Blue Coupe - Million Miles More
The
second album from the classic rock trio of Albert & Joe Bouchard [Blue
Oyster Cult] and Dennis Dunaway [Alice Cooper]. As good as the debut album
was - this album is even better. Stronger songs, more instrumentation,
numerous guests, and solid production, heck - even Jack Douglas is here as
executive producer!
This album has some standout hard rockers with tracks like -- "Hellfire
Hurry", and with Buck Dharma on guitar - it's a classic early BOC styled
fast rocker, "Ain't Dead", and the anthemic fave song here -
"Devil's Highway", with it's classic driving riff, cowbell, and even
a reference to 'the reaper' - make it somewhat offspring of BOC's "Don't
Fear The Reaper". The majority of this disc is the band's unique
mix of rock with harmonies, stories, and often haunting melodies, so
reminiscent of 70s BOC, and plenty of memorable songs such as "Everybody
Goes Insane", "Train Of Thought", "Prophets, Dukes, and
Nomads", and my other fave tune here - "Used Car", penned by
Bouchard friend John Elwood Cook, (and featuring blues-man Giles Robson
on harmonica). Cook also contributed the old school straight ahead rocker
"Modern Love (Stalking Time)", which features Goldy McJohn [ex
Steppenwolf] on keyboards. Other classic tunes here include the very different
and creepy rocker "Hallow's Grave" with Alice Cooper singing lead,
and Dennis Dunaway's touching piano ballad "I'll Forever Stick
Around". Highly recommended classic rock! and these guys are
a great live act - check 'em out!
To add....I saw Blue Coupe in Hamilton,
Ontario recently. Another visit to This Ain't Hollywood [about the 4th time
i've seen them there].... A great, lengthy set of classic tunes Starting off
with album rocker "Devil's Highway", and going on to include plenty of
classic BOC and Alice Cooper, as well as a good half of the band's new album,
a classic from their first album, and a few surprises. Highlights included a
piano & vocal version of BOC gem "Joan Crawford" - in honor of
late BOC fouding member Allen Lanier, as well as new classic "Hallow's
Grave" - a song performed by Alice Cooper on the CD, but sounded great
with Joe on vocals and enhanced by Dennis Dunaway's pre song explanation. A
lengthy encore included guitarists Andrew Aldridge and Gord Lewis [ex Teenage
Head], as well as singer Nick Sinipoli all joining in at various points [near
the end of the set and into the encore] - and doing a few classic AC tunes
[Caught In A Dream, Be My Lover, Under My Wheels], before ending with BOC's
"Don't Fear The Reaper" and Teenage Head's "Let's Shake"
[w/ Lou Molinaro on vocals].
http://www.bluecoupeband.com/
Tommy
Bolin remains one of those much loved musicians from '70s, passed away far too
young, and way ahead of his time - such releases always create a stir. The man
may be remembered in the press as a 'replacement' guitarist, first for Joe
Walsh in the James Gang, and then for Ritchie Blackmore in Deep Purple. He may
never have won over the Purple masses on the ill-faited "Come Taste The
Band" album [one of my fave DP albums!], but those that checked out his
solo work at the time and more so - posthumously, appreciate just how talented
he was as a guitarist, writer, and singer. This "Whirlwind" release
is yet, another collection of . unreleased material from Bolin's early days
with his band 'Energy', early takes of songs that wound up on either James
Gang or his own 2 solo albums, and songs Bolin was ultimately preparing for a
third solo album. With his life tragically cut short in December of 1976,
a third solo album was never completed. Included in the packaging are
liner notes from former Energy vocalist [and sometimes lyric writer] -
Jeff Cook. 
I've
always found Sammy's solo albums fairly patchy [a few hits and lots of
filler], save for "VOA". This one bringing together 'friends', and
including originals and covers. Unlike his previous post VH releases, i
actually can get into this beyond 1 or 2 songs. A few stand-out originals here
in the opening southern blues of "Winding Down", "Father
Sun", and the almost country "All We Need Is An Island" - a
duet with Nancy Wilson [Heart]. A number of covers, a few come off
surprisingly well such as Jimmy Buffett's "Margaritaville" [w/ Toby
Keith also on vocals], as well as Ronnie Dunn's country-rocker "Bad On
Fords and Chevrolets" [a duet with Dunn], while Bob Seger's "Ramblin'
Gamblin' Man" are somewhat less so [lacking a bit of punch].
Canadian
Rock journalist Martin Popoff never seems to run out of ideas or projects, and
more recently I picked up a handful or great reads [well a few to go still,
but looking forward to...] - "Dio - Light Beyond The Black", which I
found a very interesting read of the 'Dio' band, which the late Ronnie James
Dio formed [and then went on to change numerous times] after his 1982
departure from Black Sabbath [hey, I even get a credit in this one]. 
"The
Deep Purple Royal Family : Chain Of Events Through '79" basically
chronicles the history of the legendary British band [and all related] from [uhm]
- 1100 ad !? Birthdays, tour dates, historical dates, album releases,
plenty of old handbills, posters, adverts, and inclusion of notable moments
[adverts, flyers, notes...] from a number of Purple's contemporaries and label
mates, such as Heep, Nazareth, Priest, Sabbath.... to show the comparisons at
the times. a very cool book to simply take out and open any page and enjoy.
Can't wait to get Part 2 of this!! [Martin?]. The Thin Lizzy trilogy of books
chronicle the greatest Irish band and heavily influential band, lead by the
legendary Phil Lynott [rip]; largely based on a vast collection of interviews
with the author [hey, I get a credit in one of these too!]. 
Looking
forward to Martin's upcoming Iron Maiden book "2 Minutes To Midnight : An
Iron Maiden Day By Day". ah, The Scorpions - Germany's biggest
metal export, a band that had some overlooked classic 70s albums [see 'Taken
By Force', 'Fly To The Rainbow'....] before striking big in the '80s with a
number of metal hits and anthems [where everything begins with a big guitar
solo], and then softening up and disappearing from my radar [tho '93's
"Face The Heat" was a decent album, IMO, but apparently hated by all
those involved, so i read]. "Top Of The Bill" is an excellent story
of the band's career, from Rudolf Schenker's bands in the '60s [where he got
the name The Scorpions], and the early days of the band with Klause Meine, brother
Michael [before being poached by UFO, and later auditioning for Aerosmith],
Uli Roth, early drummers, and the band's struggle being from West Germany, and
trying to make big globally [especially in North America]. Lots of drama over
the years with this band, with a few album covers, the comings and goings of
Michael Schenker and hiring of Matthias Jabs, and trying to stay on top after
their hugely successful "Love At First Sting" album in '84, as well
as the departures of longtime members Herman Rarebell [drums] and Francis
Buchholz. A lengthy read from Martin's vaults of interviews, and plenty of
live pics and advert / poster images. Still got a bit to go through this one,
but there's lots to read and hear of this band, aside from their '80s
highlights.
Toronto based Coney Hatch recorded 3 albums in the early '80s, the first one a classic Canadian recording, featuring a few national hits, and numerous live favorites, the next 2 albums were good, but a more commercial approach to the recordings kinda lacked the rough hard edge of the debut.
Seattle
born/ based singer, known largely for her association with Queensryche, who
has been making solo albums [on and off] since the early '80s. I've no idea
what most of her previous albums are like, tho i gather likely not nearly as
heavy as this one. A collaboration with Chicago based guitarist / writer
Michael Posch [of Radakka], who gives this a very 90s metal and current sound
and feel. Production reminds me of Alice Cooper's Brutal Planet era, though
sounding more along the lines of Evanescence [albeit heavier], Radakka, and
Queensryche. A bit of techno on a few intros, and minimal keyboards,
leaving this a very heavy guitar driven album with plenty of hooks and
grooves; Sabbathy heavy at times [Posch plays in a Chicago based Sabbath-Dio
tribute band!].
A
new album from German metal pirates, lead by Rolf Kasparek [singer, guitarist,
writer, producer...], a mere 18 months after the "Shadowmaker" album
- which saw a less heavy sound, almost more mainstream hard-rock approach,
which perhaps threw a few fans. But don't fear maybe do!?] because "Resilient"
is a return to a high energy, guitar blazing, thundering Running Wild metal
album, with loads of cool riffs, solos, songs, and an eye grabbing cover
featuring the band's mascot "Adrian". Resilient starts out charging
on full speed with "Soldier Of Fortune", and features all-out
rockers like "The Drift", "Adventure Highway", "Fireheart",
"Run Riot", the title track, and the near 10 minute closing tale of
"Bloody Island". Favorite track here is "Desert Rose", a
bit of a more melodic rocker, with a nice blend of guitars and a great vocal,
making this a cool mini-epic.