Week of Apr 24, 2022

 This week was like a marriage - something old (Ozric Tentacles, Camper Van Beethoven), something new (Saxon, Slash, Mike Campbell), something borrowed in time (R.E.M, Placebo, Sugar) and something blue (Rolling Stones, Robben Ford).

Best of the Week

Camper Van Beethoven - La Costa Perdida

What a hoot! First, I didn’t know there was a re-grouping of CVB after the breakup in the 90’s. This and the album El Camino Real (which must be checked out) came from 2013-2014. La Costa Perdida has the same fun rollicking crazy feel that made them the charming band of “folk cool” you can find. Lowery, Krummenacher, Segal, Lisher, Pedersen and company are in fine form.

Placebo - Sleeping With Ghosts

Long time on my list of bands to check out, I plucked this 2003 release from random and was rewarded handsomely for it. Like Muse, they have a style that is definable and yet not predictable. Think of it as approachable art rock.

Robben Ford - Pure

Lovely blues guitar work permeates this fine recording by Ford. He has the chops and it has earned him a listing as one of the top 100 guitarists of the 20th century by Musician. At 70 years young, he still sounds strong and vibrant on this 2021 release. Maybe I need to check out his earlier work?

Muse - The 2nd Law

Their neo-classical art rock approach is just so rich, they make listening to their music so enjoyable. This release isn’t singles rich like some of the others, but it doesn’t matter. The fact it’s ten years old also doesn’t matter. Their sound is timeless.

Rolling Stones - Emotional Rescue

I largely ignored the middle Rolling Stones period and that’s a shame. Production was tight, Keith Richards had fantastic command of his fabulous blues guitar licks, and the tunes had bounce. Don’t know if this remaster is part of the reason, but the magic was still there. This is a noteworthy release from the legendary band.

Mike Campbell & The Dirty Knobs - External Combustion

The longtime guitarist for Tom Petty obviously can do more than play guitar. What a wonderful extension of their work with Petty. All the elements are there - the folksy relaxed vocals, catchy tunes, and beautiful guitar work are all out of the “Damn the Torpedoes” era. Maybe Campbell’s vocals are a little thin compared to Petty, but that is a small caveat from a real good album.

Interesting Finds

Sugar - Copper Blue

Always liked this album released after Bob Mould’s first stint as a solo artist. If there is one flaw with Bob Mould, it’s the sameness in his guitar playing. Otherwise, his songwriting is top notch. Just check out the track “If I Can’t Change Your Mind” for proof.

R.E.M. - Monster

I have to admit, back when this came out in 1994, I was getting bored with the boys from Athens, GA and that was unfair. This Remastered version shows just how much these guys were on point compared to most bands on the planet. The fuzz and reverb recording emphasis and strong songcraft are seldom seen anymore. “What’s the Frequency, Kenneth?” was the hit from this album.

Saxon - Carpe Diem

Not sure how this relic from a Deep Purple era showed up on my radar, but it’s not bad! Complete with Ian Gillan style vocals, this brand new release harkins to an older time in rock which means it sounds new now. Beats the heavy metal post punk growl so prevalent.

Ozric Tentacles - Pungent Effulgent (2020 Remaster)

Being an Ozric Tentacles fan for years and years, it’s odd I’ve never experienced a complete album release. It’s about time. Reportedly this and Erpland were the best of OT’s releases and this does not disappoint. The characteristic spacey elements along with some riveting guitar riffs are present and accounted for.

Slash - 4

New album by Slash (featuring Myles Kennedy and The Conspirators) is my first. I was pleasantly surprised he can craft some very listenable and compelling tunes. I also like how he keeps Myles’ vocals, which aren’t bad, slightly reserved and let the guitars do most of the load.

Ghost - Impera

It may be heavy metal, but the catchy tunes from this Swedish band makes it downright tasty. While the band’s presentation is bizarre and ghoulish, they sound closer to a power version of Toto more than bands like Mastodon and Avenge Sevenfold.

Forgettable

Steve Vai - Inviolate

What few parcels of music heard that was crafted by Vai always left the impression he was a technically gifted guitar player that couldn’t deliver musicality on the same level. The best way to see if that judgment holds is to listen to a complete work. Unfortunately, this is the case with most of the tracks on this album. You know those songs you’ve heard that sound like a song but can’t recall it later or hum the essence of the song? That’s what happens here a lot.

Week of Apr 17, 2022

Mostly new works with a little bit of the old sprinkled in. When the playlist is heavy with current music, I start longing for the older bands. So next week, I will search to bring out some of the 70's and 80's work I enjoyed (i.e. no disco, glam rock, and other regrettable periods of music).   

News

Music of Note

Anekdoten - Until All the Ghosts Are Gone

The background melotron-esque sounds adds an old time prog feel to this record despite the 2015 release date. More King Crimson like (right down to the occasional saxophone interventions) than The Moody Blues, this Swedish band recalls the more dynamic period of early prog rock.

New Model Army - Thunder and Consolation (2005 Remaster)

A remaster from their 2-CD 1989 release, they sounded more like a blend of Irish folk and hard driving rock. It works because it takes the best of both worlds. Half is studio work and half is live versions which, unfortunately, lack the dynamics of the studio. Full of passion, the songs are vibrant and have punch, which begs the question, how the fuck did this band stay in the shadow of U2?

Nosound - Afterthoughts (Remastered)

The group Nosound is primarily Italian prog rocker Giancarlo Erra with an assortment of musicians. With eleven releases to his (their) name, Nosound demonstrates an accomplished songcraft and production capabilities, not too unlike Bruce Soord with The Pineapple Thief.

Joe Satriani - The Elephants of Mars

You’d think after twenty-odd releases, Satriani would be running out of ideas or running his own idea into the ground. Far from it. Yes, he borrows from himself a great deal and doesn’t go so far afield you think he is someone else, but they are still refreshing and a blast to listen to.

Mothlite - Dark Age

Daniel O’Sullivan (see previous entry) fronts Mothlite, a band playing pithy rock with significant electronica support. Think Tears For Fears as a comparison. Catchy interesting tunes makes this a keeper.

Fontaines D.C. - Dogrel

This Irish band would have fit well in the early punk days of Minutemen, Replacements, and Pixies. I guess someone has to carry the torch. The tracks come fast and with lots of energy. “Hurricane Laughter” (“There is NO CON-nec-tion”) is typical of their infectious nature. This particular album received “Album of the Year” nods from a couple of different U.K. orgs.

The Pineapple Thief - 8 Years Later

Another astounding release by this band. One of the appeals to this band is their ability to use shifting dynamics instead of just power-rocking everything. They understand the use of quiet and let the songs build momentum.

North Atlantic Oscillation - Grind Show

The fourth release by this Scottish band, features big sound and big production. This is art rock done at a really high level. Tip of the hat goes to the mixing engineer who had his hands full. For the most part, it works. Maybe they get a little too playful for their own good, but it is worth a listen.

Rpwl - Beyond Man and Time

The German group with the unpronounceable name (it’s just the letters of the names of the four original members) has become one of my favorites. Comfortable is long entries equally with hook-driven shorter numbers, “The Road of Creation” is such one example of a song that may stick in your mind for days.

Interesting Music

Sylvaine - Nova

Described by sites as a heavy metal artist, Sylvaine (aka Katherine Shepard) is capable of creating great beauty with soaring vocals and a variety of keyboards, guitars, and percussion, all of which is performed by herself. “Fortapt” is the 12-minute major track that shows best how she weaves gentle acoustic music and vocals with a crescendo of blistering guitars and pounding bass.

Daniel O’Sullivan - Fourth Density

One track may just have tranquil moments of acoustic guitar, the next may be cascading keyboard objects with bass rhythms interweaved. Or both. All the tracks are roughly three minutes, just enough time to present a musical idea and then move on. Maybe not ideal for portable playlist material, but for the weekly lists, it can add a little relief from the norm.

King Creosote - Diamond Mine

I loved King Creosote’s Astronaut Meets Appleman so much and meant to just pick another one of his releases because of it. I’m glad I remembered. Most of the selections are gentle and thoughtful relaxing listening given the soft vocals and primarily acoustic instruments.

Engineers - Three Fact Fader

Described as a shoegaze/dream rock band, Engineers has been around the block. They seem to be able to avoid the “sameness” that bands of this type can fall into.

Pneumatic Tubes - A Letter from TreeTops

A new band from this year, PT plays psychedelic rock along the lines of mid-period Tangerine Dream. There are a lot of short passages that probably sound better strung together rather than broken up in a playlist. Somewhat quiet, it is relaxing instrumental music.

Big Big Train - Common Ground

A big part of the attraction of Big Big Train is their ability to spin long multi-segmented compositions and make them interesting. The 15-minute “Atlantic Cable” is a case in point. The band has the benefit of a large ensemble to bring variety. Evidently, this was a “pandemic” release - all the parts had to be performed separately over Zoom or other on-line connections.

Not So Great

Wilderun - Epigone

Heavy metal growl rock, but with better than average vocals. Opeth has a similar vibe. The songs tend to wear thin if listened to over a limited time.

Ride - This Is Not a Safe Place

I have struggled mightily in describing this bland rock band and equally struggled to attach myself to their music.

Week of Apr 3, 2022

 More like a week-and-a-half of stuff. I shot for material from about 15 releases and, unlike so many other weeks, this had its fair share of klunkers. You know, sometimes you win and sometimes you lose. Still, there is worthy material and it did give a decent start to the new month. I spent a lot of time converting last month's nuggets into individual playing selections, a necessary step to move them to a player. Plus, other projects around and outside the home slowed down listening. It happens. The next one will come out for the week of Apr 17 just because I need the time.

News

The missing seven hours of WH calls by Trump raise questions about Jan 6 involvement

Putin faces war crime accusations as he targets civilians

Kentanji Brown Jackson is confirmed as SCOTUS on close vote

Inflation key concern as supply chains still are constrained

Music of Note

Various Artists - Kscope, Vol 3

Selections from The Pineapple Thief, Gazpacho, Gavin Harrison, Anathema, Lunatic Soul, Steven Wilson, etc. How can it not be good? Notable entries includes Nosound’s “Some Warmth Into This Chill”,  The Pineapple Thief’s “Last Man Standing”, and “Soft Coda” by North Atlantic Oscillation”. Excellent sampler set.

Madmess - Rebirth

A five-track album about 45 minutes long tells you these aren’t short ditties. Walls of fuzz guitars over-echoed blended with thumping bass lines and tom-tom drums meander into dreamy consciousness. With this album and one other EP to show for their output, here’s hoping they will continue to release material.

Anna von Hausswolff - Live at Montreux Jazz Festival

Her work is always interesting, but I couldn’t imagine her packing a church organ to a live setting. Maybe she did. You can still hear the full sound of this amazing instrument. There are other band instruments to accompany her and she has a strong voice with an angelic quality. Goosebump moments abound. The 19-minute “Ugly and Vengeful” takes patience to get into, but is a genuine showstopper. I’m convinced at this point that I must listen to everything this woman puts on record.

Interesting Music

Duncan Marquiss - Wires Turned Sideways in Time

An interesting mix of electronica, substituting several forms of keyboards for the squealing soaring guitars other post punk bands would use. “Minor History” is a lovely tune using acoustic guitar and synth. Quite a mixture of sounds, most of which is worthy of listening to on those days you want something a little offbeat.

Neotropic - Prestatyn

Choral vocals, minimalist musical passages, and industrial segments blend to create a sparse texture. While haunting soundscapes are something I can enjoy, this could have used a little more focus and rhythm components to make it more enjoyable to listen to. Still, worthy enough to check out other releases.

La Luz - La Luz

A four-person girl band playing surf music with a heavy dose of fuzz guitar. It is a fun listen for a retro act.

Lazuli - Le fantastique envol de Dieter Bohm

A French progressive rock group that apparently has elaborate and energetic live performances. Interesting stuff fronted by an excellent female vocalist. Also interesting is one of the guitarists that used a version of guitar called a leode that was invented by him because he lost the use of his left arm in an accident. A few of the songs were added to the playlist despite being sung in French. Still kick-ass rock.

Combo Chimbita - IRE

Crossing the lines between rock and jazz, Combo Chimbita is an explosion of latin rhythms and percussions from their native Puerto Rico. If I understood Spanish, I’m sure the songs would be dealing with the lives and loves in a Caribbean island protectorate that is largely ignored and abused by the US.

Not So Great

Blackfield - For the Music

Soft, easy listening lounge music? Regular vocal rock band featuring okay songs? Porcupine Tree on quaaludes? A little too popish for my tastes.

Pain Of Salvation - In the Passing Light of Day

Dark minimalistic music, vocals full of pain. Occasional bursts of heavy grunge. God, it’s depressing. Also, Daniel Gildenlow’s squeezed vocals, whispers, talking passages, and random noises just don’t bring much tonality to the music.

Gavin Harrison - Sanity & Gravity (Remastered)

Wasn’t sure what was coming from this remastered album from 1996 when Gavin was mainly a highly demanded session musician. A blend of funk jazz and rock are evident. The recording quality is excellent. A lot of the vocals thrown in from time to time use non-verbal vocalizations meant to just accompany the other instruments. Also, not a fan of the electric violin playing. A well-played album I just wish was a little more interesting.

Blossom Toes - If Only For A Moment (2022 Remaster)

Knew that this 1968 release was going to be an off the wall pick. It definitely fits in with a Zappa universe with some Cream moments mixed in with Jerry Garcia guitar work and some Beatles whimsy just for good measure. A self-indulgent work with a lot of “hey, look how cool we can be” but forgetting to work on a compelling groove. Still, for its time, it was probably “out there, man”

Dewa Budjana - Naurora

A moderately listenable jazz rock guitar based music outing by Indonesian Budjana. Influenced by Pat Methany and John McLaughlin, his work is a little less fiery. There is nothing really wrong with this outing, just not an overambitious collection that says play me again. Eh.

4 Hands

Airy keyboards that would fit with Windham Hill recordings. ‘Nuff said.