Thursday, December 18, 2014

New Pandora Station: “Popular Rock” – The Seeds


Seeds:

·         The Allman Brothers Band
12-16-2014
·         Elton John
12-16-2014
·         Jane's Addiction
12-16-2014
·         Van Halen
12-16-2014
·         Alice In Chains
12-16-2014
·         Chickenfoot
12-16-2014
·         The Rolling Stones
12-16-2014
·         Rollins Band
12-16-2014
·         Lenny Kravitz
12-16-2014
·         Pearl Jam
12-16-2014
·         Jimi Hendrix
12-16-2014
·         Red Hot Chili Peppers
12-16-2014
·         Dave Matthews Band
12-16-2014
·         Phish
12-16-2014
·         Santana
12-16-2014
·         Journey
12-16-2014
·         America
12-16-2014
·         Chicago
12-16-2014
·         Grateful Dead
12-16-2014
·         Asia
12-16-2014
·         Styx
12-16-2014
·         Eric Clapton
12-16-2014
·         Genesis
12-16-2014
·         Yes
12-16-2014
·         Jethro Tull
12-16-2014
·         Tool
12-15-2014
·         Queen
12-15-2014
·         Judas Priest
12-15-2014
·         Deep Purple
12-15-2014
·         Black Sabbath
12-15-2014
·         Aerosmith
12-15-2014
·         Soundgarden
12-15-2014
·         Megadeth
12-15-2014
·         Iron Maiden
12-15-2014
·         Ozzy Osbourne
12-15-2014
·         Metallica
12-15-2014
·         Rage Against The Machine
12-15-2014
Perhaps, you wonder why Led Zeppelin, Pink Floyd, and Rush aren't on the list.  Truth be told I love all three.  However, someone in my family does not like Led Zeppelin, and Rush, and that is why they weren't included.  Pink Floyd however is on a different seed list.

Friday, December 5, 2014

Seeds and Pandora.com Radio Stations - Recommended Artists

find me here: Pandora
Station: “Classic Jazz”
Station “Blues, Art & Prog Rock”
Station “Class, Celt, Bluegrass”
Station: “Jam, Fusion, & Jazz”
Station “Prog & Power Metal”
Station “Slammin’”

Wednesday, November 19, 2014

Get Revitalized Versions of When Dream & Day Unite Instead of The Original

This version of When Dream and Day Unite should be thought of as one of Dream Theater nonessential releases.  It is most definitely a good album, but these songs have been revitalized elsewhere in Dream Theater's catalogue.  Highlights include "Status Seeker," "A Fortune in Lies," "Afterlife," "The Killing Hand," and "Only a Matter of Time."  I recommend either the Official Bootleg version of WD&DU instead and/or "Live at the Marquee."

Five Stars, 1.  Dream Theater by Dream Theater
Five Stars, 2.  Awake
Five Stars, 3.  Octavarium
Five Stars, 4.  Images and Words
Five Stars, 5.  A Dramatic Turn of Events
Five Stars, 6.  Systematic Chaos
Five Stars, 7.  Metropolis Pt. 2: Scenes from a Memory
Five Stars, 8.  Train of Thought
Five Stars, 9.  Falling Into Infinity
Four Stars, 10.  When Dream and Day Unite (I recommend getting either the Official Bootleg of this live with James LaBrie, or Live at the Marquee)
Four Stars, 11.  Black Clouds & Silver Linings

Four Stars, 12.  Six Degrees of Inner Turbulence (I recommend the totally awesome 4 Degrees of Radio Edits, or Score instead)

Thursday, November 13, 2014

Review of Falling Into Infinity by Dream Theater

Falling Into Infinity is a bit softer than the music on some of Dream Theater’s other albums, but it does get a little heavy on the song “Peruvian Skies.”  Other highlights include “Hollow Years,” “Lines in the Sand,” and” Take Away My Pain.”  Detractions include “You Not Me,” and “Burning My Soul.”  However, overall Falling Into Infinity is a tremendous album.
Rated in order:
Five Stars, 1.  Dream Theater by Dream Theater
Five Stars, 2.  Awake
Five Stars, 3.  Octavarium
Five Stars, 4.  Images and Words
Five Stars, 5.  A Dramatic Turn of Events
Five Stars, 6.  Systematic Chaos
Five Stars, 7.  Metropolis Pt. 2: Scenes from a Memory
Five Stars, 8.  Train of Thought
Five Stars, 9.  Falling Into Infinity
Four Stars, 10.  When Dream and Day Unite - Get the "Official Bootleg - When Dream and Day Unite."  It is far better.
Four Stars, 11.  Black Clouds & Silver Linings

Four Stars, 12.  Six Degrees of Inner Turbulence - Get the totally awesome "4 Degrees of Radio Edits," and/or "Score" instead.

Wednesday, October 15, 2014

Craig Hamilton’s Favored Eclectic Mix of Guitar Heavy Albums in Time for Holiday Shopping

Kings of Damnation Era by Black Label Society           20th Century Masters by B.B. King
Prime Cuts by Shadow Gallery                                     Alive in America by Steely Dan
Full House by Wes Mongomery                                    Live at Yoshi’s by Pat Martino
Tribute by Ozzy Osbourne                                Birds of Fire by the Mahavishnu Orchestra
The Perfect Element by Pain of Salvation                       the Best of Santan by Santana
Coda by Led Zeppelin                                                   Parallax by Greg Howe
School Days by Stanley Clarke                                   Maximum Security by Tony MacAlpine
Greatest Hits of the 20th Century by Bela Fleck and the Flecktones
Now by Lenny Breau                                                      It Is What It Is by Mike Stern
Departure by Gary Burton & Friends                              Another Lifetime by Simon Philips
Self-titled by Niacin                                                   Then Best of Chick Corea (Blue Note)
…And Justice for All by Metallica                                   Ride the Lightning by Metallica
Fear of the Dark by Iron Maiden                                  7th Son of a 7th Son by Iron Maiden
Secrets by Allan Holdsworth                                          Metal Fatigue by Allan Holdsworth
Virtuoso 2 by Joe Pass                                                   Virtuoso 3 by Joe3 Pass
Fire Garden by Steve Vai                                                Sex and Religion by Steve Vai
The Abbey Road EP by the Red Hot Chili Peppers
The Uplift MOFO Party Plan by the Red Hot Chili Peppers
Rust in Peace by Megadeth                                        United Abominations by Megadeth
Into the Electric Castle by Ayreon                                    The Human Equation by Ayreon
III Sides to Every Story by Extreme                                 II Pornograffitti by Extreme
Outbreak by Dennis Chambers                                        Uncle Moe’s Space Ranch
Poets and Madmen by Savatage                                      Handful of Rain by Savatage
Works for Me by John Scofield                                      Up All Night by John Scofield
The Divine Wings of Tragedy by Symphony X                 The Odyssey by Symphony X
Twilight in Olympus by Symphony X
Ten by Pearl Jam                                                              Yield by Pearl Jam
No Code by Pearl Jam
Bill Frisell, Dave Holland, Elvin Jones                                Blues Dream by Bill Frisell
Live by Bill Frisell
Greatest Hits by Queensryche                                            Empire by Queensryche
Here in the Now Frontier by Queensryche
Stardust We Are by the Flower Kings                                Retropolis by the Flower Kings
Back In the World of Adventures by the Flower Kings
Space Revolver by the Flower Kings                           The Rainmaker by the Flower Kings
In Absentia by Porcupine Tree                                     Lightbulb Sun by Porcupine Tree
Deadwing by Porcupine Tree                                    Grace for Drowning by Steven Wilson
Islands by King Crimson                                       Lark’s Tongues In Aspic by King Crimson
Red by King Crimson                                             The Power to Believe by King Crimson
In the Wake of Poseidon by King Crimson
In the Court of the Crimson King by King Crimson
Secret Story by Pat Metheny                                               99 00 by the Pat Metheny Trio
Speaking of Now by the Pat Metheny Group         Imaginary Day by the Pat Metheny Group
I Can See Your House from Here by John Scofield & Pat Metheny
Question and Answer by Pat Metheny, Dave Holland, Roy Haynes
Like Minds by Chick Corea, Gary Burton, Pat Metheny, Roy Haynes, Dave Holland
What If by the Dixie Dregs                                         Dregs of Earth by the Dixie Dregs
Industry Standard by the Dixie Dregs                              Full Circle by the Dixie Dregs
Free Fall by the Dixie Dregs                                       Unsung Heroes by the Dixie Dregs
Coast to Coast by Steve Morse                                   High Tension Wires by Steve Morse
The Raven That Refused to Sing by Steven Wilson
Black Clouds and Silver Linings by Dream Theater         Train of Thought by Dream Theater
A Dramatic Turn of Events by Dream Theater                  Dream Theater by Dream Theater
Metropolis PT.2: Scenes from a Memory                    Falling into Infinity by Dream Theater
Octavarium by Dream Theater                                                Awake by Dream Theater
4 Degrees of Radio Edits by Dream Theater                  Systematic Chaos by Dream Theater
When Dream and Day Unite by Dream Theater               Notes on a Dream by Jordan Rudess
Score disc 1 by Dream Theater                                 Suspended Animation by John Petrucci 

Friday, August 15, 2014

100 Disc Changer - A Better Mix

This is early, but I felt it was necessary to have a mix of cds that I like better. Usually, I only update this twice a year, but I made some major changes, and thought I would share.

List of Artists:

Flower Kings, Dream Theater, Steven Wilson, Led Zeppelin, Dixie Dregs, Metallica, Megadeth, Queensryche, Pat Metheny, Gary Burton, John Scofield, Joe Pass, Iron Maiden, Iced Earth, Ozzy Osbourne, Extreme, Ayreon, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Symphony X, Pearl Jam, Steve Vai, John Coltrane, Black Label Society, Tool, Bela Fleck, Wes Montgomery, The Who, Herbie Hancock, The Mahavishnu Orchestra, Soulive, King Crimson, Stanely Clarke, Niacin, Testament, Shadow Gallery, Radiohead, Pat Martino, B.B. King, King’s X, Bill Frisell, Deep Purple, Savatage, Tony MacAlpine, Allan Holdsworth

List of cds:

Allan Holdsworth - Secrets

Tony MacAlpine – Maximum Security

Savatage – Edge of Thorns

Deep Purple – Machine Head

Bill Frisell – Live

King’s X – Gretchen Goes to Nebraska

B.B. King – 20th Century Masters

Pat Martino – Live at Yoshi’s

Radiohead – OK computer

Shadow Gallery – Prime Cuts

Testament – The Ritual

Niacin – self-titled

Stanley Clarke – School Days

King Crimson – The Power to Believe

Soulive – Doin’ Something

The Mahvishnu Orchestra – Birds of Fire

Herbie Hancock - Empyrean Isles

The Who – Who’s Better Who’s Best: This Is the Very Best of the Who

Wes Montgomery – Full House

Bela Fleck and the Flecktones – Greatest Hits of the 20th Century

Tool – Aenima

Black Label Society – Kings of Damnation Era

John Coltrane – Impressions

Steve Vai – Sex and Religion

Pearl Jam – Ten

Pearl Jam - Yield

Symphony X – The Odyssey

Symphony X – Twilight In Olympus

Red Hot Chili Peppers – The Uplift Mofo Party Plan

Red Hot Chili Peppers – The Abby Road EP

Ayreon – The Human Equation

Ayreon – Into the Electric Castle

Extreme – II Pornograffitti

Extreme – III Sides to Every Story

Ozzy Osbourne – Tribute

Ozzy Osbourne – Bark at the Moon

Iced Earth – Days of Purgatory

Iced Earth – The Blessed and the Damned

Iron Maiden – Fear of the Dark

Iron Maiden – 7th Son of a 7th Son

Joe Pass – Virtuoso No. 3

Joe Pass – Virtuoso No. 2

John Scofield – Works for Me

The John Scofield Band – Up All Night

John Scofield & Pat Metheny – I Can See Your House from Here

Gary Burton - Departure

Gary Burton, Chick Corea, Pat Metheny, Dave Holland, Roy Haynes – Like Minds

Pat Metheny – Speaking of Now

Pat Metheny – Secret Story

Pat Metheny Trio – 99 00

Pat Metheny, Dave Holland, Roy Haynes – Question and Answer

The Pat Metheny Group – Imaginary Day

Queensryche – Greatest Hits

Queensryche – Here in the Now Frontier

Queensryche – Empire

Megadeth – Youthanasia

Megadeth – So Far so Good

Megadeth – Killing Is My Business

Megadeth – United Abominations

Megadeth – Countdown to Extinction

Megadeth – Rust in Peace

Metallica – Ride the Lightning

Metallica - …And Justice for All

Metallica – black album

Metallica – Kill ‘Em All

Steve Morse – Coast to Coast

Steve Morse – High Tension Wires

Dixie Dregs – Full Circle

Dixie Dregs – What If

Dixie Dregs – Industry Standard

Dixie Dregs – Free Fall

Dixie Dregs – Unsung Heroes

Dixie Dregs – Dreg’s of Earth

Led Zeppelin – Coda

Led Zeppelin – In Through the Out Door

Steven Wilson – Grace for Drowning disc 1&2

Porcupine Tree – In Absentia

Porcupine Tree – Deadwing

Porcupine Tree – Lightbulb Sun

Porcupine Tree – Fear of a Blank Planet

Steven Wilson – The Raven That Refused to Sing

Dream Theater – A Dramatic Turn of Events

Dream Theater – Black Clouds & Silver Lining

Dream Theater – Systematic Chaos

Dream Theater – Awake

Dream Theater – 4 Degrees of Radio Edits

Dream Theater – Octavarium

Dream Theater – Falling Into Infinity

Dream Theater – Metropolis Pt. 2: Scenes from a Memory

Dream Theater – Self-Titled

Jordan Rudess – Notes on a Dream

Dream Theater – Score disc 1

James LaBrie – Winter Rose

Dream Theater – Train of Thought

Dream Theater – When Dream and Day Unite

Flower Kings – Back in the World of Adventures

Flower Kings – Stardust We Are

Flower Kings –The Rainmaker

Flower Kings – Space Revolver

Saturday, July 19, 2014

Mostly Sophisticated Summer Music Mix 2014

This is a list of the cds I have in my 100 disc changer.  It is not a top 100 list, but it is all good music that I recommend.  Usually, I have posted this list every 6 months or so, such that normally this would have been posted in the beginning of June.  However, I haven’t been able to listen to cds much lately because on humid days, which are frequent, the amplifier’s “Protect” function shuts down the amplifier, supposedly to prevent damage.
Porcupine Tree – Deadwing (discs 1 and 2)
Porcupine Tree – In Absentia (discs 1 and 2)
Porcupine Tree – Lightbulb Sun
Porcupine Tree – Fear of a Blank Planet
Porcupine Tree – Coma Divine
Steven Wilson – The Raven That Refused to Sing
Steven Wilson – Grace for Drowning (disc 1 and 2)
Flower Kings – Space Revolver
Flower Kings – Stardust We Are (disc 1 and 2)
Flower Kings – Retropolis
Flower Kings – Back in the World of Adventures
Flower Kings – The Rainmaker
Dream Theater – Dream Theater
Dream Theater – A Dramatic Turn of Events
Dream Theater – Systematic Chaos
Dream Theater – Score (disc 1)
Dream Theater – Master of Puppets
Jordan Rudess – Notes on a Dream
An Evening With Jordan Rudess and John Petrucci
James LaBrie’s Mullmuzzler – Keep It to Yourself
Led Zeppelin – In Through the Out Door
Mix cd of Tony MacAlpine and Led Zeppelin
Wes Montgomery – Full House
Wes Montgomery – Fusion
Fates Warning – Chasing Time
Ozzy Osbourne – Tribute
Ozzy Osbourne – Bark at the Moon
Alice In Chains – Dirt
The Mighty Mighty BossTones – Devil’s Night Out
Megadeth – Youthanasia
Megadeth – United Abominations
Megadeth – Countdown to Extinction
Ayreon – The Human Equation (disc 2)
Ayreon – Into the Electric Castle (disc 2)
John Coltrane – First Meditations
John Coltrane – Impressions
John Coltrane – Live at Birdland
Poison – Poison’s Greatest Hits 1986 – 1996
Symphony X – Twilight in Olympus
Symphony X – The Odyssey
Stryper – Seven
Extreme – II Pornograffitti
Extreme – III Sides to Every Story
The John Scofield Band – Up All Night
John Scofield – Pick Hits Live
The Who – Who’s Better Who’s Best: This is the very best of the Who
Amazing Journey – Disc 1
Metallica – Kill ‘Em All
Metallica – Ride the Lightning
Metallica – black album
Steve Morse – Coast to Coast
Dixie Dregs – Industry Standard
Dixie Dregs – What If
Dixie Dregs – Free Fall
Chick Corea, Gary Burton, Pat Metheny, Roy Haynes, Dave Holland – Like Minds
Pat Metheny - Secret Story
Pat Metheny Trio – 99 00
Rollins Band – End of Silence
Stanley Clarke – School Days
King Crimson – The Power to Believe
Red Hot Chili Peppers – The Abbey Road EP
Red Hot Chili Peppers – The Uplift Mofo Party Plan
Red Hot Chili Peppers – Freaky Styley
Stevie Ray Vaughn and Double Trouble – Greatest Hits
Soulive – Doin’ Something
Pantera – Far Beyond Driven
Pantera – Vulgar Display of Power
Phish – A Picture of Nectar
Steve Vai – Sex & Religion
Gil Evans Play Jimi Hendrix
The Mahavishnu Orchestra – Birds of Fire
King’s X – Gretchen Goes to Nebraska
Radiohead – OK Computer
B.B. King – 20th Century Masters
Joe Satriani – The Extremist
Bozzio, Levin, Stevens – Black Light Syndrone
Roy Hargrove – The Vibe
Herbie Hancock – Empyrean Isles
Green Day – Dookie
Niacin – Niacin
Testament – The Ritual
Transatlantic – smpte
Fear Factory – Transgression
Platypus – When Pus Comes to Shove
James LaBrie – Winter Rose
Death – Individual Thought Patterns
The Guitar Artistry of Charlie Byrd
Pearl Jam – Yield
Deep Purple – Machine Head
Joe Pass – Virtuoso 2
Gorilla Biscuits – Start Today
Queensyrche – Here in the Now Frontier
Tool – Aenima
Bill Frisell – Live
Black Label Society – Kings of Damnation Era
Savatage – The Wake of Magellan