Flame - Remember Them?

Thanks to Metalboy! for introducing me to Flame, an underground band with a great sound. Their debut is called Blaze and it was released around 1989. Check them out. If you like what you hear, you can track down Blaze from Z Records.

Dilana Joins LA Guns

Remember when I recently posted that Jizzy Pearl was out of (Tracii's) LA Guns? Well, now the band has a new singer... and it is Dilana Robichaux. In case you don't know, Dilana was the runner-up on the reality show Rock Star: Supernova.

I think this might be a ballsy move on Tracii's part because having a female singer will seriously set the band apart from the other touring version. Will the songs sound the same? No, of course not. But I wish the band luck. I guess my only question is this: why not just create a new band name, write some new songs and do LA Guns stuff live, too? Discuss.

Here's Dilana and Tracii performing together:

Johnny Andriani, 'Tripping on Love' - Album Review and More

Johnny Andriani is a singer and songwriter. He was signed back in the day and he's written for famous folks. One of his friends and collaborators, Robert Ferraro (a bona fide rocker) contacted me about a million years ago to feature Johnny. I don't know why it took me so long because the music is great. The thing about Johnny and his most recent album Tripping on Love is that it's mellow. At first I was worried Glam fans might not dig it, but really, I'm reminded of that laid-back feel Enuff Z'Nuff was known for and therefore, I think you would dig this music.

In addition to the Enuff Z'Nuff parallels, the opening tracks of Tripping on Love - especially the title track - reminds me of the Beatles. Johnny has that special rasp to his voice and the songs are so approachable... you know, you get sort of sucked in. Overall, there's a 70s throwback vibe. That could come from the instrumentation or something else, but I definitely don't think Tripping On Love sounds like a rock album recorded in 2010. And I mean that in a complimentary way.

"Supernatural Love" has a different sort of feel in that it is more up-tempo, but the love theme remains. Now there's the drawback to Tripping on Love: if you've just been through a break-up or something, this album might really annoy you, because it's all love, all the time here. And of course that's the point, but still. The lovesick need not apply!

The album features tracks from Johnny's days in The Dwellers, too (remember them?!), specifically I like "Neptune June." Of course, the Dwellers were best known for their song "Rocket Ride" but that's another post for another day.

Tripping on Love is available via iTunes and CD Baby.

Check out The Dwellers, 'Rocket Ride' and see if you can find our friend Robert. Hint: he's on drums.

Ok, Ok. Let's say you got down this far and you're thinking "But I want 80s Glam!" Well, have no fear my lovelies. Johnny Andriani and Robert Ferraro were in a little band called Sassy Lassy back in the 80s. Have a lookie look:

James Durbin, 'Stand Up' -- New Song

James Durbin has a new single! Remember Durbin from American Idol? He's working on his debut album now and he promises us a rocker. Until then, here's a single "Stand Up," featured on the album NFL Official Gameday Music, Vol. 2. The song is very commercial, which means great things for Durbin I suppose.

Why Was 'That Song' A Single?

I am sometimes surprised by the songs some bands release as singles.

I'm not sure how much that matters today, but back in the 80s, it was singles that broke a band. Hysteria, for example, started off badly, with "Women" only getting to #80, and the album not taking off until the next single, "Pour Some Sugar on Me." Appetite for Destruction, similarly, had "Out Ta Get Me" as the first single, "Welcome to the Jungle" as the second and broke on the back of the third, "Sweet Child o' Mine." In hindsight, how was "Sweet Child" not the right choice for the first single? In the same way, I can't believe that Motley Crue never released "She Goes Down" as a single off Dr. Feelgood. It is certainly a better song than "Don't Go Away Mad" or "Same Ol' Situation" let alone "Without You." On the other hand, both their previous albums where so terrible that it's amazing that they managed two good singles off each, and thus saved their career.

While "Living in Sin" is a terrible song, after the first three tracks, New Jersey was a write off in my book. There's just nothing else on there worth releasing. How did "Never Say Goodbye" make the cut as a single from Slippery When Wet, but "Raise Your Hands" (which they still play live), "Let It Rock" and "Social Disease" all were deemed not single worthy? I always thought "Wild in the Streets" was also a single, but it seems that it was the B-side of "Never Say Goodbye" from what I can find on Google. Either way, both of those songs are filler.

Now I KNOW that many of you think New Jersey is a great album, so you won't agree with everything I said, but what songs were you surprised never made it to be a single?

Guns n' Roses, Heart Nominated for Rock n' Roll Hall of Fame

I know, I know - you don't care about the Rock n' Roll Hall of Fame. But here we are: Guns n' Roses was just nominated. And, when it comes time to count the ballots, I think they will get in and easily so. Here's the entire list of Rock Hall candidates for this new class:

Beastie Boys
The Cure
Donovan
Eric B. & Rakim
Guns 'N Roses
Heart
Joan Jett and The Blackhearts
Freddie King
Laura Nyro
Red Hot Chili Peppers
Rufus with Chaka Khan
The Small Faces/The Faces
The Spinners
Donna Summer
War

Of course, GNR won't be the only band that gets in when the ceremony happens on April 14, 2012 in Cleveland, Ohio. I predict the Beastie Boys, Heart and the Spinners will get in too.

Let's think of the induction ceremony for a moment. If GNR gets in (and they will), it may well be a hot debacle. Remember when Van Halen was inducted? The Van Halen brothers didn't even show up and neither did David Lee Roth. Well, I predict WAY more bedlam amongst the GNR crowd... unless we're all stunned and the much-awaited reunion of original members happens right during the induction ceremony. GNR has had so many replacement members, it will be hard to argue who gets in and who doesn't. Obviously the original members and maybe Matt Sorum. Beyond Sorum, maybe Dizzy Reed. I don't think anyone else qualifies. Do you?

Stuka Squadron, 'Tales of the Ost' - Album Review

I buy Classic Rock and Metal Hammer every month. One reason I do that is to hear new bands. For some time now, Metal Hammer has regularly featured a song called "Stuka Squadron" by a band of the same name as part of what it calls "the new wave of traditional metal." I wonder if I'd be as cynical about the NWOBHM if I'd been there for that phrase to be coined? But, I digress.

A year or so later, Stuka Squadron finally have their CD out - Tales of the Ost. The basic plot line is that all the songs are about being in the Luftwaffe and they wear German army gear in their photos and - I presume - on stage. There's obviously scope for this to be offensive, but as it stands, the schtick about them being demon possessed, evil warriors of the air comes across like Manowar: very cheesy but amusing all the same.

Their title song took a long time to grow on me because the way their vocals often follow the riffs seemed a bit pedestrian, but the more I listen to it now, the more I love it. This is exactly the sort of music metal should be - the titles and lyrics at first glance would surely have offended your parents in the 80s, the guitars are heavy, the riffs are good, and they are calling us all to join them as warriors of metal. The verbiage on their website is all ridiculous. They call their fans Squadroneers (like Hammerfall call theirs "templars"). Everything about this band is over the top and ludicrous. I love it.