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Post by Jesse on Feb 5, 2024 16:50:42 GMT -5
Hello everyone!! I'm back like a bad penny😎 Let's get this once very fun and awesome Rock n Roll forum going again! If you're new on here say hi and let's get to talking about our favorite music again. Awesome! Welcome back, buddy!
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Post by Jesse on Feb 5, 2024 16:03:37 GMT -5
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Post by Jesse on Feb 5, 2024 15:58:27 GMT -5
According to the Grammy's, this was the best Rock performance of 2023. I think they had more credibility when they declared Jethro Tull best Metal performance of 1989. I dunno, I don't exactly HATE the song, but.....really? If THAT was the best, then I guess there is ZERO reason for me to listen to any Top 40 or Mainstream Rock radio, cuz it's just not that good. If simply being able to listen to the entire song without giving in to a desire to shove an ice pick into your ear is all it takes to qualify as the "best", we're in bad shape folks.
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Post by Jesse on Feb 4, 2024 10:04:00 GMT -5
Not a big fan, but God bless him for his life. I was blessed with 3 Grandparents who live past 75, two past 90, so it kinda skews my perception of age somewhat, but I've had a lot of friends and relatives (including my wife) die in their 50's as well. My parents are approaching 75 so I don't want to say, "yeah, well, it was his time", but the reality is that 75 IS old and when one factors in the Rock'n Roll lifestyle, well, 75 is damn near ancient. Still, it's a loss for the Rock'n Roll community and, unfortunately, this is going to be frequent news stories: Our favorite rockers passing away. And, thanks to the music industry-radio and media in general- there is no substantial next generation coming along behind them. As I pointed out in other threads, there ARE great newer Classic Rock-styled bands out there, but they are so under the radar that nobody beyond their immediate families will give a shit when THEY eventually pass away.
Anyhow, RIP Wayne Kramer, one of the last of the wild ones.
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Post by Jesse on Feb 3, 2024 13:32:39 GMT -5
......And It Is The Worst Of Times.
If you are a fan of the likes of Foreigner, Survivor, Journey, Toto, Bryan Adams, '80's Heart, Styx, hits-era REO Speedwagon, Brian Howe-era Bad Company, Van Hagar, 90125-era Yes, etc, well I have good news for you! There are a shitton of artists cranking out albums of that '80's-styled melodic Arena Rock! A lot of it is REALLY GOOD! Nothing that quite tops the hits of the above-mentioned artists, but plenty of songs that would sound just fine played alongside those hits should a Classic Rock radio station decide to play one someday just for the sake of something different. So, if you like any of the above-mentioned artists and want to hear music LIKE that, but NOT the same old same old hits from 30-45 years ago, check out Pride Of Lions, Perfect Plan, Stan Bush, Lionville, Chez Kane, Killer Kings, Nitrate, Crossing The Rubicon, Fortune, FM, Hydra, Grand, Creye, Houston, Rian, Voyage.......shit, there are so many more to choose from.......
........and now for the BAD news if you are fans of this music: There's just TOO MUCH of it and it all starts to sound the same after awhile. One really has to spend the money to buy a bunch of these CDs and take the time to thoroughly listen to them all to find the handful of songs that can compete with the classics. I have the discretionary income (and credit card rewards points) to do just that, but who the hell else does? It's a shame, that used to be part of the job of local radio stations program directors and disc jockeys themselves. Record labels used to have a promotions department that would send copies of bands' albums (later CDs) to radio stations and even steer them toward certain songs. The program director would divie up the CDs amongst the staff and DJs to listen to and see what was worth putting on the air. NONE of this happens anymore. To the extent that it does, it would only be t the station's corporate headquarters where a handfull of people decide what gets played on ALL of their stations throughout the Country. And at some point in the mid-1990's, they decided that the standard melodic Arena Rock would no longer make the cut, no matter how good it was/is. So, again, this is where it is the WORST of times for fans of this music: you'll NEVER hear it on the radio and, after buying and listening to a few albums, as I said, it tends to all sound the same. Most of these artists are on the Frontiers label, it's a shame Frontiers doesn't come up with some sort of multi-artist compilation CD of the best music they've released, maybe a year by year thing. Kinda like K-Tel used to do. I dunno. As a fan of this style of music, there really is some awesome music being made (mostly in Europe), but I feel I gotta listen to a whole lot of "meh" music to get to it.
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Post by Jesse on Feb 3, 2024 9:22:46 GMT -5
What are our favorite artists based soley on what they've released since January 1st, 2000? Artist need not have debuted in the 2000's, but we only counting their 2000's material.
For me: 1) Blackberry Smoke. Hands down has released the most great material since Y2K. 2) Brad Paisley. Ok, Country, but still, I have a lot of his 2000's albums (he debuted in 1998) and it's all solidly good to great material. I even made a "Best Of" mix-Cd of his greatest stuff. 3) Molly Hatchet. Actually a pretty good gap between my 2 and 3, cuz Hatchet only released 3 albums of new material, an okay-at-best covers album, a spotty "greatest hits re-recorded" album and a bunch of ok to solid live albums. However, the CD "Justice" alone could put them in my top 10 for the century and the others all have their moments. 4) Super Vintage. Southern Rock-styled band from Greece! I have 3 of their albums and they are all really good! 5) Perfect Plan. I have 3 of their albums (I think they only have three) and they are all real good, but a little indistinctive from each other 6) Lynyrd Skynyrd. Like Hatchet, they only have 3 studio albums of new material. "Vicious Cycle" is the one I keep going back to. Half of "God & Guns" was awesome. "Last Of A Dying Breed" was a disappointment, but good in spots. 7) Lovebites. Metal band made up of Japanese women! I have 3 of their albums. Gotta wade through some very so-so Metal, but I made killer mix-CD of their best stuff! 8) Journey. I hate to admit it, but they've done some good stuff with Arnel Pineda. 9) Church Of The Cosmic Skull. Gotta search through a lotta crap on their album, but, like Lovebites, when you put their best stuff together on a mix-CD, it's outstanding! 10) Styx/Dennis DeYoung. I know they ain't together anymore, but I'm combining them because I don't know that either quite makes the list on their own. It's weird, the newer Styx music sounds like it could use Dennis' direction and production and DeYoung's solo albums could use some of the rockin' edge that James Young and Tommy Shaw brought to Styx. One of these days I'm gonna do a Styx/DeYoung "Best of 2000's" and it should be a pretty awesome listen!
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Post by Jesse on Jan 31, 2024 20:28:19 GMT -5
"couldn't argue with you on a lot of this Jesse, though I went off Rainbow when RJD left and Ritchie wanted to be commercial with Top 40 hits .. Since You Been Gone and All Night Long?? Nah leave that to Foreigner, that's their area and I like them" I liked the Graham Bonnet and Joe Lynn Turner albums. Yeah, Ritchie was going for a more commercial sound, but I thought it worked. As much as I loved those early albums, I'm not sure he has as much success in the '80's with Dio singing. But then again, come the 1980's, Dio brought Black Sabbath back to life and had a pretty damn good solo career. So I guess he should be on my "best" list too! Joe Lynn Turner was the best fit for Rainbow and also slightly underrated but a great singer for Rainbow, Graham Bonnett?? Don't know why I just didn't take to him. Btw Israel Nash was a great gig, hope you didn't mind me tagging you on Facebook thingy .. I think live he was great, don't have any studio stuff but my mate Steve Ives I tagged him on Facebook with you on the post, loves him and I think you will definitely like him as well Jesse, we actually missed Charlie Starr and Paul Jackson from Blackberry Smoke doing a small acoustic set at HMV Record shop but it was around £260 plus meet and greet, a bit out of our price range (Israel Nash was £25) what I know both Charlie and Paul were great guys. That's fine. Gave me an excuse to look up Israel Nash music
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Post by Jesse on Jan 30, 2024 21:03:08 GMT -5
"couldn't argue with you on a lot of this Jesse, though I went off Rainbow when RJD left and Ritchie wanted to be commercial with Top 40 hits .. Since You Been Gone and All Night Long?? Nah leave that to Foreigner, that's their area and I like them"
I liked the Graham Bonnet and Joe Lynn Turner albums. Yeah, Ritchie was going for a more commercial sound, but I thought it worked. As much as I loved those early albums, I'm not sure he has as much success in the '80's with Dio singing. But then again, come the 1980's, Dio brought Black Sabbath back to life and had a pretty damn good solo career. So I guess he should be on my "best" list too!
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Post by Jesse on Jan 29, 2024 21:01:15 GMT -5
What '70's artists did it best? What artists did it worst?
IMO Best: Rainbow Yes Van Halen Journey Eric Clapton .38 Special Alice Cooper Moody Blues Bob Dylan
Worst: REO Speedwagon Marshall Tucker Band Kiss Ted Nugent Gregg Allman Led Zeppelin (Technically broken up, but Page and Jones released horrible soundtrack albums, Page was rudderless both in The Firm and on "Outrider". Plant had a great career in the '80's, but listening to his albums, you'd never know he used to sing for Zeppelin!)
Hit or miss: ZZ Top Heart Bad Company Molly Hatchet Charlie Daniels Band Foreigner Styx
Mostly sounded the same: Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers Rolling Stones Deep Purple
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Post by Jesse on Jan 18, 2024 16:43:15 GMT -5
I like the concept more than the song. Steals a little too much from "Werewolves Of London" and "Sweet Home Alabama", but it's decent. I may have to check out some more from these guys. Certainly better than most Mainstream Rock these days. sound decent enough Jesse, which reminds I got couple cds from band called Junkyard, think you might some of their stuff... check them out and they still going... check out couple of their songs youtu.be/SLovmg6I3tQ?si=A3fjojJU4lh3VNguyoutu.be/DdWyIrCbyxQ?si=DxO6QbWZcSv-HIxjI remember hearing about Junkyard years ago. I think they came out at the tail end of the Hair Metal thing. They were marketed as Hair Metal, but people I knew said that they had more of a Classic Rock edge to them. I never got around to buying anything of them. These links are the first I've actually HEARD them. Pretty good! The "Hair Metal" vibe is there, but the overall sound is more organic. I may hae to get some CDs of them myself! Thanks!
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Post by Jesse on Jan 16, 2024 21:43:28 GMT -5
I like the concept more than the song. Steals a little too much from "Werewolves Of London" and "Sweet Home Alabama", but it's decent. I may have to check out some more from these guys. Certainly better than most Mainstream Rock these days.
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Post by Jesse on Jan 13, 2024 8:41:41 GMT -5
I mentioned Shooter Jennings on the other thread, thought I'd share a song:
Shooter Jennings is the son of Waylon Jennings and, I guess, overall, he's Country, but he does have his rockin' moments. The above is a kick-ass Southern Rock tune if I've ever heard one!
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Post by Jesse on Jan 13, 2024 8:35:20 GMT -5
Hey Jesse, pretty much and like you I'm big Southern Rock fan for someone whomlives in England.. The Allmans, Lynyrd Skynyrd,Molly Hatchet,Marshall Tucker, Charlie Daniel, Blackberry Smoke, American Aquarium, Driveby Truckers etc.. I guess you're lucky to hear that genre in most bars and radio stations over there, I will check any Southern Rock band you mention and also.love old Eagles stuff, The Byrds, The Flying Burritos Bros, there are lot alternative country Rock bands coming over from States on tours, my buddy Steve who I go to these gigs, listens to a lot bands and supports them by buying cds, I usually buy merch like teeshirt .. thank for you post mate. Lotta bar bands in my area play Southern Rock, a couple bands are totally "Southern Rock Tribute" bands, but they stick with the Classics. My old band 43 South used to play Blackberry Smoke and Shooter Jennings and I think we were the only band in the area to do so. Radio stations don't play Southern Rock hardly at all anymore. Maybe a half-dozen or so Skynyrd tunes, some ZZ Top (mostly Eliminator-era), "Can't You See" and "Hold On Loosely" are on almost daily rotation. Allman Brothers come and go: Won't hear them for weeks, then they'll go a two or three week period where they get played daily, even giving songs like "Revival (Love Is Everywhere" some airplay. Rarely hear Charlie Daniels or Molly Hatchet on the radio anymore and when I do, it's only their biggest hit. None of the newer Southern Rock bands get radio play over here, however, I HAVE heard Blackberry Smoke on grocery store radio. Sometimes I wish whoever programs the music for grocery stores would start a radio stations LOL.
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Post by Jesse on Jan 13, 2024 8:24:24 GMT -5
Been checking them out this morning, good stuff! Sound like a combination of Tom Petty, Steve Earle and The Desert Rose Band (Byrds' Chris Hillman's '80's Country band). Not too far off from my current favorite Country band Midland. American Aquarium is more Americana Country, whereas Midland is more Nashville Country. All good though, Gonna keep listening, may buy a CD eventually or at least download a bunch of their stuff. The above is just one of the songs I liked of them so far.
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Post by Jesse on Jan 12, 2024 16:44:37 GMT -5
Remember this thread?
I burned a CD of my 17 (all I could fit) absolute favorites from this playlist and mostly been listening to that on my car rides lately. Beyond that, I'm still listening to what's left of the 700 CD's I acquired nearly 3 years ago! I've listened to the most interesting artists already and am now listening to stuff like Big Head Todd And THe Monsters, Toad The Wet Sprocket, White Stripes, The Fray...... some more Elvis Costello........... all stuff I passed by when it was popular. Since I got the Cds for free, I'm giving them all a fair listen to see if I missed anything. In most cases: NOPE. But that's what I've been listening to. In addition, whenever I get the urge, I been buying up more new Melodic Rock stuff, mostly from Europe (Sweden specifically) to maybe make, yet another "Best Of Melodic Rock" mix-CD. I very rarely latch onto just one or two CDs to listen to over and over again. However, I did that last year with Alicate "Butterfly", The Ransom Brothers "Resurgence" and Midland "The Last Resort: Greetings From". They all were/are start to finish excellent IMO. Alicate is sorta late '80's Whitesnake with some Dokken and Foreigner sounds mixed in. The Ransom Brothers are..... I guess Country by today's standards, but have some Southern Rock tendencies and, overall, to my ears, sound more like early Eagles, Pure Prairie League, Jackson Browne, basically early '70's Country Rock. Midland is also Country, but of the '80's and early '90's (pre- line dance Country) variety that I grew up with. Maybe some nods to early Eagles as well, but mostly barroom, throw-your-bottle-at-the-chicken-wire Country. All three of these Cds don't have a bad track between 'em assuming you're into these styles.
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Post by Jesse on Jan 12, 2024 16:24:28 GMT -5
More a fan of Bob Catley than Magnum specifically. Only album I have of Magnum is "Wings Of Heaven", but I'm familiar with "Kingdom Of Madness". Tony Clarkin was a very good, very underrated guitarist.
Interesting fact: I only know of Magnum and Bob Catley FROM THIS SITE! Years ago I posted a thread: "What's Your Favorite Artist and What 10 Songs Of Theirs Do I Need On my iPod?". Somebody (I forget who) chose Magnum/Bob Catley and listed 10 songs, some were Magnum, some were Catley solo. At the time, I could only find the Catley solo songs on iTunes, but I downloaded them and loved 'em! Never did get around to buying any CDs of them though.
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Post by Jesse on Jan 7, 2024 20:36:29 GMT -5
Never heard of them. I'll have to check 'em out!
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Post by Jesse on Jan 7, 2024 10:53:57 GMT -5
Surprisingly, considering Styx is one of my favorite bands, I actually have very few of their studio albums. "Pieces Of Eight" is not one of them. Someday I should look into completing my studio album collection of Styx. what's your favourite Styx album? I have most of their stuff and I got Damn Yankees with Uncle Ted and Tommy Shaw Damn Yankees had two really good, really strong albums! I have them both, but listened to "Don't Tread" more, probably because the first one was so overplayed on radio at the time. As I said, I only have a handful of Styx albums, of those, probably "The Grand Illusion" or "Paradise Theater" would be my favorite. People like to shit on Dennis DeYoung, but I liked his idea of concept albums: Having an overall theme to the lyrics and have musical pieces repeated to mark the beginning and end. Both of those albums were brilliant in that regard. "Kilroy Was Here" fell flat and DeYoung himself has admitted that he screwed up with that one. "Crash Of The Crown" IS good! However, I think it would have benefited from DeYoung's focus. Likewise, Dennis DeYoung released two albums the last few years: "26 East Vol 1" and "26 East Vol 2". Both semi-concept albums, very good and sound more like Styx than what Styx has released since DeYoung's departure. That said, his albums could've used some more of the rockin' edge that Tommy Shaw and James Young brought to those Styx records. It really was the combination of all three that made Styx great IMO.
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Post by Jesse on Jan 7, 2024 9:54:43 GMT -5
I did a "Reggie Jackson's Of Classic Rock" thread many years ago, offering up artists who had as many or more "strikeouts" than they had "home runs". NOW, I'm going for artists who, like Brett Favre, keep saying they are going to retire, but keep coming back for more! Doobie Brothers (Remember, 1st "Farewell Tour" was 1982!) The Who (Again, I think they did a "Farewell Tour" in the early '80's) Ozzy Osbourne (Remember his "No More Tours" tour in the early '90's? I will admit, it was cute when he returned a few years later with his "Retirement Sucks" tour) Kiss (I lost track) Lynyrd Skynyrd (The original "Tribute Tour" was supposed to be 30 dates and done) Foreigner Status Quo (They were supposed to be done, at least touring, several years ago) Alabama (Not Classic Rock, but they did a "Farewell Tour" around '03-'04, yet they still touring...... well, two of them) Who am I missing? Hey Jesse, what about The Eagles and Fleetwood Mac? ..I think 😉 Yeah, definitely! I thought of the Eagles shortly after I posted. My parents saw Fleetwood Mac around 2007? and I think that was billed as a final tour.
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Post by Jesse on Jan 6, 2024 13:16:58 GMT -5
I did a "Reggie Jackson's Of Classic Rock" thread many years ago, offering up artists who had as many or more "strikeouts" than they had "home runs". NOW, I'm going for artists who, like Brett Favre, keep saying they are going to retire, but keep coming back for more!
Doobie Brothers (Remember, 1st "Farewell Tour" was 1982!) The Who (Again, I think they did a "Farewell Tour" in the early '80's) Ozzy Osbourne (Remember his "No More Tours" tour in the early '90's? I will admit, it was cute when he returned a few years later with his "Retirement Sucks" tour) Kiss (I lost track) Lynyrd Skynyrd (The original "Tribute Tour" was supposed to be 30 dates and done) Foreigner Status Quo (They were supposed to be done, at least touring, several years ago) Alabama (Not Classic Rock, but they did a "Farewell Tour" around '03-'04, yet they still touring...... well, two of them)
Who am I missing?
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