#Randomrecordworkout

[stevecanmakeanythingnerdy]

Battle #21

Arcadia: So Red The Rose ( Side One )

Vs.

Roxy Epoxy and The Rebound: Band-Aids On Bulletholes ( Side Two )

Arcadia: So Red The Rose ( Side One )

Arcadia were a new wave British group formed in 1985 by Simon Le Bon, Nick Rhodes, and Roger Taylor of Duran Duran as a side project during a break in that band's schedule. The project was only active during 1985 and 1986 for just one album, So Red the Rose, which was certified Platinum in the United States and included a number of charting singles. Arcadia is not the only Duran squared spin-off. The Power Station also falls into that category and also had hits. So any doubt of Duran Duran’s hit making ability (not that there should be any) can suck a D...uran. Simon Le Bon himself described So Red the Rose as "the most pretentious album ever made," while AllMusic called it "the best album Duran Duran never made". I must say that I have to agree wholeheartedly with the latter. To say that this album in ANY WAY sounds different than Duran Duran would just be lying to yourself. I mean, they didn’t even try to be different. It did have some big scoring hits though, such as the lead off batter “Election Day”. I am sure you would recognize it dips you heard it, and it is an election year so...maybe it’ll make a comeback. All the candidates are like this song, right? ‘85? (#seewhatididthere). The 80s rock continues with “Keep me in the Dark” which was another charting single although not quite as high. With “Goodbye is Forever” it is especially hard to escape the Duran comparison. Le Bon’s voice is just so recognizable and present. Honestly the comparison is NOT a slam in any way. It’s maybe the highest compliment actually. Mid tempo rocker and these tunes are all good.

“The Flame”is essentially as the Duranx2 song “View to a Kill” from the bond movie went rogue and formed its own band. Their SONGS are doing spin off bands!!?!?! I keep waiting for them to announce at the end of the song that they actually are D-squared and this has all been a joke. “Missing” is the final track and contains the quiet solitude and meditation moments of zen. A good slow down, but still true to the du-roots du-roots and it’s aaaaaa looooooooooonnnnnngggg ssssoooonnnnnnnggggg. Actually this is the most diverse they have been from the former. As in straight up rock band and less new wave. The guest stars on this album is pretty phenomenal too. It reads like a who’s who of 1985. Herbie Hancock, David Gilmore (Pink Floyd), Sting... but yeah this is the lost Duran Duran album for sure. It’s actually the very reason I own it.

Roxy Epoxy and The Rebound: Band-Aids On Bulletholes ( Side Two )

Roxy Epoxy, the soul and front woman of this band is often associated with such fierce and striking artists as Karen O, Siouxsie Sioux, and Chrissie Hynde. Roxy Epoxy made a lasting impact on the punk and indie community in her former band, The Epoxies. At the end of 2007, the Epoxies decided to call it quits, but Roxy wasn’t finished yet. She decided to pull her own songs out of hiding and start fresh. She began writing new songs and found some talented musicians to follow her into the studio. The result was Roxy Epoxy and The Rebound. Now, freshly rejuvenated and ready to tackle the music industry with both fists and a great set of pipes, Roxy embarked on the next chapter of her musical career with her newly-minted band. Whereas The Epoxies focus was often on androids and science fiction themes, this new band was really just an extension in sound and style, but lyrically more challenging and based in traditional themes. Don’t mistake that as bad. They are just more cohesive songs that speak of dark subjects and more mature things. It’s basically a new wave power pop rock band and they are amazing! Unfortunately this and a solo EP by Roxy are really all that exist. This band is now considered defunct as well. But what an amazing output for the one album!! “Svengali” starts it. It’s a reference to the fictional character who tricks and exploits a young girl. The word "svengali" has come to refer to a person who, with evil intent, dominates, manipulates and controls another. Not sure if there are implications outside of the song, but it’s a rocker! New wavier than a lays potato chip and just as delicious!! And this rocker is on Side two! “Fun” has those punky new wave keys please! Roxy has a voxy range that’s nearly unbeatable! “Lola’s Vision” sides more on the indie rock status symbol and has the tick tick of a clock, slower in stature but subtle in subject. “The Spider and the Leach” May well be the most memorable song, if only for the story it tells. Has that wonderful eerie sound and really helps define the difference between the former Epoxies and the current events. Metropolis anyone? Intricate keys and melodies, all over monotone vocals that are perfectly suited to the task. It’s a great juxtaposition on the story time vivid lyrics happening. “Unnamed” is a straight up punkity punk punk rocket. Discordant and dangerous. Lastly, “Watch Me” has those meaty beats to crush your skull and is anti-authoritarian. Overall this record is equally dystopian and Bauhaus as it is poppy and Flock of Seagulls. Again, the key difference is the depth and song-smithing. If Missing Persons were just a straight up punk band...or the movie Blade Runner decided to write music.

Sidebar: I know the title of this whole thing I do is RANDOM record workout, but sometimes there exists some similarities and cohesion in the matchups. For example, possibly the band’s share a member or something as simple as each band plays “7 songs” or whatever. It could be related artwork or any number of things, but there becomes this weird theme developed. Today, the theme was side projects in a sense. I just find it amusing. That is all.

So today it was Arcadia with their roses so red who tried to out Duran themselves. They burned 147 calories over 22 minutes and 5 songs. They averaged 29.40 calories burned per song and 6.68 calories burned per minute. They earned 11 out of 15 possible stars. Roxy Epoxy was on the rebound and put band-aids on her bullet holes. They played for 18 minutes and managed to burn 122 calories over 6 songs. That is an average of 20.33 calories burned per song and 6.78 calories burned per minute. They earned 15 out of 18 possible stars. They may be on the rebound but Roxy Epoxy and Company take the crown today!

Roxy Epoxy and the Rebound : “Unnamed”

https://youtu.be/UgZBH1Ub0OA

#Randomrecordworkoutseasonseven

#Randomrecordworkout

[stevecanmakeanythingnerdy]

Battle #26

The Vindictives: The Many Moods of... ( Side D )

Vs.

The Mary Jane Girls: Only Four You ( Side 1 )

The Vindictives: The Many Moods of... ( Side D )

The Vindictives are probably one of the best and most underrated of the 90s pop punk bands to call Chicago home. They began in 1990, after Joey’s first band, Vicktimz of Society called it quits. Their original lineup included Joey Vindictive (vocals), Johnny Personality (bass), Ben Weasel (of Screeching Weasel fame on guitar), Dr. Bob (guitar), and Erik Elsewhere (drums). The band would quickly experience lineup changes and evolve in complexity as well. The band would end up releasing 12 EPs and albums until July 1996, when Joey Vindictive revealed that his health issues would prevent the band from going on. The band DID continue past that but never at the capacity and intensity it had been previously. The distinction between The Vindictives and other pop punk bands of the same cloth is all in the lyrics. Often sexual or paranoia themes (sometimes both!) took center stage. And those amazing and layered harmonies!! No one did it better than The Vindictives. You got a real sense of the frantic-ness though in the music and the production was outstanding. Every song is catchy and holds your attention, making each song just a little different. Something pop punk is not often known for often, embracing the repetitiveness. So this “album” is really one of their only proper ones but it’s more or less a collection of all the aforementioned EPs. “Future Homemakers of America” Starts the party off right. Meaty and punchy with those dripping snotty vocals. Not perfect and that’s OK. It’s part of the energy, and a real slap across the face of suburbia stay at home housewives everywhere. “Spring Valley Shopping Mall” Tell the tale of what sounds like a really bad date. Literally a story in the form of a song. “1 (900) ILU-VYOU” is a dominatrix tune that features those amazing backing vocal harmonies. You could say they DOMINATE (#seewhatididthere) at it. Next up is “Basketcase”-a quickie punker rocket with driving and screaming leads. It’s better than Green Day’s version. Just kidding, totally different songs, but Green Day does serve as a good comparison for production value and tight melodies. Speaking of tight,

“You Know Who You Are” follows suit and punches you in the face. All while bitting and clawing your eyes out. Wound up like a spring and ready to pounce. As if it couldn’t get any faster, “Impatient” flies at you at breakneck speeds. Vindictives are not usually Minor Threat level fast, but skatepunks be damned, these guys mean business! Thrashing lashes to make you gnash your teeth. Probably one of the best songs on this side, and best examples of how the Vindictives stand out is found in “...And The World Isn’t Flat Anymore”. It’s very catchy and sing along style, but still manages to employ one the band’s favorite tricks, vocals in the round. Joey understands how to make one set bleed into the other and it sounds so amazing. More vocal layers than a 7 layer burrito! His raw and unabashed outlook give that darker edge the band uses to their advantage. Ironically these are probably some of the weaker tunes in their arsenal, so just imagine how awesome Sides A-C are! Brilliant!

The Mary Jane Girls: Only Four You ( Side 1 )

The Mary Jane Girls are an American R&B, soul and funk group that gained popularity in the 1980s. They were protégées of singer Rick James. Much like Prince had Shiela E and others, Rick James has his girls too. They are known for their hit songs "In My House", "All Night Long", "Candy Man", and their cover version of "Walk Like a Man". Joanne "Jojo" McDuffie was the lead singer, the others filling out the group's style and appearance. According to the wiki, on the studio recordings, McDuffie was backed by session vocalists rather than the other Mary Jane Girls. The album credits the other members as each singing at least one song though. The Mary Jane Girls released two albums in the 1980s and recorded a third which was shelved for decades but finally released in 2014. They were inducted into the Rhythm & Blues Music Hall of Fame in 2019. You can practically see the marketing plan-o-gram throughout, but you know what? The songs are fairly catchy. I like the 80s and even though it has distinct Motown and funk influence, there is a decent representation of new wave too. Rock actually wrote and produced all the songs too, so he had his hands all over it. Of course we should address the obvious. The name of the group referenced mary jane, slang for marijuana; a favored recreational drug of James. (James wrote a hit song titled "Mary Jane".) The group's image was styled as containing a street-wise girl (McDuffie), a supermodel (Ghant), a cheerleader/valley girl (Wells, then Marine), and a dominatrix (Wuletich). This is their second album and has the biggest hit, which starts off the whole thing. “In My House” has a VERY Rick James start with that keyboard intro, then drop the funky bass. These are 4 ladies that know the 80s. If disco were just watered down new wave, ala Lipps Inc., then I’d be ok with it. That’s pretty much what we have here. “Break it Up” is another funky dance club hit parade. Revolving Supremes-like vocals that keep your interest. The next 30 seconds are an interlude to the song “Shadow Lover” but they bothered to list it as a separate track, so...? It’s a saxophone meets piano warm up really, into the actual action. A slow bedroom jam that might make Luther Vandross jealous. The last track (only 4 you I guess #seewhatididthere ) is next. It’s called “Lonely for You” and the play on the album title is not lost on me. This one is back to the rockin’ beats. Mellow and melody. The underlying keyboard is fantastic on this cut. It’s a new wave version of En Vogue or a disco version on The Supremes. Either way, nice. I hope they didn’t have to do anything freaky to get their deal...(#seewhatididthere)

So today we saw the many moods of The Vindictives in full regalia. They took 16 minutes to burn 101 calories over 7 songs. That is 14.43 calories burned per song and 6.31 calories burned per minute. The Vindictives earned 18 out of 21 possible stars. The Mary Jane Girls did it only four you. They took 19 minutes to burn 116 calories over 4 songs. That’s an average of 29.p calories burned per song and 6.11 calories burned per minute. The MJG earned 8 out of 12 possible stars. Looks like The Vindictives will be in a haploid because they won today’s challenge!

The Vindictives : “You Know Who You Are”

https://youtu.be/RpT7OGsUzWo

#Randomrecordworkoutseasonseven

#Randomrecordworkout

[stevecanmakeanythingnerdy]

Battle #8

Gary Numan and the Tubeway Army : Replicas ( Side Two)

Vs.

Mötley Crüe : Shout At The Devil ( Side One )

Gary Numan and the Tubeway Army : Replicas ( Side Two)

Tubeway Army were a London-based new wave and electronic band led by lead singer Gary Numan. They were the first band of the electronic era to have a synthesiser-based number-one hit, with their single "Are 'Friends' Electric?" and its parent album Replicas both topping the UK charts in mid-1979. After its release, Numan (real name Gary Webb) opted to drop the Tubeway Army name and release music under his own name as he was the sole songwriter, producer and public face of the band, but he retained the musicians from Tubeway Army as his backing band. Numan is considered a pioneer of electronic music, with his signature sound consisting of heavy synthesiser hooks fed through guitar effects pedals. He is also known for his distinctive voice and androgynous "android" persona. He practically invented the genre. Tubeway Army was relatively short lived, only putting out 2 albums, this being the second. But an important one as it helped shape and define the sound Gary Numan would develop the rest of his career around. To say he is an innovator is an understatement...oh and he’s also a pilot. For real! This album cannot be undersold for its amazing influence on a plethora of artists such as Nine Inch Nails, Marilyn Manson and Basement Jaxx. A game changer for sure. The flip side begins with a real influential tune called “You Are In My Vision”. It’s mega catchy as only an album using NO guitars could be. And it should be applauded at how unconventional that move was at the height of the “big rock” era. I firmly believe that the most innovative time for music history was in the mid 70s to early 80s. You had rock, punk, new wave, power pop, avant-garde movements and even disco (as much as I hate it). Music was SO CREATIVE and Numan pioneered the synthesizer movement by really spotlighting it on this album. And he discovered the dang thing in the studio toying around!! You can totally get the robotic vibe Numan was trying to convey. One Mono TONE (#seewhatididthere) the whole time. I love it! The title track “Replicas” follows and is slow and syndicated and syncopated. Triumphant riffage and with no guitars that’s saying something! I do think that a lot of these tunes were probably originally written on a guitar and then translated to keys. A great example of this is the next track, “It Must Have Been Years”. Those are some seriously ballsy hard rockin’ metal riffs if I’ve ever heard them. “When The Machines Rock” is just instrumental bliss/madness. You get the sense of a precursor to his later smash hit, “Cars” and you can practically see the progression. Now, here’s ANOTHER Numan innovation; two back to back instrumentals!! “I Nearly Married A Human” has, not only an awesome sounding title, but some dreamlike structures and meandering, winding keyboards. The only drawback is that, either by design, by limitations of the Day or unfamiliarity (possibly all of the above), the recording production values were not up to task with his vision. The keys peaked several times and it detracts from some of the awesomeness. Like new wave (and goth) or not, Gary Numan really deserves every last bit of the cult following he has earned.

Mötley Crüe : Shout At The Devil ( Side One )

Well, well, well! What an epic battle this is turning out to be! A legendary glam/metal band meets a legendary new wave band, both from the 80s and both still very relevant to this day. This is their second album and the one they toured in support of with Ozzy Osbourne in 1983. I think it should be fairly obvious that this band was on the fast track to success. Let’s back up a bit though...Mötley Crüe is an American heavy metal band formed in Los Angeles, California, in 1981. The group was founded by bassist Nikki Sixx, drummer Tommy Lee, lead guitarist Mick Mars and lead singer Vince Neil. Collectively, Mötley Crüe has sold over 100 million albums worldwide. And perhaps more impressively, other than the periods of February 1992 to September 1996 and of March 1999 to September 2004, the lineup of Neil, Sixx, Lee, and Mars remained the same. Recently reformed in 2018, they still tour today. So this, their second album, Shout at the Devil, was released in September 1983. The album represented the band's mainstream breakthrough and would eventually be certified 4x platinum. The album generated controversy for its title track and album imagery, both of which invoked Satanism. They then gained the attention of heavy metal legend Ozzy Osbourne and found themselves as the opening act for Osbourne on his Bark at the Moon Tour. The band members were well known for their backstage antics, outrageous clothing, extreme high-heeled boots, heavily applied make-up, and seemingly endless abuse of alcohol and drugs as well. In short, a PR nightmare (which, don’t fool yourself, was 100% planned and used in the labels favor). So what about that aforementioned first track? “In The Beginning/Shout At The Devil” really just an intro that leads into the title track. It’s so cheesy I don’t know how anyone could think this was a serious nod to satanism, but hey...it was the 80s. Those high-hats over that iconic riff though, you KNOW something good is coming. Such a solid nugget of gold for beginners! Maybe they were in a league with Satan after all...? Either way, a classic metal song for the ages! “Looks That Kill” is another hit off the album with a hilarious video. I’m talking ninja cosplay (seriously look it up you tubers). Staccato guitar Romantics and heroic radio friendly riffs. Aces, baby. “Bastard” is a faster Tommy Lee driven tune and with the obvious chip on the shoulder to get the PMRC’s goat (for devilish sacrifice of course...#seewhatididthere). “God Bless The Children of the Beast” is almost...how do I say this...Eagles - like (??!?). Very haunting but still metal all the same. Harmonics and one of the reason they were so set apart from their L.A. glam brethren. Longevity and loyalty to the music. Also this jam is more of an intro to “Helter Skelter” with it’s brick heavy riffage and classic metal architecture. Technically it’s not their debut, but it really was to most of the record buying public, and let me tell you, it’s held up to the test of time. A classic for sure. I forgive them trying to push the envelope of controversy, because that was the label and the industry at that time, but it’s certainly carved them out a niche they have been able to capitalize on. You don’t have to conVINCE Neil (#seewhatididthere) they had a hit!! There is a reason you know these names some nearly 40 years later. Umlaut-core baby! Also, if you haven’t seen it yet, check out the semi- documentary “Dirt” on Netflix. Great stuff.

Well, it looks like Gary and his Tubeway Army replicated their formula for awesome new wave genius. They burned 147 calories over 22 minutes and 5 songs. That is an average of 29.40 calories burned per song and 6.68 calories burned per minute. The Numan crew earned 12 out of 15 possible stars. The Mötley-est of Crüe not only shouted at the Devil, but also blazed through 5 songs in 16 minutes and burned 108 calories in the process. Their Hell-acious (#seewhatididthere) actions burned 21.60 calories per song and resulted in 6.75 calories burned per minute. The boys earned 11 out of 15 possible stars. Mötley or notley, this Crüe is here to stay and live to fight on!

Mötley Crüe : “Shout At The Devil”

(Includes the proper lead in) https://youtu.be/jC0kHsTtzCA

#Randomrecordworkoutseasonseven

#Randomrecordworkout

[stevecanmakeanythingnerdy]

Battle #23

Gaunt: Kryptonite ( Side Gene )

Vs.

The Wipers: Youth of America ( Side One )

Gaunt: Kryptonite ( Side Gene )

Gaunt was a pop punk band formed in Columbus, Ohio, in 1991. The band released five albums and a crap ton of singles before splitting in 1998. Actually 5 albums is a bit of a stretch. Sob Story is really more of an extended EP and clocks in Around 20 minutes, but anyway... yeah the 90s Ohio scene was pretty rock and punk and roll. But at the top of that list was New Bomb Turks and these guys. Really almost compliments to each other. NBT was down and dirty, and Gaunt filled in for the poppier and peppier parts. In fact in the earliest days, they shared members with NBT, but it was short lived. They bounced around a few independent labels and one last album was recorded for Thrill Jockey, entitled Kryptonite, and released in 1996. Kryptonite was released with a metallic lime green cover and contained lyrics about Superman, Lois Lane, and lost love. Over the course of the next year, the band began to drift apart, with Wick recording solo material. The band managed to scrape together one more album for record giant Warner Bros when they came sniffing around after Green Day had made it evident that punk rock sells, but they broke up soon after due to little to no support of it. So in the grand scheme of things, their time was brief, but powerful. And in true punk rock fashion, I don’t think the band really gave a crap about any of it. They just played music and had fun. Unfortunately in 2001, lead singer Jerry Wick was hit and killed by a car while bicycling home. It’s sad too, because he was a great songwriter. “Kryptonite” is the lead tune of course. Blast off into the rock and roll Metropolis of garage punk rock and roll. The very thing that made this band cool is that they weren’t afraid to try different things. This one features piano. “Savior Breath” is not only a great pun but another great song as well. That catchy 3 chord stuff lo-fi blast off! Hell yeah! Certainly not gaunt on the rock (#seewhatididthere). “Hope You’re Happy “ is about as punk rock as you can expect to get. This is what it would sound like if NBT did less yelling and sang more harmonies. Horns and $#!t on this number, again utilizing some new tricks with the old. Not immune to the catchy AF pop punk vibe that Green Day had a stranglehold on in the mid 90s comes “Transistor Sister”. It’s a no brainer but a head banger too. There’s even a video for it! “Bust” follows with the breakneck speedy Gonzalez “bust you in your head!” It’s perfectly placed pauses and fuzzed out guitar will leave you wanting more. The last fast track is “Hand in Pants”. Gaunt never lets up and the backing harmonies prevail. This band had something special. They were a band you could respect. Quick, catchy and no frills. Serious but fun all at once. Hook laden and made to order madness. This and Bricks and Blackouts may be one of their most experimental albums. It’s damn good though. R. I. P. Gaunt. Oh! And Of course there’s a “side Gene”. You have to get a Kiss reference in. (The other side is Paul, duh)

The Wipers: Youth of America ( Side One )

Technically just Wipers, but “The” is often attached. Wipers was a punk rock band formed in Portland, Oregon in 1977 by guitarist Greg Sage, along with drummer Sam Henry and bassist Dave Koupal. The group's tight song structure and use of heavy distortion were hailed as extremely influential by numerous critics and musicians. The band is considered the first Pacific Northwest punk band. Possibly most famous for being both influential to and covered by Nirvana. Greg was interested in music at an early age and has a rather unique perspective on music. His father worked in the broadcast industry so he had access at an early age to a record lathe. He would often study music under the microscope and loved the way it was produced from the record. This gave him a very deep understanding of the way the sound was reproduced. That and Hendrix inspired him to pick up a guitar and the rest is history. Originally they formed just as a recording project. The plan was to record 15 albums in 10 years without touring or promotion. Sage thought that the mystique built from the lack of playing traditional rock 'n' roll would make people listen to their recordings much deeper with only their imagination to go by. He thought it would be easy to avoid press, shows, pictures and interviews. He looked at music as art rather than entertainment; he thought music was personal to the listener rather than a commodity. He is not wrong, but soon shows and touring did happen. Sage has been quoted and remarked on their initial reception: "We weren't even really a punk band. See, we were even farther out in left field than the punk movement because we didn't even wish to be classified, and that was kind of a new territory. ... When we put out Is This Real? ... it definitely did not fit in; none of our records did. Then nine, ten years later people are saying: 'Yeah, it's the punk classic of the '80s'". So this is their second album, and it’s a reaction to the quick short burst of songs all the punk bands were doing in the early 80s. In fact the title track is nearly 10 minutes long! But that’s on the other side. This side contains “Taking too Long” which has highly advanced guitar for a 2nd LP. It’s a serene and peaceful song. Not the BEST Wipers song but still pleasing. “Can This Be” is more the rocking style Wipers fans are used to. Punk elements but wrapped in rock with those fuzz crunch guitars the6 helped stylize. Like a grunge burrito! The dropout bridge and energy are worth the listen alone. For me, the best tune on this side has got to be “Pushing The Extreme”. The Wipers are good at that “haunted melody” sound. You know, kind of creepy sounding but low frequency and underscored by punching bass lines. Accentuated really. I also like the weird phrasing of the word Extreme, it’s partly why Wipers stand out so much. A very loooooooong song though. “When it’s Over” sees Sage showcasing his guitar prowess. Very surfy (another signature of the Wipers sound) and with all of the builds it’s a pretty great piece. Some spoken word but it’s essentially instrumental. These early records have a great cohesion and consistency in their cyclical riffs. Not bad for one of the Northwest’s most influential acts and precursors to the “Seattle sound”.

So it was a real epic battle today of old vs new punk. Well, I guess they’re both old. More like old vs really old? Anyway. Gaunt had a secret weapon on hand, Kryptonite...but will it weaken The Wipers? Gaunt burned 99 calories over 15 minutes and 6 songs. They averaged 16.50 calories burned per song and 6.60 calories burned per minute. They earned 15 out of 18 possible stars. The Wipers tried to engage the youth of America. The Wipers burned 105 calories over 4 songs and 16 minutes. They averaged 26.25 calories burned per song and 6.56 calories burned per minute. They earned 10 out of 12 possible stars. Looks like Gaunt’s Kryptonite worked! They walk away champs today!

Gaunt: “Transistor Sister” (sorry for the piss poor quality but it was the 90s)

https://youtu.be/T7GTSYz1Bmw

#Randomrecordworkoutseasonseven

#Randomrecordworkout

[stevecanmakeanythingnerdy]

Battle #17

AC/DC: Back in Black ( Side One )

Vs.

Screaming Trees: Last Words-The Final Recordings ( Side B )

AC/DC: Back in Black ( Side One )

AC/DC are an Australian rock band formed in Sydney in 1973 by Scottish-born brothers Malcolm and Angus Young. Their music has been variously described as hard rock, blues rock, and heavy metal. The band themselves describe their music as simply "rock and roll". Most people know the name, even if just from seeing the logo on a Tee-shirt. There have been line up changes which separates the band into two distinct eras. Bon Scott and Brian Johnson. In the earlier days, membership subsequently stabilized around the Young brothers, singer Bon Scott, drummer Phil Rudd, and bass player Mark Evans. Evans was replaced by Cliff Williams in 1977 for the album Powerage. In February 1980, a few months after recording the album Highway to Hell, lead singer and co-songwriter Bon Scott died of acute alcohol poisoning. The group considered disbanding but stayed together, bringing in Brian Johnson as replacement for Scott. Johnson doesn’t always get the credit he deserves, as he really is a suitable replacement. Later that year, the band released their first album with Johnson at the helm, Back in Black, which they dedicated to Scott's memory. The album launched them to new heights of success and became one of the best selling albums of all time. It contains most of the songs that any AC/DC fan would recognize. It starts off with “Hells Bells”. The Bell tolls signifying Bon Scott’s death and it’s a somber guitar part that meanders, leading you down the path where drums and cymbals kick in. It’s an excellent power cord riff from Young and a great tempo with big vocals. The perfect start really. “Shoot to Thrill” fires on all cylinders next. Speeding up and back to the rock and roll. The band wasted no time showcasing Brian’s vocal abilities. One of the only clunkers (and I use that term very loosely as it’s no bad tune) is “What You Do For Money Honey”. It still is a good song, but just didn’t chart. Centers around that 100% Angus beef riff. AC/DC has a formula and what they do, they do very well. Though they certainly were not English majors. Next is “Given the Dog a Bone” which is probably not the correct context GIVEN the circumstances (#seewhatididthere). I am pretty sure it doesn’t matter for the context of the song though. The double entendres is entirely understood and something the band made a career out of. “Let me put my love into you” is the next song. It’s another great builder just like “Hells bells”. Angus is a riff machine. Lyrics include: “Let me cut your cake with my knife“ it’s classic AC/DC. This is of course one of their biggest albums and since it came out so soon after Bon Scott’s death there are theories that Bon Scott wrote some of the songs. It’s never been proven to my knowledge though. Does it matter anyway? A good song is a good song. Even though the whole album is supposedly a tribute to Bon Scott there is no actual mention of him anywhere which I do think is a poor move on the part of the band. It should have truly been a memorial as he was a big part of the band’s early success. Either way you look at it though! this album is a true rock classic and should be respected across all boards.

Screaming Trees: Last Words-The Final Recordings ( Side B )

Screaming Trees were an American rock band formed in Ellensburg, Washington in 1985 by vocalist Mark Lanegan, guitarist Gary Lee Conner, bassist Van Conner (another band with brothers!) and drummer Mark Pickerel. Pickerel had been replaced by Barrett Martin by the time the band reached its most successful period. Although the band is widely associated with grunge, the band's sound incorporated hard rock and psychedelic elements. Screaming Trees rose to fame as part of the grunge movement of the early 1990s, along with bands such as Alice in Chains, Pearl Jam, Nirvana, and Soundgarden and was one of the most successful underground music acts of the 1990s. Screaming Trees were plagued by extended inactivity due to their problems with making a follow up to Dust. This led to their official breakup in 2000. So really, this album is posthumous. As you may have inferred from the album’s title, this is the band’s last output. Initially recorded because the band had enough material to make it worth doing, it was never necessarily intended to be an official release. Recorded mostly in case they could find a label to release it. It turned out so well though that it eventually found it’s way to an official release in 2011. So in many ways this is THE final documentation of the band. You can tell by some of the studio banter left on the recordings that they seem to have fun making it. It starts off with the song “Reflections“. It’s a mantric and introspective tune, but basically an acoustic song. Mark Lanegan‘s smooth, barrel aged whiskey vocals really drive the whole song. “Tomorrow changes“ is another nice mellow and harmonic tune. This band really captures a feeling of peace. I am very glad they laid these songs down. The band has a sort of calmness to them which makes them very different from their Seattle peers in the grunge scene. “Low life” is the next song which is a bit more topical. Mark‘s bass vocal range really shines here. More indicative of normal Screaming Trees songs, it’s a rocker with screaming leads (#seewhatididthere). “Anita Gray” seems to recall a buzz factory era Screaming Trees. Trippy guitar pedals and brilliant time changes summarize this number. Harkens back to more psychedelia elements which helped make the band famous. Since this is the B-side it only seems appropriate that the last song is called “Last Words“. Echo effects on the vocals really help to complement what’s happening here. I love the rocking beats. The whole album captures a very raw and real vibe. It’s almost gospel in nature. And for you record Collector nerds it comes on delicious Cherry red vinyl.

So who is today’s champion? AC/DC were back in The Black, and took 22 minutes to burn 142 calories over five songs. They averaged 28.40 calories per song and 6.46 calories per minute. They earned 13 out of 15 possible stars. The Screaming Trees used their last words to belt out 19 minutes worth of songs and burn 125 calories in that five song process. They averaged 25.0 calories burned per song and 6.58 calories burned per minute, all while earning 14 out of 15 possible stars. It may be their final recordings, but the Screaming Trees are also today’s final champions.

Screaming Trees: “Last Words”

https://youtu.be/DP6Gsl0DxeA

#Randomrecordworkoutseasonseven

#Randomrecordworkout

[stevecanmakeanythingnerdy]

Battle #25

Reatards: Grown Up, Fucked Up ( Side B )

Vs.

The Jam: All Mod Cons ( Side 2 )

Reatards: Grown Up, Fucked Up ( Side B )

The Reatards were an American garage punk band formed in Memphis, Tennessee, in 1995. Originally a one-man project by guitarist Jay Reatard, the group's sound was marked by raw, stripped-down instrumentals and lo-fi recording quality. After distributing privately pressed cassettes and EPs, the band released their debut album Teenage Hate in 1998. It was followed by this album, Grown Up, Fucked Up a year later. By that time, the group only sporadically performed as Reatard began exploring other endeavors, but in 2005 he reformed the band for their third and final studio album. Much of the Reatards' discography remains a subject of interest, leading to reissues of their work years later. Jay unabashedly credits The Oblivians as a source of inspiration for their style of crude, distorted, lo-fi garage sound. Reatard was so enamoured with the Oblivians' music, he sent their guitarist Eric Friedl some of his home recordings hon which he did everything...guitar, vocals and drumming on a bucket. How’s THAT for DIY!?). It was impressing enough to Friedl to arrange a record deal on his independent label, Goner Records. Relatively short lived as they were, though, The Reatards put out some raw, high energy, REAL MUSIC. You can hear it in the chaos. Just as quickly as the6 formed, Jay went on to other things. Unfortunately he unexpectedly died in 2010. It seems he had died of "cocaine toxicity, and that alcohol was a contributing factor in his death. Sad because after he s time with a The Reatards, he went on to do quite a few things and become a pretty prolific musician in his own right. But this, this is his humble (?) beginnings. Keep in mind practically no song is over about 2 minutes. Every bit of it intense and from the perspective of a fresh faced teenager. First song Side B is “Tonight I’ll Come”. It’s tha5 fast nasty lo-fi you love. Born in the garage and surprisingly channeled and clear, consideration given t the aforementioned recording techniques. The next jab, “Get Outta Our Way”, is decidedly more rock ‘n’ roll than punk. “Who Are You” is another quick fix while “All the Walls Are Closing in” sees a desperation and violent undertones take hold. DT shakes level intensity. “Miss You” is pretty Stooges in nature...just raw power (#seewhatididthere). “Eat Your Heart Out” follows and you can really hear the young essence in Jay’s voice here. It’s a banger that lingers though. This kid did his homework. “I Want Sex” is of course on the mind of any teenage boy but it’s a cover not an original. Meh. I like the originals better. They don’t need to do covers and the6 certainly had the material!! “I’m Gonna Break Down” is very indicative of what this music sounds like. It could break down at any moment. Now, we’ve reached the bonus tracks and an obviously different recording session. That’s the only drawback of this style. You can almost never recapture the EXACT SOUND from any previous sessions because it’s so so happenstance. “Your So Lewd” (note, it IS misspelled ) and “She Will Always Be With Me” have a nasty, distorted vibe while the final cut “Busy Signal” has more garage slop grace and goodness. It’s quick licks with sick fits. His vocals are so young and raw. Recalling Teengenerate and The Motards or X-Ray Specs. 11 songs PER SIDE!! That’s a whole album or set list for most bands! This may be a new RRW RECORD (#seewhatididthere). R. I. P. Jay.

The Jam: All Mod Cons ( Side 2 )

The Jam have been RRW contenders before and went quite far. They were an English mod revival/punk rock band during the 1970s and early 1980s, which formed in 1972 at Sheerwater Secondary School in Woking, in the county of Surrey. They get lumped in with punk a lot but really blur the line between power pop and punk with blues riffs thrown in for good measure. They also drew off the energy of bands like The Who and The Kinks for that mod sound. At the helm was Paul Weller, the heartbeat of The Jam. He went on to form The Style Council and later had a successful solo career, of which he still enjoys. Weller wrote and sang most of the Jam's original compositions, and brought that distinct snotty, throaty, often gruff, and decidedly British sounding vocals. A great example is his pronunciation of the word flowers as flars. Though they shared an "angry young men" outlook, short hair, crushing volume and lightning-fast tempos, the Jam wore neatly tailored suits where others wore ripped clothes, played professionally where others were defiantly amateurish, and displayed clear 1960s rock influences. The Jam had political lyrics, condemning police brutality ("In the City") and expansionist development ("Bricks And Mortar"). Even condemning the monarchy, pre Sex Pistols. By only about 6 months though. All Mod Cons in specific was after the initial success and had put some pressure on the band to maintain. They released a few singles first which appear on the album but the album only came after positive reactions to the singles. “Billy Hunt” has something unique in the pronunciations. I love the way his name is said “Billy, Billy, Biiiiilll-eeeee”.

“It’s too Bad” has a lovely wandering bass line that has a warm, relaxing, inviting personality. Too bad it’s so short. “Fly” contains soft and slow acoustic introductions. It builds, like a baby bird learning to flap its wings until the point of flight. I suppose that’s the point. Some good, rockin’ guitar picking and slick riffs show up in “The Place I Love”. But this side really kicks in on the next two tunes. “ 'A' Bomb in Wardour Street" was a Weller original. And one of their hardest and most intense songs, as well as the aforementioned singles. Weller cursed the violent thugs that plagued the punk rock scene over a taut two-chord figure. It became their most successful release since ”All Around The World”. The cowbell is surprisingly catchy and is one of the more rocking tunes, and of course there is a bomb exploding at the end so literal truth in advertising. “Down in the Tube Station at Midnight” was the second single and helped The Jam really regain their former critical acclaim. The song was a dramatic account of being mugged by thugs who "smelled of pubs and Wormwood Scrubs and too many right-wing meetings". Rich and textured bass really drives the whole thing. Good harmonies with thundering drums. A train interrupts the tune so as to give it a realistic feeling. Like the Clash but cleaner and snappier dressers.

Today it was The Reatards who were grown up, but fucked up in the process. They burned 107 calories over 17 minutes and 11 songs. That is 9.73 calories per song and 6.29 calories burned per minute. The Reatards earned 26 out of 33 possible stars. The Jam put out the call for all Mod Cons. They took 20 minutes to burn 128 calories over 6 songs. They averaged 21.33 calories burned per song and 6.40 calories per minute. The Jam earned 14 out of 18 possible stars. Today it appears The Jam are RRW winners!

The Jam: “ ‘A’ Bomb in Wardour Street” (live, baby!)

https://youtu.be/9T9bqQh-gFI

#Randomrecordworkoutseasonseven

#Randomrecordworkout

[stevecanmakeanythingnerdy]

Battle #13

U. F. O. : Obsession ( Side Two )

Vs.

The Go-Gos : Beauty and the Beat ( Side 2 )

U. F. O. : Obsession ( Side Two )

UFO are an English rock band that was formed in London in 1968. They became a transitional group between early hard rock and heavy metal and the new wave of British heavy metal. They’ve been at this so long they have influenced (in one way or another) many of the bands that came after them. Bands like Def Leppard, Judas Priest, Iron Maiden, Dokken, Anthrax, Dio, Megadeth, Guns ‘n’ Roses...just to name a few. They are probably most notable for having Michael Schenker from The Scorpions in the band for most of their heyday. Phil Mogg is the founding and longest running member of the band. UFO's early work was strongly influenced by space rock, but they soon found the format limiting and moved on to heavier sounds. So this is their 7th studio album and the beginning of the band’s success and notability. “Hot ‘n’ Ready” is the first tune they hurl at us on Side Two. It’s an accurate description of the band’s sound. Screaming leads that bleed. Real raunch rock if Zeppelin and Queen had a love child, this would be it. Nazz-ty! (#seewhatididthere)

“Cherry” is the slow building follow up. Time for a rock off ballad style. There is some give and take with a bit of quite meets rock stage show that unfolds. “You Don’t Fool Me” fills the stadiums with crazy and catchy, winding leads, but overall it is a pretty quick one. “Looking Out for Number One (reprise)” returns (as the title suggests) from Side One. The solo acts as the lyrics, and it’s very Queen inspired. “One More for the Rodeo” sees another winner in that this would make an epic late night, winding road jam. Did I mention; cowbell!?! Next up, “Born to Lose”-which has defined Pink Floyd meets stairway to heaven sound. It kind of wimps out after it kicks in though. Some real complexity in this one though. Collector nerd notes: this is a Czech pressing (Because I got it in the Czech Republic) and it also features a Hipgnosis cover(an art collective known for their award winning album covers and general creativity).

The Go-Go’s : Beauty and the Beat ( Side 2 )

The Go-Go's are an American new wave band formed in Los Angeles, California in 1978. Except for short periods when other musicians joined briefly, the band has had a relatively stable line-up consisting of Charlotte Caffey on lead guitar and keyboards, Belinda Carlisle on lead vocals, Gina Schock on drums, Kathy Valentine on bass guitar, and Jane Wiedlin on rhythm guitar. The Go-Go's rose to fame during the early 1980s and were the first, and to date only, all-female band that both wrote their own songs and played their own instruments to top the Billboard album charts. Emphasis on that last part...The Runaways had plenty of hits, but they just didn’t chart like these ladies. Make NO mistake though, they absolutely kicked in the door for The Go-Go’s. Their 1981 debut album, Beauty and the Beat, is considered one of the cornerstone albums of US new wave, breaking barriers and paving the way for a host of other new American acts. When the album was released, it steadily climbed the Billboard 200 chart, ultimately reaching No. 1, largely due to the never ending parade of hits! They initially formed as a punk band and in fact in the early days used to open for some of the L. A. Scenes legendary punk bands like X and hang out with The Germs. This may be why, then, this debut is so well written. They have a knack for quick, catchy, power pop tunes. It’s actually pretty impressive. Side two starts out with a very well known classic, “We Got The Beat”. Yes, indeed. They do have it. It’s surfy turf and meaty. Quite catchy. They’ve got the backbeat too. Handclaps and backslaps all around. “Fading Fast” follows and is a minor hit, with Carlisle’s vocals being near perfection. Upbeat pop with power...could this be a song about their many groupies? “Automatic” might be the most different sounding for the band, but I have to say, they really nailed it here. Slower and almost Bauhaus in nature. I absolutely love the odd timing and pauses. More Goth than Go-Go’s! “You can’t Walk in your Sleep” seems to have the ladies returning to pop punk. In fact, it’s 100% modern pop punk, but in 1981. Another great and catchy tune. The next one is called “Skidmarks on my Heart”. Now, the 12 year old in me really wants to make underwear jokes, but I can’t find anything under there so...

These ladies simply do not let up. Hook after sugary sweet hook! The vocals are so real too. Very impassioned and cracking in the voice. The last one is maybe one of the best tunes on the whole album. It was a single called “Can’t Stop the World”. It has a badass breakdown. And a good message that’s on point. It’s on of the few Valentine penned songs, but it’s a great one. More than anything the Go-Go’s prove that girls can play and write too. This band and the aforementioned Runaways really helped open some doors for girls in an otherwise predominantly male role. This album is fantastic and any one of these songs runs circles around some of the other “pop songs” on the radio at this time. Hell, even TODAY!!!

So today U. F. O. Was obsessed. They burned 117 calories over 19 minutes and 6 songs. They burned 19.50 calories per song and 6.16 calories per minute. They earned 14 out of 18 possible stars. The Go-Go’s certainly proved they have beauty AND the beat. They burned 128 calories over 19 minutes and 6 songs. They burned 21.33 calories per song and 6.74 calories per minute. They earned an impressive 18 out of 18 possible stars. That’s only happened one other time in RRW history! The Go-Go’s are today’s obvious winner!!

The Go-Go’s: “Can’t Stop The World”

https://youtu.be/MwWRD8PL7S0

#Randomrecordworkoutseasonseven

#Randomrecordworkout

[stevecanmakeanythingnerdy]

Battle #9

Fotomaker : Vis-A-Vis ( Side Two )

Vs.

Rhythm Collision : Now! ( Side One )

Fotomaker : Vis-A-Vis ( Side Two )

Fotomaker was a power pop group from Long Island, NY which released three albums between 1978 and 1979. They made three albums within the span of a little over a year, the third of which is considered the weakest of the three. They failed to achieve any success, mostly due to lack of record company promotion. So why, then, was a poorly producing band able to survive label scrutiny so long (labels are notoriously cut throat to their artists who don’t sell the right number of units)? Well, probably because of the credentials. The band was formed in 1977 by bassist Gene Cornish and drummer Dino Danelli, former members of The Rascals. Rounding out the group was guitarist/vocalist Wally Bryson, formerly of Raspberries and guitarist/vocalist Lex Marchesi and keyboardist/vocalist Frankie Vinci. Although Marchesi and Vinci were relatively unknown, they were undoubtedly the core talent that drove the band with their versatile songwriting and vocal skills. Their first album was classic power pop material straight out of the late 70s scene. By the third album, they were all out disco...This, however, is their second album. The band began a steady decline with this one. The first song on Side two is “If I Can’t Believe In You”. It starts out well intentioned with a piano like ballad/lite rock feel. Breezy and easy but pays off in no way. Very forgettable IMO. “Come Back” is a better build in design. The progression is more mature and legitimate. It might be one of the better laid out blueprints of the whole bunch. “Two Way Streetlight” follows and is another easy, laid back smoothie. Not quite to yacht rock level, but pretty darn close. I mean I don’t see Kenny Loggins footloose-ing all over this track, but he’s probably lurking nearby if I had to guess. Diet rock for sure. It might pair well on a dentist office mix with James Taylor. “Sweet Lies” finally seems to be a track with some balls! This is more like their debut. A nice bluesy riff with a solo and good energy. “Make It Look Like An Accident” is a great song title, but lacks a little on the back end. It’s an almost...slow dance...Country song...question mark?? Yikes. The thing of it is, the band IS talented. And their credentials don’t lie, they have the chops. They just didn’t deliver on this one. The album is well produced and (perhaps unintentionally) it does manage to read like a family photo album...or should I say FOTO album (#seewhatididthere). It’s all over the place though with it’s different phases of life. Perhaps that was already the label hedging their bets and scrambling to get a “hit” out there.

Rhythm Collision : Now! ( Side One )

Rhythm Collision was a 3-piece punk rock band from California. Agoura if I am remembering correctly. Their albums have an unofficial theme, usually depicting a cartoony iconic angry girl smashing or punching things. An early release chronicles “the girl with the purple hair” which I believe is the reference being made. Dr. Strange Records is the band’s early home. DSR is a record label and record store located in Alta Loma, California. It started out as an apartment-based distro in 1988 and became a record label in 1989, run out of the "Doc's" apartment until 1997, when the store was first opened. Early on the label had a reputation for quality punk rock records with a varied and diverse roster. Bands like Sinkhole, Face To Face, Voodoo Glowskulls, Zoinks!, Gameface, Guttermouth, and The Bollweevils (a Chicago legend) called the label home so they didn’t exactly put out bad records. Rhythm Collision was right at home with their blistering, sometimes breakneck speed brand of pop punk meets So-Cal skate punk. Effectively, RC brought some complexity to theme early pop punk scene and helped create a melodic element that later contemporaries would adopt and reshape. Now is their sophomore album from 1993. It starts with the blitzing “Burning Bridges” with it’s fast, punky attitude and yell singing vocal style. Harlan has just the right amount of snot and grit without being too over the top (a very early 90s style. Impressive and meaty bass and drum fills complete the blanks. “Potential” is the next track. A little slower but bouncy. This is the first band I ever saw do work shirts (an Uber 90s trend) as merchandise. I thought it was a pretty cool idea, but by 1995 every band was doing it and it seemed lame. “Irrepressible” is next. It’s and odd word to try and fit into the cadence of a punk song, but RC did it! This one is mega fast! I was very impressed back in the day at the percussion speed. High energy and I love the leads. “Fade” gives you a sugary blast of mid tempo melodies and power, while “Happy” may be the most diverse sounding jam on here. Fast and slow with a meandering bass line. This kind of talent is exactly why I listen to punk and like listening to records. It just contributes to the feeling the music engages. Rhythm Collision certainly treads the line between alternative and punk but in the best ways and intentions. Technically it is a split release between Dr. Strange and their own Collision records. The band loves purple and it shows on this release, purple marble swirl. I used to super love this band so much that I interviewed them for my music fanzine and somehow got myself invited to a Chicago scene-ster house party in which they were the band playing. There were exclusive tee shirts and everything and the faux band Lampshadehead was born. Lots of drunkenness (not by me, I was straightedge at the time) and I remember feeling pretty lame and out of place about it all. The band was great but it was pretty much the moment I realized that even so called punks can be lame ass mo-fos too. (Not the band, the other attendees). I don’t even think I wore the shirt even once, but I still have it somewhere.

Today, Fotomaker dusted off their camera obscura vis-a-vis some music. They played 5 songs over 22 minutes and 135 calories. They burned 27 calories per song and 6.14 calories per minute. They also earned 8 out of 15 possible stars. Rhythm Collision made the decision to play precision power pop punk...and they did it...Now! They burned 113 calories over 5 songs and 17 minutes. They averaged 22.60 calories burned per song and 6.65 calories burned per minute. They earned a whopping 14 out of 15 possible stars. Rhythm Collision wins today’s challenge!

Rhythm Collision : “Irrepressible”

https://youtu.be/wS4L1ltRaCo

#Randomrecordworkoutseasonseven

#Randomrecordworkout

[stevecanmakeanythingnerdy]

Battle #7

Kajagoogoo : White Feathers ( Side 1 )

Vs.

The Figgs: Banda Macho ( Side 2 )

Kajagoogoo : White Feathers ( Side 1 )

Formed in Leighton Buzzard in 1978, the band were originally known as Art Nouveau, a four-piece avant-garde group. Once a new lead singer was chosen by audition, the name of the group was then changed to Kajagoogoo, coined phonetically from a baby's first sounds, 'Ga Ga Goo Goo'. Nick Rhodes of Duran Duran fame, helped produce their first single, and a hit was born. That single of course was “Too Shy”. It’s the biggest achievement of the band and the reason they were signed to EMI. Ironically it kind of makes them a one hit wonder and often they are mistaken for Duran Duran. “White Feathers” is a club tune in nature, danceable, electric. I mean they did name the album after it, so....there’s that. “Lies and Promises” is very Devo-esque with its fast BPMs and high brow rhythms. Quick and succinct lyrics help you to get The Sweaty. Vocals in the round fill the next tune which could easily be a Vapors outtake.

“Magician Man” has just the right amount of magic to hold your attention. Definitely new wave class of 1983. The last tune is an instrumental, named, well...“Kajagoogoo”. It is surprisingly complex as arranged. No revealing nature of what a Kajagoogoo is per se, but it IS spelled out for you, literally. It is totally worth noting that “hair” is mentioned and thanked in the liner notes. Overall it’s 80s new wave so you know what to expect.

The Figgs: Banda Macho ( Side 2 )

The Figgs are a rock ‘n’ roll band formed in Saratoga Springs, New York in 1987. Originally known as The Sonic Undertone. I was introduced to this band by way of a fellow musician and contributing columnist named Mike Falloon (Kung Fu Monkeys, Egghead, Go Metric ‘zine), for a music fanzine I used to run. He would always gloat about them and finally I asked him to make me a mixtape of some of their greatest hits. He did not disappoint and I was hooked instantly. A large portion of those tunes came from this very album. 1996’s “Banda Macho” was the band’s lone release on Capitol Records, but perhaps their most important album as it gained them a lot of attention and wider fan base. The album’s second Side starts off with “Choker” - a fast back beater that kills and thrills. “Reject” quickly comes on it’s heels with a good, bouncy bass line and tight, no fooling around attitudes. Another quick rocker is “Red Bank Queen” where the vocals follow the hook. The Figgs slow their roll, but just for a second with “This Copy’s Mine”, followed immediately by “Another View”. It’s a real power pop gem ala The Smoking Popes. Up next with it’s amazing pop sensibilities is “Dandruff (you’ve got a lot of friends)”. This seems like a good contender for having staying power on the set list. Love the bitter lyrics and cowbell fever!! A pick to click for sure! “Powder King” is another mod-like quality tune. Honestly, there isn’t a piss take on the whole platter. “Kiss off Baby” has a B side quality that only a music fan could love. Screaming rock leads with nods to all the standards and practices here. Finally they end with the standard 90’s joke tune “Every Night”. It’s purposely sloppy and off key, but they’re forgiven for the other 8 quality bangers. Largely because you know they had to put effort into this to intentionally sound bad. This band is not capable of sucking...unless it’s in stereo (#seewhatididthere) (in case you didn’t seewhatididthere, “sucking in stereo” is the title of another Figgs album, also great). Basically Mr. Falloon did not disappoint and his unselfish goal of creating a new Figgs fan was successful. This band is a real workhorse too. Almost double the output and all of it absolutely quality craftsmanship. The Real Kids meets The Jam, meets power pop ‘79 vibe stands the test of time too, as this slab is nearly 25 people! The mastering suffers a bit because of so many tracks per side, but hey...when you’re a hit machine you have to belt that $#!+ Out!! 2 Petes, 1 Mike, and 1 Guy = two and a half minute Figgs pop masterpieces. Amazing and highly recommended by the RRW staff.

In today’s epic battle Kaja Googoo’d some White Feathers and burned 109 calories over 5 songs and 17 minutes. They burned 21.80 calories per song and 6.41 calories per minute. 12 out of 15 possible stars were earned. Meanwhile camp Figgs were a Banda Macho dudes who burned 147 calories over 23 minutes and an impressive 9 (!) songs. They burned 16.33 calories per song and 6.39 calories per minute. 20 out of 27 possible stars were earned. But unfortunately not enough to beat Kajagoogoo who takes the cake today!

Kajagoogoo : “Too Shy”

https://youtu.be/rkpG4XApJ28

#Randomrecordworkoutseasonseven

#Randomrecordworkout

[stevecanmakeanythingnerdy]

Battle #5

Duran Duran: S/T ( Side A )

Vs.

Dave Clark Five: Return! ( Side 1 )

Duran Duran: S/T ( Side A )

Duran Duran are an English new wave band formed in Birmingham in 1978. The name of the band is formed from "Dr. Durand Durand", Milo O'Shea's character from the sci-fi film Barbarella. The band were one of the most successful acts of the 1980s and had some of the biggest hits as well...quite a few from this album actually. One of the biggest probably being “Girls on Film”. It’s the lead track, but was actually the 3rd single released. It’s the one that picked up the most steam on the U. S. Charts and apparently the video was shot without the concept of MTV in mind. You see, MTV used to actually play music videos, but it was brand new on the scene at the time and not yet a part of the music industry promo machine. The band filmed the video (which has an uncensored version featuring topless women mud wrestling) to be shown in night clubs and video bars. MTV began playing an edited version and the song took off. I am sure you can guess from my description and the song title exactly what the subject matter is. “Planet Earth” is actually the first single and is a very catchy song, hitting the new wave craze at just the right time. I love the keys on the simple but effective breakdown. There’s also a cheesy 80s video for this where everyone is fully clothed. THIS is planet earth.

“Anyone Out There” is a minor B-Side level hit. I don’t know if it actually chartered anywhere but it has that vibe. I never realized just how disco the underlying bass lines sound. They are a very well put together band. Much Duran. “To The Shores” is a new wave ballad if I’ve ever heard one. Now that I think about it, this version is the UK version so it may well be an unreleased song on the US Long Player. Pretty good, so if it is, not sure what the decision was to include/exclude. The last kiss is a track called “Careless Memories”. It’s almost punky. Almost. But certainly a good alternative to the rest of 1981. Simon LeBon even has some moments where he belts it out perfectly! Needless to say for a debut record, it’s certainly up there. I alluded to this earlier but this is an import version of the LP. I bought it completely by accident (probably because the cover looked different?) thinking that I didn’t have the album yet. Turns out I did, but it’s OK because I like The D squared. It has a cool “Polaroid photo-like” cover and it’s made of that nice heavyweight card stock. Yeeaaahhhhh.... other randomness : I vividly remember my sister being obsessed with them for a time with the usual teen beat posters plastered to bedroom walls. Too bad I don’t have those... I might consider putting them up.

Dave Clark Five: Return! ( Side 1 )

The Dave Clark Five, often truncated to the DC5, were an English rock and roll band formed in Tottenham in 1957. In January 1964 they had their first UK top ten single, "Glad All Over", which knocked the Beatles' "I Want to Hold Your Hand" off the top of the UK Singles Chart. It was the only time that would happen and their only UK #1, but believe me. DC5 have just as many golden hits as The Beatles. I used to (foolishly) compare the two, but they are absolutely different beasts. DC5 have a more soulful approach but still fall squarely into that Mersey madness, back beating stomp. Oh, and they have sax on the regular (#seewhatididthere). This album is them, all five of them, returning. To rock and roll your pants off I assume. I also assume that since there were five of them, they at the very least outnumbered The Beatles in a street brawl. Though McCartney is pretty scrappy I hear. “Can’t You See That She’s Mine” is the first single. I think the only single off this album, but hey when you record 3 FREAKING ALBUMS in one year, I guess what can you really expect. No joke, 1964 saw 3 DC5 albums charted. Oh yeah, the songs. This one is pretty good. “I Need You, I Love You” is another notch on the hit belt. At least it’s on most of the best of comps. Pretty straight up, with Dave Clark Five, you get 2 1/2 minutes of predictable pop ‘64 and all of it is grander than a piano. Love (or lack of) is the theme continued with “I Love You No More” and

“Rumble” (an often covered Link Wray tune) is just there to keep it going...like the kids on the curb shouting “Fight! Fight! Fight!” I mean that in the best possible way. It’s done up with some nasty distortion and Huxley brings the bravado on his sax-a-ma-phone. In all scenarios this is a fantastic tune, so I appreciate all attempts to cover it. “Funny” is an even faster version of a pop song, hanging in at just under 2 minutes. Same style though, so nothing is groundbreaking by any means. Overall notes: this album was produced BY Dave Clark (yes he is a real dude) himself. He’s actually a musical hero of mine because he has his hands in his music. He understood the industry and was very involved on with his IP. Pioneering really. Dave Clark was also the band's manager and producer (including this one) of their recordings. Dave Clark even went on to write and produce a 1986 stage musical called Time. DC5 has always been a favorite of mine since my DJ days when I discovered them. This was a working band, they used to put out 2 or 3 albums a year AND tour for them. This whole side is laid out like a relationship. Fall in Love, break up, fight, then laugh about it.

So in today’s battle, The D was the key. As in Duran Duran vs. Dave Clark. Duran x two took 20 minutes to blitz through 124 calories and 5 songs. They averaged 24.80 calories burned per song and 6.20 calories burned per minute and earned 12 out of 15 possible stars. The Dave Clark Five took their 12 minutes to rapid fire through 80 calories and 5 tunes. DC5 burned 16 calories per song and 6.67 calories per minute. They earned 11 out of 15 possible stars, but more importantly - they returned...for the win!

Dave Clark Five: “Can’t You See That She’s Mine”

https://youtu.be/Mh_jZxmsmZ0

#Randomrecordworkoutseasonseven

#Randomrecordworkout

[stevecanmakeanythingnerdy]

Battle #4

Spider: S/T ( Side 2 )

Vs.

Billy Joel: The Stranger ( Side 2 )

Spider: S/T ( Side 2 )

Spider was an American rock band from New York, that formed in 1977 and disbanded in 1984. They released two studio albums through Dreamland Records in the early 1980s, and scored a few moderate hit singles in the United States. Two songs from their 1981 album Between the Lines - "Change" and "Better Be Good to Me" - were hits for John Waite and Tina Turner, respectively. Eventually in 1982 they changed the name of the band to Shanghai and released their third and final album. This is their rookie debut and there are some hidden gems on here. The band is a five piece. Only of note because generally for the genre and time that’s fairly large. Most power pop bands are 3 or maybe 4 pieces. And two female vocalists both with decent range. I discovered this one in the bargain bin, 99 cents well spent. It’s on Dreamland Records which has a pretty decent rep for quality new wave and power pop. The first track is “Little Darlin’” which is a builder. It has a Jefferson airplane/starship vibe if they were new wave cool. “Brotherly Love” follows and is a little more wanky but with a power riff. Back and forth with a slow punky tempo.

“What’s Going On?” is next and has some decent effects (wah wah, etc) on this mid tempo power ballad. Decent melodies and layers. “Don’t Waste Your Time” is the truest power ballad of them all. And with vocal showcase too! Pretty melody and power chords throughout. It’s my opinion though that

“Zero” is the real gem here. Punky and catchy and a quick one. Spider is a good underrated band that deserves your attention.

Billy Joel: The Stranger ( Side 2 )

William Martin Joel is an American singer-songwriter, composer, and pianist. Commonly nicknamed the "Piano Man" after his first major hit and signature song of the same name, he has led a commercially successful career as a solo artist since the 1970s. Joel released his critical and commercial breakthrough album, The Stranger, in 1977. This album became Columbia's best-selling release, selling over 10 million copies and spawning several hit singles. So to say it’s his best album might be an understatement, but yeah...it’s up there. It has all the hits you know, “Movin’ Out”, “Just the way you Are”...but those Re on the flip. The B Side is no stranger (#seewhatididthere) to hits either though.

“Vienna” starts off with quiet and lush piano ballad typeset. Billy has a great voice with tremolo and tenure. Let’s not discount the lyrics either....dude’s in a league with Elton John. Here’s one you might know, “Only The Good Die Young”. A catchy number and a big hit at the (some may argue) apex of his career. A song of sinners verses saints, and it sounds like Billy wants to live a little. Another minor hit on the hit parade, “She’s Always A Woman To Me”. There aren’t too many tunes that hum and are successful but this is certainly one of them. A soulful and sincere tune with a vivid picture to paint. You can visualize it effortlessly. “Get It Right The First Time” has some kind of samba or salsa beat. FLUTE LOOPS!!! I guess Billy Joel has the diversity you need to keep it appealing in this industry. I can see where an artist like Ben Folds gets it between Elton and Billy. “Everybody Has A Dream” is the last tune and it’s almost a gospel. Slllooooowwwwwwwwwwww...... It’s a happy at home with you tune. There’s a weird outtro too. Did they have extra studio time? Is Billy just THAT efficient!!?? Improv!? I need to know these things. Jilly Bowl if you’re into pig Latin btw.

So Spider climbed the wall of success and blitzed through 5 songs in 19 minutes and burned 120 calories. That’s 24.0 calories burned per song and 6.32 calories burned per minute. Spider earned a respectable 10 out of 15 possible stars. Billy Joel is no stranger to success and he managed to burn 131 calories over 22 minutes and 5 tunes. That’s the equivalent of 26.2 calories burned per song and 5.95 calories burned per minute. Billy Joel earned 9 out of 15 possible stars. Looks like Spider weaves the web of victory in today’s win!

Spider: “Zero”

https://youtu.be/T09STo415M0

#Randomrecordworkoutseasonseven

#Randomrecordworkout

[stevecanmakeanythingnerdy]

Battle #3

Ringo Starr: Ringo ( Side 2 )

Vs.

The Cretones: Thin Red Line ( Side 1 )

Ringo Starr: Ringo ( Side 2 )

Sir Richard Starkey, or rather known professionally as Ringo Starr, is an English musician, singer, songwriter and actor who gained worldwide fame as the drummer for The Beatles. He occasionally sang lead vocals with the group, usually for one song on each album, including more notably "With a Little Help from My Friends", and "Yellow Submarine". Unfortunately we’re not here to talk about the Beatles, however big a part of his career it may have been. We’re here to examine his solo work. If I am guessing simply by the number of times I run across this album in bins, I would say this was one of his more popular solo efforts. As in I don’t often see any of his other albums around. This is his third studio effort. It seems to be just one of several in a line of “failures” according to his wiki. I mean, at least the guy continued (s) to put out music, but it is somewhat ironic for someone who was a part of something so monumental in music. I suppose after that there is only one direction you can go...

“Oh My My” is the start of it all. This album (as many of his others do too) featured tunes from m Harrison and McCartney (both Paul and Linda). It also features too much sax for me in the first tune. I think the general conclusion here is that Ringo gets the news from his doctor that his rock career may be over. Very rock radio for the times...think the SNL theme song...no really.

“Step Lightly” follows and is a bit more Beatles-esque. More of what people expected and wanted. “Six O’ Clock” is the McCartney tune and is lamenting about mistreated love. A sweet song in nature, but only mediocre in execution.

“Devil Woman” is probably the best song on the album in my opinion...at least on Side two anyway. Very generic pop lyrics but it has the driving groove needed to keep your interest. Finally is “You and Me (Babe)”! Which is the Harrison song. Very ‘73 for style points and a couples crooner. It’s lazy and carefree and features an impromptu thanks list, perhaps of the drunken variety...? Most of this just feels like Beatles throwaways. Ringo can definitely sing, there is no question of that, but this whole album just feels more like an attempt to stay relevant more than anything. I’m sure Ringo was just glad to be able to put more input and work into a recording than he was able to with his former band. He has been quoted in saying as much. There is a pretty cool art and lyric book inside.

The Cretones: Thin Red Line ( Side 1 )

Cretones were a United States, Los Angeles-based power pop group in the early 1980s. Led by singer/guitarist and former Eddie Boy Band member, Mark Goldenberg (who also wrote the bulk of The Cretones' material), the group had a strong sense of melody and a lyrical wit that placed them a cut above most of their new wave peers. They are perhaps best known as the band that provided three of the songs on Linda Ronstadt's Platinum-selling 1980 New Wave Rock album, Mad Love. Ronstadt's enormous success served to introduce and highlight Mark Goldenberg's aggressive compositions. He also wrote the tune “Automatic” for the Pointer Sisters. So Thin Red Line is their rookie card she to speak and contains a charting single which happens to be the first track, “Real Love”. It’s a catchy number replete with jangle hooks and big narratives. You can instantly tell it was the radio single the label pushed for. Next is the very Elvis Costello vibe of “Everybody’s Mad at Katherine”. This song is not nearly as catchy, but it is redeemed by the cymbal work present. Speaking as a drummer, it’s a difficult thing to pull off being able to bounce around and roll off the crown of a cymbal on beat so kudos are due, in that department at least. “I Can’t Wait” just seems ...like it has a filler vibe, so...meh. “Justine” is a song about a girl so those are always power pop poignant. A good hook to complete the cycle and with full on church organ overload. Clearly it’s about Justine Bateman. Just kidding, but maybe not, the time is right... and there might be some family ties (#seewhatididthere). Finally,

“Mad Love” is the last cut. Another good one buried in the back nine! What gives?!? This is a single for sure! Mid tempo and you know Rick Springfield would be jealous. Super F*****g produced! This band is straight up a less good version of The Records, or possibly Shoes or 20/20. Certainly in that vein. Man, I just can’t get over how big it sounds on vinyl too.

So battle 3 in the books with Ringo being a Starr performer. He took 21 minutes to showcase his talents over 5 songs and 130 calories burned. That’s 26 calories burned per song and 6.19 calories burned per minute. Ringo earned 10 out of 15 possible stars. The Cretones were on a thin red line, but managed to still burn 112 calories over 5 songs and 17 minutes. They averaged 22.40 calories per song and 6.59 calories burned per minute. The Cretones earned 11 out of 15 possible stars. Seems as though The Cretones win!

The Cretones: “Justine”

https://youtu.be/tJMXMSx_cfE

#Randomrecordworkoutseasonseven

#Randomrecordworkout

[stevecanmakeanythingnerdy]

We're here for you during COVID-19

Dear RRW community,

As a valued member, we appreciate the trust you have placed in us. As we continue to monitor the spread of COVID-19 (coronavirus), we wanted to share with you the steps we've taken to help minimize the impact of COVID-19 on our community. RRW is a (mostly) hands free experience. Each randomly chosen record is sanitized both before and after play, before being placed back into its protective poly sleeve. RRW understands that there are a lot uncertainties right now. However, we want to reassure you that Randomrecordworkout is still up and running (literally on the elliptical) and we are dedicated to supporting our fans and community during this pandemic. Quite honestly, you’ve got a lot of free time on your hands, so why not sit back and read these blog posts to pass the time. It’s good, clean family fun! And who knows, you may even discover a new band or two! During these times of crisis, RRW hopes to bring you a little joy. With social distancing tightening, there’s never been a better time to get closer to music. Thanks for your patience and support. We are committed to working with you and to continue to make RRW the best place for a music blog about working out online. Please take care of yourself. We’re all in this together, and for the love of music.

Please wash your hands and Rock onward with Randomrecordworkout

[stevecanmakeanythingnerdy]

randomrecordworkoutmadness Final Battle!!!

This is it!!! The battle that determines this seasons highest calorie burner, and also best record in the Milky Way Galaxy by the way. Just kidding. But for serious as far as we really know...

No need for boring factoids this go around, hopefully you know by now in true RRW fashion that if they have made it this far, then these bands are the best and worthy of your attention. Just the stats that matter, so without further Adieu:

RANDOMRECORDWORKOUTSEASON6 concludes!

6 ) The Twins: Passion Factory ( Side B )

Vs.

2 ) (The) Sweet: Desolation Boulevard ( Side 2 )

6 ) The Twins: Passion Factory ( Side B )

6th ranked The Twins killed it this season, quickly becoming one of my favorite new wave records ever. Not an understatement...EVER!! Underdogs by ranking, they held their own in every way. Gary Numan himself couldn’t write some better tunes. German engineered and epic on all accounts, songs like “X-Ray Eyes” and “The Passion Factory”, and “Electric Bats” will make you stand up and applaud. Very produced and essentially Gary Numan if you wanted him to be more Tubeway and less Goth.

The Twins took 23 minutes to burn 158 calories over 5 songs. They burned 31.60 calories per song and 6.87 calories per minute. They earned 12 out of 15 possible stars.

2 ) (The) Sweet: Desolation Boulevard ( Side 2 )

2nd ranked Sweet were practically a lock from the beginning. This album hangs prominently in my music room, displaying it’s awesomeness and power daily. I consider it a classic piece of wax that should be in any self respecting record collector’s collection. Sweet started out as a simple 60’s pop band and had early success but quickly became disenchanted and wanted to venture out and write their own tunes. This album is basically their attempt to do so and a singles collection of sorts. It’s an amazing trip through power pop and hard rock infused new wave 101. Keep in mind that this was circa 1975-1976 so we are talking about some groundbreaking things. This band kind of set the stage for acts to come shortly after. Songs like “Sweet F. A. “ are overtly metal with solos that have something to prove. “Set Me Free” falls into a similar category with experiments in stereo panning to boot. “Into The Night” and “ Solid Gold Brass” are also decent, but seem to be there almost as placeholders. More mellow and grooving. Nothing though, and I mean NO THING is better than the amazingly crafted “Fox On The Run”. It is a MASTERFUL tune that all other rock songs should be measured by. Epic is an understatement and to me it’s the perfect definition of the power pop genre. Sweet took 24 minutes to burn through 168 calories over 5 songs. That is 33.60 calories burned per tune and 7.0 calories burned per minute. (The) Sweet earned 13 out of 15 possible stars. Not perfect, but nearly, and just part of the reason they are crowned as the Randomrecordworkout season six champs!!!

In all seriousness: if you are unfamiliar with this band, I highly recommend becoming familiar. Start with this album.

Sweet: “Desolation Boulevard” - please to enjoy the entirety of this album

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=OLAK5uy_lWe7Q25nqcLBcuAeG5SZIK4YyGFaGs968

#Randomrecordworkoutseasonsix

#Randomrecordworkout

#randomrecordworkoutmadness

[stevecanmakeanythingnerdy]

The Vinyl Four Battle #2

2 ) (The) Sweet: Desolation Boulevard ( Side 2 )

Vs.

5 ) The Copyrights: Make Sound ( Side A )

2 ) (The) Sweet: Desolation Boulevard ( Side 2 )

#2 ranked Sweet are back to challenge for this seasons biggest calorie burner! They had a strong showing in the regular season t earn such a prestigious position, but can they knock off Carbondale’s Copyrights-the champions of Midwest pop punk?! Let’s find out! Sweet are a British glam rock band that rose to worldwide fame in the 1970s. Beginning in 1968, their best known line-up consisted of lead vocalist Brian Connolly, bass player Steve Priest, guitarist Andy Scott, and drummer Mick Tucker. The group was originally called Sweetshop and by far and large had all of their success in the 1970s though they continued on until 1981. After that there were frequent and subsequent reunions or other incarnations of the band with various original members resurrecting the name throughout the years. Mostly coming after the SNL film “Wayne’s World” drew renewed attention to the song “Ballroom Blitz”-one of the band’s best charting and most notable hits. That tune, in fact, has been very widely covered since it’s initial release in 1973. The band is really credited for fully embracing glam pop and helping define it as a genre. Desolation Boulevard is technically (here in the U.S. version of the release anyway) more of a compilation, as many of the songs on it were charting singles and released at various times in the U.K. before the band really broke out in the U.S. it is a brilliantly perfect album from start to finish and honestly one of my favorite records in my whole collection. I cherish this album so much that a copy of it hangs on my wall in my band room. Plus, it has a Hipgnosis cover. Hipgnosis was an art collective that did all the cool album covers (like Pink Floyd, etc) in the 70s. Side two kicks off with “Sweet F. A.” Let me tell you, sweet f#@$!n’ A!!!! It’s a great way to get going, with it’s nearly metal power riffs. Badass production to boot. There are many allusions to what the “F A.” may stand for but most likely it’s a reference to Sweet Fanny Adams- an album released just prior to this US edition and a definite separation from their previous “bubblegum” sound and transition to their highly proficient and technical hard rock edge. That would remain a prominent feature for the rest of their career. In the early days the band had pop tunes penned for them and they would create the B side (which was inevitably harder). Now, with Desolation Boulevard, the band was free to explore that side. Tunes like “Fox On The Run” and (ironically) “Set Me Free” are some of the greatest tunes ever put to tape in the 70s. The aforementioned hit “Ballroom Blitz” is directly influenced and captures an incident from this very struggle. The band tired of playing their bubblegum hits live and would pad their set with the preferred harder stuff. It is said at one concert, A 1973 performance at the Palace Theatre and Grand Hall in Kilmarnock, ended in the Sweet being bottled off stage; the disorder was attributed by some (including Steve Priest) to the Sweet's lipstick and eye-shadow look, and by others to the audience being unfamiliar with the concert set . The result? "The Ballroom Blitz". Let’s back up a bit though...”Fox On The Run” is nothing to sneeze at, and is considered (by me at least) to be a masterpiece! So well done and catchy!! The harmonies, the hooks, the highlights!!! Badass beats and fills! It’s truly perfection. Almost the greatest song ever written! Next is an equally impressive and great tune with “Set Me Free”. It’s a real rocker, mixed with punky, funky metal. God damn this band for being this tight and ahead of the times!! “Into The Night” slows down a tick and smooths out over time. All I can think is how incredibly hot it must have been performing under stage lighting with all that hair and pleather! “Solid Gold Brass” ends with a walking pace. Nice catchy and Sweet night like. Still a wall of sound and very powerful. Those freaking vocals!! So amazing and full of harmonies! That’s got to be the defining characteristic of this band. Those atmospheric harmonies. (End part one)

[stevecanmakeanythingnerdy]

The Great Eight Battle Battle #3

4 ) Kiss: Animalize (Side 1 )

Vs.

5 ) The Copyrights : Make Sound ( Side A )

4 ) Kiss: Animalize (Side 1 )

This may be perhaps the most exciting battle if only because it is pretty evenly matched in so far as calories burned per minute goes. Last time KISS burned an impressive 126 calories over 4 songs and 16 minutes. It earned them a number 4 in the ranks. Let’s see if they can Animalize their way to the top this round! KISS, as has been well established by now, is a decades old glam and hard rock band that most anyone who likes metal is well aware of. Made up of Paul Stanley, Ace Frehley, Peter Criss, and the infamous Gene Simmons, they ruled the airwaves and sold out stadiums for the better part of the late 70s and early 80s. They were a band on top of the world. It could be for a variety of reasons, their music was certainly catchy. Some of the hype could be due to some of the products released. During those heydays, there were pretty wild marketing gimmicks, included a pair of comic books issued by Marvel (the first contained ink mixed with actual blood donated by the group, no $#!t.) Or, It could also be their wildly entertaining live shows full of pyrotechnics and energy. I’m telling you this band was IT for a lot of kids during those times. Let’s be honest, they STILL sell out stadiums, but by the time Animalize came out, KISS was experiencing some growing pains. Long gone were Frehley and Criss, replaced by beefier, more Paul Stanley-like versions. Also gone was the make up that helped make them into superstar sensations. Yes, by the time Animalize reached shelves, the band had had arguments, line up changes, and a lot of turmoil. Despite that, this album stands as a pretty good testimony to what a band is capable of. It’s almost like they faced up and said, no, we have something to prove. We are still a great rock band. They are still proving this today, as they are on their final worldwide goodbye tour. From start to finish and on both sides, this album contains some pretty brutal riffs and hard ass rock. It’s considered a commercial flop because of the one lone charting single, “Heaven’s On Fire”. I’m here to tell you, that I am a recently converted and this has become one of the better KISS albums in my opinion. You don’t get any of the strongly informed rock by way of Alice Cooper , the New York Dolls, or English glam rockers Slade, but there are plenty of reference to a trio of rock riff legends like guitarists Jimmy Page, Eric Clapton and Jeff Beck. This album plays well to a metal crowd. Truthfully it almost begins a new era for KISS. “I’ve Had Enough (Into The Fire)” is the first of these tracks. Blitzing solos courtesy of the ax man St. John(R. I. P.). That distinctly metal sound not really present in other KISS productions is all over the place here. “Heaven’s On Fire” is next. Not really a hugely charting single for the band, in the grand scheme of things. It did chart though, and kept the name KISS alive (#seewhatididthere) on the lips (#seewhatididthere) of the music press. It’s not a terrible song, but one I would say most diehard fans write off. Bluesy and repetitive in nature, it features Mr. Paul Stanley on lead vocals. Providing evidence that they still have balls, “Burn, Bitch, Burn” blazes through the almost 4 minute mark with some legit metallic riffs. No makeup equals no FAKE up either. “Get All You Can Take” has those big rock riffs throughout too. Not the best of the best, but better than just filler. Last is the wankiest tune, “Lonely is the Hunter”. this song in particular is what caused me to make my KISS reinvented statement. It’s just so different from a song like “Strutter” or anything on Destroyer or a staple song like “Rock and Roll all Night”. Simmons is back in vocal duty and packs on the sludgy trudges. The best part of all of this for me, is that I got the record for free from a co-worker. Score! Thanks, Chris! This album is more PRO-duced than a fresh veggie market! (#seewhatididthere). It’s never really stated anywhere who plays what, but there are tons of internet trolls who can tell you that info if you’re so inclined. I can guarantee this, THERE IS A LOT OF ANIMAL PRINT!