Throwback Thursday: "Shout at the Devil", by Motley Crue

By 1983 a little known band by the name of Motley Crue had put out their debut album Too Fast For Love to some decent response, but they had yet to make much of a real splash. That all changed drastically however when those starry eyed glam metal kids wrote and recorded their sophomore effort, the still famous and considered classic to this day Shout at the Devil, after which things skyrocketed for them.

Shout at the Devil shows the band taking a MUCH heavier and darker sound than their previous album, which had basically been 70's glam rock but given some more driving and distorted guitar. The album featured such staples as "Shout at the Devil", "Too Young to Fall in Love", "Looks That Kill", etc. Needless to say, the overall sound of this album resonated much more with the market they were aiming for at the time.

"Shout at the Devil" is such an anthemic track. That opening riff backed by that slow pulsing hit on the bass drum and bass guitar just thunders through your body and makes you want to pump your fist and shout along with the band. This is definitely some of the most raw and primal song writing that bassist and primary Motley Crue song writer Nikki Sixx has ever done. That dark youthful energy just pummels this song to a whole new level.

The Crue also did a cover of the Beatles classic "Helter Skelter" on this record. Honestly in my opinion it is probably the best cover version of this song and comes second only to the original. It definitely has some serious balls to it with heavier guitars, louder rhythm, and howling vocals that come fairly close to Paul McCartney's. This cover really was a match made in heaven for Motley Crue.

Honestly, Shout at the Devil is one of the most important albums that Motley Crue ever put out. Had they not put it out when they did, they might not have made it as huge as they did. It has some of the best song writing and definitely much of Mick Mars's best guitar work of his entire career. They held nothing back when putting this to tape. This is one of the albums I would advise a new Crue fan pick up and listen to first.

Shout at the Devil, by Motley Crue receives 4 out of 5 stars.

Track List:

1. In the Beginning
2. Shout at the Devil
3. Looks That Kill
4. Bastard
5. God Bless the Children of the Beast
6. Helter Skelter
7. Red Hot
8. Too Young to Fall in Love
9. Knock 'em Dead, Kid
10. Ten Seconds to Love
11. Danger

Buy the album on Amazon:

https://www.amazon.com/Shout-At-Devil-M%C3%B6tley-Cr%C3%BCe/dp/B076W9J4GP/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1522392502&sr=8-1&keywords=shout+at+the+devil

5 Songs to Get You Through the Week #158

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. Ice Station Zebra, by Jack White

Last week the Willy Wonka of rock n' roll came out with his third studio solo LP Boarding House Reach and boy is it something else. This has to be one of the most peculiar and out there records I have ever heard in my entire life. Listen for yourself and you'll see what I mean. This tune from it is one of the more straightforward ones, but it's the most hip-hop I've ever seen Jack go. At the same time though, it's surprisingly addicting.

2. Nocturne, by The Sword

If you love some classic Sabbath with trace elements of some other great classic bands, then The Sword is definitely up your alley. This tune in particular from their new album is entirely instrumental and definitely has that 80's Black Sabbath instrumental track feel to it while at the same time still doing plenty of its own thing. It's fairly relaxing, but at the same time intriguing and engaging to the ear.

3. Have Love Will Travel, by The Sonics

If you have had enough of my weird song suggestions for the time being, then here is something a bit more rocking and to the point. The Sonics were one of those cool rough n' tumble lo-fi garage rock bands from the mid-60's that sadly never got all of the major fame and notoriety they truly deserved. This song in particular is their take on a blues classic, but done in their own loud, uptempo, string snapping kind of way.

4. Still Fit to Boogie, by Saxon

This is a tune from Saxon's 1979 debut album Saxon. It is unlike anything else I have ever heard out of the band because it is very much an old school rock n' roll boogie kind of song where most of their material is straight up metal or at least hard rock. Regardless, it is a fun little number that cooks and is sure to help you have a good time or at least brighten your day up a little bit if you are feeling down in the dumps and need a pick me up.

5. HT, by Tsuneo Imahori

Ok, so I'm going to get geeky on you for just a minute. This short little tune is the opening theme song to a classic anime called Trigun. Even if anime isn't really your jive, I think you still might like this song anyway because it is a minute and a half of ripping and running on electric guitar. It almost has a bit of a Steve Vai kind of vibe about it. If you are willing to try something different for a change, I think you might actually like this. Also, the show itself is pretty cool too.

Throwback Thursday: "Icky Thump", by The White Stripes

By 2007 The White Stripes had become a staple in the world of modern rock n' roll. With so many groundbreaking and innovative albums to their name already, people were giddy with anticipation to see what the band would cook up with their sixth studio LP Icky Thump, especially since front man Jack White had been busy for a while with his side project band The Raconteurs and the album they had put out the year prior.

Where their previous album, 2005 release Get Behind Me, Satan had been mostly piano and other forms of unplugged instrument driven music, Icky Thump showcases the band going back to being a plugged in balls to the wall cranked to 11 rock n' roll band, though in a more evolved and mildly experimental way. Notable tunes from the record include "Icky Thump", "You Don't Know What Love Is", "Conquest", etc.

"Icky Thump" is actually the second song by The White Stripes I had ever heard. Before I had only listened to "Seven Nation Army" and didn't have much interest outside of that. This tune with its thumping and crunching riffs, wild vocals, and unusual guitar sounds made me want to dig into the band's entire catalog that very moment. Who knew a song about how absurd it is to treat illegal immigrants the way we do could be so rocking and fantastic?

"Rag and Bone" is one of my personal favorite songs of all time from The White Stripes. While it doesn't feature a traditional song structure or even sung verses, it is something to behold. It feels more like you are being bugged at the door by dirty grimy bums who want all your stuff that you don't want so they can sell it all while set to a driving, stomping, rock n' roll boogie. You wouldn't think that would work, but it does.

Sadly, Icky Thump was the very last album The White Stripes ever made. After the tour ended early with multiple canceled dates due to drummer Meg White suffering from acute anxiety the band went on hiatus. On February 2nd, 2011 it was announced that the band was over and done with for good. I suppose if the band had to end, it's better for them to have burned out on a high note than to have faded away into mediocrity.

Icky Thump, by The White Stripes receives 4 out of 5 stars.

Track List:

1. Icky Thump
2. You Don't Know What Love Is
3. 300 M.P.H. Torrential Outpour Blues
4. Conquest
5. Bone Broke
6. Prickly Thorn, but Sweetly Worn
7. St. Andrew (This Battle is in the Air)
8. Little Cream Soda
9. Rag and Bone
10. I'm Slowly Turning into You
11. A Martyr for My Love for You
12. Catch Hell Blues
13. Effect and Cause

Buy the album on Amazon:

https://www.amazon.com/Icky-Thump-White-Stripes/dp/B000OYC3J8/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1521788806&sr=8-4&keywords=Icky+Thump

5 Songs to Get You Through the Week #157

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. Waiting on a Sign, by Ritchie Blackmore's Rainbow

After 23 years, Ritchie Blackmore's Rainbow has returned with a brand new original song. That's right, an original. Not a new even lesser version of a crappy Joe Lynn Turner era tune or an instrumental take on a traditional song. A new song by the band. It definitely has a bit of that Ronnie James Dio first album vibe mixed with some Bad Company. It's nothing stellar or groundbreaking, but it doesn't need to be. It gave me that classic Rainbow feeling one more time.

2. Immigrant Song, by Led Zeppelin

Used in countless popular movies, TV shows, commercials, etc. this tune is the definition of badass classic rock. With that galloping riff, those chilling high vocals, booming rhythms, and lyrics about vikings, how can you go wrong? This is one of those songs that is allowed to be overplayed on commercial radio because it's just so awesome and never gets old. It's the perfect song to get your blood pumping when you need it most.

3. Safari Song, by Greta Van Fleet

Speaking of Led Zeppelin, here is a song from their younger clone. Seriously, put this song on. I guarantee within the first 30 seconds you will be flabbergasted at just how spot on to Led Zeppelin's sound they are. Even the vocalist can easily be mistaken for Robert Plant. Honestly, if you put this song on and you didn't know it was a different band, you might think that this was unused material or a B side or something. Regardless, it's still a kickass tune.

4. Rock Steady, by Bad Company

Also, speaking of Bad Company.... Here is the song that the Rainbow tune reminds me of. It has a similar vibe and atmosphere. That said, this song is pretty rad. It has this infectious guitar riff that just grooves into your soul and sticks with you. It has everything that a good classic rock song needs: a memorable guitar riff, powerful melodic vocals, sleazy lyrics, cowbell, etc. Can't go wrong with a tune with a ton of cowbell, right?

5. Flash of the Blade, by Avenged Sevenfold

And now for something completely different. To wrap this week up, here is a cover A7X did years back of an Iron Maiden classic. While I am a HUGE fan of Maiden, this might be one of the few and far between occasions where I like a cover better than the original. The production is better, M. Shaodows brings this nice nasty snarl, and The Rev does some awesome backing vocals to hit the higher notes that Shadows can't.

Throwback Thursday: "Slip of the Tongue", by Whitesnake

In 1987, Whitesnake was launched into the stratosphere in terms of fame and commercial success. Their album Whitesnake aka 1987 was filled to the brim with chart topping hits and everyone knew who they were, or at least their songs. In 1989 it was time for the David Coverdale lead band to start working on a follow-up LP that would be strong enough to keep the gravy train going. The result was their final initial run album Slip of the Tongue.

Although Slip of the Tongue did not do anywhere near as well for Whitesnake commercially, it still featured many songs that loyal long time fans of the band still know and love to this day, such as "The Deeper the Love", "Slip of the Tongue", "Fool for Your Lovin' '89", etc. To make things even better, guitar god Steve Vai did all of the guitar playing on this record, which in turn brought it to a much higher level musically.

"The Deeper the Love" definitely has that late 80's Whitesnake hair metal ballad feel to it. It just oozes cheese and hairspray. Definitely the kind of song you put on to get your girlfriend in the mood back in the 80's. That said, its saving grace is that Steve Vai does one hell of a wicked job on the guitar work - especially in the solo section. None of the other guitarists who have come and gone through the band since have been able to come anywhere near being able to touch it.

Now for those of you with actual taste in music, this album still has you covered. By far without a single fraction of a shadow of a doubt, "Wings of the Storm" is the single best track on Slip of the Tongue. Hell, it might be the best hair metal era Whitesnake song. This is straight up metal. Ripping riffs, powerful melodies, passionate singing, driving thundering rhythms, and a solo that Steve Vai himself admitted was the most difficult thing he has ever played in his entire career. Definitely worth checking out.

Slip of the Tongue is by far nowhere near being the greatest Whitesnake album, though it does have some of their best tracks. It was a solid effort to attempt to follow up 1987, but it just didn't quite hit the mark commercially. That said, nearly 30 years later a lot of it still holds up and is worth looking into at least once. If nothing else, it's some Steve Vai shredding that some of you may not have heard at all yet.

Slip of the Tongue, by Whitesnake receives 3.5/5 stars

Track List:

1. Slip of the Tongue
2. Cheap an' Nasty
3. Fool for You Loving '89
4. Now You're Gone
5. Kitten's Got Claws
6. Wings of the Storm
7. The Deeper the Love
8. Judgment Day
9. Slow Poke Music
10. Sailing Ships

Buy the album on Amazon:

https://www.amazon.com/Slip-Tongue-Whitesnake/dp/B000000OZ8/ref=sr_1_fkmr0_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1521167515&sr=8-2-fkmr0&keywords=slip+on+the+tongue+whitesnake

5 Songs to Get You Through the Week #156

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. I Can't Play the Blues, by Bumblefoot

Personally I've always been amused by this song. For those of you who don't know who Bumblefoot is, he is an INCREDIBLY skilled technical guitar player who did a nearly decade stint in Guns N' Roses, but has a solo career as well. This particular song is him singing about how he can't play the blues, but then right at the tail end of the song, he plays one of the most awesome bluesy solos of all time - thus proving that he can in fact play the blues.

2. Way Down We Go, by Kaleo

I'm not generally that big into the whole alternative radio station stuff, but I can definitely get behind the vibe of this song in particular. It just has this soulful groove to it that somehow gets to me. I mistook this for a Black Keys song the first time or two I heard it, but then I quickly sorted that out. Regardless, I love the way the rhythm just slams while the more melodic parts have this softer and introspective vibe about them.

3. Little Black Submarines, by The Black Keys

Speaking of The Black Keys, here is one of their most popular hits to date. I do like this song quite a bit, but I have a VERY serious gripe with it. It shares a lot of similarities with Led Zeppelin's "Stairway to Heaven". It's in the same key, follows the same chord progression, starts off acoustically and transitions into full plugged in band, etc. That said, it's still a good jam to throw on when you want something a bit more soul driven to listen to.

4. Midnight Rider, by Saxon

Saxon while being a heavy, driving metal band could also have some ever so slightly more melodic moments as well. This tune has a catchy chorus melody and this chord progression that somehow just keeps you mentally flowing and moving. It's definitely noticeably different from tunes like "Princess of the Night" or "Denim and Leather", but it definitely has earned a space on the shelf with the rest of the iconic material in the Saxon catalog.

5. Beast Nation, by The Temperance Movement

It feels like a lot of the newer material from The Temperance Movement has gotten kind of soft and eh. Not really the hard driving, bluesy rock n' roll band that I fell in love with. All that said, this song still has some nice guitar work in the verses. Makes me feel a little homesick for their self-titled debut album, but this is still a great tune if you can approach it without the preconceived notions about what the band should be.

Throwback Thursday: "Led Zeppelin III", by Led Zeppelin

By late 1970, British hard rock legends Led Zeppelin had already in the space of a year changed the entire game in rock n' roll forever. With two ginormous blues tinged wall rattling albums to their name, they had already made themselves a force to be reckoned with. With their third release Led Zeppelin III they showed that not only could they rock, but there was a more creative and dynamic side to them as well.

Led Zeppelin III was a transitional album of sorts for Led Zeppelin. Where their previous two albums had been primarily loud stomping bluesy rock n' roll, this album was more focused on straight up rock as well as European and American folk music. Some of its best known tunes are "Immigrant Song", "Since I've Been Loving You", "Tangerine", and more, all of which showcase a different side of the band's musical personality and what was to come from them in the future.

Who in their right mind doesn't absolutely LOVE "Immigrant Song"? That song is the definition of headbanging, chair throwing, air punching rock n' roll. That Jimmy Page guitar riff is iconic and Robert Plant's howling into the wind vocals are one of the most memorable things in the entire Led Zeppelin catalog. It is definitely an essential part of any classic rock or even regular hard rock playlist. Plus, this is where tunes about vikings became popular in main stream.

Led Zeppelin III did not get rid of the blues in the Zeppelin sound altogether. In fact, it has one of the best blues songs in the band's whole repertoire: "Since I've Been Loving You". The guitar playing is sparse in some areas, but that only makes a much bigger impact when it comes pounding in during the choruses and makes for some of the most emotionally powerful stuff you will ever hear in your entire life. There is some immense passion that you will find few other places.

If you're the kind of person that likes variety on a record, then Led Zeppelin III is right up your alley. Odds are there will be something on there for you. Personally I am fond of almost the entire thing, but I suppose I am kind of biased due to the fact that I am such a big fan of Led Zeppelin. Regardless, it has some essential listening on it for people just getting into the band or just love rock n' roll in general. Definitely worth checking out at least once.

Led Zeppelin III, by Led Zeppelin receives 4 out of 5 stars.

Track List:

1. Immigrant Song
2. Friends
3. Celebration Day
4. Since I've Been Loving You
5. Out on the Tiles
6. Gallows Pole
7. Tangerine
8. That's the Way
9. Bron-Y-Aur Stomp
10. Hats Off (to Roy Harper)

Buy the album on Amazon:

https://www.amazon.com/Led-Zeppelin-III-Deluxe-CD/dp/B00IXHBZF6/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1520581346&sr=8-1&keywords=Led+Zeppelin+III