Red's Kip Winger Review - Part 4

Cornelius – Count Five or Six

I won't say this is my favorite song on the albums. There is some funky music in the background, but you definitely have to want to listen for it because the repetition in the counting does start to get it a little old by halfway through. That's sort of the risk of making a track like this. It can turn some listeners off with the repetition causing them to miss the rest. 

Scars on Broadway – 3005; Universe

On the other side of coin, 3005 provides a hook and groove that's make it hard not to sing with. Universe is similar, but it does have a little bit of a System of a Down sound to it. Overall, I like both these tunes. 

David Bowie – Life on Mars?; Kooks

There are points of Life on Mars where I have no idea what the hell he is talking about. That being said, it's hard not to like the song. It's out there, but the tune and his voice keep it interesting and fun. Kooks is a fine song, not as strong overall as Life on Mars, but it is silly little song that is uplifting. It sort starts that theme on the second CD of this collection. 

The Rolling Stones – Sister Morphine; Shine a Light

It's always cool to hear album cuts from the Stones. While the Beatles sometimes would get silly with some of their album songs, the Stones would embrace their blues and soul side. You hear that in Sister Morphine. The one thing I'll say about this tune, is that I do wish at times for less Jagger. The instrumentation is better than him here. Shine a Light is a bit peppier, and has that sound of redemption which is the theme of the second CD. Perfect way to end it. 

Deer Tick - Easy 

I almost skipped over this because we had mentioned it earlier. I like this song, and I know that I have a few more Deer Tick tunes on my Spotify list. They seem like a rock band that understands what it does well and makes sure that they don't stray to far from that formula. There's nothing wrong with that. Too many bands lose their sound by trying to become more commercial and/or more experimental. Hopefully. this group allow fans to come to them and their sound. 

Red's Review of Kip Winger: Part 3

Greenskeepers - Lotion

So it wasn't until I looked this song up on YouTube that I realized that this song was inspired by Silence of the Lambs. The chorus are a seen from the movie. I hadn't seen the movie in so long that I never made that connection. There is that serial killer type feel to the song. Before coming to this realization, I couldn't really figure out exactly what the hell was going with the tune. I think it'll find its way into my rotation more often. 

Kelly Clarkson - Don't Let Me Stop You; Cry

There's nothing really anything wrong or repulsive about "Don't Let Me Stop You," but I also don't find anything spectacular about it. I do like it more than "Cry" because it has more pep. Both songs have that breakup song feel to them that sort of I get tired of with female artists. I suppose male artists have the same amount of breakup songs, but I just notice them with females. Unless it's "You Oughta Know," I just usually don't stay real interested. 

The Raconteurs – You Don't Understand Me; Hold up

I think this is the second collection that Snake has provided with the Raconteurs on it. In fact, he may have burned a whole CD of them at some point. I love the piano in "You Don't Understand Me." That song is another one that reminds of some other band or song that I can't quite place who. Great guitar to start "Hold Up." It's a completely different sound from the first selection. This is quick paced and hard hitting. I like both these songs, and don't think I can say that I like one more than another. I think it would just depend on my mood at certain time.

Wolfmother - Caroline; In The Castle

"Caroline" is an old-fashioned rock ballad that would have thrived in the 80s hair band days. Since I have a soft spot in my heart for that sound, this caught my ear right away. Love it.  "In the Castle" is closer to a classic jam hard rock song and even has that medieval, fantasy story backdrop that harkens back to bands like Led Zeppelin, Iron Maiden, and Jethro Tull. You can hear a little bit of all of them here.

Ace Frehley - Ozone

If this is indicative of Frehley's talent than he should probably have had more control over Kiss. You can hear the regular Kiss formula of song writing in there, but there seems to be a little more edge, a little more substance than some of the outlandish stuff Kiss would throw out there sometimes.  

Red's Kip Winger Review: Part 2

The Answer - Evil Man

There's something about the chorus of this song that reminds of some other song, but I can never put my finger on what that other song is. Maybe it's because this sort of feels like a late 70s early 80s hard rock song. I'd have to say that lyrics of this song would had fit well with the theme to my first CD Project. This is just a good old rock song.

Carrie Underwood - Songs Like This; Undo It

It's quite the narrative paring putting "Songs Like This" right after "Evil Man." Sort of a point-counterpoint argument. Both these songs are fine. I probably would never have actively went out to get them, but they'd be ones that I'd tap my foot to when they came on the radio. The repetitive "Uh-Uh-Uh," is one of those things that get in the head in an annoying way. 

The Dead Weather - New Pony; No Hassle Night

It wouldn't be a Snake produced CD without a Jack White appearance in some shape or form. "New Pony" is an interesting take on a Bob Dylan song. The evolution from the original to the cover is cool. I've grown to really like band's doing cover songs. Really good artists can take an old song and make it something new. The Dead Weather did that by adding an edge and funk to the track. For some reason "No Hassle Night" got lost on these CDs for me. I don't know if it just got buried around other tracks or what, but it either didn't stand out, or my mind happened to be occupied when it came on. I guess, "New Pony" just was more distinctive and memorable. 

The Yeah, Yeah, Yeahs - Dull Life, Soft Shock

It's funny, I am using YouTube to play songs as I write about them since our CD drive is broken, and one of the related suggestions is Joan Jett. Her name was running through my head as I listened to the Yeah, Yeahs, Yeahs. There's that raw, angry female voice theme akin to some of Jett's tunes. "Dull Life" leads the listener through quite a journey, changing tempos, sounds, instruments throughout. "We see the nightmare of the lives..." Is a great lyric. "Soft Shock" has that little 80s sound to it. It's solid, but I think I like "Dull Life" better as an example of what the band is capable of. 

Them Crooked Vultures - Scumbag Blues; New Fang

"Scumbag Blues"  has the best opening of any songs on this CD. It grabs by the throat right away. It reminds me of Cream with the strong guitar and high, soft voice.  Can't help but like this one. "New Fang" opens with drums before hitting the guitar. It's sort of a faster driving song.  It's a good contrast to the first offering, showing that they'll skin the cat more than one way. Good music entrenched in rock and blues roots.