Post new topic Reply to topic  [ 9 posts ] 

Board index : Music Talk : The Mix

Author Message
 Post subject: mix exchange review: billzebub
PostPosted: Fri Mar 24, 2006 11:36 pm 
Offline
Go Platinum

Joined: Sat Oct 23, 2004 1:38 pm
Posts: 7979
2. Brindley Brothers - Supernova - i like the guitar at the beginning a lot, but the vocals and the length brought it down a few notches for me.
3. Red Planet - No Force - it's alright, gets a little long and repetitive after awhile.
4. The Reputation - Face It - i like the reputation and it's not just because their singer is pretty hot. they have good music that i never tire of listening to. and her voice works well with it.
5. Evan John & the H Bombs - Saving Grace - hmm... not getting it done for me.
6. Afraid of Mice - Fool of Myself - this is okay. i could maybe hear this growing on me, though. the "i made a fool of myself for you" part is catchy.
7. The Fleshtones - In My Mind - these vocals are not my thing, not even the backing vocals. actually, this just isn't for me at all.
8. Wire - Dot Flash - this sounds like something i hear a dozen bands trying to do over again. it's alright, but i doubt i'd listen to it on my own.
9. Television Personalities - World of Pauline Lewis - not bad... not great...
10. The Monochrome Set - RSVP - once this gets moving, it's alright. the structure comes off as a little odd to me. it's not bad.
11. The Shocking Blue - Venus - i'm going to admit to liking this.
12. Cuban Heels - Walk on the Water - eh, this is alright. i kinda like the guitars.
13. Chameleons UK - Nostalgia - not my favorite chameleons song, but still pretty good.
14. Cheap Trick - Baby Talk - some redeeming qualities for me, but i can't really get into most of it.
15. Special Goodness - Life Goes On - now this i like. it makes me nostalgic for what i listened to in high school, if that makes any sense.
16. The Shazam - Super Tuesday - these vocals are riding close to guilty pleasure territory. the music's fine, nothing really striking.
17. Audience - THe Waverly Stagecoach - the vocals remind me a little of mick jagger. the music reminds me of something i wouldn't really like.
18. The Sensational Alex Harvey Band - Action Strasse - this is a little bit of a departure from the last few. and that'd be great if i could stand most of it. it's like this band decided to add everything into one song - chun-chun guitars, loopy keys, bizarre vocals, some other things that probably shouldn't be near it, etc. and it's an admirable idea, but it simply doesn't sound like it all fits together.
19. Deadbolt - Hit Gone Wrong - spoken word over music isn't my thing.
20. The Flamin' Groovies - Teenage Head - this is alright, not eliciting a reaction out of me either way.
21. The Waves - Strolling on Air - this works for me. the vocals sound good with the music. and it's a good sound that i like. it reminds me of something else that i like a lot.
22. The Only Ones - The Beast - i dropped in a few excessively-long songs on my mixes, so i can't fault this one for the same thing. it's actually nice to be able to ignore a song for a few minutes when writing about it.
23. The Higsons - Attack of the Cannibal Zombie Businessmen - this is alright, kinda sounds like different acts. if the song before it hadn't just also been too long, this would've been nice. (edit: the higsons, really? huh, never heard this one before.)
24. Champion Jack Dupree - Overhead Blues - not a bad closer.

this was alright. it's getting difficult to say new things about each mix. as with the others, there were some songs that i really liked and others that i didn't like at all and some that i honestly had no opinion on after 3-4 listens. after actually looking at the tracklisting, i'm a bit surprised that i didn't like some of the songs that i don't know by bands i usually like otherwise (flamin' grooves, the only ones). overall, this was alright and kept me interested throughout most of it.


Back to top
 Profile  
 
 Post subject: Re: mix exchange review: billzebub
PostPosted: Sat Mar 25, 2006 4:06 pm 
Offline
frostingspoon
User avatar

Joined: Mon Oct 25, 2004 12:31 pm
Posts: 12368
Location: last place I looked
1. Love a good intro

2. Brindley Brothers - Supernova 4/5
If the Long Ryders would've hewed a little closer to .38 Special, they might have come up with something like this. A bright hooky rock song that deserves to blare out of a shitty car radio on the way to the beach with the top down. Nothing life-altering, but let's all pretend for the moment that our lives have already been altered. What then? This'll do.

3. Red Planet - No Force 2/5
I could say the same for this as the previous song, except that the distant country inflection of the Brindley vocalist gave that song some kind of rootsy heft, and Red Planet's boyish vocals keep this song untethered in the pop ether. Comes close.

4. The Reputation - Face It 3/5
I saw the Reputation open for Ted Leo and thought they absolutely sucked, so this is a pleasant surprise. Melodic chunka chunka pop punk with a chirpy chick singer - still undifferentiated from a hundred others from Letters To Cleo to Magneta Lane - but as a one shot on this mix it works fine.

5. Evan John & the H Bombs - Saving Grace 3/5
A better guitarist than a songwriter - and this song seems more an excuse for a couple of guitar solos than an actual song. But it's a damn good guitar solo. I get the feeling this band would be great to see live.

6. Afraid of Mice - Fool of Myself 4/5
This takes me back. Not because I've ever heard it before (I haven't), but because it reminds me of an era in which there seemed to be a new song by a new band that sounded like this every week. I'm not complaining. It's got a good melody and you can dance to it, Dick. By the way, anybody remember "Prefab Heart" by the Reels?

7. The Fleshtones - In My Mind 5/5
This is a good Fleshtones song - which immediately raises it head and shoulders above most of everything else. I love Zaremba's tattered larynx on this one - must've been a helluva night. I'm too lazy to check, Billz - what album is this from?

8. Wire - Dot Dash 5/5
There's something about Colin Newman's smug art school sneer that I find infinitely appealing. Y'just KNOW it's part of what makes LooGAR wanna run this band over with a dumptruck.

9. Television Personalities - World of Pauline Lewis 2/5
Okay, but strangely timid. Pleasant jangle and a vocalist who sounds like his friends just shoved him onto the karaoke stage - reminds me of all those "excuse me, sir" sorta bands from New Zealand like the Bats and the Clean.

10. The Monochrome Set - RSVP 4/5
This made me laugh. A collection of French phrases strung together without any sense other than the sense of rhyme. Cute. But not cloyingly so.

11. The Shocking Blue - Venus 5/5
Original version. What more needs to be said? They call 'em nuggets 'cuz they're made out of GOLD, not chicken.

12. Cuban Heels - Walk on the Water 4/5
Great band name. Same comments as Afraid Of Mice. Anyone remember "Carioca" by Blue Rondo A La Turk?

13. Chameleons UK - Nostalgia 3/5
For a brief moment Chameleons U.K. seemed primed to take over for U2. They had a similar tendency for big drama and the grand statement, and a fair knack for crafting equally big hooks. But they remind me more of the Icicle Works, which is the same deal just with a whole lot less success.

14. Cheap Trick - Baby Talk 2/5
Oh sweet Jayzus. I was looking forward to this one, but it's one swooshy synth away from being "Working For The Weekend". Damn. Which came first? I seriously don't know. I'm hoping Rick Nielsen is due some royalties, though, 'cuz if it's the other way around, then it is we who are all shamed at the very feet of Mike Reno.

15. Special Goodness - Life Goes On 3/5
I suspect I should know this band. Are they a side project? This reminds me of the riff pop of Weezer. Not bad. A little ho hum.

16. The Shazam - Super Tuesday 4/5
I hope the Shazam are still going. They do the Macca branch of the Beatles better than even McCartney's done since side 2 of Abbey Road. I like this a lot. And they NEED to get Jon Brion to produce them.

17. Audience - The Waverly Stagecoach 5/5
Gotta hear more of this band. There's a Levon Helm quality to the vocals (it's Howard Werth, innit Billz?) and the music actually stands up pretty well to Levon's old day job. BTW - I noticed the original band including Werth is touring right now.

18. The Sensational Alex Harvey Band - Action Strasse 5/5
This has always struck me as being written as a production number for the crazed SAHB stage show. Prolly came right after "Next" and just before "Vambo Marble Eye". Also prolly included the topless dancing girls. R. O. C. K.

19. Deadbolt - Hit Gone Wrong 4/5
Reminds me of something that Stan Ridgeway might've done. Ergo, good.

20. The Flamin' Groovies - Teenage Head 5/5
Classic. Love Roy Loney's hammy vocals, but the real hook (beyond the Bo Diddley stomp itself) lies in the way the rest of the band jump in for the "I'm the guy..." part of the song. I saw Loney backed up by the Young Fresh Fellows in the late '80s and this song live was a total monster.

21. The Waves - Strolling on Air 4/5
Would've liked to have heard what the Waves would've done without Katrina (or even what the Waves WITH Katrina would've done without major label demands for a hit) - because there was some great off-kilter pop in these guys.

22. The Only Ones - The Beast 4/5
Thanks for including this. I haven't listened to my Only Ones vinyl for, like, 15 years. Used to love this song, too. Peter Perrett's vocals are an audible sulk. The dude is ALWAYS flat. And yet he seems to find the vocal hooks while consciously avoiding the melody. A pretty good trick. this was the band's "Cowgirl In The Sand" moment - ie: sprawling, epic geetar nonsense - although, even still, I can't see the Obnish digging on this at all.

23. The Higsons - Attack of the Cannibal Zombie Businessmen 2/5
This has gotta be from '82 or '83? I remember that moment when it seemed like every band just discovered funk. Some of it worked, some of it didn't. Personally, I think it's unfortunate that that particular trend coincided with the early infatuation with synths. This is a case in point. Anybody remember Pigbag?

24. Champion Jack Dupree - Overhead Blues 4/5
A blues shuffle is an unexpected choice to close this mix. But it's a good 'un. And it is tax time, after all.


Great mix, Billz! It's gonna get the usual high rotation in the Chez Rad sound system. Thanks!


Back to top
 Profile WWW 
 
 Post subject: Re: mix exchange review: billzebub
PostPosted: Sat Mar 25, 2006 8:08 pm 
Offline
Go Platinum

Joined: Mon Oct 25, 2004 10:26 pm
Posts: 6459
Radcliffe Wrote:
1. Love a good intro


Especially when it's from an academy award winner.

Radcliffe Wrote:
6. Afraid of Mice - Fool of Myself 4/5
This takes me back. Not because I've ever heard it before (I haven't), but because it reminds me of an era in which there seemed to be a new song by a new band that sounded like this every week. I'm not complaining. It's got a good melody and you can dance to it, Dick. By the way, anybody remember "Prefab Heart" by the Reels?


For a brief while in '81 they were label-mates of Genesis on Charisma. One official album, produced by Tony Visconti, and a second in the can that only ever saw the light of day as a bootleg. Power pop nugget after nugget, one of the bands I wish I could've seen live.


Radcliffe Wrote:
7. The Fleshtones - In My Mind 5/5
This is a good Fleshtones song - which immediately raises it head and shoulders above most of everything else. I love Zaremba's tattered larynx on this one - must've been a helluva night. I'm too lazy to check, Billz - what album is this from?


It't the closer on "Do You Swing?"


Radcliffe Wrote:
9. Television Personalities - World of Pauline Lewis 2/5
Okay, but strangely timid. Pleasant jangle and a vocalist who sounds like his friends just shoved him onto the karaoke stage - reminds me of all those "excuse me, sir" sorta bands from New Zealand like the Bats and the Clean.


Treacy's timidness serves as his trademark--timidness fueled by Syd level drug abuse and a healthy mixture of depression and paranoia--pretty much picks up the mantle from Nick Drake and Barrett himself--much of their material is woefully under-produced, and not in a charming lo-fi way. Still, there are some dynamite pop gems in very raw form to be found.


Radcliffe Wrote:
12. Cuban Heels - Walk on the Water 4/5
Great band name. Same comments as Afraid Of Mice. Anyone remember "Carioca" by Blue Rondo A La Turk?


This is the half of Johnny And The Self-Abusers that didn't become Simple Minds.

Radcliffe Wrote:
14. Cheap Trick - Baby Talk 2/5
Oh sweet Jayzus. I was looking forward to this one, but it's one swooshy synth away from being "Working For The Weekend". Damn. Which came first? I seriously don't know. I'm hoping Rick Nielsen is due some royalties, though, 'cuz if it's the other way around, then it is we who are all shamed at the very feet of Mike Reno.


I threw this one on because most won't have heard it before. It's from a Sub Pop single they released in the mid-90's. It suffers horribly from Steve Albini's production, but then what doesn't? Still, there's solid rockin' Cheap Trick. The flip side, btw, is a cover of The Move's "Brontosaurus".


Radcliffe Wrote:
15. Special Goodness - Life Goes On 3/5
I suspect I should know this band. Are they a side project? This reminds me of the riff pop of Weezer. Not bad. A little ho hum.


Prescient. This *is* a Weezer side project--Patrick Wilson with Atom Willard (RFTC). The album is basically a dozen variations of this song--nothing special, but tasty in small doses.


Radcliffe Wrote:
17. Audience - The Waverly Stagecoach 5/5
Gotta hear more of this band. There's a Levon Helm quality to the vocals (it's Howard Werth, innit Billz?) and the music actually stands up pretty well to Levon's old day job. BTW - I noticed the original band including Werth is touring right now.


Yes on Werth, and I'm keeping my eye out for 'em if they ever get to Chicago.

Radcliffe Wrote:
22. The Only Ones - The Beast 4/5
Thanks for including this. I haven't listened to my Only Ones vinyl for, like, 15 years. Used to love this song, too. Peter Perrett's vocals are an audible sulk. The dude is ALWAYS flat. And yet he seems to find the vocal hooks while consciously avoiding the melody. A pretty good trick. this was the band's "Cowgirl In The Sand" moment - ie: sprawling, epic geetar nonsense - although, even still, I can't see the Obnish digging on this at al.l


Their loss. This one, btw, is from their Peel Sessions. This song is soooooo much better without the horns, and Perrett's voice has much more dolor and foreboding--the crucial elements of the song. It was a toss-up whether to use this track or "Woke Up Sticky".


Radcliffe Wrote:
23. The Higsons - Attack of the Cannibal Zombie Businessmen 2/5
This has gotta be from '82 or '83? I remember that moment when it seemed like every band just discovered funk. Some of it worked, some of it didn't. Personally, I think it's unfortunate that that particular trend coincided with the early infatuation with synths. This is a case in point. Anybody remember Pigbag?


I *like* the English-white-boy-new wave-funk. This track is admittedly a long one, but I find it doesn't get boring. There's enough guitar to keep it driving along and to keep the rest of it in check. And I remember Pig Bag, not any of Rough Trade's finer moments. In fact, the only purpose they serve in my library is to keep the Pink Lincolns from beating the crap out of Pezband.


Cheers! Glad you dig it.


Back to top
 Profile  
 
 Post subject: Re: mix exchange review: billzebub
PostPosted: Sat Mar 25, 2006 8:56 pm 
Offline
frostingspoon
User avatar

Joined: Mon Oct 25, 2004 12:31 pm
Posts: 12368
Location: last place I looked
Billzebub Wrote:
Radcliffe Wrote:
7. The Fleshtones - In My Mind 5/5
This is a good Fleshtones song - which immediately raises it head and shoulders above most of everything else. I love Zaremba's tattered larynx on this one - must've been a helluva night. I'm too lazy to check, Billz - what album is this from?


It's the closer on "Do You Swing?"

Wow - that's right. I don't remember this song from that album at all. That happens a lot to me with the Fleshtones. The other day I had a bunch of stuff on random play and "We'll Never Forget" from Laboratory of Sound came on and it was like I'd never heard it before in my life. On the albums I guess the songs tend to blend into the uniform Fleshtones quality, and once isolated the true awesomeness and awesomeosity is exposed.

Billzebub Wrote:
Radcliffe Wrote:
12. Cuban Heels - Walk on the Water 4/5
Great band name. Same comments as Afraid Of Mice. Anyone remember "Carioca" by Blue Rondo A La Turk?


This is the half of Johnny And The Self-Abusers that didn't become Simple Minds.

Ah yes! I failed this question on one of your pop quizzes.


Back to top
 Profile WWW 
 
 Post subject:
PostPosted: Thu Apr 06, 2006 8:11 pm 
Offline
Gayford R. Tincture

Joined: Mon Oct 25, 2004 12:22 pm
Posts: 13644
Location: The Weapon Store
Billzebub

1. Intro - N/A
2. Brindley Brothers - Supernova. Not a very distinctive sound, but a pretty good song. Nothing specific grabs me, but it's enjoyable. 3/5
3. Red Planet - No Force. This pop punk, right? Or is it power pop? I'm bad with genres. This particular one isn't something I'm drawn to. 2/5
4. The Reputation - Face It. One reason I know I could never be a music critic is that I'm terrible at coming up with anything to say about something that completely repels me with its style and presentation. 1/5
5. Evan John & The H Bombs - Saving Grace. Much better. It's like Iggy Pop fronting mid-60s Kinks (aside from the Aerosmith guitar solo). I like. 4/5
6. Afraid of Mice - Fool of Myself. I like this one, too. So much great stuff from this period that I've never heard or even heard of. 4/5
7. The Fleshtones - In My Mind. So I finally get to hear this band now. Well, this song didn't make a big impression, but I'd be interested in hearing some more. 3/5
8. Wire - Dot Dash. Such an excellent song. Did you rip some of these from vinyl, btw? 5/5
9. Television Personalities - World of Pauline Lewis. I've wanted to hear these guys, too. This sounds pretty promising. I'm intrigued. 4/5
10. The Monochrome Set - RSVP. Hey, this sounds a little like The Fall c. This Nation's Saving Grace, but I guess this came first. I like the sort of breakdown at the end. 4/5
11. The Shocking Blue - Venus. Awesome! I'd never heard the original of this before, and it never occured to me that this would actually be a cool song with the right kind of energy behind it. 4/5
12. Cuban Heels - Walk on the Water. This one reminds me of an Orange Juice song (intrumentally). I wrote that before I found out these guy were, in fact, also from Glasgow. Good stuff. 4/5
13. Chameleons UK - Nostalgia. You had quite a strong streak going there, but I guess it ends here. Not bad, but more reminiscent of a lot of styles of '80s rock that I've never really liked. 3/5
14. Cheap Trick - Baby Talk. I've heard precious little of Cheap Trick, and I always suspected I might be missing out. Pretty cool. 4/5
15. The Special Goodness - Life Goes On. Getting into more riff-heavy stuff here. This is pretty big comedown after that Cheap Trick track unfortunately. To me this sounds too much like generic X-station modern alt-rock. 2/5
16. The Shazam - Super Tuesday. This sounds like a less annoying version of Ike Reilly. It's OK. 3/5
17. Audience - Waverly Stagecoach. This is a pretty good one. Nice swagger and attitude. A little bit Stonesy. 3/5
18. The Sensational Alex Harvey Band - Action Strasse. I like this guy's voice. The song itself is alright. 3/5
19. Deadbolt - Hit Gone Wrong. Ah, this is OK. The story could have been better or something. I guess it's just too cheesy. 2/5
20. The Flamin' Groovies - Teenage Head. Finally get to hear these guys now. I like this. I don't know if I'd want to hear an album full of this stuff, but this song rocks. 4/5
21. The Waves - Strolling on Air. Pretty neat track. Very catchy. Doesn't really stand out in the mix, but I like it more the more I listen to it. 3/5
22. The Only Ones - The Beast. Enjoyable. I found my head nodding and foot tapping as I was listening to this. The guitar solo/intrumental breakdown at the end kinda kills that vibe, though, and as "freakouts" go, it's pretty dull. 3/5
23. The Higsons - Attack of the Cannibal Zombie Businessman. Very Talking Heads, but in a pretty superficial way. I don't really know what I mean by that, but I just don't really dig this. It's also way too long. 2/5
24. Champion Jack Dupree - Overhead Blues. Haha, this is awesome. I've never cared for a lot of electric blues, but the lyrics really carry this. 4/5

Overall:
Flow - 4/5. Got off to kind of a rough start, but after that there's a great stretch of really good songs, all of which go together very well. I feel like you could have an awesome mix (not that this one isnt great) of postpunk bands nobody remembers.
Surprises - 5/5. Great. A lot of stuff for me to look into. This mix rivals billy g's in that respect.
Song Quality - 3.25/5

Overall - 4/5

Great mix! Thanks!


Back to top
 Profile  
 
 Post subject:
PostPosted: Tue Apr 11, 2006 6:04 pm 
Offline
Go Platinum
User avatar

Joined: Tue Oct 26, 2004 1:20 pm
Posts: 7730
Location: Portland, OR
1. Intro – is that Morgan Freeman???
2. Brindley Brothers – Supernova – oh man, I can already tell it’s gonna be a good one. It’s got a bit of a twang, but rockin’. 4/5
3. Red Planet – No Force – I think I’ve reviewed a Billz cd in the past, where I talked about dancing in my living room to particular songs. This would be a good one for that. 5/5
4. The Reputation – Face It – This isn’t bad, but the woman’s voice reminds me of the sound that was popular in the mid to late 80s. Not necessarily a bad thing. 3/5
5. Evan John & the H Bombs – Saving Grace – I don’t know why, but the guy’s voice reminds me of Iggy Pop. I also like the jangly guitar sound… I’m a sucker for that. 4/5
6. Afraid of Mice – Fool of Myself – I’m not feeling this one. 2/5
7. The Fleshtones – In my Mind – Ahh, the Fleshtones. I haven’t listened to these guys in forever and a day. Fun stuff. 3/5
8. Wire – Dot Dash – LOVE IT!!!! Even though it’s old, it still sounds fresh to me. 5/5
9. Television Personalities – World of Pauline Lewis – Now I feel like I’m in Byrds country. I’ve never heard of these guys before, but this is toe-tapping goodness. 3/5
10. The Monochrome Set – RSVP – Took a little too long to get moving. Eh, it’s okay. 2/5
11. The Shocking Blue – Venus – I love this song too, so it’s not hard for me to give it a 5/5. Have you ever heard the Southern Culture on the Skids version?
12. Cuban Heels – Walk on Water – oh yeah, this is booty shakin’ music. 4/5
13. Chameleons UK – Nostalgia – I didn’t listen to these guys nearly as much as I probably should have, and as a result, am always surprised by how good they are. Yes, it sounds a tad dated, but I’m “dated” too, so there ya go! ;) 4/5
14. Cheap Trick – Baby Talk – This doesn’t sound like “typical” Cheap Trick. It’s alright, I guess. 3/5
15. The Special Goodness – Life Goes On – ok, immediately I had an image of “special” Corky from that show that used to be on tv… but I digress. This is good, and I like the rhythm and motion of it, but it sounds like it’s been done many times before. 3/5
16. The Shazam – Super Tuesday – this seems like a quiet transition from the last song, kinda like when you’ve left the concert, but you still hear it ringing in your ears. It’s not too remarkable, actually. 3/5
17. Audience – The Waverly Stagecoach – the first time I listened, I thought the voice sounded eerily similar to Mick Jagger, or maybe what Mick wishes he sounded like. This is a nice, rolling little number. 3/5
18. The Sensational Alex Harvey Band – Action Strasse – I hadn’t heard of these guys until Radcliffe put them on a cd for me. I’m not really feeling this one though. God, the guy’s voice reminds me of someone else though, and the name escapes me… 2/5
19. Deadbolt – Hit Gone Wrong – This feels like it should have been on the “Wild at Heart” soundtrack, or at the very least, some David Lynch project. “Do you see, my hand is gone???” “Yeah, we killed him right there.” 4/5
20. The Flamin’ Groovies – Teenage Head – don’t know much about these guys or their music, aside from the name. This one’s okay, but not really my thang. 3/5
21. The Waves – Strolling on Air – I’m not really feeling strongly about this one either way. It’s just kinda there. 2/5
22. The Only Ones – The Beast – Not terrible, but not my favorite on this mix so far. The lyrics are goofy, but funny. 2/5
23. The Higsons – Attack of the Cannibal Zombie Businessmen – wait, is this the soundtrack of our lives??? ;) I totally dig this, esp. the bassline. I can hear a Talking Heads vibe. 5/5
24. Champion Jack Dupree – Overhead Blues – oooh, nice one to end the cd with. Very funny. 4/5

Overall: 3.5/5
This is only the second mix of Billz that I’ve received thus far, and I am yet to be disappointed. I think you’ve got a great grasp of songs that work and flow well together, and you manage to educate me on bands I’ve never heard before. I think this is why whenever I have a question about some obscure 80s band, I ask Billz, because he usually knows the answer! :)


Back to top
 Profile  
 
 Post subject:
PostPosted: Thu Apr 27, 2006 12:41 pm 
Offline
Hair Trigger of Doom

Joined: Mon Oct 25, 2004 2:05 pm
Posts: 21295
Location: Subpoenaed in Texas
1. "Intro"
Morgan Freeman + Electric Company = Super Cool, dig it.

2. "Supernova" - Brindley Brothers
This is Old '97s-ish, but slicker, yet not quite as radio polished as solo Rhett Miller. I like it, but would probably love it if they really turned it loose and let 'er rip. I think these guys would really benefit by ratcheting things up a notch.

3. "No Force" - Red Planet
Sounds like pre-suck Weezer, which is pretty good, when you think about it. The synths are kind of cheesy, but the tune's catchy enough to overcome that minor weakness.

4. "Face It" - The Reputation
Hate to keep bringing up direct band comparisons for each track, but this definitely reminds me of Sally Crewe and The Sudden Moves. I quite like it. Best song on the mix so far.

5. "Saving Grace" - Evan John & The H Bombs
I've heard of these guys quite a bit over the years, but this is the first time I've ever actually heard them. Keeping with the theme of "this band reminds me of" reviews, these guys bear more than a passing resemblance in sound to Spanic Boys, who I love. Another solid track. This mix is really starting to build up a head of steam.

6. "Fool of Myself" - Afraid of Mice
Based on the crackling, I'm guessing this is a transfer from vinyl, which is cool. I kind of miss hearing that crackling sound from time to time. Slick horns. I like the vocals, too. Catchy song, but that may be the stupidest band name this side of Arctic Monkeys.

7. "In My Mind" - The Fleshtones
The singer sounds like a Tom Waits without the cigarettes, which is a definite improvement (sorry, CP). I like just about everything about this track, including the guitar, harmonica, and background singers. Good stuff!

8. "Dot Dash" - Wire
More vinyl, eh? Based on the title, I'm guessing this has something to do with morse code. I think I really screwed up by never hearing any Wire until after having been exposed to all of the current wave of Wire imitators. It's not that I think the newer bands are better, but one does have a natural tendency to prefer what they heard first. It's stupid, I know, and I guess the only hope for me to be cured would be to stop listening to all of the nouveau Wire imitators and revisit Wire again in a couple of years.

9. "World of Pauline Lewis" - Television Personalities
This has a real British Invasion sound to it, though much less overbearingly eppy than much of what emerged from that era. I really like it. It's simple, but definitely not boring.

10. "RSVP" - The Monochrome Set
This one has a real ominous and dangerous opening. Then, he starts singing in French, the world's least threatening language. The music gets a bit repetitive at times. This one just doesn't do it for me.

11. "Venus" - The Shocking Blue
c'mon, Billz, you're better than this.

12. "Walk on the Water" - Cuban Heels
The vinyl keeps on spinnin'. Though this sounds pretty dated to the '80s, it's still pretty good. Borders a little to close to ska territory on occasion, but manages to keep from careening off the tracks.

13. "Nostalgia" - Chameleons UK
This is decent, but generally unremarkable. Sounds just like tons of other stuff from this era. It's OK for what it is, but I don't get a hankering for this stuff too often anymore.

14. "Baby Talk" - Cheap Trick
One of the all-time greatest bands, without a doubt. This is one of the crunchier riffs not found on their s/t '77 debut. Definitely an upper-tier track from Bunezuela and the boys.

15. "Life Goes On" - The Special Goodness
This damn near qualifies as grunge, but I won't hold that against it. It's actually pretty damn good. The chorus is particularly qual.

16. "Super Tuesday" - The Shazam
I am a huge fan of The Shazam. Manages to metaphorically use the political process in a manner much more clever than hackneyed. The tune itself is fantastic. I wish these guys would be a little more prolific, though. They make us wait too long between releases.

17. "The Waverly Stagecoach" - Audience
This here's a good ol' electrimafied frontier ballad, unlike that crap Bon Jovi tried to pull off way back when. The vocalist's unique blend of Van Morrison and Mick Jagger is particularly captivating.

18. "Action Strasse" - The Sensational Alex Harvey Band
Everytime I hear these guys, I can't help thinking how much the singer sounds like Bon Scott at his "Big Balls"iest. The song itself is a tad bizarre, but I'm pretty sure that's the way these guys roll. It's definitely interesting.

19. "Hit Gone Wrong" - Deadbolt
Oooh...this is menacing, with spoken word vocals, to boot. I love stuff like this, when it's done well, which this certainly is. OPEN JAIL.

20. "Teenage Head" - The Flamin' Groovies
Man, does this ever sound like vintage Alice Cooper! I thought these guys were supposed to be power pop, or am I mistaken about that? I dig it, though have a hard time picturing the singer without a python wrapped around his neck.

21. "Strolling On Air" - The Waves
Now, if Katrina and The Waves were "Walking On Sunshine," then The Waves were "Strolling on Air" without Katrina, does that mean they were relieved to be without their dentally-challenged songstress? Or is my chronology all out of whack? Or do The Waves have absolutely nothing to do with Katrina and The Waves? Anyway, this song is pretty meh, and the record from which this was taken sounds like it could probably use a more thorough cleaning. (You know I'm just bustin' your chops, Billz.)

22. "The Beast" - The Only Ones
Any song that opens with cowbell has to be good. This track kind of slithers about, which is pretty cool. I think LooGAR and Bloor would probably also really dig this one.

23. "Attack of the Cannibal Zombie Businessmen" - The Higsons
I wonder why no John Hillerman fans have never paid tribute to Robin Master's right-hand man by forming a band called The Higginses? I'd be much more inclined to buy their album than one by The TCs. Oh, the song...right. This has a very Jerry Harrison-influenced sound. That's definitely a positive.

24. "Overhead Blues" - Champion Jack Dupree
Let's close things out with an old-school blues shuffle, shall we? I don't listen to blues nearly as much as I should. Nice way to wrap things up here, even if it's not in the same vein as the rest of the mix.

All in all, there's a lot to like about this mix. It focuses on older stuff, which is good for me, because I tend to be too intensely focused on new releases these days. The tracks were hit and miss in spots, but the good stuff was really good. When it's all said and done, I'd have to give this mix a solid B+. This is definitely an intriguing detour from what most mixes these days are like...espcially MINE.

_________________
bendandscoop.com


Back to top
 Profile WWW 
 
 Post subject:
PostPosted: Thu Apr 27, 2006 2:26 pm 
Offline
Go Platinum

Joined: Mon Oct 25, 2004 10:26 pm
Posts: 6459
FT Wrote:
21. "Strolling On Air" - The Waves
Now, if Katrina and The Waves were "Walking On Sunshine," then The Waves were "Strolling on Air" without Katrina, does that mean they were relieved to be without their dentally-challenged songstress? Or is my chronology all out of whack? Or do The Waves have absolutely nothing to do with Katrina and The Waves? Anyway, this song is pretty meh, and the record from which this was taken sounds like it could probably use a more thorough cleaning. (You know I'm just bustin' your chops, Billz.)


This predates the "Katrina" moniker. It's their debut ep that also includes "Going Down To Liverpool" that the Bangles covered. Kimberley Rew is much more prominent throughout the entire record than on any of their later stuff. And, yeah, my copy is pretty beat up, alas.


Back to top
 Profile  
 
 Post subject:
PostPosted: Thu Apr 27, 2006 2:48 pm 
Offline
Go Platinum
User avatar

Joined: Tue Oct 26, 2004 6:11 pm
Posts: 8881
Location: *3
Billzebub of that ilk Wrote:
FT Wrote:
21. "Strolling On Air" - The Waves
Now, if Katrina and The Waves were "Walking On Sunshine," then The Waves were "Strolling on Air" without Katrina, does that mean they were relieved to be without their dentally-challenged songstress? Or is my chronology all out of whack? Or do The Waves have absolutely nothing to do with Katrina and The Waves? Anyway, this song is pretty meh, and the record from which this was taken sounds like it could probably use a more thorough cleaning. (You know I'm just bustin' your chops, Billz.)


This predates the "Katrina" moniker. It's their debut ep that also includes "Going Down To Liverpool" that the Bangles covered. Kimberley Rew is much more prominent throughout the entire record than on any of their later stuff. And, yeah, my copy is pretty beat up, alas.


so since air for the most part doesn't move that fast, and sunlight moves at the speed of light, adding katrina was an open-air-meandering upgrade.

_________________
@--


Back to top
 Profile WWW 
 
Display posts from previous:  Sort by  
Post new topic Reply to topic  [ 9 posts ] 

Board index : Music Talk : The Mix


Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 5 guests


You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum

Search for:
Jump to:  
Style by Midnight Phoenix & N.Design Studio
Powered by phpBB © 2000, 2002, 2005, 2007 phpBB Group.