Poobah Apologizes for His Delay

Heartless Bastards- Arrow

If Marc Boylan was alive and enlisted The Snake The Cross The Crown and drifted into making Americana music it would have become the Heartless Bastards. There is a trippy-ness to “Arrow”. It could fit nicely in the late 60’s early 70’s pre-disco rock era- kind of in my sweet spot. “Arrow” is not perfect but when that trippy groove connects (“Skin and Bones”) it’s addictive. The rocked up songs trump the slower songs which straddle interesting and dirge. Overall pretty good. (3.0)

Hives-Les Hives

The Hives are at their best when they just play punked up, fuck you rock. God knows there is a load of it on “Les Hives”. What makes their last two releases so interesting is that they have slowed down some songs making them poppier, which is almost against what the Hives stand for- except in this case poppier is equated to sounding like the Ramones. They also throw in complete oddball songs (for the Hives) like “Without the Money” or “I Want More”. In any case, The Hives=Fun and “Les Hives” is fun. (4.0)

Public Limited LTD- Album

It’s been eons since I have listened to this and personally I think it holds up quite well. There is the expected Johnny Lydon sneer and hard driving punk-pop noise. My only complaint is that the songs do drag on a little beyond their usefulness. Example is the single “Rise” which could have been shaved to a 3:30 great song instead of 6+.  (3.5)

Supertramp-Crime of the Century

This was a bit of a surprise. This held up better than I thought it would. For me Supertramp provided pluckable songs but generally didn’t keep my interest for entire albums. Crime of the Century did keep my interest and was much more jazzy prog-art-rock than I remember. Will I pull it out to listen more often-nah- but it was more enjoyable than I planned it to be. (2.5)

Uncle Tupelo

No questioning the importance of this band and the new genre they helped blossom (with earlier help from Neil Young and Graham Parsons). I have always preferred their twangy rockers and pure country tunes over their nuanced songs which drag to me. The groups they spawned are also pretty nifty. Nice mix.

Topic

Very hard. I had to throw away personal preferences in doing the first list…….

In no specific order.

5 greatest American Bands all time

·         REM- brought back artsy, college jangly music and influenced the 80s indie scene

·         Kiss- though not most talented band they set bar for Arena shows and influenced countless bands

·         Allman Brothers- begat southern and jam rock

·         Velvet Underground- indie band of all indie bands

·         Uncle Tupelo- see above

5 greatest American Band now.

·         Black Keys

·         The Decemberists

·         Green Day

·         Wilco

·         Drive By Truckers

OK, So I Skipped A Month...Better Me Than Your Girlfriend.

Heartless Bastards – Arrow
This band is new to me, though clearly I should have heard of them over the past couple of years. They strike a similar chord to the Black Keys and the White Stripes, but what really sets them apart is Erika Wennerstrom…what a terrific voice! The songs are tight, compact and sparse, but with an energy that pushes them forward, and the guitar work is nothing to sneeze at, either. 4

Public Image LTD – PIL
I was a Johnny Lydon fan in the late ‘70s, and I remember waiting for the first Public Image LTD album with great anticipation, and though I haven’t listened to it in years, I recall not being let down. By the time this album came out, Lydon was the only original member of the band, and listening to it now, it reminds me why I stopped listening to them…they transformed from a ‘punk’ band to a drum-driven pop/dance kind of thing, which I generally don’t like, regardless of who sings or plays. I remembered very little of this, and there were really no pleasant surprises for me in re-hearing it, but if you like this sort of thing, it’s not awful. 2

The Hives – Lex Hives
Right from the first drum beat and ‘4 count’ of “Come On” through “Midnight Shifter”, this was hot! It was great fun to listen to…laser beam focused on doing what they do best, and only what they do best…better production than their earlier efforts, too, although I must admit that when I heard “Go Right Ahead”, I thought of Jeff Lynne suing the shit out of them, bringing “Don’t Bring Me Down” to trial and playing the first 16 bars of each song to make his point. Anyway, that aside, this is as good as ‘garage pop’ gets… my favorite of the month…4.

Supertramp – Crime of the Century
When this came out, you couldn’t avoid “Bloody Well Right” on the radio, and so it seems a shame that classic rock stations today with their tight playlists can’t find room for this song and others of the ‘semi-progressive’ ilk like this one, but one song doesn’t an album make. I haven’t really listened to this over the years, but was pleasantly surprised in hearing tracks like “Dreamer” and “Asylum” with fresh ears. This is good, solid ‘semi-progressive’ rock. Not as inventive as Yes, though not as cloying as Styx, and so just for that one song, it DOES have a place in a lifetime rock library. 3

Topic - 5 Greatest AMERICAN Bands of all time

1. Bruce Springsteen & the E Street Band
2. The Ramones
3. The Beach Boys
4. Aerosmith
5. The Allman Brothers Band

5 Best Armeican Bands still 'out there'...

1. Bruce Springsteen & the E Street Band
2. Metallica
3. Brian Setzer Orchestra
4. Green Day
5. Aerosmith

Greg's Heartless Reviews

PIL – Album – 4

Always wanted to get this album, I’m so glad I did.  Nothing like what I’m familiar with on any Sex Pistol album, the songs have great melody and just get better and better as the album progresses.  One complaint is that there were only 7 songs, another two or so wouldn’t have hurt.  Especially since a couple of other artists that I’ve given 1 and 2 rating seemed to have 30 plus songs.  Ease and Rise both stood out as the best songs on the cd.  John Lyden’s voice can, however, get a bit annoying after a while. 

Hives – Lex Hives – 4

First real experience with the Hives.  I wonder if Dave Grohl listened to these guys, the definitely seem to have been an influence on the Foo Fighters and even Queens of the Stone Age.  Every song is catchy and full of fun, I can certainly see why Mong loves this band live, their energy is through the roof.  They don’t waste time with long drawn out songs either except for the Ina Gada Davida’ish “Patrolling Days”.  Super happy that this album was proposed, I’m sure with this group it’s a sure top 10.

Uncle Tupelo – GH

Waaaaaay too hicky.  Reminds me of what might have been if the Grateful Dead started as a blue grass band.

Supertramp – Crime of the Century – 4.5

Great album cover, great balance of Roger Hodgkins and Rick Davies, both have such great unique voices.  One of the best albums of the 70’s, fortunately they radio stopped playing Bloody Well Right to death so I actually enjoyed hearing it again.  I wonder if Roger Waters listened to the song Crime of the Century before he wrote The Wall?  It sure has that feel.

Heartless Bastards – Arrow - 2

Simple Feeling is an awesome song! Otherwise the album sounded a lot like My Morning Jacket.  The singer’s voice makes me want to fall asleep. 

1) Name the 5 greatest American bands in music history

            Beach Boys

            Lynyrd Skynyrd

            Van Halen

            Aerosmith

            Journey

           

2) Name the 5 greatest currently working American bands

            Beach Boys

            DMB

            Eagles

            Foo Fighters

            Bruce Springsteen ESB          

Reeling from the shock of D'Arcy being the first one to post...

Heartless Bastards – A band I should like more than I do. The good songs are really good, like “Simple Feeling” and “Got to Have Rock and Roll”.  The longer, more bloated tracks seem to go on for an eternity, notably “Low Low Low”.   Listened to this a lot thinking it would click, but about half of it never quite did. 3 stars

Hives – When you’re a one trick pony, you have to rely on execution and the songs, and the Hives nail both here. Catchy garage rock with tons of energy, an ideal summer disc.  What’s most impressive is the subtle touches they throw in to keep it interesting, a little sax here, some organ there.  Lots of fun, and I can’t help but love a band that so blatantly rips off both ELO and Joan Jett within the first 10 minutes of the disc.  4 stars

PiL – Forgot what a great song “Rise” is, by far the highlight.  The rest of it lacks the power and the anger that made the Pistols so great.  Not that this is a bad album, but I can’t help but compare it to the Pistols, and it falls way short.  Parts of it sound like Lydon watered down the intensity in an attempt to reach a wider audience.  Not bad, but not great either.  2.5 stars

Supertramp – Not even going fake objectivity.  I absolutely hate this band and always have.  Their precocious little ditties annoy me, especially the ones with the testicles-in-a-vice vocals.  I have an urge to punch someone in the kidneys every time I hear the opening keyboard riff of “Dreamer”.  On a positive note, thank God it wasn’t “Breakfast in America”. 1 star

Uncle Tupelo –UT gave birth to alt-country.  No other band so successfully married punk with traditional country music.  They were authentic players in both forms, evidenced here by covers of both The Soft Boys and the Carter Family.  Their output was limited, but their influence has been huge, and they left three great bands in their wake (Wilco, SonVolt, Bottle Rockets).  After Chuck Berry, St. Louis’ greatest contribution to music, and they absolutely belong in the DYN HOF.

Best American Bands

The Ramones
Bruce Springsteen & the E Street Band
REM
Creedence Clearwater Revival
Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers

Best Working American Bands

My Morning Jacket
Wilco
Gaslight Anthem
Drive By Truckers
Fountains of Wayne

Trying something new...posting with reasonable time

Heartless Bastards 

 I know I swore off submitting all alt country type bands to this group but I was told no don’t dismiss cd as alt country, it really rocks.  After seeing them live on letterman tear the roof off with guitar solos and drum crashes and some good old kick ass screaming I figured I’d give it a shot.  Guess what the cd rocks.  Everything mentioned above happens over and over.  Great guitar solos and noise.  Drums doing what they are supposed to, driving the song and wowing us with the occasional fill.   Erika Wennerstrom is in fine voice and has written 10 brilliant songs describing life love and everything in between.  She has surrounded herself with the right musicians and in doing so probably has produced the best cd of the year so far 4.0

The Hives

I like the hives.  I also don’t like the hives.  Maybe it’s the voice.  Maybe it’s when the slow it down a bit they sound grating.  But when they do what they do best and write quick fast songs I don’t notice anything that annoys.  Luckily this cd has more up than down.  3.0 (would have been 3.5 but they stole from elo so they must deducted)

PIL

Has Steve Vai ever written a riff that is memorable after his time with Zappa.  Here once again he provides completed forgettable solos and fills that do nothing to support the music.  Luckily Mr. Lydon did not waste any good material for Mr Vai to ruin.  Take out Rise and tell me what you remember about this disc.  So take a guitar virtuoso, Ginger Baker, a classic trained brilliant keyboardist and a punk icon and you get one good song,  Which by the way has least challenging music of the whole cd. 1

Supertramp

What a great cd this is.  From starter School (which may be their best song ever) until the title track closer it is just one good song after another.  Yes a bit prog rock and there are some genesis/Floyd moments.  But Roger Hodgson and Rick Davies use of guitars, keyboards, horns, and strings created a sound that could only be Supertramp.  4.0

We are An American Band

1.      Aerosmith

2.      Ramones

3.      REM

4.      The Call

5.      Blue Oyster Cult

We are a working American Band

1.      Green Day

2.      Band Of Horses

3.      The National

4.      Electric 6

5.      Cheap Trick

For Monsta- two posts in a row. Look out.

Best Coast- 3.0 This is fun music .  I'm pretty ok with the whole California, care-free indie rock/ summery/ beach pop kind of vibe and Bethany Cosentino has a beautiful voice that fits this whole genre perfectly.  The problem is the indie music scene in general.  Don't get me wrong.  I love indie/alternative music. Yet I find that a lot of, most actually, indie acts come on to the scene (sometimes with incredible hype) with the best stuff they'll ever do. Sophomore releases tend to be more of the same but not nearly as vital or fresh as the debut.  A lot of these artists are this month's hype-darlings . Chosen more for the sake of keeping a trend going than for their actual musical prowess.  Maybe Best Coast is a little different because of Cosentino's presence and persona,  but I feel the same way- not nearly as vital or fresh as Crazy For You.  Mind you- all of this doesn't make the record a major disappointment- far from it. This is as tidy a little pop album as you'll find and I could so see myself on a beach in LA digging the whole vibe and digging BC- very much.  Yet, I can't help but feel they're doomed. Unless, of course they can figure out how to build a sound worthy of longevity.

E- 4.0 I never tire of this cd. Of course, I'm a huge fan of Mark Everett and The Eels. ok, ok. This is one depressed guy. He should be.  First he lost his father to heart failure, and then—in a way too short period of time—his sister to schizophrenia and suicide and his mother to cancer. Cruel- I'd be depressed to.  And if all of that wasn't enough-his cousin was a flight attendant on the plane that struck the Pentagon  during the 9/11/01 attacks. The plane struck the side of the Pentagon where his father had worked, and Everett remarks in his autobiography that he wonders whether the plane hit his father's old office.  Ouch!  Everett's songs always paint a picture in my mind. His lyrics are intelligent albeit dark, and every song he's ever written is a narrative on the coming of age, love, death, life and the struggles one faces getting through it all. A brilliant guy with a wonderfully creative vision of the dark side of things.

Peter Gabriel- 4.0  If all you want to hear from Peter Gabriel is In Your Eyes and Sledgehammer than this is not going to be your cup of tea. In fact, you'll hate it- maybe even  give it a Mongillo 0.5 or something like that. However, if you can appreciate songs like Carpet Crawlers, Moribund the Burgermeister, and The Barry Williams Show and if you can appreciate one of the greatest and most unmistakable voices in rock then you're going to be very happy with this cd. Gabriel is a creative genius. He out Lady Gaga'd Lady Gaga back in the 80's with his costume changes and showmanship. You could make an argument that this recording is slightly pretentious and maybe a little bit of an unnecessary undertaking. The guy has an ego, for sure. And maybe he did this to massage it a little. But, you know, he's Peter Gabriel and he's great and he accomplished what I think any live performance should- put a new spin on songs you know and love.

Royal Southern Brotherhood-4.5  I'm always a little leery of "supergroup", sometimes overhyped, new releases. But these guys hit the floor running. They had me right from the get-go. This is bluesy, funky, edgy, soulful southern rock  from a bunch of talented guys who have come together, seemingly effortlessly, to create a this masterpiece. Can't get it off my ipod. Every song knocks it out of the ballpark. Wow! Can't wait for the next one.

Tsar- 3.0   On first listen I thought this was pretty ordinary. I kept playing it though, because sometimes when you listen to something again you think, wow, this is great- what was I thinking? I also kept playing it because this is a record I should absolutely love-- it's solid punky power pop and the band has good energy and the songs chug right along and maybe if I play it louder and maybe next time the lyrics won't sound so trite and maybe I'll start singing along and maybe some of those guitar riffs will stick in my head and maybe I'll say wow, what was I thinking.  But none of that happened. I just think it's pretty ordinary. Good- but ordinary.

Question. While My Guitar Gently Weeps- Beatles. G. Harrison vocal. Slipping Away- Rolling Stones K. Richard on vocal. Boris The Spider- The Who. John Entwistle vocal. Leaving Home Ain't Easy- Queen Brian May vocal. Dirty Work- Steely Dan David Palmer vocal.