Magnum Barcelona - In Concert - Before

Well, tomorrow at this time i will be few moments to enjoy the concert of the year, and i which i have great expectations...

Set list in previous cities look good, but not great.

It has given me the opportunity to learn news songs i was not familiar with, and initially i was deceived because 2 of my greatest songs: How Far Jerusalem and On a Storyteller's night are not included ... :-(

Anyway, the songs from the new record look great, songs from Princess Alice are great too, and a new song Don't wake the lion, seems to me like their Stairway to Heaven...

I hope to enjoy it so much... i am so anxious & nervous :-)

1987 - 20th anniversary

A cd+dvd. Special edition which was a real bargain. including:
-1987
-live in the hadow of the blues 4 tracks
-the videos trilogy (4 videos)
-live in the sill of the night (4 videos)
-nice and extensive booklet

Great to get. I will not say anything about this record, but if you like music and you havent heard this record, mark my words, make you a favour and you'll never forget the advise :-)

10/10 classic status

Sanctuary

And finally... :-)

It is not easy to write a complete review of this record. Still i am listening into it, and still i am appreciating every time new things.
Though it does not top their master opus (Forever in time) it is a great record. Forever, maybe, it is written so much in my head that I can't help loving it so much.
OK, after one week i have to say that i love Turn the tide (the best power ballad), the opener In Time, the mind poignant Playing God and the title epic song so-complicated-built-in, but fantastic anyway...
So high has a great vocals too and is a great speeder, curiously?
And now Touch the rainbow, a great rocker which was not instant hit...
I am very happy to see that vocals fit perfectly into Mantis. Though I do not consider Chris or Tino's having bad vocals, Mike has done a great job. I loved Tony's but Mike's are as good as Tony's.
Definetly it has Mantis signature and rest of bands need to do a great effort so i do not consider this one the record of the year :-)

...
3 months after...

beyond any classification. classic timeless

Prisoners in Paradise

Just like prisoners in paradise
Still far from heaven´s door
We had it all
but still we Wanted more
Now I realize that I can´t Turn back
the future´s here To stay
but hey We´re just children of tomorrow
Hangin´ on to yesterday

Nice verses from title track, the best of the record. Not a strong record as the first ones...

7/10 nice to have

Showtime

The Tour from You are Here record. The tour i finally went, and ended in the concert of my life.

An a nice way to celebrate it, making a 2 DVD with new recordings (with a little orchestra -a string quartet-: Profession of Violence, Love to Love, Try me...)... Impressive
The live part was recorded in Bochum (i think) and set list is nearly all Strangers in the night plus new songs from last records. I'd had pick others but overall, not bad...

Please more DVD like this one, with nice extras (interviews and so...)!!!

9/10 Great to live

Livin the dream

Great DVD which was almost impossible to find. And a double one. With old promo videos. And playing live On a storyteller's night complete. What more can you ask for?

Track List (DVD 1):
1. intro
2. brand new morning
3. backstreet kid
4. need a lot of love
5. soldier of the line
6. we all run
7. vigilante
8. kingdom of madness
9. sacred hour
10. how far jerusalem
11. just like an arrow

12. on a storyteller´s night
13. before first light
14. les morts dansant
15. endless love
16. two hearts
17. steal your heart
18. all england´s eyes
19. the last dance

Promo Video Tracklist (DVD 2):
1. ROCKIN` CHAIR
2. LONELY NIGHTS
3. IT MUST HAVE BEEN LOVE
4. DAYS OF NO TRUST
5. START TALKIN LOVE
6. JUST LIKE AN ARROW
7. HEART BROKE AND BUSTED
8. MIDNIGHT

to enjoy :-)

Into the Valley of the Moonking

At last It is mine. With a DVD with nice content (some live recordings) it was a great offer! That's the way we like it. Yeah!!

Now for the songs: I like mostly opener Cry to your self, If i ever lose my mind -great hypnotic rythm-, Noone knows his name and A face in the crowd. But Title track is very melodic, and the best song of the record... along with lose my mind

Honestly i expected more but truth be told i am more and more digging into it, and easily it will slip into the 2nd-3rd place of best records of this year along with Doro's Fear no Evil.

Negative point is booklet with no lyrics, but in DVD. My question, who will sit in the sofa reading the lyrics through the TV???

Now, just waiting to see them live and have a great selection on this one, Storyteller's and Princess Alice ... i have great expectations :-)

9/10 great to have

Girls Girls Girls

Girls Girls Girls from Motley Crue. Weak record, even recognized by Nikki Sixx. Only real worth Wild Side, You're all I need and maybe (only in concert) title track Girls Girls Girls.
You're all I need is interesting. You have to listen carefully to the lyrics, or watch the video.

The blade of my knife
Faced away from your heart
Those last few nights
It turned and sliced you apart
This love that I tell
Now feels lonely as hell
From this padded prison cell

So many times I said
You'd only be mine
I gave my blood and my tears
And loved you cyanide
When you took my lips
I took your breath
Sometimes love's better off dead

Really damned good

7/10 nice to have

esc4p3

ESC4P3 was the record which made take off Journey. And it was a change, not only of style but quality. Adding Jon Cain to the Perry-Schon duet, the brightness of the songs reached perfection the people finally loved them.
To my opinion Journey ballads, amongst Foreigner's are the best i've ever listened.
But not only they were able to do mid paced songs, beautiful ballads but hard and heavy rockers.
And solos, like the one in Who's crying now?... nice and impressive.
Don't stop believin', Open Arms, Still they ride, Mother Father, and a bit lower Stone in Love.

10/10 classic timeless

TMG I

Nice artwork, good guitars, great vocals.
This work from Matsumoto, Jack Blades on Bass and Eric Martin on Vocals is kind of supergroup.

My instant favourites are first track: Oh Japan our time is now, and the most impressive Everything passes away with dual alternate vocals from Eric and Jack, simple awesome.

Rest are good songs, with only one 'calmy' moment for the ballad 'Two of a kind'

My version includes DVD extra a couple of videos

8/10 nice to have

Out of this World

Ready or not but I waste no time
I'm headin' out with some friends of mine
Holdin' on to what we've got
Oh even if we're ready or not

Ready or not but they're back in town
The word is out that this time around
They'll be lettin' go with all they've got
Oh even if we're ready or not

3 great songs, big soft ballad tomorrow and rockers Ready or not and re-make of Open your heart...
The rest is unfortunately forgettable...

I have the red edition LP :-)

7/10 nice to have

Journey Greatest Hits

I couldn't help but buying this one, because of the price... All Journey's best. Not a weak song.
Here it is the full track list.
You do not know Journey? Go and buy this one. You'll love it, and then I'll bet you'll get more Journey records.

1. "Only the Young" (from Frontiers)
   
2. "Don't Stop Believing" (from Escape)
   
3. "Wheel in the Sky" (from Infinity)
   
4. "Faithfully" (from Frontiers)
   
5. "I'll Be Alright Without You" (from Raised on Radio)
   
6. "Any Way You Want It" (from Departure)
   
7. "Ask the Lonely" (from Frontiers)
   
8. "Who's Crying Now" (from Escape)
   
9. "Separate Ways (Worlds Apart)" (from Frontiers)
   
10. "Lights" (from Infinity)
    
11. "Lovin', Touchin', Squeezin'" (from Evolution)
    
12. "Open Arms" (from Escape)
    
13. "Girl Can't Help It" (from Raised on Radio)
    
14. "Send Her My Love" (from Frontiers)
    
15. "Be Good to Yourself" (from Raised on Radio)

10/10 Nice compilation, though Time3 is the best

High stakes & dangerous men

The record from the comeback: Way-Mogg. After this record they saw it was really needed Mr. Michael Schenker. Then there was the big reunion.
:-)

This one is nothing really special. There is not the magic i used to feel, even with their last record where only lasted Mogg.

Nothing special


6/10 for ufo die-hard

Bat out of Hell

What a great record, which i was able to know thanks to its second part (To Hell and Back).
It is rock and roll with a piano touch. Vocals are great and compositions are fantastic.

1. Bat out of Hell
2. You Took the Words Right out of My Mouth (Hot Summer Night)
3. Heaven Can Wait
4. All Revved Up with No Place to Go
5. Two out of Three Ain't Bad
6. Paradise by the Dashboard Light
* Performed by Meat Loaf & Ellen Foley
7. For Crying Out Loud

It is a must.

10/10 classic status

Queen

for a joy moment :-)

The Mob Rules

Kill the spirit and you'll be blinded, the end is always the same
Play with fire, you burn your fingers and lose your hold of the flame, oh

It's over, it's done
the end is begun
If you listen to fools...
The Mob Rules

You've nothing to say
Oh, They're breaking away
If you listen to fools...

Best songs are The Sign Of The Southern Cross, E5150, The Mob Rules and Falling Off The Edge Of The World...
But overall this is a weak follow up to Heaven & Hell...

7/10 nice to have

Solo in Soho

I love Phil Lynott's voice and composition in Thin Lizzy. So i tried this one to see him as solo artist. Well, this is not the best one, but at least a couple of great great songs: solo in soho and dear miss lonely hearts. And mention the quasi-techno Yellow Pearl... so a strange one.

When you are so low down in soho
There is no hope no how
No place to go
You will go along
Some people say I'm a crazy kind of fool
But be that as it may
You always treat me cruel
Solo in Soho

7/10 Nice to have

Wings of Tomorrow

This is a great record, mainly A side. Songs as Stormwind, Wings of Tomorrow and Scream of Anger are big rockers. The instrumental Aphasia is good as well. And the ballads Dreamer and Open your heart are great too. The rest are a bit weak, otherwise the record would have been absolutely fantastic.

Stormwind--you're just like a wind
Comin' to drag me away
Stormwind--what can I say
I just don't want you to stay

9/10 nice to have

L.A. Guns

I remember this one soo long ago, I really thought it had to be with GNR, and the artwork was cool, and the record was not much than 4€ today, so i tried it, and found a good record...
The style is dirty rock, as Appetite, so it is clear the guys (Tracii Guns and Phil Lewis) were more or less into the same vein of rock.


Angel mercy, tears like rain
Hurt so good, can't feel no pain
Paint it black, drives me insane
So far gone I'm not the same

You give me one more reason
One more reason to die



And the record had more than one gem One more reason: No mercy, One way ticket, bitch is back, sex action...
A bunch of memorable good rock songs.

8/10 great to have

Raise your fist and yell

Raise your fist and yell was my first lp from Alice. After hearing poison, I was quite impressed, so I thought I could have a try.

Well, well, well, this was the reborn from Alice...
my sister thought I was turning satanic because of prince of darkness, time to kill :-D :-D
and she did not know about roses on white lace and gail (maybe fry part II) ...
freedom, lock me up ...

In my eyes
Blood drops look like roses on white lace
They won't wash away
In my mind they're roses on white lace
Straight from the heart
So dead upon the bed




This sends me 15 years ago in time ...

8/10 great to have

Asylum

To be honest this is not a great record, but it has at least some great songs: Who wants to be lonely, Uh! all night and the power ballad Tears are falling. And I do not feel the same for the rest of the songs... so it is a weak record in my humble opinion...

I read your mind like an open book
You lost the fire in your eyes
You turn to me with a different look
And then it's raining, looks like it's raining

Oh no, tears are falling(x3)

Something is wrong as I hold you near
Somebody else holds your heart, yeah
You look at me with your eyes in tears
And then it's raining, feels like it's raining

They could have done it better... they are KISS!!

6/10 for die hard kiss fans

Long Cold Winter

Long Cold Winter is second opus from Cinderella. Main soul Tom Keifer. For me it is far better than Night Songs. There are 2 great track here i like to listen: Long Cold Winter, title track and the best Don't know what you got till is gone. This one is a superb power ballad, begining with a nice piano. This would make me check next opus Heartbreak Station which is their best record.

I can't tell ya baby what went wrong
I can't make you feel what you felt so long ago
I'll let it show
I can't give you back what's been hurt
Heartaches come and go and all that's left are the words
I can't let go
If we take some time to think it over baby
Take some time, let me know
If you really want to go

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nUA0ai0XxRU

8/10 nice to have

plug me in

i got of course, the 3dvd collector package. i understand there is no reason in this time in buying the normal package, if the special one is not prohibitive. so... . so much material to analyze.
but this has to be great! i cant understand why kissology should be Region 1, instead of doing like ACDC, Region 0. You can download it. There is no issue. But you will like to own it :-D

1st DVD, bon scott time
2nd DVD, brian johnson time

3rd DVD, addons

4

This was the record that made Foreigner explode. Urgent and Juke box hero are great rockers, together with ballad Waiting for a girl like you.

You're not shy, you get around
You wanna fly, don't want your feet on the ground
You stay up, you wont come down
You wanna live, you wanna move to the sound

Got fire in your veins
Burnin hot but you dont feel the pain
Your desire is insane
You cant stop until you do it again

10/10 classic status

One night at the Budokan

Great songs from MSG and MSG II. In a live way, perfectly executed by Flying-V axeman Michael Schenker. Vocals from Gary Barden, ok, just ok.

1. Armed And Ready
2. Cry For The Nations
3. Attack Of The Mad Axeman
4. But I Want More
5. Victim Of Illusion
6. Into The Arena
7. On And On
8. Never Trust A Stranger
9. Let Sleeping Dogs Lie
10. Courvoisier Concerto
11. Lost Horizons
12. Doctor Doctor (UFO Cover)
13. Are You Ready To Rock

This is a record to Rock with Big capital Letters

9/10 Great to have

Demorabilia

These are a bunch, well, quite more than a bunch raw recordings which never saw the light, and now they were rescued to please us :-)
The material here is most sung by Bernie Shaw -at least the songs i like most-, though there are several singers and different line-ups...
However you can find here some of the best NWOHM gems which never got enough appreciated.
Enough is enough, Nightmares, Raining in Kensington (absolute outstanding power ballad), the Story, The Horn (which would make Predator in Disguise), Top of the mountain, Heat of the moment (not the cover)...
I got it finally 2 years ago in ebay, so i am glad i could complete finally my mantis collection :-)

9/10 great to have

Live at Reading 1982 + Singles

This bootleg compilation is awesome.
It has:
-Cheated single. Just ok, 2 live versions, good, plus 30 pieces of silver.
01. Cheated
02. 30 Pieces Of Silver
03. Flirting With Suicide (Live)
04. Panic In The Streets (Live)
-Turn the tables single. Awesome. The title song, plus the soft perfect ballad and an instrumental, which will make next record PID
01. Turn The Tables
02. Tell Me Nightmare's Wrong
03. A Question Of Time
-Praying Mantis single. Ok.
01. Praying Mantis
02. High Roller
-Captured City single. Great song. Still fresh today. :-)
01. Captured City 02. Johnny Cool
and
Live at Reading 1982 (Bernie Shaw's on vocals), just awesome all of it:
01.Nightmares
02.I Know It
03.Tell Me The Nightmare's Wrong
04.Enough Is Enough
05.Turn The Tables
06.Flirtin' With Suicide











Definitively a great buy, raw sound, full of power and melody

10/10 brilliant

Throwing shapes

I couldn't understand Tino (or maybe it was Chris) that they'd prefer this record not to be released... Come'on, it couldn't be so bad!
And when I got it, I understood it partially. I mean, it is not a bad record, but it is kind of strange. Hold, I looove Bernie's vocals. He's great, but the songs, arrangement and interpretation they are a bit 'not-mantis-alike' ...
Best songs Enough is Enough and Back Street Lovers, though i prefer the Demorabilia interpretation from the first one... And for the second one, is a great song, but rather strange in Mantis legacy... what do you think?

This 'bootleg' i got it with the Sanctuary tape from Iron Maiden, which is a great work...

8/10 Nice to have

Only the children cry

This japanese version I have is a short EP. 4 songs. Not bad ones: Only the children cry, A moment in life, Who's life is it anyway and Turn the tables.
To be honest there is time since I do not hear this one... but overall is not bad.
This was done during the time 'another record, another singer' and Mark Thompson-Smith is not a bad singer but not a great one. Just average, and in my opinion I prefer vocals from Troy's brothers :-)

8/10 nice to have, great collectable.

To the Power of Ten

To the Power of Ten is the worst Mantis record. And it is not a bad one. But somehow i feel Gary's voice does not suit in Mantis legacy... in my humble opinion. Gary does great in his record "In Love and War" or all the old MSG stuff (Cry for the Nations, Attack of the Mad Axeman, On a on, Never trust a stranger, rock will never die...), but to me he is not the ideal voice for Mantis.
Anyway there are great songs: Welcome to my Hollywood (the best song), Don't be afraid of the dark, Victory, Only the children cry...

But I can't stand songs as Ball of confusion or title track, they are simply horrible :-(

Despite of being the weakest release, there are great songs.

8/10 nice to have