Jordan Rudess - Keyboard Madness
5xDVDRip | AVI / DivX, ~1942 kb/s | 512x384 | Duration: 01:51:58 | English: MP3, 128 kb/s (2 ch) | 1,7 GB
Genre: Music

Keyboard Magazine - January 2009
English | 58 pages | HQ PDF | 55,2 MB

The Veterans - Self-titled Album (2008) RESTORED
FLAC+CUE+LOG or MP3 CBR 320 | 24:28 min | 179 or 56 MB
In the late 70's & 80's it wasn't hard to find punk bands that were enamored by 50's & 60's Rock 'N Roll. Although The Veterans weren't formed in these days their work is retrospective to when punk bands showed their affection for early Rock 'N Roll by adapting the sound and adding their own flair to it. This self titled album is filled to the rim with The Beach Boys influenced Surf Rock, like numerous bands before them, but with one major difference; The Veterans do it much better than most who are trying to get this poppy surf sound. The album is drenched with catchy hooks, combining electric keyboard effects , laser sharp harmonies and even an occasional Ukulele sound for authenticity. Classic novelty songs such as 'Hula Girl' & 'Charlie & The Surfboard Factory' exude Beach Boys flavor without boundaries, putting the expectations for an attempt at Surf Rock by any other punk band to a much higher level. This album seems to transcend Rock & Roll genre and generation by creating a bridge from old time early 60's surfers to today's Punk Rockers by creating something that they could all musically relate to.

Grand Funk Railroad - Caught In The Act (1975) (Japan TOCP-6351)
EAC Rip | FLAC (image+.cue+log) - 517 MB | Scans | MP3 CBR 320 kbps (LAME 3.98) - 170 MB
Genre: rock | RAR 5% Rec. | Label: Capitol, Toshiba EMI | #TOCP-6351 | 1991

By 1975, Grand Funk Railroad had reached a new level of fame and fortune thanks to pop-friendly albums like We're an American Band and Shinin' On. However, they had not dropped the turbo-charged rock & roll that built their early success and that fact is proven by this exciting double-live album. Caught in the Act covers all the highlights of their catalog up to that point, including both the major hits and a generous sampling of album-track favorites. All the songs benefit from the amped-up live atmosphere and several improve over the studio versions thanks to the consistent high level of energy that the band pours into each tune. The best example is the latter phenomenon one-two punch of the albums' opening tracks: "Footstompin' Music" leaps out of the speakers with a galloping beat and pulsing organ that effortlessly outstrips its album version, then the band smoothly segues into a barnstorming, revamped version of "Rock 'N' Roll Soul" that tacks an infectious "Nothin' but a party" chant onto the song's beginning. Even the hits add new frills that keep them feeling like rote run-throughs: "The Loco Motion" is soulfully fleshed out by the addition of female backing vocals and hard rock muscle applied to "Black Licorice" transforms it into a speedy, fist-pumping rocker. Another big highlight is the atmospheric version of "Closer to Home," which sports a tighter, more complex arrangement than its studio counterpart and makes an excellent showcase for Craig Frost's skills on a variety of keyboard (he nimbly recreates the song's orchestral coda with an elegant performance on the Mellotron). The end result is a live album that is the equal of the studio's best studio-recorded outings. Simply put, Caught in the Act is a necessity for Grand Funk Railroad fans and may even attract non-fans with its effective combination of energy and instrumental firepower.

Keyboard Magazine - October 2008
English | 100 pages | HQ PDF | 102,0 MB