I really wanted to hate this album. When the first Ugly Kid Joe EP came out the big hit Everything About You was all over the place and full disclosure, young me loved it. That whole first EP was super fun, and they did a service to the youth by exposing them to Sabbath with their cover of Sweet Leaf. They went on to have a couple more hits and even had the Metal God himself make an appearance on their debut full length. But their act got old, quickly.
I have little appetite for a “joke” band which they came off as to me after a while and they seemed to fade into the hair band sunset (fair categorisation or not, but those were the times). Whitfield kept the band going, releasing several albums of at times questionable quality. So, when I saw their new album, Rad Wings Of Destiny, in the review folder I figured I would get nostalgic and crap all over their latest offering. Well, I really can’t. It is actually a fun listen, with a few excellent songs and some serious clunkers, but overall, an enjoyable listen.
The sense of humor of the band is buried a bit on Rad Wings Of Destiny, case in point the excellent opener, That Ain’t Livin’ which is AC/DC worship and immediately also made me thing of the underrated Junkyard. Listen to that track without knowing who the band is and tell me its not a great song. The album is a disjointed, case in point the poppy, Beatlesque (?!) Not Like The Other which is not a bad song, it is just a confusing transition from track one. Everything’s Changing and Kill The Pain are slower, introspective, and serious tracks, done well but strange when looking at the entire album.
The sense of humor of the band is buried a bit on Rad Wings Of Destiny, case in point the excellent opener, That Ain’t Livin’ which is AC/DC worship and immediately also made me thing of the underrated Junkyard. Listen to that track without knowing who the band is and tell me its not a great song. The album is a disjointed, case in point the poppy, Beatlesque (?!) Not Like The Other which is not a bad song, it is just a confusing transition from track one. Everything’s Changing and Kill The Pain are slower, introspective, and serious tracks, done well but strange when looking at the entire album.
A cover of Lola is next, and I know these guys had a huge hit with a cover, but this is an unnecessary one and should have been either left out or added at the end, because again this thing is all over the place. Dead Friends Play is back to the AC/DC side of the things with Whit singing about the bands he loves but with some very confusing lyrics about his Dead Friends that are actually still alive (listen and tell me if you get it because I don’t, but it is a cool song).
Up In The City is an interesting, groovy little ditty that at first I was confused by but is actually catchy fun. I could do without the country twinged Drinkin’ & Drivin’ (some of their humour showing that I have little patience for). Failure vibes on the Bon and the boy’s side of things and is a fun rocker while Long Road is one of the only tracks that makes sense in its sequencing as a catchy pop introspective track that would have been a hit if on America’s Least Wanted.
Rad Wings Of Destiny is a fun, yet very disjointed album, but not one that should be ignored if you have ever enjoyed the band’s more straight-ahead rock output. You have a couple great tracks, a couple terrible tracks, and a very unnecessary cover, but Ugly Kid Joe have one of their best records in a long time which is a welcomed surprise. Take out the couple of stinkers, re-sequence, and explain the lyrics to Dead Friends Play and this may have been rated a point or two higher. 6/10
Stryper - The Final Battle (Frontiers Music Srl)
If you are of a certain age and enjoyed “metal” you probably had Stryper’s huge album To Hell With The Devil on vinyl or cassette. Tracks like Calling On You, Free, and Honestly were huge, and even if you didn’t even believe in Jebus I would bet you were still down with the Yellow and Black Attack. Stryper has been pushing their pious POV for decades now (except for that album when they weren’t) but somehow they have gotten heavier as the years have gone by. Like the Ugly Kid Joe record I just reviewed, I was ready to hate this, but I did not at all. This is some solid metal, albeit I would pass on the subject matter, but that has always been the case with these guys.
The band sounds great, and the production is strong, but leaning towards a bit too polished. Songs like the opener Transgressor and See No Evil, Hear No Evil are rockers with a message. The guitar work is great on The Final Battle with Oz Fox ripping it up which is awesome to hear after his heath scares. Michael Sweet’s voice is suspiciously strong yet occasionally annoying when he goes a bit too high, but it is a pretty amazing performance given how long he has been doing it. Same Old Story is my favourite track and is super catchy if not a bit preachy, but hey it’s Stryper. Rise To The Call is another fun rocker but after this we start to drag a bit. I could do without a few of the weaker, sappy tracks like Near and Till Death Do Us Part, and the record is about four songs too long and seems to go on like you are 12 years old in church during summer break.
Fourteen albums in, Stryper rocks harder than ever before and still is out their preaching the word. I respect their resiliency and their shift to more aggressive rock. This is a solid offering if you are a fan but it’s not going to win any new converts to their sound or to their saviour. Good album for what it is. 5/10
Near Dusk - Through The Cosmic Fog (Iron Head Records)
One of my favourite random finds on Bandcamp has been the Denver, Colorado band Near Dusk’s debut, self-titled album. The small circle of stoner rock aficionados in the Money Pit have been fawning over the riffing of these guys for more than a year, so when the announcement of a new record, now with Tony Reed involved to mix and master, you can imagine the excitement in our little clubhouse on Twitter. The new album, Through The Cosmic Fog is exactly what I wanted from their sophomore record. Stoner goodness and so many riffs but also both catchy as hell and aggressive in the best kind of way.
Right off the bat you get a track that will be on my song of the year playlist, The Way It Goes. Riffs for days and an edge to the band that takes this song to the next level. Bluesy stoner goodness all around. Mr. Reed knows how these bands should sound, and he is right on point with Near Dusk. The trio is on fire with ripper tracks like Spliff Em’ All that starts with some doomy riffing from front man Matthew Orloff that leads into stoner rock perfection. You can hear the Tony Reed influence all over Through The Cosmic Fog but none more than this track. The Damned is another three-minute stoner burner with even more riffs and killer breakdowns. ]
Rad Wings Of Destiny is a fun, yet very disjointed album, but not one that should be ignored if you have ever enjoyed the band’s more straight-ahead rock output. You have a couple great tracks, a couple terrible tracks, and a very unnecessary cover, but Ugly Kid Joe have one of their best records in a long time which is a welcomed surprise. Take out the couple of stinkers, re-sequence, and explain the lyrics to Dead Friends Play and this may have been rated a point or two higher. 6/10
Stryper - The Final Battle (Frontiers Music Srl)
If you are of a certain age and enjoyed “metal” you probably had Stryper’s huge album To Hell With The Devil on vinyl or cassette. Tracks like Calling On You, Free, and Honestly were huge, and even if you didn’t even believe in Jebus I would bet you were still down with the Yellow and Black Attack. Stryper has been pushing their pious POV for decades now (except for that album when they weren’t) but somehow they have gotten heavier as the years have gone by. Like the Ugly Kid Joe record I just reviewed, I was ready to hate this, but I did not at all. This is some solid metal, albeit I would pass on the subject matter, but that has always been the case with these guys.
The band sounds great, and the production is strong, but leaning towards a bit too polished. Songs like the opener Transgressor and See No Evil, Hear No Evil are rockers with a message. The guitar work is great on The Final Battle with Oz Fox ripping it up which is awesome to hear after his heath scares. Michael Sweet’s voice is suspiciously strong yet occasionally annoying when he goes a bit too high, but it is a pretty amazing performance given how long he has been doing it. Same Old Story is my favourite track and is super catchy if not a bit preachy, but hey it’s Stryper. Rise To The Call is another fun rocker but after this we start to drag a bit. I could do without a few of the weaker, sappy tracks like Near and Till Death Do Us Part, and the record is about four songs too long and seems to go on like you are 12 years old in church during summer break.
Fourteen albums in, Stryper rocks harder than ever before and still is out their preaching the word. I respect their resiliency and their shift to more aggressive rock. This is a solid offering if you are a fan but it’s not going to win any new converts to their sound or to their saviour. Good album for what it is. 5/10
Near Dusk - Through The Cosmic Fog (Iron Head Records)
One of my favourite random finds on Bandcamp has been the Denver, Colorado band Near Dusk’s debut, self-titled album. The small circle of stoner rock aficionados in the Money Pit have been fawning over the riffing of these guys for more than a year, so when the announcement of a new record, now with Tony Reed involved to mix and master, you can imagine the excitement in our little clubhouse on Twitter. The new album, Through The Cosmic Fog is exactly what I wanted from their sophomore record. Stoner goodness and so many riffs but also both catchy as hell and aggressive in the best kind of way.
Right off the bat you get a track that will be on my song of the year playlist, The Way It Goes. Riffs for days and an edge to the band that takes this song to the next level. Bluesy stoner goodness all around. Mr. Reed knows how these bands should sound, and he is right on point with Near Dusk. The trio is on fire with ripper tracks like Spliff Em’ All that starts with some doomy riffing from front man Matthew Orloff that leads into stoner rock perfection. You can hear the Tony Reed influence all over Through The Cosmic Fog but none more than this track. The Damned is another three-minute stoner burner with even more riffs and killer breakdowns. ]
Did I mention the riffs? The titles are all perfect for this album and you know what you are getting. Cosmic Fog? Check. Slab City? Check. The former is a seven-minute slow burner that lives up to its name and gives you a contact buzz just listening to it while the latter brings the heavy riffs that smack you upside the head. Roses Of Durbana is super emotional track that starts with just guitar and Orloff’s voice that reminds me of Thunder Horse and their amazing track Texas from their killer Chosen One record.
Near Dusk’s second album is killer and will be much loved both inside and outside my little group of purveyors of all things stoner rock. There is not a bad track on Through The Cosmic Fog and Tony Reed’s fingerprints are all over the record in the best kind of way. My only complaint is it is nearly impossible to get any information from their record label for these guys and their label mates, Mezzoa. All I want everyone to be able to hear what some of the best bands of the genre are putting out there today, because this is awesome. 9/10
Various Artists - Brown Acid: The Fifteenth Trip (RidingEasy Records)
I am going to start this review like I did the last edition to this collection; I love the Brown Acid series that has been curated by the great RidingEasy Records. If you are not familiar with the set the basic concept is that Lance Barresi, owner of L.A.-based Permanent Records, searches the far corners of the US in dusty record store bins, garages, attics, and confirms musical urban myths to bring us lost and the most underground of underground songs from long forgotten bands that in some cases may have only release one song on a promo single. These songs come together to populate the now fifteen volumes of some of the best 60s and 70s proto metal and psych rock that you have never heard before. Never ever do these comps disappoint. This one is no different with another ten lost treasures for your listening enjoyment.
The Looking Glass start us off with their 1969 mind melting track Take The Time. If you like to garage rock stylings of bands like Blue Cheer but more frantic and even more unhinged, this one is for you. Some more goodness from 1969 with a proto punk energetic ripper 444 from The Zoo. I love the guitar work on this one. Black Hawk brings more proto goodness while Truth And Janey bring us a very garage heavy interesting cover of the Stones classic Under My Thumb with a fun guitar solo that is missing from the original. I love the description on the RidingEasy Website that It was like the song was written for The Who and not The Stones.
Near Dusk’s second album is killer and will be much loved both inside and outside my little group of purveyors of all things stoner rock. There is not a bad track on Through The Cosmic Fog and Tony Reed’s fingerprints are all over the record in the best kind of way. My only complaint is it is nearly impossible to get any information from their record label for these guys and their label mates, Mezzoa. All I want everyone to be able to hear what some of the best bands of the genre are putting out there today, because this is awesome. 9/10
Various Artists - Brown Acid: The Fifteenth Trip (RidingEasy Records)
I am going to start this review like I did the last edition to this collection; I love the Brown Acid series that has been curated by the great RidingEasy Records. If you are not familiar with the set the basic concept is that Lance Barresi, owner of L.A.-based Permanent Records, searches the far corners of the US in dusty record store bins, garages, attics, and confirms musical urban myths to bring us lost and the most underground of underground songs from long forgotten bands that in some cases may have only release one song on a promo single. These songs come together to populate the now fifteen volumes of some of the best 60s and 70s proto metal and psych rock that you have never heard before. Never ever do these comps disappoint. This one is no different with another ten lost treasures for your listening enjoyment.
The Looking Glass start us off with their 1969 mind melting track Take The Time. If you like to garage rock stylings of bands like Blue Cheer but more frantic and even more unhinged, this one is for you. Some more goodness from 1969 with a proto punk energetic ripper 444 from The Zoo. I love the guitar work on this one. Black Hawk brings more proto goodness while Truth And Janey bring us a very garage heavy interesting cover of the Stones classic Under My Thumb with a fun guitar solo that is missing from the original. I love the description on the RidingEasy Website that It was like the song was written for The Who and not The Stones.
Negative Space is raw, riff heavy and very DIY with their killer track Forbidden Fruit leaving you wondering what other goodness these guys could have created. Scrap Iron offer one of their only tracks in existence, Roxanne, a buzzy little number that reminds me of the Mothers Of Invention. The most known band on this comp, White Lightning, offer another track with Under Screaming Double Eagle, which is a killer title for an equally killer track. Overall the ten tracks on this comp are all worthy of your time and are guaranteed enjoyment if you like this kind of stuff.
Another amazing set of lost gems from RidingEasy Records. Get this one and the other fourteen volumes ASAP. RidingEasy is doing the Lord’s (hail Satan?) work bringing these songs to light. Required listening. 8/10
Another amazing set of lost gems from RidingEasy Records. Get this one and the other fourteen volumes ASAP. RidingEasy is doing the Lord’s (hail Satan?) work bringing these songs to light. Required listening. 8/10
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