Emmo’s Blog

This weeks nuggets of ear candy are:

1) Black Stone Cherry – Folklore & Superstistion

2) Avenged Sevenfold – City Of Evil

3) The Quireboys – Homewreckers & Heartbreakers

4) Metallica – Death Magnetic (Review now posted)

5) Pantera – Far Beyond Driven

Not a new album as it was released in Jan 08 but still a review is a review.

Market Harbour is the 4th solo album from The Wildhearts front man Ginger. This album follows A Break In The Weather, Valor De Corozan and Yoni.

MH is a slightly different album from the previous 3 and if you are expecting a Wildhearts sounding album then you will be in for a shock albeit a pleasant one. Only 1 song from MH could sit aside other songs from Gingers main baby and that’s Queen Of Leaving. The fact that its not Wildhearts sounding album really pleases me as it shows Gingers diversity. I don’t understand when a member of a group releases a solo album and it sounds exactly like their bands music. What’s the point in that?

Ive read a few reviews by some people who say stick to the Wildhearts but I think they are totally missing the point. This is where Ginger can bare his soul and write songs that he needs to write. Thunderous & bouncy guitars can be saved for The Wildhearts. I like the change of pace on MH.

MH is just short of 60 minutes and has 21 songs. Some songs are interludes acting as a instrumental piece that allows one song to flow into another. Here on MH Ginger gets to show his song writing genius opening up about his personal life. I’m not going to into Gingers life story and about all the trouble he has had over the last few years. If you want to find out about that then buy Valor Del Corozan.

The 4 songs that put Ginger at the top of the song writer’s league from this album are House Of Moths, How Hard Can You Make It, Awareness And The Great Integrity & The Perilous Burden Of Prodigal Obligation. Soft vocals, toned down guitars and excellent lyrics. The whole album seems to be recorded in this way as you have to turn you stereo up a notch. Ginger also manages to get his kids on the act to with vocals on the song You & Me (That’s What I Want) and it sounds like a good time was had by all.

I am not going to give you a song by song break down as I would be here forever but this album really does prove that Ginger is one of the best songwriters of the last 20 years. Go buy it and listen to a genius at work.

My rating: 9/10

Robert Plant yesterday dismissed the latest gossip that he was about to tour with rock legends Led Zeppelin.

An article in last weeks Sun claimed that Plant had agreed to a 2 year world tour after the success of last Decembers one of gig at London’s O2.

Plant said: There is no truth in the matter what so ever. I am happy touring with Alison at the moment.

This will come as a crushing blow to Zep fans, some of whom have never seen them live.

Zeppelin have sold over 300 million albums going back over 30 years.

It’s been a long time since the last Metallica album especially if you are like me and don’t count 2003s abysmal St. Anger.

So for a few it’s been a decade since the last new material of any note had been released by the San Francisco metal gods.

Metallica have been around 27 years and this, Death Magnetic, is their 9^th studio album.

You normally find that when a band has been around for a long time and released roughly 8 or 9 albums, in those albums you get the stunning debut, the breakthrough album, 2 classics, 3 you know what you’re getting and 1 dire effort and Metallica are no different.

I was looking forward to listening to this album but at the same time dreading it and finding out that DM was another St Anger and Metallica had lost it.

So to Death Magnetic. Is it any good? Read on….

In a word yes. Metallica are back.

Back to what they know best. Songs roughly 8 minutes in length and finger burning guitar solos.

On DM there are 10 songs which include 1 instrumental (Suicide & Redemption) which takes us back to yesteryear and the days of the Master Of Puppets and Ride The Lightning albums.

Also they all sound like they are in the same room which is a bonus when you consider that SA sounded like the drums were recorded in a trash can 3 streets away from the rest of the band.

The first song That Was Just Your Life kicks things of nice and fast followed by the monster that is The End Of The Line.

The 4th song on the album is the first single The Day That Never Comes which starts of slowly and ends with a duelling guitar solos from Hetfield and Hammett.

Long time fans will be familiar with the songs The Unforgiven & The unforgiven II (from the Black album and Reload) and here is the 3^rd instalment in the form off – wait for it – The Unforgiven III.

Cyandie and The Judas Kiss are a triumph and prove that Metallica still know how to make excellent Metal.

Metallica are back and back with something that’s worth listening too. Forget St Anger and put it down to being the 1 dire album I mentioned ealrier. Death Magnetic is raw, powerful and truly a great Metal album.

My only gripe is that after this long gap there are 10 songs but as some would say quality over quantity is much better.

I hope the songs that never made the album are kept for B-side on future single releases.

My Rating 8/10

Tracklisting:

This Was Just Your Life

The End Of The Line

Broken, Beat & Scarred

The Day That Never Comes

All Nightmare Long

Cyanide

The Unforgiven III

The Judas Kiss

Suicide & Redemption

My Apocalypse

Okay so I didn’t know what to expect from this Motley Crue album.

They are a great band and legends of Rock music but the last 15 years have seen average after average release from the Crue.

In fact the last 10 years have seen the Crue more famous for marriages and divorces to pin up girls, homemade porno movies, appearances on makeover shows and the (excellent) book The Dirt.

The truth is the last few years musically (by fans and critics) will be remembered for poor albums, starting with Generation Swine and ending with New Tattoo. Add in failed solo projects (Sixx AM aside), more Greatest Hits remixes than you can shake a stick at and that sums up the last decade.

In 1993 they released a self titled album without Vince Neil on Vocals and although I loved it and think it’s their 2^nd best album behind 1989s Dr Feelgood  – diehards couldn’t get used to a different singer. The album bombed and gigs remained unsold so the new vocalist Jon Corabi who sings ten times better than Neil was sacked.

SOLA (Saints Of Los Angeles) is the first album since Generation Swine that sees all the original 4 members play on a album and that’s a good start. SOLA is a story of the Crues career to date. They have drafted in guest writers (Members of Buckcherry) to help them kick-start their song writing which as previously mentioned in this review has been average to say the least for a while.

The album kicks off with LAMF a short spoken piece like that of Children Of The Beast from the Shout Of The Devil. This is followed by the thumping Face Down In The Dirt which is a cracking way to get the album off to thumping start. 3 more songs (including the title track SOLA) follow and they keep the album rolling along nicely.

The next 2 songs are the best the Crue have wrote in the last 20 years. These arrive in the form of Motherfucker Of The Year and The Animal In Me. In (MFOTY) Vince’s voices is awesome, Bass line is pumping, drums pounding, Harmonies and a chorus that sticks to you like spunk in the bath. The Animal In Me this is a slower song and takes the albums pace down a notch but it’s not long before turbo pace is restored with Welcome To The Machine.

Another highlight is the song This Aint A Love Song which sounds like it could be a slushy ballad but its not its completely opposite of that with Vince telling us “This ain’t a love song, it’s just a fuck song.”The only slight lowlight for me is the song Chicks = Trouble with lyrics like “I always thought pussy was gold” Bob Dylan this certainly isn’t !!! From then on in the album never slows up and keeps up its frantic pace ending with Goin’ Out Swingin’

The best thing about this album is the sheer pace of it only slowing down once and also the quality of songs. All 4 members here are playing the best they have for a decade. The real star of the show is Mick Mars whose guitar playing is ball dropping from crunching riffs to finger splitting solos. Vince Neil has also improved as a singer as no longer is he trying to hit notes he has no chance of reaching but singing down a notch.

The Crue are back and don’t you forget it !!

My rating 7.5/10

Track Listing:

Liverpool never looked like losing this game from the first whistle. Evertons plan was to not win the game but not lose it either. Starting with one up front Everton showed their hand to Liverpool who dominated from start to finish. The only surprise was how long it took Liverpool to finally score. Possession counts for nothing if you don’t score at the end of 90   minutes. Step up Fernando Torres who has looked jaded since his heroics for Spain at the  Euros. The lethal front man rediscovered his goal scoring form with a brace after a mini goal drought. Sky said it was six games the Sundays said seven but in truth its about four after missing a few after his recent hamstring injury. The front manhas endured a frustrating match with him getting no protection from Mike Riley from Evertons tough tackling defenders. Torres was also booked after telling the linesman what he thought of him after another decision went against him.

After a first half dominated by the reds with nothing to show for it Liverpool broke the deadlock after 59 minutes when a clever pass by Alonso released the hard working Keane who then crossed from the by line standing the ball up in the air. Kuyt dragged Lescott out of position and Torres walked unmarked into the box to slot home from six yards through the advancing Howards legs. Three minutes later the game was over. Robbie Keane again was at the heart of the move by taking on Evertons defenders then slipping a glorious ball through to Kuyt. Just as he was about to pull the trigger he was tackled brillantly by Jagelka, but the ball fell to Torres who buried the ball in the top left hand corner. Torres could have had a hat trick but the fussy Mike Riley ruled out another expert finish as he judged that Kuyt has pushed Lescott in the bulid up. Replays showed nothing that suggested that at all.

Evertons Mersey misery was complete in the 78th minute when Tim Cahill was sent off for a lunge at Alonso. The decision seemed a bit harsh but Cahill refused to go to Riley after committing the foul so he was given a red card instead.

The stats didn’t look good for Everton after this game. Three games at home so far this season and three defeats. The most glaring stat was that after the 90 minutes against Liverpool they had zero shots on target and only four off target.

For Liverpool its the best start to a season for 12 years without hitting top gear. Torres is back and thats good news for Liverpool and bad news for everyone else.

Next up for Liverpool, PSV at Anfield in the Champions League.

Every week I will be listing what I am listening to on my Ipod whilst travelling on Londons wonderful transport system.

Here is whats hot on my Ipod this week:

1) Death Magentic – Metallica (review coming soon)

2) S.O.L.A – Motley Crue                                                                               

3) The Crimson Idol – W.A.S.P

4) All Hope Is Gone – Slipknot          

5) Angel Down – Sebastian Bach

20 October 2008 will see the release of a DVD called The Wildhearts – Live In The Studio: A Film By Tim Smith.

The DVD will feature interviews with the band and a live performance of their last album, the self titled The Wildhearts.

Dont miss this chance to get up close and personal with Ginger and the boys.

Check out the clip on youtube of Ginger and Ritch in the bath with a bubble overload in which Ginger says “how do I know if I am clean, there are too many bubbles!”

The tracklisting for the DVD is as follows:

Destroy All Monsters
The Sweetest Song
The Revolution Will Be Televised
Bi-Polar Baby
The New Flesh
She’s All That
Rooting For The Bad Guy
Slaughtered Authors
Inner City Overture
The Hard Way

Extras:
The New Flesh (Video)
Destroy All Monsters (Video)
Making Of Destroy All Monsters

Bon Jovi are to release a DVD in the Spring of 2009.

The working title is  “25 years in Black and White” but whether that’s going to be the official name remains to seen.

The documentary follows Bon jovi on their recent Lost Highway world tour and features interviews, live footage and anything else they did on the road they think you want to see

Any more info I get on this will be posted as soon as I get it.

Stay tuned.

 For the Merseyside derby Liverpool are expected to make 11 changes from the team that started against Crewe in Tuesdays Carling Cup game. Despite his start and goal against Crewe Daniel Agger will find himself back on the bench. Liverpool have one fresh injury and that’s Philip Deggen who will miss the game with 2 broken ribs which was sustained on Tuesday nights LFC debut. Fabio Aurelio is still on the treatment table.