Clawfinger is a Swedish-Norweigan metalband that also includes strong influences from rap. They made a breakthrough in 1993 with their album Deaf Dumb Blind wich I liked and they kept their popularity a few years in the 90's but now I don't even know if the band exists anymore. This album is on Nuclear Blast so it seems that they made to a major company but I haven't heard anything from the band since the late 90's. This album goes on in the same rap-metalmix as before, only these songs are far from as good as they were in the good ol' days even though there some good tracks here also.

1)The faggot in you (6,0)

2)Hate yourself with style (8,0)

3)Dirty lies (7,5)

4)The best and the worst (6,5)

5)Breakthrough (Embrace the child inside you) (7,5)

6)Right to rape (7,0)

7)What we've got is what you're getting (5,5)

8)Sick of myself (7,5)

9)Hypocrite (5,5)

10)Without a case (6,5)

11)God is dead (6,0)

Score: 6,68

Zak Tell-vocals

Bård Torstensen-guitars

André Skaug-bass

Henka Johansson-drums

Jocke Skog-keyboards

www.clawfinger.net

Hound Dog Taylor was an electric blues guitarist who was born in Mississippi but in 1942 moved to Chicago where he eventually became one of the city’s premier performers.  It wasn’t until relatively late in life, 1957, that Taylor began his music career.  He was known for his prowess on the slide guitar, the fact that he had six fingers on his left hand certainly didn’t hurt.  In 1971, Taylor became the first artist signed to Alligator Records which would soon turn into one of the premier blues and roots labels in the world.  He released a handful of acclaimed albums for the label and toured the country with the likes of Big Mama Thornton and Muddy Waters.   Hound Dog Taylor was 60 years old when died of lung cancer on December 17, 1975.

(from themusicsover.worldpress.com) 

Steve Lee was the founding lead singer of Swiss metal band, Gotthard.  Formed in 1992, the band has sold over two million albums and has seen 11 of their releases reach #1 on the Swiss charts.  By most accounts, they are one of the most successful rock bands in Switzerland’s history, the other of course, being Krokus.  Gotthard’s sound has been compared to that of Whitesnake, Bon Jovi, and Deep Purple, while Lee’s voice was as strong as any ’80s and ’90s power balladeer.   While on a holiday motorcycle tour of the United States, Lee and his group pulled off a Nevada highway to change into rain gear.  Shortly thereafter, in what was ruled an accident by local authorities, a truck driver lost control of his vehicle which then crashed into one of the parked bikes, sending it direclty into Lee.  Steve Lee died from injuries sustained in the accident.  He was 47.

(from themusicsover.worldpress.com)

Gary Moore was an Irish guitarist and singer who, over a career that spanned over 40 years, became one of the most acclaimed electric blues guitarists the world has ever known.  Moore was just 14 years old when he decided to pick up the guitar, and even though he was left-handed, he quickly taught himself to play with his right.  His early influences included John Mayall, Albert King, and Jimi Hendrix, but it was Peter Green of Fleetwood Mac who first recognized his talent and tutored him whenever he came through Dublin.  In 1969, Moore joined Skid Row, a blues rock band that included Phil Lynott who would later gain fame with Thin Lizzy.  Over the years Moore played with a diverse who’s who of popular music.  That list includes George Harrison, G-Force, Ozzy Osbourne, Thin Lizzy, Andrew Lloyd Webber, the Beach Boys, and Albert Collins.  He released his first solo album in 1973 and continued making albums up until as recently as 2008.  On February 6, 2011, Gary Moore died in his sleep while on vacation in Spain.  He was 58.

(From "themusicsover.worldpress.com)

Gar Samuelson was the original drummer for thrash metal band, Megadeth.  Prior to joining Megadeth, Samuelson played in a jazz fusion band with future Megadeth guitarist, Chris Poland.   But metal was Samuelson’s  calling, and once he met Megadeth leader, Dave Mustaine, his mind was made up, he had to be in that band.  Samuelson played on just two  Megadeth albums,  Killing Is My Business…And Business Is Good, and the classic, Peace Sells…But Who’s Buying? and toured with the band during those years.  But heavy drug abuse, specifically heroin, led to his firing by the band in 1987.  During the mid ’90s, Samuelson was playing alongside his brother in a thrash metal band called Fatal Opera which released two albums.  The last years of his life found him in Orange City, Florida where he built and ran a recording studio.  Gar Samuelson died on July 14, 1999 of liver failure at the age of 41.

(from themusicsover.worldpress.com)

Alice Cooper (Vincent Damon Furnier), the father of horror rock was born in Detroit, Michigan in 1948.

This album sounds like it was recorded in the 70's and I really like the garage-style playing where it sometimes seems like the band is recording the songs on the 1st take in the basement. Good catchy songs that fits live but also variation and quality all through the album. Alice Cooper is getting better and better!

1)Woman of mass distraction (7,5) A good opening song and I'm surprised by the very simple and unpolished rock'n'roll that comes out of the speakers. Plus for the organ in the background.

2)Perfect (7,0) Even simpler and more garage-style! Sounds like 70's glam.

3)You make me wanna (6,5) A ho-ho-ho-song. Too much ho-ho though.

4)Dirty diamonds (8,0) Nice fluteintro. A heavy and aggressive song and I like the dramatic James Bond-style trumpet!

5)The saga of Jesse Jane (8,0) A very nice countryballad with a fantastic guitarsound.

6)Sunset babies (all got rabies) (7,5) Alice is again playing with words in this 70's-style rocker.

7)Pretty ballerina (6,5) A sweet laid back song with female background vocals.

8)Run down the devil (7,0) A heavy riff but rather happy song:-) A little repetitive though.

9)Steal that car (7,5) A fast organ-rock'n'roller.

10)Six hours (6,5) Nothing special.

11)Your own worst enemy (8,0) Incredibly good sound on this rocker with a melodic refrain and heavy riff.

12)Zombie dance (7,5) A cool different song with a nice groove.

13)Stand (7,0) A mystic song with raw guitars, synthesizers and rap by someone called Xzibit. (Cool name!)

Score: 7,23

Alice Cooper-vocals, harmonica (b.1948)

Ryan Roxie-guitars (b.1965)

Damon Johnson-guitars (b.1964)

Chuck Garric-bass

Tommy Clufetos-drums (b.1979)

...and some others here and there.

Ryan Roxie has also played with Slash, Gilby Clarke and Roxie 77.

Damon Johnson has played with Brother Cane and Sammy Hagar.

Chuck Garric has played with Dio and L.A Guns.

Tommy Clufetos has played with Ozzy Osburne, Ted Nugent and Rob Zombie.

www.alicecooper.com

This is this Swedish proggressive band from Uppsala's 5th album but the first I have heard. I've read about the band and have been curious about them and when I saw that fantastic cover and fold-up CD-package I thought that this must be good stuff! Listening to it a few times at home as backgroundmusic did'nt convince me though, but I undestood that this is music that needs much listening before one can dicide if it's good or not. So I did and one day I finally took my headphones and really listened to it... Firstly the album is way too long with it's 77 minutes of music. If they had good material for 77 minutes it would maybe have been okey but they havent. The singing is really weak and a singer with more power would have lifted the album. The songs are interesting and the variation is good, when they play like in the titlesong it's really good stuff but when they go into organ-mishmash and laid back tones and tempo that never stops it gets too much.

1)Awaken the sleeping (7,5) A 5 minute instrumental that gets the fantasy flowing.  hear similarities to Neil Morse's typical pompous keyboardsound and it's good and interesting playing.

2)Destined solitaire (8,5) In this 11-minuter piece of true progpower the singing comes in. Superbe passages and instrumental virtuoso and even though it's a long song I wich it would have been longer! The album's heaviest song and I really like it.

3)Until you comply (including Entropy) (7,0) This one is even longer, 15 minutes. I can hear inspiration from early 70's organ/keyboardbased prog here. Slow and laid back but sometimes it erupts into a crazy waltz, handclaps, a guitarsolo and more.

4)In real life there is no algebra (7,0) Suits fine with a normallength song here. Continues in the same style as the last song though. A little too soft for me.

5)Where the rain comes in (7,0) 70's organstyle prog. Nice talked part like there is on some places on the album. Maybe because the singing is'nt very strong? The clear voice is quite weak sometimes.

6)At home...watching movies (-) 2 minute fill-out.

7)Coup de grace (6,0) Includes accordion wich is nice. Laid back midtempo and istrumental. Nothing special and almost boring.

8)Abigail's question in an infinite universe (5,0) A boring song. I've heard it all before on the album and the singing is rather annoying.

Score: 6,86

Rikard Sjöblom-vocals, keyboards, guitar, accordion

David Zackrisson-guitar

Robert Hansen-bass

Magnus Östgren-drums

http://www.beardfish.argh.se/

Mick Taylor is mostly known for his stint with The Rolling Stones but he became famous replacing Peter Green in John Mayall's Bluesbreakers in 1967. In 1969 he replaced Brian Jones in The Rolling Stones and played in the band until 1974. In 1979 he released his first solo album and in the beginning of the 80's he toured with Alvin Lee and recorded and played with Bob Dylan.

This album is basicly an bluesalbum but could as well be filed under "rock". It's not a flirt at wild rock'n'roll, it's more of a mellower bluesrockalbum that focuses on melody, melodic guitarplaying and feeling. It's an good album to listen to in the car or on a quiet sunday evening.

1)Secret affair (7,5) A slow and heavy blues that reminds me of The Allman Brothers Band. Mick doesn't have the best of voices but here it suits fine.

2)Twisted sister (7,0) Very nice guitarplaying in this medtempo bluesrocker but not much else happens.

3)Never fall in love again (5,5) Almost a ballad, very melodic and laidback.

4)Losing my faith (7,5) The singing here reminds me a lot of The Band and actually the whole song does. It switches between slow and mellow, and heavy blues, very good indeed! A song with feeling.

5)Morning comes (8,0) A slow slow jazzy blues with a great pianointro wich should have been longer than 3.30

6)Lost in the desert (6,0) Midtempo, nothing special. Some Allman-like calypso rhythms thrown in.

7)Blues in the morning (7,5) Soulful blues and again, almost a copy of the mighty Allmans, but it's good and I like it. What could go wrong when it sounds like them? The guitarplaying makes me play airguitar!

8)Late at night (6,5) An okey blues but like some other songs on the album it gets a little boring with the same slow pace althrough the song.

9)Here comes the rain (6,0) Just another song.

10)Blind Willie McTell (Bob Dylan) (7,0) 8.30 long version of the Bob Dylan-song. It's okey and sounds similar to The Band's version of the song.

Score: 6,85

Mick Taylor-vocals, guitar (b.1949)

Robert Ahwai-guitar
Michael Bailey-bass

Kuma Harada-bass

Jeff Allen-drums
Richard Bailey-drums
Hillary Briggs-synthesizer, hammond organ
John "Rabbit" Bundrick-hammond organ
Lisa Daniel-background vocals
Martin Ditcham-percussion
Andy Macintosh-saxophone
Max Middleton-piano, clavinet

www.micktaylor.net