This week I finally got some new music to
listen to, first time all year I have bought four new releases and the
Queensryche American Soldier is their best in years, it might be better
than the Operation Mindcrime album of 20 years ago, certainly better
than Mindcrime 2. Basically a concept album of war through the eyes of
the soldier in battle, Geoff Tate based this on a series of interviews
he did with WW2, Vietnam and Gulf War Veterans. Not for the faint of
heart but all goes to show you can't count Geoff Tate and company out.
And
speaking of company, Bad that is, remember that line of crap of one
time only last year? Well Bad Company is back for a 10 date tour while
Paul Rodgers takes a sabbath off from Queen. Speaking of Sabbath,
Heaven And Hell, the Sabbath Ronnie Jame Dio era band will have a new
album out this month. Even with Bad Company, I didn't buy the fact that
it was one time only show, they always seem to come back and tour the
next time. Blue Oyster Cult will be making the casino tour this
spring/summer and will make a apperance in Dubuque June 13, and
Davenport August 21. Seems like BOC will be spending lots of time in
the midwest, playing Algona July 3, Council Bluffs the 4th, Des Moines
the 17th at Rib American Fest and a couple Wisconsin fairs in August.
Might be worthwhile to go see them.
I can't say what got me to
jump on the Keith Urban bandwagon, but since I liked his 2006 Love and
Pain etc. album I thought I give Defying Gravity a spin and it's a bit
more country radio ready than the last album with an eye toward the rock
market. I'm thinking it will be number one on the charts next week.
Of course having Nicole Kidman being your wife doesn't hurt either since
Keith dedicates at least two of the ballad love songs to her, at least
he doesn't jump on the couch and act like a fool like Nicole's Ex did
but good thing come to those who wait. At least Nicole doesn't have to
hear Cruise's sciencetology bullshit and Keith plays way better guitar
too and doesn't act like a hypocrite. But then again I do perfer Keith
over Nashville super picker Brad Paisley, whose albums seem to
borderline of sappy love/family songs and Paisley can't grow a goatee to
save his baby face. Another nice guy, but Paisley has yet to make an
album that I can listen to without making a appointment to see the
dentist. And business has been pretty good for Dental Health Partners
this year too.
With Shooter Jennings's Greatest Hits now out,
he's no longer a part of Universal South Records, Universal's answer to
BNA, the worst label to be a part of. But in all fairness, I have yet
to see any worthiness to Shooter's albums. Supposely he turned down a
offer to join Velvet Revolver, the life after Guns and Roses band for
Slash and Duff and Matt and one could only wonder what would have
happened. But then again I don't think Shooter would added much to that
band. He's got the tattoos, the outlaw look, the legacy of being a son
to a legend and smokes and drinks like the best of em, but he never
convinced me to listen to his music. Only thing that I remember him by
is his title to his first album Putting the O back Into Country, a funny
play on words but what does the O stand for. Not Original, Offensive
is too cruel, maybe it's Obsessed? Naw, probaly Obvilous since every
album he has to remind us that he's Waylon's son and has to throw in his
Hank Sr or Johnny Cash reference of him being the equation. But his
references to me sound more like Mellencamp than Jennings and a secret
desire to be a Hank Jr rather than Sr. Perhaps being a independent
label, Shooter might put together that rock and roll record that he's
been yearning for but till he starts walking a mile in his own shoes and
being more of a original I'll pass. Yes we know Waylon's his dad,
Jessi Colter his mom but don't need to hear it every album but it did
take Waylon a good ten years to find his niche, so Shooter got about 8
more years to develop something of value.
The department of Who
Cares. Universal will reissued The Rolling Stones albums from Sticky
Fingers on to A Bigger Bang if you really truly care or if you don't
have those albums from the past and if you don't, why haven't you? With
this reissue campaign, The Stones would have completed the major label
merry go round and the Virgin Albums were the best sounding reissues. I
still have a few of the old CBS reissues and don't see the need to
upgrade once again unless we want that loud Compression sound that seems
to be the norm of CDs today. One can only reissue the same album over
and over (see Elvis Costello) before people get bored with the reissue
campaign. You don't get any bonus tracks or notes, just another major
corporation and over the hill rock band trying to squeeze a few more
dollars out of the pissed off consumer. One can't deny the excellence
of Exile On Main Street or Sticky Fingers but each reissue from a major
label knocks the star off by a half. And heaven knows you don't need A
Bigger Bang or Bridges To Babylon, hell there's dollar copies all over
the internet. And fucking Universal won't reissue The Brains for fuck's
sake but they can reissue another Costello or Stones. No wonder people
quit buying music.
And speaking of....The Who will reissue their 30 Years of Maxium Rock and Roll DVD in expanded form in April 14th.
And
John Kay and the hired hands known as Steppenwolf is unretiring with
some dates this summer. John keeps you up to date here.
http://www.steppenwolf.com/s/w/whatnew.html
It's
a nice day so think i'll go do something before the snow and rains hits
tomorrow. May as well go to work instead way i'm feeling right now.
Grades of new albums if anybody really reads them
Queensryche-American Soldier (Atco/Rhino) A-
MXPX-On The Cover 2 (Tooth And Nail) B-
Keith Urban-Defying Gravity (Capitol Nashville) B
Theroy Of A Deadman-Scars And Souviners (Roadrunner) C+
Gomez-A New Tide (According To Our Records) B
