Odds and Ends

Each week I use this space to post some mini-reviews, cool tracks, random thoughts, neat news, or whatever else I damn well please.

MiniReview
Grand Atlantic “Constellations” – Brisbane modern rock band Grand Atlantic is back with their third offering, following the acclaimed 2009 effort “How We Survive” (review here). “Constellations” has a darker, more solemn atmosphere to it in general, perhaps due to the fact that the album was recorded in an abandoned psychiatric hospital. Par for the course, Phil Usher unleashes some head bobbing riffs and has a smoky rasp that makes the music sizzle with excitement. The songs are powerful and exert a more prominent dose of psychedelic rock this time around, but I don’t feel that the melodic hooks are as sharp. Standout tracks include the epic opener, “Searchlights”, the engaging “Carved From Stone”, and the energetic blues of the first single, “Fresh Ideas In Home Security”. If you like Oasis, Jet, or Kings of Leon, be sure to check out Grand Atlantic here. “Constellations” will be available September 2nd.

Surprise of the week
Chad Smith is too busy on the road with The Red Hot Chili Peppers…so who is the replacement for Chickenfoot’s drummer? Hint: not Jack, not Diane, but…see here.

News
The new album from KISS will be called “Monster” (R.E.M. anyone?). Paul Stanley reports: "That was a pivotal album in the sense we were aware of who we were as a performing band, but we had to re-establish who we were as a recording band…There are no ballads”. Story here.

Details on the inevitable “deluxe” version of the forthcoming sophomore effort from Chickenfoot called “Chickfoot III”.

Sadly, we lost a few giants of songwriting. Nickolas Ashford, who co-wrote hit singles for the likes of Chaka Khan, Aretha Franklin and Diana Ross, and Jerry Leiber, who wrote hits for Elvis, The Drifters, and The Coasters.

Random iPOD song of the week
What a great old song! One of my favorite duets – Kenny Loggins and Stevie Nicks sound awesome. This song appeared on the excellent Loggins CD “Nightwatch” from 1978.

Classic melodic rock CD of the week

By Stephen Kasenda

KISS “Crazy Nights” (1987)

It's 1987 and pop-metal began spreading like a disease. Bon Jovi and Poison took over the world and Kiss kept up with the competition by releasing "Crazy Nights", which favors the current wave of the time. The result somehow is not disappointing as they achieved platinum status a year later, and three of their singles received heavy rotation on MTV and radio.

"Crazy Crazy Nights" has its own charming shout-along chorus and really could turn your party into a wild wild night. "I'll Fight The Hell To Hold You", "My Way", and "Turn On The Night" are rough-edged melodic rockers and were infectious at the same time - you gotta love ‘em all. "Hell or High Water" sounded 70s but with a major 80s upgrade. "Reason To Live" is the contender to match their massive classic ballad, "Beth". Paul sung his heart out and with the heartbreaking lyric "you can love and get burned, if it has to be", this track is achingly beautiful.

I think the real power behind this album is Paul Stanley, who wrote all of my favorite songs along with Desmond Child and Diane Warren, and carved out the three successful singles while Gene Simmons put out some inferior songs such as "No,No,No", "Good Girl Gone Bad" and "Thief In The Night". Bottom line, this is a great commercial and fun album to enjoy!

Read more of Stephen’s features at MetalMusicArchives.

Cover tune catastrophe: I Want To Rock And Roll All Night

In this ongoing series, I will uncover some of the WORST cover tunes ever recorded. We’ve all encountered that unsettling feeling upon hearing a beloved song redone by another artist. What were they thinking? How dare they try to redo this song! While we are powerless to prevent these clowns from trashing the originals, we can call them out on it.


Toad the Wet Sprocket – “I Want To Rock And Roll All Night” (Kiss)

For the record, Toad the Wet Sprocket is one of my favorite bands of all time…but what were they thinking when they did a slow-as-the postal-service acoustic cover of the greatest rock and roll anthem of all time? They play and sing this Kiss classic as if they were hung-over. “You drive us wild, we’ll drive you crazy” never sounded more insincere.



So what do you think is one of the worst cover tunes? Leave a comment and tell us - if it is bad enough, we might just write it up!

Trivia Corner: Mr. Mister Cher

In the mid to late 80s, Cher was cranking out a healthy dose of pop rock and AOR with the help of some big league players in game at the time. Her 1991 effort "Love Hurts", for example, features songs by Diane Warren and Desmond Child and production by Richie Zito and Bob Rock, staples of many a hairband.

Other familiar guests to melodic rockers will recognize the work and backing vocals of Richard Page (Mr. Mister) on the hit track "Save Up All Your Tears" and her duet, "One Small Step". "World Without Heroes" has songwriters as diverse as Paul Stanley and Gene Simmons (Kiss) and Lou Reed, with Steve Lukather on guitar (Toto) and Richard Marx on backing vocals - can you imagine all those folks in the same studio at the same time? Steve actually lends his guitar talents to many tracks on this CD. AOR master Kevin Chalfant is also credited for the track "Who You Gonna Believe".

Finally, we have a cover of the Nazareth classic, "Love Hurts" featuring Gunnar Nelson on backing vocals and Jeff Porcaro on drums. If you were a fan of Heart or any other artist/songwriter here, this CD might be worth a second listen.

Funny: Kiss covers Rick Astley

A video mash-up fantasy, but hilarious...click here to see Kiss doing "Never Gonna Give You Up"