Comments for KamerTunesBlog

Comment on ALICE COOPER Part 4 – Skeletons In The Closet (1978-1983) by KamerTunesBlog (by Rich Kamerman)

KamerTunesBlog (by Rich Kamerman) — Fri, 24 May 2013 03:28:33 +0000

That’s a very cool video, Todd. Thanks for sharing it. I love Alice’s sense of humor, which a lot of his detractors tend to overlook.

Comment on ALICE COOPER Part 4 – Skeletons In The Closet (1978-1983) by Todd

Todd — Fri, 24 May 2013 02:46:09 +0000

A “zipper” promo film…

Comment on DAVID BOWIE Part 2 – The Early Long-Hair Years by KamerTunesBlog (by Rich Kamerman)

KamerTunesBlog (by Rich Kamerman) — Wed, 22 May 2013 19:05:56 +0000

Thanks for sharing your back story, Kimberly. Sorry you’ve had to deal with so much negativity but I’m glad that Bowie’s music was able to help pull you out of it. The power of music really is amazing. It’s gotten me through some difficult times in my life and I never take it for granted. Although we delved into Bowie’s catalog for completely different reasons in recent years, the common thread is that we’ve joined a loyal army of followers, and we both discovered one of the deepest catalogs in the history of popular music (I don’t think I’m overstating it).

I’ve only had the time to listen to The Next Day three times so I’m just starting to digest it, but it’s a very strong album. When the first single came out, I listened to it once and then decided I needed to hear it in the context of the album so I only played it that one time. I’m glad I waited, because it has much more impact that way as opposed to being a stand-alone song. I’ve always preferred albums to singles, so this wouldn’t be a surprise to anyone who knows me. One of these days I’ll play it along with Heathen and Reality to see how it stacks up with those two latter-day triumphs.

Best wishes…
Rich

Comment on DAVID BOWIE Part 2 – The Early Long-Hair Years by rainyislandgirl

rainyislandgirl — Wed, 22 May 2013 15:30:00 +0000

LOL, I never claim to be an expert either and I also “love learning new tidbits about the artists I like”, which is how I came to read your blog. If I had to give my Bowie knowledge a label I’d say I’m a novice striving for full expert Bowie-file status. I f I come across as factually ridged it’s because I’m trying to overcompensate for being very shy. However, I’ve felt inspired by the sharing with us readers your personal journey into the Bowie-verse, so I’m gonna be brave, and briefly share my story as well.
Two years ago I found my life frustratingly disrupted when a chronic back pain problem left me virtually unable to walk or even sit upright. While also having history severe depression, nearly 8 months of staring at my living room ceiling with only physiotherapy and psychologist appointments to fill my days, left me in a very dark place. What I needed was an intellectual distraction, something completely separate from my current reality to focus on. Music had often filled this role for me in the past, but this time I just hadn’t found which road to journey down.
Up to this point, to me Bowie was Space Oddity, Changes, Let’s Dance and Modern Love, the only songs of his that got decent airplay on 80’s Canadian FM radio. He had barely registered in my musical reality. It was one desperate late night TV channel change-a-thon that ended up bringing him to into my consciousness. That night I stumbled across David and Trent Reznor’s “I’m Afraid of Americans” music video; I was stunned and fascinated. The NIN-esque music was instantly recognizable but this goateed, spiky haired Bowie singing to it really confused me. What on earth was I hearing? How could this be Mr Modern Love? and how had David Bowie gotten involved with Reznor? I hadn’t been this excited in a long time so I decided it was time to dig deeper into Bowie’s musical omnibus. I wasn’t long before I was obsessively diving into every album of his I could get my hands on. I know this is going to sound like an exaggeration, but Bowie’s music genuinely helped save my sanity over the past few years. Without Ziggy, Halloween Jack and the Thin White Duke keeping me company while learning to walk again, and ‘a Heathen Lodger’ inspiring me keep at the tough psychological work that is allowing me to re-emerge from depression, I honestly can’t say if I’d be as healthy as I am now. I will always be sincerely grateful to him for that. At this point I can proudly say that I have listened to nearly everything he’s ever recorded and, despite being so late to the party, I could count myself among his millions of fans while joyfully digesting The Next Day.
Well, that’s my story in a nutshell , I hope I haven’t taken up too much space in your comments section. Meet you in the Golden Years.
-Kimberly

Comment on ALICE COOPER Part 4 – Skeletons In The Closet (1978-1983) by KamerTunesBlog (by Rich Kamerman)

KamerTunesBlog (by Rich Kamerman) — Wed, 22 May 2013 13:32:36 +0000

What will you do for your birthdays after you own everything in the Alice catalog, Mike? Hopefully by then there will be some new deluxe editions for you to collect.

Comment on ALICE COOPER Part 4 – Skeletons In The Closet (1978-1983) by mikeladano

mikeladano — Wed, 22 May 2013 10:16:04 +0000

It’s almost tradition Rich that somebody buys me an Alice album for Christmas or birthdays, because everybody knows Alice and I still have some on my Amazon wishlist! So we’ll see. Birthday in July!

Comment on ALICE COOPER Part 4 – Skeletons In The Closet (1978-1983) by KamerTunesBlog (by Rich Kamerman)

KamerTunesBlog (by Rich Kamerman) — Wed, 22 May 2013 03:10:46 +0000

Thanks for the feedback, Mike. Before delving into these albums last week I didn't remember much about them, so I had no expectations. Although knowing about Alice's physical & mental state at this time, I assumed there would be a lot of filler with maybe a handful of memorable songs. I should never underestimate him, because even at his "worst" he still delivers the goods. None of these albums could be considered a stone cold classic, but From The Inside probably comes closest. Lyrically & musically it's a winner, where even the lesser songs are worth hearing. Glad to hear that you also love "Pain." I couldn't help thinking that it was a precursor to some of his later hair metal recordings, specifically "Poison." The musical setting may have been a bit different, but his approach was very similar. I've already run through the next four albums a couple of times, so I'm now in that frame of mind. Surprised to hear that Dada hasn't done it for you yet. There are at least a couple of songs that would make it onto my hypothetical career-spanning anthology. If you ever get Special Forces &/or Zipper Catches Skin, I'd like to know what you think. The high points of those two would make a pretty strong album, while the lesser tracks would form a pretty unlistenable one.

Comment on ALICE COOPER Part 4 – Skeletons In The Closet (1978-1983) by mikeladano

mikeladano — Tue, 21 May 2013 23:08:40 +0000

I’ve been waiting for this one! I’ve been revisiting along with you, but I’m missing Special Forces and Zipper Catches Skin.

First, I think From the Inside is a lot better than I used to give it credit for. I saw the video for “How You Gonna See Me Now” and I loved it. I “got it” and really started getting into Alice Cooper more seriously after that. His albums were so damn hard to find but I got this one around 1990 or 1991.

Flush the Fashion I have on Japanese import (no bonus tracks). That one took me by surprise. I still love Clones, and Pain. Both would make my personal Alice Cooper compilation. From there on, I like certain songs from what I’ve heard, but it was DaDa that I still have not really penetrated. I don’t know if I so much as appreciate it, rather than like it.

Comment on DAVID BOWIE Part 6 – Major Tom Was A Junkie (Bowie In The ‘80s) by ALICE COOPER Part 4 – Skeletons In The Closet (1978-1983) | KamerTunesBlog

ALICE COOPER Part 4 – Skeletons In The Closet (1978-1983) | KamerTunesBlog — Tue, 21 May 2013 22:59:12 +0000

[…] 29 minutes, this is a sparse, new wave-influenced album with more than a hint of that same year’s Scary Monsters by David Bowie. This time Roy Thomas Baker, best known for his work with Queen, The Cars, Foreigner […]

Comment on DAVID BOWIE Part 2 – The Early Long-Hair Years by KamerTunesBlog (by Rich Kamerman)

KamerTunesBlog (by Rich Kamerman) — Mon, 20 May 2013 21:47:06 +0000

Thanks for confirming that the Spiders did not, in fact, play on that alternate version. I stand corrected. I never claim (or aim) to be an expert, and I love learning new tidbits about the artists I like, so well done. Visconti and Bowie definitely seem to have a symbiotic relationship. I’m glad Bowie continued working with other producers while periodically returning to Visconti, thus making those albums extra special. I’ll have to look through his catalog again to find the names of his other producers. I’m wondering which non-Visconti albums ended up being my favorites.