pop yes, alt country blahs

Avett Brothers
I was invited to a party. As I approached the door I ask the doorman what were all these groups hanging around outside. He told me that the first group was the cave singers, and they weren’t allowed in because they write songs that you actually remember after you finish listening to the cd. The next group was the snake and crown guys. They weren’t allowed in because they actually have the nerve to use tempo and sound to build a dynamic within the song. So I went in and Wilco was there, so were Avett brothers and even the Black Crows. All declared at some point title holders of album of the year. As I entered the doorman informed me that I was lucky as they were about to play the Avett’s emotionalism cd. Well after the 1,736,521st slow depressing tune I had to leave. (Editors note there are only 9 of 14 slow songs on the disc) As I left the doorman asked where are you going they are about to play their new one. I said no thanks been there, counting crows wannabe’s with kings of Leon sheen. I’ll go outside, those groups are far more interesting. 1.5 mainly for the lyrics definitely not for the music.

Cheap Trick
This was going to be my response to another alt country cd. I went to all my hard rock metal sites looking for something to really annoy. At first it was going to be slayer’s new one but as I kept looking this cd kept showing up in the best of the year lists. And it belongs there. Ignoring the tribute to a fallen friend in the first song, what follows is 12 great pop rock songs. Beatles influences throughout, but cheap trick somehow makes them their own. They manage to have both nice and rocking tunes. Robin Zander still poses a brilliant voice and Rick Nielson plays the right notes at the right time and manages to have great riffs in between. If one of these pop tarts that are out now had decided to cover Slade’s When the Lights Go Out as well as its is done here the single would have been massive. This makes 2 really good cd’s in a row for these guys. 4.0 (their sgt pepper cd is a fun listen too)


Fastball
When I ran my media play this was the first cd that we were told to play overhead. Because of that I cannot listen to The Way any more. So after fast forwarding through that we get a nice collection of beatleesque type pop songs. Fire Escape I think is the best song they have ever written, but sooner or later is almost as good. What these guys do is make really good pop songs and again proving that most great pop songs are usually based on painful moments. 3.0 (their new cd released this year was pretty good too)


Lucero
Ah just what the doctor ordered, a taste of Jersey. Well lucky for us Lucero decided not to hitch their wagon on a diminishing star but follow in the footsteps of Marah and more recently Gaslight Anthem. Here, the songs are sung by a group who feels that that are living and feeling the words and music that they are producing, giving them a bit of edge needed to round out their sound. What that gives us is a strong band supported with riffs from all over the place. Organ, piano, guitar and a full horn section all get time up front filling in the blanks and keeping the songs moving. Yes the growl is up front and a bit rough, but they must be careful because when they slow it down and smooth it out they sometimes fall dangerously close to Wallflower territory. Somewhere no band wants to find themselves. Yes a bit of Jersey, but a nice listen anyway. 3.0


Them Crooked Vultures
I really hope these guys put out a second cd. Not because this is a great cd, it isn’t, but it has the potential to be the beginning of something great. Imagine if these guys went on the road for 200 dates over the next 18 months and then go back in the studio. Could be really cool. Instead we get a good first half and a repetitive second half. The riffs are there. The bass lines are excellent. There are moments that represent all three bands throughout the cd, but it’s when they blend them together the cd shines. Unfortunately the week part seems to be Grohls drumming. To tinny and reliant on repetitive cymbal runs. Still a good start, and hopefully more to come. 2.5


Gimmee Gimmees
Cover Songs fall in three types of categories. The first where the artist takes the song and makes it their own. The second where it’s a good song and its fun to hear it but the new version really does nothing for the song. The Last is please never play that song that way again. This cd has all of these moments and in about equal amounts. So I liked a third, thought a third was okay and skipped a third.

Christmas
Every Christmas morning the Lucas household we had the same routine. Mom would play a Child’s Christmas In Wales, followed by the Mormon Tabernacle Choir singing Christmas carols. Then came the unforgettable one, Mario Lanza.

So needless to say Christmas songs have been scarred for life.

As for the rock songs War is Over is good, First Snow by Trans Siberian Orchestra is epic in a Savatage sort of way, Do They Know its Christmas was fun but the one I like best is I believe in Father Christmas by ELP.