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Prymary – The Enemy Inside
March 9th, 2010 No Comments
Prymary, a progressive-metal combo based in Southern California, released their third full-length CD (their second for label, Progrock Records), The Enemy Inside in late 2009. Largely the brainchild of drummer/lyricist Chris Quirarte, the band steers well within the same territory frequented by Dream Theater or the band you might hear Quirarte moonlighting in, Fates Warning. The focus is then on strong and complex performance, sweet and dynamic vocals and thought-provoking themes. I wouldn’t go so far as to say that there are miles of new ground covered on Enemy, but as far as exhibiting a mastery of this genre, Prymary succeeds in a grand fashion.
Them Crooked Vultures – Them Crooked Vultures
March 8th, 2010 2 Comments
By now the word is out that there’s a group menacing the globe, consisting of Josh Homme from Queens of the Stone Age and Eagles of Death Metal, Dave Grohl from Foo Fighters and John Paul Jones from Led Zeppelin. They are referred to as Them Crooked Vultures and farmers in Lower Backwardistan are locking up their farm animals and taking away their daughters’ iPods in response. What I’m trying to say is that press has been ridiculous for this band. I’m late in telling you what to expect in anticipation of their debut album’s release, but I can examine whether or not it’s worth all the hype. Read on for a full report or merely trust the newly coined Backwardistinian phrase: “Baq’oolhie akhla q’ah”. Roughly translated, it means: “The foreigner’s suitcases are full of lobsters,” a folksy way of saying that this CD’s music won’t match what you think it will be, no matter where you’re coming from.
Public Image Ltd – Album, 180-gram vinyl
March 4th, 2010 No Comments
Continuing on with reviews of releases in Rhino Records’ high quality, 180-gram vinyl reissue series, we visit John Lydon’s Public Image Ltd. and their collection from 1986, Album. Depending on the format in which you were listening to this recording, you heard either album, cassette or Compact Disc. Since this review pertains to the vinyl reissue, well, you get the picture.
The Pineapple Thief – 3000 Days
March 1st, 2010 No Comments
In May 2009, I was privileged to review The Pineapple Thief’s newest studio album, Tightly Unwound for ClassicRockMusicBlog.com. At that time, I emphasized that the group was well on their way to expanding their fan base by signing to the British record label Kscope, a division of Snapper Records. Now, in preparation for The Pineapple Thief’s eighth studio album due later this year, Kscope has assembled a career retrospective album in the double-disc 3000 Days. With song lyrics and notations by group leader/vocalist/guitarist Bruce Soord in a CD booklet containing characteristically beautiful art and photography, this is a package that is meant to both bring a newcomer such as me up to date with all that has gone before and also entice long time fans with alternate and rare versions of TPT songs. In short, if you’re not familiar with the group, and you’re a fan of music that pushes the prog-rock genre by incorporating a modern alt-rock approach, you need to buy this CD. TPT’s music is really that good and here’s the proof.
Pearl Jam – Backspacer
February 26th, 2010 2 Comments
Before I begin this review, let us please dispense with the term “grunge” as a way to describe music and stuff it aside as a word for the resinous build-up inside of a weed smoker’s bong. “Grunge” has always been a media creation for lazy journalists to lump the music of all bands from Seattle into one faceless category. Can you say that Tad, Soundgarden, Nirvana, Pearl Jam and Screaming Trees have any sonic similarity aside from the fact that they like their guitars up loud in the mix? If you can, please go read an Adam Lambert review elsewhere and let the serious music fans enjoy this website on their own.
T. Rex – The T. Rex Wax Co. Singles A’s and B’s 1972-77
February 22nd, 2010 No Comments
The T. Rex Wax Co. Singles A’s and B’s 1972-77 is a two-CD collection of glam-rock gems: “Telegram Sam,” “Cadilac,” Baby Strange,” “Metal Guru,” “Thunderwing,” “Children Of The Revolution” – the list goes on and on. T. Rex leader Marc Bolan’s facility for turning three chords and a handful of “Heys!,” “Yeahs!” and “Whoos!” into such magic is no small feat.
What’s your favorite T. Rex song?
James Talley – Got No Bread, No Milk, No Money, But We Sure Got A Lot Of Love
February 16th, 2010 1 Comment
I write about people, and as long as they don’t go out of style I guess my music won’t go out of style.
- James Talley, 1978
Bill Leverty – Deep South
February 15th, 2010 No Comments
Bill Leverty is the guitarist in the formerly hairy hard rock band FireHouse. Before you get the wrong idea, I am not a fan of FireHouse in any way and was thus very apprehensive about further listening to or reviewing Bill’s 3rd solo album, Deep South. In all honesty, I’d put the CD on and gave it a spin before I knew who this Bill Leverty guy was. As I was marveling at this odd, left field collection of cover tunes, I looked Leverty up online and had to fight an urge to put something that I was more familiar with on in its stead. But I can’t deny it anymore. This CD is solid throughout and Bill is a complete master of a wide variety of guitar styles. I challenge any of ClassicRockMusicBlog.com visitors to put aside any preconceived notions and also give Deep South a listen. You’re likely to be as intrigued as I was following the first few bars of track one.
Bruce Springsteen & E Street Band – Hammersmith Odeon London 75
February 11th, 2010 No Comments
Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band’s Hammersmith Odeon London ‘75 is simply one of the greatest (if not greatest) live albums ever. The energy is unbelievable, the pacing perfect. What I like most is that this album is far from a greatest-hits collection, and songs such as “The E Street Shuffle” are so transformed that they become new. Yeah, “Born To Run” is on here, but it’s long before it was ground into dust by FM radio, and it’s not the best song here anyway.
