Song of the year, and Album of the Year....so far.....?

[conversationpc]

I was about to nominate tracks from WET and Foreigner's latest, but apparently both of those came out in 2009. Man, has it really been that long?

That WET album is awesome...I like almost every track from it.

[kgdjpubs]

Strangeways - Perfect World
Two Fires - Burning Bright
John Farnham - Jack
Unruly Child - Worlds Collide

1 - Extremely disappointing.
2 - Much the same as always. Ok.
3 - Track listing looks dire
4 - Utterly fricken fantastic.

my main reservation with Strangeways seems to be a VERY muffled production on the samples. Is the cd any better, as the soundbytes are close to that Bob Catley Spirit of Man ugly sound? Borderline sounded good at least from a song standpoint. I can deal with mellow if classy. It's not like Strangeways was hard rock to begin with.

Two Fires...Chalfant seems to be very hit and miss on songwriting on his own. Didn't care much at all for Two Fires #1, but #2 had some good songs once you got by the production. Is Peterik involved in this at all? Honestly, at this point, I would prefer a follow-up to Running with the Wind, as that might be his best set of songs outside of The Storm.

Farnham....we'll see. Was hoping his cover of Coldplay's Lost would have made the album since he did it live, and it fit his style perfectly. I guess anything's possible.

Unruly Child...worried a little about lyrics. Debut wasn't the best and sounded cold and mechanical, but the followups were good. Soundbytes sound like debut lyrically. Free sounds amazing, as always.

[kgdjpubs]

Album of the year for me at the moment is The Union's self titled album, which came out a couple of weeks ago. Not a dud song on it.

Song of the year - current favourite is 'You Know My Name' from the same album.

Marty

I need to check that out. Is Luke Morley writing all by himself, or co-writing? Still majorly depressed that Danny Bowes retired from singing and forced the end of Thunder.

[Gin and Tonic Sky]

I was about to nominate tracks from WET and Foreigner's latest, but apparently both of those came out in 2009. Man, has it really been that long?

That WET album is awesome...I like almost every track from it.

I stil have Halestorm, Halestorm, the WET Album, Danger Dangers Revolve and Kiss Sonic Boom in my cars CD changer from last year. Have a lot of cathing up to do on new stuff this year.

The only three new releases Ive purchased this year so far are Metloaf, Hang Cool Teddy Bear, which I think is fantastic, Taja Turunen's What Lies Beneath, which I really like and Ratt Infestation. So I guess thats got to be the top 3 for me.

[Don]

Album: We Are the Fallen - Tear the World Down

Single: We Are the Fallen - Bury Me Alive

To me, they have brought back the original sound of Evanescence, while on the other hand Amy has appeared to gradually move in a new musical direction with her later releases, akin to what Linkin Park has been doing ever since their stellar debut with 'Hybrid Theory'.

I can understand older bands like Journey going out of the box musically but for newer acts, I'm not so quick to embrace change after only one or two albums.

[Andrew]

my main reservation with Strangeways seems to be a VERY muffled production on the samples. Is the cd any better, as the soundbytes are close to that Bob Catley Spirit of Man ugly sound? Borderline sounded good at least from a song standpoint. I can deal with mellow if classy. It's not like Strangeways was hard rock to begin with.

Two Fires...Chalfant seems to be very hit and miss on songwriting on his own. Didn't care much at all for Two Fires #1, but #2 had some good songs once you got by the production. Is Peterik involved in this at all? Honestly, at this point, I would prefer a follow-up to Running with the Wind, as that might be his best set of songs outside of The Storm.

Farnham....we'll see. Was hoping his cover of Coldplay's Lost would have made the album since he did it live, and it fit his style perfectly. I guess anything's possible.

Unruly Child...worried a little about lyrics. Debut wasn't the best and sounded cold and mechanical, but the followups were good. Soundbytes sound like debut lyrically. Free sounds amazing, as always.

1 - Production is awful....but songs not much better.
2 - Two Fires is ok...no Jim P though and no Josh Ramos, so negatived there.
UC lyrics are great...stunning songs....big arrangements...very intelligent album.

[kgdjpubs]

my main reservation with Strangeways seems to be a VERY muffled production on the samples. Is the cd any better, as the soundbytes are close to that Bob Catley Spirit of Man ugly sound? Borderline sounded good at least from a song standpoint. I can deal with mellow if classy. It's not like Strangeways was hard rock to begin with.

1 - Production is awful....but songs not much better.

is it worse than the Bob Catley - Spirit of Man album? That seems to be the bench-mark for horribly-produced albums recently that have no business whatsoever turning out that bad. This issue with big artist albums turning out almost unlistenable HAS to stop immediately.

[Andrew]

my main reservation with Strangeways seems to be a VERY muffled production on the samples. Is the cd any better, as the soundbytes are close to that Bob Catley Spirit of Man ugly sound? Borderline sounded good at least from a song standpoint. I can deal with mellow if classy. It's not like Strangeways was hard rock to begin with.

1 - Production is awful....but songs not much better.

is it worse than the Bob Catley - Spirit of Man album? That seems to be the bench-mark for horribly-produced albums recently that have no business whatsoever turning out that bad. This issue with big artist albums turning out almost unlistenable HAS to stop immediately.

Nothing is worse than Spirit Of Man (besides everything else Vince O'Regan touches). Utterly shite sound - can't even listen to that album.

[kgdjpubs]

my main reservation with Strangeways seems to be a VERY muffled production on the samples. Is the cd any better, as the soundbytes are close to that Bob Catley Spirit of Man ugly sound? Borderline sounded good at least from a song standpoint. I can deal with mellow if classy. It's not like Strangeways was hard rock to begin with.

1 - Production is awful....but songs not much better.

is it worse than the Bob Catley - Spirit of Man album? That seems to be the bench-mark for horribly-produced albums recently that have no business whatsoever turning out that bad. This issue with big artist albums turning out almost unlistenable HAS to stop immediately.

Nothing is worse than Spirit Of Man (besides everything else Vince O'Regan touches). Utterly shite sound - can't even listen to that album.

you aren't kidding either. Not sure whether it was the production or mastering, but that one was about as bad as it gets. How Frontiers agreed for the release in that state is beyond me. Shame really, as the songs are pretty decent. They need to do a remastering on that one and see if they can get it to sound any better.

Speaking thereof, any word on the next Catley solo album, which was supposed to have Gary Hughes writing for him again? I'm presuming mid 2011 at the earliest with the Magnum album due out in the early part of the year.

[Peartree12249]

Best Album: Black Country Communion is far and away the best album of the last several years IMO. Normally, I don't much care for "supergroups" I'm usually dissappointed in the results, but BCC is everything I was expecting and more. Recording this in the studio as a live album was inspired. Bonnamassa is amazing. Glenn Hughes can still sing as well or better than guys less than half his age. Do yourself a favor and pick this up. BCC Rocks!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KnJtoR19zuc

[MartyMoffatt]

Album of the year for me at the moment is The Union's self titled album, which came out a couple of weeks ago. Not a dud song on it.

Song of the year - current favourite is 'You Know My Name' from the same album.

Marty

I need to check that out. Is Luke Morley writing all by himself, or co-writing? Still majorly depressed that Danny Bowes retired from singing and forced the end of Thunder.

Luke is one of the most underrated songwriters in the business. He wrote all of the Thunder catalogue and as you probably know the quality of that material is consistently excellent. However, with The Union he shares co-writing duties with Pete Shoulder. Pete is still in his twenties but is already one of only three British artists to win a Handy Blues Foundation award for his songwriting (the others being Eric Clapton and Peter Green) so that is some pedigree.

I saw The Union last night on the first date of their current tour, and live they are just getting better and better. If they aren't huge by this time next year I'll be amazed.

Marty

[Andrew]

you aren't kidding either. Not sure whether it was the production or mastering, but that one was about as bad as it gets. How Frontiers agreed for the release in that state is beyond me. Shame really, as the songs are pretty decent. They need to do a remastering on that one and see if they can get it to sound any better.

Speaking thereof, any word on the next Catley solo album, which was supposed to have Gary Hughes writing for him again? I'm presuming mid 2011 at the earliest with the Magnum album due out in the early part of the year.

Not sure about Gary and Bob....would love to see.

As for Spirit Of Man, the shitty sound comes from the recording process, Vince can play, but just can't set up a studio and record whatever properly. Horrendous. Sale with 3 Eden albums, 2 Pulse albums and I'm guessing his next project Legion. Horrid.

[Andrew]

FRONT PAGE - FREE DOWNLOADS from MRR. Please check out!

And more Unruly Child samples too

[S2M]

FRONT PAGE - FREE DOWNLOADS from MRR. Please check out!

And more Unruly Child samples too

I don't hate it. But it doesn't even come close to the debut. From the tracks, SO FAR, there doesn't seem to be that kick-ass rockin' track like When Love is Gone, or To Be Your Everything...a bit too AOR. Not a horrible thing. Just not what I was looking for.

[Andrew]

FRONT PAGE - FREE DOWNLOADS from MRR. Please check out!

And more Unruly Child samples too

I don't hate it. But it doesn't even come close to the debut. From the tracks, SO FAR, there doesn't seem to be that kick-ass rockin' track like When Love is Gone, or To Be Your Everything...a bit too AOR. Not a horrible thing. Just not what I was looking for.

They are there....just a little more subtle. This album just grows and grows and grows...

[kgdjpubs]

Album of the year for me at the moment is The Union's self titled album, which came out a couple of weeks ago. Not a dud song on it.

Song of the year - current favourite is 'You Know My Name' from the same album.

Marty

I need to check that out. Is Luke Morley writing all by himself, or co-writing? Still majorly depressed that Danny Bowes retired from singing and forced the end of Thunder.

Luke is one of the most underrated songwriters in the business. He wrote all of the Thunder catalogue and as you probably know the quality of that material is consistently excellent. However, with The Union he shares co-writing duties with Pete Shoulder. Pete is still in his twenties but is already one of only three British artists to win a Handy Blues Foundation award for his songwriting (the others being Eric Clapton and Peter Green) so that is some pedigree.

I saw The Union last night on the first date of their current tour, and live they are just getting better and better. If they aren't huge by this time next year I'll be amazed.

Marty

very interesting....just took a listen to the above-mentioned song. Pretty good, and not all that far away from Thunder either.