CDReview: Whitesnake, Forevermore

 

Whitesnake

Forevermore

(Frontiers)

Ahhh…nothing like coming home from a hard day’s work. There really isn’t. There’s also nothing like climbing in your awaiting bed to curl up and enjoy the cool summer night’s rest either, until you walk into your bachelor bedroom to find part of your ceiling in a soaking wet pile upon your chair, and an obscene number of killer concert shirts stained. It also got my robe soaking wet and dirty…that hurt the most. This was not a good ending to the day…or so I thought.

It was late for me (remember I get up in the middle of the night), and my procrastination set in; I’d let the mess wait until morning, or “near morning” for some. I just wanted a couple of hours sleep before attending a night out with the co-workers. I pulled back the blue plaid comforter that covered the burgundy sheets. What did I find? Certainly not a hot blonde with a bottle of wine and a pizza waiting for me! No, instead, I found a soaking wet bed. Though I am not opposed to waterbeds as I used to have one, but this was not the same thing. Ruined were the gentle threads that swaddled my body in the night’s embrace. Now I saw red, and I am not referring to said sheets.

It was too late to do anything and I needed to get out of the box that I had vacated long ago but was happy to be back in, if it would let me. But not tonight; my dreams were now drowned thanks to the hot water heater above me. For now, I needed to find another place to crash, or at least get out and find that blonde with the wine…or just the pizza. I needed something to take my mind off of the ocean sized shipwreck that had become my once luxurious bedroom.

A fresh haircut would do the trick!

I rolled outta my complex and headed to my stylist; I’m sure she would be thrilled to chop away the lockes I had grown over the past year…and I just got a cut in England just weeks ago! But it was a chop that I did need. I had come back stateside looking more Parisian than Texan, plus I needed new headshots for my upcoming book release entitled Copper, Texas. Then there was my baby face; it needed a shave. Not that carried a full beard, but it was shaggy and made me look like Keanu Reeves, and that’s not good.

Of course, she was happy to take on a new project and update my look now that I was in the public eye once again. She gave me a pinch of tobacco as I climbed in the chair and was wrapped up to keep my detached lockes from clinging to me. With shears in hand, my stylist cranked up some tunes. It was the new Whitesnake CD. So I enjoyed the music of one of the greatest bands and it made me think back on my youth. I closed my eyes as my hair started to fly…

 Forevermore is the David Coverdale monikered Whitesnake’s first release since 2008’s return to glory with Good to be Bad. Since the band’s birth in 1977, though they may have went through various lineups, one thing has always remained: great Coverdale vocals over some multi-faceted great melodic rock!

Coverdale has always surrounded himself with great musicians, such as guitarists Mel Galley (Trapeze), John Sykes (Blue Murder), Steve Vai, and bassist Rudy Sarzo and veteran drummer Tommy Aldridge to name a few. About the main one that collaborated with Coverdale the longest was Adrian Vandenberg, who was there for four classic albums. With Forevermore, that hasn’t changed. For this lineup, Coverdale is joined by second time guitarists Doug Aldrich and Reb Beach, and rhythm section led by drummer Brian Tichy and bassist Michael Delvin. As tight as the music is, it fits well with the rough edged but still soaring voice of their leader Coverdale. Time may show a little in his voice, but he can still push it when necessary, and smolder it in soul as well.

As with Motorhead’s latest release, Whitesnake compounds various sounds through the years, but concentrates on the band’s bluesy feel from the early era. From the opening few seconds of the first track Steal Your Heart Away, the listener is caught in the snake’s grasp! The guitars take the spotlight only second to the vox on this highly shiny polished production.  They provide a down and dirty groove along with some slide action and feature a killer chorus” “I want it all/I want it now/ Gonna beg, borrow, steal somehow”. And going the opposite direction a little straighter forward and radio friendly is the first single, Love will set you Free.  Though Forevermore is packed with blues driven rock, it just wouldn’t be a Whitesnake release without a killer ballad. In this case, we are presented with Easier Said than Done, a ballad so good it rivals some of the older ones. It is a great follow up to its predecessor Too Many Tears from 1998’s underrated Restless Heart.

Before I knew it, my haircut was complete and my stylist stood in front of me holding up a mirror. I had transformed from a shaggy European into a fashionable Texan. I looked like a tame, clean shaven version of Dave Navarro; that beats the highly teased long haired mess I looked like during my stint on the road and the early 90s era Whitesnake.

The haircut helped ease my mind from worrying about the hole in my ceiling that still needed attention and needed it quickly. As far as I was concerned, there was all day tomorrow to deal with it. As for now, it was time for me to step out and show off my new haircut. A last minute party was called in my honor, if there is such a thing.

I spit out the tobacco I had been holding in my mouth hole. Once I was uncovered and brushed clean, I paid the lady a nice fee before heading out to the parking lot. Grabbing the phone out of my car, I noticed I had four missed calls, half of them from people I worked with. I jumped back in my car and started to drive back to my box to meet the guys. As I drove in the approaching night sky, my phone once again began to ring. Looking down at it, I was shocked to see that an ex was calling; not the cool ex, but the one of the Tawny persuasion. I held the phone in my hand, and as I made my turn right to go home, I tossed the phone out into the road and sped away.

I ain’t a “Fool for her Lovin’” no more!

CDReview: Motorhead, The World is Yours

Motorhead

The World is Yours

(UDR)

I’m in the home stretch now before reaching my said destination of home. I’m less two hours away. No, I’m not driving, and I have passed up a couple of rides along the way. Instead, I’ve been walking; hoofin’ it so to speak. I don’t mind. After all that time traveling and working all over the world, I ate rather well for a hard working man. And when you do that, along with the fine taste of French wine, you tend to gain a pound or two. So, I didn’t mind the last day or two walking in the welcomed Texas sun. The Texas sun and the humidity did do a number on my body. I had been out of it for too long and had become spoiled to other worldly comforts. The other night I needed a break from walking and actually found a place to relax and re-juice…that’s not a typo. I meant “re-juice”.

Just the other night when I was taking the afore mentioned break, I caught part of a crowd leaving a concert. I sat on the back steps of the venue next to yet another tour bus; apparently I was drawing them like flies. Anyway, I found the monologue very funny as well as uplifting and inspiring. It was a something that motivated me, it was time to get myself back in shape and become the unstoppable force I once was a couple of years ago. As the people walked back and forth, I thought about what all I would need to change when I got back home. Gone would be the luxuries and welcomed would be the bare boned essentials to make me a fighting machine. One of the driving forces for me behind a workout and motivation is heavy music, and I found it…

Every time I think of Motorhead, I think of the British comedy series The Young Ones. Though I had heard of Motorhead before then, it wasn’t until that episode of the show that I actually heard the band. At that time I was in high school and enjoying various genres of music, but metal was still the front runner of my preferences. The World is Yours is the bands 20^th studio release in their 30+ year career of being the hardest working band in metal.

The one thing that I have learned to appreciate and love about Motorhead is how they can add an influence of a genre to their music without disturbing their familiar, signature sound that has made them kings of the metal mountain. The World is Yours lives up to Lemmy’s claim that the band is a rock ‘n’ roll band versus a metal band, and proudly presents it on this maverick release.

The bluesy roots of rock music origin combined with the British Metal sound are tattered through the CD and prominently noticeable on Get Back in Line and Bye Bye Bitch, Bye Bye. One thing to note, Lemmy states in the documentary Lemmy that his influences and still the best musicians he has ever listened to (and still does) are legends Little Richard and The Beatles. Rest assured, the band has not lost its sound or mellowed out in any way; this just happens to be the influence of music that made “the world yours”.  There are plenty of heavy hitters, like the piercing highlight Outlaw, packed with killer pounding drums that sound like massive gunfire, and scorching guitar work.

As my player shut off, a team of muscle bound bodyguards came out the back door of the venue and made sure the coast was clear to make it to the tour bus. They eyed me, thinking I was some kinda bum or something. Seeing I was no threat, they walked forward and unlocked the bus. Several more people followed, many being hot lively females of all persuasions; it looked and felt like being lost in a parade of women. I looked at the dancing gals as their strutted their way to the magical land that was encased inside the tour bus.

After the women were on the bus, a couple of more people walked by, surrounding a familiar face in the middle of them. He stopped walking and looked down at me. He nodded and smiled at me, then tossed his head towards the bus, obviously an invitation to join the traveling fun party. I had been in too much trouble having fun in parties lately, and now the opportunity to join this circus. It would be a once in a lifetime chance, but it was time for me to bite my tongue and decline the prestigious offer.

With shame, I sadly shook my head no to the offer, but thanked him anyway. The familiar face nodded with closed eyes that he understood. As a constellation prize, he tossed me a baseball cap and a couple of t-shirts as he boarded the mobile funhouse.

“Take that advice and The World will be Yours….” The man said as the door closed and the bus pulled off into the night.

I looked at the cap, and then to both shirts. Besides different images on the clothes, they all had one word in common…

Winning…

CDReview: Breaking Southwest, Spin

Breaking Southwest

Spin

After one too many of my special “still awaiting patent so I can’t tell you the name” drinks at the airport in Denver, I along with a newly made friend were informed by the men in blue that we were not allowed to fly.

Bummer.

Ms. Snow Bunny was okay with that. She could get a suite and stay another day living the high life. Though she extended an invitation to me, I had to decline; this Texas boy was ready to return home!

I took a taxi from the airport to a little restaurant I passed earlier to grab an Elk Burger and think of an alternate mode of transportation home. As I enjoyed the tasty regional meal, I looked out the window and admired the tour bus in the parking lot. Yep, it belonged to a traveling company that performed musical theatre. It had been 15 years since I’d last traveled on a luxury bus, but 5 if you include me just sitting in one doing an interview with King’s X.

“Do you like what you see?” a voice from behind me asked. I turned around and there stood a tall, beautiful woman with black spiral curled hair, smiling at yours truly. Apparently she was with this traveling group of thespians.

“I do now,” I answered in between bites. I went on to inform the Medusa beauty how I had been traveling, was booted from a plane and trying to make it back home to the Great State of Texas.

“Well, you’re in luck, Cowboy,” she replied, and told me that’s where her company was headed. The only bad news was that she couldn’t get me straight home. Dallas would be the closest point.

Who was I to complain about that, especially with her keeping me company? I took one more bite of my Elk before dropping it on the plate, grabbed my luggage and followed my new blacktop road warrior to the bus.

After meeting and greeting several more people in the troupe, I quickly forgot the names and climbed into the bunk they were gracious enough to bless me with. It would have been nice to have Miss Medusa Sexy Eyes join me, but she and her cast mates were going to rehearse some songs for their theatre musical. It had something to do with Spam…

That was fine. I was in no position to say what these people were gonna do on their bus; jobs are jobs and it never hurts to be good at what you do, whatever that may be.  I was tired and needed a little rest, so I pulled my little curtain closed and nestled in the mobile bedroom. Aching for sounds of home, I pulled out my trusty mp3 player and found the music I craved in Breaking Southwest.

Combining rock music roots and tuning them up with a contemporary country music sound is what Breaking Southwest is all about. Based out of the Dallas area, Breaking Southwest was formed a little over a year ago by friends singer/guitarist Kent Bell and guitarist Kyle Gaston performing acoustically.

“Kent and I randomly moved in together through a mutual friend. We knew nothing about each other,” Gaston explains. “We started playing together in January of 2010, initially we would just play cover songs, then Kent and I pulled out our big notebook of songs and started collaborating on songs together.”

With both men coming from two different musical backgrounds was the perfect element to fuse their playing and writing to their songwriting and style.

“Myself, growing up in the rock scene for years shaped the way that I write and played songs,” Gaston continues.  “Kent, growing up only listening to country shaped the way that he writes and plays. It's amazing to see what we come up with together coming from 2 separate backgrounds.”

By December 2010, Bell and Gaston rounded out Breaking Southwest into a full band with the addition of Shannon Ward on fiddle and pounding the keys on piano, bassist Bryan Meggison, and Jonathan Womble rounding things out on drums. And in early 2011 released their debut, Spin which has been bringing in new fans in its short time and this is being written by one of them.

Spin is a well crafted amalgamation of fresh modern country music. Now, when it comes to country music, the spectrum is wide, and I am happy to say that this debut from Breaking Southwest comes from the State of Country Music—Texas. There’s just something about the country music (or any music for that matter) that is born from the Lone Star State; just call it great breeding grounds I guess, or I’d have to write a whole book on what makes it so good!  But I digress—I’m off my soapbox and back into the review…

The main factor that makes Spin a successful CD of good music is that it was made with heart and feelings that came from two separate areas but found a home on a chance meeting. It’s packed with lyrics and music that people can relate to from everyday things, both big and little. And sometimes that’s what always gets overlooked: the little things. It’s the captured funny moment from good times past, the lonely sound of a heartbeat broken out of love, and that ethereal, floating feeling if a right decision was made in a tough situation; examples of such things are best displayed on the songs Southwestern Girl, Party Til Sunday, Shoulda Been Listenin’, and Exits and On Ramp.  That’s what makes the spark. Spin is the appropriate title for the mix of music.

It was morning when Sexy Eyes woke me up from sleep. We had arrived in Dallas. Though she offered me to come to their performance, I declined, wanting o go home. Sadly, it was time for us to part ways.

After crawling out of my mini mobile bed, I thanked each cast member for their hospitality as Sexy Eyes escorted me off the bus and into the outside world. Not wanting me to leave empty handed as we said our final goodbye, she handed me the tickets for the show regardless, a can of Spam with Knights on it, and a kiss. I accepted, and in return gave her a Franklin for gas money, my cowboy hat, and a slap on the ass.

Joined by her fellow thespians, they all waved out the window as they pulled away for their theatre destination. It would have been nice to see her perform along with the rest of the gang, but I was already two weeks late returning to my job and the surprises it had awaiting for me.  I started my walk through town, looking for a place to rent a car, walking would take too long to get back home. Once again I turned on my mp3 player, ready to hear the music that welcomed me back to Texas. It as good stuff to hear; familiar sounds of home. As I walked down the road, it was a pleasure to finally be Breaking Southwest…

CDReview: Social Distortion, Hard Times and Nursery Rhymes

Social Distortion

Hard Times and Nursery Rhymes

(Epitaph)

I decided to stay in Aspen for a couple of extra days. Not just to enjoy the view, but also because all those crazy athletes had the planes booked and boarded, and I didn’t wanna be trapped in a tube in the air with them getting all crazy like. Now, those couple of days have come and gone in no time, and it’s time for me to quit playing around and head back to work in Texas, only this time in HD! Looks like I’ll have some new toys to play with when I get there!

So here I sit in the airport, waiting on my flight and watching the bunnies walk by, looking where to board their flight back to reality. Of course, I don’t mind the occasional glance from them as they scurry by; I think they admire my attire. Leave it to me to totally not fit in; that’s never in my plan. Where everyone here is all dressed in tight pants and bulky ski jackets, here sits this Texas boy, enjoying my well worn jeans and one of the high priced fashion shirts Elle gave me. Too bad she kept my cowboy hat; I sure could use it to keep my head warm! No need to waste time on the hat since it was in London. Instead, I decided to go to the airport bar and purchase a glass of champagne so I could make my newly invented drink. No, sorry, I can’t give the name of said drink or how it’s made just yet.

I took my drink and walked back to my seat amongst the other waiters to leave. As I sat there, I wondered how much had changed in my city since I had been gone. I should just be happy if I still had an apartment! While I had been living “abroad”, I let a friend move into my “box” to look after the place. And then there was the question of work. I wondered who was still there and who had picked up and left like I did, or who just moved on to bigger and better careers. How many new faces would I encounter at work, and would they be pretty? That’s one thing about me that hasn’t changed—I still ramble on…

Why all this reminiscing and talk about what may have changed and what may have remained the same? Simple. It has to do with the music rockin’ my headphones at the moment. It comes from a band that has spanned the music world for over 30 years. Through highs and lows (no pun intended), line up changes, and lifestyle changes, none can argue that Social Distortion’s sound has ever changed. Led by front man Mike Ness, this incarnation of the group still provide great lyrics and consistent great songs.

‘Hard Times and Nursery Rhymes’ is Social Distortion’s first release since 2004’s ‘Sex, Love and Rock ‘N’ Roll’ but takes a different twist musically than the previous recordings. For this effort, SD’s music still has the grasp of a punk monster, but is flavored heavily in cleaner, rootsy blues rather than the down and dirty aggressiveness that really fueled the past albums. I find nothing wrong with the change in style, not by any means. However, there are the narrow minded followers that claim this is more of a Mike Ness solo album rather than a new Social Distortion one. Please, give it a rest. How come Pearl Jam and Neil Young can change their style of music and writing and can be accepted but others cannot? I digress…moving forward…

Joining Ness and guitarist Johnny Wickersham for Hard Times is bassist Brent Harding and drummer David Hildago Jr, the son of the Los Lobos member. The line up works like a charm with the turn in melodic music SD takes. Reaching back into his influence of roots driven music, Ness and company set aside the angst driven edge they have displayed over the years and delve a little deeper into other genres so to speak. Don’t be misled; this is not a typical Social Distortion album. With age and new direction comes exploration in musical style, but Hard Times and Nursery Rhymes is still just as rock solid as any of the band’s previous releases.

The instrumental opener of ‘Road Zombie’ is perfect. The song gets you wound up and ready for what’s to follow it. It gives the listener the chance to dig on some great driving riffs and solid guitar leads. It reminds me of ‘Indulgence’, the instrumental opener on Prison Bound. The next track, ‘California (Hustle and Flow)’ lays down some classic rock riffs blended into a true southern rock groove. And the cherry on this blended rocker? How about background gospel singers! Doesn’t sound like the standard on an SD album, but then again, this is not a standard either. One of the band’s best performances both musically and lyrically comes on the clichéd title ‘Diamond in the Rough’, but make no mistake, this song is no cliché. Ness pours out his soul on this heartfelt song.Though there is a good mixture of music on this release, Machine Gun Blues is by far the most rockin'  and possesses that old school SD sound.

Well, they just announced that my flight is delayed; no surprise there. It allows me to stay just a little out of reach of home once again. I’ll be back soon enough with more than enough work to keep me busy I’m sure! Until then, I think I’ll flag down one of these bunnies or cougars and let them enjoy my new drink (patent pending) and the cool sounds of Social D rocking the house once again.

“Excuse me, Miss?”

CDReview: Johnny Falstaff, Live in Koln

Johnny Falstaff

Live in Koln, Germany

Since getting back stateside, I took it upon myself to enjoy a ‘vacation’ before returning to work.  I decided I wanted to hide in the snowcapped mountains in Aspen. No, I wasn’t there for the X Games as I had hoped, but instead there to finish a manuscript. Yes, in between getting chased by vampires, picking grapes, and visiting exes overseas, I have been working on a couple of books. Now don’t get me wrong, I haven’t been globetrotting this past year or so for pure pleasure; it was legitimate moving around trying to make a decent buck here and there. In today’s times, that’s what it takes—a little movin’ and alotta shakin’. Then again, there are others that do this kinda movin’ and shakin’ all the time. One of those guys hails from the Great Lone Star State of Texas. And that “Tall Walkin’ Texas Trash” goes by the name Johnny Falstaff.

Texas just isn’t big enough to hold Johnny Falstaff back when it comes to playing music. He is constantly traveling around here and there, above and abroad, educating people in what true country music should be. With the release of Live in Koln, a show recorded at the Blue Shell this past June, the Texas born and raised road rebel keeps the spirit of true country music alive.  The old school honky tonk sounds from the 60s live on through Falstaff’s music but updated with a modern punch added here and there. His music is true, that is to say, what you hear on studio recordings or in concert is the real deal. Falstaff’s music is stripped down and bare boned not being covered up by modern technology. Don’t let that fool you, it always as strong as a bare knuckled punch. And Falstaff sticks to old school traditions when it comes to song length; most of his average a time of two minutes, with only a few reaching the three minute mark.

Live in Koln opens up with two tracks from Johnny Falstaff’s last studio release, the title track and “One Hand Tied”, which set the pace for this live venture. No one can swing a rockin’ country axe like Falstaff, and his baritone rich voice compliments his six string skills as proven on the afore mentioned tracks and continue on this first recording of the new song “Peek-a-boo” and really apparent on fiery fuelled ender “Falstaff Infection”. In addition to his own brand of modern day honky tonk sound, Johnny hasn’t forgotten where his love for the music came from. Though his love for his musical heroes is reflected in his music, Falstaff also covers some of their music, as he does with Buck Owens’s “Mexican Polka”, and Johnny Paycheck’s “11Month and 29Days”.

And all this brought to you by a man apparently not built for sleep. I say this because in addition to gigging in Germany, Falstaff has many shows to perform through the Lone Star State, and, wrapping up the movie Honky Tonk Blood, a movie sot over the past few years with other fellow Houston musicians. He’s a little bit Shakespeare (Classic and always good), a little bit beer (fun), and all Texan (just damn good and done right). Johnny Falstaff is a many of many faces…sideburns and all.

If you ever wonder why there’s roadwork being done on those Texas highways, it’s probably because Johnny Falstaff wore them out…

CDReview: Slash

Slash

S/T

(Dik Haid)

Okay. First, let me explain…

From leaving my ex in France and skipping over to England to visit Elle was not a Sexcapade, just a visit to a friend and enjoy some fish ‘n’ chips (along with a pint) before heading back stateside. There is no guilty conscience, just getting it out there; I am not here to reenact Romeo and Juliet in this lovely Land of Shakespeare.  However, I am convinced that if the Shakespearean character Juliet did exist in present day, she would be in the form of Elle, but with a wild streak!

Elle was excited to receive my call that I was in London, and dearly wished I would meet her at her gallery. I loaded my baggage into a cab and enjoyed the scenic city route to Elle’s downtown art gallery. London is a very beautiful city; too bad I was only going to be in town for only a few hours. However, I did mentally note that I would return for a good vacation.

Upon arrival at the gallery, I paid the fare due, and then wandered into the artsy world of Elle’s business, which also included a posh clothing boutique. In a matter of moments, I was greeted with her huge smile and loving arms.  We sat with some tea and I told her of my recent travels and various jobs, and how I was returning to the states to my awaiting job position I had left a year ago. She explained that she recently expanded her business and business was well! Elle gave me a quick tour, then, with both of us being hungry, walked down the street to a pub for a couple of pints and some fish n chips.

I had a midnight flight out of England and still a couple of hours to spend with Elle and staying in the smoke filled overcrowded pub weren’t the best thing. So, we left the pub, bought a couple bottles of red wine, and drove her SUV to the River Thames. She said it was nice to be by the water and we enjoy ourselves with our own party!

Then suddenly, it hits me: by the water!! Why did all of our adventures center around water? I first met Elle at a beach back in Texas. After a day of knowing her, we had flown to Hawaii for a few days. And now here we were in her homeland drinking wine along the River Thames!

Was Elle a mermaid? Could it…be possible? Highly unlikely and I really did not care. She was a sweet free spirit that enjoyed having fun. Plus, it is hard to question a woman who has your nickname tattooed around her bellybutton.

We got out of the vehicle, taking the wine with us, sat and looked at the historic river. Elle took a gulp of wine straight from the bottle and let her hair down.  She shook it free and smiled. “Are you still writing music reviews, Love?” Yes, I answered, though it had been quite some time. “I have one for you to review then…”

She jumped up and ran back to the SUV and cranked up a very apropos CD for an Elle Party…

I am more a Velvet Revolver fan than I am a Guns ‘n’ Roses fan and that is not a knock to G’n’R at all. It is just a preference. Regardless, Saul Hudson, better known as Slash, has been a major guitar icon in the music industry for over the past twenty years! And it is about time for his first solo CD, not to be confused with any of his side projects like Slash’s Snake pit. And this release is in the same style that Carlos Santana made popular several years ago. In other words, there is no singing on Slash’s part. And that’s a good thing! Remember Joe Satriani’s Flying in a Blue Dream? Instead, Slash sticks to rockin’ his fret board. But does have a slew of vocalists like Ozzy Osbourne, Wolfmother’s Andrew Stackdale, and Fergie (Yes! That Fergie!) just to name a few.

As afore mentioned, Slash has a diverse stock of talented singers to go along with his diverse guitar work, including great solos, all throughout the album. In addition to the various singers and the songwriting, the production is top notch as well; the perfect combination! His signature guitar sound, with its fluent rhythms and sparkling licks, is ever present but in different styles to match the songs performed with each vocal collaborator and keeps the sound fresh.

The biggest surprise is Fergie! Wow, what a stunner! She reigns on Beautiful Dangerous. Filled with groovy hooks and rockin’ rhythm, her vocals are razor sharp and quite an eye opener on how great she can rock out. In some ways, she is the closest thing to an Axl Roses comparison this release. Definitely the main highlight. The non vocal track Watch This is an instrumental rock jam consisting of Slash, VR and GNR bassist Duff McKagan, and drummer Dave Grohl, who wished not to sing but play drums for this album. The song sounds like a jam that happens quite frequently amongst friends, but is the first time recorded for release. Three friends just hanging out and trading chops; sounds like a nice way to end the day! Of the entire track, the most diversive, delicate, and delightful is Saint is a Sinner Too, featuring the underrated Rocco DeLuca. This is quite the departure from the other material on the album as it is mellow, beautiful and laid back all into one. It allows Slash to pick the strings acoustically and gracefully, showing another side of the musician. His picking is pleasant to accompany Rocco’s high and heavenly vocals. Maybe these two show do a whole album together…sounds like a winner to me.

CDReview: HIM, Screamworks:Love in Theory and Practice

HIM

Screamworks: Love in Theory and Practice

(Sire)

Oh! What a long (but educational) journey the past few months have been! After an encounter with Vampires in Texas, I decided to flee the area for a much needed getaway. Well, “getaway” as in flee from harm, but also “getaway” in the form of searching for employment in a land of leisure. Ah, furloughs can be so rough! Anyway, I thought a total cultural change was in order, purchased a plane ticket, and began work a couple of days later at a winery in the country side of Paris, France.

Of course, I was totally out of my element in the grape trade, but became a quick learner and had a new skill (and one I fancied) in the few months I had been there. I was trained in the process of growing and harvesting the tasty fruit into a Nectar of the Gods. It is a skill I am proud to have in my knowledge; still it takes quite some time to master. I am slowly on my way to getting there. Keep your eyes peeled and maybe one day I will bottle my own brand of wine.

The country hillside of Paris has been scenic and pleasant and for work, actually relaxing. However, I did have a life back in Texas and hopefully a job still. I called my boss to find out that I was much needed back at my job, sorely missed, etc, etc. I let the ass kissing continue for a few seconds longer before assuring him I would return, but it would take a couple of weeks because I was in Europe. Of course, there was “no problem with that…”

Upon collecting my final check, I bid adieu to my fellow Frenchmen and took a taxi into the beautiful and historic City of Love. In addition to absorbing all the art and history, I was meeting with my Angel Without Wings, who was now a runway model. I checked into the Hotel de Ville (for obvious reasons), then walked down to the street café where I was to meet Her. Not being a coffee drinker, I opted for a cherry juice crème and waited nervously. I didn’t think She would recognize me with the long hair and the slight beard, but of course I was wrong! She, giggling like a school girl, ran up to me, gave me a kiss, and then rubbed my scruff.

We shared a great time catching up since her move to France. She told me of her adventures of many fashion shows and her ever growing wardrobe, and I explained about the furlough, the past few months and my bizarre encounters from traveling job to job. My workplace in Texas had requested my return, so I told Her we would have a couple of days to indulge in every intoxicating invitation that Paris offered, including (but no limited to) shopping, site seeing, cuisine and our time together. The gleam in Her eyes reminded me of that time when we had dated, the emotions I felt upon our separation. If there could be a soundtrack to our time together then and now, it would be HIM’s Screamworks: Love in Theory and Practice.

The title to HIM’s newest release pretty much sums up its basis. Screamworks: Love in Theory and Practice. Enough said. BUT, since this is a music review, why not delve in a little deeper.  Practice is one thing these Finnish rockers do not have to worry about. As with their previous six releases, Screamworks: Love in Theory and Practice is just as solid. It is a great ensemble of HIM’s collective sounds. This seventh studio release is not the deep dark seeded monster that Venus Doom was, and not bubblegum pop rock for the girlies at the mall either. It is more of a balanced combination of HIM’s frolicking through different rock genres. This offering is melodic rock driven, blending more use of electric keyboards and synths with elements of 80s retro rock. It is also very catchy and musically upbeat (under dark vocals), but not mainstream. If anything, Screamworks provides a fresh energy to the group’s music repertoire.

Part of this “fresh energy” may be illuminating from front man Ville Valo, having written this album being sober, and providing some of his greatest lyrics to date. And for vocals, Valo is spot on; nailing it! Add the grandiose guitar work of Mikko “Linde” Lindstrom for another interesting angle. Linde is no slouch fretwork for sure, and once again provides a solid and soulful performance. Guitar shredding is fun, but limited in emotional and audio capacity; thankfully Linde does not indulge in such acts, but instead delivers life giving energy and touching melodies to Valo’s heartfelt lyrics.

Another refreshing change is the subject material of the songs. The previous releases were usual dark toned landscape for tragic tales of love and death. With Screamworks and to keep up with “change”, it does not stop with the music. The lyrics and subject matter have also advanced forward in the band’s maturity. The “Love” element still remains, but gone is the “Death”. This time around the idea is of love and suffering; heartbreak, but going forward with life after lessons learned. It is like a breakup and the feeling that follows it. The songs Heartkiller, Dying Song, Love the and In the Arms of Rain display HIM’s updated lyrical content and musical diversity united as one. The CD as a whole shows the band’s maturity in song and in life together; this really elevates the emotional level to new heights.

Hardest Way

That height would be where life and love are gifts, and it finally is recognized.

Our couple of days together took us all over the sights of Paris, like the Louvre, the Eiffel Tower, and Eglise de la Madeleine. She also took me around to meet some of her fashion designer friends. They were even cool to hook me up with new shirts, jeans, and shoes—anything to spread the word and get their name out! Our nights found us out at nice restaurants, sipping drinks at a patio café, admiring, the Seigne River and walking along a bridge and placing a padlock with our names on it; an idea we wish were ours, but apparently there were hundreds of others ahead of us in the idea.

The following morning as I prepared for my departure to England, my Wingless Beauty approached me with sleepy and sad eyes. Once again she hugged me, and then pulled at the scruff on my face. “Sit,” she ordered, and as She walked past me, I did as I was told. She returned and stood behind me. Then She kissed the top of my head, and began to cut the long locks of hair I had grown over the past ten months. The haircut was nice, felt good, and looked more like me, instead of the traveling worker I had become. Next, She slathered cream on my face, straddled me face to face, and began to shave to reveal the face she admired once that had been hidden. She said it took ten years off, and I have to agree with her.

Soon after She dressed, we checked out of the Hotel de Ville and shared one last morning drink together; She, about to return to work on the runway, and I, about to make a quick stop in London before heading stateside. Soon, my taxi arrived for the drive to the airport. The driver loaded my luggage as I said farewell to mon ancien amour. She put her sunglasses on before the first teardrop fell, then kissed my cheek before turning and leaving.

I hesitated getting in the taxi and called out to her. “Même Temps l'année prochaine?”

Without stopping, She looked over her shoulder and smiled…