Week 32

I discovered a new music website that is doing exactly what I set out to do with my blog except they have a much more robust site wnew.com. They have a section called 'Forgotten Favorites' which highlights many of the same albums I am covering here in this blog. In fact, the site has a review, which I linked in below. I also added a link at the top - so hit them up.

Had a nice long conversation with my uncle and we discussed how music today just sucks. Few hit artists have real talent and the ones that do have talent get no air play or breaks. Like I said to him, if I could travel back in time to listen to music I would land right around 1972. Hold on and learn the roots of music and one day real musicianship will make a comeback. For now, we have to dig through the wasteland of hacks to find all the gems. On to this week's gems (8/9-8/15):

Nickelback - The Long Road
Bonnie Raitt - Luck of the Draw
Bruce Springsteen - Lucky Town
Queens Of The Stone Age - Lullabies To Paralyze
Joe Cocker - Mad Dogs & Englishmen
Matchbox Twenty - Mad Season
Nick Drake - Made To Love Magic
Bruce Springsteen - Magic
Beachwood Sparks - Make The Cowboy Robots Cry
Lenny Kravitz - Mama Said
Spencer Dickinson - The Man Who Lives For Love
David Bowie - The Man Who Sold The World
Stephen Stills - Manassas (CD & Vinyl)

Weeks ago I slammed Nickelback for making what I thought to be a boring album in Dark Horse. Reason being, all they did was take all the swagger of The Long Road and re-engineer it by polishing up the vocals, removing some of the riffs, made it a little more poppy and slapped a new cover on it. The Long Road is my favorite album hands down by Nickelback and to see it torn apart for commercial success annoyed me. So if you want to hear the real Nickelback, pop in The Long Road and you'll see what this band is really all about.

Lullabies to Paralyze - what a cool title for an album!? QOTSA is a band that I have grown to appreciate more and more over the past year. The reason I got into them had nothing to do with the producer and collaborater - Chris Goss - that gave them the band its name, but it's still cool to see someone with notoriety that shares my last name. The album also has a song Burn The Witch that features Billy Gibbons of ZZ Top as well as Jack Black.

I am far from being a David Bowie fan, but The Man Who Sold The World is as good an album as any to own. My favorite track from the album is Black Country Rock, which is the one song that sounds least like the rest of the album. This album is often regarded as the birth of "glam-rock". In case the term is foreign to you here are a list of bands to check out - T. Rex, Gary Glitter, New York Dolls, and Lou Reed. While this isn't my favorite genre I find a lot of appeal in how much show these artists brought into the rock n' roll show. Bands that owe their persona creations to the genre are acts like KISS, Quiet Riot, Motley Crue, and every other Hair Metal band.

There are influential albums and then there is Manassas. This album from Stephen Stills is just plain out of the solar system. It's a four part album each of the four sections contains a theme. I actually found an in depth review on WNEW of the album that was right on the nose with how I felt and will defer to it for my full review. Stills assembled the modern day equivalent of a super-group and even brought in Bill Wyman of the Stones for a track. Wyman reportedly was willing to quit the Stones to join Manassas if that tells you anything about their significance. This album has rock, blues, country, and a little bit of everything else you can mix in while remaining on the path of a cohesive album. My favorite tunes from this album were Song of Love, Anyway, Colorado, Bound to Fall, and What To Do. Inside the liner notes at the end of the Side 4 (for those of you that have never listened to an album on vinyl you have to literally flip it over to keep listening) track listing it states the album is a tribute to Jimi Hendrix - Al Wilson - Duane Allman. And on that note let me just say that liner notes and sides for albums is the one thing that the digital age has killed in music. You lose the history when nobody cares about what went into making an album, it's roots, it's influences, musicians, credits. The digital books that come with download music never get viewed. Anyway enough of the soapbox - go out and listen to this masterpiece.

Week 31

Let's skip the mumbo jumbo this week and get on with the gettin' on (8/2-8/8):

Southern Culture On The Skids - Liquored Up And Laquered Down
Little Feat - Dixie Chicken
Little Feat - Little Feat
Ted Nugent - Little Miss Dangerous
The Little Willies - The Little Willies
Tim McGraw - Live Like You Were Dying
The Velvet Underground - Loaded
The Clash - London Calling
Alison Krauss & Union Station - Lonely Runs Both Ways
Faces - Long Player
Little Feat was founded by the highly influential Lowell George after departing Frank Zappa's band Mothers of Invention. One of Little Feat's most famous songs Willin', from their self-titled debut, is cited as the reason for George leaving Zappa's band, but the specifics of why aren't exactly clear. When Little Feat was recorded Lowell's hand was hurt and the talented Ry Cooder actually played slide on the studio recording of Willin'. By the third album Dixie Chicken came out the bands sound was more defined. Notably Dixie Chicken also features Bonnie Raitt, whom at the time had released a few albums with little commercial success. While taking my time to get this blog written I also learned that Richie Hayward, drummer of Little Feat, passed away on 8/12/2010. The write-up on Little Feat's official site states:

The world’s a little quieter and a lot less rhythmic today, although heaven’s a lot funkier. We urge everyone to hug your loved ones, light a candle, listen to something righteous, and pledge to give more to the world – because Richie sure did.

Do yourself a favor and listen to some Little Feat in memory of Richie. I love both of these albums, but my favorite is Sailin' Shoes which is the second studio album. My son loves the art for Dixie Chicken and Sailin' Shoes which were both done by Neon Park:

The Little Willies is a side project Norah Jones has with friends from there time together living in New York. They formed back in 2003 and played off and on over their downtime with their full time bands. When they finally got around to recording they packed an album full of their influences like Willie Nelson, Townes Van Zandt, Kris Kristofferson, Hank Williams, and Fred Rose mixed with originals. This music is just plain fun to listen to as the spin they songs in their own style which is more like swing than plain country. Highly recommend checking this one out.
 
Despite the thinking that a Velvet Underground album titled Loaded would be a drug reference, it actually has to do with the fact that the record label (Atlantic) requested the album be "loaded with hits". Velvet Underground was purged from their previous label which was releasing all their druggie and hippie bands which included acts like the aforementioned Mothers of Invention. Lou Reed left the band prior to the release which had much to do with pressure from the label and lack of progress in the band. Many track were edited and altered without his consent. Despite the controversy the album is actually loaded with great music and contains great tunes like Sweet Jane and Rock & Roll despite the fact that the album itself wasn't the hit the label hoped. The final track from Loaded - Oh Sweet Nuthin' - has been a staple of The Black Crowes since their Woodstock recordings at Levon Helm's studio and is featured on the Cabin Fever DVD release from those sessions.

The Faces Long Player album kicks off with the ripping tune Bad N' Ruin (if you read last week's post you now know where the author got his pseudonym). Noteworthy news on the Faces are the fact they have re-united for a reunion tour. Rod Stewart is not joining them due to scheduling conflict and obviously Ronnie Lane passed on years ago, but the core of this band and the soul Ronnie Wood is there and I for one am anxiously awaiting news of when they may tour the US. For a hint of what has me so excited check out the BBC interview Wood and drummer Kenney Jones. The answer is potential guest appearances by Chris Robinson and Slash.

Week 29 & 30

Since my last post, I made it out to Walnut Creek for the first time in a few years. I was offered a chance to see Carlos Santana and decided that I shouldn't pass on an opportunity to see a legend. Which brings me to a new musical connection for the week - What connection do Santana and Lenny Kravitz share? Both have used Cindy Blackman as their drummer. Apparently, Carlos liked her more than Lenny as he recently proposed to her on-stage after she finished her drum solo a few songs into the set. The night I saw Santana she wasn't drumming, but I did have the opportunity to see Blackman when she was with Lenny. She is a jazz drummer and those tend to make some of the best rock drummers. Take a look at Charlie Watts of the Rolling Stones or my personal favorite Joe Westerlund of Megafaun. And lest we forget that Animal's hero was Buddy Rich and that Animal's drumming was actually performed behind camera by Ronnie Verrell. The drum battle between Animal and Rich on the Muppet Show is a classic - in case anyone is interested click here. Enough randomness let's get on with it - this post I used an extra hand in writing part of the blog (7/19-8/1):

Eric Clapton - Backless (vinyl)
Grateful Dead - Blues For Allah (vinyl)
Eagles - Hotel California (vinyl)
Squirrel Nut Zippers - Hot
Lenny Kravitz - Lenny
Avril Lavigne - Let Go
Goo Goo Dolls - Let Love In
The Joe Perry Project - Let The Music Do The Talking
Velvet Revolver - Libertad
The Beastie Boys - Licensed to Ill
Jonny Lang - Lie To Me
Sly & The Family Stone - Life
Jim Croce - Life And Times (vinyl)
Gov't Mule - Life Before Insanity
Today The Moon, Tomorrow The Sun - The Lightning Exhibit (no link available)
The Black Crowes - Lions

It's hard to believe, but when I recently decided to buy Hotel California on vinyl it was actually the first Eagles album I have ever bought. Sure I own their Greatest Hits, but a full studio album from them was not in my collection. Since I didn't own one I decided to buy their most significant album of all. This is the first album featuring Joe Walsh and the emergence of Don Henley as the band's leader. When I was younger hearing the song Hotel California made me ill for many many many years. This song has since found its way back into my good graces and I actually enjoy it now. The rest of the album is solid and really contains no slouch tunes. Don't look for me at an Eagles show anytime soon though as the three figure minimum ticket price will never be justifiable.

I love the cover of Let The Music Do The Talking. This is a prime example of what the corporate music industry looks like. A bunch of stiffs in suits making decions on what they think people want to hear. This is why we have independent record labels. No artist wants a corporate board telling them what to release. While there is some great music on this album it isn't an album I listen to much. Joe Perry wanted to just make music and prove to Aerosmith he didn't need them. His latest solo albums are much better and highly recommended, but the original Joe Perry Project albums are reserved for Aero-nuts like myself.

Velvet Revolver followed up their debut Contraband with Libertad, in my opinion, which was a jbetter effort than its predecessor. However, the band clearly was already well on their way toward dismantling. Scott Weiland was basically up to his old ways and the entire band was spiraling back into their old....."habits". Weiland is back with STP, Slash released a solo album, and Duff has been playing with Jane's Addiction. Rumor has it though that a new front-man is in the works and I for one cannot wait to here more from VR. Libertad is a great album, but the live footage of some concert performances was less than spectacular. In hindsight, it's clear what was going on internally with the band watching these clips.

Jonny Lang is another guitarist in the Kenny Wayne Shepherd mold. He started young and released music that sounded decades more mature than the performer. I have seen Lang one time and was very impressed. Since then I have been looking forward to seeing him again and was deeply troubled to learn I missed him as he recently was in Durham for the conclusion of the latest 'Experience Hendrix' tour. More troubling was that other guitarist part of that tour included Brad Whitford (Aerosmith), Joe Satriani, Kenny Wayne Shepherd and bassist Billy Cox who actually played with Jimi just to name a few. Now I would have paid $100 easy to see that show. Alas, I missed my opportunity and will have to catch this tour next time. As for Lang, Lie To Me is his debut album and very much worth checking out for modern blues enthusiasts.

Hello to all the cosmic-cuties and freakie-deakies out there in cyber space. Eric was kind enough to delegate some responsibility to me for this installment of his blog, so I'll be chiming in with some brief thoughts on 2001's Lions by The Black Crowes. Do any of you have a certain record from your childhood that still drums up a big emotional connection when you hear it today? This is one of those albums for me. This was the first "new release" Crowes album I had ever bought - having gotten into the Crowes after their first five albums had already been released. I remember spinning it for the first time ever while riding with my Dad in the car  and the false start to Midnight From The Inside Out blaring through the speakers - he gave me the same disapproving look that I'm sure my Grandfather gave him over his Mountain albums. Listen closely for the crying baby during the outro of  Cosmic Friend (it's the drummer's kid). This song was originally written by guitarist Rich Robinson for his son (the chorus would have went something like "Quin, you are my hero"), but brother Chris insisted on a more cosmically toned "My friend, the cosmos is calling" instead. Many of the songs on this album would be re-worked during later line-ups of the band - beg, borrow, or steal a show from the '05-'06 tours that include a Soul Singing with an extended reggae-esque jam or a funky Young Man, Old Man or a Greasy Grass River that breaks down with some spacey advice from Mr. Robinson - "A mind shown is a mind blown and a mind blown is a mind shown." A version of Ozone Mama that is usually coupled with I Ain't Hidin' by the current line-up would be well worth the effort to track down as well. Most Crowes fans either love or hate this album: with the most vocal crowd often being the latter. Go into this album with the understanding that it is not written with the same formula used in the creation of Southern Harmony or Three Snakes and appreciate it for what it is and the statement that this band was making at this particular point in their history. If you still don't dig it, take the Crowes' advice and "take your ear holes and go home." -badnruined