**** Don’t Blame Me by Miles Davis and Charlie Parker: Nevermind the Musicians, This Jam Is Dated

It is too bad that the recording production on this one just doesn’t cut the mustard, and that is the sole reason why I subtracted a star. True, I probably wouldn’t say that if it was an aged guitar album, such as something Django Reinhardt released. I love Django Reinhardt and own a good share of his better music, which I have counted as precious as modern jazz albums. The same is true of some other early pioneers in jazz guitar.

As recording technology has increased, this album has increasingly been becoming a historical album and not a sensational album. True, Miles Davis and Charlie Parker were some of the greatest musicians that ever were, and these are some of the greatest swinging songs ever written. They are standards in the Real Book 1, which I had back in my younger days as a guitarist when I played jazz. Really, not only are these standards, but these songs are staples, the bread and butter of jazz. So, I encourage you to skip out on buying this album, and go to the local wine bar where you will get a chance to listen to these songs live and hopefully revitalized as they were meant to be listened to.

** Determination by God Forbid: It’s hard to tell where they went wrong on this one

This album was released during my stay at Gordon College.  It’s a long story why I was there, so I’ll skip it.  I saw Determination in a mall in northern MA, near Gordon.  I couldn’t believe it!  A band whom I had known when they were nobodies had made their way into a shopping mall.  I can’t say it is a sellout album either.  It is just that it is a mediocre album that really adds nothing to the genre that has not been done before, and it seems that the song craftsmanship had fallen short of my expectations I had since listening to Reject the Sickness.

**** Reject the Sickness by God Forbid - Years Ago What Came to Mind Is: Loads of Promise

I count myself as blessed to have been with God Forbid since the beginning.  I remember going to a show in NJ when hardly anybody was there.  I showed because I thought their demo Matt played for me had promise.  Reject the Sickness is a follow up 1^st real album that slams as hard as any band out there, especially those that walk the metalcore genre.

I remember talking with Dallas at a party near Rutgers University in Jersey and he was like, “We want to play hardcore shows because people are more into the music.”  He described how playing metal shows was like going to assembly of people that stood still with a scowl on their face and were boring.  To a certain extent I agree with that.  For example, starting a pit or any movement at all at Dimmu Borgir’s first USA show was futile. 

One can’t neglect the heaviness of Reject the Sickness.  This album is far heavier than Slayer’s Reign in Blood.  Certainly, Dallas wasn’t meaning to disrespect metal bands like Slayer, that much is clear!  Around that time I had recently seen Slayer live in Jersey, and believe me the crowd had no shortage of movement, and that is not what he was speaking out against.  Thus, it is such, following in the way of their forefathers like Slayer, God Forbid instead of being a follower became heavier than their predecessor.  Slayer did the same thing with Venom, and Venom did the same thing with Black Sabbath and/or Deep Purple.  And, it is no doubt to me that every band has its influences.

**** The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien: The Virtue of Cassette Tapes on a Dominican Stereo

While this work is sufficient to stir the imagination, what it lacks is a character that I can relate to.  Generally, I am unable to feel much empathy with these characters, and even less so in the book than in the movie.  Though this book is well read – Rob Inglis did a good job - for the next book in the trilogy, I will try actually reading it instead of listening to it to see if that allows me to enjoy it more.

The recording was done on cassette tapes.  Wow!  What a blast from the past!  Additionally, this recording came out before the event of the movie, 1991.  It required me pulling out from the closet an old Aiwa amplifier/compact disk player/cassette recorder that I used back when I attended college.  The compact disk player part of the system has long been broken, but the tape player still works.  In fact, I thought of throwing it out, but then I decided to save it so that I could show my son Alex a piece of history, cassette tapes.  These things I can only do when he is old enough to understand.

I also have a compact disk player walkman that I used to plug in so that I didn’t have to buy a new stereo system when the compact disk player in this system broke, and an old pair of compact computer speakers.  The amplifier and the original speakers worked fine, so I thought to myself; why throw out the stereo if only one part of this is broken?  When listening to The Hobbit, however, I didn’t use the original speakers, however, but the compact computer speakers.  I didn’t need the volume or the quality; and, I desired to save space because my family has only a small apartment.

I call this a Dominican stereo, yet perhaps it is not loud enough to even call it that, as the stereo systems in the Dominican Republic are often a collection of random leftover parts.  The ability to adapt the compact disk player to the system comes via a common stereo cable that plugs into the headphone jack of the compact disk player walkman and selecting the auxiliary source to be amplified on the amplifier.  The speakers of the system have their own amplifier, such that it requires a male adapter to go from the large male plug in the system and the small male plug, which connects the speakers to the system.  That is though it is not a very large system, the power from the amplifier, if sent directly to the compact computer speakers would overload them, as the compact speakers require a load about the level that a head phone jack gives.  Thus, it is such that the volume on the compact computer speakers needs adjusting and the volume on the amplifier needs adjusting, and if the compact disk walkman is used, impossible in this scenario as this recording of The Hobbit was on cassette tapes, a third volume knob is added.

2013 100 CD Changer – Are These The End Times?

I review quite a bit of music, and mostly that is because I love music so much.  I have a 100 compact disk changer that mixes my music, and about once every 6 months, I give an update as to what is in it.  When I was about to post the June/July mix, it turned out that I got hospitalized in the psych ward for a month, so the time before this time I skipped the post because I had no computer access, much less internet access in the hospital, or even access to my own home where the cd changer is located.  This time I noticed that some of my favorites made it out of the disc changer without a review, and I honestly don’t know how that happened, but they will be back in when I can fit them in a slot.
1. Kings of Damnation Era by Black Label Society
2. Soul Sirkus
3. Without a Net First Set by the Grateful Dead
4. What If and Dregs of Earth by the Dixie Dregs
5. Mind’s Eye by Vinnie Moore
6. Grace for Drowning Vol. 2 like dust I have cleared from my eye by Steve Wilson
7. Stand Up and High Tension Wires by Steve Morse
8. Free Fall and Unsung Heroes by the Dixie Dregs
9. Time Odyssey by Vinnie Moore
10. Veritas by the Alex Skolnick trio
11. Night of the Living Dregs and California Screamin’ by the Dixie Dregs
12. My Favorite Things by John Coltrane
13. Self titled by Niacin
14. Islands and Larks Tongues by King Crimson
15. …And Justice for All by Metallica
16. Emergent by Gordian Knot
17. Greatest Hits: Back to the Beginning by Megadeth
18. Splendido Hotel by Al Di Meola
19. Back in the World of Adventures by The Flower Kings
20. Spontaneous Combustion by the Liquid Trio Experiment
21. The Kindness of Strangers by Spock’s Beard
22. Scenario by Al Di Meola
23. Mix w/ Allan Holdsworth, Mahavishnu Orchestra, Charlie Byrd, On the Virg, Al Di Meola, Scofield w/Medeski Martin Wood, Steely Dan, Benny Goodman
24. Question and Answer by Pat Metheny, Dave Holland, and Roy Haynes
25. I Care Because You Do by Aphex Twin
26. Machine Head by Deep Purple
27. Light Years by Chick Corea’s Elektric Band
28. Misplaced Childhood by Marillion
29. Bridge Across Forever by Transatlantic
30. Individual Thought Patterns by Death
31. Mix/ Tony MacAlpine and Led Zeppelin
32.  Aenima by Tool
33. Fire Garden by Steve Vai
34. Surfing With the Alien by Joe Satriani
35. Listen by Jordan Rudess
36. Start Today by the Gorilla Biscuits
37. The Essential Frank Sinatra (The Columbia Years)
38. The Very Best of Emerson, Lake, and Palmer
39. Doin’ something by Soulive
40. Bird’s Best Bop on Verve by Charlie Parker
41. Up All Night by John Scofield
42. Greatest by Bee Gees
43. Man Child and Dedication by Herbie Hancock
44.  Secret Story by Pat Metheny
45. Retrospective 1940-7 by Django Reinhardt
46. Grace For Drowning Vol. 1 deform to form a star by Steven Wilson
47. Deliverance by Opeth
48. Thunder from Down Under by Frank Gambale
49. Full House by Wes Montgomery
50. III by ChickenFoot
51. Mix/ Compact Jazz by George Benson and Idle Moments by Grant Green
52. Amazing Journey disc 1
53. This Godless Endeavor by Nevermore
54. The Very Beast of Dio by Dio
55. Kind of Blue by Miles Davis
56. Dear Old Stockholm by John Coltrane
57. The Artista Years Disc 2 by the Grateful Dead
58. True by Too Human
59. The Vibe by Roy Hargrove
60. A Picture of Nectar by Phish
61. Self titled and Mother’s Milk by the Red Hot Chili Peppers
62. Greatest disk 2 by the Bee Gees
63. The Blue Note Years: The Best of Kenny Burrell
64. Transgression by Fear Factory
65. Lovecraft by Cradle of Filth
66. Super Hits by Ted Nugent
67. Project by Jordan Rudess and Rod Morgenstein
68. Industry Standard and Full Circle by the Dixie Dregs
69. Coast to Coast and High Tension Wires by the Dixie Dregs
70. A Show of Hands by Victor Wooten
71. Friday Night in San Francisco by Al Di Meola, John McLaughlin, and Paco de Lucia
72. Like Minds by Chick Corea, Gary Burton, Pat Metheny, Roy Haynes, and Dave Holland
73. School Days by Stanley Clarke
74. Youthanasia by Megadeth
75. Coda by Led Zeppelin
76. Vulgar Display of Power by Pantera
77. The best of Earl Klugh
78. A Dramatic Turn of Events by Dream Theater
79. Virtuoso 2 by Joe Pass
80. Live from Oz by Planet X
81. Fusion by Wes Montgomery
82. Shadows Fall
83. What Did He Say by Victor Wooten
84. Live by Bill Frisell
85. Midnight Blue by Kenny Burrell
86. Retrospective 3 1947-53 by Django Reinhardt
87. Retrospective 1 1934-40 by Django Reinhardt
88. OK Computer by Radiohead
89. Gretchen Goes to Nebraska by King’s X
90. Greatest Hits by Stevie Ray Vaughn and Double Trouble
91. Born this Way by Lady Gaga
92. Twilight in Olympus by Symphony X
93. Sex and Religion by Steve Vai
94. Notes on a Dream by Jordan Rudess
95. Pick Hits Live by John Scofield
96. Surrealistic Madness by Candiria
97. Character and Enter Suicide Angels by Dark Tranquility
98. Destroy Erase Improve by Meshuggah
99. When Gravity Fails by Neil Zaza
100. First Meditations by John Coltrane

*** Spock’s Beard by Spock’s Beard – Not Technical Enough To Draw My Praise

If an album is a good technical album, like any progressive rock album should be, you should be able to listen to is far more times than this one.  The song that says, “Photographs and fallen leaves,” I have to admit was very catchy to me at first.  However, like the rest of the songs on this album, they are only worth a moderate amount of listens and then you might as well dispose of the album.  True, I was captivated at first, but unlike some other prog rock bands like Rush, Queensryche, and Savatage, I did not get much more than a fizzle of solid enjoyment from this album.

**** Ragged but Right by the Homegrown String Band – Good Southern Family Music From a Family

The first thing that stood out to me when I saw the Homegrown String band live is the extent that the violinist is gifted.  She sounds like she should be playing for as a guest on Prairie Home Companion.  They mentioned that she had been trained by an extraordinary teacher.  However, what makes the Homegrown String Band special is that the band is literally a family, sort of like the Jackson Five, except the parents are playing with their lovely daughters.  Often the apple doesn’t fall from the tree, and that is what happened this case; the whole family is very gifted as musicians.  There are no bad apples in this family.

**** Madness by Tony MacAlpine – MacAlpine Should Have Been a Household Name for Musicians

I have quite a hard time differentiating MacAlpine’s early albums stylistically, but in this case that is a plus.  Cerebrally, he rocks hard, as some that is physically and spiritually gifted.  If you like the guitar virtuoso genre, then don’t miss this one (or any other of MacAlpine’s work for that matter!), and even someone who generally listens to good music and general will probably find this album to be a treasure.

* Gentle Hearts by Greg Howe, Tetsuo Sakurai, Dennis Chambers – I Guessed a Winner, But…

This album does have some decent chops, and is not a total loss.  However, I recommend that folks look elsewhere, as there are a gazillion albums with decent chops (more than one could hope to digest in a lifetime).  Usually, both Greg Howe and Dennis Chambers are artists that never fail to produce greatness, but the album only has one song that is good, while it has several songs that range from mediocre to terrible.  Thus, since there is so much else out there that is good, I advise overlooking this one.

**** Freedom to Fly by Tony MacAlpine – Great Album from a Guitarist that was Virtually Unrecognized

Tony MacAlpine is one the great success stories of the guitar virtuoso movement.  He made his way to the top the hard way, by releasing album after album of solid great music, even when largely going unnoticed, except for a few small elite listeners.  His story has been a story of determination.  This is one of those albums that helped MacAlpine prove himself, and if you listen to his music, you’ll know that at every stage of his game, he has been better than his white skinned “virtuoso” peers that have raked in the big bucks.

I picked up on Tony MacAlpine around the year 2000 when he joined up with Planet X.  By then, Tony MacAlpine had already released several great albums, the best of which is probably Maximum Security.  I got to know Planet X, because I was a fan of their previous keyboardist, Derek Sherinian, whom I should also say has put out many outstanding solo albums.

**** Black Market by Weather Report – One of Those Great Albums that Will Always Sound Fresh

Weather Report is a pioneering jazz rock fusion album.  It was released before anyone knew what they were doing.  It was a totally different style of jazz.  Many people were angry about it because they saw rock n’ roll as a sellout genre that could only be simple.  Let me tell you something; this album ain’t simple.  However, the greater question that should be answered is whether or not the album delivers.  Compared to some of the later efforts of musicians that played on this album, I would say that overtime the sounds got more refined, and often better.

Black Market sounds like a bunch accomplished musician’s trying to prove themselves.  Wait a minute, that sounds like a contradiction, but it is true.  What Black Market lacks is the jelly jam to hold together the fruit.

Nevertheless, the music on the album is still of superior quality, when compared to the alternative, which would have been staying on course with the jazz swing oblivion where the music never gets better, and most of everything that is worth playing is already recorded.

A definite plus to this album, is that there will probably never come a time when its audience can’t say, that sounds like it was released, yesterday.