Tag Archives: Def Leppard

It Ain’t Funky or: Rose Tattoo (Eugeology Entry 44)

10 Friday Nov 2017

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Salutations™!!

Last week, I actually dug what Eugene was throwing down. Much better than the previous week’s anyway. This week kind of reverts to the previous week. Oh, Jon, where art thou!? Let’s hit it.

RoseTattooSelf

©Repertoire

 

#44 – Rose Tattoo by Rose Tattoo.

“They” talk about Def Leppard being a cursed band. And, they very well could be. But, this band from Australia, called Rose Tattoo, may be even more so. This is almost reminiscent of the cast and crew of the film The Conqueror (1956). In that film – produced by Howard Hughes – the cast, the director and a few others, all were diagnosed and eventually died or was dying from cancer. The theory of that was that they filmed on a nuclear test site in Utah and when they moved back to California to do the set scenes, they moved some of the radioactive dirt there, too, so the sets would match. I’m not saying they did the same thing, recorded in a contamination zone, or anything. But, all but two members of the band (the singer Angry Anderson and replacement bassist (but most prominent) Gordie Leach), eventually died from cancer. Weird and scary stuff, I say.

Anywhat! The original bass player (and one of the cancer victims), Ian Rilen left after the initial recording sessions to form the legendary punk band, X. I say legendary. If I’ve heard of them and don’t listen to that style, I say it’s legendary. It’s my blog, I win. That’s why Leach came in and recorded most of the bass lines for the album.

I think I was unfair in the intro when I said this reverted back to the prior week’s sentiment, but that’s not really true. I like this better than Deep Purple. Not a whole lot, but I do. Again, I think it goes to the singer. Angry Anderson has a strong voice with a lot of range, but I just don’t like listening to him sing a few songs on the album. For the most part, though, he does a decent job. The musicianship on the album is pretty good. I don’t hear a whole lot of bass as it’s buried deep behind the rest of the mayhem going on, but I’m sure I’d miss it if it weren’t there.

I think what bothers me the most is that it is a bit noisy and punkish. Just a bunch of hurried nonsense at times. It doesn’t sound bad, it just isn’t “me.” That being said, there are times when I do enjoy it. For example, I do like “Butcher and Fast Eddy” and “Stuck on You,” especially. It could be that they’re not trying to slap me in the face but have some song design. And, they mention the band and album title in the latter.

Another reason for my apprehension could be my disdain for slide “blues” guitar and Peter Wells plays that (it’s his official designation) throughout the album. Mick Cocks is credited as both lead and rhythm guitarist for this album. Dallas “Digger” Royall is a solid drummer but there’s nothing too flashy about him. That is probably a good thing. He’s straight-forward and on it.

So, I guess what I’m saying is that I didn’t mind it. I liked it better than Deep Purple. Perhaps what I’m questioning is why it’s on this list. That was something that I asked regularly on the Rolling Stone Top 500 Albums of All Time list. Why? It’s definitely not as good as most of the previous albums and while I liked it I’m thinking it’s not even as good as some of the ones that I didn’t like. I am going to assume that it’s here as a “possible gem.” If you remember the list is called Eugeology: Eugene’s List of Hard Rock Albums and Possible Gems. Bottom line, I don’t really care for it but I see its merit as a good album for those into that. I’m not. It did have some good moments for me but overall, I’m not a fan. Thanks, though, Eug, for introducing me. Jon. Well, Jon.

Until tomorrow, same blog channel…
Scorp out!

—
“Got tattooed arms and rings in my ears. Never gonna suffer a straight man’s fears. Better have a drink, crankin’ with the mates. Movin’ fast I’m gonna make the grade. That’s why they call me one of the boys.” – “One of the Boys” (Leach, Anderson, Royall, Wells, Cocks)

Behind the Times or: Missed It By ‘That’ Much

07 Monday Aug 2017

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Salutations™!!

This is one of those “to make you feel old posts.” This past Thursday, when I was posting the review of the latest Eugeology entry, I totally forgot the mention that it was the 30th anniversary of Def Leppard’s Hysteria album. Yeah, take that in, again… 30 years.

hysteria

©Mercury Records/UMe

 

The album was #464 on the Rolling Stone Top 500 Albums of All Time. Here’s what I wrote when I reviewed it:

I was 17 going on 18 when this album came out.  My high school years were summed up around that time.  The entire first side (thinking of the cassette copy I wore out) was awesome with the screaming guitar of “Women” to the processed drums of “Rocket” to the bright sounds of “Animal” and the dark torture of “Love Bites” and the saccharine-flavor of “Pour Some Sugar On Me” to the clever play on words of “Armageddon It.”  Side one of this album by the “World’s Most Cursed Band” really did rock my 17-year old behind! “Gods of War” had one of the coolest, yet simplest basslines of my youth.  The title track was the best thing on Side Two for me.  Side One plus two songs on Side Two makes a damn fine album.  The rest of the songs are ok, but nothing that knocks me over. DUG IT!

It was a great time in my life. Innocent. I loved the album, at least side one. I wore that out. I also wore out the CD. Now, I own it on vinyl as well. This was Def Leppard for me. Yeah, I get Pyromania and all that, but it doesn’t move me like this one did. High and Dry was okay, but it was a little rough for me. I have never made any bones about my favor of slick production over raw and rough production. Robert “Mutt” Lange slicked this up like nobody’s business. And, remember, Rick Allen had already lost his arm and yet he pulled this performance off with flying colors. Yes, the drums are processed and they’re electronic but at that time, it was all they could really do. Yes, it was

Yes, the drums are processed and they’re electronic but at that time, it was all they could really do. Yes, it was heavy on the synths and keyboards, but I love that stuff, too. Seven singles from the album were released. “Women” was the first for the US. It only made it to #80 on the Billboard Hot 100. Then, “Animal” which made it to #19 on that chart. The title track was up next and made it to #10. The album’s (and the band’s) biggest hit ever came next: “Pour Some Sugar on Me.” Oddly enough, even though “Sugar” has the distinction of being the band’s biggest name song, it only made it to #2. The sad anti-ballad “Love Bites” was next and that rode the “sugar wave” all the way to #1; the band’s only #1 in their career, thus far.  Still riding the high, “Armageddon It” made it to #3 and then “Rocket” to #12.

It has sold over 25 million copies and is certified 12x Platinum (diamond level), according to the RIAA. It is about #23 on the all-time album sales in the USA. It lasted a long time on the charts as a whole and it seemed it wasn’t going away. It wasn’t, I suppose. I was quite okay with that.

I’d never say it was a favorite of mine, overall, but I will say it’s my favorite Def Leppard album. Happy 30th to you, my high school friend. See you in another 30 (and before).

Until tomorrow, same blog channel…
Scorp out!

—
“In the beginning, God made the land. Then He made the water and creatures, then He made Man. He was born with a passion, love and hate. A restless spirit with a need for a mate. But there was something that was missing, something lost. So he came with the answer, here’s what it cost: One part love, one part wild, one part lady, one part child. I give you: Women.” – “Women” (Elliott, Savage, Collen, Clark, Lange)

Silent Sunday or: The Haul 5/27/17

28 Sunday May 2017

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Salutations™!!

Underdog Records closed on Saturday (through this Tuesday) for a bit of “respite.” Never fear though, I still went there Friday (twice) and got a nice haul for the weekend. This is what it looked like:Sgt._Pepper's_Lonely_Hearts_Club_Band

Man… we are certainly gonna need a new cabinet soon. We’ve started on the last cube of the 8 cube cab. It’s coming. Underdog will be open again on Wednesday. You can find them at 825 Burke Street in WSNC. Listen to The Less Desirables to hear what the weekly Underdog/TLD special is. And, use Discogs for your cataloging of LPs and CDs and hit me up, we can share collections.

Until tomorrow, same blog channel…
Scorp out!

—
“It’s all the same, only the names will change. Everyday, it seems we’re wastin’ away. Another place where the faces are so cold. I drive all night just to get back home. I’m a cowboy, on a steel horse I ride. I’m wanted dead or alive. Wanted dead or alive.” – “Wanted Dead or Alive” (Sambora/Bon Jovi)

Going Back to Belfast or: All Hell Breaks Loose(Eugeology Entry 6)

16 Thursday Feb 2017

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Salutations™!!

The last album in the Eugeology series was so neutral to me it was Switzerland. Jon dug it and, of course, so did Eug since it’s his list. We get back to being able to pick a side this week. So, let’s do it!

#6 – All Hell Breaks Loose by Black Star Riders.

bsrallhellbreaksloose

©Nuclear Blast

Admittedly, I was never big into Thin Lizzy. This was much to Eugene’s chagrin. I know he wanted to slap me on numerous occasions and several times for this fact, alone. I’m not saying I didn’t like them, I just didn’t get into them. There was nothing wrong with them, just not something I got into.

Thin Lizzy certainly had their own sound and style for sure. Phil Lynott had a voice that stood out and you never wondered if it was him or not. Phil, sadly, passed away in 1986 after battling drug and alcohol dependency. The band officially broke up a few years prior, in 1984. Without Phil they couldn’t carry on, right? Well, long-time Thin Lizzy guitarist Scott Gorman reincarnated the band using the likes of John Sykes and several other contributors. In fact, the band still tours as Thin Lizzy sometimes. However, the band thought it was time to record a new album and tour with that, but something just wasn’t right for Thin Lizzy to do so without Phil. So, Gorman announced that the new album was going to be released under a new name and was going to be called Black Star Riders.

So, new material was released and this, All Hell Breaks Loose, is the debut album for that incarnation of the band. While the name is new and the songs are new, there’s no mistaking who these fine musicians are writing for and who they’re channeling in their writing: Thin Lizzy’s fans and Phil Lynott. It is so modern Thin Lizzy. And for that, I commend them. They did right by changing the name and I think they definitely did right by not changing what buttered their bread. Ricky Warwick, also an Irishman, just like Lynott, sounds remarkably like the original voice of the band.

Not every song sounds like Lizzy, though. The title (and opening track) song, to me, is a bit more modern and rocking. The same for “Valley of the Stones.” Great riffs throughout the album. The harmonies are impeccable and are slightly left of center when it comes to the interval. It’s not always the same harmonious recipe, they switch it up, but again, just like Lizzy. Now, don’t get me wrong, even the songs that I don’t get a full dose of Lizzy, I get sprinkles here and there. I’m not harping on that and I apologize if I am repetitive, but I find it quite enjoyable, regardless.

The phrasings of the vocals, the timbre, the melody lines, it’s familiar yet fresh. You suspect you’ve heard this style before and if you’re heard this album, of course you have heard that style. But, it will bring their roots through. The lyrics of the songs are bright and hopeful, yet still quite rock and roll. There’s hints of other genres, too, though. I thought “Before the War” was The Clash when I first heard it. Of course that didn’t last long. It got rocked up. I can’t really pick a favorite song on this, I think they’re all fantastic, and for different reasons. There’s a lot of hair-bandish riffs and solos, which are always okay with me. They’re tasteful and that’s what matters.

The band (on this album), really, is a supergroup. Each member has experience with other big names. Scott Gorham, of course, is the backbone being he has been with Lizzy from very early on. Ricky Warwick sang for The Almighty for a while and has done backing vocals with Def Leppard because he and Lep’s frontman, Joe Elliott, are chums. Guitarist Damon Johnson was co-founder of the 90s hard rock band, Brother Cane and later played with Alice Cooper. Drummer Jimmy DeGrasso has played with David Lee Roth, Ozzy, White Lion, Suicidal Tendencies and Megadeth. Bass player Marco Mendoza has played with Whitesnake and I saw him live when he was playing with Ted Nugent (yeah, I can’t stand the Nug, but Marco was great) when he opened for KISS. Their performances on this album was raw, yet near-flawless.

I recommend you pick this up, stream it, download it, purchase it, everything shy of stealing it, as it’s a fantastic rock record and it’s a very fitting tribute to Phil Lynott and the legacy of Thin Lizzy. I really want to read Eug’s assessment and Jon’s will be interesting, as well. He’s always the wild card; just the way it should be.What about you, Dear Reader, are you familiar with this? Once you hear it, I’d like to hear/read your thoughts on it.

Thank you Eugene for introducing it to us.

Until tomorrow, same blog channel…
Scorp out!

—
“Mine eyes have seen the glory of the coming of the fools. When all hell breaks loose.  All hell breaks loose. I walk a murder mile wearing deadman’s shoes. When all hells breaks loose. All hell breaks loose.” – “All Hell Breaks Loose” (Warwick, Johnson, Gorham, Mendoza, Wharton)