Jedward - Young Love

Now I'm sure most will dismiss this duo but if you do that would be a mistake. This album is nothing short of awesome! I adore the sweeter than sweet pop music that makes up Young Love. The one complaint I have is that it has to end but with a quick click I can make it all start over and that makes me smile and one of those big ol' toothy smiles as well.

I liked their album of covers and then I was a little disappointed with their next effort Victory as it lacked something which I can't quite put my finger on. They band pulled it all together for their new album Young Love that has one of the best pop songs I've heard this year titled "Give It Up". This is what the perfect pop song sounds like. It has an immediate hook with the whistle intro then bounces into a chorus so sweet and tasty that you need to brush your teeth after it finishes. If this song doesn't take over the world and make the boys a household name then a travesty against pop music has been committed and someone needs to pay!

There are so many great tunes on this album that NKOTB, N-Sync, Savage Garden and One Direction should all be jealous that they can't or couldn't compete. The highlights on this album begin at track one and end at track fifteen because its just that damn good. So I will just stop writing and let you listen to the dandy candy for your ears posted below.

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Everclear - Invisible Stars

Invisible Stars is not their best album and that's easily figured out by the time you are four tracks deep. The songs just don't have an charisma and energy, the lack of spirit really generates no interest at all. The first single off the album is actually an OK song but there is nothing else to elevate their comeback album status to even lukewarm. I say pass on this one and just keep their greatest hits package spinning in the CD tray.

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NIckelback Vancouver BC, 2012

This night was about to be filled with a ton of rock n' roll and I was pretty excited anticipating the four acts that were about to hit the stage inside of Rogers Arena. After being disappointed about Seether's lack of 2X shirts I quickly moved forward and headed to my seat to await the opening act My Darkest Days.

The band hit the stage right on time and played a short set filled with their best material. The performance was great but the lead singer Matt Walst and guitarist Sal Costa sounded like a couple of 14 years school boys trying to be cool dropping F-Bombs aplenty. The music was fine but the epic amount of cursing made them sound stupid and took away from their portion of show.

The stage then presented us with a pretty decent set from Seether. The band is one of favorites now and was the band I was most excited to see out of the three openers. They kicked off the set with "Gasoline" which I don't like at all moved into "Fine Again" another song I'm not a fan of then the abysmal song "Broken" which the crowd seemed to like. Once they started playing their good material the band really started to tear it up. They played "Tonight" the current single from Holding Onto Strings Better Left to Fray then followed with a really good rendition of "Country Song". They closed their set with "Fake It" and "Remedy" both sounding great. I honestly would have much rather heard "Bleed For Me" from the Daredevil OST or "Effigy" from their current album. Instead of the opening trio but those were singles so I guess that's all you can get in such a short time slot.

The night was so far so good and I was having a great time and that would continue with a near show stealing set from Bush. Gavin and Chris Traynor put on a show that was headliner quality. Their set kicked off with "MachineHead" from their debut album and it sounded awesome. The new album wasn't ignored as they played the groovy hard rocker "All My Life" and then "Sound Of Winter" keeping the energy level high with both songs that the crowd was totally into. As Gavin worked his way through the crowd the band played the Beatles classic "Come Together" which was not only great it was bloody awesome! One of the best covers I've ever heard and verging on the best cover which is still by Gotthard. The bands performance left nothing to be desired at all and the excellent version of "Glycerine" was only eclipsed ever so slightly by the monsterous rendition of "Come Down" that proved this band still had it and could take a crowd anywhere they wanted them to go just as the pied piper did with the rats.

Now after such great sets Nickelback was up and the bases were loaded here comes the first pitch and KA-BLAM! "This Means War" knocked it out of the park for a grandslam. You knew that this was going to be a great rock n' roll show from note one of Nickelback. They kept the crowd screaming and singing with "Something In Your Mouth", "Never Again" and the sing-a-long pop-tastic mega hit "Photograph". Chad anounce one for the ladies and they did the power ballad "Far Away" not one of my favorites but I enjoyed it along with the eighteen plus thousand I was hanging out with. The band moved to the back of the arena onto an elevated round stage where they played a wicked trio of Nickelback rockers "Bottoms Up", "Animals" and "Rockstar" two of which are favorites of mine.

The band moved back to the main stage and played even more hits which included "When We Stand Together" that worked into a drum solo. The drum solo was decent and the crowd ate up the cheese hand and fist. I didn't think it was the best solo I've ever seen but I've also seen the greatest drummers that have ever existed so I'm a little jaded. After closing the set with "Burn It To The Ground" which completely kicked everyone's collective ass they left for the encore section. They played "Gotta Be Somebody" as we all sang along then finished with "Figured You Out". I was a little surprised that they didn't have any surprises being a home town show and they didn't do "This Afternoon" which was disappointing but in the end Nickelback was absolutely great and one of the best shows I've seen in a very long time. This was a real rock show like I used to see all the time back in the 80's. All in all I give this concert nothing less than four stars because it was a monster line-up and everyone delivered the goods to quote the metal god.

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Owl City Feat. Carly Rae Jepsen - Good Time

Well two of my favorite popsters hooked up here and it's nothing less than awesome! Carly Rae Jepsen is such a great talent with a unique voice that is sweet and sexy. Owl City seems to be winning a lot lately with this hot track and the E.P. Shooting Star which the title track is super cool.

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Poll This!

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Songs That Go Great With Beer & Sunshine

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Lit - The View From The Bottom

The band Lit kinda unfairly didn't get to ride the success train like the lesser talented bands of their time period like Blink 182. Lit's return to the recording world is a pretty good album overall with some songs that are right up there with the best stuff the bands released but they have done the let's see if we can get a radio hit thing as well. So you get songs like "Miss You Gone" which could be from a Hedley record just as easily as it could be The Wanted or similar ilk acts.

The one aspect of their sound that is less present is the punkier hard rock stuff. The album is a little over produced and it pains me to say that because Butch Walker did the work. Again this band is coming back together in a completely different pop market from the one they vacated years ago. The music is a lot slicker if that's possible today than it was previously. Honestly the more I listen to this album the more annoyed I am by Hedley's last album. So I have to move on I know that so I will, buy this album as it plays well front to back and has some pretty good power pop like "C'mon", "You Did It" and gritty "Partner In Crime" complete with vocoder.

The most classic sounding song is "Right This Time" and it also closes the album.

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New Music: Songs That Don't Suck

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Maroon 5 - Overexposed

The apt title for their what fourth album now is exactly what they have been for ten years consistently. The bands previous album kinda failed or bombed to some degree as it had the one hit single "Misery" and then pretty much died because of the explosion of the non album track "Moves Like Jagger". I don't know if that will be the case this time around as I instantly found much to like on Overexposed upon first listen. The bands sophomore album was obviously their best full length album as even the album tracks were high quality.

This is the case once again and any fan of the band will fall in love with the album immediately. The first single "Payphone" is adorable kinda like that cute stuffed toy. It's all fluffy and sweet and filled with nothing but pop music genius. Adam's disco side which has become ever present as he takes over the sound of the band completely and uses Maroon 5 as his creative vehicle is firing on all cylinders on "Lucky Strike" that takes the "Moves Like Jagger" swagger to an even quicker tempo.

If you only like their hits then this album is a greatest hits package that you just haven't heard yet. Yes it really is that good. A weaker song on the album is "Love Somebody", that if released as a single should have no trouble garnering some serious radio play. The worst song on the album is actually "Lady Killer" and I can say that I skip this track and I really only made it about half way through it the first time and I haven't gone back to it since because it sucks and we all know it sucks. I wouldn't be surprised if the band knew it too but someone at the label enjoyed it.

The best song on the album is the amazing pop creation titled "Tickets". This song is probably my favorite song of the week and should continue to get many plays. Overall this album is a winner and Maroon 5 add yet another solid collection of songs to their already stacked catalog of hits. Worth every penny you spend to own this album.

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Soul Asylum - Delayed Reaction

The excitement and anticipation for this album I have is very high. Soul Asylum is one of the bands that got me through the worst decade in music ever the 90's well actually '94 to '99 to be specific. Delayed Reaction has one huge mishap and it is the closing track "I Should've Stayed In Bed" so with that out of the bag lets get into the new Soul Asylum disc.

"Gravity" opens the album with a snarky alt. rocker that sounds like it could have come from Grave Dancers Union. The band sound as good as they did back in their '90's heyday. There is more than enough excellent rock music on Delayed Reaction with some of the highlights being "Into The Light", "Pipe Dream", "The Juice" and "Let's All Kill Each Other". As this album doesn't eclipse the absolute greatness of Grave Diggers Union or the stellar Let Your Dim Light Shine it can ride along side those discs and not have too much trouble keeping up.

One listen to "The Streets" is just not enough and I'm fairly sure all the fans of the band will be have a mad love affair with this song. Dave Pirner has proven that the band isn't out of good ideas and still have enough in the tank to add to their legacy. As I mentioned some of the songs earlier you just have to listen to the album and find out for yourself how good it is. I'm a self confessed fanboi of Soul Asylum who are my second favorite new band of the '90's just a hair behind Green Day and a hair ahead of Collective Soul. This album is a great addition to my Soul Asylum CD collection and if you are a fan will be for yours too. 

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Lita Ford - Living Like A Runaway

I sure hope that this album doesn't suck as much ass as the previous one I reviewed! The opening cut "Branded" is a good sleaze rock tune. Lita sounds like herself which is good or bad depending on your opinion of Lita Ford. Her big album has been out for now fourteen years and she's been struggling to achieve that success again ever since.

The new album has one huge thing going for it and that is the inclusion of Gary Hoey. Then you hear the album and come to realize that Gary's not shredding all over it which is too bad because he's awesome. The first three tracks all sound the same pretty average but for Lita they are better than most of her crap. The album finally presents us with a good song the title track "Living Like A Runaway" that has better verses than a chorus which is a too bad but I still like the song. It totally uses the melody of more than one song and is kinda driving me nuts because I can't pinpoint it exactly. I hear bit of so many other songs but I think it is "We All Die Young" by Steelheart or Steel Dragons if you prefer the fictitious group from Rockstar.

The album has continued with the mid-tempo material with a groovy swagger for a little too long to make this album one you can put on and listen to front to back. The sameness gets grating after awhile. Even on the gritty "Devil In My Hand" they don't pick up the tempo enough but the song still has lots to like and sounds better as part of a playlist of mixed artists. Again that happens with "Love 2 Hate U" which is a great track that I will be adding to my I-Pod and will get enjoyment from as it plays randomly. The pace finally changes enough to be noticed on "A Song To Slit Your Wrists By" which incorporates some drum machines that actually work. I again like this song and will like it more when it is intertwined with other stuff.

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Kenny Chesney - Welcome To The Fishbowl

This guy is a huge star in the country format but I'm really not a big fan because of his need to sing such poor material so often. His choice of songs is obviously the issue with his catalog as I can barely find a good song on his album usually. He did have one album that was a total success but that was way back in 2002 which is now ten years. He's been inconsistent since and here we go with another album where he begins with a slow song called "Come Over". This song is exactly what I mean a weak composition with pop production making it so stiff and stale that it isn't even listenable.

The next track is the duet with Tim McGraw which is getting radio play right now and it's just OK as well. The Chesney fans who've made him so successful will love this disc because this is the same drivel that they've been loving for years. Songs like the "A Small Town" which is just craptacular.  I don't know if you could find anything less offensive, dry, passe, boring and vomit enducing if you tried. Not only does this song make your stomach want to spew all its contents on that track but the next one is nearly as sickening.

The 70's AM radio styled "Makes Me Wonder" is almost acceptable but the production takes all the dynamics out of the music. It is just so safe and polished as to not be abrasive at the slightest so his old granny fan-base won't be offended by the noisy stuff the guitars might make. Holy freaking hell Batman another ballad! Too fucking many on these awful songs creating an album of filler. He at least attempts something up-tempo in "Time Flies" that is pretty typical fare for Kenny Chesney and his island pop ala Jason Mraz. Oh look more ballads that continue to the albums close.

I'd like to say these words to Kenny Chesney his management team his record label and anyone who thinks this is good music: FUCK OFF & pull your fingers out of your ears because this is not good music this is pedestrian bullshit garbage and the reason your industry is in the sorry state that is. You keep releasing shite like this to the public and expect them to buy your product for the bloated cost you charge at retail. I recommend nobody buys this music but everyone steals it burns it to a disc and mails it back to the label with a note telling them it wasn't even good enough to keep for free!

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Roxy Roller Glam Rock Greatness: Original & Covers

Roxy Roller is one of those songs that defined my musical tastes throughout my life. It has a great riff with Nick's brilliant falsetto singing one of the best melodies that rock n' roll has ever included. The song has become one of the most beloved songs in music history and even though some might not hear its greatness doesn't change the fact it is the pure definition of the word great. Here is the original version by Sweeney Todd and a few covers of the song even the hardest to find cover by Sweeney Todd with Bryan Adams on lead vocals.

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10 Songs That Should Be On Your I-Pod

A random smattering of what's on my I-Pod and what I'm currently listening to

10. All The Rowboats by Regina Spektor
09. Hiding From Love by Bryan Adams
08. Shooting Star by Owl City
07.All Or Nothing by Whitesnake
06. Something Like Olivia by John Mayer
05. No Thanks To You by Marilou
04. Hip (Eponymous) Poor Boy by Jack White
03. Sharing The Night Together by Dr. Hook & The Medicine Show
02. Stuck On You by Meiko
01.See Forever Eyes by Prism

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Bryan Adams @ SOFMA, Victoria BC

As with all artists this long into their careers they can't do all our favorites and Bryan missed a lot of my choice cuts from his back catalog. He completely ignored his debut album which has the excellent "Hidin' From Love" which was one of his best songs and damn near my favorite from him. With that said he didn't sing the awesome album track "Wastin' Time" or his other single from the debut "Don't Ya Say It". So he also decided to eliminate his sophomore album which had some much better material than what he chose. The ballad "Coming Home" and the mid-tempo gem "Lonely Nights" off the playlist as well.

He did do the triple threat from Cuts Like A Knife which was nice but the painful acoustic slowed down version of "I'm Ready" instead of the kick ass album version really annoyed me. I hate how he took a great song and murdered it with that drivel arrangement. His vocals were excellent as he sounded just as you'd expect from listening to his albums. The band for the most part was excellent although his drummer made a lot of lazy mistakes while doing fills and such. I would have liked a more thunderous sound from his kit as well. It was a little soft which at the tame volume made some of the songs like "The Only Thing That Looks Good On Me" timid.

The drum solo was cool and the most original drum solo I've seen at a concert ever. That says a lot because I've been to a ton of shows and seen the very best drummers in the world multiple times. Bryan is actually a very good guitar player and his cohort Keith Scott who outside of his awful solo runs in "It's Only Love" was also very good. It is nice to see a solo artist keep such a long tendered partnership going in the music industry. Norm Fisher who I met many moons ago when he was just an up and coming bass player in Vancouver, to my surprise, was now backing up Adams. He's become quite the session musician since his first run with Burton Cummings back in the 80's.

Of course Reckless filled out much of the set list which included "Run To You", "Heaven", "Somebody" and the cheesy gawd awful "Summer Of '69" a song I've hated since the day I bought the album back in 1984. Which obviously got the biggest pop from the crowd because for some reason people like that piece of shit song. He also played "Hearts On Fire" from the commercial disaster known as Into The Fire the album that followed Reckless and failed miserably in the shadow of the much better material that preceded it.

The Mutt Lang produced, written, directed, engineered Waking Up The Neighbours made a strong showing as well in the set list. Songs like "Can't Stop This We Started" and "(Everything I Do) I Do It For You" sounded fantastic and "There Will Never Be Another Tonight" revved up the tempo nicely right before they left for the first encore.

Overall though he does too many slow songs for my liking and he could have eliminated stuff like "House Arrest", "Thought I'd Died and Gone to Heaven", "Do I Have to Say the Words?", "Please Forgive Me", "Victoria Bound" and the abysmal goo "All For Love" and replaced them with much better material like a couple of previously mention tracks or "It Ain't A Party, If You Can't Come 'round", "East Side Story" or even "She's Got Away" but the one staple that was missing and sadly so too was "Diana" one of my favorites for sure.

After all is said and done though no concert set is perfect for everyone and this one was still very good and c'mon he didn't torture my ears with "Have You Ever Really Loved A Woman" so I'm pretty happy with that! I enjoyed the concert and I actually loved the massive screen backdrop used mostly for the band. I think that made the show much more enjoyable along with the little talking between songs as well. He came and played music for nearly two and half hours with hardly any time spent on dumb chatter. Not a lot of classic acts can make you feel you got more bang for your buck as Bryan Adams did so easily.







 

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Smashing Pumkins - Oceania

I finally listened to the new Pumpkins album tonight and I have to admit once I got past the first two tracks I actually started to enjoy the modern era version of the band. "Quasar" and "Panopticon" are inherently the same song I couldn't find much difference between them honestly. But once "The Celestial's" began my ears perked up and I focused a little more on what was playing. I do find Billy sounding much more restrained here than on some of the bands overtly aggressive nasal tones from yesteryear. This is a more mature effort in too many ways to list but the best part of that is they are sounding cohesive again after too many Corgan ego trips carrying the Smashing Pumpkins name.

As Oceania plays through I am very impressed with most of what I hear even if some of it doesn't sound like the past. I don't care to hear them repeat their past successes in a carbon copy matter. I'd rather hear them doing music that they love which will always be more believable even it turned out to be bad, which this is not. The meek "My Love Is Winter" has a sentimental softness to it that has all the good of Corgan's songwriting skill. But I'm not sure about "One Diamond, One Heart" which sounds like it could be from a Robyn album. It just doesn't have the right ingredients to make it sail.

With that said "Pinwheels" does have the lush power that makes my ears happy. This track is one of Corgan's finest moments as a songwriter. The album continues to ebb and flow in the more folk side and then nods to the past with "The Chimera" which is about as close to their old sound as they get in 2012. The song is actually another very good tune and one that is worthy of their history for sure. More mid-tempo alt. rock is presented until the last track which is another melodic ballad that again I find more enchanting than I would have expected. "Wildflower" is a near perfect ending to the surprisingly strong album from a band that I had little expectation of at this point in their turmoil filled career.

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Dr. Hook & The Medicine Show - Sloppy Seconds

Rarely did this band make a complete album or as complete as this one turned out to be. It included some of their best material and the absolute classic "Cover Of The Rolling Stone" which has become one of musics most beloved songs. Dr. Hook & The Medicine Show created a perfect blend of folk rock, country and to some extent pop with a little comedy and good natured fun to created a catalog of tasty confections to be enjoyed by everyone.

Ray Sawyer who has been a leading figure for the group and the main visual presence has tried to continue the group into the current era with varying success on the live circuit. Sometimes you get a great show and sometimes well you get what I experienced in Williams Lake, BC at the arena which was a total drunken mess that for a few years left me with a total distaste for the groups material.

With that said this album is a shining example of what Dennis Locorriere brought to the band with his tender rasp. He could croon like no other and his voice was at its best when tender and soft as presented on "Carry Me Carrie" one of the greatest ballads that you will ever hear. The performance on this song is absolutely stunning in how he is able to emote the lyrics and have them soak so deep into your soul and leave you with a mark.

The awesomeness of "Freakin' At The Freakers Ball" still holds up today as well as it did back in 1972. The group really had struck gold on this one written by the immortal Shel Silverstein who was behind some of the bands best tunes. Also included on this album was the hit "Queen Of The Silver Dollar" another song that is just as good now and it was then. The song still captivates you as it plays and I'm sure nobody changes the channel on the classic rock radio station when this gem comes on the air.

The master is at it again on "The Things I Didn't Say" with this country flavored tune that is as good as the other stuff just wasn't a single even though it surely would have been a hit single if given the chance back in the day. Sloppy Seconds is the bands best record no matter which album might include your personal favorite this is by far the band at their best. The album cuts aren't throwaway songs which is prevalent on their subsequent albums. There are some albums that if "Last Morning" was included on it would have been the chosen single over whatever else was recorded. Once again Dennis is at his cocksure best delivering the goods at the highest level on "Last Morning" which has over years become a favorite of mine.

 The albums non single tracks "I Can't Touch The Sun" and "Stayin' Song" are also top notch Hook songs that again stand up to be noticed and deserve the attention. Overall Sloppy Seconds is a total must have album even if you are a casual fan of Dr. Hook & The Medicine Show.

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Marina & The Diamonds - Electra Heart

From the opening track “Bubblegum Bitch” onwards, Marina & The Diamonds second album promotes the more mean-spirited and synthetic aspects of childhood aspiration. The albums electronic aspirations deliver on nearly every track as the virtual concept album tells the story of a bitchy pop diva. Not concerned with the credibility found through her critically acclaimed indie-pop debut The Family Jewels, Marina & The Diamonds has opted for a more radio-friendly pop sound for her follow-up.

The album is sung through the perspective of the Electra Heart character and the four facets of her identity – the Primadonna, Su-Barbie-A, the Teen Idle and the Homewrecker. (Slightly pretentious.)
Marina has a knack for writing accessible but brilliant pop lyrics, and here she effortlessly works within her theme discussing topics like love and popularity through these different archetypes. While these persona's are extremes, there is still something very relatable in the lyrics and Marina manages to also remain herself and not merely a character.

"Starring Role" is heart-rending in its simplicity, Marina exposing herself (musically speaking) over a toy box piano riff and drum patters. Perhaps Electra Heart's oddest moment is "Teen Idle" wherein the album's two opposing sides merge to create something singular. “I wish I'd been a teen idol, wish I'd been a prom queen fighting for the title / Instead of being 16 and burning up a Bible, feeling super super super suicidal” she sings in a childlike falsetto as a million Marinas repeat the “super super super suicidal” refrain like some mawkish choir.

But it's when she's dealing directly with her emotions that Electra Heart shines brightest. "Lies" given extra gloom wobble sadness by Diplo – unpicks a relationship falling apart in devastating detail, with Marina's unique voice pushed to the front as the entire song seems to sigh and shrug to an end. “Homewrecker” is one of the album’s many standout tracks with its blow-your-speakers pop chorus and enticing spoken verses. “Power & Control” drives its way into your brain with its heavy synths. As stated before most of the album’s songs deal with love, heartbreak, and the American dream to some extent.


As such, where the character ends and she begins is not always clear, though it's only a problem for the record's sole weak link "Living Dead" in saying that this song is not bad. Elsewhere, the earworm hooks, colossal choruses and sheer barminess ensures that Electra Heart is a thoroughly enjoyable listen throughout - regardless of whether you buy into the concept or not.

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Josh Turner - Punching Bag

The 'Bone Shaking Baritone' returns with his new album Punching Bag that comes with a pretty cool intro track by Michael Buffer. The title track jumps with an eastcoast swing tempo that is not as good as one would hope after the opening. A more likable song "Time Is Love" follows but once again it is a more country crossover type track that is too generic to be anything more than a candidate for the elevator music soundtrack.

Turner finally hits the low notes on "Deeper Than My Love" and here is where he sounds right and the song actually has something going on with in its country confines. Reminds a little of a cool old school Randy Travis jam. The album seems to be on the up-swing as the run continues with "Good Problem To Have" and the fantastic and I mean fantastic "Cold Shoulder" that is pure country classic. The gold continues with a catchy little number called "Find Me A Baby" with Josh using is deep voice to absolute perfection. I had been worried early on listening to this record but as it unfolded that went away and a little excitement began to build for each track.

Turner continues to deliver on the album with more great country music that harkens back to a much better time in the genre. A time when songs were more important than who was singing them and what they were wearing or how hot they looked. Not that Turner is a hound in the looks department he's really a great singer and it is his singing and song writing that is on display not his looks unlike the Carrie Underwoods and countless Taylor Swift clones that are beginning to show up now. There is substance and talent to be had with Josh Turner and he wraps the whole package up and ties it with a nice bow. As I write that I'm not a huge fan of this entire record songs like "Pallbearer" are weak plane and simple and the gospel praise song "For The Love Of God" really isn't my cup of tea but I have to admit lyrics aside this song is pretty good and a great two-step. I wish they'd stop with these sort of lyrical songs and find something better to write about though.

After another ballad that doesn't capture my interest the album closes with "Left Hand Man" that tries really hard to grab the Brad Paisley sound and comes close but doesn't quite match up. Although it is still a good song in its own right and one of the better tracks on Punching Bag. Josh Turner's 2012 album is a mostly good album and in the country format that's about what you get now 'pretty good'.

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ZZ Top - Texicali

At this point in their long storied career as the musical entity know as ZZ Top the trio has completely lost all the respect and credibility they once had with me. I haven't thought of them as viable in about twenty years when it comes to writing and releasing decent material. The band has run out of ideas as they re-hash old song riffs on Texicali an E.P. that is thankfully only four songs deep.

The slowed down version of "Got Me Under Pressure" titled "Consumption" is so weak that it sounds like Billy Gibbons is about to drop dead as he tried to play the solo of the song. The song "Chartreuse" is "Tush" re-visioned and so painfully dull that if you can make it through the entire song I have to award you with a badge of honour. The E.P. closes with "Over You" a ballad that proves just because you use a simple blues structure for a slow tempo song doesn't mean it will just work. These sort of songs are plentiful and with that said 98% of them suck including this one.

ZZ Top are officially passe there is no reason to see them live because they can't play the songs at the right tempo live they drag. The band obviously can't write new material that doesn't feel recycled, boring or bland and the time has come for this trio of southern rockers to just let it go and retire. They are an embarrassment to the band that arrived in1971 and the re-launched juggernaut that soared from 1983 through 1986. Stick a fork in them they are done.

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Jettblack - Raining Rock

Rev up the engines it's time for another Jettblack record and I'm a little excited for this one. The band has grown a little more since their last album. This time out the band has taken a more accessible straight ahead hard rock sound on Raining Rock. The problem is that the production is not good enough to make this genre soar to the heights it needs to be great. With that said I don't dislike this record in the slightest with the power rock "System" the reminds me of early Great White.

The band sort of stay in the early part of the 80's for the majority of this album abandoning their modern aspect from the debut album.  Which is another reason that this comes off as a little forgettable. But "Sunshine" is a great song that would be much better served with a Nickelback styled production. The very Dokken-ish "Never Gonna Give It Up" has all the right parts from the harmonized intro to the excellent soaring guitar that drops into the galloping riff. But once again the thin production needs much more bottom end and compression to make it sound full and energetic. Listen to Dokken's "In My Dreams" and then you will understand what I mean.

The swagger of "The In-Between Loves" brings Winger to mind instantly and leaves a little imprint in the sand instead of a twenty-five foot hole in the ground. I kind of winced when I saw Udo Dirkschneider guesting on a track but turns out that it's one of the better tracks on the album. I crank this one up pretty loud and turn up the bass to get some kick and punch air along to the fun rockin' track. Too bad the production is lacking on this album because if Chad Kroeger had a go with these tracks this album would be a monster.

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The Hives - Lex Lives

"Come On, Come On, Come On, Come On, Come On, Come On, Come On, Come On, Everybody Come On" first track down and it's awesome! So Lex Lives, is it the album that anyone who listens to this band has been waiting for? It's sure looking like that is what might be unfolding here. Frontman Howlin Pelle humorously admitted that the album is very “Hive’s influenced” and the name of the album came from the Roman idea of “enforcing a set of rules and accepting them as standard. The first single "Go Right Ahead" has a certain T-Rex appeal to it and it rocks so really what more could you want. 

The Hives are an acquired taste for sure but once you're in on the secret you get all drunk with punchy garage rock fun.The energy of which this band performs it's material is got to be exhausting so they slow things down on "Wait A Minute" which has a chirpy background vocal repeating underneath the melody that will probably drive you crazy or the other around as you keep singing it over and over.

The knowledge of – and nods to – various eras of punk is still evident. "1000 Answers" is early Clash-as-surf-band looking for something, even if not quite sure what. "I Want More" is near-perfect Iggy strum-and-drang demand. It even gets a bit ‘60's Nuggets-style in "Patrolling Days" cop gone wrong or "Midnight Shifter's hot-rod anthem. 

The Hives will never mature into something elegant or polished and that's the one thing you can be sure of after listening to this album. They are 100% garage rock and never let you forget where their roots are planted firmly. When you listen to "Without The Money" it's almost as if Mick Jagger came in and showed them what rock n' roll swagger is circa 1966.

The Hives have definitely channeled their psychedelic punk rock influences and let it guide them to absolute perfection and we as music fans get another stellar rock album in 2012. Lex Lives is probably my favorite Hives album to date and one I hope will not burn out quickly in my listening rotation. Now go listen to "Midnight Shifter" and dance like drunk monkey all around the house and repeat as necessary until you just can't shake what your mother gave ya any longer. Thanks for bringing the party to my house Hives I really appreciate it.

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L.A. Guns - Hollywood Forever

As far as it goes with this band they are so inconsistent that you can never be sure what a new album could hold. First thing about Hollywood Forever is the absolute basement level production on the opening cut. Phil sounds just as he did twenty years ago and if there was more to the sound than him and the jackass on the drums maybe there is a decent song here. Oh and yes I don't care for Steve Riley he seems to be a total poser. There was a reason Blackie booted his ass out of W.A.S.P. and I'd not be surprised that he's the reason this band is only two members from the mark-II line-up left.

The production seemed to be improved on the second track but overall it is lame as hell in the sound department. Mick Cripps is sorely missed when it comes to song writing because he was the reason L.A. Guns were successful pop metal rockers.  This album meets some of the criteria needed to make good Guns songs like "Vine St. Shimmy" or "Dirty Black Night" which both have enough of the sleaze, piss & vinegar swagger that make this band enjoyable. There is not enough on the album to keep from being disappointed with the groups effort this time around.

I just find songs like "Crazy Tango", "Queenie", "Sweet Mystery" so pedestrian and boring that I wanted to turn of the album at that point as I'd pretty much lost interest in hearing where it was going to end up at the conclusion. I'm glad I stuck around to find the couple of tunes I mention and "Venus Bomb" which has some of that gutter punk that was ever present in the first album. The song "I Won't Play" has something that reminds me of Suzi Quatro or The Sweet and I'm a huge fan of Chin & Chapman so this song kinda tickles me. The terrible garbage that brings the album to a close is Arana Negra that is complete shite and Phil sounds like a fucking tool singing in Spanish with awful pronunciation. What a waste of studio time ladies! If you aren't a fan of this band then just pass on this album it's not worth the money nor the bandwidth.

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Gotthard - Firebirth

As were all fans of the band, I was incredibly sad at the sudden loss of Steve Lee. It was a terrible moment for rock n' roll considering one of the greatest vocalist of the genre was gone. The next part was the realization of the possible end to Gotthard.

This was all put to bed with the very astute choice to continue forward with a new lead singer who could manage to stand in the shoes of greatness and do an admirable job. Nic Maeder joins the band and with that said Firebirth has been unleashed. Upon first introduction to Maeder I didn't believe that it wasn't Steve Lee singing "Remember It's Me" but soon I saw with my own eyes the music video and was shocked at how much he picked up the nuances and subtitles not to mention the phrasing and cadence as well.

Impressive stuff the lead-off single was for sure and now comes the full length album. This album has so much to live up to considering how great the history of the band is and what us fans will be expecting. Firebirth right away kicks off with "Starlight" a solid rocker that leaves nothing behind. The band sound as to be expected top to bottom. As the album plays through I am very impressed with the little change to their sound and very pleased by that as well. Now don't get me wrong Nic is no Steve Lee and that's just how it is but he does a great job and allows us to still have Gotthard around in the now.

I like the track "Yippie Aye Yay" it is fun also has a little production style from the Human Zoo era which is where I was introduced to the band. Where the group misses Steve the most is on the ballads. His presence and emotion in the delivery was second to none and to only think how fantastic "Tell Me" would have sounded with Steve's vocal. It would have been brilliant for sure and it's a little hard to listen to for that reason.

As the album is a little on the mellow side of things that doesn't mean it isn't great because Gotthard are talented in this department. Songs like "Shine", "Take It All Back" and "Where Are You" just soar with greatness and all are wonderful additions to the power ballad genre. I particularly love "Where Are You" the song just caught me at the right moment I guess and I'm hooked. Of the more uptempo tracks "S.O.S." is a little weak but that's about the weakest song on the album. The excellent "Right On" is begging to be a concert classic for sure. The song has all the Bon Jovi meets Nickelback greatness that you might be able to handle.

The new beginning of Gotthard is solid with little bad and it breeds great excitement for what the band will do in the future. And thankfully the story's NOT over! Welcome back and thanks for not throwing in the towel.

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