Huh?

Robbie Robertson - Robbie Robertson 4.5

This has been a staple for me since it came out 1n 1987. Adding just the right amount of outside help when necessary, from The Bodeans, Peter Gabriel, Maria McKee, Ivan Neville, & U2. Produced by Daniel Lanois, which I think had just the right sound for me back then. I remember the cold war theme being a hot topic among musicians and he really made me worry that much more, after listening to “Showdown at Big Sky” I had even more nightmares about being toast.

Chris Isaac – Lucky – 4.5

Chris Isaac just oozes heartache. Mr. Lonely Man and Breaking Apart take my votes for coolest songs on the disk. Actually, I loved the entire disk, each listen got better and better. A little Elvis and a little Roy Orbison rolled into one on many tracks, but more than bearable. How is it that Chris Isaac has been around forever and the only song I’ve ever heard was “Wicked Game”? I think my wife would even listen to this on a lazy Saturday afternoon on the porch drinking a martini, at least until the martini kicks in and then I don’t know that we’ll be listening to music at all. This also might be the closest thing to country that I can be accused of liking.

Little Feat – GH

It’s hard not to like Little Feat. Their sound is so unique. I could keep them on in the background without getting annoyed, which is pretty good for me.

Blue October – The End – 1.5

I have to say that I was pretty excited about this band after I heard their single. After hearing the rest of the cd I’m not quite as excited. The lead singers voice never changed octave once, okay once on “My Never”. I probably could have done without “Blue Skies” too. I’ll give them some credit for sounding a little tiny bit original, but beside that, I wasn’t overly impressed.

Boomtown Rats – Songs for the Troops – 2.5

For some strange reason I don’t know, I’ve always like Bob Geldof. Maybe it was his rendition of “Pink” in The Wall. Whatever the reason, I like this cd too, it has some Bowie mixed with Queen and even a little Phil Lynnot sound, but I guess that it was 1979. The BTRs never seemed to have the same fame as other less talented bands of the same time, at least in the states. All in all it is a straight forward rock cd and it has piqued my interest in their other works.

One of the reasons I like rock and roll is because, in my formative years, I read interesting, exciting rock magazines with reviews written by interesting, knowledgeable and passionate rock fans/journalists. I imagine you did as well.

What are your five favorite rock magazines of all time? Discuss briefly each one’s influence on you.

I read whatever had a band I liked featured.

Drummer – I just liked reading about technique and style and the other drummers influences.

Rolling Stone (Not for their ridiculously liberal views, but for their top 100)

Five Favorite rock writers/critics?

Huh?