Blackmore’s Night To Re-Issue ‘Shadow Of The Moon’ Friday

Posted on March 9, 2023 by philspicks

Blackmore’s Night’s 1997 debut album, Shadow of the Moon, will get the re-issue treatment Friday.

The record is scheduled for re-issue in a new 25th anniversary Edition through earMusic. The re-issue will feature the original album in its entirety with fully remastered audio converted to high definitional audio. The album’s cover artwork is the same but has also been restored and reworked.

The record will re-issue on a variety of platforms, each of which will include two previously unreleased acoustic songs, ‘Spirit of the Sea’ and ‘Shadow of the Moon.’ The physical platforms will also feature a bonus DVD that presents a “making of” documentary.

As an added celebration of the record’s re-issue, two copies of the album’s Limited Black LP Edition pressings will feature “Golden Tickets.” The tickets will give their owners an original Fender Ritchie Blackmore Olympic White Stratocaster guitar signed by Blackmore and his band mates in Blackmore’s Night. More information on the tickets and contest is available here.

Late last month, Blackmore’s Night premiered the re-worked version of ‘Wish You Were Here’ as another way to build anticipation for the album’s re-issue. The song’s video is streaming here.

The full track listing for the new 25th anniversary re-issue of Shadow of the Moon is noted below.

TRACK LISTING:
CD:
“Shadow of The Moon” (25th Anniversary New Mix) (Vinyl Side A)
“The Clock Ticks On” (25th Anniversary New Mix)
“Be Mine Tonight” (25th Anniversary New Mix)
“Play Minstrel Play” (25th Anniversary New Mix)
“Ocean Gypsy” (25th Anniversary New Mix) (Vinyl Side B)
“Minstrel Hall” (25th Anniversary New Mix)
“Magical World” (25th Anniversary New Mix)
“Writing on The Wall” (25th Anniversary New Mix)
“Renaissance Faire” (25th Anniversary New Mix) (Vinyl Side C)
“Memmingen” (25th Anniversary New Mix)
“No Second Chance” (25th Anniversary New Mix)
“Mond Tanz” (25th Anniversary New Mix)
“Spirit of The Sea” (25th Anniversary New Mix) (Vinyl Side D)
“Greensleeves” (25th Anniversary New Mix)
“Wish You Were Here” (25th Anniversary New Mix)
“Shadow of The Moon” (Ritchie & Candice Anniversary Home Session) (7″ Single, Track A)
“Spirit of The Sea” (Ritchie & Candice Anniversary Home Session) (7″ Single, Track B)

DVD:
Documentary: The story of “Shadow of The Moon” (30 min)
Music Video Clips “Shadow of The Moon,” “No Second Chance,” “Renaissance Faire” (with optional audio commentary by Candice Night + Ritchie Blackmore)

More information on the re-issue is available along with all of the band’s latest news at:

Website: https://www.Blackmoresnight.com

Facbeook: https://www.facebook.com/blackmoresnightofficial

Twitter: https://twitter.com/TruCandiceNight

To keep up with the latest entertainment news and reviews, go online to https://www.facebook.com/philspicks and “Like” it. Fans can always keep up with the latest entertainment news and reviews in the Phil’s Picks blog at https://philspicks.wordpress.com.

Blackmore’s Night Debuts New Take Of ‘Greensleeves’, Video Ahead Of Classic Album’s Re-Issue

Posted on January 21, 2023 by philspicks

Blackmore’s Night is set to re-issue its 1997 debut album, Shadow of the Moon this spring, and in anticipation the band has released an updated take of the timeless standard ‘Greensleeves‘ this month, along with a companion lyric video. The song was featured as part of the album in its original release, though the band has been performing the song live for more than 40 years.

The album’s re-issue is scheduled for March 10 through earMusic. The take on the song featured in the forthcoming re-issue is the exact same as the original performance in terms of its general presentation. The only difference between the two takes is that the new take has been fully remixed and presented in HD audio. The same applies to the rest of the record’s songs.

Shadow of the Moon will be available on CD and vinyl. Its track listing is noted below. The CD will also feature a companion DVD that follows the creation of Shadow of the Moon and a handful of music videos for songs from the album.

As an added bonus, two copies of the album’s vinyl re-issue will have “golden tickets” that will give those who find them, a free signed Ritchie Blackmore Olympic white Fender Stratocaster guitar.

More information on the re-issue is available along with all of the band’s latest news at:

Website: https://www.Blackmoresnight.com

Facbeook: https://www.facebook.com/blackmoresnightofficial

Twitter: https://twitter.com/TruCandiceNight

Blackmore’s Night’s ‘Winter Carols’ Re-Issue Is A Positive Addition To 2021’s Holiday Music Offerings Field

Posted on November 16, 2021 by philspicks

Veteran guitarist Ritchie Blackmore (Deep Purple, Rainbow) and singer Candice Night are doing their part to help audiences get into the holiday spirit. The duo is doing so by re-issuing its 2006 holiday music compilation, Winter Carols. The two-disc collection is scheduled for re-issue Friday through earMUSIC. The record’s re-issue, which will come less than a year after the release of the act’s latest album, Nature’s Light, is anchored by the addition of four previously unreleased songs, all of which are covers of well-known holiday standards – ‘It Came Upon a Midnight Clear,’ ‘Here We Come A-Caroling,’ ‘O Little Town of Bethlehem,’ and ‘Silent Night.’ Additionally, a remastered take of the duo’s Christmas single, ‘Christmas Eve’ is featured as part of this record’s new presentation. That song in question is one of the most notable of the re-issue’s additions and will be examined shortly. The duo’s take of ‘O Little Town of Bethlehem’ is also of note. It will be examined a little later. The duo’s take of ‘Silent Night’ is just as notable as the other songs noted here and will also be discussed later. When it and those noted songs are considered along with the rest of the record’s featured songs, the whole makes Winter Carols another holiday music collection that lovers of the noted genre will enjoy.

Blackmore’s Night’s forthcoming re-issue of its 2006 compilation record, Winter Carols, is a presentation that audiences will agree is just as interesting in its new presentation as in its original release. Its interest comes in part through the addition of the duo’s original song, ‘Christmas Eve.’ Originally released in 2013, there is a clear difference between the song’s new, updated take and its original take. The most notable difference comes in the inclusion of a distinct electronic element to the updated take not originally featured in the original song. The synthesized bells alongside the upbeat danceable beat added to the mix give the song something of an 80s new wave vibe. By comparison, the song’s 2013 take has more of a pure, celebratory, holiday sense what with the use of the horns and tambourine alongside the layered vocals. It really gives the song a full, holiday sense. Needless to say, the comparison of the two takes is certain to divide audiences, again making clear why this addition to the record is so important to examine. It is just one of the notable additions to the compilation’s new presentation, too. The duo’s take of ‘O Little Town of Bethlehem’ is another interesting added work.

Blackmore and Night’s take of ‘O Little Town of Bethlehem’ is important to note because of its differences from the renditions that audiences know. When audiences think of this song, they think of a gentle, quiet song. That arrangement is meant to reflect the happiness and serenity of that Christmas night when Jesus Christ was born. It really echoes the child’s innocence and that of that night. Night and Blackmore’s take on the song is starkly different. It is a far more upbeat take by comparison. In place of the lullabye-esque approach of the original song is a guitar-driven composition accompanied by layered vocals and tambourine that runs somewhere in the range of about 125 beats per minute if not faster. What’s more, the noted combination and production gives the song a decidedly almost pop type sense while also conjuring thoughts of another timeless song – ‘Simple Gifts’ – than anything Christmas related. It is a completely different take on the song, simply put, that is just as certain to divide audiences as the duo’s updated take of its own original song, ‘Christmas Eve.’ That the duo took the road clearly far less traveled here was brave. It gives audiences something new apart from that run of the mill approach that so many artists out there churn out in the sense of this song. So again, regardless of which side audiences take on this one (and audiences are certain to take sides just as much in this case as in the other examined song), Blackmore and Night are to be commended for taking the chance and giving audiences something unique from such a well-known song. It is just one more of the most notable of the new additions to the collection’s re-issue. Blackmore and Night’s take of the equally well-known carol, ‘Silent Night’ is just as worth discussing as the other songs already examined here.

Blackmore and Night’s take on ‘Silent Night’ starts out just as gentle and flowing as the original song and so many of the multitude of its covers from across the musical universe. Night’s vocals against the airy effect in the keyboards and choral/layered backing vocals makes the song so moving in the simplicity and richness therein. As the song progresses though, things change and get more interesting. Blackmore joins in with a light, simple guitar line that enhances the arrangement even more. The subtle ‘Jingle Bells’ tribute that Blackmore adds in the song’s final bar helps the song leave listeners with even more of a smile on their faces. What is so interesting about this rendition is that it is actually fitting, considering that the very first arrangement, composed by Franz Gruber in 1818, was guitar based, as per the request of Father Joseph Mohr, who actually penned the original poem, ‘Stille Nacht’ (or ‘Silent Night’). Given, Gruber’s rendition is likely a far cry from what audiences get in Blackmore and Night’s take on the song, but the duo’s performance here is still at least somewhat true to its source material, just picked up a little bit in the approach here. On a side note, there is a wonderful documentary from PBS titled, The First Silent Night that tells the history of how the original song came to be. It is well worth watching. It is that in-depth and moving. Getting back on the subject at hand, this rendition of ‘Silent Night,’ that of ‘O Little Town of Bethlehem,’ and the updated take of the duo’s original song, ‘Christmas Eve,’ are all key additions to the new re-issue of Winter Carols. When they are considered along with the rest of the record’s entries, the whole becomes a work that audiences will agree is a welcome re-issue of Winter Carols and an equally interesting addition to this year’s field of holiday music releases, even being a re-issue.

Blackmore’s Night’s forthcoming re-issue of its 2006 holiday music collection, Winter Carols, is an interesting presentation. Its interest comes mainly through the new additions to the record this time out. The added songs are definitely unique from their source material from one to the next. That they are so unique is what makes them interesting. Yes, they will divide audiences between purists and others, but that Blackmore and Night took the chance and made such unique takes on the examined songs is to be applauded. The same applies with the rest of the record’s songs. All things considered, the record proves itself a welcome addition to any holiday music fans’ library of the noted style sounds.

Winter Carols is scheduled for release Friday. More information on the re-issue is available along with all of the band’s latest news at:

Website: https://www.Blackmoresnight.com

Facbeook: https://www.facebook.com/blackmoresnightofficial

Twitter: https://twitter.com/TruCandiceNight

Sorcerer Premieres Cover Of Rainbow’s ‘Gates Of Babylon’

Posted on September 10, 2021 by philspicks

Sorcerer is taking on a Rainbow classic for its latest single.

The band premiered its take on Rainbow’s classic song ‘Gates of Babylon‘ Friday along with a companion video to boot. The band’s take on the original song (which is featured in Rainbow’s 1978 album, Long Live Rock ‘n’ Roll) stays largely true to its source material, save for a few variances.

The primary difference between the two takes is that Sorcerer’s take on the song is much heavier and darker than the original. Also, the keyboard intro in the original is absent in Sorcerer’s rendition. Front man Anders Engberg, meanwhile, does well as he works to honor the performance of the late great Ronnie James Dio in the band’s performance here.

Guitarist Kristian Niemann talked about the band’s take on the classic song in a prepared statement.

“When trying to come up with a way to arrange ‘Gates Of Babylon’ and give it a different spin, I tried to imagine what it would’ve sounded like if Tony Iommi wrote it instead of Ritchie Blackmore,” he said. “It probably would’ve been slower and heavier, possibly down-tuned a bit. We skipped the keyboard intro because it would be impossible to capture the magic of the original. We had a great time recording this single at SolnaSound Studios, and overall we are very happy with how it turned out. We hope our fans will dig it too.”

The video for Sorcerer’s performance of ‘Gates of Babylon’ is a simple presentation. It features the band recording the single in studio at SolnaSound Studios. The various camera angles work with the performance to heighten the engagement and entertainment.

More information on Sorcerer’s take on ‘Gates of Babylon’ is available along with all of Sorcerer’s latest news at:

Website: https://www.sorcererdoom.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sorcererdoom

Longtime, Casual Fans Alike Will Enjoy The Latest LP From Blackmore’s Night

Posted on March 9, 2021 by philspicks

Ritchie Blackmore and Candice Night are scheduled to release their latest album Friday under the Blackmore’s Night moniker. The release of the record, dubbed Nature’s Light, will come more than six years after the release of the band’s then latest album, All Our Yesterdays. The 10-song record is certain to appeal primarily to the band’s established fan base and slightly to guitar rock purists, thanks in part to its musical arrangements. This will be addressed shortly. The readily accessible lyrical content featured throughout the album add to the record’s appeal. It will be discussed a little later. Rounding out the record’s most important elements is its production, which will also be discussed later. Each item noted here is important in its own way to the album’s presentation. All things considered, they make the record in whole a work that will appeal to Blackmore’s Night’s established fan base.

Nature’s Light, the latest album from Blackmore’s Night, is a presentation that will find wide appeal among the act’s established fan base. That is proven primarily through the recording’s musical arrangements. The medieval style approach and sound exhibited in each of the record’s songs are everything that audiences have come to expect from the band throughout its catalog. At the same time, the instrumental tracks ‘Darker Shade of Black’ and ‘Der Letzte Musketier’ offer audiences a more modern approach and sound. The latter is a subtle, catchy, blues-based work that will appeal to fans of the likes of Joe Bonamassa and Joe Satriani. To a lesser degree, listeners can even make a comparison to works from the likes of ZZ Top. The prior track on the other hand, is its own unique presentation. The organ, bass, and cello pair with the choral element and guitar to give this song a unique blend of classic rock and classical elements that will resonate with a wide range of listeners. The more renaissance style works meanwhile, will connect with audiences who prefer that familiar sound from the band. Night’s vocals are equally impressive in the more upbeat moments, such as in ‘Four Winds,’ and ‘Feather in the Wind’ and in the lighter moments, such as the tambourine-laden album opener/lead single, ‘Once Upon A December’ and the mournful ballad ‘Wish You Were Here.’ Blackmore’s own performance alongside that of Night makes for its own engagement and entertainment throughout, as do those of the duo’s accompanists this time around. All things considered, the musical content featured in this album clearly offers plenty for any listener. The familiar renaissance style and sound exhibited here will appeal to the band’s established audience base while the instrumentals will appeal to more casual audiences. Considering all of this, the musical content featured in Nature’s Light assures its success just in its musical content. It is just a portion of what makes the record work, too. The record’s overall lyrical content does its own part to ensure listeners’ engagement and entertainment.

The lyrical content that is featured along with the album’s musical arrangements is important to address because of its diversity and introspective nature. Given, the topic of relationships permeates the record, with three songs – ‘Nature’s Light,’ ‘Wish You Were Here’ and ‘Second Element’ – touching on the topic. Even with that abundance of songs that take on the all-too-familiar topic, it is not the record’s only lyrical topic. ‘Once Upon A Christmas’ for instance is its own unique story about Jesus’ birth. ‘Four Winds,’ on the other hand, is a deeply moving story about a young woman finding her place in the world. It is essentially an allegorical tale. ‘The Twisted Oak’ is yet another example of the diversity in the album’s lyrical themes. This song is a deeply introspective work that finds its subject just looking for “The peace of mind I’ve left behind.” The whole song finds its subject alone in a quiet, calm space in the forest, searching for that mental and emotional clarity. This is a work that will resonate with a wide range of listeners, considering everyone searches for that clarity on a daily basis. To that end, it is one more example of the importance of Nature’s Light’s lyrical themes. When it is considered along with the other themes noted here and those not directly addressed, that whole leaves no doubt as to the role that said content plays in the album. When the record’s lyrical and musical content join, the whole makes even clearer why Nature’s Light will appeal to Blackmore’s Night’s established audience base and even more casual listeners. That collective content is, overall, just part of what make it a successful record. The record’s production brings everything together to complete the record’s presentation.

The production that went into Nature’s Light is important because that element brought out the tiniest of nuances from the record’s renaissance style works and even its more modern works. For instance, the balance between Night’s smooth vocal delivery style and sound with the ancient instruments in ‘Feather in the Wind’ gives this song a wonderful old almost Celtic sound. That is attributed to the work of those behind the glass. There is so much happening here, but thanks to the expert production, not one part overpowers another here. It all balances to make the song one of the album’s most surprisingly enjoyable arrangements. The more modern style of ‘Der Letzte Muketier’ required its own attention in terms of the production. That is due to the subtleties in the guitar line and even the organ line that opens the song. The dynamics and balance in the notes as they are played is its own tribute to the balance in the sound levels there. The result is that that line alone creates such depth. It conjures thoughts of Deep Purple for the most brief of moments. It’s yet another moment that shows the role of the record’s production. When the production overall is considered along with the song’s musical and lyrical content, that whole makes the album in whole certain to succeed among longtime fans of Blackmore’s Night and even more casual fans.

Blackmore’s Night’s latest full-length studio recording is a presentation that will find wide-ranging success among the band’s established audience base and even casual fans. That is proven in part through the record’s musical arrangements, which are largely everything that the band’s longtime fans have come to expect from the group. They and the band’s more casual fans will also enjoy the more modern style instrumental tracks that accompany the more familiar renaissance style works. The lyrical themes that accompany the record’s musical arrangements are important because of their depth and slight diversity. The record’s production rounds out its most important of the record’s elements. It ensures that every nuance of every arrangement is attended to throughout. That attention to detail paid off, too. When this element is considered along with the album’s overall content, all things considered make the album a work that will appeal widely to longtime fans of Blackmore’s Night. What’s more, casual listeners will find it worth hearing at least once. The record is scheduled for release Friday through earMusic.

More information on Blackmore’s Night’s new album is available along with all of the band’s latest news at:

Website: http://www.Blackmoresnight.com

Facbeook: http://www.facebook.com/blackmoresnightofficial

Twitter: http://twitter.com/TruCandiceNight

To keep up with the latest entertainment news and reviews, go online to http://www.facebook.com/philspicks and “Like” it. Fans can always keep up with the latest entertainment news and reviews in the Phil’s Picks blog at https://philspicks.wordpress.com.

Eagle Rock’s Mingus Montreux Show Shines In Phil’s Picks’ 2018 Top New Live CDs List

Posted on December 27, 2018 by philspicks

Courtesy: Eagle Rock Entertainment

Going to live shows is neither easy nor inexpensive nowadays. Between the collective cost of tickets — which is itself oftentimes bank-breaking — transportation, food, potential lodging and souvenirs, and of course planning around work and family schedules, getting out to live shows is not easy for anyone.

Those barriers make the availability of live recordings something critical for audiences everywhere, regardless of genre. To that end, live CDs deserve their own consideration just as much as studio recordings, each year. Keeping that in mind, Phil’s Picks has developed once again a list of the year’s Top 10 new live CDs.

This year has been an interesting one for live CDs. Some notable live CDs were featured as part of bigger bundles (E.G. The Rolling Stones’ San Jose ’99 and Voodoo Lounge ’94 shows) while others, such as Alice Cooper’s A Paranormal Night @ The Olympia Paris and Marty Friedman’s One Bad M.F. Live were standalone offerings.

Some were standout offerings for all of the best reasons. Others had some problems to note. Keeping all of this in mind, this year’s crop of live CDs deserves just as much attention as the vast sea of studio recordings released throughout the year.

Topping this year’s list is yet another live CD from the people at Eagle Rock Entertainment in the form of Charles Mingus’ classic 1975 Montreux Jazz Festival show. This recording presents Mingus at one of his finest moments, and why his live performances were — and still are today — such powerful presentations.

Coming in second in this year’s list is the new Jimi Hendrix live CD, Live at the Hollywood Bowl. This CD was released as part of the bigger Electric Ladyland box set, and stands out so strongly because of its set list, Hendrix and company’s performance and the production values.

Third place in this year’s list of the year’s best new live CDs goes to veteran viking metal outfit Amon Amarth. The 30-song set list spans two nights and quite an expansive portion of the band’s catalog. That set list is directly mirrored on its DVD and BD presentation, and sounds just as good. Though because of the intensity of the show, it is still better appreciated being seen and heard and not just heard. That’s not to say the CD presentation is bad, but audiences will agree that hearing it makes for far more appreciation for the concerts’ DVD and BD presentations.

Also featured in this year’s list of top new live CDs are those noted new offerings from Marty Friedman, Alice Cooper and The Rolling Stones alongside new offerings from Opeth, Devin Townsend and John 5 to name just a few more titles. As always, this critic’s list features 10 of the year’s top new offerings plus five honorable mentions, which follow, for a total count of 15. Without any further ado, here is Phil’s Picks’ 2018 Top 10 new Live CDs.

PHIL’S PICKS 2018 TOP 10 NEW LIVE CDs

Charles Mingus — Live at Montreux 1975
Jimi Hendrix — Live at the Hollywood Bowl: Aug. 14, 1968
Amon Amarth — The Pursuit of Vikings: 25 Years in the Eye of the Storm
Devin Townsend Project — Ocean Machine: Live at the Ancient Roman Theatre Plovdiv
Opeth — Garden of the Titans: Live at Red Rocks Amphitheatre
The Rolling Stones — No Security; San Jose ’99
The Rolling Stones — Voodoo Lounge Uncut
John Mclaughlin & The 4th Dimension and Jimmy Herring & The Invisible Whip — Live in San Francisco
Marty Friedman — One Bad M.F. Live
Accept — Symphonic Terror: Live at Wacken 2017
Alice Cooper — A Paranormal Night at The Olympia Paris
Fates Warning — Live Over Europe
Ritchie Blackmore’s Rainbow — Memories in Rock II
John 5 and The Creatures — It’s Alive
Overkill — Live in Overhausen

‘Anthem of the Peaceful Army’ Proves Greta Van Fleet Deserves More Credit Than It Gets

Posted on October 27, 2018 by philspicks

Courtesy: Lava/Republic Records

When Greta Van Fleet released its sophomore EP From The Fires last year, the upstart Michigan-based, very quickly made quite the impact on audiences. Audiences either loved the band or hated the group. That was due to the band’s classic rock influenced sound, which showed very blatant influence from Led Zeppelin. As a matter of fact, that influence was so blatant that the band was called the second coming of Led Zeppelin by many, both in positive and negative fashion. The release of its debut full-length studio recording Anthem of the Peaceful Army Oct. 19 has only served to widen that gap, with just as many – if not more – people taking either one side in the debate on the up-and-coming band or another. While the band’s debut full-length album (and its third overall studio recording) does present even more cause for comparison to Led Zeppelin, a thorough listen through the album also shows that the band deserves more credit than its critics have given the group. That is evident right from the album’s outset in its opener, ‘Age of Man.’ It will be discussed shortly. ‘You’re The One,’ which comes just past the record’s midway point, is another way in which the band proves in this record that it deserves more support than it gets. ‘Brave New World,’ which comes even later in the record’s 45-minute run time, is one more way in which this record proves Greta Van Fleet deserves more support than it gets. Each song, in its own way, proves that Greta Van Fleet is not quite the band that so many people think. When they are joined with the rest of Anthem of the Peaceful Army, the whole of the record paints a picture of a band that has great potential for growth. Keeping that in mind, it proves to be a record that shows Greta Van Fleet as a group that deserves more credit than it gets from so many listeners.

Greta Van Fleet’s debut album (and third overall studio recording) is a laudable new offering from the neo-classic rock outfit from Michigan. That is because the album in whole paints a picture somewhat different from that painted by the singles that have so far been released from the record and its predecessors. The album’s opener, ‘Age of Man’ is just one of the songs included in the album that serves to support that statement. Musically speaking, the song bears more of an influence from Rush and other similar classic rock acts of that ilk than to Led Zeppelin. Of course that is just this critic’s own interpretation. That is evident through the combination of front man Joshua Kiszka’s vocal delivery style and the work of his band mates – Jacob Kiszka (guitar), Samuel Kiszka (bass/keyboards) and Daniel Wagner (drums/percussion) – throughout the song. It displays clearly, the band attempting to use those influences to establish its own identity. It succeeds in attempting to achieve that goal, too. Keeping this in mind, the song’s lyrical content does just as much to help the song to stand out. Joshua Kiszka sings here, “In an age of darkness, light appears/And it wards away the ancient fears/March to the anthem of the heart/to a brand new day/A brand new start.” He goes on to sing, “To wonder lands of ice and snow/In the desert heat where nothing grows/A tree of life in rain and sun/To reach the sky, it’s just begun.” As the song transitions into its chorus, he sings, “And as we came into the clear/To find ourselves where we are here/Who is the wiser to help us steer/And will we know when the end is near?” What makes all of this significant here in the first half of the song is that these lyrics seem to be a metaphorical way of addressing the world’s current situation. It seems to try to remind listeners that there is positive in the world’s negative, yet seems to ask through the chorus, who will help lead us to that positive. Again, this is all just the interpretation of this critic in particular. It should not be taken as gospel. Though in the song’s third verse, Kiszka continues, “Beauty lies in every soul/The more you love, the more you know/They pass the torch and it still burns/One children, then it’s now our turn.” It’s as if Kiszka is telling listeners again, that that positive is there, but it’s up to us to make it exist. Once again, this is just this critic’s interpretation, and could likely be completely off base, so it should not be considered the only interpretation. When this seeming message of positivity is considered along with the almost contemplative vibe of the song’s musical arrangement, that seeming message tends to make more sense even if it is not the correct interpretation. Keeping this in mind, the song proves to be a strong start for Greta Van Fleet in its latest recording, and just one example of why the band is deserving of more than the Led Zeppelin comparisons that it has constantly received. It is a song that infuses a variety of musical influences in its arrangement, and that presents a seemingly deep lyrical theme with wording that is certain to generate plenty of discussions. While the impact of this song cannot be ignored, it is just one of the songs included in the album that proves Greta Van Fleet deserves more credit than it has gotten and gets. ‘You’re The One’ is another song that shows this band is not just another Led Zeppelin ripoff.

‘You’re The One’ has been likened by some to Led Zeppelin’s ‘Your Time Is Gonna Come,’ and while a close listen to both songs does reveal a certain similarity, it can just as easily be argued that they are dissimilar, too in their musical arrangements. It’s one more example of Greta Van Fleet using another band’s influences to try to establish its own identity. Yes, the use of the organ and the old-school sound of the drums, and even the guitar line show similarities, but those similarities are not as direct as in other equally rare moments in this record. To that end, the song shows yet again that even despite the similarities between the two songs, the band does deserve at least some credit as it shows the band is not trying to blatantly rip off its influences. The song’s lyrical content adds even more to its interest. The content shows the song is a standard love song, with Kiszka singing, “Babe, ain’t no denyin’/That I got you in my head/Girl, I’d be lyin’/If you stood yourself and said/You’re the one I want/You’re the one I need/You’re the one I had/So come back to me.” This is the exact opposite, lyrically, of ‘Your Time Is Gonna Come,’ which is a song about a breakup sung from the standpoint of someone telling another that said person’s time will come. GVF’s song may be similar to Led Zeppelin’s work stylistically, and similar lyrically in that the two songs both center on relationships, but GVF’s work is about a man who wants a woman, not someone breaking up with another person. To that end, here we have another example of why Greta Van Fleet deserves more credit than it gets. With this in mind, there is still at the very least one more example in this song, of why Greta Van Fleet deserves more credit than it gets. It comes in the form of ‘Brave New World,’ which comes late in the album’s run.

‘Brave New World’ stands out because as with the previously discussed songs, this work’s musical arrangement is another example of Greta Van Fleet clearly trying to establish its own identity. Instead of the Zeppelin influences that people love to make so much with the band, this song’s arrangement presents more influence from the likes of Rush and Ritchie Blackmore among others with its slow yet bombastic guitar and drums. Kiszka’s own vocal delivery conjures thoughts of a combined Robert Plant and Geddy Lee, while the bass work adds to the song’s heaviness. It honestly could be considered the album’s most notable work because it so clearly shows the potential that the band has, despite what so many people would have people think. The song’s lyrical content shows just as much as its musical arrangement, the potential that the band has. Looking through the song’s lyrical content, it comes across as a social commentary of sorts, again presented through metaphors. This is inferred as Kiszka sings, “As to the drifters of the high rift plains/They can see the ashes and the acid rain/It turns to dust before their very eyes/And it chokes to death within the smog it lies.” This comes across as a statement of what has become of the world. That seeming statement continues as he sings in the song’s chorus, “Take one look at your skies/And in the darkness realize/Kill, fear, the power of lies/For we will not be hypnotized.” This comes across as Kiszka presenting a defiant message that the world will overcome what has caused it to become what it has become. The seeming social commentary continues as Kiszka sings, “Turn back the clock within your glass of sand/To a time of love within this blackened land/A silent child climbs a mound of char/Where he plants a seed that grows beyond the stars.” This comes across as Kiszka telling people to remember that there was a better day, and that it is possible to get back to that better time, despite everything that has happened. Once again, this is all just one critic’s interpretation. Even with that in mind, it goes without saying that this lyrical content is presented in a smart fashion, even being presented through metaphorical language. It still seems to make a statement that at least seems to match, and is deep, regardless. That contemplative nature of the song’s lyrical content couples with its equally thoughtful musical arrangement to make the song stand out even more. When this is considered along with the presentation of ‘You’re The One,’ ‘Age of Man’ and the rest of the album’s featured offerings, the whole exhibits Greta Van Fleet as a band that despite its comparisons to Led Zeppelin, deserves far more credit than it deserves.

Greta Van Fleet is currently one of the biggest names in the rock realm today. That is due to a handful of singles that have lent themselves to comparisons to the one and only Led Zeppelin. At the same time, those singles have proven to be anything but beneficial for the band. Rather, they have caused quite a division among audiences. Songs such as ‘Brave New World,’ ‘You’re The One’ and ‘Age of Man’ show a side of Greta Van Fleet that the band’s singles have not and do not present. They show a band striving to use its influences to develop its own identity and that clearly has potential. Keeping this in mind, the band’s debut album (and third overall studio recording) Anthem of the Peaceful Army proves to be a positive new effort from the up-and-coming neo-classic rock band, and one that shows the band deserves more credit than it receives. It is available now. More information on Anthem of the Peaceful Army is available online now along with all of Greta Van Fleet’s latest news and more at:

Website: http://www.gretavanfleet.com

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/gretavanfleet

Twitter: http://twitter.com/GretaVanFleet

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‘Memories In Rock II’ Is A Welcome “Sequel” To Its 2017 Predecessor

Posted on March 22, 2018 by philspicks

Courtesy: Minstrel Hall Music

Minstrel Hall Music has another archived concert on the way this spring from Ritchie Blackmore’s Rainbow. Memories in Rock II is currently scheduled to be released Friday, April 6 on separate 2CD/DVD combo pack, vinyl and digital platforms. The 18-song set (technically 21 songs) pulls performances from the band’s 2017 UK performances. As an added bonus, it also includes the band’s first studio recording since 1996. That extensive collection of songs forms a solid foundation for the recording. it will be discussed shortly. Just as important to the recording’s presentation as the extensive set list is the bonus DVD that is included with the audio recording. It will be discussed a little later, as it strengthens that foundation formed by the set list even more. The recording’s companion booklet rounds out the most important of its elements. Each element is important in its own way, as will be pointed out here. All things considered, they make Memories in Rock II a live recording that will have no problem sticking in listeners’ memories.

Ritchie Blackmore’s Rainbow’s new live recording Memories in Rock II, the follow-up to 2016’s Memories in Rock, which documented a trio of European Rainbow shows from 2016, is a nice follow-up to that recording. That is despite it missing one item in its presentation. That item is part of what also makes the recording enjoyable, its set list. The recording’s 18 (technically 21) song set list will appeal to fans of Blackmore’s work with Rainbow and Deep Purple. Over the course of its 136-minute (2-hour, 16-minute) run time, the set list features 11 classic Rainbow songs on which Blackmore took part recording as well as eight Deep Purple songs and one more recent work from Blackmore’s Night — ‘Carry On Jon.’ The whole thing opens with the band’s own take on the classic Wizard of Oz tune ‘Over The Rainbow,’ originally composed by Harold Arlen and Yip Harburg. What’s interesting about the Rainbow song selection is that it is pulled from five of Rainbow’s eight total albums. Blackmore took part on each of those albums. Of course, since he wanted to reach fans of his work with Deep Purple, there was no way to feature work from those other three Rainbow records. Keeping that in mind, being that the set list features only three more Rainbow songs than Deep Purple songs, it is clear a lot of thought was put into reaching as many fans as possible. The same can be said about the set list’s sequence. Throughout the course of the concert, Blackmore and company keep things interesting, switching back and forth between Rainbow and Deep Purple throughout rather than staying on one or the other too long. this insures listeners’ engagement even more. The one downside to the whole thing is that the concert here is limited entirely to CD. Memories in Rock, its predecessor, which chronicled Rainbow’s 2016 European shows, was presented on separate CD and CD/DVD/BD platform. Of course Live in Birmingham, a partner recording to Memories in Rock was presented only on CD. To that end, while not having a DVD or BD presentation here takes away at least a little from the presentation, it can’t be criticized too badly. It just would have been nice to have that option. Keeping that in mind, one might ask what is on the DVD that is included in this presentation. What is included on the DVD is a series of interviews with Blackmore, his band mates and even some of those behind the scenes. It’s another of the recording’s strong points.

Blackmore’s interview is the longest of the interviews included in the bonus DVD, clocking in at a little more than half an hour. Ronnie Romero gets his own roughly 10-minute interview while Blackmore’s wife Candice Night and fellow back-up singer Lady Lynn get their own moment in the limelight. The topics covered throughout the collective interviews is just as diverse as the recording’s set list. Blackmore talks about the difference between playing Deep Purple and Rainbow songs and those from Blackmore’s Night. His mention of having to keep his fingernails trimmed for the latter and of course his mentality on stage is interesting to say the least. His very frank response to whether or not he wants to play with his former Deep Purple band mates is just as interesting. Rather than ramble on aimlessly, he raises the issue of management and money being obstacles, but that he would like to play at least once so that fans would know the past is the past. It is its own interesting discussion. His light-hearted discussion on his wife’s role in Ronnie Romero’s inclusion in the band will put a smile on anyone’s face. Speaking of Romero, audiences will enjoy his discussions, too. He shares, through his discussions, a brief look at his professional resume while also discussing his love for Deep Purple and Rainbow. Drummer David Keith’s interview, while not overly long, offers its own interest for his fellow drummers. He openly admits that coming into Rainbow, his knowledge was more to that of Neil Peart (Rush) and others. Obviously he settled in nicely to his position with Rainbow. Between these discussions, the talks by Rainbow’s tour manager (yes, even the tour manager), and everyone else involved, audiences get plenty of extra insight and entertainment through the featured interviews. When that insight and entertainment is set against the recording’s set list, the two elements together show even more clearly why this recording is another enjoyable offering from Rainbow. It still is not the last of the elements to prove this, either. The recording’s companion booklet rounds out the most important of the recording’s elements.

The companion booklet that comes with Memories in Rock II is its own integral addition to this recording because of the back story that it offers on the band’s 2017 concerts. That history is presented by Stathis N. Panagiotopoulos, a member of the Deep Purple Appreciation Society, Greece. Panagiotopoulos directly mentions the band’s 2016 European shows in his liner notes while also noting that the lineup presented in this recording is the longest-running Rainbow lineup since the release of the band’s debut album way back in 1975. He even touches on the set list featured here, noting that this set list came about most likely due to discontent from audiences that the band’s 2016 shows were weighed down by Deep Purple songs. This is an interesting nugget of information considering that this set list features eight Deep Purple Songs to 11 Rainbow classics. Basically put, there is still a solid Deep Purple presence here, but there is even more Rainbow presence, and the two are ultimately well-balanced from start to finish. These notes and others included in the booklet’s liner notes do plenty to add to the recording’s enjoyment. When they are collectively set alongside the recording’s set list and the bonus interviews, the whole will keep audiences engaged and entertained for hours both literally and figuratively speaking. That being the case, it proves in whole to be a work that will stay in audiences’ minds for a long time.

Memories in Rock II, the follow-up to Rainbow’s 2017 recording Memories in Rock, is another nice addition to Rainbow’s overall body of work and another enjoyable live recording from the veteran rock band. It is a work that is certain to stay in audiences’ minds for a long time. As noted here, that is due in part to the recording’s well-balanced, extensive set list. The recording’s bonus DVD, loaded with almost two hours of insightful and entertaining interview footage adds to its enjoyment. The information provided in the liner notes of the companion booklet put the finishing touch to the recording. Each element is important in its own right. All things considered, they make Memories in Rock II potentially one of this year’s top new live recordings overall. It will be available Friday, April 6 via Minstrel Hall Music. More information on Memories in Rock II is available online now along with all of Ritchie Blackmore’s latest news and more at:

Website: http://www.ritchieblackmore.com

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/ritchieblackmore

https://philspicks.wordpress.com http://www.facebook.com/philspicksTo keep up with the latest sports and entertainment reviews and news, go online to and “Like” it. Fans can always keep up with the latest sports and entertainment reviews and news in the Phil’s Picks blog at .

Ritchie Blackmore’s Rainbow To Release New Live Recording This Spring

Posted on February 15, 2018 by philspicks

Courtesy: Minstrel Hall Music

Minstrel Hall Music has another archived concert on the way this spring from Ritchie Blackmore’s Rainbow.

Memories in Rock II is currently scheduled to be released Friday, April 6 on separate 2CD/DVD combo pack, vinyl and digital platforms. The 18-song set pulls performances from the band’s 2017 UK performances. It features songs that Blackmore recorded with Rainbow and Deep Purple including but not limited to: ‘Spotlight Kid,’ ‘I Surrender,’ ‘Mistreated,’ ‘Man on The Silver Mountain/Women From Tokyo,’ Perfect Stranger,’ ‘Black Night,’ Smoke on the Water’ and much more.

Along with those classics, the brand new Rainbow studio song ‘Waiting For A Sign’ is also included in this recording. The song, which features Ronnie Romero on vocals, is the band’s first new song since 1996. It will be released digitally March 16. The recording’s full track listing is noted below.

TRACK LISTING:

CD1:
Over The Rainbow
Spotlight Kid
I Surrender
Mistreated
Since You’ve Been Gone
Man On The Silver Mountain / Woman From Tokyo
16th Century Greensleeves
Soldier Of Fortune
Perfect Strangers
Difficult To Cure
All Night Long
Child In Time

CD2:
Stargazer
Long Live Rock’n’Roll / Lazy
Catch The Rainbow
Black Night
Carry On Jon
Temple Of The King
Smoke On The Water
Waiting For A Sign (brand new song)

The DVD that accompanies the live material on the two CDs features extensive interviews with Blackmore as well as his new band mates — Jens Johannson (keyboards), Bob Nouveau (bass), Dave Keith (drums), Lady Lynn and Candice Night (backup vocals) and the previously noted Ronnie Romero (vocals). Night also serves as vocalist for Blackmore’s other band, Blackmore’s Night.

As if the noted interviews are not enough, there are also interviews with the crew as an added bonus. Audiences can check out a preview of the interviews online now here.

More information on Memories in Rock II is available online now along with all of Ritchie Blackmore’s latest news and more at http://www.facebook.com/ritchieblackmore. To keep up with the latest sports and entertainment news and reviews, go online to http://www.facebook.com/philspicks and “Like” it. Fans can always keep up with the latest sports and entertainment news and reviews in the Phil’s Picks blog at https://philspicks.wordpress.com.

Rainbow’s New Live Recording Is A “Shining” New Offering From Eagle Rock

Posted on May 27, 2017 by philspicks

Courtesy: Eagle Rock Entertainment

Veteran rock outfit Rainbow is set to shine again early next month when it releases its latest live recording Live in Birmingham 2016. Set for release Friday, June 9, the recording is the final piece in a collection of performances from the band held last year during the band’s European tour. Two of the performances from that brief tour were initially released on DVD. This recording, while only available on 2CD set and digital platforms – the set’s only negative – rounds out that short stint of live dates. Even being available only on audio-specific platforms, it still boasts its share of positives, beginning with its set list. This will be discussed shortly. The band’s performance of the featured songs is just as important to note as the songs themselves. It will be discussed later. The concert’s sound quality rounds out its most important elements. Each noted element is important in its own right as will be shown. All things considered, they make Live in Birmingham 2016 one more of this year’s top new live CDs.

Eagle Rock Entertainment’s new live Rainbow recording Live in Birmingham 2016 is one of this year’s top new live CDs. An accompaniment to the label’s previously released live Rainbow recordings from the band’s 2016 European tour, this recording boasts plenty of positives beginning with its extensive 15-song (technically 16-song) set list. The set list, which is spread across two discs, features an extensive collection of Rainbow’s hits along with a number of Deep Purple’s biggest hits, too. On the outermost layer of the set list, audiences will appreciate that the set list balances the Deep Purple songs and Rainbow songs quite expertly. Both bands are represented with eight songs. Two of the songs, ‘Black Night’ and ‘Woman From Tokyo’ are joined in a mini-medley. Even with that in mind, they are still two songs, bringing the set list’s total count to 16 songs. Again, this makes the bands’ song count eight each.

The expertly balanced representation of Deep Purple and Rainbow within the set list is just one part of what makes the set list stand out. The range of albums from which the songs are pulled adds even more to the importance of the set list. In regards to the Rainbow portion of the set list, which is interspersed with the Deep Purple portion, audiences will be pleased to see that only two of Rainbow’s records – Bent Out Of Shape (1983) and Stranger In Us All (1995) – are not represented in this concert. The band’s debut 1975 album Ritchie Blackmore’s Rainbow is represented twice in the form of ‘Catch The Rainbow’ and ‘Man on the Silver Mountain’ while Difficult To Cure (1981) also gets a pair of songs in the form of its title track and ‘Spotlight Kid.’ Rising, Down To Earth, Long Live Rock ‘N Roll and Straight Between The Eyes each get a nod, too.

The set list’s Deep Purple nods obviously don’t pull from every one of that band’s albums. However, It does do a respectable job of representing the band’s early days, reaching all the way back to its seminal 1972 album Machine Head and even to 1995 with the 25^th anniversary re-issue of Deep Purple in Rock. That re-issue is represented through the song ‘Black Night,’ which was originally recorded as a B-Side that never made it onto the original album. Stormbringer (1974) is also represented here as are the band’s self-titled 1973 album, Burn (1974) and Perfect Strangers (1984). The latter of the albums, Perfect Strangers marked Blackmore’s return to the band from Rainbow, making it an important record to represent in Blackmore’s return to the stage in this concert. Keeping in mind the Deep Purple and Rainbow records represented here and their equally balanced representation, it becomes clear why the concert’s set list is so important to its overall presentation. The whole of the set list paints a rich, vivid picture of Blackmore’s career while also offering plenty of entertaining compositions. The set list is only one of the elements to be considered in examining the recording’s whole. The band’s performance of the set list is just as important to discuss in examining the concert’s overall presentation.

The set list featured in this recording is a key piece of the recording’s whole. That is proven through its balance of Deep Purple and Rainbow songs as well as the representation of each band’s body of work within the recording. It is not the recording’s only important element. The band’s performance of that extensive, yet well-balanced, set list is just as important to examine as the set list itself. Front man Ronnie Romero keeps audiences completely enthralled with his vocals in every song whether powering through ‘Long Live Rock ‘N’ Roll’ and ‘Highway Star,’ soaring through ‘Stargazer’ or driving the band through ‘Burn.’ Blackmore’s work on the guitar is just as powerful in each performance while David Keith (drums) and Bob Nouveau (bass) partner to drive the band’s rhythm section solidly. The band’s collective fire burns bright through each performance, making the concert engaging from start to finish. Even in the occasional interludes, Romero keeps listeners engaged showing his prowess as a front man as he interacts with the audience. The fact that the band doesn’t spend an overt amount of time between songs makes this even more interesting to note. Simply put, the band makes the most of every moment, whether performing or taking time to talk to the audience. The whole of that presentation makes this recording even more enjoyable, even though it can only be enjoyed in an audio-only platform. Despite that, the band’s performance both in-song and between proves to be just as important to this recording as the set list itself. It is not the last of the recording’s most important elements, either. Its sound quality rounds out its most important elements.

The set list that makes up the body of Live in Birmingham 2016 and the band’s performance thereof are both key pieces of the recording’s whole. That has already been pointed out and proven. While both elements are clearly important pieces of the record’s whole, they are not its only important elements. The recording’s sound quality (I.E. its sound engineering/mixing) is also important to note. The concert’s sound starts off a little bit muddled, with Romero’s vocals being somewhat overpowered by the rest of the band’s instrumentation. By the time the band works its way into ‘Mistreated,’ that issue disappears, making the concert an enjoyable listen right to the end. Whether the initial audio issue rose at the concert or in post-production is anyone’s guess. That aside, it thankfully doesn’t last too long before it is finally eliminated. The end result is a recording that balances relatively well each musician’s part with those of his counterparts, making for a concert that expertly highlights each musician and in turn entertains and engages audiences from start to finish. When this is considered along with the equally important set list and band’s performance thereof, the whole of those elements reveals the recording to be an experience that audiences, whether fans of Blackmore, Deep Purple, Rainbow or all three, will appreciate. That is the case even despite the fact that the recording is available only on audio-specific platforms. They reveal the recording to be one of this year’s top new live CDS.

Rainbow: Live in Birmingham 2016 is one of this year’s top new live CDs. That is due in part to a set list that lifts equally from Blackmore’s time with Rainbow and Deep Purple. The band’s performance of the expertly balanced set list adds to the recording’s presentation. The recording’s sound quality rounds out its most important elements. Each element is, as already noted, important in its own right to the recording’s whole. All things considered, they make Live in Birmingham 2016 a presentation that, despite being available exclusively on audio platforms, an enjoyable recording and one that proves to be one of the year’s top new live CDs. It will be available in stores and online Friday, June 9. More information on this and other titles from Eagle Rock Entertainment is available online now at:

Website: http://www.eagle-rock.com

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/EagleRockEnt

Twitter: http://twitter.com/EagleRockNews

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Tag Archives: Ritchie Blackmore

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