Tag: review

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Best Of – Yngwie Malmsteen

Yngwie J Malmsteen

Why do I know this man’s work? Who got me into this stuff? I’m pretty sure that Andy Smith saw Yngwie play a concert and I didn’t go. Somewhere along the way I ended up with a couple of his songs on tape or heard them while at friends houses.

Eventually I bought a live album by the man. This was not that one.

Sometime later I downloaded a Best Album so that I had some studio versions of his work. I doubt that I’ve listened to it all the way through, in fact none of the song titles scream out at me.

Oh well. The guy is an awesome guitarist and I saw him play at Shepherd’s Bush. It was a good gig. Different, but good.

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Beast From The East – Dokken

Mark Hodges persuaded me to buy this album shortly after my sixteenth or seventeenth birthday. I had some record vouchers and wanted new vinyl. I’d only been into decent music for a short while and so it was important to make the correct choices.

This is a gatefold live album recorded in Japan. The cover illustration is a picture of a whole back tattoo. I really like the sound of a four piece band when the guitar does a solo. I like hearing the rhythm section keep the beat going while the guitarist just goes off on one. The sound of this album is perfect.

When I bought this on CD it didn’t come with my favourite song, “Sleepless Nights” and I’m a bit annoyed about that. For the last twenty five years the middle section of that song has stuck in my brain. George Lynch’s guitar makes an awesome screeching sound and it has sent shivers down my spine since around 1988.

My highlights on this album are:

  • Unchain The Night
  • Kiss Of Death
  • Mr Scary
  • It’s Not Love

Mr O would say this is an album of pure cockrock and he wouldn’t be wrong. The 1980s produced some great sounding bands and I’ve spent quite a bit of time and money buying proper versions of the albums friends had taped for me.

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Bat Out Of Hell II: Back Into Hell – Meat Loaf

This was the return of Meat Loaf. I’m pretty sure that after having one of the all time greatest selling albums he ended up skint, although I would imagine that Jim Steinbeck who actually wrote the songs is rather well off. I could be wrong on this matter and I can’t be bothered to check.

“I’d do anything . . . . “ was the main single released from this album and it’s a good song but it was over played in the 90s. I can’t remember another song from this album. It probably plays well though. I imagine 50 year old men driving their Rovers listening to this, or the presenters of Top Gear.

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Bat Out Of Hell – Meat Loaf

In the fourth year at school I used to quiz Michael Francis about a band I knew called Bachman-Turner Overdrive. He did seem aware of them and their one main hit which is also one of their worst songs! The reason I would quiz him is that he was the music guru. Every class must have one and he was ours. He regularly bought NME and we would look at the charts and wonder at the music. I hadn’t really reached my musical maturity. Anyway, I can remember seeing an album in the charts that had been in the charts for nearly 10 years! This always struck me as an administrative error. What sort of music would stay popular for that long? The answer is, of course, Bat Out Of Hell.

I can’t remember when I bought this, but I did get it on music cassette. After 1995 I lost the cassette and I think I have finally figured out that I left it with RC. I didn’t mind too much but every now and then you need some operatic rock. The riff of the title song would play in my head and eventually I bought the CD version when digitising my collection.

Bat Out Of Hell – a song that is 9:50 long. It was always a good song to play at Imperial College Radio to give you some time to make a coffee and visit the gents! Not only that but it is a great song. I

really like the 70s sound of rock and this takes it to a whole new level. Operatic themes and ear crunching riffs. “Paradise” and “You took the words” are a couple of my favourites. The CD version I have includes the song “Dead Ringer For Love” which I am pretty sure isn’t on the original release. But every song here is a stunner. It’s retro and fantastic. Well worth listening to. Very much a summer album. Just had a closer look at my iPhone and I can see that I have the wrong artwork associated with this album. That’s something to change this evening!

I bet you say that to all the boys!

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Ballbreaker – AC/DC

There are some excellent and classic AC/DC but this album is not one of them. I could probably count the number of times I have played this using my thumbs! Hey, it’s still AC/DC and just what they always write. The video for “Cover You In Oil” is rather amusing.

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Back In Black – AC/DC

The first album recorded by AC/DC after Bon Scott died choking on his own vomit. A fitting title. One of the world’s highest selling albums and deservedly so. It’s hard to give enough praise for this collection of ten songs. I honestly am not sure what else I can write about this album. Oh, I know. When I first bought this on music cassette there was a production error on my copy which meant that the bells at the beginning of “Hells Bells” had an echo and so did much of the first few songs. For some reason I never took the tape back to be changed. I just put up with it.

“You Shook Me All Night Long” is my favourite song on this album. Great riff, great drums and great lyrics.

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Axis Of Evil – Suicide Commando

Axis of Evil – Suicide Commando

Those crazy Belgians have a lot to answer for. I found this artist while looking for more aggrotech and hellectro. I’m pretty sure I looked on Wikipedia for associated acts and probably looked through iTunes to see related acts from Combichrist. Axis of Evil is full of dance beats, samples and club style synth sounds with some lovely disturbing lyrics over the top.

To start an album with the worldwide statistics on suicide is a brave move and one that works. Just a glance at the song titles will inform you of the style and mood of the music. Strangely I find this stuff quite upbeat and happy. It’s definitely my kind of stuff.

  • Consume Your Vengeance
  • Face of Death
  • Evildoer
  • Plastic Christ

These pretty much sum up this album!

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An Atheist Album – Shelley Segal

This is really more of an EP but it is worth mentioning in this list. I downloaded this from iTunes after hearing a song played on a podcast. I can’t remember which particular podcast but probably The Humanist Hour from the AHA. Shelley Segal is not related to Steven but is from Melbourne, Australia. The songs are nice and gentle and she is the only singer/songwriter whose work I actually enjoy. It’s good to hear someone explaining rationally about religion and gods within a gentle guitar based soundtrack. Get this album to hear songs such as:

  • I Don’t Believe In Fairies
  • Eve

It’s definitely wrong to base your views on women and life on those expressed in a book.

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Asylum – Disturbed

This is a very good heavy metal album. I got it after a recommendation from Andy Smith. It’s very good to run to and has some cracking riffs. I’d be tempted to get some more stuff by Disturbed but I think it may be a bit the same. I’m currently seeking new sounds and experiences. As this is a newer album and discovery by me the standard “not sinking in” argument applies to my knowledge of this band. I know it’s good, I know I like it and I know I like playing it. Can I remember any of the songs or how they go? No.

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Asylum – Senser

I’ve been a big fan of Senser since my third year at university and Andy gave me some tapes with their songs. The album Stacked Up is still one of my favourites but this is about the album Asylum.

I have bought all the Senser albums, although there is one coming out soon which I think they are funding through an innovative route. This album is pretty good. However, Kerstin Haigh does all the singing / rapping as the main lead singer / rapper was off doing some solo projects and things with other bands.

Ah, the long song. This album has a long special song at the end. It’s 24:58 long. It that necessary? I like how bands mess around with these things but I don’t always think the results prove it worthwhile.

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