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Friday, July 20, 2012

News Update for Friday July 20th, 2012

Hi Folks,
Well, trying to get back to a little normality here.
Rhonda is still sore and the doctors said she has a neck strain and gave her some meds to help out with that.
I'm just thankful that's all they found.
We're incredibly blessed and thankful, for no worse injuries.

Up early today to try and get something on her for you.

Again, sorry for the lack of updates, just time is not on my side at all with the new job and internet restrictions there and just life with everything else. Also wanted to bring you a review or two and have been struggling with getting those to you, phew!
Love the latest Shinedown album, but here's the problem with that one. I can only play it in the car, it's watermarked, this I know, but this is the first watermarked disc I have had, that I cannot play in a desktop PC or laptop. I have an Mp3 disc player too and it will not recognise it, so trying to get little details down to you in a review, is pretty much impossible. Thanks Atlantic Records!
I'll have to sit in the car with a notepad basically and then type that up. Nuts!

OK, on with the other updates for you.
Happy Friday folks, Cheers, Al




SAGA to release brand new studio album 20/20
 ~August 28, 2012~




New York, NY (July 19, 2012) — Eagle Rock Entertainment / earMusic (edel) are proud to announce the August 28th US release of 20/20, the 20th studio album from Canadian progressive rock band SAGA.
Finally reunited again with their original singer Michael Sadler, 20/20 is the ultimate AOR/progressive rock album.

Since SAGA’s foundation in 1977, the band has toured the globe various times, won many awards and has sold over 8 million albums worldwide. Their musical style is defined by prominent guitar riffs, often in harmony with a synthesizer and complex keyboard arrangements.

The title 20/20 obviously refers to the album being the 20th of SAGA, but, in addition, it’s a good luck wish to keyboardist/vocalist Jim Gilmour, who had to undergo an eye operation during SAGA’s latest European tour … and now his eyesight is, indeed, 20/20.

The album features ten brand new songs, never missing the distinctive sound of SAGA’s legendary hits. With striking keyboard sounds and Michael Sadler’s stunning vocals, the album has all that it takes to become an instant fan favorite as well as a worldwide hit. The opener “Six Feet Under” features a dominant keyboard sound, roaring guitars and a chorus you can’t get out of your head. Followed by the catchy, high-energy  “Anywhere You Wanna Go,” SAGA clarifies that their original trademark sound is still going strong. The emotional ballad “Lost For Words” once again demonstrates Sadler’s incredible vocal range.

“One thing that we agreed on was that, if and when I ever were to return, it would have to feel like it was exactly the right thing to do and exactly the right time to do it!” reflects Michael Sadler on his return to the band.
And clearly, there has never been a better time than now!

Summer and fall dates in USA, Canada, Europe and South America will follow.
More details on those dates here:
SAGA is:
Michael Sadler: Lead Vocals & Keyboards
Jim Gilmour: Main Keyboards & Vocals
Brian Doerner:  Drums
Ian Crichton: Guitar
Jim Crichton: Bass & Keyboards


Tracklist
01. Six Feet Under
02. Anywhere You Wanna Go
03. Ellery
04. Spin It Again
05. Another Day Out Of Sight
06. One Of These Days
07. Ball And Chain
08. Lost For Words
09. Show And Tell
10. Till The Well Runs Dry


Official website:



Gotthard launches their entirely new website.
"Firebirth" the new homepage!

The baptisms of fire continue for Swiss rockers GOTTHARD: In the next few days the completely revamped website www.gotthard.com will be launched.
Not only the appearance but also the information content makes it well worth a look.

As a result GOTTHARD’s online presence typifies their new album "Firebirth".
With this release, the group reached the top 10 in the German Media Control Charts for
the second time in their history: Two weeks ago it reached number 9.
In Switzerland the release once again reached the number 1 spot for the band.



"With this album we have succeeded a kind of comeback or baptism of fire," says
bassist Marc Lynn. "'Firebirth' has given us an incredible new start. We are
overwhelmed by the success of the whole CD and just feel it needs a new homepage.
We have therefore completely revamped the old one."

Just a few days ago the band performed at the “Moon and Stars” festival in Locarno,
Switzerland. The Confederates headlined in front of 10.000 people on the packed
Piazza. They surprised with several special guests, such as the Lucerne Caledonians
who joined in on “Yippie Aye Yay” with their bagpipes as well as a 20-headstrong
children’s choir on “Love Soul Matter”. Highlight of the performances was a tribute
to original band singer, Steve Lee.
During the songs “The Train" and “Heaven” his pictures and text
excerpts were shown on the screens.

GOTTHARD reached 100,000 “fans” following them on Facebook.
The band wants to thank everyone for the amazing support.


Find us on Facebook:
Band Website:



THERAPY?'s 13th Album "A Brief Crack Of Light" To Be Released On September 11 in North America via MVD
 
The Seminal Irish Rockers Continue Their Mastery Of Angular
Melodic Hard Rock For More Than Two Decades




Seminal Irish rockers THERAPY?'s 13th album A Brief Crack Of Light displays a stunning mix of angular rhythm, anthemic might and insidious melody. With a career spanning more than two decades (an astonishing feat in these days of disposable, well, EVERYTHING), Therapy? have thrived, evolved and challenged in equal measure. From the chart bothering, mainstream success of the mid nineties to the musically progressive excitement of their post millennial output, Andy Cairns, Michael McKeegan and Neil Cooper STILL represent a true pioneer musical spirit. A Brief Crack Of Light may well be their thirteenth album - but it's as full of grit and fire as you could possibly hope for.

The album was recorded in two separate sessions; from December 2010 to February 2011, and in June 2011 at Blast Studios, Newcastle, England. The first session was mixed in March 2011, while the second session was mixed in July 2011. Produced by Adam Sinclair and Therapy?, the album's title comes from Vladimir Nabokov, who describes life as "A brief crack of light between two eternities of darkness".

The album was preceded by a single entitled "Living in the Shadow of the Terrible Thing" on January 23, 2012, a video of which was filmed in November 2011 and premiered on the bands' official page on January 9, 2012.
The song was debuted at a gig in Cork, Ireland in October 2010 and later played at various European festivals in Summer 2011. "Before You, With You, After You" was debuted at a festival in Torhout, Belgium in September 2011.

A Brief Crack Of Light has received almost universal high acclaim in Europe.
Kerrang! magazine in the UK awarded the album 4/5 stars while listing it among the "50 Albums You Have To Hear In 2012". Also in the UK, Rock Sound magazine gave it a score of 8/10, as did Metal Hammer magazine. Clash magazine awarded 8/10 and Northern Ireland's AU Magazine judged the album favourably with a score of 8/10. In Denmark, Metal Revolution afforded the album a score of 90/100.


Tracklisting:
1. "Living in the Shadow of the Terrible Thing" 3:55
2. "Plague Bell" 4:11
3. "Marlow" 4:36
4. "Before You, With You, After You" 3:32
5. "The Buzzing" 3:38
6. "Get Your Dead Hand off My Shoulder" 4:07
7. "Ghost Trio" 5:20
8. "Why Turbulence?" 3:33
9. "Stark Raving Sane" 2:36
10. "Ecclesiastes" 5:42

Therapy? is:
Andy Cairns - vocals, guitar, producer
Neil Cooper - drums, producer
Michael McKeegan - bass, vocals, producer
Adam Sinclair - producer, engineer, mixer
Nigel Rolfe - artwork concept/photography
Tom Hoad - band photography
Michael Surtees - design/layout

Website:

Purchase:




District 97 New Album Trouble With Machines Streaming on AOL Music
    



In Stores from July 17th via The Lasers Edge

District 97 is undoubtedly the most musically adventurous rock band in the world to feature an American Idol Top 10 Female Finalist. The band now returns with their second opus Trouble With Machines.  With her fantastic voice, and looks to match, Leslie Hunt has captured the imagination of the male-oriented prog rock scene. Complexity is one of the hallmarks of District 97's compositions but the album is laced with catchy vocal melodies.

The track "The Perfect Young Man" features a guest vocal appearance by KING CRIMSON / ASIA bassist JOHN WETTON. RICH MOUSER who has produced albums for SPOCK'S BEARD and NEAL MORSE mixed the album.

Today AOL Music is hosting a full album stream of Trouble With Machines as part of their full album listening party series. 
Listen to the album in its entirety here:

Be sure to order your copy of Trouble With Machines on Amazon:


DISTRICT 97 was formed in the fall of 2006 by drummer Jonathan Schang, keyboardist Rob Clearfield, bassist Patrick Mulcahy and guitarist Sam Krahn (replaced in 2008 by current guitarist Jim Tashjian).

The foursome from Chicago honed a no-holds barred style of Liquid Tension Experiment -inspired Instrumental Rock before deciding the right vocalist was needed to complement their sound; enter 2007 American Idol Top 10 Female Finalist, Leslie Hunt. With a look, sound and stage presence comparable to a young Ann Wilson from Heart, Leslie's dynamic performances pushed the band into a new direction that forged a unique marriage between accessible, catchy vocal melodies and an adventurous instrumental prowess.

She was followed shortly thereafter by one of Chicago's finest young guitarists, Jim Tashjian.
With this new blend of charisma and stellar musicianship in place, their live shows at festivals such as CalProg and RoSfest, and numerous appearances across the USA cemented the band as a force to be reckoned with onstage. 

In May 2010, the band signed with Laser's Edge, the foremost home of new Progressive music. Laser's Edge oversaw worldwide physical and digital release of District 97's debut effort, Hybrid Child, which was released to worldwide acclaim in September 2010, and went on to top many "Best of 2010" lists.

Appearing on the recording is cellist extraordinaire Katinka Kleijn of the world-renowned Chicago Symphony Orchestra, who also appears on their upcoming Summer 2012 release, Trouble With Machines. 

Building on the strengths of Hybrid Child, Trouble With Machines pushes the envelope even further, and solidifies District 97's position at the forefront of uncompromising Rock music.

The first 2,000 copies of Trouble With Machines come with a bonus pro-shot live DVD filmed at the band's 2011 performance at the Rites Of Spring Festival in Gettysburg, PA. 

One of the songs filmed at this performance, a cover of the classic Genesis track "Back in NYC" can be viewed here:

Trouble With Machines Tracklisting:

1)    Back and Forth
2)    Open Your Eye
3)    The Actual Color
4)    The Perfect Young Man
5)    Who Cares?
6)    Read Your Mind
7)    The Thief

For More Information Please Visit:





Beyond Atlantic Debuts with "A Journey to You"

Melodic rock band, Beyond Atlantic today announced that they have released their first album "A Journey to You."


West Chester, PA, July, 2012 -- (PR.com) -- Beyond Atlantic, a melodic rock, pop, and adult contemporary rock band with members from Germany and the United States, today announced that they have released their first album, a sixteen song collection entitled
"A Journey to You," available now at CD Baby, iTunes, Spotify and other online outlets.

Here's just one of those links ...
http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/beyondatlantic2

The independent release features songs chosen by fans in an online poll from a selection of over twenty chosen by the band.
The spring 2012 poll yielded an even mixture of progressive pop songs, ballads, and light rock anthems that carries through to the album.
“The band is very excited to finally release this first album after more than six months in our studios creating it,” said producer and principal songwriter Bernd Will. “Now we will take some time to promote this release online, through videos, and on-air before we get back to the more than fifty additional songs that are already lined up and waiting for our second release.”
The band believes the release contains several songs which may have inter-generational commercial appeal and plans to market these through all available channels.

Check out, 'You Are Never Alone' right here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uPhkZm21S2w&feature=player_embedded

About Beyond Atlantic:

Beyond Atlantic
is an independent rock band founded in 2011 whose primary members are Bernd Will and Bernd Kunrath of Germany and Suzann Baldwin and Mike Ousey of the USA.
The band’s style is a fresh take on the album oriented or melodic rock styles popularized by bands such as Toto, Journey, and Steely Dan.
Official website:



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