I feel the madness coming on...

[DrFU]

Almost 2 months is a long time to sustain that kind of arousal without some serious pain!

If it lasts longer than 4 months, I'm supposed to see a doctor.

You rang?

[S2M]

Rip is the wedge breaker on special teams.....

Great analogy.

OK, one of you explain please. For us sports illiterate. What is a wedge breaker?

In professional football he's the guy that has the equivalent of a suicide mission. The "wedge" is a tight blocking formation and the "wedge breaker" basically runs full speed and tries to bust it open for his fellow teammates to have a shot at making a tackle. Not an enviable job, but one that gains tremendous respect for the sheer insanity and pain that the position requires.

As of 2009, the wedge is no longer allowed on NFL kickoffs.....

[Rip Rokken]

Almost 2 months is a long time to sustain that kind of arousal without some serious pain!

If it lasts longer than 4 months, I'm supposed to see a doctor.

You rang?

LOL!!!

[RedWingFan]

Congrats, you just managed to 1-up birthday threads for overall gayness.

LMAO!!! It did come off kinda like man on man love for Arnie and Neil!!

[RedWingFan]

Congrats, you just managed to 1-up birthday threads for overall gayness.

I'm going to be slinging froth from my mouth in every direction too

Uh...that's not going to be froth!!!

[Jana]

... like a werewolf when the first rays from the full moon emerge from the overcast sky, so I'm just warning everyone now. It's totally involuntary, just as when a new Dokken album comes out. On midnight, May 24th, I'll be bugging the piss out of someone at Wal-Mart to give me multiple, multiple copies of ECLIPSE, and I will not leave without it. I will pass them out like candy. I will blast it out my car windows very loudly for all to hear, and if that's at 2am in the morning, so be it. I will beat the naysayers into submission with a merciless tirade of verbal abuse, the likes of which MR has never seen.

The new songs are growing on my with each passing day, and there is only one direction this goes -- toward the brink of insanity which reaches it's peak under the intoxicating influence of rock 'n' roll that strikes me senseless on every level.

Please understand, it's just a phase and eventually I'll come back down to planet earth, but my apologies in advance for anyone that gets hurt in the process.

I'm crazy about Resonate and Chain of Love. But I am really enjoying listening to Edge of the Moment, also. I need to listen to the other two more when I have time. I haven't really gone back to listen to them past the first couple of times.

EOTM is a dark and nasty beast....fricking brilliant.

I am loving it. I just wish I had a better clip. When do we get a full review of the album?

[Saint John]

Rip is the wedge breaker on special teams.....

Great analogy.

OK, one of you explain please. For us sports illiterate. What is a wedge breaker?

In professional football he's the guy that has the equivalent of a suicide mission. The "wedge" is a tight blocking formation and the "wedge breaker" basically runs full speed and tries to bust it open for his fellow teammates to have a shot at making a tackle. Not an enviable job, but one that gains tremendous respect for the sheer insanity and pain that the position requires.

As of 2009, the wedge is no longer allowed on NFL kickoffs.....

Still happens virtually every week, though. 2 men forming a wedge is allowed I believe. They just can't have 4 or 5 guys locking arms anymore. Semantics, really.

Pereira said intent would be the most important factor in determining if a flag is thrown. If three or four players come together at the last moment to throw a block, that is not intentionally forming a wedge and would not be penalized, Pereira said.

It is a gray area that leaves coaches scratching their heads, although Westhoff said he felt better after talking with Pereira.

“If you’re going to put this rule in, the intent of the rule is not to form a wedge,” Westhoff said before the meeting.

“If at the point of impact, they’re all four together, what the heck was the difference? This game is played at a thousand miles per hour.”

[Andrew]

No worries Ripster, I fully understand. No 'Rockers Anonymous' for me either, DO NOT want a cure. I'm a little caught in an Undertow myself. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mHGv5FCS2j8 Symptoms should probably peak about April-ish and with meds should probably subside a tad come May-ish possibly.

That is a kick-ass tune, btw! The sounds reminds me of early Van Halen.

I think Paul Gilbert 'out Halen's' EVH on the Mr. Big. Classic stuff. Going to take one bad mo-fo to topple that as album of the year 2011.

Actually it was a 2010 release....Japan.

Winner of today's "State The Obvious". It is a 2011 international release and will be treated as such.

[S2M]

No worries Ripster, I fully understand. No 'Rockers Anonymous' for me either, DO NOT want a cure. I'm a little caught in an Undertow myself. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mHGv5FCS2j8 Symptoms should probably peak about April-ish and with meds should probably subside a tad come May-ish possibly.

That is a kick-ass tune, btw! The sounds reminds me of early Van Halen.

I think Paul Gilbert 'out Halen's' EVH on the Mr. Big. Classic stuff. Going to take one bad mo-fo to topple that as album of the year 2011.

Actually it was a 2010 release....Japan.

Winner of today's "State The Obvious". It is a 2011 international release and will be treated as such.

I'm sure it will.....which means it will show up on your Best of 2015...

[Andrew]

I'm sure it will.....which means it will show up on your Best of 2015...

Surely someone at some stage some time must have informed you that you really aren't funny? Or are your family still protecting your widdle fewings?

[Seven Wishes2]

... like a werewolf when the first rays from the full moon emerge from the overcast sky, so I'm just warning everyone now. It's totally involuntary, just as when a new Dokken album comes out. On midnight, May 24th, I'll be bugging the piss out of someone at Wal-Mart to give me multiple, multiple copies of ECLIPSE, and I will not leave without it. I will pass them out like candy. I will blast it out my car windows very loudly for all to hear, and if that's at 2am in the morning, so be it. I will beat the naysayers into submission with a merciless tirade of verbal abuse, the likes of which MR has never seen.

The new songs are growing on my with each passing day, and there is only one direction this goes -- toward the brink of insanity which reaches it's peak under the intoxicating influence of rock 'n' roll that strikes me senseless on every level.

Please understand, it's just a phase and eventually I'll come back down to planet earth, but my apologies in advance for anyone that gets hurt in the process.

This is why we love ya, Rip. You're a rocker through and through.

[Rip Rokken]

... like a werewolf when the first rays from the full moon emerge from the overcast sky, so I'm just warning everyone now. It's totally involuntary, just as when a new Dokken album comes out. On midnight, May 24th, I'll be bugging the piss out of someone at Wal-Mart to give me multiple, multiple copies of ECLIPSE, and I will not leave without it. I will pass them out like candy. I will blast it out my car windows very loudly for all to hear, and if that's at 2am in the morning, so be it. I will beat the naysayers into submission with a merciless tirade of verbal abuse, the likes of which MR has never seen.

The new songs are growing on my with each passing day, and there is only one direction this goes -- toward the brink of insanity which reaches it's peak under the intoxicating influence of rock 'n' roll that strikes me senseless on every level.

Please understand, it's just a phase and eventually I'll come back down to planet earth, but my apologies in advance for anyone that gets hurt in the process.

This is why we love ya, Rip. You're a rocker through and through.

I forgot to mention, I might kick a few random people, too. No reason... just because!

[annie89509]

Well, guess I'm in the minority here regarding the new songs...lol
I will refrain from voicing further negativity until the album has had worldwide review.
Who knows, maybe the rest of the album will have some kick-ass tunes along my taste.

[Seven Wishes2]

I would think ANY review of the new record would be premature without actually hearing the studio versions in their entirety.

[Rip Rokken]

I would think ANY review of the new record would be premature without actually hearing the studio versions in their entirety.

Not here, though. At MR, the amrchair critics are so skilled and have such insight, an entire album can be judged on 1 song, and any single song can be dissected and stripped down to its barest essence by listening to only the first 20 seconds. Even songs that taste ever so sweet on the outside are revealed to be nothing more than Tootsie Pops with a hidden stink nugget that reveals itself after enough licks, and I just often fail to get all the way down to that center.

[S2M]

I would think ANY review of the new record would be premature without actually hearing the studio versions in their entirety.

Not here, though. At MR, the amrchair critics are so skilled and have such insight, an entire album can be judged on 1 song, and any single song can be dissected and stripped down to its barest essence by listening to only the first 20 seconds. Even songs that taste ever so sweet on the outside are revealed to be nothing more than Tootsie Pops with a hidden stink nugget that reveals itself after enough licks, and I just often fail to get all the way down to that center.

Again, Skye, are you really that daft? If YOU can hear 5 songs and come to the conclusion that YOU like it...why can't somebody hear the same 5 songs and conclude that they don't? Is it really that complicated of a concept for you to grasp? Seriously.

[Rip Rokken]

Again, Skye, are you really that daft? If YOU can hear 5 songs and come to the conclusion that YOU like it...why can't somebody hear the same 5 songs and conclude that they don't? Is it really that complicated of a concept for you to grasp? Seriously.

The reverse is the case... I can totally deal with people not liking the songs, because I know music is subjective. The haters don't seem to be able to understand how anyone can like it though.

[S2M]

Again, Skye, are you really that daft? If YOU can hear 5 songs and come to the conclusion that YOU like it...why can't somebody hear the same 5 songs and conclude that they don't? Is it really that complicated of a concept for you to grasp? Seriously.

The reverse is the case... I can totally deal with people not liking the songs, because I know music is subjective. The haters don't seem to be able to understand how anyone can like it though.

I don't think that is entirely true. IMHO, there doesn't seem to be much to like. But that's just me. And there are some fans who will embrace anything. I think the rush of actually being there live feeds into the equation of having a positive opinion on something....

[NoMoreTails]

No worries Ripster, I fully understand. No 'Rockers Anonymous' for me either, DO NOT want a cure. I'm a little caught in an Undertow myself. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mHGv5FCS2j8 Symptoms should probably peak about April-ish and with meds should probably subside a tad come May-ish possibly.

That is a kick-ass tune, btw! The sounds reminds me of early Van Halen.

Yes, no cure needed nor wanted here. I'm going loud and proud, getting on as many people's nerves as possible, all in the name of furthering the awareness of good rock music. The world needs it, and that includes everyone around me.

I just got What If after finally finding a store that stocked a couple of copies. I noticed the VH vibe as well. Some of the tunes recall classic Mr Big but I'm finding that I prefer the songs with a more modern sound. My only real complaint is that American Beauty feels like a carbon copy of Colorado Bulldog.

[Melissa]

I would think ANY review of the new record would be premature without actually hearing the studio versions in their entirety.

Agreed.

[Michigan Girl]

Again, Skye, are you really that daft? If YOU can hear 5 songs and come to the conclusion that YOU like it...why can't somebody hear the same 5 songs and conclude that they don't? Is it really that complicated of a concept for you to grasp? Seriously.

The reverse is the case... I can totally deal with people not liking the songs, because I know music is subjective. The haters don't seem to be able to understand how anyone can like it though.

There is a good point ...raaaaght there, been a good point
for many, many moons ...where has it been?!? The point?!?! I like it !!! *edit* it goes both ways ...and for
everyone ...so I guess it's coming from all directions!!

Someone should have started these games w/a torch!!

[Melissa]

I think the rush of actually being there live feeds into the equation of having a positive opinion on something....

That does make a big difference IMO. In Vegas '08, getting to hear the Rev songs live, they are more raw that way, and just came across better to me for some reason.

[Rip Rokken]

Again, Skye, are you really that daft? If YOU can hear 5 songs and come to the conclusion that YOU like it...why can't somebody hear the same 5 songs and conclude that they don't? Is it really that complicated of a concept for you to grasp? Seriously.

The reverse is the case... I can totally deal with people not liking the songs, because I know music is subjective. The haters don't seem to be able to understand how anyone can like it though.

I don't think that is entirely true. IMHO, there doesn't seem to be much to like. But that's just me. And there are some fans who will embrace anything. I think the rush of actually being there live feeds into the equation of having a positive opinion on something....

You're making my case for me...

"IMHO, there doesn't seem to be much to like." -- that's an opinion.

"And there are some fans who will embrace anything." -- that's a judgment, which some could argue as condescending because it indicates that there are fans who can't (or won't) judge music based on its own merits. I'm not being touchy, lol... doesn't phase me, but I'm just always fascinated by communication in general. Even if true, and it's just one end of a spectrum, you seem to omit the possibility that some may enjoy the music solely based on its merits.

I do believe you're absolutely correct about the effect of the live environment. There have been many songs that I never really cared for until I saw them performed live and ended up appreciating the song thru that. It adds a whole new dimension to the music. For that matter, so does a finished product, and I guess we'll all see come May.

[Arkansas]

And in six months, most of us won't even be listening to this album any more.


later~

[S2M]

Again, Skye, are you really that daft? If YOU can hear 5 songs and come to the conclusion that YOU like it...why can't somebody hear the same 5 songs and conclude that they don't? Is it really that complicated of a concept for you to grasp? Seriously.

The reverse is the case... I can totally deal with people not liking the songs, because I know music is subjective. The haters don't seem to be able to understand how anyone can like it though.

I don't think that is entirely true. IMHO, there doesn't seem to be much to like. But that's just me. And there are some fans who will embrace anything. I think the rush of actually being there live feeds into the equation of having a positive opinion on something....

You're making my case for me...

"IMHO, there doesn't seem to be much to like." -- that's an opinion.

"And there are some fans who will embrace anything." -- that's a judgment, which some could argue as condescending because it indicates that there are fans who can't (or won't) judge music based on its own merits. I'm not being touchy, lol... doesn't phase me, but I'm just always fascinated by communication in general. Even if true, and it's just one end of a spectrum, you seem to omit the possibility that some may enjoy the music solely based on its merits.

I do believe you're absolutely correct about the effect of the live environment. There have been many songs that I never really cared for until I saw them performed live and ended up appreciating the song thru that. It adds a whole new dimension to the music. For that matter, so does a finished product, and I guess we'll all see come May.

Please educate me, Rip...in one instance it is opinion, but in the other it ceases to be opinion, and becomes judgment? How convenient.

[Don]

Great quote from Neal;

http://www.kshe95.com/musicnews/story.aspx?ID=1368928

We asked Neal Schon if Journey ever thinks about recapturing their early-'80s success with new material:

"I'm not even thinking about that. What we need to bring to the table is what we all have. I'm just bringing what I have, and that's good enough for me.....so if it's not good enough for everyone else, then I'll just cater to that audience out there that likes what I do. Whoever digs it, great."

[S2M]

Great quote from Neal;

http://www.kshe95.com/musicnews/story.aspx?ID=1368928

We asked Neal Schon if Journey ever thinks about recapturing their early-'80s success with new material:

"I'm not even thinking about that. What we need to bring to the table is what we all have. I'm just bringing what I have, and that's good enough for me.....so if it's not good enough for everyone else, then I'll just cater to that audience out there that likes what I do. Whoever digs it, great."

It's called resting on your laurels. I guess their new demographic is guitar geeks, filipinas, and stalker-type fans....

[Melissa]

Yeah I'm excited to hear the album and hope it really is that hard rocker that keeps getting mentioned. I think calling people haters is a bit much though, just because we haven't fallen madly in love with some youtubes, and are gushing at the seams and ready to make babies to this music I'm a fan of Def Leppard, but I think their last effort Sparkle Lounge sucked all kinds of ass. Doesn't mean I now "hate" the band and everything they will ever put out ever again. People have the right to say they aren't impressed so far, just as the rest have the right to swing from the band's you-know-whats no matter what. They're just opinions.

[Don]

Yeah I'm excited to hear the album and hope it really is that hard rocker that keeps getting mentioned. I think calling people haters is a bit much though, just because we haven't fallen madly in love with some youtubes, and are gushing at the seams and ready to make babies to this music I'm a fan of Def Leppard, but I think their last effort Sparkle Lounge sucked all kinds of ass. Doesn't mean I now "hate" the band and everything they will ever put out ever again. People have the right to say they aren't impressed so far, just as the rest have the right to swing from the band's you-know-whats no matter what. They're just opinions.

There's a difference between not liking something and just being a dour fuck in general. I know, I've been there.

[The_Noble_Cause]

It's called resting on your laurels.

No, that's what most classic dinosaur rock acts do by not releasing new material at all.