Its Tuesday // whatcha been lis'nen 2

[3-LockBox]

I'm afraid I got the advantage working nights...

Anyhoo...here's a short list

<b>PT</b> - <i>Coma Divine</i> - the two disc set. Actually, this is a nice collectors set, but musically speaking, there's no real reason to buy this set if you already have the single disc released years ago. There is only about 25 minutes extra here on the two disc set. Hardly worth buy twice unless your a completist.

<b>PT</b> - <i>Signify</i>, the two disc reissue. The second disc is a member's only release from '97, called <i>Insignificance</i>. Very good actually...I'll elaborate more in the days to come.

<b>Tool</b> - <i>Lateralus</i> - I like this one a lot

<b>A Perfect Circle</b> - <i>Mer De Noms</i> - I like this one OK, but its not in the same class as my other listens this week.

<b>Pain Of Salvation</b> - <i>Remedy Lane</i> - I can't get enough of this

<b>Dream Theater</b> - <i>Scenes From A Memory</i> - this should be taught (in prog school) as concept album writing 101

<b>IQ</b> - <i>Dark Matter</i> - gets better with every listen

<b>Genesis</b> - <i>Trick Of The Tail</i> - Been revisisting these guys lately

and a lot of <b>Yes</b>, and 'Larks era' <b>King Crimson</b>.

[Mike]

John Butler Trio – Three, bluesy acoustic stuff
Elbow – Leaders Of The Free World, I still prefer Cast Of Thousands
Earlimart – Treble and Tremble, love this one
Mars Volta – Frances The Mute
Black Rebel MC – Howl, turning into a grower is this one
Super Furry Animals – Lovekraft
Sufjan Stevens – Illinois
Silent Type – Of Writing Of Violence
Kraftwerk – Live thingy
Kate Rusby – The Girl Who Couldn’t Fly, another top notch release
DCFC – Photo Album
DCFC - Plans
The Go Find - Miami

Cheers
Mike

[ToddL]

Stars-Set yourself on fire (thanks to some of you)
Broken Social Scene-You forgot it in people

[ForeverAutumn]

Not a lot of listening time last week, unfortunately.

Here's a few worth mentioning...

Jeff Wayne's War of the World

Porcupine Tree - Deadwing

Opeth - Ghost Reveries

Moody Blues - In Search of the Lost Chord.

[Jim Clark]

Stars-Set yourself on fire (thanks to some of you)
Broken Social Scene-You forgot it in people

So did you like the Stars album?

Here's a nugget for you - Star's Amy Millan and bassist Evan Cranley are also sometime members of Broken Social Scene. Maybe you already knew that based on your listening list?

jc

[newtrix1]

I picked up "Set Yourself on Fire" as well based on your description (was it last week?) Jim. Maybe the record company should hire you. I'm not even through my first listen, so no comments yet. Interesting interior artwork though! :o

[ForeverAutumn]

Stars-Set yourself on fire (thanks to some of you)
Broken Social Scene-You forgot it in people

There's a new BSS (self-titled) disk being released today. I don't know if it's released Stateside or only in Canada, eh.

http://www.arts-crafts.ca/bss/index2.html

[Troy]

War- The World is a Ghetto. Classic prog-soul. The real deal.
XTC- Wasp Star. Under-rated gem with no duff tracks.
Tears for Fears- Everybody Loves a Happy Ending. The newest one. Parts are brilliant, like ELO at their best.
Yes- Talk. Dating badly.
Zappa- Joes Garage. Incredible bad taste, incredible musicianship
Bill Nelson- Blue moons and Laughing Guitars. Undervalued writer.
Camel- I Can See Your House from Here. Whipping boy for Camel fans, I like this one a lot.
Echolyn- The End is Beautiful. In contention for my favorite album of 2005.

[ToddL]

I love Stars album, it reminds me of the Rentals. The BSS new release is good news, I live in Canada so I guess that works out, I am still waiting to get their second disk. Is there any other Arts and Crafts type bands that I should check out?

[Jim Clark]

Passed on Andy Bell today, want to hear some of it first this time. Will grab Franz on the cheap but passed on it today.

Caught a show outside of Columbia, Mo. My brother is the bass player for the house band, KC Country. HeeYaw!

En route I had some time for my kind of toons:

Stars-Catch Yourself On Fire
AmAnSet-Set Free
Abandoned Pools-Armed To The Teeth
APC- 13'th Step
Wolf Parade-Apologies To The Queen Mary
Clap Your Hands Say Yeah-s/t + an in studio boot of CYHSY
The Killers- Hot Fuss
BSP-Open Season
Chemical Brothers-The Singles Collection
Miss Kittin-I.Com
Paul Simon-Rhythm Of The Saints +Graceland
De/Vision-Two
Erasure - Nightwing

Some pretty awesome boots by:
Secret Machine
Kraftwerk
Wolf Parade
and an awesome Trans Siberian Orchestra Here are the release notes from this boot:

Band - Trans Siberian Orchestra
Show Title - Christmas in Candyland
Date: December 13, 2002
Location: Giant Center, Hershey, PA
Catalog: Simple Man Productions #008
Source: Audience Dat Master
Quality: Ach Mein Gött!
Media: 2 CDr (1 CDr SHN)

Disc #1
01. Introduction Comments 1:18
02. Boughs Of Holly 4:19
03. Christmas Eve 3:39
04. An Angel Came Down 4:21
05. O Come All Ye Faithful/O Holy Night 4:16
06. The Prince Of Peace Part I 5:36
07. First Snow 4:15
08. A Mad Russian's Christmas 5:51
09. The Prince Of Peace Part II 2:33
10. Christmas Eve/Sarajevo 12/24 3:45
11. Good King Joy 7:30
12. Good King Joy Narration 2:02
13. Ornament 3:49
14. Old City Bar 9:23
15. Promises To Keep 5:33
16. This Christmas Day 5:36

Disc #2
01. An Angel Returned 4:21
02. An Angel Returned Narration 2:43
03. (Band Introduction) 11:01
04. Music Box Blues / The Three Kings And I (What Really Happened) 12:07
05. A Last Illusion 4:44
06. Mozart 4:41
07. Carmina Burana 4:20
08. Christmas In The Air 3:40
09. Beethoven 2:35
10. Requiem (The Fifth) 4:17
11. (Thank you and Driving rules) 1:41
12. Find Our Way Home 3:15
13. Christmas Eve/Sarajevo 12/24 Reprise 4:19


Release notes -

WOW! What a show! I didn't really know what to expect from this show. Other than hearing the Trans Siberian Orchestra
on the radio at Christmas I didn't know much about them. However I liked what I heard and am I ever glad that I went.
The best way to describe the show would be a rock opera with a touch of blues, jazz and classical. It is by far one of
the best concerts I ever attended. As a testament to that, I now own every CD the band as officially released. And a book
is on the way. You have to see it too believe it. More about the band and the show can be found on the bands official web
site at http://www.trans-siberian.com/

As for the recording, it's darn near perfect. If push came to shove, on a one to ten scale, it would be a steady 9.5.The
audience is very quite and respectful, the stereo separation is phenomenal and the mic positioning was exceptional (20 feet
in front of the soundboard, slightly to the right).

jc

[noddin0ff]

New Jazz for me this week. Lengthy promo for one, if you’re interested.

Jacqui Naylor: Live East/West
Art Khu: Reconciliation
Stanton Moore: Flyin the Koop

Jacqui Naylor: Live East/West
Jacqui Naylor is accompanied by co-writer/arranger Art Khu on piano for Live East/West. I met them both several years ago when they just started playing together. They are both very kind, open, generous people, and I’ve kept an ear out for them to do well. Live is it; a very complete and mature package. Well recorded at Birdland (NY) and Yoshi’s (SF) on 2CD (East & West).

Jacqui has an interesting voice, a little bit of everything, so hard to put it in a box. She’s using it very well here, strong, soft, blues…nothing over stated, or under done. Balanced, and good control here. Art Khu on piano demands attention. Solid technique. Sometimes you just know he uses every key on the piano when he’s cruising, other times you wonder how he disappeared. He’s really very good and provides the musical depth to the arrangements.

The arrangements are notable. Rather than endlessly revisit old standards with only slight twists, they try to bring a new repertoire to the jazz list. Their take on ‘Once in a Lifetime’ by Talking Heads (something I never would’ve imagined as jazz, but really good here), ‘Money’ (Pink Floyd), ‘For What’s its Worth’ (Buffalo Springfield… o/ stop children, what’s that sound… o/), ‘Angel’ (Hendrix) are well presented. On her previous album ‘Shelter’ she did a great cover of ‘Miss You’ (Rolling Stones). Not a lot of vocal jazz stepping out like this.

They call it ‘acoustic smashing’ (= jazz + rock). Terrific example is the standard ‘My Funny Valentine’ played over ‘Back in Black’ (AC/DC) instrumentals. Usually it works to interesting effect. ‘Once in a Lifetime’ was merged with ‘Birdland’ (Weather Report), ‘Black Coffee’ over ‘Moby Dick’ (Led Zeppelin).

Several original compositions are hot too. Specifically ‘Cheese Puff Daddy’ and what I hope will be a new Christmas classic ‘Christmas Ain’t What it Used to Be’.

Oh, and this is independently released, no mega-media market hype behind them. Just work and talent. Definately an album for the watch list.

Art Khu: Reconciliation
Still listening to this. It doesn’t disappoint. Small release, likely won't see it unless you seek it out. It takes me a while to assimilate.

Stanton Moore: Flyin the Koop (2002)
Uptempo Jazz/Funk booty shaking. Wood from Medeski, Martin & Wood on Bass. Moore on drums. Nice horn work. Love it. My 2 year old danced through about 5 tracks before she stopped for air.

[audiobill]

There's a new BSS (self-titled) disk being released today. I don't know if it's released Stateside or only in Canada, eh.

http://www.arts-crafts.ca/bss/index2.html

Hey,

The new BSS s/t is outstanding. I needed five spins before it sunk in, but I can't take it away from me.

Bill

[audiobill]

Echolyn- The End is Beautiful. In contention for my favorite album of 2005.

Okay, Troy.

You've got to give us some more details. What's it sound like??

Cheers,

Bill

[audiobill]

A big thanks to Mike for turning my attentions to several new discs:

Chroma Key - Graveyard Mountain Home
Nickel Creek - Why should Fire Die
Gorillaz - Demon Dayz
James Blunt - Back to Bedlam
et al... (thanks-a-ton, Mike - outstanding, as usual)

My Morning Jacket - Z (going to see them soon!!)
New Pornographers - Twin Cinema
Broken Social Scene - newest s/t one
The Stars - Set Yourself on Fire (had to - just becuz of JC)
Sleater-Kinney - The Woods (my fave of theirs & their newest one)

What a great year, thus far, for music.

Cheers,

Bill

Oh yeah............My Computer's "MY CV" rwacks me!! Good 'uhn mike!!

[Jack in Wilmington]

Had a little free time and some extra cash.

Thelonius Monk - At Carnegie Hall
From 1957 with John Coltrane on sax. Just amazing that something almost 50 years old can sound this good.

Illinois Speed Press - Double CD

Black Sabbath - Paranoid

[Pat D]

Brahms, Ein Deutsches Requiem. Arleen Auger, soprano; Richard Stillwell, Baritone; Robert Shaw, Atlanta Symphony Orchestra and Chorus. Telarc CD-80092. This magnificent recording (1983) should be enough to prove that early digital is not inherently inferior. We are going to perform this work in the spring, and I would just love to do the baritone solos, which lie nicely in my range--but I doubt if that will happen.

Rachmaninoff, Symphony No. 2. Andre Previn, Royal Philharmonic Orchestra. Telarc CD-80113.

Rimsky-Korsakov, Scheherazade. Herman Krebbers, violin; Kirill Kondrashin, Concertgebouw Orchestra, Amsterdam. Philips 400 021-2.

Rimsky-Korsakov, Scheherazade; Mussorgsky, Night on the Bare Mountain. Rodney Friend, violin; Bernard Haitink (Rimsky), David Lloyd-Jones (Mussorgsky), London Philharmonic Orchestra. Philips420 898-2. These are supposed to be two of the best recoridngs of Scheherazade. Of the two, I prefer the Haitink.

Haydn, Trumpet and Horn Concertos. John Wallace, trumpet; Michael Thompson, horn; Christopher Warren-Green, Philharmonia Orchestra. Nimbus NIM 5010.

Haydn and Boccherini, Cello Concertos. Alexander Michejew, cello; Wm. Boughton, English String Orchestra. Nimbus NIM 5035.

Beethoven, Violin Concerto. Zino Francescatti, violin; Bruno Walter, Columbia Symphony Orchestra. CBS Masterworks MK 42018.

Mozart, Symphonies Nos. 35 and 41; Haydn, Symphony No. 104. Josef Krips (35, 104), Rene Leibowitz (41), Royal Philharmonic Orchestra. Chesky CD16.

Beethoven, Moonlight, Appassionata, Pathetique Sonatas. Vladimir Horowitz, piano. CBS Masterworks MK 34509.

Romantic Violin Miniatures (Chausson, Sarasate, Saint-Saens, Ravel, Beethoven). Jean Jacques Kantorow, violin; Michi Inoue, New Japan Philharmonic. Denon DC-8077.

[ForeverAutumn]

Hey,

The new BSS s/t is outstanding. I needed five spins before it sunk in, but I can't take it away from me.

Bill

Five spins already? What did you do, skip school to run out and buy it?



Paging Jim Clark. Paging Mister Jim Clark....how can I get my hands on a copy of that Trans-Siberian boot? You know that I love all things Trans-Siberian. :)

[3-LockBox]

XTC- Wasp Star. Under-rated gem with no duff tracks.

Agreed...here's hoping we don't have to wait another 5 or 6 years for another XTC album


Tears for Fears- Everybody Loves a Happy Ending. The newest one. Parts are brilliant, like ELO at their best.

I though that it sounded like a Jeff Lynne side project myself, but not a proper TFF album IMO; not majestic enough. But like you say, it is very good, in parts.


Echolyn- The End is Beautiful. In contention for my favorite album of 2005.

How does it compare to their older stuff? Mind you, I'm not a huge fan of their older stuff. I've liked what I've heard from Cowboy Poems Free

[vxaudio]

DEAdsy cher x greg allman = singer of deadsy

[Jim Clark]

Five spins already? What did you do, skip school to run out and buy it?



Paging Jim Clark. Paging Mister Jim Clark....how can I get my hands on a copy of that Trans-Siberian boot? You know that I love all things Trans-Siberian. :)

You didn't even have to ask. It's already in the envelope.

jc

[Jim Clark]

DEAdsy cher x greg allman = singer of deadsy

Why?

I bought Commencement and I can't believe that was way back in 1999. Cripes. Keys to Grammercy Park was an awesome song but the rest of the album seemed a little lack luster to me. Since I haven't heard a peep from them since then, I guess I wasn't the only one to have been expecting a lot more.

jc

[shokhead]

Mowtown classic's Gold and its a great double cd. Also John Fogerty Premonition and it sounds great for live and he sounds as good as ever doing CCR stuff.

[noddin0ff]

Had a little free time and some extra cash.

Thelonius Monk - At Carnegie Hall
From 1957 with John Coltrane on sax. Just amazing that something almost 50 years old can sound this good.

I think I heard a positive NPR spot on that one. Sounds like a must have? This is that recently discovered album correct?

[MindGoneHaywire]

I caught Scorsese's Dylan thing on the rerun on Saturday...it was pretty amazing stuff. I listened to a bunch of stuff from Highway 61 Revisited quite a few times this week. I was especially taken with the evolution of "It Takes A Lot To Laugh, It Takes A Train To Cry," which would be my favorite on that album, except they're all so good it's really hard to actually have a favorite. I listened back-to-back to the album version vs. the alternate take from the Bootleg Series Vol. 2. Obviously the album version is superior, but it's not like it was bad in its original form, even though it was just another very similar blues. I sometimes wonder if anyone ever got more out of having the amount of songs that were almost identical, musically, as he did.

The other record I listened to more than any other this past week is by Cello Trio, called Tango Brasiliero. 20th Century Brazilian classical music & HIGHLY recommended, the BEST rec I heard this week, at least that I'd never heard before. Anyone familiar with this? It's a German import, from a few years ago, composers are Ernesto Nazareth, Heitor Villa-Lobos, Jaime M. Zenamon, and a few others. Like a lot of Brazilian popular music, very relaxing, & right now the one rec I'd want on Sunday mornings with coffee & a newspaper if I still did that sorta thang.

Also:

The Dictators--D.F.F.D. Not bad but although Handsome Dick is a Lower East Side icon I do get a little tired of relatively tuneless vocals after awhile. Some kick-ass tunes, though.

The Hard-Ons--Very Exciting. Did these guys ever do anything that was great? I don't remember hearing D*ckcheese. This is...nonessential. You want old geezers doing punk rock that can still put together some decent work, I'd recommend the Vandals over stuff like this.

The Mirrors--Another Nail In The (remodeled) Coffin. A Cleveland band from the early/mid 70s that split into Rocket From The Tombs & Pere Ubu, or something like that. Sounds like something I'd really want to listen to, but it's only so-so. There is a song, though, that has a guitar lead that sounds like the Buzzcocks lifted it note-for-note...on "I Don't Mind," I think? Can't remember. Either way, if they didn't hear this I'd be surprised. Um, this doesn't spoil how I view ROIR records, but I've certainly heard better stuff they've put out over the years.

Mariza--Transparente. Portugese Fado music...which I don't dig quite as much as Brazilian music, but certainly more so than most Latin music, or other ethnic or indigenous forms. I think the album by Marta Topferova was more to my liking, but this ain't bad.

Richmond Fontaine--I made sure to give this one a spin after seeing Davey mention it. At the time I listened to it I'd been at the computer for at least 12 hours & probably a bit burned out, but I did think it was pleasant, if a little bland. Definitely need to go back to this.

Eric Clapton--Going Home? I couldn't get too far into this one. Looks like he went from a darned good blues album, back to undistinguished MOR rock. Well, it's not like I had high expectations, as the last record was the first thing I thought he did that was good in decades.

Jay Farrar--Stone, Steel & Bright Lights. A live album with a band that's not Son Volt. This one I did expect would be better...just not very interesting. What can I say?

Japan For Sale Vol. 3--a nifty collection of Japanese electronica & even hip-hop that's a little different from some of the typical Japanese electronica stuff like Pizzicato Five & the others that are called that name that I can't remember right now. There's some skippable tunes on here, but there are a few that are very interesting, and one or two that are downright killer. Some of it's in English, some not, if that makes a difference. I think the track that stood out the most was by Mai Hoshimura? A great pop tune that sounds like some of my favorite songs on the Stereo Type A album by Cibo Matto.

Kanye West--well, I can't say I listened to this, though I did try. I was distracted at the time, but what I heard didn't even really sound like anything I cared about enough to revisit. The controversy about the Shirley Bassey sample wasn't even enough to make me have a reaction except to go on to the next disc. If there's a big deal here, I don't hear it. But then I didn't see all that much in Outkast, either. I mean, it's better than listening to Crunk & Fat Joe, but that's not saying that much.

Best of NYC Live at the Continental Club--ah, the Continental. It was best when it was the Continental Divide, always free, and always great rock'n'roll going on in there. And you never knew who might stop by there. I saw Allen Ginsberg do a set with False Prophets there once; I saw the Waldos (ex-Heartbreakers) more times than I can remember; Dee Dee Ramone, Sylvain Sylvain, the Raunch Hands...among others. It's right up the street from CBGB, a place I don't think has had all that much going for it in probably 25 years, and it was said to be like a new incarnation of the rock'n'roll years at Max's Kansas City when I started going there in the late 80s. Then a new owner came in & turned it into just another rock club, albeit one with a pretty good pedigree. I played there at least a dozen times or more myself...but it never felt the same. Anyway, there's a ton of local punk & hardcore bands on here. And, uh, it stinks.

Jacqui Naylor--I wouldn't have paid this much attention, except for the post above. I threw it on today based on that recommendation. Ummm...not my cup of tea, sorry. The experiments are interesting, sure, but I don't know that her voice is suited to the sort of thing she's trying to do. That said, I didn't listen to the whole thing, so, to be fair, I will try to get to the entire album.

Parchman Farm--an EP from last year that I thought might be along the lines of Kings Of Leon, or something like that. Not really. I suppose they're coming from a similar place, but the approach is way different. Not crazy about the arrangements. The rootsiness is there, but it's sort of difficult to hear because it sounds like they're trying to sound more like a traditional rock band, almost AOR-ish. Oh, well.

Matisyahu--the Hasidic reggae dub/rapper guy. Well, who the hell saw this one coming? Unfortunately, the novelty factor in a Hasidim doing what this guy's doing isn't enough to get this one over so far as I'm concerned. The guy's got skills, but Live At Stubb's just sounds kind of uninspired, & just there. I'd like to hear something a little more engaging from this guy; he's got potential, perhaps, but this just didn't do it for me. There was a record I thought was very interesting from a few months ago, called "The Hip-Hop Haggadah/So-Called Seder." Interesting until I listened to it, that is. I like the ideas behind these things, but the execution is usually poor (although Dakah: a Hip-Hop Symphony is an exception). I didn't realize Matisyahu was on that, also, but I don't remember anything standing out. I may go back for another listen, though. And, in the same realm, Hasidic New Wave has an album called Belly Of Abraham or something like that. This, again, is not really my cup of tea, although it's more of a straight-ahead project than a guy with a gimmick. I saw that Frank London is in Hasidic New Wave, so I wasn't surprised I found a little more to like; Frank's an acquaintance who has played with a lot of the downtown Knitting Factory avant-jazz guys (John Zorn, Marc Ribot, etc.) & has a band called the Klezmatics. Klezmer music is not my thing, but if it tickles yr fancy, he's a guy whose work you should definitely check out.

To go along with the Cello Trio album of Brazilian classical music, I gave a spin to something called Rodgers In Rio, by the Roger Davidson Trio, as well as a bossa nova album by Rosa Passos & Ron Carter. The Rodgers In Rio is a collection of Richard Rodgers material, allegedly spiced up with a Brazilian feel. I don't feel it. I heard some stuff with an accordian that sounded vaguely French, some other stuff that sounded more Italian...and all on covers of Rodgers & Hart/Hammerstein songs that I think are best done by other people. I only got about halfway through, but it was screaming 'dud' at me all the way through. The other album, though, is very, very good. Entre Amigos, it's called. Not the best bossa nova album you'll ever hear that you have to drop everything & go run out & buy, but definitely recommended. And for you audiophiles, it's on Chesky Records.

Dove a little bit into a reissue of a self-titled album by Jackie DeShannon, from 1972; just didn't sound all that interesting. Also gave a spin to two albums involving Marian McPartland: one with Oscar Peterson, from 1990, and another from a few years ago, on the occasion of her 85th birthday, with a bunch of distinguished special guests. These are, I think, albums that are taken from programs that aired on NPR. Unfortunately, they're just not that good. Much better is a fairly recent Dave Brubeck album, London Flat London Sharp. Sounded much better to me than the 1993 album he did live at the Blue Note.

Hit some other jazz, some Sonny Rollins, Way Out West, and a recent reissue on Blue Note, Tina Brooks, True Blue. I was unfamiliar with him. Nice stuff. I have a couple of others that came out around the same time, a few months ago--a Jackie McLean, Right Now!, and Sonny Clark, Dial S For Sonny. I actually got these awhile ago & had listened to them then, just getting a chance to get back to them now. I think the Tina Brooks might be my favorite of the three.

New Gabin, very nice, mostly seems to avoid the songs from the first one that annoyed the hell out of me...and all the more so because the stuff I liked I thought was great, and the stuff I didn't I thought was awful.

Stemming from a running dialogue with a poster on another board with whom I share little in common in musical taste (well, there is Danny Gatton), I gave another chance to a walking wankfest of a guitar player named Steve Kimock. I guess you'd call it jam band music. I swear, Emerson, Lake & Palmer at their worst are 500 times more interesting & more listenable, even to me. Give me Focus, give me freakin' Grobschnitt, just take this guy's guitar away or put his hands in a cast so he can't play the thing. Sheesh. He made me yearn for the sanity of Joe Satriani.

Getting back to planet Earth, I threw on the last Clarence 'Gatemouth' Brown album, or at least I think it's the last one as he passed away recently. I really like his style, & he was pretty darned tasty in his playing for a guy his age, he seemed to have retained the ability to get a lot out of his twanger. I don't think I have anything else by him, though I've always liked what I've heard & always heard he was a great live act. Oh, well.

Paul Weller live, Days Of Speed: much better than Illumination, which was practically unlistenable. A couple of Jam & Style Council covers sprinkled into this acoustic set, including a reworking of Town Called Malice. Nothing I'd suggest spending money on, but certainly better than the last couple of things I've heard from him.

I really didn't see myself being in any mood to listen to the double live CD by the reconstituted Queen with Paul Rodgers on vocals, but after the Kimock it didn't seem like that bad an idea. Well, it wasn't, for a few songs, anyway. I mean, it sounded more like Bad Company doing Queen covers than anything else. But I'd been skeptical about a guy like that stepping in for Freddie Mercury. I'm pretty ambivalent about Queen, I always thought they had some great tunes, but they could be pretty friggin' annoying when they wanted to & I think they've been consistently overrated for more than 30 years. But they're Queen, so, so what? Anyway, a few songs in, they get to 'Another One Bites The Dust,' and getting this guy to replace the other guy all of a sudden becomes the worst idea I've heard in like 500 lifetimes. Why bring a guy like that in if he can't sing the melody line? Hey, this is a song I could give two craps about if I never heard it again, but when it came out it was pretty daring for a 'rock' band to do a song over music that was very similar to early rap. And Rodgers doesn't even bother. I saw a lot of blather from people about what a great vocalist he is...that if they're going to try to replace Freddie Mercury, that he's not a bad choice. Um, he's a terrible choice. I think this could've been good. If they'd gotten someone who could sing these songs. Freddie Mercury's vocals I think are sometimes overlooked, which is strange since I do think the band has been overrated, but he had some pipes & did some real great singing. When I saw Green Day last year, the cover of We Are The Champions reminded me of how good the guy was--and also how underrated Billie Joe is as a singer, because he can do things that he hasn't really done on the records. Anyway, I may go back & revisit Radio Gaga for a laugh, but this strikes me as an ill-conceived piece of garbage.

Not to go out on a bad note, I heard a rock'n'roll rec I thought was pretty damned good: Dan Sartain vs. the Serpientes. I think it's pretty obscure, but after wading through a ton of mediocrity & outright garbage over the past week, it sounded real good. And then it sounded just as good on 2nd listen. So for rock'n'roll recs, it's competing with the White Stripes album for playing time at the moment. It might not be as good as that rec, but it's good.

Hopefully I'll have the Big Star rec soon...probably within a few days. Not expecting something as good as either of the first two, but I anticipate it'll be a pleasant & entertaining listen. Oh...Tentoze, if you're reading this, I have a Biff Rose question. If ya get a chance...