Twisted Sister "Stay Hungry (25th Anniversary Edition)" (Rhino)
This is the third time that this album, Twisted Sister's most successful, is being released, so the real attraction is a second full disc of demos and unreleased tracks that have been gathering dust at guitarist Jay Jay French's apartment since Ronald Reagan was president.
It kicks off with "Death From Above," which takes "Powerage"-era AC/DC chords and blends them with lyrics similar to Twisted's "Destroyer," about an angry demonic force. "Death Run" sounds like an early version of "Stay Hungry," and "We're Coming On" wisely leaves out the second half of the title on the album cover.
Then there's a hidden track in which Dee Snider sings "Lollipop Guild" from "The Wizard of Oz" through a vocal processor to make him sound like a Munchkin, which itself is worth the price of the album.
CHECK THIS TRACK OUT: "30" is a new single written by Snider during his appearance on a reality TV series last year. It's about how band members, when Twisted Sister was at its apex in the '80s, couldn't fathom turning 30. Now, as they note, "30 came and went a long time ago."
Moby "Pale Horses
Filmmaker David Lynch spoke at the 2008 BAFTA awards about approaching the creative process for its own sake. Moby was listening - and the notion pushed him during his latest project.
Following his homage to the dance floor on 2008's "Last Night," Moby returns with a melodic, atmospheric effort on his latest, "Wait for Me."
Moby has said this is a personal record - the one he wanted to make, not the one he was expected to. The idea doesn't take him outside his established sound, but while "Last Night" was an eclectic and rousing collection, "Wait for Me" softly flows as a cohesive work.
Voice samples surround haunting, spiritual tracks, and a healthy dose of instrumentals act as the glue that keeps it all together.
"Pale Horses" boasts minimal beats and a ghostly vocal; "Scream Pilots" is an eerie touch of early new wave; and "Jltf" is as lovelorn as it gets.
"Shot in the Back of the Head" features a simple yet effective guitar lead, and Moby pulls off a strong pairing with "Wait for Me" and "Hope Is Gone" - the former full of longing and the latter just the opposite.
The gem is "Mistake," with a very drab vocal that somehow works with the moody bounce that builds into this regret-fueled track.
"Wait for Me" is a haunting collection, but it probably won't give Moby a huge chart hit - and it sure sounds like a fitting soundtrack for a David Lynch film.
CHECK THIS TRACK OUT: "Mistake" is the most upbeat track on the disc, while vocally, it is one of the more downbeat behind the line, "Please don't let me make the same mistake again."
