Cheap Trick, fresh off their recent Rock & Roll Hall of Fame induction, has released one of the stronger albums of their career. It is evident from the opening chords of "Heart on the Line," which is one of the band's most guitar-heavy tracks, that they show no signs of slowing down. "No Direction Home" is a throwback to their great classic power pop tunes. "Sing My Blues Away" slows it down a bit, in favor of beautiful Beatlesque harmonies. If you are a fan of the Trick, or a fan of power pop in general, buy this album today. You won't regret it!!
Clark Griswold and his family get to celebrate the holidays in digital splendor in this DVD release of National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation. The film has been transferred to disc in its original widescreen aspect ratio of 1.85:1, which has been enhanced for anamorphic playback on 16 x 9 monitors. The original English language soundtrack has been remixed in Dolby Digital 5.1, while an alternate track dubbed in French appears in Dolby Digital Mono. The movie also features optional subtitles in English, French, and Spanish. No bonus materials have been included.
If you haven't seen it already, this movie is one of the funniest holiday films of all time, featuring an all-star cast including Chevy Chase, Juliette Lewis, Randy Quaid and others. Chase plays the lovable but clumsy Clark W. Griswold, a family man who is hosting in-laws for Christmas. Soon after the guests arrive at the house, chaos ensues and the hilarity begins and never lets up. If you are in the mood for some good laughs, you can't go wrong watching this!!
Def Leppard has been around a long time now, 35 years to be exact, and they always release a solid product. Ever since the passing of Steve Clark, however, their sound has changed from album to album. While that is not a bad thing, it has left fans longing for the days of their old sound. Fortunately, Def Leppard has finally released an album that should appeal to every portion of their fan base. Tracks like "Let's Go" and "Dangerous" will take you right back to the Hysteria days. "Wings of an Angel" and "Forever Young" are reminiscent of their earlier works. "Forever Young" and "We Belong" will satisfy fans of their ballads, and "Energized" is a modern, updated of the sound they were striving for on "X." This album has it all; there's not a bad track on here, and furthermore, they appear to have rediscovered their top notch song writing. This release has some of the loudest guitars and biggest hooks the band has ever come up with. I can't wait to hear some of these songs played live!!
"The Gallows" is your typical POV horror film, involving a high school play that goes terribly wrong. It has good pacing and decent acting, and a very solid plot. There's plenty of suspense, and certainly some good jump scares. If you are looking for a lot of gore, this is not the film for you, but it is a good one if you're looking for some creepy scenery, the occasional laugh, and a film that doesn't make you think too much. Clearly aimed at a younger (teen) audience, this film delivers the goods.
"Insidious 3" is a worthy addition to the series, featuring a remarkable performance by Lin Shaye. The apartment building adds a chilling atmosphere, giving it a Stephen King type of feel to it at times. The viewer finally gets a glimpse into Elise's past, and the story line bridged the three films together nicely. As far as being scary, the movie is more atmospheric and creepy than it is outright scary, but it does have its moments. Bottom line, if you enjoyed the first two films, don't miss this. It's just as good.
"Return to Forever" is the latest studio set from legendary rockers the Scorpions. It features some brand new studio tracks along with some unreleased, re-recorded material from their vaults, dating all the way back to the 70's and 80's. As a result, the album captures the essence of every era of Scorpions music. The deluxe version is 19 tracks, a lot of bang for your buck. The set is somewhat heavy on ballads, but several rockers hit as hard as the Scorpions did in their prime. "Dancing with the Moonlight" and "Catch Your Luck and Play" are highlights, and "Eye of the Storm" is their catchiest ballad since "Wind of Change." All in all, this is their best release since Blackout, aside from 2010's excellent "Sting in the Tail" and a definite must-have for Scorpions fans.
Duran Duran is now in their 35th year, and they had experienced somewhat of a resurgence back in 2011 with their album "All You Need is Now." They have come full circle with their latest effort, "Paper Gods," which pays homage to their past while managing to still sound current. The lead single "Pressure Off" is a melodic little dance number featuring Janell Monet. Other highlights include the introspective ballad "What are the Chances," which features John Frusciante on guitar. The album opens with the brilliant title track, which is a commentary on society's obsession with money and material things. If you're looking for a melodic pop album with some good lyrics and a few great guest spots, this one is fantastic. The band sounds great, as does Simon's voice. This is their best album since their 1980's heyday.