Label: No Idea Records (vinyl) and Thick Records (CD) Released: March 26, 2007 After seeing the Bomb light up the stage (despite Pezzatti’s drunkenness) last February, I was pretty shocked by how dull their 2000 debut, Torch Songs, was. But a lot of time passed between the debut and the show, so I gave Indecision a chance. I’m glad I… Read more »
Metal Mark’s post about the Rocklahoma nostalgia fest got me thinking about how so many of these bands continue on in name only with only one original member or proceed without a crucial member. One or both of two things can be true here: The latest version of the band is a disingenuous attempt to cash in on past success… Read more »
Label: self-released; available through CDBaby Released: 2004 I bought this at the same time that I picked up the Charms’ So Pretty from CD Baby. There was a “buy three CDs and get them for $5 each” sale and I had two already, so pretty much got this one for free. The Things are a Baltimore garage rock band, so… Read more »
Label: 2 Tone/Chrysalis Released: November 1979 There have been three waves of ska. The first originated in Jamaica in the early to mid 60s as a predecessor to reggae. It was danceable, fun and full of energy, but generally poorly recorded, making it more difficult to take in large doses despite some great artists such as Prince Buster and Desmond… Read more »
Label: DRT Entertainment Released: March 20, 2007 Admittedly, I haven’t spent much time with any Clutch release since Elephant Riders. It’s partly due to the disappointment of their live shows after the expectations raised by two albums that ranked #1 and #3 on my best albums of the 90s (Clutch and Elephant Riders respectively) and it’s partly due to the… Read more »
Label: Pakuni Records/Illegal Art Released: March 6, 2007 Back in the heyday of Napster, I downloaded a Metallica/Britney Spears mash-up entitled, “So Fucking Crazy.” I wouldn’t go so far as to call it good in its own right so much as it was just fun. Recently, I decided to give a whole album of mash-ups a shot after hearing Legion… Read more »
…that the Beatles are better than the Stones (or anyone else for that matter). From the late Kurt Vonnegut’s last novel, Timequake: I say in speeches that a plausible mission of artists is to make people appreciate being alive at least a little bit. I am then asked if I know of any artists who pulled that off. I reply,… Read more »
Back in the mid to late 80s, Strange Fruit Records released a series (or three) of EPs that were actual sessions from John Peel’s radio show on the BBC’s Radio One. I bought some at the time and I’ve always loved listening to them. They have a lot of raw energy that likely comes from essentially playing live for someone… Read more »
Label: Red Car Records (available through Cd baby) Released: 2004 I picked this one up for $5 after hearing a Charms track (not from this album) on Little Steven’s Underground Garage. I’m guessing the track I heard was newer and that the band has grown a good bit since this one was released. The first thing that struck me about… Read more »