halestorm

New Music Monday Blog Halestorm The Strange Case Of…

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In this Music Monday Blog, we are going to get into the latest and second record from Halestorm.  It is called “The Strange Case Of…” and was released early last year.  We are going to get into the history and then the music from Halestorm.  Let us get into the history.

History

Halestorm started back in 1997 from Lzzy and Arejay, who are brother and sister.  The two put out an EP, which was called “Don’t Mess With The Time Man” in 1999.  Their father played bass for the band before Josh Smith in 2004.  The band was finished up the band with Joe Hottinger, who joined in 2003.  The band signed record contract with Atlantic Records in 2005. They released their second EP, which is out of print like their first one, and it was called “One And Done.”  Their full length record, which was self titled, was released in 2009.  Their first single “I Get Off” received heavy air play.  They released several more singles off this record.  They are also known to tour a ton and they have toured with several different bands.  In 2010, they released their first live record, which was called “Live In Philly 2010.”  In 2011, they released their third EP, which was cover record, and it was called “ReAnimate.”  In 2012, they released their fourth EP, which is called “Hello, It’s Mz. Hyde.”  This EP was a sneak peek on their second full length record, which is called “The Strange Case Of…”  “The Strange Case Of…” was released in 2012 and is the record that featured on this blog.  In 2013, Halestorm won a Grammy for Best Hard and Metal Performance Category.  They became the first female fronted band to win and be nominated for this award.  “Freak Like Me” is the first single to reach #1 on Billboard Hot Mainstream Rock Tracks in 2013.  Let us get into the music.

Song List:

Love Bites (So Do I)

This is the first single off this record.  There is a nice pace with some killer to hard-hitting drums.  There is a nice guitar and bass playing.  I love the singing from Lzzy.   The lyrics are not my style but they are well written.  There is a nice guitar solo towards the end.

Mz. Hyde

This is the fifth and final single off this record.  I love the guitar and drumming at the beginning.  I love her singing.  I love the lyrics.  The music is pretty solid.  There is some nice time changes throughout this song.  The ending is a little weird.

I Miss The Misery

This is the second single off this record.  I love the music and singing at the beginning.  I love the lyrics.  Lzzy singing is pretty solid.  I love this song.  The ending is pretty solid.

Freak Like Me

This is the third single off this record.  I love the guitar playing so far on this song.   The singing is pretty solid with some great lyrics.  I love the lyrics.  The music is pretty solid.  I just feel the drums are pretty calm for a Halestorm song.  The guitar solo towards the end is pretty solid.

Beautiful With You

This song is off pace with the record.  It is a good song but it is not their style.  I just feel the record company made them make a song like this.  It is good.  It is too mainstream for a band that were themselves make the mainstream.  I am not a fan of this song.

In Your Room

What the hell is up with the last two songs?  I cannot listen to it.  The lyrics are too thoughtful for this band.  The music is solid if it was 1984 and they were Heart.

Break In

Again!!!  I am starting to get pretty upset.  This one is kind of in their style than the last two songs.  I have a feeling half of this record.  I will not be listening to again.  I will be passing on this one too.

Rock Show

Yay!!!  Finally a rock song.  I love the guitar playing and the music at the beginning.  I do not like the lyrics but the music is pretty solid.  I love the bass playing.  There was a solid guitar solo towards the end of the song.

Daughters Of Darkness

The beginning of this song is pretty dark.  The music is pretty solid.  I am not a fan of the lyrics but the song is pretty solid.  I will listen to it again.

You Call Me A Bitch Like It’s A Bad Thing

I love the drumming and the music at the beginning.  There is a guitar part that reminds me of something of an Alice In Chains song.  I love the lyrics and they are pretty well written.  I love the short guitar solo towards the middle of the song.  I feel  this song needs some kind of music break.  It is the same thing over and over.  It is kind of boring towards the end of the song.

American Boys

I love the guitar playing and drumming.  It has a nice pace and great music.  I am not a fan of the lyrics and it kind of kills the song for me.  I will pass on this song.

Here’s To Us

This is the fourth single off this record.  I love the acoustic guitar.  I love the music and it has a nice pace for a slower song.  The lyrics are pretty solid and well thought.  I love this song.

Here’s To Us (Guest Version)

The only different from the first version.  I love the guitar solo and there are different singers available and singing. I love this version better.

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.halestormrocks.com

Twitter:  @halestorm

Closing, I have been a fan of this band since their first record.  I loved their first record.  I was pretty excited to see them do a few EP’s and this one, which is their second record.  It took me a long time to write a review and I am sorry to my readers and the band.  I enjoy doing these music reviews but they are pretty time-consuming.  I will get better when it is all said in done.  Anyways, this record starts out pretty solid.  I am loving it until I made it to the middle part of the record.  There were three songs I could do without.  They are not my style of music.  I always look at this band as a hard rock to slight metal band.  They are not a pop act and I felt those songs they were trying to be a pop act.  If anything how they were themselves on their first record, mainstream music came to them.  They are good songs if you like that type of music.  The back half of the record was pretty solid with some rock tunes.  The lyrics overall was average.  There were some songs where they were above average.  Overall, I was pretty disappointed with this record.  There are some songs I will be listening to again and I enjoyed them.  Give this band a listen.  They are still upcoming band.  I believe their next two records will be awesome.  Go get some! Drink it!  Enjoy it!  Metal it!  \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email:   djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter:  @djwieser

Instagram:  @djweiser13

New Music Monday Blog Laura Wilde Sold My Soul

In this Music Monday Blog, we are going to get a music from a young lady, who is Laura Wilde.  This is her first record which is Sold My Soul.  She finally made her first appearance in the United States.  I had the honor of meeting her after a killer show outside of Detroit.  There is not much history on this up and coming artist.  She comes from the land down under which is Australia.  She loves Jimmy Page, Jimi Hendrix, Slash, and many more.    She will be heading back into the studio to work with legendary bass player and my hero Geezer Bulter from Black Sabbath.  Being a Bass Player and lyric writer, Mr. Bulter is the best in the world.  She will be in good hands.  Let us get into the music.

Track List:

Intro

The first track is short and to the point.  It is sounds of motorcycles.

All Alone

“All Alone” starts out with a nice solid drum beat with a nice great guitar riff.  I really enjoyed the singing from Laura with some great lyrics.  Her singing reminds me of Lita Ford, lead singers from Otep and Flyleaf.  This is a pretty solid track for being the real opening track of the record.

Sold My Soul

“Sold My Soul” is one of the first singles off this record and one of two music videos recorded off “Sold My Soul.”  I love the start from the guitar and the simple drum beat and bass line at the beginning and also throughout the song.  This is a pretty solid song from start to finish.  It has an awesome guitar and great drumming beat.  I love the lyrics and some nice singing from Laura.  This is a great driving song like the opening song.  I love the pace of this song and the record so far.

Freeek!

I love the bass and drum action at the beginning of the song.  She reminds me so much of Lita Ford from the singing and her song writing to this point of her record.  There is some awesome music and well written lyrics.  I love the guitar break towards the middle of the song.   Laura Wilde is a great singer and I believe she does not need back up singers.

Irate

I love the effect of the heavy overdrive on her guitar.  I love the lyrics and she is singing pretty good on this song.  The organ playing is a perfect fit on this song.  She is the queen of driving songs.  They have a nice flow and great pace.  This is a song that will give me a few speed tickets.  I love the ending of the song.

Back Seat

Here is a classic hard rock guitar riff at the beginning of the song.  I love the drop off and the groove from the music while she is singing over the top of it.  I am really not a fan of the lyrics and her singing but it works and fits for the song.  I might not like it that does not mean it is bad.  I might have to listen to this song a few more times for it to grow on me.  It might not happen.  It is a pretty solid ending to “Back Seat.”

For You

I love the music at the beginning of the song.  There is some solid lyrics and her singing.  There is some good music here and it is pretty solid.  I know I say she does not need a singer but it fits on this song.  She might be an above average singer but it is her doing the back up singing.  I love the back up vocals.  This is a great song.  This should be the next single off this record.  I love the guitar break towards the end of the song.  I love the ending of the song.

Anything Goes

I love rhythm and the pace of the music.  She is singing great and has some great lyrics on “Anything Goes.”  I love the guitar break to the guitar solo at the middle of the song.  The guitar solo is not forced like most guitar solos.  I have noticed one thing throughout this record that the music she wrote some melody to blend nicely with it along with her voice.  I love the ending of this song.

Classical Guitar Star

I love the guitar work and it should be with any song that has “Classic Guitar” or “Rock Star” in the title.  I am really enjoying her singing and it is great.  I believe this song is the best singing performance from Laura Wilde on this record.  I will be honest.  I am not a fan of the lyrics but she put some thought, feeling, and a theme behind them on “Classic Guitar Star.”  I love the guitar solo towards the end of the song.  There is some great effects on her guitar.  This band has done a great job on the music on this song.

Nothing Back

I love the pick up of back half of the record and the pace on this song on “Nothing Back.”  There is some nice guitar, drums, and bass work on this song.  There is some awesome music.  This song is in your face which is perfected.  I am enjoying the singing and the lyric writing that she has put forth.

Love Buyer

There is a nice heavy guitar with a nice solo over the time at the beginning of the song.  I love the singing and nice lyrics.  She is singing really well on this song.  There is a nice guitar break towards the middle of the song.  The music is great and there is nice playing from the drummer and the bass player.  There is a nice fade out ending to this song.

Angel

I love the bass line with some great singing at the beginning of the song.  I love the lyrics and the singing from Laura.  I like how she put some focus on the bassist and the drummer on this song.  There is a nice guitar solo towards the end of the song.  I love the fade out at the end of the song.

Here is the band’s website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.laurawilde.com

Twitter:  @laurawilde

The end, this is some great music on her first record.  Laura Wilde is an upcoming artist with a promising future in hard rock and metal world.  She is a solid guitar player with a thought of where to take her music.  She brings life back to girls rocking in the music scene.  She is a lady you do not want to mess with but she is very sweet when she needs to be in her music.  I had the honor to watch her play outside of Detroit.  I have to say I was pretty impressive.  She put on a hell of show.  I have to say two things.  I highly recommend you checking her out and move over Lita Ford.  Laura Wilde is here to rock us just like Lita.  It would be kind neat if Laura and Lita get together and write some music.  I am looking forward to her new music in the next year.  I want to say thank her for signing your record and take a photo with me. Go get some!  Drink it!  Enjoy it!  Metal it!  \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ  Weiser

Email:  djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter:  @djweiser

Credit Source:  (History came from www.laurawilde.com)