hellraiser

DeRank : 44,17 • DeAge™ : 4488 days

The Rolling Stones: Beggars Banquet
CD Audio I have it ★★★★★
After the disappointing for many Their Satanic Majesties Request (not for me, anyway), the Rolling Stones return to the blues of their origins, crafting a fierce and determined album that is fundamental in their discography. "Sympathy For The Devil," "No Expectation" (last contribution of Jones to the band), "Parachute Woman," great tracks for a great album...
  • De...Marga...
    17 mar 14
    I just need to underline the luciferian incipit of ................................... ...the rest follows on its own.
  • hjhhjij
    17 mar 14
    Perfect definition. But Jones also plays the organ there on "Jigsaw Puzzle," really cool. And a bit of sitar on Street Fightin' :)
  • SilasLang
    17 mar 14
    I love "Their Satanic...", ahahaha... anyway, what a hell of a record!
The Rolling Stones: Blue & Lonesome
CD Audio I have it ★★★★★
I usually don't go crazy for the new releases from old glories of the past. But this is a really great album, pure raw rock blues, recorded in a rough manner, without touch-ups or finesse. Stuff they were doing 50 years ago, but they do it brilliantly just like when they were young lads. Plus, they have Clapton as a guest who brings all his class to one or two tracks. Great Jagger on harmonica. They may just be great covers of Mississippi blues, but they’re done with expert craftsmanship.
  • Pinhead
    4 dec 16
    Absolutely agree, great album. But how do they do it? I don’t know!
  • SalvaDM
    4 dec 16
    Wow... I usually don't trust cover albums much, especially the latest ones from the Stones, but it really seems like an interesting record, especially if they've 'grimed' the sound!
  • RinaldiACHTUNG
    4 dec 16
    They are the Stones, guys.
  • RinaldiACHTUNG
    4 dec 16
    Since I got it, I've been enjoying it, beautiful.
The Seeds: The Seeds
Vinile I have it ★★★★★
A Sunday spent with records like this is a Sunday well spent...
The Stooges: The Stooges
CD Audio I have it ★★★★★
A stunning initial triplet that knocks you to the ground made up of "1969", "I Wanna Be Your Dog", "We Will Fall", but the whole album is a punch in the face, one of the best debuts in rock history for the Detroit band, with the MC5 pure dynamite...
  • De...Marga...
    26 oct 14
    The cover is quite eloquent, I would say: ugly, rough, and mean!!!!
  • hjhhjij
    26 oct 14
    Well, to me they just look ugly from the cover, yeah, with their dopey-stoner faces :D Luckily, when the album kicks in, there they are, rough and mean.
  • madcat
    26 oct 14
    A gap of mine since, about 10 years ago, with 10 euros in my pocket, I had to choose between the first Velvet Underground and the first Stooges: I chose the debut of the Velvets and later delved deeper into the latter, leaving the former aside, and then never considering them again. I should make amends, I know.
  • hjhhjij
    26 oct 14
    You didn’t make a wrong choice; rather, it was one of the few better options available to you, I would say. In any case, yes, it’s time to make amends :D
  • darth agnan
    26 oct 14
    ...especially since on Amazon you can grab the stooges-funhouse-raw power trilogy for 15 euros. They practically give away these CDs.
  • hellraiser
    26 oct 14
    I too would have chosen the banana had I had to, however two different genres.
The Stooges: Funhouse
CD Audio I have it ★★★★★
Four stage animals, seven tracks that encapsulate grit, energy, and ferocity... great rock, in short...
The Strawbs: Hero and Heroine
CD Audio I have it ★★★★★
One of the most beautiful records I have ever heard, playing on repeat these days at my home. Year 1974, a masterpiece by Dave Cousins and company...
  • hellraiser
    23 aug 16
    For those who want to listen...
  • BARRACUDA BLUE
    23 aug 16
    The first time I went to see them, I brought along a few of their records, thinking, you never know... After the show, I realized that if you invited them to the bar, they would follow you like automatons. I pulled out two gems, "Two Weeks Last Summer" for Dave Cousins, who was even more excited than I was when I handed him a pen to sign it, and a very rare South Korean copy of "Hero and Heroine," which wasn’t even listed in a giant info source like Discogs. That’s when Dave Lambert’s eyes widened, unaware of the existence of that pressing. As a true rocker, he wrote a huge, flamboyant autograph on the back, the exact opposite of Cousins' elegance. Wonderful friendly artists I’ve met a few times since then. "Hero and Heroine" is a wonderful album.
  • hellraiser
    23 aug 16
    I have to thank you for buying it and for all I've felt over the last 15 days, it's really excellent. Every time you do a review/definition, I always note it down on my phone; you don't do many, but they're always spot on, you never miss a beat. Next up, the Toads, the CD is impossible to find (not even in Japan), there should be a new vinyl reissue. Meeting people like the Strawbs in person isn't something everyone gets to do, compliments and have a great evening, great Barra.
  • BARRACUDA BLUE
    23 aug 16
    In reality, dear Hell, those are calm people who are still enjoying their old age on stage, they love meeting fans and chatting lovingly, especially with a fresh pint in hand. With the Toads, you’re in for a treat. Have a good evening.
  • bluesboy94
    23 aug 16
    What do you recommend about them?
  • imasoulman
    23 aug 16
    oh, I've never been crazy about the Strawbs... but I love you all the same ;))
  • hellraiser
    23 aug 16
    Hi Ima, I got this record in Turin, at Rock & Folk on via Bogino, a great store.. then tastes are tastes, of course. As for Bluesboy, I would recommend this: Grave New World and From the Whitchwood, then Barra will give you better advice since he has known them for ages and knows them better than I do. Their self-titled album from '69 is also a great record..
  • BARRACUDA BLUE
    23 aug 16
    Grave New World and From the Witchwood were my first listens during a time when their records were hard to find in Italy. Now you can find everything online, so why not kick things off with Bluesboy and its beginnings? I’m not talking about the self-titled album from '69, but the legendary earlier album with Sandy Denny, originally called All Our Own Work, later reissued on CD as Sandy and The Strawbs. Today, both versions, with some minor differences in the tracklist, are available on CD. It’s a collection of breathtaking Folk-Pop songs, and it's a great start, moving chronologically forward to grasp the chameleonic uniqueness of this underestimated band.
  • SalvaDM
    24 aug 16
    Listened to thanks to this description. Really beautiful album.
The "future" seen in 1968. Unique Album...
  • Psychopathia
    15 feb 15
    I would be really interested... I have always been on the verge of buying it, but then something else distracted me. What a shame, I hope for the future.
  • Buzzin' Fly
    15 feb 15
    Beautiful, one of the best fruits of psychedelia.
  • hellraiser
    16 feb 15
    I dusted it off with pleasure after seeing it on the Buzzin' charts, truly remarkable and innovative, great album.
The Velvet Underground: White Light/White Heat
CD Audio I have it ★★★★★
Dark, distorted, inhuman... not easy to listen to but a piece of rock history, for sure...
  • SydBarrett96
    26 dec 13
    Although my favorite remains the first one with Nico, the crazy side of Cale and Reed really shines through in this second masterpiece, which is in many ways much more "free" and visionary. Fuck Sister Ray... The aesthetics of noise.
The Zombies: Odessey and Oracle
CD Audio I have it ★★★★★
One of the most beautiful albums of the '60s, the creativity of the Argent-White duo is exceptional, featuring great tracks, above all "Care of Cell '44," "A Rose for Emily," and the famous "Time Of The Season"...
Thin Lizzy: Live and Dangerous
Vinile I have it ★★★★★
Always a Must...
  • zappp
    18 may 17
    the voice of Phil Lynott one of the most beautiful in the hard realm. But he would have been credible in any context.
  • hellraiser
    18 may 17
    I completely agree with you. This live performance always demonstrates, even after a thousand listens, the greatness of the frontman and the entire band. It's a shame Phil left us too soon, what a pity...
  • zappp
    19 may 17
    I started listening to music as a child, and I immediately fell in love with hard rock. As the years go by and you look back, you realize that you often revise certain judgments, frequently downplaying things that you once idolized, but Thin Lizzy have always been there, holding the same high regard as back then. It wasn't just hard rock; they had Celtic nuances ingrained in their sound, a soulful vocal delivery always bursting with feeling, and when they wanted to hit hard, they knew how to do it without any fluff. In simple terms, from Jailbreak to Thunder and Lightning, they didn't miss a single album. And the other live album, "Life/Live," is great, too. I agree with you, Lynott left the stage too soon.
  • westonsupermare
    19 may 17
    this is fake, man, even Tony Visconti admitted it... it's beautiful as you like... I won't argue about that, but a faked live performance doesn’t sit well with me...
  • westonsupermare
    19 may 17
    "Secondo Visconti, l'album è stato "registrato al 75% in studio" con solo le batterie e il rumore del pubblico che rimangono dalle originali registrazioni dal vivo."
  • zappp
    19 may 17
    I didn't know about this "rigged" live thing...
  • IlConte
    19 may 17
    So the "counterfeit" record or not in the studio is simply splendid. I don't know of a truly official live recording that is 100 percent legit unless it's a studio bootleg for something big or small that made its way out. Here there are some astonishing versions, so who the hell cares in the end. Visconti says it's 75 percent from the studio and the band told him to screw off, calling him a scoundrel trying to collect two interviews. I repeat, I don't give a damn! To know what he thought of Phil, just read!
  • westonsupermare
    20 may 17
    Anyway, I don't want to stir up controversy. Phil Lynott was an excellent musician, very respected even by the great Ritchie Blackmore, which means he was truly talented.
  • IlConte
    20 may 17
    But what controversies, we’re just making observations. In that splendid decade, having a live album in the official discography was a must for many reasons. Phil's greatness lies not just in his musical skills but, in my opinion, in his ability to bring his sensitivity and fragility into rock, a troubled past with an incredible soul. As for Ritchie and the Purple, they both belong to my sacred, pardon, damned trinity, and I won’t add anything more.
Thin White Rope: The One That Got Away
CD Audio I have it ★★★★★
Registered in Belgium? All nonsense... we are right on the border between Arizona and Nevada, in a joint on the dusty desert road, frequented by truckers and shady characters, where the lightest drink is a double bourbon and there's the smell of piss coming from the restrooms... AMAZING live...
  • De...Marga...
    15 nov 14
    You perfectly captured the heavy atmosphere of that evening, the last for the great Thin White Rope. The tension that has led to the break erupts in a double album that is one of the most beautiful, true, intense, and fierce I have ever listened to; and I’m glad that, in the end, a bit of credit for this listening experience can be found in the direction of Domodossola. And as I already say in my review, search for some black and white images of that concert in Tucson, pardon Gent. Bye, kid.
  • hellraiser
    15 nov 14
    Ah ah, I knew you would come to comment! Very nice, your insight hit the mark. Among this, the cave and Moonhead, I have the embarrassment of choice, all beautiful...
  • De...Marga...
    15 nov 14
    The entire discography of the guys definitely deserves your attention; whenever you're ready to dive into more listens, just give me a whistle. And I’ll be more than ready; as far as I'm concerned, this live recording remains a notch above all the other amazing studio albums.
thin white rope: in the spanish cave
CD Audio I have it ★★★★★
I'll be brief: exceptional. (Already at the first listen...)
  • De...Marga...
    30 sep 14
    My beloved Thin White Rope, in their best album, at least for me. I stop because otherwise I could go on forever; it’s a record played by people with so-called guts. Well done hjhhjij!!! But have you just discovered them?
  • ilfreddo
    30 sep 14
    I got it on Saturday at a record fair. I haven't listened to it yet, but given Exploring the Axis, Moonhead, and Sack Full of Silver, I already know it’s going to be an awesome album!
  • hjhhjij
    30 sep 14
    Good job, who? This is the hellraiser collection :D I was just doing some tests with the "de-insertions."
  • De...Marga...
    30 sep 14
    Damn, what a mistake I made!!!! Forgive me, but you know that age is catching up, in my specific case...
Thin White Rope: Moonhead
CD Audio I have it ★★★★★
My rating would be 4.8, just a tad below the magnificent "In The Spanish Cave." Still, a lineup of excellent tracks here, nothing to say about this magnificent band...
  • De...Marga...
    18 nov 14
    Look who’s here to comment on your definition!!! I’ll just say this because it’s late and I want to rest: I agree with your rating, considering that I too think the second album by Thin White Rope is a little bit below La Caverna Spagnola. An excellent album nonetheless. Bye hellraiser.
  • hellraiser
    19 nov 14
    As we say around here, "sa le nen supa a le pan bagna." Hi Dema, greetings!
Thin White Rope: Exploring The Axis
CD Audio I have it ★★★★
Great album that already defines very well the style the band will take in their later works. In my opinion, the following "Moonhead" and "In The Spanish Cave" are better and more complete, but having debuts like this is a pleasure to listen to...
Third Ear Band: Alchemy
CD Audio I have it ★★★★
Year 1969, an excellent debut for the underground English band. Viola, cello, oboe, dreamy and Middle Eastern psychedelic sounds, very free and unique, a delightful album...
  • Buzzin' Fly
    27 aug 14
    Difficult on the first listen, but once you delve into its intricacies, it reveals itself to be a very captivating album, rich in details and melody.
Tom Waits: The Heart Of Saturday Night
Vinile I have it ★★★★★
It’s not Saturday night, but this album is accompanying me on this cold and gray Sunday evening. Among my favorites by Waits, in my top 3...
  • RinaldiACHTUNG
    1 may 17
    I approached his music with this one, drunk on the moon.
  • hellraiser
    1 may 17
    I discovered him with Blue Valentine many years ago; I’m very fond of that album and it remains my favorite by Tom. Then there’s this and Swordfish completing the podium, but all his albums are excellent—such a great artist to whom I feel very connected.
  • hjhhjij
    1 may 17
    "Fumblin' With The Blues"
Tomorrow: Tomorrow
CD Audio I have it ★★★★★
A hugely influential cult album of English psychedelia, released in 1968. They have nothing to envy the Beatles; in fact... listen to "Strawberry Fields Forever" in their version. A very young Howe on guitars, before achieving glory with Yes a few years later...
  • GIANLUIGI67
    8 mar 14
    certainly among the best fruits of psychedelia directed towards "pop".
  • Lao Tze
    8 mar 14
    Masterpiece celebrated as it deserves.
  • SilasLang
    8 mar 14
    Very great album
Townes Van Zandt: Our Mother The Mountain
CD Audio I have it ★★★★★
Great listening on this foggy and cold morning, an amazing album that warms your heart...
Townes Van Zandt: Delta Momma Blues
CD Audio I have it ★★★★★
Stunning album. Along with the self-titled track and "High, Low and in Between," it definitely represents the peak of his compositional prowess, at least in the studio. Great songs, tinged with that typical melancholy of the Texas artist, above all "Tower Song," immense...
  • bluesboy94
    23 may 15
    Wait, you forgot to mention among its peaks "Our Mother The Mountain"... anyway, in the studio from "Our Mother The Mountain" to "Flying Shoes" he put together a streak of 6 albums of remarkable singer-songwriter craftsmanship. "Tower Song" is a masterpiece of the grand kind, a song that rips your heart from your chest, and not satisfied, pierces it... oh yes, immense!
  • hellraiser
    23 may 15
    Our Mother is a beautiful album, but for me these three are the best, especially this one and the title track, the latter being exceptional in my opinion. The live at The Old Quarter remains his live monument, one of the most beautiful and intense live records ever, according to my tastes. While listening to Momma this morning, I reread your review from December; you write very well and I would love for you to do it more because it deserves to be read. Hi there, have a good evening.
UFO: PHENOMENON
CD Audio I have it ★★★★
After two solid albums of blues-oriented space rock, the English group delivers an excellent work from '74, featuring the formidable German guitarist Michael Schenker, former Scorpion. Powerful and well-played hard rock (notably the famous "Doctor Doctor"), great rock songs with acoustic ballads enhanced by superb vocal harmonization. Then there's a great producer, Leo Lyons, former bassist of Ten Years After...
  • piendepei
    19 apr 14
    but were they not todischi (or rather schencker_isti?...) ?
  • hellraiser
    20 apr 14
    English, but with a German guitarist, and what a guitarist...
Uriah Heep: Look At Yourself
Vinile I have it ★★★★★
A fantastic album, my favorite from the English band. Ken Hensley shines, great songwriting and keyboards, as well as being a superb second guitar. A Box inspired on guitar and a Paul Newton on bass in great form. Byron keeps getting better with each album, gaining confidence and charisma. An album that has nothing to envy from the giants of the era, from Master of Reality to Fireball...
Uriah Heep: Salisbury
Vinile I have it ★★★★★
A few days ago, I revisited this outstanding second album by Heep, which I’ve always considered one of their peaks. More refined than the debut, it showcases a great variety of styles, ranging from pure hard rock to the sweetest acoustic ballads, culminating in the eponymous track, an anthology-worthy hard/prog/jazz piece. An album among the highlights of English rock of the era...
  • hjhhjij
    12 mar 17
    I haven't listened to it in a long time, but I admit I don't have a great passion for the "suite." The songs, on the other hand, are more beautiful than the other. One of their best for sure, though.
Uriah Heep: Uriah Heep Live
CD Audio I have it ★★★★★
The fourth side of the magical square of the 70s English Hard Rock, often underestimated but capable of producing great music. Here at their peak, before drugs and alcohol take over.
Van der Graaf Generator: Vital
CD Audio I have it ★★★★★
Great live album, but they don't seem like the VDGG of old; at times I hardly recognized them. Beautiful "Ship Of Fools," but the whole album is intense and felt, especially the leader's voice.
  • hjhhjij
    2 mar 14
    Well, fortunately, Hammill has rarely remained stuck on anything for too long in his career. In '78 the band was at an end (until 2005) and in fact they were not the VDGG of all time, they just called themselves Van Der Graaf and Hugh Banton was no longer in the group; however, Smith was there on violin, Potter was steady on heavily distorted bass, and Jackson was part-time, along with Hammill and Evans, of course. And the attitude and sounds were almost more Punk-Post-Punk than Prog, blessed Hammill. Anyway, I'm very pleased with your comment, especially because it's one of my favorite albums :)
  • hellraiser
    2 mar 14
    Nice nice, strange but nice. Then Hammill is always himself, charisma to spare...
  • hjhhjij
    2 mar 14
    Oh yes. Well, here the tracks are still prog tracks, even from their classic repertoire. Just think about what Hammill's contemporary solo album "The Future Now" might be, the New Wave seen through Hammill's eyes... And I reiterate my satisfaction in seeing that you enjoyed this album so much.
  • hellraiser
    2 mar 14
    I'll give it a try, I haven't delved into his solo albums yet, I'll listen carefully soon...
  • SydBarrett96
    2 mar 14
    Stunning. By the way, I reviewed it some time ago here on Deb...
  • hellraiser
    2 mar 14
    I read your review yesterday morning while listening to the album, very well done Sid, good job.
  • SydBarrett96
    2 mar 14
    Thank you so much, Hell. :)
Great album, listened to it for the first time today. High level from start to finish, I was particularly struck by "Refugees" (great melody, nice lyrics, reminds me a bit of the Moody Blues, even though it's better) and "After The Flood," the long track that closes the record. Excellent instrumental ideas and Hammill is an extraordinary performer and songwriter. I got to it at 30 years and 5 days, what a pity, better late than never... thanks hj for the tips.
  • hjhhjij
    15 nov 13
    You're welcome, actually it’s a pleasure :) Anyway, it’s never too late to discover them. I agree on "Refugees" being one of the most beautiful songs ever written. And on "Hammill, extraordinary performer and lyricist," and he also wrote almost all the music. Great Hell.
  • hellraiser
    15 nov 13
    No, really... I had to listen to it a couple of times by myself in peace, but if you really pay attention to it, it's definitely worth it...
  • hjhhjij
    15 nov 13
    Yes, it’s a group that brings immense satisfaction; there's so much of my life in this group. Since we're at it, I’ll also tell you that the next two are the BEST.
  • hellraiser
    15 nov 13
    Ah ah... the fact is that H to He and Pawn Hearts I bought a few years ago, never really listened to them properly, I can't find them anymore damn it, tomorrow afternoon I'm going to get H to He and it annoys me! Then Aerosol and Still Life will arrive, anyway I've never struggled so much to get my hands on some records... thanks again for the recommendations, how about you? How did it go with Mayall? Also listen to Jazz- Blues- Fusion by Mayall, I think knowing your tastes you might like it...
  • SydBarrett96
    15 nov 13
    Anyone mentioning "Darkness" with that immense bass line by Nick Potter? Jackson's sax in "White Hammer"? Huge record, for me only inferior to the next two in the Generator catalog.
  • hjhhjij
    15 nov 13
    Syd, it's pointless to make a list of songs; we know they’re all awesome :) I’ll listen to Hell Mayall right after the Pretty Things that I’m diving into at the moment, and by the way, thanks for the recommendations to you as well. Sorry to hear about the troubles; at least it’s Van Der Graaf, and it's worth it ;)
  • hellraiser
    15 nov 13
    Everything about the Syd album is great; the two songs I mentioned immediately struck me, but all the songs (listened to attentively and calmly) are excellent. Really, it’s a fantastic record, a delightful discovery... Plus, Hammill has a strong personality, a true leader.
  • hjhhjij
    15 nov 13
    There will come a time when I'll recommend his solo works, it's a given, just wait for it :)
Van Dyke Parks: Song Cycle
CD Audio I have it ★★★★★
I’ve been listening to it for years, and it always gives me great emotions, each time different... a unique album.
Van Morrison: Moondance
CD Audio I have it ★★★★★
A delightful record, well arranged, well sung... the most famous album of the grumpy Irishman, an album I am very fond of because it lifted my spirits during a difficult time, a piece of the soundtrack of my life. Among all, "And It Stoned Me" and "Into the Mystic," fabulous, but the whole record is beautiful...
Van Morrison: It's Too Late to Stop Now
CD Audio I have it ★★★★★
Let’s listen to the Lion...
Wet Willie: Wet Willie
CD Audio I have it ★★★★★
Debut of Wet Willie, a beautiful blend of soul, funky, rock, and southern blues. A band that absolutely deserves to be reassessed and rediscovered...
  • hellraiser
    7 feb 17
    I'm sorry, but I cannot access external content such as YouTube links. Please provide the text you would like me to translate, and I'll be happy to help!
Wet Willie: The Wetter The Better
CD Audio I have it ★★★★
Great Southern album with hints of soul, one of the leading bands in Southern rock, perhaps not as sharp as the Skynyrds or as bluesy as the Allman Brothers, but skilled musicians. Beautiful cover, nice popsicle...
Wishbone Ash: Argus
CD Audio I have it ★★★★★
Third album for the English band, year 1972, definitely their best creation, an excellent record of refined and powerful hard rock, with a touch of prog. The work of the two lead guitarists, Ted Turner and Andy Powell, is splendid, masters at creating a perfect synergy, imitated by many in the years to come...
  • hjhhjij
    11 may 14
    Look, this is a good record, their best one, but they never really drove me crazy...
Yes: Relayer
CD Audio I have it ★★★★
Excellent work, perhaps not on the same level as the band's historical triptych, but certainly superior to the misstep made with "Tales" (which I personally can't digest). Above all, the beautiful "The Gates Of Delirium" that opens the album. Moraz suitably replaces Wakeman...
  • hjhhjij
    13 apr 14
    Yes, I would say that I agree.
  • templare
    14 apr 14
    Sometimes underrated album (by the way, it seems that Howe was not in sync with Moraz). Instead, it’s really beautiful. So......
ZZ Top: Fandango
CD Audio I have it ★★★★★
Perhaps the most important album (along with Tres Hombres) of the early Texas band; great rock blues/boogie, when the beards were still short...