Episode #493 is a bit long...but stick with it folks, we've got both quality and quantity on offer!
Firstly, a word about my David Bowie review from last week. Thanks to those who emailed or messaged me about their experiences with the Ziggy Stardust album and to tell me why they love it. Thank you also for understanding that my point of view isn't an attack on that of anyone else. If we were all the same then life would be a bore!
Bodyjar - Not The Same - https://youtu.be/36a6KI6o9VY
Last night, my good friend DJ Bing was unable to attend the Ian Moss gig here in Canberra. I was the beneficiary of him being double booked and gladly hopped on the light rail into town to see Ian and his band. For those unaware, Mossy was (is) the guitarist and sometimes singer in legendary Australian band Cold Chisel. Chisel wrapped up for the first time in 1983 and Mossy released his first solo single, "Tucker's Daughter", in late 1988 with an album, "Matchbook", following in 1989. Last night he was at the Canberra Theatre which turned out to be good and bad. Good in that the seats are comfy and the crowd (mostly much older than me) could sip their champagne or imported beer in comfort. Bad in that live bands feed off the energy in the room and there wasn't a lot. As such I thought that the show was pretty tame. It wasn't bad by any means, it just seemed to struggle to ever get going other than right at the end. I know that Mossy also plays solo acoustic shows so I'll be keeping an eye out for gig dates in the future. Great guitarist, great songs, just a tired crowd on a Friday night.
Ian Moss - Tucker's Daughter (live) - https://youtu.be/51A0TMnrPuc
There are bonus points on offer if you can spot the current singer from another classic Australian band singing in that Ian Moss clip.
Some of you may have seen the band BAD//DREEMS, along with Peter Garrett, covering Warumpi Band's classic tune, "Blackfella/Whitefella". This is one of my favourite Australian songs of all time. Released on the back of Midnight Oil's, "The Dead Heart" along with a track from Coloured Stone, it's a ripper of a track. The cover is here if you want to try it out. Initially I wasn't that enamoured with the new version but it's growing on me. The didgeridoo playing is fabulous and the vocals in one of Australia's indigenous languages really add to it. There's also an almost punk energy to the guitars. But...this track made me check out BAD//DREEMS and I was pleasantly surprised. They remind me of maybe bands like Radio Birdman, The Sunnyboys, Courtney Barnett and VSpy VSpy all mixed up with Paul Kelly. I'll be adding some of their music to my playlist for the coming weeks.
BAD//DREEMS - Hiding To Nothing - https://youtu.be/P35nX4ULTBs
Album 43/100 - Radiohead - OK Computer (1997)
I'm almost at halfway in my quest to review what are apparently 100 essential albums. This one was difficult as there aren't many bands that I dislike as much as Radiohead. As always, I committed to listening to the whole thing at least three times all the way through with no skips. After the first session I was ready to admit defeat and end this crazy quest. After the second listen I was bordering on never listening to music again. Horrible. Angst for angst's sake complete with wailing more grating than any elevator music or manufactured boy-band. I started to question my own sanity as well as all those Radiohead fans out there. And then, after a couple of days I put my big boy trousers back on and subjected myself to a third dose of this seemingly turgid, overblown, pretentious shite. At this stage, in the lunch room at work, I heard something different in the tunes. Sure, still bloated and self indulgent but there were melodies and guitar work in there that started to click. I still think that there's way too much tortured singing but there were good moments in there as well - enough to keep me interested for a few more listens. I get that some people's majestic is simply a yawn-fest for others. As such I found OK Computer to be easy to hate and hard to like. What I do think though is that if you're prepared to persevere with this album that there are some great tracks and moments to be dug up. I'll never be a huge fan but I dislike Radiohead a little less as a result of this experience.
Radiohead - Karma Police - https://youtu.be/1uYWYWPc9HU
If you were a fan of Southern Blues/Rock in the early 90s then you'd be very much aware of The Black Crowes. Their debut album, "Shake Your Moneymaker" is a deadset classic. Get a copy now. Well, although they are famous for the lack of love between the Robinson brothers, it seems that they've worked it all out and got the band back together. Here's an old track and then a very, very recent live recording to get you excited. If The Black Crowes come to a venue near you then get a ticket.
The Black Crowes - Jealous Again - https://youtu.be/8V38Qej-3Tw
The Black Crowes - Hard To Handle (live 2019) - https://youtu.be/dzEwjwMZjOs?t=77
In the mid-90s, Ice-T put together a heavy metal band called Body Count. He described it as a mix between Black Sabbath, Slayer and hardcore bands like Suicidal Tendencies. In the past here I've played Body Count's cover of a Slayer track which is, in my opinion, one of the best metal covers ever done. For some reason though I had missed their cover of "Institutionalized" which is originally by Suicidal Tendencies. The ST album was one of my favourite records when I was 16 and it holds up today just 5 short years later (ha!). Body Count take a tongue in cheek approach to the song changing the lyrics a bit but the power, speed and attitude of ST remain. I'm seriously impressed by the musicianship here as well as Ice-T's diction on a song that I really needed a lyric sheet for in the past to decipher the fastest parts. Please be aware that this track contains strong language.
Body Count - Institutionalized - https://youtu.be/X9jXnZS3ouU
Sometimes the Spotify algorithms get it right and other times it's a real lottery. The next track was recommended so I thought, why not...I played the song and although it sounded a lot like Thin Lizzy it had my head nodding and my foot tapping. It was pretty funny to find out that the band, Grand Slam, was originally formed by Phil Lynott after Thin Lizzy broke up. Laurence Archer, the original guitarist, is still in the band and the singer sounds like a cross between Lynott and Gary Moore. Good times.
Grand Slam - Gone Are The Days - https://youtu.be/ySRJdHW0cyw
U2 are here. Hooray. DJ Pinky tells me that he paid about $200 to be at the show and also to be over 100m away from the band. For $200 I want to be onstage with the band! I get that it's not cheap to put on a massive concert tour but when does it all become a bit of a farce?
Postmodern Jukebox - I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For - https://youtu.be/8EbLlgKFk9c
I can't comment on Australian politics for another few weeks. What I can say though is that I remain constantly amazed at the ability of men in power, and their minions, to completely misread public sentiment. Who'd be a Prince? Not Andrew it seems. How long can people in America and the UK continue to accept leaders that seemingly lie non-stop. Sigh. The next track is about the USA but it could easily be any number of countries.
Neil Young - Let's Impeach The President - https://youtu.be/rIoFGlkJmYw
DJ Declutr suggested that I find out from my readers what line from a song they would choose if they were going to get it as a tattoo. I've had some very cool suggestions via Facebook and some hilarious ones too. If you've got an idea then send it through. I'll write about it in a future episode. After a lot of consideration I'm almost set on "Let There Be Rock" but that could change!
Pretenders - Tattooed Love Boys - https://youtu.be/rRV7PWZZquU
Dropkick Murphys - Rose Tattoo - https://youtu.be/9d8SzG4FPyM
Rose Tattoo - Scarred For Life - https://youtu.be/Ec5g1qdGw-o
It's Christmas Day at HQ Woozle tomorrow. With Angus heading back to Canada on Monday morning at zero-dark-hundred hours we've decided to celebrate early. Having the four of us in one place is a rarity and who knows when it will happen again. There's a reindeer festooned with flashing lights in the lounge room and Xmas movies are playing too. So, Merry Christmas everyone!
Stryper - Winter Wonderland (live) - https://youtu.be/FwD57Y58s4E
Bye,
Rob
I see you standing all by yourself.
Unable to express the pain of your distress
You withdraw deeper inside.
You alienate yourself
And everybody else
They wonder what's on your mind.
They got so tired of you
And your self ridicule
They wrote you off and left you behind...." Low Self Opinion, Rollins Band, 1992.
