Welcome to the Boom Boom Room (©1995 Hypnotic/A&M)

Harmony / Touch'n Go / Toy Town / Change / Tuesday / In Your Hands / This Time / Shade of Blue / To The Edge / Do It / Mr. Skin / Pumpkin Patch / Trust Your Heart

Featuring Ian Crichton from Saga, and Paul MacAusland from Haywire, this is a good album of sold rock songs. I was hoping for more from these guys, given their musical pedigree. There are some very good songs, such as the cover of Ian Thomas' Harmony, and the instrumental songs are wicked. You can tell that this was a side project for these guys, and I'll give them credit, they had fun, and you can tell.

Reviewed June 16, 2000

Additional March 2002. Extra half star. Had this cranked the other day in the car, and man it was a lot better than I remembered. Paul doesn't sing on too many songs, this really is a showcase for Ian's talents, and man can he play.

Come On Children (©2000 Warren Ham Music)

Set You Free / Come On Children / It Won't Be Long / Walking in the Light / A Place in Your Heart / Love's Gonna Save the Day / Love on the Line / Stand / Don't Give Up

At long last a solo effort by Warren "Mr. Fabulous" Ham. This guy's worked with some big names, like Kansas, Kerry Livgren and Steve Lukather. He was a member of AD, a band I really liked. He's a multitalented musician, and has a very powerful voice.

Come On Children is one of those albums I really wanted to like, and try as I might, I couldn't get this one to grow on me (heck, I let this one play on repeat all day today, how's that for effort?). Musically it's a pop / funk thing that showcases Warren's voice. The lead off track reminds me of a Michael Jackson throw away tune. I guess it was all those "whoo hoos" that did it.

I'm not saying it's bad, there are a couple of good moments here, but on the whole it just doesn't work for me. Still if and when Warren releases another album I'll probably get it hoping for something more to my liking.

Reviewed July 26, 2002

Waking The Jester (©2007)

1: Shine On 2: Rise 3: Hell Or High Water 4: 40 Days In Your Car 5: Black Out The Sun 6: How Long 7: This Limbo 8: Take It Or Leave It 9: Lolita 10: Inbound Train 11: Little White Lies 12: You Can't Go Back 13: Taste It

Back in 1979, Harlequin released its debut and rocked my world. George Belanger's distinctive voice and guitarist Glen Willows' tasty chops set the stage for a string of hits and then the band more or less dropped off my musical radar.

Then I was surfing around and found mention of a new album by the band. Hey, I'm not so in love with the past that I won't seek out new material by my favourite old farts. Besides I was curious to hear what an updated Harlequin would sound like. Glen Willows is gone now, although he does show up on one song - but the new young gun Derrick Gottfried is a capable player. George sounds as good now as ever, and that's kind of freaky considering that almost 30 years have gone by since he was a hungry kid.

Musically this is groove oriented rock, a little more edge than what I remember the band doing when I was a kid. Funny, I thought things were supposed to mellow with age. The album kicks off with "Shine On" and it's one the better rock songs I've heard in a while. It pretty much set the tone for the album. This is pretty good stuff, and when the songs are good they're really good. When they're not, they're not terrible - just average. That being said, this is an album I enjoyed quite a bit.

Now that they've awakened the jester what are planning on doing next?

Reviewed February 26, 2008

Jade (©1998 Columbia)

Let it Fly / Without You / You & I / Break the Chain / La-bas / So Visible (easy to miss) / Jade / Reconcile / Above the Trees / Bittersweet / Believing / Everytime You Smile

After a string of hits in the 80's Corey Hart seemed to disappear from the face of the map.  Although he continued to make very good albums, the little girls who all bounced around singing Sunglasses at Night grew up and out of his music.  Which is sad, because there's a lot of good to be said about this album.  I'm not sure that this album will reclaim the lost legions, but for those who want to hear what a mature Corey Hart sounds like this will be a pleasant surprise.

The Gap (©1980 Chapel Lane / ©1995 Kingsway Music)

1: The Gap 2: Egypt 3: I Can Do All Things 4: New World Coming 5: It Could Have Been Me 6: Power Of The Holy Spirit 7: More Of You 8: New Jerusalem 9: No Time 10: Send Down The Rain

Bryn Haworth is one of those players who does things with his guitar that practically defy the imagination. He’s not a blistering shredder, instead he takes understated to a new level. He’s a slide player who has a deft touch and can pack an emotional punch without beating you over the head.

The Gap is an album I picked up over 20 years ago because it had one of those “Larry Norman Presents” stickers on it. I loved this album, and always wanted to find more of his stuff. It would take a couple of decades before I would find it on CD, and it’s better today than it was in 1980.

Musically it’s a very spiritual album, and is mostly full of mid tempo blues infused rock tunes (do not infer that this means boring). Bryn’s voice has pleasant warmth, and offers a great counterpoint to his playing. The show stopper is More of You a song so good it ranks as one of my all time favourites.

He’s largely unknown, but those who follow virtuosos know about this guy.

Reviewed June 24, 2003

Nuthouse (©1990 Attic)

1: Operator Central 2: Short End of A Wishbone 3: Livin' It Up 4: Gettin' The Groove 5: Wild WIld 6: Strange One 7: She Drives 8: Well Oiled Machine 9: Tremble In Line 10: Push 'N' Shove (That's The Way) 11: Taken The Pain

Hailing from the birth place of Canada in Prince Edward Island, these Haywire worked their way up from pop band, to gritty rockers. Anchored by the barrel chested voice of Paul MacAusland, and the blistering fret work of Marvin Birt (quite possibly the coolest Marvin I've ever heard of) they found a fair amount of success in Canada in the mid 1980's.

Coming off the success of Don't Just Stand There, the boys took a bit of a right angle turn and cranked up their amps and concentrated on harder rock. They even traveled to the Norway (the hotbed of Viking metal) to record the album. Which in hindsight was probably a bit of a misfire, considering hard rock was about to go out of vogue with the record buying public.

Still, this one boasted an array of well crafted tunes, and of course there was their obligatory ballad - which Taken the Pain filled quite nicely. This is a pretty solid album, and I still crank it up once in a while, and although this isn't my favourite of their albums, it shouldn't be dismissed either.

Reviewed August 24, 2003

Headpins's Greatest Hits (©1988 CBS Records)

1: Turn It Loud 2: Keep Walkin' Away 3: Don't Ya Ever Leave Me 4: People 5: Don't It Make You Feel 6: Winnin' 7: You Can't Have Me 8: Mine All Mine 9: Feel It (Feel My Body) 10: I Know What You're Thinking 11: Just One More Time 12: Don't Stand In The Line Of Fire 13: Celebration 14: Double Trouble 15: I've Heard It All Before

I can’t really blame the Headpins for the song selection here, or why this was called a Greatest Hits, considering that by all accounts they weren’t consulted nor paid for the album. It’s really just the band’s first two albums less "Breakin’ Down" (one of their best songs ever). To be fair it wouldn’t have fit back in 1988. When this collection was released in the late 80s the disc was just about as full as it could get, so something had to be left off. Although with the advent of the 80 minute disc ... Still considering the band only released three albums, it just about a greatest hits album.

As a Canadian kid, I have a soft spot for Headpins in my rock and roll heart. The first two albums by Darby Mills, and Chilliwack alumni Brian MacLeod and Ab Bryant contained some truly kick ass songs. Admittedly they were never among my favourite acts, but the late Brian MacLeod’s guitar work is immediately identifiable. He had his own style, and it was truly a loss that he went so young to cancer.

Yeah it’s been 20 years – what’s your point? If it’s too loud, yer too freakin’ old.

Reviewed November 25, 2004

1: Strong, Strong Wind 2: Magic Man 3: Crazy On You 4: Dreamboat Annie 5: Barracuda 6: Little Queen 7: Kick It Out 8: Love Alive 9: Heartless 10: Straight On 11: Dog And Butterfly 12: Even It Up 13: Bebe Le Strange 14: Tell It Like It Is 15: This Man Is Mine 16: How Can I Refuse 17: Rock And Roll (Live)

The original rock and roll sisters. It’s going on 30 years since they released their first albums, and I’m amazed at how well so much of their back catalog has aged. Heck, Heart were considered honorary Canadian citizens for a while, and cut their teeth touring western Canada. I remember being a young teenager having impure thoughts about the Wilson sisters based on their vixen poses on the covers of Dreamboat Annie (truth be told, I liked Nancy better) and Little Queen. It didn’t hurt that they wrote killer songs either.

The songs here tend to focus on their output up to 1983’s Passionworks. Missing are the hits from their late 80’s resurgence, but it’s a minor complaint, as the songs here for the most part represent Heart’s most cohesive lineup.

Heart always flew just under the radar for me. Sure songs like “Crazy on You” and “Barracuda” were kick ass tunes that I really liked, but I was surprised at the number of hits they pulled off in under a decade. They were a big deal.

This may not be Heart’s definitive collection, but dang it this is a right solid greatest hits collection that pushes a lot of buttons for me.

PS, That Nancy still gives me naughty thoughts. There’s something about a chick with a guitar. Okay so she’s an older woman … she’s not dead you know.

Reviewed January 16, 2006

Actual Miles (Henley's Greatest Hits) (©1995 Geffen)

1: Dirty Laundry 2: The Boys Of Summer 3: All She Wants To Do Is Dance 4: Not Enough Love In The World 5: Sunset Grill 6: The End Of The Innocence 7: The Last Worthless Evening 8: New York Minute 9: I Will Not Go Quietly 10: The Heart Of The Matter 11: The Garden Of Allah 12: You Don't Know Me At All 13: Everybody Knows

Compiled from Don's extensive solo catalog. Actual Miles is a surprising album, not so much for what it includes - but for what was left off. Still, it's pretty darned good, and speaks to the strength of at least two of this three albums. Only Dirty Laundry made the cut from his debut. Based strictly on the quality of the material you have to acknowledge really good stuff when you hear it. Having said that, it's not like his fans don't already have all of his albums - except for the three bonus tracks on Actual Miles - two of which are credited, and one which is a mysterious bonus track. Let me tell you, the three extra tracks aren't anything special. Yeah, I know that The Garden of Allah was a hit of sorts - but that doesn't make it good.

So if you already have his solo albums, you don't need this. Really you don't. However, if you're looking for most of the best of his stuff, this really is a strong collection of songs, except for All She Wants to Do is Dance - song sucked then, it sucks harder now.

Reviewed May 13, 2005

1. Declare Guerre Nucleaire 2. Die, All Right! 3. Get Together to Tear It Apart 4. Main Offender 5. Outsmarted 6. Hate to Say I Told You So 7. Introduce the Metric System in Time 8. Find Another Girl 9. Statecontrol 10. Inspection Wise 1999 11. Knock Knock 12. Supply and Demand

Like their Swedish counterparts Soundtrack of our Lives, and ABBA, The Hives offer nothing new to the genre, but they know enough to be dangerous within the boundaries of their chosen box of notes. In this case – early punk. It’s hard to tell if the guy’s are posing, or paying homage but it doesn’t matter. The music is rough, fast, and bristling with energy.

It’s a fun ride, and clocking in under 30 minutes it doesn’t wear out its welcome. I wouldn’t go out of my way to say this is a great album, it’s good fun and like a fizzy drink it's tasty, but not overly satisfying. It just doesn’t have a lot of staying power – I’ll play it a bit, but it wont’ stay on top of the pile very long.

I kind of like “Knock Knock” because the guys by accident or intentionally are ripping on “Bastille Day” by Rush.

Reviewed November 5, 2007

The Black and White Album (©2007)

1. Tick Tick Boom 2. Try It Again 3. You Got It All... Wrong 4. Well All Right! 5. Hey Little World 6. A Stroll Through Hive Manor Corridors 7. Won't Be Long 8. T.H.E.H.I.V.E.S. 9. Return The Favour 10. Giddy Up! 11. Square One Here I Come 12. You Dress Up For Armageddon 13. Puppet On A String 14. Bigger Hole To Fill

Rock and roll is alive and well, and living in Sweden. I wonder if they live down the street from TSOOL? Oh wait, I used that lame line last time out. Oh well. Considering how underwhelming my last exposure to the band was, I wasn't in a hurry to go back to the well. You know, fool me once and all that.

I'm in a bit of a quandary. The album starts off with a one two punch that is as good as anything I've heard in a long time. "Tick Tick Boom" knocked my socks off, and "Try it Again" should be an anthem. This was unexpectedly good. Awesome in fact. The album stalls around halfway with the intermission song "A Stroll Through Hive Manor Corridors." The guys made an attempt to kick start the second half, but the songs are hit and miss - when they miss they miss big: "Giddy Up" is atrocious. I can only hope it was tongue and cheek an on purpose. At least they end on a positive note, by filling in most of the hole they dug for themselves with some of the weaker songs. This is one of those albums where if it was boiled down to their 10 best songs, this album would have kicked ass and taken names. More isn't always a good thing. As it is, there are more than enough great songs here to make this a must have for lovers of fine pop.

This is so much stronger than Veni Vidi Vicious I can honestly say that I'm curious as to what they'll do next. Maybe a little more colour would bring out the best in the band.

Reviewed January 4, 2007

A Christmas Collection (©1989 Joplin & Sweeney)

The Christmas Song / Hark! The Herald Angels Sing (O Come All Ye Faithful / Angels We Have Heard On High / God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen) / We Three Kings (What Child Is This) / Jingle Bell Rock (Jingle Bells) / Winter Lights (A Christmas Fantasy) / I Wonder As I Wander (Coventry Carol / O Come O Come Emmanuel) / Let It Snow (Here Comes Santa Claus / Santa Claus Is Coming To Town / Jolly Old Saint Nicholas / Up On The Housetop / I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus / Winter Wonderland) / I'll Be Home For Christmas (White Christmas) / I Heard The Bells On Christmas Day (It Came Upon A Midnight Clear / Auld Lang Syne / I Heard The Bells On Christmas Day II / Toyland / Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas)

This has been one of my favourite Christmas albums for many years. Neil is a gifted player, and the songs are beautifully performed. Just a solo guitar and a warm cozy feeling. I'm not sure if you can find this album anymore, which is a shame. Sure it's nice to have to Christmas albums by Bing Crosby, Elvis, Al Martino, and Mojo Nixon - but there's something really special about this collection.

Christmas 2000
Featured album December 2000

Lemon Tongue (©2001 Wildfire Music)

Tracks: Lemon Tongue / What I Know / So Hard / Undone / Don't Make Me Want You / Touch The Sun / Lagavulin / Knew You When / The Way I Do / Gone / Into Me, Into You

After a lot of years the boys are back with a new studio release. They never went away, they just didn't put anything out for a few years. This is a comeback of sorts, and for an independent release this is a surprisingly good album. I'm glad the guys aren't pretending it was still 1986 and moved on, but still kept enough of their "sound" to make a decent rock and roll album.

None of the tracks really knocked me on my ass, but there's not a stinker in the bunch, and it's great to be able to put on a CD, turn it up and let it run through.

Derry hasn't lost his chops, and Johnnie's voice is still a very recognizable part of Honeymoon Suite.

Welcome back.

Reviewed August 12, 2002

Dreamland (©2002 Frontiers Records)

Tracks: What I Know / So Hard / Still Lovin' You / Just Love Somebody / The Way I Do / Dreamland / Too Little, Too Late / Gone / Undone / Lagavulin / Radiant / Even Now

This is a re-issue of many of the tracks from Lemon Tongue (I bought both at the same time, so it was interesting listening to them back to back), with a few new ones mixed in for fun. I like this one better. Although given what a CD will hold the boys could have gone and put all of Lemon Tongue on here as well as the additional tracks. In a way I'm glad they didn't, more isn't always better. "Still Lovin' You" is a piece of vintage Honeymoon Suite, and after the first few listens really stands out, although the whole album is good all the way through.

Frontiers is a great little Italian record label who appears to specialize in giving rock acts a second shot. The art is very cool, and the packing includes lyrics and took more to produce than the indie Lemon Tongue. I suppose if I were to recommend one over the other I'd lean to Dreamland. But then you'd miss out on songs like "Into Me, Into You", and "Lemon Tongue".

Sigh. Choices. Sigh, I'll burn them all onto a single disc for myself to avoid having to make a decision.

Reviewed August 12, 2002

The Trick to Life (©2007)

1. Worried About Ray 2. Worst Case Scenario 3. Run Rabbit Run 4. Goodbye Mr A 5. Sadness Runs Through Him 6. Clinging On For Life 7. Cops And Robbers 8. Everything Goes Dark 9. Killer 10. Trick To Life 11. Money To Be Made 12. Feeling You Get When (hidden treasure)

I'm kind of stuck with these guys. This is so obviously derivative with nothing new to offer, that I wanted to dismiss this as another faceless pop band. You can almost hear the gears change as they shuffle through their bag of tricks. "They're ripped off 'Happy Together' by The Turtles" "ooh, there's the Cure - that's a passible Robert Smith." Ooh, that one sounds like Andy Partridge, clever boys." "Oh my goodness, could it be - Justin Hawkins from The Darkness? Cheeky buggers!" "No way, ELO?" And on and on. But for whatever reason I really found myself enjoying this album. Quite a lot really. I was pleasantly surprised that all of the songs here work. I didn't find myself wanting to skip to the next song. Of course the down side of an instantly enjoyable album is that it also wears thin pretty fast. But, this is about the sugar rush you get from pop - and these guys pack a fair bit of fizz into 40 minutes.

After all, when all is said and done pop music is meant to be enjoyed, and there's no rule against borrowing and tipping your hat to other bands you like, or are influenced by is there? If the goal is to create fun, bouncy, and at time wonderfully moody pop music - then The Hoosiers are going to enjoy their fifteen, to maybe even twenty minutes of fame before their audience moves on to the next flavour of the month.

Time will tell if they can get extra time on the clock - and that is really the trick to life isn't it?

REviewed January 25, 2008

Spirit Trail (©1998 RCA)

disc one: King of the Hill / Resting Place / Preacher in the Ring Pt I / Preacher in the Ring Pt II / Song C / Sad Moon / Pete & Manny / Fortunate Son / Sneaking Up On Boo Radley / Great Divide

disc two: Line in the Dust / See the Same Way / Shadow Hand / Sunlight Moon / Listen to the Silence / Funhouse / Sunflower Cat / Song D / Swan Song / Variations on Swan Song & Song D

These are very good CDs, full of the brilliant playing and thoughtful pop jazz influenced ramblings you would expect from a former casual keyboard player with the Grateful Dead. The problem with getting such a large helping of Bruce at once is trying to digest all that is going on. I rarely get to listen, I mean listen to both discs at a sitting - often the music plays in the background and doesn't make the impact it should.

Bruce's music has been developing and evolving with each album and he has managed to avoid being labeled "That Piano Guy" who did "The Way It Is" back in the 80's. Although I'd guess that a lot of people only know him as that guy. Shame on them.

Reviewed July 2000

Camp Meeting (©2007)

1. Questions and Answers 2. Charlie, Woody and You 3. Solar 4. Death and the Flower 5. Camp Meeting 6. Giant Steps 7. Celia 8. We’ll Be Together Again 9. Stacked Mary Possum 10. Straight, No Chaser 11. Un Poco Loco / Chant Song

It's been a while since I've written anything about Mister Hornsby. It's always interesting to see just what he'll pull out of his hat when I get a new recording. This time around Bruce is part of an honest to goodness jazz trio. Backed by Christian McBride on bass and Jack DeJohnette on drums, Bruce bring his distinctive playing to the table. For me it works like a hot damn. Now, what I know about jazz I could fit into a thimble - but I like music, and this is stuff I really enjoy from time to time. Today being one of those times.

Bruce penned a number of the songs himself on this collection, but he also tackles Miles Davis, John Coletrane, and Thelonious Monk. This recording is something to behold, and I can only imagine the brown trousers Bruce must have had prior to setting out to record a true blue full on jazz trio album. It's one thing to noodle and improvise, it's another to bring in a seasoned jazz rhythm section and make an album.

The piano leads and gives the songs their voice and texture, and I found myself wondering how Bruce's pop chordy style would work. I don't know if the jazz aficionados have embraced this one, but as a fan of Mister Hornsby I was pleasantly surprised, and was really impressed by the work of Christian and Jack.

If the purpose of a good old fashioned camp meeting is to make a convert of those attending - call me saved. Hallelujah and pass the ketchup.

Amen.

Reviewed January 3, 2007

Endsville (©1993 C/Z Records)

1: Drive Thru At Molly's Reach 2: Gutbomb 3: Barb-B-Cutie 4: Wild 'n' Wendy 5: Rocket To Nowhere 6: Ace O' Spades 7: Latin Ranch 8: Huevosaurus 9: Moth Dance, The 10: Endsville 11: Crowchild Trail 12: Cindy With An S 13: Bo Diddlius 14: Please Pass The Ketchup 15: The Short Happy Song

This was the long play debut by Huevos Rancheros, and it kicks ass. If you love instrumental twang, these guys may not be as well known as they should have been, but they rocked. Probably long out of print, it’s worth seeking out if you love loud Bigsby tortured twangabilly.

What makes this recording so cool is that it was recorded on an 8 track. Which really highlights the minimal approach these guys took their arrangements. After all if you’re a trio, how many tracks do you need?

I really like Brent’s playing, I can just imagine him cranking out the tunes with a big ass silly grin on his face. His playing has real muscle, and he’s got some tasty chops. He's a monster player!

It’s hard to pull of a favourite song since they all sound so good. Besides, it’s not like they need names – even though they all have little labels. All I know is that I like this stuff.

Reviewed July 29, 2005

Dig This (©1995 Mint Records)

1: Secret Recipe 2: Whiteout in Wyoming 3: Rockin' in the Henhouse 4: American Sunset 5: Where's the Bathroom? (In Spanish) 6: 64 Slice of American Cheeze 7: Gump Worsley's Lament 8: Jezebel 9: Evacuation 10: Girl from N.A.N.A.I.M.O. 11: Who's Your New Girlfriend? 12: Rockin' Lafayette 13: Go West Young Bee

Who would have figured Calgary could be the center of the tex-mex surf guitar world? Hey don't get on me, it's quite possible you know. Huevos Rancheros are a tight wicked ass trio who quite possibly are one of the coolest bands you've never heard of - unless of course you've heard of them, and then you know that already (that they're cool, not that you haven't heard of them).

The beauty about this kind of recording is it always sounds new - given a decade has blown buy since this one was released it's a testament to the timelessness of the music.

Yeah I know I'm a little behind the times, but hey, this is new to me. I only have so much budget to get stuff, so although I've known about these guys for a long time, I can only buy so much stuff.

The band is made up of guitar slinger Brent Cooper - who really knows how to crank a Bigsby, Graham Evans on bass and Richie Ranchero behind the kit. These guys are a walking time capsule - doesn't hurt that they can play like no body's business.

These guys know how to take the genre and play to form, while throwing enough of their own stuff in there to keep in interesting. This is really good stuff.

Whooo, saddle up lads and let's grab some refried beans.

Reviewed May 4, 2005

Souvenir (©1990 MCA)

the songs:Lament / Going Home Again / Souvenir / Dreamland / Only A Heart Can Know / Third Stone From The Sun / Morning Long Ago / A Perfect Love / The Leap

David was once a member of Toto, and for this album he has assembled a veritable who's who to play along with him. From Steve Lukather, and Jeff Porcaro from his old band - to guys like Chet Atkins. Randy Goodrum is all over this album - producer, writer, keyboards and even vocals on one song.

The results are about what you'd expect. This a well played and breezy feeling jazz album. Nothing ground breaking, but it's a good album and if you're looking for a nice album of listening music this fits the bill.

December 21, 2000