Tag: rock
1 Stone’s Top Ten Rock Albums of 2011
Top Ten Rock Albums Of 2011 – This Top Ten Rock Album list comprises various genres, the likes of: Blues, Alternative, Rockabilly, Acoustic, New Wave, some shades of Hard Rock and of course, Rock itself. Isn’t Rock a grand blanket term for such incredible music diversity? I love Rock. Without Rock, there wouldn’t have been Heavy Metal.
If you are counting, there are actually thirteen Rock albums in this Top Ten list. Admittedly, compiling a “Top Ten” of anything is grueling for me, therefore the two “ties” below are as honest as I could ever possibly be, without pulling what hair I have left off of my head. Furthermore, I couldn’t resist adding Jeff Beck – Rock ‘n’ Roll Party/Honoring Les Paul as an “Honorable Mention”. It’s a good times, roots of Rock ‘n’ Roll listen, one that I’ve enjoyed time and again.
I chose the following Rock albums due to how memorable, fun and interesting they came across to my senses. The quality of Rock contained in these following albums, I simply revere. There are some elite musicians and bands on this list for certain. They all have proven to me just how diverse Rock ‘N Roll really is, with their respective albums. These are the Rock albums that I gravitated to and became inspired by most often during 2011. I highly recommend you check ‘em out, if you haven’t already.
Thank you for supporting Rock ‘N Roll and Hard Rock Hideout!
STONE’S TOP TEN ROCK ALBUMS OF 2011
Honorable Mention
JEFF BECK – Rock ‘n’ Roll Party Honoring Les Paul
(ATCO)
#10
AFTERLIFE PARADE – REBIRTH
(WATERMAIN)
#9
DARYL HALL – LAUGHING DOWN CRYING
(Verve Forecast)
#8
TESLA – Twisted Wires & The Acoustic Sessions…
(Tesla Electric Company Recordings, Inc.)
#7
CHRIS CORNELL – SONGBOOK
(Universal Music)
#6
GREGG ALLMAN – LOW COUNTRY BLUES
(ROUNDER)
#5 (Tie)
SOCIAL DISTORTION – Hard Times And Nursery Rhymes
(Epitaph)
#5 (Tie)
FOO FIGHTERS – WASTING LIGHT
(RCA)
#4
LOS LONELY BOYS – ROCKPANGO
(Playing In Traffic Records / LonelyTone Records)
#3 (Tie)
THE CARS - MOVE LIKE THIS
(Hear Music / Concord Music Group)
#3 (Tie)
RED HOT CHILI PEPPERS – I’M WITH YOU
(Warner Bros.)
#2
JOE BONAMASSA – DUST BOWL
(J&R Adventures)
#1
THE TREWS – HOPE & RUIN
(Bumstead Productions Ltd.)
Hope & Ruin took me by surprise in 2011. THE TREWS captured a Rockin’ vibe that made my mood soar anytime I listened to this album. Melodic songs that glisten lyrically and musically, Hope & Ruin can easily become someone’s Rockin’ companion. THE TREWS are that Rock band you need to know about. This band defies the illogical American Rock mainstream press, proving that exquisite and blue-collar Rock music does exist in places other than Billboard or Rolling Stone magazine.
When I listen to Hope & Ruin, I’m not hearing a Rock band that is out to prove themselves. I’m instead hearing a Rock band that created a complete album of songs, which is straight from their Rock ‘N Roll hearts.
* To read my review on Hope & Ruin, (posted on August 5th, 2011), click on the large header link below:
THE TREWS – “HOPE & RUIN”: A Rock Album of Solid and Memorable Songs
Thank you to all the Rock bands & musicians above! Happy Holidays & Happy New Year To All!
LONG LIVE ROCK.
Stone.
0 Free Download from Cherry Suede
No Tricks, just a treat! Get a free download of Cherry Suede’s song “In Pieces” at this link. If Vivian Campbell gives his approval, it has to be good right?! Check it out!
1 Gary Moore – Live at Montreux 2010 (2011)
Gary Moore is one of many musicians who was taken from us far too soon. When Gary Moore took the stage at Switzerland’s Montreux Jazz Festival last year, no one on Earth knew it would be his final performance there.
On the soon to be released CD ( Will be released September 20th, 2011) Live at Montreux 2010, Gary Moore puts on a one of a kind performance that no Gary Moore fan can afford to miss. In this set are three new songs, “Days of Heroes”, “Where are You Now” and “Oh Wild One” that Moore intended to record for an up and coming rock album. Live at Montreux is the only place where you will get to hear the new tunes. In my opinion, it is some of Gary’s strongest material in recent years, and while it is disappointing that he never got the chance to record these on a studio CD, I am grateful to hear them performed in a live setting.
The rest of the set on this CD is very good as well. You can’t go wrong with such Gary Moore classics like “Over The Hills and Far Away” and “Johnny Boy”. I have loved these songs since I first heard them way back in 1987, when I picked up the Wild Frontier album.
Gary Moore’s legacy will continue to live on through the incredible music he has left us. I am grateful to have such a cool live CD to close out the career of one of the best rock and blues guitarists of all time.
You can pick up your copy of Live at Montreux 2010 on CD at this link. Don’t miss it!
Rating: 
Out of 10
Track Listing:
CD:
1. Over The Hills And Far Away
2. Military Man
3. Days Of Heroes
4. Where Are You Now?
5. So Far Away/Empty Rooms
6. Oh Wild One
7. Blood Of Emeralds
8. Out In The Fields
9. Walking By Myself
10. Johnny Boy
11. Parisienne Walkways
Gary Moore Band is:
Gary Moore – Guitar and Vocals
Neil Carter – Keyboards, Vocals & Guitar
John Noyce – Bass
Darrin Mooney – Drums
2 Nazareth – The Newz (2008)
NAZARETH “THE NEWZ” – CLASSIC HARD ROCK FROM 2008 NEVER SOUNDED SO GOOD!
Back in 1971, Nazareth, a bluesy Rockin’ band from Dunfermline, Scotland, released their self-titled debut album on Warner Bros. Records. Fast forward to 2008 and Nazareth is still going strong, with their Classic Rock colliding with Hard Rock and mixed with a blues influence that so pronounces their musical style. The Newz was released on March 31, 2008, on Demolition Records. There are many great albums that have been released in the last few years, “The Newz” is a great Hard Rock album, one that needs to be re-introduced to our loyal Hard Rock Hideout following! As I write this, I am jumping up and down and stomping my feet in Classic Hard Rock glee, that’s how emphatic I am about Nazareth and “The Newz”. Alright, I might not be stomping my feet.
Ten years removed from the last Nazareth studio album, (1998’s “Boogaloo”), “The Newz” reinstates that this band still has a full tank of Rock ‘N’ Roll gas and enough Old School vibe to shake and stir the Classic Rock Gods from their slumber. With original members Dan McCafferty on lead vocals and Pete Agnew on bass, along with longtime member Jimmy Murrison on guitars and Lee Agnew on drums, this is Nazareth… present day, circa 2008 and they don’t stray from their bluesy-Hard Rock ways. Lee Agnew is Pete Agnew’s son, (Lee replaced original drummer Darrell Sweet upon his passing away in 1999). 2008 was a year which in which Nazareth celebrated their 40th Anniversary of Rock ‘N’ Roll, as truest and revered a milestone any band in the land could ever hope for.
Onto the songs heard on “The Newz”… “Goin’ Loco” kicks off this Nazareth Rock party with all the free-spirited energy that this legendary band has been so famous for. To say this song is groovy is an understatement, the guitar licks from Jimmy are stuff that would make Prince himself proud and any guitarist out there knows that’s a compliment. “Goin’ Loco” is a perfect opener for “The Newz”, establishing that Nazareth still maintains and glorifies that Classic Rock attitude and sound.
“A Day At The Beach” just might be the most happy song I’ve ever heard from Nazareth, alongside “May The Sunshine” from their iconic 1979 album – “No Mean City”. Truth be told, I listened to “A Day At The Beach” while driving in many snowstorms the past couple of years… and this song literally made me feel like Summer was just a day away and everything really was alright. A fun, melodic and instantly memorable song that is supposed to lift one’s spirits. Oh… this song Rocks too.
From “Goin’ Loco” straight through to “Dying Breed”, I applaud and raise my horns to the air for the vocals of Dan McCafferty. In my most honest opinion, Dan has NOT lost a single step in his voice, making each song trademark Nazareth, just due to his vocals alone. “Liar” is easily the heaviest song on “The Newz”, with Jimmy delivering the Heavy Metal riffs coupled with some funky laden leads. With Pete and Lee pumping up the beats on the rhythm section, I find myself “banging thy head” to “Liar” without any sense of control.
“Warning” takes over where “Liar” left off. Whoa… this song could have been a hit in ANY decade of Nazareth Rock ‘N’ Roll. “Warning” should be played on mainstream FM just to highlight what REAL Hard Rock sounds like, Old School and brandishing all the Hard guitar goodness that this genre was built upon. Jimmy ignites “Warning” at the closing with an impressive guitar solo that leaves me wanting more of that cool stuff. “Loggin’ On” is a catchy Hard Rock song that lyrically puts a reality check on the world of the internet and how people can waste their life away by “Loggin’ On”.
Overall, it is very difficult for me to choose a “favorite” song on “The Newz”. This dilemma only deepens when “Mean Streets” gets it’s Hard, Heavy and Funky Groovin’ sound cranked up to the maximum level. Yes Virginia, there is some consistent Funk in that guitar of Jimmy’s. “Mean Streets” title may fool you, however, it is a song that can be enjoyed loud while doing a psyche-out dance by yourself, with no witnesses… of course. “Dying Breed” is a haunting, Hard & Heavy epic, clocking in at 13:23, don’t think for one second Nazareth has lost their flare for some sinister Rock ‘N’ Roll! Just when you think this song has neared its end… keep this CD playing… for “Dying Breed” is a creeper and a keeper!
“The Newz” carries it weight with the utmost musical integrity of its songs. “Road Trip”, “The Gathering”, “Warning” and “Liar” are the heavyweights, with “Gloria” being the ultra-cool and reflective ballad and “A Day At The Beach” reinstating the “fun-side” to Hard Rock. Mix in the underrated guitar play of Jimmy Murrison and the astute drumming of Lee Agnew, coupled with the legendary Pete Agnew on bass and the sandpapered vocals of Dan McCafferty… and you have one ultra solid, Classic Hard Rock album, one that rises from the pack for this lifetime Nazareth fan and Rock ‘N’ Rollaholic.
Setting any Nazareth fan bias I may bestow aside, “The Newz” should not disappoint those looking for a quality album of songs. This is a Hard Rock album that is a throwback to those days when creating songs really did matter, days when those overly glorified radio hits were just a shot in the dark.
Rating: 
Out of 10
Track Listing:
- Goin’ Loco
- Day At The Beach
- Liar
- See Me
- Enough Love
- Warning
- Mean Streets
- Road Trip
- Gloria
- Keep On Travellin’
- Loggin’ On
- The Gathering
- Dying Breed
NAZARETH ARE:
Dan McCafferty – lead vocals
Pete Agnew – bass guitar, backing vocals
Jimmy Murrison – guitars
Lee Agnew – drums
2 Get To Know The Answer! HRH Interviews The Answer’s Cormac Neeson
If you have been a regular reader at HardRockHideout.com, you have heard me carry on more than a few times about this awesome new band from Northern Ireland called The Answer. Hard Rock Hideout recently had the pleasure of speaking with The Answer’s Cormac Neeson. We talked about the history of The Answer so far, the bands’ current tour with AC/DC, and their soon to be released album. Take a few minutes, and get to know The Answer!
The Answer is:
Cormac Neeson – Lead Vocals
Paul Mahon – Guitar
Micky Waters – Bass
James Heatley – Drums
HRH: Tell us a little about the history of the Answer. How long have you been together?
Cormac Neeson: We have been together close to eight years. We got together. Originally it was Paul Mahon’s idea to get a band idea together to play this hard rock like we are currently playing. They have been in out of different bands from fourteen years of age. They wanted to do it right this time. They got in touch with me. I was back in America at the time. I was working in a pizza place in New Jersey. They sent me a letter and said if you are coming home any time soon to look them up and get the band up and running. As luck would have it, I was heading home a month later to enroll in the University. As it turns out I was in the same class as Paul, which was quite a bizarre twist of fate. So we got a practice organized and got James on board on drums, and after that we haven’t really looked back since.
HRH: It almost sounds like it was meant to be.
Cormac Neeson: It sounds like it yeah, I am afraid so. (laughs).
HRH: Who are some of the key influences in your music?
Cormac Neeson: Key Influences would included a lot of late 60’s and 70’s rock and roll bands, like Led Zeppelin, The Who, and The Rolling Stones and stuff like that, but also I suppose The Black Crowes and a lot of varying influences. Paul is into the 80’s metal. We all have different influences, but the music we play is kind of where we all meet in the middle.
HRH: Are you listening to any of the current artists that are out there today?
Cormac Neeson: I suppose today we are into bands like Queens of the Stone Age, The Raconteurs. Any bands that are playing the hard style of rock and roll we would be in to.
HRH: How do you think the music scene differs in the United States as compared to Ireland?
Cormac Neeson: I think there are a lot more choices in America. I think a lot of that has to do is the number of radio stations playing the different genres of music over here. At home everybody listens to two or three of the same radio stations and thats about it, you know. Definitely there is a lot more diversity, which is very healthy, I think at home. A lot of people kind of fall into specific categories that are heavily influenced by whatever radio DJ they are listening to. Over here you have so much choice. People tend to make up their own minds, which is a very good positive thing I think.
HRH: I first found out about The Answer when you won Classic Rock Magazine’s Best New Band of 2005. What was it like receiving such a cool award, and how has that affected your career so far?
Cormac Neeson: That was great. That was the first taste of success that the band had. We haven’t even released our first album at that stage, it was all based on a couple of EP’s that had been released before hand. I suppose more than anything else, it was a great boost and great encouragement, and obviously it got us a lot of positive press off of the back of it. It was a nice platform, from which to release our debut album and kind of take things from there. It was an enjoyable experience that I can look back on. I got to meet Jimmy Page that night. It was great.
HRH: Prior to your tour with AC/DC, you have played with Whitesnake, Aerosmith, Deep Purple, The Who 
and in front of 80,000 people with the Rolling Stones in Serbia. What has it been like playing with so many classic hard rock acts?
Cormac Neeson: It has been amazing. If I had to pick a favorite gig that we have played, that would probably be it. The sheer number of people, standing and clapping their hands. It was breath taking. It was as far as the eye could see. Up to this point, we haven’t managed to play for more than 80,000 you know. The fact that is was supporting the Rolling Stones you know, I mean The Rolling Stones and AC/DC are probably the two greatest rock and roll bands still currently touring. It was unbelievable and breath taking.
HRH: How have these bands reacted to your music? Have they given you any advice?
Cormac Neeson: Different bands react in different ways. Some bands like to keep to themselves. Other bands like to take us on, and take us in as part of the family. AC/DC is one of those bands. Brian Johnson is consistently coming in to the dressing room and making sure that we are all right, and having a good time. When we toured with Whitesnake we were made part of that touring family which was great, you know. A band is going to give you advice, it is always to keep our heads down, to not to do many drinks and drugs. The usual kind of stuff. It is nice to know we have friends in high places that keep an eye on our progress.
HRH: When did you find out that you landed the AC/DC tour, and what was your reaction?
Cormac Neeson: We found out literally, two weeks before we packed our bags and headed for America. It was a whirlwind. It was an unbelievable shock for the band, but obviously a great shock. One day we were in London recording B-Sides for a future single. He took us out for a pint and sat a paper face down on the table in front of us, and said boys, I have some band news. You can’t do the European tour that we had planned for you this November. I said “Why”, he said flip that page over and you will find out. There were 42 dates on the page with AC/DC for all of across America. It was a real cause for celebration. It happened so fast we really haven’t had time to step back and think about it all. We have a week and a half off at Christmas. We will take stock of where we are at. This is a great opportunity, and hopefully we will make the best of it.
HRH: You were supposed to go on tour with Black Stone Cherry before the AC/DC tour weren’t you?
Cormac Neeson: We were yes. That was the initial plan, but obviously you can’t turn down a band like AC/DC if they ask you to come on tour with them. Black Stone Cherry are a great band. We were very much looking forward to that tour, but it wasn’t meant to be.
HRH: How have the U.S. fans reacted to your live show?
Cormac Neeson: Very positively. I think the cold weather, the rain and the wind, helps get everyone into the arena. We are playing to 80 to 90 percent in arenas every night. We were told and warned in fact that the support slot for AC/DC is no easy task. They haven’t played here in 7 years or whatever it is. You expect crowds to be very impatient. We have been getting standing ovations every night, and a lot of hits on our myspace, and a lot of positive stuff. We seem to be really devolping a good solid fan base over here, which is great considering this is our first tour of America.
HRH: Last Christmas you performed with Paul Rodgers at the Planet Rock Christmas party, which you later turned into a live CD later on. How did that opportunity come together, and what was the experience like playing with Paul?
Cormac Neeson: It was a dream come true for myself. Paul Rodgers is probably my greatest influence as a singer. It all came together, just a lucky coincidence really. Paul Rodgers was supporting Led Zeppelin the night before our gig in London. He got word that we were playing, and said he wanted to come down. We suggested that he get up and do a song or two. He came down, and we rattled through “Mover” and “The Hunter” during soundcheck, and decided we would give it a go. We had a great gig from the offset, and the fact that Paul got up and did two songs with us was amazing. It was also great that we caught it on tape and could release it as an official bootleg. It was nice to have that part of history documented.
HRH: Why did you choose to release the Never Too Late EP instead of your CD “Rise” in the U.S.?
Cormac Neeson: Unfortunately we tried very hard to get our first album released over here, but we just couldn’t get the label to get a date over here in time to release it. By the time we released Never Too Late a few weeks ago, we have our second album ready to go with the released date of 17th of February. Rather than release two albums in such quick succession, we thought we will release an EP, and whet peoples appetites a little bit. Then we will hit them with a full album in February. People can always go back to Rise if they like what they hear. Our opinion is the second album is better than the first, so why not give America the best we have to start with. Then people can trace us back to our roots.
HRH: Do you foresee Rise getting a release in the United States at a later date?
Cormac Neeson: I am sure it will be released later on down the road. We don’t want to short change our audience. We will keep putting out fresh material. If there is a demand for it, we will put it out there.
HRH: You recently had a couple of your songs used in the video games Guitar Hero World Tour, and Pure for the Playstation 3. How did that come together?
Cormac Neeson: To be honest, I don’t really know, their must be somebody in the gaming industry that likes the band, and puts our songs in those games. That is an unbelievable opportunity to get our name out there. Guitar Hero sells millions and millions of copies worldwide. In fact on the AC/DC tour, coming in every day, I hear “hey man I was playing your songs on Guitar Hero last night, drinking beers”. Between that and that AC/DC tour, and our new album, it is all coming together nicely for us.
HRH: It sounds like 2009 could be a big year for the Answer.
Cormac Neeson: I have my fingers crossed. (laughs)
HRH: You have a new album coming out in February. What will the new album be called?
Cormac Neeson: The new album will be called Everyday Demons.
HRH: What was the writing process like for the new disc?
Cormac Neeson: It was very positive, and completely different from the process of the first album. Obviously, every bands’ first album is going to be a collection of tunes basically dating right back to the very beginnings of the band. In our case we had three or four years worth of songs to choose from. In contrast, this album was written in six months just before last Christmas. As a result it is a lot more consistent, and a statement that we are trying to make is a lot more fluent. The band is captured where we are right now in our song writing, musical ability and everything like that. It is a true statement where The Answer are currently at. It is good.
HRH: How long did it take you to record it?
Cormac Neeson: It took us two months. We did 5 weeks in L.A., we did a couple of weeks pre-production before we came to L.A. and then Paul did some more guitars in London for about a week and a half on the way back from America. It was very intense and very hard work and not a lot of breathing space, but the end result was well worth it.
HRH: With so many cool videos under your belt already, do you have videos planned for the new record?
Cormac Neeson: We actually just made a video for a song called On and On, which is the third track on the album. It is going to be the first single on the album. We had a gig in East Rutherford, New Jersey recently. We had the day off the next day, and went to Brooklyn to a big studio and set up a lot of different backgrounds, and shot a video for On and On. It was great you know. I got to a lot of work with a with a beautiful model which is never a bad thing.
HRH: Do you know when the single will be released?
Cormac Neeson: It is currently out there, I think the video we are planning to launch the video in a couple of weeks time.
HRH: What do you feel are some of the highlights of your career so far?
Cormac Neeson: Nothing is bigger than the current tour we are on, but as we already mentioned the Serbia gig with the Rolling Stones, we got to meet them as well, they are living legends you know, signing with Paul Rodgers and supporting Paul Rodgers in the Albert Hall was amazing. We always really enjoy getting out on tour for ourselves. We would like to be playing for an hour forty or an hour fifty minutes, getting to really entertain the audience for long stints of time. We did a couple of tours in Australia and Japan which was a great experience. It is always great to get back to Belfast at the end of a long tour to do homecoming gigs.
HRH: How long do you expect to be on the road with AC/DC?
Cormac Neeson: We honestly don’t know, we are hoping that they will give us some of the European bits. Nothing has been confirmed yet, so we can’t really presume that we are doing that. We are on tour with them until the end of January all across America. If that is all we get, we will be happy with that, but obviously if we get some more gigs, we will be even happier. (laughs)
HRH: If not, hopefully you can come back to the U.S. and do a tour of your own.
Cormac Neeson: Absolutely, as soon as we come off of tour with AC/DC, we are going to start having to do tours of our own in America, and Europe and Japan and Australia. It is going to be a very busy couple of years.
HRH: What would you like to tell all of your fans?
Cormac Neeson: I would like to say keep your ear to the ground, and don’t forget about us. Check us out. If you are into your rock and roll, we are a good honest hard hitting rock and roll band. I think you will enjoy us very much. I hope to see you very soon at a gig of our own, where we can entertain you for a couple of hours, and have a few beers with you after the show.
0 Negative Space – Storylines (Release Year – 2008)
Negative Space is an unsigned alternative rock act out of Lancaster, PA. Their new CD, “Storylines” is a little lighter than some of the discs I have been listening to as of late, but it does seem to have a mix of styles which makes this an interesting listening experience.
Some songs such as “Diaries“, “Fairweather”, “Right Time” and “Falling” have just enough of hard guitar licks to keep me interested.
“Fairweather” is a tune that I could easily hear on modern rock radio. It is a song that could have some hit potential for Negative Space, if it gets enough airplay.
For whatever reason, “Falling” reminds me a lot of Nickelback. I could easily hear Chad Kroeger singing this song. It is very much in that vein.
The music on this “Storylines” sounds like a blend of many of today’s rock acts including Breaking Benjamin, Jimmy Eat World and maybe even a dash of Anberlin.
Josh Nice is good vocalist. His style and sound falls more into the Pop/Rock genre, but his vocals are well suited for the music on this disc.
Although I prefer my music to be more on the harder side, I believe “Storylines” is pretty good. It shows the raw potential of Negative Space. With a little help, these guys could be destined for big things!
You can pick up your own copy of “Storylines” at CD Baby.com. Check them out at myspace at this link.
Rating:
Out of 10
Track Listing:
1. Diaries
2. Fairweather
3. Honestly
4. Ashes
5. Right Time
6. In Sickness and in Wealth
7. Falling
8. Lights Out
9. Need
10. White Houses
11. Almost
12. We Are
13. Abigail
Negative Space is:
Josh Nice – Vocals
Rick Lienhard – Guitar
Britain Roda – Guitar
Mark Reinmiller – Bass
Jimmy Everly – Drums
1 DR2 Records Signs I Hate Kate
DEMOLITION RECORDS imprint label, DR2 RECORDS has put pen to paper and snapped up “I HATE KATE”
I HATE KATE, from Huntingdon Beach California, will be releasing their debut album “EMBRACE THE CURSE” on their new DR2 label imprint this Autumn.
The act, fronted by former ZEBRAHEAD guitarist and vocalist JUSTIN MAURIELLO are also set to announceEuropean tour dates this Autumn to coincide with the albums release.
The band are already receiving great reviews in both the US and Japan where the album seems to already begathering a momentum of its own.
ERIC COOK, Label Manager of DEMOLITION / DR2 RECORDS said:
“We cannot believe we were lucky enough to sign this act for Europe when so many labelswere chasing them.Every song on the album is a winner and for us this act definitely showcases everything we are trying to do withour new DR2 imprint which is all about finding great new artist “
I HATE KATE’S “EMBRACE THE CURSE” will be released on DR2 via Plastichead distribution on September 29th.
3 Harlow – S/T (Release Year – 1990)
Back in 1989, When Black ‘N Blue broke up, current KISS guitarist Tommy Thayer was looking for a new band/project to join. His associate producer from the Black ‘N Blue Album, In Heat, Pat Regan had recently signed singer/songwriter Teresa Straley.
Thayer agreed to play the guitar on this new group which would become Harlow. Most of the songs were already written by the time Thayer came in, but his guitar work certainly helped to improve the songs on this disc.
Harlow recently announced that they were reuniting and will be playing at Rocklahoma. I had to scramble to find a copy of this record. I originally owned this on cassette back in the 90’s but did not replace it until now. I recalled liking this band, but couldn’t remember much about the songs or the music.
What is even funny, is that I found out after the fact that this is NOT the Harlow that will be playing on the Retrospect Records stage at Rocklahoma. There was a second band with the same name from Kansas City, that will be reuniting for this gig (and I thought this band was obscure).
Much to my surprise, the most powerful instrument in Harlow is not Thayer’s guitar, but is the voice of Teresa Straley. Her style reminds me of a cross between Lita Ford and Heart’s Nancy Wilson. She has the ability to let loose with a powerful metal screams, and then sing with a very clean sounding voice. Thayer’s guitar work shines on this record, but he definitely takes a back seat to Straley on this disc.
The music on this disc fluctuates between early 90’s hair metal and AOR, but it is highly listenable. Some of the best songs on this disc are Chain Reaction, Empty, Cry Murder, Beyond Control (which was dedicated the family and friends of Pan Am Flight 103) and Pictures.
This disc can be found for very little cash at Amazon.com, and is worth grabbing if you are a fan of early 90’s rock.
Rating:
Out of 10
Track Listing:
1. Chain Reaction
2. Silence
3. Don’t Say We’re Over
4. Empty
5. When You Love Someone
6. Cry Murder
7. No Escape
8. Beyond Control
9. Pictures
10. Edge of Love
Harlow is:
Teresa Straley – vocals
Tommy Thayer – guitars
Pat Regan – keyboards
Todd Jensen – bass
Steven Klong – drums
6 Sink or Swim Video – The Mooney Suzuki – 99%
Check out The Mooney Suzuki’s video, 99%. You decide, SINK or SWIM!
If it Swim’s, we will review it at HRH.
1 Congratulations David Cook!
Congratulations to David Cook for winning American Idol Season 7. After seven seasons, finally a rock guy wins American Idol. Cook won over David Archuleta by 12 Million Votes.
Some of the highlights from David Cook’s performances are below!
Performing The Beatles Day Tripper (Whitesnake Arrangement)
Performing Lionel Richie’s Hello
Performing Free’s All Right Now
Performing Aerosmith’s Don’t Want To Miss A Thing
Performing Bon Jovi’s Living on A Prayer
3 New Video – Ashes Divide – The Stone
With the release of their debut album, Keep Telling Myself It’s Alright coming on April 8th, ASHES dIVIDE have released a widget that features the brand new video for “The Stone.” The clip was directed by PR Brown who is known for his work with Smashing Pumpkins and Death Cab For Cutie among many others.
ASHES dIVIDE will be taking the stage on Saturday May 17th, 2008, at the Rock On The Range Music Festival, in Columbus, Ohio.
5 New Video – Disturbed – Inside the Fire
Disturbed have just unveiled their video for “Inside the Fire,” the first single from the forthcoming, Indestructible, which hits stores June 3rd. The video was directed by Nathan “Karma” Cox who has also helmed videos for Bleeding Through and HIM among others.
Both the lyrics of “Inside the Fire” as well as the video’s storyline tell the real life tale of a suicide that personally affected Disturbed vocalist, David Draiman. Knowing the pain and sensitive nature of the subject Draiman precedes the video with a public service announcement for the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline.
0 Pop Rocker Sabrina Korva Releases Debut at NXNE
Sabrina Korva was born to rawk!
21-year-old Sabrina Korva was performing at age 7, on stage singing a duet with Bryan Adams at 13 and co-writing with successful hit makers throughout her teens. This stylish singer/songwriter is about to release her debut EP Hold Onto Myself with songs produced by Jim Huff (Edwin, Headstones), Mike K, CJ Eiriksson (Matchbox 20, Rob Zombie), and Michael Raphael (NEVE).
The title track “Hold Onto Myself” is one of Korva’s favorites. “It’s the most fun to play live. It’s basically about someone who’s completely lost their soul and control of their life. It’s a topical theme I think everyone’s seen at some point.” “Suffocated” was the first song Korva wrote with songwriter/guitarist/producer Jim Huff. “The chorus was one of those magical ones that write themselves,” says Korva, “it was literally one of us playing the guitar, him singing the first line of the chorus, then both of us singing the rest of it together. For the first time, we both heard the exact same thing at the same moment, it was just meant to be.”
In addition to the incredible producers and songwriters that contributed to her new EP, Korva has worked with Todd Kerns (Static In Stereo, Age Of Electric), Chin Injetti (Snow, Moka Only), Mark Olexson (Matt Good, 54-40), Dean Truitt (Color), Riche Zahniser (SouthBase), Curt Cuomo (KISS, Eddie Money, John Corabi), Kelly Moneymaker (Expose, Days Of Our Lives), Jason Rowe, Derek Schram (Juice), Sean Kelly (Crash Kelly), MOBILE and Gary Slayton.
Although Korva is greatly influenced by classic rockers Aerosmith, Rolling Stones, Queen, Heart, AC/DC, Guns n Roses and Bon Jovi, she studied classical piano (and some jazz) for 10 years at The Royal Conservatory Of Music. With determination Korva also juggled high school, figure skating, ballet, voice lessons, flute, bass and guitar. Recently graduating from BCIT’s Radio Broadcasting program, working on air at Evolution 107.9 FM and attending festivals like Canadian Music Week for many years, she is learning the behind the scenes music business to prepare for her career.
Korva’s songwriting style has progressed over the years. “I started out writing pop in my teens, then I got into classic rock and wrote a lot of punky rock songs, and of course went through a metal writing phase,” says Korva “now I’m writing a lot of pop/rock again. My style has always been influenced by writers I’ve worked with and whatever music I’m listening to at the time, so now it’s just a mix, and I’m more versatile. I love writing, music and melodies especially.”
A regular performer at CrueFest in Hollywood at the Whisky A-Go-Go,
Korva has played venues throughout North America, from Kentucky to Nashville to Sunset Strip in Hollywood and back to Vancouver and Toronto. She is now gearing up for her first showcase at the North By North East festival in Toronto, June 12-15th 2008. Date, Time & Venue TBC. Also playing Vancouver on May 8th at Hokos.
4 HRH Required Listening – Pink Cream 69
Some of you may know the band Pink Cream 69, but many of you do not.
This German hard rock band was founded by Andi Deris, Dennis Ward, Alfred Koffler, and Kosta Zafiriou.
Andi Deris left Pink Cream 69 in 1994 to join Helloween, and David Readman took over the lead vocal spot.
The band has released 11 CD’s since 1989. Three with Deris, and 8 with David Readman. If you are a fan of 80’s style hard rock, there is a lot of great music to explore.
A lot of bands suffer when they change singers, but Pink Cream 69, has only gotten better and stronger, with David Readman.
Pink Cream 69 isn’t well known in the United States, but they should be. These guys still rock like it is 1989. If you are a fan of 80’s style hard rock or glam metal, you need to give Pink Cream 69 a look. They have eleven studio albums, most of which are available through Amazon.com. The videos below will give you a taste of their music. Check them out!!
1 New Video – Danko Jones – Take Me Home
Danko Jones has a new CD out, Never Too Loud. Take Me Home is the first single off of the record.
Check out the video below!
2 New Video – Hardcore Superstar – Silence For the Peacefully
Something about this video, Silence For the Peacefully makes me want to see Hardcore Superstar live! They need to come to the U.S. to tour!!
12 Sink or Swim Video – Psychopunch – No One Really Knows
Today’s Sink or Swim video comes from Psychopunch’s new CD, Moonlight City.
You decide…. Sink or Swim. If you say Sink, HRH will pass on reviewing this disc. If you say SWIM a new review will appear on this site soon.
0 New Video – Electric Earth – Platonic
Electric Earth released a CD in 2007 titled, Organic Songs Volume One. Platonic is one of the tunes on that disc. You can hear more songs at the band’s myspace page. [youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c06bKd4tXMs}
3 New Video – Seether – Rise Above This
Seether has released a new single for their CD, Finding Beauty in Negative Spaces. Check out the new video below!
1 KORITNI TO RELEASE FIRST LIVE CD/DVD ‘RED LIVE JOINT’
KORITNI TO RELEASE FIRST LIVE CD/DVD ‘RED LIVE JOINT’ ON APRIL 22, 2008,
VIA BAD REPUTATION
Classic rockers from down under Koritni have set an April 22 release date for a two-disc DVD+CD set that compiles 3 hours of live performance, Red Live Joint, filmed and recorded during 3 different shows of the ‘Lady Luck Tour 2007′. It features 15 tracks from the Lady Luck and Green Dollar Colour albums, one brand new song called Nobody’s Home along with various covers from AC/DC, The Angels or Skid Row. The band also performed a special Guns N’ Roses tribute show to celebrate the 20th anniversary of Appetite For Destruction, included in this set.
The shows were filmed by 10 cameras and the audio is presented in stereo & 5.1 surround sound. The artwork has been done by Mark Wilkinson (Judas Priest, Iron Maiden, Marillion, The Darkness …) and the release will be first available as a strictly limited digipack of 1800 units !
What this CD/DVD is intended to do is give a great memory of the last two years of touring with 60 shows across Europe & Australia, and it’s also an opportunity for the band to thank their fans for their support…
After some holidays and other activities around the globe, the whole band has now reunited in Sydney to write, arrange and rehearse new tracks for the next album, to be released in 2009. Until then … enjoy RED LIVE JOINT !
“This package is a must for every Koritni fan”, Rock Hard magazine
LIVE CD TRACKLISTING
Recorded Live at L’Empreinte, Paris, France, 21st September 2007
DIRTY LETTER – I SEE THE LIGHT – HEAVEN AGAIN – NOBODY’S HOME – LADY LUCK – TAKE A LONG LINE – SICK AGAIN – EXPECTATIONS – YOU FED ME LIES – NEVER SAY GOODBYE – HIGHWAY DREAM – TOP OF THE WORLD – HIGH VOLTAGE – STARVING FAST – LET IT GO – RED LIGHT JOINT – MONKEY BUSINESS – UNDER THE OVERPASS
LIVE DVD TRACKLISTING
Recorded Live at the Raismesfest, Raismes, France, 8th & 9th September 2007
DIRTY LETTER – I SEE THE LIGHT – HEAVEN AGAIN – NOBODY’S HOME – LADY LUCK – SICK AGAIN – STARVING FAST – LET IT GO – RED LIGHT JOINT – UNDER THE OVERPASS
WELCOME TO THE JUNGLE – YOU COULD BE MINE – MR BROWNSTONE – SWEET CHILD O’ MINE – NIGHTRAIN – PARADISE CITY – NICE BOYS
LIVE AT L’EMPREINTE
EXPECTATIONS – YOU FED ME LIES – NEVER SAY GOODBYE – HIGHWAY DREAM – TOP OF THE WORLD – HIGH VOLTAGE
BONUS : HEAVEN AGAIN PROMO CLIP
You may now order your Red Live Joint digipack copy through our label website: www.badreputation.fr. They ship worldwide and you can pay by Paypal, Credit Card or Check. More ‘how to order’ information here
You will get the following exclusive 5-track free bonus EP:
1. (I’ve Had) The Time Of My Life (Studio Version)
2. Not Your Man (Live at l’Empreinte)
3. Heaven Again (Acoustic Guerilla *)
4. Under The Overpass (Acoustic Guerilla *)
5. Sweet Home Chicago (Acoustic Guerilla *)
* Recorded for Guerilla Radio at OUI FM Studio, Paris, March 2007
You can check out the video for Heaven Again Below!
12 New Feature: Sink or Swim Video of the Week – OTEP – Breed
Hard Rock Hideout posts the latest rock videos every day. Each week we will post a Sink or Swim Video.
If you say SWIM, we will review the disc at Hard Rock Hideout.com. If you say SINK, we will pass on reviewing the disc. You will have one week to decided the band’s fate!
The first week’s SINK or SWIM video, is OTEP doing their cover of the Nirvana song, Breed. This is off of the new OTEP CD, The Ascension.
You Decide! Sink or Swim!
0 Rock of Love 2 Spoilers!!!
The season finale of Rock of Love 2 is now over, and Bret Michaels has made his decision. Who did he pick?
0 The Revolution is Near!
Frontiers Records is pleased to announce all details about the sensational new band REVOLUTION RENAISSANCE, brainchild of ex STRATOVARIUS main man Timo Tolkki.
“Everything that was to be said with that band, with those members, had already been said and to continue would have simply been repeating the same formula over and over again”, says Tolkki about this much talked split. Furthermore, tensions between the members brought Tolkki’s decision to form a brand new band REVOLUTION RENAISSANCE, which is the logical progression of the Stratovarius legacy.
The first record from the new band, aptly entitled “New Era“, includes the vocal talents of Michael Kiske (ex HELLOWEEN), Tobias Sammet (EDGUY, AVANTASIA) and Pasi Rantanen (THUNDERSTONE) plus Mirka Rantanen on drums (THUNDERSTONE), Pasi Heikkilä on bass (45 DEGREE WOMAN) and Joonas Puolakka on keyboards.
Tolkki originally composed all the songs included in this album for
Stratovarius, but after the group broke up, he thought he needed to get these songs out and did not spend time looking for a permanent band line-up. He is currently still auditioning singers and musicians and, as soon as a stable line-up is set in stone, Revolution Renaissance will start its life as a live unit.
“New Era” pays tribute musically to the trademark Stratovarius albums “Visions” and “Episode”, with its Melodic Power Metal style that Tolkki was instrumental in creating, along with such bands as Helloween and Gamma Ray. His trademark guitar playing that earned him a position in “The 80 best guitar players of the World” category in the American “Guitar World” magazine readers poll, shines throughout the album.
Tracklisting of “New Era” includes:
Heroes (lead vocals: Tobias Sammet); I Did It My Way (lead vocals: Michael Kiske); We Are Magic (lead vocals: Pasi Rantanen); Angel (lead vocals: Michael Kiske); Eden Is Burning (lead vocals: Pasi Rantanen); Glorious And Divine (lead vocals: Tobias Sammet); Born Upon The Cross (lead vocals: Pasi Rantanen); Keep The Flame Alive (lead vocals: Michael Kiske); Last Night On Earth (lead vocals: Michael Kiske); Revolution Renaissance (lead vocals: Michael Kiske).
Witness the rebirth of Timo Tolkki and his music the way the fans want to hear him on June 6th !
1 Disturbed Announce Indestructible Limited Edition
Disturbed will release their new album, Indestructible on June 3rd, but fans can pre-order the album today to get their hands on a limited edition package with tons of bonus content. For only $34.98 fans will get the full album plus an exclusive b-side of “Run”, DVD of the making of ‘Indestructible,’ VIP ‘Rock Star Lounge’ laminate for the 2008 Mayhem Tour, access to an upcoming exclusive website full of rare content and much more!
Pre-order your copy here today before supplies run out. This is your chance to get a very limited edition package of Disturbed’s highly anticipated new album Indestructible! The offer is only available at http://www.disturbed1.com/preorder.html.
You can listen to the track Inside the Fire, here!
0 Preview 10 Years New Album, Division!
10 Years has been selected as Clear Channel Radio’s Featured Rock/Alternative Artist for April! Fans can get an early preview of five tracks off their new album Division, which hits stores on May 13th. Division is the follow-up to 2005’s break out record, The Autumn Effect and its number one single “Wasteland.” Check out their current hit “Beautiful,” as well as “Actions and Motives,” “Dying Youth,” “Just Can’t Win,” and “Picture Perfect (In Your Eyes)” here.
10 Years Tour on the Projekt Revolution Tour
07.16.08 Boston, MA Tweeter Center
07.18.08 Pittsburgh, PA Post-Gazette Pavilion
07.19.08 Philadelphia, PA Susquehanna Bank Center
07.20.08 Hartford, CT New England Dodge Music Center
07.22.08 New York, NY Nikon at Jones Beach Theater
07.23.08 Holmdel, NJ PNC Bank Arts Center
07.25.08 Raleigh, NC Time Warner Cable Music Pavilion at Walnut Creek
07.26.08 Virginia Beach, VA Verizon Wireless Virginia Beach Amphitheater
07.27.08 Washington, DC Nissan Pavilion
07.30.08 Charlotte, NC Charlotte Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre
08.01.08 West Palm Beach, FL Cruzan Amphitheatre
08.02.08 Tampa, FL Ford Amphitheatre
08.03.08 Atlanta, GA Lakewood Amphitheatre
08.07.08 Phoenix, AZ Cricket Wireless Pavilion
08.09.08 San Francisco, CA Shoreline Amphitheatre
08.10.08 Irvine, CA Verizon Wireless Amphitheater
08.12.08 Denver, CO Fiddler’s Green Amphitheatre
08.15.08 Cincinnati, OH Riverbend Music Center
08.16.08 Chicago, IL Alpine Valley Music Theatre
08.17.08 Indianapolis, IN Verizon Wireless Music Center
08.19.08 Cleveland, OH Blossom Music Center
08.21.08 St. Louis, MO Verizon Wireless Amphitheater
08.23.08 Dallas, TX Superpages.com Center
08.24.08 Houston, TX Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion
1 New Starbreaker CD on the Way!
Tony Harnell (TNT, Westworld, Morning Wood), Magnus Karlsson (ALLEN / LANDE and PRIMAL FEAR) and John Macaluso (Malmsteen, TNT, Ark) have wrapped up recording for the much-anticipated new Starbreaker CD entitled “Love’s Dying Wish“.
Written and produced by Harnell and Karlsson, the tracks have now been handed over to respected producer Tommy Hansen (TNT, Jorn) for mixing. Some of the titles include “Unknown Superstar”, “End Of Alone”, “Love’s Dying Wish”, “Evaporate” and “Beautiful Disaster”.
New bassist Jonni Lightfoot (a touring and recording veteran with extensive credits to his name) has added a tasteful aggressive touch to this magnificent piece of work and compliments Macaluso’s flashy drumming perfectly. This is a very special album that leaps forward from where the Starbreaker debut left off. With a fresh diversity that spans from pounding metal, to deep moody passages wrapped in a dark and beautifully melodic package. The stunning talents of Harnell and Karlsson are on display here in spades with electrifying performances and stellar song writing. These two have truly developed a unique and timeless sound together. Release expected this fall.
1 The Return of Honeymoon Suite
Frontiers Records is pleased to announce the signing of the recently reunited Canadian Melodic Rock Godz HONEYMOON SUITE, for the release of their forthcoming, yet untitled, studio album.
In June 2007, the band officially announced the return of the line-up featuring all five original band members: Johnnie Dee on vocals, Derry Grehan on guitar, Ray Coburn on keyboards, Dave Betts on drums and Gary Lalonde on bass.
The new album has been recorded during the cold Canadian winter and is currently in the mixing stages. Some of the new track titles are “The House“, “Separate Lives“, “That’s All You Got“, “Sunday Morning” and “Tired of Waitin’ On You“.
“There are 8 straight ahead rockers and the other 4 are interesting mid-tempo type songs” says Derry Grehan, adding “this album goes back much more to the original HMS melodic hard-rock sound that the band had in the eighties. The songs have big melodic choruses and are thick with lots of guitar and keyboards. Johnnie is singing better than ever and I think fans will love this one. I am very excited“. And so is the label, that is planning to release the new album within the end of the summer 2008.
1 New Sleaze Metal Tour in Europe!
A brand new tour with plenty of sleaze metal mayhem kicks off in Berlin this Saturday, 4/12 with Blackrain and Sister!
The tour schedule is as follows:
April 12, 2008 Wild at Heart :: Berlin
April 13, 2008 Ballroom :: Hamburg
April 16, 2008 Blueshell :: Cologne
April 17, 2008 Zwölfzehn :: Stuttgart
April 18, 2008 LVC :: Leiden
April 19, 2008 Babylon :: Woerden
If you are fortunate enough to live within the vicinity of one of these shows, don’t miss out on some great new rock and roll!
17 Scott Weiland Fires Back at Velvet Revolver
After weeks of online speculation suggesting the band was on
the brink of collapse, the founding members of Velvet Revolver — guitarists Slash and Dave Kushner, bassist Duff McKagan and drummer Matt Sorum — officially sent lead singer Scott Weiland packing Tuesday. The rumors of a Velvet Revolver split began soon after Weiland’s onstage announcement two weeks ago — during a gig in Glasgow, Scotland — that the crowd in attendance that evening were witnessing something very special: the last-ever Velvet Revolver tour.Velvet Revolver announced their decision to fire Weiland in a press release issued just as the rockers were playing the last notes of their final performance with the Stone Temple Pilots frontman in Amsterdam. Slash sited Weiland’s lack of commitment, “increasingly erratic onstage behavior and personal problems” as reasons for the dismissal. There is still no word on whether the band plans to continue with a new singer.Surprisingly, an entire night passed without Weiland responding — but really, it wasn’t a question of if he would issue his own retort, but when. In an e-mail sent exclusively to MTV News Wednesday morning, Weiland fired back at his erstwhile bandmates, and pulled no punches in his attack of the Revolver.”After reading the comment by Duff, Matt, Dave and the illustrious ‘Guitar Hero,’ Saul Hudson, a.k.a. Slash, I find it humorous that the so-called four ‘founding members’ of Velvet Revolver, better known to themselves as ‘the Project’ before I officially named the band, would decide to move on without me after I had already claimed the group dead in the water on March 20 in Glasgow,” Weiland explained. “In response to Slash’s comment regarding my commitment [to the band], I have to say it is a blatant and tired excuse to cover up the truth. The truth of the matter is that the band had not gotten along on multiple levels for some time. On a musical level, there were moments of joy, inspiration, fun … at times. But let’s not forget the multiple trips to rehab every member of the band had taken (with the exception of one member — no need to mention his name).
“Personally speaking, I choose to look forward to the future and performing with a group of friends I have known my entire life, people who have always had my back,” Weiland continued. “This also speaks to my commitment to my music and my fellow bandmates in [Stone Temple Pilots] and to the fans who I feel would much rather watch a group of musicians who enjoy being together as opposed to a handful of discontents who at one time used to call themselves a gang.”
In conclusion, Weiland warned fans not to be “fooled by veiled trickery,” and even wished Velvet Revolver his best. “Good hunting, lads — I think Sebastian Bach would be a fantastic choice.”
Now, Weiland will turn his energies to the re-formed Stone Temple Pilots, who are expected to reveal details of a full-scale summer tour during a news conference next week. As for Velvet Revolver’s future, Slash has said in a number of recent interviews that there would be a third LP from the band, and that Weiland’s characterization of the band’s European tour as its last was simply untrue.
Courtesy of MTV news.
0 Download Free Tunes by Showgirl Suicide
Check out the latest new Sleaze metal by the UK’s Showgirl Suicide.
Click this link to download four new tunes by the band for free!!
