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JOE ELLIOTT’S DOWN ‘N’ OUTZ – “MY REGENERATION” GENERATES A ROCKIN’ GREAT ALBUM!

Posted in classic rock, classic rock albums, classic rock bands, classic rock music, Hard Rock, hard rock albums, hard rock bands, hard rock music, Heavy Metal, heavy metal music, metal odyssey, Music, rock & roll, rock 'n' roll, rock and roll, rock music, rock music news with tags , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , on September 16, 2010 by Metal Odyssey

JOE ELLIOTT’S DOWN ‘N’ OUTZ – The news is out… the very famous lead singer for the very legendary Def Leppard has revealed his favorite Rock Band and he has done so through My ReGeneration. The band? None other than… Mott the Hoople. Not too shabby of a favorite I might add. Apparently, Joe Elliott was invited by Mott the Hoople to “participate in some capacity” in their reforming for a week’s worth of shows at the ol’ legendary… Hammersmith Odeon, (now named Hammersmith Apollo), last October of 2009. This experience proved to be the incubus for Joe Elliott forming Down ‘n’ Outz and making an album of cover songs from “spin offs” of Mott the Hoople.

My ReGeneration contains cover songs from Mott, Ian Hunter and British Lions. The last song on this album, The Flipside Of The Shameless Whelk, was written by Joe Elliott and Ronan McHugh. Quite honestly, it is refreshing to hear songs, good Rock ‘N’ Roll songs, that I would probably never have listened to if it wasn’t for this Rockin’ grand idea by Joe Elliott. Um… thanks Joe… and Down ‘n’ Outz too! To absorb what Joe Elliott and his band has assembled here play, is a lesson in British “Old School” Rock ‘N’ Roll.

Mott the Hoople obviously spawned some inventive and historical Rock Music during their too brief, six year tenure of existence – 1969 to 1974. The creative Rock Music minds that did “spin off” from Mott the Hoople are impressive to say the least. Guitarist and founding member of Mott the Hoople, Mick Ralphs will always be my sentimental favorite… for Mick being a founding and current member of Bad Company is all that to this Rockaholic.

While listening to My ReGeneration, I found that yes… this is Joe Elliott singing, only this is not the lungs of power, ultra charismatic, throat scorching vocalist that has fronted Def Leppard either. What I do hear is Joe Elliott – Rock ‘N’ Roll vocalist extraordinaire. Man, do I dig the vocals of Joe Elliott on My ReGeneration. Now, don’t get too down, all you Def Leppard fanatics out there. Joe Elliott has taken his vocals to a magnificent level here, he has in essence, proven to be as well rounded a Heavy Metal meets Rock vocalist as any other, in my most humble and Metal opinion.

Overnight Angels more than stands out as an incredibly memorable song to my Metal brain, this song just unequivocally makes me feel really good. As a bonus, Joe Elliott more than flirts with delivering some Def Leppard vocals on Overnight Angels, he flat-out sings this song as if it could have been on 1999’s Euphoria album as well. A Hard Rockin’ good time listen that doesn’t subside with it’s up-tempo. Alright, you got me, this song is my favorite on ReGeneration. Hey Joe Elliott… this one cover song alone is worth the purchase of ReGeneration! There, I said it, just like the corn dog I sometimes am.

After a couple of listens to England Rocks and I honestly have to agree… ENGLAND ROCKS! ENGLAND ROCKS! ENGLAND ROCKS! Please excuse me… this song really does ROCK. Shouting And Pointing has an overwhelmingly great Classic Rock vibe from beginning to end. The guitar solo by Paul Guerin is very cool, to be quite simplistically honest. Paul Guerin lays the Heavy down on Shouting And Pointing and Heavy is always welcomed in Stone’s ears. Joe Elliott has some fabulous vocal moments on this song, playing around with his pitch and melody only adds more psyche-out flavoring to the overall dish.

Hey Joe… this Down ‘n’ Outz band does… ROCK. Uh… YEAH! Obviously this band behind Joe Elliott is seasoned, knows their Rock ‘n’ Roll and how to play it.

O.k., here comes the sad and short ballad. Apologies is this song. Clocking in at 1:02 long. Stone don’t likey. Now, that is not to say it is a lousy song, I just don’t do very short and sad ballads. Metal be thy name. Down ‘n’ Outz still does ROCK, um, Joe. Who Do You Love is a bar hoppin’, foot stompin’, beer mug clangin’, it’s Friday night even if it’s Sunday, damn good Rock ‘N’ Rollin’ song. Turn it up!

By Tonight kicks in with a familiar guitar segue that is startling close to that from High ‘n’ Dry (Saturday Night) from Def Leppard’s sophomore album from 1981… High ‘n’ Dry. Stone does likey very much though. This is a Hard Rock song personified and Down ‘n’ Outz jams on it, pushing this song to it’s maximum Rock-Out potential.

I do enjoy the cover songs that Joe Elliott and Down ‘n’ Outz have compiled on ReGeneration. This album is a fun trip down Mott the Hoople’s “spin off” memory lane. Thanks to Joe Elliott though, now I’m gonna have to spend more $$$ and buy all those really cool albums from Ian Hunter, Mott and British Lions. Gee Metal whiz, Joe. I’ll Let It Go though, Joe. Joe Elliott’s Rockaholism only fuels mine and what am I supposed to do? Cranking up the volume on ReGeneration is really the only option here… (make sure to turn it down for Apologies though).

Good Times is a fitting song to be included on this album, this is a good times listen after all. This song is what Rock ‘N’ Roll is all about… “gonna have a good time tonight, Rock ‘N’ Roll Music’s gonna play all night”. This Good Times song is one big blast of feel good vibe. The Flipside Of The Shameless Whelk plays out as a 1:38 long take from a jam session and it Rocks along with cool ease, putting a close to this ReGeneration album.

As noted earlier, it appears that Joe Elliott and Ronan McHugh wrote The Flipside Of The Shameless Whelk, I am coming to the conclusion that Down ‘n’ Outz jammed on it. There are no details other than (Elliott/McHugh) within the liner notes regarding this last song, so if anyone out there knows more about it, please feel free to comment. Up to this point of writing this review, I have no further information on the song – Apologies, other than (Major) as a writing credit. Anyone with further knowledge on Apologies as well can comment, it’s very welcomed.

Fans of Joe Elliott, Def Leppard, Classic Rock, Mott the Hoople and every spin off band from them should give a thorough listen into what Joe Elliott’s Down ‘n’ Outz have done with My ReGeneration. These cover songs are dripping with relevancy, giving these true Classic Rock songs a spotlight and new Rockin’ life. It has been fun for me, to branch off into the direction of the spin off bands of Mott the Hoople and listening to these great songs. Now I have more bands from Rock Music History to delve deeper into and that doesn’t bother me at all!

* My ReGeneration was released on July 13, 2010, on Mailboat Records.

Down ‘n’ Outz:

Joe Elliott – lead vocals, backing vocals, rhythm guitar, acoustic guitar, some piano, various percussion

Paul Guerin – lead & rhythm guitar, backing vocals

Guy Griffin – rhythm guitar, backing vocals

Keith Weir – keyboards, backing vocals

Ronnie Garrity – bass guitar

Phil Martini – drums, backing vocals

* Ron Garrity is the bass guitarist for the Rock/Hard Rock Band – Raw Glory. Paul Guerin, Guy Griffin, Keith Weir and Phil Martini are all members of the Hard Rock Band – The Quireboys.

Track Listing For ReGeneration, Listed With Original Artist:

Golden Opportunity (Ian Hunter)

Storm (Mott)

Overnight Angels (Ian Hunter)

Career (No Such Thing As Rock ‘n’ Roll) (Mott)

England Rocks (Ian Hunter)

Shouting And Pointing (Mott)

By Tonight (Mott)

Apologies (credited to “Major”)

Who Do You Love (Ian Hunter)

One More Chance To Run (British Lions)

3000 Miles From Here (Ian Hunter)

Good Times (Mott, originally recorded by The Easybeats)

The Flipside Of The Shameless Whelk (Elliott/McHugh)

Stone.


5 Comments »

HEART “RED VELVET CAR” – IS 100% PURE CLASSIC HEART!

Posted in classic rock, classic rock albums, classic rock bands, classic rock music, Hard Rock, hard rock music, metal odyssey, Music, rock & roll, rock and roll, rock music, rock music news, rock music reviews with tags , , , , , , , , , , , , , , on September 13, 2010 by Metal Odyssey

HEART – Ann and Nancy Wilson have revived their very own Classic Rock roots, to such an extent that Red Velvet Car is unmistakably 100% pure Heart Classic Rock. I don’t think I can hear a single note on this new Heart album to tell me otherwise. Released on August 31, 2010, on Sony Legacy, Red Velvet Car is the thirteenth studio release from Heart. This new album of Heart songs won’t reveal an Even It Up from 1980’s Bebe le Strange, nor will you hear anything remotely close to What About Love, from their 1985 self titled album Heart. What I hear is Ann and Nancy Wilson making a triumphant return to the sound that captured my very own heart, some thirty plus years ago.

Throughout the decades, I’ve listened to so many bands try to reinvent themselves, through sound, style and/or persona. Sure, Heart may have dabbled in some of their very own “change” in the mid 1980’s, only it was never drastic enough for these two incredibly talented sisters to cease making memorable Rock Music. I went along for that stylistic ride back in 1985… seeing Heart in the arena setting of The Hartford Civic Center, with the ever charismatic Autograph as the opening act. There was always a place for Heart… in my Metal heart, ever since my first album of theirs was spinning on my turntable, that album being Bebe le Strange.

While there are those bands that changed and never recovered, there are still other’s that seem to have forgotten their Rock ‘N’ Roll roots with an almost defiant glee in their eyes. Not Ann and Nancy… not Heart. These two gals have taken not just a piece of their Rock ‘N’ Roll past for Red Velvet Car, they have taken it all and this album essentially salutes it with a double high five… throughout all ten songs. As I took a ride inside the Rock Music of Red Velvet Car, I not only took a ride into the Classic Rock past, I am also taking a ride into the Classic Rock present of Heart for as the legendary Bob Seger has sung… “Rock ‘N’ Roll never forgets”.

Ann Wilson’s vocals on each and every song she sings comes through with the same spirit and resonance as the earliest of Heart albums. To listen to Heart’s 1976 debut album, Dreamboat Annie, immediately following Red Velvet Car is quite the Rockin’ treat, realizing that both albums are nearly 35 years apart is astonishing. The same can be said for Nancy Wilson’s guitar, being over three decades removed from Dreamboat Annie doesn’t seem real when the similarities in sound, style and fresh energy are so comparable.

There is even a slight demo-esque feel and quality about Red Velvet Car that makes it all the more alluring to me, whether this is intentional or not, the end result separates this album from having that overly polished and deliberate commercial gloss. From the onset, There You Go sets the tone as to the exact direction Red Velvet Car steers towards. There You Go is acoustically brash with an attitude usually reserved for a hungry up and coming Rock band, only this is Heart in 2010 and thus they are rejuvenated with their song writing. It only get better…

WTF has Nancy’s guitar tone emanating the feeling and desire of 1977’s Barracuda, making me wish I owned a vintage Chevy Nova jacked up and ready to go for that Summertime road trip to the beach. If WTF doesn’t grab you, then you have never listened to Heart before. Ann sounds as invigorated and Rockalicious as ever on the song Red Velvet Car… velvet vocals and all. If I am to drift off into Heart never, never land… then this is the song to bring me there.

Alright, this is the “stand up” and get your groove on portion of Red Velvet Car… Queen City is now playing. When Ann cry’s out – “yo-ho, yo-ho gotta keep afloat” it’s enough to make me feel like Heart has taken back what once was old and made it new again. Let’s not forget that Nancy Wilson can sing with a sparkle like a dew covered peach in the morning Summer sun. Hey You is an acoustic, up-tempo, semi-sweet ballad that carries it’s Rock fragrance of Heart with it’s infectious melody and Nancy’s sweet harmony.

Wheels and Safronia’s Mark both have the atmospheric sound and sensory feel of all things glorious about Classic Heart. Ann and Nancy please, take a bow now for you both have put me on a Classic Rock cloud that is drifting me further away from the lame-o and negative laced Rock Music that devoured everyone in the ’90’s. Hallelujah and Metal be thy name.

I’m going to make it a point to listen to Death Valley and Sunflower, while laying on the grass of my backyard on one of these last hot Summer days… and stare up at the blue sky and puffy white clouds with a retro grin on my middle-aged face that stretches from ear to ear. Is it wrong for my classifying Red Velvet Car as a Classic Rock gem? Calling out Heart’s return to Classic Rock prowess? I don’t think so. Exemplary Rock Music will always rise to the top, despite what is being played on radio or (gasp) MTV. Classic Rock exists for it will never go away, as it rears it’s triumphant head whenever a legendary band such as Heart brings it to life through their albums… both past and present with Red Velvet Car.

Classic Rock has rescued me once again, thank you Ann and Nancy. Red Velvet Car has the Classic Rock ‘N’ Roll fuel and I’m telling anyone whose listening to hitch a ride. Heart has pulled up in their Red Velvet Car and taken me for ride that I’m looking forward to taking again on a consistent basis… for a very, very, long time.

* I have not yet obtained any bonus tracks from the European release of Red Velvet Car, nor was I aware of the two bonus tracks found on the Target version of this CD, until it was too late. (I bought Red Velvet Car at f.y.e. before knowing of the “Only At Target” release).

* For more info on HEART, just click here: HEART-MUSIC.com

Track Listing For Red Velvet Car:

There You Go

WTF

Red Velvet Car

Queen City

Hey You

Wheels

Safronia’s Mark

Death Valley

Sunflower

Sand


LONG LIVE HEART!

Stone.

4 Comments »

VALIENT THORR “STRANGER” – A FUNTASTIC, ROCKIN’, THRASHIN’, METAL MASHIN’ OLD SCHOOL METAL BASH!

Posted in Hard Rock, hard rock albums, hard rock bands, hard rock music, Heavy Metal, heavy metal albums, heavy metal bands, heavy metal music, heavy metal news, metal odyssey, Music, rock & roll, rock and roll, rock music, rock music news with tags , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , on September 10, 2010 by Metal Odyssey

VALIENT THORR – One look at the above headline for this Valient Thorr – Stranger album pretty much says it all. Or does it? Well, the headline probably could suffice with most Old School Metalheads who don’t give a crap about details… an album is supposed to just deliver the Heavy Music goods and be done with it. Have no fear fellow Metalheads, party freaks, moshers, space travelers, Punks, Thrashers and Old Schoolers… Valient Thorr does deliver something for all of you with Stranger. This is Valient Thorr’s fifth album in seven years, releasing September 14th on Volcom Entertainment. With nearly 250 shows a year for most of this run, touring with everyone from Motorhead to Joan Jett, Valient Thorr has certainly proven they are a knuckles pounding the pavement, no bullshit band with those numbers.

Years ago, I mean decades ago, when the cool word floating around was “crossover”, with bands such as D.R.I. and M.O.D. and to an extent Anthrax, they were taking a little bit of every Hard & Heavy genre out there and incorporating it into their very own sound. Valient Thorr doesn’t just have shades and influences of just about every cool music genre in the history of modern day Rock ‘N’ Roll. This Universe exploring band is potently stocked with all of the hell raising, fist pumping, shot-gun beer swilling and garbage can kicking qualities one could only wish for… and then some. Valient Thorr knows how to play some kick ass music.

Is it appropriate for me to state that Valient Thorr has created a “funtastic” album with Stranger? You bet it is. You see, as I listen to the music, (lyrics aside), of Valient Thorr, it makes me feel like jumping right into this album and being a part of the whole damn scene that is going on within these songs. Lyrically, these songs are not just about chugging down a beer and playing darts. Valient Thorr has something to say and they are more than psyched-out to get their point across.

Escapism is a necessity for me and I seek it out through music, through Rock ‘N’ Roll, um, Metal. Hitching a ride on the escapism Space Shuttle that Valient Thorr is navigating is one hell of a trip. I’m the kind of guy that doesn’t need his steak “cooked to perfection”, in other words, I sometimes like ’em raw. Valient Thorr is spreading their raw talent and raw sound across this globe for good reason… to one day hopefully make all those Kidz Bop CD’s disintegrate into millions of pieces, from the sheer presence of this band’s musical existence.

Plus, Valient Thorr is no slouch band either, fans of Heavy Music will either connect with their sound or run for cover. If running for cover is the option one chooses, then they should make sure to bring along a case of laxatives with them… cause they are obviously chronically constipated. Gillionaire is a wake up call to the materialistic morons of Planet Earth and I can only second Valient Thorr’s strong and resounding message they convey here. Oh, yeah… Gillionaire Rocks with plenty of pent-up attitude and blue collar angst that makes the vibe thrive, through every note.

Sleeper Awakes is even more attitude laced with gang vocals aplenty and scorching guitar leads, with a searing guitar solo that fortifies my hunger for… Metal. Disappearer mixes some speed, speed and more speed with it’s overall… speed. Metal be thy name does Disappearer grab my damn attention and smacks it senseless. Double Crossed has some wholesome Old School rhythm and does not shy away from being guitar friendly. Riffs and solos abound on Double Crossed that semi-convinced me it was 1984 all over again. “You will pay, I’ve just been double crossed” might very well be my #1 Metal chorus of 2010… and beyond.

The more I listen to Stranger, the more I wonder if the members of Valient Thorr were born on Planet Lemmy Kilmister. Why I think that you query? It’s the I don’t give a shit – take our Rock ‘N’ Roll or bust attitude that Valient Thorr radiates so, um, eloquently. Sudden Death Is Nothing is kinda easy for me to point at and declare as my favorite song on Stranger. Whoa… it’s the blitz of Thrash that races unapologetically straight into my ears, that makes Sudden Death Is Nothing so damn memorable.

Woman In The Woods is for all Metal intents and purposes… eerie… and I like that. The guitar tones and even the tempo shifts are haunting. Is there really anything that Valient Thorr doesn’t experiment with musically? Maybe Kidz Bop. “Vision Quest” is relevant Metal, while also being a reminder that Old School Metal never dies. I catch onto some late 80’s Anthrax vibration while listening to “Vision Quest” and “Habituary”, both with the Metal, gang vocals and vocals of Valient Himself.

It would be a dream come true to have Valient Thorr play at one or both of my daughters weddings someday. Hell, it would be the best damn music to ever invade my ears at a wedding for Metal sakes. Throw in the Metal fact this band is just down right contagious, with their free spirited attitude towards Heavy Music and yes Virginia… there is a Thorrior Claus. Valient Thorr would tear the roof off of a wedding hall and I would want to be there to witness it. Um, I wouldn’t want to pay for the damage though.

One final song to mention, “Future Humans” might be a spine-chilling look into the future of mankind, regardless, this song freakin’ Rocks like there is no weekend, um, I mean tomorrow. It’s the thunder stomping beat and guitar driven nature of “Future Humans”, that makes me want to jump up and down on the hood of a pristine limousine, parked outside of a five-star restaurant. Metal be thy name.

Valient Thorr is a band that is difficult not to admire and gravitate to. They are a gritty working man’s Heavy Music band that should really gain some major Metal momentum with the release of Stranger on September 14th. Fans of NWOBHM, Old School/Traditional Metal, Hard Rock and well… any Metal, should hopefully dig Valient Thorr like I do. This band already has some fiery momentum happening already, it’s just the thought of them gaining legions more Thorriors worldwide and galaxy wide that makes me sleep better at night. I’m now a Thorrior… and it serves me right.

VALIENT THORR:

Valient Himself – vocals

Eidan Thorr – guitars

Nitewolf – bass

Sadat Thorr – guitars

Lucian Thorr – drums & percussion

* Stranger is set to release on September 14, 2010, on Volcom Entertainment.

* Stranger is produced, recorded and mixed by Jack Endino.

* For more info on Valient Thorr, just click on the links below:

VALIENT THORR – myspace music

VALIENT THORR – Official Website

Track Listing For Valient Thorr – Stranger:

Gillionaire

Sleeper Awakes

Disappearer

Double Crossed

Night Terrors

Sudden Death Is Nothing

Woman In The Woods

Vision Quest

Habituary

The Recognition

Without Hope, Without Fear

Future Humans

Thorriors Of The Galaxy Assemble!

Stone.

2 Comments »

VANDENBERG “BURNING HEART” – THIS 1982 POWER BALLAD STILL GLISTENS

Posted in classic rock music, classic rock songs, Hard Rock, hard rock albums, hard rock bands, hard rock music, hard rock songs, Heavy Metal, heavy metal albums, heavy metal bands, heavy metal music, metal odyssey, Music, rock & roll, rock and roll, rock guitarists, rock music with tags , , , , , , , , , , , , , on September 7, 2010 by Metal Odyssey

VANDENBERG – Let’s go back to 1982. I was a sophomore in high school and very proud of my ability to draw the band logos for Styx, Michael Schenker Group and of course… KISS. (The Judas Priest band logo was and forever will be too difficult for me to draw freehand). Hirax, Hellhammer and Armored Saint were formed, just to name a few Metal bands. Alright, W.A.S.P. was formed in 1982 too. World famous pro basketball star, (UCONN & Pheonix Mercury) Diana Taurasi was born.

Ronald Reagan was the United States President and Bryant Gumbel began his 15 year career as NBC’s The Today Show co-host. The Weather Channel also launched into cable television back in 1982. Well, enough with the 1982 trivia… this post is about guitarist Adrian Vandenberg’s own Hard Rock band which debuted their self-titled album Vandenberg, this very same year on Atco Records.

This Vandenberg debut album was and always will be an excellent listen for me. My favorite song from this album is Burning Heart. That’s correct… a ballad. A Power Ballad too. Me, the dude who likes to tip-toe around ballads in almost any album review I do, really digs Burning Heart. Ever since I first heard this song on the FM dial back in 1982, I have been an admirer of it. Bert Heerink was the lead vocalist on this song and album. Could it be the strength in Bert’s vocals that I hear be the deciding factor for my liking Burning Heart so much? How about the guitar talent of Adrian Vandenberg himself? Adrian’s solo in Burning Heart is as articulately placed and played as any I’ve ever heard over all these years.

Adrian’s tone and feel that comes out at me from his guitar just always seemed to have that wallop. On Burning Heart, Adrian makes his guitar come across with such a free floating sound, making this Power Ballad come together perfectly… he dictated this song and commanded it with his guitar eloquence. Burning Heart from the very onset of my hearing it, never came across to me as being sappy. It is quite an emotional song for certain and radiates that essential vibe that seems to be lacking in so many Power Ballads over the decades.

Does Burning Heart remind me of a love I once had? Nope. Does it remind me of a love I could never have? Nope again. Despite this, this is a song that just reminds me of a time in my life when I was seeking out my place amongst my peers and just trying to get along. In actuality, that is really what I’m still doing, to this very day. Any song, from the vast and seemingly infinite world of music, will hold it’s own unique affect on an individual. Burning Heart stays in my music mind files as being… timeless.

*  Besides being a legendary guitarist, find out more about Adrian Vandenberg and his other artistic talent… as a world renowned painter in the fine arts. Peruse Adrian’s brilliant artwork by clicking this link: ADRIAN VANDENBERG – ARTIST

Vandenberg, as they appeared on the debut/self titled album:

Adrian Vandenberg – guitar, keyboards and backing vocals

Bert Heerink – lead vocals

Dick Kemper – bass and backing vocals

Jos Zoomer – drums and backing vocals

LONG LIVE ADRIAN VANDENBERG & HIS MUSIC

Stone.

5 Comments »

THE DOORS “13” – Reflecting On My First Album By This Beyond Legendary Band

Posted in Hard Rock, hard rock albums, hard rock bands, hard rock music, metal odyssey, Music, psychedelic rock music, Rock, rock & roll, rock 'n' roll, rock and roll, rock music, rock music history, rock music news with tags , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , on September 6, 2010 by Metal Odyssey

THE DOORS – Today was a gorgeous late Summer day where I live. Eastern Pennsylvania has had it’s fair share of oppressive humidity the last few months, so taking advantage of more mild temperatures with little to no humidity is essential for the mind, body and soul. Outdoor activities are once again in the fold for Stone and his family! So, the family and I set out for some mini golf this afternoon. My wife found what I consider to be the cleanest and most fun mini golf course I’ve ever seen or played. Sittler Golf Center is quite the place… with a driving range, pro-shop, take-out window and of course, mini golf. This cool place is located in Kutztown, Pennsylvania.

There are those many moments in my life, where being somewhere and hearing a song sparks a memory. Today there were two songs I heard being played at Sittler Golf Center, they were Touch Me and Light My Fire by the beyond legendary – The Doors. Listening to these kind of Rock Classics while playing mini golf makes Stone very happy. The memory these two songs sparked in my mind were of the first vinyl album I ever owned by The Doors, which was 13.

It was an immediate vision in my minds eye, the album 13. I could see it as plain as day as I moved about the mini golf course today. 13 is a slab of classic vinyl I wish was still in my collection. All I kept thinking to myself as the vision of this album drifted through my mind was… why did I get rid of so many damn great albums years ago? This question gets brought up by me so frequently and the answers are always the same. CD’s were invented and I traded or sold many of my vinyl albums so I could buy… more vinyl albums and/or CD’s! It was an economic cycle I was in for years, buying and then selling my favorite albums. I guess now I know better, the collector and nostalgic parts of me helps to keep my collection intact.

Yes, I did not own a studio album from The Doors until after this “greatest hits” of 13 ran it’s Rockin’ course through my young Rock ‘N’ Roll hungry veins and consciousness. 13 was as terrific a starting point as I could ever ask for in exploring The Doors. I believe I bought 13 sometime around 1983. I remember choosing this 13 album over The Doors Greatest Hits album, due to my liking the album cover of 13 much better. 13 has all four members of The Doors on the cover, with of course Jim Morrison taking up the majority of the cover… and rightfully so. I can honestly remember, holding both albums, debating which one to buy, while standing in the record aisle at the Caldor department store.

Here is what The Doors – Greatest Hits looks like:

Granted, both album covers have a fantastic photo of Jim Morrison. My thinking back in ’83 was to get the “greatest hits” of The Doors that everyone else was passing over. Thinking back, it seemed most of my friends and cousins had bought the Greatest Hits from 1980. L.A. Woman, Not To Touch The Earth, Break On Through and Riders On The Storm are not on 13 and on the Greatest Hits from ’80. However, 13 did have… 13 songs versus the 10 songs heard on the “original” Greatest Hits album from ’80. So, three more songs plus I liked the album cover better, making 13 my first album of choice in adding The Doors to my record collection and life.

It’s funny, yet as I played 13 over and over again back then, my favorite song on this album was You’re Lost Little Girl. Why it’s funny is that this song was never a huge hit for The Doors. I can recall hearing this song being played on WCCC, WHCN and maybe WPLR up in very expensive Connecticut while growing up, only very rarely. Heck, compare this song to the timeless classics of Light My Fire, L.A. Woman, Riders On The Storm and Hello I Love You and forget about it… these songs were staples in the FM rotation of any reputable station back in the 80’s, today as well for some.

What lured me in first and foremost, upon my initial listening experiences of 13 was the voice of Jim Morrison. Whoa. Jim Morrison sounded like no other dude I was listening to of any band at the time. This wasn’t Rob Halford, Ozzy, Paul/Gene/Ace or Peter of KISS, Dennis DeYoung, Lou Gramm, Tom Petty, Bon Scott, Brian Johnson, Jeff Lynne or Robin Zander. Nope. This was a more mysterious voice I was being exposed to at this time of my young life. The previous names I mentioned were all being digested by my ears and mind around 1983, slightly before my “real” exposure to the Thrash Metal movement that enriched my life to this very moment. All of these vocalists I named off are extremely unique and I admire them all greatly.

The voice of Jim Morrison to this day, makes me wonder as to what exactly was going through his mind as he sang. The only other vocalist that I could consider mysterious, with an unreal alluring X -factor, is the late and so sadly missed by me and countless others… Ronnie James Dio. To me, the voice and persona of Jim Morrison was Rock ‘N’ Roll in it’s most profusely exposed state. Sure, I could rant on about the drugs and misfortune of Jim Morrison here, only that’s not what I take from this legend of Rock ‘N’ Roll. Just knowing at that young age back in ’83, that drug abuse defeated Jim Morrison was enough for me to understand the consequences of living such a lifestyle.

13 motivated me to buy this amazing book:

This fabulous biography, No One Here Gets Out Alive, was written by Jerry Hopkins and Danny Sugerman and was printed back in 1980. I remember being mesmerized by the content that I absorbed from these pages. Whoa… was I becoming schooled on the life and times of a Rock ‘N’ Roll legend. I was so fascinated by this book, that I can admit to reading it several times over before I graduated high school. I can remember that my mom was just happy that I was reading a book at all! So many kids had this book under their arm, in their locker or tucked away in their stash back in those early ’80’s that it was alarming.

My memory of watching this album, 13, spin around on the turntable seems like yesterday to me. Yes, I held that album jacket and stared at The Doors. I even read No One Here Gets Out Alive as this album played. Listening to Ray Manzarek on keyboards, Robby Krieger on guitar and John Densmore on drums was a lesson in how American Rock Music was formulated in the late 1960’s and into the early 1970’s. I remember back in ’83, as I still do now, the feeling of amazement that The Doors released their debut album in 1967… when I was only 22 days from turning 1 years old!

The Doors and their 13 album only enlightened my adoration for Rock ‘N’ Roll, making me all the more better prepared for the onslaught of Metal Music that has been an important part of my life for so long now. This is not nonsense about The Doors actually pushing me head first into exploring so many other cool and historical bands when I was a teenager. I actually took a keen interest in listening to The Animals, The Rolling Stones, The Who and a slew of other Rock Music heavyweights back in those early to mid ’80’s due to this remarkable album called… 13.

* The Doors – 13 was released back in November of 1970, on Elektra Records.

* The Doors – 13 was their first “greatest hits” album release.

* Apparently, 13 has never been released on CD. I’m going to find it on vinyl again someday… hopefully in the same mint condition as I once owned it!

* For more info on The Doors, just click here: THE DOORS – Official Website

* For more info on Sittler Golf Center, just click: Sittler Golf Center – website

Track Listing For The Doors – 13:

Light My Fire

People Are Strange

Back Door Man

Moonlight Drive

The Crystal Ship

Roadhouse Blues

Touch Me

Love Me Two Times

You’re Lost Little Girl

Hello I Love You

Land Ho!

Wild Child

The Unknown Soldier


LONG LIVE THE DOORS ROCK ‘N’ ROLL!

R.I.P. Jim Morrison & Ronnie James Dio

Stone.

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TEN VERY UNCOOL HARD ROCK & HEAVY METAL ALBUM COVERS PART II

Posted in classic rock music, Hard Rock, hard rock albums, hard rock bands, hard rock music, Heavy Metal, heavy metal albums, heavy metal bands, heavy metal music, metal music, metal odyssey, Music, rock & roll, rock and roll, rock music, rock music news with tags , , , , , , , , , , , , on September 5, 2010 by Metal Odyssey

GUESS WHO’S COMING TO DINNER?

I don’t advertise myself to be an “expert” in Hard Rock and Heavy Metal album cover design. Nor am I a photography expert either. What I do know is this… a Hard Rock or Heavy Metal album cover should entice fans or potential fans to buy the album. Skulls, flames, guitars, dragons, sword & sorcery, space aliens, monsters, spooky landscapes, the paranormal and the macabre is right up my Metal alley when it comes to album covers. You won’t find this cool stuff on the album covers below. Marketing Hard Rock and Heavy Metal should be simple, right? Well, that is not always the Metal case, as you shall see from the following list of ten very uncool album covers that I have compiled… just for you… and it’s “Part II”!

Years ago, I did earn a degree in Graphic Communications, therefore I think I know what cool Hard Rock and Heavy Metal album artwork is supposed to look like. Then again, what do I know? Some, if not many of the albums in this top ten list have probably sold millions of copies worldwide… so my opinion on these very uncool album covers is probably one big, nasty and smelly fart in the wind anyways.

* Just because an album cover is uncool, doesn’t necessarily mean that the music contained within is lousy. This list, as with the first list, only points out those Hard Rock & Heavy Metal album covers which Metal Odyssey finds so extremely boring and embarrassing that they are… well, uncool.

Here are Metal Odyssey’s Top Ten Very Uncool Hard Rock & Heavy Metal Album Covers Part II, enjoy! Or, try to enjoy.

#10:

Hard Rock Essentials: 1980’s (1995)

Wow. Is that supposed to be a guitar in the center? Um, it’s missing some parts. Ahhh! Those two skulls are so NOT scary! These aren’t the skulls and guitar that I’m looking for on an album cover! This is what a record company gets, when they don’t want to pay the $$$ for decent Hard Rock artwork. Instead, it looks like some record company gave a kindergartner the “go” on this one. Or, it’s some overpaid record executive’s fourth grade kid that did it. Either way… this artwork stinks like rotten cabbage.

#9:

Metal Church – The Human Factor (1991)

Look, anyone who knows me, knows I revere Metal Church… every Metal Church lineup too. With that said, this album cover does this Metal Church lineup NO Metal justice whatsoever. It looks like these guys are laying down on a (gulp) Disco dance floor from Saturday Night Fever. The Metal Church “classic logo” is there, only it’s not enough.

#8:

Torben Enevoldsen – Heavy Persuasion (2007)

Alright, Torben, sit right there and hold up your guitar’s neck directly in front of your face… o.k., a little to the right, hold still now, why aren’t you smiling? Sit still… done! What a picture we got! That didn’t take too long now, did it? Man, Torben, this is gonna make an awesome album cover!

#7:

Lee Aaron – Metal Queen (1984)

Um, yup. Anyways, Lee Aaron really doesn’t look like a queen here at all. Instead, let’s be real, she looks more like a lady barbarian. Where’s the queen’s clothing? Hey… that’s a cardboard sword! Is that backdrop a soiled shower curtain? Regardless, this is not the sword & sorcery I’m talkin’ about. Where’s Doro Pesch when we really need her!?

#6:

Koushik – be with

Apparently, Koushik is a Canadian electronic musician. That’s what my Metal research has uncovered. Despite the lack of Hard Rock or Heavy Metal tags associated with Koushik, this album cover is just a MUST to make this list. I should have never thrown away my kids drawings from when they were one years old. Damn, I could be selling them right now… to record companies as album covers! I could have been rich! I could understand if this cover was for Kids Bop though.

#5:

Symphonity – Voice From The Silence (2008)

Trust me… these dudes called Symphonity ROCK. However, the Power Metal & Speed Metal that this cool band is great at just does NOT resonate on this album cover. Honestly, if I did not know about this Symphonity band, I would swear this was a Gospel album.

#4:

Helloween – Chameleon (1993)

As with Metal Church, Helloween is a band that I honestly revere. Helloween invented Power Metal for Metal sakes. Helloween F’n Rules. However, Chameleon is hands down, my least favorite Helloween album ever released… and it has the worst Helloween album cover ever created. Yes… Metal be thy name.

#3:

Heavy Metal: Head Bangin’ Hits (2003)

It’s some girl wearing a Dee Snider Halloween wig and Jerry Garcia glasses. Um… not my idea of a “Heavy Metal Chick”. It’s covers like this that makes me ask… WTF?

#2:

Heart Of Metal 2 – Various Artists (2001)

Yeah, o.k., like every Metalhead out there is gonna give their sweetheart a barbed wire heart, as a token of their Metal love. Here baby… I love you baby… uh, don’t get cut on this barbed wire heart. Over the years, it never ceases to amaze me, the over zealous stereotyping that we Metalheads receive. Like we are all a bunch of cash strapped barbarians, that rummage through landfills for anniversary gifts. If I gave my wife a barbed wire heart… she would then know that I totally lost my Metal mind, plus I’d get kicked out of the house as well. Hey, not even Hot Topic sells these barbed wire hearts. Not yet anyways.

#1:

Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives: Road Songs That Rock – Hand Picked by Guy Fieri (Compilation) – (2008)

F’n Whoa. Hey, I don’t need that Food Network or Guy Fieri hand picking ANY Rock, Hard Rock or Heavy Metal songs for me. Stick to eating your high cholesterol foods Guy. Plus, I don’t see the F’n connection between the Food Network and Rock ‘N’ Roll anyways. Furthermore, I NEVER connected Guy Fieri to Hard Rock, Heavy Metal or any Rock Music for that F’n matter. All of a sudden, Guy Fieri is the second coming of Wolfman Jack.

Do you think the Food Network would let me have a 30 minute show called… Cooking With Stone? Bet your Metal butt they wouldn’t. Yet it’s alright for the Food Network to set loose their “food experts” on the Hard Rock and Heavy Metal world. Gee Metal whiz.

This is a perfect example of a corporate entity getting involved where they DON’T BELONG! It’s all about the quick $$$ isn’t it Food Network? By the way… the track listing is not too shabby on this CD. I don’t own it and would never buy it… due to the Metal fact it has a damn Food Network logo on it with Guy Fieri laughing all the way to the bank… or should I say refrigerator?

Stone.

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BLACKIE LAWLESS OF W.A.S.P. – HAPPY METAL BIRTHDAY!!

Posted in celebrity birthdays, hard rock albums, hard rock bands, hard rock music, Heavy Metal, heavy metal albums, heavy metal bands, heavy metal music, heavy metal news, metal music, metal odyssey, Music, rock & roll, rock and roll, rock music, rock music history, rock music news with tags , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , on September 4, 2010 by Metal Odyssey

BLACKIE LAWLESS – On September 4, 1956, Blackie Lawless was born. On that day, the history of Heavy Metal was solidified and secured. Blackie Lawless turns a Metal cool 54 today! Happy Metal Birthday Blackie Lawless! You are a Metal Odyssey – Lifetime Metal Warrior. With 14 studio albums and 4 live albums as the founding Metal leader of W.A.S.P., I and Scott Coverdale give you a Metal salute and a rousing THANK YOU!

THANK YOU Blackie Lawless for also standing up against the PMRC back in 1985… our freedom to listen to the music that we love in America was on the brink due to this PMRC “group” and WE WON due to our Metal and Music community banding together as one. Scott Coverdale and I don’t forget what you stood up for back in those late 80’s. Stone and Scott Coverdale shall never forget their Metal roots, therefore, we shall never forget the history of Blackie Lawless and W.A.S.P.!

THANK YOU for creating Babylon. This 2009 studio album of unreal & supercharged Metal was heralded as the #1 Heavy Metal album of 2009, right here, on Metal Odyssey! On December 28, 2009, Metal Odyssey posted their “Top 25 Heavy Metal Albums Of 2009”. Anyone who missed it can read all about it and check out W.A.S.P. Babylon being #1, just by clicking on the big and cool link below:

METAL ODYSSEY’S TOP 25 HEAVY METAL ALBUMS OF 2009

* After the release of Babylon, I was so psyched out of my Metal mind about this album, that praising one song at a time from it seemed like a logical Metal choice. Here is the post, from November 14, 2009, that gives Metal praise to the Chuck Berry classic Promised Land, that W.A.S.P. so admirably covered on Babylon:

W.A.S.P. COVERS CHUCK BERRY CLASSIC – “PROMISED LAND” ON “BABYLON” ALBUM

* On November 11, 2009, I gave a Metal thumbs up to the song Crazy from Babylon:

W.A.S.P. “CRAZY” FROM “BABYLON” ALBUM IS WOVEN WITH HEAVY METAL MATURITY

* And on November 10, 2009, I ranted and Metal raved about W.A.S.P. covering the Deep Purple classic Burn that is heard on Babylon:

W.A.S.P. COVERS THE DEEP PURPLE CLASSIC “BURN” WITH HEAVY METAL PRIDE ON BABYLON ALBUM!

* On March 10, 2010, Metal Odyssey posted about just how incredible W.A.S.P. Live… In The Raw truly is. You can check it out by clicking on the magic link below:

W.A.S.P. – “LIVE… IN THE RAW” RESONATES THE LIVE POWER AND SOUL OF HEAVY ROCK ‘N ROLL!!

* On January 14, 2010, Metal Odyssey featured a post about the collector side of Stone when it comes to W.A.S.P., the 12″ single of The Real Me is shown in all of it’s Metal glory! Click that jim dandy link below to check it out:

W.A.S.P. – “THE REAL ME” 12″ SINGLE FROM 1989 REVISITED!

* On December 30, 2009, Metal Odyssey got all Metal giddy about the 1989 picture disc of The Headless Children. Yes… that fine link below will take you right to this post:

W.A.S.P. “THE HEADLESS CHILDREN” 1989 PICTURE DISC IS FOR KEEPS!

* Going back to April April 24, 2009, Metal Odyssey wasn’t bashful about being Metal psyched about the 1985 studio album – The Last Command. Metal be thy name, this is a fabulous W.A.S.P. album! Read for yourself, if you so choose, by clicking the link below:

W.A.S.P. “The Last Command” is a Heavy Metal classic!

* Back on March 21, 2009, Metal Odyssey celebrated 26 years of W.A.S.P. Heavy Metal! A terrific post was written to celebrate this amazing and historic Heavy Metal event. The link below shall guide you to this Metal read:

Celebrating 26 years of W.A.S.P. Heavy Metal!

* For those who want to learn about more incredible W.A.S.P. albums from the past, all you need to do is click on the links below. These are all album reviews written by Stone!

* From March 15, 2009:

W.A.S.P. – DYING FOR THE WORLD

* From March 15, 2009:

W.A.S.P. – STILL NOT BLACK ENOUGH

* From March 15, 2009:

W.A.S.P. – HELLDORADO

* From March 14, 2009:

W.A.S.P. – THE CRIMSON IDOL

So, as anyone can see, Blackie Lawless and his amazingly important and Metal historic band W.A.S.P. are and forever will be embraced here on Metal Odyssey.

LONG LIVE BLACKIE LAWLESS!

BLACKIE LAWLESS = HEAVY METAL & ROCK ‘N’ ROLL LEGEND

Stone.

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BLACKMORE’S NIGHT “SECRET VOYAGE” – I’M ON BOARD FOR THIS MUSICAL JOURNEY!

Posted in classic rock, classic rock music, folk rock music, metal odyssey, Music, renaissance music, rock and roll, rock guitarists, rock music, rock music news with tags , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , on September 4, 2010 by Metal Odyssey

BLACKMORE’S NIGHT – Ritchie Blackmore has never abandoned his love affair for creating incredible classical sounds with his guitar. The lure and attraction for Renaissance music has made Ritchie Blackmore and Candice Night become an impeccable duo of musical minds and talent since their 1997 Blackmore’s Night album debut – Shadow Of The Moon. With 1970’s era Rainbow, Ritchie Blackmore intertwined the Renaissance sound with bluesy Rock and Hard Rock like no other. It only makes sense to me, that Ritchie has taken his immeasurable musical talents to this extraordinary level of existence with Blackmore’s Night, so many years ago.

No one will find the supercharged Hard Rock sound of Straight Between The Eyes or Bent Out Of Shape with Blackmore’s Night. This is another world of music prowess for Ritchie Blackmore and I’m admittedly hooked on this Secret Voyage… it’s an impossible thought for me not to embrace this music. If it’s not the guitar virtuosity of Ritchie, then it’s the beautiful and mesmerizing voice of Candice Night that thrills my ears and mind into a state of… joy.

Rainbow Eyes is such a wonderful song to hear and Candice Night’s vocals just might have me growing wings and flying through the sky… in my Secret Voyage dreams that is. Taking a Rainbow classic, such as Rainbow Eyes from the 1978 album Long Live Rock ‘n’ Roll and covering it this way is certainly a musically credible move by Ritchie Blackmore, in my Metal opinion.

The liner notes to Secret Voyage characterize the music created by Blackmore’s Night as Renaissance/Folk/Rock and I won’t disagree. What should be conveyed here to all, is this style of music should not be judged until it is heard. Anytime the words “Folk” or “Renaissance” come into view of a Rock/Hard Rock or Heavy Metal platform such as Metal Odyssey, it can become quite deceptive. Music genres unfortunately can fall victim to stereotyping, sad but true.

In listening to Blackmore’s Night, I have become all the more rich in my quest for hearing all the great works of Ritchie Blackmore. The elements and styles of music heard from Blackmore’s Night are not worlds apart compared to that of early Rainbow and many of the works of Yngwie J. Malmsteen. I can even go further by adding in The Electric Light Orchestra or The Moody Blues as well, when it comes to stylistic comparisons.

Can’t Help Falling In Love is easily guilty of being the “heaviest” song on Secret Voyage, with both it’s tempo and overall energy of sound. Trust me, this is not the molasses sweet and teary eyed original version of Can’t Help Falling In Love made famous and sung by the unreal legendary Elvis Presley in the 1961 film – Blue Hawaii. Forget the UB40 cover version of this song as well… for Candice Night and Ritchie Blackmore make Can’t Help Falling In Love an upbeat, Rockin’ and inspirational listen, like it has never been done before.

The Renaissance fair kicks into high gear with the song – Peasant’s Promise. Once again, the music shares center stage with Candice Night’s vocals. As I listen to this song, I surely wish I owned and could play a shawm, so I could bounce around my surroundings while I gleefully take part in this Renaissance Folk euphoria that I’m experiencing. I’m not kidding or being a wise-guy here. The more I listen to Secret Voyage, the more I wonder as to why this album did not win one of those coveted Grammy’s? Politics I reason.

Far Far Away has a tinge of Enya “style” background chorus/vocals, which only enhances the sensory backdrop of this earthy fortified song. Very mellow, very soft are the vocals of Candice Night on Empty Words… coupled with the acoustic magic that resonates from Ritchie’s guitar are enough to make my Metal heart melt, like a slab of butter on an open fire. Hey Celine Dion… I have two words for you… Candice Night. Metal be thy name.

Guitar enthusiasts, Rainbow and Ritchie Blackmore fans should already be in the know with Blackmore’s Night. Fans of Folk, Renaissance Folk/Rock may very well become enriched with the sounds of Secret Voyage. Any Old School Metalhead like myself, that has a spot in their Metal heart for the guitar greats of our generation, might just take a dive into Blackmore’s Night and fall victim to this living legend’s guitar once again. Ritchie Blackmore and Candice Night come across to my ears as two musicians who were born to be together, not only as husband and wife, as Blackmore’s Night as well.

* Blackmore’s Night – Secret Voyage was released on July 15, 2008, on Steamhammer/SPV. Secret Voyage is the seventh studio album from Blackmore’s Night.

* For more info on Ritchie Blackmore, Candice Night and Blackmore’s Night, just click on the link below:

THE RITCHIE BLACKMORE & BLACKMORE’S NIGHT – Official Website

* A special thanks to Metal Mark at Heavy Metal Time Machine for pushing this album my way.

Track Listing For Secret Voyage:

God Save The Keg

Locked Within The Crystal Ball

Gilded Cage

Toast To Tomorrow

Prince Waldeck’s Galliard

Rainbow Eyes

The Circle

Sister Gypsy

Can’t Help Falling In Love

Peasant’s Promise

Far Far Away

Empty Words

LONG LIVE BLACKMORE’S NIGHT!

Stone.

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MADINA LAKE “THEY’RE COMING FOR ME” – NEW SINGLE RELEASED AND IT’S IMPRESSIVE!!

Posted in alternative rock bands, alternative rock music, Hard Rock, hard rock bands, hard rock music, metal odyssey, Music, rock & roll, rock and roll, rock music, rock music news, rock music reviews with tags , , , , , , , , , , , on September 3, 2010 by Metal Odyssey

MADINA LAKE – The brand new single They’re Coming For Me from Madina Lake is currently available on itunes… and it is a winner. It’s the heightened chorus of this song that I can’t get enough of. Nathan Leone on lead vocals gives an emotionally powerful feel to this song’s lyrics. The guitar play of Mateo Camargo impacts They’re Coming For Me with an energy all it’s own. Mateo’s guitar parts seem to come in at the perfect time throughout this entire song. This new song explores the desperate side of the human spirit, They’re Coming For Me can be as inspirational as it is realistically moving.

A lost soul crying out for help can be disguised in social settings, to the point where no one on the outside could possibly detect there is anything wrong with such a troubled soul. This new single just may perhaps, make a lost soul out there feel that maybe they are not alone after all. Madina Lake has proven to me once again, that they are a band that takes great pride in not just their music, they take great pride in their lyrical content as well. Songs can be written with deep meaning behind their lyrics, while still having an irresistable Rock feel and melodic flow. They’re Coming For Me is a perfect example of this, in my Metal opinion and personal interpretation.

If you are a fan of Rock and/or Alternative Rock that touches on the human factor, this new Madina Lake single should be a song you can’t possibly pass over.

* The Dresden Codex – is the forthcoming album from Madina Lake. I have not seen an actual release date just yet for this album… still, it’s gonna be worth the wait for Madina Lake fans.

* For more info on MADINA LAKE, and to stay updated on the healing progress of Matthew Leone, just click the links below:

MADINA LAKE – Official Website

MADINA LAKE – myspace music

* To make a pledge by buying Madina Lake merch and music to help defray the medical costs for Matthew Leone, just click on the link below:

PLEDGEMUSIC – Madina Lake’s Matthew Leone – Sweet Relief Fundraiser

MATTHEW LEONE IS A HERO.

Stone.

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MURDERDOLLS “WOMEN AND CHILDREN LAST” – MY FIRST METAL IMPRESSION

Posted in Album Review, extreme metal music, Hard Rock, hard rock music, Heavy Metal, heavy metal albums, heavy metal bands, heavy metal music, heavy metal news, horror metal, horror punk, metal odyssey, Music, punk rock music, rock & roll, rock and roll, rock music, rock music news with tags , , , , , , , , , , , , , , on August 31, 2010 by Metal Odyssey

MURDERDOLLS – Yes, I made my Murderdolls CD purchase today, on it’s release date. The deluxe edition looked too fantastic to pass up, therefore I snagged this version of Women And Children Last and so far… it has served me right. The three bonus tracks on the deluxe edition are: Mother F**ker See, Mother F**ker Do, The Funeral Ball and A Moment Of Violence. The bonus DVD includes live songs recorded at The Key Club in W. Hollywood, CA on June 17, 2010.

So, what would my favorite track be thus far? Well, I have listened to Women And Children Last about five times today… and I am not remotely close to growing tired of one song yet. Actually, this new Murderdolls has been quite the escapism for me. The raucous, pissed off and nightmarish lyrics are a sheer delight to listen to… especially after I watched the news at noon today.

The lead single from Women And Children Last, My Dark Place Alone, still blasts out at me like a stick of Metal dynamite, leaving me thinking… this crazy shit is F’n fun! Blood Stained Valentine is one hell of groove infested number… it Rocks so hellishly fine this… Blood Stained Valentine! Summertime Suicide has some deep and depressing lyrics… only the melodic hardness of this song has taken me by surprise and makes it a damn cool song, worthy of hitting the repeat play button multiple times. Pieces Of You is another infectiously heavy and vibe ridden song that has me in Metal stitches.

Wednesday 13 has the vocals of a modern day Horror Punk meets Horror Metal superstar. Joey Jordison is Metal sound and Metal solid on guitar. If there is any question about Joey delivering the licks with a six string, then just one listen to Rock N Roll Is All I Got is the sure fire-slap to the forehead reminder that he is the real deal. Whoa… Rock ‘N’ Roll is (gasp) fun sometimes! Whatever You Got, I’m Against It electrifies with fun vibes throughout, with strong hints and deep shades of Punk Rock flavor… Old School style too.

Well, my first Metal impression of Women And Children Last, after nearly six thorough listens, is that this Murderdolls album is spontaneously contagious! I don’t predict that my Metal impression shall change anytime soon, unless… maybe I’ll like this new Murderdolls album even more with each listen. Murderdolls don’t disappoint on delivering the Heavy, nor do they disappoint on bringing some Horrific Fun back into the world of Rock ‘N’ Roll either. That’s my first Metal impression of Women And Children Last, so let it be Metal written, so let it be Metal done.

LONG LIVE MURDERDOLLS & THEIR ROCK ‘N’ ROLL!

Stone.

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RUDOLF SCHENKER – HAPPY BIRTHDAY FROM METAL ODYSSEY!

Posted in classic rock music, hard rock bands, hard rock music, Heavy Metal, heavy metal bands, heavy metal guitarists, heavy metal history, heavy metal music, heavy metal news, metal odyssey, Music, rock and roll, rock guitarists, rock music, rock music news with tags , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , on August 30, 2010 by Metal Odyssey

RUDOLF SCHENKER – Born on August 31, 1948, Rudolf Schenker turns a Rockin’ cool… 62! Tuesday, August 31, 2010, is Rudolf Schenker day at Metal Odyssey! Happy Birthday Rudolf! Metal Odyssey wishes you all the very best in your Metal endeavors on your birthday! May all the peace, love and good health be with you always!

Words cannot express, just how much your music with the Scorpions has meant to me, during my whole life.

* Pictured in above Scorpions photo, left to right: Pawel Maciwoda, Klaus Meine, Matthias Jabs, James Kottak and the birthday dude… Rudolf Schenker!

* On June 27, 2010, I posted about my Rockin’ experience seeing the Scorpions live at the 2010 M3 Rock Festival. Click on the big ol’ link below to read about it if you like:

SCORPIONS AT M3 ROCK FESTIVAL 2010 – THANK YOU SCORPS!!

LONG LIVE RUDOLF SCHENKER!

LONG LIVE SCORPIONS ROCK ‘N’ ROLL!

Stone.

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Ten Hard Rock/Heavy Metal Songs That I Can Do Without

Posted in classic rock, classic rock music, Hard Rock, hard rock bands, hard rock music, Heavy Metal, heavy metal bands, heavy metal music, metal odyssey, Music, rock and roll, rock music, rock music news with tags , , , , , , , , , , , on August 25, 2010 by Metal Odyssey

Here at Metal Odyssey, not every Hard Rock or Heavy Metal song ever created is going to be praised. There are those songs that give me an instant headache. Then, there are those songs that make me want to barf. Of course, there are songs that make me wonder… why? Here is a list of 10 songs that I honestly cannot listen to ever again. It’s all personal preference here and just because I may dislike the song listed does not mean I don’t like the band that recorded it.

There are bands and musicians on this list that are beyond legendary. Enjoy or become annoyed with this list, regardless, these songs are NOT going to ever “psyche out the party”. God forbid if these songs were to psyche out a party… then that party must be at the Lame-O Ranch At Rolling Hills.

01 – White Lion – When The Children Cry: Yeah, yeah, yeah… it’s a serious song about a sad and serious topic and I truly respect that aspect of this song. It’s just so damn sad that for years it made me want to scream every time I heard it. Now, one micro second of this song’s beginning is enough for me.

02 – Twisted Sister – Leader Of The Pack: Of course Twisted Sister is a legendary band. The only problem is this cover song they did way back in 1985 is not a crowning moment for this icon band. The silver lining about this cover song is it made me appreciate the albums Under The Blade and You Can’t Stop Rock ‘n’ Roll all the more.

03 – Ozzy Osbourne & Lita Ford – Close My Eyes Forever: Just like When The Children Cry, I realize this is a serious song with a deep and somber meaning. However, this would be a much more tolerable song if the duet performing it was Celine Dion and Josh Groban… and then I still wouldn’t listen to it.

04 – Metallica – One: Back in 1989 I was the biggest Metallica fan on the Metal block. Upon my very first listen to One… I was clutching onto my Slayer, Overkill, Anthrax and Exodus albums and running for cover. My Mercyful Fate albums too. Oh, for the record, I was 0% impressed by the music video for One as well. Don’t get me wrong, I’ll always be a Metallica fan. Just realize there is no law that requires me to love everything that Metallica ever did.

05 – Honeymoon Suite – New Girl Now: Um, again… not every Hard Rock or Heavy Metal song is gonna get Stone psyched out. Two words of note here – bubble gum.

06 – Ozzy Osbourne – So Tired: Look, I revere Ozzy, he’s the Godfather of Heavy Metal for Metal sakes. Regardless, I grew tired of So Tired the very day I bought Bark At The Moon back in 1983. If I whined just like Ozzy does on this song… my wife would slug me in the head and boot me in the butt.

07 – Ace Frehley/Frehley’s Comet – Dolls: C’mon. The lyrics are just plain weird. Space Ace is another musician I have revered since the late ’70’s and I’m a KISS fan for life. I love every song Ace Frehley has ever played guitar and/or sung on. The exception is this song.

08 – Metallica – Turn The Page: This is one instance where nothing beats the original. Bob Seger & The Silver Bullet Band never created this Classic Rock masterpiece for Metallica to improve on it. Sure, it’s a multi-million dollar seller for Metallica… and multi-millions of turtleneck wearing Bananarama fans bought it too.

09 – Styx – Mr. Roboto – I can vividly remember, like it was yesterday. Either WHCN or WCCC FM, (which FM station is not vivid), out of Hartford, Connecticut was announcing the “new” Styx single… Mr. Roboto. I was ecstatic. Bring on the “new” Styx is all I was saying. Then… this song played. Ouch. At the end of Mr. Roboto, the DJ asked listeners to call in and give their opinion on the song. Back then, (1983), my family and everyone else I knew had the clunky… rotary phones. The phones in which you had to “dial” by finger, one number at a time. Anyways… I was in a state of despair… too upset to call any damn DJ at that moment anyhow. All I do remember is clutching onto The Grand Illusion album, slowly rocking back and forth as I sat there on the floor, half crying, muttering this one lone word over and over… why?, why?, WHY?!

10 – Queen – Radio Ga Ga – I also remember too vividly this song being released as well. Queen is so enormously legendary, it’s just a shame there is a Queen song out there that I cannot listen to. Radio Ga Ga is that song. Look, I already took a beating in 1983 with Mr. Roboto… now only a year later, it’s another revered band of mine taking a stylistic music detour as well. I don’t care if this song’s meaning is about radio playing lousy songs and programming back in the day. This song was not the Queen I fell head over heals with as a young lad. To this day, I cannot figure out what the “Ga Ga” was suppose to mean. Maybe Lady Ga Ga figured it out.

Stone.

13 Comments »

MURDERDOLLS – ONE WEEK UNTIL “WOMEN AND CHILDREN LAST” RELEASES!

Posted in Hard Rock, hard rock bands, hard rock music, Heavy Metal, heavy metal albums, heavy metal bands, heavy metal music, heavy metal news, horror punk, metal odyssey, Music, punk rock music, rock and roll, rock music, rock music news with tags , , , , , , , , , , , , , , on August 24, 2010 by Metal Odyssey

MURDERDOLLS – It’s Tuesday, August 24th, 2010. Next Tuesday, August 31st, the second studio album from MURDERDOLLS is released upon the world via RoadRunner Records. The buzz and excitement is building like an F’n tsunami with Women And Children Last due out one week from today. As I have been chatting with fans and several Metal buddies the past two weeks, the new MURDERDOLLS album seems to get brought up as if it was the beginning of a new chapter in Rock ‘N’ Roll history. Maybe this album will be just that, who knows?

So, what could all the excitement be about, when it comes to the new MURDERDOLLS album? For one, we are living in crappy economic times right now in America, so anything that can put our minds at ease about paying bills and making next month’s rent or mortgage payment is embraced by our sub-conscious and devoured like marble cake soaked in beer. I know for fact, that music is a driving force that steers my emotions and empowers me to live and love my life, regardless of how messed up the world news may be. (Yes, for the record, my wife and daughters are the #1 driving force that motivates me, only music helps to turn up my psyche-out dial until it smokes).

Wednesday 13 and Joey Jordison are no strangers to the Metal and Extreme world of music. Hell, neither one of them are strangers to the Rock world period. Their talent as songwriters and musicians has been laid out before us fans and spread across albums that most of us consider damn right sacred. Slipknot is a band, whose lyrics and Metal reaches out and beats the piss out of my privately held emotions. Joey Jordison and Slipknot gave new meaning to captured aggressiveness through song. Wednesday 13 is a vocalist and musician who dared to be different a long time ago, hell, he obliterated the status quo while making stagnant Rock Music run for cover.

Wednesday 13 and Joey Jordison are not your grab the money supergroup. They are the Saturday matinee, nightmare-double-feature that I crave to see and listen to. MURDERDOLLS are not a softened up act from the late ’70’s or ’80’s that is now preaching that their Metal has matured or progressed. No F’n way. These are two musicians that are NOT telling fans through interviews, that they should not be telling MURDERDOLLS what songs to play live. (Not from anything I’ve read or heard anyways).

The persona and image that MURDERDOLLS glistens with may not be brand new to Rock ‘N’ Roll, still it’s the uniqueness of these musicians themselves that adds to their overall mystique. Image aside, it’s the music of MURDERDOLLS that matters. I don’t envision anytime soon, MURDERDOLLS appearing onstage at the CMT Awards doing a country version of Dead In Hollywood. Sincerity and credibility sure does go a very long way with me… especially when it comes to music that’s fortified with 100% bad ass. The album title – Women And Children Last, advertises the sense of humor that MURDERDOLLS has, while sticking up a middle finger to the uptight world of political correctness. (Phew)… bad ass Rock ‘N’ Roll isn’t dead and buried after all!

After listening to My Dark Place Alone from the forthcoming Women And Children Last album for over a month now, I certainly hope that the entire album will be just as scorchingly powerful. The Punk subtleties that are aggressively fused with Metal, explode from My Dark Place Alone. Speed, Thrash and a sprinkle of Rob Zombie-ism in the vocals of Wednesday 13 seems to escalate with each passing second, as I listen to My Dark Place Alone. In the end, it’s the originality that means the most to my Metal ears. MURDERDOLLS do not have to make excuses to me if I hear any semblance of past Metal, Punk or Rock influences in their music.

Wednesday 13 and Joey Jordison are going to throw hints around, through their songs, of their past musical background… it’s inevitable. The overall aggressive and horror based embellishment of their sound is what lures me the most, all the while knowing these two musicians are not just throwing a record together just because they can. I’m not expecting a carbon copy of their first album – Beyond The Valley Of The Murderdolls, the single My Dark Place Alone has changed all that thinking.

Horror Punk has always been the “evil kid on the block” within the Rock Music world that factually gets ignored by the mainstream, maybe that is why I fell head over Metal heels for Horror Punk so many full moons ago. Music evolves, so therefore bands evolve too. MURDERDOLLS are taking their music to the next level of Hard & Heavy and I am one fan who cannot wait to get my ears pummeled by Women And Children Last.

I can understand the excitement and the anticipation of this new MURDERDOLLS album, it’s an excitement that is flowing around my Rock ‘N’ Roll arteries and Metal veins as I am drafting this actual post. Bring it on MURDERDOLLS and stomp down upon the generic music vacuum!

MURDERDOLLS:

Wednesday 13 – vocals

Joey Jordison – guitar

Roman Surman – guitar

Racci Shay Hart – drums

Jack Tankersley – bass

* For more info on MURDERDOLLS, just click the links below:

MURDERDOLLS – Official Website

MURDERDOLLS – myspace page

LONG LIVE MURDERDOLLS!

Stone.

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MUSIC OUTLET – ENFIELD CONNECTICUT STORE HAS HEAVY METAL APLENTY!

Posted in classic rock, Hard Rock, hard rock music, Heavy Metal, heavy metal albums, heavy metal music, heavy metal news, metal odyssey, Music, rock & roll, rock 'n' roll, rock and roll, rock music, rock music news, travel with tags , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , on August 22, 2010 by Metal Odyssey

MUSIC OUTLET – I journeyed back to Connecticut last week, the state where I was born and lived forty years of my life. Usually, the words: very expensive are always used to describe Connecticut on Metal Odyssey. Connecticut is very expensive, I should know. However, there is one store up in very expensive Connecticut that isn’t expensive at all. IT’S AN INDEPENDENT RECORD AND CD STORE! Located in the very friendly and cool city of Enfield, this store is called – Music Outlet. (See store contact info at bottom of post).

Scott Coverdale, our Metal Odyssey correspondent and Heavy Metal think tank, took me to Music Outlet on Friday, August 13th. Always bragging about just how incredible the selection of Metal is at this Music Outlet, Scott couldn’t wait to get me there. It felt like 1988 all over again… two Metal buddies, taking a long cruise to buy some Metal. Scott is a loyal customer at Music Outlet and has longed for the day, when I could finally browse through the vast selection that this store carries for Hard and Heavy Music.

Gary, the owner of Music Outlet, is very knowledgeable about Heavy Metal, Hard Rock and Rock ‘N’ Roll. That is exactly how a record and CD store owner should be… knowledgeable about the product, the bands, the musicians and their music. I have to admit, it is always an unreal thrill to find an independent record and CD store, especially when we live during a transitional period of how Rock ‘N’ Roll is being listened to, bought and sold. This is the age of the mp3 and itunes. We can buy mp3’s on Amazon, Best Buy and countless other websites 24/7. Despite this unbeatable technology of digital downloading… I’m steadfast Old School and damn proud of it.

After one visit to Music Outlet, I have come to the realization that Gary is Old School too. There is a market out there that wants their Rock ‘N’ Roll on vinyl and/or CD still. I’m a part of that Old School market. Gary’s store has the goods… and there is Heavy Metal, Hard Rock, Punk Rock and Rock ‘N’ Roll aplenty to be found at this Music Outlet. From vinyl to CD’s, from the obscure to posters, with band t’s and music DVD’s in-between, Gary’s store is bolstered with every sub-genre of Metal Music that is known! As an added bonus… Gary has all upcoming Metal and Hard Rock album release dates posted up for all customers to see.

There are the “little things” that an Old School Metalhead may need to buy at Music Outlet as well… blank cassettes, vinyl album sleeves and CD jewel cases are also available to purchase. You read that correctly… blank cassette tapes! Now… that’s Old School! Plenty of promo posters from various record companies are hung about Music Outlet and the Metal is played loud throughout the store.

The prices are very competitive to any online record/CD store, with both used and new albums & CD’s being sold at Music Outlet. There are many great CD titles being sold new for around $10, with used CD’s being around $6. I found the selection of new CD’s to be the best I’ve come across in years, at an actual physical location and not online! Whoa. Easily, I could have spent well over my budgeted limit… it took some very strong Metal will power to not go overboard! Admittedly, I was semi-shaking at the overall selection of Metal CD’s that Music Outlet had for sale.

Gary told me I can call him anytime to order by phone, he said he has no problem in shipping out the Metal! Mail order Metal! I’m more than happy to pay for shipping, especially when a hard to find or highly sought after Metal CD can be found at Music Outlet. Meeting Gary, perusing his abundant supply of Metal CD’s and taking in the Old School, independent Record & CD store experience at Music Outlet, was a fabulous way to spend some of my time while back in Connecticut.

* Here are the 3 CD’s I bought at Music Outlet:

Iron Maiden – The Final Frontier (Mission Edition)

Primal Fear – Metal Is Forever

Bonded By Blood – Exiled To Earth

Scott Coverdale’s 3 CD’s purchased at Music Outlet:

Iron Maiden – The Final Frontier

Holy Mother – Toxic Rain

Michael Schenker Group – Built To Destroy

* I without hesitation, recommend any Metalhead or fan of any Rock genre to stop by Music Outlet in Enfield, CT… or give Gary and his Metal crew a call and order your Metal fix by phone! Patronize Music Outlet… it will serve you right. Tell ’em Stone and Scott Coverdale sent you.

Music Outlet Contact Info:

Owner: Gary

Store Location/Address: 151 Hazard Avenue, Enfield, CT, 06082

Phone: 1-860-749-2050

ROCK STEADY MUSIC OUTLET!

Thanks Scott Coverdale for hooking me up with Music Outlet!

Stone.

36 Comments »

GLENN HUGHES – HAPPY BIRTHDAY FROM METAL ODYSSEY!

Posted in celebrity birthdays, classic rock, classic rock bands, classic rock music, Hard Rock, hard rock bands, hard rock music, Heavy Metal, heavy metal bands, heavy metal history, heavy metal music, heavy metal news, metal odyssey, Music, rock & roll, rock and roll, rock music, rock music history, rock music news with tags , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , on August 21, 2010 by Metal Odyssey

GLENN HUGHES – “The Voice of Rock”. Metal Odyssey extends a loud Happy Birthday to vocal and music legend Glenn Hughes! On August 21, 1952, Glenn Hughes was born. Glenn turns a Rockin’ 58 years old today! Glenn Hughes has been the lead vocalist for both Deep Purple and Black Sabbath during his unreal legendary music career. Those are two bands that paved the road for Hard Rock and Heavy Metal as we all know, listen to and love it today.

In 2010, Glenn is Rockin’ better than ever with his new band – Black Country Communion, which also features Jason Bonham on drums. Glenn Hughes can easily be considered as one of the all-time greatest singers in Rock history… in my Metal opinion, Metal be thy name.

The genres of music that Glenn Hughes has performed, as both a vocalist and musician, coupled with being a songwriter and producer, are many… Rock, Hard Rock, Heavy Metal, Blues, Funk and Soul to name quite a few. To say Glenn Hughes is a diverse vocalist and musician is an understatement. Glenn Hughes belongs in The Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame, his contributions and talent stand alone, as he has stood the test of time.

* For more info on Glenn Hughes, visit his “official website” by clicking the link below:

GLENN HUGHES – Official Website

* For more info on Black Country Communion, just click the cool link below:

Black Country Communion – Official Website

Black Country Communion will be released on September 21, 2010, on J&R Adventures.

* Pictured at the top of this post, is the album cover for: Glenn Hughes – Feel, which was released in 1995 on SPV.

Here are just a few albums, where Glenn Hughes is featured on, that are lifetime favorites of mine:

Black Sabbath – Seventh Star (1986)

Glenn Hughes – lead vocalist

Deep Purple – Burn (1974)

Glenn Hughes – bass & vocals

IOMMI With Glenn Hughes – The 1996 Dep Sessions (2004)

Glenn Hughes – lead vocalist & bass

On October 20, 2009, I reviewed this IOMMI With Glenn Hughes album. You can read all about it by clicking the oversized link below:

TONY IOMMI & GLENN HUGHES – 1996 DEP SESSIONS ALBUM- OLD SCHOOL HEAVY METAL

LONG LIVE GLENN HUGHES!

Stone.

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GOO GOO DOLLS – “HOME” CD SINGLE INCLUDES LIVE NON-ALBUM TRACK!

Posted in Hard Rock, hard rock albums, hard rock bands, hard rock music, metal odyssey, Music, rock 'n' roll, rock and roll, rock music, rock music news with tags , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , on August 20, 2010 by Metal Odyssey

GOO GOO DOLLS – On August 31, 2010, the Goo Goo Dolls 9th studio album – Something For The Rest Of Us will be released on Warner Bros. Records. In the meantime, the CD single  – Home, has been released, with the B side being a live 2010 version of Broadway. The original studio version of Broadway can be found/heard on the 6th studio album from Goo Goo Dolls – Dizzy Up The Girl, released back in 1998 on Warner Bros.

I landed this Goo Goo Dolls CD single at… you guessed it… Super Walmart. It seems as if Super Walmart is the only massive retailer that consistently carries CD singles at this point in time, from what I’ve witnessed by shopping around. These CD singles are a terrific value, they are usually priced between $1 and $2, I bought this one for $1.88. Another value you are getting with this CD single is the live version of Broadway, it is listed on the backside/liner notes as a non-album track. Therefore, this version of “Broadway” can only be had from buying this CD single. I’ve checked itunes to see if this live version of “Broadway” is available there… it is not.

The Rock Music that this Goo Goo Dolls trio creates is and always has been commercially accessible, with an unmistakable leaning towards a mature realism in their songs. Traditional Rock songs with a story have not gone away, the storytelling of Rock legends such as Jackson Browne, Bruce Springsteen and Tom Petty are alive and well and the Goo Goo Dolls are no exception.

The single Home, embodies the personal struggle of being around people that are not really your friends, where conversations with these people are filled with lies. “Empty faces” are referenced lyrically in “Home”, to describe a crowded room of people that one finds them self captured in and I can actually feel the message that John Rzeznik is clearly describing here with his vocals. “Come take me home” is the cry-out chorus of this song and it resonates truthfully as to how I feel when I want to get out of a toxic social setting or situation. Home is a Rock song from the Goo Goo Dolls that I have listened to more times than I can count, ever since I purchased this CD single.

Broadway is a Goo Goo Dolls classic in it’s own Rock ‘N’ Roll right. This live version has all the Rock steadiness I could ask for and leaves me wanting more live Goo Goo Dolls Rock ‘N’ Roll. The saxophone on Broadway lends a thick shade of The E Street Band influence and the ever familiar saxophonist Clarence Clemons comes to my mind. There is something about the combination of a saxophone and Rock ‘N’ Roll that gives me that good times feeling.

I’m looking forward to this new Goo Goo Dolls album, Something For The Rest Of Us, which will be released on October 31, 2010. The Goo Goo Dolls don’t sound like they are caving in anytime soon to a “flavor of the month” sound with their new single Home. If anything, it sounds like the Goo Goo Dolls are doing what they have always done best… playing quality written Rock Music that connects with me.

Goo Goo Dolls:

John Rzeznik – lead vocals & guitar

Robby Takac – bass guitar & backing vocals

Mike Malinin – drums

* For more Goo Goo Dolls info, just click on the link below:

GOO GOO DOLLS – Official Website

Track listing for Something For The Rest Of Us:

Sweetest Lie

As I Am

Home

Not Broken

One Night

Nothing Is Real

Now I Hear

Still Your Song

Something For The Rest Of Us

Say You’re Free

Hey Ya

Solidier

ROCK STEADY GOO GOO DOLLS!

Stone.

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The rude, obnoxious and very ignorant wedding DJ

Posted in hard rock music, heavy metal music, life, metal odyssey, Music, personal stories, rock 'n' roll, rock and roll, rock music, rock music news with tags , , , , , , , , , , , on August 18, 2010 by Metal Odyssey

Wedding DJ’s. Some are cool and great at what they do… and some are very, very, lousy at their craft. I unfortunately encountered the most rude, obnoxious and ultra ignorant wedding DJ on Saturday, August 14th, 2010. It is important to actually name the exact date… for this moment I had with this “professional” wedding DJ, was that bad. August 14, 2010, shall stand as THE day I interracted with THE most thick headed person when it comes to Rock ‘N’ Roll.

Here is how the story all began… I had the pleasure to attend the wedding for my first cousin Mark, (who is really responsible in my becoming a lifetime member of the KISS Army). Mark married his true love, a beautiful and kind hearted gal named Roberta. I wish them all the infinite joy as they journey through life together as husband and wife… and as best friends too.

A wedding is an experience for all who attend, when family and friends come together to celebrate two people that are going to be partners for life. My cousin Mark, along with Roberta, are special people to me… they are family and friends combined. So, making the three and a half hour journey by car, with my wife and daughters by my side, to attend this wedding was of the upmost importance to me.

I, being the Rock ‘N’ Roll crazed dude I am, decided to dedicate a song to Mark and Roberta, for all of us to dance along to and enjoy. I grew up with my cousin Mark, we were very close through childhood and throughout college as well… and even though we may live in different states now, that cousin bond will never subside. Dedicating a song to my cousin Mark and new cousin Roberta met quite a bit to me. The “professional” wedding DJ thought otherwise.

You see, after I introduced myself to this wedding DJ, (as a first cousin to the groom), the tension began to build rather quickly. It seemed this wedding DJ was intimidated by me, just by his nervous mannerisms he displayed. Plus, he was sweating profusely and his face was red as a beet. How can a wedding DJ be sweating like a farm pig like this, when all he is doing is standing still and pushing computer keys to play wedding songs? Whoa. Whoa again. Anyways, I asked him if he would play… “Nothin’ But A Good Time” by Poison, this proved to be the most hilarious request ever given to this idiot DJ, as he so expressed to me.

To best explain what exactly happened, it went just like this:

Stone: So, can you play a request for me? I’d like to dedicate a song to Mark and Roberta.

Idiot/Red-Faced/Sweating/Wedding DJ: Sure, what is it?

Stone: Poison… Nothin’ But A Good Time.

Idiot/Red-Faced/Sweating/Wedding DJ: Ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, hee, hee, ha!!!!!

Stone’s Note: Now… this oval shaped, sweating like a pig, red-faced wedding DJ laughed straight into Stone’s face. Not cool.

Stone: What’s so funny?

Idiot/Red-Faced/Sweating/Wedding DJ: I have never, ever, in all my years of being a wedding DJ, had such a ridiculous song request!

Stone: Really.

Stone’s Note: I was stone faced with this sweaty, pig-faced DJ. I never budged. If anything, I felt pity for this small town wedding DJ. I wasn’t about to start a fiasco with this jerk, not at my cousin’s wedding.

Idiot/Red-Faced/Sweating/Wedding DJ: I guess I really do have this song after all… I can play it towards the end of the night, when I play the Rock stuff.

Stone: Thanks. I guess.

Hmm. Rock stuff. What the hell is Rock stuff? Britney Spears? The Village People? Lady Blah-Blah? N-Sync? That’s the only crap I was hearing for “music” for the first two hours I was at this wedding… what “Rock stuff” was this human pear, that sweats profusely, that pretends to be a “cool” wedding DJ, referring to?

Nonetheless, I took “for granted” that this moron DJ was going to play the song I wanted to dedicate to the bride and groom. Forget it. This dork wedding DJ never played it. What a jackass. What a pear shaped, sweating, red-faced, momma’s boy, small town, wedding DJ jackass. He stood there, laughed in my face in the most mockingly way possible, all due to my song request. Heck, I should have laughed straight back at his face… he was the one that stunk like a port-O-potty left in a farm field, after the county fair has ended. I’m not kidding… he stunk like the worst crap ever imaginable. Whoa.

I could understand being laughed at, if it was a song by The Wiggles, Jim Nabors or Barney that was requested.

This imbecile DJ did state, at the beginning of the wedding reception, that requests and/or dedications were accepted. Throw in the fact… that he DID play “You Shook Me All Night Long” by AC/DC at the end of the night only made it more mysterious to me. Why would “Nothin’ But A Good Time” be such a ridiculous song to request? What was so damn funny about it? Playing an AC/DC song at a wedding is no different than playing a Poison song. Give me a Metal break.

At the end of the day, I am glad I never went off on this jackass wedding DJ. Nope, instead, I get my frustration out by writing about this idiot. I wish I could post his name and business for all to see… only I’m too nice of a guy to NOT stoop so low. My only advice to all wedding DJ’s is this… when someone requests a song, don’t laugh in their face and mock them, especially when you admit to having the song on your play list. It’s not too much to ask.

Beware of sweaty, red-faced, ignorant wedding DJ’s.

Stone.

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HEAVY METAL FACTS TO NOURISH THE METAL MIND!

Posted in hard rock bands, hard rock music, Heavy Metal, heavy metal albums, heavy metal bands, heavy metal music, heavy metal news, metal odyssey, Music, rock & roll, rock and roll, rock music, rock music news with tags , , , , , , , , , , , , , on August 15, 2010 by Metal Odyssey

HEAVY METAL FACTS – Here are some cool and thought provoking Heavy Metal facts that you may find enlightening and/or life changing. Enjoy this list… enriching the Metal mind might just serve you right!

* Paul Mario Day was the original lead vocalist for Iron Maiden. Of course, Paul did not record an album with Iron Maiden, he was their lead vocalist from 1975-1976.  Paul Mario Day later formed a NWOBHM band named More, which recorded two studio albums: Warhead (1981) and Blood & Thunder (1982).

* Lemmy Kilmister, vocalist, bass guitarist and founding member of the unreal legendary – Motorhead, celebrates his birthday on Christmas Eve… December 24th. Lemmy was born in 1945.

* The tombstone on the front cover of the live Iron Maiden double album – Live After Death, reads: “That is not dead which can eternal lie, yet with strange aeons even death may die”. This quote is taken from the iconic H.P. Lovecraft’s book – The Nameless City.

* Ralf Scheepers, lead vocalist for the German Power Metal Band – Primal Fear, was a finalist to replace Rob Halford as the new lead vocalist for Judas Priest. As the Metal story goes… Tim “Ripper” Owens became the “new” lead vocalist for Judas Priest, being hired by The Priest back in 1996. Rob Halford returned to Judas Priest in 2004… with Angel Of Retribution (released in 2005) being the “reunion” album for these Heavy Metal legends of all legends.

* Vinnie Moore – this guitar legend appeared on the Alice Cooper album Hey Stoopid, released back in 1991. Vinnie played guitar on two songs: Hurricane Years and Dirty Dreams. Vinnie Moore is the lead guitarist for the incredible…  UFO, has been since 2004.

* Rob Zombie’s birthname is: Robert Bartleh Cummings. Rob Zombie was born in Haverhill, Massachusetts, on January 12, 1965.

LONG LIVE HEAVY METAL!

Stone.

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LUXX – A METAL ODYSSEY INTERVIEW!

Posted in Hard Rock, hard rock bands, hard rock music, heavy metal music, metal odyssey, Music, rock & roll, rock and roll, rock music, rock music news with tags , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , on August 11, 2010 by Metal Odyssey

LUXX – Formed in the midst of the Silicon Valley, in the ever expansive and great State of California, there lies a Hard Rock Band in the wake… and they are known as LUXX. Already making their mark on the Rock Music scene, with their single Black Water, this is a band that is not going to duck away from socially conscious issues of the day. Black Water is a powerful song, not just for it’s Hard Rock driven sound, strong vocals and attitude, this song was written to bring awareness to the wildlife and environmental loss and damage brought on by the Gulf Coast BP oil spill.

By purchasing Black Water for 99 cents, at the ReverbNation store and at itunes, fans can expect full net proceeds to go to charities helping to save the wildlife, environment and people that have been victimized by the worst oil spill in U.S. history. If you are going to buy that one Hard Rock MP3 today, seriously consider Black Water. This song is a substantial listen into the Hard and Heavy sound that LUXX is about… plus your 99 cents will be well spent towards the revitalization of the Gulf Coast. I bought my MP3 of Black Water on itunes and it served me right… this song ROCKS!

Recently, lead vocalist Atara Gottschalk, guitarist David Szabados and drummer Scott Smith took the time to answer some questions for Metal Odyssey. The charities that will benefit from the sales of Black Water, being environmentally conscious, what fans can expect on their forthcoming debut album, the Rock influences that drive them and how did LUXX originate are all covered by these three musicians, whose sincerity is not just admirable, it is downright refreshing. Real Rock ‘N’ Roll hero’s take action… and make a difference.

I have a strong feeling, that LUXX is going to carve out a path to Hard Rock notoriety with ease. Here is what they had to say:

Stone: Describe the evolution of Luxx!

Atara: I found these three guys on craigslist, we got together to jam and see what would happen, and pretty much musically we all clicked so we went from there!

Scott: I guess to build on Atara’s comment, the roots of the band go back many years (we definitely won’t say HOW many!) to high school when Dave and I starting playing in bands together.  After an eight year college hiatus, I returned to the Bay Area and we formed the first of a couple of bands together called Opener of Ways.  After about a year or so, we disbanded, but reformed that group in a slightly different format for one gig six years ago. Since then, we really hadn’t collaborated again until now.  In the gap between groups with Dave, however, I started playing in bands with Kevin, and we have been together as a rhythm section for the better part of six years. The formation of Luxx and the addition of Atara finds us infinitely better versed and musically mature, and we are really excited about the possibilities this particular group has to create some amazing music.

Stone: What can fans expect from the upcoming LUXX debut album?

Atara: They can expect some serious hard rock songs with classic rock, blues and progressive rock influences infused together to create something familiar but new at the same time!

Stone: Let’s talk about the new single, “Black Water”. All the net proceeds will go toward helping the impacted wildlife in the Gulf. Which charities have been selected by LUXX and why?

Atara: We wanted to go with charities that worked with all aspects of the damage done by the oil spill.  So we went with National Wildlife Foundation and the Audubon Society because both of these charities were distributing their help to not only clean up the wildlife impacted, but to also help people being impacted, as well and to try to preserve what they can so that the contamination does not harm and kill everything around the spill.

Stone: “Black Water” is a powerful Hard Rock song with both lyrics and music. The lyrical message resonates loud and clear, kudos to LUXX! How did this great song get born?

Atara: The oil spill had been on my mind and I wanted to write a song about it and express my anger towards the situation and how it is being handled down there or mishandled by our government and BP.  The guys had this great tune they were jamming on that they had worked on before practice and it just clicked.  I envisioned the song in my head immediately and saw exactly how I wanted to sing and what I wanted to write for the melody.  I finished the song in 15 minutes! Sometimes you spend weeks on a song and other times you just know, and well I just knew with this one.

David: The music came together pretty naturally as well. Funny thing is we were just jamming and warming up and Scott goes into a Bonham-sounding beat and in my head I was probably channeling a little bit of old-school Montrose and just started the riff and went from there. It was one of those fun moments and then Atara came in with her melodies and it was done.

Stone: Atara Gottschalk on lead vocals gives off a whole lot of tough, old school edginess. Can I and other fans anticipate more of this from Atara…

Atara: I hope! Yes you can!!!! I am glad that you are reading my vocals in that way because I am influenced by the best singers/wailers there have ever been in rock (in my opinion), Robert Plant, Pat Benatar, Axl Rose, Ann Wilson, Ella Fitzgerald (she is the greatest!), and Freddie Mercury!  I am a singer through and through and if I am NOT able to sing super high notes and blast your ears off while impressing you, then I feel I am failing myself as a musician and a rock worshiper.

Stone: How important is it for LUXX to continually stay active in environmental issues and awareness?

Atara: I am speaking for myself personally that it is the most important thing we as humans can do, and if you get the opportunity to actually have other people listen to what you have to say then you are doing the job right as a creative artist and a citizen of the world!  I grew up in a house that always put the environment and humanity before our own selfish needs, and now it is my turn to do the same to whoever will listen!  I am an avid fighter for environmental issues and living a “green” lifestyle as they call it, and have always been.  I go around and unplug every charger that stays plugged in and get mad when people don’t turn off the lights and then leave their homes for a few hours.  I mean seriously, the house does not need the lights on, it’s a house! TURN THEM OFF!!!! Such a waste…oh and don’t even get me started on our food industry!  We would be here all day with that, but back to the point… YES it is very important that our band and every other artist out there that has the power of their voice, teach their fans about being a good citizen and helping to clean up our mistakes and make the future better for everyone, human and animal alike!

Stone: Lastly, just from listening to “Black Water”, it sounds like there are
some real cool Classic Rock influences going on within LUXX. Who are these influences?

Atara: For me influences again are Led Zeppelin, Queen, Guns and Roses, Heart, King Crimson, Pink Floyd, early Genesis, Black Sabbath, Tool.

David: We have similar influences for sure which is nice. I’m a child of the 1980s as well so I do have that era of rock and metal in my blood from the British (Judas Priest, Iron Maiden) wave to the U.S. based southern California groups (Van Halen, Dokken, Ratt, Motley Crue). I wouldn’t say that I aspire to stay playing in that style, but elements do come out from time to time. Definitely growing up during the shred era, there are many guitarists I admire and that list goes from fusion players like Frank Gambale to many of the rock stylists from George Lynch, Edward Van Halen, and Steve Vai. However, besides those and earlier classic rock and progressive rock influences Atara already listed, I do enjoy many of the contemporary groups as well from Muse, Queens of the Stone Age, Children of Bodom and many, many others. Certainly, there’s a lot of great music out there that I’m a fan of, both old and new!

Scott: My influences, while similar, follow the path of most rock drummers of the 80s. I was, and am still, a huge Rush fan, and drew much of my early inspiration from Neil’s playing and his worldview, which came across in his lyrics.  Nowadays, I have a vast set of influences including all the major rock gods, as well as some more eclectic players like Zakir Hussain (Indian Tabla player), Ravi Shankar (Sitar), Loreena Mckennitt (Celtic popstress) and many others.

LUXX:

Atara Gottschalk – vocals

David Szabados – guitars

Kevin Sullivan – bass

Scott Smith – drums

* For more info on LUXX, just click on the link below:

LUXX – Reverbnation page

* You can visit and find out more about the National Wildlife Federation by clicking the link below:

http://www.nwf.org/

* You can visit and find out more about the National Audubon Society by clicking the link below:

http://www.audubon.org/

GO GET ‘EM LUXX AND ROCK STEADY!

Stone.

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SANTANA AND THAT SUMMERTIME VIBE

Posted in classic rock, classic rock bands, classic rock music, Guitar, guitar legends, Hard Rock, hard rock bands, hard rock music, metal odyssey, Music, rock & roll, rock and roll, rock guitarists, rock music with tags , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , on August 10, 2010 by Metal Odyssey

SANTANA – I am guilty of associating many songs, albums and even bands/musicians to a certain season of the year. In the past, I wrote that RUSH is my Winter band… a band I turn to when I’m driving in snowstorms. Maybe the whole music imbedding “thing” comes into play here. When I used to live in Northwestern Connecticut, the snowstorms were very generous and very consistent, couple that with RUSH being a super HUGE band in that area of the world and maybe the exposure factor really left it’s mark with me.

Come Wintertime, it just felt as if FM stations played RUSH every 5 minutes while I was growing up, in very expensive Connecticut. Therefore, I gather that all the parameters were lining up for my RUSH/Winter imbedding many years ago.

I led with my RUSH and Wintertime “vibe” (as I’ll now call it), to introduce what is my Summertime “vibe” band… or musician… take your pick for it’s Santana. Yes, we all know that Santana is an exemplary musician and yes, Santana has always had a fabulous band behind him, (the original Santana band lineup is in the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame). Therefore, referring to Santana as either a band or musician can go both ways. Now, if you want to get picky, I can say… Carlos Santana, the exemplary and legendary guitarist. I’ll just stick to “Santana” and hopefully we can all agree.

Since I was a young lad, Santana always had an open sound to his guitar tone… a feeling of sunny days and hot weather just seems to drift over me when I hear him play. Driving to the beach comes to mind each time I listen to Black Magic Woman. This song has me seeing visions of ocean waves slapping against the hot sand of the beach, while I feel my feet burrowing into the deeper depths of the cool sand. Black Magic Woman has always been a Summer chill-out song for me… so listening to it while driving in a snowstorm would ruin it’s ambiance, in my own mind.

Santana can tell a story with his guitar, having a lead vocalist on his songs proves to be a bonus for my ears. If there ever was a song that Santana speaks that mystical guitar language through his playing, it is Black Magic Woman. Captivating is the word.

Back in the Summer of 1999, my wife was expecting with our twin daughters… and so was I expecting too. We were on the threshold of a forever life changing event, the birth of our daughters with a target date of late September. That Summer of ’99 was extremely hot and humid… abnormally humid as the “weather experts” were saying back then. (You know those “weather experts”… they get it right every time). One album that kept my wife and I from going bananas during that period in our lives was… Santana – Supernatural.

As Metal as my witness, this Santana album chilled us out, as well as it lifted our spirits and made us feel very comfortable… on our journey to becoming first time parents. This Supernatural album just cast a magical spell on us… we would listen each day and night to those Summer Grooves and melodies of Santana’s guitar and be glad we did. Our favorite song from Supernatural was of course, Smooth, with Rob Thomas on lead vocals. That song is a quintessential Summertime Santana song if there ever was one. The music video for Smooth was a hit back in ’99 too… it radiates Summertime cool in the city streets.

It has gotten to the point, that when I see a photo of Carlos Santana, I think of Summer. Carlos “Summertime” Santana. Gee Metal whiz… it’s just me I guess. The same can be said for Jimmy Buffet, only equating Summertime and the ocean to Jimmy is way too obvious. Jimmy Buffet is all about songs that stir up images of the Tropics and fun in the Summer sun. However… I can never eat a cheeseburger without thinking of Jimmy Buffet… (I don’t drink Margaritas by the way).

I never want to resist or ignore the positive memories and images that music provides me. Just as I equate a song, album, musician or band to a season, I can equally equate them to specific moments in my life. Santana just happens to be an example of just how good music makes me feel.

* Santana (entire original band), was inducted into the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame in 1998.

* For more info on the ever legendary guitarist, songwriter, musician and Rock And Roll Hall Of Famer – Carlos Santana, just click on this link: SANTANA – Official Web Site

* For more info on my favorite Wintertime band, RUSH, click here: RUSH Aw, heck, RUSH is a favorite of mine all year long.

LONG LIVE SANTANA!

… AND RUSH & JIMMY BUFFET TOO!

Stone.

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