Good to be Bad

Not a bad record the last one from Whitesnake. I actually expected nothing, nothing really good.
But this is a solid piece of hard rock :-)
From the opener best years, the riff-melodic can you hear the wind blow, the ballad all i want all i need, the more accoustics summer rain and til the end of time.

Mr. Coverdale shows he is not in the best years, but after 20 years from 1987, he still is able to produce good enough material.

8/10 great to have

Slip of the Tongue

Why 1987 was so much successful -sold over eight million copies in the US-, and this one not, is a mistery to me. Ok, 1987 was teamed with great John Sykes, but Slip of the tongue was brilliantly perfomed by Steve Vai (check video with 3 axe-guitar) and compositions were nearly as brilliants as 1987. I guess it could be similar the comparision from Pyromania/Hysteria... maybe
Slip of the tongue, Now you're gone, Judgement day, Sailing ships -in a quite stairway to heaven structure-,



Fool for your loving, the slow The deeper the love...
the record is solid itself, not a one song-hit an that's all.
Slip of the Tongue sold three million copies and hit #10 in US and UK album charts.

10/10 classic status

Bounce

I confess i bought it for only 3€, because when I first heard it, I did not have paid proper attention, so I guess, here is another chance...
Now I have to say I like it a bit more: everyday, misunderstood, open all night, right side from wrong are good songs... quite different from Bon Jovi style -to my taste- , even Bon Jovi ballads ... but good songs! it is another kind of feeling, but at least I still recognise they are good... just was not expecting them.

And I am glad I did another listening!

Big rock up-tempo song is the title one: bounce!



8/10 nice to have

New Jersey

New Jersey is for me the most similar you can call a part II for Slippery. that is not bad. Here you can expect high rock anthems and bigger ballads.
side A is perfect:
Lay Your Hands On Me Bad Medicine Born To Be My Baby Living In Sin Blood On Blood
though it begins by the weakest song
from side B, there are 2 great songs worth of mention, Wild Is The Wind & I'll Be There For You
the other songs are fillers.

So it is a bit weaker compared to Slippery but clearly, a winner. i mean I would say there are 5 instant classic anthems in 1 record!! :-)

10/10 brilliant

Metallica -aka the Black Album-

The record that made Metallica become masive. the first record i bought from them. The first concert in my life. 21st Nov. 92. time ago, and long forgotten, but still I remember the adrenaline shot it was...

This record was a bit comercial, against the wishes from the hard-core die-hard metal-in-the-ears-to-the-limit, but I consider it in my opinion a fine heavy metal record.
Though it is true i prefer for rawness and aggressiveness Ride the lightning and Master of puppets, it is undeniable that songs like enter sandman, sad but true, the unforgiven, wherever I may roam, nothing else matters (the ballad!, Metallica playing a ballad!! with orchestra even!!!... so what ???) are great songs...

... and that night were performed awesome!!

Shame they were the heroes which turned into villians, but, that's another story...

10/10 brilliant

Ride the Lightning

For me this is the most melodico-aggresive from the SF band. This was a great furious sonic manifesto that stepped in history with capital letters. And only 8 songs!
Creeping death (based on the 10 Commandements film), fight fire with fire, the title track, for whom the bell tols, trapped under ice... and the power'ballad' Fade to black (for me always it has been Metallica's Stairway to heaven, and the escaped from being judged from suicide tendencies? wow :-) ) and the instrumental ktulu...



This is a perfect join of fury with melody, and state the greatness of a then growing band. They had it all to make it. And they made it..

Just to mention that thanks to Metallica i got to know Diamond Head which will become, at least for me, the real heavy metal Zeppelin successors.

10/10 classic status

Final Vinyl

This one is a compilation. 2LP. And I purchased it because I adored (and I still do) Rainbow.

Disc: 1
1. Spotlight Kid
2. I Surrender
3. Miss Mistreated
4. Street of Dreams
5. Jealous Lover
6. Can't Happen Here
7. Tearin' Out My Heart
8. Since You Been Gone
9. Bad Girl

Disc: 2
1. Difficult to Cure
2. Power
3. Man on the Silver Mountain
4. Long Live Rock 'N' Roll
5. Weiss Heim

Bad girl is the only significative b-side version which I didn't have and, performed by Graham Bonnet at vocals and jealous lover performed by Joe Lynn Turner. Some others are live.
absolutely no indispensable.

Strangely enough there is no song from Rising!.

8/10 just nice to have

Difficult to Cure

The cover is impressive and the record is awesome. As well, the third consecutive one with another different singer and another style, but behind the guitars Ritchie Blackmore and Roger Glover teamed brilliantly to produce great songs.
I surrender (from russ ballard), spotlight kid, can't happen here, the instrumental maybe next time, freedom fighter and the magnus instrumental difficult to cure (based in beethoven's 9th). Credit as well to the magnific voice from Joe Lynn Turner. and in following records we'll see he composes too.

Jokers and women they hang round your door
Theyre all part of the scene
Just like a junkie you've got to have more
Its a pleasure machine
And you fly every night
But the dressing room mirror dont lie
They love you but you're in love with the spotlight
You're the spotlight kid

10/10 classic status

Ritchie Blackmore's Rainbow

For me it is the weakest from Rainbow, however i cant give it less than 9 in a 10 scale.

The temple of the king, man on the silver mountain, catch the rainbow, greensleeves...

But lifes not a wheel
With chains made of steel
So bless me come the dawn
Come the dawn

Well, maybe it is a mellower record, and it was basically Elf band without their original guitar player plus Ritchie. The band got 'professional' with their next opus Rising.


9/10 nice to have

Straight between the eyes

Awesome cover. Great music as well. I do not love it as much as Bent out of shape, but it is very good. The song in this record for me is the ballad: Tearing out my heart.

First time I saw your face
By your side was the only place
That I would wanna be
Sometimes and I don't know why
Love can come or it can pass you by
Now you take all the love you gave to me
(you take it from me)
You're tearin' out my heart

Greatest rocker is Bring on the night -dreamchaser-. There are other great songs too: Death alley driver, power, miss mistreated and the other slow ballad, Stone cold, memorable as well.

9/10 great to have

Long Live RNR

This is a mythical record, as well as Rising.
from Dio era, there are 2 songs which can define it. One was Stargazer and the other one is in this record: Gates of Babylon. this song absolutely blows you away with its oriental styled melody ...

Move closer to me
I can make you anyone
I think youre ready to see
The gates to babylon

This record is rythmical but very melodic, and you can appreciate Dio's lyrics at maximum.
The intense Kill the king, long live rnr, la connection and the beautiful ballad (yes!, dio performing a ballad) Rainbow eyes.

It is well known Ritchie wanted to become a little bit commercial, or maybe he got tired from epic- fantasy theme... question is Dio went out to join Black Sabbath and the epic Rainbow period finished beginning the more commercial approach with Down to earth

For me, i love all classic Rainbow periods, that is 76-84

10/10 classic status

Rainbow rising

If you'd select the most significant record from Rainbow, probably you'd take rising. The cover is terrific, brilliant and powerful. And the music follows it.
The song above them all, Stargazer. One of the best epic songs ever done. All the song shines uniquely with Dio's voice and Blackmore's guitar out of this world.
Tarot woman, do you close your eyes, a light in black, run with the wolf and starstruck.
Only 6 songs in the records making history and influencing a whole generation... in 1977!

A very nice rendition of stargazer (Astronomo) is done by Barilari (Rata Blanca) -with lyrics changed to sing in spanish-

10/10 classic status

Bent out of shape.

Strange name, strange cover. Last studio record from Rainbow. Criminally underrated, this is true gem.

Though it is clear it does not follow the pattern from the first one, this one talks about love and it is a 'soft' record -does not talk about magic, dragons or is epic either-, if you want to say it this way. But for the music, it is A1 quality. I always loved the Turner-Blackmore team. Compositions were really fantastic.

Visions of artemis
Goddess of the moonlight
The spell remains unbroken
The lost and wrong now will begin the rite
of the fire dance

Cant let you go, street of dreams, the heavier firedance,
stranded, fool for the night...


I remember buying this lp soo long ago. That time you could not find it in cd.

10/10 classic status

Journey, The Ballade

This is only for die hard fans. A japanese ballad compilation.
I would not recommend this record for any other person who is not: collecting rare items or loves journey at his most.
This compilation can be done in-your-house

However, I can't deny it is nice, very nice and very precious collection item.

Open arms, faithfully, why cant this night go on forever, send her my love, who's crying now, pantienly, the eyes of a woman... all from Perry period, but without the Trial by fire last record.

And Journey will continue making heart feeling songs as long as Cain/Schon team is up and running :-)

9/10 nice to have

Electric eye

This is a fantastic compilation from Judas Priest:
-all the videos until Painkiller,
-the priest ... live tour (1986, Turbo tour), and
-bbc performances from the early 80s.

The Priest live turbo tour it is priest at its best. The performance of the sentinel is incredible... Rob voice extremely acute plus the duel of Glen and KK solos ... :-D

you can see it here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AgCe56T4HxU

There is no missing any essential song: electric eye, breaking the law, out in the cold, freewheel burning, screaming for vengeance, hell bent, living after midnight ... but the ripper

I only would miss also some comments from the members of the band. This would had help making the package awesome.

It has a mini booklet of 8 pages... There are dvd with less.

10/10 great to have

Historia & In the round in your face

I own singles, records, vhs and dvd from Def Leppard. This compilation is great.
Historia is all their video collection until Hysteria. Not as great as Kiss x-treme, since explanation is written on the screen, but nothing else. It could have been awesome, and it is just great.
10/10 great to have
In the round in your face is the concert they did in the Hysteria tour. Pyromania + Hysteria. I saw them in the '93 Adrenalize tour. It was not bad at all, but I liked too much pyromania and they only did 4 songs, forgetting the awesome stagefright.
8/10 great to have

10/10 nice to have

Let's mention as well 'the Def Leppard story' a film which is the story from Def Leppard until Hysteria. Awesome, I think every metal fan should see it. It is a film. It is well worth, really. Thanks to internet I saw it.

10/10 awesome

These days

After buying Keep the faith I thought Bon Jovi was a safe value. Why was it going to change?
Well, certainly there is an before and after since Keep the faith. Slippery and New Jersey were high anthem rockers. Here we have a more mature Jovi version... And it will continue to all their discs (we like it or not..)
But this record is solid, and it is good enough, but it is nost Slippery II (as it was New Jersey): Hey god, something for the pain, lie to you, damned, this ain't a love song, bitter wine..

Two of my favourite all-time bon jovi songs are in this record: These days and the supperb My guitar lies bleeding in my arms. Man, this song has a strength i have seen in few songs, honestly...

I can't write a love song the way I feel today
And I can't sing no song of hope, I got nothing to say
I can't fight the feelings, that are burning in my veins
I send this song to wherever you are, As my guitar lies bleeding in my arms

Of course it may not please to all fans.

This was a gift from my future wife... thank you love :-)

9/10 great to have

Fires at Midnight

Third one from Mr. Blackmore and Mrs. Night. And it seems the formula works.
Written in the stars and Fires at midnight are the best tunes from this again 16 medieval oriented tracks.
I do not undestand much the Bob Dylan cover, but, it is the privilege from the artists to choose which tunes do they want to play ...
I will continue buying these records as long as they keep on with the good music ...
They can not do a bad record, they'll just make another record.

8/10 nice to have

Under a violet moon

After shadow of the moon another folk with renaissance features.
It is not as good as shadow of the moon, but certainly does the trick. Under a violet moon and spanish nights are the best ones, but all of them nice tunes.

Silent she rose
From the cold desert sands
Painted in shadows
A dark caravan...

It is not Deep Purple. It is not Rainbow. However it is as good as these 'sacred cows' :-D
16 fantastic medieval-oriented tunes with spanish guitar.
And, of course, as Shadow of the moon, credit to this great voice from candice night, which I find one of the best female voices I've heard, credit also that she composes as well!

8/10 nice to have

Foreigner, live in germany

What happens when people who love the music make also the package for the music. This is an non-official, made for fans, for the fans. And it is awesome.
Full concert from 81 and 4 tracks from 85. 4 and agent provocateur tour. Indispensable.

My collectible version is DVD+CD, great! :-D

Both performances are pro-shot and the quality is outstanding. Foreginer at its very top.

Tracks for the 1981 show are:
Long long way from Home, Dirty white Boy,
Luanne, Cold as Ice, Waiting for a girl like You,
Feels like the first Time, Starrider, Urgent,
Juke box Hero and Hot Blooded
Tracks for the 1985 show are:
I want to know what Love is, Reaction to Action, Hot Blooded and Juke box Hero

Credit to fan 'sylum. Awesome work, guys!!

10/10 great to have

Remasters - Led Zeppelin

Some artworks will last forever. This one fits like a glove within misterious-mystical Zepp imagery.
Let's go for the music. I just can't remember when I bought this 2cd, but it is more than 15 years possibly.
Favourites I got then included Babe I'm gonna leave you, since I've been loving you, battle of evermore, stairway to heaven, kashmir, achiles and all my love.
My second coming will like dazed and confused, whole lotta love, rock and roll ...

Cons: again, no lyrics and nearly nothing, just 4 photos... And credits :-(

9/10 nice to have

Red, White and Crue

I am not big fan of compilations though I have several. But this one has 2cd + dvd. It was expensive. however it was well worth. The new single 'if I die tomorrow' was amongst the best songs in year 2005 for me. Also, I did not have anything from them except 'Shout'.

The dvd with the videos and extra stuff (videos are commented by Nikky and Tommy - even with subtitles ... record companies, learn!!) is my favorite.
In this cases I do not mind expending the money, since the thing I got in return is awesome...

Moreover this is the tour I went to see 'carnival of sins', and Ii bought the 2DVD as well -this one was 14€ reasonable- ... again, where is piracy here? one of the best startings of a concert, setting the stage on fire :-D

9/10 great to have

IV

If there is a song amongst any other, this one is stairway to heaven. And I wanted to own iv, zoso, 'no titled' or whatever you would like to call it. Led Zeppelin's fourth opus. But I wanted to hear it properly since it is kind of magnetism that I can't help but playing track 4 :-)
but at last I begin loving rock and roll, black dog and another track which has suprised me, going to california which seems more a quite enjoyable Plant's vocal exercice. battle of evermore was always a nice perfomance as well.
Everybody heard the infamous sentence you can play Stairway backwards and you'll hear satanic messages. Well, Swan Song Records issued the statement at the time saying:
"Our turntables only play in one direction—forwards".
Quite elegant to end controversy ... somebody to tell me as well how to play it reverse... :-D
so, despite my likes in the 70s music go more for UFO, Alice Cooper, KISS direction, ... i consider this one a master opus, and not only for Stairway... although this is Stairway's record.

What is the meaning of the song? It has many interpretations. The one I like the most is, the mind changing of a materialist person to a spiritual one, which is still in time to choose the correct path. Wonderful lyrics and melodies...


10/10 classic status

Revelation

And here we have a new journey vocalist. Arnel Pineda. It may seem you are hearing Steve Perry, it is unbelievable.
It is a record that made me forget 'generations'. I do not have anything personal against JSS, but honestly, the ones who love classical journey period can see clearly that voice didn't suit ...
New classics: where did i lose your love, after all these years and maybe what i needed.
These are the 3 songs for what is worth buying the record. My version is the nicest package, not only has the bonus CD with classics re-recorded, but the Live DVD (region 1 :-( ) with Las Vegas Concert... so it is well worth, and a steal price :-D ...

Somebody to explain me why in US, 11,88$ (2cd+dvd) and in europe 18€ (2cd) only ... :-(

Although for me it will not reach Trial by fire or Arrival, it is a nice recover from Generations.

9/10 great to have. Nice compilation.

Vox in excelso

Any saracen record is at least a very good one. Main guitar player composer Rob Bendelow and the strong Steve Bettney vocals are always awesome for me..
Can they top Heroes, sains and fools?... maybe one day.. Vox in excelso is a concept opus and although songs are independent they sing a story (of the templar knights). Some parts are spoken and that may lose some fans, but ... It is original, and in my opinion is nearly as good as Red sky.
Best song for me is title track and the rendition from meet me at midnight, but the whole record is a great one.

9/10 nice to have

Empires

This has been a record hard to find, now i own it :-D
Jimi Jamison has a very special 'aor' fantastic voice and quality of his songs ranks at top.
Cry tough and empires are between my favourites. the duet with Lisa Fraizer is outstanding. The rest is nice melodies.

empires may crumble, love will remain
constant and timeless, the endless refrain
empires may crumble, into the sea

I am always here is also the 'baywatch song'.

A plus is it has four bonus songs, 3 survivor covers and a last studio one. That is positive so potential buyers enjoy.

8/10 nice to have

Ballbreaker

This record belongs to the world tour I went to see ACDC, so it is kind of special for me... And it is true, you have to see acdc live once in your life, at least :-)
From here I like a lot hail caesar and the furor. Cover you in oil -good video!- and hard as a rock are not bad either. And I think big gun should have made it here ... :-(
I have to listen carefully yo this one, since I use to listen always same songs, and because this one a real bargain, I picked it up.
All my ACDC records are the remastered versions.

8/10 nice to have

Highway to Hell

My favourite song from ACDC was inside this record, touch too much. I cant understand why is not included in the concerts... Well, ok, I admit it is a personal one, as this record is full of A1 material; Title track, girls got rhythm, walk all over you, shot down in flames, night prowler ...
Believed as the finest record from acdc, if permited by next opus, back in black ... anyway to awesome records.
ACDC were able to replace the irreplaceable..

It was time since I wanted to have it in my collection, as it should be in every collection which deserves a little recognition.

A bunch of anthems that made history.

10/10 classic status

Let there be rock

What a record! Finally mine. I've never been so 'ACDC' since the concert, and that is 12 years ago ...
Well, this is a 8-track masterpiece, in which maybe there is one track i do not love it so much, the rest are awesome, and the ones that go usually live: let there be rock, hell ain't a bad place to be and rosie.
Title track for me it has always been misterious for me:
'...but Tchaikovsky had the news ...' because I love him and I do not believe in 'just luck'... why the hell did they picked Tchaikovsky?? answer: roll over Beethoven from Chuck Berry.
Anyway, classic status, for me this record made ACDC enter into history in Capital Letters.
Only little black point ... why only 8 songs ... :-(


10/10 classic status

Black Ice

Black ice. I count 12 years since ballbreaker, which was the tour I went to. And I still have to get the record. Sooon ... done!!
I bought this limited edition because I believe it will be a nice collectable, no more songs, just more photos and hard covers.
Rnr train, the more i play it the more i like it.
Big jack and anything goes are the best songs to me
and I begin liking war machine and wheels. But what i feel more is that Acdc were right, the record is a one-piece of solid rnr. They never have been my favourite band, but I cant help loving them just a bit more :-)

They did not compromise selling more songs on iTunes, because they like to sell it as it is one solid piece of rnr/hard rock. And I can't help loving them more and more :-D.. Am I repeating? ;-)

9/10 nice to have