NMC #7 (RATT/MEATLOAF/NONPOINT)

[RJhog (Admin)]

Week #7 (8/21/10) by RJhog


Starting this week, I'm gonna add a genre for each band (for example, classic rock, grunge or nu-metal) featured as well as a recommendation
on whether or not to buy the disc.  Just remember, I try to feature as
many new albums as possible in this thread, and I'm not gonna like 'em
all.  This is just a chance for you to check out roughly half of the album.  You still have to decide for yourself if it's worthy of your money.

 

Ratt - Infestation (April 2010 - Hair Band)

 

1. Eat Me Up Alive

2. Best Of Me

3. A Little Too Much

4. Lost Weekend

5. As Good As It Gets

 

This album really surprised me.  I did not expect much.  I was really wrong.  This definitely harkens back to Ratt's popular era, which is definitely a good thing.  My favorite here is "As Good As It Gets"
and I really like the "wanted man" lyric.  I like the pre-chorus on
"Best Of Me" because it reminds me of Van Halen's "Unchained". 

 

Recommendation - Must Buy

 

Meat Loaf - Hang Cool Teddy Bear (April 2010 - Classic Rock)

 

6. Peace On Earth

7. Los Angeloser

8. Like A Rose

9. Song Of Madness

10. Elvis In Vegas

 

Meat Loaf is getting old, you can hear it at times in his vocals.  This is not a great disc, but it's not awful either.  "Like A Rose" is an outstanding song with one of the best choruses I've heard in a long
time, and it sounds like the Beastie Boys during the verses (Jack Black is on backing vocals).  At times on the album,  Meat speaks the lyrics, which I don't like at all. 
"Elvis In Vegas" is also a really cool song.  The album as a whole does
feature some very good guitar playing.

 

Recommendation - 50/50 (If you are a big Meat Loaf fan, buy it, but if you are new to the Meat, start with "Bat Out Of Hell")

 

Nonpoint - Miracle (May 2010 - Nu-metal)

 

11. Shadow

12. Miracle

13. Frontlines

14. Looking Away

15. What I've Become

 

Nonpoint is a band I really like.  I have 3 of their albums and they are all good.  "Miracle" is in the running for album of the year for me.  There isn't one bad song on the album and there's even a very
decent cover of Pantera's "5 Minutes Alone" (note, I have never heard
Pantera's version, I'm just basing this opinion on this version alone). 
Also, if you buy the album, there is a hidden track after the final
listed track, but there's about 5 or 6 minutes of dead space between the
songs. The title song also features a lyric that I love (Get a doctor, or a priest / I'm not an animal, I'm a beast).

Recommendation - Absolutely!  I dig it and you will too.


***Please click here to listen***

[Niels (Mod)]

I'm also surprised how good Ratt sounds. In a way, they sound better than ever.

I have never been much of a Meat Loaf-fan, I love Bat out of Hell, but that's it. The new cd won't change that.

Also I have never been a fan of Nu-Metal (I guess the only Nu-Metal albums I got are one with Korn, one with Deftones and a couple with System of a down, that's Nu-Metal, right?), but Nonpoint sounds okay to me, especially "Looking away".

So there you go. The only album, I would consider buying is definetly Ratt.

[Scott]

I own the Ratt, and definitely agree on the must buy rating....

In listening to the Meat Loaf tracks, I found some pieces and parts of the tracks that I liked alot, but not one song that I liked as a whole. Typical of his other releases for me as well... Im a Bat Out of Hell fan, but I cant say that I liked much else from him, including this new one.

The Nupoint sounds alot like a Nickelback cover band to me. Thats not to be taken as bad, I like some Nickelback, especially their new one titled Dark Horse. I just wasnt able to connect to the Nupoint tracks enough to consider a purchase, however I do like the Looking Away track...

[Jon]

Finally listened to this all the way through (except for Meat Loaf since I have it in my pile of stuff to listen to) and I'm sorry but I do not like Ratt. Didn't like them back then (except for a few songs here and there) and this doesn't change my mind at all. "Best Of Me" is ucky. Yucky, yuck. Sorry guys, but could lie and say it's the greatest thing since toasted slice bread, but just can't do it.

As for Nonpoint...not bad, but songs like a bunch of other bands out there now. Won't be buying it, even though it's listenable.

This is cool though...I ALMOST bought the Ratt album and am happy we've got this going so we can, hopefully, not make a purchse we'll regret.

Gee, I can't wait to listen to Meat Loaf now!