Top Ten Albums of 2014 Part 4 (Final Part)

Last day of 2014! I hope your year was as rocking as it could be. If not, at least it's almost over and you can start fresh in 2015. Anyway, this is the final part of my Top 10 Albums of 2014 series of posts. Today we get to find out what the top 3 albums I picked are! Hooray! Yesterday, I got through numbers 4-5which you can find if you click here. You can find 6-8 if you click here. To find 9-10, click here.

3. California Breed, by California Breed

In late 2012, hard rock super group Black Country Communion which was comprised of Deep Purple bassist and vocalist Glenn Hughes, Dream Theater keyboardist Derek Sherinian, blues guitar prodigy Joe Bonamassa, and Jason Bonham, son of the late Led Zeppelin drummer John Bonham parted ways. However, Hughes and Bonham still felt a chemistry with one another and wanted to work together on something completely new. That is when a 23 year old guitarist by the name of Andrew Watt whom Hughes had met through a friend was brought into the picture.

Watt's driving funk rock chops seems to mesh well with Hughes's and Bonham's pre-existing chemistry on the group's debut record California Breed, which came out this year. The sound is a huge departure from that of BCC. Every track on the album sounds raw, charged, honest, driving, and in general fun. It does have a very California type vibe to it. When I put it on it makes me feel as though I'm driving in a convertible down the street on a nice sunny day. Despite Hughes's advanced age he gives one hell of a fresh performance vocally, lyrically, and in terms of song writing. Again, credit to a man with a legacy who does not choose to stick to the past.

2. Modern Vintage, by Sixx: AM

The trio that brought you such songs as Life is Beautiful and Lies of the Beautiful People are back with a whole new album. However, this time around, Nikki Sixx, DJ Ashba, and James Michael have taken a bit of a different approach to the song writing. Where most of their tunes are known for being somewhat heavy metal/heavy alternative rock in nature this time the concept they were aiming for was to take the styles of the music they all listened to growing up and putting their own personal modern spin on them; hence the title.

Each song on here is a unique musical gem. You can find tunes that are just straight up rockers, but then you find ones that have almost a mild folksy, a funky, or a flamboyant Queen-esque vibe to them. Then of course you have a couple of ballads and even a cover of the classic tune Drive, by The Cars. It's another album with a little something for everybody, though all of the tunes are pretty easy to like. I honestly feel that this is probably the band's best work yet, which is really saying something because their previous album This is Gonna Hurt blew me away too.

1. Great Western Valkyrie, by Rival Sons

My pick for the album of the year for 2014 is Great Western Valkyrie, by Long Beach, California based rockers Rival Sons. Rival Sons combine hard rock, blues, and soul to make a sound that is comparable to many classic rock bands, yet at the same time is one all their own. This year these guys put out their fourth full length studio album Great Western Valkyrie. It's a bit of a departure from the sound of their previous albums though, partially due to the addition of a new bassist. Surprisingly, yet not so at the same time their sound has taken a more heavy British Invasion type direction.

There is a wonderful blend of influences from bands like The Who, to The Animals, to even Led Zeppelin and beyond. However, what makes the album special is while these influences are there, Rival Sons is by no means trying to copy off of any of them. It's more like they are saying "This is what we like, this is our musical style, and this is what we're pushing forward with" rather than just trying to sound old school for the sake of sounding old school. Plus, while the sound is old school they are still loud and heavy enough to keep up with the rest of the big boys in this day and age. If you're looking for some real honest to God rock n' roll, look no further. These guys are right up your alley.

Albums I didn't list:

Now I know what a lot of you may be thinking. "Why didn't you mention the Pink Floyd, Slash, Uriah Heep, AC/DC, Ace Frehley, Jack Bruce, etc. albums?". To be honest, while I absolutely LOVE those bands and artists I didn't really feel anything from their new albums. None of it felt like there was any real energy, drive, or willingness to create something new and fresh like they did when they were younger. There weren't any tunes in particular from those albums that really grabbed me and made me open up all of my senses. I was sadly kind of bored while listening to these albums, which then lead me to just put on their old stuff instead. Hopefully next time around this changes.

Anyway, let me know if you agree or disagree with my list. What were some albums from 2014 that you liked? Let me know in the comments below.

Top 10 Albums of 2014 Part 3

The fun continues! Earlier this week I started a countdown of what I feel the top 10 albums of 2014 are, releasing two or three of the albums each day till New Years Eve. We are now at the half point, having done 6-8 yesterday and 9-10 the day before. In order to see what I listed yesterday (6-8), click here. To see what I put the day before (9-10), click here. Without further ado, let's get on with the show and see what 4-5 are!

5. Redeemer of Souls, by Judas Priest

Though metal gods Judas Priest have certainly eased off the throttle in terms of touring in recent years, they have by no means gotten out of the fast lane with their music. Redeemer of Souls is the first album without founding guitarist K.K. Downing and features new member Richie Faulkner in his stead. Though Downing is sorely missed by fans of the band, Faulkner does more than well enough in filling the shoes and preserving the legacy of this extraordinary band of metal pioneers; which is by no means an easy feat to accomplish.

Redeemer of Souls is pretty much a musical return to their older style that they were known for in the late 70's and early 80's while also still having some modern touches here and there to not sound like they are just clinging to the past. Interestingly enough there is even a track that has a SERIOUS funk rock vibe; something that I personally never would have seen coming out of Judas Priest. Any fan of the band or old school hard rock and heavy metal will not be disappointed when they pick up a copy of this. Judas Priest may be entering their golden years, but that only means that their music is golden too in this case.

4. Shine, by Bernie Marsden

Bernie who? Again, I understand if you aren't quite familiar with Bernie Marsden. He was one of the founding guitarists of Whitesnake in the late 70's and early 80's. Back then however, the band had a much more bluesy sound, unlike the heavy hair metal they became known for later on. This year he finally put out a new album of all new material under his own name titled Shine. I have to say, for an old timer he sounds incredibly youthful, fresh, and energetic in both his guitar and vocal performances on it. You would never guess he is 63.

Shine is a splendid blend of straight blues and driving rock n' roll with a dash of REALLY old school Mississippi delta style blues here and there. Any fans of the old Whitesnake will be able to easily latch onto it, especially since there is a modernized re-recorded version of the Whitesnake track Trouble with his former band mate David Coverdale singing on it. Even for the average listener however, it is some solid work. It also features blues aficionado Joe Bonamassa on a track as well as Cherry Lee Mewis. He is one of the few old rockers who isn't trying to just cling to his old sound. By going forward in his own way he far surpasses some of the more well known bands/artists who put out albums this year.

Top 10 Albums of 2014 Part 2

2014 is coming to an end. Know what that means? Time for a top 10 list of the best albums of the year! I have decided to spread the list through the week and only including two or three albums in the order in which I'm ranking them each day. Yesterday I got the ball rolling and went into a bit of detail about what numbers 9 and 10 are. Today I'll be talking about 8, 7, and 6. To see what I ranked as numbers 9 and 10 yesterday, click here.

8. Sonic Highways, by The Foo Fighters

Dave Grohl has once again brought raw meaningful rock n' roll to the mainstream with The Foo Fighters' latest release Sonic Highways. Anyone who has followed the band for some time will not be too surprised by the nature of this album's content, but in a way that is not necessarily a bad thing. It blends balls to the wall riffs and raw vocals with pure heartfelt moments and pleasant melodies. At one point in the song Something From Nothing there is even a tribute to the late metal vocalist Ronnie James Dio where the main riff from Holy Diver is played briefly.

In all honesty, this is a pretty solid effort from Grohl. I'm more of a fan of the earlier Foo's stuff but the beauty of this band is that they evolve and adapt over time while still being true to themselves and the messages that they try to get across to the world. It's better this way because nobody wants the same album over and over again. Not every band can get away with stuff like that the way that AC/DC can.

7. Red Dragon Cartel, by Red Dragon Cartel

If you were a fan of Ozzy Osbourne in the mid 80's, then chances are you knew who Jake E. Lee is. After nearly two and a half decades of virtual silence (except a few tribute records here and there throughout the years) Osbourne's former guitarist has burst back onto the heavy metal scene in a humongous way, with his playing chops still as solid and flashy as ever. For this endeavor Lee put together an entirely new band with mostly unknown musicians who despite this fact are by no means slouches.

In his new band's debut, Lee shows that he is not stuck in the 80's like many other musicians of his generation. He features many of his more modern influences while at other points tearing it up old school style for his older fans. The songs on Red Dragon Cartel do show that Lee meant for himself to be the centerpiece, or main focal point if you will. It is his project after all so that is to be expected. Everything still comes together very nicely, though. It is some solid heavy metal and a great way for Lee to make his return. To add even more incentive, Red Dragon Cartel also features guest spots by Robin Zander, Paul Di'Anno, Maria Brink, Sass Jordan, Rex Brown, Scott Reeder, Todd Kerns, Brent Fitz, and Jeremy Spencer.

6. Get Right, by The Soft White Sixties

Now I understand most of you probably have not heard of this group yet, but that is perfectly understandable. Unlike the impression their name may give, The Soft White Sixties are anything but soft. They are a newer band that have been building up a bit of momentum in the past year or two. Get Right is their first full length release and it is really something else. It's a unique blend of classic rock and modern pop. You wouldn't think that such a blend would work out particularly well, but believe me when I say that it does. It makes two genres that would normally be on opposing sides in their fandoms accessible to one another. In their live performances they are so full of life and energy that it's hard not to have a good time.

The music on Get Right is reflective of those shows by being really energetic, melodic, and creative. The blend of guitar and keys is impeccable, considering it's one guy (Aaron Eisenberg) doing both of them at the same time (at least live anyway). A lot of the music has a really sweet groove to it that makes it easy for anyone to dance to. The cherry on the sundae however is the vocals. You can tell that vocalist Octavio Genera could get away with doing straight pop if he wanted to but instead brings that same talent and energy to rock instead. Look up this album. You won't regret it.

Top 10 Albums of 2014 Part 1

 So 2014 is coming to an end in a few days as we're all well aware. It has been quite a busy year for music. Many artists both old and new have come out with albums within the past 12 months. Some good, some bad, some just so-so. What I am going to be doing here at Young Ears, Fresh Perspective over the next few days is a list of what I feel were the ten best albums that came out this year. Each day will have two or three of the albums, so you'll have to wait till the next day to see what comes next. That being said, let's get this party started!

 
10. Turn Blue, by The Black Keys

Now I will admit that it took me some time to warm up to this album. However, eventually the atmospheric and experimental nature of the songs won me over. I still don't consider this an actual Black Keys album (as unlike the music they were originally known for at the beginning of the band, there is virtually no rawness or blues to it whatsoever except at maybe one or two brief points), but nonetheless I still like the music on it.

Most of the songs have the same general vibe and overall it makes for good night time driving music. Turn Blue kind of helps you relax, unwind, and maybe get a little more introspective as you travel to whatever destination the road ahead leads you to. This album isn't for everybody but if you want to listen to something a little different and maybe expand your mind a little you have come to the right place.

9. Lazaretto, by Jack White

Jack White has certainly made a musical departure from the raw semi-simplistic garage rock sound of The White Stripes, which broke up back in 2011. However, his abundance of talent is still as prevalent as ever in this eclectic record. The sound ranges from blues, to rock, to country, to alternative, and beyond. I have to applaud White for his efforts in expressing the other facets of his musical tastes and skills and being completely original about it. Some times when an artist goes solo they end up just sounding like their old band, but maybe with one or two subtle differences.

Many of the songs seem more like compositions and don't focus on any one instrument in particular. The way all of the vast multitude of musicians White brought in work together is simply extraordinary. That being said, there really is something for everyone on Lazaretto including old White Stripes fans. Chances are you will find at least one tune on the record that catches your interest and stays with you for quite some time.

5 Songs to Get You Through the Week #6

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. Changes, by David Bowie

This happy sounding little piano jaunt is sure to get you singing along and raise your spirits despite the fact that the work/school week has started once again. Bowie always did seem to have a way of making social and political commentary that was relevant to what was going on at the time while blending it all into a magical pop musical cocktail. This song seems to exemplify this better than almost any other tune in his repertoire. If you like fun music with some actual depth to it, you have come to the right place.

2. Round and Round, by Ratt

If you're still in the mood for something fun but with a bit more drive and balls to it, this 80's hair metal classic will get you where you need to go. Few bands have personified what the 80's hair metal movement was about as well as Ratt. The guitars are loud, shredding, and melodic, the chorus is extremely memorable, the vocals are filled with extreme confidence and charisma, and everyone in the band was hair sprayed up to high heaven and back again. It's 80's cheese at its absolute best and I wouldn't have it any other way.

3. Christmas Time is Here, by Steve Vai

Because it is the week of Christmas, I will put ONE carol into this mix. Most people who know guitarist extraordinaire Steve Vai know him for being a loud, shredding, rip-roaring beast of a guitar player. However, he is at the same time quite versatile on his instrument and he proves this in his jazzy instrumental laid back version of this holiday classic. Even those who aren't that much into rock n' roll/the electric guitar can probably appreciate the pleasant nature of this cover. It makes you feel the warm fuzzies all over.

4. The Pink Panther Theme, by Bumblefoot

Bumblefoot is another guitar playing master who up until recently was a lead guitarist in the current incarnation of Guns N' Roses. However, he has quite the rich catalog of his own solo material that combines musical proficiency with humor. Anyway, during his tenure in GN'R he came up with his own rocked up cover of the classic Pink Panther theme song that he would play during tours as his guitar solo during the show. At one point, he and the rest of the band went into the studio to record the tune. It's surprising how well this song translates from jazz into tear-it-up rock n' roll. If you're ready to try something a bit different, this is right up your alley.

5. Are You Gonna Be My Girl, by Jet

This is the song that as far as I'm concerned helped save garage rock back in the early 00's. It made the genre accessible and popular again with the masses. It's zippy, lighthearted, and fun while still having a very much rock n' roll edge to it. I honestly wonder how their singer Nic Cester was able to scream his lungs out so consistently without hurting himself somehow. You can tell that every last guy in the band was having fun while playing this song and I believe that is a huge part of what gives it the edge it has.

New Jimmy Page Material Will "Stimulate All the Senses"

 
Ex-Led Zeppelin guitarist Jimmy Page has recently been working on some new music for probably the first time in almost a couple of decades and is making some fairly hefty promises about the nature of it.

In a recent interview with Classic Rock Magazine the subject made a turn towards Page's solo work, to which Page said it was "sparkling". He elaborated further by saying that his goal with the new music was to "stimulate all the senses". Sounds like a pretty tremendous objective if you ask me, but if anyone can do it I'm sure it would be Jimmy Page. I have never been particularly disappointed in anything he set out to do.

In terms of how Page will go about things in terms of making an album and then possibly doing a 'Greatest Hits Tour' Page says, “Whatever I do, I don’t want everyone to have made up their mind what I’m doing before I’ve done it. I mean, they already have. On the Internet, people are telling me that, ‘Oh, you’re doing this, and you’re doing that,’ and I’m — ‘Am I? Just wait and see what I do.’”

It's good that Page is in a way taking a leaf from his former band mate singer Robert Plant and is moving forward musically and making himself relevant today in his own way rather than just trying to live in the past. Page's emphasis in both his new music and his upcoming live sets seems to be surprise. He says, “I’d like to obviously show what I’ve done along the way, but I’d definitely have musical surprises for people so they wouldn’t sort of start yawning.”

Throwback Thursday: Dookie, by Green Day

 
In 1994, punk rock band Green Day released its third studio album Dookie which has since become one of their most popular and influential albums as well as bringing the band and punk rock music into mainstream popularity and winning them the Grammy award for Best Alternative Music Album in 1995. This is most likely due to the fact that it provided five singles that were all hits including: Basket Case, Longview, When I Come Around, Welcome to Paradise, and She.

Dookie along with most of Green Day's work is not exactly what I would consider traditional punk in terms of sound. Don't get me wrong, much of the riffs and song structures are very much punk but the vocals are far less rage driven and politically charged than the bands from which Green Day derived much of its influence. Instead, there is far more melody and lyrical basis on every day life that the general public can relate to. It really is hard not to like a lot of these songs when so many of them have a lot of energy and drive to them.

Basket Case is one tune that does get a lot of attention from long time fans. Its chord structure basically rips off Canon in D, by Pachelbel, but the way it is done makes it pretty forgivable. Like many of the tracks, it is fast paced, loud, and melodic. It's almost impossible not to find yourself singing along to it at some point or another. Believe me, I've tried not to but I don't think it can be done. Honestly, I never thought a song about panic attacks and anxiety disorders could be this fun. Lo and behold, it has been done.

One song that at least I personally have never seen get much discussion is one of my personal favorites: Pulling Teeth. This tune is a bit more slowed down than most of the tunes on Dookie (except maybe When I Come Around). However, what it lacks in energy and balls to the wall guitar sound it makes up for in pleasant vocal melody. It is so catchy that it has never completely left my head since I first heard it years ago. Again, a song that is about a rather unpleasant topic (in this case an abusive relationship) is fun, catchy, and pleasant to the ear. Green Day really seems to have an uncanny knack for doing such things.

This is one of the few times where I really can't find anything I don't like about an album. Green Day accomplished no small feat by making punk rock more accessible to the general public. Considering the genre's background, it's almost a miracle. Hardcore fans of punk may dislike this fact and not consider Green Day to be real punk, which in a way is understandable. That doesn't change the fact that they were rebellious enough to rebel against a rebellion and do their own thing. I find that to be pretty damn admirable. Get this album if you don't have it already. It deserves a place on your music shelf.

Dookie, by Green Day receives 5 out of 5 stars.

Track List:

1. Burnout
2. Having a Blast
3. Chump
4. Longview
5. Welcome to Paradise
6. Pulling Teeth
7. Basket Case
8. She
9. Sassafras Roots
10. When I Come Around
11. Coming Clean
12. Eeminus Sleepus
13. In the End
14. F.O.D.

Buy the album on Amazon:

http://www.amazon.com/Dookie-Green-Day/dp/B000002MP2/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1418963821&sr=8-1&keywords=Dookie