Tag Archives: Queensrÿche

Spinning Sunday or: The Haul 12/13/19

15 Sunday Dec 2019

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Salutations™!!

Like the last few weeks, The BCPF had the day off on Friday and we went to Underdog Records a day early. We got some good stuff and I’m going to share that with you, now!

Queensryche_-_Promised_Land_cover

©EMI

  • Michael Kiwanuka – Kiwanuka — I first heard pieces of this album when I was making the commercial for Underdog Records on The Less Desirables. I thought it was great. Jonathan kept getting copies and selling out before I could get there to get one. So, I had him order one for me specifically. Here it was, finally. And it was well worth the wait. Lots of good ambient blues, R&B, rock, all that in one. A great album that even The BCPF loved and was disappointed there wasn’t a download code in the sleeve. New.
  • The Smiths – Strangeways, Here We Come — Gotta love some miserable Brits, eh? “I Started Something I Couldn’t Finish,” “Stop Me If You Think You’ve Heard This One Before,” “Last Night I Dreamt That Somebody Loved Me” and one of my favorite Smiths tunes, “Girlfriend in a Coma” is on this album. VG++.
  • Elvis Costello & The Imposters – Look Now — A 2018 release from EC, it sounds like old EC and that is a good thing. He wrote most of the stuff himself but there were three songs co-written by Burt Bacharach and one co-written by Carole King. A really good listen. VG++.
  • Pink Floyd – Atom Heart Mother — Released a month and a half before I was (born), this is Pink Floyd’s fifth studio album and consists of mostly instrumentals (36:44 of the 52:06 total running time). I didn’t think I’d care for it as sometimes Floyd’s instrumental stuff idles on, but I did enjoy it. It is a good and relaxing atmospheric listen. VG+.
  • Faces – Ooh La La — This is the fourth and final studio album by Faces. By this time, Rod Stewart had already had a hit with “Maggie May” and his first few solo albums, and the singer had become increasingly distanced from some of his Faces bandmates, who were frustrated by the fact that by this point they had come to be perceived by the public (and even by some concert promoters) as little more than Stewart’s backing band for live work (according to Wikipedia). I had never heard the title track until the Amazon Echo commercials and when I found out who it was, I was like, yeah, that sounds like Rod Stewart. Turns out it was Ronnie Wood who sang it, co-writing it with Ronnie Lane, the bassist. The cover is cool, you can “squeeze” the top of the sleeve and the mouth and eyes move. VG+.
  • The Who – Magic Bus — Oh we crazy Americans in the 60s and 70s. This is a compilation album of previously released material and was not issued in the UK. They were capitalizing on the success of the song by the same name. The BCPF picked it up! VG+.
  • Ringo Starr – Beaucoups Of Blues — A most peculiar album, indeed. It’s not really that peculiar, but it’s certainly Ringo’s take on American country and western. It’s pure “tears in my beer.” Not bad for what it was, but… VG+.
  • Angel City – Face To Face — I had never heard of Angel City until Eugene had me review Two Minute Warning on his hard rock list. You can read my review here. In Australia, they were known as The Angels, but so they wouldn’t be confused with the band Angel (KISS’ rostermates on Casablanca Records), they changed to Angel City. This was their second overall release and the first for the US. It’s a decent listen, as we did so whilst cleaning/straightening our downstairs. Rock, punk, even metal at some points. VG+.
  • Queensrÿche – Promised Land — This wasn’t purchased at Underdog Records. I believe this came from Bobby the Drummer (from Heavens Sake) when he worked at CEMA (EMI) when we first met. He knew I was a Queensryche fan and gave it to me. I had either forgotten that I had it or where it was (or a combo of the two) and I found it located behind a filing cabinet that I have in my living room. You’d have to see it… but it was still sealed. So, I promptly opened it up and gave it a spin. Operation: Mindcrime will always be my favorite Queensryche album (second favorite overall of all time) and Empire will always be my second favorite ‘Ryche album. But, to me, this is their most underrated. It is just what I wanted to do musically at that time and I still love it. It’s still hard rock but has a more modern edge to it (at least in the mid=90s) and Geoff Tate was still singing and not talk-singing through songs. He hadn’t quite blown himself out at this point. The songs are well-written, still tell stories and still sounds like Queensryche. I love this album and will listen to it again, really soon. Have I mentioned that I love this album?

It’s Christmas time and that means gift certificates and Underdog Records has plenty of them, in any denomination you want. The cool thing is these come on old 45s/singles/7″ whatever you call them. And, Jonathan can still special order anything on vinyl that you need in time for your special vinyl lover (I can give you a list if you’re interested *wink*). Also, Underdog Records will be putting out freshly acquired used vinyl every single business day until Christmas. Also, also, there are plenty of used receivers, turntables, speakers and more in the store if you know someone who has said they’d love to start listening to records (perhaps again) but don’t know where to start. Jonathan can help you out. Listen to each new episode of The Less Desirables to hear the TLD/UR special of the week. I use Discogs to track my awesome record collection and to make sure I don’t double dip something I already have. The BCPF used it to “random grab” a record during our cleaning time yesterday. Much fun, indeed!

Until tomorrow, keep spinning!
Scorp out!

—
“Let me whisper my last goodbyes, I know – it’s serious.” – “Girlfriend in a Coma” (Morrissey/Marr)

29, Really? or: Jet City

20 Tuesday Aug 2019

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Salutations™!!

Today is the 29th anniversary of one of my favorite albums of the nineties and one of my favorites ever, Empire from Queensryche. This was long before they completely derailed (not in talent but in humanity) and before Chris DeGarmo left. A lot of great songs came from this album and this is one of them. I picked this cover because it looked like a lot of Matt Pinfields in a band together. Enjoy!

Until tomorrow, same blog channel…
Scorp out!

“Whenever I’m alone I’m thinking there’s a part missing from my life; wonder where I’d be without your love holding me together, now. I’m watching the time tick, tick away. Face grows longer every day. Fortunes are lost on the women I’ve seen but without you. I can’t breathe, you’re the air to me! Waited so long I can’t wait another day without you?” – “Jet City Woman” (DeGarmo/Tate)

Sounds Like Saturday or: Mindcrime!

04 Saturday May 2019

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Salutations™!!

Yesterday was the 31st anniversary of my former #1 album and current #2 album of all time. But, it remains really close to that #1 spot. Operation:Mindcrime is a masterpiece and showcases the genius that was Queensryche. Yeah, I said was. I love Todd LaTorre as their new singer, but something about this lineup, with Tate and DeGarmo, was magic. I’m still a fan of the band with LaTorre, I want that clear. I couldn’t find a quality cover so you get the real thing here.

Until tomorrow, same blog channel…
Scorp out!

—
“Ten P.M., I feel the rain coming down. My face feels the wet, my mind the storm. Flashing lights as people race to find shelter from the pour. Moving silent, through the streets, they’re mine, they’re mine.” – “Suite Sister Mary” (DeGarmo)

They’re Building Empires or: 28

21 Tuesday Aug 2018

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Salutations™!!

Yesterday was the 28th anniversary of a very influential album for me. 28 Years ago yesterday, Empire was released by Queensryche.

Queensryche_-_Empire_cover

©EMI America

It was the follow up to my #2 album of all time, Operation: Mindcrime and really was the first time I really got to hear what this band could do. I was big into “mind metal” at the time and this was a good break from the thrash stuff I had to listen to in order to get that. Empire was a completely different path for the band, especially given its direct predecessor and the previous few. It was definitely more commercial.

This was probably due to the fact that Mindcrime was such a hit. It gave them a boost that let them experiment and evolve their sound and focus. While still somewhat present, gone was the focus on political statements and social issues and more on life and dreams. Sure, “Best I Can,” “Resistance,” “Empire,” “Della Brown” were all social statements, but songs like “The Thin Line,” “Another Rainy Night (Without You),” “Anybody Listening?” “Jet City Woman,” and “Hand on Heart” are more romantic or loss thereof.

The album’s signature song (and probably the best known among non-Queensryche fans) is “Silent Lucidity.” It’s not my favorite on the album, by any means, but it certainly isn’t the least. I think it is still a fantastic song that still holds up. It is well-written and well-versed in the whole “lucid dreaming” phenomenon. Lucid dreaming is where the dreamer is aware that they’re dreaming. I still shudder when I hear the woman’s voice say, “Help me.” Did you know that was sampled from Hellraiser II? It was. And, Michael Kamen’s orchestration adds a lot of depth to the entire song, but especially the end which is from Johannes Brahms’ “Lullaby” which you’d certainly know as soon as you heard it. There’s just a lot of cool things about the song. It reminds me of having my Sony Discman® in freshman Algebra I in college, listening to it while the professor went on about a bunch of numbers and letters in which I had no clue what she was talking about, before or after listening to the CD.

My faves on this album are “The Thin Line,” “Jet City Woman” (I am a bass player, ya know?), “Empire,” “Anybody Listening?” and “Silent Lucidity.” The production on this album is amazing and Peter Collins, who also produced Mindcrime is a great producer.

The tour for this, “The Building Empires Tour,” was the first time I had seen them live and it was the first time that they had performed Mindcrime in its entirety. We were front row on the second level right over the stage and it was so much fun watching them. For a “mind metal” band, they put on a great, and at times theatrical, show. Suicidal Tendencies opened for them.

The dual guitar force of Michael Wilton and Chris DeGarmo (who was the main music-writer of this album and most of Queensryche’s earlier stuff) was unmatched at the time. Sure there were metal bands that did the same thing, but to me, there was no matching the smooth velvet leads of DeGarmo with Wilton’s blazing riffs. It was like adding spicy Ro-Tel to Velveeta only better (and better for you).

Scott Rockenfield is still one of my all-time favorite drummers. What he does with a set both large (then) and small (now) is just fun to watch. He’s technical but with feeling and he bashes the crap out of those skins. I’m always amazed by his hi-hat work, too, which is one of my favorite things from drummers who know what they’re doing.

Eddie Jackson is one of the steadiest, most solid and in-pocket bass players around. He now handles most of the backup vocals since DeGarmo left the band and even though I’m not a big fan of bass players who play with their fingers as opposed to a pick, generally, he does both very, very well. Plus, he’s got some seriously awesome hair.

Then, there’s Geoff Tate. I think this album was the start of a transition for him. Yes, he’s demonstrating his multi-octave virtuosity but he also started to go low a little bit. Not as much as he did on the next album, Promised Land and especially Now in the Hear Frontier on, but some. He’s still my favorite lead vocalist in rock. I should clarify that he’s my favorite lead vocalist in rock from this era of the band and before. After Promised Land, he started losing me, at least from the newer songs. He was still hitting the good notes live; mostly.

Some say this was the band’s last great album. Again, I go with Promised Land on that, but even PL isn’t this and neither are Mindcrime. And, I must say if you’ve not heard the last two Queensryche albums with Todd La Torre, you’re missing out. La Torre sounds like younger Tate but he also brings his own personality to the songs. His versions of the older ‘Ryche stuff is really good, too.

So, happy anniversary Empire. You mean a lot to me and darn it! I hope to have you on vinyl, soon. There’s so much awesomeness on this album. I think I’m going to go give it a spin, now (or stream it, as the case probably is).

Until tomorrow, same blog channel…
Scorp out!

—
“In the fiscal year 1986 to ’87, local, state and federal governments spent a combined total of $60.6M on law enforcement. Federal law enforcement expenditures ranked last in absolute dollars and accounted for only 6% of all federal spending. By way of comparison, the federal government spent $24M more on space exploration and 43 times more on national defense and international relations than the law enforcement.” – “Empire” (Tate/Wilton)

Spinning Sunday or: The Haul 8/11/18

12 Sunday Aug 2018

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Salutations™!!

Queensryche_-_Operation_Mindcrime_cover

©EMI

It was a great average Saturday for The BCPF and me. Sun was out mostly in the morning/early afternoon. We got home from Underdog Records and the bottom fell out. It was done before we went to Willows and stayed nice the rest of the evening. Here’s what happened at Underdog:

  • Queensrÿche – Operation: Mindcrime — I didn’t buy this from Underdog but I did get it from there. After looking for this album for a long while and through some negotiation, I finally was able to convince my friend Bill B-A to part with his copy. It sounds fantastic on vinyl and I actually heard things I hadn’t ever noticed. That happens with vinyl I have noticed. Once my favorite album of all-time, it moved down one notch when I realized the love I had for So by Peter Gabriel. Listening to this again, it can still be a contender. VG+ from Bill.
  • U2 – Achtung Baby — #63 on the RS list which brings me to 200 from that list. The search continues. One of my favorite U2 albums and the last before they went into “temporary insanity” state. “Mysterious Ways” and “One” are probably my two faves on this album, while “Who’s Gonna Ride Your Wild Horses” and “Even Better Than the Real Thing” are awesome, too. 2xLP New.
  • The Sisters Of Mercy – Floodland — This is solely a The BCPF thing. She went through (and still lives through some memories of) a goth stage when she was a bit younger. This is definitely “Dark Wave” material and I can see why she likes it. She is especially fond of “This Corrosion.” New.
  • Dio – The Last In Line — I couldn’t pass it up. VG.
  • Whitesnake – Whitesnake — One of my favorite hard rock albums of all time. There are no real clunkers on this album and I had hoped to get it on Record Store Day but while Jonathan ordered several copies, he only got two. Even being fourth in line didn’t get me that album. He had it this time. It was a label promo but that’s okay. It’s the full album. VG+.
  • Golden Earring – Moontan — Although there are only five songs on the album, it isn’t an EP because it still comes in at about 40 minutes. This is the “Radar Love” album. I didn’t know that Golden Earring were Dutch. VG.
  • George Harrison – George Harrison — A good album with some great tunes. It’s no All Things Must Pass, to be sure, but it is good nonetheless. “Blown Away,” “Faster,” and “Love Comes to Everyone” are on this album. VG+.
  • Nick Lowe – Labour Of Lust — Yes, I got this for “Cruel to be Kind.” No, the rest of the album isn’t as good as that tune. But, there are some good pop-music things going on in this album. It’s decent. VG+.
  • Journey – Look Into The Future — Journey’s second album and the penultimate to feature Gregg Rolie on vocals exclusively (which I think is a good thing, I’ve never really been a big fan of his). VG.
  • Various – The Story Of Great Music: Prelude To Modern Music and Various – The Story Of Great Music: The Romantic Era — Each from 1966 and are TimeLife collections, 4xLP each and the “Modern Music” one is VG++ in mono and the “Romantic Era” is NM in mono. I’m actually listening to the first one as I write this.
  • Traffic – The Low Spark Of High Heeled Boys — Notable for its really strange die-cut cover, this is a really good album from Traffic. The title song is a great listen as well as the whole album, really. Better than I initially gave it credit for. VG+.
  • The Alan Parsons Project – The Turn Of A Friendly Card — Man, I really dig me some APP. Who’d-a-thunk when I was a young lad listening to music and only knowing “Eye in the Sky” that I would grow up to become such a fan of the other (and in many ways better) APP albums? “Games People Play” and “Time” are the two best tunes on here, in my opinion. VG.
  • Robert Palmer – Heavy Nova — $1 bin find. It has “Simply Irresistible” and I know not much more than that. I think I got it from Columbia House on cassette when it came out because I forgot to send in my card. I may have sent it back or considered sending it back. I think I kept it, though. Oh well, it was $1. VG.
  • The Voices Of Walter Schumann – Songs Of The Ivy League — I have no idea what this is other than college songs. School songs and such. So it will be interesting. The BCPF wanted it for some song that was on The Gilmore Girls and it was $1. 10″ and in VG.

It’s always fun just going into Underdog Records and hearing people say they were playing “Beat the Beemans.” Yeah, we get there and start grabbing stuff as this list shows but there is a method to the madness, but we shan’t divulge the method. Check out The Less Desirables for the weekly TLD/UDR special that runs.

Discogs is where I catalog my entire collection. It (usually) keeps me from getting duplicates and helps me figure what’s left to get for my collection. I recommend using them.

Until tomorrow, keep spinning…
Scorp out!

—
“Did I disappoint you? Or leave a bad taste in your mouth? You act like you never had love and you want me to go without. Well, it’s too late, tonight, to drag the past out into the light. We’re one, but we’re not the same. We get to carry each other. Carry each other. One.” – “One” (Evans/Hewson/Mullen/Clayton)

Spinning Sunday or: The Haul 6/9/18

10 Sunday Jun 2018

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Salutations™!!

So, we rushed to do our Saturday Thang (minus Willows Bistro, which we did the night before) because I was opening for King’s X. But, we made it to Mary’s Gourmet Diner and Underdog Records and even got a few listened to before we had to be at The Ramkat. Here’s what we got:

Queensryche_-_Queensryche_EP_cover

©EMI America

  • Queensrÿche – Queensrÿche – Historically one of my top 5 bands of all time. However, their later stuff with Geoff Tate wasn’t up there. Conversely, this wasn’t really my wheelhouse with them, either, but there are some great concert staples on here. It was their debut EP that was put out independently at first but then reissued under the EMI America label and is officially part of the QR canon. It’s great stuff and it was VG++.
  • Queensrÿche – The Warning – The follow-up to the debut EP, this too isn’t one of my faves by them but I love having anything I can of theirs. I don’t dislike it and will listen to it often. My time with them started at the next album in their discography, Rage for Order, but I don’t have it yet. I didn’t know about them until right as Empire came out. But, this too has some concert staples and is a great listen. VG++.
  • Tesla – Mechanical Resonance – The debut album by Tesla and it contains one of my favorite hard rock songs ever, “Modern Day Cowboy,” which I think has one of the greatest opening guitar runs ever. A few other hits on this album, as well. “Little Suzi,” “Cumin’ Atcha Live” (which I did in a former band), “Changes,” “Gettin’ Better” (which I did in a different band), and  “EZ Come EZ Go.” VG (but that’s a conservative rating because of a little noise at the beginning).
  • Wall Of Voodoo – Call Of The West – Yes, the album with “Mexican Radio” on it. The whole album was really good. I didn’t know that WOV was so much of a synth band. I knew they were New Wave, Dark Wave and Post Punk but I was pleasantly surprised with the synth part. Great listen. VG++.
  • Marlene Dietrich – Songs In German By The Inimitable Dietrich – I don’t know what it is about Marlene Dietrich but we love listening to her stuff. I think, for me, it’s because that’s where the inspiration for Madeline Kahn’s Blazin’ Saddles character, Lili von Shtupp, the “Teutonic Titwillow,” came from. For The BCPF, I think it’s because she’s German. VG.
  • Soft Cell – Non-Stop Erotic Cabaret – This was not what I expected, either. I have heard “Tainted Love” since this came out in 1981 but the rest of it was very surreal. As NME wrote as a review: “The Soft Cell sex strategy should offer something spicy, rude and even a little wonderful… but Soft Cell are conceptualists who rely on too many preconceptions and play around with too many ideas to convince you of any personal energy or commitment… Soft Cell are very plain fare – unspectacular music and very drab and flat lyrics, wrapped in a hint of special promise which is never realised [sic].” I can’t decide if I liked it or not. VG.
  • Eurythmics – Revenge – The album with “Missionary Man.” Annie’s voice is amazing and I think she’s sexy as all get out. I know some disagree on that last point but it’s okay. I like it! $1 bin find. The outer and inner sleeves are both in rough shape but the vinyl is in great shape. VG+ for the media, G+ for the sleeves.
  • Edith Piaf – More Piaf Of Paris With The Orchestra Of Robert Chauvigny – Because we love French music, we couldn’t pass this one up from the $1 bin. VG.

So, it was a slow week but funds are tight and this is what we could pull off. I can’t tell you how much I love just being in Underdog Records. I love being surrounded by vinyl. I do it there and to a lesser extent come here and do the same thing. But, Jonathan always has a great selection and his pricing is amazing. He’s got a lot of used equipment if you’re looking, as well.

Discogs is my go-to for keeping you up to date on my vinyl travels, Dear Reader.

Until tomorrow, same blog channel…
Scorp out!

—
“Al Capone and the Bad Boy Jones, on the wrong side of the law. Johnny D and his company, always first to the draw. Gangster lean, feelin’ so mean, I try to take more than their share. Cause all they saw was ruling it all, the scent of blood was in the air. Bang bang, shoot ’em up, bang bang, blow you away. It’s a showdown in the no man’s land, for the cowboy of the modern day. Come sundown, don’t be hangin’ round, cause the cowboy’ll blow you away.” – “Modern Day Cowboy” (Hannon/Keith/Skeoch)