Tuesday, November 29, 2016

A7X Stages a reaching release

As mentioned in an earlier post (The Best Metal Band of 2000) I think Avenged Sevenfold is the best Hard Rock/Metal band of this generation.  And with three years since their release of the Monster album Hail to The King the band was due for some new music.  What was odd was on how they released the new stuff, no fanfair.  Just a quiet here's our title track released on Itunes, Amazon, Spotify oh and next few weeks the rest will be out.  Hey when you are the biggest band out there you can have the luxury of people finding you.

So after a few weeks of listing to the album The Stage I am still mixed on my review of it.  Let me start by saying Avenged Sevenfold has not stepped back musically or creatively.  Truly it is the opposite the band is reaching for much more on this release, and my reaction is did they Overreach?   The title track and first release The Stage is grand.  The song clocks in at an epic 8:32 time wise and it isn't even the longest song on the album.  Musically and lyricly it is ambitious and is very much worth the longer time.

Honestly all the songs on The Stage deal with deep issues and are richly layered  with amazing guitar and pounding double bass drums. The final track on the album is the epic Exist,  The song clocks in at an 15:41 and even has Neil deGrasse Tyson speaking on the track.  So yes the songs are almost like orchestral movements on The Stage.

I loved Hail to The King and think the band reached the top of the Hard Rock world with its release.  So if there is a time for a band to stretch out and go beyond their musical limits why not try when you are at the pinnacle?   I am mixed on my review but I can say I have really enjoyed getting lost on The Stage.  So if you want to hear a band at its height musically and popularity wise see how fat they can go you need to go listen to The Stage.

Til next time listen to the best your ears deserve it.

Wednesday, November 16, 2016

Alter Bridges the gap from Pretentious to Perfect Lead Singer

My praise for Myles Kennedy has been noted on this blog several times.  Even a few posts back I was writing on how he is an incredible lead singer.  As I mentioned, in the Louder Than Life post,  his band Alter Bridge is incredible and not to be missed live.  With the bands new album titled The Last Hero I had to give a good listen and review, so here we go.

I knew about Myles and heard some of Alter Bridge on SXM's Octane but that was the amount of knowledge I had on the band before this release.  The album is great and I decided to dig into the band.  Surprise, surprise the band behind Myles is the critics favorite Creed.  (Yes,  that is sarcasm,the critics Hated Creed and I agreed with the Critics somewhat)   So with this knowledge it might explain my instant enjoyment of Alter Bridge.  Follow me here , Creed was a great 90's band with a talented but Self Absorbed Pretentious lead singer in Scott Stapp.  I really liked the band but I couldn't get past Scott.  So for the second time  (see my review of Slash's solo album) Myles has stepped in and brought a band to where I can really dig them.

The release is solid melodic heavy hard rock.  The band lays down tasty hard rock groves and Myles delivery soars with them.  One of the great things about the band is that they are Hard Rock but with many more musical layers that sets this band apart.  The first release Show Me a Hero is a soaring rock anthem that has a message not missed on this listener during the Campaign season.  My Champion has some outstanding guitar tracks. The title track drives home the dark theme of the release and ends a gem of an album.

Myles Kennedy with his band Alter Bridge delivers a great CD which is almost as good as they are live.  The Last Hero is diffidently to be listened to.

Til next time , listen to the best - your ears deserve it.

Sunday, November 6, 2016

Mellencamp ages fine like a great wine

For my birthday my dearest got us tickets to see John Mellencamp in concert.  There were a couple of reasons we really wanted to see him preform.  First off, John Mellencamp hasn't visited the Bluegrass since 1988 so this is the first time we have been able to see him in a very long time.  Second, not to sound too grim, we want to see John Mellencamp preform before he dies.  Really with the year we have been having with performers,  it is time to see this artist.

I always loved John Cougar Mellencamp, as he was known then.  I remember how huge the album Uh Huh was when I was in Jr High, the  artistry in Scarecrow for my High School years and the insights of Lonesome Juliblee for my College years. The great things about John Mellencamp's songs is that he revels in the rebelliousness of youth but with the tone of enjoy it now cause it will be gone. What makes him a great artist is that you can enjoy and see yourself in his songs in anytime of life.

As for the concert,  John Mellencamp showed that he has been preforming for over 40 years. He commanded the stage with an ease that only comes with time. He preformed all his major hits with a touching treatment of Jack and Diane. The song was just him and his guitar with the audience doing most of the singing. I was surprised he closed with Cherry Bomb, not Pink Houses, but it was a great closer.

If you get a chance, don't miss this great artist preform. With the year 2016 has been it might be your last chance.

Till next time,  listen to the best  - your ears deserve it.