JOHN HIATT & THE GONERS
BENEATH THIS GRUFF EXTERIOR
2003-NEW WEST
Produced By DON SMITH, JOHN HIATT & THE GONERS
1. Uncommon Connection
2. How Bad's The Coffee
3. The Nagging Dark
4. My Baby Blue
5. My Dog And Me
6. Almost Fed Up With The Blues
7. Circle Back
8. Window On The World
9. Missing Pieces
10. Fly Back Home
11. The Last Time
12. The Most Unoriginal Sin
This is John Hiatt's 17th album, and the only one actually credited to Hiatt & The Goners, although they did back him on a couple of other releases. Here, Hiatt is, as usual, in fine form. He's not breaking any new ground here, but then, he doesn't really have to any more. His fan base is well defined and loyal, his style is etched in stone. You know it's all going to be okay by the second track, "How Bad's The Coffee", (I need a cup/Of the nastiest shit you can find). "My Baby Blue" would have been a hit for him years earlier, and "My Dog And Me" is just as fine.
The album starts to run out of steam by the end, but that's okay. It's John Hiatt, and Hiatt really never gets boring. His albums are never great anymore either, but with him, good is good enough.
Tilly...Hiatt's a tough one. He's been making albums since the mid 70's, and so much of what he's done ends up being a great track or two on an average album. He even switched gears and went new wave in the 80's. I get starting at the beginning, but here's where I would go first:
For me, this is Hiatt's peak. I think that if you dig Slow Turning, then you may find other albums (particularly from around the same period) to be to your liking. His voice doesn't work for everyone, but he is one hell of a songwriter.
Hope that helps! _________________ I'm leaning on the threshold
Of her mystery
And crashing through the walls
Of dying history
BAND OF SUSANS
VEIL
1993-RESTLESS
Produced By ROBERT POSS
1. Mood Swing
2. Not In This Life
3. The Red And The Black
4. Following My Heart
5. Stained Glass
6. The Last Temptation Of Susan
7. Truce
8. Trouble Spot
9. Pearls Of Wisdom
10. Trollbinders Theme
11. Blind
Interesting, this Band Of Susans. They are so named because they had, at one time, as many as three Susans in the group. They took the whole wall of noise Sonic Youth thing to an extreme: they once boasted 3 guitarists. Veil is their best work: it's a true wall of sound. The vocals seem to be an afterthought: you could almost say it's an instrumental album if you're not paying attention. But if you like big sound, this is so for you.
The big highlight here is "The Red And The Black" (not to be confused with the great Blue Oyster Cult song of the same name). "Mood Swing", "Following My Heart", and "Blind" are all excellent as well. This record plays like Sonic Youth at a new volume. It's dense, powerful, and in its own way, beautiful. Truly alternative rock.
Link _________________ I'm leaning on the threshold
Of her mystery
And crashing through the walls
Of dying history
Tilly...Hiatt's a tough one. He's been making albums since the mid 70's, and so much of what he's done ends up being a great track or two on an average album. He even switched gears and went new wave in the 80's. I get starting at the beginning, but here's where I would go first:
For me, this is Hiatt's peak. I think that if you dig Slow Turning, then you may find other albums (particularly from around the same period) to be to your liking. His voice doesn't work for everyone, but he is one hell of a songwriter.
Hope that helps!
Hmmm... Sounds like a compilation of his best tracks from a period may also be a good start into his world. Unlike a lot of other serious music fans, I have no problem with comps and even putting comps in my charts. So if you could suggest one of those too, I will start with both.
ps. I love Band of Susans so great to see them get some well deserved love! 😁
Here is my view both on John Hiatt and Band of Susans.
Of course Slow Turning is one of his best but Bring The Family is equally good and it has Have A Little Faith in Me, one of my favorite songs ever.
Like Romanelli said, his main albums are good but never overall fantastic so it makes sense to listen to a compilation first.
I'd say The Best of John Hiatt delivers the goods and has many songs of both albums. The only disadvantage is that it dates from 1988 which means it has nothing from Perfectly Good Guitar (the title track is a critic by a guitar lover on the guitar smashing habit of the younger generation and I think he had Nirvana in mind) of 1993 which is also one of his best.
On the Band of Susans: this is also one of my favorite bands but Veil is to me certainly not their best: that would be The Word and the Flesh which has the word guitar written all over it (see also my post on the recent Guitar Nerds forum posts). Just listen to the long album closer Guitar Trio (which is in fact a cover from Rhys Chatham).
RADIOHEAD
IN RAINBOWS
2007-Self Released
Produced By NIGEL GODRICH
1. 15 Step
2. Bodysnatchers
3. Nude
4. Weird Fishes/Arpeggi
5. All I Need
6. Faust Arp
7. Reckoner
8. House Of Cards
9. Jigsaw Falling Into Place
10. Videotape
I guess when you get as big as Radiohead, you can do whatever the fuck you want to. And as long as it doesn't suck. You would have thought that after having released three bona fide classics (OK Computer, The Bends, Kid A) that Radiohead had seen its better days. Then comes In Rainbows. The band, without a record deal, released the album themselves online and allowed buyers to pay whatever they wanted to for it. The physical album was released at the end of 2007. And it's one of their best.
Part of what has always made Radiohead a unique band has been their ability to move from one style and type of instrumentation to another. On In Rainbows, they combine many of the styles that made them big: guitar rock, computers, strings, pianos. The songs are very personal, described by Thom Yorke as "seduction songs". The bottom line is that it all works. Again. Another perfect album from Radiohead. Question is: are there more? We'll see....
Link _________________ I'm leaning on the threshold
Of her mystery
And crashing through the walls
Of dying history
DANNY GATTON
88 ELMIRA ST.
1991-ELEKTRA
Produced By DANNY GATTON
1. Funky Mama
2. Elmira St. Boogie
3. Blues Newburg
4. Quiet Village
5. Red Label
6. In My Room
7. The Simpsons
8. Muthaship
9. Pretty Blue
10. Fandingus
11. Slidin' Home
If you've never heard of Danny gatton, that's okay. He was known as The World's Greatest Unknown Guitarist. After a slow career that saw him release only two albumns in the 70's and one in the 80's, he came out swinging in the 90's. Between 1990 and 1994, he put out 5 albums. Gatton was known for melding jazz, rockabilly, surf, and blues styles into his own unique sound.
88 Elmira Street was the second of his 90's releases, and is considered to be his best. And for good reason: his version of The Beach Boys classic "In My Room" is worthwhile by itself. Most of the tracks here are Gatton originals, and all are instrumental. This is not the typical guitar album of its time with screaming pyrotechnics: this is straight out great playing. If you can find this, or any of his other works, it's more than worth checking out. (Gatton committed suicide in 1994.)
Link _________________ I'm leaning on the threshold
Of her mystery
And crashing through the walls
Of dying history
FischmanRockMonster, JazzMeister, Bluesboy,ClassicalMasterProfile Land of Enchantment
DANNY GATTON
88 ELMIRA ST.
1991-ELEKTRA
Produced By DANNY GATTON
1. Funky Mama
2. Elmira St. Boogie
3. Blues Newburg
4. Quiet Village
5. Red Label
6. In My Room
7. The Simpsons
8. Muthaship
9. Pretty Blue
10. Fandingus
11. Slidin' Home
If you've never heard of Danny gatton, that's okay. He was known as The World's Greatest Unknown Guitarist. After a slow career that saw him release only two albumns in the 70's and one in the 80's, he came out swinging in the 90's. Between 1990 and 1994, he put out 5 albums. Gatton was known for melding jazz, rockabilly, surf, and blues styles into his own unique sound.
88 Elmira Street was the second of his 90's releases, and is considered to be his best. And for good reason: his version of The Beach Boys classic "In My Room" is worthwhile by itself. Most of the tracks here are Gatton originals, and all are instrumental. This is not the typical guitar album of its time with screaming pyrotechnics: this is straight out great playing. If you can find this, or any of his other works, it's more than worth checking out. (Gatton committed suicide in 1994.)
JIMI HENDRIX
VOODOO CHILD: THE JIMI HENDRIX COLLECTION
2001-MCA
Produced By JANIE HENDRIX & JOHN MCDERMOTT
1. Purple Haze
2. Hey Joe
3. The Wind Cries Mary
4. Fire
5. Highway Chile
6. Are You Experienced?
7. Burning Of The Midnight Lamp
8. Little Wing
9. All Along The Watchtower
10. Crosstown Traffic
11. Voodoo Child (Slight Return)
12. Spanish Castle Magic
13. Stone Free
14. Izabella
15. Stepping Stone
16. Angel
17. Dolly Dagger
18. Hey Baby (New Rising Sun)
1. Fire
2. Hey Joe
3. I Don't Live Today
4. Hear My Train A Comin'
5. Foxey Lady
6. Machine Gun
7. Johnny B. Goode
8. Red House
9. Freedom
10. Purple Haze
11. Star Spangled Banner
12. Wild Thing
You've got to hand it to the Hendrix family: they have done an exceptional job of packaging the music of Jimi Hendrix. Voodoo Child is no exception. This 2 disc set is split between studio and live performances, all perfectly chosen. Many of the studio tracks are alternate recordings, and none of them are inferior. His Band Of Gypsys period is covered, and there are even some rare live tracks and one ("Foxey Lady") that was previously unreleased.
Aside from the perfection of the music, the set also includes great photos of Hendrix, as well as perfectly drawn up liner notes. Any Hendrix fan would love this package: it's simply perfect.
Link _________________ I'm leaning on the threshold
Of her mystery
And crashing through the walls
Of dying history
KING SUNNY ADE & HIS AFRICAN BEATS
JUJU MUSIC
1982-MANGO
Produced By MARTIN MEISSONNIER
1. Ja Funmi
2. Eje Nlo Gba Ara Mi
3. Mo Beru Agba
4. Sunny Ti De Ariya
5. Ma Jaiye Oni
6. 365 Is My Number/The Message
7. Samba/E Falaba Lewe
King Sunny Ade was already a star in Nigeria when he was signed to Island Records and released his major debut, Juju Music, in 1982. The album was everything that Island had hoped for: itw as a big part of the move toward expanding awareness of what is now known as World Music. The album title is the style Ade plays: juju. It's a very guitar based music, very danceable, and beautifully played.
The move to make Ade the new Bob Marley didn't pan out, but his music is always worth hearing. Juju Music is a great place to start. He sings in his native tongue, so you won't understand a word of it, but the grooves make up for it. A fine album.
Link _________________ I'm leaning on the threshold
Of her mystery
And crashing through the walls
Of dying history
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