Hey- a review from one of the bastards.

Ana Popovic:  3.0

While she is real easy to look at (so is Grace Potter), I just can't get into her music. I liken this kind of Blues/Jazz/Pop to Music Row country. In that, I mean it is over produced and polished to fit the mainstream tastes of the masses. I like my blues to be more rootsy, more organic. While this is a nice cd- I just felt like the requisite guitar licks are in all the right places and very predictable. No question that she has a good enough voice and is a proficient guitarist- but where is the soul, the passion? Of course there are exceptions to everything- Can't You See What You're Doing To Me, and the bonus track Growin' Up Too Soon are definitely standouts. Give me more of that. 

The Boys: 4.5

Well, if this isn't right up my alley. Love this cd! All Music lists these guys as punk/new wave. I don't know about that one. These guys are giving my ultimate Power Pop hero's - FOW- a run for their money. This cd definitely was on my turntable the most this month. What a great wall of sound. Excellent songwriting. Huge guitars. Tons of catchy hooks. Nice vocals. Every song is a killer.

The The: 4.0

I am definitely not a huge fan of 80's dance/pop. But this cd has enough stuff going on to keep me interested . First and foremost- the lyrics. I'm an old hippie and just eat this stuff up. Just read this verse from the song Heartland- and it's even more chilling when you listen to his vocals: This is the place, where pensioners are raped/ And the hearts are being cut from the welfare state/ Let the poor drink the milk while the rich eat the honey/ Let the bums count their blessings while the wealthy count the money. This is a guy with a lot to say. It's not light fare for sure and you really have to listen to the music to get the full appreciation of the statement  Matt Johnson is making.

Sixto Rodriguez: 2.0

I just couldn't get into this.  Maybe it's because of the genius of Infected. Where the acerbity of  Matt Johnson comes across as vital and edgy, witty and cynical, confrontational and literate;  Sixto is whiney and  tedious,  watered-down and boring. He's just another depressed folkie brooding over the lot of his life. Arthur Lee he's not.

GHits

I had no idea that The Marshall Tucker Band only had 3 albums. All kidding aside. I thoroughly enjoyed revisiting these "classics". Took me right back to the early 70's. What a prolific period of time. So many artists that I feel did their best stuff during those years.  Stevie Wonder with Music of My Mind; Talking Book; Innervisions. Rod Stewart with Gasoline Alley; Every Picture Tells a Story;  Never a Dull Moment. Sir Paul with McCartney; Ram; Band On The Run.  Big Star with #1 Record; and Radio City. The Stones with Let It Bleed; Sticky Fingers; Exile on Main Street.  jethro Tull with Benefit; Aqualung; Thick As a Brick.  The Who with Tommy; Who's Next; and Quadrophenia. The Allmans with Idlewild South; Eat a Peach; and Brother's and Sister's. God- the list is endless. Oh yeah- and these 3 records from Marshall Tucker.