There was a time when rock bands weren’t so darn one-dimensional. Think back to the days of Led Zeppelin, Queen, etc., and it was a time that it was accepted for a hard rock-based band to be able to mix things up with piano ballads and other musical detours. The Australian quartet, Strange Karma, is a most-welcomed throwback to this aforementioned era, as evidenced throughout their new release, Volume 1.
There are few singers in rock history that have left their mark on the world as much as YES vocalist Jon Anderson. His career as the lead singer for the progressive rock band, pioneers in their field, is one of the most storied in the genre, and yet it seems like he’s just hitting his creative stride as he reaches his golden years. With a new record out last year, a successful tour with Rick Wakeman under his belt, and embarking on a new solo acoustic tour this spring, the veteran singer shows no signs of slowing down any time soon.
Madam Adam conjures forth a debut album thick with stadium-worthy anthems recalling the brightest spots of the Seattle grunge movement, the sexual bombast of ’70s AM radio rock and the exuberance of four people who live, breathe and devour music.
David Coverdale and company return to their no-holds-barred, bluesiest, sexiest rock n’ roll roots with Whitesnake’s 11th studio album, Forevermore, the band’s first in more than two years. Coverdale has reignited an explosively fruitful vein of creativity with guitarist and co-writer-producer Doug Aldrich, guitarist Reb Beach, drummer Brian Tichy and Michael Devin on bass. As with all Whitesnake’s albums, Coverdale unleashes his incomparable vocal chops with emotional fervor. Armed with an arsenal of key players, the CD shows the world that the “snake” is an unstoppable wall of guitars!
There is a fad that emerged in the ‘90s of older bands getting back together to do reunion tours, farewell tours, 2nd farewell tours, 3rd farewell tours, bringing the same old thing to their fans and charging tons of money for tickets. The focus seemed to be on making ends meet and buying a bigger house than the music. But, there are some bands that have gotten back together in recent years who have kept the focus on the music, and even more importantly, written and recorded new material for their fans to enjoy, old and new alike.
Many rock bands like to talk about their compassion for a cause, whether it be poverty, global warming or war, but few really put their money where their mouths are as did Alt-Rockers Cake when the recorded their latest release, 2011’s Showroom Of Compassion. Completely refitting their recording studio with solar panels, the band recorded the entire album with solar power, a testament to their commitment to using and promoting alternative energies. When Cake gets behind an idea and a project, they definitely follow through.
Recently signing with Filament records, North Carolina rockers have emerged from the recording studio, where they worked with legendary producer Jim Wirth, to release a killer new EP titled Second Time Around. The album features heavy guitar work, poignant lyrics, deep rock grooves and powerful vocals, everything a modern rock band needs to stand out in an often overcrowded marketplace.
It used to be that Rock n Roll was as American as apple pie. That the best rock n rollers grew up in the Deep South, the cornfields of the Midwest and under the sun of Los Angeles. But times have changed, and rock is now a global phenomenon, bringing to the world’s attention great bands and unbelievable talent from every corner of the globe. Case in point is one of Russia’s best rock bands, Pushking, and their latest record The World as We Love It is a testament to their longevity, creative output and ability to keep up with the biggest names it the business.
The distinct vocals of legendary singer, Eric Burdon, still resonate and captivate us nearly fifty years since The Animals made their way to America as part of the now heralded British Invasion. There was something deeply organic about the music that Eric and the rest of The Animals played, a gritty earthiness that had a working class feel to it.
British-born guitarist, Billy Morrison recently decamped and made his way to Billy Idol’s band for an extensive globetrotting gig that’s carried him to Russia, Greece, Switzerland, England and Eastern Europe. That’s not to say that’s he’s not continuing his work with Camp Freddy and Circus Diablo, two groups that he’s worked with for several years.
