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Uriah Heep was originally called Spice back in 1968 but changed their name to the more famous Uriah Heep in 1969, 4 decades later and 30 million albums sold, the band is still going strong and they keep releasing live albums every now and then with "Live in Armenia" being their 13th live album. Their Uriah Heep Live from 1973 is the most classic one.
This is a double CD recorded in 2010 with songs based on their "Wake the sleeper" album from 2008 plus classic Heep tracks like "Gypsy", "Easy livin", "Stealin", "Look at yourself" but also the odd choice of "Sympathy" from the "Firefly" album. Unfortunately the Pete Goalby era is rather overlooked and we hardly ever get any songs from the early 80´s, I think the new songs from the Wake the sleeper album fit in nicely along with their biggest hits. But does Bernie Shaw know it´s 2011 since he´s talking to the audience to take their cames down all the time? Everyone´s filming concerts these days! |
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The second release from Spanish label Contante & Sonante records is like the first one (Steve Dorff,also reviewed on melodic.net) only printed in 1,000 copies so you better be fast if you want to be the proud owner of this limited edition.
The artist I?m reviewing is the Swiss songwriter and producer Urs second release "Somebody new" that features an impressive line up of musicians and singers,his first album "The real me" (1998) was released on Fastpeak recordings.
Urs has worked with a lot of the best known Swiss artists like DJ Bobo, Nubya and the Swiss Pop Idol show winner Carmen Fenk. He produced half of the album of Carmen Fenk in early 2004 and wrote one song for her.
"Somebody new" is a ballad oriented album in the same vein as Mark Williamson,James Ingram and Michael McDonald - on this album you will find excellent singers like the late Warren Wiebe,Michael Sembello,Frank ?dahl and Bill Cantos to name a few.
Some of the other great guests are Jay Graydon-Guitar,Michael Landau-Guitar,John Robinson-Percussion and Robbie Buchanan-Keyboards.
Urs Wiesendanger has not only produced the album,he has also written all the music and handles most of the keyboard parts himself.
I might not concider it as a westcoast classic but it?s definitely a good album that includes the standout tracks "Your love was special" (vocals by Sembello),"The final reason why" (vocals by Cantos) and "If only for a day" (vocals by ?dahl).
This album is dedicated to the loving memory of Warren Wiebe and to all the victims of the terrorist violence in Madrid a year ago. |
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| This modern rock band from Sweden could be the next big thing,the first single "You belong" from the upcoming album is a strong radiorocker in the same school as Avril Lavigne and Anouk with a real cool verse and a refrain that sticks like glue to your head. Even da 2nd track "You wantlove" echoes out hit all over and I would be very surprised if this won?t climb the charts. User is two girls(Linda Karlstedt -Vocals and Sussi Janjic-Drums) and two boys(Fredrik Land-Bass and Claes Olofsson-Guitar). Fredrik and Claes used to play with Martin Stenmarck in the band Lorien once upon a time. Linda has a good voice similar to Alanis Morrisette and Michelle Branch,these two songs looks real promising for the debut album we?re waiting to hear in March! |
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U-DAY is closing in,sept 24 is the day when the new
modern rock star USER will light up the sky and they could very well be Astronauts going up,and going up
they are but on the charts instead with their first two singles "You belong" and "Do you" making them being Radionauts and not Astronauts,?coz Radionauts go out on Radio and whenever they need fuel to stay
in a steady position on the charts......Hey!,they just
pick a new song from this awesome debut.
User is
fronted by the lovely Linda Karlstedt that is a natural talent with both her songwriting skills and her gracious voice,the raw but smooth axework from
Clas Olofsson makes User?s music ROCK for sure,bassplayer Fredrik Landh who started out as a drummer has the groove in him like he has played the 4 strings all his life and drummer Sussi Janjic hits
as hard as any guy.
I like the variation in the songs with all from beautiful and moving ballads like
"Fabolous","Right words" and the new single "To feel"
(that is so magical I get weak),adrenalin rockers like "Do you","Youth" and the opening track "Counting"
(which I can?t sit still to),and midtempo diamonds & pearls of modern rockers like "Hide"(my name is Donald Duck if that won?t be a hit),"Like that"(Avril
Lavigne herself would?ve wanted to be the composer),"If only I could"(so tastefully arranged and
packaged with an armada of gorgeous melodies).
I feel UUUUUUUUUUPHORIA with USER and I don?t lie when I say they are better than most of the female fronted modern rockbands in the world,so let me help you with getting the name into your head......
USERUSERUSERUSERUSERUSERUSERUSERUSERUSERUSERUSERUSER,who said Sweden only had Volvo,ABBA and Bjorn Borg?! |
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2003 was a busy year for the new hope of Swedish poprock music - User!,this quartet made up by the 2 females Linda Karlstedt-Vocals and Sussi Janjic-Drums and the 2 rock veterans Fredrik Landh-Bass and Claes Olofsson-Guitars released their critically acclaimed debut featuring 3 hit singles,the did some shows in France and the U.S,a full tour in Sweden plus supported Limp Bizkit in Stockholm.
Last year they concentrated on writing new songs for the 2nd album and in the summer of 2004 the band went in the studio to start the recordings,6 months later and a lotta hard work - the new album?s completed!
But there are many things that are different this time,the band has changed their name into User of a common name not to interfere with legal issues from a band in the states by the name of User.
The sound is also more powerful and more raw,the compact wall of guitars suits this band even better than the first polished album that was recorded in the famous Polar studios with producer Sank (Prime Sth).
I liked the sound of that album but I think their self produced new album actually shows the band?s real sound,the first taste of the upcoming album is this new single "Miss wanted" - an eastern
influenced pop agenda with a chorus that immediately gets stuck in the head and the non album track "Perfect day elise" which is
a PJ Harvey cover but Linda and Co has taken the song into new frontiers and will totally run you over with their deep impact of
superheavy guitars.
This appetizer only makes you hunger for more! |
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It took some time but now the long awaited second album from Swedish pop phenomenon User of a common name (formerly known as User) has finally been released in Japan,but it?s worth all 3 years of waiting coz we get 1 hour of mindblowing and luxurous modern rock in the highest division.
I am in love with Linda?s voice,she has the magic of spellbinding the listener with her angelic melodies and poetic lyrics.
On the first album,they were produced by Sank who did a fine job but I have to say that on "Freeway" - the band has done an even better job producing the album themselves with a sound that suits UOACN just perfect.
I don?t know how guitarist Clas did it,but there are no keyboards on this album (except for one song) and yet the guitars amazingly enough sounds like both piano and strings at the same time.
The single "Miss wanted" is ofcourse included here as well as the awesome and megaheavy cover of PJ Harvey?s "Perfect day Elise".
Imagine yourself riding a sporty cabriolet on the French riviera between St.Tropez and Monaco,that?s exactly the feeling I get when I listen to these 13 new songs - especially the hauntingly beautiful title track "Freeway",the mediterranean ocean breeze of "A widow?s grief" and the hopelessly romantic "St.Denise".
I would like to give the arrangements a world class rating coz just listen to "Run away" and be stunned of how the song is built up to skyscraper dimensions.
What can I say? One of this year?s best albums so far! |
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The new CD "Wishes" from User of a common name contains 4 new tracks as well as live recordings made in Japan on their last tour in 2006.
This package also includes a bonus DVD feat. 2 promo videos of "Don?t stop loving me" and "Miss wanted" plus 6 songs recorded live in Tokyo July 2006.
The live stuff is taken directly from the soundboard and it sounds raw, naked and a bit poor but also shows what a great vocalist Linda is on stage.
What makes this album so interesting is ofcourse the brand new tracks and once again, this band deliver classy pop/rock songs in a deluxe package of infectious melodies and a flawless production.
"It will always be you" and "I wish I could" stand out as really awesome songs while the more dirty rock of "Typical" takes a few spins to get into, "Should have been" has a mighty fine chorus but I?m not too fond of the reggee verse.
This album is only available in Japan but you can purchase it at amazon.com. |
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I can´t say I´m an expert when it comes to rock from Spain, I listened quite a lot to Baron Rojo in the 80´s and know of melodic rock bands like Airless, Bad Way and Eikostate. Even Panzer is a familiar name even though I didn´t listen to them, but other than that I´m all empty with knowledge around the music climate from this country. Now don´t come dragging with artists like the Iglesias family, we talk rock here! The band Uzzhuaia formed in Valensia the mid 90´s and is a new name for me but I noticed they have received rave reviews in mag´s like Kerrang and Metal Hammer of their previous releases.
Their debut 3000 grados came out in 2000 and this album 13 veces por minuto (13 times per minute) is their 5th album to date, I like their hard hitting rock a lot. This new album totally glow with high octane rock that will appeal to fans of Danko Jones and D.A.D. Just listen to "Magnifico fracasado" and you´ll understand what I mean. Crank it up! |
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Did you know that?
MEATLOAF got his name after he stepped on his football coach´s foot.
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latest reviews
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