Canadian femme fatalle of alternative rock, Neko Case, finds ways how to reinvent herself with each new album. Middle Cyclone is her age-defying feminist manifesto and it’s easily her most consistent work yet. What’s next?
14. Buddy and Julie Miller – Written in Chalk
Buddy and Julie got married twenty years ago and have three albums together. Before they started recording together, their careers went separately, each making their name in the roots rock and country circuits. Their first album together in 2001 brought them some success on the US country charts, but this year’s Written in Chalk represents them in their peak. This genre spanning album will take you through all traditional American genres and will do it in a gorgeous way. One part rock, two parts roll to paraphrase one of the songs on the album. The sound is flawless, it will leave an impression that the band is right there in the same room where you’re sitting and Buddy and Julie’s vocals match like a glove on songs that they perform together.
15. Dinosaur Jr – Farm
When Dinosaur Jr reformed in their original line-up, it smelled like a money grabbing opportunity. First album in of the reformed line-up was a disappointment. Nobody expected much of the second one. However, when the sounds of Farm hit the Internet this summer, I had to re-examine my point of view regarding the new found companionship between the former foes Mascis and Barlow. Farm, just like Mission of Burma’s On Off On, captures an old band in a new found artistic height. Songs are wonderful, long, solos are gorgeous. An hour of pure pleasure is augmented by the extra disc (look for that exclusive release), where Dinosaur JR cover The Zombies and revisit old J’s acoustic pastiche Little Ethnic Song.
16. The Resentments – Roselight
The Resentments is a supergroup from Austin, Texas that recorded one the most wonderful, but painfully overlooked rock’n’roll albums of 2009. Sadly, the founder of this band, Stephen Burton passed away this year, leaving The Resentments’ Roselight as their final album.
Flashlite #65
Today we showcase several new names at The Little Lighthouse: John Paul Keith, Eichmann Family, Sweet Apple, Â The Hex Dispensers, Smith Westerns and D. Charles Speer. John Paul Keith comes from Memphis and has a band called The One Four Fives. About a year ago he put out the record called Spills And Thrills and it’s such a beautiful record, I can’t believe I missed until now. John Paul Keith’s band opened for Jack Oblivian in Cleveland and even more than that – they played the role of the Tearjerkers that night. John Paul Keith was also one of the Snake Eyes – the last band for Jim Dickinson before he passed away. Eichmann Family is another garage rock band from Zagreb – there are several very good ones over there. Sweet Apple is the new band for John Petkovic and Tim Parnin from Cobra Verde and J. Mascis and David Sweetapple form The Witch. Supergroup for the new millenium, isn’t it? Hex Dispenser are garage magicians from Austin Texas. Smith Westerns is a new band from Chicago and D Charles Speer and his Helix are from New York City – two new names that come from big cities, but sound much more provincial (which is a good thing at The Lighthouse!). And the last, but not the least, our favorites from a few years ago, Bassholes have a new LP, and it’s untitled again.
The Hex Dispensers – I’ve Got My Doppelganger On;
Eichmann Family – Daddy Doesn’t Love Me;
My Buddy Moose – When I Say;
Cobra Verde – Haunted Heavens;
Sweet Apple – Do You Remember;
Bassholes – Swannanoa River;
Bassholes – Caravan Man;
Steve Wynn – Outlaw Blues;
Rickie Lee Jones – Subterranean Homesick Blues;
Rickie Lee Jones – The Blue Ghazel;
James Luther Dickinson – Eloise;
Irma Thomas – It’s Raining;
The Detroit Cobras – It’s Raining;
John Paul Keith and The One Four Fives – Let’s Get Gone;
Matthew Sweet & Susanna Hoffs – Dreaming;
Blondie – Dreaming;
Smith Westerns – Be My Girl;
D. Charles Speer & The Helix – Helical.
Flashlite #64
This show goes to all the gig-goers in Cleveland. I made it inspired by a busy week in which I saw live shows by The Meat Puppets, Ian McLagan, Dinosaur JR and Jack Oblivian. I had to miss Reigning Sound, but from what I hear, it was a great gig. We also have some new stuff. We represent two bands from a new generation of Zagreb rockers. My Buddy Moose, who we know from their self-titled album a few years ago and The Revolts. My Buddy Moose has a new album coming up next year and we hear exclusive tracks from it while they are searching for a publisher. Mike Watt has a new project called Il Sogno Del Marinaio with Italian musicians Stefano Pilia and Andrea Belfi. We also introduce The Revelators for the first time at the Little Lighthouse, although they’ve been around for some time.
J Mascis – A Little Ethnic Song;
The Zombies – Whenever You’re Ready;
Dinosaur Jr. – Whenever You’re Ready;
Reigning Sound – Trash Talk;
Meat Puppets – Look At The Rain;
Jack-O & The Tennessee Tearjerkers – Sweet Thang;
Jack Oblivian – Cigarillo;
Ian McLagan – So Lucky;
Ian Mclagan – Itchycoo Park;
Small Faces – Itchycoo Park;
Telefon – Putovanja;
Nocna Smjena – Vrtlog;
Revolts – Probudi se;
My Buddy Moose – Tonight;
Il Sogno Del Marinaio – Thema one;
Bob Dylan – Positively 4th Street;
Steve Wynn – Positively 4th Street;
The Revelators – Love One Day.
Flashlite #63
Here is one good straight-forward rock’n’roll episode! We check out the newest works of King Khan, Brimstone Howl and Jack Oblivian. All of them have some new stuff out. We explore the history of Cleveland’s underground scene by digging out a 1979 unreleased tune by the group called The Radiation Factory. Los Lobos have a new album where they cover Disney tunes. We also hear one tune from the latest Tom Waits live album called Glitter and Doom. I secretly hoping that Eagles of Death Metal cover Goin’ Out WestM one time in their career…
All The Saints – Leeds;
Mud Boy And The Neutrons – Brownsville;
King Khan & The Shrines – (How Can I Keep You) Outta Harms Way;
The King Khan BBQ Show – Invisible Girl;
Gentleman Jesse & His Men – All I Need Tonight (Is You);
Brimstone Howl – Shangri La;
Brimstone Howl – Suicide Blues;
Jack Oblivian – Put Your Love On Me Part II;
Reigning Sound – Debris;
Jay Reatard – It Ain’t Gonna Save Me;
The Radiation Factory – Analog Minds In A Digital World;
Yardbirds – Here ‘Tis;
Laibach – One After 909;
Eagles Of Death Metal – I’m Your Torpedo;
Tom Waits – Goin’ Out West;
Tom Waits – Heigh-Ho;
Los Lobos – Heigh-Ho.
Flashlite #62
Today we begin with a block of Los Angeles garage bands and we choose the songs from the latest Nuggets compilation, called Where The Action Is. We take a chance to reflect especially on Sky Saxon, legendary member of The Seeds who passed away earlier this summer. Rickie Lee Jones has a new album out called Balm In Gilead and it’s filled with smoky, intimate, slow tempo tunes. We also check in with Marshall Crenshaw and his new album called Jaggedland and with the Drive-By Truckers guy Patterson Hood who has an exciting new solo album out called Murdering Oscar.
Mission Of Burma – 1 2 3 Party;
Mouse And The Traps – A Public Execution;
P.F. Sloan – Halloween Mary;
The Premiers – Get on This Plane;
The Ballroom – Baby, Please Don’t Go;
The Seeds – Tripmaker;
The Seeds – Pushin’ Too Hard;
Carla Thomas – That Beat Keeps Disturbing My Sleep;
Amy LaVere – That Beat;
Rickie Lee Jones – The Moon Is Made of Gold;
Rickie Lee Jones – Nobody Knows My Name;
The Beatles – And Your Bird Can Sing;
The Choir – I’d Rather You Leave Me;
Action Now – Stop pretending;
Up And Out – I’m Learning;
Marshall Crenshaw – Our Town;
Marshall Crenshaw – Right on Time;
Patterson Hood – I Understand Now;
The Ace – Adamantine Sorceress of Ecstasy;
Satin Gum – Run For Cover.
Flashlite #61
Today’s show is dominated by the ladies. We start with the new song for the Memphis band Lucero, dedicated to Love and Rocket’s Maggie Chascarillo. Then we introduce two new girls at the Little Lighthouse Dawn Landes and Angela Desveaux. Daughter of Mose Allison, Amy is back with an excellent new album called Sheffield Streets. Rosanne Cash, daughter of Johnny, also has a new album and she covers her father’s song Long Black Veil on it. Jeff Tweedy helps her.
Jim Dickinson – Rockin’ Daddy;
Lucero – The Devil and Maggie Chascarillo;
Dawn Landes – Young Girl;
Dawn Landes – Kids in a Play;
Amy Allison – Baby, You’re The One;
Amy Allison – Why Must It Be?;
Angela Desveaux – Let Me Roll It;
Paul McCartney & Wings – Let Me Roll It;
Reigning Sound – Break It;
Richmond Fontaine – Two Alone;
Nick Cave – Long Black Veil;
Rosanne Cash and Jeff Tweedy – Long Black Veil;
Johnny Cash – Long Black Veil;
The Obvious – The Underground;
The dB’s – We Should Be In Bed;
City of Cool – City of Cool;
Chris Cacavas – I Bow Down.
Flashlite #60
We have a ton of really good new stuff this week, some of it came in just recently and other stuff came in this summer while we were gone. Susanna Hoffs and Matthew Sweet continue their Under The Covers series with a two cd set filled with their versions of their favorite songs from the 70s. Tony Kinman, legendary member of Dils and Rank And File joined forces with his friend Pope Johnson and formed recently a wonderfully playful new band called Los Trendy. Soulsavers with Mark Lanegan are back again with the new album called Broken. Blues duet The Moaners have a new demo called Little Man. Cleveland’s own blues man Derek DePrator is also back with a new record and a new cassette tape with exciting self-titled collection of instrumentals. Finally, loud power pop outfit Satin Gum from Pittsburgh, who had an excellent ep earlier this year, are now here with a full lp, and it’s sounds sweet!
Paul Westerberg – Dangerous Boys;
Dinosaur Jr. – Friends;
Satin Gum – Turn Me Around;
The Flamin’ Groovies – Blues From Phyllis;
Grant Hart – Charles Hollis Jones;
Matthew Sweet & Susanna Hoffs – Here Comes My Girl;
Chris Cacavas – World’s A Mess;
Don Nix – I Need You;
Los Trendy with Tony Kinman – Wide Awake;
Soulsavers – Some Misunderstanding;
Gene Clark – Some Misunderstanding;
The Moaners – Little Man;
Derek Paul DePrator – Europa Theme;
Predrag Delibasic – Rusija;
Rainer – Rude World;
Mudboy and the Neutrons – Ubangi Stomp.