My All Time Fave Albums #24

Back with another classic slab of tunage.  The next album that I'd like to talk about is one I've been spinning for 30 years or so.  The band was originally a leader in the NWOBHM movement (even though they don't like to admit it), and went on to become one of the biggest selling hard rock acts ever.  The band is Def Leppard, and the album is High N' Dry.

I have very fond memories of this time of my life, and there are many albums I consider to be the soundtrack to my my life, and in particular my teenage years.   This record is one of them. I discovered this album right before Pyromania set the world on fire. High N' Dry is a steamroller of heavy riffs, a killer rhythm section, and NWOBHM 's youthful energy.  Mutt Lange came on board for this album to refine the Lep's sound, and brought out what I consider (along with the follow up Pyromania) to be the bands greatest performances.  High N' Dry contains not one bad track, and is a stormer from start to finish.  Lead off track, Let It Go starts the proceedings with an AC/DC influenced main riff, and a gritty edge that flows throughout the record.

It continues from there.  (Another) Hit and Run is my all time fave Lep track. Chunks of melodic hard rock follow in deep cuts like Lady Strange, Mirror Mirror, and the stunning instrumental, Switch 625.  A combination of timing (Metal was enjoying a resurgence in 1981), great songwriting, and top end production would culminate in Def Lep producing not only their best album, but one of the greatest Metal records of all time.  There have been many a summer night with myself and the boys blasting this in the warmth of brotherhood and cold beer.  Still in regular rotation (I'm spinning it now), High N' Dry stands as a testament to British Metal and youthful exuberance.  Although a different beast, Lep still continue on, and I'm glad to see they still throw a couple tracks from this record into their tour setlist.

Enjoy the classic vid of the title track!  RIP Steve Clark

I'll be back soon with some of my fave records from the past. Stay tuned.

NWOBHM forever.

Breezy's Top 15 of 2012!! Pt.4

So my computer at home went down, and I haven't been able to blog at all.  I figured since I finally do have a new computer, it might be time to finish out my Top 15 of 2012.  Not to mention my ipod is also down, so trying to remember a few from the list is tricky.  I'm glad I still buy CD's ,but to go through them all would be a bit of a job to remember my complete list from 2012.  This was my Top 5.

5. Viking Skull - Cursed By The Sword

Viking Skull have become a fave of mine over the past few years.  From the UK, they combine the foot stomping attitude of AC/DC, with the buzzsaw riffs and vocals of Motorhead and a touch of classic Sabbath.  Straight up, no frills, drink too much heavy rock n' roll. Cursed by the Sword is full of killer riffs ,and big fat drums. Vocalist Roddy Stone sounds like Lemmy's little brother, and guitarists Dom Wallace and Frank Reagan lay down some brilliant riffage.  Fave tracks include Five Fingers Of Steel, the moody This Is The End, and the soon-to-be-classic, My Bitch Talks Too Much.  If you're a fan of real rock n' roll, you need to get this record now.  And I know if you read my blog, you're already looking for it.  Enjoy!


4. Eclipse - Bleed & Scream

This record, along with my #3 pick, are my surprises for 2012.  Eclipse are pretty much the opposite of Viking Skull.  Way more stream lined, tons of vocals, with a nice blend of classic AOR and Hard Rock.  When I was in High School in the mid 80's, a record like this would have been at the top of the charts, a blend of say Survivor, Def Leppard and Motley Crue, all with a very modern edge.  Vocalist Erik Martensson is the star of the show here, but his bandmates prove they are no slouches either, in particular the tasty solos pulled off by guitarist Magnus Henriksson.  Every song on this record is a winner, and no song got more play from me this year than the title track.  Seriously, if you like melodic hard rock, stop what you are doing and go get this album.



3. Imperial State Electric - Pop War

After leaving The Hellacopters, Nicke Andersson formed Imperial State Electric.  This is their 2nd full length, and what a record it is.  Wearing his influences on his sleeve, the record sounds like the bastard child of 70's stalwarts The Runaways, KISS, and Cheap Trick.  Some of the best classic pop rock songwriting I have heard in a while.  If classic rock radio ever got a hold of this they could make it massive.  Straight up rock anthems like Uh Huh and Sheltered In The Sand, rub elbows with more creative numbers like Waltz For Vincent. I have gone back to check out their first album and the multitude of singles, and they all rock.  This is a band that I will be following from here on in.  Hopefully Nicke and the boys can make it to this side of the pond so I can see them live.  Great record.

2. KISS - Monster

 
I never thought that almost 40 years after becoming a KISS fan, they would still be putting out music, little lone putting out stuff that would rival their greatest albums.  After the brilliant comeback that was Sonic Boom, KISS has actually topped it.  Staying to their roots and influences, with no outside writers or producers, Monster is the record KISS should have made over 20 years ago.  Full of great riffs, and nods to the past (I hear Humble Pie, The Who, Small Faces, Stones), here is a band in the winter of their career putting out some of their best music.  If you were ever a fan of KISS, you will dig this album.  If not, you never listened in the first place.  KISS, welcome back ,The Army is proud.

 
1. Rush - Clockwork Angels

So here we are at Number 1. Like KISS, Rush has released a record this late in their career that can stand aside the classics, and is the best record they have done since 1984's Grace Under Pressure.
A concept album with a steampunk theme, Clockwork Angels rocks when it needs to and pulls back when necessary. Tunes like Caravan and Headlong Flight are some of the heaviest stuff they have ever done, and The Wreckers is one of the best Rush songs ever.  Closer, The Garden is one of the most brilliant creative songs they have ever recorded.  I have caught them once on this tour, and will seeing a 2nd show this summer.  Rush still dominates on stage and on record.  This cannot be the end.


I hope you all enjoyed my list this year!  I'll be back soon with more classic albums that rounded my musical tastes and sensibilties.  Look for posts on classic records from Def Leppard, Sweet and Sex Pistols.  As always keep the faith and MUYA!