Posts tagged 00′s
Rock Star Birthday Blurbs – Chris Cornell
Jul 20th
OK, so July 20th is the legendary Carlos Santana’s birthday too. I’ve written about both of these artists in different capacities in the past so I chose Christopher John Boyle, better known as Chris Cornell, for today’s post. I’ll get back to Carlos a year from now. 1964 was the year. “I Want To Hold Your Hand” was the number one song that year, but for perspective sake, here’s a couple of other chart toppers to jog your memory; “Baby Love” by Diana Ross & The Supremes, “Leader of The Pack” by The Shangri-Las, “House of The Rising Sun” by The Animals, “Oh! Pretty Woman” by Roy Orbison, “Do Wah Diddy Diddy” by Manfred Mann, “Rag Doll” by The Four Seasons, “Chapel of Love” by The Dixie Cups, “My Guy” by Mary Wells, “Everybody Loves Somebody” by Dean Martin, “A World Without Love” by Peter & Gordon, “I Get Around” by The Beach Boys, “Hello, Dolly!” by Louis Armstrong, and half a dozen other tracks by both The Beatles and The Supremes. I love that kind of stuff. Oh, and Chris Cornell was born in Seattle, Washington.
According to our friends at Wikipedia, Cornell was a Sous Chef and a seafood wholesaler prior to hitting the big time. They say he was a loner. A loner is a tough tag to shake. I would venture to guess that most people become “loners” in their teens. I don’t think of myself as a loner per se, but I sure don’t mind my own company when things break down. We all have these friends that can’t seem to function if they are not in a relationship right? I’m not one of those people for better or for worse. I just need my Rock music and my baseball team. It’s not very complicated actually, but it does get you into some bad habits. For instance, the economy is terrible, but I’m out there seeing more concerts than ever. I took in Crowded House last weekend, but I would probably much rather take in a reincarnated Soundgarden. Why did they break up again anyway? Weren’t they on top of the world? I hate when that happens.
Let’s be honest, Chris Cornell’s solo career hasn’t exactly set the world on fire. That doesn’t make it bad, it just is what it is. The guy has one of the best voices in Rock and he’s been in at least two wildly successful Rock bands. I don’t think he’s hurting for coin. Soundgarden, the band which catapulted him to fame (or vice versa depending on your point of view I guess), came together around 1984 initially. They were working with Sub Pop, the cool underground label that came to be in 1986 and became famous for housing Nirvana for a time, but didn’t have a major label release until 1990. Apparently Cornell was the band’s original drummer. Things I didn’t know until today for $500 Jack. The Seattle Grunge sound was just about to take off with Nirvana, Alice in Chains, Pearl Jam and Soundgarden spearheading the charge. In 1991, just after the release of Bad Motorfinger, I can remember sitting in a great bar called Hunter’s 885 on Boylston Street in Boston (today it’s an awful place called Whiskey’s) around then and having this Soundgarden fan tell me if I didn’t go see them at Avalon (or Citi Club, whatever the space that houses The House of Blues was called back then) now (they were coming in about a month as I recall) I’d never be able to see them in such an intimate space again. He was right.
Bad Motorfinger featured three stellar tracks called “Outshined, Holy Water and Rusty Cage.” After that it was all over. Even MTV was taking Metal seriously by then. Their next album, 1994′s Superunknown, is a Grunge masterpiece. Look, I’m a big Nirvana fan, but I think this record is right there with Nevemind. Pearl Jam, who have legions of folks who consider them the best of the genre, is a helluva band too. Personally, I like Vs. better than Ten, but we are talking about probably the best three Grunge records ever released in my humble opinion. Alice in Chains, another spectacular band, was on fire until Layne Staley decided heroin was the only way to deal with grief. AIC were something else. They were as hot as anyone between 1990 and 1996. If you liked your Rock and your Alternative music mixing, this was a glorious time.
In 1996 Soundgarden made an attempt to follow up Superunknown and did a very credible job with the release of Down On The Upside. It featured the singles “Pretty Noose, Blow Up The Outside World and Burden in My Hand.” I just loved that stuff. Unfortunately, that was all she wrote for Soundgarden. Fast forward to 2010, it looks like we may yet see Soundgarden release new material. I’ll believe it when I hear it, but I’m psyched about the possibility.
I don’t have time to discuss the merits of Audioslave today, but they rocked my world as well. I’m a big fan and own all of their CDs. I also bought 1991′s Temple of The Dog, which was also the name of the band too. It was a tribute to Mother Love Bone’s lead singer Andrew Wood, who was a friend to all of the musicians on the Seattle circuit. Its seems Wood unfortunately tangled with heroin and lost as well the prior year so members of Pearl Jam, Soundgarden and Mother Love Bone put together a one off record which sold more than a million copies. It featured the singles “Say Hello 2 Heaven” and “Hunger Strike.” I’m posting one song from each band for fun and games today. Happy birthday Chris Cornell and get cracking on that new Soundgarden record. I’ve got $20 just burning a hole in my pocket for it as we speak.
Soundgarden – Blow up The Outside World.mp3
Audioslave – Show Me How To Live.mp3
Temple of The Dog – Hunger Strike.mp3
Buy or download Superunkown from Amazon here.
Rock Star Birthday Blurbs – Beck
Jul 8th
Today is Beck Hansen’s 40th birthday. Born Bek David Campbell on July 8, 1970, Beck has turned into one of Rock’s most uncategorizable musicians. He’s technically a dance artist of sorts, but most call his music Alternative Rock. In truth he defies all labels, but I still think he’s massively talented anyway. Most folks only know Beck because of his 1994 hit “Loser” and really have no clue about how talented this guy is. i was lucky enough to see him May 24, 2003 at the then FleetBoston Pavilion. I had an eighth row seat in the center. It was the worst weather I think I have encountered at a concert since I was at Red Rocks in Colorado when U2 was trying to film for MTV and Under a Blood Red Sky. Whipping wind, nasty cold and sideways rain. Still, I look at this concert as one of my favorites of the past decade. Beck is highly entertaining, he of the two turntables and a microphone. If you ever get a chance to check out his show I’d take it in. It’s a lot of moving and grooving…and I don’t dance…much…
I was surprised to find out 1994′s Mellow Gold was Beck’s third studio album. I had never heard of him until then. I guess he had two prior CDs and an EP before he had his big breakthrough with the single ”Loser.” I can tell you that from then on I bought every one of Beck’s records. His catalogue is an eclectic mix of Hip Hop, Sampling, Country, Dance, House and Postmodern Irony. Beck’s popularity exploded in 1996 with the release of Odelay and it’s hits “Where It’s At, Devil’s Haircut, The New Pollution, Hot Wax and Jack-Ass.” I couldn’t get enough of this record back in ’96. I thought Beck was going to be the next big thing. It’s not like he isn’t, but his career didn’t take off the way I thought it had the potential to. He just refused to conform I guess.
Still, 1998′s Mutations had “Cold Brains and Bottle of Blues,” 1999′s Midnite Vultures had “Sexx Laws and Nocotine & Gravy,” 2002′s Sea Change got the vaunted Five Star rating in Rolling Stone (although I didn’t buy it for a couple of years there my myself), 2005′s Guero had “E-Pro and Girl,” 2006′s The Information had “I Think I’m in Love and Nausea,” and 2008′s Modern Guilt had “Gamma Ray and Chemtrails.” There was a hit or two on every CD and tons in between. Sea Change lacked the sampling and dance beats his fans had come to enjoy, but it had so much critical acclaim I had to go back and check it out. Beck is not an easy take. He makes you work, but once you get it you are usually coming at his new stuff with open ears. Between The Dust Brothers and Danger Mouse and all of the other producers, engineers, musicians and samples he worked with over the years it was never boring. I’m still a big fan.
Happy Birthday Mr Hansen. Don’t forget to come back and see us again in Boston soon.
Buy or Download Odelay from Amazon here.
Your Tour Guide – Grace Potter & The Nocturnals
May 29th
Last night was the first time I got to lay eyes on Grace Potter & The Nocturnals. Hopefully it won’t be the last. I own two Grace Potter records, but I was kind of surprised at the show I just witnessed. I thought their 2007 record, This is Somewhere, was great, but I hadn’t listened to it in a while and I was trying to absorb their new release, Grace Potter & The Nocturnals, in time to prepare for what I might hear at the show. I might have gotten through it twice in its entirety. That’s not much to go on, but I was looking forward to seeing her. It’s not that I forgot what they sounded like, but I pleasantly surprised at the amount of rocking Grace does. It seems as if I should have done a bit more homework listening to their back catalogue because I wasn’t quite expecting a rock concert. I definitely got one, that’s for sure.
I don’t have a set list to go by, but The Nocturnals banged out several new tracks during this show and they were very well received. You don’t always get that when you play the “new stuff” in concert. The new album is scheduled to drop June 8th and after watching them play most of it live I’d recommend picking it up. There are a lucky 13 tracks on the new CD and they played the majority of them. I thought “Hot Summer Night” and “Medicine” kicked the most butt myself, but the crowd seemed to love “Paris (Ooh La La)” and “Ah Mary” even more. “Mastermind” was outstanding as well.
I don’t know if they’ll ever be as popular as their Vermont brethren Phish, but ski country can be mighty proud of Grace Potter & The Nocturnals. Boston is the closest major city they play so it was a sort of homecoming for them. Apparently they just recently returned from the UK and were feeling a little jet lagged. I didn’t count the songs or anything, but it felt like they played a good twenty songs and played around two hours. Grace Potter & The Nocturnals come at you with an old school look to them. The two guitar players and the drummer, identified by Wikipedia as Scott Tourant, Benny Yurco & Matt Burr respectively, look like they stepped out of a rockumentary from the 1970′s. Long hair flying everywhere. They can all play though make no mistake. In fact, the musicianship surprised me. I think I was expecting more of a softer rock show.
The sound was excellent as well. Not one peep of feedback and it was plenty loud without splitting any eardrums. Then we come to Grace herself and her bass player Catherine Popper. There is no way around this so I’ll just say it; there’s a lot of sex appeal between those two. That never hurts any band. Two beautiful women right up front and great music to boot. What’s wrong with that?
Grace had a Heidi Klum ‘do that never stopped moving. Dressed in a slinky black dress with sparkly gold lines, Grace came out rocking right off the bat. Her enthusiasm for what she is doing is very contagious. She has an extremely warm and congenial way about her that is endearing. She seems like a bit of a goofball and the crowd loved her. She does a lot of jumping and dancing while she sings and plays the guitar, tambourine and organ. She’s definitely the maestro of the act, but all of the musicians had their moments in the sun during the show. Everyone in the band looked like they got on very well and everybody seemed to be having fun. People can sense that I think. The crowd was very young and there were a lot of female fans, which is always a good sign for a band. Making a living in the music business these days is harder than ever, but the effort that Grace Potter & The Nocturnals put in last night will serve them well going forward. The show was executed flawlessly I thought.
One last thing; Grace mentioned halfway through the show that she once got to lick Iggy Pop’s chest and that she found him very attractive. I thought that was so Rock & Roll. And there song “2:22″ sounds like it came right out of the Led Zeppelin playbook so you know they are a serious band. Their encore included a cover of the Jefferson Airplane classic “White Rabbit.” Considering that Grace Slick absolutely nailed that vocal the first time around I’d say that is mighty brave of Grace Potter to try, but their version is really very good. Maybe she just needed to sing another Grace’s song I guess. At the end of the night the band crowded up onto the drum kit and everybody played them all at once. I’ve been to a zillion shows and I’d never seen that one before.
I’m going to leave you with a YouTube clip of her song “Medicine” so you might get the feel of what it was like to see Grace Potter & The Nocturnals. Buy the record and go see the band. Bands like this need to be supported. They’re a blast.
My Insipid Record Collection – Steve Winwood
May 16th
I think it’s safe to say Steve Winwood’s legacy was cemented back in the 60′s when he sang the lead vocal for “Gimme Some Lovin’” for The Spencer Davis Group. There isn’t a self respecting Rock & Roll Soul alive who doesn’t instantly recognize that particular piece of music. Steve Winwood joined The Spencer Davis Group at the tender age of 14. They apparently ween their rock stars much younger in the UK. Fortunately his older brother Muff (ouch babe) was also in the band to keep an eye on him. The Spencer Davis Group had half a dozen hits or so, but Winwood was on to his next musical venture by 1967 when he hooked up with Jim Capaldi, Chris Wood and Dave Mason to form the seminal Rock band Traffic. Then things really got musically interesting.
Traffic was an excellent act that had its shelf life interrupted by personnel changes and a Supergroup called Blind Faith. They eventually reformed and had their greatest commercial success in the early 70′s after parting company with Dave Mason. That divorce seemed to work out for everybody because Traffic put out two records post Blind Faith that everyone should own. One is called John Barleycorn Must Die (1970) and the other is The Low Spark of High Heeled Boys (1971). Shootout at The Fantasy Factory (1973) had some great moments on it, but it just didn’t measure up to the first two 70′s releases. You will find many a Traffic fan who feel that the first two Traffic albums might have represented their best, but I’m not one of them. I loved Dave Mason’s solo career and 1970′s Alone Together is a masterpiece, but these two parties were better off in separate quarters. Mason did return for a spell between John Barleycorn and Low Spark, but he was gone again fairly quickly. Traffic recorded a few more records after this period, but they had reached their zenith in my humble opinion. Folk, Jazz, Blues…it was all there. I love Traffic and still listen to them from time to time. I’m still a big Dave Mason fan, but I’m glad they had trouble getting along. More music for the rest of us I figure.
Blind Faith doesn’t need a lot of explanation. Steve Winwood, Eric Clapton, Ginger Baker and Ric Grech all seemed to congregate while their ex-bands (Traffic, Cream and Family respectively) were trending downward at the time. Clapton, by his own admission if you read his 2008 book (Clapton: The Autobiography), was a bit of a chocolate mess at that time and found Delaney & Bonnie more interesting than Blind Faith. That might have been a friendly turn of the card for Winwood as he eventually rep-upped with Capaldi and Wood while taking Grech along with him back to Traffic. Blind Faith is a household name based on one record and it’s well deserved, but Traffic probably wouldn’t have quite the cache it has today if it weren’t for Clapton’s seemingly fickle behavior.
Around 1977 or so Steve Winwood went solo. His first effort, Steve Winwood (I can’t remember when “Stevie” became Steve, but all traces of his former name seem to have disappeared…Wonder what the other Stevie thinks of all this? Or the venerable Ray Vaughan?) was critically acclaimed but didn’t sell very well. According to our friends at Wikipedia it is now out of print and considered a rare find on CD. I own a copy myself. I suspect that my collection has several similar CDs with the same designation if I chose to do a little investigating. Three years later, in 1980, Steve Winwood put out Arc of a Diver. “While You See a Chance” was a smash hit and the song everybody remembers, but “Spanish Dancer” and “Arc of a Diver” were the real finds on this CD. It peaked at Number Three here in the United States. Two years later he was back with Talking Back To The Night and the sublime hit single “Valerie.” To this day I love this single. “Still in The Game” was the second single worth noting here, but four years later, in 1986, Steve Winwood literally took over the world. Back in The High Life had no fewer than five smash singles and everybody I know bought the record. It got so much radio play at WBCN 104.1 “The Rock of Boston” (RIP) that even I got sick of it. I don’t think too many people saw this coming. I know I didn’t.
Making a followup to Back in The High Life was going to be near impossible. Sure enough, 1988′s Roll With It had trouble living up to the standard that was Back in The High Life. Winwood had a couple of singles on the record, most notably the title track and “Holding On” and “Don’t You Know What The Night Can Do?,” but by and large his solo star began to fade as he became overexposed. That is no slight on his talents, believe me, I’d kill to be him, but hit records, more accurately hit singles, were really not his thing. I mean the R&B stations were playing his stuff by then. It got to be too much. 1990′s Refugees of The Heart was so non-descript that I didn’t even hear about 1997′s Junction Seven until years later. I have to admit I didn’t pay them much mind as I was exploring other genres back then. Hopefully I’ll learn that was a mistake eventually.
That gets us to what I came to talk to you about. I don’t know what Steve Winwood was doing between 1997 and 2003, but whatever it was it worked. I don’t know how many of you have had the pleasure of hearing 2003′s About Time, but let me just say; it’s about time people. This record is exquisite. I know a lot of you out there probably wrote Mr Winwood off years ago, but don’t make that mistake. There isn’t one bad track on this CD. I remember seeing a live performance of it on PBS and having it just cement what I already knew; fantastic record. I’m going to grab a couple of tracks here for you, but frankly, I recommend this entire record if you have any Steve Winwood blood in you. I spoke to Ryan earlier and he and I both agree this is a great record. It comes with The Giant Panther seal of approval for what that’s worth. Winwood put out another record in 2008 called Nine Lives, but I haven’t yet digested it I’m embarrassed to say.
Steve Winwood – Cigano (For The Gypsies).mp3
Steve Winwood – Different Light.mp3
Steve Winwood – Why Can’t We Live Together.mp3
Buy or download About Time from Amazon here.
Beach House – Teen Dream
Mar 13th
This album rocks my world. Absolutely killer. To be honest, in the past I never understood what all they hype was about with Beach House. Most of my favorite fellow bloggers have been huge fans since the beginning of Beach House a few albums back. I always found the songs interesting in concept, but after a few songs they all started to blend into the background. This has all changed with their new LP Teen Dream. Let me go on record early as saying this will most likely be my favorite album of 2010. I’m only doing this preemptive strike because I know it will be on most end of year lists as the best, and I don’t want to be called “unoriginal”. In early 2011 I will be able to point back to this post and say, I was among the first 50,000 bloggers to “call it first.”
Beach House formed in 2004 in Baltimore, and is a duo made up of French-born Victoria Legrand and Alex Scally, who hails from Baltimore. They were introduced at a friend’s party or something, I’m probably getting this wrong I heard it on an interview (they are much better at making music than as interviewees, but then again, most musicians are. See my old David Byrne clip from Letterman or check out the infamous Sigur Ros interview for good examples of interviews gone wrong.
Hard to describe this music. Closest I could come would a modernized version of Fleetwood Mac. Don’t get all worked up if you think this makes no sense. I’m not trying to make a direct comparison, or make your precious indie nuggets less “cool” or too popular. I just mean to say it gives me the same type of feeling when I listen to the records. Lush, layered harmonies, amazing voice (mix Dusty Springfield with Stevie Nicks and Nico). I had a really tough time chosing which songs to share from this album, they are all four and five star tracks, every single one of them. If you by one album this spring make it this one.
Buy or download Teen Dream from Amazon here.
Phantogram – Eyelid Movies
Mar 11th
I’m liking what is happening in music this year and last year. Toro Y Moi, Vega, Washed Out, Neon Indian, and now Phantogram. There is a fresh new feeling that seems to be a signifigant shift away from traditional indie/underground rock and pop of the early and mid 2000′s, which is a good thing. It’s not always easy to pinpoint when a musical shift happens until 10-20 years later, but I think in this case it’s pretty apparent. Either that or I’m paying more attention to it.
Phantogram is the perfect combination of all things I’m loving in music. Dark synths, sampling, drum beats, melodic. Phantogram is based in NY, and consists of duo Josh Carter and Sarah Barthel. Every song on this record offers something different, but they all work together nicely. Josh and Sarah trade turns as vocalist track to track, both offer something unique.
MP3: Phantogram – Mouthful Of Diamonds
MP3: Phantogram – As Far As I Can See
Buy or download Eyelid Movies from Amazon here.
Phantogram on Myspace
Zola Jesus – Stridulum EP
Mar 10th
Why, as a music blogger, do I feel like I’m always the last to know about great new music? That’s a conversation for another day. Just finished my fourth listen through the new Zola Jesus EP, it’s spectacular. Any fans of Jesus & Mary Chain, Joy Division, etc will dig this. Call it dark-fi, goth pop, whatever you want. Zola Jesus (Nika Danilova) combines a punch you in the jaw powerful voice, and songs that build energy from the dark to make the perfect soundtrack to a late night drive.
MP3: Zola Jesus – I Can’t Stand
Buy or download Stridulum from Amazon here.
Zola Jesus on Myspace
R.I.P. – Mark Linkous of Sparklehorse
Mar 9th
I’m a little late to the draw here, but over the weekend a relatively little known artist named Mark Linkous, better known as Sparklehorse, took his own life in Knoxville, Tennessee. He was 47 years young. That is a real shame. It was allegedly set off by a text message. How would you like to be the sender? No thanks. I hope it was worth it. Reports say it was roughly 1:20 PM in the afternoon when this all happened so we’d like to believe this wasn’t some alcohol or drug fueled spur of the moment decision. Then again most of us don’t lose our composure over a text message. I’m not passing judgment here though. It may a Wonderful Life, but each of us has our own crosses to bear. I’m turning 50 years young myself next Monday. I never ever dreamed of being this old and yet here we are. Now life gets interesting.
My first exposure to Sparklehorse was in 1995 when I came across a copy of Vivadixiesubmarinetransmissionplot. I heard the song called “Rainmaker” on the radio just one time before I jumped on board the Sparklehorse train. I instantly added it to my mixed cut cassette tape empire because I liked it so much. The title of the record was a mouthful and a pain in the neck to deal with, but I’m sure it was intended to draw attention to the release. On that count it seems like it was successful. I was, and still am, impressed with Sparklehorse. It’s a real shame Mark decided to pack it in, but it was not the first time he displayed a certain instability. In 1996 he nearly lost both legs after overdosing on a lethal combination of drugs while on tour with Radiohead. He recovered after spending some six months in a wheelchair and, as it turns out, lived another 14 years.
Sparklehorse was essentially a one man outfit. It was a setup not unlike Trent Reznor and Nine Inch Nails except that the Sparklehorse sound bordered on Stoner Indie music. I don’t know if that category exists, but it does now. Mark’s music was sometimes hard to pin down and describe. It had some of that jangly Alt Country Wilco feel to it at times, but it could be as spacey as, say, Catherine Wheel too. I loved it because it was way off the beaten path. Sparklehorse didn’t get a lot of radio airplay so whatever audience it had built up was based word of mouth. Their music was mesmerizing to listen to because they didn’t have to adhere to any genre or record company directive. It’s not the kind of thing you throw into your CD player to get you pumped up for an event, but it had its place among the reflective late night set. It’s not going to rock you to your feet, but it was easy to get lost in the trippy feeling embedded in the melodies. I don’t know a thing about recording vocals, but I’m assuming he is singing through some kind of device that alters his voice a tad. It’s dreamy and hypnotic at times.
Nobody has any concrete answers for suicide. I’m pretty sure everybody contemplates it at some point or another, but reason and good sense usually rule the day. Everybody has demons, but most of us keep them at bay. I wish everybody could. Mark was obviously very talented and I wince every time I hear about suicide, but it’s particularly galling when someone with so much to offer the masses makes that decision. This guy is going to be missed, plain and simple and it sure doesn’t seem like it had to be this way. I hope whatever afterlife may exist makes Mark a happier man and I’m really sorry he felt like he had to go now. Rest in Peace.
I’m leaving you folks with a couple of Sparklehorse favorites. You can track them down on 1995′s Vivadixiesubmarinetransmissionplot, 1998′s Good Morning Spider and 2001′s It’s a Wonderful Life. I’m also tacking on their wonderful cover of Pink Floyd’s Wish You Were Here. That one is from a 2001 Promo only called Chest Full of Dying Hawks which may be hard to locate. I hope you like them.
Sparklehorse – Wish You Were Here.mp3
Sparkelhorse – Wish You Were Here.mp3 YSI
Buy or download It’s a Wonderful Life from Amazon here.
My Insipid Record Collection – The Lovemakers
Feb 21st
I ran into The Lovemakers a couple of years back while surfing the end of year lists. They are an Oakland, CA based act that has been around maybe eight years or so by now. I had never heard of them until somebody put their CD Times of Romance in their best of 2005 list. I have to admit, without condoning anything remotely close to YouPorn, that I kind of liked the CD jacket artwork. I mean, if you are going to call yourself The Lovemakers, by all means, have some fun with it for crying out loud. I have read that Scott Blonde and Lisa Light (those absolutely sound like their original names…I’m sure of it) are the two main members of this sometime trio, sometime foursome. It has been written that they were tossed out of their previous band, Applesaucer (man it’s gotta be tough coming up with original band names huh?) for making out during practice. I’m all for a couple being unable to keep their hands off each other, especially during the designated month of love here, but there is a time and place for everything. The good news is, if that is even true, is that they have talent and things seemed to work out for them.
According to our friends at Wikipedia this band took its name from the Japanese film The Weird Lovemakers. I’ve never seen this film, but I’m sure it has merit. The Lovemakers (I’m assuming Light Blonde or Well Lit Blonde were already taken…speaking of shaky band names…I can play that game too I guess) released a self titled record in 2003 and Times of Romance in 2005. In 2007 they released an EP called Misery Loves Company and followed that up with a full length CD called Let’s Be Friends in September of 2009. I sure hope that last one isn’t an autobiographical account of the state of their relationship. Everyone knows men and women can’t really be friends if one of them still harbors feelings for the other, which I’d venture to say is, oh, 95% of the time. The breakup was mutual, yeah right. I don’t mean to say that Blonde and Light are not still an item, but it is a curious title for a Lovemakers CD don’t you think? Maybe that is just the point no? Keep ‘em guessing. Do you think Jack and Meg White are sister and brother still?
I don’t have a lot of information on The Lovemakers to share with you. According to their web site (www.thelovemakers.com) they are touring behind Let’s Be Friends as we speak. I was sifting through some of what is written about Times of Romance on Amazon.com and found out Light is a Standford graduate. She’s a lot smarter than I am already. As for bands they might sound like names have been thrown out like Human League, The Killers and or The Postal Service. Well, I’m a Human League fan, but those guys were more techno than New Wave sounding. Human League has a really catchy sound to them that went beyond the brilliant single “Don’t You Want Me.” I wouldn’t say they have much in common, but that is only my opinion. There is some techno there, but not like Human League.
The Killers? Man, how great were The Killers until they released a second and third record? Those guys better figure something out because one more “Human” (which to me is the equivalent of Peter Frampton releasing “I’m in You” after all that great music with Humble Pie and his solo career) and they’ll be irreparable damage to their brand. So many people love this band to a fault (including my local Alt Rock station WFNX), but I think they are headed in the wrong direction. The Postal Service is about the closest thing to The Lovemakers here, but definitely different. I absolutely loved that Postal Service record, but The Lovemakers rock a bit harder. I’m sure there are other comparisons, but I haven’t digested Let’s Be Friends at all yet. I’ll get there. I’ve always liked the male-female vocal back and forth so it’s not hard to see why I like The Lovemakers. It doesn’t take much if a female vocalist is talented.
I wanted to do a post about Times of Romance because it is a sexy record and it is a sexy month. I’m posting “Prepare For The Fight, Shake That Ass and Dance.” If you have never heard of these guys I’m betting you will like these tracks. If, on the other hand, I am five years behind the times, I apologize. Better late than never I figure.
I’m running out of days in February and have more ideas than days left so I’ll have to save some for February of 2011. Can you believe the Y2K scam is Ten Years Gone already? I remember battening down the hatches that New Year’s Eve in case my computer exploded. Pretty funny now that you think about it. The argument for preparation sounded pretty logical at the time, but it sounded kind of shaky. Not unlike Global Warming I guess, but I’d sure love access to Al Gore’s bank account. Did I just say something political? I hate that. Please ignore.
The Lovemakers – Prepare For The Fight.mp3
The Lovemakers – Shake That Ass.mp3
The Lovemakers – Shake That Ass.mp3 YSI
Buy of download Time of Romance from Amazon.com here.
John Jay’s 20 Favorite Releases of 2009
Dec 30th
I ran out of real estate. There is no more time to screw around. There are mere hours left in the present year. I have to tell you; I don’t really relish these end of the year lists. I feel like, as a quasi blogger (I say quasi because I’m just a guy who like to tell stories as opposed to raving about the latest sounds), their is kind of an onus on Ryan and I to put out something that sums up the year that just whistled by. I’ve been cramming lately for what feels like an exam, listening to a ton of music released in 2009. We all know you can’t possibly absorb a piece of music, in full the way it deserves to be ingested, with one single listen. At least that is my philosophy. That is one of my problems with doing this list each year. I should set aside three days each month to pour through that month’s releases and start my list in January, as in two days from now. It just doesn’t happen unfortunately. Life gets in the way of my high paying (not) job somehow and this is what we are left with.
Every time I do this I feel like I need to leave disclaimers about what I haven’t yet listened to, what will age poorly, what order I list the CDs in and what qualifications I even have to do a list like this. Well, that should cover it no? I’m going to be as brief as possible even though I know this is definitely not my strong suit. I expect Ryan’s list and my list to be eons apart. There is nothing wrong with that. Ryan listens to a lot of newer music and tends to veer in the opposite direction of Classic Rock artists. Nothing wrong with that either. I’m always keeping an eye on later day releases of old favorites like Collective Soul, Bob Mould, Bob Dylan, Cracker, Sonic Youth, Muse, Cheap Trick, The Black Crowes and Wilco. Some made my list and some didn’t, but those artists have earned my trust so to speak. It’s never easy to narrow it down, but it’s particularly difficult when you don’t feel like you’ve listened to each CD ten or fifteen times. Sometimes that takes years I’m afraid…
I’m also going to pay attention to more Blues artists than I think Ryan might. This year we had Back Door Slam, Joanne Shaw Taylor, Eric Gales, Joe Bonamassa, Gov’t Mule, Robert Cray and J.J. Cale release new CDs. And I love Progressive Rock like Pure Reason Revolution, Marillion and Porcupine Tree which factor into my decision making. Not everyone can make the list, but in two or three days time no one will care anyway so I give up. So without further ado here is my top twenty with a sample track for each record. Please don’t read into the order. It’s a futile exercise. There is no way I won’t be criticized six ways to Sunday, but it’s go time…
20. Eric Clapton & Steve Winwood – Live From Madison Square Garden
Eric Clapton & Steve Winwood – Tell The Truth.mp3
Buy or download Live From Madison Square Garden from Amazon here.
I realize a vote for this record is like voting for an experienced Japanese baseball player for rookie of the year in MLB, but quality is quality. These veterans of rock can still get it done. Tremendous recording in one of music’s palaces.
19. Collective Soul – Collective Soul (Rabbit)
Buy or download Collective Soul (Rabbit) from Amazon here.
I know it’s been over a decade since anyone cared about Collective Soul, but these guys might be the best “soft” rock band I’ve ever heard. I have always liked them right from single one. That would be 1994′s “Shine” in case you’re wondering.
18. Hell City Glamours – Hell City Glamours
Hell City Glamours – I’m Not Here.mp3
Buy or download Hell City Glamours from Amazon here.
Another Australian export. The new Airbourne they say. They have a similar sound to Thin Lizzy in places, but I just feel like I need to include this surprisingly even uneven effort. Long Live the rock band. No reason main stream rock cannot continue to thrive even in the face of the music business today.
17. Silversun Pickups – Swoon
Silversun Pickups – Substitution.mp3
Buy or download Swoon from Amazon here.
Look, so what if they are carrying on The Smashing Pumpkins legacy? Lazy Eye was a great single and this record has its share of good songs too. I love this one.
16. The Black Crowes – Before The Frost…
The Black Crowes – Been a Long Time (Waiting On Love).mp3
Buy or download Before The Frost from Amazon here.
Recorded before what amounts to a live studio audience in Levon Helm’s barn, the Crowes break new ground. Not with their sound so much, but in the way this record was recorded. I’m determined to get out to Woodstock to see where this recording took place. There is a great feel to this CD and I wish I had been there.
15. Hockey – Mind Chaos
Buy or download Mind Chaos from Amazon here.
I first heard Hockey played on Kami Knake’s excellent Bands Under The Radar (www.bandsundertheradar.com) program last Spring. Kami’s enthusiasm for new music is beyond the pale and she’s turned me onto several bands over the past two years. I only wish her two hour podcasts were shorter and more frequent. Still, I enjoy the hell out of her show. Check it out sometime if you haven’t already.
14. Magnolia Electric Company – Josephine
Magnolia Electric Company – Josephine.mp3
Buy or download Josephine from Amazon here.
I’ve become quite the Alt-Country fan in my old age. One of the bartenders at Bukowski’s Tavern in Boston was playing these guys one afternoon and I’ve been a fan ever since. I find Jason Molina’s voice very soothing and easy on the ears.
13. Alice in Chains – Black Gives Way To Blue
Alice in Chains – Check My Brain.mp3
Buy or download Black Gives Way To Blue from Amazon here.
I didn’t want to like this at all. I’m not a big fan of moving on without prominent band members as a rule, but this record is heavy and surprisingly easy to digest. Well done men. Seattle still lives on even as Grunge and Rock seem dead. Makes me nostalgic.
12. Starsailor – All The Plans
Buy or download All The Plans from Amazon here.
I know this will probably upset somebody, but I hear a lot of Better Than Ezra in these guys. As you can probably guess I like Better Than Ezra. It was “Good” living with it.
11. Chickenfoot – Chickenfoot
Chickenfoot – Sexy Little Thing.mp3
Buy or download Chickenfoot from Amazon here.
Let the haters begin. I Can’t Drive 55, so what? I ride a Bad Motor Scooter and eat Rock Candy too so get offa me. Supergroups bite so what? I had a ball listening to this track. It’s right out of the 70′s playbook. Come to think of it, so am I.
10. Dan Auerbach – Keep It Hid
Dan Auerbach – Heartbroken, In Disrepair.mp3
Buy or download Keep It Hid from Amazon here.
It’s safe to say I’m a mad Black Keys fan. Why does a duo need to step outside the relationship to make a solo record? Your guess is as good as mine, but this song is instant gratification personified. I sure hope The Black Keys aren’t breaking up.
9. The Answer – Everyday Demons
Buy or download Everyday Demons from Amazon here.
Southern California rockers bringing it old school. Whatever that means. Back to the 70′s in the style of one Led Zeppelin. I think they have a lot of potential.
8. Back Door Slam – Coming Up For Air
Back Door Slam – Coming Up For Air.mp3
Buy or download Coming Up For Air from Amazon here.
By all accounts this record is not as good as 2007′s Roll Away, but it packs a good solid punch. So what happens? They take a perfectly good band name lifted from a Robert Cray song and change it to Davey Knowles & Back Door Slam. I hate it. I guess that means the young prodigy has one foot out the door huh? Sounds like The Los Angeles Back Door Slam of Anaheim to me. I hope this wasn’t Davey’s idea.
7. Crocodiles – Summer of Hate
Buy or download Summer Hate from Amazon here.
These guys sound like The Jesus & Mary Chain meets Love & Rockets to me. All fuzzy and melodic, but with ostensibly very little commercial potential. Know what? I love this record. There are several great tracks here and I plan to keep listening.
6. White Lies - To Lose My Life
White Lies – Farewell To The Fairground.mp3
Buy or download To Lose My Life from Amazon here.
This one is my sleeper of the year. I don’t know how I first heard about it, but this record is dark and cool. It’s got some Interpol in it, but also some Stellarstarr*. Not a bad combo in my book. I’d recommend checking this one out if this sounds good.
5. Alberta Cross – Broken Side of Time
Alberta Cross – Rise From The Shadows.mp3
Buy or download Broken Side of Time from Amazon here.
From the Canadian province of Alberta, this band allegedly has a musical foundation based in The Band and Neil Young, but I’m not sure I hear that. What I do hear is very impressive. Not a bad track on this CD and I’ve been playing it alot. Check it out.
4. Band of Skulls – Baby Darling Doll Face Honey
Band of Skulls – Cold Fame.mp3
Buy or download Baby Darling Doll Face Honey from Amazon here.
Straight Outta Southampton (UK), this band has a lot of influences. They have some controlled White Stripes blood in them which by definition that means they’re all over the dial. I hate ballads as a rule. Not this one. A very solid effort all around.
3. Joanne Shaw Taylor – White Sugar
Joanne Shaw Taylor – Blackest Day.mp3
Buy or download White Sugar from Amazon here.
This record makes me so happy to know there are women in the world like this. Clearly a disciple of Stevie Ray Vaughan, Joanne Shaw Taylor is a good looking young blonde woman who positively smokes on guitar. White Sugar? More like White Hot. Definitely one of my favorite records of the year. Keep ‘em coming Joanne.
2. Wolfmother – Cosmic Egg
Buy or download Cosmic Egg from Amazon here.
Maybe I should move to Australia. I seem to love most of the bands that come from the land down under. I think this record has several really good tracks and naturally the Zeppelin comparisons will not die now. So what? I love this record.
1. Them Crooked Vultures – Them Crooked Vultures
Them Crooked Vultures – Caligulove.mp3
Them Crooked Vultures – Caligulove.mp3 YSI
Download or buy Them Crooked Vultures from Amazon here.
There isn’t much to say here. I’m big fans of Queens of The Stone Age, The Foo Fighters and that little known band they called Led Zeppelin. This record brings the Hammer of The Gods. Did I mention Supergroups bite? Well, most of the time they do. Not this time I’m afraid. Now I’m kicking myself for sitting out their concert last month. Oh, and album cover of the year for sure! Love the contrast and logo.
OK, that’s a wrap. My apologies to fans of great releases from The Yeah, Yeah, Yeahs, The Editors, Cracker, Bob Mould, Sonic Youth, Glasvegas, Porcupine Tree, The Big Pink, Muse, Gov’t Mule, Cheap Trick, Joe Bonamassa, J.J. Cale, The Eels, Eric Gales, Robert Cray, Tegan & Sara, The Bottle Rockets, Hot Leg, Wilco, Fever Ray, U2, Walter Trout, The Wildhearts, The New York Dolls, The Features, The Dead Weather, The Avett Brothers, The Cave Singers, The Cribs, Simple Minds, The Pretenders, Pure Reason Revolution, Phish, Owl City, Passion Pit, Morrissey, Modest Mouse, Moby, Metric, Kiss, Lynyrd Skynyrd, John Mayall, Ian Hunter, Heaven & Hell, Heartless Bastards, Grizzly Bear, Green Day, Dinosaur Jr, Depeche Mode, Clutch, Built To Spill, Cage The Elephant, Bob Dylan, Blue October, Astra, Electric Mary, A Place To Bury Strangers…even Tom Petty & AC/DC. It was a good year as far as I can see. Tuesday begins another annual cycle…
John Jay’s Top 20 Albums of 2008
Happy New Year to everyone out there and THANKS FOR READING!
