Wednesday, April 28, 2004
April 25: Outkast - Speakerboxx
I don't remember where I read this, but one reviewer said this could have been one of the best albums of all-time if Andre and Big Boi had combined the best parts of their two albums into one. I agree. Like Dre's disc, this one's got a little too much self-indulgent crap on it. But the singles are hot. And you got to drop like it's hot, drop, drop it like it's hot. That's what I learned in the Dirrty South.
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Tuesday, April 27, 2004
April 24: Outkast - The Love Below
It only took two days to get sick of new wave, so I headed towards hip-hop. This is Andre 3000's half of the recent double album, and it's really not hip-hop at all; if anything, it sounds kind of like a '60s lounge record crossed with Prince. Andre has really moved out into the stratosphere here, and it's awesome. I don't really understand how this won so many Nickelodeon Kids' Choice awards last month, though, because Andre is all about the sex. From "Spread" : "I don't want to move too fast but / Can't resist your sexy ass / Just spread, spread for me." Now THAT's ice cold! Also, the liner notes feature a painting of Andre as a centaur surrounded by naked women.
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April 23: Various Artists - Living in Oblivion: The '80s Greatest Hits, Vol. 4
This one's still got the hits - "Mexican Radio," "Come on Eileen," "True," "Dance Hall Days," - but the obscure tracks are waaaay more '80s sounding. Seriously, when Kit heard Strawberry Switchblade, Wide Boy Awake, and Red Box, he nearly threw himself out of my car. Lots of keyboards, drum machines, and songs that don't make sense. Kind of like the All-American Rejects, only with a more pronounced Duran Duran influence.
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April 22: Various Artists - Living in Oblivion: The '80s Greatest Hits, Vol. 1
I decided to leap from grunge into the big trend of the '80s, new wave. This compilation has the hits - "She Blinded Me with Science," "Always Something There to Remind Me," "Kids in America," "Turning Japanese" - and a bunch of very obscure, super-80s songs like "Romanticide" by Combo Audio (which is actually pretty good).
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Thursday, April 22, 2004
April 21: Everclear - Sparkle and Fade
Ah... second-generation grunge. I believe you're most shaped by the music you listened to in high school, in which case Green Day, Soundgarden and Everclear (and, sadly, Bush) had a lot more impact on me than Pearl Jam or Nirvana ever did.
Funny story... Kit and I were in a band together in high school, and we used to do a cover of "Santa Monica" that Kit did vocals on. One time, at a show at the Freightliner in Guthrie, I started the song like normal, and when it came time for the opening line, "I am still living with your ghost," Kit just froze. We had to start the song all over. It was hilarious. For me, anyway. Not so much for Kit.
This album has a lot of flaws; Everclear's next one, So Much for the Afterglow, is better. But "Heartspark Dollarsign" is the best song about inter-racial love ever. I defy you to name a better one.
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Funny story... Kit and I were in a band together in high school, and we used to do a cover of "Santa Monica" that Kit did vocals on. One time, at a show at the Freightliner in Guthrie, I started the song like normal, and when it came time for the opening line, "I am still living with your ghost," Kit just froze. We had to start the song all over. It was hilarious. For me, anyway. Not so much for Kit.
This album has a lot of flaws; Everclear's next one, So Much for the Afterglow, is better. But "Heartspark Dollarsign" is the best song about inter-racial love ever. I defy you to name a better one.
April 20: Stone Temple Pilots - Tiny Music... Songs From the Vatican Gift Shop
This is what happens when a grunge band decides not to be grunge anymore. Actually, this is what happens when you've been ridiculed your entire career for ripping off another band, and you do a lot of drugs. My old buddy Andy used to say his favorite song off this was "Art School Girl." I still don't see it.
Most people would agree that this is STP's high point; after this, Weiland did a solo record and some drugs, the rest of the guys did Talk Show, then they got back together for two more albums and Weiland did some more drugs, but the albums weren't as good.
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Most people would agree that this is STP's high point; after this, Weiland did a solo record and some drugs, the rest of the guys did Talk Show, then they got back together for two more albums and Weiland did some more drugs, but the albums weren't as good.
April 19: Pearl Jam - Vitalogy
Yes, even more grunge. This one is also known as "the album where Pearl Jam finally ran off the rails," or "the last Pearl Jam album Andrew ever bought."
I have a very long theory about "seedcorn albums" which I will try to explain later. But this is a perfect example of a seedcorn album.
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I have a very long theory about "seedcorn albums" which I will try to explain later. But this is a perfect example of a seedcorn album.
Monday, April 19, 2004
April 18: Fatboy Slim - You've Come a Long Way, Baby
Listening to all this grunge this month made me think about those late-'90s days when the media were swearing up and down that "electronica" was the next big thing. Remember Prodigy? Chemical Brothers? Apollo 440? Crystal Method? Fatboy Slim?
Alas, electronica did not take off in America, because Americans are inherently uncool and, therefore, do not like to dance. Your average American would prefer to headbang, or stand against the wall staring nervously at girls.
So Fatboy Slim didn't become a rock star. But this album does have some decent songs. If I had a complaint five years later, it's that everything is too repetitive. It's one thing for a dance song to be repetitive, it's another to take dance music to make a pop song with one lyric repeated for FOUR MINUTES. (I'm talking to you, "Rockefeller Skank!")
What is the next big thing? What will finally replace those unlovable bastard sons-of-grunge, nü-metal, mall-punk and screamo? My vote's for polka.
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Alas, electronica did not take off in America, because Americans are inherently uncool and, therefore, do not like to dance. Your average American would prefer to headbang, or stand against the wall staring nervously at girls.
So Fatboy Slim didn't become a rock star. But this album does have some decent songs. If I had a complaint five years later, it's that everything is too repetitive. It's one thing for a dance song to be repetitive, it's another to take dance music to make a pop song with one lyric repeated for FOUR MINUTES. (I'm talking to you, "Rockefeller Skank!")
What is the next big thing? What will finally replace those unlovable bastard sons-of-grunge, nü-metal, mall-punk and screamo? My vote's for polka.
April 17: The Heavenly States - (self-titled)
Matt, Brandon and I saw this band a few weeks back at the Green Door when they were on their way to SXSW. And they are AWESOME. With a Capital A. I particularly like that the lead singer plays left-handed on a right-handed guitar (backwards, Jimi Hendrix-style).
The only complaint I would have about this CD is that it's not as good as their live show. If it was, they'd be as big as U2. OK, as big as Fuel.
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The only complaint I would have about this CD is that it's not as good as their live show. If it was, they'd be as big as U2. OK, as big as Fuel.
Saturday, April 17, 2004
April 16: Pearl Jam - Vs.
MORE GRUNGE!!! As I write this, I'm wearing my flannel shirt and sipping on some tea (no coffee for this fella), and in honor of Eddie, I didn't wash my hair today. This was the album that sold a million copies in a week, shattering records (until the Backstreet Boys came along eight years later), and it's the template for the Pearl Jam sound over their next five albums, especially Yield and after, in my opinion. And it's pretty good. It's not a desert island disc or anything, but I still like "Glorified G" and "Animal." And it's certainly better than the crap on No Code or Vitalogy.
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Thursday, April 15, 2004
April 15: Pearl Jam - Ten
Had to get back to a little more grunge this month. Actually, since it's Tax Day, I should have listened to some Radiohead ("2+2=5") or something like that. But hey, this album is Ten, so that counts, right?
Pearl Jam was the soundtrack to junior high for me, both Ten and Vs. If you were cool in junior high, you listened to Pearl Jam, and you owned the black stick-figure T-shirt (you know the one I'm talking about). Me, I was a dork, and spent all of junior high listening to REM's Automatic for the People. But I owned a copy of Ten. You had to. They practically gave it out in cereal boxes.
I had probably not listened to this album in close to 10 years when I popped it in today. And it's still pretty good. But it doesn't sound current like Nevermind does; it sounds more nostalgic, and a lot closer to Aerosmith than I remember.
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Pearl Jam was the soundtrack to junior high for me, both Ten and Vs. If you were cool in junior high, you listened to Pearl Jam, and you owned the black stick-figure T-shirt (you know the one I'm talking about). Me, I was a dork, and spent all of junior high listening to REM's Automatic for the People. But I owned a copy of Ten. You had to. They practically gave it out in cereal boxes.
I had probably not listened to this album in close to 10 years when I popped it in today. And it's still pretty good. But it doesn't sound current like Nevermind does; it sounds more nostalgic, and a lot closer to Aerosmith than I remember.
April 14: Fountains of Wayne - Welcome Interstate Managers
I got this last summer on the same day as the new Guster album, and at the time, I favored the Guster album. I didn't feel this was as good as Utopia Parkway and only listened to it three or four times before sitting it on a shelf. So eight months later, after "Stacy's Mom" getting played about 50 zillion times, I heard the new single, "Mexican Wine," on the radio and decided to give FOW a try again.
I think I was a little too harsh the first time. The first half of the album is really strong. But I have two problems: one, this is a textbook case in favor of a new industry trend. According to Billboard magazine, record execs are trying to shrink CDs to only 9 or 10 tracks. This CD has SIXTEEN songs, and after "Hey Julie," track 9, it's all downhill. Tracks 10 through 16 contain two '70s-funk songs, a faux-country song, a song that sounds like Three Dog Night and three songs that suck. When you trim the fat, it tastes better, FOW. It just does.
My second problem is that I'm not from the Northeast, and I think you have to be to get all of Fountains of Wayne's songs. For instance, on this album, "Hackensack" and "Fire Island." I've never been to either place, so I don't understand what they're talking about. I guess they don't do well in this part of the country, either, because they're going on tour and not coming within 500 miles of Oklahoma. Oh, well.
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I think I was a little too harsh the first time. The first half of the album is really strong. But I have two problems: one, this is a textbook case in favor of a new industry trend. According to Billboard magazine, record execs are trying to shrink CDs to only 9 or 10 tracks. This CD has SIXTEEN songs, and after "Hey Julie," track 9, it's all downhill. Tracks 10 through 16 contain two '70s-funk songs, a faux-country song, a song that sounds like Three Dog Night and three songs that suck. When you trim the fat, it tastes better, FOW. It just does.
My second problem is that I'm not from the Northeast, and I think you have to be to get all of Fountains of Wayne's songs. For instance, on this album, "Hackensack" and "Fire Island." I've never been to either place, so I don't understand what they're talking about. I guess they don't do well in this part of the country, either, because they're going on tour and not coming within 500 miles of Oklahoma. Oh, well.
April 13: Sugarcult - Palm Trees and Power Lines
Sugarcult's first album, Start Static, was one of those that just grows and grows on you, and I really became a fan of the band when Matt and I saw them in Tulsa two Septembers ago. So I was pretty pumped when I heard the first single, "Memory," off this album, and went out and got it the day it came out.
First impression? Not as good as Start Static. "Memory" is a great song, and so is "She's the Blade." But top to bottom, I don't think it's as strong. That's the way most second albums are, though, and this one's not as disappointing as, say, Pete Yorn's second album. Sugarcult's going to be in Dallas April 28. Matt and I are going. You should come, too.
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First impression? Not as good as Start Static. "Memory" is a great song, and so is "She's the Blade." But top to bottom, I don't think it's as strong. That's the way most second albums are, though, and this one's not as disappointing as, say, Pete Yorn's second album. Sugarcult's going to be in Dallas April 28. Matt and I are going. You should come, too.
April 12: Shaft - (self-titled)
12p played with Shaft in Wichita last Saturday, and will be doing so again this Saturday. This disc is from 2002, and the song "Roses" gets played some on the radio in Wichita, I guess.
There's really some promise on this disc, especially the middle four or five songs, although I could do without the white-boy funk on the first four tracks. You can judge for yourself (shameless plug coming... wait for it... wait for it) this Saturday, 4.17 at the Bricktown Brewery.
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There's really some promise on this disc, especially the middle four or five songs, although I could do without the white-boy funk on the first four tracks. You can judge for yourself (shameless plug coming... wait for it... wait for it) this Saturday, 4.17 at the Bricktown Brewery.
Wednesday, April 14, 2004
April 11: Blue October - History for Sale
I like the singles ("Calling You" and "Inner Glow"). I like some of the other songs. But a lot of this album is waaaay too pretentious. From the liner notes, it's clear this band sees their music as "art," which is asking a bit much of songs about being obsessed with your girlfriend.
Plus, they're from Houston. And Houston (no offense, Angela) is not a very rockin' town.
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Plus, they're from Houston. And Houston (no offense, Angela) is not a very rockin' town.
April 10: Various Artists - WSVN Radio Hall of Fame, Vol. 13
Got this in the mail because the lead track is "Always," by (you guessed it) 12 Pearls. This is a promo sampler put out by a radio station in Thornton, IL. Based on this thing, this is one heck of an eclectic radio station. All the songs are good, but they range from 12p to metal to light-jazz to my favorite, "Galaxy 12" by Eclipse of Mars, which is an '80s instrumental that sounds like the background music to a sports-highlight show circa 1986.
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April 9: Damone - From the Attic
This album hearkens back to the days of big, dumb rock like KISS and Loverboy and Night Ranger. But instead of a greasy dude singing, it's a high-school chick who sounds a little like Avril. It's a cool combination. From "Feel Bad Vibe": "Who's that in your Chevelle?" Now THAT's rock and roll! I want more songs about Chevelles. And more cowbell.
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Tuesday, April 13, 2004
April 8: Nirvana - MTV Unplugged in New York
"I must have died alone / A long, long time ago."
— From "The Man Who Sold The World."
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— From "The Man Who Sold The World."
Monday, April 12, 2004
April 7: Nirvana - In Utero
AKA "the one where Kurt tried to piss his fratboy fans off." The first instance in alt-rock where a band tried to alienate some of its fanbase so they wouldn't be as big rock stars (later copied by Pearl Jam, REM, Radiohead, etc.). I still like "Heart-Shaped Box," and I forgot about some of the better album tracks: "Serve the Servants," "Scentless Apprentice," etc. etc.
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April 6: Nirvana - Nevermind
What can you say about this one that hasn't already been said? My buddy Andy and I used to pop a cassette of Nevermind into his Ford Tempo in high school and then head-bang in unison to Dave Grohl's intro fill. Yeah, we were dorks.
13 years after this came out, it still sounds fresh. Is that because it's timeless, or because bands like Smile Empty Soul are still ripping off Nevermind? Sound off on our messageboard.
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13 years after this came out, it still sounds fresh. Is that because it's timeless, or because bands like Smile Empty Soul are still ripping off Nevermind? Sound off on our messageboard.
Thursday, April 08, 2004
April 5: For Squirrels - Example
They think today is the 10th anniversary of Kurt Cobain's death, although he wasn't found until April 8. Instead of listening to Nirvana today, though, I picked out this album, because it's the most tragic story I know in rock. For Squirrels was a band from Florida who combined the best elements of Nirvana and late-'80s REM. This album came out in 1995 and featured the single "Mighty KC," about Kurt Cobain. The chorus begins: "And by the grace of God go I/ Into the great unknown/ Things are gonna work out in our favor."
Two weeks before the album came out, the band was in a van accident, and the singer, bass player, and manager were killed. Mighty KC, a song about a dead rock star, turned out to be eerily prophetic.
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Two weeks before the album came out, the band was in a van accident, and the singer, bass player, and manager were killed. Mighty KC, a song about a dead rock star, turned out to be eerily prophetic.
April 4: Soundgarden - Superunknown
In my opinion, the closest thing to a grunge masterpiece any of the Seattle bands put out. Nirvana's Nevermind and Pearl Jam's Ten are great albums, but this one blows your mind. My only complaint would be that it's 15 songs stretching over 70 minutes, and if you cut out two or three of them, it would be all killer, no filler. As of now, it's almost all killer, just a little filler. "Spoonman"? "My Wave"? "Superunknown"? After one more album, Soundgarden broke up, and I think it's because they realized they'd never top this one.
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Sunday, April 04, 2004
April 3: Upside - Scope & History
Upside is all growns up now. All growns up. When I first met these guys, it was at the Asylum in Lawton in January '02, and they were first band on a four-band bill, a baby band... nothing special. They had one pretty good song called "The Way I Dream" that sounded a little too much like Bon Jovi. Sid, the lead singer, hustled us for some shows in Stillwater and Dallas, and let us open for them in Tulsa and Norman in exchange. We did four or five shows together in like three months, made friends, and that was about it.
Then they put out a CD in summer '02 that got some recognition, then put out another CD last summer (this one) that ended up with a No. 1 single on Z-104.5 in Tulsa, and now they're showcasing for major labels at the Viper Room in Los Angeles and making the finals of the Buzz March Bandness and re-recording "The Way I Dream" with Bowling for Soup's producer so that it sounds like a Top 10 RAWK juggernaut.
There's nothing special about what Upside have done; they just write good songs and then work their asses off to make sure people hear them. It's a lesson other bands know, but usually don't put into practice.
So why was I listening to Upside today? Well, first of all, this is a great CD, well-written and well-produced. And second, 12 Pearls and Upside are coming to my hometown of Guthrie April 24 for a big '89ers night show. All you kids need to roll out and show 'em why it's called Gut-rock (is it still called Gut-rock?).
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Then they put out a CD in summer '02 that got some recognition, then put out another CD last summer (this one) that ended up with a No. 1 single on Z-104.5 in Tulsa, and now they're showcasing for major labels at the Viper Room in Los Angeles and making the finals of the Buzz March Bandness and re-recording "The Way I Dream" with Bowling for Soup's producer so that it sounds like a Top 10 RAWK juggernaut.
There's nothing special about what Upside have done; they just write good songs and then work their asses off to make sure people hear them. It's a lesson other bands know, but usually don't put into practice.
So why was I listening to Upside today? Well, first of all, this is a great CD, well-written and well-produced. And second, 12 Pearls and Upside are coming to my hometown of Guthrie April 24 for a big '89ers night show. All you kids need to roll out and show 'em why it's called Gut-rock (is it still called Gut-rock?).
April 2: Cross Canadian Ragweed - Soul Gravy
I figured as long as I was listening to roots-rock from Oklahoma, I'd give this CD a spin. I bought it at Wal-Mart because it was $11, and came with a free concert DVD (that I haven't watched yet). 12 Pearls used to open for Cross Canadian at the Wormy Dog waaaaaay back in the day, and did a very difficult show with CCR for the Thetas at OSU about two days after Sept. 11, 2001. Now CCR are a big-time country band with a top-five country album and backing vocals from Lee Ann Womack. I liked 'em better when they rocked more, although "Alabama" is a big-time hit song if there ever was one.
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April 1: The Redbud Revival - Sweet Cavendish
So after I listened to Fixture back in January, I get an e-mail out of the blue from their old bass player Luke Dick. Luke, being the nice guy that he is, offered me a comp. copy of his new band's new CD, and me, being the nice guy that I am, took him up on it.
And boy, does it not sound like Fixture. It's about a 120-degree turn for Luke and Tyson (Fixture's old drummer). Redbud Revival is old-fashioned blue-collar roots-rock, like Creedence or Tom Petty or Bob Seger. But it's done very well; I particularly like Luke's lyrics. I think my favorite is "Talk the Night Away." There's nothing on here that's going to get heavy rotation on KJ-103, but that's OK. This CD is a labor of love, and it shows. I believe it's available at your friendly neighborhood CD shop if you're in Oklahoma City or from redbudrevival.com if you're not.
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And boy, does it not sound like Fixture. It's about a 120-degree turn for Luke and Tyson (Fixture's old drummer). Redbud Revival is old-fashioned blue-collar roots-rock, like Creedence or Tom Petty or Bob Seger. But it's done very well; I particularly like Luke's lyrics. I think my favorite is "Talk the Night Away." There's nothing on here that's going to get heavy rotation on KJ-103, but that's OK. This CD is a labor of love, and it shows. I believe it's available at your friendly neighborhood CD shop if you're in Oklahoma City or from redbudrevival.com if you're not.
Friday, April 02, 2004
Andrew's March Selection Summary
March, it came in like a lion, went out like a lamb. Or is that the other way around? Should I have listened to '80s hair metal band White Lion, then the trip-hop group Lamb? Well, I didn't. But I did listen to this:
March 1: The Get Up Kids - On a Wire
March 2: The Get Up Kids - Guilt Show
March 3: Powderfinger - Odyssey Number Five
March 4: Ammonia - Mint 400
March 5: Silverchair - Neon Ballroom
March 6: Midnight Oil - 20,000 Watt RSL
March 7: Crowded House - Recurring Dream: The Very Best Of
March 8: Garageland - Last Exit to Garageland
March 9: The Scorpions - Crazy World
March 10: Our Lady Peace - Clumsy
March 11: Our Lady Peace - Happiness ... is not a fish that you can catch
March 12: Econoline Crush - The Devil You Know
March 13: Treble Charger - Maybe It's Me
March 14: The Odds - Nest
March 15: Oasis - Be Here Now
March 16: Badly Drawn Boy - The Hour of Bewilderbeast
March 17: The Verve - Urban Hymns
March 18: James - Laid
March 19: Cast - All Change
March 20: Robbie Williams - The Ego Has Landed
March 21: Catherine Wheel - Like Cats and Dogs
March 22: Bad Company - Holy Water
March 23: Stereophonics - Performance and Cocktails
March 24: 60 ft. dolls - The Big 3
March 25: Manic Street Preachers - Forever Delayed: the Greatest Hits
March 26: Idlewild - The Remote Part
March 27: Ash - Free All Angels
March 28: U2 - Achtung Baby
March 29: The Corrs - Talk On Corners (special edition)
March 30: Placebo - Sleeping With Ghosts
March 31: Kane - So Glad You Made It
Best album: Verve - Urban Hymns
Worst album: Ammonia - Mint 400
Wow, two hair-metal albums this month? Kit's going to beat me with a rolling pin again. I think we're going to do some grunge in April (RIP +10, Kurt), but it's not going to be grunge month. I'd end up wearing flannel, and that's not a good look, is it?
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March 1: The Get Up Kids - On a Wire
March 2: The Get Up Kids - Guilt Show
March 3: Powderfinger - Odyssey Number Five
March 4: Ammonia - Mint 400
March 5: Silverchair - Neon Ballroom
March 6: Midnight Oil - 20,000 Watt RSL
March 7: Crowded House - Recurring Dream: The Very Best Of
March 8: Garageland - Last Exit to Garageland
March 9: The Scorpions - Crazy World
March 10: Our Lady Peace - Clumsy
March 11: Our Lady Peace - Happiness ... is not a fish that you can catch
March 12: Econoline Crush - The Devil You Know
March 13: Treble Charger - Maybe It's Me
March 14: The Odds - Nest
March 15: Oasis - Be Here Now
March 16: Badly Drawn Boy - The Hour of Bewilderbeast
March 17: The Verve - Urban Hymns
March 18: James - Laid
March 19: Cast - All Change
March 20: Robbie Williams - The Ego Has Landed
March 21: Catherine Wheel - Like Cats and Dogs
March 22: Bad Company - Holy Water
March 23: Stereophonics - Performance and Cocktails
March 24: 60 ft. dolls - The Big 3
March 25: Manic Street Preachers - Forever Delayed: the Greatest Hits
March 26: Idlewild - The Remote Part
March 27: Ash - Free All Angels
March 28: U2 - Achtung Baby
March 29: The Corrs - Talk On Corners (special edition)
March 30: Placebo - Sleeping With Ghosts
March 31: Kane - So Glad You Made It
Best album: Verve - Urban Hymns
Worst album: Ammonia - Mint 400
Wow, two hair-metal albums this month? Kit's going to beat me with a rolling pin again. I think we're going to do some grunge in April (RIP +10, Kurt), but it's not going to be grunge month. I'd end up wearing flannel, and that's not a good look, is it?
Thursday, April 01, 2004
March 31: Kane - So Glad You Made It
Home country: The Netherlands
Sorry kids; this is not Kit's brother-in-law's Hollywood country band. Instead, this is CD by a Dutch group that my Dutch buddy Neils gave to me a couple of years ago. It's good, standard-issue post-grunge rock; my main complaint would be that the lead singer obviously doesn't speak English as his first language and has some rhyming difficulties. Also, they sound a lot like Live (who are apparently still extremely popular in Belgium and the Netherlands).
To wrap up international month, here's a trivia question: name the band from Belgium that had the biggest hit in the U.S. in the '90s. Post answers on our message board and the winner gets a prize.
(0) comments
Sorry kids; this is not Kit's brother-in-law's Hollywood country band. Instead, this is CD by a Dutch group that my Dutch buddy Neils gave to me a couple of years ago. It's good, standard-issue post-grunge rock; my main complaint would be that the lead singer obviously doesn't speak English as his first language and has some rhyming difficulties. Also, they sound a lot like Live (who are apparently still extremely popular in Belgium and the Netherlands).
To wrap up international month, here's a trivia question: name the band from Belgium that had the biggest hit in the U.S. in the '90s. Post answers on our message board and the winner gets a prize.
