(©2008)

1. See These Bones 2. Whose Authority 3. Beautiful Beat 4. Here Goes Something 5. Weightless 6. Are You Lightning? 7. I Like What You Say 8. From Now On 9. Ice On The Wing 10. The Fox 11. The Film Did Not Go 'Round

Nada Surf is one of those bands I'd heard of, but not heard. The bits and pieces I'd heard prior to picking this up, intrigued me - and when I was able to sit back and listen to the album I was blown away. This was pop music at its finest.

The album opens with the stunning "See These Bones" arguably one of the best pop songs I'd heard in ages. The song is followed by the jangly Tom Pettyish "Whose Authority" complete with a B3. It's a song I also really liked. "Here Goes Something" is a nice nod to Simon and Garfunkel. Probably one of the coolest songs for me is the strangely psychedelic "The Fox". There's something about the interplay of the guitars and the drum pattern that really hooked me in. It's not a typical pop song, and I suppose that's what I liked most about it. The album closes with the somber and sparse "The Film Did Not Go Round" which features a mournful cello acting as a counterpoint to the guitar and voice.

The band is that it wears its musical influences on its sleeve, without appearing derivative. The band mines the past, and forges ahead at the same time. It's a pretty cool trick if you can pull it off. Who knows if this will be a big hit or not - it should be, but then since when is "good" a prerequisite to being commercially successful?

Maybe with a little luck ...

Reviewed February 25, 2008

From A to B (©1980 GTO Records)

1: Straight Lines 2: Sanctuary 3: A Map of You 4: Science 5: On Islands 6: This World of Water 7: Living By Numbers 8: Dead Fish (don't swim home) 9: Adventures 10: The Safe Side 11: Missing Persons 12: She's a Magazine 13: Sad Films

Back in 1980 my buddy Rudy was the music king. He had it all, and his mixed music tapes on our basketball trips were the stuff of legend. One of the songs that was big back then was a song called On Islands. I never knew who performed the song, but always liked it. Oddly enough the other day I was sitting at my desk and the song popped into my head. "Blah blah blah blah on islands ..." I remembered that much, and armed only with only that phrase I sought to finally suss out this mysterious musical itch from my distant past.

Well, as you can probably guess my search was successful, and thanks to the power of the online marketplace I was soon in possession of this nearly classic collection of first wave new wave from 1980. I put it on and was immediately flung into the past, a past when I could dunk a basketball. Oh yeah it's cheesy retro stuff now, but over 20 years ago it was the bleeding edge.

Now this has more than just nostalgia going for it. You have to remember I only knew one song, which is as cool today as it was almost 25 years ago, so this is almost all new to me. The reason it sounds so good is that the techno new wave stuff featured real musicians. What keeps it from sounding like some of the mid 80's technolifelessdrek (my own word) is the presence of a real drummer. They act as an anchoring counterpoint to the electronics, and almost make the music sound current. After all, why should all the new retro bands make the old new again, when some of the old still sounds new?

There are some pretty great songs here, and I'm enjoying the trip down memory lane. Okay, just so you don't think I'm completely in love with this, I will say that Dead Fish (Don't Swim Home) is just about the dumbest song I've ever heard. I'm not sure what Tony Mansfield was thinking ... eco new wave message? Why not, if people could get off on Rock Lobster why not a dead fish?

Reviewed September 29, 2004

O-My (©1996)

1: As The World Comes Undone 2: It Haunts Us All 3: New Steps (On An Old Road) 4: House Of Elements 5: China Dove 6: Wave Meets The Shore 7: Wiggle And Squirm 8: Angels Crying 9: Walk Through Walls 10: In The Winter

I have a theory. Well, this is what it is - my theory that I have, that is to say, which is mine, is mine. The more terrible the cover the more better the album, because the cover for NeoTone’s album O-My is a groaner, but what’s inside is bloody brilliant.

NeoTone is anchored by Neil Chapman and Tony Duggan-Smith who first caught my attention when they were members of The Pukka Orchestra, and more recently with Autocondo. What makes this discovery bittersweet is the fact I didn’t know it existed until recently, which means that I was missing out on a wonderful album. Given that this was the band’s only release I can only surmise that I wasn’t the only one who didn’t know this album was ever released. However, thanks to ebay I was able to snag a copy.

This is an organic pop record. It’s got shades of country with accordion and a wonderfully utilized B3 but this isn’t a folksy record. The album starts off strong with “The World Comes Undone” which is followed by “It Haunts Us All” that sounds like something The Silencers Jimme O'Neill would be proud to call his own. It’s one of my favourites on the album. Graeme Williamson contributes his touches on “House of Elements” which is cool, but it along with “Wiggle and “Squirm” sound more like the old Pukka Orchestra that the rootsy atmospheric vibe the other songs create. I’m not complaining mind you. This is a great sounding record, kudos to Terry Brown who did the mixing.

This is one of those albums that hit me immediately and despite passage of time, this album still sounds fresh. Neil mentioned he was quite proud of the work on this album. He should be. This is an album that gets better the more I play it. Oh my indeed.

Reviewed March 23, 2009

(With Apologies to Anne Elk)

Bad Love (©1999 Dreamworks)

1: My Country 2: Shame 3: I'm Dead (But I Don't Know It) 4: Every Time It Rains 5: The Great Nations of Europe 6: The One You Love 7: The World Isn't Fair 8: Big Hat, No Cattle 9: Better Off Dead 10: I Miss You 11: Going Home 12: I Want Everyone To Like Me

Randy is a wonderful writer, it wouldn't be a stretch to say he's one of the finest lyricists in the world today. With Bad Love Randy delivers a very somber album, full of observations and biting wit. Produced by Mitchell Froom and Tchad Blake it’s surprisingly sparse - I guess I was expecting something more cutting edge. I like Randy’s music, and although I started late with his stuff, I have managed to snag the majority of his catalog.

It’s nice to have a full album of songs for a change rather that getting a collection of Disney theme songs. My Country is reason enough to listen to this man. He’s as barbed as ever, and The Great Nations of Europe is great fun, as is I’m Dead (But I Don’t Know It).

Overall this is a solid album from a performer who is nicely settled. This won’t turn the world on it’s ear, but it’s not going to offend his long time fans either.

I had hoped for more, but in all I’m pretty happy with it.

Reviewed May 21, 2003

Silver Side Up (©2001)

01 Never Again 02 How You Remind Me 03 Woke Up This Morning 04 Too Bad 05 Just For 06 Hollywood 07 Money Bought 08 Where do I Hide 09 Hangnail 10 Good Times Gone

I confess. I like Nickelback.

I suppose any musical credibility I had just went out the window. My friends put up with my weakness for John Tesh, they mock my love of The Monkees - but they draw a hard stop at Nickelback. I've been a closet fan for a long time, secretly listening when no one is around. Tapping my foot, and getting off on their unabashed formulaic rock.

These guys aren't really doing anything new, nor are they reinventing the wheel. So how come you can tell a Nickelback song from a mile away? They hit you with big guitars, the big hook, a verse, another hook, occasionally a bridge - then hook hook hook. They aren't a bunch of pussies - they're loud and rocking. Heck, they punch the air with their fists and use bad words - how's that for rock and roll?

I suppose it's fashionable to hate success and crap on the guys for selling out. They wanted to be rock stars, and if that meant making music people wanted to hear that's what they did. They're having the last laugh too. Nothing says "Rock Star" like filthy lucre - of which they have a lot.

Sure Silver Side Up is generic and after a while the songs all sort of bleed together, and Chad Kroeger's lyrics are about as complicated as a Robert Munsch book - but so what? For whatever reason, these guys appeal to my desire for instant gratification. This is cotton candy for the ears - sure if I over indulge I get an earache - but it sure tastes good when I'm in the mood.

Reviewed December 21, 2007

Dark Horse (©2008)

1: Something In Your Mouth 2: Burn It To The Ground 3: Gotta Be Somebody 4: I'd Come For You 5: Next Go Round 6: Just To Get High 7: Never Gonna Be Alone 8: Shakin' Hands 9: S.E.X. 10: If Today Was Your Last Day 11: This Afternoon

If you taught 100 monkeys to play guitar, hired a great drummer, and let those same 100 monkey guitar players write rock songs you'd end up with a Nickelback album - in fact Dark Horse is the latest in an unbroken line of generic rock albums - those monkeys have been busy. Albums that, I have to say, I REALLY ENJOY (bet you saw that coming, eh?). I can't help it. I really can't.

I know there are people who blame Metallica's Black album - especially "Unforgiven" for spawning Nickelback's career - but heck, I really liked "Unforgiven" so if that's a sore spot for some people - I don't care. Oddly enough, despite the high priced help, Mutt Lange hasn't really done much for the band's cause to gain credibility. By using Mutt's patented generic-o-tronic production, Nickelback actually come off sounding less like themselves and even more faceless than usual. I wouldn't mind so much, but Mutt's production conjures up images of Chad dressed up in those nifty outfits Shania fits into and it makes my wiener crawl into my tummy.

Oh hell, where was I? This is supposed to be a review not a National Geographic special on the hidden talents of monkeys. No doubt Dark Horse will put a few singles on the radio, and make 12 year old boys twitter behind their hands at Chad's clever word play and as subtle as a kick in the crotch sexual innuendo.

Still, this is nothing new. Popular bands have been written off for decades now and who knows, maybe one day Nickelback will have the last laugh. In the meantime excuse me while I crank this up and think about titties and beer and giggle behind my hand because they use funny bad words in their songs.

Reviewed November 27, 2008

The Great American Rock And Roll Spectacle (©2004 Select Records)

1: Welcome 2: Big Rawk 3: Pedal To The Metal 4: Play Your Guitar 5: Highway Of Rock And Roll 6: The Metal Pokey 7: Rock All Day 8: Whatever 9: Hard Rock Girls 10: Rock And Roll 11: Where Did The 80's Go? 12: U.S.A.

First off, there is absolutely nothing original or new about Mick Rowe’s latest vehicle. It’s a totally unabashed tongue in cheek love fest of big guitars, huge vocals, and bombastic drums. The production is amazing, and quite frankly I’m just about ready to become a member of the Tim Bushong fan club. He’s got the Midas touch in the studio, and from London Calling, to Jamie Rowe’s solo album he truly does have million dollar production values – and for a band like Nineteen88 to pull off what they’re trying to do, it has to sound polished, not like a bunch of kids out of tune in their parent’s garage.

Which brings me to the man. Mick Rowe is a monster, and I’ll give him a lot of credit. He’s a big man, I mean really big. I’m not talking geeky big like Neuman (Newman, Neuman - whatever) from Seinfeld, I’m talking One Man Gang big (80's wrestling fans unite). I’m pretty sure that he could polish off Meatloaf, and still have room to snack on Tommy Shaw or David Spade (whoever happens to be available). I was surprised and impressed – because quite frankly I wasn’t sure what to expect. I’ve been a fan of Jamie’s for years and for some reason I was thinking Mick was riding his little brother’s coattails. So to Mick I say loudly and proudly “YOU ROCK.” And quite frankly I should have known where the little brother picked it up from. My mistake.

Like I said, this is pure rock (Mick even hawks a loogie - how rock and roll is that!). What goes around comes around. Like the man says, this is rudimentary stuff, but it sure is a lot of fun.

I’ve heard that the handsome one is a fan of hats, so to you sir, I take off my hat.

December 1, 2004

Greatest Hits (©1989)

1. (You Can Still) Rock In America 2. Sing Me Away 3. Goodbye 4. When You Close Your Eyes 5. Sister Christian 6. Don't Tell Me You Love Me 7. Sentimental Street 8. The Secret Of My Success 9. Restless Kind 10. Four In The Morning 11. Eddie's Comin' Out Tonight 12. Rumours In The Air

I never picked up anything by the band until recently so it's fun to listen to some of this stuff now. A number of the songs I remember from the radio, or videos (back when the music channels actually played them). The boys could really rock when they wanted to, but it was their ballads that got them their big hits. "Sister Christian" was a song that made most of my friends cringe. Just mentioning it in the same breath as Bruce Springsteen, R.E.M. or Aztec Camera would get things thrown at me - or worse if we were in a car I would risk having to walk.

Now in my defense my two least favourite songs by the band happen to be "Sister Christian" and "Sentimental Street". I never really liked them then - although they now appeal to my sense of nostalgia. The songs I still like a lot are the up tempo rockers. "Rock in America" "When You Close Your Eyes" and "Don't Tell Me You Love Me". There are a bunch of songs I've never heard, so I'd have to guess that calling this a "greatest hits" is a bit of a stretch, but I'm guessing these were best they could find. Although, the one song I always kind of liked from the Teacher's soundtrack "Interstate Love Affair" isn't here - then again, I don't think it was a hit either.

Still, for a band that didn't have the longest shelf life they had a few pretty cool songs, and when I'm the mood for some good old fashioned 80's rock, this album has more hits more than it misses.

Reviewed January 24, 2008

1: Happy Birthday 2: Trim Yo' Tree 3: Good King Wenceslas 4: Mr. Grinch 5: Head Crushing Yuletide Sing-A-Long 6: It's Christmas Time 7: Jingle Bells 8: Boogie Woogie Santa Claus 9: Santa Claus Go Straight to the Ghetto 10: Run Rudolf Run 11: We Three Kings 12: Everyday Will Be a Holiday 13: Sleigh Ride 14: Little Man Song 15: Go Tell it on a Mountain 16: 'Twas the Night Before Christmas

Mojo Nixon is probably best known as that guy who keeps writing songs that make record executives cringe.  From "Bring Me the Head of David Geffen" to "Don Henley Must Die" Mojo is a warm hearted guy who was bound to succumb to the temptation of releasing a Christmas album.  This album was a real treat, and Mojo and his band no doubt had a blast recording the 16 songs on this collection.  His version of "Mr. Grinch" is worth the price of the cd. 

Mojo is always at his best when he doesn't resort to useless profanity, and with the exception of the very last song (which I tend to skip) he keeps things very funny, occasionally rude, without taking the cheap way out.

Featured Selection December 1999

Additional December 2008

This is one of those albums that I keep coming back to, and can't put my finger on why I get such a kick out of Mojo's irreverant sense of humour. This will not be everyone's cup of tea, but if you've a fan of this guy, then this is something you have to have. The songs run the gamut between messy and silly, to straight ahead rockabilly. Mojo doesn't get enough in the way of kudos for being able to lay down a good old fashioned toe tapper.

Cyclops E.P. (A&M 1997)

Fast Like A Rabbit / Losermagnet / Down / What Kind of Freak / Rearrange Myself / Hey Buster / Face Down

Oh baby!  Crunchy and full of good energy this seven song effort cooks.  "Losermagnet" and "Down" are great tracks.  The music is loud, at times obnoxious, and totally great cranked.  This will be a band to watch for.

Spirit of the Wild (©1995)

01. Thighraceous 02. Wrong Side Of Town 03. I Shoot Back 04. Tooth, Fang & Claw 05. Lovejacker 06. Fred Bear 07. Primitive Man 08. Hot Or Cold 09. Kiss My Ass 10. Heart & Soul 11. Spirit Of The Wild 12. Just Do It Like This

I was trying to get the taste of Ted's Love Grenade out of my mouth, and figured that a revisit to 1995's Spirit of the Wild would be the ticket. Derek St. Holmes was again behind the mic, and this was supposed to a return to form for Ted. I had high hopes for the album.

The album opens with a cover of "Rag Doll", oops, I mean "Wrong Side of Town" which for all that is a pretty good tune. Although there are some pretty spectacular misses. Take the weird rock and funk of "I Shoot Back" the embarrassing "Lovejacker" and a weird Mick Jaggerish "Hot or Cold". There are the bull's eyes: "Tooth, Fang & Claw", and "Fred Bear" which musically kicks some serious ass, but lyrically is pretty sad - but then again, no one will ever remember Ted for his words. "Kiss My Ass" is typical Ted, and is pretty bloody funny.

I had expected more from this one, particularly with Derek back on board; what I got was an okay effort that even with the shit songs was typical Ted, even if I'm not all that wild about this one, it had enough of the Ted I loved as a kid to make this enjoyable if not memorable.

Reviewed February 19, 2008

Love Grenade (©2007)

01. Love Grenade 02. Still Raising Hell 03. Funk U 04. Girl Scout Cookies 05. Journey To the Center Of the Mind 06. Geronimo & Me 07. Eaglebrother 08. Spirit Of the Buffalo 09. Aborigine 10. Stand 11. Broadside 12. Bridge Over Troubled Daughters 13. Lay With Me

Since I was in my early teens I've always considered myself something of a Ted Nugent fan. Oddly enough, other than the life changing Double Live Gonzo and a Greatest Hits collection I'd never really picked up an album by the dirty Uncle Ted.

The reason I always liked Ted was because he was a larger than life guitar slinger who played with his knuckles (the guy is a freakin' cave man after all) and twisted and tortured an arch top - which to me was way cooler than a Les Paul, or Strat any day of the week. What always bugged me about Ted was that he was a dirty old man but advocated clean living. Now that Ted is on the cusp of being able to collect social security his less than subtle dirty entendres aren't cute, they're kind of creepy. "Funk U" is just stupid. "Girl Scout Cookies" is disturbing, and "Bridge Over Troubled Daughters" blenders the riff from "Just What the Doctor Ordered" and comes up with another dirty old man's lament.

Buried in this sonic assault are all the basic ingredients of the Nuge I love. The old bastard can still play, but the riff and screams are polished and formulaic - the result being a loud brash, and ultimately tepid effort. I suppose if this was 1978 and I was still 14 this would get my motor running. Ted does better when not singing about pubescent pussy "Geronimo & Me" (it could easily have been called "Great White Buffalo part II") is probably the best song on the album - but by then it's been too much of an effort to try and find the silver lining and did we really need a remake of "Journey to the Center of the Mind"?

At least I have Double Live Gonzo - which oddly enough received about the same reaction from parents back in its day that I just leveled again Love Grenade. The difference being the songs were freakin' awesome.

Reviewed December 20, 2007

The Pleasure Principle (©1979)

1. Airlane [Instrumental] 2. Metal 3. Complex 4. Films 5. M.E. 6. Tracks 7. Observer 8. Conversation 9. Cars 10. Engineers 11. Random [Instrumental] 12. Oceans [Instrumental] 13. Asylum [Instrumental] 14. Me! I Disconnect from You [Live] 15. Bombers [Live] 16. Remember I Was Vapour [Live] 17. On Broadway [Live]

Back in 1979 I was listening to bands like Foreigner, Loverboy, Pink Floyd, AC/DC, Prism, Ted Nugent, Van Halen, Styx, and The Cars. The typical ongoing high school debates over who rocked and who sucked were never ending. Most of the guys agreed that disco did indeed suck. Then this new wave stuff started to hit. "Cars" was an absolutely brilliant song. I remember being blown away - then after hearing it a schmillion times (I believe that's a real number - google it) it started to get annoying. Interestingly, I'd never heard this album until the other day. Here we are on the cusp of thirty years of water under the bridge and I'm catching up with my youth.

Not all of this works, but there's a lot of this stuff that is very cool, and although I'm hesitant to say it still sounds fresh - because it doesn't - but it holds up as well as or better than a lot of "classic" rock.

Rock?

Yes, rock, okay techno-rock, but the music here is a band effort. As much as I like Howard Jones' era new wave, there's an old joke about if Howard Jones dropped dead in convert would the music stop? Gary Numan's music was infused with keyboards, and quirky bleeps are doodle farts - but there was a real drummer, and a real bass player backing him. Which is why so much of Numan's stuff has aged better than his later followers. The music although futuristic - was organic. Of course "Cars" the best known song on the album still sounds great. As do its kissing cousins "Observer" and "Conversation" which have a similar vibe.

It's interesting to see how history is treating Gary Numan - at the time he was dismissed and more or less roasted as a talentless whelp who sang like a robot. Three decades later he's considered one of the father's of new wave.

Sometimes it takes a while for people to catch up.

Reviewed May 30, 2008

Schizophonic (©1996 A&M)

Tracks: Gravity / Swollen Princess / Crave / What You Want / Fallen Angels / 2 Weeks In Dizkneelande / Pursuit Of Happiness / Fine By Me / Karmalaa / Confrontation / Note On The Screen Door / I Wonder / Got To Have You You / Severed

Nuno Bettencourt proves once and for all he was the force behind Extreme. He didn't need to release this album to prove his point, but it certainly drives it home. Have a listen to Van Halen 3, and you'll see what I mean.

Nuno is an amazing guitar player, and although there's enough flash to keep the fret-shredders happy, it's not simply another guitar players album. There are a number of really good songs here, and Nuno's voice is pretty good too. Not an easy album to find, but if you want to take a chance on an eclectic blend of styles this is a beauty that's spent a lot of time on my stereo.

Featured Album April 2000