Prefab Sprout "Let's Change the World With Music"

Damn, I've done it again. I really thought this record was available in
America. I've read about it in domestic publications, but I guess the closest it is available is from Canada. Some of you may remember this band from the mid 80's, especially if you shopped in the Sound Shop in Tullahoma. I
played and pushed the hell out of their "Two Wheels Good" record, featuring the brilliant song "Faron Young" ("...the sunset makes a fence out of the forest"). Paddy McAloon has been compared to Paul McCartney as a songwriter, and that's not too far off. Four outstanding albums spanning 1984-1990....and then nothing. Gone. Nada. Seven years pass before a new release in Europe, and then four more before the next one, neither surpassing any of the previous releases, yet still faithful to the Prefab sound. Paddy was always shy and reclusive, and now we know he nearly went blind and deaf, unable to hear bass sounds. Can't blame him. So when I read of "Let's Change..." last fall, I felt the pull of those old songs from my late twenties, pure pop emotion. I had to give it a chance. And when I did, it all came flooding back. However, this was somewhat different. Turns out, this is a 1992 demo that was refused by the record label (arrogant idiots, obviously), performed completely by Paddy, all keyboards, no band, and it is gorgeous. If you ever liked Howard Jones, this is for you. A hair too much religious imagery for me, but otherwise emotional and spiritual, tailor-made for all those "Positive" radio stations out there. This, and all Prefab Sprout records, grow better over time and are utterly addicting.

Blue Rodeo "The Things We Left Behind"

I've been digging this record for almost two months, way more than the usual three spins. Just can't seem to pull it from the rotation. Been thinking of things to blog on it, jotting some of them down, even. One was how this is another great album unavailable in the States. Well, that is apparently not so anymore, as the website says it is out here after achieving Platinum status in their home of Canada. People, if you've ever considered yourself a fan of the Eagles, either the 70's version or this century's version, you must do your ears a favor and give this a try. Yes, I hear you say, "They don't make music like they used to anymore." Bullshite. Several of these songs should be on country-crossover stations all across this nation, not just along the border. I've seen these guys compared to Lennon/McCartney, though the Frey/Henley comparison is better. Country, folk, Americana, atmospheric, etc. all wrapped up in 80+minutes. It's not often that a band that's been together for twenty-five years actually gets better later in their career, but Blue Rodeo is one of the examples. "Small Miracles" from a couple of years ago is another gem. And they are supposed to be a great live band, but I don't think I'll ever get to see them in Florida. I have a promo live sampler from about ten years ago that smokes!

Sick Puppies "Tri-Polar"

This album came out last summer and has been doing quite well on the Rock charts, even currently. I had heard a track or two on some form of radio, not really knowing what I was listening to. Then I read something about them being an Aussie band who were fans of one of my favorites, The Living End. So I decided to give it a shot based on their influence. Well, there is no Living End
sound on here, just homogeneous LA screamo you hear continuously on today's Rock stations. It's competently performed, hooky at times, perfect for young metal fans, which I am not anymore. Every now and then it came off like the angry side of Blue October, but all formula and no passion. I didn't keep the first track...

Powderfinger "Golden Rule"

I know you hate it when I do this but here is another outstanding record not available (physically...the old fashioned way) in the US. You know of my tremendous love of Australian (& New Zealand) artists, and this is another one I found this past decade. This is technically a double CD (the old-fashioned way), one the new studio and the other live. Reminds me of Down Under favorites, INXS, Icehouse, Split Enz, Crowded House, etc.. If you like current

pop-rockers like Train, Nickleback, etc., you would like this band. Producing this album is Nick DiDia, who is famous for his engineering projects which include STP, Springsteen, the aforementioned Train, and bands of my liking such as Swimming Pool Q's (still one of the great band names of all time), The Music, and Trey Anastasio. If you can't be bothered with imports, then seek out "Odyssey Number Five" from 2001 or their last release "Dream Days at the Hotel Existence."

Robbie Williams "Reality Killed the Video Star"

I've liked this guy since 1990 when his first solo release stateside hit the stores and gave him his best sales here, thanks to the song "Angels." Yeah, you'd know it if I sang it, but you'd never wish that on anyone, now would ya? I've been known to call him Britain's version of Rob Thomas. And that's a good sign if you like Matchbox Rob, 'cause you've got good "pop" taste. This guy is a bonafide star everywhere except here. Shame on record companies. Anyway, this album isn't his best, but I dare you to listen to it and not catch yourself singing along somewhere in your third listen. The name of the record is a play on its producers' history, The Buggles' Trevor Horn. This guy was a major part of my eighties music favorites; 90125 Yes, FGTH, ABC, Propaganda, etc., along with his band Art of Noise. Wow! Now this record doesn't have that eighties sound, but it is lushly produced and TH delivers the everchanging styles that RW is known to do.

Gov't Mule "By A Thread"

Warren Haynes is one of my favorite artists. We share the same birthday (though I have him by a couple of years) and an obvious love for a guitar. He was playing with David Allan Coe when I first heard of him, then he basically revitalized the Allman Brothers some twenty years ago before starting the GM side project in 1994. An outstanding guitarist, vocalist, and songwriter, much like one SRV. "Thread" is not as heavy as 2006 "High & Mighty," and its mix of styles should please new fans more than old. There's plenty of Allman influence and other Southern style (Blackfoot), great fretwork (and not just screamin' gee-tar), keyboards that smack of Reese Wynans in Double Trouble, and one song that could have been lifted from David Gilmour's 1978 solo record and another from an early Bad Co. album. I kept listening to the first track thinking how ZZ Top-like it sounded, then I finally read the credits and it's Billy Gibbons on contributing axe. No wonder...

The Flaming Lips "Embryonic"

I've seen this on several "Best of 2009" lists and I've come to the conclusion that most are composed by a much younger demographic than I'm in, and thereby, the authors consume far more hallucinogenics than most normal humans. The FL have a 25-year history and certainly a following, as evidenced by this album reaching #8 on Billboard's Top 200. It's just too far out there for me, highly distorted and disconnected, but not a total loss. I peeled about five tracks from it, hearing a little My Morning Jacket on one tune and some FrankieGTH on another, and loads of pre-Dark Side... Pink Floyd on the rest. I've just learned that they've covered the entire Dark Side of the Moon, and I must investigate!

Yello "Touch Yello"

This has to be one of the best albums not available in the US. Out for three months in Europe, it's being called "Elektro-Digital-Jazz." That'll work. If you can sit still and not smile during track 1 and first single, "The Expert" (you can find the video on YouTube), then I guess you're just not old enough. Old enough to know who Serge Gainsbourg was? Never mind. Deiter Meier has to be 65, Boris Blank in there somewhere, too. There's plenty of the 80's Yello you know and love, even a Bostich update (reflected). Precision Swiss timekeeping. But there is a beautiful chill-jazz vibe here, too, with trumpet, flugelhorn, flutes, and some female vocals featured over the lush backgrounds of Mr. Blank. This made me think of the two great albums by Double...you remember "Captain of Your Heart". And if the track "Till Tomorrow" doesn't make you want to get sexy on your partner, well, you need Viagra. Granted, not everything here is outstanding (I believe I would have tracked it differently), but it's quite a feat to make a quality record like this some twenty years after their eighties heyday.