Album Spotlight: Stryper - No More Hell to Pay

This is something new I'm doing: Album reviews. Only I wouldn't exactly call them reviews, I'm not a music critic. So it's more of an album spotlight of something I find good. So that's what I'll go with: Album Spotlights from the Cheap Seats.

I grew up on 80's hard rock. Call it Hair Metal, Glam Metal, Pop Metal, whatever. Bon Jovi, Motley Crue, Poison, Cinderella, etc. I still like that type of music. Unfortunately, there is not a lot of good stuff out there.

When I find some, I will let you know. And now is the time.

Stryper was right in the middle of 80's pop metal, sans debauchery. Yes, that Stryper, the Christian hard rock band. The yellow and black attack.

Being a Christian and also a fan of heavy metal/hard rock, I really wanted to like Stryper when they emerged in the 80's. But, their music just lacked something that I was looking for. Listening back to the old records and comparing it to their new release, I know what it is. They lacked musical direction. Lyrically, they were always on point, musically, not so much. The older records waver from Journey to Motley, from schmaltzy power ballad to Iron Maiden-type galloping. And the vocals never matched the harder stuff.

With the release of No More Hell to Pay, Stryper has finally nailed it. From the fantastic cover art -

- to the music. It rocks and rocks hard.

They are playing tighter than ever. The entire album is very focused musically. There are a couple of slower songs, but not of the power ballad type.

Singer/guitarist/chief songwriter Michael Sweet's vocals sound better than ever and match with the music so much more than in past recordings.

This album has everything I loved about 80's hard rock, but does not sound dated. The more I listen to it, the more I like it.

This video is from the new album. Listen to the song, the video, not so sure about. What is up with the drummer? Can he not figure out how to put his kit together?

And the other single from the new album. Enjoy.

If you're a fan of Stryper and/or 80's style hard rock, this record is definitely worth checking out.

Saving Country Music

No, no, no, no, NO!

I'm not trying to save country music. I don't think country music needs my help.It may could use my input, but that's another story.

Saving Country Music is a website that I've been diving into the past few days. Very interesting stuff there.

I'm not a country traditionalist. I really am not much of a traditionalist anything. I don't necessarily agree with everything on this site. But what I really love about it is that it showcases artists who are not being played on radio.

It's more of a music (mostly country, but there is no box) lovers site. Sharing stuff that doesn't get recognized. I love that. Some of the music I like, some I don't. But in just a few days I've learned quite a bit and found some very cool artists that I don't know how I would have found otherwise.

If you are satisfied with what is currently being played on mainstream country radio and think that what is being played is great, you will not enjoy this site at all.

If you like some of the stuff currently being played but long for something more, think a lot of it is polished pop country crap, you will have a ball on this site.

If you think everything about current popular country music is horrible, well, you need help, but will find enough on this site to satisfy you temporarily.

If your favorite artists are Jason Aldean, Florida Georgia Line, Luke Bryan, et al, stay away from this site at all costs for your own well-being. Because it will throw you into a rage.

I think my two or three readers of this blog will like it. Check it out.

Here's a sample of some of the stuff you might find:

Roll With the Changes

The Cheap Seats are changing/progressing.

There is no "we", it's all "I".  So we're, ummm, I'm, dropping that schtick.

I'm going to try to post more often and that may be good news for the three people that read this. Or not.

There is going to be more music posts. Again, that is either good or bad news depending on your views of 80's hard rock and country music.

Just so you know.

The Dallas Cowboys: The World Has Ended (or not)

In the age of social media, it is almost as entertaining on facebook and Twitter as watching the actual games. Did we say "almost"? Many times it is more entertaining.

We are long time fans of the Dallas Cowboys. Some have given up. We have too much blue and silver in the veins to do that. But our happiness does not depend on them.

One facebook friend effectively "divorced" himself from the Cowboys after the debacle in Chicago. However, he was back for a reconciliation a week later, saying he couldn't stay away from the misery. Which gives us a good reason to link the following video (Any chance we get to promote good music.......)

So there's that. Another said it is hard being a Cowboys fan right now. Another posted pics of Tom Landry, Clint Murchison, Gil Brandt, Roger Staubach, "Doomsday", etc. Longing for the "good ol' days". 

Twitter was a maelstrom of activity. Blame Tony Romo, the defense, Jason Garrett, Monte Kiffin, injuries Bill Calahan, Ron Washington. All had a hand in it. OK, maybe not Wash, but he gets blamed for everything else.

We root for the Cowboys each and every week. Hoping they win. But now that's not even that important. Do something to entertain us. On that coun,t they rarely disappoint. Go blow for blow with Peyton Manning and Denver? Check. Improbable fourth quarter comeback? Check. Inconceivable second half collapse? Check. Check. And check.

The defense is beyond horrible. The play calling is not much better. Romo will be Romo. Watch the games. Watch Twitter. Watch facebook. The best reality series out there.

We don't get depressed, angry or despondent after another Cowboy collapse. We turn to social media and smile. Because we just don't take it that seriously.

Farewell to the BCS

This is officially the end of the BCS era of college football. In 2014 we go to a four team playoff with the four teams determined by a selection committee. Good luck with that.

We were never fans of the BCS, but not for the obvious reasons. In our view, the BCS got it right more times than not in matching the top two teams in a game. Obviously, not without controversy. Auburn and USC have the best cases. But for the most part, it worked.

Our biggest beef with the BCS (aside the idiotic moniker, which we will explain later) is that it ruined New Year's Day. We realize now that television would have eventually done that, but the BCS accelerated things.

New Year's Day used to mean some parades in the morning while we cooked some sort of hangover curing concoction for breakfast. Then we had the Cotton Bowl along with some bowl games in Florida with good matchups. The Rose Bowl was mid-afternoon can't miss viewing. Then the Sugar and Orange Bowls capped off the night.

That was always a fun day for college football fans.

We were always a fan of abolishing the BCS for the reasons mentioned above, not to get a FOUR team playoff. That's just ludicrous. Four creates more controversy than two. Just look at this year.

Florida State, undefeated, would be in. Then everybody else has at least one loss. OK, a one loss Auburn as SEC champ gets in. Then what? Michigan State and Baylor are one loss champs of the Big 10 and Big 12 respectively. Alabama and Ohio State are one loss teams that are not conference champs. Two loss Stanford is really good. You make the call.

Eight teams is the way to go. In our opinion anyway.

We will leave you with this: BCS. Bowl Championship Series.

What a misnomer. There never was a series. Ever.

We always called the "BCS National Championship Game" the "BCS Trophy Bowl". Because that's what it has always been. A bowl game for the BCS trophy.

Next year, the controversy will not go away. It will just take a different form.

We still love college football.

Kinisler for Fielder, Rangers and Tigers

We don't analyze salary implications. We don't delve into metrics. We opine on what we see. And how that might affect our Texas Rangers. And we don't really care how that affects the other team involved.

Ian Kinsler for Prince Fielder.

That is the crux of it.

The Rangers needed more power at first base. Fielder provides that.

The Rangers needed a spot for Jurickson Profar. Moving Kinsler provides that.

Are we happy about losing Kinsler? Of course not. Ian is one of our favorite players.

Are we excited about what Fielder may bring to our Rangers? Of course we are. Apologies to Mitch Moreland, but seeing Fielder hammering the Home Run Porch in Arlington has us salivating.

Losing two really good guys (David Murphy to Cleveland via free agency and Kinsler) is hard to swallow, but this is all about making the team better. Hopefully, this is just the start.

The Rangers still need to upgrade the outfield and get more productive at catcher.

We like this move, but it can't be all. There is more work to be done.

Your Decade of Music is ALWAYS Better Than Current Music

The title says it all. The music of the (insert decade here) is so much better than the crap they're putting out now.

How many times have you heard (or said) this? We have. Numerous times. And it's false.

Why?

Listen to your classic rock station. Listen to your "best of the '60s, 70s and 80s" station. Listen to your classic country station. A lot of good songs playing, right?

Of course there is. They only play the good stuff. Give any decade 20 years to sort out what was good and what wasn't and you can make a good radio station out of it.

Good music is in the eye (or ear) of the beholder. Popular music is in the hands of the young and stupid. (we were once in that category).

The good stuff stands the test of time. That is what you keep hearing long after it has fallen out of current popularity. You forget about all the crap that was popular right along with it.

That is why your decade of preference is always better than current music. We haven't had a chance to weed out the bad from the good. That takes 20 years, in our opinion.

In the meantime, if you hear something you like, enjoy it. Share it.

If you hear something you don't like, ignore it, don't listen to it. Don't criticize it.

The CMA Awards and Today's Country Music

We watched the CMA Awards. We were entertained.

George Strait and Alan Jackson doing George Jones.

Rascal Flatts, Darius Rucker and Jennifer Nettles singing with Kenny Rogers.

Dave Grohl playing drums with the Zac Brown Band.

Mick Jagger, Ellen DeGeneres, Julia Roberts, etc. congratulating Taylor Swift.

Taylor Swift with Vince Gill and Allison Krauss.

Brad Paisley, Carrie Underwood, Blake Shelton, Miranda Lambert, Kieth Urban, Kacey Musgraves, the Band Perry, etc. performing.

It was all good.

But according to our Twitter and Facebook feeds, it was an unmitigated disaster. Why? Not because it wasn't entertaining. Not because the performances were bad. Because it wasn't country enough.

Guess what? It was exactly what is being played on country music radio. And you know what else? We agree. It really ain't country. But we don't care, it was entertaining. And we like to be entertained by entertainers.

If you want to play semantics, fine. It wasn't traditional country.

It all reeks of musical elitism to us. We like a variety of music. The last time we put our master playlist on shuffle it gave us the following: the Band Perry, Cinderella, Marc Cohn, Billy Joel, Tesla, Martina McBride, Casey Donahew Band, the Bangles, Alice Cooper, Grace Potter, Poison, Iron Maiden, Jewel, Bon Jovi, Kim Mitchell, Halestorm and Roger Creager. Go figure.

You can find the music you like if you want. Sometimes it takes work when your music of preference is not popular at the time. But it's out there. The machine on which you are reading this can take you to your genre of choice. And you may discover new and exciting music. Give it a try.

What was played at the CMA awards is what is considered country music today. You don't have to like it. But that's the reality.

If you are not entertained, change the channel. Don't listen to it.

Rather than bemoan what is wasn't, we prefer to be entertained. And we were.

2013 NFL Survivor Pool: Week 10

If you're still reading this, that means you have survived 9 weeks of your eliminator pool. Congratulations.

So far, Indianapolis, Baltimore, Seattle, Denver, St. Louis, San Francisco, Green Bay, New Orleans and Dallas are off of our board.

Let's take a look at this week's games.

Jacksonville (+13.5) @ Tennessee - That is the pick. No need to go any further. At least for us. With the teams we have left this is an obvious choice. The Jags are just that bad. And the Titans are much better with Jake Locker behind center.

St. Louis (+9.5) @ Indianapolis - This one is solid. If you still have the Colts available. We don't.

Oakland (+7.5) @ NY Giants - Sure, the G-men have looked better as of late, but do we really trust them right now? No, we don't. This is one to stay away from.

There are five teams that are 6.5 point favorites - Green Bay over Philadelphia, Seattle over Atlanta, San Francisco over Carolina, Denver over San Diego and New Orleans over Dallas.

We have none of the favorites available to us.

That being said, Green Bay, without Aaron Rodgers? No thanks.

Seattle has not looked good in their last two games and playing in the Georgia Dome, who knows?

San Francisco playing at home against the Panthers may be the best of the lot. But Carolina is no pushover.

Denver on the road against a division rival? Not going there.

The Saints are good at home. Dallas is a mess defensively. Probably a good pick. But we wouldn't touch it.

The Pick
Stated above. Titans all the way.

Pet Peeve: Bye vs. Open

We blame the NFL.

For what, you say? For inappropriately using the word "bye".

For reference, here is the definition:

bye 1 also by  (b) n. 1. A secondary matter; a side issue. 2. Sports The position of one who draws no opponent for a round in a tournament and so advances to the next round. Did you see the second definition? Unless you are in a tournament (playoffs), there is no bye. The team just has an open week, i.e., they do not play. They are not advancing anywhere. If they played and lost, they still would play the next week. The NFL started this bastardization when they started having open weeks. And now it has caught on. It is not a bye. It is an open week. This is of no consequence other than the further erosion of the English language. Feel free to use "bye" inappropriately at your free will. We will think less of you if you do.