Friday, May 13, 2005
STYX
BIG BANG THEORY
So many artists are doing it; recording old songs and doing it well.
Then, there's the new Styx CD. If you read no further, you owe it to yourself to hear the original of any of these songs, that might be unfamiliar to you. If you are a music fan, there can only be a few of these on this collection.
See, it's called "Classic Rock" for a reason; the songs are classics. Styx took a gamble and lost. I paid $10 (US) for it; don't you pay more even if you are a huge fan.
I can only do it song by song.
In no particular order:
"Find the Cost of Freedom" is a simple yet brilliant piece; please hear the 4 WAY STREET version by Crosby Stills Nash and Young. The original features a beautiful dual acoustic guitar intro by Stills and Young, and one go-round of the vocals of all 4 guys, followed by a reprise of the same lyrics without instruments. I've had the opportunity to hear it done live twice by CNSY and multiple times by CSN.
The Styx version simply stums a few chords underneath while the lyrics are sung twice. No dynamic change, no heart felt pause, no intro. In short, a dud version of a great tune.
"I am the Walrus" a live cut by Styx; nice performance, I bet in concert it does work...but on my 2nd listen, I am already tired of this one.
"I Can See For Miles," well...it's so very close to the original Who version, why bother.
"I Don't Need No Doctor" is actually a nice cut, well done. The problem is, it's so similar to the original (by Humble Pie) and actually inferior to the Peter Frampton (from LIVE IN DETROIT) version, it's a waste of time.
"Locomotive Breath," see "Doctor" above; good song, good performance, just a basic re-do of the original with latest technology, ugh!
"Blue Collar Man @2120" is a real hoot. It's Styx re-doing Styx. Nice job if you are watching "MTV Unplugged," but otherwise meaningless except for real fans of the band.
All the rest, well save time and ten bucks, and borrow the originals, you can't go wrong.
Bottom Line: 1/5 stars, sorry guys...I loved all your other "original" work...
Before I go:
You need not fear all re-make albums. A few I've liked alot in recent years include--
TAPESTRY (Carole King's masterpiece) featuring Rod Stewart and many others.
COVERAGE (Mandy Moore); she makes the songs her own, brilliant new arrangements especially of Blondie's "Call Me" and also "Have a Little Faith in Me" is better than any other version I have heard (including Joe Cocker's).
PRINCE OF DARKNESS (Ozzy Osborne)...you just have to pony up for 3 other CDs with this set of covers...very expensive to finance a ten song set (on CD #4)...more on this set later, I promise....
Zeph, out
BIG BANG THEORY
So many artists are doing it; recording old songs and doing it well.
Then, there's the new Styx CD. If you read no further, you owe it to yourself to hear the original of any of these songs, that might be unfamiliar to you. If you are a music fan, there can only be a few of these on this collection.
See, it's called "Classic Rock" for a reason; the songs are classics. Styx took a gamble and lost. I paid $10 (US) for it; don't you pay more even if you are a huge fan.
I can only do it song by song.
In no particular order:
"Find the Cost of Freedom" is a simple yet brilliant piece; please hear the 4 WAY STREET version by Crosby Stills Nash and Young. The original features a beautiful dual acoustic guitar intro by Stills and Young, and one go-round of the vocals of all 4 guys, followed by a reprise of the same lyrics without instruments. I've had the opportunity to hear it done live twice by CNSY and multiple times by CSN.
The Styx version simply stums a few chords underneath while the lyrics are sung twice. No dynamic change, no heart felt pause, no intro. In short, a dud version of a great tune.
"I am the Walrus" a live cut by Styx; nice performance, I bet in concert it does work...but on my 2nd listen, I am already tired of this one.
"I Can See For Miles," well...it's so very close to the original Who version, why bother.
"I Don't Need No Doctor" is actually a nice cut, well done. The problem is, it's so similar to the original (by Humble Pie) and actually inferior to the Peter Frampton (from LIVE IN DETROIT) version, it's a waste of time.
"Locomotive Breath," see "Doctor" above; good song, good performance, just a basic re-do of the original with latest technology, ugh!
"Blue Collar Man @2120" is a real hoot. It's Styx re-doing Styx. Nice job if you are watching "MTV Unplugged," but otherwise meaningless except for real fans of the band.
All the rest, well save time and ten bucks, and borrow the originals, you can't go wrong.
Bottom Line: 1/5 stars, sorry guys...I loved all your other "original" work...
Before I go:
You need not fear all re-make albums. A few I've liked alot in recent years include--
TAPESTRY (Carole King's masterpiece) featuring Rod Stewart and many others.
COVERAGE (Mandy Moore); she makes the songs her own, brilliant new arrangements especially of Blondie's "Call Me" and also "Have a Little Faith in Me" is better than any other version I have heard (including Joe Cocker's).
PRINCE OF DARKNESS (Ozzy Osborne)...you just have to pony up for 3 other CDs with this set of covers...very expensive to finance a ten song set (on CD #4)...more on this set later, I promise....
Zeph, out
Saturday, May 07, 2005
Nice New Stills CD Article
I just read the following (scroll down and let it load)that gives some techical details of the Upcoming Stills CD (originally titled "Captain Manyhands"). It says it will indeed contain some OLD (but new) tracks with a wildly interesting guest list.
Enjoy
http://www.suitelorraine.com/suitelorraine/News03/Pages03/ssnewrecord.html
Zeph, out
I just read the following (scroll down and let it load)that gives some techical details of the Upcoming Stills CD (originally titled "Captain Manyhands"). It says it will indeed contain some OLD (but new) tracks with a wildly interesting guest list.
Enjoy
http://www.suitelorraine.com/suitelorraine/News03/Pages03/ssnewrecord.html
Zeph, out
Sunday, May 01, 2005
YES
New Box Set Promised.
According to www.bn.com...
The Word Is Live
Yes
CD - Includes DVD
Release Date: 6/7/2005
ALBUM DETAILS:
Release Date: Jun 7 2005
Label: RHINO RECORDS
Catalog No.: 78234
UPC: 81227823429
Stay tuned. From what I read, it's a live collection of performances from the entire
history of the band. One of my favorites, of course.
=====================================================================================
BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN is Back!
Bruce Springsteen's over-rated (in my view) follow-up to The Rising is out! Devils & Dust, a DualDisc release, features a single disc with one side a DVD with a few live acoustic versions of new songs and the entire album in 5.1 surround sound. The other side is the "standard" CD release in digital stereo of course.
When you read the label of DualDisc's by the way it warns you it may not play in all machines. YET, elsewhere it tells you both sides will play on "virtually" any machine. I played both this one and the far-superior in so many ways AVRIL LAVIGNE DualDisc of UNDER MY SKIN, on several different DVD and CD machines and never had a problem.
Now, Loose Bedspring, well, he's trying to do a Dylan impression here. It's nice to just listen in bed and not expect much. It's another thing to hear him introduce songs on the DVD side and take himself AND his music (and perhaps his place in history) way way way too seriously.
I like the minimalist production (bass drums guitar and selected backing strings and vocals). But this is no RISING. It's almost dull, if you don't worship at the Springboard's altar.
I don't care what ALL the mags are saying, D&D is a solid 2 stars, no more. Don't pay more than ten dollars for it!
==============================================================================
STEPHEN STILLS NEW (finally) SOLO CD SOON?
4waysite.com reports (go to "news & rumors" 2005) a new CD by Stills, featuring Neil Young on at least one cut. Another site reports contributions by Crosby and Nash too. And the word is CSN will be doing a few songs from the disc.
Hope this is not yet another false alarm, but with the upcoming WORLD (well, Europe and the USA) CSN tour, it's probably real...finally. I just hope my man Still's voice held up enough to really capture his gifts in the studio. He is still my favorite overall founding father of great rock music.
You Go Stephen!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Zeph, out
New Box Set Promised.
According to www.bn.com...
The Word Is Live
Yes
CD - Includes DVD
Release Date: 6/7/2005
ALBUM DETAILS:
Release Date: Jun 7 2005
Label: RHINO RECORDS
Catalog No.: 78234
UPC: 81227823429
Stay tuned. From what I read, it's a live collection of performances from the entire
history of the band. One of my favorites, of course.
=====================================================================================
BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN is Back!
Bruce Springsteen's over-rated (in my view) follow-up to The Rising is out! Devils & Dust, a DualDisc release, features a single disc with one side a DVD with a few live acoustic versions of new songs and the entire album in 5.1 surround sound. The other side is the "standard" CD release in digital stereo of course.
When you read the label of DualDisc's by the way it warns you it may not play in all machines. YET, elsewhere it tells you both sides will play on "virtually" any machine. I played both this one and the far-superior in so many ways AVRIL LAVIGNE DualDisc of UNDER MY SKIN, on several different DVD and CD machines and never had a problem.
Now, Loose Bedspring, well, he's trying to do a Dylan impression here. It's nice to just listen in bed and not expect much. It's another thing to hear him introduce songs on the DVD side and take himself AND his music (and perhaps his place in history) way way way too seriously.
I like the minimalist production (bass drums guitar and selected backing strings and vocals). But this is no RISING. It's almost dull, if you don't worship at the Springboard's altar.
I don't care what ALL the mags are saying, D&D is a solid 2 stars, no more. Don't pay more than ten dollars for it!
==============================================================================
STEPHEN STILLS NEW (finally) SOLO CD SOON?
4waysite.com reports (go to "news & rumors" 2005) a new CD by Stills, featuring Neil Young on at least one cut. Another site reports contributions by Crosby and Nash too. And the word is CSN will be doing a few songs from the disc.
Hope this is not yet another false alarm, but with the upcoming WORLD (well, Europe and the USA) CSN tour, it's probably real...finally. I just hope my man Still's voice held up enough to really capture his gifts in the studio. He is still my favorite overall founding father of great rock music.
You Go Stephen!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Zeph, out
