BLACK STONE CHERRY - Between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea (Released: May 31, 2011)

Here we go with the latest by this band from Edmonton, Kentuky. This guys are one of the best representatives of the new wave of Hard Southern Rock mixing it all with some elements of Grunge. I'm not a fan of Grunge, actually i hate it, but in this band this little taste of Grunge works. The band has a straight raw sound and the raspy voice of Chris Robertson rocks hard though i think he would sound better without this Grunge pronunciation.
The first single is White Trash Millionaire a reivindicative track with catchy chorus that is doing well in Rock Charts. In My Blood is a fantastic cut with reminiscent of Lynyrd Skynyrd while Such A Same is a rockin' song with "dirty" guitars. Won't Let Go is a beautiful mid-tempo with fantastic backing vocals. But the highlights of this album are Stay a powerful ballad with great backing vocals, All I'm Dreaming Of an acoustic cut with an original rythm section, some slide guitars and banjo all mixed with the Grunge voice of Chris and fixing it all perfect while Die For You is an obscure cut with magnificent chorus.
The rest of the album keeps the Rockin' vibe.

In summary, a fantastic Rock album by a band that will rule this genre of Hard Southern Rock in the next years though i keep thinking that they would sound even better leaving appart this Grunge touch.

White Trash Millionaire official video:

Best Tracks (in order of preference):

Die For You
White Trash Millionaire
Stay
All I'm Dreaming Of
In My Blood


Charts:

USA # 29
UK   # 13
SWE # 43
AUT # 31

This album is worth of 4.4 out of 5 ROCKS!!!

LIBERTY N JUSTICE - Chasing A Cure

Here we go with the all-star project LIBERTY N JUSTICE. If you take a look to the cast of musicians involved in this project first thing you could think is that this should be an astonishing album but nothing further from rality. First problem is production, is weak and not dynamic with an empty sound and you will notice this specially listening to the piano sound that is completely "dry". Songs have no interest and the conjunction of both things made some of the great musicians here (Paul Sorthino, Benny Mardones, Kerry Livgreen, Philip Bardowell, Kelly Keeling) not to shine.
We won't talk much about this album but there's a special mention to Black Or White version. I'm not a fan of Michael Jackson but this version is incredibly worse than the original one, this version simply sucks.

In summary, if the future of AOR and Hard Rock depends on this kind of albums... we are lost.

Best songs (in order of preference):

None

This album is worth of 0.5 out of 5 ROCKS!!!

NEWS:

The latest by Progressive mega-stars YES called FLY FROM HERE is ready to pre-order at iTunes.

Release dates:


USA : 07-12-2011
UK   : 07-01-2011

DEF LEPPARD - Mirror Ball Live & More

Here we go with the latest effort by one of the biggest bands of Hard Rock. I have to say that i'm tired of cover albums, live albums and rerecorded songs albums, what Hard Rock needs are new songs, new material and not the same over and over again. That said, this is a poor album that doesn't catch the hard sound and good vibe of the Leppard live. The selection of songs is good and the sound is raw with few production wich allows you to listen some of the tipical faults of a live show and even the weary voice of Joe Elliot in songs such Photograph.

The problem is that Def Leppard is a band with a magnificent production and impeccable sound in all their albums so when you listen to them in a live recording they sound a little hollow.

There are three new studio songs, the first is Undefeated, a good track with a modern production but with the tipical Leppard flavor. Kings Of The World is a cut that could be signed by Queen but when i want to listen to Queen i play a record by Queen not by Def Leppard and the last one is It's All About Believin' a song that won't become a favorite

In summary... another live album that won't rule the charts.

Charts:

USA # 16

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

NEWS:

The latest song by EDDIE MONEY called One More Soldier is ready to be downloaded at itunes. You can watch the video here: http://www.eddiemoney.com/

NEWS:

BLACK VEIL BRIDES are back in a more glam style and here it is their new single FALLEN ANGELS.

NEWS:

At his 66 Progressive Rock singer JON ANDERSON is ready to release his new album SURVIVAL AND OTHER STORIES, currently for sale on Jon's tour dates.
More info: http://www.jonanderson.com