Kings Of Leon – Charmer

Title: Charmer

Artist: Kings Of Leon

Album: Because Of The Times

Year Released: 2007

What It Is: Right now, my favorite song of the 00’s from what could be my favorite band from the 00’s. It’s real rock-and-roll in an autotune and lip-synch world. And I think the Followill’s can kick any candy-ass emo punk’s behind by just screaming at them like Caleb does in this song.

Riffage / Hookage: Tremendous bass part throughout and some rockin’ guitar work. There’s nuttin’ fancy ’bout this stuff, which makes it great.

Cowbell?: I don’t hear any, but the drumming is nice.

Words Of Wisdom: “SHE’S ALWAYS LOOKIN’ AT ME!”

Mixology Report: Mix it especially for those who need to have a big can of rock-n-roll whup ass opened on them!

Top Five Genius Results: Arctic Monkeys – Teddy Picker
Bloc Party – The Prayer
Vampire Weekend – Oxford Comma
Arcade Fire – Keep The Car Running
The Strokes – Juicebox

I guess Genius thinks that it has to be from the late 00’s to match this. Hmpf.

For The Good Of The Order: This was a band that I had to give a second and third chance to. Because of hype, I bought their first album, but it didn’t click. I missed their second one, and then I heard the single “On Call” for this one. It was that song and my friend Lauren who kept quoting this song to me that I then really went back and listened to their catalog. And then, of course, this song took the cake. YEEEEEOW!

Got some live vids. Enjoy!

And a studio treatment!

 

Men Without Hats – The Safety Dance

Maybe I booked too many travel days. Ah, well, all in pursuit of Platinum status.

Title: The Safety Dance

Artist: Men Without Hats

Album: Rhythm Of Youth

Year Released: 1982

What It Is: An all-time MTV classic. You’ve heard this. You’ve danced this. You love it, right?

Riffage / Hookage: The synth riff is an earwig. I hear echoes of it in other songs. Maybe it’s just me, but it’s pretty much a legendary synth riff.

Cowbell?: No, but there’s handclapping!

Words Of Wisdom: “Say, we can act if want to
If we don’t nobody will
And you can act real rude and totally removed
And I can act like an imbecile”

This song is some allegory of some sort, you know. I really haven’t spent too much time trying to figure out they lyrics.

Mixology Report: Perfect for all kinds of mixes, but make sure they’re lighthearted.

Top Five Genius Results: A Flock Of Seagulls – I Ran
Devo – Whip It
Modern English – I Melt With You
Gary Numan – Cars
Men At Work – Who Can It Be Now?

Wow, it’s an MTV highlight show!

For The Good Of The Order: We danced to this at our wedding. Yes, it’s true. I think our parents were amused, or non-plussed, or something!

The vid, of course!

And now, the literal version!

 

Whitesnake – Still Of The Night

Sorry, I don’t mean to be just a WEEKLY poster. But you know, life and how to live it gets in the way.

Title: Still Of The Night

Artist: Whitesnake

Album: Whitesnake

Year Released: 1987

What It Is: Phone message from me to my man Moose: “Dude, on the plane to Atlanta, I just thought of a category. “Songs that no matter if you’ve arrived at your destination and are running late, you have to finish listening to it before you turn off your car stereo.” First song I though of was “Still Of The Night.”
Text message from Moose: “Really? After all these years. Yeah, I’ll buy that.”

That’s what this is. You pull your car into the garage and this is blasting out of your speakers, you WILL risk carbon monoxide poisoning to bang your head and do air guitar.

Riffage / Hookage: This is one of the classic riffs in rock history. Not just 80’s hair band rock history. ROCK history!

Cowbell?: Don’t know. Don’t care.

Words Of Wisdom: Oh, jeez. It’s David-Freakin-Coverdale. He’s no Dylan or Costello. Just jam to it. He could be singing his Chinese take-out order to these riffs and I’d love it. “I want the General’s Chicken and some pork fried rice and an order of beef lo mein…”

Mixology Report: Why wouldn’t you mix it?

Top Five Genius Results: Cinderella – Shake Me
Ratt – Round And Round
Winger – Seventeen
Motley Crue – Looks That Kill
Scorpions – Big City Nights

For The Good Of The Order: This album was recorded with some vets of the industry backing Coverdale – Aynsley Dunbar, Don Airey, Neil Murray, and John Sykes. However, the videos show off the ‘new’ Whitesnake – featuring Adrian Vandenberg, Viv Campbell, Rudy Szaro and Tommy Aldridge. Why? Coverdale basically fired the band. The band shown in the videos did none of the recording, save two guitar solos. This followed a mass sacking after the “Slide It In” record, and then even before the next record was out Campbell was out and Steve Vai was in. What is it about Deep Purple where any band formed by ex-Deep Purple members goes through about 290 lineups in 5 years?

Oh, yeah, there’s a video. You know, I don’t think this was played much. But it does have Mz. Tawny Kitaen (of course) and incredibly cheesy front man moves. (Here, watch me as I remove my jacket…)

 

The Embarrassment – Celebrity Art Party

Back from a turkey day repast to end all repasts!

Title: Celebrity Art Party

Artist: The Embarrassment

Album: The Embarrassment EP

Year Released: 1981

What It Is: Quirky, fun new-wave music from America’s heartland. No, not Chicago or Minneapolis or other known musical venues. But…WICHITA, KANSAS. The same town where I was just at for Thanksgiving.

Riffage / Hookage: This has great guitar lines and a neat bass line!

Cowbell?: No, but decent drumming.

Words Of Wisdom: Not found online, but they use narcissistic correctly and mention Art Carney a few times!

Mixology Report: Yeah, throw it on there. It won’t hurt anything.

Top Five Genius Results: The Replacements – Color Me Impressed
Talking Heads – Warning Sign
Mission Of Burma – Academy Fight Song
Pere Ubu – Non-Alignment Pact
New Order – Your Silent Face

For The Good Of The Order: It’s really odd to think that this band existed in Wichita, even more so that this band existed in Wichita and actually made records and played out. They left a small legacy behind, but one that lives on to this day since their output is still in print and available. Most all of their songs are quirky and witty, yet they’re not just novelty tunes. There’s some well thought out music amongst the wry, dry wit.

Here’s the actual video for this song, shot for about $2.19 it looks…

And here’s a live vid of them. I’ll need to ask my wife if she ever went to the Flatiron. And they’re nerdier than I ever was!

 

Nick Lowe – They Called It Rock

Title: They Called It Rock

Artist: Nick Lowe

Album: Pure Pop For Now People

Year Released: 1978

What It Is: Smart funny rock-and-roll by Nick Lowe and Rockpile. It’s a remake of a song called “Shake & Pop” that was on his “Jesus Of Cool” LP in England, but this version is much cleaner, faster, and takes the message home effectively.

Riffage / Hookage: Nick Lowe always has a way with hooks, and Billy Bremner’s opening riff is pretty solid in a twangy 50’s way.

Cowbell?: Nope.

Words Of Wisdom: “They cut another record, it never was a hit
Someone in the newspaper said it was shit
The drummer is a bookie, the singer is a whore
The bass player’s selling clothes he never would have wore”

Mixology Report: Lowe’s always good for a mix or three!

Top Five Genius Results: Rockpile – Play That Fast Thing (One More Time)
Graham Parker – Mercury Poisoning
Elvis Costello – You’ll Never Be A Man
Dave Edmunds – Girls Talk
Joe Jackson – Kinda Kute

I’m surprised Billy Bremner’s solo single isn’t in the top 5.

For The Good Of The Order: This was recorded during quite a whirlwind era for Lowe. Rockpile recorded three records (one by Dave Edmunds, one by Lowe and one as Rockpile) plus sessions that became another Edmunds LP. This song was a non-album single. Lowe also was busy as a songwriter and producer. After splitting from Edmonds, and after his marriage to Carlene Carter (making him related to Johnny Cash in a cousin in-law way), he slowed down and stalled creatively. He was quite clever, but soon his cleverness became trite. He still was a go-to producer, though, and brought together Ry Cooder and Jim Keltner to work on a John Hiatt record. That record (“Bring The Family”) is the reason we know Hiatt today. That’s just a tidbit of what I could say. I didn’t even mention Brinsley Schwarz…yet…

And here’s a live tidbit!

 

Jawbox – Savory

Title: Savory

Artist: Jawbox

Album: For Your Own Special Sweetheart

Year Released: 1994

What It Is: Loud. Intense. Loud. Riveting. Loud. Thought-provoking. Did I mention loud?

Riffage / Hookage: J. Robbins and Bill Barbot’s guitars work together as a brutal yet unified force. One plays a heavy heavy riff and the other starts with some psychedelic-ish discordant patters. Throw in Kim Coletta’s powerful bass lines and you got yourself some world class volume there. But even though it’s quite a racket, you can still hum the chorus.

Cowbell?: Zach Barochas starts by pounding his drum set like he was trying to put out a fire, but later shows some deft jazzy touches. Alas, though, no cowbell (though he likes his cymbals, which is a good thing.)

Words Of Wisdom: “Hey angel, fly over and bless me
See you feign surprise
And I’m all eyes
And you’re all you need to be”

Mixology Report: Me, I’d mix this. Well, you knew that already. However, the discordant sounds means you may need to plan your transitions well.

Top Five Genius Results:Burning Airlines – Outside The Aviary (fitting, since that was the band J. Robbins and Bill Barbot formed after Jawbox)
Fugazi – KYEO
Drive Like Jehu – Do You Computer
Dismemberment Plan – A Life Of Possibilities
Minutemen – History Lesson, Part II

For The Good Of The Order: Well, I’ll have you know I’ve met half of the band at my best bud’s house in Maryland. And just today, I talked to one of them at a conference. We spent 20 minutes talking about Krautrock, the nature of singles vs. albums in today’s day and age, the Minutemen, neo-psychedelia, and Budgie. No, not birds. The band Budgie. Oh, and database and web stuff, the reason we’re AT the conference.

Here’s the video for this tune. This album is being re-mastered and re-released on Dischord (they originally released this on Atlantic and were branded ‘traitors’ and ‘Judas’ by some uptight indie rock zealtos). They’re also going to be on Jimmy Kimmel’s show in December. TiVo it and wake up yer ma with it!

 

Frozen Ghost – Should I See

Title: Should I See

Artist: Frozen Ghost

Album: Frozen Ghost

Year Released: 1987

What It Is: Catchy, 80’s synth pop with a message (about it’s only distinguishing feature from the other ready-made 80’s synth pop bands). The message? Don’t stifle my views man you moral majority influenced hypocrite. Of course, since they’re Canadian, they do it politely.

Riffage / Hookage: Chorus has a catchy hook and the synth and bass lines are also ear candy. The sax solo clinches it as Canadian though. A nice, polite sax instead of a shredding solo is the Canadian way. The ending did have the guitar and interesting time changes (for effect). But that guitar was too little, too late, I think.

Cowbell?: Only if the cowbell came from a computer.

Words Of Wisdom: “Cover my eyes and ears
‘Til it all dissapears
How can you judge for me
What I should hear and see

You take away freedom of choice
Take away the right to voice
My beliefs and and all my views
You take away my right to choose”

Well, like, that’s your opinion, man.

Kidding aside, this song has a pretty strong message. It’s like this band anticipated Fox News.

Mixology Report: Fits in pleasantly, especially with an 80’s mix.

Top Five Genius Results: No genius, denied. That’s not surprising, since I looked in vain for a digital copy and had to break down and get a hits collection via Amazon. Yes, I actually have a CD in my house now (well, until I hit the used CD store). The horror!

For The Good Of The Order: This band was formed from the ashes of Sheriff, which reached #1 with “When I’m With You” in 1989, six years after the band recorded the song. Gotta love that timing. (I bet it’s one of the few pre-1992 #1 songs that I don’t recognize at all – and if I heard the tune it would have been completely by accident.) At any rate, Andre Lanni and Wolf Hassel were Frozen Ghost, though if I remember the credits correctly Lanni played 12 instruments, produced the record, programmed the synths and the drums and sang. Hassel played bass. Ol’ Wolf probably laid down his parts and then took off for Val D’Or or someplace and asked Andre to call him when the record was done.

Hey, an 80’s video! Complete with hair, a drummer with a headband, and blank expressions by the hired touring musicians. And hair. LOOK AT THE HAIR! Yeesh. They should have been “Band Of Mullets” Or “Mullets Of Kintyre”. And they weren’t even hockey players. (But the were Canadian).

 

The Open Mind – Magic Potion

Title: Magic Potion

Artist: The Open Mind

Album: Single Only. Released as a bonus track on The Open Mind in 2006.

Year Released: 1969

What It Is: A long forgotten psychedelic acid-rock / proto-metal / prog single. It’s got the psychedelic sound, but with heavier guitars and fantastic double-bass drum work. It’s a fantastic single, but it was both dated AND too forward-looking, which is really hard to do.

Riffage / Hookage: Two fuzz guitars playing excellent psychedelic riffs with metal tinges. The solo has a definite neo-metal edge with fuzz and wah. There is a hook, too. One wonders why it wasn’t a hit. One wonders…

Cowbell?: No, but the double bass drum is not only a prog-rock precursor, but I’m sure Lars Ulrich heard this at some point.

Words Of Wisdom: “Take a drink from a magic potion
Tell me do you still feel fine?
Once sip and you will see
Things you never saw before”

DUUUUDE! That’s like SOOOO heavy. I’m seeing a talking orangutan. Oh, I’m watching Planet Of The Apes.

Mixology Report: Yeah, man. Blow the minds of the squares.

Top Five Genius Results: The Craig – I Must Be Mad
Q’65 – Cry In The Night
Fire – Father’s Name Was Dad
The Factory – Path For The Forest
The Bluestars – Social End Product

For The Good Of The Order: I guess the album by the Open Mind can command four bills now. But thanks to Rhino and the Nuggets collection, we can all buy this song (not on the original album, since that was the British thing to do) and freak out just the same. I can’t describe how incredible the sound of this song is, especially given the time and place. And I have never done psychedelics of any sort at all. Heavy.

Here’s a fan’s video.

 

Helmet – Milquetoast

Title: Milquetoast

Artist: Helmet

Album: Betty

Year Released: 1994

What It Is: A strong hard-hitting song from one of my favorite 90’s bands. For some reason they signed a big major label deal (post-Nirvana giddyness by record companies) when they were rather stark and uncompromising. This is toned down a bit from their first major release, and a LOT toned down from “Strap It On” and “Born Annoying”. But still, music of quality and distinction. And….YAAAAAAH!

Riffage / Hookage: Helmet = riffs. Riffs, harmonics and Coltrane-like guitar excursions. That’s what you get with them. Of course, it helps that Page Hamilton, the leader of Helmet, was a serious jazz student who found he loved distortion and worked with Glen Branca.

Cowbell?: John Stanier usually sticks to his toms and pounds them with alacrity.

Words Of Wisdom: “Tell me if you think it’s all right
I’ll give in to what you know
I don’t see the habits that become me
I’ve saved up my useless thoughts

Well means, it works I’m on your side
I said that? Well so, I lied
Remember I tried not to be wary
This failed me once too much

Unrecognized
Well preserved
Don’t forget what you heard”

Just like the music, the lyrics are sharp, concise and well thought out.

Mixology Report: Everyone needs a bit of AAAARGH! in their life. Why not have it something meaningful, thoughtful and atypical.

Top Five Genius Results: Soundgarden – Room A Thousand Years Wide
Rollins Band – Low Self Opinion
Fugazi – Repeater
Alice In Chains – We Die Young
Mother Love Bone – Stardog Champion

For The Good Of The Order: Hamilton’s had some…issues…keeping a band together. They broke up in 1998 after some band members came and went, and reformed in 2004. But the personnel still changes seemingly on a whim. Also, I’m not that happy with the direction. Instead of singing (sort of, but at least not growling), Hamilton now just barks out the lyrics. At least he tried to get some melody in there before.

Here are two clips. For some reason, they both start a few seconds into it (so be patient). Here’s the studio version:

Here’s a shot of them live. I did seem them live, in 1992, and yes, it was kinda like this.

 

Sepultura – Territory

In a fiesty mood…

Title: Territory

Artist: Sepultura

Album: Chaos, A.D.

Year Released: 1993

What It Is: Brazilian thrash-speed metal with a social conscious. Before you run away in fear, consider that this song is complex, the lyrics are thoughtful and the musicianship is top notch. Oh, yeah, and it’s LOUD, too! God love it!

Riffage / Hookage: Monster riffs all the way through. The best part about it is that it’s not insanely fast where the riffage blurs together. You can hear and feel the riffs envelop your body.

Cowbell?: Excellent double bass drummin, though!

Words Of Wisdom: “Years Of Fighting
Teaching My Son
To Believe In That Man
Racist Human Being
Racist Ground Will Live
Shame And Regret
Of The Pride
You’ve Once Possessed”

A lot of their work is in support of the native Brazilians who have been oppressed brutally over the years. Coupled with the fact that the band grew up in third-world type poverty under a military dictatorship, then you kinda get why they’re a bit pissed off.

Mixology Report: Unfortunately, some will hear Max Cavalera’s vocals and tune out. So be careful. But my wife likes it!

Top Five Genius Results: Slayer – War Ensemble
Anthrax – Caught In A Mosh
Prong – Snap Your Fingers, Snap Your Neck
Megadeth – Wake Up Dead
Testament – Into The Pit

For The Good Of The Order: Sepultura was on their way to become the premier heavy metal band of the 90’s, but infighting led to Cavalera leaving the band. The whole was greater than the sum of the parts, and neither Sepultura nor Max’s band Soulfly ever caught the spark again.

Here’s the video. The Mrs. and I saw this one night after getting home from some carrying on in Indy during the days of “Headbangers Ball”, no doubt.

And they can kick ass live, too!