8/23 meeting

Arcade Fire
These are one of those bands that seem to be everywhere. Magazine covers, Best of lists, critics choice lists. Funny thing I never ever got a chance to actually hear anything by them. Then I saw the video for Rebellion (thank you for on demand music) and said these guys are pretty good. Then the killer opening track Neighborhood #1 and said this could be cool. As a side note just name the tunes, either make them movements are call them by the name in parenthesis. No need for over artiness. But then again when your lead singer sounds like a cross of David Byrne meats Roger Waters that should be expected I guess. The best songs are the fore mentioned two plus wake up. Could do with out the female lead. Definitely was a grower type cd. Score:3

Death Ray Davis

First the riff, then the keyboards, finally the horns. Okay you got me. Then a good chorus. Yeah I guess you can say I liked this cd. By far the best cd of the month. Hell I probably would have given it a three just for the first track alone. But the best part it keeps getting better. Not a bad song on the disc. Just one good pop song after another. Score: 4

Graham Parker
Okay not what I expected. First thought it was a Gram Parsons cd. So imagine my surprised when a Southside Johnny song came on. Okay Southside Johnny with possibly Van Morrison lending a hand on vocals. Okay so then I realized this was Graham Parker cd. So I was still confused. I was always led to believe that Graham Parker was some angry near star that wrote his feelings on his sleeve. Not feel good repetitive bar band tunes. I tried, but never been a fan of Southside or Van Morrison recordings, and yes I know you gotta see them live to appreciate them. Score: 1

Rockpile
31 seconds. That is when the first Dave Edmunds guitar fill is heard. It was then that I realized how long I had listened to this cd, or any of the cd’s (actually I had them on tape) released by the Edmunds or Lowe. Love Edmunds guitar fills, Love Lowes voice. Good harmonies. Teacher Teacher great opening track. Just good music with a foot placed in the past but that’s not a bad thing. Obviously fans of Chuck Berry and the Everly’s but again that’s okay. One critism, the extra tracks don’t seem to add anything to the cd. Score: 3 (although almost lost a point for cheesy paper cd cd holder)

Southern Culture On the Skids.

These guys are awesome live. Any guitarist that can make the reverend Horton heat look average is one talented dude. And yes this guy is a dude, with an actually right to wear his truckers hat proudly. But that is the problem, there is not a bad song on this disk, but I probably won’t listen to it any time soon. Instead I will wait for the next tour, because that is where Southern Culture on the skids are at their best. I’ll witness the beehive in person, watch amazing surf guitar solos followed by country riffs, followed by some good ole pickin. And if I am real lucky I’ll catch a piece of chicken flung at me by some girl called out of the audience.


Pillars of Rock

Elvis
Chuck Berry
Ramones
Beatles
Black Sabbath
Buddy Holly

Bo Diddley, Jerry Lee Lewis, Everly Brothers and Little Richard arguably great and quite influential. But to be a pillar the music must trace back to them. My tastes do not.

Stupid lyrics
Lyrics may be silly and then they may be stupid. Stupid lyrics are those that are put together with no thought. They are there to shock and their shelf life is until the next stupid song comes around. Me so horny, I too sexy

Silly lyrics take quite a lot of thought because in a way a story is being told. In the end it is because of this story that the song will survive because of the lyrics not in spite of them. Offspring, Fountains of Wayne, Wildhearts.

Recommendations: Semisonic, the book So You Wanna Be a Rock Star by the drummer Jacob Slichter Just a fun little pop bands with quiet pop tunes.