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Billy Rankin

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My life is f**king great! Look through the stuff below and find out my views on life and the world. I think it's interesting so don't really care if you get bored or not....but it's below all the same.

NazaNewz

Posted on Tuesday 26 February

The boy's new album 'The Newz' arrived at Rock Radio last Friday.

I foolishly reviewed it before attending their gig that night in Glasgow.

Suffice to say I removed the original blog on Saturday morning as soon as I regained sight in my one good eye.

Dan, Pete, Jimmy and Lee have never sounded so good and 'English Phil' deserve's a special mention for his out-front sound.

I'm opting for track 12-'The Gathering' as both album AND live's outstanding track.

Post your own opinions here.

There's life in the old 'Heirs' of the Dog yet, Dammit!

Comments (19)
1. Thomas
26/02/2008 17:06
Slagged it rotten, didn't you?

Thought as much.

Top marks however for removing the blog.

It show's a strength of character on your part.

It's not the Nazareth comeback album I was expecting but I only know that cos you were pissed enough to hand over your copy to me at the ABC!

('DumbAss', again!)

Doubting you no more.

Now let's hear what Manny has to offer.



Thomas the Sceptic.
2. Dougie
27/02/2008 17:08
Wasn't sure of hypocrite was spelt with an 'i' or a 'y' but no matter - I'll go for the 'y'. The Newz (from what I've heard) is looking good and 'The Gathering' is indeed a stunning live track. 'Liar' as played elsewhere is superb. Looking forward to hearing the album.
3. Paul Allen
04/03/2008 09:12
Can't wait to get the new album, then i'll let you know what i think of it Billy.
4. Ray Stanford
12/03/2008 15:52
To tell you the truth...The Newz is disappointing.I like 3 songs out of 13.Liar is pretty good The Gathering has some good guitar playing (for once from Jimmy) and Dying Breed is a good ballad style.All the other songs just plainly stinks.The Newz in general doesnt keep my interest long enough to keep playing it over and over.One tune almost sounds like John Cougar-Mellencamp and another one sounds somewhat like a Fleetwood Mac tune.Some songs sound to 80ish and just not the Naz sound.But hey dont get me wrong,I have nothing against Dan or Pete but this CD is just not cutting it.To me it seems like Dan voice is just sounding like it might be losing it tone? I know we all are getting older and we all change...if someone played that cd in a distance and didnt tell me who it was...I would have never guessed it was Dan singing or it was Nazareth altogether.Just not them.I know of few others that are disappointed as well.
5. Mike Schatz
14/03/2008 09:14
I totally agree with Ray about Dan's vocals. I actually like 6 out of the 13 tracks. The album is Ok. It's certainly not what I was expecting. Below is my full review.



Nazareth,

With founding members Dan McCafferty & Pete Agnew



The Newz (album review)





It’s been ten long years since Nazareth founding members Dan McCafferty and Pete Agnew released their last studio album Boogaloo. In the years since its release, there had been a lot of talk about recording a new album. Every year in fact but it never materialized to the disappointment of their fans. Until now that is. The band went to Switzerland in late August of 2007 to begin recording. The final mixing was completed in early January 2008. The highly anticipated new album called The Newz was released in late February 2008. Is it the bone crushing, hard rocking album fans were expecting? Not by a long shot I’m afraid. Those fans that were expecting something heavy like No Mean City, Razamanaz or Hair Of The Dog, will probably be very disappointed. When fans think of Nazareth, those are some of the albums they associate the band with.



So what is the deal with The Newz? When I listened to the disc for the first time, I wasn’t really sure what to make of the musical direction. It’s basically a mix of funk, pop and rock. You can hear influences of Lenny Kravitz, Red Hot Chili Peppers and perhaps even a hint of Queensryche. What does that have to do with the Nazareth that had such a successful run in the 1970s? Not really an awful lot because it’s not the same band it started out as. The musical chemistry has changed dramatically since the early days. Original guitarist Manny Charlton has been pursuing his own endeavors since 1990 and original drummer Darrell Sweet passed away in 1999. Billy Rankin, who replaced Charlton, came and went on two separate occasions in fact. Keyboard players Ronnie Leahy and the late John Locke came and went. Guitarist Zal Cleminson also had a brief stint in the band. What we are left with today is the original vocalist Dan McCafferty and original bassist Pete Agnew. Drummer Lee Agnew, Pete’s son and guitarist Jimmy Murrison complete today’s lineup.



The one thing that is very obvious and quite disappointing on The Newz is the fact that McCafferty’s once razor sharp vocals have dulled considerably over the years. What he used to be able to do with ease has become a difficult task. There’s no doubt that his best days are long behind him. The other thing that would have really given the whole album a major boost is getting some big name guest artists. I also think the band could have asked all the former members to guest on the album. Why not? It is their 40th anniversary.



The album has 13 tracks and kicks things off with a track called Goin’ Loco. The guitar intro is about as annoying as a car alarm. That sound would certainly keep the auto thieves away. Fortunately it’s a short intro. The song itself is a funky tune that talks about someone slowly losing his or her mind and that’s no laughing matter. I don’t think the way the song was done works for the band. Musically they’re all over the place. Here’s a great example where someone like Lenny Kravitz or Red Hot Chili Peppers could have done a guest appearance and given the song some consistency.



Day At The Beach is much better. I like the laid back feel of the track. The band played it safe and maybe that’s what makes the song work. It would have been interesting to hear Pete sing lead vocals on this one. It’s a very simple melody, nice beat and good guitar playing. It’s definitely one of the better tracks on the album.



Liar could have been a great track but once again the guitar playing sounds hacked up, chopped up along with terrible vocals. A real cut and paste job. The chorus works but the song itself lacks the proper guitar riff to keep you interested in listening. The lyrics are very clever and certainly pull no punches as for pointing the finger at one politician. It’s doubtful the band will get an invite to the White House to play a fair well gig for dubya when he leaves office.



See Me is once again far more laid back. It’s got a very simple melody, good beat and simple guitar playing. I find it quite enjoyable to listen to. It has a kind of Crosby, Stills and Nash feel to it. This is definitely a track Pete should have done the lead vocals on.



Enough Love almost sounds like it could have been on 2XS and is the first single from the album. It’s got a nice melody, simple and straightforward. It’s also got a pretty good groove. It’s a bit like Love Leads To Madness. I would consider it one of the better tracks on the album. The only thing I wish they had done is written a few more verses. I feel the chorus is repeated a bit too often.



Warning and Mean Streets are kind of funky but both songs are throw away tracks. Here’s where Eddie Van Halen could have helped out. I can’t find anything I like about either of these 2 songs. There’s no melody and nothing that kick starts either song whatsoever. All I hear is that the band did a real hack job on both songs. There are no redeeming qualities about them, musically or lyrically. Perhaps Red Hot Chili Peppers could have done something to save them.



Road Trip doesn’t fair much better. It’s another sloppy cut and paste hack job. It’s as though a bunch of amateurs got together and just smashed away at their instruments and screamed their heads off. It’s not rock ‘n’ roll it is just noise.



Gloria is one of the best tracks on the album. It’s really got a nice vibe. It’s got a very nice harmony and melody. I especially like the driving beat part way through the song. The chorus also works very well here. It would have been interesting to hear Pete do the vocals in the beginning of the song and then have Dan come in.



Keep On Traveling does have a Nutbush City Limits vibe to it and would have been great with Anna Mae Bullock, better known as Tina Turner doing the vocals or at least singing along with Dan. I really like the power behind the song but see much more potential here then what ended up on the album.



Logging On is another very disappointing track. Musically and vocally it offers nothing that a listener would want to hear. Lyrically there might be something there but unfortunately we have another scenario where it appears as though the music and lyrics were put together on the fly. I’m afraid no thought was put into it. Like a few other tracks on the album, this is another forgettable one.



The Gathering has a very dark atmospheric tone to it. It’s a sign of our times. Aside from some interesting lyrics, the song doesn’t offer much musically.



Dying Breed, the last song on the album is one that I like a lot. This is where McCafferty’s burned out vocals work very well. He definitely puts an emotion in his singing that really moves you.



It’s certainly not what I was expecting. I’m sure a lot of the fans that grew up listening to the original Nazareth in the 70s would agree that The Newz does not come close to being as good as the band was when they were in their prime. Perhaps the album should have been billed as a Dan McCafferty solo album instead of a Nazareth album. Maybe if they had asked a few rock heavyweights and perhaps some former members to join them in the recording studio, the album might have been more memorable. Instead we have an album that really doesn’t have a whole lot to offer outside of a few tracks that are good but not great. It’s a real shame.



I would say that Day At The Beach, See Me, Enough Love, Gloria, Keep On Traveling and Dying Breed are the best songs on the album. The rest can be forgotten. I’d rate the album 5 out of 10.









Written by: Mike Schatz

















6. Real Naz Fan
19/03/2008 11:48
Not going to knock anyones review but it seems as though the Manny fanz are back to slag the band again with the same yawn yawn bitchy comments we have all grown to expect from that lot . So if anybody wants a true review and opinion on what the majority of naz fanz and music press feel about the album why not type in "Nazareth The Newz" into google and read many many reviews that hail this album as a massive success and return to form for the band . You will also see that music fanz on , Black Sabbath, DIO, Status Quo , Deep Purple fan forums are also buzzing about this album . Have a look at Amazon.de the german version of Amazon and press the translate button to read what true Nazareth fanz think , not the lot above that would have downloaded the album for nothing over the net .

Then once you have finished reading all the reviews and made your own mind up try having a look at swisscharts.com to read that for the first time in many years the band have charted in Austria , Switzerland and Sweden. Then once you have finished there you could pop along to the Offical Nazareth Website ( thats the one with actual information on it ) and have a look at their forum where their number of registered members is growing everyday with the result of sold out gigs and rave reviews over Europe.

Then if your not to tired from all that you can have a read of Dave Ling's website he is one of the editors of one of the largest music magazines in Europe "Classic Rock" and read his views on the album and band.

You see as a Naz fan I can handle reading bad reviews on the band , but I do feel that the "other lot" cant handle the fact that this album has raised the profile and status of the band ten fold and that while the band are enjoying sold out tours over the world and their album is charting over Europe, the only thing left for them to do is to come along and slag them off.



Would be great to find out how Manny's Naz are doing , havent seen one gig or cover album review yet . Listened to the real excited interview on his website tho " Yes .... no.....yes .. mmmmmm yeh ...yes eh .. no " Sounds really hyped about the tour and gave a real insight into the reasons behind it .Then of course there is the great newz section telling fanz that the real Nazareth are having to cancel their gigs across Europe . Havent seen this mentioned anywhere else mind you .

See ya :-)
7. Jim Aldridge
19/03/2008 16:19
Here we go again!

'The Newz' is ok, ok?

Manny's will no doubt be ok too, ok?

Give it a rest, girls.
8. Mike Schatz
20/03/2008 11:51
I agree with Jim. The Newz is Ok. Let's leave it at that.









Mike
9. Real Naz Fan
22/03/2008 09:41
it seems that us fans for Nazareth with founding members pete and dan are back to slagging Manny and his fans off once again with the same tiresume yawn trivial comments

cheep shots and out of touch remarks and storytelling that our fearless leader pete has led us to believe. So if you want a true review and opinion of what the

SNewzzzzzzzzzzzzzz is really about.go pay 40 dollars at amazon because i own stocks. Discard the google search and listen to the cd just once if you can bare it. You will have to agree that a 12 year old with protools on his computer could have done a better job. I truly believe in my pea brain head that Billy had nailed and slagged it properly with his first review.I don't blame pete for jibbing Billy in the back once more and going to Billys boss to try and have this blog removed and censored. Billy you way to nice at reposting a favourable review. Me and three friends have joined onto the Black Sabbath, DIO, Staus Quo, and Deep Purple fan forums to irritate and talk about how great the SNewzzzzzzzzz is besides that no one really gives a shit and they are probably tired of us by now. I must confess i am a fu ktard and if you goto those sites you will discover that.



You see as a Naz fan I cant handle reading bad reviews on the band I am going to knock everyone if it isn't given a 10/10 rating and I do feel that dan and petes nazareth

cant handle the truth that this album has set them back in profile and status ten fold. while the band are enjoying sold out tours over the world and their album is a bust in most countries the only thing left for them to do is to come along and slag Manny off some more. feel free and take petes urgent news and phone those venues and tell them to cancel that bogus band Nazareth with founding members dan and pete.



Would be great to find out the real truth about dan and petes underhanded dealings but then i would discard it and keep believing the lies and gossip that i myself

spread around such as the real nazareth are having to cancel their gigs across europe or the tribute cd is a fraud. I refused to believe that dan and pete are lazy ass bums and thieves. The reasons for Mannys and Billys depature from Nazareth are because they did all the work while the rest sat in the pub getting pissed.

Listened to the interviews with dan and pete ...alot of no.....yes .. mmmmmm yeh ...yes eh .. no " they sound really bland with a rehearsed script that they pawn

off to all media. I guess if you want to sell trash you have to spew trash. I refuse to believe that people feel i'm a psycho path and you don't understand how smart

and brilliant i am because i use words like this in a sentence.Havent seen this mentioned anywhere else mind you. well its time for me to go get the anal probed removed.



See ya :-)
10. Real Naz Fan
22/03/2008 20:39
Ha Ha Ha once again given real facts and reviews as presented all over the web , the little men behind their PC resort to calling names like the little children they are . I ask this to Mike or what ever he wants to call himself these days - why knowing that you hate , dont rate the current Nazareth would you go out your way to buy( download - steal ) an album that you knew you would already hate ?? Why torture yourself ??? Why post your review here first then on Nazareth's forum second ?? You like a reaction thats why you like to stir the shit .Or is it because the 46 people registered on Manny's forum as apposed to the 815 fanz registared on Nazareth's forum all agreed with you and you didnt get the argument you were looking for ?

Didnt we all say " let the money do the talking " and well having sold out tours , your album charting over Europe and reviews all over the web result in success in your world ?

Point me in the direction of any media attention to either Manny's tour or new cover single ? The only media attention received has been thanks to Nazareth statement. The fact is the storm has blown over and no one is really that bothered about that other band . THIS BITCH IS BACK except know one really knows or cares about it .



Post back when Manny's new single has charted and there are reviews on the web about sold out tours .



REAL

REAL nazareth fan :-)
11. thomas
23/03/2008 00:08
Thought I'd made a difference, but no dice.

Real Naz Fan?

Real Real..etc?

Here's some advice to you all.

Go to your Nazareth CD collection and put on 'No Mean City.'

OK? Done it?

Now sit back and enjoy.

It's great, right?

Billy Rankin wasn't even on it, yet he rates it as his favourite album by the band he played with.

This is a great forum, Billy is to be commended for his refusal to cencore it's comments and WE should value this.

Now play'NMC'again,then spin'The Newz.'

No contest.

As Jim said,'Give It A Rest Girls!'

Expecting No Mercy.

('Oh, that's a good one!' I hear Billy say.)

Thomas.



12. Larry
25/03/2008 16:32
Here is my View,

I am a big Naz fan from start to finish, and always will be a real Naz fan, No Mean City is a Great album, Expect no Mercy is great, all Naz albums are great, with Manny and without Manny, I am a Big Manny fan also, I support Mannys other Bands Like MCB, From Behind, but to be honist, I dont support what he is doing with Nazareth, I dont understand why he would do such a thing, In my eyes, i Think he needs money and is doing what ever it takes, His other bands Failed, His computer made CD,s that he sells on his website are lame,,I bought everyone of them to support Manny but they are not even close to the Jammin Manny that we all knew, he tried to sell his guitar on ebay, and after 17 years he decides to call his band Nazareth, I know he still has the wrights to the Name, but Dan and Pete kept the name going for all those years, touring all over the world, then Manny has the balls to say that they have been milking the tunes that he produced, i really dont think Dan and Pete were Milking his tunes, just giving there Fans what they want to hear,,isnt that whats it all about, The Fans? as for The Newz, This CD is Great, anyone thats says its not,Must be on the Manny ban wagon, Manny has not come out with anything even close to the Newz, His Nazkids make me laugh,,he is hitting a new low in life, its a shame that his fans dont even come on the Real Naz Fourm and talk anymore..Tony V, I miss your comments, we have not heard from you in a long time..Whats up ?? Ron, you use to say some stuff on there, Where have ya been? you guys are not Real Nazareth fans anymore, How can that be? Mike S is the only one that will post something now and then, Most of the time its not worth reading, but he still stops by and says hi. Tony V. Shame on you dude, we know you read the posts everyday..Say Hello some time.

AS for Billy, We love you man. you gave us some great tunes! I have a great Idea Billy! why dont you and Zal get together and come out with a new band called Nazareth..LOL
13. Real Nazareth & Manny Fans
26/03/2008 14:51
To whom it may concern:



Please go bury your heads in the sand and be ashamed of yourselves

Enough of Nazareth vs Nazareth. Stop making un-rational and sublime posts.

Your total disregard,hatred, intolerance and in fighting against each other or anyone that doesn't share your views has gone beyond reproach. There seems to be no sacred line that you won't cross.



You know absoutly nothing at all about Nazareth or Manny, internal or external.

Both camps don't need you as a fan. Your destructive behaviour posting patterns or personality disorder and fantasies has become a disease to the forums and all that pertains to Nazareth, Manny and loyal fans of both camps.



This type of ill will posting and slamming has put a dark cloud over both Nazareth and Manny camps and cheapened them of being anything but valid.

You guess to wonder why no-ones posting on either site or wants to get involved. You can't understand why some people left period to pursue other interests.

It is truly a shame that this has come down to personal battles of half wits. Ruled only through their own ignorance,jealousy, vanity and arrogance.



It would be wise for anyone out there to put this thing to bed and let it go once and for all. The Real Naz fans are tired of it. Most people on here and other forums would like to read informed and interesting posts and not the dribble that a few are so eager to spew out.

Stop this childish pissing contest. Because there are no winners. All you end up doing in the end is breed contempt and hate for one another and driving more people and fans away.



Whatever incantation these bands reside in past, present or future.

Whatever new music they release to us.

Just shut the F#@$ up and keep your thoughts to yourselves. Go buy their music and go see them in concert to show your support. Stop acting like a bunch of spoiled little brats and grow up.

Give Billy his blog back and let the two Nazareths carry on with their business in private.

14. p k bowman
30/03/2008 09:28
Hi

Imagine a person who wears the only nazareth embroidered denim jacket with nazareth NMC and tricolour patches and the most up to date nazareth tee shirt in his county and this type of gear went out most nights for 30 years.

Nearly everyone asks who the hell are Nazareth.

Maybe i was a fool or a gester.

The music saw me through some dark and terrible depressions.

the jacket and tee shirts are now stowed away,

Up till now nazareth semed to have songs that had tunes and flowed no matter what the content was and I liked tracks off all the studio lp's.

The only albums missing from my collection are some of the vague compilations.

Boogaloo to my mind had Talk Talk, Party at the kremlin and god save the south all of which i put on a compilation cd for my own use the album gathers dust.

There is a saying here for people who cant park (like cowshit in a farmyard all over the place)

Im afraid to say thats how the Newz hits me,

I just dont like the disjointed feel

AND NO IT IS NOT THE MANNY CAMP STIRRING THE S''T BUT TRUE LIFELONG FANS SPEAKING.

Paul.

15. p k bowman
30/03/2008 09:28
who is the REAL NAZ FAN please put a name to the comments like everyone else does or dont post a comment

anonymous drivel just stirs the shit and holds no credibility.

Paul
16. Jim Aldridge
30/03/2008 23:00
Dead right Mr Bowman!

Can't you see this twat for who he is?

Stirring?

Annonymous?

There IS no 'REAL NAZ FAN.'

He's a shit-stirring, annonymous asshole.....

And he's laughing up his own butt!

Let's laugh back, who's first?

Rise above it guys, back to you 'Real Nazhole!'
17. Stargazer
06/04/2008 10:49
The Newz is OK, agree with some of you.



It has some power numbers (actually 2 or 3), like Gathering. I was hoping for at least 6 out of 13...



This Manny's Nazareth vs Dan&Pete Nazareth thing is really breaking my heart, because I love Nazareth and this conflict is forcing me to turn away from Nazareth, because I'm tired of that. I know one thing: Jimmy is not made for Naz. That is for sure...



18. Mike Schatz
22/04/2008 09:44
Those are bold words Stargazer about Jimmy's. There's nothing wrong with his guitar playing on Boogaloo or The Newz. I don't think the best in the band's musical ability was brought out on either of these albums.



I have changed my mind about The Gathering. It's actually a terrific track. I especially like the grinding guitar and the lyrics. My rating is now 6 & 1/2 out of 10. I'm still not thrilled with Mean Streets, Logging On and Road Trip. There's no doubt that The Newz is diverse but it's not the killer album I was expecting. To all those who are going to say I was expecting No Mean City/Hair Of The Dog 2, no, I was not expecting that. I was expecting a good

solid hard rock album.



Jim and Paul are absolutely right about these anonymous posters. I couldn't agree more.







Mike
19. Larry
02/05/2008 10:10
I agree with you Mike, Jimmy is a fine guitar player. to be honist i think that Lee is holding jimmy back, dont get me wrong, im not bashing Lee at all, he is not a darrel,( no one will ever be a darrel) and on most of his songs on the Newz he has the standard 1, 123 beat, most of his beats remind me of when i was trying to learn the drums and those beats were the first ones that i was tought,

he does kick in the double bass now and then, but i think he needs to kick it up a notch and be noticed.

have a great day!

Larry

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