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KISS – ALIVE II (PART 2 OF 4)

Posted in Album Review, Music with tags , , , on September 29, 2009 by Tickets There

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OK, so that’s the mighty Alive! Out of the way, let’s have some real downright dirty KISS styled fun.
Alive  II was released in 1977 and recorded during the bands Love Gun Tour. By this time, KISS had released another three iconic albums. 1976’s Rock N Roll Over and Destroyer and 77’s Love Gun. Combined (and individually for that matter), these three albums had more anthems, more hard rock classics and more balls fired energy than any other band could ever dream off.

Opening with the amazing, the incredible and the utterly unstoppable Detroit Rock City. One (can’t really say two), finds it hard to imagine KISS without this song in their repertoire. This is the band at their finest and like many of their other hits, remains on of rock n rolls greatest assets. If you’ve heard this song and you weren’t converted then there’s quite simply no help out there for ya. You’re alone in the world, abandoned by all things holy and fun. Give it another go J.

King of the Night Time World comes straight from Destroyer and shows its might Live power on Alive II. Knowing this is the Love Gun tour is a tough thing for anyone who wasn’t there to actually enjoy it. In the background of all these guitars, drums, bass notes and vocals there’s a stage show going on that was so powerful, it’s energy could bring people back from the dead (but only if  its harnessed and used correctly by top men and military scientists). Ladies Room is a savage we number. Not a regular KISS fanatic favorite but one of Tickets There’s pet likes. Good riff, fun theme and the whole sha bang.

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Makin’ Love is a poppy little rocky number. Not as great as the next song but pretty feckin’ sweet all the same. Love Gun is one of those incredible, unstoppable, unbeatable, un-everything in the whole fecking universe, amazing KISS classics. This is the point where you have to stop and ask, where can you go from this? The live recording on Alive II is fantastic, the solo’s, the riffs, the belting snare drum and crashing symbols and all those other music journalism cliché’s. The music is just savage. Now a days, the band deliver this same perfection while playing it and even manage to send Paul flaying out over the crowds head to a specially built stage at the back of crowd.

Calling Dr. Love’s next and continues to prove that KISS mix cheese and music like Ozzy mixes credibility with rodent killing. That make sense? No, well what I meant was KISS are a great band. Christine Sixteen is a classic not heard enough anymore. Any song that Gene sings on is a KISS classic and should be added to the set list no matter what! Same for Paul’s material. All KISS set lists should by 1,456 songs in length and include every single theatric the band have ever conceived during every single song. Get ready for the greatest 572 hour gig ever!!! (Don’t do the math, I’m being dramatic again)

Mr. Space Ace steps up to the mike next and the band crash into Shock Me! Now, Ace’s voice may not sound impressionably strong here but wait for the first chorus to kick in and you’ll see how perfectly it fits. He’s not the lead singer so don’t expect Paul  and Gene quality but it’s still KISS (and they still sing backing vocals ;)) After Ace shows his stuff, Peter gets his turn and performs the classic Hard Luck Woman, one of KISS’s best acoustic tracks that started life as a Stanley written, Rod Stewart rejection. There’s hope for us all. Tomorrow and Tonight and the amazing Stole Your Love come along next and beat the shit out of you. That simple. Stole Your Love is the best choice of song to play for anyone asking, what’s KISS?

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Beth is being skipped for personal bias and reasons. One of their biggest hits but truly loathed by Tickets There. So moving swiftly along to…God of Thunder. Oh god yes!!. Another one of Gene’s (wow, he actually has a lot). This is yet another classic from their iconic Destroyer album. A great recording and it’s sped up a wee bit which works well. During the bands lives shows, Gene flies up to the top of the stage to play this after he’s done his bass solo with blood spitting. I Want You’s next and it’s a little quieter than most KISS material….until everything comes crashing together at the one time. There’s riffs, there’s solo’ there’s even some pings thrown in for good measure. Also, for a laugh, sing along with Paul when he asks you at the end. Or else you can Shout it Out Loud!!

All American Man wouldn’t be one of my favorites but fellow patriotic stomper, Rockin’ In The U.S.A.is a great poppy rock number. Not one of KISS’s best but pretty sweet. Larger than Life is, I’m afraid, a great song. Perfect one to understand Gene’s character. Rocket Rides grand but not their best and Any Way You Want It…well that’s not great either but you trying releasing two live albums in two years without repeating more than one song and see how you like it!.

Thankfully the band finishes on a high note with Rock N Roll All Night. Two years later and it’s still the ultimate party song. Next up in the KISS series is Alive III, released after the band had stopped wearing the make-up. Till tomorrow then, have a good evening.

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KISS – ALIVE! (PART 1 OF 4)

Posted in Album Review, Music with tags , , , , , , , , , , on September 29, 2009 by Tickets There

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Ok, Tickets There is continuing it’s celebrations in preparation for the release of KISS’s new album, Sonic Boom on October 6th. First we had the KISS-LECTION and now it’s time to take a good, hard look at KISS’s four Live albums, Alive! I – IV.

Before we get into it, I should point out that none of the albums come close to capturing KISS’s impossibly amazing live shows. Tickets There has been fortunate enough to be in one of their crowds and let me tell you one thing, no album could ever capture exactly how amazing they are in real life….but these albums do a damn fine job of trying.

So let’s start at the beginning with 1975’s Alive!, recorded between March and June 1975 on KISS’s Dressed to Kill tour. Upon it’s release, KISS were suddenly lunged from almost broke, make-up wearing guys in a rock n roll band to world famous, gigantic megastars. This is the album that really broke KISS into the main, main, main stream and it ended up becoming one of rock n roll’s most legendary live albums. None of the bands proceeding live records match its unbelievable raw energy, power and force and that’s saying something considering how good II, III and IV are.

“You Wanted the Best, you got the best, The hottest band in the world, KISS!”.

When you buy tickets to a KISS concert, you spend the next few days, weeks and months just waiting to hear those infamous words. The intro to the best concert you will ever see in your life. Those words are unbelievably exciting at one of their shows and when that curtain drops and the four massive figures sprawl out across the stage to entertain you with two hours of hard hitting, riff driven, theatrical rock n roll with a stage show that could match the Olympics, you’ll swear you died and this is your reward for all the good things you’ve done in your life.

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The only thing that tops those words is the first bars of the very first song the band play. On Alive, that song was Deuce. Deuce as an opening song couldn’t be any more perfect. They’re currently playing it as the opener on the current tour and really you can’t go wrong. Starts off with a little guitars riff before the drums crash into action, the curtain drops and four heaving monsters start their quest of ensuring you have the greatest night in the history of the world. That magic is well captured on Alive and its set the perfect tone for the rest of the record. Strutter follows and the pace is kept up. Filled with all the swank, swagger and traits of any hard rock n fucking roll classic. Except it’s sung by monsters. People, this band have some of hard rock’s greatest hits under their belt and they dress up like demons, space men, cats and superstars. How can you not love that?? Got to Choose follows and admittedly this wouldn’t be one of Tickets There’s favorite KISS tunes…but damn it that doesn’t mean much when everything thing they touch turns to gold. KISS are gods, learn that fact now because they don’t teach it in school.

Hotter than Hell is a truly deserved, bonafide KISS anthem classic (yep, anthem classic. It makes sense in our word baby). The version on Alive is as good as this song gets….until you see it live and it rules all!! Nothing to Lose follows and surprise, surprise…..It’s another fucking savage track. Gene sings on this one and when Gene sings, you don’t want to miss it. It brings a totally different flow to the bands tracks. C’mon and Love Me is yet another riff filled, exploited teen of a song. Paul takes the mike back and drives this baby into your ears like a doctor during an invasive medical exam with some sort of blunt yet thick object….with spikes. But before we go using all our unfunny witticisms, we have to discuss Parasite. Why the pause and dramatics? Because Parasite is one of those tracks God wrote and handed to mortals as a gift. Unfortunately for that mortal, KISS stole it and recorded it themselves. God was pleased by this, Led Zeppelin would have only fucked it up anyways. This is a savage, mentalist of a track that only improves with a live setting. Mental, mental, mental stuff folks.

She is another one of those iconic riffs and beat dependant tracks, not a bad way to spend your five minutes before the very seventies trait laden Watchin’ You pop’s along. Unfortunately this one ain’t included much anymore but it’s 100% KISS-TASTIC. Yes you can say things like that when you discuss KISS, they’re fun people. Enjoy it.

Oh, oh hang on. Gene’s bass, crowd’s cheering. Silence. Hands clapping, Gene’s bass again, the drums and finally everything else. 100,000 Years is easily KISS at their top level finest. Paul’s voice screams in over the audience as the band burst through one of their greatest recorded moments and one of the finest tracks ever written by a hard rock band. What makes this song look poor?(well, it doesn’t really. 100,000 Years is one of the finest songs known to humanity. I’m just saying that for dramatic purposes) Black Diamond, an ever bigger monster of a rock classic and the acoustic intro ion Alive really highlights this. Black Diamond is top ten KISS material. The kind of song that you play in a tank when you’re driving into one of those Vietnamese towns. The kind of song you play when you discover the true powers as a mutant. The kind of song KISS plays to remind the rest of us we aren’t Knights in Satan’s Service (K.I.S.S., for those of you that didn’t know).

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Rock Bottom and Black Diamonds main rival, Cold Gin is up next as the album and show start to come to a close. How many people here like the taste of alcohol? I know it’s getting so hot outside you need something to cool off. I know some of you out there like to drink tequila. When you’re down in the dumps and you need something to bring you up. There’s only one thing that’s going to do it for you…COLD GIN!!!! What a classic, what a live record, what a fucking sweet, amazing, incredible deadly awesome band.

Rock N Roll All Night (The ultimate party song) and Let Me Go, Rock N Roll finish of the bands first, their finest and one of the world’s greatest rock live albums. If you don’t feel the party after this record then there’s something not quite right with you but Tickets There will still be your friend. We love a challenge. Later on we’ll discuss Alive II and see what the band got up to during 76 and 77. Be sure to pop back and remember….,

Keep it KISS’d!!!

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Tickets there – Irish Playlist: Friday, September 25th

Posted in General Tickets There Blog, IRISH NOISE!, Music with tags , , , , , , , , , on September 25, 2009 by Tickets There

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Maybe try and start this as a new feature, a weekly playlist of irish tracks Tickets There is currently listening to.

  1. Ash – Uncle Pat

We all know Ash. Most of us love Ash. They just seem to get better and better with time but this week it’s Uncle Pat Time. What a fecking classic riff. Tim’s voice is one of those you either love or hate and Tickets There loves it. The guitars are so strong, the voice is so light and it works.

  1. 2.       Future Kings of Spain – You Dream In Solid Gold

Mourning the loss of Tickets There’s prime choice for Irelands leading underground band, The Future Kings of Spain with the excellent You Dream in Solid Gold. Just one of many amazing tracks for their second album Nervousystem which I still advise everyone to go out and buy. Teach you what you’re missing when you ignore Irish acts.

  1. Future Kings of Spain – Disappear

I know it’s not ‘cool’ to have the same band appear twice on the same list but |I| couldn’t care less, this is what Tickets There is listening to. Maybe I should explain something, when we find good music, we listen to it. We know there’s a lot of music out there and a lot of people are in a panic to hear absolutely every single note ever played but TT doesn’t go in for that. We don’t like jumping from one band to another every forty seconds. Instead, we find bands of quality, substance and talent and stick with them until they lose it.

Future Kings Disappear is a fantastic song. Atmospheric and classic. Great choice for anyone in mourning.

  1. Bell X1 – Snakes & Snakes

Was doing a review of the Bellies Music in Mouth album earlier and I’ve had this song on repeat ever since. Great track, always nice to revisit this classic album.

  1. Jaded Sun – Higher

This band caught me by surprise. I can’t believe how good they are and they only improve with age. Honestly I have their MySpace page open 24 hours a day listening to them. Cant wait to pick this album up tomorrow.

  1. One Day International – Little Death

Did a review of this track several months ago and I still enjoy it, great wee song. Haven’t been tempted to see them live yet as I like a little more meat in my music for a gig but maybe one day.

  1. The Flaws – Out Tonight

Not normally a fan of this type of music but I think the Flaws do a fairly decent job with this track. II suppose this would be considered an old one at this stage but Tickets There is in no way cutting edge I’m afraid.

  1. Female Hercules – Inside You

I’m pretty sure that every single time I try and write a ‘What I’m listening to now’ blog, I include this song every single time. Well worth a go if you haven’t heard them before. For fans of hardcore J

  1. Humazi – Straight Lines

Come on lads, get the bloody album out!

  1. Neosupervital – Now That I’ve Found

One of the best dance / pop songs ever written by an irish act and a great tune to set you in a good mood. Expect many a blog today about the simple joys of listening to Neosupervital.

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Arthur’s Day: Good drink, Shit Noise!

Posted in General Tickets There Blog, Music, Ranting with tags , , , , , , , , on September 25, 2009 by Tickets There

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Anyone else in the pub last night at 17:59 for a toast to Arthur Guinness? Tickets There was but regrettably, there wasn’t a huge crew out. Ah well, quiet nights happen and when there’s free Guinness going around, a small crowd wont complain about having to fill the void 😉

What the hell was with the TV celebrations though? Every time I looked at what was going on it couldn’t have looked any dryer! All I saw was English and Welsh people over here playing to crowds who couldn’t have looked less enthusiastic. The Blizzards (in Vicar Street I Think) were so fucking terrible I could get over it. I suddenly felt an urge to rip up that post about no doing any more negative MySpace Reviews. Although, compared to Jamie Cullen, David Gray, The Enemy, that fucking presenter in Whelan’s asking every fucking band about “seeing the Whites in peoples eyes”, that knob end Ronan Keating looking like a   …I don’t know what, some sort of beautified Emo. I’m pretty sure Tom Jones and Cat Deeley’s legs were the only saving grace of the whole evening.

Now I know this blog has a name for being negative but my thoughts about the coverage were shared by every single other person in the pub. As the Blizzards played I told one of the lads about the review I gave them and his comment was “Why were you so nice”. So fuck this. Those shitty, arse hole bands aren’t music. This country and primarily Dublin (because there’s enough students and scene queens around) is doing it’s best to create a vibrant music scene and cultural paradise when there’s fuck all substance to back it up.

The singer / song writer scene is dead, the emo/rockish/pop/punk music that most of the bands play is terrible. Half these aren’t musicians and a lot of them don’t have any talent. They’re sucking people in because they look the part, but they don’t fucking sound it. I have zero respect or appreciation for the music scene in Dublin. It’s swamped by a never ending parade of kids with no talent and so called bands with absolutely no musical talent, originality or character and they pawn of half written disasters with quirky noises and philosophical story lines (involing when they used to love transformers on a Saturday and the simple joys of a grilled Mars bar) under the guise of music. Its all explained off course by artist license and let’s all get along and enjoy it. Well that would be fine off course expect now there seems to be more of them than ever and I’m not sure if anyone’s noticed, but anytime they play an actual venue, the crowd is half full at fucking best! Anyone wonder why that is huh?

I remember last year heading along to Ham Sandwich who were one of the biggest underground bands on the go and the Village was a third full. Same thing when I say Director and they were the biggest crowd….for those bands. Interest in these groups seems to last as long as their songs. Anyone know why groups like The Beatles, U2, The Rolling Stones, Guns N Roses, Abba and every other major band still pack a crowd and get played in every pub almost every night while these newer groups (some of which have been in the go for up to ten years) still cant crack the mainstream, play a sold out show in the own country (in a venue that holds more than thirty people) or even get on a real radio station for more than one single??? It’s because they’re crap. They’re not music, they’re just shit. The songs aren’t songs, they’re college kids/unemployed talentless people doing their very best to destroy any chance for real bands and really talented people to ever make it through to the main stream. If they can’t learn a guitar, they all of sudden become a photographer or a DJ (or a music writer – Ed). Anyone else ever notice how many photographers there are in Dublin these days? And they all photograph the same fucking things over and over and over again, always trying to make it more deep by doing it in black and white. Or this visuals lot haha, oh sweet lord!

Hopefully one day kids will cop on and if they really love music the way they bullshit then hopefully they’ll stop endorsing groups like ‘The Blizzards’ and give their time to a real band. And stop fucking downloading, these groups do actually need money to survive and continue to make records.

Anyways, that’s enough of a Friday morning rant. Arthur’s day celebrations were shit but the Guinness, the Guinness is still king!

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No More Negative MySpace Reviews…ever!

Posted in General Tickets There Blog, Music, MySpace Review, News on September 24, 2009 by Tickets There

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Hi folks,

Ok, Ever since the Best / Worst list went up there’s been more debate than Tickets There has ever seen before on our blog. I’ve had a think about how things came down to this and I’ve decided to jump ship. I started this blog to highlight bands around the country and talk about Irish music, not tear bands to pieces, which seemed to take over for awhile.

So, the decision is final. After having a chat with Brian from So Cow (who seems to be one of the most down to earth guys I’ve ever talked to on MySpace), I’ve decided not to do any more negative MySpace reviews and only post positive ones. Luckily enough some of the bands did find these funny rather than offensive and that’s pretty much what they’re meant to be.

I won’t remove the ones that are already there but I am deleting the worst 10 bands list (well, bringing it down to three bands instead of 10 and also removing that other ‘Avoid’ suggestions). Going forward, Tickets There is getting back to brining you new Irish bands and celebrating our music.

Our opinion hasn’t change about the groups, but life’s too short to tear others down.

All the best,
TT

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Future Kings of Spain – 2000 – 2009

Posted in IRISH NOISE!, Music, News with tags , , , , on September 24, 2009 by Tickets There

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Hi all,

This is a pretty sad day. It seems Tickets There’s personal choice for this countries leading band have decided to call it a day (either that or they’re taking a dig at my History post).

This follows weeks of rumours that the band had called it quits (I see your Google searches ;)) and unfortunately it really seems to be true. I’m pretty sure this is the saddest news I’ve had to write about yet.

Go to their MySpace Now to Read the bands blog.CLICK HERE

The reasons for the spilt might be pretty clear but that’s all for another time, have a look at the bands excellent video for Syndicate from their second album, Nervousystem.

FutureKingsofSpain

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The OZZY Man Cometh – Easons / Hughes & Hughes

Posted in Music, News with tags , , , , , on September 23, 2009 by Tickets There

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That’s right, the reality TV star and former prince of darkness Ozzy Osbourne is coming to Dublin to sign copies of his new Autobiography, I Am Ozzy.

Ozzy will do two sessions at Eason’s on O’Connell street on October 10th  (11:00AM – 13:00PM) and then it’s over to Hughes & Hughes in the Stephen’s green shopping center (15:00 – 17:00 GMT)

No details have been released yet if wrist bands will be needed but Tickets There will keep you updated as I find out.

Forget Sharon, the Osborne’s and all that crap. Ozzy is a living legend and you’ll kick yourself in years to come if you pass up a chance to shake hands with the man (or at least get a Hello out of him :))

Find Out more Here

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The Future Kings of Spain – A History: 2000 – 2009

Posted in General Tickets There Blog, Music, News with tags , , , on September 22, 2009 by Tickets There

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WIRED DESIRE – Damn Hard

Posted in General Tickets There Blog, Music with tags , on September 22, 2009 by Tickets There

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If You haven’t heard of this group then it’s time you did. Wired Desire are one of the hottest rock bands Tickets There has heard in many a year. If you’re a fan of Guns N Roses, Aerosmith or ZZ Top, then you’re going to love this group.

Check out their MySpace Now

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KISS-LECTION – Tickets There celebrates Alive 35

Posted in General Tickets There Blog, Music, News with tags , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , on September 21, 2009 by Tickets There

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Welcome to the official Tickets There KISS-LECTION, 35 out our favorite KISS songs. A lot of them may be obvious but I’m afraid Tickets There isn’t here to entertain hordes of die-hard fanatics when it’s comes to KISS. This band are about rock n roll baby and this list is a compilation of the songs that brought TT into the KISS world and keep us there every day. In all fairness, filling the 35 in took about three minutes so you can probably expect another 35 in the near future because there are still a lot of classics to be discussed.

For those of you who aren’t familiar with the hottest band in the world, KISS are a four piece formed in New York in the early seventies. They play straight up rock n roll and have done so for over three decades. Oh, and they wear full face makeup, wear six inch healed (platform) boots, black sparkly costumes (with wings in Gene’s case), travel the world with more pyrotechnics and fireworks than China, Fly across the audience at their live shows, have stages built on the roofs of their sound desk and stage rook not to mention the fire breathing, blood spitting, smoking guitars and everything else.

They also have thousands of products for sale with their name on it. Everything from Candy to Coffins. Keep your eyes pealed this year for KISS M&M’s, KISS Mr. Potato Heads and much, much more. Don’t you wish every band in the world was as much fun as KISS

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1. 100,000 Years – (KISS, 1974)

Ok, Lets start (actually this is the 20th one I’ve written but what the hell), 100,000 years comes from the bands debut album (half of which makes up this list). It’s not only brilliant. It’s so mouth wateringly wholesome and warm that it makes your heart smile and your soul fly with an airline that prides themselves on doing the exact opposite of Ryanair. Maybe a tad dramatic but there ya go, 100,000 years rocks folks!!

2. 2,000 Man – (Dynasty, 1979)

Can I include cover songs? Well I’ve got two on this list so it would seem I can include anything you want. 2,000 Man is a Rolling Stones cover and KISS do a superb job of it.

3. All Hell’s Breakin’ Loose – (Lick It Up – 1983)

The question isn’t why I like this song, it’s ‘Why don’t you like this song?

4. Black Diamond – (KISS, 1974)

Along with Cold Gin and a handful of others, Black Diamond is amongst the Crème de la Crème of KISS material. This is the real band and a sample of the glue that holds the whole KISS universe together. Without incredible, solid and full on hard rock belters like this, everything else would crumble. It’s always been about the music with KISS and this early little slice of brilliance proves that, no matter what gene tries to tell you 😉

5. Calling Dr. Love – (Rock N Roll Over, 1976)

Calling Dr. Love is one of the highlights from 1976’s Destroyer. Gene’s voice always brings that something extra special to KISS song’s. His demon persona really comes across and he obviously loves it. That makes the songs so much more appealing and enjoyable. Dr. Love is, at the end of the day fluff, but it’s good fluff. All things KISS are always good.

6. Cold Gin – (KISS, 1974)

Great intro, incredible riff, great vocals, drums, flow, music, song, band, drink…aghh everything. Cold Gin should be a countries national anthem it’s so good. Gene growls his way through the verse, chewing every word and spitting em back out in your face, biotch! One of the true classics from KISS and an absolute must to hear live. Just listen to that melody thing near the end and the fade out….drools!!!

7. Crazy, Crazy Nights – (Crazy, Crazy Nights, 1987)

Ahhh, classic eighties KISS. Yet another of those ‘stick it on in a night club’ type classics. An absolute tribute to the post-makeup lineup and still a thrilling one to catch live.

8. Detroit Rock City – (Destroyer, 1976)

The first KISS song I would have called my favorite. Detroit Rock City is the band at their best. It’s one of those Cold Gin, Strutter, Love Gun kind of classics. Loud guitars, booming chorus, great riffs, the whole package. Then again, this is KISS not Radiohead and KISS always deliver!

9. Deuce – (KISS, 1974)

For the simple fact that KISS opened with this track when I saw them or for the reason that the last time I went to an Iron Maiden gig, myself and my girlfriend spent the whole thing standing at the bar singing this rather than watching Bruce and the boys, this is probably my favorite KISS song. It’s not only the way they come down from the top of the stage when they play it live or the routine Paul, Gene and Ace(Tommy) do live, it’s all about the sher brilliance of the track. A solid hard rock classic with one the greatest riffs in KISS-Tory!

10. Do You Love Me – (Destroyer, 1976)

The ultimate rock star track. Any Yoko’s or Courtney Loves out there? Well here it is, the singer finally singing about you folks. Why has the world suddenly started making Yoko Ono trendy again? The woman is really, really F**ked in the head and a total cow. She tried to sue one girl because she was a singer and her surname is Lennon!! Really people, stick her in the loony bin with Manson and let’s move on.

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11. Firehouse – (KISS, 1974)

One of those KISS styled KISS Standards. Cant wait to see how many times I typed KISS in this review :D. Firehouse is great live, it’s great on record and it’s great to sing along to. Slow but deadly.

12. Flaming Youth – (Destroyer, 1976)

I know, how can Destroyer deliver any more classics? Well, it’s a KISS record so it can pretty much do anything it likes.

13. God Gave Rock N Roll To You II – (Revenge – 1992)

Yeah, Bill and Ted, so what? Anthem, Anthem, Anthem,. Forget every other song in this review I called an anthem,. This is it. Well, this and Rick N Roll All Night, that’s really is another KISS Anthem. Not one I’d rush to hear them play live but they generally have it on at the end of their gig on the PA and that’s a nice touch to finish the evening off.

14. God of Thunder – (Destroyer, 1976)

Not sure I was ever 100% comfortable with this one. One day I think it’s brilliant, the next day I can barely stand to hear it. Couldn’t ever leave it off a list though, it’s one of Gene’s classics and the man deserves a lot more mentions that I’ve given him.

15. Hard Luck Woman – (Rock N Roll Over, 1976)

One of the reasons I would love to see Peter Criss back in band. Hard Luck Woman is Acoustic KISS at their finest. Apparently Paul Stanley offered this to Rod Stewart originally but Stewart rejected it (mistake fucker) so KISS recorded it. Not only that, but they did a damn fine job and Peter Criss proves he’s not all about Beth..which you’ll noticed can’t be found in this list!)

16. Heaven’s on Fire – (Animalize, 1984)

Someone’s gonna nail me on this one. If I get away with Tear are Falling then I’m getting shouted at for this one but…we’re not gonna take it. Brilliant song, deal with it. Eighties, guitars, big vocals, bigger chorus. Just watch out for the music video, that thing’ll scar you.

17. Hotter Than Hell – (Hotter Than Hell, 1974)

Hot, Hot, Hotter than Hell. Who could they be singing about I wonder (adds cheeky grin)?. Everything it says on the tin with an added dash of deadly!

18. I Love It Loud – (Creatures of the Night, 1982)

I Love It Loud, one of the few KISS songs you can listen to 18,000 times in a row and never, ever, ever,ever, ever, ever get sick off. It’s just a brute of a song with Gene’s bellowing voice booming throughout. Check out the Exposed DVD and you’ll see a clip of them playing this (the last show with their make-up) and you’ll be converted. 100,000 people, KISS and I Love It Loud!

19. Ladies Room – (Rock N Roll Over, 1976)

I suppose I’m including this for the simple reason that it reminds me of a funny moment in Detroit Rock City. I’m not going to describe it because it’ll sound cheap and completely loose it’s humor aspect but it’s good. Fun song, generic KISS ya know?

20. Lick It Up – (Lick It Up – 1983)

Even if you aren’t a fan, you know this one. Lick It Up is without a doubt one of the top three singles from Eighties KISS. It’s loud, it’s fast, it’s simple, it’s in your face KISS!. Put this song on in a nightclub and every girl there will super glue herself to the nearest pole and dance. Meanwhile all the guys will be worried that liking a band that wears make-up will make them gay. Anyone who worries about that is gay. Just helping you fellas out of the closet there.

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21. Love Gun – (Love Gun, 1977)

Who doesn’t like Love Gun? If you don’t know go to YouTube and cop on. Possibly KISS’s finest recorded moment. A blitz of guitars, riffs, drums, screaming, everything. Love Gun is 100% American Made, Family un-friendly KISS-O-Rific

22. Modern Day Delilah – (Sonic Boom, 2009)

The one and only song to be included from Sonic Boom…so far. If this is anything to go by, several more new ones will be heading towards the top 35 soon. MDD is a fantastic song with Paul’s voice sounding stronger than it has for years. The riffs, the drums everything is great. May not pack the full wallop of the older material but given time, I think this song will mature very, very well.

23. New York Groove – (Ace Frehley¸ 1978)

I heard this on the Second Coming DVD and managed to find it on Ace’s 1978 solo record. A cover (the 2nd of the two) and another crackin’ one at that. Totally different from normal KISS but that’s not something to criticize……this one time ;). Good funky kind of beat, Ace singing one of the best songs he’s ever done.

24. Nothin’ to Lose – (KISS, 1974)

Was thinking of adding She instead but feck it, Nothin’ To Lose is a great song. When Gene sings, it’s always a great song. It’s real bop along kind of KISS with all the builds, suspensions and characteristics of a classic KISS anthem.

25. Parasite – (Hotter Than Hell, 1974)

What a riff to kick things off! Parasite is gold minted, platinum material. Best captured on their 1975 Alive album and a little gem for their collection and anyone’s ears. Hard rock babbbbyyyyyyyy! Parasite eyes!!

26. Psycho Circus – (Psycho Circus, 1998)

I will admit one thing; I was not a fan of this album. The songs sound sooo forced and wanting to be old KISS but it just doesn’t work…well, it does on one. Psycho Circus is a furious little track. Paul’s voice, the music, the energy and the lyrics, everything falls together just right on this one and anyone who hasn’t heard it is just missing out on one of KISS’s best songs.

27. Rock N Roll All Night – (Dressed to Kill, 1975)

I don’t care how cool you are, I don’t care how ‘Hard-Core’ you are with KISS, this is a song that must, At all times, be included on any list of the greatest songs. Rock N Roll All Night’s an anthem of the highest degree. KISS are the ultimate party band, this is their call, answer!

28. Shandi – (Unmasked, 1980)

I know, this is a strange choice but I just love, don’t you? The first time I heard it was from one of the KISS DVD’s and Paul just played it alone. The solo job sounds a lot less…ya know, that the recording but there’s just something so nice about the guitars I couldn’t not stick it in.

29. Shock Me – (Love Gun, 1977)

Like Hard Luck Woman for Peter Criss, this would be one of the main reasons I’d love to see Ace back with the group. Shock Me is a classic and sadly they don’t perform it live without Ace (as it’s his song). Great, iconic and legendary. Have I over hyped it? Probably but it’s still a savage track.

30. Shout it out Loud – (Destroyer, 1976)

How do you say the word Anthem for the 30th time in a row? Shout it Out Loud is a classic, 1970’s styled Live anthem folks. Everything you need to hear or know about the band is in this song. It’s not their best but it’s way, way up there. Shout it Out Loud has some of their best riffs, their best guitars, their best vocals, their best melodies…everything.

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31. Strutter – (KISS, 1974)

Ah god, this list is great,. Every time I think I’ve gotten all the ‘best’ tracks done, another pops straight up. Strutter is full on sleazy rock n roll. Stick on the leather jacket, light up your smoke and down your whiskey to enjoy. It’s a monster of guitars n attitude.

32. King of the Night Time World – (Destroyer, 1976)

You may have noticed down the line that I have a fondness for Gene Simmons voice and songs. King of the Night time world is no exception, An absolutely brilliant track but then again, everything on Destroyer is a killer track, that’s why it’s such a deadly album. You don’t know that??? For Shame, out of the village, I cast you out heathen!!

33. Sure Know Something – (Dynasty, 1979)

Oh Yeah, kick back, relax and let Kiss blow those worries away..Cool!

34. Tears are Falling – (Asylum, 1985)

If you know this song and you’re judging me, back off. Tears are falling is eighties KISS and it’s so addictive it’s frightening. This is one of those times I actually do see the cheese going off in this song but I still love it. You want to make your own list of your 35 favorite KISS songs and leave this out? Go ahead, but this is Tickets There and we like Tears are Falling!

35. Uh! All Night – (Asylum, 1985)

So that’s it folks, the first Tickets There Alive 35 KISS-LECTION printed in surround sound just for you two that read my stuff. If I left any off, feel free to a comment for your favorite KISS tracks and tell Tickets There why you love them so much.,

All the best,

TT

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Tickets There on TWITTER – Broke ‘N’ Tweetin’

Posted in Music, News with tags , , on September 21, 2009 by Tickets There

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I know you all hate it, I hate it to but it seems these things have to be done. Cant wait to see what ‘up to the minute’ yoke they come up with next but never mind all that, Tickets There is now officially on Twitter.

Not sure if anyone really cares but sher, we might say something funny every now and again and it costs nothing (except your soul) to add us as a friend.

Hope to see the numbers go up soon because it recession folks and it costs me nothing 🙂

Check us out now by Clicking Here.

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Tickets There to Celebrate KISS – SONIC BOOM / ALIVE 35

Posted in General Tickets There Blog, Music, News with tags , , on September 21, 2009 by Tickets There

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KISS, the world hottest bands and currently ranked number 4 on the Tickets There’s all time favourites, will release their new album Sonic Boom on the 6th of October!!

How is Tickets There going to celebrate?? Well, Megadeth was good but I think KISS needs something special so we’re going to review 35 of our favourite KISS songs and call it …Tickets There’s 35 KISS-LECTION. If you can think of a better name, send it on punk!

We’ll also have a review of the record itself once we get our hands on it. Tickets There is 100% against illegal file sharing and downloading so we won’t have the review until the physical copy comes out.

And one final thing, we’ll be posting a review of Alive 1975 – 2000, one album at a time!! And as one final gesture of good will, we’ll be sticking up a review of their classic 1976 album, Destroyer

Kiss Sonic Boom Artwork

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Oliver Cole: New Single and Tour Dates

Posted in Music, News with tags , , , , on September 20, 2009 by Tickets There

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Finally, some news worth writing about. Oliver Cole (formally of Turn and one of Tickets There’s mostly highly recommended singer / songwriters) is releasing the first single, What Will You Do With Yourself from his highly anticipated solo debut, We Albatri on October 2nd through EMI records.

Oliver will be launching the single in Dublin’s (Shudder) ‘coolest, not at all elitist, completely ponce free, super trendy, ultra-cool, too cool for school, ram-o-rama sit fest The Odessa Club near Dame Street. €10 at the door and a free copy of the single.

Then he’s off to Galway and Cork before playing a fourth show at the HWCH festival veues still TBC)

Ollie’s always great live so the shows will be well worth and he’s got the band in toe which could mean Mr. Gavin Fox on bass and Graham Hopkins in drums.

Thursday October 1st Dublin Odessa Club (€10 incl copy of release) open to public.

Friday October 2nd Galway Roisin Dubh upstairsThursday

October 8th Cork Cyprus Avenue.

October Dublin HWCH festival date to confirmed.

Check out more @ Oliver Cole MySpace

And no, Tickets There is not bitter he’s stolen our Frame graphics 🙂

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Official Concerto for Constantine Website – Coming Soon

Posted in Music, News with tags , , , on September 20, 2009 by Tickets There

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To all the people out there in TV land and mama I’m coming home soon…

Concerto for Constantine’s official website is going live this month according to a note currently displayed there. Not sure how hush hush it’s meant to be so I wont give the address until the band make their own official announcement but it’s easy enough to find for any who’s used Google before.

Here’s a couple of snaps from the site.

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Tickets There: Our Favorite Irish Bands

Posted in General Tickets There Blog, Music with tags , , , , , , , , , on September 19, 2009 by Tickets There

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Hi There,

Tickets There has decided to create a list of the Safe (Good) Irish bands.

This list will only be based on our collective (my) personal tastes and will be updated as often as possible (Also, the Top Ten only includes bands that are still together and fairly underground / local. Thats why Ash aren’t on this list for example ;)).

Click on the band names to read what Tickets There has to say about them.

Safe: Top 10 Best Irish Bands & others worth checking out

  1. The Future Kings of Spain (Indie Rock)
  2. Concerto For Constantine (Indie Rock)
  3. Jape (Indie / Techno / Pop)
  4. Humanzi (Punk Rock)
  5. The Aftermath (Pop Rock)
  6. Jaded Sun (New Entry) (Rock N Roll)
  7. Cathy Davey (Singer / Songwriter)
  8. LE GALAXIE (Electro-Rock)
  9. Adebisi Shank (Hard Rock / Metal, Instrumental)
  10. Mass Extinction (Thrash Metal)

TURN, The Mighty Atomics, Kill City Defectors, The Walls, One Day International, The Brothers Movement, Oliver Cole, The Answer, The Delorentos, Class of 1984, The Mighty Stef, The Frames, The Rapport, ,Bell X1, Lisa Hannigan, Republic of Loose, Berkeley, The Murder Clues, Fred, Sickboy, TKO, Joe Rubix, R.S.A.G., The Stunning, And So I Watch You From Afar, Codes, I’ll Eat Your Face, Cheap Freaks, Sound of System Breakdown, The Mighty Atomics, The Brad Pitt Light Orchestra, Sweet Jane, C!ties, 21 Outs, Floyd Soul & The Wolf, The Bloody Shanks, The Pulpit, A Futurist Theatre, Beastmen, A Futurist Theatre, Solar Taxi, Ghundi, Stone Throwing Youths, House of Dolls, Fingersmith, Fighting With Wire, Spook of the Thirteenth Lock, Swanee River, The Black Strands, The Cold 100, Million Dollar Reload, Sirocco, The Whiskey Limbs, Lluther, Two Tales of Woe, Raging Conflict, Gama Bomb..more to come.

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MEGADETH DOUBLE REVIEW – SO FAR, SO GOOD, SO WHAT / THE WORLD NEEDS A HERO

Posted in Album Review, Music with tags , , , , , , , , on September 19, 2009 by Tickets There

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I think Megadeth are about to become the only band on this site with more albums reviewed than Def Leppard. Feck it, why not. About time fans of the boys got to read some shit about them. It’s just a pity many people aren’t reading them. Ah well, they’re keeping me amused although I haven’t a clue how I’m going to top the last ones. Oh I know, by writing about So Fucking Far, So Fucking Good, So Fucking What!!! And their excellent come back album, 2001’s The World Needs A Hero. Let us begin, let us taste metals divine loveliness.

Megadeth – So Far, So Good, So What

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If there is one album that’s underrated, it has to be 1988’s So Far, So Good… So Wha!t. It’s short, loud, obnoxious and a fucking pain killer styled opus. Openaing track, Into the Lungs of Hell is 3 minutes and 29 seconds of screaming guitars, bleeding drums drenched in pain and a bass so heavy it’ll drop kick you into the fourth quarter. Noting bad to say, no way to flaw it.

Although the rolling opening beats of Set The World Afire goes along way in belting it’s point across. Dave’s aggressive youthful manner is still dominant here and the overly loud overdubs during the chorus only help harness the songs dark powers. There’s little melody, there’s little hope. This is a steel cage match for all things metal and Megadeth have no bother crushing every last living thing in site. God its so mouth wateringly good, it even drove away the painful memories of revisiting Cryptic Writings earlier. Next up is a classic Thrash Metal cover track. Megadeth, covering the almighty Sex Pistols’ Anarchy in the UK. I wont go into this one in too much detail. It’s a great cover of an all mighty beast of a track.

Mary Jane brings us to the half way mark. A futuristic kind of intro, some savage guitars and a song about a very loving mistress. MJ will always be there to sooth your wows and heal you sadness. Megadeth will always be there to hold Stomp Fest annually on your grave and rob your soul of it’s quintessential essence. Ah, I’m just turning this beats up every five seconds it’s getting ridiculous. This is one of those tunes that shows what girls nu-metal and emo kids are. Korn, PaPa Roach, Linkin Park, My Chemical Romance and all those little pussys. Get fucked get Megadeth and hurry your mind to catch up. Sher aggression that only the almighty Slayer can rival. Their guitars are made with the bones of humans, their drum’s are fashioned from the finest moral skin and their power, their power was electrocuted into them when Angus Young and the devil shook hands.

502’s another bloody mentalist track. Fast, aggressive and loud. Car crashes, laws being broken left right and centre and then there’s yer man with all the guitars, it’s mad!. It’s just fucking great. AWWWHHHH, next we have the stand out classic for the top ten songs you need to hear…period!. In My Darkest Hour…….head bangers get ready. The swoops, the spirals, the exploding, fiery demon riffage of the gods. Dave’s growling vocals rasp their way through this power house of an anthem, Written in memory of Metallicas bereaved bass player, Cliff Burton. Poor Cliff was killed in a bus crash while Metallica were touring their incredible Master of Puppets. One of metals most tragic losses, now honoured by Mustaine and Ellefson in one of his finest writing moments.

The hard hitting, metal grinding Liar and Hook in my Mouth finish of one of the Death’s best records. It may be short, it may not be packed with hits but it’s 100% metal. If you’re and a fan and you haven’t heard this one TT advises smacking yourself. If you’re not a fan, stick with Cryptic Writings before attempting this one.

Megadeth – The World Needs a Hero

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This is the album that sealed the deal on me being a fan of the Death. After hearing Cryptic Writings and being a little bemused but interested, I got my hands on the greatest hits and  record and realized Megadeth had a lot more to offer than slow riffs and violins. When this record came out, it shows Dave and the boys were determined to prove they could still rock the wallet chains and hair dye out of the younger Nu-metal groups. Did they achieve this? Hell yeah they did. The World Needs A Hero saw Vic return to the sleeve and the venom return to Megadeth in blazing glory. Ever since they’ve pushed more and more to get their old sound back and forget the days of Risk. The System Has Failed, United Abominations and Endgame are all direct results of the effort shown on this record.

Disconnect may take a wee while to get your feet moving but once that first guitar solo gets going you’ll be tapping along. It’ not the strongest on the record and it wont convince you Megadeth were on their way back to their old sound but just be patient, it’s a good song. The World Needs A Hero’s title track will however help those worries. Based on that Sweating Bullets / Peace Sells kind of structure. It still doesn’t deliver that full on thrash Megadeth and its riffs are closer to rock n roll than Armageddon but again, it’s a pretty decent track and the solo is fairly wicked.

The albums lead single, Moto Psycho is a belter. A solid, fast, thrash riff and some furious drums to boot. Dave’s voice is back on this one and now you’ll start to see where this record wants to go. Lots of solo’s, riffs n metal up the ass. Now the next one may sound like a ballad but fortunately it’s not. 1,000 Times Goodbye is a god’s honest metal love song…kind of. Intro is a slow, bruising little belter and once that snare hits in you’ll hear the old sound creeping in.  Theme is about a total bitch but hey, that’s rock n roll for ya. Burning Bridges is next and this is a little slower and more similar to the bands late nineties sound. Want to move on? Ok, lets do that.

Promises is a ballad kind of track but it’s probably one of the bands best. Great bridge, great chorus and a great use of the string section. This is way up there with songs like A Tout Le Monde and shows they can do ballads properly. Although, these ballad songs look so weak compared to the thrash outputs like So Far, So Good. Really, a band called Megadeth shouldn’t be attempting any of this stuff and should stick to destroying the world with every breath. Ah well, C’est la vie! Recipe For Hate…Warhorse. Now you’re talking, metal, metal, metal. There’s some great building riffs here. Nothing too classic but heavy at least so don’t complain. I’m gonna rush along, I’m suffering from the same thing as yesterday, shouldn’t have listened to So Far first but it ain’t as bad today. Losing Senses is a pretty decent effort. I don’t like the opening but it ain’t the worst.

Dread The Fugitive Mind is finally the Deth back in blazing glory. This is their classic sound clawing it’s way back to the surface. Even the title screams set list and it’s well earned. Very similar to Sweating Bullets in many way and not as good but one of the stand outs on this record. Silent Scorn’s a strange one, strange one indeed. Sounds like an ode to the fallen but it makes way for Return to Hangar…yes, it’s the sequel and one of the albums major tracks. Personally I prefer the live recording from Rude wakening but it’s a cracker. Final song, When is like a Doomsday track. Heavy, slow n thumping!! Nice atmospheric way to finish the record.

So that’s it. Three double reviews of Megadeth at their finest, their fairly decent and there, well I see where you’re going but why don’t ya stick to what your best at. You’ve read about the best, I’ve left out the worst and soon you’ll see Killing is my Business, The System Has Failed, United Abominations and Youthanasia. There you’ll hear about some of Megadeth’s best moments and more about what lead to their latest release, EndGame.

But really you’ll hear about some Irish bands, that’s enough international for awhile, they’ve had their fun. MySpace Review time!!!!!

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MEGADETH – PEACE SELLS…BUT WHO’S BUYING? / CRYPTIC WRITINGS (DOUBLE REVIEW)

Posted in Album Review, Music with tags , , , , , , on September 18, 2009 by Tickets There

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OK, same drill as yesterday, a double review feature of classic Megadeth in celebration of their new album, Endgame being a pretty decent record. Now some of you may wonder why I choose Cryptic Writings instead of Killing Is My Business and Business is Good or So far, So Good, So What. Well I plan on Doing So Far tomorrow along with another newish Deth album, The World Needs a Hero and maybe do Killing Is My Business in a double thrash metal review with Metallica’s Kill Em All. Clash of the titan’s debut albums and such like. In truth I don’t actually have a copy of Killing in Dublin so I’ll track one down and get back to ye about it.

Anyways, on with today’s review.

Megadeth – Peace Sells…But Who’s Buying?

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One of the bands three greatest albums, Megadeth really proved what they were capable of on this album. It’s one of those defining mid-eighties thrash records that really shows how metal should be done. Fuck killing, Metal is Mustaines business and with peace Sells, business is good!.

Wake Up Dead is suck a dirty piece of naughtiness it should be R-rated and standing inside a window on a sleazy street in Amsterdam. It’s just too much god like genius for any band to handle and it’s about a guy worried about waking his wife because she’ll yell at him. No way any moral man can get this much Armageddon styled playing onto a track about that. Then again, Mustaine isn’t moral, he’s the lovechild of Bitterness and Hate with a doctorate in being pissed…off. That riff’s and solos in this monster are fused together and so tight and delivered with such precession I imagine they were welded by the Irish in the early 1900’s and sent off to the Marines for arrangement. This song makes this album a classic all by its self and it’s more the capable of bearing the load.

Fortunately The Conjuring does its share in the lifting. A dark, blistering piece of amazing metal. Another dirty little tramp trying to sell Snow White hand grenades disguised as apples and then stomping on her charred carcass. Too graphic? Then you haven’t heard Megadeth, that’s the Politically Correct, family Friendly way of describing their sound and this song. Just wait until you hear this baby pick up speed and take flight. Full volume fully recommended, tourniquet optional. Ah, how can they keep doing this. What’s next you ask? It’s only the holiest of Holy Megadeth tracks (except all those others I mentioned yesterday), Peace Sells!! A blistering few minutes of solo’s, riffs, anger, sarcasm and ‘Dave Mustaine humor’. Remember I said Megadeth knows no humor (think I did anyway) well occasionally they do and this is it!. Seriously though, this song is so tough it would come out of the CD and beat the shit out of you for looking at it funny. Take Tickets There’s advise and bang you head, nod, don’t smile and rock out. Save yourself a major whipping further down the line.

However tough Peace Sells is, Devils Island does a good job of competing. Devils Island was a nasty little place in case you hadn’t heard and if they had had this song on the real Island it would have made things much crueler. Incredible anthem styled metal that shows Megadeth at their full on, stampeding best. Good Morning / Black Friday’s next and it’s much more of an atmospheric piece than any of the other tracks so far. I suppose this track would almost be the early Megadeth version of a ballad, despite the walls, mountains and piles of solo’s and general guitar malarkey. Not to mention the onslaught of drums, Dave’s voice and the Deth!! Another classic anyways. Bad Omen’s next and surprise, surprise, it’s another frickin’ sweet moment of metal. Another drawn out guitar n drum intro before Dave brings the noise and makes his mark. Piss on it? Nah, Dave sets fire to it and laughs while baby hamsters scream for help. He’s not a nice guy, I told you this!

I Ain’t Superstitious and My Last Words finish off one of the best metal records of all time. Little beat from reviewing four albums by the one band in the last two days so that’s enough of this one. Just buy it, what’s your problem? Fraid The Deth will reach out, smack your face and call you names? Well they’ll do it anyways so just buy the album and justify it!

Megadeth – Cryptic Writings

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Now this is interesting. Cryptic Writings is certainly different from Endgame, Rust In Peace, Countdown to Extinction and Peace Sell’s. It could be called the bands Re-Load (while Risk would be there St. Anger…except better than St. Anger obviously). This was the first Megadeth record I ever owned and boy was I surprised. I was pretty sure a band with as much street cred and a name like Megadeth would be ever so slightly harsher than this. Turns out they had been ten years beforehand (five even L) but it didn’t take too long to warm up top this one.

This was released around the time bands like Slayer, Megadeth and Metallica were all drifting further and further away from the Thrash sound they had helped create, shape, perfect and bring to the masses. The nineties had shifted music heads all over the place and every band that had been big in the eighties either packed it in, disappeared or changed styles in an attempt to keep up with younger people. Megadeth was one such band and Cryptic Writings was a very obvious attempt at this. Instead of the hate, the scorching hot lyrics and wave after wave of ear drum shattering solos and riffs so strong, Chuck Norris couldn’t handle them (sad – Ed), (go fuck yourself Ed – TT), you got ‘radio friendly Megadeth’. Such a thing couldn’t have been imagined in the eighties, but here you are. The Deth on 2FM thanks to songs like Trust.

Trust may be a tame, shy little kitten compared to the rabies infected jackals their previous albums had been but it’s certainly not the worst Megadeth song out there. Those looking for the rush of real Megadeth won’t find it here but those looking for melody, talent and a good tune, look no further. In comparison, Almost Honest follows the same sort of pattern expect it’s a little more full on. Not much more full on anything here and I’m feeling a little distant after the pure adrenalin of the other records. Almost Honest is a decent song. Normally I like it a lot more but I did just listen to Peace Sell’s so, ya know?.

Use the Man is always a good way to get this record rolling and the distant sound of The Searchers classic, Needles and Pins sets the right tone. I suppose the themes on this album tie in a lot Dave’s drug problems. Around this time he was kicking away his demons and becoming the well disciplined, born again Christian (who’ll still bitch slap ya) he is today. Nice, slow moving but filled with enough little melodies to keep ya happy. Mastermind finally introduces so much needed guitars onto this sucker. Good heavy but slow riffs and Dave’s raspy voice finally throwing its self into the match.

The Disintegrators is much faster and heavier again. Great chorus but still retains that melodic sound that dominates this record. Ya know the way older Megadeth is a stampede of hopelessness and despair. Well this record sounds like reworked versions of Nickleback. I’ll Get Even brings the tone back down to quiet non-Megadeth levels again and it’s a good kind of Metal rockfish track. One of those choruses you can bop along to but I imagine a lot of Deth heads were sitting back scratching their heads as to why some other band are allowed to call themselves Megadeth when it first came out. Ah, it’s not a bad song, just not a classic and I’m worried my enthusiasm has dropped to low to keep this review interesting. Sin is another one of those that’s closest to older Megadeth but still lacks the speed and aggression of the old sound. Dave’s voice sounds good though, really suits this type of tune. Who’d have thought?

And so on. The remaining tracks are decent but I’ve lost the buzz I’m afraid. On a normal day, Cryptic Writings can be best described as a Megadeth album for people who don’t like Megadeth. Today however, it’s shows up poorly.

Oh, not one mention about Marty Friedman in these reviews, I just realized that. Marty rocks the biotches to the core as does Dave E.

Read Reviews of Rust In Peace & Countdown to Extinction by clicking HERE.

Click HERE to read a review of Megadeth’s newest album Endgame.

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MEGADETH – RUST IN PEACE / COUNTDOWN TO EXTINCTION Double Review:

Posted in Album Review, Music with tags , , , , , , , , on September 17, 2009 by Tickets There

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In celebration of Megadeth’s latest album, Endgame being a fairly decent output, Tickets There has decided to do a double review feature of two of their strongest albums, Rust In Peace and Countdown to Extinction. I’ll also probably do another double review including Peace Sells and Cryptic Writings tomorrow.

Megadeth – Rust In Peace (1990)

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So let’s start in chronological order today. Rust In Peace is probably the bands defining record. Although Peace Sells had been a massive, massive hit for the band, it was only when RIP came out that they were truly elevated to the gods of metal status they enjoy today. It marked a shift from their classic Thrash metal roots while still retaining an aggressive, onslaught styled sound. In comparison to Dave Mustaines previous band Metallica, RIP is Megadeth’s ‘Black Album’ and it probably would have brought them much more fame than it did if Metallica hadn’t released the aforementioned metal devoid opus just a year after RIP came out. (ok, so it had Sad But True, Holier Than Thou, Don’t Thread on Me, Of Wolf and Man, The Struggle Within..ok enough, it’s a good album).

Kicking things off is Holy Wars…The Punishment Due. Very little you can say about this song except….it’s fucking crazy mental metal madness. How could you not pull your back out doing those massive head banging moments during the bridges. Amazing stuff from Mustaine and the boys. Next up, the equally incredible Hangar 18. Now, if by any chance you’re reading this and you’re a metal fan but you’ve never heard of Hangar 18, that just means you are a total douche!. Hangar 18 is metal. Like one of those songs that comes out and instantly owns a genre. I couldn’t be bothered looking up the net but I think there’s something like 18 solo’s on this one song. It’s a total Romper Stomper of a tune that would be very difficult for any band to match on follow up records. Full on drums, full on guitars, full on vocals n aggression, full on every mother fucking thing. This is Megadeth, welcome!!

How the hell can anyone top two tracks like that? Well they can’t fully, but Take No Prisoners gives it a damn good try. Full on Thrash metal riffs, thrash metal drums, thrash metal everything up the wazoo. I’m sitting down listening to this on head phones and you have no idea how hard it is resisting the temptation of throwing my computer out the window and setting off on a mayhem fuelled rampage. Maybe if I do, I could arrange a TT presents job of it and Take No Prisoners will be our theme song. Five Magic’s is another classic track (yes, this is just one of those albums). Slowed down intro, but things don’t take long to kick into gear. The pounding of the drums and guitars picking up pace leads the listener to think ‘ah, here we go’ but don’t get too excited., it’s not happening yet and then….out of nowhere Dave’s snarling, hate filled vocals rasp their way in destroying all the songs goodness and purity. In short, it becomes Megadeth 😀 Sound sad? Yeah, well you’re faceJ

Poison Was the Cure is yet another classic from this album. Not played too often live but it’s a damn fine wee number. I won’t ramble on too much because I have to finish Rust In Peace and move onto Countdown next. Great song, just listen to it. Same with Lucretia which sounds much happier than most Megadeth stuff until you get down to the full depth of it off course. Megadeth knows no humor. They’re like Radiohead, but ya know, not gay. Now, this next song is the one I’ve been driving towards. Tornado of Souls. I know, before you ask ‘How can a song called Tornado of Souls not get you arrested, beat up your wife and steal your car?’ well honestly, it does all of that and even insults your mother while it’s at it. This is Megadeth baby, what else did you expect?

Dawn patrol and Rust In Peace are fine songs. Good clean cut, sell your children to Turkish importers clean songs. If you don’t have this album, if you’re just starting to like Heavy metal, if you’re a human being I implore you to go buy this record. It will show you exactly how f**king amazing Megadeth were, are and always have been.

Megadeth – Countdown to Extinction (1992)

cte1

So you think most metal bands that were big in the eighties fizzled out and faded away under Metallica’s growing dominance over the scene after their black album? Unfortunately for any Met heads out there and possibly the band themselves, Megadeth released one of their finest recorded moments just a year after the Met had conquered all with their Black Album (and only two years after the incredible Rust in Peace). Why waste time with an intro when Skin O’ My Teeth is blaring through the headphones?

First of all, Skin O’ My Teeth does not sound in anyway Irish, don’t be fooled by the O’ (bad joke there TT – Ed)…..(Up yours Ed and stop interrupting my posts Biotch! – TT). Skin O’ My Teeth is without a single doubt one of the ten best songs Megadeth ever recorded in TT’s books. I mean this baby live is like a monster screaming at you from Mordor! Go find the find Frodo and don’t let Dave catch ya. Yes he’s that scary, haven’t you heard? I know he’s a born again Christian and all but that’s like Marilyn Manson becoming a born again….Christian….just shut up. But no matter how good SOMT is, no matter how much we love it, we love the next one even more. My girlfriend’s brother asked me once, ‘what’s the definitive Megadeth song?’ and there is only one answer when someone asks you that question, Symphony of Destruction. This is the song you play when anyone asks you what Megadeth are like. No, it’s not their heaviest and no, it’s not their lightest, this is 100%, full metal jacket Megadeth. A snarling, spitting beast of a track with guitars so militant they’ll drag your ass through boot camp before they hang, draw and quarter you. On par with anything else they’ve ever released and probably one of the greatest riffs/songs in heavy metal history.

Now that those two are out of the way, let’s move onto the other songs that make Countdown to Extinction so loveable and well, so damn good. Architecture of Aggression could be compared to Metallica’s One with its war styled intro but two seconds later it explodes into everything the title promises. War driven fury that Megadeth do best. Foreclosure of a Dream is one I never really liked the first few times I heard this record but god, give this baby a few listens and it’s some job. Now, I don’t mean to be rude to FOAD but the next song deserves urgent attention (partially because I got distracted and heard FOAD about 6 times on repeat and I want to move on). Sweating Bullets is a Megadeth standard. Can you imagine how kick ass this track is? No, you can’t. Not unless you’ve heard it. I’ll admit it’s no Hanger 18, Symphony of Destruction or Holy Wars but it’s bloody mental all the same. One of the Deth tracks you have to see live.

This Was My Life is much similar to a Megadeth album track that most of the others I’ve discussed today but when it comes to an album of this quality, that’s a good thing. The albums’ title track is another thriller of a piece, real full on one again. More melody than a lot of earlier Megadeth but hey, this was the nineties babe (hence why I’m saying babe every three seconds).  There’s such a great flow to this tune and it shows the Deth can write more than Thrash. Also, the chorus sounds like it could have been netter produced but it’s still catchy as hell. High Speed Dirt is another album track of the highest order, I mean, what does that even mean? Who cares, if Dave said it, it’s gotta mean something. Great, fast, energetic and vicious! Psychotron is more like an older Megadeth song. Hard, fast, dirty and brutally brutal for brutals sake…to put it simply. Captive Honour has more in common with their In My Darkest Hour style (well actually more like Risk and Cryptic Writings) and final track Ashes in Your Mouth is an okish finisher.

So that’s it. Two of Megadeths greatest albums done and dusted. Now I’ll leave you fine people to head out and grab these babies form the official Tickets There reviews send a shit storm HMV’s way. More than likely sales of the band will pick up 50% over the next three days. The band will pass this off as sales of the new album but we’ll all know better, wont we J.

Click Here to read Tickets There’s review of Megadeth’s new album Endgame

All the best,
T.T.

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Jaded Sun – Higher

Posted in General Tickets There Blog, Music on September 16, 2009 by Tickets There

Cannot get enough of this. Strictly for fans of ROCK N FUCKIN’ ROLL!!

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Jape -At the Heart of all of this Strangeness

Posted in General Tickets There Blog, Music with tags , , , on September 16, 2009 by Tickets There

Great song

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