Y & T - Facemelter

Well, after 13 years of studio album silence, one of my favorite hard rock/metal bands has made it back into my stereo with a a supply of new tunes. In 2003/2004 they released a bunch of unreleased songs on the two volume Unearthed releases, which was great in itself, as it was basically equivalent to have new music from the band; but 2010 brings us the real thing. The boys are back, and they still have the chops, even after 35 years of making music.

Singer/guitarist Dave Meniketti has released a couple excellent blues rock albums over the years, but this is a band effort, with original members Dave and Phil Kennemore, and long time members John Nymann (guitar) and Mike Vanderhule (drums). The band has been doing this since the 70's and the talent sure shows.

Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers - Mojo

OK, it has been eight years since the band has put out a new album. The last one was The Last DJ in 2002, which I thoroughly enjoyed. Since that last album, Petty popped up in 2008 up with a resurrection of his original band Mudcrutch, and released an album of interesting tunes and jams, which I also enjoyed. And in 2006 he released a solo album,  Highway Companion (yes, I also really enjoyed it), which found Petty laying out an album way more laid back and smooth than previous releases. So, what does 2010 give us from Tom and the whole band? Well, it is kind of a combination of of his last two musical ventures; with the laid back mellower feel of Highway Companion, and the classic and looser jams of Mudcrutch.

This album is totally unlike anything the band has put out in the past, and gone are the big hits we're used to hearing, and instead it is almost like Mudcrutch album two, except it does have a more Heartbreakers feel to it than that release did. There are some good tunes on here, and some great musicianship, but the looser jam feel could be a turn off to many. Some of the reviews I have already read online seem to knock the album for that very reason - while others love it. I have mixed feelings. It is good, but it is a far cry from the greatness of am used to from these guys.

Ozzy Osbourne - Scream

It has been three years since the Oz man released his last studio album, Black Rain. Reviews were mixed on that one, but many thought the reign of Ozzy was over. Enter 2010 and the 61 year-old Ozzman cometh back with a new slab of metal.

I will admit right up front, as many of you out there, I am an early era Ozzy fan. I was there when Blizzard of Ozz and Diary of a Madman hit the racks. I was there in the glory days of Bark at the Moon. I never got to see Randy Rhoads live in concert, but I was there shortly after to see the short-lived Brad Gillis tour, as well as seeing and meeting Jake E. Lee during the Bark tour.