Apocalyptica

I've always like musicians that think outside of the box. Weather it works or not...I gave credit to those who try. Here's Apocalyptia, doing their version of Metallica's "Enter Sandman". Interesting....

Elbow Numbness

For the last couple of months, I've been experiencing numbness in my left elbow and my hand falling asleep. Generally, it doesn't really bother me that much, but the last few days it has seem to be getting worse. Right now, I can't feel a thing in my elbow.

Until lately, I've been chalking it up as years and years of feeding stock into presses and the fact that I'm getting old. The more it has been bothering me the more I've been looking up stuff on the internet.

Here's something interesting that I found....

Ulnar nerve entrapment

The ulnar nerve is the "funny bone" nerve which travels between the tip of the elbow and the inner elbow bone. At this site it can be "pinched" by normal structures or swollen structures after injury. This pinching is referred to as entrapment. When ulnar nerve entrapment occurs, numbness and tingling of the little and ring finger of the hand may be felt. Pain may occur in the entire forearm, usually the inner side. Hand dexterity can be affected. Sometimes, the numbness is reproduced by elevating the hand. Treatment consists of avoiding repeated trauma or pressure to the elbow area and resting the elbow joint. Occasionally, ice can help. In severe cases, surgical repositioning of the ulnar nerve can be required. This relocates the ulnar nerve to a position where it will not be continually compressed by the surrounding structures.

This ALMOST fits the description to a tee. It may be it, it may not. If it is, I may need surgery.

I know, I know...Why do I just go to a doctor? The truth is, I'm afraid to. I just don't want to hear a doctor tell me I need surgery. Honestly, I can't afford to take the time off. Rent and car payments need to get paid. I know... my girlfriend calls my stubborn about this. The truth is I need to go.

Happy Birthday Steven!

I almost forgot! The Demon of Screamin' Steven Tyler, turns 63 years old today! I'll never forget seeing Aerosmith in concert in 1990. Had seventh row seats! It was so amazing to see Tyler in his prime so close!

Captured

After reading a review on Tender Heart's blog on Journey, I got a little inspired to do one of my own. Well, it least on their 1981 live release, Captured.

Well, "captured" live on various dates during their 1980 Departure Tour, this album is an excellent documentation of their live sound! Admittedly, before I got this album, I thought their live recordings would be similar to their studio creations. How wrong I was! Imagine my surprise to hear all those fiery solos, improvisations and the energy of the music. Unbelievable!

Remarkably up-tempo and upbeat, the energy can be felt by both the band and the audience that they played for. By staying away from cheesy versions of their hits, the band improvised and even stretched the tunes out a little longer, making this album feel a concert full of talented musicians! Makes me wish I had seen them in concert that year...

What a talented group this is! Led by Neil Schon's blistering guitar work, for he rocked out on all cylinders. The riffing he supplies on tunes like "Where Were You" and "Line of Fire" borders on heavy metal, while "Walks Like a Lady" has some superb blues solos in it. Ross Valory bass is quite exceptional as he thumbs it up on the hit, "Wheel in the Sky". Jazz influenced drummer Steve Smith has a monster drum solo on "La Do Da". Greg Rollie, the once voice and ivory picker for Santana, who's baritone pipe swoons impressively through "Just the Same Way" and "Feeling That Way". The keys he pounds compliments Schon's guitar to a tee, especially on "Walks Like a Lady" (Yeah, I've noticed more and better keyboard work here than his replacement Jonathan Cain ever did) And Steve Perry? Oh God...his tenor vocals swoons and sways me, sending shivers down my spine at times! Never before I heard great singing like this.

The one tune that really got me was their concert favorite, "Dixie Highway". That one really blows me away! The band seemed to pull all of their talents together and smacked the audience with a killer here. There's the ultra tenor spine tingling vocals, a smokin' keyboard solo to match the fire from Schon and uplifting time changes all in a neat package.



If you're a Journey fan-get this album! If you do have it...CRANK IT!

What's Going On?

As I'm looking back on my blog, I've noticed a bit of negligence on my part. Sorry about that. So I thought I'd tell you about what's going on lately. So, forgive me if I may ramble.

With temperatures climbing past the 60 degree mark for the first time since October of last year, I've itching to get outside and really enjoy the fresh air and feel the sun's warmth. So I ended up taking a ride in my new car.

With my windows rolled down, my hair blowing in the wind and the stereo blasting Santana, I felt a relief that my brakes in the car were fixed. Yeah, just a mere two weeks having acquired the car I'm spending $350 for a brake job! Ya think something like this should be happening so soon? Not under warranty either. Believe me, the dealership got an earful...

Eying the last of the snow that still remained on the ground from last month's big blizzard, I couldn't help to think about the catastrophe in Japan. The earthquakes, the tsunamis and the nuclear meltdowns, they have it really bad. Much, much worse than the big assed blizzard I witnessed here. I wonder of when and how Japan would ever get back on their feet after such a disaster. My heart goes to those who live there.

I thought about taking a trip to Madison to see the Capital, I haven't been there in years. With the Walker Bill thing going on and all the protesters hanging out there, it doesn't seem like a good idea to go. For one, I'm politically inept. Much of it is just jargon to me. The possible ending of collective bargaining for public unions, the Democrats running off to Illinois, budget cuts and layoffs-it's all Greek to me. Honestly, I'm not sure on how it would affect me. (Not trying to be selfish here) All I know that a lot of people are pissed....

As I made a stop to visit my "daughter" at her new place. She finally moved out from the clutches and the drama of my ex-wife. Which is a good thing. She can finally make it on her own and have a family lifestyle that she so desires. I'm proud of her for that. This way my "granddaughter" can enjoy being raised in a normal household.

Man, has she gotten BIG! Almost four years old! She's bouncing around and squealing with delight-calling me Gampa! Brings a joy to my heart and smile to my face....Gave me hug when I said goodbye...

Which reminds me, I haven't seen too much of my son lately. He been hanging around his friends more these days. I miss him.

I made my back home to the arms of my girlfriend feeling blessed about what I have. She was just telling me about her daughter may be going to UW-Parkside nearby Kenosha to further her education. Looking forward to be out on her own, she's studying for marine biology and psychology. I praying that she would accepted...

Thinking about it all...for every bump in road there's a light around the corner.....So what's going with you?

Trip to Kenosha

What to when the cold winds are still blowing off of Lake Michigan and there is nothing to do? Take a trip of course! Yesterday we spent a wonderful day visiting the three museums in Kenosha.



The Dinosaur Discovery Museum was SOOO cool! Being a dinosaur nut, I still find it amazing to see the sheer size of these creatures! The above picture is a tyrannosaurus rex as compared to some of the other predatory dinosaurs. I certainly wouldn't want to mess him! (Nor any other dinosaur for that matter)



Just down the road was the Kenosha Public Museum. That one was really neat! The museum has various displays showing art, heritage and a cool walk through the years! The picture above is a display of Indians that lived in the region thousands of years ago. The picture below was the most complete skeleton of a mammoth in North America. Discovered in Kenosha County in 1994, the creature was said to be killed and butchered by hunters over 14,000 years ago.



Our next stop was the Civil War Museum next door. Kinda neat too! The museum shows reenactments of the Civil War era. It was interesting to see the old fashioned clothes and tools that they used. Also inside, is a memorial to those served in ALL of the American wars. Below picture is a cannon used in the Civil War.



Admission for both the Dinosaur Discovery Museum and the Kenosha Public Museum is free, while it is ten bucks per person for a non Kenosha resident to see the Civil War Museum.

Here's the weblink.

Alice in Chains Bass Player Found Dead

The original bass player from the grunge band, Alice in Chains was found dead at a home in Salt Lake City, Utah this afternoon. Not only Starr appeared on the first two albums from AIC, he "starred" in the third season of Celebrity Rehab to kick his heroin addiction. Last month, he was arrested in Salt Lake City on a felony charge of drug possession. Found on him was six Xanax and Opana (pain killers) Cause of death is still undetermined.

Lyden Moon

Lyden Moon.... I've been raving about these guys for some time now. I've seen these guys a few times now in the local music scene. Hailed from Kenosha, WI.,these are really good! I did manage to find a video of them. Check it out!

Thoughts for Food 2011-The Review

Like tradition, I made way down the annual Thoughts for Food Benefit. So far, I've lost track of how many times I have attended this event. This year the benefit was less crowded, yet the music was still great.


The first band we saw was Identity Crisis at Michigan Pub. I have heard of these guys before, but I've never have seen them perform. Not bad at all I say! They remind me of some the '90's grunge bands like Alice in Chains. Of course, what did they play? Alice in Chains "Man in the Box". They also kicked out tunes like Led Zeppelin's "Good Times, Bad Times" and Stone Temple Pilots' "Sex Type Thing" They impressed me with their heavier version of Tom Petty's "American Girl". The singer (I never did his name) got a great set of pipes. Reminds me of a higher tenor version of the late Alice in Chains' singer, Layne Stanley. These guys I wouldn't mind seeing again, if an opportunity presented itself. I wonder if they ever played at the beach.


Decisions, decisions! Whom to see next? Two of my favorite local acts were playing at the same time. Lyden Moon at Coaster's and Mean Jake over at Chartroom Charlie's. We decided to split the shows in half, first stopping at Coaster's to see Lyden Moon.

Lyden Moon's Joe Satriani-like guitar work is legendary! STILL blows me away every time I see them! The finger tapping techniques and whammy bar flying solos! AMAZING! The rhythm section...bassist Joel Thierfelder and hard hitting drummer Dan Jung provide an excellent backbone for the instrumental progressive time changes the band plays! Although they have released a few CD's, I'm still scratching my head to why these guys haven't received the national recognition they deserve.


By the time we made it to Chartroom Charlie's to see Mean Jake, the place was PACKED shoulder to shoulder with people. Standing room only! Not surprising for these local favorites, it was the same way last year. This hard rockin' bar blues band, led by singer Craig Aude and riff master Brian Kubowski, slammed through catchy selections like Creendence Clearwater Revival's "Green River", Johnny Cash's "Ring of Fire", Van Morrison's "Gloria", the Stones' "Under my Thumb" and the Kinks' "Who'll be the Next in Line". Yes, another blistering set from these guys! As usual as every time I see them, smiles were on the faces of the audience as many of them were dancing in aisles. Although I didn't see their full set, I pretty sure I'll see them at the beach again this summer.


I've been on an AD/DC phase lately. Never was really into them in years past, somehow they inched their way into my collection. Maybe it's that they've gained classic rock status or I'm just recently viewing them as a fun band. Nevertheless, I saw these guys before last October at the Party on the Pavement. Razor's Edge, an AC/DC tribute band. The singer, John Muse doesn't look anything like Brian Johnson nor the late Bon Scott, yet he sure the hell sounds a lot like them. The guitarist, Bob Beaudoin was dressed up in Angus Young's trademark school boy outfit, rocked the house down with his fiery solos as the band plowed through AC/DC's list of classics like "Jailbait", "Hell's Bells", "Highway to Hell", "Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap" and "You Shook Me all Night Long". The show's highlight was the bagpipe jam during "It's a Long Way to the Top (If You Want Rock n' Roll)" The cool thing about the show, it brought people together, young and old, to celebrate AC/DC.


The last band of the night was at downstairs of the Eagles club. We saw my friend, Aaron James' band, Full Flavor. I haven't had the opportunity to see these guys often. Wish I did! Aaron is a red hot guitar player, who's band captures the classic sounds of Aerosmith's "Sweet Emotion", Stevie Ray Vaughan's "Pride and Joy", Doors' "Roadhouse Blues", Beatles "Twist and Shout" and Santana's "Soul Sacrifice" and rolls it up in a Latino beat. These guys are a must see for a beach event!

All in all, for a good cause, we had a great time and met a few people we knew. The crowds were not as bad it was last year. Can't wait till next year's benefit.

Thoughts for Food 2011

Guess were I' m gonna be tomorrow night? Yup I go every year. It's tradition. The 19th Annual Thoughts for Food Benefit. This year's interests are-Mean Jake, Lyden Moon, Full Flavor, Identity Crisis, EZ Livin', Razor's Edge and Gypsy Creed. I'll probably be blogging a review of the night, like I did last year...

Here's a clip from their website.

"Back again, for the 19th consecutive year, Racine's biggest multi-venue and multi-act event is coming to you with a blend of old and new, quiet to loud, traditional and new-age music dedicated to raising food and money for the Racine County Food Bank.

"Thoughts for Food gives established as well as up-and-coming musicians a showcase for their talent in front of large, appreciative crowds. Concert goers are given a choice of several venues and types of music to enjoy. Typically, schedules are available the night of the event for attendees to take with them and plan their evening. With one admission gaining access to each of the venues, it isn't uncommon for music fans to go to several if not all of the venues to catch their favorites or a new ensemble that they haven't heard yet.

"On top of it all, their admission, along with (2) non-perishable food items provide needed food to their friends and neighbors throughout Racine County. With bands and volunteers donating their time, Thoughts for Food provides some of the best charity bang for your buck!"

Dinosaurs!

Ever since I've been a kid in the third grade, I've had a fascination with dinosaurs. It still continues today. Yeah, I've always wanted to be a paleontologist. Well, somewhere down the line I thought it would be cooler if I became a rock star. Neither became a reality, now I work in a factory...Oh well...

Anyways, my fascination for dinosaurs has led me deep into it's world. I still like to keep up with the latest discoveries, findings and new theories. It's hard to do sometimes! As of this point, there have been over 800 species that have been discovered and more are waiting to be discovered. That's a lot! Dinosaurs fossils have been discovered in all corners of the globe including Antarctica. Places like China and Argentina are the new hot beds for discoveries. Along with new findings, come with new theories.

I could go on about new discoveries, but somehow I'll try to keep this post short and sweet. Let's just say that some discoveries have been absolutely fascinating! Like a recent finding a mummified Edmontosaurus. A specimen complete contents in it's stomach!

Some theories that came of about dinosaur behavior are quite amazing! Take for instance, the famed T-Rex. The so called "king of the dinosaurs" may have been just a scavenger. It makes sense too. The T-Rex has the biggest olfactory nerve in the animal kingdom quite similar to the modern day vulture! Yeah, the biggest bird of prey in world eats only carrion. These birds could see and smell decaying flesh for miles away. It would make sense the T-Rex would do the same. The gigantic carnivore has some tiny two fingered fore arms that were practically useless. How could it use the to hunt? With size of the beast, it could easily scare off other predators from their kill.

Let me take the time clear some myths out there. There are so many out there! First of all, dinosaurs are not slow, stupid and live in swamps. As a matter of fact, many were quite fast, had complex social lives and were scattered among all climates and regions across the globe. Secondly, the dinosaurs' time line stretched over a course of 150 million years. So, I don't know why people think stegosaurs were munched on by T-Rexes when they were extinct long before the tyannosaurs arrived. Thirdly, the velociraptors in the movie "Jurassic Park" were actually Utahraptors. Velociraptors are actually about turkey sized with long snouts. Utahraptors, the largest raptor ever found, were about six feet tall.

Whether dinosaurs were cold blooded or hot blooded is still much in debate...



Anyways, I'm curious to know what kind of stuff you were into when were a kid...

Statistics and a New Blog

It's been a long while since I reported statistics of any kind. It's been a crazy year for my blog... Last year, January (of 2010) started out strong, going about a thousand page views and visits for the month. After that, it was showing a steady decline till July when it peaked again. I'm thinking it was the Summerfest reviews that helped. After that, it slowed down and plateaued for the next for months.

Came football season...The successful season of my favorite football team, the Green Bay Packers, provided a MONSTER of traffic through my blog. The better the Pack did, the more hits my blog received. On the night of the Super Bowl, the blog received over 300 hits! I never expected that to happen! I was floored! Yet most of these readers were searching for the Packer logo through Google.

I do want to take the time to thank everyone whom came here and visited my site. I treasure each and every comment posted here. I think you guys and gals are all wonderful! Without you, this blog wouldn't as great as it is!

I do want to make a mention of a new blog-THB's TLC. This new blog is presently in the works of a special friend. Please give her a warm welcome! Thanks!

My New Ride

Out with the old and in with the new they say... My old car, a 1991 Chevy Caprice Classic (pictured above) was reaching the end of line. Although the car served me well for the past three years, was really starting to become problematic and high maintenance. At 147,000 miles, gremlins ravaged the electronics leaving me unable to open the driver's window (and the window behind it), the radio, rear window defroster and the wiper fuses would blow. In the last six months I had the thermostat replaced, the heater fixed, gotten new snow tires, and replaced the starter. The car was bleeding anti freeze and spewing white smoke. Other words it was being held together by two bolts, one nut, a roll of duct tape and a wad of bubble gum for good measure. Once I gotten an estimate for $900 to get the manifold replaced, it was time to let The Beast go...

The search for a new car wasn't an easy task... Searching for the right car to fit my budget and dealing with the bank loans was a major headache. A 1999 Ford Taurus (43,000 miles) and a 2001 Mercury Sable (110, 000) were considered and rejected by the bank. Frustrating! A trip across the border to Antioch proved to be fruitful...

We looked at 2010 Nissian Altima that was 22,000 miles and FULLY loaded. (I wouldn't be surprised if there a cappuccino maker stashed there somewhere in the truck) The monthly payments on that would have given me a heart attack. While there, a light shone through the clouds and the heavens sang as we were shown this car below....



A 2007 Chevy HHR LT. This baby has a four cylinder engine, front wheel drive, power windows, loaded with safety features AND a working radio/CD player. It has 62,000 miles on it and gets up to 35 miles per gallon. Rides nice and smooth and handles the road well. The price was reasonable and the payments I believe I could manage.

I signed my name on the dotted line and left the Caprice behind...

DrewTube Revitalized.....

I've been kicking around the idea of publicizing my album collection for some time now, but where? Understanding that this would a huge task to undertake, I felt this blog would better suited for the way it is and Facebook didn't seen right. So, I decided to bring up my then defunct DrewTube and display videos from each of my albums one day at a time. Yep all 2000+ recordings from AC/DC to ZZ Top! Each album is going to be presented alphabetically and chronicled from oldest to the newest. On top of that, I'm going to try to include my bootlegs...

Its still a work in progress, I may add more to as I go along. Feel free to visit and express your comments and/or opinion, if you wish....

ENJOY!

Presence

It was August 4, 1975 while vacationing on the Greek island of Rhodes, a car driven by Maureen Plant flew over a precipice and slammed into a tree. It was a serious accident. Singer Robert Plant suffered a broken elbow and a shattered ankle. Doctors said that he may never be able to walk again. His wife's injuries were more serious. She had suffered a fractured skull and a broken pelvis.

This was a turning point for Led Zeppelin. With the band was riding high with six classic albums and filled stadiums, the band's luck had come to a screeching halt. With Plant unable to walk, any plans to tour were scrapped.

The tide had turned. Guitarist Jimmy Page wasn't giving up on Zeppelin's momentum. Unable to stay in England because the band was in tax exile, the band reconvened in the warm climate of Los Angeles were they rehearsed new material for the upcoming Presence. In October the band had moved to Munich, Germany to record the new album.

Recording the new album was nothing sort of a miracle. Robert Plant. still in a leg cast, recorded his vocals in a wheelchair. That didn't hamper the progress very much. The band shined under pressure. The highlight of the album was the phenomenal ten minute epic masterpiece "Achilles Last Stand". Plant's voice here just sails above the din, bringing a lyrical landscape of mythical proportions. Jimmy Page builds a guitar orchestra that is stacked up layers and layers of sound. Feels like one is hearing multiple guitar players instead of one. John Bonham-holy cow! His frantic drum rolls-rounding off his tom-toms, crashing into the cymbals is an air drummer's wet dream! John Paul Jones' thunder bass supplied more than ample rhythm.

The rest of the album may not fare as well as "Achilles", yet they are worthy of note. "Nobody's Fault But Mine" takes pages from an Blind Willie Johnson tune, is complete with a killer harmonica solo and cascading riffs. "For Your Life" takes a look at the somber side of cocaine overdose in Los Angeles. "Royal Orleans" pokes fun at John Paul Jones' nocturnal adventures in New Orleans two years earlier-something about "kissing whiskers". The last track of the album, "Tea for One", Plant pours out for the loneliness of being away from his wife and children.

All of this album was done in a mere three weeks!

This may not be the best Zeppelin album done, but it is a hell a lot better than many out there. My biggest complaint would be the lack of John Paul Jones keyboards here. In the hurried frame of mind, I guess that would be understandable. The next studio album would change that fact...

I'd highly recommend this album to any Zeppelin fan. Then again, every Zeppelin album is great to me....

Aha Moment

My friend, Joe Heuer, the Rock and Roll Guru has appeared in a television commercial last night and will appear again soon. He appears on the Mutual of Omaha's 'Aha Moment" commercials.



Here's the schedule of his commercial appearances:

Wednesday, February 16th: 9pm-9:30pm Modern Family (ABC)
Sunday, March 6th: 8pm-9pm Extreme Makeover: Home Edition (ABC)
Sunday, March 13th: 9pm-10pm The Apprentice (NBC)
Sunday, April 10th: 8pm-9pm Amazing Race (CBS)
Tuesday, April 19th: 8pm-10pm Biggest Loser (NBC)
Thursday, April 28th: 9pm-9:30pm The Office (NBC)
Wednesday, May 18th: 9pm-9:30pm Modern Family (ABC)
Monday, June 20th: 10pm-11pm Castle (ABC)
Thursday, July 7th: 9pm-9:30pm The Office (NBC)

Please note that all times are US EST.

It's kinda neat knowing a friend of yours is on TV....

Ice Formations

Over the weekend, with the temperatures finally rising above freezing for the first time in months, we decided to take a walk by the lighthouse. We saw ice stretching from the shore to about 100 yards into the lake! The ice was so thick that can easily walk on. What was really neat that you see frozen waves! Like it was trapped in time...

Happy Valentine's Day!

I haven't celebrated Valentine's Day in years, at least not since my divorce over seven years ago. Much of that has to with the fact I haven't been with anybody on this particular day since then. Because of that I have disillusioned about this day, denouncing it to just another "Hallmark" holiday.

This year, things have changed. Now, I'm with somebody special. Yesterday, we spent it checking out the ice formations on the lake, visited a local museum and then went out to dinner at a lakeside restaurant. I know it doesn't sound like much, but it was a day to ourselves.

Ever since she has come into my life a few months ago, she has given me strength and hope. Something to look forward to each day. Here's a few that about her that I'm thankful for...

For getting up in the mornings with me, even it's 4 AM.
Breakfast at that hour.
Lunch time chats.
Treating me like a king.
Taking care of things while I'm at work.
Being a good step-mom to my son.
Being sassy and funny, teasing the hell out of me.
Kisses and cuddles in the night...

I could go on and on, but you get the idea...:)

Overplayed

I don't listen to the radio as often as I used to. One of the big reasons for that is many radio stations tend to keep playing the same song over and over again. It gets old and mundane after awhile when the DJ announces an artist and you know what going to be played. I would like to hear radio stations to be more unpredictable. Play something old, something new, something obscure, something heavy, something mellow, dig deep into the catalogs and mix it up! More of a variety is a good thing...


Here's a short list of tunes that I'm getting sick of hearing on the radio. Now don't get me wrong, I LOVE these tunes! It's just that I'm getting bored with these tunes and I would rather hear something different....

Jimi Hendrix Experience-Purple Haze
Pink Floyd-Another Brick in the Wall (part 2)
Led Zeppelin-Stairway to Heaven
Santana-Black Magic Woman
Queen-Bohemian Rhapsody
Yes-Roundabout/Owner of a Lonely Heart
Kiss-Rock and Roll all Nite
Guns n' Roses-Sweet Child O' Mine
Nirvana-Smells Like Teen Spirit

Black Sabbath-Iron Man

I realize that these songs are classic, but instead of Another Brick in the Wall could they play something off of Animals instead? How about the full length version of Close to the Edge from Yes? I'd totally rock out to Santana's Samba Pa Ti. Zeppelin, Hendrix and Sabbath have a full catalog of music to choose from. Time to dig deep into their music-great stuff in there!

So what tunes are you getting sick off? What would you like hear instead?

First Rays of the New Rising Sun

Here's something that really annoys me. How people associate Jimi Hendrix with his monster smash hit, "Purple Haze". To many people, the iconic guitar player represents the hippie era of the '60's. The hippie '60's meant drugs. Yeah, we all know that Hendrix died of a drug overdose. "Purple Haze" was about drugs. So therefore, the equation was simple-Hendrix+the '6o's ="Purple Haze" OK, I get it. Well folks, I hate to break it to ya, that is only ONE tune out of MANY great Hendrix tunes out there.

Hendrix was beyond the "Purple Haze" scene. He was a young and talented guitar player with a taste for the blues. His ambitions led him to many hours in the studio, perfecting his craft over many takes of seemingly endless caches of songs. There are stacks upon stacks of music that been stashed away, hidden from the light of day. Much of it has landed up on various "unauthorized" records released after his death. It makes me wonder of where did he find all this time to record so much music in his short lived career and how much is there still left.

Tracking down some of this treasure can be bit of a chore. Hendrix has only released three studio albums, a live one and a compilation during his lifetime. The rest posthumously. Scattered over dozens of "unauthorized' albums under various different names, it's a guessing game to what is authentic or not. Questions arise like who owns the rights to Jimi 's music? Is this what Jimi intended to release? When was this done?

Many of these questions got answered in 1995, when Jimi's father formed Experience Hendrix LLC. Many of the lost and scattered tunes were recovered from various labels and pieced together in their own respective packages. Here I would claim these be the definite Hendrix recordings.

The first of these packages would be the First Rays of the New Rising Sun, released in 1997, is a suburb collection of tunes. Most of it was either done or being worked on in the months prior to his death in 1970. The newly reformed Jimi Hendrix Experience boldly marks their return to full force here. Newcomer bassist, Billy Cox seems to blend well with long time drummer Mitch Mitchell through these recordings. Gems like "Izabella" , "Dolly Dagger" and "Freedom" are catchy and memorable, worthy to be among Hendrix's best work. There is searing guitar work at full ablaze through out this album..."Astro Man", "Beginnings", "Stepping Stone" and "In From the Storm" set my ears on fire! Even the ballad "Angel" gave me the shivers...

There isn't a wasted note on this CD. Not once, I felt this album to feel like a compilation of outttakes, but rather a brand new album from Hendrix. Something that Hendrix intended to release. In the end, I placed it on the ground at my feet and did a Wayne's World "we're not worthy" bow to it. It's that great of an album! Only wish I heard it on the radio instead of "Purple Haze"