I will always refer to the 1980′s as the era in which the best music in the world was created. 80′s rock ‘n roll will always be my preferred music of choice. As the 90′s rolled around, grunge seemed to take over the world and all was bleak and hopeless.
Or so I used to believe. I’ve recently discovered that the 90′s was a great time of melodic rock; bands such as Pink Cream 69, Harem Scarem, Jaded Heart, Novella, and Mastedon were creating some unbelievably great music. It wasn’t the flashbang spandex big hair in your face rock of the 80′s, but a much more mature sound in which the bands took control of their music and craft.
I have recently “discovered” a band who call themselves Tall Stories. They released one self titled album in 1991 and another album entitled “Skyscrapers” in 2009. I downloaded the self titled album and was absolutely amazed. These guys were GOOD! This is an almost perfect melodic rock album.
A quick Google search reveals the following facts about the band:
Hailing from New York City, the band Tall Stories consisted of lead singer Steve Augeri, guitarist Jack Morer, bass player Kevin Totoian, and drummer Tom DeFaria. The band was generally dismissed as another slick, corporate-style rock act and had the misfortune of releasing their self-titled debut as grunge acts were breaking. The ill timing resulted in an album that sank without a trace despite garnering fairly strong support from the fading AOR format. Augeri went on to join Tyketto, but by the late ’90s, he had retired from music and was working in the maintenance department for the Gap chain in Manhattan. In 1998, he was tapped to replace Steve Perry as the lead singer for Journey.
There is some talent in this band! I’m waiting until payday so I can buy their 2009 album. If you love melodic, AOR style music, you’ll LOVE this band!!
I created a killer playlist for my run this morning, selecting some of my favorite bands covering their favorite songs. There’s nothing like listening to Dream Theater sing Iron Maiden’s “To Tame A Land”, or Killswitch Engage play Dio’s “Holy Diver” or The Showdown jam to Kansas’ “Carry On My Wayward Son”!
As I hit mile 2 on my run, Tesla’s cover of the classic Temptation song “A Ball of Confusion” started playing and really caught my attention.
“Fear in the air, tension everywhere” – what an accurate description of our society today! As I pondered the words, I was actually comforted to know that today’s problems were basically the same 35 years ago, which were basically the same problems as 100 years ago, and on and on. There truly is nothing new under the sun. God was there for past generations and is here for me today.
John Elefante’s name came to prominence in 1981 when he became the new lead singer and keyboardist for Kansas. John sang the lead vocals and performed keyboards on three multi – Platinum albums with band, giving also a major songwriting contribution.
In 1984, together with his brother Dino, he started to become involved for the first time in producing the Christian act Sweet Comfort Band. Soon the couple became one of the most renowned producers in the genre, in particular their tenure with Petra brought multiple gold and platinum albums, 10 consecutive CCM Magazine Reader’s Choice Awards, induction into the Gospel Music Hall of Fame and Hard Rock Cafe, and the only artist to ever have 4 albums in the SoundScan top-100 Christian chart.
Elefante also felt the songwriting muse and formed a Metal band with his brother, Mastedon. The band’s name was a pachyderm-inspired reference to the brothers’ last name. Although John was an accomplished vocalist and performer, the Mastedon albums featured multiple lead singers and performances by other artists, creating an eclectic sound anchored by John’s songwriting. His brother Dino played a prominent role, contributing songwriting and handling most of the guitar work.
Mastedon’s first release was titled “It’s a Jungle Out There!” (1989). A year later, the band released “Lofcaudio”. The albums charted at #25 and #10, respectively in the Billboard Top Contemporary Christian chart. To this day, they are still considered classics in the genre.
In 1996 John started a solo career that brought him to release three successful albums more in the Adult Contemporary – Pop Rock vein. After a few years of hiatus, John Elefante decided to go back to his roots sound with a brand new Mastedon album that – contrary to the predecessors – would only feature his amazing lead vocals. Musically, the new album, simply entitled “3” harkens back to the best of Mastedon and to his work with Kansas and none other than main Kansas songwriter Kerry Livgren appears on lead guitar on the release. More famed musicians and such as Dave Amato (REO Speedwagon), Anthony Sallee (Whiteheart), Dan Needham (Michael McDonald, Neville Brothers, Amy Grant, Garth Brooks etc) and of course John’s brother Dino Elefante.
Rich melodic harmonies and melodies are the keys to a Mastedon record and “3” is clearly an instant winner in all its moments and will remain as an hallmark in John Elefante’s career for many years to come.
MASTEDON John Elefante: all lead vocals; rhythm guitar, keyboards Dave Amato, Kerry Livgren: Lead Guitars Anthony Sallee: bass Dan Needham: drums Dino Elefante: Additional guitars, acoustic guitar, backing vocals With: Tim Smith: bass on Slay Your Demons Jr McNeely: additional guitar on Questions
As a companion to this new release, Frontiers managed to acquire the rights for the re-release of Mastedon’s legendary debut album, It’s A Jungle Out There!. Released originally in 1989, it charted at #25 in the Billboard Top Contemporary Christian chart. To this day, this album is still considered classics in the genre and has reached some amazing prices in the trades on eBay. Frontiers new reissue includes full lyrics and three bonus tracks ‘Wasn’t It Love’ (from the compilation California Metal) and live versions of ‘Islands In The Sky’ and ‘Right Hand’, recorded live at Cornerstone in 1991.
The tracklisting:
‘It’s A Jungle Out There’
‘Glory Bound’
‘This Is The Day’
‘Love Inhalation’
‘Islands In The Sky’
‘Get Up’
‘Love That Will Survive’
‘Innocent Girl’
‘Shine On’
‘Right Hand’
‘Wasn’t It Love’ *
‘Islands In The Sky’ (Live at Cornerstone ’91 )*
‘Right Hand’ (Live at Cornerstone ’91) *
(* bonus tracks)
It makes me feel old when a band like Dynazty comes along, and rocks out like it is 1987 all over again. The funny thing is, the oldest member of Dynazty is 24. With the way Bring the Thunder rocks, you would think these guys were veterans of the Sunset Strip. In all honesty, these guys were in diapers when the L.A. Scene hit its peak. Nonetheless, Dynazty brings us a classic sounding rock record with big hooks on their debut release Bring the Thunder.
I quote Rob because he describes this bands energy exactly. Take a listen for yourself.
01 Bring The Thunder Bring The Thunder opens the album in a huge way. This is 80′s metal in 2009! I love the big background vocals on the chorus.
02 Catch The Night
Second up is Catch The Night. It is your typical party song, but the entire thing is pretty catchy. “Drown your sorrows or they’ll drown you”. I love the cheesy cliche!
03 Lights Out (In Candyland) Lights Out (In Candyland) would be the prerequisite “you wanna be my groupie” song from the 80′s. The vocals are extremely tight on this song. The guitar shreds. The bass pounds and the drums crash. I find myself headbanging while driving, so yeah, this song is awesome.
04 Far Away
Acoustic guitars open up the ballad Far Away. It is a decent song. The vocals carry the melody.
05 Top Of The Line
Top Of The Line Top of the Line should have been written in 1986 when Dokken were at the top of their game. I can see the drummer twirling his drumsticks and the lead singer hammin’ it up for the camera for their non-existent video. If you love hair metal, you’ll love this song. Heck, you’ll love this entire album.
06 Monkey Wants, Monkey Needs Monkey Wants, Monkey Needs is a very interesting title for a very interesting song. The hair flair is still flying big on this song, and that is just great!
07 Adrenaline Adrenaline sounds like a straight away party song…
08 Take Me Down
Power ballad or slower rock song? I can’t quite categorize Take Me Down. I love the big background vocals on the chorus, as well as the staggered drum beat.
09 The Devil's Shake
I’d have to say that The Devil’s Shake is the second best song on this disc. The guitar work is supremely solid and the vocals are very strong. This is a chorus you’ll find yourself singing along to!
10 Higher N' Higher Higher N’ Higher is another great song with that 80′s metal vibe.
11 Sail Away (Bonus Track)
I’ll give the Best Track On The Album Award to this song, Sail Away. Everything about reminds me of the metal of the good ‘ol days.
Skillet’s new album, Awake, was released today. It is their first record of new material since 2006′s Comatose(links go to the Amazon.com MP3 store)
Comatose is definitely in my top 20 albums of all times. So it was with great anticipation that I waited for Awake. Here are my initial thoughts: Awake is a good album with some very awesome songs on it. Along with those spectacular songs sit some very boring songs (read “ballads”)
01 Hero Hero starts us off on a rocking pace. It is a song full of energy and conviction that makes you pump your fist in the air.
02 Monster Monster is the second track and it picks right up where Hero left off. This is possibly the heaviest song on the album (and the best IMHO). This should be the title track of the new Wolf Man movie that is soon to be released!
03 Don't Wake Me Up Don’t Wake Me Up is a sleeper of a song (sorry, bad stretch for a pun). I’m hoping this song grows on me, but I find myself reaching for the next button on my iPod whilst listening.
04 Awake And Alive Awake and Alive is quite the opposite of the previous song. The strings at the opening of the song are reminiscent of Rebirthing from Comatose. I like the dual vocal duty of the male and female singers. (I know the lead singer’s name is Jon Cooper, but I have to admit I don’t know who the girl is.)
05 One Day Too Late
Yawn…another mediocre ballad. One Day Too Late doesn’t capture my imagination or my ear. Just like Don’t Wake Me Up, I find myself reaching to the iPod to skip this song. I hope I grow to love these songs, I really do.
06 It's Not Me It's You
Ah, there we go. The Skillet we know and love. It’s Not Me It’s You is another rocker almost on par with Monster and Hero. The chorus is quite catchy. This song is quite angry…I’m glad a Christian band can make a song that isn’t all rainbows and sunshine.
07 Should've When You Could've
Crap…really? Another slower tempo song? Should’ve When You Could’ve breaks the rocker feel that It’s Not Me It’s You set. I think this is what ultimately wrong with Awake. You can never get into that rocker groove, as it keeps getting interupted with sub-par ballad type songs.
08 Believe
And the sub-standard ballady crappy songs continue. Believe is the 8th song of the record and honestly, it’s at this point I’m about to turn of the album and listen to something else.
09 Forgiven
What’s this? Piano? This makes three non rocker songs in a row. Forgiven‘s lyrics are great, but enough with the bad 90′s power ballads already.
10 Sometimes Sometimes finally brings the rock back to the album. This song could be a sequel to It’s Not Me It’s You, with the angry guitar work and the the very angry lyrics. ”Sometimes I don’t wanna be better, Sometimes I can’t be put back together, Sometimes I find it hard to believe there’s someone else who could be….just as pissed of as me.” Very strong and honest words. I hope Skillet doesn’t get any grief for this song. Sometimes is the type of song I wish the entire album was made of.
11 Never Surrender
And yet another slower song. Never Surrender is better than the other slow songs on this record. The structure of the song and Cooper’s vocals make me want to keep listening.
12 Lucy
Cue piano…@#$%$%! another ballad! I know my attitude towards this song should be different as it is about someone who has died. I could possibly like it if it wasn’t the umpteenth slow song on the album.
The Deluxe Version of the Awake includes two bonus tracks (of which I forgot to upload to my server, so no audio is available). Dead Inside is another rocker (yay!) that is pretty good. Would It Matter is, you guessed it, another freakin’ ballad. Monster (Alternate Radio Version) finishes off the album.
All in all, I’d give this album 6.5 out of 10 stars. The good rock songs are great, while the majority of the album is made up of ballads that I just don’t want to listen to. If you are new to Skillet, I would buy Comatose and Collide and then Awake.
If I see You standing, one hundred stars away
It feels as though You’re touching me
If I am landing, with a stormy night delay
It’s You I want, it’s You I need
When I’m lost I close my eyes
And suddenly I’m home
(Chorus)
I just wanna run in You
I just wanna hide in You
I just wanna come to You
And not thirst anymore
I just wanna walk with You
I just wanna ride with You
I just wanna talk to You
And not thirst anymore
(Verse 2)
I feel demanding, I know I’m selfish too
I often live in my own world
I’ve been commanding, it’s my way or we’re through
If I am sand, you are the pearl
When I’m found I open my eyes
And it’s You I see
(Chorus)
The lyrics aren’t very deep or earth shattering, but they convey a longing to know Jesus better. I think the music makes you feel that joy and expectancy too.
Michael Sweet’s vocals are amazing and they convey a wide range of emotion. I hope they play this song live when I go see them in concert!! Only 3 months, 21 days and 20 hours to go!
Happy Anniversary Stryper! 25 years ago today, they released their EP entitled The Yellow and Black Attack. What an appropriate day to release their brand new album, Murder By Pride.
And what an album! Murder By Pride is probably the bands best album to date. In this post, we’ll take a listen to the title track of the record.
As with all of the other songs we’ve covered, I love everything about this song. The music is heavy and melodic and the band is just in top form. I love how the bass is prominent and drives the beat.
The only critique I’d have are the lyrics. I don’t expect anything deep or life changing, but the first verse is just kind of, I don’t know, hokey?
After 25 years of living life, with all the ups and downs it brings us, I’d hope for something a little deeper.
Lyrics to Murder By Pride
(Verse 1)
Saturday night’s a lie, I follow every cue
Sunday is sanctified, I smile and take the pew
Monday it’s back to school – Am I learning, not at all
Tuesday and Wednesday, Thursday, Friday I just crawl
(Chorus)
Gotta fight, gotta stop living a lie
Gotta fall, gotta lay down and die
Gotta stand and run to the other side
Gotta live or it’s Murder By Pride
(Verse 2)
Seeds that were growing have been dried up by my flesh
I walk the walk and talk the talk but where’s the rest
I could have everything even what’s behind the stars
But I built my prison without windows, without bars
(Chorus)
Gotta fight, gotta stop living a lie
Gotta fall, gotta lay down and die
Gotta stand and run to the other side
Gotta live or it’s Murder By Pride
(Chorus)
Christianity is a tough thing to live out in the real world. There is absolutely no doubt about that. These guys and their music helped me become a Christ Follower over 20 years ago (read about it here), so I know that of which I speak. What I’ve learned in 20 years of walking with Jesus is that it isn’t only Sunday that is sanctified, but everyday….everything, the totality of my entire existence in this world is His to make wonderful. I know, I know, I’m reading way too much into a dumb song, but hey! it’s my blog and I can write whatever I feel! There are other songs that do describe a deepening walk with Jesus, so for that I’m grateful.
I want to say again how much I love this album and can’t wait to see Stryper in concert!! Only 3 months and 23 days!
Stryper started a new trend with a song on their 2005 Reborn album. It was entitled IGWT and was a cover of their original song, In God We Trust (off the album of the same name). It was refreshing to hear them update the song in a new way.
To keep the tradition alive, Stryper goes back to their first EP, The Yellow and Black Attack to remake a song entitled My Love (I’ll Always Show). To be honest, I really never cared for the original version. The vocals are a little twangy and well, I just don’t like it all that much.
Listen for yourself below:
For Murder By Pride, Stryper turns the amp up to 11 and makes this song a totally heavy metal affair! I love the new version so much! The guitars are heavy and the vocals are tight. Michael Sweet and Oz Fox can harmonize like nobody’s business! As with every other song on this album, it is completely awesome!
Don’t believe me? Put your ears close to the speakers and listen below:
You know I really love You
Your love is beautiful, it’s lasting and true
You’re always on my mind and I want You to be
My love and Savior, the only one I need
I’ve searched for true love for a long, long time
Now my search has ended, just ’cause You are mine
(Chorus)
I’ll always love You and I’ll always tell You so
As long as I’m with You, My Love I’ll Always Show Woa-ooh yeah
(Verse 2)
Whenever I’m sad and feeling I’m through
I begin to feel happy as I sit and think of You
I think of Your face and Your personality
You are so beautiful, You’re everything to me
I’ve searched for true love for a long, long time
Now my search has ended, just ’cause You are mine
Stryper’s new album, Murder By Pride, has hit the torrent websites for download. I’ve been buying a new song from the album every week, so I don’t feel guilty for downloading the four songs I haven’t heard. I will be purchasing them the minute they are available.
This album is phenomenal. Even is you are not a Stryper fan but love hard rock in the vein of Boston and Journey, you will love this album. I thought it might be fun to break the album down a song or two at a time and share my thoughts about them.
The first song up is entitled Mercy Over Blame. Click the play button below to listen.
Love saves the soul
Hate kills the heart
Fear robs the goal
Hope gives a start
Forgiveness is a gift
Bitterness a chain
The ugliness we sift
His beauty still remains
When we all reach Heaven
There will be no shame
‘Cause when we stand before Him
It’s Mercy Over Blame
Faith heals the scars
That pride has brought upon
Grace will be ours
When all we have is gone
When we all reach Heaven
There will be no shame
‘Cause when we stand before Him
He will know each name
He will know each name
Some of us believe Him
?
When we all reach Heaven
It’s Mercy Over Blame
When we all reach Heaven
There will be no shame
‘Cause when we stand before Him
He will know each name
When we all reach Heaven
There will be no shame
‘Cause when we stand before Him
He will know each name
He will know each name
Mercy Over Blame
I’m glad to see Stryper getting back to their roots, both musically and lyrically.
Musically, this song takes me back to the days of To Hell With The Devil and In God We Trust. The moment they harmonize on the chorus, singing “mercy over blame” is just awesome!! The bass is aggressive and very well mixed into the song. Michael Sweet hits his famous high notes and Oz Fox shreds on the guitar. Classic Stryper! Everything about this song is beautiful!
Stryper was the first Christian metal band to make it big. They have always been up front about their faith in their lyrics. This song, Mercy Over Blame, is no different. They sing of God’s grace and that He can wipe away all of our shame. We’ll stand before Him and He’ll know our name. It was easy to grasp lyrics like this that helped me to become a Christ Follower at the tender age of 16.
When it comes to musicians, there are probably none more authentic than The Beatles and Johnny Cash. Different genres for sure, but their music is timeless.
Every now and again a newer band will cover one of these timeless pieces of music and put their own spin on the song. Such is the case for two songs that I’d like to share with you the reader.
“Man in Black” (or “The Man in Black“) is a protest song written and sung by and about Johnny Cash, originally released on his 1971 album of the same name. Cash himself was known as “The Man in Black” for his distinctive style of on-stage costuming. The lyrics are an after-the-fact explanation of this with the entire song as a protest statement with statements such as:
I wear the black for the poor and the beaten down, Livin’ in the hopeless, hungry side of town,
I wear it for the prisoner who has long paid for his crime, But is there because he’s a victim of the times. (wikipedia)
One Bad Pig is a Christian punk and metal crossover band from Austin, Texas which formed in 1985. The Encyclopedia of Contemporary Christian Music describes them as “Quite possibly the most popular hard-punk act ever to arise within the Christian music scene.”[1] They were known for their mischief and irreverence on-stage, as reflected even in their reunion at Cornerstone in 2000. (wikipedia)
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