Vallejo - Temporary Thing single review
Vallejo - Temporary Thing was an EP and single used serving as an appetizer to satisfy the fanbase until the Thicker Than Water album would be released later in 2008. The EP was issued as a CD single and digital download with distribution through CD Baby. The single sold fairly well in the digital market with streaming availability all over the internet.
Temporary Thing is about deciding whether or not to break up a current relationship or to stay together. Also to break up. The song resolves the problem with a solution of getting on with our lives. The title says it all! Temporary Thing is quite similar to Move On due to the fact Temporary Thing is another love song. The song has a reggae sound and vibe.
Sweet Maria is about a lady named Maria. AJ goes solo on this track as he sings about a lady named Maria. AJ’s vocals are sort of strained. That is because he had been touring and recording songs in the studio with the Vallejo band. James Speer contributed to Sweet Maria by playing an organ. The song uses a blend of classic rock grooves and potent guitar work. Overall the song has a fun vibe. Not too many people know this fact but Sweet Maria used to be called “Come With Me”.
My Bleeding Heart is known for its rhythmic Latin guitar solo. The mood and tone match each other. It took countless takes to record My Bleeding Heart. The song is quite melodic hence the melodic groove. AJ’s vocals are sort of strained. That is because he had been touring and recording songs in the studio with the Vallejo band. He is also the one that performed the guitar solo. Omar played some amazing bass. My Bleeding Heart is known as a groovy ballad to the band. This is also one of their more creative songs.
5/5*****!!
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Vallejo - Raw Sessions album review
Vallejo - Raw Sessions was an album released by none other than the Vallejo band from Austin, Texas. Now this album was Vallejo’s very first album when they went by the name "The Vallejo Bros" and released in 1989 on cassette format.
Contrary to popular belief, Sins was not their first album or EP as people would have you believe. Raw Sessions was their first album and not Sins. Only hardcore and longtime Vallejo fans know about the Raw Sessions album.
Raw Sessions was released on cassette only and was released independently. There is and was no CD version for this album. Not many copies of Raw Sessions were pressed up because this album was a limited release. The album was mainly sold in Birmingham, Alabama and Austin, Texas. However this album was mostly sold in Birmingham, Alabama because that is where the Vallejo Brothers were living at the time.
Michael Panapento was the producer for their first album and was hired as the percussionist. That is why you can hear him playing percussion. Funk, Latin, and rock were thrown in together on this album. Yet the album retains that hard rock edge and sound.
Here is the history behind this album.
In fall 1989, the Vallejo Brothers were hired by their high school friend Eric Abernathy to play at his house party. They billed themselves as "The Vallejo Bros". They became a hit at Eric’s house party. So the The Vallejo Bros became becomes the "go to" party band in the Birmingham area.
During the same year with help and urging from their high school Eric Abernathy, The Vallejo Brothers entered an impromptu battle of the bands contest in Birmingham, Alabama. They won the grand prize which was free recording time at a local studio.
One of the judges of that night happens to be Michael Panapento. Motown producer/percussionist Michael Panapento took the band under his wing to record their first limited release on cassette called The Raw Sessions. Michael Panapento acted as the producer for their very first album. He also played percussion on their album.
Boogie Man is a hard rock song with all hard rock energy. You can feel the intensity and energy in style with this hard rock song. Boogie Man does get startling at times. Honestly Boogie Man should have became an instant hit for the Vallejo band. Boogie Man was recorded in 1988 in Birmingham, Alabama.
Heavy Sugar is a heavy acoustic guitar ridden song accompanied by heavy bass lines. The bass lines are similar to what you would hear inside of acid jazz. Heavy Sugar sounds very similar to an early Metallica song from the Garage Days time period. The song Heavy Sugar also seems similar to a Creed song.
The Vallejo band explains in their lyrics through songwriting what rhythm is on the song Rhythm Is… as they do on all their other songs. This is one of their deeps songs which has a dark vibe.
Rhythm is in your vains slowly flowing through you similar to a river of red rain. The Vallejo band has not found their religion as music seems to be their vision. Rhythm is in the blood of human souls. Rhythm is in your blood as well. We are the future of the next generation.
4/5****!
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Ill Camino - Test Drive EP review
Ill Camino - Test Drive was an EP used to promote their upcoming full-length self-titled album that would be released in 2004. Test Drive featured 3 songs from their upcoming full-length self-titled album. The Austin Music Award-winning Ill Camino released their first EP on the local heavy hitters label Vallejo Music Group (VMG) in 2002 on CD format. There is no cassette edition for this album. All albums on the Vallejo Music Group were issued on CD format and digital download.
Ill Camino stood the test of time with this particular EP. This EP has aged well and could sell if released today. Angel Ferrer’s style of bass playing has got heads bobbin’ and shaking to an infectious groove. Angel can go from a silky falsetto to a rough rock-n-roll scream in an unexpected split-second. One song that stood out the most was Levantate. Levantate was the one Spanish song on the album that stood out due to Angel’s silky falsetto on a tough rock-n-roll track. One word to describe this EP is eclectic. The hard rock driven Tell Me was another song that stood out due to the lively loudness. Ill Camino was lingering towards a hard rock sound during this time.
The Ill Camino band was named one of the Best New Austin Bands in the Austin Chronicle Music Poll 2002 in the Austin Chronicle. Ill Camino was also nominated for The Austin Chronicle Top 10 best Austin bands. This caused Ill Camino to garner a minor buzz in Austin, Texas for 2 short years before disbanding. Now Ill Camino was one of those bands that could have been a bigger name lingering towards international stardom but never got the chance to due to internal conflicts within the band and inexperience of the music business.
Levantate was the one Spanish song on the album that stood out due to Angel’s silky falsetto on a tough rock-n-roll track. Angel gets highly emotional on this song. The song has a killer bass guitar solo at the 2:18 mark in the song.
Tell Me has that hard rock driven Vallejo vibe. In fact this song is similar to a Vallejo song. That is no coincidence as this song was recorded at VMG Studios in Austin, Texas. The lively loudness is what makes this song stand out. The song is about wanting and needing that person you admire so much. You want that person to tell you things.
There were many factors as to why Ill Camino broke up and why the band did not get their limelight into international stardom.
What led the band to split up and spiral into decline was Anger Ferrer’s younger brother, Albert Ferrer, leaving the band. He did not like where the band was going musically. Albert wanted to go in a different musical direction.
The stress of working jobs and taking care of their families took a toll on band members of Ill Camino. All of them were working so hard in the band. It was lot of stress of course.
Despite having everything in professional management such as a lawyer and booking agent, the members of Ill Camino were inexperienced about how the music business worked. They were inexperienced about the business aspect of music. Them not paying attention to that is what also led to the breakup of Ill Camino.
5/5*****!
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Ill Camino - Ill Camino album review
Ill Camino’s self-titled album stood the test of time. This album has aged well and could sell if released today. Angel Ferrer’s style of bass playing has got heads bobbin’ and shaking to an infectious groove. Angel can go from a silky falsetto to a rough rock-n-roll scream in an unexpected split-second. One song that stood out the most was Levantate. Levantate was the one Spanish song on the album that stood out due to Angel’s silky falsetto on a tough rock-n-roll track. One word to describe this album is eclectic. The hard rock driven Tell Me was another song that stood out due to the lively loudness. Ill Camino was lingering towards a hard rock sound during this time.
The Ill Camino band was named one of the Best New Austin Bands in the Austin Chronicle Music Poll 2002 in the Austin Chronicle. Ill Camino was also nominated for The Austin Chronicle Top 10 best Austin bands. This caused Ill Camino to garner a minor buzz in Austin, Texas for 2 short years before disbanding. Now Ill Camino was one of those bands that could have been a bigger name lingering towards international stardom but never got the chance to due to internal conflicts within the band and inexperience of the music business.
The self-titled album from Ill Camino was released in 2004 on the local heavy hitters label Vallejo Music Group (VMG) in CD format.
Levantate was the one Spanish song on the album that stood out due to Angel’s silky falsetto on a tough rock-n-roll track. Angel gets highly emotional on this song. The song has a killer bass guitar solo at the 2:18 mark in the song.
Tell Me has that hard rock driven Vallejo vibe. In fact this song is similar to a Vallejo song. That is no coincidence as this song was recorded at VMG Studios in Austin, Texas. The lively loudness is what makes this song stand out. The song is about wanting and needing that person you admire so much. You want that person to tell you things.
Driven is one of the hard rock songs laced with that live sound fans of rock music will surely enjoy.
There were many factors as to why Ill Camino broke up and why the band did not get their limelight into international stardom.
What led the band to split up and spiral into decline was Anger Ferrer’s younger brother, Albert Ferrer, leaving the band. He did not like where the band was going musically. Albert wanted to go in a different musical direction.
The stress of working jobs and taking care of their families took a toll on band members of Ill Camino. All of them were working so hard in the band. It was lot of stress of course.
Despite having everything in professional management such as a lawyer and booking agent, the members of Ill Camino were inexperienced about how the music business worked. They were inexperienced about the business aspect of music. Them not paying attention to that is what also led to the breakup of Ill Camino.
5/5*****!
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MC Overlord - A Better Funk album review
MC Overlord - A Better Funk is a coagulation of funk and hip hop combined together. On this album, he raps with a fierce East Coast style flow and cadence. Take Can You Hear Me?, Who’s Got Your Back?, Alright, and Put ‘Em Up for instance. Those are the most East Coast sounding songs on the album. Each of these are funk driven and backed by a live band playing the instrumentation. 90s rap at its best here.
MC Overlord makes sure his listeners can hear him on the opener Can You Hear Me?. His loud presence and vocals are what make this song lively. Rapping is what he does best. The harmonica and shakers give this song a groove. Blues and funk meet hip hop/rap on this song.
It’s another song by the large one name MC Overlord. Here he comes. He stands strong and not alone in this rat race. Poor advice is something he is tired of. Hard but not condescending. Hear him out. He is hoping for a little praise for all the work and effort he puts forth into his music. Overlord does things his own way. He doesn’t need any help unless he asks for it.
Overlord has come a long way. He no longer depends on others and is self-sufficient. He can think for himself. Life ain’t easy and is unfair. Haters will knock you down. That is a part of life.
A Better World served as MC Overlord’s desire and wish for a better world. The song seeks a solution for a better world. He wants world piece. It’s alright to spread a little love around. Overlord images how things would be in a better world.
Things starts to calm down on the album since this song is a song about world peace. Overlord does not rap in such a fierce or loud manner as he does on the opening song for this album. Charlie Redd plays a mean guitar on the song as well. The guitar is what also gives this song a calm vibe.
Things start to pick up again as the tempo gets much faster on the song Down for Whatever. Down for Whatever has that 90s upbeat New Jack Swing sound backed by live instrumentation in the studio. Ter’ell provides those soulful vocals you hear in the background.
Who's Got Yo Back? is about who has your back and who doesn’t. The ones who will have your back even during all those times when you couldn’t get things to fall into place. The song teaches us to rely on ourselves and not rely on other people. Who's Got Yo Back? has a sad yet funky vibe.
Overlord tells us to rely on ourselves and the ones in our corner. Count on yourself. It’s alright to have friends. Staying strong is the real key to being successful in life. That is how you pull through. No matter what things will get better.
These words and lyrics are what make this song stand out. “Who needs an enemy with friends that don’t help?/No, I don’t need a hand/I can do it my damn self” The lyrics represent MC Overlord’s drive for self-sufficiency and independence.
“Who needs an enemy with friends that don’t help?/No, I don’t need a hand/I can do it my damn self” are the lyrics to the chorus and hook.
Now the lyrics for Alright are copied from the song Stand which came from his 1993 EP called October. One could say the song Alright is a hip hop/rap cover of Stand. The lyrics share many similarities. Here is an example below.:
I wouldn’t call it a favor to trade to stand where you stood
To spare you the pain that I do what I could, yo
Who’s to blame? It’s a shame where you wonder
Days you played and you got dragged under
Remember the playground friends and your teacher
An innocent child in the arms of his keeper
Stories they read that resulted in laughter
And said in the end we’d live happily after
What of the trap doors that nobody mentioned?
What of your dreams and childhood intentions?
Take it away in a matter of seconds
A critical break
They’ve forgotten your lesson
We all have strengths but I’m just one man
You’re all the friend that I need for a stand
Those lyrics were used on the song Stand. Those were the lyrics to Verse 1 of that song.
MC Overlord reminds that somebody loves us on the song Somebody Loves You. You are not alone in this life. Someone will love you.
Black Panther is one of the more politically charged songs on the album. That is why you can hear and feel those Afrocentric themes. The song has similarities to A Better World. The song Black Panther was inspired by the Robert Wolf poem Black Panther.
5/5*****!!
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