World Wide Woozle episode #491

Let's start with another review from the 100 albums that are supposedly essential. Remember that these aren't being ranked by me, I'm just numbering them so that you know how many have been done!

Album 41/100 - Elvis Costello and The Attractions - Armed Forces (1979)

I really like Elvis Costello. His voice and delivery are unique and he writes catchy pop/rock songs. Along with the well-known singles, "Oliver's Army" and "Accidents Will Happen" this album is a deadset classic. The production is very radio friendly and almost glossy. The lyrics present a counterpoint being often acerbic and pointed. Whilst there may be contention about what "Oliver's Army" is actually about (and Costello himself is vague about it) there is no denying the bits of social commentary combined with the ABBAesque piano riffs combined well to produce a hit. Throughout the album, however, it's the bass guitar that really surprised me. Listening through headphones I reflected on the fact that the bass line very much comes from the McCartney school of doing so much more than plodding along on the root notes. There are tons of great songs on this album but "Goon Squad" is probably my favourite. Costello manages to keep you tapping your foot while making your brain think about the issues he explores.

Elvis Costello and The Attractions - https://youtu.be/XrYGEaiu3dc

Ayreon are a Dutch band / project. It's a bit like Pink Floyd meets Dream Theater meets Queensryche meets Coheed and Cambria. Space prog rock might be a fair description. The songs are constructed in a fantasy sci-fi world which just adds to the feel of the records. There's quite a few releases and the songs range from full on guitar driven rock to introspective psychedelic musings. Good stuff.

Ayreon - 2084 - https://youtu.be/k-HeUIrgw_4

I mentioned Billy Bragg's new Live at the BBC double album a few episodes ago. It's now been released and I've listened a few times through. If you like Billy then you'll like this. Mostly it's just him and his guitar doing what he does best. On a few tracks there's a second guitar or a backing vocal but in the main it's just the man himself. The collection is career spanning which is good. Billy's early stuff is great but tracking his development as a performer and songwriter is a real treat. There isn't a whole lot of this album available to share with you (buy a copy or stream it) but here's a track done solo which is also on the album. Remember, "wearing badges is not enough, on days like these..."

Billy Bragg - The Boy Done Good (solo, live) - https://youtu.be/GW2cO_qGhUY

Lots of bands try acoustic versions of their songs. And some are actually good. This is one of them. Even though Papa is hiding behind his ever present mask, there's no hiding when you're unplugged and live. A great version indeed from one of my favourite bands. 

Ghost - Dance Macabre (live, acoustic) - https://youtu.be/iYj5YP8ovEU

Buckcherry are coming to Australia. This is sure to make a lot of hard rock fans very, very happy. Their uncomplicated AC/DC / Guns n Roses / Black Crowes style music is best listened to in a car on a hot day or alternatively in a sweaty live venue. If they're playing close to you then get on down and rock out.

Buckcherry - Lawless and Lulu - https://youtu.be/RQi3QYfTrxQ

Years ago I heard a band called Danko Jones on the radio but couldn't find their CD for love nor money. Of course, it didn't help that I thought it would be filed under J for Jones...it wasn't. The album I finally got hold of, "We Sweat Blood", showcased the Canadian three-piece as masters of a groove and hard hitting rock. They've got some new songs available now and as soon as I'm finished listening to next episode's album from the 100 essential list then I'll be rocking out to Danko Jones.

Danko Jones - Fists Up High - https://youtu.be/Csj3FpCc_jk

I almost cued up the next track during the last episode but I forgot in the end. No matter, it's still available and I still like it a week later! Paul Gilbert is famous as a guitar virtuoso and for his work in Mr Big. Here, he's the guest of Martin Miller who has a first rate band. There's something inspiring in seeing jaw droppingly good musicians playing as a group rather than trying to outdo each other all the time. I love this song and this version is a lot of fun,

Martin Miller band with Paul Gilbert - Superstition - https://youtu.be/HXRh-7BJD2E

I played The Highwoman a few weeks ago. Since then I've had a chance to listen to more of their work. It's country but not the airbrushed, boring corporate stadium variety. This song is a cover of one made famous by their male namesakes, The Highwaymen.

The Highwoman - Highwoman - https://youtu.be/P3A_Mv-vYCQ

How's that then? Enough to be going on with? Stay tuned for next time. I've got to get to the new Nick Cave album as well as Brittany Howard, Liam Gallagher and, if I'm lucky, a Jethro Tull remix and re-release. One week until the house auction too; should we be nervous yet?

Rock on,

Rob

"Who do we call the enemy?
The enemy is poverty, 

And the wall keeps out the enemy, 

And we build the wall to keep us free. 

That's why we build the wall; 

We build the wall to keep us free." - Why We Build The Wall, Anaïs Mitchell ft. Greg Brown, 2010.

World Wide Woozle episode #490

So, what have I learned since the last time I posted something here in the blog (September 6^th)? I've learned that you can't work full-time, study part-time, sell a house AND write a blog regularly. I just ran out of time and energy. The semester at university has finished though so here I am.

Back In The High Life Again - Warren Zevon - https://youtu.be/Mo3lxKrjABE

 

Firstly, Kris Kristofferson. I was lucky enough to benefit  from the fact that one of my work colleagues was unwell and couldn't attend the concert. She gave me her ticket and I had an amazing evening. Not only was I in the middle of the theatre, in the fifth row, but the concert was sublime. Kris, at 83, sounds better live than he does on most recordings. His band, borrowed from Merle Haggard, were effortless and amazing. Kris played for an hour and forty-five minutes with a fifteen minute break. I also really appreciated the fact that he started dead on 7:30pm! Great to be home early on a school night ha ha!

 

Kris Kristofferson – The Pilgrim, Chapter 33 - https://youtu.be/fMVUILVM0Xw

 

You all know that I enjoy looking for new rock music acts, or ones that I've not heard before. This week American band, Dirty Honey popped up in my feed. A couple of listens to their eight song EP had me hooked. Props to DJ DJ who very rightly thinks that they sound a bit like Australian group Baby Animals – they do. I can't wait for a full album release.

 

Dirty Honey – Rolling 7s - https://youtu.be/42rmUlDiQDI

 

The Beatles…remember them? The Abbey Road album has been given the super deluxe treatment with a re-mix and release including demos etc. Sgt Pepper's was great, the White Album was fabulous and this one takes the cake in my opinion. Wow! I haven't had the pleasure of listening to it in surround sound yet but the stereo mixes, through headphones, are nothing short of magnificent. The clarity and emotion in the recordings is so much better than I remembered. The demos and outtakes are worth a listen: it's not just people talking and fiddling around. "The Ballad of John and Yoko", recorded during the Abbey Road sessions, is particularly good with John telling Paul, who is playing drums, to "go a bit faster Ringo". I've chosen the next song not only because it is one of my favourites but because the new video clip is really well made.

 

The Beatles – Here Comes The Sun (2019 mix) – https://youtu.be/KQetemT1sWc

 

The Cult's 1989 album, Sonic Temple, is one of my all-time favourites.  It's not in my top 10 but it's close. Scarily enough it's 30 years old and as such has been given a re-release. Here's the thing though, it's not remastered or remixed. Yes, you get the original album along with a whole slew of demo and live recordings but the original stays as it is. I listened back to it and the truth is it still sounds great. For fans of The Cult who are more attracted to their Goth and New Wave influences this isn't the album for you. If a great hard rock album is what you're looking for then Sonic Temple ticks that box.

 

The Cult – Sweet Soul Sister – https://youtu.be/pqcAidqgqmU

 

Earlier I mentioned the Baby Animals. Years ago their first release appeared on a single along with Aussie legends, The Angels. Fast forward to 2019 and the two bands have done the same albeit this time with each band recording one classic song from the other. The Angels make an attempt at "One Word" which I think falls a little flat. It's not bad at all, it's just not very alive. In comparison, Baby Animals make a good fist of "Marseille". There is a tour coming so keep an eye out.

 

Baby Animals – Marseille – https://youtu.be/Hl1aiafr_4E

 

Album 40/100 – Van Morrison – Moondance (1970)

 

This album was better than I expected. There's never any denying the quality of Van's voice and this group of songs (rock, pop and soul) showcase it well. I don't really have much to say about this record other than you should give it a try. I did and it will be on my playlist for quite a while to come and it has encouraged me to try more of his music.

Van Morrison - And It Stoned Me (live 1980) - https://youtu.be/cuyENi0cPjg

One of my friends, DJ GreySeal, is in Scotland at the moment. He mentioned a couple of bands that he was listening to and it occurred to me that I hadn't listened to all that much of one of them. Mogwai, from Glasgow, are that band and I'm planning to spend some time with their music. Some people describe them as being "post-rock", whatever that means. I'm not sure but if you like the spacier side of Pink Floyd then this might appeal to you.

Mogwai - Don't Believe The Fife (live) - https://youtu.be/ZIhDdVaqF8U

Whilst packing up our house I came across the cover for the first demo recording I played on. We recorded it in 1991 and the band I was in was called Mr Walker (the Phantom's real name). Somewhere I have the master cassette of the mixdown that we made from the 4-track recording. I'll get around to putting a couple of tracks on YouTube sometime. Engineered by DJ DJ, I remember one of the main challenges being to convince the other guitarist that he didn't need to use so many effects on his guitar sound. Once he worked that out it was great. Of course, recording drums, two guitars, bass, vocals, backing vocals and sometimes saxophone onto 4-tracks wasn't easy. DJ DJ managed to mix what was essentially a live performance into a coherent 4 tracks for us to use; all without being in a soundproof booth whilst recording! Anyway, I'll get the songs available soon but what it did remind me of was the fact that for every gig we ever played, this was the first song.

Georgia Satellites - Hippy Hippy Shake - https://youtu.be/3v8BxD2o-1g

I think that should be enough music for a while. Hopefully I'll be back again on Friday with more tunes for you. I'll leave you with a track from Joe Elliott's (from Def Leppard) side project, Down 'N' Outz. This is their tribute to David Bowie and it's a ripper. If Bowie and Mott The Hoople style music are your thing then you'll love this band,

Down 'N' Outz - Goodbye Mr Jones - https://youtu.be/A8-lyQbu1mM

Bye,

Rob

"....it's been a long time since I rock and rolled..." Rock and Roll, Led Zeppelin, 1971.