The first in a (hopefully) regular series about what music is pleasing my ears as at the moment. Or not, as the case may be.
Bruce Springsteen - The Promise
As if there wan't a wealth of B-Sides in Springsteen's 'Tracks' boxset, here comes 22 more taken from the time around the recording of 1978's 'Darkness On The Edge Of Town'. The quality of the music on this speaks volumes about the output The Boss was putting out at this point. Long time live staples like 'Fire' finally get a studio outing as does Springsteen's version of the song he gave to Patti Smith (which went on to become a huge hit for her) 'Because The Night'. And songs like the title track and 'Save My Love' goes to show what a hard choice it must have been to choose 'Darkness'' final tracklisting. 'Darkness On The Edge Of Town' is being released the same time as this, fully remastered and I can't wait to hear it.
Ray Davies - See My Friends
Always a interesting listen albums like this - an album of an artist re-recording their old songs, but this has the added interest of being re-recording versions with guest artists. A fantastically eclectic mix of acts from Paloma Faith to Bon Jovi, from Mumford & Sons to Metallica. Some of these covers work well, some do not. But it's all listenable enough stuff and it doesn't want to make you run to the Kinks albums, never to return to it again.
The Kinks - Picture Book
Which doesn't mean I didn't though. One of those bands where it's impossible to hear a cover version and not want to go hunt out the original. This boxset covers everything The Kinks ever did essentially condensed onto 6 discs. Listen to where your favourite bands got stuff from and shake your head...
Nelson - After The Rain/Lightning Strikes Twice
Nelson burst onto the rock music scene in 1991 looking like a slightly more mature Hanson scoring a US number one with '(Can't Live Without Your) Love And Affection, from the 'After The Rain' album a collection of piss-takingly catchy Bon Jovi lite anthems which literally does not have a bad song on it. Who knows how big they may have become but of course grunge came along and destroyed everything in it's path with the exception of the aforementioned Jovi (But at what cost? Look at them now, they're almost like Vegas lounge singers) and possibly Motley Crue.
But Nelson are back this year (they did do albums in the meantime but this is the only one that has the feeling of a true follow up, and hell even the title has the rain references) with 'Lightning Strikes Twice' and it really does. Another collection of fantastic soft rock songs. Will do nothing for the stock of the band unless Journey pick them up as a support band but its good to see an effort is still being made.
Skid Row - Selected Discography
Starting with the self titled debut (another album that has no bad songs on), continuing with the heavier 'Slave To The Grind' - two albums that really don't need much more said about them, I skipped over 'Subhuman Race' to have a first listen of the Seb Bach -less material Skid Row have been putting out, starting with 'Thick Skin'. New singer Johnny Solinger has a great voice and some of the stuff isn't that bad - songs like 'Thick Is The Skin', 'Born A Beggar' and 'Mouth Of Voodoo' absolutely rock, 'See You Around' borders on post grunge territory but works nonetheless. Sadly the punk cover of 'I Remember You' is diabolical. Haven't got round to their last album 'Revolutions Per Minute' though, I will have that for you for next time.
Still Playing
The albums out for a while that I'm still spinning...
Alter Bridge - ABIII - Not the best album of their career, but possibly the most consistent. This does not let up and gets better and better with repeated listens.
The Wildhearts - Chutzpah!/Chutzpah Jr. - The best album of 2009 in my opinion still does not fail to disappoint and the 'Jr.' B sides release is pretty damn good as well. Will be very interested to see how Ginger and the guys will top this.
Black Label Society - Order Of The Black - Another totally bludgeoning album from Zakk Wylde with the usual mix of massive guitar riffs and equally massive piano ballads. And the video for 'Overlord' has to be seen to be believed.
FM - Metropolis - The latest album from the UK's answer to Journey is probably up there with 'Tough It Out' as the best of their careers. Not one to sound like a broken record but there is nary a bad song to be found on here either!
The Chuff
Because sometimes good bands go bad...
Bon Jovi - The new songs on Greatest Hits - Oh God. These coupled with the dreadful 'One Night Only' show broadcast on ITV hammer another nail into the Jovi's respectability coffin. Sure enough the album has sold loads and nearly topped the album chart but the band have been totally de-balled by their singer. I hear Jon Bon Jovi wants to do a solo album next...the only good that would come of this is if 'Only-good-thing-left-about-the-band' Richie Sambora did the same.
My Darkest Days - My Darkest Days - After hearing the excellent 'Porn Star Dancing' I had high hopes for this. Turns out the song was a total one off, and as it turned out was only really that good thanks to the guest spots from Zakk Wylde, Chad Kroeger and Ludacris. Even that song is ruined on the album, split into 'rock' and 'rap' versions (I'm pretty sure people can handle 2 different genres at once) and the rest of the album makes the most middle of the road post-grunge band sound like Slayer. Don't want to call them a bunch of pussies but...well I have no way of finishing that sentence.
Till next time.
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