KISS - Rock And Roll All Nite

Artist ----  KISS

Song   ----  Rock And Roll All Nite

Album  ----  Dressed To Kill (1975)

Background: KISS is an American rock band formed in New York City in 1973. Well known for its members' face paint and flamboyant stage outfits, the group rose to prominence in the mid to late 1970s on the basis of their elaborate live performances, which featured fire breathing, blood spitting, smoking guitars, shooting rockets, levitating drum kits and pyrotechnics. Counting the 1978 solo albums, Kiss has been awarded 28 gold albums to date, the most of any American rock band. The 1973–'80 original lineup of Paul Stanley (vocals and rhythm guitar), Gene Simmons (vocals and bass guitar), Ace Frehley (lead guitar) and Peter Criss (drums) is the most successful. Buoyed by a wave of Kiss nostalgia in the 1990s, the band announced a reunion of the original lineup in 1996. The resulting Kiss Alive/Worldwide/Reunion Tour was the top-grossing act of 1996 and 1997. "Rock and Roll All Nite" became Kiss's most identifiable song and has served as the group's closing concert number in almost every concert since 1976. In 2008 it was named the 16th greatest hard rock song of all time by VH1.

Trivia: During their performance at the MTS Centre 2009 in Winnipeg, Manitoba, one of the lighting trusses caught on fire from a pyro cue. The truss had to be lowered in order to have the fire put out. During the five or so minutes it took to extinguish the fire, the band broke into the song "Firehouse". No one was hurt and the show continued on.

My two cents: I got to know this song pretty well by playing Guitar Hero. This song just rocks! I don't know that many KISS songs, they never got to me because of their strange outfits and face paint and their pop rock sound. To me they seemed more like making fun of rock music than actually seriously playing it but nowadays I think I am wrong in this point. They have a great sound, a lot of rock anthems and wow, those pyro effects are better than on any Rammstein gig.

Cite: You drive us wild, we'll drive you crazy

Flying Colors - The Storm

Artist ----  Flying Colors

Song   ----  The Storm

Album  ----  Flying Colors (2012)

Background: Flying Colors is an American progressive rock supergroup composed of Mike Portnoy (ex-Dream Theater, Transatlantic, Liquid Tension Experiment), Dave LaRue (Dixie Dregs, Planet X), Casey McPherson (Alpha Rev), Neal Morse (ex-Spock's Beard, Transatlantic) and Steve Morse (Dixie Dregs, Deep Purple, Kansas). Their self-titled debut album released in March 2012. It debuted at No. 81 on the Billboard 200 chart. In 2009, producer Bill Evans had the idea for the band together with four of the musicians and producer Peter Collins, who previously worked with Rush, Bon Jovi and Elton John. The debut album was composed and recorded within nine days in 2011. Michael Brauer, who also worked with The Rolling Stones, Bob Dylan and Coldplay, did the final album mix.

Trivia: Their band name was the idea of producer Peter Collins, who adressed the musicians after recording with the words: „Gentleman, you passed with flying colors.“

My two cents: What a debut! It's not a secret that some of my most favorite musicians worked on this album. Together with the money and experience of those producers, this had to be a hit. Great composition, though I hoped it would become more proggy. Casey's voice is impressive and the sound of the mix is amazing! I hope they'll announce a world tour soon and I'm gonna be there. For sure.

Cite: Some things only can be made in the storm

Jamiroquai - Canned Heat

Artist ----  Jamiroquai

Song   ----  Canned Heat

Album  ----  Synkronized (1999)

Background: Jamiroquai are a British jazz funk and acid jazz band formed in 1992. Fronted by lead singer Jay Kay, Jamiroquai were initially the most prominent component in the early-1990s London-based acid jazz movement. Subsequent albums have explored other musical directions such as pop, rock and electronica. Their best known track is "Virtual Insanity", which won four awards at the 1997 MTV Video Music Awards. Jamiroquai have sold more than 40 million albums worldwide and won a Grammy Award in 1998. Despite his self-professed attempts to treat Jamiroquai as a band, Kay has always been at the forefront of how the group is marketed, and has therefore always had the lion's share of media attention. "Canned Heat" is the second single Jamiroquai's fourth studio album, Synkronized, released in 1999. The song was their second #1 on the U.S. Dance Chart and peaked at #4 on the UK Singles Chart.

Trivia: The band name is a portmanteau of "jam session" and "iroquai", based on the Iroquois, a Native American tribe.

My two cents: What a track. Powerful, reviving disco sound and making it even better than it probrably was in the 70s. I never knew much about Jamiroquai but I was surprised about how many songs I actually know of them. They are in the business for a long time now, but as the video shows they did not lose a quantum of energy and power. Their style also is pretty unique, there's not one band coming to my mind that sounds similar to them. A lot of appreciation goes to their courageousness for experimenting with so many different styles and sounds. I like it and there's something wrong with you if you don't move your hips to that song.

Cite: Nothing left for me to do but dance!

BOY - Little Numbers

Artist ----  BOY

Song   ----  Little Numbers

Album  ----  Mutual Friends (2011)

Background: BOY is a Swiss-German pop duo founded in 2007 by singer Valeska Steiner and bassist Sonja Glass. The two met while at a pop-music course at the Hochschule für Musik und Theater Hamburg in 2005. The band initially played concerts exclusively, before being discovered and signed to Herbert Grönemeyer's label, Grönland Records, in 2011. Their debut album, Mutual Friends was produced by Philip Steinke and released in the autumn of 2011. The band sings entirely English in a style reminiscent of that of Leslie Feist. BOY won the Hamburg Musician Prize HANS in 2011 in the category Hamburgs Newcomer of the Year, and the EBBA (European Border Breakers Award) in 2012.

Trivia: Little Numbers was their first single and the featured song of the German film “Kein Sex ist auch keine Lösung” (No Sex is no Solution either).

My two cents: Woo-oh, oh-oh, what a great song. Received it this morning, waking up on Easter sunday, listening to it and getting chills all the time. Couldn't do any different than sharing with all of you. I also needed to know more about BOY. There are some great singer-songwriters out there. Also yet another music act founded in Hamburg, there's some vibe to this city, I like it :)

Cite: I've re-arranged parts of my living room, but time is hard to kill since I met you

The Doors - The Changeling

Artist ----  The Doors

Song   ----  The Changeling

Album  ----  L.A. Woman (1971)

Background: The Doors were an American rock band formed in 1965 in Los Angeles, California, with vocalist Jim Morrison, keyboardist Ray Manzarek, guitarist Robby Krieger and drummer John Densmore. They were among the most controversial rock acts of the 1960s, due mostly to Morrison's wild, poetic lyrics and charismatic but unpredictable stage persona. After Morrison's death in 1971, the remaining members continued as a trio until finally disbanding in 1973. They released a string of multi-platinum albums, with 19 Gold, 14 Platinum and 5 Multi-Platinum album awards in the United States alone. Although The Doors' active career ended in 1973, their popularity has persisted. Three of the band's studio albums, including L.A. Woman, were featured in the Rolling Stone list of The 500 Greatest Albums of All Time, In 1993, The Doors were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

Trivia: The tour for this album only had two live concerts, since during the second gig Morrison apparently had a breakdown on stage. Midway through the set he slammed the microphone numerous times into the stage floor until the platform beneath was destroyed, then sat down and refused to perform for the remainder of the show. It was three months later that he died.

My two cents: The Doors. They still have so many fans, especially female ones. Their music is great rock, yet not aggressive or anything unpopular but very bluesy and cool. Jim Morrison still is a legend and his unique and dark voice makes the music so special. The sound on this album is well produced, considering the time it was recorded. You can still listen to it without thinking about the sound quality all the time. This is some classic piece of blues rock so sit down and enjoy ;)

Cite: See me change!

Tenacious D - Tribute

Artist ----  Tenacious D

Song   ----  Tribute

Album  ----  Tenacious D (2001)

Background: Tenacious D is an American rock band that was formed in Los Angeles, California in 1994. Composed of lead vocalist and guitarist Jack Black (the well-known actor) and lead guitarist and vocalist Kyle Gass, the band has released two albums – Tenacious D (2001) and The Pick of Destiny (2006). The debut album peaked at number thirty-three on the Billboard 200. While Tenacious D usually appears as a duo, the album was backed by a full band, According to Black, they chose to use a band because "no one's ever heard us with a band". The first single from the album was "Tribute"—a tribute to the "greatest song in the world" which, in the song, Tenacious D claimed they had performed in order to save their souls from a demon. The video for this song achieved success and was voted the fifth best music video ever by Kerrang! readers.

Trivia: Dave Grohl of the Foo Fighters plays drums and guitar on this album.

My two cents: What can you say about the greatest song in the world? Those of you who don't know "The D" definitely missed something. In my opinion, Jack Black is better in making music than acting, he unifies comedy and rock 'n' roll attitude in his person. The best movies featuring him are the ones where he can play music, like "The Pick of Destiny" and "School of Rock". I always need to laugh when listening to them and I really like the mixture of simple acoustic guitars, hard rock attitude and friendship of two fat men.

Cite: This is not the greatest song in the world, this is just a tribute!

Matt Ryczek - Without You

Artist ----  Matt Ryczek

Song   ----  Without You

Album  ----  Six Year Plan (2004)

Background: Matt Ryczek is an Athens based acoustic musician. From a total unknown, Matt has built up a solid fan base through his independent song releases. Born in 1981 in Atlanta Georgia, he was mostly inspired listening to artists such as Jack Johnson and John Mayer. Ryczek describes his music as "laid-back jazzy pop". Six Year Plan is his first record and he is about to release his second one this year.

Trivia: The tour dates on his page say that he has only played in Smith's Olde Bar in Atlanta so far.

My two cents: This is the typical rough diamond you can find on YouTube. Coming out of nowhere, somehow there's a link from a John Mayer song to his song and boom! You fall in love with a song from an artist you have never heard of before. His sound certainly conjures up images of lazy summer afternoons with acoustic rhythms playing overhead. Easy on the ears. I like it! The lyrics are easy but yet strong and send a nice and honest message to somebody you really appreciate and you cannot be with right now. Enjoy good weather and this song on your ears.

Cite: Without you I wouldn't be the same