Wednesday, April 13, 2005
Well, I didn’t manage to update the blog in January, February, or March……another New Years resolution down the drain.
I posted a few of Lowell’s photos from the 2005 Strong Beer Festival. Check them out by clicking the link on the right.
If any of you are planning to attend the Scottsdale Culinary Festival on Saturday, April 16, stop by the Papago Brewing booth in the ‘festival of beers’. Yours truly will be bartending from 5-7PM, and I promise to take care of my friends.
Over the past few months I felt like my taste in music was becoming far too mainstream…..clearly against my nature. It had gotten so bad that my wife was actually enjoying a lot of the stuff I was playing in the car. I felt like I had to halt this disturbing trend, so I threw in some stuff that’s a little farther left of center.
Without further ado, here’s what’s currently loaded in my CD player:
1) Bowery Electric - Beat
My alleged friend Craig mentioned these guys to me a few years ago, saying their approach was similar to that of Icelandic art-rockers Sigur Ros. Bowery Electric is indeed similar in that they create a kind of droning electronic pop, heavy on mood and light on lyrics. Though some tracks are pretty interesting, this 1996 album probably works best as ambient music.
2) The Psychedelic Avengers – The Psychedelic Avengers And The Curse Of The Universe
Billed on indietorrents.com as ‘pure space rock’, this 2004 album is actually a compilation concept album that is supposed to mimic a low budget science fiction movie soundtrack. Comprised of lots of sci-fi bleeps and noises along with occasional chords and beats, I found the song titles (i.e. track 11 is titled Inside a Bruzzceegurian kitchen strange things can happen to a man with short legs) to be far more interesting than the music. I’ll probably bury this one pretty deep in the CD cabinet.
3) Mercury Rev – The Secret Migration
I was late to discover Mercury Rev, a band formed in the late 80’s and once kicked off the Lollapalooza tour’s second stage for being “too noisy”. I first heard them on 1998’s Deserters Songs and later on the majestic 2001 album All Is Dream. Their latest, released in the UK in January but not available until May 15 in the US, is their most polished album to date, chock full of lush orchestrations, intricate melodies and poetic lyrics. This is as good as any album I’ve heard this year.
4) Adrian Belew – Side One
I haven’t listened to Belew solo album in several years, but became curious after recently re-listening to a lot of his work with King Crimson. While his guitar skills were never in doubt, at first listen this album appears to be all flash. Perhaps Side Two and Side Three, slated for release later this year, will be better.
5) Bright Eyes – I’m Wide Awake It’s Morning
6) Bright Eyes – Digital Ashes In A Digital Urn
Conor Oberst, aka as Bright Eyes, is amazingly prolific and the current darling of indie music. Though he’s just 25, these simultaneous releases comprise his fifth and sixth full length albums in addition to 8 or 9 EPs. To my ears Oberst is a decent songwriter who might someday be a great one. He’s still not much of a singer, though. The country rock tinged Wide Awake is the better of these two; the monster beats and electronica of Digital Ash seem a bit contrived. For now, Bright Eyes remains both over-hyped and a tad over-rated.
Unsolicited reviews by my so-called friend Lowell
Lowell is both a music aficionado and the de-facto photographer to the local blues music scene. I think he sent me these reviews with equal parts enthusiasm for the music and hopes of shaming me into updating this blog. Here’s what Lowell had to say:
Wayne Cochran- Get Down With It! (2005)
Readers of Bruce’s CD Player are no doubt too young to have ever seen a live performance by Wayne Cochran and the C.C. Riders, so you’ve missed something extraordinary. Seeing and hearing them was an unforgettable experience. They were an electrifying high-energy band that did everything from R&B to Jazz to Rock ‘n’ Roll, but they really shined went Cochran was doing soul music. I was lucky enough to be living in South Florida during their Florida glory days (latter ‘60’s to early 70’s), and saw many of their shows at The Barn in Miami Beach. Cochran was a soul singer in the tradition of James Brown, but he was also one of a kind, he was an original. Jackie Gleason once said, “Watching Cochran’s performance is like watching a chain reaction of nuclear blasts-there’s no escaping it.” Phoenix’s own exciting blues and soul-man Mark (Walkin’) Cane says that Cochran was the “greatest soul-man of all times.” For some reason, which I’ve never understood, Cochran never became famous on a national level. Cochran and the C.C. Riders released several albums in the ‘60’s and ‘70’s, but unfortunately none of those recordings ever made it to CD format…until just recently. On February 15th, 2005, Raven Records of Australia released a CD titled “Get Down With It” by Wayne Cochran and the C.C. Riders. The 24 tracks are from ’59 through ’72, and are excellent audio quality. I recommend to all of the readers of Bruce’s CD Player that you go to Amazon.com and treat yourself to this great collection of Cochran songs.
Al Casey – Sidewinder (1995)
I hate to admit it but until just a few months ago I was not even aware of who Al Casey was, but he’s an excellent guitarist who will be inducted into the Arizona Music and Entertainment Hall of Fame (AMEHOF) in April 2005. Casey’s music goes back to the mid ‘50’s when he teamed up with Sanford Clark and they made “The Fool,” which was a national hit in 1956. Casey was responsible for the haunting guitar sounds on Jody Reynolds’s “Endless Sleep” that was another hit in 1958. Through the ‘60’s and ‘70’s Casey was a top studio guitar player in California working with practically everyone in the business from the Beach Boys to Frank Sinatra, but finally returned to Arizona in the early '80's. Casey also put out records under his own name from he '60's into the 90's. His biggest hit was “Surfin' Hootenanny” which made it into the top 50 on the pop chart in 1963. The 1995 recordings on “Sidewinder” are all new recording of old songs and include many friends of Casey’s; including David Grisman, Glen Campbell, Lee Hazlewood and Jody Reynolds. A different version of “Endless Sleep” and “The Fool” are both on this CD. I think readers of Bruce’s CD Player will enjoy this CD. For all you Phoenix area readers, the induction takes place on April 17th, at 4:00 M at the Dodge Theatre in downtown Phoenix. Some other notable inductees are Glen Campbell, Jessi Colter, Waylon Jennings, Dyke & The Blazers, Marty Robins, etc. You can check the complete list at http://www.azmusichalloffame.org/. Also, there will be an AMEHOF induction after party at the Rhythm Room starting at 8 PM, with “many special guests.”
TURNTABLE CORNER: Believe it or not, I still have a turntable. These are the most recent albums to cross it.
Pete Townshend – Deep End Live! [1986]
The Raybeats – It’s Only A Movie [1983]
The Raybeats – Guitar Beat [1981]
David Sanborn – Heart To Heart [1978]
Peter Himmelman – Gemetria [1987]
Graham Parker – The Real Macaw [1983]
Alan Parsons Project – I Robot [1977]
Thanks to all of you that have e-mailed using the link at the top of this page. Keep the e-mails coming, as it makes me feel like this is somewhat less of a waste of time.
As you were.
I posted a few of Lowell’s photos from the 2005 Strong Beer Festival. Check them out by clicking the link on the right.
If any of you are planning to attend the Scottsdale Culinary Festival on Saturday, April 16, stop by the Papago Brewing booth in the ‘festival of beers’. Yours truly will be bartending from 5-7PM, and I promise to take care of my friends.
Over the past few months I felt like my taste in music was becoming far too mainstream…..clearly against my nature. It had gotten so bad that my wife was actually enjoying a lot of the stuff I was playing in the car. I felt like I had to halt this disturbing trend, so I threw in some stuff that’s a little farther left of center.
Without further ado, here’s what’s currently loaded in my CD player:
1) Bowery Electric - Beat
My alleged friend Craig mentioned these guys to me a few years ago, saying their approach was similar to that of Icelandic art-rockers Sigur Ros. Bowery Electric is indeed similar in that they create a kind of droning electronic pop, heavy on mood and light on lyrics. Though some tracks are pretty interesting, this 1996 album probably works best as ambient music.
2) The Psychedelic Avengers – The Psychedelic Avengers And The Curse Of The Universe
Billed on indietorrents.com as ‘pure space rock’, this 2004 album is actually a compilation concept album that is supposed to mimic a low budget science fiction movie soundtrack. Comprised of lots of sci-fi bleeps and noises along with occasional chords and beats, I found the song titles (i.e. track 11 is titled Inside a Bruzzceegurian kitchen strange things can happen to a man with short legs) to be far more interesting than the music. I’ll probably bury this one pretty deep in the CD cabinet.
3) Mercury Rev – The Secret Migration
I was late to discover Mercury Rev, a band formed in the late 80’s and once kicked off the Lollapalooza tour’s second stage for being “too noisy”. I first heard them on 1998’s Deserters Songs and later on the majestic 2001 album All Is Dream. Their latest, released in the UK in January but not available until May 15 in the US, is their most polished album to date, chock full of lush orchestrations, intricate melodies and poetic lyrics. This is as good as any album I’ve heard this year.
4) Adrian Belew – Side One
I haven’t listened to Belew solo album in several years, but became curious after recently re-listening to a lot of his work with King Crimson. While his guitar skills were never in doubt, at first listen this album appears to be all flash. Perhaps Side Two and Side Three, slated for release later this year, will be better.
5) Bright Eyes – I’m Wide Awake It’s Morning
6) Bright Eyes – Digital Ashes In A Digital Urn
Conor Oberst, aka as Bright Eyes, is amazingly prolific and the current darling of indie music. Though he’s just 25, these simultaneous releases comprise his fifth and sixth full length albums in addition to 8 or 9 EPs. To my ears Oberst is a decent songwriter who might someday be a great one. He’s still not much of a singer, though. The country rock tinged Wide Awake is the better of these two; the monster beats and electronica of Digital Ash seem a bit contrived. For now, Bright Eyes remains both over-hyped and a tad over-rated.
Unsolicited reviews by my so-called friend Lowell
Lowell is both a music aficionado and the de-facto photographer to the local blues music scene. I think he sent me these reviews with equal parts enthusiasm for the music and hopes of shaming me into updating this blog. Here’s what Lowell had to say:
Wayne Cochran- Get Down With It! (2005)
Readers of Bruce’s CD Player are no doubt too young to have ever seen a live performance by Wayne Cochran and the C.C. Riders, so you’ve missed something extraordinary. Seeing and hearing them was an unforgettable experience. They were an electrifying high-energy band that did everything from R&B to Jazz to Rock ‘n’ Roll, but they really shined went Cochran was doing soul music. I was lucky enough to be living in South Florida during their Florida glory days (latter ‘60’s to early 70’s), and saw many of their shows at The Barn in Miami Beach. Cochran was a soul singer in the tradition of James Brown, but he was also one of a kind, he was an original. Jackie Gleason once said, “Watching Cochran’s performance is like watching a chain reaction of nuclear blasts-there’s no escaping it.” Phoenix’s own exciting blues and soul-man Mark (Walkin’) Cane says that Cochran was the “greatest soul-man of all times.” For some reason, which I’ve never understood, Cochran never became famous on a national level. Cochran and the C.C. Riders released several albums in the ‘60’s and ‘70’s, but unfortunately none of those recordings ever made it to CD format…until just recently. On February 15th, 2005, Raven Records of Australia released a CD titled “Get Down With It” by Wayne Cochran and the C.C. Riders. The 24 tracks are from ’59 through ’72, and are excellent audio quality. I recommend to all of the readers of Bruce’s CD Player that you go to Amazon.com and treat yourself to this great collection of Cochran songs.
Al Casey – Sidewinder (1995)
I hate to admit it but until just a few months ago I was not even aware of who Al Casey was, but he’s an excellent guitarist who will be inducted into the Arizona Music and Entertainment Hall of Fame (AMEHOF) in April 2005. Casey’s music goes back to the mid ‘50’s when he teamed up with Sanford Clark and they made “The Fool,” which was a national hit in 1956. Casey was responsible for the haunting guitar sounds on Jody Reynolds’s “Endless Sleep” that was another hit in 1958. Through the ‘60’s and ‘70’s Casey was a top studio guitar player in California working with practically everyone in the business from the Beach Boys to Frank Sinatra, but finally returned to Arizona in the early '80's. Casey also put out records under his own name from he '60's into the 90's. His biggest hit was “Surfin' Hootenanny” which made it into the top 50 on the pop chart in 1963. The 1995 recordings on “Sidewinder” are all new recording of old songs and include many friends of Casey’s; including David Grisman, Glen Campbell, Lee Hazlewood and Jody Reynolds. A different version of “Endless Sleep” and “The Fool” are both on this CD. I think readers of Bruce’s CD Player will enjoy this CD. For all you Phoenix area readers, the induction takes place on April 17th, at 4:00 M at the Dodge Theatre in downtown Phoenix. Some other notable inductees are Glen Campbell, Jessi Colter, Waylon Jennings, Dyke & The Blazers, Marty Robins, etc. You can check the complete list at http://www.azmusichalloffame.org/. Also, there will be an AMEHOF induction after party at the Rhythm Room starting at 8 PM, with “many special guests.”
TURNTABLE CORNER: Believe it or not, I still have a turntable. These are the most recent albums to cross it.
Pete Townshend – Deep End Live! [1986]
The Raybeats – It’s Only A Movie [1983]
The Raybeats – Guitar Beat [1981]
David Sanborn – Heart To Heart [1978]
Peter Himmelman – Gemetria [1987]
Graham Parker – The Real Macaw [1983]
Alan Parsons Project – I Robot [1977]
Thanks to all of you that have e-mailed using the link at the top of this page. Keep the e-mails coming, as it makes me feel like this is somewhat less of a waste of time.
As you were.
