Now that's more like it! A well rounded week of music tunes to fill your ears for all vibes and days of the week. Think about it, start your day off with a cup o java, plug in some Robert Cray, Kaiser Chiefs, or Leon Russell and read your morning paper or your favourite music website (coughafgmcough). Some great tracks to get you up and moving for the day. I like to think of these releases as the sound track to my day. So morning is covered.
(The Robert Cray Band - In My Soul)
In My Soul continues with that tradition with a mix of originals and covers, but drops the rock influences for soul. The soul in the title refers to more than just his soul. In this case, the soul in the title is really a reference to the soul sound of the classic record labels like Memphis based Stax and Chicago’s Chess.
Although this album does not pack a lot of rock, Robert again uses his blues-edged characteristic sound to great effect. With the resurgent interest lately in the ’60s and ’70s soul greats, In My Soul is a great album to pick up if you would like to explore the deep pool of classic soul music by just getting your feet wet with someone you’re comfortable with. -TMAPR
(Kaiser Chiefs - Education, Education, Education & War)
But then Education, Education, Education & War is a bit of an odd album; nostalgic for something but not really sure what. It’s an album that, in the centenary of the First World War, is stuffed with the overly-patriotic Britishness of a hundred novelty tea towels; but that was recorded in Atlanta, Georgia and refers to the American Civil War on the closest thing it has to an anthem. It references Tony Blair and the Declaration of Independence, features Bill Nighy sombrely narrating contemporary Great War poetry and inevitably includes a song (“Ruffians on Parade”) that sounds a bit like a lacklustre “I Predict a Riot”. And, towering over it all, the nation’s new reality show sweetheart Ricky Wilson, bellowing part-jingoistic, part-satirical couplets like Kitchener with a Mod haircut. -The Arts Desk
(Leon Russell - Life Journey)
Life Journey indeed stays far, far away from those cramped, tinny settings, preferring to revive the loose-limbed, woolly Tulsan rock & roll that made his reputation. Working with Tommy LiPuma -- a veteran producer who had never recorded with Russell but who helmed many successful jazz sessions, including George Benson's Grammy-winning Breezin' -- Russell primarily sticks to standards, whether they're by Robert Johnson, Hoagy Carmichael, or Billy Joel, and that's how it should be. Although he's a fine songwriter, as evidenced here by his two originals -- "Big Lips" and "Down in Dixieland," raucous numbers both -- Russell is a stylist, bending songs to fit his swinging piano and slow drawl. He may occasionally follow a straight line with a ballad but he knows how to draw out the phrases on "That Lucky Old Sun," finding an unexpected contour in familiar melody, and he finds funk in "Come On in My Kitchen" while tearing up "Fever" and leaving "New York State of Mind" as a splashy big-band celebration of the Big Apple. This small list suggests how Life Journey touches upon much of the music Russell has sung over the years -- it's heavy on R&B, blues, jazz, and swing, but strangely lacking in much country -- and LiPuma is a perfect match for this celebratory approach. Where The Union occasionally veered toward the austere, Life Journey is robust and soulful, emphasizing the raggedness of Russell's voice and smooth boogie in his playing. It's a joyous thing to hear, a record that recaptures much of the magic of Leon's Shelter records without being fussy. -All Music
Next comes the travel bits where you find that time frame between home and work where you just want to take in the good music and block out any of the shit that's happening around you. Whether it be the little kid whining uncontrollably, the overcrowded subway car, or the person next to you who is continually coughing in your immediate direction. A good mix of some Punk Goes 90's or some Chevelle can start revving you up for the day. Dio' tribute album is for the heavy hearted who are looking to crack open a beer with their lunch rather than the sparkling water you may be accustomed to (haha).
(VA - Punk Goes 90's Vol. 2)
Starting with the good, I will say that I am surprised by how much of Punk Goes 90s Vol 2 won me over. The initial singles did not do much to spark my interest, even though Get Scared’s take on “My Own Worst Enemy” was and is spot on, but as I dove into the album earlier this week I discovered Fearless had been hiding the best tracks for those who sought out the full release.
Punk Goes 90s Vol 2 is a collection of covers that seems to have been thrown together without anyone having put much thought into sequencing. You cannot expect perfect cohesion on a covers album, especially one featuring bands from a variety of alt-rock sub genres, but if there was ever a rock album released that was better suited to be sold as individual singles it’s this compilation. Find the songs you like and add them to your collection. Everything else you can pretend never happened. I know I will. -Under The Gun
(Chevelle - La Gargola)
Working closely with producer Joe Barresi, who has been involved with some of the best hard records of the last decade, the band made sure to explore the variety of options in their musical palette rather than paint themselves into a corner. In a recent studio preview of the disc, frontman Pete Loeffler stated, “I came into this with a lot of ideas, a lot of fuzz pedals and different sounds that I wanted to go for and techniques and [Joe's] been open with everything.”
All in all, fans have come to know what to expect from Chevelle and the band definitely deliver on many of the signature sounds they’ve generated over the years. But ‘La Gargola’ finds Chevelle not content to rely on past glories and not shying away from thinking outside of the box. -Loudwire
(VA - This Is Your Life: A Tribute To Ronnie James Dio)
It’s been four years since we lost one of the most memorable voices of metal history to a battle with stomach cancer. Friends and musicians, who continue to have the upmost respect for Ronnie James Dio, have gathered together for a tribute album titled This Is Your Life, which will be released by Rhino on April 1. All proceeds from the sale of the album will go to the Ronnie James Dio Stand Up and Shout Cancer Fund.
This album was produced by longtime manager and wife, Wendy Dio. She wanted this album to prove that there will never be a voice like that of her husband’s. She also wanted the bands to pick and choose the tracks that they wanted to perform. All of the bands were honored to play such a role in a combination of heavy metal powerhouses. This isn’t just an album were well-known artists are thrown into a hodgepodge of famous songs. This is the ultimate tribute to Dio, and it couldn’t have been executed any better. This is definitely a recommended album because it commemorates and aids in a legend living on for musical years to come. -Hard Rock Haven
The we move onto what will help you get through your day and into your evening of festivities...whatever that includes. bands such as Steel Panther and Lacuna Coil bring you to the party while other groups such as Austrian Death Machine, The Used, and Bigelf will have you taking that extra shot, going for that extra smoke, ordering another pint and singing along with your friends as you sift through the track listing. IDK, that's what I am assuming these albums will do to you. For all I know you could have a nice book next to a fire place while blasting Chiodos out of your headphone (haha).
So whether a long time band or a new one starting their career(s) out, be sure to visit a local record store and purchase a copy of the albums that you like. If you don't feel the need to hit up a record store, then be sure to order it from an online retailer, or a legal digital copy form online stores. Cheers!
(Steel Panther - All You Can Eat)
STEEL PANTHER; the group who impregnated your mother and refused to pay for your child support are back with a buffet of metal and sex with their third full length audio orgy; ‘All You Can Eat’. Like every other album, it’s sex, metal, more sex and more metal. Their parodic, sexual and comedic content only just gets more explicit, funnier and heavier, and ‘All You Can Eat’ is an orgy for your ears.
With a range of influences (besides sex) in the band’s music from SKID ROW to POISON, STEEL PANTHER, being the rebirth of 80′s metal and the ones responsible for global orgasms put it quite clear throughout ‘All You Can Eat’ that they’re at the top of their game now. -SF Media
(The Used - Imaginary Enemy)
The Used tackles issues both political and personal in Imaginary Enemy, and it’s easy to get caught up in both – especially in the album’s volatile first half. Imaginary Enemy calls for change and revolution, for a generation considered complacent to stand up and set fire to the standards that have been set for us.
The Used’s Imaginary Enemy shows us both: the reality we seek to escape and the opportunity for so much more. It is a striking new album from a band that was already well on its way to becoming the type of legend Thompson wrote about. -Property of Zack
(Lacuna Coil - Broken Crown Halo)
So the songs are more often than not on the bright side of the quality scale. But is this an album recorded for mainstream listeners and chart success, or for longtime fans? That's a harder question to answer, and the easiest response is "Both." Lacuna Coil is an act that is easy to dismiss. Female-fronted metal bands are a trend that seems to have some resistance within the metal community, and despite the dueling voices this group has received that label because--well, frankly, because Scabbia is the better voice. But they've managed to claw their way to a level of respect in the community. Here they're building an LP that should, ideally, appeal to both mainstream and metal fans. I feel like the slight emphasis is on greater expansion of the fanbase, but they aren't turning their back on their roots either. That's a difficult balance to pull off, but for the most part they pull it off. -411 Mania
(Sonata Arctica - Pariah's Child)
"Pariah’s Child" is strikingly immaculate and you can feel the invigoration within the band, so watch out...it is highly contagious! When you accept it for what it is and allow the energy to flow through you, it is an album that is capable of making the listener beam with a grin from ear to ear from start to finish. If I think back to the last time that happened to me, it was an album called “Stones Grow Her Name.” The preacher was right… “I’d given my life to rock ‘n’ roll, but I still wasn’t sure….was there rock ‘n’ roll? Was it real?” X Marks the Spot! -Metal Underground
(Austrian Death Machine - Triple Brutal)
If you're a fan of As I Lay Dying, then you're no stranger to Austrian Death Machine. The side project originally started as a joke band, which is odd to think cause they're better than most "serious" bands. After raising funds on Indiegogo and a life-changing controversy later (Google it), Triple Brutal is finally seeing the light of day!
The concept with each ADM record follows the same formula: watch an Arnold Schwarzenegger movie, pick your favorite quote(s), write a song featuring said quote(s), add in "Ahhnold", and pretty soon, you'll have a whole album. With that being said, the record features quotes from Schwarzenegger's extensive filmography, including, Kindergarten Cop, Terminator (1 and 2), The Running Man, Conan The Barbarian, Commando, and Total Recall. The last two tracks, I'm Not A Pervert, and It's Turbo Time are from the band's previous EP, Jingle All The Way. -Kill The Music
The band has stepped up to the challenge admirably, making the choice to push their boundaries musically instead of playing it safe and merely rehashing the style of their first two albums, All’s Well that Ends Well and Bone Palace Ballet (for the most part). Almost entirely gone is Owens’ use of screaming to hit his high notes, replaced with a falsetto that gives the songs a much smoother melodic tone.
Despite some uneven aspects of the album, the willingness of Chiodos to explore and experiment makes Devil a worthwhile addition to the library of any fan of the band or post-hardcore in general. -Lithium Magazine
(Bigelf - Into The Maelstrom)
This is the band's first release with the InsideOut Music label, which has historically specialized in progressive rock and metal. Mike Portnoy supposedly acted as a catalyst in getting Damon Fox to write new music when Damon was considering dissolving the band. The album contains 12 tracks and clocks in at a few minutes over an hour. While Damon performed much of the guitar, keyboards and vocals, Mike sat in on drums, while newer members Duffy Snowhill held down the bass and Luis Maldonado handled the lead guitar duties (including a few solos).
I was making a game of seeing how many different artists/musicians they reminded me of during the album and came up with a list that included David Bowie, Ozzy, Brendan Small, and a twist of Alice Cooper. Something that Bigelf seems to be doing that a lot of bands are missing the boat on, is that they are crafting some solid tracks that somehow sound both "dated" (in a good way) and "timeless" at the same time. -Ultimate Guitar
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