A Sonic Breath Of Fresh Air
Mmmmm - an Amazon delivery! Haven't had one of those for a while, and this isn't an impulse buy of notebooks - today, we're talking a brace of new-release CDs; the latest Seasick Steve - "Man From Another Time", and a definite "major event" in the form of "Sonic Boom", the latest studio album by KISS!
I heard a few weeks ago that the band were soon to release some new studio material, but I had no idea it would be released so soon. Before I knew it, and aided by a UK music market that won't give air-time to anything that hasn't won a "reality" show or been on an advert, the album snuck out on general release. Taking the plunge, I ordered the deluxe version, complete with rerecorded classic songs, and a live DVD - just under £11 seemed like a real bargain...
I haven't sampled the bonus material yet, but "Sonic Boom" has proved to be worth the price of admission all on its own. Just like AC/DC's "Black Ice" last year, a great band has ended the drought with some first-rate material - I've already fallen in love with the anthemic "Stand", and I feel pretty sure there are several other candidates for taking root in this writer's head; you only have to hear "Say Yeah", and you can imagine it in the live set. It's Kiss as you'd expect, honed by all their years of experience - the band you love, with 21st Century polish and plenty of energy. I am genuinely loving this - and not just because it means there's a VERY good chance of a tour heading this way - next summer, I suspect, but please not just a slot at Glastonbury or some shit like that. Nothing, and I mean NOTHING short of DEATH will stop me attending.
No true fan can ever doubt the band again after hearing this - screw all the "Kiss Koffins" crap, this is the real deal. Like Godzilla, there are some things only the force of nature can stop. Highly Recommended.
Development News... Made a bit of progress with MoN-203 "Mane-of-Night And The Wayward Child", but the big creative advance is a future storyline, tying together two seemingly unrelated plot-threads. If I manage to not be ambushed by hassle for, say a week or so, I could get close to clearing the existing story from my plate, and edge closer to more unexplored waters. Let's see how likely that is to happen...
Tomorrow... The Doctor returns in The Sarah-Jane Adventures!
I heard a few weeks ago that the band were soon to release some new studio material, but I had no idea it would be released so soon. Before I knew it, and aided by a UK music market that won't give air-time to anything that hasn't won a "reality" show or been on an advert, the album snuck out on general release. Taking the plunge, I ordered the deluxe version, complete with rerecorded classic songs, and a live DVD - just under £11 seemed like a real bargain...
I haven't sampled the bonus material yet, but "Sonic Boom" has proved to be worth the price of admission all on its own. Just like AC/DC's "Black Ice" last year, a great band has ended the drought with some first-rate material - I've already fallen in love with the anthemic "Stand", and I feel pretty sure there are several other candidates for taking root in this writer's head; you only have to hear "Say Yeah", and you can imagine it in the live set. It's Kiss as you'd expect, honed by all their years of experience - the band you love, with 21st Century polish and plenty of energy. I am genuinely loving this - and not just because it means there's a VERY good chance of a tour heading this way - next summer, I suspect, but please not just a slot at Glastonbury or some shit like that. Nothing, and I mean NOTHING short of DEATH will stop me attending.
No true fan can ever doubt the band again after hearing this - screw all the "Kiss Koffins" crap, this is the real deal. Like Godzilla, there are some things only the force of nature can stop. Highly Recommended.
Development News... Made a bit of progress with MoN-203 "Mane-of-Night And The Wayward Child", but the big creative advance is a future storyline, tying together two seemingly unrelated plot-threads. If I manage to not be ambushed by hassle for, say a week or so, I could get close to clearing the existing story from my plate, and edge closer to more unexplored waters. Let's see how likely that is to happen...
Tomorrow... The Doctor returns in The Sarah-Jane Adventures!