Ulver

I had a hard time finding some worthwhile U bands in my collection, so I'm going to do a bookend post with one band. I'm going to post their debut and latest record. And I wanted to do this with a really diverse band and there's really not a more diverse and evolving band like Ulver. The band takes their name from the Norwegian translation of Wolves. Formed in 93 by Kristoffer Rygg, also known as Garm and a handful of other names. The band were mere teens when they recorded their first album 'Bergtatt - Et Eeventyr I 5 Capitler'. The translation is 'Taken Into The Mountain - A Fairytale In 5 Chapters'. The album is a blend of Folk and Black Metal. Combing raw vocals with acoustic passages. The band quickly gained attention in the fresh new Black Metal scene, but drew criticism for their polished sound. This record is one of the best in the genre and sometimes gets overlooked. 

After the bands third release 'Nattens Madrigal - Aatte Hymne Til Ulven I Manden'  or 'The Madrigal Of The Night - Eight Hymns To The Wolf In Man' the bands sound changed into a more electronic sound and with each album sounding more like a Norwegian techno band. The band evolved further by changing sounds into an avant garde band and then into yet another band. Ulver is a band that with each album, you're not really sure what you're going to get, but you know it's going to be great.

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UFO

Into the U's we go and time to start it off with some British Heavy Metal. UFO has been one of the more underrated rock/metal bands to come out of the UK. Having formed in 1969 and still touring and releasing records today isn't something to scoff at. Formed in London by Pete Way, Phil Mogg, and Mick Bolton, UFO started out as somewhat of a space rock band. By 73 the band hasn't seen much success outside of Germany and Japan, they needed a new guitarist. After a short run with Larry Wallis, who would end up playing on the debut album from Motörhead, the band recruited Scorpions guitarist Micheal Schenker. Although Schenker was just 18 at the time, he was already an accomplished guitarist. By the time Schenker left in 78, the band had a minor hit with 'Lights Out' and were beginning to be recognized in America. Over the years the band has endured lineup changes and hiatuses, but they continue to play with original members Phil Mogg and Andy Parker. UFO has had quite a catalog, so I've dug a bit deeper and decided to go with 98's best of release 'Time To Rock: Best Of Singles A's and B's'. This is a 2 CD collection that spans the bands career and includes some live cuts. If you're not familiar with the band this is the perfect place to start.

I didn't get into UFO until a few years back. I was pulled in with songs like 'Lights Out' and 'Doctor Doctor'. The guitar work was always stellar and the band just seemed like they should be bigger than what they are. Yet somehow UFO tends to fly under the radar, pardon the pun, the band had some solid albums over the years and while sounding somewhat like some other Brit Rock bands, managed to carve out their own sound. Great band that deserves some more recognition.

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Disc 2

Turisas

Week long lay off for some unknown reason, let's polish of the T bands with a little Battle/Folk Metal in Turisas. The band takes their name from a sea monster in Finnish Mythology. While the original band formed back in 97, it took til 04 for a full length debut to be released. 'Battle Metal' was that debut record, combing Folk and Symphonic Metal and branding it as Battle Metal, Turisas soon gained recognition with their energetic live shows. The band has gone through some rough patches in keeping members full time. Yet they continue to tour and have released two more records. Musically here it's like the wave of Folk Metal that's been making appearances over the past few years. Highly energetic and it makes you wanna drink and fight with some cardboard swords. Overall if ya dig the Folk Metal scene, this one is for you. Even better this is the deluxe edition with a few bonus cuts.

I've become fascinated with the ongoing Folk/Pagan Metal scene over the past few years. Perhaps my fascination started with Finntroll and their odd brand of metal.  Bands like TYR, Korpiklaani, and Kivimetsan Druidi have all caught my ear over the years. Each bringing their own unique spin on the genre. Turisas is no exception to the genre, forging on with their Battle Metal, you can't help but want to sing along to these anthems of battle.

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Tristania

Time for some Gothic Female Fronted Metal. This one has some ties to a band I posted a few weeks back. Tristania have been around since 96 and along with bands like The Gathering and Theater Of Tragedy are one of the early purveyors of the Female Gothic sound. Tristania uses the 'beauty and the beast' vocal styling. In essence male harsh vocals with female operatic vocals. The formula works well for some bands, but not all in the genre. Led by Morten Veland and Vibeke Stene, the band released two critically acclaimed albums before Morten left in 2000 to form Sirenia. Vibeke stayed out as the female vocalist for another few albums before announcing her departure in 07 to pursue a teaching career. Lineup changes have plagued the band over the years as have sporadic releases. The band continues today with a new female vocalist, but the majority of the fans argue the sounds is not the same as it once was.  For this post I'm going back to their 98 debut, 'Widows Weeds' is an essential female fronted goth metal album in so many ways. It's dark and haunting while being beautiful all at the same time. Vibeke's vocals offeset Morten's harsh growls. One of the best albums in the genre.

Tristania and this album were my introduction to the band and in a way to the genre itself. By now I had become familiar with bands like Nightwish, Lacuna Coil, and The Gathering, but nothing nearly as dark as this. When I first heard 'My Lost Lenore' I kinda sat there and wondering if I had enough black on to be listening to this. It was so dark and depressing, yet the haunting female vocals pulled me in. From there I was hooked. While most would argue once Morten left the band began to go downhill. I maintain that Vibeke was one of the more underrated female vocalists in the metal genre. Listen to this record and then listen to anything of the last record she was on 'Illumination' and her voice is still just as haunting a decade later.

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TSO

The only post of the year that will feature Holiday music. Bear with it, cause it does come full circle with two other bands I've posted in the past few months. Coming full circle tonight with some Trans-Siberian Orchestra. Which if you payed attention has it's roots in Metal. Formed in 93 by compose Paul O'Neill and Jon Oliva and Al Pitrelli both of whom played in Savatage, the band combined the classical elements of the holiday sounds with a more progressive approach in hard rock and metal. The band has been successful for some years now, running tours with two different bands during the season. Both of which feature former members of Savatage. The last few years see Al Pitrelli handling one coast and Chris Caffery handling the other coast. While originally formed in 93, TSO didn't release their first album 'Christmas Eve & Other Stories' until 96, due to the untimely loss of Jon's brother and Savatage guitarist Criss Oliva. The album contained the track 'Christmas Eve/Sarajevo 12/24', which may be the bands most well known track. What people don't realize is the song appeared a year earlier on Savatage's 'Dead Winter Dead' album. See everyone knows a Metal track after all. The band of course tours every year and sells really well. The band never is without talent either, featuring a long list of guitarists and vocalist who play in a few other metal bands. Examples include current guitarists, Al Pitrelli has played with the likes of Megadeth, Alice Cooper, Blue Oyster Cult, and even Michael Bolton. While Chris Caffery has released a handful of solo records and is currently producing his own line of Hot Sauce. Previous guitarist have included current Testament axeman and jazz man Alex Skolnick and former Journey singer Jeff Scott Soto. Having seen the band twice in the past few years, it is nothing short of a modern Rock Opera and it's always worth it everytime. So deck the halls and turn it to 11.

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Traffic

Time for some classic rock and one of my favorite bands of all time. Traffic was formed in 67 in England by Steve Winwood, Jim Capaldi, Chris Wood, and Dave Mason. Starting out as a psych rock band, with songs influenced by The Beatles, the band soon evolved to include more of a jazz and world influence to their sound. They disbanded the first time around in 69 after Winwood left to go play with Eric Clapton and Ginger Baker in Blind Faith. However by 70 Winwood was back in the band. While the bands lineup changed until their breakup in 75, the band released several critically acclaimed records including their debut 'Mr. Fantasy' and 'John Barleycorn Must Die'. By the time the 75 split had come along, Mason had established a solo career and Winwood was well on his to way to establishing his. In 94 the living members of the band reuinted for a one off tour with the Grateful Dead. Rumors of another reunion were cut short with the death of Capaldi in 05. Since then Winwood has continued with his solo career. It's hard to pick out any Traffic record to feature, simply because they all are great. So when in doubt go with the best of route. 'Feelin' Alright: The Very Best Of Traffic' was released in 2000 and features everything that made this band great. Well worth checking out.

Traffic for me in the latter years of my life has been a go to band when I need some cheering up or I just feel like rocking out. Traffic embraced many different genres and beautifully wove it into their music. Traffic was a band that played every so often in the home growing up. The song 'Dear Mr. Fantasy' has been used in various commercials over the years, most notably when the NFL Network was just starting up. Seemed like an odd choice, but nevertheless it worked given how big Fantasy Football has become. I've had the pleasure of seeing Winwood twice now, once with Clapton and once solo. Both times it's been nothing short of a religious experience. Recently I had discussed about getting a tattoo to honor my late father. Originally I wanted something Hendrix like, but have kinda steered away from that. Then after some more thought I decided to possibly go with the Traffic logo. Shrouded somewhat in mystery I figured it works. Essentially being based on the Celtic fiery wheel of fortune, which is similar to the Celtic signs for spirit and family. When colored differently it takes on different meanings. While it's not done yet, it remains high on the list of things to accomplish in the new year.

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Devin Townsend

Another week of T bands, and this post kinda ties into the SYL post from a few weeks back. I had mentioned the eclectic work of Devin Townsend. From his work with Steve Vai, to SYL, to his solo albums, Devin tends to run the creativity line through each album he releases. This one is no exception. Released in 2007 'Ziltoid The Omniscient' is a concept record about a little green puppet man from space who travels to Earth in search of Earth's ultimate cup of coffee. You'd be hard pressed to find a more bizarre concept record.  Love it or loathe it, this is funny and great all in one. Who else is gonna make a puppet and base a record around it. Wait two records, as we are told the follow up is in the works. As brutal musically as it is funny and silly, this remains as one of my favorite records from Devin. The song 'Hyperdrive' was actually re recorded for the 'Addicted'  record. Overall this is just a silly album to play. Bonus CD is included here with three extra tracks. Also including a "preview" link now just as a small insight to what I'm posting.

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To-Mera

Finally closing out this way behind week with some UK Prog Metal from a fairly new and unknown band. To-Mera formed in 05 and to date have released three studio albums. What makes To-Mera a little different from the current list of Prog Metal bands is that the lead singer is female. Something you don't see to often in the Prog Metal genre. 'Transcendental' is the bands debut album and with just eight tracks clocks in at around 53 minutes. Musically it's a trip and lyrically it's love and depression, but rolled together it works really well. Worth checking out for fans of Prog Metal and well as Goth Metal and Female Fronted Metal.

To-Mera is a band I've only recently gotten into. I had heard good things about the band and decided to check them out. Glad I did too. Musically it seems to be a blend of Goth and Prog Metal bands. Which while I don't always dig the real Goth stuff, bands like My Dying Bride and the such come to mind. This takes bands like Madder Mortem and old Lacuna Coil and updates them quite a bit. If you want something out of the box, give this a spin.

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Thin Lizzy

Time for what I consider one of the more underrated Hard Rock bands that ever existed. Thin Lizzy are probably best know for their hit 'The Boys Are Back In Town' and yes the album that is getting posted does feature it, but there was so much more to the band than that one song. Formed in Ireland in 69, by 71 the band released their self titled debut record. Led by a Black Irishman in Phil Lynott, the band seemed to struggle a bit before releasing their sixth album 'Jailbreak'. This was the album that broke the band to the mainstream and introduced a whole new group to the band. Songs like 'Jailbreak' and 'The Boys Are Back In Town' still remain radio favorites some thirty years later. After the release of 'Jailbreak'  the band went on to release a few more critically acclaimed albums, before the untimely death of Phil Lynott due to a drug overdose. The band was resurrected in 96, but only lasted until 01, before reforming yet again in 04. The band still continues to play live today, despite not having released a studio album since 83. For me though 'Jailbreak' remains the high point of the band and is by far their best record.

I got a chance to see Thin Lizzy last year open up for of all bands Judas Priest. While the band will never be as good as they were with Phil, they still managed to have some of that old energy that made them a great live band back in the day. I always dug Thin Lizzy no matter how overplayed 'The Boys Are Back' is played. My favorite Lizzy track is actually on 'Jailbreak' in 'The Cowboy Song'. Something about that song that every time I hear it I fall in love with the band all over again. For me this is a band that should be talked about more and be heralded as one of the more influential Hard Rock bands of the 70's.

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That Petrol Emotion

Time to change things up and bring some obscure rock from across the pond. That Petrol Emotion was an Northern Irish, London Based band that featured an American vocalist. Formed in 84, the band was together for a decade before calling it a day. They did reform for a short period of time from 08-10, but now are once again done. The band had a style that was kinda hard to pinpoint, getting called everything from a revved up version of Television, to a youthful version of The Rolling Stones, to a mix of The Clash and CCR. Their first single was released in 84 and by 85 their major label debut 'Babble' was released and received universal acclaim in the UK. Shortly after lineup changes began to take their toll and the band managed to release a few more records before calling it a day. While the band is no more they remain an influence to the Britpop and Madchester scenes. This is for the fans of that whole UK scene and it's a chance for someone to check out this band and see what they're missing. Also this is the deluxe reissue edition that featured some bonus tracks.

That Petrol Emotion was never a band that I would have found on my own by any means. I had found them through a friend who described them as a toned down version of The Clash. 'Babble' features some really good tracks including 'Swamp', 'Big Decision' and 'Creeping To The Cross'. Musically you can kind of hear some of the influence in modern rock bands today. One odd one is Nickelback. Listen to the intro riff to 'Swamp' and then listen to that dreadful track 'Something In Your Mouth'. Riff sounds oddly the same. Always nice to see a fairly unknown band in the states have such an influence on American rock bands.

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Testament

Time to go back to the Bay Area for some Thrash. Testament have been around since the dawn of Thrash Metal so to speak. Formed in 83 as The Legacy, the band was originally fronted by now former Exodus fromtman Steve 'Zetro' Souza. The band had changed singers and by 87 has released their debut 'The Legacy'. Widely regarded with the likes of Slayer, Exodus, and Metallica as one of the pioneering Thrash Metal bands, Testament released several critically acclaimed records through the early 90's. However a rotating lineup and an updated sound in the mid and late 90's didn't help their cause. Neither did a health scare when in 02 lead singer Chuck Billy was diagnosed with cancer. Thankfully Chuck has since made a full recovery and the band has returned to their thrashier roots with their past few releases. It's a challenge to pick out a good early Testament album, so I decided to roll with the 'Greatest Hits' package. Released in 2000 this was the second Best Of album to be released. This one for me tends to focus more on the earlier material. A solid place to start for anyone new to the band or for a long time fan looking for all the good stuff.

Testament along with Exodus could have easily fit into The Big 4 category. Like many of the Bay area Thrash bands of the era, they could hold their own with anyone. There was always an immense group of talent in the band despite all the lineup changes. The band kind got forgotten about in the early part of the 00's, but made a serious comeback and proved they were still a force to be reckoned with. If anything the band has gotten better with the time off. Testament proves that Thrash Metal is still alive and kicking.

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Talking Heads

New week and behind again. So it's time for a few T bands. First up is the new wave avant garde Talking Heads. Formed in NYC in 75 by David Byrne, the band were a staple of the NYC club CBGB's in the late 70's. The band was lumped into the Punk scene that was happening in NYC at the time, but the band blended a diverse range of genres to create their sound. The band worked with acclaimed producer Brian Eno on several of their records. The band have several hits due in part to video rotation in MTV in the 80's. The band stayed together until 91 and briefly reunited in 02. Members of the band were involved in other projects as well. David Byrne has released several albums and has collaborated with a number of musicians. He recently released a book entitled 'How Music Works'. Bassist Tina Weymouth and drummer Chris Frantz formed a hip-hop themed duo called The Tom Tom Club and scored a minor hit with their song 'Genius Of Love'. Meanwhile guitarist Jerry Harrison has gone on to be a successful producer in the music business. 'The Best Of The Talking Heads' showcases the diverse and sometimes odd nature of the band. The hits are all here including 'Once In A Lifetime', 'Burning Down The House' and 'Life During Wartime'. Great band that sometimes people overlook for their quirk factor.

Talking Heads were a band I got into later on in life so to speak. I remember always hearing 'Once In A Lifetime' on the radio and the song just stood out to me on how quirky it was. The video was an even bigger trip. The more I listened to their catalog as a whole the more I realized what a great and ahead of their time band they were. It's a shame that differences can't be put aside and the band could play together again, but such are egos and what not. The band still sounds fresh today as they did thirty years ago.

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Suicidal Tendencies

Last up in the S bands are the fathers of crossover thrash. I of course speak of California's own Suicidal Tendencies. The band formed in 81 in the LA Punk and Hardcore scene. Their live shows were legendary, often resulting in the bands being banned from clubs due the amount of violence at the shows. Led by Mike Muir the band released their self titled 'Suicidal Tendencies' album in 83. A legendary album in the Punk scene, the album features their best known hit 'Institutionalized'. The band of course would later switch to a funk/thrash sound and would feature current Metallica bassist Robert Trujillo on a few albums. The band has gone on three different hiatuses over the years but remains together and touring today. The self titled release though captures that Punk/Hardocre scene in LA at the time and serves as a reminder of what a great time it was for music.

Suicidal remains one of the more influential crossover bands. The band was hugely popular in the Southern California area, so far as to crop up a gang based around the band. The live shows were legendary and anyone lucky enough to attend the early gigs probably has a memory that will last a lifetime. The band for me made some solid records, including their debut. However the band seemed to always go on hiatus just as things were coming together. Great band nevertheless and the debut is always a great album just to rock out to.

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Subterranean Masquerade

Time to go a little off the path again with some Prog Metal. This is somewhat of a supergroup if you will, featuring members of other Metal bands. Subterranean Masquerade started out in 97 with Guitarist Tomer Pink. The band recorded a few covers at the start, a Peter Murphy cover as well as a Dead Can Dance cover. Both of which wound up on tribute records. The band lay dormant until 04 when an EP was released. 'Temporary Psychotic State' featured among others, JWW of Agalloch, Paul Kuhr of Novembers Doom and Tino LoSicco of Epoch Of Unlight. The two track EP was an experimental step into Prog Metal. The follow up 'Suspended Animation Dreams' picks up where the EP left off. Once again Paul handles the vocals and Tomer takes care of the guitars. The album goes further into the Prog Metal land, laced with interesting musical interludes as well as a mix of clean and harsh vocals. There's really no way to describe it other than just to tell the listener to listen to it. It's a wonderful album that I love. Sadly the band went pretty much on hiatus after the release in 05, but there is news that the band is working on a new EP due out next year.

This is truly an unique band in every sense of the word. Musically it's a mix of styles blended perfectly together. This band flew under the radar of a lot of people, given the people involved with it. Sadly this band should have been a lot bigger. I guess the eclectic styles are just a bit much for some. For me though it's a great album to throw on the headphones and get lost in. An album I can listen to weekly and not get tired of it and that's saying a lot there.

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SYL

Way behind on keeping this thing updated again, so here's the back log. First up is Canadian noisemongers Strapping Young Lad. Formed in 94 in the great white north by former Steve Vai frontman Devin Townsend, the band quickly gained notice with their debut 'Heavy Is A Really Heavy Thing' in 95. The band at the point was just Devin with some local musicians. After the mild success, Devin recruited a full time lineup which included Jed Simon on Guitars, Byron Stroud on Bass, and The Atomic Clock, Gene Hoglan on drums. The result was 97's 'City', a beast of a metal album if there was. Chaotic barely describes this album. The drumming alone is just simply brutal and top notch, while Devin's guitars and vocals are all over the place. This was the defining moment for the band. However things changed quickly and the band soon went on hiatus until 02. In the meantime, Devin followed it all up with several stellar solo records. Gene played in about every metal band in the world it seemed. The band released a few more records before Devin decided to put SYL to bed for good. The band remains one of the most talked about metal bands during the late 90's. 'City'  is just a prime example of what Devin is capable of. Great album to throw on when you can't make sense of it all.

Sometime before SYL got back together I became aware of them through songs like 'Detox'. Of course Devin's larger than life persona drew me into the band. I thought surely this guy can't be serious, he's just another crazy Canadian. The music was just so chaotic it was hard to believe a band could be so all over the place. When the self titled album came out I of course jumped at the chance to get it. From there I didn't look back. Devin's solo work is amazing, which will be featured in the coming weeks. Great artist who is a bit nuts, but that never hurt.

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Purple

Time for a bit of a throwback this time around. To the mid 90's we go. Where grunge was king and wearing flannel was cool. A period I'm not entirely sure I've visited in the blog yet. In any case it's time for some Stone Temple Pilots. Originally formed back in 86, the band didn't release their debut record until 92. Their debut record 'Core' yielded a few hit songs and pushed the band into the forefront of the ever growing alternative scene. However the critics were so kind, often labeling the band a bad Pearl Jam knockoff. The band carried on and in94 released their number one album 'Purple'. The band was riding high off the singles 'Vasoline' 'Big Empty' and 'Interstate Love Song'. The band seemed to be destined for greatness until the reoccurring demons of frontman Scott Weiland kept appearing. The band went on hiatus for a bit and the released a few more albums before splitting up in 2002. Band members went on to play in various other acts, most notably Velvet Revolver and Army Of Anyone. The band got back together in 08 and still remains a somewhat dysfunctional band today. But for a short time harken back to the days of old with a great alternative record.

'Purple' was the first CD I ever bought and I still have it to this day. Same copy too. It's seen better days perhaps, but I loved that record. For the most part I still do too. It was a good album from a band that received more flack than any other top selling band out of that era. True the band was dysfunctional, but isn't that what rock n roll is all about. I think if the band didn't have all the dysfunction they would have been a lot bigger than what they were.

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Raw Power

Final week of the S bands and going out with some diverse albums this week. Starting and ending the week on a Punk note, so lets get things started with some Iggy & The Stooges. Led by the wild man Iggy Pop, The Stooges along with the MC5 helped shape the early Punk scene in Michigan. The band formed in 67 and released a few albums before they broke up in 74. Each of their albums stands on its own, but for my money the classic is 'Raw Power'. The album produced by Pop and David Bowie, who at the time was riding high on his Ziggy Stardust persona, crafted the influential album. Many musicians is several genres have hailed this album as their favorite, not to mention the countless covers of tracks like 'Search And Destroy' and 'Gimmie Danger'. Despite a weak initial response, the album over the years has grown into a classic. The Stooges broke up shortly after the albums release. Pop went into rehab for a bit before coming out as a solo artist. The Stooges have since reformed and continue to tour. This album though remains the highlight of The Stooges career.

Iggy Pop remains one of the great frontman in music, hands down. The man practically invented stage diving and the art of cutting yourself on stage. The man puts so much energy into the music and live show it's crazy. There's a story that Henry Rollins has told about trying to outdo Iggy on stage and how it can't be done. That right there speaks volume. The live show should be the place where everything comes together. You want people to leave with no voice, covered in sweat and the best memory of a live show ever. Sadly it doesn't always happen that way. Of course you can't control certain things, but nevertheless if you're not up there giving it your all, my thought is you shouldn't be up there at all. There's not many people that can control a stage like Iggy can, even at his age now he can still do it.

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Stolen Babies

Closing out the week with something a little off the path and bizarre if you will. What could be best be described as Avant-Garde Metal in the vein of bands like Oingo Boingo and Mr. Bungle. Stolen Babies hail from California and are an Avant-Garde Cabaret inspired Metal band. Intrigued yet? The frontwoman also plays the Accordion. Got your attention now? Originally formed as a 12 piece High School performance troupe, the band trimmed it's members and cut their first demo in  02. Another demo and EP soon followed and by 06 The End Records had picked the band up and released their debut 'There Be Squabbles Ahead'. This album is a bizarre mix of styles, truly you have to hear it to actually see what I'm talking about. An interesting album for the curious and diverse listener that is for sure.

The End Records did a good job of trying to get the band out there. However when you play a unique style of music, it's easier said then done sometimes. The band just released to follow up 'Naught' this past month, some six years after their debut. The band has been getting out there touring with Devin Townsend and Kataonia and soon to be hitting the road with Turisas and Firewind. I like to dust this album of when I'm feeling a bit off or overly creative. The sound is really unique and isn't for everybody, but it's at least worth listening to at least once.

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Steely Dan

It's been some time since I've posted any Classic Rock, so figured I'd sneak some in here between the weird stuff. Steely Dan were one of the more successful rock group of the 70's, churning out what seemed to be hit after hit. Comprised of the duo Walter Becker and Donald Fagen, Steely Dan blended Rock with elements of pop, jazz, R&B and funk to create their sound. Formed in 71, the band did toured for a few years before becoming strictly a studio band. The band split up in 81 and eventually reunited in 93. During the time both Fagen and Becker stayed low key in the music business. While the band has been back together for sometime, Fagen has maintained a solo career that has produced some solid albums. 'A Decade Of Steely Dan' captures the magic of the band in their prime. This is the definitive starting point for anyone new to this band. The smart and witty listener will surely enjoy this collection.

Steely Dan was another one of those bands that seemed to be always playing when I was growing up. 'Aja' seemed to be a staple in the house for years. 'Reelin' In The Years' still remains a favorite as well, something about the guitar work on that track. Steely Dan for me has always be the smart persons choice in music. The writing has always been top notch as well as the borderline obsession with getting the perfect sound in the studio. The band once used 40 different studio musicians to make a record, yeah that's not obsessive. Still it seems to be the prefect fit when you're feeling smart.

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Soilwork

End of the week and a Black Friday post dump if you will. Starting off with some Swedish metal. Much like their fellow countrymen In Flames and Dark Tranquility, Soilwork play what can be referred to as an updated Gothenburg Sound. Formed in the mid 90's under the name Inferior Breed, the band quickly changed names to Soilwork and released a few album to some acclaim. The sound was a melodic death metal vibe, but 2001's 'A Predator's Portrait' showed the band updating their sound a bit. This album was their debut for Nuclear Blast and marked the beginning of what some consider their best work. Much like In Flames the band has moved towards a more modern metal sound. This album though along with the follow up 'Natural Born Chaos'  is some of their finer work. The later album was produced by Devin Townsend, but not to be outdone, the title track here features Opeth frontman Mikael Akerfeldt. Solid release for those who are looking for the slice of Swedish Metal.

I've always been into the whole Swedish metal scene. There's been some great bands and even better albums that have come out in the past two decades. I got the chance to see Soilwork some years back, I wanna say opening up for Hypocrisy. This was right around the time 'Natural Born Chaos' came out and the band was beginning to get noticed. The live show was full of great energy and the band was really tight and on mark. After seeing them I became a fan and have been one since. Granted there's been a few low points on the album releases but still solid modern metal. A band that could and sometimes does get played on hard rock radio, but deserves more credit.

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Twelve

Forging ahead and changing genres yet again, it's time for what some may consider Punk's first lady. That's right time for some Patti Smith. Best known for her debut album 'Horses', Smith has been a fixture on the poet/punk rock circuit since 75. She however may be more known for her song 'Because The Night' which was co-written by the Boss, Bruce Springsteen and later covered by 10,000 Maniacs. Over the years she has continued to release album to acclaim, but I'd thought I'd go off the beaten path a little bit with her and post her 07 Covers record 'Twelve'. This is a full blown covers album, which features covers of Hendrix, Neil Young, Nirvana, The Doors, Tears For Fears, and The Rolling Stones to name a few. For those familiar with her work, you will realize this isn't a typical Covers album. Patti puts her unique spin on each track and makes it her own. Not everyone will get this album or for that matter Patti Smith, however it's still a unique record that shouldn't be passed up.

I'm a sucker for Covers albums, plain and simple. I love to hear other people interpretations on other songs. Some are better than others, some are just laughable. I've been a fan of Patti Smith for some time now. 'Horses' remains a timeless classic. She's a celebrated and hated musician and poet. Love her or hate her, you can't deny her talent and influence on the genre.

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Higher!

New week and already behind so gonna post a few before the holiday here. Starting off this week with some Funk and R&B. During the 60's and 70's there were plenty of Funk bands, but perhaps none quite as funky as the eclectic Sly & The Family Stone. Formed in 67, the band was built around friends and family of Sly Stone. Billed as a multi racial and gender based group, the band was together until 83. The band had a rotating lineup before the band split up. Sly Stone has been somewhat of a recluse over the years. In 87 he was busted for drugs and sent to jail effectively putting him into retirement. In 2011 the band made a few festivals appearances, but it has been reported the Sly Stone is homeless and living out of a van in a rough part of LA. Sad times for a great musician. 'Higher!'  is a best of package that showcases the bands hits from the early days through the mid 70's. Released by Starbucks music in 05, this remains as one of the better best of packages out there for the band.

I remember growing up and hearing Sly & The Family Stone on the radio. I loved the high energy of the music and I just wanted to get up and dance around every time I heard 'Dance To The Music'. To this day I still crank that song whenever I hear it. There's an amusing story about this album and it's partly why I decided to post it. My folks bought this record at a Starbucks on their way out of town. My dad had always been a fan of the band and had recalled stories he had heard about Sly Stone. My mom tells the story as them driving along the California coast with this album at full blast. My father rocking out as only he could and my mother laughing hysterical at the grand nature of it all. I tell that story in honor of the holiday this week. Always give thanks to the folks, no matter what hell they have put you through as a child.

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Slough Feg

Ending the week a few days late, but what the hey. Time for some more Metal. This time is comes courtesy of Slough Feg. Formed in the early 90's, the ban was originally known as The Lord Weird Slough Feg before shortening the name around 05. The name comes from the main villain in a British comic book series. Hailing from the Bay Area, the band features Guitarist/Vocalist Mike Scalzi, who for a period of time was in Hammers Of Misfortune. The band plays a mix of traditional Heavy Metal fused with element of Prog Metal. Overall the sound is timeless and really groovy in parts. From the lyrical end it's a mic of Folk Tales and Mythology. The band has released eight albums to date, each receiving excellent reviews in the metal community. Proof of this is their last effort 'The Animal Spirits'. Released in 2010 on Profound Lore Records, this album from start to finish is a beast to be reckoned with. Both the music and the vocal jump out at the listener and pull them in. One of the better albums to be released in the past few years, definitely worth a listen.

Slough Feg was one of those bands I kinda stumbled upon. I had become familiar with Hammers Of Misfortune and found Slough Feg via them. Musically it reminds me of the whole NWOBHM scene. Straight up no apologies in your face headbanging metal, the way it used to be. Vocally speaking Mike's delivery is unique and it helps. The way the story comes together in the song coupled with the driving guitars, just like hypnosis. What gets me is the band always gets good reviews and yet remains in the underground. Once again putting a band out there that people may not be aware of in hopes to spread the word.

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At Sixes And Sevens

Catching up on things after a long weeks worth of work. We finish off the week with some more Metal. Up first is some female fronted Symphonic Gothic Metal. Sirenia hails from Norway and was the band that Morten Veland formed after leaving Tristania. Sirenia pretty much starts where the second Tristania record leaves off. In fact if you didn't know any better you may mistake it for a Tristania record. 'At Sixes And Sevens' is a solid debut album. The formula worked for Tristania, so why change it. A symphonic mix of harsh vocals and clean female vocals dominate the record. Morten plays everything on the album, and enlisted a hired female singer to sing those parts. It's a good record for fans of the genre and in reality probably their best effort to date. Worth checking out if you like the genre.

Tristania, along with Nightwish and Lacuna Coil, were some of the early female fronted goth metal bands I got into. Tristania really wasn't the same after Morten left and while they have tried, their last album wasn't their best by any means. Sirenia captured that old Tristania feel again. The by the book sound and melody pulls the listener in. If you're not a fan of the genre, you may find this album a tad boring and formulated. The band continues to release material despite not being able to hold onto a female vocalist for more than one album. With the addition of former X Factor contestant Ailyn, the band has deviated from the norm on the last two records. Good band to demonstrate the genre to people and the albums aren't all that bad.

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Single Bullet Theory

Mid week and it's time for some more Metalcore. Single Bullet Theory have made a name for themselves and the band that will open for just about any band it seems. The band has been around since 2000, releasing a few albums before breaking up and then getting back together again in 08. Formed by former Pissing Razors guitarist/vocalist Matt DiFabio, the band plays a fairly standard version of Metalcore. This is one of those bands in which people either enjoy em or hate em. Having seen them live multiple times I enjoy em. Up for grabs is their 2003 debut 'Route 666'. A solid slice of Metalcore that features reworked songs from their EP and Demo. A solid effort, the album does set the tone early of what to expect. Give it a shot is all I can say, you might enjoy this one.

I've seen this band several times over the years and the general reaction by crowds has always been mixed. Granted the band has had some trouble holding onto a steady lineup over the years, but the music remains pretty solid. Musically it's your typical East Coast Metalcore sound, but a tad bit heavier and thrashier in spots. Solid group of guys that get overlooked a lot. Great album to thrown on every so often.

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Sigh

Time to switch up gears and post some Japanese Avant Garde Black Metal. Sigh have been around since 89 and are credited as being one of the first Japanese Black Metal bands. Having originally been signed to Euronymous' Death Like Silence label, the band started out has a Black Metal act before progressively adopted a more Avant-Garde sound in recent years. The thing with Sigh of late is, much like bands like Ulver, you are never really sure what you're gonna get album to album. Proof here is 2001's 'Imaginary Sonicscape', an album which is as musically varied as one can get. Drawing influences from Black Metal to Jazz to Disco. The album was their first release for Century Media and marks the point where the band begins to experiment more with their sound. While the album barely made a splash stateside initially, it has become a fan favorite in recent years. For those seeking something a little out of the ordinary, this album will definitely do it for you.

Sigh is a truly unique band in the sense that they've covered bands like Bathory and artists like John Coltrane. Yeah, never thought you'd hear those two artists in the same breathe huh. I've recently gotten into this band, their 'Gallows Gallery' record is a good starting point. The recent addition of a female vocalist/saxophone player has brought a new element into the band. Not to mention she holds a PHD in Physics, makes this band that much more of a trip. Neat little bit of trivia, if you take the first letter of all their studio albums, it spells Sigh, twice over so far. This is a band that should be checked out if for anything, the crazy mix of influences.

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10 Days Out

Another week of S bands and continuing on with another collaboration album of sorts. This time is more of a Blues thing. Kenny Wayne Shepherd has been making a name for himself in the Blues scene since he released his debut album at age 17. Shepherd has continued to amaze critics and fans alike with his touring and releases over the years. Perhaps best known for his hit 'Blue On Black' which has crossed over to both Rock and Pop stations over the years. No stranger to playing with legends, Shepherd decided to release an album in which he plays with some of the legends themselves. The result was the CD/DVD '10 Days Out: Blues From The Backroads'. The documentary follows Shepherd around as he plays and spotlights the legends of the Blues genre. Included are the likes of BB King, Bryan Lee, Clarence "Gatemouth" Brown, Pinetop Perkins, Hubert Sumlin, and the remaining members of Muddy Waters and Howlin' Wolf's band. The DVD alone is worth watching and the accompanying CD proves Shepherd's worth among the legends. Great listen for fans of the old and new Blues.

I got into Kenny Wayne Shepherd when his debut 'Ledbetter Heights'  was released. Around that time I had been diving into the Blues pretty heavily. I was amazed by Hendrix and Stevie Ray Vaughn at the time. I heard 'Deja Voodoo' on the radio and swore it was a lost SRV cut. I found out it was this 17 year old kid wailing away on the guitar. I was sold then and there. By the time his next album, 'Trouble Is...'  came out which had 'Blue On Black' on it, I was convinced this guy was gonna be the next SRV. After seeing hime live a few times live, I still stand by the statement. Never disappoints live, playing the guitar like no ones business. Always good to crank any album from him when ya got the Blues.

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Snowy Shaw

Closing out week number two of S bands is something a little different. It's a Live album that is career spanning and features some guests. Snowy Shaw is known in the metal community for being in about 50 bands throughout his career. Highlights include playing in, Mercyful Fate, King Diamond, Illwill, Memento Mori, Dimmu Borgir (For about a week), Dream Evil, Norte Dame and Therion. In addition to playing in those bands his also done photo work for a bunch more. Earlier this year he released a Live show from 2011 that spanned his career. Entitled 'Snowy Shaw Is Alive!' is features Snowy playing songs from the majority of his bands and features guest appearances by the likes of Andy LaRocque, Mike Wead, Hal Patino, Mats Levin and Thomas Vikstrom. This is a pretty lenghty album and I had to split it into two parts. Worth a listen, it's kinda a trip to hear some of these songs done his way.

Part 1

Part 2

Of One Blood

Behind on the last weeks postings thanks to work and sleep. So here's a double shot of goodness from last week. First up is the Boston based Metalcore band Shadows Fall. The band has been around since the mid 90's and are considered one of the bands in the New Wave Of American Heavy Metal (NWOAHM), with bands like God Forbid, Killswitch Engage and Lamb Of God. The band released their debut 'Somber Eyes To The Sky' in 97 with then unknown vocalist Phil Labonte. Phil now fronts All That Remains, who has had some recent success with their releases. The band continued on with new vocalist and former Overcast frontman Brian Fair. Continuing to to tour and open for bands like King Diamond, Death and Cannibal Corpse, Century Media took noticed and in 2000 released 'Of One Blood'. The album was somewhere in between hardcore and melodic death metal. In a sense this was the birth of the Metalcore genre. The band over the years has gained some attention, even so far as being signed to Atlantic Records for a brief time. However this album stands as starting point of their career and is a gem in a field of mediocre crap. Century Media re released and remixed the album in 08 and this is that version. Production wasn't the best on the original and this mix really brings out the songs.

I got into these guys by the fact that they toured with King Diamond back in 2000. I'm always interesting in what bands support the King when he hits the road. This was a peculiar choice just on the fact that they were an unknown band who had just one album under their belts. However the music spoke for itself, the anger coupled with the clean vocal breaks seemed a good fit. Metal at this time was just starting to recover from all that alt/nu metal crap. This album for me is still one of my favorites from them. Their follow up 'The Art Of Balance' was really a better produced and sounding record, but something about the gritty sound here pulled me in. Good album to crank and let loose to.

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Crimson

Mid week and it's time for some depressing Goth Metal. Hailing from Finland, Sentenced started out as a Death Metal band before changing gears midway through their career. They later adopted a doom/goth sound which they kept until the end. That sound is what gained the band more fans. 'Crimson' proves the bands sound wasn't a one time record trick. Released in 2000, the album showcases a depressing and somber metal tone through and through. With songs like 'Killing Me Killing You', 'Bleed In My Arms', and 'No More Beating As One', you kinda get the sense that this is a dark sand somber record. And it is for all intensive purposes. Sadly the band released only a few more albums before calling it a day in 05. The bands final show was filmed for a DVD/CD released entitled 'Buried Alive'. Stellar DVD if ya haven't seen it. Sadly any thoughts of the band reforming were shot down with the passing of guitarist Miika Tenkula in 09 due to heart failure. However the band lives on in the hearts and ears of metal heads.

Sentenced for me was always a doom n gloom band. I loved the stuff I had heard from the 'Down' and 'The Cold White Light'  records. Sure it was dark and depressing but somehow songs about death and the like were kinda upbeat. Plus the band has done some ridiculously awesome covers. Check out their version of Radiohead's 'Creep' or The Animals 'House Of The Rising Sun', the later is just an awesome drunk cover. Since the demise of the band, the members have kept busy with other bands like, Poisonblack, The Man Eating Tree and KYPCK. The latter band being a Finnish band that sings about Russian History, a very interesting mix. This is one of those bands I wish wouldn't have ended when then did, I feel like they had quite of bit of good music left to make. Still when the dark mood hits, always nice to throw one of their records on.

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Sculptured

Continuing on with the strange Metal of sorts this week, it's time for a band that hails from the Pacific Northwest and who has never played a live show. Sculptured is the brain child of Agalloch guitarist Don Anderson. Actually Sculptured came before Agalloch. The band has been around since 96 and has only released 3 albums to date. The last album, 'Embodiment: Collapsing Under The Weight Of God'  was released in 08. Sculptured is an unique band in the sense that much like Agalloch, it incorporates various styles of Metal and blends it into a unique mix. Each album is similar, yet worlds apart. To prove my point I've uploaded their debut and one of my all time favorite Metal albums ever, 'The Spear Of The Lily Is Aureoled'. Recorded in the Winter of 97 and released in the Spring of 98, the album is a unique mix of folk metal and death metal of sorts. You could go as far as calling it Avant-Garde Death Metal. A mix of guitars, horns and blast beats at time, set up the listener for a very interesting trip. This, like all their albums is a headphone album. So bust of the headphones and crank this album.

I got into Sculptured around the same time I found Agalloch. The unique mix of a horn section into an Avant-Garde Metal album really pulled me in. That and the mix of clean and death vocals works really well here. Lyrically the album is somewhat of a love story. Songs like 'Her Silence' and 'Almond Beauty' are just nothing short of pure epic in my book. This is one of those records I can play every week and never get tired of. I could probably do that with each of their albums in fact. Little known band that deserves a lot of credit.

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Scale The Summit

Week 2 of the S bands and it's gonna be somewhat of a Metal week, so strap in. Starting the week off is some Instrumental Prog Metal. Fans of the genre should find this one a little interesting. Scale The Summit hail from Houston TX and play Prog Metal minus a vocalist. The interesting thing is the guitars in the band are custom 7 and 8 string guitars, oh and there's a 6 string Bass too. Intrigued yet? Formed in 04, the band has released 3 albums to some acclaim. Having also toured with bands like Dream Theater and Between The Buried And Me, the band has been making a name for themselves out on the road as well. Decided to go with 09's 'Carving Desert Canyons' for tonight's selection. 8 tracks clock in at 40 min, not what you might expect with a Prog Metal band. However this album is actually pretty good and technical. Worth checking out if you are a fan of the genre.

I got this CD along with a bunch of other stuff after displaying my music knowledge for some trivia question. I had never heard of the band, but keeping an open mind threw it in and was impressed. I got the chance to see them open up for Between The Buried and Me, along with Cynic and Devin Townsend. Along with Devin they were the highlight of the night. The low light, having my car towed by some jackass business owner. Anyways, the band does play the style well and for being a technical band of sorts, really pull it off well live. Really seems like a promising band and one to watch out for in the coming years.

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Hall Of The Mountain King

Closing out this week with some American Power Metal. Savatage was one of the more well known names in American power metal. Led by the Oliva Brothers, Jon and Criss, the band formed in 83. Releasing a handful of records before their opus 'Hall Of The Mountain King'  in 87. Widely regarding as a classic in the genre, this album had it all. Of course the bands next album 'Gutter Ballet' was too shabby either. That album opened the doors further for the band. Sadly Criss wass killed by a drunk driver in the early 90's the band wasn't able to recapture the magic. Putting out several more album before going on hiatus in 01, several members of the band have surfaced in various other bands, most notably Trans-Siberian Orchestra and Jon Oliva's Pain. Jon Oliva has stated the a Savatage reunion is highly unlikely, fans of the band still remain hopeful.

I found Savatage through listening to Trans-Siberian Orchestra, only realizing later that albums like 'Gutter Ballet'  and 'Hall Of The Mountain King' served as earlier primers for what would eventually become TSO. Savatage was really a band that was ahead of its time. Taking a cue from European Traditional Metal acts and putting an American spin on it. Their first couple of albums were a bit heavier than what the band would evolve into over the years. While the band hasn't been around for over a decade now, the other bands formed from the ashes have all been really good.

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This Ain't No Fit Place

Time for another shot of NWOBHM this week. This time it's from UK based Savage. Another little known band that found some recognition when Metallica covered their song 'Let It Loose' on their 'No Life Til Leather' demo. Savage were formed in 76 and by 81 were featured on a NWOBHM split with other bands. By 83 their released their debut record 'Loose N Lethal'. That recorded was released on the tiny label Ebony Records, which also released Mercyful Fate's debut mini LP 'Nuns Have No Fun'. Little known fact about the albums artwork, which was done by Gary Sharpe-Young, who went on to become a respected metal/rock journalist. The band put out another album before splitting up round 86. The band resurfaced a decade later releasing three new albums in the mid 90's'/early 00's on the indie NWOBHM label Neat Records. Another decade passed before the band released a new album earlier this year. I could go with the debut record, but I've decided to go with a best of compilation that was issued in 02 from Neat. 'This Ain't No Fit Place: The Best Of Savage' covers the band up until that point. This is a solid collection considering the bands earlier material has long been out of print. Worth a listen if you're feeling nostalgic.

Savage was another one of those bands that really was just a blip on the NWOBHM radar back in the day. I honestly think Metallica was the only reason the band got some attention. And oddly enough, outside the demo and a few early live gigs, Metallica never played the 'Let It Lose' after that. The band had a style that was NWOBHM mixed with a tinge of speed/thrash metal. Savage were to me one of the better sounding NOWBHM bands of the time. And 'Loose N Lethal' is a great example of that.

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Nemesis Divina

Haven't posted any old school Black Metal in a while so figured it being Halloween and what not, it was high time to bust out some corpse paint and sing about the Dark Lord. Satyricon was formed in the early part of the 90's. Around the time of the second wave of Black Metal. Another Norwegian Black Metal band in an overcrowded scene perhaps. Their first two albums and subsequent split with fellow Norwegians Enslaved were all very well received. The pinnacle in the work was however 'Nemesis Divina' which was released in 96. This is about the time the whole second wave of Black Metal began to fall apart. Bands split and members were jailed for various crimes. However this album remains the bands best effort. For the most  part Satyricon has operated as a duo, consisting of Vocalist/Guitarist/Bassist Satyr and drummer Frost. The band continues to tour and release albums. The style has evolved into more of a modern radio friendly black metal sound. However if you want to relive the old Black Metal days this is the perfect album to do so.

Satyricon were up there with the ranks of Emperor, Mayhem and Burzum when it came to good Norwegian Black Metal Bands. But something happened after this album got released, the got bad. Like Cradle Of Filth bad. Oh I hear the boos now. Over the years Black Metal has become a joke, sounding more and more radio friendly. Stop with trying to add industrial influences or orchestral influences, it's not working. It all sounds the same no matter where the band hails from. And the corpse paint is oh so ridiculous too. Yeah its good to relive the old days every so often.

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Court In The Act

Switching gears to a genre that will be feature again later this week, it's time for some old NWOBHM. This is one of those hidden gems buried in the avalanche of old NWOBHM bands. The UK band had formed in 79 and by 81 had released a demo. By the time they released their first LP 'Court In The Act', the band had gone through two different vocalists before finding Brian Ross. Released in 83 by the NWOBHM label Neat Records, 'Court In The Act' was a solid metal release. The mix of Brian's unique vocal styling coupled with a traditional metal attack, Satan soon made a name for themselves in the metal scene. However the band would give Ross the boot after the album and continue on making another record under the Satan name before changing the band name twice, before reuniting with Ross in 05 under the classic Satan name. All wasn't lost with Ross though. Several members went on to form the band Blitzkrieg, which released some stellar records and had the pleasure of becoming somewhat of a household name thanks to Metallica covering them in the early days. This album is a gem though and worth grabbing.

I got into Satan in a roundabout way. I had become familiar with Blitzkrieg and really enjoyed their albums. Of course I found Blitzkrieg through Metallica's cover of 'Blitzkrieg'. Satan for me seemed like the early stages of Blitzkrieg and the band just got better over time. Lot of people seem to forget about Satan and what a great album 'Court In The Act' really is. There were so many NWOBHM bands that were around sometimes you just had to weed through all the crap in order to find the really good stuff.

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Sade

New week and a month long run of S bands. Very diverse mix of stuff lined up for the blog, some hidden gems and some old favs are making appearances. Starting things off with something you probably wouldn't expect to have in my collection. And with that it's time for some Sade. Formed in 83, Sade is a British smooth jazz band that have topped the charts on both sides of the pond for years. Led by Sade Adu, the band's first single 'Your Love Is King' quickly became a Top Ten hit and a staple on American Smooth Jazz radio stations. The band is probably best known for their hit 'Smooth Operator' which is still played heavily on radio. 'The Best Of Sade' chronicles the bands decade of hits. Good solid mix of tunes on here that will definitely put you in the relaxation mood.

Like I said this is probably something you wouldn't expect to find in my collection, yet somehow it's in there and does gets some regular rotation. Growing up there was always Smooth Jazz playing on the weekends when I woke up, it didn't feel like a weekend unless there was some Smooth Jazz flowing through the house. Sade was always a staple and still is. There's something about Sade's vocals that just put you at ease. The girl can flat out sing and look good doing it too. This is an album that challenges the stereotype that a metal head can't listen to anything other than metal. Feels good to prove people wrong sometimes.

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Moving Pictures

Time to go North of the border for some progressive rock. There's two things you think of when people mention Canada, Hockey and Rush. And what better way to end the week then with some Rush. Love em or hate em, Rush remains one of the giants in the Progressive Rock field. One of the best power trios to come out of the Rock genre. Led by frontman Geddy Lee, who not only handles Bass guitar and vocals, but also handles the keyboards. Guitarist Alex Lifeson and drummer madman Neil Peart run out the rest of the band. Having formed in 68, Rush is still releasing albums and touring. And yet the band is still isn't in the Rock N Roll Hall Of Fame. Having released one of the genres most defining records in '2112' the band released their best selling record 'Moving Pictures' in 81. The album features the bands most well known song in 'Tom Sawyer', but also features such classics as 'Limelight' and 'Red Barchetta'. Some fans will note that this is were the band turned away from the Prog sound and went more the Synth Rock sound. In any cases in remains a classic in the genre and a personal favorite.

I got into Rush at a young age. I remember my Dad actually having 'Moving Pictures' on cassette back in the day. The tape got the crap played out of it too, to the point where it was worn out. Geddy's unique vocals always drew me into the band. The music has always been so technical and complex it amazes me that anyone can even play it. The band released a solid stream of good albums up until the mid 80's when the wheels kinda fell off for a while. The last few albums have been good and show a return to the Prog side of things. Great thing about Rush is how many cartoons have poked fun at them. Neil is actually in the Aqua Teen Movie, and plays a killer solo. 'Moving Pictures' was also used as a terror alert level on Harvey Birdman: Attorney At Law. Love em or hate em Rush has made their mark in the music world.

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Sonny Rollins

It's been a Punk heavy week on the blog it seems and for the final two postings I'm gonna move away from that. Time for some more legendary Jazz in Sonny Rollins. One of the most influential Jazz Saxophonists who has shared the limelight with the likes of Miles Davis, Charlie Parker and Thelonious Monk. Having started his career in 46, Rollins is still releasing albums at age 82. Rollins much like any Jazz musician of the time wasn't without his share of legal woes. Having spent time in jail and battling a Heroin addiction, he managed to work through it all and release some landmark Jazz records. 'Live At The Village Vanguard' stands as one of the landmark Live records. Released in 57 originally the albums was later reissued as a double CD. Up for grabs is the second part of the CD. This is a great live record from someone at his peak. Well worth checking out.

Sonny Rollins is another Jazz great that everyone should have in their collection. His work with the Jazz giants is just incredible. And his early solo records were just magical. Something about those early records that just screamed genius. And to still be releasing albums in your 80's, come on who does that anymore. And lets talk about awards, Kennedy Center Honors, National Medal Of Arts winner. Oh and if you're a Simpsons fan, Bleeding Gums Murphy is loosely based on Sonny Rollins.

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Get Some Go Again

Staying with the punk theme in sorts, this post features one of the more outspoken frontmen of the genre. Henry Rollins is probably best known for his stint with Black Flag and his spoken word tours, but he had a band in between there. Rollins Band was a rock/blues band that had some minor hits along the way. The band started out in 87 and by 06 had gone through four different versions. 2000 saw the release of 'Get Some Go Again'. Rollins was backed by LA based band Mother Superior. The album spawned two songs that received rotation in 'Illumination' and 'Get Some Go Again'. The album features a Thin Lizzy cover in 'Are You Ready?' and actually features Lizzy guitarist Scott Gorham on second guitar. This album has that hardcore vibe to it like so many of the great Black Flag records. Definitely a record to get some aggression out to.

I got into Rollins Band, via The Crow Soundtrack oddly enough. From there I got into Rollins spoken word material and eventually into Black Flag. Rollins Band kinda left off where Black Flag did, but with added elements of blues and jazz, which gave it a different feel. There were some great albums released under the Rollins Band label, including this one and 'End Of Silence'. The band kinda get forgotten about at times, as most people tend to either love or hate Rollins in general. Still a great band that had some great songs.

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