The Fleshtones — American Beat ’84’

• Artist: The Fleshtones
• Title: American Beat ’84’
• Year: 1984
• Format: Vinyl 12 in.
• Rating (1-10): 8
• Owner: Tracy
• Acquired: 1984 – No clue where
• Keeper: Yes

Yeah, I don’t get the extra apostrophe after the 84 either, but I’m going with it since it’s that way all over the record. Some might call a four song record an EP; IRS calls it a “Maxi Single.” The Fleshtones’ “American Beat ’84′” is a solid song, well-constructed and perfectly played like all their work, but it has a slight sheen of cheese. I think it was featured in the soundtrack to the Tom Hanks’ movie Bachelor Party. I never saw it. Someone check that for me, please, thanks. “Super Hexbreaker” is what it sounds like, a remix, but it’s slightly less super than the original. “Mean Old Lonesome Train” is interesting because it’s more bluesy than usual for The Fleshtones and guitarist Keith Streng sings. What Keith may lack in natural vocal ability he more than makes up for with intensity and enthusiasm, a trade I’ll take every time. The standout for me is “Hall of Fame.” There are more hooks in this one song than most full length records. It’s a Fleshtones version of a “club banger” circa 1984, not that anyone would’ve called it that back then.

Satellite (Perry Farrell) — Wish Upon a Dog Star

I don’t know much about this project other than it’s a concept album that “features a wildly diverse group of artists, including The Red Hot Chili Peppers’ Flea and John Frusciante, New Order/ Joy Division Bassist Peter Hook, Thievery Corporation, Black Eyed Pea’s Fergie, Hybrid, Film Composer Harry Gregson-Williams, as well as an unreleased Jim Morrison vocal track.” There are a bunch of other heavies involved including guitar hero Nuno Bettencourt in the core band. (That note is for you GT.) And, word is that Perry Farrell and friends are currently working closely with Stop Global Warming and Global Cool.

I like the first single “Wish Upon a Dog Star” which has a fresh sound, without being too far from solid pop. You might be able to hear it here, and some other songs here. The full album, Ultra Payloaded Satellite Party, comes out May 15. You can join the party.

The Fleshtones — Hexbreaker!

• Artist: The Fleshtones
• Title: Hexbreaker!
• Year: 1983
• Format: Vinyl 12 in.
• Rating (1-10): 9
• Owner: Tracy
• Acquired: 1983 – Not sure
• Keeper: Yes

Hexbreaker! Even the title of this album is cool. The super rock continues on their second full album, and this time it’s even more eclectic. There’s everything from the silly, but fun, “Screamin’ Skull” to the mid-tempo heartbreaker “This House Is Empty” (one of my favorites). The Fleshtones even get philosophical on “Burning Hell” and I don’t know if that, or the fact that they did with a soul-powered dance freak out number is more surprising.

I have deep, and very fond memories of listening to this in high school. I know every note of every song. I’ll say it again: I wanted to be Peter Zaremba. I love all the songs on this record but it’s the title track, “Hexbreaker!” that really tears the roof off.

Listen, are you ready everybody? Yeeaahhh!
Are you ready for SUPER ROCK time? Yeeaahhh!
Are you ready for communication? Yeeaahhh!
Well I think you’re ready for the HEXBREAKER! baby come on… Yeeaahhh!

Fleshtones — Roman Gods

• Artist: Fleshtones
• Title: Roman Gods
• Year: 1981
• Format: Vinyl 12 in.
• Rating (1-10): 10
• Owner: Tracy
• Acquired: 1982 ? No idea where, just glad to have it.
• Keeper: Yes

Thanks to my friend John Hurlock and his older brother Mike I was exposed to the Fleshtones early on. They were one my favorite alternatives to the alternative bands of the 1980s. Not that anyone used the word “alternative” back then, but you know what I’m saying. These guys were essentially rock and roll (a high compliment) at a time when a lot of non-mainstream music was anything but. The Fleshtones called it “Super Rock.”

The Fleshtones did have a 1960s vibe but their sound was unlike anything before, or since. I think they are one of the most under-rated bands ever. The music was fun but not silly, the lyrics smart but not pretentious, and they put on a helluva show. I was lucky enough to see them a number of times, always in small venues. I even got to talk to my hero Peter Zaremba, the lead singer. He also hosted the coolest show ever on MTV, The Cutting Edge. I’ll admit it, I wanted to be Peter Zaremba. I even grew my hair like his. If only I could do that now.

Roman Gods is an excellent album, one of the most played records in my collection. My favorite song is Shadow-line. I have a lot more Fleshtones records, but I haven’t kept up with the band for a long time. That’s dumb. I’m going to catch up on what I’ve been missing.

They are still kicking it. Read more about the Fleshtones. (I wrote this while playing the album. Every few songs I increased the rating. By the end of Roman Gods it was clear, this can only be a “10.”)

Leftfield — Leftism

• Artist: Leftfield
• Title: Leftism
• Year: 1995
• Format: CD
• Rating (1-10): 8
• Owner: Tracy
• Acquired: 2007 – SecondSpin.com
• Keeper: Yes

More than once I’ve read reviews that called Leftfield’s Leftism “the greatest dance record ever.” To that I say, “OK.” It’s good all right; that’s for sure. Leftism was their debut. I’ve had their second, darker and somewhat minimalist, record Rhythm and Stealth for some years, and it’s one of my favorites. I couldn’t find Leftism easily because it’s now out of print. Then, just recently I discovered SecondSpin.com. I’m sure they’ve been in business for quite a while, but they’re new to me. They have used CDs, DVDs and games, the prices are great, and best of all they have hard to get stuff like this record. You can bet I’m going to be picking up a lot of back catalog stuff from them.

Anyhow, the Leftfield deal is like this: They are two DJs with numerous guest vocalists (no less than John Lydon on this one) and have been described as the finest example of freestyle British club music. Yes.

Read more about Leftfield at Wikipedia.

The Decemberists — The Crane Wife

• Artist: The Decemberists
• Title: The Crane Wife
• Year: 2006
• Format: CD
• Rating (1-10): 8
• Owner: Mary
• Acquired: 2006 – Christmas gift!
• Keeper: Yes

What? What is this? Sometimes The Decemberists remind me of The Zutons, The Shins, and maybe even Cake. Then there’s that second song “The Island: – Come and See – The Landlord’s Daughter – You’ll Not Feel the Drowning.” Yes, that is the title, and it’s befitting since this ditty is over twelve minutes and moves from sounding like a sea shanty to classic progrock a la Yes. What? The Crane Wife opens with a title track, “The Crane Wife, Part 3.” Later in the album there is “The Crane Wife, Parts 1 & 2” which is also Freedbird-esque in its length. In between there are a number of more accessible, normal format songs, and they are all interesting.

I haven’t figured out the album concept entirely. All the not-of-this-time artwork (much more than shown here) and lyrics make it seem mysterious, and that keeps it interesting. Of course, there’s plenty of mystery in the music itself.

Help me figure it out:
Decemeberists.com
The Decemberists at Wikipedia

The Roots — Game Theory

• Artist: The Roots
• Title: Game Theory
• Year: 2006
• Format: CD
• Rating (1-10): 8
• Owner: Tracy
• Acquired: 2006 – Christmas present to myself, Amazon.
• Keeper: Yes

This is one very heavy and dark, but very good album. And an album it is, not just a collection of songs. The Roots’ Game Theory plays like a 47 minute hip-hopera with few pauses and nary a cheerful lyric to be heard. Those lyrics keep me from blasting it in the house when the kids are around, but I’ve managed to hear it enough now to know it’s a great record. My favorites are the high speed, slamming “Here I Come” followed closely by “Don’t Feel Right.”

Roots Manuva — Awfully Deep

• Artist: Roots Manuva
• Title: Awfully Deep
• Year: 2005
• Format: CD
• Rating (1-10): 6
• Owner: Tracy
• Acquired: 2006 – Another Christmas gift!
• Keeper: Maybe

The first time I heard Roots Manuva was on Leftfield‘s 1999 album Rhythm and Stealth, one of my top 100 records. Then, he popped up again on the latest Gorillaz record, Demon Days.

It’s taken me a while to get some of his solo music. I’ve had Awfully Deep on my list since came out almost two years ago. I’m not sure what to think about it. Maybe I need to listen to it a few more times. Maybe I should have started with his earlier records. Some of it is really interesting, but some of it just doesn’t seem to flow.

Read more about Roots Manuva at Wikipedia.

Sam and Dave – The Very Best Of

• Artist: Sam and Dave
• Title: The Very Best Of
• Year: 1995
• Format: CD
• Rating (1-10): 9
• Owner: Tracy
• Acquired: 2006 – Christmas gift!
• Keeper: Yes

I love the Stax stuff. When I was teenager I couldn’t get enough early soul music, and spent as much time listening to that as I did punk rock, arty stuff, and metal. Despite that, there are some big holes in my collection. Mary helped correct that by getting this Sam and Dave collection for me. “The Very Best Of” is, of course, excellent. Who in his right mind doesn’t like “Hold On! I’m A Comin'”? Other well-known classics include “Soul Man”, “Wrap It Up”, and my favorite “I Thank You.” ZZ Top also had a hit with “I Thank You.” It’s even one of my favorite ZZ Top songs, but they had to sleaze it up bit by replacing “me” in the lyrics a few times with “it.” For example:

You didn’t have to squeeze me but you did

And so on…

Kinky — Reina

• Artist: Kinky
• Title: Reina
• Year: 2006
• Format: CD
• Rating (1-10): 8
• Owner: Tracy
• Acquired: 2006 – Got it for Christmas!
• Keeper: Yes

Don’t read this yet. First go to the Kinky site, click on “music”, then treat yourself to “I Say Hey” from their new album Reina.

OK, glad you’re back. Just let the whole album play. Kinky has been one of my favorite bands for the last few years, and getting their albums as Christmas presents is becoming a tradition that I hope never ends. The first couple times I played Reina I didn’t like it as much as their other stuff. But now I’m feeling it! I won’t bother to explain their sound, since you’re listening for yourself, but I will say that all of their records make perfect party mixes by themselves. Skip all the work of picking out other music. Mary pointed out that they sound like they’re channeling Devo on “Again And So On.” Bonus!

When I say hey, hey, hey… haaa
When I say hey, hey, hey… haaa
When I say hey, hey,
You better look this way!