Fiercely Me

   ---Open on a bright and cheery kitchen.  Smartly decorated.--- I listen to 3 new records.       I give each record a score based on a random rating scale. You pretend you care.                                     1 Chicago dog - What's the point? 2 Chicago dogs - Maybe 3 Chicago dogs - Now we are getting somewhere! 4 Chicago dogs - Right on! 5 Chicago dogs - Heaven is real! Calexico "The Thread That Keeps Us" 3 Chicago dogs.  Pleasant. Calexico is cool.  Who doesn't like their brand of acoustic guitar rock lightly seasoned with horns and percussion?  This record has some nice songs that really started grabbing at me.  Unfortunately it also has some clunkers that made me want to reach for the skip button.  I would definitely put this o...

Dear kids of 2018, It's me.  F me.  With some new music for your ears.  Or new music your ears should stay away from. I listen to new records. Once through. I give each record a simple rating. You proceed accordingly with your life. Today's rating scale: 1 cute diapered monkey cleaning your place - Meh.  Still dirty. 2 cute diapered monkeys cleaning your place - Better but not good. 3 cute diapered monkeys cleaning your place - Decent! 4 cute diapered monkeys cleaning your place - Where's my wallet? 5 cute diapered monkeys cleaning your place - Take my passwords and pin codes!!! Dr. Demento "Covered In Punk" 5 cute diapered monkeys! Buy this in every available format! Dr. Demento's radio show was a part of my childhood.  So yes, there might be a bit of nostalgia influencing my opinion of this record.  Is that really such a bad thing?  The record is set up like a Dr. Demento radio show with many "clips" of the "Doctor" ...

Three newish records.        One listen through each record. Five stupid ratings.      One more educated music listener...You! 1 Miley-free day.  Nice but not really worth much. 2 Miley-free days.  Good.  Stream it once. 3 Miley-free days.  Better.  Stream it repeatedly. 4 Miley-free days.  Very good!  Download it illegally and consider a purchase a year or two down the road. 5 Miley-free days.  Excellent!  Buy it immediately on multiple formats. Lou Barlow "Brace the Wave" 4 Miley-free days. This is mostly Lou B. and some acoustic instruments.  So if you're looking for the rock...move along.  The weird thing that I noticed is that Lou's voice sounds different in some of the songs.  Like he is intentionally trying to not sound like himself.  Why is that weird?  Because it works!  I think 30 some odd minutes of more Lou sounding like Lou would be too ...

Where have you been?  I've been not looking all over for you!  3 records.  One listen. Reviews based on first impression.  On with the record reviews: 1 Donald Trump autographed toupe- Meh.  Not worth the time. 2 Donald Trump autographed toupes- Ok but what else you got? 3 Donald Trump autographed toupes- Nice.  Now this is something to email Mom about! 4 Donald Trump autographed toupes- This is breaking new grounds! Like might turn into love! 5 Donald Trump autographed toupes- The best thing ever!  Open a store and dedicate your life to turning people on to this record! La Luz "Weirdo Shrine" 2 Donald Trump autographed toupes.  Seriously La Luz, what else you got. On Weirdo Shrine La Luz plays surfy, dreamy, but mostly sleepy pop songs.  Key word in that review is "sleepy".  Yes Ty Segall produced the record and that alone should help this already good band shine, right?  Not so much.  The retro, reverby sound that ...

Tony Molina is another artist I discovered through NPR's All Songs Considered Podcast.  With nods to Teenage Fanclub, Weezer, and Heavy Metal riffing, my only regret is I didn't know about this a year ago.  Every song is too short.  "Leave them wanting more" must be Tony's motto.  "Walk Away" is the closest thing to a "normal" guitar hit on the record and at 1:24 it ends the record with one verse, one chorus, one solo...and...done. "Don't Come Back" is my favorite on the record.  It sparkles with Indie pop shine through the first 35 seconds and at 36 seconds it morphs into a heavy instrumental rocker. Even the short guitar "snippets" are worth a listen.  "Dissed and Dismissed" is what happens when Bob Pollard and Rivers Cuomo have a musical baby and leave him at the Alex Chilton Home For Wayward Records.  Lovely in it's ugliness.

New feature alert!  I call it "Just missed it"!  I will be featuring records that I've recently discovered that may have been out for a while.  When I say "a while" I mean it could be a couple months to a couple of decades.  I've heard NPR's Bob Boilen say that there just is not enough time to listen to everything that is worth a listen.  This is from a guy who listens to music every day and goes to tons of live shows.  I tend to agree. JUST MISSED IT    (1st edition) Laura Stevenson "Wheel" (2013 Don Giovanni Records) I first heard Laura Stevenson on NPR's podcast "All Songs Considered".  They played the amazing track "L-Dopa" and I was hooked.  For some reason I have a problem connecting with female artists (insert juvenile comment here).  They need to have something really special to grab me as a fan (insert even worse comment here).  Something in Laura's vocal delivery paired with her not-too-predictable s...

Hi kids!  Miss me?  Probably not.  So it's been almost a year since I've published a blog.  Does that mean I'm no longer a Blogger?  So what's been the holdup?  A. I haven't been listening to new albums in full lately. B. I have two bands again.  No longer just the one. C. I have a life other than music. D. I've been playing around with the idea of starting a podcast. So what's up with the podcast?  Of course I've been thinking of doing a music podcast but I've been very disappointed in the copyright issues involved in using music for a podcast.  So I guess I will put the call out there. ARE YOU A SONGWRITER?  DO YOU PLAY IN A BAND?  ARE YOU A PERFORMER?  I WANT YOUR MUSIC!  SEND LINKS TO YOUR ORIGINAL SONGS OR MP3S OR EVEN VIDEOS TO FIERCELYME@HOTMAIL.COM!  I WILL GLADLY SHARE YOUR MUSIC WITH THE WORLD!  However I do have the right to comment, criticize, or just plain bash your song!  But you don't ...

I listen to a record one time.  I give it a rating.  I write a short first impression review.  Nothing earth shattering. 1 personalized guitar pick - lame 2 personalized guitar picks - below average 3 personalized guitar picks - pretty okay 4 personalized guitar picks - good stuff 5 personalized guitar picks - pretty damn perfect  Mudhoney "Vanishing Point" 4 personalized guitar picks I missed the Mudhoney boat the first time it came around.  I heard random songs but I was never blown away.  If "Vanishing Point" came out 20 years ago I would have been one of their biggest fans for a long time.  This record is fun!  Even if the lyrical topics are a little dark and most of the songs are minor key rockers.  I really like this new record.  Mudhoney is in prime form and even the screaming sounds great! Highlights: "I Like It Small" and "Chardonnay".  Rogue Wave "Nightingale Floors" 3 personalized guitar picks Dear Rogue ...

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...

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 fe...

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.

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 Lucia...

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...

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 ...

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...

Rock and Roll ain't noise pollution...at least not when you have your headphones on. Random record review ratings: 1 Grape Ape - Not good.  Not good at all. 2 Grape Apes - Meh. 3 Grape Apes - Good.  But average good. 4 Grape Apes - Cool.  Rock worth your time and moola! 5 Grape Apes - A brand new masterpiece worth your time and your exclamation points!!! King Tuff "King Tuff" 4 Grape Apes.  Tuff stuff! I knew nothing of this band.  I heard some mentions on a podcast.  Only heard the name and had no idea what the music is like.  So this is truly first reaction: Sweet!  I'm a sucker for raw rock riffs with wimpy indie boy vocals.  Reminds me of growing up on Superchunk.  The songs aren't knocking me over but they are fun.  Just enough roll with the rock.  I will be digging into this band more very soon.  Highlights: "Bad Thing" and "Anthem". Rhett Miller "The Dreamer"3 Grape Apes.  Genuine.  Countryi...

Gather 'round by little children and let me tell you a tale of the olden days.  Back when you had to buy records from only hearing one song on the radio.  Maybe you heard someone else talking about the record before you bought it.  You kids with your Internets and every song ever created at your fingertips!  You don't know what hard work is! 1 Wyld Stallyn - Not cool.  Kinda weird. 2 Wyld Stallyns - Okay.  But did you pay money for that?  Ugh. 3 Wyld Stallyns - This is cool.  Might even pay a couple of bucks for this. 4 Wyld Stallyns - All my thumbs are up.  I like this. 5 Wyld Stallyns - MOST EXCELLENT! Best Coast "The Only Place" 5 Wyld Stallyns - San Dimas High School football rules!! I'm a sucker for catchy, poppy, strummy, upbeat indie rock and this is about as good as it gets.  Yes the first song "The Only Place" is basically a commercial for California it still gets my foot tapping.  Even when Best Coast slows it d...

Step one: Listen to a new record in it's full glory streaming over the Internets with cheap headphones on so I don't bother my kids who are watching Disney movies. Step two: Type my initial reaction out in the form of a review. Step three: Give the record a random and somewhat useless rating from a random and somewhat useless review scale. Step four: Repeat. Random and somewhat useless rating scale: 1. iPod Shuffle-Small.  Gets the job done but doesn't do it nearly well enough to make it worth your money. 2. iPod Nano-Okay.  Nice colors.  Just seems a little inferior to the other things that do it better. 3. iPod Classic-Bigger.  Better.  This is the workhorse. 4. iPod Touch-Flashy. Does everything the others do and more. 5. iPhone-Better than the rest.  This will make your life worth living! Jack White "Blunderbuss" iPod Nano.  Only okay. Jack White's music is all right with me.  I've never really gone out and searched for an albu...

Internet record reviews.  I listen to the album streaming one time through then give my first impression.  Oh yeah...I also use a random rating scale.  I know...real innovative. 1 chocolate Easter bunny- Keep looking around the house.  There has to be more! 2 chocolate Easter bunnies- Okay but this won't last the night. 3 chocolate Easter bunnies- Good stuff.  Worth the time invested. 4 chocolate Easter bunnies- This is so good you might get sick of it! 5 chocolate Easter bunnies- The best!  Should last till Halloween! The Shins "Port of Morrow" 1.75 chocolate Easter bunnies.  Weak showing. I hate, Hate, HATE when a single comes out and it shows so much promise for the album.  It rocks.  It's catchy.  It's really good.  Then it ends up being the best thing by far on a weak album.  Case in point is "Port of Morrow" by the Shins.  I'm not a huge fan of the Shins but I like some of their tunes.  This album sho...

Shaky from the coffee...wired from the sound...ready to take on the World...only because I won't be sleeping for hours if this feeling doesn't go away. Record reviews (I hope): Random scale of randomness... 1 wide awake hour of creativity.  This is probably not worth the time. 2 wide awake hours of creativity.  Ehhh...I'm just not convinced this is the real thing. 3 wide awake hours of creativity.  This is the norm.  Something worth the effort. 4 wide awake hours of creativity.  This is better than the rest, but something else is probably the best. 5 wide awake hours of creativity.  Great, greater, the bestest! Cursive "I Am Gemini" 2 wide awake hours of creativity.  Indie Dream Theater for sure. I admit it.  Years ago I had a musical affair with Cursive.  I came across 2003's "The Ugly Organ" and loved it, loved it, and loved it again!  But as it sometimes happens Cursive and I fell out of love.  Ok so it was me....