Chestnut Hill is the neighborhood in Philadelphia that saw one of the two premiere performances of Vespers, and the Chestnut Hill Local is its award-winning weekly:

Chestnut Hill Local

Michael Caruso, 26 Nov 2009

If you’re looking to give the gift of music with a local connection this Christmas season.… Piffaro, the Renaissance Band, and The Crossing, the chamber choir, have joined forces to record Kile Smith’s Vespers.… It’s a modern setting of the traditional Vespers liturgy of the German Lutheran Church for chorus and period instruments.… Perhaps the most distinctive characteristic of Smith’s Vespers is his nearly unique ability to blend the traditional outlines of centuries of musical settings… with the harmonic sounds of modern music.… he managed it all without ever sounding either condescending or constricted.

His vocal writing is no less impressive… one of the most amazing aspects of Smith’s Vespers ­[is] the organic integration of the instrumental and vocal parts to produce… one multi-textured and multi-colored body of sound… Both the singing and the playing are splendid.

Read the entire article here. To buy Vespers (as he says you should), these are all of the different places it’s available.

Another from the Fervor Coulee, pre-blog archive.

Originally published in The Red Deer Advocate, April 18, 2008.

Chris Vallillo

Abraham Lincoln in Song

www.chrisvallillo.com

An album of old-time music from and inspired by the times of Lincoln; there’s a commercial bonanza just a-waitin’!

Within detailed liner notes, Illinois songwriter and musician Chris Vallillo outlines the connection each track has to Lincoln, whether a personal favourite of the sixteenth president of the U.S., an artifact of the time, or a contemporary piece reflecting a historical perspective. Anticipating the bicentennial of his birth, Abraham Lincoln in Song present thirteen tunes and songs from the familiar- Lorena, Hard Times, and Dixie’s Land­- to the less known- El-A-Noy and Let the Band Play Dixie.

Vallillo has a pleasant, masculine voice that is fully capable of carrying the nuance of a popular sentimental melody while bringing a bit of bombast to more inspirational numbers. Vallillo’s guitar arsenal is large, and he is accompanied by mandolin, fiddle, bass, and harmonica.

Those interested in the aural tradition and historical basis of familiar songs within a stunning acoustic context are well advised to investigate Abraham Lincoln in Song.

This weekend I made the decision to revamp Fervor Coulee a bit, so you’ll notice a few tweaks. I also realized I hadn’t dug into the non-posted archive for a long time. I dug out this review of Carlene’s ‘comeback’ album originally published just before this blog was born. I’ll make an attempt to update a few older reviews as the weeks pass.

Originally appeared in The Red Deer Advocate, August 1, 2008

Carlene Carter

Stronger

YepRoc

Fans can be forgiven for believing they were unlikely to hear new material from June Carter’s first-born.

On her first album in over than a decade, Carlene Carter displays the passion that has consistently been present in her country-rock hybrid while instilling depth that was frequently missing from her chart hits. Stronger has more than a little of the spirit of her Carter family ancestors woven within the tracks. 

Having spent years out of the spotlight, Carter’s voice is huskier than it was on Little Acts of Treason, her major label swan song. But she displays control and sensitivity throughout, never over-extending her voice.

Her honest treatment of On To You signifies that at fifty-plus, Carter can give those half her age something to consider, and the mid-tempo, country shuffle To Change Your Heart would fit nicely on any of Carter’s mid-90s albums.

While Carter exposes herself emotionally throughout Stronger, the album’s mood isn’t dense or bleak. I’m So Cool is as lively as when she first recorded it almost thirty years ago. Attention to phrasing and delicate instrumentation allows the gentle love song Spider Lace to stand out as a highlight.

But Carter saves the best for last. The album’s intense title track doesn’t mince words, and Carter’s mature performance of what could be a clichéd lyric (“What doesn’t kill me makes me stronger”) elevates the song. When one considers from where Carter was for much of the last thirteen years- addiction, career bankruptcy, criminal charges, family losses- June, Johnny, sister Rosey, ex Howie Epstein- “this hell-raising angel” is entitled to look back with contented perspective. Stronger should become Carter’s signature song.

Without apologizing for her past, Carlene Carter has documented the challenges, celebrations, and lessons of a hard-lived life on Stronger. Not only Comeback of the Year, Stronger is a candidate for Comeback of the Decade.

2009 update- I just listened to Stronger again, and while it holds up quite well, it isn’t the remarkable ‘comeback’ I perhaps thought it was. In too many places lush overwhelms lust, and that can’t be a good thing for a singer with Carter’s vocal traits. Still, I’m glad the album got made, and I’m just as happy that it brought Carlene Carter some positive press after years of less than stellar news.

With a vibrant Hispanic community of more than 5 million people, the city of Los Angeles boasts many ways to celebrate Latin American music. No wonder that L.A. based Lawson Rollins is infected by this type of music. He consequently started his career last year with the Latin guitar fusion album Infinita.

His sophomore album Espirito he produced with Shahin Shahida (of the Persian-American World Music group Shahin & Sepehr) and Dominic Camardella (3rd Force, Ottmar Liebert). Lawson is supported by singer Flora Purim, percussionist Airto Moreira, violinist Charlie Bisharat, Afghan vocalist Humayun Khan (harmonium), Jeff Elliot (trumpet), Randy Tico (bass), and Dave Bryant (drums, percussion).

“I love the hybrid quality of World Music and how it allows for cross-cultural communication and exchange. The Spanish guitar is a true manifestation of the commingling of cultures with its ties to the Arabic oud, the Persian tar, even the Indian sitar, so drawing on those connections seems natural to me,” Rollins explains his new album. “We took a far-ranging musical journey with the players on Espirito. Near the end (of the record), we slide into the ether. The notes slow down and evaporate into silence, a prayerful conclusion to the album, a moment of thankfulness for the alchemy that took place between the musicians.”

On Rumba del Sol Lawson Rollins and Charlie Bisharat fight a strong Flamenco battle. I will never find out who is playing the notes quicker, anyway really impressing. Moonlight Samba presents a modest attitude and let the lovely melody flow. Flora Purim and Flora’s daughter Diana Booker refine the song with breathed words, although Lawson’s powerful acoustic guitar takes the lead.

Continue reading Lawson Rollins – Espirito

Classics Today decided to devote American Turkey day to reviewing what it considers to be some turkeys. It’s quite obvious that the reviewers enjoyed themselves. In fact, they even admitted as much.

Reviewing music is such a subjective business; few and far-between are the opportunities to cover a disc so horrendous that you can trash it and know that there can be no dissent, that you speak objective truth. So when my colleague at CTFrance.com, Christophe Huss, called me up and said, “You have to hear Angela East’s Bach Cello Suites; they are the worst ever,” I was naturally excited. I respect Christophe tremendously, but even so, well, you know how hysterical those French critics can be. Still, the cover looked promising: there is Ms. East, (blurrily) sitting barefoot on a rock in a billowing red dress, about to be swamped by a giant wave. Would the performances themselves, purportedly “authentic” in approach, match the cheesy quality of the graphics?

Among the victims, besides Ms. East, are David Fray’s recording of Bach, Marc Minkowski’s recording of the Bach B Minor Mass, and a Chandos release of Bernstein’s Mass.

The Minkowski receives the kindest treatment–or at least, the one that did not unchain the reviewer’s inner muse.

There’s a big difference between authenticity with respect to circumstance and being true to the work in question. This release offers a case in point. It may be that 10 singers and single players per part (more or less) is what Bach had at his disposal, but this can scarcely do the music justice. The two great Kyrie fugues, the Sanctus/Osanna, and the conclusions of the Gloria and Credo sound pathetic. Even worse, conductor Marc Minkowski has singers (the tenors particularly) who do not blend, who never constitute a believable “chorus” (try the opening of the Credo for a particularly atrocious example), and whose pronunciation of the text isn’t even consistent (try the sopranos in the Christe eleison). Add scrappy strings and an acoustic whose excessive resonance only makes the forces sound even smaller, and the result is one of the worst modern performances of the B minor Mass, plain and simple. Yecch!

[Hmm, I don't remember it being anywhere near that bad, although he certainly has a point about the resonance. Have to take another listen to it this weekend, I guess.]

Also receiving a relatively restrained reproof are Fray and a HIP performance of Chopin. But things heat up with Lenny.

This performance has two things going for it: the Tölzer Knabenchor, and Randall Scarlata’s dignified and well-sung performance as the Celebrant. Everything else is simply vile. Kristjan Järvi conducts as if he’s late for an appointment somewhere (anywhere) else. The opening Kyrie is a blur, the text incomprehensible, while the climactic Dona Nobis Pacem is chaotic in a bad way. The individual street singers are mostly awful. I can accept the thick German accent in “World Without End”–indeed, it could have been kind of cool in a decadent sort of way–but Ruth Kraus can’t even pronounce the words. The “blues” singer in the Confession sounds more like he ought to be yodeling on an Alp. The principal soloist in “God Said” hams it up in a sorry parody of the real Broadway style, and it’s all recorded as a horrible multi-track pop album extravaganza, with the solo voices way, way too close. Disgusting. Avoid at all costs.

Well, I wasn’t planning on buying that one anyway….

But poor, poor Ms. East. Here’s the rest of the review

I put on the disc, and Voila! Indeed this is the worst-ever recording of these works, playing so tonally hideous, musicianship so lacking in taste, in basic musicality, that it surely deserves to become the Bach party record of choice for years to come. But, make no mistake, it’s terribly historically informed. Only years of academic study could produce a result this senseless. I know, I know–you think I exaggerate. Just spend a few moments listening [I'm not going to listen to it after this review!--K.]to the concluding Gigue of Suite No. 3: every phrase is played with different (and unrelated) dynamics, articulation, tempo–it’s a musical vivisection. Or listen to East grind her way through the Sarabande of the D minor suite. Is there a tune in there somewhere? Nah! Bad cello playing, it’s often said, sounds like a dying cow, but East puts a new spin on that image: she sounds like a dying mad cow. It’s that grotesque.

Happily, the sonics are fully worthy of the performances: atrociously close and airless, capturing every gasp, sniffle, snort, and a whole panoply of performance noises, from the clicking of fingers pressing on the strings to the thump of the bow in double stops. But there’s more! As a special bonus we get PICTURES, because East relates the keys of the suites to specific colors. Black (C minor) is particularly charming: it features East sitting in an enormous spider web in a black pantsuit and purple scarf. Any giant spiders out there care for a quick snack?

Dying mad cows…just what we need.

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Animal Collective’s new “Fall Be Kind” EP, released digitally by Domino Records this week, presents five new songs, diverse in their styles and moods but each fabulously perfect in its own way.

“Graze,” the opener, recalls Panda Bear’s “Person Pitch” with its soaring vocal and abrupt shift midway through. “What Would I Want? Sky” echos the cautiously optimistic themes that run throughout “Merriweather Post Pavilion.” All three band member’s talents come together beautifully on the haunting “Bleed,” certainly the most striking and probably my favorite track on the record. “On a Highway” would be the center panel for a triptych that has, to its left, Kerouac’s “On the Road” and, to its right, that wonderful “Tiny Dancer” scene from Cameron Crowe’s “Almost Famous.” And the finale, “I Think I Can,” brings us back to “Person Pitch” and “Merriweather” too, combining the key elements from both of those previous works.

Some people might dismiss this EP, saying that they got tired of hearing the more popular tracks off “Merriweather.” But that I just don’t understand. To me, that’s like saying, “gee, I’m just kind of bored of looking at ‘Les Demoiselles d’Avignon’” or “yeah, I’ve just seen ‘Lavender Mist’ one too many times.” That’s just crazy!

One last point to make is that I really don’t think it’s a coincidence or accident that the Grateful Dead song sampled in “Sky” is titled “Unbroken Chain.” With their work this year, Animal Collective build on the basic ideas advanced previously by David Foster Wallace and Stephen Malkmus. That irony and cynicism are, at this point, dead ends; that many elements of postmodernism that once felt exciting and bold now seem tired and out-of-date; that the second-rate, faux-Cartesian/solipsistic theorizing that passes for scholarship these days is … well … a lot of worthless junk; and that the search for true emotion, true satisfaction and happiness, and indeed the search for truth itself really require as essential inputs experience, experimentation, and the Popperian scientific method. With their work this year, that is, the members of Animal Collective stand tall, not just with the great creative forces of our time, but all the great intellects extending back to generations past: “The Unbroken Chain.” At least if you ask me ….

Chuck Berry –The Immortal-The Legend-The “Father” of Rock and Roll-at BB Kings on New Year’s Eve. Tickets on sale tis morning at 10:00 a.m.$98.

Aretha Franklin at Bergen Performing Arts Center in Englewood NJ on Sat. May 22, 2010. Tickets on sale this morning at 11:00 a.m. $35 – $125.

eTown Live Radio Show featuring Tori Amos and Jesse Winchester at the Grand Ballroom (7^th floor of the Manhattan Center). Tickets on sale now. $42.

Dinosaur Jr. at Bowery Ballroom on Sat. Jan. 16, 2010. And at the Music Hall of Williamsburg on Sun. Jan. 17. Tickets on sale today at noon. $25 ($30 day of show).

Alice In Chains at Terminal 5 on Mon. Mar. 8, 2010 and at the Borgota in Atlantic City on Sat. Mar. 12, 2010. Ticket info to follow. (Second half of their tour kicks off in Vancouver in Feb.)

Other items:

Have a Happy Thanksgiving everyone, may you have a warm holiday season.

Congratulations to Taylor Swift on winning what seemed like every award this past Sunday night on the American Music Awards show. This is her year without a doubt. She is a breath of fresh air. I don’t know about you but maybe I’m a prude but it drives me crazy that artists are allowed to curse during their songs on national TV. I guess we now live in a world where the “7 second delay” will be with us forever. Jay-Z’s performance with Alicia Keys for the song-“Empire State of Mind”- was very good but then here it comes- there were words coming out of his mouth-oh wait he’s cursing… bums me out. And then forget about Eminem’s performance-turned the channel, it’s ridiculous- is this all for “street cred?” I’ll take Susan Boyle any day of the week over that. It may be me but I don’t get Lady Gaga, do you? I’m at a loss for words to describe her performance.

As usual Mary J. Blige was the coolest female performer and is by far one of the coolest people on the planet. And what about Adam Lambert? I don’t even know what to say- his performance was terrible, I’m sorry I usually keep it positive on this page and if I have nothing good to say, I usually just don’t say anything but he has lost me as a fan. I can no longer take his screaming which seems to be done on every one of his performances, the last notes that he was screeching took out more than a few windows across the U.S. Adam- what has happened? I think all the “fame” has taken away your talent. And why all the stupid body gyrations and kisses, etc? Weren’t you just on American Idol? A place where a family can enjoy a show together and less than 6 months later, this is what you do? For shock value? And then to just blow it off like it is no big deal is an insult to all the kids out there who voted for you. It’s so obvious you have a lot of growing up to do. I will not put any money in his pockets by buying his album, his performance was not only a disgrace but he doesn’t sing anymore, he just screams and screeches. I’m done. His scheduled appearance on “Good Morning America” today deserved to be pulled from their programming.

I absolutely love Susan Boyle’s new album- “I Dreamed a Dream”-this is a perfect album for a dinner party or a holiday party. The first song, a remake of the Rolling Stone’s-“Wild Horses”- is in my opinion stunning beautiful. Then the song that made her who she is today-“I Dreamed a Dream” still gives me the chills as I can picture her up on stage that first time while Simon’s reaction was priceless. Now obviously this is a “sit-down” listening album in front of the fireplace, etc. as this could almost be considered a “classical” album. “Cry Me a River” is still absolutely phenomenal no matter how many times you hear it or view it on You Tube. Her version of “How Great That Art” is a chilling monumental feat that will blow you away. Where has this woman been all of our lives? She puts a very different spin on the Monkees classic “Day Dream Believer.” The rest of the album again is fantastic and could be considered in my top ten albums of the year. That’s how good this is folks, she probably could retire after this as I’m assuming this will break many, many records. Congrats Ms. Boyle, well deserved.

The “Very Special Christmas” has added another to its series- “7”- and it features songs from Carrie Underwood, Colbie Caillat, Miley Cyrus, Sean Kingston and Charice. I have to say that this one sounds good overall- there are a few songs that I’d pass over- but overall this is worth the purchase.

I purchased the song –“Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas”- from David Archuleta’s “Christmas From the Heart” album as it features Charice Pempengco and if you remember she had, in my opinion, a massive hit with “Note to God”- which will definitely be in my top ten songs for the year 2009. Listen to this track, Archuleta actually hangs in there with her which is hard to do.

Lite FM 106.7 the radio station in New York has been playing 24 hours of Christmas music since last weekend and it will continue until Dec. 26. I love it!!

Q-104.3- NY’s Classic Rock Radio station- will be playing their top 1,043 songs of all time, voted by you- the listener. The countdown begins today and ends up on this Sunday.

Album Review: “Battle Studies” by John Mayer; released on November 17, 2009.

Well folks like I told you last week, I knew my son was going to get Mayer’s new album. I’m not sure there is a bigger fan out there today than my oldest son and with no further adieu here is his review:

It’s been three years since singer/guitarist John Mayer has put out a studio album. Due to this I have been waiting for “Battle Studies” for a long, long time and with much anticipation. When I went to the store to buy the CD mixed feelings overcame me. I was so happy that I could finally listen to some new songs from my favorite artist, but I was also a little scared because the album had gotten “average” reviews. I played the album and then I played it again, and again and finally had an opinion about it. This is an album of details, every listen you can find something more interesting about it.

When “Heartbreak Warfare”, the first song on the album, started playing I immediately had a good feeling about it. The song is so calm and very peaceful although the lyrics are the opposite and speak of what most of the album revolves around: love and heartbreak. You can tell just from this song that John wasn’t lying when he said that he had changed his writing style, most of the songs use battles or wars as metaphors to explain how he feels. It’s an interesting change in style.“Heartbreak Warfare” is a great way to start the album and gives a hint toward the sound of the rest of the album. The second song is called “All We Ever Do Is Say Goodbye” and once again some of the lyrics are really good! For some reason I think Mayer’s vocals stand more on this album than past records, it’s one of the notable aspects of the album. I love at the end of the song when Mayer sings the high and low verses at the same time, it just sounds amazing. Next a guitar rings out and “Half of My Heart” begins. Now I was a little skeptical because Taylor Swift is singing along with John and I’m not a big fan of Swift, but I have to give credit to her because she sings the song very well with Mayer. They had very good chemistry. This is one of the most enjoyable songs on the album.

Track four is the first single from the album “Who Says” and is not my favorite John Mayer song. First I disagree with this being released as the first single; the song is ok but not single material. I really don’t understand the lyrics but I’m not going to dwell on it. You really have to be in the mood for this song, it’s perfect for driving late at night. After this a great upbeat song comes on called “Perfectly Lonely.” It’s very refreshing after hearing “Who Says” and is one of the best songs on the album. Everything on this song sounds good the guitar, vocals, lyrics, and rhythms. It’s so cool when John goes from singing to a guitar solo, it just sounds right. “Assassin” is the next track and is another stand out song on “Battle Studies.” Again it shows John’s change in writing and is a really cool song. The chorus is addicting and the guitar solo is flashy and lively. Next Mayer returns to his blues roots and covers Robert Johnson’s “Crossroads” with skill. I had this song playing in the car and my mom turned it up and said “Wow this is good!”The guitar work in the song is great (not that I expected anything different).

Track 8, “War of My Life”, is a personal favorite of mine. It is such a peaceful song where Mayer’s vocals are flawless. The part at the end of the song where Mayer sings “So fight on…fight on everyone” is magical. Battle Studies continues with “Edge of Desire.” This song gets better as it progresses, it is really good from the guitar solo on, and once again I feel that the vocals shine in this song.“Do You Know Me”, the 10^th song, is the worst song on the album. There’s just nothing special about the song. My favorite song on the album happens to be the last one, “Friends, Lovers, or Nothing.” The lyrics speak such truth in this song; a person is either a friend, a lover, or nothing. There is no in between.I saw this song live when John performed at the Beacon Theater and that performance made me realize how great it is. The vocals and guitar sound great together. The guitar solo is spectacular, when John plays guitar it sends me to another world.It’s amazing how music can affect a person. The harmonies at the end of the song with the combination of vocals, background vocals, and guitar sound amazing. A great way to end an album that has impressed me even though it’s not the kind of music I had expected. This album will always be special to me; there is just something about it that really appeals to me.I feel like I can almost relate to the album and I think that John Mayer has made an excellent record once again.

Overall Opinion: It’s not a perfect album but it is pretty close! I give it about 4 stars. This is a very personal album from Mayer and I think he had to make it for himself. I find it very strange as to why this album is getting a lot of bad reviews and grief. We all knew that this record wasn’t going to top “Continuum” or resemble its sound at all. Mr. Mayer made the right choice by not trying to duplicate Continuum and instead create an album with a brand new sound and writing style. This is not a new thing for Mayer, he has changed his style and sound on every album he has made. None of them sound alike, “Room For Squares” was a great light acoustic album with pop hooks, “Heavier Things” started introducing more electric guitars and more mature lyrics, and “Continuum” was Mayer’s perfect record and had a blues feel to it. John Mayer knew he couldn’t recreate Continuum so he just introduced a new sound with “Battle Studies”. So for the people hating on the album just because it’s not like Continuum stop complaining, accept Mayer’s decision to try something new, and enjoy this record because it is a piece of work.

“TOP TEN” :

As you know I go through kicks where I obsessively listen to a band for a period of a couple of weeks and of course consider that band one of the best bands either out today or “ever,” right? Well for the past few weeks on my rides into the city I have been listening a lot to the country band-Little Big Town- and you know what’s coming right? They are “hands down” (with no competition that I see) the best vocal band that is out today. (Forget that Rascal Flatts won that award- that was “fixed” because if you listen with your ears-and not by popularity- you will agree that this two man and two women band are the best singers since the Mamas and Papas). So here are my favorite ten songs from this band which formed in Tennessee in 1998:

10.     Fury- Love the groove in this song. This is not your mother or father’s Country band, they have expanded the meaning of Country (sort of like how the “Alt-A” mortgage market became watered down and turned into the “Alt B” market). But in this case, Little Big Town is expanding but in a great way. There harmonization is something to behold, my jaw just hits the floor. I can’t wait to see this band for the first time, it’s only a matter of time.

9.     Stay- This song is a “beaut.” The combination of the acoustic guitar and the girl’s voices is something that gives me the chills. It’s a heartfelt plea that will melt your heart. Whenever I hear this song, I have to stop what I’m doing and completely devote my attention to this exquisite song.

8.     Don’t Waste My Time- This is “music to my ears” and I love to lip-sync to this song as I try to match the passion of their phenomenal voices. The lyrics are perfect is you are trying to get someone to move in your direction. I like the way the woman sings a verse then the guys sing a verse. I can picture that someone dancing around by themselves at a concert (c’mon you all know that you have see that person) because they feel that particular song in them, this is that song.

7.     Everything Changes- Love the video for this song and have to admit it’s one of the reasons it lands on my top ten list. Obviously their harmonizing vocals are the main reason and I wish I could hold a tune like them. This is the perfect sing-along song where the chorus will stick in your head all day long.

6.     A Place to Land- This song had me on the opening lines-“I dip my toe in water before I know it I’m over my head.” This is a finger snapping, hand clapping song that will have you swaying your hands and arms back and forth above your head. I have a funny feeling that my mother-if she were still alive today- would absolutely love this band and especially this song, this is right up her alley-as well as mine. Pure perfection.

5.     Good As Gone- As soon as I hear this song, I can picture the video with one of the girls walking in on her boyfriend and seeing him with another woman. Ooops…and thus the title of this song. This song moves and the guitar playing is so much fun. Have I mentioned that this band is very talented? Listen to the guitar solo and tell me “they ain’t good?” I defy you. With that said, I’m as good as gone.

4.     Vapor- This is almost a head banging song.. maybe a “Country head-banging” tune? The reason I say that is cause every time I hear this song my head goes up and down while I air-guitar my way to the top. They rock out pretty good on this track but then slow it down and then take it back up with a fury that is unmatched. “Life is a Vapor… Fire and Paper..” Sort of like a Mellencamp tune, I could see him doing this song with them.

3.     Boondocks-This song makes me wish I was born in the boondocks because I would be so proud of the way that Little Big Town has represented my world to the rest of the world with this great tune. Again if this doesn’t move you, you may want to check for a pulse. “It’s where I learned about living.. It’s where I learned about love….This is who I am.” That’s what I’m talking ‘bout!!!

2.     Bring It On Home- This was my first introduction to this band. As soon as I heard this song I had to run out and buy it. I was completely blown away by the calmness and beauty of this song. My kids will always have a funny story to tell their children- I love to listen to music when I’m cleaning around the house and this one particular day I had my headphones on and this song came on the I-Tunes shuffle and I had to sing along. My kids stopped playing the Wii and laughed as they listened to me try to match their vocals- they said the dogs in the neighborhood were howlin’. What can I say? I love this song!!!

1.     Novocaine- If you remember I had this song in my top ten songs of 2007. I friggin’ love this song!!! It’s blasting so loud in my house-and no one is home except my oldest son-so you know I’m having a party. If this song doesn’t move you, then I give up. This is a perfect party song- hey maybe you can impress everyone at your New Year’s Eve house party by memorizing the words (you have time) and dance around your living room floor while everyone will ask- Who is this?- You can then tell them it is the best harmonizing band in the world today- Little Big Town!!!

Trivia Questions

Answers from last week:

1.     Erin Everly- daughter of Don Everly

2.     Courtney Love

3.     Heather Locklear

4.     Angie Bowie

This week’s trivia (Before I went solo)

1.     One of my first gigs, I use to play the drums for Smokey Robinson’s band. Who am I?

2.     I played for Little Richard’s band and also the Isley Brother’s before I exploded onto the music scene? Who am I?

3.     I was part of the “girl band” movement in the 1960’s, then went off on my own, had many hits in the 1970’s through the 1990’s and am still going strong today? Who am I?

4.     I use to sing lead for “The Baby’s” before I went and had a huge single on my own called “Missing You.” Who am I?

Name That Tune

Answers from last week:

1.     “If I Only Had a Heart ”- Jack Haley (from the “Wizard of Oz”)

2.     “If I Could Turn Back Time”-Cher

3.      “If”-Bread

4.     “If I Had a Hammer”- Peter, Paul & Mary

Can you guess the title from the following lyrics from part of the song?

1.     “Why should I care? Why should I care?…………. Girls of Fifteen…”

2.     “I want somebody to speed it up for me.. then take it down slow.. there’s enough room for both…”

3.     “Waiting for the break of day.. searching for something to say…flashing lights…”

4.     “I was dreaming when I wrote this.. forgive me if it goes astray..but when I woke up….”

Back on this day in 1976, The Band filmed “The Last Waltz,” which was their last concert with the original line-up. Other guests included Eric Clapton, Bob Dylan and Muddy Waters.

Back on this day in 1984, Paul McCartney, Phil Collins, Sting and U2 were among some of the artists that recorded the song-“Do They Know It’s Christmas”-produced by Bob Geldoff.

Back on this day in 1988, Ringo Starr and his wife, Barbara Bach completed their stay at a rehab for alcoholism.

Back on this day in 2000, a burglar broke into Alice Cooper’s house in CA and stole $6,000 worth of clothes and jewelry from his daughter and four of his gold records.

If it is your birthday today, you share the same birth date with Percy Sledge.

At Bass Day 2009 in Manchester I met Polish guitar wizard Adam Palma. He has worked with many of the top pop and jazz artists in Poland and with international names including Chris de Burgh and the Average White Band’s Hamish Stuart.

This is a startling album of solo acoustic guitar played fingerstyle with no overdubs or studio tricks – I say startling because at times you would think there were two or even three guitars. Many of the songs are originals, such as the bluesy opener ‘Rocky Mountains’ which displays dexterity I’ve only heard on records by the world’s finest players. I also love the chord changes in his gorgeous ‘When Tommy meets Chet’ and here Palma’s sense of humour is in evidence.

That same sense of humour surfaces on his rendition of the ‘Inspector Gadget’ theme. And it’s impossible not to smile during his staccato version of ‘Love and Marriage’. I’d love to hear this as part of a movie soundtrack – it really does bring something new, warm and endearing to an old song.

Continue reading I Happened To Hear 12/2009

Très content de recevoir en promo xThe Battlex que j’attendais depuis un moment. Ce disque, sorti sous le titre “All shall perish”, est le cinquième produit par le label d’activistes vegan straight-edge zurichois de Storm of Justice.
La chose principale à savoir concernant xThe Battlex est qu’il s’agit d’un one man band. Larz, l’homme qui se cache derrière ce projet, s’est en effet chargé de l’enregistrement de l’ensemble des instruments ainsi que de l’écriture des lyrics, du chant, du mastering ainsi que du mixage! Autant dire que ce disque est une bombe pour toute personne chérissant la philosophie du Do It Yourself. A côté de ses activités dans xThe Battlex, Larz œuvre également en tant que batteur dans Black Hill (anciennement Lost Alone), en qualité de chanteur avec xRageOfAProphetx, et a joué de la basse dans le combo italien xDestroy Babylonx. Il a aussi produit plusieurs beats de hip-hop pour la compilation Wolf-Cell-Solid également sortie chez Storm of Justice. La première chose qui frappe lorsqu’on écoute ce “All shall perish” est la qualité du son, très rudimentaire. En se referant au booklet du CD, on se rend compte que l’ensemble de l’album a été produit et enregistré dans le living-room de 16m2 de l’individu ! Cela fait donc prendre une autre dimension à l’objet et on pardonne donc ce qui pourrait sonner comme un point très négatif à notre époque où tout disc se doit d’être parfaitement enregistré sous peine d’être ignoré.  D’un point de vue musical, xThe Battlex nous livre donc un hardcore puissant, enragé et engagé, rappelant Earth Crisis, Maroon de l’époque de “Antagonist”, ou encore Path of Resistance. Le concept de l’album est vraiment d’effectuer un retour au metal/hardcore originel ultra engagé des années 90. Je trouve les chansons bien composées, simples mais efficaces, le tout doté de bonnes transitions. On sent que c’est vraiment fait à l’arrache, et à priori ce qui pourrait être un gros désavantage se trouve finalement apporter un côté roots et attractif à l’ensemble. On y trouve également des parties instrumentales plus calmes, tantôt teintées d’influences hindoues (la toute première intro), tantôt obsédantes grâce à un riff de guitare en loop aux accents post-rock (Bonnie and Clyde), ou à une flûte envoûtante sur un beat hip-hop léger (Holy Sword). La chose que je critiquerai est qu’il y a peut-être trop de styles différents pour un MCD, ce qui peut faire perdre de l’homogénéité à l’ensemble…
Au niveau des lyrics, cela n’étonnera personne, le message délivré est 100% axée sur la militance vegan straight-edge. Mais là où certains pêchent par excès de simplicité ou manque d’intelligence, xThe Battlex nous délivre un message certes rageur et apocalyptique, mais très bien écrit et développé, qui mérite d’être lu et pris en compte, que l’on adhère ou pas à cette philosophie. Le lay-out (réalisé par SimonEdge) dans le style tattoo old-school reflète bien le côté apocalyptique développé dans les lyrics.
Pour conclure, à l’heure où le hardcore devient de plus en plus propret et consensuel et où la qualité du son à tendance à avoir plus d’importance que le message, xThe Battlex, par le biais de son MCD, se charge de rétablir l’équilibre de la balance… et putain, ça fait du bien !

Pour écouter xThe Battlex : http://www.myspace.com/xthebattlex
Label de xThe Battlex : http://www.myspace.com/xstormofjusticex

Canadian guitarist Jamie Bonk studied his instrument over a long period and was an associate guitar instructor at the Toronto Guitar Institute in 1990-97. He started his career with his self-titled debut album (1997), followed by A Perfect Tomorrow (2000), My World (2004) and 5 (2007).

His new album St. Joseph Street (2009) is conceived as EP presenting a bouquet of four exclusive songs. Jamie Bonk is joined by bassist Henrik Bridger, drummers Dave Patel and Peter Zakarow, vocalist Wendy Irvine and flutist Bill McBirnie.

Summer In The Round let you feel the vibe of a splendid summer day. There is so much joy in this song. Bill McBirnie’s flute is rejoicing like a lark in the clear summer light. Elevating, stirring, moving!

Continue reading Jamie Bonk -  St. Joseph Street

It’s the first time in many years that I have a CD by Najee that I want to listen to! I mean like take off the shelf and play it. Not since ‘just an illusion’ has that happened. I felt that many of his subsequent releases, they all settled on some dull formula that was devoid of personality. Not only is “Mind over Matter” smooth, and laid back but also ‘human’ (I really don’t know what that means- but think about something that’s free of all pretences and authentic- and you are closer to the definition). Soft to the ear and kind to the soul, with a diversity of voices that bring colour to his musical palette. Guest voices feature some of my favourite musicians, but it’s not overdone either. The track I’m listening to for example is a slow melody, a duet between the piano and the sax with a nostalgic flavour, with a mellow percussion as a foundation. If I was naming it, I would probably call it ‘a prayer for my baby’ or something like that. It happens to be my favourite track on the CD and it’s called The Journey. Each of the tracks get the same distinction of acquiring a personality. As another reviewer has commented “Sometimes the planets line up and the right groove emerges on its own, and all anyone needs to do – musicians and listeners alike – is get on board and ride into a realm of limitless possibilities.”- It seems this happened for this CD- perhaps where the name of the CD came from. The album title, says Najee, is inspired by Miles Davis’ approach to songwriting, especially in the latter part of his career. “In his later years, he took a very loose and improvisational approach,” he says. “He would start with nothing more than a groove that Marcus Miller or some other member of his band would lay down. And from there he would just develop these melodies that were very simple but at the same time very compelling and very memorable. It was a creative process that bypassed the nuts and bolts of the song and just got right to the essence of it.”

I love this CD- a heady mix of smooth grooves (done right!), mellow tunes and down to earth artists just doing their thing! Definitely worth buying!

Tara Jane ONeil - A Ways Away - K Records (2009)

Looking back as the year’s end approaches, the one record I have always been meaning to write about and never did is this one: “A Ways Away,” by Tara Jane ONeil.

This lp came out in May, and to be honest it’s never moved far from my turntable since. But “A Ways Away” is a quiet album, so I tend to listen to it when I’m in the mood for thinking, not doing. Plus, the overall feeling it evokes is one of fall-turning-into-winter as opposed to spring-turning-into-summer; so perhaps its impact would have seemed more immediate had it come out just now.

But “A Ways Away” is a great album that sinks in over time. ONeil’s expressive guitar work and affecting lyrics make tracks like “Drowning” (which you can hear on her Myspace page) and “A Vertiginous One” outstanding and memorable.

Of course, this comes against the backdrop of an extended period, now spanning nearly two decades, during which ONeil has consistently produced great music and visual art too. Still, “A Ways Away” may just be her best work yet.

Cindy Bradley is one of the blessed women showered with presents like beauty and a great musical talent. The decision in young years to choose the trumpet now bears fruits. She toured with Pieces of a Dream and performed on events like the Catalina Island Jazztrax Festival, the River Raisin Jazz Festival or the Woodbridge Summer Festival.

She started her career with the self-produced debut album Just A Little Bit (2007). Although she is often compared with Chris Botti and Rick Braun, she claims to have an own style: “I haven’t modeled myself after Rick or Chris, though I think they’re great.”

Her new album Bloom (2009) was released by the label Trippin ‘n’ Rhythm. Respect for Les Cutmore and Jeff Lunt to support a rather unknown talent. All tracks were written, performed, mixed, produced and engineered by Grammy award winning producer Michael Broening.

Cindy comments: “Michael just did such an incredible job with this project. He is not only super talented and good at what he does, but he is one of the coolest, most down-to-earth, humble guys I have met in this business – and that is really key to getting the best out of any artist. He also chose a really great group of musicians to play on the recording”.

Continue reading Cindy Bradley – Bloom

A buddy of mine summed it up right when he said “Weezer have the formula down – verse, chorus, verse, chorus, instrumental verse with a guitar solo playing the melody, then 2 chorus’ and it’s all over in less than 3 minutes.” They’ve proved time and time again to be the masters of power pop and to this day, nobody does the sub-genre better. It’s all there again on “Raditude” – the near-perfect pop melodies, punk rock guitars, and lyrics that go back and worth between witty and lazy, and song concepts that make you laugh out loud (e.g. “The Girl Got Hot”). They’re still just as cool as they seemed on the Windows 95 CD, which had the music video for “Buddy Holly” on it (remember how awesome a CD-ROM was?). Weezer rocks.

Tangent #1:
“Love is the Answer” stinks. Why is the formula for a song about peace, love, and enlightenment always adding a sitar and some dude/dudette from India singing in Hindi?!

Tangent #2:
“Raditude” is one of the greatest words ever. My wife and I are using the word with the kids – example, “Lose the attitude – how about a bit more RADITUDE?” I look forward to using the word well into their teens. I expect this will lead to some type of emotional scarring. True story – Rainn Wilson (Dwight Schrute in “The Office”) suggested the title to Weezer.

Tangent #3:
I wonder how many times they had to throw the dog across the room before they got the album cover shot…

Standout Tracks:
1 (“(If You’re Wondering If I Want You To) I Want You To”)
2 (“I’m Your Daddy”)
3 (“The Girl Got Hot”)
6 (“Tripping Down the Freeway”)

Skip:
7 (“Love is the Answer”)
9 (“In the Mall”)
All bonus tracks (#11 up) except “The Prettiest Girl in the Whole Wide World”

Kid Ears Alerts:
Most of the songs are cool but there’s a couple of hat-tips to hook-ups, so check it out first before rocking it for the shorties (wow – that was a lot of dated slang).

Bottom Line:
Music that’s awesome while driving. For under $10, download the whole album. Amazon Download Link.

We’ve made it into Fanfare twice: first in Peter Burwasser’s 2009 Want List, and then Carson Cooman writes it up in the regular reviews:

Smith’s Vespers (2008) is a magnificent achievement: it draws on the contrapuntal and textural idioms of Renaissance and Baroque music to create a fresh, vibrant musical statement in a contemporary harmonic language. The many instruments of the Piffaro Renaissance band are employed in myriad delightful combinations—from gentle, pastoral recorders with harp to a blazing chorus of shawms, dulzians, and sackbuts.

Like his Lutheran predecessors in the Renaissance and Baroque era, Smith bases many of the movements upon traditional chorale melodies. These prove fertile ground for his own harmonic explorations, and the whole work bursts with the invention that characterizes the best music (from any era) of this sort. The performance is excellent—Piffaro has distinguished itself through many records of period music, and The Crossing is a recently created choir (brainchild of conductor Donald Nally) that performs contemporary choral music exclusively.

Read the entire review here.

Thanks for visiting this week. In Friday’s Red Deer Advocate I was fortunate to review two exceptional roots music releases; I’ve listened to both countless times this autumn and discover something new to appreciate each time. Kent McAlister & the Iron Choir recently released How I’ll Remian and it is a splendid collection of songs. Meanwhile, Steve Dawson & Co. have done it again with a fabulous tribute to the music of the Mississippi Sheiks. I’ve been spending a bit of time of late listening to old blues and jug band collections I’ve found myself tripping across and much of the impetus to do so has come from this remarkable album. You can find the column at http://tinyurl.com/yhpvy2v

Thanks again for dropping in, and I hope you’ll find some music to investigate- support the artists and the labels…no one is getting rich on our music! Donald

Review of the London Philharmonic Orchestra’s CD release of Mahler Symphony No. 6 conducted by Klaus Tennstedt in Canada’s La Scena Musicale:

In 1991, Norman Lebrecht wrote of the phenomenal effect of Klaus Tennstedt in concert: “He found his favourite audience in London, where luridly coifed punks stood motionless in the bear pit of the Royal Albert Hall through his 90-minute performance of Mahler’s Sixth.” About the conductor’s return to the podium after surgery and treatment for cancer, Lebrecht went on, “He returned to give an awesome Mahler Sixth… that left many in tears.” And here is Tennstedt live in this crucial work captured by BBC engineers at the peak of his powers. It is an astonishing account and one that amply demonstrates the virtuosity of the LPO of 1983 and its consummate devotion to the fragile and chronically insecure conductor. This is a disc that no self-respecting Mahlerian should be without. Note also that the LPO label also offers an equally impressive 1985 performance of Mahler’s First (LPO-0012) coupled with Lieder eines fahrenden Gesellen sung by Thomas Hampson.

- Stephen Habington

LPO-0038

I have HUGE respect for Paul Baloche and especially love 2 things about his ministry: he’s the most affable and warm host (when leading worship) I’ve ever seen and his album’s aren’t over-produced. It sounds like a 5 or 6-piece worship band leading worship in their church.

“A Greater Song” was easily his best album and his previous effort (“Our God Saves”) gave us the standout tracks “Our God Saves” and “Hallelujah to my King”. That’s the first thing I noticed about this album – there isn’t even one track that jumps out to you as one of those songs. It’s a testimony to PB’s consistency that I’ve come to expect that from every album! The song son this CD aren’t poor – the songs are solid – but that’s the operative word here, “solid”.

I have a real lyrical question about the first track, “Glorious”. It contains the line “My eyes have seen the glory of the Lord”. Were the song about nature, it would make sense singing that line – but it’s not a nature song. So I’m left feeling that it’s borderline Biblically inaccurate to sing the line “My eyes have seen the glory of the Lord”, as it’s patently false! I’m not comfortable singing those words without any type of context (e.g. after talking about the starts, the mountains, etc.). Any thoughts?

My favorite track would be “Just to be With You”. It has that sweet, worshipful quality to it that’s corporate and personal at the same time.

The back half of the album is noticeably weaker than the first half. PB’s version of “Today is the Day” doesn’t compare to Lincoln Brewster’s version and “A New Hallelujah” is simply not that good, despite being hyped up by Worship Leader Magazine and other outlets (like “Healing Rain” a couple years ago).

Standout Tracks:
2 (“You Have Saved Us”)
3 (“Just to be With You”)
4 (“Wonderful God”)

Skip:
7 (“Today Is The Day”)
8 (“Shaken”)
9 (“We Will Hold On”)
10 (“Almighty”)
11 (“A New Hallelujah”)

Bottom Line:
Download the first 6 tracks for less than $6. Amazon Download Link.

Most people remember Blake Lewis for his “American Idol” run, which included this performance (I don’t care that he messed with Bon Jovi, this was wicked)…

After the show, he didn’t get the same love that some of the other contestants did (the best songwriter, etc. working on his project) but he’s finally released his first post-AI project. It’s what I would call a bonafide guilty pleasure. All of the tracks mix dance music with electronica and pop melodies, resulting in a fun and entertaining album. If he had the same promo machine behind him that other artists have, I’m pretty sure BL would be huge as his songs are made to blow up on the charts. Plus the dude can dance. Listening to this album reminded me that I can’t (although it’ shard to look awesome while dancing sitting down in a desk chair)…

Standout Tracks:
1 (“Heartbreak On Vinyl”)
2 (“Binary Love”)

Skip:
5 (“Rhythm of My Heart”)
9 (“SuperScratchaVocalisticTurnatablelicious”)
10 (“Our Rapture of Love”)
11 (“The Point”)

Kid Ears Alerts:
No bad language but practically the entire album is about hooking up on the dance floor in a manner that would seem to lead to… um… reproduction.

Bottom Line:
For $7.99 I’d pick up the album download and embarrass myself by listening/dancing to this album in my car. Amazon Download Link.

Jay Z at the Izod Center on Sat. Mar. 6, 2010. The opener will be Young Jeezy. Pre-sale tickets on this morning at 10:00 a.m. until 10:00 p.m. tonight. The password is: Access. General public on sale tomorrow at 10:00 a.m. $36.50, $66.50, $96.50 and $136.50. Also appearing at the Nassau Coliseum on Fri. Mar. 12. Tickets on sale tomorrow at 10:00 a.m. $36, $66, $96, $126 and $247.

Shinedown at Nokia Theater on Sat. Jan. 23, 2010. Tickets on sale tomorrow at noon. $33.

Alicia Keys at Nokia Theater on Tues. Dec. 1. American Express cardholders on sale now. $25. (2 ticket per person limit).

Megadeth and Slayer at the Izod Center on Thurs. Feb. 11. They have toured together since 1991 and know the tough economic times out there today so they have gone back to 1991 ticket prices. Tickets on sale this morning at 10:00 a.m. $10, $39, $49 and $59. Also appearing in Wallingford CT at the Oakdale Theater on Tues. Feb. 9. Tickets also on sale this morning at 10:00 a.m. $10, $39.50 and $59.50.

Lady Gaga has added two additional shows (the first two are completely sold out) at Radio City Music Hall on Sat. & Sun. Jan. 23 and 24, 2010. Tickets on sale today at 10:00 a.m. $49.50 – $69.50.

John Mayer with Michael Franti & Spearhead at Mohegan Sun on Fri. Feb. 19. Tickets on sale tomorrow at 10:00 a.m. (Live Nation Event).

Jethro Tull at Jones Beach and PNC Arts Center on Fri. June 11 and Sun. June 13, 2010. Tickets on sale tomorrow morning at 10:00 a.m. (Live Nation Event).

Cheap Trick at the New York Fillmore at Irving Plaza on Mon. Jan. 25. Tickets on sale tomorrow at 10:00 a.m. $49.50 ($55 day of show).

Tony Bennett at the St. George Theater in Staten Island N.Y. on Sat. Jan. 23. Tickets on sale next Tues. Nov. 24 at 9:30 a.m. $59 – $239.

Rascal Flatts at the Mohegan Sun on Fri. Jan. 15.(another date) Tickets on sale this morning at 10:00 a.m. $85 – $115. (Darius Rucker is the opener).

Rufus Wainwright at Bardavon Opera House in Poughkeepsie NY on Fri. Feb. 12. Tickets on sale today at noon. $35, $45 and $55.

Levon Helm at the Wellmont Theater on Fri. Feb. 26. Tickets on sale today at noon. $35, $50 and $75.

Dropkick Murphys at the Wellmont Theater on Wed. Feb. 24. Tickets on sale today at noon. $29.50.

Blue Oyster Cult at BB Kings on Sat. Mar. 13, 2010. Tickets on sale Mon. morning Mar. 23 at 10:00 a.m. $27.50 ($32 day of show).

Jerry Lee Lewis at BB Kings on Sat. Feb. 27. Tickets on sale next Tues. Nov. 24 at 10:00 a.m. $125 ($130 day of show).

Jay & The Americans at BB Kings on Fri. Mar. 5, 2010. Tickets on sale next Sat. Nov. 28 at 10:00 a.m. $30 ($35 day of show).

Other items:

I purchased the debut album by “Them Crooked Vultures” featuring the legendary John Paul Jones, Dave Grohl and Josh Homme. I really have to give it a chance so I will refrain from giving an opinion either way. Suffice to say if I’m telling you I am withholding judgment, my initial reaction is not that favorable. But please keep in mind that I detested “The Super Unknown” by Soundgarden when it was first released and it honestly took me over a year later to realize the beauty of that album and I still say that is the best album of the 1990’s, so you never know with Them Crooked Vultures. I was never a huge fan of the vocals of Mr. Homme.

This year’s American Idol winner-Kris Allen- released his debut album this past Tuesday and I have to admit that the album sounds pretty good-albeit from the 30 second samples from I-Tunes. His fans absolutely love it as it received a 4.5 star rating from I-Tune listeners (out of 5). The songs, which he wrote or co-wrote, sound mellow but upbeat seems to be perfect for a long road trip in your car. One of the songs that I think will be big is “Can’t Stay Away.”

John Mayer’s new album-“Battle Studies”- was released this week and initial reviews I have read have it “mediocre” at best. Although I will trust my oldest sons view as he has picked it up and he is saying that it is right up there in 2009 as one of the best, if not the best, albums of the year. I’m assuming a review from him will be coming soon. I will keep you posted.

One Republic’s “Waking Up” was also released this week and according to I-Tune listeners this album is just as good or better than their first album. Again listening to the 30 second samples on I-Tunes, I have to say I like the sound. (They kind of remind me of the newer version of “Tears for Fears.”)

Janet Jackson has released “Number Ones” and I have to say the best deal has to be on I-Tunes as you can get 35 songs for $14.99. That is a nice price and if you are a casual fan-this album is for you-if you are a die-hard fan you probably have most. She looks beautiful on the cover.

I purchased the “Country for Christmas” EP which features six songs from Lady Antebellum, Darius Rucker, Little Big Town, Rodney Carington, Trace Adkins and Luke Bryan. I tell you this country genre fits Mr. Rucker like a glove, I love his version of “Winter Wonderland.” In addition, he has released a new Christmas single (not on this EP) called “Candy Cane Christmas” and it is “old school” Christmas music, this will get you in the holiday spirit in no time. And by now you should know that I love anything that Little Big Town does and there song “Go Tell It on the Mountain” is not really new-I-Tunes seems to have taken some of their stuff off of their catalog and releasing it again. This band has the best vocalizing harmonies out today by far-freakin’ awesome.

Album Review: “Bat Out of Hell” by Meatloaf; released on Rocktober 21, 1977.

This week’s I-Pod shuffle landed on the title track of Mr. Loaf’s Masterpiece, so I listened to the entire album over and over. Folks, I’m not even going to ask if this album is in your music library, you need this album like you need food or water to survive-it’s that essential. So do yourself a favor- if you don’t have this album- stop reading this now and log on to Amazon or wherever you get your music (I-Tunes) and order this album- then come back to continue reading. OK I’m back. Now this album conjures up so many memories of my childhood growing up on 46^th street in Sunset Park Brooklyn. I was 12 years old when this album was released and is definitely part of my foundation of learning to love rock and roll. If one is building a house, this is the concrete that is poured into the ground. If I go from the bottom up, the “concrete” from this album is in my feet and toes and then the rest kept getting poured into my body over the years. Now I have to give credit where credit is due and the person responsible for introducing this album to me was and still is, my good friend Cathy. Boy do I remember how much she loved this album (as well as “Loves Life Bleeding” by Elton John), she played it endlessly when we were in junior high school. I bought the album and over the years I may have caught up to how many times she has played it in her lifetime. I can remember sleeping over my Great Aunt’s –Sarah- (who by the way is a young 96 years old today) apartment on “Senator” street in Brooklyn (also known as 69^th street to the Brooklyn-nites) one weekend in 1977 and playing this album the whole time on her old time record player. (remember those? They were like an entire furniture piece). The one thing I find very interesting today is that Todd Rundgren was the producer of this album and I have to say at that time I didn’t connect the dots but this man has created some great music in his time and this album, in my opinion, cemented his place in music history (Of course Meatloaf as well but you know what I’m saying). He also played lead guitar in most of the songs.

Side 1 starts off with the title track and all I have to say is-“Has there ever been a more passionate song sung by anyone in any genre of music?” If it is not the most passionate piece ever done- it definitely has to land in the top 10. And the intro with the piano also ranks up there as one of the best piano pieces ever done- how freaking psyched am I already? The song just really begins and I’m already in third gear. As the blazing guitar work creeps in, I start to kick into 4^th gear but then just like that, Mr. Loaf drops it down to 1^st gear with the slow piano work but don’t worry you’re going to heat up again. This song is like a roller coaster, there are so many dips and then explosions back to the top with break-neck twists & turns. “Oh baby you’re the only thing in this whole world that’s pure and good and right..” I love the way Mr. Loaf’s voice can screech at such high octane levels then drop down to that baritone level-not too many singers can achieve this. What hooked me into this song-as the rest of the album- is the frantic passionate vocals that pour out of every orifice of his being. “Well I can see myself.. tearing up the road.. faster.. than any other boy…” Love the crashing part where he is at the bottom of the pit in the blazing sun, where he is torn and twisted. I try to match his fervor by placing my left hand on my heart and make believe I have a microphone in my right hand, crunching low then explode into the air and come down while lip synching “Like a bat out of heeeeeeeeeeeeeeelllllllllllllllll…..” Phew, I am sweating big time. Track # 2- “You Took the Words Right Out of My Mouth (Hot Summer Night”- has that 1960’s feel to it. One of Rundgren’s idols was Phil Spector and this arrangement reeks of everything that Spector would have put into a song. The female background singers remind me of the Ronettes- next time you listen to this song-try to focus just on their part and you’ll see what I’m talking about. I remember the first time I played this song for my boys and they were wondering why the introduction had these two people talking about wolves. This is a classic “catchy” pop song that you can not get out of your head as the chorus is so addictive and of course you know I love the hand claps at the end of the song. “Heaven Can Wait” is a beautiful ballad that was featured in the movie. Mr. Loaf’s voice basically stays at the same place the entire song and really shines a light on his singing ability. This is a perfect dinner song for you and that someone special. The last track on side 1 is my favorite song on the album-“All Revved Up, with No Place to Go”-one of the reasons for that was due to the saxophone part in the song. During my early years I use to play the alto sax and loved it, I use to try and play the sax part for this tune and yes for a short time I had it, but never could nail the “really high” part of the song. Love the quick bluesy part where they cruise up and down the main track. “Ooh I got to draw first blood…sax solo.. and then after the chorus-bam-the best part of the song as the tempo kicks into 5^th gear-love the drums, piano, sax and guitars as Mr. Loaf screams out what sometimes many of us go through- “All revved up with no place to go!!!”

Side two begins with arguably his most popular song- “Two Out of Three Ain’t Bad”- every time I hear this song I have to stop what I’m doing and I am immediately polarized. This song gets me every time as I can imagine the pain that both he and the woman he is letting know that he doesn’t love, are experiencing. His voice is righteous in this song as he pours his heart out. This song moves me, I feel it and again that is the connection. Another thing is these songs are pretty long but they seem to fly by. “Paradise by the Dashboard Light” is the epic masterpiece of his career. In my opinion, this song ranks up in the top ten songs ever created in the history of music. This track is pure fun-can you think of a better “party” song where everyone-from your grandparents-down to the grand kids- have an absolute blast singing and dancing along with taking the female and male parts. Oh and the best part is if you are a baseball song- this is your tune. It took me many years but I have completely nailed down Phil Rizzuto’s part although I may be a little rusty. Then the best part of the song comes –“STOP RIGHT THERE..” I can picture the women on one side of the dance floor as they plead to the guys –“do you love and will you love me forever.” And par for the course, you know the guy is going to hedge by asking to “sleep on it.” But she ain’t having none of that- she wants to know right now-she’s not going any further. He still hems and haws as they both plead with each as the harmonization is out of this stratosphere. Well he just explodes-“I couldn’t take it any longer… I’ll love you till the end of time!!!” But just like a guy he then prays for the end of time-go figure? I can clearly recall one time in our MBIA spin class I put this song on one of the CD’s that our instructor-Chris- was nice enough to play. Obviously it is a long song and Chris felt like the class was “dogging it” so after the song ended he jumped off the bike and hit the replay button. The whole class objected and I went along with it but I was happy that I was going to hear it again. We all were “dying” as he implored us to give it our all and work harder. It was great!!! Thanks Chris. The last track “For Crying Out Loud” is another beautiful song that really takes it down but again you hear that passion from him and this song kind of reminds me of an Opera as the symphony creates this majestic feel to it.

Bat Out of Hell is the pinnacle of Meatloaf’s career and he hit a grand slam right out of the gate with this album. I believe it still sells like 200,000 copies every year and remains third on the all time list of albums sold ever in the world and the ticker is over 43 million. (The only two above this is AC/DC’s “Back in Black” and of course MJ’s “Thriller”). And not for anything, the cover of this album has to rank in the top ten of the best album covers ever, right? Again you should consider this album like water- vital to your existence.

“TOP TEN” :

Ever since the Metallica show last weekend I have been looking to rock out this week, so I decided to think of a band that has been rockin’ for the past 25 years or so and that band is Van Halen. Now keep in mind I was a fan of both lead singers (we really can’t count Gary Cherone, can we?) but as you all know by now, my preference are the years spent with Diamond Dave and hopefully some new material with Roth is going to follow in 2010. Obviously it was much harder to come up with my top ten songs with DLR than it was with Sammy Hagar. So hard in fact that I like to throw out the fact that Van Halen’s first five albums are all “desert island” discs for me. (Yes I know “1984” had all the “hits,” but remember when I was younger I stayed away from the “hits.”)Now with Hagar my favorite album was the one whose initials spelled out a bad word. (C’mon you know it??!!) Anyways here are my favorite ten songs by Van Halen-first with Diamond Dave and then my ten favorite with Sammy Hagar:

With Diamond David Lee Roth:

10.     Atomic Punk- Hunger. That is the first thing that comes to mind when I hear this song, this is when Van Halen was hungry and ready to show the world that they were a force to be reckoned with. This song is a 98 mile Nolan Ryan fastball under your chin. This is a young Mike Tyson knock out punch delivered in the first round. You get the point? Do you need a song to get you pumped up for your next work-out (whatever it is) look no further than this track.

9.     Loss of Control- Every time I went to take this song out my top ten songs I couldn’t do it. (Believe me I started out with 20 songs and I had to be honest with myself on what 10 songs I would want on a desert island). I can’t get enough of this 2:39 song. I run around in circles like a mad man. This song also reminds me of my good friend Slats.

8.     Could This Be Magic- I absolutely love this song, I love the way Diamond Dave sings so many cool parts- “but you don’t got to hurry take your tie-mmm…” “but you got womens on your mind..” “Better safe women and children first… Edward… Thank ya…” This song brings me back to my days growing up on 46^th street and my friend Mr. Graham loved this track. He would mimic Diamond Dave to a “T.”

7.     In a Simple Rhyme- As you can tell from this list, I have a lot of favorites from “Women & Children First” and get totally pissed when I see it on sale for like $4.99 in Sears or something like that. This track is one of the best songs that Van Halen has ever recorded, the arrangement of this track is so phenomenal it’s hard to put into words. Alex’s drumming is spectacular and what else can you say about Eddie. And by the way, Michael Anthony’s bass line will rip your chest open. This is an “ultimate” Van Halen song.

6.     Hear About It Later- You know how when you hear a certain song it brings you back to a particular place & time? I can remember when “Fair Warning” was released and I wanted everyone in the entire universe to own it. Anyway one day I walked out of Brooklyn Tech and was heading home when I heard this song blasting from a parked car across the street from Tech near the park. I immediately stopped dead in my tracks and had to listen to the end and was trying to get everyone else to hear the greatness of the band called Van Halen. Spectacular song.

5.     The Full Bug- There’s a reason I picked this song for the “Rocktober Jukebox” featuring the greatest American Bands. Listen to Eddie play the guitar in this song and you’ll immediately want to pick up the guitar and take some lessons. (But another ingredient you’ll need is to FEEL IT). If you feel it maybe you’ll play like Eddie-Ok we all know that is not true but you can always fall back on air-guitaring like I do.

4.     Mean Street- Could be the best opening guitar lick in the history of rock. Eddie’s playing is so not from this planet. I have to put this song on so LOUD every time I hear it. My wife is screaming for me to turn it down but I can’t help it. This is rock the way it was intended to be. Every part of this song-drums, vocals, bass and of course the spectacular guitar playing by Mr. Van Halen- it top notch in my book. Remember this past summer I grabbed my little guy when I heard this song being played at a “Fair” and we ran over to the speaker and I jammed like I was at a Van Halen show. I’m in when they come back, have I mentioned that?

3.     Romeo Delight- Could be one of the greatest rock songs ever written, recorded or performed. Alex’s drumming is simply stellar. I get so psyched, so amped whenever I hear this song that I have to run around or shadow box or air-guitar around the whole house. “Feel my heart beat… Feel my heart beat.. SAVE IT PLEASE I CAN’T TAKE IT ANY MORE!!!” Blast this in your car, your ears or in your house- you will not be disappointed.

2.     I’m the One- I perform the “Waynes World Bow” every time I hear this track. How blistering is Eddie’s guitar work? In my opinion this is his best work ever on guitar. I remember putting this song on a track list for the boot camp days at MBIA back in 2003-2005 and just totally flipping out in the class whenever it came on. This is my blast of cappuccino, or expresso or whatever gets you ready. Love Diamond Dave’s howl towards the end of the song. Simply amazing.

1.     Feel Your Love Tonight- From the opening lyrics “We’re getting funny in the back of my car..” I was hooked. Van Halen always had great background vocals and they shine brightly on this track. Eddie’s guitar solo just floors me while Alex is so solid behind the skins on every song, he is a top notch drummer. Diamond Dave has got it going on for this track.

With Sammy “The Red Rocker” Hagar:

10.     Cabo Wabo- This song brings me back to Texas with my second family- Ron, Robert, Richie, Tommy and Jimmy. The first year we went down to the Fort Worth area this album- “OU812” had just come out- and I drove their mother nuts by constantly playing this song. She would just shake her head and say “anything but Errol’s music!!” Music is supposed to “take you back”- music is the connection to so many things including the soul. This song does it for me in so many memorable ways. ‘Nuff said.

9.     Love Walks In- Lesser known classic from 5150. Hagar’s vocals shine brightly here and could be the best out of any song he did with Van Halen. “Sleep & dream, that’s all I pray.. I travel far across the milky way..” Very good ballad.

8.     Black and Blue- The first time I saw Van Hagar in concert I clearly remember this song being the highlight of the show. I can recall how Michael, Sammy and Eddie all walked in unison behind each other- stepping out to the right, then the left and then repeat for the whole length of the stage-very cool. These guys made some rockin’ tunes, there’s no denying that.

7.     Dreams- My friend Johnny Boy loves this song and when we were in our early 20’s we’d ride around in his car with this song blasting out of his speakers. Back in those days he really wouldn’t play rock songs in his car, except when I was traveling with him and even then it was only a certain selection of rock songs. I’m glad this one made the cut, how could it not?

6.     Finish What Ya Started- I remember reading an article once when Van Halen was touring with the Scorpions back in the day. Sammy said they sampled this song for the Scorpion boys and their faces scrunched and they kind of said “Oh yeah this is good.. is this really you?” It doesn’t always have to be heavy to be good in my book- as you should already know that by now. Love the groove in this song, can’t get enough of it.

5.     The Dream is Over- Love the beginning where Sammy whispers “Pssst” and Eddie’s electrifying guitar work surrounds you and gets you in a head-lock with no intention of letting go. In my opinion, this is Eddie’s best guitar song in his time with Hagar. “Cause it’s a rip-off…. Dream another dream, this dream is over…”

4.     When It’s Love- This could be the best song that Sammy wrote with Eddie, Alex and Michael. This song can match up to Diamond Dave’s catalog. The chorus is so addicting and this song is so much fun to sing along to. “You look at every face in the crowd…”

3.     Why Can’t This Be Love- Could be the pinnacle song for their time together. I wore out the inside album sleeve from this album-“5150”- and thinking about it now I should have added this song to my “summer song” list back in July as I can clearly remember this song being the song of the summer in 1986. The whole arrangement of this song is perfect-the beginning, the bridge and of course the chorus. You know you have sung this song to yourself many times.

2.     Right Now- Have to admit the video definitely aided my decision for this song to be in my top ten list for the Hagar-era. Actually love the piano work by Eddie as well as the driving guitar sound that is the right combination which sets this Van Halen song apart from anything they ever recorded. Love the “signs” that are displayed throughout the video that really depict the everyday life of everyone. There was something in that video that had to affect you in some way, no? Love the bridge to the guitar solo which gets a push from Alex’s drumming. “Right Now..it’s what’s happening” What’s happening with you?

1.     Poundcake-Again love the beginning of the tune with the drill sound with the brothers taking over between the great drumming and the incredible riffs which send sparks out of Eddie’s guitar. I use to bring down my house downstairs in Ringwood N.J. with this song. I imagined being Sammy up on stage and know every nook and cranny of this song, I think I would win a karaoke contest. This song pumps me up like none other. (I know I say that about every song, right?)

Trivia Questions

Answers from last week:

1.     Jacob Dylan –The Wallflowers

2.     Butch Trucks-The Allman Brothers

3.     Gerry Lewis & The Pace Makers

4.     Michele Phillips

This week’s trivia (Rock Star Couples)

1.     I was married to Axl Rose for a brief time and my dad was a forefather of rock and roll, Who am I?

2.     She was a lead singer for her own rock band in the 1990’s and was married to a pioneer of grunge music Who is she?

3.     She was married to someone in Motley Crue and someone in Bon Jovi?

4.     She worked as an actress and model, married one of the most famous rock stars on the planet when she was 19 and was married to him from 1970 until 1980. Who is she?

Name That Tune

Answers from last week:

1.     “Candy Man ”- Sammy Davis Jr.

2.     “Casey Jones”-Grateful Dead

3.     “Locomotion”-Little Eva or Grand Funk

4.     “Rhinestone Cowboy”- Glen Campbell

Can you guess the title from the following lyrics from part of the song?

1.     “When a man’s an empty kettle..He should be on his mettle.. and yet I’m torn apart…”

2.     “I don’t know why I did the things I did..I don’t why I said the things that I said…”

3.     “And when my love for life is running dry.. You come and pour yourself on me…”

4.     “I’d sing out danger.. I’d sing out a warning.. I’d sing out love….”

Back on this day in 1955, Bo Diddley played his one and only performance on the Ed Sullivan show. Sullivan wanted Bo to play the song-“Sixteen Tons”- but Diddley played “Bo Diddley.” Sullivan had him black-balled in the industry and he never again appeared on his show.

Back on this day in 1973 during a concert in San Francisco a young man by the name of Scott Halpin replaced The Who’s legendary drummer, Keith Moon, on stage after Moon collapsed on stage after someone put a horse tranquilizer in his drink. Halpin played the last three songs.

Back on this day in 1976, George Harrison performed on Saturday Night Live and was joined by Paul Simon for Harrison’s “Here Comes the Sun.”

Back on this day in 1994, David Crosby received a liver transplant. The operation took 7 hours.

If it is your birthday today, you share the same birth date with Norman Greenbaum, the late Duane Allman, Joe Walsh and Frank Marino (Mahogany Rush).

If you look in your music collection and pull out a Maze album, listen to it and let the groove take you over. In the middle of that groove you’ll hear the funky and very soulful bass playing of Robin Duhe.

After three decades of recording and touring with Maze, Robin stepped out in 2004 to embark on a solo career. This is his second solo album, following Do it Duhe and it really is a labour of love as he fell dangerously ill while recording it. The title has taken on a deep significance.

So what’s Robin’s sound like in 2009?

Continue reading Robin Duhe – Life

So where to begin with such an epic release from Super Group, Them Crooked Vultures.  Containing the three parts, Josh Homme from Queens of the Stone Age, Dave Grohl from Foo Fighters / Nirvana and John Paul Jones from Led Zepplin, the sum of the individual parts are so much larger than the whole.

I’ve been wanting to write something for this blog – so I’ve listened too it hard about 10 times.

The entire album has been streaming on Youtube for a whole week prior to the physical launch. I’ve heard it, it was free to my ears – I didn’t buy the CD or burn it – but I’ve heard it in its entirety – i think they gave you the courtesy of try before you buy –  what I would call a Clever.  Marketing.  Trick.

They are set to make it to Australia’s shores in January next year – with the concerts All Ages (with licensed areas) – this clearly shows the big picture of the audience they are trying to reach.  I think they know themselves the lack of limits to the demographics that may seek out TCV.  I was born in 1977 – Led Zepplin was something that featured in the era of Parents, Aunties and Uncles… In some ways I can see TCV’s fan stretching from age 8 right through to people in their mid to late 60’s.

There is no doubt or question that this album is magnificent.   But for this writer it feels like too much sound – an epic experiment in genius, crazy guitar timings, lyrically amazing moments where they seem to borrow from really whimsical children’s books and quote books of old… One track just leaves my head spinning…

With two years of high school French behind me, I want to attempt to write a lovely little paragraph explaining it… perhaps I am too far out of practice – maybe its time to do a refresher course.

Now that I have made up my mind, I’ll lift my media ban and really start absorbing other people’s reviews.  I must read the Rolling Stone review now I’ve reached my own conclusions!

My thanks to James of Friday morning Kick Out the James for telling me I’ve gotta listen to this new lp by Pants Yell! So let me pass along the favor and tell you, dear reader: you’ve gotta listen to this new lp by Pants Yell!

Pants Yell! play what I call pure pop perfection. The cover of the new album is designed by Mark Robinson of Unrest, and that I’d say is not an accident or unrelated coincidence, because Mark Robinson is one of the all-time greats when it comes to ppp.

Check out the video below for “Someone Loves You” and/or go to the Slumberland Records webpage and download the mp3 for “Cold Hands.” The whole album runs for less than 30 minutes, but that, too, is exactly how it should be: play what you want to play, say what you want to say, then call it quits. Just like the Beatles did on their early lps; just like Buddy Holly did, too.

In this interview, Andrew Churchman says this lp will be the band’s last, and that’s too bad. But if he wanted to go out on top, this was certainly the way to do it.