Live at the Royal Albert Hall - Alter Bridge - Kip

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     In the early 2000's, two of my sons turned me on to a new band called Alter Bridge that had materialized after the breakup of Creed. Trying to be a good father, I dutifully listened to the first album, mainly to just be up on what my young teen sons were listening to and I was instantly hooked. Their new singer, the now very famous Myles Kennedy, had a throwback range that immediately piqued my interest, along with thoughtful, positive lyrics that I found appealing. They have become my absolute favorite “current” band whom my son Kelly and I have seen together live on two different occasions. Choosing a favorite studio album from their seven would be impossible, as I have found them to be the one band in my entire collection that puts out full length albums with no filler, nor would I ever put their CD on “shuffle.” Consequently, I would choose their most recent live album (of four) to most collectively represent them as a band. This disk, Live at the Royal Albert Hall, finds them doing the seemingly requisite live show accompanied by an orchestra. While I find that practice a bit tired now, Alter Bridge's songs work exceedingly well in this context. The album includes the songs that any Alter Bridge fan would deem indispensable: “Slip to the Void,” “Cry of Achilles” (my favorite AB song,) “Ghosts of Days Gone By” (theme song for our Desert Island motif,) “Wonderful Life/Watch Over You,” and “Blackbird,” which all AB fans consider their “Stairway to Heaven.” The gem of this set though, is the rarely attempted live version of “Words Darker Than Their Wings.” This extremely deep, thoughtful song includes a vocal “lift” that is the center of countless YouTube videos of “professional” singers reacting to vocal performances. I have to admit to tearing up the first time I saw the DVD (a professionally shot live video recording included with the CD.) Myles is my favorite singer, both because of his talent AND authentic humility. It is his finest moment, which is saying a LOT. The combination of my sharing the fandom of this band with my sons and the intense connection I share with the lyrics to a great number of their songs, makes at least one of their albums an absolute must for any limited collection I would have on a deserted island. 

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 The Real John Barry... - Jeff

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   For me, music is all about emotion. That’s the core of my connection to it. If a song doesn’t make me feel something, I just can’t connect. There’s a documentary where Bob Ezrin is working with Deep Purple, and after they finish jamming, he walks into the studio, pounds his chest with his fist, and says, “Gentlemen, I’m not feeling anything!” That perfectly sums up how I experience music. If I don’t feel it, I don’t like it.

   The source of that emotional connection can be anything: a vocal performance, the tone of a guitar, a powerful riff, a sorrowful violin, or a lyric that touches my soul. Back in the 1970s, many of the songs I loved were the ones that made me feel cool blasting them from my car. Sometimes, it’s about joy and happiness — that’s what early Beatles and Beach Boys songs do for me. Other times, it’s about romance. The pop song “Happy Together” by The Turtles is one I share with my wife — it’s our song. I can’t hear it without thinking of her. There’s also sadness. After a breakup with a girlfriend, I would lean into that feeling, playing sad songs for months. These days, I call them “reflective” songs — pieces that help me ponder life and its many intricate struggles. Many of them are instrumentals, and that’s exactly the kind of album I’d take to the island.

   While lyrics are beautiful, sometimes I want to pour my own thoughts and feelings into the music. That’s why I’ve always loved soundtracks. One of my first records as a kid was a Batman TV knock-off soundtrack. It had a romantic piece where I’d imagine myself in a movie love scene, fighting music where I’d pretend I was battling villains, and spy music for sneaking around the house. That album was my first personal soundtrack.

   Later, as a young teenager, I found a James Bond soundtrack, You Only Live Twice, on sale at Kmart for 33 cents. When I listened to it, I was hooked. It was composed by John Barry, who would become my favorite soundtrack composer of all time.

   Once my daughter Aimee asked who did I have the most tracks of in my Mac's iTunes? Amazingly, when we checked my music library, I discovered I had collected more songs by John Barry than by anyone else — more than The Beatles, Paul McCartney, Kiss, or Alice Cooper (not combined, just individually)! So it's understandable that if I’m going to a desert island, I’m bringing John Barry with me.

   Specifically, I’d take The Real... John Barry, a three-album set that offers an incredible selection from his catalog. It includes many of my favorite Bond themes, the haunting “Theme for Romance for Guitar and Orchestra,” and pieces from Out of Africa, Body Heat, Chaplin, and Dances With Wolves; and so many more! It’s a great collection. Oddly, it doesn’t include a single track from Somewhere in Time, his biggest-selling album. Whoever compiled this collection should be slapped silly and dumped in an alley for not including a single piece from Barry's magnum opus! It’s unbelievable. Maybe it’s a copyright issue — who knows. But it’s the collection I have, so that’s the one I’d choose.

   On the island, I would play this album and savor the emotions it evokes. Sometimes I’d think about the films the music was written for. Other times, I’d focus on the intricate arrangements — the interplay of strings, brass, and orchestra. The music might make me think of a lost love, childhood memories, or even inspire me to overcome challenges on the island.

The track I would play most often  would be “Theme for Romance for Guitar and Orchestra,”  and as it filled the air around me I’d look up at the Milky Way, smell the warm ocean water, feel the cool Pacific breeze and thank the Heavens for John Barry — that I was lucky enough to live on this little blue planet at the same time he did. I’ll cherish his genius and the way his music makes me feel.

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Drama - Yes - Mark

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   My offering to you this month is from a band near and dear to my heart. One of progressive rocks premier bands. A band that needs little to no introduction, so I’ll shut up and tell you. The wonderful, the amazingly super cool, and tubular: YES!

   My choice maybe be a bit provocative to my fellow YES fans, but for myself this album after many, many listens still make my toes curl with glee. I’m referring to the album Drama. This is what the music is when your free from under the iron thumb of Jon Anderson. And with his and Rick Wakemans leaving a new and fresh orchard of ideas were cultivated with the arrival of Trevor Horn and Geoff Downes. Oh, my goodness golly! This one’s a keeper! “…machine, machine messiah… the mindless search for a higher controller. Take me to the fire and hold me. Show me the strength of your singular eye…” Prophetic? This sure sounds like AI to me. Now I know AI is an old concept, but that’s pretty cryptic and cool. Right? This is Steve Howe at his finest and heaviest. The intro riff is so brutal and menacing! Setting the stage for a tune that should be the anthem for House Harkonnen. Certainly on the Giedi Prime greatest hits. Check it out. After that manic dirge a tonal palette cleanse is in order, I think “Man in a White Car” is just what is needed. Light and refreshing. Trevor’s vocals are like a fine spritzer on a hot Harkonnen afternoon. Uplifting. Does it really happen is a complex herky jerky tumble into the new decade. Slightly new wavy to me, but still retains that “YES” prog construct. The great Chris Squire takes the lead and is amazing! As usual I miss him dearly. “Into the Lens” is a reimagined Buggle's tune “I am a Camera” Off of “Adventures in Modern Recording” album. Which is not on Apple Music?! Come on Apple! I might like the Buggles version a bit more, but this version is wonderful. The synth intro to “Run Through the Light” always moves me. It’s like I’m walking through green pastures under Miyazaki skies. Steve Howe’s electric and certainly acoustic guitars are just amazing. His acoustic chordal approach and electric melody making are amazing. Chris squire on fretless bass is something new for me. I dig it! Great tune. “Tempest Fugit” book ends this album perfectly. Allan White and Chris Squire just hammer this one home! Wow, just a blast to endure this one. I try to sing along, but most of the time I stumble. Give it a try… I dare you :-)

   I see that JoJo and Britney are in the lagoon splashing around having fun. I think I’ll join them. See you next month.

“Hey JoJo, where’s my snorkel?!”  I tell ya that monkeys always borrowing… never returning. CANNONBALL!

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