Loaded Shafts Remain in Hope for a Moondance at Night Time, My Time

Sky Ferreira- Night Time, My Time

I dismissed this during my first listen. The production was that 80s electro muddy mess where everything bled into each other. Vocally she sounded like so many vocalists but my best description would be Suzanne Vega being produced by the Raveonettes. With that said the second listen went better. I found that Sky has some songwriting chops. The first half of the disc was catchy and interesting. The second half faded and totally dropped off from “Kristine” on. Glad I gave it another spin to be fair. (2.5)

Velvet Underground- Loaded

Disclosure: I am a fan. Even of “Sister Ray” and other abrasive and challenging sonic ventures. While Loaded (named because it was supposed to be loaded with hits) is their pop album, it does stay pretty true to the simple, artsy song structure/topics VU is known for but just with better production quality and harmonies. Hell, “Sweet Jane” and “Rock & Roll” alone are worth having Loaded in your inventory even with a couple of skippers like “New Age” and the Marshall Tuckeresque, too long “Oh, Sweet Nuthin!”. Say what you will Mong, you can’t listen to this without hearing so many other artists’ copping their ideas, vibe and cool. (3.5)

Van Morrison- Moondance

One of the coolest albums ever released. Soulful, hip, effortless- oddly it’s a great party background. Allows you two steps up on the cool ladder.  (5.0)

Eureka Machines- Remain in Hope

Straight forward power pop with the occasional wink to metal and punk. Fine when on, forgotten when not. (2.5)

Capstan Shafts

Bet no one expected  53 songs on a greatest hits cd. Especially of songs that abruptly stop, have out of tune solos and out of sync rhythms. I stumbled upon this band (a one man band Dean Wells until their last release) through a review in a mag, of which I have forgotten which one. I instantly found him/they compelling. The songs are whipped off like an AD/HD Robert Pollard and quality is not part of the mission statement. If you can get past the imperfections there are some great melodies and songs. Some catchy enough to stay with you all day, warts and all. I’m not sure if the fuck ups are deliberate or just tolerated but in a way I find them charming.  He doesn’t let a little thing a like playing a solo in a totally different chord structure get in the way. This will not be loved by all, if anyone, in the DYN crew but I thought it would be an interesting mix for y’all.

Topic

Albums bought no matter what (not counting re-issues, only new material)

Bob Dylan, Neil Young, John Hiatt, Drive By Truckers, Cracker, Magnetic Fields, Southern Culture on the Skids

Guitars solos to be played the same every time….

Pearl Jam- Alive

Cult- Wildflower

The DYN Staff

Sandy- True hippie, jam band fan that will surprise you in the varying styles he is willing to digest and with the generosity of his reviews.

Monsta- Does have his comfort zone of Jersey rock and Americana twang but has of late ventured out of that in baby steps. Rap, techno and Avant-garde/experimental  music dies before reaching his Zune.

Jay- Punk and 70s rock fan (and modern purveyors of said styles) who has a softer more Americana/country side he shares ocassionally.  Prefers initial, debut recordings above all others because all others suck.

Greg- Prog rocker who likes things a little more drawn out and succinct and blunt like punk. Does have a wide range of tastes he enjoys and hates anything that is a 3.0 or less.

D’Arcy- Brit-pop-rock, metal and non-classic rock aficionado who will prefer record B more if you happen to prefer A. A walking musical dictionary who relishes in making you feel stupid for liking something.

Alan- Power pop sweet spot but enjoys other genres and can see the good even in the bad. Not afraid to mix it up with reviews and will ever be remember for his Brian Wilson submission.

Mongillo- Not a real fan of anything remotely MOR, I have given up trying to figure Mong out. Every time I think I’ve nailed it with him I get a 1 and reviews I can’t wait to hear come from his mouth end up being raves. He even hates my bourbon.

I thought turkeys could fly....

Van Morrison – So many critics point to “Astial Weeks” as Morrison’s defining disc, and for the life of me I don’t know why.  This album is 1000 times better, simply perfect from start to finish.  Morrison’s ability to project his own version of spirituality over a 4-5 minute well-developed pop song never got better than this.  Every song is great, but “Caravan” and “Into the Mystic” are timeless, beautiful songs that still give me chills.  I appreciate the bonus tracks, but unlike some of Dylan’s extras, it appears that Van absolutely had the right take of each of these songs on the original. 5 stars

Velvet Underground – Not their strongest IMHO, but certainly a classic in every sense.  While the album suffers a little from the lack of Mo Tucker’s presence, this is certainly the most accessible and polished VU record.  Lou wrote his most succinct batch of songs, musically and lyrically, and they really do stand the test of time, particularly “Rock and Roll” and “Sweet Jane”, two of my favorite songs by anyone.  As swan songs go, this one is about as good as they get. 4 stars

Eureka Machines – First three songs hit like a ton of bricks.  It doesn’t maintain that start, but this is a really good power pop-punk album.  Some hints of Green Day and Cheap Trick sprinkled throughout, with the occasional ELO flourish.  Nothing here not to like, fat hooks, crunchy guitar riffs and clever lyrics.  The kind of stuff that should be on mainstream rock radio, but isnt.  3.5 stars

Sky Ferreria – I’m inclined to like girly pop, and there are a few numbers on here that aren’t terrible.  Overall though, I just don’t care for the heavily synthesized stuff that makes up most of the album.  She’s got a good voice, and there are some nice hooks on here.  I think if she were given an actual band to play with, she might be pretty good.  1.5 stars

Caspan Shafts – A challenging listen.  There are tracks that are really good, like “Versus the Sad Cold Eventually”.  But for every song that’s fleshed out and feels complete, there’s another one that sounds half-assed, as if they couldn’t be bothered to finish it.  I’m all for keeping things brief and to the point, but there’s a fine line between a quick-hit lo-fi song and a glorified demo, and too often they cross it.  Only about half of this saved for posterity, but definitely an interesting selection by Poobah. 

 Discussion Topics:

1) Automatic Purchases:

The Old Trinity (Springsteen, Dylan, Young)

The New Trinity (Wilco, DBT, My Morning Jacket)

Fountains of Wayne

Gaslight Anthem

Tom Petty

Avett Brothers

Hold Steady

Southern Culture on the Skids

Two Cow Garage

Willie Nelson

Todd Snider

Lucinda Williams

The Decemberists

2) Guitar Solos – I may ride solo on this, but I think guitar solos are completely an “in the monent” thing, and I don’t believe there is a sacred cow solo that has to be replicated note by note.  As long as its recognizable, let the player surrender to the vibe, man.

3) Mongillo – Utterly unpredictable.  I have no idea where he will stand on any disc, with the exception of female pseudo-folk singers.  I do know that he will be brutal in his honesty.  Tends to submit indie rock discs for new selections and borderline classics for old.

D’Arcy – The harder, faster and Limey-er it is, the more likely that he gives it a positive review.  Consistently has the most thoughtful and well written reviews, but is tight with his stars.  Low tolerance for twang, but not completely disgusted by it, as opposed to…..

Greg –  Who is completely disgusted by it,and will slam anything remotely country.  Fairly unpredictible as might be expected from someone who likes both Tom Waits and Journey.  Adds 2 extra stars to any artist with nice boobies.

Sandy – All about the groove, man.  Sandy is an old school hippie-type who respects the elders and embraces the new without bias. I would say he is the closest we have to a blank canvas when it comes to reviews.

Alan – Has Alan ever written a negative review?  I’m not sure he has.  Definitely has a preference for power pop and white-boy blues and soul.

Jay – Jay’s taste are most like my own.  At least that’s what I gather from the 3-4 times hes posted reviews in the last 10 years.  Old school punk, power-pop and the twang are in his wheelhouse.

Fearless Leader – Likes different for the sake of being different, regardless of whether its good or not.  Attempts to prove his machismo by over-embracing noisy discs, yet perversely he also over-rates sissy, Euro-disco technocrap albums.  Drives me batty by comparing discs against the artists other albums instead of rating as an independent piece of work (see “Altered Beast” & “Who By Numbers”).  Plays a mean zipper.

Heroin chick are hot

Van Morrison – Moondance – 5

There’s something about Van Morrison’s voice that I could listen to all day.  He’s one of those artists that I never purchased anything by, but always wanted to.   It blows my mind that there isn’t a hint of his brogue in any of his songs.  From what I can ascertain, this is a classic case of Mongilloing.

Eureka Machines – Remain in Hope – 3.5

I couldn’t tell if these guys were serious or not.  The music was so over the top and the lyrics were just silly, but I liked it none the less.  One way or another, this was a fun album to listen to.  I suppose that this would fall into the power pop genre that is so hugely popular with my fellow DYN pals.  Maybe I’m starting to understand.  This has a bit of All American Rejects and Green Day sound.     

Sky Ferreira – Night Time, My Time – 2.5

I needed a new for the month and I haven’t purchased anything in a while.  So how does Greg pick new music that isn’t Peter Gabriel’s newest remake album of his old songs?  I pick an album with a sexy hot half naked heroin chick on the cover.  I have to say that I was pleasantly surprised with the pick.  The distortion got to me after a while, but I could tolerate it.  She seems from her depressing tone and lyrics that she’s almost just fucked up enough to be my type.  As a plus, at times I actually she had a hint of the now classic Scarlet Johansson Tom Wait’s cover CD.      

Velvet Underground – Loaded .5

I respect that Lou Reed was an artist and that an artist shouldn’t care what anyone thinks, but seriously, I really don’t get it.  It seems to me that he went out of his way to not care as if he were a needy child who does weird stuff to get parent’s attention.  Out of respect for the dead I will be nice though, as you’ll note by my extremely generous score.    

The Captain Shafts – GH

Too Morrissey for my taste.  I think that I could have done with 50 or so fewer songs.  Actually, now that I think about it, was this the GH select or their entire discography? 

 1. The automatic purchases- Name artists/bands that you will buy their new release without hearing it first. Of those, which will buy unheard knowing that they probably will stink (the completest theory).

·         Rush (Might fall into the completest theory, but still love this band)

·         Tool

·         Tom Waits

·         Roger Waters

·         Yeah Yeah Yeahs

·         Anything by Mike Patton (Definitely fall into the completest theory) 

2. Assumption- we all love a good guitar solo. So name songs that you feel the guitar solo is so perfect it should NEVER be altered. Even live.

       Comfortably Numb – Pink Floyd

                    Stairway to Heaven – Led Zeppelin

       

3. Thicken your skin all. Provide one/two sentences that best describes of each of our DYN reviewers' taste and expected review criterion for submissions.

Alan - I got nothin'

Sandy – Submission criteria - must be an obscure hippy jam band from the 1970’s

Ken – Ken’s soccer friends are so hot I don’t even know why he comes to our meetings.  As for his musical taste, it turns out that the band he likes are actually good, but they have to be seen in concert first in order to appreciate them ex. DBT

Mong – Mike doesn’t have his reputation for nothing

Monsta – Must be either Stones or Dylan, we get to pick 

Jay - If it doesn’t have punk roots it doesn’t get submitted, but since no one has actually ever seen a written review it doesn’t count  

D’Arcy – No black or white in D’Arcy’s world, only black.  Take it or leave it. The only DYN member with good musical taste.