Unless you are a fan of melodic rock who came across their brilliant 1996 album "A Little Bit Of Fire" [They were signed to Atlantic Records before the grunge movement killed all prospects for hard rock bands...] you probably don't know who Tower City are... If you are a fan of this kind of music you need to track this album down... This however, is not the reason they are part of our topic this week...
Why they are part of our topic is actually because of what they are not doing... Tower City were slated to perform at the melodic rock festival "Firefest" which was to take place in October 2014 in Nottingham, England. [If you are a fan of melodic rock and can get to England for this it is highly recommended...] Just this week singer/guitarist Larry Saltis announced that they would be unable to perform at the festival because... he is unable to sing like he did all those years ago... The band decided if they cannot put on the show that the band, the organizers and the fans will want, they simply will not perform. Now, they could have gone out with backing tapes and faked their way through it, or simply play the songs live and have their singer struggle through it...but they chose not to and for this I applaud their decision... and will continue to enjoy the two albums they created knowing they are a class act...
So many bands play past their prime [he thinks of The Who at the Super Bowl...] and don't know when to hang it up. Granted this is what these guys do...they play music for a living...and since the label money dried up and normal life has resumed, they still have bills to pay... These bands are not the target of ire, as I certainly understand you do what you have to do to support your family... it's the bands that still command top dollar and have nothing left in the tank but still want your hard earned money... [Insert your favorite "past their prime" band here...cough...cough...Bon Jovi...cough...]
Also in the news lately is Motley Crue...who have chosen [and contracted themselves] to perform a final tour and then split up for good. They want to go out on a high note and if they succeed in doing so more power to them... I don't think people realize only a small percentage of artist reach that echelon of success that they can pick and choose their own end. The Who are guilty again in that they have done how many farewell tours? This isn't fair to the fans that paid good money for what they thought would be the last shows of this band, only to see them go out again on tour next year...not cool...
Another band guilty of the "Retirement World Tour" are Scorpions... and I'm actually glad they decided to keep going, as they haven't lost anything over the years and continue to perform at the top of their game... They decided during their farewell tour to just keep going, they were having too much fun, and so were the fans... Since then they released "Comeblack" which is a reworking of their hits and some covers, and just last year released "MTV Unplugged In Athens" which is...what the title says it is... Both albums are excellent. They also released outside of the US a live record from said farewell tour called "Get Your Sting And Blackout Live" which can be picked up as an import, and from what I have read is supposed to be their best sounding live album yet...]
Kudos to Tower City...Motley Crue...and I'll give points to Scorpions for keeping up the quality after they pretended to quit... Some bands however...should just go away...
If you happen to be in Nottingham, England from October 24-26, 2014...you may want to check out Firefest... the hard rock bands performing are as follows...
Friday: Heat/Ten/The Poodles/Shy/Circus Maximus/Redrum/Angels & Kings
Saturday: FireHouse/Black 'N Blue/Pretty Maids/Babylon A.D./Boulevard/From The Fire/Rage Of Angels
Sunday: Danger Danger [In their original lineup]/Autograph/Coney Hatch/Brother Firetribe/Touch/C.I.T.A. (Guild Of Ages)/Axxis
Journey - Frontiers
Steve Perry - Vocals
Neal Schon - Guitars
Jonathan Cain - Keyboards
Ross Valory - Bass
Steve Smith - Drums
So... In the summer of 1981 you release what will go on to be your most successful record, selling over 9 million copies... The record spawns 4 singles and is considered the most successful arena rock record in history... [Rolling Stone critic Dave Marsh by the way only gave it 1 star... I told you I disagreed with most everything they regard...] The songs are everywhere...and the record had legs, staying for over a year in the top 40...And became their only #1 Album... So...what's next?...
For Journey...it was the "Frontiers" record [released Feb, 22, 1983] which by any standard, was a bonafide hit, but up against the "Escape" record, it suffered by comparison... Which is not to say it wasn't great, which is not to say it doesn't deserve accolade, which is why you should give it another listen. When working on the record the band continued with the formula of huge arena rock [Separate Ways] and the radio friendly ballad [Faithfully] in an attempt to recreate the success of "Escape". And as with anything in the music industry, you are only as good as your last successful record, so the pressure was on.
Side one of the record kicks off with "Separate Ways" and traverses into the softer "Send Her My Love"... then picks up again with "Chain Reaction" into the mid-tempo "After The Fall" and finally concludes with the lighter raising ballad "Faithfully"...In all not a bad track to be found, and in retrospect very similar to side one of "Escape".
We get to side two and here is where if you're not a fan of the band and their album tracks you might lose your way...the first track "Edge Of The Blade" is another arena rock track with the big guitar opening...it's big and shiny with the requisite bridges and solos and Neal Schon really comes through on this one... "Troubled Child" is a classic Journey mid-tempo ballad with some great instrumental chops underlying Perry's vocal before it builds to the big chorus..."Back Talk" sees drummer Steve Smith kick things off on this rocker, but Perry's staccato vocals really don't do the song much justice..it's probably my least favorite track on the record...The title track "Frontiers" is a heavily keyboard oriented and again, sounds like they were trying too hard to recreate something... The closing track "Rubicon" is a solid mid-tempo rock song that redeems the last two tracks and finishes the album in fine form.
On the 2006 digital remaster they expanded the song list to fourteen including tracks recorded for the album that were relegated to soundtracks... The first is "Only The Young" [which when released hit top 10...] from "Vision Quest"...then "Ask The Lonely" from "Two Of A Kind", "Liberty is the 3rd bonus track and the last one is from the "Tron" soundtrack called "Only Solutions".
"Only The Young" and "Ask The Lonely" were considered for the record [and were also released on the "Greatest Hits"], and if they were added to side 2 and replaced "Back Talk" and "Frontiers" and you tweak the running order I believe you would have a near perfect record. After this album Perry would release his solo record "Street Talk" and when the band convened for 1986's "Raised On Radio" Perry had taken over and fired Valory and Smith, having their parts played by sidemen, so this is the last "band" record until the reunion release "Trial By Fire" in '96...
Ultimately even lesser Journey is better than most rock music out there so definitely pick up the remaster for the bonus tracks and judiciously hit the skip button if you decide something isn't quite to your taste... In the end the record went to #2 [Behind Michael Jackson's "Thriller"] and sell six million copies... not bad in today's market...although they never really apologized for the cheesiness that is the "Separate Ways" video... [Sony Records]
Part II Of 2013 In Review... April...
Heaven & Earth - Dig
I came across Heaven & Earth when I found their first record, credited to guitarist extraordinaire Stuart Smith with the title Heaven & Earth back in the mid 90's and fell in love with the record. Smith is a disciple of Richie Blackmore and his mentoring shows in a lot Smith's style. That first record had guest vocalists including Joe Lynn Turner [Rainbow/Deep Purple/Yngwie Malmsteen], Kelly Hansen [Hurricane/Foreigner], Paul Shortino [Rough Cutt/Quiet Riot] and even a vocal spot from Bon Jovi's Richie Sambora... It was a great slice of classic rock done well...flash forward to 2013 and Heaven & Earth is now a full time band with a great new record. Smith was playing in Sweet and it is there he worked with vocalist Joe Retta. Drummer Ritchie Onori played in Sweet as well and has also worked with Smith on all the Heaven & Earth records. Bassist Chuck Wright [Giuffria/House Of Lords/Quiet Riot] and keyboard player Arlan Schierbaum [Joe Bonnamassa/Ritchie Kotzen] round out the group...What you get is great classic sounding rock with vocals that lean toward Glenn Hughes and Paul Rodgers... All the players stand out individually, and Smith isn't afraid to show his chops...Definitely worth the time... [Quarto Valley Records]
Volbeat - Outlaw Gentlemen & Shady Ladies
Danish metal band Volbeat really shines on their 5th album "Outlaw Gentlemen & Shady Ladies" and was nominated for a Grammy award in the hard rock/metal category [of course losing out to Black Sabbath...] It's a great mix of metal, rockabilly, and western themes with a great sense of melody...[Doc Holliday is currently the favorite]... Vocalist Michael Poulsen sounds awesome, and the guitars scream and solo while keeping the framework of the song...great stuff... Guitarist/producer Rob Caggiano left Anthrax to join this group while working on the record... It fits well into the modern rock/metal landscape, but really comes across as something more... [Universal Republic Records]
Device - Device
With Disturbed on hiatus...vocalist David Draiman formed Device and released their eponymous debut this year. Working with Filter guitarist Geno Lenardo, the band's sound is heavy and driving, with touches of industrial mixed in. What I liked about it was no matter how heavy it got, there was still attention to melody, so the songs were something you could dive into. It could get deep and dark and then come out with a chorus that lifts it out... While Draiman's voice is unmistakable this is not just another Disturbed record... If you are a fan of the Disturbed catalog, or are looking for something good and heavy...give this a shot, you will not find a stronger record...Guests include Glenn Hughes, Serj Tankian, Geezer Butler, Tom Morello and M. Shadows...and Draiman does a cover of the Ozzy/Lita Ford classic "Close My Eyes Forever" with Halestorm's Lzzy Hale... [Warner Bros. Records]
Michael Buble' - To Be Loved
OK... You're thinking... Device...Volbeat...Michael Buble??... Yes Michael Buble'... One of the things I have done on the side for the last 26 years is run a dj company that does weddings...and you can't have a wedding without at least some Buble'... And while the weddings got me to listen to him...the quality of the songs and his vocals are what kept me listening... A throwback to a bygone era [not unlike Harry Connick, Jr.] the vocal style is more crooning...and his take on classic songs are excellent... on this record there are 14 tracks and 10 are covers... the first single is an original called "It's A Beautiful Day"... All the songs are done well and if you're looking for something a little different...check this one out... [Reprise Records]
Deep Purple - Now What?!
Deep Purple continue to produce great records and their ages don't seem to be slowing them down much!... Now What?! is classic Deep Purple with modern production touches courtesy of Bob Ezrin [Pink Floyd/Kiss]... Guitarist Steve Morse continues to carry the torch where Blackmore left off and grooves and solos without being too over the top. Keyboard player Don Airey channels the late John Lord with sweeping, majestic layers to the sound...and at 67 [yes 67...], Ian Gillan sounds excellent...the MK II rhythm section of Ian Paice and Roger Glover continue to form the backbone for this great band... If you are a casual fan and haven't listened lately... Pick this one up!...[Eagle Rock Entertainment]
May...
Dio - Finding The Sacred Heart: Live In Philly 1986
I saw Dio on the "Sacred Heart" tour so I really looked forward to hearing this time capsule of my youth... and I was not disappointed... The tour picks up in Philadelphia after original guitarist Vivian Campbell [Def Leppard/Riverdogs] left and was replaced by Craig Goldy [Rough Cutt/Giuffria]... A great live set filled with classic Dio, Rainbow and Black Sabbath tunes, all made memorable by an impassioned performance by Dio and company...[complete with a huge animatronic dragon...] Goldy does an excellent job handling all the guitar styles, the rhythm section of Jimmy Bain and Vinnie Appice play with ferocity and Dio [both the man and the band] are at their best on this set... Pick this one up too!!... [Eagle Rock Entertainment]
Delain - Interlude
To hold the fans over while they toured and began working on a new record Dutch metallers Delain released "Interlude"...it contains an acoustic version of their album title track "We Are The Others" as well as some covers and some live tracks... I had the pleasure of seeing them tour this past fall and came away duly impressed. The album is a great addition to an outstanding catalog...but it's the ballad version of "Others" that really grabbed me. Written about the senseless beating and death of 21 year old Sophie Lancaster, who was attacked for being "different", in this case, it was because she was "Goth"... Needless to say the sad story resonated with the band, and vocalist Charlotte Wessels particularly, and the song became the title track of their 2012 album... This piano version is simple and beautiful and becomes an anthem for all the "others" who strive just to live in their own skin without being picked on for being different... [Napalm Records]
Black Star Riders - All Hell Breaks Loose
They were touring as Thin Lizzy [with original drummer Brian Downey, guitarist Scott Gorham [joined in '74] and keyboard player Darren Wharton [joined in 1980]... but when it came time to record a record of new material...the outfit [with vocalist Ricky Warwick (The Almighty), bassist Marco Mendoza (Blue Murder/Ted Nugent/Whitesnake) and guitarist Damon Johnson (Brother Cane/Alice Cooper)...] decided to choose a new moniker so as not signify this was a not a band living off the Thin Lizzy name but a new band who wear their influences on their sleeve but came here to make their own mark... Drummer Downey left and was replaced by Alice Cooper/Megadeth/Y&T drummer Jimmy DeGrasso, and Wharton bowed out due to his commitments to his other band Dare...And the album... a great slice of dual -guitar hard rock with it's definite nod to Thin Lizzy [Given the lineage...what else would you expect..]...Warwick sounds great and overall the record really holds up. [Nuclear Blast America Records]
Goo Goo Dolls - Magnetic
Goo Goo Dolls continue to create excellent pop/rock on their latest album "Magnetic"... the last record "Something For The Rest Of Us" to me was a little darker and more serious, and this one opens right up and brings back the shiny happy on the first single "Rebel Beat", which comes complete with a bouncy melody line and [electronic] handclaps... The record is a great mix of deep lyrics and melodies without being overtly maudlin and is radio-friendly and catchy... Just how we like it... [Warner Bros. Records]
Joe Satriani - Unstoppable Momentum
He is hands down one of THE best guitarists on the planet, and on his latest release "Unstoppable Momentum" Joe Satriani shows off the guitar-god that he is. Soaring melodies, great solos, and overall great songwriting, so that you aren't just listening to an "instrumental" record... You're listening to songs... great ones... The first single "A Door Into Summer" soars and the beautiful "I'll Put A Stone In Your Cairn" is very moving... Overall the recording sounds great and the production is very well done... The opening track "Unstoppable Momentum" draws you in and the closing track "A Celebration" leaves you with a smile... Definitely worth a listen... [Epic/RED]
Timo Tolkki's Avalon - Land Of New Hope
Former Stratovarius guitarist Timo Tolkki put together this musical project with the help of Amaranthe's Elize Ryd, Symphony X/Adrenaline Mob's Russell Allen, Impellitteri/M.A.R.S. vocalist Rob Rock, Sonata Arctica's Tony Kakko, Helloween/Unisonic's Michael Kiske and Within Temptation's Sharon den Adel, Keyboard players Jens Johannson [Yngwie/Stratovarius], Mikko Harkin [Sonata Arctica] and Derek Sherinian [Dream Theater], and drummer Alex Holzwarth [Rhapsody Of Fire]... The story is that the world is essentially destroyed and a small band of survivors must seek out a sacred place called "The Land Of New Hope"... A solid concept record with a mix of power metal/melodic hard rock and ballads, complete with the "A" list of melodic metal/hard rock guests... It didn't grab me at first but with successive listens it all comes together... [Frontiers Records]
Airbourne - Black Dog Barking
Airbourne hail from Australia and on their third release "Black Dog Barking" they continue their straight ahead hard rock attack much like their compatriots AC/DC... In fact...if Brian Johnson chose to retire they could hire Airbourne's vocalist Joel O'Keefe and he would fit in seamlessly... All comparisons aside this band really plays honest, straight ahead in your face rock 'n roll, and they play it well... Great driving riffs, vocals and rhythms... Put it on, crank it up...and enjoy!!.. [Roadrunner Records]
The Poodles - Tour De Force
Funny Name...Excellent band... Hailing from Sweden, The Poodles continue their outstanding run of albums with "Tour De Force"... Picking up where "Performocracy" left off these guys play melodic hard rock... Big riffs, big chorus', with great hooks and solos thrown in... Great musicianship and great songwriting make this a must listen if you are a fan of hard rock. From the bombast of "Misery Loves Company" to the softer "Leaving The Past To Pass"... the record has a little of everything and it's all done very well... [Frontiers Records]
June...
Queensryche - Queensryche
In the battle to control the name...there are now two Queensryche's... one led by former vocalist Geoff Tate [who also released an album called "Frequency Unknown" in April...] and the other led by original members Scott Rockenfield [drums], Michael Wilton [guitar] and Eddie Jackson [bass]... While it's still up for a judge to decide who gets the name we find the record simply called "Queenryche" with vocalist Todd LaTorre on my best of list...and the Tate record...more on that later... As if picking up where '94's "Promised Land" left off and delving more into the original sound of the band, Queensryche have made a new record that sounds great, has great songs, and isn't a hobble down memory land trying to sound like anything but themselves... I have been a fan since the beginning and it is refreshing to hear them just play without constraint what they're good at... To be fair the band started off by replacing Tate with La Torre [who also sang in Crimson Glory] and called themselves "Rising West"... so the goal was to write and record new music and not rest on their laurels... Well, in this they have succeeded!... La Torre has elements of Tate in his voice, and he fits in well here. The songs are in my opinion the strongest in a long time and there is a synergy that has been lacking on the last [many] records... Love the whole record front to back top to bottom... favorite songs are "In This Light" and "Fallout"...reminds me of classic 'Ryche... It's a decision for the courts as to who gets the name...I know who I would vote for...Adding to the irony is that second guitarist Parker Lundgren was married to Geoff Tate's daughter for about 6 months... The saga continues... [Century Media Records]
Megadeth - Super Collider
Fans and critics have pardon the expression..."thrashed" this record because it's not "thrash" enough... Following up their outstanding Th1rt3en... Dave Mustaine and company have gone a more traditional hard rock approach [complete with a cover of Thin Lizzy], rather than trying to create "Peace Sells 2"... and the result is excellent... It's heavy...it's fast...and it's musically tight... what it's not...is thrash... Some people put bands in a box and don't want them to grow or change... Dave Mustaine is someone who refuses to do the same thing over and over. For this I applaud him because I really enjoy this record. [and I have their entire catalog...] Chris Broderick, Dave Ellefson and Shawn Drover are all playing at the top of their game... In the end if you are a fan of the hardcore thrash that Megadeth helped define... you will not be satisfied with this record... but if you are a fan of great hard rock give this a listen [and then pull out "Killing Is My Business"... if you want to thrash out...]...[Universal Music]
Dave Koz & Friends - Summer Horns
I admit to being a fan of the saxophone, but my interest has been reignited by my daughter Emily taking it up and playing in the jazz band at her school... when I saw this release I thought "she would like this" and it turned out that I liked it too!... the "friends" playing with Dave Koz are Gerald Albright, Mindi Abair and Richard Elliot and they are all great players... Covering Chicago, Earth, Wind & Fire, Sly and The Family Stone, The Beatles and James Brown as well a a host of others they really do justice to the originals while putting their own spin on things. It's a really fun record and for me a nice break from all the hard rock and metal that invades my playlist... [Concord Jazz]
Black Sabbath - 13
3/4 of the Godfathers of heavy metal are back with Grammy award winning "13"... Not to be a stickler...but they should have included Bill Ward... Brad Wilk [Rage Against The Machine/Audioslave] does a good job in his place, but it would have been nice to see the original four.. that gripe aside it's a good return to form for the original Sabbath. As a fan of all the incarnations [particularly Dio] I really hoped this album would live up to expectations...and thankfully it did... The Iommi riffs are there... Geezer Butler is a monster on this record, and Ozzy is well.. Ozzy... It reaches back to the first four records and really recreates the tone that created all the classics... Producer Rick Rubin told the band to go back to their roots and he really gets the best out of them... Worth a listen... [Universal Republic]
Magnus Karlsson - Free Fall
Magnus Karlsson is the guitarist for Primal Fear and a well respected multi-instrumental musician and producer... He has been involved with some of the best melodic hard rock musicians and singers in the business [including Tony Harnell from TNT and Michael Kiske from Helloween...]. He wrote and produced three albums for Russell Allen/Jorn Lande. When it came time for Karlsson to put together his solo album he pulled together many of the musicians he had previously worked with and the Free Fall album came to be... Guests on the this record include the aforementioned Allen [Symphony X/Adrenaline Mob], and Harnell [TNT/Starbreaker], Ralf Scheepers [Primal Fear], Rick Altzi [At Vance/Masterplan], David Readman [Pink Cream 69/Voodoo Circle], Mark Boals [Yngwie J. Malmsteen/The Codex/Ring Of Fire], Rickard Bengtsson [Last Tribe], Herman Saming [A.C.T.], and Mike Andersson [Cloudscape/Planet Alliance]. What you get on this record is outstanding melodic metal... well written songs, great solos, big, anthemic chorus'... Karlsson handles all the guitars, bass, keyboards and backing vocals along with lead vocals on 3 tracks [and does it so well you wonder why he had everyone guest on this...] The verdict on this one is that [to me] it's one of the best melodic metal albums to come down in years and you will not be disappointed if you find this one in your collection... [Frontiers Records]
New Releases...Coming To A Medium Near You!...
Heart - Fanatic: Live From Caesar's Colosseum
I remember seeing Heart on the '85 "Heart" tour and came away duly impressed with just how good Ann Wilson sounds live... so when I saw they were releasing this I found it was something to look forward to... After all these years she can still sing it all [and in the original keys!] and doesn't sound like she's lost anything... Definitely worth a listen [Frontiers Records] [Out 2/25]
House Of Lords: Precious Metal
House Of Lords: Precious Metal
House Of Lords follow up their outstanding 2011 release "Big Money" with "Precious Metal"... Back with James Christian is his core band of Chris McCarvill [bass], Jimi Bell [guitars] and B.J. Zampa [drums]... The first single is "Battle" and from what I've heard, we have another winner on our hands... [Frontiers Records] [Out 2/25]
W.E.T. - One Live - In Stockholm
W.E.T. - One Live - In Stockholm
W.E.T. release a document of their outstanding live show touring for their second release "Rise Up" with "One Live-In Stockholm"... Vocalist Jeff Scott Soto sounds great and they cover their two albums plus 2 songs from Talisman, one from Eclipse and one from Work Of Art... Great songs and a great performance... [Frontiers Records] [Out 2/25]
And Now...For This Week's Gratuitous Hair Metal Video...
Thanks For Coming Along For The Ride...
J.
