Beggars and Thieves - We are the Brokenhearted

When a band you dig disappears for awhile, it is sort of a homecoming when they release a new album.  That is the way I felt when I heard Beggars and Thieves had a new CD coming out on Frontiers.  The band hit the ground running with their much underrated debut in 1990, but was killed by the grunge movement a few short years after it's release.  The band has stayed active over the years, releasing new music sporadically, but unfortunately has not broken through.  Fast forward to 2011 and the band has just released their 4th full length studio album, We Are the Brokenhearted, which might be the best of their 20+ year career.

We Are the Brokenhearted is a nice companion to their debut.  The songs on this CD touch on the same vibe as the debut had.  Don't get me wrong the songs are not dated sounding, they just have that same classic vibe.   As with the debut the songs are well written and will stay with you.  WE Are the Brokenhearted contains a nice variety of rockers and ballads, that mix in a touch of blues.  The band has always had a bluesy edge, but with a melodic hard rock vibe. 

The CD starts off strong with the melodic midtempo rocker We Come Undone.  From the first note, you know you're hearing vintage B & T.  It has a cool melodic riff that is followed by the killer vocals of Louie Merlino.  Merlino still sounds amazing after all of these years.  Another highlight in this band is the melodic riff-age of guitarist Ronnie Mancuso.  Mancuso has a nice fluent style that is very tasteful and melodic.  The next track Oil and Water is the first ballad on the record, and would be a hit, if it got some airplay.  Actually the whole CD would be a hit with the proper airplay.   A solid lisen from start to finish that will stay in the CD player for awhile.  We Are the Brokenhearted is so solid, it could be the strongest hard rock release of the year.

Bottom Line: Beggars and Thieves are back and sounding better than ever.  A solid collection of hard rock tunes full of melody.

Standout Tracks: We Come Undone, Oil and Water, Stranded and Wash Away.

-Ragman thinks he may have one of his picks of the year.

Eric Carr - Unfinished Business

It is hard to believe that Eric Carr passed away 20 years ago.  Another rock soldier taken in his prime.  Eric left us with a lot of great memories and music.  Recently, Eric's family dug up some old demo's and released them as Unfinished Business.  Some of the tracks first surfaced on the Rockology release from a few years back, but this time they have been given the royal treatment.  Many of the songs on Unfinished Business have been re-recorded, with several guest musicians.  Some of the songs are the actual demos which have only been touched up in the studio, but the others are new versions. 

The songs that stand out the most on this CD are tracks that include vocals and are full tunes.  I really dug the lead track Just can't Wait featuring Ted Poley (Danger Danger) on vocals.   Alos, hat's off to our boys in Z02 for doing some killer rendition of All Hell's Breaking Loose.  Another treat was hearing the track No One's Messin' With You, which later became Little Caesar on Kiss' 1989 release Hot in the Shade. 

The CD is broken up with snips from Eric interviews over the years.  The only knock on the CD I have, is that I was hoping to hear more extensive interview audio.  The songs on the CD are dated and the production isn't the best, but this CD is a must own for Kiss/Eric Carr fans.  Most of the songs are well written and would have been interesting to hear had they been given the full Kiss treatment.  A cool memento for Carr fans.

Bottom Line: Getting to hear what could have been.  A nice memorial to a great musician, who was struck down in his prime.  Would be interesting to see Bruce Kulick get some of these tracks together and do them with his band and a solid vocalist.

-Ragman needs to talk to Mr. Kulick.

Europe - Live at Shepherd's Bush, London

I have to admit it has been along time since I have checked out something from Europe.  I was into the band in the 80's, but haven't followed their career since they broke up in the early 90's.  The band reformed in the late 90's briefly, but didn't really get things back on track until 2003.  Since they have reunited the band has put out 3 studio release as well as their new live DVD Live at Shepherd's Bush, London.  The set list on the DVD is a compilation of material which covers the bands whole career. There is a nice mix of the new and the old on this DVD.   I was really pleased to see that the band included some tunes from the Kee Marcello era (My personal favorite).

This DVD is a document of the band's Balls 'N' Banners tour from this year.  The DVD is well shot and visually looks great.  It is a concert video that gives you a sense of being in the first row, without being on Bluray.  I'm sure the Bluray version is amazing.  The band look and sound great.  Joey Tempest has not lost it vocally and commands the crowd, just as he did back in the day. Guitarist John Norum, shreds like a man possesed and puts on a killer performance.  The great thing about this video is hearing how heavy they are live, especially on the new material.  I was blown away when I heard the opening track Last Look at Eden, because it was so raw and heavy.   This was a solid watch from start to finish.

Bottom Line: Europe tearing up the stage and leaving you wanting more.  The band puts on a killer show  that leaves you wanting more.  Killer watch.

-Ragman is thinking that he is needing to check out the band's last record.

Deep Purple (with Orchesta) - Live at Montreux (CD & BluRay)

Has the whole rock/orchestra been played out?  This was the trend a few years back, when bands like Metallica and Scorpions, transformed their catalogs into classical pieces.   You know the drill, the band plays, while they are backed up by an orchestra.  It works in some cases and others it doesn't.  Well, Deep Purple are the latest band to dive into this realm, and fortunately for them, it worked.  On Deep Purple's latest release Live at Montreux, the band enlisted an orchestra to help them beef up their set, at the famous Montreux Festival in Switzerland.

First off the video quality on this BluRay is amazing.  It is one of those BluRay's that gives you a sense of being in the front row.  The show was shot in HD and looks crystal clear.  The audio on the BluRay as well as the CD is top notch as well.   You can tell this show wasn't touched up because it is pretty raw in some parts.  Gillan's voice is strained, especially in the beginning, on tracks like Highway Star, in which the vocal parts hit a pretty high register.  His vocals get better as the show progresses, but it was a little shaky in the beginning.  The show itself is very enjoyable. 

The band is on fire, but it was the performances from guitarist Steve Morse and keyboardist Don Airey, that sold this one for me.  We all know Morse is a monster on guitar and this DVD proves it.  Man he rips.  I was also impressed with Airey's chops.  I never knew he was that much of a bad ass.  The set list is strong and this is just an overall solid performance.  The orchestra actually acts as a nice backing band, and creates a nice wall of sound behind the band.  Overall a solid watch and listen.  A nice combo, either format will kick your ass and keep you entertained.

Bottom Line: Deep Purple fans will be in heaven with this release.  All of the classic give the treatment, classical style.  Some of the older tunes really come alive with the assistance of the orchestra.  Top notch performances by Morse and Airey make this one a keeper, even if you're not a huge fan of the band.

-Ragman was blown away by the musicianship on this one.

Judas Priest - The Chosen Few

How cool is it to have your contemporaries pick their favorite tunes, for a greatest hits package?  Well, pretty damn cool lads!  Judas Priest just received this royal treatment for the latest greatest hits package called The Chosen Few.  The Chosen Few is your standard greatest hits package, but the bonus is that the liner notes were written by the artists that picked the songs for the CD.  Very cool to see the comments from Klaus Meine (Scorpions) and Geezer Butler (Black Sabbath) regarding their favorite tracks from the Priest. 

The CD packs in all of the Priest classice that you would expect from a great hits package.  From Diamonds in Rust to Painkiller, they're all there.  The only negative, is that I thought there might be the inclusion of a few more obscure tracks on the CD, since they were picked by their fellow metal heads.  All in all a solid package.  Another best of, by one of the greatest heavy metal bands ever.

Bottom Line:  A standard greatest hits package with an interesting twist.  I really dug the liner notes on this one, because it was a new twist on this sort of package.  The only that would have made this better, would have been the inclusion of some new material.

-Ragman is wanting a new Priest record, but he is also fearful of what he might get.