Alabama Shakes "Boys & Girls"

Saw this exploding around the world charts and finally decided to give it a cursory sample listen just to see if it merited my further attention.  It didn't.  Thirty seconds of the first three or four songs was all I needed to pass on it.  Not fair, you say?  Hey, it's my money and I try not to spend it on things I'll regret later.  That's the main reason you won't read many negative reviews on my blog...I don't buy crap.  I have considered adding a post that mentions a few of the sampled records I've let go by.  Ah, hell, here are a few of the most recent; Keane, The Temper Trap, Smash Palace, The Cult.  At least I gave them a listen.  These I didn't bother; Norah Jones, Slash, Tenacious D, John Mayer.  But if you would like for me to offer an opinion, send me a copy and I'll do it...but you may not like what I have to say.

My neighbor, Frank S., inquired if I had heard AL Shakes and provided me with the CD.  I had fourteen other new records in queue in front of it, but I moved it to the top of the pile since he asked my thoughts, plus he gave it to me.  So here we go............I still don't like it.  Actually couldn't stand most of it.  Made it through ninety seconds or slightly more of each tune before skipping to next track, until I reached #9, which is the only keeper of the lot, and it nearly turned me off as it closed.



Looking for this song on video allowed me to learn that they have to better live than studio.  The recorded album is a retro-soul piece, sounding as if it was forty to fifty years old.  Not one of my favorite musical styles.  I don't get the hype that surrounds this band.  The singer is the only deserving one.  I saw comparisons to Janis Joplin, which I understand, but she's no Janis.  Frank said she reminds him of Amy Whinehouse (sic, intentional), so that's a strike for me. 

Tried to understand how this became a Top 10 album in the States.  Figured a media campaign or major label push that I missed.  Uh-uh.  Apparently, NPR got behind it and colleges followed.  For me, that's the most positive aspect of all this, that non-commercial outlets are still viable in the conglomerate-dominated marketplace. 

Don't let me rain on your flashback parade.  This obviously works for a lot of people here and in Europe.  I will say that the vocalist bears watching in the future.  Here's hoping she moves in a different direction one way or another.

Dr. John "Locked Down"

One more gratis offering from fellow music lover, BK.  This is another heritage artist of which I own zero full-lengths, much like the earlier post on Bonnie Raitt.  No one in my age category will forget "Right Place, Wrong Time" from 1973.  Many called him NOLA's equivalent to Springsteen, a regional legend first before going nationwide.  Maybe, but not quite.  Anyway, one never knew what was going to be in the musical stew of a Dr. John recording.  If you read up a bit on him, you'll see all of these, and other, descriptive terms used:

jazz, blues, pop, rock, voodoo, swamp, steamy, funky, psychedelic, eccentric, r&b, spiritual, carnal, primal. 

I think that's what rocked the boat for me, not knowing what to expect and not quite understanding it afterwards. 

Dr. John has never stopped playing, and it was last year's Bonnaroo festival (named after his followup album to "Right Place...") from which this album was born.  He took the stage with The Black Keys, exposing him to a younger audience.  I remember seeing a NY Times review that concluded with something along the lines of "...I hope they go straight into a studio and record some of that."  Well, not exactly straight to the studio, but the collaboration began shortly thereafter and the results hit the market in early April. 

Title track is certainly a keeper.  Got that Zombies "Time Of The Season" breathy hook going for it.  Here's another video from the album.  Mucho peoples making the music......lots going on.......horns!




The best song on the record is Ice Age.  I find that its mixture of patented Rock & Roll Hall-Of-Famer Dr. John and the generally perceived new-guard boy-wonder, Dan Auerbach, to be the ultimate combination.  I honestly believe there will be Grammy nominations for this album.  The precedent was set by Rick Rubin and Johnny Cash. 

Me?  I'm only retaining two tracks.  I kept three of the Bonnie Raitt.  But if you forced me to add one of the two albums as a whole to my collection, it would be "Locked Down."

Philip Sayce "Steamroller"

Saw this guy's 2011 album mentioned in a credible blues music publication as a Top 20 selection for the year.  The list was populated with several titles that I owned and artists that I respected, but also a few names of which I had no familiarity.  You regular readers out there know by now that it's those names I tend to seek out, so I jotted down four to keep an ear out in the future...

...which arrived pretty quickly as I saw this record from one of them hit my 'New Release' screen about a month ago.  Figured the 2011 album had a first quarter bow.  Some artists just have more ideas and motivations than others (ie. Joe Bonamassa.....just purchased his new solo LP which is his 5th full-length project in the past fourteen months, not to mention his multiple guest appearances on others).  Discovered the 2011 record was a summer release and "Steamroller" arrived late February overseas, slated for domestic release very soon.  That's about an eight-month window between projects.  Hmmmmm..."verrrry interesting..." (insert Artie Johnson accent). 

Philip Sayce?  Couldn't say I was familiar with the name.  Now that I know, I admit to being slightly embarrassed.  He's UK born, raised in Canada and Los Angeles-based for the past ten years or so.  The root of my red face comes from the fact that he played in fellow Canadian Jeff Healey's band for a few years around the turn of the century. 



His next gig was touring with Uncle Kracker, and that in itself is why I didn't know him, but he played in front of big crowds thanks to the "Drift Away" cover.  Then fate found him available for Melissa Etheridge's band for a five-year run.  He joined her about the time I got out of retail, so following major artists did not have to be my thing anymore. 

"Steamroller" is his fourth solo release in the four years since leaving Etheridge.  He's flown under the radar domestically, but has a substantial following in Europe and Canada.  He'll be opening again for ZZ Top overseas this summer, so that says he's got some cred.  Here is the title track...



If you played the two video selections, you'll notice a difference.  There not a damn thing on the current record remotely close to being as good as the Albert Collins cover from the Healey clip.  Much more rock than blues, the same route that kid-wonder Tyler Bryant took.  The album contains tons of 60's/70's sounds, tricks & licks, but doesn't come off as dated.  Somewhere during the decisive third spin, I noted that he is possibly shooting for what Jack White is doing. 

Overall, I wasn't as impressed with "Steamroller" as I wanted to be.  The guy plays some very good guitar and has a decent voice, but it's not very cohesive and certainly not as much blues as I was led to believe.

Bonnie Raitt "Slipstream"

Last of the six female artists posts.  This was donated to the cause by Mr. Kilts.  In Bonnie Raitt's 40-year career, I haven't kept a single promo copy LP or CD by her, much less purchased one.  Won't keep this one as a whole either, but the opening track on the initial spin grabbed my ears and conjured up the possibility of "wow, maybe this will be the one."  Funky, funky song authored by a member of Sea Level (you young jambanders need to know them).  Then track two started...I didn't have a listing in front of me...but once she started singing I realized she had reggaed-up Gerry Rafferty's "Right Down The Line."  Nearly pulled the disc from the player to chuck it onto I-4.  I could die a happy man never hearing that song again for the 927,000,000th time...and a reggae take?  I'm not a musician but even I could get stoned out of my mind and play reggae........not a fan.  Honestly believe it dirtied my judgement of the remainder of the record.  However, I'm sure I'll be one of the very few to say anything negative about it. 

The break gave me a chance to check the album's credits and history in detail.  Two names jumped out at me.  The first was Mike Finnigan, a discovery from the vaults of WPRK in 1978.  He played a mean B-3 and had good vocal chops.  Didn't know at the time he had been on the early Dave Mason records and "CSN" by CS&N.  He hooked up with Mad Rocker fave Les Dudek for a few years, including Black Rose with Les' girlfriend at the time, Cher.  Since then he's played and/or sang with Dan Fogelberg, Joe Cocker and John Hiatt, to drop a few.  The second name to catch my eye was Joe Henry.  Became aware of him in 1990 with his album "Shuffletown" and began my true appreciation of his eclectic musical abilities in 1999 with "Fuse."  Four of the tracks from "Slipstream" were recorded in Henry's home studio, two that he penned and two from the only album I own by Bob Dylan, "Time Out Of Mind."  Henry's work as a producer has become his calling card over the past few years.  If you are like me and drawn to a record due to the production credits, add his name to your list of T-Bone Burnett, Daniel Lanois et al.  Raitt has stated that she may be inclined to release all of the  recording sessions at Mr. Henry's later in the year.  Now that I may keep.

A couple of other highlights contained aural illusions to Little Feat and one song that's tailor-made for Sheryl Crow.  The other standout was this song, performed here by its Texas-born, Nashville-based songwriter...

Raitt's version is just as simple.  A soft atmospheric bed with her plaintive guitar and warm vocals.  Beautiful.

So if you're scoring at home, let's give it three keepers out of twelve.  I know, I'm a hard ass, but the majors don't need my help.  Enough of you will buy this record so I don't have to...

Dead Sara

Remember this name:  Emily Armstrong.  She is the front woman for new L.A. rock band, Dead Sara, touring now with Chevelle, opening for The Used beginning next week, and later joining the Vans Warped Tour.  That's two stops in Orlando over the next three months.  May have to pull some strings and try to catch their set.  I want to hear Armstrong's voice in a live setting but I'm too old to want to deal with young headbangers/slamdancers (I promise, HOB, I'll just stand meekly off to the side and then slip quietly away when they're finished). 

I was alerted to the band by fellow CSMS employee, Kim S., as she was turned on to it by one of her young-buck friends.  It was a live video of this song...



Should be on every radio station that professes to be "rock."  Tell me you don't hear Melissa Etheridge in the vocal and I'll call you a liar.  Musically, the album favors other L.A. and CA bands like Rage Against The Machine, Janes Addiction, Guns N' Roses, and hints of Dredg.  I kept thinking to myself that Jack White would like Armstrong since she shares the looks, ferocity and range of Alison Mosshart from his side project, Dead Weather.  Other documented fans of Dead Sara are Courtney Love and Grace Slick.  The band has been known to cover a Nirvana song or three. 

To highlight the diversity of this group, I offer another of the best tracks...



Surprised you, didn't it?  I'm telling you, the girl is a STAR!  Whether it's with this band or later down the line, Ms. Armstrong will be around for a while.  The rest of the band is quite adequate in their own right.  The female guitarist is Siouxsie Medley (methinks stage name) and she powers through with the best of them, but that really doesn't say much as I believe the era of great rock and roll is long gone. 

It takes quite a lot to impress the jaded, old MAD ROCKER enough to keep a new rock band these days, so the whole album won't make the collection, but these two tracks and two others will.  But I have found a star that I expect to shine brightly for years to come...

Lyle Lovett "Release Me"

What would be your first clue that he's ready to be free of his contract?  Well, you can't say that his 26-year association with Universal hasn't been fruitful.  Everyone knows his name and he's made a career out of eclectic.  I really like what he's done with his music, but that doesn't mean I want it all.  Personally, I favored his big band adventures the most.  He and kd lang (credited here with a vocal) couldn't be singularly categorized in our stores.  "Release Me" has been a Top 10 Country album and reached #60 on the overall sales chart, but I still wouldn't call it "country" as a whole.  It's mostly obscure covers with some special guests involved, and I hate to say it, rather uninspired-sounding.  When it hits, it hits.  Take this Townes Van Zandt selection, for example...

  

Smokin'!  There is a bluegrass instrumental that pops, a blues tune originally done by Sonny Terry & Brownie McGhee, and a self-penned, atypical Christmas song that is an off-beat gem.  Other than that, whiffs. 

I saw an interview with LL where he said he was looking forward to making his next record first and then figuring out how to sell it later.  I'll be waiting on it...