Archive for bob seger rock vocalist

SLAYER – Why they are Thrash Metal Legends

Posted in 1980's thrash metal bands, 1980's thrash metal music, 1980's metal music, 1980's thrash metal, 1990's thrash metal bands, 1990's thrash metal music, current thrash metal, current thrash metal music, heavy metal music, Metal, metal music, metal music this decade, metal music today, metal odyssey, Music, old school thrash metal music, Thrash Metal, thrash metal 2009, thrash metal music, thrash metal today, vintage thrash metal bands with tags , , , , , , , , , , , , , on September 12, 2009 by Metal Odyssey

Slayer small logoSlayer. Thrash Metal legends. The Webster Dictionary gives the definition of Slayer, it goes like this: to kill violently, wantonly, or in great numbers; to strike down – Suffice to say, in my Metal opinion, Slayer has struck down many a professionally paid Rock Music critic with their multiple Grammy Awards, album sales, relentless years of touring and a catalog of Thrash Metal albums that has never bent over for commercial appeal. 

Slayer small logoSlayer has never written a ballad. Nope, Slayer never created a messed up song like, uh, One. Slayer has never put themselves into a predicament where they are telling their fans… just wait, our next album will be heavy again… we promise… just like we made our 1980’s albums. Slayer never covered a Bob Seger Rock Classic and ruined it. Slayer has always kept the Thrash Metal constant, they never needed to Load or Re-Load. Since December of 1983, when Show No Mercy was unleashed onto the world of Heavy Metal, there is no other Thrash Metal Band that I can think of, (with the exception of Over Kill), that has maintained the level of integrity and consistency such as Slayer. Slayer never revisited any damn garage days.

Slayer small logoSlayer does not need a Guitar Hero game named after them. Slayer has never been jealous of Jethro Tull for winning a Grammy Award. (Or at least Slayer has never bad mouthed this legendary Classic Rock band in the press like another band constantly does to this day). Hint: the current Thrash Metal Band that has a Jethro Tull phobia, just recently had a Guitar Hero game named after them… plus they are in the Rock and Roll Hall of Shame. Jethro Tull never hurt no one… I defend them every Metal step of the way. Slayer does not whine or make excuses – they just make straight up Thrash Metal for themselves and their fans. Uncompromising to the Thrash Metal genre… Slayer.

TOM ARAYA – BASS, VOCALS

KERRY KING – GUITAR

JEFF HANNEMAN – GUITAR

DAVE LOMBARDO – DRUMS

Slayer has always stayed true to Metal… Thrash Metal, therefore, I shall always stay true to Slayer.

Slayer large eagle logo

Gene Simmons – My third favorite KISS solo album

Posted in 1970's classic rock albums, 1970's classic rock bands, 1970's classic rock songs, 1970's hard rock bands, 1970's classic rock music, 1970's hard rock, 1970's heavy metal, 1970's heavy metal albums, 1970's heavy metal music, 1970's rock music, 1980's heavy metal bands, Album Review, classic hard rock, classic hard rock bands, classic hard rock music, classic heavy metal albums, classic metal, classic rock, classic rock 1978, classic rock albums, classic rock bands, classic rock music, classic rock songs, classic rock vocalists, cool album covers, essential classic rock albums, essential hard rock albums, essential heavy metal albums, essential rock albums, Gene Simmons, Hard Rock, hard rock guitarists, hard rock songs, hard rock vocalists, Heavy Metal, heavy metal album covers, heavy metal album review, heavy metal albums, heavy metal cover songs, heavy metal guitarists, heavy metal music, heavy metal music 1978, heavy metal solo albums, heavy metal solo artists, heavy metal solo vocalists, heavy metal vocalists, Metal, metal music, metal odyssey, Metal Reviews, Music, old school heavy metal, rock music, rock music vocals, rock vocalists, vintage hard rock albums, vintage heavy metal albums, vintage heavy metal bands, vintage rock albums with tags , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , on September 1, 2009 by Metal Odyssey

Kiss - Gene Simmons solo album small picGene Simmons, The Demon, bass guitarist for KISS, music producer and actor. (The many hats this legend has worn are numerous, quite the achiever is Gene Simmons, in my Metal opinion). Gene Simmons always seems to stay in the public eye, the limelight follows this Heavy Metal icon everywhere he goes… with “Celebrity Apprentice” and his very own family reality series “The Family Jewels” making his presence seen and known while KISS is idle. A short while back, I started writing about my favorite KISS solo albums, in preferential order, no less. Why am I doing this? First, I am celebrating the four original members of KISS, their solo albums being what I consider to be quite a historical achievement in Heavy Metal and Rock history. The quality across the board is apparent in the music that Gene, Paul, Ace and Peter created with their solo albums… my reminding and/or informing anyone who is interested in these great KISS solo albums makes for a fine Metal deed. For me to list in order, my favorite KISS solo albums, (it is not etched in Metal stone here), deciding the sequence of which album ranks 1 thru 4, is based on which album has given me the biggest Metal listening thrill over the decades.

As for the songs on this album, the best interpretation for me, as a whole, is Hard Rock and Rock Music that showcases the diversity in the vocals of Gene Simmons and the talent of his being a highly respectable guitarist. Gene Simmons plays electric and acoustic guitar throughout his solo album, he does not play bass guitar here. While with KISS, there are not many moments where Gene Simmons diversifies with his vocals, (that has always been fine with me), plus Gene Simmons plays bass guitar exclusively while with KISS. Looking back, this album was a great opportunity for Gene Simmons to eradicate the expected, delivering on the unexpected… “When You Wish Upon A Star” is the finest example that I could possibly point out. Now, do I like listening to Gene Simmons sing this song? As a teenager, back in the late 70’s into the ’80’s… no, I could never understand why Gene Simmons would have done this song. I actually would deliberately not listen to it after I heard it the first time. Fast forward to 2009, well, I now like this rendition of “When You Wish Upon A Star”, the softer side of Gene Simmons is rather a relaxing listen… (I guess I am getting softer as I get older). Plus, as a Metal bonus, my nine year old twin daughters really dig this song… and Gene Simmons too.

My favorite song is the album opener “Radioactive”, it just glistens with Old School KISS, courtesy of Gene Simmons, of course. His vocals are exactly what you would expect on this song, the commanding and sinister tone that is part of the Gene Simmons persona. I really like the vibe I get from “See You Tonite”, just a solid Rock song that has swirls of late ’70’s sound. “True Confessions” is another Classic Rock song that standouts with the background vocals of Helen Reddy… yes, Helen Reddy. This Gene Simmons solo album was the strongest seller out of the four KISS solo albums, I can honestly understand why, after owning and listening to these songs for years. This Gene Simmons album may not be my favorite out of the four KISS solo albums, yet it does not mean squat when I look at the big Metal picture… this Gene Simmons album is a Rock Classic.

Some of the guest musicians on this Gene Simmons solo KISS album: Rick Nielsen, guitarist of Cheap Trick appears on “See You In Your Dreams”, (Rick Nielsen’s name is spelled incorrectly, by the way, in this albums liner notes, Neilson), Bob Seger – background vocals on “Living In Sin” and “Radioactive”, Joe Perry of Aerosmith plays guitar on “Radioactive” and “Tunnel Of Love”, Donna Summer – background vocals on “Burning Up With Fever” and Cher – voice on phone call during “Living In Sin”. These guest music celebrities that appeared on this album make for excellent Rock Music trivia… not every Metalhead in the world is going to know that Donna Summer appeared on the Gene Simmons solo KISS album.

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Bob Seger & The Silver Bullet Band – Rocks forever on “Nine Tonight”

Posted in 1970's hard rock, 1970's Rock, 1980's rock music, 1980's hard rock, Album Review, classic rock, Hard Rock, hard rock album review, hard rock songs, live rock albums, Music, rock & roll, rock & roll hall of fame inductees, rock and roll, rock and roll hall of fame inductees, rock music, rock music vocals, Vocals with tags , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , on May 24, 2009 by Metal Odyssey

In my Metal opinion, Bob Seger & The Silver Bullet Band are an American Rock N’ Roll treasure. Bob Seger was inducted into the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame, in 2004. “Nine Tonight” is a live album that is also a greatest hits, based on the song selection. This album was recorded live in June 1980 in Detroit and October 1980 in Boston. Some of Bob Seger’s most successful hits are here with “Against The Wind”, “Hollywood Nights” and “We’ve Got Tonight”. The good time Rockers are here too, Bob Seger and The Silver Bullet Band do not disappoint with “The Fire Down Below”, “Old Time Rock And Roll” and “Her Strut”. Wow, does Bob Seger make these songs really come alive, coupled with Seger’s vocals and the excellent musicianship of The Silver Bullet Band. There is just a real, feel good vibe that is going on when you listen to “Nine Tonight”. I always say, be true to the roots of Hard Rock. For bands of yesteryear, like Bob Seger’s, without question, helped pave the way for the new Hard Rock bands of today.

I will go out on a Metal limb here and say, Metallica could never do a better job with the Bob Seger classic “Turn The Page”, (from the Back In ’72 album by Bob Seger – released in 1973), their cover version of this song is just that, a cover. (Keep in mind, I hold Metallica in the highest Metal regards). This was a classic example of nothing beats the original. It does go to show, that there are Metal bands out there that dig Bob Seger & The Silver Bullet Band, Metallica is proof of this. I could never resist any of Bob Seger’s brand of Rock through the years, the gravitation towards his voice and blue collar Rock & Roll has always made me a believer in his music. The combination of the songs with their memorable lyrics, plus the live atmosphere definitely provokes a positive Rockin’ good time on this CD/album.

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