Archive for rock albums 2010

KID ROCK “Born Free” – Double LP Vinyl Releases December 14, 2010!

Posted in Hard Rock, metal odyssey, Music, rock & roll, rock and roll, rock music, rock music news with tags , , , , , , , , , on December 9, 2010 by Metal Odyssey

KID ROCK – Get ready all of you vinyl lovers out there… the brand new Kid Rock – Born Free is about to get released on double LP – vinyl! The vinyl release date is December 14, 2010. Born Free is Kid Rock’s eighth studio album, released on Atlantic Records. It’s the diversification of Rock ‘N’ Roll, that flows through Kid Rock’s soul, that makes him so damn appealing to me all these years. From Rap Metal to Southern Rock and almost everything else in-between, Kid Rock makes it real.

* Born Free was produced by the legendary Rick Rubin. Mixing was done by Greg Fidelman.

* I have seen this double LP of Born Free for sale on Amazon.com, it also comes with the entire CD of Born Free, from what the site states, it is referred to as a “bonus CD”.

* For more info on Kid Rock, just click on the cool link below:

KID ROCK – Official Website

Track Listing For Born Free:

Born Free

Slow My Roll

Care (Featuring Martina McBride & T.I.)

Purple Sky

When It Rains

God Bless Saturday

Collide (Featuring Sheryl Crow & Bob Seger on piano)

Flyin’ High (Featuring Zac Brown)

Times Like These

Rock On

Rock Bottom Blues

For The First Time (In A Long Time)

LONG LIVE KID ROCK.

Stone.

10 Comments »

KEV MOORE “Blue Odyssey” – CD Is Out Now!

Posted in metal odyssey, Music, rock 'n' roll, rock and roll, rock music, rock music interviews, rock music news with tags , , , , , , , , , on November 19, 2010 by Metal Odyssey

KEV MOORE – Vocalist and bass guitarist for BC Sweet, Kev Moore has released yet more new solo material! Blue Odyssey is Kev’s new album and it is available now, by visiting: Miki’s Mart.com

I received my copy of Blue Odyssey in the mail yesterday… and it could not have come at a better time for me. Kev Moore has written a fabulous album of feel-good songs, good ol’ Rock ‘N’ Roll that has perked me up when I truly needed a positive boost this past week.

Blue Odyssey is Kev Moore’s personal interpretation through song, about his lifelong dream to take a trip through the music heartland of America, starting in Nashville, Tennessee. In January and February of 2010, Kev along with his partner Miki, took this dream trip and it is all captured on eighteen songs. Eighteen songs! I shall give Blue Odyssey it’s proper review in the very near future, right here on Metal Odyssey, after I digest it into my senses several more times!

I just want the world to know, that mulit-instrumentalist and Rock ‘N’ Roll extraordinaire Kev Moore has Blue Odyssey out and available to enjoy! Check out some of the links below, to learn more about Kev Moore, his music and art. The large header is the interview Kev did for Metal Odyssey back on August 5, 2010… it’s well worth checking out in case you missed it!

Kev Moore – myspace music

KEV MOORE: THE MUSIC BOX

Miki’s Mart.com

KEV MOORE – A METAL ODYSSEY INTERVIEW!

Long Live Kev Moore and Thank You, Kev.

Stone.

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TWEAK BIRD – Self Titled Album Is Eclectic And Heavy!

Posted in Album Review, alternative rock bands, alternative rock music, avant-garde metal music, Hard Rock, hard rock albums, hard rock bands, hard rock music, Heavy Metal, heavy metal albums, heavy metal bands, heavy metal music, metal odyssey, Music, rock and roll, rock music, rock music news, stoner metal music with tags , , , , , , , , , , , , on September 28, 2010 by Metal Odyssey

TWEAK BIRD – Brothers Ashton and Caleb Bird have rode into town from Southern Illinois, with their self-titled, eclectically fused and heavy, full length album. Released on August 31, 2010, on Volcom Entertainment, Tweak Bird is the follow-up to this bands 7 song EP, Reservations from 2008. From the looks of the album cover, Ashton and Caleb seem to be pretty psyched out about things… as well they should be, since Tweak Bird were invited as an opening act for the Progressively Alternative legends known as Tool this past Summer of 2010. Your music must be striking a heavy nerve and be interesting plus different enough for Maynard James Keenan to take such a prominent notice.

Well, I’ve taken notice of Tweak Bird too. Yes, I’m no Maynard James Keenan, still I have learned long ago that when you play from the heart and don’t follow the leader with your Heavy Rock sound, a band is going to stand out from the sea of clones. Tweak Bird has seemed to navigate themselves through this sea of clones and gathered up their Rock influences to make a menagerie of sound that is both Heavy and semi-Progressive. With a sprinkle of Alternative ambiance that seems to peer through the cracks of Tweak Birds’s sound, it’s still the Heavy Stoner riffs and chunkiness of Caleb’s baritone guitar that commands their sound.

There are moments, while I listen to Tweak Bird, that I feel I’m hearing The Sword in a slightly tempered down groove. Then, the vocal harmonies of Ashton and Caleb seem to combine for what makes this album stand apart from being just another Heavy assemblage of songs. The comparison likeness, no matter how subtle, to that of the great Geddy Lee, is not an out of the realm statement to make when mentioning the vocals of these two brothers.

One moment where Tweak Bird’s music gets diverse, Alternative if you will, is on the song A Sun/Ahh Ahh, where an extended saxophone solo by John McCowan, (who is referred to as “sometimes third band member” in a Volcom Entertainment press release), comes into play at around the two-minute mark of this song that runs 4:13. The overlapping and intermittent vocal ahh’s over the saxophone lends to an almost eerie feel… and I dig it. “A Sun/Ahh Ahh” comes to a close with the saxophone solo and fittingly makes sense.

Flute anyone? Tweak Bird incorporates the flute into “Flyin’ High”. This song simultaneously breathes a slow tempo while Caleb plays the thickest and heaviest Stoner riffs that makes me bang my head in slow motion. It can be done… slow motion headbanging… Tweak Bird taught me how. As with the saxophone, Tweak Bird makes the flute fit right into their Heavy motives, almost in a hallucinating sort of way. Cool.

The last song on Tweak Bird, “Distant Airways”, is the longest as well. Six songs clock in under 3 minutes, two songs under 2 minutes and one song barely over 4 minutes long. “Distant Airways” plays out at 6:15 long and doesn’t bore the senses as a useless and redundant epic either. The good ol’ saxophone makes its appearance once again on “Distant Airways”, giving these sax moments I hear a smoky lounge vibe that borders on the ultra cool. Hey… I have stated that Tweak Bird has shunned away the “clone syndrome” of Heavy Music and this song exemplifies this statement with ease. Distant Airways comes to a synthetic close with what sounds like a UFO taking off from some god forsaken crop field. A bona-fide Progressive moment. Cool again.

“Tunneling Through” showcases Ashton Bird hitting the drums hard (as he has been quoted: his hitting the drums hard being the “trick” in making his drums “sound good”). To me, Ashton’s drumming does sound good… and yes, it does sound like he hits the drums damn hard too. “Tunneling Through” gives way to a victorious feeling of “opening your mind” and journeying into the unknown. A tad psychedelic in it’s lyrical content? Sure thing. These lyrics married with the Stoner riffs and Heavy crunch, gives me that early 70’s Blue Cheer slap to my forehead. I point out this song as being my personal favorite from Tweak Bird.

Tweak Bird opens the album with “The Future”, a song that has proved to me that Psychedelic Heavy Metal does exist, especially when this type of cool experimentation occurs. “The Future” has a memorable and steady beat that is not short on the Heavy side of Tweak Birds’s bag of cool & Rockin’ tricks. “The Future” ends with lots of fuzzy distortion that might have me borrowing my daughters lava lamp very soon. The shortest song from Tweak Bird is “Round Trippin'”, playing at 1:12. The UFO’s have come to land! One listen to “Round Trippin'” and you’ll know what I mean there. This synth laced instrumental, puts an exclamation point on my tagging Tweak Bird as indeed… semi- Progressive.

Beyond is a track that takes the classic vibe of Surf Rock and beams it down into 2010… and is played the Tweak Bird way. Maybe the resurgence of Hawaii Five-O has some credibility after all. This song would make for a fabulous addition to this revamped television series soundtrack. Am I being a wise guy here? Nope. Beyond has all the feel and sound of modern day “Surfin’ USA”, only without the teeny-bop lyrics of actual… surfing. Cool.

The “Pop” or commercial accessibility of Tweak Bird’s songs sound non-contrived and it works well within the parameters of Heaviness that they pound away with. Caleb is an admitted T-Rex fan and loves Marc Bolan’s songwriting technique, thus the underlying reasoning behind a Classic Rock “Pop” characteristic, swirled within Tweak Bird’s overall sound. Clearly, Tweak Bird is a Heavy Band when it’s all said and done. Ashton and Caleb just mix it up by implementing the saxophone and flute within their Heavy Music playbook, showing that taking chances in Rock Music can make a comeback in 2010.

Do I like Tweak Bird? I sure do. I admire their making an album that is not generic. Knowing they are a Heavy Band is just the beginning… one must listen to each song and hear for themselves that the “unexpected” is just as cool as the “expected”. The one constant throughout the songs heard on Tweak Bird, is that you will hear Ashton and Caleb both playing Heavy… regardless if there are those intermittent moments of stylistic changes, the Heavy always returns.

Any multi-faceted, Rock Music nut should have a field day listening to Tweak Bird. Heavy Music fans that want a slice of Alternative cake, with their search for up and coming bands, might get exactly what they have been looking for with Tweak Bird. After listening to Tweak Bird several times, my use of the word “cool” has heightened… and I’m going for another slice of that Alternative cake. Cool.

* Tweak Bird was produced by Deaf Nephews – Dale Crover (Melvins & Altamont) and Toshi Kasai (Big Business & Altamont).

* For more info on TWEAK BIRD, just click on the cool links below:

TWEAK BIRD – myspace music

TWEAK BIRD – Official Website

Pictured above: Ashton on left, Caleb on right.

Track Listing For TWEAK BIRD:

The Future

Lights In Lines

Round Trippin’

A Sun/Ahh Ahh

Beyond

Tunneling Through

Sky Ride

Hazement In The Basement

Flyin’ High

Distant Airways

GO GET ‘EM, TWEAK BIRD!

Stone.

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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 »

RAY LAMONTAGNE and the PARIAH DOGS – “GOD WILLIN’ & THE CREEK DON’T RISE” CAPTURES STORYTELLING THROUGH SONG

Posted in classic rock, folk rock music, metal odyssey, Music, music reviews, rock music, rock music news, rock music reviews with tags , , , , , , , , , , , , , on August 26, 2010 by Metal Odyssey

RAY LAMONTAGNE and the PARIAH DOGS – If music is the soul of mankind and a man needs to mellow out his soul, then Ray LaMontagne and the Pariah Dogs are a band to drift off to. With that said, anyone who really knows Stone, realizes that besides being a Metalhead-Rockaholic, I’m also an admirer of quality music of any genre. Doesn’t the word “genre” come across as intellectual sometimes? It is a “must” word to use when you have a blog about… music. I’ve never been bashful to use this word, Metal be thy name. Well… onward to Ray LaMontagne and the Pariah Dogs album – God Willin’ & The Creek Don’t Rise.

There are those moments in my life where I turn to some good old fashioned Easy Listening music to chill out my senses. Why do I need to “chill out my senses”? Really, I don’t have a clinical answer for this, other than soothing sounds of music and vocals can relax me and make me look at my life from a different angle. The vocals of Ray LaMontagne I find to be somewhat captivating, it’s almost as if he sings the way he damn well feels and never gave a damn about trying to fit in with any specific group of contemporary male vocalists.

Besides being the vocalist for his band The Pariah Dogs on this album, Ray LaMontagne also plays acoustic guitar and harmonica. The acoustic guitar can justifiably emit as distinct and powerful a message through it’s tone as it’s muscular counterpart… the electric guitar. Soft Rock or as it’s also called, Easy Listening, has always benefited from the mellow side of an acoustic guitar. Folk Rock’s foundation is centered around the acoustic guitar and this new Ray LaMontagne album exploits the easy listening sound of Folk Rock to it’s ultimate potential. Ray’s vocals and the acoustic guitar are like soul mates to one another, the combination of the two brings about reflections of what the song is conveying lyrically as well as emotionally.

As I listen to New York City’s Killing Me, the mental imagery of the New York City sky-scape stays with me. I see the subway, crowded streets and Summer time smog as Ray sings about how this city is killing him. I love New York City myself, still I can understand how some visitors to The Big Apple could easily not become acquainted with it’s social pace and maximized energy. God Willin’ & The Creek Don’t Rise has a Pedal Steel played by both Eric Heywood and Greg Leisz, it’s a sound that just hits me perfectly. I just seem to experience that “open country field” feeling while listening to this song, the Pedal Steel only helps to interpret this all the more for me.

Beg Steal Or Borrow is as blatantly fabulous of a song as there could be on this album. The tempo, beat and totality of sound resonating from The Pariah Dogs reminds me of an early ’70’s Fleetwood Mac. I can easily understand there being some Fleetwood Mac influence within the musical veins of Ray LaMontagne or any of his band members.

Are We Really Through is a somber ballad that is about… breaking up with someone. Ray’s vocals on this sad sounding song has an unbelievable Joe Cocker quality. Trust me, Ray LaMontagne is no copycat vocalist to my ears. Just think for a second as to how difficult it would be, to even try to sing like the legendary Joe Cocker. The vocals of Ray LaMontagne spill over these songs, as natural and free as a waterfall spilling over moss covered river stone. Often times, the word “unique” is overused, therefore, I shall state Ray’s vocals are stunningly unique.

To think that maybe Ray LaMontagne is a fan of Neil Young’s Harvest album is a credible thought. The mellowfied Country Rock that sticks it’s happy face out during this album during such songs as Old Before Your Time and For The Summer, comes as a welcomed listen for my retrospective ears and thoughts. These two songs would have been a smash for AM radio back in those satin days of the ’70’s. The interesting aspect of Old Before Your Time and For The Summer is that they are realistically relevant now.

Like Rock & Roll And Radio opens with Ray playing the harmonica, setting the stage for what I would consider his best vocals on this album. Ray is a storyteller and he tells stories through his songs like he has been doing this for decades. There are moments when I have to look at the liner notes of God Willin’ & The Creek Don’t Rise, look at the photos of Ray and make sure he’s not a legend from the early ’70’s.

Devil’s In The Jukebox is a glistening finish to an album that was already glistening. The back country woods sound, feel and foot stompin’ character to this song makes it a prize worth listening to repeatedly, making me wish this song would just carry on for another five minutes or more. It’s quite obvious that Ray LaMontagne has a skilled band of musicians behind him. The Pariah Dogs compliment Ray’s vocals as if it was meant to be and it was written to happen this way, hundreds of years ago, on a scroll.

Not to sound as a wise guy here, yet as I listen to God Willin’ & The Creek Don’t Rise, the feeling that overrides me from these ten songs are that of AM gold. These songs, practically this entire album is one big hit. If I am to point out one song that doesn’t “do it” for me, it’s Are We Really Through. Regardless of how I feel, this sad song might just touch someone differently with it’s meaning. These are the songs that I don’t mind hearing while taking a long ride in the country or while reading a good book. To listen to this album while sitting on my back patio and staring up at the blue Summer sky, while looking over my gardens and enjoying a couple of cold brews, is on my to-do list.

* God Willin’ & The Creek Don’t Rise was released on August 17, 2010, on RCA. This album is the fourth studio release for Ray LaMontagne and first album being named alongside his band The Pariah Dogs.

* For more info on Ray LaMontagne and the Pariah Dogs, just click the link below:

Ray LaMontagne – Official Website

Ray LaMontagne and the Pariah Dogs:

Ray LaMontagne – vocals, acoustic guitar, harmonica

Eric Heywood – pedal steel, electric guitar, acoustic guitar

Greg Leisz – pedal steel, lap steel, acoustic resonator, steel guitar, mandola, banjo, electric guitar, acoustic guitar, electric baritone guitar

Jennifer Condos – bass

Jay Bellerose – drums

Ryan Freeland – accordion on For The Summer

Patrick Warren – keyboards on This Love Is Over

Track Listing For God Willin’ & The Creek Don’t Rise:

Repo Man

New York City’s Killing Me

God Willin’ & The Creek Don’t Rise

Beg Steal Or Borrow

Are We Really Through

This Love Is Over

Old Before Your Time

For The Summer

Like Rock & Roll And Radio

Devil’s In The Jukebox

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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BRET MICHAELS “CUSTOM BUILT” – MAKES FOR A DIVERSE ROCKIN’ LISTEN

Posted in country music, country rock music, Hard Rock, hard rock albums, hard rock music, metal odyssey, Music, rock & roll, rock 'n' roll, rock album reviews, rock and roll, rock music with tags , , , , , , , , , , , , , on July 8, 2010 by Metal Odyssey

BRET MICHAELS – Bret Michaels did not leave us… thank you God and all the Rock ‘N’ Roll angels for that. Now, Bret Michaels has his brand new solo album Custom Built out, released on July 6, 2010, on Poor Boy Records Inc. and it is built on Rock ‘N’ Roll diversity. Anyone expecting a full-throttle Hard Rock album should prepare for a little bit o’ Country, a little bit o’ Club Mix and some acoustic music from Bret Michaels on Custom Built. Not to worry though… there are a couple of decent Hard Rock moments on this new Bret Michaels album too. Just because Bret Michaels wants to exhibit his fondness for some other music genres shouldn’t make this Custom Built album any less desirable for fans of Bret, Poison and good ol’ Rock ‘N’ Roll.

Am I thrilled by the Club Mix of “Go That Far”? (Club Mix by Jason Miller of Godhead). Nope. Not a chance. It’s not my cup o’ Rockin’ tea. With that said, it grooves enough for someone to dance to, wiggle to, or whatever to. At this point in Bret Michaels life, I feel he can basically do whatever he damn well feels like with his music anyways. You only live once. Plus, there are probably gonna be hordes of fans that will dig “Go That Far”. Just because I don’t dig it, doesn’t mean it’s the end of the world.

Open Road is a Country Rock song to relish however. Bret Michaels can really sing Country. He sings Country like it’s his second nature and I’m buying into it. “Open Road” has some classic Country lyrics to go along with it too… it’s upbeat in both it’s music and lyrics. “Rock’n My Country” is… you guessed it. Country! Hey, if I am to see Bret Michaels live someday and he sings this song, I’m gonna be doin’ my sneaker kickin’ (or is that boot kickin’?) stomp with one hand held high. My other hand shall have a cold one in it. Maybe two cold ones. A fun Country Rock song is “Rock’n My Country”.

“Nothing To Lose (Bret Only Demo)” is an acoustic gem. What a cool and mellow listen this song is. Lyrically moving and yes, inspirational. Is it a kleenex song? Maybe… only I’m too damn tough for that. Excuse me please… while I blow my nose and wipe my eyes now. Yes, yes, yes… the duet version of “Nothing To Lose” with Miley Cyrus is on this album too. Hey, it’s a good song and that’s what writing and playing good music is all about. Plus, Miley Cyrus has come of age in doing this song with Brett Michaels… in my Metal opinion. No, no, no… my eyes are not welling up. Stop it… and leave me alone. Gee whiz. Someone pass me a damn beer. Um, please.

I’d Die For You is a raw and downright non-commercial song that Rocks. It’s the last song on Custom Built and ends this album on a pretty Hard Rockin’ note. Plus, Bret Michaels sounds pretty bad ass singing this song too. Riding Against The Wind is the album opener and it falls somewhere between Hard Rock and Hard Rock Country. It’s a song that lyrically flirts with some patriotism and flourishes with undeniable emotion and reflection. Yes, this song I would raise the horns in the air to with Rockin’ glee.

Lie To Me is the bona fide Hard Rock song on “Custom Built”. Hell yeah… this song is a heavy hitter. Bret Michaels made the right move in adding this song to the mix… plus a psyche-you-out mini guitar solo doesn’t hurt “Lie To Me” either. “Wasted Time” is a Hard Rock song that wastes no time in grabbing my attention. This Rocker leans more towards being a tough Power Ballad, as it sounds semi-raw with Bret Michaels adding a sandpapered tone to his vocals, to enhance it’s overall heavy appeal.

My recommendation is buy “Custom Built”, listen to the songs on it and celebrate a musician who loves music. This is an album of songs, regardless if I don’t happen to like any Club Mix or not, it’s a song too… a song for someone else. Bret Michaels isn’t going anywhere anytime soon… there is just too much Rock ‘N’ Roll, Hard Rock and Country in his veins and “Custom Built” proves it.

Track Listing For Bret Michaels – Custom Built:

Riding Against The Wind

Lie To Me

Nothing To Lose (Featuring Miley Cyrus)

Wasted Time

What I Got

Every Rose (Country version featuring Brad Arnold of 3 Doors Down, Chris Cagle, Mark Wills)

Go That Far (Club Mix by Jason Miller of Godhead)

Driven (Rock Mix)

Open Road

Rock’n My Country

Nothing To Lose (Bret only demo)

I’d Die For You

Long Live Bret Michaels! Only… the Club Mix has to go.

Stone.

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