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...) 

FM - Rockville II (Released: Out Now, Riff City Records)

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.

Best Songs (in order of preference)

Guilty
Forever & A Day
Last Chance Saloon

Sound Bites





Links:

http://www.fmofficial.com/fmofficial/index.html
https://www.facebook.com/FMofficial

(Dedicated to MS... Take it easy dude)

FM - Rockville (Released: Out Now, FM Website)

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

Sound Bites








Tough Love (official video)




Links:

http://www.fmofficial.com/fmofficial/index.html

https://www.facebook.com/FMofficial

CLIMIE FISHER - Coming In For The Kill (Released: 1989, EMI)

After an impressive debut album with worldwide hits like Love Changes (Everything) and Rise To The Ocassion, this Pop duo returned with their second and final album introducing some Melodic Rock elements. The album couldn't reach the success of it's predecessor though three singles reached the UK charts, Facts Of Love UK# 50, Fire On The Ocean UK# 89 and It's Not Suppossed To Be That Way UK# 77.
The album reached UK# 35.
Simon Climie is credited as songwriter in massive hits like My Heart Can't Tell You No by Rod Stewart, I Knew You Were Waiting (For Me) by George Michael and Aretha Franklin or You're Not Alone by Amy Grant while Rob Fisher was part of Naked Eyes and credited in many songs by Rick Astley
Rob Fisher passed away in 1999. RIP.



Facts Of Love (Official video)




Fire On The Ocean (Official video)

BON JOVI - What About Now (Out Now, Island Records)

After 4 years and inmerse in a wave of declining sales Bon Jovi are back with an album, once again, whitout a clear style. The guys goes Pop, Rock and Country-Folk so for those waiting for two decades for a Hard Rock album by Bon Jovi let me tell you... men, that ain't your album... neither mine. Actually there are some interesting tunes like Pictures Of You or Amen but the core of this album is so impersonal so you could be listening to an album by The Goo Goo Dolls, Mumford & Sons or Fun. instead of Bon Jovi.
Maybe the most interesting thing with this album is that in a few songs David Bryan's keys are back. I must confess that for a bounch of years i came to believe the guy was out of the band 'cause it was difficult to find his keys or piano but it seems the guy is alive and kicking.
All cuts are writen by the guys with some help by Billy Falcon and Desmond Child and the album is produced by Jon, Richie and John Shanks.
In summary, an album that follows new tendencies with vocals by Jon Bon Jovi in good shape, guitars with few distortion and keys coming back to life. Probably this album will reach the top 5 in the US but i do believe that in less than 10 weeks the album will be out the Top 100 albums... another deception by Bon Jovi.

Best Tracks (in order of preference)

Pictures Of You
Amen
Because We Can
Room At The End Of The World

Sound Bites:








Because We Can (Official video)


FUCK VEVO!!