My CD Reviews!

[Deathstroke]

Two new reviews in my signature as of 10/3/07!

[Deathstroke]

SONATA ARCTICA
Unia
Nuclear Blast Records 2007

"The musical pace is definitely on the high energy fast paced side, but “The Harvest” and “Fly With The Black Swan” are the only songs that resonate with any signs of life. Otherwise the album comes off as some very bloodless, cold and antiseptic prog metal."

-- Jay Roberts

2 out of 5

[Deathstroke]

STARZ
Greatest Hits Live
MVD Entertainment Group 2007

"The live collection of the 70’s rockers greatest hits seems to capture the band in fine form. The CD is compiled from at least 3 different performances and while I found the sound to be adequate to mediocre, the quality of their material does seem to shine through.

While I wouldn’t put the band in my own personal Top 10 of 1970’s rockers, they are pretty good. I think it is a shame I wasn’t musically aware in the 70’s because I probably would have liked the band. They’ve got a lively and energetic sound tied to that particular era and it does keep the ears engaged, even during the first half of the disc where the quality of the recording isn’t even as good as some bootlegs I’ve listened to over the years.

The audio quality is the biggest problem I had with the entire disc. I think if you are going to reissue this type of album, you really need to make the sound more presentable than what a typical bootlegger could accomplish.

You want to check out tracks like “Detroit Girls”, “Any Way That You Want It”, and “Cherry Baby” in particular, but surprisingly at least to me, each song is pretty good.
If you like the 70’s rock era, you probably know of the band. You’ll definitely like this release. If you, like me, weren’t really into music when you were less than 10 years old, Greatest Hits Live provides a look back to a time when hard rock was in the infancy stage of what the genre has become today.
"
-- Jay Roberts

2 1/2 out of 5

[Deathstroke]

MY 2008 CD REVIEWS

Overkill - Immortalis
Squealer A.D. - Confrontation Street
Nightwish - Dark Passion Play
Winger - IV
Richie Kotzen - Return Of The Mother Head's Family Reunion
Robert Plant / Alison Krauss - Raising Sand
Queensryche - Take Cover
Warren Zevon - Preludes
Metallica - Death Magnetic
Sugarland - Love On The Inside
Marc Cohn - Join The Parade
Melissa Etheridge - The Awakening
American Angel - Vanity
Ramos ~ Hugo - The Dream
Indigo Dying - Indigo Dying


My review of the June 20th, 2008 Iron Maiden concert in Mansfield, MA is available via this link

[DonC]

You summed up my feelings about that perfectly.

[Deathstroke]

You summed up my feelings about that perfectly.

We're thinking alike? That can't be good for the world.

[Deathstroke]

GODHEAD
The Shadow Line
Cement Shoes Records 2006

"Godhead’s most recent disc finds the band in peak form. The lead track “Trapped In Your Lies” is a real attention grabber. It’s a classy and classic rocker for the future to come. You’ll also want to check out “Once Before”. The song is another fantastic example of what makes Godhead so good. The band has a superb handle on how to approach their songwriting and it shows throughout the album because other than “Another Day” which I didn’t think much of, the musicianship and lyrical content is top-notch. They can rock with the best and then bring out the more moderate tempo for tracks like “Your End Of Days”.
Godhead is a fantastic live act and The Shadow Line CD lives up to the standard set by their performances."

[Deathstroke]

Here's some brief reviews I've done lately:

MARC COHN
The Very Best of Marc Cohn
Rhino Records 2006
"While he may not be as prolific as his fans might hope for, this collection showcases exactly why he is considered such a gifted songwriter." - Thumbs Up

THOMPSON ROBINSON WILLIAMSON
Rivers of Paradise
Frontiers Records 2007
"The debut album from TRW features a superbly pedigreed trio of musicians that have recorded and played with notables such as Eric Clapton, Phil Collins, Steve Winwood and many more. The musicianship is without question. The members are big fans of classic rock and roll and the reverence they hold shines through.

The track “Gonna Be Some Changes” features some superb guitar work, “One Good Woman” holds up just fine under any critical scrutiny, and the song "Indiscretion” is a truly incredible recording. Sadly, for me at least, I found the rest of the material to be strictly adequate.

There was a bit of a flat feeling to tracks like “Only A Letter” and “Love Comes Calling.”I think that there is undoubtedly more to be heard from TRW, but right now, this just didn’t click for me fully." 2 1/2 out of 5


TRISHA YEARWOOD
Greatest Hits
MCA Nashville 2007
"The newest collection of one of country music’s brightest stars runs the gamut of her albums from first to last. All the big hits like “She’s In Love With The Boy”, “Wrong Side Of Memphis”, and “XXX’s And OOO’s (An American Girl}” are included in the 17 track set.

I was disappointed to see that they stuck to strictly the radio hits instead of including a couple of the more popular album cuts, but then again this is a hits collection and that normally implies radio success only. The two new cuts on the album “Just A Cup Of Coffee” and “Nothin’ To Lose” are both good songs. I wouldn’t necessarily included them among a best songs Yearwood has recorded, but they are good.

She has long been considered by this reviewer to be the premiere interpreter of other writer’s songs and I always lean towards her decision to record a song. This album, all in all, is a decent if relatively unspectacular package to encapsulate her career to date." 4 1/2 out of 5

CHANA ROTHMAN
We Can Rise
Oy!Hoo Records 2007
"The debut album from the folk slash singer-songwriter Chana Rothman finds the listener swept up in her quite obvious talent for melody. The lyrical content of the songs ranges from love to religion to social concerns. I’m not always a big fan of preachy type lyrics but when done right you can still hear an interesting viewpoint and be entertained musically. For the most part Rothman does the latter instead of the former.

I didn’t care for the plodding “One Stone” or the simply lacking “Draw A Circle” but I found myself really liking the rest of the album’s tracks. The song “Summer” is an outstanding combination of lyrics and music while “The Wind” has a slower paced delivery that echoes after the song ends. The very pointed “Walk A Mile” is probably the best example of the issue-oriented lyrics shining alongside with solid musicianship. In other words, a really good debut disc from a voice I’m sure we’ll hear more of in the future." 3 1/2 out of 5

[Deathstroke]

New Review in my signature as of 4/4/08!

[Deathstroke]

My latest review is of the latest Nightwish album.

Check out my signature.

[Deathstroke]

A new review is linked in my signature AND here's a new minireview:

GINA GERSHON
In Seach of Cleo
Takes the Biscuit 2007

"The actress turned singer-songwriter finds her debut disc filled with an array of alternative rock/pop songs and a few torch or cabaret type numbers as well.
The lead track is pure torch song. It’s a decent little way to open the disc. “Midnight Girl” is another good song, but the best track on this album has to be the bluesy stomp of “Marie”.

Sadly, while I’m sure there is an audience out there for this type of material, I am definitely not among that crowd. I found the rest of the songs rather ponderous and thunderously painful to listen to for review purposes.

I guess for me, I need a little more rock to go with the pop. Gershon is a good actress but I just can’t see her doing music full time if this album represents the best of the written material she has. She’s got a good voice, but you can’t make it on a good voice if there’s nothing to sing about."

1 out of 5

[Deathstroke]

New Review in my signature as of 6/6/08.

[Deathstroke]

A new CD review and a concert review are now posted in my signature as of 7/21/08.

[DonC]

It sucks that there were sound problems at the Maiden concert you went to.

[CoreyB]

Glad to hear you liked Robert Plant & Alison Krauss' Raising Sand. I've heard a song or two from it and was really impressed with the results of such an unlikely pairing. I'd like to get it eventually.