Classic Album Review, Carcass, Swansong

Carcass, Swansong (Earache-1996)

Up till a few days ago this was the bands last album. Reforming in 2007 for some live shows the band took a while in deciding to enter the studio. It was worth it was the new album is a cracking album all of it's own.

But this band back in the early 90s were a big influence to so many metal fans. But back then metal fans were really just people who liked Metallica and Iron Maiden. This music was really considered to many to be unlistenable even in the metal world. I remember a college friend who wore a denim jacket that had band patches on it like Slayer and others hated this style of music. But the band have up to this album done five quite different sounding albums. This was supposed to me a major label debut with Columbia who were trying to capture some guaranteed money in a band who were going places.

Guess what? The major asked to change the music and the band did in a way. But they were going to do so anyhow. Carcass have been described differently with each album. Death, grind, goregrind and many more. They have if you like invented more genres than studio albums out. This one is called and labeled as the first melodic death metal album. Or death and roll (No joke).

"Keep on Rotting in the Free World" opens the album in a great way. More of a joke song at the time it can if you like have some link to many political problems in the planet. Still the big drum sound from Colin Richardson and the blastbeat drums are fantastic. You get the melodic feel right away, still the sound is just so much more than a metal album.

Next song "Tomorrow Belongs to Nobody" has my favorite riff of the album, the whole intro is just fantastic. Melodic and heavy in such a catchy riff. You feel like you have heard it before but then you realize it has never been done like that. Again nice blastbeat drums carry the song well. Into "Black Star" and I really do not get peoples negativity and labels of being sellouts back in 96. A slower song and still full of riffs and that voice just cuts the speakers open. Jeff Walker has never sounded so good (or bad) his voice is like nothing I have heard before. Heavy but nothing like you can get in this area of metal. His sound is not just a scream or even a grunt as you can clearly hear all the words, it is as if there is some digital trickery but all fans know he can sing like that.

More of the same and a great formula "Cross My Heart" has a great classic rock n roll feel to it. You could almost dance to it. "Room 101" has a little bit of a alt metal feel to it. Little bit less melodic but repetitive to fit well into the album. Later songs like "Firm Hand" and "Go to Hell" are less melodic more so in the vocal area. But still a great sound. The band seem to work very well later on and take over the album. I see why the death roll tag came about "Firm Hand" even has a little acoustic guitar.

"Don't Believe a Word" sounds very negative and it could be linked to the bands fortunes at the time. The album was released after the band split and the title was also given as they knew it was all over. No tour or big goodbye for the fans. Just one last album that at the time was not taken very well by many fans.

But this band on every album made and lost many fans. Those are not the sort of fans a band wants. And as ever time is the judge. They were right, this album is fantastic and a great starter for someone looking into the metal area that may have scared them or if you are just simply ignorant and find all music outside of the classic metal bands just not up to the classic stuff. Now the band have a new album, headlining tours and a legacy that showed so many how to play and also more importantly you can play like this. Some metal fans then would have crossed the street if they were walking down the street. Now they headline the Barrowlands in Glasgow.

Easily available but the 2008 re masters are great value with an added DVD.

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Classic Album Review, Ramones, It's Alive

Ramones It's Alive (1979-Sire)

And a first for my blog. Well more than one first. The first band/artist to be in it more than once. The first live album and the first double album.

I can't do my usual and go thorough the album dissecting songs and trying to give you (or convince) a description of the content. I also will not insult anyones intelligence as if you read what I type you have an idea.

The band were on the road for years and due to this the time is right for a live album. Three albums in for most bands would seem a little bit quick. Not quick enough for this band. MC5 had the balls to make the first album they done a live album so nothing remarkable in having one three albums in. But for the casual fan the live record is a bit of a best of and for kids with little pocket money a chance to get em all.

The band fire though 28 songs pretty much the whole catalog the band have.  No bullshit solos, fake chit chat and all that is not here. As Joe Strummer said "people have things to do" in direction at how fast the bad were and agreeing that get it done now as we have other things to do.

Classic song after song is here all sound better and the band sound fantastic. Faster and angrier the LPs they done were fantastic but still after the first album they had to hold back in the studio. For many fans a live show was never going to happen, too far away or what ever. This is as good as a replacement you can have.

The band were recording four gigs in total with the idea releasing the best one. Before listening to the music recorded this was chosen as the fans ripped up ten rows of seats at the Rainbow theater and threw them at the band.

I wrote about the bands last album before as I feel it was a great album overlooked. This album is loved by fans but overlooked by press and even fans outside the UK as it was a UK release. There have been reissues on cheap CDs over the years but the original LP sounds amazing so if you see it in a shop for a few quid get it.

The album for me is a benchmark for live albums. The sound and all out balls on this is amazing. 30+ years later I have never heard a live album like it. Look at all the punk bands now, they rarely do live albums and this is the reason why. Don't bother it has been covered and with extras.

The concert was filmed for VHS but the tapes came out too grainy on VHS as the lighting was too poor. But the DVD format changed that and the Live DVD of the same name has this concert in glorious Technicolor. But only half the concert is present. This band were that good you can't film them.

I could go on for ever but it is a great album, sounds fantastic with an amazing track listing. Punk was said to have died in 78 this came out in 79 and the band had another fantastic album in Road to Ruin out the year between the albums recording and release. So buy Road to Ruin and this and you are covered.

It's Alive is available from Amazon and E Bay but the vinyl LP for me sounds the best.

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Classic Album Review, Roger Taylor, Man on Fire

Roger Taylor, Man on Fire (EMI-1984)

It is not often a band gets that famous the drummer is a household celebrity. Well even in my house my mum would say "oh it's that drummer from Queen" so that is very famous to me. But many people don't know Roger Taylor has to date made four solo albums and another three under a band name The Cross.

This was his second and made at a time where the band were not sure if they would continue. After the shambles of the crap disco album Hot Space the band went on a break. Members went on and made some other music and this was his own hobby. 

The album is to me is simply a fun album, all instruments are played by Taylor. So even he was treating this as fun as if you wanted a serious rock album you would get in the proper deal in a real band. So he could then have some fun in the lyrics as well. 

"Strange Frontier" kick the album of in a great style, very 80s and a sound that fits nicely in 84. Nothing wrong with keyboards and drum machines if done well and with a catchy song. It was a single but the lack of promotion and the hope a Queen album was out soon the record company kept money for promotion. But many people did hear it and got it (Creeping into number 98).

Track two "Beautiful Dreams" was a single in Portugal and I think rightly so, could be the only place this album got some sort of respect. It is a slow number and a nice song of dreaming of finding a cure for something. Track three is another single in the UK anyhow (No 66) "Man on Fire" takes it back to the classic rock feel and again it is well done. The song is full of anger, lyrics depicting someone not working with no money but I think some could have been due to the mistakes that were made in Queen. Decisions that were out of his hands. This song shows his nice production job, not so much a shiny as the big bands but done to his taste. For such a great drummer to walk away from a kit and use a machine it shows how skilled he is in the studio. 

Next two songs are covers, "Racing In The Street" by Bruce Springsteen and "Masters Of War" by Bob Dylan. Both have been done very well with the first making me tap my foot. I all of a sudden want a Telecaster. 

The album feels so well done that as a side project it is a shame it was missed by even the biggest Queen fans. "Killing Time" really shows his alt rock side, some nice lyrics very much science fiction orientated. Some guests are invited to play on this album "Abandonfire" has help from producer David Richards who helps make the song into a real synth free for all but as you would expect in the 80s. "It's an Illusion" welcomes Rick Parfitt" and his classic six sting abilities on board. 

Roger has a fantastic voice but it works best in a rock style and with Parfitt here to help and rock is what you will get. Nice little guitar riffs and that good old sound we all know. Last song "I Cry For You (Love, Hope And Confusion)" leaves you with the hope of another album soon (the next was not for ten years) it ends with a big sound and some lyrics that really show that it may well be a long time to the next album. Not sure what the idea was at the time as after this album Queen went big again after the Live Aid performance and Magic Tour of 86 Platinum albums were on the cards again. Roger decided after Queen were not touring to form the Cross who did have success in Germany for many years. 

The album seems to be called dated upon its re-release and given a low score, I think many of the reviewers really did not listen. It has been out of print for a while but copies are out there. Again the blog is here to show you the albums I feel many people miss out on and this is one that could easily be in many peoples collection. Try putting it on with friend round and having them guess who or what it is. I see a few quid being made here ha ha. 

I hate reviewing album that are out of print and more so not available on download But this can be bought in many second hand stores and e bay for a few quid. If you see it available as MP3 let me know and I will update. 

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Isis, Celestial

Isis, Celestial (Hydra Head-2000)

I still think this is a new sound as there has been so few albums to do this so well. At the time it was called Sludge metal, doom, post metal and many others but it really is just loud rock music at the end of the day.

So ok it is not quite Little Richard but still it is just drums, bass and guitar. In 2000 the music world was being blasted by the likes of Limp Bizkit and Korn and others on the fringes of the metal world we all trying to copy that down tuned bass tone.

Isis were not easily led and with a fairly minimal idea for an album made one the the best metal albums in the 00s. The start of the first track gives and idea what is going on here. Sounds of someone typing on a computer keyboard. Sounds like someone hacking into something, could it be in the future or...

Well track one quickly leads into "Celestial (The Tower)" and the guitar noise begins. more like really big riffs that span the whole spectrum of sound. Like a machine digging away at the earth throwing up chunks or rock and dirt. Scratchy guitar parts add into the atmosphere. Singer Aaron Turner appears with screaming vocals that can barely be made out over the sound of the band. He says the album deals with the erosion of privacy as technology advances.

As track two "Glisten" thunders in you can feel as if the album is being made to hurry up a little, that feeling as if the connection will go. Leading back to what the album is about very well. The band work well together in delivering the big riff like noises. "Swarm Reigns (Down)" feeds off the rest of the album well. Now you feel a sense of desperation in the music. The dynamics on this album are fantastic, you really do feel something on each track. Something you just didn't get back in 2000 with other metal bands.

"De constructing Towers" yet again changes scope in the music, more of a jazz feel to it, guitars and drums are frantic. They keep on rolling as if no purpose, like covering up something. Ending with a single acoustic guitar. The music is so good you feel as if it really must have been done before but not to these ears.

With the end near "Collapse and Crush" sounds like its title, big slow doom guitars and strong guttural vocals accompanying the band. All the time still having the chugging guitar sound. This track goes into a nice clean guitar sound and at the right time too. You welcome it with open arms. The track does build slightly heavier but nothing like before. As I say the feel of this album is just amazing. "Gentle Time" closes the album with guitars and riffs that if sped up I feel would still sound the same.

Back in 2000 I was lucky to see some great metal bands like Pantera, Slayer and Metallica. But I was more exited about seeing this band in 2001. They don't sound that much different live as well. But the power and the simplicity is remarkable. With the world turning to baggy jeans and chains it would have been easy to miss this album. Not now as here it is, thanks to this blog a chance to hear an album that will never age or be cool.

Celestial is easily available but if you get the chance get the double album with the add on EP as this was to be a double album when recorded. One year later the second part was released "SGNL>05" is just as epic and essential. I may even review it later on.

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Silver Ginger Five, Black Leather Mojo

Silver Ginger Five, Black Leather Mojo (2000-Mercury Japan)

Made by the Wildhearts front man Ginger in 1999 and on a Japan label the album was intended to be his first solo album. He had worked with others just before this project like Alex Kane on the Stop Thinking album and the Supershit 666 superband. But this was all cards on the table, only he could make it work or not.

Well it is a funny one as I think he did do something with the album and that was to headline a large venue in London without even having the album out in the UK. It was a Japan only album for quite a while so any fans who wanted it had to pay quite a bit for a Japan import.

The album opens with what I would say is a solid first track “Sonic Shake” has all the ingredients you need for an air guitar fuelled three minutes. Big loud riffs that sound bigger as it gets louder, the drums are tight and the quality is here. The production is spot on and is need to hear all that is going on.

Second track “Divine Imperfection” Continues the riffs, simple and fun. The song has such a great sing a long feel to it, helped with the harmonies and great lyrics. “Anyway but Maybe” comes crashing out of the speakers like a roller coaster that is coming off its rails. Big drum fills and bass that can easily take the roof off. Remember that production? Here it is, after that nice big build up you get Gingers vocals. Great lyrics and all the things needs for me it is a stand out track. 

A little bit of a change in pace “Girls are better than Boys” and “Brain Sugar” help provide more of the glam rock n roll that we all love. The two songs are very infectious and are nowhere near a filler track.  The latter track takes you back to sing along with even more great lyrics.

Again a little change in “Monkey Zoo” it is an all out hard rock song with that has touches of alt rock but still keeps the melodic sound of the album. The track has big keyboards to help give an orchestra sound to it. It is a slow song but never loses any attention.

“Inside Out” is a nice little acoustic number, catchy and melodic it is a nice campfire sing a long number.  The track sounds pretty much a throw away song but after a few listens it is a firm favourite.  It is one of those tracks that could be a big hit on the radio, say if it was on a film or TV show. Nice wee guitar solo here keeps the hands waving.

An all out rocker in “I Wanna be New” nothing fancy but loud rock music and a nice track to lead into one of Gingers oldest songs. Written for a Wildhearts album it has never seen the light till this album. “Church of the Broken Hearted” could make a Bon Jovi fan shed a tear. But add in the the big church Choir he is going for it in a big way. It is a good song and played very well great soloing that would make Slash gulp.

Overall this is a fantastic album and a real mix of rock music styles. With the music business in 2000 being much about Nu Metal bands many rock bands were pretty much not getting a look in. Same with this album it was not picked up by a UK label and even when it did come out it was on a small independent with no promotion. 

I think if this was given a good shot by the right record company there is no reason why it could not have done so much more. It had all the things needed for a classic rock album and easily provided all rock fans something to enjoy. I saw the band live once and it was a real treat. A second album was written but shelved due to lack of interest. 

Black Leather Mojo is easily available but try get the 2CD copy as it has extra demo tracks from the missing second album. 

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Thin Lizzy, Black Rose

Thin Lizzy, Black Rose (Vertigo-1979)

So we have all heard the hits Whiskey in a Jar and The Boys Are Back in Town but most people have missed out on the bands best work and here it is.

With the hits being available on rock compilations I see why most people just skim over the bands catalog thinking they were the only good songs. But here is a chance to get a great rock album.

Opener "Do Anything You Want To" was that good it was a single and a great start. Nice big bass and drums hit you then that trademark twin Lizzy guitar riff comes in. This album welcomes Gary Moore to the studio recording for the first time in the bands history (he had replaced others on tour but left before recording twice). His blues sound is evident but not taking anything from the rock band at all. Riffs are less loud and more melodic. Add in Lynott on Bass the album has plenty of skill here.

"Toughest Street in Town" and " S and M" continue the great rock music and could all easily fill dance floors in any rock pub. "Waiting for an Alibi" has that guitar riffing back again with nice vocals and lyrics from Phil. Classic solos and guitar shapes follow here as well. The outro riff would make most want to pick up a guitar. Catchy and also very raw, the band were known for touring and this can still be heard in the production.

Phil Lynot shows his soft side in "Sarah" written about his newly born daughter. It is a nice slow one with little bits of mouth organ and nice 12 sting guitar. This was released as a single in 1979 and gained some alternative fans who think the band were all about hard rock.

The mellow and less musically serious side from Phil is evident in "Got to Give It Up" a song about his drug problems. You can hear it in his voice he sounds very much unhappy. Classic Lizzy guitars and a great chorus make you forget the real problems.

"Get Out of Here" was co wrote with Midge Ure and could be a small token to all the people who have left the band in the past (Ure was asked to finish the tour as Moore left). "With Love" follows nicely into "Róisín Dubh (Black Rose): A Rock Legend" the album has been named after this stunning song and it is a riff paradise.

The last song is all traditional songs given a rock arrangement. It really should not work but does and so well. The twin guitars work so well here that the reason they were invented is more of skill. For those who do not know why the band have two guitars playing the same riff, the band had and still did have problems with keeping guitar players. So Lynott hired two so that if one went he had another that meant live dates were able to be played. So so simple but it was never done before and let onto the birth of the twin guitar riffs the likes of Metallica and many more guitar bands after them done.

Listen to the song carefully and the lyrics are like a poem to all who are Irish or have have Irish roots. It is really just a tribute to Ireland with Black Rose slang for Ireland other things in the song are famous people from Ireland from James Joyce, William Butler Yeats, Oscar Wilde and Brendan Behan are all Irish authors referenced in this song in amazing ways. Van the man is Van Morrison, soccer man is George Best and many many other things. As said it is all done in a traditional style with four songs used in the whole seven minutes in that twin riffing and his voice it is amazing to listen to. It is like mixing a history lesson and a music lesson in one. Simply stunning and I have yet to hear anything replicate it.

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Ocean Machine, Biomech

Ocean Machine, Biomech (Heavy Devy Records/East West, 1997 )

This is more of a side project than a full on band or even a solo album. If you don't know Devin Townsend he has been in my list before with Strapping Young Lad and the City album. That was a great album and his breakthrough to the music selling world. But at about the same time this was being made as well. Devin did form a band for this project but it seems to be more a part time thing as some of it was recorded at home and at various studios. Even mixing was done in other places over a long time.

With his previous album he had the all out metal attack of Strapping Young lad, this is far more mellow and stripped down. Sure the guitars are still there as is the full band sound but it just feels more... modern in a way.

Take "Seventh Wave" now here we have what Devin is about. He starts a metal record with a quote from Alfred Tennyson's, In Memoriam A.H.H. a poem years in the making as this album could have been as well. The first track is a big sounding metal classic. But the changes are very obvious, very slow riffs and so is the drums. All working in tandem playing slower. Much like Tennyson's poem Devin is in no rush to be done.

With the big start has to be more right? Well "Life" is best describes as a pop song. It has the big sounding intro but it falls nicely into a melodic guitar riff and then into Devin's very subtle voice. I mean it sounds rock and metal like but I feel like singing along. Listen to it and you will see.

Some guitar FX and that big band sound help "Nightlife" come to life. It is close to his previous work but still has the feeling of that album and some nice melodic parts to keep the head nodding. "Hide Nowhere" is one of the most upbeat songs here, not that the album is depressing but again that is why I love this album. You can play it any time and feel good. The contents have been done so well even 16 years later I can find a new thing.

"Sister and "3 AM" are more like small snippets with overdubs of other things. It does feel like its half way and "Voices in the Fan" comes in with some nice melodic vocals. Confusing at times as you feel the album has lost some of it's way but as it falls into "Greetings" you switch again to a guitar intro done with some nice multi tracking. This is not prog but it feels simple yet really good. Again no real riffs or even a tune here but it falls in place so well.

With this album done as a side project and self funded the pressure was off and so the creative juices could flow. It is not the sort of album you could tour with "Funeral" gives us our first big riff and I can see elements of this album in all of his music from now onwards. Not so much as copying but he seems to really enjoy this music. "Regulator" sounds much like the first track, in no hurry to get anything done quickly. The last three tracks end the album in a similar way. Very minimalist, noises here and there. A small bit of guitar and an over dub there. The ending is like a journey and possibly the start of something new. As the album opens with a memorandum could it be an album in reverse? Is this a birth at the end?  What ever he was doing it is fantastic and an album that should be in any record collection. I once saw this album in the classical section of HMV (It was even printed on the barcode) it is not often a high street mass retailer get it right but if they sold one copy by mistake it was on good terms.

Released on his own label as Ocean Machine, Biomech the album was re released with Devin Townsend as the project name. Easily available from Amazon  and all good classical shops.

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