Clear limited edition 0327 (©2004 MSI)

1: Who's Sorry Now 2: Who's Foolin' Who 3: Too Much Time On My Hands 4: I'm Not The Enemy 5: Can't Let Go 6: Lonely 7: One Minute 8: In The Name Of Love 9: Why We Lie 10: One Heart 11: Surrender Your Heart 12: Clear

It’s too bad Michael decided to release his first widely available solo album the same year SAGA released Network. I suppose the thinking was to dovetail them together, but I suspect this got lost in the shuffle – which is a shame as this is much more than a vanity project. Timing is as they say, everything.

I find it incredible that Michael has been around for almost thirty years! Although judging by the cover he’s starting to show his age. However all you have to do is close your eyes and he sounds as good as or better than ever.

Musically this has enough echoes of SAGA to put a grin on your face, but it is more grounded in adult contemporary than it is in progressive rock. Michael assembled a tight collection of contributors to help him flesh out the album. Chris Frazier is behind the kit, and those who like Steve Vai have likely heard his stuff. Guitar duties are covered by Lino (kind of like Cher, he even has purdy hair) who takes most of the rhythm and acoustic chores, and Marcus Deml who gets to noodle and fret fart at will. He’s pretty bloody amazing.

It’s clear (um, pun not intentional, but I’ll take it) that Michael is having a good time, and is enjoying being unfettered from the confines of SAGA. It’s great to finally hear him follow his own voice. Of course he can’t get away completely stylistically from where’s he’s been for all these years, and I’m glad. What makes this so cool is hearing the elements he’d bring to SAGA, but slightly skewed from what you’d expect.

There are a number of stand out tracks: "Who's Foolin' Who" is a killer track. “Too Much Time on my Hands” which features a children’s and gospel choir is another great song as is the mid tempo "Surrender Your Heart”. In picking these ones out, I've of course short changed some great songs. I hate lists.

It’s unfortunate that this isn’t likely to find an audience outside of the faithful. This is a very good album, and shows that grown up music can be powerful and still rock without being noise.

This belongs in your collection. Order it here. Clear enough for you?

Reviewed November 9, 2005

Shaman (©2002 Arista)

1: Adouma 2: Nothing At All 3: The Game Of Love 4: You Are My Kind 5: Amore (Sexo) 6: Foo Foo 7: Victory Is Won 8: America 9: Sideways 10: Why Don't You & 11: Feels Like Fire 12: Let Me Love You Tonight 13: Aye Aye Aye 14: Hoy Es Adios 15: One Of These Days 16: Novus 17: Untitled

Carlos goes to the well again, and the well ain't as wet as it once was. There's nothing really horribly wrong or offensive about this latest offering from Mister Santana. It's just sort of bland - not that bland is the right word. It's more like "Didn't he do this before with better results?" While the songs are okay, there's nothing that stands out in the way that Rob Thomas did last time with Smooth. The Game of Love got a bit of play, it's an okay song that grew on me after a while. America with P.O.D. was solid, as was the Chad Kroeger tune. All of the songs were okay.

Carlos is a great player, but he's got a limited tool kit, and his bursts of burpy farty notes get a bit tedious after 16 songs (not counting the bone-us tune). I'm not pissing on the guy (besides being terribly rude, it's not all that hygienic), it's just so obvious that he (or the record company) wanted Shaman to repeat the commercial success of Supernatural there wasn't much room to try anything different - although truth be told I didn't think that one was that great either.

Reviewed January 27, 2004

Unfit For Swine (©1996 Word / Epic)

The Songs: Save Me / God Is Too Big / Can't Get Away / We Worship You / Need I Remind You / Take You On / Helping Hand / There Is Someone / I Killed A Man / Don't Have To Take It

I really wanted to like this CD. Dann and David Huff, once the core of Giant, back John and wrote some of the songs. John himself is a pretty good singer, and I've enjoyed a lot of the music from his Petra days.

There are some very good songs here too, but try as I might I can't get into this album. It feels too much like a cookie cutter effort -music by numbers. No heart, no feel. It's good, but it's like flat pop - still has all the ingredients but there's no fizz. Sorry John.

Reviewed November 6, 2000

Lost Horizon (©1988 Alternative Records)

1: Not A Pretty Picture 2: No More Parades 3: Something's Got To Change 4: What Is The Mystery 5: Call Of The Wild 6: Touch 7: Shadow Play 8: Wall Of Tears 9: Love In The Western World 10: Emotional Tourist 11: When Worlds Collide 12: Ghost Train 13: This Sad Music 14: Ship Of Fools 15: Minor Characters 16: Sound Of Waves (12" Version) \

This is a great CD. Steve Scott is an artist his blend of pop and poetry is something few attempt, and even fewer pull off successfully. Produced by Steven Soles, Charlie Peacock, and Mike Roe the music is what really propels the lyrics. Of course those of you who follow Steve for his words will argue the point. But dang it, the band backing Steve includes Aaron Smith on drums, Mike Roe on guitar, Mark Tootle on keyboards – all from 77’s. A couple of songs feature the guitar work of a guy named John Flanagan who had that 80s sound down cold.

I wish the lyrics had been included with this, but you can’t have everything. There are some wonderful songs in here. Steve can sure write a tune, and paint an image. If you can find this one it’s totally worth the effort. Sure some of the music is dated, but it’s done so well that it doesn’t feel stale or flat at all.

Of the sixteen songs here, I’d be hard pressed to pull out a favourite, seriously. I’ll admit to being partial to the lead off track, but No More Parades on through to Sound of Waves are all great.

Really.

I wish I’d known about this one fifteen years ago.

Reviewed February 25, 2004

Feeling Strangely Fine (©1998 MCA)

1: Closing Time 2: Singing In My Sleep 3: Made To Last 4: Never You Mind 5: Secret Smile 6: DND 7: Completely Pleased 8: This Will Be My Year 9: All Worked Out 10: California 11: She Spreads Her Wings 12: Gone To The Movies

In the late 90's Semisonic was poised to conquer the rock world. The album opens with a kick ass one two combination. Although the band doesn't deliver a knockout punch, the boys jab away for the rest of the album, and don't miss much. The record buying public loved their stuff, but for whatever reason the boys were never given a rematch, and were more or less forced into retirement from the public eye.

Which is sad - this was really good stuff; and this album does have legs - after all here I am years later writing about it. But you know, a funny thing happens whenever I pick this album up. I immediately think about the first two songs, and dismiss the rest of the album - then when I put it on I'm reminded about how good all of the songs are. Then I'll put it away and only remember the first couple of songs.

Reviewed May 21, 2005

Vavoom! (©2000 Interscope)

1: Pennsylvania 6-5000 2: Jumpin' East Of Java 3: Americano 4: If You Can't Rock Me 5: Gettin' In The Mood 6: Drive Like Lightning (Crash Like Thunder) 7: Mack The Knife 8: Caravan 9: The Footloose Doll 10: From Here To Eternity 11: That's The Kind Of Sugar Papa Likes 12: '49 Mercury Blues 13: Jukebox 14: Gloria

I really really liked Mister Setzer’s previous effort Dirty Boogie, Vavoom! has many of the same ingredients but doesn’t pack the same punch. When he’s on though he’s really on, and you can hear the magic. Songs like “Drive Like Lightning” and “’49 Mercury Blues” are smoking tunes. Less successful are songs like “Gettin’ in the Mood” and “Mack the Knife”. Perhaps it’s the pseudo techno-sampling Brian and company interject into some of the standards.

You got to hand it to the man though, he’s a hell of a player and has managed to keep the swing rockabilly music alive. The world needs more throw backs.

Reviewed July 28, 2005

More Miserable Than You'll Ever Be (©1990 Alternative)

1: Miserable 2: U U U U 3: The Treasure in You 4: Come & Gone 5: Jesus (live) 6: I Can't Get Over It (live) 7: What Was In That Letter (vocal rehearsal) 8: Do It For Love (stadium mix) 9: Don't Say Goodbye (demo) 10: Tattoo 11: Miserable (cover version)

Is this a 77's album? Is it a Mike Roe solo release? The answer isn't really important, although it does make for fun in filing the dang thing. This came out the same year as Sticks and Stones making 1990 a good year for sevens fans. Despite is rather pastiche nature More Miserable Than You'll Ever Be is more than a collection of songs culled together to make an album's worth of material. Many of the songs are alternate versions of songs that appeared on the infamous Island record; not that I'm complaining, they're great songs. The album opens and closes with "Miserable", a song that has grown increasingly on me over the years, the later version featuring Larry Tagg, and Mike Urbano of Bourgeois Tagg fame, which is the weaker of the two. "U U U U" is Mike having a blast with his boogie woogie side. "Treasure in You" plays on Mike's emotional vocals. The guy can pack more pain into a note than any singer I've ever heard. It's a haunting song. A song which segues nicely into Come & Gone, a sparse song that sounds as fresh fourteen years later as it did when it was released.

Are you picking up a trend?

Mike Roe is amazing, and I know that when I start to gush it can get embarrassing for the reader, but I really mean it here. This guy is the real deal. What does he get for his efforts? Fame? Fortune? Endorsement deals for Pizza Pops? Nope. He toils away to an ever decreasing fan base. How does this happen?

This is a hell of a record considering it was a collection of new and used. Of course I'm too late to help catapult this collection to teenage stardom. I can at least try and make amends.

Reviewed February 23, 2004

Fun With Sound (©2004 Fools of the World)

1: Gone In A Moment 2: A Quiet Little Place 3: My World Inside 4: Thank You For Your Dreams 5: Say So Long To Your Sad Old Love Song 6: Ride The Waves 7: Glory Train 8: Guadalupe 9: L'Orbis/Jack Spoiler 10: I'm Gonna Run To The City Of Refuge

With age comes wisdom, or as Mike puts it, "A fool and his time are soon parted." It's been almost 15 years since the last 7&7iS project. This time around the songs are all new, and features the amazing playing of Mark Harmon, who is to bass what Mike is to guitar, what cold is to a slurpee.

For those who have been following the adventures of Mike and Mark, Fun with Sound takes the more cohesive moments of Orbis and fleshes them out into pop songs. Mike's voice gets better with age - he can pack more emotional punch into his phrasing than just about any other artist I can think of - he's the real deal.

In terms of standout tracks, the album is full of killer tunes, ranging from pop / jazz / folk / 77's noise influenced songs - but I'd have to give the nod to "L'Orbis/Jack Spoiler" as the most fun with sound on the album.

If you haven't heard these guys you're missing out on some absolutely freaking killer stuff. Really.

Reviewed May 13, 2005

Shadow King (©1991 Atlantic)

1: What Would It Take 2: Anytime, Anywhere 3: Once Upon A Time 4: Don't Even Know I'm Alive 5: Boy 6: I Want You 7: This Heart Of Stone 8: Danger In The Dance Of Love 9: No Man's Land 10: Russia

Back in 1991 while Lou and Mick were at odds, both released albums. Foreigner came out with the Bad Company flavoured Unusual Heat, and Lou came out with Shadow King. This wasn’t solo Lou, it was a band effort. Bruce Turgon, Vivian Campbell, and Kevin Valentine rounded out the line-up. It was an album that was completely unknown to me until a few weeks ago. What the heck? An album with Lou and Vivian? How is it that this stiffed? It was 1991, rock and roll was still kicking ass and taking names. It must have been horrible. Always a sucker for a challenge, I found myself a copy.

Who knows what would have happened with Lou and Vivian if this album had blown wide open. It’s a solid AOR effort, and while there aren’t any immediate classics, the whole album is pretty good. It’s a cooker all the way through, and Lou was in fine voice. The man has been through the wringer over the last 15 years and his voice is a shadow (ooh pun alert) of what it once was – but there was a time when there were very few who could hold a candle to the man. I’d argue that his is one of the most immediately recognizable voices in rock and roll. He was mailing in his efforts here either.

The band was aptly named. With Lou behind the mic, obvious comparisons to Foreigner would be inevitable. I suppose the guys figured being in the shadows wouldn’t be too bad. Sadly, they ended up being buried in the dark with no light source. The band would only release one album. Mick and Lou kissed and made up and Lou and Bruce would rejoin Foreigner, who had a bad year in 1991 too. Vivian would hang his hat with Def Leppard.

This was a pleasant surprise, I ’m glad it got to see a little light of day around my place.

Reviewed April 28, 2006

Ambition (©1987 Atlantic)

1: No Such Thing 2: Dangerous Game 3: The Weight Of The World 4: Ambition 5: Ever Since The World Began 6: Are You Ready For Me 7: Somewhere In The Night 8: Love You Too Much 9: The Outsider 10: Lay Them Down

When this first came out in 1987 I saw it in the bin, and thought to myself “Hey, there’s a new Tommy Shaw album. I’ll buy it next week when I get paid." Well, that was my one and only chance as when I went to pick it up, it was gone. Fast forward 18 years, and NEH Records (plug time. Great people! Fast service, fair prices) finally got it in stock. But then didn’t have it, and then got it again. So here I am listening fresh to old stuff.

Tommy Shaw’s third solo album found him on a new label, and collaborating with producer Terry Thomas. While there aren’t any spectacular songs like “Girls with Guns” (dated now, but in 84 it was a monster to me) and “Kiss Me Hello” from his debut, and Remo’s Theme (What if) from his second album – Ambition is a more cohesive work than it’s predecessors, but it went down faster than a bride on her wedding day.

So how does it hold up? Um ... it holds up better than eye glitter and leg warmers, but it is a pretty dated piece of work. But then again, it was the 80’s – if that can be submitted as a defense. At least Tommy didn’t resort to cheesy drum machine patterns. For much of the album Tommy is pushing the upper limits of his range, and yeah the guy can belt out a tune, but at the upper register he often sounds forced and shrill.

It deserved a better fate, but when I stack this against a lot of the rock from 87, there just isn’t anything that you can pull off and point to as a barn burner, something that would make you really want to have this. It is a solid album, and for Tommy Shaw fans this is one of his better solo efforts.

Of course a couple of years later he would do much better with Damn Yankees.

Reviewed January 10, 2006

Influence (©2007 VH1 Classics)

1: Summer Breeze (Seals & Crofts) 2: Time of the Season (Zombies) 3: Your Move (Yes) 4: I Am A Rock (Simon & Garfunkel) 5: Lucky Man (Emerson, Lake & Palmer) 6: The Sound Of Silence (Simon & Garfunkel) 7: California Dreamin' (Mamas & The Papas) 8: On A Carousel (Hollies) 9: Dirty Work (Steely Dan) 10: For What It's Worth (Buffalo Springfield) 11: Dance With Me (Orleans)

I suppose the reason artists resort to recording an album of covers is two fold. First to pay homage to the songs that influenced (groan) them, and second – gives them a break form having to write anything new.

Considering how long it’s been since the last Shaw Blades album I would have thought there’d be new material in the hopper, and I’d also hoped (against hope it would seem) that Tommy had gotten the whole album of covers thing out of his system with the less than inspiring Styx covers album.

Oh well. I was playing this and trying to have a good listen when the wife walked by, stopped for a few moments, then looked at me with that look she reserves for people who park in handi-capped spaces “Jevon, you didn’t spend money on this did you?” I mumbled something like, “Hmm mumble hrumph.” Which was as close to saying “Yes” without saying it out loud.

Now let me say in my defense, I have been a Tommy Shaw fan for more years than I want to admit. Ever since I heard “Shooz” back in 1976. But this album, isn’t anything more than a vanity project for two talented musicians (very talented). I'll stop short of suggesting it could have been titled Effluence, after all these guys can play, and it's a decent sounding recording. The songs are pleasant enough, and there are even some moments where I went, "Ooh that was cool." But overall. this album is something I’ll listen to a couple of times, maybe – and then put it downstairs. Like drinking and driving – perhaps these guys shouldn’t have recorded while under the influence either.

PS, Tommy, in case you ever read this, April Wine actually covered “I am a Rock” a few years ago. Your version was better, but that's not really a glowing endorsement.

Reviewed November 11, 2007

At The Top Of Their Lungs (©1992 Intense)

Tracks: When Secrets Cry Out Loud / Livin' For My Lord / Borderline / Give Me An Answer (Remix) / Straight Between The Eyes / Find A Way / Shout / Little Liar (Luci) / Media Mania / In Your Face (Extended Version) / Showdown / Never Give Up / When The Love Is Gone / Winners Or Losers

Ah, hair metal. Gotta love this stuff once in a while (well, at least I do at any rate). This is a hybrid album features Ken Tamplin a big haired, big lunged singer who could really belt ‘em out, as well as play a mean guitar. This collection pulls tunes from a couple of albums from Shout, and some tunes from a couple of his solo efforts. The songs are great ear candy, and showcase some monster shredding. Ken sings so high my dog barks when I put this on. Oddly enough after a few songs in a row it gets noisy (I must be getting old, I never thought I’d see the day).

Still, I like this one, and aside from a truly horrible drum track on the remixed Give Me An Answer there really isn’t a runt in the litter (on the headphones it doesn't sound as bad - go figure). If you miss the halcyon days of rock and miss big guitars, gang vocals, and pounding drums this is great stuff. Sure some of it is pretty dated now – but it’s still fun to put on and crank it to eleven.

Reviewed June 10, 2002

No Borders Here (©1984 Duke Street)

The Waitress / I Muse Aloud / Dancing Class / Extra Executives / You Don't Need / Symmetry (The Way Things Have To Be) / Follow Me / Mimi On The Beach / Map Of The World (Part 1)

Jane is one of the most amazing vocalists I’ve ever heard. Her voice truly is an instrument. I’m not usually totally engrossed by Jane’s albums, but each musical landscape has one or two killer tracks that more than makes up for the quirky songs that don’t work for me.

One has to understand that Jane is an artist, and she approaches pop music with equal doses of reverence and dissonance. When she’s on she’s beautiful - I defy you to listen to a song like You Don’t Need and not be enthralled. Of course, this was the album that featured Mimi On The Beach, perhaps one of the coolest and most interesting seven-minute pop songs ever.

When she’s off in her creative artistic wanker mode the results walk the line strange and unlistenable.

I’m a fan. I may not like all of it, but she’s got me hooked.

Reviewed April 4, 2003

Seconds Of Pleasure by (©1993 RCA)

I Can Feel It / Sylvie / Cellar Of Dreams / Small Mercy / It's Only Love / Misunderstood / Life Can Be Fatal / The Unhappiest Man / Walkmans And Magnums / Streetwalker Song / My Prayer / Unconscious

Seconds of Pleasure finds Jimme O'Neill and the band in fine form. I hate to use phrases like "brilliant" or "wonderful" to describe a recording, but both fit when describing this band. There's something about these guys that is amazing. Songs like "Cellar Of Dreams", and "Unconscious" are haunting. Heck just every song this time out is excellent and those that aren't are really good - which doesn't happen too often. As always Jimme's voice is charged with emotion and integrity. One of those bands you wish everyone knew about.

Reviewed December 12, 2001

The Silencers Receiving (©1999 Uncanny Records)

1: Utopian Space Bible 2: Receiving 3: Incredible Creature 4: Psychik Magnet 5: Partytime In Heaven 6: Halucinogenocide 7: China Soldiers 8: For Those Who Have Everything 9: Zen Angel 10: Flies In The Waste 11: Pharmaceuticals

I’ve enjoyed these guys since their first album, and it took me many years to finally land a copy of Receiving. I really like the album, but it’s not without its foibles. For those who care about who does what, long time guitarist Cha Burns, whose atmospheric chunka chunka style I so enjoyed had departed the band. Actually just about everyone who was on the earlier albums is gone except for longtime front man Jimme O’Neill. His daughter Aura who sang some backing vocals on So Be It, is now in the band. I’m all for nepotism – why not? Aura has an interesting voice, and she provides some exceptionally haunting layers to many of the songs. Sadly she had to step out in front on “Partytime in Heaven” a truly horrible song, and does her a major disservice. It a song even Paula Abdul would have a hard time finding positive things to say about. She’s marginally better on “Pharmaceuticals” which is more breezy in nature, and suits her.

The real surprise to me was the strength of Jimme’s guitar playing. He can really crank it, which I wasn’t prepared for. There are some really fine moments on this album, one of my favourites being the musically odd “Incredible Creature” which mixes a dance beat with fiddle, and spoken word. It’s great.

It’s a sad thing when bands like The Silencers were never able to catch the big break, while bands like Cold Play, Radio Head, and others seemed to ride their musical coattails. I suppose some iteration of the band is still active, but there’s not a lot of good information available out there.

You can still find their stuff, and although Receiving isn’t their best work, it’s still worth a listen if you can snag a copy.

Reviewed May 3, 2006

Trouble At Home (©1983 Rewind / Sony)

1: Trouble At Home 2: Dear Abby 3: Goin' Out On The Town 4: Good Lovin' Don't Come Easy 5: I Stand Accused 6: Thank God For Rock'N'Roll 7: When A Man Loves A Woman 8: Turn Back The Big Machine 9: Holdin' On (Barely)

Silver Condor's lead singer Joe Cerisano introduced me to the band. Their live album (look below) piqued my interest in the these guys so I looked around and bought a copy of their follow-up album. Silver Condor’s second album featured Joe Cerisano and a cast of thousands, since Earl and the other guys had moved on. Recorded in 1983, Joe enlisted players like Clarence Clemons, Rick Derringer, Neal Schon, Steve Plunkett (who would later go on to front the band Autograph) and Waddy Watchel. Talk about bringing in the big guns, it was a little bit like getting the Pope to come over and bless dinner.

It was rock and roll in the classic Journey, Foreigner vein, with Bob Seger boogie woogie thrown in for fun. Big hooks, big sound, without all the big hair and spandex. This album should have been huge. HUGE. Or at least bigger than a bread box, but smaller than a house. “Going Out on the Town” pushes all the right buttons; the first time I heard it, I got this stupid grin on my face. “I Stand Accused” is another straight on 80’s rocker.

While I’ve never been a big fan of “When a Man Loves a Woman” I did like Art Garfunkel’s version from Lefty, but otherwise could take it or leave it. I’ll give Joe full marks for his interpretation, his voice really conveys the emotional power of the song.

The biggest surprise here was the six and a half minute opus “Holdin’ On (Barely)” that features some killer riffs by Neal Schon. Joe belts this one out of the park.

Trouble at Home covered a lot of musical ground, and who knows, maybe that’s why it fell between the cracks. It was just too hard to peg. Fans of 80’s AOR will find plenty to like here. The album is still in print, and is worth a listen.

Reviewed June 16, 2006

Live Across America (©2006 Outta the Woods)

1: It's Over 2: Angel Eyes 3: Standing in the Rain 4: The One You Need 5: We're in Love 6: You Could Take My Heart Away 7: Carolina 8: Sayin' Goodbye 9: For the Sake of Survival 10: Goin' for Broke 11: Long Tall Sally 12: Rip it Up

Live albums are my least favourite way to be introduced to a new band. When Joe wrote me asking if I’d listen to this one, my first reaction was “Oh no!” Before I responded to him, I went to his website Cerisano.com and read up on the band, and listened to a few samples. I was intrigued by what I heard, and I wrote back, saying I’d be willing to give the album a few spins.

A couple of things right off you should be aware of. This is a CDR, and looks like a DIY effort. There are some very minor drop outs here and there, and the editing could have been a little better between tracks. However, if you miss good old fashioned AOR don’t let these tiny foibles throw you off. This is a rock band captured in its element. You could say the band was soaring (groan).

Silver Condor were signed to Columbia records in the early 80’s and released two albums before flying off into the sunset. Live Across America is essentially a live version of their debut. The band is smoking too! Earl Slick is a name I’ve known about for years. He's played with David Bowie, was featured on John Lennon’s Double Fantasy and was the "Slick" in the Phantom Rocker and Slick stuff in the mid 80’s - he was all over the place.

Joe Cerisano is the voice of Silver Condor, and the guy is a killer singer, every so often I hear elements of David Coverdale, Bob Seger and even Dan McCafferty from Nazareth. The songs here are strong, rocking, and hold up surprisingly well. I can see why Joe’s proud of his old band. After nearly 25 years, this is really quite good, and doesn’t sound as dated as you might think.

This is classic rock and roll, and that never goes out of style. It's available at CD Baby, one of the coolest little shops on the net.

Reviewed June 16, 2006

The Best Of Simon & Garfunkel (©1999 Columbia/Legacy)

1: The Sound Of Silence 2: Homeward Bound 3: I Am A Rock 4: The Dangling Conversation 5: Scarborough Fair/Canticle 6: 59th Street Bridge Song (Feelin' Groovy) 7: A Hazy Shade Of Winter 8: At The Zoo 9: Fakin' It 10: Mrs. Robinson 11: Old Friends/Bookends 12: The Boxer 13: Bridge Over Troubled Water 14: Cecilia 15: The Only Living Boy In New York 16: Song For The Asking 17: El Condor Pasa (If I Could) 18: For Emily, Wherever I May Find Her [Live] 19: America 20: My Little Town

Hard to imagine that some of these songs are approaching 40 years. Pretty impressive, and also pretty scary to see how far music has broadened it's boundaries. It's normal to hear this stuff played right alongside some of the newer adult contemporary crap, er - songs out today. Go back forty years and try and imagine the radio playing a new song from these guys and then playing some roaring hit from the 20's. It's an interesting juxtaposition.

Now I've distracted myself. First off let me say that I know there are a lot of other "greatest hits" packages out there, and I'm not going there. Right off I'll admit to being a peripheral fan at best, and never had any of their albums except for their original Greatest Hits lp, and the Central Park concert. So I don't know every song they ever did, nor do I really care that much.

This collection touches all the bases for me. All the songs I was hoping would be here are here, and they wisely omit the Central Park live stuff (I liked it a lot, but it doesn't belong here). Musically many of the arrangements sound dated, but the strength of many of the songs are holding up very well, thank you very much. I was happy to finally have My Little Town on CD, a song I remember liking as a kid.

All said, this is as good as it gets for me.

Reviewed January 28, 2004

Songs From The Capeman (©1997 Warner Bros.)

The Songs: Adios Hermandos / Born In Puerto Rico / Satin Summer Nights / Bernadette / The Vampires / Quality / Can I Forgive Him / Sunday Afternoon / Killer Wants To Go To College / Time Is An Ocean / Virgil / Killer Wants To Go To College II / Trailways Bus

Paul tries his hand at an ambitious concept album. It's a shame that it didn't capture anyone else's imagination. Some of the songs are okay, and there's a nice Latin feel to some of tunes that fits in with the Cuban musical resurgence going on at the moment. But the songs just don't really stand on their own. The rest are a 50's sounding sock hop collection. Having said that there are a couple of songs that sparkle: Can I Forgive Him, and Killer Wants To Go To College; but they are too few and far between to make this album worth having.

I've been trying off an on for a few years to like this album, and so far the best I can do is appreciate it for it's artistic effort. Two stars for trying.

Reviewed November 18, 2001

You're The One (©2000 Warner Bros.)

The Songs: That's Where I Belong / Darling Lorraine / Old / You're The One / The Teacher / Look At That / Seniorita With A Necklace of Tears / Love / Pigs, Sheep and Wolves / Hurricane Eye / Quiet

It's always fun to see what Paul's going to come up with when he releases an album. Most of the time he's spot on; he's really only missed once - witness his last effort the widely uneven Songs from the Capeman.

This time out Paul returns to form. He tells stories, and crafts some pretty good tunes. I don't think this effort will gain him any new fans, but it won't alienate the faithful either. The stand out track is the lead off track. It's one of the most poignant songs he's penned in a long time.

Reviewed November 18, 2001

Simple Plan (©2008)

1. When I'm Gone 2. Take My Hand 3. The End 4. Love Is A Lie 5. Save You 6. Generation 7. Time To Say Goodbye 8. I Can Wait Forever 9. Holding On 10. No Love 11. What If

I have a soft spot for good old fashioned power pop. Be it from my original points of reference: The Cars, Cheap Trick – to the new stuff Good Charlotte, London Calling, and the thousands of EMO sound-a-like wannbees.

Unlike the band’s screaming core of pubescent girls, I really don’t give a shit what the guys look like. This fine Canadian quintet is to pop what Nickelback is to rock. Hooks, more hooks, and another hook just to make sure you didn’t miss the hook the first time.

For an album I got a kick out of, I seem to be spending a lot of timing crapping all over the guys for being good at generic power pop. Sorry about that. If it was that easy everyone and their dog would be able to sell millions of records – and it just isn’t that easy to sell records. Ask Kevin Federline.

Now to be honest, this is my first real exposure to the band so I haven’t packed any baggage regarding the guys. For the most part this is enjoyable stuff. The guys are mixing elements of techno, dance and power pop (I will not refer to this as punk or whatever the heck it is) – and the guys are infectious throughout the album. I'm guessing that this is their "serious": album, because only serious artist release self titled albums. Or as us wordy guys say it's their eponymous release. They even emphasize their seriousness by cussing. “Love is Lie” is one of those ‘heard it before’ songs that is really catchy right up to the “And do you think about me when he fucks you?” line, which I suppose is the height of teen angst, but just sounds stupid. Then there’s “Generation” which has the cheesiest keyboard opening since Europe’s “The Final Countdown” almost 25 years ago. Unless you're Weird Al, it doesn't work.

Still, for all that if the band’s mission is to keep it simple and stick to the basics of the good old fashioned one-two punch of fun hook laden pop the band more than succeeds.

Oh, and in case you were wondering, yes this was a positive review.

Reviewed February 21, 2008

Sixpence None the Richer (©1998 Squint)

Tracks: We Have Forgotten / Anything / The Waiting Room / Kiss Me / Easy To Ignore / Puedo Escribir / I Can't Catch You / The Lines Of My Earth / Sister, Mother / I Won't Stay Long / Love / Moving On / There She Goes

Before I start I will acknowledge that although I'm not especially thrilled with this one, there are a lot of okay moments, almost enough to warrant three stars at least - but not today. Leigh Nash's voice is strangely appealing. It has a breathy whispery quality that manages to be strong yet vulnerable. She's backed by one of those nearly ubiquitous modern jangly guitar bands that blends in well with everything out there.

Now given some of the talent twiddling the knobs and dials this should have been a spectacular effort. Guys like Bob Clearmountain and Tom Lord-Alge don't come cheap, and Steve Taylor himself has a pretty good track record. Still, the showcase is the single There She Goes, which got a lot of play and for good reason. It's a good tune - but not written by either Slocum or Nash. Hmm. Although Kiss Me, the other pretty good song here was.

Now that I've been a grumpy old fart, let me say that if I find more stuff by the band cheap I'll probably buy it - although I'd be none the richer for it - come on, how could I resist?

Reviewed November 8, 2002

Divine Discontent (©2002 Reprise)

Once bitten, twice shy? (Continuing in my grumpy old fart vein) Well, I got this one for free, so no matter what I think I got my money's worth. I really want to like this band, I really do. It has all the ingredients, but when they all get mixed together it's not all that appetizing.

I guess I'm being hard on the poor kids, but they get such overblown press I guess part of my reaction is knee jerk contrariness (is that a word?). When I actually manage to be objective there are actually quite a few interesting songs here, and in small doses this is pretty good stuff. Over a whole album's worth of songs little Miss Nash's thin voice gets unbelievably irritating (told you I was being contrary).

Here are the plus bits: Tonight, Down and Out of Time (really cool song), Don't Dream It's Over (not as good as the original), Paralyzed, and I've Been Waiting.

The minus bit. Haven't you been reading?

Honestly, when taken track by track there are a lot of very good songs, so why is it that as an album it doesn't hang together?It must be me.

Or not.

Hey, if you really like Sixpence, good for you. Really, I'm happy for you.

Reviewed March 8, 2004

Am I Pretty? (©1998 Word Records)

1: Am I Pretty? 2: Emily's Love Song 3: Face Of An Angel 4: My Mirror 5: Nondescript 6: Wizard Of Id 7: Shelter 8: See Through Me 9: Cycle Me Through 10: Starbuck's Girl 11: Here Comes The Bugs 12: Christ Will Save You 13: Cycle Me Through (Subversive Remix)

At times this has overtones of Chris Cornell and Soundgarden – particularly on the lead off track. Most of the time it’s generic grunge noise, mixed up with some Spin Doctor’s styled funkadelic retro. Which is okay when I’m in the mood.

There are some pretty cool songs here. Face of an Angel is their best track in my opinion. It’s not a blistering song, but it’s got a charm that raises it above the other songs on this album. Then there’s the funky Black Crows thing going on with My Mirror – it’s so much like Hard to Handle it’s embarrassing. But what the hell, if you’re gonna borrow might as well borrow from good source material.

Then out of the blue comes the best coffee song I’ve ever heard. Starbucks Girl. I can’t believe the chain hasn’t picked this up and made the boys a gigabazillion (that’s way more than 100) dollars.

I’m feeling more charitable today than I was the other day when I flamed the couple of Black Eyed Sceva CDs I got the same day. This is a pretty good album, and gets over the hump due to Face of an Angel and the novelty Starbucks Girl.

Reviewed July 2, 2003

Overbluecity (©2000 Word Records)

1: Viva Satellite 2: That Something 3: Breathe 4: Please Don't Go Away 5: What God Does 6: Fall Forever 7: The Girl In Your Picture 8: Wait For Me 9: Under Your Mercy 10: Overbluecity 11: That's What You Say

I'll be the first to admit I was probably overly charitable to their last album. Am I Pretty? was okay, but I was trying to be nice, and thought it was good enough to rate it as such. However based on the strength of that album I wasn't actively looking for anything else by these guys. If I hadn't stumbled upon Overbluecity at a price too good to pass up, I'd have missed this one.

The couple of years between albums was good for the boys. They must have holed themselves away while they honed their craft and in the process emerged as a really decent band. The improvements are immediately obvious - the music is heads and shoulders above anything on Am I Pretty? There's a real cohesive feel to the album this time around, and it carries through all of the tracks. There isn't a weak song here.

Lyrically these guys aren't going to win any contests, but last time I checked they were a rock band, not poets. Music needs melody and emotion, and what they're doing works on both fronts. Besides, I spent my formative years arguing with my parents that I didn't listen to the lyrics anyway. An unfortunate habit that's kind of stuck with me.

Of course what happens to these guys after all their hard work? Nothing! You probably haven't heard of them, which is just about par for the course. Talk about your great reward.

Oh well, if any of the guys happen to read this - hey you blew me away. That's gotta count for something.

Reviewed November 10, 2004

The Very Best of The Smiths (©2001)

01 Panic 02 The Boy With The Thorn In His Side 03 Heaven Knows I'm Miserable Now 04 Ask 05 Bigmouth Strikes Again 06 How Soon Is Now? 07 This Charming Man 08 What Difference Does It Make? 09 William, It Was Really Nothing 10 Some Girls Are Bigger Than Others 11 Girlfriend In A Coma 12 Hand In Glove 13 There Is A Light That Never Goes Out 14 Please, Please, Please, Let Me Get What I Want 15 That Joke Isn't Funny Anymore 16 I Know It's Over 17 Sheila Take A Bow 18 I Started Something I Couldn't Finish 19 Still Ill 20 Shakespeare's Sister 21 Shoplifters Of The World Unite 22 Last Night I Dreamt That Somebody Loved Me 23 Stop Me If You've Heard This One Before

I've always wanted to get something by The Smiths, and figured a best of collection would do me just fine. But there was a Best of The Smiths, another Best of ... then a Best of the Singles ... so I settled for The Very Best of The Smiths.

My initial thought after listening to it the first time was this album was 22 songs too long - other than the brilliant "How Soon is Now?" this was all pretty standard 80's stuff, and not all that good 80's stuff at that either. Now before you send me mail telling me I'm off my nut, I'll concede that people fall into two camps regarding The Smiths. You either like 'em, and you like 'em a lot - or you can't see what the fuss is all about.

As I write this I've been listening to this album off and on for the better part of a week - I'm sure if I listen to it for another month I'll be completely converted. However, music shouldn't be that much work. There's a lot written about the guitar textures of Johnny Marr - and I'll give him his due. There are times when I really like his work, and I can hear his influence on others. Morrissey's voice is cool and irritating at the same time. I thought it was Judas Priest's music that was supposed to make you suicidal? I guess if you don't like metal you listen to these guys. However, I'll grant that Morrissey has a great sense of humour at times. I just about pissed myself when I heard "Some Girls and Bigger than Others". "Girlfriend in a Coma" is pretty funny, but I have to sheepishly admit that I like Mojo's cover better than the original.

Okay, now that you probably have no idea what the heck I'm talking about let me say that although I was not blown away by The Smiths I can say that there are some pretty cool songs here, but I still can't see what the fuss was all about.

Reviewed March 7, 2008

Sibling Revelry: The Best Of The Smothers Brothers (©1988 Rhino)

Tracks: Pretoria / Tom Dooley / Chocolate / Laredo / Daniel Boone / The Saga Of John Henry / Gnus / Crabs Walk Sideways / Jenny Brown / The Military Lovers / Mediocre Fred / Mom Always Liked You Best / You Can Call Me Stupid / I Talk To The Trees / Hangman / Cabbage / Michael, Row The Boat Ashore / You Didn't Come In

The Smothers Brothers are probably the funniest musicians I've ever heard. Period. I was just a little kid when they were on top of the world in the late sixties. Tom was my hero then and he is today. Tom Smothers is a genius pure and simple (heck a number of years ago I got an autographed photo for my birthday). It's an absolute shame they aren't widely known. Oh sure there was a minor resurgance in the late 80's that brought out the Yo-Yo man nonsense - but their comeback was short lived. Variety shows don't fly anymore.

This collection should have called the Pretty Goodest of the Smothers Brothers. They have some great material that never made the cut (one of my best friends dads had all their records and we listened to them all the time). If the sound quality of the CD is any indication, the master tapes for their old albums aren't aging well at all. Still what's here is great. They sing and play the kind of folk music that was popular in the early sixties, it's okay for all that, but it's the banter that makes this.

There are some genuinly funny songs too: Chocolate, Mediocre Fred, and Hangman are my favourites. I've had this since 1988 and have been playing it a lot lately for my two sons. I want them to know what funny really is.

Here's hoping that one day their other albums are re-issued before they disintigrate and are lost forever.

Reviewed January 3, 2002

Candy From a Stranger (©1998 Columbia)

1: Creatures Of Habit 2: I will Still Be Laughing 3: Close 4: See You Later 5: No Time For Waiting 6: Blood Into Wine 7: Lies Of Hate 8: Draggin' the Lake 9: New York Blackout 10: The Game 11: Cradle Chain

Completing the band’s downward spiral to obscurity Candy From a Stranger was the final dance in the band’s romance with success. There must have been a lot of pressure to do an album’s worth of “Runaway Train” knock offs instead of releasing another album of mid-tempo angst pop. Judging by the songs here, they opted to go mid-tempo, although there are enough jangly bits to evoke the country grunge ghosts.

The late 90’s were full of interesting pop acts who were taking the edginess of grunge and marrying the pop sensibilities of the 70’s and were filling the airwaves. Soul Asylum broke through big time with their aforementioned runaway hit. But on balance this is an enjoyable but forgettable album. There are moments of where the band gets close to delivering the goods, but mostly it wallows in the middle of nowhere. The notes are there, and I found myself really wanting it to work. It’s not that this is a bad collection of songs. It’s enjoyable and at times very good, but in the end it was just so much more of the same old song and dance I’ve heard so many times before.

Reviewed October 13, 2005

1955 (©1998 Jackson / Rubio)

(Disc A) 1: Rebel Syphon 2: Universal Two-Day City 3: Pack Of Goons 4: May My Tongue Be Stuck Up On The Roof 5: Velodrome? 6: Prophecies 7: Old Dominion 8: Straight From Neptune 9: Double-O Javelin 10: Blunderbuss 11: Thrown Down 12: Cherry Stereo Chariot 13: Moonbeam? 14: All Men Are Grass 15: Glowing Funeral 16: As The Rain 17: Transubstantial Peel-Out

(Disc AA) 1: See His Face 2: More Of The Illusory Doorprize 3: Gorilla In The Mix 4: April 42nd 5: Numb Live & Looser 6: Quasars? 7: Subwoof Ape Job 8: Yellow Tooth Yooth 9: THE Auriginal Manglist 10: Down With Sounds 11: All Lids 12: Some True Blue Gum From Seething Teeth 13: Turn On The Solar 14: Lazy Rattlesnake

Holy crap - two discs, over 140 minutes of sound (see how I didn't say music?). Man, am I ever at a loss with these guys. I mean, what the heck motivates young men to make an album that sounds like an extremely long protracted R2D2 fart? Hey guys, this is time I'll never get back. Disc one alone features an eleven minute long piece called Glowing Funeral. Which is apropos, since I felt like putting a gun to my head at about 8 minutes (I wonder if Judas Priest fans should listen to this stuff?) In the midst of all this noise, there emerges occasionally some real genuine music - I mean really good stuff. Yeah, it's raw, but when the lads put their collective minds to it, they can rock out with the best of them.

The second disc blows out of the gates with the wicked See His Face, and although there are electronic farts aplenty, the second disc has a lot more alternative rock, and quite frankly if Soul Junk ever decided to play it straight and forego their artsy fartsy tendencies and get a decent A&R man they could cull a really good album (yeah, it would be short) from all of this clutter and noise that makes up 1955.

Now you're asking, "Hey Jevon, if you hate this stuff so much why give them three stars?" Easy, I have to respect art when I see it. I may not like it, but make no bones about it, they're pushing boundaries, and they don't sound like every other wanker band out there.

So although a lot of the 140 plus minutes of noise may suck, they suck with their own style.

Reviewed May 24, 2005

1956 (©2000 Five Minute Walk)

Tracks: Enter Venus / Ill-M-I / How We Flow / Sarpodyl / 3po Soul / Life To False Metal / K.I.N.G.D.O.M.O.G.O.D. / Eyes, Externally / Monkeyflower And Yarrow / Judah / Pumpfake / Lordy Child (Say Abba) / Sea Monters And Gargoyles / The Peacemaker / Dry Bones / Sweet To My Soul (White Hot Apostle Mix) / Red Top (Featuring Pish Posh)

This is some totally weird ass shit (oh crap I used a bad word in a Christian review). It's noisy, irritating, and probably one of the most creative albums I've heard since, well since 1955 by the same band. I don't know why I bought this one - there's something about this stuff that's strangely magnetic. It's like spending a Saturday afternoon watching racing on TV waiting for an accident. Every so often a great tune emerges and I sit up and listen, but then the songs go racing along and I wait for another crash.

This is bleeding edge stuff, really, but I'm too old and mired in my love for dinosaur rock and straight ahead tunes to really get off on this stuff. If you like your music stuffed into a blender and liquefied and then poured into little jello molds you'll love this stuff. Having basically blown this off musically (I told you I'm not hip - is that the right word?) let me add that Glen Galaxy is an amazing writer; his ability to abuse and twist the English language into beautiful (did I just say beautiful?) streaming poetry is something you have to pay attention to hear.

Reviewed January 4, 2003

The Best of Split Enz (©1993 Chrysalis)

Titus / Late Last Night / Matinee Idyll / Lovey Dovey / Time For A Change / Crosswords / Charley / Another Great Divide / Bold As Brass / My Mistake / I See Red / I Got You / One Step Ahead / History Never Repeats / Six Months In A Leaky Boat / Message To My Girl

The first thing that struck me was that this was more of a "pretty good" of Split Enz than a best of collection. When viewed as a career snapshot it works better. Split Enz was a quirky artsy fartsy band who managed to produce some true pieces of pop art while indulging themselves. I'm a fan of Neil, and to a slightly lesser degree Tim - so by default I'm a fan of Split Enz. Shark Attack is missing which is too bad. If you've only heard songs like I Got You, and Six Months in a Leaky Boat most of this album will be a disappointment. While I appreciate the weirdness of the band, I really like this album from I See Red to the end. The first ten songs I could more or less do without. Still, they were about having weird quirky fun, and even the "bad" showcase a band having fun with itself.

Reviewed December 12, 2001

Lackluster(©2004 Tooth and Nail)

1: Really Something 2: Not About To 3: Sweeter Than Me 4: All You Can Give 5: Not All Bad 6: Let Me In 7: The Boy Who Stopped The World 8: Solace 9: Pillbox 10: The Kindest Days 11: Colorblind 12: What Sorry Could Be 13: Genevieve 14: A Friend I Had

Here's a young fellow who's been quietly making music for a number of years, first with his band Poor Old Lu, and of late as a solo artist. Of the lad's band work I am totally in the dark - I know a number of people who think it's the dog's bark (somehow that doesn't have the same ring as "cat's meow" - but I hate cats), but I haven't got any (hint hint).

Lackluster is a singer songwriter showcase. Aaron's voice has an earnest quality that really suits his sparse musical arrangements. This is an album I liked right away - it's not a barn burner, but the songs have a restrained quality that hints to the passion underlying the material. It's as if Aaron is saying, "hey, look if I wanted I could have blown the doors off the barn if I wanted to ... but I didn't feel like it - today).

The only down side here really is the world is full of really really good singer songwriters, and it's not that Aaron doesn't have the chops - he just hasn't had the luck or push.

So for the time being he's like a shared secret. Those of us who know about him smile and nod. The only thing lackluster about this album will no doubt be sales - and that's too bad.

Reviewed May 2, 2005

Shadows (©1997 Organic)

Tracks: Thin And Leaner / Lodging / In Sultry Places / Can You Feel / Me Mine / On And On / Stygian / Iron Grey / Ignorant Side / Come Patmos / Should Have / Tell

I'm still trying to like this one. There should be a lot to like here. The sound is rooted firmly in 80's art rock. You can pick out bits and pieces of The Cure, David Bowie, Roger Taylor (his solo stuff rocked!) The Church and even bits of the B52s. All sounds I like from musicians I like. I've listened to it a number of times, and it doesn't work for me.

Weird, I guess it's like a velvet painting of Elvis. Sure it's the King, but he's painted on velvet for crying out loud - that's just not right.

Reviewed November 1, 2002

Additional December 20, 2002 - someone must have peed in my shreddies when I wrote this one. Remember, two stars means that this is a "Fair" album. Not good, not poor, just fair. I'm listening to is as I write this, and dang it if it still doesn't work for me. Weird.

Full Circle (©2002 Galaxy 21)

1: Live 2: When You're Listening 3: Always On My Mind 4: Full Circle 5: Song You Can't Tune Out 6: Bound To The Unknown 7: Rocket To The Moon 8: Is There Any More To Life 9: Heaven To The Heart 10: This Day Is Mine 11: The Hill

I got this one by accident (don’t ask, it will reveal entirely too much about my peculiar purchasing habits) and it’s a far different experience than the last one I had with the Clash of Symbols album. Of course to add to the fun in filing this CD, it goes in the Mike Stand bin, rather than in the Clash of Symbols bin. I guess this is a transition album - neither fish nor fowl? Well, I can tell you right it off, it’s not foul. It’s pretty good, in fact it’s a highly enjoyable pop experience. It’s just that it’s kind of bland, and just sort of plays along. When I’m in the mood I tap my foot, and bob my head. When I’m not, it just blends in with the background noise. Not that there’s anything wrong with Mike’s solid collection of pop songs.

To help confuse things, this has been getting a lot of play lately, and while it’s a pretty pop album, there just isn’t anything here that makes me want to jump up and down and shout eureka, I have heard the future of pop and his name is Mike Stand. Still I keep playing it over and over. Go figure.

So what am I trying to say here?

Nothing really (see what happens when anyone can have their own website?).

Reviewed November 29, 2004

Photograph: The Very Best of Ringo (©2007)

1. Photograph 2. It Don’t Come Easy 3. You’re Sixteen (You’re Beautiful And You’re Mine) 4. Back Off Boogaloo 5. I’m The Greatest 6. Oh My My 7. Only You (And You Alone) 8. Beaucoups Of Blues 9. Early 1970 10. Snookeroo 11. The No-No Song 12. (It’s All Down To) Goodnight Vienna 13. Hey Baby 14. A Dose Of Rock ’N’ Roll 15. Weight Of The World 16. King Of Broken Hearts 17. Never Without You 18. Act Naturally (with Buck Owens) 19. Wrack My Brain 20. Fading In And Fading Out

Oh I'll catch shit for this. I can almost hear you asking, "You like Ringo Starr?" No. I LOVE Ringo Starr. Okay, let me backtrack a little. I don't have all of his stuff, in fact I don't have much at all. I was just a little kid when when he hit his "commercial" peak, and I wasn't buying albums back then. When he had his "All Starr" thing going on I enjoyed the concept, but it didn't really set me on my ear. The guy can't catch a break. All of the other Beatles are in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame for their contributions to music, but not Ringo. Blondie? Check. Madonna (WTF, how is she rock and roll?) Check. Ringo? ... tap tap tap, is this thing on? Nope. Why not? Because he's Ringo that's why. Even George, whose solo career, no offense to the dearly departed, pretty much sucked huge is in. So, what's a poor boy to do?

Even back in the day it's rumoured a journalist asked John about Ringo saying something like, "What's it like playing with Ringo, the best drummer in the world?" To which John replied, "He's not the best drummer in the Beatles." After the split, Ringo was the first to have George, Paul and John play together on one of his albums - okay, not at the same time, or on the same song - but they were all on the same album.

There were a number of songs I've wanted for a long time: "Photograph", "Back Off Boogaloo", "Oh My My", "The No-No Song", "weight of the World" this collection came out it had them all. So I snagged me a copy. And boy oh boy, for a guy who was supposed to be the "joke" Beatle he sure made some great music. Heck he even wrote a couple of killers too. "It Don't Come Easy" is as good a pop song as there ever was. Yeah, the majority of the songs are from his early albums, but "Weight of the World" is a later song, and is one of my favourites. If I was to be honest of the twenty songs here, there are a few questionable inclusions (filler?) but they're not stinkers so I'll cut him some slack since no one else does.

Despite all the baggage the poor guy is forced to carry around, I've always found myself liking his music. He doesn't have the greatest voice, but it has a certain charm. And when all is said and done if there's one thing Ringo has in abundance it's charm, and for those who have been paying attention he's had a hell of a solo career, and although he may never get into the Hall of Fame on his own merits there's no denying he's had a bigger role in rock and roll than merely being the quirky drummer from the Beatles.

Reviewed March 21, 2008

Liverpool 8 (©2008)

1. Liverpool 8 2. Think About You 3. For Love 4. Now That She's Gone Away 5. Gone Are the Days 6. Give It a Try 7. Tuff Love 8. Harry's Song 9. Pasodobles 10. If It's Love That You Want 11. Love Is 12. R U Ready

I get a lot of grief for liking Ringo Starr. Poor bastard can't seem to get any respect at all. Everyone goes all silly over the solo work of the others, but poor Ringo gets short shrift. Then again he had his heyday in the early 70's as a solo artist - and has been more or less getting by on charm ever since.

So it was a nice surprise when I picked up Liverpool 8 and found myself enjoying the album more than I'd expected. The album leads off with the title track, a deliberately nostalgic tug at the heart strings of those older than me who remember the Beatles when they were actually together. It's a really good song, and pretty much sets the tone for the whole album. Ringo isn't going out of his comfort zone, and all of the songs play to Ringo's quirky voice (which I happen to like) and he's so obviously pushing buttons that I was surprised at how much I actually enjoyed the songs. I gather there was a pissing contest over production as near as I can tell from what I've read about the making of this album. Ringo's long time partnership with Mark Hudson came to an end, and Dave Steward did whatever it is he did to the album as a re-producer.

It's hard to imagine that Ringo is able to collect an old age pension - he must be using "Just for Men" on his beard, because I've got more grey on my chin than he does. Throughout the album there's a youthful quality to the music that has Ringo looking forward as much as he looks back and reminisces.

I know some people (okay, a lot!) don't take Ringo seriously, and that's just par for the course. Chances are the way things are going between Heather and Paul, Ringo may be the last one standing when all is said and done.

Reviewed February 17, 2008

Ringo Starr and his All Starr Band (©1990 Rykodisc)

The Songs:It Don't Come Easy / The No-No Song / Iko Iko / The Weight / Shine Silently / Honey Don't / You're Sixteen / Quarter to Three / Raining In My Heart / Will It Go Round In Circles / Life In The Fast Lane / Photograph

Ringo enlists the help of a few of his friends: Dr. John, Billy Preston, Rick Danko, Joe Walsh, Nils Lofgren, Levon Helm, Jim Keltner, and Clarence Clemons. Overall the album is an example of the whole