Reviews

REVIEW: Lego Ideas Jazz Quartet 21334 Toy Building Kit (1606 Pieces)

LEGO Ideas Jazz Quartet 21334 Toy Building Kit (2022)

$130 Canadian (18+)

It took me two leisurely days to assemble this kit.   I must be getting better at this, or this kit isn’t as hard as some of the Speed Champions car kits (9+).   It consists of four classic era jazz musicians, assembled in four stages from smallest to largest.

Each musician is built in conjunction with his or her base.  The bases were fun in their own right, recalling classic childhood Lego building experiences of the 70’s.  The trumpet player was first, a splindly and fragile figure that you’ll want to pose correctly and leave alone.  His red tie, slightly askew between his suspenders, is really cool.  Each of the three male musicians has a unique tie.

The upright bassist is second.  His deep brown instrument has a real Lego string piece for added effect.  The bass itself looks really cool, while the player is skinny and delicate.  His bowtie is made from a Lego video game controller.

The drum kit was one of the most fun steps.  The bass drum building technique features studs on five sides.  There are no stickers, only printed graphics on the sides.  The snare drum, two toms, and floor tom are all slightly unique from each other.  Likewise the crash, hi-hat and ride cymbals.   They come in a shimmery golden colour, but if you like gold, you’ll love the pianist!   Meanwhile, the drummer has a beard and hat, and an undone bowtie.  His stool is actually built upside down.  Very cool design.

Check out the drum kit below, as it is assembled.

The piano player has a lovely orange dress that was fun to build.  Her gold earrings are old-fashioned chromed design, the same as the One Ring from the recent Rivendell set.  Her piano was one of the most complex sections.  It is very curvy, with shapes that would have been impossible without these newer rounded Lego plates.  For authenticity, inside there are 31 little pieces assembled in a row that resemble that piano’s hammers.  The keys themselves are very nice prints.  There are pedals, and the top can be opened up for you to admire the details inside.

The full stage (including stylin’ looking front steps) measure almost three feet in width.  It’s huge, but fits exactly the space of our old VCR in the entertainment stand.  Fear not though — each musician’s stand / stage section is removable, and you can display them any way you like, even on separate shelves.  They certainly look best all together in the order designed.  My bassist’s head is slightly tilted towards the drums so he can hear them clearly.  The pianist is gesturing to her band, conducting their jam session.  The little posability you get is often limited to shoulders and elbows when you get any at all.  All four musicians have ball-jointed necks.

This is a fragile set and not for play.  Be careful dusting!  But have fun building.

4.5/5 stars

REVIEW: Ghost – Phantomime (2023)

GHOST – Phantomime (2023 Loma Vista)

As they often do, Ghost have followed last year’s excellent Impera album with an underwhelming covers EP.  Fear not, there’s a deluxe version of Impera coming for those who needed more, but in the meantime, the five song EP Phantomime had better tide us over.

Ghost have diverse taste in covers, as past EPs have demonstrated.  This time, they’re taking on 80’s New Wave, 80’s Metal, 70’s Rock, and 90’s Prog.  Let’s see how it shapes up.  The band are still sounding very much like an 80’s hard rock band on this EP, much as they did on Impera.

Television’s “See No Evil” strikes as an appropriate title to cover.  Ghost do a fine job of it, turning it into a Ghost-like hard rock anthem.  The opening bassline really jumps out, and strikes as something Duff McKagan may have been inspired by early in his career.  Smokin’ guitar solo here.  It’ll sound great blasting from the car this summer.  But something about Ghost doing covers…why are they never as great as their originals?  Papa Emeritus just sounds better singing about Satan, perhaps?

A sped-up “Jesus He Knows Me” is another great title to see on a Ghost record.  There’s nothing of Genesis here, really!  If you played this for anyone who didn’t know the original song, you’d assume it was a metal original.  Lyrically perfect for Ghost, though!

The Strangler’s “Hanging Around” is centred on a big fat organ part that sounds great and beefy on this CD.  Very different from the original, but like the previous songs, it’s Ghost-ified by Papa and the Nameless Ghouls.  For better or for worse!  It is not especially memorable as a cover.

The controversial “Phantom of the Opera” by Iron Maiden is fourth.  Why controversial?  Maiden vocalist Paul Di’Anno didn’t particular care for it.  I disagree with Paul and think it’s the best thing here.  If Maiden wrote the song today, with their current affectation towards keyboards, it might sound a little bit more polished like Ghost’s version.  Ghost maintain the speed, the riffs, the solos, and all the essential ingredients.  It’s just Maiden, but covered by Ghost, and as such it seems to work better than the other tunes.

Finally we have the Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome theme song “We Don’t Need Another Hero” by the late great Tina Turner.  An interesting and surprising choice even for Ghost.  Jury’s still out on this one.  Nerves might still be a little too raw after Tina’s unfortunate passing.  The Ghost version was released just before, but now…let’s just say jury’s still out and leave it at that.

Casual fans, stick to Ghost’s original albums.

3/5 stars

REVIEW: Arkells – Michigan Left (2011)

ARKELLS – Michigan Left (2011 Universal)

The Arkells smashed the radiowaves on their excellent second album, Michigan Left.  “Whistleblower” raged, with that guitar riff and cutting vocals, cementing the band into the minds of Canadians from coast to coast.  Aggressive and intelligent, it’s a tune that can’t be topped.  “Just a little bit of faith is what I want, it’s what I need in my institutions.”   Singer Max Kerman, a B.A. in Political Science, pours on all the passion that he is known for on this excellent track.  And that’s just one of ten excellent tracks.

Dig deeper into the album and you’ll find many tracks just as great as “Whistleblower”.

One of the band’s many strengths are the backing vocals.  Opening track “Book Club” has rich backing shouts, helping Max focus on the main message.  What a track!  The band’s home town of Hamilton is mentioned, and turns up elsewhere on the album.  The upbeat “Where U Goin” has plenty of the pop goodness that would increase on the band’s next album High Noon.  This is followed by the title track, a brilliant rock tune with unbeatable melodies.  The chorus soars overhead while the band jams and “whoah-ohs!” along.  Cool percussion and accoutrements on this amazing tune.

“Coffee” is a great Canadian song title, don’t you think?  “No no really, this one’s on me, I’ll let you get the next time we go out for coffee.”  Mixing acoustics with electric, Arkells make things a little more contemplative, and it works.  Certain lines here really hit home.  Specifically:  “Does he hit you?”  Sadly I think many of us know someone like the person who is the subject of this song.  Things get slamming again with “On Paper”, a fast tune with a punk-like energy to the choruses, even though it’s just radio rock.  There’s a brilliant riff change and a “Woo!” at about 2:25 that just kills!

The band slow it down a bit for “Kiss Cam”, a romantic single you can dance to.  And the lyrics?  “This campfire won’t last forever, the Hip have only wrote so many songs.”  How’s that for you?  These guys know how to write unforgettable words.  Always have.

“One Foot Out the Door” is different, quiet and tense.  The plucking of an electric guitar becomes the pulse of the song, but as always Kerman is the focus.  A false ending gives way to a deliciously chaotic blast of piano and guitars.  Awesome song.  A poppy riff then introduces “Bloodlines”, the one with the reference to the escarpment in Hamilton.  It’s about walking on eggshells in a relationship, something we can all relate to.

Album closer “Agent Zero” is hard to categorise.   It doesn’t feel like an album closer, but it does manage the job by ending it abruptly.  Perhaps another song would have ended the record with more drama, but “Agent Zero” isn’t a bad song at all.

You could tell these guys were only going up.  And go up they did!  One of Canada’s most popular bands today.

4/5 stars

 

Tune in this Friday for Arkells talk on Grab A Stack of Rock!

REVIEW: Kick Axe – IV (2004)

Part Seven of a series on KICK AXE!

KICK AXE – IV (2004 Elfin Stone)

George Criston is one heck of a talented singer.  Always had a lot of power, and range.  However, his heart no longer appears to be with the rock, but with country and gospel.  There’s nothing wrong with that, but when Kick Axe needed to reunite and put out a new album, a new singer was required.  They didn’t have to look far!  Original drummer and brother of bassist Victor Langen, Gary, stepped up to the microphone to sing.  And what a voice!  The rest of the classic lineup was intact:  Victor Langen, Ray Harvey, and Larry & Brian Gillstrom.  On the road to rock!

Gary Langen strikes a tone similar to the late great Phil Naro of Talas, especially on the track “Rockin Daze”.  More than enough to kick all the axes in the room.  Gary also participates in the songwriting on several songs, and providing the slinky tune “Slip Inside My Dream” himself.  Not at all like the one-of-a-kind Criston, but still more than capable.

The best track is, by far, the aforementioned “Rockin Daze” surprisingly written by drummer Brian Gillstrom.  The cool descending riff, the gritty vocals, and especially the killer chorus, make this one the obvious standout.  “The show is over, your rockin’ daze are done!”  Not by far!  There’s a story in the lyrics, so pay attention, but especially listen to the impassioned vocal and stunning guitar solo work.

While “Rockin Daze” is a high water mark, there aren’t any particularly bad songs.  The rest of them are on the same level.  Solid, enjoyable, well recorded heavy rock with the expected impressive musicianship.  Long bomber “City Lights” is pretty epic.  From heavy rockers like “Right Now” to slow, bluesy ballads like “Consolation”, there is a good cross section of songs.  At an hour long, and with 14 songs in total, it’s a long ride and perhaps could have been trimmed down to 10 songs.  On the other hand there’s an argument for value, especially when it’s a band’s only album in so many years.  There are plenty of good songs here, and nothing to make you jump for the “skip” button.  It’s a modern rock album, not as “metal” as the golden days.  A slight progressive edge, with keyboards and acoustics in strategic locations.  Still plenty of guitars, drums, and wicked singing!  The lead solo work on this album is top drawer.  Don’t expect Vices II, though there’s still a common thread here that confirms it’s the same band.

Nothing lasts forever in rock and roll, and while this lineup of Kick Axe survived five years, in 2008 Gary Langen left and was replaced by Into Infinity singer Daniel Nargang.  The band continue to rock and roll, though IV remains their last album.

3.5/5 stars

Part One:  “Reality is the Nightmare”
Part Two:  “Weekend Ride”
Record Store Tales #773:  Rock Candy + Internet = Kick Axe!
Part Three:  Vices
Part Four:  The Transformers soundtrack (as Spectre General)
Part Five:  Welcome to the Club
Part Six:  Rock the World
Part Seven:  IV

REVIEW: Sword – III (2022)

SWORD – III (2022 Massacre Records)

Talk about a comeback.  34 years after 1988’s “final” Sword album Sweet Dreams, comes Sword III!  With the full original lineup intact!  Rick Hughes – lead vocals.  Dan Hughes – drums.  Mike Larock – bass.  Mike Plant – lead guitar.  Forget about Saints & Sinners; this is the real deal, heavy as fuck, modern and edgy.  At 34 minutes and seven songs (plus an instrumental), it’s not the beefiest album, but the fact that it exists at all is what counts.

III is less thrashy than either Metalized or Sweet Dreams.  It is, however, nice and heavy.  Perhaps heavier than Sweet Dreams overall.  Rick Hughes’ voice has lost its screaming grit but the man still has impressive power and range.

Opener “Bad Blood” is an uptempo metal romp, with a high-pitched chorus that hits the spot.  What really satisfies are the guitars by Mike Plant.  He’s got a great tone and the riffing here is memorable and hard-hitting.  His solo on “Bad Blood” is just as tasty.  “Bad Blood” is an excellent example of the sound of “new” Sword.  Heavy, modern, determined and unstoppable…but with remnant stylings of the 80s still intact!

“(I Am) In Kommand” was released in 2020 as Sword’s comeback single.  This is its first physical release, finally!  Fast with ripping guitars, “In Kommand” is indeed in charge of the assault, but what’s with the “K”?  I don’t get it.  However, you’re not going to think too much about it when you’re banging your head.

Track three “Dirty Pig” is a contender for best track on the album.  The riff grinds, but also has some rich Priest-like qualities.  It’s not one dimensional.  And just listen to Mike Larock’s thumping bass underneath!  Sword are a one guitar band and they’ve never really been afraid of that, which lets the bass really breathe.  “Dirty Pig” thumps and electrifies while you pound your fists to the groove.

The brief instrumental “Surfacing” is a cool respite, right before the other contender for best track:  “Unleashing Hell”!  Each verse starts with the line, “1986 in Montreal…” while Hughes weaves a tale of debauchery and a young band on the rise.  “1986 in Montreal, smokin’ chicks, a free-for-all.  In our 20’s, ready to brawl, not much money but lots of balls…”  It really makes you wish you’d been there!

The riffing gets more complex and driving on “Spread the Pain”, a killer track augmented by speed and melody.  This has a Dio vibe.  Then “Took My Chances” slows things down to a punishing pummelling.  Mike Plant doesn’t throw down a lot of fills and solos here, but what he does makes it count.  A mid-song tempo shift makes thing fast and Maiden-esque, which is never a bad thing.

Finally, album closer “Not Me No Way” ends things the right way:  by blasting through a head-banging stomper!  The riff smokes and the chorus is nice ‘n defiant!  “Not me!  No way!  I will not play nice!”  Very reminiscent of old Rick Hughes lyrics such as “Life on the Sharp Edge” from Sweet Dreams.  “We didn’t talk, we walked!”  He’s always been great at writing defiant songs about not conforming and not compromising.  It seems appropriate to end Sword III with defiance.

The question I’ve been pondering is, “Does Sword III kill the previous two albums?”  That’s a tough call on an uneven field, because this album really only has seven songs.  It wouldn’t be controversial to say it is their equal, so that’s what I’m going with.

4/5 stars

The 1002nd Album – S1E29. Steve Earle – I Feel Alright (Mike Ladano)

Thank you Geoff Stephen from the 1002nd Album for this chance to talk about Steve Earle’s immensely great I Feel Alright album.

Geoff’s words:

Welcome, Mike ‘LeBrain’ Ladano! Join Mike & I as we discuss quadratic relation-esque running orders, why we avoid skipping so-called skippable tracks, and the ‘je ne sais quoi’ that makes certain albums magical.

Enjoy on Youtube below!

 

REVIEW/VIDEO: Def Leppard – Drastic Symphonies (2023) – Tim’s Vinyl Confessions Ep. 425

This is my favourite TVC appearance to date. Thank you so much Tim for inviting me to do this. I hope it comes across in the video: we don’t enjoy bashing this album. We love this band. But we can be discerning, and that’s OK.  We encourage you to check out the music and decide for yourself.  It seems a few viewers agreed with us…

Consider this my official review of Drastic Symphonies by Def Leppard

2/5 stars

Additional notes:

  • Check out the squirrel at 22:52 of the video, over my left shoulder (screen right).
  • Beautiful Grab A Stack of Rock coffee mug available at teepublic.com (where you can also buy your own Tim’s Vinyl Confessions merch).
  • Cameo by Darth Sideous

Thanks again to Tim for making this episode happen!

 

 

  1. The Early Years Disc One – On Through the Night 
  2. The Early Years Disc Two – High N’ Dry
  3. The Early Years Disc Three – When The Walls Came Tumbling Down: Live at the New Theater Oxford – 1980
  4. The Early Years Disc Four – Too Many Jitterbugs – EP, singles & unreleased
  5. The Early Years Disc 5 – Raw – Early BBC Recordings 
  6. The Early Years 79-81 (Summary)
  7. Pyromania
  8. Pyromania Live – L.A. Forum, 11 September 1983
  9. Hysteria
  10. Soundtrack From the Video Historia – Record Store Tales
  11. In The Round In Your Face DVD
  12. “Let’s Get Rocked” – The Wait for Adrenalize – Record Store Tales
  13. Adrenalize
  14. Live at the Freddie Mercury Tribute Concert
  15. Retro-Active
  16. Visualize
  17. Vault: Def Leppard’s Greatest Hits / Limited Edition Live CD
  18. Video Archive
  19. “Slang” CD single
  20. Slang
  21. I Got A Bad Feeling About This: Euphoria – Record Store Tales
  22. Euphoria
  23. Rarities 2
  24. Rarities 3
  25. Rarities 4
  26. Cybernauts – Live
  27. Cybernauts – The Further Adventures of the Cybernauts (bonus disc)
  28. X
  29. Best Of (UK)
  30. Rock Of Ages: The Definitive Collection
  31. Yeah!
  32. Yeah! Bonus CD With Backstage Interviews
  33. Yeah…Nah!  (Record Store Tales)
  34. Songs From the Sparkle Lounge
  35. “C’Mon C’Mon” (picture disc)
  36. Taylor Swift & Def Leppard – CMT Crossroads (DVD)
  37. B.Sides
  38. Yeah! II
  39. Yeah! Live
  40. Mirror Ball: Live & More (Japan bonus track)
  41. iTunes Re-recordings
  42. Viva! Hysteria (CD 1 & DVD)
  43. Viva! Hysteria (CD 2 & bonus features)
  44. Viva! Hysteria (Japanese bonus track)
  45. Slang (2014 deluxe edition bonus tracks)
  46. “Helen Wheels” (from The Art of McCartney)
  47. Def Leppard (2015 – all versions)

VIDEO/REVIEW: Tim’s Vinyl Confessions: Ep. 424: Neal Schon – Journey Through Time (2023)

At 45 minutes long, this is one of the best Tim’s Vinyl Confessions I’ve ever participated in. You can really pick up on our love of Journey, and perhaps our disappointment in recent events since their last album. Fortunately, Neal Schon heard us. Enjoy this episode!

 

REVIEW: The Max Rebo Band – “Jedi Rocks” (1997 CD single)

THE MAX REBO BAND – “Jedi Rocks” (1997 BMG CD single)

This is, in my humble fan opinion, one of the worst pieces of music ever included in a Star Wars movie, if not the very worst.

The 1997 Star Wars special editions are derided for many reason, but one that is not talked about nearly enough is the replacement of certain pieces of music.  In this case, “Lapti Nek” from the 1983 cut of Return of the Jedi was removed.  Why?  Because George Lucas loves to tinker.  He wasn’t happy that the singer in the band, Sy Snootles, didn’t have enough articulation and so thought to himself, “What could I do with a new song and a computer?”  The unfortunate results are called “Jedi Rocks”, by Jerry Hey.

The original song, “Lapti Nek”, plays in Jabba’s palace just before he feeds Oola the slave girl to his pet Rancor monster.  In universe, it is performed by the Max Rebo band, originally a trio featuring keyboardist Max, singer Sy and flautist Droopy McCool.  The band is expanded in the special edition to include more singers, including a really annoying big-mouthed Yuzzum named…uhg…Joh Yowza.  You can just tell that certain parts of the song were designed to show off what computers could make Yowza’s mouth do in the scene in question.

This is shit.  At least “Lapti Nek” sounded a little alien.  “Jedi Rocks” sounds like generic blues rock written by a highschool music teacher for his class to perform at the spring pageant.  And it sounds completely terrestrial, aside from the silly cartoonish vocals.  You can identify an Earthly harmonica, drum kit, organ, saxophones, guitars and bass.  That should never be the case when you’re talking about an alien band from a galaxy far, far away.  More than half the track is bland jamming that could have been on any soundtrack from virtually any Earth-bound movie with a bar and a band in it.

The only reason to buy this single, since you’ll never listen to it, is the clear picture disc.  The CD single released for The Empire Strikes Back was a shaped Vader-head disc, but they realized this were not good for the insides of your CD transport, which prefers a perfectly balanced disc.  Hence, they switched to clear picture discs that look shaped but are not.

Cool disc, bad song.

0.5/5 stars