The sandwich would have been better if there had been some jam on it

Kansas

I liked Kansas and I liked The Dixie Dregs.  You would think putting the two together would work.  Kansas’s prog feel with a Dreg boogie.  Instead Steve Morse plays wonderfully and Steve Walsh (A highly underrated singer) sounds great.  Blend them together you get a subpar pop metal that reminds you at times of late Rainbow.  (Which makes sense since Steve Morse is now in Deep Purple)  The Cd truly sounds like the two separate camps that make up the band.   2.0 mostly for Steve Morse’s playing

Howling

Okay you have a Black rebel Motorcycle club feel with a Jesus and Mary chain vibe going.  Why doesn’t it work?  Kept going back and felt the songs were weak and had little in them to draw me back.  Should have liked it but found it missing. 2.0

The Sun

A fun cd with some great guitar licks.  Catchy vocals and fine choruses.  The songs build nicely with a garage feel and the occasional yell.  Just a good little guitar pop cd. 3.5

Hothouse Flowers

Liam O'Maonlai has one of the greatest voices in rock music.  And live its even better.  Hothouse Flowers are one of the greatest concerts I have ever seen.  When I saw them ten years later they still tore up the place with just four people.  Too inspirational at times but I find their anthems are just great pieces of music.

Topic

I guess any time one gets to hear a favorite piece of music it’s a great thing.  It does seem that it does point out that the new music being presented by the artist might be lacking that relying on specific catalog to drum up interest.  In a perfect world an artist will keep growing that new and old would mix together in great listening experience.

I saw Queen with Paul Rodgers, Thin Lizzy with two different singers, Van Hagar and yes I think it’s a good thing.  Eventually the voice is going to go.  While other parts are replaceable because there are always talented instrumentalist who can fill the roll, the voice is on a time limit. The substitute gives the band to celebrate the music with old and new.  Of course the celebration can slowly blend into a bad tribute band.

Bands I am curious.  Queen with Lady Gaga would have been interesting, not sure on the Lambert thing.

White Hills

Not sure why this cd was made.  The songs are just an excuse for noise to be made.  No talent really anywhere to be found.  At times even the endless drone refused to fade to the background. 1.0

Foxy Shazam

Combine Elton John’s keyboards with the obvious Queen sound and you get one great cd.  Yes they steal heavily but they where it proudly and give us 13 great songs with Oh Lord just being brilliant.  Greta guitar fills, followed by keyboard runs, and the occasional horn make this big sounding record sound big, full, and energetic.   It easily could have been a sad knockoff; instead it was a triumphant piece of work. 4.0

Lynard Skynyrd.

Was never a big fan of Skynyrd (I always preferred Marshall Tucker and The Outlaws) but finding myself through the use of satellite radio hearing them more and except for Free Bird listening.  So was disappointed with the cd as a whole.  The playing is good the songs are okay, but the title track really is the only song that has legs.  Maybe I am just a fan of the hits.  2.5

Brad Brooks

A nice pop cd from someone who wears his influences on his sleeve.  Unlike Foxy Shazam he seems burdened by them and leads to a bit of sameness to the cd.  Not bad but probably going to listen to George Harrison before I pick up this again. 2.0

My induction speech would be given by Ginger.  I figure this man deserves to be famous and why not give a chance to be seen.  I figure everyone will be asking who the fuck is this guy that they will research his music and see how stupid they were by missing it in the first place.  Shouldn’t someone else benefit from my presence at an absolutely meaningless presentation.  Besides it probably would be pretty funny.

Interview James Dean Bradfieldd The leader of the only band I would love to see live and haven’t.  Figure the interview might get me some tickets.  Plus the bands history and his views would make a great afternoon.