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Megadeth Album Review
Megadeth’s self-titled 17th full length studio album was released on January 23rd of 2026.
Billed as their “final album”, it is another masterpiece, in my opinion.
I have not stopped listening to it for days.
I bought the album three times because other versions (Target and digital) had exclusive bonus tracks. And I bought a signed copy from TalkShopLive.
Worth every cent.
I’ve been a Megadeth fan since 1999 and love all their albums. Some more than others, but I think they’re all great. And this is definitely one of the best ones.
And as of this typing, it is the Number One album on the Billboard Top 200. That is AMAZING!!
I don’t know if it’s the last album, but either way, Dave Mustaine and co. have made another PHENOMENAL album.
Thank you Dave for all the music and I hope to see you and the band again.
Rock on!!
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My Favorite Albums of 2025
It’s February of 2026 as I type this, but I wanted to mention my favorite albums of 2025.
There are still 2025 albums I’ve not yet purchased and listened to, but there were a lot of great ones that came out that year.
My top 3 are:
38 Special Milestone-This is 38 Special’s first studio album since 2004 and boy was it worth the wait. Every song is great and singer/co-guitarist/founding member Don Barnes is as great as ever. Also thanks to the band and TalkShopLive for the signed copy!!
Two-Wolf-This is the debut album from the band Two-Wolf, which features Blackfoot founding member/bassist Greg T. Walker. Such a great album from start to finish. I got Greg to sign my CD booklet when I saw the band in 2025. Check out Two-Wolf.
Peter Criss-This is KISS founding member/drummer Peter Criss’ first solo album since 2007. It’s a masterpiece from start to finish. I love this album sooooooo much. Aside from his 1978 solo album, this is my favorite of his solo albums. It’s so incredible. Check it out.
OK the rest are in no particular order of favorite, so I’ll just list them as they are in the pictures I took of them:
Dream Theater Parasomnia-Another amazing album from DT. Founding member/drummer Mike Portnoy is back!!
Judas Priest/Ozzy Osbourne War Pigs Charity Single-Yes this is a single, but what a great one. Featuring already recorded vocals from Ozzy Osbourne (RIP), this is Judas Priest paying respect to Black Sabbath. Phenomenal version of this classic song.
Styx Circling From Above-Another really good album from Styx. They quit making albums for a long time, but for past roughly decade, they’ve been very consistent with putting out really good albums. Again, this is another really good one.
Michael Schenker Group Don’t Sell Your Soul-Another solid effort from the amazing guitarist Michael Schenker.
The Doobie Brothers Walk This Road-Very good album from one of my favorite bands. Michael McDonald now back in the band!! He, Tom Johnston, Pat Simmons, John McFee and co. are still amazing. I got a signed copy from their website. Thanks guys!!!!
Billy Idol Dream Into It-Solid effort from Billy and his guitarist/collaborator Steve Stevens. My copy is signed by Billy. Thanks Billy and TalkShopLive!!
Biohazard Divided We Fall-Their first album since 2012, Biohazard are as awesome as ever.
Mammoth The End-Another great album from Wolfgang Van Halen. Like his other two albums before this, he sings, writes, and plays everything. Phenomenal talent.
Bryan Adams Roll With The Punches-Another really good album from Bryan Adams. Thanks again to TalkShopLive and Bryan for the signed CD.
Glenn Hughes Chosen-Glenn is one of the greatest singers/bassists ever. He continues that way with this really solid album. Again, thanks TalkShopLive and Glenn for the signed picture that came with the CD.
Cheap Trick All Washed Up-Cheap Trick have really been on a roll since their Bang Zoom Crazy Hello album came out in 2016. One great album after another. This is another really good one. Thanks to the band and TalkShopLive for the signed CD.
LA Guns Leopard Skin-Like Cheap Trick, LA Guns have really been on a roll since releasing their 2017 album The Missing Peace. Every album they’ve released since then (The Missing Peace, The Devil You Know, Checkered Past, Black Diamonds, and now Leopard Skin) are great. Get all of them.
Jimmy Page And The Black Crowes Live At The Greek-This is a re-release of a phenomenal live album originally released in 2000. This version has a lot more songs on it, as well as the ones on the original release. Again, PHENOMENAL.
Lynyrd Skynyrd Celebrating 50 Years Live At The Ryman-This is a double live album and DVD set. This is also sadly founding member/guitarist Gary Rossington’s final show with the band. The show is great, though. Seek it out.
OK I know there are more great 2025 releases, but that’s my list.
Onward to 2026. I’ve already bought 3 awesome albums released in 2026. Check them out in separate reviews and/or my 2026 Album List in 2027.
Until then, Rock On!!
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Peter Criss (2025) Album Review
One of the founding members of KISS, drummer/co-vocalist Peter Criss (recent Kennedy Center Honor recipient and Rock And Roll Hall of Famer), released his first solo album in 18 years, on December 19th of 2025 (one day before Peter’s 80th birthday).
Peter has been talking about this album for many years, but I think it was worth the wait.
I preordered the CD and bought the digital version on Peter’s Bandcamp page.
Just the first day of having the digital version, I played it 12 times all the way through.
I really love this album.
Aside from a few great R&B songs and one sort of Rockabilly song (awesome), this album really ROCKS!
Peter is still in fine voice and his drumming is still great.
And he has a great group of musicians with him on this album. John 5 (Motley Crue, Rob Zombie, Marilyn Manson, 2wo, solo artist) plays guitar on three songs while Mike McLaughlin plays guitar on the other songs. Billy Sheehan (Mr. Big, David Lee Roth, Talas, The Winery Dogs, Sons Of Apollo) plays bass on all but one song (Matt Montgomery on the other song), Paul Shaffer of The David Letterman Band plays all the piano and organ parts, and Dennis Collins, Sharon Collins, and Cat Manning supply backing vocals.
If you are a Peter fan, KISS fan, or rock fan, I can’t see anything here you should not like.
I think this is one of Peter’s best albums and IF I ever meet him (he’s the only original member of KISS I’ve not met) I would love for him to sign my CD.
Thank you Peter for this great album.
I love you forever.
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Aerosmith/Yungblud One More Time EP Review
Steven Tyler and Joe Perry of Aerosmith, as well as singer Yungblud, released an EP called One More Time on November 21 of 2025.
It says Aerosmith, but aside from one remix of an Aerosmith classic (which features all of the band), the EP is really Steven, Joe, Yungblud, and some other players (including Matt Sorum of The Cult, Guns N Roses, and Velvet Revolver).
Yungblud I had not heard of until more recently when I saw a video of him singing a KISS song (I Was Made For Loving You) and then he did a great version of Black Sabbath’s Changes at the Back To The Beginning concert in July of 2025.
I think Yungblud has a great future in music and it’s cool that he was able to work with Steven and Joe.
And it’s really great hearing Steven sing again.
Aerosmith canceled their last tour because Steven was having vocal issues.
So, to hear him sing at all, and also as great as he still is, is a promising sign.
And of course Steven and Joe being together is always great.
I’m not saying this is a masterpiece, but it’s really great hearing Steven sing again.
The lead single, My Only Angel, sounds like an Aerosmith song and should be a huge single.
Check it out. And welcome back Steven Tyler!!
Oh and the version I bought through Aerosmith’s website has spray paint on the logos that were spray painted by Steven himself!!! Pretty cool.
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Cheap Trick All Washed Up Album Review
Cheap Trick released their 21st studio album, All Washed Up, on November 14 of 2025.
Cheap Trick (featuring classic members Robin Zander, Rick Nielsen, and Tom Petersson, as well as Rick’s son Dax) have really been on a roll since releasing their Bang Zoom Crazy Hello album in 2016.
Every album they’ve released since has been great and this one is no exception.
If you are a Cheap Trick fan, or just a fan of rock and roll music with crunch but also melody, then this album is for you.
Check it out and keep on rocking Cheap Trick!!!
And thanks for signing it for me (through Talk Shop Live)!!
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Judas Priest Featuring Ozzy Osbourne War Pigs (Charity Single)
In July of 2025, one of my favorite bands, Judas Priest, released a cover single of the Black Sabbath (another favorite of mine) classic War Pigs.
Well, a few months later, they rereleased it also featuring Black Sabbath singer Ozzy Osbourne (RIP) singing some of it with Priest singer Rob Halford.
The single was for charity (The Glenn Tipton Parkinson’s Foundation & Cure Parkinson’s).
Ozzy’s vocals were older (Ozzy was not able to sing it with Priest), but Ozzy and his wife/manager Sharon gave Priest their blessing to use Ozzy’s vocal track for their cover.
Either way, it sounds amazing.
Rest In Peace Ozzy and keep on defending the Heavy Metal faith Judas Priest!!
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Ace Frehley Solo Album Rankings
Ace Frehley (1951-2025) is my favorite guitarist ever.
One of the founding members of my favorite band KISS, Ace has inspired literally millions of people with his playing and inspired tons of musicians to pick up an instrument, namely a guitar.
Some have said he is the most influential guitarist ever.
I’m not going to disagree with that.
Is he the best singer ever? No, but he was great singing the songs that he wrote. I learned a long time ago that singers don’t all have to be Pavarotti or Freddie Mercury as a vocalist. So Ace was more than good enough on the mic.
Outside of his landmark work with KISS, Ace also made many solo albums and definitely was the most prolific original KISS member outside of the band.
He was making an album at the time of his passing, which who knows if it was done enough to be released.
But regardless, Ace truly left his mark on the world and I cannot emphasize that enough.
Here, I am going to rank Ace’s solo albums.
Now I before I do this, I want to preface by saying I love all of them so this is hard to do.
But here it goes:
- Ace Frehley (1978)-Most will say this is his best album outside of KISS and I definitely agree. It is a perfect album, in my opinion.
- Space Invader-Released in 2014, I find this album to be amazing and has some of Ace’s best playing ever on it.
- Anomaly-This was Ace’s first solo album in 20 years. Released in 2009, it showcases everything you would expect if you’re an Ace fan. Very good songs and great musicianship. A welcome return to Space Ace.
- Frehley’s Comet-Ace’s first album after leaving KISS. Released in 1987, this album features several rocking tunes and once again, a welcome return to the one and only Space Ace.
- Trouble Walkin’-Released in 1989, Ace consistently put out solid rocking albums outside of KISS. This one is no exception. This is my girlfriend’s favorite Ace studio album.
- Second Sighting-I don’t know how loved this album is (I know Ace’s friend Eddie Trunk hates it and fair enough.) but I actually love it. Great songs and it just rocks.
- 10,000 Volts-I want to rank this one higher (I’m actually already ranking it higher than I thought I would.) but I just love the ones above this more. But it is a very rocking and catchy album. Maybe Ace’s most catchy album he ever made. I’ve played it a bunch and really like every song on it, especially a song that he made a demo of when I believe he was still in KISS called “Back In My Arms Again”. Excellent ballad. If this is Ace’s last album, it’s a great one to go out on. I love you forever Ace!!!!
- Spaceman-Another solid, rocking album from Ace. Actually features fellow KISS member Gene Simmons on bass for one song and he co-wrote another song with Ace. AWESOME!!
- Origins Volume 2-I like both covers albums/KISS re-records Ace made, but I just like this one more.
- Origins Volume 1-Features another fellow KISS member Paul Stanley singing a Free song. Phenomenal version. Lots of great covers on this, and Ace played a KISS song he was not originally on, which is Rock And Roll Hell. Love his interpretation of it.
- Greatest Hits Live-My girlfriend’s favorite Ace solo album, this was released long after it was recorded. Great live album featuring two unreleased studio tracks.
- Live + 1-Great live EP featuring one studio track.
Again, this is tough to rank. Like I said, I love all of them, but hey, I have to rank them somehow. Ask me another time and I may think differently and rank them another way, but this is how I’m feeling as I type this.
Rest In Peace Ace. Thanks for all the amazing music and the happiness you brought us all.
And I included one of KISS drummer Peter Criss’ solo albums in the solo album picture because Ace plays on three songs. And the KISS live album just happens to be in the picture. My KISS album rankings is here if you want to check them out also.
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38 Special Milestone Album Review
The band 38 Special released their first album in 21 years, Milestone, on the day I type this, September 19 of 2025.
I preordered a signed copy of the CD more than a month earlier and received it on the day of release.
As of this typing, I’m already on my second listen of the album.
It’s a very good album. Lots of rock, some melodic songs, lots of catchy, hooky parts, great singing and playing, and what can I say? They still rock.
Lead singer/songwriter/guitarist/founding member Don Barnes is the one original member still in the band, but he has a solid group of guys with him. They include Jerry Riggs also on guitar/vocals, Bobby Capps on keyboards/vocals, Barry Dunaway on bass/vocals and Gary Moffatt on drums/vocals.
I’m so glad 38 Special finally released another new album.
I wish more of my favorite bands/artists still made albums.
To me, if you’re a band or solo artist, you make albums. Whether they sell or not, you make albums because again, that’s what you do. Period.
Thank you guys for another really good album and hopefully this will not be the last.
Rock on forever 38 Special!! And thank you for signing the new album too!!!!
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Bryan Adams Roll With The Punches Album Review
The very talented Bryan Adams released his latest album, Roll With The Punches, on August 29th of 2025.
Bryan once again has made another very rocking, melodic, catchy album.
Very good songs, short and sweet, tons of melody, great lyrics, solid musicianship, and good singing as always by Bryan.
If you are a fan, you should love this album.
I’m glad Bryan is still going strong and I can’t wait to finally see him in concert November 1st.
Keep on rocking Bryan!! And thanks for signing it too, through TalkShopLive!!
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Glenn Hughes Chosen Album Review
“The Voice Of Rock” Glenn Hughes released his latest solo album, Chosen, on September 5 of 2025.
Glenn continues to sing and play sooooo well and writes great songs.
His band is solid as a rock.
If you are a Glenn fan, you should love this album.
I know I do.
Thank you Glenn for another amazing album and for signing a picture that came with it too!!
And please don’t let it be your last album either.
Rock on!!!!
