A new all time low.

2 of last months 4 discs are now in the bottom five. Way to go guys!

Last month from good to bad. A Byron's expose

Radio Head, This was the pick of the month to me. I can honestly say I never listen to them before. (Ok, I have heard Creep). With that said I enjoyed this collection from from beginning to end and many shuffles in betweek. Thanks Jen.

Possum Dixon. When I popped in this cd I was in the car, I accidently hit the shuffle and repeat once keys. It was a totally confusing experience. I tried to follow the song list and thought the songs were quite repetative. When I actually figure it out (30 minutes later). I put it a side. When I finally replayed the disk in I like the songs and the CD as a whole. (3.0)

Gravel Pit This is another to add to the play list. I liked the songs they were catchy and quitar work help build the songs. (2.5). Tad below Possum Dixom

Somerdale This is a fun disk, reminded me of why I like bands that do not take things to seriously. While I found songs catchy it had no staying power after future listenings. (2.0)

Matisyahu, There is something about Regee music that makes instantly tap my foot. However I am not a fan of the genre and this is not about to change my mind. (0.5) for proving I still had circulation in my foot.

The Bridal point of view...

I just want to thank everyone for their suggestions and such for the wedding. I did get some good ideas, and a few suggestions also reaffirmed several choices we had already made (i.e Cure's "Lovesong"). Thanks everyone!

CD Reviews:
I’ve been so busy between working on the house and planning a wedding that my reviews are a little shorter than usual. My apologies.

The Gravel Pit – Mass Avenue Freeze Out:
I used to hear about these guys back in high school when I started to get into the New Haven music scene, but I never caught them live or heard any material. Now I hear what I missed out on. I dug it a lot. It stayed in rotation for quite awhile and most likely won’t be forgotten. Score: 3.5

Matisyahu – Youth:
When the hype first started spilling in a year or two ago, I thought I would download some of his first album (which was also live). A Hasidic Jew doing reggae…interesting. I liked the first album better, and though reggae isn’t my thing, it’s not terrible to listen to. He’s more than just a novelty act like so many people thought he would be. Score: 2

Possum Dixon – S.T.:
Somewhat nerdy and quirky great pop music! They have two things that I love in great pop record…humorous lyrics and memorable choruses. This is another one that won’t be forgotten. Score: 4

Somerdale – Friday Nite in America:
Boring and forgettable. I listened to it three times and I still couldn’t tell you a single song and/or “hook” on it. Score: 1

Radiohead – G’Hits:
This is one of my favorite bands of all time and I realized how much more I loved them as I did this greatest hits. They continue to grow musically with every album and continue to amaze me. I had a very difficult time whittling down my list to only 80 minutes of music. I had to cut out several favorites. I tried to capture their total essence from their first album to their latest. If you can’t find at least one track to appreciate, well then…you suck.

Topic

I decided to list 5 songs that are essential to our wedding, and 5 that are on our Black List:

5 Songs that are Essential to Our Wedding:
1. “You’re Nobody Till Somebody Loves You” – Dean Martin
2. “I Was Made For Loving You” – Kiss
3. “Your Love” – Outfield
4. “Maybe I’m Amazed” – Paul McCartney (our song)
5. “Kiss” – Prince

5 Songs that are Seriously Overplayed and Unwanted at Our Wedding:
1. “The Electric Slide” – Not only is the song horrible and annoying, but the last three weddings I’ve been to have had maybe 5 or 6 people out of the dance floor for the song.
2. “Brown-Eyed Girl” – Van Morrison: I may have brown eyes, but I am so sick of hearing this song at every wedding I go to.
3. Any and all Jimmy Buffett
4. “Amazed” by Lonestar: First off, it’s a country song and no country will be played at our wedding; and second, I am sick to death of hearing this song at every wedding.
5. “The Macarena” – How this song became so huge totally solidifies my theory that the average IQ level of Americans has dropped significantly in the past 2 decades. Stupid and repetitive song with equally stupid and repetitive dance.

Midwest Mike Aug Reviews (a little dated)

Possum Dixon –A little gem of a disc. Nothing fancy, just straightforward, no-frills rock. The opening trio of “Nerves”, “Buildings” and “Watch That Girl Destroy Me” gets this one out of the box quickly. Sound is slightly dated, but in a fun way. 3 ½ stars

The Gravel Pit – Pretty run of the mill garage-like rock. I like the organ sound on several of the tracks, and some of the lyrics are pretty clever (“Enemy”). Unfortunately, some of the songs just aren’t real strong (“Best Friend” “Get Rough”). It feels like there is too much filler for a 37-minute disc. A rare group selection that I seemed to like less the more I listened to it. 2 ½ stars

Somerdale – Painfully bad. Testically challenged. Lyrically vapid, vocals are hair-band territory and the guitar work is average at best. The rare moments that rise above the monotony (”Mrs. Henderson’s Call”, “Overload It”) just aren’t worth wading through the rest of the sludge. 1 star.

Matisyahu – Oy vey. This schmuck acting like a schvartze drove me mishugganah. The disc is certainly an original melding of styles. Original, but nonetheless crappy. Call me narrow-minded (I’m sure Ken will), but absolutely none of it made any kind of positive impression on me. As reggae, its too lightweight, overproduced and repetitive (even by Reggae standards). The rapping just grates. I couldn’t listen to this fershtunke tuchus-head twice. Bupkus

Radiohead – I was looking forward to ripping this disc, as I’ve thought Radiohead is an extremely overrated band. Surprisingly, I liked almost all of it. “Creep” is one of the greatest singles of the 90’s, but there are several other gems on this collection as well. The earlier material stood out to me a little more than the more recent stuff, but there really wasn’t a bad cut on here. I still think the band is somewhat overrated, but the disc is a good one, a keeper for sure.


Discussion Topic –

I recently attended a wedding and the music was off the charts bad. My wife asked me how I liked the band, and I told her that if I go to hell, that will be what it sounds like. Every song on my “bad” list was played. Hard for me to come up with good songs in the sense that I suspect Jen is not a fan of most of the artists I listed…

Good - Fun:
Lovesong & Just Like Heaven – The Cure
Double Shot of My Baby’s Love – Swinging Medallions
Pretty Woman – Roy Orbison
I Wanna Be Sedated – Ramones
Let’s Get It On – Marvin Gaye

Good - Sappy
To Make You Feel My Love – Bob Dylan
If I Should Fall Behind – Bruce Springsteen
Naïve Melody (This Must Be the Place) – Talking Heads
Don’t Let Us Get Sick – Warren Zevon

Bad:
Any song by Journey
Just the Way You Are – Billy Joel
Celebrate – Kool & the Gang
Wonderful Tonight - Clapton
Endless Love – Diana Ross (?)
Anything I Do – Bryan Adams
Unforgettable – Natalie Cole

my monthly thought

Music group xxiv

Matisyahu
Girlfriend enters car and says, “So when did you start listening to Sean Paul records?” 0

Possum Dixon
Had totally forgotten about “Watch the Girl Destroy Me”, so was interested in hearing the rest of the disc. Unfortunately I was given an opening track that sounded like old school B52’s. Then the second song was pretty good. Good guitar pop song. A bit of the Hoodoo Gurus sound, but not as good. Thus the dilemma I like the cd when it’s a rocks not when it rock lobsters. 1 for the b52’s 3 for the other tunes 2 overall.

Friday Nite in America
Catchy hooks, fun lyrics in a 1970’s sort of after school special way. Hell there are riffs stolen straight from an early Kiss cd mixed with a Mathew Sweet cd. (And possibly a Smithereens cd along the way) So why don’t I like this more. I think it is because of all its stolen parts the whole doesn’t offer anything more. In fact it does the opposite it makes me want to listen to the influences more than this cd. Because comparatively its weaker than its parts. Don’t get me wrong it’s a decent cd and I didn’t turn it off, but I don’t think I’d put it on either 2.5

The Gravel Pit
This is the cd that I really liked this month. A sound of their own. Short songs that are catchy. Love the guitar work throughout and especially in Curious. (Although in reading about them I heard they were more organ based in previous cd’s). Drums move the song forward without trying to do anything else. Like the voice. Decent lyrics. Just a good cd. 2.5

Radiohead
You had me up until Kid A. Then I get lost. I prefer their big epic sound and it tends to get lost when they start twiddling in the studio with loops and drum tracks. Instead they should just go out there and rip the roof off as they did earlier in their career. As a fan it is good to see that Jenny likes their latest cd as much or even better than their earlier work based on numbers of songs selected. There is nothing worst than a great band that ends up leaving you High and Dry. And speaking of that just a few song quibbles. High and Dry and Anyone Can Play Guitar should have been part of the cd.






Wedding Songs
Love Shack not just at weddings never again anywhere please.


Three cliché

In your eyes Peter Gabriel
Any of the happy Material Issue songs
Incredible Dramarama.

Three that would be interesting

Tie Your Mother Down Queen
Bring Your Daughter to the Slaughter Iron Maiden
Animal Fuck Like a Beast Wasp

Hornshwagen Kruger Krogen by Gabby Johnson

Records were broken last night at the Spigot where the Down Our Nose bunch held an entire meeting in roughly 1 hour. Though short there was no shortage of abuse and witty banter. Mostly at the expense of Jay and the Maharishu Jewrapper. Midwest Mike broke the record for most consecutive months using the adjective "dated". Neil had the most entertaining reviews especially his Sommerdale sum up and later jab in the topic. Mr. Mongillo admitted to using illegal substances ... tsk tsk and Jen was less sexually demonstrative. Jay insulted all in the group by announcing that if you didn't like Somerdale you don't like power pop, but we know he must be clinically insane since his rating was 4.5 for said disc.

Byron's reviews are crucial to this month's ratings as Gravel Pit and Possum Dixon are both tied at 3.57 (my money is on his liking Gravel Pit more) and his ratings of Matahari and Somerdale could determine if we have one or two selections knocking Pygmy Love Circus out of the all time bottom spot. Jay promised to 'pontificate' more on Matisayahooo so his rating will weigh in and the educated guestimate is that of 1.5 max. In all likelihood Marakesh will assume the dumper position.

Jen's topic was entertaining with answers from Uncle Filmmaker and Mike Springsteen and Neil Somerdale. She did get some decent suggestions along with options not thought of.

Reviews have not been updated yet as the tally is still open.

Discs for September

Meeting date- September 12th

Mike Ness- Under the Influence (Monsta/Old)
Gang of Four- Entertainment (Jay/Old)
Tilly and the Wall-Bottoms of Barrels (Jen/New)
Hellacopters- Rock and Roll Dead (D'Arcy?New)

Host- Byron

Ghits - Ultravox

Topic
In my recent Marillion newsletter (I am a freak), there was a myspace link to Steve Rothery's solo band The Wishing Tree. I have never gone to myspace but what the heck. After listening to the new tracks I went to Steve's page and from there to a band called The Reasoning. Two hours latter I had weaved a bunch of new bookmarks. For next weeks meeting, pick a band follow the links and give us 5 bands you found based on your band.

Those with Homework

Monsta is Host and Ghits machine
Ken/Neil- New
Mike M/Jen - Old

Reviews a la mode, Ken style

Music Club
August 2006

Gravel Pit-Mass Avenue Freeze Out
Completely caught me off guard. I expected a totally different album and not one that was catchy, well written and performed. Place them neatly in with Nada Surf, Fountains of Wayne and Matthew Sweet under Beatles. Clever lyrics and each track has its’ squeezable freshness. The only song that dragged was the closer “Short Western Film”. (4)

Matisyahu- Youth
Rating based on scientific mathematical theorem calculations. No need for further explanation its all here plain as day. Plus 10 for original gimmick, minus 3 for echo, divide by derivative 3 for Jamaica-Jew fake accent, add 2/3 of one percent for using an acoustic guitar once, round up 1 for having a socio-political message, deduct .5 for not caring about socio-political message, bell curve by 60% to smooth out over-hyping, multiply by a quotient of 8 for lack of sex appeal and round to nearest half for statistical boredom accuracy. (1.5)

Possum Dixon
I am quite biased on this band. I like the raw, messy energy. I like the irreverent lyrics. Quirky voices- I’m in. I put this disc in because its one I turn to now and then to bring me back to basics. This band is no more which is too bad. They made intelligent garage noise. Robert Zabrecky was the quirky voice and stand up bass backed by a solid rhythm section that included piano/keyboard fills that sounded like Robert O’Sullivan was arbitrarily banging his head on the keys. They weren’t the best musicians but it worked. (4.5)

Somerdale-Friday Night in America
See Gravel Pit and invert it. Not good. Was sacrificed shortly after attempted second listen. (0)

Radiohead Ghits
This was the disc I had the most anticipation and trepidation to listen to. I have always said I wasn’t a fan except for “Creep” but I’ve still had ad empty feeling like I was missing something I should have been catching. So I gave this an intent listening to and here is my conclusion; as the disc progresses I like the latter songs much less than the earlier numbers. I liked the Pablo Honey, The Bends and Ok Computer songs but nothing really from Kid A on. A few songs off the later albums start or end decently but those other halves make it not worth my time investment. (“2+2=5”, “Where I End & You Begin” , “Myxomatosis” and “A Wolf at the Door” for examples). I request copies of the three I liked but the rest can stay put.

Wedding Tunes
I can’t answer this totally selfishly, since it was posted as a selfish question. I can not take out the fact that others love to hear or want to hear certain songs at weddings (i.e. chicken dance). I may want to put that fork in my eye at times but I accept that I am not the star at every wedding and sometimes seeing 80 year olds having fun dancing to something I hate is still kind of sweet. With that now said…..

Banned Substances;
· “Old Time Rock and Roll”- okay my Mom loved this song, but that doesn’t help it endear itself to me. It wasn’t cool when it was recorded and is less cool than Barney now.
· Chicken Dance- worst of all group dances
· “Lady in Red”- so not romantic
· Disco versions of classic swing numbers. I would rather hear the Chickens do Beethoven.
· “Celebrate”- Time to retire this ditty and find a new standard to start hating.

Approved Substances;
· There has to be at least one group dance so the generations can all look goofy together. Your pick; hokey pokey, cotton eye joe, electric slide….etc…. not the Chicken Dance (see above)
· Need to have songs from every genre represented. If you have a cousin into goth metal find at least one song that can be played to appease them and not offend the rest.
· One song as an inside joke. Ex: when I used to DJ weddings I would play a slow song “Secret Lovers”. You would see these couples gush on each other all gooey like and I knew they had no clue that the song is about both partners having separate affairs.
· Sinatra- cool to all
· Neil Young’s Arc- If you can’t get down to this, you’re dead.

noseforbeer aug, 06 reviews

I'M FOLLOWING MONGILLO'S LEAD WITH SHORT REVIEWS.

SOMERDALE – FRIDAY NIGHT IN AMERICA = 0.5 STARS
WOW!, THIS SUCKS.

MATISYAHU – YOUTH = 3 STARS
LIKED IT ALOT AT FIRST, NOW JUST OKAY.

POSSUM DIXON – SELF-TITLED = 4 STARS
SOUNDS AS GOOD AS THE FIRST TIME I HEARD IT.

THE GRAVEL PIT – MASS AVENUE FREEZE-OUT = 4 STARS
REALY COOL STUFF, I LIKE IT.

RADIOHEAD – G-HITS
I THINK YOU NAILED THEM, VERY GOOD!

JENN'S TOPIC:

WHAT TO PLAY/
SOMETHING OLD - WHAT A WONDERFUL WORLD, LOUIS ARMSTRONG
SOMETHING NEW - TOGETHER,THE RACONTEURS
SOMETHING BORROWED - HAPPY HOME, GUADALCANAL DIARY
SOMETHING BLUES - AIN'T NO SUNSHINE, BILL WITHERS

WHAT NOT TO PLAY/
ANYTHING BY SOMERDALE, THEY SUCK!

BUT SERIOUSLY, JUST HAVE FUN AND DON'T WORRY ABOUT THE MUSIC TOO
MUCH. YOU CAN'T PLEASE EVERYONE. GOOD LUCK!

Better Early Than Never

“The Mong” – Music Group Commentary, August, 2006

MUSIC COMMENTARY

Okay, I promised one word reviews but allowed myself as many as four.

THE GRAVEL PIT – MASS AVENUE FREEZE-OUT = 4 STARS (THEN) / 5 STARS (NOW) = 4.5 STARS
Sadly overlooked geniuses.

MATISYAHU – YOUTH = 1.5 STARS
Trying too hard.

POSSUM DIXON – SELF-TITLED = 3.5 STARS
Fun as all heck.

RADIOHEAD – BEST OF [= 4.5 STARS]
Even better when high.

SOMERDALE – FRIDAY NIGHT IN AMERICA = 2 STARS
Interesting failure.

TOPIC

Jennifer, all I can really suggest, I already suggested to you in person. I know it’s your big day (and your groom’s), but a wedding is a party for your friends and family too so play music for you AND for them. I have been to many weddings where people simply refused to play the standards (“Macarena,” “The Electric Slide,” “Rock Around the Clock,” “The Chicken Dance,” etc.) and those weddings may have had their own, shall we call it, “unique” (another word for boring) flavor, but they weren’t fun parties. I know, you being a music snob, this will be particularly difficult for you to accept but, trust me, the folks who don’t want to hear the cheesy aforementioned standards will be far less annoyed than the folks who are flat out and intentionally deigned their opportunity to boogie on the dance floor. Take my advice for whatever you think it's worth.