Odds and Ends

Each week I use this space to post some mini-reviews, cool tracks, random thoughts, neat news, or whatever else I damn well please.



MiniReview
Xorigin “State Of The Art” – Frontiers Records has done a superb job this year keeping the flame of the melodic rock genre alive and well. They’ve put out terrific contemporary AOR records from Toby Hitchcock, Work Of Art, Airrace, and more, and now we have Xorigin to add to that fine collection. Xorigin is influenced by Giant, Toto, Foreigner, and Yes, and features AOR veterans Johannes Stole (vocals, keyboards) and Daniel Palmqvist (guitars, The Murder of My Sweet). Standout tracks include the fighting anthem “Can’t Keep Running”, “Crying For You”, and the harmonious mid-tempo rocker “The One For Me”. “In The Blink Of An Eye” is a grand power ballad in the REO Speedwagon tradition. Very little filler on this one, so be sure to check it out if you miss the 80s melodic rock heyday. More info on the band can be found here.



Surprise of the week
Lou Reed made the guys in Metallica cry. Here’s why.

News


Cruise on over to the web site for The Tonighters and grab three of their EPs for FREE! Masterminded by UK musician Billy Gilbert, the Tonighters incorporates elements from his extensive background in diverse musical areas ranging from power pop to punk. Awesomely catchy pop rock here, with some of my favorites including “Sad Forever” and “Down To One” from “Closet Classics Volume I”, “How Am I Supposed To Let You Go?” from “Closet Classics Volume 2”, and “Finish What You Started” from “Trivia Melodies”. With a total of 10 tracks, you are bound to find something you’ll love.
Get the free downloads here (if all used up, wait until Sept 7).
And be sure to “Like” them here.

Both amazing Jellyfish albums are being re-issued on vinyl only – details here.

New CD of Aerosmith rarities coming soon! Track list can be found here.

Producer Jack Douglas says that the new Aerosmith is due May 2012 and will be “nasty and raw” – kind of like those chicken fingers I ordered at Pizzeria Uno. Read about it here.

Next to jump on the covers album bandwagon: Scott Weiland. Details here.

The new Chickenfoot video, for lead single “Bigfoot”


What are the guys from the Replacements doing now? Well, Tommy Stinson just released a new solo record and Paul Westerberg contributed to the latest record by Glen Campbell. Details here.

Random iPOD song of the week
Sinead O’Connor does a brilliantly endearing rendition of this wonderful song originally performed by Elton John. This track appeared on the 1991 Elton John Tribute album, “Two Rooms: Celebrating the Songs of Elton John & Bernie Taupin”

Review: Strangefinger "Into the Blue"

Strangefinger...strange name, but fantastic disc. "Into the Blue", the latest offering from SideBMusic, arrives just in time as the new soundtrack to summer. Since it comes from SideBMusic, you know it has to be good...and after I heard Chris Manning (Jellyfish) had a hand producing and mixing the record, I was waiting outside by the mailbox with eager anticipation for its arrival.

Strangefinger is pure power pop bliss - band leader and main songwriter, Freddie Lemke, has gone through hell and high water to get this record, which was recorded and mixed in 2005, to finally see the light of day. Persistence has paid off and Strangefinger's "Into the Blue" is destined to be a classic in the genre.

Maybe it is the album title or cover art, or song titles with "Ocean" and "Sunshine" in them, or maybe it is the sunny melodies, bright instrumentation, or positive vibe, or perhaps the heavy Brian Wilson influence in many of the songs, but numerous reviews have already remarked how appropriate "Into the Blue" is for the beach. And while these comments make perfect sense, I'd like to add for clarification that Strangefinger does not sing about the surf and sand; rather, the lyrics are much more interesting, rewarding the listener with something more substantial and contemplative.

We begin with a beautiful piano-driven pop tune called "Sleep", which is far from a snore, boasting a gorgeous melody sung with perfection. "Good Night" is a show closer and, while it may have been intuitive to place this at the end of the CD, it is ear candy wherever and whenever it is heard. "Piscetarrius" is another piano-based and harmony-rich ditty that is very reminiscent of Jellyfish. Strangefinger also demonstrate that they are not just a one-trick pony by showing a soulful side on the groovy track "System to the Grind". Additional highlights include a "lost in the 70s" ballad called "Two Angels" and the outstanding single, "There's An Ocean".

Strangefinger should appeal to a wide range of power pop and rock fans. Audition them for free by downloading "There's An Ocean" here.

iPOD-worthy: 1, 3, 4, 5, 11, 12

Strangefinger on MySpace. Official site. Get it.

Check out the video for the single, "There's An Ocean":

Rare CD: Jellyfish "Fan Club" (4 CD Box Set)

Sells for $199.00 on ebay (Buy It Now). Going for $300 used on Amazon.com. Check now.

Another sold for $167.50 on ebay (19 bids)

Review: Angels & Airwaves "We Don't Need To Whisper"

I was never a big fan of Blink-182, save the excellent hook-laden hit, "All the Small Things." In 2006, Blink's guitarist/vocalist Tom DeLonge released his new project entitled "Angles and Airwaves." The record received some pretty good press, debuted at # 4 on Billboard (which means less and less to me every week), and went gold. To top that all off, Roger Joseph Manning, Jr (Jellyfish) played the keyboards on this release.

I wish I could say that I like it more. It sounds like a logical step forward that Blink-182 would take...I don't think you can separate his distinctive voice from anything else but what he did with Blink-182. I admire the production, and some of the songs have a cool atmosphere associated with them...I can see why some argue this is more of a "headphones in the dark" record. Bottom line is the songs just don't do anything for me. Too forgettable, even with repeated spins. I applaud an effort to grow and expand as an artist, but the guy just doesn't have the vocal chops for more serious songs...he is better suited for the novelty tunes that Blink-182 made famous.

iPOD-worthy: 6

Angels and Airwaves on MySpace. Offical site.

Video for the single "The Adventure":