Highway to Hell - AC/DC

I figured I'd review this because I have stuff to actually say about this album. I can't say anything about Back In Black because it'd be either, this blows or too repetitive and uninteresting. Now I can't believe I'm doing this review, but to be completely honest outside of the reviews I do for this band I don't listen to them anymore. I wrote a very heartbreaking, for me at least, review of T.N.T. the album that I held highest (behind the Aussie High Voltage). I'd usually do a review of the Aussie version, but they are the same songs, and the cover for that's just as dumb as this bands direction post-1977. This is also the last album to feature Bon Scott., who would die from alcohol poisoning. I read a review once and it said "it takes a real asshole to write a song called drink to a year after you lead singer dies if alcohol poisoning." I laughed but whatever.

1. Highway to Hell: This song is very over played it's like Stairway to Heaven. But the thing is even thought that song has no effect on me, the solo is still pretty solid. And even if every note of the moving ibtro is stolen, that solo keeps that song off my never listen to again list. I can't conjur a good thing to say about this song, it's just so....... It's so dumb it gets crossed out. Infact this song doesn't even play a part in the score of the album. I'll be fair. Still not as dumb as TNT, but this time I don't... There was something about that last album that let it slide, but not this time.
2. Girls Got Rhythm: Sounds like a remake of You Ain't Got A Hold on Me off their 1975 debut album. Really, I don't remember if I said this, but I could sing this song to that song while it was playing. That irritates me the wrong way, not the right way. I mean this song on it's own isn't terrible, but that whole thing bugs me a bit. There is a groove that reminds me of that first album, and the second, so maybe it's why I don't despise this.
3. Walk All Over You: This opens pretty decently. I mean there is a real rocking feeling that harkens to the feeling of Let There Be Rock. I mean yes this kind of sounds like a mix of the title track and Whole Lotta Rosie.... but again I isn't a sin. But as the song progresses it makes me loose all interest, really. The verses are so boring, the instrumental parts are the only thing that make this at all worth listening to. Really.
4. Touch Too Much: Stupid Uncle Fuckers, sorry that was harsh. I can't get behind the title. I feel this is kind of childish really. A bit too forward. This really sounds like a song that could be on an 80's record or 90's album by the group. I mean the production here isn't terrible, there is still some 70's stuff here. But not raw enough. Thought at the same time, this doesn't really sound like the groups call and response vocals. They must have mixed it different.
5. Beating Around the Bush: Kind of a dumb title, also a dumb song. Sounded cool when I was twelve, but not anymore. It's lost its coolness factor. Also fuck them for stealing the riff to Oh Well. But seriously, tons of people steal stuff form other songs. I can go on and one, one of my favorite Bowie songs Queen Bitch pretty much stole the riff to Three Steps to Heaven by Eddie Cochran. But this just sounds like they pulled a Jimmy Page, in changing it just enough to make it your own. And even though I like songs what sound odd, with a weird time signature, this track just doesn't click at all.
6. Shot Down in Flames: I mean, it's an okay track
7. Get it Hot: Takin' Care of Business everyday. Also I'm pretty sure this is based of another track by these guys.
8. If You Want Blood (You've Got It): This isn't that terrible of a song titles, and I had expect high hopes out of it. First mistake. I mean they named "one of the best live albums ever" after this song. It's not like reading something widly regarded as the "one of the best" could be bad. Second mistake. I think this is taken best with a "If You're Fucking Dumb (You'll Like This)" rendition I wrote after the first chorus. Why, well boredom.
9. Love Hungry Man: I think they're hungry for something else that comes from men...... what? Nice solo though, even though you could mix the intro to that last and this track up.
10. Nigthcrawler: The slowest most boring motherfucker I've ever heard, maybe in my life. And this is coming from someone who enjoys. Also a shit way to end an album.

Overall this deserves a 5/10. This song, like every other song by this band (unless noted as an exception on my reviews), doesn't do well with open minded people. Or people who pick up on patterns. I mean I guess people can like this, but I mean I'd have to lobotomize myself to probably stop and be able to not pick it apart and keep getting the same result, track after track. Also their songs titles sound like a five year old came up with them. How the fuck could this band make Let There Be Rock (album) and Love Song.

In all honesty, all joking and humour aside, I just don't find why this is their among best albums. Let There Be Rock is one of the best rock records ever. How could they go from the raw power of that album and make this piece of clean.... poop. Seriously I kind of think this album is terrible, all jokes aside. The thing is the 1980 record is even worse. These are the albums that lead to me not liking this band, not their best 1974-1977 albums. Really I'm not kidding. 

Welcome to My Nightmare - Alice Cooper

For numberous reasons outside of my control I wasn't able to complete this review in time for 10/31. But at least I got some extra time with it you know. Closing this very special 2015 October month themed Halloween extravaganza revenue I picked a very special album. The album I picked is this, the best Alice Cooper album. I think of it as a coda to a string of records I consider to be really really good, dating back to their 1969 debut. The end of the Golden Age if you will. Even though I lose interest in AC's output after this album, minus a few tracks here there and The Alice Cooper Show live record (Which puts a hole in my "Only the original bands material is good,  it sucks when he went solo" theory), I don't think anything post this is terrible. Its just not the golden age. So, as i just mentioned, this is when Vincent began releasing solo material under the name Alice Cooper. This is something he continues to do to this day, considering I think it's now been legally changed to it. This is also a concept album, I believe the "group's" first, and it takes place through the nightmare of a character who would later be a reoccurring character in the Cooper universe. Kinda like the continuing adventures of either the character or archetype taken from Tunnel of Love forward, by Bruce Springsteen. This part in particular takes place when he's a child, Steven. I almost forgot to mention that the lucky bastard had a television special promoting the album with Vincent Price as the narrator. Oh... plus Lou Reed's (most of it) joined to play on the record.

1. Welcome to My Nightmare: Opening the album is a number that kicks ass. It starts off with a hitting of the cymbals and an acoustic guitar chord. Then comes in the vocals, with a quite more dreamy feeling song. The bass here sounds really neat, and I'd almost not think this is a Cooper song. Until we get the more rocking section. But it's a bit too much going on for it to be "rock". There are very interesting textures in this song, horns, what sound like a clavichord and I almost feel like Brian Eno produced this (Here Come The Warm Jets). This is a very good show starter, and it is very theatrical. If you were as intrested as I am, you could listen a number of times and still not pick up on all the sounds in that track.
2. Devil's Food: This title reminds me of In the Wake of Posiden, specifically the tracks Cat Food and The Devil's Triangle. This is much more straightforward than the last track. I mean there are still there like weird changes in production styles that are going on within song, but I dig the vocals. And is that an interlude with Vincent Price. It is.... The bass in that section is awesome, the rhythm has this military feeling to it. It's funny, half of this song is like a voice over with the song pushed way back. He's giving us a history lesson on the Black Widow, but.... You gotta give it to Price, he makes it very intresting. The song begins to come back in
3. The Black Widow: This is a sinister track that makes me think of Holy Diver. This chorus is very memorable and I love the guitar here. The chorus is so hypnotic I feel like if you listen enough, or are high, you'd be tripping balls. This could easily be a tripping balls song in a movie. Or a going to hell song. I also love the like variation on the theme that could be played in an overture. That is not something I'd expected (I've heard this before but the first time). This over all is a solid rock song, that isn't something I'd quite consider to be a rocker.
4. Some Folks: This is a cabaret number that harkens to the vaudeville days. I might be wrong on that vaudeville thing, but still. This song is very can cany. This has a very Alice Cooper feeling to the song. It actually reminds me, after the intro, a hint of Man With The Golden Gun. That chorus is very catchy, poppy, but not shitty. I kinda wish I could sing along, and the post "baby baby" section, that fucking piano. And that guitar and the tempo....... Great. This song goes from sick to cutsey (well as cutesy Vincent can get) to weird to all over the place. And that BASS..... YES! GUITAR SOLO.... YES! It's like spit fire, only down side is didn't last longer, thought the ending is very tasteful.
5. Only Women Bleed: I never once thought this was about menstruation, whats the point? I mean... I guess seeing the groups humor with songs like I Love The Dead and Dead Babies, monthly bodily cleansing from Mother Nature isn't that crazy of a topic (its much more natural at least..... Well kinda, I mean child neglect isn't something I'd consider natural nor necrophilia but some may disagree). I always thought of it as more of a woman bleeding, or maybe a tongue and cheek anti-woman track... I don't know,  does it really matter? I don't think he's actually having intercourse with corpses, so cool off. The thing is you could also look at it as only women truly struggle, I mean there are a lot more for them to put up with and society expects certain things of them. Now maybe not so much now, but women still feel pressures to look a certain way. And they are expected to live a certain way, and that's kinda what this song is about. I mean it's about abuse (or a bad relationship), but women are still kind of expected to get married, back then they certainly were. It's very sad if you actually think about it, like I get that gut feeling that hits me right there. This song musically really is a masterpiece. Lyrically this song is great at painting a picture of this terrible occurrences that happen. It only really hits you when you take the time to realize it.
6. Department of Youth: This has a very Foreigner feeling (with the organ) in the beginning, but also this song reminds me a hint of Elected. I do get a laugh out of that weird accent, but this song has him singing as he would for the rest of his career you know that almost impish sound he does. As poppy this song is, there is something that makes it a little off that I can't quite say it's pop. Form the placements of synths (or organs or whatever keyboard instruments pop up). This also has some very nice and,  great to me, backing vocals and harmonies.
7. Cold Ethyl: This his a rocker that would sound that crazy on a maybe a Stones record. Maybe not so much them as a like generic rock band from the 70's or 80's. The solos are nice, but they are more generic here. And while its generic rock here, I still like the humor of the song. I think that's the best part, and the front to back changes of style you know.
8. Years Ago: Here we get their take on a Fixing A Hole. Rather than using it to be psychedelic there is a circus meets evil meets Halloween feeling to this song. I feel like this could open a horror movies, maybe a low budget or cheep 70's or 80's one, but none the less. For that reason also there is a spot in my heart for this. I think this is where the story starts. It's the first mention of Steven, it might not be the first in the story, but I also don't care enough to look into it. I'd rather enjoy the music and lyrics but not as a story.
9. Steven: Tyler? Perry?  Which one? This starts out with a quotation of a classical piano piece that I can't quite pin down, but I will add later. This is a neat enough song, but I don't dig the fact the whole beginning relies so heavily on that quotation. I do dig the later part. Like if there did this song exactly the same, without the quotation, maybe I'd LOVE it but I can't say I love it because of that you know. Don't get me wrong this has great guitar, gorgeous strings and is expertly arranged. Bob Ezrin my hat is taped off to you. And that ending................ Oh it kills me that the beginning reminds me so much of that one thing. I'd give the song a 10.
10. The Awakening: This has this electric piano, and piano in the beginning I love how the accompany each other. They really do each other justice, and the whole lucid (right, that's the right word) of that beginning..... it's nice. This song almost borders on psychedelic. I love the almost classical electric guitar part that that reminds me a bit of Brian May. The worst part about this song is it fades out. Also that it's a bit rushed, this could totally be much longer to let the parts flesh themselves out.
11. Escape: Closing the LP we get a glam rock track. This is another simple song, but it works. There isn't any expert arrangement here, but it's like a very satisfying closer to this album. It's like, what I feel like, "Eff Yeah, We made a killer record!". This is very solid.

Overall I have to give this album a 8.9/10. This album is easily the best "solo" Vincent Furnier album, and is in the top 5 Alice Cooper albums. This is a bit baffling, how come he never made anything this good after this. Seriously, think about it. I mean this album this is kind of a masterpiece. It's very well arranged, I don't know about the theme (but the music makes up for it so much). The reason this album is so great is most every song has a distinct sound of it's own. And yet it still works and is cohesive of an album. Now I don't really care to look into the story because it seems to not really happen until like the B-Side..... I don't know. And Even though I bolded some over others.... just check this thing out.... it's really really really good. Don't ask about Welcome 2 My Nightmare.... I don't like to think about that.

Ghost Stories - Coldplay

This is the latest album by Coldplay. I previously did their review for their Mylo Xyloto album and I plan on doing this too. This album was released on May 16th, 2014. Well I heard the singles, and to be honest the single don't even live up to anything. So after the dreaded Midnight I kind of lowered my standards for this album. And I did for a good reason.

1. Always In My Head: This isn't that bad of a song, thought I don't get anything out of it.
2. Magic: This song is another track that is just kind of OK. There isn't anything that makes me like it, but you know... so far out of the single and what not this is the best. I do find my self returning to this track, but not because of love, but because its a good enjoyable song. 
3. Ink: Hey, this is a cute song. Not really, but this really doesn't sound like Coldplay.
4. True Love: This is an Okay song. I can't think of what the strings remind me of exactly. This is one of the better tracks, but still I think I like it because I want to figure out what that cheep string sound is. The music in this song reminds me of a bunch of different..... Radiohead, that's who it is. Now what song? Well point is, OK Computer is much better than this or really any track here.
5. Midnight: Ok, If you've ever read any of my reviews what do you expect me to say about this song. With all due respect this song sucks. There isn't a single redeeming quality about this track.... sorry Chris. That is how I'm gonna say it, and as mean as I'll get. 
6. Another's Arms: .........
7. Oceans: There isn't anything here that I can find any type of pleasure out of.
8. A Sky Full of Stars: There isn't really anything about this track that makes me want to revisit it. It's a ballad but it's pretty bland. I mean it isn't nearly as infectious or catchy or even, dare I say, heartfelt (i cant connect emotionally with this track) as anyone off Parachutes. And Chris talks of how he doesn't like that album.... That's probably, and AROBTTH their best albums. 
9. O: In my opinion I don't like its title, especially since two tracks prior is Oceans. This is kinda like a lulaby, but one that I really don't care to ever hear

Overall I have to give this album a 4/10. They furthered the sound of Mylo but in a bad way. Eno probably would have helped the album. I know that the whole divorce thing may be present on this album, but you can still make a great LP. Look at Dylan's 1976 Desire, Fleetwood Mac's 1977 Rumours (kinda) and possibly the best example I can think of Here, My Dear by Marvin Gaye. The last one I named was being recorded while he was in court, listen to Is That Enough. Just this didn't turn out the way it should have been, or could have been. If he's happy with it then ok, I'm just not personally satisfied with it. Lets just put it like this, every time I see it at the Cd store, I just kind of roll my eyes and pass up buying it. 

Houses of the Holy - Led Zeppelin

This is the fifth, and my favorite, album by Led Zeppelin. This album is much different from all the other LPs by them and deserves more praise. It was released on March 28th, 1973 and recorded from January to August the prior year. This is the first time that Zeppelin didn't release an album every year, I and II were from 1969, III was from 1970, and IV was from 1971, this was from 1973. If I'm also correct this is the first album done by their longtime collaborators Hipgnosis. This also includes funk and reggae, and it's a more prominent through the album. The albums prior were all Blues/Folk/Rock. I really got into Zeppelin from Mothership which was on sale because Circit City was closing and we went there the day of the Super Bowl 2007. Instead of watching the game I played the two disc on that CD and Damn! I still love some of those songs, some more than ever. But here's my review.

1. The Song Remains The Same: This opens, and sets the tone, for this trip. And damn, this is one journey. This track, when played live, was another to feature the famous Gibson EDS-1275 that he used in Stairway. The reason is because he needed it for the next part. On the studio version he overdubs with a Tele and a Rickenbacker 12 String, but that's enough facts. This intro pumps you, and it is tight. Like the later Achilles Last Stand this is great. It was supposed to be an instrumental overture into The Rain Song, but the lyrics give it so much more power. The playing from everyone on this track is top notch and probably the best on this album. The energy emoted from this is amazing, it literally blows me away with each listen. I'm still coming back after almost 7 years of loving this song, the Super Bowl this year will be 7 years. JPJ and Bonzo are just fricken Gods on this track.
2. The Rain Song: This is a pretty song, but it's also kind of slow. It's also 39 seconds longer than the second longest track No Quarter, an even 7 minutes. The mellotron reminds me though of the orchestral effects in I Talk To The Wind, and it actually kind of saves the song a little for me. This is very nice and I somewhat agree with Plant about it being his best vocal performance. I like his vocals on Achilles more and the prior track, but what ever. The song progressively builds up. If I'm correct there is an alternate tuning in this song? Probably why it achieves that weird guitar sound.
3. Over The Mountains And Far Away: This sounds like it'd be fun to play on acoustic guitar. This is another tight song. Not as tight as the first track, but it's great. And continues where The Rain Song left off, but picks up the pace of the album. This is a fun song, and the riff right after the solo it awesome. I love the playing on this song, and I think that the acoustic guitar sounds awesome. I also like the whole instrumental ending.... I don't want to spoil it if you haven't heard it, but it's pretty epic.
4. The Crunge: This is one funky song. It reminds me a little of reggae infused into Mother Popcorn. I love the mellotron, or what every Key instrument JPJ is probably using for the song. It almost sounds like its being played backwards, which reminds me of their take of Revolver. I think the way he "speaks" at the end gives the song a little humors vibe to it.
5. Dancing Days: This song is odd, but it's great. I like the organ and the odd time signature in this song, If I'm correct it also changes keys in this song. This is just a bizarre song that I hardly imagine would be on the radio if it wasn't be Zeppelin. This isn't that serious of a track either. It kind of falls into that No Quarter realm of odd sounds. Not as atmospheric, but definitely some different things here
6. D'yer Mak'er: This is probably, no it IS, the funniest moment on this LP. I just want to sing and play along to this track. This is the most reggae on this album, and Zeppelin ever really got. I don't really have much to say about this track, the distortion is sick, the solo rocks. This is just a really fun and not entriely serious song. The title's a pun on "Why'd ya make her, Jamaica". I also love the whole whispered voices at the end and that they add stuff at the ending, it's not just boring and repetitive, they add other instruments and part. The honky-tonk piano thing.
7. No Quarter: Damn, this song is defiantly a foreshadow. They would do that atmospheric eerie sounding songs on later albums too. I remember being creepy out by this track years ago when I first started getting into Zeppelin, I used to skip this song. Now I almost always listen to this track when I get the chance. That mellotron in this song is damn great, and defiantly why that's one of my favorite instruments. Imagine hearing this for the first time, it's pretty intense. Now it's not as much of a scare, but still. I used to be afraid to listen to Eleanor Rigby and Mr. Kite. The whole piano solo part just kind of takes you to another planet. I could see why people would get stoned to this. I could only imagine what this would be like to hear on that warm vinyl record. The riff in this song reminds me a little of Echoes, like how it's atmospheric and then there's a sick ass riff. I love the ending, when he says the title. That's probably my favorite part, all that guitar fuzz. I need to know how they got that fuzz!
8. The Ocean: This wraps up the tone of the album, giving it a proper end.  This album has an ocean vibe to it from style to the titles of tracks to the artwork. Naming the end The Ocean brings this theory full circle. As everyone knows the truth, The Ocean Is The Ultimate Solution and I'm just pointing it out. This isn't as funky a song as some others, but I like the whole A Capella thing too. Something that reminds me of a song they'd do later on In My Time Of Dying.

Overall I have to give this album a 9/10. Though some of these ideas were later expanded on, this is where it "started over" for them and truly is my favorite album they've released. I mean, they were already established as a blues band, but they kind of got rid of that style for this album, and it worked very well. This album isn't that serious of an album either, which gives it great power.