Rock Or Bust by AC/DC

Rock or Bust is the sixteenth studio album by Australian hard rock band AC/DC which was released 28 November 2014 on the Columbia Records label.  With the powerful vocals of Brian Johnson and the great guitar licks of Angus Young, this band is as powerful as ever.  It is the shortest studio album ever released by the band; at approximately 35 minutes and also was the group’s first album without founding member and rhythm guitarist Malcolm Young, who had retired from the band in 2014 due to health concerns.  Rock Or Bust spawn four singles Play Ball, the title track Rock Or Bust, Rock The Blues Away and Sweet Candy.  Other noteworthy tracks off this album were Got Some Rock & Roll Thunder, Baptism By Fire, Rock The House and much more.  This album was well written by Angus and Malcolm Young and I was very impressed with how well this release was performed, recorded and produced.  If you are a big AC/DC fan like I am, you will want to add this album to your collection.

Beyond The Pain Barrier by Thor

Beyond The Pain Barrier is an upcoming release by Thor a heavy metal band from Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada that has been releasing albums and rocking concert halls since 1973. After all these years their vocals and guitar riffs are still strong. Among my favorite tracks off this album were When A Hero Dies, On Golden Sea, Phantom’s Light, Galactic Sun, and Deity In The Sky.  I am looking forward to hearing their earlier material.  I really like how this album was written, performed, recorded and produced.  If you are a fan of Thor or heavy metal, you will want to own this album.  Release date on this album is August 4, 2017, and distributed by Cleopatra Records and will be available for purchase on Amazon, Itunes and everywhere CDs are sold.

Born At The Bosco by The Pieces of Mind

Born At The Bosco is a January 25, 2015, release by blues band The Pieces Of Mind, a band from South Wales released on the POM records label.  For a band that has been around for fifty years and opened for such bands as The Who, The Searchers, The Moody Blues and many others, they still sound strong as found in such tracks Into The Light, Neighbour Neighbour, Judgement Day, Hoochie Coochie Man (my favorite) and much more.  This album was well performed with great vocals and instrumentation, recorded and produced.  This is definitely a great addition to anyone’s music library.

Girl On Fire by Alicia Keys

Girl On Fire is the fifth studio album by American recording artist Alicia Keys. The album, which was released on November 22, 2012, is Keys’ first release with RCA Records.  I have not listened to much of her music prior to this until I heard someone trying to do the song Girl On Fire on America’s Got Talent.  I did not care for how the song was done, but loved the song and decided to check out the original version and the album.  I am a big fan of the song Girl On Fire on this album, but not the mix.  This album also spawned the singles Brand New Me, New Day, Fire We Make, and Tears Always Win.  I was also impressed with the songs One Thing, That’s When I Knew, Listen To Your Heart and much more.  All the songs on this album were co written by Alicia.  This is the second album I have listened to by this great artist and will check out more in the future.  This release is well performed, recorded and produced by “Babyface” Edmonds.  I highly recommend this album to one’s music library.

 

Summer Of Repeat by Various Artists

Summer On Repeat is a compilation of great country music songs recorded on the Silverado Records label and released on 23 June 2017.  From start to finish, I enjoyed listening to this one.  On this eleven track album there are such great songs as Ice Cold Summer by David Adam Byrnes, Beer Me by Tony Winkler, Summertime All Year by Joe Diffie, Glad You’re Gone by Halfway to Hazard, Soul Good by Crystal Yates and much more.  The way this album was performed, recorded and produced is first rate.  Please listen to this album on Spotify and then you will want to buy this album on Itunes and Amazon.

On The Other Side by Dream Aria

For my 465^th review, I have chosen the album On The Other Side by Canadian rock band Dream Aria.  The band began with composer, keyboardist, and producer Don Stagg.  From the first track on this album Black Mirror with heavy guitar, it had me hooked on this album.  The second track Years Slip Away went from electric guitar riffs on the first track to acoustic guitar on this one.  Along with vocalist on some of the tracks Ann Burstyn, the sound on this album is complete as seen in such tracks as the title track On The Other Side, Follow Me, Ministry Of Dance, Akasha (Fire, Earth, Air And Water) and many others. This album is well written performed, recorded and produced and will be anxious to hear more from this band.  If you are a fan of Rock, Techno, Classical, New Age and other genres of music, you will love this album and buy it on Reverbnation, Itunes and Amazon.

Cosmology by Kotebel

Spanish progressive rock legends Kotebel have released their seventh studio album Cosmology to be released July 31, 2017.  Listening to this album brings me back to the days of early Yes, Emerson Lake and Palmer, Genesis and Pink Floyd.  This is their first studio album since the release of their 2013 acclaimed Concerto For Piano and Electric Ensemble.  My favorite tracks off this album are Oneness and Mishima’s Dream.  This album is well written, performed, recorded and produced.  I am looking forward to hearing their earlier releases.  This album is available for purchase at Bandcamp and http://www.kotebel.com.

Old School/New School by The WannaBeatles

Old School/New School is The WannaBeatles first record and was a half and half album; four Beatles songs and four originals (written in the style of the Fab Four).  The old school is Beatles classics such as Help, I Wanna Hold Your Hand, She Loves You and Nowhere Man.  The new school is original songs such as All About the Music, February 9, 1964 (which is about The Beatles first performance on The Ed Sullivan Show), Sweet Love and Perfect World.  I am very impressed with the vocals and harmonies as well as the instrumentation.  Listening to this album takes me back to 1964 when I first watched the Beatles play on The Ed Sullivan Show; in fact watching this band play brought me back to the 60’s and listening to the great music of The Beatles as I was growing up. You will also enjoy listening to their original songs and their great sense of humor.  If you ever get a chance, I recommend you going to one of the WannaBeatles concerts and then buying this album since this album is only sold at their shows.

 

One Fish by Rick Dion

One Fish is a 2014 release by blues/rock artist Rick Dion.  I originally listened to this album a few years ago when it first released and decided to listen to this album again.  I enjoyed listening to this album as well as I did the first time.  There are many great songs on this eight-track album such as What I Seen, Johnny Got A Problem, Ricky Joined The Army, Party’s Over and much more.  This album has great vocals and instrumentation and is well recorded, produced and performed.  I highly recommend this album to one’s music library.  Here is the link for FREE downloads from the ONE FISH album as well as others.  www.reverbnation.com/rickdion.  Not sure how long this free downloads will be available.

Not Out Of Time by Birdseed

Since I returned to the music review world after a twenty-year sabbatical, I have reviewed 460 CD’s and for the first time, I am reviewing an independent album on vinyl, which I love very much since I am old school and love listening to vinyl.  Not Out Of Time is a limited edition 10” vinyl EP by the American rock band Birdseed.  This album will be released worldwide online and in stores on August 4, 2017, on the Bird Records LLC label.  This album has such great vocals and instrumentation.  Among my favorite tracks on this album were More Than I Needed The Truth, I Want You To Know and We Can Do It.  I feel this album can do well on the rock and country music charts.  I highly recommend this album to anyone’s record library.