Show 75 - "Ronnie's Three-Headed Tool"

[Rick and Roll]

Now that I have your attention.....

I've plotted out the shows until the end of April, and since I'm fast becoming quite busy, that's a good thing.

I've got three CD's this week that are not on the Moon, and are quite different. Here goes....

Ronnie Montrose - "The Speed of Sound" (1988)

I'm a sucker for guitarists who play tasteful leads. Montrose, Steve Morse, Mike Gurley, Peter Frampton, Buck Dharma..a few of many. Ronnie Montrose a few years earlier put out what I feel is one of the finest discs ever, "Open Fire". This CD is less on the blues feel, and more sci-fi. Admittedly not his best work, it's still pretty good.

Mach 1
Black Box
Hyper-Thrust
Monolith
Zero G
Telstar
Sidewinder
Windshear
VTOL
Outer Marker Inbound

In the same vein as the Sean Edward Ghannam I played some time back.

Gambale/Hamm/Smith - "Show Me What You Can Do" (1998)

This CD is not on the Moon, but another by these three fusion giants is. Frank Gambale is hands down one of the most amazing musicians I've ever seen. A bit different from his solo work (especially the incredible "Great Explorers"), this is very complicated stuff. The amazing Stu Hamm and the venerable Steve Smith team up with Gambale for some smoking fusion.

Tool - "Lateralus" (2001)

Don't want to hear about this being non-prog. You may not like it because of the relative heaviness of the sound, but the progressivincity (Webster's rolling in his grave) is without argument. For those who like Tool's style, this is a watershed moment for "heavy rock". Soon after this release King Crimson picked Tool to tour with them. Very good pick, considering the similarities they share. An exciting disc. From the musicianship to Maynard James Keenan's (also of A Perfect Circle fame) emotional vocal, great stuff.

The Grudge
Eon Blue Apocalypse
The Patient
Mantra
Schism
Parabol
Parabola
Ticks & Leeches
Lateralus
Disposition
Reflection
Triad
Faap De Oiad (not included due to time and weirdness)....

Enjoy!