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Stone
03-01-2005, 05:31 AM
It's snowing here a bunch, and although I'm at work, things are pretty quiet ("It's a boring day, I've got nothing to do...."). So, I thought I'd start the thread. I didn't participate last week, so this is at least two week's worth.

John Prine - Bruised Orange
I need to start digging through my vinyl more. This is one I had never listened to and was a very very pleasant surprise. I've only spun it once, but I was mightily impressed with this. I expected it to be a poor-man's Dylan, but he really writes good songs, and although the Dylan influence is definitely there, this album really stands on its own. Any John Prine fans around here?

Nick Lowe - Labour of Lust
Another one I pulled out of the vinyl collection. This one I was familiar with, and pulled it out because I heard Rockpile for the first time. Man, this is some great pop/power pop. I like this better than the Rockpile album.

North Lincoln - Truth Is a Menace
A Grand Rapids band that actually is pretty good. This is melodic punk in the same vein as Pennywise. They also were looking for indie cred apparently, as they cover an obscure Smiths song, "Jeane."

Andrew Bird & The Mysterious Production of Eggs
I still have only spun this a couple times and I like it, but so far I don't think it quite stands up to the Bowl of Fire albums. I need to spend more time with it, though.

Camper Van Beethoven - New Roman Times
I liked this much better when I listened to it this time. It's still not in the same league as their earlier albums (especially OBRS), but it's pretty good, and uses all the elements (roots based pop/rock with a host of instruments) that they became known for.

The Ike Reilly Assassination - Sparkle In the Finish

The Replacements - Pleased To Meet Me

Big Star - Radio City

Tom Waits - Foreign Affairs

Camper Van Beethoven - Key Lime Pie

The Temptations - The Ultimate Collection

Caetano Veloso - A Foreign Sound

Rockpile - Seconds of Pleasure

Sloan - Action Pact

Tindersticks - Can Our Love...

Rick Springfield - Working Class Dog

Cheap Trick - Heaven Tonight

Wilco - Summerteeth

The Comsat Angels - Sleep No More

The Futureheads - s/t

Black Sabbath - s/t

Buddy Holly - Greatest Hits

The Wonder Stuff - The Eight Legged Groove Machine

Mission of Burma - vs.

COC - Technocracy

Wilco - Yankee Hotel Foxtrot

Wilco - Summerteeth

Replacements - Tim

Wilco - A.M.

CCR - Willy and the Poor Boys

Yaz - Upstairs at Eric's

Devo - Duty Now for the Future




Comps:

The Is Americana

ForeverAutumn
03-01-2005, 05:41 AM
Rockpile - Seconds of Pleasure

Wow! Now there's a disk that I haven't heard mentioned in about 10 years.

Mike
03-01-2005, 06:17 AM
Not much difference from last week for me, namely

Bloc Party, Silent Alarm
The Doves, Some Cities
Pinback, Summer in Abbadon
American Analog Set, Know By Heart

and a bunch of homemade best of comps from The Smith, Ian Dury, Willard Grant Conspiracy, Ryan Adams and Seal.

Cheers
Mike

Dave_G
03-01-2005, 06:18 AM
Spocks Beard - Octane

Devo dvd

Pendragon - 8:15 Live

XTC - Murmur

Ted Nugent - Craveman

Naidems Ghost - a pre IQ release with the lead singer from IQ in it.

A Van Halen 2 into 1 cdr.

PIL - "9" and "Compact Disc" and "That What Is Not".

Dave

tentoze
03-01-2005, 06:34 AM
It's snowing here a bunch, and although I'm at work, things are pretty quiet ("It's a boring day, I've got nothing to do...."). So, I thought I'd start the thread. I didn't participate last week, so this is at least two week's worth.

John Prine - Bruised Orange
I need to start digging through my vinyl more. This is one I had never listened to and was a very very pleasant surprise. I've only spun it once, but I was mightily impressed with this. I expected it to be a poor-man's Dylan, but he really writes good songs, and although the Dylan influence is definitely there, this album really stands on its own. Any John Prine fans around here?


"Sabu was sad, the whole tour stunk..." That is an excellent one, Stone. Been a huge fan since his first album so long ago. He has a new release coming out within a month or so. Anyone who likes his music that hasn't seen him perform is missing out. Tours and performs tirelessly. www.oboy.com

Weekly Spinnage:
New release- M. Ward's Transistor Radio. Only a couple of spins thus far. Not familiar with him other than this one. Some parallels to D. Banhart as far as vocal delivery, not quite as quirky. I like it.

Others:
Decemberists, Picaresque- a logical progression. Not much new ground broken, but damn, those story songs are captivating.

Wovenhand, Consider The Birds- similar comment as Decemberists. Like it.

Johnny Dowd, Cemetery Shoes, and Wire Flowers- 2 most recent relelases. As good as anything he's done before.

Okkervil River, Don't Fall In Love With Everyone You See- very, very good.

Butterfield Blues band, The Lost Elektra Sessions- Pigboy-era tapes. Great stuff.

Neko Case, The Tigers Have Spoken- good live outing. Neko needs to stay out front on her own. She's wasted and lost in New Pornographers, IMO.

Bob Dylan, Desire- I'd like to spend some time in Mozambique too, Bob.

Gil-Scott Heron, Best of Live 2 -cd- before the rappers were rappin', GIl was rhyming his way through the sociopolitical landscape with a smoky, jazzy backbeat.

That's enough.

Davey
03-01-2005, 08:04 AM
Finally mailed out my latest Shake Those Monkey Bones comps to all the peeps that asked for it. You know who you are. Lots of bonus discs and surprises to be had in all the packages. Just like Christmas so you'll want to stay close to the mailbox for the next few. Hope I stumbled upon something that each of you will enjoy, but we all know that's not gonna happen! :)

Spun that comp a bunch of times while burnin and baggin. Also drug out a couple old favorites to keep me going like The Notwist Neon Golden (same as it ever was...great) and Sue Garner/Rick Brown Still (one of those I'd surely buy again if it got stolen). And I made this early Tunesday post below over at Rocky Road this weekend, but that place is really in a sad state lately with all the personal attacks and endless prog bashing. Gets old fast but some people just think it's still funny no matter how many times they say it. In fact, they don't even talk about music there anymore. It's almost like elementary school at recess....but if you're not 10 years old still, it's just not funny.

Anyway, now I'm sounding like an old curmudgeon. Let the kids argue and play if they want! Been listening a bunch to <i>The Lonesome Sea</i> by Wayne Robbins and the Hellsayers. My favorite right now. Just got it a couple weeks ago but it really has grown on me fast. Sad that it's getting such little distribution or press because it's really a nice album. Probably comes closer to that magic sound of <i>After the Gold Rush</i> than Neil could get today, but still never sounds dated. A little of that "Helpless" flavor in the chorus of the second song. Guess they did some shows opening for My Morning Jacket so that's a good comparison too. But closer to the Songs: Ohia take on Neil Young, maybe. Not the totally melancholy Molina as on <i>Didn't It Rain</i> that I love the most, but the more twangy and hopeful one that made <i>Magnolia Electric Co</i> so good. Kind of like Doug Martsch and his Built To Spill take on Neil Young, but more lap steel. And they do let loose on occasion with the full arsenal of noisy guitars, which always makes me smile. Like on the third song "Jesus", which starts out slow and acoustic sounding but takes off into Spiritualized meets Crazy Horse territory in the second half after they crank up the guitar amps past 11. Very cool. Good lyrics too. Only 10 songs and a couple do go on a little longer than they should, but the rest is golden, especially for a debut. Any others heard this one yet?

And then The Decemberists <i>Castaways & Cutouts</i>. Is there a better song in the last few years than "Grace Cathedral Hill". Not for me. Love it.

<i>I paid twenty-five cents to light a little white candle<br>and the world may be long for you<br>but it'll never belong to you<br>but on a motorbike when all the city lights blind your eyes tonight<br>are you feeling better now?<br>are you feeling better now?<br>are you feeling better now?<p>la la la la la la.....</i>

Quite an album, and much more complex than I was expecting when I first got it, even with all the Neutral Milk Hotel and Jeff Mangum references appearing in most of the discussions about it. Maybe it's just because I'm older, but the first thing that struck me about the music, and (especially) the vocals, was the similarity to Robyn Hitchcock, notably his solo work with the Egyptians. And a little bit of the Smiths. And the third song even reminds me a little of They Might Be Giants, something from the Flood album that I can't quite place. But there's an old cabaret aspect that runs through the music brought about by the use of those creaky accordians. Kind of a European folk sound, sometimes even a gypsy sound. The stories aren't quite as gripping as the epics ripped with such urgency from the insides of Jeff Mangum, but instead seem to be mostly told from an outside view and without much haste. Kind of reflective, you might say. More peaceful than NMH but still very personal. And very literate too, with lots of unique imagery. Another one that has aged very well for me over the last coupla years. I have the followup and the Tain EP, both which are very good, but this is the one I keep coming back to.

Then moved on to the new Andrew Bird album, which is damn good. First listen was a bit distracted and it didn't sink in much, leaving me thinking that <i>The Swimming Hour</i> (the last one with his Bowl of Fire band) was much better (I don't have the last one). But listening to it the second and third time through my opinion has really begun to change. Very nice, and while maybe not quite the dynamics of my favorites from <i>The Swimming Hour</i> like "Case In Point" and "11:11", it's still very cohesive and so well developed. Sounding a little like the recent (and maybe too syrupy) Mercury Rev, especially in the beginning, but when mixed with some of that old time jazz and cabaret feel, it's a pretty enticing sound. Very lush. Love song number 8, "Opposite Day", with some of the same feel of that "Case In Point" that I mentioned. Builds kind of like the Beatles' "A Day In The Life", but not really. Always lots of interesting lyrical phrases and turns to decipher. And that everpresent violin. I guess he plays most of the instruments here, but it doesn't have the sound of a one-man band. Owing much to the nice production help of veteran David Boucher.

Troy
03-01-2005, 08:35 AM
Eno- Taking Tiger Mountain
Mr Bungle- California
Echolyn- Cowboy Poems
The Residents- Petting Zoo
Secret Machines
Air- Talkie Walkie
Danny Elfman- So-Lo
Robyn Hitchcock- Respect
Grandaddy- Sumday
Porcupine Tree- In Absentia
RPWL- Stock
Tony Levin- Pieces of the Sun
Manitoba- Up in Flames
Supergrass- Life on Other Planets

Stone
03-01-2005, 08:40 AM
PIL - "9" and "Compact Disc" and "That What Is Not".

Dave


May the road rise with you.

newtrix1
03-01-2005, 09:18 AM
Wow! Now there's a disk that I haven't heard mentioned in about 10 years.

ditto: Yaz - Upstairs at Eric's

might have to pull this one out when I get home tonight. May need a few shots of WD40 to get the case open though ;)

mad rhetorik
03-01-2005, 10:46 AM
PJ Harvey: <b>Rid Of Me</b>
My first PJ album.... bought it mostly due to the raves 'round this place (Davey?). Raw, harsh, punky, with some excellent vocals and songwriting--if Nirvana and Patti Smith had a child, it would probably sound like this. The title track, "Man Size," 50ft Queenie," and "Yuri-G" all rock like a mofo. Medigs immensely. Good Albini anti-production(dynamics and big drum sound...yes!). I should probably pick up <b>Dry</b> now too.

Other stuff (lots of alt/noise rock/Albini stuff this week):

Sonic Youth: <b>Dirty</b> and <b>Sister</b>
McLusky: <b>Do Dallas</b>
The Pixies: <b>Surfer Rosa</b>
My Bloody Valentine: <b>Loveless</b>
Wilco: <b>Summerteeth</b>
Portishead: <b>Dummy</b>

umapet97
03-01-2005, 11:05 AM
celebraring Halfords return to Priest with Angel of Retribution CD.Album is great,back to a little old school sound,and Halfords voice still amazing.

My music phase has swung over to the hard metal;Slipknot debut album
Lamb of God Ashes of the Wake
Fear Factory Concrete
Pantera Vulgar Display of Power
Hatebreed Rise of Brutality

Any other metal heads over here?

-Jar-
03-01-2005, 11:28 AM
Sonic Youth: <b>Dirty</b> and <b>Sister</b>


yea.. <b>Sister</b> just does it for me every time. I still can't decide after all these years if I prefer <b>Evol</b> or <b>Sister</b>, usually I say <b>Evol</b> because it was my first SY album. But the tensions and harmonies and dissonaces they create with their instruments is just incredible on those early albums. Even going back to the blue <b>Sonic Youth</b> album. I don't know why I just don't really mesh with anything they did after <b>Dirty</b>..

As for my listening, been working on a new comp, think I finally got my computer fixed..XP Pro this time..hopefully it will keep up and running for me. Still can't decide what burner I'm going to use with it. Seems like almost every burner under the sun has problems with XP, at least according to some people, though others have no problems at all. Who knows. I'm going to try the Nero "express" 6 cheapie OEM cd and see how I like that. The new comp is mostly a "meta" comp with some of my favorites from the past few years. I do have some others that I have to send out.

Been listening to Meshuggah's album <b>NOTHING</b> for the past few weeks, giving it probably 5 spins total. I told M.R. I'd post a review.. though right now, I'm finding it kind of difficult to describe. First off, except for the dizzying solos, it sounds as if all the band members are playing basses (*).. what a thick dense wall of sound. Slabs of sound that come at you, punishingly, from the left and right, seemingly without rhyme or reason, but there is order here, it's just really tough to find it sometimes. It's rare that I say that I really haven't heard anything like this before. They're really in a class by themselves as far as extreme metal goes. I remember way way back when their first album came out, I thought they were nothing more than a Pantera rip off, and since I really didn't like Pantera, I really didn't pay them much attention. They really have come a long way. I can't say that I'm doing backflips over this stuff, they really stay inside this kind of limping groove tempo throughout the whole album, and at times I wish for more color - the guitar solos and smart drumming provide most of the "color" but the guitar and bass riffing comes off as steel grey to me.. even the vocals match the dense, rough, deep guitar sound that they have. I saw them open for Tool a few years ago and I had the same response I do as I listen to this album.. I really appreciate and for the most part, enjoy what they do, but I can't help feeling like I'm being pummeled when I hear them, and my mind grasps for a little more sense of musicality. Maybe this album needs another dozen listens, and I'm sure going to try.

On the other hand, I hear similar comments about Don Caballero, another "math rock" band. Some people just don't like them because they're really abstract and at times, pretty tunless... but for me, the texture and sound they create are very colorful, and I could listen to Damon Che drum all day. Meshuggah just slightly, misses the mark as far as making music that has the colors that really appeal to me.

(*) turns out these guys use 8 stringed guitars, which might account for the really deep growling sound they get from their guitars.. very unique.

-jar

Olivertmc
03-01-2005, 12:13 PM
Ricky Fante - Rewind

Curtis Mayfield - Superfly sdtrk.

Bruce Hornsby - Halcyon Days

Built to Spill - Live, Keep it like a Secret

Mercury Rev - All is Dream

Beta Band - Hot Shots II

Manitoba - Up in Flames

Grateful Dead - One from the Vault

Keb 'Mo - s/t

Green Day - American Idiot (put off buying this one, but it has really grown on me)

The Fiery Furnaces - Blueberry Boat

Ryan Adams - Gold (SACD)

Herbie Hancock - Maiden Voyage

John Coltrane - Giant Steps

Medeski, Martin & Wood - It's a Jungle in Here

Chris Whitley - Rockethouse

mad rhetorik
03-01-2005, 12:24 PM
Been listening to Meshuggah's album <b>NOTHING</b> for the past few weeks, giving it probably 5 spins total. I told M.R. I'd post a review.. though right now, I'm finding it kind of difficult to describe. First off, except for the dizzying solos, it sounds as if all the band members are playing basses (*).. what a thick dense wall of sound. Slabs of sound that come at you, punishingly, from the left and right, seemingly without rhyme or reason, but there is order here, it's just really tough to find it sometimes. It's rare that I say that I really haven't heard anything like this before. They're really in a class by themselves as far as extreme metal goes. I remember way way back when their first album came out, I thought they were nothing more than a Pantera rip off, and since I really didn't like Pantera, I really didn't pay them much attention. They really have come a long way. I can't say that I'm doing backflips over this stuff, they really stay inside this kind of limping groove tempo throughout the whole album, and at times I wish for more color - the guitar solos and smart drumming provide most of the "color" but the guitar and bass riffing comes off as steel grey to me.. even the vocals match the dense, rough, deep guitar sound that they have. I saw them open for Tool a few years ago and I had the same response I do as I listen to this album.. I really appreciate and for the most part, enjoy what they do, but I can't help feeling like I'm being pummeled when I hear them, and my mind grasps for a little more sense of musicality. Maybe this album needs another dozen listens, and I'm sure going to try.

On the other hand, I hear similar comments about Don Caballero, another "math rock" band. Some people just don't like them because they're really abstract and at times, pretty tunless... but for me, the texture and sound they create are very colorful, and I could listen to Damon Che drum all day. Meshuggah just slightly, misses the mark as far as making music that has the colors that really appeal to me.

(*) turns out these guys use 8 stringed guitars, which might account for the really deep growling sound they get from their guitars.. very unique.

-jar

Some great observations, and I have to concur that I haven't heard anything like Meshuggah anywhere. They're quite inaccessible, but trust me, with more listens you'll start to figure it out and it won't seem as insane. It took me in the ballpark of 20 listens to really crack what they were trying to do.

That robotic emotionless feel is very intentional, and gawd, is it ever heavy. Those 8-string guitars are tuned so low that the bass rattles walls even on the normal setting (and as a matter of fact, there is no bass guitar on <b>Nothing</b>--there was no bassist present during the session, and the lack of bass doesn't really matter since the guitars are so downtuned to begin with). The grooves and rhythm riffs seem redundant, but listen to them closely--every time the riff "repeats" something changes. A note is added, subtracted, changed etc. until it evolves into a completely different riff. The drumming is especially out-there. Tomas Haake does a one-handed 4/4 rhythm on the crash cymbal while doing some crazy polyrhythms with his feet and other hand. Very tricky stuff to follow, but very regimented compared to most "math-metal" drummers who are whirling jazz/fusion dervishes (like Chris Pennie from DEP).

Anyway, all I can say is keep trying and you'll dig it eventually. Maybe not as much as me though. Be glad you didn't start on Meshuggah with <b>Chaosphere</b>... imagine <b>Nothing</b> played at double speed. It exploded my gray matter. ; P

nobody
03-01-2005, 12:54 PM
It's been a wehile since I've posted on this thread, so a little catchup in brief...

New for 2005...
New <b>Kings of Leon</b>, which I like but not as much as the first one...gonna go see 'em next week too.
New <b>Beck</b>, great release as usual from him, not sure if it's gonna rise too high in his catalog though.
New <b>Deadulus</b>, excellent release that surpasses last year's offering in my mind, great organic samples building up electronic collages.
New <b>Caribu</b>, The last Manitobo release took some time to grow on me, so I'll give this one a few listens, but it doesn't jump at me right away.
New <b>books</b>, I like it a lot, but can see where it may divide fans. It uses the sounds explored on their first couple releases, but makes actual songs out of 'em this time around with some actual non-sample vocals tossed in...nice.

Late to the party for 2004...
<b>Faithless: No Roots</b>, saw Dusty talk about this one, and I liked it too. In spots it sounds like one of the best things I've heard in a long time, and in other spots too clubby for me.
<b>Snoop Dogg: R&G</b>, nice tunes throughout, great production, nice more laid back and mature sounds throughout. Some opf the mysogony of the lyrics can get old real fast, so some folks may just wanna skip this, but musically, it's probably my favorite Snoop release...although his work on The Chronic with Dre will always top his stuff in my book.

Old favorites...

See my Soul Music Sunday Post for many....

<b>Wu-Tang Clan: 16 Chambers</b>, hadn't pulled this out in a long time and a review listen shows right away why this was such a big record. Great, smoky minimalistic beats with a host of great MCs.
<b>Richard Hell: Destiny Streey</b> Not as well-known as Blank Generation, but every bit its equal to me. Great, edgy poppy 70 style punk.
<b>Junior Byles: Chant Down Babylon</b>, another reggae classic from the production of Lee Perry, another classic.

A bunch of hardcore...
From Reagan Youth to MDC to the Adloscents and many more...

A little heavy rock...
AC/CD...Black Sabbath...Mudhoney...Guns & Roses...etc...

Some Jazz...
Particularly Jimmy Smith, Coltrane, and Hank Crawford...

OK...it's been so long since I posted I could go on and on, but I'll stop here...

Swish
03-01-2005, 12:56 PM
and, well, Davey was right, this does remind me of Neil Young at his best. Only spun it 3 times so far, but it will see a lot more action in the coming weeks. Here are some others:

Ray Lamontagne - Trouble (his style is very similar to Van Morrison ala Astral Weeks, and I mean that in a good way)

Okkervil River - Sleep and Wake-Up Songs An EP with just 5 songs, but very good

Snow Patrol - Final Straw Nice record and one of my faves from 04

Chris Smither - comp from Forever Autumn Has some of his best material and some tunes are live. Caught him at the New Orleans Jazz Fest last year and he was excellent. Great acoustic player and songwriter.

Mott the Hoople - Best of CD I used to love these guys when I was a lad. That Ian Hunter wrote some good stuff.

Swish

ForeverAutumn
03-01-2005, 01:01 PM
Chris Smither - comp from Forever Autumn Has some of his best material and some tunes are live. Caught him at the New Orleans Jazz Fest last year and he was excellent. Great acoustic player and songwriter.

That comp is actually a copy of a comp that BarryL made for me. I only mailed it to you.

I'd like to take the credit for it but I have to give credit where it's due because....well....he knows where I live. :(

Dave_G
03-01-2005, 01:06 PM
celebraring Halfords return to Priest with Angel of Retribution CD.Album is great,back to a little old school sound,and Halfords voice still amazing.


New Priest?

With Halford?

What old school album is this stuff close to?

I like their old school stuff a LOT.

Dave

Davey
03-01-2005, 01:25 PM
Ray Lamontagne - Trouble (his style is very similar to Van Morrison ala Astral Weeks, and I mean that in a good way)
Hey, glad you like the Hellsayers! Was hoping that I wouldn't have to buy it from you. I did send out a few demo copies to some of my other unwashed bretheren on the board, so maybe Wayne and the boys from hell will have a bigger fanbase in place for their (hopefully) next of many records in the future! :)

But I just don't understand that Astral Weeks comparison to LaMontagne. I mean, I do think the album has some good spots but some of it I just find boring and predictable. Astral Weeks on the other hand is magical. You can close your eyes and it's almost like a light show. So dynamic and colorful. And such body. Trouble just doesn't have that for me. Guess I really need to try harder with this one. Can't escape the feeling that I'm missing something really special...and don't know why. Hmmm.....

Played that Carina Round album recently and can't escape the feeling that a lot of other people are missing something really special. Oh well, that's what makes it so fun to be one of the billions of homosapiens wandering the land masses in the 21st century, eh?

Jack in Wilmington
03-01-2005, 04:47 PM
Fotheringay - Their self titled and only release. Picked this up on a tip from Stereophile magazine. Sandy Denny is in fine voice, having just departed from Fairport Convention. Not the folksy storytelling of FC, but the nice Folk-Rock blend is still there.

Procol Harum - Broken Barricades
Been trying to reaquire this for some time. Must have been out of print.

Triumvirat - Spartacus
Always enjoyed Illusions on a Double Dimple, but I can't seem to put this one back in the cabinet.

Swish
03-01-2005, 05:16 PM
But I just don't understand that Astral Weeks comparison to LaMontagne. I mean, I do think the album has some good spots but some of it I just find boring and predictable. Astral Weeks on the other hand is magical. You can close your eyes and it's almost like a light show. So dynamic and colorful. And such body. Trouble just doesn't have that for me. Guess I really need to try harder with this one. Can't escape the feeling that I'm missing something really special...and don't know why. Hmmm.....

Played that Carina Round album recently and can't escape the feeling that a lot of other people are missing something really special. Oh well, that's what makes it so fun to be one of the billions of homosapiens wandering the land masses in the 21st century, eh?
or that Trouble will ever be uttered in the same breath as Astral Weeks. What I really noticed was the timing and rhythms he uses are very similar to Van's. I do like most of the record though, but Astral Weeks is very high on my all-time list, something that isn't likely to happen with Trouble.

Need to dig our that Carina Round ceedee. I was playing so many Saturday night when friends came by for some serious Michigan Rummy, beer and music, and she somehow got lost in my pile of newer stuff.

Swish

Dusty Chalk
03-01-2005, 06:49 PM
Still been spinning the Dante trilogy from vidnaObmana -- Tremor, Spore, and Legacy -- the latter being the weirdest of the bunch.

LCD Soundsystem -- RIYL Junior Boys and Franz Ferdinand -- real knack for the hook; groovin' along at the speed limit.

Neuroticfish, Gelb -- EBM is not dead.

Ayreon, The Human Equation -- sort of a concept album based loosely on the "Herman's Head" concept.

Beck, Jeff, Who Else! and You Had It Coming -- simply fabu guitarist, I've been totally under-rating him. Decided to reinvestigate after they had a special sidebar for him in a recent article listing the top 100 songs for guitar tone or something to that effect. They had the sidebar because they felt he was the master of tone, and he had at least...well, several instances of wildly varying tone, that they couldn't just pick a few to "represent".

The Real Tuesday Weld, I, Lucifer -- brilliant integrated "organic" sounds with a certain cabaret feel to them.

Chip_B
03-05-2005, 06:24 PM
Rockpile - Seconds of Pleasure
Weird coincidence...I pulled that CD out of the shelf 10 minutes before I sat down at the 'puter to check the site. "Seconds of Pleasure" is an amazing album from start to finish. I wish they'd done ten more in the same vein. Of course I don't mind settling for those great Dave Edmunds LPs released between '76-'79 (Subtle as a Flying Mallet, Get It, Tracks on Wax, and Repeat When Necessary) and DE 7 from '82. It's a shame that Jeff Lynne got involved and made Edmunds' next couple of efforts sound like ELO albums.

Chip_B
03-05-2005, 06:39 PM
Procol Harum - Broken Barricades
I went looking for it about six months ago and had to pay through the nose to get it. Tough CD to find, but well worth it. IMHO, it's the best album PH ever recorded. Among other things I love about it, I've never tired of hearing Simple Sister's hyper piano riff and Trower's slowly building lead weaving through it. Bliss!