Mmmmm.... Glazed Donuts.......

 

The Refreshments- Let it Rock-Chuck Berry Tribute

I kept asking myself “is some of this actually good or is some of  it good because the songs are good?”  These are competent covers and work best when they get into a Dave Edmunds boogie groove. On others they drift into Little Feat world and lose me. In a bar after a few I’m sure this would be fun but in essence it’s just ok. (2.5)

Marillion- Clutching at Straws

Marillion is a band I can’t get into but totally respect. The Peter Gabriel era Genesis sound is one factor, which should be a positive, but comes off as been-there-done-that to me. The other factor is it being Prog-Rock. Musicianship is top-notch as is the production but it’s the melodrama that eats at me. I can’t dis them but its not anything going to land on the ol’ MP3 player. (2.0)

Sugarplastic- Bang, The Earth is Round

Interesting is the best I can give this. It seemed in each song there were parts I liked and parts that totally ruined the song for me (i.e the falsetto and the chorus in “Don’t Sleep”). Actually the lead singer basically ruined most of this for me.  They are listed as power-pop….sorry don’t hear that (okay maybe "Montibello”). Second listen was better than first but I had to get this out of my dropbox folder as fast as possible. (1.5)

Holly Williams- The Highway

Good, introspective songs. A few get draggy but for the most part they are thoughtful, smart, grown up songs. Her voice is earnest and wistful with country soul, which makes her stories worth caring about. My mistake was that I accidently listened to on shuffle because the order and pacing may change my “draggy” comment. In any case, best of the month for me. (3.5)

Mother Hips

The more Greatful Dead they got the less I liked. Some fun, groove laden stuff here when they didn’t get too hippie. Definitely will cherry-pick.

Topic

In theory, my belief is that a band name should reflect the music. While it’s kookie to name your death metal band Fluffy Bunnies, I think it’s a deterrent- just me maybe. Most band names I like are multi-word band names. I think they are more creative. I know there are more but here’s what I got.

Band Names

1. Black Sabbath – love the connotation. Named after Boris Karloff movie I believe.
2. Sex Pistols- shock value.
3. The Bad Plus – bad positives?
4. Black Angels- sounds like black angels
5. Tame Impala- Jay’s observance that it is an oxymoron.
6. Southern Culture on the Skids- if you don’t get the joke you won’t get the band
7. Iron Butterfly- see 5
8. Kinks- ok its one word, but it kind of goes against the grain. Kink in chain….
9. Nine Inch Nails- matches the early tone of the band
10. Rage Against the Machine – fits tone, message and sound of the band. You know what you’re getting into.

Also Circle Jerks, OFF!, Yuck, Dinosaur Jr.