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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Matchbox 20 - North

Oh boy, I was really excited for this album and after my first listen to it I let it sink in a bit then I gave it another listen the next day and again let it sink in and came back once more to try again and I'm sad to report this is not a very strong album at all. The album opens with "Parade" which is an OK tune fairly typical for the band. The first single "She's So Mean" is an exemplary display of their great songwriting ability. That said it is one of the best songs on the album because much of this album is either too similar or too much like a Thomas solo album which aren't usually very consistent.

This album is OK it is nothing special from a band I've come to expect a lot more from. Too much slow music and not enough up tempo energetic stuff to make this an intoxicating listen. It is more of a smothering listen because it sucks the air and life out of the room after a few tracks and never breathes anything back into it. I say buy a couple tracks from an online retailer if you feel inclined but don't waste your money on this album unless you are one of those sappy song lovers that will like just about any boring torch song or slow jam and if you are please stop listening to music because you have no taste. This is a pass you can find better music easily worth your investment of time and cash over this release.

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10 Songs That Should Be On Your I-Pod

This is the Green Day edition and ten is just not enough but lets see if I can narrow it down!

10. Hitchin' A Ride By Green Day
09. Basket Case By Green Day
08. Warning By Green Day
07. Bab's Uvula Who By Green Day
06. Nuclear Family By Green Day
05. Jaded By Green Day
04. Longview By Green Day
03. Let Yourself Go By Green Day
02. American Idiot By Green Day
01. Geek Stink Breath By Green Day

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Green Day - UNO!

2012 is the seeing two of three new Green Day albums and that alone is exciting. What makes this even more exciting is that album number one UNO! is bloody brilliant! Did I make my point? Did you understand how freaking awesome UNO! is? The trio of misfits has written one of their best albums without needing to follow the American Idiot formula.

Too often do we get told by bands that this new album is like their classic album the one that made them and nearly every time that is such bullshit and they are lying out their ass's. Not with UNO! this is akin to Dookie, Insomniac and Warning. There are some absolutely killer tunes like "Let Yourself Go" that reminds me instantly of "Geek Stink Breath's" awesomeness or "American Idiot's" awesomeness because it has that sort of in your face lose your mind and just rock the hell out sound.

The album does have a couple of songs that aren't the best thing ever and well it's Green Day every album in their history had a couple of songs that were as good as the rest and it's a common occurrence with most albums by all artists. The weaker material comes in the form of "Carpe Diem" and "Kill The DJ" which just don't do it for me. "Kill The DJ" isn't a bad song far from it but I'm not a huge reggae fan and it's got a pseudo reggae beat. But quickly the band are back on track with "Fell For You" which sounds similar to something that would have been on Warning a solid album on its own so I'm sure most fans will automatically like it.

Green Day just seem so charged and full of energy on this album it's almost like they drank a magic soda made from their angst at eighteen years old but retained all the lessons they've learned from living life into their thirties. When needed the maturity of later day Green Day appears a little but never like on 21st Century Breakdown which is a very poor effort from such a consistent band.

The only people who will think this isn't a great record is the deaf hipsters who just hate everything that is mainstream and we all know someone like that. I've been accused of being on myself but I'm far from it. I just like good well crafted music that isn't derivative and boring. Sometimes cheesy pop music like Carly Rae Jepsen or Katy Perry is great to listen to and sing-a-long with and sometimes the depth of Pink Floyd or Soundgarden is needed to please my ears. This album is fun wholeheartedly entertaining and charismatic as hell.

I'm so impressed that I'm more excited for the next installment than I could have imagined. This album has rekindled my love of the best band the 90's produced. Sure Collective Soul, Soul Asylum and few others but Green Day has always been the one band from that schizophrenic decade that I adored and still do. UNO! is a not to be missed album and is a candidate for my favorite album of 2012 giving the brilliant Shinedown album a run for its money. Let's Rock! >presses play and starts the album all over again!

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Rival Sons - Head Down

The third album in the Rival Sons catalog is another solid retro infused hard rock record. The songs this time around aren't quite as good as they were on the 2011 release Pressure & Time. The band retains most of the sound that got them noticed last year but have refined it a little too much taking away too much of that magical indie or garage band feel that made them a bit more special than the rest in this throwback genre. The very psychedelic sound of "Wild Animal" is one of the albums standout tracks and along with "All The War" and "Three Fingers" save this album from being a little forgettable to be honest.

The band really sounds like they rushed through the writing process and maybe even the recording process as well because the album just lacks the magic indigence to bring the entire package to life. The jam session titled "Manifest Destiny Part One" and "Manifest Destiny Part Two" the latter being more of a song than part one both are just not up to snuff my friends and unless your stoned and just grooving on the high you won't get much out either of these tracks.

In the end I really like this band, I hope for a better record come album number four. Should you pass on Head Down I think so but if you really want to have the collection complete then sure go ahead it won't be a complete waste of money.

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Dragonette - Body Parts

I'm excited about this album and the prospects of how good it is going to be. The first tracks I've heard from the album are excellent and I'm becoming a huge fan of Electro-Pop music. Robyn's brillant trio of E.P.'s really set up my direction of interest to this genre. I've now become a fan of Dragonette's style and skillful growth making some of my favorite music in the last few years.

The trio has unleashed a high energy intoxicating mix of swirling keyboards and soft sweet vocals with more hooks than a fisherman's tacklebox. The way the group manipulates drum loops to create near perfect dance rhythms on each track is pretty sophisticated stuff that is usually overlooked by most when listening to the genre. Now with that said not every song is a ten spot on the rating scale but that is impossible even with epically great albums like Darkside Of The Moon or LZ IV or MCR's Black Parade. This album comes super close to being an album on that level but misses with the arrogant dance track "My Legs" that isn't bad just a little dull in comparison to much of the music contained here.

When the grooves are at their top level you are rewarded with the stunning and brilliant "Let It Go" or the astute and gracious "Giddy Up" along with "Rocket Ship" that is one of the greatest disco influenced dance floor jams of the last forty years. When you run this through a big sub and some excellent tops this songs astounding power is truly unleashed. The greatest dance song ever in my opinion is "Groove Is In The Heart" followed by "Staying Alive" and this song is easily their equal when it comes to being a great dance song. The album closes with two more fierce Electro-Pop tunes with "Riot" being a cerebral assassin because it just drives into your brain and makes itself at home for the rest of time. When the last track plays by I get a little riot girls Joan Jett feel from it that gets me excited to listen to it all, all over again. All fans of Electro-Pop should be buying the album and making it a number one seller because it deserves that and a whole lot more.

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Smash Mouth - Magic

So Smash Mouth have some how managed to record a new album after a six year hiatus and the first thought I had was why? Let's get this straight right off this album is not great or a return to form. It is aping all the stuff they were successful with but never catch that lightning in the bottle again. The single "Magic" is actually a really good song even though they rip off Avril Lavinge's Complicated for the melody it is still a good song. I can't forgive them for "Justin Beiber" that is just unacceptable bullshit that has no merit. The song isn't good or funny so it has no point and should have never been recorded let along put on the album.

"Flippin' Out" is decent and it is the second song to borrow melody from "Walking On The Sun" along with "Live To Love Another Day". Oh the terrible lyrics of "Future X-Wife" are some of this bands worst and another shameful moment for this band. The song is followed by "Better With Time" a trivial ballad that goes nowhere fast. Smash Mouth then steal the Uncle Kracker sound on "She's Into Me" that isn't a terrible song but not very memorable and won't make them superstars again.

As an ending song their cover of "Don't You (Forget About Me)" is good. I actually like the cover and would recommend it for a listen. Magic is what the band might have been hoping for but they failed to pull a rabbit out of their hats or saw the girl in half and put her back together.

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Suzie McNeil - Dear Love

Since her stint on Rockstar INXS Suzie has had some moderate success but it seems she doesn't get much promotion from her label when new material is released. It's almost like they just put it on the shelves and if it sells or radio picks it up great if not oh well. Dear Love arrived with no fan fare at all and I didn't even know it existed until I saw it online somewhere. Now three albums into her career and she's been pretty decent overall so I have hopes that this album is little more of a turn upward for her because she can sing well and deserves a little attention south of the border as well.

This album does have some OK pop songs on it like "Drama Queen" which is a happy little tune that sounds pretty similar to the current crop of pop chicks. I used to have a huge issue with chick singers because they would never rock it out over the course of an album. Most of their albums were filled with gooey torch songs and barely listenable ballads. Well that's exactly what happened on Dear Love. The album has too many cheesy ballads and awful torch songs. If I wanted to listen to this shit I'd put on the gawd awful Beyonce or Mariah Carey.

Suzie records a cover of the Eurythmics classic "Here Comes The Rain Again" speeding up the track so it is danceable and overall it is good I give it a passing grade but the original is far superior and honestly nobody will ever cover an Eurythmics classic improving the original Annie Lennox and Dave Stewart were something special and original. The Disney kids pop "Tough Love" sounds like it should be on a Victoria Duffield album or Bridgit Mendler album and I like some of the Disney pop stuff but thirty year old woman that are supposed to be rockers should actually try making a rock album. With that said "In Luv Tonite" is a very good Katy Perry styled pop song and I will listen to it many times I'm sure. If this album would have used real musical instruments and less digital processing was done to what real instruments were used I think it would have been better.

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Nelly Furtado - The Spirit Indestructable

Another Nelly Furtado album usually means dance floor anthems a plenty and that is exactly what she supplies on The Spirit Indestructible. Most of the tracks use the same tempo with the same drum beat patterns and so you get a typical modern pop dance album that sounds the same as most of the other chicks in this genre. It's like the producers strip away as much character and originality from the artist so that the dumb kids we have been pushing through our no fail school system won't get confused by the differences and just continue to buy what they are told is good.

Most couldn't tell you if this was J-Lo, Selena Gomez or numerous others because the digital instrumentation with little real instrumentation sounds just like all the professionally written crap from the Disney kids and it seems like all the pop singers are drawing from one or two writers to make sure they have hit records like the pop tart generation of Britney and X-Tina. I mean listen to "Circles" and Nelly's voice is so processed and hidden with effects you can barely tell it is her. Then "Enemy" could be a Kelly Clarkson song as it sounds like something she might record hell it could be Lady GaGa as well who really knows.

In the end this is faceless with nothing but dumb stoned club kids in mind and of course the tweens who don't even understand what good music is yet will probably think it is this generations Led Zeppelin IV or something and that we are just old and don't get it. I unfortunately do get and I know it is a paper thin idea of what pop music is supposed to be. Too much production, too many effects, no originality, boring drum loops rehashed too many times and lack of credibility is what this is. Great for dance floors bad for music lovers.

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Billy Talent - Dead Silence

Considering the last album was disgustingly poor and a major disappointment I had no positive expectations for this album but deep down I really wanted it to be good because I like to see Canadian acts succeed. Dead Silence is largely representative of the band’s earlier work but with a larger focus on the complexity of lyrics and the overall structure of songs. In short, the album is a bit tame compared to their older work but that assessment can be taken two ways. Some fans might like the toned down yet high energy album while others might think that no good Billy Talent song is complete without Kowalewicz’s banshee-like shriek; something that the band decided to do without on this album although the singer doesn’t fail to use his vocals in other ways.

Now this is a total turn around for Billy Talent with the interesting intro track "Lonely Road To Absolution" which made my ears perk up instantly. Lyrically the band have matured noticeably. The themes of the songs are the same, but they’re handled in a more subtle and clever way (lines such as “you’re much better looking when you’re in disguise” are complete lyrical highlights, and they’re in abundance on this album). "Cure for the Enemy "is also a phenomenal track, showing a wonderful emotive side to the band previously unseen as clearly.

It’s also clear (and fantastic) to see that Dead Silence is an album that Billy Talent have taken a lot of care over. Each song sounds as if a lot of thought has gone into it, each bass-line behind each riff sounds like it was carefully placed there deliberately, and subsequently every riff behind every vocal line sounds just as deliberately positioned. And every vocal line… get the picture. A band that puts that much effort into each element, of each instrument, of every one of their songs, is definitely worth a listen.

The scorching and vicious attack of "Runnin' Across The Tracks" just grabbed me at the first note and didn't let me go until it concluded four minutes and nineteen seconds later. This is just one fantastic rock song and easily the one you should listen to if you only choose one on the album. Even though most will say it sounds like Billy Talent and that statement is true this is not a typical Billy Talent album this is an album that has been refined and crafted with love and as much integrity that the band could muster. The effervescent beauty of "Stand Up & Run" displays the most commercial song I've heard from the band for sure and it is absolutely wonderful radio friendly rock. Do yourself another favour and that is make sure that you try to destroy your speakers with volume while listening to "Show Me The Way" and your dancing around the living room like a raving lunatic having a sonic moment of joy that doesn't come around too often.

Dead Silence is the crown jewel in the Billy Talent catalog and it is time to crank this up to eleven and rock the hell out! See Ya!

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Ben Folds Five - The Sound Of The Life Of The Mind

The Sound of the Life of the Mind represents Ben Folds Five's fourth studio album and first set of new music in 13 years. Ben is one of the best talents there is in music right now and he and his band members show just why that is true on their new album. The Sound Of The Life Of The Mind kicks off with a slice of brash infectious pop called "Erase Me" which is one of the best songs Ben's written throughout his more than rock solid career. The very Beatles influenced song has so much great stuff going on with in its grooves that one listen is absolutely not enough to encompass all the stellar things that are playing through your speakers.

From the greatest Rock N' Roll Band Of All-Time the trio move into the California sound of the Beach Boys with next track. The song showcases Ben's excellent voice and his grand illusions that float around in his mind. Another pure stroke of genius is "Michael Praytor, Five Years Later" that is surely to be all the rage in the hipster/indie scene. Anyone who's a fan of the Kinks or Joe Jackson should be in line at the record store to pick this album up on release day.

This is the first Ben Folds Five album that has been this good. They sometimes reach for lofty heights but just miss not so this time, the trio hit their mark on every single track. The Sound Of The Life Of The Mind feels familiar with the Five’s ubiquitous three-part harmonies and Sledge’s fuzz bass, while more in common lyrically with the mature themes of Folds’ solo career: the Elliot Smith-esque waltz “Thank You for Breaking My Heart” may be his best ballad yet, while his penchant for filthy humor shines on “Draw a Crowd” with the chorus, “If you can’t draw a crowd/Draw dicks on the wall.”

In closing this album is polished and gleaming with stunning production and craftsmanship. Every detail is placed perfectly delivering one of my favorite listening experiences of 2012. This is one of those albums that will make my deserted island playlist without a doubt. 

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P!ink - The Truth About Love

P!ink has been a hit making machine and her latest album is around the corner with her second single just released. The albums first single "Blow Me (One Last Kiss)" is a total miss for me. I find it derivative and despite the very familiar sound she's got on the production the song is weak from beginning to end and lacks a decent chorus. I can't find a reason to like the song and no matter how much pop radio is playing it hasn't changed the fact that this song is bland.

The second single "Try" is another boring torch song that I've heard a thousand times before which are mostly misses in my listening taste. P!nk has not blown me away at all with the official material so far and now the album is here for me to listen to which I will because she can't release seventeen awful songs. The first thing I noticed was the missing B-Side of "Blow Me (One Last Kiss)" which is a shame because that song is a winner.

After the opening cut which isn't terrible the two singles and two awful dull ballads we come to "How Come You're Not Here" which is the first song on the album that I actually enjoyed. There is still something missing and I think it is in the production of the album. The song just lacks the bounce and pound that she barely forgets in her songs. The excellent titled "Slut Like You" finally reaches the expected level of effort from her. I like the song and the chorus is fun and bitchy and in your face which is exactly what makes P!nk great.

One of the worst songs I've ever heard from her features Eminem "Here Comes The Weekend" a song that just blows ass chunks. It's like she's trying to sound like Lady GaGa instead of being herself. Eminem's rap is so pedestrian that the in the closet faggot Kanye West could have come up with. It doesn't even sound like he knows what the fuck he's saying or where to go with the mumble bullshit he rambles. If I didn't know better I'd think this was a joke but according to some this is the best song on the album which if you think so then your ears are broken and you're an idiot.

By the time the albums best song finds it way to my speakers I'm pretty much done with this dud. "My Signature Move" is a very good song and to this point the only song worthy of her past glories. A bunch of bonus material is used as filler to over charge for the deluxe version. It is funny that P!nk is crouched like she's about to take a dump on the front cover because that is what this album is a great big turd. I recommend this as a buy only the songs you like and leave the rest of the garbage behind. The Truth About Love is the worst album she's released since her debut of second rate throwaways.

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The Killers - Battle Born

This band has been on a continuous slide since their debut launched them into the stratosphere. The disaster that was their sophomore album couldn't have been any worse if they actually tried. Then the band made a much improved album Day & Age which wasn't as good as the debut but it was much better than the abysmal Sam's Town.

Here is album number four from them and at first it was looking like another devastating disaster because the first three tracks are pretty tepid. But, that all changes come track four and "Here With Me" that is a good song not great but good. One of the albums standout tracks "A Matter Of Time" follows that is about as close to their debut sound that they have been since.

The album continues to be hit and miss making for a very uneven listen. I do really like "Miss Atomic Bomb" that gets a permanent place on my I-Pod. The trouble with this album is that when your listening to it outside of a couple of songs you just want to skip the track to the next one. It's almost like the songs are too long but time isn't the issue its that the songs are mostly meh. The bonus track "Carry Me Home" is one of the best songs to be had and should have been given a slot and removed the banal "Heart Of A Girl" which is bloody awful. The second bonus track again is better than some of the main album tracks. I wonder what else they left off the album because there might be much better music left behind which would be too bad.

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Imagine Dragons - Night Visions

The indie rock or alt. rock Imagine Dragons seemingly out do themselves with their new and improved album including some re-touched tunes from their E.P.. Soon, very soon, they will be known as the other band from Las Vegas and totally not a Killers clone band. This is seriously well crafted music that has a powerful production with big melodies and huge vocals.

The bouncy pop tune "It's Time" is charismatic and inviting upon first listen. The band really does to the entire indie rock genre justice and create something a little better than the rest here. I don't know if they will become household names but I sure hope they do because Night Visions is a very strong album. Cold Play might come to mind when listening to the album but honestly, I think this is better than Cold Play and deserves much more attention.

Night Visions is packed with magnetic hooks and massive drum architectures, making for a well-muscled percussive record of hits-in-waiting. The limitations of character within the forest of the songs reels in the grandiosity of ambition, for a balanced affair through a wild ride of variety.

Track number eleven, “Nothing Left To Say” is a whopping nine minutes long, well, with a little gem entitled “Rocks” hidden at the end.  It’s definitely not a track to miss.  The first part is a song anyone can relate to-that feeling of wanting to fix things with someone but everything is beyond repair.  After six minutes, I didn’t even realize the song had lasted that long because I was just enjoying listening to it.  The first part slowly fades out and we hear about thirty seconds of silence and as soon as you think the song is over-it’s not, and I was totally OK with that.

This full length debut album does not disappoint. Dan Reynolds heart filled powerful vocals are what keep this album fluid. If the intensity and passion that translates to this recording is even half of what they give live they will easily be at the head of game real quick. For all the group's musical mastery, it's the flourishes courtesy of producer Alex Da Kid that make individual tracks stand out: the mandolin hook of It's Time, the jaunty whistle of On Top of the World, the burbling guitar in Demons.

Those creative touches may seem like small details, but it's that imagination that gives these Dragons teeth.

 

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The Last Vegas - Bad Decision

Here is an album I've anticipated after their pretty kick ass debut and the band doesn't disappoint. The production has improved a little and songs are little more polished this time around which is to be expected as growth is nearly impossible when bands have talent. The sleaze rock swagger is ever present from the first track to last which was one of the huge reasons GNR2.0 totally sucked ass. The band actually have similar sounds as one of my obscure favorites Spread Eagle from the early 90's when music still rocked before the grunge bomb went off and reset everything.

One thing that is an issue with Bad Decision is that too often the songs blend together because of pace and structure in the song writing which could be more dynamic and different. Now that could be partly due to being a lower budget record in comparison to say an Aerosmith album or even The Darkness. Some of the cool songs need to be more aggressive and brasher like their debut.

When the kick out the jams hard on "My Way Forever" it is good old air punching goodness to be had by all. It is followed by another groovy rocker called "Leonida" with the old school Sabbath riff that sounds better with volume so add as much as your speakers can handle. Lets be honest the album really kicks into gear by this point with the band saving the best for the second half of the album not saying the first half is bad just not as fresh and fun. On "Devil In You" Chad Cherry channels his inner Steve Whiteman and does a great job on the very Kix like track.

The album ends with a charming power ballad that contains all the LA street sleaze that one power ballad can handle without exploding. The song is one of the best tunes on the album because of how awkward and beautifully imperfect with a very Alice Cooper feel. After one listen to this album you can't help but come back for seconds because even with the sameness of the first few tracks the music is undeniably good.

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Divine Fits - A Thing Called Divine Fits

As I kept passing on this disc I wasn't interested to listen to another hipster band. I then was in HMV and saw it sitting on the counter and I asked what is the Divine Fits like and is it good. The two kids working in the store gushed about it and how great the merging of Spoon and Wolf Parade's Boeckner and Daniel was and how they put the perfect amount of each band's sound into this music.

Well now I had to get around to listening to the album and I have done so three times now. I was impressed after the first listen enough to take in the car to listen to it again and it passed the car test so I gave it a third reading and now I have to admit those Hipster type cool kids at HMV were right. The album is very good, Spoon is present in the sound on the lyrical content and the alt. rock structure but the Wolf Parade's electronic sounds are sprinkled all over the music which does make for a nice mixture of both bands.

I found that this album was better than the last Spoon album and brought to mind the writings of Kraftwerk, Nick Cave, Split Enz, Flock Of Seagulls and Human League. This album is very strong and if you are in for something a little smarter than the average bear I highly recommend this album.

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The Angels - Take It To The Streets

So the return of the Angels without Doc on vocals and the debut of Screaming Jets vocalist Dave Gleeson crooning the lyrics this time around. The true difference in the sound is minimal and I have been a fan of Gleeson's previous band since the 90's so I am not bothered by the change. Many hardcore fans of The Angels might be more tough on the band but not this guy.

 As with my bands that have been around as long as these guys they slow down overall and become more melodic losing much of their piss and vinegar youthfulness and that has happened to the band over the last few years. Sure they can still rock it out but not with reckless abandon. The first two songs are decent mid-tempo rock songs. They are only average at best but "Waiting For The Sun" comes on and I really like it because it sounds like a perfect blending of both bands but still classic Angels in every way.

Another of the more uptempo songs is "No Sleep In Hell" that again hits all the classic structure as to be expected from this classic rock band. The walking blues number "The More You Give" that follows is another of the albums better songs. It's that Aussie pub rock groove that makes the genre cool. The band do a good cover of the monumental Elvis Costello classic "Pump It Up" of course it lacks what made the original such a success but here it is represented in fine form and worth a crank of the volume dial.

The band take on a little doo-wop flavor for the song "There Comes A Time" mostly in spirit but another decent song from the old dogs. The second disc is a live concert that is ok but not worth buying as a deluxe package for extra dollars.

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ZZ Top - La Futura

This band has been over for twenty years now and they continue to rip off their fans that still support them with terrible new album after terrible new album. La Futura was supposed to the be this return to form but it is more a continuation of the shitville records that we've come to expect from the tired trio that once rocked the music world now only rock chairs on their decks.

If you think this is good music then you should just commit suicide doing us all a favor. There isn't a good song to be had on the album and the vocals are awful now. The production shine of previous albums is invisible and that should be a good thing but it wasn't at all. Retire already!

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Los Straitjackets - Jet Set

A great Surf Rock album from Los Straitjackets who have just recently come into my listening realm. The band bring back the sounds of The Ventures, Dick Dale, Duane Eddy, Link Wray, The Shadows and to a lesser degree Johnny & The Hurricanes which is a magnificent thing for fans of instrumental rock from this genre.



The beautiful melody of "Aerostar" or the groovieness of "Wrong Way Inn" are can't miss cool. The bands ability to bring a fresh breeze to my speakers creates a festive mood that makes me wish I could go back to the 50's and party with Anette and Frankie at one of those beach hangouts where everyone is dancing and having the time of their lives. 

If you appreciate good music then this album is for you no matter what your normal listening style. Just put on "Fur Sophia" and pull that hot little number close to you and have a nice snuggle on the beach under the stars and try to capture some of that magic that the melody so successfully sets you up to recieve.

I found this album and band on Rdio as I was checking out some new releases and once again Rdio turned me onto a winner. Los Straitjackets impressed me so much I'm investing time to listen to their back catalog to see just what I've been missing the last 17 years.

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Future Of The Left - The Plot Against Common Sense

Every so often there comes along an album so refreshing that I almost become a hipster because it feels so comfortable to wear those threads. This is one of those albums, it is so odd and outside of the norm that I get the eye rolls from my family members and friends wondering what the hell is going on in my brain when I'm listening to it. FOTL is not one of the bands I'm a huge fan of or actually even speak about usually but their current release of avant-grade alt. indie rock more than spoke to me. 

Lyrically this album is a cut above the rest as Andrew "Andy" Falkous has some excellent skill with words and making statements in aberrant and whimsical ways. This is not music for everyone for sure and most of the music is awkwardly rhythmic to a fault. One listen to the marvelous "City Of Exploded Children" you will understand what I mean. 

The Plot Against Common Sense is 15 tracks of Falkous relentlessly spewing his thoughts, cramming in phrase after anecdote after analogy after hypothetical. It becomes exhausting. If you stop and think about a line like, “Sixteen hours in a luggage rack with these children at my feet,” asking yourself what it means—like a good critical thinker—you’re going to miss the stanza that follows it. Forget listening to The Plot Against Common Sense while multitasking; Falkous requires your brain as well as your ears, and he doesn’t wait up for you.

While clearly borrowing plenty of aesthetics from the band's previous two discs, The Plot Against Common Sense holds its influences all over the place trading a monolithic noise rock onslaught into an impressively diverse presentation. Thus, angular assault of “Sheena is a T-shirt Salesman” and “Camp Cappuccino” is merged with industrialized playfulness of synthesizers-laden “Failed Olympic Bid” and danceable “Cosmo's Ladder.” The quartet also fully embraces their pop sensibilities packing the majority of songs with some truly deranged hooks. Previously mentioned mellowed-out “City Of Exploded Children” revolves around a glorious folk melody and chanting vocals to startling effect, while equally entertaining “Goals In Slow Motion” is a splendidly jaded attempt at an indie rock anthem. Elsewhere, the act's increasingly evident passion for minimalist electronica results in a genuinely disturbing, hissing keys-laden tune in “A Guide To Men.”  

Within music, recognition is due for the auteur--someone with unique perspective whose work ought to supersede the normal conventions of criticism and listenability. While failing to attain incredible wealth or mass appeal, certain individuals are on par with, if not superior to those of mainstream success. Future of the Left’s Andrew Falkous is an ostensible member of this sort of standing, as are his cohorts. This album is an effort that essentially throws everything against the wall, and, although not everything sticks, what falls to the ground is still worth picking through. Previous breakout work had put Future of the Left’s relevancy on the line, but this work simply sustains that relevancy.  

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Dierks Bentley - Country & Cold Cans

Bentley is becoming one of the most consistent country entertainers in Nashville and Country & Cold Cans is another brick laying that foundation. His output has been nothing but quality since his debut and I like this new E.P. a lot because most of the times he actually country and not a pop singer or a CCM singer pretending to be a country performer.

When he sings his voice sounds like he means every word whether it is a heartfelt tune like "Tip On Back" or a party anthem like the title tune. My personal favorite here is "Back Porch" that is immediately memorable. From the album art to the production of the music to the performance of Dierks this worth the price of admission and you should get yourself a copy right away.

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Black Light Burns - The Moment You Realize You're Going To Fall

There is a moment while listening to this album I asked myself why am I still listening to this crap. I hated this about as much as I can hate an album. There is nothing good or worth listening to on The Moment You Realize You're Going To Fall. I don't think Fred was at fault for the shitty Golden Cobra album I think it was Wes and this album goes a long way to proving that idea as fact.

DO NOT LISTEN OR DOWNLOAD OR WASTE GOOD MONEY ON THIS ALBUM!

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Alvin Lee - Still On The Road To Freedom

This morning I recieved a very nice surprise with this unexpected new Alvin Lee album. I've been a fan since discovering him in 1986 with the album Detroit Diesel. I was immediately a fan after the first listen to that brilliant rock & roll masterpiece. I then learned thanks to Marty (Mom's Ex) that he was from a band named Ten Years After of whom I had not discovered on my own. Since 1986 I've paid attention to Mr. Lee and got to see him live that year with Steppenwolf and Roger McGuinn from the Byrds.

As the years have passed he's become a serious favorite and I am always up for new music from the fret master who outclasses that overrated piece of shit Clapton with every album. Fast forward to 2012 and we have some new music and it's a slow burner for sure. I expect him to slow down a little at his age of 67. But the difference between slowing down and just not having it anymore is huge. The man can still play and ring those notes with serious emotion and craftsmanship.

The albums opener and title track is a pretty slick blues number that intro's a dark damaged tone that showcases Lee's psychedelic side. The song sounds like it could have walked out 1968 with ease to present itself in the here and now. One of the standout tracks is "Save My Stuff" a nice little mid-tempo rocker which is followed by the rockabilly jive tune called "I'm A Lucky Man" that begs to be danced to from the second it starts. The album continues forward with another quality tune "Walk On, Walk Tall" which is country folk styled number. Lee sometimes misses with this sort of song because his vocals don't always measure up and with that said the song is good but Alvin's voice does lack the deep baritone of a Johnny Cash or Josh Turner which is what it really needs to make it truly sing.

The awesome "Blues Got Me So Bad" has that traveling sound that shakes your ass no matter where it's planted. Your hips just can't stop swaying and your head from boppin' along to the groove. This is where Alvin Lee shines most in my opinion and this song at 2:11 is far to short. When the country sounding "Nice & Easy" graces my speakers I actually reached for the volume dial without thought to crank it up. Just a good song that reminds me a little of Mark Knopfler and his hipness. The Bo Diddly beat drives "Back In '69" which is another good song on an album that is really a solid album with very little in the way of flaws. Coming in with a great song to close the album "Love Like A Man 2" is about the closest you get to that Ten Years After sound. I just love Lee's guitar tone on this track specifically the rhythm guitar because that distortion effect is so smooth yet effective.

Alvin Lee still delivers the goods decades into his career and this album is another in a long line of material that any musician would be proud to have created.

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Faber Drive - Lost In Paradise

Faber Drive are a band that is still looking to find that magic hit formula so they continue to sound like whatever is currently popular or was at the time they were recording their latest material. The band has had a couple of decent songs and they do it again this time as well. The Bruno Mars, Daniel Powter, Jason Mraz style is aped for "Candy Sore" which will most likely be a smash hit. But again not original or their own style because they just don't have or can't discover anything original within them.

The band have the tween pop kid friendly "Dead On The Dancefloor" that just makes my stomach hurt because it's so contrived and devoid of real creativity. I'm sure it will get lots of play on Radio Disney as its exactly what they love on that station. Now don't get me wrong I like a lot of this sort of pop bubblegum music but this stuff here is just so faceless and hollow. The song "Too Little, Too Late" which is a good song just doesn't have the conviction it would have if it was sung by Hedley or Boys Like Girls or even Sugar Ray.

The made for 10 year old girls "Don't Stop" is another one of those songs that is almost good but misses substance and believability. Another huge problem on this album is that it over produced beyond excess and all the effects and fake harmonies of one track laid over top of itself with a little knob twist each time to get some separation kills any organic feel this stuff could have had. The album closes with one of the worst pieces of shit that this band has ever recorded. Faber Drive need to stop with all the digital production and compression and actually go make an album with instruments that haven't been run through every single digital effect that the producers have in their Mac's and PC's. Try using an acoustic guitar with a mic instead of plugged into a digital sound processor that is killing the instruments natural sound.

Your daughter will probably like this album so make them happy at your expense I guess because that is who this music was made for. People with taste and working ears just won't connect with this stuff.

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Frank Hannon - Six String Soldiers

The former Tesla guitarist returns with another solo album and my friends this one is winner beginning to end. Frank has done what anyone who's a fan of Tesla and him solo would have expected and that is create a monster of an album.

The title track is just a ripping hard rock song that boogies all the way to the moon and back. It's so nice to hear real musicians playing music that hasn't been airbrushed to death with digital effects and processors stripping it of its natural beauty. The Dave Meniketti duet "Lipstick, Smoke & Gasoline" is a crushing groover that makes me wish these two would make an entire album together because it would be freaking awesome.

One of the albums best songs is the ballad "Touch The Ground" that features the legendary Dickey Betts. The only thing that is missing on this track is the soulful voice of Jeff Keith who would have made this superior song even better. Another one of those incredible songs that just standout so far is "Love, Life & Beauty" which reminds me of what makes rock n' roll the greatest music in the world. This song is a total stroke of genius and one of the best songs of 2012 and I say that without malice.

The groovy rocker "To The Light" featuring Rick Derringer is a fun little number that makes this lazy Saturday afternoon and my rum and coke zero just a little bit better. Overall this album is a complete success and it does so with soul. I wish for this to be the sort of sound that the next Tesla album takes on because this album is so wonderful I'd love to hear another chapter from Frank but with Jeff Keith telling the stories. Six String Soldiers is a five star album that everyone who likes rock music needs to own.

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