Socratic Methodist

House of Shakira

VERY underwhelmed. HUGE style change. Now they sound like every other entry-level AOR/MR act trying to make it out there. I guess Eklund was the principle songwriter.

Another release that doesn't touch Whitesnake for AOTY. A bit too samey.

Meh...below average album on my scale. 1 point per song I like, for a score of 4/10

End of the Day

Time of Our Lives

Somewhere in California

Lay it on Me

^^^correct. I don't want these releases re-mixed, re-worked, or otherwise re-tooled. I want them less muddied, muffled, and more loud. Not to the extent that they are 'clipped'. But like Leykis stated....I play HOTMK, and Strange Wings...and Wings and Forever Young(the copies I have) - and these songs are so muffled and low that, like Leykis, have to turn my volume up to 20 to hear the song - and even at that point they still sound muffled and hissy....it can't be JUST us that think that.

Ok, let's have them....lol

Savatage - In the Hall of the Mountain King

Tyketto - Don't Come Easy, Strength in Numbers

Bangalore Choir - On Target

Shark Island - Law of the Order

Dio - Holy Diver, Last in Line, Sacred Heart, Dream Evil

Autograph - Loud and Clear

Fifth Angel - Fifth Angel

B.B. Steal - On the Edge

Trixter - Trixter

Fiore - Body Electric

Jagged Edge UK

I know there are more....drawing a blank.

My 100% albums:

Winger - Pull

Harem Scarem - S/T

Harem Scarem - Mood Swings

Jaded Heart - Journey Will Never End

Billy Squier - Don't Say No

WhiteSnake - Forevermore

Aldo Nova - Subject

Kansas - Leftoverture

Styx - Pieces of Eight

Rush - T4E

Genesis - Trick of the Tail

98-99% very close:

Brian Howe - Circus Bar

Journey - Frontiers

Def Leppard - Pyromania

Def Leppard is the most impressive name on that list. Those other bands have 'longevity' stats. IMHO, nothing impressive about Pink Floyd, who's been around since the birth of Betty White, to have reached a sales milestone....

My point was simply that if 'fans' want to see what the group sounds like live NOW...then they should buy a ticket, as they are still touring. Logically, they should have released a live album encompassing '83-'92....it makes MUCH more sense, as we cannot currently buy a ticket to hear that quality music.

And just an FYI....fans go to shows for this genre of bands to hear the D12(Dirty Dozen)....nobody is flocking to MSG to hear Paper Sun, or Sha-la-la Girl....sorry.

And I would have thought RUSH was one of those Diamond answers...

While Joe doesn't sound like he use to (or how I would prefer) this is still better than anything else they have released in quite some time. I wonder what the other new tracks sound like? May pick this up now but I really wish the live parts of the cd were circa 83-92.

DING DING DING......at least someone gets it. Who wants to hear a 50-year old Joe try to sing songs live? That's what concerts are for(yikes). Pick songs recorded in the late 80s/early 90s.....As usual, the fans are all-knowing, and the bands/management know jack shit.

Absolutely horrible....more paint by numbers pop nonsense.

Nobody? Wow.

Anybody else hear this yet? What say you?

Just out of curiosity, Socratic, do you hate all modern bands, even if they do play the style of music most featured on this site? I couldn't help but notice that apart from Crazy Lixx, all those CDs are from bands/artists that were active in the 80's (well Bormann was at the tail end of it anyway).

 

 

To answer your question, Geoff, I just like that 80s sound. Honestly, I've been pretty vocal on other boards, with a friend, and in my own mind in the past criticizing modern bands for NOT having guitar solos in the songs. But that doesn't neccesarily mean that all is well if they DO decide to include a token solo....so I need to come to some definitive opinion on things. One of my friends happens to like some modern stuff and is constantly trying to get me to like it. I have sampled some stuff like Hinder(2nd album), Shinedown(whom I like), Distorted Wonderland(I like ONE song)...the others, like Taking Dawn, My Darkest Days, Nickelback, Papa Roach(i think I like a couple of songs from an album a few years ago) I just can't get into. I know right away if I like a song/group. VERY rarely is anything a grower for me. I think the term grower is a euphemism for liking it for the sake of liking it, or I have to like this because i like the group

 

I hope I don't come across as elitist, or holier than thou...those 'modern' bands above that I like - I like them, but wouldn't neccesarily include them on this site. But again, that's just me....a personal choice that doesn't amount to jack. Not my site. And at the end of the day not a big enough deal to get into a scrape about....lol.

 

One thing I'm a wee bit confused about.... you lament the lack of guitarwork and talk about "modern" sounding... which tells me you haven't listened to Taking Dawn at all. That album is straight out of the 80s/early 90s, just with current production.

 

You're certainly entitled to your opinion... no matter how wrong it is.

Actually, Dan....I listened to a bunch of the songs at that friend's house I mentioned. We went track by track during the Bruins-Kings game. As a Fleetwood Mac fan i was curious about The Chain. Not bad. But its a cover. Doesn't count. I didn't mind Never Enough. People were praising Endlessly, I(we) found it boring. The rest of the stuff was forgettable for ME. As always your mileage may vary....

Just out of curiosity, Socratic, do you hate all modern bands, even if they do play the style of music most featured on this site? I couldn't help but notice that apart from Crazy Lixx, all those CDs are from bands/artists that were active in the 80's (well Bormann was at the tail end of it anyway).

To answer your question, Geoff, I just like that 80s sound. Honestly, I've been pretty vocal on other boards, with a friend, and in my own mind in the past criticizing modern bands for NOT having guitar solos in the songs. But that doesn't neccesarily mean that all is well if they DO decide to include a token solo....so I need to come to some definitive opinion on things. One of my friends happens to like some modern stuff and is constantly trying to get me to like it. I have sampled some stuff like Hinder(2nd album), Shinedown(whom I like), Distorted Wonderland(I like ONE song)...the others, like Taking Dawn, My Darkest Days, Nickelback, Papa Roach(i think I like a couple of songs from an album a few years ago) I just can't get into. I know right away if I like a song/group. VERY rarely is anything a grower for me. I think the term grower is a euphemism for liking it for the sake of liking it, or I have to like this because i like the group

I hope I don't come across as elitist, or holier than thou...those 'modern' bands above that I like - I like them, but wouldn't neccesarily include them on this site. But again, that's just me....a personal choice that doesn't amount to jack. Not my site. And at the end of the day not a big enough deal to get into a scrape about....lol.

Please don't mistake my low posting numbers as evidence that I don't know about this music.

I'll give you MY top 5:

Crazy Lixx

Brian Howe

Bangalore Choir

Michael Bormann

Keel

Honorable Mentions:

Krokus

Scorpions

Pretty Maids

Robin Beck

Y&T

Nelson

Why not add Rascal Flatts too, or Lee Dewyze? Perhaps some Lady Gaga? Some of these picks wouldn't even be included in the annals of HH.

I'm a little confused as to where you're going with this. If it ends up being essential I'll go and review the lists again, but based on my read this morning I didn't see anything that was not a rock album in those lists. So how does that translate into your suggestion to add country and dance/pop artists in the lists?

 

 

Well...this is not my site. It is Dan's. And he has his 3 guys that he lets do their picks as well...based on previous years with inclusions such as Papa Roach, Daughtry, Anberlin, and Delain...coupled with this year's additions of The Storm(couldn't even find that entry on HH), Taking Dawn, and My Darkest Days - these are MODERN rock bands....my suggestions of country and pop were hyperbole. Adding Hinder, Evanescence, Nickelback, and Staind would have been just as out of place.... I'm with Glam Junkie. I thought this site was based on 80s style rock bands.

 

 

It has been explained time and time again on why certain bands are making it in the door and why. You continue to disagree every time it comes up and then want to throw in your 2 cents worth on all the ridiculous stuff that clearly is not allowed here and say that it should be too. These changes have been in the making for almost 3 years now. Get over it already. People can expand their musican taste beyond just 80's you know. If you're not happy here, there are plenty of other websites, or better yet, you could always start one of your own.

WTF are you talking about? I hardly ever post here. You must have me confused with someone else.

Why not add Rascal Flatts too, or Lee Dewyze? Perhaps some Lady Gaga? Some of these picks wouldn't even be included in the annals of HH.

I'm a little confused as to where you're going with this. If it ends up being essential I'll go and review the lists again, but based on my read this morning I didn't see anything that was not a rock album in those lists. So how does that translate into your suggestion to add country and dance/pop artists in the lists?

Well...this is not my site. It is Dan's. And he has his 3 guys that he lets do their picks as well...based on previous years with inclusions such as Papa Roach, Daughtry, Anberlin, and Delain...coupled with this year's additions of The Storm(couldn't even find that entry on HH), Taking Dawn, and My Darkest Days - these are MODERN rock bands....my suggestions of country and pop were hyperbole. Adding Hinder, Evanescence, Nickelback, and Staind would have been just as out of place.... I'm with Glam Junkie. I thought this site was based on 80s style rock bands.

WOW....clearly Crazy Lixx's Cd was tops this year. ONE person had it in their top 5. I KNEW Treat was gonna be in almost all the lists, even though it was the first CD out last year. More time to listen to it I guess. Personally, I think the picks are too ecclectic to be taken very seriously. Why not add Rascal Flatts too, or Lee Dewyze? Perhaps some Lady Gaga? Some of these picks wouldn't even be included in the annals of HH. I'm left shaking my head.....as always.

WOW...I actually signed in just now to start this thread....LOL. Thanks for saving me the trouble. BTW, if you actually cut out the stuff that doesn't belong like Anberlin, 3 Doors Down, Mastedon, Daughtry, and Papa Roach - it would go alot faster....

Overall, this album deserves a rating of 6/10

 

Hmmm ..., that's a pretty harsh rating !

 

Pretty obvious that's a rating from someone who doesn't enjoy Melodic Rock in general. You'd have to be deaf or a non Melodic Rock fan not to rate this among the very best in the past 10 years when it comes to the genre.

 

I don't rate albums from genres I don't enjoy, it's obvious to these ears that I won't like 'em in the first place, so why bother. If I had to rate my wife's top forty dance/pop stuff it would all get thumbs down.

Please brush up on your logic. Not liking ONE album has absolutely no logical jump to that's a rating from someone who doesn't enjoy Melodic Rock in general

It's kinda like saying, That guy doesn't like Barry Bonds....he must not be a baseball fan

I keep falling in love with this disc over and over. I can't get enough.

I have to admit to not being familiar with Treat, as a whole. That being said, I think this album is a bit overhyped. Alot of times a group gets hype because they have something recently released. Not always, but enough for it to be a phenomenon.

To me, this wouldn't even be in the Top 10 of 2010. Overall, this album deserves a rating of 6/10

Brian Howe's Circus Bar?

There is nothing even remotely interesting about this release....at least *I* couldn't find anything. YAWN.

Remember he is a guitarist first and foremost, not a vocalist, but he sings aswell as some so called 'lead vocalists' on this disc imo. Hence why he took over quite a lot of lead vocals in Toto, as Kikmballs voice is almost shot. Not an easy job.

 

Re. the 'Jazzy' stuff - only a couple of bits that have a Jazz Fusion feel, like 'Tumescent' and for the Westcoast buffs 'Flash In The Pan' and a Steely Dan type track 'On my Way', so absolutely no 'Jazz' on here at all.

 

 

Neal Schon and Satriani could smoke Luke in their sleep....especially Neal.

 

 

 

 

Fortunately, this thread is about how good the new Luke album is, not a pissing contest whether he is better or worse than blah de blah. In some peoples opinions CC Deville would be better, but that is a matter of opinion.

 

BTW...And I am a major Schon and Satriani fan

And those people should be on medication.....

Remember he is a guitarist first and foremost, not a vocalist, but he sings aswell as some so called 'lead vocalists' on this disc imo. Hence why he took over quite a lot of lead vocals in Toto, as Kikmballs voice is almost shot. Not an easy job.

 

Re. the 'Jazzy' stuff - only a couple of bits that have a Jazz Fusion feel, like 'Tumescent' and for the Westcoast buffs 'Flash In The Pan' and a Steely Dan type track 'On my Way', so absolutely no 'Jazz' on here at all.

Neal Schon and Satriani could smoke Luke in their sleep....especially Neal. When we are talking about someone's favorite, it is very hard to be objective.

BTW, neither Neal, nor Joe is my favorite....