So here is what has been playing lately... looking over the list, it certainly is a strange variety but still a good one. Alot of genres are crossed here but its still all rock n roll baby!

Saigon Kick - Water
I haven't had this cd in my possession for several years but its so refreshing to have it back. Nothing else is quite like it, and I love the simple heart felt allure of "I Love You" with such lyric bits as "I might not have the grace of Fred Astaire..." Very true, but who would think you would hear something like that in a rock release? A very unusual album... but it has appeal.

Michael Schenker - Tales of Rock N Roll 25th Anniversary Celebration
Whew, that is some title. A disc riddled with issues, but I like hearing a tune here and there to immerse myself in Michael's playing. Not only that, but the Robin McAuley track is worth digging it out alone. Great stuff on that one.

Luca Turilli's Dreamquest - Lost Horizons
Absolutely brilliant. Turilli hasn't lost his touch, he has just altered the way he executes it a bit. Think that "The Infinite Wonders of Creation" was a dastardly disappointment? Shelve it, and pick this up. One of the brightest, boldest and strongest female voices you will ever hear but never know the name of. Let the mystery be over already! Dreamquest brings Nightwish to its knees. All hail our new femme based overlords.

Avantasia - The Metal Opera
Its Tobi. And that's a main attraction right there. I haven't heard it in awhile and you know what? Still sounds superb. The bold, bombastic approach to the music that just blows everything out of porportion with crazy glee, works so well here. In someone else's hands it could have been a tragedy but not here. This is power metal at some of its finest, despite the adorably cheesy storyline. Its like a bad fantasy novel, and that's actually a good thing.

House of Lords - World Upside Down
Still playing this thing regularly. Its always hard to put down really superb melodic rock albums and this one definitely fits the bill for such a description. Give it a whirl and find yourself sucked into it too.

Street Talk - V
Ahhh this is like applying a relaxing tonic to the soul. You just kick back and let the waves of Westcoasty goodness drive you to places you have never been or imagined. Its like a gentle dream of music that never gets stale or boring. It just relaxes you. And Edman sounds as if he's an angel from the cusp of heaven.

Doro - Warrior Soul
Turilli's girl might have the perfect golden operatic voice, but there's always something appealing about the gruffer metal howler of Miss Doro. She has rasp but turns out a nice vocal that fits her style so nicely. This is the best thing she has done in several years. Just take a peek at the rolling smooth acoustic based soothing semi balladic rock of "Angels in the Dark". You will be hooked...

Elegy - Lost
Always had a thing for Eduard Hovinga. His voice, along with the unusual progressive flavor of Elegy was a favorite of mine. They lost him, picked up the generic Ian Parry (who does much better solo) and just lost their way. That high pitched, feverishly unique, hyper progressive sound was cruelly ditched in favor of a murky grinding mess. This along with "Labyrinth of Dreams" are must haves for any prog fan. Classics even. And "Under Gods Naked Eye"? One of the best ballads... ever. This one made me cry for years everytime I heard it, its that emotional.

Written by Alanna
Saturday, July 15, 2006