No Peaking you little runts...

The Long Winters- Putting the Days to Bed
Can’t put my finger on it but there’s a familiarity with this band. “Pushover” starts and my database starts searching for who this sounds like, because it definitely does sound like something. Colin Hay maybe fronting Fastball? No big whoop. The more I listen, the more I like. Well written songs with good melodic variety. Straight ahead rock, Motown-ish beats, pop (“Teaspoon”) with a full bodied big sound. “Honest” and “Clouds” are the least special on the disc, but they are sandwiched between nine solid other songs. (3)

Jennifer O’Connor- Over the Mountain, Across the Valley and Back to the Stars
The title is a mouthful. Jen is pre-Over Sexes Liz though more on key with a better backing band. A little Tegan and Sarah like. Stripped down, introspective, pure, at times mournful and autobiographical. When listening I almost feel as if I am intruding on her private concert to herself. “Exeter, Rhode Island”, “Turn it Down” and ”Sister” demonstrates that she can rock it up a bit but the majority of the material could be performed with just her and her acoustic guitar. For a blind selection it was a nice surprise for moi. (4)

Jacques Dutronc- Les Playboys
Kitschy. This guy was a student of the then modern American rock and pop sound. Can hear Bringing it All Back Home, Sonny Bono, Tommy Roe, Beach Movies and the hippy organ. Can see go-go dancing and blob backgrounds. He could be speaking to me like a Viking sailor but who cares. It’s fun. Good music to put on when your ripped and you want to see if your guests are paying attention. It didn’t crack my top 100 but heck it’s guffaw and a half. (2.5)

Los Lobos Ghits
This is a band I should have been all over when they came out. I can vouch for Midwest Mike as he was always a fan. This mix was nice to add to the collection. The Lobos have not lost any of their chops and appear to be as good now as when they came onto the scene. Could have done without the Marvin Gaye cover but I was never a big Marvin Gaye fan. Good mix and its great to have it.

Topics
Let me go on record to state that these questions were hellish and more unfair than Pedro Martinez change up in his prime.

Top 5 Debut Albums:
I tried to take musical legacy out of the equation, as some artists peaked on their debuts, but I had to keep a small portion of personal taste in. I also discounted many of the rock gods as most put out their best stuff after they cut their teeth awhile.


Not in order:

Guns and Roses- Appetite for Destruction- Arguably one of the greatest metal albums evah!
Sex Pistols- Never Mind the Bullocks- Though I am not a punk freakazoid, still see the importance which is underscored by the fact it was their first, and really their only, album.
Jimi Hendrix- Are You Experienced- The real guitar solo is born.
Velvet Underground & Nico- Let’s count how many bands were influenced by this….. Complete introduction of the complete disregard for MOR music.
Rage Against the Machine- (self titled)- BAM! A socially conscious, vocally abrasive bitch slap in your face with the most inventive guitarist in the last 15 years.

Not honorable mentions, just those I considered- Boston (hate to admit it), George Harrison’s All Things Must Pass (didn’t know if that counted), Chicago Transit Authority, Zappa’s Freak Out (just not listenable over and over again) and Lone Justice.

Greatest Song Ever-
I hope this earns amnesty with the Down Your Nose Judges:

Sweet Child O Mine- Guns and Roses; You expected a Dylan song, no? This question made me listen to every song ever recorded and rate them based on lyrical value, melody, arrangement etc… After listening to every song ever recorded I kept coming back to this one. It is the greatest song for a number of reasons; 1- it is a semi-ballad for the ladies, 2- it has a bitchin’ guitar solo for the gents, 3- though a little mushy the lyrics really aren’t too bad, 4- the riff is emblazoned in every music freaks head, 5- it starts off like one song and becomes another by the end and 6- most sane people between 20 and 50 would find it hard to turn the dial when it comes on.

The song has everything in it. My next choices were Happy Birthday, Jingle Bells, Party Like it Was Your Birthday, Itsy Bitsy Spider, I’m a Little Tea Cup, Rubber Duckie, Fruit Salad (yummy yummy) and Ace of Spades.