Monster
KISS
Produced by Paul Stanley
UMe
October 9, 2012 (US) CD | MP3
October 8, 2012 (UK) CD | MP3

After an 11-year gap between albums last time out, KISS stomped on the heads of the naysayers and showed the world they were once again (or always were) a relevant band in rock and roll with love guns at the ready. Realizing they were on to something good, they wasted little time in releasing the appropriately titled Monster.

KISS teased us with “Hell Or Hallelujah” way before the release and it gets Monster off to a flier with its infectious guitar riff and superb Paul Stanley lead vocal. We all know the life story of Gene Simmons‘ monster, but he has thankfully put it away long enough to put his mind to better use. “The Devil Is Me” and “Eat Your Heart Out” bounce along on that trademark groin-rumbling bass sound and he is up to his usual tricks on the gloriously filthy “Take Me Down Below.”

“˜Whatever happened to the heroes?’ sang Hugh Cornwell in a sneering tone on one of The Stranglers‘ most memorable tracks. Well for those of us who consider Cornwell a musical hero, he has been up to much since he sang those words 35 years ago.

Leaving British punk rock icons The Stranglers in 1990, after over 13 years of writing the band’s staples like “Golden Brown,” “Peaches,” and of course “No More Heroes,” Cornwell has been forging ahead with a succession of successful tours and a run of solo albums. His latest effort, Totem and Taboo, lays out his characteristic loose-hipped guitar licks and Cornwell’s trademark laid-back Cockney drawl and stinging lyrics.

While gearing up for his latest tour of the UK, Cornwell and I discussed his latest music, dealing with criticism, and preferring a toilet to Madonna. It’s all here in black & white…

Geeks of Doom: Your new album, Totem and Taboo, was funded through a Pledge music campaign.

Hugh Cornwell: That’s right, we formed sort of a relationship with them to fund the record. It was very successful.

Geeks of Doom: Were you surprised at the reaction you got because you’re well over your total now, aren’t you?

With a new album and juggling tours with two bands, Geoff Downes is having a busy time of it. Tinkling the keys for British prog rock giants Yes and Asia for over 30 years, Downes is considered one of the finest of the genre, and rightly so. This summer, Asia released its superb 12th album, (a roman numerical reference celebrating the amount of years since Asia’s debut release), a scintillating mix of driving, synth-led rock, and sombre orchestral asides.

Before his prog rock legacy began, Downes was part of the British New Wave for a short time in the late 1970s and early ’80s. It was brief, but his and Trevor Horn’s duo The Buggles has incredible longevity thanks to the hit “Video Killed The Radio Star.”

I spoke with Downes about his rock bread and butter, touring with Yes and Asia, handling sudden stardom, and whatever else came up in the heat of the moment…

This month Amazon.com has over 1000 MP3 albums for $5 and included in that deal is Megadeth‘s Countdown To Extinction.

Celebrating 20 years since its release in 1992, Countdown To Extinction featured the longstanding Megadeth lineup of Dave Mustaine, Marty Friedman, Dave Ellefson and Nick Menza belting out some of the greatest work of any Big 4 band including “Symphony Of Destruction,” “Architecture of Aggression,” “Sweating Bullets,” and “Countdown to Extinction.”

Browse all 1,000 albums on sale this month for only $5 each.

This month the classic Montrose debut album Montrose is available for only $5 as part of Amazon.com’s 1,000 MP3 albums for $5 sale. (The CD is currently $9.70.)

Featuring classic rock staples such as “Rock the Nation,” “Bad Motor Scooter,” “Space Station #5,” and “Rock Candy,” lead vocalist Sammy Hagar and guitarist Ronnie Montrose (who sadly died earlier this year) combine for one of the finest rock debuts of all time.

Browse all 1,000 albums on sale this month for only $5 each.