October 4th, 2025 - Life Elevated to Cloud 10

 

Hey there rockers, rollers, and hop lovers!  Happy Saturday!  The Meista here on this rainy day rocking out with a hoppy Life Elevated India Pale Ale from Salt Flats Brewing Company and the kickass "Cloud 10 (Demos)", the newly released 1983-84 demos compilation by the mighty Autograph!  Hell yeah!

Album Info: 

• Artist: Autograph
• Title: "Cloud 10 (Demos)"
• Recorded: 1983 through 1984 at the Record Plant in Los Angeles, California
• Release date: 2025 (compilation album of early demos by Autograph)
• Record company: FnA Records
• Production: Andy Johns and Steve Lynch
• Album cover art: ?
• Personnel: Steven Isham (keyboards and backing vocals), Steve Lynch (lead guitars), Steve Plunkett (rhythm guitars and lead vocals), Randy Rand (bass and backing vocals), and Keni Richards (drums)
• Musical style: Heavy metal, glam metal, hard rock
• Sound: Filled with loads of killer hooks, riffs, and melodies, Autograph's "Cloud 10 (Demos)" is a solid, sleek rocker of a demo album and a wonderful slice of Autographs early history!  These are some of the best recordings in Autograph's repertoire in my humble opinion!  Absolutely fantastic... and Lynch's soloing is amazing!
• Major themes: Rock and roll, rebellion lust, sex, love, loss, etc. 
• Tracks:  

1. "Cloud 10"
2. "Nineteen And Non-Stop" (Bass Cut)
3. "Angela" (Bass Cut)
4. "I've Got You"
5. "Angel In Black"
6. "When I'm Gone"
7. "Sweet Temptation"
8. "One Way Dead End Street"
9. "Deep End"
10. "Every Little Word"
    
11. "Friday" (Bass Cut)
12. "My Girlfriend's Boyfriend Isn't Me" (Steve Lynch Guitar Solo - Live Bonus Track)

Brew Info:

• Brewery: Salt Flats Brewing Company (Salt Lake City, Utah)
• Website: https://saltflatsbeer.com
• Brew: Life Elevated India Pale Ale
• Style: American India Pale Ale (IPA)
• Serving: 12 ounce can
• ABV: 5.0%
• Ingredients: Amarillo, Cascade, Centennial, and Citra hops
• Pour: The Life Elevated pours a slightly cloudy, golden-honey hue with a 1+ finger, frothy, eggshell white head with good sustain and lacing.
• Nose: The nose is citrusy, fruity, floral, earthly, and herbal. There are aromas of grapefruit rind, tangerine, dried apricot, pine resin, crackery malts, and soft caramel/toffee.
• Taste: Hop-forward, the taste of the Life Elevated follows the nose with citrus, fruit, and malty flavors.  There are notes of grapefruit, tangerine, stone fruit (peach and apricot), crackery biscuit, pine resin, bitter herbs, and a splash of sweet toffee.
• Mouthfeel: Medium to full-bodied and moderately carbonated, the mouthfeel is very crisp, refreshing, and slightly bitter with a dry, slightly bitter finish.

Overall pairing: The bright, fruity elements of the Salt Flats Life Elevated IPA go great with overall rock and roll punch of Autograph's phenomenal "Cloud 10 (Demos)" while the solid malt backbone goes well with the hard rockin' intensity and power that is and always will be the kick-ass lads in Autograph!

Make sure to check out my interviews with Steve Lynch and Steve Plunkett here:

• Steve Lynch: https://youtu.be/2QaCOiUpb90
• Steve Plunkett: https://youtu.be/mybn48_8ESM

Cheers!!  Rock on!!