Well, its now summertime, maybe not officially but the weather is telling us differently. After a cool-ish spring, the warmer temperatures are keeping us hot so we need music to keep us cool. Just be forewarned, most of this I wrote while sick, in a prescription drug haze, after being awake for 32 hours straight. I had the need to talk but since it was 4 in the morning there was no one to talk to so I took out my chattiness and wandering mind on my playlist. Enjoy my upfront and honest rambling that's to come because you never know, this may never ever happen again! See if you can figure out where that day ended and I started up a new one with a fresh take and perspective. it's not that hard. and makes this a fun game for everyone to play. Hooray!
1. Bowes and Morley - Mo's BBQ
I heard this last year and was like "yep, this is gonna be a recurring summer favorite", so as soon as the weather turned from the nice chilly 40s to the painfully sweaty 80s seemingly overnight, after I got over the system shock of it all, threw this one on the barby and it's been smooth sailing ever since. The laid back vibes are awesome. hmm not much else to say. Read my review to get all my feelings from back then, they hold steady now over a year later.
2. Rainbow - ST
This disc has been in an almost constant state of circulation since I first received it as a Christmas present back in.like.1994 or something. Somewhere around there. Actually, the first time I heard this, I hated it. I was like "WTF is this crap!?" Seriously. I just didn't know how to react to it. My prior Rainbow experience was all Joe Lynn Turner oriented, "Straight Between the Eyes" and "Bent Out of Shape". This is another beast entirely. This is actually in a whole different ballpark than even the other Dio era stuff or God help us - the Graham Bonnet release, "Down to Earth". It was excellent too but just imagine someone that had been spoonfed an almost constant stream of JLT Rainbow, alternating with Winger and Bon Jovi for months and then getting this. It's like a shock to the system. But one song kinda stiuck in the head a little bit. Just one song, and it drove me crazy. I couldn't figure out what it was then finally in desperation I popped this disc in and there it was, "Snake Charmer"! What you don't care? Then why are you reading this?
3. Y&T - Contagious
It was a spring day. I was doing dishes. This song, "Rhythm of Not" was resonating through the entire house and the bass was thumping across the street, down the block and over nearly to the next town. I thought my Pioneer rack system stereo was the hot shit and blasted it at ear shattering levels. When no one was around, this thing would be cranked so high and with something groovy as hell like.. Well, this entire album! Blasting through the speakers. This and Manowar. I'm surprised to this day that no one ever called the cops for noise pollution. But then again, rock n roll ain't noise pollution. AC/DC taught me that.
4. Lake of Tears - A Crimson Cosmos
Hmm so this album is kinda for the drug addled mind. I still get pissed off when I think about reviews that accused "Raistlin and the Rose" as being more drug induced nonsense when it's actually pinpointing a pivotal portion of the Dragonlance story from the Twins Trilogy. How many geeks know that? I bet Blind Guardian does, since they dedicated a song to the dark half of the Majere Twins on their last full length disc. Sure, I can defend that one but what about "Cosmic Weed"? Nah, but I wouldn't try anyway. It is what it is, and that's damn catchy. This has been on my playlist now for eight years almost and honestly don't see it disappearing from there anytime soon. I get addicted to one particular track and then it just all keeps coming back to me. Right now it's "The Four Strings of Mourning" that's doing the trick but it could be anything in the future.
5. Warrant - DRFSR
If you knew how many times I have heard the song "In the Sticks" or "32 Pennies" you would throw up. No really, you would. You would puke all over your keyboard and then some. It would be raining vomitty chunks. Fun for all! Seriously, I haven't heard this disc in its entirety in ages but I'll pick out one or two songs and just kill em to death. This seems to be a habit of mine. I don't even have to hear "32" or "Sticks" anymore, I can que them up in my head and play them from start to finish, sing every note on the dot and then some. This album has been with me since it's release so it's a very comforting favorite for me. It's the equivelant of comfort food that's always being tauted on tv. Supposedly, that's food from your childhood, fattening, filling crap that fills you with a homey warmth, like mom used to make. Pot pie and meatloaf. That's what DRFSR is. Pot pie and meatloaf. Yeah.
6. Gotthard - Lipservice
Personelle changes can't keep these guys down. This is far better than "Human Zoo" but not quite reaching the adoring hysterics of "Dial Hard" or "G", which have pretty much achieved hard rock "classic" status by now.
7. Edge of Forever - Let the Demon Rock N Roll
Dude, I just can't let this album go. I' know I'm supposed to be listening to other things but it's so hard to pull away from "One Last Surrender". This thing keeps beckoning me back like an awesome trick in the night. You get it once, and after that you just keep craving that experience again and again. The chorus is what does it, I swear, it's so addictive, you just can't wrestle this from the brain. It plays even when I'm not listening to it and I break out into a sweat, just needing that "Surrender" fix. It's so awesome, like Malmsteen morphed with Rainbow and lots of AOR painted over the top. Yummy.. Delish! Ah a bit of trivia, on my laptop, sometimes when Bob tries for that note on the word "touch" it just makes my speakers freak the hell out and they shiver and shake like an earthquake, trembling underneath the power of Edge. Oh yeah.
8. The Black Mages - The Black Mages
You are probably wondering what the hell this is and for good reason. Hokay, this is music from the insanely popular Final Fantasy games rearranged and performed by Japanese heavy metal musicians with an orchestra thrown in for good measure. The classical wonderment of these songs have been highly treasured as masterpieces in the video game world, and given a fresh metallic take, with blistering guitars and thunderous rhythm sections, it makes these songs some of the most innovative and sweetly done instrumentals I have heard in ages.
9. Brazen Abbot - My Resurrection
Mmmmmm tasty. Some of these songs are absolutely killah, like "Rage of Angels" and the sticky sweet "Dreams". Can't get enuff, I'm still hungry, for these songs. Some get the skip hit but for the most part, this album is still getting hot play and likely will remain on the list for some time. Huzzah! Just cos I love Mr. Edman, Mr. Turner and Mr. Harnell so very much and they are all here to make my desires reality. Oh yes! Mmmmmm. seriously, I have listened to "Dreams" probably about 50 times now if not more. It runs through my head almost every moment of the day, when I'm in the shower, when I'm trying to sleep, Joe Lynn is still crooning about that love that only can be found in his dreams. The only other tune that is torturing me so is on the following album...
10. Masterplan - Aeuronautics
And it's "Back For My Life", but really this makes a return to my playlist because I love Jorn. because this album is "the Awesome", what more reason do I need to listen to this? This is a slow grower, I don't necessarily agree with some of the lower scores I've seen for this puppy on the net. A solid 8.5/10 for me if I were to review it, because even the songs that are supposed to be skull crushers manage to throw in enough progressive elements to keep you in breathless anticipation for the next song. The latter half of the disc is where it's at, everything after "Headbanger's Ballroom", which is a cool rocker but is just a tease for the complexity and brevity of emotion that is to come. Getting heavy play right now is "Back For My Life" which seems to be in constant replay here. Watch out, cos if you give this album a chance, it will steal your heart and Lande's voice will hypnotize your soul. So yes, I'm still listening to it. Just try prying it out of my CD player. I dare ya!
11. Harem Scarem - Overload
A little disappointed so far, it is not "Mood Swings 2" or even "Weight of the World 2" but look for a review sooner than later.it's coming!
12. Demons and Wizards - Touched by the Crimson King
I am still not "getting" this disc. For some reason it seems these guys have taken a severe turn for the worse after the debut, which had its complexities. This one is more bare bones and Hansi is just put out there on the line too much without enough musical backing. still trying to give it a chance though but it's not standing up to other material I've tasted this year.
13. Dream Theater - Octavarium
This one I just picked up and have not really had the time to delve into it due to my Masterplan obsession and trying to tackle other material for reviewing purposes. When I have a few moments to myself its not prog metal that comes to mind lately but rather Masterplan or Kamelot or my other guilty pleasure, Brazen Abbot lately. time will tell.
14. Megadeth - Youthanasia
"Here Comes the Reckoning...day...day.." Yep, there's no denying this is classic Megadeth. I absolutely adore Dave Mustaine, he has such a rich personality and it comes through in his music, all bristling with rage or just general unrest. The first three songs off of this are my favorites and keep getting their time to shine in the spotlight. It's a shame the band split apart like they did, since this and "Cryptic Writings" are my two favs by the band (blasphemy I know!)
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