Category: All of The Dude’s CDs Project

Peace on Earth

Artist: Kitaro
Listenability Scale: 100%
Released by: Domo Records
A Review by:
– The Dude on the Right

You know, I really don’t like the whole Christmas time of year. Now don’t get me wrong, I understand the true meaning of Christmas, or at least the general Christian message of the holiday season, me being the good Catholic boy that I am, but between having to spend too much money on people who kinda don’t deserve it, not having that special lady to spend too much money on, dealing with the family arguments that always seem to come up at the holiday table, and seeing how the holiday season is slowly shifting from the message of thankfulness and good-cheer to "I can’t believe you only bought me this," Christmas just doesn’t seem as much fun as when I was a kid. But, in spite of all of this, there is one thing about the holiday season that I do like and that is, or rather are, Christmas Carols, or just those holiday songs in general.

It was while I was pondering the "joy" of facing this years holidays that I popped "Peace on Earth," a new CD from Kitaro, in my CD player. A smile came to my face.

As I sat listening to "Peace on Earth" I think I started to realize why I like the holiday music instead of the holiday. It’s because that whether it’s the comical side of a runaway reindeer, the classic "White Christmas’" of yesteryear, versions sung by high-pitched, squeaky rodents, or a new twist like Kitaro has touched on, the music still holds that message of hope, that message of being thankful, that message of giving, and that message of peace.

Those familiar with the music of Kitaro know that he is one for synthesizer-style music with cool use of percussion and nearly any type of instrument he can find to paint an image with his music. This CD is no different as to his style of music, and for holiday songs Kitaro pulls it off perfectly, but for a twist on his style he adds a great sounding children’s choir to the mix.

Simply put, "Peace on Earth" is now added to my growing list of cool holiday music. It’s not overbearing, but peaceful, and he uses the choir almost as a background to the music he has put his touch on. As for the songs, he recreates the classics from American and European culture. As for the choir, it’s the International Peace Choir, and I like the fact that they come out as innocent and not boisterous. As for the CD, proceeds from it our going to the Earth Communications Office, an organization working on the betterment of the global environment. You can’t go wrong.

After coming back to Chicago from traveling home to the family this Christmas, I’ll probably need a little something to help me remember the meaning of the holiday season. If I’m lucky I’ll walk in the door, the snow will start to fall, I’ll light a fire, gaze out the window and remember what the holiday is about. In the background will probably be "Peace on Earth" from Kitaro. I guess I really won’t need the snow or the fire – all I’ll really need to do is close my eyes and listen. The picture will be the same.

There’s not a song on this CD that I don’t like, or couldn’t listen to again and again this holiday season. There’s 12 tracks, I like them all, and that rates this CD 100% on the E-Ave Listenability Scale.

That’s it for this one, I’m The Dude on the Right! Have a great holiday season! L8R!

We Kill Everything

Artist: GWAR
Listenability Scale: 95%
Released by: Metal Blade Records
A Review by:
– The Dude on the Right

As the last track on this CD was playing, my secretary was getting into the music. It had a fun beat, kinda catchy, but she wasn’t paying attention to the lyrics. I asked her if she kinda liked this song, and she told me she sort of did. Then I told her the song was called “Fuckin’ An Animal.” At first she was appalled, then she remembered this was GWAR, and then she was just worried that somewhere in the lyrics it might mention a giraffe, since she loves giraffes (no, not in the way of the title of the song), so I checked the lyrics and much to her relief, I informed her things were pretty much kept to dogs, geese, and a moose.

Look, GWAR is GWAR, space aliens who also are very talented metal musicians, constantly fighting their enemies. Their CD’s and concerts usually try to tell a story, but mostly what you get is some great punk metal that, yea, might offend some, but if you get beyond being offended, you do have to admire some of the guitar work and just the balls-outness of the band. And if you also want a great time, check out their live show – it’s still one of the best times I’ve had at a concert. For what it is supposed to be, “We Kill Everything” does it all, and although this might ruin my credibility as a music reviewer, I’m giving it 95% on the Entertainment Ave! listenability scale.

That’s it for this quick review! I’m The Dude on the Right!! L8R!!!

The Gufs

Artist: The Gufs
Listenability Scale: 50%
Released by: Atlantic Records
A Review by:
– The Dude on the Right

The Gufs. They’re a band, it’s a CD, and the name comes from The Bible, and maybe just as important, a Demi Moore movie called “The Seventh Sign.” Where does one come up with a connection? Well, like all good band names it can come from just about anywhere and religious or not, The Gufs decided that was the name for them after seeing the movie. But, what about this midwest group of college buddies trying to make their break into the giant world of music. It seems it’s been a pretty dedicated journey culminating in the release of their self-titled CD, The Gufs, on Atlantic Records.

This CD comes about as a compilation of songs they released on a CD they put out called “Collide” as well as some newly recorded tracks for the major label folks. Pretty simply put, The Gufs are pretty much pop rock, guitar and melody influenced, with messages thrown in their for good measure. And it’s a good CD, kinda catchy, and some almost great sounding songs, but, and I really hate getting technical, or maybe it’s just me, but my main problem with this CD is you can’t really understand the singing: either the vocal mix is too low, to reverbed, or the lyrics get mumbled. I’m used to unintelligible lyrics, and hell, as I’m singing to myself a lot of times I’ll make them up as I go along, but as for The Gufs CD, even trying to follow the lyrics in the CD booklet seemed a challenge. Seeing them live is a different story, they come off much more crisp and lyric based, but this review is about the CD, and, well, I’m finding myself liking The Gufs for their music but wishing I could only understand them.

As I read the lyrics with the CD, I saw a lot of potential. From relationships to some social messages, The Gufs pretty much have it covered. But I was really looking for that hook, maybe that one song that I could listen to over and over, find myself sick of but still play, and be able to say I’ve been listening to them for years. Unfortunately, I couldn’t find it. “Crash (into me)” was alright, but I couldn’t find myself singing along, “Out Somehow” kinda reminded me of Crosby, Stills & Nash with the harmonies the guys put together, and I would have to say my favorite track was “Sunday driver” except the guitars seemed to overpower the lyrics. Hmmm, it’s hard to explain but I guess it’s a good CD only missing something, and other than the lyric problem I mentioned before, I can’t figure out what.

The Gufs have been developing a great fan base in the midwest for years, starting from their college days in Wisconsin to their touring between classes and jobs. I can see why the crowds flock to them, their live show is pretty cool. I only wish the crispness of the music during their live show translated to the CD. It’s kind of like their are two ratings I have to give this CD. One is based on the music: I’d say there are about 10 cool tracks out of 13 for a factor of 77%. On the other hand, on the mix and singability of this CD, I’d give it a 3 out of 13, ouch, a 23%. I guess, in the end, I’ll split it for a 50% on the Entertainment Ave! listenability scale.

That’s it for this one! I’m The Dude on the Right!! L8R!!!

Calling All Stations

Artist: Genesis
Listenability Scale: 15%
Released by: Atlantic Records A Review by:
– The Dude on the Right

Why does it seem that Tony Banks and Mike Rutherford just tried to capitalize on the Genesis name? Yes, I know Genesis has gone through many metamorphoses, but this one seems to be the proverbial straw that doomed a great band. They obviously weren’t paying attention to how Journey and Styx were resurrecting their careers (please don’t lambaste me for comparing Journey and Styx to Genesis, I know they are totally different beasts, but Journey and Styx found that they could still make music bringing in lead singers that sounded incredibly like the original dudes) because this CD came out and you heard nothing about them. Song-wise, my secretary said they all sounded the same, and all sounded dreadful and boring. I wasn’t swept away by anything either. Maybe they were trying to re-invent themselves, maybe they thought calling themselves “Genesis” was the easy way to make people find them, but nothing on this CD brought back either the popish side with Phil Collins or the weirder side with Peter Gabriel. This one’s a 15% on the Entertainment Ave! listenability scale. Maybe hard-core fans of Tony Banks and Mike Rutherford will like it, but I didn’t.

That’s it for this quick review! I’m The Dude on the Right!! L8R!!!

Accident of Birth

Artist: Bruce Dickinson
Listenability Scale: 80%
Released by: CMC International
A Review by:
– The Dude on the Right

I must say that I’m not a big Iron Maiden fan, but I do appreciate their role in heavy metal history. Listening to “Accident of Birth” you hear a lot of the Iron Maiden influence (as well you should with Bruce being the lead singer for them, then leaving the band, and as of this time back with the band), but there are some differences that leave Bruce on his own. Pretty much if you are an Iron Maiden fan I don’t think can really do wrong picking up this CD. Lots of driving guitar, lots of yelling, lots of dark images, but isn’t that what you would want from him Dickinson. I’m not a huge fan, but I did enjoy this CD for what it’s worth, so I’ll give it an 80% on the Entertainment Ave! listenability scale.

That’s it for this quick review! I’m The Dude on the Right!! L8R!!!

Loco Motive

Artist: Cowboy Troy
Listenability Scale: 55%
Released by: Warner Bros Records
A Review by:
– The Dude on the Right

Yes, I must admit, I was sucked into this CD, Loco Motive, simply with the song “I Play Chicken With the Train,” a rousing testament that somehow country and rap can kinda fuse together if done properly, and trying to do it right is Cowboy Troy, as his web site says, a six foot five black rapping cowboy who is bringing out a new musical style called hick hop. But it’s kind of a weird CD. I’m thinking live is the way to see Cowboy Troy because the CD just falls a little short of lots of what it seems to have been shooting for. Sure, “I Play Chicken With the Train” does exactly what it seems Cowboy Troy was setting out to do, and we can see really put a country feel to more of a rap song, but a lot of songs on here just fall a little flat, namely songs like “Crick In My Neck,” “El Tejano,” and I thought “Ain’t Broke Yet” really tries too hard to country it up when it doesn’t need to.

Now I’m not saying the entire CD isn’t that great, but the highlights seem to come around when Cowboy seems to be having a lot more fun, or raps in a more serious nature. “Wrap Around the World” starts like something you would hear Alabama sing, then into a rapping lesson about all being friends, and even some lessons in various languages around the globe. The other song that really works is “My Last Yeehaw,” and we can really see how the Big & Rich influence helps a ton. And finally “If You Don’t Wanna Love,” a duet with Sarah Buxton, really works, telling the story of a wife in a crappy marriage and a runaway daughter, both of whom just want some love.

At a couple points on this album it just seemed like Cowboy Troy was just trying to be Kid Rock, except with fiddles and steel guitars in the background, and I know that he’s probably trying to be much more. That’s why I’m figuring his live show probably really puts things together, and why some of the songs on Loco Motive really work at what he is doing, while too many of them are just rap with fiddles.

I liked a little over half the album, so that gives it a 55% on the Entertainment Ave! listenability scale. There’s a lot of potential here, I’m just not buying taking a normal rap song that you might here from Will Smith or Run DMC, adding some fiddles to it, and call it hick hop, but I do look forward to seeing Cowboy Troy in concert because I think on a stage even the songs I don’t really care for will work better.

That’s it for this one! I’m The Dude on the Right!! L8R!!!

Superkala

Artist: Course of Nature
Listenability Scale: 85%
Released by: Lava/Atlantic Records
A Review by:
– The Dude on the Right

This CD was a pleasant surprise. Being a fan of rockin’ music, as I was tracking through “Superkala,” I found everything I was looking for. You get your guitar solo, you get some catchy lyrics, you get your rocking ballad, and although maybe not the best band out there, if you like guitar driven rock, Course of Nature’s “Superkala” might be one for you to pick up. Personally, “Caught In The Sun” was my favorite on the CD, but this CD will be added to my computer jukebox. It’s an 85% on the Entertainment Ave! listenability scale.

That’s it for this quick review! I’m The Dude on the Right!! L8R!!!

Deliverance

Artist: Corrosion of Conformity
Listenability Scale: 75%
Released by: Sony Music Entertainment
A Review by:
– The Dude on the Right

Although I’m not a huge fan of this type of metal music, on the whole Corrosion of Conformity gives you that screaming metal but with more of a guitar edge. I guess what I mean by that is there seems to be much more attention to more intricate guitar playing on “Deliverance” than what you might find from some of the other screaming metal bands out there. They also seem to do a better job at keeping the energy up in the songs, yet still maintaining clear vocals. Too many times I’ve heard screaming metal that if you didn’t read along with the lyrics, well, you would probably have no clue what they were saying. Corrosion of Conformity at least seems to try a little hard to let you understand their songs without having to read. Not really my cup of tea, but I’ll give them a 75% on the Entertainment Ave! listenability scale. If you like this style of music, this CD shouldn’t let you down.

That’s it for this quick review! I’m The Dude on the Right!! L8R!!!

Celestial

Artist: Spirit House
Listenability Scale: 85%
Released by: Domo Records
A Review by:
– The Dude on the Right

This CD eventually had me do some internet searching because I didn’t know what an ehru was. It turns out is sort of like a violin, but different. In any case, as I pulled this CD out of the rack, I really wondered what they were about, with the two Asian dudettes on the front of the CD and songs like “Vietnam” and “Cang Ding.” Then I noticed it was on the Domo record label and I knew I could probably expect a Kitaro sound to it, and I did.

You get melodic sounds with that Asian feel, the kind you can expect from New Age music. If you are a fan of that, this one’s a nice addition to your musical library, that and the secretary really liked it.

This is an 85% on the Entertainment Ave! listenability scale for the New Age genre.

That’s it for this quick review! I’m The Dude on the Right!! L8R!!!

Golden State

Artist: Bush
Listenability Scale: 20%
Released by: Atlantic Records
A Review by:
– The Dude on the Right

I was disappointed with this CD, especially since I was a fan of “Sixteen Stone.” My main issue with this CD – other than the two slow songs, pretty much everything sounds the same, with that same driving guitar and beat we already know. I’ll probably copy a few songs over to my computer jukebox, but really, for the most part, I’m happy enough when the “Sixteen Stone” songs come up. Bush fans might like this one, especially the harder-core ones, but for me, Bush just doesn’t do anything on this CD that stands out and makes me want to sing along.

For Bush-heads the rating might be higher, but for me it’s a 20% on the Entertainment Ave! listenability scale. Too much all sounding the same.

That’s it for this quick review! I’m The Dude on the Right!! L8R!!!