Review: Jim Basnight "We Rocked and Rolled"

Disclosed Records has just released this 23 track career retrospective CD titled "We Rocked and Rolled: The First 25 Years of Jim Basnight: The Moberlys and Beyond". We've reviewed a couple releases by this Seattle-based rock and roll warrior, including his acclaimed "Seattle-New York-Los Angeles" CD with The Moberlys and "Makin' Bacon" with The Rockinghams. "We Rocked and Rolled" is a long overdue collection of some of the finest slices of rock and power pop from this prolific and grossly underrated talent.

The CD is arranged chronologically, beginning with some true gems from the beginning of Jim Basnight's musical career in the early 80s. His knack for writing killer pop rock hooks shows itself immediately with the infectious opener, "You Know, I Know" and the merry "Live In The Sun". His initial sound captured the bubblegum spirit of the great 60s groups such as Tommy James or The Buckinghams, but his style of garage rock kept it sounding real and genuine - bubblegum with a bite! Then he moved into Replacements territory, represented with cuts like "I Wanna Be Yours" and "Lose Me", even vocally sounding like a cross between Paul Westerberg and Mick Jagger.

Featured next on this collection are plenty of his choice cuts with The Rockinghams, including "Need A Car", "Hello Mary Jane", "Rock and Roll Girlfriend", "More Than One Way" and my favorite, "Space". The gritty tracks he recorded during this period had a distinct blues bar feel to them and remind many of early Rolling Stones. The CD closes with some more recent chapters in the Jim Basnight testament to rock and roll, including a newly recorded version of "We Rocked and Rolled" that pretty much sums it all up.

What I enjoyed most about this retrospective is listening to how Jim Basnight evolved as an artist over the past 25 years. Expanding into new musical territory while retaining your distinctive sound is a rare accomplishment, but Basnight seems to pull it off with ease. Here's to another 25 exciting years...

iPOD-worthy: 1, 3, 6, 7, 8, 16, 17, 23

Jim Basnight on MySpace. Official site.

News: Jim Basnight - new retrospective release

From Jim Basnight:

We are extremely pleased to announce to you our friends, and fellow
music fans the release on the NYC based label Disclosed Records of a
career retrospective CD titled "We Rocked and Rolled: The First 25
Years of Jim Basnight: The Moberlys and Beyond".

"We Rocked and Rolled" will be available in all of the usual places
that you buy CDs, as we wind into 2009, but if you want to put it in
your own player and spin it now, just send $15 through paypal at
jim@jimbasnight.com and of course include your mailing address. If
you'd rather pay by check and have a U.S. bank account, just send
payment to Jim Basnight, 7616 Latona NE, Seattle, WA 98115. If you
live outside of the U.S. or Canada, add $5 for shipping and handling.
Of course a postal money order is acceptable.

Review: Jim Basnight & the Moberlys "Seattle - New York - Los Angeles"

The prolific Jim Basnight was featured on this blog not too long ago in the form of his garage rock outfit "The Rockinghams". "Seattle - New York - Los Angeles" is another jam packed CD full of straight up rock and roll tunes, this time backed by his raucous bar band The Moberlys.

From the name you might surmise this is a collection of live recordings from various shows in the aforementioned cities, but this is not the case. It is 23 tracks of some of the strongest material I've heard from Basnight's extensive catalogue. This savior of rock and roll sounds a little different on each CD he puts out, but each CD is consistent in and of itself. "Seattle - New York - Los Angeles" is no exception.

This time around the theme appears to be strongly influenced by 50s be-bop and surf rock with a modern rock twist. Imagine The Replacements covering classic rock and roll artists like Buddy Holly or Beach Boys. Check out "I Wanna Be Yours" and "What I Wouldn't Do" to see what I'm talking about. We also hear some Material Issue coming through on cuts like "She Don't Rock" and Tom Petty on "The Rebel Kind".

These are some of the most melodic and instantly catchy tunes Basnight has recorded. From the Jim Basnight discography, this CD is my favorite so far.

iPOD-worthy: 1, 5, 7, 8, 11, 12, 14, 16

Jim Basnight on MySpace. Official site.

Review: The Rockinghams “Makin’ Bacon”

Jim Basnight is a true rock and roll warrior, fighting the good fight for decades now. He’s always been shaking up the rock music scene in some way, shape, or form: as a solo artist, as member of the Moberlys, or as a member of his power trio The Rockinghams.

With The Rockinghams, Basnight channels more garage rock than polished pop, aligning himself with the likes of early Replacements or Tommy Stinson's other projects. At times, I hear something more like a sloppy version of Cheap Trick. I do not mean to imply anything negative with the word “sloppy” – just trying to convey the raw rock energy the Rockinghams embody. You'll also pick up some Social Distortion (check out "She Gives Me Everything I Want") and Tommy Conwell (check out "Middle Of The Night"). The songs are quick and to the point pop rockers – if you don’t like one song, have no fear because a new one comes along in about two minutes. The CD is very consistent and an excellent choice for a carefree “I just want to rock out” mood.

If you are looking for pristine and polished melodic rock, The Rockinghams is not the best CD to start with in the Jim Basnight discography. However, there are a few select tracks that satiate both the gritty bar band rocker and power pop enthusiasts alike. Most notable among these are "So Glad You Came" and "Space".

So if you like your rock to splatter and sizzle, bring home the "Makin' Bacon" release.

iPOD-worthy: 5, 7, 8, 12

Jim Basnight on MySpace. Official site.