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.