If you're wondering who these fine people are in the photo above...they are my mom and dad... While I was working on the blog this week it weighed very heavy upon me that Sunday March 9th is the 5th anniversary of my mom's passing from cancer... so while putting together parts of it were easy, I found getting the main blog written was impossible... You see, I couldn't get mom off my mind and I finally figured out why... She was a major influence on my strange and wonderful musical obsession...
Now you're thinking...how is that?... well it's not like she spoon fed me heavy metal and hard rock [or any music I love for that matter] from birth or anything...she just simply let me...be me... When I was growing up we always had music in the house. Dad with his country music and mom with her Bobby Vinton and Tony Orlando... So when we got a turntable for Christmas and cranked up Boston's first album...or Styx's "Grand Illusion"... she simply smiled... politely asked me to turn it down because I was making my grandmother crazy...and went about her business knowing that I was in my own world and that was ok. I never did drugs or got in a lot of trouble and she knew the more I got involved in the music the less she would have to worry about me...
Sometimes the best way to nurture someone is not to constantly interfere or criticize, but to be more of a peripheral force in their journey... my parents bought the turntable [which gradually became mine over time] and didn't complain a lot when I came home with albums...and then tapes..and then cd's... She probably never really liked what I listen to but she only complained a little if the chandelier above the dining room table [my room was above it...] shook too much. She had that look that said "You're making me crazy...but I love you anyway..."
So... I would like to take the opportunity to say Thank You to my wonderful mom... for allowing me the latitude to be me... for not freaking out that my first concert was Black Sabbath and my friend Bill's dad really was going to be there to chaperone... [and for letting me go to the hundreds more after that....] For tolerating the [sometimes VERY] loud music... the mullet... the earrings... and random singing that came along with it... For welcoming my musical friends into our home... and for supporting all of us... Thank you for your guiding hand... because I know if you didn't support it... things would have been a lot different... Love You Mom... And every time I put on those records, you are with me...
Asia - Asia
John Wetton - Bass, Vocals
Steve Howe - Guitars, Vocals
Geoff Downes - Keyboards, Vocals
Carl Palmer - Drums & Percussion
One of the first "supergroups"... Asia defied all expectations and created an album that still resonates... The debut, released March 18, 1982 went on to become the #1 album on the Billboard chart for that year... not bad for a bunch of "Progressive" rockers that the critics chose to either ignore or deride... Called "pompous"... these guys came to play...and had the songs and the musicianship to pull it off. Combining the "prog" with more rock sensibilities and toning down the solos, this record went on to sell over 4 million copies...and helped provide the soundtrack to the summer of 1982...
Let's see...take 2 parts of Yes [with 1 via The Buggles]...add some UK/King Crimson and then top it off with 1/3 of Emerson, Lake & Palmer and you have a concoction that on paper should have made the most awesome progressive rock album ever... One would expect long, drawn out themes about magic and fairies and literary references to Dostoevsky and Tolstoy.. and yet...that's not what's here...
Kicking the album off is the first single "Heat Of The Moment" which right off the bat lets you know that this is not a record of 70's stalwarts slogging through some off-timed concept... [Siberian Brain Salad Starless Radio Star perhaps...] It's meaty and it cuts right to the chase... Although the amazing Steve Howe is playing here the direction is more straightforward and less "Roundabout"...he's not over playing... but playing all over it... John Wetton's voice never sounded better on these recordings. Arguments have been made that the poppier sound is due to Buggles/Yes keyboardist Geoff Downes, and to some degree I see the point, given his work with Trevor Horn was more prog/pop in The Buggles. After the initial breakup Downes would continue the brand with a new singer and various players, and the band would eventually regroup for the album "Phoenix" in 2008...
The second track and second single also made famous from it's constant rotation on MTV is "Only Time Will Tell"...[Asia really did utilize the video format to broaden the impact of the record...even down to the coordinated white outfits...] Once again upbeat and commercial, the harmonies really come out and Downes' keyboards take center stage. Carl Palmer's drum solo in the middle of "Wildest Dreams" and the beautiful piano coda from "Cutting It Fine" titled "Bolero" show that each member has a chance to come out front.
John Wetton really shines on "Without You" and Howe's "One Step Closer" shows the guitar player using the textures he is known for instead of simple bombast, He's playing all over the song...you just have to sit back and listen... The album closer "Here Comes The Feeling" actually feels as if it was written to tie it all together...It must also be noted that the production on this record courtesy of Mike Stone [R.I.P.] really brings out the best of all of the players involved. [Stone engineered Queen's "Bohemian Rhapsody" and became known for his layering of vocals...] Sonically it sounds great 32 years later... And let's not forget they borrowed Roger Dean [creator of the Yes album covers] to create the iconic water dragon painting and lettering that don the cover.
It truly is one of those rare albums that had no filler on it... and even the b-side "Ride Easy" [released on the compilation "Anthologia: 20th Anniversary Geffen Years Collection 1982-1990"] is a strong song they still play in concert. They would continue for their second, less successful record "Alpha" in '83. John Wetton would be fired before their "Asia In Asia" concert for MTV for that tour, replaced by Greg Lake, and then brought back in the fold for their third record. Steve Howe saw less and less of his compositions making the albums and left after "Alpha" and was replaced for "Astra" by Cobra/Krokus guitarist Mandy Meyer. Howe would resurface with Steve Hacket from Genesis in GTR...
The history of this band is well documented, and while there became various incarnations and several future albums... This record stands the test of time and shows 4 guys who the rock world thought "might" do something memorable hit a home run... And as MTV embraced them so did the world... "Now you find yourself in '82..."
October...
Flying Colors - Live In Europe
Flying Colors is the supergroup made up of Mike Portnoy [Winery Dogs/Dream Theater/AX7/Transatlantic/Adrenaline Mob], Steve Morse [Dixie Dregs, Deep Purple, Kansas, Steve Morse Band], Neal Morse [Spock's Beard/Transatlantic], Dave LaRue [Dixie Dregs/Steve Morse Band] and Casey McPherson [Alpha Rev]... They released their outstanding eponymous debut in 2012 and this record is the document of the European tour for that record. These are some of the most talented players in rock today and the results are outstanding. They mix the album with some solo material from each band and the result is extremely well done... [Mascot Records]
Def Leppard - Viva Hysteria!
Def Leppard took up residence at the The Joint at the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas in March of 2013 and this live recording is taken from those performances. They played all of Hysteria in order and then tackled the other hits they are most known for. On the second disc they opened up for themselves and played some older tunes under the moniker of "Ded Flatbird"... [Buy it for disc 2, which actually opened the show] You can get it either with a standard dvd or Blu-Ray... [Frontiers Records]
Halestorm - ReAniMate 2.0: The CoVeRs eP
Lzzy Hale and Halestorm love to pay tribute to their heroes, and also aren't afraid to go out on a limb either... ReAniMate 2.0 is the second covers record and this time out they tackle Judas Priest [Dissident Aggressor], Daft Punk [Get Lucky], AC/DC [Shoot To Thrill], Pat Benatar [Hell Is For Children], Fleetwood Mac [Gold Dust Woman] and Marilyn Manson [1996]... A heavier take on the pop of Daft Punk and the classic from Fleetwood Mac... an all out aural assault on the other four tracks... great stuff... [Atlantic Records]
Kill Devil Hill - Revolution Rise
Kill Devil Hill hit with their sophomore release "Revolution Rise" and hasn't lost a thing from their debut... Very heavy but melodic, vocalist Dewey Bragg really sounds at home here... great riffs and grooves from Mark Zavon, and you can't beat the rhythm section of Pantera bassist Rex Brown and Dio/Heaven & Hell drummer Vinnie Appice... [Century Media]
Maxx Explosion - Forever
Otherwise known as 3/4 of the current line-up of House Of Lords, Maxx Explosion is the other project from bassist Chris McCarvill, Jimi Bell and B.J. Zampa. McCarvill takes over vocals and the results are an excellent hard rock record replete with the outstanding Jimi Bell tearing it up on the guitar. Great songs, great hooks, and a really great record... I hope we hear a lot more from these three... [Kivel Records]
Rush - Clockwork Angels Tour
Rush used to do a live album after every four records... now... I think it's after every one... Not that it's a problem, given they are one of the premier rock bands in the world... Clockwork Angels is one of the best records the band has done [and it's Neil Peart's favorite...] and the live record really showcases it well. A 3-disc set... They dug into their 80's catalog with tracks like "Grand Designs" and "Body Electric", played the entire "Clockwork Angels" album [minus BU2B...which they did on the last live record "Time Machine 2011: Live In Cleveland"] and contains three different drum solos... The band also took the "Clockwork Angels String Ensemble" on the tour to properly augment the "Clockwork Angels" songs and re-arranged some of the other songs to add the strings... I actually saw the concert at the movie theater...and having seen them many times live, came away very impressed... You will be too... [my only minor complaint is more a sin of omission...they had the string ensemble on the tour and it would have been a perfect opportunity given they targeted their 80's output to play "Losing It" from "Signals"...]... [Roadrunner Records]
Dream Theater - Live At Luna Park
My other all time favorite band [next to Rush obviously...] released the amazing "Live At Luna Park" just two months after their self-titled release... to be fair it was supposed to be released in the Spring but they held it back to complete the final touches on it and the results are excellent. Showcasing new drummer Mike Mangini and over the course of 3 discs playing all of "A Dramatic Turn Of Events" this live record finds the band in top form. The song selection of the other tracks is an excellent cross section of material and vocalist James LaBrie sounds great. Virtuoso performances all around... [Eagle Rock Entertainment]
Daughtry - Baptized
With each successive record, Daughtry seems to be less rock and more pop... On this, their fourth record, it seems like pop won out. It's more of an acoustic rock/country/pop record... my thoughts... It's still an extremely strong record. The songs are really good and Chris Daughtry's voice is in top form. I think they could have gone with a real drum sound, but overall the songs still hold up well... [RCA Records]
Apocalyptica - Wagner Reloaded: Live In Leipzig
In celebration of composer Richard Wagner's 200th birthday, Apocalyptica joined with the MDR Leipzig Symphony Orchestra and choreographer Gregor Seyffert to stage a brilliant and moving theatrical production as a tribute to the master. Performing original songs based on Wagner's body of work they really have outdone themselves on this record. It's dramatic and heavy and really showcases what this band of three cellos and a drummer can do, melding classical and heavy metal music seamlessly... An outstanding choice for any collection... [BMG Music]
The Letter Black - Rebuild
Pennsylvania based Christian band The Letter Black return after 3 years for their second record...and the results are worth the wait... Heavier than the debut and uplifting without being too "preachy" the album takes this band up a few notches... Vocalist Sarah Anthony sounds great here and if you are a fan of Halestorm, give this a chance, you won't be disappointed... [Tooth And Nail Records]
Stryper - No More Hell To Pay
Finishing up November are the Godfathers [seriously...no pun intended] of Christian hard rock/heavy metal... Stryper's "No More Hell To Pay" find the band revitalized and vibrant... really hitting on all cylinders here. It's their heaviest to date and the hooks and melodies really come through. It's a nice return to the dueling guitars of vocalist/guitarist Michael Sweet and Oz Fox... and could theoretically be the follow up to "To Hell With The Devil"... [Frontiers Records]
December...
Scorpions - MTV Unplugged In Athens
I must admit I'm an unabashed fan of the Scorpions [I even found things to like about "Eye To Eye"...] and they sound great here on "MTV Unplugged In Athens"... Klaus Meine really has a voice that belies his age [65] and the whole band does a great job re-arranging their classics for the acoustic environment. For a band that was planning on retiring... I look forward to any and all music they will still create... [Sony Music]
2013 Woulda Shoulda Coulda...
There were a few releases last year that had me scratching my head... Why weren't they better...what were they thinking... Here they are...
Boston - Life, Love & Hope - The first record I ever bought was Boston's debut...so it pains me to finally say this... the horse is dead... put down the stick... the record really isn't that bad but I was hoping for so much more from Tom Scholz and friends... recycling of songs from "Corporate America"...the underused David Victor [from Velocity] and no matter how much I try...I can't accept a female vocal in Boston [sorry Kimberly Dahme...] And for the love of God... you've made a fortune off the first two records, and all your patents... could you PLEASE hire a drummer and retire the damn drum machine... [Frontiers Records]
Queensryche w/ Geoff Tate - Frequency Unknown - I have mixed emotions about this record... On one hand I really like it, and given that I liked the last one [Dedicated To Chaos], I expected it to sound like this does... However...next to the self-titled record with Todd LaTorre on vocals this pails in comparison... The songs were rushed [It was completed in six weeks...], the production was rushed and the result is a record that almost makes it, but falls short... just so that it could be released first... If the judge is going to give naming rights to the band with the better record... This group needs to find a new moniker...
Sammy Hagar - Sammy Hagar & Friends - Sonically sound... stylistically all over the map...and rock?... missing... Maybe next time...
New Releases!!... Coming Soon...To A Format Near You!...
Recorded in June of '72 in Japan and finally available again on CD in the US... This concert showcases the albums "Chicago Transit Authority" through "Chicago V" and features the original line-up [Terry Kath, Peter Cetera, Danny Seraphine, Robert Lamm, Lee Loughnane, James Pankow and Walter Parazaider]. A great sounding live record and out of print for more than a decade... [Rhino Records] [Out 3/11]
Kansas - Kansas/Song For America/Masque
Friday Music continues to release the Kansas catalog on 180-gram audiophile vinyl and these three records are the latest on their slate... 1974's "Kansas" and the two releases from '75 "Song For America" and "Masque"... All remastered with original gate-fold sleeve with graphics, lyrics and liner notes... Kansas and Masque out 3/11 and Song For America out 3/18.
And Now...For Our Flashback 80's Rock Video
The Sherbs - We Ride Tonight
Thanks For Coming Along For The Ride...
J.
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