Saturday, October 19, 2013

CD Reviews for: BIG SUGAR / THE TEMPERANCE MOVEMENT / LEOGUN / THE JOKERS

CD REVIEW: ELIMINATE YA LIVE! [CD + DVD] by Big Sugar
(Koch International)



The music contained on 'Eliminate Ya! Live!' by Big Sugar is a 2-Disc CD/DVD set that includes a Live DVD filmed during their sold out show at the Burton Cummings Theatre in Winnipeg, Manitoba. I've been a longtime fan of Big Sugar and the musical experience that awaits you with this Live set will move you in way unimaginable. The ability of Gordie Johnson and the band to lay out their very soul on these songs and the way that they continue to amaze and excite on every song is mind blowing. The DVD has a total of 26 smoking tracks that include, "Diggin' A Hole", "Nicotina", "Better Get Used To It (I Want You/Shes So Heavy)", "Ride Like Hell", "Turn The Lights On/Acted Badly" and "Spirit of Radio/ I Want You Now". CD features songs from the live DVD and the new bonus track "Eliminate Ya!" Whether it is visually or by hearing Big Sugar, it's all good any way you slice it. The end result is the same, you are going to LOVE IT! If what you want is astonishing musicians improvising and creating jams that make you smile and wonder at the talent that can come from a group of talented individuals, then this set is a must have. The soulfulness and the love of each musician here for the music is what makes this unique. The way the players are able to blend their own sound into the songs this is what makes, 'Eliminate Ya! Live!' very special. When you listen to a recording live or studio and as soon as you are done, you sit there in the quiet and you can`t believe what you heard, and so you listen again, and the feeling is still the same, then you know you`ve heard greatness.
'Eliminate Ya! Live' is an amazing collection of songs from a great concert, as I feel are the majority of Big Sugar shows are. Thank you, Gordie Johnson and the band for an amazing and unforgettable musical experience! - Highly Recommended
Tony aka The Atomic Chaser @The Dedicated Rocker Society/All Access Magazine

CD REVIEW: THE TEMPERANCE MOVEMENT by The Temperance Movement 
(Earache Records)



The Long awaited and highly anticipated debut release from The Temperance Movement has arrived! I will tell you this, the wait was well worth it!. Each track on this album is excellent, all of them destined to become classics! It's gritty, it's bluesy and it grabs your attention and holds it until the very last song. The album begins with the 1-2 punch of "Only Friend" and "Ain't No Telling", both songs full of swagger and suggestive lyrics sung by the band's powerhouse singer, Phil Campbell. Then there is "Midnight Black", a shot of rock and soul adrenaline that will make you move and groove. "Chinese Lanterns", a soulful emotion filled song that Phil Campbell's vocals will move you in ways unimaginable. I would be remiss if I didn't mention the band. They sound amazing! The guitar tandem of Luke Potashnick and Paul Sayer are a match made in heaven. While the rhythm section of Nick Fyffe on bass and Damon Wilson on drums brings everything together for one unforgettable music experience.  As they showcase on, "Morning Riders", this one will get your rock and roll juices flowing in no time flat. "Loves and Fighters" is the quintessential blues ballad, served up with a pack of smokes and some slow gin. "Smouldering" is another great example of how amazing this band truly is. The album closes with, "Serenity", this song just floored me! I kid you not. It touches on every emotion you have and goes in deeper when you think that you just can't take any more. The song wraps around you and with each listen you discover another layer. By far one of the best songs I've heard this year. The Temperance Movement is an excellent lesson to aspiring musicians on what pure soulful passion and energy is a lot about and how it should be done. The proof is in the pudding folks and this pudding taste oh so good! It's hard to call an album 'perfect', but this one gets just about as close as humanly possible. I've said it once and I'll say it again. In 30 years, The Temperance Movement will still sound great and amazing, whereas most of the other musical offerings out today will be long forgotten, and more than likely, unlistenable. - Highly Recommended, Must Have!
Tony aka The Atomic Chaser @ The Dedicated Rocker Society/All Access Magazine

CD REVIEW: BY THE REINS by Leogun
(Yamaha Entertainment Group Of America)



London based power rock trio, Leogun come onto the rock music scene like a fireball with their powerful debut release, 'By The Reins'. This band has all the swagger and talent of Free, Zeppelin and the Stones. Tommy Smith on guitars and lead vocals, Matt Johnson on bass and vocals and Mike Lloyd on drums and vocals. The chemistry between these three rockers are light white on rice. The classic rock influences are pretty obvious. While they may be influenced by legends, make no mistake Leogun are out to cement their own legacy in rock music and become rock legends themselves. The songs on, 'By The Reins' cover a range of tempos and emotions. Tommy Smith's vocals have a soulful, raspy wail that give off that Robert Plant vibe, and it's the perfect complement to his heavy, fuzzy, and bluesy guitar tone. The album opens with "Piggy In The Middle", and hits you like a freight train, and is enough to at least plant the seed that these boys are pulling no punches and mean business. By the time tracks like, "Let's Be Friends", "Every Time In Lose" and down right nasty swagger of, "I Roll", thoroughly get your rocks off, you will have become a believer. Driving, intense and unrelenting. Raw and aggressive sound. Bluesy. Swaggering. Fresh. An Outstanding band. From start to finish this is one of the most complete and compelling albums I have heard this year. Leogun have got all their bases covered and bring a freshness to the genre. 'By The Reins' rocks in a most vintage kind of way. If it's been too long since you've heard a good old-fashioned rock n' roll album, you owe it to yourself to check Leogun. - Highly Recommended
Tony aka The Atomic Chaser @The Dedicated Rocker Society/All Access Magazine

CD REVIEW: ROCK AND ROLL IS ALIVE by The Jokers
(Steamhammer Records)



UK rockers, The Jokers are back with their sophomore release, 'Rock And Roll Is Alive'. Following in the tradition of great bands to come out of England like ,The Who, Free, Mott The Hoople, The Faces and Led Zeppelin. The Jokers are here to carry on that great rock and roll tradition and leave their own mark in the rock music history books. Seems The Jokers are beginning to attract attention from all quarters at the moment. As they begin to make the transition from "unknowns" to "genuine" rock stars. The band consists of brothers Paul (guitar) and Simon (bass) Hurst and their two colleagues Wane Parry (vocals) and Chris Poole (drums). So, did the gents fall into the dreaded "Sophomore Deathtrap", that most rock bands experienced with, 'Rock And Roll Is Alive'? Or did they come up with a winner!? After just one listen, I'd say these boys have without a doubt ,come up with a WINNER! The album opens with, "Silver City" and its obvious that the power and passion they displayed on the debut, 'The Big Rock 'N' Roll Show', is still there. One thing that stood out for me about The Jokers from the get go was their attitude. That attitude is front and center big time on numbers like the title track, "Radio", "Night Driver" and the all out rocker, "Let It Rock". No compromises. No let-downs. Each of the eleven songs offered up on this album rock big time! The Jokers have the energy that a rock and roll band is supposed to have. They are a rolling good time. Nothing but straight out in your face rock and roll. No angst either phoney or real here. No dark lyrics. No outrageous or evil costumes. No dark music. No grunge here. Not a single rap lyric anywhere. But why should there be? The Jokers are REAL F'KN ROCK & ROLL! - Highly Recommended
Tony aka The Atomic Chaser @ The Dedicated Rocker Society/All Access Magazine

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