My Amazon Reviews: Glee Cast "The Rocky Horror Glee Show"

Throw A Slushy On It
2 Out of 5 Stars

The first major disappointment in the Glee Cast CD series, for some reason they decided that "Rocky Horror" needed to be sanitized. For some reason, the suits at Columbia and/or Fox didn't like the word "Transsexual" in "Sweet Transvestite," so now Frankenfurter comes from "sensational Transylvania." Huh? And instead of playing it close to the vest, the normally stellar Amber Riley over-sings it, painfully.

Then, in "Toucha Touch Me," Jayma Mays is apparently to prim to be allowed to sing the phrase "heavy petting," so that lyric gets altered. For a show that is all about the pratfalls and pitfalls of high school, that expression is too much? Please.

At least the autotune is gone. They also had the good sense to not try and match Tim Curry's Frankenfurter performance. On the flipside of the coin, Chris Colfer totally nails Riff in "Time Warp," saving this EP from total disaster. I am hoping that maybe Glee's broadcast of the Rocky Horror episode will perhaps lead to a revival of interest in the original show, but this sanitized version is a dud.

    

My Amazon Reviews: Halford "Made of Metal"

High Octane
4 Out Of 5 Stars

Halford's back and feeling competitive. "Made of Metal" pummels and pulses with songs about competitions, warriors, athletes and other fighting folks. I fully expect at least three of these songs to be adopted by wrestlers sometime in the coming TV cycle. Heck, the title songs is all about racecars. And you thought Nascar was only for country music types.

Nope. Shredders and Rob Halford's one of a kind roar can get into the pit with the best of them. Even if the car is some sort of demonic Hadesmobile. If that sounds appealing, then "Undisputed" (as in 'heavyweight champion of the world'), "Matador" and "Thunder and Lightning" will get your elbow into fist-pumping mode. Even without the sporty metaphors, Halford are giving fans plenty to groove on. "Hell Razor," 25 Years" and the ferocious "The Mower" are the kind of clear cutting metal fans would expect.

Curveballs exist, too. The slide guitar on "Til The Day I Day" will surprise some, but it sure works. And like "Angel" on Priest's "Angel of Retribution," "Fire and Ice" explores relationships, however volatile they may be. "I Know We Stand a Chance" does as well, which help give "Made of Metal" a heart. Guitarist Mike Chlasciak delivers on the solos, giving the album its attitude. As one would expect, the voice is pure Rob Halford. Where his projects outside of Priest are concerned, "Made of Metal" is just as enjoyable as "Resurrection."

 

'I REMEMBER, SO I'M VOTING, AND NOT REPUBLICAN.'