Black Label Society - "Hangover Music Vol. VI"
                                                                                                                    Released on Spitfire Records in 2004
THE BAND:
Zakk Wylde - vocals, guitar, piano, and bass on (tracks: 5, 12, and 13)
James Lamenzo - bass (tracks: 3, 4, 6-8, 11, 15)
John Deservio - bass (tracks: 2, 9, 10, 14)
Craig NunenMacher - drums
John Tempesta - drums (track: 11)
 

TRACK FRAGMENTS:
1.) "Crazy or High" -The intro to this track opens with a very simple acoustic arrangement, with a lead guitar scale at the tail end of it.  From right off you can tell that Mike Inez does the bass work.  The first verse of the song is very short and simply structured.  There is one hell of a bass line backing the chorus section.  At the tail end of the chorus section Zakk plays the same lead guitar scale as the tail end of the intro.  There is a very small opening hi-hat section that really sets the dynamics of the song.  Zakk kicks the solo section in with an electric guitar arrangement.  The solo's arrangement and sound are taken from Zakk's early 'No Rest for the Wicked' days. 
2.) "Queen of Sorrow" - This track opens with a very simple acoustic guitar section.  Zakk kicks the song in with an electric guitar arrangement.  At times you really can hear the reverb Zakk attached to the electric guitar.  The verses of this song really express Zakk's vocal ability.   Underneath the chorus section there is a very small slide guitar section.  There is a huge bass line behind the chorus section of the song.  The solo section has a small intense feel compared to the rest of the songs arrangement.
3.) "Steppin' Stone" - This song kicks off in the style of the stuff Zakk has been doing with 'Black Label Society'.  The acoustic guitar Zakk chose for this track  has a great ring to it.  Through the verse there are several little electric lead riffs.  Zakk uses the electric on this track as more of a rhythm instrument than lead instrument.  Vocally this is another one of those rare 'Black Label Society' tracks that really shows Zakk's vocal ability.  The solo is very laid back sounding like Zakk just locks into a groove, really playing with a lot of soul.  
4.) "Yesterday, Today, Tomorrow" - This track opens with piano and vocals.  One of the first things you will notice is the unbelievable sound this piano has.  The vocal tracks of the verse are very laid back with a very relaxing feel.  Underneath the chorus section Zakk plays a very simple lead riff that really fills in a lot of the dead spots.  The song is very short without a solo.
5.) "Takillya" - Instrumental 
6.) "Won't Find it Here" - This track bleeds into the track before it.  Zakk plays a very simple electric guitar rhythm over top the acoustic section. This is one of the few tracks on the release where Zakk plays everything but the drum arrangement.  The vocal accents Zakk adds to the vocal line proves he knows what he is doing.  Craig's cymbal accents really set the song off.  At times especially through the chorus section the bass line really blew me away.  The solo is done with an electric guitar, with Zakk just playing laid back with a lot of soul. 
7.) "She Deservers a Free Ride" -The wood block or rim shot of this track's opening gives the song a very Country effect.  Zakk pulls away from the mic has he is singing the lines of the song.  This causes a fading effect on the verses.  The choruses are vocally overdubbed by Zakk.  The keyboard arrangement as a piccolo sound to it.  This really filled in a lot of the empty spaces and sounded great on this track.  The solo section was very short.
8.) "House of Doom" -This will be the first or second single taken off of this release.  The rhythm guitar section of the intro and verse of this song has a very Beatles influence.  You can hear a huge lyrical hook within the verses.  Zakk pulls off a very intense lead guitar riff for the opening chorus section.  Even though the chouses are more intense than the verse you can still hear the huge vocal hooks like what is on the verses.  The solo is very short but set up in away only Zakk could pull off.
9.) "Damage is Done" - This will also be the first or second single taken off of this release.  The track opens with a very Jackson Browne influenced piano arrangement.  There is a small slide guitar section during the verse.  You can really pick up on the vocal overdub of the backing vocals on this track.  This track has everything a good single needs, so it should get a lot of spins on different radio stations.  The solo for the song has a very Spanish influence to it.
10.) "Layne" - This track was written in the memory of 'Alice in Chains' lead singer Layne Staley.  The acoustic guitar section of the intro sounds like it was taken right from 'Pink Floyd's' "The Wall".  Zakk's vocal lines have a very haunting sound to them.  Anytime someone writes a song in memory of a falling brother it is special, and I'm glad to see Zakk to the time to write a song for Layne Staley who was one of the most underrated vocalist of the nineties.
11.) "Woman don't Cry" - The vocal lines of the verse on this track are very laid back and subtle sounding.  The verse builds with intensity as it progresses a long.  At times through the verse there is a few small vocal overdubs.  Zakk plays a lead rhythm behind the vocal line of the chorus that follows a long with what he is singing.  The bass line of this song really fit the song well.  The solo was out of nowhere and you really aren't expecting it. 
12.) "No Other" -This track opens with a huge blues sounding guitar riff.  Vocally Zakk pulled back to his 'Pride and Glory' days for his vocal sound.  The lyrics of this track really shows the talent Zakk has for writing words.  John Deservio plays a huge bass line for this track and really shows his playing talent.  The solo has a little bit of an abstract feel to it. 
13.) ""Whiter Shade of Pale" -Cover of the 1967 Procol Harum classic.
14.) "Once More" -This track opens with a very subtle piano arrangement.  There is a very small lead scale at the tail end of the intro section.  The verse has several vocal overdubs that makes the verse have a very sweet hook.  After the first chorus there is a very small lead guitar scale.  This song is lyrical magic and really shows how well Zakk can't not only play music but also write lyrics.  There is a acoustic guitar solo for the song.  At times the acoustic sounds like it was overdubbed with another acoustic guitar. The fade out consist of mainly drums.
15.) "Fear" - This track opens with a very Jackson Browne type influence.  I really liked the vocal style Zakk used on this song.  After the verse there is a small electric guitar solo.  The effects added to the keyboard arrangement on the chorus gives the song a very relaxed feel.  During the chorus before the solo Zakk plays a few guitar effects that really adds to the dynamics of the song.  The solo is done with an electric guitar and there is absolutely no distinction on who is playing it.


            "Hangover Music Vol. VI" is what it is.  Music that you would want to listen to if you where hung over.  All fifteen tracks are very laid back with a very relaxing feel, adding just enough electric guitar to where you do not fall asleep.  For years fan have known about Zakk's playing ability, and even though Zakk has released several CDs  where he does all the lead vocals himself fans are still shocked by what they hear.  This release is no different!!!  It is time for fans of the heavy metal genre to quit looking at Zakk has just a guitarist and more of a singer/songwriters.   "Hangover Music Vol. VI"  shows a softer side of Zakk.  This release is an absolute must have!!!