It's a beautiful day, the sky falls And you feel like it's a beautiful day...
Ireland's most famous sons U2 are from Dublin. The band consists of Bono (vocals and guitar), The Edge (guitar, keyboards, and vocals), Adam Clayton (bass guitar) and Larry Mullen Jr. (drums and percussion).
U2 played at 1985's Live Aid concert to benefit for Ethiopian famine relief. Many believe the show was a turning point is U2's career.
U2's new album will be reviewed here soon.
Bob Geldolf of The Boomtown Rats (also from Ireland) helped organize Live Aid.
Van (the man) Morrison is from Belfast in Northern Ireland. Van was a member of the great 60's garage rock band Them. In the later part of that era he established his solo career with the great Brown Eyed Girl.
The Waterboys are composed of musicians from Ireland, Scotland and England. They played tribute to Van Morrison with a cover of Sweet Thing on 1988's Fisherman's Blues.
The Cranberries formed in Limerick in 1990. Dreams was a great pop song from 1993.
Thin Lizzy from Dublin, Ireland had a pretty good song of their own; 1976's The Boys Are Back In Town.
There's a train a comin', hear them tracks a hummin'
First of all, this week (on March 3) U2'sNo Line On the Horizon was released. I just got it and haven't got to sink my teeth into yet. I like to digest a new release before I grade it.
Second of all, a new release from Steve Earle is going to hit the stores on May 12. The new release is Townes a tribute to the Texas songsmith and mentor to Earle. Read about it at Pitchfork.
Well surprise, surprise, come on open your eyes ...
Well it's been an exciting couple of weeks for Bruce Springsteen fans; a new CD, a Superbowl halftime show; the start of a new tour and all the buzz on the internet. I have read numerous reviews on the new CD, Working On a Dream. I have read raves and I have read pans. So I thought it was time to give my review on the CD.
First let me vent a little. I am anxious for new music as the next, but when songs are released a few at a time; Working On a Dream then My Lucky Day then Life Itself; for me it takes a little of the suprise and joy of listening to a new CD. It's like when you see previews to a new movie and the previews are great; then you go see the movie and the best parts were in the previews.
With that said reviewing Springsteen releases are tricky. Bruce set the bar so high with his 70's and early 80's albums that it's almost unfair to compare new releases to those great works. However, I thought The Rising stood on it's on as a complete album or CD, but it's hard to think of a song from The Rising that would compare favorably to say She's The One or Prove It All Night. As for Magic, I enjoyed listening to it's sort of retro-Bruce sound, but the overall vibe was a downer for me.
Now we have Working On a Dream, the 3rd release in 7 years with the reunited E Street Band. As with Magic you can hear some of the old Bruce in it, but you can also hear The Beach Boys, The Byrds, a little Roy Orbison and maybe some of Spector's "wall of sound". Rolling Stone magazine called it Bruce's white album because of it's varied sound. I am pleasantly suprised by the CD. I love the production and the variety of songs. I think that ever more so than Tunnel of Love this is Bruce's love album. Most of the song expresses the joy of love and life. I love the album and rate it up along side of The Rising (my favorite album of this decade).
Outlaw Pete - A return to the epic song, ala The Wild, The Innocent & The E Street Shuffle or Jungleland; the story is right out of a light weight spaghetti western; muscially it is sort of cross between Ennio Morricone and maybe Brian Wilson's Smile; the harmonica is straight out of Once Upon a Time in the West. It's a terrific song.
My Lucky Day - This song could have been recorded during The River sessions, akin to Two Hearts; great harmony with Little Steven.
Working On a Dream - A great and uplifting single. The song is better as you listen through the CD and it is growing on me more and more; I love the background singing.
Queen of the Supermarket - This could be a prequel to maybe I Wanna Marry You; the highlight of the guys day is going to the supermaket just to see the checkout girl that he has fallen for, but has yet to ask out. A very good song.
What Love Can Do - A rocking song with a modern sounding drum beat; great guitar/harmonica solo; lyrically along the lines of Tougher Than the Rest or My Love Will Not Let You Down.
This Life - Sounds if it could have been recorded for Pet Sounds; maybe a brighter sequel to Girls in Their Summer Clothes; Another winner.
Good Eye - A bluesy song along the lines of I Ain't Got You or Reason to Believe (Devils and Dust tour version);
Tomorrow Never Knows - A beautiful love song makes you feel like you are traveling along in a train watching the story from the window.
Life Itself - Fantastic song; great sound with blend of instruments especially the organ and guitars; A great Byrds influence (not the jingle jangle Byrds, but the mid-period Byrds of 8 Miles High).
Kingdom of Days - Another ode to love; fine tune.
Suprise, Suprise - Yet another solid ode to love; an uplifting birthday song.
The Last Carnival - A bitter sweet update of 1973's Wild Billy's Circus Story. The later featured the late E Street member, Danny Federici on accordian. On this tribute to Danny (which includes Danny's son Jason Federici on accordian) Bruce uses the circus life as an analogy on the battles that he fought along side with his pal and band mate.
Another small gripe of mine is the bonus song. Not that I don't like the additional song, but exactly how is it a bonus song. To me a bonus song make sense if you re-release an older CD and add new material that wasn't on the original release.
Overall I love the Working On a Dream. I think the production and overall sound is terrific. The songs are uplifting and worthy of repeated listening.
Old Crow Medicine Show played to a boisterous crowd at the MAC in Prestonsburg, KY on Wednesday Night (1/28/09). The weather outside was cold/snowy and many folks in the area were without power (including myself) due to an ice storm that had hit a day earlier. However, the Crows came with a 2 1/2 hour set that broke through the ice and provided some much needed heat and power.
The show was the first of the year for the Crows as Willie Watson/Ketch Secor sang their hearts out. Numerous songs were played from their 2008 release Tennessee Pusher including Alabama High-Test, Methaphetamine, Mary's Kitchen, Caroline, Tennessee Pusher and the party song Humdinger. The song was introduced by saying it was wrote out by the dumpster behind the building. Guit-jo player Kevin Hayes took his turn on the vocals on this one. Another new song was introduced by Ketch Secor. He described a trip in which he hitchhiked from the Wal-Mart parking lot in Pikeville, dropped off in Paintsville, then caught a ride to Fort Gay, WVA, and then picked up by 2 meth-heads from Jackson County Ohio. He said all the while he felt like he had a guardian angel watching over him as he led into Highway Halo.
The older favorites like James River Blues and I Hear Them were played as well. As always they brought the house down with Tell It To Me and Wagon Wheel. The later being a fan favorite and a great sing-along song.
[OCMS - Wagon Wheel/Tell It To Me]
For the encore and concert closer an appropriate song was played; a cover of The Everly Brothers song Kentucky.
"Kentucky, You are the dearest land outside of Heaven to me
Kentucky, I miss your laurels and your redbud trees
When I die, I want to rest upon your graceful mountains so free
For that is where God will look for me"
A great show for a cold January's night and afterwards the band stuck around for photos and autographs.
I ride a G.S. scooter with my hair cut neat... The Mods (short for Modernists) were part of a British subculture; a lifestyle of the youth that began in London in the 1950's and peaked in popularity in 1960's. The Mods had a unique style, adopting trendy Italian and French fashions; Italian jackets with narrow lapels, thin ties, mohair suits, sweaters, zoot suits, clothes featuring pop art such as jackets made from the union flag, French style haircuts, even bowling shoes. They drove scooters instead of motorbikes to protect their clothes from being stained. They wore military coats over their clothes to protect them from the elements.
The Mods rivals were the Rockers, who were more akin to greasers. The Rockers wore leather jackets and rode motorcycles.
[Are You a Mod or Rocker?]
One of the early Mod bands was The High Rollers. They're manager was a bloke named Peter Meaden who was a Mod. He wanted a Mod band and directed their first single Zoot Suit/I'm the Face toward the Mods. A Zoot Suit was a style of suit popular with that crowd and a Face or Ace Face was kind of a leader in the Mod culture. The single failed to chart and the band changed managers and their moniker to The Who. With their edgy sound and wild stage show they became very popular among the British Mods. Their blend of anthemic rock and rhythm and blues would become known as "Maximum R and B".
Pete Townshend would later write a rock opera about the Mods in The Who's 1973 classic album Quadrophenia. The story of Jimmy, a schizophrenic Mod who suffered with four personalities (each represented a member of The Who).
[The Who - I Can't Explain]
Another popular Mod band was The Kinks.
[The Kinks - Gotta Move]
In the late 1970's The Jam lead the way for a Mod revival. The trio from Surrey, England flashed their Who and Kinks influence like a calling card. The album titles reflected the Mod influence; This is The Modern World, All Mod Cons (short for "all modern conveniences", a play on words). The Jam was very popular in Britain, but they never achieved the same success in the states.
Also in 1979 the film version of Quadrophenia was released. The film true to the original Quadrophia story line documented the feel of the original Mod movement of the 60's.
[The Jam - In the City]
I recently discovered the Len Price 3; direct descendants in the Who, Kinks, Jam family line. Listening to their 2007 release Rentacrowd reminds me of the early Townshend written singles and early Jam records; very Mod indeed.
There have been many great songs and tributes to Martin Luther King. U2's Pride (In the Name of Love) may be my favorite.
One man come in the name of love One man come and go One come he to justify One man to overthrow
In the name of love What more in the name of love In the name of love What more in the name of love
One man caught on a barbed wire fence One man he resist One man washed on an empty beach. One man betrayed with a kiss
In the name of love What more in the name of love In the name of love What more in the name of love (nobody like you...)
Early morning, April 4 Shot rings out in the Memphis sky Free at last, they took your life They could not take your pride
In the name of love What more in the name of love In the name of love What more in the name of love In the name of love What more in the name of love...
[U2 - Pride (In the Name of Love)]
[OCMS - Motel in Memphis]
[Dion - Abraham, Martin and John (live on the Smothers Brothers)]
[Bob Dylan - A Change is Gonna Come]
Sam Cooke wrote and recorded A Change is Gonna Come in 1963. The song was only a modest hit at the time, but came to exemplify the 1960's Civil Rights Movement. The song has gained in popularity and critical acclaim in the decades since its release.
I was born by the river in a little tent Oh and just like the river I've been running ever since It's been a long, a long time coming But I know a change gonna come, oh yes it will
It's been too hard living but I'm afraid to die Cause I don't know what's up there beyond the sky It's been a long, a long time coming But I know a change gonna come, oh yes it will
I go to the movie and I go downtown Somebody keep telling me don't hang around It's been a long, a long time coming But I know a change gonna come, oh yes it will
Then I go to my brother And I say brother help me please But he winds up knocking me Back down on my knees
Ohhhhhhhhh..... There been times that I thought I couldn't last for long But now I think I'm able to carry on It's been a long, a long time coming But I know a change gonna come, oh yes it will
I love The Beatles; I love songs that remind me of the Beatles. Occasionally a new song or a new band comes along with a hint of that Beatles sound; Beatlesque.
The Smithereens have alway been Beatlesque. Since back in 1986 when Especially For You came out with it's throwback to the 60's sound and hints of fabness. In 2007 The Smithereens covered the entire Meet The Beatles album with their own versions entitled Meet The Smithereens. This was somewhat of a novel idea, being somewhat risky and safe at the same time. The new versions paled in comparison, but they still had a charm of their own. In 2008 The Smithereens came back with another tip of the hat to the fab four with B Sides-The Beatles. I find these covers of the fab four's b-sides and rarities even more charming.
[The Smithereens - B Sides-The Beatles]
The highlight for me is Some Other Guy, a song that I remember mostly in the footage of the early Beatles playing in the Cavern Club.
[Beatles - Some Other Guy (1962-The Cavern Club)]
It also reminds me that several years ago I saw a show on PBS called John Lennon's Jukebox(http://www.pbs.org/wnet/gperf/shows/lennon/). The show was about the music that John Lennon had on his own Jukebox. Several of the songs, The Beatles covered in the early part of their career. One of the songs was Some Other Guy by The Big Three. I tried to find that version of the song after that but to no avail.
I was recently listening to my station on Pandora (http://www.pandora.com/) and heard a song that wreaked of Bealesque. The band was The Minders and the song Hooray For Tuesday. I found the CD on Amazon and after only one listen I am impressed with the 1960's vibe and Rubber Soul-era sound. More later...
[The Minders - Yeah Yeah Yeah]
Along the same lines, there is a very interesting read on the Esquire Magazine website - quotes from Little Steve Van Zandt: http://www.esquire.com/features/what-ive-learned/steven-van-zandt-quotes-0109 On the Beatles..."February 8, 1964, there was not one single rock 'n' roll band in the country. February 9, the Beatles played The Ed Sullivan Show. February 10, everyone had one. In the garage. "Garage rock" is traditional rock 'n' roll. If you think of it as the early Stones, you're fine."
Beatlesque
[The Monkees - No Time]
[Badfinger - Come and Get It]
[The Cars - My Best Friend's Girlfriend]
[The Rain Parade - I Look Around]
[Tears For Fears - Sowing the Seeds of Love]
[Oasis - Wonderwall]
Football Note: After going 4 - 4 the first 2 weekends I'll march on;
I've always admired artists that could come up with a enough solid material to put together a double album. Some of my favorite albums are doubles such as The Who's mod rock operaQuadrophenia, The Clash'slandmarkLondon Calling, The Beatles White Album, Bruce Springsteen'sThe River and from the 90's Wilco'sBeing There.
Jeff Tweedy formed Wilco after parting ways with his fellow Uncle Tupelo band mates Jay Farrar and Mike Heidorn (who formed half of the original Son Volt). Jeff, along with bassist John Stirratt, drummer Ken Coomer and multi-instrumnentalist Max Johnston released their debut CD A.M. in 1995. The reviews of the release were somewhat of a disapointment compared to the favorable reviews that Son Volt's debut Trace had recieved.
With the pressure on to deliver, the band proceeded to record the next album; bringing in several other musicians including Jay Bennet, another very tallented multi-instrumental musician. The recording process produced 19 songs, too many for a single album. So the classic Being There was born. The album title was taken from the Peter Seller's movie of the same name. Disc 1
Misunderstood - The opening song is one of the most powerful and best songs that Jeff Tweedy has written; very much in the vein of John Lennon. The song builds with tension until by the end Jeff is almost yelling "I want to thank you for nothing".
Far, Far Away - In this song the singer yearns to see and hold his girl. A beautiful ballad which features electric piano and pedal steel guitar.
Monday - A fun 70's rocker right out of The Rolling Stones or Big Star playbook shows that the band can rock it out.
Outtasite (Outta Mind) - Ditto - Another great rocker!
Forget the Flowers - A little country ditty featuring the banjo and pedal steel guitar
Red-Eyed and Blue - A great folk sounding song with a clever play on words title featuring guitar and piano; the lyrics are dark, but the music is somehow uplifting.
I Got You (End of the Century) - Another great rocker along the lines of Big Star.
What's The World Got In Store - A mid-tempo song featuring the banjo and organ.
Hotel Arizona - Great tune about being on the verge of making it big. I love the droning guitar and backing vocals.
Say You Miss Me - This mid-tempo ballad shows the ache of seperation from the singers loved one. The song contains some great background vocals.
[Wilco - Misunderstood (live Lollapolooza)]
[Wilco - Monday]
Disc 2
Sunken Treasure - Disc 2 begins with the hauntingly-pain soaked Sunken Treasure in which Jeff sings "I am so out of tune with you".
Someday Soon - A country tune with a more positive message.
Outta Mind (Outta Site) - A more popier/less rocking version of disc 1's Outtasite (Outta Mind).
Someone Else's Song - A folk ballad from a long time ago or at least that's what is sounds like.
Kingpin - A funky little tune with some clever & funny word-play.
Was I In Your Dreams? - A slow tune in which the singer is questioning his girl on the telephone about missing him.
Why Would You Wanna Live? - I love the false beginning; Another slow tune with faint echoes of John Lennon
The Lonely 1 - A lonely folk ballad from the point of view of an over zealous fan of his gutar hero.
Dreamer in My Dreams - A ragged Faces meet Stones rocker that sounds like the wheel may come off at any moment (which it does in the end, but they just crank it back up). Great ending to a great CD.
Well, I'm just around the corner to the light of day...
After the first weekend of the playoffs I'm 2-2.
Baltimore Ravens vs. Tennessee Titans
I saw Steve Earle and Allison Moorer in 2008 in support of Steve's fine Washington Square Serenade. The leadoff song on that CD was Tennessee Blues, a sequel of somewhat to 1986's Guitar Town. The song is about Steve leaving Nashville for New York with his red head by his side: "Sunset in my mirror, pedal on the floor; Bound for New York City and I won`t be back no more; Won`t be back no more, boys won`t see me around; Goodbye guitar town" and "Blue dog on my floorboard, redhead by my side; Cross the mighty Hudson river to the New York City side; Redhead by my side, boys sweetest thing I`ve found; Goodbye guitar town".
[Steve Earle - Tennessee Blues]
The Baltimore/Tennessee matchup, two defensive jugernauts, reminds me of a movie title - The Clash of the Titans.Speaking of The Clash, in 2003 Bruce Springsteen, Little Steven Van Zandt, Elvis Costello and Dave Grohl played tribute to one of the great bands of all times.
[Springsteen, Van Zandt, Costello, Grohl - London Calling (Grammys)]
My Pick: Baltimore Ravens over Tennessee Titans 14-10
Arizona Cardinals vs Carolina Panthers
One of the many highlights from last years The Racounteurs great release Consolers of the Lonely was Carolina Drama. Aptly titled, this tale is about a divorced mother and her two sons and ... well you figure it out.
[The Raconteurs - Carolina Drama (live at Coachella)]
Wilco has been a band that with each new release seems to - if not raise the bar, at least maintain a level that few others have been able to reach. They followed up 2002's landmark Yankee Hotel Foxtrot with the solid CD called A Ghost is Born. It's companion online released EP featured a song called Panthers.
Wilco is expected to release their 9th studio CD this year. As usuall Jeff Tweedy is talking of taking the band in a different direction. This year is alreay shaping up to be a great year musically.
My Pick: Carolina Panthers over Arizona Cardinals 30-17
San Diego Chargers vs Pittsburgh Steelers
Bruce Springsteen, after somewhat of a dull decade away from the E Street Band in the 1990's began the great comeback this decade with 1998's release of Tracks. A sprawling 4 CD set of unreleased music from the all three decades of Bruce. It was inspiring to hear new Bruce tunes from the early years as well as some absolute gems from later periods. After this release Bruce and the band reunited for the great Reunion Tour or as I called it at the time- The Glory Days Tour. It was great to see Little Steven Van Zandt back in the fold and on stage not only with his old pals, but also with fellow guitarist (who replaced Lil' Steven) Nils Lofgren. This tour clicked and the band delivered night after night after night. Listen to the CD or watch the DVD Live in New York for living proof.
One of the fine tracks from Tracks was A Good Man is Hard To Find (Pittsburgh). This was an outtake from 1982 and Born in the USA sessions.I saw Walter Egan in 1978 open for Kansas (I think). At the time Egen was in support of his album Not Shy which was produce by Lindsey Buckingham and Richard Dashut. His hit single Magnet and Steel was on the charts at the time making it up to #8.
My pick: Pittsbugh Steelers over San Diego Chargers 28-20
New York Giants vs Philadelphia Eagles
After a couple of sub-par releases, U2 bounced back strong with 2000's All That You Can't Leave Behind. The CD included great songs like Beautiful Day, Kite, Walk On, Elevation, In a Little While and this gem New York.
[U2 - New York (live in Boston)]
The made for TV band The Monkees produced some pretty darn good pop music in their day. The Monkees were the creation of Don Kirshner; backed by some fine studio muscians; armed with some great tunes written the likes of Neil Diamond, Tommy Boyce and Bobby Hart, Harry Nilsson, Barry Mann, and Gerry Goffin and Carole King; and a natural chemistry created from the mix of 2 musicians (Michael Nesmith and Peter Tork) and 2 show biz types (Davie Jones and Mickey Dolenz). There run was short lived, 1966 thru the end of the 60's, but many great tunes were made. The b-side to Take The Last Train To Clarksville was a Goffin-King song called Take a Giant Step. My Pick: New York Giants over Philadelphia Eagles 28-21
Ireland's most famous sons U2 are from Dublin. The band consists of Bono (vocals and guitar), The Edge (guitar, keyboards, and vocals), Adam Clayton (bass guitar) and Larry Mullen Jr. (drums and percussion).
The older favorites like James River Blues and I Hear Them were played as well. As always they brought the house down with Tell It To Me and Wagon Wheel. The later being a fan favorite and a great sing-along song.
Disc 1
