The Occasional Cozmo Recommendation Thread

[King Postwhore]

Rat - Lay it Down
I still love playing that on guitar 
I know i know WTF

Of the 80's hair metal bands I'd rather listen to the more serious songs like Lay It Down.  I remember hearing Warrent doing Uncle Toms Cabin and thinking, why don't they write more songs like this.

[LudwigVan]

A two-fer from Rainbow this week, each featuring one of my faves on vocals:

First up is "Stone Cold" with Joe Lynn Turner on vocals.  This dude has such a sweet voice.  So mellow, but he can totally own.  See the Malmsteen "Heaven Tonight" clip I posted previously.  Should come as no surprise, since the band was half Deep Purple, but this song kinda has Deep Purple written all over it.  The big huge organ chords in the pre-chorus and the big vocals sounds VERY DP-ish.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t62zOXvSrh0

Heh... I like this tune, from Straight Between the Eyes album.  I've really been getting into Joe Lynn Turner-era Rainbow lately.  I never thought I would like this stuff (too commercial for my prog-snob tastes), but you're right about JLT's voice... irresistibly sweet.   And of course Ritchie Blackmore is always 

[TAC]

I remember hearing Warrent doing Uncle Toms Cabin and thinking, why don't they write more songs like this.

I agree. Uncle Tom's Cabin was great, but the rest of their stuff sucks! But they were a great live band. I saw them in a club (opening for Paul Stanley) and an arena (opening for Crue) and they handled both very well.

[Sir GuitarCozmo]

Me?  I liked Uncle Tom's Cabin.  It was like "Hmmm.  Hair bands being serious?  I'm cautious about this, but it sounds good."  All things considered though, I'd rather my hair bands sing about partying and drinking and screwing.  Stick with what you know, I figure.

So several things today.  First off and completely off topic, Henry Rollins is cool.  I have ZERO knowledge of his music, except for having seen "Liar" on Beavis and Butthead.  What I do know is that anytime I've seen quotes from him or seen him on any sort of VH-1 show where they have a ton of guest commentators, he ALWAYS has something awesome to say.  With that:

"Whenever I get dumped, I nail the door shut so that no one can come inside, get a towel and clip it around my neck so it's like a Superman cape, take off my shoes so I can slide across the room, and...get a fake mic, like a celery stick or a pen, and I play any record that features the vocalist Ronnie James Dio. And you can just pretend you're Dio, because on every album he does, he has minimum one, usually three, *EVIL WOMAN LOOK OUT!*- songs. And if you wanna point like Dio, it's a three-finger point. (heavy metal voice) 'The exit is that way. Evil LURKS! Evil lurks in twilight! Dances in the DARK! Evil woman! Just WALK AWAY!'"

It involves Dio, who is  so I guess it's not SO off topic.


The Power Metal Album Generator!!


Now for today's pick.  BlobVanDam turned me on to Steelheart.  I'd only ever really heard "I'll Never Let You Go" as most people had, so he urged me to check them out, based on the video for "Sticky Side Up".  I was sold.  Great stuff, through and through.  Michael Matijevic is an awesome singer, the kind that belts those "grab your balls and sing" notes.  GOD, I love hair metal.

Sticky Side Up:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OZr0yMQ0v8E

Everybody Loves Eileen (a favorite I've adopted on my own)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bUVfzSCh9yw

[BlobVanDam]

Steelheart's second album is one of my very favourite albums of all time. Matijevic is a crazily good singer. I actually really love their third album "Wait" too, but it's mostly not hard rock at all. It's mostly soft acousticy with light percussion. Their first album is actually my 3rd favourite album of theirs (out of only 4, and the 4th one is terrible).
What's interesting is that Matijevic has most of the writing credits on all of Steelheart's music, which is rare for a vocalist. It's the only reason I gave their third album a chance at all, since he was the only original member on the album.

[Sir GuitarCozmo]

So in rockspeak, would we say he "Coverdaled" the third album?

[TAC]

Coz, Henry Rollins has always come off cool, I agree with you there. And that quote about Dio is awesome.

Steelheart??

Well 2 out of 3 ain't bad...

[King Postwhore]

Well Cosmo, I figured I'd post a vid of a long lost band today.  I always loved this song. 

It's Helix---Deep Cuts The Night

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pa6xumk3lSE

[Sir GuitarCozmo]

Steelheart??

Well 2 out of 3 ain't bad...

I'll take that to mean you couldn't actually have listened to the links I posted.  

Well Cosmo, I figured I'd post a vid of a long lost band today.  I always loved this song.  

It's Helix---Deep Cuts The Knife

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pa6xumk3lSE

Excellent.  TAC had mentioned this one earlier and I forgot to post a link for it.  Thanks!  Excellent tune!!

[Sir GuitarCozmo]

Been a while.  I'll return here with something entirely unexpected.

The only punk band I've ever listened to is a band called the Descendents.  Excellent ballsy stuff.  Mostly ballsy.  They had some stuff that was a little more laid back, almost poppy.  Also, their songs are usually pretty short.  So I'm going to post a handful of them here.  I know some people approach punk with some trepidation and I would likely be one of those people, but I think my track record for finding listenable things has proven itself.   

The first is "Suburban Home", from the album "Milo Goes to College".  This song was featured on the commercials for "Tony Hawk's American Wasteland".  It is also featured on my phone whenever somebody calls.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sFDIwYht-fk


Next, "Silly Girl", from my favorite Descendents album, "I Don't Want To Grow Up".  This song, while a little hard-edged, kinda reminds me (the lyrics make this obvious) of being a teenager in the summertime, free of any of life's concerns except for that girl down the street that caught your eye.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n36hDSK-vhA


The next couple of tracks highlight another facet of their style.  They're pretty funny at times.  This one, "Coolidge", from the album "All", is a pretty groovin' song.  Listen for the apology around 1:42 for a laugh.  Of note also, is this is one of the very few Descendents songs with a guitar solo.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P9Za542m5AA


The next is "I Wanna Be a Bear", from "Milo Goes to College".  Singing about something for the sake of having something to say.  Pretty funny, but slightly NSFW-ish language.  Could also be mistaken for JP's theme song?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BMOt0o1rU-0


The last one I'll post is indicative of another aspect that comes out in many songs.  Very serious themes regarding relationships.  This one is called "Clean Sheets", from the "Somery" album.  A little more on the serious side than the previous songs.  Also, another of the few that has a guitar solo.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2e07qBeiutc


As I said, I know this kind of stuff isn't usually up peoples' alley, but if you have time, check the songs out and let me know what you think.

[Sir GuitarCozmo]

Hopefully I didn't scare anyone off. 

[wkiml]

I've always been a big fan of Bad Religion

[Sir GuitarCozmo]

Not a band I'm familiar with.  What's a song I should check out?

[YtseBitsySpider]

hmm.....

youtube Scatterbrains - Don't Call Me Dude.

lots of fun that one.

[icysk8r]

Dude, I love 80's hair metal.  Motley Crue and Poison FTMFW!

Dr. Feelgood - Motley Crue - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=asYKHetZFds

Fallen Angel - Poison - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=71gEULkXzec

Ballads:

Home Sweet Home - Motley Crue - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S4457H6Gxd8

Something To Believe In - Poison - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wk11Ywen5a4

[Sir GuitarCozmo]

youtube Scatterbrains - Don't Call Me Dude.

lots of fun that one.

Hahaha.  Pretty good one.  Thanks!

Dude, I love 80's hair metal.  Motley Crue and Poison FTMFW!

If you hadn't noticed, so do Blob and I.  Others may like some here and there, but I think we're pretty much the only remaining die-hards around here.  I love Poison and Motley Crue.  Dr. Feelgood is the equivalent of a 4:50 ass kicking.  Awesome.

[Sir GuitarCozmo]

Update for today.  Paul Gilbert.  Anybody who has a clue about me knows how much I love Paul Gilbert.  He pretty much owns on a guitar.  Half decent voice also.  I'll post a few of my favorites of his solo stuff here.  First off is "Bliss" from the "Burning Organ" album.  Flat out unbelievable stuff.  Totally tears it up on this one.  The beginning organ part is especially cool if you have headphones on:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1swrG-Pcx2Q


Next is a classic example of Paul's ridiculously cornball sense of humor.  The song is called "I Am Satan", also from the "Burning Organ" album.  A cool little tune, complete with acoustic guitar and (I think) major 7 chords.  Just a story about this guy who is afraid his girl will find out that he's actually Satan.    Pay attention to the very beginning:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YqNajM6RDws


Next is one of Paul's best known solo tunes, "Down to Mexico", from the "Flying Dog" album.  Straight up rocker:

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



There are SO many more great Paul Gilbert examples I could post and maybe I'll post more next time.  In the meantime, enjoy!

[King Postwhore]

My friends had Paul Gilbert's albums but I never really listened to his music(Solo).  Of course I had the first 2 Mr. Big albums.  Mabye I'll give his solo stuff a spin.

[TAC]

I was watching That Metal Show the other night and they had Stephen Pearcy and Warren DiMartini on as guests. I realize that it was a repeat as they were pimping Def Lep's Pyro reissue (which was released the same day as BC&SL), but it really brought back some memories. Pearcy looked horrible..as always!

Well Cosmo, I figured I'd post a vid of a long lost band today.  I always loved this song. 

It's Helix---Deep Cuts The Night

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pa6xumk3lSE

King...one of the 10 best hard rock songs of the 80's!

[King Postwhore]

I was watching That Metal Show the other night and they had Stephen Pearcy and Warren DiMartini on as guests. I realize that it was a repeat as they were pimping Def Lep's Pyro reissue (which was released the same day as BC&SL), but it really brought back some memories. Pearcy looked horrible..as always!

Well Cosmo, I figured I'd post a vid of a long lost band today.  I always loved this song. 

It's Helix---Deep Cuts The Night

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pa6xumk3lSE

King...one of the 10 best hard rock songs of the 80's!

I was suppoesed to see them with Motley Crue at the Manning Bowl(What a shit hole) in the 80's but their equipment didn't show dammit!  But I still got to see Y & T, Accept, and the Crue.

[King Postwhore]

Here's a little Gary Moore from the 80's.   Out in the Fields with Phil Lynott.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z-3ecGiY02E

[TAC]

King, another of my favorites. I believe this, along with Military Man, were Phil's last recordings. Run For Cover was a good album, though I would've rather had gary song all of the songs instead of having Glenn Hughes sing a few, although All Messed Up 

[Sir GuitarCozmo]

I hope somebody liked those Paul Gilbert tunes.

How about a few (nearly) forgotten 80's tunes.  YtseBitsySpider's post in the DT-Sde chat reminded me of the song Call To the Heart by Giuffria.  Undoubtedly, there was a case of Aqua Net just off screen.

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


Burning Heart by Vandenburg.  Adrian Vandenburg went on to further obscurity with Whitesnake.  The "Whitesnake" s/t album had John Sykes on guitar.  Vandenburg was brought in to replace him after Coverdale went nuts and fored everyone.  He appears in all the videos, but played the music for none of them (save the solo on Here I Go Again).  Prior to recording Slip of the Tongue, he injured his wrist and Steve Vai came in to record everything.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fY3L-QR2Jb4

[bosk1]

After a brief Giuffria discussion in another thread, I feel compelled to discuss and recommend House of Lords.  Really, really good band from the late '80s and early '90s (they are putting out new albums again, but I consider the early era to really be their lifeblood).  Their first two albums, self titled and Sahara, are definitely great albums.  I never really heard their follow-up, Demons Down, but have heard it is solid and perhaps better than the first two.  They did a reunion album in around 2003 or so called The Power And The Myth.  Derek Sherinian played keys on it.  I thought it was okay, but not as good as their earlier stuff.  I think they've done another album or two since then.  Some clips of this very good band:

Sahara (live in 2008) Pretty good version of one of my favorite songs of theirs, but Giuffria is no longer in the band)

Can't Find My Way Home (1990 - official video)  Really good cover tune.  Slow build, but when it finally kicks in at the solo at 2:15, it really starts rockin'.

Love Don't Lie (1988 - official video)  Epic '80s power ballad.  If you like power ballads, this is as good as it gets.  Criminally overlooked and unfortunate that they debuted so late in the '80s or they could have been bigger.

I'm definitely going to have to add this to the OCRT thread...

[In The Wake Of Poseidon]

Not a band I'm familiar with.  What's a song I should check out?

Their song Generator is just pure awesome, you can also check out their classic songs like Infected or I Want to Conquer the World

[Sir GuitarCozmo]

Not a band I'm familiar with.  What's a song I should check out?

Their song Generator is just pure awesome, you can also check out their classic songs like Infected or I Want to Conquer the World

I'll look into those.  Thanks for the tip.

House of Lords

I look forward to listening to these.  "House of Lords" and "Sahara" were both released on Gene's short-lived "Simmons Records".

[bosk1]

Yes.  And say what you will about Gene, but at the very least, the man (1) is a brillaint businessman and (2) has excellent tastes in the music outside of Kiss that he has gotten behind and promoted.  Those two albums, as well as Doro Pesch's debut solo album, for example, are just terrific.

[Sir GuitarCozmo]

And Van Halen.  For that matter, almost the beginnings of Dokken:

Some sources list the show where Gene discovered the band (Van Halen) as being the Starwood in Hollywood, however the story does not begin there. Another contemporary band playing the Los Angeles rock scene was the "Boyz" which included future Dokken members George Lynch and Mick Brown.

The band's vocalist, Michael White recalled, "in 1976 we played a Halloween show at Gazzarris on the Sunset Strip. The club was packed and most of the kids who came to the show that night were dressed up in KISS makeup. We played mostly our own tunes, but in order to get gigs we played some ZZ Top, KISS, etc. We ended our first set with 'Firehouse', a KISS song. As we were walking off the stage, I noticed an extremely tall guy approaching me. To make a long story short, the man was Gene Simmons. He was at the club partying with Paul Stanley. They weren't wearing any makeup and really enjoyed seeing all these kids dressed up like them. They really liked our version of their song. Gene said that their label Casablanca was looking to sign some new bands. He asked where we were playing next so he could bring the record company out to see us. I told him that we were playing the following week at the Starwood, another infamous club in Hollywood. Van Halen had the good fortune to be on the bill with us (we shared billing with Van Halen at several shows in the mid 70's).

Gene showed up with the record company, but our show was really off that night. On the other hand, Van Halen had a great set. They impressed Gene so much that he flew them to NY to record some demos. Casablanca didn't sign Van Halen, but after returning to LA with those tapes, Van Halen shopped them to WB and the rest is history"

[bosk1]

Meh.  If Gene and other label execs weren't at those shows to see Y&T in the first place, they never would have discovered those two little opening bands with the funny names.


(and    @ that quote for not mentioning who the headliner was!)

[Sir GuitarCozmo]

Gene apparently also suggested that George Lynch change his name to Jon Lynx if he wanted to become successful.

[bosk1]

I can't remember now if it was Dave Meniketti or Joey Alves who told me this story, but in retrospect, it's pretty funny.  Van Halen was opening for them (I think it was that same Starwood gig).  Joey had been hanging with Eddie and listening to him play.  He came bursting into the dressing room and said something along the lines of, "you guys have gotta hear this kids play!"  Dave:  "Hear who?"  Joey:  "This Van Halen kid."  Dave and the rest of the band erupt in laughter over the guy's name, thinking it has to be a joke that someone with a name like "Van Halen" could ever expect to be in a rock band (yes, this coming from Meniketti and Kennemore. ).  Joey eventually pursuades them to listen to him, so they watch the show from backstage.  They are impressed.

[Sir GuitarCozmo]

Absolutely fantastic. In other news, happy hour rules!

[King Postwhore]

Bump! I figured I'd bring a classic artist video.  Good ol' Alice Cooper Teenage Frankenstein!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jdXGkrUgMHI&feature=PlayList&p=4BA006EA454D65E2&playnext=1&playnext_from=PL&index=9

[wkiml]

Burning Heart by Vandenburg.  Adrian Vandenburg went on to further obscurity with Whitesnake.  The "Whitesnake" s/t album had John Sykes on guitar.  Vandenburg was brought in to replace him after Coverdale went nuts and fored everyone.  He appears in all the videos, but played the music for none of them (save the solo on Here I Go Again).  Prior to recording Slip of the Tongue, he injured his wrist and Steve Vai came in to record everything.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fY3L-QR2Jb4

Had the pleasure of actually seeing Vandenburg live on Staten Island, they had this little known band as their opening act, you may have heard of them   Metallica

[TAC]

Bump! I figured I'd bring a classic artist video.  Good ol' Alice Cooper Teenage Frankenstein!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jdXGkrUgMHI&feature=PlayList&p=4BA006EA454D65E2&playnext=1&playnext_from=PL&index=9

I saw this tour twice. One of the best ever..The Nightmare Returns!! Good call King!
Vinnie Vincent opened in Worcester and was very sick but still managed to come out and play 3 songs.


Oh..and for GuitarCozmo:
https://www.bravewords.com/news/129169