Robin Zander (©1993 Interscope)

the songs: Reactionary Girl / I've Always Got You / Show Me Heaven / Jump Into The Fire / Time Will Let You Know / Boy (I'm So In Love With You) / Tell It To The World / Emily / I Believe In You / Secret / Everlasting Love / Walkin' Shoes

As the pipes behind Cheap Trick, it was inevitable that eventually Robin would go out on his own. I got the impression listening to this that his day job isn't in any danger. The songs are good, and the arrangements tight but this is just one of those albums where a great singer gets to work with other musicians and put out an album of good pop tunes. Tunes that will for the most part go ignored by the general public, which is a shame since this is a really good album. Heck even the highly annoying Boy (I'm So In Love With You) is catchy.

But rock and roll is a young man's game, and the kids today don't want an old fart showing them how to make a decent record. It just ain't cool. Which must really bite, since Robin has been cool longer than most of today's upstarts have been alive.

Over 60 Minutes With ... (©1987 Capitol Records)

the songs: Nothing Could Stand In Your Way / We Should Be Lovers / It's All Been Done Before / Passion / Spread Myself Too Thin / When I Fall (In Love Again) / Start Again / Runaround / I'll Give It A Go / Turn It On / Another Man's Gain / Burnin' / I Think About You / You Belong To Me / Heroes / Judgement Day / Can't Let Go

The first song I heard by Zappacosta many years ago was Passion. Good tune. A number of good songs followed, and then the big voiced guy seemed to drop off the face of the planet (If I was to bump into him, no doubt he'd say he's been a pretty busy fellow). The anthemic Nothing Could Stand in your Way still gets airplay on those "listen to us a work" stations - but it is a great tune. This CD is, like the title says over an hour with Zappacosta.

Greatest Hits (©1990 DCC Compact Classics)

1: She's Not There (1964) 2: Don't Cry For Me 3: I Can't Make Up My Mind 4: You Make Me Feel So Good 5: Tell Her No (1965) 6: The Kind Of Girl 7: Leave Me Be 8: Sometimes 9: It's All Right With Me 10: I Don't Want To Know 11: I Love You 12: Indication 13: Nothing's Changed 14: Time Of The Season (1969) 15: Imagine The Swan

Here's an album I can listen to and comment on with complete authority. Since I wasn't in even in preschool when this stuff was released. Now don't let the three stars throw you off, it's solely based on my inability to get off on 60's pop - which might explain why I don't own any albums by the Beatles. Oh sure it's dated, and suffers terribly from sonic fatigue. But The Zombies were among a handful of bands who along with their contemporaries set the foundation rock and roll.

But a good song is a good song, and songs like She's Not There, I Love You (which isn't nearly as good as the version People pulled off), and Time of the Season (a wicked song even now) are classics for a reason. However, a lot of the stuff here doesn't wind my clock, although I can appreciate them for the time pieces they are, they're just so much noise, and don't evoke any special nostalgic feelings.

Reviewed February 23, 2004

Mary Star Of The Sea (©2003 Reprise Records)

1: Lyric 2: Settle Down 3: Declarations Of Faith 4: Honestly 5: El Sol 6: Of A Broken Heart 7: Ride A Black Swan 8: Heartsong 9: Endless Summer 10: Baby Let's Rock! 11: Yeah! 12: Desire 13: Jesus, I / Mary Star Of The Sea 14: Come With Me

"I don't zwanna grow up I'm a noise "r" us kid." Before I get going let me state up front that I do not have any Smashing Pumpkins albums. So for those of you who really know all about Billy Corgan good for you. Zwan is my point of reference.

So why would I get this when I've avoided all the other stuff Billy Corgan was involved with? Simple, I got it for free and I figured I could take a chance. To be honest, musically there's a lot of really good stuff here, more than I had expected. The real detraction for me is Billy's voice. I know there are legions of fans who love his style, and there are times when his vocal delivery truly does enhance the song - such as on the acoustic Of A Broken Heart. Those moments aren't in the majority sadly, mostly Billy does a credible impression of a whiny Tom Petty impersonating a cat in a blender, with really good music as a backdrop.

Still, not to be a complete ass, this is a good record. Not as good as some people think it is, and not as bad as I'm making it out to be. Love him or hate him, Billy Corgan is in a class all by himself, oddly enough after this came out Zwan zwent bye bye, and now the guy really is all by himself. But there was this one little nugget to mark the band's passing.

Oddly enough I've found myself listening to it a fair bit lately.

Go figure, which just goes to prove I'll never be a good critic - I can't even explain myself to myself let alone anyone else. What am I zwanna do?

Reviewed (sort of) May 29, 2004

Rhythmeen (©1996 RCA)

Tracks: Rhythmeen / Bang Bang / Black Fly / What's Up With That / Vincent Price Blues / Zipper Job / Hairdresser / She's Just Killing Me / My Mind Is Gone / Loaded / Prettyhead / Humbucking, Part 2

I got Rhythmeen after XXX, so my sights weren't set that high. If you're asking why I bought this in the first place, let me say that for five bucks, I'll just about try anything by an artist I even moderately enjoy (in other words I'm a marketers dream buyer).

The boys are as growly as ever, and although this isn't a great record (heck it's not even a good record) there are enough boogie woogie moments to make this worth the five bucks I shelled out. Actually, I can see this one growing on me after a while (if I remember to put it on once in a while). I was trying to put my finger on why I wasn't blown away by Rhythmeen and XXX. Then it hit me, the performances are uninspired, bordering on boring. The guys are playing by the numbers - there's no passion in the tunes anymore.

Reviewed August 2, 2002

XXX (©1999 RCA)

The Songs: Poke Chop Sandwich / Crucifixx-A-Flatt / Fearless Boogie / 36-22-36 / Made Into A Movie / Beatbox / Trippin’ / Dreamonboogaloo / Live Intro By Ross Mitchell / Sinpusher / (Let Me Be Your) Teddy Bear / Hey Mr. Millionaire / Belt Buckle

I don’t know what I was expecting - blues infected rock, fun boogie tunes, Sharp Dressed Man Part III? XXX is like one long protracted musical fart. I’m sure it was immensely satisfying to the farter, but to the fartee it’s annoying and stinky. It’s not even funny as farts are wont to be. I should know. Even the mention of the word brings a smile to my face.

Now I hate buying something and not liking it. I’ll even defend my poor decisions by saying I like it just to rationalize my purchase. My wife is always on my case about my music collection, and buying crap just irritates her. So I forced myself to listen to this album until it grew on me enough to stop feeling ripped off (I’m listening to it now). Here’s the silver lining to XXX. Made Into A Movie, is a tune that becomes oddly engaging after a couple of listens (okay, more than a couple), and 36-22-36 is almost vintage ZZ Top. Billy has his guitar tuned so low on some songs, I’m sure his strings were as floppy as long spaghetti noodles. The last few songs are live additions, and they’re okay, but nothing special. Hey Mr. Millionaire features Jeff Beck as a singer. We all know that as a singer Mister Beck is a hell of a guitar player.

Bottom line, stick to the vintage ZZ Top.

Reviewed March 15, 2002