Odds and Ends

Each week I use this space to post some mini-reviews, cool tracks, random thoughts, neat news, or whatever else I damn well please.

MiniReview

House of Lords “Big Money” - House of Lords debuted in 1989 with the release of the self-titled album, a record which is still regarded as one of the best arena rock releases of the 80s, up there with frontrunners like Whitesnake, Deep Purple, and Van Halen. The band has a varied and spotty catalogue ever since, with frequent lineup changes and oscillating musical styles to match. Some releases are downright catchy arena rock whereas others are less melodious prog rock. This month the band will add “Big Money” to its discography, which feels like a blend of their mixed melodic and prog rock past. The trademark vocals of James Christian sound finer than ever, and he is surrounded by updated guitar sounds and pounding beats. James teamed up again on the songwriting with long-time friend and partner Mark Baker along with the other band members Jimi Bell and BJ Zampa for this release. While “Big Money” rocks through and through, several of the tunes are overly long and burdened with less than compelling riffs. Standouts include “First To Cry”, “The Next Time I Hold You”, “Run For Your Life”, and “Once Twice”. More info on House of Lords can be found here.

Surprise of the week
Motley Crue guitarist Mick Mars is recording with latest American Idol winner James Durbin. Get the scoop here.

News
R.E.M. has broken up. Hard to believe…read about it from the band member’s perspectives here.

New “best of” collection coming from Paul Simon October 24. Details and track listing here.

Get a taste of the Lou Reed and Metallica project, “Lulu” here. It’s only 30 seconds, but confirms my worst fears about this collaboration.

Love this article at Popdose about Survivor’s underrated ballad “Ever Since The World Began” (video below).

INXS have sacked their singer JD Fortune for the second time. Story here.

Where are they now? Colin Hay (Men At Work) released a new video. Check it out here.

Toto collides with Survivor – Kimball Jamison. Debut video!


Random iPOD song of the week
Survivor “Ever Since The World Began” from the album “Eye of the Tiger”


Reminder: we’re now on Twitter! Follow us for even more updates, news, and reviews!

Review: Sixx A.M. “This Is Gonna Hurt”

Modern rock
Sixx A.M. is the moniker for a side project of the infamous Motley Crue bassist Nikki Sixx. Rounded out by James Michael and Dj Ashba, this hard-hitting trio made quite the impression with 2007’s “The Heroin Diaries Soundtrack”, based on the Sixx’s bestselling book. Building off this success, thanks in no small part to the rock album hit “Life Is Beautiful”, the boys are back with a sequel of sorts. The music on their sophomore release is the soundtrack to a new book by Sixx called “This Is Gonna Hurt: Music, Photography and Life Through the Distorted Lens of Nikki Sixx”.

“This Is Gonna Hurt” is a modern rock extravaganza. Sixx A.M. blazes through your speakers with all the vigor of a young band starving for success – the energy is absolutely contagious. This is one powerhouse of a record that is going to hurt your mother’s ears like any rock record worth its salt should. Things kick off with the title track, a blistering modern rocker that introduces some dark, near-Goth elements among the slick melodic riffs. First single, “Lies Of The Beautiful People” features a hugely addictive chorus that rises like a Phoenix from the industrial verses. “Are You With Me Now” is even more commercial, and I can’t for the life of me figure out why this isn’t all over radio. “Live Forever” is another cool track, made remarkable thanks to its interesting chord changes and irresistible riffage in the verses. The stomping verses of “Deadlihood” march their way right into another arena-ready chorus. As if things couldn’t get better, along comes the infectious rhythm of “Help Is On The Way”. And is just me, or does “Goodbye My Friends” sound like Radiohead reborn as a rock band once again?

If there’s anything that doesn’t work well it’s the ballads – the sappiness in the lyrics just sticks out like a severed thumb. “Sure Feels Right” is tolerable, but avoid “Smile”. But don’t let these minor diversions deter you from this record.

There is no reason in the world why Sixx A.M. shouldn’t be right up there with Shinedown or Three Days Grace in the pantheon of modern rock gods. Sixx A.M. is easily the best side project from any member of Motley Crue.

iPOD-worthy: 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 8, 10

Sixx A.M. – Official site.

Listen to “Lies Of The Beautiful People”

Classic melodic rock CD of the week

By Stephen Kasenda

MOTLEY CRUE "Shout At The Devil" (1983)

"Shout At The Devil" was the sophomore release by Motley Crue, following their punk/glam-inspried debut "Too Fast For Love". “Shout At The Devil” boosted their name to the sky, and introduced a heavier and darker side of the band. This highly anticipated record thrust their name to stardom when it was released in 1983, on the strength of the mystical anthem, "Shout At The Devil" and the fierce groove of "Looks That Kill". At that time, Nikki Sixx was deeply drawn to books about black magic and the occult, giving him the idea for the pentagram art and the album’s title. But after weird things began to happen around their house, he was spooked and dropped the Satanic ideas, moving on to his expertise - sex, drugs, and violence.

While their later release, "Dr. Feelgood", was their most successful creation, racking up six platinum stars and also being my big favorite, "Shout" - in my opinion - should be considered their magnum opus. Crue showed their true identity with the raw rampaging riffs and the bad attitude, constructing a perfect combination of shock rock, glam, and heavy metal. Listen to the fast-paced adrenaline-pumper "Red Hot" and "Bastard", the catchy "Too Young To Fall In Love", or the magnificent rendition of Beatles' "Helter Skelter", you'll know how Motley Crue shaped the decade. Great entertainment!

Read more of Stephen’s features at MetalMusicArchives.

Interview: Pearl

Check out my interview with Pearl now posted at Rock and Roll Report!

"Pearl Aday, the daughter of rock legend Meat Loaf, has been embedded in the music scene all of her life. She’s napped in guitar cases as a baby and grew up singing back-up for her father from 1994 to 2003, and also sang with the boys in Motley Crue. Now married to Anthrax guitarist Scott Ian, she has struck out with her debut record, “Little Immaculate White Fox”. Pearl recently entertained a few of our questions…

Q: It might seem obvious, as the daughter of a rock icon, that you were destined to write and perform music, but was there a defining moment in your life when you realized that you were indeed a “rock child”?"

Read the full interview here.

And in case you missed my review of Pearl's debut CD, you can read that here.