APRIL WINE - Roughly Speaking (Universal Records, Canada)
Shock horror ! No Pro Tools used in the making of this record!
A six song, twenty five minute lesson on how to make exciting, enduring, melodic rock.

PRISM - Small Change / Beat Street Reissue (ATM Records, Germany)
Henry Small has one of the best voices in the melodic rock /AOR genre. Add some song writing collaborations from Bryan Adams& Jim Vallance, Richie Zito and Bruce Turgon, and you have one of the better reissue decisions of the last few years. Review to follow soon.

GODDESS SHIVA - S/T (Metal Heaven Records)
No, there's nothing new under the sun, but some bands can find new ways of making old clichés interesting and enjoyable. Essentially a seventies hard rock homage, Mat Sinner and Armin Sabol have turned a tribute into something very special. Great little album.

STYX - One With Everything DVD (Eagle Entertainment)
To some, matching Styx to the Chicago Youth Orchestra might just seem like one of those slick marketing ploys designed to generate new interest in the band.
But let me tell you, this works an absolute treat, and breathes new life into old songs, with several rising like Lazarus. Full review soon.

ALESSI - Just Like That (Pink Records)
Outstanding new recording from the Alessi Brothers. Just when we suspected they'd be cruising into retirement, they come up with some of the best material of their considerable career.

Written by Brian
Saturday, February 24, 2007