“Trippin’ On A Hole In A Paper Heart”, Stone Temple Pilots Tiny Music… Songs From The Vatican Gift Shop

I’ve always been a big fan of STP, this song certainly being one of my favorites in their catalog.  These guys were unfairly lumped in with grunge early in their career as their debut Core certainly had some similarities to the triumvirate of  AIC/Pearl Jam/Nirvana; however, as the band grew other influences came into play.  “Trippin'” is a rollicking good time, less chunky of riff, more open Zep-like chords, and one poppin’ bass groove from Robert DeLeo.  Scott Weiland also in fine form mixing smooth clean vocal and throaty rasp towards the chorus.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vVD0JVnsXXw

“Invisible”, Dio Holy Diver

Man was this one hot album when it came out-  Dio fresh from his Sabbath sacking, stealing away VInnie Appice for the drum stool, recruiting former Rainbow mate Jimmy Bain, and snapping up one hot guitarist in Vivian Campbell.  “Invisible” kicks off softly with phased guitar and some pretty singing from RJD before turning all stomp n’ crunch the rest of the way.  Appice with his always solid groove and Bain and Campbell pretty much locked in together with the riff (Viv throwing in cool squealies here and there).  As always Ronnie brings his all to the table, forecasting the doom just around the corner (LOOKOUT!).

“N.O.D.” Down Down III: Over The Under 

Swingin’ the chain like the mighty Sabbath comes Down, side project of some heavy metal stalwarts (Anselmo, Keenan, Windstein, et al) that make a different sludge outside of their regular day jobs.  Obviously Sab influenced but I can hear a little bit of Cathedral in here too (well duh, THEY are Sab influenced too).  Phil’s roar is a little hoarse, sounding as if this was the last cut belted out after a long day in the studio (“I fight… I will fight”) although you get some mighty belts in spots too.  But Phil is always more than just the roar, he’s got some cool low range moments too.

“Long Distance Runaround” Yes Highlights – The Very Best Of Yes

I can name that tune in one note!  Hard to describe a tune that’s been so omnipresent on classic rock radio and one that a great number of people have heard, but if you’ve not heard it here goes….  first off, go out and buy Fragile so you can hear the awesomely cool segue into “The Fish”.  Sit back, hit play, and soak in the cool guitar\keyboard run and counter bassline with fellow tricky drum pattern.  But don’t let it lose you!  Thirty or so seconds in comes the vocal and another different time signature for about two minutes, then switcheroo, you’re back at the intro again.  Now play it over and over and over again until those musical melodies and vocal melodies sink in.  Trust me, you’ll come to like it 🙂

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zJ0YIfW2BUI

“Dirty Hands and Empty Pockets/Already Gone” Corrosion Of Conformity In The Arms Of God

First things first…  Nawlin’s drum stud Stanton Moore gets his John Bonham on, filling in for Reed Mullin on this release and providing an odd bit o’ groove to the festivities.  Secondly, this song is a two-parter: intro is a bit funky and slinky with great lowdown Mike Dean vocal and a bit of Sabbath stomp, but halfway through things are amped up into a punk metal groove, this time led by Pepper Keenan vocal.  Man… does anyone else think that Pepper Keenan and Load era James Hetfield sound similar?  That midrange is definitely there, as is ending each line with “ah” (“we’re gonna give it to ’em till they bleed-ah”).  Not that there’s anything wrong with that, ha ha.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3YUb8HA05m8

“In The Room” Sammy Hagar Three Lock Box

I’ve always dug the Red Rocker from his solo years through VH and back solo.  “In The Room” is a fairly simple tune, maybe a little more experimentally spooky and heavier on the keys than his usual stuff and definitely a more lower range vocal from Sam than the norm.  A bit new wave-y too, considering the time period that this came out (late 1982)-  think BOC mixed with The Cars and you get the picture.

“Praise Of Death” Slayer Hell Awaits

I remember the first time I listened to a Slayer album… my bro or I (can’t remember who) bought Hell Awaits on album, took it home, threw on the headphones, and came away scared shitless after listening to intro cut “Hell Awaits”.  It wasn’t until South Of Heaven that I started to really like Slayer even though I was deep into thrash via Metallica, Anthrax, Megadeth, etc.  Looking back I totally missed out, ha ha!  At any rate, “Praise Of Death” is typical early Slayer, fast of riff, clattery of drums, and fairly poor production.  The ferocity in this song is there but they take it down a notch towards the end but kick it back up after some whammy bar histrionics.  Quite a few cool changes throughout this cut with a great lead trade off midway through.

“PCH” ZZ Top Antenna

As much as I love ZZ Top, I get a little bummed how their post-Eliminator work sounds like it could fit on that album or Afterburner compared to their early career.  “PCH” suffers a bit from this as it digs up a decent enough groove but sounds a little too mechanical\too produced when the drums kick in.  Starts off with a promising Billy Gibbons solo piece before kicking off and going into a bit of “Sharp Dressed Man” land through the verse.  That said, this does have a groovy little pre-chorus and chorus but the verses sound like something that was on one of their hits.  But hey, don’t throw the baby out with the bathwater yet-  the Rev Billy G has some fine, fine guitar work throughout this one.

“Hot Love” Twisted Sister Love Is For Suckers

Man, I’ve always liked this song.  Not quite typical of the Twisted ones but it’s damn hooky and Dee Snider has a great vocal on it.  Rumor has it that this album was supposed to be a Dee Snider solo album but ended up being a TS release due to record company pressure, which also likely explains Dee and his wife being featured prominently in the video.  A far, far cry from “We’re Not Gonna Take It” and “I Wanna Rock” and their earlier stuff but considering the times (1987) it fit perfectly into the hair metal that was rampant on MTV.

“Watch The Fortune Wheel” Morgoth Feel Sorry For The Fanatic

Not sure what the deal is with this release, but talk about a way to divide your fanbase.  I only have this CD based on liking a couple of songs on the Century Media Identity samplers and I really like it.  “Watch The Fortune Wheel” is an oddball on the CD anyway, settling into a funky, slow, atmospheric groove akin to something like Killing Joke.  Lots of echo on the guitar, clattery drum bashing, and low, low vocal makes this a decent cut and providing a nice contrast with some of the more heavier numbers on the rest of the disc.  If you want death metal Morgoth, this song is far removed from that.

Some good cuts here, but gotta go with Dio and “Invisible” for this week’s winner.