Slayer - Reign In Blood (From the 2011 limited edition The Vinyl Conflict box-set, remastered)
Nearly 40-years since its release, Reign In Blood still sounds as venomous and dangerous today as it ever has. Capturing all of Slayer’s albums on Rick Rubin’s American Recording label, The Vinyl Conflict is a nigh-perfect example of breathing new life into a band’s back catalog that showcases the music at its absolute best. It’s crazy how much energy, detail and clarity one can squeeze from a mid-eighties speed metal blitzkreig as you’d be forgiven in thinking this released yesterday such is quality of the remaster.
I spent the better part of the day cleaning all the records in the set and the reward is well worth it. The pressings themselves are perfectly flat and nigh-silent. Yes it may go for exorbitant sums online but if you’re a Slayer fan you owe it to yourself to track down this box-set, even if you need to sell a kidney-or-two.
As a popular songwriter, I’ve always thought Jimmy Webb the equal of Burt Bacharach yet, outside of the music nerd fraternity, he’s virtually unknown. I think “Wichita Lineman” alone is one of the best popular songs of the 20th century.
Yes, and no. It’s part of the Archives Vol.2 box. It’s a revamped tracklisting of Zuma and Zuma-era songs.
Like with the On The Beach and Tonight’s The Night albums, Neil has merged other contemporaneous songs into the fold.
It’s a bit disorienting hearing very familiar albums recast, but Neil’s being doing it for ages, cf Homegrown and Hitchhiker.
When other artists/acts do it, I’m not always convinced of the need, but with Neil I like it. All part of his contrary and maverick appeal.
It’s a kind of expanded zuma, with additional tracks and alternate versions. Well worth a buy if you are into Neil.
Not sure about his “under the rainbow” live set that I bought on Saturday, will see if it grows on me
Jeff Porcaro, would have been 70 today 01/04/54, best known for his work with Toto. Porcaro is one of the most recorded session musicians in history - he came to prominence in the United States as the drummer on the Steely Dan album Katy Lied. He also worked with Paul McCartney, Dire Straits, Pink Floyd, Michael Jackson, Joe Walsh, Miles Davis, Bruce Springsteen, Elton John and many other acts. Porcaro had fallen ill after spraying insecticide in the yard of his home and died that evening on 5th August 1992.
Bronco is the second album by South African country music artist Oville Peck aka Daniel Pitout based in the USA. He wears a fringed mask and does not show his face publicly.
This is a fantastic album if you like alternative country it’s definitely worth checkout.
