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SAVE THE WORLD - Two - 9.5/109.5/10
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NANCY WILSON - You and Me - 8/108/10
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MYLES KENNEDY - Ides of March - 9.2/109.2/10
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WEEZER - Van Weezer - 8.8/108.8/10
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ROBOTS OF THE ANCIENT WORLD - Mystic Goddess - 9/109/10
Summary
[spoiler title=’Metal Express Radio – Ratings Scale’ style=’default’ collapse_link=’true’]
10.0: Cannot be improved! Perfect, instant classic! Essential in any record collection.
9.5 – 9.9: Fantastic, spectacular and outstanding!
9.0 – 9.4: Amazing release! It just lacks that little extra spice to make it perfect.
8.5 – 8.9: Exceptional release! Will likely rank among top ten albums of the year.
8.0 – 8.4: Great release! It has many different qualities.
7.5 – 7.9: Above average! It is an enjoyable release.
7.0 – 7.4: It is not brilliant, but has many strong points.
6.0 – 6.9: It has its moments, but is not that strong.
5.0 – 5.9: Slightly above average, does not stand out. Good outweighs bad by just a little.
4.0 – 4.9: Just below average, bad outweighs good by just a little.
3.0 – 3.9: Mediocre. There might be a song or a performance that is enjoyable, but that is it.
2.0 – 2.9: Very weak! There might be a light at the end of the tunnel, too many flaws.
1.0 – 1.9: This release gives the word “terrible” new meaning.
0.1 – 0.9: Awful! Avoid at all cost. There is nothing good to say about this release.
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SAVE THE WORLD – Two
Frontiers Music [Facebook]
It’s not every day that a band you’ve never heard of comes along and delivers a fantastic piece of ‘80s-inspired Progressive Rock. It does make sense once you realize that Save The World front man Dan Tracey doubles as guitarist and vocalist for the Alan Parson’s Project Live.
Two is full of lush melodies, well-crafted music, and relatable lyrics. At times Two feels like an AOR record, other times it can be trippy, and sometimes it can even be a little cheesy. However, that’s what we loved about the decade of excess. Save the World is the Alan Parson’s Project of the 21st century. 9.5/10
NANCY WILSON – You and Me
Carry On Music [Facebook]
It wasn’t often that Nancy Wilson got to sing lead vocals for Heart, but when she did, it was always beautiful to hear. For You and Me, Wilson recruits and all-star cast that includes Sammy Hagar, Duff McKagan, and Taylor Hawkins among others. The album is a laid –back affair (“You and Me,” “I’ll Find You), accented by soft acoustics, but it rocks out from time to time (“Party at the Angel Ballroom,” “The Inbetween”).
Wilson’s cover songs originally performed by Pearl Jam, Bruce Springsteen, and Simon & Garfunkel are reinterpreted and refreshing. Her cover of The Cranberries “Dreams” is pretty much a straight cover. Nancy’s tribute to Eddie Van Halen, “4 Edward” is a cool acoustic mix of his most popular riffs. 8/10
MYLES KENNEDY – The Ideas of March
Napalm Records [Facebook]
The Ides of March is not as in your face as Kennedy’s work in Alter Bridge or Slash & The Conspirators, but it’s also not as laid back and raw as his first solo album Year of the Tiger (2018). This happy medium works great for Myles Kennedy as he delivers an album that is not only radio friendly, but also cloaked in some low-down dirty southern blues. Stand out tracks: “Get Along,” “In Stride,” “Tell It Like It Is,” and “Wanderlust Begins.” 9.2/10
WEEZER – Van Weezer
Crush Music [BUY] [Facebook]
Weezer have always seemed to be a band searching for “their sound.” Hopefully, with Van Weezer they’ve found it. The album is a guitar lovers and area rocker’s dream. There is a nod and wink to the ‘80s, but it is still dripping with mid ’90s Weezer swagger (or was it nerdiness). “Blue Dream” is kind of dud with the borrowed “Crazy Train” riff, but otherwise Van Weezer is the best 30 minutes in Weezer album history. 8.8/10
ROBOTS OF THE ANCIENT WORLD – Mystic Goddess
Small Stone Recordings [BUY] [Facebook]
On Mystic Goddess, Robots of the Ancient World deliver 8 trippy and cosmic Stoner Rock tracks filled with deep sludgy grooves and gritty yet fiery vocals. There are shades of Danzig, The Cult, and Monster Magnet throughout the album, but there are also flirtations with jazz, funk, and soul. Mystic Goddess could easily set the soundtrack for your favorite smoky nightspot or preferred upscale craft beer tasting room. 9/10
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