The Walter Eugenes (©1991 Ocean)

the songs: He Came / Say You Will / Thousand Tears / Never Changing Heart / Back to the Basics / Deep Blue Sea / Changes / Simply You / What's Going On

An interesting album. Musically it reminds me a bit of Bourgeois Tagg, which is not a bad thing. This album has seen sporadic play on my CD player for a number of years, and it holds up pretty well. It's just that there isn't enough spark to really make it jump out and bite me on the ass. There are a couple of really good tracks, but not enough to push it over the hump. Still, if you like well thought out pop tunes with lyrics a little more meaty than your standard boy meets girl stuff, this is a pretty fair album, one I'm not likely to get rid of anytime soon.

Reviewed August 12, 2000

The Pros and Cons of Hitch Hiking (©1984)

1: 4.30 AM (Apparently They Were Travelling Abroad) 2: 4.33 AM (Running Shoes) 3: 4.37 AM (Arabs with Knives and West German Skies) 4: 4.39 AM (For the First Time Today-Part 2) 5: 4.41 AM (Sexual Revolution) 6: 4.47 AM (The Remains of Our Love) 7: 4.50 AM (Go Fishing) 8: 4.56 AM (For the First Time Today-Part 1) 9: 4.58 AM (Dunroamin, Duncarin, Dunlivin) 10: 5.01 AM (The Pros and Cons of Hitchhiking) 11: 5.06 AM (Every Strangers Eyes) 12: 5.11 AM (The Moment of Clarity)

In 1984 Roger Waters released his first solo album, and enlisted a veritable who's who of talent. Eric Clapton on guitar, David Sanborn on sax, Andy Newmark on drums, Michael Kamen who provided his orchestral chops. I remember hearing and liking the title track - but when I bought the album it just didn't click for me. So I left in on the shelf. I'd occasionally play it - mostly in the background.

Considering my love for The Final Cut, which many argue is the worst Pink Floyd album ever (an album I really got into a couple of years after Pros and Cons was released) it was odd that I never really made an attempt to revisit this album. I'd so thoroughly dismissed this one, that I never gave it a second thought. The other day I was listening to David Gilmour's About Face and made a few comments about how superior it was to Roger's solo attempt. Which got me thinking. Maybe I should listen to it, I mean really listen to it again.

So I cranked it up, and sat back. As I sat there I was struck by how cool this was. This was Roger Waters in all his pseudo-intellectual glory. Heck, throughout the album you can hear him "borrowing" from his past work. Musically this was a continuation of the Final Cut - which for me was great, and for others, is probably not a good thing. The story itself is what it is, I listen to it without really hearing it - which is typical for me. As good as Roger can be, leaning on the "it was all a horrible dream" thing is just weak and lazy. But in the end, so what?

I'm almost 25 years late, but I finally get this album. Better late than never I suppose.

Reviewed February 29, 2008

Radio KAOS (©1987 Columbia)

The Songs: Radio Waves / Who Needs Information / Me Or Him / The Powers That Be / Sunset Strip / Home / Four Minutes / The Tide Is Turning (After Live Aid)

This CD practically lived in my stereo in the late 80’s along with The Final Cut. Roger Waters’ love for the concept album is well known, and on KAOS he marries a rather hokey story about cordless phones, computers and nuclear annihilation through the songs; it worked for me then, but is weaker today. Dare I say it, but if this was released by Pink Floyd it would have sold a bazillion copies. But the chances of those guys getting together are as likely as Don Felder being invited to rejoin The Eagles.

What does still work are the songs, and the running yack provided by Jim Ladd (a renegade DJ fighting against format radio) is kind of fun. Sure some of the stuff is dated – like the Ronald Regan and Margaret Thatcher stuff, but heck it was current once, and in a few more years will feel nostalgic so either way it’ll still work at some level. Songs like "Sunset Strip" and "The Tide Is Turning" are still among my favourite songs.

Reviewed March 15, 2002

Read My Lips (©1984 Capitol ©1995 BGO Records)

1: You're Still Laughing 2: Nobody's Perfect 3: Who Loves You Baby 4: I Don't Even Know Your Name 5: Who Said Life Would Be Pretty 6: Thrill Of The Kill 7: Saved My Life 8: Caribbean Sunsets 9: Star Of The Show 10: I Could've Been Somebody

Oh my, the power of nostalgia, and the strength of good old fashioned AOR. Fee has a great voice, and his past work with David Foster with The Tubes set the stage for this 1984 killer. Yes, killer. Twenty years ago, this album lived on my turntable almost exclusively for months. For those of you who only associate David Foster with the schmaltzy crap he’s done, have no fear David knows a thing or two about rock and roll. Along with the six-string assistance of Steve Lukather, Fee nailed one of the best albums you never heard in the 80s.

So here we are twenty years later and I’ve been playing this one steady for weeks, and it’s still pretty bloody good, is it as good as I remember? That's hardly a fair question. I thought it was excellent back in 84 and that's how I'll remember it. Besides, I think I said it's still pretty bloody good. To those who blew this off as being TOTO with Fee singing don’t know their ass from a hole in the ground. These are probably the same people who said the same thing about The Tubes Outside Inside. If anything this is a David Foster sounding record, as many of his trademark sounds can be heard.

Fee has one of the great voices in rock and roll. Although the pseudo metal tinged Thrill of the Kill, a song I really found cheesy and irritating and annoying twenty years ago, is still really irritating and cheesy today.

Some things never change.

Reviewed February 24, 2004

Don't Be Scared By These Hands (©1996 Westcoast Records)

1: I Know You 2: Tall Dark And Harmless 3: Shut Up And Love Me 4: The Swing Of Things 5: Fools Cry 6: Surprise Yourself 7: I've Seen The Movie Before 8: Dying Of Delight 9: What's Wrong With That 10: Somewhere Deep Inside

It took Fee 12 years to release a second solo record, and as much as I liked his first one, this one falls into the good but nothing special bucket. Over the years Fee and Richard Marx have worked a fair bit together, and along with Bruce Gaitsch (who is a heck of a guitar player) they helmed Don't Be Scared by These Hands. This one is more MOR and AOR, but there are still a few pretty cool songs here, such as Fools Cry, Dying of Delight, and the ballad Surprise Yourself. Fee hasn't lost his voice.

Don't Be Scared by These Hands has more in common with a Richard Marx album than anything by The Tubes. I guess it's a good thing I like Richard Marx too.

Reviewed February 29, 2004

Weezer (Green Album) (©2001 Geffen)

Tracks: Don't Let Go / Photograph / Hash Pipe / Island In The Sun / Crab / Knock-Down Drag-Out / Smile / Simple Pages / Glorious Day / O Girlfriend

10 songs thirty minutes.

These guys are better than average, and this is a good album, but given the hype surrounding this power pop nu-poser punk quartet I was expecting to be blown out of my chair. Kind of like that guy who sat in the chair in those old Maxell posters (am I dating myself? These guys are rock-retro so the reference should work). I was somewhat disappointed, but it grows on me more each time it gets played. I just don't play it all that often.

Now there are some wicked songs here, and I'm glad the boys are helping to keep guitar driven rock alive. For that I take my hat off to them. There are a lot of the old school bands who are still around putting out great records, but they're old so they're ignored. This kind of music is cool only when young kids play it (although that doesn't explain the continued popularity of Aerosmith does it?).

Reviewed January 5, 2003

Film At Eleven (©1995 Temple / Word)

1: Film At Eleven 2: That's Not Enough 3: Rescue Me 4: He Is Amazing 5: Home In Heaven 6: Love Is More 7: Inside Out 8: Believe In Love 9: You're Mine 10: I Will Follow You 11: Wings Of The Wind

White Cross vocalist Scott Wenzel steps out and releases a solo album, which for the most part is pretty good. For you Guardian fans, fretmeister Tony Palacios sits in on guitar, and Jamie Rowe lends his vocals (well on one tune anyway), and pens a couple of the songs. This is pretty standard stuff in terms of mid nineties rock (which means this is mostly directionless, and a lot of throw it at the wall and see what sticks type of songs) but it’s done with a lot of heart and Scott delivers his vocals a lot of emotion which helps many of the songs. Which is kind of what I expected to be honest. There are a couple of pretty kick ass tunes: He Is Amazing is my favourite here.

I like this one for what it is, but overall it doesn’t really do much for me in terms of taking it to the next level and standing out. Then again, this is now ten years old, and it's aging pretty well for all that.

Reviewed January 20, 2005

Equilibrium (©1995 R.E.X.)

Tracks: Faraway Places / Rubberneck / Collide / This One / Fallen / / The Balance / Plowed Me Down / Now / Full Crucifixion / Windows

I'm starting to get old - this rock assault should have left me grinning like a kid with a new action figure. Unfortunately this one just didn't click with me. Mostly it's the vocals that leave me cold. Scott Wenzel doesn't know if he's coming or going half the time here. When he stays to rock singing he sounds a lot like Steve Percy from Ratt. But when he goes into his fingers on the blackboard caterwauling he sounds like Poison's Bret Michaels with his nuts in a vice.

Now that I've been a right stinker, let me say that when things do come together the boys pull off a fair a number of wicked tunes. The biggest surprise is Full Crucifixion where guitar player Barry Graul assumes mike duties.

Overall I'm having a hard time with this one - at times I think it's great, and other times it gives me a headache.

I'm getting too old.

Reviewed November 12, 2002

One More Encore(©1998 R.E.X.)

1: Say A Prayer 2: No Second Chances (Bonus Remake Cut) 3: Good Bye Cruel World 4: Amazing Love 5: Fallen 6: Eye To Eye 7: End Of The Line 8: Come Unto The Light 9: Collide 10: I Keep Prayin' 11: Far Away Places 12: Home In Heaven 13: Full Crucifixion 14: It's Already Done

I’m still sort of mixed up about these guys, only being a casual fan does have it’s drawback, since I’m not completely up to speed on their entire catalog. One More Encore is a collection of songs, I suppose it’s a best of, or whatever. It starts off with the more modern rock stuff, and then bleeds into the screeching Whitecross stuff, and then arcs over to a nice mellow closer with It’s Already Done. The production and playing is first rate, and some of the songs are pretty bloody good, but it doesn’t totally click for me. Although I had it on for a couple of days and kept playing it over and over – so it has something going for it. Scott Wenzel is a great belter, but at times (I’m about to repeat myself, but hey – I only have so many things to say so I’m bound to recycle things occasionally) he sounds so much like Stephen Pearcy from Ratt it’s freaky.

But enough about that, on to the task at hand. This is a better than average album, with songs lie No Second Chances, Full Crucifixion, and the previously mentioned It’s Already Done. Although my tastes are slowly moving away from this style of music, all of the songs are good. So what if it sounds like Ratt from time to time. I happened to like Ratt too.

January 7, 2005

Icky Thump (©2007)

1: Icky Thump 2: You Don't Know What Love Is (You Just Do As You're Told) 3: 300 M.P.H. Torrential Outpour Blues 4: Conquest 5: Bone Broke 6: Prickly Thorn, But Sweetly Worn 7: St. Andrew (This Battle Is In The Air) 8: Little Cream Soda 9: Rag & Bone 10: I'm Slowly Turning Into You 11: A Martyr For My Love For You 12: Catch Hell Blues 13: Effect & Cause

I'm not sure what to think about these two - Icky Thump indeed. For years I've read about them and have been on the verge of picking something up, but never quite got around to it. So this past Christmas my little brother got me this for me, and I have to admit I was kind of looking forward to sitting back and finally giving these guys a proper listen. As a duo they plow through their brand of rock with abandon and aplomb. There is no bottom end other than the kick, and the drone of Jack's fuzz box. As good as some of this stuff is - and some of this is extraordinary all I could think of was, "Man if these two could work past their shtick and employ a bass player they would be amazing." I'm sure they've heard that a million times, and aren't likely to change just because I enjoy conventional music. Still this is the White Stripes, and it's what they are, and it did get under my skin after a couple listens.

The lead off track "Icky Thump" has enough of Jack's noisy squeaky guitar to be pleasing without being annoying. Which happens quite a bit throughout the album. Often Jack's vision of "music" is nothing more than what I'd imagine a cat in a blender to sound like. Don't get me wrong, I actually like this album quite a bit, and there are some great surprises along the way, "Conquest" is almost a mariachi song, complete with trumpets, while "St. Andrew (This Battle Is In The Air)" is a noisy folk driven rock piece. "Little Cream Soda" is probably my favourite song on the album. Although no guitar god, Jack White is a driven player - combined with a great voice it's like getting a bit of Page and Plant rolled into one nifty little package.

They have a sense of humour about themselves. The name of the album will describe their sound to many, and to others it's just the name of a pretty cool album.

Reviewed January 7, 2007

Who's Better, Who's Best (©1988 MCA)

1: My Generation 2: Anyway, Anyhow, Anywhere 3: The Kids Are Alright 4: Substitute 5: I'm A Boy 6: Happy Jack 7: Pictures Of Lily 8: I Can See For Miles 9: Who Are You 10: Won't Get Fooled Again 11: Magic Bus 12: I Can't Explain 13: Pinball Wizard 14: I'm Free 15: See Me, Feel Me 16: Squeeze Box 17: Join Together 18: You Better, You Bet 19: Baba O'Riley

This collection always leaves me feeling somewhat flat. This is the great Who? Is this what Horton really heard? Subtitled "This is the very best of The Who" this does indeed contain some excellent songs, but there seems to be something missing, is this really the very best? (for fun count how many time I used the word this in one paragraph)

Now I'll be the first to admit my own personal knowledge of The Who is somewhat limited. I never saw what the big deal was about Tommy, and growing up in the 70's they were a 60's band who never really registered. "My Generation" was cool, but it was old.

However, I can't deny these guys are the real deal, and are among rock's elder statesmen. I just expected every song here to blow me away. If this sounds confusing, and you have no idea what the hell I'm going on about, think how it feels for me. I want to give this five stars - IT'S THE WHO for crying out, and then when I play it, it feels like so much filler with the occasional classic. Perhaps I should have stuck with my old best of vinyl with the Union Jack.

Whatever. I think it's time for a coffee.

Reviewed July 14, 2005

Endless Wire (©2006)

1. Fragments 2. A Man In A Purple Dress 3. Mike Post Theme 4. In The Ether 5. Black Widow's Eyes 6. Two Thousand Years 7. God Speaks, of Marty Robbins 8. It's Not Enough 9. You Stand By Me 10. Sound Round 11. Pick Up the Peace 12. Unholy Trinity 13. Trilby's Piano 14. Endless Wire 15. Fragments Of Fragments 16. We Got A Hit 17. They Make My Dream Come True 18. Mirror Door 19. Tea & Theatre 20. We Got A Hit - Extended Version 21. Endless Wire - Extended Version

My reluctant tendency to crap all over The Who continues. Reduced through attrition to just Roger Daltry and Pete Townshend the band releases it's first collection of new songs in over two decades. The question begs to be answered. "Why?'

It's not like Peter or Roger had anything left to prove. They're members of the Hall of Fame. They're heard every week on not one, not two, but three CSI television shows. So why trade against their legacy by releasing an album that by all accounts there was no demand for?

Don't get me wrong, I have a lot of respect for The Who - they were among a handful of rock acts who changed music. Oddly enough, I'm probably more partial to Pete's solo work, and even a couple of Roger's solo efforts. So it's not like I don't like what they're capable of creating. But if the guys think that they're a viable and artistic force today I have to say that this ain't their generation - at least two of the four did manage to die before they got old (ouch).

Having been a shit, let me state that there are a couple of worthy additions to the great Who compendium mixed in through out the twenty odd songs here. "It's Not Enough" was the song I heard on the radio, and based on the strength of that song I got the album. Sadly it's really the only killer here. The rest are the typical Pete note by numbers pop songs, with the occasionally glimmer of Who magic, but not enough to sustain the album. Some are better than other - the extended version of "Got a Hit" is pretty cool. Pete even manages a passable Tom Waits - with "In the Either." I'm not saying I enjoyed it - just that it was a passable Tom Waits.

Is this the album fans have been waiting almost 25 years for? Probably not.

Reviewed December 19, 2007

Chronicles (©1987 Island)

1: Wake Me Up On Judgement Day 2: While You See A Chance 3: Vacant Chair 4: Help Me Angel 5: My Love's Leavin' 6: Valerie 7: Arc Of A Diver 8: Higher Love 9: Spanish Dancer 10: Talking Back To The Night

Funny how a guy who has recorded so much great music is capable of releasing an average greatest hits collection. On the plus side the big hits are here, which is why I bought this. Steve’s trademark Moog still reminds me of someone with a talent for breaking wind.

There are only ten songs here, and six of the ten are really familiar to me, and the other ones were songs I never really liked all that much, and I’d have picked a few more from his Back in the High Life album. Oh well, I wasn’t in charge so this is what I got.

Overall it's an album that covers the basics in terms of the big hits, but it’s not a great album which is surprising for a guy who’s bound to be in the Hall of Fame at some point.

Reviewed May 2003

Refugees Of The Heart (©1990 Virgin)

1: You'll Keep On Searching 2: Every Day (Oh Lord) 3: One And Only Man 4: I Will Be Here 5: Another Deal Goes Down 6: Running On 7: Come Out And Dance 8: In The Light Of Day

You're looking at my review of Chronicles and are probably wondering how I can only give three stars to his greatest hits, and then turn around and give some album not many people have heard of four stars.

This is very good. It's an album I really enjoy when I play it, but don’t pull it off the shelf all that often. There are only eight songs here, but they’re all pretty good. In terms of his musical fart machine, he doesn’t play it a lot here, which is okay. Musically this is in the same vein as Back in the Highlife, an album I thought was great in the mid 80’s.

Steve, is known as a keyboard prodigy, but he is a really versatile musician. Take a song like "One and Only Man" (my favourite song on the album) where he does his one man band thing. His guitar playing would bring a grin to Clapton’s face. The nearly ten minute "In The Light of the Day" sounds like something Alan Parson’s would pull off, but it’s a solid song - even if it is a little too “programmed” sounding.

What makes this hang together so nicely is the overall consistency of the songs. If you’re a fan this is worth picking up.

Reviewed May 14, 2003

Wolfmother (©2006)

1. Dimension 2. White Unicorn 3. Woman 4. Where Eagles Have Been 5. Apple Tree 6. Joker And The Thief 7. Colossal 8. Mind's Eye 9. Pyramid 10. Witchcraft 11. Tales 12. Love Train 13. Vagabond

I found these guys by accident when this was pretty much hot off the presses. A little while later they started getting some airplay, and I started hearing more about them - so what do I do? I wait a year and a bit to review the album (I wouldn't want to appear to eager to be with the "in" crowd). Who'd a thunk that a bunch of pimply kids from down under would resurrect the arty farty pseudo bloated self indulgent rock of the early 70's and pull it off. Oh yeah, to the purists who remember it from the first time around, these guys are borrowing and mixing from the wrong era and even the wrong genre at times, and you know what? I really like it. These guys are too young to remember it, heck I am too when it comes down to it. All they know is what sounds cool, and they borrow liberally from all over the place.

The songs themselves are a lot of fun - the guys could only top themselves by enlisting the aid of Michael Moorcock to provide lyrics. "Woman" got some play on the radio here, but isn't one of my favourites. That honour goes to "Mind's Eye" because I absolutely love the break where the organ takes over. It's a page right out of prog-rock 101, but it puts a dumb-ass grin on my face every time I hear it.

I don't think the glory days of vans with murals and moon windows will ever make a grand comeback, but if they did I can bet this would be playing on the stereo.

Who knows how long these kids will be able to sustain the retro rock thing, but as long as it lasts it promises to be a fun ride.

Reviewed January 25, 2008

Hi-Fi Demonstration Record (©2000 Solid Rock)

The Songs: Down To The Water / Postcards From Heaven / One Man / The Arms Of Morpheus / Morning Glory / She Knows It / I Want It All / Then You're Gone / What Am I Looking For / First Kiss Of Love / The Long Road / Down To The Water (Larry Norman Mix) / I Want It All (Larry Norman Mix)

Originally released in Norway in 1992 as Wish Across The Sky by The Merchants Of Venice (although Larry's site says 1994). The name was taken here in North America, so for the Solid Rock reissue they changed their name to Wondergroove, remixed the album and Larry tagged on a couple of songs with him singing (sigh, he did the same thing on Daniel Amos' Horrendous Disc to ill effect).

Wondergroove is probably best known in North America as the band Charles Norman was a part of. A disappointing album the first few times I tried to listen to this one. There are a couple of good songs here - most notably Down To The Water, and I Want It All - but for whatever reason it never really takes off. It's not a bad album, it's just that it's on the wrong side of being good. The more I listen to this one the closer it gets to going over the line into positive territory. Musically it is in the same vein as Charly's work on Stranded In Babylon. Which makes sense as Charles plays most of the instruments here. There's a running scratchy needle effect that is fun and annoying at the same time.

Reviewed March 11, 2002