Post before playing soccer in Earl

August 2010
Music Club

Bash and Pop- Friday Night is Killing Me
Not being a big Replacements fan - though I respect their output- I dismissed Stinson's band release when it came out. I'm kicking myself now. B&P has all the good attributes of a Replacements disc; the energy and raw pop. It also sounds eerily close to Keith fronted Stones. FNIKM stumbles a bit on the ballads ("Nothing", "First Steps") but that's what fast forward is for. Otherwise a big shame on me for dissing this when it was released (3.5)

Icarus Himself- Mexico
Stripped down, reverb heavy, brooding self inflections with many audio highs and lows. Quirky instrument combos ranging from cheesy organ to punchy Spanish horns to horror movie synths. Somehow much of it works. What doesn't work for me are the electronic drum loops. The faux beats sound thin could have been heavier to help drive the songs. (3.0)

Titus Andronicus- The Monitor
Titus Hails from Jersey but sounds nothing like Jersey. The Monitor is either an important disc, or it is an important disc to Titus. There is obviously deep meaning in each song but to pinpoint it is not easy. Do they hate? Are they pessimistic? Or, do they just think the state of everything sucks? The music has an Irish punk theme interspersed with belly up to the bar chants. The lyrics are intriguing BUT only after you look them up since the one drawback to The Monitor is that often you can't tell what the hell he is saying. The energy is great, but if there is indeed a deep message it is lost since we can't understand you. Annunciate please and scrap the Civil War like snippets and this is a close 5. As is a (4.0)

X
Sorry. Don't get it. Never listened to much X but read a lot about their importance in the alt LA punk scene. Problem is that, to me, it sounds like bad B-52s trying to do punk. The music isn't that good, songs not that intriguing and Exene is a close second to Linda McCartney as worst female vocalist. Give me John Doe's solo work any day. (1.0)

Hanson- Shout it Out!
Of course just the idea of having to listen to a Hanson disc elicits thought of total gayness. I figured I'd test our sensibilities, plus there wasn't a hell of a lot else out there. Personally, Hanson aren't total shlubs. Taylor has good pipes and Zach can play the guitar. They have moments of white man funk that are pretty catchy ("Thinkin' 'bout Somethin'", "Give a Little"). They also have their very radio friendly, formulaic pop ("Carry You There", "Make it Out Alive"), which actually doesn't get played on the radio- but is better than most that is. Oh yeah, a couple cuts just plain suck ("Musical Ride", "Voice in the Chorus"). Cutting edge, hardly. Well produced, written and performed songs- I think sure. (3.0)

Blue Oyster Cult Ghits
When D'Arcy handed this out, in my mind I said "Bleech" and threw up a little in my mouth. But let me say, 90% of this rocked. Take away the songs about their drug use where they tried to be introspective and thought inductive and this is a great mix.

Topic
In this age of specialization can a public radio station survive without any true format? Just play what ever songs whenever they want. I think it could because I believe there is a market for it. It's not a big market but there are a lot a folks not happy with the options provided and would welcome something fresh and unexpected.

Does a station like this exist? College radio

When driving in the car while listening to the radio (if you still do) when a "classic song" comes on do you listen to it or switch the station to something else? Depends on mood and of course the song. If it's a song I love, I keep it otherwise I'm scanning. But, even with songs I love, if it happens to be the only song that is ever played by a certain band on every station, I'm probably scanning.