Classics Under Review: Twisted Sister - Come Out and Play and Love is for Suckers

Recently Twisted Sister, with the help of Armoury Records, have just released their 2nd wave of re-issues, with the remastered versions of Come Out and Play and Love is for Suckers.  The great thing about these re-issues, is that it gives you a chance to re-discover some past gems.   Some TS fans may not remember these albums as classics, but they would be hard pressed to say that their was no good material on either release.  The first CD we analyzed is Come Out and Play.

Come Out and Play was the band's first release after their breakthrough album Stay Hungry.  I'm sure the band band felt pressured to top their previous work, so they pulled out all the stops to try to surpass the now legendary Stay Hungry.  Unfortunately the band fell short and made some costly mistakes, which led them to breaking up 2 years after it's release.  

This is an interesting CD to listen to today, if you're a fan of the band, because it is easier to dissect.  If you listen close to the better tracks on the CD, you will hear elements of classic TS, mixed with some of the elements from Stay Hungry.  The CD starts off strong with the title track, which is one of the bands heavier/faster tracks in their catalog.  After the title track though, it is kind and hit and miss.  Tracks like Leader of the Pack, which the band had in their set years prior, Be Chrool to Your Scuel and You Want What We Got just don't hit the mark.  Don't get me wrong, there are some great tracks like Fire Still Burns, Out on the Streets, I Believe in Rock n Roll and King of Fools, that make this release worth adding to the collection.  Another bonus, is that the remastered recording sounds much better than the one that Spitfire released, several years ago.  Definitely a CD that has aged well.

Love is for Suckers was supposed to be a Dee Snider solo record, but after some heavy persuasion by Atlantic Records, the band released it under their own moniker.  This was a tough time for the band, because they were on the verge of splitting up and tensions were high.  It didn't help that original drummer A.J. Pero had left the band, as well as the addition of session players (Reb Beach - Whitesnake/Winger) to make the record happen, the band was heading for a long painful breakup.  It amazes me to this day how strong this record came out. 

Though it didn't receive the accolades from the press, Love is for Suckers is a pretty solid record.  The first 7 tracks on the CD are as solid as they come with TS.  There are heavy tracks, mixed with nice melodies and memorable choruses.  There are some clunkers, like One Bad Habit, but for the most part this is a solid CD.  Also, with this remaster, there were 4 bonus tracks.  All the bonus tracks were solid. with the exception of Feel Appeal.  Didn't dig that one.  This is a nice package.  A better sounding disk, with bonus tracks, need I say more?  This one is a keeper as well.

Bottom Line: Re-discovering some classic TS records.  Two very different records, but both very strong in their own right.  Both CD's get a facelift and come off sounding better than the original releases.

-Ragman is wanting a new Twisted record...will it ever happen?

Podcast #116: Ticket

With Dee Simon, it's class all the way. Take it sleazy, people.Are ticket prices too high (hell yes!)?  Who's raising the rates, the artists or TicketBastard Ticketmaster?  Join Genghis and Ragman as they discuss the current state of ticket prices.  Are the artists pricing their fans out of the market?  Tune in and find out.  Next, the boys bring in fellow podcaster Dee Simon from the Sick and Wrong podcast, who discusses his show as well as his love for Der Teufel's musik.

DVD of the Show: Bullet for My Valentine - Live at the Brixton

Beer of the Show:  Infinium Ale   Rating:  3.5

Featured Tracks:  James Labrie - Euphoric; Bullet for My Valentine - 4 words; Aiden - Killing Machine; The Absence - Enemy Unbound; Ozzy - I Want it More; ZZ Top - Jesus Just Left Chicago;  Iron Maiden - The Alchemist; Alter Bridge - The Ghost of Days Gone By; Kiss - Rock N Roll Hell; Accept - Balls to the Wall

Genghis' Pick of the Show:  Allen/Lande - Never Again

Ragman's Pick of the Show:  Amorphis - My Sun

Classic of the Show:  Cheap Trick - I Can’t Take It

- Ragman is workin' it on the fly...

Podcast #116: Ticket

We're on UStream, ya know

Aren't you glad this isn't in HD right about now?In case you weren't aware, Genghis & Ragman's UStream channel over on ustream.tv's site is where we sometimes stream the recording of our podcasts, usually anywhere from 8:00pm - 11:00pm (CST), Thursday nights (on the weeks we record).  I usually tweet such events, so be sure to check over yonder ocassionally.

We recently recorded a show on the topic of Revolver's Annual Golden God Awards, discussing the picks that Revolver made and who we would vote for if they asked us.  Hey, you think they might, next time?

- Genghis just tries to help...

Los Podcasticos

We're working on some cool new content, like the return of The Metal Minute, new shows with more diverse topics and guests, and a little tweaking to the format.

In fact, our next show, posting this weekend, will feature an interview with a fellow metalhead, Dee Simon, of the Sick And Wrong podcast.  I've been listening to his show for a while now, and he's definitely a fan of the metals.  I sat down to a little confab with Dee to discuss his former DJ spot on Rampage Radio and his penchant for tattoos, Motörhead, Yngwie, Testament, black metal and whatever else came to our fevered minds, so please check it out.

Keep the faith, and keep those HORNS UP!

- Genghis is definitely looking to get that iPad 2 (and the new Garage Band for the iPad!)...

Madlife - Angry Sonnets for the Soul

Imagine Linkin Park if they had actual talent and a respect for music like these guys.I have to say, I was a bit leary when I read the press release for new-comers Madlife, because any band compared to Linkin Park, is generally not going to sit well with yours truly.  Yes, there was a time that I dug LP, but that was a long, long time ago.  Madlife have just released their debut LP on Universal/Fontana, and their sound is a hybrid of that late 90's industrial buzz music, mixed with hard rock.  The band's sound is reminiscent of LP, but with more melody and a classic hard rock vibe.  The first single on the record is a track called Be Tomorrow, which has a really catchy chorus and a great melody.  The song is heavy and a little poppy, and will be destined for radio.  It kind of reminds me of the more modern sound of Motley Crue.  Vocalist Angry Phill sounds a little like Chester from LP, but with more balls.  The songs are catchy and have a pop sensibility to them, while remaining heavy.  There are elements of the industrial, with some sampling involved, but I think the hard rock vibe that they generate, will help them stand apart form other bands in the genre.  Not a bad CD which should get better with more spins.

Bottome Line: Industrial rock with a hard rock flavor.  Linkin Park with balls and much more melody.  It would be intersting to hear these guys if they were to drop the whole industrial buzz sound and go strictly hard rock.  Now that would be cool.

Standout Tracks: Be Tomorrow, Everyone, Feeling Alone and There I Stand

- Ragman is wondering why Phill is so angry...