The Synopsis Can Now Be Posted

Well our December meeting was, I believe, our first sausage hang meeting with our high priestess stuck in Rhode Island. We persevered under the haze of margaritas and holiday (or dare I say Christmas) stress and held a productive gathering anyway. The night was highlighted byt the fact that Greg made is second meeting in a row (there was much rejoicing "yea") and he brought his required listening. Gorillaz were the whipping boys of the month- which was a little surprising. Everyone unanimously cited Feel Good Inc as the best song on the disc except Mike M who tossed this disc into the pit. NY Dolls were the most polarizing disc with two ones and two fives. Many interesting radio stations were offered with cover songs and local band hours being the most noted (see postings for all). It seems that all are using the blog except for our resident film maker who just can't be bothered. We allowed for a one edit to ratings since we have had time to digest some of the discs more and lo and behold Pygmy is still our reigning stinker (again there was much rejoicing "yea").

The reviews have been updated as has the schedule.

January' Meeting

January 17, 2006 at the Spigot, 7:30 pm

Discs up for Review

New- Mars Volta- Frances the Mule (Greg)
New- Cursive- The Ugly Organ (Jen)
Old- Joybang!- 1,000 mg (Mike M)
Old- Waterboys- A Pagan Place (D'ARcy)
Ghits- The Fugs (Mike)

Topic to come from St. Loooouie

Also bring your Top 10's of 2005 (no honorable mentions as per our high whiner D'Arcy)
and a disc of your favorite songs of 2005

For February those with homework are:

New- Ken/Byron
Old- Jen/Monsta
Host- Jay - Ghits and topic

The Wait is Over...

Hey Guys,

Sorry for the delay in posting. Things have been hectic with the holidays. The discs are going out this week.

Blind Faith – Blind Faith:
I am not a huge classic rock fan and I get bored easily with long guitar solos and instrumentation, but you cannot deny the talent on this album. Obviously the musicians are amazing and there is nothing to complain about, except perhaps for Steve Winwood. I have never been a fan of his or his voice, so that was a bit grating on me. I’m sure half of you will be drooling over this album but it’s just not anything I would ever listen to again. Score: 2

Gorillaz – Demon Days:
I am a huge fan of their first album, and when I first heard “Demon Days” upon release, I wasn’t a big fan. It didn’t really catch my attention and got lost in the shuffle of other new releases. When I began listening to it again for our reviews, it again didn’t do much for me. The more I listened to it however, it did grow on me. None of the tracks were the same caliber as “Feel Good Inc” and “Daze” but I appreciated it more and more with each listen. I dug it and will it probably grow on me even more with each listen.
Score: 3

Iron Maiden – Greatest Hits:
I remember being terrified of this band as child due to their album covers and I don’t think I ever heard their music until high school. I was surprised to hear that they weren’t as “evil” as their albums made them out to be. I think I always expected something a little more “death metal.” This was a great collection and I highly enjoyed it. Ever since I first heard them in high school I was a big fan of Bruce Dickinson’s voice. It wasn’t until listening to them now that listened to the music closely and I loved Harris’ bass lines. I loved it! Score: 4

My Morning Jacket – Z:
This was a lot better than I expected it to be. Their earlier releases did absolutely nothing for me. With all of their hype I always expected more and was quite bored and unimpressed with their older material, so I wasn’t very optimistic going into this album. The first song “Wordless Chorus” has been played a lot of Sirius radio and I hated it at first but it has grown on me slightly. Some of the other tracks on this album gave me a little hope and I began to rethink my distaste of My Morning Jacket. After several listens it grew on me a little more, but I still think there is something severely over-hyped about this band. (I even went back and tried to listen to the older albums again, nope…still hated them.) Score: 2

New York Dolls – New York Dolls:
I never really was into dolls growing up…but damnit I love these dolls. Though David Johansen is a bit schizo, the combination of him and Johnny Thunders was always great. They had more flair (literally) than other punk bands at the time and had more rock and roll. I’m a big fan of early New York Dolls. Its too bad that the current incarnation is supposedly a train wreck live now, because it would have been great to see them in concert. Score: 3


Topic
Being a huge fan of Sirius Satellite Radio, I could easily make hour shows of my favorite stations, but I’ll try and mix it up a bit and include more creativity.

Radio Shows:
Hour 1: The College Music Snob Hour – Playing all of my favorite older and new indie rock that isn’t usually played on commercial radio (i.e. Arcade Fire, The Decemberists, Antony & the Johnsons, The Promise Ring, Jawbreaker, Wolf Parade, etc.)

Hour 2: The Hipster Hour – Playing not only current hipster music (i.e. Dogs Die in Hot Cars, We Are Scientists, Franz Ferdinand, etc.) but the music that influenced them (80’s New Wave, Gang Of Four, etc.)…stuff for the indie rock kids to dance to.

Hour 3: The Cover Hour – Playing all covers. (After our last topic I couldn’t help but think of that.)

Hour 4: Local Showcase – All local bands. I know there is a lot of local crap out there but for every 10 crap local bands there is one that will blow you away. Each show would showcase about 4 or 5 local bands. (The fact that I’m marrying a bassist of local band really doesn’t have anything to do with this choice, I’ve seen some amazing local bands over the years and they deserve a chance with listeners who wouldn’t hear them elsewhere.

Hour 5: Sleepy Time – A late night show…not for those on the road; slow and mellow tunes to showcase the singer/songwriter. (I.e. Jeff Buckley, Tori Amos, Leonard Cohen, Rufus Wainwright, etc.)

Dolls and Maidens

Blind Faith

Lets all here it for the super group. Talented musicians from the period put together. A young scantily clad woman on the cover. And the classic Can’t Find My Way Home is one of the earlier tracks. Blind Faith you ask, no House of Lords the awful supergroup of metal musicians in the late 80’s. But like Blind Faith just because you are supposedly consider an awesome talent doesn’t mean necessarily mean the music will work. This cd is an example. “Jams” are endless and without direction, and in some cases boring. Yes Winwood has a great voice, and Clapton is a god but so what because you can’t find it here. I think the story of the band and how they changed music business was far more interesting. I think Blind Faith is a Band more suited to the members past groups then the actual music on the record. And by the way the House of Lords version of Can’t Find my Way Home is better. 1

Gorillaz

I think Feel Good Inc is the best single of the Year. It has a chorus you can’t shake, and de la soul in the middle. Plus with Damon Albairn involved how it go wrong. Unfortunately Demon Days isn’t filled with 14 other songs just like this. They come close and sometimes they fall way short. To probably no one surprise the songs that most resemble blur are the ones I really liked. But there were a few that just didn’t seem to do anything. Just some noise and beats. Thankfully it was not the same beats that can be found on practically every other r&b/rap cd released this year, and Danger Mouse should be applauded for that. But overall far more good than bad 2.5

New York Dolls

I first came across Davis Johansen about the time he was leaving his calling of trying to Eric Burden to become the greatest lounge singer in NYC. (He will never be forgiven for giving the world hot hot hot.) So I never took the New York Dolls too seriously. It wasn’t until later that bands I really liked kept mentioning them as their biggest influences and managed to stumble into someone who actually owned one of their records did I finally see why. Rough, raw, sometimes brilliant, sometimes stupid, but never boring. Personality Crisis is a classic that and band with dual lead guitars must be forced to cover. I like the way they use of sax, piano to support the guitar riffs and Johansen yelps, and the fact that as a band they can sing both rawk and also the slow heart felt ode. But most importantly it’s the guitars. Thunders and Sylvain playing dual lead. That is what I missing in what is called rock today. 3


My Morning Jacket
It is very hard to convey great live chops while playing on TV. When I saw My Morning Jacket on the Conan O’Brien show after the release of there last cd they were awesome. But when I listened to the cd it seemed so quiet and held back. Well new cd and another appearance on Conan and they were even better, Playing the song Anytime. So I submitted it for our listening. Well it is definitely better than the last cd. And some of the tunes you get the sense they would be even better live Gideon, Off the record. Anytime. But at times it seems too sedate as if they are in search of the perfect sound, rather than a rawkish chord. I still like the cd there are far better songs than bad songs. And with each listening I seemed to like it better. I definitely want to see them live, and hopefully someone will be able to capture all that energy and put it on there next cd. 3


Iron Maiden
There are only 5 Metal Bands that belong in the Hall of Fame. Iron Maiden is number 4. To consistently put out music as they have over the period of their career is incredible. They can write catchy songs, over the top epics and thankfully no ballads. Musically the have one of the best screamers this side of Halford. Two very good guitarists, a great drummer, and possibly the best bassist ever to play the instrument, not a bad group. To top it off the artwork on their cd’s can only be described as brilliantly witty. (For an example read the hieroglyphics on Power slave.) I have quibbled about the song selection. What no D’anno songs (Wrathchild or Phantom of the Opera would have shown off their more punkish earlier sound,) and to omit Hallow be Thy Name is in excusable.

Radio Format

Hour One
One must start the day off right. And nothing starts people better than a good march. Just ask the armed forces. So hour one will be all Souza marches
Hour Two
The bagpipe hour. Except the Third Friday of each month. Then it’s Tuba Jazz
Hour Three
Music for the mind or perhaps mindless. John Tesh, Yanni, Zamphir, Fred Eaglesmith. Yes bring your favorite New age musicians because we will Love to play them.
Hour Four
Now after an hour of expanding or possibly clouding the mind, we are ready for some meditation of the soul. Readings from the New Testament only, plus the Koran. Guest readers will be welcomed
Hour Five
Now that we have our listeners primed and ready, the truth shall be revealed. An hour of pure Satan. Death metal at its best. Slayer, Mercyful Fate, and Ken’s Favorite Celtic Frost shall all be represented.
This concludes our scheduled program please join us as we end our day in a heartfelt rendition of cumbaya.

If I was a programmer and had five hours to use I would throw the format out the window. Play what you want when you want. Disco, rap, metal, R&B 70’s hits, alternative classics. all in the same hour how cool is that. Feel like a bit of baroque, a Wagner classic or even Mozart, doesn’t matter if you feel the need then just play it. Mix it up It’s radio as it should be. And if you don’t feel like playing anything hey a hearty discussion on anything involving listeners can always be worked in.

More and More top 10x3

CMJ's top 30 of the year. A little tooooo eclectic....

http://www.cmj.com/articles/display_article.php?id=7047253

More 2005 Top 10

Personally, I love these things, so I am going to post them as I run across them....

From Billboard:

Here are the top 10 albums of 2005 as chosen by our panel of critics:
1. My Morning Jacket, "Z" (ATO/RCA) -- 52 points
2. Tie: The Rolling Stones, "A Bigger Bang" (Virgin) and M.I.A., "Arular" (XL) -- 43 points.
3. The New Pornographers, "Twin Cinema" (Matador) -- 41 points
4. Common, "Be" (G.O.O.D. Music/Geffen) - 39 points
5. Sleater-Kinney, "The Woods" (Sub Pop) - 37 points
6. Sufjan Stevens, "Illinois" (Asthmatic Kitty) - 36 points
7. Tie: Thelonious Monk Quartet With John Coltrane, "At Carnegie Hall" (Blue Note/Thelonious Records) and Queens Of The Stone Age, "Lullabies To Paralyze" (Interscope) - 31 points
8. Spoon, "Gimme Fiction" (Merge) - 28 points
9. Tie: Jack Johnson, "In Between Dreams" (Brushfire/Universal) and Mariah Carey, "The Emancipation of Mimi" (Island Def Jam) - 26 points
10. John Legend, "Get Lifted" (G.O.O.D. Music/Columbia) - 25 points

Note that there are a multitude of top 10 lists from artists including Beck, members of WIlco, Drive By Truckers, Queens of Stone Age and lots of others at:

http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/yearend/2005/top10/artist_1.jsp

Down Our Nose

New York Dolls:2.5
This is rock and roll with a with a punk flair. I’m not a huge Glam Rock fan, but a lot of bands were borne out of the era. I hear a hint of Stones and even felt that the Misfits might have listened to the band. Frankenstein stood out for me. I’d struggle to think of a time that I’d say, “hey, I’m really in a NY Dolls mood”. Before I’d throw this CD back in my player, I’d have 20 other similar bands I’d play first. The Ramones would certainly make it in first. I have to say that the CD got monotonous after a while.


Blind Faith:4
Being a drummer I have to respect Ginger Baker, how he’s still alive is beyond me because I thought he was at least 80 years old in 1966. I think that Clapton has some of his best licks on this CD and Steve Winwood was the perfect voice for the music. I have always bee a little freaked out with this album cover. Today, I think you’d get arrested for having a picture like this. I feel that this is what straight forward rock should sound like. Find my way home is one of those songs that I just have to listen to all the way through when it comes on the radio, which isn’t often. Who else could get away with a 6 song album?


My Morning Jacket:3
Refreshing. I found MMJ easy to listen to. With U2 and Coldplay being so hot, this might be the time where they’ll break through. I heard too many influences to write in this band, most of them I like. At least the band isn’t afraid to experiment and each song isn’t a rewrite of the one before it. I really liked “Lay Low”, it was like hearing Robbie Robertson sing Oasis.


Gorillas:2 for effort.
I suppose that for what they do they d it well. My knowledge of techno rap is limited, but obviously a lot of production went into this CD. It’s not for me, but I gave it a:

Michael Mongillo – Music Group Commentary, December 20, 2005

BLIND FAITH – “SELF-TITLED” = 5 STARS
This one has the nostalgia value of being one of the many albums that my dad listened to over and over again on his turntable. Like my dad’s other favorites (Bob Dylan, Neil Young, and Cream among them), I am forced to admit that I owe much of my musical taste to my father’s musical taste. So revisiting “Blind Faith” for the first time since I was a kid was more fun than I thought it would be, because it made me rethink how and why I gravitate towards certain music. My taste is certainly more diverse than my dad’s ever was, but at the end of the day, I like nothing better than guitar-driven rock. And back then, the cover of the barely-pubescent girl shamelessly showing her boobies was pretty cool stuff for a kid to stare at while listening to culturally conscious hippies make noise. All that aside, this super-group’s one-shot remains thoroughly listenable. It also maintained a level of both social and music relevance that, for me, lived up to its legendary status.

GORILLAZ – “DEMON DAYS” = 4 STARS
DEMON DAYS is just a fun, rockin’ CD that will stay in my music rotation for a long, long time. Great songs meet stellar production/engineering, enhanced by a super-cool, multi-media image ... What’s not to like? The strongest cuts, “Feel Good Inc.” (with the “white boy friendly” De La Soul) and “Daze” kept me from grading this CD higher, since those tunes illustrated the level of greatness that many of the tracks, unfortunately, just missed.

IRON MAIDEN – “BEST OF” = 5 STARS
Again, inescapable nostalgia probably overrides critical taste with this one. My favorite band for the years spanning 1982 (Number of the Beast), all the way to 1983 (Piece of Mind), Iron Maiden was what my suburban misfit friends and I listened to for hours and hours while trying to master all their hot guitar and bass licks in our collective basement band rooms. Not something I listen to now, yet I can still appreciate Iron Maiden for all the same reasons I thought they were “kick-ass” then. Taste aside and as silly as their lyrics are at times, it cannot be denied that this is indeed great heavy metal, maybe even the best of its era.

MY MORNING JACKET – “Z” = 4.5 STARS
All of My Morning Jacket’s earlier work is good, great even, but every release before this one require repeated listenings to be fully appreciated, in the same vein that, say, Guided by Voices, Archers of Loaf, or Pavement CDs often require multiple listenings before their full scope and brilliance win you over. But because of (or perhaps in spite of) its instant accessibility, Z is arguably My Morning Jacket’s best work to date.

NEW YORK DOLLS – “SELF-TITLED” = 5 STARS for Relevance - 4 STAR for Listenability = 1 STAR
Like much of the punk music and groups that the New York Dolls supposedly spawned, this stuff just doesn’t stand the test of time. It was pretty much a reactionary parody of itself when it was recorded so how can it be gauged now, beyond an appreciation of its place in music history. Perhaps this is an oversimplification of what may have started and what became punk rock, but without getting into a dissertation on the intricacies and ironies of the punk movement (pretty much the social and aesthetic reactionary equivalent of the artistic movement, dadaism, of the of the early 1900s) and the resulting aggressiveness of shouting along to (mostly) low-ability musicianship, I’ll just opine that listening to most punk rock (then or now) proves that the concepts behind the inconsistent philosophies and practices of punk are usually more enjoyable to examine and debate than to actually listen to.

TOPIC

“You have been placed in charge of a radio station and have to come up with 5 one hour music shows. What shows would you create?”

1) The Request Hour
Actually playing stuff that people call in during the show and not simply adding those requests to a playlist database. Imagine that, radio striving to please its listeners.
2) The Deeper Cuts Hour
Playing only songs from major artists that have never been a single.3) The You’ve Probably Never Heard of Them But Should Have Hour
Playing only music from artists that are not currently on a major label or on a label that is distributed via a major label (like Matador).
4) The Whole Album Hour
A show devoted to playing an artist’s entire “album” (or albums from more than one artist, depending on length). Old or new releases could be featured each week.
5) The Mix Hour
The DJ would play mix suggestions for special and/or not-so-special occasions, featuring a new theme for each show. Examples: “Christmas Mix,” “Breakup Mix,” “Best of the Year Mix,” “4th of July Mix,” “Bachelor Party Mix,” “My In-Laws Are Visiting Mix,” anything really. Major Holidays could be annual shows but the music mix suggestion each year must be mostly new selections.

neil's island picks

Hello and thanks for welcoming me to the group. I am 37 years old, married, have
two daughters ( ages 7 & 4) and can blow beer out of my nose (as I am sure you all already know).

The desert island picks were harder than I thought they were going to be. I like to think I enjoy a wide veriety of music, but to only have ten LP's , you better make sure they're good ones. So here they are, in no particular order:

1. Bad Brains _ I Against I

2.Hüsker Dü _ Zen Arcade

3.Clash _ London Calling

4.Van Halen _ Van Halen

5. Uncle Tupelo _ Anthology

6.Drive By Truckers _ Decoration Day

7.Bob Marley _ Legend

8.Live _ Mental Jewelry

9.John Coaltrain _ A Love Supreme

10.Talking Heads _ Sand in the Vaseline


My guilty pleasures are-
Ted Nugent, Duran Duran, Louis Prema, and Dean Martin

noseforbeer december reviews

Gorillaz, Demon Days “3”
This was a hard one to judge, some of the cuts are very good, others not. I do appreciate
the ability to come up with a different sound on almost every song, overall I think its pretty cool.

Blind Faith “1.5”
Not much to say, it wasn't total horrible , it just did nothing for me.

New York Dolls “3.5”
I have never sat down and really listened to the Dolls before. At first I was not at all impressed, but the more I listened the more it grew on me. I ended up liking it a lot.

My Morning Jacket, Two “4”
This is a good CD, the music is very rich and smooth. They really know how to use keyboards to blend and accompany the music without overpowering or sterilizing, like so many bands that use keyboards do. The use of the keyboards reminds me of why I liked Keane so much when I herd them for the first time.

Iron Maiden“2.5”
This brought back some teen memories better left forgotten. This was the stuff I was listening to in high school. I do like Iron Maiden, Venom, and Motorhead more than most of the shitty metal bands of the eighties. The Brit metal bands had something the American ones didn't, they were worried more about the music than cross dressing.
Five Radio Programs

Well, I am so out of touch with commercial radio I will be completely unrealistic:

1. Monty Python, Skits and songs

2.Eighty's hardcore punk, Dead Kennedy's, Crass, Circle Jerks, Subhumans, and more. This way todays kids can hear real punk, not that whiny Blink 182, Sum 41, Linken Park pussy stuff.

3.Covers / Originals, Play a newer cover followed by the original. (seems to be a lot of covers nowadays)

4.Ramones, Why not? They deserve it, and more.

5.Alt. Country, I could never get enough of that!

Midwest Mike's Well Thought Out and Emminently Informative Reviews

Gorillaz – Most of this disc left me cold. A lot of random sound effects, keyboard nonsense without much in terms of song crafting or playing behind it. That stated, “Feel Good Inc.” is an absolute stone cold killer track, great beat, good vocals, nice hook on the chorus. I could boogie to this on less than a 12 pack. “Every Planet…” was a good little slice of blues funk, a needed change of pace. However, with the exception of the two songs I mentioned, the disc leaves me feeling detached. The Electronica music I’ve heard is very sterile & robotic, there isn’t much soul there and without that, I can’t be bothered. In deference to the resident filmmaker, I will put it in cinematic terms; for me this disc was the aural equivalent of watching a movie like “Minority Report”. Interesting effects, a couple of mild surprises, but the plot is weak, and I couldn’t care less about any of the characters. Without either of those, I am disengaged. 2 stars.

My Morning Jacket – Rarely has a selection perplexed me the way this one did. I’ve listened to it at least twenty times, and still don’t know quite what to make of it. There are a couple of numbers that hit right between the eyes, particularly “What a Wonderful Man” and “Off the Record”, I like the big bombastic guitars, particularly on the former. Some of the other more spacey material is not as gripping, but it is still kind of enticing. The only track I absolutely did not like was the opener, “Wordless Chorus”. They seem like a jam band in some respects, noticeably on “Lay Low”. I think the band is a lot stronger than the vocalist; to me he is the weak link. That may be partly due to the mix, which is murky (rendering most of the lyrics unintelligible). However, I think a lot of it is the high-pitched caterwauling like the vocals that sink “Gideon”. Still not entirely sure about where to rate this, but for what it is worth, I keep coming back to it. Anyone who digs these guys needs to check out www.archive.org, where they can get free, legal downloads of live shows. 3 1/2 stars.

New York Dolls – 2nd consecutive month with a disc featuring cross dressing big haired sissies. Not that there is anything wrong with that, but is there something afoot in the group that the Midwestern contingent should be made aware of?? This will sound like heresy I’m sure, but I didn’t care for much of this disc, which really surprised me. I expected to like this one a lot more than I did, particularly given the many groups who have cited the Dolls as mentors. It may be influential in the development of punk, but the disc just has not held up well over the years. David Johansen has always annoyed me in any of his personas, and the disc just reinforces that. Band is good, especially Johnny Thunders guitar work. The production is ok, if a bit wimpy, and sounds dated. “Personality Crisis” is a great song, as is “Trash”. The rest however was a let down. 1 1/2 stars

Blind Faith – Although I was familiar with the group history and several of the songs, I had never heard this album in its entirety. There are some great moments here, “Had to Cry Today” and “Presence of the Lord” are excellent, and “Can’t Find My Way Home” is one of the best bodonkadunk-getting numbers ever written (at least it always worked for me on Ken). The problems I have with the disc are two-fold. First is the closing number, “Do What You Like” the last 10 minutes of which is brutal, self-indulgent wanking, and since it takes up almost 1/3 of the CD, it does drag the rating down considerably. Second problem is Steve Winwood. In short, I think he is immensely talented, but sold his soul to crass commercialism a long time ago (“Roll With It” anyone???). I have a hard time hearing his voice without getting angry at the talent I perceive he has wasted in the last 20 years. Good disc, glad it was submitted. 3 stars.

Iron Maiden – Look, either you like this kind of stuff or you don’t, and if you do, more power to you. The music is ok, and is actually good on a few tracks, but good Lord, those vocals. Everything sang as in that ultra-serious, semi-operatic voice as if the singer actually believed the caca he was spewing. Band is more than competent, although like most metal bands, guitarist plays every solo as if he was being paid by the note. “Run To the Hills” is the best cut, which is akin to saying Chalupas are the best item on Taco Bell’s menu. As far as whether its good in its genre, I can’t begin to tell you. My ears are not sophisticated enough to distinguish this band from any other metal band. Just not my cup of tea. 1 star

Recommendations: New Wilco, Death Cab for Cutie

Discussion Topic:

I preface my list by stating, if I was in charge of a station, I would not segment music. I think radio works best when there is unpredictability. Play the Ramones, AC/DC, Prince, the Dead and Miles Davis in the same set; it can be done logically and in a way that it flows seamlessly. The biggest problem with radio is that it has become stale and predictable. Even the local community station, as much as I appreciate it, is compartmentalized, as certain time frames are blocked out for the blues, other times for alt country, etc. It’s as if its programmed by one of those people who won’t mix their peas with their mashed potatoes. Even satellite radio seems to be doing this, with a few exceptions, notably the XM café and Sirius’ Disorder channels. Sometimes things that are dramatically different work well together, like Vodka and Jello….That stated, if I had to create 5 1 hour shows, they would be:

1) Cover Me – An all covers show. Nothing but interesting covers.
2) Garageland – Mixture of past and present garage rock, like Little Steven’s show.
3) No Depression – Alt country mixed with bluegrass and traditional country.
4) Local Hero – Show would focus strictly on local and regional bands
5) Needles and Pins – Old school and modern punk and punk influenced music


Top 3 Rejected Shows:

1) Mike Mongillo’s Midol Hour – 60 minutes of music from a “feminine” perspective
2) The Ken Boucher Mobibia Hour – 60 minutes focusing on artists whose lyrics are as unintelligible as the host after a few beers. “Louie Louie” would be the show’s theme song. Featuring monthly guest segments with Keith Richards & Ron Wood.
3) I Love Luci- Byron & D’Arcy play 60 minutes of progressive rock favorites. This will double as a game show, where contestants wager as to whether the boys can fit in 3 complete songs in the 60 minutes.

If You Don't Wanna Know Yet Don't Read This- Ken's Dec Reviews

Music Club
December 2005

Gorillaz- Demon Days
I really like “Feel Good, Inc.” but I really didn’t like Demon Days as a disc. I love the premise of cartoon characters as the band. I like the Blur connection because I generally like Blur. But as with their first outing, I found little compelling besides the single. It doesn’t sound (to my keen electro-dance ear) well thought out. The beats are mundane and I lose interest in the lyrics. It’s basically a bore to me. It drones on and on. I forced myself to get through this one a couple of times, and I was looking forward to hearing it. Feel Good, Inc and Dirty Harry are the only songs I could slightly perk up to. Genre or no genre I can give this one a whopping 1.

My Morning Jacket- Z
I might as well keep the lovefest going. Move over Jerry. Move over Trey. Here comes My Morning Jacket. A nuance hippy jam band fronted by Adam Sandler warbling Jim James. If I thought Gorillaz was droning then MMJ is dirging. There is potential here if MMJ decides it want to put some oomph behind their playing as demonstrated on “Anytime” and “Gideon”. “Anytime” does rock from beginning to end and “Gideon” is the only song with a well-crafted riff and that builds to a powerful crescendo. “What a Wonderful Man” started out strong until James’ non-enunciated vocals pop-in and “Off the Record” has an ok Hawaii 5-0 rip off riff but it then joins the drudgeville town dramatic key change community symphony. “A baby in a blender…”, the second line of “Into the Woods”, sums up Z for me. (1)

New York Dolls
Yahoo! This disc was the highlight of the month for me. Either I have never listened to it in its entirety in the past or I have forgotten it- this disc was a blast. While fingers point elsewhere in regards to punk, I think this band was the start of the true punk movement. They had the attitude, the humor, the sneer, the right mix of professional and nonprofessional musicianship with just enough hook to pull you in. From the opening bang of “Personality Crisis” to the introspective-bordering-on-kitsch “Lonely Planet Boy” to the thumping “Jet Boy”, each song has its own unique strength. I hear their influences everywhere from Kiss to Social Distortion to the Ramones. After either being reacquainted with or introduced to (because I just can’t remember) the New York Dolls should be a requirement for any rock enthusiast’s collection. (5)

Bind Faith
I picked this disc because of its supergroup status. All participants are in the rock and roll hall of fame in some form and have some sort of legendary mythology to them. Blind Faith was a bit of a jam band slightly steeped in drug shenanigans. I have always loved the songs “Can’t Find My Way Home” and “Presence of the Lord” but I must admit the disc did not hold up for me as well as I thought it would. The playing of course is solid- how could it not be with Clapton and Winwood in their prime and the always stellar Baker. There is a dated feel to the music, which is understandable since it was recorded over 35 years ago. “Sea of Joy” sounds like a cream riff throw away and “Do What You Like” carries on way too long, though it still has good moments. I was expecting to be back in awe of this disc like I used to be, but I have to come to terms that I gave up smoking the ‘stuff’ awhile back. It was nice to Mike H’s mom on the cover though. (3.5)

Iron Maiden Greatest Hits
Knowing Mike H had to listen to this made this month worthwhile. Iron Maiden to me is the best of the 80’s metal bands with Judas Priest a close second. On Maiden’s tunes the guitar work is good and the drum fills have meaning. The lyrics may be as deep as a wading pool but with riffs (The Trooper) and hook of the chorus (Run to the Hills- not to mention the drum fills) I forgive them for their lack of profundity. It’s easy to dismiss 80’s metal bands but those that do owe it to their predestined opinion to give a listen to this disc. The devil and evil connotations may seem contrived but I doubt most of us (those who actually grew up) are listening to Maiden for the message. Sit back, turn it up and raise your devil horn.

Five One Hour Shows

I think radio is just fine as it is. I honestly prefer to hear the same songs every half hour because it forces me to learn to like them. New music is over rated and we should all understand that. Our brains can hold only so much so the less new music we are introduced to the better. If I had to create unneeded radio shows they would be as follows..

Hour 1- Classics Closet- Songs by classic rock artists not in the rotation EVER. It can include –say- the Rolling Stones, but it has to be songs like “Sweet Virginia” or something you never hear on the radio.

Hour 2- Rock n’ Roll Hall of Fame School- Play artists who are inducted into the HOF that most of the living world never heard of. Some banter could include why they were inducted. Can play known artist with explanations of their musical importance.

Hour 3- Riff Rock- Nothing but songs with kick-ass riffs.

Hour 4- Jazz All Over Me- Late 40’s through Late 60’s jazz. Preferably 1948 through 1968.

Hour 5- True Call-in Show- You request it, and if we have it we’ll play it. No exceptions- not even FCC dictated ones.

Rolling Stone Top 50 - 2005

In case you had any lingering doubts about Rolling Stone magazines irrelevance, here is their top 50 CDs of 2005. Anyone who could possibly rate the Stones and Springsteen in the top 5 this year either has their head up their arse or is deaf. Anyway, here's their list:



1. Kanye West, Late Registration
2. The Rolling Stones, A Bigger Bang
3. White Stripes, Get Behind Me Satan
4. Fiona Apple, Extraordinary Machine
5. Bruce Springsteen, Devils and Dust
6. My Morning Jacket, Z
7. Beck, Guero
8. Bright Eyes, I'm Wide Awake, It's Morning
9. Sufjan Stevens, Illinois
10. 50 Cent, The Massacre
11. M.I.A., Arular
12. Sleater-Kinney, The Woods
13. Various Artists, Run the Road
14. Thelonious Monk Quartet With John Coltrane, At Carnegie Hall
15. Gorillaz, Demon Days
16. John Legend, Get Lifted
17. Van Morrison, Magic Time
18. Kings of Leon, Aha Shake Heartbreak
19. The Magic Numbers, The Magic Numbers
20. System of a Down, Mezmerize/Hypnotize
21. Common, Be
22. Madonna, Confessions on a Dance Floor
23. Paul McCartney, Chaos and Creation in the Backyard
24. The Mars Volta, Frances the Mute
25. Young Jeezy, Let's Get It: Thug Motivation 101
26. Queens of the Stone Age, Lullabies to Paralyze
27. Stevie Wonder, A Time to Love
28. The Hold Steady, Separation Sunday
29. Franz Ferdinand, You Could Have It So Much Better
30. Foo Fighters, In Your Honor
31. Amadou and Mariam, Dimanche a Bamako
32. The Go! Team, Thunder, Lightening, Strike
33. Antony and the Johnsons, I Am a Bird Now
34. Paul Wall, The Peoples Champ
35. LCD Soundsystem, LCD Soundsystem
36. The Perceptionists, Black Dialogue
37. Missy Elliott, The Cookbook
38. Dungen, Ta Det Lugnt
39. Annie, Anniemal
40. Neil Young, Prairie Wind
41. Keyshia Cole, The Way It Is
42. Living Things, Ahead of the Lions
43. Mariah Carey, The Emancipation of Mimi
44. Daddy Yankee, Barrio Fino
45. The Rough Guide to the Music of the Sahara
46. The Willowz, Talk In Circles
47. Wide Right, Sleeping on the Couch
48. Kaiser Chiefs, Employment
49. Damian Marley, Welcome to Jamrock
50. Stars, Set Yourself on Fire

Best of 2005 - Stephen King

Reprinted from the CNN website without any permission whatsoever. Mr. King has surprisingly good taste for a Red Sox fan. Cleveburgh attendees, please note #5. Personally as much as I like that one and #4, live CDs have no place on a year end best of....MH

Stephen King on his picks for best music of 2005. The Pop of King offers up his favorite tunes from the past year by Stephen King


I don't think it's possible any longer just to talk about the best albums of the year and leave it at that; albums may not be as dead as the dodo, but they're certainly an endangered species. I bought about 50 in the year just past (for the purposes of these best-of columns, my year runs roughly from one Turkey Day to the next), but only a dozen in actual stores. It amazes me to write that, but it's true. Most were downloaded...and through perfectly legitimate pay-then-play sources, I hasten to add. Copyright is my bread and butter, and I do not cockadoodie where I eat.

The point, dear Constant Reader (and Constant Listener), is that the old ways they are a-changin': I find myself more and more often buying specific songs rather than whole albums, and surveys show that I'm not alone. That I am, in fact, just one of many. Why? For the same reason a dog licks his...er, lower stomach, I suppose: Because we can. In any case, that's why there are two lists this year, one of the best albums and one of the best singles...which weren't always singles and weren't always released in 2005. That's just when I heard them and fell in love with them. So sue me. And if you expect me to apologize for my occasional lapses into childish taste (as well as Childish Things), you've come to the wrong guy. If I've said it once, I've said it a thousand times: I'm not a critic, I'm a consumer.

THE ALBUMS
6. DELIRIUM TREMOLOS, Ray Wylie HubbardAlt-country with its slow groove on. Takes a while to get a hold on you, but then it doesn't let go. ''Cooler-N-Hell'' could be the Great Lost ZZ Top Track; ''The Beauty Way'' will break your damn heart.

5. SOLO ACOUSTIC, VOL. 1, Jackson Browne Clear, calm, and beautiful; sane music for late at night. Doctor, I think the fever has broken.

4. KICKING TELEVISION: LIVE IN CHICAGO, WilcoI was a Wilco doubter for the longest time, especially after Yankee Hotel Foxtrot, which seemed both dissonant and self-indulgent to me — a keep-your-distance slap in the face at their fans — but this live set is just about right, swinging between tender and angry. Best cut? Maybe ''Handshake Drugs,'' probably ''At Least That's What You Said.''

3. ALL JACKED UP, Grechen WilsonBest country album of the year, hands down. ''I Don't Feel Like Loving You Today'' is beautiful and old-school, but the one I keep coming back to is ''Skoal Ring.'' The subject is ridiculous, but those sweet harmonies are total Opry.

2. CHILDISH THINGS, James McMurtryThe cut that people talk about is ''We Can't Make It Here,'' but what amazes me is the narrative brilliance of songs like ''Memorial Day'' and ''Holiday.'' Like Dylan's early tales, McMurtry's songs bear repeated listenings.

1. IF YOU DIDN'T LAUGH, YOU'D CRY, MarahAn apt enough title, when you consider that this is probably the best rock band in America that nobody knows. Am I being an elitist here, trying to one-up my audience? Nope. Marah is great in the scat, bop, and jive way Springsteen was great on The Wild, the Innocent & the E Street Shuffle. One listen to songs like ''The Closer'' and ''Fat Boy'' on this amazing record and I think you'll agree. These guys are either the American U2 or close enough for government work.


AND THE SINGLES
8. ''SUGAR, WE'RE GOIN DOWN,'' Fall Out BoySweet-heavy pop that sounds like a lost track from American Idiot.

7. ''MY HUMPS,'' The Black Eyed PeasStupid and juvenile? So what's your point?

6. ''LAND LOCKED BLUES,'' Bright EyesMaybe the saddest song of the year, but gorgeous in its spare misery, and imagery.

5. ''4TH OF JULY,'' Shooter JenningsThe perfect evocation of America's holiday, and maybe the best fusion yet of rock and country, by Waylon Jennings' son...a chip off the outlaw block, by the look and sound of him.

4. ''IF I EVER LEAVE THIS WORLD ALIVE,'' Flogging MollyA couple of years old, but I never caught up with it until this fall. This is a total Irish rave-up. Try to listen and stay sitting down.

3. ''MARIA'S BED,'' Bruce SpringsteenDevils & Dust may not have been the Boss' finest hour, but there's never been a better celebration of ''Oh God, tonight I'm gonna get lucky.''

2. ''WE CAN'T MAKE IT HERE,'' James McMurtryThis is how America appears when you're looking up from the bottom, and every word rings true.

1. ''I SUMMON YOU,'' SpoonIn the end, the best songs defy explanation or analysis. I played this one over and over in 2005 — on my computer, on my stereo, and in my truck. I never understood it, never got tired of it, and never failed to get a chill at the line ''I summon you here, my love.'' For me, that was the summer of '05. We should all have someone to summon us once in a while, I guess.

Those are my picks for the year's best. I guess they won't put me on the cover of Rolling Stone, huh? Oh, and one more: As the year winds down, I plan to cue up my Santa Mix, the one that starts with ''I Want an Alien for Christmas,'' by Fountains of Wayne.
if

To D'Arcy with Love

Lately I have been in metal mode thanks to Byron. I decided that I would give the Wildhearts another go. As I was driving I noticed that I was head bopping ever so slightly and to my surprise singing to the chorus of "Loveshit". Your perseverance wore me down and I now will need to see them live (if they are still together or alive).

Girls are Better Than Boys

Love

Ginger