Label: Released: October 6, 2009 The progression of an artist from a seminal band to a solo career usually tells us more about the artist now that they’re freed from the shackles of band unity (in whatever form it existed). What’s interesting about Grant Hart’s Hot Wax is that it tells us some things about him, but more of where… Read more »
One of the Clash’s finest moments was “White Man in Hammersmith Palais,” a 1978 UK single that also appeared on the re-sequenced 1979 US issue of their self-titled debut. The beginning of the song was inspired by a reggae show Joe Strummer attended (and was disappointed in) and mentions three arists who performed. The song goes on to make serious,… Read more »
Label: Fainting Room Collective Released: October 2009 There’s no doubt that the Family Curse really like noise in general and the Butthole Surfers in particular. The opening track certainly makes no bones about it, but also shows that they don’t quite get it. It’s random and pointless and they miss that even the wild abandon of the Buttholes and the… Read more »
Listening to Sirius in my wife’s care this evening got me thinking about the radio, how it’s changed over the years and all the songs written about it. Here’s a sampling of some of them. I’m sure there are a few great ones I missed. The Selecter – “On My Radio” : The Selecter are a bit of a forgotten… Read more »
“Come Together” has always been one of the few Beatles’ songs that just never connected with me, but Gaslight Anthem do a cool, stripped-down version. Check it out.
Label: Meteor 17 Released: September 22, 2009 Flying Machines recently won Converse’s “Get Out of the Garage” nationwide battle of the bands contest. Their music has been featured on TV’s Psych. They’re a band on the way up. So, what’s the hype? Well, their guitar driven pop rock (a la the Killers) fits in nicely with the current mood of… Read more »
Label: Bronx Born Records Released: September 15, 2009 Anomaly is the latest release from Ace Frehley, but it’s also a good description of Space Ace himself in a sense. After all, he’s the only member of Kiss to make any good records on his own. So, score one for Ace. On the other hand, it’s been 20 years since he’s… Read more »
Label: Blackheart Records Released: June 2, 2009 Coming two years after their promising debut, Trio BC shows a young band that has done some significant maturing as musicians. The album maintains their early punkish edge, but expands the sound well beyond that. Nina Diaz elevates herself to a rough-around-the-edges Patsy Cline, particularly on the yearning, tender melancholy of “El Monte.”… Read more »
Label: Love/Hate Records Released: May 2009 In some cases, albums where a band knows exactly where they’re going and how they’ll get there deliver a level of perfection that earlier albums hadn’t. However, there is an urgency that blossoms from the creative free-for-all of a band finding their way as they go. There’s a visceral energy that perfection just can’t… Read more »