Saturday, April 30, 2016

Iron Maiden's Bruce Dickinson to Work to Lift Chinese Censorship of Their Performances



China being the oppressive communist nation it is has been known over the years to censor performers who come to put on their act. This includes musicians as well. When musicians perform in China they can't do songs about criticizing or overthrowing the government. Such censorship has recently prevented metal legends Iron Maiden from putting on the full blown show that fans all around the world love.

This has prevented Iron Maiden from pyrotechnics, smoke effects, lead singer Bruce Dickinson waving the Union Jack during The Trooper, etc. In a recent performance done in China, a fan caught video of Dickinson saying:

“They did say ‘no cameras.’ Do I care? Everybody take out your camera device – take a picture. It’s great to be in China tonight. We ripped it up in Beijing, and we thought, ‘That was a bit serious.’ They had a few rules, so we kind of stuck by the rules and we didn’t do any swearing. There’s another thing I can’t do – see if you can guess what it is later on.”

Mouthing all the swears, Dickinson then says:

“We don’t really give a shit about all that, because the most important thing is the music. The most important thing is that we’re here, and you’re here, and we’re going to have a great fucking time.”

Dickinson then refers to a TV interview he did, saying:

“They’ve got these great pictures of the show with flames everywhere, dry ice and smoke. I thought, ‘That’s a fucking shame, because we can’t do that – we got a little bit restricted.’ Next time we’ll have a word. Next time we come back to China.”

It's kind of ridiculous how blatant China is about how they try to keep their people down. I really hope that for their sake some day the communist government comes crumbling down so that then democracy or some more fair system of government can take its place. When you're having to censor your concerts and art all around, it just goes to show how insecure they really are. If the people got truly inspired they might actually stand a chance.

Friday, April 29, 2016

Throwback Thursday: Queen II, by Queen



In 1974, Queen put out their sophomore album Queen II, the follow-up to their mildly successful debut Queen. Though it contains none of the band's big radio pop hits that would skyrocket them into the legend that they would later become (although one or two of its songs were used in later Queen concerts) it is considered by many rockers (myself being among them) to be one of the absolute greatest hard rock/heavy metal albums ever created.

Queen II was the first album to feature many of the band's trademark sound elements such as: multiple overdubs, big choral backing harmonies, multiple guitar harmonies, and more. However, this was a much more hard rocking Queen than most people are used to. It honestly feels like a precursor to melodic heavy metal in some areas. The sides on the album are labeled "The White Side" and "The Black Side" rather than "Side 1" and "Side 2". The lyrical themes on "The Black Side" are rather dark and fantasy based whereas "The White Side" is more about emotions.

I know I have mentioned this before, but the track Seven Seas of Rhye from this album is one of the single greatest songs Queen ever created. That iconic lightning quick piano riff just whisks you away on a big adventure the moment it sails out onto the air through your speakers. I love the bravado of young Freddie Mercury in this song. He sings with such authority and conviction. It's hard not to get swept up in the moment and feel like you're being a super awesome god along with him.

Ogre Battle is probably THE most heavy metal song Queen ever wrote. The whole band shines through on this one, though I LOVE the way Brian May just tears it up on guitar while John Deacon thunders away on bass and Roger Taylor pounds at the drums in one of the most progressive and odd time signatured rhythms I've ever heard them do. It is heavy, melodic, and of course gives you vivid pictures of all kinds of big fantasy themed scenes. I think one of the best parts though is just how high the backing vocal harmonies get at certain points. I didn't think anyone could go that high.

Queen II is important piece of Queen history because it shows not just where the band got its start, but also that they could do more than just fluffy pop stuff (even if said fluffy pop stuff was AMAZING). It showed that they had real integrity and skill as musicians and writers. It's definitely not what most people would be expecting or hoping to find when listening to a Queen album, but if you give it a chance you might find you dig it anyway. It's something great to rock out to. It has that same old big Queen sound, just with more overdrive and punch.

Queen II, by Queen receives 3.75 out of 5 stars.

Track List:

1. Procession
2. Father to Son
3. White Queen (As It Began)
4. Some Day One Day
5. The Loser in the End
6. Ogre Battle
7. The Fairy Feller's Master-Stroke
8. Nevermore
9. The March of the Black Queen
10. Funny How Love Is
11. Seven Seas of Rhye

Buy the album on Amazon:

http://www.amazon.com/Queen-II/dp/B004UUKDWG/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1461917816&sr=8-1&keywords=Queen+II

Thursday, April 28, 2016

Ace Frehley Premieres "Fire & Water" Collab Video with Paul Stanley



It has been 18 years since Ace Frehley and Paul Stanley appeared together in a music video and 27 years since Frehley appeared in a music video of his own stuff. Just now both of those have come to an end, as Frehley and Stanley just put out a video for Frehley's cover of Fire & Water, by Free (which can be watched below) for Frehley's recent release Origins, Vol. 1.

Origins, Vol. 1 is an album of covers of songs that influenced Frehley as well as some rerecordings of Kiss songs including one he never played on: Rock and Roll Hell. In a recent press release, Frehley talked about working with Stanley again and how he felt his former band mate did on the track they did together.

Frehley says:

It was great working with Paul again. All the years we’ve spent apart doing other projects seemed to vanish once we hit the stage! I thought Paul did a fabulous vocal on it. He jumped at the chance to do this because it’s something that’s outside of Kiss and his character in Kiss, and it gave him a chance to, you know, sing. With Paul, you usually think of him singing in a slightly higher register, and on ‘Fire and Water,’ he’s singing deep from his diaphragm, and it’s a real cool vocal. Everyone who’s heard it just thinks it’s the s—.”

I think the video is everything it needs to be: simple rock and roll. No flash or fancy production. Just some old friends on a stage jamming away on a song they love. I did kind of like the intro to the video with them just meeting up on the street like that. It really emphasizes the fact that Stanley and Frehley want to be friends again. The song itself was also done pretty well. I'll admit I was a little thrown off by Stanley singing lower, but I guess that's what happens with age and when he is not trying to sing in Kiss.


Wednesday, April 27, 2016

Buckethead Chicago 2016 Concert Review



This is going to be a little different in terms of format from how I have gone about doing concert reviews in the past here on Young Ears, Fresh Perspective. The Buckethead concert was not quite what I expected it to be, and not exactly in a fun, cool way.

It took place on 4/25/2016 at the Park West theater in Chicago, IL. It was a nice enough place. Had a bar, places to sit, tables, and a wide spacious area for people to stand near the stage. Anywhere you would have been seated in the venue would have been good enough for you to clearly see what was happening on the stage, which is good considering how some venues just aren't up to snuff in regards to that.

Anyway, when I refer to the show not being what I expected it to be I am talking about the fact that Buckethead ended the show early after only playing a little over an hour. There was a point in the show where there were some technical difficulties being had with Buckethead's guitar rig and the roadie couldn't seem to get it straightened out. This went on for a good 10-15 minutes. Possibly longer than that. The longer it went on, the more I could tell Buckethead was getting frustrated and angry despite the fact he had his trademark white mask covering his face.

Buckethead of course tried to keep the audience entertained and occupied by break dancing, skillfully whipping nunchuks around, moving like a robot with extreme precision to a backing track that sounded like mechanical parts moving around, handing out toys to the audience, shaking hands with the audience, etc. After the roadie couldn't get things straightened out though, Buckethead decided he had had enough and just ended the show right then and there. No real announcement. He just walked off. The lights came back on and his crew started tearing things down on stage.

From here I blame two different people for this:

1. The roadie. The guy kept messing up the whole night. One of the most glaring mistakes he made was when at one point he accidentally knocked over one of Buckethead's guitars mid-show. Unique guitars like Buckethead has are not come by particularly cheaply. I know Buckethead probably has at least some amount of money, but having to replace a guitar like that would probably be a noticeable punch in the pocketbook. In addition to all that, he looked like he had never worked with a guitar rig before judging by the way he was fumbling with all the equipment. I personally hope Buckethead fired him and replaced him already.

2. Buckethead. As a performer myself I completely understand his frustration with the situation. Technical difficulties can be among some of the biggest headaches you can have, especially if they are happening mid-show. That said, I still feel it was a jerk move to end the show altogether when he had an acoustic guitar up on the stage that he could have busted out and played. Buckthead has a ginormous amount of acoustic material in his catalog and he could have played for another 20-30 minutes, leaving the audience perfectly content. Instead people who traveled from several miles around, scheduled things around, and paid good money for got gypped out of the experience they put their cash and hopes toward.

I think Buckethead showed a real lack of artistic integrity in that moment. I understand the fact that his head might not have been in a good place for a moment, but maybe if he had just taken a few minutes to calm down and breathe he would have been in a good enough frame of mind to get back out there and finish what he started and quite frankly owed the audience.

Now that I have that all out of my system though, let's get back onto a more positive note. When Buckethead was playing he did an absolutely PHENOMENAL job. After his four year absence from touring his live playing clearly had not gotten cobwebs on it at all. He ripped through many of his fan favorite songs that I myself had wanted to hear for YEARS from the Guitar Hero II blister-giver Jordan to the haunting Soothsayer to the bouncy Binge and Grab among many others. There were a few tunes I didn't quite recognize, but that isn't surprising considering how many hundreds if not thousands of songs Buckethead has in his catalog.

The stage set up was rather simple. It was just his equipment and then a slide show screen with a Michael Jordan DVD being projected onto it (Buckethead is a HUGE Michael Jordan fan, hence the name of his song Jordan. He was even wearing a Michael Jordan jersey over his cloths due to the fact he was in Chicago). Honestly, I was a little surprised I didn't see the two head statues I've often seen him have in performance videos I've watched. Maybe they were there and I just didn't see them.

Buckethead played along to backing tracks of drums, bass, and occasionally rhythm guitar. I guess it saves him time, money, and effort because he doesn't have to deal with a whole band while out on tour. Considering the fact Buckethead usually seems to like simplicity in his life this doesn't really surprise me at all.

All that said, I would still go see Buckethead again as long as he made sure his gear and employees were up to snuff. It was a great deal of fun to see the macabre chicken bucket adorned guitar god do what he does best. If I got a full show out of him next time he is in town then I will completely forgive him for what happened the other night. I will continue to listen to his music and be a fan. I would still recommend going to see him to anyone who loves guitar based music and wants to see something that is out there and different from the norm.

This Buckethead concert receives 2.75 out of 5 stars.

Monday, April 25, 2016

5 Songs to Get You Through the Week #70

5 Songs to Get You Through the Week is a feature I run on Young Ears, Fresh Perspective on Sundays/early hours of Monday morning where I pick out 5 tunes that I think are notable and tell you a bit about them. The point is to give you some rocking music to help you deal with your weekday blues. You can either listen to one each day, listen to them all at once, or any other combination that you feel. As long as you can get through the week without the man getting you down, that's all I care about. Without further ado, here are the 5 tracks I've picked out for this week:

Quick Notice
Tomorrow there will be NO Young Ears, Fresh Perspective post. Instead, it will be moved to Tuesday when I would normally take a day off. I know, I know. You're all devastated. The reason for this however is because I will be attending a Buckethead concert in Chicago! That said, you guys will be getting a review of the show this coming Tuesday on the blog! I'm pretty stoked myself. This is a concert I've wanted to go to for nine years. Unfortunately I've missed opportunities due to stupid reasons and then there was Buckethead's four year hiatus from touring. That said, this week on 5 Songs to Get You Through the Week it's Buckethead Week!


1. Welcome to Bucketheadland, by Buckethead

I once read somewhere that this was originally supposed to be a cover of Crazy Train, by Ozzy Osbourne. I can kind of notice the resemblance, but the two are entirely different overall. This is the track that for many Buckethead fans introduced them to the madness and creepiness that is this masked guitar playing wonder that adorns a chicken bucket atop his head. Even if the Buckethead story isn't really what you're into, it has some heavy hitting riffs and some finger blistering guitar solos for you to rock out to.


2. Interlude, by Buckethead & Friends

In 2005 Buckethead put out an album called Enter the Chicken where he and a bunch of his musician friends collaborated to make an album. Each song has a different singer/vocalist. This song in particular doesn't even have Buckethead on it at all. It is just Dan Conviser singing and playing  ukulele. Even though it is only an 18 second song, it is one of the most charming tunes I've ever heard. I could have it on repeat for a while and not get sick of it.


3. Hog Bitch Stomp, by Giant Robot

You a fan of chicken pickin' at all? If you are then Buckethead will knock your socks right off with some of the speediest and cleanest sounding blue grass you have ever heard in your life. I guarantee your jaw will hit the ground pretty quickly because there aren't a whole lot of people around who can do that kind of thing. To make it better, it's actually somewhat musically complex if you listen to it close enough; especially given how many parts are woven together to make Hog Bitch Stomp what it is.


4.  Nottingham Lace, by Buckethead & Friends

Time to delve back into Buckethead's more weedily high speed in your face guitar stuff. Also from the Enter the Chicken album, this is a straight up regular Buckethead tune with no vocals. Be that as it may, he does what he does best: big eccentric riffs, lightning quick leads, and haunting melodic solos. The solo in this song is in my opinion one of the absolute pinnacle moments of his recording career. It's epic, long, and in a way is like a song in itself. It even has a bit of an All Along the Watch Tower kind of vibe to it at certain moments.


5.  Jordan, by Buckethead

How many of you remember Guitar Hero IIIf you don't, then this is the video game that got Buckethead a lot more exposure from the main stream. For the game he was asked to come up with the most difficult guitar solo he could, so as to give players a real challenge. Needless to say, Buckethead was up to the task. The tune is filled with some of the fastest and craziest playing he can muster in multiple styles. In addition to that, it's actually a pretty good song too. The riff though repetitive is catchy.


Saturday, April 23, 2016

Black Country Communion Reunion to Kick Off Next Year



All four members of Black Country Communion have officially announced that they will be rejoining forces next year.

The super group consisting of guitarist Joe Bonamassa, bassist and vocalist Glenn Hughes of Deep Purple fame, Derek Sherinian of Dream Theater, and Jason Bonham (son of Led Zeppelin drummer John Bonham) will be getting together to make music for the first time since they split in late 2012 after the release of their third studio album Afterglow.

Hughes initially broke the news on Facebook, saying:

“To quote Joe this morning, ‘maybe it’s time to break out the heavy bats again.’. Time is the healer.”

Bonham posted a picture of the band and said:

“2017!”

Black Country Communion split back in 2012 due to differing levels of priority the band took with everyone and the fact that Bonamassa did not care for how much credit Hughes was taking for writing the songs on Afterglow despite the fact that Bonamassa did a lot of the writing himself. Kind of hard to blame him on that one, to be honest.

Personally, I am absolutely STOKED that BCC is about to be back in action. I was super bummed the day I found out they broke up. That band is one hell of a rock n' roll machine and I just know whatever they put out next will top anything they have done before. Plus, now many folks who haven't gotten to see them live yet (myself included) will get a chance to do so.

Thursday, April 21, 2016

Throwback Thursday: Colma, by Buckethead



In 1998, the strangest character in rock Buckethead put out his fourth studio album: Colma. The man adorned with a blank white face mask and a chicken bucket atop his head decided to go a route he hadn't gone up to that point in time: entirely acoustic. This album was said to be a gift from Buckethead to his mother because she had developed colon cancer and he wanted her to have some nice music to listen to while recovering.

I have to admit that Buckethead hit the nail on the head with Colma. He achieved the goal he set out to attain, which was make nice relaxing music. In Colma Buckethead proved that he was more than just another shredder with a gimmick. However, even though Buckethead went unplugged, that made the music no less Buckethead. There might not have been the kind of heavy and occasional shredding tunes he is known for, but there was still that sense of darkness and creepiness that is his trademark. This time Buckethead managed to still do those things while at the same time doing it with some emotion.

Hills of Eternity is one of my absolute favorite Buckethead songs of all time. It has a bit of a hip-hop sort of drum beat to it, but the guitar parts are beyond hauntingly beautiful. It kind of washes over you with the coolness of night and eases your frayed nerves from the stress of the day. The way it flows and progresses feels incredibly natural. When you're done listening to it, it isn't really over. It's one of those tunes that will kind of stick with you for a long time to come. In the middle of the cold dark night, you'll play it once again.

Big Sur Moon is part of what lets you the listener know that Colma is in fact still a Buckethead album. It honestly is some of the finest fast acoustic playing I've heard in some time. The odd thing is that it doesn't even sound like shred. The quickness and echoing of the notes and the overall atmosphere the song provides gives you a sort of foreboding tension, as though you are expecting for something to leap out of the dark at you at any moment. Be careful. You never know when you might end up being next.

Regardless of what kind of musical genre you like, Buckethead has something for you to listen to. He covers a wide variety of styles in his playing. Colma is definitely a nice change of pace from what Buckethead usually does, even though that in itself is pretty damn awesome. Whenever I need to unwind and de-stress, Colma is one of my go-to albums. If you play it along with rainymood.com then you will get an even more calming experience. This is definitely a must-have for Buckethead fans and for those who just want something nice to listen to.

Colma, by Buckethead receives 4 out of 5 stars.

Track List:

1. Whitewash
2. For Mom
3. Ghost
4. Hills of Eternity
5. Big Sur Moon
6. Machete
7. Wishing Well
8. Lone Sal Bug
9. Sanctum
10. Wondering
11. Watching the Boats With My Dad
12. Ghost Part 2
13. Colma

Buy the album on Amazon:

http://www.amazon.com/Colma-Buckethead/dp/B0000067WV/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1461283662&sr=8-1&keywords=Colma

Glenn Hughes and David Coverdale Prevented by Deep Purple Member from Performing

 
 
Recently after over two decades of being snubbed, Deep Purple finally made it into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame this year. As is tradition, many bands often perform at their induction as a celebration of their achievements over the years. However, it would seem that things don't quite always go as hoped.

Deep Purple mark 3 bassist/vocalist Glenn Hughes and lead vocalist David Coverdale seemed to get the short end of the stick, as they were left out of the band's performance at the awards ceremony. In a recent interview with Metal Rules, Hughes goes into detail on his feelings regarding the incident saying:
 
“I’m not going to name names, as there is a member who didn’t feel it was appropriate that we should sing. So David and I braved it together as we were arm and arm all the way through. But I knew by the end of the night it would not happen.

Am I upset about not singing with Deep Purple? Not at all. Everybody knows that David and I can sing. Everybody knows that we were in the band. All that mattered to me was accepting the award on behalf of Deep Purple and the fans.”
 
Fortunately the lads in Cheap Trick were kind enough to invite Hughes and Coverdale up on stage to perform with them during their part of the evening. I do think it's rather egotistical and childish to leave out two huge players in the history of Deep Purple from such a big momentous milestone in their career. Both of them deserved to sing up their with the rest of the band regardless of what the current line-up is.

Tuesday, April 19, 2016

Axl Rose to Replace Brian Johnson on Remainder of AC/DC's Rock or Bust Tour



Recently it was made public that long time AC/DC front man Brian Johnson was leaving the band due to problems with hearing loss. Unfortunately, this comes during a time where the band still has 10 dates left on their Rock or Bust tour. The good news however is that they have found a rather suitable replacement to act as a stand-in in Johnson's stead: Guns N' Roses singer Axl Rose.

In an official statement from the band, AC/DC says:

“AC/DC band members would like to thank Brian Johnson for his contributions and dedication to the band throughout the years. We wish him all the best with his hearing issues and future ventures. As much as we want this tour to end as it started, we understand, respect and support Brian’s decision to stop touring and save his hearing. We are dedicated to fulfilling the remainder of our touring commitments to everyone that has supported us over the years, and are fortunate that Axl Rose has kindly offered his support to help us fulfill this commitment.”

This comes as absolutely no surprise to anyone however, as rumours and speculation surrounding such a team-up has been going around the internet for a while now. Such rumours got intensified when recently there were photos of Rose and AC/DC leaving the same rehearsal studio in Georgia together.

To give folks a taste of just what this collaboration between the GN'R singer and AC/DC would be like, Guns N' Roses was joined by AC/DC lead guitarist Angus Young at GN'R's recent performance at the Coachella festival in CA this past weekend. (video can be watched below) The reunited GN'R + Young tore it up through AC/DC songs Riff Raff and Whole Lotta Rosie. I have to say, it wasn't too shabby at all.

The remaining dates (which are posted below) will all be played in Europe before Guns N' Roses embarks on its upcoming Not in This Life Time tour. Personally, I'm interested to see how Rose will do on other AC/DC classics like Highway to Hell, Let There Be Rock, Back in Black, etc. Two of my favorite bands in the entire world joining together like this is kind of an unexpected dream come true. While I still think AC/DC should hang it up and call it a day after the end of the tour, it still would also at the same time be interesting if Rose and AC/DC did a new album together.

AC/DC with Axl Rose Tour Dates:
 

5/7 – Lisbon, Portugal
5/10 – Seville, Spain
5/13 – Marseille, France
5/16 – Werchter, Belgium
5/19 – Vienna, Austria
5/22 – Prague, Czech Republic
5/26 – Hamburg, Germany
5/29 – Berne, Switzerland
6/1 – Leipzig, Germany
6/4 – London, England
6/9 – Manchester, England
6/12 – Aarhus, Denmark
 
 

Monday, April 18, 2016

5 Songs to Get You Through the Week #69

5 Songs to Get You Through the Week is a feature I run on Young Ears, Fresh Perspective on Sundays/early hours of Monday morning where I pick out 5 tunes that I think are notable and tell you a bit about them. The point is to give you some rocking music to help you deal with your weekday blues. You can either listen to one each day, listen to them all at once, or any other combination that you feel. As long as you can get through the week without the man getting you down, that's all I care about. Without further ado, here are the 5 tracks I've picked out for this week:

1. The Joker, by Steve Miller Band

What stoner hasn't jammed this while sitting in their basement with their friends That 70's Show style? Even if that isn't something you choose to partake in, it's a fun song to crank and sing along to. I personally love to have it full blast in the car with the windows rolled down on a warm sunny day with a friend or two, especially if I can get them to join in with me on the vocals. It's a great way to get a smile on your face really quick.


2. Set You Free, by The Black Keys

This has to be one of my absolute favorite Black Keys songs of all time. This is from their second album Thickfreakness (which of course is also my favorite Black Keys album). This is from the golden age of when they were a lo-fi hard rocking blues band rather than a weird poppy hipster experimental sounding band like they are today. This is a fun upbeat tune with some tasty blues licks. Definitely has some of Dan Auerbach's best guitar playing in it. It's a great tune to sing along to as well.


3. Rock Candy, by Montrose

This is one of the most kick-ass songs Sammy Hagar ever sang on. The song is pretty self-descriptive. It's hard, sweet, and sticky. It's a big sounding rock n' roll song from the era where such a thing was the thing to do if you were making anything that even remotely had balls to it. It definitely has a bit of a Led Zeppelin vibe to it, but at the same time you can still tell it's them doing their own thing. I love the extended guitar parts in it too. This is another good one to crank to 11 and rock out to to your heart's content.


4. Seven Seas of Rhye, by Queen

I'm going to just flat out say it. I think Seven Seas of Rhye is the best Queen song of them all. Even better than Bohemian Rhapsody. It has everything: bravado, melodic lightning fast guitar playing, that incredible piano riff, and Freddie Mercury just being the most bold and awesome that he could ever possibly be. Mercury lets you know just how much of a badass he is in these fantasy themed lyrics. This was definitely Queen at their best; when they were still a heavy rock band rather than all poppy.


5. Wheel in the Sky, by Journey

This in my opinion is one of Journey's absolute coolest songs. It's not a cheesy poppy love ballad like most people know them for, but rather is guitar driven and focuses on other stuff in terms of lyrics. Aside from the solos and guitar riffs, the backing vocals in the chorus really knock it out of the park for me. This is one of those moments where Journey was truly able to shine through as a legitimate rock band and not just be another corporately owned over produced tool to make millions for a record company.


Saturday, April 16, 2016

Steve Miller Fires Back at Black Keys and RRHOF



It seems Steve Miller who was recently inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame has heard some of the statements made by Dan Auerbach of The Black Keys and is also backing up some of the things he said recently about the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

Whereas Auerbach said Miller didn't know anything about The Black Keys, Miller also feels the reverse is true as well. In an interview with the San Diego Tribune, Miller says:

“The guys who inducted me are nice guys, but they didn’t know a thing about me. I was going to ask Elton (John). He knows me and has probably knows my music better than most people… But they said: ‘We’ll pick who inducts you, and it will be a surprise. Oh, and here are all these things you have to sign off on for licensing (for the show).’ I was like: ‘What are you talking about? You guys need to clam down.’

The inductions could be really elegant, really fun for everybody, really smooth, with a real easy contract. Everybody (being honored) is working for free. Hell, it’s costing us money, really. Because they don’t pay union fees, and they make you sign a contract that you understand that, and that you waive all your rights, and it goes on and on. It’s an endless list of stuff that just makes you wonder: ‘Why?’ ”

I can kind of understand where Miller is coming from in some respects, but I still think The Black Keys knew more about him than he gave them credit for. He was after all one of their influences. Plus, if you picked your own inducting person it would kind of make things less special. Given what Auerbach said that Miller was behaving like and saying backstage at the ceremony I still think Miller could have been a bit classier than he was.

Friday, April 15, 2016

Throwback Thursday: Rising, by Rainbow



Guitar legend Ritchie Blackmore just had a birthday! What better a way to celebrate than by doing a retrospective review of Rising, one of the absolute greatest albums he ever did with Rainbow and as an artist overall? Released in 1976, Rising was where Rainbow truly established themselves as the heavy rock/metal giant that they were to become remembered among fans of the genres for many years to come. The second side of the record alone is enough to make someone's jaw drop.

Rising is a massive departure from the sound of the band's first album Ritchie Blackmore's Rainbow which had been released a year prior. This is due to the fact that Blackmore wanted musicians that could keep up with him and make the kind of heavy music he wanted to make at the time. The only person he kept was vocalist Ronnie James Dio, who did an AMAZING job lyrically and vocally. It may not have been his favorite Rainbow record, but it's still the one where he shines through the best in my opinion. Rising is an incredibly grandiose album, to say the least. This is where I feel power metal was born. Mix medieval, with classical, with metal, etc. and the magic of Ritchie Blackmore and you have something often imitated but never duplicated.

Tarot Woman is one of those songs that will raise the hairs on your arms and the back of your neck the moment the first note from the synth is laid down. Keyboardist Tony Carey does NOT hold back here. When the build -up to the rest of the band coming in begins you just KNOW you're in for one hell of a wild ride. When it takes off, you're not let down. From start to finish you're taken on a whirlwind of mysterious electric guitar melodies, pulsing rhythms, gypsies, and synthesizer gods. Bassist Jimmy Bain did an absolutely fantastic job thundering away on bass in this tune while also keeping things subtle enough for the softer parts.

Stargazer is without a doubt Ritchie Blackmore's crowning achievement as a musician. This composition is grand and powerful. Hell, Blackmore even brought in the Munich Philharmonic Orchestra to back the band on this track. It feels like you are being taken on a mysterious magical journey into the desert. Its opening drum solo done by the late Cozy Powell and main guitar riff are iconic. There is this warmth to it that is unimaginable unless you hear it for yourself. This is where the magic of Ronnie James Dio's writing and vocal talent truly came alive in Rainbow as well. Even if you normally don't listen to music about wizards and magic, Stargazer might still be the exception. It's a rather long tune, and for good reason.

Rising is an absolutely essential album to have for anyone looking to get into Rainbow, 70's hard rock/metal, or looking to hear the influences and origins of their favorite modern bands' sounds. I've only just scratched the surface of the wonder contained in this album. I'm definitely not ashamed to say this was the first album I ever bought on vinyl. You might not think you like music about gypsies, werewolves, wizards, etc. but you'll change your mind after listening to this Ritchie Blackmore masterpiece.

Rising, by Rainbow receives 4.5 out of 5 stars.

Track List:

1. Tarot Woman
2. Run With the Wolf
3. Starstruck
4. Do You Close Your Eyes
5. Stargazer
6. A Light in the Black

Buy the album on Amazon:

http://www.amazon.com/Rainbow-Rising-Remastered/dp/B00000IMTF/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1460707136&sr=8-1&keywords=Rainbow+Rising

Thursday, April 14, 2016

Black Keys Disillusioned by Their Induction of Steve Miller into RRHOF



This past weekend Steve Miller after so many decades finally got inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. However, like many artists before him he had some rather unsavory comments to make publicly about the institution. The Black Keys, the two man group [consisting of Dan Auerbach and Patrick Carney] that inducted him had some things to say in response.

In an interview with Rolling Stone, Auerbach goes into detail about how poor the experience of meeting and inducting Miller was. Apparently he had never heard of them and when he did try to get to know them a bit it seemed rather in-genuine.

Auerbach says:




“We [Dan Auerbach & Patrick Carney] got a really uncomfortable feeling when we first met Steve. He had no idea who we were. No idea. The first thing he told us was, “I can’t wait to get out of here.” He knew that we signed up to do this speech for him. He didn’t even figure out who we were.

Pat and I were both definitely disappointed, to say the least. But you never really know what to expect when you meet quote unquote “superstars.” Rock & roll superstars, it used to be different for them. Playing stadiums and selling millions and millions of albums. It’s almost like he doesn’t have respect for the younger generations and how hard it is in the business today. When he made his first record, he did it at Olympic Studios with Glyn Johns. Pat and I made our first record in a basement with broken gear.

The whole process was unpleasant. And for Pat and I, honestly, the most unpleasant part was being around him.

Everybody at the Rock Hall was great. It’s always so easy for a f#*$# artist to rag on a big institution. It really is. And a lot of times you have to do that and it’s necessary. But me personally, the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame has only ever really brought me joy since I was a teenager! I used to go there with my dad [when] they would do workshops. They’re responsible for a lot of really positive things in my life. So when they asked us to do this, as much as I wanted to do it for Steve Miller, I wanted to do it for the Rock Hall. Because it has been a form of inspiration for me. It really has. I don’t care if it sounds corny or not, but they have been. It just all felt pretty terrible.”

First of all, this has to be one of the first times I have EVER heard ANYONE speak positively about the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. I'm a little surprised to say the least. Secondly, I'm not too surprised at Miller saying the stuff he did as he is nowhere near the first person to rag on the Hall. I do feel bad for The Black Keys that they had to feel so extremely let down by someone they idolized. It always sucks to find out your heroes aren't the people you think they are.

I am both surprised and not surprised that Miller didn't know who they were. Miller is old enough to where he probably doesn't listen to much in the way of anything new. At the same time however, I am a little surprised because The Black Keys have been one of the hugest acts in rock in the past decade. A great deal of their music SCREAMS blues and rock. Oh well. I do feel for those guys.

Tuesday, April 12, 2016

Whitesnake Singer David Coverdale to Retire in 2017



Former Deep Purple and current Whitesnake vocalist David Coverdale has made public his official plans to retire after a 43+ year career. Said plans are to wrap things up on the 30th anniversary of Whitesnake's big commercial breakthrough album Whitesnake/1987.

Coverdale gave this announcement in a recent interview he did with Rolling Stone. He goes into detail talking about how he meant for Whitesnake's most recent release The Purple Album to be his swan song and a way for him to end in the same way he began. Originally it was meant to be a joint project between him and original Deep Purple guitarist Ritchie Blackmore, but it didn't pan out that way.

In the interview, Coverdale says:

“I was trying to retire. I reached out to Blackmore after 30 years of hostility to bury the hatchet. We started communicating into 2013, when he asked me to speak to his manager about either a Blackmore-Coverdale or some kind of Purple thing. But I couldn’t agree with the ideas that they had. So I thought, ‘Well, this will be my farewell album.' It did so fucking well, it’s like, now I’m looking at retiring next year, on the 30th anniversary of the 1987 album.”

To be honest, I think it is probably for the best that Coverdale is retiring soon. The Purple Album was definitely a great way to pay tribute to the band that got him started, but at this point in time his voice has kind of been shot to hell. As big of a fan of his as I am, Coverdale's voice hasn't aged well. When he is trying to be more laid back and melodic he still sounds pretty good, but he doesn't have that power and range he had as a bucking young lad. Then again, at his age I wouldn't expect him to. That said, I like that he is going out on a high note.

Also, it's a shame that Blackmore didn't follow through with working on the project with Coverdale. I guess it's because he is too busy living in Renaissance Land. At the very least he is doing a few Rainbow shows next year, so at least he hasn't turned his back completely on his fans.

Sunday, April 10, 2016

5 Songs to Get You Through the Week #68

5 Songs to Get You Through the Week is a feature I run on Young Ears, Fresh Perspective on Sundays/early hours of Monday morning where I pick out 5 tunes that I think are notable and tell you a bit about them. The point is to give you some rocking music to help you deal with your weekday blues. You can either listen to one each day, listen to them all at once, or any other combination that you feel. As long as you can get through the week without the man getting you down, that's all I care about. Without further ado, here are the 5 tracks I've picked out for this week:

1. Black Coffee, by Humble Pie

Who knew a song about coffee could actually be pretty damn awesome? Lots of soul packed into just a few minutes. You really don't hear that kind of vocal passion, especially from backing singers all that often any more. This is one of those tunes you can get yourself into a groove with really quick and easy. When cranked loud enough it has just about the same effect as black coffee in that it will wake you up and get you going. Nothing else can compare.


2. Say a Prayer, by Tyler Bryant and the Shakedown

Saw these guys open for Rival Sons a few years back. They rocked pretty hard in their own right. They are a young bunch of guys, but they play classic rock like it was still the 70's while also making it their own. Say a Prayer kind of showcases the kind of raw bluesy power they have in their youthful fresh sound. You would never be able to guess that this wasn't something from a long while back if you didn't know any better.


 3. Mabel's Fatal Fable, by Jason Becker

Guitar shredding classical mastermind Jason Becker during his short lived career (before being stricken with ALS at a young age) did some astounding things while he still had use of his body. One of those things is the Perpetual Burn album, which contained tunes like Mabel's Fatal Fable where despite the fact that it is primarily shred, there is a followable melody that keeps it from just being a guy dicking around on a guitar trying to be the next Eddie Van Halen


4.  Seize the Day, by Avenged Sevenfold

This is one of A7X's softer more ballad-like moments. You can definitely hear the Guns N' Roses influence on the band during Synyster Gates's guitar solo. It sounds incredibly like Slash in terms of melody and structure. Plus, in the video he even kind of holds and carries himself like the Cat in the Hat in that moment. It's borderline ripping GN'R off but I think it stays just the right side of being more of a tip of the hat to them.


5. Tangerine, by Led Zeppelin

I've always liked this song because it's a fascinating fusion between folk and rock. It has an earthy folksy vibe to it, but then there are the moments where the electric guitar kicks in and it is quite clearly rock. I think to be honest that is one of the best things you can do with music. Why just make something straight one genre when you can throw in more than one and maybe even create something that is entirely new?

Saturday, April 9, 2016

Bruce Springsteen Cancels North Carolina Concert Due to New Law

 
 
Bruce "The Boss" Springsteen has just expressed his massive disdain for a new discriminatory law that North Carolina just passed by canceling an upcoming concert date that he had planned in Greensboro, NC.

This law, which is referred to commonly as HB2 was put into place to reverse an ordinance in Charlotte, NC that extended rights to transgender people - specifically giving them the right to use whatever public bathroom they felt most comfortable using given their gender identity. The new law immediately dissipated similar ordinances in other parts of the state as well.

In an official statement from the Boss, he says:
 
“No other group of North Carolinians faces such a burden. To my mind, it’s an attempt by people who cannot stand the progress our country has made in recognizing the human rights of all of our citizens to overturn that progress. Right now, there are many groups, businesses, and individuals in North Carolina working to oppose and overcome these negative developments. Taking all of this into account, I feel that this is a time for me and the band to show solidarity for those freedom fighters.

Some things are more important than a rock show and this fight against prejudice and bigotry – which is happening as I write – is one of them. It is the strongest means I have for raising my voice in opposition to those who continue to push us backwards instead of forwards.”
 
All of the money spent by fans to see the show has been completely refunded. Springsteen's tour will continue on as scheduled, with the next date being in Ohio. Personally, I think Springsteen did an admirable thing. Why bring revenue to a government that is taking away rights from people who just want to be accepted for who they have no choice in being? PayPal also did a similar thing to combat the law recently by rolling back plans to do a major North Carolina expansion. Hopefully the big financial loss will soon get those politicians' heads out of their asses. When it gets down to it, who really cares where you go to the bathroom? We're all their to do our business and that's that.

Thursday, April 7, 2016

Throwback Thursday: Use Your Illusion I & II, by Guns N' Roses



In 1991 Guns N' Roses after 4 years of monumental success from Appetite For Destruction and GN'R Lies needed to find a big way to follow up these two gems. In order to show that they could keep this up, become more than just a passing musical fad that would die out as quickly as it came in, and even go a more creative route than they had before they released two gigantic albums on the same day: Use Your Illusion I and Use Your Illusion II.

Use Your Illusion takes the raw street punk take on classic rock that GN'R had been doing and blew it into the stratosphere with longer songs, more profound lyrics, and more creative riffs. There are still some straight up rockers and some of the band's best known songs like Don't Cry, Knockin' on Heaven's Door, November Rain, Live and Let Die, etc. but there are TONS of others where if you weren't paying close enough attention you would be missing out on something amazing. One of the most notable things about GN'R's change in sound was the replacement of original drummer Steven Adler with Matt Sorum due to Adler's drug abuse problems.

Coma from Use Your Illusion I is GN'R's longest studio song and it is nothing short of a masterpiece. It takes every last bit of talent the band had at the time and channels it into 10 minutes of multiple different parts that all come together quite well. Quite frankly I'm surprised any of them ever remembered how to play it all the way through. It definitely is some of Axl Rose's best self-reflective lyric writing at its finest. It kind of gives you a look into what it is like to be him at the time. By the time the song ends you are left breathless, but in the most epic way.

Estranged from Use Your Illusion II is definitely the saddest song that I have ever heard out of the classic GN'R line-up. It's also another long one that clocks in at about nine and a half minutes. You can feel Axl's pain in the most cutting ways. Anyone suffering from depression to any degree can certainly relate to the lyrics. Add in Slash's mournful yet powerful signature guitar melodies and solos and you've got something that becomes more than just the sum of its parts. If you are not absolutely changed inside to some extent by the end of the song there is something wrong with you.

I could of course go on and on about these two albums as there is so much more to them but then I'd probably be talking your ear off all day long. Ain't nobody got time for that. All that said though, there isn't a single track on either of these albums that isn't a classic in some way or another. It's two and a half hours of pure adrenaline and thought filled rock n' roll. If you can afford to pick up both albums, it's well worth it. There are bound to be quite a few tracks from each of them that you find enjoyable.

Use Your Illusion I & II receive 5 out of 5 stars.

Track List:

Use Your Illusion I:


1. Right Next Door to Hell
2. Dust n' Bones
3. Live and Let Die
4. Don't Cry
5. Perfect Crime
6. You Ain't the First
7. Bad Obsession
8. Back Off Bitch
9. Double Talkin' Jive
10. November Rain
11. The Garden
12. Garden of Eden
13. Don't Damn Me
14. Bad Apples
15. Dead Horse
16. Coma

Use Your Illusion II:

1. Civil War
2. 14 Years
3. Yesterdays
4. Knockin' on Heaven's Door
5. Get in the Ring
6. Shotgun Blues
7. Breakdown
8. Pretty Tied Up
9. Locomotive
10. So Fine
11. Estranged
12. You Could Be Mine
13. Don't Cry (Alternate Lyrics)
14. My World

Buy the albums on Amazon:

Use Your Illusion I:

http://www.amazon.com/Use-Your-Illusion-Guns-Roses/dp/B000000OSE/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1460065084&sr=8-1&keywords=Use+Your+Illusion

Use Your Illusion II:

http://www.amazon.com/Use-Your-Illusion-Guns-Roses/dp/B000000OSG/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1460065084&sr=8-2&keywords=Use+Your+Illusion

Former Deep Purple Bassist/Vocalist Glenn Hughes on Rock Hall Induction



Over multiple decades it's been absolutely no secret to the rock n' roll community that heavy rock pioneers Deep Purple have gotten the shaft for induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. However, now that this week on April 8th the band is FINALLY getting inducted former bassist/vocalist Glenn Hughes is speaking up on how he feels about it.

Hughes, who was in the band from 1973-1976 was part of Deep Purple's Mark III and Mark IV line-ups, replacing Roger Glover on the four strings, backing up David Coverdale on vocals. He helped the band get through some rough transitions such as Glover and Ian Gillan being removed from the band in 1973 and Ritchie Blackmore quitting in 1975. 

In an interview with Ultimate Classic Rock he talks about how he always knew Purple would get in, saying:

“I had a feeling we’d get in. If there’s a Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, and there’s a band that’s sold around 150 million albums, surely they’re going to be nominated. And in some form, they are still together, flying the flag of the brand and the band. That band and brand has been going now for 48 years. Forget that I was in Deep Purple; I would be wanting to see any band with that longevity over that span get in there. It’s incredible.”

To be honest, I'm a little surprised to hear Hughes say something like this. Usually he plays up his role in the band online and talks about how great he is. I'm a bit impressed to see him do something like this and be a bit less self-centered. Don't get me wrong, though. The guy is INCREDIBLY talented. Hell, I'm going to see him play in August. Even in his old age his voice is still powerful and his writing creative. I am definitely glad though that he is being inducted into the RRHoF with Coverdale, Blackmore, Glover, Gillan, Rod Evans, Ian Paice, and Jon Lord.

Monday, April 4, 2016

Keith Emerson Laid to Rest



Pioneer prog rock keybaordist Keith Emerson of the band Emerson Lake & Palmer was finally laid to rest this past Friday at a private ceremony by his family after having passed away at the age of 71 last month on March 11th.

Emerson's death was discovered to be a suicide, as he was discovered by his girlfriend with a self-inflicted gun shot wound to the head. The reasoning was because he had a degenerative nerve condition in his hand, which would render him unable to keep playing the keys.

People close to Emerson had some wonderful things to say about their lost loved one. Emerson's son Aaron Emerson posted a picture of his father’s grave to his Facebook and said:

“I would like to thank all the thousands of people who have sent messages of love and condolences to myself and my family after the passing of my father. We followed his wishes, and he has been laid to rest in Sussex. Rest in peace Dad.”

Guitarist Dave Kilminster also posted a picture of the churchyard and said:

“It was a warm, sunny afternoon when we said our final goodbyes. I was asked to sing a song during the service. I don't think I've ever felt so nervous – but it was such a beautiful ceremony, with so much love. I don't think the day could have gone any better.”

Drummer Carl Palmer reorganized his North American tour with Carl Palmer’s ELP Legacy as a tribute to Emerson, saying:

“We have lost a very talented and gifted musician but this great music will continue for a long, long time.”

It's good that Emerson's friends and loved ones have been able to begin to find some peace over this tragic loss. It's kind of like a punch to the gut when such a key piece of your life gets taken away from you. Fortunately however, it seems as though his legacy will be remembered and his music played on for multiple generations to come.

5 Songs to Get You Through the Week #67

5 Songs to Get You Through the Week is a feature I run on Young Ears, Fresh Perspective on Sundays/early hours of Monday morning where I pick out 5 tunes that I think are notable and tell you a bit about them. The point is to give you some rocking music to help you deal with your weekday blues. You can either listen to one each day, listen to them all at once, or any other combination that you feel. As long as you can get through the week without the man getting you down, that's all I care about. Without further ado, here are the 5 tracks I've picked out for this week:

1. Sweet Tea, by California Breed

This Glenn Hughes lead group sadly folded up WAY too quickly. They made some pretty raw, punchy, grooving sunshine tinted rock n' roll. Sweet Tea sounds kind of basic as a single, but it's still a lot of fun. Then again, the simpler the song the more popular it will be usually. Right? One of the minor aspects of the song that I find rather pleasing are the high range backing vocal harmonies. It kind of reminded me of Van Halen in a way. Check it out.


2. Who, Me?, by Buckethead

This is one of my absolute favorite Buckethead songs. It's entirely acoustic and sans-vocals, which is by no means a bad thing. In fact, this tune shows off more of his emotional side. I'll admit that on the right day at the right time it's given me some serious feels. Now if you're not in the head space to get into something like that it might kind of just go over your head. However, if you're willing to open your heart up in the right way you might just get something you didn't know you wanted.


3. In Flames, by The Last in Line

Original members of Ronnie James Dio's solo band Jimmy Bain, Vivian Campbell, and Vinnie Appice teamed up with vocalist Andrew Freeman to pay tribute to Ronnie's legacy by performing his music live while also making new music. This tune in particular has a rather modern sounding riff to it, but at the same time, the lead work ties it back to their 80's origins without it being too stereotypical quite nicely.


4. Bad Moon Rising, by Credence Clearwater Revival

One of the most entertaining parts about this song aside from the fact that it's fun, upbeat, and catchy is that the chorus has one of the most misheard lyrics of all time. Where it's normally supposed to say "there's a bad moon on the rise" many people have instead mistaken it for "there's a bathroom on the right". All that aside, it's still a great tune that gets overplayed on commercial radio fairly often for a damn good reason. What are some of your favorite misheard lyrics?


5. Wrathchild, by Iron Maiden

This song was the reason I got into the early Paul Di'Anno era of Iron Maiden. That bass line and guitar riffs just knock it out of the park for me. Plus, Di'Anno's dark punkish vocal tone kind of does some eargasmic stuff with that song that Bruce Dickinson would never be able to do despite the fact that overall he was clearly a better fit for the band. If you've never heard any of the early stuff from Maiden, this is definitely one of the best places to start.

 

Saturday, April 2, 2016

Guns N' Roses Fills in Details for Upcoming Tour



Guns N' Roses have on the same day as they performed a surprise warm-up show at the Troubador (a famous Sunset Strip, Las Angeles, CA night club) have announced some details for the upcoming Not in This Life Time tour.

GN'R will be playing in Las Vegas at the new T-Mobile Arena next week and will be playing the Coachella Festival in Indio, CA later in the month. Tickets for the entire tour go on pre-sale on April 7th and official sale on the 8th.

This tour will be the first tour to feature original band members Slash and Duff McKagan since 1993. At this time there is no confirmation on whether or not original drummer Steven Adler will be participating and Izzy Stradlin does not seem to be involved at all either. In the mean time they have Frank Ferrer and Richard Fortus filling in.

I kind of dig the name they gave the tour, as they come from a statement Axl Rose gave in 2012 about whether or not there would ever be an original GN'R reunion where he said: "Not in this life time". I kind of like how he ate his own words and used them to usher in the new era of old GN'R. I just hope to God I can get enough money to get a ticket in time. Below are the dates and venues of the tour.

Guns N' Roses "Not in This Life Time" Tour Dates:

4/8-9 – Las Vegas, NV: T-Mobile Arena
4/16 – Indio, CA: Coachella Music Festival
4/19-20 – Mexico City: Foro Sol
4/23 – Indio, CA: Coachella Music Festival
6/23 – Detroit, MI: Ford Field
6/26 – Washington, DC: Fedex Field
6/29 – Kansas City, MO: Arrowhead Stadium
7/1 – Chicago, IL: Soldier Field
7/6 – Cincinnati, OH: Paul Brown Stadium
7/9 – Nashville, TN: Nissan Stadium
7/12 – Pittsburgh, PA: Heinz Field
7/14 – Philadelphia, PA: Lincoln Financial Field
7/16 – Toronto, ON: Rogers Centre
7/19 – Foxboro, MA: Gilette Stadium
7/23 – East Rutherford, NJ: MetLife Stadium
7/27 – Atlanta, GA: Georgia Dome
7/29 – Orlando, FL: Orlando Citrus Bowl
7/31 – New Orleans, LA: Mercedes-Benz Superdome
8/3 – Arlington, TX: AT&T Stadium
8/5 – Houston, TX: NRG Stadium
8/9 – San Francisco, CA: AT&T Park
8/12 – Seattle, WA: CenturyLink Field
8/15 – Glendale, AZ: University of Phoenix Stadium
8/22 – San Diego, CA: Qualcomm Stadium

Friday, April 1, 2016

Throwback Thursday: Let There Be Rock, by AC/DC



Another AC/DC review? Come on, Josh! Sod off. It's Angus Young's birthday. Anyway, Let There Be Rock really shows AC/DC hitting their stride in 1977. This is where the band really began to take off and truly be competition with the other big rock acts going around at that time. Plus, the fact that two of its tracks are to this day still considered to be major AC/DC classics also helped them out in a big way as successful singles usually tend to do with any artist.

Many fans consider Let There Be Rock to be the first "true" AC/DC album because this is the album where the band shifted its sound from short overdriven fun sped up blues songs to the longer more brash hard rock they are known for today. As mentioned earlier, it contains two of AC/DC's most well known songs: Let There Be Rock and Whole Lotta Rosie. Fun story: During the recording of the title track Let There Be Rock Angus's amp exploded and caught fire during the final solo, but he just kept playing anyway. By the end, the amplifier was a smoldering melted mess.

Hell Ain't a Bad Place to Be is a really crunchy rocker. With its chords that ring out and riffs that punch you square in the teeth, it truly is easy to see the beginning of the band we all know and love. Personally, I love Bon Scott's wailing throughout the tune. I love how raw everything is too. While the song structure and style is similar to what they would become known for, this is before everything was overly polished in the studio like it would be later on with Back in Black. This song rocks drives and rocks so hard that it almost makes you start to believe that maybe Hell really isn't that bad of a place.

Whole Lotta Rosie is always a fun song to rock around to. The moment that DAH-DUH-DAH-DUH-DAH-DUH-DAH! kicks in you just KNOW that something awesome is about to happen. It's enough to get your foot tapping, your head banging, and your fist pumping. When the whole rest of the song kicks in and Scott starts howling away about his love of a certain voluptuous woman it's hard not to get swept up in the fun. Yes, the subject matter is shallow but it really wouldn't be any fun if it wasn't. This song is one fun ride that picks you up and doesn't give you a break from start to finish.

Let There Be Rock admittedly isn't the best AC/DC album by any means, but it's still a great way to see where the band evolved from being a dirty over driven version of a 50's rockabilly band to the hard rock legends they are today. There are definitely quite a few good tunes on the album. Hell, it's worth it just for the epic long title track alone. If you have an appetite for some real ball busting rock n' roll, your hunger will be fed with this killer album.

Let There Be Rock, by AC/DC receives 3.5 out of 5 stars.

Track List:

1. Go Down
2. Dog Eat Dog
3. Let There Be Rock
4. Bad Boy Boogie
5. Problem Child
6. Overdose
7. Hell Ain't a Bad Place to Be
8. Whole Lotta Rosie

Buy the album on Amazon:

http://www.amazon.com/Let-There-Be-Rock-AC/dp/B00008WT5C/ref=sr_1_cc_1?s=aps&ie=UTF8&qid=1459493598&sr=1-1-catcorr&keywords=AC%2FDC+Let+There+Be+Rock