Why Try Being Cool When What I like Is All That Matters

Music Group 7-20-10

Willie Niles
It would have been easy to say this is a Dylan wanna be that stays close to Petty styling's. But as I listened to it more I was reminded more of Mike Scott. Either his later solo stuff or the second and third Waterboys cd’s. Either choice is an accurate although he lacks Dylan’s poetry, Petty’s sense of pop and Scott feel for big music. When on the soapbox he does tend to over hammer the point home. Plus if you are going to name your cd House of a Thousand Guitars, have some more guitars in it. 2.5

Grease Band
So I am guessing these guys are big fans of the Dead and the Band, and possibly Average White Band. Found out later these guys were famous studio guys who played for a whole bunch of people. What you have is songs of decent length that usually include a decent jam or Riff. I don’t know what it is but why is it that bands of this era and ilk always had to include the slow soul inspired tune on each of their discs. Well again proving the point they usually don’t work, nor do the other slower ballad type tunes. That said the jams are good and the songs decent. 2.5

Hot Hot Heat
Quirky? Yes. So what. Have listened to this three times over the past month and for the life of me cannot remember a tune or feel a need to put it on ever again. 1

The National
A band that continually makes what I consider one of the top 15 cd’s of the year whenever they release a cd. This year that will probably change is this is one of the best discs of the year. A true gem that reveals more of itself with each listen. The musical background that supports these songs are only matched by the lyrics that accompany them. The National have a sound are one of the few bands that have a distinctive sound that is truly theirs, and have the chops to actually improve it overtime. 4.0

Matthew Sweet
Yes Richard Lloyds guitar playing on here is amazing. But at times that is the problem. It almost seems that he is fighting with his guitar when a softer approach could have been better. On Girlfriend he was able to marry both but on here sometimes the song gets lost behind the fret runs. Don’t get me wrong this is a great pop record, one that holds up with time. However, at 14 songs it maybe 3 songs too long from being a truly classic cd. 3.5

Bloodhound Gang
Famous for two songs that are truly the only original songs on this collection. The rest are tributes to all the famous 80’s rap artists you can think of. You get The Beastie Boys, Biz Markie, Young MC, Busta Rymes, hell they even cover Run DMC.(extremely badly) All of which were far better and clever than the cheap imitations Blood Hound Gang provides. These guys rely on one joke and it wears thin quickly. If I want eights rap, which is a rarity at best I think I will look elsewhere.

Ratings
2.5 An average cd. Something that if it came on the radio I wouldn’t turn off, but I probably wouldn’t put it on either.
3.0 A good cd. Something I would play every once in a while.
4.0 My regular music rotation. These cd’s are the ones I visit and want to play regularly.
5.0 The perfect cd. I cd with no filler. If you ever find yourself fast forwarding over a track then its no longer a 5. Probably a strong 4 but not a 5
2.0 Below average. Might listen to it but probably will fast forward or change station
1.0 Not good. Might have a song on it that’s okay, but for most part not my cup of tea
0.0 Sonic Youth

I keep mostly anything that scores over 3. 4’s and 5’s make the ipod, and I probably cherry pick songs from the 3’s

As I have wizened beyond my years I am through being cool, therefore what makes me cool is what other people should listen to if they want to be as cool as me. So these are the bands that if other people understand then they are as cool as me. Besides we are music geeks, that alone proves we aren’t cool.

Lou Reed: Hell he’s Lou Reed
Luna: Just has something about them
Manic Street Preachers: They have the rock cliché story and they rock.
The Wildhearts. Come on I dare you tell me Ginger doesn’t belong on this listThin Lizzy. Get past the Boys are Back in Town and Phil Lynott was the shit.