HOUSTON - II (Released: Out Now - Livewire/Cargo)

Despite critics for their first album were real good i keep thinking that Houston I sounds more like a demo than like an official release. Houston II departs a more professional sound though still far from the giant bands and big labels. Music is built on keys that sometimes reminds of early Asia and songwriting is much mature than in their first effort.

Houston II is a very easy to listen album but the problem with all these Swedish and Scandinavian bands is that they all sound too similar and sometimes are over produced, in summary, not a bad album but it brings nothing new to the musical scene.

The album is produced by keyboardist Ricky Delin and some guitar parts are by Tommy Denander.

Take a listen to some soundbites...

I'm Coming Home (Official video)

SKID ROW - S/t (1988) - Slave To The Grind (1991) - B-Side Ourselves (1992)

Skid Row should be at the top10 of the best Hard Rock bands ever in all rankings around the world... Forget about those politically correct rankings by Rolling Stone and all that shit.

These New Jersey guys began playing in small clubs in '87 and soon they signed with Alantic Records by the hand of Doc McGhee (Bon Jovi manager). The album was produced by none other than Michael Wagener.

After touring opening for Bon Jovi in their New Jersey tour, Skid Row debut album was release enjoying massive success. Their S/t soon climbed to # 6 in the US selling more than 5 millions copies. 4 Singles were release... Youth Gone Wild US # 99, 18 And Life US # 4, I Remember You US # 6 and Piece Of Me.

1991 Saw the release of their second album. Slave To The Grind debuted at # 1 in the US and sold 2 millions copies. The sound of this second effort was much heavier so maybe that was the reason why none of the singles reached the Top 40. Only Wated Time reached Hot 100 # 88. Other singles were Monkey Business, Slave To The Grind and In A Darkened Room.

In support to Slave To The Grind the band toured opening for Guns 'N' Roses and later alone as main act.

Soon after was release B-Sides Ourselves wich reached US # 58. The E.P. is a collection of covers of songs by bands like Kiss, Rush or Judas Priest among others.

After that the band released Subhuman Race in 1995, an album influenced by Grunge and Alternative Rock and a commercial failure. The band toured opening for Van Halen in the US and when they were about to tour with Kiss, due to a discussion about that, Sebastian Bach was fired from the band... and that was all.

In 1999 the band was reformed with new lead singer Johnny Solinger releasing a couple of poor albums, Thickerskin and Revolutions Per Minute.

As couriosity you should know that the band had to pay for the rights of the name to Gary Moore because his first band was called Skid Row.

Here it is a compilation of some of the videos released from their first two albums and the E.P. ... Turn up the volume an enjoy it!!


Youth Gone Wild


18 And Life


I Remember You


Piece Of Me


Monkey Business


Wasted Time


 In A Darkened Room


Quicksand Jesus


Psycho Love


Little Wing

KING KOBRA - II (Release: Soon, Frontiers Records)

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.

SoundBites:






Have A Good Time (Official video)

PETE TOWNSHEND - Empty Glass (Released April 21, 1980 - Atco)

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.

Let My Love Open The Door



Rough Boys



A Little Is Enough

GOO GOO DOLLS - Magnetic (Warner Bros. - Out Now)

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

SoundBites:








 Rebel Beat (Official video)

TOM KEIFER - The Way Life Goes ( Out Now, Merovee Records)

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

Sound bites:








Solid Ground (Official video)

THE WINERY DOGS - Elevate (Single)

Supergroup consisting of Mike Portnoy (Dream Theater, Liquid Tension Experiment, Transatlantic...), Billy Seehan (Mr Big, DLR, UFO...) and Richie Kotzen (Poison, Mr Big, Vertu...)