Monday 1 October 2007

Bez's Album















You might not believe this but I am actually a rock chick, a bit of a Jo Whiley figure and an ace rock critic. Actually I did once work with her sister-in-law. I was at school with somebody (Bez)who is in a rock band called DOG (stands for Delusions of Grandeur)who have just brought out an album called 'Year of the Dog' which I have had the pleasure of listening to today.

What can I say Bez? Rubbish blog, great album! You will pleased that it passed the kitchen test (I will allow you to use that on your publicity) in that will join the creme de la creme of CDs which I listen to in my kitchen.

Great individual songs, but the album as a whole had an underlying theme to it and structure and progression, with a variety of sounds. Although you touch a raw heavy metal sound (in Every Mother's Nightmare)the songs had memorable melodies which stuck in your mind, in particular 'Too Many Good Times'and 'Monument'. (Like the glacial sounding solo in this). I don't know how this works but to me this is the acid test of good music, the humability factor, as opposed to some pretentious rock noise, all sound and fury, signifying nothing.

DOG have some vocalist in the form of Neil Evans, whose voice reminded me a little of Axl Rose (from Guns 'n' Roses where my knowledge of rock music stops)in that he is very technically capable with a clean, pure voice(great long notes in Wolfchild, if I have one cricitism of the album, I've got to have one, or you'll think all the rest is sucking up, I couldn't hear all the lyrics in this one) but is capable of the necessary gravelly rawness.

This may be a shot in the dark but I think Bez had some part in the writing of the lyrics of this album. I particularly like the ones in 'Turning of the Tide', which is obviously a defiant song charting someone's change of mood, full of illusions to waves,with the storm clouds being the father of the skies. The turning of the tide is a change in some one's mood from despair to defiance. I like 'tortured by the sunlight'. I thought the acoustic 'Memories, Photographs and Scars' was very moving. The album has 'Survivor's Song' as its fitting finale. I think the title of the album implies that someone has had a rough time recently but has transformed these experiences into great sounds, 'monuments in snow', and has 'grabbed your own little piece of forever.'












8 comments:

lebanesa said...

Sounds good - are there any sample tracks online anywhere to listen to?

Bev said...

If Bez himself favours us with his presence in the near future we could ask him. I've just been on his website but he doesn't update it very often and there are no signs of any online tracks there. It only costs £10 and if your daughter like Metallica she will like this. Bez suggested to me that I should buy a whole load of them but I've only bought one. I'm sure Bez could tell us where to obtain one should anyone so wish, but, as I say, he doesn't update his website very often.

lebanesa said...

I'll have a look for it, maybe able to listen to it on one of the rock sites.
Like the new header by the way, very snazzy

Bez said...
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
Bev said...

Bez, I'm glad you like this reasoned and civilised response because just dipping into your Scunthorpe chat a lot of the time you lot just seem to muck about....

Bev said...

But it's quite funny though and I will have a look at My space later on this evening!

lebanesa said...

Heard Squeeze Box, very AC DC vocals on that. Sounds good, Maybe I'll save up some pennies.
You Tube is full of Delusions of Grandeur from Ohio - did you know there was a clone band there?

Bev said...

Frances, great that you listen to (or have listened)AC/DC, but hope you didn't use it as the song to get your baby to sleep lol

Bez, you quote Frank Zappa, hope you appreciate my quote from Shakespeare.

I am still trying to get on My Space to find the clip. I'm sure I'll manage it eventually.