If You're a Big Ace Frehley Fan...

I just received this note about Ace Frehley's new album, Anomaly. The economy is tough right now and a lot of us are thinking twice about spending money on extras like CDs. Now you can preview Ace's album before buying. Here's the press release about it all:

Ace Frehley is proud to announce that he has made his entire album "Anomaly" available to his fans for preview via the VH1 Classic website.

 

VH1's Feature "The Leak" gives fans the opportunity to preview select albums in their entirety to ensure that they are worthy of purchase. Only the most confident of artists participate in this program as it can make or break an artists sales. Ace encourages his fans to check out the album via the VH1 website and tell their friends just how much they enjoy the product that he has produced.

Click box below to listen!

Dirty Penny: "Young & Reckless" Review

Modern Glam outfit Dirty Penny will release their second album Young & Reckless on September 17. I have to admit I was nervous that there would never be a follow-up to Take It Sleazy. Finally, new music - and it rocks!

Young & Reckless features these tracks:

1. If I Were You I'd Hate Me Too
2. In Luv With Insanity
3. LCS
4. On My Sleeve
5. Goin' Out In Style
6. Stand On My Own
7. Sleeping Dogs
8. Devil In Me
9. Dead At 16
10. Livin' Rock
11. Run To You
12. Crash & Burn
13. Wrecking Ball

I really like "If I Were You I'd Hate Me Too." This song happens to be the first single off Young & Reckless. Like Take It Sleazy, the new album is filled with great tracks. Honestly, I think they are all strong - meaning the wait for new music was worthwhile. Other tracks I especially enjoy are "Crash & Burn" and "Dead at 16." The latter has a fat bass line, making Dirty Penny's sound more evolved and mature.

Everyone knows that Dirty Penny cite Poison and Motley Crue as main influences - one look at the band and this is evident. It's even clearer, however, on Young & Reckless as the songwriting really draws from the Glam playbook - and no, that's not a bad thing. Dirty Penny are still able to cultivate their own sound by being true to their roots - something that isn't easily achieved in any genre. Young & Reckless is one of the best albums of 2009. Buy it.

Tesla Releases Video for 'Breakin' Free'

Tesla just released their video for "Breakin' Free" off the album Forever More. The video is classic black and white and just straight up rock n' roll.

I'm seeing Tesla live in a couple months on Shiprocked. You can come too if you're not already booked. A few cabins are still available. Really...do you want to miss Tesla hanging out around a pool? I think not.

Got a Light?

Over the holiday weekend, I was lucky enough to catch Adam Lambert and the rest of the American Idols on tour. Heather, Eric and I had a good time - but anytime Adam is involved, fun is a must! Adam sang the hell out of "Whole Lotta Love," "Starlight" (by Muse), "Mad World," "Slow Ride" (a duet with Allison Iraheta), and a David Bowie medley. Basically, it was all over-the-top Glam.

During one of the songs - and I think it was "Starlight" - Adam asked everyone to get out their cell phones...or lighters. When did lighters become the second choice for giving props during a concert?

Now, I get that everyone has a cell phone these days. I also definitely agree it's way more safe to pull out a mobile instead of a lighter...and yet something seems so wrong about this. Now, I'm not a smoker. I've never even held a cigarette, let alone smoke one - but I still think it's cool to flick a lighter during that oh-so-important power ballad.

Does flashing a cell phone instead of a lighter during a show mean losing part of the Metal experience? I say yes.

When I saw Van Halen in 1996, I definitely remember Sammy Hagar saying "Get Our Your Lighters!" during "Why Can't This Be Love?"

Back to the American Idol crowd. I'm sure you're thinking the entire audience was comprised of teens and tweens. You would be wrong. Sure, there were plenty of young kids there - but from my vantage point there were tons of people way older than me enjoying the show. These people were old enough to buy cigarettes. I'm sure some of them smoke - but I didn't see one lighter in the crowd. To me, lighters and Heavy Metal go hand-in-hand. Maybe I'm wrong, but my Verizon LG cell (despite the fact that it is very pink) doesn't exactly scream Glam or even METAL!!!

Thoughts?

Heaven's Edge

Holy Glam! I am totally writing up a review of the Adam Lambert (ok, American Idol) concert, but good grief I had to post this clip of Heaven's Edge!

Does anyone remember these guys? "Skin to Skin" is a great song - obscure, though. The band formed in the late 80s and released two albums in the early nineties. One look at that time frame explains why this band didn't get huge. I'm not sure Heaven's Edge is really "Glam" per se (mainly because of Mark Evans' vocal tone). I guess I'd call them "melodic" but no matter: I quite enjoy them! Who here saw Heaven's Edge live back in the day?

Happy Labor Day my fellow Americans! Enjoy your holiday.

Please Come In

Black Stone Cherry is playing Indianapolis tonight - just a few feet from where I'm sitting as I write this update. Sadly, I have to head home so I'll miss the show. Great band, great songs. Here's "Please Come In" - truly one of my faves.

Adam Lambert (and the "rest") Tonight!

Today, Eric and I are driving west to Indianapolis. We'll meet Heather, who drove several hours east, to attend one of the final American Idols Live! tour stops of the season. 

Now, there's no point in denying it: we're going to see Adam Lambert and no one else. In a perfect world, this would be Adam's tour and I wouldn't have to wait through hours of the "rest." Not that "the rest" don't have talent, but seriously: do I care about Danny Gokey or Michael Sarver? No. I care about Glambert.

Adam gets to sing quite a few songs on the tour and he does a David Bowie medley in true Glam fashion. He also does Led Zeppelin's "Whole Lotta Love" just like he did on American Idol during rock week. I'm pretty excited. Expect a show review tomorrow.

 
Here's that Bowie medley I mentioned. Pretty good stuff!