Donovan

Folk Rock isn't a genre that's real prominent in my collection. That's not to say it hasn't snuck itself in there. So for the next couple posts we're gonna focus a bit on some Folk Rock heroes. First up is Donovan. You've got to be a big deal if you're only gonna sport one name. And Donovan is.

Best known perhaps for his string of hits in the '60's, like "Hurdy Gurdy Man", "Sunshine Superman" and "Season Of The Witch". Early in his career Donovan befriended then Rolling Stones Guitarist Brian Jones and had a somewhat of a press feud with up and comer Bob Dylan. By the mid 60's however Donovan has begin to shed the Dylan/Guthrie comparisons and began to embrace the flower power sound with the hit "Sunshine Superman". Donovan became on of the first British musicians to improves the West Coast movement. Upon signing to Epic Records in '66, Donovan released "Mellow Yellow", which was arranged by future Led Zeppelin Bassist John Paul Jones, and allegedly to feature backing vocals by Paul McCartney. The tune became Donovan's signature tune stateside and turned him onto the American audiences. As the years went on, Donovan soon befriended The Beatles, going so far as teaching John Lennon figure picking techniques on the Guitar. In '68 Donovan released "Hurdy Gurdy Man", perhaps the song most associated with him. The linear notes of reissues claim the song was intended for Jimi Hendrix, but he had passed on it, and insisted Donovan record it. Unable to get Hendrix to play on it, he enlisted the help of Jimmy Page. In fact John Bonham cites Donovan as helping create Led Zeppelin. As the 70's progressed, Donovan withdrew himself from the music scene to focus on other things. However he didn't manage to sing on the Alice Cooper track "Billion Dollar Babies" and opened up for Prog Rock giants Yes.

As the new millennium approached, Donovan played himself on an Episode of Futurama. You know the one where Fry meets a mermaid is the lost city of Atlanta. Donovan continues to write and record new music and occasionally will play live gigs. in '12 he was inducted into the Rock N Roll Hall of Fame. Donovan for me is somewhat of a forgotten by product of the Hippie Love Generation. But take a listen to 'Greatest Hits' here on some headphones and really get into the music and Donovan's vocal work. Great stuff that still sounds great today.

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Turn 21

Girl groups aren't something new in music. In fact they've been around since Rock 'n Roll started. But somewhere during the Punk movement, girl groups like The Runaways started to get attention and by the Glam Metal heydays there were a number of them. Somewhere though in the mid 90's a Punk/Rock/Pop girl group came out of Palo Alto CA and channeled the likes of bands like The Runaways, The Ramones and AC/DC. That band was The Donnas.

The Donnas started out life as friends in school who formed a band. Honing their Punk/Rock sound through High School, the band signed to the Indie Punk label Lookout! Records in the mid 90's. If the label sound familiar it's the same label that once had Green Day on their roster. The band released a handful of records on Lookout! through the 90's. the style was fun upbeat and tongue in cheek. The last album on Lookout! was 'The Donnas Turn 21'. A solid album that brought the girls into the mainstream. The album released in '01 was their final indie album before signing with Atlantic Records. The album marks the transition from their Pop Punk sound to a more Hard Rock sound. The album lyrically of course remains the same. Chasing boys, partying and the likes. The hidden gem here, a cover of the Judas Priest classic "Living After Midnight".

While the band is on hiatus currently. Having released a few more albums and being featured in both Guitar Hero and Rock Band, the band remains one of the most popular female bands to date. The band for me has always been somewhat of a guilty pleasure for me. But the band can play though. For me The Donnas, where the Gen X female version of The Ramones. Songs about boys, partying and drugs may sound gimmicky and old, but when the talent is there to back it up, it seems to work. So rock out with some chicks and enjoy some good ol girl group goodness.

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Ten$ion

This post is probably by far the weirdest collection of material I have in my current collection. There's really no way to describe this odd mix of Alt Hip-Hop/Performance Art other than to just show proof. So in essence I will try and describe the phenomenon that is Die Antwoord.

So some background first. I found out about Die Antwoord via the old G4 TV show Attack Of The Show. Somewhere in time they showed a clip of the band, a little ditty entitled 'Zef Side'. Upon viewing it was an instant wtf moment. At that point the band was starting to make noise stateside with their debut '$o$'. It became kinda of cult thing and now the thing has spiraled into a few album and tours. So Die Antwoord, what's it about. First of the name loosely translates out to The Answer in Afrikaans. Formed in South Africa, the band consists of Ninja, Yolandi Visser and DJ Hi-Tek. At best you could categorize the music as a blend of South African rap, Zef, American Hip-Hop and Performance Art. Frequently asked by critics if the band is real or some elaborate hoax, the band defines the act as "documentary fiction". The band also incorporates the Zef style and sings in Afrikaans, Xhosa, and English. The band gained a cult following stateside due in part to their crazy and wildly innovative videos. See the preview for proof. While the band has issued out three albums to date, we'll focus on the second album, 'Ten$ion' from 2012.

'Ten$ion' picks up and continues where the first album left off. This time around incorporated moire next level beats and crazier videos. The album is a weird mesh of music and raps. I really don't know how else to describe it. Grab the record, see for yourself and prepare for nightmares.

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Pioneers Who Got Scalped

As we dive into the vault a bit further we stumble across a band who for a number years has had a cult following and a sound that can't really be described. You however probably sung their hit "Whip It" at one time or another. I of course speak of Devo.

Devo for a lack of classification is a New-Wave/Punk/Art Rock band hailing from Akron Ohio of all places. Formed in the early 70's by a pair of brothers in Mark and Bob Mothersbaughs and Gerald and Bob Casales. Devo was short for Devolution and often had a bizarre stage show including surrealist humor and kitsch sci-fi themes. Early praise from the band came in the forms of two Rock icons, David Bowie and Neil Young. By the mid 70's the band had a record deal thanks to the urging of Bowie and Iggy Pop and we're well on their way to weirdness with the first 7' "Mongoloid/Jocko Homo". The B side was a cover of The Rolling Stones classic "(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction. By the start of the 80's the band had developed their unique sound and scored a hit with "Whip It". The band was an early pioneer of the music video, embracing it so much they eventually released a collection of clips on the now defunct Laser Disc format. The band continued on through the decade releasing several albums and projects. By '91 however the band decided to split and focus on other projects.

Mark Mothersbaugh and Bob Casale would form a commercial production music studio and go on to produce music for shows like Pee Wee's Playhouse and Rugrats in addition to films and video games. The band would reform in the mid 90's and release new music via movie soundtracks. The band even played Lollapalooza, introducing the band to a new generation of fans. The band continues to tour and release new material, despite the recent passing of Bob Casale.

Devo continues to push forward forty years into their career. Sadly I feel most people associate Devo with "Whip It" and that's a bummer cause there's quite a bit more to the band. So to get people better acquainted with them, I give you a 2 CD anthology entitled, 'Pioneers Who Got Scalped: The Anthology'. Released in 2000, this massive collection features 50 tracks, 17 of which were previously unreleased. The album does contain some of Devo's cover songs. Covers include, "Secret Agent Man", "Working In A Col Mine", the Hendrix classic "Are You Experienced?" and the Nine Inch Nails classic "Head Like A Hole". This is an awesome collection that shows of what Devo is as a band. Even if you're a fan already, I suggest grabbing this collection.

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Bobby Darin

Turing to another American songwritter/singer legend, this post will focus on the short life of Bobby Darin. Perhaps best know for his songs "Splish Splash", "Mack The Knife" and "Beyond The Sea", Darin was a talented lyricist, instrumentalist and actor who's life was cut short at the age of 37.

Darin's life is somewhat of a bizarre thing. Born and raised in New York by his maternal grandmother who he thought as his birth mother. In a twist worthy of any good movie, it's later reveled that the woman he though to be his sister was in fact his Mother. The identity of Darin's father was never revealed to anyone other than Darin. His early music career saw him teaming up with Don Kirshner to write songs that didn't really go anywhere. Kirshner of course went out to manager bands and have his own TV show. Darin then began songwriting for singer Connie Francis, a move that wouldn't last long, as Darin soon left Decca Records for Atlantic's Atco imprint, where under the guidance of Ahmet Ertegun, Darin would get his first hit in "Splish Splash". Over the next few years Darin would continue to record and make hits. In addition he owned and operated a publishing company with Doris Day's son. Darin would go onto to sign Wayne Newton and give him his break into music.

In addition to being a singer songwriter, Darin was also an actor. He was nominated for an Oscar and a Golden Globe for his work in TV and Movies. As the years progressed Darin's sound in music changed into a more Jazzy/Folk sound. He also become more involved with politics. As a supporter of Robert F. Kennedy, Darin was at the hotel the night RFK was assassinated . The act had a profound impact on him causing him to go into seclusion for years. Poor health was something that plagued Bobby for years. As a child he had Rheumatic Fever, so much that in '71 he had heart surgery. Later in '73 after failing to take antibiotics for a dental visit, he had a bout of sepsis. This lead to another surgery to repair the heart. Shortly after surgery though Darin passed. Unlike many big names of his day, there was no funeral, instead his body was donated to science.

Darin's legacy continues to live on. A biopic that was finally brought to life in '04 by Kevin Spacey, showed the singers career in a new light. Darin's music also lives on in several commercials as well. But for the time enjoy a classic Greatest Hits sampling of an amazing American singer.

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Deja Vu

Time to file another not shocked album into the pile. This time around it comes from Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young. Four huge singer songwriters in their own right, but when put together, the end result is some of Rock music's most finest work ever.

'Deja Vu' marks the first release as CSNY, the band as CSN had cut another record prior to. Released in March of '70. The album to date as sold over seven million records. Spawned four singles and helped further solo record sales of all members. The record was said to have taken a collective 800 hours of studio time, which may or may not be greatly exaggerated. However with the exception of "Woodstock", each track was recorded as an individual session. While the album helped launch the band into the public eye, the record does feature two other well known musicians in Jerry Garcia who plays pedal steel on "Teach Your Children" and John Sebastain plays Harmonica on the title track. The album remains a critical darling to this day, and the band occasionally gets together and tours.

This record should come as no surprise to being in my collection. If you follow the blog, I've posted a lot of Neil Young over the years. I got into CSNY after I got into Neil Young. The pure musicianship on display in 'Deja Vu' is simply stunning. Each member bringing their best on each track. The band of course did stay together in some forms throughout the years. Namely Nash and Crosby releasing a few albums together. However each member saw success in their solo work as well. See David Crosby's Vatican approved record 'If I Could Only Remember My Name'. That album became a running joke in the house growing up. Also look no further than Neil Young's 'After The Gold Rush' or Still's solo debut record. Sometime rounding up the cream of the crop doesn't always last, but there's always the amazing albums left behind.

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Songs The Lord Taught Us

Time for another installment of, I'm not really surprised that's in your collection post. While this band is credited for furthering the Garage Punk and Psychobilly genre's, it's probably not a shock to see it in my collection of material.

The Cramps were credited with starting the Pyschobilly genre. A genre that's an odd mix of Punk, Garage Rock and Surf Rock blended together. Think a mix of early Surf Rock groups like Dick Dale, The Trashmen, and Link Wray meets early Punk rock. While the sound is relatively simple, in most cases the band used two Guitars and no Bass along with a minimalist drum sound, the band had a rather strong cult following. Formed in the early 70's by Lux Interior and Poison Ivy, the band along with other CBGB's mainstays paved the way for American Punk in the mid 70's. The band had a solid lineup by '76, but only managed to release a few independent singles, before releasing their debut 'Songs The Lord Taught Us' in '80. The band in '78 however did give a landmark free concert to the patients of The California State Mental Hospital in Napa CA. That show was filmed and later released. However here we'll focus on the debut album. For a debut record, 'Songs The Lord Taught Us' is very well done. You can see the years of work leading up to this effort. Songs like "I'm Cramped", "I Was A Teenage Werewolf" and "Fever" are classics on this record. The dual Guitars and minimal drumming give the record a simple yet rounded feel. It's doesn't hurt either that the album was produced by Alex Chilton either. The band would continue on through the late '00's before the untimely death of Lux Interior. The Cramps remain that hidden gem in the movement that was early American Punk. This is also the Deluxe Version of this record with some bonus tracks of The Original Mixes of a few tracks.

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Collective Soul

Taking it back to the 90's again for some more Alt Rock from a band that had major success and still somehow kept it together and are still around today. Forming in the outskirts of Atlanta Georgia, Collective Soul broke into the mainstream in the early part of the 90's. While the band has had success through the years, we'll focus on their second album, the self titled 'Collective Soul'.

The band gained attention with their first hit "Shine". The band was signed to Atlantic Records, who quickly polished up their Demo 'Hints Allegations And Things Left Unsaid'. "Shine" received a ton of Modern Rock and MTV airplay, so much so the band played Woodstock '94. By '95 the band released their self-titled second album, often referred to as 'The Blue Album'. The album would go on to spend 76 weeks on the Billboard 200 Charts and eventually go Triple Platinum. It remains the bands highest selling record to date. The album churned out several singles including "Gel", "December", "The World I Know" and "Smashing Young Man". The band toured in support of the album, even at one point opening for Van Halen. The band tried to ride the success of the album with their follow up 'Disciplined Breakdown' but the album didn't reach the critical success as the previous record. Despite the letdown the band continued on through the 90's and into the new decade writing and releasing new material. The self titled record for me marks the pinnacle of 90's Rock for me. It was radio and MTV friendly while still able to hold it's own with the non single tracks. So bring out the combat boots and flannel jackets and relive your glory days.

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I'm Your Man

Time to go North Of The Border to focus on what is arguably one of the most respected Canucks ever to walk among us. I speak of Leonard Cohen. There's not a lot Cohen hasn't accomplished in eighty years. A noted poet, artist, novelist and singer, Cohen has been releasing works in one form or another since the early 50's. We'll focus on his rather well rounded music career here for the time being.

Cohen may be best known for a song that he recorded in '84 but wasn't made famous until a decade later when Alt Rocker Jeff Buckley covered "Hallelujah". Chances are you've heard either the John Cale version or the late Buckley's version. In either case, Cohen's career received a boost from that track. For the time being we'll focus on Cohen's '88 release 'I'm Your Man'. The album marked a shift in Cohen's musical direction, turning away from a simplistic Folk Rock sound to a more Synth Pop sound. Despite the shift the album features many of Cohen's concert standards. The album opens with in fact a cover track, well sort of. Cohen originally penned the "First We Take Manhattan" for an off again, on again backup singer for his band, Jennifer Warnes. Her version was released two years prior and featured Stevie Ray Vaughn on Guitar. Jennifer of course would go on to have a hit of her own when she teamed up with Joe Cocker for the song, "Up Where We Belong". The track also would later be covered by the likes of College Rockers, R.E.M and given a Metal twist by Female Fronted Synth Metallers, Sirenia. Back to the album though, while the sound is quintessentially 80's at times, very Miami Vice like, which Cohen actually did appear on, still remains a quality record. After all it's Cohen's voice that makes the album. A solid album here and perhaps a good starting point for listeners new to Cohen.

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The Coasters

Time to go back to the early days of Rock n Roll and revisting some old R&B/Doo Wop for this post. While the name may not be familiar, you've undoubtedly have heard some of this groups music at one time or another. The Coasters were an early R&B/Doo Wop that had a string of hits in the late 50's and left a legacy on future artists and the genre.

Formed in the mid 50's, The Coasters were fueled by the songwriting and producing duo of Leiber and Stoller, who crafted humorous story types songs for the group. For proof look no further than the bands hits "Charlie Brown" and "Yakety Yak". The band got their first hit after moving from LA to New York. "Down In Mexico" was a hit in '56. Years later the track would resurface in Quentin Taratino's movie Death Proof. Fifty years later the song and the group were still be showcased. The band would continue recording a releasing a series of successful singles up through the 60's. However a lack of commercial success and lineup changes would ultimately do in the group in a sense. While the group remains together still today and occasionally performs, the legacy of The Coasters reaches far and wide. Artists like Leon Russell, Elvis, The Beach Boys, The Beatles, and The Grateful Dead, would all cover the group and cite the group as an influence. The Coasters also hold the distinction of being the first group inducted into the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame in '87. So take a trip back in time to a simpler time and enjoy the styling of The Coasters with 'The Ultimate Coasters'.

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Once In A Blue Universe

Switching musical gears to some laid back Smooth Jazz/New Age for today's post. But fear not there is a Rock undertone to today's artist. Craig Chaquico has been making a name for himself since the early 70's. Getting his start towards the end of career of Jefferson Airplane and then helping start what would become Jefferson Starship and later Starship. And yes those are his guitar riffs in the infamously bad hit "We Built This City". We will overlook that for the time being and focus on his post Starship career.

After leaving Starship, Chaquico formed a short lived Hard Rock band called Big Bad Wolf, who released one self titled album in '98. But even prior to that he was releasing solo records as a Smooth Jazz/New Age artist. For this post we'll look at his '97 release 'Once In A Blue Universe'. Helped here by other Smooth Jazz icons like Dave Koz and Richard Elliott, this album is chock full of quality Smooth Jazz. Included here is a cover of the classic Traffic song "Feelin' Alright", which is a great take on the original. Outside of recording Chaquico has also contributed music to Movies and is a supporter of the American Music Therapy Association, which promotes the healing factors of music. This is one of those albums to break out after a long day or just on a day of doing nothing.

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Captain Beyond

Time to dive into the the vault and feature some Psychedelic/Progressive Rock, that while you may not be shocked to see in my collection, but may be shocked to see at all. Captain Beyond was at best a short lived, lineup plagued American/British Prog Rock band that had some potential in the mid 70's, before imploding after a mere three records.

Formed by ex Deep Purple vocalist Rod Evans and former member of Iron Butterfly, Captain Beyond released their self titled album in '72. A fairly short record at just over a half hour total, the album in broken up into two "suites". The songs flow seamlessly into each other without missing a beat. As a special treat for US audiences the album cover is meant to be viewed in 3-D.  The album was dedicated to late Allman Brothers member Duane Allman. While the album was short and sweet, it was a solid debut and showed promise from a supergroup of sorts. However after the release tensions rose and lineup changes began. The  band somehow got it together for a second album and a short US tour in '73, but was done again until another reform and album in '76. Singer Rod Evans would leave the music business for good after the second album. Evans still hasn't resurfaced to this day. The band again was done by '78. Twenty years passed before the band reformed again and began to tour again. Sadly original members Lee Dorman and Larry "Rhino" Reinhardt passed in '12 and '11 respectively. This left original drummer Bobby Caldwell as the only original member left and in '13 he pulled together new members and began touring again.

Captain Beyond for me remains one of those hidden gems in Rock. The band did get some Metal love with the Doom veteran band Pentagram covering "Dancing Madly Backwards" for a tribute record. In addition the side project of at the time former Mercyful Fate guitar duo, Hank Shermann and Michael Denner, Zoser Mez covered the Captain Beyond track "Mesmerization Eclipse" for their album 'Vizier Of Wasteland'. This is a great album for fans of Jethro Tull, King Crimson and The Moody Blues. Enjoy this hidden classic.

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Lucy

Time to once again throwback to the Grunge heavy days and focus on a band that got lumped into the Grunge movement and like most were quickly forgotten after two albums. Hailing from the Grunge capital of America, Seattle WA, Candlebox made a name for themselves with their debut self titled album in the early 90's and quickly became a regular name in the Grunge scene.

Formed in the early 90's, the band by '93 had released a multi million selling debut self titles album and were becoming the next big thing in Grunge. Candlebox was the first band with success on Madonna's Maverick Records label, which would later go on to sign acts like Alanis Morissette, The Prodigy, and The Deftones. Songs like "Far Behind" and "You" coupled with the distinct voice of frontman Kevin Martin made it easy for Grunge fans to get behind the band. The band would play at Woodstock '94 and even make regular appearances on The Late Show. And I'll be the first to admit, I dug "Far Behind", it was a solid song. I could go with the debut album here, instead I'm going with the follow up and perhaps the beginning of the end of the bands career. 'Lucy' was released in '95 and while it didn't quite make the same splash as the previous effort, the album still managed to go Gold. Led with the singles, "Simple Lessons" and "Understanding" the album wasn't without it's fair share of Radio/MTV airplay. However like most bands of the era, the band soon fell apart by the end of the decade. Citing label issues, the band dissolved in 2000, but again like most bands of the era, reformed in '06 and have been back at it releasing new material and touring. 'Lucy' may not be a great record to most, but for me it's a prime slice of overlooked Grunge.

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Comfort Eagle

Going back to the Alt Rock genre today for a band I had posted about years back. Cake have been around since '91 and love em or hate em they seem to have a way with releasing really infectious singles. Formed in Sacramento CA in the early 90's, Cake has draw from several different musical styles to create their brand of Alt Rock. Their fourth record, 'Comfort Eagle', shows off the the unique styles that blend together to create a great record.

Perhaps best known for their song "The Distance", the band gained attention from the song and their album 'Fashion Nugget'. The band had moderate success following that release. Lineup changes and a long wait between releases however seemed to have hindered the band some. The band since '94 have only issues six studio records, a b-Sides/Compilation record, a Live album and two EPs. So it seems that once ever few years the band makes some sort of a comeback and releases another catchy song. This was evident with the 2001 release of 'Comfort Eagle'. The lead single "Short Skirt/Long Jacket" became a instant catch with the quirky video that accompanied the track. The album also had some additional help with the tracks, "Meanwhile Rick James...", "Love You Madly" and the title track. The album was well received by critics and fans alike. Topping out at Number 13 on the Billboard charts, the album eventually went Gold. While a lot of people may not take to Cake, I'm still a fan and very much looking forward to the next catchy tune.

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Cab Calloway

Time to get back in the swing of things, pardon the pun, with the great American Jazz singer and band leader, Cab Calloway. While the name may not sound familiar, you are probably more familiar with his hit song, "Minnie The Moocher". The song of course featured in the classic film, The Blues Brothers. But beyond that Calloway made a name for himself and performed up until his death.

Calloway was nothing short of energetic with his unique scat Jazz singing. By 1930 he was a hit at New York's Cotton Club. His band featured the talents of Dizzy Gillespie, Ben Webster and Leon "Chu" Berry. Calloway proved to be very successful early on at The Cotton Club. His success led to weekly radio broadcasts of shows. Along with Duke Ellington, Calloway gets credit for breaking down early racial barriers in music. In '31 he recorded his signature tune, "Minnie The Moocher" for a Betty Boop cartoon.  His unique voice allowed him to do early voice over work for cartoons as well as appear on film in shorts. Not to be outdone by his vocal abilities, Calloway could also move. He can be seen in early film shorts doing what essentially is an early version of the Moonwalk, a move later made famous by Michael Jackson. Calloway continued through the decade recording other hits like "Reefer Man", which is well about, well that's self explanatory. By '41 though he fired Gillespie from his band after an onstage spat which included spitballs and Gillespie stabbing Calloway in the leg. As the years went by, Calloway continued to make music and preform. By the '80's he was in demand from the likes of The Blues Brothers, Oingo Boingo to even Sesame Street and the WWF. The latter he served as a ref for a Rowdy Roddy Piper vs. Mr. T boxing match. Cab passed in '94 but his music and legacy lives on. 'The Best Of The Bog Bands: Cab Calloway' serves as a reminder of what a legend he truly was.

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Running On Empty

For some this record may not be a complete shock to be found in my collection. All things considered Jackson Browne has been widely regarded as one of the best singer songwriters of the times. So it's no shock to see his classic record 'Running On Empty' show up on the blog.

The late 60's saw Browne get his start with The Nitty Gritty Dirt bad in addition to writing material for other artists, including Nico. By the turn of the decade Browne had began to come into his own as a Singer/Songwriter. However in '77 Browne released a non-traditional "Live" album in 'Running On Empty' . The album in a sense was recorded during shows in addition to hotel rooms and tour buses. It remains a classic, giving Browne some of his best known songs in "Running On Empty" and the ode to the road crew "Stay/The Load-Out". The album initially hit Number 3 on the charts and stayed on the charts for an impressive sixty-five weeks. Currently 7X Platinum it remains Browne's best selling album to date.

While Browne continues to tour and record and be a political activist, this album for me will always remind me of growing up. This album was always in constant rotation and for good reason, it's a great record, simple as that. The voice and the soul of a man touring his way through the country shines through from the title track to the last track as he talks about packing it up and going on to the next gig. And again Browne is another musician who's not so serious that he can't make a little appearance in Springfield and visit The Simpsons.

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Seeds

Time to go back to the mid 90's. Ah such a glorious time. This time around we focus on a band that is really to me a one hit wonder kind of band. A band that most people have forgotten about I'm sure, so lets all fondly remember Brother Cane.

The name alone may conjure up a faint memory. If not the band may best be known for their hit track "And Fools Shine On". The band hails from Birmingham Alabama and started out in '90. It wasn't until '95 and their second album 'Seeds' that anyone seemed to take notice. The bands sound was a mixture of Grunge/Punk/Hard Rock. The band become a small hit on the Modern Rock Radio stations, but by '98 the band called it a day. A small reunion in '05 followed before a somewhat return to the scene in '11. 'Seeds' to me was a bit overlooked. The record starts out real strong with some decent track, but kinda loses some steam as it progresses. The album did peak at #184 on The Billboard 200. It seemed the band was poised to breakthrough, but it never really happened. Music fans may recognize Brother Cane's frontman/guitarist Damon Johnson. Damon toured with Alice Cooper for a number of years before joining Thin Lizzy full time. Thin Lizzy of course went on to retire the name and be reborn as Black Star Riders. After seeing Thin Lizzy a few years back, Johnson more than pulls his weight in the band and makes a fine fit. So enjoy a one hit band and fondly recall the glory days of the mid 90's.

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The Box Tops

Time to take a trip back to a time where jukebox's where relevant. The early Sixties in America brought a new wave of music to the masses. Music was simpler and there were so many groups that flew under the radar. The Box Tops were a blue-eyed soul/psychedelic rock back that came from Memphis TN. Perhaps best known for their hit "The Letter" and Guitarist/Vocalist Alex Chilton, the band had a steady career through the Sixties before calling it a day in the early Seventies.

The Box Tops sound came from a mix of Soul, Light Rock and some elements of psych rock. Led by Alex Chilton the band scored an early hit with "The Letter". They kept the success going through the end of the Sixties with other hits like "Cry Like A Baby", "Soul Deep" and their take on the Procol Harum classic, "A Whiter Shade Of Pale". The great thing about "The Letter" is that it's short and sweet. It clocks in at a hair under two minutes, yet was a big success. Proving sometimes you don't need a four minute pop hit in order to be successful. By The end of the decade the band was done, yet legal troubles allowed the band to continue under the same name with different members for a few years. Alex Chilton went on to play in Big Star and his solo trio in addition to producing band like The Cramps for a short time. In the mid '90s the band reunited and continued to tour and release new material up until Chilton's sudden passing of a heart attack in 2010. While widely forgotten, The Box Tops were a great group of the time and worthy of a jukebox spin today. So get familiar with the band with 1987's release, 'The Ultimate Box Tops'.

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One Fierce Beer Coaster

So its time to go back to the Alt genre. This time it's the Bloodhound Gang. Fair warning, it's gonna get childish up in here. Those of you may recognize the name from their hit song "The Bad Touch", but there's more to them then that track, maybe, just maybe.

Bloodhound Gang hail from the aptly named King Of Prussia, PA, taking their name from a PBS Kids show of all things. There's the child theme again. Started out in '91 but not releasing a debut til 95. The band didn't gain notice until their second album, 'One Fierce Beer Coaster', which gave us the timeless track "Fire Water Burn", you know the one you quote when you're dunk at a party, "the roof, the roof is on fire..", yeah that one. The album takes Alt rock and tosses in hip hop and lyrical innuendo and it comes out like, well something that's on constant rotation at a Frat House. Nevertheless the album works and it began a career for the band. This album draws influence from bands like the Beastie Boys, Weezer, and early Sugar Ray, all of which played an important role in the 90's alt rock scene. Bottom line the album is childish and at times down right funny. Look no further than references to The Pixies, Judas Priest, and more. And did I mention Vanilla Ice guests on this album?! That's right kids, fire up the beer bong and lets party.

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George Benson

Time to add some Jazz flare to the blog again. This time with a one time child prodigy and now ten time Grammy award winner, George Benson. Cutting his first single record at the age of ten, Benson has remained a constant in the Jazz world.

At seven George bought a Ukelele, at eight it was a Guitar, and by ten he was already recording. By the time twenty one hit, he had recorded a record as a band leader. By the mid sixties, Miles Davis was utilizing Benson's Guitar playing on his 'Paraphernalia' record. By the end of the decade Benson was covering The Beatles' 'Abbey Road' record and covering Jefferson Airplane. By the mid seventies Benson's critically acclaimed album 'Breezin'' would bring in a wider audience and he continued to work with other musical giants including Stevie Wonder. Since the 90's though Benson has transitioned into a more Smooth Jazz musical direction. Still ever popular, Benson continues to tour in support of his music. For the jukebox tonight though we showcase 'The George Benson Collection', the 1981 release which featured the new song and future number one R&B hit song "Turn Your Love Around". Great album for those rainy Summer nights.

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Tony Bennett

Time for something that is perhaps truly fitting of the theme of unexpected albums in my collection and that is the legendary Tony Bennett. Lets just say there's not a lot this man hasn't done. Maintained decades long career, check. Fought in WWII, check. Author, check. Painter, check. Grammy and Emmy award winner, Eighteen Grammy's and two Emmy's, umm check. Stay relevant in today's musical cesspool, check. Lets not forgot the main point, Tony can flat out sing.

Tony Bennett may best be known for his hit "I Left My Heart In San Francisco", but his career started after his service in WWII. Starting in '51 and pretty much continuing to this day, Tony still cuts records. Although he started off with a bang, for nearly two decades, Bennett struggled. From the mid sixties to the late seventies, Bennett faced an ever growing changing music scene, where records weren't selling, work was limited to Vegas shows and a drug habit nearly spiraled into the death of him. Thanks in part to his son, he soon regained control of his career and by the nineties was a staple on TV, appearing on the Late Night shows as well as The Simpsons and perhaps the most odd, various MTV shows. Side note, Tony was the first celeb to play himself with his cameo on The Simpsons. It seemed that playing concerts sponsored by Alt Rock radio helped Bennett get a new generation of fans. In '94 with a little help from the likes of k.d. lang and Elvis Costello, Tony recorded 'Unplugged' for MTV. Since the comeback, Tony has continued to work and introduce a new generation to his music by releasing his 'Duets' records with have featured the likes of Lady Gaga, John Mayer, Michael Buble, John Legend, Aretha Franklin, Bono and many more. Perhaps in keeping with introducing himself to another generation is his last album, a collaboration with Lady Gaga on old Jazz standards. In any case Tony Bennett is still relevant as he ever was and continues to bring the voice to the masses. So for the jukebox its, 'The Ultimate Tony Bennett' a nice collection of old favorites.

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Odelay

Throwing back to the glory days of Alternative in the '90's, lets get fire up the Jukebox and groove on Beck. Perhaps most know for his hit song "Loser", which became somewhat of an anthem in the 90's, Beck has released quite a bit of music over the years, blending just about every genre into an album, I will always recall that point in the 90's where Beck was the Alt King.

The mid 90's were chock full of Alt goodness, Grunge was hanging on somehow, but Alt Rock seemed to be the next big thing. Beck had released 'Mellow Gold'  in '94 and was poised to hit pay dirt with the success of "Loser" and he did just that with 'Odelay' when it hit in '96. The album gave us five singles and videos that were gold. "Where It's At", "Devils Haircut", "The New Pollution", "Sissyneck" and "Jackass" put Beck on the top of the Alt Rock mountain. Combining any genre and mixing it up into Beck goodness is exactly what this album was. It was party, upbeat, somber all in one. Beck of course went on to make more eclectic records through the years, even going as far as releasing a book of sheet music at one point. While 'Odelay' remains a classic to me, Beck gets points for playing himself as a Folk Rock icon in Futurama. So dust off the flannel and torn jeans and take a trip back to the good ol days.

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Solid Gold Hits

So time to flip the blog upside down for a bit and feature some Hip Hop. Yes that's right. Don't worry it's just the Beastie Boys though. So take a trip down with three guys from Brooklyn who taught us Hip Hop could be goofy.

The Beastie Boys oddly enough started out as a Hardcore Punk band in the early 80's before transitioning to Hip Hop and becoming one of the best selling artists of the genre. MCA, Ad Rock,  and Mike D started out down the Hip Hop trail in '83, employing at one point a young DJ by the name of Rick Rubin. Rubin of course later would produce bands and form Def Jam Recordings. The band supported Madonna, Public Image Ltd, and Fishbone during the early years before releasing their debut record 'Licensed To Ill' in '86. Over the next two decades the band would go from goofballs to standing up for political issues. The constant thing was the epic and glorious music videos. From "You Gotta Fight" which featured a then young unknown MTV news anchor Tabitha Soren, to "No Sleep Til Brooklyn" which featured Slayer Guitarist Kerry King, to the made for TV video "Sabotage", the band never lacked creativity. Sadly MCA passed away at the young age of 47 in '12 from Cancer. The band vowed to put the band to bed and never perform under the Beastie Boys name again. For me the Beastie Boys were never really a true Hip Hop group, there were too many elements of Punk/Metal/Hardcore fused in for it to be true Hip Hop. In any case enjoy 'Solid Gold Hits' the last Best Of collection that was released in '05.

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Crackle

And now back to something complete different. So how about featuring what a lot of people consider to be the first Goth Rock band? No it's not Depeche Mode, but if you're nice I'll post some of that later. It is however Bauhaus. Although not a well received band per say in the USA, the band remains influential for their unique style.

Formed in '78 in Northampton England, the bands first run lasted only until '83. The band took it's name from the Art Movement of the '20's. Originally called Bauhaus 1919, the band later dropped the numerical addition to their name. Led by Peter Murphy, whose baritone voice lends itself quite well to the Goth Rock sound. Perhaps the best place to start with the band is the rather lengthy track "Bela Lugosi's Dead". While the Radio cut is just over three minutes, the full version clocks in at just under ten minutes. The track sums up the early Goth Rock sound, mixed with Industrial/Avant-Garde/Punk influences. The band released a hanful of singles leading up to their debut album 'In The Flat Field'. Over the years the band would release five albums in total, including a few Live records and compilation albums. To really see the big picture and influence of Bauhaus, I've decided to showcase the '98 Compilation record, 'Crackle'. This album encompasses the band's work and includes some remastered songs along with non album singles. This is a good place to start and see how the early Goth Rock scene evolved and later influenced bands like Christian Death, Type O Negative, NIN, Skinny Puppy and many more. So break out the black eyeliner and get depressed and enjoy some Goth Rock.

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Worlds Collide

I swear I'm gonna get off this trend of you wouldn't really be surprised to see this in my collection trend here, but not quite yet. I've got one more that shouldn't really be a shocker. And it's some crazy Finnish Cello Metal. Of course it's time for some Apocalyptica.

For those unfamiliar with the name or the premise of Apocalyptica, it's a couple of crazy Finnish guys who got their start playing Metallica covers on the Cello. Total gimmick right? Not quite. Since the band started in '93, they've released a handful of records, evolving from playing Metal covers, to penning their own material and featuring some more well known Metal talent. Although I'll get some flack for choosing this record due to the "Radio Friendly Hits" contained within, I still dig this record. 'Worlds Collide' was released in '07 to a well received Rock Radio welcome. The album features quite a few guest stars, including Corey Taylor (Slipknot/Stone Sour), Dave Lombardo (ex-Slayer/Philm), Till Lindemann (Rammstein), Cristina Scabbia (Lacuna Coil), Mats Levin (Candlemass/ex-Abstrakt Algebra), and Adam Gontier (ex-Three Days Grace). Right there you see Modern Rock Radio begins to drool and they did. With the tracks "I'm Not Jesus" and "I Don't Care" getting heavy rotation, people started to dig Apocalyptica. But trends change and the band was seemingly forgotten. But not by people who had been following the band for years. This album top to bottom is chalk full of great tracks. Sure the Radio tracks are great but check out "S.O.S" with features haunting guest vocals from Cristina Scabbia. All in all this is the high point in the bands career, but there's so much more to them.

I got into Apocalyptica back in the late 90's. I picked up their 'Plays Metallica By Four Cellos' at Circuit City. Yeah I dated myself there, but to be fair that Circuit City had a damn good selection of Metal. Anyways, like the masses I thought another Tribute album that's got a gimmick. Nevertheless I was impressed with the band and followed them as they went from playing Covers to original tunes. I got to see Apocalyptica play alongside Metallica a few years back during a Festival show. I gotta say those crazy ass Fins were up there rocking out hard, running around with their Cellos and just tearing it up. At one point there was an impromptu "Seek And Destroy" jam in which the few thousand of us that were there sweating in the Arizona sun started singing along to. Who knew Classical could be so fun.

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Leaving Eden

This is another post that may border on the not shocked it's in the collection. This time around it's Metal but not quite Metal. We focus on the UK Acoustic Rock/Avant-Garde/Ambient band Antimatter. Now with that genre vomit, this album I've selected is pretty much a straight forward Acoustic album, very laid back and mellow.

'Leaving Eden' marks the fourth release from Antimatter and the first without founding member Duncan Patterson. Founded in '98 by Mick Moss and Patterson, both of which have had involvement with the band Anathema. The band started out as somewhat of a Dark Electronic/Ambient/Gothic direction. The early records featured guest female vocalists and a dark theme to them. By the time of 07's release of 'Leaving Eden' the band consisted solely of Moss now, moved towards a more acoustic direction. The album features Danny Cavanagh, another Anathema veteran, helping out on Lead Guitar and Piano. While far from an upbeat album, this release does focus on the simple musicianship between Moss and Cavanagh. Melancholy and simple can best sum this band up. This is perfect for the more relaxed times.

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The Animals

This is one of those posts where I don't know how many people would be shocked to find this in my collection. Nevertheless this band I feel sometimes is a tad underrated and gets lost in the mix of the other big British Invasion bands. Of course I speak of The Animals.

Formed in Newcastle upon Tyne in the early 60's, the band fronted by Eric Burdon would find commercial success with their hit "House Of The Rising Sun". The band took from other UK acts and started out covering R&B tracks before developing a sound of their own. Eventually hitting paydirt in the US as part of the British Invasion. With tracks like "We've Gotta Get Out Of This Place" and "Don't Let Me Be Misunderstood", the former track would later be covered by Punk band Fear, The Animals seemed to be headed for great things. Of course though like many acts of the era only lasted a few years due to poor business management amongst other things. The lineup went through various name changes through their first incarnation before dissolving in '66. Eric Burdon went onto form another version of the band focusing on more of a hard rock/psychedelic sound which was on display during the Monterey Pop Festival. Bassist Chas Chandler went onto to manage an unknown guitarist at the time named Jimi Hendrix. In addition Eric Burdon also went onto play with War for a short time, gaining some success with their track "Spill The Wine".

The Animals are best known for "House Of The Rising Sun", a song which has the dubious claim of being the most covered song in the world. However I feel like the band gets treated as an one hit wonder in some senses. What's overlooked is the vocals of Eric Burdon and the brooding sense with every tale on songs like "House Of The Rising Sun" or "We've Gotta Get Out Of This Place". And while the band never gained the success as some of their British Invasion counterparts, the band does have some legacy as an influence on musicians like Bruce Springsteen. So for that, take a nostalgia trip and enjoy 'The Best Of The Animals'.

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Last Day In Paradise

Keeping with the Jazz theme we continue on down into the vaults with a band I featured early on in the days of the blog. The Alex Skolnick Trio, are just that, a Jazz trio with modern takes on Hard Rock classics. Led by current Testament Guitarist Alex Skolnick, the band has been together since '01.

The trio have released four albums so far. Alex is a bit busy of late with Testament, but also with his world music project, Planetary Coalition. Needless to say the Trio isn't really active of late. In any case let's shine a little light onto their '07 release, 'Last Day In Paradise'. This album unlike the previous two features more of the trio's original material as opposed to cover tunes. There are however a couple of covers here though. The classic "Tom Sawyer" from Rush and "Revelation (Mother Earth) from Black Sabbath. And if you wanna get technical there's "Practica Lo Que Predicas" a Latin take on the classic Testament track, "Practice What You Preach". At ten tracks in length this album is really solid and gets you right in the grooves and leaves you wanting some more. For me this breaks the stereotype that Metal Heads can only play one style. Seriously just listen to any Testament record Skolnick plays on and this and you'll have an appreciation for what I believe is a seriously underrated player.

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Against The Grain

Another theme run of the blog has run its course. Hope you enjoyed some of my favorite Live Records from a smattering of artists. In the process of updating the blog I wanted to branch out a little more than I already do with postings. Having a wide variety and selection of music at my disposal is good. Means I'm never bored and pretty much have an album to fit any mood. So with that being said we shift again to a different theme. And this one may lose some people. I've dubbed it "Shit You Wouldn't Expect To Be In My Collection, But Is". In other words, this is going to be a mix of stuff that I actually enjoy and listen to, Metal Head credibility be damned. That said, there will be quite a mix of stuff over the next few weeks to say the least. And tonight we kick it off with some Smooth Jazz.

Up first we have a Smooth Jazz group from England that's been bringing their blend of Smooth Jazz to people since '81. Acoustic Alchemy was formed in London in '81 by a acoustic guitar duo of Simon James and Nick Webb. The band didn't initially find success, in fact both founding members left the band by the 90's. Nevertheless through lineup changes the band did find some mainstream success with a label jump to GRP. The band released a string of albums in the 90's that saw success. One of those being 'Against The Grain'. Released in '94, this album shows off the bands more experimental side with longer tracks. The album at ten tracks clocks in at 53 minutes. While it may be a more experimental sound here, the basis of dueling acoustic guitars remains at the forefront. No further should you look than the title track opener or the fan favorite "Lazeez". Sometimes breaking it down to a couple of acoustic guitars is all you need.
  

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Just Another Band From LA

It's time to say farewell to the Live albums with this post. All things come to an end and hopefully you've relived those classic in concert moments or found a new favorite. In either case we have one more Live album and it's from the bizarre genius Frank Zappa.

Zappa of course was known for his elaborate songs and tongue in cheek humor. He's also known for releasing a massive amount of material, even more so after his passing. Altogether there have been 100 official releases. That's quite a bit. So there's plenty of Live material to choose from. But for this post lets go back to '72 and the classic release 'Just Another Band From LA'. Recorded on August 7, 1971 at UCLA's Pauley Pavilion, the album opens up with the mock rock opera "Billy The Mountain", which pokes fun at the rock opera movement of the time. At a shade under twenty-five minutes, there are plenty of references to Southern California scattered throughout the track. The sad fact is there are another twelve tracks played that not, but never released on LP or CD. In any case this is one of Zappa's better Live albums that was released when he was still alive. So turn it up and get weird.

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Unplugged

One last time for this series, lets revisit a MTV Unplugged performance shall we. And again this is one I swore I had posted earlier in time but I didn't, so with that said lets take a look at 'Unplugged' from Neil Young.

Recorded on February 7, 1993 during the height of Grunge, it seemed logical to let the Godfather Of Grunge to do an Unplugged session. After all Neil has being that for years. This one wasn't without some tension though. The actual released version of this album is the second attempt. Legend has it Neil was unhappy with the way things sounded and everyone's playing in the band. And I'm sure there was some anger directed at MTV. Despite the tension Neil eventually played eighteen tracks in all that night, however four tracks were cut from the release. However there was a treat in all this, an unreleased song in "Stringman". Well the whole album for me is a treat. In all you get a mix of old material, even a Buffalo Springfield track thrown in there, along with some of his newer material from the 'Harvest Moon' record. While the release was cited as average by most critics upon its release, this album stands up to the rest of Neil's Live albums.

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An Acoustic Night At The Theatre

This post is prolly the last dose of Metal you'll get from a while from here. Don't be sad though, there's gonna be some different stuff posted in the coming weeks. In the meantime enjoy a band I can't believe I haven't featured in the past. Within Temptation have been bringing their blend of female fronted metal/rock to the masses since the late 90's. Along with Nightwish, Within Temptation might be the other big name in flying the Symphonic Female Fronted Metal banner. While the band does enjoy success overseas, the band has had some degree of success in the States.

The band has had a history of releasing Live albums as well as concert DVDs for sometime now, but for this post we'll look at 2009's 'An Acoustic Night At The Theatre'. Recorded Live on November 30, 2008 in Eindhoven The Netherlands, this album captures the band stripped down and preforming acoustically. In addition there are a few guests that help out lending some vocals. Former Life Of Agony frontman Keith Caputo guests on "What Have You Done", while former The Gathering singer Anneke VanGiersbergan is featured of "Somewhere". While the album may not be "metal" so to speak, don't discount the quality of the band or the songs, let alone Sharon den Adel's wonderful voice. This is a wonderful Live album through and through.

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Live Alive

It's time to feature some Blues again from an artists that's been profiled here before. And while this is a Live album by standards, there was a lot of overdubbing done in the studio. So it's a hybrid Live record.

Stevie Ray Vaughn was without a doubt one of the best Blues/Rock Guitarists of the last decade. SRV was responsible for influencing a whole new generation of Blues/Rock players like Jonny Lang and Kenny Wayne Shepherd. His life was tragically cut short from an aviation crash, but the music still lives on and still sounds fresh today. 'Live Alive' was the first Live album from SRV and Double Trouble. The albums pulls live material recorded from The Montreux Jazz Festival (July 16, 1985), July 17-18, 1986 at the Austin Opera House, and July 19, 1986 from the Dallas Starfest. SRV pays homage if you will to his influences with the song selection on the album. Covering the likes of Stevie Wonder, Howlin' Wolf, Buddy Guy and Hendrix. The album shows how far SRV had come from just a few years earlier, being a virtual unknown to gaining radio and at the time MTV airplay. SRV's brother Jimmie Vaughn is also featured on a few tracks here, making this a family affair of a Live Album. For those of us who never got a chance to see SRV Live, this is a testament of how well he could tear it up Live.

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On The Road

As we wind down the Live albums theme, I'd be slacking if I didn't feature some Traffic in this mix. Traffic for me was an amazing band who through a short few years in the late 60's and early 70's influenced a huge group of musicians. The band itself could have been seen as an early supergroup as it featured the likes of Steve Winwood, Dave Mason, Chris Wood, and Jim Capaldi. All of which went on to play with a number of other gifted musicians throughout the years.

'On The Road' marked the second Live album from the band. Recorded in April '73 in Germany. The original US release was a single LP effort with some of the tracks cut down. At just six tracks long, the album is somewhat of an extended Jam session. While the playing is spot on, the tracks seem to carry on and have a certain Jam Band quality to them. So much so that the opening tracks "Glad/Freedom Rider" clock in at just under 21 minutes, while the albums closer, "Low Spark Of High Heeled Boys" clocks in at just under 18 minutes, it's easier to label this a Jam album. The band would release one more record in '74 before calling it a day. The band did briefly reunite in '94 for a studio album. There were talks of another reunion after the bands induction into the Rock 'N Roll Hall of Fame, but plans were cut short due to the passing of Jim Capaldi. However Steve Winwood continues to tour playing material from his storied career and carrying on the legacy that was Traffic. This is the Double LP rip of the album for those curious. It's the American reissued one that features the tracks in all their glory.

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The Retinal Circus

In the past I've posted some material from the crazy Canuck Devin Townsend. Whether it's his work with SYL or his solo material, there's no doubt the man is further pushing the boundaries as an artists. And what better way to push the envelope than a massive Live Circus if you will.

Recorded at The Roundhouse in London on October 27, 2012, 'The Retinal Circus' captures Devin and his vivid imagination and stellar musicianship. The album is somewhat of a concept record, a story entwined with music from his solo career as well as some SYL for good measure. And what's a circus without guests? How bout Steve Vai as the narrator. Go back in time and recall when Devin played with Vai on his '93 album, 'Sex & Religion'. Also throw in former The Gathering and frequent guest vocalist Anneke Van Giersbergen. Oh and for good measure lets have a mini SYL reunion with Guitarist Jed Simon. Now take all that and stretch it to make a Double Live Album. Oh and a really fantastic DVD. Don't believe me, check out the Preview clip. Simply put this is an album you need to check out to see the range that Devin has, from the goofy Ziltoid to the amazing track "Grace", this is really a work of art.

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Live And Dangerous

As I wind down featuring some of my favorite Live Albums, it's time to showcase a classic one that seems to land in a lot of top lists. That album however isn't without some controversy though. Some say it's a studio job with added crowd noise, while others maintain it's a Live album with a few overdubs here and there. In any case it's still a great album. I speak of course of 'Live and Dangerous' from Thin Lizzy.

Released in '78 and recorded from shows on the "Johnny The Fox" tour in '76 and the "Bad Reputation" tour in '77. Thin Lizzy had started to gain some commercial success with the release of 'Jailbreak'. Fans began to take note of the late Phil Lynott's great Bass playing and writing. Brian Robertson's Guitar work was also a standout in the band. So much so that after Robo left Thin Lizzy he played with Motorhead for a stint. The album originally was released as a double Live vinyl affair, but has since got the remastered treatment over the years. This version on the '13 remaster. Double Live still, but with two bonus tracks. At nearly twenty tracks long, the album features the classics as well as some of the more hidden gems that were Thin Lizzy. The controversy that lies with the record does tend to overshadow it a bit. Story goes that the album is 75% studio and 25% live. Logic behind it saying the album is just too perfect. Other believe it's the other way around, acknowledging overdubs and touch ups here and there. Whatever the case is, it's a stellar Live album.

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Dark Roots Of Thrash

Taking one last trip to the Bay Area for some more good ol fashioned Thrash. This time with some Testament. Often thrown into the second Big 4 group, along with other Bay Area vets Exodus and Death Angel, Testament has been delivering the Thrash since the mid 80's.

Testament has put out a handful of Live records through the years. With that being said I'm going with the latest in the double Live album 'Dark Roots Of Thrash'. What more could you want than a resurgent Testament and two disc full of Thrash? Throughout the years the lineup has changed a bit, more so during the 90's period than anything. But the band has also had a talented bunch of musicians playing in it. I mean the band boasts having three drummers who played in Slayer at some point. The band bottom line has always been talented, but perhaps lacking the recognition they deserved. However 'Dark Roots Of Thrash' pulls material from throughout the bands catalog and just melts some faces in the process. Released in '13 and with material pulled from the tour in support of the previous record 'Dark Roots Of The Earth', the band shows no signs of slowing down or losing a step. Simply put, if you like old Thrash then this is a Live records for you.

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No Sleep Till Bedtime

Time to throw this blog into some chaos, thanks to Strapping Young Lad. What's a little chaos anyways? SYL was one of the more chaotic and humorous Metal bands to come from the Great White North. Led by the mighty Devin Townsend, SYL brought their brand of chaotic metal to the masses for nearly a decade. They even managed to sneak in one of Metal's finest albums in 'City'.

We go to the land down under for this Live album though. Released in '98, the cleverly named 'No Sleep Till Bedtime', marked the first Live album for SYL. Recorded on October 11th and 12th of '97 in Australia. The album is somewhat more of an EP than an album. Seven tracks are Live, while the other two are studio bonus tracks if you will. This would have to hold fans over til '03 when SYL would release their next album. Devin went on to do a bunch of solo albums, while the rest of the band kept up with other projects of their own. While this album isn't everyone's cup of tea, it's still a great album to play when things get a little crazy.

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Unplugged

One last trip down the Grunge road with another MTV Unplugged performance. This one may have fallen by the wayside, but perhaps one track off it was responsible for breaking the band into the big time. The early 90's brought a wave of Grunge and Alternative bands to the American forefront. Sure you had the big names, but one band slipped in and make an impact, albeit at first as being compared to a bad Pearl Jam cover band. That bad was Stone Temple Pilots.

In '93 STP was trying to break through the Grunge/Alt scene and while the band has some success with their debut 'Core', rattling off four singles off that album. The band wasn't taking off quite yet. So in '93 the band did what all bands seemed to do at the time and that's cut an MTV Unplugged performance. The band churned out seven tracks in all. All cuts off 'Core' with the exception of a David Bowie cover "Andy Warhol", which video for has never surfaced,  but audio did appear as a B side of a few singles. The other non 'Core' track was a new song entitled "Big Empty". The song would go on to appear on The Crow Soundtrack as well as the bands next album, 'Purple'. MTV would later add the video for "Big Empty" into heavy rotation to promote The Crow Soundtrack. The song gained attention and by the following year when 'Purple' was released the band had broken through the scene. Of course the band would slowly fall apart by the new decade in part to frontman Scott Weiland's drug problems and frequent run ins with the law. The band called it a day in '02, but reunited with Weiland in '10 before splitting with him in '13. Currently STP is working on a new album with new vocalist Chester Bennington of Linkin Park. Take that as you will, the band sounds like a Linkin Park clone now. In any case enjoy this forgotten slice of Grunge/Alt Rock.

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Live! In Chicago

Changing gears yet again on the genre, we switch to some Blues Rock for this post. I featured Kenny Wayne Shepherd sometime back with his incredible '10 Days Out, Blues From The Backroads' album, which featured Shepherd playing with some Blues legends. This post will play off that previous post as it's a Live show recorded in support of that album.

'Live! In Chicago' marks the first official release for Kenny Wayne Shepherd. Released in 2010 in Chicago during the touring cycle for the '10 Days Out' album. Having released a handful of albums since he was a mere teenager. This Live record features some Blues legends playing alongside Kenny Wayne, including the late Hubert Sumlin, Willie "Big Eyes" Smith, Bryan Lee and Buddy Flett. This is pretty much a Live record that features some original material and some old Blues classics. This is a good chance to hear some old Blues tracks you may have missed or have never ever heard of. And while there's some good old classics from KWS, see "Deja Voodoo", "True Lies" and the classic "Blue On Black", the real gems here are the tracks with the greats. For Sumlin and Smith, this was pretty much the last record they were on, as both passed away in '11, a year after the album was released. Solid Live record from this generations SRV.

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