World Wide Woozle episode #488

First things first; back to my reviews of the supposedly 100 essential albums.

Album 37/100 - Kamasi Washington - The Epic (2015)

This is the debut record from the American jazz saxophonist and it's a triple album. I spent many listening sessions trying to understand why this album is so highly regarded and I have failed. It sucks. What is supposedly "avant-garde" and/or a "barrage of sound" just turns out to my ears to be cacophony. It's like every band rehearsal you go to where, at the start, everyone is doing their own thing whilst adjusting levels and sounds. The difference here is that Kamasi Washington has recorded and released it. 

Album 38/100 - The Jimi Hendrix Experience - Are You Experienced (1967)

For many guitarists, Jimi Hendrix is the greatest ever. There's no doubting his enduring influence on rock music. And whilst Jimi isn't my favourite axe grinder, he's firmly in my top 10. "Are You Experienced" was his first outing and in just eleven tracks he reinvented guitar playing and popular music. From the angst of "Manic Depression" to the incendiary blues work of "Red House" to the psychedelia of the title track, this is a truly great record. I think that "Are You Experienced" is the best Hendrix album by a country mile.

The Jimi Hendrix Experience - Foxy Lady (live) - https://youtu.be/_PVjcIO4MT4

Next Friday I'll be heading out to see two classic Australian rock bands. To be honest, I'm a little shocked that they're playing here in Canberra but I won't complain. It promises to be a hell of a night with these two. If you're reading this from overseas and you think AC/DC are great rock then you should enjoy either the Jets or the Tatts.

The Screaming Jets - C'mon - https://youtu.be/svuBQwCv4Qw

Rose Tattoo - Rock 'n' Roll Outlaw (live) - https://youtu.be/CK0wGCFiAlI

Last weekend I had the opportunity to sit down with DJ Bing for a listen to the 5.1 surround sound mix of The Beatles "White Album". I'll do a full review later on but just let me say that it was a lot of fun. Overall the surround experience might not have been as impressive as it was with Sgt Pepper's but it's a very different album. The next song was an absolute ripper!

The Beatles - Everybody's Got Something To Hide Except Me And My Monkey - https://youtu.be/4fv_gCn1CUU

Listening to a few more Beatles tracks online I very quickly got an appreciation for how much Japanese fans love the band. Check out these guys...wow!

I watched the latest incarnation of the film, "A Star Is Born" during the week. So many people I know had really liked it that I felt I should give it a whirl. I think my opinion might be unpopular though because I thought it was dreadful. The good bits were that Lady Gaga has a great voice and Andrew Dice Clay (aka Ford Fairlaine the Rock and Roll Detective) starred as her father. The rest was average at best. I'm just a hack guitarist but if Bradley Cooper spent a year learning the guitar for the film you'd think he might look like he was playing it. It just looked forced to me. Frankly I thought the acting was pretty wooden and the way the story was told struggled at the best of times. There is, however, a Jason Isbell penned tune that you hear a lot in the movie and it's a cracker.

Jason Isbell & Amanda Shires - Maybe It's Time - https://youtu.be/mnbrNfg2EY8

Killswitch Engage are a very heavy band and for some reason I've never been able to get into their music. This week their new track popped up in my feed and I almost moved straight onto something else. Wow, am I ever glad that I didn't make that mistake. This is a brutal, intense slab of metal complete with both guttural and beautifully sung vocals. I reckon the drummer must have leg muscles the size of a horse though with all that double kick work. Definitely one for lovers of the heavy stuff.

Killswitch Engage - The Signal Fire - https://youtu.be/2N0ShfOOEq4

In the late 80s I became a Lionel Richie fan after DJ DubyaDee gave me a copy of the "Can't Slow Down" LP. Lionel might seem a little bit easy listening at times but his voice is just so smooth. Anyway, this is a cover of one his biggest hits but I really liked it.

Dave Fenley - Stuck On You - https://youtu.be/iDD2Gpu9BdQ

A couple of my favourite musicians are fairly active on social media. I guess in some ways it brings them closer to their audience. For me, the main benefit is that I get to be pointed to music and artists that I may not have otherwise been aware of. The next singer-songwriter is one that Jason Isbell is always talking about. When I started to listen to his work I found a track about a town destroyed for coal mining. This resonated with me since I spent my high school years living next to Yallourn, a town which suffered a similar fate.

John Prine - Paradise - https://youtu.be/ediaZ5DhYjw

That's it folks. I hope this wasn't too disjointed, but if it was you can blame the fact that I'm trying to finish off an essay for my course!

Rock on,

Rob

"She lives in Mojave in a Winnebago...", San Ber'dino, Frank Zappa, 1975

World Wide Woozle episode #487

Here we are again and still no announcement about an AC/DC tour or album. They've been hitting social media hard of late so one would think that something must be happening sooner or later. Meanwhile, we wait not so patiently.

AC/DC - Shake Your Foundations - https://youtu.be/Bayek5lLZWY

Staying with Australian rock, The Poor Boys. who later became The Poor are an excellent band, very much in the style of AC/DC and they are currently playing live shows around the country. We used to play this song in a band I was once in...it was a lot of fun. What a great riff! Oi!

The Poor - More Wine Waiter Please - https://youtu.be/lt7pfTnaPR4

Rob Hirst, who most of you will know as the drummer in Midnight Oil, has a new record coming out. The first single has been released and is described as a cross between kraut-rock and psychedelia. I have to agree with H's thoughts that the vocal are a bit weak. See what you think...

Rob Hirst and Sean Sennett - Nothing More / Nothing Less - https://youtu.be/P8SxzZlE0A4

The "Abbey Road" album turned 50 this week. There will be a remixed super-duper edition released in a few weeks that is guaranteed to please your ears and lighten your wallet. I listened to, and watched, heaps of versions of Abbey Road songs played live to present one here for you. Paul McCartney has a heap out there but, with the most amazing amount of due respect to him, he struggles to hit a lot of the notes. So, I hope you like this one. I reckon it's a brilliant tribute to a great album.

Steven Tyler (Aerosmith) - Abbey Road medley (live) - https://youtu.be/KNE2bpE-DIE

The Darkness have been around for a while now. More than long enough for personnel ups and downs, rehab, reformation and amongst all that, some great rock and roll. The might not look like they take themselves all that seriously, but among the Queen, Bowie and AC/DC influences is an amazing band. This is their latest...wait for the chorus to hit you...

The Darkness - Rock and Roll You Deserve To Die - https://youtu.be/KNE2bpE-DIE

I shared this one during the week on Facebook. Most of the time I leave the music recommendations here in the blog but this one needed to be played. America; you're broken.

Extreme - Rest In Peace - https://youtu.be/BigqPM4NZus

I have a great big smile on my face this week...Billy Bragg tickets have been secured! Thanks to my brother, we'll both be seeing Billy for two nights in May 2020 in Wellington, New Zealand. Wearing badges will not be enough...

Billy Bragg - Days Like These - https://youtu.be/mAjFO61ndLc

Did you read in the news this week about the guy who dumped his old refrigerator down a hill? The police caught him and made him pull it back up. As Scot pointed out, perhaps the cops were Arlo Guthrie fans. It's a long song folks but take my advice and listen to the whole thing. 

Arlo Guthrie - Alice's Restaurant - https://youtu.be/m57gzA2JCcM

In non-music news, we're selling our house. It's time to downsize, reduce our impact on the planet and further embrace living more with less. If you're interested in a rather fab house then reach out! We're hoping to move to somewhere close by.

Fleetwood Mac - Don't Stop - https://youtu.be/QV9JJmSCiI8

Sting - We Work The Black Seam - https://youtu.be/s4CQJTGw72I

Jason Isbell fans (surely some of you are converts by now) might like to know that there is a new entire concert recording available on YouTube. Some of the audio mix is a little average but all in all it's great. Here's a link to one of my favourite tunes...

Jason Isbell and The 400 Unit - Outfit (live) - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fs2JLLqh91A&t=3064s

The Highwomen is a new country music group. I noticed them due to a bit of activity on social media. I quite like their sound and I get the feeling that it isn't going to be the by-the-number C&W that we're all so sick of.

The Highwomen - The Chain (Fleetwood Mac cover) - https://youtu.be/jVLNB3d-2cA

How do you deal with bad or sad news? Usually I'd ride my bike just a bit further or harder up a few hills. Recently though, as you all know, that's not been an option for me. I can trundle sedately around the lake but nothing too strenuous for a while yet. Retreating into music is my other go to. Whether it's playing my guitars, which I haven't done for a while, or just listening, it's a good way to spend some quality time inside my own head figuring things out. Macca; I'll leave this track here for you.

The Justice Collective - He Ain't Heavy, He's My Brother - https://youtu.be/Ye4cELYLzJM

That's it folks, rock on...

Rob

"...well keep your shiny side up and your dirty side down", Is This America, The Skyhooks, 1976

World Wide Woozle episode #486

I remember the excitement when the 486 computer became available. It was a brave new world of speed and processing power. Hopefully episode #486 here will be inspiring to you in some small way. Loads and loads of tunes this week. As DJ Laff would say, "gutloads".

My recovery from the pinched nerve in my back continues. I spend my spare time rolling on a spiky plastic physio ball, contorting myself in stretches and not sitting down much at all. But it's working. I'm finally back at work and yesterday I had my first ride on my bike since June 12th. Todd and I didn't ride far, or fast, but it was simply fantastic to be out in the sunshine rolling around on two wheels. 

Weddings Parties Anything - Rain In My Heart - https://youtu.be/5jx3c5yk744

You've heard from The Chats here once before; new old school Aussie garage band punk. Hilarious and serious all at once. If "Pub Feed" didn't fill you up then try this out...

The Chats - Identity Theft - https://youtu.be/TOuGH9Gpeos

It's no secret that I'm not a Bob Dylan fan and not for lack of effort on my behalf. When I heard that Sheryl Crow had Jason Isbell around to play guitar on a new track I was rather excited as I think they are both great musicians. And then the truth was revealed; it's a Bob Dylan cover. It turns out I quite like it but your mileage may vary.

Sheryl Crow with Jason Isbell - Everything Is Broken - https://youtu.be/bhWiq3BE3zY

In the early 90s I spent an inordinate amount of money at a record shop here in Canberra called Impact Records. Sadly, Impact has been gone for a long time. It was everything that an independent record store should be and so much more. Anyway, one day I was browsing and the music coming over the sound system was just fabulous. I had to wait until the album finished playing to purchase it that day though as they only had one copy. Fast forward to the current day and the same band have just announced an Australian tour. Very much for fans of metal and politics. This clip has the lyrics included and they're kind of the point.

Sacred Reich - The American Way - https://youtu.be/A0SMz0NTF58

You may have heard by now that the concert to mark the 50th anniversary of the Woodstock Festival has been cancelled. There's a million reasons going around including that two of the main acts pulled out; Miley Cyrus and Jay Z. I'm not sure that people celebrating 50 years since the festival that included such amazing acts as The Jimi Hendrix Experience, Sly and the Family Stone, Joan Baez and The Grateful Dead would be all that interested in Miley or Jay. Yes, there are a few of the original artists who were slated to perform but that's not really my point. In the interests of fair play I will say this; Miley Cyrus has a great voice. You be the judge...

Miley Cyrus - Joelene (live) - https://youtu.be/wOwblaKmyVw

Years ago, DJ DJ introduced me to a band from Adelaide called The Mark of Cain. We saw them finish off a music festival, playing after silverchair, and to be frank blowing them away (and silverchair were great). TMOC play heavy, moody, industrial-esque rock music. If you mixed up Joy Division with Black Flag you might be there. Bands like Helmet and Rollins band are similar in terms of musical structure and delivery but TMOC had their sound earlier. Later on this year they are touring in recognition of the 30th anniversary of their debut album, "Battlesick" and yes, tickets have already been procured for Angus and I. I've seen TMOC play in Adelaide, Canberra, Sydney and Brisbane and it's almost a religious experience. Be there.

The Mark of Cain - Interloper (live) - https://youtu.be/y4x18kURD9w

I like to give everyone fair warning regarding upcoming, essential tours and with that in mind.....Billy Bragg will be here in May 2020. It seems a long way into the future but tickets went on sale today so get yours now. He's playing three nights in every city that he visits with three different setlist. Perfect again for mixing pop and politics...

Billy Bragg - Saffiyah Smiles - https://youtu.be/pkNN81Ta2ik

And DJ SAB would be oh so sad if I didn't mention that The Sisters of Mercy are coming to Australia. They were a major influence on the music we played in The Dark Violence of Beauty. Hopefully we'll score some tickets. This is one of my favourite Sisters tracks...

The Sisters of Mercy - Dominion / Mother Russia - https://youtu.be/2LntQlbvu_o

David Byrne isn't coming to Australia (that I know about) but I simply have to play this video for you. He's taken a pop classic that we might not have ever wanted to hear again and made it his own; that's the mark of a great cover version. This was such an unexpected find and I love it!

David Byrne - I Wanna Dance With Somebody (live) - https://youtu.be/izx8J6U7xzo

In other news, I've gone back to university. After a few years where I've drifted a bit in terms of work and direction I got a bit of a push and made the decision to retrain. I'm doing a Masters degree in Information Studies. Essentially that's librarianship but man oh man is that a diverse field. This is Week 3 and my head is spinning in a good way.

Bo Diddley - Back To School - https://youtu.be/1FtwNV99Eb4

Last time around I played Clampdown by The Clash. Well, a live version by Bruce Springsteen popped up thanks to the algorithmic joy of YouTube. I like it a lot, you might too.

Bruce Springsteen - Clampdown (live) - https://youtu.be/GqRN7N7lH8o

There's more tour and music news but I might save it for next time. With any luck AC/DC will have announced a tour or an album (or both).

AC/DC - If You Want Blood (You've Got It) - https://youtu.be/6EWqTym2cQU

Rock on,

Rob

"A ragged cup, a twisted mop

The face of Jesus in my soup..." , The Mercy Seat (Nick Cave cover), Johnny Cash, 2000