Classic Hard-rock - pre-dating & rivaling British peers
586636
Classic hard-rock of the 70s - an exceptional keyboards-driven music, with roaring fuzzy guitars and manic drumming. One of the very few U.S. acts which should be placed as equals next to their more renown British peers*.
"Fuse" (released in 1969) is in many aspects is pre-dating true Deep Purple (<a data-hook="product-link-linked" class="a-link-normal" href="/In-Rock-25th-Anniversary-UK/dp/B000005RQT/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_rvw_txt?ie=UTF8">In Rock: 25th Anniversary (UK)</a>) and Uriah Heep, and one can easily hear even the ideas which later inspired "Baby I'am gonna leave you". The composing is outstanding, with a strong tendency towards acid-influenced progressive rock, each piece is endlessly evolving into new melodies - like a mini-symphony; there is no lack of creativity.
Rick Nielsen (of the future Cheap Trick fame) in his interview to Ira Robbins (very unjust towards his ex-bandmates) said: "we were big fans of the British bnds; we always thought British bands were the coolest" - to my opinion, "Fuse" outshines many of them.
In this aspect "Fuse" comes rather close to "Rare Bird" (<a data-hook="product-link-linked" class="a-link-normal" href="/As-Your-Mind-Flies-By/dp/B000TV4MOA/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_rvw_txt?ie=UTF8">As Your Mind Flies By</a>), "Beggar's Opera" (<a data-hook="product-link-linked" class="a-link-normal" href="/Act-One/dp/B00029KZO0/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_rvw_txt?ie=UTF8">Act One</a>&nbsp;or "King Crimson" (<a data-hook="product-link-linked" class="a-link-normal" href="/In-the-Court-of-the-Crimson-King-Deluxe/dp/B002M3GPOS/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_rvw_txt?ie=UTF8">In the Court of the Crimson King (Deluxe)</a>.
The vocals of Joe Sundberg are not high-register falsetto - powerful manly voice, without any efforts handling the most challenging parts.
At the same time "Fuse", which was ahead of time and far superior to its more successful contemporaries, remains one of the most underestimated and misjudged bands - in Wikipedia it is labeled as "pretty ordinary hard rock with a couple of interesting progressive influences", while Irwin Stambler in his "Encyclopedia of Pop, Rock and Soul", when writing about Cheap Trick, mentioned the LP "Fuse" adding "about which the less said the better" - only a totally unqualified person with strong prejudice could have written that (or someone who never listened to the album).
"Fuse" released only one album regretfully, and became another victim of brainless record industry executives. The founding members - Rick Nielsen and Tom Peterson - finally got rich and famous with "Cheap Trick". Nielsen in "Los Angeles Times" - "we have made certain concessions to commeciality" - well indeed. Whatever "Fuse" was, it was never cheap. Sure, it's a matter of taste, but "Cheap Trick" next to it sounds too "decaffeinated" and groomed for family consumption.

*It is widely accepted that the British bands set up the standards for progressive rock, and defined the genre. It would be useful (from that point of view) to listen to some U.S. acts - "Touch" (<a data-hook="product-link-linked" class="a-link-normal" href="/Touch/dp/B0001ACKNY/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_rvw_txt?ie=UTF8">Touch</a>) and "Ford Theatre" (<a data-hook="product-link-linked" class="a-link-normal" href="/Trilogy-for-the-Masses/dp/B001CELJY4/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_rvw_txt?ie=UTF8">Trilogy for the Masses</a>
2173362
Appetite for Destruction - by Guns N' Roses - is one of the best Rock and Roll albums to be released in the decades before and the decades that followed.  It was jolt of electricity to the Rock and Roll scene.  There were songs here for fans of every genre as the hit Sweet Child O' Mine and Welcome To The Jungle were crossover hits enjoyed by metal fans and pop fans alike.  The impact of these songs are still felt today, as Jungle is even played at NBA basketball games, and sports radio talk shows.  But the real gems on this CD are the harder rocking offerings like It's So Easy, Nightrain, and My Michelle.  If I have to put together my "stranded on a desert island list" this CD easily makes the cut.  My personal favorites are Think About You and Rocket Queen.  There is not a weak song amongst this group.  The title is appropriate as the only thing that could derail this outstanding group was its own appetite for destruction, and new faces both literally and figuatively.  I did have th opportunity to catch Guns and Roses in concert (with Metallica) in Oakland, and they were excellent.

If you are looking for the definitive post 70's rock and roll album, you have found it.  Tremendous... 5 strong stars! Enjoy.
2094448
1967 was a GREAT year for rock and pop music.  Think of it; the first album by The Doors, Sgt. Pepper, The Stones "Satanic Majesties", the first album by Hendrix.  And THIS!  This "boy band" of the time (they were heavily promoted by 16 magazine and Dick Clark) really delivered first-rate pop songs, and this album is probably their best (although fans may say that the album after it, "Revolution" is as good or better).  While there are the usual run of adolescent love songs there are also quite serious numbers such as "Our Candidate" and "Oh To Be A Man".  These guys were one of the closest analogies to the British Invasion, and if you loved The Hollies, Yardbirds, and other great bands of that era you won't want to miss this first-rate album, if you didn't get it when it first came out.
4514863
HARD PLACE has been rocking the bi-coastal scene for years now (if you consider Michigan a coast... it's like the all-coast state) and now they're finally ascending into the world of super-pop-stardom.

The true heirs of Queen, Prince, and Emo Phillips, HARD PLACE uses a chorus better than anyone in the business.  This CD is toe-tapping rock majesty.  Completely brilliant, but in a fascinatingly enjoyable way.  Buy one copy to listen to and 12 more to eventually sell on eBay once everyone else catches on.
2067086
This may not provide the comprehensive overview of TRB that the fanatical aficionado wants, but, with the exception of the atrocious "Glad to be Gay," this album rocks hard. A must-have CD for anyone who loves British rock from the late seventies.
1879985
Although the power metal genre would thrive (mainly in Europe) throughout the mid 90's and well into the 00's, the now currrent dominating subgenre of metal had it's origins. Mainly in cult underground bands like Cirith Ungol, Manilla Road, Helloween, and of course Rainbow and solo Dio. This group out of Kansas, has been operating independenly since the late 70s, from Kansas of all places, their 1979 debut Invasion was a bizarre yet rocking mix of prog/space-rock and funky hard rockers, and their second effort aply titled Metal, was an interesting album too. However the band was apparently building on their sound and on 1983's Crystal Logic, the sound had... crystalized. Right from opener Necropolis along with MR staples like the chugging title track, The Ram, Riddle Master, and Feeling Free Again, this is the sorcery genre in its first stages. Fans of what would be dubbed 'epic metal' would find the roots of their beloved genre here. Although the power metal genre typically now popularized by groups like Hammerfall, Iced Earth, Dragonforce etc. usually consist of very fast highly polished and metallic, keyboard and/or orchestrated 10 minute songs, chock full of busy and amazing guitar and vocal work, MR has more in common musically with the British hard rock bands of the time (Saxon, Motorhead, early Maiden, Accept) of course with the obvious hint of adventurous atmospherics. The band would go on to make other albums like The Deluge and Open The Gates that would become the "classic" MR sound, this album was the first to find it. As a metal album? It's a classic for sure, these guys have their fans. Guitarist/vocalist Mark Shelton has a warbling vocal style that might throw some off. His riffs though are amazing and he definetly deserves to be in there with the most iconic metal guitarists of the time. Musically, if you haven't heard them, yet this album is the best starting point along with The Deluge, if you can track them down. It's rough, raw and sludgy driving yet also epic and fantasy themed heavy metal. The true definition of the genre. Whether you're into American or British style metal, it won't matter. These guys are truely in a class of their own. No metal collection be without this one.
1824694
Interesting when a small gem like this slips through the cracks. Incubus were just another entry in the New-wave-Of-British-Heavy-Metal period (c. 79-83) standing in the shadows of Priest, Maiden, and Leapard as well as Saxon, Diamond Head and (my favorite) Witchfynde.
The three Crawford brothers who were the backbone of the band obviously grew up on a healthy steady diet of classic BoC LPs- more so than Sabbath or Zeppelin. This is obvious in their vocal harmonies. Best moments: "highway to Hell" (NOT an AC/DC cover!), "life beyond the grave", "night of vengence" and the title track. Very atmosphearic 80s metal.
Other great NWOBHM albums that most Yanks don't know about: WITCHFINDER GENERAL-"death Penalty", RITUAL-"Widow", WITCHFYNDE- "Cloak & Dagger" and "lords of Sin", DEMON- "Nigt of the Demon", PAGAN ALTAR- "Vol. 1", CLOVEN HOOF- s/t, DARK HEART- "shadows of the night", and HANDSOME BEASTS- "beasteality".
1544338
Judas Priest's sixth album, British Steel (1980) is a classic in all respects. Though not their ultimate album (that would be 1990's Painkiller), this one is almost as good as that and Defenders Of The Faith (1984). The band had one of their biggest hits with this album. If by now you don't know that song and call yourself a Judas Priest fan, go kill yourself. Though "Breaking The Law," which is naturally the song I am referring to, is not their best song, it is definitely one of the three highlights of this album, with it's telltale guitar riff and bassline (which I can play). As short and simplistic as this song is, it's incredible. Also, "Rapid Fire" is a brutal speed metal tune, the DOTF hit "Freewheel Burning" sounds sort of similar. And "Living After Midnight" is almost happy. It IS in a major key, but the lyrics aren't exactly peppy. Anyway, when I heard this song on classic rock radio in gym class, I was headbangin' 'till it ended. Overall, this album rules, and I definetely recommend it to fans of Iron Maiden, Black Sabbath, Ozzy, Diamond Head, Raven (not that damn pop songstress-the NWOBHM band), early Def Leppard, Motorhead, and other British heavy metal acts. ROCK HARD, RIDE FREE! (Judas Priest)
4458844
Until the likes of Rhino or Columbia/Legacy get their chnace to put out a definite Hollies anthology, this is the best choice for someone looking to get the full flavor of the best British harmony band, and one of the most reliable 60s hit machines this side of Creedence Clearwater Revival.  The Hollies deserve to be mentioned in the same reverential tones reserved for the Who, the Stones, the Kinks and even the Fab Ones, and the At Abbey Road trilogy is ample proof of their deserved place in that pantheon of British Invasion groups.  72 tracks on 3 discs covering three dfecades, and alnost too much good stuff to handle at one sitting.
Disc One has all their earliest singles and B-sides, up to the songs that broke them big in the states -- Bus Stop and Stop! Stop! Stop!  The vocal belnd of Alan Clarke, Tony Hicks and Graham Nash, who were also a formidable writing team.  Disc Two has the remainder of their US sixties hits (except fro Jennifer Eccles, for some reason), especially their buggest US smash, the anthemic "He Ain't Heavy, He's My Brother).  Disc Three is less comeplete, omitting quite a few singles, possibly because they were not recorded at Abbey Road.  You won;t find "Long Cool Woman" on this collection, for example, but you will find "The Air That I Breathe" and their cover of Springsteen's "Sandy" which easily somokjes the Boss's original version.
Throughout, you get ample proof that Tony Hicks, who has been with the group since its first single, is one of the great unbsung guitar heroes of British rock.  He has such versatily and  such a sense of the right sound to flavor the mix that re really beings up there with the likes of George Harrison, Brian Jones and Pete Townsend.
Buy and savor, firneds, and them explore the rest of this group's oeuvre.  You will not be disappointed.
3215097
Rival Sons are very popular in Europe and Canada, and starting to get more attention here in the US. I ordered this CD from England because I didn't want to wait until the US release date. This album grows on me the more I hear it. Rival Sons bring back great vintage rock and roll sounds, good songwriting, and are also a killer live act! Recently met the band and they are all really nice dudes to boot. Check this band out if you haven't already. Recommended.
2761793
If you want to rock like you haven't rocked since 1973, GBV is for you. If you like your songs short, not-so-sweet, and to the point, GBV is for you. If you enjoy concerts where the band drink like fish and the lead singer poses like a strange Roger Daltrey/Robert Plant/Bon Scott hybrid, GBV is for you.
With lots of GBV stuff, it's hit-or-miss, but not here. From the opening rocker "Wire Greyhounds" to the closing sing-along "Father Sgt. Christmas Card," Robert Pollard and the crew deliver the goods in prime 1960s British Invasion fashion. Other standouts (and already GBV classics) include "Christian Animation Torch Carriers," "Cheyenne," "Eureka Signs," and "The Ids are Alright."
If you are a fan of: the Kinks, the Who, the Beatles, the Hollies, Led Zeppelin, the Rolling Stones, the Zombies, etc.: BUY THIS ALBUM! You won't be sorry. And while you're at it, buy the earlier GBV stuff, too. Just throw that money around. Pollard and Co. will toast you with a Miller Lite at their next sloshy show.
2754725
Is Orang-utan the lost 70s hardrock gem everyones been searching for? No. Is it a godawful album not worth your time or money? Again a resounding no. Id have to rate this cd as middle of the road early rock,nothing mindblowing but a worthy addition to your obscure rock recordings collection. Here's the linear notes in all their glory:
As most people don't know: Orang-utan grew from the dying members of Jason Crest,whilst the remaining members continued with new vocalist Brian Prebble and ex-Mike Stuart Span/Leviathan guitarist Brian Bennett under the new name. Their US-only album is full of far music heavier than the Crest ever managed to cut."I can see inside your head" is unsubtley Hendrixian and very 'eavy {but not at all 'umble!}therefore quite brilliant.'Slipping Away' is also bloody heavy,this time Led Zep sounding. Its mellowed interlude,complete with phased vocals,shows that the path from 'Black Mass' lead somewhere equally troubled:"Time is all kinds of pain and your mind is never quite the same" 'Love Queen'is very cool.'Chocolate Piano'is bombastic and 'kin great! A vertible epic. This is one of the very best heavy albums of the period,and most definitely not for the popsykers! But if you dig Broughtons, Writing on the Wall,or the Faries I am sure you'll dig this big time;and song titles such as 'Fly Me High'or 'Magic Playground'leave no one in doubt that this is music stuffed full of brain fryin'chemicals. In fact,this is one of the very few genuine UK 'Acid Rock'albums. Play loud,play very very LOUD!......Again 3 stars on the music and 5 stars on the album cover. ORANG-UTAN Original release 1971 USA Bell Records 6054
3751774
This album has one of my all-time favorite songs "Ready to Die." It's on some abridged media on youtube, and is probably some of the best hype music I know.  Some good old catchy, memorable, high energy hard rock.
65152
This legendary album contains a mix of punk, rock, ska, reggae, pop, rockabilly, jazz and blues. Known as: "The Only Band That Matters", The Clash made history with the 1979 release of "London Calling". This album is rated as one of the greatest 100 rock albums ever recorded (according to V.H.1. Music) It's fame and acclaim is held right up there with the Beatles "Sergeant Peppers Lonely Hearts Club Band"...(please excuse any misspelling).As mentioned in previous previews there's something for everybody on this two-album CD. With London Calling's music there is never a dull moment. This album by The Clash rocks with every fiber of its being. You don't have to be a Clash/Joe Strummer fan like me to get into it.  Once youve got it in your CD player you'll never wanna take it out...Unless of course you've just purchased Joe Strummer's new album: "Global A Go-Go".Need I say more?
3872224
The hard yet innovative rock of Fleming and John on Delusions of Grandeur puts most contemporary rock bands to shame.  One has only to listen to Letters In My Head to hear this.  In some ways, their rock is simple.  Screamed lyrics and super-cool, thrashing guitar have been rock standards for decades.  Yet they manage to achieve a very musical sound, with tunes that will get in your head and not annoy you while they're there.  For those who like thought-provoking lyrics, their message is certainly not that of most cookie-cutter rock hits.  Listen and learn.
304627
The 1966 debut of the British rock group, The Small Faces, is essential British Invasion music with lots of bluesy vocals, guitar feedback, and energetic drumming.  The Small Faces get a lot of comparison to The Who (ironic because Small Faces drummer, Kenny Jones, would become The Who's drummer after Keith Moon died), but they are very different bands and the Small Faces were not as popular and haven't received the credit they deserve.  Just listening to this album, especially the soulful vocals of guitarist Steve Marriott (a sound he already had on the debut!), shows where a lot of Robert Plant's influence came from.  Honestly, at times, the likeness between Marriott and Plant is uncanny (it's only magnified when Marriott sings "You need coolin', baby I'm not foolin', I'm gonna send you back to schoolin'..." (from "You Need Lovin'") - words obviously adopted for Zeppelin's "Whole Lotta Love").  The rest of the band is equally exciting whether it's the inspired drumming of Kenny Jones, the bass of Ronnie Lane, or the organ of Ian McLagan, they all work together here.  The album (originally 12 tracks) has been remastered and also expanded to 17 tracks (5 tracks from a French EP) that don't match up to the recording quality of the rest of the album, but are nonetheless energetic, alternate versions of selected songs on the album.  The Small Faces are probably best known for their hit "Itchycoo Park", a song released two years after the debut.  That song was released after the Small Faces began to experiment with their sound and studio space, but it's also less raw than what you will hear on this album (both periods of their music are definitely worth while though).  In 1969, Marriott would leave to form Humble Pie (with Peter Frampton) and the Small Faces would hire Rod Stewart and Ron Wood, then becoming "The Faces".  That incarnation is also noteworthy for obvious reasons, but this debut of the Small Faces is essential because of the influence it provided to several other British, as well as American bands.
2220969
If you're checking this out, you probably already know what you're getting: A classic album from some of the masters of the 90's post-hardcore / hard rock sound, with members whose contributions to hardcore and rock are staggering.
If you don't know? You have made the right decision coming to this page. In short, Quicksand came from the hardcore punk scene of New York, with members of Gorilla Biscuits, Beyond, and about a million of other bands, to show what heavy rock music could be: Sincere, well thought-out but simple, catchy without insulting your intelligence, and endlessly listenable. This is one of those albums that continues to grow on you and is far-too-easy to listen to on repeat.
If you've really just stumbled here: Think Tool, older-Deftones (whom the bassist is now playing for), Far, Handsome (featuring guitarist Tom Capone), Helmet, Rival Schools (another Walter Schreiffels project), etc. Just buy the thing and tell all your friends you've loved it forever, then try to catch them when they're doing a reunion show.