Recent Melodic Hard Rock releases...

So here's Frontiers' newest attempt at pushing more T&A into the MHR scene...yeesh.  

Are folks starting to get nostalgic for 80's synths, cheesy keyboards and overproduced muck now? Ick.

Wow, no wonder I abandoned this genre a long time ago. Holy crap, that does sound like something from the 80s.

C'mon admit it; even the A7X ripoff album is preferable to this dreck.

Anyone checked out the new Seventh Key album? Called, I Will Survive and of course it feature Billy Greer from Kansas and Mike Slamer.

Got the new Place Vendome. Cannot wait to spin it,

Dark Horseman wrote:

Anyone checked out the new Seventh Key album? Called, I Will Survive and of course it feature Billy Greer from Kansas and Mike Slamer.

The new Seventh Key is a strong record for sure! It's their 3rd one and, IMO, it has a LOT more Kansas influence than the first two.

I keep telling people that Greer, Slamer and John Elefante need to write a new Kansas album for the current line up (including Walsh) to record. Elefante's last 2 albums have had some HUGE Kansas influence.

I would love that line up and you're right about Elefante's albums having a Kansas influence.

Shawn Of Fire wrote:

Dark Horseman wrote:

Anyone checked out the new Seventh Key album? Called, I Will Survive and of course it feature Billy Greer from Kansas and Mike Slamer.

The new Seventh Key is a strong record for sure! It's their 3rd one and, IMO, it has a LOT more Kansas influence than the first two.

I keep telling people that Greer, Slamer and John Elefante need to write a new Kansas album for the current line up (including Walsh) to record. Elefante's last 2 albums have had some HUGE Kansas influence.

Dark Horseman wrote:

I would love that line up and you're right about Elefante's albums having a Kansas influence.

Didn't Livgren do some writing on the last Elefante/Mastedon album?

That would be nice if Kansas could put out another quality studio album like the underrated Freaks Of Nature.

chewie wrote:

Shawn Of Fire wrote:

Dark Horseman wrote:

Anyone checked out the new Seventh Key album? Called, I Will Survive and of course it feature Billy Greer from Kansas and Mike Slamer.

The new Seventh Key is a strong record for sure! It's their 3rd one and, IMO, it has a LOT more Kansas influence than the first two.

I keep telling people that Greer, Slamer and John Elefante need to write a new Kansas album for the current line up (including Walsh) to record. Elefante's last 2 albums have had some HUGE Kansas influence.

Dark Horseman wrote:

I would love that line up and you're right about Elefante's albums having a Kansas influence.

Didn't Livgren do some writing on the last Elefante/Mastedon album?

That would be nice if Kansas could put out another quality studio album like the underrated Freaks Of Nature.

I don't recall if Livgren helped write anything on Mastedon III. But he did write the entire last Kansas album 'Somewhere To Elsewhere'.

And yeah, 'Freaks...' is a strong record.

I don't see any writing cred for Kerry but he did play on the album.
Not to turn this into a Kansas thread but what do you think of In the Spirit of Things?

Dark Horseman wrote:

I don't see any writing cred for Kerry but he did play on the album.
Not to turn this into a Kansas thread but what do you think of In the Spirit of Things?

Kerry did play some guitar on the Mastedon 'III' album.

There's not a Kansas album I don't like, honestly...it's just a matter of how much. I like ITSoT, honestly. It's not their best material, but I think it's strong all the same.

Shawn Of Fire wrote:

Dark Horseman wrote:

I don't see any writing cred for Kerry but he did play on the album.
Not to turn this into a Kansas thread but what do you think of In the Spirit of Things?

Kerry did play some guitar on the Mastedon 'III' album.

There's not a Kansas album I don't like, honestly...it's just a matter of how much. I like ITSoT, honestly. It's not their best material, but I think it's strong all the same.

That's what it was! Kerry played some geetar on it.

A lot of outside writers on that album, but there are some really great songs:
Bells Of St. James
House On Fire
Ghosts
One Big Sky
The Preacher
Rainmaker
I Counted On Love

I did like the loose concept behind it as well.

I'm surprised that Mike Slamer wasn't ask to join Kansas since 80s Kansas seemed more like an extension of what Streets was doing.

chewie wrote:

I'm surprised that Mike Slamer wasn't ask to join Kansas since 80s Kansas seemed more like an extension of what Streets was doing.

I thought about that later on too...that is surprising. Speaking of Streets, I love those two albums.

Shawn Of Fire wrote:

chewie wrote:

I'm surprised that Mike Slamer wasn't ask to join Kansas since 80s Kansas seemed more like an extension of what Streets was doing.

I thought about that later on too...that is surprising. Speaking of Streets, I love those two albums.

Those are some good albums. The live one rocks!!!! They sound so much heavier.

If you haven't yet check out Steelhouse Lane which Slamer was in. Like of mix of Streets and those early Giant albums.

For my money Slamer will never top his work with City Boy.

In case "somebody" is wondering....

The precursor to 867-5309 (Jenny)

Never heard City Boy, nice stuff.

the new Vega is excellent:

Dark Horseman wrote:

Never heard  City Boy, nice stuff.

They are pretty cool! I have The Day The Earth Caught Fire and a couple of other albums by them.

chewie wrote:

Dark Horseman wrote:

Never heard  City Boy, nice stuff.

They are pretty cool! I have The Day The Earth Caught Fire and a couple of other albums by them.

You beat me to it.  I think that's their best album.  Title cut:



I always refer to City Boy as a "poor man's Queen". That's not a slam on them at all; if Freddy Mercury had fronted City Boy I bet they'd have been as big as Queen. They just seem to have tried to mine the same musical territory as Queen and to most people probably came off as second-rate. But I think their music has stood the test of time (even if the above video has not  )

I just posted the first clip that came up on Youtube.

James B. wrote:

I just posted the first clip that came up on Youtube.

"5705" was arguably the closest City Boy ever came to having a "hit".

Slamer with Brock on vocals.

This isn't a recent melodic hard rock release, but I think it'll fit in here ok. Anyone familiar with former GAP maintenance manager and Journey lead singer Steve Augeri's other band Tall Stories?





I saw the album in the used bin at FYE over the weekend and thought I'd check it out. Not really my thing, but decent enough for what it is I guess. Thought I'd show it some attention here and see if anyone else digs this. Check it out, you might like it.