September Words to Live By

Gang of Four – I chose it because it is one of those records that, from a historical perspective, I feel everyone should own. It rocks out and funks out with such originality – especially for the time it was released – that it is a top fifty all time (if not higher) CD. Musically, it holds up and although the lyrics could be described as quaintly naïve in 2006, there is still an earnestness to them that makes it work even for a hardened conservative like me. Tons of highlights, but the beginning of I Found That Essence Rare and the point when the drums kick in on Anthrax are personal faves. 5 stars

Tilly and the Wall - I found this alternately quirky enjoyable and quirky annoying depending on….well I’m not sure. Couldn’t figure out a pattern. Some listens, it seemed interminably cute for the sake of being cute and other times I heard the melodies and didn’t mind the annoying nature of the sound. It may need more listens, but for now it is a middle of the road 2.5

Mike Ness – This may seem sacrilegious in some corners, but I always considered Social Distortion a good band that could have been great if it had a lead singer who could sing. Unfortunately, Mike gets to sing what Mike writes, but no matter how good the writing and music were, there was always Mike singing. Tolerable, though frustrating, with Social D because the volume covered it up and made it blend. Not so here. This is a great tribute to the kind of influences that should make me wax poetic, but the plain truth is that he can’t sing and here it is a distraction. And it’s never been so apparent as when he takes on great songs by great singers. There’s a difference between gritty and shitty and he crosses the line.
2 because at least he picked great songs

Hellacopters - Fuckin A! – What a beginning. The opening Chuck Berry licks and unrelenting rock of Before the Fall are just too much to live up to…unless you’re the Hellacopters. Although they never touch that zenith again, they get close and it’s such a high point that even getting close to it is better than most bands will ever do. One thing this band never does is wear out its welcome. I can’t think of a song that goes on too long. The slower ones, while a bit goofy and steeped in a ‘hybrid ‘70s sound, are good to great and the uptempo stuff just kicks ass, like some mutant child of X and the Damned. 4.5

Ultravox – You know me well enough by now to know that this essentially guitarless, synth-driven brit-pop is, to be polite, not my cup of tea.

My Space question – Never got there. Sorry. Cool idea, but I just pain forgot.

August Crap - Better late than Never

Somerdale - One of those records that probably could go either way for people. I know it has been a hate or love disc for others I share music with. If you’re a big fan of true Power Pop, that is if you like the bands like the Rasberries, the Rubinoos, the Shoes and the Shazam, you’ll appreciate it for what it is – a definitive Power Pop record complete with goofily naïve lyrics, great guitar power chords and great hooks and nods to discovering love and music (I would guess that everyone here didn’t need to discover music on the FM band, but I did and FM Liberation nails the feeling). If you’re too cynical to feel 16 again, then you probably won’t like it. And I’ve got news for you, if you think you like power pop and you don’t like this record, then you don’t like power pop. You might like some bands that can be defined as power pop, but you don’t truly like or appreciate the genre, but hey, that’s OK. Even if power pop is the purest distillation of pop and rock that there is. The bottom line is that good hooks are good hooks and this record has them. 4.5 stars


Matisyahu - Never really thought Reggae was interesting at all and this doesn't change my mind. Probably has some lyrical relavence, but I have a hard time caring, since I don't love the music. 1.5


Possum Dixon - Now this is a fun record Couldn’t figure out is it was new or old when I listened to it for the first time and was truly surprised that it was as old as it was. Quirky and interesting from start to finish on the first few listens, but it wore a bit thin over time. Glad I heard it and will listen again and since it was something I never would have found without the group, that counts for something – probably a half star extra or so for surprising me. 3.5


Gravel Pit – A really good rock record that contains at least half a dozen great songs, led by the blistering minute and 57 second Curious, one of the rare songs that finishes with such a flourish that you automatically hit the back button so you can hear it again, only louder this time. The songs are a bit uneven, (although what album is perfect from start to finish?), but the highs are so high that it carries this to a 4.5


Radiohead – I missed the Radiohead bus, at first because I just didn’t care and then on purpose when they were proclaimed the next big thing by the kind of Rock Critics who always get such stuff wrong. I guess that’s too bad, because this was interesting and enjoyable to discover. Now that I know there is some real merit to this band, I’ll probably at least get OK Computer and Kid A. I’m so Radiohead illiterate that I didn’t know that Creep was them.
Had I known, it wouldn’t have changed my mind, because it is standard alternative fare for that era, but this collection gets better and more interesting as it goes along, hence a decision to buy those two. For the record, though, it doesn’t sound like they changed rock.

Wedding Songs – Tough topic because music is so personal. I know what I’d play, if I gave it some thought, which I admit, I haven’t. Here’s one, though – Thirteen by Big Star. Very tender, heartfelt tale of young love.

And then there were three at the table

Gang of Four

I have heard this cd before. Not this particular cd but it has been done by many a band that has come after them. It is obvious from the first chord that these guys have had a major influence on others. But and there is always a but, I found myself being distracted as I listened to it. Yes I heard early devo, and other minimalist bands in there but as I listened each time I found the songs a bit repetitive. The lyrics are good but the song structure just always seems the same. Including to the eventual dramatic pauses followed by the drum fill that brought us back. This cd started off great but lost something with each listening. Good in small doses I would say describes it best. 2.0

Hellacopters

I discovered the Hellacopters with their High Visibility cd. Since then Dregen from the Backyard Babies has left the band, and with him some of his dirtyness. But as the band cleans up a bit I still look forward to every release they have put out since. From the opening stolen Chuck Berry riff I find this cd grabs you. The guitar riffs, the organ fills, the short catchy songs with short catchy (and sometimes silly) lyrics and the great background vocals, make one really good song follow another. Yes they aren’t the most original band, but they where there influences on their sleeve. Hell Leave it Alone is the song the Rolling Stones have wished they had released in the last 15 years. Its funny but why is it that good rock always seem to come from sweeden. This is my favorite cd released this year and is still on high rotation since its purchase. 4.0



Tilly and the Wall
Jenn has been mentioning this band to me for a few months. She mentioned a similarity to the Tegen and Sara cd’s and I was interested to listen to it. First not really a good comparison. Another sisterly duo, Voice of the Beehive much more the sound I heard. Not a bad pop cd. The songs do tend to run on a bit, possibly a better separation of the chorus from the body of the song would have been better. And they should not let the guy sing lead. Every time he started to sing any momentum from the previous songs were wiped out. Still a good cd and a band I will be looking forward to hearing more from. 2.5

Mike Ness
I like Social Distortion. I liked Mike Ness’s first solo cd. I even liked him when I saw him live solo and saw him play songs with his foot firmly put in the blue grass pool. It was fun live but there were other genres to play against. Here he makes an effort and stays in the countrified deep end. That is the problem I have with the cd. I don’t want Mike Ness twanging out. I want him head down rocking away. At times he does that and the cd is great, others it just gets lost. Especially his reworking of ball and chain. While great live it is just not needed on this cd. I still like Mike Ness and will always be willing to listen or see and thing he plays, but a little can go a long way. 2.5

Ultravox
I remember watching The TV show Midnight Special (a misnomer if there ever was never at midnight, rarely special) and the video for Ultravox’s The Voice came on. For a metal head who was a junior in high school this was something I had never seen before. The look, the sound, the voice was something interesting and refreshing. And this flannel, chord wearing person was introduced to the New Romantic style. I don’t like everything from Ultravox. In fact only Lament stands as a great cd. But the Midge Ure years had great moments and Byron captured most of them here. Midge Ure may have played with Thin Lizzy, and is the one who wrote do they know its Christmas, but it is from classics like Vienna, One Small Day, Dancing With Tears in My Eyes, and Hymn that I remember him best.

neil's sept. revs.

MIKE NESS – UNDER THE INFLUENCES = 4 STARS
WHAT A SUPRISE! I NEVER LIKED SOCIAL DISTORTION, MOSTLY BECAUSE OF NESS'S SHITTY VOCALS, BUT I REALLY LIKED THIS. THE USE OF STEEL GUITAR, VIOLIN, AND SAX ROUNDED OUT THE ARRANGMENTS AND WENT WELL WITH HIS RASPY THROAT. PICKING GREAT SONGS TO COVER ALSO HELPED.

GANG OF FOUR – ENTERTAINMENT = 3 STARS
STILL GOOD, BUT DATED FOR ME. TOO MANY "PUNK BANDS"
FOLLOWED WITH THE SAME SOUND.

TILLY AND THE WALL – BOTTOMS OF BARRELS = 2.5 STARS
I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO THINK OF THIS. KUDOS FOR ORIGINALITY.

THE HELLACOPTERS – ROCK AND ROLL IS DEAD = 1 STAR
ROCK AND ROLL MUST BE DEAD, NOTHING NEW OR UNIQUE HERE.

BEST OF ULTRAVOX
STYX ON SYNTHISIZER STEROIDS! NOT MY THANG.

SORRY, I DID NOT MAKE THE TIME FOR THE TOPIC.

What month is it?

“The Mong” – Music Group Commentary, Not Sure What Month, 2006

MUSIC COMMENTARY

Another crazy month; thus, the brevity of my commentary.

THE HELLACOPTERS – ROCK & ROLL IS DEAD = 3 STARS
Great straight-ahead rock & roll, hence, the title’s irony.
(Does pointing that out make me pretentious or just a dick?)

GANG OF FOUR – ENTERTAINMENT = 2.5 STARS
Way better as a memory.

MIKE NESS – UNDER THE INFLUENCES = 3 STARS
Very enjoyable, toe-tappin’ fun.

TILLY AND THE WALL – BOTTOMS OF BARRELS = 1.5 STARS
Annoying as hell, despite the admirable effort.

BEST OF ULTRAVOX
If this isn’t an oxymoron, I don’t know what is.
(Here, I’m being a dick. Clearly.)

TOPIC

Sorry, I did not have the time to devote to Byron’s most excellent “Five Bands of Separation” topic.

NOTE

I will send everyone his or her old selection within the week. I don’t know what it’ll be yet so you’ll just have to wait and see (and hear).

My Month's Proclamation

Gang of Four
Robotic, choppy, monotone but inventive for 1979. The Gang were not great instrumentalists (listen to “Guns and Butter”), with drummer Hugo Bernham being the best of the band. I can see why they were identified as cutting edge by being grating but with social message but musically I do find them monotonous over an extended period of time. One of two selections at a time suffices. I actually liked the redone versions on Return the Gift better than the originals here. “Damage Goods” and “I Found that Essence Rare” stand out to me. Classic to some, but ok to me. (2.5)

Hellacopters- Rock and Roll is Dead
Good, solid straightforward rock. Nothing fancy, as the lyrics will ascertain, but the music makes up for it. This Norse band has done their rock homework by taking the best parts of 70’s rock (more Kiss than Aerosmith) but making it their own. Good solos, especially the one on “I’m With the Band”. Right up there with High Visibility. Rock neck just from listening. (3.5)

Mike Ness- Under the Influences
Anyone who listens to the current country crap needs to be force fed this album as it is more country than any of the garbage that any of the cowpokes-of-the-day put out. This is also more rock than any of the crappy corporate tween targeted Emo bands are putting out. Hell, it’s just a great album. Ness covers some of the great classic country songwriters, including himself, and does every song justice. See it live, as D’Arcy can attest to, and it’s even better. This album sort of opens the door to show you what propelled the Social Distortion sound. (4.0)

Tilly and the Wall- Bottoms of Barrels
Well they got the title right. This is close to the bottom of barrel. Voice of the Beehive meets Bananarama and a touch of Ravenettes when the guy sings (“Bad Education”). I’m so glad see glockenspiels getting good use. Let’s throw in a few curse words to show we are a rock band- Tilly is still frilly with epithets. This album is summed by “Love Song”. An awful early 60’s mainstream folk-like song. Barf (0)

Ultravox Ghits
Anthony Michael Hall, Molly Ringwald, Ally Sheedy, that Andrew guy- insert brat pack actor here___________. That’s all I envisioned as I listened to this. I knew very little about this band and was a bit more hopeful than getting a soundtrack to any action/dance scene in a John Hughes movie. Sister of Mercy lite to me.

Five bands of separation…
I decided to use a new purchase of The Thermals as my starting point. From them I got to The Mountain Goats, who I have heard of but knew little of, and after a few listens I wondered who in the hell matched this with the Thermals! So I ventured back to uncover Sunset Rubdown. A little closer. Not as punky and abrasive but decent low-fi multi-instrumentalist band. Definite acquired taste. From Sunset I noticed Band of Horses, which was also listed with the Thermals, so I said what the hey and clicked on “First Song”. Intriguing. Almost a My Morning Jacket feel but not my cup a tea. So I hi-tailed it back to the Thermals and discovered McClusky. Or I should say not-yet-discovered, as I learned that McClusky just called it quits after their 3rd released album and this song started playing from their record company, which actually grabbed me- “Brother” by The Organ. After a little more perusing I did find McClusky and enjoyed the song I heard. Best from a defunct band in awhile.

So I batted .400. Liked 2 out of 5.

Reviews from one of the Red-Headed Stepchildren

Mike Ness – Submitted this because it’s great summer music. Requires no thought, shallow, fun, sounds good blasting out the car windows. Ness makes tasty choices in the songs he’s covering. Good band, but any difference between this and a Social Distortion disc are negligible. Great guitar work throughout, and while Ness’ gravelly voice is an acquired taste, it suits the songs perfectly. The highlights for me are the twang infested “Let the Jukebox Keep On Playing” and “Ball and Chain”. 4 stars

Gang of Four – Clearly an influential disc. That herky-jerky rhythm & white boy funk sound shows up in many bands, from The Talking Heads to Radiohead. Lyrics are a little preachy, but sincere. “Damaged Goods” and the feedback fest “Anthrax” are the highlights for me. The tinny sound due to the lousy production does wear thin after a while. I respect the importance and influence of the disc, put it is probably not one that will get a whole lot of wear. 3 stars

Tully and the Wall – The most interesting selection of the month. Parts of it are really good, the first 3 songs in particular. Parts of it are like 2nd rate Corrs (“Love Song” and “Lost Girls”). “Sing Along Songs” does the unique trick of combining the two, a great song until the awful hokey call and response ending. I enjoyed the Celtic influence that is throughout the disc but never overwhelms the arrangements. Good Irish-y pop. 3 stars

Hellacopters – I’m a sucker for the Stones-y guitar work on this one. I love it when the rhythm player out-shines the lead guitarist and they get that Taylor/Richards back and forth thing going. “Leave it Alone” is a great one, sounds like an “Exile on Main Street” leftover. Some of the songs are a little weak, particularly towards the end of the disc. Well produced, very good guitar work and vocals (singer sounds a lot like Todd Rundgren). A very pleasant surprise, given the goofy title and band name spelling. 3 ½ stars

Ultravox – While synth-pop is not my bag, there are some really good tracks on here, most notably “Reap the Wild Wind” and “Dancing With Tears in My Eyes”. The latter brought back fond memories, which need not be mentioned, except to note they involved locking Ken out of the room. Of course, the disc does sound rather date…, um, exclusively representative of the time in which it was recorded. Bono’s line in “Do They Know Its Christmas” still sends shivers up my spine.

Discussion

Much to my astonishment, Byron’s assignment led me to a plethora of very good music. I am not a my space user , and was impressed with what I found. I started my search with Two Cow Garage, the greatest little band in the world at times (by the way Neil, Ken & Jay, there are two new songs on their site). Two Cow led me to….

1) I Can Lick Anysonfabitch in the House – Chose this one on the name alone, but the band is very good. They are from Portland, OR and play very much in the Two Cow balls-out pedal to the metal style with a hint of twang. This band led me to

2) Drag the River – Boulder, CO band. Excellent songs on their new CD which are of the alt.country variety. Very Steve Earle – Uncle Tupelo-ish. Naturally, I bought the disc. I linked from them to…

3) Dropkick Murphy – An Irish punk/garage band. Very energetic, book marked that one to explore further, but I liked the energy. From there it was

4) The Dents – Another high-energy straightforward rock band from Baaah-ston. Liked this one a lot, lead singer is also pretty hot, which never hurts. Finally, it was

5) The Konks – Law of averaged dictated I would hit one bad one, and I did. Low-fi Iggy Pop wannabees that just didn’t connect with me at all.

An intimate affair

This past month was a romantic eve at Le Spigot with only Jay, D'Arcy and myself in attendance and only our reviews to converse on. This, then, will be brief. Based on three reviews; Hellacopters rule, Ness and Gang of Four are fine in small doses, Tully was deemed average (quite sub average by one) and UltraVox definitely a Luci pleasure. Us at the head office will let you all read the reviews as they are posted. Review spreadsheet will be updated once all tallies are in. On a positive note (fa!) it seems our filmmaker will be rejoining us next month in the flesh. Also Noseforbeer wins the efficiency award of excellence by sending us his December old already. Be confident Mr. Beer the package has not been opened.

October 17th Meeting

Host Monsta, ghits- Los Lobos

New/Ken - Jennifer O'Connor- Over the Mountain, Across the Valley and Back to the Stars
New/Neil - The Long Winters- Putting the Days to Bed
Old/Mike M- TBA
Old/Jen- TBA

Homework for November

New- The Luci
Old- Ken/Mike M
Host- Jay

Nick Lachey Sept 22nd show sadly sold out.

There is no shortage of Hoff news.

David Hasselhoff is such a stud that he claims the late Princess Diana wanted a piece. Hoff claims the two met a charity function in London. Even though the Princess was married toPrince Charles at the time she flirted with the Hoff and said to him: "You look much better with your clothes on" He said: "She was smitten with me since I was so tall. I was smitten with her since she was so tall. But she was married and so was I. I probably would have gone after her if circumstances had been different. In the end, I just wanted to be a friend and to hang out with her."

Important David Hasslehoff News

David Hasselhoff wants to be buried in a glass case under his Hollywood star when he dies. The former Baywatch star has confessed it's just one of the bizarre ideas he has come up so he will be remembered after he passes away. Hasselhoff joked to People magazine: "I was actually thinking of being buried under my Hollywood star, looking up so people could look down and watch me decompose."