I almost skipped the playlist this month. There have been so many horrific cds that I have tortured myself with that it seemed almost pointless to do a playlist. But in the past few days I've kind of thrown them on a shelf for later perusal while I get myself stoked for the upcoming July 4th holiday here in the USA. If anyone is confused over what a big deal the day is - don't be. It's just an excuse to take a day off, do some outdoor barbeque followed by a dip in the pool (or vice versa) and get together with family, or go to the beach (if one is nearby). The night is topped off with fireworks because it's just nice to blow up some colourful gunpowder and see the patterns in the sky, with a woosh-kaboom of course. So because of that there are some playlist selections that are quite seasonal wrapped up in here....
Emir Hot - Sevdah Metal
Alright, so my review received some criticism and I went back and listened to this. As if the first handful of times wasn't enough to make me realize I never wanted to hear this again. Yes, Emir is a fine guitarist, his licks and solos are dazzling divine, HOWEVER, the songs are simply thinly veiled excuses for him to rip it up. They are not original in any form or fashion and thus it just falls flat. Then again, I didn't particular enjoy Yngwie's "Alchemy", "War to End All Wars" or "Attack" either, when in the past he was one of my favorite musicians in general ("Magnum Opus", "The Seventh Sign", "Fire and Ice", "Odyssey" - all great albums). So there you have it. Emir Hot needs some good material and then he can shred away blissfully and we'll all be happy.
Forever Slave - Tales For Bad Girls
Yeah, someone thought I needed to recheck this too. I did. It still sucks horribly in every way imaginable. Try The LoveCrave instead.
Marcello/Vestry - S/T
This is a fantastic slice of summer, brand new for the 2008 season although it sounds straight out of 1991. Rob Marcello's tasty guitars blend perfectly with Frank Vestry's vocals which seem to blend a bit of Doogie White and Paul Laine in the mix. Mostly smooth with just a touch of rasp for personality. The songs are luscious musical confections, from the mellow to bubbly "Fireworks", the Y&T/Danger Danger summertime breeze of "All I Wanna Do" to the addictive stadium anthem ballad "Gone". I just put this on repeat for a few hours and enjoyed every moment of it. Quality stuff for fans of Steelhouse Lane (especially "Metallic Blue"), Danger Danger, Y&T and other deceptively wonderful 80s bands with just the slightest splash of keyboard and class.
Brother Firetribe - Heart Full of Fire
OH YES they are BACK! Another album of huge 80s sounding anthems, this time with a European twist. Pekka is a golden haired vocal god of the 80s style and the music just falls in suit right behind him. Fantastic stuff, but the jury's still out on whether this is as good as their first release. It's close, that's for sure.
Gotthard - Domino Effect
This was the soundtrack for my summer of 07 and it has made a ferocious return for another go-round. A great album chock full of superb rock songs. A very tawt collection of tunes... definitely worth a revisit.
Bowes & Morley - Mo's BBQ
Yep, the Thunder guys little sideproject is another of my summer staples and has been since it came out. There's enough heartache to go here for a dozen people, and the laid back, bluesy feel makes the summer heat easier to bear...
Y&T - Contagious
Girls, girls and more girls. Maybe not "Summertime Girls" but this is my favorite Y&T disc all around. The catchy bounce of "Rhythm or Not" and the slick "Armed and Dangerous" are enough for any sweaty hot night with the top rolled down and the wind in your hair... yeah? "The Kid Goes Crazy" is the only crap moment to be found really.
Def Leppard - Songs From the Sparkle Lounge
Ah the debate rages on! But you know what? it is a decent album, and has some fun songs on it. Sure, Def Lep can and has done better, but it's heads and tails above many releases by a zillion other bands.. so don't sweat it too much. It isn't a masterpiece but the first three songs make a strong trio.
Motley Crue - Saints of Los Angeles
My misspent youth was largely misspend listening to Motley Crue and tacking their posters all over the walls of my bedroom. I thought Vince Neil was a demigod, "Without You" one of the coolest videos in history, and that by listening to Motley Crue, perhaps just a little shred of me would be just as "badass". Of course all that illusion came crashing down with the steaming piles of crap they called followups to the last late great Crue album, "Dr Feelgood". Here the band has retroacted themselves back to the 80s and taken on a modern-ish punk sound that is seething with slutty attitude. Seriously, this album's orgy of songs just oozes raunchy, illegal substance addicted nastiness of the highest degree. I feel like taking a shower in holy water after just a few listens to their smugly sleazy songs. Neil is in fine form, the guitars are razor sharp straight out of the gutter, and their tales of coke sniffing, girl swapping and a self conscious spiral into the hell pit of obscentities and the seven deadly sins all celebrated is gruesomely fascinating. This album is the equivalent of a few hours of Jerry Springer Uncensored... just check out the gritty punk-atude on "M--F of the Year", the self slanted "White Trash Circus" or the power house title track - which is the true reason to pick the album up. Everything else may be voyeuristically entertaining, but that title track just cranks it like a real followup to "Dr Feelgood". Too bad the rest of the album can't manage to match that sizzle, catchfire energy.
Asia - Phoenix
It's farking $7.99 at Amazon.com. Just GO BUY THE DAMN THING ALREADY. Sheesh. If you liked any of Asia's first albums, then this is a yes yes must have purchase.
Y&T - Ten
More Y&T? Well it's not SUMMER without Y&T! Here we pinpoint "Don't Be Afraid of the Dark", "Come in From the Rain" and the smooth sing-a-long roller of "Ten Lovers".
Great White - Psycho City
I spent many a day wallowing in absolute sorrow because of this disc. Now it's just an afterglow of sweet sorrow that makes those summer sunsets just a tad more bittersweet. Let's see, the blues laced hard rock swing of "Old Rose Motel", the heart squishing blues bled ballad "Maybe Someday" and the equally torn asunder "Love Is A Lie" are absolutely devastating. Your life will absolutely seem brighter in retrospect after this sad bunch of soul crushing songs.
Warrant - Dirty Rotten Filthy Stinkin Rich
Yep yep, we'll end this with some Warrant. Nothing they did afterward came even CLOSE to touching this. It's a great bridge between hair and sleaze, and a surprisingly amount of cushy white puff fluff as well ("Heaven" was highly criticized but IT IS a very sweet song). "In the Sticks" is genius (of a sorts, especially to a wide eyed innocence of a country girl with big dreams of being a rock star's playtoy - haha!), as is "32 Pennies" (in a Ragu jar of all things)... the songwriting was just a touch clever. Just enough, and it was. I've loved this thing since I was a babe and still do. Jani Lane could SING and the guitars were blistering! The songs catchy but rough enough to not sound like overpolished glam shiat... *sigh* I wonder if the cattails still grow real high... and love enough for...
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