Amongst the vast collection of Kiss albums this one is quickly forgotten, especially by the critics and even a few die-hard fans. Released in 1980 the band had started to decline, the make-up act was wearing thin and it quickly fell out of the US charts. Drummer Peter Criss didn’t play on this record and would soon quit the band. Continue reading Kiss ‘Unmasked’
Nirvana’s Nevermind album may have brought ‘grunge’ to the masses, much to the disdain of Cobain but Soundgarden’s Badmotorfinger had an advantage over their Seattle brothers, it’s the dirtiness of this album, its something Nevermind never had, yes it was a classic, but too polished, this album challenges you. Continue reading Soundgarden ‘Badmotorfinger’
I’ve talked to a few crusty hippies in my day and whenever the subject of music arrives there’s always the inevitable shift to the ‘band that got away’. It goes something like this “oh man, I can’t believe I never saw Zeppelin” or “I missed the chance to catch the Grateful Dead gosh darn it’. It always gets me thinking; that every music fan has their ‘white whale’, the ‘band that got away’, it’s the band you’ll never see or catch, the musical Moby Dick.
Sorry, that was a juicy pun; I had to go there. Anyway, fans of Aussie Rock n Roll are rejoicing harder than a Russian hacker over that Trump win as that tallish bald guy with the epileptic dance moves and shady political past has gotten the band back together and ‘the Oils’ are headed on a world tour.
Continue reading Music fans will be burning the Midnight Oil
An album represents a moment in time where the songs pulse and move with whatever we are doing in our lives. I remember driving my brown 2 door Ford Escort home one day from work at Gosford Police Station and ‘Paradise City’ was blasting from my 80’s car stereo with flashing equalizer, I was banging on the steering wheel singing right along with Axl. I was 18 years old and life reflected this album, which was conflicted. Continue reading Guns N’ Roses ‘Appetite for Destruction’
Rick Dangerous & the Silkie Bantams. It’s the name of my new favorite band, a band I’ve never actually seen. I’ve just been told multiple times how good they are live, in concert, in the flesh. I’ve seen the photos, heard the stories from bun and Cam, read the electrifying reviews. They’ve only released two records, a self-titled EP and their latest, ‘Thrust Machine’. Continue reading Rick Dangerous & the Silkie Bantams
This is a record full of mood and atmosphere. Released in 1979 at the back end of the British punk movement, Unknown Pleasures has hooks and melodies that grab you and don’t let go, all intertwined with the haunting voice of Ian Curtis. Continue reading Joy Division ‘Unknown Pleasures’
Enmore Road, Enmore is ‘totally’ buzzing tonight, the sidewalks are packed with Saturday night revelers, mingling outside restaurants, pubs and cafes. The Enmore Theatre is about to be descended upon by 40 and 50 something’s reliving their 80’s teenage years. It’s the ‘totally 80’s’ gig featuring pop star Martika, Wa Wa Nee, Real Life and a host of others.
In the 90’s Marilyn Manson was the bogeyman and public enemy number one. He had the Christian right after him, the PMRC after him and politicians after him. Manson set the rock world on fire and was reveling in the wreckage. The teenage element saw him as their evil outlet, thrilled that their parents didn’t approve whom I’m sure would have preferred posters on their kids walls of Hootie and the Blowfish. Continue reading Marilyn Manson ‘Antichrist Superstar’
I was really excited when I brought this tape. I remember having it at my grandmother’s house, where I would go to after school. I was in the kitchen staring at the front cover, mesmerized by the winged cupid smoking a cigarette, thinking how cool and naughty he was. I was an innocent 14 year old obsessed with sport so smoking, beer or anything ‘out of bounds’ had yet to descend on me. Continue reading Van Halen ‘1984’