Hard Rock Music Time Machine – 7/27/17

Each Thursday, Hard Rock Music Time Machine takes a journey back in time to feature a variety of songs that date back as far as the ’70s.

In addition to appearing on the embedded YouTube playlist below, all songs featured on Hard Rock Music Time Machine can be listened to individually by clicking on the hyper-linked song titles above each review.
 

 

 

ADAM WALDMAN – (Publisher, Hard Rock Daddy)

HALESTORM – “Here’s To Us” (2013)

As I’ve mentioned previously on Hard Rock Daddy, my (once) rock and roll children have veered off into different directions when it comes to musical taste.  However, there are still some rock songs that resonate with each of them.  Last month on Hard Rock Music Time Machine, my son featured some of his favorites.  This time around, it’s my daughter’s turn.

Until I had her choose her songs, I didn’t realize that I could actually pinpoint the year that my daughter still had a taste for rock and roll.  It turns out that it was 2013.  Hopefully, she’ll come back into the fold one day, but if not, at least she ended with some great songs…

“Here’s To Us” has been a special song for my wife and me as a couple since its release.  In fact, we have a photo of us hanging on the wall with the lyrics included in the frame.  I’d like to say that we only played the clean version of the song for her, but I’d be lying.  Even as a young girl in grade school, she was exposed to the original version of “Here’s To Us.”  She’s been in the car as my wife and I did a rather boisterous duet of the song.  She’s older now, and undoubtedly understands the lyrics better than she did four years ago.

Aside from the personal connection to the song, in my opinion, “Here’s To Us” is the arguably the best power ballad to be released in the 21^st century.  Given that Lzzy Hale – who I believe to be the greatest female rocker of this generation – is a big fan of ‘80s metal, it makes sense that she would be the one to deliver this incredible song.  This one will always have special meaning for me.
 

 
THE LETTER BLACK – “Pain Killer” (2013)

Although my daughter loves Halestorm’s “Here To Us,” her favorite song of 2013 was “Pain Killer” by The Letter Black.  As I listened to the song for the first time in years, I found it a bit surprising that this was a favorite song.  This is not meant as any kind of slight to Sarah Anthony and company.  It’s actually a compliment.  While “Here’s To Us” is a mainstream sounding song, “Pain Killer,” while melodic, is much heavier with darker undertones.  This is the type of song that is in the wheelhouse of Active Rock fans, but it isn’t the type of song that you would expect to be the favorite of (now) pop music fan.  It isn’t something that will appear in a scrapbook or hang on the refrigerator, but for this Hard Rock Daddy, having a daughter who can appreciate this type of song is a source of great pride.
 

 

 

 ANDY CHEUNG – HRD Music Scout

OTEP – “Blood Pigs” (2002)

From their debut album, Sevas Tra, Otep burst onto the metal scene with their first single “Blood Pigs” back in 2002.  Otep is one of those bands that are hard to categorize.  Oftentimes lumped into the nu-metal category, their songs had a lot more substance, heaviness, attitude and emotion than many of their counterparts.  Some of their songs are borderline death metal.  The band is an example of how a female-fronted band doesn’t have to be gimmicky to do well.  The band landed on some big tours as a part of Ozzfest and have been going strong since.  Otep, over the years, have also become quite the political activists.

 

IN THIS MOMENT – “Beautiful Tragedy” (2007)

The talent of Maria Brink cannot be questioned when you hear her pour her heart out in this song.  From her wailing melodies to her high pitched screams, she injects her cries of desperation into “Beautiful Tragedy” (the first single from their debut album).  The music flows smoothly and complements Brink’s voice, which is the driving force of the mood of the song.  “Beautiful Tragedy” is melancholic and beautiful at the right moments, and heavy and suspenseful in others.  Truly, one of the best songs ever by In This Moment.
 

 

 

ROB DELL’AQUILA – HRD Music Scout

PAT BENATAR – “Fire And Ice” (1981)

Patricia Mae Andrzejewski (aka Pat Benatar) has won four Grammy’s and made it into the Billboard Top 40 an impressive 15 times.  This hit (and personal favorite) was the lead single off her third album, Precious Time.  It won Benatar her second Grammy, for Best Female Rock Rock Performance in 1982.  It also helped to make her a household name in the ‘80s.

 

PAMELA MOORE – “Paranoia” (2013)

Vocalist Pamela Moore has her own connection to the ‘80s.  She put out two critically acclaimed records in the earlier years of that decade, had record label problems that slowed down her career, but ultimately gained worldwide fame when she was asked to be the voice of Sister Mary on Queensryche’s 1988 hit album, Operation: Mind Crime. Since then, she has performed with other bands, been courted for guest appearances, performed live with Queensryche, and released some solid solo material.  This one comes from her second solo album, Resurrect Me, a collaboration with Radakka guitarist Michael Posch.