Just in Time for the Holidays...

Raveonettes - In and Out of Control

From the very first note my immediate thoughts were, "Mongillo will HATE this and, while I'm usually a sucker for girl groups, I will agree with him. Everything I like about the girl group sound, this CD lacks. It doesn't have sweet lead vocals, it doesn't have great pop hooks, it misses on all counts on production...nothing here but a big kick drum and too much echo. On the positive side, there are little homages paid to the Shangri-Las and the Bangles, but I don't think I'll be listening to this again. 2 stars.

Avett Brothers - I and Love and You

I and love and this CD. There's a purity about the music...it's lyrically smart and the songs are well crafted. The title track and the The Perfect Space are really well done for minimalist production efforts and they make the best use of organ sound since Garth Hudson did his thing with the Band. The uptempo tracks have a little "5 Chinese Brothers" in them. I will have to go back and find more from these guys...wait, someone just did that for me with next month's "old". Awesome! 4 stars.

The Beat - The Beat

In the interest of full disclosure, I'm a power pop fan so I'm predisposed toward liking this more than those who are not so inclined to enjoy jangly guitars and oohs and ahhs. I can't find any fault with the songs here, or the vocals, or the music, but since I first heard this CD in college, it has lsot its relevancy to me somewhat. For me, Elvis Costello, The Clash and The Pretenders are the gold standard from this period. This is merely silver, or bronze when weighed against them. 3.5 stars.

Roseanne Cash - The List

Above average voice talent, above average musicianship, way above average material - these are some of the best all-time country songs - three great guest vocalists...mix them all together and we get...a below average CD. WHY? Because with all those ducks in a row, it should have been a MUCH better final product. It comes off as too slick, too safe and too predictable. Like a Porsche that never gets out of second gear. Nice to add to the Sunday AM i-Tunes mix, but I was hoping for more that that. 2.5 stars.

The Stone Roses - I missed this the first time around, and wouldn't you know it, I lost it THIS time around. My bad. When it turns up - and it will - I'll amend this post.

Dr. Dog - What's not to like about a bunch of guys from Philadelphia who cut their teeth playing on the Main Line and South Street.

Topics - First (because they ARE first), best debuts:

1. Meet The Beatles - All time biggest, most influential, blah blah blah...
2. My Aim Is True - Elvis Costello hit me right between the eyes...I still love Alison and Mystery Dance and Red Shoes and Welcome to theWorking Week and...
3. Led Zeppelin I - From Jimmy Page's first guitar lick, this was awe inspiring.

Comebacks...
1. Elton John - Songs From the West Coast. Even if you don't like him, it was his first really great record in years.
2. Frank Sinatra - The Main Event. Has to be the highest profile comeback ever. Great live record, too.
3. Some Girls - Rolling Stones. It took them 4 years to recover from losing Mick Taylor, but this was the result.

Cool Covers - The criteria I used was commercial success and a totally different take on the original.
1. Hound Dog - Elvis Presley
2. Devo - Satisfaction
3. George Harrison - I Got My Mind Set on You
4. Van Halen - You Really Got Me
5. Run DMC - Walk This Way
6. Yes - Every Little Thing

Favorite Instrumentals

1. The Nearest Faraway Place - Beach Boys
2. Mozart- Eine Kline Nacht Musik
3. Copeland - Fanfare for the Common Man
4. J Geils Band - Whammer Jammer
5. Eric Johnson - White Cliffs of Dover
6. Ventures - Walk Don't Run