Sid's December Reviews

Gorillaz – OK, I didn’t listen to this one too much. What I heard was interesting to a point, but I’m not really sure I would latch onto this even if I had the chance. I assume you classify this as urban, and I’ve never heard anything with that designation that even remotely appealed to me, so that’s a positive. Some interesting beats and I’m trying to be more broadminded so I’ll give it a 2.5 and reserve the right to change it next month.

New York Dolls – Contrary to what you might think, this is a new disc for me to a degree. I bought Too Much Too Soon when I was in college and I loved it, but I was never able to get a copy of this first Dolls CD. Eventually, I had what I figured were the highlights on various compilations and live Dolls bootlegs. So just a month or so ago I ordered this along with the new Dolls DVD (which I’ll report on next month). Obviously, from a historical perspective, this has always been considered a groundbreaking album. What I found is that it is also a great CD, one that really didn’t sound as dated as I though it might. They were a great band, but first and foremost this is Johansons’s album. His vocals carry it. Secondly this is Rundgren’s album. Without that sound, it just wouldn’t be the same. If it were released now, I’d give it a 4 – 4.5 and it would probably make my top ten. Because they had the foresight to do this in ’73, it’s a 5. Just so you know, I do not subscribe to the notion that this influenced punk to any great degree and musically it is much closer to Aerosmith than any punk stuff that followed.

My Morning Jacket – I bought into the hype an bought It still Moves, their critically acclaimed 2003 release. Bored me to tears. Sure the guy’s got a great voice, but to say that the CD plodded along is an understatement. Maybe I was expecting something different. Different deal with this one. There are still a few duds, but the highlights are great and a couple really rise to the point of classics. What a Wonderful Man, Off the Record (though it should have ended at the 3 minute mark), Anytime and especially Lay Low are standouts. I’ll probably listen to this again. 3.5 stars



Blind Faith – The story behind this record is fascinating, so if you’ve never read about it, you should. I recall vaguely, as a youngster just getting into music that this album was controversial in some manner, but I had never bought it or listened to it. When I put it on, of course, it sounded instantly recognizable. Every song seemed familiar and it is probably because somewhere along the line I had heard each of them. And each of those first 5 songs is at least a minor classic. I know I have at least two on live Clapton albums and I think Winwood has kept his contributions alive in live shows as well. Unfortunately it all falls apart with the Do What you Like – 18 pointless minutes of musical masturbation that they should have been too embarrassed to put out. I don’t know if this was the source of controversy at the time – probably not because Clapton and Winwood were the days’ untouchable “geniuses” - but they clearly ran out of ideas and proceeded to rip off record buyers with this piece of crap “song.” This is far worse than any of the stupid jams Traffic used to foist upon a gullible public, so I can’t even blame the egomaniacal Winwood for this one. It reeks of an entire group calling it quits and giving the public a big fuck you. I’m now glad I never bought it. None of them deserve a penny. 3 stars because the first five songs are great.

Iron Maiden – Like everything Byron has brought to the table, I own nothing by this band. This, though, is why this little exercise we call music group is so great. This is something I should have. Oh, I’m not going to run out and buy the catalogue, but this is a legitimately great rock band that doesn’t seem to take itself as seriously as many of Byron’s earlier selections. And, for gods sake, it rocks and has a certain menacing quality at times that you gotta love. True to form, though, they sneak into prog mode every once in a while, but they only linger there for a moment and then it is back to the rock and roll. A 3.5 star band.

Radio Shows We’ll Never See

1976-79 Show – Greatest musical era ever.



1969-70 show – Hear pop music systematically destroyed by a bunch of great bands that would end up influencing a bunch of awful bands. Seriously – a very cool period of time in the cross-history of Rock and Society.



Lo fi show – Not quite sure how to describe lo-fi, but I know it when I hear it and this show would usually turn into a tribute to Guided By Voices.



Big Star and those who wish they were Show – Jangly Guitar Pop – Gin Blossoms, M Sweet, Posies, Teenage Fanclub – you get the idea.



Uncle Tupelo and those that wish they were show – Bring on the Alt Country – Being from Nashville hurts your chances of making onto this show.