But first, Velvet Revolver is shredding themselves of Scott Wieland
whose became back to his old self once again. Slash says that they have
booted him out of the band and looking for the next vocalist. He’s
Stone Temple Pilot’s problem now.
And now the weekly turntable buys of odd value
REM-Accelerate (WB)
A triumph return to the guitar driven sounds of the 90s! Um not quite.
Certainly this album feels more like a band effort than the ten year
of turds that have been bestowed upon us and Mike Mills is heard a bit
more in the background and Peter Buck sounds more interested this time
as well. It starts out with two rip roaring tunes that are worth
another listen or two. And it’s great to see the lyrics of what Mike
Stripe is thinking of instead of trying to decipher. But that was the
fun of the early REM years, the jangly pop, the mystery mix and vocals.
Twenty five years later, REM has never sounded more upfront. Living
Well Is The Best Revenge and Man Sized Wreath do rock and most of side
one is passible and pleasant. But the the two tracks over four minites
remind me why I didn’t listen to the last three albums, they tend to
mender and Sing For The Submarine is a exercise in staying awake.
However the last two songs that barely pass over two minites woke me up
to notice that Accelerate is probaly the best album they have done since
New Adventures In Hi Fi, though it’s no Monster. Bill Rieflen remains a
good replacement but still REM still hasn’t fully recovered from Bill
Berry’s retirement and may never will. But at 34 minites this album
doesn’t overstay it’s welcome. Good but not a classic. Dotched a notch
for another crappy digipak.
Grade B Regular Jewel case: B plus
The Who-Amazing Journey (Geffen)
Does the world really need another Who best of?!? Unless you’re a
teenager who so out of step in the world that you go buy the CD at Best
Buy. 8 tracks appeared on the last best of and on My Generation, the so
called best ofs to end best ofs of the Who. But this is the first time
that Sea And Sand, the hardest rocking song of Quadrophenia makes a
apperance and we get the 2001 live version of Won’t Get Fooled Again.
And two later day tracks that you can more or less live without out. So
unless you’re too lazy to compile your very own Who best of, this is
for you but I wish the fucks at Universal who finally give us the
complete 7 minite Baby Don’t You Do It which was the B side to Join
Together on the forty five. You remember forty fives do you? If you’re
under twenty five you are excused.
Grade B
RIP Klaus Dinger, who played drums and guitar in the german Prog Rock Neu! he died March 21. He was 61.
