MINUTEMEN
DOUBLE NICKELS ON THE DIME
1984 – SST
Produced By ETHAN JAMES
1. D’s Car Jam / Anxious Mo-Fo
2. Theatre Is The Life Of You
3. Viet Nam
4. Cohesion
5. It’s Expected I’m Gone
6. #1 Hit Song
7. Two Beads At The End
8. Do You Want New Wave Or Do You Want The Truth?
9. Don’t Look Now
10. Shit From An Old Notebook
11. Nature Without Man
12. One Reporter’s Opinion
13. Political Song For Michael Jackson To Sing
14. Maybe Partying Will Help
15. Toadies
16. Retreat
17. The Big Foist
18. God Bows To Math
19. Corona
20. The Glory Of Man
21. Take 5, D.
22. My Heart And The Real World
23. History Lesson – Part II
24. You Need The Glory
25. The Roar Of The Masses Could Be Farts
26. West Germany
27. The Politics Of Time
28. Themselves
29. Please Don’t Be Gentle With Me
30. Nothing Indeed
31. No Exchange
32. There Ain’t Shit On T.V. Tonight
33. This Ain’t No Picnic
34. Spillage
35. Untitled Song For Latin America
36. Jesus And Tequila
37. June 16th
38. Storm In My House
39. Martin’s Story
40. Dr. Wu
41. The World According To Nouns
42. Love Dance
43. Three Car Jam
Ladies and gentlemen, I give you music for those with impaired attention spans. Minutemen nearly lived up to their name…the track list above is for a single CD (it was a double album). This American punk band lasted just over a minute (they broke up in 1985 after D. Boon was killed in a car accident), but they did release four albums in four years. Double Nickels On The Dime was their third release. It’s a stunning rapid fire collection of brief yet creative songs. The original album was 45 songs in 81 minutes. Remarkable. The longest track here is “The Glory Of Man” at 2:58, but most of the songs are less than 2 minutes long. Let’s just say that there is not a single wasted moment here. Minutemen were fast, loose, and extremely economical.
The speed at which Double Nickels On The Dime moves will probably make you dizzy. But it all works. There are no hits here. There is no jamming, no stretching things out, no singalongs and no production tricks. This is one of the most rock and roll of all rock and roll albums…this is no nonsense, no sugar coating, no prettiness or sweetness. This is what rock and roll should be. This is what PUNK should be. Loud and fast and at times, a bit scary. It’s too bad that just over a year later, Minutemen would be over. It would have been interesting to see what they would have grown into over the years. Mike Watt went on to play with Firehose, Sonic Youth, Porno For Pyros, and still plays shows with Minutemen drummer George Hurley…as a bass and drums only duo. But…for just a minute…this was one amazing band.
Link _________________ May we all get to heaven
'Fore the devil knows we're dead...
FUGAZI
IN ON THE KILL TAKER
1993 – DISCHORD
Produced By TED NICELEY & FUGAZI
1. Facet Squared
2. Public Witness Program
3. Returning The Screw
4. Smallpox Champion
5. Rend It
6. 23 Beats Off
7. Sweet And Low
8. Cassavetes
9. Great Cop
10. Walken’s Syndrome
11. Instrument
12. Last Chance For A Slow Dance
The Washington DC hardcore scene that exploded in the late 1980’s should not be overlooked. Most importantly, the music of Fugazi should not be ignored. This is one of America’s greatest heavy bands. They are loud, smart, and very listenable. In On The Kill Taker is their third of six studio albums they made between 1990 and 2001, and while not as perfect as their debut (Repeater from 1990) or their last (2001’s The Argument), it is a fine showcase of just how underrated this band has always been. Led by singer guitarists Ian MacKaye and Guy Picciotto, Fugazi kept the same lineup all the way up to their 2003 hiatus…which has been in effect for twenty years now. A nation of fans quietly hopes they will return…so far, not a word from the band.
The instrumental “Sweet And Low” is excellent. MacKaye and Picciotto split the lead vocals on everything else. Fugazi’s punk influences are everywhere on this album, and they expand on them quite nicely. This is a band that you could always hear progressions from one record to the next, meaning that they never sounded the same…and they kept getting better. In On The Kill Taker has a cleaner sound than what the band had done before, which is part of why it works so well. The songs are smart and articulate, showing their thoughts on not just politics, but also film and literature. In On The Kill Taker is an important part of the Fugazi story. It’s an exciting and very well made record, as are the rest of the band’s works. Hopefully, this group will make a comeback. Hopefully…
Link _________________ May we all get to heaven
'Fore the devil knows we're dead...
EDITORS
THE BACK ROOM
2005 – KITCHENWARE
Produced By JIM ABBISS & GAVIN MONAGHAN
1. Lights
2. Munich
3. Blood
4. Fall
5. All Sparks
6. Camera
7. Fingers In The Factories
8. Bullets
9. Someone Says
10. Open Your Arms
11. Distance
The Back Room is the debut album from the British band Editors. It’s been compared to a number of other bands, but most notably Interpol…these guys sound a lot like Interpol after a night of listening to Joy Division. That’s not a bad thing. Editors has a dark gothic thing going on, but their sound is very full. Singer Tom Smith has an Ian Curtis quality, which helps to keep things dark. Overall, The Back Room stands as a most promising debut, and one that the band has consistently followed up on over the years. It’s very good yet underrated. It has its strengths, while its weaknesses keep it from being a better known work. This is a fine album, but it’s not one that will stay at the front of your mind simply because the bulk of the songs are not that memorable.
Still, they sound terrific. The better tracks here are among the best of what mid 2000’s Britain had to offer. “All Sparks”, “Bullets”, “Blood” and “Munich” are all fine, and were enough to keep this record a best seller in Europe for years. The rest is good but not amazing, solid but unspectacular. Which sums up the entire career of Editors pretty well. Of their seven albums so far, this one still stands as their best work (along with their second effort, An End Has A Start), although you really can’t go wrong with anything they have done over the years. Yes, they will remind you of Interpol, but this happens in a good way. Editors is a fine band, and the best place to start with them is The Back Room. Always good but never quite great.
Link _________________ May we all get to heaven
'Fore the devil knows we're dead...
THE BOX TOPS
THE BEST OF THE BOX TOPS: SOUL DEEP
1996 – ARISTA
Produced By CHIPS MOMAN, DAN PENN & TOMMY COGBILL
1. The Letter
2. Neon Rainbow
3. Happy Times
4. Cry Like A Baby
5. Fields Of Clover
6. Choo Choo Train
7. She Shot A Hole In My Soul
8. People Gonna Talk
9. I Met Her In Church
10. Sweet Cream Ladies, Forward March
11. Together
12. I Must Be The Devil
13. Soul Deep
14. I Shall Be Released
15. (The) Happy Song
16. Turn On A Dream
17. I See Only Sunshine
18. You Keep Tightening Up On Me
Before there was Big Star, 16 year old Alex Chilton was the lead singer of The Box Tops. Those gravelly vocals on “The Letter” were by the future leader of one of the greatest power pop bands of all time when he was but a child. The Box Tops were a band from 1967 through 1970, when every member of the group had left. “The Letter” was a huge hit, but folks forget that there was a lot more to The Box Tops than just that song. Like Chilton’s future band, it took a few years for people to catch on that these guys were actually really good. “Cry Like A Baby” is probably their best song, and was their only other top ten hit. “Soul Deep” came close, but all the rest of their singles were minor hits at best. And the band was together for such a short time that they were easily forgotten.
Except for “The Letter”. And Chilton. The Best Of The Box Tops is a very kind compilation. It collects all ten of their singles released while they were still together, along with a few nice B-sides. Which means you get their take on Dylan’s “I Shall Be Released” and the should have been bigger hit “Neon Rainbow”. The Box Tops released four studio albums in the sixties…none of which are remembered. A group of anonymous musicians recorded as The Box Tops in the mid seventies, and Chilton remade their two biggest hits in 1976. There was a reunion in 2000 that ended when Chilton died in 2010, and original members Bill Cunningham and Gary Talley still tour as the group…but the original band was the best. And this collection is a fine place to discover what was almost a huge American pop band.
Link _________________ May we all get to heaven
'Fore the devil knows we're dead...
THE BLACK CROWES
BY YOUR SIDE
1999 – COLUMBIA
Produced By KEVIN SHIRLEY
1. Go Faster
2. Kickin’ My Heart Around
3. By Your Side
4. HorseHead
5. Only A Fool
6. Heavy
7. Welcome To The Goodtimes
8. Go Tell The Congregation
9. Diamond Ring
10. Then She Said My Name
11. Virtue And Vice
The Black Crowes in 1999 were having a tough go of it. They had recorded an album that their label completely shot down (later released on The Lost Crowes as Band). They also lost lead guitarist Marc Ford to drugs, and bassist Johnny Colt to a lack of interest. So By Your Side, their fifth album, was a kind of starting over point for the band. Rich Robinson handled all of the guitars on this record, and he did a fine job. The songs are mostly a return to their original hard rocking days of Shake Your Money Maker…and driving hard rock is what the Crowes always did best. It’s the music they opened the decade of the nineties with…so why not close it with the same? Given what the band were dealing with at the time, it’s a pretty strong outing.
The faster and heavier songs work the best. The first three tracks are most promising…this is like the Black Crowes of old. And “Only A Fool” (with horns!) and the rollicking “Go Tell The Congregation” are stellar. Also, the closer, “Virtue And Vice”, is a true Crowes gem. But By Your Side is held from being a great Crowes album by singer Chris Robinson’s undying (at the time) love for actress Kate Hudson. This is not the band to be doing sappy love songs, but on this record, there’s a bad trio of them. “Heavy”, “Diamond Ring” and “Then She Said My Name” are songs that fit nowhere in the universe of what this band was always good at…making sure you were properly rocked. Which makes the second half considerably weaker than the first. In all, By Your Side is a mostly good album. Not their best work, but there’s enough here to be happy about.
Link _________________ May we all get to heaven
'Fore the devil knows we're dead...
SLY & THE FAMILY STONE
GREATEST HITS
1970 – EPIC
Produced By SLY STONE
1. I Want To Take You Higher
2. Everybody Is A Star
3. Stand!
4. Life
5. Fun
6. You Can Make It If You Try
7. Dance To The Music
8. Everyday People
9. Hot Fun In The Summertime
10. M’Lady
11. Sing A Simple Song
12. Thank You (Falletinme Be Mice Elf Agin)
The run of success for Sly & The Family Stone was remarkable…and terribly short. How remarkable? This greatest hits album came out in 1970, and consists of songs from only three albums, all released between 1968 and 69. It contains three new songs from 1969…after which the band had one really great album (There’s A Riot Goin’ On from 1971). After that? They made five more albums that almost no one noticed, had no major hits, and were gone and almost forgotten by 1982. A sad story indeed, marked by personnel issues and drug use. But this compilation that covers the 3 year period between 1968 and 1970 shows just how incredible this band was. Even though it was for such a short period of time. This music does not lie…it is all amazing.
This is one of the most solid greatest hits albums ever released. These songs are among the best of the end of the sixties, and you will know almost all of them. “I Want To Take You Higher”, “Everyday People”, “Stand!”, “Dance To The Music”…Sly Stone and his band were such an amazing musical force. Bi-racial at a time when that was not normal, sharp writing, great performances, hooks to the end of the world. It’s too bad that Sly and company couldn’t keep things together (at one point, Sly Stone was homeless in Los Angeles). But MAN. 1969-71 for this band was one amazing small stretch of genius. And the best of it is all right here on a single disc. It’s always been an amazing collection, and one that you must have. Sly & The Stone were, for a moment, truly great.
Link _________________ May we all get to heaven
'Fore the devil knows we're dead...
STEVE EARLE
I FEEL ALRIGHT
1996 – E-SQUARED
Produced By RAY KENNEDY, RICHARD BENNETT & RICHARD DODD
1. Feel Alright
2. Hard-Core Troubadour
3. More Than I Can Do
4. Hurtin’ Me, Hurtin’ You
5. Now She’s Gone
6. Poor Boy
7. Valentine’s Day
8. The Unrepentant
9. CCKMP
10. Billy And Bonnie
11. South Nashville Blues
12. You’re Still Standin’ There
Steve Earle began his career with a bang…then slipped into oblivion in the early 1990’s after almost killing himself with drugs. He re-emerged clean in 1995 with Train A Comin’, a largely acoustic comeback album that was the alt country feel good story of the year. He followed that up in 1996 with his sixth album, I Feel Alright…probably a pretty accurate statement. And although this album continues his travels down a more righteous and healthy path, it’s one that has been often overlooked in his catalog. Yes, it does sit squarely between his major comeback (I Feel Alright) and his excellent 1997 release El Corazon. But don’t pass this record up. It’s better than a lot of folks made it out to be, and it stands as one of several victories in Steve Earle’s discography.
It just doesn’t stand as loudly as some of his other works. There are some true winners on this. “Feel Alright” announces that he’s good with where his life has taken him. “Hard Core Troubadour” is a fine rocker that even gives a lyrical nod to Bruce Springsteen. “You’re Still Standin’ There” is a cool duet with the then still mysterious and legendary Lucinda Williams. This album is Steve Earle finally all grown up and feeling…alright. His career has continued down this same path, and it’s been a fine career indeed. He’s a guy who has come across as a somewhat dangerous fellow. Just not here, which may be why this one gets sometimes overlooked. Check out I Feel Alright. Positive and forward thinking and mellowed out Steve Earle is not such a bad thing. There are some terrific songs here waiting to be rediscovered. Don’t miss out on a good record!
Link _________________ May we all get to heaven
'Fore the devil knows we're dead...
ALISON KRAUSS
NOW THAT I’VE FOUND YOU: A COLLECTION
1995 – ROUNDER
Produced By ALISON KRAUSS, ALISON KRAUSS & UNION STATION, BIL VORNDICK, JERRY DOUGLAS, KEN IRWIN, MIKE MARSHALL & RANDY SCRUGGS
1. Baby, Now That I’ve Found You
2. Oh, Atlanta
3. Broadway
4. Every Time You Say Goodbye
5. Tonight I’m Lonely Too
6. Teardrops Will Kiss The Morning Dew
7. Sleep On
8. When God Dips His Pen Of Love In My Heart
9. I Will
10. I Don’t Believe You’ve Met My Baby
11. In The Palm Of Your Hand
12. When You Say Nothing At All
Yes. I’m going to go on yet another rant about how much I absolutely love and adore Alison Krauss. And wonder how it could be possible that some of you might NOT. Now That I’ve Found You is a compilation that focuses on her early career. But it starts off with a trio of new (in 1995) recordings. I’m just gonna say right here that if you don’t fall in love with Krauss the moment she starts to sing “Baby, Now That I’ve Found You”, you may need to seek medical attention. That song is followed by a cover of Bad Company’s “Oh, Atlanta” that makes the song her own. There are tracks from all over her early career, from solo albums, Union Station albums, recordings she made with The Cox Family, and her lovely rendition of “When You Say Nothing At All” from the Keith Whitley tribute album.
Yes, her voice is as sweet as summer. So is her choice in material. There is not an original song here…and that’s fine. She not only does Bad Co. justice, there’s also a lovely take on The Beatles’ “I Will”. This really is a top notch compilation that draws from so many sources. Her fiddle playing is not highlighted here: this is all about Alison Krauss the singer, and there’s no argument from me. Since this came out, she’s had a full career, but this doesn’t feel like a premature set: she had already released six albums (the first when she was just 15), so she’d already been a seasoned recording artist. I know…I’m a bit over the top for her. But there’s good reason for that. She’s that good. This album is a great place to sample her early career, and to hear just how good she always has been.
Link _________________ May we all get to heaven
'Fore the devil knows we're dead...
EPMD
BUSINESS AS USUAL
1990 – DEF JAM / RUSH / COLUMBIA
Produced By EPMD & DJ SCRATCH
1. I’m Mad
2. Hardcore
3. Rampage
4. Manslaughter
5. Jane 3
6. For My People
7. Mr. Bozack
8. Gold Digger
9. Give The People
10. Rap Is Outta Control
11. Brothers On My Jock
12. Underground
13. Hit Squad Heist
14. Funky Piano
EPMD (an acronym for the members names…Erick (Sermon) and Parrish Mic Doc (Smith) have been slowly and seriously making great hip hop music since 1988. This pair from New York are not like everyone else. Look no further than their albums. Think these guys aren’t all about business? All nine of their albums (including the one that’s upcoming) has the word business in the title. Also, it’s worth noting that every EPMD album has a song about someone named Jane. They’ve split up twice, and gotten back together twice. They have quietly put together one of rap’s most consistently very good careers. Their first six records were top ten on the US Hip Hop charts. Business As Usual, their third, was the third straight (and last) to reach number one.
Business As Usual yielded three great tracks. “Give The People”, “Gold Digger”, and “Rampage” are all winners. They roll along with slower steady beats while trading solid raps with very good lyrics. These guys can write. This album also features the first recordings by Redman (on “Hardcore” and “Brothers On My Jock”), as well as an appearance by L.L. Cool J (on “Rampage”). In all, Business As Usual is a fine effort. It’s not as immediate as the pair of albums that came before it (their debut Strictly Business and 1989’s Unfinished Business), but it is a more mature work, and shows a lot of growth for the pair as writers. EPMD has their first album in sixteen years coming out soon…they are still at it, which is always something to look forward to. Hard to go wrong with this duo.
Link _________________ May we all get to heaven
'Fore the devil knows we're dead...
10,000 MANIACS
MTV UNPLUGGED
1993 – ELEKTRA
Produced By PAUL FOX
1. These Are The Days
2. Eat For Two
3. Candy Everybody Wants
4. I’m Not The Man
5. Don’t Talk
6. Hey Jack Kerouac
7. What’s The Matter Here?
8. Gold Rush Brides
9. Like The Weather
10. Trouble Me
11. Jezebel
12. Because The Night
13. Stockton Gala Days
14. Noah’s Dove
MTV Unplugged is well known for two reasons. This live acoustic album contains the band’s biggest hit, a cover of the Bruce Springsteen – Patti Smith written “Because The Night”. And because it is the final 10,000 Maniacs album with lead singer Natalie Merchant, who left the band not long after it was recorded (and before it was released) because she didn’t want “art by committee any more”. As a show, it’s nice. The performance is good, but there almost no interaction with the audience. You can almost forget that it’s live. And there is, of course, what was always the best part of this band…that lovely voice of Merchant’s. There’s a reason why this band has gone 30 years without a hit. It’s because the best feature they had was Merchant. They replaced her, but they have never been able to replace what she brought to the band.
10,000 Maniacs made five studio albums with Merchant between 1983 and 1992. Outside of the somewhat long and strange Campfire Songs compilation from 2004, this is the best way to have their best songs in one place…albeit in a live setting. There are plenty of fine tracks here…”Hey Jack Kerouac”, “Don’t Talk”, “Like The Weather”. And the acoustic setting makes for a somewhat intimate feel. But while it’s good, it also falls short of great. Merchant already knew she was leaving, and so did the band. The only time anyone speaks is Merchant reading a pair of intros to songs from books. Merchant’s solo career started off well, but she’s been only slightly more successful than the band over the last two and a half decades. The band soldiers on almost invisibly, and there seems to be no reunion in sight. So…this appears to be it.
Link _________________ May we all get to heaven
'Fore the devil knows we're dead...
You cannot post new topics in this forum You cannot reply to topics in this forum You cannot edit your posts in this forum You cannot delete your posts in this forum You cannot vote in polls in this forum
