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