Nov. Synopsis to come but for now...

Music Club
November 2006

Isis-Plenoptic
Easily one of the 5 worst vocal performances ever recorded, which is a shame, since much of the music is well done. The wavering between crunch hard metal and intricate bass and guitar interplay is done fairly successfully albeit minutes too long. “In Fiction” and “Willis Dissolve” are examples that when this singer opens his mouth everything is ruined. Hopefully he didn’t spend time or waste ink and paper on lyrics as it is impossible to decipher what the hell he is saying anyways. 3 for the music, -2 for vocals. (1)

Robert Randolph & the Family Band-Color Blind
I was lucky to catch this virtuoso open for the dreadful Black Crows, so I was very excited to have this thrown into the mix. Randolph is unbelievable live primarily due to his prowess, his out of this world band and that he focuses on his groove jams. He opened the show with this disc’s opener and I could have listened to them wail on that for 45 minutes. Now back to the disc. Keep the first 3 tracks, take away the sucrose laden ballads and you got 5-6 song masterpiece. But we have to take into consideration those sappy songs when looking at this recording and that is what brings this disc down. Luckily this is only his second studio recording so he can mend his ways and stick to the Fishbone a ala Sly Stone rave ups. (2.5)

Damone-Out Here All Night
I liked Damon’s first outing From the Attic but this disc left me sad. First they can’t decide- are they a pop-metal band or a straight ahead radio friendly rock band? In either case it sounded too much like the formulaic crud on the radio. The lead guitarist can play and he is the bright spot. But after repeated listens and trying to tell myself that I must be wrong, in the end I don’t think I am. It’s just not that good. (1.5)

Kinks- Arthur
This is one of those gems that never got heard, except for “Victoria”. Made to be a soundtrack for a movie that never got made this recording got pushed aside making the audience who actually heard it quite small. Luckily it has been reissued as Arthur showcases Ray Davies satirical writing aptitude and the tight but not too tight sound the Kinks are famous for. Solid songs throughout and close to must have. (4)

Stooges Ghits
Seminal is the perfect word for the Stooges. It is clear from listening that this band influenced countless bands in regards to front man showmanship to DIY recording to the true essence of punk attitude. The mix is good representation of their output where the less is more is apropos. All the big hits with a bullet are here. Good to have another disc to piss off the missus.


Desert Island Picks- redux

Original Listing

Blood on the Tracks- Dylan
Ragged Glory- Mr. Young
Exile on Main Street- Stones
Goo- Sonic Youth
100% Fun- Matthew Sweet
Songbooks- Ella Fitzgerald
Favorite Things- John Coltrane
Kiss Me Kiss Me Kiss Me- Cure
Electric- Cult
Hot Rats- Zappa

Updated Listing

This list is different from my top 10 favorites of all time. This list tries to encompass all the music styles I like. There is so many I could have had……….. very hard to do.

Blood on the Tracks- Bob Dylan –still the best introspective story telling album ever.
Ragged Glory- Neil Young- Tonight’s the Night is close, Ragged showcases noise with meaning.
Exile on Main Street- Rolling Stones- Great roots rock album with boozy country.
Songbooks- Ella Fitzgerald- My favorite female vocalist of all time. No one was smoother.
Kind of Blue- Miles Davis- Has both Miles and Coltrane on one great collaboration. The only reason to nix Favorite Things.
Kiss Me Kiss Me Kiss Me- Cure- My goth, hate you music with some poppy undertones.
Electric- Cult – RIFF BABY!
Hot Rats- Frank Zappa- Just a mesmerizing recording that encompasses jazz, intelligent rock jams and silliness.
Okkervil River- Black Sheep Boy- Just a brilliant emotional album where perfection is sacrificed for feeling.
Audioslave- Out of Exile- My noise funk quotient with Tom Morello’s inventive guitar that isn’t too poppy but not too over top either.

Matthew Sweet’s 100% Fun got eliminated due to lack of listens over the past few years. Sonic Youth’s Goo was supplanted by AudioSlave because I needed a disc of Morello’s playing without the abrasiveness of Zach’s voice (I love Rage still though). Favorite Things was nixed due to the needing Miles and Coltrane and this does it in one recording, albeit a great one.