Archive for February 6, 2011

GARY MOORE, GUITAR LEGEND – REST IN PEACE

Posted in blues rock, classic rock, Hard Rock, Heavy Metal, metal odyssey, Music, rock and roll, rock music, rock music news with tags , , , , , , , on February 6, 2011 by Metal Odyssey

GARY MOORE – The Official Website for Gary Moore has reported today, Sunday, February 6, 2011, the following sad message: “It is with deep sorrow and regret, that we have to announce that Gary Moore passed away while on holiday in Spain last night. Our thoughts are with his children, family and friends at this sad time. Gary Moore, RIP.”

Metal Odyssey expresses heartfelt condolences to the children, family, friends and fans of Gary Moore. Gary Moore was and forever will be a guitar legend. The sounds I’ve always heard come from the guitar of Gary Moore were also musical lyrics… for Gary Moore could make his guitar sing to my ears. As a vocalist, Gary Moore kept it real, there were no pretensions.

To say that I am saddened and shocked at learning the news of Gary Moore passing away is an absolute understatement. Gary Moore has left us all with an incredible and extensive catalog of music, that will live on forever. From Hard Rock to the Blues, Gary Moore’s music has made many happy moments for me throughout my life. The music of Gary Moore will continue to have that same affect on me, without question. I’m certain countless others feel this same way. The music of Gary Moore will live on forever.

One of my favorite albums from Gary Moore is After The War. This album was released back in 1989. I can’t say it enough times, just how much this album has lifted my spirits and made me feel great over the years. That’s the magical thing that musicians and vocalists can do… they can move you to greater emotional heights, especially when you are feeling down. Thank you Gary Moore for making this fan feel great from the music you created.

Back on June 6th, 2010, I wrote a review on the album – After The War. I aimed to salute this sensational album and give Gary Moore his deserved and just applause. If you would like to read it, just click the header below:

GARY MOORE “AFTER THE WAR” – A HARD ROCKIN’ & HEAVY HITTING GEM FROM 1989

REST IN PEACE, GARY MOORE.

1952 – 2011

Stone.

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The Yngwie Malmsteen Collection – Revisiting This Guitar Legend’s 1991 Greatest Hits

Posted in classic rock, guitarists, Hard Rock, Heavy Metal, metal music, metal odyssey, Music, neoclassical metal, rock music, rock music news, speed metal with tags , , , , , , , , , , on February 6, 2011 by Metal Odyssey

YNGWIE MALMSTEEN – Back in November of 1991, The Yngwie Malmsteen Collection was released on Polydor Records. This Yngwie Malmsteen compilation spans the first six albums of his career, from 1984 to 1990. These albums are: Rising Force (1984), Marching Out (1985), Trilogy (1986), Odyssey (1988), Trial By Fire: Live In Leningrad (1989) and Eclipse (1990).

Of these first six Yngwie Malmsteen albums, the only one I have on CD is Odyssey. Eclipse I have on cassette and the other four I have on vinyl. Sounds crazy, huh? The $ factor comes into play, whenever the desire to upgrade my entire collection of music to CD crosses my Metal mind. Regardless, I have these Yngwie albums on old school formats and I’m content. About seven years ago, on a lazy Saturday, I took a leisurely stroll into Strawberries Records & Tapes, back in my hometown up in very expensive Connecticut. That day I zeroed in on The Yngwie Malmsteen Collection… it was calling my name.

At this time of my life, seven years ago, my wife and I were really cutting corners and trying to make ends meet… and the ends were not interested in meeting either. Purchasing one CD would send me into guilt city. I took the Metal plunge, held my breath and Metal be thy name I purchased this Yngwie Malmsteen bonanza of songs. It has served me right ever since. Yes, by now you might have guessed I am giddy about listening to Yngwie Malmsteen over the years. I really enjoy listening to his guitar playing, his Neoclassical style is pioneering and legendary, in my Metal opinion.

I’ve always enjoyed listening to every vocalist that Yngwie Malmsteen has recruited for his albums as well. I’m not trying to sound like Mr. Sunshine wants everyone happy when I state this. No, I will readily admit that Mark Boals and Joe Lynn Turner are my favorite vocalists from the entire Yngwie Malmsteen catalog, which includes his most recent release of 2010’s Relentless, which boasts Tim “Ripper” Owens on vocals, (with Yngwie singing Look At You Now). If someone out there asks: hey Stone, c’mon, pick one or the other, Mark Boals or Joe Lynn Turner!? My Metal answer is easy: it’s a tie… Metal be thy name, a tie.

I recommend anyone who is just getting interested in Yngwie Malmsteen to get ahold of this CD. These fourteen songs are a magnificent representation of Yngwie’s first six albums. From the live cover of the Jimi Hendrix classic – Spanish Castle Magic, to Queen In Love, this compilation shows not a flaw, in my Metal opinion once again. Veteran fans of Yngwie who don’t own his first six albums on CD entirely, may want to grab this collection for the same reason I did.

Yngwie Malmsteen Facts To Know:

* Yngwie means: young Viking chief

* Born: In Sweden on June 30, 1963

* Yngwie Malmsteen taught himself how to play guitar.

* The late and legendary Jimi Hendrix inspired Yngwie to play guitar, only it was the image of Jimi Hendrix more so than his music that influenced Yngwie.

* At the age of 15, Yngwie quit school and landed a job at a music shop in Stockholm, Sweden, repairing guitars.

* The debut 1984 album Yngwie J. Malmsteen’s Rising Force was nominated for a Grammy Award.

* (Source for these Yngwie facts found in the liner notes of this CD)

* For more info on Yngwie, just click here: YNGWIE MALMSTEEN

* I’ve listed below, next to each song in the track listing, the album of origin along with the respective vocalist. Instrumentals are noted.

Track Listing:

Black Star – Yngwie Malmsteen’s Rising Force – (instrumental)

Far Beyond The Sun – Yngwie Malmsteen’s Rising Force – (instrumental)

I’ll See The Light Tonight – Marching Out – Jeff Scott Soto

You Don’t Remember, I’ll Never Forget – Trilogy – Mark Boals

Liar – Trilogy – Mark Boals

Queen In Love – Trilogy – Mark Boals

Hold On – Odyssey – Joe Lynn Turner

Heaven Tonight – Odyssey – Joe Lynn Turner

Deja Vu – Odyssey – Joe Lynn Turner

Guitar Solo – Trial By Fire: Live In Leningrad – (instrumental)

Spanish Castle Magic – Trial By Fire: Live In Leningrad – Joe Lynn Turner

Judas – Eclipse – Göran Edman

Making Love – Eclipse – Göran Edman

Eclipse – Eclipse – (instrumental)

LONG LIVE YNGWIE MALMSTEEN.

The word “giddy” was used in paragraph 3.

Stone.

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