Against Us – Great rock album from a band that calls to mind The Hold Steady. Great anthemic rock, but how is it possible that we get two whoa oh oh oh Bruce Springsteen moments in two months. And one of them is from D’Arcy 4.0

Tame Impala - Oddly arranged, but interesting set of songs by a band that at times sounds like the post Pepper Beatles. I found it interesting, but don’t know if I’ll return to it as nothing really stood out. Interesting enough to be a 2.5 though.

Joe Jackson – Not much to be said here. A near, if not genuine, classic. 5

Peter Wolfe - This is a very nice album highlighted by his turns with Shelby Lynn, Neko Case, Willy Deville and Merle Haggard. Well-written, diverse, musically sound and great singing all the way around, but there really isn’t any ragged edge to push it over the top. Because it is so well done, it borders on uninteresting at times. I hate to describe it this way, but it’s just a little too nice to get more than a 4.

Concrete Blonde – Passable rock from these folks. Occasionally interesting, but not very often. 2.5

Paul Weller – Nice collection from an artist who was largely ignored in the States despite tremendous success overseas with both the Jam and Style Council. That being said, I would have left off the Jam stuff entirely. It’s impossible to pick that few songs and be right (the Jam Ghits could arguably cover 2 discs and not be complete) and you certainly can’t pick something that he didn’t even write, like David Watts. Major phopah there. OK to include David Watts in a Jam Ghits, not Paul Weller Ghits. I mean – c’mon!

Musical Taste Changes - My musical tastes have changed dramatically twice in my life. The first time was after hearing God Save the Queen for the first time. The second change was more gradual, but it came after hearing Uncle Tupelo for the first time.

My desert island discs have seen only one change in the years we’ve been doing this. Sing a Powerful Song by the Saw Doctors was replaced by Full House by the J Giels Band. I don’t really see anything on the list that I would consider moving off. I think there is the possibility that I could change three records, but the artists would not change. I could seen changing to other Neil, Stones or Bruce records. Here’s the list for reference. Oh and if you don’t at least own all of these, you’re a fuckin’ idiot.

Replacements - Tim
Clash - London Calling
Allman Brothers Band - Live at he Fillmore East
Little Feat - Dixie Chicken
Buzzcocks - Singles Going Steady
J Giels Band – Full House
Neil Young - Tonight’s the Night
Dictators - Go Girl Crazy
Matthew Sweet - Live in Chicago (bootleg)
Bruce Springsteen - Born to Run

Review from My Innerspeaker....urp...

Against Me!- White Crosses
Still vehement rockers with a message, just with a little spit and polish this time. Luckily their new understanding of finding and sustaining a good melody and how to use a studio hasn't totally dulled their energy, though they come close to too radio friendly "alt" rock. Instead it has made songs like "Suffocation" probable live anthems. Think Alkaline Trio without the sardonic and morbid humor. Nice to hear the occasional acoustic guitar and piano and the nod to rock god who started rock with a message. Good ought era modern punk. (3.5)

Concrete Blonde- Bloodletting
The song "Joey" still sucks beyond belief but my initial disdain for receiving this CD wasn't long lived as I found myself liking most of the songs once I gave them a chance. Get rid of the dated 80s engineering- big drum, low keyed guitars- and some of these songs ("Bloodletting", "Caroline" and "Days and Days") have staying power. (2.5)

Joe Jackson- Look Sharp!
Labeled New Wave when it came out, now it just sounds like a well rounded, varied rock album of well written songs performed by damn good musicians. Definitely a time capsule recording with its stop-start rhythm guitar and stripped down engineering. You hear all the instruments and their complexities. There are 50s, punk, jazz, riff rock and reggae influences throughout. It's dated but in a good way like an ambassador to late 1970's rock. (4.0)

Peter Wolfe- Midnight Souvenirs
Not our Junior High and High School Peter Wolfe. Poignant, well constructed songs sans the wooba gooba's overdrive- except for "Overnight Lows" which is full of good shwackin'. Just another example of a veteran 60+ rocker showing up the youngsters. Few songs wander into almost pop-country hell but overall a pretty darn good release worth having on the ol' Zune. "I Don't Wanna Know" will be on my year end compilation. (3.5)

Tame Impala- Innerspeaker
I stumbled upon one song off this and it sounded so different from what I have been listening to I decided throw it out there. It's big beat, psychedelic a la "Strawberry Fields Forever" - but sung by George- rock. I actually feel like I had a dozen bong hits after listening to it. The music is layered. There are Pink Floyd freak outs, some nifty guitar riffs, big huge drums, airy melodies and drugged up vocals. I found myself really liking it, but I also on other listens, found myself completely annoyed. So this has to be filed in "Listen when in certain frames of mind". Still it gets a (3.0)

Peter Weller Ghits
This mix proved to me (my opinion hence is coming) that the Weller solo stuff is his strongest, followed by the Jam with the Style Council lagging waaaaaay behind. The latter having too much representation on this mix. Weller is another songwriter who doesn't get his due. His music never stays in one place and I think he'll be vibrant for years to come. Thanks Sandy for making me put Weller on my Zune, which I was sadly missing.

Topic
How has your musical interests changed over the years. Or have they? I consider myself to have a wide musical palette. My interests will sway from genre to genre but within genres my taste is pretty consistent. My country will never be the pop-country. My metal is heavy. My jazz is from 1949-1969 etc....

Is your desert island your desert island. That's it. Never Changes. Or, do you shift albums in and out based on what you're into at the time. Mine does fluctuate and it does depend on what I am into at the time or have gotten back into.

Are there albums that will remain on your desert island list forever- no matter what? And, what are they? I have a couple that I think will never get booted of the list- "Blood on the Tracks" and "Ragged Glory"

Single-Sentence-Blitz!

The Mong
Music Group Commentary
September 2010

Against Me! – “White Crosses” = 2 Stars
Overly earnest and over-produced.

Concrete Blonde – “Bloodletting” = 1.5 Stars
As dull and mediocre as I remember it.

Joe Jackson – “Look Sharp!” = 5 Stars
Who’d’a known that this funky white boy R&B new wave pop would age like fine wine?!

Tame Impala – “Innerspeaker” = 3 Stars
Moments of brilliance contrasted by moments of utter boredom.

Peter Wolf (& Friends) – Midnight Souvenirs = 2.5 Stars
Competent and serviceable but ultimately forgettable.


Paul Weller – G’Hits
If this really is the best of Paul Weller (in his many incarnations/collaborations) than it’s official: I really do only like Paul Weller as The Jam.


Topic
1. How has your musical interests changed over the years. Or have they?
I don’t hate Reggae as much as I once did; other than that, though, my taste and interests really have not changed. I am always open to new bands and young artists in nearly every genre and style so I guess you could say I’m proud that my musical interests haven’t changed over the years.

2. Is your desert island your desert island. That's it. Never Changes. Or, do you shift albums in and out based on what you're into at the time.
Definitely shifts. I have all-time-great loves for band and albums but, end of the day, I’m probably going to pick my last great love affair. For example, right now if I could only pick one album (not a forever album), it’d probably be Wilco’s “Sky Blue Sky.”

3. Are there albums that will remain on your desert island list forever- no matter what? And, what are they.
The four most likely candidates that would be “forever” albums are The Beatles “White Album,” Nirvana, “Nevermind,” Guided by Voices, “Bee Thousand,” and Green Day, “American Idiot.” And probably even the last two are iffy. Can we pick ten artists entire catalogs? That’d be easier.

His Coolness

Paul Weller GH –
I have to say again, that I am not cool enough to listen to Paul Weller either. I had no idea how good he is, I don’t know of one song in this collection that I couldn’t tolerate. It may or may not be a surprise that I like his solo work better than the Jam or Style Council, but there wasn’t anything bad here either. I think I need to start broadening my musical horizons. Insert smart ass comments here.

Tame Impala – 3.5
It’s about time that a band came out that sounds just like old Pink Floyd and The Beetles. Why no one thought to use them as influences before I’ll never understand. Actually, Tame Impala was more like Radiohead covering the Beetles and Pink Floyd.

Joe Jackson – Stepping Out 4
Let me start by saying that I am not cool enough to listen to Joe Jackson. And I sure as hell wasn’t cool enough to listen to him in high school. I didn’t even own a skinny tie.

Concrete Blonde – Bloodletting 4
Concrete Blonde is like Type O Negative, they either have really great songs or just mediocre ones. As far as I’m concerned they don’t have any flat out bad songs. Tomorrow Wendy might be the best song ever written, well maybe the second best. Anyway, Johnette Napolitano’s voice is as strong and sexy as any woman in rock. Here I go again being all hot on some messed up rock chick.

Against Me – 3.5
This band is awesome. I kept thinking of Graham Bonnet Rainbow, the guy from Quiet Riot and The Offspring. I bet that they would be amazing live. Each song was different enough to keep my attention. This was a tough month to pick the cd of the month but this is close if not number 1.

Peter Wolf – 3
This was my most anticipated cd of the month. At first I was feeling a bit let down. He sounded like a happier Lou Reed. After listening to the lyrics I started liking it more and more. It wasn’t my favorite of the month but it was right up there. I still need a few more listens, but all in all some pretty clever music.


To that end-
1. How has your musical interests changed over the years. Or have they?
My taste hasn’t changed, but it has matured. I still find myself attracted to certain types of music, mainly emotional songs. Lots of orchestration with big long emotional feeling solos. I have outgrown (or just overplayed) a few bands that I loved to death when I was younger, but the style typically remains the same.
2. Is your desert island your desert island. That's it. Never Changes. Or, do you shift albums in and out based on what you're into at the time.
90 percent are still in my hut, but I’ve sent off for another 10% that have replaced the first 10%

3. Are there albums that will remain on your desert island list forever- no matter what? And, what are they.
Rush – Moving Pictures
Tool – Aenima
Foo Fighters – In Your Honour
Tom Waits – Raindogs
Pink Floyd – Animals
Roger Waters – Amused to Death
Marillion – Clutching at Straws
Faith No More – Angel Dust
Dave Matthews Band – Crash
AC/DC – Back in Black
I think that it’s more realistic to say that if I had an island playlist it would more likely remain the same forever, than full cds.