This record comes from the reliable Goner kitchen, so although the artist comes from California, you can expect that great Memphis garage sound. The guy behind the bizarre bunny mask is Justin Champlin. On First Blood Champlin delivers cathcy and loud rock’n’roll/pop tunes and it is fun to listen. They are stripped to the bare bones and Nobunny knows well how to avoid any abstractions, although absurdity is no stranger to him.
Category Archives: Reviews
Flashlite #102 – Vinyl Junkyard 1
Today we have a special dedicated to one LP album. In fact, I will try to make this somewhat of a series whenever I stumble on an LP that sounds great and that I found sitting somewhere completely forgotten in a bargain bin of a record store. This is precisely what we have now. Peter Isaacson Sings is a completely strange folk album that gathers songs by Dylan, Donovan, Gordon Lightfoot, Joni Mitchel and others covered by some mysterious singer. On the record that I have, the mysterious singer is Peter Isaacson. On a different release that people mention here and there on the Internet, his name is Greg Lee. In any case, we have no clue who that person is and what is his real name, but he has a very beautiful voice and guitar style, all recorded what appears to be a single microphone. His voice is somewhere between Gordon Lightfoot at its weakest places and Sid Selvidge at its best parts. I am completely fascinated by this beautiful and mysterious record, and in this show we will hear nearly all cuts from it, along with the originals not just for comparison sake, but also because it makes one really rich playlist!
Joni Mitchell – Both Sides Now;
Peter Isaacson – Both Sides Now;
Peter Isaacson – Blowin’ In The Wind;
Bob Dylan – Blowin’ In The Wind;
Peter Isaacson – Lalena;
Donovan – Lalena;
Peter Isaacson – Trouble In Mind;
Lightnin’ Hopkins – Trouble In Mind;
Peter Isaacson – Threw It All Away;
Bob Dylan – I Threw It All Away;
Cher – I Threw It All Away;
Peter Isaacson – Ribbon of Darkness;
Peter Isaacson – I Shall Be Released;
Bob Dylan – I Shall Be Released;
Peter Isaacson – Black Sheep Boy;
Tim Hardin – Black Sheep Boy;
Peter Isaacson – Catch The Wind;
Donovan – Catch The Wind;
Peter Isaacson – Affair On 8th Ave;
Gordon Lightfoot – Affair On 8th Ave.
1. Chris Cacavas – Love’s Been Discontinued
Keyboardist of Green on Red and a solo artist for twenty years, Chris Cacavas is definitely left a huge mark in rock’n’roll. But Love’s Been Discounted is likely his crowning masterpiece when at least in the solo period. I don’t know much about the events that happened in Chris’ life that fueled this record with inspiration, but record seems like a break-up record, a serious redefinition of the term “love” for sure. Musically, it’s a soft record with wonderful guitar solos, songs that dramatically build up. Incredible background harmonizing that takes you by surprise at the most unsuspecting moments often constitute the most dramatic places of this record.
2. Grant Hart – Hot Wax
A close second on this list. Former Husker Du drummer is back with a new solo record after 10 years of putting it together over in Twin Cities. The opening rocker You’re The Reflection of the Moon On the Water starts from a big fat 10 second fade in as if Grant is a bit shy to start with a full blast after 10 years of silence. But Grant Hart quickly draws you into his world with nine flawless tracks, done in the style of 60s psychedelic records. Lots of Hammond-style organs, hand claps and whirling psychedelic instrumental passages. California Zephyr stands out as an incredible road story of a man who settles down in San Francisco and then left out of there when people started dieing. Life and death playing a clinching game that binds us all. Tonight.
3. Satin Gum
Satin Gum is a new band from Pittsburgh who surprised us early in 2009 with a neat four track EP. Later in the year this EP was expanded into a nine track LP and here it taking a high third position in our year end list. This record combines several very interesting rock moments into one thing. You will hear shoe-gazing guitar riffs of My Bloody Valentine and Dinosaur Jr, Nirvana pathos and Cheap Trick lighthearted humor. Simple record that economically clocks out at 26 minutes will stay long in your player on repeat. We can only hope that this band will eventually leave the confounds of their local scene. Let it be noted that the neighboring Cleveland was the second stop on that journey!
4. Greg Koons And The Misbegotten – Welcome to the Nowhere Motel
Philadelphian musician Greg Koons turned back the clock almost 35 years backwards and, without too many unnecessary innovations, he recorded an album in the best outlaw singer-songwriting traditions of Guy Clark and Gene Clark. 2009 was definitely the right time to return to these traditions as we begun to loose track of these great records. When you put this record on, you will find 11 modern songwriting masterpieces. At the same time, Koons’ backing band The Misbegotten will give a sharp rocking edge to his laments on heartbreaking loves, hookers and cities passed on the road. A picture of a US soldier who died in Vietnam is a dedication to the outlaw sentimentality and an anti-war cry at the same time. No misses on this one.
5. Mama Rosin – Brule Lentement
When I lived in Louisiana, I saw a wonderful German movie Schultze Gets the Blues about an old German guy who moves to Louisiana to play zydeco. This bizarre trans-global story is a wonderful dedication to the beauty of Louisiana music. In 2009, the most exciting zydeco album in ages came from the same “neck of the woods”… Switzerland! Trio of Swiss guys who calls themselves Mama Rosin, collected 13 furious zydeco tunes on their second album Brule Lentement. Some of the songs are classics (Opelousas Sostan!) and some are their own pastiches written in zydeco and Cajun style. The sound on the record is incredibly authentic. It sounds like those old documentary recordings of zydeco tunes and nothing like the watered down sound you can hear these days in tourist shops of New Orleans. Mama Rosin somehow found the original soul of Mamou, Louisiana on the banks of Lake Geneva.
6. John Paul Keith and The 145s – Spills and Thrills
Memphis musician John Paul Keith puts together the best sounding live show you’ll ever hear. Moreover, his album Spills and Thrills is also the best sounding vinyl record in years. While most Memphis bands like their sound dirty and wonderfully screwed up, John Paul Keith’s sound is crisp and clean. Still, it belongs to the same musical tradition that still keeps Memphis as the cradle of rock’n’roll. This was recognized by legendary Jim Dickinson who hired John Paul Keith for his last band called Snake Eyes.
7. Richmond Fontaine – We Used to Think the Freeway Sounded Like A River
The most poetical title of a record this year comes from Richmond Fontaine. This Portland OR, band gained a lot of attention in 2002 in rock press around their fourth album Winnemucca. But I did not pay too much attention to their music until their work from this year. Storytelling lyrics are accompanied with melodic arrangements and dramatic riffage, creating a rounded, well thought of concept feel for the whole album. Two songs towards the end of the album occupy my attention in particular Lonnie and Two Alone. I will have to go back and revisit some of their earlier stuff.
8. Outrageous Cherry – Universal Malcontents
This glammed out, rocking piece of plastic is the best yet by the venerable Detroit rockers fronted by local freak Matthew Smith. They re-package the British glam and the us power-pop in an unexpectedly fun release that will make your feet stomp and your body move. Their snotty blunt statement that if it ain’t rock’n’roll then they won’t like it could be also a motto of this radio show. Smtih and his band know the formula and they use it.