Category Archives: reviews

Dream Theater – Hollow Years (1997)

Posted on February 20, 2009 by jkonrath

The CD-single for the song “Hollow Years” came out to support the album Falling Into Infinity, and contains two versions of the song “Hollow Years”, the album version and a radio edit. That’s not what interests me about this CD, … Continue reading →

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Dream Theater – Greatest Hit (…and 21 Other Pretty Cool Songs) (2008)

Posted on February 18, 2009 by jkonrath

Well, here’s a tough sell. How do you compile a greatest hits album for a band that only has one arguable “hit”? And furthermore, how do you sell a compilation album when a band’s core demographic are fanatic completists who … Continue reading →

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Guns N’ Roses – Chinese Democracy (2008)

Posted on February 16, 2009 by jkonrath

When an album is in the making for almost two decades, and the band goes through an almost 100% lineup change, serious questions emerge about the final product. And this means that most reviews of said product aren’t about the … Continue reading →

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Rush – Roll the Bones (1991)

Posted on February 11, 2009 by jkonrath

Ugh. For Rush’s sophomore effort on Atlantic records, they slid further into mediocrity with more standard hard rock numbers, an unusually bright and bland production, and a general lack of noteworthiness that got them an album that somehow peaked at … Continue reading →

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MARS – Project: Driver (1986)

Posted on February 10, 2009 by jkonrath

MARS stands for MacAlpine Aldridge Rock Sarzo, and it’s a fine little example of only-in-the-Eighties guitar rock, courtesy of Shrapnel records. They’re best known as the small indie label that put out guitar super-genius Tony MacAlpine’s first album out to … Continue reading →

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Mr. Big – Mr. Big (1989)

Posted on February 9, 2009 by jkonrath

It was all the rage at the time. It was what made Winger into a hit-producing machine. It was simple: take a couple of total shredmaster ultra wizards on guitar and bass, slap an obscure drummer behind them, and put … Continue reading →

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Rush – All The World’s a Stage (1976)

Posted on February 8, 2009 by jkonrath

On the coattails of the wildly successful 2112, Rush decided to put out a quad-side, triple-gatefold live LP, named with a Shakespeare reference, recorded in their home town. This began a cycle where the band would release four studio albums, … Continue reading →

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Rush – The Story of Kings (1992)

Posted on February 7, 2009 by jkonrath

I’m a sucker for “unofficial releases” that are nothing more than a journo’s taped interview with a band, later set to CD-R boot. And here’s a classic example of this non-canon release: a half-hour chat with Alex Lifeson. Although the … Continue reading →

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Grim Reaper – The Best of Grim Reaper (1999)

Posted on February 7, 2009 by jkonrath

Most people who even know anything about Grim Reaper only know them from an episode of Beavis and Buttheadthat savagely made fun of a video of their most popular tune, “See You in Hell”, with one of the cartoon duo … Continue reading →

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Rush – Fly By Night (1975)

Posted on February 6, 2009 by jkonrath

Following a self-titled debut of Led Zeppelin-clone originals and immediately before a tour, John Rutsey, the drummer of this Canadian three-piece walked away from the band, citing health reasons and/or a lack of interest in touring. This could have been … Continue reading →

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