noseforbeer feb. 06 reviews

The Darkness, One Way Ticket....... “1”
Every thing I dislike about big hair stadium rock bands on one convenient CD. It's E.L.O. meets Spinal Tap, and it doesn't work for me. Pure Crap!

Fisherspooner, Odyssey “1”
Synthesizer hell! Mama always said if you don't have anything nice to say don't say anything at all.

Neil Young, Tonight's the Night “1”
Neil Young' songs are like Bob Dylan's, Eric Clapton's, and Bruce Springsteen's, I either love them or hate them. I did not care for this LP at all.

The Anniversary, Your Majesty “3”
This is the best submission of the month, but that's like being valedictorian at summer school. All of the rest was not to my liking. The more I listened to this CD, the more it grew on me. Good harmonies and catchy melodies I found myself trying to sing along with it even before I was familiar with the songs. I would like to see these guys and girl live to see if they're as energetic and tight as their recording. Very good use of synthesizers, unlike Fisherspooner.

Steely Dan “1”
When I read on the blog that I was going to hear Pre-Suck Steely Dan, I was hopeful that there actually was such a thing. Well there's not. It all sucks. I know there's some real talent in the band, but I don't like the modern jazz / rock / New York fusion thing. A few of the songs do have some guitar leads I like; “Black Friday”& “Don't Take Me Alive”.They are the only two Steely Dan songs that I know of, that I'll give any kind of props to. Some of the lyrics were as cheesy as The Darkness's, such as “Rose Darling”, “Doctor Wu”, and “Bad Sneakers”. What a bunch of drool.

ASSIGNMENT:
For me the guitar is only one part of the musical experience. All great guitar bands or individuals also had other elements to be great: lyrics, other talented musicians, great producers, and so on. It seems to me the ones who became legends did so with songs- not just music- whether they sang it themselves or let someone more capable.

My list of ten great guitar LPs in particular order.

1.Van Halen - Van Halen (This was the band's only good album, but it's a rock'n roll masterpiece.)
2.Husker Du – Zen Arcade ( Bob Mould's fuzzy sound had a big influence on Alt. Country, and I think Uncle Tupelo specifically.)
3.Stevie Ray Vaughan - Texas Flood ( This man could just flat out play.)
4.Jimi Hendrix - Are You Experienced? (If it wasn't for Jimi, who would have influenced Stevie?)
5.Ted Nugent – Ted Nugent (Ted's rich hallow body sound was superb on this album, and he wasn't yet completely fixated on himself.)
6.Who – Quadrophinia (Pete went all out on this album.)
7.The Cult – Electric (I think this album was as influential as Nirvana's
Nevermind.)
8.Bad brains – I Against I (One of, if not the most intense sounding hardcore albums ever.)
9.Slayer - Reign In Blood ( If you can ignore the brutal lyrics the guitar leads sound unbelievable, they must have sold their souls to make that album.)
10.Drive-By Truckers – Southern Rock Opera, Decoration Day, & Dirty South ( I couldn't pick just one. The combination of Hood, Cooley, & Isbell may some day be as great as John, Paul, George, & Ringo. Well, for me anyway.)