Hello,
1) The Dead Weather's "Dodge and Burn": I decided to review this CD after Jon Dolan's extremely enthusiastic review in the October 22nd, 2016 Rolling Stone. For all of Dolan's enthusiasm he still only gave it 3.5 stars- which is halfway between good and excellent. The rating didn't match Dolan's own review. Also it's incredibly unfair to compare any band with the greatest band of all-time, Led Zeppelin. After listening to this a couple of times I wasn't quite as enthusiastic as Dolan. Highlights include: "Mile Markers", "I Feel Love (Every Million Miles)", "Rough Detective" and "Buzzkill (er)". I also enjoy the change of pace song "Impossible Winner". Grade: B-
2) lostprophets' "Start Something": I quite like their CDs "Weapons" and "Liberation Transmission", so I wanted to check out this CD. The CD starts out slow, but has a strong second half. Highlights include "Wake Up (Make A Move), "Burn, Burn, Burn", "Goodbye Tonight" and "Last Summer". Grade: B-
3) Gloriana's third CD is the cleverly titled "Three". I didn't have high hopes for this CD, but I was pleasantly surprised. Although the theme about the likelihood of two complete strangers hooking up was explored way too much. Highlights include "Trouble", "It's On Tonight", "Fight", "Wanna Get To Know You" and "Get Back That Goodbye". Grade: B
4) The Foo Fighters' 5 song EP "Saint Cecelia": I'm not even a big Foo Fighters fan, but I still think this is a very solid EP. Highlights include, well frankly every song, but I particularly love "Saint Cecelia", "Iron Rooster" and "The Neverending Sigh". Grade: A+
5) Gentlemans Pistols' "Hustler's Row": Thanks to Graywhale for playing this CD when I was there one day, or else I would have never heard of this CD. This is a solid collection of rock gems. Highlights include "Private Rendezvous", the sounding different from every other song on the CD "Hustler's Row", "Dazzle Drizzler", "Personal Fantasy Land" and "Devils Advocate On Call". Grade: B+
6) MisterWives "Our Own House" Highlights include "Our Own House", "Reflections", "Not Your Way", "Box Around The Sun" and "No Need For Dreaming". A collection of relentlessly upbeat songs, powered by solid musicians and the strong vocals of Mandy Lee. If you like happy, upbeat songs, this is the CD for you. Grade: B+
7) Sheppard's "Bombs Away" Highlights include "Geronimo", "Something's Missing", "Halfway To Hell", "Flying Away" and "The Best Is Yet To Come" . I love "Geronimo", it's a great song. However most of the songs on this CD are meh. Grade: a reluctant C+
8) Queen's "A Night At The Odeon": Why did they bury "Bohemian Rhapsody" so early in their set? And Queen really recorded a song titled "Ogre Battle"? Huh? Highlights include "Killer Queen", "Big Spender", "Keep Yourself Alive" and of course "Bohemian Rhapsody". Grade: B-
9) Rush's "R40 Live"- Geddy Lee's vocals just aren't very good any more. Even these classic songs are marred by Lee's reedy vocals. Nothing against Lee personally, I love how big of a baseball fan that he is. However many of these songs are unlistenable due to his no longer as powerful vocals. I don't have the patience to listen to all songs. It's time for Lee to hang em up. The grade would be higher if Lee hadn't lost so much of his voice. Their musicianship is still stellar. Grade: C-
10) Loverboy's "Just Getting Started": Highlights include "Just Getting Started", "Fade To Black", "One of Them Days" and "Lost With You". I like that on "Lost With You" Loverboy is trying to vary their sound a bit. For a band past their prime, this is a very solid collection of songs. Also this is a CD I plan on adding to my collection, which is the ultimate sign of how much I like it. It's a great CD, but certainly not perfect, but better than anyone has the right to expect. Grade: B
11) "Doctor Zhivago" Original Broadway Cast Recording: Highlights: "Who Is She?", "Forward!", "Yurii's Decision", "No Mercy At All" and "Nowhere To Hide". In a year of notable historical Broadway musicals, this pales in comparison to the amazing "Hamilton". This book/movie is where I got my nom de plume from, and sadly the music from this musical doesn't live up to their legacy. While it has a few musical highlights, overall it's mostly meh. Too many songs that are just sort of just there. Grade: C-
12) Christian Mistress "To Your Death": Highlights include "Stronger Than Blood", but honestly all their songs on this CD are of the same quality. That's good but not great. Christian Mistress is a band that rocks, but honestly their sound doesn't vary a whole lot from song to song. Some people might like that, while some people will dislike it. It is what it is, this CD is enjoyable, but will never be considered a classic. Grade: C+
13) Christian Mistress "Agony and Opium" is a 6 song EP. Highlights include "Home In The Sun" and "Omega Stone". Christian Mistress is a band that rocks, but honestly their sound doesn't vary a whole lot from song to song. Some people might like that, while some people will dislike it. It is what it is, this CD is enjoyable, but will never be considered a classic. Grade: C+
14) Francesca Battestelli's "Christmas": Featuring "The Christmas Song", "Heaven Everywhere" and "What Child Is This (First Noel Prelude)". I enjoy how she mixes the holy and secular so well, with not letting either one overwhelm the other. I love Battestelli's slightly husky, but very strong voice. I honestly hadn't heard of her until I stumbled across this CD. It was released October 16th, 2012. This and "Wrapped In Red" are my two favorite Christmas CDs this year. Grade: A
15) Kelly Clarkson's "Wrapped In Red" (Google Play Deluxe Issue): Her 2014 Christmas CD, which she waited over 10 years to make her first Christmas CD and the wait was worth. She made a solid selection of songs for this CD. My only big complaint is the inept duet with Ronnie Dunn on "Baby, It's Cold Outside". It doesn't sound like a duet, more like two people singing two completely different songs. (Lady Antebellum does a master class of how to sing this song.) Highlights include the energetic "Underneath The Tree", the rockin' "Run, Run Rudolph", "My Favorite Things", the upbeat "4 Karats" and the somber "Blue Christmas". Grade: A-
themusicaddict
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