I had a premonition Judas Priest would make an album like this. But not even the 16th century seer credited by some with predicting events centuries later could have known it would be this good.
The two-CD set marks the British metal quintet's first concept album, a fascinating telling of the life and times of Nostradamus, the self-proclaimed prophet, his predictions and turbulent life.
More a continuous narrative than a collection of individual songs, the album flows from one topic into the next; it's often difficult to know where one track ends and another begins. But that's the point with an album like this, which tells a story with music as well as lyrics.
Topics include Nostradamus' predictions of war, pestilence and revolution; his clash with church authorities, and his musings on the future of the human race.
Singer Rob Halford is perfectly positioned to channel Nostradamus, with his sometimes demonic voice as scary in the low registers as it is in the air-raid siren higher ones. At times operatic, at times frenetic, Halford puts his legendary vocal chords to the test here and wins every time.
But it's instrumentally that Priest really blossoms here, adding keyboards, strings and droning medieval choruses to the trademark screaming guitars, bashing bass and drums, which features Virginia Beach's Scott Travis on the kit.
The title track doesn't come until near the end of the second disc, but it's the closest to classic Judas Priest you'll find on the album.
- Wayne Parry, The Associated Press
Judas Priest: "Nostradamus"
Rating: Go get it now
Weezer has run out of primary colors, and apparently ideas as well.
On its third self-titled, color-coded album Weezer lives up to its name, coughing up generic tunes that Rivers Cuomo may have written in his sleep.
The album continues a slump for the band when coupled with 2005's less-than-stellar "Make Believe."
It's too bad, because this could have been interesting, with producer Rick Rubin on board and songs sung and written by other band members.
The lone bright spots are the single "Pork and Beans," with its swipes at Timbaland and aging hipsters, and a mini-suite called "The Greatest Man That Ever Lived (Variations on a Shaker Hymn)." This hilarious boast track, which uses a range of styles from Gregorian chant to rap-rock to Beach Boys harmonies in the service of the singer's ego, rocks and charms at the same time.
Otherwise, you're not missing much.
- Jim Washington, The Pilot
Weezer: "Weezer"
Rating: Borrow it from a friend
Tracks to download: "The Greatest Man That Ever Lived," "Pork and Beans"
You better believe "He Believed" is worth a trip to Cracker Barrel. While you are browsing in its updated country store, head over to the music department and treat yourself to Aaron Tippin's newest CD, which mixes six old hits and six newbies and is exclusively sold there.
All were penned by the artist and his wife, Thea, who provides background vocals. While it is a kick to hear such good old hits as, "Working Man's Ph.D.," "Whole Lotta Love on the Line," and "I Got It Honest," it is the newer contributions that provide the most excitement, especially "Ready to Rock," a wild country-flavored rock piece that will have you jumping around like a crazed simian. There is more rousing good fun on "Bad Latitude" and "Honky-Tonk Superman."
Tippin's mind, when he wrote the title track, was on Willis Emory Tippin, his father, who died in 2005. "He Believed," the family-friendly-and-then-some song, is a loving tribute to their relationship. It definitely qualifies for a fuzzy puppy award. "He Believed" is a barrel of fun, with some inspiration tossed in for very good measure.
- Frank Roberts
Aaron Tippin: "He Believed"
Rating: Go get it now
Tracks to download: "Ready To Rock," "Could Not Stop Myself," "Bad Latitude"
On the surface, the latest from French-Canadian music revivalists Le Vent du Nord (The North Wind), has the potential to be a stodgy, dusty musical affair. But "Dans les Airs" is hardly that.
Although the quartet has made it its mission to seek out rare Quebecois songs and musical traditions, their spirited playing, virtuosic abilities, passion and sense of adventure elevate this work out of the stuffy confines of museum musicology.
The ensemble features Olivier Demers, a Cirque du Soleil musician, on violin and percussive tap-dancing; Simon Beaudry on guitar; Nicolas Boulerice on hurdy-gurdy/piano; and Rejean Brunet on acoustic bass/accordion. The four contemporize traditional French-Canadian drinking, dancing, eating and flirting songs. Tunes written by farmers, villagers, trappers and lumberjacks are fashioned into melodic instrumental and vocal rave-ups set to the rhythms of reels, waltzes and two-steps that sound like a mash-up of Cajun, bluegrass, French chanson, le jazz hot, folk-pop and Celtic Brittany styles. Le Vent du Nord blows a breath of fresh musical air into songs as old as their beloved Quebec.
- Eric Feber, The Pilot
Le Vent du Nord: "Dans les Airs"
Rating: Go get it now
Tracks to download: "Rosette," "Le Vieux Cheval," "La Fille et les Dragons"
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