Archive for rock music

Happy Birthday Craig Frost – keyboardist, Grand Funk Railroad

Posted in 1970's hard rock, 1970's Rock, american rock band, grand funk railroad rock band, Hard Rock, Music, Rock, rock celebrity birthdays, rock keyboard musicians, rock music with tags , , , , , , , , , , on April 22, 2009 by Metal Odyssey

16694454I really enjoy paying homage to the greats of Rock & Roll music. Especially when the musician is a member of a band that I can never, ever, tire from. Happy Birthday Craig Frost! Craig is the keyboard extraordinaire for Grand Funk Railroad, a true – blue collar, American Rock Band. Craig turned a super cool 61 on April 20th. 

Man, whoever is into Classic Rock and/or Classic Hard Rock, simply cannot deny that “We’re An American Band” is seriously one heck of a kick tune, that has stood the test of time. For me, this song characterizes Grand Funk Railroad, for me it is their signature song. “The Loco – Motion” is another favorite Grand Funk Railroad tune of mine, the louder I play this bands music – the better it is. I always fall victim to the feel good mode when I crank up Grand Funk Railroad’s Rock & Roll. In my Metal opinion, Craig Frost exemplifies what quality musicianship on the keyboard is supposed to sound like, throughout his successful career. Thank you Craig Frost for the great music over the years!

Kip Winger – “From The Moon To The Sun” shines bright

Posted in 1980's heavy metal music, Album Review, Alice cooper, classical music, concerts, Hair Metal, Hard Rock, Heavy Metal, heavy metal guitarists, Heavy Metal Reviews, heavy metal vocalists, joe walsh, Led Zeppelin, Metal, metal concerts, Metal Reviews, Music, Rock, rock music, symphony music, the beatles, Vocals with tags , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , on April 18, 2009 by Metal Odyssey

173147821Yes, Kip Winger is still creating music. Only you will not hear the Winger of the 1980’s on “From The Moon To The Sun” – this is Kip Winger accentuating his diverse affection for all music. Really, this is not an album to pass over if you are an open minded Hard Rock or Metal fan. With so many musicians in Hard Rock and Metal experimenting musically these days, it does not come as a huge surprise to listen to a softer, more mature (musically), Kip Winger. I hear Kip Wingers influences throughout “From The Moon To The Sun.” Kip Winger gives special thanks, in the liner notes, to his musical heroes, they are: Honegger, Ravel, Debussy, Bach, Brahms, Shostakovich, Stravinsky, Kurek, Vaughan Williams, Adams, The Beatles, Led Zeppelin, Peter Gabriel and Joe Walsh. Seeing the list of Kip’s musical heroes definitely solidifies my saying this album is truly musically diverse. Quite honestly, there are some dudes on this heroes list that I have absolutely no clue as to who they are. I am innocent, for I am a Metalhead after all. (I am not used to too many mellow musicians, especially Classical musicians, however, I am a work in progress).

Now, I actually bought this CD without hearing a single song first. You betcha. Why did I do such a thing you may be asking? First, I always liked Winger and the catchy/sometimes near sappy, Hair Metal music that Winger really was. Secondly, I saw Winger live, with Cinderella and The Bullet Boys. It was at the Springfield Civic Center, in good ol’ Springfield Massachusetts, back in the late 80’s. Winger rocked the house that evening in Springfield, Kip Winger was cool, flashy, yet he was in position to be as flamboyant as he wanted to be back then, he had every darn right. Thirdly, Kip Winger once was a member of Alice Cooper’s band, making two albums with the legendary Alice Cooper. For this Metal fanatic, I think those 3 reasons are good enough for embarking on my purchasing this Kip Winger solo CD.

I definitely hear The Beatles, I especially hear the influence of George Harrison (guitar licks), on the tracks – “Where Will You Go” and “What We Are.” Let me just say that these are definitely my two favorites on this album. “Every Story Told” has an Electric Light Orchestra sound, especially at the beginning with the synthesizer sounds. “Nothing” has an almost Native American and Middle East vibe sound and feel, (I cannot decide which it really sounds like), the vocals at the beginning of this tune explains my comparisons better. “Nothing” is definitely the heaviest of the songs found on this album, it is very catchy and very cool with Kip Wingers vocals stealing the show on this one. “Ghosts” is a Classical/Symphonic masterpiece of a musical work. Yes, an instrumental is found on this Kip Winger solo album and it is Classical and Symphonic. Need not worry, the music on “Ghosts” is not sadness saturated, what I mean is – it is not sad sounding or fast forward worthy. This is obviously, music that means a lot to Kip Winger, I do not mind at all if a Classical/Symphonic tune appears on this CD, for heaven sake, the music of “Ghosts” is not going to bite me.

I have to honestly say that I really dig this Kip Winger solo album. “From The Moon To The Sun” is as complete and honest of a diverse Rock musical effort as you will ever find or hear. Overall, the vocals of Kip Winger are superb, he convinced me that he can change harmony without flaws and be truly dynamic with his range on these songs. The only song on this album that I need to have grow on me is “Pages And Pages,” for some silly reason or another I think this song eventually will. I recommend Kip Winger and his brilliant release “From The Moon To The Sun” to all Rock fans and especially Winger fans who just need to own all things music from Kip. I will say this again, Hard Rock fans and Metal fans who want to chill it down once in awhile, here is your opportunity – what better way to mellow out than to listen to a guy like Kip Winger,17314782 who has without doubt, carved out his place in Heavy Metal history.

Women of Hard Rock & Metal – Janis Joplin

Posted in 1970's Rock, Guitar, Hard Rock, janis joplin, psychedelic rock music, Rock, rock music, Vocals with tags , , , , , , , , , , , on April 12, 2009 by Metal Odyssey

2367085The voice of Janis Joplin, in my opinion, has never, ever, bean duplicated, nor has any female Rock vocalist even come light years close. The raspy, sand papered and bluesy vocals of Janis Joplin has always sounded magical to me. The raw emotion that Janis Joplin exhibited vocally will always come through to me as honest and true. Janis Joplin was an all encompassing Rock legend – singer, songwriter and guitarist. 

I never like to look back at any Rock music legend and wonder what could have been, if tragedy did not strike. Like so many Rock stars and in some cases, icons, that have passed before their time,  I accept the gift of music that these musicians left behind, for the world to enjoy forever. Janis Joplin has left us with her songs and her gifted voice. How wonderful it is, to be able to reach for Janis Joplin at any time and listen away to one of the most powerful voices in all of Rock music history! I cannot tell you how many times I will listen to Janis Joplin, smack dab in the middle of listening to Metal bands like Helloween and Kiss! In doing this, it reminds me that there still is an unparalleled female Rock voice that I can turn to and enjoy. Janis Joplin’s voice and music will set me straight, reminding me of real Rock roots, where Hard Rock was born from.

“Me and Bobby McGee” is a song I kick back to while enjoying the story telling approach of Hard Rock, as only Janis Joplin can deliver. “Mercedes Benz” is easily as relevant a song today as it was in the early 1970’s. “Piece of My Heart”, for me, is as groundbreaking of a Hard Rock song as there ever could be. Musically, the formula for the foundation of Hard Rock was in place – it was Janis Joplin that took this song to another Rock stratosphere with her thrilling and bluesy vocals. From her musical beginnings with Big Brother & the Holding Company to her solo career, Janis Joplin was all along – carving out a path for future female Rock vocalists and female Rock musicians. Janis Joplin was a star of Psychedelic Rock, yet she forever is a star in the Rock and Hard Rock genres as well. Janis Joplin’s accomplishments and place in Rock music history can never be measured, her legacy can only be revered.

Janis Lyn Joplin – January 19, 1943 – October 4, 1970

Electric Light Orchestra – Progressive Rock icon

Posted in 1970's Rock, Album Review, Amon Amarth, electric light orchestra, Hard Rock, Music, progressive rock, Rock with tags , , , , , , , , , , , on April 11, 2009 by Metal Odyssey

8236759If I could pin point the exact age I was, when I first listened to the Electric Light Orchestra, I would be somewhere around 10 years old – the vintage 1970’s. I have been inhaling the music of ELO for my entire life, safe to say. It does not matter what Metal genre I am currently obsessed with, ELO always gets playing time on my turntable and/or CD players. The Electric Light Orchestra, in my opinion, is one of the original leaders of Progressive Rock. What exactly is it about ELO that gravitates me to their music? Since I can remember, even as a young kid, I always got the biggest kick out of any music that was louder, faster and heavier than what was being played on AM radio. (that is correct, I wrote – AM radio).

Is/was ELO faster, louder and heavier than AM radio music of the ’70’s? Some of ELO’s greatest songs are legendary AM radio hits. However, as with any Rock band out there, it always comes down to the deeper album cuts that separates the legendary bands from the plain average bands. There are dozens and probably more, of ELO songs that for me, are far better than the hits you would/currently here on FM radio. What I heard from ELO, all those years ago and still here today, is the bold and rich clarity of combining Traditional and Classical music with up tempo Rock and Roll. I cannot say enough in regards to the intellectual approach to musicianship ELO has stood for. Jeff Lynne, well, he is a musical genius, a musician, vocalist and song writer who has influenced quite a few prominent names in Rock. It is obvious and factual the influence Jeff Lynne has had on the career of Tom Petty. The Traveling Wilburys only solidifies my opinion of just how creative and influential Jeff Lynne was/is. Could any influential credit be given to ELO, for the evolution of the fabulous Finnish cello Metal band – Apocalyptica? This past year of 2008 has had Apocalyptica appear on the new Amon Amarth album – “Twighlight of the Thundergod,” so I am not alone in the world of Metal with my affection towards the cool sounds of cello’s or string arrangements! I do not know for fact, yet every time I listen to the great Dream Theater, I cannot help but here musical arrangements that are reflective of ELO. At times it is a choral arrangement, other times a guitar lead that blends in with tones from a keyboard or organ. I feel pretty confident in comparing Dream Theater to ELO, both bands are musically progressive and are not bashful about experimentation to create sounds and effects. For me, the true musical difference between Dream Theater and ELO is that Dream Theater packs the Metal muscle and overall Metal power brilliance.

The musical totality of ELO far reaches beyond the AM and later FM radio hits that made them so recognizable. ELO took string arrangements and horns to an entirely different level, not just combining these musical instruments with Rock and Roll, but doing so in a a manner in which was powerful, emotional and more often than not, just plain cool. The ELO album “Eldorado” distinguishes the pure emotional feel and sound that only became enhanced two fold from the use of Classical musical arrangements. The ELO album “A New World Record” eclipses any straight forward Rock album of the 1970’s, again through unconventional musical arrangements and structure, in turn creating the cool songs from ELO. I am not ashamed to admit that ELO is an all time favorite Rock band for me. Certainly, Metal and all of it’s genres are my true music love, still it is an exhilarating Rock music, listening experience for me any and every time I tune into ELO. After all of these years of enjoying music, ELO never fails to keep me grounded, while amazing my ears along the way.