no talk of galactica

The Fratellas
This cd tended to wear on me with multiple listens. Good catchy pop at first, but then at times the cd tended to get a bit on the caberet side instead of driving the song home. I also found a bit of sameness to the songs with repeated listens. Not really a bad cd just nothing that stood out after a while 2

Archers of Loaf
Could not tell you what this guy is telling me, as I did not really like the vocals all that much. His somewhat yelping style reminds me of a modest mouse feel especially on the more structured songs. I did like those songs, the ones that had a distinct beginning middle and end. Too often the fills where endlessly repeated and it is not like the musicianship required to play them needed to repeated endlessly at times. The instrumental at times were more of an adventure in practice than really a song. But when they focused on a song, I found myself enjoying the sounds they created. I only wished they tried a little harder in doing so throughout the whole cd. 2.5

Ted Leo
A really good pop cd. But not a great cd. Not a bad song on the disc but not one you find yourself singing to yourself after you have finished listening either. I found myself liking it while it was being played, but not really yearning to put it back on either. 2.5

Material Issue
Material issue is one of the bands I always find myself going back and listening too. Their short extremely catchy songs seem to capture in a few words accompanied with countless catchy guitar riffs. The topic of each song can be repetitive but so what, I still see the picture Jim Ellison was trying to paint. These guys were a breath of fresh air compared to what else was available during the early 90’s. Unfortunately it was a short story with a tragic ending.

Question
Brittany Spears.
Was reading The NY Times about reunion concerts. And was reminded when music and concerts were an event. Along with that personas and stars were born. When did that change? Some say with Peter Frampton. When corporations decided that yes big money can be made from a cd. But there were many a rock star created after him, up to and including Kurt Cobain, and Eddie Vedder. But with Brittany Spears the music no longer matter. Flash instead of substance, hell live she didn’t even sing her own songs. Didn’t Milli Vaniili lose a Grammy because of that? Since her success we really haven’t had a great rock star emerge, or a new artist that because of their talent make people see what the really are about.

Tamborine
Because of the amplification used during a concert tends to focus on bass and treble, the sound waves created by a tamborine settle somewhere with in the middle. This allows us as listeners to hear the tamborine more clearly because its wave is less cluttered and less distortion compared to other sounds produced through the amplification.

Sorry I Didn't Make It...

“The Mong” – Music Group Commentary, April 2007

MUSIC COMMENTARY

ARCHERS OF LOAF – ALL THE NATIONS AIRPORTS = 5 STARS
As Jay described it, “One of the seminal Noise Rock albums of the ’90s.” I figured a lot of people would hate this one but, like most of what I submit, I’m sharing another of my favorite albums, despite my predictions of its abuse. For me, the layers and tones of the guitars couldn’t be more beautiful in their controlled, deliberate chaos. Maybe it takes an ear that has mixed movies and music to hear the genius of the production and engineering of this album yet, even with all my snooty/technical appreciation of this album, I realize that the bottom line is the songs. For my money, there’s hooks a ‘plenty here and lyrically it is one of the best albums ever. In fact, listening to it again made me wonder if I need to reassess my desert island list. And, yes, I will continue to give five stars to most of my own selections because, as stated above, most of the time I’m sharing albums I love and/or are somehow monumental in propelling a genre or artist. This one is all of the above. Yup.

THE FRATELLIS – COSTELLO MUSIC = 3 STARS
Sounds and feels so much like so many other bands/artists that to make a list would be pointless. Still, I really, really enjoyed this one and gave it many listens. But while writing this, only ten minutes after giving it a final listen, I can’t hum one of its tunes or sing one of its melodies. I guess that puts it in the “instantly forgettable” category but I remember really liking at an “above average” level while listening, hence, my above average rating.

MATERIAL ISSUE – G’HITS = 3 (IF WE RATED G’HITS)
Man, I loved these guys when they first came out. Sometimes when one of their tunes from their debut album comes up on my iPod, I sing along like an idiot. But listening to it all together, it really sounds dated and derivative. I have a special place in my heart for them because some of their songs trigger great, specific memories, but I have to confess, it’s nostalgia that keeps me from being harsher.

TED LEO AND THE PHARMACISTS – LIVING WITH THE LIVING = 2.5 STARS
Overall, not bad, but all the songs are at least (At least!) one minute too long. The folk/punk/British Invasion fusion is successful and yet, despite a few seemingly intentional departures, it all sounds pretty much the same. I somehow wanted to like this more and gave it many listens to try and make that happen, but it didn’t.

TOPIC

Who killed the rock star?

I don’t think the rock star has been killed, just convoluted by the fact that the general public allows themselves to be led around like sheep to embrace whoever-the-fuck the media is shoving down their throats at any given moment. In fact, there’s more “rock stars” now than ever before, in music or otherwise, mostly because it has become McLuhan’s “Global Community.” There are so many people who are famous just for their celebrity that I find it quite (said like Mr. Spock) fascinating, actually. But I’ll tell you what: I’m sick of being made to feel like I’m out-of-touch because I don’t know and don’t care who the current top-runner is on “American Idol.” Man, I remember when a question with that level of lameness would earn you a punch in the face. Ah, those were the days.

April report

Fratellis – Aah, the signs of spring. The grass turning green, the Cubs snatching defeat from the jaws of victory, and a new over-hyped UK band hitting high on the charts. This year’s Arctic Monkeys are the Fratellis. I like the energy, but me thinks think they are a one-trick pony. Some of it tries just a little too hard to be clever (“Vince”). My kids are playing it constantly, and it is beginning to grate on me. 2.5 stars

Ted Leo – Good disc, I’ve wanted to check these guys out for a while. Songwriting and playing is solid throughout the disc, although trimming about 25 minutes off would have enhanced it significantly. As much as I appreciate the sentiment behind the protest stuff; “Coleen” and “A Bottle of Buckie” work a lot better for me than “Bomb Repeat Bomb”. 3 stars

Archers of Loaf – I liked the 2 piano driven songs best, “Chumming the Queen” and “Bombs Away” were excellent. The rest reminded me a little of Sonic Youth in that while I liked the guitar work, the vocals grated on me. Overall, didn’t do much for me.
2.5 stars

Material Issue – The thing I like best about our little group is that every once in a while, I get a disc of a band I’ve never heard of or forgotten about, and it blows me out of the water. This was one of those. Not a bad song in the 60+ minutes. “Goin’ Thru Your Purse” and “Kim the Waitress” are damn clinics in how to write perfect pop songs, the highlights of the disc for me. Exceptional collection, a keeper to be sure.


Discussion Questions

Who killed the rock star? I think it was a gang beat-down, and the following people were in on it:

Clear Channel Communications – Bought radio stations like I buy donuts. Made sure each one sounded just like the other one.

The US Government – FCC relaxing ownership laws which allowed Clear Channel to do what they did.

MTV – Made the music about the image, and then disregarded music completely

The Eagles – First band to usher in the $100 concert, gold-circle ticket crap

The recording industry – greed ushered in $17.98 list price discs. Decided the bottom line was more important than developing artists

Apple – Ipod encourages people to buy songs, making the album practically obsolete.

Bush – Not sure how, but he’s responsible for so many other deaths, what's one more?

Us – For putting up with all of the shit above

Why can you always hear the tambourine?

Is this a trick question? The purpose of the tambourine is to give the lead singer something to do when he is not singing, as typically he/she has no other discernable talent. As the lead vocalist is usually a prima-donna egomaniac, his/her microphone is mixed higher than everyone else’s. Hence, his/her dramatic tambourine banging becomes audible. Duh….

On Goal for Tuesday

Plan on seeing everyone Tuesday. I will be there closer to 8:00. Updated the score card FINALLY. Looks like three to review plus a ghits (Fratellis, Archers of Loaf and Ted Leo, ghits=Material Issue)- DK if there is a topic.

hasta en fuego muy fayo

March Synopsis by Osmosis

Since I wasn't at the last meeting this month's synopsis will be fake Italian.

I was a no at a meeting thees montha. Ita seems dat da music was a no a good. None of me gumbas likee da music too mucha. Lika a da lasagne with a bada parmesiana. But a the Hoople was a [put index finger, middle finger and thumb together at the lips and make a kissing noise], like a doolishus pepperoncini. Many a nice a cover a song was a said a and hear dat the beer was as tasty as a baby's bottom.

El finito

I have spoken my judge friend and believe he is interested. Will try and bring him April.

March Nonsense

The Good the Bad and The Queen – And here I said I’d be able to figure this out by the time we met. Not quite. I really liked it at first, partly, I believe because I was stuck listening to the same old same old shit lately and this at least was different. I could hear the melodies right away and figured his earnestness, songwriting ability and originality won me over. But then I listened to it again and it seemed to grate. For now, I’ll go with my first instinct and that is to give it a 3.5, but it is subject to change.

Bloc Party – I had read reviews of this before I knew we were going to review it and I think one reviewer hit the nail on the head when he commented that they should quit trying to turn every song into a masterpiece. I liked Silent Alarm and the best parts of this new disc sould like silent alarm. Too many times, though they take too long to get ot the musical point and feel the need to break away from a musical idea that is working and move the song in a different direction. And it just doesn't rock like the last one. This kind of thing only works if you are more skilled than they currently are. Still a solid, though frustrating disc. 3

Mott the Hoople – Totally overlooked band in my opinion. And I have always been one of the ones to overlook them. Although there is a sameness to some of the rockers, it comes off as a stylistic similarity rather than song similarity. And Hunter has the ability to sound as good on the slow stuff (maybe better) as he does the rockers. I like their sound the same way I like the Dolls sound. It just sounds of Rock. Really glad I have this and I'll probably go out and get the two disc CD that these songs came from.



5 Cover Songs That Outshine the Original

Sit Down I think I Love You – originally done by the Buffalo Springfield and covered by the Riffbrokers

First I look at the Purse – originally done by Smokey Robinson covered by the J Giels Band

Sonic Reducer – Originally done by Rocket From the Tombs covered by the Dead Boys (yeah, I know it is basically the same band, but the song is quite different when you switch in Bators for Thomas).

David Watts – Originally done by the Kinks and covered by the Jam

And Everything on the first Me First and the Gimme Gimme’s record especially Danny’s Song, Jet Plan and Tin Soldier.



5 bands that should never change their style or never should have

The list of bands/performers that shouldn’t change is as long as the list of bands I like – way too long to enumerate. Here are a few who should NOT have headed out in another direction.

Wilco – personal and artistic growth be damned – I liked them better when they sounded like Uncle Tupelo – so sue me.

Rod Stewart – It wasn’t just losing the Faces. Gasoline Alley, Every Picture Tells a Story and Never a Dull Moment are bona fide classics and today he is essentially a joke, envied only because of who he sleeps with

Steely Dan – The mellower they got the suckier they got

Bob Mould – Either Husker Du or Sugar – take your pick, but electronica and god knows what else is all wrong– please stop the madness and start making noise again.

I went in a different direction than most with the next question.

5 bands that should change – tough question because it assumes there is a difference between picking the wrong style and direction and just plain sucking. To the question – Is your team better than it’s record indicates, football coach Bill Parcells replied – you are what your record is. Would Emerson Lake and Palmer not suck if they chose a different musical direction? To that I reply - you are what your record is.

The Good The Bad & The Queen
Was a blind choice. Heard of the members of the group and saw some of the reviews and thought it would be an interesting cd. Boy was I wrong. Proof that parts don’t necessarily equal an interesting whole. I will waste your time no longer 1.

Bloc Party
Was not sure of these guys after their first cd. Lead singers voice was sometimes grating. Not with this cd. A great sophomore release. Catchy songs throughout. Lyrics that describe how and where these guys are. Songs that are melodic yet without losing their edge. Just one warning, as in the past with other brit pop bands hopefully with their continued earnest writing, they must avoid the Bono syndrome, which in a couple of the later songs they come close to mining. Not necessarily a bad thing but would rather they keep there own path than follow one already taken. Still find myself listening to it a lot much to my coworkers chagrin. 3.5

Mott the Hoople.
At times great, at times just a bad cover band trying to be the Stones. Was about 50/50 on the songs. Still when on they wrote some incredibly catchy tunes. Did find myself longing for cover version of songs rather than versions on here though.

Covers
Green Manalishi Judas Priest
All along the Watchtower Jimi Hendrix
I’m a Man Chicago
Pretty Woman Van Halen
I Can See Clearly Now Hothouse Flowers

Bands That should not have changed
Goo Goo Dolls
Saigon Kick
Texas

Bands that never ever ever should change
Motorhead needs to stay Motorhead

Bands That could use a fix
Genesis with Peter Gabriel
Stevie Wonder remembers the funk

Tom Petty needs to let Stan Lynch back in the band.
Rem needs to Bill Berry back.
Both have been really boring since their departures