Archive for the classic hard rock music Category

My favorite AC/DC song of all time is…

Posted in 1970's classic rock albums, 1970's classic rock songs, 1970's hard rock, 1970's heavy metal, 1970's Rock, classic hard rock, classic hard rock music, classic heavy metal albums, classic metal, classic rock, classic rock albums, classic rock music, cool album covers, essential hard rock albums, essential heavy metal albums, essential rock albums, Hard Rock, hard rock drummers, hard rock guitarists, hard rock songs, hard rock vocalists, Heavy Metal, heavy metal album covers, heavy metal albums, heavy metal music, heavy metal vocalists, Metal, metal music, Music, old school heavy metal, Rock, rock and roll hall of fame inductees, rock music, rock music vocals, rock vocalists, vintage hard rock albums, vintage heavy metal albums, vintage rock albums, Vocals with tags , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , on June 27, 2009 by Metal Odyssey

main-150AC/DC – they are not just Rock and Roll Hall of Famers, this band is an elite institution of heavy music. I always pondered throughout the years… which song from the extensive catalog of AC/DC albums, is my favorite of all time? Is my favorite song from the Bon Scott era? Man, the late Bon Scott was unique, his vocals were and always will be legendary. The Brian Johnson era is power packed with amazing songs, could I take the easy route and pull my favorite tune off of the “Back In Black” album? That would be way too easy for me, it seems like choosing “Hells Bells”, “Back In Black” or “Have A Drink On Me” as my favorite AC/DC song, would be particularly predictable. I will not argue the fact it is a historical album, “Back In Black” surely paved the way for Heavy Metal commercial acceptance. Besides, I personally am forever grateful for AC/DC appointing Brian Johnson to succeed the late Bon Scott. “Back In Black” will forever be on my all time favorite album list.

Well, after all these years, probably since around 1979, (in which I was first aware that AC/DC existed and heard the classic “Highway To Hell” single on FM radio), my personal choice, for favorite AC/DC song ever is… “Touch Too Much” – from the “Highway To Hell” album, (released in 1979). Whew, do I get the AC/DC fever when I hear this song. I do not care how many times I have listened to this classic, this song rocks. Even after so many years have passed by, I still feel that certain rush go straight through my face each time “Touch Too Much” is cranked up. Yeah, you know, that psyched out feeling that engulfs your whole body, like you just drank a 2 liter bottle of happy sauce. This song does it for me – thank you very much. This song hits me from the opening note… I do not believe there is one nano second that is not cool on this song. Sure, the single “Highway To Hell” received all of the attention from this sacred AC/DC album, yet in my Metal opinion, “Touch Too Much” is a song that embodied a core heaviness that signified of continuous great things to come from this band. 

I am certainly not alone in saying that I revere both the Bon Scott and Brian Johnson eras of AC/DC. Choosing a single favorite song from this band, is like choosing which day of the week is my favorite… I am just happy to be alive and be in the position to enjoy each day of the week, for Metal sakes. Going back to “Touch Too Much”, as the old saying goes… the more things change, the more they stay the same… really listen closely the next time you hear this song, then imagine if it were to be released for the first time in 2009. “Touch Too Much” is a song that blows away at least half of the newly released Hard Rock or Heavy Metal songs that do get commercial FM or satellite radio play. Angus Young on guitar, Malcolm Young on rhythm guitar, Cliff Williams on bass guitar and Phil Rudd on drums and of course, Bon Scott on vocals, made this song happen and groove in a way that has affected me for life. This is my Metal opinion – long live AC/DC and this enormous song.

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Bob Seger “Face The Promise” exhibits Rock Music from the soul

Posted in 1970's hard rock, 1970's Rock, 1980's rock albums, 1980's rock music, 1980's hard rock, Album Review, classic hard rock, classic hard rock music, classic rock, classic rock albums, classic rock music, cool album covers, essential rock albums, Metal, Rock, rock & roll, rock & roll hall of fame inductees, rock album reviews, rock and roll, rock and roll hall of fame inductees, rock music, rock music vocals, rock vocalists, Vocals with tags , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , on June 21, 2009 by Metal Odyssey

main-150Bob Seger, Rock and Roll Legend and Rock and Roll Hall of Famer. That should be quite enough of an accomplishment to just call it a day, for just about any aging Rock Star, huh? Not the case with Bob Seger, no way. Just because a living Rock Legend goes on a personal hiatus for a number of years, does this mean this Rock Legend is washed up? Has this Rock Legend lost the ability to write and sing music like it was 1980 all over again? In my Metal opinion, Bob Seger has lost no Rock and Roll groove in his music, nor has he forgotten how to write Rock music songs that hit me straight to the heart. “Face The Promise” is a celebration of Rock Music that not only inspires me with all of it’s lyrical content, the Rock and Roll move and groove songs on this album are wrapped up in sincere blue collar grit.

Bob Seger was born with the gift of having a raspy, smoky and sandpapered singing voice. Unique and synonymous with Rock and Roll, that is my take on his vocals. I still here this voice as I described, on “Face The Promise”, (released September 12, 2006). The 12 songs on this album are not thrown together for some flashy, comeback, Rock Star story. These are 12 songs that are sung from the heart of a man who obviously has lived life on his terms, tackling whatever obstacles may come his way. Yeah, sure, it sounds like a cliche’, however, this is a Rock and Roll icon who decided to itemize his life based on importance. How easy it would have been, for Bob Seger to have released an album every four years or so, with the possibility of perhaps becoming just a music machine, catering only to the needs of the fans. My own personal interpretation is derived from the lyrics of these songs, why else would Bob Seger pen such intimate and human spirit filled songs?

“Wreck This Heart” is the opening track, it comes across with the reminder to me, that Bob Seger still connects to the Hard Rock side of his storied musical past. “Real Mean Bottle” has an “Old Time Rock & Roll” energy and air about it… with some cool Rock vocal assistance from Kid Rock. It is always a tasty, Rock treat, to hear the Jerry Lee Lewis style of piano get into the Rock and Roll mix. This is definitely one of the more fun Rock songs Bob Seger has ever created. “The Answer’s In The Question” is a ballad that delves into the human experience, Patty Loveless contributes some very classy vocals on this superb duet. “Face The Promise”, “Wait For Me” and “No Matter Who You Are” all touch on personal inspiration, with the Rock and musical flavor that takes me back to the “Against The Wind” album. “Between” is as fine an example of Bob Seger today, this song flat out scorches with the aura of current Rock sound and ambience.

In a vast world of diverse Rock and Hard Rock genres, there are those times when it just feels good to go home again, home to the roots of Rock and Roll. Bob Seger for me, has always exemplified what it sounds like to revisit old school Rock and Roll, all the while using the human factor as prominent subject matter within the lyrical content of the songs. The end result always has felt like the beginning for me with all of Bob Seger’s albums… these are songs that connect, Rock and last a lifetime within my musical soul.

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Cheap Trick “Special One” is just that and more

Posted in 1970's hard rock, 1970's Rock, 1980's hard rock albums, 1980's rock albums, 1980's rock music, 1980's hard rock, 1990's hard rock music, Album Review, classic hard rock, classic hard rock music, classic rock, classic rock albums, classic rock music, cool album covers, essential hard rock albums, essential rock albums, Hard Rock, hard rock album review, hard rock drummers, hard rock guitarists, hard rock music this decade, hard rock songs, hard rock vocalists, Music, Rock, rock & roll, rock and roll, rock music, rock music vocals, rock vocalists, Vocals with tags , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , on June 19, 2009 by Metal Odyssey

It is quite apparent, from looking at my past posts, that I am a Cheap Trick fan. I get such a listening thrill from their brand of Rock, both past and present. If Cheap Trick were to have floundered, lost a few steps musically, I would have lost interest in following them – of course. Many bands have done just that, floundered after years of success. (I used to think The Police were going to release a new killer album every 2 to 3 years, way back in 1984… who knew?). Well, enough with this as my opener… Cheap Trick really has done what many bands can only wish for… continued musical output that beams with integrity and relevance. The integrity is represented by Cheap Trick creating Rock/Hard Rock music that for me, is as energy filled, catchy and memorable as the “Dream Police” and/or “All Shook Up” albums from 25 years ago. On “Special One”, (released in 2003), this is not a Rock Band that sounds tired or weary – this is a band that sounds as if they are embarking on a Rock mission with their musical tanks fully loaded, with new ideas. Another aspect of integrity that Cheap Trick bestows, is the plain fact, that they are obviously not remotely attempting to cash in on their name or past success.

“Special One” is quite special indeed… it is a fitting prelude to the “Rockford” album, (released in 2006), where Cheap Trick in my Metal opinion, has landed as convincing a one-two Hard Rock punch that any fan could ever imagine or hope for. (See my “Rockford” review listed under album reviews on Metal Odyssey). Once I listened to “Rockford” upon it’s release, I felt and heard the continuation of what Cheap Trick is truly conveying here – that gifted musicians will always create great music. “Special One” is an album that does not tease at what is to come, this Rock album states of what is to come from Cheap Trick this decade. No watered down ballads, no instant radio hits, rather, “Special One” exemplifies what Rock and Hard Rock used to be, carried over with a flare for todays sound. The songs are accessible, not excessive, written with the blend of lyrics and music that glows with the Cheap Trick brand. That is my case stated for relevance.

Not that I am fast forwarding here, the last track on “Special One” titled “Hummer”, is a song that celebrates the ability for anyone to… hum. All kidding aside, this song is highlighted by the humming vocal tones of Robin Zander. (The liner notes do not suggest anyone else doing the humming, however, each band member does get credited with vocal input). After my first listen to “Hummer”, I was enlightened to now realize that humming is cool in a Rock song… Cheap Trick has made it that way. (Trust me, I still get annoyed when total strangers walk past me in the grocery store humming aloud). The first track titled “Scent Of A Woman” is as classic as it gets with Cheap Trick. The brashness of Rick Nielsen on guitar coupled with the up tempo beat, lends itself to being one of those Cheap Trick songs you have to jump around to. Tracks 2 thru 10, found between the two songs I mentioned here, create the Cheap Trick – Hard Rock sandwich that is flavored with a tad of old school and structured with lyrical/musical perfection, with attitude for today. Longevity in Rock Music does not always equate to cool albums – Cheap Trick’s longevity has equated to the coolest consistency of Rock & Hard Rock, that I hope never ends.

Cheap Trick: Robin Zander – vocals & guitars, Rick Nielsen – guitars & vocals, Tom Petersson – 12 string bass & vocals, Bun E. Carlos – drums & vocals.

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MAGNUM – Discography of studio & live albums

Posted in 1970's hard rock, 1970's Rock, 1980's hard rock albums, 1980's heavy metal albums, 1980's rock albums, 1980's rock music, 1980's hard rock, 1980's heavy metal music, classic hard rock music, classic rock, classic rock music, current hard rock albums, current hard rock music, Hard Rock, hard rock music this decade, prog metal albums, prog metal music, progressive hard rock albums, progressive hard rock music, progressive metal, progressive metal albums, progressive metal music, progressive metal today, progressive rock, progressive rock discography, progressive rock music, Rock, rock music, vintage hard rock albums with tags , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , on June 17, 2009 by Metal Odyssey

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Magnum, the Progressive Rock/Hard Rock band that I really get a thrill out of listening to. At times, they can be heavy, ever so melodic… if you are into true Classic Rock/Hard Rock and/or Progressive music, you should give Magnum a try… this discography you may find useful. Magnum has been making music since their debut album “Kingdom Of Madness” from 1978. Covering four decades, this is a band that gets my attention and respect. Musicianship, Magnum.

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Studio Albums: 

Kingdom Of Madness * Magnum II * Chase The Dragon * The Eleventh Hour * On A Storyteller’s Night * Vigilante * Wings Of Heaven * Goodnight L.A. * Sleepwalking * Keeping The Nite Light Burning * Rock Art * Breath Of Life * Brand New Morning * Princess Alice And The Broken Arrow * Into The Valley Of The Moon King *

Live Albums:

Marauder * Invasion Live * The Spirit * The Last Dance * Stronghold * Days Of Wonder * The River Sessions * Wings Of Heaven Live *

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TESLA – “Forever More” a solid Hard Rock album and band

Posted in 1980's hard rock, 1980's heavy metal music, 1990's hard rock music, Album Review, classic hard rock music, classic rock, classic rock music, cool album covers, current hard rock albums, current hard rock music, current hard rock songs, current heavy metal albums, current heavy metal music, essential hard rock albums, essential rock albums, Hard Rock, hard rock album review, hard rock albums 2009, hard rock drummers, hard rock guitarists, hard rock music this decade, hard rock songs, hard rock vocalists, Heavy Metal, heavy metal album covers, heavy metal album review, heavy metal albums, heavy metal albums 2009, heavy metal music, heavy metal music 2009, Heavy Metal Reviews, heavy metal this decade, Music, recent heavy metal albums, Rock, rock music, rock music vocals, Vocals with tags , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , on June 16, 2009 by Metal Odyssey

Tesla_aff_smTesla has released an album of 12 brand new tunes this past year titled “Forever More”, it should not be ignored or overlooked. I feel this new Tesla album is a solid musical statement, (“Forever More” was released on October 7, 2008). All 12 songs are what I consider to be Hard Rock excellence that lyrically relates. The lyrics of these songs are a celebration of life’s ups and downs, delivered in true – blue collar, Hard Rock fashion from Tesla. “So What!” is a heavy, musically driven tune, it essentially tells you to shrug off the complaining in life, plus who cares about other people’s whining as well. “Pvt. Ledbetter” is a feel good track about a soldier who is going to come home from war, (not to give away the storyline), the first listen to this song had me worried that it would be a sad ending. Jeff Keith on vocals sounds like he is having the time of his life, he sings better than ever on “Forever More”, (in my Metal opinion).

Every song is excellent, it is obvious from the quality of “Forever More” that this Tesla effort was well worth the wait! This album is very well written, both lyrically and musically. This is a real Hard Rock album of songs… the way it is supposed to be. If the power of this Hard Rock album  gets you psyched out, then you will be searching out the entire Tesla catalog of albums, guaranteed. Tesla has returned in grand, Hard Rocking form, thank goodness. Tesla has always been a favored Rock/Hard Rock band of mine… ever since the day I heard “Modern Day Cowboy” from the “Mechanical Resonance” album, over twenty years ago. Man, does time really fly! I was fortunate enough to see Tesla live, once, when they opened for Def Leppard. It was the Hysteria Tour for Def Leppard, (late ’80’s), both Tesla and Def Leppard played in the round – at the Hartford Civic Center, in expensive Connecticut. Tesla played an entire acoustic set… I was not expecting an acoustic jam that night, yet I dug it pretty well. 

Tesla is: Jeff Keith on lead vocals, Frank Hannon on electric and acoustic guitars & keyboards, Dave Rude on electric, acoustic and slide guitars, Brian Wheat on bass guitar and Troy Luccketta on drums and percussion. The liner notes within the CD digipak are the coolest, with 16 pages of full color band photos, with 2 pages devoted to each band member, filled with great full color photos and thank you’s for each. Tons of credits and a super cool, 2008 year in review, written by Tesla, makes for a classy touch.

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