In Rotation

9-14-09

2009-09-14T15:31:00.000-07:00

In anticipation of the slight cash infusion around the end of the month I pre-ordered and received the Beatles Stereo box set. And in a fit of complete selfishness I also ordered the Beatles Rock Band (with the generic RB instruments, not the specialized Beatles ones).

I've spent a good portion of the weekend enjoying each item. As I write this "Good Day Sunshine" is coming from the bedroom stereo. Earlier today I began adapting to the Hard level of drumming on Beatles RB. I also watched the documentary DVD included with the box. All thoroughly enjoyable.

I once owned all the Beatles discs but relinquished them for personal reasons. I've been waiting to get them for several years, since a planned remaster/reissue campaign was mentioned. I've had some poor digital copies of the albums and the "1" disc to tide me over. It's nice to be able to pull out any one of their classic albums when I want. Comforting in a bizarre way.

Perusing their catalog (discs or RB) reminds me how influential they were and remain on so many artists I love. As my last post mentioned I've been going nuts for XTC lately. The Beatles influence is overwhelming in their case. Thankfully Andy and Colin were inspired and creative enough to create something their own, original in it's own way. Listening to the Jellyfish now I not only hear the Beatles/Beach Boys influence but the XTC influence.

I love the Beatles music. I love the mythology that's built up around them too. I can read about it anytime. I enjoyed the Anthology series and was glued to the set when they came on.

Bye.

9-9-09

2009-09-09T19:20:00.000-07:00

IN honor of the Beatles catalog reissue today I listened to XTC, Jellyfish, and The Major Labels. Each of these bands (especially the first two) have honored the Beatles by creating music that to my ears has as much integrity, ingenuity, and unbridled fun as the Fab Four's ever did.

My pre-ordered copy of the Beatles Stereo Box should be here by Tuesday of next week. I'll begin re-examining the catalog at that time. I'm anticipating Jennifer's reaction. In many cases it will be her first time hearing a number of the tunes. The early albums (up to Help!) will hold some surprises for me as I become reacquainted to their charms. I also wonder how they will sound since I've become enamored with the Kinks since my last serious foray into early Beatles albums. I marvel that one band reached stratospheric levels of popularity while the other created equally amazing music but struggled to maintain their popularity.

From XTC's "Oranges & Lemons" - "Mayor of Simpleton", "King For A Day", and "Merely A Man" are in rotation today.

*** *** *** *** ***

Rather than focus on a single day I like to spread out my birthday celebration by allotting more money to the month's entertainment funds.

Already this month Jenn and I saw "Fight Club", "Thirst", and "District 9". Tomorrow night I'm headed back to the Landmark to see "Thirst" once again. (Yes, it was that good). This weekend we're going back to the Plaza Theatre to see the double feature of the 1968 version of "Night of the Living Dead" and "Return of the Living Dead". We anticipate seeing "The Invention of Lying" on our anniversary, "Serenity", and possibly "9" and "The Informant!" (waiting for word of mouth on those).

It's been a good year for our cinematic treks. I hope the enjoyment continues into October with the Coen Brothers "A Serious Man" and the re-release of the "Toy Story" movies.

We'll fill in the entertainment time gaps with Beatles Rock Band, belting out those familiar harmonies with abandon. And a few beers.

12-30-07

2007-12-30T06:13:00.000-08:00

I was treated to a free CD at B&N last week. I picked up the Kink's "The Kink Kronikles". This set has barely left my CD player since then. I wish I would have purchased this or something else a long time ago. The ironic thing about my choice is I had the Kink's "State of Confusion" cassette when it came out in 1983. It was one of the first cassettes I was given after I got my little tape deck. My brother made fun of me for liking it, which in retrospect seems kind of odd. I suppose when someone is only listening to Van Halen and Motley Crue all the time "Come Dancing" sounds silly.
The first track, "Victoria", I am familiar with through a cover version by the Hanson Brothers (not the boy band from the 90's, the punk spinoff of NoMeansNo). Other than that I'd only heard "Lola" (one of the best songs ever written!). So when I say that there is not a bad track on the 2 discs you know there's a lot of good stuff on there. I've love "Apeman", "God's Children", "Berkley Mews", "Holiday in Waikiki", and "King Kong".

Other than that been enjoying one of my Christmas gifts. Jenn got me Nikki Sixx's (Motley Crue's bass player/primary songwriter) book "The Heroin Diaries". It's a fascinating read and a great layout, including his Sixx's diary entries day by day with commentary by the author and others who were close to him at the time. The strangest of all is the Evangelist Denise Matthews (formerly known as Vanity). She was part of Prince's entourage back in the 80's. Now she's an evangelist. Every listing in the book has her as "The Evangelist Denise Matthews". All of her entries are like a new Christians' attempt to convert the reader. I don't know that they add any insight to the book. I wonder if Sixx allowed all those entries just to show how bizarre she is (whether she's hooked on crack or Jesus). I'm almost tempted to skip her entries each time I get to one.

10-31-07

2007-10-31T18:44:00.000-07:00

Saw the New Pornographers last night with the full lineup. Outstanding show. They are at the pinnacle as far as power pop goes. They are the band that you and I should be listening to when we turn on the radio. Unfortunately this is not the case.

And I also heard Emma Pollock. Had no idea who she was until last night. Former vocalist for the Delgados. She was great too. After the show I picked up her solo album from the merch table and asked her to 'personalize' it for me. I meant to ask her if she was familiar with another of my favorite pop bands, the Trashcan Sinatras (since she and they are from Scotland). Completely forgot when I met her though.

Immaculate Machines opened the show. Also very good.

In the meantime I've linked the video of the New Pornographers video for the title track from their new album, "Challengers". Enjoy.

10-29-07

2007-10-29T19:43:00.000-07:00

Listening to the Ramones. Almost non-stop, if it weren't for the New Pornographers show I'm looking forward to tomorrow night.

Specifically their last album, !Adios Amigos!. I'm in shock at how much I love the album. After feeling somewhat let down by Mondo Bizarro and not liking Acid Eaters at all I ignored their final effort. I'm glad in a way. It's given me something new to enjoy. I find it strange that an album release over 10 years ago and considered mediocre from such an amazing band can still be better than a lot of what is released today. And ironies of ironies, after releasing an entire album of cover tunes they kick off !Adios Amigos! with one of their best and most powerful covers, Tom Waite's "I Don't Wanna Grow Up".

10-6-07

2007-10-07T20:58:00.001-07:00

It's been non-stop Ramones lately. It started a few weeks ago when Ramones Fan #1 at work told me about a one night only screening of a 90 minute cut of "It's Alive" at the Landmark.
Right now I'm rocking to Brain Drain, the album that introduced me to them.
Earlier today Jenn and I listed to Rocket to Russia. This one's been in heavy rotation for the last couple of weeks. Too many classics to name! I could just give the track list. "Rockaway Beach", We're A Happy Family", "Do You Wanna Dance", "Surfin' Bird", etc, etc. Oh, and of course the AMAZING track "Slug". That's such a good track. I asked RF#1 why it was only a demo. He said that Joey wrote it for a magazine. Apparently the song was intended to be programmed into some old computer system. When written a midi-sounding version of the song would play with a digital slug going across the screen. Of course he has a copy of the code but no emulator to generate the rarity.

Of course the ST album has been getting rotation. I pick up the Strat and plug it into my little practice amp and hit it. A real workout trying to keep up with Johnny. Forget trying to play with the live stuff. I can't do it.

Last Monday, RF#1, myself, and another guy from work sat back and with a couple of cold ones and enjoyed the poorly attended, foot stompin' world premier/final showing of "It's Alive" on the big screen. I left the theater rocking out to "I Wanna Be Sedated" and thinking the Ramones might just be the best American rock band there ever was (and ever will be!).

I was fortunate enough to see them twice before the inevitable end. Once in Panama City Beach at a club and in New Orleans opening for Pearl Jam. I didn't even stay for Pearl Jam, though they were the act I originally wanted to see. It was raining, miserable, and a friend got puked on.

And in the spirit of the Ramones, I've also been longing for this CD of which I currently only possess a handful of tracks: ....."took her apart cause she broke my heart".....

2007-09-18T18:21:00.001-07:00

New Josh Ritter is pretty good. He's becoming more polished. I like it. I know some people love the raw singer/songwriter with his acoustic guitar. That's fine, but I can only take so much of that. I'm an unabashed pop music fan.

Today I was listening from some of my favorite tracks from Patty Griffin's 1,000 Kisses. "Rain" and "Long Ride Home" are amazing.

And for good measure, I'm enjoying Abita's seasonal Pecan brew and listening to Sex Packets, the legendary debut from Digital Underground.

9-10-07

2007-09-10T20:32:00.000-07:00

Kalhoun by Daniel Amos.
I can see how they progressed to Songs of the Heart, one of the most brilliant albums in composition and execution. My one complaint would be with the mix of the latter album: bring up the vocals a touch. Just a touch. There's something intoxicating about Terry's 'reading' of many tracks on the disc.
Anyway, Songs is a masterwork. I cannot stress enough how important it is to listen through in a single listen with a copy of the lyrics close at hand. In fact, just read along the first time. Not a weak song on the album. How many complete albums can you say that about? Very, very few.

Do yourself a favor, go here and purchase the 3 disc book set of the album called When Everyone Wore Hats. The cost is minimal, the return is a lifetime of enjoyment.

8-29-07

2007-08-29T18:22:00.000-07:00

I didn't intend on waiting this long to post.

Nonetheless, I've been listening to Daniel Amos almost nonstop.
First Shotgun Angel, which is an odd choice since portions of it sound a lot like the Eagles. But only portions. It's an incredible album. "Black Gold Fever" and "Lady Goodbye" are standouts, along with the title track.
And the Alarma! Chronicles (all 3 discs, though I am partial to discs 1 and 2, specifically Doppelganger).
"New Car!", "Mall (All Over the World)", "I Didn't Build it For Me", and "Do Big Boys Cry?" are all standouts. I still think I like the first disc the most (which would be the Alarma! album in it's entirety). I can listen to "Colored By" over and over and over.

Well, I also picked up Rick Altizer's first album Blue Plate Special and I've had that in heavy rotation. Good power pop. Not every track is a winner, but Rick knows how to hit the sweet spot. I've been impressed by his covers on Making God Smile-A Tribute to Brian Wilson and When Worlds Collide-A Tribute to Daniel Amos. There they are again!

8-7-07

2007-08-07T20:11:00.000-07:00

Yeah, I've been away for a few days. Maybe a couple weeks. But I've been listening. More lately. Couple of weeks ago I saw what may be my favorite band, or at least one of them, in concert. More on that at a later date. They are worthy of more time than I have right now.

Most recently I broke down and got TV Eyes, a one off project from former Jellyfish members Roger Joseph Manning, Jr. and Jason Faulkner. Though the album was written and recorded a couple of years ago it sounds like it was released in 1983 or 84. As expected the disc is outstanding. I hope it gets a US release and catches on with bloggers or internet radio or something.
Due to all the hype this album is getting, I had to check out Spoon's Ga Ga Ga Ga Ga Ga album. So far it's not bad. For some reason I get a Billy Joel vibe from the singer. God only knows why that is. As blasphemous as it sounds I enjoy some of Joel's stuff, particularly The Stranger. Anyway, so far I like what I've heard. In fact I couldn't get "Don't Make Me a Target" out of my head this morning.

Recently I found a used copy of Siouxie & the Banshee's Through the Looking Glass, an album of unique cover tunes. In my humble opinion what an album of covers should be. I wasn't (and in some cases am still not) familiar with the original versions. Standouts on the album are "This Town Ain't Big Enough For Both of Us", "The Passenger", and "You're Lost Little Girl".

And finally, after being impressed with the new Swirling Eddies disc, The Midget, The Speck, and The Molecule, I invested (and I mean that literally) in Daniel Amos' The Alarma! Chronicles, a 4 part concept album released between 1981 and 1986. For fans of thought provoking 80's avant garde pop.

Thankfully I was not disappointed. Terry Taylor and company (and there are many he keeps company with) are the exception to the rule that Christian rock sucks. Terry is one of the best living songwriters today. And prolific. And a very nice guy.

From what I can gather, back in the late 70's Terry wanted to make music, instead of that bland cardboard shit that most Christian 'musicians' were putting out. And somehow he did it. Because he and his band Daniel Amos were (and are) relegated to the Christian music ghetto, few people have heard his music, or of him. The people I have introduced the Lost Dogs to have enjoyed them. I've introduced DA's Songs of the Heart (a true classic) to music lovers and they were not disappointed.

When you have the time, check them out.

7-30-07

2007-07-30T21:11:00.000-07:00

Haven't been listening to much lately. There are a few exceptions though. Most recently Joe Jackson's Laughter & Lust, and album I forgot I loved so much. Nearly perfect pop album.

7-14-05

2007-07-15T12:30:00.000-07:00

No Code. Pearl Jam
"In My Tree", "Mankind", "Who You Are", "Habit". All great tunes.
I bought the album when it came out and loved it, though not as much as Vitalogy, which is still my favorite album of theirs. A friend of mine thought it was terrible. The further they got from Ten the worse they were in his opinion. I'm glad they chose the path they did. They've created some great music that doesn't fit in the framework of their early years.

I pulled out Yield also.
Just a couple of tracks. Admittedly I'm not a huge fan of the album but it has some stand out tracks, namely "Given to Fly" and "No Way".

And then out of the blue (no pun intended) I had to hear Joe Satriani's title track from Flying In A Blue Dream.
If God were sitting down with a guitar I have a feeling it would sound something (I said something!) like this song.

7-12-07

2007-07-13T07:44:00.000-07:00

After a long day of walking, a headache, and a rotten PracticePlan session with my Chinese tutor, what do I reach for? No, not a beer, that would make my headache worse. Bob Dylan. Blonde on Blonde disc 1, skipping "Rainy Day Women #12 & 35" and "Pledging My Time". I love "Time" but I wanted to get right to "Visions of Johanna".

It's strange, I never, liked Dylan. I tried once or twice, getting the requisite Greatest Hits package. I just didn't care for him. One day Jenn and I were watching one of our favorite movies, High Fidelity
and Dylan's "Most of the Time" came on. Since then I've been a fan. I immediately purchased Oh Mercy
listened, and went on a Dylan shopping spree. Occasionally I think about when Oh Mercy was released and wonder "what was I listening to?" and "how could I have missed this?!" It's an album that you don't have to be a Dylan fan to love. It's just a great album. Period.

7-11-07

2007-07-11T19:54:00.000-07:00

Oh yeah! The Dead Milkmen's Metaphysical Graffiti CD came in the mail yesterday. Been listening to those tunes of yore, "Beige Sunshine" ( Cheese is the one thing that's indestructible
How much is your Blue Cross deductible? ), "Do the Brow Nose" ( Bend your knees\Move your head like this\Pucker them lips\Give that butt a kiss ), and "Dollar Signs in Her Eyes" ( She dropped her laundry off at school\And hung her children on her clothesline to dry\ She's throwing trash in her swimmin' pool\She's pouring chlorine on her lawn ).

And still, still, listening to Madman Across the Water.

Oh, and while I was doing the dishes I was laughing my ass off listening to

7-9-07

2007-07-09T19:25:00.001-07:00

Elton again. Not much time for music today.

7-8-07

2007-07-09T19:18:00.001-07:00

Odd combo today. Started off revisiting the classic Descendents collection Somery.

"Clean Sheets" ...ahh what a great song!

Then I wanted to hear "Levon" from Madman Across the Water! Yeah, I don't know the connection. Just started browsing through URGE music service catalog and the mood struck me.

What can I say, I love classic Elton. Of course I had to listen to "Tiny Dancer" too. Probably has to do with me recently seeing (FINALLY!) Almost Famous.

7-7-07

2007-07-07T19:39:00.000-07:00

Listening to Black Flag's The First Four Years. Still enjoy the Keith Morris years more than the Rollins years. "Wasted" is an obvious standout. Great song.

Why Black Flag you ask? Because I have been wanting to hear this album:

which I ordered from my favorite online retailer. Other than being punk, or kinda punk in the Dead Milkmen's case, what's the connection? The local college radio station has a punk show on Fridays. They were playing this album

in it's entirety. I had never heard it, nor any of the Circle Jerks material for that matter. Reminded me of the Dead Milkmen for some reason.

7-4-07

2007-07-04T18:50:00.000-07:00

Last weekend I picked up Thundering Heard-The Best of the Golden Palominos, a two disc retrospective of the band's Eighties material. At $4 a disc I figured I couldn't go wrong. Even if I didn't like it surely I could recoup the cost on Amazon.

After repeated listening that will not be an issue.

As a side note, I knew who they were because Michael Stipe had worked with them. If only I would have sought out their albums earlier.

The opening track "Clustering Train" is great. What's been stuck in rotation today though is the double shot of "Angels" and "Diamond" which appear back to back on Disc 1.

Speaking of angels Syd Straw has the voice of one. She contributed the vocals and, I believe, helped pen "Angels". There is a distinct Eighties sheen to the production which sounds mysteriously modern at the same time. With the resurgence in Americana/Roots music I'm surprised I haven't heard more about the early Palomino's material.

The best description of Straw's vocals I can think of (and I apologize if this comparison sucks) is if The Lion & The Cobra era Sinead O'Connor sang country. Straw has that same powerful delivery, the same ability to convey longing and angst that O'Connor has.

I'm still working on Disc 1. It's like sitting down to a gourmet steak and potato dinner! I'm working my way through slowly, savoring the experience.

7-2-07

2007-07-02T16:57:00.000-07:00

Los Lobos, the title track from This Time, an album I missed when it was released in 1999. "Viking" is a great tune too.
Great lyrics, which I don't always care about.

Why do the days

Go by so fast
If only time
Was built to last

If it could learn
To take it slow
Then maybe time
At last would know

That if Monday, Tuesday
Should go away
It'll be Wednesday, Thursday
Then Saturday
And when Sunday comes
It's just too late
It's gotta be this time
(David Hidalgo/Louie Perez)

and the lead single from Cowboy Junkies Lay it Down, "Common Disaster".

7-1-07

2007-07-01T16:43:00.001-07:00

What I Listened to Today:
The New Pornographers- "Fake Headlines" from Mass Romantic

and "From Blown Speakers" from Electric Versions

Anticipating their new album "Challengers" in August.

These guys (and gal, the lovely Neko Case) are incredible. Go buy everything you can by them.