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.

Slash Live (Featuring Miles Kennedy) - Made in Stoke 24/7/11

Admittedly, I'm not the biggest Slash fan.  I have stated on the show many times that I think he is overated and has not released anything that relevant, since his split from G N' R, many moons ago.  It wasn't until his solo release in 2010, that I got interested again.  The record that he put out last year, featuring many guests vocalists, was the best thing the man had done in the past 20 years.  With the success of his last release, Slash went on tour with Alterbridge frontman Miles Kennedy.  I don't believe he could have made a better choice vocally.  Miles is definitley one of the more talented rock vocalists out there today, and when teamed up with Slash, the two just seem to click.  There is some serious chemistry there.  Made in Stoke 24/7/11 is a document of that tour and shows how good these two are together.  This package comes in two formats: either CD or CD/DVD. 

Made in Stoke features songs from every facet of Slash's career.  From G N' R to Velvet Revolver to the Snakepit, all bases are covered.   This is a 2 - CD set containing 22 songs.  The audio of the CD is spot on, giving you the concert experience, when cranked up.   The performance on the CD was top notch, but for me, Kennedy stole the show.  This guy can friggin sing.   He nailed the G N' R tunes, but really shined on Slash's solo material.  Songs like Beggars and Hangers On and Starlight really stood out for me.  With Kennedy at the helm, it is the best Slash's solo material has ever sounded.  Too bad these guys won't be in a band together past this project, they could make some killer music.

Bottom Line: Slash and company ripping it up live, but with Miles Kennedy stealing the show.  G N' R fans will salivate to hear some of the classics performed live. 

-Ragman is on the Nightrain.

Queensryche: Mindcrime at the Moore (BluRay)

Originally released on standard DVD back in 2006, Queensryche's legendary Mindcrime at the Moore, has now been given the BluRay treatment.  Mindcrime at the Moore was filmed over a 3 night period, back in 2006, at the Moore Theater in Seattle.  These shows were documented for a long form DVD that came out that same year.  Five years later this legendary show, in which Operation Mindcrime and Operation Mindcrime 2 were played in their entirety, has been given a face lift and new life with it's release on BluRay.  This show had the band in full production, performing both records with actors as well as a few notable guest vocalist Pamela Moore (Sister Mary) and Ronnie James Dio (Dr. X).  It was a night that would not be forgotten and thanks to Eagle Rock Entertainment, will be able to be enjoyed over and over again.

The show looks very good, but doesn't give you the sense of being there, like with some BluRays.   It is film and not video, but don't let that shy you away from this release.  This is a good thing, because it adds the film clips incorporated into the show.  It is a solid concert film which shows the band firing on all cylinders.  It was nice to seee the band performing the storyline with a big stage production, even though Tate got a little too political at times, but I digress.  The only thing missing was Chris Degarmo.  Would have been cool to see him step onstage for some or all of the Mindcrime 1 material.  The audio sounds amazing on this disk.  The band we're in top form for this recording.  A solid release that has been given a bit of a face lift. 

Bottom Line:  A legendary night caught on film.  The band execute the set with precision and sound amazing.  Queensryche fanatics will want to rebuy this one on BlurRay, because it is that much better.

-Ragman loves a good BluRay concert.