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.

Antfarm Dickhole

What would happen if your body was invaded by ants?  Well, you might have an antfarm dickhole.  No seriously.  Antfarm Dickhole is the latest B-Horror flick from the demented mind of Bill Zebub.  I picked this one up, based on the title alone.   As you might of guessed, this movie is about a guy that has an army of ants in his dick.  The plot is simple, if the guy gets scared or threatened then the ants come out of his dick to wreak havoc on anyone that upsets our hero.  His friends try to kill the ants, but in most cases, wind up dead.  That is pretty much the movie.  As per most Bill Zebub movies, the special effects are cheap and the laughs come fairly frequently, and if you take it for what it is, you're entertained.  If you're looking for a serious horror flick, you've got the wrong video, but if you're looking for some sophomoroic humor then you've got you're movie.  By the way, this oen give you a little more bang for your buck, with the inclusion of Assmonster at the end of the main flick.  Now that's entertainment!

Bottom Line:  Only Bill Zebub can come up with a plotline as fucked up as this, and somehow make it entertaining.

-Ragman thinks this movie gives a whole new meaning to, ants in your pants.

Podcast #128: Saxon

40 plus years and not ONE split end. That's a damn fine head o' hair, my friends.What's better than seeing Saxon live in the states?  Meeting Biff Byford, of course.  And that's just what Genghis & Ragman recently did for An Evening With...Biff Byford.  Join the boys as they discuss Saxon's recent stop in H-Town, as well as their latest record, Call to Arms, following it up with a live interview with His Biffness.  Biff and the band rolled out the welcome mat at Stereo Live to discuss the Saxon's first tour on U.S. soil in years, as well as what keeps them motivated after 40 years of rocking.  Horns up, indeed.

Beer of the Show:  Magic Hat - Howl (Beer Rating: 3.5)

Featured Tracks: Saxon - Broken Heroes, Power and the Glory, Princess of the Night, Susie Hold On, Crusader; Borealis - Finest Hour; Saxon - Red Star Falling, The Eagle Has Landed, Call to Arms, When Doomsday Comes, Hammer of the Gods, and Battalions of Steel

- Ragman still can't believe he interviewed a living metal legend...

Podcast #128: Saxon