Hitting you up with my thoughts on the first ten songs on shuffle mode this fine Friday evening!

“War Between One” Grip Inc., Nemesis

A couple of years after leaving Slayer in the early 90’s, Dave Lombardo picks up the sticks once again and forms a new band with Waldemar Sorychta to thrash us senseless with his relentless drum pounding.  1997’s Nemesis features this cut, quite the punky hardcore blast:  non-stop Lombardo pounding, nutty Sorychta riff, and the militaristic bark from lead throat Gus Chambers.  One of the tunes that’s more Slayeresque in punch but still its own unique beast.

“I Can’t Quit You Baby” Led Zeppelin, I (Live At The Olympia)

Led Zeppelin’s deluxe editions that came out over the past few years unearthed quite a few gems-  check out this live show on the second disk of their first album.  You Zep fans all know the tune and this version is a scorcher; maybe slightly sloppy in live execution but still plenty exciting for the times (was ANYONE playing like this in the late 60s?).  A bit more improv on this version compared to the studio cut but that certainly was Zep at the time.  Jimmy and Robert on fire in their early, early prime.

“Closet Chronicles” Kansas, Point Of Know Return

Kansas was probably one of America’s first proggy bands and “Closet Chronicles” is a great example of the band’s talents:  excellent musicianship, great storytelling lyrics, brilliant singing (Steve Walsh is one of the best in the genre), bits of pompy goodness, and a cool rock breakdown midway through the song.  A bit more keyboard compared to some of their other cuts but it works exceptionally well here to add different flairs and flavors along with the heavier sections.

“I Want Candy” Bow Wow Wow, Modern Rock 1982-1983

Boy that Bo Diddley beat sure sounds good anywhere doesn’t it?  This 80s take on that “shave and a haircut” stomp was Bow Wow Wow’s big hit; a fine little summertime ditty that was all over early MTV back in the day.  Vocalist Annabella Lwin has a nice bubblegum vocal that’s the major hook along with that backbeat, but don’t sell short the fine surf guitar noodling from guitarist Matthew Ashman.  One of those songs that you could toss on to get the rumps a shakin’.

“U Got The Look” Prince, The Hits/The B-Sides

I’ve never been a huge Prince fan, but boy…  he’s got some downright killer tunes and I certainly lean more to the rock/funk stomp of his work. “U Got The Look” is a prime example, insistent funky percolation and downright nasty n skronkin’ guitar that swings between heavy riff, feedback, and squeals.  Maybe a tip o’ the hat to some Funkadelic/Parliament spaciness in effects, but that co-vocal with the Purple One and Sheena Easton is maximum heat.  Definitely one of my fave cuts from the man’s catalog.

“Billy’s Got A Gun” Def Leppard, Pyromania

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nfKmzUBZBD8

Early Def Leppard is where it’s at for me-  anything post Pyromania seriously shaves off the heaviness in favor of the hookiness, but hey what do I know as Hysteria sold over a bazillion gazillion copies.  I digress…  soooo…  “Billy’s Got A Gun” is one of my less favorite cuts from their early days but it’s still got a decent descending riff and fine Joe Elliott vocal, but that overly processed drum snare seriously dates this.  Still… what’s this looniness in the last minute?  Whatchoo doin’ Mutt Lange?

“Candy Horizon” Gillan, Toolbox

Take Ian Gillan out of Deep Purple and you’ve got quite the interesting solo career.  If you definitely like hard rock, you’ll really dig Toolbox and “Candy Horizon” is a fine example of the goods AND one of the last discs where the man did some of his maddest (and I mean that in a good way) screaming.  Sure, that vocal and those screams aren’t prime Gillan from the Made In Japan days but they are powerfully good in their own way.  Great backing band on this disc too.

“Belladonna” UFO, No Heavy Petting

While my preference for UFO are those cuts featuring Michael Schenker’s riffs and leads front and center I gotta give some credit to vocalist and lyricist Phil Mogg, who really is a great frontman and storyteller.  “Belladonna” is certainly one beautiful cut that Mogg confidently nails o’er a subtle bed of acoustics and keyboard washes.  My boy Schenker takes the back seat in favor of the sweet vocal but pops in at the tail of the song with some fantastic, melodic lead lines.  Nice Paul Raymond work on keys.

“Someday She Is Going To Hit Back (Demo)” Thin Lizzy, Thunder And Lightning (Deluxe Version)

The demo version of this fine rocking cut is a heads down ripper; no vocal from Philo but plenty of excellent guitar tag team from Sykes/Gorham and the always tasty drumwork from Brian Downey.  Interestingly enough, listening to this without the great man’s vocal works exceptionally well and shows off a hard rock/metal prog riff, maybe a bit like Focus’ “Hocus Pocus” in punch but more melodic in the guitar department.  Really cool to hear and well worth tracking down the deluxe version.

“I Coulda Been A Contender” Gaslight Anthem, Sink Or Swim

If you’ve never heard of the Gaslight Anthem, here’s your description: take a heaping dose of Bruce Springsteen, throw in the raucousness of Dropkick Murphys, a smidge of Tom Petty, and punk spirit and you’re in the ballpark.  “I Coulda Been A Contender” features everything; Brian Fallon’s yearning shout and boy/girl lyric (the Springsteen/Petty) and that massive chorus (the Murphys) plus the no holds barred band wallop (that punk spirit) that grabs you and won’t let go.

A fine batch of ten this time around, making my top three difficult to choose.  Going Prince for number one, Gillan at number two, and a tie for third amongst Grip Inc/Zeppelin/Thin Lizzy.