Great Quarterly Meeting Look Forward to June's

Amos Lee

Just not a big fan of someone who I think is a combination of Norah Jones and James Taylor. These cds always seem to leave me wondering where is the urgency, and does everything have to have the same beat? Far too often it is a slow song with a slow build at the end to show emotion. If there were more songs like Windows are Rolled Down we might be on to something but unfortunately we get Willie Nelson instead. 2.0

Riot

Before hard rock became a fashion plate there were a bunch a bands that started in the late 70’s early 80’s who laid down the foundation for the others that followed. Some like Priest and maiden thrived. Others caught lightning in a bottle then tried to repeat it with little success, falling victim to trends, bad ideas or just bad music. Fire Down Under was one of the great cds to come out of this era. From the opening chords of the first single/song Swords and tequila till the end they don’t let up. They pay homage to their heroes along the way but lean to the inspired by rather than blatantly copying. You can hear their influences throughout, but you can also hear who they influenced too. This was their best as the group had a revolving door of members that never seemed to be as focused as they were here. Feel the same and Outlaw should have been rock classics, unfortunately like this cd they are lost amongst the weaker sludge that followed. 4.0

Todd Rundgren

What makes Todd Rundgren a great producer is his ability to act like a chameleon and blend into whoever he is working with? Unfortunately for two thirds of this cd he chose to sound like the cross of carol king and Neil Sedaka. Yes two of his biggest singles are on here but until what would have been side 4 the rest of the cd just plunks along with no real changes. The final side does give the cd some life but by then it’s too late. And did we really need to know that he was all alone in the studio with his witty observations before the song begins 2.0

Accordion

Not sure what this collection was trying to accomplish. If it was to show how great accordion playing can be found in songs it misses badly. Because most of the songs here are slow to mid tempo with the accordion basically there to add atmosphere. In some cases it was just there briefly and could be missed. If it was a way that some artists have used the accordion in their music then that’s a little closer. But if that what you were trying to prove then there should have been at least Weird Al song, as he was always proud of playing the accordion.

Wire

A band that I have always heard of but have never heard. Just a really good record. Right from the start there with please take the band settles into a nice groove and carries it through the whole cd. Not a bad song on the cd 3.5

Mt St Helen’s

As the band we had the longest to listen to it also had the most listens. Just never seemed to really get into it and I can’t tell you why. Songs singular were good but together it tended to fade. Not that it was bad, just never really grabbed me as a listener. 2.0

4 star cds

Kiss Destroyer

Kinks Low Budget

Queen Night At The opera , Jazz

Pete Townshend Empty Glass, White City

Who Who Are You Who’s Next

REM Murmur

Beatles Everything after rubber soul inclusive minus yellow submarine and white album

Mathew Sweet Girlfriend