tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29228000949545899432024-03-14T02:24:17.639-05:00DaleagogoDale Agogo - Music reviews and lists, cartoons, doodles, and assorted mirth.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07421660578990116777noreply@blogger.comBlogger243125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2922800094954589943.post-5631918687854559252018-04-21T11:34:00.003-05:002018-04-21T11:34:50.389-05:00Happy Record Store Day!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Thank you and happy record store day to all of my friends on the record store frontlines! Independent record stores played a significant role in shaping who I am today and I'm grateful for every single one I've ever had the privilege to set foot in.<br />
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By the end of Junior High I realized that K-Mart, Musicland, and Woolworths weren't cutting it so I started riding my bike to Rainbow Records in Western Springs, Rose Records, Music Warehouse and Flipside in Downers Grove, and Whistle Stop (blue jeans and records!) in Hinsdale.<br />
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Soon I discovered used records via <b>Beautiful Day</b> in LaGrange, <b>Looney Tunes</b> in Lombard, and <b>Remember When</b> in Westmont. On Saturday's I'd to take my Stepdad's Metra pass and take the train into the Loop to hit <b>Rock Records</b> and a crappy record store whose I forget, but they had a killer budget rack full of new wave albums. Plus there was a DJ shop where I first saw scratching and mixing live and bought a bunch of breakbeat records even though I had clue what they were for. I just knew everyone else there was excited that they just arrived so I had to have a few myself.<br />
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Once a few of my friends got drivers licenses my record buying options exploded. <b>Hegewisch</b>, <b>Rave On</b> (Wheaton), <b>Val's Halla</b> (Oak Park), and <b>Rolling Stones</b> were added to the mix. And then the holy grail of record stores: <b>Wax Trax!</b> Going to Wax Trax felt like Christmas morning and I'm confident that I never walked out there without at least one record that blew my mind and started a whole new music kick.<br />
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In college (Carbondale) we had <b>Plaza Records</b> and <b>Wuxtrys</b>. Plus there were regular jaunts to St Louis to hit <b>Vintage Vinyl</b> and Champaign for <b>Record Swap</b>. Soon after, my friends Mike and Kevin and I started all day record runs in Chicago that started in Wrigleyville and took us to stores like <b>Reckless</b>, <b>Blackout/Pravada</b>, <b>Dr. Wax</b>, <b>2nd Hand Tunes</b>, and various used records that seemed to appear and disappear overnight. Plus there was <b>Video Beat</b> for your bootleg VHS needs.<br />
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After college I worked at the same <b>Rose Records</b> I had spent so money at in high school. And then I was fortunate to work in the record business for the next two decades dealing primarily with independent retailers. Not only did I make many friends and have some of the best music fan conversations under the guise of work, I was also to visit even more indie record shops throughout the Midwest. And of course, buy a shitload of records.<br />
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I could never name them all, but I have especially fond memories of <b>Waterloo</b> in Austin; <b>Periscope</b> and <b>Village Green</b> in Champaign; <b>Let It Be</b> in Minneapolis; <b>Atomic</b> in Milwaukee; <b>Jazz Record Mart</b>, <b>Dusty Groove</b>, and <b>Quaker Goes Deaf</b> in Chicago; <b>Cactus</b> in Austin; <b>Streetside</b> in St Louis; <b>Exclusive Company</b> in Wisconsin; <b>Record Rev</b> in Dekalb; <b>Crows Nest</b> in Naperville and Crest Hill; and as soon as I post this I'm going to think of ten more that should be included here. Plus most vacations I've ever gone on have included a record store diversion, which led to places like <b>Amoeba</b> and <b>Mod Lang</b> in California and <b>Kims Underground</b> in New York. Post record biz my favorite shop is <b>Laurie's Planet of Sound</b>.<br />
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Thank you again to all of my friends at independent record stores and to anyone that ever took a crappy paying job behind a record counter because the trade-off of being able to play music, talk about music, and turn people onto new music was worth it. Happy Record Store Day everyone!<br />
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*RECYCLING ALERT: this post is a revised version of something I wrote a few RSD's ago.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07421660578990116777noreply@blogger.com87tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2922800094954589943.post-64741496851323299092016-01-03T10:02:00.000-06:002016-01-03T10:11:36.868-06:002015 Top 25: my favorite albums of the year<span style="font-size: large;">This list comes with my standard year end disclaimer: this isn't a critical list of the best albums of the year. These are just the albums that I enjoyed, played, and/or that stuck with me the most throughout the year. Roughly in ranked order.</span><br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><b>1. FFS - FFS</b></span><br />
<span style="color: blue; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><b>2. PUGWASH - Play This Intimately (As If Among Friends) </b></span><br />
<span style="color: blue; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><b>3. WAVVES - V </b></span><br />
<span style="color: blue; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><b>4. WIRE - Wire </b></span><br />
<span style="color: blue; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><b>5. NOEL GALLAGHER'S HIGH FLYING BIRDS - Chasing Yesterday </b></span><br />
<span style="color: blue; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><b>6. ROBIN GUTHRIE and MARK GARDENER - Universal Road </b></span><br />
<span style="color: blue; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><b>7. MARITIME - Magnetic Bodies / Maps of Bones </b></span><br />
<span style="color: blue; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><b>8. GUY GARVEY - Courting the Squall </b></span><br />
<span style="color: blue; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><b>9. MARTIN COURTNEY - Many Moons </b></span><br />
<span style="color: blue; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><b>10. COURTNEY BARNETT - Sometimes I Sit And Think, And Sometimes I Just Sit </b></span><br />
<span style="color: blue; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><b>11. SWERVEDRIVER - I Wasn't Born To Lose You </b></span><br />
<span style="color: blue; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><b>12. BELLE and SEBASTIAN - Girls in Peacetime Want to Dance </b></span><br />
<span style="color: blue; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><b>13. NEW ORDER - Music Complete </b></span><br />
<span style="color: blue; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><b>14. the MAVERICKS - Mono </b></span><br />
<span style="color: blue; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><b>15. BEST COAST - California Nights </b></span><br />
<span style="color: blue; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><b>16. KITTY, DAISY & LEWIS - the Third </b></span><br />
<span style="color: blue; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><b>17. DWIGHT YOAKAM - Second Hand Heart </b></span><br />
<span style="color: blue; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><b>18. CHRIS STAMEY - Euphoria </b></span><br />
<span style="color: blue; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><b>19. DISAPPEARS - Irreal </b></span><br />
<span style="color: blue; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><b>20. the SONICS - This is the Sonics </b></span><br />
<span style="color: blue; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><b>21. Le BUTCHERETTES - A Raw Youth </b></span><br />
<span style="color: blue; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><b>22. MARRIAGES - Salome </b></span><br />
<span style="color: blue; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><b>23. JEFF LYNE'S ELO - Alone in the Universe </b></span><br />
<span style="color: blue; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><b>24. DUCKTAILS - St. Catherine </b></span><br />
<span style="color: blue; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><b>25. GIRLS NAMES - Arms Around a Vision </b></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Alright, bring on the 2016 releases.</span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07421660578990116777noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2922800094954589943.post-49634809245773176322015-01-04T19:42:00.002-06:002015-01-04T20:05:36.086-06:002014 Top 20: my favorite albums of 2014<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Here are my favorite albums of 2014 in reverse order. Standard disclaimer I give every year: this isn't a critical list of the best albums of the year. These are just the records I enjoyed the most.and that spent the most time coming through my speakers.<br />
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Before I dig into the top 20, here are a few that came close:<br />
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<b><u>BUBBLING UNDER</u></b>:
<b>SLOAN</b> and <b>WELL WISHERS</b> both put out solid power pop albums that I just didn't
get a chance to give enough listens to to make the final cut, but I have the
feeling would have. The latest from <b>SEUN
KUTI & EGYPT 80</b> is a treat, but it lacks the focus of 2008's Many
Things or the transcendental grooves of 2011's From Africa With Fury: Rise. <b>DAVE and PHIL ALVIN's</b> collection of Big
Bill Broonzy songs sounds so natural and timeless that I think I might be
taking it for granted as if it's an album I've already loved for thirty years. <b>BRIAN ENO and KARL HYDE</b> (Underworld
frontman)'s album of electronica experiments and noodling is interesting, and
in its best moments sounds a bit like Before and After Science/Another Green
World era Eno. Britt Daniel has eased into a comfort zone with <b>SPOON</b> and the new album fits in well
with his post Girls Can Tell catalog, but it's not very distinctive as a whole
(but everything sounds great when it comes up on shuffle!). Also close but not
quite making final cut were albums from <b>LA
SERA</b>, <b>TELEMAN</b>, <b>HOWLER</b>, and <b>MORRISSEY</b>.<o:p></o:p></div>
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20. <b>DUM DUM GIRLS -
Too True (Sub Pop)</b> For album number three Dum Dum Girls shift from garagey
jangle to dreamy goth pop. With the slick production the songs lose some of the
spontaneous charm of their earlier releases, but they make up for that with a
wonderfully rich batch of songs. I never thought that I'd compare Dee Dee
Penny's vocals to Siouxsie Sioux, but on this record it sounds like a natural
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19. <b>the RIFLES - None
the Wiser (Cooking Vinyl)</b> Hyper-fun no-brainer pop merging early 90's
Britpop with punchy mod revival powerpop and a bit of Merseybat jangle. This is
the London band's 4th album, but for maximum exposure it might be a bit late -
it would have been more in step in the era of the first Kaiser Chiefs and Franz
Ferdinand albums.</div>
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18. <b>LYDIA LOVELESS -
Somewhere Else (Bloodshot)</b> Jangly guitar honky-tonk from the Ohio
singer/songwriter with a great country voice and indie-rock aesthetic.</div>
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17. <b>STIFF LITTLE
FINGERS - No Going Back (Rigid Digits)</b> - 2014's biggest musical surprise
for me was how great and relevant the new SLF album is. This is politically
charged, riff heavy punk rock that stands up to the band's glory days without
being a retro retread. This is their most consistent album since their third,
1981's Go for It.<br />
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16. <b>the NEW
MENDICANTS - Into the Lime (Ashmont)</b> Exactly what you'd expect from a
collaboration between Joe Pernice (Pernice Brothers) and Norman Blake (Teenage
Fanclub) (with Sadies drummer Mike Belitsky): jangly guitars, pristine
mid-tempo pop with an often melancholy feel, and relaxed harmonies.<o:p></o:p></div>
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15. <b>POPSTRANGERS -
Fortuna (Carpark)</b> For their second album, Aukland's Popstrangers turned the
guitars down for an album of hazy psychedelic pop heavy on moody atmospherics.
As important as the overall vibe is to Fortuna's lure, this is by no means a
case of style over substance. These are solid pop songs with catchy hooks and
memorable melodies that just happen to be wrapped in fuzzy guitars and swirling
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14. <b>STURGILL SIMPSON
- Metamodern Sounds in Country Music (Top Mountain)</b> One of my music review
pet-peeves are reviews that compare new country artists to Wylon and Mearle and
call it authentic old-school country. It never is. Well, until now. Sturgill
really does have the sound and feel of outlaw country's heyday without sounding
contrived or calculated. He is definitely not part of the modern mainstream
country scene, but he's out of step with rest of the traditional alt-country
movement as well. There's a sincerity that says this is not a record he planned
to make, it's the record he just naturally had to make.<o:p></o:p></div>
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13. <b>ELBOW - the
Takeoff and Landing of Everything (Concord)</b> Gorgeously crafted Brit rock
that occasionally sounds like Peter Gabriel fronting Coldplay. The songs are
mostly moody slow burners that dig deeper with repeated listens and the
arrangements are filled with subtle twists and surprises.<o:p></o:p></div>
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12. <b>BOB MOULD -
Beauty & Ruin (Merge)</b> As with 2012's excellent Silver Age, Bob Mould
touches on highlights of his entire catalog as a starting point for a ferocious
and consistently strong new batch of big guitar rock with oversized hooks.<br />
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11. <b>JAMES - La Petite
Mort (Cooking Vinyl)</b> 6 years since their last album (and over two decades
since the last James album I've loved), Manchester's James return with a
surprisingly strong and consistent album of rich, anthematic pop. The production
is big and arena ready, but Tim Booth's passion and the warmth of his songs are
what drives this album and make it feel intimate. <o:p></o:p></div>
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10. <b>EX-HEX - Rips
(Merge)</b> Mary Timony's new trio debuts with an album of bouncy power pop
punk full of toe-tappers tailor made for Summer mixtapes. <o:p></o:p></div>
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9. <b>TEMPLES - Sun
Structures (Fat Possum)</b> UK's Temples have done their homework and mastered
psychedelic pop technique and sound better than most revival bands of the past
few decades. They're not shy about showcasing how authentic their swirling
keyboards, fuzzed out guitars, and retro production chops are, but they're
smart enough to know that only gets you so far. They also write fantastically
lush melodies that are immediately likable and stick with you. Earlier this year
I feared that the novelty might wear off, but I love this album as much 10
months later as I did when I first heard it.<o:p></o:p></div>
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8. <b>NICOLE ATKINS -
Slow Phaser (Oh'Mercy! Records)</b> New Jersey singer/songwriter's third album
is a widely diverse collection that confidently injects bits of barroom
country, dance, music hall, art-rock, and classic Brill Building into her
expertly written pop songs. As solid as the songwriting is, the showcase is her
wonderful voice with equal parts sweetness and power. And unlike most vocalists
with such a strong voice she has the restraint to pull back and the control to sing
exactly what the songs call for.<o:p></o:p></div>
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7. <b>CLOUD NOTHINGS -
Here & Nowhere Else (Carpark)</b> A full on assault of giant pop hooks
propelled by big guitars and pounding rhythms with an almost hardcore energy.
This album picks up where 2012's Attack On Memory (my #1 album of that year)
left off. My only complaint may be that it's a bit too much of the same, but
the songs are so strong and the performances are so compelling that this is
only a small complaint.<o:p></o:p></div>
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6. <b>the NEW
PORNOGRAPHERS - Brill Bruisers (Matador)</b> On their 6th album New
Pornographers return with a joyous album of expertly crafted pop and an
unbridled enthusiasm that was missing from the last few albums. Along with the
endless hooks the album is packed with little vocal and instrumental flourishes
that fill out the sound without ever sounding forced. This is the album I've
been waiting for New Pornographers or AC Newman to make for years.<o:p></o:p></div>
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5. <b>DROWNERS -
Drowners (French Kiss)</b> New York's Drowners (with a transplanted Welsh
frontman) are a boatload of fun. Not very original. But fun as hell. They play
slightly snotty guitar pop along the lines of the Libertines, Vaccines, Arctic
Monkeys, and the Strokes. 12 high octane, pogo-ready pop songs in under thirty
minutes and ready for the repeat button to do it all over again.<o:p></o:p></div>
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4. <b>REAL ESTATE -
Atlas (Domino)</b> The third album from New Jersey indie soft rockers Real
Estate has the same relaxed shimmer of the previous two albums, but they've
added a subtle edge that gives the songs more weight. Atlas works best as a
whole album - where the songs have space to stretch out and, thanks to perfect
sequencing, build on each other. There's a bit more twang this round and the
beautiful guitar interplay is spectacularly woven into Martin Courtney's soft
vocals.<o:p></o:p></div>
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3. <b>FIRST AID KIT -
Stay Gold (Columbia)</b> For the second time in three years my favorite
Americana album comes from these Swedish sisters with the most gorgeous and
haunting harmonies of anyone recording today. They fill out the sound with
orchestration reminiscent of so many 60's country pop records without ever
detracting from the songs' deceptively simple singer/songwriter base. They
manage to make melancholy songs full of longing and loss without sounding hopeless.
In fact, there's a yearning optimism that makes this such a pleasurable listen.<o:p></o:p></div>
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2. <b>EAGULLS - Eagulls
(Partisan)</b> On their debut album Leeds quartet Eagulls deliver a relentless
pummeling of manic post punk with hints of Joy Division and early Killing Joke.
What the band lacks in diversity they more than make up for in energy, sound
(Eagulls has some of the year's coolest sounding guitars) , and memorable
melodies. Actually, it's sort of just one melody bent and twisted around
different driving rhythms, but it works to great effect and builds with each
song.<o:p></o:p></div>
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1. <b>JOHNNY MARR -
Playland (Warner Music Group)</b> It is no secret that Johnny Marr is a great
guitarist and songwriter, but I'm still a bit taken aback by what a strong
frontman and accomplished solo artist he's recently come out as. Last year's
Messenger topped my year end list, and this follow up might actually match that
album's strengths. Marr sounds even more confident this time, making an album
of timeless British pop that he effortlessly delivers with the youthful energy
of artists half his age.<o:p></o:p></div>
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It was another good year for music - I heard a lot of good albums and there were a lot I just couldn't get to. I don'tknow if any of these will make my all-time favorite albums lists in the future, but I'm pretty sure most of the records in this Top 20 will still be in my playstack a decade from now. I'm anxious to see what 2015 has to offer.</div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07421660578990116777noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2922800094954589943.post-51291352829453304612013-12-22T10:46:00.000-06:002013-12-22T13:32:22.156-06:002013 Top 30: My Favorite Albums of 2013<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">2013 was another really good year for new music. I listened to a
lot of really good records this year, and there were loads of things on my
"must hear" list that I just couldn't get to. An over-abundance </span>of
good albums is always a problem worth having. I'll still be catching up 2013 albums I didn;t get a chance to hear well into next year.<br />
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This isn't any kind of crictical analysis of what the best albums of the year were. These are my personal faves - the albums I played the most and thought about the most during the year. Two of them I even admit might not actually be very good, but they struck a chord with me. Your mileage may vary. </div>
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Although it was a year of really
good albums, I don’t think there were many great albums – the kind that end up
on a list of all-time favorites down the road. The number rankings were a bit
more fluid this year, with records shifting position up until the very last
second. That said, I enjoyed so many albums this year that I’ll put 2013 in the
win column.</div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">1.
</span><b><span style="color: #0070c0; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: large;">JOHNNY MARR - the Messenger</span></b><span style="color: #0070c0; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">- After more than two
decades of side projects and hired gun sessions Johnny Marr finally steps into
the front-man role with a diverse collection of songs that wonderfully showcase
his guitar and songwriting chops. Hearing how effortless his first official
solo album feels, it seems odd to that it took him twenty five years after the
Smiths break-up to get around to making it. It has a youthful energy, but is
crafted in a way that only a skilled veteran could pull off. If you're looking
for bright jangly Britpop loaded with infectious melodies, the Messenger is the
place to start. This is the record that Smiths fans have been waiting for for
many years. But it's so much more than that.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">2.
</span><b><span style="color: #0070c0; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: large;">WAVVES - Afraid of Heights</span></b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;"> - The San Diego band's fourth album
is an adrenaline rush of angsty guitar charged pop fun and hyper melodies.
Their supercharged slacker punk pop sounds like a more reckless version of
Weezer.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">3.
</span><b><span style="color: #0070c0; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: large;">SUPERCHUNK - I Hate Music</span></b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;"> - Superchunk's 10th album is a fine
follow-up to 2010's Majesty Shredding (my favorite album of that year). The
band return again armed with the exuberant melodies and oversized hooks that
have made them one of my favorite bands of the past 25 years, but with just
enough maturity and growth to not make them sound like just another band trying
to cling to past glories.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">4.
</span><b><span style="color: #0070c0; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: large;">EDWYN COLLINS - Understated</span></b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;"> - Edwyn's eighth solo album is a
joyous occasion, filled with bright melodies and toe-tapping rhythms. His sweet
spot has always been the intersection of post-punk indie pop and Northern Soul,
and that's exactly where Understated hits. The spirit and vintage sounds of
Motown and Stax are deep in the grooves, but he never actually copies any
specific reference point, so it sounds fresh and natural. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">5.
</span><b><span style="color: #0070c0; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: large;">DAVID BOWIE - the Next Day</span></b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;"> - This is David Bowie playing to all
of his strengths and ending up with one of his most urgent and consistent
albums in decades. He's not so much innovating this go around as he is
revisiting sonic elements and styles from his whole career and effortless
combining them into something new that's right in his comfort zone. There's
everything a Bowie fan could hope for: some arty weirdness, a bit of glam
rocking, some slow burners, brilliant production (thanks Tony Visconti!), and a
bunch of fantastic pop hooks. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">6.
</span><b><span style="color: #0070c0; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: large;">NEKO CASE - The Worse Things Get, the Harder I Fight, the Harder
I Fight, the More I Love You</span></b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;"> - One of my favorite things about Neko Case
is how hard it is for me to describe her sound or why her records are so damn
special. The last two Neko albums both came in at #1 on my year end lists (Fox
Confessor has become one of my all-time favorite albums) that stuck with me the
way a great book does. She creates a world that is curious and otherworldly,
full of vague imagery that I don't always fully understand but find utterly
captivating. Add to that her remarkable voice and arrangements and delivery
that are so unique that they could only work on Neko Case records (in the same
way only Tom Waits can make a Tom Waits sounding record). This record is wonderful,
but just slightly misses the mark of the previous two. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">7.
</span><b><span style="color: #0070c0; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: large;">BAD RELIGION - True North</span></b><span style="color: #0070c0; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">- On album number 16 Bad Religion
proves to still be one of the most vital and engaging punk bands making
records, with more power and relevance than band's half their age. True North
is the strongest album from Bad Religion in almost 20 years (1994's Stranger
than Fiction being the last Bad Religion album I've loved start-to-finish).
Everything I love about the band is represented here in force: giant melodies,
relentless energy, aggressive guitars, a pummeling rhythm section,
hyper-intelligent lyrics, and those well placed backing "oooh-oh"
vocals (Bad Religion are second only to Naked Raygun in harnessing the power of
"whoah-oh" harmonies).<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">8.
</span><b><span style="color: #0070c0; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: large;">the DIRTBOMBS - Ooey Gooey Chewy Ka-Blooey!</span></b><span style="color: #0070c0; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">- This is straight
out dumb fun that works against all odds. A bubble gum pop album from a Detroit
garage band could easily have ended up being a kitschy one-joke affair, but
Mick Collins took the task seriously and obviously has a genuine love for the
genre. He incorporates just the right balance of bubblegum staples like
handclaps, "oooh oooh oooh"s, deceptively simple hooks, and
references to sugar and candy with garage rock sensibility, some killer guitar
riffs, and great use of the band's duel drummers.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">9.
</span><b><span style="color: #0070c0; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: large;">JACCO GARDNER - Cabinet of Curiosities</span></b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;"> - Baroque pop debut
from a Dutch multi-instrumentalist and home studio wizard that conjures up
spirit and sound of the Zombies, Left Banke, and Sagittarius. He has so
perfectly captured the sounds and spirit of the era that it could easily be
mistaken for the genuine article. Jacco deals in lush Baroque pop and pastoral
psychedelia filled with Mellotrons, harpsichords, organs, and other gentle
period embellishments throughout.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">10.
</span><b><span style="color: #0070c0; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: large;">PALMA VIOLETS - 180</span></b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;"> - On their debut album, London foursome
Palma Violets tread where many bands have gone before, playing punchy rock with
a little sleaze and a lot of laddish energy. They play a no-frills brand of
garagey indie rock with a simple (and a bit sloppy) drum/bass/guitar attack.
But what really separates them from the pack is the fuzzy psychedelic organ
that fills out the sound and takes them from being just another Libertines to
bringing in bits of Modern Lovers, Stranglers, and Caesars.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">11.
</span><b><span style="color: #0070c0; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: large;">FRANZ FERDINAND - Right Thoughts, Right Words, Right Action</span></b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;"> - If there weren't
already three other FF albums, this would have ranked higher. The main fault of
RT,RW,RA is that it sounds so much like their previous albums. The rhythms are
ramped up to an even more danceable level this round, but the individual songs
aren't quite as distinctive as previous FF songs. The band pretty much sticks
to their well proven template. It's a great template that still results in
highly likable songs, but it feels a bit less urgent at this stage. Although
seeing them live on this tour, the new songs fit in seamlessly with rest of
their catalog.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-lPZjV3y4-2E/Urcq2Y_onRI/AAAAAAAAECE/tMIcsJDHQ1w/s1600/11-13.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-lPZjV3y4-2E/Urcq2Y_onRI/AAAAAAAAECE/tMIcsJDHQ1w/s640/11-13.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">12.
</span><b><span style="color: #0070c0; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><span style="font-size: large;">TRAAMS - Grin</span> </span></b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">- Armed with some twisted Krautrock grooves
and distorted indie-pop melodies, this West Sussex trio combines Television
influenced guitar, aggressive sonic experimentation, and Swervedriver's massive
driving rhythms.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">13.
</span><b><span style="color: #0070c0; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: large;">OMD - English Electric</span></b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;"> - For their second album since reuniting the
classic line-up, OMD deliver a "give the fans what they want" album,
featuring songs that highlight the strengths of their glory days while still
sounding fresh. There's a nice balance of deceptively simple electropop,
moodier downbeat melancholia, and big mainstream pop numbers with instantly
catchy melodies. It's a very familiar sounding album with at least a few songs
that would right at home on that first Best of OMD singles collection. Or on
the soundtrack to an imaginary John Hughes movie.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">14.
</span><b><span style="color: #0070c0; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: large;">the RESONARS - Crummy Desert Sound</span></b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;"> - Swinging
Merseybeat influenced power pop with loads of harmonies, ringing guitars,
pounding drums, and an abundance of infectious melodies. Matt Rendon (the
driving force behind this Tucson band) expertly crafts 3 minute guitar pop
songs with the energy of the first few Who albums.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">15.
</span><b><span style="color: #0070c0; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: large;">the SADIES - Internal Sounds</span></b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;"> - My favorite Americana band actually
comes from Toronto. The Sadies play psychedelic alt-country with bits of power
pop, garage, and smatterings of surf guitar thrown in for good measure. They
really don't sound like anyone else, although I hear elements of Gene Clark,
the Meat Puppets, Roky Erickson, Wilco, Mike Nesmith, and Steve Wynn. This is a
distinctly original band that's tight enough to take chances and make it sound
effortless.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-BW9BBN3YpyQ/Urcr46mNA7I/AAAAAAAAECQ/62aSYLoMKxE/s1600/14-16.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-BW9BBN3YpyQ/Urcr46mNA7I/AAAAAAAAECQ/62aSYLoMKxE/s640/14-16.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">16.
</span><b><span style="color: #0070c0; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: large;">KARL BARTOS - Off the Record</span></b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;"> - Karl Bartos was one-fourth of the
classic 1975-90 Kraftwerk lineup (Radio-Activity through Electric Cafe),
contributing writing, electronic percussion, and the occasional vocal. This
album, Bartos' second solo, started as a collection of unused ideas from the
Kraftwerk days updated for 2013. The sound and feel of the entire album is
Kraftwerk circa 1980, but there's just enough modern production to keep it from
sounding like a collection of Kraftwerk outtakes. It’s probably more style over
substance, but this is one of the architects of that style and it feels like a
bit like having a few new Kraftwerk songs.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">17.
</span><b><span style="color: #0070c0; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: large;">BLEACHED - Ride Your Heart</span></b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;"> - With a base of punk attitude and
girl group melodies, LA's Bleached mix high energy fuzzed up rockers with jangly
summer pop. Along with some surfy guitar lines and sugary choruses I hear bits
of the Ramones, the Donnas, Tuscadaro, and a California take on the Shop
Assistants.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">18.
</span><b><span style="color: #0070c0; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: large;">HOUSE OF LOVE - She Paints Words In Red</span></b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;"> - House of Love
deliver beautiful jangly psychedelia with rich pastoral melodies and their best
album since the 1990 self-titled album (aka Fonatana/Butterfly). Middle aged
House of Love are mellower. Acoustic guitars play a larger role now than ever
before. But that only adds to the elegant pastoral sound that hits right in Guy
Chadwick's sweet spot. There are still plenty of shimmering guitars, but
they're more relaxed and organic. I hear bits of Rain Parade and the Church on
much of the album, with a few songs dipping into the same terrain as Robyn
Hitchcock or mid 80's REM.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">19.
</span><b><span style="color: #0070c0; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: large;">TOMMY KEENE - Excitement at Your Feet</span></b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;"> - Tommy Keene is a
power pop institution and one of the most reliable songwriters around. But he's
also had impeccable taste in covers, so it shouldn't be a total surprise that
he'd eventually release a covers album. And it should also be no surprise that
his choice of covers would be eclectic - including lesser known Who and Stones
songs, Guided by Voices, Television, Donovan, Mink DeVille, Roxy Music, and
Randy Newman. Tommy pays loving tribute to his favorite songs, but he also
takes ownership of them and makes just about everything sound like one of his
own. My two personal faves are his versions of the Bee Gee's "I Laugh in
Your Face" and a faithful version of Echo & the Bunnymen's "the
Puppet".<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">20.
</span><b><span style="color: #0070c0; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: large;">WIRE - Change Becomes Us</span></b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;"> - Using unfinished 30 year old snippets as
the starting point, the post-punk legends make a very current sounding album
that seems to have recharged their batteries. As with the other post 2000 Wire
releases, my early faves are the ones where they rock the fuck out. And they do
that quite a bit this time round. But ultimately it's the slow burn of the more
atmospheric pieces that showcase what Colin Newman, Robert Grey, and Graham
Lewis (along with new guitarist Matt Simms) do better than anyone else.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-pC1LEjX12V4/UrcuPu1ldXI/AAAAAAAAECk/dw1cF_zzKNo/s1600/20-22.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-pC1LEjX12V4/UrcuPu1ldXI/AAAAAAAAECk/dw1cF_zzKNo/s640/20-22.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">21.
</span><b><span style="color: #0070c0; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: large;">DISAPPEARS - Era</span></b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;"> - The 4th album from Chicago's Disappears is
stark and less immediate than last year's fabulous Pre Language, but the icy
minimalistic textures they weave are captivating. This is an album that is
sequenced perfectly for maximum effectiveness and works better as a whole
rather than having any dominant single song. It's even better with headphones
on, the volume cranked, and the lights out.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">22.
</span><b><span style="color: #0070c0; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: large;">SAVAGES - Silence Yourself</span></b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;"> - London's Savages are an intense
post-punk assault of Bauhaus-esque guitars and sonics, powerful Killing
Joke-like rhythms, and vocals that sound like an edgier Siouxsie Sioux. Yet
they don’t sound like a rehash of early 80's bands. Savages meld those
influences into something totally new. The record sounds absolutely mammoth - a
huge wall of sound built around dark atmospherics and relentless energy.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">23.
</span><b><span style="color: #0070c0; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: large;">BEACH FOSSILS - Clash the Truth</span></b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;"> - For the second
Beach Fossils album Dustin Payseur combines melancholy dream pop with jangly
guitars and a generous amount of reverb. Heavy on mood and atmosphere, they
take a hook and ride it into a groove that's almost shoe-gazer. The band is
from Brooklyn, but they remind me of British bands of the late 80's and early
90's that put out records on Creation and Sarah Records. But with an American
indie rock twist.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">24.
</span><b><span style="color: #0070c0; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: large;">LEE RANALDO and the DUST - Last Night on Earth</span></b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;"> - Last year's
Between The Times & The Tides might have been my most played album of the
year and that continued into 2013, so I've become very comfortable with Lee's
voice and approach. Enough so that I keep playing this follow-up, even though
I'm pretty sure it's not really that great of an album. There's less focus this
time and the songs are a bit trippier and go on longer (7 of 9 songs are over
six minutes long). But I love Lee's relaxed, almost hippyish songs combined
with his weird arrangements and sonic flourishes. I can't confidently recommend
this album to others, but damn I really enjoy it.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-g2cung9h_k8/UrcvGg0hVqI/AAAAAAAAECs/Zf5b_LEmOT0/s1600/23-26.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="160" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-g2cung9h_k8/UrcvGg0hVqI/AAAAAAAAECs/Zf5b_LEmOT0/s640/23-26.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">25.</span><b><span style="color: #0070c0; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"> <span style="font-size: large;">PHOENIX - Bankrupt!</span></span></b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;"> - Like their 2009 album, Wolfgang Amadeus
Phoenix, Bankrupt! is full of slickly produced synth pop. But rather than try
to ramp up the accessibility of that surprise hit album, Phoenix have opted to ease
up on the radio-friendly gas pedal and experiment a bit more They don't deviate
that far in sound, and this record is just as likeable as the last, but there
are more subtle pleasures to be discovered with multiple listens.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">26.
</span><b><span style="color: #0070c0; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: large;">KINGSBURY MANX - Bronze Age</span></b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;"> - Album number six from the Chapel
Hill folk pop group turns up the psychedelia as they evolve into a more upbeat
version of their earlier records. At times Kingsbury Manx remind me an American
take on Belle and Sebastian, exceling at folk rooted songs built up with intricate
pop hooks and an eclectic palette of flourishes. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">27.
</span><b><span style="color: #0070c0; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: large;">SUEDE - Bloodsports</span></b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;"> - Brett Anderson and company are stunningly
strong on their first album in over a decade. I love a lot of Suede songs, but
this is the first time I've loved an entire album from them.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">28.
</span><b><span style="color: #0070c0; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: large;">WILD BILLY CHILDISH and CTMF -
All Our Forts Are With You</span></b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;"> - With well over a hundred albums released
under various names over the past 35 years it's easy to lose track of Billy
Childish and quit trying to keep up. But if you're looking for the right spot
to jump back onto the Childish bus, this is it. As with most things Billy, the
facts are a bit vague, but these songs were allegedly written in 1977 for one
of his first bands, CTMF, and abandoned when that band broke up. He's reformed
that group (I think?). This is classic Billy Childish - minimally produced
one-take (my guess) primitive garage rockers with simple but solid stop-and-go
riffs and the distinctive Childish vocals. I think it's fun as hell, but if
you're not already comfortable with some of his previous work, it might give
you a headache.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-LJWpiRZJ0Uk/Urcv0qbfB0I/AAAAAAAAEC0/u-FGAEWIEzc/s1600/27-30.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="160" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-LJWpiRZJ0Uk/Urcv0qbfB0I/AAAAAAAAEC0/u-FGAEWIEzc/s640/27-30.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">29.</span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">
</span><b><span style="color: #0070c0; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">the WOGGLES - Big Beat</span></b></span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;"> - Supercharged party rock from one of the
most reliable garage revival bands working today. The Woggles capture the
spirit of the first garage bands playing frat parties and teen dances when the
main objective was making the kids dance and to have a good time. Few bands
seem as committed to keeping that spirit alive as the Woggles are. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">30.
</span><b><span style="color: #0070c0; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: large;">CHELSEA LIGHT MOVING - Chelsea Light Moving</span></b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;"> - With his new band
Thurston Moore delivers a sludgier and much looser back-to-basics take on the
Sonic Youth template. My original complaint with the album was that there was
too much dicking around, but I've warmed up to free-from casualness that makes
it feel a bit like a noisy post-punk prog album. Occasionally they edge close to
self-indulgent jamming, like one of Greg Ginn's many SST projects, but they
never actually cross that line. Much of the album is heavier than anything
Moore has tackled in the past, at times veering into the sludgy territory of
Mudhoney or Melvins. Chelsea Light Moving isn't a great album, but it's solid
enough to merit repeated listens and could be the start of a great new chapter
in Moore's career.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07421660578990116777noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2922800094954589943.post-6815200308431485212013-11-10T13:24:00.002-06:002013-11-10T13:25:32.050-06:00My votes for Slicing Up Eyeballs' Best of the 80s poll: 1989It's time for the tenth and final <a href="http://www.slicingupeyeballs.com/2013/11/04/vote-for-best-albums-of-1989/" target="_blank">Slicing Up Eyeballs Best of the 80's poll</a>. 1989 was my transition year from college radio to working in a record store and interning for a major label and is a year I musically remember fondly.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-oTzNjk14nPA/Un_cO_YxMhI/AAAAAAAAEA0/G3fIwI4fwRw/s1600/bestof1989.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-oTzNjk14nPA/Un_cO_YxMhI/AAAAAAAAEA0/G3fIwI4fwRw/s320/bestof1989.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
87 and 88 didn't have as many personal all-time faves as the previous
polls, so I wasn't expecting 1989 to have so many tough choices of what to
leave off. I had 20 solid candidates (not including the three 1989 faves not on
the poll: <b>Dime Store Dream by Magnolias</b>,
<b>Good Evening by Marshall Crenshaw</b>, and <b>Stolen Wishes by Shoes</b>). Some of the
previous polls had albums I voted for that I didn’t actually get into until a few years after they were released, but for 1989 I’m
pretty sure these are the same albums I would picked back then. In 89 <b>Elvis Costello’s
Spike</b> and <b>Lenny Kravitz’s debut</b> would have been represented, but I’ve drifted
from those over the years (although half of Spike comprises some of my favorite
Elvis songs - but the drop-off is pretty big).<br />
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<o:p></o:p></div>
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3 of my most played albums ever are here (De La Soul,
Beasties, and PWEI), and the Jesus and Mary Chain, Wonder Stuff, and Raygun
albums aren’t that far behind. <b>Hoodoo Gurus</b>, <b>Pixies</b>, and <b>Mighty Lemon Drops</b>
were the albums I struggled with not including in the final 10.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Here are my ten picks for 1989 in alpha order:<br />
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<br />
<ul>
<li><b><span style="font-size: large;">Beastie Boys - Paul's Boutique</span></b></li>
<li><b><span style="font-size: large;">De La Soul - 3 Feet High and Rising</span></b></li>
<li><b><span style="font-size: large;">The Jesus and Mary Chain - Automatic</span></b></li>
<li><b><span style="font-size: large;">Jesus Jones - Liquidizer</span></b></li>
<li><b><span style="font-size: large;">Mega City Four - Tranzophobia</span></b></li>
<li><b><span style="font-size: large;">Naked Raygun - Understand?</span></b></li>
<li><b><span style="font-size: large;">Nirvana - Bleach</span></b></li>
<li><b><span style="font-size: large;">Pop Will Eat Itself - This Is the Day...This Is the Hour...This Is This!</span></b></li>
<li><b><span style="font-size: large;">XTC - Oranges & Lemons</span></b></li>
<li><b><span style="font-size: large;">The Wonder Stuff – Hup</span></b></li>
</ul>
</div>
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<div class="MsoNormal">
I'm sort of bummed to see the Slicing Up Eyeball Best of the 80's polls come to an end. This has been fun.</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07421660578990116777noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2922800094954589943.post-49887651196121947302013-09-13T22:18:00.001-05:002013-09-13T22:18:37.628-05:00The last thing I need is another new notebook...but I really need a new notebookLike many paper nerds, I'm on a constant quest to find the fabled PERFECT NOTEBOOK. One probably doesn't actually exist, but that doesn't keep me from looking. My <a href="http://www.moleskine.com/en/collections/model/product/squared-soft-notebook-pocket" target="_blank">Moleskine Pocket notebook</a> (squared) is always with me, and the <a href="http://www.moleskine.com/en/collections/model/product/folio-sketchbook-a4" target="_blank">Folio A4 Sketchbook</a> is a favorite sketchbook. Plus I habitually pick up assorted <a href="http://fieldnotesbrand.com/" target="_blank">Field Notes</a> pocket memo books and find uses for them later.<br />
<br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-0-5SFWZSmaU/UjPPAKSSRpI/AAAAAAAAEAQ/R1VhUJZrqa4/s1600/Baron+Fig+notebook.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="264" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-0-5SFWZSmaU/UjPPAKSSRpI/AAAAAAAAEAQ/R1VhUJZrqa4/s320/Baron+Fig+notebook.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Ru_60zkjfys/UjPSLWu4ufI/AAAAAAAAEAc/OjUb57Pfio4/s1600/Baron+Fig+notebook+opens+flat.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Ru_60zkjfys/UjPSLWu4ufI/AAAAAAAAEAc/OjUb57Pfio4/s320/Baron+Fig+notebook+opens+flat.jpg" width="308" /></a>Despite having a shelf full of barely used notebooks, sketchpads, and blank books I was intrigued enough by the <a href="http://www.baronfig.com/" target="_blank">Baron Fig notebook</a> to back it on Kickstarter. Coming in at about 5.4" x 7.7" it seems like the perfect size for an everyday notebook. The books come in at 196 pages, which is great, but they use 65# paper, which means that the regular pens I usse will most likely bleed through. Even though I never use the notebooks for finsihed work I've always been a bit anal about showing through. Based on how few notebooks use thicker paper I think I'm in the minority on that point.<br />
<br />
But what sold me on dipping my toe into the Baron Fig waters is the promise that <b>the notebook opens flat</b>! That's a great selling point for any notebook that breaks the 48 page stapled in the middle size. I'm looking forward to seeing what the final result finally looks like.<br />
<br />
Now if only somebody could make a solid notebook that opens flat and can take the ink of a 0.5 mm Uni-ball Signo Gel Ink Pen without bleeding through I might be able to finally end my quest for the perfect notebook.<br />
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07421660578990116777noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2922800094954589943.post-25975153727848300122013-09-13T07:47:00.001-05:002013-09-13T07:47:43.402-05:00With a name like Shuffle-a-gogo, it has to be good<div class="MsoNormal">
MP3 player set on random, first ten songs...</div>
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1<b>. the DUKES OF
STRATOSPHEAR - Collideascope (Psonic Psunspot 1987)</b> - XTC perfectly
captured the spirit and sounds of the psychedelic era without sacrificing any
of their songwriting quality, which is what keeps the Dukes records from being
novelty records that only stand up to a few plays. <o:p></o:p></div>
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2. <b>AL GREEN - I'm
Still In Love With You (Greatest Hits 1995)</b> - Growing up we had neighbors
that had a big living room with shag carpeting and loads of beanbag chairs and
giant furry pillows. They loved the slow, sexy soul, so I'm sure I heard this
song coming out of their place at one point. And even if I didn't, it's how I'd
prefer to remember them.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-0Os4vqk2qO8/UjMJTuPDWkI/AAAAAAAAEAA/ZlXv_mUOrQ4/s1600/09-13-13+shuffle.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-0Os4vqk2qO8/UjMJTuPDWkI/AAAAAAAAEAA/ZlXv_mUOrQ4/s320/09-13-13+shuffle.jpg" width="225" /></a></div>
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3<b>. NED'S ATOMIC
DUSTBIN - Throwing Things (God Fodder 1991)</b> I recently ripped the debut
Ned's album to my MP3 player. I forgot how many Ned's songs I loved. I wrongly
remembered them as a one song band ("Kill Your Television").<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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4. <b>MEAT PUPPETS -
Backwater (Too High to Die 1994)</b> I guess this was their big "radio
hit", but it probably is my favorite song by the Meat Puppets. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
5. <b>ATHLETICO SPIZZ 80
- European Heroes (Do a Runner 1980)</b> Herky jerky post punk new wave
goodness from Spizzz and company.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
6. <b>the MIGHTY LEMON
DROPS - My Biggest Thrill (Happy Head 1986)</b> the Mighty Lemon Drops often get
dismissed as a second rate Echo & the Bunnymen, but Happy Head is one of my
favorite and most played albums of the 80's. And as big of an Echo fan as I am,
I think Happy Head is stronger than any individual Echo album.<o:p></o:p></div>
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7<b>. FRANCINE - Pop
Warner (Forty on a Fall Day 2000)</b> My favorite song about being at a
football game with Kim Deal, drinking beer and telling her your favorite Amps songs.
This Boston band made some decent but mostly forgettable quirky pop, but this
debut album has two songs that were mix disc staples for me for years (this one
and "Jet to Norway").<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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8. <b>PETER IVERS - Even
Stephen Foster (Terminal Love 1974)</b> If most people know who Peter Ivers
it's usually as the host of the weird early 80's video show New Wave Theater (a
staple on Night Flight) or the guy that wrote "the Lady in the Radiator
Song" for David Lynch's Eraserhead. But he also made a few really
interesting albums that, while not for everyone, are full great little
eccentric pop songs. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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9. <b>OFF BROADWAY -
Automatic (Quick Turns 1980)</b> Classic Midwest power pop from the Oak Park
band's second album.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
10. <b>DIDJITS - Barely
legal (Que Sirhan Sirhan 1993)</b> Shuffle takes us about 200 miles South of
Oak Park for another Illinois band, Didjits. This turbo charged rocker is from
the band's final album.<o:p></o:p></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07421660578990116777noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2922800094954589943.post-88913187742591039352013-09-06T07:35:00.002-05:002013-09-06T07:35:50.353-05:00MP3 Shuffle-a-gogo<div class="MsoNormal">
1<b>. HUSKER DU - Don't
Want to Know if You Are Lonely (Candy Apple Gray 1986)</b> I love that drum
into that kicks off almost every song on this album.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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2. <b>CAST - Promised
Land (All Change 1995)</b> - I had high hopes for John Power's post La's band
Cast. They came out of the box with a few stellar singles and solid debut
album, but fizzled pretty quickly. Still, anything from All Change is always
welcome on a shuffle.<o:p></o:p></div>
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3. <b>GARBAGE - Milk
(Absolute Garbage 2007)</b> The slow sexy closer from their 1995 debut.<o:p></o:p></div>
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4. <b>KING CRIMSON -
21st Century Schizoid Man (In the Court of the Crimson King 1969) </b>I'm hit
and miss with prog (more miss than hit, actually), but I've always been a fan
of this monster of jam. I’m especially fond of Greg Lake's distorted-as-shit
vocals. Plus this song is on my short of list of rock songs actually made
better by wailing saxophone.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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5. <b>TOM ZE - Vai (the
Best of Tom Ze)</b> A cassette of the first Brazil Classics comp on Luaka Bop
got a lot play at the Rose Records I worked at, which led me to pick up this
comp as soon as it came out.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-bjF_VMBtWyM/UinL4HRwdnI/AAAAAAAAD_w/oQWLs_93j38/s1600/09-06-13+shuffle.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-bjF_VMBtWyM/UinL4HRwdnI/AAAAAAAAD_w/oQWLs_93j38/s320/09-06-13+shuffle.jpg" width="320" /></a>6. <b>the SWINGING BLUE
JEANS - Gotta Draw the Dance (Sydney) (Hippy Hippy Shake: the Definitive
Collection) </b>A nice twangy number from one of the more harmless bands of the
Merseybeat invasion.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
7. <b>BUFFALO
SPRINGFIELD - Pay the Price (Buffalo Springfield 1967)</b> One of the Stephen
Stills numbers from the band's debut.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
8. <b>AC/DC - Problem
Child (If You Want Blood You've Got It 1978)</b> Was this live album sweetened
in the studio? That guitar solo sounds awfully clean. And the crowd sounds
potted up out of nowhere at one point.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
9. <b>MICHAEL NESMITH -
Harmony Constant (the Older Stuff: Best of Michael Nesmith)</b> - One of my
favorite post wool cap Nesmith songs. It’s just Mike on guitar and vocals and
Red Rhodes on pedal steel.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
10. <b>CHRIS MARS - I,
Me, We, Us, Them (Horseshoes & Hand Grenades 1992)</b> For my money Chris
has the best two post Replacements albums of the bunch. At least the two I play
the most...by a long shot. I tried not getting caught up in the Replacements
reunion hoopla, but after seeing that setlist and hearing songs from the first
show, I'm reconsidering my "don't get your hopes up" stance. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br />
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My MP3 player has been on a major new wave kick the past few
days, which you'd never guess from this shuffle. I recently added almost 2,000
more songs to the library and yet not a single one came up here. Maybe next time.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07421660578990116777noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2922800094954589943.post-20749580361211073762013-08-30T09:40:00.000-05:002013-08-30T09:40:37.121-05:00Shuffle-a-gogo: MP3 Player Random Fun<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-BCpNYTmvvxg/UiCue3TgSiI/AAAAAAAAD_g/daF0J7-jJXI/s1600/08-30-13+shuffle.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-BCpNYTmvvxg/UiCue3TgSiI/AAAAAAAAD_g/daF0J7-jJXI/s320/08-30-13+shuffle.jpg" width="232" /></a></div>
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1<b>. BREAKING CIRCUS -
Home of the Brave (7" single)</b> This somber Naked Raygun cover is really
just Steve Björklund with a keyboard and drum machine. The fanzine came free
with an issue of the Pope fanzine.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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2. <b>MAMAS & the
PAPAS - That Kind of Girl (All the Leaves are Brown: Golden Era Collection)</b>
A peppy done-wrong song with big harmonies and wicked little fuzzy guitar solo.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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3<b>. FALCO - the Sound
of Musik (extended rock & soul mix) (the Sound of Musik 12" 1986)</b>
- An absolutely ridiculous and over-the-top song that always makes me smile
(and usually hit repeat). It's one of the rare songs that I have multiple mixes
of on my MP3 player (in this case, three of them). This one clocks in at almost
ten minutes and I'd be happy if it went on aanother ten minutes.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
4. <b>WILCO -
Nothing'severgonnastandinmyway(again) (Summerteeth 1999)</b> I like Wilco and
recognize how incredibly talented they are, but Summerteeth is the only album
of theirs that's ever in regular rotation for me.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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5. <b>JOAN JETT - NAG -
(I Love Rock n Roll 1981)</b> "Run down to the butcher shop and buy me a
roast". Joan Jett has the absolute best taste in covers, as evidenced by
this ripping fun cover of the Arthur Crier song.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
6. <b>AC/DC - Rocker
(Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap 1976)</b> He's a rocker AND a roller. Man.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
7. <b>the HITMEN -
Private Eye (Aim for the Feet 1980)</b> New wave pop with that sounds like it
could be Graham Parker produced by Clive Langer. Without knowing the year it
would be pretty easy to peg this a s a 1980 song based on the production alone.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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8. <b>the MOTHERS OF
INVENTION - Any Way the Wind Blows (Freak Out 1966)</b> One of my favorite
record buying stories involves this record. One of my former co-workers was a
young record buyer when this album first came out and he and his friend had
heard good things about Zappa but neither of them could afford the double
album. So they pooled their money together and bought the album, then tore it
in half in front of the record store and each took their album and half of a
cover to their respective homes. It was a few days later before they swapped
copies, and both became big Zappa fans, but one of them always favored Zappa's
shorter, silly songs and the other ended up preferring the longer, weirder pieces
- which corresponded to the half of Freak Out that they each first went home
with.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
9. <b>EUGENIUS - On the
Breeze (Mary Queen of Scots 1994)</b> This album would be in my top five of
underrated albums of the 90's. Great big guitar pop.<o:p></o:p></div>
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</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
10. <b>CHARLOTTE
GAINSBOURG - Trick Pony (IRM 2009)</b> Fantastic production from Beck really
puts this album over the top.<o:p></o:p></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07421660578990116777noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2922800094954589943.post-57734181460620190832013-08-23T06:25:00.002-05:002013-08-23T06:25:34.672-05:00It's, it's, a shuffle blitz! MP3 Shuffle-a-gogo<div class="MsoNormal">
MP3 player set to shuffle. Let 'er rip!</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Mmnu2ztfnMI/UhdGW_xfy7I/AAAAAAAAD_Q/erc7dSwo2-M/s1600/08-23-13+shuffle.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Mmnu2ztfnMI/UhdGW_xfy7I/AAAAAAAAD_Q/erc7dSwo2-M/s320/08-23-13+shuffle.jpg" width="315" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
1. <b>SOCIAL DISTORTION
- Ring of Fire (Social Distortion 1990)</b> A million artists have covered
this, but Mike Ness and company manage to nail it and make it seamlessly fit in
with their originals.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
2. <b>TRIO - Broken
Hearts For You and me (Trio 1981)</b> - I get a little bummed when Trio get
dismissed as a one song novelty band ("Da Da Da"), since they packed
their short career with quite a few catchy songs. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
3. <b>the CLEAN - Big
Soft Punch (Clean Anthology)</b> "Big Soft Punch" was orignally
released on 1990's Vehicle, which strangely was their first proper full length
album recorded after their first reunion tour. New Zealand indie bands don't
seem to follow the same rule book as American indie bands.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
4. <b>HELTER STUPID -
Helter Stupid Prologue (Helter Stupid 1989)</b> Negativeland didn't want to
tour so they made up a story about being involved in a murder case, which the
media picked up on. Negativeland took the news coverage and turned it into a
fascinating album side of weirdness.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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5. <b>MICHAEL and the
MESSENGERS - Romeo and Juliet (Nuggets box)</b> A decent garage cover of the
Reflections one hit, 1964's "(Just Like) Romeo and Juliet".<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
6. <b>BIG BOY PETE - the
Treacle Dance (Homage to Catatonia 1966-69)</b> Eccentric pop from a charming
San Francisco weirdo. I was turned onto Big Boy Pete by Kelley Stoltz, who not
only covered a BBP song when he opened for Echo & the Bunnymen, but went
out of his way to praise him and urge people to pick up one of his records. I'm
glad I took his advice.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
7. <b>AC/DC - Shoot to
Thrill (Back in Black 1980)</b> My shuffle has been on a BIG AC/DC kick the
past week, which isn't a bad thing.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
8. <b>YOUTH BRIGADE -
Blown Away (Sink With Kalifornia 1984)</b> My first two concerts were the Who,
but I'm pretty sure that my third show was Youth Brigade at a Sunday Night punk
show at Cubby Bear.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
9. <b>FALLEN ANGELS -
Bad Woman (Pebbles Volume 1)</b> A great slab of garage from 1966.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
10. <b>the DARLING BUDS
- Burst (Pop Said... 1988)</b> This Welsh band weren't very original, but they
sure did make some catchy guitar summer pop with stellar harmonies and big
hooks.<o:p></o:p></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07421660578990116777noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2922800094954589943.post-22398052036721468082013-08-06T09:13:00.001-05:002013-08-06T09:13:05.708-05:00My picks for the Slicing Up Eyeballs' Best of 86 Poll<a href="http://www.slicingupeyeballs.com/2013/08/05/vote-for-best-albums-of-1986/" target="_blank">Slicing Up Eyeballs has their Best "new wave/alternative" Albums of 1986 poll up</a>. Some of my faves came out in 86, but there weren't as many albums I was passionate about compared to the previous polls. Looking through the ballot I realized that there were loads of half-great albums in 86 - records with a few all time favorite songs and then a bunch of filler or forgettable songs.<br />
<br />
For the purpose of voting I stuck with what was on the ballot, so there aren't any write-ins (hence no Beasties, Run DMC, etc). Here are my picks in alph order:<br />
<br />
<ul>
<li><b><span style="font-size: large;">Crowded House - Crowded House</span></b></li>
<li><b><span style="font-size: large;">The Godfathers - Hit By Hit</span></b></li>
<li><b><span style="font-size: large;">Robyn Hitchcock and the Egyptians - Element of Light</span></b></li>
<li><b><span style="font-size: large;">Hüsker Dü - Candy Apple Grey</span></b></li>
<li><b><span style="font-size: large;">Love and Rockets - Express</span></b></li>
<li><b><span style="font-size: large;">The Mighty Lemon Drops - Happy Head</span></b></li>
<li><b><span style="font-size: large;">R.E.M.. - Lifes Rich Pageant</span></b></li>
<li><b><span style="font-size: large;">Stan Ridgway - The Big Heat</span></b></li>
<li><b><span style="font-size: large;">They Might Be Giants - They Might Be Giants</span></b></li>
<li><b><span style="font-size: large;">XTC - Skylarking</span></b></li>
</ul>
<br />
Most of my picks are pretty standard college rock/CMJ staples. But I think this is about the point where I started listening to a lot more indie music and deliberately started shunning most of the 120 Minutes type artists. I'm really curious to see the 1987 ballot.<br />
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07421660578990116777noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2922800094954589943.post-11732957556823878282013-07-26T07:52:00.000-05:002013-07-28T07:52:30.034-05:00Mother told me, yes she told me, I’d meet Shuffle-a-gogoers like you<div class="MsoNormal">
Once again - it's shufffle time. MP3 player device of choice set to random and the first ten songs...<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Fqhh9VstZiI/UfUT4p0IkpI/AAAAAAAAD_A/CIjr0ADafUc/s1600/07-26-13+shuffle.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Fqhh9VstZiI/UfUT4p0IkpI/AAAAAAAAD_A/CIjr0ADafUc/s320/07-26-13+shuffle.jpg" width="222" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
1<b>. the ROLLING STONES
- Sympathy for the Devil (Beggars Banquet 1968)</b> I love absolutely
everything about Sympathy, from the "whoo woo" backing vocals to
Keith's cool-as-shit guitar to Bill Wyman's fabulous maraca shaking.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
2<b>. JERRY REED -
Guitar Man (the Essential Jerry Reed)</b> Jerry's semi-autobiographical 1967
single, which was later appropriated by Elvis.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
3. <b>the TEARDROPS
EXPLODES - When I Dream (Kilimanjaro 1980)</b> I'm pretty sure that this was
the first Julian Cope song I ever heard and it's still my favorite. The song
clocks in at over seven minutes, but the last four minutes are really just an
incredibly gradual fade out. And I wish it sent on for ten more minutes.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
4<b>. the RAMONES - I
Don't Care (Rocket to Russia 1977)</b> I love Joey's faux aristocrat vocal.
He's trying to sound snobby, but he still sounds like he's from Queens.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
5. <b>the POGUES - Boat
Train (Peace and Love 1989)</b> This is one of my favorite Shane MacGowan
vocals and about the point that I sort of gave up on him. Everything after this
seems a bit uninspired.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
6. <b>the BEATLES -
You're Going to Lose That Girl (Help! 1965)</b> The Beatles were contemporaries
of Freddie and the Dreamers and the Hullaballoos and are probably best
remembered today for having Barbara Bach's husband on drums.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
7. <b>the WILLIS
BROTHERS - Alcohol and # 2 Diesel (24 Great Truck Drivin Hits)</b> Take a truckful
of oranges and truckful of watermelons and add alcohol and you end up with a
great country song.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
8. <b>ELVIS PRESLEY -
Clean Up Your Backyard (Elvis at the Movies)</b> From the 1967 film the Trouble
with Girls, this Mac Davis/Billy Strange song was the song that brought me back
to Elvis. I was sick of Elvis kitsch by the time I got to college and broke bad
on the king, but at my college radio station I randomly played this cut off of
one of the many suspect Elvis comps that came out in the 80's and was absolutely
floored. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
9. <b>CROWDED HOUSE -
Pineapple Head (Together Alone 1993)</b> Neil Finn's overdue for another album,
right?<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
10. <b>JACCO GARDNER -
Watching the Moon (Cabinet of Curiosities 2013)</b> This will most likely be a
2013 top 20 album for me. Jacco is a Dutch multi-instrumentalist that plays
chamber pop ala the Left Banke or Sagittarius. Or, in the case of this song,
Syd Barrett.<o:p></o:p></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07421660578990116777noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2922800094954589943.post-12640626103392267382013-07-21T13:15:00.002-05:002013-07-21T13:15:35.089-05:00A book I enjoyed: Hiding the Elephant: How Magicians Invented the Impossible by Jim SteinmeyerLately most of the books I've read have been about rock music or books about creative inspiration and motivation. I wanted a break and decided to read a book about something I don't follow as avidly as my other interests. In my long list of books to some day check out I had <a href="http://www.amazon.com/dp/0786714018/ref=rdr_ext_tmb" target="_blank">Hiding the Elephant by Jim Steinmeyer</a>, which I think I added to the list after seeing Teller (of Penn and Teller) reference it in article.<br />
<br />
I'm interested in magic, but never really followed it enough to call myself a fan. Other than fumbling through a trick or two in grade school, I never went through a magic phase growing up. When I went to Marshall Brodien's Magic Shop at Old Chicago it was to buy novelties and pranks, not magic cards or props. Itching powder and the fly in the fake ice cube were more my speed over a trick I'd have to practice over and over again. But the review of this book looked promising, and with an endoresment (and introduction) from Teller I decided to check it out. I'm glad I did! A wonderful read.<br />
<br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-tQQdO80QlI4/UewiFUbBFHI/AAAAAAAAD-w/oiECWUFJszg/s1600/hiding+the+elephant.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-tQQdO80QlI4/UewiFUbBFHI/AAAAAAAAD-w/oiECWUFJszg/s320/hiding+the+elephant.JPG" width="203" /></a></div>
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<b>MY REVIEW</b>:</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
A fascinating walk through the history of magic and the
showmanship that went with it from the late 1800's through the end of magic's
golden era in the 1930's. Although the book explains the mechanics of many great
illusions, it's much more than just a "how they did it" book. There
are compelling character studies of magicians and the entire magic community as
well as an in-depth look at European and American theater of the era. The
magicians' stories intertwine as illusions evolved and theater goer wants
changed, all done with the unfolding narrative of a good novel. Author and
illusion designer to the stars (including David Copperfield, Siegfried &
Roy, and Doug Henning) Jim Steinmeyer also injects the mystery of an elusive
trick throughout the book, explaining how the illusionist works and thinks.
This is a book about people, history, and creative thinking as much as it's a
book about magic.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>FOUR and HALF STARS (out of five)</b></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07421660578990116777noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2922800094954589943.post-4912616229822708602013-07-19T08:15:00.000-05:002013-07-19T08:15:00.343-05:00SHUFFLE-A-GOGO - MP3 player randomness and unchecked music nerdageMP3 Shuffle-a-gogo: Set your MP3 delivery device of choice on shuffle and post the first ten songs. Simple as that. Here's what I got:<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-8Nlr9IEZ0mE/Ueiwu9zuDVI/AAAAAAAAD-g/6q0j5AuSegg/s1600/07-19-13+-+the+new+stones+recording.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-8Nlr9IEZ0mE/Ueiwu9zuDVI/AAAAAAAAD-g/6q0j5AuSegg/s320/07-19-13+-+the+new+stones+recording.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
1. <b>BUZZCOCKS - Palm
of Your Hand (Trade Test Transmissions 1993)</b> Buzzcocks show up on my
shuffles all of the time. I'm not complaining. In fact, I'm bragging.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
2. <b>CHUCK BERRY - Rock
and Roll Music (the Chess Years box)</b> Other than WLS, most of the music I
listened to in grade school came via my older brother's surf and drag 8-tracks
or his multi tape Wolfman Jack oldies collection. When I hear this I still hear
the Wolfman Jack intro - "It's Chuck Berrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrry,
baby!"<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
3. <b>MARVIN GAYE - One
For My Baby (Moods of Marvin Gaye 1966)</b> My favorite version of the
Arlen/Mercer classic, and one of Marvin's best early vocals. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
4. <b>OIL TASTERS - Emma
(Oil Tasters 1982)</b> If I could only have one Milwaukee bass/saxophone/drum
trio it would be Oil Tasters. This was one of the records I bought strictly
because it was pictured in the International Discography of the New Wave (aka Volume), which, along with the
Trouser Press guide was my bible during my formative music years. This is a
fabulous version of the Hot Chocolate song.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
5. <b>VAN HALEN - Where
Have All the Good Times Gone (Diver Down 1982)</b> I think out of all of the
original DLR Van Halen albums Diver Down is the one I play the least. I forgot
about this song. I might have to go back and put the album on again.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
6. <b>the dB's - Far
Away and Long Ago (Falling Off the Sky 2012)</b> A nice quiet Chris Stamey
number from the band's excellent comeback record from last year.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
7. <b>the REPLACEMENTS -
Waitress in the Sky (Tim 1985)</b> "Big deal you get to fly". Makes
me laugh every time.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
8<b>. KIRSTY MacCOLL
(with the Pogues) - Miss Otis Regrets (Galore 1995)</b> A lot of artists I love
have died, but Kirsty MacColl is one of the few that years after their death I
still get sad thinking about every time one of their songs comes up on a
shuffle.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
9<b>. BEE GEES - Turn of
the Century (Bee Gees' First 1967)</b> If you like 60's pop and don't own Bee
Gees First you should do yourself a favor and go pick it up right now. This
album plays like a singles collection, with several of my favorite songs from
the whole decade appearing.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
10. <b>PETE SEEGER -
Summertime (American Favorite Ballads)</b> A Cole Porter cover from Kirsty, and
now Gershwin via Pete Seeger. Such a great, mournful version with just Pete and
banjo. And some whistling. Even though he still makes an occasional appearance,
I think I missed my window to see him live, which kind of bums me out. Until
recently I took Pete Seeger for granted.<o:p></o:p></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07421660578990116777noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2922800094954589943.post-56448391982610976672013-07-08T19:38:00.000-05:002013-07-08T19:38:01.246-05:00My picks for Slicing Up Eyeballs’ Best of 1985 Poll<a href="http://www.slicingupeyeballs.com/2013/07/08/vote-for-best-albums-of-1985/" target="_blank">Slicing Up Eyeballs is currently in Part 6 of their Best of the ’80s, Poll: 1985</a>. Being Slicing Up Eyeballs, the list focuses on new wave/alternative albums. From their guidelines: "<i>the albums that made the ballot are limited to those that fall within the very loose and ill-defined “alternative” banner, generally titles from the punk, post-punk, goth, college rock, indie, synthpop, industrial, New Wave and related genres". </i>All ten of my picks came from their ballot. I made a quick look at the 1985 albums on my MP3 player and didn't see anything else that needed to be added (although I almost added APB's Something to Believe In before remembering it was actually a compilation).<br />
<br />
1985 didn't have as many life changingly great records for me as as 84 did, but it was still a pretty great year for music. This Is Big Audio Dynamite, Throb Throb, Tim, and Rain Dogs are all guaranteed spots on my all time favorite albums list, so putting them up here was a no brainer.<br />
<br />
Here are my ten picks in artist alphabetical order.<br />
<br />
<ul>
<li><b><span style="font-size: large;">Big Audio Dynamite - This Is Big Audio Dynamite</span></b></li>
<li><b><span style="font-size: large;">Game Theory - Real Nighttime</span></b></li>
<li><b><span style="font-size: large;">Robyn Hitchcock and the Egyptians - Fegmania!</span></b></li>
<li><b><span style="font-size: large;">Hüsker Dü - New Day Rising</span></b></li>
<li><b><span style="font-size: large;">The Jesus and Mary Chain - Psychocandy</span></b></li>
<li><b><span style="font-size: large;">Naked Raygun - Throb Throb</span></b></li>
<li><b><span style="font-size: large;">R.E.M. - Fables of the Reconstruction</span></b></li>
<li><b><span style="font-size: large;">The Replacements - Tim</span></b></li>
<li><b><span style="font-size: large;">Tom Waits - Rain Dogs</span></b></li>
<li><b><span style="font-size: large;">Yello - Stella</span></b></li>
</ul>
<br />
Alright, bring on 1986.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07421660578990116777noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2922800094954589943.post-63463420481200414782013-07-05T13:13:00.003-05:002013-07-05T13:21:54.233-05:00New beer arrivals at the Agogo household: Summer EditionWe finally whittled down our beer inventory enough to merit bringing in a new selection. The focus this trip is on Summer beers.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/daleagogo/9215225397/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="Restocking beer at the Agogo Household: Summer edition by DaleAgogo, on Flickr"><img alt="Restocking beer at the Agogo Household: Summer edition" height="476" src="http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2839/9215225397_2ed8587b51.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<br /></div>
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Left to right:</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<a href="http://revbrew.com/beer/detail/rosa-hibiscus-ale" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: large;">Rosa Hibiscus Ale</span></a> from Chicago's always reliable <a href="http://revbrew.com/beer/view-beers" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: large;">Revolution Brewing Company</span></a>. I didn't expect to care much for an ale steeped with hibiscus flowers orange peel, but the Mrs is a fan and I've got to admit it's quite refreshing.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
Three beers from Chicago's first Latin American-owned microbrewery (maybe even the first in the US, but I'm sure on that) <a href="http://www.5rabbitbrewery.com/5-rabbit-beers/" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: large;">5 Rabbit Cerveceria</span></a>. Initially their beer was contract brewed by Argus and then Minhas, but I think everything is now done in-house at their new facility. I don't see anything on their website about an open taproom, but I'm hoping to get there in person sometime soon. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<a href="http://www.5rabbitbrewery.com/5-grass/" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: large;">5 Grass</span></a> is their hoppy American Pale Ale. According to their website: "5 Grass is not exactly a pale ale; its malt profile is smoother than the classic style, and the hops are neither British or Cascadian in character."</div>
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<a href="http://www.5rabbitbrewery.com/5-vulture/" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: large;">5 Vulture</span></a> is a Chile Beer/Oaxacan Style Dark.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<a href="http://www.5rabbitbrewery.com/5-rabbit/" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: large;">5 Rabbit</span></a> is their flagship American Blonde. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
Haven't tried the 5 Grass yet, but I can vouch for the wonderfulness of the other two. 5 Vulture is a treat, but it's distinct taste makes it more of one "have one and move on" beer for me. 5 Rabbit I could drink all night and be happy.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<a href="http://www.sol.com/" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: large;">Sol</span></a> and/or Tecate are our traditional house beers for the Summer. Opted for Sol this trip.</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07421660578990116777noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2922800094954589943.post-43193803500858774192013-07-05T07:35:00.000-05:002013-07-05T07:36:20.600-05:00Shuffle-a-gogo: some random MP3 player action<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Zc7kzg-m2QQ/Uda8fJSSXUI/AAAAAAAAD-Q/fShJ8QnHR3g/s1056/07-05-13+shuffle.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Zc7kzg-m2QQ/Uda8fJSSXUI/AAAAAAAAD-Q/fShJ8QnHR3g/s320/07-05-13+shuffle.jpg" width="222" /></a></div>
SHUFFLE-A-GOGO: Set your MP3 delivery device of choice to shuffle/random and write down the first ten songs.<br />
<br />
1. <b>the STRANGELOVES - I wan Candy</b> (Best of the Strangeloves) 1965 single from some New Yorkers pretending to be Australian, including future Blondie producer and Sire records co-founder, Richard Gottehrer.<br />
<br />
2. <b>ECHO & the BUNNYMEN - the Idolness of Gods</b> (the Fountain 2009) An enjoyable later Echo cut, but by this point Ian McCulloch and Will Sergeant seem to be coasting.<br />
<br />
3. <b>the KINGSTON TRIO - Corey, Corey</b> (At Large 1959) This was in my parents record collection, so it was one of the first albums I ever played. Other than the Kingston Trio and Bob Newhart the options were limited; my other choices were the Ben Hur soundtrack or Banjo at the Gaslight Club.<br />
<br />
4. <b>SMASHING PUMPKINS - Here Is No Why</b> (Mellon Collie and the blah blah blah 1995) Pumpkins are one of the most bands I skip when they come up on a shuffle, yet I still can't bring myself to just pull them from the player.<br />
<br />
5. <b>TOM ROBINSON BAND - Better Decide Which Side You're On</b> (Power in the Darkness 1978) Tom Robinson is due for a resurgence - he made some fantastic records.<br />
<br />
6.<b> GO HOME PRODUCTIONS - Work It Out With a Foxy Lady</b> (GHP Complete) A mashup of Beyonce vs Hendrix. Like many modern mainstream pop artists, I think the only Beyonce songs I actually know are from mash-ups.<br />
<br />
7. <b>the TING TINGS - Day to Day</b> (Sounds from Nowheresville 2012) I loved their debut We Started Nothing, but this second album was an incredible disappointment. Time to delete it from the library.<br />
<br />
8. <b>LEO SAYER - I Think We Fell In Love Too Fast</b> (Endless Flight 1976) Yeah, that's right. Leo Fucking Sayer.<br />
<br />
9. <b>PORTER WAGONER - Nothing Between</b> (Rubber Room comp) - I'm always amazed at how twisted and messed up Porter lyrics are. Seems too weird to get mainstream attention, which makes me miss the country music world of the Sixties even more.<br />
<br />
10. <b>DOVES - The Sulpher Man</b> (Best of the Doves) I think the Doves are going to be the band I play rest of the morning.<br />
<div>
<br /></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07421660578990116777noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2922800094954589943.post-88073715206713157352013-07-04T13:38:00.000-05:002013-07-04T13:47:45.308-05:00Are We Not Polyresin Throbblehead Figures? We Are Devo!<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
I've gotten away from buying cool little tchotchkes and knick knacks, but<a href="http://aggronautix.com/products.cfm?productid=88&utm_source=DEVO+Energy+Dome+Throbblehead+-+Limited+to+2000+Numbered+Figures&utm_campaign=Devo&utm_medium=email" target="_blank"> this Devo Energy Dome Throbblehead from Aggronautix</a> is making me reconsider that stance. I kind of feel like I need to own one of these. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-X-frjwT1EjA/UdW__roOY0I/AAAAAAAAD-E/wvmvWCr7OjI/s600/Devo+Throbblehead.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-X-frjwT1EjA/UdW__roOY0I/AAAAAAAAD-E/wvmvWCr7OjI/s320/Devo+Throbblehead.jpg" width="177" /></a></div>
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-X-frjwT1EjA/UdW__roOY0I/AAAAAAAAD-A/_dVYy1DpLog/s600/Devo+Throbblehead.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><br /></a>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07421660578990116777noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2922800094954589943.post-9664428936281632452013-07-03T23:11:00.000-05:002013-07-04T15:16:52.332-05:00QUOTENERD: "We need more impossible in our culture."<b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">"We need more impossible in our culture."</span><span style="font-size: large;"> - Lisa Carver</span></b><br />
<br />
Over the past few months whenever I need a bit of inspiration I keep coming back to this quote from Lisa Carver. The line comes from <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2012/10/21/magazine/how-i-learned-to-love-yoko-ono.html?pagewanted=all" target="_blank">a fabulous piece she wrote for the New York Times last October called Yoko Ono: A Reconsideration</a>. The piece has also inspired me to go back and give Yoko Ono another try, which I'll be doing soon. The article is a segment from her book <a href="http://www.powells.com/biblio/1-9781617130946-1" target="_blank">Reaching Out with No Hands: Reconsidering Yoko Ono</a>. I had never thought I needed to read an entire book about Yoko, but this article makes me think otherwise.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07421660578990116777noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2922800094954589943.post-84528326206251046262013-07-01T21:05:00.000-05:002013-07-03T14:56:10.226-05:002013 Half Way Point - My Top 20 Albums So FarWe're six months into the year, which is officially start working on my ever evolving list of favorite albums of 2013. At this stage the numerical rankings are VERY fluid, but these are the records I've gone to the most so far during the year. There will be a lot jockeying for position over the next six months as I relisten to albums and reevaluate.<br />
<br />
This has been a good year for music so far. Not great, but pretty darn good. In 2012 my Halfway Point list had twenty albums that I would have been happy to have in my Year End Top 20. This year the list isn't as strong, but there are still plenty of good releases.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-RPGZBKwW8Sk/UdI0vkbaJII/AAAAAAAAD9o/rQPNeV0xpFU/s1500/JOHNNY+MARR+-+the+Messenger.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-RPGZBKwW8Sk/UdI0vkbaJII/AAAAAAAAD9o/rQPNeV0xpFU/s200/JOHNNY+MARR+-+the+Messenger.jpg" width="200" /></a><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-UljvpDIYOlk/UdI034jZj7I/AAAAAAAAD9w/H4U8mP7WXLs/s1425/WAVVES+-+Afraid+of+Heights.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-UljvpDIYOlk/UdI034jZj7I/AAAAAAAAD9w/H4U8mP7WXLs/s200/WAVVES+-+Afraid+of+Heights.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
<br />
<ol>
<li><b><span style="font-size: large;">JOHNNY MARR - the Messenger</span></b> - My most played album of the year so far. After more than two decades of side projects and hired gun sessions Johnny Marr finally steps into the frontman role with a diverse collection of songs that showcase his guitar and songwriting chops.[ <a href="http://daleagogo.blogspot.com/2013/03/album-review-johnny-marr-messenger.html" target="_blank">MY FULL REVIEW HERE</a> ]</li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;"><b>WAVVES - Afraid of Heights</b> </span>- The San Diego band's fourth album is an adrenaline rush of angsty guitar charged beach pop fun with hyper melodies. [ <a href="http://daleagogo.blogspot.com/2013/05/album-review-wavves-afraid-of-heights.html" target="_blank">MY FULL REVIEW HERE</a> ]</li>
<li><b><span style="font-size: large;">EDWYN COLLINS - Understated</span></b> - A wonderfully strong British pop record filled with Northern Soul goodness from the former Orange Juice frontman’s eighth solo album. [ <a href="http://daleagogo.blogspot.com/2013/06/album-review-edwyn-collins-understated.html" target="_blank">MY FULL REVIEW HERE</a> ]</li>
<li><b><span style="font-size: large;">BLEACHED - Ride Your Heart</span></b> - Bleached's punked up take on 60's girl group pop is loaded with sugary pop goodness, making it a perfect soundtrack for a Summer road trip. [ <a href="http://daleagogo.blogspot.com/2013/05/album-review-bleached-ride-your-heart.html" target="_blank">MY FULL REVIEW HERE</a> ]</li>
<li><b><span style="font-size: large;">OMD - English Electric</span></b> - For their second album since reuniting the classic line-up, OMD deliver a very likable collection of songs recalling some of their best work of the 80's. [ <a href="http://daleagogo.blogspot.com/2013/06/album-review-omd-english-electric.html" target="_blank">MY FULL REVIEW HERE</a> ]</li>
<li><b><span style="font-size: large;">WIRE - Change Becomes Us</span></b> - Using unfinished 30 year old snippets as the starting point, the post-punk legends make their most rewarding album since reforming. [ <a href="http://daleagogo.blogspot.com/2013/04/album-review-wire-change-becomes-us.html" target="_blank">MY FULL REVIEW HERE</a> ]</li>
<li><b><span style="font-size: large;">PALMA VIOLETS - 180</span></b> - Much buzzed debut album from a London four piece is a raucous blast of organ heavy garagey fun. [ <a href="http://daleagogo.blogspot.com/2013/05/album-review-palma-violets-180.html" target="_blank">MY FULL REVIEW HERE</a> ]</li>
<li><b><span style="font-size: large;">JACCO GARDNER - Cabinet of Curiosities</span> - </b>Baroque pop debut from a Dutch multi-instrumentalist and home studio wizard that conjures up spirit and sound of the Zombies, Left Banke, and Sagittarius.[ <a href="http://daleagogo.blogspot.com/2013/02/album-review-jacco-gardner-cabinet-of.html" target="_blank">MY FULL REVIEW HERE</a> ]</li>
<li><b><span style="font-size: large;">SUEDE - Bloodsports</span></b> - Brett Anderson and company are stunningly strong on their first album in over a decade. I love a lot of Suede songs, but this is the first time I've loved an entire album from them.</li>
<li><b><span style="font-size: large;">BAD RELIGION - True North</span></b> - On album number 16 Bad Religion proves to still be one of the most vital and engaging punk bands making records, with more power and relevance than band's half their age. [ <a href="http://daleagogo.blogspot.com/2013/03/album-review-bad-religion-true-north.html" target="_blank">MY FULL REVIEW HERE</a> ]</li>
<li><b><span style="font-size: large;">SMITH WESTERNS - Soft Will</span></b> - I've only listened to this a few times, but it sounds really good and Dye It Blonde topped my 2011 list, so I wanted to make sure this got represented since I'm confident I'll be listening to it many times rest of the year.</li>
<li><b><span style="font-size: large;">HOUSE OF LOVE - She Paints Words In Red</span></b> - House of Love deliver beautiful jangly psychedelia with rich pastoral melodies and their best album since the 1990 self titled album (aka Fonatana/Butterfly) [ <a href="http://daleagogo.blogspot.com/2013/05/album-review-house-of-love-she-paints.html" target="_blank">MY FULL REVIEW HERE</a> ]</li>
<li><b><span style="font-size: large;">DAVID BOWIE - the Next Day</span></b> - David's not in innovator mode here, but he has made a solid album right in his comfort zone.</li>
<li><b><span style="font-size: large;">the WOGGLES - Big Beat</span></b> - Supercharged party rock from one of the most reliable garage revival bands working today. [ <a href="http://daleagogo.blogspot.com/2013/06/album-review-woggles-big-beat.html" target="_blank">MY FULL REVIEW HERE</a> ]</li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;"><b>SAVAGES - Silence Yourself</b> </span>- Exciting post-punk like an modern indie take on the Siouxsie sound.</li>
<li><b><span style="font-size: large;">the RESONARS - Crummy Desert Sound</span></b> - Swigning power pop with loads of Merseybeat energy.</li>
<li><b><span style="font-size: large;">CHELSEA LIGHT MOVING - Chelsea Light Moving</span></b> - With his new band Thurston Moore delivers a sludgier and much looser back-to-basics take on the Sonic Youth template. [ <a href="http://daleagogo.blogspot.com/2013/04/album-review-chelsea-light-moving.html" target="_blank">MY FULL REVIEW HERE</a> ]</li>
<li><b><span style="font-size: large;">NOAH & the WHALE - Heart Of Nowhere</span></b> - The Twickenham band continues in the same light-pop-meets-arena-sing-alongs of 2011's wonderful Last Night On Earth, choosing not to vary the sound much. [ <a href="http://daleagogo.blogspot.com/2013/05/album-review-noah-whale-heart-of-nowhere.html" target="_blank">MY FULL REVIEW HERE</a> ]</li>
<li><b><span style="font-size: large;">the OBLIVIANS - Desperation</span></b> - After 17 years the Memphis trash garage ne'er-do-wells pick up right where they left off. [ <a href="http://daleagogo.blogspot.com/2013/06/album-review-oblivians-desperation.html" target="_blank">MY FULL REVIEW HERE</a> ]</li>
<li><b><span style="font-size: large;">VERONICA FALLS - Waiting For Something To Happen</span></b> - Spry pop goodness from the band's second album.</li>
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<span style="color: red;"><b>UPDATE: As happens with every Half Year update, as soon as I post mine I remember a release that I had forgotten about. Looking at a friend's list I realized I had forgotten Off the Record by Krafterk's KARL BARTOS. That would definitely be on this somewhere.</b></span> <a href="http://daleagogo.blogspot.com/2013/05/album-review-karl-bartos-off-record.html" target="_blank">Here's my full review of the Karl Bartos album.</a><br />
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As I said, the actual rankings are pretty loose at this stage, but this is at least a rough idea of where some of my preferences are so far. There are still a bunch of other albums in contention as well that aren't represented here because I haven't spent enough time with them yet. And there's a slew of good stuff on the horizon, so I'm looking forward to a fabulous top twenty at the end of the year.<br />
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<b><span style="color: blue;">HERE ARE SOME OTHER ALBUMS IN VARIOUS STAGES OF EVALUAATION THAT ARE CONTENDERS</span></b>: <b>!!!</b> - Thr!!!er, <b>BEACH FOSSILS</b> - Clash the Truth, <b>BOMBINO</b> - Nomad, <b>MIKAL CRONIN</b> - McII, <b>DUCKTAILS</b> - Flower Lane, <b>the DUCKWORTH LEWIS METHOD</b> - Sticky Wickets,<b> GIRLS NAMES</b> - the New Life, <b>EMMYLOU HARRIS and RODNEY CROWELL</b> - Old Yellow Moon, <b>ROBYN HITCHCOCK</b> - Love From London, <b>JAGWAR MA</b> - Howlin, <b>the LITTLE ONES</b> - Dawn Sang Along, <b>PRESTON LOVINGGOOD</b> - Sun Songs, <b>MY BLOODY VALENTINE</b> - mbv, <b>the NATIONAL</b> - Trouble Will Find Me, <b>PARQUET COURTS</b> - Light Up Gold, <b>PHOENIX</b> - Bankrupt!, <b>POPSTRANGERS</b> - Antipodes, and <b>RICHARD THOMPSON</b> - Electric. Plus I haven't even gotten achance to check out these records that I'm aniticipating good things from: <b>CHARLIE BOYER and the VOYEURS</b>,<b> BILLY BRAGG</b>, <b>CERAMIC DOG</b>, <b>PRIMAL SCREAM</b>, <b>QUEENS of the STONEAGE</b>, and <b>SPECTRALS</b>.<br />
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07421660578990116777noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2922800094954589943.post-14480554102002991332013-06-29T09:00:00.000-05:002013-06-29T16:25:30.181-05:00ALBUM REVIEW: DAVID YOW - Tonight You Look Like a Spider<span style="color: blue;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">DAVID YOW - Tonight You Look Like a Spider</span> (Joyful Noise)</b></span><br />
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<span style="color: blue;"><b>An unsettling but rewarding album of experimental pieces with a cinematic quality from the Jesus Lizard/Scratch Acid frontman.</b></span><br />
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Going into my first listen of David Yow's first solo album I knew that anything could happen, so I was prepared for what ever weirdness or aural assault he could muster. I went in KNOWING that my expectations would be defied and challenged, yet he threw such a curve ball that I was still caught off guard in the best possible way. The only other artist I can think of that broadsided me as much with such a radical twisting of preconceptions is Scott Walker.<br />
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It would have been easy for Yow to stick close to the abrasive noise rock of his former bands, Scratch Acid and Jesus Lizard. But instead he courageously walks away from that template and explores entirely unfamiliar territory. Tonight You Look Like a Spider is an often unsettling, mostly instrumental collection of experimental pieces. It has an avante garde cinematic quality to it, like the soundtrack to some unknown David Fincher movie. Or a warped Ennio Morricone soundtrack played on a turntable with a loose belt.<br />
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Yow made this album by himself over almost fifteen years as he learned ProTools, which sounds like the recipe for a bloated, self-indulgent mess. But he pulls it off wonderfully. The compositions and arrangements are deliberate and balanced. It's weird without sounding weird-for-weird's-sake. He doesn't play it for yucks or push unnecessarily into some "ain't this crazy shit?" zone. But there is some crazy shit here. There's oddly tuned piano tinkering, distorted voice bits, unidentifiable sounds that float in and out of pieces, shifting time signatures, and what I'm pretty sure if one of those cow moo tube toys that you turn upside down to get a moo, but greatly slowed down.<br />
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Other than "Roundhouse", which has hints of Jesus Lizards "Fly on the Wall" in the bassline, there's not much to directly identify Tonight You Look Like a Spider with Yow. A few parts remind me a bit of Resident's Third Reich and Roll or elements of Scraping Foetus Off The Wheel, but I also hear equal parts of Bernard Herrmann turned inside out or the above mentioned Morricone. Especially Morricone's Crime and Dissonance collection, which would make sense, since this album was once planned to come out on Mike Patton's Ipecac label.<br />
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David Yow has proven that he's a more complex artist than I gave him credit for. I was not expecting this to be an album that I would feel compelled to come back to multiple times, but it's bizarrely captivating. I'm hoping that he doesn't take so long for the next album.<br />
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<b style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: white; font-size: large;"><a href="http://daleagogo.blogspot.com/search/label/music-reviews" style="background-color: #eeeeee;" target="_blank">CLICK HERE FOR MORE OF MY ALBUM REVIEWS</a></span></b><br />
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07421660578990116777noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2922800094954589943.post-19658168393836706272013-06-21T08:02:00.002-05:002013-06-21T08:03:51.969-05:00MP3 SHUFFLE-A-GOGO<div class="MsoNormal">
I'm in the mood for some Shuffle-a-gogo. You know the drill: set your MP3
player of choice to shuffle and write down the first ten songs. Here's what I
got.<o:p></o:p></div>
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1. <b>JULIAN COPE - Reynaard the Fox (Fried 1984)</b> The lead
track from Julian's second album hints at much of what come from throughout
rest of his career. In just over six minutes he goes from super catchy pop to a
bizarre dramatic reading to a crazed garage instrumental freakout.</div>
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2. <b>ROBYN HITCHCOCK - Out of the Picture (Black Snake Diamond
Role 1981)</b> A straight forward Byrdsian pop song from Robyn's debut album
featuring some wonderful jangly guitar.<o:p></o:p></div>
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3. <b>E JOSEPH and the PHANTOM HEART - Changing Trains (All the
Medicine in the World 2009)</b> Pleasant power pop from a Baltimore guy that had
previously worked with Splitsville and Myracle Brah .<o:p></o:p></div>
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4. <b>EDWYN COLLINS - Dilemna (Understated 2013)</b> Wonderful pop
from Edwyn's new album, which is a lock to make my year end best of list.<o:p></o:p></div>
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5. <b>GUIDED BY VOICES - Go Rolling Home (Lets Go Eat the
Factory 2011)</b> I love GbV when they make melodic pop. This isn't one of those
songs.<o:p></o:p></div>
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6. <b>GARBAGE - Cherry Lips (Absolute Garbage)</b> New wavey
electro pop from 2001's Beautiful Garbage. I didn't realize how many Garbage
songs I loved until this hits collection came out.<o:p></o:p></div>
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7. <b>WHITE RABBITS - Percussion Gun (It's Frightening 2009)</b>
Indie rock from Brooklyn.<o:p></o:p></div>
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8. <b>the EQUALS - Fire (First Among Equals)</b> British R&B
pop from Eddie Grant's fabulous and woefully underrated first band. In my quest
to own every song from the band's 60's output I've had to buy a few comps to
pick up another song or two, which was the case here.<o:p></o:p></div>
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9. <b>FRANK SINATRA - Come Fly With Me (Sinatra 80th)</b> A
swinging number from Frank's Capitol era. I've always loved that vocal pause he
inserts into "down to Ac.......apulco Bay".<o:p></o:p></div>
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10. <b>OPAL - Supernova (Happy Nightmare Baby 1987)</b> Brooding
psychedelia from David Roback (Rain Parade) on guitar and Dream Syndicate's
Kendra Smith. Sadly this was the band's only album. This is high on my list of
late-night headphone faves.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07421660578990116777noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2922800094954589943.post-57533269667368935322013-06-20T23:11:00.000-05:002013-06-25T22:07:09.926-05:00ALBUM REVIEW: the WOGGLES - Big Beat<b><span style="color: blue;"><span style="font-size: large;">the WOGGLES - Big Beat</span> (Wicked Cool)</span></b><br />
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<b><span style="color: blue;">Supercharged party rock from one of the most reliable garage revival bands working today.</span></b><br />
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For over 20 years Georgia's Woggles have been kicking out relentlessly fun garage rock of the highest quality. When you put on a Woggles album you can count on having a good time. A really fucking good time. You're going tap your toes. You're going to shake your head. You're going to want to get up and dance. With this new one you're going to probably HAVE to get up and dance. And then thirty-some minutes later you're going to feel compelled play it again and dance some more.<br />
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The Woggles never played the cooler-than-thou tough-guy brand of garage that was in vogue when they hit the scene in the early 90's. Even on their early, harder rocking albums and singles, the Woggles still had a maximum R&B feel that made their records sound like a kick-ass party. Over the years they've honed that vibe and made the grooves stronger. The Woggles capture the spirit of the first garage bands playing frat parties and teen dances when the main objective was making the kids dance and to have a good time. Few bands seem as committed to keeping that spirit alive as the Woggles are. They remind me a lot of the Fleshtones in their heyday (a comparison I don't make lightly - the Fleshtones are gods).<br />
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The Woggles are super-tight and totally energized on Big Beat, which pushes everything into overdrive. At times I hear a garage-ified Mitch Ryder and the Detroit Wheels. Other times they sound like a more primal Easybeats. There's a little Kinks, Sonics, and Animals in there as well. The songs are so solid across the board that it plays like a singles collection. Not a weak song in the bunch. They even deliver a stellar take on the much covered Frankie Laine standard, "Jezebel", a song I was sure that I didn't need to hear anyone else do. But they take ownership of it and make it work.<br />
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Big Beat is one of the best garage albums of the last few years. Probably the strongest album in the band's stellar catalog. It rocks. It swings. It's fun as hell!<br />
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<b style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: white; font-size: large;"><a href="http://daleagogo.blogspot.com/search/label/music-reviews" style="background-color: #eeeeee;" target="_blank">CLICK HERE FOR MORE OF MY ALBUM REVIEWS</a></span></b></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07421660578990116777noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2922800094954589943.post-73083919762720007642013-06-17T23:11:00.000-05:002013-06-25T22:06:23.263-05:00ALBUM REVIEW: OMD - English Electric<b><span style="color: blue;"><span style="font-size: large;">OMD - English Electric</span> (BMG)</span></b><br />
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<b><span style="color: blue;">For their second album since reuniting the classic line-up, OMD deliver a very likable collection of songs recalls some of their best work of the 80's.</span></b><br />
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In 2010 OMD released History of Modern, which was the first album reuniting the classic OMD lineup since 1986's Pacific Age. The album hinted at what the band could achieve, but perfomances lacked spark and the songs weren't very memorable. It was the shell of the OMD sound, but lacked focus and sounded a bit too generic. Outside of Andy McCluskey's instantly recognizable vocals and a few trademark OMD synth tones, it sounded more like a band influenced by OMD than actually being OMD.<br />
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English Electric is their second album since returning, and it's a huge leap forward. This is OMD in "give the fans what they want" mode, featuring songs that highlight the strengths of their glory days while still sounding fresh. This time they embrace the distinctly OMD feel of their 80's albums, incorporating various elements of their first five or six albums. There's a nice balance of deceptively simple electropop, moodier downbeat melancholia, and big mainstream pop numbers with instantly catchy melodies. It's a very familiar sounding album with at least a few songs that could seamlessly fit onto that first Best of OMD singles collection. Or on the soundtrack to an imaginary John Hughes movie.<br />
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They've always owed a debt to Kraftwerk, and at several points on the album that influence is more apparent than on anything else they've done before. OMD don't retread their past, but they don't stray very far what they've done before either. This isn't the album for big innovations or an advancement in their sound. But it's also not a step back. The songs are well crafted and it's obvious that a lot of passion and attention went into making the record.<br />
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English Electric is instantly likable and consistently solid from start to finish. Despite the pristine and occasional almost-too-slick production (even by OMD's meticulous standards) there's a warmth to the whole thing that's very welcoming. It's not going to change the world, but there's great comfort in hearing OMD playing to all of their strengths.<br />
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<b><span style="color: white; font-size: large;"><a href="http://daleagogo.blogspot.com/search/label/music-reviews" style="background-color: #eeeeee;" target="_blank">CLICK HERE FOR MORE OF MY ALBUM REVIEWS</a></span></b></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07421660578990116777noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2922800094954589943.post-28893465775275579392013-06-14T23:11:00.000-05:002013-06-25T23:15:22.980-05:00some of my ALL TIME FAVORITE ALBUM COVERS - PART 3<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Here's part three of my all time favorite albums covers. These aren't necessarily the greatest album covers of all time, just the ones that for one reason or another totally work me.</div>
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[ <a href="http://daleagogo.blogspot.com/2013/05/a-few-of-my-all-time-favorite-album.html" target="_blank">PART ONE here</a> ] [ <a href="http://daleagogo.blogspot.com/2013/05/some-of-my-all-time-favorite-album.html" target="_blank">PART TWO here</a> ]</div>
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<b><span style="color: blue;">ABOVE</span></b>: <b>the Dream Syndicate - Medicine Show (1984)</b> An album I bought when it came out strictly because of the cover art, band name, and song titles. It ended up being one of my all time favorite (and most played) albums. I was quite bummed when my tourshirt featuring this image went through the washer one too many times and had to be retired.</div>
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<b><span style="color: blue;">BELOW LEFT</span></b>: <b>Elvis Costello and The Attractions - This year's Model (1978)</b> One of many fabulous covers from endlessly talented Barney Bubbles</div>
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<span style="color: blue;"><b>BELOW RIGHT</b></span>: <b>Gamma - Gamma 2 (1980)</b> I don't like the actual album, but this cover was a big fave of mine when it came out. The album cover is designed by Mick Haggerty and the cover photo is by Jeffrey Scales (who was getting pictures published in the Black Panther Paper when he was only 13!) </div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-H26kKgaSYw4/UcEi4vQhWcI/AAAAAAAAD3E/zcn-GLWU_Wo/s1600/coverfave-Elvis+Costello-This+Year's+Model.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="198" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-H26kKgaSYw4/UcEi4vQhWcI/AAAAAAAAD3E/zcn-GLWU_Wo/s200/coverfave-Elvis+Costello-This+Year's+Model.jpg" width="200" /></a><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-aUg1J15cN_A/UcEjDZSy9EI/AAAAAAAAD3Y/Ve5X5gn9OWs/s1600/coverfave-Gamma+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-aUg1J15cN_A/UcEjDZSy9EI/AAAAAAAAD3Y/Ve5X5gn9OWs/s200/coverfave-Gamma+2.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-RAS1ADIucCI/UcEjSQ8rUqI/AAAAAAAAD3o/u4izH24ziCg/s1600/coverfave-the+B-52's.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; display: inline !important; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-RAS1ADIucCI/UcEjSQ8rUqI/AAAAAAAAD3o/u4izH24ziCg/s200/coverfave-the+B-52's.jpg" width="200" /></a> <a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-yWq6qXCiotM/UcEjDVwz_2I/AAAAAAAAD3c/heX87nJ6Z-w/s1600/coverfave-Ramones+Road+to+Ruin.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-yWq6qXCiotM/UcEjDVwz_2I/AAAAAAAAD3c/heX87nJ6Z-w/s200/coverfave-Ramones+Road+to+Ruin.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
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<b><span style="color: blue;">ABOVE LEFT</span></b>: <b>the B-52's - the B-52's (1979)</b> Cover photo by then relatively unknown Interview Magazine photographer George DuBose. He originally made the image for flyers, but when they were signed the band chose it for the cover image. Island Records creative director Tony Wright hand colored the photo and changed a Mylar balloon Kate was holding to thrift store handbag. He didn't like the band, so he used the alias Sue Absurd for the designer credit. The full story and original b&w photo are <a href="http://www.george-dubose.com/" target="_blank">at George's site</a>.</div>
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<b><span style="color: blue;">ABOVE RIGHT</span></b>: <b>RAMONES - Road to Ruin (1978)</b> Wonderful illustration from Punk Magazine's John Holmstrom.</div>
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<b><span style="color: blue;">BELOW</span></b>: <b>Stan Freberg Presents the United States of America Vol 1 The Early Years (1961)</b> This is one of the albums I inherited from my parents and it's a cover I stared at quite a bit. Great use of text and white space. I like the fact that the cover image I found was a bit dirty since I don't think I've ever seen a clean copy of the actual vinyl.</div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-WcVgkwxYPBo/UcEjSZFfvfI/AAAAAAAAD3k/yYl7-S3MxmQ/s1600/coverfave-Stan+Freberg.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-WcVgkwxYPBo/UcEjSZFfvfI/AAAAAAAAD3k/yYl7-S3MxmQ/s400/coverfave-Stan+Freberg.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-MRi40jb66pE/UcEj_qkRnRI/AAAAAAAAD4A/9wyqnJTmKXs/s1600/coverfave-Jim+Carroll+Band.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-MRi40jb66pE/UcEj_qkRnRI/AAAAAAAAD4A/9wyqnJTmKXs/s200/coverfave-Jim+Carroll+Band.jpg" width="200" /></a><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-l3AGElixvCo/UcEj_9nVnrI/AAAAAAAAD4I/5mAGSPwRsNs/s1600/coverfave-the+Clash-London+Calling.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-l3AGElixvCo/UcEj_9nVnrI/AAAAAAAAD4I/5mAGSPwRsNs/s200/coverfave-the+Clash-London+Calling.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
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<b><span style="color: blue;">ABOVE LEFT</span></b>: <b>the Jim Carroll Band - Catholic Boy (1980)</b> Cover photograph of Jim and his parents taken by Annie Leibovitz</div>
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<b><span style="color: blue;">ABOVE RIGHT</span></b>: <b>the Clash - London Calling (1979)</b> One of the all-time great album covers. That iconic Pennie Smith photo of Paul Simonon might be my favorite rock picture ever. It's an image that periodically pops into my head the same way a great song does. Ray Lowery framed that picture beautifully with the layout appropriated from Elvis' debut, which really puts the whole thing together.</div>
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<b><span style="color: blue;">BELOW</span></b>: <b>the (English) Beat - I Just Can't Stop It (1980)</b> - The cover is designed by one of my favorite cartoonists, Hunt Emerson, who also designed the iconic Beat Girl logo.</div>
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