Top 10 Metal Albums of 2009

Dec 16

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Top 10 Albums That Need More Listens of 2009

Dec 15

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Today’s video discusses a unique category in my “Best of 2009″ lineup.  These are albums that I enjoyed but just didn’t get a chance to listen to enough.  I can’t dismiss them but need to give them some more time to grow on me

Top 10 Mellow Albums of 2009

Dec 14

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I love heavy metal and hard rock.  I listen to those genres of music probably 90% of the time.  But when I do want to mellow out and listen to something different, these were the bands I turned to for 2009.

Top 10 Most Disappointing Albums of 2009*

Dec 11

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*IMHO of course.  I realize that some people probably love these albums.  I love all of these bands and know they have created some very excellent music at some point in their career.  That said, the albums in my review are probably good in their own right, but didn’t live up to the hype I placed on them as I anticipated their release.  If you disagree, please leave a comment and let me know why!!

The Top 10 Album Covers of 2009

Dec 10

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Time For Some Top Ten Lists

Dec 09

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2009 will soon be coming to a close.  That means it is time for “Best of”  and “Top Ten” lists!

Since I’m mildly obsessed with music, I plan on making a few videos with my “Top Ten Music” lists, but to whet your appetite until those are finished, here are my top 30 artists as compiled by Last.fm.

Let it be known that total listens doesn’t equal best band or album of 2009.

My top ten lists of 2009 will include:

Top 10 Best Album Covers
Top 10 Best Finds (of older albums)
Top 10 Best Hard Rock Albums
Top 10 Best Mellow Albums
Top 10 Metal Albums
Top 10 Thrash/Metalcore Albums
Top 10 Albums that I need to listen to more to really like
Top 10 Biggest Disappointments
Top 21 Honorable Mentions

Concert Of A Lifetime

Nov 16

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I am fulfilled.  I have seen Stryper in concert and they surpassed all my expectations!

I’ve been an enormous Stryper fan since 1988.  They played a crucial part in my coming to know Jesus Christ in a very real way.    I’ve memorized every note and lyric of every song of every album they have released.   I just had never seen a live show.

Until this past Saturday, November 14th that is.  And man, what a freakin’ eh awesome show it was.

Stryper at the soundcheck:

I had the privilege of getting a “meet ‘n greet” pass that enabled me an early entry into the concert, a chance to hear the sound check, and a chance to meet the band.

This didn’t go as well as I’d hope.  We were supposed to get in at 5pm but weren’t given entry until 6.  The band was on stage and as I walked into the club, it was like I was in a dream!  There was Michael Sweet, the Stryper frontman!  Right there, 5 feet away from me!  Tim Gaines, one of the best bass players in music, right there!  Mr Oz Fox, guitar player extraordinaire, right there!!!  Robert Sweet was behind his drum kit, so I didn’t get to see him so well.   I was a little overwhelmed!

The band ripped through 2 songs and it was magical!  The club stagehand was being a little pushy as they were an hour behind and sat the band down at a table and put everyone in a single file line to get an autograph.  At this I was more than a little bummed.

I don’t care about autographs.  I just wanted to tell these guys “Thank You” from the bottom of my heart.  They helped me get through those tough teen-age years with my sanity and faith intact.  We were rushed through the line and I did get to shake hands with all the guys except Michael.  I got to say thanks, but it wasn’t what I had hoped for.

All that activity took us to about 6:45pm.  I went straight to the front of the room where and got my place almost dead center.  There was just one problem: the concert didn’t start until 8:30pm.  Oh well….I just got my legs locked and waited almost 2 hours in one spot.

Finally the lights went down and on came 3 young guys from Canada (eh!) that made up the band Manic Drive.  I wasn’t expecting much, so I was taken aback as they came out and rocked the house!  They had a lot of energy and looked like they just loved to entertain.  I liked ‘em so much I bought both of their CDs at the merch table.

Manic Drive:

The next band to hit the stage was called Flight Patterns, featuring Michael Sweet Jr on guitar.  I had never heard their music, but was hoping to like ‘em.

That was just too much to hope for.  Flight Patterns just plain sucked.  They were off key and off pitch, and they sounded like a very bad wanna-be Relient K cover band.  The bass player was super annoying and played an open E string for every song.

Flight Patterns:

Eventually Flight Patterns got off the stage and it took about 45 minutes for the roadies to set up Stryper’s equipment.   My back was aching and my feet hurt for standing up for so long, but the moment of truth was near!!!

The lights went out…..long silence…….and then DUN DUN DUN DEDUN!  Stryper came on stage ripping through Soldier’s Under Command!!  Yellow and black leather (not spandex!), long hair, ah, everything I dreamed of!

It is all kind of a blur, but I remember they played through most of To Hell With The Devil and The Yellow and Black Attack.  They played probably 3 or 4 new songs from Murder By Pride and even covered Judas Priest’s Breaking The Law.  I will say this…every song they played they played with an intense fervor and energy.  Say what you want to about the yellow and black and the big hair and all that, but Stryper are some absolutely awesome musicians.

They played their encore to To Hell With The Devil.  It was one of the most bestest moments of my life (aside from my wedding and kids and such).

Now I can check off a life long goal to see and meet Stryper.  Thank you Jesus!

Stryper Pictures:

Stryper Live:

I’m Very Fond of Tall Stories

Oct 28

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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!!

Here are few samples for your listening pleasure:

01 Wild On The Run

02 Chain of Love

03 Crawling Back

04 Sister of Mercy

05 Stay With Me

06 Somewhere She Waits

07 World Inside You

08 Restless One

09 Never Enough

10 Close Your Eyes

A Ball of Confusion

Oct 22

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A preview of Mastedon’s new album, 3

Oct 05

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see my review and hear clips from all songs at this blog post!

From Frontiers Records website:

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

And, as an added bonus they also announced this:

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)