Mismatched mix up (The Best Air Guitar Album In The World...ever Vol.1)

Member Name: NikkiH

Product:	The Best Air Guitar Album In The World...ever Vol.1
Date:	31/12/02 (1187 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: There are some good tracks if you look for them

Disadvantages: No pattern to the music choices

I am not a huge fan of compilation albums, as I always find that one half of the collection is significantly weaker than the other, and I always feel a bit cheated. However, there was a prize draw at work last week before Christmas, and I was a lucky winner, and this compilation CD was my prize. Not bad considering one of my colleagues won some shuttlecocks! Until last night, I had not even unwrapped it, but had the house to myself and decided to have a listen to it whilst enjoying a soak in the bath. The 2 CD's provide you with approximately 2 and a half hours of pretty good rock music, which I am sure sound better the higher the volume. I like my neighbours, so it stayed at a pretty conservative level last night.

As Brian May was heavily involved in this album, it is no surprise to see that 'We Will Rock You' turning into 'Tie Your Mother Down' are the taster tracks which start off proceedings.It is a pretty good start, and will have even the most retiscent listener at least tapping their feet. As classics go, you can't do much better than 'Smoke On The Water' by Deep Purple. A lot of music I like was before my time, and when I listen to tracks that this, I really wished I had experienced the brilliance the first time around.

If you are expecting a lot of classic rock here then I am afraid you will be disappointed, as there is a mix of old and new, and for me some surprising inclusions, and none more than 'Song 2' by Blur, which even though I love it, I am puzzled as to how it fits into the 'air guitar' category, as it is more of a shouty vocal song, and the musicians take a back seat for the duration of the track. Please prove me wrong, but believe me, in the name of research I have tried to play the air guitar to this track and failed miserably.

One of my all time favourite songs is up next. The collaboration between rap/hip hop kings Run DMC and rock gods Aerosmith gave us the magnifice
nt 'Walk This Way'. The guitar riffs here are tremendous, and are instantly recognisable. The opening bars give me goosebumps everytime. The next track is a track I am familiar with, but only by Eric Clapton as a solo artist. Here, 'Layla' is by Derek and the Dominoes. This version seems shorter than the one I am used to so I will have to try and check to see if there is a difference.

Viewers of Fame Academy will have seen Ainslie perform the Kinks classic 'You Really Got Me', and it is a welcome inclusion here. It has everything a song in this type of collection should have, brilliant guitar riffs! Hopefully any younger listeners will have their ears opened to the true genius of this song, and not the dross that they have recently seen on the BBC, and that is quickly followed up by one of the first songs I ever liked. My dad was a Rainbow fan, and used to play them all of the time, and I can remember being quite young and singing along to 'Since You Been Gone'. It has one of the most rousing choruses I can think of. Love it!

Def Leppard.....a bit of a joke amongst so called serious music lovers, but I think they are harmless, albeit a bit on the sickly side. One of the lesser known 'Leppard' tracks is included here, and sadly I have to say that 'Photograph' is just not up to the job of matching the competition, and disappears without a trace amongst the other tracks here. Another classic track, but one that grates on me is 'Wild Thing' by The Troggs. It just does nothing for me, and the grainy sound, which at times is distinctly out of tune just switches me off.

Want to up the tempo a little? Then 'Rebel Rebel' by David Bowie is just what you need. Another song which is perfect for inclusion here even if you only count the first 10 seconds of foot stomping guitar riffs, and as an added bonus the lyrics are sublime. Strut around to your hearts content, but make sure you sit do
wn for the wailing guitars of Jeff Beck's 'Where Were You'. Admittedly I have never heard any of Beck's material before hearing this track, and whilst I understand it's addition on the CD, it is just not for me, and the first minute of so reminded me of The Shadows. Much the same can be said for Track 12, 'Rocky Mountain' by Joe Walsh. (Who is he? Answers in the comments please!). A true classic if ever there was one is 'Sultans Of Swing' from Dire Straits, and it is certainly one for the music lovers amongst you, as I have never really enjoyed the gravelly vocals of Mark Knopfler. Flip side of the coin if ever I saw it is The Sufaris with 'Wipe Out'. Very annoying or very catchy depending on your viewpoint. Me? I hate it with a passion, even when I am drunk!

My whole family including 2 year old daughter are huge Foo Fighters fans, and I was pleased to see that the amazing 'Monkey Wrench' is included on here, but why so far down the track listing, and especially after 'Wipeout'! At least it is followed by another absolutely astounding track. 'The Boys Are Back In Town' from Thin Lizzy. This was the track that I heard advertising this CD earlier in the year, and it is a perfect choice because it is instantly recognisable, and enjoyed by the majority of listeners.

2002 was the year of Ozzy Osbourne, and so many people know who he is, but are unfamiliar with his music, both as a solo artist and as a member of Black Sabbath. 'Paranoid' is a big song, which is what they were famnous for. Not my cup of tea, but in a way I can understand the attraction. Another stranger to me is Jo Satriani. I was confused with Santana for a while, but after hearing 'Surfing With The Alien', it was clear that they are far from being one in the same. Again, not my cup of tea, and already my belief that the majority of compilation CD's are weak is bearing out, especially when I hear the
opening bars of tight jean wearing, long hair swinging Status Quo, and the Argos theme tune, 'Whatever You Want'. It's brain numbingly bad even for a compilation! Final track on the first CD is 'Freebird' by Lynyrd Skynrd. Maybe I am missing the point, but what was is the attraction to this song?

Onto the dreaded second CD now, and I was not holding out much hope after the poor end to the first CD. It starts off promisingly enough with advertising executive favourite 'Voodoo Chile' by the legendary Jimmy Hendrix. Did Stone Roses sample this for 'Love Spreads'? I am sure they did! Moving along with another mover and shaker. 'My Generation' from The Who should not be languishing on the second CD which some people rarely even listen to, and the standard continues with '20th Century Boy' from T Rex. Another track which has been used for television adverts. Is it guitar riffs which make it such a good song to use, I am starting to think so, because so many of the tracks here have been used to promote one item or another.

Are Elvis tracks sacred? They should be when you hear the likes of Paul McCartney covering.....no I mean murdering 'All Shook Up'. Maybe this is here as a lesson to us all that even the best can make a mess of things. Don't feel down though, get your dancing shoes and go wild to 'Johnny B Goode' by Chuck Berry. A brilliant inclusion amongst a really disjointed collection, but well worth it's place with it's up tempo guitar playing and catchy chorus. Jumping years ahead, you now find yourself presented with the underrated Weezer and 'Hash Pipe'. Admittedly, it is probably not a true air guitar song, but take nothing away from the class of this track, and I think it is a travesty that is was not the track which really forced them into the limelight, and gave them the same coverage as Foo Fighters and even the lesser talented Linkin Park.

Now,
just to disorientate you even more, the next track is 'Apache' by The Shadows. Another mystery to me I am afraid, because I have just never understood the draw to fans of their music. Too bland and uninspiring I am afraid, and then I won't forgive them for buddying up with Cliff Richard to promote themselves even more. If that mellowed you then prepare to perk up with the aural assault that is 'Ace Of Spades' by Motorhead. I like the music here but could never quite grasp what Lemmy was singing about.

Wishing that the sun was shining, instead of being cold and damp outside? I have the perfect remedy. Shut the curtains, turn up the volume and dance around to the fabulous 'Summertime Blues' by Eddie Cochran. If I had a list of feel good songs, then this would have to rank somewhere in the Top 10, and not far off would be my favourite karaoke song (but only with friends!), and that is the rousing 'Alright Now' by Free. I confess that this is the one and only Free track I have ever heard, so any recommendations for Free albums will be greatfully received.

An artist who I have heard a lot of (every track actually) is Robbie Williams. Here midway through the second CD is the anthem for young and old 'Let Me Entertain You'. Another track which does not jump out as deserving to be here, as the guitar riffs are few and far between, but it is a welcome inclusion for me, because I warn you, what follows is a very mixed bag, which starts with 'Oh Well' from Fleetwood Mac. I would have preferred another of their tracks as this is a poor one for me, and I feel the same about the next track 'For Whom The Bell Tolls', except with Metallica, I despise everything they do!

A more guitar based song, and one I have a love/hate feeling about is 'Gimme All Your Lovin' by ZZ Top. It belongs here on the basis that I can visualise many people rocking out with their air guitars to this track, but i
t is not a good song deep down, and when my attention was starting to wander I was brought back with the tremendous 'More Than A Feeling' from Boston. Another group who I have heard little of, but this song gives me goose bumps, which can certainly not be said for the average offering from Cream with 'Crossroads'. Predictable I know, but where is 'Sunshine Of Your Love'?

Aaarrrgggghhhhh!!!!! Status Quo are back..who invited them? 'Down Down' is by far the worst track here. Skip it or risk your sanity! What happens with the CD now mystifys me. There are 4 tracks left, and I would expect them to be lesser known tracks to wind down to, but no, the tempo is cranked right up when Bad Company tell us that they 'Can't Get Enough Of Your Love'. A giant song, which deserves to be much higher up the track listings, as do soft rock kings Whitesnake with their anthem, 'Here I Go Again'.

Into the home straight, so you can breath again, I am nearly finished. I have to admit that my initial enthusiasm has worn a little thin as the tracks are mismatched and mixed up, and this mean the collection does not flow well. However, the last two tracks are decent enough. First up, Wheatus and 'Teenage Dirtbag'. A decent enough song, but again, why put it in between Whitesnake and the final song which is 'Bohemian Rhapsody' by Queen.

This collection is old hat now, and cannot claim to be original, as the second album in this series was released just before Christmas, but as the songs are hardly recent, it does not date, which is a big positive compared to the various Now compilations that are flooding the shelves all of the time. Admittedly it is a must for any party, so if you are a party host tomorrow night, try and get a hold of this CD, and your party will go off with a bang. However on a personal note, I only found it mildly enjoyable as it did not flow and jumped from one style to the other w
ith no rhyme or reason.

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