This week is going to be a tad more eclectic than of late. Not the power-metal, heavy column, this one has lashings of blues and pop rock.
Spin: Believe
This one almost didn’t make it because it's so poppy and catchy. Something in my intial listen must have intrigued me because I returned to it several times. The band strikes me as Queen (in their least symphonic version) being fronted by Rick Springfield. “Left Behind” is a good example of that sort of catchy pop hard rock that Queen became so famous for. Then again, “Believe” is straight Springfield circa “Jessie’s Girl”, a good tune but amusing for old enough to remember the heartthrob at his height.
“Over and Over” is a keyboard heavy single, if it were another era. Catchy chorus with a bit of Cars-esque keys in the background, this whole album seeps of 80s rock and rock/pop. It flows out of your speakers and makes you think it belongs on the Miami Vice sound-track. It's great stuff for a long drive or a warm-weather holiday. The retro-goodness is everywhere on this release. If you are of the right age, you will hear all sorts of music of old.
Might not be metal or sleaze-filled angst hard rock, but there is nothing not to like about this lot.
Albert King/Stevie Ray Vaughan: in Session
Many Steve Ray Vaughan and Albert King fans will not have to read anymore than the title to want to grab this. The fact it's these two giants of blues trading licks before their mutual demises is a treat hard to pass up. When you hear they do justice to the SRV classic “Pride & Joy” that should tweak your interest further. This set also includes a DVD with several tracks that were not on the original release including “Born under a Bad Sign” and “Texas Flood”.
There are really no reasons I can think for a blues fan not to buy this album. The DVD makes it worth it, even if you bought it before. The on-stage chatter between the two guitarists is fascinating and telling. King tells the story of how he met a skinny kid who wanted to play guitar that morphed into Stevie Ray Vaughan. There are interesting liner notes about the sessions from several writers that add to the overall charm.
Into every rockers life there must be an occasional influx of pure-bred raw blues. This release will satisfy that itch in droves. You could do far worse than get this for the gift giving season and give it to your fave rocker.
Downslave: Cost of Freedom
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