Chisel Chin

Lol. I thought it would be fun to make up a clean story, as I figured that would be the last thing anyone expected.

Here's one using the track titles from Steel Panther's "Balls Out" album. Ok girls, it's the final practice session before the big netball match "Tomorrow Night". Line up please, I want to see how many of you are here. Right, that's "17 Girls In A Row", so two teams of seven, leaving three left over. You three can go and get some "Balls Out" and practice some moves together, then maybe you'll improve your skills sufficiently to get chosen "In The Future". (... afterwards, in the car park ...) Wow, coach, you've got a new set of wheels, wicked! I bet it goes fast, how about giving me a ride? Well, I'm not sure... someone might see us and get the wrong idea. I mean, there is a bit of an age difference, and you are one of my students, and I wouldn't want to lose my job. "Why Can't You Trust Me", and I'll show you that I'm a real normal, down-to-earth girl who just wants to settle down with the perfect man and live happily ever after. I'm well aware that someone has been spreading malicious rumours that "I Like Drugs", and I have my suspicions that it was Tracy, the "Gold-Digging Whore". She's just jealous because she's seen the way you've been looking at me when I'm playing. (... he blushes ...) Yes, that's right, I've seen your eyes following me around the court. Go on, "If You Really, Really Love Me", you'll "Let Me Cum In", just for a teenie "Weenie Ride". Ok, I'll take you for a quick spin around the block. Jump in. Why have you got a vacuum cleaner on the back seat? It's broken and needs to go to the repair shop. "It Won't Suck Itself" unless I'm continually holding the button down, which then makes it a bit awkward to use. Oh, bless you... a man shouldn't have to clean his own place, "That's What Girls Are For". Right, strap yourself in and I'll show you what this motor is capable of... Wow, you drive this car with such confidence, like it's a "Supersonic Sex Machine"! The last guy I fancied got so nervous when I was sat next to him that he ended up having a low-speed car accident, "Just Like Tiger Woods". What a "Critter"! Come on, drive me home, and I'll let you come in and borrow my vacuum cleaner until yours is fixed.

(Apologies for repeat posting this from another thread in the General Discussion section, but I'm quite proud of this and figured it was more appropriate here) Dear Richie, As you are probably aware, this band has always been a "Labor Of Love" for me, and it's just not the same since our acrimonious split. Instead of thinking "God Bless This Mess", I just feel like I'm "Living With The Ghost" when I see your empty chair. Sales figures just aren't the same since you left, and I'm struggling to keep my head above water financially. Although "This House Is Not For Sale" yet, I've had to take a second job as a bartender to help pay the mortgage, and it's stifling my creativity having to interact with all the peasants on their level. I am supposed to be superior than all of them put together, but they are so tight and don't even tip me after I provide my service with a smile. I've even tried to convince everyone that my new album is really going back to the beginning to try and fool people into buying it, but I just don't know how to make that old-style music without you. I know you weren't born yesterday, but this is a genuine offer where we can be "Born Again Tomorrow". I've still got the "Scars On This Guitar" since our bust-up, and I just can't take it anymore. Even Hugh Whatshisname is missing your stage presence, and I don't think he's mixing very well with the new bloke either. Basically, "The Devil's In The Temple", and I need you at my side for a final exorcism of all the bad blood that has been spilled between us. I know our relationship has often seemed like a "Rollercoaster", but that sort of friction is good for getting the creative juices flowing. Even Axl and Slash have recently patched up their differences for a long-awaited "Reunion" tour, so what say you "Come On Up To Our House" and we'll see if we can "Knockout" some classics just like the old days? I'm busy over Christmas, but how about "New Year's Day"? Love, Jon

Thanks! Here's another quickie, inspired by a comment in the Bon Jovi "This House Is Not For Sale" thread. Dear Richie, As you are probably aware, this band has always been a "Labor Of Love" for me, and it's just not the same since our acrimonious split. Instead of thinking "God Bless This Mess", I just feel like I'm "Living With The Ghost" when I see your empty chair. Sales figures just aren't the same since you left, and I'm struggling to keep my head above water financially. Although "This House Is Not For Sale" yet, I've had to take a second job as a bartender to help pay the mortgage, and it's stifling my creativity having to interact with all the peasants on their level. I am supposed to be superior than all of them put together, but they are so tight and don't even tip me after I provide my service with a smile. I've even tried to convince everyone that my new album is really going back to the beginning to try and fool people into buying it, but I just don't know how to make that old-style music without you. I know you weren't born yesterday, but this is a genuine offer where we can be "Born Again Tomorrow". I've still got the "Scars On This Guitar" since our bust-up, and I just can't take it anymore. Even Hugh Whatshisname is missing your stage presence, and I don't think he's mixing very well with the new bloke either. Basically, "The Devil's In The Temple", and I need you at my side for a final exorcism of all the bad blood that has been spilled between us. I know our relationship has often seemed like a "Rollercoaster", but that sort of friction is good for getting the creative juices flowing. Even Axl and Slash have recently patched up their differences for a long-awaited "Reunion" tour, so what say you "Come On Up To Our House" and we'll see if we can "Knockout" some classics just like the old days? I'm busy over Christmas, but how about "New Year's Day"? Love, Jon

Here's my attempt, as I was listening to Dokken's "Back For The Attack" album as I saw this thread, so thought I'd make a story using all the titles on that album. It was a good show today at the Big Top, the crowds were enthusiastic, and we had all put on such great performances that we were exhausted. Darkness had fallen, but as usual I was getting such a "Sleepless Night" due to the "Cry Of The Gypsy" from the caravan across the way. "Night By Night" this had carried on, but on this occasion they seemed different. Were they her usual cries of pleasure... or pain? As everything became silent, I slowly opened my window, and could see the silhouette of a figure "Standing In The Shadows". I reached for the matches to light the candle on my bedside table, but it quickly illuminated the whole room as if it was "Burning Like A Flame". Not wishing to attract the attention of "Mr. Scary" outside, as I had subconsciously named him, I quickly extinguished the match and ventured out into the darkness. Visibility was poor, but as I watched the mysterious man, he seemed to be looking for something. Maybe it was "Lost Behind The Wall". I must have been mad, but decided to confront him and offer to help. I asked him who he was. "Heaven Sent" me, he said. He told me about the evil spirit that had descended upon the gypsy's caravan, kept her "Prisoner" that evening whilst slowly taking her soul with a long "Kiss Of Death". Never the type to "Stop Fighting Love", her promiscuous behaviour had this time become her final undoing. Then the realisation dawned on me that this man was an angel, he wasn't in the slightest bit scary. He told me he had heard "So Many Tears", but had arrived too late. Suddenly, he grabbed my hand and told me to run as the "Dream Warriors" had seen us. I was scared, fearful that they were "Back For The Attack", and that I was to be their next victim. We ran and ran, but they were closing the gap. I tripped and fell, lying on my back as I could see them rapidly approaching. And then I woke, as the morning sun was shining though my window, hitting me right in my eyes as I lay there in my bed...

Are there any Asia fans who could help me out with this question please... I've just found this video on YouTube, and really like it: The sound is really good, and the description says it's from the LaserDisc called "Asia in Asia" with audio remastered by BrunoSamppa, 2014. Is there a CD of this concert which is good quality? The closest I can find is "Enso Kai (Live in Tokyo 1983)" (http://www.progarchives.com/album.asp?id=14047), but I've looked at Amazon reviews and the comments imply that the sound quality is dreadful (as if it's been recorded from the back of the hall using a recording device in someone's pocket, lol). From what I can gather, the sound mastering of the YouTube video is much better than what's on the CD...

Well, the blurb does state that they have managed to create their own unique sound... No-one else would want to sound like that!

I started with the first Wetton albums, and could never get into the John Payne era (and I heard most of them). All those wonderful, natural early melodies just weren't there anymore. And I can also back up the comment that there's some great tracks on the newer Wetton albums, but also ome more mellow material (still good) compared to the early stuff. Their most recent album, "Gravitas" is the only one I haven't tried yet.

Once heard, can never be unheard.

mmm, lots of songs about RS ?? And just in case sales figures aren't very good... 11. Reunion 12. Come On Up To Our House

Yes, I'm a big fan... but it's still not the right style for this section of the forum. It's still Metal, even if it's melodic, and not too dissimilar to a lot of the other melodic (power) metal in the Heavy Metal section. I certainly wouldn't lump them in with the sort of bands in AOR and Hard Rock.

Symphony X in the "AOR and Hard Rock" section, lol.

I bought this the other day. I hadn't heard of the band before, but a bit of research revealed that most people really like the first two albums with Lance King on vocals. I remember him from Balance Of Power, and used to own one of their albums but got fed up with it after a while, So I checked out the first two Pyramaze albums with him singing, and also found them not to my taste... maybe his voice is a bit too "clean" for power metal. But the new guy is more "metal", and this album really rocks!

I remember when prog metal was usually considered as "thinking man's metal"... does this mean that a lot of dumbed-down prog exists as well nowadays?

"My Eternal Dream" is not too bad. I used to be a fan of Stratovarius years ago with their early albums, but I got rid of them at some point down the line when I got fed up with the Euro Power Metal sound that every band was producing. Can't stand the main instrumental sound being made by the drums like a pneumatic drill, like they're trying to artificially make the song sound faster than it is... The melody is there, but the instruments aren't being given the chance to breathe. I've been on a bit of a power metal "quest" recently, looking for some new bands or anything "classic" that I might have missed, and I definitely prefer the more traditional U.S. Power Metal sound to the Euro style, which often sounds too similar as the bands follow what seems to be an expected style nowadays.

I've been a fan of Ten since when the Spellbound album came out, and bought each album as they came out until I got bored with the band. The last album I got was Heresy And Creed, but by then Gary Hughes' voice sounded like he was simply bored, almost as if he was maybe fed up with not being a bigger band than they were, considering the good quality of their output. I'm quite surprised by the negative comments in this thread, as I rather like the YouTube videos that have been posted. They sound like they've rejuvenated themselves, and I've just googled for some reviews of this one and Albion, and they seem to be getting positive reviews with high ratings. Maybe I need to re-acquaint myself with those last few albums I've got with fresh ears after not having listened to them for a long time. I can even see myself probably picking up these recent two albums to bring myself back up to date with the band.

Maybe he's only got three good tracks, and is using one per album in this trilogy!

Hearing Aids?

I started a similar thread in the General Music Discussion section not long ago, as I thought it would be more appropriate there so as not to limit to a particular music style. http://www.heavyharmonies.ipbhost.com/index.php?showtopic=33569 As this is the AOR and Hard Rock section, I thought putting it in the General section could include Metal singers as well. My thread was asking for current singers, but no reason a new one can't be started to include music from past history.

Fantastic list there, KISS_Rules. Several of those are the kind of songs I was thinking of when I started this thread. Great stuff!

Survivor - "Eye Of The Tiger" Europe - "The Final Countdown" Two examples that quickly came to my mind where one song became so big (and in these cases, famous) that they tend to overshadow the rest of the album. A song that now has a life of its own, which perhaps makes it strange to listen to in the context of the rest of the album. What other ones can you think of? It doesn't necessarily have to be a song that became famous. Perhaps it's just something that is just so awesome that it doesn't seem to fit in with the rest of the album any more. Something that is in a league of its own, and they couldn't come up with any other ideas of similar stature on the same album, thereby making it stand out like a sore thumb (but in a good way).

Yep, I chose to do my lists in alphabetical order, and picked the best albums from each year. So for 1989, the list ended up containing 30 of the 57 albums I own for that year, which is a good selection. Most other years ended up with smaller lists, so I could still stick to the "Best Of" constraint that these threads are about. I'd probably find it too difficult to put them into order, certainly further down the list anyway. But then my collection covers quite a varied selection of genres. I could put all the Prog Rock or Heavy Metal ones near the top just because I've listened to them more than Melodic Rock / AOR, but it wouldn't necessarily mean one is better than the other. And my tastes change as well... I've found some things I used to like don't really float my boat as much now. For example, some albums that I used to think were really good now sound a bit dated. Some of my "million notes per second" Power Metal CDs sound a bit cheesy now. Etc. I'm also getting back into some of my Hard Rock bands which I haven't listened to for a while. I guess that's why I decided to add a some descriptive running commentary to my lists instead, to show my appreciation that way.

I quite enjoyed the Crush album, but I'm not hearing anything I like in these new songs.

Sales figures have dropped considerably over the years, with big albums now considered successful if they sell in the hundreds of thousands as opposed to when they used to sell in the millions. I wonder how they will measure sales figures when everyone is streaming? Will they count Spotify "listens", even though they still come under your same monthly subscription fee? That would be strange; a bit like counting how many times I listen to each CD in relation to the others.

Nope, just ordinary work colleagues. One even commented I was daft still buying CDs!!