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.