And Then There Were Four...?

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

MUSIC COMMENTARY

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

DAMON – OUT HERE ALL NIGHT (New / Byron) = 0 STAR
Could this sound more pop-metal ’80s? I think that’s the point. It’s self-aware, right? So what! It’s still unoriginal and annoying to the point of actually being depressing. Seriously, this CD made me wonder if it’s all worth it: not musically, in an existential sense.

ISIS – PANOPTIC (Old / Mike M.) = 4 STARS
Hypnotic, dense guitar epics that rouse the soul. Not for everyone, but for me it doesn’t get much better than this.

THE KINKS – ARTHUR (Old / Ken) = 5 STARS
One of the best, most overlooked albums of the era, by one of the best, most overlooked bands of the era.

ROBERT RANDOLPH & THE FAMILY BAND – COLORBLIND (New / D’Arcy ) = 2.5 STARS
Some tight, soulful stuff. Considering the technical musical proficiency, metronome precise timing, and fanatically perfect production and engineering, that fact that this stuff comes off as even remotely inspired is really pretty amazing.

THE STOOGES – BEST OF (Jay) = 5 STARS IF WE RANKED G’HITS
Does the heart and soul good, especially after Damon.

TOPIC

Revisit Desert Island Top Ten:

I couldn’t find my original list, which I remember as being my “Top Ten of All Time” anyway, and that’s not the same thing (for me). But working from memory, I have noted the ones that I believe were overlaps with an asterisk. This is in my order of preference too…

1) Nirvana: Nevermind*
2) Beatles: White Album
3) Guided By Voices: Bee Thousand*
4) Green Day: American Idiot
5) Beastie Boys: Check Your Head
6) Spoon: Girls Can Tell
7) Sonic Youth: Dirty
8) Rush: 2112*
9) Pavement: Crooked Rain Crooked Rain*
10) Nada Surf: Let Go

I reserve the right to change this list on any given day.