Todem

On 4/15/2024 at 7:10 AM, zepphead said:

I haven't listened to it yet but if he is note for note on all instrumentation and vocals do I really need to bother?

I appreciate this guys incredible talent to play every single note of every instrument and capture the same sonic quality. 

 

It’s quite amazing. 

 

If that kinda thing does not tingle yer toes......then no....you don’t need to bother LOL. 

Eh......like Nirvana......eh.....far more hype than bite for me. 

 

To each his/her own. 

On 3/29/2024 at 12:51 AM, taurus said:

I like Dynasty, it was a perfect follow-up to the 4 solo records. Dirt Livin' is batter than anything found on that dreadful Peter Criss solo record. I don't think of Dynasty as an underrated record. It had a massive hit on it and Kiss was still at the tail end of their massive popularity era. The Elder is the album I think of as under-rated. Ignored by radio, not sure they even toured with that record. That Unmasked stinker is easily my least favorite KISS album from the original line-up maybe overall, but there are a few albums post make-up era that I've never heard (Carnival of Souls/Monster/Sonic Boom).

 

Overrated Kiss albums to me are Love Gun and Rock and Roll Over. Massively popular records at the time, I think still regarded as great KISS records by their Army, but I would have to drop half the songs from each to make a really good single album from the both of them

 

Rock and Roll Over/Love Gun Compilation

Side One

I Want You

Take Me

Calling Doctor Love

Mr. Speed

Makin' Love

 

Side Two

I Stole Your Love

Shock Me

Love Gun

Almost Human

Plaster Caster

 

there, that's a pretty decent Kiss record - and no Peter Criss songs, so Peter would have been plenty pissed

Kiss was notorious for “filler” tunes throughout their discography. 

 

 

Eddie’s Coming Out Tonight

 

Rumors In The Air

 

Let Him Run

 

Goodbye

On 1/28/2024 at 12:53 PM, XanaduSuperConductor said:

I always think of Unmasked as Dynasty's kid brother and has some good tunes on it to my mind - easy as it seems and she's so european and fun listens to name a couple. (Plus it probably has one of if not the best cover of all Kiss's albums!)

Ok it Dynasty has the 2 biggies in 'I was made..' and 'Sure know something' plus 'hard times' but I'm can't remember the rest of the album being as engaging. 

 

Still both worth a listen if you have a passing interest in KISS (whether Ace was involved in them or not!).

 

Now I'm off to listen to that other underrated gem 'The Elder'.......

 

On 1/29/2024 at 6:56 PM, GeddyLeeRoth said:

I actually consider Dynasty to be the last true KISS Klassic. Most think of the debut through Love Gun as their classic run, but Dynasty is just as good if not better than a couple of the first six albums in my book. 

 

I generally agree with these sentiments. 

 

I really like Dynasty. A lot of strong material indeed. Yeah it is certainly a lot more in the AOR genre but a lot of Kiss’s later stuff evolved to that in that 3 album run. 

 

Unmasked.....I finally after 40 year revisited this album.....and yeah there are some very catchy songs on here. It’s not a great Kiss album by any means.....but it has some high quality hooks and is a clear departure from the first 6 albums. 

 

Music from The Elder also has some solid to good redeeming qualities. They tried.....they really tried a true concept album and from everything I read were also going to make a movie to accompany the album. Well that fizzled LOL. 

 

This was a a huge transition period for the band. I mean they clearly lost their way in terms of what their hardcore fan base wanted.....but dare I say they actually tried to be a “progressive pop rock band” on that 3 album run? Yeah you can say that.

 

For the record here are my personal rankings of the Kiss albums from the Make-up era and let’s be real the best era of Kiss.

 

1. Kiss Alive

2. Kiss Alive II 

 

Those two albums are simply the best......they are a live band (they have never been a studio band) and yes they did plenty of studio clean up and it sounds like some canned crowd screaming.......but shit...these are the best albums that when I want Kiss.....these are the 2 go to albums. 

 

So here are the Studio rankings

 

1. Destroyer

2. Rock n Roll All Over

3. Love Gun

4. Dynasty

5. Dressed To Kill

6. Kiss

7. Creatures of the Night

8. Hotter Than Hell

9. Music From The Elder

10. Unmasked

 

I could throw in th solo albums of 1978......Paul Stanley was my fave and would slot right in after Kiss self titled and then Ace’s record right after it. I could care less about Gene’s and Peter’s.

New Black Crowes album.

 

A stinker. 

1991

Ten - Pearl Jam

Achtung Baby - U2

Temple of the Dog - Temple of the Dog

Roll the Bones - Rush

Slave to the Grind - Skid Row

F.U.C.K - Van Halen

 

1992

Core - Stone Temple Pilots

Images and Words - Dream Theater

The Southern Harmony and Musical Companion - The Black Crowes

 

1993

Counterparts - Rush

Ten Summoners Tales - Sting

Vs - Pearl Jam

 

1994

Amorica - The Black Crowes

Superunknown - Soundgarden

Grace - Jeff Buckley

Purple - Stone Temple Pilots

 

1995

The Bends - Radiohead

Soup - Blind Melon

A Change of Seasons - Dream Theater

 

1996

Down on the Upside - Soundgarden

Tiny Music....Songs From The Vatican Gift Shop = Stone Temple Pilots

Crash - Dave Matthews Band

Test For Echo - Rush

 

1997

O.K Computer - Radiohead

The Color and the Shape - Foo Fighters

The BBC Sessions - Led Zeppelin 

 

1998

Yield - Pearl Jam

Before These Crowded Streets - Dave Matthews Band

 

1999

There is Nothing Left To Lose - Foo Fighters

Make Yourself - Incubus

Metropolis Scenes From A Memory Pt2 - Dream Theater 

The Distance To Hear - Live

 

2000

Brave New World - Iron Maiden

All That You Can Leave Behind - U2

Parachutes - Coldplay

 

2001

Blackwater Park - Opeth

Morning View - Incubus

Lateralus - Tool

 

 

 

 

1980

Permanent Waves - Rush

Back In Black - AC/DC

Heaven and Hell - Black Sabbath

 

1981

Moving Pictures - Rush

Escape - Journey

Fair Warning - Van Halen 

 

1982

Signals - Rush

Diver Down - Van Halen

Thriller - Michael Jackson

 

1983

Pyromania - Def Leppard 

Piece of Mind - Iron Maiden

Holy Diver - Dio

 

1984

Grace Under Pressure - Rush

Powerslave - Iron Maiden

The Last In Line - Dio

 

1985

Power Windows - Rush

Play Deep - The Outfield

Seven Wishes - Night Ranger

 

1986

5150 - Van Halen

The Ultimate Sin - Ozzy

Somewhere in Time - Iron Maiden

 

1987

Whitesnake - Whitesnake

Hold Your Fire - Rush

The Joshua Tree - U2

 

1988

OU812 - Van Halen

Operation Mindcrime - Queensryche

Seventh Son of a Seventh Son - Iron Maiden

Vivid - Living Color

 

1989

Disintegration - The Cure

Presto - Rush

Gretchen Goes to Nebraska - Kings X

Dr Feelgood - Motley Crue

 

1990

Ritual de lo Habitual - Janes Addiction

Empire - Queensryche

Faith Hope Love - Kings X

 

 

 

 

 

I can’t see an Official PT thread.

 

So......the new live album from the C/C Tour is insane amazing. A sonic feast. Wow what a set list. 

On 12/22/2023 at 8:11 AM, Relayer2112 said:

They do have more detail than Geddy's book, which is why I was disappointed.  The detail those books provide is more about technical details such as the production and engineering.  I know that those tasks are extremely important to the end product.  I'm just more interested in the inspiration behind the bass line or riff or drum pattern that was the seed.

 

I think the only thing I get out of Geddy's book regarding this is that he and Alex evidently wrote a lot of their earlier songs on acoustic guitars and that "Making Memories" was written in the back of a station wagon.  How Geddy remembers that, but can't remember that they had played "Jacob's Ladder" in concert prior to R40, I'll never know.  

Being a fellow musician myself.....Geddy and Alex have clearly explained their process many times.

 

They jam together......they record their jams, they get the lyrics from Neil, they then start going through all their jam sessions pulling great riffs and piecing together phrases and parts, and eventually come up with their songs. They have written many many songs prior to Power Windows in sound checks on tour. After Grace Under Pressure they really started to pre-produce their stuff and do elaborate demos. Success affords you that luxury. 

 

As far as the seed? Whatever was going on around them in the rock world at that time was their inspiration......and they would then put their own spin on it and of course Rush had their own sound. But you can hear all their influences thru every phase of the band. Most rock bands wear their influences on their sleeves.

 

It’s really not complicated as far as their song writing process. 

 

As far as the book......I thought everything up thru Hold Your Fire was outstanding. I loved hearing about his childhood, his parents, his early days before Rush and then the early days of Rush. It was great. Really insightful into his personality and his role within the band. Once we get into the Rupert Hine records and the second go around with Peter Collins.....we have heard all of this a lot in the internet era. Also Vapor Trail and beyond is welp documented in interviews etc.

 

The real mysteries of Rush was the pre internet days. And that was the meat and potatoes of Geddy’s story for my taste. 

 

But overall it was a damn great read......and the audible book made it even better. He did a great job reading the book......it flew by for me. 

 

As far as the Woe is Me stuff......it did not rub me wrong at all. Everyone goes thru terrible loss in their lives.....some are able to deal with it better than others. They “earned” their way to deal with it. I mean these guys starved for their art and “made it"

 

Does that make them less human? Does that make them have less trauma from the loss of loved ones? God no. 

 

How dare anyone be judgmental of people who suffer the loss of loved ones and have the ability to travel across the world to work out their problems (Neil Ghost Rider) because.....man they f***ing earned it. Success was not handed to them. 

 

I don’t get that working man BS attitude towards people with wealth somehow suffer less when they have dramatic events in their lives. Thats bullshit. 

 

 

The more electronic focused songs have grown on me the more I listen to the album front to back as a listening experience. 

 

Still.....ranks 3rd for his solo work.....but an audio feast on vinyl on a great system. 

A trip down memory lane. I am sure it will be good for one watch. 

 

Nothing tops the original. Part 2 was a good sequel when mot sequels stink.

 

Part 3 is an abomination money grab by a fading Eddie Murphy before he found a second life doing family movies.

 

I hope this is raunchy like the OG. And not a PC mess.  

On 12/9/2023 at 11:30 AM, capoetc said:

 

For the record, I NEVER left a Rush show early.  

 

I always stayed until the last note stopped ringing in the venue, the house lights came up, and then I usually hung out and chatted with other fans for 20-30 minutes.  

Stardate:

 

February 1988

 

Location:

 

Hollywood Sportatorium 

 

Event:

 

Rush Hold Your Fire Tour

 

My girlfriend and I somehow got into a huge argument after Rush finished their set but still had not come out for the encore Medley etc. 

 

She was being insane......so much so she said let’s f***ing go.....I told her “f**k no” I don’t leave Rush early......ever. She stormed off without me.

 

I knew she would wait at the exit.......f**k her. 

 

I jammed out till the very last note. 

 

We ended up breaking up in 1991.......which was great. I did not take her to the Presto Tour in 1990 after that debacle.....and we ended our wild relationsip in time so I would never have to deal with that shit again and I went on to enjoy the RTB tour in Feb 1992. 

 

Don’t f**k with my music happiness. 

I am now at R30.........I have really enjoyed Ged’s reading. So good. 

 

He even mentioned the book had to be pared down. So much to cover. 

 

 

Tunes are very solid. Enjoyed them.

On the Mount Rushmore of Prog Rock Guitarists. 

 

Period.

Never enjoyed that tune.

 

Quite fitting.

They can call it Jelly Fart Featuring Alex Lifeson and Geddy Lee.

 

I will be there. 

Why not......no particular order.

 

 

Red Barchetta 

Subdivisions

Marathon

Jacobs Ladder (ESL version)

Natural Science

Broons Bane/The Trees/Xanadu Suite (ESL)

The Spirit of Radio

Red Sector A

Mission

La Villa Strangiato (ESL version)

I am at the AFTK Tour......the audio book is incredibly awesome. 

On 11/16/2023 at 2:50 PM, That One Guy said:

Even with the honeymoon period having worn off, this album still hits really hard for me. I like it much more than TTB and TFB, and I'm pretty sure I also like it more than Porcupine Tree's C/C.

 

It's a joy, and I think I'll be buying it as my first vinyl record.

That is a big negative for me.....no way. 

 

It’s a good SW album......and I had initially thought he was going back to that Raven/HCE style when he released a couple of tracks before the release. But this is more a mash up of his last 3 albums......a tad too much electronica for my tastes on half the tracks. 

 

Solid...absolutely.....and far better than his last album which was a stinker. Still a distant 3rd for me to The Raven that Refused To Sing and Hand Cannot Erase. 

 

The new PT album smokes this. 

Watching Summer Nights......yeah no. 

 

I wil keep my memories of the 5150/OU812/F.U.C.K. tours. 

 

These guys are way too old......and with all due respect to Satch who is a great player.......VH does not suit his playing nor tone. It’s just not good. 

54 minutes ago, snowdog2112 said:

No offense but I will never understand people who are members of a forum dedicated to some particular passion and they insist on making clear they how bored and uninterested they are all the time. It's not enough to ignore what they don't care about, they want people to know that they're dismissive about it. There's a guy on a football board that I follow and most of his contributions are things like "I wouldn't go back for a game if I had a free ticket" and such. Every win is met with silence and every loss is met with bitter mockery by this person who claims to be a long-time fan and says he went to this university.

 

There are a million things I don't care about, but I don't spend my time on those forums interacting with people who do care. It just seems like a such a waste of time if you're that jaded. I mean, wouldn't a person rather be on a forum about some topic where they can say "Wow, I didn't even know about this but I'll check it out!" instead? But hey, whatever people choose to do with their own time is fine..

Who are these people?

 

Oh yeah......Trolls. 

2 hours ago, Rush Didact said:

 

That's a bizarre attitude. It's an enjoyable and entertaining read even if you AREN'T a Rush fan. For a fan, I consider it essential.

On Chapter 6 and it’s a fantastic read. I have th audible versions going and love it on my daily commute. Also bought the hardcover of course. 

 

I am enjoying this better than any of Neil’s books.....actually far more. 

84......my god. I saw her with Starship open for Night Ranger in 1985.....making me feel old as shit too.....but wow.....84.