The cooling of the air and the leaves changing colors means fall will quickly blend into winter and we all know what that means - the holiday seasons are upon us. But before I climb into the hide with my 12 gauge and camo waiting for a passing turkey, I’ll hunt through my CD bag for some crippled turkeys.
Robert Plant & Alison Krauss
“Raising Sand”
www.rounder.com
Style (singer / songwriter)
I’m all for artists hooking up and collaborating to create some good music but what on earth is this. Sure as hell isn’t good music, and is an absolute embarrassment coming from two respected musicians. I’ve listened to this a couple times just because I can’t believe how awful it is hoping that if I play it enough times and drink enough tequila I’ll break through the barrier into the clear. This dog sounds like the wayward ramblings of some mentally deranged gypsy mumbling to herself as she travels through the desert hawking her elixir to remove toad warts. Gotta ask how much does Plant miss Led Zepplin? And Krauss, who is talented and generally makes good music, and hasn’t banked her future on what she did eons ago, must have been bored and needed a plane trip to Europe. I can only imagine the sales pitch. OK Alison, I use to play rock and roll, quite famous actually, maybe you’ve heard of me, but I want to make this tripped out wounded horse music that’s so far out in left field, not even in the same cricket stadium quite frankly, but because I was famous and my songs play every hour on every classic rock station on the globe it’ll sell and hit # 2 on the billboard charts opening week. If given the choice to either end this life by way of the pill bottle or listening to this CD one more time I’d say hand over the bottle and another shot of tequila because life on the other side is far better then being subjected to another song on this CD.
Rating 0 (ranked 2nd on billboard, but tops for returns)
DC4
“Explode”
www.myspace.com/dc4duncan
Style (rock)
As the title implies this music moves from note one. The backbone to the sound is the rock and roll hierarchy that is the Gibson Les Paul. Distinct and leaving no morsals on the table for stragglers. Not to be left out are the rippin solos giving more credence to the CD title, especially in “God Complex” and “Explode”. Too much today the solo is overlooked or watered down but not here and I’m glad to hear it. Aside from the guitar sound there are two other aspects jumping out at me. First off is the drums and bass, which are outstandingly rock solid and pulverizing in their rhythm, which should carry over great to the live set getting the horns up and heads banging. Lastly, and unfortunately the weak link, is the vocals. The music overall is a medium to low tone and the vocals stay too much within the same range. Not a terrible thing, but the vocal range limitation become ominously obvious in notes that should be higher and need more pop. Adding to this I hear a resemblance to Diamond Dave’s voice and I’m reminded Diamond Dave can’t hit higher notes either and without Michael Anthony singing back-up sounds flat. Point I’m making is vocally there are too many notes not within the singers range and he’s reaching and draws attention to it. Overall though the CD’s not bad. I totally dig the rockin rhythms, driving drums, and won’t be surprised if this music goes over well live.
Rating 2 ½ (only because of the vocals)
Fifi Larue
self titled
www.fifilarue.com
Style (rock)
If was basing my opinion on the King Diamond make-up rip off this band displays then I would collapse to the floor with a severe stitch from an attack of the giggles. But since you can’t judge a book by its cover I’ll dive a little deeper for an opinion. Musically the songs are extremely simple never straying far from rock power chord 101. But then again this stuff doesn’t need to be rife with genius. And though the vocals are ridiculously bland lacking any variation in range or style staying monotone throughout the disk it works with the music. Granted that sounds nice but it’s not meant to be. Imagine walking into a club and on stage what you see is a weekend parody band dressed up in leather and pancake make-up belting out boring songs no one is digging, and all you’re trying to do is jam a napkin in your ears and get the bartenders attention so you can get a drink quick and high tale it out to the back patio to get away from the noise. Even more so if the songs “So Blue Without You” and the remake of the classic Doors song “People Are Strange” are playing. Jim Morrison is in his grave plugging his ears and happy he's still dead.
Rating ½ (the make-up makes me chuckle)
The Cursed
“Room Full of Sinners”
www.myspace.com/thecurseddotnet
Style (rock / metal)
Groove rockin, stompin around bangin your head raising the horns up high is the first thing that comes to mind listening to this CD. The music’s got loads of hooks and rhythms guaranteed to get some female rumps wigglin and oh how us rocker dudes love to watch hot rocker chicks swinging those hips. Vocals have an 80’s metal growl courtesy of Bobby “Blitz” Ellsworth from Overkill with matching crunchy guitars played by Dan Lorenzo from Hades and beat pounding drums. The whole sound is complete for a solid rock / metal lineage and sounds like it’ll transfer quite well to the live show. Definitely a sound rocker types who still dig the 80’s crunch metal will get into.
Rating 3
Sieges Even
“Paramount”
www.myspace.com/siegeseven
Style (progressive rock)
I let the CD play in the background at the office and from the start start found it to be excellent music to work to filled with good harmonies, nice rhythms, musicianship befitting the progressive designation, and quite easy to get into. These guys have some talent. But as I started to pay more attention to the songs I noticed the CD is filled with more slow melodic songs than up tempo tracks that highlight the musicianship. That’s not to say slower songs don’t’ show off ones talents, but the problem is I found myself more and more bored with all the slow melodic harmonies and soon found my forehead plastered to my desk out like a light. What’s worse was the predictability in a bunch of songs that have a hard up tempo beginning only to be followed up with a stuck on the freeway car crash lookie-loo crawl. The CD starts off great but in the middle drops off like the mid-Atlantic shelf and never resurfaces. It’s like the start of a kickass fireworks show that gets you pumped up and excited only to end in a fizzle leaving you wondering why.
Rating 2
Gina Gershon
“In Search of Cleo”
www.ginagershon.com
Style (country / blues / jazz / theater)
A CD based around the search for a beloved lost pet, Cleo. I was a little skeptical before playing this but I’m glad I didn’t let me apprehension sway me from listening to it because its not bad. Gershon mixes different musical genre’s into a lab beaker that yields this cacophony of carnival / county fair / West Virginia mountain / lonesome desert soul searching meandering music accentuated by an emotionally sexy, sultry voice. And though she doesn’t turn the musical world upside what’s easily apparent is she stayed within her range and ability and performs the songs quite well. And given her theatrical background, because yes this is the same lovely actress we’ve come to know and lust over, this musical story sounds like it might cross over a bit for an interesting stage presentation. And I have to give kudos to the photography art which is quite good.
Rating 3
Fireball Johnson
self titled
www.myspace.com/fireballjohnson
Style (rock / alternative)
A band consisting of three females and sit-in drummers. Musically the CD is middle of the road desperately missing that ONE catchy hook, rhythm, or song to generate a buzz to build upon. Maybe it’s the need for another song writer or a rhythm guitar player, or a constant drummer, but something is needed because the potential sounds like it’s there. The one distinct component is the vocals which are a coagulation of low operatic and middle to high sexy raspiness. A little wild cat’ish and a great quality to have for a female singer, and displayed nicely on the song “Flat Line”. But because this is up tempo rock the low operatic quality gets in the way of the sexiness causing a conflict and has a tendency to flatten out the songs drawing too much attention to itself. So much so it kills the middle of the first track on the sustained notes for the word heart. Never, EVER, should a singer be flat or off in the opening song because that may be as far as you get with some listeners!!! Heck, sometimes you may only get 20 seconds worth. And my experience and belief still holds true - chicks know how to rock.
Rating 2 ½
Service Group
“Principles of Electronic Circuitry”
www.svcgrp.com
Style (alternative)
Tripped out CD artwork of flowing lines utilizing the crayola 48 pack coloring representing electronic wiring. Excellent design matching the CD titling even if I’m completely off base with my assumption. The punchier tunes remind me of the songs you hear in the 1970 season of the Scooby-Doo Where Are You? cartoon. If you’re drawing a blank it’s the music that plays when the gang is running from the villain. The music is fun, groovy danceable, a little campy, filled with some really nice harmonies, and is a throwback to the late 60’s early 70’s. Makes me feel like putting on the tight peach bellbottoms, some snappy white wingtips, a disco color shirt with a killer flyway collar, jumping in my caddie, and heading down the strip to the hottest discotheque. However, the slower songs are a train wreck and I want to get off at the next stop. Unfortunately there are too many pile ups so I’m not sure I’ll make it to the next stop. This is one of those CD’s I wish the band had really stuck with one simple mind set and didn’t try to over think things. Oh well, it is what it is.
Rating 2
Aeon
“Rise to Dominate”
www.myspace.com/aeon666
Style (Death Metal)
The standard death metal offering from the nordic north in a land called Sweden. Must be something in the water or maybe something about spending 6 months in total darkness inflicting misery on the mortal soul. RRRAAAA!!!!!! What can I honestly say about this stuff that hasn’t already been said. It’s faster than speed dial, the jungle is missing a howler monkey, and this band is single handedly keeping a guitar string company in business. But aside from having the normal run of the mill death metal approach it’s got some strong guitar work that shows intent and ability, and the rhythms are definitely designed to get the boots up stomping through the pit with fists and elbows swinging wildly. But the more I listen to it more I’m convinced they’ve set the drum machine on the super sonic jack hammer mode. There’s got to be more to playing drums than this.
Rating 2
Blotted Science
“The Machinations of Dementia”
www.myspace.com/blottedscience
Style (rock / progressive instrumental)
When I opened up the case and started reading the song information I realized these guys are either genius’s in astrophysics or molecular biology or they’re going out of their way to make you think their genius’s. Since when is music rocket science. First off I hate, no let me rephrase that, HATE, rock instrumental CD’s. Do you guys not want hot chicks, and your wives don’t count, coming to the show??? Hell, even the fugly chicks wouldn’t stick around for this crap. Now I’m not going to discount the music talent these guys display because they definitely have some chops given all the tangents, bridges and breaks. And the rhythms have a driving hard rock crunchiness which I like. But playing this music live only brings in a bunch of middle aged male Rush fan types standing around stiff with their thumbs shoved up their ass’s pretending they know music theory. The rhythms on the CD are strong but the guitar shredding gets boring quick and before you know it your plate of mashed taters, turkey and veggies is all covered in gravy. All good eats but the plates a pool of goop.
Rating 1 ½
