Racer X

As to not distract from the black metal thread anymore, here's one for Racer X. Any fans here?

I love these guys. A buddy of mine who is a Paul Gilbert freak turned me onto these guys. They've been around since the 80's, but have been putting out new material every few years. Great 80's inspired metal. Jeff Martin, who played drums on the 1st Badlands album, on vocals, Scott Travis, when he's not drumming for Judas Priest, behind the kit, John Aldrete, right up there with Billy Sheehan, on bass and Gilbert on gee-tar. Gilbert is a shredder who ranks up there with the Vai's and Malmsteen's, but isn't as pompous or flashy and his playing doesn't overshadow the songs. The rest of the band are no slouches either. When they do let loose and jam, it's something else. I've never seen them in the flesh, but I've seen their live DVD and it's amazing to see them perform.

Check 'em out....
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O-dqCMEhgW4

continued from the Black Metal thread:

Well thank god these guys aren't who I thought they were! lol I swear they called them racer x on the alternative station I heard it on though.

Racer X isn't black metal.

spectrefate wrote:

Racer X isn't black metal.

Hardly. You have to read the "Black Metal" topic to understand what's going on here. We got sidetracked in there, so I started a new thread.

Sorry, I was being a jackass.

spectrefate wrote:

Racer X isn't black metal.

They're way more troo grimm and kult than most black metal IMHO

spectrefate wrote:

Sorry, I was being a jackass.

Understood. For your penance, go listen to Fall Out Boy and think about what you've done, young man. When you're ready to talk metal again, you may join in the conversation.

I had Second Heat on cassette. I remember liking it, but its been over 10 years since I've listened to it.

Their first album is excellent.

"Technical Difficulties" had a few good songs.

Don't enjoy the rest very much.

kethdredd wrote:

I had Second Heat on cassette. I remember liking it, but its been over 10 years since I've listened to it.

Street Lethal and Second Heat are a little more 80's-Sunset Strip-metal with somewhat cliched, cheesy lyrics and all. Not that there is anything wrong with that. Check out their '00 releases Super Heroes, Technical Difficulties and Getting Heavier. The song writing is a little more mature, but still a fun listen. Nothing depressing or whiney.

One of my favorite bands, actually.

"Street Lethal" is an awesome album.

total fuckin shred

That would have been much cooler if you put T.F.S. and made us ask what it meant.

O.F.R.

I'm a big fan. I have their first three plus Extreme Volume 2 Live.

Paul Gilbert is one of my guitar hero's btw.

I like both Street Lethal and Second Heat.I haven't heard any of their other releases.

I'm not huge on Racer X. They're not bad at all, but I'd take Gilbert's solo stuff or Mr Big over them any day.

Talented musicians but the parts are better than the result, pointless shred wank really.
Their was a great New York band also called Racer X that released one brilliant power pop album in 1984. A highly sought after underground pop classic for those inclined.

Smindas wrote:

I'm not huge on Racer X. They're not bad at all, but I'd take Gilbert's solo stuff or Mr Big over them any day.

As much as I like Racer X and Gilbert's solo work, I could never really get into Mr. Big. I had their 1st 3 albums but nothing ever clicked with me. The only one I've kept is the one with the train wreck on the cover (I can't remember the name at the moment). I liked the electric drill-playing bit and their ballad "To Be With You".

I think Mr Big had some great moments. Songs like Electrified and Addicted to that Rush are fun.

nevermore wrote:

I like both Street Lethal and Second Heat.I haven't heard any of their other releases.

same here (on cassette). I need to break 'em out and give them a listen. From what I remember they were pretty cool.

Paul Gilbert is perhaps my favorite speed-shredder of all. But what I like about Paul more than anything is his great attitude and personality. At the turn of the 90's I had one of his guitar instructional videos called "Intense Rock Sequences" (1988) and it used to flat out boggle my mind (still does). His syncronization is unbelievable! Like most instructional vids, he comes on and blows all of our minds just to let us know what he's capable of, of course. But then, rather than come off like Malmsteen, he just says, "Hi, my name is Paul..." (didn't even use his last name) and goes into some really approachable, down-to-earth talking about how he began learning to play and building up his technique. He came off like a guy that was just a regular dude that you could hang out with and talk to...not some "I'm better than everybody" attitude that so many guitar heroes seem to have.

I had "Street Lethal" on record when I was in high-school. A friend of mine met him at a club once and took a photo with him. My friend (who by the way loaned me the video) said the video was very indicative of his warm and easy-going personality. I got to see him once with MR. BIG...

RUSH/MR. BIG
Tuesday, June 5, 1990
Hampton Coliseum
Hampton, Virginia

Paul is a class act all the way around, IMO.