Last FM playlist w/e 5th July 2008

Whitesnake top the playlist again as the old classics keep getting an airing plus a few choice numbers of their recent album. Avantasia I picked up after rave reviews and it does not disappoint! Prog metal meets melodic rock with some fine guest vocalists including Magnum’s Bob Catley and Alice Cooper. Still loving the new Journey album plus the re-recorded classics are well worth a listen as well. Arnel Pineda has slotted into the band seamlessly.

Been playing lots of Styx after reading Sterling Whitaker’s excellent ‘Styx – An Unauthorized Biography’. Thjis is a highly recommended read for any fan of the band and includes the band’s various solo careers and offshoots like Damn Yankees and Shaw/Blades.

Triumph still playing their two CD ‘Best Of’ and Lillian Axe make my weekly top 10 after listening to the re-released ‘Fields Of Yesterday’ (Z Records). This covers tunes the band recorded from the late 80’s to mid-90’s and there are some real gems on this album including ‘Death valley Daze’ and ‘Do It’.

Kamelot have to be one of the finds of the past couple of years for me. This band are easily my favourite prog/symphonic metal band and in vocalist Khan they have one of the best singers out there. My love of indie rock rears up with Oasis whose earlier albums would certainly appeal to rock fans although their last two albums have been patchy quality wise. Been playing the first two albums by Dare who recently played Sweden Rocks with original guitarist Vinny Burns joining them onstage. Finally the Hooters, whose album released last year came out with little fanfare but is up their with their best material.