Youngblood Hawke - Youngblood Hawke E.P.

Oh one of those bands, Fun, Imagine Dragons and so on and so forth. The new pop indie sound that has become so popular right now in the TV commercial world. Youngblood Hawke aren't terrible they are just a fifth tier indie pop band that is doing the popular sound right now which is done better and more dynamically by Boy Least Likely To..., Apples In Stereo, Tilly & The Wall, Belle & Sebastion and the list goes on.

There is no shortage of this sound right now and the problem here is this band isn't as good at it as the one mentioned above. I think overall the songs are likable but they all sound alike to a large degree which makes a listen through their E.P. boring. But as a stand alone song in a mix this is good stuff. Too much makes your ears long for something else a little now and again is nice.

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Adler - Back From The Dead

Let's start with Jacob Bunton who is arguably a major reason this album comes close to being decent. His previous bands all had some potential but never got it all right. Lonny Paul on guitar and bassist Johnny Martin along with Steven Adler round out what is a smoking rock n' roll hit squad. Before Martin was added to the group they had the honour and immense talent of Jeff Pilson to record the bass parts on the entire disc.

Jeff also produced the eleven tracks which sound incredible from a production stand point. Jeff is one of my hereo's so I'm not even going to pretend I'm being fair here but with that said one listen and you won't argue that Pilson's production is bloody awesome.

The opening track also the title track on the album is a slick groovy rocker that is well written and performed. As the album progresses track to track I'm shocked that this is Adler. I mean go back and listen to the previous garbage the guy was releasing and you won't believe what transformation has taken place. Lonny Paul is really tasty in the solo sections of the songs and he does every song justice. The amazing John 5 plays on "Good To Be Bad" which just rips! This album at five tracks in is so damn good I'd be happy if it ended as an E.P..

The inclusion of the six string slinger from past glories Slash appears on "Just Don't Ask" who once again adds credibility and quality to a project I couldn't have imagined would be so great. Steven's drumming is really good and he never misses a beat on the album. After watching him a few years ago on Celebrity Rehab I could see he's a good soul with so much mental health trouble. It really great that he's finally gotten to see success with this band. Sure it's too soon to say if they will sell and be popular but really the success is in the product put forth. This album is a complete, 100% success and there is nothing about it that fails.

Without so much as a stumble along the way, it was hard to make it through the eleven tracks without wanting to hear them all again. From the sexy vibe of "Your Diamonds" to the harrowing lyrics of "Habit", and the straight up ass-kicking delivered courtesy of "Blown Away" – Back From The Dead delivers on all facets. The band's image is top flight as well they look like rockstars in the modern era which today is nearly as important as the music. This album will be on repeated listens for a long time and I think I'm completely in love with previously mentioned "Your Diamonds" what a ridiculously good song! Like I mean freaking crazy H.O. double T. good!

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Top 100 Songs Of 2012

The best songs that my ears heard this year and overall I think we had some great music from all genre's and formats. The pop market had some classics this year but I have to say the dance and indie formats provided some of the years best material overall.

100. Everythings Gonna Be Alright by Len
99. Let The Sparks Fly by Thousand Foot Krutch
98. Ne'er Do Wells by Audra Mae & The Almighty Sound
97. Last Night (Beer Fear) by Lucy Spraggan
96. Castle Of Glass by Linkin Park
95. Spite by Charm City Devils
94. Let's Fall In Love by Mother Mother
93. Fine By Me by Andy Grammer
92. Somebody That I Used To Know by Gotye Feat. Kimbra
91. Same Old You by Miranda Lambert
90. The King Is Dead But The Queen Is Alive by P!nk
89. Scream & Shout by Will.I.Am Feat Britney Spears
88. For The Animals by Cult
87. Walk Over Me by All-American Rejects
86. Some Nights by Fun.
85. Bounce by Emphatic
84. Don't Stop by Foster The People
83. Falling Down by Atreyu
82. Kick Ass by Egypt Central
81. Tower Of Song by Tom Jones
80. On'n'on by Justice
79. Electric Music by Band Of Horses
78. Georgia Peaches by Lauren Alaina
77. Army Of Two by Olly Murs
76. You Make Me Sick by Saving Abel
75. Don’t Give Up by Kevin Rudolf
74. Everybody Talks by Neon Trees
73. Boss's Daughter by Pop Evil
72. Fuck Away The Pain by Divide The Day
71. I Don't Believe by Kyng
70. I'm Not Cool by Eric Hutchinson
69. Figure It Out by Serj Tankian
68. The Wind by Zac Brown Band
67. True American Hate by Testament
66. When Can I See You Again by Owl City
65. Greyhound by Swedish House Mafia
64. Low-Life by Bobaflex
63. A Warrior's Call by Volbeat
62. Fake I.D. by Big & Rich
61. Give It Up by Jedward
60. Surprise Surprise by Billy Talent
59. Bubblegum Bitch by Marina & The Diamonds
58. Let It Go by Dragonette
57. Right Back Atcha Babe by Tim McGraw
56. Dr. Wanna Do by Caro Emerald
55. Banjo by Rascal Flatts
54. Starships by Nicki Minaj
53. Go Right Ahead by Hives
52. No Thanks To You by Marilou
51. Righteous Smoke by Monster Truck
50. All About Us by He Is We Feat. Aaron Gillespie
49. Happy Most Of The Time by Brendan Benson
48. Cruising California (Bumpin' In My Trunk) by The Offspring
47. Hand Springs by White Stripes
46. Something Like Olivia by John Mayer
45. Sixteen Saltines by Jack White
44. Rock$tar by Reece Mastin
43. Tonight by Seether
42. Analog Man by Joe Walsh
41. Life Of The Party by Boyslikegirls
40. Stuck On You by Meiko
39. Heart Attack by Asteroids Galaxy Tour
38. Bom Bom by Sam & The Womp
37. She's So Mean by Matchbox Twenty
36. The Crazy Ones by Stellar Revival
35. Get Out by Casey Abrams
34. Take Her From You by Dev
33. Am I The Only One by Dierks Bentley
32. Wanna Dance With Somebody by Allstar Weekend
31. Don't Leave Me (Ne Me Quitte Pas) by Regina Spektor
30. Stairway by Yukon Blonde
29. Gold On The Ceiling by Black Keys
28. My Heart Goes Boom by Miss Li
27. Tickets by Maroon 5
26. I'm Not Alright by Shinedown
25. Love Bites (So Do I) by Halestorm
24. Drive By by Train
23. I Make My Own Sunshine by Alyssa Bonagura
22. Brokenhearted by Karmin
21. Cupid by Daniel Powter
20. Let Yourself Go by Green Day
19. Rocket Ship by Dragonette
18. Cinema by Benny Benassi Feat. Gary Go
17. Are You Ready by Kate Miller-Heidke
16. Soldiers by Otherwise
15. Black Sheep by Gin Wigmore
14. All The Way by Rival Sons
13. Gloria by Junkie Xl Feat. Datarock
12. Popular Song by Mika
11. Famous by Katy Tiz
10. Situation Infatuation by Eve 6
09. Shooting Star by Owl City
08. Midnight Shifter by Hives
07. Good Time by Owl City & Carly Rae Jepsen
06. Let's All Kill Each Other by Soul Asylum
05. Dance With Me Tonight by Olly Murs
04. Bully by Shinedown
03. Candy by Robbie Williams
02. We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together by Taylor Swift
01. Call Me Maybe by Carly Rae Jepsen

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Top 100 Albums Of 2012

And it's that time of year! Time to discover the good stuff and disregard the fluff
 
100. Our Lady Peace - Curve
99. Wig Wam - Wall Street
98. Boys Like Girls - Crazy World
97. John Mayer - Born & Raised
96. Neon Trees - Picture Show
95. Kill Devil Hill - Kill Devil Hill
94. Beth Hart - Bang Bang Boom Boom
93. Lifehouse - Almeria
92. Yellowcard - Southern Air
91. Papa Roach - The Connection
90. Walls - Stop The Lights
89. Toby Keith - Hope On The Rocks
88. Imperial Teen - Feel The Sound
87. TheMightyOne - Shift
86. Rival Sons - Head Down
85. Gotthard - Firebirth
84. Great White - Elation
83. The Last Vegas - Bad Decisions
82. Little Caesar - American Dream
81. Hinder - Welcome To The Freak Show
80. Blackberry Smoke - The Whippoorwill
79. Gaslight Anthem - Handwritten
78. Ian Hunter - When I'm President
77. Smashing Pumpkins - Oceania
76. Regina Spektor - What We Saw From The Cheap Seats
75. Tom Jones - Spirit In The Room
74. Frank Hannon - Six String Soldiers
73. Kontrust - Second Hand Wonderland
72. Neal McCoy - XII
71. Dev - The Night The Sun Came Up
70. Eric Hutchinson - Moving Up Living Down
69. Stonesour - House Of Gold And Bones Part 1
68. Thousand Foot Krutch - The End Is Where We Begin
67. Alan Jackson - Thirty Miles West
66. Divine Fits - A Thing Called Divine Fits
65. Scouting For Girls 2012 - The Light Between Us
64. John 5 - God Told Me To
63. Foxy Shazam - The Church Of Rock And Roll
62. Explorers Club - Grand Hotel
61. TV Girl - The Wild, The Innocent, The TV Shuffle
60. Unisonic - Unisonic
59. All-American Rejects - Kids In The Street
58. Los Straitjackets - Jet Set
57. Muse - The 2nd Law
56. The Script - #3
55. Trixter - New Audio Machine
54. He Is We - Skip To The Good Part E.P. (Deluxe Edition)
53. Adaline - Modern Romantics
52. Dierks Bentley - Country & Cold Cans E.P
51. Soulicit - Parking Lot Rockstar
50. Jedward - Young Love
49. My Dynamite - My Dynamite
48. Ben Folds Five - The Sound Of The Life Of The Mind
47. Xenia - Sing You Home E.P
46. Charm City Devils - Sins
45. Fear Factory - The Industrialist
44. Reece Mastin - Beautiful Nightmare
43. HellYeah! - Band Of Brothers
42. Imagine Dragons - Night Visions
41. Used - Vulnerable
40. Taylor Swift - Red
39. Offspring - Days Go By
38. fun. - Some Nights
37. Slash - Apocalyptic Love
36. Green Day - Tre
35. Easton Corbin - All Over The Road
34. Marilou - 60 Thoughts A Minute
33. Ke$ha - Warrior
32. Asteroids Galaxy Tour - Out Of Frequency
31. Meiko - The Bright Side
30. Carrie Underwood - Blown Away
29. Band Of Horses - Mirage Rock
28. Marina & The Diamonds - Electra Heart
27. Kiss - Monster
26. Marilyn Manson - Born Villain
25. Casey Abrams - Casey Abrams
24. Train - California 37
23. Carly Rae Jepsen - Curiosity
22. Maroon 5 - Overexposed
21. Owl City - The Midsummer Station
20. Dwight Yoakam - 3 Pears
19. Linkin Park - Living Things
18. Cult - Choice Of Weapon
17. Billy Talent - Dead Silence
16. Miss Li - Tangerine Dream
15. Lena - Stardust
14. Cher Lloyd - Sticks & Stones (North American Release allows a return)
13. Eve 6 - Speak In Code
12. Soul Asylum - Delayed Reaction
11. Black Keys - El Camino
10. Overkill - The Electric Age
09. Testament - Dark Roots Of Earth
08. Dragonette - Bodyparts
07. Gin Wigmore - Gravel & Wine
06. Brendan Benson - What Kind Of World
05. Hives - Lex Hives
04. Shinedown - Amaryllis
03. Green Day - Uno!
02. Jack White - Blunderbuss
01. Halestorm - The Strange Case Of

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Hinder - Welcome To The Freakshow

The band have continually improved from their beginnings to their current release. This album seems at first to be a more focused stomp infused hard rock record and after your through the album that is almost what you get. A solid set of songs that range from uptempo to mid-paced grinders and lots of power ballads filling out what is another decent album from Hinder.

The band borrows from the greats like Motley Crue, Nickelback and Def Leppard to round out their polished hard rock sound. The excellent and supreme standout track "Talk To Me" is everything a power ballad should be. The big chorus with great vocals and the excellent verses that do not ever overreach into gooey torch song ridiculousness and the band do a great job leaving anything remotely alt. metal or emo nowhere to be found. This is a true to the name power ballad and I really like this track. Then Hinder does something great and that's ape the Beatles for inspiration on "Get Me Away From You" ala Aerosmith. Another decent power ballad that could be a hit for them. Nice melody and the verses are excellent but the chorus doesn't quite match-up to that quality.

A little departure from their template is "Is It Just Me" which works really well as the band plow a little different path. I have to admit that after all these slower tunes I'm getting a little weighed down at this point and my interest is starting to fade. Thank goodness that they pick it up with a sleazy groove called "See You In Hell" that is somewhat faceless and pedestrian in all manner of song writing. The pace change was nice, though the song isn't up to snuff. A sharp turn back into ballad territory but once again this one is at least interesting and doesn't make me want to take a four minute nap. The song has a good melody with nice acoustic guitar playing and good chorus that is easy to sing-a-long to.

The stomping rhythm of "Wanna Be Rich" is made for a big dance club sound system and would also sound killer in a stadium environment live. The album has now concluded with a few too man ballads and slower material but there is quality songs splashed throughout Freakshow that allow me to recommend it to any rock fans and modern rock fans. The band don't embarrass themselves and at a few strong songs for their live sets to tour behind over 2013.

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Retro Rewind Track: Kate Miller-Heidke - Words

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Check Out: Lena - Stardust

Lena who is easily one of my favorite singer-songwriter females around right now. I fell in love with her last album and here is the first single and title track from her excellent new album. 

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Check Out: Owl City - When Can I See You Again

Another great sunshine pop tune from the great Owl City

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Ke$ha - Warrior

Well album number two has arrived and I'm kinda excited to hear what she's going to deliver. The first single "Die Young" leaves me a little cold to be honest but it's still a decent pop ditty just not as good as I expect for a Ke$ha single. The album does work up a little dance-floor sweat with the opening track and title track "Warrior" that has a smoking synth bass rhythm that propels the track to near epic status. Ke$ha drops "C'mon" which is that unadulterated dance party fun that makes me adore her sleazy genius. The song has a great groove and a memorable chorus which will make this song a surefire hit song at pop radio.

The sophomore slump for Ke$ha doesn't look like it will take place as it does for so many artist that have massive breakout debut albums. She is average good at times on the album but she trumps most of her competition because average Ke$ha is pretty damn good. "Thinking Of You", "Crazy Kids", "Wherever You Are" are all those average type of songs for her. I'm not overly crazy about any of them but they could bring her success again at pop radio with little effort. When she duets with the ancient punk icon Iggy Pop on "Dirty Love" and she blazes the vocals with a little dirty grit you know Ke$ha means it when she sings 'I want your dirty love'.

The softer side of the pop songstress is a nice change up on the song "Wonderland" that I really like a lot and Ke$ha writes a good ballad that has a hook and isn't just silly goo. These songs are plenty in the pop world but good ones are very few. This is one of those rare gems that doesn't make me want to drink cyanide because it's so bland and boring. The long leaked "Only Want To Dance With You" makes the album which is a good thing because the song is immediately memorable and fun. She adds another sing-a-long number to her repertoire.

With another dance-floor smasher and a Euro club track along with a pseudo ballad ala R&B slow jam she concludes a solid second album that doesn't set the world on fire but it has enough going for it that I will enjoy listening to it. There are some songs that will take up space on my I-Pod for sure and will get plenty of spins. There is a bonus track version of the album via I-tunes and the extra content comes in the form of four extra tracks. This is usually a bad thing for most releases but not here. "Last Goodbye" is nothing special but "Gold Trans Am" is a great cheerleader stomp song that blends into a near perfect chorus. The louder this song is the better it gets and the more I play it the more I like it. "Out Alive" is pretty much "Die Young" but then the sweeping electronic sounds of "Past Lives" is another nice change up for Ke$ha and as far as bonus tracks go we get two good ones one that's OK and one unnecessary song. But still better than a lot of the bonus material we seem to get all the time now.

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Example - The Evolution Of Man

Look Example has released what he calls his "rock" album but in the end it's the same stuff he's been doing all along. Sometimes it's pretty good other times its not but overall there is nothing truly different from all his stuff. The inclusion of Blur's Graham Coxon is somewhat disappointing but then again not kinda like that morning shower that you can't quite get warm enough but it does the job.

If you really like The Muse and Linkin Park then this is pretty much copy cat territory in style but lacking the passion and intrinsic melding of hard rock and hip-hop and definitely missing the progressive dynamics and fireworks that both those bands effortlessly fuse into their individual sounds. I can't say I hate this album but will I be pulling it out to play often the answer is an absolute no! The album's most notable track if there really is such a thing is "Are You Sitting Comfortably" which seems to have been dug out of Fred Durst's back pocket.

All to often as pop, rap and dance continue to gleefully trumpet their global commercial prowess over poor old rock’n’roll, there’s been no bloody end of hip-hoppers, poppers and brosteppers lining up to proclaim “Ooh baby, I’m a rock star” and plant their flags into a fat pile of riffs. But from Rihanna to Lil Wayne to Tinie Tempah, the mainstream’s idea of what a rock star looks and sounds like always seems to come either from an ’80s chewing gum advert or from the bottom of Fred Durst’s baggy jeans pocket.

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Imperial Teen - Feel The Sound

San Francisco based indie rock group Imperial Teen have released their fifth album which is a buyout flavorful collection of power pop ditties that bounce and dance through your head for hours after you listen to them. Feel The Sound is slick but not stunted when it comes to production which allows the music to ebb and flow naturally. That's what this style of music needs to do in order to make an impact because of its subtle structure. 

The album's lead single and lead-off track, "Runaway", is perfectly in line with the kind of neo-bubblegum that we've come to expect thanks to classic records like 2007's The Hair the TV the Baby & the Band."Runaway" is a strong starter for this top flight record and while this isn't a masterpiece it has many songs that are just too good to ignore.  There won't be anything here that surprises Imperial Teen fans, but everything here should make them happy. Every hook is tight and every lyric expertly delivered.


As the album plays through you get to hear some extremely good power pop like "Hanging About" and "Last To Know" which are of the highest sugar content one can fit into bubblegum power pop like this. Overall you get exactly what you paid for with this band and for those who aren't fans already this could be the beginning of a nice journey into the world of Imperial Teen.

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Olly Murs - Right Place Right Time

Well North America is finally going to get a taste of the UK star Olly Murs with a new album that combines some new material from this release and his previous album. The American release will feature the awesome and should be a massive hit "Dance With Me Tonight" but right now lets concentrate on the new album in its original form from the mighty UK.

The opening cut is "Army Of Two" and its almost his best song with the Beatles influence all over it and the catchy chorus with the marching drum beats this song is a classy opening to his new album. The current single "Troublemaker" which features Flo Rida one of those guys I'm getting pretty sick of at this point. The song is good though and even with Flo Rida on it he doesn't take away from Olly's slick production and delivery of the funky little number that is a great dance song that would have sounded wonderful back in the disco era as well.

Olly is a singles artist and that's where he will continue to be even with this album. The overall listening experience is flawed because the album contains a good amount of filler. Like "Loud & Clear", "Dear Darling", "Right Place Right Time" and "Personal" all songs that aren't very strong with "Personal" a little to close to that waste of listening time Usher in sound. I do find you get Olly doing Cold Play, OneRepublic, The Script all to often and getting lost in their sounds where I don't particularly enjoy him. Then you get an R&B funk song like "Hey You Beautiful" that lacks what Bruno Mars brings to this style. Another style that Olly seems to copy and I'm again not big on his take.

When he records a song that is more his personality like "What A Buzz" he sounds like Olly Murs and not Olly Murs doing someone else. Sure sometimes its a little difficult to really take artist chameleons like this serious but when they croon songs as good as "Cry Your Heart Out" you can't deny how good they are and Olly can be off the hook good at times like the opening cut. The very British sounding ballad "One Of These Days" is a well written pop song that Olly does a fine job emoting the lyrics in a commanding way that draws you and makes you feel part of the song scape.

There are bonus tracks a-plenty on the I-tunes UK version with moderate success going to "Runaway" another very Bruno Mars sounding song that lacks Bruno's spirit and Olly doesn't sound very into either. The best of the bonus songs is easily "Just For Tonight" which should be on the main album and it would have been a great replacement for any of five or six duds. This song is a glorious anthemic love song that invited me to dance in my chair while I listened to the song and is for sure an add to my I-Pod. More songs like this would be a huge improvement to Olly's output and maybe he could become an album artists if there was more Olly and less producers and handlers influence.

In the end Olly Murs is going to find great success with a couple of the tracks on this album and he'll be in the studio recording a follow-up probably before this one even gets cold. That is unless "Dance With Me Tonight" explodes in North America and the song becomes the anthem of the 2012 which believe me it is more than good enough to be the song of the year and could be a bigger smash than the Canadian pop star Carly Rae Jepsen's excellent "Call Me Maybe". Here's to hoping the American release is a better package and Olly becomes a huge success here.

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Retro Rewind Track: Warrior Soul - Love Destruction

A real kick ass tune from back in 1992 that is actually even more relevant lyrically today in 2012 than back in its original release year. The band was ten years ahead of their time. This is from their third album Salutations From the Ghetto Nation which makes much of the current sub-par stoner metal sound even lamer.

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Check Out: Nikki Williams - Kill, Fuck, Marry

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Kid Rock - Rebel Soul

After Kid Rock standing up in support of that Mormon douche bag I have to admit I have a hard time listening to this album without that idiot move interfering. Kid Rock's always been a little praise oriented with his music since he switched from rap-rock to blues and country styling. The album opens with the typical later day Kid Rock singing about drinking with a bluesy stones style with little change from his last album. Song is OK nothing to write home about at all. The more dirgy "Let's Ride" is next again not a great song but passable to those who still care for Kid Rock's schtick.

With so much of the same this album isn't catching fire at all but I found myself entertained by "Rebel Soul" which has more going for it than just the "if the south woulda won" propaganda. The song has a good melody and decent hook that is worth checking out. The praise song "God Save Rock N' Roll" is a good song too bad about the stupid name and the religious tones. I wish people would just give up on the entire promotion of superstitions and myth's. We are so far past that in 2012 but still the diehards fight for their right to be ignorant fools and I guess it will take a few more years until we are free from such ignorance. BTW Kid Rock god had nothing to do with it indie rock, drugs, Kurt Cobain (pains me to say it) and the Black Keys saved rock n' roll.

For pretty much a Bob Seger album this isn't awful and there is some decent material but I can't say it jumps out of my speakers and grabs me like some of the more modern and much cooler stuff that is permeating my listening time the last few years. When Rock really drops a load of stinky shit it is titled "The Mirror" which is just bloody awful and anyone who likes this song obviously has no taste in music and should stab themselves in the ear until they can no longer hear any sounds. The albums jumps right back into Bob Seger territory where Kid seems to rip off all his inspirations from these last few years.

The eleventh track "Cucci Galore" is an attempt to be all things hip-hop which sounds more forced than he ever did previously. The song is fucking terrible and should be on permanent skip if you buy into this stuff. Now after a couple of trashcan participants Kid Rock actually finds all the ingredients to make a decent song that I can actually enjoy "Redneck Paradise" I actually like much about the redneck life outside of their guns and god bullshit so I like this song but it isn't Kids second coming.

If you aren't bored with him and his sleaze, white trash redneck douche bagness then get the album. If you've progressed as a human being since he was actually relevant or at least popular then you might want to pass this one by.

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Check Out: Katy Tiz - Famous

Katy Tiz - Famous

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Aerosmith - Music From Another Dimension!

Here we go America's overrated Aerosmith are back again and the man with the worst guitar tone in rock n' roll along with longtime writing partner the duo of Tyler and Perry are attempting to be relevant in 2012 some eleven years since their last debacle of music know collectively as Just Push Play and wow what a stinker that album was but not unexpected for sure. This band hasn't truly released an album worth listening to since their second coming Permanent Vacation.

Sure Pump was ok but it didn't come close to PV and that's not hard to figure out after listening to both records. So now we get the perma-stoned American Idol judge "beautiful" the pissed of ex-drunk and the other guys who need to work and their new album. The opening song is "Luv XXX" which sounds like "Love In An Elevator" in an odd way and probably comes from that era's writing sessions so the entire throwback classic Aerosmith album they've been promising sounds like comeback era Aerosmith instead as far as track one is concerned. The song is passable and I didn't want to slit my wrists while it played.

"Oh Yeah" is a much better song still nothing classic era sounding here still then we get "Beautiful" that is actually a pretty song again so far this album is better than Play by a large margin. But as soon as I heard track four start I was instantly ready to hit the skip button. "Crying", "Crazy", "Amazing", "What It Takes" and "Angel" is repeated once again this time titled "Tell Me" which is a little better than most of those throwaway chick ballads because of the production of Jack Douglas and the very Beatles-esq sheen all over the song. So I kinda enjoyed bits and pieces of the song. The sad part is that Perry still has such a shitty guitar sound and the solo could have just been a nice Telecaster and an old school Fender tube amp with no effects and it would have sounded amazing (
Rock N' A Hard Place era makes an appearance but is that a good thing? No it's not really but that is what I hear on "Out Go The Lights" a weak attempt to sound cool and funky but it comes off sounding like the theme song for Brotus Clay a WWE wrestler.  One of the leaked tracks or singles I can't remember now it's been around so long "Legendary Child" makes its appearance to no fan fare because the song was weak ass wanna be Aerosmith sounding Aerosmith in the first place. A very cartoonish version of themselves is what they sound like on the song.

One of those pathetic power ballads and then another but with Carrie Underwood that is fucking ridiculously bad to another to another with some really badly composed uptempo filler adding play time to the album but not value for the listener at all. A "Dream On" rip off ends another disappointing Aerosmith album from guys that are way past their prime and at this point are just ruining their credibility by forcing this non working partnership between the two main players. Really the rest of the band don't matter specifically Joey Kramer who is told how to play which parts by Tyler because Tyler was the drummer first before stepping up front. The other guys are sidemen that get to always participate. If you really want to listen to new Aerosmith then this is what you have to concede to liking and supporting and I'm sure there are many with no taste who will be happy to eat it up and be sheep. I refuse to accept drivel and forgettable material and lie to myself and others who might read my reviews. This album starts off nearly acceptable but quickly turns into sucky garbage and terrible uptempo numbers.

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The Trews - Thank You & I'm Sorry

The Trews E.P. comes as an apology for the total shite album that was released back 2008 titled No Time For Later. At least I'm taking the title that way myself because I couldn't believe they released that garbage as an album. I can admit that the band sound more focused on this seven song outting and I really like "Not Yours To Love" with it's honky tonk heroin swing made famous by the Rolling Stones.

This is more to level I expect from the bad after hearing their debut and the tad weaker sophomore releases. This E.P. is a stop gap until their next full length album but if they shit the bed again with that then the label should make them only release E.P.'s to get a better hold on their creative output.

The band ape the Beatles and Kinks with "Herm-Aphrodite (She Was A Guy)" which propels the song to higher level for using such great source material as inspiration. Even the silly titled "...And We Are The Trews" works for them but still the song that stands out from the pack is the opening cut "The Power Of Positive Drinking" which better be a hit because it would be a travesty if it wasn't. Canada's so called favorite band The Tragically Hip which I can't stand used to attempt to make great rock music but they always came up short with awful vocalist Gord Downey ruining every song. The Trews are similar sounding but Colin Macdonald can sing much better which elevates The Trews far above the overrated Tragically Hip even though I'm in the minority with this statement.

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Top 10 Worst Covers Part 1.

10. Behind Blue Eyes by Limp Bizkit
09. These Boots Are Made For Walkin' by Jessica Simpson
08. American Pie by Madonna
07. All By Myself by Celine Dion
06. I Love Rock 'N' Roll by Britney Spears
05. Stairway To Heaven by Dolly Parton
04. Sweet Child O' Mine by Sheryl Crow
03. Dirty Laundry by Lisa Marie Presley
02. Another Brick In The Wall by Korn
01. Bringing On The Heartbreak by Mariah Carey

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Toby Keith - Hope On The Rocks

The very busy Toby Keith drops yet another album of country influenced pop and rock. Not often is he pure country but he is more so than some of the others peddling their fake twangs from Cashville USA. On Hope On The Rock Keith as usual has hits and misses. This album is fairly consistent for a Keith album considering there have been many that just can't be listened to front to back.

The title track opens the album and is barely passable but I didn't want to vomit so that's good. He picks it up with "The Size I Wear" about finding a hot chick he wants and does his best dancing to pick her up and his wing-man is jealous. Typical Toby Keith song that we have come to enjoy more often than not. Don't forget she's round where she's supposed to be round and that's all that matters.

The first single "I Like Girls That Drink Beer" is a country song that should have great success moving asses on the dancefloor. Catchy, good verses and well sung by deep voiced country star. The derivative junk like "Scat Cat", "Get Got" and the ugh! ballad of cheesy goo "Missed You Just Right" make me really hate modern country. All three songs are plain not even vanilla just plain old boring.

But with Keith he does that crap songs to fill up the record and repays us with songs like "Cold Beer Country" that is almost worth listening to that filler. "Haven't Had A Drink All Day" is another uptempo cooker that makes me like this guy enough to continue to pay attention. He does a great Glen Campbell sound on the decent "You Ain't Alone" but I never cared much for Glen Campbell so this song is a take it or leave it one.

There is a bunch of bonus material in way of remixes of "Red Solo Cup" and "Beers Ago" both completely unnecessary and two live renditions of past hits as well. "Whiskey Girl" and the excellent "Get Out Of My Car" shows the guy can do it live so I guess this is more of an advertisement to come see him live than anything else. Overall Hope On The Rocks is the same as the last few Toby Keith albums nothing better or worse than what we already have heard just more of the same.

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Miss Li - Tangerine Dream

Finally the new album has appeared! This is such a good thing because artists like the affecting Miss Li are no where near plenty enough for my liking. She's crazy cool with more charisma and talent than most of the artist currently on the pop charts combined. I say most because there is usually a few good artists selling pop records at any given time.

The album opens with the distinguished and all things Brit Pop "Teenager For Life" that introduces you to a whole new way of thinking when it comes to indie music. Her lyrical envelope is busting at the seams with whimsical cynicism of that guy who's middle aged and still pretending he's hip and young. She follows that up with a scathing paddling to the culture of the world while longing to get away from it all but somehow unable with "Plastic Faces"

One of the albums most catchy and memorable tunes is the magnificent "Golden Retriever" that immediately became a favorite of mine after my initial listen. The very Sam Cooke inspired "All Those Men" is another song that has everything slotted into their ideal places. She creates a perfect love song without any of the gooey bullshit that permeates much of the love songs that are forced upon our ears. As Linda gets personal with the marvelous gift titled "A Darker Side Of Me" she reminds me of days past artist at the top of their game like Dusty Springfield, Karen Carpenter, Joni Mitchell and even Jackie Ross or Barbra Mason. She attains those spirits in her creation but never steals their sound she is inspired by the ebb and flow of it and creates something all her own. Kinda like what Amy Winehouse and Duffy attempted to do.

The first single from the album is buried quite deep in the tracking order which is the effervescent jar of lightening she captured in the studio "My Heart Goes Boom" once again Miss Li writes the closet thing you can get to a perfect song. From the catchy and memorable chorus to the glorious production on the supreme instrumentation, this song is the type of composition that really gets into my soul.

The albums second to last song "Throw It In The Trash Can" has some great lines and one of my favorite verses on the album "We don’t need a preacher man, We will never be a part of your plan.
So take your list of demands and throw it in the trash can." and I couldn't have said it better myself, nice job Miss Linda Carlsson nice job!

So since I've completely raved about one of the most underrated and awesome artists of this current era of excellent music coming out of Europe this time Sweden to be exact it is time for you to do your part and buy this album. Creativity on this level should be rewarded and you don't get this sort of quality everyday so jump on the Miss Li train and make her the biggest star in the world instead of the no talent bunk that continues to be forced upon our youth.

Now to sing on my way out "I got a red little house with a yellow door, I got my television every time I’m getting bored, I got a Golden Retriever and a Labrador, And I don’t need you anymore." Man I love this song!

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10 Songs That Should Be On Your I-Pod

A batch of tunes that should add some dimension and dynamics to your I-Pod


10. Why Can't I Touch It by Buzzcocks
09. Easier Said Than Done by Essex
08. The Refreshments by Banditos
07. Dancing The Night Away by Motors
06. So You Ran by Orion The Hunter
05. The Salt In My Tears by Martin Briley
04. Hot Summer Nights by Walter Egan
03. You Don't Want Me Anymore by Steel Breeze
02. Mutual Surrender (What A Wonderful World) by Bourgeois Tagg
01. Crazy Talk by Chilliwack

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Burton Cummings - Massey Hall

Considering Burton has been apart of my listening rotation since my birth and I've grown up a fan of his musical musings I'm a little excited to hear and see a new released of him live. He's one of the very few artists that I can without malice say a live recording is going to be good. He's a solid performer and a great actually lets go there he's an absolutely brilliant singer on a live stage.

The Massey Hall release is a classic run through of all things Burton related and the playlist is undeniably awesome. You can't find songs better than the material that has been included on this album because some of these songs are the greatest rock or pop tunes in the history of music. Sure there are some that we roll our eyes at and that's fine but when you get to a songs like "These Eyes" which is in the top ten or twenty of greatest musical compositions in music my statement is easily proven as an absolute truth.

The album opens with "No Sugar Tonight/New Mother Nature" that still has all the charming charisma and shine it had back in 1970 when I was only two years old and I'm positive my parents were cranking up and rocking the house to daily with it. This version has Burton singing it a little lower in key but the presence of his voice and the songs incredible melody dances in my ears and I can't help but sing a long with huge Canadian pride.

The album progresses along through some more Guess Who classics to the Burton Cummings ballad "Stand Tall" that is not only a slice of pure songwriting genius it's probably Burton's single greatest solo hit single. In 2012 at 65 years old you get this guy singing as if he's half or less his age. He sounds great and hits the notes and keeps the melody. A very impressive reading of one his very best moments on vinyl. A few more songs and we get to the Randy Bachman jazz number from 1969 "Undun" a song I wasn't big as a kid but once I grew into a teenager this song really began to come into focus for me and I couldn't get enough of Gary's drumming and Randy's soloing on the original which was really killer stuff especially for me being into drums.

Burton does up "I'm Scared" that the band just hits perfectly here it sounds almost exactly like the album release and Mr. Cummings sounds once again as good he did back in 1977 when the song was originally released on his debut solo album. His duck out of the cold being lost in New York a story I had the personal experience of hearing in total one night while he was sitting on the sofa in our living-room. See my mother dated one of his best friends from childhood and road managers back in the 80's for the better part of a decade. Another reason why I'm such a fanboi of him, I'm sure is that personal connection. Come to think of it I wonder if Marty still works with him today? Anyway back to the music!

The reading of "These Eyes" is a still top flight on the Massey Hall album but I've heard him hit this one out of the park live a few times that I've captured in my memory that will never be touched so this time around as good as it is there are better ones out there. The most overplayed Guess Who track "American Woman" rips it up near the end of this excellent live album. Burton's voice is still the only voice that sounds right singing this song and it's been covered by Kravitz and Krokus to varying degrees of success. I don't care for the Kravitz version and I've never heard anyone do it better the man that wrote it and here on this album it still kicks the ass of all the covers by others.

My one complaint here is that there is no "Bus Rider" and a complete absence of his two rocking solo hits "Your Backyard" along with "My Own Way To Rock" as well as missing is the 80's classic "Fine State Of Affairs" which could have replaced easily "Timeless Love", "Guns Guns Guns" and "Above The Ground" plus he could have finally pulled "Fame Junkie" from obscurity or even his minor hit "Love Dreams" from the excellent 1984 album Heart. Again I'm a huge fan so I can always want for more or different tunes from such a large back catalog of great material.

In the end this is a less spirited version of Burton Cummings given his advanced age but he still has it and the crowds that show up are getting a great performance from a legend. Now only if those moron's and idiots at the Rock N' Roll Hall Of Fame would induct someone deserving instead these wastes of space like the Beastie Boys and Run DMC who aren't even rock and or roll and didn't come close to earning those spots like the talent that was known collectively as the Guess Who!

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Check Out: Big Wreck - The Oaf Live

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50 Best Heavy Metal Albums Of All-Time

There are so many sub genre's of Heavy Metal that I'm going to keep this list open as to what genre's I include being all of them. Now these are my opinion and not the typical crap you see on nearly every list out there.

50. HellYeah! 2012 - Band Of Brothers
49. L.A. Guns 1991 - Hollywood Vampires
48. Overkill 1989 - The Years Of Decay
47. Jetboy 1988 - Feel The Shake
46. King Diamond 1988 - Them
45. Quiet Riot 1983 - Mental Health
44. Trivium 2006 - The Crusade
43. Metallica 1983 - Kill 'em All
42. Pretty Boy Floyd 1989 - Leather Boyz With Electric Toyz
41. Great White 1987 - Once Bitten

40. Black Sabbath 1980 - Heaven & Hell
39. Roxx Gang 1990 - Things You've Never Done Before
38. Mötley Crüe 1981 - Too Fast For Love
37. Slaughter 1990 - Stick It To Ya
36. Helix 1984 - Walking On The Razors Edge
35. Dope 2001 - Life
34. Warrant 1990 - Cherry Pie
33. Poison 1988 - Open Up And Say Ahh
32. Halford 2000 - Resurrection
31. Marilyn Manson 2003 - The Golden Age Of Grotesque

30. Slayer 1988 - South Of Heaven
29. Megadeth 1992 - Countdown To Extinction
28. Judas Priest 1984 - Defenders Of The Faith
27. Kix 1988 - Blow My Fuse
26. Metallica 1984 - Ride The Lightning
25. Helloween 2007 - Gambling With The Devil
24. Whitesnake 1984 - Slide It In
23. Scorpions 1982 - Blackout
22. Cinderella 1986 - Night Songs
21. Iron Maiden 1982 - The Number Of The Beast

20. Ozzy Osbourne 1989 - No Rest For The Wicked
19. Skid Row 1990 - Skid Row
18. Kiss 1983 - Lick It Up
17. Anthrax 2011 - Worship Music
16. Ratt 1985 - Invasion Of Your Privacy
15. Iron Maiden 1988 - Seventh Son Of A Seventh Son
14. Guns N' Roses 1987 - Appetite For Destruction
13. Dokken 1984 - Tooth & Nail
12. Mötley Crüe 1983 - Shout A The Devil
11. Led Zeppelin 1969 - II

10. Def Leppard 1983 - Pyromania
09. Black Sabbath 1973 - Sabbath Bloody Sabbath
08. Testament 1999 - The Gathering
07. Suicidal Tendencies 1990 - Lights, Camera, Revolution
06. Deep Purple 1972 - Machine Head
05. ACDC 1980 - Back In Black
04. Fight 1993 - War Of Words
03. Megadeth 1994 - Youthanasia
02. Nazareth 1973 - Razamanaz
01. Led Zeppelin 1971 - IV

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Animal Collective - Centipede Hz

I came into this listening with great anticipation because I wanted to love this album and be mesmorized by their innate awkwardness and specific creative atrocities on what we know as music. This band isn't getting the same blasts of love and success as Bon Iver and Arcade Fire but I find them much more invigorating and splendid than either of those two acts and constant critics darlings. 

The band have once again created something so un-mainstream and cool that the mainstream majority will probably dismiss it. Animal Collective’s madcap and vital new album Centipede Hz will likely divide fans into two lopsided camps: a mostly satisfied majority and those who hate it because it’s not Merriweather Post Pavilion. Fans with little familiarity with Animal Collective’s prolific output apart from Merriweather Post Pavilion, or with its member’s solo efforts, will have to brace themselves for a skittering, bonkers midway ride. For those familiar with the twists and turns of this changeling’s work, Centipede Hz’s stark departure will seem more like a natural progression, though one ostensibly juiced up by large doses of methamphetamine.

 Now considering my absolute love for music my friends will hate or not understand drives me towards bands like Animal Collective and their strange but true characteristics. The linear pulse, and a paring back of their signature kaleidoscopic Pet Sounds harmonies, might bum out the band's cult – people who took Merriweather as cause to go off their antidepressants. But fear not, hipster Hobbits, even when Animal Collective go "garage rock," it's still pure psych-rock Romper Room. 

This is a band that takes deep vocal influence from Donovan's "Hurdy Gurdy Man," which ping-pongs from East Asian classical music to post-punk drum circles to gooey doinktronica, whose tripnotic circular rhythms (via Stewart Copeland fan Panda Bear) are often more like GIFs than grooves, which drops a jam called "Father Time" that sounds like Xavier Cugat playing an ashram.

What gives Centipede Hz its relatable gravity is that, this time out, Animal Collective sound more like creatures who put their skinny jeans on one hoof at a time. "Wonder how I even wrote this song/Does this not occur to almost everyone?" Tare sings on "Monkey Riches." For a band that usually seems to be eternally shambling toward transcendence, a shot of ambivalence is a brave new kind of pick-me-up.

As I previously stated this album won't be everyone's cup of java but when you like your caffeine mixed with delicious dairy and shots of syrup then this might just be what wakes your brain from that golden slumber to alert status red. Just shut up and listen to the album that will be the hipsters indie rock darling while knowing all along that hipsters know fuck all and you are just as cool as they think they are. Centipede Hz is an album by a group of guys who were the coolest guys in school that you didn't relate to because you were afraid to be that bloody awesome.

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All Time Low - Don't Panic

Very well produced pop rock music is on tap with Don't Panic and album full of good riffs, chorus's and solid production. The well crafted songs always have something to offer to fans of the genre but now and again All Time Low miss the mark.

The band haven't written a masterpiece of reinvented the wheel on Don't Panic but they do put together a rather solid collection of music that is unoffensive entertaining and worth listening to when you want to just enjoy whatever your doing.

The band do elevate themselves above average with "For Baltimore", "The Irony Of Choking On A Lifesaver" and "If These Sheets Were States" and fall apart completely on "So Long Soldier". Again this is solid but not amazing and in the end won't be the most memorable album you hear this year but you might come back now and again to listen to the better tunes.

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Aiden Grimshaw - Misty Eye

Aiden was a castoff on X-Factor UK and from the moment I saw him audition I knew there was something special about him. He is surely not a pop star in the current pop market of tarts and queers. He's more akin to the credible side of music, where bands like Radiohead and U2 reach lofty heights.

Sure, Misty Eye is a pop record in the strictest sense of the word, but at the same time it's difficult to envisage the symphonic title track or beat-laden 'This Island' receiving the karaoke treatment any time soon.  Lana Del Rey collaborator Jarrad Rogers was tapped to work with Grimshaw on Misty Eye and that was a great call for everyone involved as the album has a sound and a feeling that breathes life into the songs with emotion and desolateness that can wring you of all power while listening.

Athlete's Joel Pott and Steve Rushton - formerly in Busted off-shoot Son Of Dork - also make cameos as co-writers here. Pott's contribution, the Alex Clare-like 'Is This Love' falls under the weight of its own expectation trying to catch the dubstep gravy train. Rushton's efforts veer between the sublime reflective tones of the orchestral title track and atmospheric lament 'Poacher's Timing', to the closing number 'Curtain Call', which briefly strays into Williams territory via Andreas Johnson's (remember him?) 1999 hit 'Glorious'.

'What We Gonna Be' is one of the few moments that see Grimshaw fall flat on his face as he apes Tinne Tempa's "Written In The Stars". The song is almost laughable and really derails a good album. Grimshaw's subdued take on Sia's 'Breathe Me' also suffers from piano-ballad-by-numbers syndrome, while self-referential slowie 'Be Myself' wins first prize for stating the bleeding obvious ("I gotta be myself, no one else...").

Aiden's intense stage persona oozes through his deeply fervent lyrics of heartbreak and despair. "Behind my eyes I'm terrified/ Now you're gone," he admits on "This Island", before declaring that the solitary space is "suicidal". It's painfully hard stuff, but refreshingly honest. His chances of winning The X-Factor UK may have ended criminally early, but Misty Eye is beyond a winner's album. It's interesting, it's daring and, most importantly of all, it's Aiden's.

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Check Out: Anerbelin - Someone Anyone Lyric Video

Anberlin might have their most immediate and memorable song to date with "Someone Anyone". The chorus is awesome and got stuck in my head instantly which is a good sign for me.

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Jeff Lynne - Long Wave

The man who gave us classics like "Telephone Line", "Don't Bring Me Down" and "Rock N' Roll Is King" has returned with new music. Not since Armchair Theatre have we been graced with his genius and that was twenty-two years ago so it's been a long wave just as this album is titled. The key to Long Wave is that the album is a nod to those songs that he grew up hearing as good old mom and dad were playing the radio at home as a child. 

The great rock n' roll and progressive pop that we enjoyed back in the hey day of ELO is not present here because of what this album is themed. The style of production he takes on this is more akin to his work with the post ELO projects but that's not entirely a bad thing and I do find some decent renditions on the album like "Mercy, Mercy" which sounds as one would expect Lynne to sound like albeit stripped down to the basics. The album is infused with warm melancholy. If it never crackles with startling candour, you sense that’s because he wants to pay simple homage to the tunes that formed him, rather than whip out his youthful diaries.

When you get to his take on the Etta James classic "At Last" you might have had enough of Long Wave because there is not much excitement in Jeff's covers.The ELO/Jeff Lynne sound does spring out with "Love Is A Many Splendored Thing" which he almost gets a good swing happening but the tempo just doesn't get up to a good dancing pace. The excellent reading of "Let It Rock" from Chuck Berry's incredible catolog is very good but pales when compared to the original and the country flavored cover from Mel McDaniels back in the eighties. The guitar riff'd version of "Beyond The Sea" is actually hard to listen to because it doesn't have the swagger that the song so naturally has in its most famous version by Bobby Darrin.

Still, Long Wave makes no attempt to avoid sentimentality. Love songs and brazen nostalgia are the album's bread and butter, and it's hard not to be drawn in by the comfort of Lynne's layer upon layer of pleasant melodic attention. But to want to pull this off the shelf and play it through multiple times it will not draw.

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Heart - Fanatic

A new Heart album has been met with disappointment the last few years for sure. I'm not expecting much from this album because I don't think they can write those perfect pop rock songs any longer. I hit play and here we go with the title track that has a gritty near grunge guitar distortion that sometimes apes the Led Zeppelin riff ranch for inspiration and admittedly I like the dirge and grind of the groove. A little under produced on the vocals which is OK on a song like this one.

The Wilson sisters follow with another really dark and mean song which works even though it is awkward and unpolished. Then the turn to the ballad a song with Sara McLachlan who I can't stand as a singer or a performer. The song is a whatever tune, it's kinda good but it's kinda lame as well. The chorus wants to be cool but it doesn't quite reach the lofty heights it needs to and that's because the album sounds like it was recorded on the cheap.

The blues rocker "Skin & Bones" with the unlatching guitar and vocal and the out of tune ring of the bass almost work but miss what artists like Stevie Wonder bring to this sort of style. Now the rest of the album plays by and I'm bored with what they are laying down. The sound of the album is overtly weak and the guitar playing is awful. Heart prove yet again they should just stop recording new material of find someone to write them some songs that don't suck. Ann and Nancy are past their prime when it comes to song writing and even though she can still wail now and again Ann can't suck in the air and let it rip like she could in her youth. Partly because of her weight struggles and in part age but I do believe that if she was near the same weight she was back in the 80's comeback period her voice would be stronger especially live where she sounds winded after the first line. She actually sounds winded on some of the songs on Fanatic which isn't good and I don't say this to be mean or picky it's fact.

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Kiss - Monster

Does Kiss have another Sonic Boom in them well that question will be answered by the end of this review. The first single from the album is the abysmal and trivial "Hell Or Hallelujah" that carries little weight. The song has barely a decent riff and after a listen to it the song is easily forgotten and the worst song on the album leaving a band taste in my mouth that seems to stick around for awhile. Then Gene's lead vocal on "Wall Of Sound" turns everything around for one song at least with a total classic rocker from Kiss. The song has great verses and a memorable chorus that makes me want to hit the repeat button right away and give it another listen. 

Now I will admit I'm a Gene fan always have been always will be. He's the better vocalist of the two main members and he usually writes the better songs albeit cheesier sometimes but I just enjoy his voice much more. Paul Stanley's voice grates on my nerves after awhile because he whines like a bitch too often so, when Paul is the more focused vocalist on a Kiss release I tend to not enjoy it as much but I do like many of Paul's songs and even his last solo album was strong overall. With that said Paul's song "Freak" is much better than the first offering on Monster but isn't as good as all the other material on the album.

The worst thing I can say about this album is that Gene isn't singing and lead writer more often, he barely does anything on Monster that isn't great and I mean Grrrrrreat! "Back To The Stone Age" and "Eat Your Heart Out" are slices of glam rock perfection with big hooks in the chorus's and delicious riffs that make you want to play air guitar instantly.

The guitar solo's on this album are pretty slick and Tommy sounds fantastic especially on the latter of the two tracks. Stanley and Simmons have  great talent but Gene sounds especially deadly and modern as well on the song "The Devil Is Me" that borders between classic heavy Kiss and modern rock of today. Gene's massive personality casts a huge shadow over the entire band on "The Devil Is Me" he just takes over and proves all by himself why Kiss is one of the greatest bands of all-time and why the band have been able to have a career rivaling the Rolling Stones.

Tommy Thayer delivers what I think might become one of my favorite Kiss songs "Outta This World" I love the groove and chorus of the song and Tommy sounds incredible. I'm hoping for a Tommy solo album because he's just so damn good I'd enjoy ten or twelve songs sung by him. This is a great rock n' roll song and nearly the best song on the whole album. Tommy came close to doing the same on Sonic Boom as well so this proves he's not a fluke. "All For The Love of Rock & Roll" is Eric's lead vocal and well c'mon it's bloody awesome too! I can see all the hotties shaking their asses at the concert singing along to it if they'd let him sing it live. It's a feel good rock tune that is currently missing on all forms of radio in 2012.

Paul's best contribution on the album is "Long Way Down" where he doesn't attempt to sing as high and in this octave he sounds much better. I wish he's sing down here more often because his voice has more depth and his pitch doesn't take off into that whiny neighbourhood that drives my ears crazy. Thayer's contributions to the writing are a plenty and he and Paul seem to have good chemistry which I like to see that the band is acting more like a band using the talents of the members. This cohesiveness has made Kiss a much better live act and proof of back to back excellent records that the formula is just perfect.

As the album draws to its close with a slick groover "Take Me Down Below" sung by "THE" man Mr. Gene Simmons and co-vocals by Paul is again Paul sounding his best on the album again. This is another song that should be included in the live sets actually, I'd be happy to have them do almost every song on this album and a few from Sonic Boom and leave out a shitload of the oldies because this is seriously good music. The band have delivered another Sonic Boom and I don't know yet if this album will be able to keep my attention as long as Sonic Boom did but, I will say this when the official release comes about I'll be buying my copy at HMV for sure.

When the album ends on "Last Chance" the first thing I did was start it over again from track two to track twelve and knew by completion this album is a gold medal winner. Kiss is writing some of their finest material in their fifth decade of kicking ass and taking names and I think they just moved past the Stones into second place on the list of the greatest rock n' roll bands of all-time and I say that with absolute honesty.

Monster lives up to its name it is just that a MONSTER of a rock n' roll record that will make Kiss fans happy and better yet rock n' roll fans who just want to crank up the volume and have some fun ecstatic. On October 9th, 2012 make sure you go to your favorite music retailer and purchase a copy of Monster it will make you a better person! ROCK ON!

(No Samples Don't Want Gene To Sue Me!)

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Three Days Grace - Transit Of Venus

Every song on this album has nothing going on, the band fail to write a good hook and the amount of ballad and mid-tempo drivel is astounding for a band that usually delivers in spades. The first single "Chalk Line" is nearly the worst single of 2012 and right now this album is in the top five or Splash's Toilet Bowl Nuggets in other words shit!

It pains me to say it but if you buy this you are allowing them to get away with delivering shit music. Don't buy it don't lie to them and tell them its great because it sucks ass and the kinda ass from a 50 year old guy who weighs 500lbs and hasn't been able to wipe it properly since 1975. Three Days Grace can now change their name to Three Days Dis-Grace because they have earned that title with astounding success.

Transit Of Venus is awful and if you don't understand what I'm saying go ahead listen to it and you'll hear for yourself unless your a deaf asshole who just likes to be stupid and like everything I hate and I have friends like that but most of the time they are trying to convince themselves it's good and they are cooler than me when it comes to music but they aren't. Conceited Guru Out!

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John Fogerty Live @ SOFMA In Victoria, BC

Apprehensive to go to this show as I was I left with a much different opinion and feeling than what I walked in with for sure. As we sat and waited for the show to start the screens came to life with a little Fogerty history and a couple of advertisements for a new project from the coming soon bin. Being fifteen minutes late hitting the stage wasn't a terrible amount of time to wait and as soon as lights went out I witnessed one helluva rock n' roll show by a true legend in the genre. I'm not going to say I'm the biggest fan of CCR or John's many projects in the last few years but I do love Cosmos Factory to death and know it to be one of the the greatest albums ever made.

John's opening song was "Hey Tonight" an epic rock masterpiece that is still just as good today as it was back in '71. As the show progressed and the guitar playing skill of Fogerty unfolded in front of me I was blown away he had the chops he does. The man can rip and over and over he proved that to be true for the nearly 2.5 hour run of ass shakin' rock n' roll.

Even when he dropped into the quiet songs and the ballads the performance was excellent and energetic. The backing band was solid and the fact he had Kenny Aronoff bashing the skins for him made them even better. Kenny is a master skinsman and his 30+ Grammy award winning recordings that have had his drum skills proves that as fact. But back to the show John played all the songs from Bayou Country which was a treat and I enjoyed hearing some of the obscure album cuts. The fact that his voice sounded nearly pitch perfect comparing to the original recordings and that's amazing because he's no spring chicken.

The only time I thought the performance wasn't quite up to snuff was on "Have You Ever Seen The Rain" but it was still good enough. The real moments were when the band rocked it out on "Travelling Band" and "Up Around The Bend" two of my favorites for sure. Those songs filled the arena with thunderous power that you couldn't help but dance and sing at the top of your lungs. I'm not the most lively concert goer I have fun but I don't scream and yell and act like a maniac or dance until I'm silly. Last night there were many times I considered actually doing just that and at the end run of the show I stood and danced a little because I couldn't not do it. You know you've gotten your money's worth when I am driven to dance and cheer loudly.

For a guy who came to the show expecting nothing special I left knowing I just had one of the best concert experiences of the over one hundred and fifty plus shows that I've been to in my life. I would honestly say if you get a chance to see John on the next leg of his tour you have to make that happen because this is a legendary rock n' roll performer and all fans of the genre should experience something great at least once and this guy isn't going to be going at this level for much longer so get on it folks.

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Check Out: Divine Fits - Like Ice Cream Live

A catchy song that should be in your current listening rotation.

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Check Out: Chris Robinson's Brotherhood Live

This is what deliciously tasty rock n' roll sounds like, no glitter, no pomp just rock n' roll!

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Masque: A Little Paul Stanley Sound-A-Like

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Check Out: Telsa doing a great cover of "I Love You"

The original song was great but this version by Tesla makes the original boring by comparison enjoy

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Papa Roach - The Connection

Anything will be better than the previous Papa Roach debacle Time For Annihilation. This album couldn't be that faceless right? Well lets have a run through of what The Connection brings us and that question will be answered by the end of my review.

The intro track ah they are bring back the 80's style again, remember when every metal album had an intro track? Does this add to the effect of the album and the answer is sort of but who cares lets get to the actual music right? "Still Swinging" is that first song and subsequently the first single as well. The song has great verses but lacks some in the chorus and sort of sounds like something Linkin Park would do in those verses. This song is a grower because the first time I heard I didn't care for it but after a few listens I've come to like it and I really like the breakdown @ 2:11 it is cool and shows some growth in a positive forward motion as well.

The band's hard rocking sound is ever present with "Where Did The Angels Go" one of the highlights on The Connection. The excellent pop rock inspired "Silence Is The Enemy" follows and Papa Roach have officially made a return to form, so far they are connecting with me. I love the new additons to their sound with the keys and such swirling around. It adds a dimension that makes their brand of Nu-Metal/Hard Rock much more enjoyable. The band's production level has really been stepped up bringing them into the modern era without robbing them of being Papa Roach we all have come to love. Sure they don't sound like "Last Resort" Papa Roach but rap rock is pretty much over now and I think that is a good thing in the end. The band have picked up some tricks from bands like the previously mentioned Linkin Park and The Muse and to some degree Nickelback and Shinedown as well. I'm totally OK with this slight direction change in sound because their fundamental sound is still intact.

As to be expected not every song is killer it does get bogged down a little with lesser songs "Wish You Never Met Me" a very Emo sounding song that just misses the boat. I wish I never heard it to be honest. The band jumps back on the track with "Give Back My Life" which is very good Papa Roach grinder and probably a future single/video for them. If I didn't know better I'd almost think this was Three Days Grace with the heavy riff that steers song into the stomping chorus. After another solid rocker the band spread their wings and soar with the near power ballad "Leader Of The Broken Hearts" that brings in that 80's feel again but never sounds derivative or old just has the solid elements from the glam rock generation when music was as pretty as the people who played it.

The sonic power of "Won't Let Up" is huge and the grasp of Jacoby's lyrics is actually quite deep. This song really blew me away upon first listen because there is something immensely crushing about the piece. The group just got the right mix to create a sound that feels like an enormous wave crashing down on you and this is not as easy as one would think to achieve because it takes more than distortion and volume to make it all happen properly. The albums closing number "As Far As I Remember" is a slow burner that builds to near epic status showing just how far this band has come since their debut in 1997 and their breakthrough album Infest in 2000. Obviously this is not the same band that first came together but the career they have built from nothing is a solid achievement and this album is a solid brick in the foundation of Papa Roach. The next chapter wow what can they have left maybe a seriously fun party rock record who knows but after this album I'm looking forward to hearing where the duo of Jacoby Shaddix and Jerry Horton take the freight train roaring to for sure.

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