FOREIGNER - Feels Like the First Time (Release: out now)

 

Everybody who use to read this blog should know that i deeply hate cover versions albums, so when i knew that one of my all-times favorite bands was going to release one of this stupid albums i felt a little dissapointed. I keep believing that this kind of albums add nothing to Rock music but this time i must say that this one is not that bad. This album consist of one first cd of unplugged versions of their own songs and a second one of re-recordings of their hits. Interesting to listen Say You Will, Waiting For A Girl Like You or Cold As Ice unplugged, though haven't got the magic of the originals, all those unplugged versions are elegant and extremely well executed.
The second cd is about re-recording cover versions and once again though all are fantastic none surpasses the originals. The band has decided to be true to the originals, in fact, in a couple of tunes you will hardly notice the difference, as Urgent.

I shouldn't forget there's one new song entitled Save Me a song that conveys good vibes and could have been part of Can't Slow Down.

In summary, FOREIGNER proves that keeps being a band of superb musicians and Kelly Hansen shows he is an astonishing singer though Lou Gramm could always reach a higher tone... that's why there's only one Lou Gramm.

Sound bites:







More info: http://www.foreigneronline.com/

Charts:

USA # 45

This album is worth of 4 out of 5 ROCKS!!!

You'll like to know the unplugged and re-recording songs:

Cd1:

1. Long, Long Way From Home (The Classics Unplugged) 2:52 2. Cold As Ice (The Classics Unplugged) 3:42 3. The Flame Still Burns (The Classics Unplugged) 4:58 4. Double Vision (The Classics Unplugged) 3:24 5. Fool For You Anyway (The Classics Unplugged) 4:17 6. Say You Will (The Classics Unplugged) 3:26 7. Starrider (The Classics Unplugged) 4:29 8. Waiting For A Girl Like You (The Classics Unplugged) 5:15 9. Feels Like The First Time (The Classics Unplugged) 3:11 10. Juke Box Hero (The Classics Unplugged) 5:05 11. That’s All Right (The Classics Unplugged) (Bonus Track)
Cd2:
1. Save Me (Bonus Track) (New) 3:49 2. Feels Like The First Time (2011 Recording) 4:07 3. Cold As Ice (2011 Recording) 3:14 4. Long, Long Way From Home (2011 Recording) 2:57 5. Hot Blooded (2011 Recording) 3:08 6. Double Vision (2011 Recording) 3:42 7. Head Games (2011 Recording) 3:57 8. Dirty White Boy (2011 Recording) 3:52 9. Urgent (2011 Recording) 4:30 10. Waiting For A Girl Like You (2011 Recording) 4:50 11. I Want To Know What Love Is (2011 Recording) 4:45 12. Juke Box Hero (2011 Recording) 4:25

SEBASTIAN BACH - Kicking & Screaming (Release: Sept 23, 2011 EUR - September 27, 2011 USA)

 

Here we go with the latest by former vocalist of multiplatinum band SKID ROW. And if you hope and pray for this album to be something in the vein of what was SKID ROW's s/t or Slave To The Grind i've got bad news for you, it ain't. This is a Hard Rock album but, like almost everything coming from USA and Canada in the last two decades, has a Modern Rock/Alternative flavor. The good news are that Sebastian Bach voice is in perfect shape and Bob Marlette production is espectacular.
Kicking & Screaming is the first track of this album and initial single, this song has heavy guitars and marked riff all mixed with a modern sound and Sebastian screaming like a mad dog, not a bad song but nothing special. My Own Worst Enemy is a strong and dificult to describe cut, guitar sounds a little Punk while Sebastian's voice is a little high and not showing the strength expected. Tunnelvision starts with acustic guitars that soon turns into electric and heavy. In this cut Bach's voice is more reconogcible though the tone of the track is of Modern Rock, anyway one of the best tracks in the album. Dance On Your Grave is a faster song starting with a raw bass and Sebastian singing like the old times. I'm Alive is a ballad that could have been taken from Superunknown by SOUNDGARDEN while Dirty Power retakes the heavier and faster line where Sebastian seems to feel more confortable.
The rest of the album keeps the same Modern Rock trend plenty of heavy guitars and a couple of "ballads" Dream Forever and Whisin'.

In summary, not a bad Modern Rock album but far away from what SKID ROW fans would have liked.

Sound bites:






More info: http://www.sebastianbach.com/updates.html

Best Tracks (in order of preference):

Tunnelvision

Dance On Your Grave

Dirty Power

This album is worth of 3 out of 5 ROCKS!!!

Kicking & Screaming (official video):

WHITE WIDDOW - Serenade (Released: Sep 23, 2011)

 

Here we go with the second effort by this australian band recorded in their own country and mixed in Sweden. Listening to this album seems as we were back to the 80's, exactly to the middle 80's. This has been attempted by many bands that failed but this guys have succeeded. Everything in this album take us back to that era, from keys to songwriting and prominently vocals of Jules Millis. If you enjoy bands like SURGIN', Le MANS, ROXUS or BABE BLU you'll love this album.
Lets start from the beggining, Cry Wolf is an amazing opener with sideral keys and brutal chorus making of this cut a highlight, the only thing with this song is that after a great guitar solo comes a break with just keys but sadly after this break comes a high tone note by Jules that certainly should have been omitted, anyway, the last part of the song is epic. Strangers In The Night is another masterpiece plenty of keys with great guitar solo and nice choirs while Do You Remember is a smooth mid-tempo with some guitars ala-DEF LEPPARD and catchy chorus. Reckless Night is faster and has and absolute and amazing 80's chorus and precious guitar solo backed by nice keys making of this cut a gem.
How Far I Run well, this is supposed to be a review so is rare not to say anything of this song but if you listen it you will understand that there is no need... BRILLIANT.
The rest of the album keeps the same 80's vibe full of keys, good guitar work with beautiful solos, shinny production and sound, with special attention to Patiently the only ballad in this album and with no doubt another highlight.
The only thing with this album is sound, too much treble.

In summary, this album is a gem and if you love middle 80's AOR stop reading this review and go running to buy it.

Sound Bites:





More info: www.whitewiddow.com.au


Best Tracks (in order of preference):

How Far I Run
Reckless Night
Cry Wolf
Patiently
Show Your Cards

This album is worth of 4.6 out of 5 ROCKS!!!

NEWS: KIMBALL / JAMISON - Can't Wait For Love

The full album will be out through Frontiers Records EU October 14, 2011 - USA October 18, 2011

CHICKENFOOT - III (Release: Sep 23, 2011)

Here we go with the second effort by this superband formed by members of VAN HALEN, RED HOT CHILI PEPPERS and the six strings magician JOE SATRIANI. This album keeps the same line than it predecessor, raw Rock, great guitar riffs, excellent production and virtuosity in every corner. As their first album this ain't exactly a commercial album, i mean, it ain't full of catchy chorus, this is an album to enjoy listening four megamusicians making great music.
The album opens with Last Temptation, starting with some alternative guitars sounding that lead us into a song with a structure that reminds of Attack of the Dungeon Witch by HE IS LEGEND but obviously much softer. Alright Alright is a funny cut once more built on some alternative guitar sounding while Different Devil is some kind of mid-tempo that creates a calm atmosphere 'till it breaks into some beautiful and more energetic chorus with some backing vocals ala-VAN HALEN, this track is one of the album's highlights. Up Next is the first pure hard rocking cut in this album with a marked guitar riff and with Chad Smith doin' an excellent work while Satriani's solo is simply amazing. Lighten Up keeps the line of Up Next,  once again, with excellent work of Satriani while Come Closer is much softer with smooth and elegant guitars, a little alternative drums work and chorus and backing vocals sounding of VAN HALEN, another winner in this album specially because of the atmosphere of tranquility created by guitar.
The rest of the album keeps the vibe with Sammy Hagar shining in every note he sings and the rest of the band doin' a work without any fracture.

In summary, good album by amazing musicians that after a few listenings will catch you.

Sound bites:





More info: http://www.chickenfoot.us/

Best Tracks (in order of preference):

Come Closer

Different Devil

Up Next

Big Foot

Last Temptation

This album is worth of 4.2 out of 5 ROCKS!!!

Big Foot official video:

SHY - S/t (Release: Oct, 2011 EU - Sep 21, 2011 JAP)

Here we go with the latest by this band from Birmingham, England. Replacing a lead singer is never an easy work to do but if this singer is Tony Mills then is much more difficult, but this time we can say... achieved. Most bands use to look for a singer who sounds like the former one but SHY decided to go on the difficult way and they succeeded. Lee Small, new singer, does a great work bringing his own personality to SHY's music and the mixing is real good.
The album opens with Land of a Thousand Lies a powerful track with catchy chorus starting with a long intro built on keys that, to be honest, i don't like much. So Many Tears is a faster track, Hard Rock in the vein of SHY. Ran out of Time is the first highligh, a strong song with great backing vocals and Lee Small providing fantastic vocals, while Breathe is a powerballad that after a couple of listening will catch you. Only for the Night is a beautiful mid-tempo but the absolute highlight is Over You, a little bit faster than a mid-tempo and a compact and elegant song, nice starting, catchy chorus, beautiful guitar solo, everything in this cut works but the keyboard work.

In summary, SHY returns to its original sound with vocals of new singer Lee Small that sounds away from Tony Mills but fix perfect with the band's sound. Production is ok but keys are discordant, inelegant and i would even say a little amateur, while songwriting is a little weak. Sound should be better.

Best of this album is Lee Small, worst of this album is keyboard work.

Sound bites:





More info: http://www.shyonline.co.uk/

Best Tracks (in order of preference):

Over You
Ran Out Of Time
Breathe

This album is worth of 3.6 out of 5 ROCKS!!!

NEWS:

Here it is the new single by BON JOVI entitled This Is Our House, this time with clear reminiscent of GARY GLITTER's Rock & Roll Part 2


This Is Our House

LOST GEM: TATTOO RODEO - Rode Hard-Put Away Wet

This Hard Rock band with clear Southern Rock influences left only two albums, Been Your Fool comes from their first effort Rode Hard-Put Away Wet back in 1991. If you've got the chance, listen to their second single Let Me Be The One, impressive. Good album by this band from Burbank born from the ashes of WHITE SISTER... enjoy.

DREAM THEATER - A Dramatic Turn Of Events (Released: Sep 13, 2011)

 

Here we go with a little bit of Progressive by this quintessential band. Is nothing new that these guys are virtuosos and they represent perfectly the spirit of Progressive Rock or Metal but their last six albums are more of the same and A Dramatic Turn Of Events is not an exception to that rule. Once again, excellent production, guitar and bass virtuosity, epic keys, amazing drum work and James LaBrie's vocals in perfect shape. Maybe this time we could add that this album is a little bit mellower thanks to cuts as Far From Heaven, This Is The Life and Beneath The Surface, three smooth and beautiful tracks that make this album worth of having.

In summary, their finest album in the last years.

More info: http://www.dreamtheater.net/

Best Tracks (in order of preference):

Far From Heaven

This Is The Life

Beneath The Surface

This album is woth of 4 out of 5 ROCKS!!!

This Is The Life (stream):