The War On Drugs "Slave Ambient"

Deliberately set out to find three new-to-me indie artists, and this was number two, the first being Veronica Falls.  The War On Drugs was the only domestic choice as they are based in Philly.  "Slave Ambient" is their third full-length offering.  I read of some Bob Dylan influence, and though that comparison hasn't ever moved me ('cept maybe to the toilet), I went ahead with the samples and found the new-wavish atmospherics intriguing enough for the purchase.  As the spins began, I didn't hear the Dylan as much as I heard Tom Petty, and hell, one of the tracks could have been Bryan Adams singing!  One of the other names to pop into my head due to the vocals was T-Bone Burnett (no kidding, he has a number of solo albums, most of which are deserving of your attention).  For a group dynamic, oddly enough, the two bands from the past I heard in this recording were also domestic, with one being derided for having a vocalist with a "whine-y, Dylan-esque voice."  That band was called The Nobodys, a one-album, no-hit wonder who deserved much, much better.  They even got the prestigious, final-song placement in a Miami Vice episode, usually an immediate sales booster for that era, but not in their case.  Here is a link to one of the two videos made in support of their album.  Do yourself a favor and play all four on this channel, including my favorite, "The Gang On Fortune Hill."  The other band was Suburbs, and I have to give you this link, too, as a historian (sorry, Newt).   Oh, yeah, there was another, more recognizable group that I heard on this selection, which is by far the best song on "Slave Ambient"...

Anybody else hear early-80's U2 besides me?  You've even got the "whoot-wooo" chant in it. 

The album has been out almost six months with just a hint of notice here and in the UK.  It has caught a second wave of sales this month, so I take that as a good sign for them.  For me?  I'll go back to the listed 80's bands of my mid-20's.  Heck, I have two Suburbs recordings in the Top 500 CDs racks in my office!  But now I really want to hear the Nobodys album, which means I have to buy a turntable or go on a treasure hunt in my cassette storage...

Jane's Addiction "The Great Escape Artist"

I had written them off after the lousy comeback album in 2003.  Then I saw a concert video from their reunion tour of a couple of years ago and was mighty impressed.  What, you say, a new record?  Well, let's crack the door and sneak a peek...

About halfway through spin #1 I have to shut it off because I was confused.  A day or two later the second half seems to clear up a bit, so I slide it forward in the rotation for a quicker return.  Spin #2 produces more recognition of their direction and spin #3 solidifies its purpose.  This isn't JA of old, this is an older JA, more radio-friendly as a whole, sort of pop-ish and maybe even a tad danceable?!  Did I really just say that?  I truly like this new model JA...



Perry Ferrell has never been accused of being a great singer, but he is truly a unique vocalist, utilizing enough treatments and effects to process his voice into an instrument.  Actually, at times throughout the album, he was hardly recognizable.  Had I not known it was JA, I would have never been able to guess.  Other CA bands since JA's original demise in '91 crept into my psyche while listening to this album.  I noted STP and Velvet Revolver as well as one of my favorites, Dredg.  Some connections are real; ie. Duff McKagen was a fill-in for a while and has a couple of co-writing credits; the Dredg connection......I just wonder what the order is.  Probably the main influence for this record's adjustment was the contribution of TV On The Radio member, David Andrew Sitek.  He gets the rest of the co-writing credits and had to have major input across the board.  TVOTR is so eclectic...I believe his inclusion was a decision wisely made. 

The album has been out a little over three months with two featured tracks, the video above and the record's opener.  Mark my words, the hit is "Curiousity Kills", so guys, put this out next.  I've got to tell you, these compact little rock tunes have a lot of meat on the bone, so to speak, so get your brain floss out 'cause you'll need it to get the hooks out of your head...

John Wetton "Raised In Captivity"

If his moniker doesn't ring a bell then some of these should; Family, King Crimson, UK, Uriah Heep, Roxy Music, and.........oh, yeah, Asia.  Wetton has been around a long time and will continue this year on a limited tour with UK, the short-lived supergroup of my late 70's 'PRK Mad Rocker days.  The players who joined him for "...Captivity" mostly hail from those listed associations; Mick Box, Geoff Downes, Eddie Jobson, Tony Kaye, Sreve Hackett and Steve Morse.  Now that the namedropping is complete, I must say that, unfortunately, the record sounds like it's done by a group of sixty-somethings who've never quite lost the past.  If that's your bag, you will enjoy the album as a whole, but I doubt it will appeal to a younger demo.  I cast around the Internet looking for a video to play, but all I could find was the album cover and title track until searching for the final song of the record, "Mighty Rivers," one of the three keepers.  Up pops this video where the song is tied to the movie "Melancholia," a Czech Republic sci-fi drama that many movie critics listed as one of 2011's best films.  I can't confirm if the song is in the movie, but this is well-done and woefully under viewed...


With Kirsten Dunst in the movie, I don't care how depressing it may be.  She is amazing.  It also stars Kiefer Sutherland and a name that Americans should become familiar with soon enough, Charlotte Gainsbourg.  Besides numerous film credits, she also boasts a couple of solo albums, including a full-length collaboration with Beck almost two years ago to the day.  Beck was a fan of Charlotte's father, Serge.  Wow, if you don't know who that is, please look it up.  Also learned the female voice featured on "Mighty Rivers" is Anneke Van Giersbergen, former lead vocalist for Dutch metal group The Gathering.  Her new solo album came out today, so be on the lookout for a post on it here in a few weeks (yes, weeks, as I have three more posts ready to be written and three new records in rotation already!). 

Oh, well, so I got a bit off-track, didn't I?  Still music related though...

Steven Wilson "Grace For Drowning" (18-track Deluxe Version)

This must be European-only because all I can find domestically is a 14-track deluxe edition.  I've done it again, haven't I?  No matter, buy whatever version you can my friends because this is THE NEW STANDARD FOR PROGRESSIVE ROCK!  I could tell that my normal listening environment (automobile) wasn't doing this justice, knowing this is nominated for a Grammy in the Surround Sound category (you laugh, KG, but you'll understand if you follow my advice).  This meant that I had to get Mrs. Rocker out of the house for more than two hours.  She had an overnight visit with friends scheduled and I anxiously awaited the day.  That evening, I properly prepared my ears with a mood enhancer and a rather large glass of TN whiskey, closed the windows and blinds so not to disturb the neighbors, planted myself in the middle of my system, elevated the volume knob and hit "play."  Since I wasn't driving and listening, I hand-wrote notes instead of dictating them.  The following is a verbatim copy of said notations:

track 1)  2 minutes of Beach Boys?

track 2)  Pink Floyd--King Crimson--this is Metal/Jazz/Grunge!--now it's Classical--wow, you really are "in" this record--there are enough vocal hooks to hold you thru the extended musical passages--party favours and LOUD!

(by the way, that was all within a seven-plus minute song)

track 3)  this could be a long Yes tune--deserving of the Grammy nom

track 4)  Art Of Noise--Propaganda--Alan Parsons--Frank Zappa--Led Zeppelin--great production

track 5)  HIT!--rock ballad--could be the Beatles or Klaatu--if you really must, Coldplay
if this album had come out in the 70's, it would be considered a classic today, like The Wall or Tales of Topographic Oceans

I would encourage the occasional smoker to DO SO!

track 7)  Phish--improvisational/avant-garde jazz--Zappa--Crimson--Fripp--Belew--Ozric Tentacles

track 8)  Parsons--Genesis?

track 9)  first one to sound like Porcupine Tree--this would f*#k with classic radio like the Sherinian record--Bodie Palmer, this is for you!



track 10)  somehow still sounds "warm"--this goes from The Wall to some classical/metal hybrid all in 4 minutes

Remember those college days when you were so stoned you were paralyzed?  This record would have been a perfect soundtrack...

track 11)  minor key classical--ah, now we go back to previous passages, yet different--Jethro Tull was never this heavy, nor was Steve Winwood/Traffic--Zappa again

Man, if you ever need a reason to catch a buzz, this is it...

Herbie Hancock--Rick Wakeman--Manfred Mann--whew, finally get to sit down for a minute--now it's the Cure--big finish @ 20 minute mark--but NO, there's three more minutes of this "Dazed & Confused" thing to close--oh, my...

track 12)  this could be a P Tree or Phish slow tune--now it's some sort of David Arkenstone New Age sound

track 14)  more Porcupine Tree

track 15) the Surround in this is incredible--is this what they call Math Rock?--I call it production genius...

track 16)  Jazz/Rock fusion--Tommy Bolin--Zappa--King Crimson--this a pure 6-minute workout!

(btw, Wilson recently completed Surround 5.1 remasters of some of KC's legendary records, hence the influence)

track 17)  "Space, the Final Frontier"

track 18)  demo version of  #11 23-minute opus--this one is more evil sounding--The The--Floyd--Yes--spacey Narada New Age--lazier, less urgent--you'd think listening to two versions of the same 20+ minute song would get old...nope

I am serious...this record is an EVENT, a CLASSIC!

Leslie West "Unusual Suspects"

Yep, he's still around and completely viable.  All the way from Mississippi Queen & Mountain with its various reformations, a decade long bout with substance abuse, a few solo recordings and guesting with anybody who would hire him.  Around the turn of the century, Joe Bonamassa comes calling for his services, and all of a sudden West is is demand.  Ted Nugent, former collaborator Jack Bruce, Ian Gillan, Ozzy, and Michael Schenker are among his fans and friends.  He never found much commercial success, but he kept on pluggin'. 

This record came out last September and I saw it on release sheets, but I wasn't motivated to investigate.  Mr. Kilts was kind enough to forward me a copy, and despite my preconceived notions, it's a keeper.  In my opinion, LW wasn't ever a flashy, notable picker.  His voice was more recognizable.  Yet, on this record, I first thought Dusty Hill of ZZ Top was singing since I knew Billy Gibbons was on board.  Other guests include Zakk Wylde, Steve Lukather, Slash & JB.  So the fretwork is obviously well-covered, the vocals are respectable, and the songs run the gamut of blues rock.  A comparison which popped into my brain during the various spins was Rickey Medlocke and his life between Blackfoot and Skynyrd.  I found this interesting video of LW & JB in the studio working on their joint effort for the album...



There is a track on the record where LW sings "Don't Call Me Legend."  I don't believe I will ever call him that, but he literally is a survivor.  I'm happy this record has been well-received in the Blues category with some decent sales to boot.  You owe it a listen...

The Bangles "Sweetheart Of The Sun"

In my humble opinion, the best all-female band EVER!  "All Over The Place" in 1984 was easily one of my favorite albums from that year and Custom Sound sold its share of copies, but domestic success was elusive and international sales were only slightly better.  I was hooked on the jangly, Beatle-esque songs with their sweet harmonies, and Susanna Hoffs was HOT!  Best legs in rock and roll.  Being a single, horny buck in his mid-20's and aware that the girls were in the same age range, I actually joined their new fan club, Bangles 'N Mash.  OK, you can stop laughing now.  But look at what I received...

No, I never met them in person...I would've melted into a pool of blubbering fool.  They were awesome in concert, more garage rock than pop, and those legs...!! 

Anyway, I was glad to be driving the bandwagon when they hit it big with the followup album and fellow Hoffs' stalker, Prince, and his "Manic Monday."  Huge songs like "...Egyptian", "Eternal Flame" and "Hazy Shade..." made their breakup in 1989 a major tragedy.  I followed all their subsequent musical flings on a diminishing scale, finally forgetting about them all until they reappeared on a track for an Austin Powers movie.  Kept hearing about a new record for a couple of years and then "Doll Revolution" arrived in 2003.  Boy, was I psyched...boy, was I disappointed.  What a turd of an album!  It was beyond bad and unfathomable to me that they would release such crap.  Officially gave up on them.

Eight years go by and I start seeing mention of a new album.  Psssst, who cares?  Certainly not I.  Then I catch a YouTube clip of them live and damn if they didn't sound great, and Susanna still is hot for 52 (happy birthday 1/17).  So I look for reviews and find that most are very positive, "returning-to-their-roots" kind of yada yada.  Ah, what the hell, let's give it a sampling............well, it was good enough for the investment so let's give it a complete spin...

...and they are truly back to their 80's heyday!  This is the lead off song...

 

Those incredible harmonies...I love them.  There isn't a turkey on the entire CD.  They even added a version of concert staple "Open My Eyes" by Todd Rundgren to close the record.  Wisely done, ladies.

"Sweetheart..." hasn't exactly flown off the shelves (I guess nothing really does anymore), but if you were ever a big fan of all their music and not just the hits, you will want to add this to your collection.  

Veronica Falls

This was the result of an effort to find something new and indie.  I chose this because its British and the 30-second samples were intriguing.  Female lead vocals with male backing, lots of 60's treatments a la Mamas & Papas, yet set within an early 80's Georgia scene musical palate, maybe REM "Murmur" for reference, even jotted down Blondie, but that was a fleeting ring.  Energetic but too militaristic for me, growing monotonous during a full spin, but piece by piece could be a success at college radio.  One of the two keepers was actually a pre-release single, curiously the final track of the record...

 

I'm sure you younger readers will have comparisons to other current bands I am not familiar with, but I don't really want to know them, either...

Derek Sherinian "Oceana"

If the name sounds familiar to you, it is most likely from his recent involvement with the supergroup Black Country Communion.  Or maybe you're a fan and know him from Dream Theater, Alice Cooper, Billy Idol, Kiss or maybe his earlier solo work.  The man is a fine keyboardist and a musician's musician. 

Hot on the heels of his work on the tremendous BCC 2 recording, I spot this on a September release sheet and immediately add it to my "buy" list, but before I do, Mr. Kilts sends a copy to me stating "...this comes straight from '78."   And right he was because the very first note I wrote was Jeff Beck & Jan Hammer, who teamed up in the late 70's for some fine jazz/rock fusion.  The next note said Billy Cobham's Spectrum, which also included Mr. Hammer.  So are you catching the theme here?  Since I mentioned guitarist extraordinaire Mr. Beck, let's talk about the guesting axe-slingers on "Oceana"; Tony Macalpine, Steve Stevens, Joe Bonamassa and Steve Lukather (well, that would explain the note saying Toto instrumentals, wouldn't it?).  Not too shabby, huh?  Sherinian has played live with so many outstanding guitarists over the years, such as David Gilmour, Zakk Wylde and the aforementioned Beck, to name a couple more, but it's his long association with drummer Simon Phillips that anchors this album.  The pair co-wrote eight of the nine tracks here and teamed on the mixing and production.  Phillips is also in the "musician's musician" category, playing with everybody from Asia to Whitesnake.  I first heard him on Judas Priest's "Sin After Sin" album back in the WPRK days.  He was the man chosen to replace Jeff Porcaro in Toto after his untimely demise in the early 90's. 

You should be able to see how these threads of relationships have come together for this album.  Follow the Billy Idol thread and you get Steve Stevens, and here is the audio for one of his contributions.  Each song on the record stands on its own merits, and I'm telling you, you could lift just about any passage from the 47 instrumental minutes of music here and plant it under all sorts of radio and TV talk or sports shows (hey, Jazzman at ESPN, are you reading this?!).  You couldn't do that with the Don Airey record.   

You know, a programmer with a sense of humor at a classic rock radio station could really f*#k with their listeners by mixing some of this into the rotation...