NEWS4U JUNE 2023 | MUSIC
THE ROCK & METAL PROFS W I T H M AT T A L S C H BAC H & D R . CO U RT L E W I S
Associate professors at Owensboro Community College and Pellissippi State Community College, respectively, Alschbach
and Lewis host the popular podcast The Rock & Metal Profs: The History & Philosophy of Rock & Metal. Now they're bringing their keen insights to the pages of News 4U with a monthly deep dive into some of the best bands of the rock/metal genre and thoughts on music in general.
REDISCOVERING OLD BANDS MAKING NEW MUSIC
C
ourt and I talk often about how
and Candy Harlots pirouette
one of our favorite pastimes is
across our TV screens.
rediscovering bands that we were
aware of in the 70s, 80s and 90s, but for
But back to Winger (also
one reason or another, we really never gave
a terrible band name) and
them a fair listen. Winger is one of the more
their 2023 album. Like a
glaring and timely examples at the moment.
cherry pie to the face it hit
They just put out a new album called Seven
me: the new record is good.
featuring all the original members who,
Really good. Seriously. I
apparently, have soldiered on as a band
shouldn’t be surprised.
for nearly 35 years. Who knew? What I
After Winger broke up in
remember of Winger from the late 80s was
1987, Kip attended the
lead singer and band namesake Kip Winger
University of New Mexico
on MTV posing, flipping his hair, pouting
and studied classical music. He spent the
his lips and undulating on stage while rarely
next two decades producing classical scores
playing his bass. To serious rock and metal
and compositions for orchestras and ballets,
fans, Winger represented everything that
and his original works were nominated for a
was wrong with the genre. They were a
Grammy in 2017! In other words, Kip Winger
pretty-boy pop-metal band who made their
has legit music credentials. He got serious
mark primarily because of their appearances
about the music, and it shows. Furthermore,
and slick video production, but lacked
Winger’s guitarist Reb Beach was, and
any real depth or substance. The 80s were
continues to be, an absolute virtuoso on
awash in a thousand carbon-copy hair metal
the guitar. Since reforming in 2006, the
bands who looked and sounded the same.
band has produced three records that are
Mercifully, tastes and the music industry
FAR SUPERIOR to anything they released
changed, and we were spared the indignity
during their MTV heyday. The new album
of having to watch bands like Sleeze Beez
is heavy, dark, and brilliantly produced.
PICTURED LEFT TO RIGHT: MATT ALSCHBACH AND DR. COURT LEWIS
Kip’s artistry is on full display as he knows precisely where to build to a crescendo, or pull back. Seven is full of big choruses, tasteful melodic interludes, and just the right amount of heavy guitars - a brilliantly-crafted album from a mature and talented group of musicians. Bands this old shouldn’t be making albums this good! So go out and give those bands you may have dismissed another look. You might be pleasantly surprised! The Rock & Metal Profs podcast is available on iTunes, Google and Spotify.
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