2009 |
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S.E.X. DEPARTMENT
S/T
Perris Records 2009
"If Ratt and Cinderella had a bastard child, it would probably
sound something like S.E.X. Department. Sadly, their offspring has
zero talent. S.E.X. Department is a throwback to eighties glam, but
just doesn't deliver the goods. Vocalist Kelly "Trash" Mendess is
just plain horrible. The sound my cat makes when she's in heat sounds
better. The entire album is made of up tired rock cliches. There are
three songs devoted to "rock." I would love to see the quality of
women that fall for Mendess' flirtatious material.
You'd almost swear
that the lyrics were written by a 13 year old who's experiencing
raging hormones, but knows absolutely nothing about how to win over
the opposite
sex. And you would think with a name like S.E.X. Department
there would be more sexually-charged material. Unless you consider
Listen to me cowgirl / I want you / Baby I'm your cowboy / and
you want me to to be sexy." Official
Site
--George Dionne
 out
of 5
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FUN MACHINE
Sonnenhuhn
BNS Sessions 2009
"With one cut made up of machine noises with no musical instruments
or melody and the second cut consisting of a robotic sort of instrumental
feedback mixed with a heavy dollop of Krautrock, I deemed this CD pretty
much unlistenable but forged inward anyway. The third cut begins with
a semblance of guitar work and springtly drumming and keyboards, slightly
resenbling a pop song. Other songs feature near insurmountable prog
sounds with pretentious lyrics and unnecessarily obtuse melodies.
In
other words, I just don't "get" what this band is doing.
Why they waited until the third cut of an eight-song CD to make a musical
impression is beyond me and will no doubt cause the band to be ignored
by most as the music dollar is too tight today to be used on some sort
of gimmicky record that doesn't hit the high spots fast enough. Now
is not the time for heady concepts. This CD is a perfect argument for
those who feel record labels are offering consumers substandard music."
Official
Site
--Scott Homewood
out
of 5
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CAIN'S DYNASTY
Legacy of Blood
Melodica Records
2008
"Your typical speed metal here, not my favorite type of music
but I can at least tell when it is played well. The vocals are easily
heard and understood, the drummer is doing the usual double-time thing
and the guitarist shreds as if there is no tomorrow. There is a little
prog-type sound here, due to the guitar sound and the vocals being
understood without too much effort. Still not my favorite type of thing
to which to listen, but something I wouldn't have any qualms about
recommending to a friend who likes prog or metal.
I can see Cain's
Dynasty succeeding in their realm as a metal band and they seem to
have a professional sound, so that bodes well for them. I can't really
rate this as it is not my thing, but a decent album for the genre
with certainly enough promise for a decent future for the band."
NO
WEBSITE
--Scott Homewood
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JEFF BECK
Performing This Week: Live at Ronnie Scott's
Eagle Vision
2009
"Jeff Beck is one of the greatest guitar players to come out
of the U.K. Beck first hit the scene replacing Eric Clapton in the
Yardbirds, and later forming the Jeff Beck Group with Rod Stewart at
the helm. From there Beck ventured out solo. Live at Ronnie Scott's
showcases Beck's appearance at the famous jazz club. Even Beck admits
himself in an interview that a jazz club is not exactly the place for
him.
Beck shows that not only is he a master of his guitar, but he can
mix it up with the best of any genre. He can play rock, blues, metal,
reggae, and anything in-between. His shows off all of this diversity
with this 22 track set. Beck is joined on stage by several blues contemporaries
to make this performance even better.
Eric Clapton shares the stage for "Little Brown Bird" and "You
Need Love." Joss Stone fills-in for Rod Stewart on the Beck/Stewart
hit
"People Get Ready." Stewart's version was better, but not
quite as soulful as Stone's. Imogen Heap also appears on two tracks; "Blanket" and
"Rollin' and Tumblin." This was the first I've heard of
her, but I'm sure not the last. Picture Amy Whinehouse without the
drugs and drama.
However, the breakout guest performance was Jeff's young Australian
bass player Tal Wilkenfield. She has quite the chops for someone so
young. Great performances and a great DVD.
Official
Site
--George Dionne
out
of 5
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HEAVEN'S BASEMENT
S/T EP
Self-Released 2008
"UK rockers Heaven's Basement are waving the flag for good old
fashioned party-rock on their latest EP. This six track collection
is full of hard rocking energy, gritty cock-sure vocals, and a wall
of guitars. Press play and set on repeat."
Official
Site
--George Dionne
out
of 5
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SAGA
The Human Condition
Inside Out Music
2009
"Saga was a progressive rock footnote in the early eighties with
the success of their debut single and video "On the Loose." Quite
frankly, if it wasn't for the Music Choice network on my cable box,
I would have completely forgotten about them. Not that there is much
to remember. Despite having released more than twenty albums since
their debut, I doubt anyone can recall another song released by the
band.
Maybe I'm being too harsh. Maybe prog-rock fans have followed the
group from the very beginning and never stopped. Why else would they
have a career spanning twenty years? On their latest album THe Human
Condition, the group find themselves with a new singer and a focus
on progressive elements. That's not particularly bad for the genre,
but is is for wider appeal.
There is no song on this album that sticks with me after hearing it,
but I'll tell you this... the lyric 'no one can stop us now, tonight
we're on the loose' enters my thoughts at least once a week." Official
Site
--George Dionne
out
of 5
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HEAVY WATER EXPERIMENTS
S/T
Intrepid Sound
Recordings 2008
"A duo album which functions almost more as an interesting sound
collage as an album proper. Constructed by David Melbye (vocals, guitars,
basses, keyboards) and Roberto Salguero (drums and percussion), this
interesting CD is filled with some decent hard rock, but is definitely
more than that. Melbye's dreamy vocals and fluid guitar work remind
me of a more visceral Pink Floyd mixed with a dab of the current jamband
sound.
Like the guitar work, the drumming is also very fluid and propels
Melbye's adventures in Floydian psyche, giving the songs power and
life. Otherwise, these psyche rockers are so dreamy one might fall
asleep while listening. The juxtaposition of the rest of the music
with the furious heavy metal drums is also very interesting. The
duo also mix it up with some decidedly Eastern-flavored songs heavy
with
Indian percusion and melodies. A very captivating CD."
Official
Site
--Scott Homewood
 out
of 5
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A PACK OF WOLVES
Betrayer
Archlight Records
2009
"Cookie-cutter death metal which sounds exactly the same as every
other bad death metal band I have had the misfortune of hearing. Maybe
there's some sort of nuance about some of these songs which differentiates
it from every other death metal band but I sure don't hear it. Nine
full-length songs of suck.
It's unthrilling lack of melody uncompensates
for it's perfunctory garbled vocals and plethora of mediocrity. I
don't think other death metal bands would even accept this band into
their
genre. The absolute worst death metal band I have ever heard. Weak,
wimpy and soft. For those about to rock, I dispute you" Official
Site
--George Dionne
BLACK HOLE.....
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GODHEAD
At the Edge of the World
Driven Music
Group 2008
"I’m hoping that it is not a case of me getting too old
to rock and roll, but considering I believe the combined deductive
powers of Sherlock Holmes, Charlie Chan and Batman couldn’t fathom
what the hell is going on with this album, I’m on safe ground.
To be honest there are a couple of decent rockers on the disc, but overall this
just sounds like a collection of noise that someone slapped onto a blank CD and
called it marketable. If you consider how much I enjoyed the band’s previous
release, you’ll understand how I can say that the track on this CD “The
Origin of Suffering” sums up what it was like to listen to this even once."
Official
Site
-- Jay Roberts
out
of 5
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YES
Symphonic Live
Eagle Records 2009
"Yes is one of the definitive prog-rock bands, if not the pioneers
of the genre. Each album they did was a lavish, intricate, and sometimes
monumental project. The same can be said when it comes to orchestral
music. So it only makes sense for the two to come together at last.
Symphonic Yes had to be split into two CDs due to the expanded
reworkings of such deep Yes album cuts as "Close to the Edge," "The
Gates of Delirium," and "Ritual." Each track easily comes in at twenty
minutes. There are plenty of other that come in at over ten minutes.
Each a work of art.
For the casual Yes fan (hello), the group revamps some of their mainstream
classics as well ("Long Distance Runaround," "Owner of a Lonely Heart,"
and "Roundabout."). The group sounds amazing for fellows that have
been around for forty years. The added symphony backing only adds to
the group's legendary status for creating prog-rock masterpieces."
Official
Site
--George Dionne
out
of 5
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WETTON*DOWNES
Icon 3
Frontiers 2009
"I'm not quite sure if the Icon projects follow a theme or story
arc, but either way the duo that put Asia on the musical landscape
have returned for a third go-round. And as they say, third time's the
charm. John Wetton is just as melodic and emotionally driven as he
was on past Icon efforts. The songs are just as catchy and relatable
as well.
You get these two in a room and their going to create wonderful melodies. "
Official
Site
--George Dionne
out
of 5
Review: Wetton*Downes - Icon (2005) |
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JEFF SCOTT SOTO
Beautiful Mess
Frontiers Records
2009
"Take everything you know about Jeff Scott Soto and throw it
out the window. Okay, maybe things aren't that extreme, but Soto has
decided to look inside himself for Beautiful Mess. The results are
simply mind-blowing. Who knew that a man known for his powerful and
melodic rock tracks and ballads could be so soulful and deep?
Sure
Jeff has done ballads in the past, but this time the band is unplugged
for the most part and it's just Soto's vocals and his deepest emotions.
His take on Journey's "Send Her My Love" may quite possible be better
than
the
original.
Other tracks that stand out are "Gin & Tonic Sky," "Eye," "Whereever
U Wanna Go," and "Cry Me a River." Soto shows his funky blues
side on "Testify," so it's not all balladry and heartache.
Official
Site
--George Dionne
out
of 5
Review: JSS - Lost in the
Translation (2004)
Review: Soul SirkUS - World
Play (2004)
Interview: Jeff Scott Soto (2005)
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SHOUSE
Alone on the Sun
Self-Released 2009
"He sounds like 80s Steve Vai and he looks like modern day Joe
Satriani (okay, so he sounds a little like Satch too). Southern-bred
guitar instrumentalist Mike Shouse has jam packed his sophomore effort
with catchy, toe-tapping, rock guitar inspiration. What was surprising
and quite possible the best part of the album was the two vocal tracks
(Gene Booth on vox) "Man of Constant Sorrow" and "Don't Remember Me."
Both tracks mix gritty southern rock style with intricate and virtuoso
guitar
mastery
Shouse's
instrumentals are great, but his vocal tracks are that much better."
Official
Site
--George Dionne
out
of 5
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NICKELBACK
Dark Horse
Roadrunner Records 2008
"Dark Horse is another stellar album by Nickelback.
The album once again combines powerful hard rock tracks for the guys
with tender
ballads for the ladies. The only downside is that the group continually
tries to convince you with at least one song ("S.E.X.") on each album
that they are testosterone-filled sex fiends, when we all know you're
just
horny
geeks. "
Official
Site
--George Dionne
out
of 5
Review: Nickelback - Live at Sturgis DVD (2008)
Review: Nickelback
- All the Right Reasons (2005) |
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SEX TAPES
S/T
Tone Riot 2009
"Sex Tapes features Kelly Wheeler from Guns 'n' Roses. I tried
to verify Wheeler's contribution to Guns on their website and at Wikipedia,
but I could not. I can only assume he's part of the touring band. Either
way, Sex
Tapes'
debut
album is a combination of modern industral dark tones, with a hint
of Jane's Addiction added in for flavor. Most of the tracks don't break
mid-tempo, but if you're in one of those dark and dreary moods (who
isn't these days), then let this album set the soundtrack to your life."
Official
Site
--George Dionne
out
of 5
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ROCK CHILD
Ten
Self-Released 2008
"New York underground with a European twist. Sometimes this self-release
suffers from the quality of the recording, but that is actually what
defines the groups sound. If you want to capture the New York underground
in its purest, rawest form, then it should be captured this way. Vocalist
Tat Jane can mix it up between Blondie and Nina Hagen depending on
the mood. Her accent get get in the way, but this is the underground,
anything goes."
Official
Site
--George Dionne
out
of 5
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STARBREAKER
Love's Dying Wish
Blistering/Frontiers
Records 2008
"I really enjoyed vocalist Tony Harnell in TNT and looking forward
to hearing this album I was really hoping to hear a lot of good music.
While there are moments of goodness, I have to say that I was rather
disappointed to find the music on Love’s Dying Wish to be stunningly
mediocre.
There are some good guitar riffs and overall vibes to a couple
of songs but not enough to recommend the disc.
Another disappointment was the fact that I only got to hear 9 of
the songs out of the twelve on the album. The review disc I got had
skips through the last
3 songs on the album." Official
Site
-- Jay Roberts
out
of 5
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VARIOUS ARTISTS
Punisher: War Zone Soundtrack
Lionsgate Records
2008
"As with most soundtracks, you really need to hear the music
in context with the movie to truly appreciate it, but there is still
plenty to love on this heavy metal/hardcore collection. The cornerstone
of the album is a new song by Rob Zombie entitled "War Zone." The track
is a return to form for Zombie and blows away any of the crap that
was on his last solo album.
From there you have metal heavyweights
Slayer, Slipknot, Hatebreed, and Static-X delivering some monstrous
cuts. You also get some up-and-coming acts (Kerli, 7 Days Away, Machines
of Loving Grace, Justice, and Pendulum) who try to match the talents
of their prominent counterparts. All in all, the soundtrack delivers
a punishing collection of metal music." Official
Site
--George Dionne
out
of 5
Rob Zombie - Zombie Live (2007)
Rob Zombie - Educated Horses (2006) |
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LAAZ ROCKIT
Left for Dead
Blistering Records
2008
"If you blinked during the Bay-Area thrash explosion of the early
eighties, than you probably missed Laaz Rockit. Their debut 1984 album
City's Gonna Burn is herald in some circles are being the
blue print for thrash albums that followed. I have to admit that little
gem comes
from their press release, but after listening to their latest album,
maybe they're not that far off the mark.
Left for Dead is a pure thrash record from stem to stern, with powerful
drums, plenty of chugga-chugga riffage, and intense vocals. Think of
any band that came from that area back in the day; Metallica, Megadeth,
Slayer, Flotsam and Jetsam, they all had that recognizable sound and
feel to their music. Laaz Rockit is no different. 25 years later,
they still sound like a bunch of rowdy teenagers.
Official
Site
--George Dionne
out
of 5
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KARMAKANIC
Who's The Boss in the Factory
SPV/Inside Out
Music
2008
"Prog-rock and me go together like oil and water. That's not
to say that I look to dump all over anything prog-rock. I know what
good prog is and I know what bad prog is. Although those entranced
in the scene will tell me I don't know sh*t. Either way, Karmakanic
is the side project of The Flower Kings bass player Jonas Reingold,
and if this album isn't a prog-rock fan's wet dream, I don't know what
is.
The open track alone is probably worth the price of the album ("Send
a Message From the Heart). It clocks in at twenty minutes and is
loaded with instrumentals galore and killer melodic vocals. You are
sure to
hear
a little bit
of every
rock genre on this track. "Two Blocks From the Edge" is
another epic track. The only thing I didn't like about the album
is that the focus
is more on the instruments and progressions instead of Göran
Edman's resounding vocals. Well, I guess the long musical interludes
is what prog is all about anyway.
Official
Site
--George Dionne
out
of 5
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