Let's start the New Year with a pair of live albums...

Allow me to thank BKP for donating these.  He's known me long enough to know I rarely purchase concert performances, audio only.

 

I had actually planned to buy this one based on my approval of Steven Wilson's live DVD from a few weeks ago.  BKP also sent the band's "Signify (Expanded Version)" from the mid-90's, which I believe was when this configuration of PT debuted.  I had not gone back quite that far in the catalog when I first discovered the band ten years ago.  I played this live CD through once and thought.....meh.  Gave Signify a spin and went back to Twisted Octane for another cycle.  Then it dawned on me...Porcupine Tree HAS run its course, as it has been rumored.  Now I hear the rehashed riffs and themes, and in this concert recording, that's indifference in Wilson's voice, not an off night.  The first hour of the show from Chicago is basically a Hard Rock Classic Albums Live version of the last (and, God forbid, final) album, "The Incident."  I'll just go back to play the studio version.  Hour two was better, but not by much.  One nice segueing of a couple of favorites but overall uninspiring. 

 

My heart is saddened that this chapter of Wilson's creativity may be closing, as is his work in Blackfield, according to reports.  Lord knows he needs to slam the book shut on Storm Corrosion.  I anxiously await his next solo project, "The Raven That Refused To Sing (and other stories)," which arrives in late February.  Trust me, it will go straight to the front of the line, even if I have fifteen other records in front of it.  I also plan on asking...no, telling...Mrs. Rocker to buy me a ticket to his concert in St. Pete in April as my birthday gift.  Correct, that's A ticket...there is absolutely zero chance she would go with me. 

 

 

I honestly had no plans at all to buy this.  The other mini-reunions had been so.....Porcupine Tree-like.  Where BKP said it sucked, that Page had phoned it in, I was pleasantly surprised once I got past the opening three songs.  I turned it off after those first fifteen minutes, nearly junking the whole project without further review.  Somewhere on Facebook, I commented as such on a post, and my old M4L buddy, Doxey, chimed in and said it truly improved after the quarter-hour warm up.  And he was right.  I'll give it a 7 on a 10 scale.







2012 Summary

I liked two observations on the Mayan snafu:  1) We were reading the calendar upside down so it's really going to happen in 5105; and 2) The tequila was ready and they forgot what they were working on. 

Just a bit of info on the year 2012 for the regular readers, most of whom reside in the US.  I thought you'd be interested to know that 55% of the hits this blog receives come from OUTSIDE America.  It's not surprising to me since I post on so many international acts.  What I want you to see are the artists with the most page views.  There were several in a virtual tie for Show; Ladyhawke, Killing Joke, Rival Sons, Susanna Hoffs, Steven Wilson DVD, and Dead Can Dance.  A clear Place goes to the Scissor Sisters (a negative review, no less).  The overall winner, with four times the views of the Sisters is Angus Stone.  Probably helped that I had one of the first two reviews of it in the world, as my post happened days before the record was on sale anywhere. 

How many do you own?

As far as my preferred records of the year, a few come from long-time favorite artists of mine;  Bangles, Chuck Prophet, Cold Chisel, Europe, and Joe Bonamassa with Beth Hart (it's her record, officially).  I've had a little history with three others; the aforementioned Angus Stone, Mystery Jets, Mark Knopfler.  Three rookies (to me, that is); Maccabees, Hey Ocean!, Amanda Palmer. 

The best album I reviewed this year, technically a 4thQ release in 2011, comes from Steven Wilson, "Grace For Drowning."  Since writing the post, I've started calling it the best album of the century.  Try as you may, I doubt you'll convince me otherwise...

You should own some of these...



I've got ten new discs in the rotation and I'll get to them in a couple of weeks.  Until then, have a safe and happy holiday season!

Tame Impala "Lonerism"

"Super Explosive Psychedelic Electric Candyland" was the comment that made me smile.  As the first couple of spins progressed, I heard essentially the same thing as their first record, "Innerspeaker," but the songs did not grab (BTW, it would behoove you to click the links to the other posts...I hate repeating myself...).  During spin #3, it hit me...some of that distorted noise is actually keyboards this time.  Utilizing every studio effect known to man in the psychedelic daze, one can make a guitar sound like anything desired.  Innerspeaker did so.  So now you have tweaked keys replacing a substantial portion of six-string.  There is such a sludge of effects it's difficult to tell...and band leader, Kevin Parker, will use them all in one song.  This time it's overkill. 

The debut record barely cracked the Heatseekers chart here in the States, but it did garner critical praise along the way, including mine.  Based on that, "Lonerism" was highly (oh my, a pun) anticipated, peaking at #34 on the Billboard 200.  I heard WPRK playing several tracks... 
   

Bet that thrilled the tiny demons in your brain, you know, the ones from your Lucy Sky Diamond days, or the cactus pudding you used to ingest, or the silly'shroom tea parties.  Anywho, that's the latest single from the album.  I picked the first single as a winner, too.  It's nice to know I still have the ear for a potential hit (oh, damn, another pun).  Just so you know, I listen to these records first before doing any research.  I don't want any preconceived notions clouding my environment.  I'm surprised that the singles are sequenced in the back half of the album, as well as the one other track I intend to retain. 

That's right, people, Ye Olde Mad Rocker isn't keeping the entire sophomore effort.  If you are one of the many who have jumped on this wagon with "Lonerism," you owe the debut a party-favoured spin.  I like guitar...

Beth Hart "Bang Bang Boom Boom"

 

As I mentioned in my previous post, I rarely, if ever, conduct any research on a release prior to listening.  Don't want any bias trickling into the process.  Been spinning this off and on for seventy days now, feeling especially guilty this month about dawdling towards a post with the holidays almost here.  Finally, I reached my decision on "yea, whole album," or "nay, just a few cuts to keep," and started poking around in search of some intriguing videos to play for you.  Guess what?  My frustration for dragging of feet was unfounded.  The damn record won't be out in the U.S. till 2013, and her label narrows it down to "first half."  What the f@(k?  Now how in the hell does that happen?  If you'll click on this post about her collaborative album with Joe Bonamassa a little over a year ago, you will get my historical take on Hart, but why would a record company loiter with the release date when the previous record was the biggest charter of her career?  I was literally stunned.  Obviously, "Bang Boom x 2" is available overseas but I'm unable to find any performance numbers.  I see she's been promoting all through Europe doing shows and meet & greets, even sitting down and playing a piano with fans singing the lyrics.  Beth Hart is a changed person...

...and it shows in her songwriting and versatility on this album.  The team is essentially everyone 'cept JB (and there is news of Hart and JB going back in the studio next month to do a second album with an anticipated street date in May...now wouldn't that be some shit if it drops here before this one?) and I believe Ms. Hart has turned a corner and learned from her surroundings.  These songs aren't as dark and woe-is-me as before, and I like how she's adapted more blues into her repertoire.  Here is the title track official video...



Not as much of the warble in her voice, either.  As you know, I don't normally like to link vids with a quarter-mil in hits, but the one above was the only thing I could find quickly from the new album, the one that may not be out domestically for six months.  And I like the song...very catchy.  My supposition is you'll hear it in your head for a couple of days now.  But I needed something else for you to hear, and I almost went with another BH & JB track, but alas, thanks to a French radio station, I finally found one of the best lyrical songs for you...



Catchy, as well...

My decision?  "Yea, whole album."

These don't need any help...

...but I bought them and they both will make the collection.

 

Six Grammy nominations...the largest single-week sales for the year...finally crossing over to Country radio and charts...and all without my assistance..........snicker...

 

Actually, I believe I prefer "Sigh No More" to this one.  I'm not going to link the post I did on it, but if you really want to look it's from April, 2010, just a couple of months after its domestic release.  Two short months later I saw them at Bonnaroo and posted how thrilled I was that the crowd was so into them.  I swear to you, I was standing right behind this guy...

 

As far as "Babel" goes, I will say I was disappointed that I had to wait until the back half of the record to find a couple of songs that had my head bobbing and my foot stomping the floorboard of the car.  Far and away, the best track is this one, taken from the historic Ryman Auditorium a full six months prior to the album's release...



Love the strings, the horns, and I swear a touch of synthesizer.  Can't wait to see how many trophies they win on 2/10/13.

 

 

 

 

Highest debut ever for Muse at #2 and two more Grammy nominations.  I don't see them winning either this time, though.  Tough competition in Jack White, Black Keys and that Sprinklestone fella.  Can't really call it a "Rock" album...more "Alternative,"...less Queen-like, only brief hints of Zeppelin and Sweet.  Has one outright dance track and even some Skrillex-type noise.  The first single, "Madness," is the nominated rock track but the winner would have been the album's opener...





 

Bellamy has a great voice coming out of that small frame of his.  Their stage show will keep your attention.  I saw them on the Absolution tour and I believe there is a video available from the Glastonbury performance.  The arena tour comes to the States next year and be sure to get there early to see opening act, Dead Sara.  I just may have to find a way to see them this time around. 

One more track from this album, "Another One Bites The Dust"...





That was too easy...  Has a momentary minor morph into a Scissor Sisters riff.  Overall, "Jude 2nd Law" takes an adventurous shift, demonstrating an evolving band.  Mumf & the Boys basically mined the same vein.  Here's hoping they throw a few more wrinkles in the mix next time. 

 

Gary Moore "Blues For Jimi"

 

Hard to believe he's been gone nearly two years.  I'm hoping they release the new material he was working on at the time of his death, but in the interim, this is available in audio and video form.  Recorded in London five years ago, this concert was a tribute to the Live at Monterey show forty years earlier and had just been reissued on Blu-Ray.  It's a power trio performance of precision with Moore's true take on JH style and a very capable rhythm section.  You'll notice from the cover shot above that former Experience members make guest appearances.  Mitchell passed away roughly a year after this performance and I've seen "rusty" used as a descriptor for his playing during the three songs, but technique was never his strong suit anyway.  Cox sounds great on vocals, especially here...



Don't misunderstand, I always liked Moore's voice, but I'd rather hear him singing his own material.  As far as the fret work goes, please...I can only think of two others remotely capable of this quality, SRV and Frank Marino.  As a matter of fact, Marino would have been an inspired choice to sing & play at this show. 

The entire 75-minute concert can be seen online.  It won't be hard to find.  It is a pristine recording, clean and clear, and it features most every Hendrix song you'd expect.  Highly recommended for old farts like me...

Amanda Palmer & The Grand Theft Orchestra "Theatre Is Evil"

 

A couple of months ago, I kept seeing headlines combining The Flaming Lips and Erykah Badu.........????????????   Guess one should never be surprised by anything Mr. Coyne concocts.  Not being a big Badu fan, I didn't investigate the controversial video.  I happened to notice an additional story about a new version that featured Amanda Palmer and also noticed the famous song covered in the video.  At the time, I believed it was The First Time Ever I Saw, or heard, of Ms. Palmer...snicker...



Well, HELLO there!  Guess I didn't read far enough in the news stories to know what I was getting into.  Wasn't necessarily moved by the Roberta Flack cover so I searched no more.  Over the following couple of days, however, my beloved WPRK played several tracks from Ms. Palmer's new album and the assorted DJs were positively giddy about the release.  I liked what I heard so I added it to my "get" list and off I went to my favorite site.  The other five records on the list were no-brainers (see K. Chambers- S. Nicholson) so AP & the GTO was the only newbie. 

And "Theater Is Evil" may be one of this year's best.

Right off the bat there is this heavily produced, glam-ish David Bowie/Alice Cooper/Ian Hunter feel.  How awesome is that track?!  The next four songs are each worthy of radio play, one of which is the current single...



About mid-way through this video, I said out loud to no one in particular, "Christ, I'm in love."  As an artist, of course, as she apparently disdains males.  I noted throughout the album that she has a mannish-sounding voice at times so maybe there's a connection somehow.  Anyway, there is an awful lot of Cars-like melodies across the record and one song screams The Knack.  She even drops "my sharona" in the lyrics but it's spelled "cherona" and used appropriately for its ancient meaning.  Still, I know she had a wry smile on her face as she composed the song.  Speaking of lyrics, these are deserving of your attention.  They aren't the standard drivel prevalent in most of today's music. 

By now I had learned this wasn't my first time hearing Ms. Palmer.  I recalled that I liked what I heard by The Dresden Dolls back in '03, but that was when I was unwillingly exiting the retail music business and entering my self-imposed 30-month hiatus from new tunes.  I now also know that she grew up in Massachusetts and hence The Cars overtones, per chance.  Based on the five artists/bands I've referenced, it should be obvious that those of you in my age demographic could enjoy this record by a person close to your daughter's duration of life.  One commenter on a video, judging by his profile picture to be over 50, said "Theatre..." is the best thing he's heard since Magical Mystery Tour (I can't say I would go quite that far).  Another poster hypothesized that those who disliked the album held IQs under 90.  Now that's funny...and probably true.  The record isn't spotless, however, as it contains, without a doubt, the worst song I've added to my collection in recent memory.  Can't do it.  I'm going to take the unprecedented step of deleting this seven-minute turd of a song and rerecord my disc.  It's tragic there is something that bad on this album.  It's a piano-only, Torn Anus-type song (substitute three letters and you'll know who it is).  Yuk.

My final accolade for Ms. Palmer is this:  I'm going backward to get her previous album. 

Kasey Chambers and Shane Nicholson "Wreck & Ruin"

 

If you know me personally, you are aware of my twelve-year love affair with Kasey Chambers.  When "The Captain" came out at the beginning of the century, I was smitten.  She was pitched to the country market domestically, but the album wasn't what I would call completely country.  Influenced?  Certainly.  Minor success in the States with her first three albums but massive in her native Australia, selling multi-platinum and winning several ARIA awards.  Her fourth album was enough of a departure from the country-leaning predecessors that it wasn't allowed on the Country charts.  It still debuted at #1. 

Then came the first collaboration with hubby Shane.  Here is that post from back in the early days of my blog.  Real country...bluegrass, even.  Expertly done.  Her next solo was a 4th Q release in 2010 called "Little Bird."  If you read through the post, I had hoped for a US release.  Well, I guess my research was a bit suspect as Sugar Hill did release it a couple of weeks after the overseas bow, and it had roughly the same impact on the charts as any of the others, i.e., not much. 

So now we have the second release by the husband & wife team and if you call yourself a fan of folk or Appalachia music, you need to obtain a copy of W&R.  Here is the title cut...



Two and a half minutes of country bliss.  The basic version of the album contains twelve more tunes like that, clocking in at a brief 34 minutes.  You can download it for $5 and find the CD version for as low as $8.  I purchased the Deluxe Edition with five additional songs and not one of them is inferior to the regular tunes.  Are they worth the extra fiver?  Undoubtedly.  I could not find any of them for you to see/hear here, so enjoy the 2nd single from the album.  You Civil Wars fans should buy this while you wait (patiently?) for new music from them...



If Kasey Chambers decided to make a polka record, I'd buy it...

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12/9   A quick note...  I originally intended to produce this post by essentially referring to a fellow blogger from Australia who, like me, isn't doing this for monetary gain but for the love of sharing great music.  I wanted my domestic readers to get the view of a local, Aussie fan.  I asked for permission to link her post, but due to an unfortunate circumstance I had to quickly leave home for a week without receiving her approval.  I cobbled something together and headed out the door.  Now I have the go-ahead so here it is.  If you are a Country Music fan, I suggest you read more from Sophie's blog than this singular post.  You may expand your horizons...  Jolene:  The Country Music Blog