Hidden Treasures - State of the Music Address

[Scott]

State of the Music address

With the State of the Union address and the Grammy's all happening this past week, I thought it would be good to take a look at the state of our music today!  Our music being of the Classic Rock variety.  So if I was to give a speech, here’s some of the observations from the past year in Classic Rock that I would mention...

• First, there wasn’t a barrage of releases so the trend of classic artists trying to fit into mainstream music seemed to have subsided fully this past year.
• Artists who recorded and released new music focused on being who they really are. Net result was some great releases.
• We've seen some great bands come back.  Amongst the more notables were Van Halen, The Beach Boys, ZZ Top, UFO, and yes even Aerosmith.
• Solo projects were also of note this year, Joe Walsh released a killer album while Jack Blades rock and rolled us with a very cool release. Other notables were, Don Felder and Donald Fagen.
• And let's not forget some the great repackaging and remastering treatments that some of our classic favorites got this past year.  McCartney's "Ram" and Rush's "2112" were simply awesome!

 

I'd like to predict that the trend continues throughout 2013 and although the releases are slow coming into the New Year we should expect to hear great things as the year progresses.

 

So what did it sound like? I know that for the most part all of these albums were addressed in various New Music Corner postings, but it’s always good to go back and listen again. Check out these 3 tracks and then chime in on what you think the state of classic rock music is!  Is there still hope for a full recovery?

 

PLAYLIST --> http://snack.to/a1c5yjc1

 

	Accept - Stalingrad 1 - Twist of Fate My favorite Accept album is easily "Metal Heart", so when I listen to this band I hear bits and pieces of that album constantly and so goes this album and the bands resurgence! They've really done a great job replacing UDO without losing their identity. Allmusic published a review giving the album three-and-a-half stars out of five. Reviewer James Christopher Monger also noted that current vocalist Tornillo does an "awfully convincing Udo Dirkschneider impression."[3] Brave Words & Bloody Knuckles and Thrash Hits also gave the album positive reviews
	UFO - Seven Deadly 2 - Angel Station This album got huge praise on this site. I think it even converted RJ to check out the bands catalog to some degree. Since its release, this album has been met with mostly positive reviews. Rebecca Miller of Metal Temple wrote, "Not contented to sit back on their laurels, the band continues to produce high quality rock albums and Seven Deadly is certainly no exception".
	Flying Colors - Flying Colors 3 - Blue Ocean Pretty much a side project (which is another cool topic for a later hidden treasures). But the band members read like a who's who of prog, until you get to the singer who was relatively unknown. So it has this cool expectation and X-Factor aspect to it, and there is no let down! Modern Rock Review states; "Flying Colors has created an album that is at once fresh and nostalgic, with songs full of energy and new musical ideas. Yes, it appears that the “supergroup” is alive and well."

[RJhog (Admin)]

Can't believe you didn't mention Clockwork Angels.  Some other notable releases from classic artists:

Europe - Bag Of Bones

Rick Springfield - Songs For The End Of The World

Slash - Apocalyptic Love

Heart - Fanatic

The Cult - Choice Of Weapon

Also got releases from Kiss, Outlaws, Testament and Black Country Communion (I know they've only been around for 3 years, but they are definitely classic).

[Scott]

I stayed away from Rush since they are my favorite and their release sold very well kind of removing them as a HIDDEN TREASURE for this category... I guess the discussion Im fishing for is "what are the thoughts of those on this site with respect to the current state of classic rock music"

[Gordon Williams]

First track: Like it! It's nice to hear Accept do a different "style" song! Certainly not mellow, but still much softer, and different from most Accept material. I have "Blood Of Nations", but have not picked up this release yet. Definitely a possibility of buying this at some point. Of course, this track has its moments when it picks up speed and intensity. Killer lead on the outro section.

UFO track: This whole album is excellent to me. Good enough to supplant "You Are Here" as the best Vinnie Moore era UFO.

Track 3: I have heard this band's name, but have not heard anything yet. But I do believe I recall seeing them on the top 10 list for 2012 on this site? I'm really liking the tempo changes in this...not major changes, but just slight, and very nice!

A great mix on this track as well. Everything is clearly audible, but nothing over rides, or over shadows anything else. Very nice lead, too! This guitarist has a style that actually reminds me of Vinnie Moore a little bit. Who is the guitarist? I know I could just look it up, but I'll just be enlightened by someone who already has this knowledge!

I'd like to hear some more of this!! (hint, hint). Scott has a perfect batting average again on this one!

[Scott]

The FLYING COLORS album is top notch!  I suspect the guitars are shared between Neal and Steve Morse though I'm not exactly who is the lead on the track I posted.  My guess would be Steve ...

 

Thanks for the great comments!

[Gordon Williams]

Oh, I guess I forgot to comment on the state of classic rock. I think it's in excellent shape! Like Scott mentioned, probably not as many releases this year, but still, overall, I think great rock n roll has made a very strong comeback.

You know, it's funny...because a lot of people feel that the grunge movement of the 90's killed rock n roll...with me being one of those who thought that...but not anymore.

I actually think the better grunge bands...may just be the ones who saved rock n roll! The better grunge bands, while not playing that much lead guitar, certainly still had the heavy, distorted guitar sound I love so much. So, I'm thinking now that bands like Stone Temple Pilots, Alice In Chains, Collective Soul, Soundgarden, etc. probably helped keep real rock n roll alive.

[Scott]

Interesting comment regarding the Grunge bands!  Have to agree with you as well!  I love STP! and Soundgarden put out a pretty solid release at the end of  2012...

[Niels (Mod)]

You bet, that Grunge helped keeping Rock'n'roll alive! I was soooooo tired of Hair-metal and all that crap around 1990, so that when Grunge happend it save everything for me. I was about to change totally, and started to listen to jazz, funk and/or classical music, just to find something new to listen to instead of the latest Magnum- or Europe-album, which I detested at that time. I wonder if Grunge will come back in form. I kind of doubt it, because where are the new grunge-type bands? Even though Soundgarden's album from 2012 was kind of okay, it wasn't THAT good!!

[Scott]

Gordon, here's the New Music Corner Niels posted with Flying Colors showcased last March, good stuff...

 

http://classic-rock-bottom.ning.com/forum/topics/nmc-70-adrenaline-...

 

[Gordon Williams]

Thanks Scott and Neils. I'll definitely check that out...

But back to the new music thing...I dont have anything new from last year that I've burned out on yet, so this year will still be a "good listening" year, if that makes any sense.

I have a quick story for you...I liked Jon's post of "Heaven Forbid" by Blue Oyster Cult so much that I ordered it on Amazon, from a location that was somewhere in the States...don't remember where. But anyway, after waiting AT LEAST a month, I call up Amazon and they tell me "Sorry that supplier sold it's last copy right before you ordered it" (Hey, thanks for letting me know...NOT!).

Anyway, I went back to Amazon and searched again, and ordered from a record store in Germany, and I got it within 2 weeks or so. And I just thought, American band from New York City releases CD in 1998. Old geezer in Georgia orders it in 2012, and finally gets it in 2013 from a record store in Germany. Just thought it was kind of weird how that all happened...

[Jon]

Yep, proves my point. We need to move overseas to get our music fix!

[Jon]

The state of r&r is "there". Problem is, you need to know where "there" is to find the stuff nowadays. There were some great releases last year, but this year has me wondering. There's not a lot that's come out, and not a lot on the horizon. Don't know if last year was just a plethora o' stuff and everything and everyone has calmed down, or the biz is making it harder and harder to find good stuff.

Don't know right now, but stay tuned I guess. Off the top of my head we have Deep Purple, Heaven & Earth and W.E.T. coming out with new stuff, but there's always the problem of them releasing their albums overseas and bypassing the U.S since the majority of idjits here are just wanting American Idol and Bieber-type crap. 

[Scott]

Yup...  I was looking at the New Release Horizon wondering if it will pick up.  Im still hoping...