Ken's Quite Late Review Post

Van Halen- Women and Children First

Pushing 30 years later this disc still rocks and entertains. Their winking bravado made being a pig fun and en vogue and few bands could follow the party banger “Take Your Whiskey Home” with the vaudevillian “Could This Be Magic” and make it work. There is only one VH and it is with David Lee Roth. (4) ps. I still see dancing hamburgers during “Everybody Wants Some”….

Thermals- Now We Can See

Pretty much a follow-up to The Body, The Blood, The Machine and at first was a letdown. Lucky for me, I kept listening and lo and behold it proved to be another kick ass, intense Thermals release. Still primarily a boom-boom-boom in your face band, they actually slowed it down a few times, most notably on “Liquid In, Liquid Out”. Get past the abrasive guitars they have a lot to say. I know this isn’t for everyone, but it is for me. (4)

And You Will Know Us By The Trail Of Dead- So Divided

If Robert Smith and Britt Daniel created a symphonic rock album- this would be it. This is prog-rock that doesn’t need to go on for 8 minutes to get their ideas out. It’s complex in a teaser way. Quite interesting and quite engaging. (4)

Green Day- 21^st Century Breakdown

American Idiot all over again. There is little that is overly compelling less a couple of good rock songs. Not to say this is garbage but I expected more. If they insisted on doing another concept album why did it have to be with the same sentiment and basically the same ideology. Oh, I know why- “automatic ka-ching”. IMHO Foxboro Hot Tubs was a better concept album that this. (3)

Genesis- Best Of

I will bandy together with Greg here- I like early genesis up to Three Sides Live then it all goes to Hell. So this mix was a fine selection to moi, except; “Man on the Corner” and “Paperlate” are omissions that were worthy and some listed never actually made the disc. The goofy song list originally provided was find by me as I used it as a quiz to see if I could remember the songs. Greg- I’m sure you’re going to take a beating for this but I got your back.

Topic;

1. What are you choice for the five greatest songs that didn’t get airplay (that you know of)?

This is hard. Does this count college stations, late night odd ball shows, Satellite and internet radio, NPR? Commercial country or, just commercial radio? If it’s the latter I don’t listen to it unless my daughters are in the car and force me to (better to oblige than to be squawked at incessantly) and then it is only one of 3 stations- sorry guys they don’t listen to CCC. I will make assumptions that this is like where the B side is better than the A side. Unless, we are talking about those artists who don’t release singles or about the AOR stations of old. Aw hell, this is the best I can do…. There is so many

· Any original recording of Robert Johnson

· The Drive By Trucker catalog

· “Beautiful Beat” Nada Surf

· “Give Me Back My Dog” Slobberbone

· “Purr” Sonic Youth

2. Name three one line lyrics that you think are brilliant.

· I put my lips to her face, trying to brush his kiss out of its place

· I see the light at the end of the tunnel, Someone please tell me it’s not a train

· Look me in the eyes and tell me if I’m satisfied

· I wish that just one time you could stand inside my shoes, and see what a drag