SEALS AND CROFTS
SUMMER BREEZE
1972 – WARNER BROS.
Produced By LOUIE SHELTON
1. Hummingbird
2. Funny Little Man
3. Say
4. Summer Breeze
5. East Of Ginger Trees
6. Fiddle In The Sky
7. The Boy Down The Road
8. The Euphrates
9. Advance Guards
10. Yellow Dirt
Seals And Crofts go way back. They both were members of The Champs in 1959, after the group had their big hit with “Tequila”. They played with Glen Campbell for a while in the sixties, then delved into religion by way of the Baha’I Faith. In 1969, they decided to give it a go as a duo, where they found great success during the 1970’s. Their first three albums didn’t do much, but their fourth album, Summer Breeze, was the beginning of stardom for the duo. The music on Summer Breeze is soft rock, but it’s not the creaming violins and sappy songwriting that a lot of early seventies acts lived by. A big part of that was the instrumentation: the songs are more guitar based, with Jim Seals adding violin and Dash Crofts adding mandolin.
The hits here are the title track, which put the duo on the map, and the surprise hit “Hummingbird”. The rest of the songs are less memorable, but they are also not terrible. These guys show their chops, both instrumentally and vocally, and the songwriting is better than you would expect. It’s better, overall, than we were led to believe back when the album was new. And they were able to carry their talents through the decade, despite being…a bit over fervent about their religious views. The guitar jam at the end of “Yellow Dirt” makes for an excellent closer. “Fiddle In The Sky” stands up against a lot of southern rock, and “Say” is a nice track. Overall, this is better than you might expect. Give it a spin and see what you think.
QUEENSRYCHE
OPERATION: MINDCRIME
1988 – EMI MANHATTAN
Produced By PETER COLLINS
1. I Remember Now
2. Anarchy – X
3. Revolution Calling
4. Operation: Mindcrime
5. Speak
6. Spreading The Disease
7. The Mission
8. Suite Sister Mary
9. The Needle Lies
10. Electric Requiem
11. Breaking The Silence
12. I Don’t Believe In Love
13. Waiting For 22
14. My Empty Room
15. Eyes Of A Stranger
Long after there was Hendrix and Heart, and years before Nirvana and Pearl Jam, Seattle gave us Queensryche. This prog metal band, which rose from the ashes that bands like Kansas and Styx were buried in, built a cult following during the lean years of metal, then jumped on the power ballad express in 1990 with “Silent Lucidity” from Empire. Before that happened, there was Operation: Mindcrime, a conceptual rock opera that follow a drug addict named Nikki who hates society and reluctantly becomes an assassin. If you have the gumption to follow the story…good for you. Rock operas have never been a great thing. This one is no exception. The best thing that I can say about this disc is that it’s loud, heavy and fast.
But there seems to not be much in the way of originality. Before the first word is sung (on track 3), it sounds a lot like 2112 by Rush. The sound effects dabbled between songs sound like outtakes from The Wall. Not just kind of like…exactly like. There’s also not a whole lot of memorable melodies to grab a hold of. At times they sound a lot like Styx. But Lord knows this band tried to be taken seriously, and a lot of their fans did just that. In the end, the story of Nikki is kinda silly and pointless. And the idea of a prog metal rock opera just really doesn’t work. Had Queensryche concentrated more on songs and less on trying to tell a pointless story, this may have been better. But this is a band that was always a bit (or a lot) overrated. Empire, which features no concept, is the better way to go. But if this is your kind of metal, then by all means…go for it.
Link _________________ I'm leaning on the threshold
Of her mystery
And crashing through the walls
Of dying history
FischmanRockMonster, JazzMeister, Bluesboy,ClassicalMasterProfile Land of Enchantment
QUEENSRYCHE
OPERATION: MINDCRIME
1988 – EMI MANHATTAN
Produced By PETER COLLINS
1. I Remember Now
2. Anarchy – X
3. Revolution Calling
4. Operation: Mindcrime
5. Speak
6. Spreading The Disease
7. The Mission
8. Suite Sister Mary
9. The Needle Lies
10. Electric Requiem
11. Breaking The Silence
12. I Don’t Believe In Love
13. Waiting For 22
14. My Empty Room
15. Eyes Of A Stranger
Long after there was Hendrix and Heart, and years before Nirvana and Pearl Jam, Seattle gave us Queensryche. This prog metal band, which rose from the ashes that bands like Kansas and Styx were buried in, built a cult following during the lean years of metal, then jumped on the power ballad express in 1990 with “Silent Lucidity” from Empire. Before that happened, there was Operation: Mindcrime, a conceptual rock opera that follow a drug addict named Nikki who hates society and reluctantly becomes an assassin. If you have the gumption to follow the story…good for you. Rock operas have never been a great thing. This one is no exception. The best thing that I can say about this disc is that it’s loud, heavy and fast.
But there seems to not be much in the way of originality. Before the first word is sung (on track 3), it sounds a lot like 2112 by Rush. The sound effects dabbled between songs sound like outtakes from The Wall. Not just kind of like…exactly like. There’s also not a whole lot of memorable melodies to grab a hold of. At times they sound a lot like Styx. But Lord knows this band tried to be taken seriously, and a lot of their fans did just that. In the end, the story of Nikki is kinda silly and pointless. And the idea of a prog metal rock opera just really doesn’t work. Had Queensryche concentrated more on songs and less on trying to tell a pointless story, this may have been better. But this is a band that was always a bit (or a lot) overrated. Empire, which features no concept, is the better way to go. But if this is your kind of metal, then by all means…go for it.
I too find the story hard to digest: an awkward combination of disturbing and silly.
That said, there is some brilliant music on this album, and Geoff Tate's operatic metal vocals are in absolute peak form here. His voice combines the very best of Freddie Mercury and Bruce Dickinson into one positively brilliant package.
Yes, there are too many skips to call this a great album, but there are enough brilliant moments for me to still call it essential.
Eyes of a Stranger is a stone cold massive progressive metal masterpiece. Truly a standard bearer of the genre and positively brilliant in every way regardless of genre.
QUEENSRYCHE
OPERATION: MINDCRIME
1988 – EMI MANHATTAN
Produced By PETER COLLINS
1. I Remember Now
2. Anarchy – X
3. Revolution Calling
4. Operation: Mindcrime
5. Speak
6. Spreading The Disease
7. The Mission
8. Suite Sister Mary
9. The Needle Lies
10. Electric Requiem
11. Breaking The Silence
12. I Don’t Believe In Love
13. Waiting For 22
14. My Empty Room
15. Eyes Of A Stranger
Long after there was Hendrix and Heart, and years before Nirvana and Pearl Jam, Seattle gave us Queensryche. This prog metal band, which rose from the ashes that bands like Kansas and Styx were buried in, built a cult following during the lean years of metal, then jumped on the power ballad express in 1990 with “Silent Lucidity” from Empire. Before that happened, there was Operation: Mindcrime, a conceptual rock opera that follow a drug addict named Nikki who hates society and reluctantly becomes an assassin. If you have the gumption to follow the story…good for you. Rock operas have never been a great thing. This one is no exception. The best thing that I can say about this disc is that it’s loud, heavy and fast.
But there seems to not be much in the way of originality. Before the first word is sung (on track 3), it sounds a lot like 2112 by Rush. The sound effects dabbled between songs sound like outtakes from The Wall. Not just kind of like…exactly like. There’s also not a whole lot of memorable melodies to grab a hold of. At times they sound a lot like Styx. But Lord knows this band tried to be taken seriously, and a lot of their fans did just that. In the end, the story of Nikki is kinda silly and pointless. And the idea of a prog metal rock opera just really doesn’t work. Had Queensryche concentrated more on songs and less on trying to tell a pointless story, this may have been better. But this is a band that was always a bit (or a lot) overrated. Empire, which features no concept, is the better way to go. But if this is your kind of metal, then by all means…go for it.
I too find the story hard to digest: an awkward combination of disturbing and silly.
That said, there is some brilliant music on this album, and Geoff Tate's operatic metal vocals are in absolute peak form here. His voice combines the very best of Freddie Mercury and Bruce Dickinson into one positively brilliant package.
Yes, there are too many skips to call this a great album, but there are enough brilliant moments for me to still call it essential.
Eyes of a Stranger is a stone cold massive progressive metal masterpiece. Truly a standard bearer of the genre and positively brilliant in every way regardless of genre.
I do sometimes get too focused on things like bad concepts...I do agree that they are great musically. And yes, Tate does indeed sing the crap out of this album. But I guess in the end, this one just doesn't work for me. We can't always get 'em right, can we? 😄 _________________ I'm leaning on the threshold
Of her mystery
And crashing through the walls
Of dying history
FischmanRockMonster, JazzMeister, Bluesboy,ClassicalMasterProfile Land of Enchantment
That's the glory of reading some of these diaries. I sometimes really enjoy reading the perspectives of others who perceive music differently as often as we do. You articulate your impressions well, so that's what really makes the reading rewarding.
That's the glory of reading some of these diaries. I sometimes really enjoy reading the perspectives of others who perceive music differently as often as we do. You articulate your impressions well, so that's what really makes the reading rewarding.
Thank you much for that! It is always good to know that these get read sometimes. Thoughts and opinions are always welcome! _________________ I'm leaning on the threshold
Of her mystery
And crashing through the walls
Of dying history
HARRY CHAPIN
VERITIES & BALDERDASH
1974 – ELEKTRA
Produced By PAUL LEKA
1. Cat’s In The Cradle
2. I Wanna Learn A Love Song
3. Shooting Star
4. 30,000 Pounds Of Bananas
5. She Sings Songs Without Words
6. What Made America Famous?
7. Vacancy
8. Halfway To Heaven
9. Six String Orchestra
It’s very hard not to love Harry Chapin. He was not only a great storyteller, but he was also, by far, the most politically active and unselfish artist of the seventies. His dedication to fighting world hunger was pretty hard to beat, and his compassion and caring about his fellow man make him one of the greats. Musically, when he was on, he could tell a story in song as well as anyone ever could. He was also highly prolific. Between 1972 and 1980, he released nine studio and two live albums. Which is where his career becomes problematic. All of his albums are weighted down with filler, making them inconsistent and sometimes difficult to get through.
Verities & Balderdash, his fourth album, was also his most successful, thanks to his lone number one hit, the excellent “Cats In The Cradle”. It also includes “I Wanna Learn A Love Song”, which is the story of how he met his wife, the fine “Shooting Star”, and “Halfway To Heaven”. But after that, the album veers from dull to goofy to downright ridiculous. Not all of his stories made great songs, as you can hear in the unnecessary “30,000 Pounds Of Bananas”. And as much fun as “Six String Orchestra” was in a live setting, it just doesn’t work as a studio track. Chapin’s best album was Dance Band On The Titanic from 1977…his most consistent work. Compilations are a much better way to go with Harry. Chapin died in a car accident in 1981.
Link _________________ I'm leaning on the threshold
Of her mystery
And crashing through the walls
Of dying history
SPOCK’S BEARD
SNOW
2002 – RADIANT / METAL BLADE
Produced By NEAL MORSE & SPOCK’S BEARD
1. Made Alive / Overture
2. Stranger In A Strange Land
3. Long Time Suffering
4. Welcome To NYC
5. Love Beyond Words
6. The 39th Street Blues (I’m Sick)
7. Devil’s Got My Throat
8. Open Wide The Flood Gates
9. Open The Gates Part 2
10. Solitary Soul
11. Wind At My Back
1. Second Overture
2. 4th Of July
3. I’m The Guy
4. Reflection
5. Carie
6. Looking For Answers
7. Freak Boy
8. All Is Vanity
9. I’m Dying
10. Freak Boy Part 2
11. Devil’s Got My Throat Revisited
12. Snow’s Night Out
13. Ladies And gentlemen, Mister Ryo Okumoto On The Keyboards
14. I Will Go
15. Made Alive Again / Wind At My Back
16. Snow Overture
17. Snow Demo Excerpt
18. Wind At My Back
Progressive rock was once the playground of 70’s bands like Yes and Emerson, Lake & Palmer and King Crimson and Camel. All of which, as were most of them, British. Prog became less popular in the 80’s, and by the 90’s, it had been relegated to a small corner of the rock universe. And then there is Spock’s Beard (you know the Star Trek episode…). Not from England, but from Los Angeles. This band made prog cool again for the slice of the population that craved it. And they’ve made a decent career of it…Spock’s Beard has been at it now for more than 30 years. Part of prog is going over the top, and this band did that in style with their sixth album, Snow. This double album, a rock opera that’s almost impossible to follow, is actually pretty damn terrific.
Yes, it’s over two hours long with the three bonus tracks. But it’s also relentlessly interesting and well played. Much more tuneful than the prog days of Genesis, and with lyrics much smarter than Yes, this album will hold your interest even though the story line is almost impossible to follow. These guys can absolutely play, and the vocals are better than any 70’s prog band ever imagined. Their dual keyboard attack is never overdone, and the guitar work is truly tasteful. This album is their peak…unfortunately, singer Neal Morse left the band after this for Jesus. But they soldier on, having made 13 albums to date. This is a lot of album to digest, but if you have the patience, there are plenty of rewards to be found here.
Link _________________ I'm leaning on the threshold
Of her mystery
And crashing through the walls
Of dying history
AMY WINEHOUSE
BACK TO BLACK
2006 – ISLAND
Produced By MARK RONSON & SALAAM REMI
1. Rehab
2. You Know I’m No Good
3. Me & Mr. Jones
4. Just Friends
5. Back To Black
6. Love Is A Losing Game
7. Tears Dry On Their own
8. Wake Up Alone
9. Some Unholy War
10. He Can Only Hold Her
11. You Know I’m No Good (Remix) (Feat. Ghostface Killah)
I never appreciated Amy Winehouse when she was alive. That’s my loss. I wrote her off as just another pop princess without ever having given her music a chance. That’s all changed now. She wasn’t a pop singer…she was a magnificent throwback to not only the great girl groups of the sixties, but also to great jazz and blues singers like Dinah Washington and Sarah Vaughan. She had severe drug problems and eating disorders, which led to her death at the age of only 27…but she was freakishly talented. She was also undeniably soulful and gifted. Back To Black is her second, and final, album released in her lifetime. It’s like stepping into an amazing time capsule of great sixties music…with the voice of a 2000’s master.
In short…I love this album. Winehouse does the thing that those of us who sing dream about…she captures all of the raw and deep and painful emotion of the heart in the best place possible…the song. Amy Winehouse is maybe the most emotionally sincere voice of her generation. Her music is NOT pop…yet she piled on the hits. “Rehab”, “You Know I’m No Good”, “Back To Black”, “Love Is A Losing Game”, and ”Tears Dry On Their Own”…just by their titles alone…make this one of the most emotionally raw and beautiful works of the era. Her life was a sad one. Her death was even sadder. Her music reflects this, and as painful as it is, she was able to turn her pain into something this beautiful. Don’t write her off. This is a gift of an album, as painful as it is. A masterpiece.
Link _________________ I'm leaning on the threshold
Of her mystery
And crashing through the walls
Of dying history
JEFFREY FOUCAULT
STRIPPING CANE
2004 – SIGNATURE SOUNDS
Produced By DAVID GOODRICH
1. Cross Of Flowers
2. Mayfly
3. Doubletree
4. Stripping Cane
5. The Bluest Blade
6. Pearl Handled Pistol
7. Northbound 35
8. 4&20 Blues
9. Don’t Look For Me
10. Tropic Of Cancer
11. Lodi
12. Every New Leaf Over
If front porch at sundown acoustic music is your thing, then you should love Jeffrey Foucault’s second album, Stripping Cane. Foucault hails from a small town in southern Wisconsin called Whitewater, and his music is sad, down tempo and beautiful. His acoustic guitar is helped out by banjos and mandolins and slide. His lyrics are pure Americana…stories of hills, the people who live in them, lost love, simple life. This is blues, folk, traditional music. The slower songs (“The Bluest Blade”, “Northbound 35”) are music to settle in to…the more upbeat material, like the excellent “4&20 Blues”, is Americana at its best. And Foucault has the perfect voice to carry it all.
Along with “4&20 Blues”, the highlights here include “Cross Of Flowers”, “Pearl Handled Pistol”, the lovely “The Bluest Blade”, and a perfectly different take on John Fogerty’s Creedence hit, “Lodi”. This album marked the real beginning of his exceptional career, which now includes, to date, fourteen albums that have unfortunately gone unheard by so many, including a 2009 tribute album to the songs of John Prine. Any of Foucault’s albums are recommended, and Stripping Cane is as good a place as any to start. He’s a welcome voice for a cool spring evening, a fire, and a 12 pack of your favorite brew. I’m a definite fan, even though it most definitely does not rock. Not everything has to, you know.
Link _________________ I'm leaning on the threshold
Of her mystery
And crashing through the walls
Of dying history
You cannot post new topics in this forum You cannot reply to topics in this forum You cannot edit your posts in this forum You cannot delete your posts in this forum You cannot vote in polls in this forum
Romanelli
Fischman
