click on the cover to hear "Mr You're A Better Man Than I"
[URL="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3mzUud3-Zj4"][IMG]http://i633.photobucket.com/albums/uu59/INTONE/the-yardbirds-birdlandlive-20121215181215_zps92b5da4c.jpg[/IMG][/URL]
[B]YARBIRDS - Birdland[/B]
guests: [B]J[/B]eff [B]B[/B]eck, [B]J[/B]oe [B]S[/B]atriani, [B]S[/B]lash, [B]S[/B]teve [B]V[/B]ai, [B]B[/B]rian [B]M[/B]ay, [B]S[/B]teve [B]L[/B]ukather, [B]J[/B]eff [B]B[/B]axter, [B]J[/B]ohn [B]R[/B]zeznik
Digi-CD
[B]℗[/B] 2003
Rock
[B]★★★★★★★[/B]☆☆☆
Starting tomorrow, I'll be posting here, day-by-day my Top 11 purchases of 2014 releases. (ending with #1 on Dec. 31st)
Hope to see others revealing their Top 2014 Albums, whether in segments or in bulk.
Looking forward to what would You recommend and commemorate.
#11 click on the cover to hear "Mob Is Back"
[URL="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gDUcet99gcs"][IMG]http://i633.photobucket.com/albums/uu59/INTONE/AdrenalineMobManOfHonor_zpsc0d675f2.jpg[/IMG][/URL]
[B]ADRENALINE MOB - Men Of Honor / Covertą[/B]
Digi Book 2 CD
[B]℗[/B] 2014
Heavy Rock
[B]★★★★★★★[/B]☆☆☆
Here is my countdown to the best CD releases throughout 2014.
With the early promotion of "Come On Get Up" lyrics video, I thought we are in for a treat. However, once I got the CD, I was equally impressed and disappointed. The aforementioned song still stands as one of the best in 2014 and "Mob Is Back" is the most electrifying opener of all the CD's out there, but pretty much this is where the good things end. Now, don't get me wrong, the CD is full of acceptable songs, but none of the rest shines. The band played safe, reminding me of Nickelback. You'll notice the genre I placed them, is not Heavy Metal nor it is Hard Rock, but rather a Heavy Rock aimed to please the masses... And perhaps they did, however all it left me wish for is the Mike Orlando's 3rd solo CD, instead. Due to the disenchantment this album brought, I raised the acceptable rating for CD's to wedge themselves into my collection. It went from 7 out of 10 to 8 out of 10, in order to separate the weed from the crop. For most of the part it worked nicely and hence the lower number of purchases than last year.
#10 click on the cover to hear 45 sec. samples
[URL="http://tower.jp/item/3698565/JET-DESTINY"][IMG]http://i633.photobucket.com/albums/uu59/INTONE/AtsushiYokozeki-jetdestiny_zpsea1b6f83.jpg[/IMG][/URL]
[B]ATSUSHI YOKOZEKI[/B] [B]- Jet Destiny[/B]
guest: [B]K[/B]yoji [B]Y[/B]amamoto
CD
[B]℗[/B] 2014
Hard Rock Guitar Instrumentals
[B]★★★★★★★[/B]☪☆☆
Jet Destiny is the 9th solo CD from this prominent Japanese shredder. Atsushi did it all. He was in a band, created big projects with lots of big names, did fast shredding albums and nearly ambient music. This time around he is focusing on a song played in instrumental mode. The recordings are pretty raw, bringing forward the sound of his guitar.
#09 click on the cover to hear "Working For The Weekend"
[URL="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sflTSR6kPjg"][IMG]http://i633.photobucket.com/albums/uu59/INTONE/PaulGilbertStonePushing_zps930a00ce.jpg[/IMG][/URL]
[B]PAUL GILBERT - Stone Pushing Uphill Man[/B]
Digi CD/DVD
[B]℗[/B] 2014
Rock Guitar Instrumentals
[B]★★★★★★★★[/B]☆☆
Another Guitar Instrumental CD. This one has cover songs mostly, played by the Racer-X, Mr. Big member. This is the kind of instrumental versions I prefer over the Karaoke thing, artists often put out these days. I highly recommend getting the version that has the DVD as a bonus disc, where Mr. Gilbert explains the challenges he faced during the recording, with some of the strange song selections he made. E.g. replicating the keyboard sound that can increase the volume of the tone as opposed to the sound a guitar produces, naturally diminishing once the string is plucked. His instructions offer helpful tips to those who play guitar and want to recreate his renditions, faithfully. The CD also has three originals that compliment the whole feel of the Album, of which one (the title track) is sung by Paul himself. Some of the artists he covered are: James Brown (the horn section played on guitar is quite amazing) Aerosmith, k.d. lang, Elton John, Police, Eric Carmen, Beatles and more. The drummer duties were filled by two veterans: Mike Portnoy / Kenny Aronoff who need no introductions.
#08 click on the cover to hear the title track
[URL="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NSJfu8zOKgY"][IMG]http://i633.photobucket.com/albums/uu59/INTONE/nozomuWakai_zps6a081ca9.jpg[/IMG][/URL]
[B]NOZOMU WAKAI'S DESTINIA - Requiem For A Scream[/B]
guest: [B]R[/B]ob [B]R[/B]ock
CD
[B]℗[/B] 2014
Melodic Metal
[B]★★★★★★★★[/B]☆☆
Nozomu Wakai's first solo CD. Off the bat, I'm impressed. Looking at the cover and taking the "Bands" name as well the title of the CD into consideration, one would rightfully assume Nozomu is another Malmsteen clone. One would be wrong. None of the songs have Neoclassical feel to them and all the solos tend to blend in with the songs melodic structure, never gyrating into technical rampage. The highlight of the album is Rob Rock's (Impellitteri, Driver, Warrior etc.) vocal performance. His added melodic infusion elevates all 3 songs he took under his wing. Yukio Morikawa (Anthem) is the second vocalist involved in the project, while the rhythm section was concoct from such greats as Satoshi Miyawaki (44 Magnum) and Koichi Terasawa (Sly). The CD is tactically broken in half by a beautiful instrumental (the only one on the CD) "Dearest Pain". Definitely, an artist and CD worth of your attention.
