I'm listening to one of the oddest collections that I've come across,
a three cd set called OHM: The Early Gurus Of Electronic Music
1948-1980, something that Half Priced Books was selling for three bucks
in the clarence section. They have about 12 more CDs of this box set
for your approval but I don't think there's 12 people in Eastern Iowa
that could sit through this set. Amazon is selling this box set for
about forty bucks retail. I think Lou Reed based Metal Machine Music on
this set, that's how out there it is. Anyway, some weird stuff on this
and a lot of unlistenable stuff too.
The tunes of the week is as follows.
1. Crop Circle-Monster Magnet 1998 When I think that this album is
ten years old it makes me where the hell the time went. Actually I know,
I've spent most of the decade throwing smarty comments to the top ten
listings. Monster Magnet had broke through with Powertrip and was on
the bigger and brighter things before the big Universal takeover of
Polygram and quit caring about this band. Dave Wyndorf is still around,
he survived a nasty drug overdose and still records as Monster Magent
for SPV Records.
2. Everywhere That I'm Not-Translator 1982 Up in Madison I found
their best of album of said title. This is perhaps the best known song
from this band but rest assured all their albums are now on CD. But
nobody really cares much about Translator except well schooled album
packrats. To which I'm sure none of you are.
3. One Piece At A Time-Johnny Cash 1976 Dedicated to Dennis
Pusateri, well schooled smartass and old hippie and a very good friend
of mine who I used to trade tapes with when he worked at NCS in the old
Pell Department. He has a very barbed sense of humor to which why I get
along fine with him. He's a regular at the Wilson Avenue Hy Vee to
which I went up Saturday night and we talked about the good times of
long ago. Appently, he's divorcing his wife and has told her in no
uncertain terms that if she wants his motorcycle, she'll get it all
right....one piece at a time. We salute you DP.
4. Very Best Years-The Grays 1994 Minor supergroup featuring Jason
Faulkner and Jon Brion who made only one album but it's probaly one of
the best pop albums of the 90s that nobody heard about. Copies used to
sell for about twenty bucks on EBAY but nowadays you can find it for two
bucks at Amazon. This song made it on a Beavis And Butthead clip. You
can guess what they thought of it heh he he heh he he. Settle down
Beavis.
5. False Alarm-King's X 2001 I get requests from folks to add a
King's X song and most of the time they slipped my mind till I moved
their albums to the living room so I can check them out. I think the
only album that i didn't care much for was 2000's Please Come Home Mr
Bulbous but the followup Manic Moonlight was much much better. I think I
played this song about five times in a row the weekend, very hooky and
easy to sing along, King's X remains the best rock band that nobody
cares about anymore since they're more real rock than say, Hinder or
Jonas Brothers but then again I shouldn't slam the Jonas Bros, at least
they play their own instruments.
6. American Standard-Jordan Zevon 2008 A very good debut album from
Warren's son who must have spent most of his childhood listening to Ben
Folds, or XTC or even Elvis C. Recommended for those with a ear for
the quirky pop.
7. Cohesion-The Minutemen 1985 The late D Boon made this double
album called Double Nickels On A Dime and it features no less than 43
songs on a CD. Robert Christgau says there was 46 songs and perhaps so,
but most of the songs on this album are only one to two minites long
and not a wasted note ever. I like this little guitar piece right before
the song that was the theme to MTV's Jackass show. Ya learn something
new each day, even if you're close to fifty like me. =P (Side note:
Corona, the track used for the Jackass theme song is track 19.
8. The Shock Of The Lightning-Oasis 2008 New Oasis and it's pretty
good. Don't give up on the Gallaghers just yet, they've made two damn
good albums in a row. Almost makes you forgive them for Be Here Now or
Heathen Chemistry.
9. Come On-Joe Jackson 1980 This was the B side to I'm The Man and
was on a out of print Live Compliation till Universal remastered I'm The
Man and put this song as a bonus track. The original Joe Jackson band
rocked hard as this song.
10. Rock On-David Essex 1973 A big one hit wonder, David was
somewhat a glam popper I think judging by what I heard on the Best Of CD
that I found for two bucks at Goodwill. Yup, this is overplayed on the
radio for sure but when I heard the forty five version of it, I still
enjoy it fine myself. REM kinda rewrote the song for their 1993 song
Drive. But not as good as the original.
More meaningless stuff:
John Richardson is sitting in on drums with the Gin Blossoms. JR is
better known for playing drums for Tommy Keene and Joey Molland's
Badfinger Tribute Band.
I've heard some unflattering things bout the new Secret Machines
album that it may not be worth the time of effort to review. Perhaps we
have to wait till somebody brings it in used somewhere. I am also sure
the new AC DC will be in a freaking digipak.
Madonna divorcing again? Really?
And finally I gave up on Kings Of Leon and have no intention of
reviewing their latest album. Like the Strokes I find KOL overrated and
although I did give their last album a B grade, history has shown they
tend to meddle a bit too much. Out of all their albums, only one I
still have was their Holy Roller Novacaine EP and I think that's all the
Kings Of Leon I can listen to. They don't need me anyway, their latest
did crack the top ten when it debuted and then dropped like a stone
into the lake. And so it goes............
Some comment love:
MARGARET Check out WE JAM ECONO--a MINUTEMEN DVD w/ bonus disc. XLNT!
D. Boone died when he fell out of the van door years ago.
