While not as massive as last year, 2013
has turned out to be a pretty good year in the world of classic rock and heavy
metal. It’s true: we did lose some good people but we also received some good
albums and reissues. As I always do, I will split these all into separate
categories. I’ll also throw in movies as there’s been a number of them this
year (I didn’t include them last year but earlier this year I did see Searching for Sugar Man- great
documentary).
New
albums
David
Bowie
The
Next Day
Rating: ****
FAVORITE
ALBUM OF THE YEAR
Well
this is a first: the first album I get this year turns out to be my favorite of
the entire year. I’m not picking this as my favorite just because this is
Bowie’s first studio album in ten years. I truly believe this is a great album.
Sure, I was bummed to hear “Where Are We Now?” as the first single but
overtime, I’ve come to like that song along with many others. Bowie is indeed
back, with an album he apparently had been working on since 2010 (which is a
surprise given these “TMZ days”). Bowie is in fine form with songs such as the
catchy “The Stars (Are Out Tonight)”, the surprisingly glam “Valentine’s Day”,
the Krautrock sounds of “How Does the Grass Grow”, the rocking “(You Will) Set
The World On Fire” and the dark “Heat”. While the album cover might not the
best cover ever (borrowing from 1977’s Heroes),
there really is a great variety of songs. With long time producer Tony Visconti
at the helm, The Next Day is a real
treat for Bowie fans.
The
Stooges
Ready
to Die
Rating: *** 1/2 or ****
After
their disappointing reunion album The
Weirdness in 2007, people didn’t know what to expect from Iggy and the
Stooges. Sadly, we did lose Ron Asheton in 2009 and Iggy decided to make one or
two French albums. Now with James Williamson taking Asheton’s place, the
Stooges have released a new album. The result: a surprisingly solid rocking
album. “Burn” is a great rocker while the somewhat comedic “Job” just shows
that Iggy’s still got it in him. All of the songs are great and to think this
is what the Stooges come out with four decades (!) after the release of the
legendary Raw Power is amazing.
Black
Star Riders
All
Hell Breaks Loose
Rating: ****
Before
recording a new studio album, the reunited Thin Lizzy did the right thing and
changed their name. Although guitarist Scott Gorham is the only member of this
new band to be in the Phil Lynott-led Thin Lizzy, Black Star Riders are a band
very much dedicated to the music and spirit of Thin Lizzy. All Hell Breaks Loose is an album that celebrates this. “Bound For
Glory” could easily have been a song made by Thin Lizzy back in the day while
“Kingdom of the Lost” harkens back to the Irish roots of the band. While
sounding like a Thin Lizzy album, Black Star Riders have managed to become
their own band. Something tells me that Phil would’ve been proud.
Black
Sabbath
13
Rating: ****
It’s
hard to believe: Black Sabbath are back. Well to be fair, three of the four
original members (Ozzy Osbourne, Tony Iommi and Geezer Butler) are back
together for a new album and tour to support it. Even without original drummer
Bill Ward, 13 still manages to
deliver the goods. It’s also the first Sabbath album to feature Osbourne on
lead vocals since 1978’s Never Say Die.
While the songs might not be up there with their influential classics, this
doesn’t mean the album is bad. “God Is Dead?” is a wonderful song while songs
such as “Loner” and “Dear Father” just go to show that the band can indeed
still write good material. While it is weak in the production side from Rick
Rubin, 13 is still worth a listen.
Queensryche
Queensryche
Rating: ****
After
last year’s nasty public feud with original lead singer Geoff Tate, Queensryche
have decided to continue on with their new front man Todd LaTorre. The new
album, simply titled Queensryche,
sees the band going back to their progressive metal sound. While I have not
bothered listening to the post Chris DeGarmo albums, this new album sounds
something leaning more towards Rage for
Order or Operation: Mindcrime. La
Torre’s vocals are frightening similar to Tate’s old voice (sorry, Geoff.
You’re voice just ain’t the same). “Redemption” is a brilliant lead single
while the other songs show the band back in form.
Anvil
Hope
In Hell
Rating: ***
½
Canadian
metal band Anvil are back with a new studio album. Hope In Hell, their first since 2011’s Juggernaut of Justice, is another solid album from the band. The self titled track and several others are
all good but unfortunately, the album has its weak spots. The band, who was the
subject of a critically acclaimed documentary, are still going strong. I guess
you have to give these guys some credit.
Yoko
Ono
Take
Me To The Land of Hell
Rating: ****
Go
ahead and laugh all you want: at 80 years old, Yoko Ono’s still got it. While
others have made her out to be this villain, I am among a minority who thinks
Yoko’s music is relevant. As the follow up to 2009’s Between My Head and the Sky, Take
Me To the Land of Hell sees Yoko at it again with an album filled with
eclectic tunes. “Chesire Cat” is good psychedelic fun while “Tabetai” sees Yoko
dabbling in the music of today. Even her
collaboration with the Beastie Boys “Bad Dancer” is good!
Paul
McCartney
New
Rating: ****
Just
one year after the release of Kisses on
the Bottom, Paul McCartney has released a brand new studio album. The
album, simply titled New, might be
McCartney’s first solid release since 2005’s Chaos and Creation in the Backyard. For this album, McCartney did
something different with having four different producers on the album. The
title track is a brilliant pop tune and the same can be said for the bouncy
“Queenie Eye”. Personal favorites include the fuzz rocker “Save Us”, the
whimsical “Alligator” and the ridiculously catchy “I Can Bet”.
Rankings (and please keep in mind- I
liked all of the new albums I got this year)
1. David
Bowie- The Next Day
2. Paul
McCartney- New
3. Black
Star Riders- All Hell Breaks Loose
4. Black
Sabbath- 13
5. The
Stooges- Ready to Die
6. Queensryche-
Queensryche
7. Yoko
Ono- Take Me to the Land of Hell
8. Anvil-
Hope in Hell
Reissues/Archival Releases
Paul
McCartney & Wings
Wings
Over America and Rockshow (DVD)
Rating
(for both): ****
In
1976, Paul McCartney were at the peak of their career. They decided to tour the
US that year and as a result, a triple live album came out of it. Several years
later in 1981, a concert film of that tour was released. Before this reissue, Wings Over America was barely in print
while Rockshow had been bootlegged
for years on VHS and DVD as it was only released on Betamax and LaserDisc back
in the day. Luckily, both are now easy to get as they have now been reissued.
Wings
Over America is an outstanding live album. Sure, the recording and/or
mixing isn’t the best but it is indeed an enjoyable album to listen to. Macca
really knew how to put on a show back then. As for Rockshow, the remastered picture looks fabulous…for at least the
first few numbers. I have to be honest here but from what my eyes can see, the
film starts to show some wear a few songs in. Still, you got to give MPL the
credit they deserve: the film wasn’t well protected to begin with so this is
the best we’re going to get.
Captain
Beefheart and the Magic Band
Trout
Mask Replica
Rating: ****
½
Yes
you read this right: Trout Mask Replica was
reissued on CD this year. Much like last year’s release of the original Bat Chain Puller, this new remaster of Trout was sold only through the Frank
Zappa webshop, Barfko Swill. According to Zappa’s people at the Utility Muffin
Research Kitchen found that the master tape used for the now out-of-print 1990
CD issue had seen some damage. In other words, the original CD version of Trout was not properly remastered. While
I can admit the CD sounds fine, I was all for getting this new remaster. The
verdict: it’s worth it. Doing side-by-side comparisons to the original, Bob
Ludwig’s new remaster of Trout Mask
Replica sounds much richer and cleaner than the 1990 CD. The 1990 CD isn’t
terrible. If you still have your CD copy and think $27 is too much, I wouldn’t
worry too much. If you’re a big Beefheart fan like I am, you’ll want to get
this soon.
Fleetwood
Mac
Then
Play On
Rating: ****
After
years and years of waiting, Reprise have finally issued a proper version of
Fleetwood Mac’s 1969 lost gem Then Play On.
This is an album that has been messed around with for several years, including
different tracking lists and editing segues into other songs. The 1990 CD issue
is an absolute disaster for diehards of Peter Green’s version of the Mac: the
analog to digital transfer had a little too much reverb and did not have the
original UK tracking list, which meant the other songs were scattered on other
compilations. This is the first time the UK version has seen a CD release.
While it may not sound remastered to some people, I can safely say that this is
the best version of the album I’ve heard. There are also bonus tracks,
including both parts of “Oh, Well”, “The Green Manalishi” and “World in
Harmony”.
Movies
A
Band Called Death
Rating: ****
The
rock documentary renaissance of underground heroes continues with this film
about a band that never made until decades after their formation. This
proto-punk trio of black brothers were determined that they would make it but
they didn’t- reasons varying from their race and to their name. The film gives
audiences a biography on the band as well as showing how the band resurfaced in
the 2000’s.
Big
Star: Nothing Can Hurt Me
Rating: ****
This
fan-funded documentary gives audiences a great overview of the on the Nashville
power pop band Big Star. The movie feels complete, giving us insight and
information on all four of the original members of Big Star. It’s impressive as
to how much interview footage they had of Alex Chilton and Andy Hummel, given
they both passed in 2010. The only negative to this movie is that is feels it
runs longer than it should. Still, this is a minor flaw that shouldn’t keep
anyone from watching it.
Metallica:
Through the Never
Rating: ****
Were
you unhappy with Metallica’s collaboration with the late Lou Reed? This concert
movie should make up for it. Filmed during one of Metallica’s reasonably recent
concerts, Through The Never not only
gives us a brilliant performance from the thrash metal band but also impressive
visuals. The film is present in a way similar to Led Zeppelin’s cult classic
concert movie, The Song Remains the Same-
a movie that combines concert footage with fantasy sequences. While Metallica perform
a show, audiences will also follow the surreal journey of Metallica roadie Trip
(played by Dane DeHann). The movie is also presented in 3D, which is actually
quite impressive. In general, I really don’t care for movies being converted to
3D in recent years. Through the Never is
an exception- this is brilliant. I don’t know if home video viewers will be
able to get the same experience (though there is a Blu-ray 3D version slated
for release- I’m not sure if it will be like seeing it in theaters).
Other (things I heard or have seen this
year- but not released this year)
Searching
for Sugar Man
Rating: ****
This
documentary won the Oscar for Best Documentary of last year and for good
reasons: it’s just really good. Searching
For Sugar Man is a documentary that might be harder for people to watch
blindly given all the publicity its subject, Sixto Rodriguez, has been getting
recently. The documentary tells the story of cult hero Rodriguez, a man who
released just two albums before disappearing completely. While his albums did
not sell in the US, they had a major impact on the citizens of South Africa. It
came to the point where several devoted fans decided to try and find him. While
there are some facts missing, Searching
for Sugar Man is a movie well worth checking out.
Julian
Lennon
Everything
Changes
Rating: ***
½
For
years, Julian Lennon has tried to explore other ventures to express himself
other than making music. It hasn’t been easy for Lennon: with being the son of
John Lennon, the critics were expecting a little too much from him. His latest
album, Everything Changes, was
actually released in late 2011 but only in the UK. This year, the album was
finally released though with an altered tracking list- including two new songs.
I listened to the album with the original tracking list. Everything Changes is just a good album from Jules. I only have his
debut Valotte on CD (along with a
cassette copy of The Secret Value of
Daydreaming), which I think is a great album. Everything Changes isn’t too memorable but that doesn’t stop it
from being an enjoyable listen.
In Memoriam
Alvin
Lee- guitarist and singer of Ten Years After
Peter
Banks- guitarist for Yes
Clive
Burr- drummer for Iron Maiden
Ray
Manzarek – keyboards for the Doors
Trevor
Bolder- bassist for Uriah Heep
George
Duke- keyboardist for Frank Zappa
Lou
Reed- singer/songwriter, member of the Velvet Underground
