July-a-rama

July Music Club

Robert Palmer-Sneaking Sally Through the Alley.

As embarrassing as it is to admit, I have never listened to this in its entirety. I am glad I finally was force fed it, because without a doubt this is the best Palmer recording ever. He was a white groovemaster with “Addicted to Love” but SSTTA is far superior. Tight but not strangled, and the Little Feat comparisons are indubitable, since Lowell George was the producer. Almost perfect less the slightly long “Through it All There’s You”. (4.5)

Wolf Parade- At Mount Zoomer

Borderline classic”al” rock in style of play where they could have drifted off to Progville excess but luckily only skimmed the edges. WP’s songs had movements within them. “Soldiers Grin” and “Language City” are examples of these movements that kept the songs interesting. Main complaint I have is that the vocals were hard to decipher and could have benefitted from less studio manipulation. Otherwise this was a fairly enjoyable disc. (3)

Love and Rockets-Express

I was thrilled to finally get a Love and Rockets discs. I have always wanted to dive into them beyond the single. I am glad I didn’t dive in head first or I would have broke my neck. The lyrics were choppy, the music repetitive, and a 3 minute fade in for a slightly interesting opening number is unnecessary. Being a Cure fan, I should’ve liked some of this but I felt as if most of the songs weren’t really thought out clearly and each was padded beyond their god given usefulness. (1)

Plant/Krauss- Rising Sand

When I first listened to this last year it was quite a shock. Robert Plant sounded nothing like Robert Plant and his vocals blended harmoniously well with Krauss pristine singing. The songs are sparse with a sneaky, understated groove that can be slow at times but are well written, arranged and performed. “Please Read the Letter”, made my best of 2007 disc and only their cover of “Fortune Teller” is banished to immediate fast forward status. (3.5)

Big Star-Ghits

I understand the influences- Still, even after listening to this greatest hits, I do not understand what the fuss is all about. Big Star, in my opinion, wrote a couple of top shelf great songs (“September Gurls” hands down their best) and the rest can literally be dull as all hell and unoriginal. I know they are cited by all the rock critic gods as the 70s power pop answer to the next Mahavishnu, but not by I.

Topic

5 favorite songs from those we think suck.. I’m sure there are more

1. Take it Easy- Eagles
2. Toxic- Britney Spears
3. Only the Good Die Young- Billy Joel
4. Running on Empty- Jackson Browne
5. House of the Rising Sun- The Animals