Tag Archives: Triumph

Not a Haul But a Catch or: My Voice Hates Me

19 Sunday May 2019

Posted by in Life as We Know It, Records, Spinning Sunday

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Salutations™!!

The last two days were exhausting. No, I didn’t do a lot of exercise or overly-strenuous physical activities. But, when you use your voice like I do, sometimes you wear it out. Just like someone who works at a desk all day, you can get mentally exhausted and of course, physical laborers can get physically exhausted. Well, you can exhaust your vocal cords, too. Ask any singer.

Always&Forever

©Warner Bros.

But, after doing a rare Friday night Cobras game and being up from 630a and working the Winston-Salem Yoga Festival until 4p, talking to people in between and then going to Willows and talking over the Wake/UNCSA graduation parties, that’s a lot. And, I wouldn’t change a thing, other than I would have prepared some warm lemon-ginger tea with honey. But, I didn’t. But, it worked out okay. I can talk today, but my voice is extra low and while not actually hurting in any way, I can feel it flipping me the middle finger. I’ll take care of you better, I promise.

Thanks to Kristen Williams of K10Yoga for letting me run my mouth for the WSYF event!

So, with all that going on, we didn’t get by Underdog Records, but I did go by Friday before going to Greensboro, just to get a couple of things that Jonathan had shown on the social channels. So, I’ll give you those.

  • Triumph – Rock & Roll Machine — The “other” Canadian rock power trio, Triumph. This album is sort of a compilation. Even though originally it was only released in Canada, once the band signed with RCA, they put it out with a few tunes from the first album to acquaint the international audiences with the band. This includes a cover of Joe Walsh’s “Rocky Mountain Way.” VG++.
  • Randy Travis – Always & Forever — So, I’m going to let you in on a little secret. I hate most country music and always have. Always have. But, every once in a while something comes along and I just can’t help but like it. The first two, maybe three, Randy Travis albums and the first few Garth Brooks albums and the first Travis Tritt album, those were “guilty pleasures” for me. This was Randy’s second album and during the very late 80s I had a girlfriend in WV and I was living in NC. Every other weekend I would drive up to WV and see her. I would play this and his first album, Storms of Life, and sing my heart out. I saw it on the UR Instagram feed and had to go by and get it. The BCPF is less than thrilled, but hey, I listen to her stuff. She can handle it. VG+.

I don’t know what Underdog’s day was like, I wasn’t in there. I hope it was busy because the weather was great for record shopping. Listen to each new episode of The Less Desirables to hear the TLD/UR special of the week! And, use Discogs to catalog your collection.

Until tomorrow, same blog channel…
Scorp out!

—
“I’m gonna love you forever. Forever and ever, amen. As long as old men sit and talk about the weather, as long as old women sit and talk about old men. If you wonder how long I’ll be faithful I’ll be happy to tell you again. I’m gonna love you forever and ever. Forever and ever, amen.” – “Forever and Ever, Amen” (Barnes/Seals)

Silent Sunday or: The Haul 12/23/17

24 Sunday Dec 2017

Posted by in Records, Silent Sunday

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Salutations™!!

Let me say, a brand new needle on your turntable makes all the difference in the world! Everything sounds so crisp and amazing. The BCPF and I have been enjoying a long week together observing the 3-Feet Rule (no farther than three feet from each other for most of the vacation). In that, we also went by Underdog Records about four times altogether. It was a great vacay. So, needless to say, this is from all week. Plus, I marked five off of the RS List this week. Let’s get started:led_zeppelin_-_led_zeppelin_II-front

So, a pretty good haul. And, again, with a new needle, it really all sounds great, even the older stuff. Underdog Records is open today until 2pm if you have a last minute thing to grab. He has specials, too. We use Discogs to archive our collection (hence the hyperlinks above).

From The BCPF and me, we hope your Christmas Eve is nothing shy of fantastic. It’s the day we do all the family stuff, traditionally and it’s my favorite of the two-day holiday. Love, happiness and lots of food for you all!

Until tomorrow, same blog channel…
Scorp out!

—
“Now it’s a mighty long way down the dusty trail. And, the sun burns hot on the cold steel rails. And, I look like a bum, and I crawl like a snail all the way from Memphis.” – “All the Way From Memphis” (Hunter)

Highway to Tomorrow or: Progressions of Power (Eugeology Entry 47)

30 Thursday Nov 2017

Posted by in Music Review

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Salutations™!!

I let Eugene down on the last one, but I had to be honest, right? Let’s move on to this week’s entry. Jon will be along, eventually, right?

Progressions_of_Power_(Triumph_album_-_cover_art)

©Attic/RCA/TML

 

#47 – Progressions of Power by Triumph.

Note: I only listened to this one four times as opposed to the usual six spins per album.

I didn’t need six spins to talk about this one, even though I had never heard it before being assigned it from Eug. I know there have been things said about Triumph. The poor man’s Rush, the other rock trio from Canada, etc. I have certainly come around on Rush. I used to really get annoyed listening to them, but I have learned that it was some really good songs, mechanical or not. I had heard less of Triumph, musically. Of course, I had heard “Fight the Good Fight” and “Lay It on the Line,” those were hits here and got some play on the local classic rock channel. I even have a live album from them on CD.

But, I never really paid attention to them. I passed on them. That was dumb. It wasn’t because I didn’t want to know more, I just had other things to listen to. I can hear some similarities between Triumph and Rush much of which I won’t get into. But, this is especially the case in the vocals. Now, only about half of the songs are sung by guitarist Rik Emmett, but he has that high shrill voice that is much more melodic and smoother than Geddy Lee’s. I like his voice. I like his voice better than Gil Moore, the drummer and co-lead vox. Not that there’s anything wrong with Moore’s vocals. I just prefer the higher registers that Emmett throws at us. Also, Triumph is less proggy than Rush tends to be.

This album starts off slow with me, though. “I Live for the Weekend” is a boogie-rock type song that I just can’t get into. I was afraid the whole album was going to be like that and then I’d have to disappoint Eug for a second week in a row. I also thought it was a live album from the way the production sounded. It wasn’t. I also liked that fact, that it wasn’t. Luckily, the rest of the album was awesome and fan-frickin’-tastic.

I love the gritty riff rock of “Nature’s Child.” It gets to highlight the drum work of Moore, as well. Great flange/phaser effect there, too. I know Eug love a good flange. “Woman in Love” is just in your face rocking. It reminds me of some Foreigner and that’s not a bad thing, at all. The harmonies in the chorus are typical of the time but so well executed. The guitar solo is also on point.

So, in probably the least “rock” thing I can say about this album, “Take My Heart” is my favorite song on the album. I am a sucker for a good ballad but this gets really syrupy and sappy and I love it. The vocal melody, chord progression and instrumentation are amazing!! Again, I love it! Love! It! So, there.

“Finger Talking” into “Hard Road” is a great segue combination. “Hard Road” is a great way to rock the album out. It shows Emmett’s guitar prowess and vocal ability, well. Great song to end a great album.

I do like that it kept a little prog rock qualities but really it was a straight-up rock album that for the most part, I really dug. I have to give a shout to Michael Levine. He’s a great bass player that I think gets lost in the Emmett/Moore Machine. He has great riffs but they’re subtle and not blaring or flashing. Solid.

My least favorite tunes are “Tear the Roof Off” and “I Live for the Weekend,” but even those aren’t bad. They’re just not my favorites. All in all, I think this was an excellent album and I thank Eug for introducing us to it. If you’re not familiar with Triumph, Dear Reader, or you are a Rush fan, give this a try. I’m not comparing them to Rush, I just think fans of that band would like this one. This is a good album to intro them.

I can see Eug trying to catch up on his own list and I think I see Jon way back in the distance. He’s just had a lot going on this year. Perhaps he’ll at least listen to the albums even if he doesn’t write about them. I hope he writes about them, though. Okay, that’s all.

Until tomorrow, same blog channel…
Scorp out!

—
“I wear a song to mask my awkward face. The music helps to fill the empty space. I wish that I could hide it all away. Instead, it shows in every note I play. And I play. And I play…” – “Take My Heart” (Emmett, Levine, Moore)

Hard Days, Cold Nights or: Harder…..Faster(Eugeology Entry 8)

02 Thursday Mar 2017

Posted by in Music Review

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Salutations™!!

I absolutely loved the selection from last week. Eugene and I were both taken aback by Jon‘s not liking it. Not only did he not like it, he “poo pooed” it, as Eug says. Well, let’s hit this week’s to see if Jon likes this one any better.

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©Capitol Records

#8 – Harder…..Faster by April Wine.

Like most people, if I knew anything about April Wine, it’s “Just Between You and Me.” That’s a darn fine song, to be sure, but the band is so far beyond that. In fact, I would never have known it was the same band; even though it’s on the very next album. I had never heard anything else from them and didn’t think there was any way that the band that did that song could have been on any lists highlighting “hard rock.”

It took me a few listens through to get what was going on here. I’ll admit it seemed a bit thin in the beginning, but also I admit that I wasn’t actually listening, just feeling it out while I did other things. There’s a lot of different styles happening on this album. For example, you have the first song, “I Like to Rock,” that’s truly rocking and then following that comes “Say Hello” which is more power pop. It’s all through the album. The very melodic and easy going “Tonite” going into “Ladies Man” that is trying to rip your face off. Great juxtaposition. They get a little prog-rock, perhaps a bit too much, on “21st Century Schizoid Man,” but then again, they are covering a King Crimson tune I think nothing Greg Lake is in isn’t going to be proggy.

April Wine reminds me, at times, of another Canadian band, Loverboy. Not saying they sound the same, just comparable. Then, you add in some Badfinger or Sugarloaf-like harmonies and it starts to spread the spectrum and style. There’s pieces of Judas Priest, a little Robert Plant, and at times, some of yet another Canadian group, Triumph. Myles Goodwyn has some serious range as the lead vocalist. From what I can tell Brian Greenway does some vox, as well, but I think Goodwyn is the guy. As far as I can tell no one is standing out as doing anything flamboyant. That’s not a put down. Steve Lang has some cool bass lines, especially in “Better Do It Well.” Jerry Mercer is solid on the drums, too. He’s a pounder, for sure.

Some of my favorite tunes on this album are: “I Like to Rock” as it comes out swinging and then pays hommage to the Beatles and Stones by mixing “Day Tripper” and “(I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction.” “Say Hello” and “Tonite” are a great one-two punch for some laid back pop magic, possibly precursors to “Just Between You and Me” that came later. I love the chorus of “Babes in Arms,” too. The rest of the album is solid and I’m glad it’s on the list. I would recommend this, for sure. Let’s see what Jon thinks and hear Eug’s thoughts. Thanks, Eug. Are you a fan of it, Dear Reader? Drop me a line and let me know.

Until tomorrow, same blog channel…
Scorp out!

—
“Let’s go out and paint the town and we could turn the world around. If you say you agree, yeah, well that’s the way that it’ll be.” – “Say Hello” (Goodwyn)