Customer Reviews

Rock School

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

THE PAUL GREEN SCHOOL OF ROCK MUSIC IS A MUSIC SCHOOL WHERE THE KIDS ARE TRAINED IN CLASSIC ROCK THEN PERFORM CONCERTS TO GAIN EXPERIENCE. THIS ALBUM SHOWCASES THE HARD WORK AND TALENT OF THE KIDS. THE KIDS PERFORM WITH SOME OF ROCK'S BIGGEST NAMES SUCH AS ALICE COOPER AND BILLY IDOL. THE HIGHLIGHTS OF THE ALBUM ARE THE SONGS WHERE THE KIDS TAKE CENTER STAGE AND PERFORM ALL THE VOCALS AND INSTRUMENTS THEMSELVES. THE GREAT VERSIONS OF L.A. WOMAN AND IRON MAN ARE SUNG BY CHUCK FLAVOR,WHICH IS A STAGE NAME OF DOMENIC MALANDRO,ARE EXAMPLES OF THE TALENT POSSESSED BY THE ROCK SCHOOL KIDS. ENJOY YOUR FAVORITE CLASSICS IN A NEW WAY AS THE FUTURE OF ROCK IS SECURE!!!!!

Five stars should imply perfect in every way. Though this CD is good, it's not among my top 500 CDs, and the claim by one review that these versions are better than the originals is totally over-the-top. Another reason that I deducted stars was that my favorite performance from the movie, "You Really Got Me", is not on this CD Soundtrack. The creativity and Eddie Van Halen techniques that 12 year old CJ Tywoniak employed on this song were jaw-dropping, and there is simply no excuse for not including it. I would rate the movie 4 stars and I gave the CD 3 stars.

I recommend you see the movie first and buy the CD if you must. The music is much better with the visuals of kids playing very difficult rock songs.

Note: this is an excellent album from a movie about a real 'school of rock'. The students actually rehearse and perform real rock songs with 'real' stars -- songd that the rock stars made into hits. It should not be confused with the soundtrack from a similarly titeld movie featuring Jack Black. IN the other movie, Jack black plays an obnoxiously useless lay-bout who fronts a no-talent band, but somehow lands a teaching job. That movie, and the soundtrack, are both atrocious.

This CD featuers a mix of well-known, and obscure songs, which are in many cases done better than the originals.

BETTER THAN THE ORIGINALS:

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Barracuda (HEART's Ann Wilson);

Don't Stand So Close To Me (THE POLICE's Stewart Copeland)

Hocus Pocus (by Focus -- all students on this one)

Peace Sells (MEGADETH's Dave Mustaine)

AS GOOD AS THE THE ORIGINALS:

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Iron Man (by Black Sabbath -- all students on this one)

Highway Star (DEEP PURPLE's Ian Gillan)

L.A. Woman (by The Doors -- vocals are dead-on Jim Morrison)

Rebel Yell (BILLY IDOL reprises his hit)

Heart of The Sunrise (YES's Jon Anderson)

Black Magic Woman (SANTANA's Greg Rollie -- later in JOURNEY). This song was originally written and performed by Fleetwood Mac, but it was the Santana guitar sound that eventually turned this blues number into a classic.

I Wanna Be Sedated (THE RAMONES' 'Marky', with Ty Ritter from the ALL AMERICAN REJECTS). Great effort but The Ramones' original hits are deceptive: easy to play, but extremely hard to do better.

All of the musicians here are incredibly good, and one hopes that they can one day write their own hits to perform. Unlike most "tribute" albums, the songs here don't just sound like throw-away or "B-side" songs. If these had been more obscure songs, then it's possible that at least one of the cover versions could have become a hit on its own.

This is my first Amazon review and I only ventured onto the site to see if others had anything to say about this CD. I am doing it as a favour to the wonderful group I saw perform at CBGB's Wednesday night. I did not see the movie but was invited by my mates to the after party and bought the CD solely based on the music I heard. I've been a drummer with what many say is the world's greatest rock and roll band for several decades and I have to tell you, any one of those kids could fill in for my mates in the band. I understand the little lad, C.J., is the star of the movie and he is just wonderful but for me, there were three heroes that night...the singer, Maddie, the bare chested lad Jeremy, and the drummer, Eric. Maddie has the voice of an old time rocker. No stony faced, spaced out monotones for her. She roared, she was the music. Jeremy Blessing (and is that a name!) is the stuff of the Mississippi Delta combined with Jimmy Page; in fact, I'd like Jimmy to see him live the next time he's in town. I intend to write to the School of Rock for his contact information. There was soul in every note and he owned the stage. But as a drummer, for me the main attraction was Eric Slick. This is a young lad who has obviously studied the masters. He has listened to people like Buddy Rich and Max Roach I am certain, and while I am loathe to say it, I believe he has also listened to me. This kid has no peers in terms of innovation; he has a deeply personal sound and approach. He had a fixed pulse on his cymbals as well as his bass drum; and while many of the young guitar lads would falter from time to time due to what I trust was a problem with the monitors, Mr. Slick never lost a beat and was the driving force that evening. He brought tears to this old man's eyes and he is another I intend to keep my eye on for future projects. He could fill my shoes any time.

I insist you people in the States buy this CD. Don't buy it for the old geezers; buy it for the kids and learn something from them.

I had heard a buzz about this CD and since it contains some of my favorite classic rock performers, I bought it yesterday.

Can I tell you that the kids are better than the "stars"?

Track one - Black Magic Woman - is incredible. Besides the incredible Santana-like guitar work of C.J. Tywoniak, it contains some of the best drumming I've ever heard anywhere by Rock School student Eric Slick. The steady bass of Matt Rothstein and keyboards of Steve Roberts make this track just about perfect.

Track two - I Wanna Be Sedated. I dunno, I'm a Ramones fan and I think these kids have Johnny smiling up in heaven.

Track three - School's Out. These are kids? Sounds just like the original, but better.

Track four - Barracuda. Now this is the keeper of the album. Who is Louis Graff and why haven't we heard of him? He rules! Jalea Cooner? Another guitar god! Amazing! I see Eric Slick on drums again. This kid is going to be a major star, and there's a Julie Slick on bass who is equally wonderful. Sister/brother act? Watch out White Stripes!

Track five - Highway Star. Two kids named Jeremy Blessing and Phillip Kingsford on guitar will rock your world. Nice bass work by Peter White and drummer Joseph Randazzo, III holds it together nicely.

Track six: Holy moly, Jim Morrison back from the dead? Chuck Flavor is his reincarnate!

Track seven: Okay, my all time favorite on the CD. Louis Graff and the Slick Kids again with Allie Hauptman on keyboards. Jon Anderson must have thought he died and went to heaven. These kids can stand up to Steve Howe and company any day.

Track 8 - Rebel Yell. Can't tell it from the original. That kid Slick on drums again. CJ Tywoniak and Madison Flego on guitars. They rule! Matt Rothstein of Black Magic Woman on bass. Amazing.

Remaining tracks: Don't Stand So Close to Me, Iron Man, Peace Sells, and Hocus Pocus. All better than the original. For sure.

So. Remember these names: Louis Graff. C.J. Tywoniak. Eric Slick. Julie Slick. Matt Rothstein. Madison Flego. Chuck Flavor. Jalea Cooner. They're all gonna be famous.