Alice Cooper - Welcome 2 My Nightmare CD

Welcome 2 My Nightmare buy CD music A devastating head-on collision between American and British rock influences -- a true supergroup that delivers a titanic rock experience greater than the sum of its supremely talented parts. The brainchild of producer Kevin Shirley, the band combines the rock lineage and forces of legendary frontman and bass guitarist Glenn Hughes (Deep Purple, Black Sabbath, Trapeze), master blues-rock guitarist Joe Bonamassa, powerhouse drummer Jason Bonham (Led Zeppelin, Foreigner) and keyboardist Derek Sherinian (Dream Theater, Billy Idol, Alice Cooper). Named after the industrial area in Britain where both Hughes and Bonham were born and raised, Recording information: Germano Studios, NY; Shangri-La Studios, Mailbu, CA; The Cave, Malibu, CA. Editor: Brett Diaz. Illustrator: Dennis Friel. Photographers: Christie Goodwin; Marty Temme; Rick Gould; Chris Callaway. Supergroup fever: catch it! 2009 was an especially kind year for these ego-busting entities, spawning Them Crooked Vultures (Josh Homme, John Paul Jones, Dave Grohl) and Chickenfoot (Sammy Hagar, Joe Satriani, Michael Anthony, and Chad Smith) in the hard rock category alone. So it was no surprise when 2010 brought us Black Country Communion (courtesy of mega-producer and matchmaker to the stars, Kevin Shirley), which blended the legendary talents of bassist/vocalist Glenn Hughes, guitarist Joe Bonamassa, drummer Jason Bonham, and keyboardist Derek Sherinian. Not surprisingly, the quartet's eponymous debut album was generally drooled over upon delivery, but for once, the media hype was largely justified by the music, which successfully set out to modernize the vintage Deep Purple template on the strength of former Mark III member Hughes' signature power-soul voice and the necessary Hammond organ sound replicated here by Sherinian. OK, so listeners who were unaware of bluesman Bonamassa's longtime affinity for `70s rock dinosaurs of Purple's ilk (look up his debut album for a devastating cover of Jethro Tull's "A New Day Yesterday") couldn't have known how well suited he too was to the task at hand; but it goes without saying that Bonham's unimpeachable classic rock DNA would provide a perfect foundation for all this. So with all of the ingredients set, the only thing that could possibly derail this coal-burning iron horse of a band was that all-too-common supergroup affliction: no songs -- never mind enough chemistry -- for the whole to equal the sum of its parts. But Black Country Communion actually delivers the goods for much of this album, including the infectious one-two punch of "Black Country" (a threat) and "One Last Soul" (a promise), the believably desperate "Down Again" (featuring a hair-raising vocal from Hughes), and the best of many epics, "Song of Yesterday," which contrasts a soft instrumental touch against Led Zeppelin-sized bombast. Elsewhere, a cover of Trapeze's "Medusa" brings it all back to the beginning for Hughes; the overcast mid-section of "The Revolution in Me" gives Sherinian some room to roam; and Bonamassa's solos show equal doses of tasteful restraint ("The Great Divide") and boastful abandon ("Beggerman") throughout, leaving just a few songs lost in the shuffle (even though the out-of-sorts, AC/DC-gone-Sunset Strip of "Sista Jane" is impossible to ignore). In short, to the relief of fans of all four participants, Black Country Communion's debut takes the dread out of the supergroup equation, at least until 2011 mints the next strain of virulent celebrity get-togethers, once again testing the wisdom behind this recurring phenomenon. ~ Eduardo Rivadavia Personnel: Joe Bonamassa (vocals, guitar); Patrick D'Arcy (whistle, Uilleann pipe); Derek Sherinian (keyboards); ...

Welcome 2 My Nightmare CD music Ozzy Osbourne's tenth studio album was originally called Soul Sucka before fans shut the working title down. The resulting Scream may not win any awards for brain cell power as far as titles go, but the 11 tracks contained within find the Prince of Darkness in fine form. People who only know the metal legend from watching him mumble and baby step around his house in sunglasses and a track suit on reality television can hardly be blamed for steering away from his music, but it only takes one chorus of opener "Let It Die" to suggest otherwise. Like 1980's Blizzard of Ozz (Randy Rhoads), 1983's Bark at the Moon (Jake E. Lee), and 1988's No Rest for the Wicked (Zakk Wylde), Scream features a changing of the guard. Enter Greek power metal guitarist Gus G., a progressive, tech-heavy shredder who can pound out drop-D, Lamb of God-inspired doom riffs ("Latimer's Mercy") on one hand while paying respects to Rhoads' peerless "Diary of a Madman" intro on the other ("Diggin' Me Down"). His enthusiasm for the material acts like a charging dock for Osbourne, who co-wrote the record with producer Kevin Churko, and while Scream suffers from the same "a handful of songs are great and the rest are OK" curse that has plagued everything since 1981's Diary of a Madman, the songs that are great are indeed great. Ozzy Osbourne may be more product than man these days, but for every uncomfortable TV commercial there's a "Time" or a "Let Me Hear You Scream" to help remind people that the man behind the machine still has at least one hand on the wheel. ~ James Christopher Monger 2010 album from the veteran Rock vocalist, his first album in three years and his 10th studio album overall. Kevin Churko who produced Ozzy's 2007 worldwide million-seller album, Black Rain, is teaming up with Ozzy again to produce Scream. Notably, the album marks the first appearance of Ozzy's new guitar player, Gus G. The band also features bassist Blasko, drummer Tommy Clufetos and keyboardist Adam Wakeman. Includes the first single, "Let Me Hear You Scream". Recording information: The Bunker, Los Angeles, CA; The Hideout, Las Vegas, NV. Photographer: Jennifer Tzar. Personnel: Ozzy Osbourne (vocals); Gus G. (guitar); Adam Wakeman (keyboards); Tommy Clufetos (drums). Audio Mixer: Kevin Churko.

Welcome 2 My Nightmare songs A Dramatic Turn of Events, the 11th studio long player from progressive hard rock act Dream Theater, is understandably among the most anticipated in their decades-long career. Founding drummer Mike Portnoy -- long considered, with guitarist John Petrucci, to be DT -- left the band and was replaced with veteran Mike Mangini. This is the set that answers the question about his impact on their sound. Interestingly enough, it's not that much. Mangini is as much a complex, intricate drummer as Portnoy was, though he is more an ensemble player; he plays more on the beat than behind it. A Dramatic Turn of Events is a much more keyboard-driven offering, though there is plenty of good old-fashioned prog metal here, too. Given its nearly 80-minute length, there is something here for virtually every fan -- or detractor -- to grab hold of. Singer James LaBrie doesn't indulge his high metal screech here that often, and prefers to sing plainly -- a good thing. Three tracks -- "Outcry," "Breaking All Illusions," and "Lost Not Forgotten" -- feature wildly long instrumental segments with more odd time signature changes than you can likely count. The latter of these sounds almost like Meshuggah with keyboards and stacked with multi-part harmonic vocals. Opening track and single "On the Backs of Angels" contains all the DT trademarks: disciplined drumming, intricate seven-string guitar riffs that grow increasingly more explosive, a Gothic chorale, and John Myung's insistent basslines, which are nearly buried in the mix. Jordan Rudess' keyboards counter Petrucci's guitar and Mangini's drums for dominance and come out on top. That said, the melodic structure of the tune harkens back to DT albums previous to the last decade's. As melodic as it is, it's almost knotty compared to the sheer melodicism of "Build Me Up, Break Me Down" that follows it. One does have to wonder about the inclusion of the ballads "Far from Heaven" and the string-laden "Beneath the Surface," which have clunky, trite lyrics, sappy instrumentation, and feel like filler; it would have been better to have trimmed them to keep the album a reasonable length. In sum, a Dramatic Turn of Events, while not a perfect offering, has enough of what makes Dream Theater attractive to make it a necessary purchase for fans. ~ Thom Jurek This special edition CD/DVD Set includes bonus DVD of 60-minute documentary, "The Spirit Carries On" which chronicles the band's search for a new drummer. A Dramatic Turn of Events is an album born from transition, crafted with studied persistence and possessed by new-found freedom and free-flowing invigoration. The album strikes the perfect balance between Dream Theater's intimate history with all that is heavy, progressive and melodic with each element fully realized. Longtime fans of the band intrigued by the speediness of the notes on display from Dream Theater have much to study on the album, while fans of melodic hooks will find equal pleasure within the songs. Recording information: Cove City Sound Studios, Glen Cove, NY; Mixland, Midhurst, Canada. Illustrator: Hugh Syme. Photographer: Michael Lavine. Personnel: James LaBrie (vocals); John Petrucci (guitar); Jordan Rudess (keyboards); Mike Mangini (drums). Audio Mixer: Andy Wallace.

Welcome 2 My Nightmare album for sale Apparently, the return to 1970s-era form on 2003's THE EYES OF ALICE COOPER wasn't a one-shot deal. On 2005's DIRTY DIAMONDS, Cooper continues the earlier release's straight-up hard-rock vibe. (Even the covers of both albums--focusing on the shock rocker's makeup-caked eyes--are strikingly similar.) Cooper's patented mix of sleaze and horror is as reliable as ever, with the revved-up "Woman of Mass Distraction" and the giddy "You Make Me Wanna" playing off the lurching "Run Down the Devil" and the bluesy, morbid "Zombie Dance." The softer side of the man formerly known as Vincent Furnier is revealed on "The Saga of Jesse Jane," a humorous, slightly twangy tune where Cooper trades his signature raspy voice for a fuller croon, and a surprisingly tender take on the Left Banke's "Pretty Ballerina." Of course, the bulk of DIRTY DIAMONDS consists of energetic, guitar-heavy rock songs. One of the most shocking aspects of Cooper is how--more than three decades into his recording career--he sounds as invigorated as ever. Recording information: Future House Studios, Culver City, CA; Phantom Studio, Westlake Village, CA; Westside Independent Studios, Beverly Hills, CA. Photographer: Mando Gonzales. Personnel: Alice Cooper (vocals, harmonica); Alice Cooper; Damon Johnson (guitar, guitars, bass guitar, background vocals); Ryan Roxie (guitar, guitars, background vocals); Rick Boston (guitar, acoustic guitar, 12-string guitar); Steve Lindsey (guitar, piano, organ, keyboards, Moog synthesizer, shaker, tambourine); Chuck Garric (guitar, bass guitar, background vocals); Lyle Workman, Mike Elizondo (guitar); Tony Gilkyson (electric guitar); Mark Hollingsworth (flute, saxophone); Chris Tedesco (trumpet); Teddy "ZigZag" Andreadis (piano, organ); Jim Cox (keyboards); Daniel Lenz (synthesizer); Tommy Cufetos, Tommy Cufetos (drums, background vocals); John "4 Daddman" Robinson (drums); Lenny Castro (tambourine, percussion); Bridget Benenate, Edna Wright, Dinah Englund, Mark Hudson, Mark Lennon, Peggi Blu (background vocals). Audio Mixer: Dave Way.

Welcome 2 My Nightmare CD music Shock rock patriarch Alice Cooper steps up to his musical cauldron, tossing in key elements from the '70s, '80s, and '90s, with the chilling concept album ALONG CAME A SPIDER. For this landmark 25th studio release (and first for SPV Records), Alice spins the tale of an arachnid-obsessed serial killer. In archetypical fashion, Cooper's dry delivery and macabre lyrics give the listener a bird's-eye view inside the mind of a murdering madman. Notable guest spots include Ozzy Osbourne ("Wake The Dead") and Slash ("Vengeance Is Mine"). "Along Came A Spider" is Alice Cooper's 30th album and is a classic Cooperesque "love story" about Spider, a serial killer. His trademark is wrapping his victims in silk, and his victims are specifically chosen to feed his hunger to kill. But, upon meeting his (possibly) last victim, he falls in love with her and cannot kill to complete his plan. That could be his demise. Co-producers Danny Saber and Greg Hampton have also co-written several of the album's songs with Alice; Danny Saber, best known for his role as member & producer of Black Grape, has also worked with many artists including the Rolling Stones, Ozzy Osbourne, David Bowie, and Madonna. Additionally, several songs on the album were co-written by Alice and his band. Features guest performances by Ozzy Osbourne and Bernard Fowler (backing vocals for The Rolling Stones). Recording information: Hampton Hacienda; Undercity Recordings, Burbank, CA; Wonderland Studios. Photographer: Gabrielle Geiselman. Personnel: Alice Cooper (vocals, background vocals); Bernard Fowler (vocals, background vocals); Danny Saber (guitar, slide guitar, E-bow, piano, keyboards, bass synthesizer, bass guitar, background vocals); Greg Hampton (guitar, strings, keyboards, background vocals); Kerri Kelli, Jason Hook, Slash, Whitey Kirst (guitar); Eric Singer, David Piribauer (drums); Chuck Garric (background vocals). Audio Mixers: George Gumbs; Danny Saber; Paul "Diceman" Bailey; Tip Wyman; Fabrizio V. Zee Grossi.

Welcome 2 My Nightmare buy CD music Anthrax fans have had no choice but to be very patient waiting for the arrival of the group's tenth studio album overall, 2011's Worship Music. Doubling as the first Anthrax studio album since 2003's We've Come for You All and the first with singer Joey Belladonna since 1990's Persistence of Time, Worship Music was also recorded once before with singer Dan Nelson, and was to be released in 2009. After the group parted ways with Nelson shortly before the album's projected release, Belladonna was welcomed back into the fold, and all the vocals were re-recorded. But to Anthrax's credit, it all fits together seamlessly, resulting in arguably their finest studio album since, well, the last one that Belladonna sang on! With vintage '80s metal sounds reconnecting with the masses in the early 21st century, one of thrash metal's originators picked a fine time to unleash a strong and inspired effort, especially on such standout stompers as "The Devil You Know," "Fight 'Em 'Til You Can't," and "In the End." And while the subject of "Judas Priest" is not the heavy metal band of the same name, the track still serves as a tip of the cap to one of heavy metal's all-time greats (and what makes the tribute even more fitting is that the year that Worship Music was released, Halford and company announced their impending retirement from touring). As with past Anthrax records, it's not all about pushing the pedal to the metal from start to finish, as evidenced by the slowly building beginnings of "I'm Alive" and "Crawl." Despite the long Boston/Def Leppard-esque layoff, Anthrax certainly deliver with Worship Music. ~ Greg Prato Photographer: Ross Halfin. Personnel: Joey Belladonna (vocals); Scott Ian (guitar, background vocals); Rob Caggiano (guitar); Charlie Benante (acoustic guitar, electric guitar, drums); Alison Chesley (cello); Frank Bello (background vocals); George Langis, Daniel Salcido, Matt Dougherty, Zachariah Jarrett, Matt Noble. Audio Mixer: Jay Ruston.