THE “NEAR MISS” MONTH

“The Mong” – Music Group Commentary: June, 2006

AMBULANCE LTD – LP = 4 STARS
If only the rest of the album maintained the amazing strength of the first four tracks, this would have been a solid “5.” I was rooting for it, but it seemed to wander a bit too much and so, despite enjoying all the songs that would amount to great B-sides, LP just missed perfection.

MITCH EASTER – DYNAMICO = 4 STARS
Despite the singing sounding exactly like The Get Up Kids nasaly vocals, the melodies and guitar work are first rate. Too few “albums” are complete, fully realized works from start to finish but DYNAMICO’s peaks and valleys, from song to song, make it a near masterpiece of Jangle/Power Pop.

L7 – HUNGRY FOR STINK = 0.5 STAR
Maybe it’s just because grrrl bands almost always seem and sound gimmicky to me, I could never get onboard with L7. And, given the perspective of time, I still can’t: this stuff sounds even more tired and contrived than it did when they broke big after Nirvana and even less accomplished in general chops than I remembered. Seriously, learn something other than a bar chords and 4/4 beats if you’re going to be this unoriginal. One-half a star for “Stuck Here Again.”

SOUNDS LIKE VIOLENCE – WITH BLOOD ON MY HANDS = 4 STARS
Several songs and moments of pure genius, brilliant songwriting, and inspired playing and singing/shouting, sandwiched by just a little bit too much same-sounding filler. So close…Ugghh!

TOM WAITS – G’HITS
Genius. ’Nuff said.

TOPICS

A repeat from recently yet always worth re-exploring. For now, I guess it remains as it did in November of 2006:
Top five “island” discs: 1) Nirvana: Nevermind 2) Beatles: White Album 3) Guided By Voices: Bee Thousand 4) Green Day: American Idiot 5). Beastie Boys: Check Your Head
If only one: Probably Check Your Head

Most influential artist (not band) to other artists (not necessarily my favorites):
Songwriter’s songwriter(s): Lennon/McCartney
Singer’s singer: Mick Jaggar
Guitarist’s guitarist: Duane Allman
Bassist’s bassists: Chris Squire
Drummer’s drummer: Neil Peart

Catch-up for last month:
RANCID – AND OUT COME THE WOLVES = 4 STARS
Another band I never get onboard with in the heyday of Grunge, mostly due to their radio singles, which is really all I ever heard. Certainly more Green Day than Nirvana, getting lumped into that “Post Post Punk” wave is why I never gave them a seriously listen, despite their staying power. Well, now that I have, and I’m man enough to admit I was wrong. This album is tight, fun, and, even ten years after its release, fresh. It still bothers me that the singer is almost always about a half-step out of key but it is punk rock, after all.