Merry Christmas 2010 Glam Fans

Whatever you believe, I hope you're having a great day wherever you are in the world. I find few holiday songs palatable but Enuff Z'nuff created an amazing tune with "Happy Holiday" from the album Peach Fuzz. Enjoy.

Heavy Metal Lights

This rules. Holiday lights set to Slayer's "Raining Blood." It doesn't get more Christmas than that, does it?

Axl Rose Thanks Fans, Goes Soft?

Axl Rose sent a “thank you” Tweet to fans yesterday. I don't know why, but the content strikes me as odd. There's nothing particularly riveting in the Tweet. I guess it just doesn't sound like “Axl” to me. Then again, he recently granted (a softball) interview to a reporter overseas. While that interview didn't result in any real news, maybe it signals a more approachable Axl Rose, which is nice. Here's the Tweet:

“I'd like to thank all our fans for coming out to the shows over the last year all over the world!! Was great to see you n' to be able to perform for you!!

I'd like to thank our fans on the web, the fan sites, n' all our fans on Twitter, Facebook n' Myspace.

I'd like to thank the band, their families, The Sebastian Bach Band, Danko Jones, Murder Dolls, Korn, Imperial State Electric, Julianna Down, Gum X, Mucc, their crews, the TPB's, Duff, our crew, production, staging, lights, sound, pyro, video, management, our business n' legal team, my family n' friends, the promoter's, agents, catering, security, the shot girlz, drivers, our travel agents n' the staffs at our hotels, trucking, airlines, flight crews, airport security, bus n' transportation companies, everyone who chose to say or write a nice word about us, the venues n' their staffs n' security, the countries, cities n' Customs all over the world, club owners, their staffs, club promoters, sponsors n' all of our friends around the globe who helped make things happen!!

I'd like to wish everyone a Merry Christmas n' Happy New Year, Happy Hanukkah n' a great Holiday Season to everyone!!

And from everyone with Guns N' Roses:  All the best to you n' your's!!

Peace n' Love, Axl”

So, what do you think? Am I over-analyzing?

Lost Band I Love: Shy

Remember Shy?

The British band is everything that is right with Glam: big hooks, big songs, big hair!

I don't know why we don't talk about them much here. I suppose they had a bit of a troubled beginning trying to get off the ground, but they did eventually sign to RCA...and then a slew of other labels. The band has released quite a few records, gone on hiatus, come back again and apparently we will see a new Shy record in 2011.

I wonder why we never see Shy on any of the 80s festival rosters? The 1987 album Excess All Areas is fantastic and I think Shy would go over well at a big rock show.

Here's the band's biggest hit, “Break Down the Walls.” The guitar riffs remind me of Pyromania -era Def Leppard.

When It's Not Metal...

Everyone has a favorite ice cream flavor. Mine is probably orange. If a store has orange ice cream, or especially blood orange, I will buy it, hands down. But if stores ALWAYS had that flavor, I bet I’d still eat it a lot, but there would be times where I’d want something different. For me, music is the same. My favorite type of music, hands down, is hard rock and metal. It’s the music of my youth, it’s the music that moves me most and it’s the music where I like the genre enough, that I’ll enjoy a mediocre metal band more often than not. But, sometimes I need to listen to something different. I’m guessing most people are the same.

What do I like that’s not metal? Right now I am listening to Playing for Change, a project that works to record street musicians around the world. I have several Motown and Stax box sets and I love 60s soul. I have some CDs from the swing revival of the 90s. Classic rock like Hendrix, the Who, Led Zep and even Bob Dylan is a given. I also love a lot of blues, especially Buddy Guy, BB King, Joe Bonamassa, and on the acoustic side, Son House, Lightnin Hopkins and (again) Buddy Guy. I go to a fair number of blues shows. I’ve also recently got in to a lot of southern rock, especially Lynyrd Skynyrd, but I’ve also got in to a bit of Blackfoot and Charlie Daniels...I love Sly and the Family Stone.

In the 80s, I was confused that people assumed you couldn’t like Bon Jovi and Metallica. (I saw Bon Jovi on the weekend, and wore my Metallica shirt from last month’s tour to one show and overheard someone say “He’s at the wrong show”). Nowadays, I worry even less about what people think and find I like more and more different types of music, although, out of my 2,600 CDs, I bet that 2,300 are rock and metal.

What about you? What do you listen to when you’re not listening to the bands covered here?

Bring Back Glam! Picks the Best Albums of 2010

Avenged Sevenfold, 'Nightmare' via Warner Bros. For the first time, the annual Bring Back Glam! “best of” list was compiled as a team effort instead of just based on my opinion. Since 2010 saw the addition of two writers to this site - Christian Graus and Brian Carvell - it's only fitting they get to weigh in with their favorites of the year.

Please note, this list is not all Glam. It's just rock, heavily weighted toward metal bands in general. There was simply too much good Metal in 2010 to restrict this list to only Glam.

So here's the list:

10. 'The Heart' by Jimmy Gnecco – selected by Brian Carvell
09. 'The Final Frontier' by Iron Maiden – selected by Christian Graus
08. 'Blood of the Nations' by Accept – selected by Christian Graus

What does Christian say about Blood of the Nations? This:

“This whole album is classic metal... where real song writing happens instead of just layer after layer of super heavy riffs and growly vocals, as is so common nowadays. Accept have shown they have a lot of good music still in them. If you love traditional heavy metal, then you need this CD, and you should also check out their live show, which is killer."

07. 'Slash' by Slash (and friends) – selected by Christian Graus and Allyson Crawford
06. 'My Darkest Days' by My Darkest Days – selected by Allyson Crawford
05. 'Sting in the Tail' by Scorpions – selected by Allyson Crawford
04. 'Fever' by Bullet For My Valentine – selected by Allyson Crawford
03. 'Infestation' by RATT – selected by Brian Carvell and Allyson Crawford
02. 'Cold Day Memory' by Sevendust – selected by Brian Carvell and Allyson Crawford

What does Brian say about Cold Day Memory? This:

"The collective mind of Sevendust has the ability think in time signatures and syncopation that is far and away ahead of their peers, and this album is pinnacle-to-date of their ability to deliver amazing songs. Cold Day Memory is, by far, the strongest effort to date from a tragically under-appreciated band that consistently excels, both in the studio and as a live act."

01. 'Nightmare' by Avenged Sevenfold – selected by Christian Graus and Allyson Crawford

So how did I determine Avenged Sevenfold deserved the top spot? Easy. There are three albums on this list I personally returned to over and over: My Darkest Days, Cold Day Memory and Nightmare. It was nearly a toss-up for me when it came to Sevendust and Avenged Sevenfold: both bands put on great live shows and Sevendust's live show was my single favorite memory from this year's Shiprocked cruise. That said, the loss of A7X drummer Jimmy “The Rev” Sullivan was just too big to ignore. Avenged Sevenfold is simply an amazing metal band. For those that disagree or say they are “kiddie metal” - you're not paying attention. Their songs are technically amazing and the talent undeniable. The guitar solos are something straight out of the 1980s – true talent. While so many modern bands eschew guitar solos, Avenged Sevenfold embraces them. On Nightmare, the listener travels on a roller-coaster of emotions on the dark side of life. While the future of Avenged Sevenfold is in question – the band doesn't have a permanent drummer at this point – one thing is for certain: the band has arrived. Give them some due.

What are your favorite albums of 2010?

In case you are wondering, my favorite song of the year is "Porn Star Dancing" from My Darkest Days.  It's just too fun to ignore!

Want more "best of" lists? Check out the fine blogs below. All will be revealing their picks for the best of 2010 within the next few days!

All Metal Resource — http://allmetalresource.com/

Hair Metal Mansion — http://hairbangersradio.ning.com/

Hard Rock Hideout — http://hardrockhideout.com/

Heavy Metal Addiction —  http://heavymetaladdiction.com

Heavy Metal Time Machine — http://metalmark.blogspot.com/

Imagine Echoes — http://www.imagineechoes.com/

Metal Excess — http://metalexcess.com/

Metal Odyssey — http://metalodyssey.wordpress.com/

The Ripple Effect — http://www.ripplemusic.blogspot.com/

Hard Rock Nights — http://hardrocknights.com/

Layla's Classic Rock — http://laylasclassicrock.blogspot.com/

The Metal Minute — http://rayvanhornjr.blogspot.com/

Too Much 'Shake & Tumble'

I've had “Shake & Tumble” going through my head for approximately 72 hours now. You know “Shake & Tumble,” yes? The Firehouse song. The song is from the band's self-titled debut which was released in 1990.

I was looking up singer CJ Snare's new Christmas song when I saw – yes, simply saw – the YouTube clip for “Shake & Tumble.” Note: I did not play the song. I do own Firehouse but I haven't listened to that album in forever. Don't get me wrong, it's an awesome album. It's just not top of pile for me right now. So anyway, I see the title and I immediately hear the chorus in my head... “Shake! And Tumble...” and then it keeps going, over and over.

And over.

I'm eating lunch and I'll think of the chorus. Doing laundry. Attempting to sleep. I don't get it. It's one thing if it's most of the song going through my head...but no. This is three bloody words: “Shake! And Tumble...” Argh.

If you are curious, CJ's new Christmas song is “A Christmas Gift (God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen)” and it is available now via iTunes or Amazon.

Maybe Firehouse will play M3 and I can hear “Shake &Tumble” live again...But ff the damn song doesn't quit going through my head, I may snap!