Kelly Clarkson - Stronger

Kelly has too much to live up to with her last record being such a pleasure to listen to as it was for so many. Her new album's title Stronger is a little telling because almost always a female vocalists album that takes on a similar title are full of weak pop ballads and overwrought torch songs. This also is a common trait for many female singers in general that are the same level as Kelly Clarkson has worked up to. The album's first single is also the one that kicks off the album which I find pretty average as it comes and goes.

The album is as I suspected full of dull overblown almost over sung pop ballads of gooey bullshit. She has obviously found a few too many yes men to surround herself with while recording this album. The album does have some really good songs like "What Doesn't Kill You (Stronger)" that is a trademark mid-paced dance pop tune of Ms. Clarkson. The slide begins with "Dark Side" that is boring until the chorus but that isn't all that strong. It continues through the next track "Honestly" which is more drivel and Kelly can do better which she's proved many times before. The quality in the writing improves greatly with "You Love Me" that again is more akin to her pedigree.

After two more pathetic attempts at song writing pass she gives us "I Forgive You" that redeems her one more time. Still a good tune but on the weak side follows called "Hello" followed by two more that should have been left off the album cuts filler material for sure which is pretty much how most of the album plays two bad one decent or good repeat pattern. The album includes that absolutely overrated piece of shit ballad "Don't You Wanna Stay" which I don't understand why it was a hit because his voice is awful and the song is boring as hell. The additional tracks includes "Alone" which is a solid number and should be on the regular release not the expanded or the deluxe version as its nearly better than all the other tracks on the album. "Don't Be A Girl About It" is also another of the bonus tracks that eclipse much of the other stuff on the album.

This isn't a terrible record it just has a lot of filler material which is unnecessary considering how many pro song writers are out there today. She could have found much better material to record than what has appeared on Stronger. Also to get the better songs you will have to shell out extra cash for the deluxe version because that's where her better songs are located.

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Retro Rewind Track: Damn Yankees - Coming Of Age

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Styx - Regeneration

The current line-up of Styx has re-recorded some of their best material which is cool with me as I love when bands do this because sometimes you get a real gem. I have to say that this album is a complete surprise to me as they sound bloody brilliant on nearly every song that's included on the two discs. It's almost like getting a live Styx concert minus the vocal mistakes that happen in a live show. When the Grand Illusion starts you'd be hard pressed to tell the difference until the uber fans hear the slight differences in Gowan's vocals. Don't get me wrong he's damn close but he's got a fuller voice than Dennis has/had and that slight difference can be heard when you are as familiar with their material as I am being one of those uber fans of Styx.

I was a little surprised the Larry didn't have lead vocals on "Lorelei" almost disappointed to be honest. I guess Ricky Phillips is singing it because I don't believe J.Y. can sing that well. But alas it is J.Y. and he's not terrible but it is lesser than the original in every way. With that said Gowan's singing of "Come Sail Away" is a good cover of a great song that can never be done better by any other artist. Dennis's vocal on this track perfect beginning to end and the musicality the band surrounded that absolutely perfect vocal with can't be touch no matter how anyone may try. The original is the best version and will forever be the best version.

The second disc continues with the remakes and includes a couple of Damn Yankee covers as well. We all know Tommy was a Damn Yankee along with one of my favorite musicians/song writers Jack Blades and the overrated Ted Nugent on guitar. The band do a great version of "Blue Collar Man" that rivals the original but still lacks the spirit of that first recording. Tommy does himself no favors singing "Renegade" in a different key much lower than what we have been hearing for over 30 years. The bands new version is almost terrible once it kicks in and they sound so devoid of emotion and lack of fire as they run through their cover version of their own song.

Then "Too Much Time On My Hands" is played differently and Tommy sounds old not to mention like a parody of himself trying to sing a tribute to his own band and song. It's like a cover band at the bar who's singer almost sounds like Tommy and when your drunk singing along he's a dead ringer for Tommy Shaw. Now to the Damn Yankees covers, well first things "Coming Of Age" was sung by Jack Blades - JACK FREAKING BLADES! Whomever is attempting to do it here hasn't got a fucking hope in hell of matching the AOR genius. The version is an ok cover but I'd never listen to this when I can hear the real thing there is no reason to listen to some assclown trying to be one of the greatest AOR vocalists on planet earth. Then we get "High Enough" which actually isn't awful it's a pretty good version from Tommy. It's shows the flaws in his aged voice because he doesn't have that Blades harmony to cover them up. Overall I'd say this is a pass just go buy Greatest Hits from 1992 and be happy or really do yourself a favour and buy Equinox, Crystal Ball, The Grand Illusion & Cornerstone to enjoy the brilliance of this most glorious band.

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Mastodon - Hunter

With heavy music floodgates roaring we have another album to enjoy. Mastadon return with Hunter and they don't sell-out to make a dollar here either. The band continue to be just as furiously wonderful as on previous albums but they are a little more polished this time around. I believe that's more so because of experience than attempts of making a commercial impact.

The bands Black Sabbath influence is highly visible all the way though the album that balances their stoner rock elements nicely not allowing them to fall to far into the blatant jamming that often results in stoner rock.  I really like that they embrace some of the psychedelic on their album like the excellent "Octopus Has No Friends" which could be from a very different time. I really did find much to enjoy on this album like "Dry Bone Valley", "Creature Lives" which was most definitely influenced by the Beach Boys pet sounds era or a little later into the 70's. The vicious "Spectrelight" is another pretty raging heavy tune that just begs to be played as loud as you can possibly handle. On the closing song I hear a very Pink Floyd sound the Roger Waters darkness from the wall era and another of the songs I really enjoyed. A good album with its flaws but still worth a listen for sure.

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Scotty McCreery - Clear As Day

The American Idol winners album release is here and it's well, what one would expect from the Idol machine. Albeit the album doesn't 100% suck but c'mon this is completely pedestrian, professionally written modern country. When Scotty sings the songs I'm not convinced he even likes most of them. The cover version of "Walk In The Country" originally done by The Ranch who was Keith Urban's band is decent but it pales in comparison because the guitar and banjo aren't present enough and Scotty's voice is too um gurplely if that makes sense kinda almost muppet-ish.

The over reaching production has taken any personality out of his vocals for sure and that was his best asset on the show. The first song on the album that I really like and want to listen to a second or third time even is "Write My Number On Your Hand" as it sounds like it could have been a hit from Neal McCoy or Kenny Chesney dare I say George Strait even. It has that sort of feel and I'm not going to lie I really like this song so hopefully it will be a single quickly so the kid has a tiny chance to get on the radio. He does have another winner on here called "You Make That Look Good" which should be another single for him but I tell ya if Trace Adkins or Blake Shelton was singing it the song would already be number one and sold a truck load of singles. Here is the trouble with the album overall; too many freaking ballads and bad, weak run-of-the-mill heard it all before done better garbage ballads too.

This kid was handed some really lame material to sing and if I was in his camp I would have refused at minimum six of the twelve tracks here. Scotty has some talent and he deserves a much better set of songs to sing than piss poor wanna be pop ballads with a twang installed for country status. The alternate Idol single "Out Of Summertime" is a far better song than that awkward sounding "I Love You This Big" kinda proving the American Idol powers didn't want him to be the winner. I will admit he didn't deserve to be crowned the winner over Lauren and anybody with ears and eyes know that but somehow stupid American's got it wrong again for the third straight year. Again this album is pretty cookie cutter fluff that lacks spirit and emotion from Scotty who obviously doesn't like a good portion of the junk they forced him to sing. Maybe his next album will be a little better.

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Five Finger Death Punch - American Capitalist

This is a kick ass, face melting, ear bleeding slice of metal happiness. FFDP deliver the goods on American Capitalist in a big way. The title track which opens the album with the lyrics 'I'm a red blooded Rough neck, Son of a bitch, I'm a goddamned American capitalist" that are instantly engrained into your brain and tells you with authority what this album has in-store for you the listener.  Another excellent metal record release in the second half of 2011 continuing the current streak which is awesome for us fans heavy metal. The band's first single "Under & Over It" is a crushing elephant stampede with a lyrical kick in the face that just puts a huge smile on my face. As the album blazes across it's eleven tracks some of the music is a little off the pace of greatness the first two songs for sure. The bands attempt at a crossover type tune "Coming Down" is actually a really good tune and doesn't sound like a selling of their soul at all. See this band has the ability to be themselves even when trying to grow or be dynamic. That is not easy for a lot nu-metal acts but FFDP do it easily and honestly as its just another part of their own sound so it transitions smoothly. I have to admit I do not care for the very weak "I'll Fall" it is just a bad song but the closing song "100 Ways To Hate" makes up for it ten times over. If you like nu-metal or power metal than this album is a wicked choice. The album art is also brilliant as you can see in the picture here. Listen to the playlist and enjoy the metal, HORNS UP!

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Hollowick - Beautiful People

Upon first listen to this band I had no expectations of who or what they were which turned out a good thing considering most bands never live up to the anticipation or hype. As aggressive musically as Hollowick are lyrically, they tread the line neatly between the Alt. Rock/pop punk of the likes of Green Day and Foo Fighters, and the vintage arena rock of guitar driven bands from the '70's and ‘80’s, but with a style and sound that’s all their own. The albums opening cut is an aggressive rocker that has a solid chorus and excellent groove from note one "Just Another Day" delivers in spades. The album progresses along quite nicely weaving some straight ahead hard rock into pop rock tunes almost hitting power pop status. The first three songs are the best the band have to offer and don't return to quite as solid ground until you're far into the record where the power ballad "There Goes Another One" presents itself. Another really good tune called "Gimme Gimme" closes the album on the full song front which is again stands high a-top the middle of the albums more filler material. Overall this album is uneven but it plays good enough on a full listen and when the band hit they do so hard and heavy.

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