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When I?m say that the best independent album of 2005 is made by a band from Brazil I guess that it comes as big surprise for most of you out there. The land of Pele and Copacabana, samba and bossa is not that known for delivering high-class modern rock, but this is a BIG exception I can tell you.
This magnificent album is a killer from start to end with no filler tunes at all. Imagine Foo Fighters ?real? rock edge mixed up with some Canadian modern rock ala Our Lady Peace and a dose of Dishwalla?s U2 influences and we?re quite close musically. Catchy, but not in a commercial way, edgy, but always controlled and perfectly balanced is the key, such as the personal sound.
If you have anything with the bands that I mentioned above, ?Liberty Square? is an album that you got to have.
I?m really surprised why these guys aren?t signed yet because this is damn good classic rock that will last for a long time. One reason might be that the labels just signs hip bands today with a sound somewhere around Coldplay or some 80?s stylish band. Very boring and uninspiring if you?ll ask me, but that?s the business I guess.
I should mention that the band has been working Bob Marlette and Gavin McKillop, but none of them has put the final touches here. Instead Thom Russo (System Of A Down, Johnny Cash, Audioslave) has taking care of that and has done a brilliant job with a perfect production that is pure rock from the first tunes of ?Liberty Square?.
I guess that you?ll understand my message with this review, this isn?t an album that you can live without. Get it at: www.cdbaby.com/udora |
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Classic rockers UFO has just released a double live album and a double DVD.
This is the first material that introduces the new line-up were the original members Pete Way (bass), Phil Mogg (vox) and Paul Raymond (keyboards) are joined by two new members:Jason Bohham (drums) and Vinnie Moore (guitars).
This live show was recorded in Germany in May 2005 and has been released in two versions, one double CD and one double DVD.
This live features all the tracks from "Strangers In The Night" plus a couple from the "You Are Here" CD,this will only please the UFO fans. It seems that the show took place on somekind of a rockclub, so this is not taken from an arena or something.
They deliver their classic rockers such as "Doctor Doctor", "Lights Out", "Rock Bottom", "Shoot Shoot" and many more.
In my opinion it seems like the band don?t have any fun on stage and don?t rock,sure the crowd got wild on a couple songs but otherwise it?s a weak show.
The 2nd disc has more interesting stuff with a session recorded in the studio with a string quartet where they perform 6 songs and that?s great stuff indeed.
It also features interviews, a documentary and a discography.
The booklet is great with a story written by Matthias Mineur. No, if you?re not a die-hard fan of UFO then this is something you don?t need to have in your collection. Even some fans of UFO will be disappointed with this Showtime release. |
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UFO?s new album "The Monkey Puzzle" marks the return of original drummer Andy Parker who was replaced by Aunsley Dunbar and Jason Bonham on the previous 3 albums "Covenant" (2000), "Sharks" (2002) and "You are here" (2004).
This is also the 2nd album with Vinnie Moore on lead guitar doing a great job filling Michael Schenker?s shoes, I think Vinnie along with Paul Chapman (1980-1984) are the ones who has done the best job replacing Schenker.
I never thought Atomik Tommy (1985-1988) and Laurence Archer (1996) fit into the band that well.
UFO?s 19th studio album "The Monkey Puzzle" is yet again produced by Tommy Newton who also worked with the band on "You are here", Phil Mogg shows what a great singer he is in the laid back "Drink too much" and other highlights are "Goodbye you" and "Black and blue" which both are classic UFO songs.
The entire album doesn?t match the classic works from this band but it?s a solid rock album that will please most fans of this great band. |
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Dec, 5th 1979 Gota Lejon, Stockholm, Sweden.
Standing on stage, Phil Mogg - Lead Vocals, Pete Way - Bass, Andy Parker - Drums, Paul Raymond - Keyboards and Paul Chapman - Guitar.
It was my 15th birthday and I couldn´t have had a better present than going to a UFO concert, the same year the band released the classic double live album Strangers in the night and even if Schenker quit the band and I wasn´t able to see the classic line up. He was replaced by the worthy Paul Chapman from Lone Star who stayed with the band for 4 years and recorded 4 albums with this one "No place to run" as the first one.
This album might not be considered as one of the band´s most classic albums but it´s definitely one of their best, I´m really happy it was re-released in 2009 with 4 bonus tracks where 3 are recorded live in 1980.
We also get an alternative studio version of "Gone in the night", a superb UFO track indeed but what about "This fire burns tonight" or "Young blood"?! They do fit on any best of UFO collection anyday, anytime.
The band started 40 years ago and is still going strong, Bravo! |
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Ugly brings us their self Titled debut "Ugly" on Rock Ridge Music. This album delivers hard hitting Classic Rock goodness. Most of the styles on the album remind me of early Motley Crue meets Kiss.
The majority of the album is the fun upbeat rockers. But, when we get to the middle of the album we hit the power ballad, as i like to call it. "Son" has the Poison "Every Road Has It´s Thorn" vibe written all over it. Which is not a bad thing at all. We need more bands like these guys. These guys aren´t too original in my book but they are very good musicians and a necessity for this day and age in music to break up the monotony of the Emo based Rock out there.
So if your looking for a hard hitting rock album with a few ballad type songs this is for you. the other ballad comes in later in the album called "Washed Out." I´m a sucker for the ballads and i think these guys do it really well. They break up the power rockers with the slower tunes on the album.
A definite buy if your sick of a lot of the stuff out there and need a change to bring you "back in the day to classic rock." |
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The electro pop duo Uh Huh Her consists of singer/producer/multi musician Camila Grey who has worked as a professional musician with an array of performers including Busta Rhymes, Dr. Dre and Kelly Osbourne.
Her partner is the musician/actree Leisha Hailey (vocals,bass, synths) and they have created a beautiful pop album full of hookladen songs that will appeal to fans of Stimulator, The Veronicas and Superchick.
They self released an EP in 2007 and now gives us the debut full length "Common reaction" that features songs like "Wait another day" and "Not a love song" that will make you singalong in no time.
The only thing that is keeping from giving this a higher rating is that the album is perhaps a little "too" nice and poppy.
But it´s good enough so check em out! |
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The idea of doing a tribute to Michael W.Smith isn?t so strange since he?s one of the most successful artists in Christian rock but it seems rather strange that it?s released on his own label Rocketown records,what was he thinking? "I think it?s time for a tribute to myself!
Some of the biggest artists in the Christian rock business has gathered to do their versions of a selection of MWS classics.
The elegance and class however are both lost in the process of these ultimake makeovers of Michael W.Smith?s fine compositions,I think this is more of a modern rock affair hearing his wonderful songs like a big cast away.
David Crowder does an exact imitation of MWS on "Secret ambition",what?s the point?,Taylor Sorensen makes an U2-ish performance on "Lamu" which feels like a cool thing,Plumb thought you should dance to the disco version of "Pray for me" but I think I?ll pass and normally I would?ve gone to heaven listening to the fantastic "Missing person" but Tree 63 takes the song to hardrock slaughter.
All Star United gets away with their half punkish version of "Go west young men",this one I like.
No,this is a huge disappointment - now I need to hear the songs in their original and invincible versions! |
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Ultimo is a new great band from down under with a frontman from Manchester, U.K.
Their debut "Opposite ends of the earth" was produced by Craig Porteils who has worked with Terence Trent Darby, Diesel, Fleetwood Mac and Cher.
If you?re a huge fan of classy Aussie rock, then Ultimo will fit in your collection like a hand in glove - this is songwriting on a high level and the hooks are lined up like kids waiting to sit on Santa?s knee.
Englishman Chris Read has a voice that reminds a bit of Roland Orzabal of Tears For Fears, he?s the perfect complement to the rootsy rock of guitarist Matt Elford, bassist Sean Blackall and drummer Russ Crawford.
This Sydney based band has a sound similar to Noiseworks mixed with the now defunct Sneak and even Bon Jovi?s modern style.
12 good songs where the major part are upbeat and I couldn?t find any fillers even with a microscope, the acoustic driven midtempo track "Shattering the stars" has lots of hitpotential and the infectious dance rocker "Never there" sounds like the perfect party starter.
Ultimo will be opening for INXS down in Australia in Sept. so if you wanna know what this hype is all about - listen to their new catchy single "Tonight" at www.myspace.com/ultimotheband ! |
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| Here we have the debut from this interesting Californian natives. There sound can be described as modern rock mixed up with positive and catchy pop like the Canadian super-popster Zuckerbaby or like a 10% softer Neve. Gold circle records have found a cool band here in Ultrapull and will also later this year release Magna Fis(former The Szuters) debut album. Back to this one! This debut is a promising one cause we got a very even level of the songs. Its starts in a good way with 7 good ones out of 8. Rest of the album goes the same way with a little weaker tracks but still worth some attention. Not a classic one but its a record that should be accepted and liked by all of you modern rock poppers out there in cyberspace! |
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| The classic line up of Ultravox reunited in 2009 and toured in Europe with the double live disc "Return to Eden" recorded from that tour, it was released in 2010 and featured all of their hits between 1979-1986. The band has also announced there will be a new studio album out in 2012, and like that wasn´t enough, an exclusive EP with 4 live tracks is also available now entitled "Moments from Eden". These songs weren´t included on the double live album released last year, we get more odd Ultravox songs like "White China" from the Lament album, "New Europeans" from Vienna and "Love´s great adventure" which was only released as a new studio track on the 1984 compilation "The Collection". This is more of a rough live sounding EP that feels like it´s only for the die hard fans of this band, I do enjoy it but look more forward to hearing the next studio album "End of the odyssey". |
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In 2009, reunited the four original members from 1980, Warren Cann, Chris Cross, Billy Currie and Midge Ure, for the first time since Live Aid gala 1985th They went on a tour called "Return to Eden" which also reached Sweden in 2010 on their european tour. A Gig a sadly missed as it according to my friends who were there was an amazing gig.
In 2011 the group announced via their official website that they were working on a new album, the first with all four 1980's of members since 1984.The result was the album "Brilliant" which is also quite brilliant in many places on the disc. For those who like the classic sound of the band had in the 80s. The beautiful, the dramatic and melodic way of being. The new disc absolute worth buying. A great comeback.
HIGHLIGHTS: Flow, Remembering, One, Brillaint, Satellite |
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There?s a certain warm feeling going through the whole album of The Militia Group?s latest signing Umbrellas,their fine fine debut takes the listener on a magical ride into a soaring landscape of melancholic pop.
Umbrellas singer and leader Scott Windsor is in the same league as Semisonic?s Dan Wilson and Matthew Sweet,the songs are hauntingly beautiful and irresistable for the most demanding music ear!
Book a flight on Umbrellas airlines and experience a moment of body relaxation or in other words - supercharming music at your service!
Dear passengers,we?re at 20.000 ft and you can now enjoy the tunes of "The city lights" and "Broken ice" and many more songs from Umbrellas self titled debut in the headphones above your heads - it?s the captain Scott Windsor speaking so have a nice flight and the next stop is paradise bay! |
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Umbrellas has a real cool sound,they?re a bit spacey and psychedelic and at the same time alternative with a touch of modern pop.
You can find dance beats as well as Pink Floyd-esque keyboards in their music.
Their new album "Illuminare" (latin for light the way) is a short (only 34 minute long) atmospheric soundscape of music that is alive!
Why not describing the sound of Umbrellas like a garden full of harmonies where the voice of Scott Windsor will capture the listener from the opener "Boston white" to the last track "We fall".
The majestic "The king of you" is perfect for the arena,use the beautiful "Ships" in a romantic movie and it?s a guarantee that the combination will put tears in everybody?s eyes.
Close your eyes and be hypnotized by "We fall" or simply turn up the volume on your stereo and sing out loud to the tunes of the magic "Boston white".
If you loved the first album,this one won?t disappoint you in any way! |
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The debut from Swiss rockers Unchain brings nothing new to the music business,straight ahead hard rock like a mix of Cinderella,Krokus and Ac Dc but not with the same classy songs.
It?s an ok album and I bet they are a good cover band you can go out and watch at the clubs in Switzerland but their own material doesn?t excite me at all.
When it comes to non compromising rocknroll,bands like Backyard Babies and Beautiful Creatures has more to offer than Unchain.
The chorus on "Sabrina" sounds spooky close to "So lonely" with The Police....and that was the song I liked the most :-)
Buy it if you see it in a second hand shop! |
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Unchained is a new Swedish hardrock/powermetal act that released their debut album earlier this year and it?s a nice one too. The play a very nice mixture of hardrock/powermetal that lies somewhere between Iron Maiden meeting Hammerfall.
The vocals are handled by two singers Per Karlsson (6 songs) and Mattias Osbeck (3) and both has very similar voices to each other. I?m sure that both has Bruce Dickinson (Iron Maiden) and Joacim Cans(Hammerfall) as influences because in some moments I can hear traces of them in their voices. There are a couple of tracks that shines out more than the rest. Those are "The Analyst", "Ghost Of The Alchemic Hall" and "Theater Of Fear" (this is a great rocker with a strong chorus). The ballad "I Dream" is brilliant with a chorus that hooks you up.
I have been listening to this album a lot lately and there is something that hooks me up and maybe it?s because it?s not traditional powermetal. The production is very impressive with touches of a updated sound.
A very solid album that has nice moments. |
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Did you know that?
"green day" is a slang term for spending a day smoking marajuana. Billie Joe Armstrong wrote a song called "Green Day" about his first experience with the drug, and it soon replaced "Sweet Children" as the band´s name.
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