that weren’t part of the set. Just sayin’...

Whilst Whitesnake as an entity is still as strong as ever, with the 2011 lineup having just released their superb new album Forevermore, the Live At Donnington: 1990 release is essential for any Whitesnake fan wishing to relive the bands true glory days and to hear one of the bands most definitive and talented lineups.

Tracklisting:  CD1 : Slip Of The Tongue, Slide It In, Judgement Day, Slow An Easy, Kitten’s Got Claws, Adagio For Strato, Flying Dutchman Boogie, Is This Love, Cheap An’ Nasty, Crying In The Rain (featuring Tommy Aldridge Drum Solo).  CD2: Fool For Your Loving, For The Love Of God, The Audience Is Listening, Here I Go Again, Bad Boys, Ain’t No Love In The Heart Of The City, Still Of The Night.  DVD: Slip Of The Tongue, Slide It In, Judgement Day, Slow An Easy, Kitten’s Got Claws, Adagio For Strato, Flying Dutchman Boogie, Is This Love, Cheap An’ Nasty, Crying In The Rain (Featuring Tommy Aldridge Drum Solo), Fool For Your Loving, For The Love Of God, The Audience Is Listening, Here I Go Again, Bad Boys, Ain’t No Love In The Heart Of The City, Still Of The Night.

Uriah Heep - Into The Wild

Fri, 1 Jul 2011 20:14:21 +1000

With over 40 years in the business Uriah Heep have done more than your average band that scores their deal from the back of a Weeties box, in fact this is the bands 23rd studio album. 23rd?! Are you kidding me? No Sir they are not. What I love about this album is that it's new and relevant. They pardon the pun 'Hit the Nail on the Head' with it, also the 1st track on the album and it doesn't slow down.   Uriah Heep I guess hit that prog rock tag many years ago. I can hear elements of that on 'Into the Wild' both the album and the title track. Veteran guitarist Mick Box is a weapon, his playing is on fire. As the only original member of Uriah Heep since 1969 it's a treat to know he still enjoys playing and making albums. What I also love about this album is that the keyboards are at the forefront of the songs too. You can never go wrong with keyboards.   This is a really good rock album, vocalist Bernie Shaw who has been with Uriah Heep since 1986 suits these songs perfectly. In particular the big ballad 'Trail of Diamonds' which is like an epic piece over 6 minutes long. The album continues with exactly what we've had, great rock songs, great musicianship and epic songs. I've never been that familiar with the work of Uriah Heep so to be introduced to them in this way over 40 years into their career is awesome.   The final song on the album 'Kiss of Freedom' is great for 3 reasons A) its over 6 minutes long 2) it has a massive keyboard solo and D) it fades out!! No songs fade out anymore. That’s just brilliant. Overall I liked this album; it's just a nice clean rock album. Highly recommended.

Track listing:
1. Nail on the Head 2. I Can See You 3. Into the Wild 4. Money Talk 5. Trail of Diamonds 6. Lost 7. Believe 8. Southern Star 9. I'm Ready 10. T-bird Angel 11. Kiss of Freedom

Def Leppard - Mirror Ball (Live & More)

Fri, 1 Jul 2011 15:42:09 +1000

In 25 words or less: Def Leppard still remain a major force to be reckoned with and this mix of live and new songs affirms just that!

Whilst there has been that classic Def Leppard video, now DVD release In The Round, In Your Face, suprisingly maybe to some, Mirror Ball now sees the Lep’s release their first ever live album. Recorded across the world over the course of the bands 2008/09 Sparkle Lounge tour, 21 live tracks are presented over 2 CD’s, along with 3 new studio tracks and a 50 minute DVD with a small selection of live performances, some backstage footage and a couple of music videos.

States the bands singer Joe Elliott in the official press release "to be able to say at last, we have a live album out and it be a three disc package which includes a DVD makes me very happy, it's the soundtrack of OUR lives...!", and no doubt Joe, for the majority of Def Leppard fans, it also represents the soundtrack to their lives too. And with those two comments there, I guess they largely represent where the major interest in this release will lie...with Def Leppard fans. With a pretty authentic sounding live production throughout this release and an energetic performance, the sheer fact that cannot be overcome is that a CD of live Def Leppard performances, doesn’t do justice to the visual aspect that also contributes to the complete Def Leppard concert experience.

As far as the setlist goes, well with over 30 years of material to choose from, you certainly will never please everyone! For the most part, all the classics make an apperance from the band’s breakthrough albums, Pyromania and Hysteria. It’s great to see the instrumental Steve Clark track Switch 625 featured and also one of my personal favourites in Two Steps Behind and Bringin’ On The Heartbreak. The inclusion of the cover songs Action and Rock On may be questioned by some, but hey, they are off an official Def Leppard release afterall!

OK, so what some of you might have been waiting for.....what’s the verdict on the 3 new tracks? Well Undefeated is a monster Def Leppard rocker that represents all elements of Def Leppard. In parts it reminds me a little of the Slang era with it’s middle eastern guitars and jungle beats...as someone who loved the Slang release, that’s a good thing! The chorus is all big and bombastic and will go down a treat live, on the bands current tour. Any Def Leppard fan would be well aware of the influence of 70’s glam rock on the band and Kings Of The World sees the band paying tribute to one of the best from that era, Queen. Put simply, this grandiose track sounds exactly like you would expect if you imagined a musical merging of Queen and Def Leppard. The breezy melodic rocker It’s All About Believing is an undeniably modern Def Leppard sounding track that completes a rather promising insight into what fans can expect from the next Def Leppard album.

With over 65 million records sold, and the landmark album Hysteria being one of the few albums in history to sell over 10 million, Def Leppard still remain a major force to be reckoned with, particularly when it comes to dominating stadiums worldwide. Mirror Ball affirms this standing, but please do yourself a favour and go and see the real thing when Def Leppard soon come to a town near you.

Track listing:
CD1:
Rock! Rock! (Till You Drop)
Rocket
Animal
C'mon C'mon
Make Love Like a Man
Too Late for Love
Foolin'
Nine Lives
Love Bites
Rock On

CD2:
Two Steps Behind;
Bringin' On the Heartbreak;
Switch 625;
Hysteria;
Armageddon It;
Photograph;
Pour Some Sugar on Me;
Rock Of Ages;
Let's Get Rocked;
Action;
Bad Actress;
Undefeated*;
Kings of the World*;
It's All About Believin'*.

* New studio tracks

DVD:
Including live performances of: Rock! Rock! (Till You Drop); Armageddon It; Pour Some Sugar On Me; Hysteria. Music videos: Nine Lives; C'Mon C'Mon.

Rock The Cradle - Dreamin’ With Def Leppard

Fri, 1 Jul 2011 13:58:37 +1000

In 25 words or less: Stripped bare away from the layers of Mutt Lange production, these versions highlight the great melodies at the very core of these songs.

Now here is an interesting concept to say the least - a series of CD releases titled Rock The Cradle that involves creating lullaby renditions of popular songs from legendary rock groups. In the first of the series, comes lullaby renditions of Def Leppard’s greatest hits. Unlike other similar releases, the creators of this series are striving to incorporate members from the featured band on each album, in this case Def Leppard guitarists Phil Collen and Vivian Campbell provide all guitar work.

Soooo, what exactly is this all about exactly? Presented on this album are 12 Def Leppard tracks, done instrumentally aka lullaby style, with the guitars of Collen and Campbell providing the vocal melody. When I say guitars, let’s be clear, this is lullaby style so it’s very restrained mostly acoustic/semi-acoustic guitar playing, don’t expect any flashy electric guitar pyrotechnics or blistering solo’s! As far as the track listing goes, I am not quite sure how much input the band had into this release.

Stripped bare in the way that these songs have, as naked as could possibly be, away from the layers of Mutt Lange production and avalanche of backing vocals, the likes of Hysteria, Love Bites, Photograph, Animal, Foolin display what truly great melodies lie at the very core of these songs. And that for me personally was the major interest in listening to this release, to hear some of the songs that revolutionised hard rock in the 80’s, in a very, very unique way.

This is definitely one for the true die-hard Def Leppard fans, aspiring songwriters seeking some tuition in melody, or parents looking for some soothing music to rock their babies to sleep, or maybe in fact themselves! Actually, I needed this CD for my recent 24 hour flight to Europe, it would have been ideal for some soothing shut eye music!

So the burning question - who will be next in this series?

Track listing: 1. Pour Some Sugar On Me
1. Hysteria
2. Photograph
3. Love Bites
4. Foolin'
5. Have You Ever Needed Someone So Bad
6. Bringin' On The Heartbreak
7. Too Late For Love
8. Stand Up (Kick Love Into Motion)
9. Promises
10. Animal
11. Rock Of Ages