100 ROCK ESSENTIALS - Various

This amazing compilation takes the listener through somewhat of a rock history trip across 6 discs (and about 5 decades) from when things got a bit more crunchy (as opposed to the lighter Elvis and Beatles heydays).
Bands that lay the foundation for Heavy Metal groups from the '80s arose in the '60s and '70s, and include legends like Deep Purple, Uriah Heep, Thin Lizzy, Rainbow, Rush, and The Scorpions. Others include classic acts like Steppenwolf, The Troggs, Crazy World Of Arthur Brown, Atomic Rooster, Ten Years After, Mott The Hoople, Strawbs, David Bowie, Free, Elton John (from his early rocking days), Rod Stewart, and The Moody Blues.
Glad to see Kiss was not left out of the loop - there are also tracks by members Paul Stanley and Ace Frehley in solo mode.
A fantastic surprise is the inclusion of Metal bands like Manowar, Anthrax, and Dio.
More hard rock legends like Motorhead, Alice Cooper, Gary Moore, and Diamond Head also turn up - as does Peter Frampton, Bachman Turner Overdrive, Tesla, Styx, and Gun.
You also get '80s-born Metal-flavoured bands like Angel Witch, Queensryche, Cinderella, Extreme, and L.A. Guns.
Grunge-era bands like Soundgarden, Hole, and Temple Of The Dog, and more modern Metal flavoured rock acts like Rob Zombie, Papa Roach, 3 Doors Down, and Godsmack will satisfy those who don't really like the older stuff, as with more recent bands from Buckcherry, and Alien Ant Farm, to The All American Rejects, and Alter Bridge.
Popular acts like Live, and The Cranberries further expands the repertoire, while lesser known bands like Spirit, Frijid Pink, Blue Murder, and Janata can also be explored.
One glaring omission in an otherwise great collection is of course that of Black Sabbath (as well as Ozzy) - the closest you'll get to that here is via guitarist Tony Iommi's solo project. Others that would've made this a more representative compilation are Metallica and Nirvana.
Some liner notes by an authority or a web link to more info would've been great.

6 / A
- Paul Blom


1 2 3 4 5 6
A - B - C


Click below for more Rock



6 - Volcanic
5 - Blistering
4 - Hot
3 - Smolder
2 - Room Temp.
1 - Fizzled
0 - Extinguished

A - Multiple Listening Prospects
B - Deserves Another Spin
C - Once Should Suffice

© 2009 - Flamedrop Productions