May 27, 2024

Kenny Loggins - High Adventure (1983) ☠

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*U.S. first pressing. 
Contains 9 tracks total.
Country: U.S.A.
Genre: Pop Rock
Label Number: CK 38127
☠: Selected by Lass
© 1983 CBS
Well, if Duran Duran decided to rip off Raiders of the Lost Ark, why not Kenny Loggins? After all, the swashbuckling cover to High Adventure fits this album, since it finds him relying equally on rockers and melodic pop/rock. The album kicks off with Loggins' hardest-rocking single, "Don't Fight It," a surging arena-rocker duet with Steve Perry. This signals that the rest of the record will be harder than his previous record and that's true to a certain extent, since this doesn't just rock on occasion, it also has his best ballads and mid-tempo charmers. In other words, it's his best album, showcasing all sides of his personality effectively. "Don't Fight It" is a great single, but the best moment here is "Heart to Heart," the second of two pop classics Loggins cut as a solo artist. Here, he has a great mid-tempo groove, a good lyric and an indelible melody that is soft rock at its finest. The rest of the album may not match this height -- most of the genre didn't -- but it's all strong (though it's awful strange that "Heartlight," a tribute to the children's foundation Heartlight, has the oddest melody he's ever written -- an ominous march that just gets creepier when the children's choir pops up at the end). Celebrate Me Home may be more consistent, but this is the most diverse record he ever cut, blessed by fine studio craft and a nice reliance on pseudo-new wave production techniques.

 tags: kenny loggins, high adventure, 1983, flac,
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Corey Hart - Young Man Running (1988)

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Country: Canada
Language: English
Genre: Pop, Pop Rock
Label Number: CDP-7-48752-2

© 1988 EMI-Manhattan Records
Corey Hart's first two albums each had a hit single on them. Young Man Running was released in 1988 and was his fifth record overall and third since the success of "Never Surrender." For an album that had disappointing sales and subsequently saw Hart dropped from EMI, Young Man Running is a surprisingly pleasant listen. The 11 originals all have a distinct sound and a relatively upbeat feel. Stylistically, Hart experiments with sounds of reggae and rock, and throws in a little Bruce Springsteen and the E Street band for good measure. Fans of Eddie & the Cruisers will like "In Your Soul." Fans of Hart's previous hits will also like "Truth Will Set You Free" and "Chase the Sun." Overall, Young Man Running is a good used find, and, though not filled with undiscovered hits, is an enjoyable listen.

 tags: corey hart, young man running, 1988, flac,
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Corey Hart - Bang! (1990)

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Country: Canada
Language: English
Genre: Pop, Pop Rock
Label Number: CDP-7-92513-2

© 1990 EMI USA
This 1990 bid for chart-faring hits definitely strives for success, and at times it succeeds. The patented Corey Hart vocals are here, along with catchy material on such fare as "Bang! (Starting Over)" and "A Little Love," with a chorus that will soon have you singing, "a little love will make your heart go bang-bang." Any number of these songs should've done well on Top 40 radio in 1990, but, alas, not even one made a bump on the U.S. charts. Hart works a soulful sound onto "Rain on Me," gets sensual with "Slowburn," and unknowingly creates a sultry homoerotic pleaser on "Diamond Cowboy," complete with an ailing harmonica solo. Much like when John Mellencamp poked fun at himself with "Pop Singer," Hart plays the same hand with "Icon," singing, "I love to be an icon, super strong, obnoxious little moron," with more than a hint of a wink. Often written off as hack product, it's obvious that Hart is sincere even when creating the lighter-flickering concert song "Chase the Sun," but he should have avoided letting "Can't Stand Losin' You" and "Kisses on the Train" be included on this release. The closer and ultimate letdown, "Ballade for Nien Cheng," where Hart lets his politics speak, just doesn't fit. While this isn't an essential release, fans of Hart will enjoy this as an occasional listen.

 tags: corey hart, bang, 1990, flac,
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May 26, 2024

Corey Hart - Boy In The Box (1985)

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*U.S. first pressing. 
Contains 9 tracks total.
Country: Canada
Language: English
Genre: Pop, Pop Rock
Label Number: CDP 7 46166 2

© 1985 EMI America
Corey Hart quickly followed the success of his 1984 debut album, First Offense, and its blockbuster single, "Sunglasses at Night," with Boy in the Box in 1985. If First Offense used new wave synths as flair for Hart's rock-oriented mainstream pop, Boy in the Box is a thoroughly modern album, at least according to the standards of 1985. Most of the rhythms are synthesized, all the arrangements are built on keyboards, the guitars are processed so they're clean, brittle, and echoey, all adding up to an album that pretty much defines the sound of mainstream contemporary pop in 1985. Although none of the songs here have the sleek ominous undertow of "Sunglasses at Night," as an album Boy in the Box is more distinctive than First Offense, building on the vibe of "Sunglasses at Night" often to strong results. Hart spends a lot of time brooding on this album, cultivating the sullen loner vibe that "Sunglasses" captured so well; even the lively title track has a touch of emotional claustrophobia running beneath it. But it's isn't just introspection here -- Hart tackles Communism on "Komrade Kiev," and the album's hit, "Never Surrender," is a soaring power ballad of empowerment, giving this album a greater musical and emotional range than his debut. If Boy in the Box still sounds tied to its time, so be it -- most albums can't help but reflect the times that made them. But among mainstream new wave-influenced pop/rock albums from 1985, this is one of the more intriguing ones.

 tags: corey hart, boy in the box, 1985, flac,
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Corey Hart - First Offense (1983) ☠

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*U.K. first pressing. 
Contains 10 tracks total.
Country: Canada
Language: English
Genre: Pop, Pop Rock
Label Number: CDP 7 46077 2
☠: Selected by Lass
© 1983-1991 EMI America
Corey Hart's debut album encompasses much of the '80s pop sound, namely with "Sunglasses at Night," an instant classic with its distinctive melody and catchy chorus. Often considered a one-hit wonder, Hart was a staple act in regular rotation on radio and MTV throughout the '80s with nine Top 40 Billboard hits and over ten million records sold. Many say 1984 was the pinnacle for '80s music, and for Hart this release came to define his sound. With a distinctive Canadian accent he stood out even with what was sometimes indistinguishable music. All the cliched '80s sounds are here in full force, from the brooding saxophone, the bratty guitar solo, the snotty background vocalists, and the catchy keyboard riffs. Hart, though, is obviously impassioned about the part that he plays. Constantly striving to raise many of his lyrics above the meter, he can come across as clumsy when he tries too hard. Where Hart succeeds is when he allows the hooks to catch. The tragic lovelorn stadium ballad appears with "It Ain't Enough," another early Hart hit that easily served its use for long distance dedication on soft rock radio during the '80s, an avenue he again repeats on "Jenny Fey" but falls flat. Time and time again Hart's voice is what saves him from mediocrity as in the cool way he says "no, no, no, no, no, no" on "Does She Love You." The dated "She Got the Radio" still retains its charm and humor and wouldn't be out of place on some quirky mixtape. The rest of the songs may fit into the typecast Corey Hart sound, but this release serves as a classic reminder of the fresh-faced voice from Canada that dominated the airwaves. For you '80s aficionados, this is one to own. Weird fact: Eric Clapton plays Dobro on the album.

 tags: corey hart, first offense, 1983, flac,
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Naglfar - Vittra (1995)

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Country: Sweden
Language: English
Genre: Black Metal
Style: Melodic Black Metal
Label Number: WAR 008

© 1995 Wrong Again Records
*No professional reviews are available for this release. 

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Emperor - Reverence: E.P. (1997)

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Country: Norway
Language: English
Genre: Black Metal
Label Number: CandleCD100

© 1997 Candlelight Records
*No professional reviews are available for this release.

 tags: emperor, reverence, ep, 1997, flac,
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Lord - Behind The Curtain of Darkness (1998)

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Country: France
Language: English
Genre: Black Metal
Label Number: ELD 002

© 1998 Eldethorn
*No professional reviews are available for this release.

tags: lord, behind the curtain of darkness, 1998, flac,
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May 18, 2024

YZ - EP (1991)

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Country: U.S.A.
Genre: Hip-Hop
Label Number: TUF CD 8065

© 1991 Tuff City Records
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YZ - Sons of The Father (1990)

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*This is a digital store downloads purchased from Qobuz.
This pressing contains 12 tracks total.
Country: U.S.A.
Genre: Hip-Hop
Label Number: None

© 1990 Tuff City
*No professional reviews are available for this release.

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Rachid - Prototype (1998)

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*A photo of the disc is included in the RAR file.
Country: U.S.A.
Genre: R&B
Label Number: UD-53114

© 1998 Universal Records
Rachid's Prototype is one of the most unpredictable and refreshing urban R&B debuts to appear in 1998. Instead of sticking to conventional urban influences, Rachid strengthens his music with a diverse array of influences that actually gel into a distinctive style. Borrowing from soul, techno, industrial and electronica, Rachid has created a continually intriguing album -- even when he doesn't quite fulfill his ambitions, the music still holds promise, which makes Prototype an exciting debut.

 tags: rachid, prototype, 1998, flac,
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Kreator - Hordes of Chaos (2009)

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*U.S. standard pressing. 
Contains 10 tracks total.
Country: Germany
Language: English
Genre: Thrash Metal
Label Number: SPV 91972 CD

© 2009 Steamhammer
You know what lays ahead whenever you embark on listening to a new Kreator studio album, and 2009's Hordes of Chaos is certainly no different. And that isn't meant as a knock on the band -- heck, Kreator should be commended for sticking to their guns and continuing on in the same "thrash-happy" style since pretty much their inception (without bowing down to musical trends). So, that said, you can make up your own "Kreator checklist": growled vocals and intense riffing (the album-opening title track), lightning-fast tempos ("Warcurse"), tasty dual-guitar work ("Destroy What Destroys You") -- it's all represented here, folks. It's been nearly four long years since Mille Petrozza and friends issued an all-new studio album, and Hordes of Chaos should most definitely meet the needs of Kreator diehards worldwide.

 tags: kreator, hordes of chaos, 2009, flac,
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Kreator - Gods of Violence (2017)

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*U.S. standard pressing. 
Contains 11 tracks total.
Country: Germany
Language: English
Genre: Thrash Metal
Label Number: 3916-2

© 2017 Nuclear Blast
There is plenty of thrash metal out there; too much in fact, as it's become the most overpopulated zone of heavy music. That said, there's thrash and then there's Kreator. Mille Petrozza (vocals, guitars, lyrics) and Jürgen "Ventor" Reil (drums) have always sought to reinvent the wheel while remaining true to their roots. Despite lineup changes -- the band currently includes Sami Yli–Sirniö on guitars and bassist Christian "Speesy" Giesler -- they've always managed to inject vitality, personality, and innovation to this beloved yet musically restricted terrain.

Five years was a long time to wait for a new Kreator album. Given the manic energy of 2016's Violence Unleashed EP, which whet fans' appetites for more of the good stuff, it seemed even longer. Produced by Jens Bogren, Gods of Violence is the album the other lineage thrash acts could never make again. It's impossible to conceive of Metallica or Slayer pulling off anything this intense or imaginative. The 11-song set belongs in the line that began with 2001's Violent Revolution and continued through 2005's Enemy of God and 2012's Phantom Antichrist. (The 2009 release Hordes of Chaos, recorded live in a single studio setting, is the only outlier.) The music here is almost a companion to Enemy of God as it balances its deadly assault with melodic death metal.

Appropriately, it commences with an anthem. "Apocalypticon," an intro complete with martial drums, a military choir, and razored guitars, with orchestral work from Fleshgod Apocalypse's Francesco Paoli and Francesco Ferrini, just stops seemingly in the middle and gives way to the brutal "World War Now," with its triple-time chug and churn. Petrozza's riffs are as meaty and physical as ever. His vocals ride just enough above the mix to discern his hostile lyrics. In the refrain, the pace increases. First single "Satan Is Real" is all swinging groove and knotty twin-guitar hell, but "Totalitarian Terror" delivers one of the catchiest and most punishing riffs the band has ever laid down. "Lion with Eagle Wings" nods at both classic Judas Priest and later NWOBHM with power metal asides and soaring choruses, all while waving the thrash flag high. Closer "Death Becomes My Light" is a gallop worthy of the entire price of entry all by itself. The way melody and guitar harmonies and riffs are threaded through these tracks is admirable. No. It's killer. All told, Gods of Violence proves well worth the wait. Kreator proves -- yet again -- that the kids still have a lot to learn when it comes to keeping thrash viable.

 tags: kreator, gods of violence, 2017, flac,
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May 12, 2024

Left Hand Solution - Shadowdance: E.P. (1994)

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*First pressing. 
Contains 6 tracks total.
Country: Sweden
Language: English
Genre: Doom Metal
Label Number: MASS CDS-63

© 1994 Massproduktion
*No professional reviews are available for this release. 

 tags: left hand solution, shadowdance, shadow dance, ep, 1994, flac,
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Taral - This Time (1997)

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Country: U.S.A.
Genre: R&B
Label Number: 314530668-2

© 1997 Motown
*No professional reviews are available for this release.

tags: taral, this time, 1997, flac,
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Boodah An Da Bandit - Brain On Drugz: E.P. (1994)

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*This is a digital store download purchased from Qobuz. 
Contains 6 tracks total.
Country: U.S.A. 
Genre: Hip-Hop
Label Number: None

© 1994 Tuff City
*No professional reviews are available for this release.

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tags: boodah an da bandit, brain on drugz, ep, 1994, flac,
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Arianna Puello - El Tentempié (Maxi Single) (1998)

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*A photo of the disc is included in the RAR file.
(*Se incluye una foto del disco en el archivo RAR.)
Country: Spain
Language: Spanish (Castellano)
Genre: Hip-Hop
Label Number: ZB-010

© 1998 Zona Bruta
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tags: arianna puello, el tentempie, maxi, 1998, flac, ari,
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Elements - La Esperanza (1999)

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*This is a digital store download purchased 
from Qobuz. Contains 14 tracks total.
(*Esta es una descarga de la tienda digital comprada 
en Qobuz. Contiene 14 pistas en total.)

Country: Spain
Language: Spanish (Castellano)
Genre: Hip-Hop
Label Number: None

© 1999 Boa Music
*No professional reviews are available for this release.

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tags: elements, la esperanza, 1999, flac,
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Pale Forest - Exit Mould (2001) ☠

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Country: Norway
Language: English
Genre: Alternative Rock, Gothic Rock
Label Number: POSH 034
☠: Selected by Lass
© 2001 Listenable Records
The blurry-eyed mope rock of Pale Forest is a bizarre combination of styles. With vocals that would sound natural on a Cardigans album, music that runs the gamut from Bettie Serveert gentleness to Gathering-style goth metal, and lyrics straight from the Juliana Hatfield school of cute, Pale Forest combines many unlikely elements to produce a satisfying album. Exit Mould rests almost solely on the delicate, charismatic vocals of Kristin Fjellseth. It is her voice that ties together the many elements that make the band work; any other vocalist would probably make the band sound dull and uninspired. But she skates along the melodies provided by the band effortlessly, peeking her head into the songs and sprinkling her vocals over the sparse instrumentation. The music itself is quite nice, finding a middle ground between the lush guitar workouts of Ride and the sparse soundscapes of Codeine. The results are a wonderful album that proves that the best surprises usually come from the most unexpected places.

 tags: pale forest, exit mould, 2001, flac,
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Kreator - Enemy of God (2005) ☠

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Country: Germany
Language: English
Genre: Thrash Metal
Label Number: SPV 085-69842 CD-E
☠: Selected by Buccaneer
© 2005 Steamhammer
"Never underestimate the heart of a champion" may as well have been the unspoken moral behind Kreator's astounding return to form via 2001's Violent Revolution, following over a decade of "wilderness study" in non-thrash terrain. As well as revitalizing the band's career the album clearly helped main man Mille Petrozza make peace with his past, and set the stage for his band's wisely retro-minded direction going forward into the new millennium. Cue 2005's Enemy of God: not only Kreator's next shot at revitalizing old-school thrash metal for modern generations, but a necessary building block to sustaining their unexpected renaissance. And as the pummeling opening title track's timeless thrashing proceeds to detonate everything in sight, indeed all appears to be well and good in the Kreator camp's future. Of course, no matter how forceful and successful this initial assault, the inevitable irony of Kreator's decision to stay the course on Enemy of God is that it invariably doesn't sound quite as fresh as its direct predecessor. But in terms of those other, all-important attributes: intensity of attack and quality songwriting -- the results are almost identically inspired, more often than not. Simply witness the blinding solos and masterful twin harmonies that pepper instant neo-thrash classics "World Anarchy" and "When Death Takes Its Dominion" for proof that this is Kreator at their tightest, devastating best. Not to be outdone, additional speed-fests such as "Impossible Brutality" and "Suicide Terrorist" basically speak for themselves, and even the more sedate acoustic guitar twangs introducing "Voices of the Dead," "Dying Race Apocalypse," and "The Ancient Plague" offer but small relief from the album's decapitating onslaught. And, all things considered, it's a testament to Petrozza and company's creative acumen that such savagery never descends into repetitive overkill. In short, although Kreator remain staunch Enem[ies] of God, it's nice to see they are still faithful friends to thrash metal fans everywhere.

 tags: kreator, enemy of god, 2005, flac,
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Kreator - Violent Revolution (2001) ☠

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*U.S. pressing. 
Contains 12 tracks total.
Country: Germany
Language: English
Genre: Thrash Metal
Label Number: SPV 085-7254A CD
☠: Selected by Buccaneer
© 2001 Steamhammer
One of the legendary thrash bands of the '80s, Kreator is back in fine fashion with Violent Revolution. So strong is the album that it not only reclaims their previous glory, but even sets about to show a bit of one-upmanship on it. The album utilizes much of Kreator's earlier musical leanings while moving the group forward into a new age. In fact, in many ways it seems as if Kreator has taken lessons from recent releases that, while experimenting with new styles, left the band's old ways somewhat forgotten. By combining those experimental ideas with the old character, Kreator has basically reinvented itself. What you have is something that should please all of Kreator's old-time fans who may have felt a bit disenfranchised by the band's later works, while still creating a fresh sound.

 tags: kreator, violent revolution, 2001, flac,
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May 07, 2024

Raw Breed - Lune Tunz (1993)

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Country: U.S.A.
Genre: Hip-Hop
Style: Hardcore Hip-Hop
Label Number: 19305-2

© 1993 Nuff Nuff/Continuum Records
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Showbiz & A.G. - Party Groove/Soul Clap: E.P. (1992)

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Country: U.S.A.
Genre: Hip-Hop
Label Number: 828 309-2

© 1992 London/Payday/Showbiz Records
*No professional reviews are available for this release.

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 tags: showbiz and ag, party groove, soul clap, ep, 1992, flac,
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