Prayers of a Ragamuffin (©1999 Word)

1: Make Me An Instrument 2: Nothing You Don't Know 3: Brother Sun, Sister Moon 4: Faith, Hope, Love 5: Help Thou My Unbelief 6: My Heart Already Knows 7: Bouncing Off The Ceiling 8: God Grant Me Tears 9: Shout 10: We'll Be Together Again

It seems like just the other day this one came out, where has the time gone? After The Jesus Record, the boys regrouped and released what would be their final album. Which was a shame as there was an undeniable passion to their work. Perhaps in an industry fixated on marketing and sales, an honest to goodness band was too hard to package.

Sometimes raw emotion doesn’t translate all that well into song, and has a tendency to come across as sniveling. Remember, “The Girl is Mine” by Michael Jackson? I cringe just thinking about it. On balance the guys manage to balance their earnestness and yearning with their “I’m not worthy Lord” lyrics.

The Ragamuffin’s released a different brand of praise music. It was intentionally humble, and supplicating (holy crap where are all these words coming from?). So much of the modern praise stuff is loud, irritating, and frankly arrogant. I’m not saying the guys are all weepy through out the album, there’s praise, and then there’s prayer.

It’s not like the guys couldn’t rock the doors off the barn if they wanted. Aaron Smith (77s / Romeo Void) is a monster pounder, and Rick Elias is a true blue collar rocker. Not to mention Jimmy Abegg (he done stuff too I’m sure) and Mark Robertson (This Train) all have the ability to let loose.

With all that they still have their sense of the absurd: The Hammond organ bonus bit at the end is so bad it’s funny. For you Red Dwarf fans, this would no doubt be Rimmer’s favourite song.

Reviewed May 5, 2006

All Our Saturdays (1981 - 1986) (©1996 EMI Music Canada)

the songs: Saturdays In Silesia / No More No Less / Heredity / Close To Nature / I've Got A Sister In The Navy / Holiday In Bangkok / May Day 1984 / In Your Eyes / Call Me / Beat The Bad Times Down / Speak To Me In Dreams / Freeze / Latin Lovers / Hot Streets / Pile Ou Face / City Of Night / Saturdays In Silesia (extended version)

One of those bands that deserved a far better fate. Fronted by Tracy Howe who has one of the more distinctive voices out there (not to mention a good hand with a pen check out The Breits Heart Without A Home), Rational Youth released a number of EPs in the 80's and one spectacular album Heredity in 1985. I had most of their stuff on vinyl (except their first LP), and when I saw this collection I snapped it up. There are a number of exceptional songs represented here. I'll admit to being more than biased to the tracks on Heredity, but the more electronic songs hold up surprisingly well. Apparently they're like little gods in Sweden which is cool. For whatever reason Europeans value Canadian talent more than Canadians do. The only notable omission is the absence of Bang On, which was a fairly big hit, and did we really need two versions of Saturdays In Silesia? Minor complaints, to an otherwise fine collection.

To The Goddess Electricity (©1999 October)

the songs: Ludwigshafen / Pink Pills, Orange Pills / Money and Blood / Energie / Back from Madrapour / Listen To Me (I'm Only Human) / In My Imagination / To The Goddess Electricity / Everything Is Vapour / The Ghosts of Montreal / Open Your Heart

One of the finest covers I've seen in a long time, and a pretty solid album to boot. Not that long ago I was surfing around when I found that there was an official site for the band (not much there now, as the band's called it quits) and low and behold there was a blurb about a new album. There were also a couple of songs at MP3.com (sadly they're no longer there) I snagged, and really liked what I heard. Everything is Vapour (Money & Blood Mix) is brilliant. The CD version is pretty good, but not as textured. If only it had been a bonus track.

I wrote asking about ordering the disc and within a few days Tracy himself got back to me. Synthpop isn't at the top of my listening pile, but I've always liked the stuff by Rational Youth. It's great to hear them again. If synthpop is your thing check these guys out.

Reviewed June 12, 2000

Detonator (©1990 Atlantic)

the songs: Intro To Shame / Shame Shame Shame / Lovin' You Is A Dirty Job / Scratch That Itch / One Step Away / Hard Time / Heads I Win, Tails You Lose / All Or Nothing / Can't Wait On Love / Givin' Yourself Away / Top Secret

Hair is dead. Long live hair. As the calendar clicked over into 1990, the death knell sounded for the 80's and all of the hair bands that briefly ruled the roost. I happen to really like big guitars, big drums, and big vocals. This album had all of the ingredients, and I still like to put in on and turn it up. Oh yeah.

Ratt (©1999 Portrait)

1: Over The Edge 2: Live For Today 3: Gave Up Givin' Up 4: We Don't Belong 5: Breakout 6: Tug Of War 7: Dead Reckoning 8: Luv Sick 9: It Ain't Easy 10: All The Way 11: So Good, So Fine

A strange thing happened as I played this one over and over. I started to like it. I mean, really – I started to like it a lot. This wasn’t supposed to happen. I mean, come on this is Ratt after all, how good could it be. Besides it was 1999 Ratt, and the 80’s were long dead, and who was going to listen to an updated version of Way Cool Junior, or Round and Round anyway?

Not me that’s for sure. And true to form, the first couple of times through the player there wasn’t much to justify the purchase. The songs weren’t jumping out and grabbing me by my rock nuts (of the two there’s Lefty, who is partial to John Tesh and Enya (often referred to as my “wingnut”), then there’s good old Blue who lives to rock out, in fact his favourite Aerosmith album is Rocks) it’s a wonder I decided to even give this more than a passing listen. So what happened? I brought it to work, and it stayed playing all week. Over time, all of my blistering criticisms blurred into subtle toe tapping – before I knew it, the subdued smoldering rock started to ignite.

Stephen’s voice isn’t everyone’s cup of tea, but he sounded particularly, what – mature? Yeah, mature this time around, and it wasn’t quadtriple tracked to death, and it sounded good. Musically the songs aren’t barn burners, but they’re solid rock songs that owe more to classic 70’s stuff, than the overblown 80’s caricature so much of hard rock was forced to conform to during the halcyon hair days (what the hell am I saying?).

So there you have it. Ratt before they exploded into two or three different versions of the same band.

Reviewed February 11, 2005

When The Sun Goes Down... (©1987 MCA)

1: Big Boys (Talk Tuff) 2: Condition Red 3: When The Sun Goes Down 4: I'm On Your Side 5: Inspiration 6: Heart In Flames 7: Say You Will 8: True Confessions 9: Rise And The Fall 10: Under The Water

Red 7's second and final album. When The Sun Goes Down is an interesting album, and it definitely an 80s sounding effort. The songs are consistent but there's nothing here that really blew me away the first few listens. I can't help but compare this to their first album. Relentless, Heartbeat, and Less than Perfect were wicked songs, and I guess I was hoping for more of the same. Of course as when I take the time to listen closely there are some pretty good moments: "Inspiration", "Heart in Flames", and "Under the Water".

It's too bad they weren't able to survive through the 80s as they wrote more than simple boy meets girl songs, and their music was just different enough to stand out from their contemporaries. I wonder if their first album will ever be reissued on CD?

Until then I at least have this one.

Reviewed February 29, 2004

Lost Together (©2003 Atenzia)

1: Lost Together 2: St. Paul 3: I'm In Love 4: Too Late 5: You Are The One 6: One Of Us 7: The Way She Smiles 8: Another Day Down 9: Buddy Jo 10: Long Way To Go 11: Big Plans 12: Some Other World 13: Happiness

Thankfully Phil and Danny managed to survive the success of the Friends theme song. A song which was probably as much a blessing as a curse. It so overshadowed their previous success that it became their signature song. No doubt it's been like wrestling the proverbial 500 pound gorilla. To be frank I never really liked it that much, and most likely my reaction was driven by how much everyone else seemed to like it. However, they seem to have come to terms with it, and themselves and are content writing and performing thoughtful pop songs.

Here we have the Swedish Atenzia release - I don't know how different it is from the now defunct J-Bird label release. But it was one of those accidental finds that I make now and again. I've always like these guys and although it's easy to dismiss them as a sort of Crowded House lite - they really have their own little niche.

The songs on Lost Together won't set the world on fire, but for fans of good old fashioned pop with great hooks and delivered with real honest to goodness emotion you could do much worse that this album.

Glad you found your way back guys, it's like having an old friend back (oh my, what the hell was that ... I suppose I could get an editor one day).

Reviewed July 13, 2005

Daydream (©1999 Unison / ©2001 Fools of the World)

1: Sleepwalk 2: Amber Waves 3: Sailing South From Mendocino 4: Spirits Flying Over Mt. Tamalpais 5: Here's Another Secret 6: Watching The Sunrise In An Old Raincoat 7: Dancing Out On The Moonlit Nile 8: Float Bop 9: Blue Fields 10: Herald The Bud 11: Sleepwalk (Slight Return)

This one originally came out in 1999 on the fledgling Unison label under the artist name Moments of Meditation, which is nearly impossible to find (well, not counting ebay). Unison also did the Music to Paint By series. Thankfully Mike was able to reissue the album under his own name on his private Fools of the World label.

The music is contemplative, and although is beautifully textured it is not in your face demanding attention like a small child who wants a glass of water at bedtime. It is in honest terms the soundtrack to a daydream. It’s also a great make out album. Light a few candles, put this on and get funky. I’m sure you don’t need any images of me lying on my bed covered in rose petals, so I won’t keep going. Cut me some slack, this is an instrumental album, and there are only so many ways to describe songs without words. I think the classical composers were smart. Symphony 1, 2, 3 etc. I guess with songs being a lot shorter it just looks stupid naming them after numbers.

One of the great surprises here is Mark Harmon. Not only did Mark record the album, program the percussion, he wrote many of the songs. Mike gets a lot of attention for his playing, which is more than deserved, but one cannot forget Mark’s contributions. His touch on the bass is exquisite, and he provides an ample musical landscape for Mike to add his colour (there, wasn’t that better than picturing me getting funky?).

For those of you who are looking for a relaxing, and musically fulfilling experience you need to spend some time starting out the window while this is playing.

Reviewed November 24, 2005

DLR Band (©1998 Velvel)

the songs: Slam Dunk! / Blacklight / Counter-Blast / Lose the Dress (keep the shoes) / Little Texas / King of the Hill / Going Places / Wa Wa Zat!! / Relentless / Indeedido / Right Tool for the Job / Tight / Weekend with the Babysitter / Black Sand

Dave's back . . . sort of. He's hiding under the guise of a band this time around, this one is in the "D" section of most record stores (sort like New Kids on the Block calling themselves NKOTB). This is almost a really good album. Lots of cheesy bits, and all the tongue in cheek you'd expect. Sadly time hasn't been good to the diamond one's pipes. I'll give him credit he does tries to go for the testicle crunch tweeter poppers, but he never quite gets there. No matter what Dave does it's always compared to stuff he did sixteen years ago with Van Halen. So let's see which is better this or Van Halen III? Hmm, "ding" one for Dave. There are some pretty good tunes here, but nothing that ever really makes you go wow! Black Sand is so different from the rest of the songs on the album I actually checked my CD changer to see which disc was playing. Oddly enough it's my favourite song on this disc.

reviewed May 20, 2000

Addtional - This album certainly grew on me. Featured album for November 2000

Black and White (©2003 Digital Worship Records)

1. Please Save Me 2. Illuminate 3. Control 4. By Your Side 5. Summertime 6. Stay 7. Be With You 8. Don't You Forget About Me

After discovering Nineteen88, I was kind of curious about Mick Rowe. I've followed his little brother for a number of years, but the elder Rowe was something of an enigma.

Earlier this year Mick and I were setting up an interview, when the big man decided he'd had enough of the music industry and folded his tent and moved back into the wilderness. No doubt he's taking some time to recharge - here's hoping he decides to come back and go at it as a side thing, because he is really very good.

Black and White is a bit longer than an e.p. and clocks in a little over 30 minutes. I was more than a little surprised - this was really solid, and Mick is a solid singer. I don't know who played on this, but the musicianship is tight, and the production clean. For an independent release this rocks - actually let me rephrase that: as a release this rocks period. Sound wise this is power pop without sounding like the new punk stuff. This owes more to Cheap Trick than the Sex Pistols.

What was really cool was the cover of the old Simple Minds song "Don't You Forget About Me" is takes the best of the original, and adds Mick's own subtle twist.

Here's hoping we haven't heard the last of Mick. Rock on Mick, rock on.

To quote the old April Wine tune, "Rock and roll is a vicious game."

Reviewed July 14, 2005

Passing Open Windows conducted by David Palmer (©1996 Sony)

the songs: Prelude - Fanfare / Tie Your Mother Down / Bicycle Race / Somebody To Love / Killer Queen / Who Wants To Live Forever / Interlude - Death On Two Legs / Now I'm Here / Innuendo / Love Of My Life / Keep Passing The Open Windows / We Are The Champions / Postlude - In Memoriam . . . FM - MP

How did I get sucked into buying this? In hindsight I suppose I thought it would be like Andrew Powell's work with Alan Parson's music. Uh - no. This is more like a high-school band gone nuts with a budget. This is one of those albums you'll probably hear on the speakers while shopping at Wal-Mart.

Queen wrote some great songs, and this album had the potential to create a truly amazing musical hybrid. I wonder what Brian, Roger and John thought of this piece of crap.

Hold Your Fire (©1987 Anthem)

the songs: Force ten / Time Stand Still / Open Secrets / Second Nature / Prime Mover / Lock And Key / Mission / Turn The Page / Tai Shan / High Water

I bought this album many years ago based on the strength of Force Ten. I remember as the songs went by I was very pleasantly surprised. All of the songs were great. Not surprising as these boys are amazing musicians, but I'll admit that at times I'm not crazy about some of their music. Most of their album have pockets of greatness. This time out they were firing on all cylinders. Aimee Mann lends her harmonies to Time Stand Still, and probably the most moody piece is Second Nature, which in listening to this album again is as haunting as it was thirteen years ago. I'll admit that this hasn't seen a lot of time on my stereo over the last few years, and it was good to dig it out again. I'd forgotten how very good this album is.

Reviewed June 8, 2000

Vapor Trails (©2002 Anthem)

1: One Little Victory 2: Ceiling Unlimited 3: Ghost Rider 4: Peaceable Kingdom 5: The Stars Look Down 6: How It Is 7: Vapor Trails 8: Secret Touch 9: Earthshine 10: Sweet Miracle 11: Nocturne 12: Freeze -- Part IV Of 'Fear' 13: Out Of The Cradle

Once again the old farts (and here I am feeling old at 40?) of the old guard take hold an object lesson in how to craft a progressive rock and roll album that caters to an audience that has held true for almost as long as the Pope has been Catholic (I don't know where that came from, sometimes these things just happen). Neil continues to write, while Alex and Geddy create some of the coolest sounds out there.

Rush continues to defy the odds and escape being pigeonholed into a single sound. Admittedly I am not the world's biggest Rush fan, although I have picked up my fair share of vinyl and CDs over the years. My first exposure to the band was when I was in my early teens and I bought Caress of Steel. I can't name chapter and verse for these guys, but I appreciate well produced and well played music. These guys define the term power trio.

If there's a complaint at all about these guys it's the sameness of the sound here, it all blends together. Which oddly enough is the strength of the album as well. You can put it on, and crank it, knowing that from one song to the next you're going to experience an aural assault by three of the best musicians playing today.

Reviewed August 17, 2003