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greg2112

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Everything posted by greg2112

  1. Damn right it is! Lamneth AND Necromancer both kick serious ass. I love Caress. In fact, I'd put these epics over Hemispheres imo..
  2. QUOTE (Presto-digitation @ Sep 14 2009, 08:28 PM) NOT A TRUE REVIEW HERE...just wanted to chime in with some impressions of the new record, so forgive my ramble and stylistic crudeness here. http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/61VWxHu9yUL._SL500_AA240_.jpg SONIC BOOM I'll be honest with you, I had serious trepidations. While there was no news like getting a new Kiss album for the first time in 11 years, I'd heard Gene's horrid solo album and Paul's 80s/90s amalgam, dripping with no less than three below-standard ballads. Tommy was copping Ace in look and sound; Eric was hamming it up as Peter Criss. The band had spent 11 years doing the nostalgia circuit, in and out of vintage costumes...and my fandom had never been more in the toilet. So I took news of this new album with a grain of salt. I mean, it all sounded nice didn't it? No ballads, all rockers...vintage instruments and analog recording...blah, blah. Oh yes, and this one sounds like classic 70s Kiss. We'd been hearing this since Asylum and laughably nothing from the 80s sounded anything remotely close to 70s Kiss. I wanted to believe, but I'd heard these kinds of boasts before and I worried another Crazy Nights might come out of Gene and Paul's twisted perception of "classic" Kiss. After two full and solid spins, I can't stop smiling. Yes, I know the songs are new and I'm having a bit of a contact high at the moment; that's a given. But what's resonating here is a spirit and an effort I've not heard from the band in a long time...and I'm a Psycho Circus apologist on the highest order. What we have here is a very fun album, with a unified spirit and sound that resonates with multiple listens and manages to touch on all of Kiss's varied eras; so the band isn't lying when they say "it sounds like..." There is indeed aspects of Rock And Roll Over, Dressed to Kill, Alive II's studio side and Love Gun. But there's also a bit of Revenge, Lick It Up, and Creatures Of The Night. There are also smatterings of Asylum and Crazy Nights. Yet strangely it all works together. I mean, look...Kiss has been around nearly 40 years, so it's easy to try to pigeon-hole these songs as "sounding like" because that's the natural inclination. But the common thread is that these songs are all fast-moving, raw-sounding rock and roll numbers...so we're not exactly mish-mashing all these eras sonically. Sonically the album is completely unified in this almost AC/DC style dryness and straight-foward approach. But this song might have a bit of a sing-songy chorus and this one might not. It's only in isolated elements do you really construct these parallels....Crazy Nights, Revenge, etc. Listening to the album straight through you lose track of these audio triggers because it all works together. It's really the body that works here, each song positively feeding the next with this infectious groove....each song relatively consistent in the quality department. Some key things stand out to me on these early listens. The production is top notch. The instrument separation is wonderful. The real winner here is the bass, which I dare say has never sounded so up front and grumbling. Clearly Gene has ditched the flatter muffled tones of the Punisher and employed the likes of a Fender Precision or some such gritty bass here. The bass lines literally snarl at you....and Gene's playing (esp. on Hot & Cold) will leave you grinning stupidly. I haven't heard this level of fluid bass lines and delicious slides, fills, and pops by Simmons since Revenge...and quite honestly on a song like Hot & Cold, the playing will remind you of when Gene actually played interesting bass lines on the first three Kiss albums. Tommy's soloing is often like a greatest hits of Ace's playing. You hear a bit of the classic She solo and a bit of this run or that selector switch toggling. A Kiss fan will easily identify these elements from this song or that live show...and yet it works quite well together in these new songs. He's clearly playing in Frehley's stylistic sand pile and that may or may not offend you, but it works. A few words about each song: Modern Day Deliah: We've covered it to death, but probably the second heaviest songs on the record and one of only a couple/three that really pull in the Revenge parallel. Russian Roulette: The song begins with a guitar/drum intro very reminiscent of Love's A Deadly Weapon, repeated twice then comes to a dead stop. Guitar chords ring in and Gene's bass does the filler work between chords. You think the bass stood out on MDD? Here it literally snarls. Gene's vocals are smooth and in a good key for him. Marks down for re-using "out of the frying pan and into the fire," but these lyrical issues are common...and not at all distracting. If you've listened to the clips you know the chorus, which is catchy....and after it a harmonized "a-ha, a-ha" chant takes you into the second verse. I like this part. It works well, vocally. Thayer's solo begins on a note bend and an ascension....seguing into some classic Ace pull-offs and a nod to the She solo. The song ends on a bit of feedback, ala COS. This song is quite strong. It'll grow on you quickly. It's a bit of a 70s/80s amalgam for Gene. His next two go down 70s alley big time and with a concerted effort. Never Enough: Starts with the "never enough" melody played out on guitar and then breaks into some sustained chords with some bass work by Gene that's very much like what you hear in I Pledge Allegiance ("gettin'more than my expectations"....bass line that follows). Paul's vocals are really solid in this one. Good register for him. The verses are definitely very Poison like. Very much Nothing But A Good Time, as reported. No doubt. But it works...and the song's pre-chorus quickly snaps your head out of that. After a few listens you won't think about it anymore because the songs rocks. Again, if you've heard the clips you know the catchy chorus. The bridge is heavier than the rest of the song, sounding a bit Revenge like. There's a harmonized guitar solo here in part of this. That's not been mentioned here. One of the least Ace-sounding solos of the lot. Paul has a bit of a throaty "never enouuuughhhhh" at the end, but it's nowhere near the reach that he tries on MDD. (For the record that is Paul's single worst vocal moment on the album, so if that doesn't bother you, nothing will here). Defintely 80s Paul here...and drawing sonic comparisons to other standards like Poison and Whitesnake. Yes I Know (Nobody's Perfect): This is probably my favorite song on the record. It's so authentically vintage Kiss you'll be collecting bugs in your teeth from the grin you'll be wearing. This song is so completely Dressed To Kill-meets-Rock And Roll Over...from the Chucky Berry-ish (slightly slower Getaway-type) riff to Gene's style of vocal melody. Seriously, it's as if the band unearthed an oldie, dusted it off and said "here!" The pre-chorus shout back "yes I know!" is classic '75 Kiss and Gene has fun in the chorus with the stuttered n-n-nobody's perfect....but baby I come awfully close. Just a great line...fun, well-delivered. Note the cowbell just before the chorus kicks in. The solo by Tommy is very Ace ala Love Em and Leave Em, both stylistically and sonically. This song is so f***ing ten kinds of bad ass. It's EASILY (!) the most retro sounding Kiss song since Love Gun. Nothing even comes close. The boys are having a blast and so will you. I'm truly and idiot lost in this tune. When Gene claims, yeah, it sounds retro...it's here that the root of that boast is found. Stand: I liked this appreciably more on my second and third listen. It was my immediate least favorite on the initial spin, this traded anthem between Gene & Paul. I think the weird thing is that the melody of the pre-chorus and chorus actually slow down from the verses with sustained chords and so it plays with your logic and ear some. The bridge heavies up the song some. Really nice harmonies in the bridge and the little mini solo just freakin' pops right out of this part quite well. Things really slow down (way down) for this harmonized break that sounds like a combination of the slow part of God Gave R&R and the "wake up baby" portion of I Just Wanna. The chorus that emerges afterwards is very slow and accented by Tommy's guitar fills between vocals, slowly picking up the tempo as it approaches the end. The harmonies in the repeated end chorus are pretty damn amazing. Ends with bluesy little guitar descent by Thayer. It's a grower. It didn't impress me at first, but I quite like it now. It's the closest to "ballad" the band comes. Hot & Cold: Begins like and AC/DC number, riff wise, then segues into a '78 album like tune with a fluid and impressive bass line from Gene. f**k the riff...it's his playing here that moves the song and gives it its under-current. The chorus was evident in the clip, accented by the cow bell. Thayer's solo after the second chorus is really nice Ace work....with some tasty toggle work. Arguably the best solo on the album. Coming out of the solo we segue into a brief (perhaps TOO brief) acoustic part with some nice Gene vocals (Tower of power lyric) taken down before punching back into the chorus. While brief it's a tasty and well-placed break. Paul is very evident in Gene's chorus here, especially towards the very end. Very solid song with clearly some retro things happening. And regardless, it's just a well constructed and aggressive little rock and roll number. The title is trite and dumber than dirt, but again it works...and I dare you not to hum it. All For The Glory: Eric really shines here vocally on this almost Psycho Circus-like song, with the big preachy chorus. His verses have an almost smokey scratch to them, the chorus you've already heard. Tommy has some nice guitar infills in the spaces during the verses which help fill the song in the sustained lulls. Thayer's solo here is really quite good and very C'mon And Love Me in flavor and execution to start, mixed with a bit of Escape From The Island towards the middle. There's a musical drop out before the final chorus segue and mostly you hear the CHANT of the chorus as the energy and drive before the music punches back in. Good song, although overall it might be my second to or perhaps my least favorite. All things considered that's hardly an insult. Danger Us: Here's a song that sells itself wayyy short in the clips. The song begins with some slow plucked notes that stall and then repeat....(ala AC/DC) before jumping into the driving riff and Singer beat. The verses are the best part of this song, easily. There's DEFINITELY some All American Man riffing going on as we enter pre-chorus range, so there's a definite 70s kick to this Paul tune...perhaps his most retro song on the album. The chorus is still kind of dumb, but I still like to think of it as "dangerous" because that's how it sounds. Paul's vocals are spot on here though...raspy from his limits but sounding edgy instead of thin. Thayer's solo is quite good here...and again, in contention for his best work on the album along with the couple others mentioned. He has an additional outro solo that's tasty too. Really this song is better than it should be based on the title and what we heard. A bonafide contender for most surprising tune. I'm An Animal: This song is a f***ing bad ass beast, part Unholy, part War Machine, a little bit Almost Human, and a smidgen of Not For The Innocent...all of which equals a song you'll rank amongst them with time. Easily the meanest and heaviest tune on the album....classic God Of Thunder style Gene here, singing solidly (LIU style) over a driving Revenge-era riff (still with the rawer stripped down production). The chorus, which you've heard, is killer. Thayer bends some notes around before we head back into a double vocal tracked second verse (two Genes). The solo area is where the song really harkens back to Love Gun and the Almost Human comparisons a bit...while the rest has a COTN/LIU lumber to it. The ending of the song is very much an Unholy type scream....which is punctuated and accented by two beats of the riff to end the tune with an exclamation point. One of my favorites on the whole album. This song is killer on loud volumes. When Lightning Strikes: Cow bell city to start the tune, the song sounds like something Ace would do...stylistically in the verses...just with a different voice. The chorus is more Gene style, writing wise. Thayer's vocals are solid here. It may be the single best vocal performance on the entire album...honest to God. Honestly the song also sounds to me like something Eric Carr might've written for Kiss and the choral harmonies/melodies remind me of Carr. The solo here is the bag of tricks...pull offs and ascensions, etc. Solid song for sure and much better than I thought it'd be. The title's generic but the song pushes beyond the cliche and is catchy as hell. Say Yeah: Whoa...! This was different than I expected based on the chorus. The verses are very moody where the chorus is a bit more anthemic...as many of you have heard. Sounds like one of the more killer tunes from Live To Win, like Lift...for instance...somehow magically mixed with some of 78 Paul solo album material. There's definitely a Tears Are Falling feel to the chugging riff under the vocal, but the verses here are darker and a bit less poppy than on Tears. The bridge is a bit light but then heads into a really nice Thayer solo -- doubled/harmonized in places -- and only somewhat reminiscent of Ace...and only towards the end. After the solo there's a lovely 12-string break for about 10 seconds before launching big time back into the chorus. Very solid song that lives up to its billing. As far as the three "anthems" on the album go (All For The Glory; Stand), this one is the best of the lot.... What can I say. A very, very consistent album. Some cheese, but far less than the clips suggest...and, thusly, more balls as well. Gene is the man of the match here. I don't dislike any of the songs, but Gene really gets the nod for delivering the goods....from 70s sexy Gene riffs/melodies all the way to his more demonic side, he shows up this time for sure, songwriting wise, vocally and -- in the most wonderful surprise -- a return to bass playing form as well. Clearly this is going to take many, many more listens...and I'm sure my mind will shift about and finds pleasures I don't yet realize and grow tired of some things that are tickling me right at the moment. But on listend #3 now, this is a seriously good, focused, and concise BAND effort. It's the Kiss album you've been waiting for....even if you didn't realize it. Grade: A Now you have me really excited about this album. And any record that has Revenge and Roll and Roll Over influences has to be pretty damn good! Cant wait for the release.
  3. Yo la tengo -- this week U2 -- end of the month Dark Star Orchestra, AC/DC -- Oct Metallica (MSG), Kiss -- Nov ...All in DC, 'cept Metallica.
  4. ok, im embarassed to say this, but Im JUST REALIZING that the album is coming out next week. Wow, a new PT album for the Fall. It doesnt get better than that. FANTASTIC. Apologies if this has been posted already, but whats the early word about it?
  5. QUOTE (Gompers @ Sep 12 2009, 10:16 AM) QUOTE (tangy @ Sep 12 2009, 10:33 AM) QUOTE (greg2112 @ Sep 12 2009, 09:20 AM) What a great band. Saw them for the first time on the Deadwing tour (love In Absentia but THIS is their masterpiece!) at a small club in DC and they were incredible. Gavin blew me away. Are you saying Deadwing is their masterpiece? If so I agree! I also also saw PT in a small club ( less than a 1,000) and Gavin blew me away too! I can't wait to hear the new disc. Their best CD is In Absentia, IMO. Diverse and dynamic. Don't get me wrong, I love In Absentia as well, but Deadwing is the first PT album I bought and it really blows me away top to bottom. I like the songs a bit better than the former.
  6. What a great band. Saw them for the first time on the Deadwing tour (love In Absentia but THIS is their masterpiece!) at a small club in DC and they were incredible. Gavin blew me away.
  7. QUOTE (Presto-digitation @ Apr 26 2009, 05:57 PM) QUOTE (Steevo @ Apr 26 2009, 05:18 PM) QUOTE (nappy2112 @ Apr 27 2009, 12:46 AM)hate them both..........next. Know nuttin about The Elder. Dont bother going past Unmasked either, it's all shite after that. That's simply not true... HAVE YOU EVER HEARD REVENGE?!?!?!?
  8. QUOTE (Hatchetaxe&saw @ Sep 10 2009, 09:53 AM) I sat into the car and unwrapped Magical Mystery Tour. Onto track 8, Strawberry Fields Forever. The Mellotron at the start, OK, nothing to get hung about. Then "DRAAANNNG!!!" Like a panther out of the dark! Oh my dear God, it's a different song. The clarity, the space for everything to breathe. And Ringo. Anyone who says he can't drum is an utter cock. The goose pimples were still on my arms when I got home. The chicken poxers are being placated by Mickey Mouse's Playhouse. I'm in the music room now and Please Please Me is on. Everything is clear, the harmonies on Ask Me Why, oh man. Immense. Now I'm getting excited!!!
  9. I just ordered the stereo remasters from amazon. theyre saying Ill get it sometime btwn 9/30 and 10/6. This thing is huge, justifiably so.
  10. greg2112

    Fear

    QUOTE (Mustard Death @ Jan 6 2006, 02:33 PM) I believe it should be called the Fear tetralogy... The Enemy Within and The Weapon are the best, I think, so you should check them out... They ARE the best, by far...
  11. I don't know how this thread fits in a Rush message board, but as both a rush fan and a deadhead, I'll respond. I love them both. However, they couldnt be more different musically, lyrically or stylistically. A total apples and oranges proposition. A better comparison would be Rush or Yes, or something like that...
  12. Beautiful! My personal favorite is Neil's Signals candy-apple Tama red set. Wonder where that is now..
  13. Just checked mine, Subdivisions is perched atop at 50. I was surprised that 4 out of my top 10 were S+A songs. I must've played that thing to death the first few months of its release, cause I cant remember when I last time I put it on.
  14. greg2112

    Fear

    QUOTE (o baterista @ Sep 13 2007, 09:40 AM) QUOTE (Snowdog @ Jan 6 2006, 04:11 PM) QUOTE (Mustard Death @ Jan 6 2006, 02:33 PM) I believe it should be called the Fear tetralogy... The Enemy Within and The Weapon are the best, I think, so you should check them out... The Weapon! Now there's a song they should pull out of the vault for the next tour! And have Count Floyd introduce......with 3d glasses... GOD, I WOULD FREAK IF THEY BROKE OUT THE OLD COUNT FLOYD VIDEO AND PLAYED THAT ON THE NEXT TOUR!!! (sorry, got a bit excited there...)
  15. VERY tough one, btwn yyz and la villa, but im going with yyz
  16. While Exit Stage Left holds great memories for me, Im picking ATWAS. The raw sound and energy puts this one above all others in my view. I probably listen to this more than any other rush record these days.
  17. SIGNALS, period. My favorite album by not only Rush, but any band. The best.
  18. The hardest of all the albums for me, as its my runaway favorite and I love it all. But it has to be Subdivisions, the song that started it all.
  19. I love this album, tough decision, but I like Workin them Angels the best
  20. I cant stand Feedback, but if i had to choose its Summertime Blues.
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