Showing posts with label best. Show all posts
Showing posts with label best. Show all posts

Rebel Meets Rebel Review

Rebel Meets Rebel
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Rebel Meets Rebel ReviewFor those who don't already know, Rebel Meets Rebel is a project composed of Pantera's trio of musicians ("Dimebag" Darrell and Vinnie Paul Abbott and Rex Brown) and country singer David Allan Coe doing the vocals. This self-titled debut C.D. was recorded over the course of four years, from 1999 to 2003. Guitarist Dimebag Darrell was said to have loved this C.D. very much, but, for reasons beyond my knowledge, his brother, drummer Vinnie Paul, waited until now (a year and a half after Dimebag was killed) to release it.
Rebel Meets Rebel is just what it was supposed to be: a country/metal/rock/blues hybrid. Vinnie Paul describes it perfectly in the C.D. booklet: "It's not metal and it's not country, it's just a get together of country metal minds! Pure Hell raisin', boozin', jammin' fun!"
Mixing country music and heavy metal (which are two very different musical genres) has been done before. One example is when one of ex-Pantera frontman Phil Anselmo's side projects, Down, put sludge metal alongside country-style ballads for their second album, "Down II: A Bustle In The Hedgegrow." But I don't think country and metal has ever been fused together and had such successful results as Rebel Meets Rebel. If, for some odd reason, you can't give this album credit for anything else, at least give it credit for being very interesting.
The music on here is almost always quite heavy, since Dimebag still contributes Pantera-esque guitar crunch to nearly every song, and also includes a few solos. And there are a lot of deep, catchy grooves to be heard, here. There are only a couple of songs when the music sounds like it could have come off of a bluegrass record: as in the title track, when Dime makes his guitar sound like a fiddle, and the closer, "N.Y.C. Streets," which is an acoustic strummed ballad.
David Allan Coe's "Southern fried" vocals are supposed to make or break this record (if you don't like his voice, you won't this album.) That may be true because some fans will surely not get over the fact that he chooses to sing and not scream. But, if you give him a fair chance (or if you like a more melodic vocal style), his vocals are very enjoyable. They help to make Rebel Meets Rebel somewhat unique (if Coe chose to howl like Phil Anselmo, this disc would probably be just like any other Pantera release.) The music may still be heavy, but Coe's clean singing/crooning voice makes this disc sound like a less commanding, less dissonant, more gentle and docile Pantera. And it's not like D.A.C.'s vocals are at all annoying; in fact, they're actually rather catchy.
The album begins with the sound of David Allan Coe and Dimebag Darrell playing slot machines. This is followed by some wah-wah guitar sounds, Rex's grumbling bass notes, and a few R-rated women noises. Then the song (which is called"Nothin' To Lose") launches into an awesome, propulsive groove. The next song is the title track, and it's a highlight because it's a duet between Coe and Dimebag (!), with one singer trading off lines with the other.
Track three, "Cowboys Do More Dope," is probably my personal favorite on here. It begins (and ends) with a cool wall of Gershwin-esque piano, and the rest of the song is a grinding groove. A memorable sing along chorus ("Cowboys do more dope than rock `n' rollers"), and two guitar solos (one of which is wild) are also included, here.
"Panfilo" is a brief interlude. It's described by the band as an "acoustic jam," but the guitars on this song almost sound like they're flamenco.
The next highlight is "One Nite Stands," which is backed by a catchy, chug and churn rhythm and a sweet, wailing Dimebag solo. "Arizona Rivers" is a dreary ballad, but the proceeding song, ""Get Outta My Life" (which features a vocal cameo by Hank III), is maybe the record's heaviest track. It begins with a killer, stomping, blazing riff which wouldn't sound mismatched if it came off of Pantera's 2000 album, "Reinventing The Steel."
The last two songs worth mentioning are the very hooky "Time" and "No Compromise." On the former, Dimebag makes a grinding, lurching rhythm for David Alan Coe's staccato vocals to sing over and the latter song begins with wah-wah guitars which are vaguely reminiscent of the beginning of Pantera's six year old hit single, "Revolution Is My Name."
Unless Vinnie Paul releases the demos from Damageplan's second album, "Rebel Meets Rebel" is the last we'll ever hear from Dimebag Darrell. Thus, this album is recommended for all Dimebag collections. But this disc is a very good, catchy, entertaining, and interesting listen, so it's recommended to every other rock fan (even if you aren't a Dimebag diehard). And even if you're curious what country metal sounds like, you need to get it.Rebel Meets Rebel OverviewVince Paul, famed drummer from Pantera and Damageplan, debuts his self-owned label, Big Vin Records, with Rebel Meets Rebel! Rebel Meets Rebel is a collaboration of the Cowboys From Hell (the late Dimebag Darrell on guitar, Vinnie Paul and drums, and Rex Paul on bass) teamed with vocals by country outlaw legend and Grammy winning songwriter David Allan Coe. It is the final full-length recording to include Dimebag, and it is a record that he truly loved.

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The Wind Review

The Wind
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The Wind ReviewYou know someone is unique when the guy finds out he has a terminal illness and he, not Leno or Letterman (no, certainly not Letterman), is the one who sees gallows humor in the predicament.
On the Letterman Show, Warren Zevon, with a wry, paradoxical smile and laugh, said that his fear of doctors was "one of those phobias that didn't pay off." Also on that night, Zevon, who has told us so much through his songs, gave us a precious nugget he discovered, something he knows that David Letterman and other people whose life expectancy doesn't number in months or days, or in Warren's case, as he's already supposed to be sleeping while dead, negative numbers: we better learn to enjoy each sandwich.
Zevon, surpassing the limitations prescribed by his doctors, has lived to see the birth of his twin grandchildren and the release of his wonderful latest album, the understandably melancholy, yet at times strangely upbeat, _The Wind_. I feel privileged to bear witness to the Mutineer's final journey, as it, like his last two studio albums, holds its own with Zevon's greatest albums (Warren's best album for my money is "Life'll Kill Ya," written and recorded way before the cancer diagnosis).
Anyway, Zevon starts out with one of his great turns of phrase: "Some days I feel like my shadow's casting me, Some days the sun don't shine." I love that image of a shadow casting a person -- it evokes a darkness, a state of nothingness, death, and yet, the lyrics are carefully crafted: only on some
days does Zevon, and I'm going to presume that there's plenty of self-reference going on on this album, feel that his shadow is casting him and that the sun is not shining. Even in the face of certain death, the implication remains that there are days when the sun shines -- when Warren still casts his own
shadow. Later in the song we're reminded that Warren's "winding down [his] dirty life and times," and the lump hits the throat. Oh, is this a painful record. And it was so painful, on so many levels (the VH-1 special is essential viewing), for Warren. But like all great works of music, it somehow raises the spirit -- of both the listener and the singer-songwriter.
Next is "Disorder in the House," an outrageous, confused rocker, that describes both Warren's state-of-mind, and, on a broader scale, the state-of-mind of his country: "The floodgates are open, We've let the demons loose, The big guns have spoken, and we've fallen for the ruse." Bruce Sprinsgteen lends sharp
vocals and killer guitar to Disorder.
The third song is "Knockin'." There's nothing I can say about this song, this rendition, and all it means, that could do it justice. So I won't try.
"Numb as a Statue" proves that, no matter what, Zevon's not going to lose that biting, intelligent, sarcastic sense of humor: "I don't care if it's superficial, You don't have to dig down deep, Just bring enough for the ritual, get here before I fall asleep."
What follows is a song that I immediately place among Warren's greatest, and without hesitation I find it to be the best thing on "The Wind": "She's Too Good For Me." This one brought tears to my eyes, but, strangely enough, not in the way "Dirty Life and Times" or, my God, the last song did, but on a level
associated purely with the song itself -- I can envision the situation as removed from Warren Zevon's life and disease; it works on many levels. It's a work of pure beauty.
"Prison Grove" strikes me as in some ways Zevon's "I Shall Be Released." Both songs are ostensibly about escaping prisons, but ultimately the songs are universal and we're all in prisons that we will all one day inevitably escape: "Some folks have to die too hard, Some folks have to cry too hard, Take one last look at the prison yard, Goodbye Prison Grove."
There are also two great blues numbers on _The Wind_, "Please Stay" and "Rub Me Raw," that reminded me a bit of Dylan's blues on "Love and Theft." At this point, I think Zevon's blues have a basis that might even be comparable on an emotional level to the blues's original impetus: racism. Nobody is going to
question this white man singing the blues.
The album's final song is "Keep Me in Your Heart." It's opening pays homage to Dylan's _Time Out of Mind_: "Shadows are falling and I'm running out of breath." This song absolutely destroys me, tears flow free, beyond mere watery eyes. If the
message "Keep me in your heart for awhile" is directed to Warren Zevon's fans, and not just his family and friends, Warren, you're going to be in my heart for a lot longer than a while. I only hope that I can be as strong and courageous as Warren Zevon, "Mr. 'Bad' Example", if the situation calls for it.
Rest in Peace, Warren. And thank you for all you've given us.The Wind Overview

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Europe 72 Review

Europe 72
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Europe 72 ReviewThere are three seminal, essential live Grateful Dead albums, each a bit different, but each containing all the elements orf improvisation, multiple musical styles, and ensemble tightness that made the Dead so unique. These are Live Dead, Grateful Dead (Skull and Roses) and Europe 72. It is impossible to pick one over the other as *the best* of the officially released live Dead albums, and if I had to, I could live with no Dead albums other than these three, but I could not give up any one of them.

Europe 72 contains both some of the tightest compact versions of several Dead tunes, as well as some of the most ethereal extended jams. For those interested in the magic of what used to happen when everything just jelled exactly right, listen to Weir's unique idiosyncratic rhythm-lead solo between China Cat and I know you rider (yup - That's Bobby playing the lead). There are lots of examples of this jam on other live Dead recordings, but nowhere does the playing of all band members synergize in the segue as well as on this cut. Trucking-Prologue-Epilogue Morning Dew is basically one long piece of music. Epilogue gets really nice and jazzy and stretches things out like only the Dead could. Prologue merges into a Morning Dew that has a Bobby-Keith rhythm guitar/piano section that is so tight that even after listening to it for more than 30 years there are still parts where I can't tell if I am hearing Bobby or Keith. Jerry's vocals and lead are are stronger and more emotional on this than on any other Morning Dew available anywere. Europe 72 also features a wider range of styles from Jerry and the boys than either Live Dead or Skull and Roses, ranging from very countrified on Cumberland Blues to rock on One More Saturday Night to good old trademark Greatful Dead style everything but the kitchen sink on the long jams.
This is a great album. The new tracks are a nice feature, but not one of them is as strong as any of the originals (But Jerry's pedal steel on Looks' Like Rain is a nice touch). Still, this is one (of 3) Dead albums that is an absolute must for DeadHeads of all ages.Europe 72 OverviewBonus tracks: The Stranger (Two Souls in Communion); Looks Like Rain ; two versions of Good Lovin' ; two versions of Caution (Do Not Stop on Tracks) , and Who Do You Love .

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Very Best of Dan Fogelberg Review

Very Best of Dan Fogelberg
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Very Best of Dan Fogelberg ReviewDan Fogelberg, one of the greatest singer/songwriters alive, has been in this business for 30 years, and spent the first twenty of those signed to Epic, part of mega-label SONY. Unfortunately, SONY decided to terminate the contract in 1994 after Dan Fogelberg's later albums ceased to be the million-sellers they were used to (irrespective of quality content).
Anyway, this is why this "Best of"-Collection contains charting DF metarial from 1974 to 1993, not necessarily the best, but certainly the "best-known" of Dan Fogelberg. The CD basically contains the same songs released on SONY's 1982 "Dan Fogelberg's Greatest Hits" and adds some of the late 1980's and early 1990's (up to the "River of Souls" album) material. It is therefore an excellent introduction into Dan's musicical variety and songwriting abilities, be it ballads or rockers.
Anybody interested in Dan's work beyond the hits should check out the 4-disc "Portrait" release, of course, and make sure to get a hold of the (inpendently issued) CD's Dan has recorded after his SONY years.Very Best of Dan Fogelberg Overview

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The Song Within Review

The Song Within
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The Song Within ReviewEveryone who knows about Phil Keaggy's playing recognizes his virtuosity. "The Song Within," an instrumental recording designed to showcase the rich sound of McPherson acoustic guitars, demonstrates not only Keaggy's virtuosity but also his amazing musicianship. His ability to create and recreate his own music with unpretending excellence is what make this CD so enjoyable.
The moods are mostly mellow but also include a funky jam (Early One Day), a few upbeat tunes (Wow's the Weather, The Blue Trail, Addison's Talk), a little ragtime (Water Day), a couple short ditty's (Trailwalker, McPhernought), and my personal favorite, the catchy and haunting Noah's Shuffle.
"The Song Within" is not going to be Keaggy's most critically acclaimed recording, but it is delightful and a very worthy addition to his remarkable catalogue of instrumental acoustic guitar recordings.The Song Within Overview

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