You have to love 5+ hour plane rides... After listening to 1990's Nowhereand 1992's Going Blank Again(both CD Changer albums), Dan suggested I look into the third piece of the Ride trilogy, 1990's Smile. This is actually a compilation of their first two EPs (Ride and Play) and is just as high quality as their previous offerings. There's no slouch in the bunch here, although the latter part of the album holds the two undeniable gems, "Like a Daydream" and "Furthest Sense." It works as an album too: much like Nowehere, Ride sets the mood early and then lets the big guns loose later to finish the album off. "Like a Daydream" is personified by its dreamy guitar sound and cloud-like vocals (and I am not even being sarcastic here, but sincere, so pardon the appropriate puns); "Furthest Sense" can be summed up with the chorus "It's time for a change/I'm not asking, I'm telling you." Indeed.
Ride - "Like a Daydream"
It's another great album by a band on top of its game. I think of these guys as a shoegazer version of the 1970s Buzzcocks or Wire: an initial three albums of brilliance, followed by a serious come-down. But they were awesome when they were on form: a little bit of rock, a little bit of tranquil atmosphere, and a little bit of flowing vibe. CD Placement Rating: Car CD Changer. - Snilch
The Black Keys - Rubber Factory(2004). Thanks to Brian for recommending these guys. They're a two-man group, ala Local H or The White Stripes. Whereas Local H is more grungy and The White Stripes more crunchy alternative guitar/Jack White's vocals, The Black Keys are more deeply rooted in the blues. (Yes, I know The White Stripes visit the blues neighborhood, but The Black Keys live there.) It's pretty clear that the two musicians play multiple parts; what makes it most interesting is that they still retain the charm of a two-person approach. It's really quite ingenious. Apparently they opened for Sleater-Kinney in 2003, but I must have missed that tour. (Aside: has there ever been a band that has remained as below the radar as S-K that broke so many other acts? The White Stripes, TheGossip, and Yeah Yeah Yeah's immediately come to mind.) These guys are fierce and write amazing songs. Great stuff from Akron, OH. Who knew? CD Placement rating: Portable CD Case.
The Cribs - The Cribs (2004). The Cribs scoreboard stands at 1 up, 1 way way up. Their debut is the worst of their efforts thus far, but it's a Bob Mould scale: their "below average" is a B+ in any other book. There are still some gems here (like "The Lights Went Out," "Direction," and "Another Number"). New one is out now (with Johnny Marr on lead guitar) and I can't wait.
CD Placement rating: Portable CD Case.
Merle Haggard - Country Roads (2007). Thanks to Tim for recommending this. Unfortunately, it appears I really, really don't like country (except for Johnny Cash), even if it's done very well (like it is here). I'll take a couple of tracks and move on.
CD Placement rating: Sell-back Pile 1.
Mayfield - Mayfield (1998).Curt Smith'sHalfway, Pleased was so good, I felt compelled to go back into his back catalog. This album is the product of a brief '90's project, and it does not disappoint. I'm not sure how I (and apparently, everyone else) missed the boat on a truly gifted artist, but I can't help to be continue to be impressed with his work. Unfortunately, (besides Halfway) his two other earlier solo albums and this one are almost impossible to track down. An aside: Curt, please come to Boston.
CD Placement rating: Portable CD Case.
The Proletariat - Voodoo Economics and Other American Tragedies (1998). Thanks to Paul for recommending these long-gone (and mostly forgotten) Boston legends. They sound a bit like an Americanized, slightly more mainstream poppy, slightly more politically pointed version of Gang of Four. At 45 songs, you get pretty much all you'll ever need to hear of these guys; they were definitely ahead of their time and this is a very nice compilation.
CD Placement rating: Portable CD case.
Ride - Going Blank Again (1992).Dan had recommended the band Ride when I reviewed them here. However, I got the actual album he was recommending wrong -- I believe what he was referring to was Going Blank Again. (Well, at least I think it's the right album this time.) This is tremendous shoegazer pop, think a lighter/poppier My Bloody Valentine. The 8+ minute opener ("Leave Them All Behind") does not feel long by any means, which said it all for me right off the bat. Yawning guitars, a strong rhythm section, and lofty vocals on the more shoegazer numbers: all tremendous. Jangly guitars, that same strong rhythm section, echoey but more down-to earth vocals on the more poppy numbers: also tremendous. When they come together (like "Time of Her Time"), it's even better. Eclipsed by MBV at the time, these guys are absolutely fantastic. How did I miss them the first time around?
CD Placement rating: Car CD Changer.
The Waterboys - Fisherman's Blues (1988). Thanks to Scott for this one. The Waterboys are your favorite Irish pub band, just a lot better. A very pleasant, upbeat, melodic Celtic folk-rock disc. At times it's bouncy, others it's tranquil; it's always complexly arranged and very well produced. It's purely speculation on my part, but I could definitely see them being an influence on The Frames.
CD Placement rating: CD Rack.
Thank God for 10-12 hour car rides. Final installment for 2008.
The Cribs - The New Fellas (2005). After declaring these guys the next big thing on my radar, I felt a strong need to go back to check this album out. It's not as good asMen's Needs, Women's Needs, Whatever, but it is a solid, decent effort; there are more dead spots here, but it's still very good. Verdict: Recommended. It's a CD Rack-quality album that gets into the Portable CD Case based on their 2008 effort.
James - Pleased to Meet You (2001). Reviewed here, after their Greatest Hits compilation it seemed like the chapter was closed on these guys. This, their "spectacular" return to form (quoted from allmmusic.com), is not as rock oriented as their previous efforts; lead singer Tim Booth has a great voice, but the previous successes of the band were based on contrasting his voice with the music. Here, they blendhis voice with the music, which is fine, but just not as interesting to me. There's no song that reaches out and grabs you, which is what James is all about in my book; this is thus more consistent in a bad way. It needs more bite and a hit single. Verdict: Slightly recommended. This goes into the CD Rack for now, but I'd be surprised if the album is still there five years from now.
LCD Soundsystem - 45:33 (2006). This was commissioned by Nike to be a long-form song suitable for a 45 minute workout, which intrigued me. Here's what I read at Wikipedia (after I had bought and listened to the album): "The track is, strangely, 45 minutes and 58 seconds long, and was claimed to 'reward and push at good intervals of a run.' However it was later revealed that this was not the case, but that [LCD Soundsystem songwriter and frontman James] Murphy merely wanted the opportunity to create a long piece of music." Thanks for nothing then. In fact, the "track" is boring, monotonous, and plodding. (Hey, isn't that what we're trying to escape from during a workout?) I didn't like LCD Soundsystem before, and this effort and deception does them no favors with me for the future. Verdict: Not recommended. Run away (get it? get it? WOW I am clever). Pile of death.
Naked Raygun - Jettison (1988). Here's what you need to know about Naked Raygun: they know how to write a heavy guitar riff. It's old school, aggressive, viciously effective guitar play. This album includes four bonus tracks, which are well worth it: the cover of Stiff Little Fingers' "Suspect Device" is absolutely great. If it were more consistent, it'd be in the Car CD Changer... but it's not. Still damn fine punk/rock 'n roll. Verdict: Highly recommended. Portable CD Case.
Ride - Nowhere (1990). Ride was a significant shoegazer band in the early 90's, but history swallowed them up (like most of the other bands in the genre) in the mighty wake of shoegazer geniuses My Bloody Valentine. This is a great second place to MBV; time and the rock canon appear to have conspired to allow this one to fall through the cracks. It shouldn't be. It's not as layered and flowing as Loveless, but it's great in its own right. Verdict: Highly recommended. Car CD Changer.
Tears for Fears - Everybody Loves a Happy Ending (2004). This is a reunion I doubt anyone saw coming. Childhood friends Roland Orzabal and Curt Smith hadn't spoken since an acrimonious breakup of their songwriting partnership in 1992; Orzabal even made two more albums as TFF without Smith. In 2000, they were forced to communicate with each other for the first time since the break over some legal matters; they patched things up and decided to give it another go. Now, this is no Songs from the Big Chair (their 5x Platinum breakthrough), but it is a nice, pleasant, poppy, Beatles-esque album. It's listenable throughout, and a more mature sound, but "Quiet Ones"... well, that separates this reunion from others. It's classic TFF, and an absolutely sky-searing pop tune. Phenomenal. That song alone is worth the price of admission -- if they have more like this left in the tank, I hope they come back for at least one more rodeo. Verdict: Highly recommended. "Quiet Ones" takes this album on its shoulders and moves it from the CD Rack into the Portable CD Case.
