NLTM August '11 Update

chewie wrote:

ultmetal wrote:

TheGreatDuck wrote:

Also, will you get any Toto in the future? I'd recommend Hydra, pretty good proggy melodic hard rock...

I now have "Toto" and "The Seventh One" on CD. I'll probably start by reviewing the self-titled.

Though the Seventh One is very slick.

You weren't kidding. VERY SLICK! I'd describe it as 80's pop or soft rock. No track really ventures into hard rock territory. One track (You Got Me) even reminded me of Micheal Jackson. Lots of ballads, which isn't surprising in 1988.

What Bon Jovi CDs have you got, btw? Because their recent stuff was pretty bad IMHO...Still, I'm kinda surprised you seem to hate the old stuff as well, seeing you do like (or at least don't mind) bands like Danger Danger, Autograph, Giant, House Of Lords, Giuffria, Bad English, Damn Yankees etc. Their early stuff is decent AOR/glam IMHO, although they are really overplayed compared to those other bands, so that could be the reason why...

TheGreatDuck wrote:

What Bon Jovi CDs have you got, btw? Because their recent stuff was pretty bad IMHO...Still, I'm kinda surprised you seem to hate the old stuff as well, seeing you do like (or at least don't mind) bands like Danger Danger, Autograph, Giant, House Of Lords, Giuffria, Bad English, Damn Yankees etc. Their early stuff is decent AOR/glam IMHO, although they are really overplayed compared to those other bands, so that could be the reason why...

I grew up a heavy metal fan in New Jersey in the 80's. Bon Jovi was everywhere. He was the epitome of poser to us. So, I just have that dislike from the get-go with Bon Jovi. I know it's a ridiculous bias.

ultmetal wrote:

chewie wrote:

ultmetal wrote:

TheGreatDuck wrote:

Also, will you get any Toto in the future? I'd recommend Hydra, pretty good proggy melodic hard rock...

I now have "Toto" and "The Seventh One" on CD. I'll probably start by reviewing the self-titled.

Though the Seventh One is very slick.

You weren't kidding. VERY SLICK! I'd describe it as 80's pop or soft rock. No track really ventures into hard rock territory. One track (You Got Me) even reminded me of Micheal Jackson. Lots of ballads, which isn't surprising in 1988.

You should really check out Turn Back, It has a different sound than all the rest of the Toto albums. It was produced by Geoff Workmann who worked with Queen(Jazz), Journey(Infinity, Evolution & Departure), Foreigner(Head Games), Mötley Crüe(Shout At The Devil), The Cars(Candy-O), Twisted Sister(Stay Hungry) and he was usually the engineer for Roy Thomas Baker. It's their most guitar driven 80s album.

Isolation is a good one too, especially if you take out the songs How Does It Feel and Holyanna.

Brought in Isolation today. TERRIBLE cover art.

Are you ever going to get in anything by the Cult? You may want to start with Electric (the early stuff is pretty much gothic new wave, but this album is straight up ac/dc-style hard rock).

Hadley wrote:

Are you ever going to get in anything by the Cult? You may want to start with Electric (the early stuff is pretty much gothic new wave, but this album is straight up ac/dc-style hard rock).

Yup, I've heard Electric. Had it on vinyl back in the day. Pure AC/DC worship. I liked it but I don't have it on CD as of now.

ultmetal wrote:

Brought in Isolation today. TERRIBLE cover art.

Indeed.They had a lot of awful covers in the '80s and early '90s. Oh, and don't expect hard rock from their '80s albums, they're good pop-rock/AOR, but I think you'll be disappointed by them. As I said, get Hydra,it's proggy and guitar-driven, something you'd probably like.

TheGreatDuck wrote:

ultmetal wrote:

Brought in Isolation today. TERRIBLE cover art.

Indeed.They had a lot of awful covers in the '80s and early '90s. Oh, and don't expect hard rock from their '80s albums, they're good pop-rock/AOR, but I think you'll be disappointed by them. As I said, get Hydra,it's proggy and guitar-driven, something you'd probably like.

I'm not totally turned off by 80's pop. I grew up all around it. I like stuff from Phil Collins, Peter Gabriel, etc. I checked out three different Toto albums. I'd be hard pressed to call anything I've heard from their 80's catalog AOR or hard rock. Mostly they are pop, sometimes soft rock.

If you're ever in the mood for some blues-rock, these guys are cool

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eoUDjFMgUKM

ultmetal wrote:

TheGreatDuck wrote:

ultmetal wrote:

Brought in Isolation today. TERRIBLE cover art.

Indeed.They had a lot of awful covers in the '80s and early '90s. Oh, and don't expect hard rock from their '80s albums, they're good pop-rock/AOR, but I think you'll be disappointed by them. As I said, get Hydra,it's proggy and guitar-driven, something you'd probably like.

I'm not totally turned off by 80's pop. I grew up all around it. I like stuff from Phil Collins, Peter Gabriel, etc. I checked out three different Toto albums. I'd be hard pressed to call anything I've heard from their 80's catalog AOR or hard rock. Mostly they are pop, sometimes soft rock.

Well, there are various subgenres of AOR, and Toto's '80s albums fall into lighter AOR.
Speaking of AOR, have you ever been to this site?
http://www.aor-fm.com/index.aspx

Another good resource like Sleaze Roxx and Heavy Harmonies.

Have you head any Survivor past the Rocky songs btw? They're not the heaviest band around, but they do have some good riffs and solos and are definitely heavier than '80s Toto.




I'd also recommend Coney Hatch, a Canadian AOR band, kinda similar to Night Ranger:



Strangeways are also good, their singer Terry Brock later joined Giant.

ultmetal wrote:

Brought in Isolation today. TERRIBLE cover art.

Excellent album though! My favorite Toto release.

ultmetal wrote:

I'd be hard pressed to call anything I've heard from their 80's catalog AOR or hard rock. Mostly they are pop, sometimes soft rock.

Again, check out the 90s and 00s albums. If you'd like I could make couple of comps for you, wouldn't cost me much to mail them.

Thanks. It's cool. I'll get them eventually.

DallasBlack wrote:

ultmetal wrote:

I'd be hard pressed to call anything I've heard from their 80's catalog AOR or hard rock. Mostly they are pop, sometimes soft rock.

Again, check out the 90s and 00s albums. If you'd like I could make couple of comps for you, wouldn't cost me much to mail them.

Couldn't you just give him a list of songs to look up on Youtube/download?

TheGreatDuck wrote:

DallasBlack wrote:

ultmetal wrote:

I'd be hard pressed to call anything I've heard from their 80's catalog AOR or hard rock. Mostly they are pop, sometimes soft rock.

Again, check out the 90s and 00s albums. If you'd like I could make couple of comps for you, wouldn't cost me much to mail them.

Couldn't you just give him a list of songs to look up on Youtube/download?

I like making comps for people, it's a hobby.

Those 80's Toto albums aren't bad. It's definitely more pop oriented than rock oriented, but that doesn't mean that it's bad. It's just a matter of taste. I like some 80's pop, since that's the era I grew up in. So far, however, I like the debut the best of the three albums I have.

Since I'm listening to this today, I have a recommendation...

Ult, have you ever checked out Bar 7's The World is a Freak? It's Jeff Keith and Tommy Skeoch from Tesla along with 2 other dudes. It came out after Tesla broke up for a brief time in the late 90's. Musically, it's the most Tesla-like album out of all the side-projects and whatnot of all the members.

It's a little pricey on Amazon, but if you can find a copy, I'd highly recommend it to any Tesla fans.

http://www.amazon.com/World-Freak-Bar-7/dp/B00004TKP5

I think I saw Bar 7. I can't remember who they were opening for, but it might have been Dio.

I went through your Viking page today, and must inform you to take a look at the names of the band mebers all over the page. Ron Daniel became Ron Eriksen. Brett Eriksen joined Dark Angel (not Ron). Matt Eriksen does not exist (Matt Jordan does).

thanks.

Speaking of AOR, have you ever considered .38 special? Granted, they only became full fledged AOR with Tour De Force, but even their early albums have some AOR elements mixed in with some killer southern rock.

Ult once said when hears a .38 Special song on the radio he doesn't shut it off, but he never had interest in any albums. However, I think he'd really like the last two albums (Resolution and Drivetrain-both part of my CD sale *hint* *hint*) which are very much southern rock and not AOR.

@Ultmetal

I was wondering if you are going to post a review of Legend/Legend Seven? They are great early 90's hard rock before the style that cannot be named took over. However... Not to be confused with the NWOBHM band Legend from the Jersey Islands in England (Fantastic). Also on the NWOBHM topic, any Jaguar?

Bullet is also a band that should be on your review list.

Very Udo-ish sound