vinyl

#1076: Weekend Listening At Home

RECORD STORE TALES #1076: Weekend Listening At Home

When I have time and the inclination at home, I like to go through dusty corners of the CD collection and finally get them ripped to PC.Β  I take my hard drives with me everywhere, so my music collection is always portable.Β  This weekend I took some deep dives, and sampled the sweet exotic fruits of the E section, a sampling of K’s and L’s, and some new arrivals too.

First of all, the newer stuff.

I’m going to have to re-review Morning Report by the Arkells again!Β  Turns out, I made a mistake in my original review.Β  I said that the deluxe edition had three bonus tracks, but I was wrong.Β  I didn’t realize that there was another bonus track inserted as track #2, between “Drake’s Dad” and “Private School”.Β  This makes all the difference in the world to the sequencing.Β  Now we get “Knocking At The Door”, a new single, as the new track #2.Β  Since “Drake’s Dad” and “Private School” were my two least favourite songs, having something of much higher quality between them really helps the flow.

I always buy something after doing a show on Grant’s Rock Warehouse.Β  This time, it was the Stone Gods.Β  I’ve acquired the single for “Burn the Witch”, which comes with two awesome non-album songs:Β  “Breakdown”, and “Heartburn”!Β  “Breakdown” is exactly like Thin Lizzy, to a tee, except with Richie Edwards on lead vocals.Β  “Breakdown” is of equally high quality, a light and humorous tune about Pepto-Bismol and Gaviscon.Β  Expect a review at some point in the future.

Finally, I sampled some April Wine, from Over 60 Minutes With…All the Rockers.Β  People ask me “Why do you not own any April Wine?”Β  I said “I never grew up with April Wine, my friends didn’t like them, so I never bothered.”Β  Well Tim Durling said I need April Wine.Β  I will evaluate this at a later date, but I have some April Wine now.

The next batch of discs was from the last part of the E section, five discs that had escaped ripping to the PC all these years.Β  It could be 20 years or more since I have last played some of these.Β  Β Earth, Wind & Fire, nothing need be said here, that’s essential.Β  I was surprised at the quality of Elf, as boogie-woogie isn’t usually my thing.Β  The Rik Emmett CD is cool because it has 2001 live versions of some of his old Triumph classics.Β  Episode Six runs the gamut from quaint to psychedelic.Β  “UFO” is one cool such song, a spoken word bit over drums, that reads from UFO sighting reports.Β  But that’s Ian Gillan and Roger Glover on the front cover, yes indeed!Β  Finally, the Eric Singer Project (ESP) was the weak link in this batch.Β  Just a bland covers album to me.

Next, over to the K section.Β  I noticed that none of my Kula Shaker music was on PC, and I have a lot of Kula Shaker.Β  That’s the entire collection below, in fact.

Look!Β  The 2 CD edition of debut album K with a cool remix of “Tattva”.Β  Two CDs of “Govinda” singles with B-sides and remixes.Β  “Grateful When You’re Dead/Jerry Was There” CD single with two non-album tracks. The highlight of me of these was “The Leek”, a quiz show style radio appearance by bassist Alonza Bevan.Β  (A distant cousin of Roger Glover, in fact.)Β  Really funny stuff.Β  To me, anyway!Β  Two CDs of “Hush”, the Joe South cover (also covered by Deep Purple Mk I) with lots more non-album tracks.Β  Then we have the Summer Sun EP, which has four of the previous B-sides and two songs I didn’t have elsewhere.Β  The second album, Peasants, Pigs & Astronauts spawned a CD single called “Sound of Drums”, both of which are here.Β  More non-album tracks on that as well.

Well, it turns out, I still love Kula Shaker!Β  Like, a lot.Β  That Britpop sound, mixed with 60s psychedelia and far Eastern influences just tickles my fancy.Β  There were a couple tracks I really loved, but none more than “108 Battles of the Mind” from the second album.Β  What a cool, manic track that definitely benefited from the Austin Powers era.

One thing about Kula Shaker that needs to be addressed:Β  the stellar musicianship.Β  These guys can jam!Β  Special notice to drummer Paul Winterhart who is absolute monster.Β  Incredible band.Β  Once I start re-absorbing these songs back into my memory, I may have to catch up with what they’ve been up to since 1999, where my collection ends.

Continuing through K, and into L, the listening continued on Sunday morning.

Kyuss is a band that I don’t think was summed up well by compilation.Β  I will have to dig further.Β  I have their split EP with Queens of the Stone Age, which has “Fatso Forgotso” on it, but I think Kyuss were an album band.Β  The two Kulick albums are excellent.Β  Corabi is on Transformer, which is signed!Β  I didn’t know I had a signed copy!Β  The James LaBrie solo disc also sounds great from what I sampled!Β  Very Dream Theater, in a good way.Β  Some heavy, some soft.Β  Then we have Life Sex & Death, also called LSD.Β  Their gimmick was their lead singer “Stanley” who was supposedly homeless (but wasn’t).Β  This 1992 album is one that needs more exploration.Β  What I heard was heavy, gritty and riffy while retaining some melody.Β  To be further examined in the future.

As far as I got on the weekend, this just scratches the surface.Β  Look at all this stuff that is still sealed in my collection.Β  Time or inclination just haven’t lined up with the proper mood yet.Β  Some are newer arrivals, like Metheny, Hollywood Vampires and Eric Carr.Β  Others have been sitting around for years.Β  The Kiss compilation may as well stay sealed for collector’s purposes, but The Boxed Life by Rollins…that could have been waiting a decade on these shelves.Β  The Garth Hudsons have been here since 2020.Β  The Etta James and Beatles since 2018.Β  They were in Jen’s mom’s collection.

Wish me luck as I continue to delve into these unheard corners of my collection.Β  What would you be playing first if you stumbled onto these discs?

 

Scream For Iron Maiden, Grab A Stack of Rock!! Mr. Books & Harrison bring the collections, with special appearance by Jex!

“The show must go on.”Β  That’s the saying, right?Β  That’s what the most supportive wife in the world said to me tonight when I was debating whether to cancel Grab A Stack of Rock this week.Β  Another seizure, another fall, thank God no broken jaw.Β  We’ll have to fill you in on the details later.

An exhausted Mike (physically, emotionally, and mentally) relied on his co-host and guest, Harrison and Mr. Books, for carrying the weight.Β  Jex Russell also stopped by with some rarities.

We looked at:

  • Rare bootleg CDs
  • Rare DVD
  • All my Maiden vinyl with stories to go with
  • Maiden beer, Maiden menu
  • Books
  • And some tangents.

A great show all things considered, and now I need to go take care of Jen.Β  See you next week if all goes well.

 

Next week, the summer tour of 2023 rolls on with Nurse Kat and the Arkells!

Iron Maiden’s Gonna Grab A Stack of Rock, No Matter How Far! Tonight at 8:00 PM E.S.T.

GRAB A STACK OF ROCK With Mike and the Mad Metal Man

Episode 24:Β  Grab A Stack of Iron Maiden

Harrison thought it was time to look at Iron Maiden again.Β  After all, Iron Maiden was the subject of two of our most successful shows in the past.Β  Enough time has passed that people will want to see our Maiden collections again.Β  I’ve dug up all my vinyl, and I have plenty of action figures from Super Seven to show off, as well as other assorted Eddies!

Joining Harrison and I tonight will be Mr. Books from the KMA.Β  It has been ages since he’s been on the show, so please give a warm welcome back to Mr. Books!

As always, we will start the show with “Ask Harrison” and some unboxings.Β  Hope you can join us!

SPECIAL TIME!

Friday June 16 at 8:00 P.M. E.S.T.Β  Enjoy on YouTube or on Facebook!

 

Next week, the summer tour of 2023 rolls on with Nurse Kat and the Arkells!

Just Listening to…Arkells – High Noon (2014)

When I reviewed this album six years ago, I rated it 4.5/5 stars.Β  For whatever reason, I’ve been playing this a lot over the last two weeks.Β  Like a lot lot.Β Β Today I’d give it a solid 5/5.Β  High Noon by the Arkells has reached that upper echelon of albums that somehow, someway, have become so important to me that losing this album would be like losing an arm.Β  It’s in my soul now.Β  It’s part of me.Β  That’s not easy to do, especially for newer music.

I love the spirit.Β  The defiance.Β  The anger!Β  “Oh you’re just a boy, a little banker boy, everything’s a game and everyone’s your toy…”Β  A pretty scathing indictment of the wealthy who prey on the vulnerable, a practice which singer Max Kerman refers to as “Fake Money”.Β  It’s so upbeat that you don’t pick up on the anger until you actually listen to the words.Β  But when you do?Β  Hooboy!Β  Though the song sounds like a celebration, the lyrics cut like razors.

Then there’s the very-80’s “Come To Light”, a brilliant rock song with a Bowie beat.Β  There’s a tension built from synth and drums.Β  Then the piano delivers those hooks!Β  Kerman’s vocals are as impassioned as ever (“Impassioned” being his middle name, according to some reports).Β  Β Virtually every song could be a single, and this one was the first of four.Β  Another simply superior upbeat celebration follows, called “Cynical Bastards”.Β  You have to love that title!Β  Once again the keys are the dominant hook-deliverer, though the chorus itself is pretty damn awesome.Β  Even the lyrics are catchy!Β Β “If the 80s were tough, the 90s were mean!”

Another serious favourite is track #4:Β  “11:11”.Β  You ever heard about that superstition that you’re supposed to make a wish when the clock shows 11:11?Β  A slower, more contemplative song, this beauty is all about meeting a sweetie at a bar.Β  “You made a wish at 11:11, I held your hips at 12:34,” goes the fabulous chorus.Β  “There was a kiss just waiting to happen, a cab was waiting just outside the door.”Β  A slower but still bright number called “Never Thought That This Would Happen” is one of most poetic yet colloquial songs about a one-nighter that I’ve ever heard.Β  “And I never thought that this would happen, and you got all weird after the weekend.Β  Sometimes you make out with an old friend, and I’m rounding first and I’m sliding into second…”Β  It’s also the only song on the album that exceeds four minutes.

Sometimes I wonder if these girls that Kerman is singing about know the songs are about them.

“Dirty Blonde” is another very 80s upbeat rocker, very much like 80s Elton John, but harder.Β  Just as many hooks though!Β  “What Are You Holding On To?” has a completely different vibe, happy and danceable.Β  This is followed by the uber-catchy “Hey Kids!” and the single “Leather Jacket”.Β  “Leather Jacket” is one that strikes home lyrically in many ways.Β  “You call me up from a pay phone, I say hang tight I can drive you home.”Β  Been there done that!Β  But my favourite line?Β  “You call me up from a pay phone, and I said, ‘Who the fuck uses a pay phone?'”Β  Regardless, “Leather Jacket” is instantaneous, flawless and passionate.

Just two more songs remain in this journey.Β  “Crawling Through the Window” slows things down to a strong digital pulse, with dark chords backing it.Β  Brilliant lyrics here describing a shitty old apartment.Β  “There were carpets in the bathroom, man, what the fuck’s a vacuum?”Β  Again it sounds like there’s a real story here.Β  Finally the dance rock of “Systematic” ends the album on a surprising, but no less catchy note.

Mastering engineer – Harry Hess!Β  By all means, get this album.Β  Get it.Β  Play it.Β  Play it again.Β  Fall in love.Β  I did.

 

REVIEW: Savatage – Poets and Madman (2022 glow in the dark vinyl reissue/bonus track)

SAVATAGE – Poets and Madman (2001, 2022 glow in the dark vinyl reissue)

Let us start with this vinyl reissue, before we look at the album proper.Β  Savatage have done a lovely job of reissuing their catalogue on vinyl, with colours galore, epic packaging, and occasional bonus tracks.Β  This reissue includes one such track on a bonus 7″ record.Β  Awesome.

The album comes packaged in a beefy gatefold sleeve, loaded with pictures and graphics.Β  It’s a double album, plus the bonus single.Β  It also includes a massive booklet with loads of text, an interview, photos and lyrics.Β  This reissue was done right.Β  It is always a pleasure when you have something to read along to while you listen.Β  The two 12″ records glow in the dark, a fun effect when you feel like turning your lights off and listening in pitch black (which will probably be never).Β  Unfortunately the records have high surface noise.Β  The bonus 7″ is a clear tie-dyed or splatter design, and sounds excellent.

The bonus track on the single is an extended version of one of the better album cuts, “Awaken”.Β  It is almost a full minute longer, with the extra meat at the end of the track.Β  Almost a full minute of extra guitar gymnastics for you to sink your teeth into.Β  There is music on only one side of the 7″, with the other side blank.

A totally worthwhile vinyl reissue, while we wait for the arrival of new Savatage in 2024.

 

(The rest of this review was previously published in 2014)

Since the death of Criss Oliva, Savatage had become a much more operatic beast, culminating in the formation of Trans-Siberian Orchestra. Here, there are many changes afoot. Guitarist Al Pitrelli departed for Megadeth, although some of his work is herein. Co-lead vocalist Zach Stevens is also gone, having formed the excellent Circle II Circle. This leaves The Mountain King himself, Jon Oliva, to handle all lead vocals for the first time since 1991’s Streets: A Rock Opera. (A new co-lead vocalist named Damond Jineva was hired for the tour.)

This is another dramatic rock opera, and as soon as the needle hits wax, you hear Oliva’s piano flourishes dominate the opening song, “Stay With Me Awhile”. Much like “Streets”, this song is simply an intro to the story which is about to unfold. This time, Oliva and producer Paul O’Neill weave a tale about an abandoned insane asylum and the ghosts within its walls. On a whole it is a much less satisfying concept than some previous Sava-operas, but it backs up the music just fine. And to be honest, that’s why we’re here — the music.

From heavy rockers like “There In The Silence” (backed by a fat synth riff) to slow dramatic ballads like “Back To A Reason”, this is a well-rounded Sava-disc. It is comparable to previous in quality and direction to rock operas such as The Wake of Magellan or Dead Winter Dead, just without Zach.

As with the aforementioned rock operas, there is always a centerpiece on the album. There had to be a counterpoint-vocal-laden masterwork to make your jaw drop in awe and hit that “reverse” button to hear it all again. This time it is a 10 minute epic called “Morphine Child”. With Zach gone, Oliva sings with multiple backing vocalists but the song is no weaker for it. Β I’ll confess that even though I usually listen to albums from front to back, I usually play “Morphine Child” three times in a row. Β It’s that incredible.

Other standouts include the single “Commissar” which is loaded with guitar flash, keyboards and riffage. Β It also features Trans-Siberian-style backing vocals. Β “I Seek Power” sounds like classic Savatage circa Gutter Ballet. Β “Awaken” is another number that brings to mind that mid-period Savatage sound. Β If some fans thought they had strayed way too far into rock opera, then songs like “Awaken” will appeal to their tastes. Β I still like hearing Jon screaming a chorus.

I was underwhelmed a bit by the acoustic “Rumor”, but the song does take off fully electric after a few minutes. Β  Then there’s “Surrender” which feels like an outtake from Streets, but I didn’t find it as memorable. Β So there are a couple duds, who cares?

Poets and Madmen is an excellent album, and it fares well against the other rock operasΒ that Savatage has done. Streets will always be the pinnacle, but Poets and Madmen can hold its own against The Wake of Magellan, and it easily out-does Dead Winter Dead.

4.5/5 stars

REVIEW: Jethro Tull – Thick As A Brick (1972, 50th Anniversary remixed, cut 1/2 speed vinyl edition)

Thanks to Aaron of the KMA for sending this record for my 50th birthday!Β  50th anniversary edition for my 50th trip around the sun.

 

JETHRO TULL – Thick As A Brick (Originally 1972, 50th Anniversary Chrysalis Steven Wilson remix, cut 1/2 speed vinyl edition)

This review is focused on the remix and packaging of the 50th anniversary edition.Β  For a more music-focused analysis, read our 25th Anniversary CD review.Β  That CD came out in 1997.Β  How does that make you feel?Β  Here we are on the 50th anniversary of this great album already.

Even those who dislike remixes often approve of those done by Steven Wilson.Β  In 2012, for Thick As A Brick‘s 40th anniversary, Wilson created new stereo and 5.1 mixes for the album.Β  Such remixes work best when you play the album and can’t quite tell exactly what has changed.Β  Such is the case for Thick As A Brick.Β  The bass sounds deeper and the album sounds bigger.Β  You may notice musical elements you didn’t pick up on before, but the remix was clearly done with respect and never deviates too far from what you know.

The 5.1 remix is scheduled for a reissue in the fall, as even the 40th anniversary edition will get a reprint after nearly a decade out of print.

This vinyl LP was cut at 1/2 speed at AIR Studios.Β  According to the front sticker, this was performed on “a fully customized Neumann VMS80 lathe with fully recapped electronics”.Β  According to the same sticker, the 1/2 speed cutting allows better recreation of high frequencies.Β  I probably can’t hear them anyway, but in short:Β  the record sounds amazing!Β  The nuances of the flute, the organ, the acoustics…all here.Β  All thick as a brick!Β  Punchy.Β  More three-dimensional.Β  Because everything is so clear and in your face, this is my preferred way to listen to Thick As A Brick.Β  There is no struggling to hear any of the parts.Β  It’s all there, with good separation too.

For this reissue, the newspaper packaging has been reproduced full size.Β  The actual sleeve of the album is a 12 page newspaper.Β  This was, of course, discontinued for most reissues over the past decades.Β  Like a real newspaper, this packaging include crosswords and advertisements, all fake and meticulously assembled to entertain and baffle those who stumbled upon it.Β  The outer page, which becomes the front cover, is of harder paper stock than the inner pages.Β  There have been complaints of bent and damaged pages inside the shrink wrap, but this copy was perfect upon opening.

In case you need to be told, Thick As A Brick is one song, split over two sides of vinyl.Β  “Thick As A Brick” sides one and two; there’s your complete tracklisting!Β  It must be said that though side two tends to get less appreciation, the last 10 minutes are pure progressive rock delight.Β  The album just gallops on side two.

Get your newspaper and a coffee, and sit down to enjoy the Steven Wilson remix of Thick As A Brick.Β  It’s a lovely way to spend your day.

5/5 stars

 

 

RE-REVIEW: Def Leppard – “C’Mon C’Mon”(2008 12” picture single)

Part Thirty-Five of the Def Leppard Review Series

Original Review:Β  “C’Mon C’Mon” (2008 12″ picture single)

DEF LEPPARD – β€œC’Mon C’Mon” (2008 12β€³ Mercury picture single)

We haven’t reviewed many actual Def Leppard singles in this review series.Β  Why?Β  Because we reviewed the CD Collection box sets in detail instead, which do an excellent job of collecting all the albums and B-sides from specific eras.Β  This picture disc for “C’Mon C’Mon” from Songs From the Sparkle Lounge is one single for which the B-side has yet to be issued in box set form.

The B-side in question is a live version of “Rocket” from an unknown place and time.Β  What we do know is this:Β  It’s not a pipsqueak edit version from a live album.Β  This is a full-on 10 minute recording with all the extended bells and whistles.

Opening with the usual backwards vocals (“We’re fighting for the gods of war” in reverse), “Rocket” is a Rick Allen vehicle.Β  It’s endurance.Β  The drums are a main feature, but Screamin’ Joe Elliott doesn’t take a back seat to anyone.Β  Still, by the 3:30 mark it’s the Rick Allen show.Β  Soon he’s accompanied by Rick Savage on bass, before the guitar solos begin.Β  Phil Collen goes first followed by Vivian Campbell, in a call & response series of licks.Β  Together the two weave notes and squeals into a tapestry of cool, with Vivian going full metal into speed and tapping.

Around 7:50, Joe surprises the crowd by going into “Whole Lotta Love”.Β  “You need coolin’, baby I ain’t foolin’,” with guitars that replicate what Jimmy Page might have done had he been on stage that night.Β  Back into “Rocket” for the finale, the whole thing works from start to finish as if it wasn’t 10 minutes long but maybe half that.Β  A valuable B-side for your collection, just spectacular stuff.

The A-side is hit or miss.Β  “C’Mon C’Mon” was in the vein of that “Pour Some Sugar” sound, ultimately derived from Gary Glitter.Β  Β It’s…well, to overuse a phrase, “it is what it is”.Β  Def Leppard are always going to have this kind of song in their repertoire.Β  It’s not bad, just nothing new.Β  Performance-wise, Rick Allen is once again a champion.Β  The guitars have a really sweet crunch.Β  It’s a great sounding single, just an unnecessary direction to keep toiling away at.

3.5/5 stars

Next:Β  Leppard goes country with…yes, we’re at that point now…with Taylor Swift.

Previous:Β Β 

  1. The Early YearsΒ Disc One – On Through the NightΒ 
  2. The Early Years Disc Two – High N’ Dry
  3. The Early YearsΒ 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 RecordingsΒ 
  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 FaceΒ 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

Next:

36. CMT Crossroads (DVD with Taylor Swift)
37. B-Sides
38. Yeah! II
39. Yeah! Live
40. Mirror Ball – Live & More (Japanese import)
41. iTunes re-recordings

REVIEW: Fu Manchu / Fastso Jetson – “Jailbreak” / “Blueberries & Chrome” (1998 split single)

FU MANCHU – “Jailbreak” / FATSO JETSON – “Blueberries & Chrome” (1998 split Sessions Records 7″ single)

Fu Manchu turn Thin Lizzy into Thin Sludge…and it works!Β  Though it’s downtuned and slammin’, it’s still “Jailbreak”.Β  Fu Manchu went to the effort to mostly duplicate the familiar lead guitar melodies.Β  The hooks you remember are there.Β  Vocally, considering that Phil Lynott often liked to speak/sing, Scott Hill from Fu Manchu’s natural approach works just fine.Β  He’s different from Phil, more than you’d expect.Β  He doesn’t really attempt to sing the vocal melody, he just applies his own style to it.Β  Few people will pick this as their favourite Lizzy cover of all time, but Fu Manchu fans should adore it.Β  Produced by J. Yuenger of White Zombie.

On the B-side, it’s Fatso Jetson with their own brand of stoner rock.Β  “Blueberries & Chrome” rocks heavy with riff in your face and vocals buried deep.Β  It doesn’t shy away from dissonant chords but it does allow the vocals by Mario Lalli to explode on the chorus.Β  “Baby want sugar!”Β  Let’s just say it’s probably better that you can’t really hear the lyrics.Β  “He’s about to unwind, and it’s stuck in your face.”Β  Good tune though, sludgey and heavy.Β  The chorus is an awesome blowout.

3.5/5 stars

REVIEW: Guns N’ Roses – Hard Skool (2022 Nightrain club clear 7″)

GUNS N’ ROSES – Hard Skool (2022 Geffen 7″ Nightrain club clear vinyl EP)

Back in February, Guns N’ Roses released the Hard Skool EP (or single, or whatever!), containing the first two new Guns songs since 2008’s Chinese Democracy.Β  With five tracks total (two studio, three live) over three separate formats (CD, cassette, 7″), it was already a pretty good listen.Β  Axl’s voice has adapted to singing these demanding songs, 35 years after.Β  But there was always the promise of more in June 2022, and now it has come.

Members of the Guns N’ Roses Nightrain club received a brand new Hard Skool release on clear vinyl, with one exclusive live track added.Β  The cover art colour has been changed from red to dark charcoal grey, and a “Nightrain Limited-Edition Clear” notation has been added to the front.Β  This wasn’t cheap, costing $60 Canadian ($45 US) dollars to join.Β  There are other perks but really, the truth of the matter is I paid $60 for one song.

They had better not reissue this track!

The new exclusive song is “Shadow Of Your Love”, a recent live version recorded with Axl, Slash, Duff, Dizzy Reed, Richard Fortus, Frank Ferrer, and Melissa Reese.Β  If you cast your minds back to the recent Appetite For Destruction super deluxe edition, “Shadow Of Your Love” was released as a single and it got a bit of airplay.Β  Live with the new version of the band, it does recapture that Appetite vibe and let’s face it, the song was possibly superior to a couple tunes that did make the final album.Β  You can hear Melissa on backing vocals, a touch that isn’t on early live versions of the song.Β  That backing vocal part is present on the studio version from the third disc on the Appetite box, but not the others included.Β  It’s cool that they’ve brought it back.Β  This version is just as fast as the old ones too.Β  It’s awesome to hear Frank Ferrer playing the drum part originally recorded by Steven Adler.Β  As for Axl, he adapts.Β  This is one of the most high and raspy of the original Guns repertoire.Β  Axl delivers it smooth without the rasp and still manages to get his voice way, way up there.Β  Say what you want about Axl Rose, he’s sounding better than many of his contemporaries.Β  Of course the real treat is just hearing Slash wail on it, as he should.

As for the other songs on the single; we’ve discussed them before so we won’t spend much more time on them.Β Β “Hard Skool” is a Chinese Democracy outtake that has been reworked with Slash and Duff McKagan.Β  The duo have writing credits on “Hard Skool” along with Axl Rose and former members Robin Finck, Josh Freese, Tommy Stinson and Paul “Huge” Tobias.Β  Formerly known as “Jackie Chan”, this song comes closest to capturing the classic Guns vibe – think Illusions era GN’R.Β  Slash imbues the riff with his trademark snakelike style, and Axl is in full-scream mode on the powerful chorus.Β  The cowbell brings us back to the 80s a bit, but the experimental solo section is more modern.Β Β The other new/old song β€œABSUΠ―D” is much more Chi-Dem, and more divisize.Β  Formerly known as “Silkworms”, Guns started playing β€œABSUΠ―D” live after a 20 year absence last year as a surprise.Β  Axl’s voice is pretty strange here, sounding a bit muppet-ish.Β  (The screaming portion sounds like tape.)Β  This live track will take some getting used to.Β  It’s not that Axl’s voice is bad just…different than what you’re used to.

Both vinyl releases came with a sticker.Β  This fan club edition also comes with a Nightrain 2022 pin.Β  The pin comes packaged in a little mini-folder.Β  It is made of metal and heavy for a pin.Β  Made for a jacket, not a shirt.Β  For a higher tier, you could sign up for four pins and a hoodie.Β  But I really only wanted to shell out for the exclusive track.

You can’t blame Axl for wanting to get some of these old songs out since he laboured for years over them.Β  It’s fitting that only now with Slash and Duff back in the band, the songs are “finished”.Β  Keep the releases coming guys.Β  It doesn’t have to be an album.Β  It just has to be Guns.

4/5 stars

All cautions made
Every chance was given
No effort spared to save what we had
All in good faith
I would not hesitate
To extend myself and lend you my hand

But you had to play it cool, had to do it your way
Had to be a fool, had to throw it all away
Too hard school and you thought you were here to stay
If that were true, it wouldn’t matter anyway

As tempers fade
And lies forgiven
No cause embraced could break what we had
In its place
A storm is lifting
I would’ve thought you could be more of a man

But you had to play it cool, had to do it your way
Had to be a fool, had to throw it all away
Too hard school and you thought you were here to stay
If that were true, it wouldn’t matter anyway

But you had to play it cool, had to do it your way
Had to be a fool, had to throw it all away
Too hard school and you thought you were here to stay
If that were true, it wouldn’t matter anyway

You had to play it cool, had to do it your way
Had to be a fool, had to throw it all away
Too hard school and you thought you were here to stay
If that were true, it wouldn’t matter anyway

You had to play it cool, had to do it your way
Had to be a fool, had to throw it all away
Too hard school and you thought you were here to stay
If that were true, it wouldn’t matter anyway

REVIEW: Styx – The Same Stardust (2021 RSD EP)

STYX – The Same Stardust (2021 RSD EP)

Anecdote:Β  I wasn’t able to get this Styx EP with seven exclusive tracks on Record Store Day, so I knew I would have to pay the “late tax”.Β  I was surprised that pretty much every copy for sale on Discogs was coming from Russia.Β  Given the current situation I didn’t want to risk having a record coming in from Russia.Β  I found one from somewhere else (Estonia perhaps) and bit the bullet and ordered.Β  Two days later I got an email saying, “We are relocating to Russia!Β  We will mail your record from there!”Β  I almost asked to cancel but decided to be patient, and it has finally arrived.Β  In perfect shape.Β  Whew.

To accompany their excellent new album Crash of the Crown, Styx released an EP with two exclusive studio bonus tracks, and five live.Β  Not bad value for an EP when all of them are previously unreleased.Β  The record is on beautiful, heavy transparent blue vinyl, is low on surface noise, and just sounds wonderful!

The title track “The Same Stardust” opens, and it’s a theme we often hear in science:Β  we are all, every one of us, made of the same matter from a star that exploded billions of years ago.Β  It’s a unifying theme, but not a wimpy song.Β  A crescendo of drums leads us to an upbeat rocker with lead vocals by Lawrence Gowan.Β  There’s a great little riff after the chorus, and Gowan’s lead vocal recalls the Beatles.Β  “Walk away from hate!” he sings, reflecting the sentiments of the Fab Four.Β  Tommy Shaw sings the powerful bridge and then rips into a melodically cool solo.Β  Easily of album, or single quality.

The second exclusive studio song is called “Age of Entropia” and it is best described as progressive like Styx of old.Β  Tommy sings this number with a gentle acoustic opening.Β  It builds into a more robust construction in time, really sounding like only one band:Β  Styx.Β  Good song but less instant.

Side two contains the live material, and the side opener is a track as desirable as the unreleased studio songs, if not more: a new live version of “Mr. Roboto” from 2020!Β  This often shunned hit has finally been recorded again in a live setting, now with Gowan on vocals.Β  It’s been tuned down a bit, but it still thrills.Β  As soon you hear that trademark keyboard opening, you can’t help but smile.Β  Especially knowing how rarely it gets played live.Β  We all miss Dennis DeYoung but it is clear that Tommy Shaw doesn’t really want to hear about him.Β  Gowan does an admirable job, as do all the Styx vocalists, as there is a lot going on.Β  He even adds some of his own flare.Β  There’s a slightly harder edge on this “Mr. Roboto” and that’s just fine.

Another treat, at least to those in the know, is “Radio Silence” from the excellent album The Mission.Β  One of the best tunes from that sci-fi concept album indeed, and the first live release of any song from it.Β  So that’s special, even if Crash of the Crown may very well have topped The Mission.Β  That’s subjective…but possible.

Classics follow, dominated by Tommy Shaw tuneage.Β  “Man in the Wilderness” has the same vibe as the newer material, cut from the same cloth.Β  The heavy solo section is jaw-droppingly cool with wicked wah-wah effects.Β  James Young gets the spotlight on his heavy hitting “Miss America”.Β  Always a welcome listen, his unique vocal stylings are necessary for the overall Styx sound.Β  And that riff!Β  Speaking of riffs, Tommy closes the disc with the legendary “Renegade”.Β  Still classic, still awesome, still hard to resist the urge to shake it!Β  And though it does sound tuned down, Tommy’s voice has an incredible timeless youth.

The Same Stardust is a damn near essential add-on to your Crash of the Crown album.Β  It would have made an awesome bonus disc to a deluxe version of…oh, man.Β  After what I paid for this, if they put The Same Stardust on a future deluxe edition of Crash of the Crown, I’ll be pissed!

4.5/5 stars