State Of Shock - Rock N' Roll Romance

The third release from State Of Shock is a largely better record than its predecessor because of the ability to write a good verse and chorus in the confines of the same song. When you get to the rollicking hard rock of "The F Word" the difference in the band is pretty obvious and the change for the better continues throughout most of the album. I got to listen to this album on a drive from Victoria to Nanaimo today which is always my favorite way to really get a read on a new album. If it can keep me interested as I drive without hitting the skip button constantly I usually enjoy the release.

I found some really good tunes here and I'm impressed that in the long play situation even the bands first single is better. If I was to pick one tune as the shining moment it would be easy "Rock N' Roll Romance" is by far my favorite track. Between the first and last song I only found "Used To Be" weak and the one song I can't get through beginning to end. Songs like "Gone N' Done N' Did It", "Innocent Girl", "Last Call" & "Call Me Crazy" are easy hit singles on radio. If this album gets its due State Of Shock have a monster album on their hands.

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Adelitas Way - Home School Valedictorian

It took awhile for me to get around to this album and thanks to Sirius radio's Octane station I was exposed to their current single "Sick" which I at first thought was My Darkest Days. The song caught my interest so I gave their album a listen and I was impressed now and again as Home School Valedictorian played through. The album has too much filler to be a standout but the good songs are good and worth paying attention to for sure.

I did find myself hitting the skip button a lot come the second listen because the album does get bogged down with their modern rock mid-paced emo bullshit all too often for my liking. But "Alive", "I Can Tell", "Move" and to a lesser degree "I Wanna Be" are enjoyable.

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Sebastian Bach - Kicking & Screaming

It's been many years since we recieved a proper album from the ex Skid Row frontman. This album is truly his first solo album in my opinion as all the previous stuff has been bits and pieces from all kinds of sources. I guess Angel Down was a real album but that wasn't very good at all.

Here Baz sounds like he just walked in from 1992 with the follow-up to Slave To The Grind that's how classic and powerful he sounds here. The first two tracks are heavy rockers that really continue in form from 1991 but then a bit of a modern element breaks through on "Tunnel Vision" that has a wicked grind giving way to Sebastian's pitch perfect wail. The very street sleaze that his former band was famous for is present everywhere on Kicking & Screaming which gives the album all sorts of cred in my opinion. Now the album isn't close to perfect and that is present at the halfway point and it does lack some of the more catchy and inspired moments Baz has had in years past.

The song "As Long As I Got The Music" is a pretty upper level tune and he sounds fantastic on the track. This is probably the albums best tune or shall I say most accessible tune that is more what I mean. The bump and grind of "Dirty Power" has enough groove and grit to be a worthy mention and recommendation for a listen. The album has some real aggressive rockers and a nice mid-paced tune "Wishin'" that has all the chops. Overall this is a decent work for Sebastion Bach and hopefully the follow-up won't take forever again.

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The Goods This Week

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Machine Head - Unto The Locust

The return to their metal roots on The Blackening the band continue to drive the metal hammer down on Unto The Locust. The devastating thrash metal aggression that unfolds with the title "I Am Hell (Sonata In C#)" isn't genre defining but it is a classic piece of modern thrash metal. The metallic assault continues to pile drive your eardrums and really hits the pinnacle by track four on the album. After you make it to half-way the music begins to lose my attention. That is because of the sameness of the back end of the album. The relative small amount of individual tracks should make this album better but it sort of becomes its shortfall. I do enjoy "Who We Are" which hits a near home-run on the weaker half of the record. This album is full on metal and will melt your face from beginning to end.

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Tom Morello & The Nightwatchman - World Wide Rebel Songs

Not being a fan of Rage Against The Machine I wasn't remotely interested in hearing anything Tom Morrello was a part of until I heard Audioslave and it was very strong stuff. So with that in mind I gave his solo album a listen which turned out to have some really engaging music. There is some total shit on the album I will be honest but their are some complete gems. This album shines bright on "Black Spartacus Heart Attack Machine", "Speak & Make Lightning", "Stray Bullets", "World Wide Rebel Songs" & "Union Town". These are the best songs on the album for sure and should be staples in your listening rotation. The rest don't do a thing for me but I will mention "It Begins Tonight" which about as close to R.A.T.M. or Audioslave. I did find much of the material akin to The Clash in spirit and vocal delivery for sure and considering how political or social the lyrics are one might believe Tom's tributing the effervescence of the mighty punk kings.

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Chickenfoot - III

The sophomore release from Sammy's supergroup is a much more likeable effort overall. Sammy sounds fantastic and this album has a band sound that wasn't so easily present on the debut. These songs are easily accessible from the first listen. I do find a little bit of guitar pyrotechnics lacking on the songs from Joe Satriani but the drumming is better on this album where it was painfully dull on the debut. I don't know if Chad Smith is a real rock drummer yet but he's much closer now than he was. The killer "Different Devil" is a total standout track and hopefully this song will find its way to radio. It has hit song written all over it for sure.

The Montrose groover "Up Next" will be a monster live in concert for sure with all the swagger it has in the guitar riff. Michael who complements Sammy's vocals so well creates all that Van Halen goodness we've all loved over the years. His bass playing is tight and never misses as he delivers the heavy each and everytime. I did find one song that I just don't care for called "Come Closer". It sounds like a weak ass Whitesnake meets Christopher Cross hybrid. The boys rip it up on the next track following the song with "Three & A Half Letters" where Sammy does a good job conveying what's happening in the real world America right now. The band's "Dubai Blues" is a very borrowed idea from "Poundcake". The song could have easily come from F.U.C.K. and one listen will have most agreeing with that assessment. Joe's guitar playing on "Something Going Wrong" is soulful and very tasty, he does some nice fills and I like the banjo laying low in the mix rounding out the overall sound of the song.

This is a very good album and I like the tribute to the Travelling Wilbury's in the titling of the album. I don't know if it was intentional or not but that popped into my head upon seeing the albums title.

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Butch Walker & The Black Widows - The Spade

Is there much to say about Butch Walker's latest album? HELL YEAH! Here we have the supreme talent doing almost everything right this time.  Opening up the album with the sweet and catchy "Bodegas & Blood" that has a slight country feel hiding underneath the shiny pop shuffle. This album finds he and the Black Widows mixing it up a lot with all the influences and styles intertwined into the songs. The album has some absolutely killer tunes like "Every Single Body Else", "Summer Of 89" which references Bryan Adams being un-cool which is actually true he's kinda of a dork really.

He gets it all right with a very sweet 70's pop glam style on "Sweethearts" that reminds me of all the greatness that was AM radio back then. There are so many great numbers on this album that it will become any fan of good rock n' roll's staple. The very Kinks/Faces inspired and I must say genius "Dublin Crow" just grabbed my ears and won't let go. I love this track and all its glorious melody and harmony. The rootsy blues of "The Closest Thing To You I'm Gonna Find" is a beautiful nod to the Stones album Exile On Mainstreet. Then Butch jumps on it and spits out a very punkish two pack wrapped up in glam that close what is the best album he's been a part of since the South Gang debut.

Please buy this album and support Butch Walker a deserving and underrated rocker.

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Bush - Sea Of Memories

After some weak ass albums and a solo career, if you can call it that the reunion of Bush comes about. This album kicks off with the excellent "The Mirror Of The Signs" which shows some of the spirit of the strongest albums Stone & Razorblade. I've been enjoying the first single for awhile now after watching them on Kimmel. The album is produced nicely allowing the band to keep their grunge tinged alternative rock of the 90's but showing major growth with a very nice modern mix to the songs. Gavin sounds great when he's in the lower register of his voice but does strain to get that big shrieking growl at his age now. One of the stronger songs "Afterlife" has plenty for fans of the first two or three albums with its pure 90's rock sound.

On the first slow song Gavin and company do a good job of writing a ballad that doesn't suck. It has a decent chorus and piano that gives way to the Bush guitar sound building the power of the song to a climax. This album is absolutely worth the price of admission and continues all the way through to the end giving Bush their best album since the debut. This album deserves to be in your collection and will earn many plays with all the strong material this band has come up with since Golden State. I wouldn't be surprised if some of this came from old sessions from 1996.

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Ben Moody - You Can't Regret What You Don't Remember

Wow I can't believe the complete suckage happening on this album. What a waste of bandwidth this album turned out to be. Ben Moody has little nothing going on in the song writing department. If you like this mess of emo/goth bullshit you need your head examined. Utter shit album that should have never been released and the music industry continues to waste money putting crap like this on store shelves and bitches about losing profits.

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10 Songs That Should Be On Everybody's I-Pod

Since I've just had the epic experience of listening to a smoking new Alice Cooper album, a wickedly good worshiping session at the alter of Anthrax I've decided a ten pack of head banging metal would be jolly good.

10.  Juggernaut Of Justice by Anvil
09. Reckoning Day by Megadeth
08. Black Widow of La Porte by John 5
07. March Of The Sycophants by Exodus
06. Elimination by Overkill
05. Motorcycle Man by Saxon
04. Ghouls Gone Wild by Alice Cooper
03. Cyanide by Metallica
02. D.N.R. (Do Not Resuscitate) by Testament
01. The Devil You Know by Anthrax

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Anthrax - Worship Music

Bang Thy Head: Today the reunion finally comes full circle with the brand new album which includes  Joey Belladona. There is a lot to live up to and this band is no longer a pure thrash act because they have all grown as musicians and songwriters since the glory days. Age brings wisdom (most of the time) and here we have a much wiser Anthrax that has found their modern era metal sound. This album has more than enough goodies to please all fans of the band. I'm sure that some of the unrelenting immature tools from yesteryear will complain about the music but I say "fuck em".

I've been waiting a long time for this band to get rid of that horrid vocalist John Bush who sucked the life out the band as each album unfolded while he was vocalist. Here Anthrax sound heavy and powerful in a way they never did before. When you hear and feel the stomp-tastic "In The End" as it pummels your head with slow even strikes you might understand what I mean about their heaviness. Unlike Slayer but much like Metallica this is more of a rebirth for the band as was Death Magnetic for the thrash metal giants. The album sounds classic but sounds current and is just a little different for the band from their speed metal past. This is far more in tune with their John Bush output but with a far more dynamic singer handling the microphone. Charlie Benante actually uses his drum kit for creating tight powerful rhythms instead of just pounding as fast as he can.

By the time the thrashing "The Giant" arrives the album has already proved to be a winner and this is very polished but still classic era sounding hits a home-run. The song that grabbed me most is "The Devil You Know" that is a great slice of heavy metal from any genre. Probably my favorite metal song of the year so far. The news intro of an impending zombie attack on the first single "Fight Em' Til' You Can't" just made the song even better. Anthrax's "Judas Priest" is another wicked tune that earns the right to be titled the same as the greatest heavy metal band on the planet. Scott Ian has become a really good songwriter since branching out and working outside the band. I think it has allowed him to grow leaps and bounds, learning many new tricks and taking his own style to a whole new level. Rob Caggiano who's been around for awhile now blazes his fretboard all through the album. Anthrax has returned with a great new album and a fresh take on their classic sound. Any metal fan would be remiss if they didn't add this album to their collection. "HORNS UP!"

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Vanilla Ice - WTF

So Vanilla Ice is still trying to come-back and hit the charts as a rapper. I can say this time at least he didn't re-hash "Ice Ice Baby" again. The guy is actually a good rapper if he'd just do that which for the better he does on this album. No nu-metal or rap rock Ice which is a really good thing and at some points on this album he drops some decent tunes. "Good Times" with the hick-hop originator Cowboy Troy is a catchy tune that I'd listen to now and again.  I even like the Indian flavored "Wit Dat" it has a good beat and his flow is ok. Let's be honest this album isn't up to the level of Flo Rida, Ludacris or Nelly but if he had the same money and talent backing him and producing his tracks he'd stand toe to toe with anyone in the hip-hop genre.

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Thrice - Major/Minor

Thrice achieves nothing on their current album, ok that's unfair they achieved a new level of suck. Seattle called and wants to let you guys know it's 2011 not 1994 anymore. Grunge has been over for a really longtime and we've even gone through post-grunge which is really just alt. rock to be honest. This album has some of the worst drum sounds I've heard in a long time. They are so freaking weak and tiny with loud liquid cymbals crashing all over the place which do nothing for me. A lot of the time they sound like Chevelle with that horrid droning wall of emo sound.

If I didn't know better I'd swear this one an indie album from the 90's which would never have been given the time of day by me. Stay away from this crap you'll thank me for it later.

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Dream Theater - A Dramatic Turn Of Events

First things first Dream Theater are officially a different band now with too many changes to their line-up to be considered the same group that recorded Falling Into Infinity and Six Degrees Of Inner Turbulence. The current crew has done exactly what I hoped for on the new album and that is write more accessible music that still has the progressive elements without all the annoying vocal gymnastics and awkward time changes just so Portnoy can prove his mettle. I won't lie I absolutely love Mangini and was excited for him to sit in with this band. The band does their thing without going to that place so often visited by prog rock bands. James gets better with age or production techniques either way he is so much better today than he was in 1992.

As with this sort of band and album you are always the sum of all the parts and songs aren't really so easy to pull apart and dissect in this realm. But there are some place where music just becomes a sonic sound of joy and on the third track "Lost Not Forgotten" that becomes the case. At 1:59 the absolute amazing guitar work that transpires is epic. Petrucci never fails to impress no matter what. James sounds completely demented and right where his voice is most effective on this 10:11 epic. I don't even care what the lyrics are because it all just works so well together that encompassing the whole sound scape is more important that listening to the lyrics.

The has many more moments of glory and supreme instrumentation that one could go on for days and pages. I will say that with the ever brilliant return of Yes this year Dream Theater upped their game as well creating one of the bands best albums. I just love this record and it might become my favorite album by Dream Theater if I'm still this engrossed with the majesty of it over the next few months.

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Emphatic - Damage

Emphatic's "Bounce" has been played a ton by myself since it was released as the debut single. I only had high hopes after a short survey I did months ago which I found more to like than dislike and scored them highly in said survey. The album doesn't disappoint at all with many strong tunes that rock pretty hard all while keeping their pop sensibilities that always makes modern rock bands better.

The bands slower songs aren't terrible as with many of this genre's artists. "A Place To Fall" is a solid radio friendly tune that could continue their momentum as a follow-up single. I believe they have what it takes to breakthrough the modern rock sludge clogging all the radio channels right now. Tunes like "Get Paid", "Beg" and "Tonight" will be most listeners favorites after hearing them a couple of times. I hope to hear this group a lot on the radio over the next few months turning them into stars so that they stick around for a second and third record.

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Powerman 5000 - Copies Clones & Replicants

One of my current favorite bands released their very own cover song album with a great title Copies Clones & Replicants, a cleaver title to say the least. As far as song choice for covers is really good overall and they do one of it not, the best cover of the T-Rex classic "20th Century Boy". I like their take on tune which usually comes off as thin and boring by all others with the only decent version being the original and now this one. A CCM band Tait used to do the best cover of "Electric Avenue" and probably bettered the original to be honest. Now they share this with Powerman 500 who've equaled their rendition.

The band take on one of those songs that never sound good covered and do an amiable job of the new wave genius Devo's "Whip It". Still can't compete with the original but I don't want to throw up as it plays which says a lot considering how fond I am of Devo. One thing I didn't expect was to find myself liking "Jump" more by PM5K than the DLR and VH boys. I actually think the song shines with such agressive dance rock production all over it. The spot on guitar solo gives the songs all it needs to eclipse the original.

From this point forward the covers aren't as strong but there are still a few good tunes to be had like the very dark and futuristic take on "Should I Stay Or Should I Go". I can't wait for new original music from the band in the near future and no more cover albums even though this ones not terrible. The Twisted Sister cover does resemble the impact of an 8.0 earthquake hitting Long Island with the epicenter Dee's front yard though.

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Dev - Night The Sun Came Up

Finally Dev's album has dropped and I've been a fan of her since I first heard Bass Down Low long ago now. Her style is original and she doesn't sound like all the rest which puts her into a category populated by very few but powerful company like Robyn, Ke$ha, Katy Perry, Jessie J, Lena and a select few others.

The album is more of what I expected than what I didn't which is ok I guess. The songs are sometimes pedestrian and as a long player I'm not inspired to put this album on and play it completely through again. As singles go one here and there in mixed company listening would be great. The strongest songs are "Me", "Dancing Shoes", "Perfect Match" & "Shadows" along with "Bass Down Low" which we all are familiar with by now.

Dev doesn't disappoint but has too much filler on the album considering how much I anticipated her debut this turned out better than most albums I look forward to hearing for such a long time.

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Alice Cooper - Welcome 2 My Nightmare

Upon first reading that Alice was re-hashing the original Nightmare album for a continuation I was a little annoyed by the whole concept. Once I heard the first single "I'll Bite Your Face Off" I was satisfied that this was a rock record and not a orchestral epic that would be a snore-fest. I waited patiently for more and finally the album has arrived and after one complete listen all I wanted to do was start it over again. The first sign that this album is something to behold.

 The opening track is a little bit of a shock with Alice using auto-tune on his voice and the fact it is a ballad. Once you get past the auto-tune there is a great song to be heard in "I Am Made Of You". Coop's best ballad since one his greatest compositions ever "The Song That Didn't Rhyme". It bleeds into the smoking rocker "Caffine" another high quality tune going two for two. This continues all through the album where nothing at all negative can be found. The excellent vaudevillian "Last Man On Earth" is everything the uber Alice Cooper fan like me could ask for from my hero. I am sitting here with the biggest smile that my face will allow as the album plays through for the second time in a row.

The albums most classic sounding song is probably "The Congregation" but even though it has all the trappings of the 70's it sounds fresh and powerful. The overtly goofy " Disco Bloodbath Boogie Fever" is a wonderful slice of Alice's humor and to be honest I'd love to see the visual he's got running through his head for the song. When the kick ass rock break @2:25 comes on the song gets even better with the old school stinging guitar interludes dance between the vocals. I just can't say enough about how much this album has going on because just when it's great it gets even better.

Now believe it or not the Ke$ha duet is hella good she fits perfectly into this genre and her undeniable talent is ever present as a co-writer. The disco infused rock reminds of what was happening in the late 70's as both genre's struggled to find their middle ground. Ke$ha is one of my personal favorite pop songstresses in the 2000's and only comes in second to Katy Perry in the format. The album closes with two instantly memorable tunes "I Gotta Get Outta Here" and "The Underture" the fore mentioned sounds like it came from the Billion Dollar Babies writing sessions. It just has that kind of feeling that the group was sitting around drinking some long-necks and strumming this one in the studio after enjoying a nice sunny day. Including the "Welcome To My Nightmare" medley as a song closing what has been an absolute joy to listen to should put a little lump in your throat as the album comes to its conclusion. The best thing about the ending is you get to go back and listen to the album all over again and again and again and again.

Coming in at fourteen songs you might expect for some filler but there is no trace of any. This album is a winner front to back and proves beyond a doubt that Alice Cooper still has all the magic that made me a lifelong fan from the moment I first heard "Under My Wheels" on my dad's stereo at the tender young age of three.

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