Proclaiming “Jazz Sucks” (Except for Queen’s “Jazz”) Does Not Make Me a Racist!

The Mong / Music Group Commentary / October/November 2011

Dennis Coffey – Self Titled = 2 Stars
Anachronism is an understatement here. In short, whatever. Next.

Beth Hart & Joe Bonamassa – “Don’t Explain” = 2.5 Stars
To me, the only thing worse than actual Jazz/Blues is “Commercial Jazz/Blues” destined for a Starbucks Coffee featured music selection of the week. Is “Don’t Explain” tight and well-produced? Yup. Is everyone involved a monster musician? Undeniably. Is it listenable? Sure. Is it relevant? As relevant as Sting’s solo albums, I suppose. Does my opinion on this matter? No, not really, because this album does exactly what it sets out to do. ...I’m just not its intended audience.

The Jayhawks – “Hollywood Town Hall” = 3 Stars
Sadly, the great songs here are easy to miss because so much of the tunes sound the same and there are easily no less than five too many tracks on this album.
[And come to find out at the meeting that this has five bonus tracks so go figure.]

Queen – “Jazz” = 4 Stars
Although not my favorite Queen album (which is “News of the World”), this is still a nearly-perfect album. I think D’Arcey is trying to “Mongillo” his way into the top-ten with this one; I only wish I thought of it first.

Trombone Shorty – Live Somewhere that I’m Glad I Wasn’t = 0 Stars
You’d think an artist named “Trombone Shorty” would know enough to have the horn section tuned-up with the rest of the band before walking out on stage! Oh...it’s Jazz (Jazz-ish, anyway)...so I must be too white to appreciate dissonant chord structures. No, wait, it’s not me: these assholes just aren’t in tune...for the whole fucking recording! This is a fact; not my opinion. WTF?!?!

G’Hits – Warren Zevon
I want to like Warren Zevon more than I do but I don’t. Always interesting to listen to (specifically because his lyrics are usually great) but I probably won’t be revisiting this stuff anytime soon.