Outside Lands Festival 2011

It’s Festival Week once again at The Rock And Roll Guru. This week I will be discussing five select festivals including the highs, the lows, the bands on the bill, the places to go, and why you should attend.

Outside Lands Festival
http://www.sfoutsidelands.com
August 12 – 14, 2011
San Francisco, California

Overview
Billed as music, food, wine, and art, the Outside Lands festival in San Francisco, California, is one of the best summer festivals going. An eclectic mix of bands loads the music bill while fans can wander, sampling great wines, exceptional food, and having a lot of summer fun in Northern California.

Ticketing
Tickets for the Outside Lands Festival can be purchased at through their website (www.sfoutsidelands.com) but act fast. Most of the general admission packages are already sold out. According to the website, there is limited availability for the remaining general admission 3-day pass. This goes for $199, but includes access to the wineries as well as the bands. If you are looking to attend the festival with a little more style and amenities, the VIP package can be purchased for $450 for a 3-day pass. The VIP package includes an exclusive club complete with massage services, access to VIP food services, and access to alcohol services. It honestly doesn’t sound like it’s worth the extra $250.

Lineup
Outside Lands has always brought their share of excellent performing acts and this year is no exception. With Phish giving their standard 2-set performance, Muse, The Black Keys, MGMT, John Fogerty, Old 97s, and Warren Haynes Band (just to name a few), there are plenty bands to love on the ballot. While official performance dates/times have not yet been released, it’s safe to say that Phish, Arcade Fire, and Muse are your headliners for each night respectively.

History
The Outside Lands Festival started in 2008 with over 60 musical acts from around the world performing. Now into its fourth year, The Outside Lands festival has gained in popularity every year. This year looks to be the best selling ever for the event, as evident by most of the general admission packages already being sold out.

Every year, Outside Lands secures incredible performers to entertain the crowd. Having been graced with such brilliant bands as Dave Matthews Band, Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers, Radiohead, Wilco, Pearl Jam, and My Morning Jacket in years past, this year’s festival continues in that tradition of great musicians.

Outside Lands also strives to be the most eco-friendly festival in existence. There are plenty of recycling containers and recycled material all around the festival. One of the stages (the panhandle solar stage) is powered completely by solar energy. The festival allows and encourages refillable water containers (as opposed to bottled waters) and offers several refillable water stations.

Places To Stay
If you are planning on staying near the festival, you had better book your rooms now. While the 2011 hotel partners have not yet been listed on the website, the hotels in the immediate area are bound to sell out lightning fast. There are several hotel/motels near the park. A quick search of Google shows the Red Victorian, The Oceanview, and the Laurel Inn. The Hotel Tomo is very close by and has received some great reviews from past festival attendees.

If you are willing to venture a little further away, there are several hotels where rooms can be had for a much smaller cost than those that are close to the festival. A 30 minute cab ride may save you hundreds in room costs. And if you’ve never been to San Francisco before, it offers the chance to explore other parts of this beautiful city away from the festival area.

Overall
The Outside Lands Festival looks like a lot of fun. With great food, wine tasting, exceptional bands, several areas of environmental friendly entertainment and education on greening the Earth, this is a fantastic festival to visit in the summertime. The weather in San Francisco in August is just gorgeous and you would not be disappointed by attending this show at that time of year. With some of the hottest names in music headlining the event, Outside Lands could be a great festival to enjoy.

Ryo’s Final Word
The lack of second tier bands for the cost of this festival would make me hesitant to attend (especially with the travel costs). Outside Lands goes from super-huge name acts (Phish, Muse) to acts I’ve never heard of. There’s no middle ground of up and coming acts, or bands that have flown under the radar for far too long. That’s a big deterrent for attending this festival.

Friday's Rockin' Roundup - The End Of The Year Edition

Another year has come to an end. 2010 is officially over at 11:59 PM tonight. To me, 2010 was a rough year and I’ll be glad to see it go. Those who follow me on Twitter know how hard I had it at the job this past year and how desperately I am seeking new employment in 2011. I think that will happen relatively early in the coming year. I’ve created a list of 5 companies that I want to work for (my dream companies in the industry).Three of these companies have openings, one of the companies I’ve met with (they want to revisit me in January). The other two I’ve submitted my resume too along with my desire to work for them. I’m hoping for the best. A new job would be a great way to kick start the New Year.

Happy New Year to all my readers! Thank you for coming to my little spot on the web, reading, commenting, e-mailing, and otherwise making me feel like this blog is worth the time it takes to produce. You guys are the best!

Here’s what rocked this week:

A Collection of Best Of, Favorite, and Top Albums Lists
Large Hearted Boy has put together one of the most comprehensive lists compiling all of the year-end music best of 2010 lists from blogs, magazines, newspapers, etc. He has been doing this since 2006 and his lists are a great way to not only see the vast differing of opinions on what was great in music for 2010, but it also helps introduce readers to blogs they may otherwise not have known. This is such a noble deed indeed.

Paramore Breaks Up
Just as the band was starting to achieve some fame and notoriety, the tension in the ranks and dissatisfaction amongst band members caused the band to call it a day. Depending on whose side of the story you believe, there are several ways that you can view this. One thing’s for certain, it is bad news for Paramore fans no matter which side was right.

King Diamond’s Heart Surgery
The bad news is that the man had to go through this procedure. The good news is that King Diamond will live on. All he needs is some rest.

A Look Back At Phish New Year’s Eve Shows
Phish will be performing at Madison Square Garden for 3 sold out shows starting December 30th. Their New Year’s Eve shows have been historic and beloved in the past and I am sure that this year won’t be any different. Over at Jam Bands, they posted a look back on previous Phish New Year’s Eve shows. A very cool read, if you have the time.

For more thoughts, music news, rants, raves, and otherwise poetic musings, you should follow me on twitter. www.twitter.com/ryovie

Friday's Rockin' Roundup - Pub Crawl Edition

Tomorrow afternoon, I will be trolling through a lot of bars in New York City as I head out with my uncles, cousins, and friends on our third annual pub crawl. Last year we toured the city of Boston and had a bombastic time. This year appears to be even better than ever, with more guys coming along and a long day of drinking and having fun. By the end of the night, we are very well in the bag, but it’s always so much fun that I don’t even mind the hangover the next day. OK, maybe it hurts a little, but it’s worth the pain to have that good of a time.

Here’s what rocked this week:

Ace Frehley Live Review
You can read the review of Ace Frehley’s live performance over at Heavy Metal Addiction. The setlist is included and all I can say is “wow!” It appears that it was a great concert with an amazing choice of songs. Makes me wish I would have travelled to CT on Saturday.

A Very Deep Look At Stairway To Heaven
This is a long post, but a worthy read, as the author tries to determine just what makes Stairway To Heaven one of the greatest rock songs ever. A lot of research and insight went into this post. It’s an enjoyable read and although I get tired of the song sometimes, it did drive home the point of why it’s so popular.

The 5 Best Streaming Music Services
This is a great article for anyone looking for a streaming music service. Their choice for top 5 are broken down, include price and links. Personally, I use AOL Radio, but that’s because they have an all Pearl Jam station, an all Dave Matthews Band station, and a hair metal station. What more do I need?

Phish Heading Back On The Road
Phish recently announced a new tour for this summer. Add this to the list of great shows worth seeing in 2010. Full tour details are included in the link as well as on sale dates.

For more updates, shout outs, and musical references, you should follow me on Twitter. www.twitter.com/ryovie

My 10 Favorite Releases of 2009

Well, it’s that time of the year again. 2009 is almost at a close and as we hover in anticipation of the New Year, this is a good time to reflect on the great music that came to us this past year. I’m hopeful that 2010 will bring half as many quality releases as 2009 did. Will we see a new Aerosmith record? I doubt it. Could we hold out hope that KISS goes back into the studio? Not likely. But we do know that there are some great albums on the horizon. Bruce Kulick is set to release a solo album, Buckcherry is in the studio, and the Red Hot Chili Peppers are recording new music. Spoon, Lifehouse, Vampire Weekend, Natalie Merchant, and Airbourne are all talking about 2010 releases. And that’s just to get us started. Yeah, 2010 should be a great year for new music!

While we wait for future releases, let’s take a moment to reflect on the past. Here are my ten favorites of the past year. This was no easy task by any stretch of the imagination. A lot of incredible records were left off the list only because there were so many excellent choices. This is in no particular order, other than they are what I feel represent the 10 best releases of the past year. Got a different opinion? Leave a comment or drop an e-mail and let the debates begin!

Dave Matthews Band – Big Whiskey And The Groogrux King


Without a doubt, Dave Matthews Band’s Big Whiskey… was one of the greatest gifts of 2009. Packed with memorable hits, smooth funky rhythms, and artistic punch, DMB has shown once again why they are leaders in the field of music and entertainment. Released in June, I played this CD several times when I first got my hands on it, at one point not listening to anything but this album for a week straight.

Here’s my review of Big Whiskey:
http://rockandrollguru.blogspot.com/2009/06/dave-matthews-band-big-whiskey-and_07.html

Lynch Mob – Smoke And Mirrors


I’ll be honest, when I heard that this album was coming out featuring original vocalist Oni Logan, I didn’t have much hope for greatness. Don’t get me wrong, I was excited and I wanted the album to do well and sound incredible. However, I’m a realist, and with Logan being MIA for so long, and George being out of the spotlight, I wasn’t sure if they still had that magical chemistry. Am I ever so glad that they erased all doubt. Smoke And Mirrors is a metal classic!

Here’s my review of Smoke And Mirrors:
http://hardrockhideout.com/2009/08/24/lynch-mob-smoke-mirrors-2009

U2 – No Line On The Horizon


Shocked. That’s how I was when I listened to No Line On The Horizon. I was skeptical of the new U2 disc. How could they possibly release another great disc after All That You Can’t Leave Behind and How To Dismantle An Atomic Bomb? Well, somehow, they made it happen again. Another near perfect album came out this year from the Irish rockers beloved the world over. With incredible songs like the title track, Breathe, and Moment Of Surrender U2 continues to dazzle and show us just why they are one of the greatest rock bands in existence.

Here’s my review of No Line On The Horizon:
http://rockandrollguru.blogspot.com/2009/03/u2-no-line-on-horizon.html

The Clarks – Restless Days


Back with their first album of new material in more than five years, The Clarks made fans very happy with this year’s release of Restless Days. The wait was worth it, because The Clarks turned in their best album since 2000’s Let It Go. Combining typical bar blues Clarks style rock and roll with intense lyrics and melodies, The Clarks have produced one exceptional album. If you only own one Clarks album, this is the one that it should be. Restless Days is simply amazing and definitely a worthy contender for record of the year in 2009.

Here’s my review of Restless Days:
http://rockandrollguru.blogspot.com/2009/10/clarks-restless-days.html

KISS – Sonic Boom


Long time readers of The Rock and Roll Guru may call me biased for picking KISS to be in the top 10 albums of 2009, but that is not why they are being chosen. Yes, Kiss is my favorite band, but Sonic Boom is a worthy contender for record of the year. Gene Simmons and Paul Stanley went into the studio with Tommy Thayer and Eric Singer and put together one incredible album. Sonic Boom is so much more than a great Kiss record – it’s a great record. If you played it and had no idea what band it was, you’d still like it. It’s their best work in decades, it’s a strong rock record, and it’s one of the ten best for 2009.

Here’s my review for Sonic Boom:
http://rockandrollguru.blogspot.com/2009/10/kiss-sonic-boom.html

Wilco – Wilco (the album)


After a 2-year tour in support of Sky Blue Sky, Wilco returned this year with Wilco (the album) a fun filled disc of excellent material, some of the best Wilco has delivered in a while. The evolution of their musical talent and their transitioning from alternative country to jazz rock is what helped this album stand out. Never being afraid to push the envelope or change his sound, Jeff Tweedy has taken the band into unchartered territory and it paid off. Wilco (the album) is one of the best Wilco albums to be released in a long time and it’s one of the 10 best to come out this year.

Here’s my review for Wilco (The Album):
http://rockandrollguru.blogspot.com/2009/08/wilco-album.html

Phish – Joy


2009 was a most excellent year for Phish and their fans. First, the band announced that they were reuniting and going on tour, kicking it off with three solid concerts in March. Then they made those concerts available for free while they launched into an extensive tour. Finally, the best news of all came out that Phish was cutting a record with Steve Lillywhite producing. Wow! Joy was the result of those recording sessions and the album is simply amazing; not only a great Phish album, but a great album in general. Lillywhite has the ability to bring out the best and beyond in the artists he works with, which is why he is such a sought after producer. The results are imminent in Joy, one of the best records I’ve heard this year.

Here’s my review of Joy:
http://rockandrollguru.blogspot.com/2009/11/phish-joy.html

Dion Roy – Gallery


New to the scene and new to me this year was Dion Roy who released the amazing Gallery back in May. A fabulous album of blended melodies, acoustic guitar, and wonderful harmonies, Gallery mixes elements of Pete Yorn, Ryan Adams, and David Gray and turns them into a wonderful record of folk style rock and roll. Gallery was the nicest surprise of the year for me and a fantastic album that fans of Ryan Adams and/or Uncle Tupelo should definitely own.

Here’s my review for Gallery:
http://rockandrollguru.blogspot.com/2009/07/dion-roy-gallery_19.html

Pearl Jam – Backspacer


In September, Pearl Jam released their long awaited album Backspacer to the delight of many fans (cousin Ryo included). It had been a long time since their last record (2006’s Pearl Jam) and the new songs were something that fans were crying to get their ears on. Well, the wait was worth it and the time between records paid off. Pearl Jam delivered another fantastic record, and while not quite as good as their self titled previous effort, Backspacer is certainly a worthy disc. A well crafted, well thought, beautifully arranged work of art.

Here’s my review of Backspacer:
http://rockandrollguru.blogspot.com/2009/09/pearl-jam-backspacer.html

Pete Yorn – Back and Fourth


As mentioned in my recent review, it took me a while to get into this record. At first, I was not very impressed at all. However, after revisiting (for this post, I believe) I was amazed at how good the album actually was. Once I stopped comparing it to his magnificent debut record (musicforthemorningafter) and accepted it for what it was (a new release by Pete) I was much more open to the songs contained within. Back and Fourth is an amazing journey through song and Pete Yorn has delivered an incredible record that is worth the time it takes to truly appreciate it.

Here’s my review of Back and Fourth:
http://rockandrollguru.blogspot.com/2009/12/pete-yorn-back-and-fourth.html

And there you have it. Cousin Ryo’s picks for the 10 best releases of 2010. What are your picks?

Comments are open. Feel free to post some.

Phish - Joy

Every Sunday The Rock and Roll Guru reviews a new or classic music CD, DVD, or a rocking book.




Earlier this year, Phish heads rejoiced like never before when the band announced they were reuniting and going on tour. Initial tickets to their shows sold out in minutes. Later in 2009, Phish released a new CD, Joy to the delight of their fans. Is Joy an album for more than just the die-hard Phish fan? Was Joy worth the 5 year wait? Let’s spin the disc and find out.

Joy opens with one of the best Phish songs ever recorded, Backwards Down The Number Line. This is an incredible song that has deep lyrical meaning and excellent harmony blending seamlessly with the words. Trey Anastasio writes poetic lyrics of friendship and lifelong bonds. His positive outlook saturates Backwards Down The Number Line and helps the song radiate the joy that is meant to be felt when listening. An excellent guitar solo and a nice jam to close the song don’t hurt either. An incredible opener and a sign of good things to come.

The title track is another song that emulates positivity. Once again, Anastasio’s uplifting outlook on life is present and accounted for. With lyrics such as “We want you to be happy, don’t live inside the gloom,” it’s obvious that there is a positive spin to this uplifting track. Exceptional lyrics and singing combined with great keyboards by Page McConnell help to make this one of the better songs on this album.

Ocelot is a fun filled, bouncing around, enjoying yourself, good time of a song. With the bar band, good time jam band beat to it, thrilling piano and, honky tonk bass riffs that make you want to get up and dance, Ocelot is a reminder of how much fun music can be. Put this song on at any party, crank it up, and watch the people jump up and down and bounce around. This is euphoria compressed into 3 minutes and 35 seconds. Hands down, the best track on the album.

Time Turns Elastic is the big, long, continuing jam of the album. Clocking in at over 13 minutes, this is a jam lovers’ dream with plenty of changes and segues to keep the song going on and on. This number must sound amazing in concert as Phish probably can drag it out on stage to be over 20 minutes in length.

Producer Steven Lilywhite’s (Dave Matthews Band, Guster) trademark style is all over this record. Lilywhite’s ability to push bands to do more than they ever thought imaginable is what makes him such an exceptional producer. It’s obvious that he took the raw material Phish brought into the studio and really helped mold it into something tangible, pushing the band beyond their limits, to turn out a wonderful work of art. Though short on songs (10), Joy is big on style and class. Having not missed a step during their five years off, Phish has returned with an exceptional record that will please long time fans and will have new fans welcoming them with open arms.

Ryo’s Rating 8 (out of 10)

Track Listing
Backwards Down The Number Line
Stealing Time From The Faulty Plan
Joy
Sugar Shack
Ocelot
Kill Devil Falls
Light
I Been Around
Time Turns Elastic
Twenty Years Later

Friday's Rockin' Roundup - Old Friends Edition

This weekend, my friend Richard is visiting from North Carolina. Richard and I have been friends for many years and a few years ago he moved from New Jersey to North Carolina, making it harder for us to see each other. We keep in touch regularly, but I really look forward to visiting him or when he visits us.

We have a lot planned for his stay this time around, including a trek into New York City. It’s been a long time since I’ve gone into the city to do any “touristy” stuff. That could be a great time. Whatever we do though, it’s just going to be a blast spending time together and catching up. It’s always nice visiting with close friends. No one understands or accepts you better.

And while I was preparing my house for guests, here’s what rocked this week:

Hinder Still Touring
Hinder is going on a short tour of the Midwest for the month of November. It’s good to see that these guys are still out there supporting Take It To The Limit. If my calculations are correct, Hinder is going to take over the rock world in 2011.

Carly Simon Is Suing Starbucks Due To Lack Of Album Sales
Ummm… maybe the reason your album didn’t sell well is because your career is no longer significant?

Wilco Announces First 2010 Dates
Nothing in my area yet, but hopefully they will come to Jersey this spring. It’s been years since I’ve since Wilco live. Perhaps I need to travel more.

Paul McCartney’s Live Disc Track Listing
Sir Paul has a live 2-disc, 1-DVD set coming out on November 23rd from the concerts he performed at Citi Field in New York earlier this year. Looks like a great selection of songs.

Phish Fall Tour
Phish is staying on the road this fall. The best part? Three nights at Madison Square Garden. Tickets go on sale Friday, October 23rd.

Friday's Rockin' Roundup - New Music Samples Edition

As mentioned in my post on Wednesday, there is a lot of new music coming out this fall. So much so, that your cousin Ryo will be spending quite a pretty penny on it. And with my (9 to 5) job situation worsening, that’s probably not the best idea. However, there’s no way I’m going to miss out on new Kiss, or new Bon Jovi. I’ll just have to eat Ramen Noodle for a week or two.

With new music comes the opportunity to sample the new songs without having to wait all day to hear it on the radio! Below are links to brand new singles from some of this fall’s most highly anticipated releases. Enjoy them! And if you like or hate them, leave a comment and let me know.

Hear The New Kiss Single
Want to hear the new Kiss single, Modern Day Delilah in its entirety? Well, you could always call your local radio station and demand it, or you could mosey on over to their website and listen to it on your computer. It’s a decent song, Paul’s vocals sound great, and Tommy’s guitar solo is shockingly fantastic. It makes me yearn for October.

Hear The New Bon Jovi Single
New Kiss isn’t enough new music for you? You’d like some more new music? Well, you can hear the new Bon Jovi single, We Weren’t Born To Follow by clicking the link above. This is another great song that makes me hopeful for the new album in November. With new Kiss and new Bon Jovi CDs to anticipate, I feel like I’m in high school again.

Hear The New Ace Frehley Single
Still need more? You can hear the new Ace Frehley single, Outer Space, on his website (or just click the link above). This song is ok. Not terrific, didn’t blow me away, just average. The guitars are good, but the lyrics are a little repetitive and Ace’s voice sounds slightly off. I’ll have to wait to hear the rest of the album before rendering a final decision.

The New Pearl Jam Single
Here’s another new single for ya! This one is from Pearl Jam’s forthcoming release, Backspacer. The Fixer is the name of their first single, and in typical Pearl Jam fashion, this song doesn’t hit me right away. It’s decent, but not exceptional. Most Pearl Jam songs and albums have affected me that way since Vitalogy. When I first heard Pearl Jam (their last album), I thought it was just OK. Now, after many, many listens, I think it’s one of the greatest albums ever. Click the link to hear the single and then give me your opinion.

Phish Too
All right, last new single for you. This is Phish’s Backwards Down The Number Line, and I can’t stop listening to it. It’s a catchy song, with a great hook, and the total Phish vibe to it. I absolutely love it and hope you will too.

Worst Album Covers Ever
And finally, to end with something completely different, we have this little gem. The worst album covers ever, complete with commentary. Some of the comments got a chuckle, but others got me to laugh out loud, one in particular, for a long time. I always loved sarcasm. Enjoy!

Comments are open. Feel free to post some.

New Music Releases - Fall 2009

As much as it pains me to say this, summer is winding down, slowly paving the way for the autumn season. While the warm days of beautiful sunshine and the endless nights of baseball will soon be a fading memory for another year, there is a silver lining to fall’s arrival – new music. There are some great albums scheduled for release this fall. None have my mouth drooling in anticipation more than the new Kiss album (of course), but there are other highly anticipated recordings slated to arrive when the leaves change colors. Below is a list of notable key releases this fall. Be sure to mark your music calendar.

September 8, 2009
Dave Matthews Band – Live Trax Volume 16
DMB is set to release another live masterpiece in their never ending series of recorded concerts. Live Trax Volume 16 is taken from the band’s June 26, 2000 performance from the Riverbend Music Center in Cincinnati, Ohio. Highlights from this set include Digging A Ditch, Sweet Up and Down, Say Goodbye, and the rarely performed Little Thing. The 2-disc set is currently available for pre-order on the band’s website: http://www.davematthewsband.com/

Phish – Joy
With their reunion a smashing success and “Phish-heads” loving the new material in its live format, Phish is set to release Joy on September 8th. The new songs sound great live, so this studio effort should be an excellent package of new material. The time away from one another did the band well as they were able to capture the magic of what drove them when they first started the band. Joy should be a return to all their former glory and a trumpeted show of their resurgence.

September 15, 2009
Pete Yorn & Scarlett Johansson – Break Up
It’s been a busy year for Pete Yorn. His fourth album, aptly titled Back and Fourth, came out earlier this summer, he’s been touring in support ever since, and now he has to prepare to promote a second album. Break Up is a disc of 9 duets with actress turned singer Scarlett Johansson. This concept album walks through to the tale of a tempestuous relationship as written and developed by Pete Yorn. He recruited Johansson to sing the duets with him and the rest is history. I’m interested in hearing how the final piece turned out and if this is a project worthy of my time and money. I guess we’ll know this September. You can sample the lead single Relator right here: http://www.thebreakupalbum.com/.

Lynch Mob – Smoke & Mirrors
That’s right, the Lynch Mob is back! Oni Logan has teamed up with George Lynch and together with a new rhythm section, they’ve recorded one of the greatest rock albums to come along in years, Smoke and Mirrors. I had the opportunity to review this one for Hard Rock Hideout. Smoke and Mirrors in one word? Amazing. Be sure to pick up your copy on September 15th.

Ace Frehley – Anomaly
The Ace is back! Anomaly, Frehley’s first solo album in years, is set to be released this September, just ahead of the new Kiss CD. Word from the Frehley camp is that this solo record is as good as it gets from Ace, comparing it to the first solo CD (while still with Kiss). I doubt it’s that good, but if it’s even as good as Trouble Walkin’, I’ll be a happy Ace fan!

September 20, 2009
Pearl Jam – Backspacer
If September 20th seems like an odd day for a new release, that’s because it is. Pearl Jam are breaking the traditional Tuesday release date and making their new album available on a Sunday. Backspacer is a Target exclusive, which means I’ll be at my local Target right after church that day. I am salivating for this disc and hope that it comes close to matching the power of their last album (Pearl Jam).

September 22, 2009
Three Days Grace – Life Starts Now
It’s been three years since Three Days Grace released their sophomore effort, One X. In that time, Three Days Grace has built a strong following through constant touring and opening for some choice bands. Their single, Pain, helped to push album sales for One X and make many a Three Days Grace fan, myself included. Their third effort, Life Starts Now, is due to hit stores in September, but the big question remains…can the follow up to One X live up to all the expectations and pressure?

September 29, 2009
Alice In Chains – Black Gives Way To Blue
I’ll be honest, I have no clue how this record is going to sound. I have not heard Alice In Chains with their not-so-new lead singer William DuVall, I have not sampled any available online leaks from this record, and I haven’t listened to Alice in Chains much since the 90s. That having been said, the band still holds a lot of merit in the music world, and if they’ve created something new, it’s worth checking out. I know a couple of close friends that are going to be hitting the record store the moment it opens on September 29th. It could be that good.

Foreigner – Can’t Slow Down
With lead singer Kelly Hansen, Foreigner is returning to the world of rock with a new CD, Can’t Slow Down. This will be a WalMart exclusive, which seemed to serve AC/DC and The Eagles well, so hopefully it will do the same for Foreigner. While their former great lead singer Lou Gramm is releasing Christian rock type discs, Foreigner is putting out the rock and roll. I don’t know what Hansen sounds like, and I don’t know if this album will be incredible or just average, but it will be interesting to see what they’ve been up to. I’m also curious to see how WalMart sets up their exclusive displays for this disc.

Breaking Benjamin – Dear Agony
This CD was certainly given the proper title. It was agony to see how often this album kept getting delayed. This was originally due for release last year, then it was moved to the spring, then they were hopeful for a summer release, and now it’s September 29th (provided the date doesn’t change again). Coming off their biggest disc to date (Phobia), Breaking Benjamin has a lot of hype to live up to. I personally think they can pull it off, but they’ve been out of the public eye for a while, so it will be interesting to see how well this sells.

October 6, 2009
Kiss – Sonic Boom
Just in case a new Ace Frehley CD isn’t enough Kiss for ya, the band of Gene Simmons, Paul Stanley, Eric Singer, and Tommy Thayer are putting out a full length CD (the first with this line up). And in the vein of AC/DC and the Eagles, this is a WalMart exclusive. If the album is as cool as the artwork, then we’re in for a real treat. Word from the Kiss camp is that Sonic Boom has the feel and sound of 70s Kiss. If that means Detroit Rock City era, that’s awesome. If that means Dynasty era, then I’m going to be very disappointed. We’ll find out this October.

October 27, 2009
Sting – If On A Winter’s Night
After a successful reunion tour with The Police and some much deserved time off following that, Sting is returning with a new album, If On A Winter’s Night. This winter themed disc will include two new original Sting compositions, traditional Christmas carols, and some songs about winter. While not exactly a “Christmas” album, If On A Winter’s Night certainly sounds like a holiday record. Hopefully it’s not as bad as the lute experiment from a few years ago.

Know about other new releases that weren’t covered here? Some of the dates mentioned above change? Send me an e-mail and let me know.

Comments are open. Feel free to post some.

New Release Season Has Arrived

Summer is almost here, and with summer come new releases and summer tours. I always love this time of year, because there is a new release by a great artist almost every week. Record marketing executives work furiously to set these release dates during a time they feel will be optimal for the public to spend their hard earned money.

Although we’ve already been blessed with some great releases this year (most notably U2’s No Line On The Horizon, Papa Roach’s Metamorphosis, and Green Day’s 21st Century Breakdown), there are still several more highly anticipated releases due this year.

This week (Tuesday, June 1st) will bring us Dave Matthews Band’s Big Whiskey and the Groogrux King, Taking Back Sunday’s New Again, and 311’s Uplifter. I can not wait to get my hands on the new Dave Matthews disc, and if all goes well, expect a full review next Sunday. I’ll probably pick up the Taking Back Sunday disc as well, but I may want to hear a few tracks from it before I make my purchase. Their last disc (Louder Now) wasn’t up to the level that I expect from this band, and I don’t want to be disappointed purchasing the album based on new-release hype.

Pete Yorn’s Back and Fourth is due out later this month and is another disc that I can’t wait to get my hands on. Although his last disc, Nightcrawler, wasn’t as great as his previous efforts, it was still a solid disc. I have a feeling that his latest release is going to be amazing.

Wilco (the album) will also hit shelves in June. They’ve already released their concert DVD, Ashes Of American Flags, and now by adding a disc full of new material into the mix, this should amount to a great summer for Wilco.

Our Lady Peace will return to the scene with the release of Burn, Burn on July 21st. I haven’t kept up with this band much since their release of Clumsy in 1997, but the word on their latest is that it’s well polished and a return to their signature sound of the mid-nineties that catapulted them to stardom.

There’s also talk of Phish being in the studio with legendary producer Steve Lillywhite (Dave Matthews Band, Guster) with a fall release date slated. I am really intrigued to see what kind of music Phish can make after being apart for so long. The creativity amongst them must b e overwhelming.

And supposedly, Kiss is still on target for a fall release with their, as of now, untitled disc. That would be the perfect capper to the end of the summer new releases.

What about you? Any releases coming out that you are looking forward to, or can’t wait to hear? Post a comment and share your thoughts!

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