Ripple Music
2011
Albums get re-issued left and right these days and frequently they have to receive some label to mark them as different from the original release. The words "special edition" or "collector's edition" get slapped on releases a lot. If you already have the original release then how special this new version is to you definitely depends on the bonus material. In the case of the re-issue of Stone Axe's debut we get the original 2009 album plus eight live tracks and a second disc which is a DVD with 18 videos and live clips plus an interview. So as someone who appreciates a good value that's 147 minutes of music between the two discs. I am getting ahead of myself and overwhelmed by the sheer amount of music here so let's get to the quality of the material. If you missed out on 2009's self titled release from Stone Axe then you missed out on of truly one of the best fantastic classic hard rock albums released in recent years. They are not just a retro band or a copy, but rather they truly capture the spirit of late 60's early 70's hard rock early metal. The tones, the pace and every element makes the album sound like a lost gem from yesteryear. Yet they still manage to sound fresh just because they believe so much in what they are doing and they are great at selling it. This is one of those albums that just gets better each time you play it. This time around in addition to the original studio album we get a pile of live tracks added onto the CD. If you like what you hear on the studio recordings then you are really in for a treat on the live songs because the band sounds even more at ease on stage. So hearing Stone Axe live is an experience then seeing them is even better and that's a good lead-in to disc 2 the DVD portion of the set. This DVD includes a pile clips with a few videos, and interview but the majority of the time is made up of live clips from several different shows. What really shines through on all of these clips is how natural these guys sound and easy they make it look. Their approach makes it that much more fun because this is the kind of music you can just kick back and let it soak in. Although most of the live clips are from clubs, but there is a store performance and a live at a radio station performance as well. The quality of the clips are solid, but the atmosphere and the way the band's personalities shine through are really captured on the DVD. So did this album deserve a collector's edition? After listening and watching both discs my answer is a definite yes. This a fantastic set and even if you have the original disc it's still worth getting because all the extras will make you appreciate this band even more.
2011
Albums get re-issued left and right these days and frequently they have to receive some label to mark them as different from the original release. The words "special edition" or "collector's edition" get slapped on releases a lot. If you already have the original release then how special this new version is to you definitely depends on the bonus material. In the case of the re-issue of Stone Axe's debut we get the original 2009 album plus eight live tracks and a second disc which is a DVD with 18 videos and live clips plus an interview. So as someone who appreciates a good value that's 147 minutes of music between the two discs. I am getting ahead of myself and overwhelmed by the sheer amount of music here so let's get to the quality of the material. If you missed out on 2009's self titled release from Stone Axe then you missed out on of truly one of the best fantastic classic hard rock albums released in recent years. They are not just a retro band or a copy, but rather they truly capture the spirit of late 60's early 70's hard rock early metal. The tones, the pace and every element makes the album sound like a lost gem from yesteryear. Yet they still manage to sound fresh just because they believe so much in what they are doing and they are great at selling it. This is one of those albums that just gets better each time you play it. This time around in addition to the original studio album we get a pile of live tracks added onto the CD. If you like what you hear on the studio recordings then you are really in for a treat on the live songs because the band sounds even more at ease on stage. So hearing Stone Axe live is an experience then seeing them is even better and that's a good lead-in to disc 2 the DVD portion of the set. This DVD includes a pile clips with a few videos, and interview but the majority of the time is made up of live clips from several different shows. What really shines through on all of these clips is how natural these guys sound and easy they make it look. Their approach makes it that much more fun because this is the kind of music you can just kick back and let it soak in. Although most of the live clips are from clubs, but there is a store performance and a live at a radio station performance as well. The quality of the clips are solid, but the atmosphere and the way the band's personalities shine through are really captured on the DVD. So did this album deserve a collector's edition? After listening and watching both discs my answer is a definite yes. This a fantastic set and even if you have the original disc it's still worth getting because all the extras will make you appreciate this band even more.
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