Lost/Forgotten Album #219

This week's pick was a bit difficult since it is Halloween week and I needed something with that Halloween theme.

"Horror Show" from Iced Earth would have been a perfect pick, but that was already featured a couple years ago and I don't believe in repeats. What about the OST for "Trick Or Treat" by Fastway? Well, it was pulled but then I remembered that Fastway was featured a month or so ago, so that one was out as well. There's another reason why that album was declined, but I refuse to mention why.

How about some early Opeth? That too was pulled, but then I remembered how much people would bitch and whine about the vocals. "My Arms, Your Hearse" was evil enough, but I'm not in the mood to listen to a bunch of whiny babies (you know who you are).

Evil was ditched. I just needed to find something that had just a LITTLE something to do with Halloween, and that's why this week's L/F pick is "Superheroes", the 2001 release from Racer X. The title has a Halloween feel as do some of the song titles.

What's even better is that there was a cry for help on the latest AOTW. Some poor sod was getting burnt out on a certain vocal-type but, thankfully, I am here yet again to save the day.

And now, a mini bio of the band courtesy of allmusic.com:

"This Los Angeles band earned a reputation for melodic, technical, incredibly high-speed rock. Their original lineup featured Paul Gilbert (guitar), Jeff Martin (vocals), John Alderete (bass), and Harry Gschoesser (drums). Scott Travis replaced Gschoesser in 1986, when Bruce Bouillet was added as a second guitarist, beginning a period considered to be the band's best. Gilbert left in 1988 to join Mr. Big, and the band broke up soon afterwards, with Bouillet pursuing a solo career. Martin later joined Badlands as a drummer."

(NOTE: 100% collusion free! All facts are from jonsmindopedia, unless otherwise noted.)

Of course you need the album review, again courtesy of allmusic.com:

"From the outside, Superheroes seems to be a rather bizarre concept, as the band's members are all dressed to the nines in strange outfits and get accompanying odd nicknames; bassist John Aldrete is known as "The X-Tinguisher" and wears a red getup replete with several fire extinguishers. Apparently, the influential instrumentalists have watched one too many episodes of The Tick. Put the disc in the player and it's more along the lines you would expect from this virtuoso vehicle: a whole lot of shredding guitar solos courtesy of Paul Gilbert, intense drumming from Scott Travis (who rejoins the band during breaks from Judas Priest duties), and Jeff Martin's distinctive shriek. That said, there are some deviations from the norm this time out. Racer X's version of "Godzilla" is a Technicolor comeuppance of flash, truly making it their own; "Mad at the World" and the innuendo-laden "That Hormone Thing" border on hair metal commercialism, and "Evil Joe" is a sample- and quirk-laden rap-metal number. Still, you get the sense that Racer X will be relegated once again to preaching to the converted like most of the Guitar Institute set does."

So there you go. My Halloween album of 2014 plus it's the second time Racer X has been featured as an L/F album (for those counting). The first time was way back in January 2013 so enough time has passed. Deal with it.

Did you know one of the songs on this album was featured elsewhere on this site at another time so very long ago? Did you?

Superheroes

1. Superheroes
2. Let The Spirit Fly
3. Godzilla
4. Dead Man's Shoes
5. King Of The Monsters
6. Mad At The World
7. Evil Joe
8. That Hormone Thing
9. Viking Kong
10. Time Before The Sun

Availability: Prices start around $13 used.

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Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Jon on October 27, 2014 at 4:54pm

And what album is that?

Permalink Reply by RJhog (Admin) on October 27, 2014 at 4:54pm

Because you are the only one that likes Big Jim Slade.

Permalink Reply by RJhog (Admin) on October 27, 2014 at 4:36pm

You've got me laughing over here in East Georgia bro.

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Permalink Reply by Gordon Williams on October 27, 2014 at 5:05pm

No, I AM NOT the only one who is smart enough to like Big Jim Slade...their Momma's like 'em too...

And to think, Jon "took a chance" on BJS once upon a time, but he got the wrong one! (not that the one he did get isn't good, it's just not the best CD of all time).

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Permalink Reply by Jon on October 27, 2014 at 5:09pm

It was the cheapest.

Off topic, but the squeak of the bass drum pedal on the latest LZ III remaster is REALLY annoying now. It's been there on previous versions, but not like this.

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Permalink Reply by Gordon Williams on October 27, 2014 at 5:15pm

I listened to a 2 hour LZ special last night on the radio, and they were playing the new remasters of LZ IV and Houses Of The Holy,which come out this week.

It may have just been me, or a "mental" thing, but they really did sound good and fresh, as if the improvement was obvious. Again, could of just been me, but it did sound good.

I had just happened to see a Led Zep tribute band Saturday night, Led Zepagain. They were pretty outstanding, out of Los Angeles. I'm sure you could find their Facebook page, or some You Tube stuff. They did a killer, killer, extended version of Dazed And Confused (yes, even more extended than it already is!).

Permalink Reply by Jon on October 27, 2014 at 5:34pm

I could, I guess. It's just mostly alternate and rough mixes. nothing really earth-shattering, but it is interesting.

Permalink Reply by Jon on October 27, 2014 at 5:24pm

Yeah, I got IV and HOTH today but have FINALLY gotten around to listen to III which I got about 4 months ago. No big deal, it's not like I haven't heard those albums before, I was just curious about the bonus tracks. The ones on III are quite good.

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Permalink Reply by Gordon Williams on October 27, 2014 at 5:28pm

They did not play any bonus stuff on this radio show last night, only the "normal" remastered tracks. You should do a "because I can" post sometime of any of the unreleased LZ stuff you have. Clear it with your program manager sometime (your own bad self).

Permalink Reply by Scott on October 30, 2014 at 9:02am

Youre not gonna like this, but it reminds me of KISS in one way... And that's the playing of Mark St. John on Animalize. How fast is too fast? Is he playing just to show how fast he can play? Or does make sense in the context of the music? In KISS' case it wasn't very good in a lot of spots, but had moments... this? we shall see ...

First song is exactly what I thought it was, not very good and shredding, while technically great, not very interesting to listen to. Vocally its "Eh". I really didn't like the interpretation of Godzilla - the down tuned, wah wah barred chord was fail IMO. Oh yeah and the screams.

Dead Mans Shoes, was slightly better. I figured out who the vocalist sound like. It Michael Sweet - you cant deny that especially on this track. But he's not as effective.

Funny that the best track is the instrumental ... so far.... Mad as Hell has promise, this song is actually not too bad at all. Still, his vocals don't really work. Evil Joe... ugh. Now, for reasons unknown to me, That Hormone Thing is probably my favorite so far. Like the funk in the riff and if the vocalist would have not done all those "Ooh Yeah's" (another KISS tie in, that makes 2!!) then it would have been much much better. OK and Viking King? Another shredfest, but here again I liked if, go figure.

Didn't care for the closer, but I must say the second half far better than the first half, but the absolute worst part of this? That stupid blinking pumpkin while trying to type this out....