Surprise, I'm back. I got a bit disorganised in the last week or so but things are all back on a relatively even keel here at World Wide Woozle HQ.
I'm slightly disturbed that no-one out there spotted the mystery drum beat in the Roxette tune I played last time. I must admit that it really did hit me like a ten ton heavy thing. It's these guys....
Run DMC and Aerosmith - Walk This Way - Walk This Way - https://youtu.be/4B_UYYPb-Gk
Alice Cooper has announced a new album. That's a solid effort for him given that he's 72 years old. His secrets to longevity include Jesus, golf and clean living (eventually). Whilst we have to wait months for the album, Alice has released a single which to my ears is almost rock and roll perfection. I'll admit that I didn't realise it was a cover of a Velvet Underground tune until ten minutes ago. Off now to check out the original...
Alice Cooper - Rock & Roll - https://youtu.be/wmkf57yffT0
Let's talk about the new AC/DC album. Hmmmmm...the reviews are very, very good saying things like it might be their best long player in thirty years. I don't agree. If this was AC/DC's first album then they could be rightly proud of it. The production values are tip top, the guitars growl, the bass is full and the drums are rock solid. Brian's vocals undoubtedly sound better than they have for quite a while as well. But here's the thing...the hooks aren't really there. Shot In The Dark, the first single, is great. It swaggers and rocks like you'd expect from AC/DC but the rest really struggles in my opinion. It's good but not really memorable. OK, now that I've said that let me explain that those were my thoughts after listening to the album at least ten times through over a few days as well as selected tracks in no particular order. In 1988, AC/DC released the album Blow Up Your Video. I remember being super excited about it and getting the cassette as soon as I could. I was also underwhelmed and desperately disappointed. The two singles were great and the rest did nothing for me. However, I persevered with the album and you know what, those tracks became very familiar and they grew on me. 1988 was my final year of high school and Blow Up Your Video will always be linked with that. These days it's probably my favourite album with Brian on vocals. That's a very unpopular way to be if you talk to most AC/DC fans. And so, I thought that the latest album needed more time. Saying that it's their best in thirty years is a big call. So watch this space as I let the album seep further into my subconscious. Who knows? In a subsequent episode I'll discuss the great AC/DC moments from the last thirty years as I've been back and revisited classic albums like Ballbreaker and Stiff Upper Lip.
AC/DC - Kick You When You're Down - https://youtu.be/ksqTQ33ohWM
Bing very kindly gave me a couple of Bruce Springsteen CDs that he'd ended up with two copies of. I've no idea how he keeps track of his albums; it's like the National Film and Sound Archive at his place! I hadn't listened to Darkness On The Edge Of Town for many years and I think that the benefit of time made me realise how strong an album it is. There's a raw power, guts and gravel in the delivery that really draws you in. This one will be in the CD player for a while yet.
Bruce Springsteen - Racing In The Street - https://youtu.be/ZOWIAXsfZus
Bruce Springsteen - Badlands - https://youtu.be/7T_6Ua6fd5s
I've been on a bit of a Paul Simon / Simon & Garfunkel trip these past few weeks. I just wish I could find one of their songs that I can actually play and sing at the same time. The ones I can play I can't sing and vice versa. I've taken a shine to these two particular tunes because they project such strong imagery to me. It's no secret that I'm very keen to visit the USA one day. There are so many places in song lyrics that sound so interesting (and may be in fact quite pedestrian). The New Jersey Turnpike, Saginaw and of course Route 66.
Simon and Garfunkel - America - https://youtu.be/Eo2ZsAOlvEM
Paul Simon - Kodachrome - https://youtu.be/qrRRhoS3KFk
I gave blood last week. I hate needles. I hate giving blood. But I go because I know that it's important. This time was possibly the worst experience I've had with a needle. It hurt a ton going in, it was sore the whole time I was bleeding into the bag as vampires hovered around and when the needle came out...oh boy...I hit the roof. As a result the lovely staff wouldn't let me go home for ages. Who knows what happened but let's hope it was a one off. I've got until February to psyche up for my next visit!
Franz Ferdinand - Shopping For Blood - https://youtu.be/CKo0MKm8e5Q
I heard a couple of tracks from the next guy a few weeks ago. It took a minute to tune my ear into what he was doing so hang in there. William has a quintessential Australian drawl reminiscent of John Schumann and John Williamson. If you like swampy, bluesy, folk with an Australian twist then spend some time with this...
William Crighton - 2000 Clicks - https://youtu.be/vJfT3lHEL34
Zoe is in isolation at the moment. Although her two most recent Covid tests have been negative, she was working with someone who tested positive so she gets a couple of weeks indoors. And so, here are a couple of songs for her. You might like them too.
Taylor Swift - The Man (live and acoustic) - https://youtu.be/F3aXpa1rQEY
Bears In Trees - It Gets Better - https://youtu.be/jxgVYpgwDTk
That's it. Keep smiling you lot!
Rob
In God's Hotel
Everybody got a room
Well you'll never see a sign hanging on the door
Sayin' 'No vacancies anymore'..." Paul Kelly, God's Hotel, 1994.
No comments:
Post a Comment