New Music Reviews, Hard Rock, Heavy Metal, Progressive Rock, Progressive Metal, AOR, Alternative Rock, Alternative Metal

Def Leppard: High 'N' Dry (1981)

Melodic Rock/Metal

Rating: 5.0/5.0

I'm probably bucking conventional wisdom here, but I think the best Def Leppard album of all time is 1981's 'High 'N' Dry.' Maybe it's because I had it back to back on cassette with AC/DC's 'Back In Black' (another classic for another review), and played the sh*t out of it in the car until the tape was thread bare. Or probably better a reason is that the whole album flowed so completely in continuity: those magnificent guitars and vocal arrangements were devastating. Songs like the title track and 'Mirror, Mirror (Look into My Eyes)' were awesome as hybrid melodic hard rock and metal explosions that pulled me in. But the single most appealing section comes at the end of the first side of that LP where 'Bringin' On The Heartbreak' moves seemlessly into the blistering 'Switch 625.' Oh, that is grand stuff!

Crack The Sky: Animal Notes (1976)

Progressive Rock

Rating: 4.75/5.0

I may be reaching into obscurity here for some people. If you know who Crack The Sky is, then you definitely get a gold star on your classic rock exam. Crack the Sky is an American progressive rock band formed in Weirton, West Virginia (of all places) in the early 1970s by the eccentric John Palumbo on vocals and Rick Witkowski on guitar. In 1975 the self-titled debut received high praise and was even suggested to be 'album of the year' by the Rolling Stone (they actually can get something right). The album was terrific, but it was Animal Notes that blew my college freshmen mind.

Crack The Sky had it all: creative and surprising arrangements, quirky lyrics, and exceptional musicianship. Some songs were crafty and sardonic like 'We Want Mine.' Others were short, sweet and provactively labeled like 'Wet Teenager' (what did you think of?) and the beautiful piano driven sci-fi thriller(?) 'Invaders From Mars.' 'Rangers At Midnight' was epic and delightful (horses and all). Animal Notes is headphone music in the classic and true 70s sense. Supporting Animal Notes, Crack The Sky did two cross-country tours and opened for Styx, Supertramp, Rush, Foreigner, The Electric Light Orchestra, Yes, ZZ Top, Kansas, Edgar Winter, Frank Zappa, and Boston. They were thrown off tours with Kansas, Styx, and ELO because they outplayed all of them as the opening act. ("Pie in the Sky", Joab Jackson, Baltimore City Paper, July 12, 1995.)

Animal Notes was followed by the generally inspiring, but limited (Palumbo had left the band) 'Safety In Numbers.' After this Crack The Sky imploded and then returned once for a dubious career over the next 20 plus years. Nevertheless, if you pick up this one and their first, you will have increased the breadth and depth of your classic rock collection.

Robin Trower: Bridge Of Sighs (1974)

Guitar Rock/Blues

Rating: 5.0/5.0

From my early days I've always loved lead guitar. Back in 1974, when I was merely 16, Robin Trower's blues based, Hendrix-influenced style caught my ears and blew my mind. 'Bridge Of Sighs' introduced me to the former guitarist for the English prog rock band Procol Harum. Trower mixed blues, progressive and psychedelic styles in such a complete manner that kept me listening and buying every new album without question. This album contains so many Trower classics including 'Day Of The Eagle,' 'Lady Love,' 'Little Bit Of Sympathy,' and the incredible 'Too Rolling Stoned.' 'Bridge Of Sighs' is classic and should be in everybody's library.

Bon Jovi: Slippery When Wet (1986)

Melodic Hard/Glam Rock

Rating: 5.0/5.0

The apex of the 80's glam rock era may have come with Bon Jovi's 'Sippery When Wet.' If anything it put this New Jersey band on the map. Yet, it also set the standard by which others of the time would be judged. The raw enthusiasm cannot be challenged; the song writing is impeccable; the production nearly flawless. Sure Jon Bon Jovi and company put the 'hair' in hair rock/metal of the day. Their coiffed hair and crotch exposing spandex give rise to the detrimental appellation, 'poseurs.' Maybe they were posers and maybe they give rise to the harder, torn jeans metal, of Metallica, but they were a lot of fun. It's easy to sing along with 'You Give Love A Bad Name' and 'Livin On A Prayer.' Rock and melody never mixed so good. And 'Wanted Dead Or Alive' truly expressed the spirit of an ever touring rock band like ever before. It is an inspired number coming straight from the heart. 'Slippery When Wet' is definitely a classic album.

Footnote: the album has some controversy concerning its cover. The original concept was considered to 'pornographic' for mainstream America. Supposedly it was only released in Japan. If you can find this album, it is a true collector's treasure.

Judas Priest: Sad Wings Of Destiny (1976)

Heavy Metal

Rating: 5.0/5.0

Judas Priest's 'Sad Wings Of Destiny' is the single most influential work to turn me into a fan of heavy metal. Released in 1976, it turned the hard rock and metal world on it's head. Though as dark and foreboding as any previous Black Sabbath album, SWOD raised heavy metal to a new height in technical precision. Much of this is due to the twin guitar attack of K.K. Downing and Glenn Tipton, the inspiring vocals of Rob Halford, and the brilliant, near complex, arrangements. 'Victim Of Changes' remains the essence of epic heavy metal. Even though later, JP developed into near 'pop' heavy metal, 'Sad Wings Of Destiny' still stands as a masterpiece of metal. This is one for everybody's library.

UFO: Strangers In The Night (1979)

Melodic Hard Rock/Metal

Rating: 5.0/5.0

UFO is one of my favorite bands. I grew up with them in high school and continue to follow their exploits today. 'Strangers In The Night' is the quinessential live album. This was UFO at the peak of their success, firing on all cylinders, thanks mostly to the greatest guitar god of that day, Michael Schenker. Mr. Schenker's performance is thrilling and nearly flawless. But this can be said of the entire band. Phil Mogg's vocals and between song banter (get the re-released extended version) is priceless. UFO blows the doors off the audience on the killer tracks 'Too Hot To Handle,' 'Lights Out,' and the ever popular 'Rock Botton.' This is great stuff!

Edguy: Burning Down The Opera (2003)

Melodic Heavy/Power Metal

Rating: 4.5/5.0

Edguy is the single band that helped me rediscover heavy metal after years of believing that melodic metal died with grunge in the early 1990s. (Yeah, I know: I should have known better.) Recorded mostly in Paris on their Mandrake tour, this is Edguy at their best: madness and melody which is all pure fun. I love this album even though it has some mixing overdubs (Kiss did it, so what?). Lead singer Tobias Sammett is over the top on every song and in between. The band plays with enthusiasm and precision. This is simply a great fun live album.