Two years after the release of their S/t album King Kobra is back with an album full of attitude, energy and Rock & Roll but there's nothing new in this album and sound could be a little better... I know the 80's won't be back but it's inevitable to compare any new release of this genre with the golden age of Hard Rock.
It's a good album to enjoy at home while drinking some beers or while you are driving fast but nothing more, this one won't become a classic. Anyway, always is welcome an album with attitude... take a listen and judge for yourself.
Nothing left to say about one of the greatest british bands ever, The Who. Consisting of Roger Daltrey, Pete Townshend, Keith Moon and John Entwistle the band released 11 studio albums and have sold about 100 millions records but apart from the band each member have pursued his own musical career. Today we will talk about the most successful release by guitarist Pete Townshend... Empty Glass was released in 1980 reaching an impressive USA # 5. Three singles were released Let My Love Open The Door (Billboard # 9), Rough Boys (Billboard # 89) and A Little Is Enough (Billboard # 72). The vibe in this album it's too close to The Who so Roger Daltrey claimed that would have been a good album for the band. Empty Glass could be described as a concept album turning around the idea that you can reach God when your heart is empty.
With the pass of years Let My Love Open The Door has become an iconic tune being used in many TV series and films like Look Who's Talking Now, Mr Deeds and Jerry Maguire.
Here's the evidence of how a bad choice can kill a good album. First time i listened to Rebel Beat, initial single from Magnetic, i felt so dissappointed, different sound, weird chorus, pop production... that wasn't Goo Goo Dolls. Actually that single made me lose interest in the whole album but in my way to a concert by Whitesnake+Def Leppard i decided to give the album a chance while i was driving, and dude, Magnetic is quite good album. Why do i say "a bad choice can kill a good album", it's evident that many people decided not to give the album a chance because of the first single, that's demostrated with the fact that the album reached Billboard 200 # 8 but it slipped to # 67 in the second week, that means the album was purchased by diehard fans the week of it's release but didn't attract new fans. As of today, sales figures are about 40000 ... very poor.
Well, like other albums by the band not all tracks are sang by Rzeznik, Bringing On The Light and Happiest Of Days are sang by Takac.
Instead of losing myself describing every song you better take a listen to some sound bites but let me tell you something, pay attention to the cut Caught In The Storm, that song is epic, with no doubt one of the best songs ever by Goo Goo Dolls... this cut should have been the first single, while Keep The Car Running and Bulletproof Angel are gems, introducing some very nice keys. I swear i can't understand why with such impressive songs like these somebody would decide to release Rebel Beat as lead single.
Best songs (in order of preference):
Caught In The Storm Keep The Car Running Bulletproof Angel Last Hot Night
The voice of Cinderella is back with his debut album. It's been almost 20 years since the last album by the band and though Keifer vocals can't reach higher tones as 20 years ago the guy keeps sounding real good. The album has the vibe of any Cinderella release though it sounds a little bit rawer, no distortion, basic drums and few but good production.
Good to be back but far from the magic of any Cinderella album... anyway, you will enjoy it.
Best songs in order of preference:
Ask Me Yesterday The Flower Song It's Not Enough Solid Ground
And here it is the second part of FM's Rockville.This review is for those fanatic fans that didn't enjoy the review of Rockville and decided to raid me with mails... though i said Rockville is a fantastic album. Rockville II keeps the line of its predecesor though this time production is more elaborated and sound is a little bit smoother with a couple of cuts close to Pop. Lepparian backing vocals have almost disappeared (still can find them on Bad Addiction), keys have a heavier weight and we can also find some programing drums in the instrumental Desolation Station or some arabian arrengements in Runaway Train. Once again no ballads or power-ballads but a precious mid-tempo called Forever And A Day. Interesting is Paradise Highway reminding of Live Is A Highway by Tom Chochrane.
In summary, not a bad album but it fails to reach the excellence of Rockville.
I must admit i wasn't so interested in the latest effort by these guys, specially after listening to the first single Tough Love (nice track but weak chorus), but somehow i decided to give a chance to Rockville and... WOOOOWW!! this is a kick ass album.
Though this work has some modern influences we could describe it as a raw Rock album, strong guitars, some Hammond and what should be a wind section all that mixed with some backing vocals ala-Def Leppard, smooth keys and vocals by Steve Overland in impressive good shape.
Almost everything works in this album, from the first listening it will catch you and you won't be able to stop moving your feet. There are no ballads but some mid-tempos Story Of My Life, Goodbye Yesterday and the beautiful Show Me The Way.
It's sad that an album like this has to be sold by the band through their website (Rockville II will be released through Riff City Records March 22)... no big label to release it? Well, maybe the answer in something that not so long i knew, Antonio L.A. Reid is currently the CEO of Epic Records and that means he is also one of the heads of Sony Music Entertainment... could that be the reason why those big labels only sign R&B, Hip-Hop, Latin acts and they refuse to promote Rock bands?... I think so.
In summary, an excellent album full of Rock & Roll, maybe one of the best in the discography of FM... congrats guys!!
Best songs (in order of preference)
Show Me The Way Better Late Than Never... (Chorus is killer) Only Foolin' Story Of My Life Crave
.jpg){kind=spacer}
