"Open Up and Say" Issue 33 (music newsletter)
todd
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OPEN UP AND SAY...
Discussions About Music That Matters
Issue Thirty-Three: March 31, 1997
http://comp.uark.edu/~tcraven/openup.html
to subscribe or submit, send mail to: Todd Craven (tcr...@comp.uark.edu)
(please mention if you want the issue sent in one or two parts)
send poll/contest answers to: Wes Royer (wro...@osf1.gmu.edu)
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If you know a local band or are in one yourself, send me a tape,
and I'll include you in the "local talent" section. I'm always looking
for more good music.
This issue was produced by Todd Craven, Wes Royer, Kevin Villines,
Brian McLean, Tom Conen, and Eric Rodger. Thanks to everyone else who
sent me bits of stuff.
If you'd like to send me anything to review, or just send me
something, mail to:
Open Up c/o
Todd Craven
3005 Dorothy Jeanne #6
Fayetteville, AR 72704
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ALBUM RELEASE DATES
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(Note: All release dates are US, are compiled through various sources,
and, therefore, can be completely wrong.:)
April 1
GRAVITY KILLS "Manipulated" (remix ep)
TUATARA "Breaking the Ethers" Sony
April 8
CHEMICAL BROTHERS "Dig Your Own Hole"
ACE FREHLEY "12 Picks"
KISS "Greatest Hits" (US release)
(LONDON) SUEDE "Coming Up" (US release)
MOTORHEAD "Stone Dead Forever" Receiver
SLEATER-KINNEY "Dig Me Out"
SPAHN RANCH "Architecture"
VARIOUS "Romeo & Juliet Soundtrack Vol 2"
(featuring Butthole Surfers, 'When Doves Cry' cover, orchestration, etc)
April 15
DOKKEN "Shadowlife" CMC International
INXS "Elegantly Wasted"
OUR LADY PEACE "Clumsy"
JEREMY TOBACK "Perfect Flux Thing"
April 22
FATES WARNING "Pleasant Shade of Gray"
JAYHAWKS "Sound of Lies"
LARD "Pure Chewing Satisfaction" Alternative Tentacles
MIKE PATTON "Pranzo Oltranzista" Tzadik
PENNYWISE "Full Circle"
RADISH "Restraining Bolt"
SON VOLT "Straightaways"
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OPEN UP AND VOTE
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PLEASE...send responses to this trivia column to Wes Royer at
<wro...@osf1.gmu.edu> with the subject: VOTE or TRIVIA
PLEASE...send responses before Saturday, April 12, 1997
*This week's trivia:...covering their own...(3 possible pts.)
1) On Europe's 1988 "Out Of This World", what track did they re-record
from a previous Europe album? (1pt.)
2) Whitesnake's hit song "Here I Go Again" appeared in different versions
on what 2 Whitesnake albums? (1pt.)
3) Whitesnake's later hit song "Fool For Your Loving" appeared in
different versions on what 2 Whtesnake releases? (1pt.)
*Last week's Q&A:...soundtrack quiz...(4 possible pt.)
1) Slaughter's "Shout It Out" & Winger's "Battle Stations" appeared on
what 1991 soundtrack? (1 pt.)
-Bill & Ted's Bogus Journey
2) John Waite's "Change" & Dio's "Hungry For Heaven" appeared on what
1985 soundtrack? (1 pt.)
-Vision Quest
3) Nine Inch Nails' "Dead Souls" & Pantera's "The Badge" appeared on what
1994 soundtrack? (1 pt.)
-The Crow
4) Alias's "Perfect World" & Valentine's "Keep The Faith" appeared on
what 1991 soundtrack? (1 pt.)
-Don't Tell Mom The Babysitter's Dead
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NEWS
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- The new MEGADETH album is called "Cryptic Writings." Here's the
setlist:
The Disintegrators/Mastermind/Have Cool, Will Travel (great song title,
aye! What was Megadeth thinking?)/Vortex/Sin/Trust/Almost Honest/Use The
Man/I'll Get Even/FFF (Fight For Freedom)/She-Wolf/My Secret Place
The album cover features two intersecting lines and it sucks.
Supposedly, the album sounds like "Rust" meets "Youthanasia," but who
knows. I've heard good things, though, and am quite looking forward to
the album. The albums' due for release on June 17.
- COLIE BRICE, former member of Phantom's Opera and Gemini, will release
his debut solo album "New Age Blues" exclusively on teh world wide web
very soon. For more info contact Colie personally at
co...@gate.cybernex.net
- FAITH NO MORE will release "Album of the Year" on June 3 and it features
new guitarist John Hudson. I believe Hudson was the group's touring
guitarist on the 'King for a Day" tour. He used to be a roadie for the
band. Supposedly the album is a "return to heavy guitar and funky bass
sound" of the group's early works. The group will launch a US tour in
July and August. Here's the setlist:
Last Cup of Sorrow (first single)/Collision/Stripsearch/Naked in Front of
the Computer/Helpless/Mouth to Mouth/Ashes to Ashes/She Loves Me Not/Got
That Feeling/Path of Glory/Home Sick Home/Pristina/The Big Kahuna/Light Up
and Let Go
- Guitarist JOHN HOLMES has left OZZY's band. He's recently become a
born-again Catholic, and doesn't want to be associated with Ozzy anymore.
As I reported last week, Ozzy has recorded some new tracks for his
upcoming greatest hits package with ZAKK WYLDE. While Ozzy will be
playing with BLACK SABBATH on this summer's OzzFest tour, the Black
Sabbath set will follow a solo Ozzy set. No word on who will be in his
band, though Mike Bordin will probably be the drummer. How Ozzy can keep
up two sets is beyond me, but more power to him if he can.
- JEWEL's sophomore album has been pushed back until at least May, mainly
due to the continued success of her 1994 debut "Pieces of You." I, for
one (and I know Wes too), would like to see the new album since I actually
bought the last one two years ago.
- TOAD THE WET SPROCKET will release their fifth album of new material in
May. The album's tentative title is "Coil."
- "Random," the GARY NUMAN tribute is due on June 24 and will be a two
disc set with 26 covers. The bands include GRAVITY KILLS, EMF, JESUS
JONES, THE ORB, POP WILL EAT ITSELF, REPUBLICA, ST. ETIENNE, and a lot of
techno bands I've never heard of. The two biggest bands mentioned before
taking part, NINE INCH NAILS and MARILYN MANSON, are apparently not
going to appear. The album will be followed by a one disc DJ remix album
at a later date.
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ANNOUNCEMENT
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Well I hate to have to do this, but this is the last weekly issue.
"Open Up" is now going bi-weekly. I just don't have the time to put out a
weekly issue of the caliber I want to lately, so I'm going to try putting
one out every two weeks. This won't change anything about the issue, and
make sure to keep sending stuff in. The issue will probably be larger now
which will be a good thing. My only real regret in going bi-weekly is
that the news and release dates won't be as up to date as I'd like. I'll
try to do my best, though. If anything major happens, I'll be sure to
send out news specials as I've done in the past. I hope this isn't a
problem for anyone, and I apologize to the new subscribers who haven't
gotten weekly issues before. Anyway, I'll see you in two weeks. - todd
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EDITORIAL
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THOUGHTS ON POISON'S "CRACK A SMILE"
by Eric Rodger <ero...@fore.com>
Someone posted in the last issue about having a promo copy of Poison's
Crack a Smile CD. I have the same CD (actually bought 2 copies myself),
and I am lead to believe that what we all bought for $25, is in fact a
bootleg copy. I think it is for several reasons.
Just to make sure we all got the same CD, the cover is a B&W picture of the
band with Blues crouched down and his hand outstretched toward the
camera. The inner sleeve is not a book, but a one sheet insert. Under
the CD is a picture of the band (w/ CC, and the bonus tracks are listed).
Mine has the Capitol symbol on the inside cover, and on the back, and has a
serial number.
But I'm still convinced it's a bootleg, because:
1. It sounds like a tape, not a crisp CD. (Anyone with the greatest hits
album, should compare the sound on Sexual Thing from both CDs).
2. The packaging, although absolutely beautiful for a bootleg, is not major
label material.
3. The printing on the CD itself (song titles), is reminiscent of several
boot CDs that I have.
4. I bought 2 copies, which are identical except for the printing on the CD
- one is blue, one is green. The majors don't do this, even for promo stuff.
5. The picture w/ CC says "Limited Collector's Edition", and "With the one
and only Mr. CC Deville - we miss you CC!" (or something like that) -
anyway, why would Capitol release anything with his name on it? And since
promo copies are never to be sold, why would Capitol put Limited
Collector's Edition?
6. Capitol would have never released those bonus tracks. Those alone spell
out bootleg.
7. These were supposedly Capitol (Germany) pressed, and nowhere on the CD
does it say Germany. As a matter of fact, the insert says printed in the
U.S.A.
8. The Capitol symbol is not found anywhere on the CD itself, which the
majors are sure to include.
If this is not the CD you received, please describe yours to us all. If
this is the same, I'm afraid we all got bootlegged. I don't care though,
because it was certainly worth $25. My buddy who has the tape was going to
spend about $35 to have the tape made into a CD, and that wouldn't have
included the packaging.
KAI
(I had the same thougths. This is definitley a bootleg. Here's a
couple of more reasons why: 1. The instruments the band plays are wrong.
Bret is not listed as playing harmonica, and there is definitely some on
'Best Thing You Ever Had.' There's no way a record company wouldn't get
this right. Bret's always been credited with harmonica on albums before.
2. This is obviously not the copy Capitol would release to the public, as
I'm sure the real copy would have more linear notes, lyrics, and such. No
record company ever makes a promo with differnt packaing. It's just a
stupid idea because they have to run two different printings. I have
quite a few promo cds, and the most the record company ever does is stamp
promo on the cd or back cover. At the most , they might only have a one
page insert instead of the full booklet, but it definitely wouldn't look
like the "Crack a Smile" insert. Anyway, I'm not disappointed. It's jsut
nice to have the ablum on cd, and the Unplugged is a nice addition. -
todd)
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CONCERT REVIEWS
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BUSH/VERUCA SALT
at Barton Coliseum,
Little Rock, Arkansas, 3/26/97
by Todd Craven
This Bush show was bar-none one of the funnest concerts I've ever
attended. While that certainly had a lot to do with the people I went
with, Bush put on an action packed show for what looked to be a full
arena.
Veruca Salt opened the show with an energetic set, and the two
lead singers are certainly hard rocking girls. I've never been a huge
Veruca Salt fan, but the songs were fairly decent and I did really enjoy
'Seether,' 'Volcano Girls,' and the one they played on Saturday Night Live
a few weeks back. The crowd was pretty forceful during their set, but no
where near as energetic as when Bush came out..
The boys opened with 'A Tendency to Start Fires' and then worked
their way through 'Personal Holloway,' 'Machine Head,' and 'Greedy Fly.'
I can't really remember all of the songs they played, but they did cover
most of the new album, all of the singles, and a few more choice cuts from
"Sixteen Stone.' Quite suprisingly, Bush threw in a raucous cover of
the Clash's 'Janie Jones' and 'Broken TV' (available on the "White Man's
Burden Soundtrack") which were staples of their last tour.
Mostly, the group just rocked hard, and there are few bands I've
seen put on such a relentlessly aggressive show. The show did slow down
about 3/4 of the way through for a moving solo set by Gavin of 'Straight
No Chaser' and 'Glycerine.' The show ended with an amazing 'Alien' and
'Little Things.'
For the entire show, I was down in the pit (only two or three
people away from the stage!), and it was an incredibly intense and moving
crowd. For most of the show, the band featured two big screens behind
them projecting video images that corresponded with the songs. Quite
cool. There was also some really nice lighting effects. And for all of
you old school rockers, I have confirmation from a friend who saw the
show from the stands that there was lots of nudity at the show too, so I
guess Bush is the new band to bare your flesh for.
For me, Bush was just totally amazing and I was extrmely
impressed. If you're looking for the old time glam rock shows, both Bush
and Sponge (perhaps one of the greatest live acts ever) certainly deliver
the goods. Check out the guys on this tour if you're a fan or just
looking for a good show. You'll get about two hours of high energy music
well worth your money.
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TWO OF ONE
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MATTHEW SWEET "Blue Sky On Mars" Zoo/Volcano, 1997
Come to California/Back to You/Where You Get Love/Hollow/Behind the
Smile/Until You Break/Over It/Heaven and Earth/All Over My Head/Into Your
Drug/Make Believe/Missing Time
1. Review by Todd Craven
This is the first album Matthew's played all of the guitar on, and
I was initially a bit skeptical since he's never played lead much before.
The guitar is fine, though, and the loss of the sporadic lead guitar isn't
too noticeable. That said, these are some of the shortest and poppiest
songs Matthew's ever written. The sound isn't too different from "100%
Fun" tracks like 'Giving It Back' or 'We're the Same,' but fans of the old
raucousness of 'Holy War' or 'Ugly Truth Rock' will be a bit disappointed,
as I guess I am.
As usual, though, Matthew still has some great, catchy songs on
here. The first single 'Where You Get Love' is probably the best song
he's written since "Altered Beast." 'Back to You,' 'Make Believe,' and
'Heaven and Earth' are also all great upbeat pop songs. As usual, there's
two terrific slow numbers: the drum machine driven ballad 'Until You
Break' and the melancholy 'Missing Time.' There's also a dark number on
here reminiscent of "Altered Beast" material, 'Hollow,' and I quite enjoy
the early Beatlesque 'Over It.'
Unfortunately, there's a few real clunkers as well. 'Come to
California' is straight Beach Boys and I find this song almost
unlistenable. This song is just too sweet and poppy. 'Behind the Smile,'
'All Over My Head,' and 'Into Your Drug' are fairly forgettable, b-side
quality songs, as well.
This album is very short, clocking in at under 35 minutes. Also,
the lyrics on "Blue Sky" are some of Matthew's vaguest. Instead of the
specific depressing numbers on most Matthew Sweet albums, it's hard to
tell exactly what some of these songs are about. I don't connect with
these lyrics near as much as on other albums which is another thing that
disappoints me about "Blue Sky On Mars."
This is a Matthew Sweet album, so it's really good. I just wish I
liked it more than I do. The shortness of the album and the lyrics also
hurt my opinion of this album a bit, so unfortunately, I feel I have to
rate "Blue Sky On Mars" a bit lower than I would like to.
Highlights: 'Where You Get Love,' 'Hollow,' 'Until You Break'
Rating: B
2. Review by Kevin Villines
Bonus CD (Available as promo w purchase of Blue Sky at selected
stores-Limited Supply)
(1)Vicious Circle-Demo (2)If It's Happening, You'll Know It-Bonus Track
(3)Come To California-Acoustic (4)Reaching Out-Live
Another typical Matthew Sweet pop-fest. The true king of pop is
Matthew Sweet, not Michael Jackson. With this release, Sweet spirals
even further into a pop sound that I find eerily reminiscent of many
sixties pop-rock mega-stars. His music has become even lighter and
popier somehow. A sorely missed sound in this day and age of
over-technical records and under-talented bands making millions. I
assume Sweet has pleased his fans with this one and irritated his
critics even further here. It's nothing new for Sweet and he sounds as
good as ever. I certainly don't see why he would only release 36:38
minutes of music though. At 12 tracks, he could have easily put another
8 songs on there (and as all of his fans know, 8 additional songs would
have taken Sweet an extra week to write and record). I applaud him on
releasing Where You Get Love as the initial single, a catchy tune if
ever there was one. Can't seem to get this one out of my head. The best
way to get this CD is with the bonus promo disc available at many
discount record chains with the purchase of Blue Sky. I don’t know how
many of these were made, but I doubt there will be too many left after
this weekend, so I’m probably speaking to those who have already picked
up the CD w/ the bonus disc. It does help to soften the "Only 35 minutes
on a CD done in 1997!" blow. I suppose I’m spoiled these days by
progressive rock, where some of the CDs I own have longer songs than
this entire album. But, I didn't want to make the length of this album
the focal point (as I believe I may already have). It is the music of
Matthew Sweet that caused me purchase this album. And he's never
sounded better. A great album for any Sweet fan and as good a starting
point for anyone who wants to get some of his albums. He's one of the
best pop-artists out there and is entirely too under-rated.
RATING: B++/A--(Somewhere in between these two!)
RATING (W/ BONUS EP): A
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REVIEWS
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INANE REVIEWS
by Todd Craven
QUEENSRYCHE "Hear in the Now Frontier" EMI, 1997
Sign of the Times/Cuckoo's Nest/Get a Life/The Voice Inside/Some People
Fly/Saved/You/Hero/Miles Away/Reach/All I Want/Hit the Black/Anytime,
Anywhere/Spool
There has been lots of talk about this album, much of it negative.
Now that I've finally gotten a chance to listen to the album a few times,
I must say that I quite like it. Progressive fans are probably going to
be very disappointed, as this album has no progressive leanings at all.
Fans of good rock, though, should really take to this album, as this is
Queensryche's most straight ahead metal/rock album yet.
Most of the music here is centered around chord riffs instead of
the frantic fingering Queensryche used to do. For some, this may make
them think Queensryche has gone alternative, but I don't hear any
alternative influence on here really at all, except that the songs are
catchy and to the point (without lots of extra solo and production). I
don't think the current "alternative bands" began that trend, though.
This is a really rocking album. 'Sign of the Times,' 'Cuckoo's
Nest,' 'Hit the Black,' 'Saved,' and many others are just cool,
sing-a-long rockers. And while there are no new 'Silent Lucidity's, there
are a couple of slower ones ('All I Want,' 'Hero') that add some diversity
to the album.
One of the noticeable things about this album is the large part
Chris DeGarmo plays. Almost all of the songs are written by him, many
without even Geoff contributing lyrics. I'm not sure if this is a good
thing or not. I always liked how the whole band wrote most of the songs
(check out "Empire" for example), and the fact that most of this music is
written by one person may give it a slightly stale flavor. While this is
a good album, some of the songs tend to run together at times, and it does
take a few listens to get into "Now Frontier." The three songs with music
not entirely written by DeGarmo are quite good, so it would have been nice
to see what else might have been on here if the other guys had written a
bit more.
One other gripe about DeGarmo is that he should not have sung 'All
I Want.' The song is actually pretty cool and one of the poppiest songs
Queensryche have ever written. I could imagine this song getting some
radio play, but with DeGarmo's strictly background quality vocals, the
song is sub-par. If Geoff Tate had sung this song it would probably be my
favorite on the album, but as it is, it's my least. It also would have
been nice to hear Geoff scream or at least sing high a bit more, instead
of just on 'Saved' and 'Spool.'
Overall, this is a really good album. It has a few problems,
mainly being a bit bland at times (especially tracks like 'Hero' and 'Some
People Fly'), but this is definitely a huge improvement over the almost
wretched "Promised Land." This is a different sound for Queensryche, but
it's still them and "Now Frontier" is a good album if you give it a try.
Highlights: 'Saved,' 'Hit the Black,' 'Miles Away,' 'Sign of the
Times'
Rating: B+
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I'm going to re-name my prog write up to:
I KNOW WHAT I LIKE (IN YOUR PROG BAND) (formerly PROGLOG)
by Kevin Villines (kv...@flash.net)
A little play on an old Genesis tune, I Know What I Like (In Your
Wardrobe). If there is anyone out there who wants to find a good 70's
prog band to get into, I would have to highly suggest Genesis. That's
right folks, the "No Son Of Mine"/"Invisible Touch"/"I Can't Dance"
Genesis. Though they may have turned into one of the better pop bands of
the eighties and early nineties, this band put out some really great
progressive CDs in the early seventies with Peter Gabriel. There
progression from Prog to rock/pop over the past twenty years is
legendary and the best way to follow it is to just listen to their
music. I don't think this band ever put out a bad CD. Here's hoping the
"new-look" Genesis will be just as good. Now to the review:
Queensryche-Hear In The Now Frontier
EMI Records 1997
Gotta love the folks who got an advance copy of this CD and had
me fretting that this would be the worst Queensryche CD yet. I heard
everything from grunge wanna-be’s to the biggest sell-out album since
Metallica's Self-Titled album (Black Album) or Metallica's Load-Take your
pick! I think the sell-out/grunge mark was missed here. Empire was
Queensryche's "sell-out" album (and still one of my favorite albums of
all time) and they've had a different sound all together on each of the
two releases following Empire (neither what I'd call an all out
grunge-fest). Promised Land was not such a terrible album, just sort of
bland at times. I blame Empire for that one, because it was extremely
radio-friendly and Promised Land was anything but (possibly a blatant
attempt?). With Here in the Now Frontier, Queensryche has found a
balance between the previous two albums, with a commercial appeal at
times and a few blandish songs that are actually more enjoyable than
most of those off Promised Land. This band continues to evolve and ever
since Operation:Mindcrime (One of the top 5 concept albums of all time!).
For the most part, I think they have been rather successful each outing
and I'm not so sure they would still be around if they continually
attempted to put out Rage For Order clones. Evolution has really been a
blessing in disguise for Queensryche and their fans. Although, they have
lost a lot of their progressive sound. But, I felt the need to review
this under the prog header.
I have enjoyed watching people struggle with the categorization
of this album as well as their view points on it. Not that I'm into
watching people suffer, it's just that I really enjoy this album and at
the same time understand why some people don't. It's obvious that it’s a
different sound for Queensryche, but only their earlier albums seemed to
lack any musical evolution. Ever since Operation:Mindcrime, fans of the
Ryche have been treated to a new sound or forced to adjust to the new
sounding Queensryche. I, for one, have been able to evolve with their
music with only minimal quips. So, now to the album. Why did I review
this under a prog heading. Well, they were at one time a very
progressive band and still display those tendencies that qualify them as
more than just another rock/hair band.
The first single, "Sign of the times" is a great song that is
kind of a connector to the Promised Land sound to the newer sound. After
that, I pretty much found it easy to categorize the songs into two
groups:Empire Queensryche and Promised Land Queensryche. Cuckoo's Nest,
The Voice Inside (Best song on the album-IMHO), Some People Fly, You,
Miles Away, All I Want, and spOOL all have the commercial appeal found
on Empire with a more current sound(call it grungey if that pleases you,
I just don't hear it on most of the songs). Get A Life, Save Me, Hero,
Reach, Hit The Black (OK, this is truly a grunge song-sounds like STP),
and Anytime/Anywhere (Well, there are two song that have a grunge
influence to them-So sue me!) strike me as more of an updated Promise
Land approach. Unfortunately, no Jet City Woman or Silent Lucidity on
here, but an excellent album none the less. There is one song that I
really enjoy and would kill to hear an extended version of, "The Voice
Inside". Something about the sound on this song just immediately grabbed
me. Best song of the last two albums.
Lyrically, this is by no means one of Queensryche's best efforts.
A lot of the lyrics are rather hit and miss. Also, is it me or is Geoff
lost a little edge to his voice. I hope not, but that's why lead
singers should avoid the cigarettes. I've noticed the lack of build-up in
their songs that would usually end up with an excellent guitar solo. It is
missed, but wouldn't have fit very well with any of the songs on here.
Well, it's a great CD as far as I'm concerned and although it will take
some time for most people to get into it, I'll guarantee that years
from now most people will say this is a better CD than Promised Land.
It may not be for all Queensryche fans, but it sounds great to this one.
RATING:A-
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THOUGHTS FROM AN IMPROPER BOSTONIAN
Brian McLean [par...@interwebb.com]
Storyville - A Piece Of Your Soul
1996 Warner Music
Grade-B
1.Bitter Rain 2.Good Day For The Blues 3.Blind Side 4.Don't Make Me Cry 5.What
Passes For Love 6.Solid Ground 7.A Piece Of Your Soul 8.Cynical 9.Luck Runs Out
10.Can't Go There Any More 11.Share That Smile
Storyville is:
David Grissom-Guitars & Background Vocals
Malford Milligan-Vocals
Chris Layton-Drums & Percussion
Tommy Shannon-Bass
David Holt-Guitars & Background Vocals
Ever hear a song on the radio that's so damn catchy, you say to yourself "I
don't know this group but I'm getting this CD". It happen to me last week
with 'Blind Side'. The single from Austin TX based Storyville's second CD 'A
Piece Of Your Soul'. All-Star bands always sound like a great idea on paper,
but the resulting albums are usually forgettable. Such is not the case with
Storyville. There is definitely something for everyone on this record. This
is what I would deem an all-star band. The members of Storyville bring a
wide variety of musical influences and experience to the table. They have
country covered. Guitarist Dave Holt has played with Carlene Carter, Clint
Black and Merle Haggard. Stevie Ray Vaughan's ex band mates Chris Layton
(drums) and Tommy Shannon (bass) bring blues and that Texas rock sound.
Dave Grissom adds some guitar rock. He filled in for Dickey Betts on some
Allman Brothers dates in 93, probably picking up the dates Zakk Wylde
couldn't make. This guy knows his way around a solo. Dave also brings some
AOR. His last gig was with John Cougar Mellencamp. Throw in singer Malford
Milligan's funk and soul (he sounds like a cross between Robert Cray &
Lenny Kravitz). The result is a mix that really works.
Highlights include 'Good Day For The Blues' which pays homage to
Bobby Blue Bland and B.B.King. 'Blind Side' with its infectious groove
will get stuck in your head. I've been humming the chorus for days "I
can't see out, but you can see in". 'What Passes For Love' has a cool SRV
type riff, I also like the use of the Hammond B3 on the song. 'A Piece Of
Your Soul' is a song about child abuse that really rocks. 'When The Luck
Runs Out' is pure funk. It would make Rick James proud.
The production on this CD is flawless. Producer David Z (Kenny
Wayne Shepard, Fine Young Cannibals, Big Head Todd, Albert King and Prince
[talk about a variety of styles]) deserves a big 'thumbs up'. I highly
recommend this CD to all.
Brian McLean
Parcel Plus New Hampshire
603-893-8555
par...@interwebb.com
www.interwebb.com/users/parcel/parcel.htm
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GUESS WHO'S FLIPSIDE
by Paul Cantin
sent by Tom Conen <ax...@freenet.toronto.on.ca>
"The Ultimate Collection" by The Guess Who
3 out of five
"Shakin' All Over" (Guess Who?) by Chad Allan and the Expressions
4 out of five
Comparing these two retrospective packages chronicling Canada's original
hit-makers, The Guess Who, provides an elegant lesson in how it should and
should not be done.
The Ultimate Collection is a U.S.-produced three-CD set (available on
import), which does an admirable job of remastering and summarizing
the group's career -- 57 lovingly restored tracks, from These Eyes
through When The Band Was Singing Shakin' All Over, including tracks
that have never seen the light of day on CD. It's a much broader
collection than the Canadian-produced Track Record double-CD set of a
few years back.
For added value, there are three bonus tracks -- a rehearsal of Lightfoot
and fascinating alternate takes of No Sugar Tonight/New Mother Nature and
American Woman.
But for all the care taken with the music, the packaging is exceptionally
shoddy. The group has one of the most combative and colorful backgrounds
in pop history (the defections, bad business deals and career-spanning
animosities are legendary). But you'll find none of that in Reed
Endersby's notes. It's a safe bet anyone willing to seek out this package
and shell out the inflated import price will have more insight into the
music than Endersby, who seemingly took a track listing and some Billboard
chart information and spun an uninformative seven-page essay.
There's no date or lineup information accompanying the photos, three full
pages are wasted with superfluous song publishing information that could
have easily been compressed, and a page of album cover photos concentrates
on the cheapo post-breakup compilation records, rather than reprinting the
band's original albums.
As invaluable as the music is, fans deserve better. And they get it with
Shakin' All Over, a meticulously restored version of the inaugural release
by Chad Allan And The Expressions -- the outfit which would eventually
morph into The Guess Who.
The liner notes by band historian John Einarson (who should have done the
job for The Ultimate Collection) relate how the group released their
version of Johnny Kidd And The Pirates' frat rock classic Shakin' All Over
as "Guess Who?" to fool pre-Canadian content radio programmers into
thinking it was a British band performing under an alias. It worked so
well the band had to change its name and the rest is history.
The music is post-British invasion knock-off stuff and there's nothing
lavish or special about the packaging. But given the record's
primitive origins (recorded through a single amp in a Winnipeg TV studio),
it sounds appropriately raw and the care taken to reproduce the original
album as accurately as possible (right down to the goofy promo shots and
stilted original liner notes) is obvious. Shakin' All Over is the first of
three planned early Guess Who reissues and an important missing piece in
Canadian rock history.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
WESSMAN'S REVIEWS...W.E.T.
Wes Royer <wro...@osf1.gmu.edu> and/or <wes...@erols.com>
"Wessman's MusicScape": http://www.angelfire.com/ms/musicscape/
George Mason University...Northern Virginia/Washington D.C.
Please feel free to send any questions/inquiries, comments,
requests/recommendations, corrections/updates, complaints/problems,
threats/declarations, desires/prophecies, jokes, news/rumors,
quotes/poetry, general info, label/band addresses, enlightening moments
of truth & Zen, cries for help, disgustingly ravishing love stories &
scandals to <wro...@osf1.gmu.edu> and/or <wes...@erols.com>.
*Re-QUOTE OF THE WEEK:
"...later that night i was in such a bad mood, sittin' in a bar drinkin'
hard, getting screwed...when some guy walks in, sits next to me & says,
what's up dude!..."
-Tommy Christ, Scatterbrain; from "Don't Call Me Dude"
INDIE "tape" BOOTH:
NAKED "s/t" 1996 Stradavatt Prod. (23:30) B
(1) Idols (2) Dying Beautiful (3) Pride (4) Playhouse (5) Final Stand
*website: http://www.bigbrain.com/naked/naked.html
Labeled as a prog act, Naked sounds more simply like modern AOR.
Staring off with the incredible rocker "Idols", which appeared on the
DREGS compilation, the sound is of the prog-metal genre, but then the
majestic "Dying Beautiful" insights thoughts of Xenon. But after the
first 2 tracks, things fail badly. The decent funk-tune Pride could've
worked if it weren't for the following underdeveloped tracks, "Playhouse"
& "Final Stand". While Naked proves to have potential and i wouldn't
discourage any hardrock fan from ordering the tape, there's just something
missing. Hopefully they'll find it while recording a CD.
ANTHONY RAIN STAREZ "Under No FLag" 1993 ARS - B
(1) Kings And Queens (2) Dear Melanie (3) Rescuing Superman (4) Spirit Of
The Circle
*website: http://kspace.com/starez
Do you miss Phil Lewis's (L.A. Guns) voice? Then look no further
than Anthony Starez's lite vocals. The first track "Kings And Queens",
starts things off on a touching piano & vocal note, followed by the
equally touching "Dear Melanie" with its ethnic acoustic guitar, flute,
nice backing vocals, & solid electric solo. Then there's the all vocal,
no instruments, "Rescuing Superman"; the only track i had trouble
digesting. The only rocker, "Spirit Of The Circle", carries resemblances
to Robert Plant material. If you like the lighter side of AOR or
contemporary rock, check this tape out.
POLYESTER APPLEJAZZ "demo" 1996 PA - B
(1) Smeer The Queer (2) Pancakes In A Bucket
*website: http://www.goodnet.com/~ee01138
Wow, this is some crazy stuff...i like it! This
rock/jazz/new-age/metal/dance instrumental...well you get the idea. With
a whole ensemble of instruments, this is not for the closed-minded, but
definitely fun. And if you're a Star Wars fan, you must hear "Pancakes In
A Bucket" for it's metal-funktified version of the Mos Eisley Cantina
song.
******************************************************************************
See you in two weeks. - todd