Joe Jackson — Blaze of Glory

• Artist: Joe Jackson
• Title: Blaze of Glory
• Year: 1989
• Format: Vinyl 12 in.
• Rating (1-10): 7
• Owner: Mary
• Acquired: 1989 – Our store RIP Records in Norfolk, VA.
• Keeper: Yes

Joe Jackon’s “Blaze of Glory” is very much an “adult” album. And I’m not usually in a very adult mood. The first time I played this the other day I was distracted, but also stunned by what I initially perceived as over-production and even some… cheesiness. At first I didn’t get it at all, despite being an adult, sorta. After a couple more proper listens it’s starting to make sense. This is a very complex, some might say “concept”, album. There are few if any audible gaps between the songs, and the lyrics move from youth to the reality beyond it. It feels almost like a musical.

It seems the single “Nineteen Forever” made it up the charts, but I don’t remember hearing it on the radio.

“This album is dedicated to my generation.” — Joe Jackson (from the liner notes)

Billy Idol — Rebel Yell

• Artist: Billy Idol
• Title: Rebel Yell
• Year: 1983
• Format: Vinyl 12 in.
• Rating (1-10): 5
• Owner: Tracy
• Acquired: 1983 — No idea.
• Keeper: Yes

I admit that I think the title track “Rebel Yell” is a great pop song, probably Billy Idol’s best. The rest of the album is not so exciting, except for Steve Stevens excellent guitar work. I read an interview with Stevens in Guitar Player magazine back in the 1980s. He said people were always asking him to “do the raygun Steve”, and everyone wanted to know how he did it. The raygun was some killer effect/trick that he did twice in the song “Rebel Yell.” Steve didn’t want to say exactly how to do it. As I remember it, he thought it was kind of lame for people to just copy it and said people should just experiment and come up with their own stuff. I agree, but you can tell me Steve. Seriously.

Screamin’ Jay Hawkins (and The Fuzztones) — Live

• Artist: Screamin’ Jay Hawkins (and The Fuzztones)
• Title: Live
• Year: 1985
• Format: Vinyl 12 in.
• Rating (1-10): 7
• Owner: Tracy
• Acquired: 1985 – Mail order from the label, Midnight Records.
• Keeper: Yes

Screamin’ Jay Hawkins made a special guest appearance at a benefit show by The Fuzztones. These are the four songs on this short live record:

“Alligator Wine”
“I Put a Spell On You”
“It’s That Time Again”
“Constipation Blues”

I suppose this record could be filed under “F” for Fuzztones, but Mr. Hawkins appearance is what makes it special to me. So, “H” it is. From the crowd noise this sounds like a small club. When Fuzztones frontman Rudi Protrudi enthusiastically introduces Mr. Hawkins the crowd doesn’t exactly erupt like I would expect. What was wrong with those people?

Gang of Four — Entertainment!

• Artist: Gang of Four
• Title: Entertainment!
• Year: 1979
• Format: Vinyl 12 in.
• Rating (1-10): 10
• Owner: Tracy
• Acquired: ? Just glad to have it.
• Keeper: Yes

The problem of leisure
What to do for pleasure
Ideal love a new purchase
A market of the senses
Dream of the perfect life…

Those are the first five lines of “Natural’s Not In It” from “Entertainment!”, Gang of Four’s debut album. I read a quote by Bono where he describes Andy Gill’s lyrics as “…a smart bomb of text that had me ‘at home feeling like a typist.'” The latter part of that sentence is, of course, a pun referring to the song “At Home He Feels Like a Tourist” which is also on this album. That song is an all-time favorite of mine, although I like almost every song on this record just as much. It’s just that good.

I never got to see them live in their prime, but I did go stand outside a small club in Virginia Beach to hear the muffled songs rumble through the concrete walls at one Gang of Four show. It was tragic, but I was an under-age teenager and couldn’t get inside. They’re just that good.

If you’re not familiar with the band, know that they are definitely one of the most important “rock” bands ever and have influenced more artists than you would believe.

A very interesting article about “Entertainment!”, including its packaging, at Wikipedia.

Faith No More — Introduce Yourself

• Artist: Faith No More
• Title: Introduce Yourself
• Year: 1987
• Format: Vinyl 12 in.
• Rating (1-10): 7
• Owner: Tracy / Mary
• Acquired: 1987 – We each got copies from the record stores where we “worked.”
• Keeper: Yes

I definitely like “Introduce Yourself” better than their first record “We Care a Lot.” The title track from “We Care a Lot” appears on both records, and I’m not sure why. Wikipedia has a little info about it. I love that song, but I also love the title track of “Introduce Yourself.” In general this record seems more rocked out and the synth less prominent. “Also available on cassette.”

Echo and The Bunnymen — The Sound of Echo EP

• Artist: Echo and The Bunnymen
• Title: The Sound of Echo EP
• Year: 1983
• Format: Vinyl 12 in.
• Rating (1-10): 8
• Owner: Mary
• Acquired: She’s not around to tell me right now…
• Keeper: Yes

I am distraught, people. Dih-straught. When I went looking for the third Echo and The Bunnymen album “Porcupine” it was nowhere to be found. How could this happen?! I would usually blame this kinda thing on my little brother, but we’re getting too old for that. So, I have no idea what happened to it. In its place tonight we have an oddball EP. There is no title anywhere on the record, but I have found sites that refer to it as “The Sound of Echo.” The five songs here are from different albums.

“Never Stop” – Songs to Learn and Sing (Which came out later)
“Rescue” – Crocodiles
“The Cutter” – Porcupine
“Back of Love” – Porcupine
“Do It Clean (Live)” – Originally released on Crocodiles

There isn’t even a proper release year on the disk or packaging. I’ve read it was 1984. Maybe it was put out to hype the band, generate buzz, etc. before “Ocean Rain” was released later that year. Anyhow, it’s all good. It seems rare-ish. I’m still crushed that “Porcupine” is missing though.

Dag Nasty — Wig Out at Denkos

• Artist: Dag Nasty
• Title: Wig Out at Denkos
• Year: 1987
• Format: Vinyl 12 in.
• Rating (1-10): 5
• Owner: Tracy
• Acquired: 1987 – Probably bought it when I was working at Mother’s Records in Hampton, VA.
• Keeper: No

When these Dag Nasty records came out I remember most everyone I hung with liking them. I guess I did too, then, but now they just bore me. “Wig Out at Denkos” is less enjoyable than their first record, “Can I Say.” It sounds like the death of hardcore, or maybe hardcore dying, painfully, as it moves on to an afterlife filled with guitar solos and even an acoustic ballad. If you can’t really sing, stick to screaming.

Dischord No. 26.

Nick Cave and The Bad Seeds — Your Funeral… My Trial

• Artist: Nick Cave and The Bad Seeds
• Title: Your Funeral… My Trial
• Year: 1986
• Format: Vinyl 12 in.
• Rating (1-10): 10
• Owner: Mary
• Acquired: 1986 – I have to go with Plan 9 Records and Tapes (tapes, hee hee) based on the release year. I always buy Nick Cave music ASAP.
• Keeper: Yes

Yesterday when Tracy was playing this LP he let the word “boring” slip from his lips. I knew then that he was not up to the task of blogging Nick Cave. I am not as talented a writer as Tracy, but I own all the Bad Seeds LPs (and CDs). So, I’ll practice on these.

This is not the first Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds album after the break up of The Birthday Party. Three EPs preceed “Your Funeral… My Trial” and they are all a bit louder. With this double EP the music calms down, but it isn’t boring. “The Carney” is surely the most memorable. It reminds me of a gory movie scene I would watch with one eye peeking between my fingers. I don’t want to see it, but I can’t stop watching it. I’m not the only one who can’t let that song go, “The Carney” reappears on “The Best of Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds” CD. “Stranger Than Kindness” is another song I’ll be humming the next few days and also makes the cut on the “Best Of” CD. I also really like the title track and “She Fell Away.” Well, I really like the entire double ep. And a double ep? Why not just one album? But the packaging is clever! It’s always two things playing off one another. Your funeral / my trial, eyes closed on the front cover / open on the back, right side up / upside down, and virgin / whore illustrations on the two liners.

Rating this is hard. When I compare it to all the Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds material, it’s a 9. However, if there is ever a fire in the Sigler house, the entire Nick Cave discography will be saved right after the dog.

Read more about Nick Cave and The Bad Seeds at Wikipedia and check out the offical band site.

Priestess — Hello Master

• Artist: Priestess
• Title: Hello Master
• Year: 2006
• Format: MP3
• Rating (1-10): 8
• Owner: Tracy
• Acquired: On the Interweb.
• Keeper: Yes

Thanks to JT for turning me on to Priestess. This site is named after a Judas Priest song. So, odds are if the band name has “Priest” in it and the sound is heavy I’m gonna like it.

One thing that’s great about “Hello Master” is that Priestess manage to throw down the heavy riffs, change-ups, and the occassional tricky time signature without turning every song into a multi-movement jamfest. Tons of hooks will keep your feet tapping. The single “Lay Down” is probably my favorite. It’s perfectly short at barely three minutes with a great snaky guitar riff. Tidy, and rocking.

Their sound reminds me of Sugartooth, but with better vocals. And maybe a little Raging Slab or even Kyuss in there, but not nearly as weird. Priestess is definitely more pop than those those bands, but pop and heavy riffing ain’t a bad mix. I’m excited to hear something new and heavy without the usual lame Cookie Monster vocals. Frontman Mikey Heppner can actually sing!

Check out the official Priestess site to hear some of their music.

That’s right Keith, I downloaded this album.

Bad Brains — I And I Survive / Destroy Babylon

• Artist: Bad Brains
• Title: I And I Survive / Destroy Babylon
• Year: 1982
• Format: Vinyl 12 in.
• Rating (1-10): 10
• Owner: Tracy
• Acquired: Not sure, mail order I think.
• Keeper: Yes

Punk rock, heavy metal, and separately reggae, with heaping helpings of spirituality and weirdness from four black guys from D.C.? Sign me up for some of that! Bad Brains, despite not being that prolific, or maybe because of it, is probably my favorite band, ever, for all-time, into the future even. I can’t imagine a new band creating music this special to me. Their music has a sophistication, and their playing a musicianship pretty much unheard of in the world of “punk” or “hardcore.” From the moment I heard their music I thought it was as exciting as it was unlikely.

This four song EP must be pretty rare. All of the songs, “I And I Survive”, “Destroy Babylon”, “Coptic Times”, and “Joshua’s Song”, were also released on “Rock For Light” a year later. I’m not sure if they are the same versions. I was unable to quickly find another picture of this awesome cover art on the web. So, enjoy it while you’re here. I liked the art on the label on one side of this record so much that it was basis for the tattoo on my massive right bicep. See the pic.

Another interesting tidbit is that this record was produced by Ric Ocasek, of The Cars. Didn’t know Ric was that cool, did ya? To learn more read this article about Bad Brains at Wikipedia.