10 years is never enough but will have to do

BB King
I am a firm believer that blues is a music that should be heard live and is done a disservice whenever it is recorded. This is a perfect example of this. While BB Kings playing is great it never is really explosive. I am sure live it would have been inspiring. This probably is caused by the production. Because not only is the guitar subdued the background instrumentation is totally lost. Which is a shame because I would have liked to have heard more interaction between the horns and the solos, instead I got standard fills.
2.0

Coldplay
The problem I have with Coldplay is that there cd’s just are so flat. Yes you have Chris Martin soaring vocals. Yes there music is brit pop with grandiose tendencies. But other than the singles the rest of the cd’s tend to just blend together. This one is no different. The singles are okay with some decent guitar work. But the rest is buried behind a wall of sound obscured by rather average keyboard work. 1.5

Pink Floyd
Was driving to work at 4 in the morning the other day, and this cd was still on. I thought how appropriate. The last time I probably listened to a full Pink Floyd cd was at 4 in the morning. Of course I was still awake from the night before, there were a lava lamp and smoking paraphanalia were also present. Which might explain why I was listening to Pink Floyd. Haven’t felt the urge to do so that recently either. Was impressed with musician ship but got easily lost in the psychadelia of it all. Started off great with a good rock beat and then the tangents set in. Doubt a Pink Floyd cd will grace my ears anytime soon but if it does I will reach for Animals and pass on the Saucers. 1.5

TV on the Radio
Saw these guys on Letterman and thought why all the hype. Yes multi racial band with multi format pedigree, but so what where are the tunes. So now I am listening to the cd and thinking, A bit better but not great. First two tunes are truly good then the next are decent but as we go along it does really improve that much. Not sure of the multi format hype. Just sounds like a straight ahead pop record with some extra studio help 2.5

Dramarama
I can tell you the moment that I knew these guys were special. It was a toads they had just started their second song, 70’s TV, and Clem Burke had broken three drumsticks just in the intro. The song kicked in and I said wow. Went and bought the whole catalog the next day and have been listening to them ever since. And what’s not to like? Two strong guitarists that share both lead parts in a strong double guitar attack. A collection of excellent drummers supported by interesting bass. And John Easdale. An exceptional front man who writes great lyrics. Yes some of his Pop references are a bit dated, but he has managed to put Laurie Partridge, Wonderama, Jacks, Pez and quote Nancy Reagan, in his songs. That’s just awesome. His look on life has led to a catalog with hardly any filler songs. Last Cigarette, Incredible, Haven’t Got a Clue are just brilliant songs. And they even throw in an occasional great cover song too. Have seen them every time I can, and hope that one day I will again.


My dates. 1974-1982 and 1993

Hey I am a seventies guitar rock/ New Wave of British metal sort of guy. And this was the pinnacle of that music. Be it Queen, UFO, Thin Lizzy, Priest and Iron Maiden all their best were released here. Plus it is the time that I started to see everyone and anyone who was touring. But the kicker is that I am a sucker for classic AM radio pop singles. And I defy anyone to find more guilty pleasures in an era better than that.

Finally I threw in 1993 because that way I get the Wildhearts first cd, the Manic Street Preachers second, and one Dramarama cd. Then all my favorites are covered.

I do miss the college rock years, but I get the early police and talking heads to cover that, and hell I’ll just turn up my punk cd’s. Would rather be listening to the Damned, Ramones and the Clash anyway. (although I bid adieu to the Replacements, Husker du and Soul Asylum.

Now the best year in rock history has to be 1973 and I didn’t even include it my range. If you look at the list of cd’s released that year it is incredible. Now although most of these discs aren’t in my regular playlist it is because of them I now listen to what I do. I may like cd’s that came out later, but this is the year that changed rock.