Dirty Rig
Rock Did It
(Escapi)Take three parts ass-kickin' rock and roll band, add one part explosive frontman, mix with songs that grab you by the balls and spice it up with a little New York City attitude and you get Dirty Rig. Kory Clarke joined the Rig after the ill-fated Warrior Soul reunion. Because of Kory's dynamic personality and Warrior Soul's image as well as Dirty Rig's own distinct image, as soon as the old Warrior Soul fans heard the news, the questions began...
But the Rig quickly proved there was no need for concern. Soon we were given the tracks "Suck It" and "Rock Did It." Kory fit right in with the band or, depending on your perspective, the band fit right in with Kory. The idea that Kory was going to ease up on the political front was put to rest with "Rock Did It" but at the same time there was no question that asses were soon to be kicked simply in the name of rock 'n' roll.
While we waited for the CD, we were given a third track.. "Dogs." And man did it ever kick ass! This quickly became my favorite of the three pre-release songs. But it still did not prepare me for the album...
From start to finish this CD rips. It opens with "Suck It" and gets you settled in with the comfort of this already familiar tune. Then comes "Drunk Again" which I was familiar with from some live DVDs I had seen as well as the fan site dirtyrigmilitia.com. Great song! Next comes "Just A Star." By this point I knew this CD was classic. The next two songs are "Dogs" and "Rock Did It." Then it's time for a deep breath and the rest of this killer CD...
"Hot Porno Star" is amazing. It also shows Kory and the band know how to get the audience's attention before making a point. This is the song that reminds us, Kory's words are wisdom. We must listen closely. Firing squad, indeed...
"Throw Down" fucking destroys. When I first heard it, I thought, this had to be the best song on the CD. But that was a little premature. Next is the new version of "Cities, Scenes & Thieves" which Kory originally did with Space Age Playboys. Now some Kory fans hated Space Age Playboys. I loved them. And this was their best song. But Dirty Rig guitarist Chas just makes this song his own and Kory';s vocals on it blows away the original. Wow! Next to last track is "If You See Kaye" which is probably my least favorite song on the CD. It still rules. Finally, we find the true best song on the CD... "Pennsyltucky." A headbanger for sure, it leaves you with only one option... start the CD over.
From the Kory fan point of view, this is Kory's best work since Salutations. From the Rig fan point of view, this blows the balls off Blood, Sweat & Beer. The first 10,000 copies include a DVD of live performances. You need to get one of the first 10,000. The live performance of "Cities, Scenes & Thieves" is the definitive version of this classic. God may still be sad, but He has to be a little happier now that Dirty Rig is here to save rock 'n' roll.
Drive-By Truckers
A Blessing And A Curse
(New West)Drive-By Truckers have been labelled by many as the best band in the world. Well, I don't quite agree with that but they may well be in the Top Ten. This is another great album of Southern rock of the Allman persuasion, sort of straying now and then into the jam band category, but always rooted in the heart of the South. The two tracks that grab me right away are "Gravity's Gone" and the closing track "A World Of Hurt" (which reminds me a lot of Cush's song "Annie"). There's not a bad track on the CD and I am sure that as with the Truckers other CDs more songs will grow on me to become what I consider classics. "Feb 14," "Goodbye," "Aftermath USA" and "Wednesday" are strong contenders. A great CD to put on at the end of the day.
Metal Church
A Light In The Dark
(SPV)Metal Church without David Wayne? It is hard for some to imagine, but I was always a huge fan of Metal Church when Mike Howe was singing. And though not quite in the same league as Wayne and Howe, Ronny Munroe does an impressive job. Actually, Kurdt Vanderhoof is actually the only original member remaining but then isn't he the one who matters most? Musically, this album is 100% pure metal. "Disappear" stands out immediately with "Beyond All Reason" and "Blinded By Life" also making strong impressions. Not a bad track on this beast, but personally I could have done without the remake of "Watch The Children Pray". I get it is a tribute to David, but I would have preferred either it not be done or done as an instrumental. It isn't really until you hear this track that you realize how sorely David Wayne is missed. A decent version but it cannot compare to the original. Still, overall, another winner from one of the Top 3 metal bands of all time. Looking forward to more!
My Chemical Romance
The Black Parade
(Reprise)I have never been one to care much for labeling a band's musical style. My Chemical Romance is a perfect example. Everyone tells me this band is an emo band and that emo bands suck. Then why are the bands that they remind me of along the lines of Pink Floyd, Queen, Alice Cooper, Mott The Hoople... even Foreigner and Cheap Trick... and they don't suck? As a matter of fact, this album is sitting pretty concretely as my #2 CD of 2006 with only Dirty Rig's mighty debut topping it. I would have never given the band a second look had I not seen them perform "Welcome To The Black Parade" on Saturday Night Live. Immediately the similarities to Queen and Floyd stand out on this track. I find it very difficult to include this band in the same category as Weezer. This is rock influenced by the classics you grew up on. Vocalist Gerard Way is a modern day superstar in the same class as Freddie Mercury, Mick Jagger and Robert Plant. I haven't heard anything else by these guys, but this album will without a doubt come to be considered a classic along the lines of The Wall and A Day At The Races. Best tracks include the Cheap Trick-meets- Electric Light Orchestra rouser "Dead!", the sonic piledriver "This Is How I Disappear", the Mott The Hoople-meets-The Kinks quirky rocker "Teenagers", The Foreigner-style pomp-rocker "Famous Last Words" and the made-for-70s-radio ballad "I Don't Love You". I will be checking out some of MCR's older releases and hope to see more music of this caliber. Call it "emo" or whatever you want... it rocks!
CLASSIC SPOTLIGHT!
Elton John
Madman Across The Water
(Rocket)I know what you are thinking... What is there to say about one of the greatest albums ever released? Well, there is a lot actually. Released at the very beginning of the 70s, this album really did not get the respect it deserved until years later when it came to be recognized as a classic. In reality, the album only has one flaw -- "Levon" is too perfect. It is so perfect that the rest of the album, as perfect as it is, pales in comparison. This was Elton, and yes, Bernie as well, at the peak of their genius. Every song should have been a hit. And yet, when you put the album on, you listen to "Tiny Dancer" and then there is "Levon"... then there is "Levon" again... and again... and again... Now I realize that what happened was the album was designed for vinyl. With vinyl, we were able to resist the urge to get hung up on "Levon" because of what was involved with getting up and moving the needle back. But now there are CDs and remote controls. And "Levon" again... and again... In retrospect, "Levon" probably should have closed the album but that would have made the original closer, "Goodbye" and odd track. So we live with things as they are. And Jesus still wants to go to Venus. And Levon... and Levon... and Levon...
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