Mini Album Reviews 2005:
INXS -
Switch:
Rating: 3/5
Tony
There's
nothing I can say here that everyone hasn't heard before. INXS lost
their lead singer, went on TV, found a new singer and here's the
album. I loved the idea of the show they did, but after 3 weeks of
watching it was so boring and a complete waste of time. JD is a good
singer but not the best and surely there's better they could have
chosen had they not gone the TV route. This album seems to have been
put together rather quickly and it shows just going through the
tracks. Pretty Vegas being their first single was a good choice, but
what will the next single be? Hungry seems to be the only other that
could get radio play. Hopefully if they continue on and release
another album in a few years it turns out to be better then this
one, because this album didn't come close to the hype it was
receiving. Best Songs: Pretty Vegas / Afterglow / Hungry /
God's Top Ten
Bryan Adams - Anthology:
Rating: 4.35/5
Jere
When
looking back on the career of a musician such as Canadian rocker
Bryan Adams its surely one that can't be summed up by any specific
greatest hits package and looking back Bryan has had several
greatest hits but now comes a 2 disc retrospective: Anthology
(Actually 3 discs if you include the bonus DVD). The upside here is
fans get a complete package that spans Bryan's entire career all the
noteworthy tracks are here as well as some bonuses in the form of
live and remixed tracks. The
downside is a newly recorded version of a recent hit: When You're
Gone (originally recorded as a duet with former Spice Girl: Sporty
Spice aka Mel C) now instead fans get a duet with the one and only
Pamela Anderson of Baywatch fame but unfortunately she doesn't have
the vocal skills to back up her looks. Don't really know what
Bryan's thinking was on this combination but that is only a minor
problem other then a good multi-disc collection.
Best Songs:
All the key songs that made Bryan Adams are standouts.
Jaded Heart - Helluva Time:
Rating: 3.5/5 Tony
Where to start? Well we had high hopes
for this album considering we found their last effort "Trust" to be
an amazing album. With the loss of their original lead singer this
album is basically a fresh start for the band. But with fresh starts
come highs and lows, there's some great highs on this album, 5
killer tracks. But there's major lows, some of the material seems
stale and repetitive, this isn't to say this is a bad album because
it's not. There's sparks here, and with time, this reformation will
blend better. I'm really looking forward to the next album, as that
will be the true test of this amazing band.
Best
Songs: Tomorrow Comes / Dreams You'll Never See / No One /
Frozen Heart / Love To Live
Nickelback
- All The Right Reasons:
Rating: 4.5/5 Tony
How's this for the truth?
I never cared for Nickelback at all, their material seemed very
stale and unexciting. Well throw all that out the window with this
album. By far the best album of their careers, it's as if they have
completely reinvented themselves on this one. Classic rockers to
slow moving ballads, sure there's a couple cheesy songs but
seriously there's more good here then bad. Definitely one of the
biggest shockers of the year. Also there's a song or two that sound
like 3 Doors Down, but that's to expected as the vocals are sort of
the same when it comes to those slower songs. Highly recommended for
longtime and new fans.
Best
Songs: Photograph / Savin Me / Far Away / Next Contestant / If
Everyone Cared / Someone That Your With
L.A.
Guns - Tales From The Strip:
Rating:
4.85/5 Jere
L.A. Guns have managed to
do something that many in the hard rock community would of thought
was impossible... release an album without founding member Tracii
Guns. Not to mention that its an album that actually is one of the
best hard rock albums of the year and definitely one of the
strongest in the Guns career, right up there with Cocked and Loaded
and Hollywood Vampires. Even without Tracii in the equation here the
Guns still do what they do best rock hard with new anthems like:
Electric Neon Sunset, Don't Mean Nothing, and the epic Vampire.
Tales From The Strip rings in a new chapter for L.A. Guns' career,
one that proves quality hard rock never dies.
Best Songs: It Don't Mean Nothing
/ Electric Neon Sunset / Original Sin / Vampire / Hollywood's
Burning
Casting
Crowns - Lifesong:
Rating:
3.85/5
Tony
One of the best Christian bands out there today. Do they sound
Christian? Not all the time no, and that's why I personally like
them. They don't preach they just make music. Here's the thing with
this album after their last album was so amazing I was looking for
the same thing with this album. It just didn't happen, this album is
a bit different a little softer not as much rock. But there's still
some great material here. So I'd recommend it to anyone looking for
something new.. Of course diehards are going to purchase this no
matter what. The song Lifesong is definitely a hit.
Best Songs: Lifesong / Praise You In This Storm / Love Them Like Jesus / Set Me
Free / In Me
Tommy Lee - TommyLand The Ride:
Rating:
5/5
Tony
When
you think of Tommy Lee it's one of two things. I won't go into
detail but its the truth, sex & music. Well I have to say I have
never purchased any of his other solo albums. But this is by far one
of the best releases of the year. With so much talent and effort put
into this release he can't go wrong. Songs like Good Times and Hello
Again are sure to be radio hits. Other songs will please even those
diehard Crue fans. Seriously this is a must purchase album.
Best Songs: Good Times / Hello
Again / Tryin' To Be Me / Make Believe / Watch You Lose / Say
Goodbye
Rick Springfield - Day After Yesterday: Rating: 3/5 Tony
As
we said when the year started. This is the year of the "Covers", artists
are going back and rerecording tracks by other groups for the purpose of
pure enjoyment. But it's not enjoyment for the fans, it's more or less
enjoyment for the artist. This isn't a completely horrible album, there
are some signs of fun. I'd say the best parts are listening to the songs
and seeing if you can remember the original artist. Diehards will
purchase anything new from Rick, but we say as much as we love his
music, purchase his last studio effort.
Best Songs: I'm Not In Love / Broken Wings / Baker Street /
Waiting For A Girl Like You
Audioslave
- Out Of Exile:
Rating:
3.95/5
Jere
The sophomore release from the supergroup featuring Chris Cornell
and three former Rage Against The Machine members (Tim Commerford,
Brad Wilk, and Tom Morello). Audioslave may be listed as Alternative
but they sure don't sound like it on Out Exile. Listening to this
album revealed several welcomed surprises including Morello's funky
hard rock riffs mixed with Cornell's commanding voice. First half of
the disc really packs the punch as the 2nd half is a bit depressing
still this is a quality release from one of today's best hard rock
acts.
Best Songs: Out Of Exile / Be
Yourself /
Your Time Has Come / Doesn't Remind Me
Circus Maximus - The 1st Chapter: Rating: 2.75/5 Jere
A
Norwegian progressive metal band... At first glance that title threw
me off but wanted to see if this band could live up to the hype they
were given as the write up Frontiers Records gave stated that these
guys had elements of Queensryche and Dreamtheater and that was what
caught my eye to look into this band. The 1st Chapter seems to be a
somewhat flawed chapter, the album itself is heavy and at times lead
singer, Michael Eriksen, sounds like Geoff Tate but after a few
track the album begins to sound the same and really a near 20 minute
song doesn't conclude the album on a high note.
Best Songs: Glory Of The Empire / Silence From
Angels From Above / Alive
Ash
- Meltdown:
Rating:
3.65/5
Jere
This
UK based quartet over their career have managed to blend elements of
hard and punk rock with melodic harmonies. On their latest effort:
Meltdown they've only improved on their sound. The songs on this
release are extremely catchy and with frontman Tim Wheeler and
guitarist Charlotte Hatherly trading riffs back and forth which
makes the disc even more addictive to listen to.
Best
Songs: Evil Eye / Starcrossed / Clones / Out Of The Blue
Joe
Perry - Joe Perry:
Rating:
2.75/5
Jere
Last year Aerosmith released the disappointing blues cover album:
Honkin On Bobo sinking to a new low. Now in 2005 Joe Perry finally
makes a return with a new solo album and I admit that the material
on this disc is an improvement over what Aerosmith had on Bobo but
Joe's voice isn't that powerful and pretty much bogs this disc down,
there is however some good material but overall nothing that is
really memorable. Best
Songs: Hold On Me / Ten Years / Can't Compare
Final
Frontier - High Tension Wire:
Rating:
3.85/5
Tony
After
2 smokin' albums, Final Frontier releases High Tension Wire. I was
so ready to hear new material from this band. I have to say, though
there are some amazing tracks on this album it just didn't live up
to the others. But it does compliment them, going from rock to soft
and around to rock again this isn't an album to pass up if your a
fan of this band.
Best Songs: High Tension Wire / Two Different Worlds / Hearts
On Fire / Hollywood Drama / Listen To Your Heart / Half Way Home
Honeymoon
Suite -
Live (At The Gods):
Rating:
5/5
Tony
Just
like the rest of this great series. The Live At The Gods recordings
are always fun and exciting. If your a fan of this band this is a
must pick up, simply because it features an updated sound of the
older material. We consider it to be one of the best live albums of
the year.
Best Songs: All Tracks Are
Classic Honeymoon Suite!
Billy
Idol - Devil's Playground:
Rating:
4.85/5
Tony
Billy's
Back!, Idol releases Devil's Playground which I have to say is a
monster unleashed. It's been a long time coming but this album is
now released and it is amazing. Taking his 80's style and updating
it a bit and yet it's still Billy. Any fan of 80's style rock will
love this album for it just proves Rock Is Back!
Best Songs: World Comin' Down /
Rat Race / Sherri / Scream / Romeo's Waiting / Evil Eye / Summer
Running
Joe
Lynn Turner - The Usual Suspects:
Rating:
5/5
Tony
One of the shockers of the year for me so far. Completely blown away
by the vocal arrangements and fast paced guitar licks. Songs like
Power Of Love are just so amazing you have to listen to them twice
before moving on because your in shock!!! What a great treat for
music fans all around, this is a must pick up.
Best
Songs: Power Of Love / Really Loved / Rest Of My Life / Into The
Fire / All
Alone / Live And Love Again / Unfinished Bisinessness
Quiet
Riot -
Live & Rare:
Rating:
4/5
Tony
Looking over the career of Quiet Riot, what better way then to
release a live CD with some demos. This CD features 9 Live tracks
and 3 Demo tracks. Demos are Thunder Bird, Love's A Bitch, Let's Get
Crazy. If you are into classic/rare material then this one is for
you. Best Songs: All Tracks Are Fun!
John
Norum - Optimus:
Rating:
3.75/5
Jere
Not
even a year after Europe made their return to the rock scene with
the phenomenal release: Start From The Dark guitarist John Norum
steps out from behind the group to put out his latest solo effort:
Optimus. Like many legendary guitarists Norum shows that he can hold
his own as this disc is heavy on the guitars and features some
stunning fret work however John also demonstrates his vocal ability.
Certainly not the best effort from Norum, in his illustrious career,
but for what it is Optimus has some notable moments.
Best Songs: Chase Down The Moon /
Time To Run / Change Will Come / Solitude
Rooster
- Rooster:
Rating:
2.75/5
Tony
This album is good, but there's major room for improvement. The buzz
on this group is basically AMAZING MATERIAL. Well the way I look at
it, what's the big deal? Sure there's some great stuff here but
vocals could definitely use some work and the guitar parts are
shotty. We'll see what their next album brings.
Best Songs: Joyride / Staring At The Sun