Week 5

Between work, a wedding, the Superbowl, two new hobbies/interests, and adding another layer to my music obsession it's been a busy week. My Dad has had the Led Zeppelin vinyl Led Zeppelin IV forever (at least my entire life). Since vinyl has been making a comeback in recent years I ventured up into the attic to rescue said album from the hazardous climate. I pulled down several other vinyls and went to another of my favorite used music/book stores (Nice Price Books) and purchased two of Aerosmith's vinyls: Get Your Wings and Rocks (which happen to be MY favorites). The new hobbies I mentioned are an interest in glass bottles and the author Ray Bradbury. On the way to the wedding, I stopped at an antique store outside Littleton, NC to see what they had. I purchased an old liquor bottle and some Pepsi-Cola salt/pepper shakers. I spent several hours researching the bottles and will share some of that useless information later. As for Ray Bradbury, the movie Something Wicked This Way Comes recently went through my Netflix queue as it was a child-hood favorite of mine. While picking up the vinyls I purchased the Ray Bradbury title Dandelion Wine to read, and plan to read some more of his titles depending on how this one goes. At a minimum I want to read Something Wicked This Way Comes once I locate a copy. Without further ramblings, onto this week's set (2/2-2/7): 

Nick Drake - Bryter Layter
Buckcherry - Buckcherry

Buffalo Killers - Buffalo Killers

Megafaun - Bury The Square

Gov't Mule - By A Thread

Beachwood Sparks - By Your Side

The Black Crowes - By Your Side

Red Hot Chili Peppers - Californication

I know - pathetic to only get through only 8 albums in a week!!

The haunting music of Nick Drake began the week. His album Bryter Layter is a mysterious, yet intricately beautiful album. Drake's posthumous popularity was sparked mainly by a Volkswagen commercial which used the title-song Pink Moon. While shopping one day I picked up an album which was not Nick Drake's, but looked identical on the cover. I walked over to the Nick Drake section holding the Japanese rock band Boris' Akuma No Uta next to Bryter Layter.  Stunned to discover the exactness in its recreation. I still haven't checked out Boris, but perhaps I will revisit that album to see what they're all about. Many more artists have cited Nick Drake as an influence including Rich Robinson. He stated, "The reason I got into open-G tuning was because of Nick Drake". That tuning is used in nearly every Black Crowes song recorded. Sadly, Drake only released three albums during a four year period (1969-1972) at which time he overdosed, whether intentionally or accidentally is debated, on prescription antidepressant pills.

Buckcherry's self-titled debut album is pure rock n' roll album. This band reminds me of the 2000's version of Guns N' Roses or The Rolling Stones. Excess, drugs, sex, loud, blues riffs, with wild party-story lyrics. Don't get me wrong, musically they aren't an epic band (yet), but they have all the swagger those two bands exude. Everyone knows them for the song Crazy Bitch or Sorry (from the album 15), but those songs do not define this band. The rest of their music is solid in it's own right. Buckcherry, along with their latest release Black Butterfly covered earlier, are great albums.

When the Black Crowes toured in support of Warpaint, they had the Buffalo Killers opening much of that tour. Recently their debut album made it into my possession. These guys are talented. Hailing from Cincinnati, OH they sound more southern rock harkening to bands like the Allmans or Mountain. This album was great, but I can't wait to hear their newest album Let It Ride which was produced by The Black Keys front-man/guitarist Dan Auerbach.

My absolute favorite local band is Megafaun. Their newest album Gather, Form, & Fly is one of my favorite all-time albums, but this week their debut Bury The Square was in rotation. These guys are impossible for me to categorize because their music has hints of blues, rock, country, folk, pop, and art-music flavors without fitting into any category at all. They live in Durham, but have toured nationally for some time. Having seen them nearly a half-dozen times now, I can safely say they are remarkable musicians, never boring, down-to-earth good people. When Gather, Form, & Fly makes it into the set expect a long review.

In my opinion, By A Thread is the finest album Gov't Mule has released since their early days. This album was recorded at Willie Nelson's studio in TX, features a new bassist, and has contributions from Billy Gibbons (ZZ Top). The arrangements, mix, feel, and lyrics are vintage Gov't Mule. This album reminds me of what AC/DC and Metallica did last year with Black Ice and Death Magnetic. The album is fresh while remaining true to the band's original sound. Warren Haynes is an absolute guitar god. When your side projects are The Grateful Dead and The Allman Brothers, I reckon you have to be pretty darn good.

Since I've already covered By Your Side and talked extensively about RHCP, no need to go into depth this week. Horsehead and Virtue And Vice are great tunes from By Your Side. Californication is my favorite RHCP album period.