Pick of the Week: Chickenfoot

First I want to start out saying that growing up I was a pretty big Van Halen fan until "1984". I was aslo a huge Sammy Hagar (solo) fan up until "...55". And when the two join forces in 86 I had my doubts. I wasn't a fan. I thought they sold themselves out. They did infact all the way to number one. I also grew up a huge Joe Satriani fan. Joe is my #1 with EVH a distant second....so when i first heard that Chickenfoot was coming about I once again had my doubts. Now I'm hear to say it took only one listen to every song from start to finish and thought this is what Van "Hagar" should have sounded like. Heavy riffs, no keys, Michael Anthony's backing and decent vocals...infact the vocals on this album were much more impressive than I anticipated. Sammy's like what 72? But sounds better now than when he first started with VH. I understand that Edward has not listened to the album nor does he have a desire to. Eddie if you are listening, listen carefully: Listen to the album one time and go back to Dave, Wolfie, and Alex and say we must top this. Your band is "the one band" that HAS to get back to the sound that defined your career...forget about getting to #1 or pleasing the casual fan. Do it for Rock! Now back to Chickenfoot. The first two songs starts with a what I will call a "Joe" songs Avenida Revolution and Soap on a Roap. Heavy riffs that are reminicant of recent Joe albums. The third song, Sexy Little Thing starts a string of "VH songs" until "Get it Up" which has the vintage "Joe" sound as well as a heavy "Down the Drain". Following are a couple of ballad-esque songs. This album is definately a 5 out of 5 star album to my surprise. Great job gents and Eddie... the ball is in your court now to kick up a notch.

5 Great ones:
1. Down the Drain
2. Get it Up
3. Soap on a Roap
4. Turnin Left
5. Avenida Revolution

The next 5 Great ones part II:
1. Bitten by the Wolf (Bonus Track available on iTunes)
2. My Kinda Girl
3. Runnin Out
4. Oh Yeah
5. Sexy Little Thing

Pick of the Week: Nevermind the Bullocks 5 out of 5 stars

I wouldn't say i grew up on punk or even gave it a the time a day until recent years. I've become to appreciate it more today. But only the true punk bands, not the posers that put out the "punk pop". But as i was reading John (johnny rotten)Lydon's autobiography did i discover something i didn't know about The Sex Pistols. Not only were they only together 2 years they also had only one studio album. How can such an influential band have such an impact on punk music of the 90s and today..well I'll tell you how..I recently purchased Nevermind the Bullocks, Here's the Sex Pistols and I will say it's one of the best "front to back" albums I've heard. The entire album is full of fist pumping, middle finger-giving, energizing, political anthems. Green Day today does have their radio-friendly "punk pop" but i think after stepping out with American Idiot, they felt like they needed to use the same formula instead of making the next step. To me the Sex Pistols made the music for themselves rather than to get radio play or even for their fans. But that also could have been part of their downfall. (as well as many other issues) But back to the album, personal favorites, Sub-mission, Anarchy in U.K., God Save the Queen, and EMI, the jab at the record company that dumped them, New York and Holiday in the Sun.