Great records take time. Right Johnny Marr?

What makes a great record?
               What makes a great record review?
   Who cares?

1 free ride:   This record stinks.
2 free rides: This record is okay.
3 free rides: This record is pretty damn good.
4 free rides: This record is great.
5 free rides: This record is a work of genius.

Johnny Marr "The Messenger" 3.5 free rides. Better than pretty damn good but not great.

Johnny Marr is best known as the guitarist of the legendary band The Smiths.  I was never a fan of that band but man alive this album has made me a fan of the man.  His guitar playing and layering is quite remarkable all over this record.  Two songs are possibly the best two back to back songs I have heard in years.  "Upstarts" and "Lockdown" are so good they will make playlists all over the world.  It's saying quite a lot for a guy who has been playing for so many years to put out possibly the most promising album of his career at this stage in the game.  Highlights: "Upstarts", "Lockdown", and "I Want The Heartbeat".

Youth Lagoon "Wondrous Bughouse" 2 free rides.  This is ok but... zzzzz...

Much like the album cover the music inside is a little psychedelic, a little childlike, and only a little interesting.  Youth Lagoon is a one-man project spewing forth from the head of Trevor Powers.  Trevor shows much talent in finding and layering interesting sounds but shows some weakness as a songwriter.  There are not a lot of hooks on this record.  I can see how some will like this but it's just making me sleepy.  Highlights: "Dropia".

Suuns "Images du Futur" 2 free rides.  Good but needs something.

I don't know anything about this band and this record is really not making me want to do any research on them at all.  "Images du Futur" is the perfect title for these songs.  Moody, different, but for the most part it doesn't really come together and make sense.  Suuns needs to stop listening to Radiohead and crank up some classic AC/DC records.  A few righteous riffs wouldn't hurt this record.
Highlights: "Mirror Mirror" and "Holocene City".

Jim James and the sound of God. Plus Eels and Nick Cave.

3 records play in my head.
3 short "first impression" reviews magically appear below.
1 winner. You.

1 ounce of reverb: Not worth your time. Not even if its free streaming.
2 ounces of reverb: Ok, but still a little disappointing.
3 ounces of reverb: Good stuff. You might even want to buy the download.
4 ounces of reverb: People will buzz. You might even star listening to CDs again!
5 ounces of reverb: A modern day classic! 180 gram vinyl is not even good enough!

Jim's James "Regions of Light and Sound of God" 2.5 ounces of reverb.  Good but not going to become great.

 First off I'm not a huge My Morning Jacket fan.  I get them to a point.  Jim James is the lead singer and driving force behind MMJ and I've always felt their music was missing something.  It can be grandiose.  Sometimes rocking.  Jim's voice is strong.  I've always felt the songs just didn't grab me enough.  I can't remember a time I heard an MMJ song and felt like, "I need that song on repeat all day today!"  With that as a long and probably useless intro I have to say that JJ's first solo record is interesting.  The first song in the free stream I listened to (there is another song showing before it on the iTunes album.  I'm not sure why it is not in the streaming version.) "Know Till Now" had me thinking that Mr. James thinks that the sound of God is similar to a Flaming Lips record.  But for some reason "Dear One" hooked me.  I don't know if I like the record but it sure seems worth a listen or two.  Highlights: "Dear One" and "A New Life".

Eels "Wonderful, Glorious" 2 ounces of reverb. Where are the hits?

Spinner compares Eels to Beck and Sparklehorse and that is not a bad comparison.  So considering I like both Beck and Sparklehorse that means that I like Eels.  What Mark Oliver Everett cops from Beck and Sparklehorse is more sound then substance.  He is not as talented as Beck and is missing the deep sadness and beauty that Mark Linkous captured in Sparklehorse's music.  "Wonderful, Glorious" is just more of the same from Eels.  Nice production, some nice beats, and some cool sounds...just missing the songs.  Highlights: "New Alphabet" and "Wonderful, Glorious".

Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds "Push The Sky Away" 4 ounces of reverb.  Cough up the dough Cheapskates!

I'm a late in finding Nick Cave.  I've only been aware of his music for the last couple of years.  Better late than... (CLICHE ALERT!)  I like what I'm hearing on this new record.  It's dark but not heavy.  Lyrically Nick Cave is the man.  It seems that he is telling stories but there's not really much more than images, details, and the truth.  Highlights: "Wide Lovely Eyes" and "Water's Edge".

When the cat's away the mice put on a play or some sh!t like that...

So my wife and kids are away at a party (I know I am such a Rockstar with a capital aaaaarrrrr!) That can mean only one thing! (Actually it just means they are at a family party and I get some Fiercely Me time!). Time to crank up the amp and hopefully write a song. To be continued...

Yes! The drought is over! "Whiskey Shoppers" the demo is started and finished! It feels so good to be a songwriter again! I haven't decided yet if I will share it with the world. I usually like to listen to a demo 3 or 4 hundred times before I decide if I like it or not.

Stay tuned.

Or not.

The only thing we have to fear is no beer in the fridge.

I sat here tonight watching the Packers beat the Vikings in the playoffs and the whole time I wished I was writing a song. Then I thought, "Why not a whole album?" The first song title came to me out of thin air. "Whiskey Shoppers". First thing I should do is Google that and make sure it hasn't been used already. Hold on...BRB. Nope. It hasn't been used. I love when my idea turns out to be free game. Free game? Is that the saying I'm trying to think of? Two pints of Louie's Demise and my brain is already cloudy.

So I wrote the first verse and I'm thinking of grabbing a guitar. Problem is my wife is sleeping and I really don't want to wake her. She had a bad day today. Screw it. I'll grab the acoustic and play quietly.

No good. Couldn't get the words to do anything cool. No melodies jumped out.

So go to bed and wait till tomorrow. Wait...No...Not yet. I've been thinking of writing a song called "Hey Luciana". Maybe I will see if I can get anything out of that tonight. BRB.

Well some possibilities came out of that quiet little jam but nothing I'm too excited about. Start fresh tomorrow.

Oh by the way. I'm starting to blog my creative (and not so creative) process. Not really expecting anyone to be interested but I thought it might be nice to have a songwriting journal.

Take care,
Fiercely me

Dum Dum Girls Tame Impala Band of Horses

I love music more than you love your children.  Oh except for the fact that I'm always looking for something new and it takes a lot to keep the old stuff around.  Just like your children!

Not-so-ridiculous record review rating scale:

1 day of beach vacation:  Really?  That's all you got?
2 days of beach vacation:  That's called a weekend.  Meh.
3 days of beach vacation:  Nice.  Almost enough to last a while.
4 days of beach vacation:  Quality time!  Worth the price.
5 days of beach vacation:  The best!  Classic!  Cool!  Conch!

Band of Horses "Mirage" 2.5 days of beach vacation.  Simple.  Rock.

The first song "Knock Knock" made me hopeful.  It's direct.  To the point.  Rock and roll with simple production.  There are other tunes on this new record that are also pretty cool.  However there is a lack of hooks.  The songs are all just kinda cool.  Nothing is "Knock Knock"-ing me out.  Highlights: "Knock Knock" and "Slow Cruel Hands of Time".

Dum Dum Girls "End of Daze" 3 days of beach vacation.  Awash in loveliness.

Shoe-gazey, poppy, 60s retro rock, plus a dash of industrial edge.  Dum Dum Girls are showing a nice mix of influences in this new ep.  Don't expect sleepy tunes like Beach House or straight up commercial indie like Best Coast.  Dum Dum Girls ride the reverb.  Highlights: "I Got Nothing" and "Lord Knows".

Tame Impala "Lonerism" 2 days of beach vacation.  Trippy but...

Psychedelic but not rocking.  Trippy but meandering.  Hooks but lost in the wash of effects.  Lyrically interesting but lost in the mix of jamming synthy sounds.  I didn't not like it but I'm not sure if I liked it.  Confusing?  Yes.  Highlights: "Feels Like We Only Go Backwards".

Scorpion Lightning Rumbles Revolution

Records spin one time over the Internets (usually).  I come up with some obvious yet slightly weird rating system.  Each record gets a rating and some snarky comments.  Okay maybe not snarky, but probably not very nice.  I don't like very much new music these days.

1 Sack of Jay Cutler - Ehh...most people living in Wisconsin can claim one.
2 Sacks of Jay Cutler - I guess that's pretty good.  But he probably still beat you down field more than 2 times.
3 Sacks of Jay Cutler - Cool.  He's rattled and probably threw at least one interception.
4 Sacks of Jay Cutler - Nice!  You probably beat his team!
5 Sacks of Jay Cutler - You are a BEAST!!!  We need your ring size!

Patterson Hood "Heat Lightning Rumbles in the Distance" 3 Sacks of Jay Cutler.  Pretty cool.

Patterson Hood is the main songwriter and vocalist in the band Drive By Truckers.  He is a true storyteller.  The songs on this solo album are not going to surprise you if you know his music.  Each song tells a story and each song is pretty good.  However the one thing missing from this record is the one really strong song that you have to play over and over again.  Oh well.  I guess I'll just have to settle for playing the whole record when I feel like chilling and listening to some stories.  Highlights: "Leaving Time" and "Heat Lightning Rumbles in the Distance."

Randolph Miller "A Summer of Revolution" 4 Sacks of Jay Cutler.  Very strong stuff!

This review is a little out of the ordinary for me since I know Randolph Miller.  Actually I know him as Randy Miller and he has been a good friend of mine for many years.  We have played together in cover bands on and off for probably more than 20 years.  With that said on to the review:  Randy is an amazing guitar player!  Yes this album is full of unbelievable shredding that will wow even the most expert guitarist.  But the one thing that completely took me by surprise is to hear what a great composer Randy is.  Each song has sections of layered guitars that seem like musical landscapes worth hundreds of pictures.  The only thing that is lacking is the rhythm section (which Randy lays down himself with bass and drum programs.)  "Revolution" makes it obvious that with a killer rhythm section this guy could be touring the country as a rock/metal guitarist.  I'm going to cut the review here since I usually don't get too in depth on the records but let me just say if you want to get together over a few beers and analyze this record song by song just shoot me an email.  I can't wait to see what's coming from this creative hurricane of a guitarist.  Highlights: "Charlemagne's Hammer (More Fun)", "Life of the Mind", and the super sweet album cover by Randy's wife Jana!

Will Johnson "Scorpion" 3.5 Sacks of Jay Cutler.  Makes me think!

Sure I love my rock & roll with spitfire and grooves, but I also love slow tempo, acoustic guitar, quiet and thoughtful vocals, with some sweet reverb-y piano.  That's what I get in buckets with Will Johnson.  He is the leader of the bands Centro-matic and South San Gabriel.  He's from Austin and like his hometown he has cool grooves flowing in his blood.  Scene: I'm walking in a beautiful park.  It's Fall and the leaves are colors that I never thought leaves could turn.  Will Johnson's "Scorpion" record is in my ears (probably earbuds unfortunately).  Everything is right with the world.  Run credits.  Highlights: "You Will Be Here, Mine" and "Bloodkin Push".

Smashing Pumpkins vs JEFF The Brotherhood vs Limblifter

Back at this being a jerk thing.  You know.  Writing about records and telling you that it's all crap.

Random rating scale:

1 brand new air conditioner - Yuck.
2 brand new air conditioners - Ok, but it's still pretty uncomfortable in here.
3 brand new air conditioners - Nice.  Better than the Joneses.
4 brand new air conditioners - Now you are just showing off!
5 brand new air conditioners - Opulence!

Smashing Pumpkins "Oceania" 2.5 brand new air conditioners.  Okay.  Heading in the right direction.

History: I la la loved "Gish"!  Wanted to make my guitar sound just like Billy's guitar.  Wanted my band to sound just like the Punkins.  Then with each record that came out after "Gish" I slowly fell out of love with the band.  This one has flashes but as you will probably hear or read in other places it's not all that.  For me the problem is Billy Corgan is too grandiose in his musical vision.  He is much better when he is writing a simple tune like the one that is hiding in the middle of "Pinwheels" but of course Corgan has to hide it with huge chunks of orchestrated rock on the front and back ends.  The band shines with the big rock slab of "The Chimera".  More of this kind of song would truly put this band back on my musical map.  Highlights: "Pinwheels" and "The Chimera".

JEFF The Brotherhood "Hypnotic Nights" 3 brand new air conditioners.  Nice rock n roll!

I saw this band play live at NPR over these fab Internets before I heard a recorded song.  I thought, "Eh, some kind of gimmick or joke so they can get some attention."  But now that I hear the songs and listen close to the lyrics I changed my way of thinking.  I now think this band is just some dudes who like to party and as far as the new record goes they are writing about what they know.  It's refreshing to hear a new record that is all about fun.  Don't get me wrong there are some thick mixes here.  Lots of different instruments layered over the bass, drum, guitars.  Still, the overall raw rock and roll feeling is still there.  Not a great record...but a really good record.  There aren't many of those released these days.  Highlights: "Leave Me Out" and "Six Pack".

Limblifter "Limblifter" 2 brand new air conditioners.  Ok I guess.

First of all I can't STAND when bands release self-titled albums!!  The title gives you another chance at being creative and isn't that what you are doing this for???  To show some CREATIVITY???  Ok on with the review.  Unlike the last band that I just reviewed these guys seem really serious about this music thing.  Production is crazy professional.  Songs are all just the right amount of radio friendly.  That's a few reasons why I'm not crazy about this record.  I like when things are a little bit off.  I should say it's not bad.  Some nice guitar playing (and sounds) happening.  It's just not grabbing me by the bolas.  Highlights: "Cordova" and "Round The 2".