pop music

New Blog Kiss Monster

In this Music Monday Blog, we are going to get into the latest record from Kiss.  This is their 20th record in their career and it is called Monster.  This record is the follow-up record to Sonic Boom.  Here is a little history of this legendary band.  Kiss was founded in January 1973 in New York City.  This band has went through several line up changes but still found some success.  They have twenty studio records and ten live records, which they are best known for them.  They were one of the first bands in 1970’s to push the live records as a trend.  They have about thirteen greatest hits records.  Kiss also has five box sets in the market.  They had thirteen of their records from live and studio that went Gold in the United States.  Kiss has also had thirteen of their records from live and studio that went Platinum in the United States.  Kiss is pretty well-known for their live performance.  They are also known for their make up and their character that they dress up for their stage act.  Kiss was the first band to sell lunch boxes, action figures, etc.  Kiss was their marketing machine to drive their fame.  Kiss like most great bands are not in the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame.  Let us get into the music.

Hell Or Hallelujah

The opening track has a solid guitar work at the beginning of this song.  This is a classic Kiss song.  This song is a little be slower than the normal Kiss songs.  The lyrics are really bad but the music is great.  This is their first single from this record.  There is a great guitar solo towards the end of the song from Tommy.  This song finish pretty strong.

Wall Of Sound

I love the start of this song.  There is solid playing from all the members in the band.  Paul’s vocal has aged very well.  Most lead singers in the later part of their career cannot sing their old songs and some of their newer ones.  The lyrics are a little better on this song.  This is so far my favorite song from “Monster.”  The pace of this song is just right for Kiss.  The ending is about average for the song.

Freak

I love the music on “Freak.”  This is a great all around song but the lyrics are bad.  I could hear this song on their first few records.  There is a great guitar solo from Tommy.   It has a pretty solid ending.

Back To The Stone Age

There is a nice bass and drum work at the beginning of the song.  This is a nice driving music.  I love the music.  The lyrics once again is really bad.  It has a classic Kiss sound.  It is kind of sounds like “Love Gun” or “I Love It Loud.”  Back To The Stone Age has a solid finish.

Shout Mercy

There is a nice guitar riff with a good backbone from the bass and drums.  The lyrics are like classic Kiss lyrics.  I love the music.  Nice fitting guitar solo is well placed in the song.  Shout Mercy has a great finish.

Long Way Down

This song, which is Long Way Down, is the second single released from Monster.  It has a solid music with some good lyrics.  There is more singing from Paul on this record then Gene.  It just seems like it. There is a nice simple guitar solo and it is spot on in this song.  There is also a nice ending to the song.

Eat Your Heart Out

There is a different pace of the song with just singing at the beginning of it.  There is some great music.  I love the guitar work.  This song sounds like Poison, who is a band from the glam rock days in 1980’s.  There has some thoughts that Poison has stolen music from Kiss.  I am not saying that Kiss is stealing music from Poison but it sounds like it.  Everything has been done in music.  There is only a few notes in music so there will be songs and music that might sound like another song or music.  In most cases, it might have one more note or one less that the general music ear might not pick up on it.  Anyways, the lyrics on this song are just bad but the song has a great finish.

The Devil Is Me

This song has a nice guitar, bass, and drums.  This is a nice in your face Kiss music.  The lyrics are bad.  There is a nice guitar break towards the middle of the song.  The song went from good to boring.  This song should be shorter.  It is a Kiss ending.

Outta This World

There is a solid start to the song.  It also has a nice pace to the song.  It is a simple and to the point to the music.  I am not a fan of the lyrics and this song is pretty boring.  The guitar work and solo is perfect.  This song just like some other songs towards the end of this record could be shorter.  There is some nice drumming on this song.  I could heard this song on one of their first few records.

All For The Love Of Rock And Roll

This song seems like it is too slow for Kiss.  However, I am really enjoying the lyrics,  I am also loving the theme of the lyrics.  I hear a little country music influence in this song.  It has a perfect ending and the song reached the point.  The length of the song is perfect.  It also has a perfect ending.

Take Me Down Below

I am loving the beginning of this song.  Gene has the thunder bass kicking in this song.  Take Me Down Below has great music.  It is a classic Kiss song from the music and lyrics.  I love the guitar solo.  It kind stays in the low-end but hits the mid notes with some high-end.  It is a party song from the music and the lyrics.  It has a nice ending.

Last Chance

There is a nice bass line at the beginning of the song.  This song has a nice fast pace to it.  It reminds me of old Kiss.  This is a classic Kiss song from the music and lyrics.  There is some good back up vocals.  I love the music.  This song comes into your house to have breakfast and then just leaves you without food.  It is gets to the point.  There is a nice guitar solo in the middle of the song.  Nice build up for the ending of the song.  It is just right for the end of the record.  Kiss leaves this record on a high note.

Here is the current line up for Kiss:

  • Gene Simmons – Bass guitar, vocals
  • Eric Singer – drums, vocals
  • Paul Stanley – rhythm guitar, vocals
  • Tommy Thayer – lead guitar, vocals

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website: www.kissonline.com

Twitter:  @kissonline

In closing, I am not a huge Kiss fan but I do enjoy listening to their music.  I am fan but not part of the Kiss Army.  I was stun that they came out with a follow-up to Sonic Boom.  I was also stun that they came out with Sonic Boom.  Most older bands do not like to put out new music because their fan base do not care about the new music.  I believe the only fans that care about the music is the hardcore ones or person that loves new music.  I feel that Monster from Kiss was rush to be pull out  for a reason to do a tour.  The music on this record is classic Kiss and is really solid.  They did a great job.  I do not know if they took old riffs that they wrote back in the day.  The lyrics I feel this band has run out of ideas.  There are some gems on this record.  I believe around those gems there are too many filler songs.  What I mean by that, it is a song that is there to fill up the record to get it out to the market.  There is nothing wrong doing that because some of those filler songs might become hits or just underground hit with hardcore fans.  There are three songs that I do really love from this record and they are “Wall Of Sound,” Take Me Down Below,” and “Last Chance.”  I just feel this record is a let down from Sonic Boom. I really enjoyed listening to Sonic Boom. If you are a hardcore fan of Kiss, check this record out and add it to your collection.  If you are a general fan of Kiss or just a hard rock or metal fan, I would see if you can find a place to preview it before buying it.  Go get some!  Drink it!  Enjoy it!  Metal it!  \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email:  djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter:  @djweiser

New Music Blog Jackyl Best In Show

In this music blog, we are going to get into the latest record from Jackyl.  Jackyl was founded in 1990.  Jackyl has seven studio record which is including the record in this post called Best In Show.  They have two live records in their career and two greatest hits records.  The band is best known for their song called “Lumberjack” that uses a chainsaw in the song.  Let us get into the music.

Best In Show

Best In Show starts with a classic guitar riff and Jesse singing over the top.  Solid drums and bass is backing up the rest of the band.   This is classic Jackyl from the music and the lyrics.  This is a nice driving song and great opening track.  There is a nice slow point in the song which is perfect for the pace before in the song and then picks back up.

Encore (It Makes Bic Dig Her)

I love the drums and then Jesse singing with the drums and then a nice simple bass line that comes in to the scene.  The guitar is a classic Jackyl sound that made them famous.  This song is the rest why I love this band and grew to love them.  I love had they put the focus on the back bone of the band, which is bass and drums.  This band knows what they are doing in their songs.  This song has some well written lyrics.  Great false ending and then they come back in for a great finish.

Screw Driver

Screw Driver starts out with a nice driving drum beat and a nice smooth and simple guitar.  The bass is dancing in the back ground while singer’s singing with the moves of the music.  The lyrics are something else that makes dream of some girl in the strip club.  This song is rock and roll because it is all about sex in a rock and roll style.

Horns Up

Once again Horns Up starts up with drums, which there is nothing wrong with that.  I love the beat that the drummer has set forth in the song and has an awesome bass line.  This song makes me want to pick up my bass guitar again and start a band.  This song sounds like something off their Push Comes To Shove record back in the 1990’s.  Horns Up has everything going on which is nice singing, bass, drums, and solid guitar play.  I am loving the music and the lyrics.  I also love the trade-off on the guitar solos.

Golden Spookytooth

Golden Spookytooth starts out with a nice guitar riff and a simple bass with the drum beats.  This is a calming song compare to the rest of the songs on the record.  Jesse has a smooth and silk melody over the music.  I love the short guitar solo before Jesse comes back in to the singing.  I am not sure on how I feel on the lyrics but I love the music on this song.

Cover Of The Rolling Stones

This is a classic song from Bob Dylan.  I have heard a ton of hard rock and metal bands doing a covers of this song.  I have to say this has to be the best one with an honor to Queen in the back ground. Can you say We Are Champions?  Yes, I can but it fits.  They also move into the classic Queen and then back to Bob Dylan. Of course, it is not Jackyl without the chainsaw.  They had the chainsaw doing melody from We are Champions.  I love it!

Walk My Mile

The guitar has a slight overdrive but it is not over the top.  I love how the guitar sounds at the beginning of the song.  Jesse has a nice blues sound on his vocals and drums are simple but very powerful.  Wow!  This song has a ton of feeling going on in it.  There is a ton of going on in this song.  I love the lyrics.  They have emotion, feeling, and a powerful meaning in them.  Jesse is showing his soul in this song along with the rest of the band.  This is my favorite song so far on this record.  I love where they place the guitar solo and it is perfect for this powerful song.

Better Than Chicken

Better Than Chicken has a nice beginning and classic Jackyl lyrics.  It has nice music and great singing from Jesse.  This song is simple and to the point.  Great party song!  There is a great guitar solo towards the end of the song.

Don’t Lay Down On Me

Don’t Lay Down On Me has a nice acoustic guitar riff and singing over top of it from the singer.  This is another song I could see on their Push Comes To Shove record.  This is a nice thinking song on a cold winter day with a nice craft beer and a cigar.  There is a nice guitar break that is awesome work.  Nice touch on the finish of this song.

Eleven

I love the guitar riff at the beginning of this song.  It follows with Jesse’s singing and then drums and bass does the same movement.  This is a nice in your face song that will wake you up in the morning.  I love bass movement behind the scenes.  Thank god they got a producer that respects the low-end of the bands.  They seem to ignore the bass player in most bands’ record.  I am not talking about Jackyl.  I am talking about other bands.  This is a great song.

What I DO

What I DO starts with nice singing from Jesse and acoustic guitar.  This song seems lower in volume to the rest of the record.  It is like an unplugged song.  I love the bass playing and simple drums.  At first I thought the guitar solos were over the top but they fit towards the end of the solo.  I just feel this song is lower in volume to  the rest of the record.

Open Invitation

I love the beginning of the song.  Talk about being in your face.  This song shows the proud of Patriotic and proud to be part of the USA.  I love talk samples throughout the song.  I love the lyrics and meaning behind it.  God Bless the United States of American!

It’s Tricky

It’s Tricky is a cover of a classic Run DMC with one of the members.  It was one of their hits back in the day.  It fits the hard rock and metal sound that Jackyl did to the song.  I love it.  Great cover guys.

Here is the current line up of Jackyl:

  • Jesse James Dupree – Lead vocals / Guitar / Chainsaw
  • Jeff Worley – Guitar
  • Roman Glick – Bass guitar
  • Chris Worley – Drums

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.jackyl.com

Twitter:  @jackyljesse

Closing, I really enjoyed this record just like all their records.  This band has not put out a bad record.  There are very few bands from the 1990’s that I enjoyed to listen to throughout their era and now.  My favorite track is “Walk My Mile” and “Best In Show.”   There is not more to say about this great record that it is a very great record.  I highly recommend this record if you are a fan of this band or just love straight in your face rock and roll.  Go get some!  Drink it!  Enjoy it!  Metal it!  \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email:  djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter:  @djweiser

New Blog Couger Ace Music

In this blog, we are going to talk more in the music side of things. This is a different pace of music for me. When I was a DJ on STFU.FM, I use to cover the world of hard rock and metal. Just like most metal heads, we would only listen to that style of music. Before I started the Metal Warzone, I would listen to everything from Bosstones to The Doors. With all that said, if it was not for that show, I would not had a twitter account to have this band, who is Couger Ace, following me. I would not had the chance to write this blog or listen to their music. It is nice to follow them and have a chance to write this review on their music.

The first song we are going to listen to is called “Descent Into Hell Is Easy.”  For being a Rock Song, it has a drive to it.  Their sound is something out of the 1960s or 1970s.  The singer has singing rhythm of Jim Morrison from The Doors.  The recording has that nice raw sound to it.  I feel they are trying something different outside of their comfort zone but it works for them.

The second song is called “All My Fault.”  This song I can hear playing in some bars in the later part of the night.  To me, it is a perfect drinking song at the bar or sitting at home with friends.  I love the drums and the guitar. It is just right for this song.  The singing has a nice flow for it.  The length of the song is perfect because the lyrics get straight to the point.

The third song is called “I Wanna Holler.”  This song sounds like something out of The Doors collection of music without the organ player.  The singer in this song sounds like Jim Morrison between his singing and a little bit of the song writing style.  This song will take you on a journey for two minutes in the mind of these talented song writers.  Just like the first song, which is “Descent Into Hell Is Easy,” this song has that same drive and passion.

The fourth song we will be reviewing is called “FJ=BM.”  This song comes across as a folk rock song.  The singing has a little country theme to it.  I love how the drums bring out more of the guitar and vocals with a nice rhythm.  There is one point where the guitar stops and so I can so see the singer just getting in someone’s face.  This is a very fun song to listen to at night with a nice beer and cigar.  I love the pick up and slowing down towards the end and then in your face from the vocals again in this song.  I love how it ends the song with a great drum beat.

The fifth and finally song we will be reviewing in this blog is called “Just Like You.”  The singing sounds like something from a Johnny Cash record with a dirty guitar.  Then a nice slamming drums comes into the room.  I love how the drums echo guitar playing and the other way around.  I am starting to think this music from this band will be part of my relaxing time of day around my place.  This is a very well written song with a nice finish.

Here is a few ways to listen to their music and get information on them:

Websites:

www.myspace.com/cougaracetheband

cougarace.bandcamp.com/

Twitter:

@cougaraceband

In closing,  this is a very talented band and I hope they reach the success that they set out when forming this band.  Nice range of different kind of songs.  I love how a band does something different in every song.  It gives us listeners something to look forward to the next song.  Plus, a range of emotion is always a good thing for a healthly band and fan base.  To me, this band is the modern-day version of The Doors and Johnny Cash.  I will say more modern-day version of Cash, which is a very good thing.  I am not saying they are going to replace a legend.   They are clearly influenced by him.  I really enjoy their music and I cannot wait to hear what they are up to next.  Enjoy it!  Drink It! Metal (Rock) it! \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email: djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter: @djweiser