Hard Announcements |
SPOTLIGHTOctober / November 2007by Paul Autry http://www.myspace.com/spotlight_music You wanted the best? You got the best! I don't do a lot of reading unless it's music related. I spent about a week going through the Kiss "Album Focus" books, which included "Volume 1 - Kings Of The Night Time World 1972-82", "Volume 2 - Hell Or High Water" and "Volume 3 - Roar Of The Greasepaint 1997 - 2006." Once I was done with those, I spent a few days going through "The Kiss & Related Recordings Focus" as well, all of which were written by author Julian Gill. What really impressed me was the attention to detail. There was a lot of work involved in tracking down all this information and putting it together in an order that made it somewhat easy for the audience to read. It was pretty mind blowing to me...and quite an interesting and informative read on top of it. These books have been out for quite some time now. But, I thought they deserved another push. So, I sent Julian Gill some questions and this is how it went. Paul Autry: Well, it's obvious that you're a Kiss fan. So, when did you get into the band and what drew you to them? Julian Gill: Late bloomer really. It wasn't until the videos from "Asylum" were in rotation on MTV in December 1985 that I really got into them. I'd known about Kiss since experiencing some kids dressed up and miming to the music of the band at a school talent show in 1979, soon after moving to America, but musically it didn't register at the time. By 1985, my musical tastes had developed from John Lennon and The Beatles into the "rock" that was making news...Quiet Riot and Def Leppard. As far as what drew me to them, I just thought the "Tears Are Falling" and "Uh! All Night" videos and songs were call at the time. So, it was music before image for me. Paul Autry: What's your favorite Kiss album and why did you pick that one? Julian Gill: "Alive!" It just sums up the hunger the band had in early years. Plus, I guess it's a bit of a cheat to get the best material from the first three albums. Paul Autry: What are your thoughts on all the Kiss tribute albums that are floating around out there? Any that you really like? Julian Gill: There have been way too many. Some of them, like the original "KAOL Music From The Folder," "The Return Of The Comet" and Sack Trick's "Sheep In Kiss Make Up" have been incredible. Others leave you scratching your head (or grabbing your ears) and appear to be nothing more than money grabs. I always liked tributes that tried to reinterpret the song without going death metal! Those who simply recreate the original, why bother? I'd rather listen to the original if they're not going to try and do something with it. Paul Autry: How about bootleg Kiss recordings? Julian Gill: I like 'em, what fan doesn't! I've always been particular to demos rather than live stuff or videos. Paul Autry: What are your thoughts on file sharing? Julian Gill: It depends. Sharing released material hurts the band. I think "KISSology" proved that the videos that had circulated for years haven't devalued the product when officially released. Kiss and other bands could have dealt with the file sharing issue more effectively years ago. So, it's good to at least now be seeing bands like Metallica offer show downloads. Paul Autry: What made you decide to write all the Kiss books that you put out? Julian Gill: It wasn't a conscious decision to "write" a book...though compile would be closer to the truth. The "Album Focus" started out as a couple of articles I'd written about the "Elder" and "Carnival Of Souls" and grew when Chris White of the Kiss Asylum website approached me to write a regular feature for his website. It kinda grew from there and I thought it would be nice to print them all up together all pretty and such. Paul Autry: Could you tell us a little about each one? Julian Gill: The "Kiss Album Focus" is simply the history of the band on an album by album basis. Using quotes from numerous interviews, I tried to build an objective look at the band from their own words. The "Recordings Focus" was simply supposed to be something of a field guide to Kiss and related recordings, recorded or not, circulating or not. It's a bit closer to my heart as it's always been where my main interests lie. A third book, the "Live Focus," was supposed to approach the history of the band from a touring perspective. But, I only ever got a few articles into that work. Paul Autry: Your attention to detail is simply mind blowing. How hard was it to put all that information together and to make sure it was correct? Julian Gill: It was tough tracking down enough sources that didn't have the members contradicting themselves or each other too much. Correctness is difficult to guage as their perspectives and opinions change so often. I just tried to present it as honestly as I could being a non-involved third party. The detail can be a bit bludgeoning though. Paul Autry: Have any of the members of Kiss commented on your books and, if so, what did they think? Julian Gill: They haven't commented publically, nor would I expect them to as the work is unofficial and unsanctioned. They don't get anything ($) out of the work. But, they should be happy that I haven't either. Paul Autry: What do you think of the various members and their solo projects? Julian Gill: I don't really think about the various members. I've met most of them. But, haven't interacted with them on a personal level. So, I just see them from the same public viewpoint as any other fan. I did think Peter Criss was hilarious though. Favorite member was always Paul Stanley as the heart and soul of the band. As for their solo projects, I think they all prove that they were stronger in Kiss. Paul Autry: What do you think of the band as they are today? Julian Gill: Not much. They're doing what they want or feel they need to do. But, it's living in the past. It's been tough letting go of the band as a creative force making new music. I certainly don't like Eric and Tommy wearing Peter and Ace's make up. But, that's a decision G&P have made so whatever. I still go to gigs when they tour. So, I guess it ultimately makes no difference to me. I still enjoy those gigs too. Paul Autry: Have you written any other books and, if so, tell us a little about them. Julian Gill: I'll be publishing the fourth and hopefully final Kiss book, "The Other Side Of The Coin," shortly. It's a collection of interviews and material cut out of the "Kiss Album Focus," plus some updates to other works and stuff. I'm sitting on a completed Def Leppard book, "Leppard Tracks," which is basically a mix of biography/vignettes/discography. I've also been working on a similar format for Motley Crue. I've also written (well, it's been in progress since 1992) a book on assassination. It's more concise bios; and a work on the British Chartist movement of the 19th Century. Paul Autry: What kind of music are you into besides Kiss? Julian Gill: Plenty. I guess my main bands these days are Sabbath, Leppard, Maiden, Yngwie and Megadeth. But, my range of taste is diverse. Throw in Floyd, James Brown, Elvis, Zep. Pretty much anything 1955 onwards, except rap (not all, Run DMC, Beasties, LL and MC are generally OK) and manufactured boy/girl bands. Paul Autry: What are some of your non-musical interests? Julian Gill: Basically reading (History, but also stuff in the Cussler, Gemmell, Clancy, Pratcher school of fiction/fantasy. Paul Autry: What's one thing that people would be suprised to know about you? Julian Gill: Nothing really, I'd hope they not care! Paul Autry: What are your plans for the future? Julian Gill: To find a new owner for the KISSFAQ and quietly slink off into the night. Paul Autry: Final comments to the people who will be reading this? Julian Gill: Thanks to everyone who has supported the various KISSFAQ books over the years. They may have their weaknesses. But, I hope they provided some enjoyment and that everyone who read 'em learned something new or at least looked at parts of KISStory from a different perspective. I apologize for the typos! A big thank you also to the fans who make the KISSFAQ message board an entertaining place to congregate and the moderators who try to keep the peace! For More Information: http://www.kissfaq.com Okay...let's start the reviews off with an introduction to Among Friends Records. I've had some of their releases for quite some time now and I should've told you about them long ago because they've introduced me to some great artists. B-Locks (a.k.a. Hazzel) has a disc that spent a lot of time in my player. It's called "Black Rose: The Evils Of Men" and it's got a wicked sound. The music really caught my attention because he doesn't use the same style beats that you hear on other rap recordings. I'm not sure how to describe it. But, it's fresh and original and that's something that I appreciate in any style of music. You know, I've heard some releases where I got a few tunes into it and the rest of the album didn't really suprise me too much because I had a good idea of what to expect. It got stale right away. That's not the case here. B-Locks kept me guessin' from begining to end. I had to listen to it a few times to take it all in. That's the way it should be, man. Stand out tracks, in my opinion, include "Prime Time," "Rock Star," "Clak Clak (Get Him)" and "Angels In Heaven." Do yourself a favor and pick this one up. E&J Blood Brothaz's "Vatos: A Family Affair" is so named, I assume, because they've got a few guest artists on a lot of their tracks. B-Locks, Shady Grey, Dirty Dread, Chucklez, Amory, Tony Dutche and G.P. Louis all make an appearance here. The thing I like about this release is that it has a raw sound. That's something else that you don't hear too much in rap music. I guess you could say it has a street feel to it, which is cool since that's what rap is supposed to be all about. This disc has an edge and that's what I like about it. Since I mentioned G.P. Louis, I should mention his album, "The Reagan Years: Reaganomics," which I've had for awhile. This disc is worth picking up just to hear "Fuck, Party, Get High" and "Rock Da Game." He also has some tunes on here that have that raw sound. He also has some tunes with a lot of bounce and energy, especially the opening track, "We Are Here." Great way to get the ball rolling. A lot of good stuff on this disc as well as the ones I've mentioned above. I happen to like rap music. I used to be exceptionally picky when it comes to what I would listen to. Let's face it, there's a lot of stuff out there and not all of it's good. I guess I'm still a little picky when it comes to this style of music. I mean, you can throw down a beat, you can throw down some killer lyrics. But, it doesn't mean that I'm gonna like what you have to offer. With rap music, it has to stick with me. If I listen to an album one time and a week or two later, those songs are still in my head, that's a good thing. These three records that I've just mentioned...they all have songs like that...and that's why they're gonna stay in my collection and, if you give 'em a chance, give 'em a listen, I'm sure they'll end up a permanent addition to your collection as well. http://www.amongfriendsrecords.com Leanne Kingwell's debut release, "Show Ya What," is a straight up rock 'n' roll album that's well worth checkin' out. I can't seem to get enough of this disc. The first thing I was drawn to was Leanne's voice. It's very unique and I don't think she sounds like anyone else. That's always a plus. As for her musical style, well, like I said, it's straight up rock 'n' roll. But, there's a lot of variety to be found here. She's got the swagger of The Rolling Stones. I hear a little southern rock guitar here and there. "Holding Your Gun," which is one of my favorite tracks on the album, sounds like something Jerry Lee Lewis would do. In fact, she has the same amount of energy that The Killer had in his prime. She also seems to have a punk attitude. There's a taste of pop to found as well. You get to track nine, "Drop Your Pants," and you might even say she's a little pop punk. This is another one of my favorite tracks. Skip down to track eleven, "Can't Get Enough," and she just flat out rocks. She even has a huge sound when she slows down a bit and gets a little mellow. Listen to "Move" and you'll understand what I'm talkin' about. Luckily, it doesn't end there. There's a hidden bonus track, which is an uncensored version of "Holding Your Gun," which is really great. I think her voice sounds the best on "Look At My Life," which is the first track on the album. I don't know what it is. But, as soon as I heard that song, I knew the rest of the album was gonna be great and, of course, I was right. The title track, "Show Ya What," is also pretty kick ass. You know...no matter how much I praise this release...it's not gonna be enough. You have to listen to it...over and over again...in order to really appreciate it...and, I'm telling you, the more I listen to it, the better it sounds. I'm not gonna get tired of this album anytime soon. You seriously need to check this one out. I guarantee that you won't be disappointed and, if for some strange reason, you happen to not like what you hear...well...then you don't know what good rock 'n' roll is all about and you should stop listening to music right now. http://www.leannekingwell.com On their MySpace page, Bent Eye Bolt has their musical style listed as psychedelic/indie/rock. I'm glad they have that description up there because I had no idea what to call them. All I was gonna say is that they're different, which they are. I might have used terms like garage rock, retro, maybe even classic rock since the first track, "Crusin' Ocean Drive," had a Rolling Stones guitar riff...at least that's what it reminded me of when I heard it for the first time. They're also a rather creative lyrical band. But, to be honest with you, I'm not quite sure what kind of audience they're going after here. They're probably a big hit on college radio. If they're not, they should be. I know their audience has to have an open mind when it comes to the music they listen to. The music is different enough to where it doesn't fit under one label, which I believe is part of the charm that Bent Eye Bolt seems to have. It's a good disc to have when you want to disrupt the flow of what you usually listen to. I've thrown it on quite a few times and I always hear something new. So, it's probably an album that will take some time to grow on you. But, once it does, you'll get a lot of pleasure out of it. http://www.benteyeboltmusic.com For those of you who are familiar with my work...you should know that I'm not a huge fan of dance, techno or electronic music. In my opinion, it doesn't take too much talent to pound out a single beat for an hour so, which is what some people do...and they have the nerve to call it music. It lacks substance and style and I really have no use for that kind of garbage. So, when you go to the Trip Throttle MySpace page and you see that they have their musical style listed as electro, breakbeat, techno...you're probably thinkin' that I have a negative review that I need to get out of my system. Well, think again. I actually happen to like Trip Throttle. Their previous release, "Altered State," was an album that really caught me off guard and I had nothing but good things to say about it. The band has a new release out on EsNtion Records called "The Wild Kingdom," which I was really curious to hear. Would they be be able to impress me a second time? Yes, they would. The best track, in my opinion, is called "BoneShaker." It's the first one you hear and I think it sets the tone for the rest of the album. Since I'm not really into this style of music, I'm not really sure how to describe it to you since most of what I hear ended up getting a negative review. So, it's a little hard for me to tell you why I actually like this release. I guess I could compare it to a painting. It might be considered art if you simply throw a few different colors together on a piece of paper. What Trip Throttle does when they make music...they create a masterpiece. They paint a picture and they bring it to life. Does that make any sense to you? It's like...when you close your eyes and you listen to their music...you can almost picture what they're trying to get across with their music. Bottom line...I hate this style of music. Every release that I've heard in this genre did nothing for me. Trip Throttle is a band that does it right. So, if you're gonna make this kind of music, they should be your biggest influence. Your music should be able to reach out and touch people. That's how you pull them in. That's what Trip Throttle has done. If you can't do that...well...just don't send your album to me. It's as simple as that. http://www.myspace.com/tripthrottle When I put this column together, I like to offer you a wide variety of music to check out. I like to give you, the reader, something different to check out. Having said that, I'd like to introduce you to a compilation album that recently came across my desk called "Israel Unleashed - The Very Best Metal & Rock From The Holy Land." Yeah...the album title tells you what this release is all about and where the music is coming from. So, I don't have to explain that. So, I'll just give you my thoughts/opinions on the disc. First of all, the album cover itself is pretty cool. It's got an 80's metal look to it, which is cool since that's when most of us got into music in the first place. This is the kind of design that you would've seen on the back of a jean jacket back in the day. As for the music, there's 15 bands on here and, I'll be honest, I haven't heard any of them before. As with any compilation album, it's usually hit or miss. You're gonna like some of it...you're gonna hate some of it. Bands featured on this release include Abed, Noble Brats, Distorted, Seven Percent Mind Usage, Crossfire, Behind The Sun, Manga, Jet Sam, Xenlith, Desert, Epidemic, Mens Rea, Xamavar, Vultures and Imblizze. Stand out tracks, in my opinion, include Distorted's "Redemption," which has a good sound and an excellent combination of female vocals mixed with a death metal growl vocal style. Crossfire's "Heartbreaker" has a huge, arena rock sound. As soon as this tune kicks in, it jumps right out at you and grabs you by the throat. Best track on the album. Magna's "My Secret Truth" is a great song. At first, it reminded me of a hard rock Tori Amos. But, as I listened to the song a little more, I noticed that they had a sound that was all their own. This is a band I'd like to hear more from. Xamavar's "Blind Still Trill" had a rather unique sound. Not even sure what you'd call their music. But, it was pretty kick ass. For the most part, the album has a pretty good flow and a nice selection of material. I'm sure this isn't the only compilation disc to feature music from Israel. But, it's the only one that I've heard and the one that I would suggest you check out. http://www.jewishmusicgroup.com Beowolf Productions/Treats From The Underground have been supporting the underground scene since 1994 and they're still going strong. In an effort to give you an idea of what's floating around out there, they've put together a free music sampler. "Volume One" features fifteen tracks of mostly hard/heavy/death/extreme music. The bands included come from all over the globe...Italy, Austria, Japan, Turkey and, of course, the United States. Most of the music on this release isn't my cup of tea. But, there's some good stuff on here, like Dissarray's "Death Plague Jesus," Un-Kind's "Your Blood" and Final Prayer's "No Control." When it comes to this style of music, the problem for me is usually the vocal style. If it's too brutal, I just can't seem to get into it. But, the music itself is usually pretty good. There's a good deal of variety on this release, which doesn't really suprise me because, if there's one publication that knows this style of music, it's Beowolf Productions/Treats From The Underground. If this disc came from anyone else, I probably wouldn't have given it a second thought. The only reason I gave it a listen is because of where it came from. Like I said, this style of music isn't really for me. But, I trust the judgement of the publication...and I don't say that about a lot of people. So, drop 'em a line and get a copy of this disc and, if there's anyone on here that you happen to like, you can purchase their album directly from Beowolf Productions. My suggestion...if you're gonna spend money...is Disarray's "Widespread Human Disaster." That's the only disc I have that's featured on this release and it's an underground classic. High quality thrash metal, man. They don't make 'em like this too much anymore. http://www.beowolfproductions.com Ten Questions With Annie Dinerman I met Annie Dinerman at a music conference earlier this year. She gave me a copy of her album, "1,001 American Nights," told me she was a singer/songwriter and that's pretty much all there was to it. I happen to like that style of music and I was looking forward to hearing what she had to offer. When I finally had the chance to listen to the album, I was really impressed. This wasn't your normal singer/songwriter album. This one had a lot of energy. The first two songs, "Scheherazhade" and "He Just Loves Her" are pretty close to being rock tunes. What's really great about this album...and what I really like about it...is the fact that each one of the songs come to life and when you listen to the album as a whole...well...it's simply fantastic. On the back of the album, it mentions that Annie won an award for excellence in songwriting and that award was well deserved. This is just a beautiful album. One of the best that I've heard in this genre for a long time. Since I was a little slow in writing about it, I sent Annie a few questions to answer and now, it's gives me great pleasure to introduce her to you. Paul Autry: Please introduce yourself and give us a little backround history. Annie Dinerman: My parents are first generation American Jewish. My mother's family were Ukrainian tailors with a shop in upper Manhattan (Washington Heights) and my father's family came here from Poland and opened a wholesale poultry business in Brooklyn. Both my parents grew up working with their hands and passed along to me the value of craftsmanship and giving your work what my mother always referred to as "your most ut" (an immigrant's pun on "utmost")/ The main music in our house was anything by Sinatra. But, I'm an acoustic singer/songwriter and that's what I love the most. I studied piano as a child and taught myself guitar. Have lived in Astoria, Queens, NYC for several years. Paul Autry: Plug your current project. Annie Dinerman: My current project is to record a CD of new songs. I hope to release it in the fall of 2007. It's being produced by Steve Addabbo (Susanne Vega, Shawn Colvin, Sonya Kitchell). Some of the new songs are a little darker than the songs on "1,001 American Nights," but still have that very female point of view that my work is known for. I've just won a grant from the Anna Sosenko Trust to cover some studio expenses for this project. Paul Autry: How would you describe your musical style? Annie Dinerman: My style of lyric writing is frank, funny and definitely female. I am a singer/songwriter in the tradition of the storytellers like Paul Simon, Laura Nyro and Wendy Waldman. I sound like a young Carole King with a guitar. Paul Autry: Name your musical influences and why they influenced you. Annie Dinerman: Laura Nyro was an early influence. She wrote and sang with the same passion throughout her life. Her recordings challenge me to dig down deep, face myself and reveal in my songs what I found. The work of the great songwriter Sammy Cahn and Johnny Mercer has taught me a lot about shaping a lyric, the order in which information should be presented to build the story of a song and how to write in a really personal voice that's truly American. Favorite recording: "Pet Sounds" by The Beach Boys. I have both studio and live versions. Paul Autry: Name your poison. Annie Dinerman: Non-alcoholic: Mineral water with a dash of bitters and a squeeze of fresh lime. Alcoholic: Real Irish hard cider on draft (preferably Woodpecker). Paul Autry: What are your thoughts on file sharing? Annie Dinerman: I worked hard to write my songs and I did the writing without a salary. If people love music, they really ought to honor the people who work to create it. If you share my files for free, it's as if I owned a plot of land and you came and built your house on my land without permission and then sold that house at a profit. Intellectual property is property, and it's as real as real estate. If you don't believe that, try writing a song. Paul Autry: What are some of your interests outside of music? Annie Dinerman: I'm a real foodie. I make artisanal ice creams and I bake pies. In fact, one of the songs on my next CD is about baking a pie for a man I'm dating. I once wrote a song about lamb chops just because I like lamb chops so much! (Note: I braise lamb chops in Irish hard cider!) I also dig museums, classic novels and flea markets. Just a retro kinda modern gal. Paul Autry: Plug someone else you think people should check out and explain why you think we'd like them. Annie Dinerman: Richard McGraw has a MySpace page. He writes and sings with total passion and great humor. I actually sat on the floor at Pete's Candy Store just to hear Richard McGraw sing with his band. Paul Autry: What have you done (so far) that you're most proud of and what do you hope to accomplish in the future? Annie Dinerman: In 2006, I won an award from Songwriters Hall of Fame. Also in 2006, my environmental song, "One Planet At A Time" (on my page at MySpace), was a finalist in a contest run by Noel Paul Stookey (Peter, Paul and Mary) to salute songs for social change. We finalists performed our songs at the Kerrville Folk Festival, and then Noel (Paul) released a compilation CD. I hope my song will be used to spread the word about global warming and how we can protect our planet. I'd like to sign with a label that's good for songwriters (where I can know people on a first-name basis) and open dates on a tour for other artists who are already established. I'd like to collaborate with successful songwriters and have my songs covered by well-known artists. Paul Autry: Final comments? Annie Dinerman: Nope, just, thanks for enjoying my CD and I'm looking forward to reading your review. http://www.anniedinerman.com |