Various Artists

Ronnie James Dio: This is Your Life

Rhino Records

When I first heard about this album, I immediately thought about the myriad of “tribute” albums that Deadline Records did in the early 00’s. Very few of them were even close to mediocre despite the fact that they were loaded with A and B list musical heroes.

 Fortunately, we are treated hear to mostly full band versions of DIO and DIO era Black Sabbath tunes. Artists as varied as Tenacious D. Anthrax, Scorpions, Doro, KSE, and Metallica all appear here as do a few collaborations that feature artists like Corey Taylor and Glenn Hughes alongside many of the previous DIO band members. Basically, only Vivian Campbell is absent here, but that was to be expected right?

Most of these songs are solid and that surprised me quite a bit. Some we have heard before like Adrenaline Mob’s amazing cover of “The Mob Rules” and KSE’s “Holy Diver,” which turned the heads of quite a few younger metalheads towards DIO. Both are highlights here for sure, which is why they stood out originally as well. The Corey Taylor/Ray Mayorga/Satchel/Christian Martucci/Jason Christopher take on my favorite DIO song, “Rainbow in the Dark” is a blood pumper as well. Why can’t Taylor sing like that in Slipknot?!

Meanwhile, collaborations on “I,” “Catch the Rainbow,” and “Man On the Silver Mountain” don’t fare quite as well. Many former DIO members are featured on them but it just lacks the spark of the originals. The same goes for the Metallica’s “Ronnie Rising Medley” unfortunately, although what it lacks in spark and builds back with sheer energy. For me, the best moment comes from Ronnie James Dio’s longtime friend Doro. Her heartfelt version of “Egypt (The Chains Are On)” is beautiful, epic, and haunting, just the way RJD would have liked it I’m sure.

The album ends with a stunning moment by DIO, which doubles as the title track for the album. It’s a perfect ending but I’m not going to go into why here as it’s something every fan should experience for themselves. While this is a solid tribute album, it’s still a tribute album that will leave fans wanting to dig out their old DIO albums. 

Cyndi Lauper

She’s So Unusual: A 30^th Anniversary Celebration

Legacy Recordings/Sony Entertainment

It’s hard to believe that it was three decades ago when Cyndi Lauper hit the scene. While labeled a bubbly pop sensation at the time, here lyrics rang even more true in the decades that followed. She’s So Unusual was Lauper’s debut and to date has sold over 16 million albums worldwide. The album features the smash hits “She Bop,” “All Through the Night,” “Money Changes Everything,” “Girls Just Want to Have Fun,” and “Time After Time.” The imagery may be distinctly eighties but the music has stood the test of time.

This special edition includes two discs. The first features the entire album (one of the few from the eighties to play perfectly from start to finish) as well as a remix of “Girls Just Want To Have Fun” from Yolanda Be Cool and remixes of “Time After Time” from Nervo and Bent Collective. Disc two features demo tracks, rehearsal footage, a couple of remixes, a live track of “Witness,” and the non-LP B-side “Right Track Wrong Train.”

I’m not going to spend a lot of time here on disc one. She’s So Unusual was a great album when it was released and it still is. The sentiment remains unchanged, be yourself, don’t be selfish, and love recklessly. “Money Changes Everything,” “Time After Time,” and “When You Were Mine” are still the highlights for me and “She Bop” and “Girls Just Want to Have Fun” still make me smile. The latter also makes me miss Capt. Lou Albano and the Rock N’ Wrestling movement that I loved as a kid.

The remixes on this set are interesting but, unless you really enjoy collecting remixes, they aren’t much to write home about. This is kind of a niche thing and, admittedly, I’m not much into it. That said, the Nervo remix of “Time After Time” is more memorable than the others.

For fans of the album and Ms. Lauper, it’s the demos here that will bring you to the table. Vocally, the show a more vulnerable side of Lauper that is well hidden on her albums. Her voice cracks and strains at times, but it’s also a lot more soulful. The best example of this is the early guitar demo for “Girls Just Want to Have Fun.” Part of me wishes they would have recorded it this way. It wouldn’t have fit into the early eighties pop scene but the guitar lead lack really gives the song a whole different feel. “Money Changes Everything” simply sounds stripped down, but again, thirty years later it feels like it fits my life a little tighter this way than it did with all the hairspray and synthesizers. The B-side “Right Track Wrong Train” is a gem as well, boasting an almost Blondie style new wave/punk rock flavor.

Overall, if you don’t have this album then you should have this version. If you already have it (on vinyl, eight-track, cassette, and CD more than likely) then the extras make it totally worth purchasing it again.

Various Artists

Bob Dylan: The 30^th Anniversary Concert Celebration (Deluxe Edition)

Legacy Recordings/Columbia

On October 16^th, 1992 many of music’s biggest stars gathered to honor Bob Dylan on the 30^th anniversary of his first Columbia Records album. This was during a very quiet time in Dylan’s storied career. He had decided not to record any new material and had returned to his roots by recording old folk songs. It was this “quiet time” that led to his massive career resurgence in the late nineties, but at this show it was his history that resurged.

This re-release is a two CD/two DVD set that features remastered audio and a new High Definition  video master. Included as well are over 40 minutes of rehearsal and interview footage that has never been seen before. It also includes an excellent set of liner notes from pop music historian Bill Flanagan.

It’s odd looking back on the video footage of this historic night. Amidst so many high-profile, multi-million dollar tributes/ceremonies/award shows, this is a very low key affair. A very simple stage and a few lights adorn Madison Square Garden and many of the artists performed acoustically as solo artists or without the backing of a full band. Also, many of the artists themselves introduce the next artist. It’s just an odd look all the way around. In that respect, it’s very, very Bob Dylan.

The highlight of the video performances is certainly John Mellencamp, who kicks the show off with a blazing set of “Like a Rolling Stone” and the bonus track “Leopard-Skin Pill-Box Hat.” Mellencamp was at the top of his game and he played these songs like he owned them that night. Then newcomers Mike McCready and Eddie Vedder (Pearl Jam) delivered a powerful acoustic rendition of “Masters of War” that stood in stark contrast to the music of the time period and proved them to be legit contenders in rock and roll. Of course, seeing The Clancy Brothers perform with Robbie O’Connell and Tommy Makem was a once in a lifetime treat as well, proving how much respect Dylan commanded from a variety of legends. And who can forget Sinead O’Connor getting booed off the stage hot on the heels of her Saturday Night Live stand against the Catholic Church?

For me, it’s the audio that transports me back to that place though. While it’s not much to look at, hearing Chrissie Hynde deliver a powerhouse version of “I Shall Be Released” is overwhelming when you are all alone and really crank it up. The same goes for Ron Wood offering the Dylan penned/Wood recorded “Seven Days” and Johnny Winter’s blistering blues rendition of “Highway 61 Revisited.” Another newcomer at the time, Tracy Chapman, delivers the fiery folk of “The Times They Are A-Changin’” with ease, showing how it still spoke volumes decades later.

Dylan himself eventually takes the stage, surrounded by legendary friends like Eric Clapton, Tom Petty, Neil Young, and George Harrison (among others) to play “My Back Pages” and “Knockin’ on Heaven’s Door” and, honestly, it’s just a big jam and doesn’t do much for me. When Dylan performs “It’s Alright Ma (I’m Only Bleeding)”  and “Girl From the North Country” though, he moves mountains with just his nasally whine and an acoustic guitar. I wish there was much more of this to be found, but considering that no one even knew whether or not he would be there, we are fortunate to have it. All in all, this is a piece of music history that is well worth your time to visit or revisit.

It's funny to think how many amazing albums have been released to no avail. Albums that should have been trendsetters and life-changers but, for various reasons, weren't. I entertained the idea of just changing the blog format and keeping on like this forever. There are so many more great albums from artists like Chagall Guevara, Aunt Bettys, Jen Chapin, Marly Hornik, Dust, King's X, the list goes on and on. They all deserve to be heard and deserve space here, there, and everywhere.

Unfortunately, our time has come to a close for now and we will be returning to our focus on re-issues, live albums, and deluxe/special editions of classics. The Great Nothing blog has received a massive increase in hits through this series and we thank you for reading! Please continue to check back as we return to our "regularly scheduled programming" next week.

Mark

Glass Hammer

Lex Rex

Arion Records

Reviewed by Jeff Holton

In the 20 plus years that I have been reviewing music rarely did I ever receive an independent CD that caught my attention like Glass Hammer’s LEX REX.  Glass Hammer is a Nashville, TN based power/prog band.  This CD completely ble me away!  This is the 7^th release from “the band that helped revive concept albums”.  Glass Hammer’s LEX REX was, in my opinion, the best independent CD release of 2002! 

This concept album according to the band is the story of a “Roman soldier, beset by ancient gods and goddesses, lured on a quest for something unattainable… He calls it glory.”   The story behind the music talks about his quests as he searches for this source.  He looks for “glory” in war, in ancient gods and into the arms of the goddess Aphrodite, all to find that glory cannot be found in these carnal things.  After much “soul- searching” the soldier finally finds “glory” in the one called “Prince of Peace”, “Counselor”, “Holy Savior”, “God clothed in flesh”.  It is truly an inspiring story that is filled with faith and hope.

Musically Glass Hammer is a retro progressive rock band easily compared to the likes of early Yes and Genesis.  The songs contain punchy bass lines (by Steve Babb), “complex vocal harmonies” and the CD is highlighted with killer Hammond organ and Moog synthesizer solos (Fred Schendel) that would make Rick Wakemen from Yes a proud man!

LEX REX is a must have CD for any progressive music enthusiast.  Nearly 12 years later Glass Hammer is still alive and kicking making some of the best and most innovative progressive rock today. 

The Best Albums You Probably Haven't Heard

Levi Kreis- Imagine Paradise

Reviewed by Todd Carlson

 Imagine Paradise is the fifth album from Levi Kreis, and it's his most consistent to date. This album is filled with enough catchy hooks and infectious beats that's guaranteed to get you dancing in your chair, or at least, tapping your toes. 

   

    Levi has touched on a few different styles over the years, From the soulful, piano ballads of his first album in 2005, to the pop elements of later releases, to the 70's dance vibe that complements his sound now, he always delivers a strong performance. This is easily the most comfortable he has sounded yet. Taking a break from recording and touring for a couple of years to play Jerry Lee Lewis in Million Dollar Quartet, on Broadway, definitely re-energized him. I'm sure winning the Tony Award for Best Actor in a Musical didn't hurt either.

     Even though tracks like "Any Way You Wanna" and "Taking Back My Boogie" have a classic 70's flavor, they still sound completely modern and are perfect for cranking on the car stereo on a sunny, summer day. Along side the high energy tracks are  gorgeous love songs such as "All Over Again" and "Timeless (We Are)". Start to finish, this album will just make you feel good.

The Best Albums You Probably Haven't Heard

Ilsabe O’Connell

Little Lost Cause

Independent

Little Lost Cause came to my attention back in 2005 when a lot of indie music was crossing my desk. With its run down carnival cover it quickly caught my attention, but it was the raw, soft-spoken blend of traditional country, blues, and folk that has kept me coming back time after time. In fact, this is an album that has never been far from my ears for much of the last decade.

Most of this album is musically sparse in a folk way. It hones in on the gentle touch of Ilsabe’s acoustic guitar and keeps her voice front and center, always nudging the album forward. In that way, it certainly reminds of Christine Kane and early Jen Chapin. There are a number of highlights here (or, duh, it wouldn’t be included on this list, right?), but I’ll just mention a few.

The haunting “Old Konstanz,” with it’s perfectly mixed background vocals and Ilsabe’s slightly bluesy vocal delivery. It’s a little to soft-spoken to be truly bluesy but her cadence certainly gives it that feel. Meanwhile, “Carnival” ties into to the art layout and has more of a traditional country flare. At its heart it’s a wonderful love song and reminds me of the fond teenage memories I have of puppy love at the county fair where I grew up in rural Pennsylvania. The title track is another obvious highlight and moves at a slightly faster clip than much of the album. The instruments are more pronounced and the guitars are exceptional on this song in particular.

To date, this is the only album Ilsabe O’Connell has made. Like many of us (and many of the artists featured on this blog series), life has apparently taken her in other directions. I truly hope that one day she’ll release something new, but for now, Little Lost Cause is still a breath of fresh air in an overcrowded world of music. This is the sound of regular people pouring their heart into a dream and that ALWAYS makes for a memorable album.