July / August 2010
by Paul Autry
http://www.myspace.com/spotlight_music
Welcome to the BallBusterMusic.com website and, of course, this column. I'm really excited right now because I've got a lot of great music that I'd like to talk to you about this time around. Before we get started, let me just say that this column is only as good as the music that I write about and with this one...well...I think it's gonne be one of the best this website has ever seen because there's a little something for everybody here and the albums that I'm currently going through are just...what can I say...there's not a bad one in the bunch. The bottom line is...I'm just a regular music fan like each and every one of you who are reading this and I have a real passion for music in general. It doesn't matter what style of music we're talkin' about. The only thing that's important to me is if it's good or not and every artist that I'm about to introduce you to...they're all great. Right now, I'm up to my neck in music that I can't seem to get enough of. So, I guess I should stop talkin' and get down to business, huh? Okay...let's get started.
The first release that I would like to talk about is The Great Kat's DVD release, "Beethoven's Guitar Shred." Not that it's a bad thing...but...this release is pretty much the same as her previous DVD, "Extreme Guitar Shred." This DVD includes seven shred videos and each one is short and straight to the point. My favorite video is "Blood," which has a running time of 39 seconds. Yes...you read that right...39 seconds. Blink and you'll miss it. I like it because it's a Great Kat original and she's covered in blood. What can I say...it turns me on. I also like "Islamofacists," which is kind of set up like one of those torture videos that terrorists love to share with us. Although, The Great Kat is an American and the people who are being tortured are supposed to be the terrorists, which is all the more reason to love her. Personally, I totally agree with the point she's trying to make...if, in fact, she is trying to make a point...which I believe she is. As for The Great Kat's take on classical music, which is what she's really known for, I think my favorite video would have to be "Beethoven's Fifth Symphony," which is simply brutal...and I mean that in a good way. You know...now that I think about it...I should probably just say that I like 'em all because...if you watch them all at once...it's almost like you're watching a single video. Okay...yeah...I like 'em all. Now let's move on to the bonus features. You'll probably have to go through them a few times in order to catch everything because, once again, if you blink, you're gonna miss something. First up are "Hot Shred Bits 2," which is a collection of images that flash by to the tune of some seriously fast shred guitar. Next up are "Shred Geniuses," which is another collection of images that feature people who are worthy enough to earn The Great Kat's admiration. They zoom by so fast that you don't even have the time to read each caption under the photo. You'll have to roll through this feature in slow motion in order to take it all in. There's also a "Shred Cartoon," which is an animated version of The Great Kat playing shred guitar and smashing a bumble-bee and, of course, there's more blood.
I didn't really pay attention as to how long it took me to go through everything on this release. But, I'm pretty sure it clocked in under ten minutes. If it's any longer than that...well...call me suprised. I guess the million dollar question here is...what's the attraction? Why would you want to purchase a DVD that's shorter than almost every video that's up on YouTube? Well, the answer is simple. When it comes to The Great Kat...either you love her and you appreciate what she's all about or you hate her. There's no in between and there's no way you can be a casual fan. Personally, I admire her for the simple fact that she has never sold out. She hasn't tried to change her style in order to reach a larger audience and she has remained true to what she does and how she does it. That's why I'm such a huge fan...I know The Great Kat will never disappoint me...and I can't think of any other artist that I can say that about. So, if you ask me if this release is worth checking out...my response would be, "You're damn right it is!"
http://www.greatkat.com
http://www.beethovensguitarshred
Let's face it...it doesn't matter who's in the band...there won't be any line-up like the original Sweet. There was a time when this band made magic and once that magic is gone...that's it...end of story...it will never be the same again. That's the thought that was in my mind when I got Sweet's "Live In America" to review. Now, this is a great record, there's no doubt about it. It's just that...there's nothing better than the original...and that goes for pretty much any other band out there. However, what this album does, in my opinion, is it manages to capture the spirit of what the original band was all about. It's a celebration of some great music and, when you listen to this release, it will remind you of just how great those songs really were...and still are. It's a ball of energy from the word go and...it's brilliant...each song has a whole new level of excitement. It's like they have a whole new life...and it doesn't even cross your mind that some of these tunes are more than 30 years old. All the classics are here, "Fox On The Run," "Hellraiser," "Teenage Rampage," "Little Willy" and, of course, "Ballroom Blitz." They sound fresh and alive and you can't help but get caught up in Sweet's performance. When the crowd starts to chant, "We want Sweet! We want Sweet!" You're gonna throw your fist in the air and scream along with them. I've been playing this one over and over again and...well...I just can't get enough of it. Hopefully, this release will introduce a whole new audience to the music of Sweet. That would be a really good thing.
http://www.myspace.com/thesweetband
Lunic is one of the most creative and talented bands that I've ever had the pleasure of hearing. Now, you could probably get away with calling them a rock band. But, to slap that label on them and leave it at that wouldn't do them justice because there's a lot more to what they do. Besides having the pleasure of seeing them live twice, I also picked up two of the three albums that they've released, which would be "Splinter" and "Love Thief." When I saw them live for the first time, I had a review written in my head before they were even done with their set. When I caught a second show a day later, I went over that review in my head and I made a few more mental notes. Of course, I had to give their albums a listen in order to really form my opinion because, with any band, there's always a chance that their studio work wouldn't live up to the live performance. I'm happy to say that Lunic didn't let me down and, truth be told, I believe they've done something here that I haven't heard a band do in a long time. The music they made in the studio has the same vibe as what I saw them do on the stage. That's impressive if I do say so myself. As for their musical style...remember...they're a rock band at heart. Well, emotional rock is more like it...and I would use that term because the music of Lunic is something you don't just listen to...you feel it...and you feel something different with each song. It's cute, innocent, dark, dirty, sexy, beautiful, haunting...it's serious and playful...some tunes have a pop feel. Everything you can experience on a day to day basis...you can find it somewhere in Lunic's music. Even though I like everything they've done, without question, there's one song that I'm really drawn to, and that would be "Thieves." That track has a real edge to it and it shows just how strong this band can be. I like music that doesn't play by the rules...music that doesn't fit into a nice little box. That's the kind of band that Lunic is and, believe me, they're really worth checking out. I have so much faith in this band...I'll go on record right now and say that they're gonna be huge one day. There's no doubt in my mind about that.
When it comes to rap music...yeah...I'm a fan. Although, I have to admit that I'm kind of picky when it comes to what I'll listen to. Just because you can spit out a decent line doesn't mean I'll dig what you're doing. If you have at least one song that will stick in my head even if I only hear it once...that's a start. It also has to be high energy because, in my opinion, that's what rap music is all about. Now, I'll tell it to you straight...when it comes to the artist known as Mr. Dead Poetz...at first...his music didn't do anything for me. There was a show or two I was at and since I wasn't familiar with his music...I would wander off when he was on the stage. I figured if I heard something I liked, I could go back and check him out, which was something that didn't happen right away. Then, one day, for whatever reason, he was on stage and I decided to watch his performance and he did a few tunes that I liked and, from that point on, I started to pay attention more often because I wanted to hear those songs again and, eventually, I became a fan. When I finally got a copy of his album, "From My Soul," it kind of knocked me for a loop for the simple fact that he's not the kind of rap artist that I really listen to. Like I said, I believe this style of music should be high energy and Mr. Dead Poetz is like...well...the opposite of that. His musical style is pretty laid back. He does have a song or two where the lyrics are delivered at a fairly rapid pace...but...the music itself is still kind of mellow. The song that first caught my attention was "(Have I) Lost My Mind." I couldn't get the chorus out of my head. Another song that got me hooked was "Never Die" because, for some reason, I can hear that as a rock song. Maybe it's just me...I don't know. I think what really got me hooked was the lyrical content. He has something to say with each song...they have meaning...substance. That's what does it for me. The more I listened to this release, the more I realized that it's just a really good album. I only wish I would've caught on to what Mr. Dead Poetz was doing a lot sooner. Better late than never though, right?
http://www.myspace.com/thasadman
Did you ever hear that Steve Martin routine where he's playing the banjo and he said that he felt like it was a happy sound. You know, when you're playing the banjo...everything seems okay. He would say, "Hey...you're house is burning down," then he would play the banjo a little and the audience would laugh because, after all, it was a joke. However, you couldn't really argue with his logic because, the way he told the joke, it did seem like there was a little truth behind it. Now, this might be a strange way to introduce you to an album. But, that Steve Martin routine was the first thought that came to mind when I first heard Christabel & The Jons CD, "Custom Made For You." You couldn't be depressed or get bad news if this was playin' in the backround because it's such a happy album. It put a smile on my face as soon as I heard it and while I was listening to it, a voice in my head said, "Nothing could go wrong right now because everything seems okay." "Custom Made For You" seriously creates that mood and I think it's a wonderful album because of that. Now, I've seen Christabel & The Jons described as folk, roots, jazz and country swing and I'll be the first to admit that I'm no expert when it comes to those styles of music. I can tell you that I know what I like and I know what I enjoy and, right now, I'm totally diggin' on this album. It's a positive listening experience. So much, in fact, that I went through it, from start to finish, three times in one shot. I just couldn't get enough. If you're looking for a good, solid, fun, well written album to help you get through the day...this is it right here. It's pure gold.
http://www.christabelmusic.com
http://www.myspace.com/christabelmusic
X-Terra is a christian rock band that has been makin' music for more than 20 years now and they're still going strong. On their latest CD, "From The Vault," we take a look back at some of their most requested songs, which have all been re-recorded with their current line up. So...yeah...this is a compilation album. One that gives you a fresh take on some songs that you may have heard before. There's a lot of good material to be heard here. They open the disc with "Who Said," which is a hard hittin' metal tune with a positive message and a lot of aggression. "The Lord Is My Shepherd" is a middle of the road rock song and "Smile For Me" is more acoustic. Some of these songs have a raw feel to them, which is something I appreciate in an album. Also, what I really like about this band is the fact that they have a positive message. You need that from time to time. Since most of my X-Terra collection is on cassette, which I don't pull out too often, this was a good way to re-introduce myself to the music of X-Terra. Even though I've heard a few of these songs before, it's almost like I'm hearing the band for the first time. Now, if this is the first time that you're hearing the band, I would suggest that you check out "From The Vault" as well as an older CD that's still available called "Wolves." Or, you can just go to their CD Baby page and check out everything they have up there.
http://www.myspace.com/xterra
http://www.cdbaby.com/Artist/XTERRA
This column has been around in one form or another for about sixteen years now and, during that time, you only need one hand to count how many times I've written about country music because, honestly, it's not a style of music that I can really sink my teeth into. It's really doesn't do all that much for me. Every now and then...I will hear an artist that isn't all that bad and, for a moment, you might be able to call me a country music fan. I had a country music dry spell...so to speak...for the last five years...and the artist that's gonna end that dry spell is the one and only Judy Kanyo. She has a wonderful voice and I think that's what really caught my attention at first. Well, that and the fact that I liked the title track of her debut CD, "Not What I Had In Mind." Her voice and that song was the main reason why I decided to give her album a fair shake...and I'm glad I did because, for the most part, I really liked what I heard. Okay...sure...she does have a song or two that I could've done without...and since we're talkin' about a fifteen song album here...that's not too bad. My favorite song on the album, besides the title track, is "Stop The Clock." It's such a catchy little tune that got stuck in my head. I think it has kind of a pop feel. The real stand out track is "You Wouldn't Lie To An Angel," which I guess would be considered a ballad. Talk about a beautiful song...this one takes the cake. Other favorites include "You Win Some, You Learn Some," "Walkin' On The Blue Side," "What A Heart Will Do For Love" and "Your Loves Got A Hold On Me." If all country music was this good, it's a sure bet that I'd listen to it a lot more. Since there isn't a lot out there that I like...I'll stick with Judy Kanyo's album. This one's a real winner.
http://www.judykanyo.com
http://www.myspace.com/judykanyo
Take some hard rock and mix it with a little punk...throw in a 70's influence to give it some flavor...serve it up raw. That's how I would describe the music of Stark. My first experience with them was "The Curse," which is still my favorite album from this band and the one I would suggest checking out first because, in my opinion, everything they do came together perfectly on this release. You know...every band has that "one" album that does it all and, for Stark...this is it. I probably get that feeling from this release due to the fact that it's their first album. If I were to compare Stark to...say...Motley Crue...this would be their "Too Fast For Love." It has that certain something that I can't quite put my finger on. It's magic. That's all there is to it. The next album, "Put It To Your Head," was a really good disc. It didn't have that "first album" feel...that's the only thing that was really missing for me. I think they got a little heavier on this release. I also think tunes like "Nothing's Wrong" and "Disturbed" could've been included on the first album and they wouldn't have seemed out of place. Stark has a new release called "Race To The Floor," which I have yet to hear. But, if it's anything like these first two, it's worth checking out. The thing with this band...I'll probably have nothing but praise for everything they ever do. My only hope is...well...I hope they don't stray too far from their original sound. They've got a great vibe going on...it's raw...it's dirty...it has a little bit of swagger to it. I think they're doing something unique here and, as long as they stick with it, we'll continue to be treated with some kick ass rock and roll.
http://www.starknyc.com
http://www.myspace.com/stark
http://www.myspace.com/laniford
Kim-Char Meredith's musical style is...well...let me quote the description on her CD Baby page...it's "hook-laden faith based pop rock with country and R&B stylings thrown in for good measure." Okay...I know you're probably sayin' to yourself, "He's talkin' about religious music," right? First of all, that's not a term that I like to use because, for me, it's almost like you're talkin' about church music and that's a real turn off for me. Hey...I'm sorry...but...I spent part of my childhood with a family who listened to nothing but "religious music" and I couldn't get into any of it. It was old, tired and stale beyond words. Now, I'm not here to talk about what people believe in or what they don't believe in. But, if you're going to sing about...shall we say...issues of a spiritual nature...the music should be able to lift you up...not put you to sleep. I want the music to make me feel good inside and that's what I get when I listen to Kim-Char Meredith's album, "Paper Knife." This disc was a real good pick me up. What really drew me in is the fact that it doesn't come off as preachy. It's more like a celebration of something that's greater than all of us. The lyrics actually mean something...they have substance...and I think a lot of people can relate to them...regardless of what they believe in.
http://www.facebook.com/kimchar
http://www.myspace.com/kimcharmeredith
http://www.cdbaby.com/Artist/KimCharMeredith
I was checkin' out the song list on Category 5's website and the bulk of material that they perform in concert are cover songs. It's a pretty nice list. They do music by 38 Special, Aerosmith, Alice In Chains, Asia, Autograph, Beastie Boys, Beatles, Boston, Eagles, Bon Jovi, Boston, Green Day, Jet, Ozzy Osbourne, Nirvana, Metallica, Led Zepplin, Loverboy, Ratt, U2, Van Halen and ZZ Top to name a few. There's also five original tracks included in that list and those tunes appear on Category 5's debut EP, "Off The Ivory Coast." Now, I've said it numerous times before and I'll say it again...it's really hard to form an honest opinion on a band when you haven't heard a lot of music from them. However, Category 5 is off to a good start, especially when you consider the fact that these five tunes have as much variety as their entire set list...and that's sayin' a lot. There's progressive rock ("Lost In Legacy'), acoustic rock ("I Wonder"), funky rock ("Party If You Want To)" and flat out heavy rock ("7 Daze Warning'). The one track I didn't mention, "Home Again," is kind of a laid back, radio friendly song. As an EP, the variety works well because the band isn't limited to one style of music. So, they can pretty much go in any direction they want and it won't seem out of place because you really don't know what to expect from this band. The real test for them will be a full length release. If they can pull it off...and I believe they can...then the sky's the limit. Category 5 is a band that I suggest you keep your eye on because these five songs are only the begining. I think the best is yet to come.
Fire Born has a sound that's easy to describe. They're a combination of heavy rock and metal. It's that simple. I'm not gonna say that they're breaking any new ground here because, honestly, they're not. You've heard this style of music before. Having said that...you're probably wondering why you should even check this band out, right? Well, when you're doing something that people have heard before, the trick is to do something that will at least get their attention in order to draw them in. From what I've heard...a lot of these bands have a song or two that's better than everything else and the rest of what they do...well...it doesn't really amount to much. They'll throw a bunch of other tracks on the album just to fill up the space. What makes Fire Born different is the fact that they don't go for just having one or two really good tracks. They go for sixteen of them. That's right...sixteen...and it's their debut release. "Dirt Mouth" is a strong album from begining to end. You know...like I said...they're a combination of heavy rock and metal...and they seem to have found the perfect balance between the two styles. You're not getting one song that's better than the next one. It's not like, here's a good song, here's a great song, skip this one, that one's okay...and so on and so forth. You're getting a full length album here that's a solid piece of work. It's not often that I find an album that I can listen to from start to finish without skipping through a few tracks. I can do it with this release and that's why they're worth checkin' out.
http://www.myspace.com/FireBornBand
I've been wating to hear Liggett The Demon's "Portrait Of Pain" for a long time now. Was the worth the wait? I'd say, "HELL, YEAH!" This is what I'm talkin' about. Aggressive, hard hittin' rap music that doesn't quit. Opening track "Put Your Horns Up" is a battle cry for all those who are down with The Demon. Next up is the one two punch of "Behold" and "Closed Casket." "Terror" is a venom filled musical assault. The only thing that really slows down the flow of the album is the skit, "Don't Prank Call Me," which is a prank call with Liggett asking some girl...over and over again...if she likes it in the pooper. It's funny, but, it doesn't belong on a rap album. Luckily, that's the only weak moment on the album. Liggett gets back to business with tracks like "Throw It Up," "Playing In The Dark" and "I'm Never Giving Up." This album comes at you like a rabid animal lookin' to tear the flesh from your bones...and if that's not enough...guest appearances by Mr. Hyde, Gangsta Gook, D-Rangd, H8trid and D.K.B. (to name a few) make it even more dangerous. Yeah...Hell has been unleashed. So, if this sounds like something you'd be into...throw your horns up and get down with The Demon. Blood...will...flow.
http://www.myspace.com/stateofzen
http://www.myspace.com/therealdemon
I have two releases here from Valerie Nicole. The first one is a four song EP called "Soul Searching," which is a nice little album that will give you a small taste of what this artist is all about. However, to get the really big picture, you need to give her full length release, "From The Heart," a listen. It's a beautiful, well written album that's a combination of pop and rock with a singer/songwriter feel. You know how good this album really is? Well, all the number one singles in the world...they aren't all heard on the radio. Some of them are right here and it's a crime that they're not being exposed to a worldwide audience. My favorite track on the album, "Wake Up," which is an upbeat acoustic track, has number one single written all over it. I'd say the same thing about "Livin' In The Moment," which is kind of in the same vein. That's why I don't even listen to the radio. You have all that fake, manufactured, flavor of the month, Armerican Idol, pop garbage that isn't worth the disc it's recorded on. It has no emotion...no soul...no heart...nothing. It's not even about the music, it's more about the celebrity. You're foolish enough to believe that these people are interesting only because they're famous...and since they're famous...they must make good music, right? Yeah...you're told who you should like and what kind of music you like...and you do it. Personally, I like to listen to music that's made by real people with real talent. Valerie Nicole might not be famous. But, she has emotion. She has soul and her music comes from the heart. If, for some strange reason, I was forced to choose between listening to the radio or Valerie's album...I wouldn't even have to think about it. "From The Heart" would be my first and only choice....no doubt about it. Do yourself a favor and give her music a listen. Once you hear it...you might never turn on your radio again.
http://www.myspace.com/valerienicole7
http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/valerienicole
This column should be enough to keep you busy for awhile. But...wait...don't stop reading just yet. We're gonna finish this one off with a bang. Well, actually, it's more like a nuclear explosion. That's what it will feel like when you listen to the music of Suicide Puppets. "Absolute Sinner" is a perfect example of what extreme music is all about. We've all seen the damage that's been done by an earthquake, a tornado, a volcano, a tsunami and everything else that mother nature threw at our planet. All that is nothing compared to the sonic aggression that the Suicide Puppets have unleashed. There's a point where music goes beyond heavy and it becomes so brutal that it's nothing more than noise and, in my opinion, that's not music. The Suicide Puppets don't go that far. They don't cross that line. They have a sound that's as extreme as you can possibly get without sounding like noise. I've had the pleasure of seeing this band live and...I swear...it was like the end of the world. It was like standing in front of the four horsemen of the apocalypse and waiting for them to cast their final judgement on this planet. So, if you're a fan of industrial music...or global destruction in general...the Suicide Puppets are for you. Give 'em a listen.
http://www.suicidepuppets.com
http://www.myspace.com/suicidepuppets