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
Drew Martin and the Limelights [EP] – Drew Martin is a singer-songwriter from Richmond, VA, leading the band Drew Martin & the Limelights. Their first EP is self-titled and available on iTunes and Amazon – it features five jangle pop tracks to enhance your chilling out this summer. Drew is also a member of the Jim Ivins Band, which we’ve covered a couple times here previously on BMF (click here), and Ivins plays along here as one of the Limelights. Martin has a soothing voice, which can kick up into an ear-pleasing falsetto, perfect for this style of mellow yet upbeat pop rock. Most of the tunes are acoustic-based and feature cozy melodies atop of smart lyrics telling stories of deceit, nostalgia, and hope. Highlights include the driving rockers “Calling Your Bluff” and “Bring The Light”, but don’t miss the breezy closer “Just Call Me” either. Learn more about the band and their music here.

Great new video from Neil Nathan
Check out this great new animated video from Neil Nathan, “a homage to the perfect Sunday drive and to my uncle who used to drive a 67 Chevy Corvette Sting Ray Convertible and refurbish 'em for other collectors”. See more on Neil Nathan here.



Surprise of the week
Um…Rob Zombie has done a commercial for…wait for it…WOOLITE! You know, the gentle laundry detergent. Perfect match up, wouldn’t you say? It’s actually kind of cool – check it out here.

News
Tyketto reunion and new album for 2012. “Well...the ink is finally dry, and we can announce that Tyketto has signed with worldwide giant, FRONTIERS RECORDS. Tyketto happily joins the Frontiers family, which houses such heavyweights as Def leppard, Whitesnake and Journey! We have been busy finalizing the deal, and working on material for our fourth studio release. This will be our first new album since 1995's SHINE. These are some of the best ideas we have worked on in years. There's plenty of the classic DON'T COME EASY sound, mixed in with some new ideas and some great surprises! Look out for a Spring 2012 release....everywhere! All FOUR ORIGINAL MEMBERS WILL BE A PART OF THIS SPECIAL EVENT!”

American Idol David Cook will be celebrating the release of his sophomore album “This Loud Morning” on June 28th, 2011 with a special event at the Paramount Hotel in Times Square, NYC. Read more about it here.

New Butch Walker coming this Fall – not many details at this time, but you can read the story here.

Check out three new songs by Morrissey from his forthcoming new album here.

Paul McCartney opens up about the release of his first solo album and the breakup of the Beatles. McCartney said, "I was not a popular bunny". Read the full story here. By the way, Sir Paul turns 69 today - Happy Birthday!

Random iPOD song of the week
Never understood why the leadoff single, “Didn’t Know It Was Love”, from Survivor’s “Too Hot To Sleep” album didn’t help the record blaze up the charts. What is there not to like about this song?

Review: Night Ranger “Somewhere in California”

Melodic rock
Has it really been 30 years since Night Ranger first stormed onto the 80s hard rock scene? Best known for their big classic hits such as “Sister Christian”, “When You Close Your Eyes”, and “Don't Tell Me You Love Me”, the band is back to show they can still rock in America. The lineup for the new effort, “Somewhere in California” includes Jack Blades (bass, vocals), Kelly Keagy (drums, vocals), Brad Gillis (guitars), Joel Hoekstra (guitars), and Eric Levy (keyboards). It was hard to find a high school dance in the 80s that did not have Night Ranger on the playlist – will any high schools want to play a new Night Ranger track today? Of course not, but this is no fault of the band – they stay true to their 80s sound and avoid catering to today’s musical trends. Fans are going to love the band for this choice.

I have to admit that the lead off track and first single, “Growin' Up In California” left me disappointed. Who needs another song about &!#$#ing California?! The performance is tight, but the lyrics are bland and the melody is tired. “Lay It On Me” brings Night Ranger into 2011, with heavy riffs and modern guitar tones driving the rhythm. Unfortunately, there isn’t anything more memorable about this tune. Things get much better by the third track, the radio-friendly anthem “Bye Bye Baby (Not Tonight)” – the chorus on this one shines and finally reminds us of the band’s gift for melody and harmony. “Follow Your Heart” is an AOR staple as you can judge from the title, and there is a decent song somewhere in this near seven minute labyrinth, but it takes too much effort to find it. “Time Of Our Lives” is the first requisite power ballad – it is beautifully done and grows on you after a couple spins, but doesn’t hold a cigarette lighter to their 80s work.

The second half of the record is a little better by comparison. Sounding like a .38 Special single, “No Time To Lose Ya” is spectacular – one of the catchiest choruses on the record. “Live For Today” is an interesting rocker with psychedelic verses flanking a more orthodox melodic chorus…but at six minutes, it wears out its welcome. The “it ain’t over till the fat lady sings” spirit is captured in the steady rocker “It’s Not Over”, which also features some excellent lead work. “Rock N Roll Tonight” is a rather lame sequel to "(You Can Still) Rock in America", but the album’s closer, “Say it With Love” is compelling. After pseudo rap verses comes a traditional Night Ranger chorus, ending the record on a high note.

“Somewhere in California” will be out June 17 (Frontiers Records).

iPOD-worthy: 3, 6, 8, 11

Night Ranger – Official site.

Check out the video “Growin' Up In California”:

Review: Faz Waltz “Life On The Moon”

Rock
Italian rockers Faz Waltz are back with a new record entitled, “Life On The Moon”. Led by Faz La Rocca, the boys are back with a dozen new tunes that capture the essence of 70s glam rock. “Life On The Moon” is the sophomore release to their self-titled debut (read our review here), which came out exactly one year prior.

Hop into their “Love Limousine” and you’ll feel like you’ve taken a time machine back to the glory days of T. Rex. Their love of all things Marc Bolan comes through even more on tracks like “Get On Down” and “I Long For Your Love”. Other highlights include the ballad “Mr. Sorrow”, which features progressive chord changes reminiscent of the pop stylings found in the music of Mott the Hoople. “Never Let You Go” sparkles with a super sharp pop melody, made all the more radiant with a bouncy piano line. “Friend Of A Nightmare” has a very similar vibe and is equally enjoyable. Two other tracks stand out because they are a detour from the fuzzy stomp rock that dominates the album. The stripped down acoustic “Lucky Man” offers a rare glimpse of a naked Faz Waltz, and “Marble Eyes” closes the record with a gentle and earnest piano ballad in the key of David Bowie.

Faz Waltz is recommended for fans of T. Rex, David Bowie, or The Knack.

iPOD-worthy: 1, 3, 6, 10, 11

Faz Waltz – Official site. Facebook.

The Best Albums You Never Heard

By Kurt Torster

Tour De Force “World On Fire” (198?)

More a set of demos strung together rather than a proper complete album, it doesn’t negate the fact that this is some of the best arena sized pomp that’s ever graced my ears.

I first came across this band on one of my weekly trips to the Village in New York City, St. Mark’s Place to be more exact. There, me and an ever revolving group of friends would scour places like Sounds or Rock N’ Roll Heaven for all the imports, demos and promo items we could get our hands on. One trip in 1989 scored me a 4 song cassette EP by Long Island’s Tour De Force, which I knew of by name at least from seeing their giant full page ads in rags like the Aquarian.

Most of the demos I would pick up over the years never amounted to much (save for a little known group called Hollywood Rose, which would go on to become Guns N’ Roses). But, this cassette just captivated me and because a permanent fixture in my car. In particular, songs like the bouncy “Back To You” or the MEGA ballad “Coming Home” brought to mind the finest moments of Danger Danger or Night Ranger. Soaring vocalist Chali Cayte simply sounds like he was born for this.



The disc itself kicks off with the Michael Bolton penned “Tonight,” and like the majority of songs here is an infectious keyboard dominated rocker that should have had filled arenas fist pumping rather than becoming something of a lost legend (like their NYC brethren Aviator or Prophet).



Songs like “If It’s Over” or “Rough Boy” keep the winning streak going with songs that are about as 80s as you can get, yet no matter when I spin this set, it sounds as fresh as the day I first purchased that EP. Though it loses some steam in the middle of the disc, at 17 songs it’s a bit expected and trimming it to an even dozen would have been a better bet.

If hard rock dominated by layer upon layer of keyboards is your thing and a band name like Giuffria or Shy gets you foaming at the mouth, you’ll wonder how this lot slipped under your radar.

Recently reissued yet again just the other week through AOR Heaven, I honestly have no idea what happened to any of the members of this group. Though their actual self-titled debut for Geffen eventually saw the light of day, from what I hear it’s a mostly avoidable affair that doesn’t touch the potential of what most of these demos offered.

Find more info on Tour De Force here.

Review: Ari Shine “Ghost Town Directory”

Singer/Songwriter
Since the age of 15, Ari Shine has been working to perfect his craft, incorporating his love of late 70s rock and pop into his own contemporary tunes. In addition to writing his own material, he co-writes for numerous other bands and artists (The Secret Handshake, Josie Cotton, Gaby Moreno to name a few). When he isn’t writing and recording, he is out on the road taking his songs to the people. He’s opened for Rhett Miller, Redd Kross, Silversun Pickups, the Donnas, and many others. Last summer Shine was selected to support Chris Shiflett of the Foo Fighters on his entire US/Canadian tour.

Shine’s latest record, “Ghost Town Directory” bristles with singer/songwriter spirit yet has a slick radio-friendly gloss provided by producer Noah Shain (As Tall As Lions, Me Talk Pretty and The Secret Handshake). The introductory track is a perfect example of how this team dresses up the retro melodies in modern rock clothes. “All I’ve Got Is Love” is a blistering rocker sizzling with a crunchy riff and harmonies dripping with syrup – not too far astray from Collective Soul. The driving “Against The Night” enshrouds Bob Seger lyrics with the sort of punchy guitars that lifted the Goo Goo Dolls into superstardom. Other highlights include “Refuge In You” and the Bay City Rollers sounding “Better Anyday”. On the softer side, Shine shows off his skills for balladry on the pleasant “Here With Me” and “Shine”. The bonus track, “Ship In A Bottle”, for which there is a video below, is a sparse acoustic tune not representative of the majority of high energy, more accessible tunes on this record.

“Ghost Town Directory” is a terrific release from start to finish. Shine is an extremely promising talent that wraps his earnest, often inspirational lyrics in melodies that feature plenty of affable harmonies and interesting chord changes.

iPOD-worthy: 1, 2, 4, 7, 9, 10

Ari Shine – Official site.

Check out the video for “Ship In A Bottle”

Ari Shine - "Ship In A Bottle"
Ari Shine

Classic melodic rock CD of the week

By Stephen Kasenda

BON JOVI “New Jersey” (1988)

Bon Jovi labeled their fourth album “New Jersey” out of pride for their home state. Though it seems hard to beat the victorious 30 million sales of "Slippery When Wet", this album carved another important record for being the only hard rock album in history that spawned five singles on the Top 10 of Billboard Hot 100.

Among the singles that conquered the charts, I don't like "Lay Your Hands On Me" as I found it's too boring and disposable. "I'll Be There For You" is a decent generic ballad, but "Bad Medicine" and "Born To Be My Baby" are essential upbeat rockers. And the heart-throbbing backstreet ballad, "Living In Sin", is legendary and I consider it as one of their greatest piece ever penned.

After the previous "Wanted Dead or Alive", Bon Jovi had a big interest in the wild west cowboy theme, reflected on tracks such as "Blood On Blood", "Ride Cowboy Ride", and "Stick To Your Guns". The list of great songs here goes on with the anthemic "Wild Is The Wind" and the acoustical outro of "Love For Sale".

"New Jersey" is a crucial part of Bon Jovi's growing phase and a huge nostalgic memory to many. Remember when hair was long and the hysterical shout of "when you get drunk, I'll be the wine" with guitars on your lap and the neighbor’s girl secretly falling in love with you. Whether you like it or not, Bon Jovi played an important role in bringing many new fans to the rock/metal community, and "New Jersey" is their one thing to blame.

Read more of Stephen’s features at MetalMusicArchives.

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
Bowery Beasts “Heavy You” [EP] – This L.A.-based rock outfit pays homage to classic rock acts such as Thin Lizzy and Mott the Hoople on their latest five song EP entitled, “Heavy You” (release date July 5). Describing their own sound as “Blue Jean Glam”, one can hear the bright melodies of groups like Slade or even Sweet percolating up to the surface above the fuzzy guitars and wailing vocals. To my ears, there is just as much modern influence from the likes of Modest Mouse or The Killers in their tunes as well. Check them out if you want a fresh spin on the late 70s classic rock sound. Highlights include the lyrically seductive “He Was Your First Tattoo” and the feisty “Young Rockers”. Learn more about the band and their music here.

Surprise of the week
Ozzy Osbourne had a pair of unlikely guest vocalists on his 1988 album "No Rest for The Wicked": Howard Kaylan and Mark Volman, better known as Flo and Eddie from Frank Zappa's Mothers of Invention and The Turtles (of “Happy Together” fame). Read all about it here.

News
The Trews (reviewed here) are releasing “Live From Montreal” on iTUNES June 21. THE TREWS released Hope & Ruin last month and their fourth full-length studio album is also available on vinyl courtesy of Bumstead Records/CEN. The quartet just completed a leg of the "Born Free Tour" with KID ROCK in the Great White North and will summer in New York with five shows covering the state from Niagra Falls to Houston Street in June. To prepare the U.S. for their enthralling stage-show, THE TREWS are releasing LIVE FROM MONTREAL, exclusively through iTunes on June 21, 2011.

Def Leppard is releasing their first ever live album, “Mirror Ball”, and you can stream the 2CD collection in its entirety right here.

New Jayhawks coming September 20 – “Mockingbird Time”! The 12-track album is the first full-band studio release featuring both founding members Gary Louris and Mark Olson since 1995's Tomorrow the Green Grass. Read more about it here.

Crowded House frontman Neil Finn, and his wife, Sharon Finn's Pajama Club have set a September 13th release date for their self-titled debut and have announced some U.S. shows this month with more coming this summer. More info here.


Charity auction for Trekstock. This week the third and final lot of plectrums will be auctioned, which includes the likes of Band Of Horses, Ronnie Wood, Duff McKagan, and Paramore to name just a few of the artists involved. The plectrums signed by these bands are now up for auction on Ebay.
You can learn more about the auction and the charity project over at Benshermanvip.com and for further updates on twitter check out the hashtag #BSVIP and the account @bensherman1963

Random iPOD song of the week
“Danny’s Song” by Loggins and Messina. One of the most beautiful songs ever, written by Kenny in 1970 for his brother Danny to celebrate the birth of Danny’s boy. Brings a tear of joy to my eyes.

Review: Warrant “Rockaholic”

Melodic Rock/hairband
The revolving door of personnel in the band called Warrant makes the early years of Fleetwood Mac seem pretty stable by comparison. Erik Turner (guitars), who formed the band in 1984, is in the current lineup along with others who have been with him since the early days. The gaping hole is that lead singer and key songwriter Jani Lane has been replaced with Robert Mason (Lynch Mob, Cry Of Love). For most people, Lane defined the sound of Warrant during their peak of popularity and any version of the band without him just isn’t the “real” Warrant they knew and loved. Well, we can sit and debate whether bands that go on without key personnel have a right to continue using the same name, or we can just judge the songs on “Rockaholic” as they stand.

As you can surmise from the title, “Rockaholic” covers standard fodder of sex, drugs, and rock and roll. The boys in this rendition of Warrant sound like they are giving it their all – the guitars are loud and proud, the bass and drums create a thunderous backbeat, and Mason belts out the tired lyrics with remarkable gusto. Where the guys come up short is in the songwriting category. Lane’s vocals are not only missed, but so are the melodic hooks that he could write. Not all songs suffer from this deficit – the album is like a sandwich. There is some tasty meat in the middle, but it is flanked by stale bread.

The record begins with songs that attempt to revive an element of the band’s glam roots with “Sex Ain’t Love” and “Innocence Gone”, but these tracks are in need of serious Viagra. Things don’t get very interesting until the power ballad “Home”. Leaving this comfort zone, the band grooves right into a driving mid-tempo number called “What Love Can Do”, which is one of the most accessible on the album. Next up is the first single, “Life’s A Song”, another respectable radio-friendly tune that gets better on repeated listens. Sounds more like a Danger Danger song, but it works for me. After this, things go South again with lukewarm songs like “Cocaine Freight Train” and “Sunshine”, but a decent power ballad is buried on the back half of the record in “Found Forever”. “Found Forever” is a little over the top but on equal footing with the quality of “Home”.

“Rockaholic” ain’t all bad, but I can’t see anyone getting addicted to it. The band needs an intervention. Fans should “cherry” pick the highlights.

iPOD-worthy: 5, 6, 7, 10

Warrant – official site.

Check out the video for “Life’s A Song”:

Review: Moonlight Towers “Day Is The New Night”

Power pop/rock
“Day Is The New Night” is the third album by Moonlight Towers, a band from Austin that takes its name from the city’s tall vintage streetlights. The guys in Moonlight Towers cherish the three minute pop rock song and hope this third release is the charm. In their own words, they enjoy “writing, recording and playing real rock’n’roll with a hearty pop kick, and being a genuine band. It’s really that simple.”

Their latest effort comes off the heels of “Like You Were Never There”, which was produced by Mike Napolitano (Joseph Arthur, Neville Brothers, Ani DiFranco, Twilight Singers). Thanks to extensive touring and warm reviews, the CD sold thousands of copies and inspired the band to get back in the studio to write more infectious melodies.

The enthusiasm on this new record is palpable. As the band slips into the horn-infused opener, “Heat Lightning”, thoughts of Collective Soul covering Tom Petty come to mind. “Can’t Shake This Feeling” marches into your ears with eager pomp and circumstance, with the snappy lead guitar riff leading the charge. “The Easy Way Out”, with its breezy and laid back vibe, makes for a perfect tune to play while sitting in the sun on the beach. Additional highlights include “What Else Can I Say”, which possesses relatable lyrics and a driving mid-tempo beat. “Baby Don’t Slow Me Down” is a terrific rocker with a funky rhythm guitar line and instantly likeable chorus. I also enjoyed the E Street Band feel of “Not A Kid Anymore”. If you are in the mood for something mellow, there are a couple ballads worthy of mention. “Distant Wheels” would fit comfortably on an Oasis record, and “Comes A Time” is an acoustic driven piece augmented with radiant strings.

The nine tracks come at you fast – the band only takes 30 minutes to tear through the set. The songs are short and sweet, but so tuneful that they don’t need a long time to make a lasting impression. Moonlight Towers will appeal to fans of Matthew Sweet, Cheap Trick, and Collective Soul. Rock and Roll doesn’t get any more straight-up than this.

iPOD-worthy: 1, 2, 4, 6, 7, 8

Moonlight Towers – Official site.

Check out a video:

WOXY.com presents: Moonlight Towers from WOXY on Vimeo.

The Best Albums You Never Heard

By Kurt Torster

The Yeah You’s “Looking Through You” (2009)

It’s pretty much a dead horse to complain that music is just not the same as it used to be. Whether the complaint is about the overuse of technology (like auto-tune), compression or just the basic lack of good songs, there are always exceptions to the rule, especially if you’re willing to look outside of what the mainstream filters to your ears.

In what is probably the best album I’ve heard in at least 5 years, British duo the Yeah You’s have taken just about every sound I like personally and rolled it around 11 perfectly crafted pop songs that, for whatever reasons I’ve used in the past for an album failing probably apply here.

While the biggest sounds that jump out at you are 80’s Yes and Genesis, keep listening and sounds of Cutting Crew, The Outfield and even Pet Shop Boys will eventually pass your brain. This is intelligently crafted pop that uses the technology afforded rather than rely on it. Vocalist Nick Ingram brings that 80’s Yes vibe home by having a singing style somewhere in the middle of Jon Anderson and Trevor Ravbin.

If you’re a fan of big melodies and even bigger sing along choruses, then you probably won’t find a finer modern album, especially if the majority of your music collection is 25 years old. Songs like “15 Minutes,” “If I Could” and “If It All Runs Out” are upbeat and memorable ear worms of the best kind and will get your foot tapping and your hand turning the volume knob to the right as far as it will go. One listen to “Getting Up With You” will leave you speechless and wondering how it didn’t become THE summer anthem of 2010.



There is not a song I even remotely dislike here and the whole album has that obsessive “repeat play” feeling about it and could be one of the single finest examples of how broken the music industry really is, if they couldn’t pull at least one respectably charting single from it.

The duo has since changed their name to Madfox and from what I gather are working on a new album. Since this disc though is barely 2 years old, maybe it’s not too late for an Island re-release and a proper promotional push? Not bloodly likely I suppose.

Review: Kim Drake “Surrealist's Dream”

Pop rock
Here we have another promising young artist from the Miami-based label Forward Motion Records. Kim Drake’s second CD, “Surrealist's Dream” builds on her desire to fuse psychedelic and garage rock in a way that stays true to her avant-garde roots without sacrificing the melodies that keep listeners coming back for more. Drake developed her vocal chops as the lead singer for a Ramones cover band (called the Ramonas) and also continues to play piano/organ for The Black Rabbits. Another interesting bit of trivia: Drake studied under opera singer Kay Kramer, the mother of Matt Kramer (Saigon Kick).

“Surrealist's Dream” was produced by Fernando Perdomo (Dreaming In Stereo), who has a masterful ear for great new talent and a knack for bringing out the best of their abilities. I first found out about Drake through watching her adorable video for the first single, “Modest Man”. Not only is it a great sunny tune, but the video was shot in celebration of Record Store Day, and it is fun to see her flip through so many of the LPs I cherished growing up. Check out the video below and see how many of your favorites you can spot.

With its mild Traveling Wilburys feel and instantly gratifying chorus, “Modest Man” remains my favorite track on the album. A close second is the delightfully bouncy, piano-rich track called “Andy”. “Nerd Amour” is an infectious rocker carried by a great stomp-clap backbeat, crossing her Ramones influence with Joan Jett. Songs like this as well as her acoustic ballad “My Love Wants To Grow” also reveal that Drake has a vocal range well beyond what one might expect for fronting a Ramones cover band – her vocals can be tender and earnest, and she has a beautiful falsetto. Drake can also channel some of the great girl groups of the 50s and 60s – check out the Ronnie Spector coming through on the title track. The CD ends strong with a terrific power pop number called “Summers Fade Away” before chilling out with the mellow piano ballad, “Heartbeat”.

iPOD-worthy: 1, 2, 3, 5, 9

Kim Drake – Official site.

Check out a video for “Modest Man”:

Classic melodic rock CD of the week

By Stephen Kasenda

EVERY MOTHER’S NIGHTMARE “Wake Up Screaming” (1993)

"Wake Up Screaming" was the second release by Every Mother's Nightmare The record has an intriguing cover portraying a baby surrounded by poisonous snakes – looks more like a thrash album than a glam one. Almost everybody played grunge in 1993, but EMN didn't want to tune down their guitar and still insisted on throwing some swaggering sleaze riffs with raspy screams - unsticking themselves from the trend.

"House of Pain" and "Closet Down The Hall" are entertaining openers, each with a gloomy nuance and thumping beat. EMN wrote some good power ballads here such as "I Needed You", "Already Gone", "I Hate Myself", and the magnificent "If I Had My Way". Surprisingly, there are a lot of addictive headcrusher tracks here as well from "Tobacco Road" and "Cryin' Shame" to midtempo commercial rocker, "Slip and Fall".

Unfortunately, the sound production is awfully horrible - you have to crank up to an extremely loud volume to enjoy, yet the drums still sound distant and buried. But overall, I will say this is a very good album judging by the year of its release: a good vocal, a great guitar, a jawdropping album!

Read more of Stephen’s features at MetalMusicArchives.

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
The Brigadier “Holiday Special” [EP] - Our old friend Matt Williams, aka The Brigadier is back with another EP in his seasonal series. This one celebrates summer and is called “Holiday Special”. Things couldn’t start off better than with the beautiful sunny side up spirit of “When The Sun Comes Out”, which contains just enough crunch in the guitar to give the brilliant harmonies a nice little kick. Not only my favorite off this EP, but one of my favorite Brigadier songs. “Swansong” is a pleasantly melancholy goodbye tune while “A Holiday Romance” is a cute island-flavored song. “Ogmore-by-Sea” is an interesting mix of surf and country guitar. Like holidays, all good things must come to an end, and the Brigadier departs for now with an epic, extravagant ballad entitled “Time To Go Home”. Among his most ambitious tunes, “Time To Go Home” oscillates between breezy orchestration and rocking fuzzy guitar breaks. Definitely a few tracks on here going onto my summer playlist. More info here.

Surprise of the week
New research from Australian scientists will convince you to always have some AC/DC handy if you take out your boat into shark-infested waters. Read why here.

News
New Chickenfoot record in sight? “Chickenfoot’s second album is almost finished, and we’re hoping to mix sometime in June,” says guitarist Joe Satriani. “It is heavier, and better than the first one, and I can’t wait to get it out there!” Read more here.

In related Van Hager news, Sammy Hager and the third Van Halen singer (Gary Cherone, better known as front man for Extreme) will be sharing a stage tonight. Cherone's new band, Hurtsmile, will support Sammy Hagar and the Wabos at Casino Del Sol tonight. Cherone also commented that Extreme is back at work on a new album. The full story is here.

How about some new Pearl Jam? With Eddie Vedder’s solo record out of his system (“Ukulele Songs”), the band is back at work on new material for their tenth album. Read the full report here, and check out this video from Vedder’s solo outing.



Random iPOD song of the week
From her breakthrough record, “I Do Not Want What I Do Not Have”, this definitive breakup song from Sinead O'Connor leaves me with chills every time. This particular performance is also noteworthy as it shows Sinead in rare form – with hair!

Review: Evick “Reflections” [EP]

Rock
Pete Evick and his band have been trying to release their latest recordings for a long time now, but they got sidetracked with an offer they could not refuse…touring as the backing band for Bret Michaels’ solo shows. Evick has been on a non-stop rollercoaster ride of reality TV, rock 'n roll, and relentless touring. Consequently, they’ve reached a decision to release these five “long-lost” tracks in their present demo form. You have to keep that in mind when listening to the EP, brushing the lo-fi sound aside and trying to appreciate the “inner beauty” of the songs themselves. Evick’s voice is a little rough around the edges, but it fits with this type of music. He sounds a little like C.C. Deville when he fronted Samantha 7.

The songwriting varies on the EP – from serious, party, to novelty. Songs like “Reflection” capture a very raw emotional battle about Pete losing himself to the constant trappings of the music business and still finding his way back to the innocence of playing music for the love of music. On the other hand, “Prom Queen” introduces an element of humor, coming off like something Bowling For Soup would do. “Late Nights Good Times” is a generic party all night track, and most people have enough of these in their collection already. The real treats are “Real Thing”, one of the more melodic numbers that just radiates fun, and the driving “So This Is Goodbye”.

Check out Evick if you like Poison/Bret Michaels, Faster Pussycat, or Charm City Devils.

Evick on MySpace. Official site.

Interview: Chris Alvy

Recently I had the opportunity to interview Chris Alvy, who released one of the best power pop EPs I’ve heard so far this year (see my review of “Anything Goes” here). Read on to learn more about Alvy’s musical influences and huge record collection, his times with big name artists (from Sister Hazel to Warrant), and what is next for his band, a group of guys he is proud to call brothers.



Bill: First I have to say once again how much I loved your EP [Anything Goes]. It’s been a long time since I’ve been so immediately captivated by a record. I characterized your sound as “Cheap Trick or Boston performing songs written for ABBA” – did I happen to hit any of your influences with that description?
Chris: Well, CHEAP TRICK yes. ABBA, though I like them, I've never been a big fan......my daughter is - she plays MAMMA MIA SOUNDTRACK non-stop in our house. CHRIS ALVY BAND actually opened up for BOSTON and I do like their work, so yes you were pretty close. My main influences have always been melodic pop rock, obviously THE BEATLES, BEACH BOYS etc......rock music with lots of melody and harmonies.

Bill: I understand you were born in Cuba and raised in Spain as well as the US. How have these transitions impacted your music and songwriting?
Chris: I do have some Latin influences that I am sure come from my background, but I usually incorporate them in the Spanish material I write for Latin artists. I have been working with SONY ATV MUSIC here in MIAMI for about a year and a half and they pitch my Spanish tunes to their artist and others. They also administer my publishing company aptly named POP TRASH PUBLISHING [LOL]. My American stuff has never shown traces of Latin music, and I don't foresee me incorporating any in the near future. I am a rock and roll guy even though my roots are Latin.

Bill: One of my favorite cuts off the EP is “The Fall” – could you tell us some more about what inspired this song?
Chris: THE FALL is a song about realizing that it's really not about your failures or dreams that may have not come true - whichever those may be. But it's really about the experiences and lessons you learn along the way trying to pursue those goals/dreams. It was inspired by our own personal experiences as a band. My guys and I have been together many years performing and have been through some great, amazing times, but also very heavy times. Three guys have always been the core of this unit and it's Todd Taulbee, Darrell Killingsworth, and myself. We are literally almost like brothers and that is something I am very proud of. The song is like the chorus says "think about the fall, the meaning of it all, who answers to the call, when your back's against the wall....don't refuse to see, it's all within, it's never been at all about the fall”. The song in simple terms is about realizing and digesting the important things in life and don't dwell on the things that might or might've been.....It’s about the journey....one of my favorite songs that I've written and very fun to perform. Another way of putting it would be like the famous saying "it's not how hard you fall, it's about how quick you get up" or something along those lines [LOL]…it’s really all about enjoying your journey and experiences and learning from them.

Bill: What type of bands might we find in your music collection?
Chris: ALL GOOD STUFF [LOL]. Well here's a quick little list that comes to mind: JELLYFISH, JASON FALKNER, THE BEACH BOYS, THE BEATLES, HENDRIX, DAVID BOWIE, E.L.O., THE ROLLING STONES, JETHRO TULL, GILBERT O'SULLIVAN, RANDY NEWMAN, HARRY NILSSON, THE WHO, ELTON JOHN, BILLY JOEL, CREAM, THE BYRDS, BOB DYLAN, FOCUS, YES, EMERSON, LAKE AND PALMER, CHICAGO, BLOOD, SWEAT & TEARS, JIM CROCE, JAMES TAYLOR, CROSBY, STILLS, NASH & YOUNG....the list is never ending.

Bill: Are you a digital music kind of guy or old school with a library of LPs?
Chris: I am old school BIG TIME...not to say I don't have CDs, but I am proud to say I own over 5,000 VINYL RECORDS…last time I counted it was that, I know I have more now. Yes, old school till the end - not into the new stuff too much - rarely do I find something that catches my eye. When I do, I get very excited.

Bill: Among many others, you’ve collaborated and performed with Alto Reed, who founded Bob Seger and the Silver Bullet Band. Tell us more about those experiences.
Chris: I met Alto Reed performing at a south beach event a few years back. He was also performing solo doing a jazz thing he does. He saw me sing and play and came up to me and asked me to sit in with him on his last set and I did. I sang some Seger tunes and we did some cool blues and the place went nuts. So he gave me his info and we've been doing shows here and there ever since. I just came off a gig I did with him in the BAHAMASa few months ago. We spent 4 days performing at the NORWEGGIAN CRUISE LINE ship and it was awesome. I was very happy to have been involved in that gig - we had a blast and let me tell you, he's a heck of a sax player and a great show. He truly is a character and I thank him for the various opportunities he's given me to perform with him. So yeah, Alto and I are cool [LOL].

Bill: You’ve also shared the stage with acts as diverse as Sister Hazel to Warrant. I’d love to hear more about that and whether there is someone else out there that you’d love to jam with.
Chris: We have gotten over the years many opening slots, among them those you mentioned also some other notable acts such as AMERICA, GRAND FUNK, BOSTON, HUMBLE PIE, LIVING COLOUR, FOGHAT...and maybe others I forgot. I'd love to jam with the guys from JELLYFISH, just off the top of my head...always been a big fan. One quick note, one of my Spanish songs that I placed with an international artist CHAYANNE (this guy sells tons of records and is one of the top 3 guys along with RICKY MARTIN, MARK ANTHONY etc…I found out that ROGER MANNING PLAYED ON MY TUNE! I totally was overwhelmed...so I have to say, it has been one of my proudest moments as a professional musician to have ROGER MANNING play on one of my songs. So, yes, JELLYFISH and CHRIS ALVY BAND would be a rockin' event [LOL].

Bill: How did you get hooked up with Fernando Perdomo's Forward Motion Records?
Chris: Well I knew Fernando was opening up or at the time already had his label up and running, so I gave him some rough mixes of the stuff the band was working on. Funny thing is that I never heard back from him till like a couple of months later. He had placed my demo CD on his guitar case and had forgotten about it till he found it one day. He called me and immediately said, "Let's release this". I actually thought he had heard it and hated it, so I did not want to follow up on it. Anyway, we were very excited to be a part of such a cool, happening label here in Miami. I firmly believe that Fernando has slowly but surely put Miami back on the map and has done what has been lacking here for many years...create a whole new scene. As you know, it's a slow, process but I have already seen huge results and the label has been around for less than a year. All the artist that are signed are great quality and great productions so myself and my band are very proud to represent the label in anything we do. I think great times are just ahead for FORWARD MOTION RECORDS.

Bill: If you could describe your band’s sound with just one word, what would it be?
Chris: COOL. It is the word that has kept coming back to us from friends and fans - your music is SOOOO cool, very CALIFORNIA, very high energy. I think we're just a true ROCK & ROLL BAND, but heck that's like 4 words isn't it? So I guess just COOL.


Bill: What is next for Chris Alvy and the band? I hope a full-length release is in the works.
Chris: Well, we are currently promoting through live shows and internet "ANYTHING GOES" our 6 song EP. We have already done two videos "INSIDE JOB" and "YOUR SMILE SHINES A LIGHT" and we are planning on doing videos for all 6 songs. We also started compiling and shooting footage for a DVD titled CHRIS ALVY BAND "ANYTHING GOES" THE DVD which we will hopefully release by the end of summer or the fall. And yes, we will be releasing another batch of songs (6 songs) as a continuation of ANYTHING GOES. We may just press all 12 into one package to sell along with DVD. We're still thinking about how we will market the whole thing. So definitely, new EP, new DVD, and videos for everything we put out is our plan. I also want to expand a bit and start hitting towns all over Florida - that will be coming soon. Lots of crap goes into running a band [LOL], but we have great fun and we are a band of brothers. We enjoy playing and hanging together - that is a priceless commodity in a band - I am a lucky guy.

Bill: On behalf of BMF, thanks again for your time and best of luck with the new release!
Chris: The CHRIS ALVY BAND thanks you for giving us this time to speak a little about what we truly breathe and live every day. Long live true rock & roll...

Chris Alvy Band - MySpace.

The Best Albums You Never Heard

By Kurt Torster

Dan Reed Network “Slam” (1989)

As the late 80s came to a close, the mire of hair metal and over-processed pop had pretty much taken over the musical world. Not that there wasn’t a lot of goodness in the mainstream, but it really is easy to look back now and wonder what the hell we were thinking allowing a band like BulletBoys to go gold, when superior acts like King’s X, Enuff Z’nuff or Lillian Axe struggled to find their place.

The Dan Reed Network is another one of those superior bands. I think their sound confused people and hence they were not easy to peg into one particular genre. They had a style that combined Prince-like funk, early Van Halen bravado and attitude and Bon Jovi’s gift for commercial bombast and wrapped it around a hair metal look that might have done more harm than good.

Co-producer Nile Rogers, once of hit makers Chic and the Power Station, helped to tweak these 13 songs to perfection, and in what is becoming a weekly cliché, should have been mined for hit after multi-platinum hit.

Though singles “Make It Easy,” “Tiger In A Dress” and “Come Back Baby” did moderately well across Europe, it was the amazing ballads “Rainbow Child” and “Lover” that elevated their status and allowed them to open stadium tours for Bon Jovi and the Rolling Stones in the UK. Yet here in the US, they never became anything more than a club level act. Criminal.





For me, those tunes were just scratching the surface as I thought the mid-tempo ballads “I’m Lonely, Please Stay” and “All My Lovin’” were about as sure fire #1 hits as I’ve ever heard. Same goes for mega-power ballad “Stronger Than Steel,” which coincidentally became mine and my wife’s wedding song. This album’s infectious melodies were only made stronger by the lyrical angle, which was so far above anything else out at the time. In all honesty, it’s an album like this that makes some of us the passionate and obsessive fans about music we become.





Since this release, the band went on to release another fantastic album in “The Heat” before breaking up. After a long spiritual journey, Dan finally released the solo “Coming Up For Air” last year and is well worth your time as well. Other members of the band would go on to play with Stevie Salas, Edgar Winter and En Vouge.

Over the years, I’ve casually gotten to know Dan as well as drummer Dan Pred and keyboardist Blake Sakamoto and am proud to call them friends. Even more so that they’ve recorded one of my favorite albums of all time in what should have made them a worldwide household name.

I asked Dan Reed to give me a few thoughts on the album:

“Most of Slam was written and demoed in the back of a bus as we toured the US and Europe in 1988. We are on the road with UB40 throughout the US, and on our first European tours. It was an exciting time for, seeing the world, and taking in all the different cultures, really witnessing we are world citizens and not just 'Americans'.

The recording process was even more interesting for we lived in New York City while recording for three months and working with Nile Rogers, famed for producing Duran Duran, Madonna and David Bowie, let alone his guitar work and writing for the band Chic, a group I grew up listening to as a kid in South Dakota.

It was the best of times for a young band just catching a glimpse of the music business.”

Review: Bowling For Soup “Fishin’ For Woos”

Pop rock/punk
Although they formed as early as 1994, the novelty pop punk band Bowling For Soup didn’t strike it big until nearly a decade later with their commercial breakthrough “A Hangover You Don't Deserve”. Driven by the smash single “1985”, Bowling For Soup made a big splash. The band has released a few more moderately successful records, and they’ve appeared on tons of soundtracks, but a follow up hit as big as “1985” has been elusive.

With their latest, “Fishin’ For Woos”, the band steps back up to bat as if “1985” just happened. With all the energy and tongue-in-cheek humor that fans love, Bowling For Soup’s 11th studio album is a winner. You may have already heard the first single, a signature party anthem called “S-S-S-Saturday”, which was incidentally used at the Professional Bowling Association's Tournament of Champions. It’s clear that this band is not about making bold statements or providing intellectual fodder to contemplate - this is not why someone puts on a Bowling For Soup record. “Fishin’ For Woos” is a feel good record for the times you want to laugh, party, blow off work, or just hear some remarkably good ear candy. Although, there is some wisdom buried within their wit on tracks like “Let’s Pretend We’re Not In Love”. The guys also take legitimate stabs at power ballads with the sweeping “Turbulence” and “What About Us” (but fans don’t panic…they quickly follow this up with “Here’s Your Freakin’ Song”).

The record has no shortage of highlights if you’re aiming to fill a feel-good playlist. In addition to those tracks mentioned above, be sure to check out “This Ain’t My Day”, “Smiley Face (It’s All Good)”, and the Toad The Wet Sprocket sounding “Guard My Heart”.

The band is indeed “Fishin’ For Woos”, but they’ve brought a tackle box full of melodic bait and sharp hooks. In my book, this one rivals “A Hangover You Don't Deserve” and will hopefully generate a few more deserved hits for the band. Check them out if you like Simple Plan, American Hi-Fi, or SR-71.

iPOD-worthy: 1, 3, 4, 6, 7, 8, 11

Bowling For Soup – Official site.

Listen to S-S-S-Saturday:

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
Meekos & Me “Anxious Little Turtles” – Meekos & Me is a duo based in L.A.: Joey Colando on vocals and guitar and Danny Grab on cello. Their debut, “Anxious Little Turtles”, due June 21, features 14 mellow tracks best suited for rainy day listening. There are some truly inspired moments where the gentle folk melodies mesh beautifully with the strings, but for the most part this is a mood record. While the music is well played and nicely recorded, the hooks are too few and far between to hold my interest. If sleepy coffeehouse music is your thing, check out the track “Animals In My Room” for a taste. More info on the band can be found here.

Surprise of the week
Paul McCartney is planning to make a “heavy rock album” – and he’s asked Dave Grohl (Foo Fighters) for tips on how to go about it. Read all about it here. A heavy rock album from the man who brought us Silly Love Songs? Maybe we’ll be amazed…I’m looking forward to this one!

News
Def Leppard says “We would like to work again with Mutt”. Mutt Lange, that is. The famed producer who helped craft “High ‘N’ Dry”, “Pyromania”, and “Hysteria”. C’mon guys…let’s make this happen! Read the full interview with Def Leppard’s Joe Elliott here.

REO Speedwagon is releasing a special 30th Anniversary Edition of their smash 1980 record “Hi Fidelity” on July 19. It will contain a second CD with 9 previously unreleased goodies.
Disc One – Selections: 1. Don't Let Him Go 2. Keep On Loving You 3. Follow My Heart 4. In Your Letter 5. Take It On The Run 6. Tough Guys 7. Out Of Season 8. Shakin' It Loose 9. Someone Tonight 10. I Wish You Were There.
Disc Two: The Crystal Demos – Selections: 1. Someone Tonight 2. Tough Guys 3. In Your Letter 4. Follow My Heart 5. Take It On The Run 6. Don't Let Him Go 7. Keep On Loving You 8. Shakin' It Loose (Instrumental) 9. I Wish You Were There. (All tracks previously unreleased.)
Read the full story here.

Ingram Hill’s 2010 album, “Look Your Best” was my pick for best of 2010. They have an acoustic set coming out on June 21 called “Blue Room Afternoon” (only on iTUNES). Read more about it here.

Random iPOD song of the week
This week my iPOD reminded me what a gorgeous and moving song Lillian Axe created when they wrote “The Day That I Met You”. Off their excellent “Psychoschizophrenia” album from 1993.

Review: The Rationales “The Distance In-between”

Power pop/rock
Boston-based pop rock outfit The Rationales are poised to impress their brand of music on you with their latest, “The Distance In-between”. Following 2008’s EP, “The Going and the Gone”, “The Distance In-between" represents a significant step forward into territory singer-guitarist David Mirabella knows well – a land populated with sharp hooks, groovy harmonies, smart lyrics, and uplifting melodies.

It is really difficult to identify the cream of the crop on this record as so many of the songs contain moments worth talking about. But at the end of the day, the tunes I wanted to go back to immediately including the simmering opener, “Real Life”, the breezy “Burned Again”, and Tom Petty-flavored “Slower-Faster”. Most of you will probably be able to spot the distinctive vocals of Bill Janovitz (Buffalo Tom) punching up “Another Moon”. I actually found “The Distance In-between” to be one of those records that gets better towards the end. Most bands stack their best right up front, but in my opinion this record starts off reasonably good then gets great. Case in point: the gritty and inspiring “Still We Believe” is a fantastic example of how much heart goes into their music.

“The Distance In-between” is a quantum leap forward for The Rationales – a terrifically cohesive record that is sure to please fans of pop rock that have a closet fetish for a pinch of alt-country. Should you check out this band? To not do so would be…illogical.

iPOD-worthy: 1, 3, 4, 6, 7, 8, 9

The Rationales – Official site.

Listen to “Still We Believe”

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
28 Days of Joy “Are We Ghosts” EP (2011) – A neat little EP of sweeping pop and light rock from Rob Bowden, who is 28 Days of Joy. The four songs gracing this EP constitute a “manifesto on the nature of love and being in the 21st Century. Key track here is “Broken Bones”, a wonderful piece that slowly builds to a rewarding climax. “Bruising” was co-written with Matt Hales for you fans of Aqualung. Check it out if you like Snow Patrol or Coldplay.

Free album download
L.A. indie band Lowlight have released their full-length album, “A Wonderful Lie” completely FREE for music fans. Its atmospheric pop with a bit of country twang scattered here and there. Their music is off the beaten path and not always palatable, but clearly original and inventive.
Free album download here.
Check out their award winning music video here.
Band website: ilovelowlight.com

Surprise of the week
John Lennon’s handwritten lyrics for The Beatles’ 1967 song “Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds” have been sold at auction for more than $237,000 in Los Angeles, according to Spinner.com.

News
Queensryche mark their 30th anniversary with the release their 12th studio album, “Dedicated To Chaos,” on June 28. "It's kind of like an 'Empire' record set 25 years in the future,” singer Geoff Tate recently told Paul Anthony of U.K.’s Rock Radio. “It's a very listenable record, I think. (read full story here).

Listenable? That is the best adjective you can come up with to describe your new album?! I have my fingers crossed, Mr. Tate, because mostly everything since “Empire” has been pretty unlistenable (save some tracks off “Hear In The Now Frontier”.

By the way, did you ever wonder how Queensryche got their name? Read about it here.

Random iPOD song of the weekPoison “Until You Suffer Some (Fire and Ice)” off their under-appreciated “Native Tongue” album. Features lots of Bobby blowing smoke and some terrific harmonies.

Review: Sixx A.M. “This Is Gonna Hurt”

Modern rock
Sixx A.M. is the moniker for a side project of the infamous Motley Crue bassist Nikki Sixx. Rounded out by James Michael and Dj Ashba, this hard-hitting trio made quite the impression with 2007’s “The Heroin Diaries Soundtrack”, based on the Sixx’s bestselling book. Building off this success, thanks in no small part to the rock album hit “Life Is Beautiful”, the boys are back with a sequel of sorts. The music on their sophomore release is the soundtrack to a new book by Sixx called “This Is Gonna Hurt: Music, Photography and Life Through the Distorted Lens of Nikki Sixx”.

“This Is Gonna Hurt” is a modern rock extravaganza. Sixx A.M. blazes through your speakers with all the vigor of a young band starving for success – the energy is absolutely contagious. This is one powerhouse of a record that is going to hurt your mother’s ears like any rock record worth its salt should. Things kick off with the title track, a blistering modern rocker that introduces some dark, near-Goth elements among the slick melodic riffs. First single, “Lies Of The Beautiful People” features a hugely addictive chorus that rises like a Phoenix from the industrial verses. “Are You With Me Now” is even more commercial, and I can’t for the life of me figure out why this isn’t all over radio. “Live Forever” is another cool track, made remarkable thanks to its interesting chord changes and irresistible riffage in the verses. The stomping verses of “Deadlihood” march their way right into another arena-ready chorus. As if things couldn’t get better, along comes the infectious rhythm of “Help Is On The Way”. And is just me, or does “Goodbye My Friends” sound like Radiohead reborn as a rock band once again?

If there’s anything that doesn’t work well it’s the ballads – the sappiness in the lyrics just sticks out like a severed thumb. “Sure Feels Right” is tolerable, but avoid “Smile”. But don’t let these minor diversions deter you from this record.

There is no reason in the world why Sixx A.M. shouldn’t be right up there with Shinedown or Three Days Grace in the pantheon of modern rock gods. Sixx A.M. is easily the best side project from any member of Motley Crue.

iPOD-worthy: 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 8, 10

Sixx A.M. – Official site.

Listen to “Lies Of The Beautiful People”

Interview: Kasey Anderson

Kasey Anderson and his band (The Honkies) recently released their new album, “Heart Of A Dog” (see review here). Kasey Anderson was kind enough to sit down and answer some of our questions. In the interview, he discussed how the band came together, the perils of labeling an artist, and how failures in math led him to a career in music.

Bill: So Kasey Anderson and The Honkies is made up of some stellar talents…you got members who worked with the Presidents of the United States of America, The Long Winters, Posies, and more. How did fate put you guys together into a band?

Kasey: It wasn’t fate, it was Andrew McKeag. Andrew was the first person I reached out to when I knew I wanted to make a record that couldn’t be described as “twangy.” Andrew has been one of my favorite guitar players in the world for the last fifteen years, so, once I knew I wanted to make a real, live, Rock ‘n’ Roll record, that phone call was a pretty easy decision. When we talked about putting a band together, he said he had “some ideas.” He called Muzz [Mike Musburger, drums] and Eric [Corson, bass], and that was that. About a month after the record came out, we roped Ty [Bailie, keys] in. I spend a lot of time at rehearsals laying back and watching those four guys play together; it never gets old.

Bill: You’ve mentioned that your latest record, “Heart Of A Dog”, was written as a straight-up rock and roll record. What do you have against the label “roots rock”?

Kasey: It is an incredibly restrictive and reductive label, and it’s not really a label I’ve ever been comfortable with, no matter how my records sound. Any time you label an artist, you’re limiting their audience and limiting your own perception of what they can and should do. I don’t find there to be anything especially appealing about that equation.

Bill: Tell us a little about your songwriting process and what types of things provide you with inspiration.

Kasey: Inspiration is everywhere. Newspapers, films, overheard conversations, life, whatever. I’ve found that I write more when my life is, for better or worse, in a state of upheaval, as is currently the case. So for me, there’s an element of either escapism or catharsis to the process, a lot of the time. I’m trying to stay away from writing autobiographically, because I already made that record [Nowhere Nights] and it took too much out of me to write, record, and tour behind it. It ended up being two-and-a-half years of staring at myself in the mirror without blinking, and I’m not sure that’s healthy. It certainly wasn’t healthy for me. I’m not sure what this next record will be, but what’s coming out right now is fiction. It seems like, with my records, there’s always at least one love song and at least one kiss-off song so I’m sure that stuff will find its way in eventually, too.

Bill: Have your tastes in music changed over the years? What sort of styles led to your sound?

Kasey: My taste in music hasn’t really changed that much since I was 11 or 12. My parents had a great record collection and most of what I gravitate towards was informed by that. What has changed over the years is my understanding of the music I like. My parents had Blonde on Blonde but they didn’t have Street Legal, so when I found that, it was like opening up a new door but knowing that my folks had unlocked it for me. I suppose the exception to that is hip-hop. My folks don’t own any Mos Def records, y’know? But they probably would. I bet they’d buy a Mos Def record if they heard it. I oughta test that theory.

Bill: Was there a single episode in your life when it dawned on you that making music was what you had to do?

Kasey: Every failed math exam and lost service industry job made it exceptionally clear to me that I’m not good at anything else. I’m not sure there was one “lightning strikes” moment. Once I started playing guitar, I arrived pretty quickly at the conclusion that it was the one thing I loved more than anything else. From there, it was just a matter of figuring out whether I was a good enough writer to do this, and that took a while to figure out. On the rare occasion I go back and listen to those first couple of records, it is very clear that I was just a kid trying to figure out how to write, while tape was rolling.

Bill: What is your take on the music business today? Do you think major labels are walking in the footsteps of dinosaurs? In your mind, is that a good or bad thing?

Kasey: I think instead of complaining about how the “machine is broken,” artists should make themselves aware of the ways in which the playing field has been leveled, and work to take advantage of them. Money is much tighter, but advertising budgets don’t buy what they used to. I’m pretty tired of hearing people bitch about “the system.”

Bill: What is the craziest moment you’ve had on tour so far?

Kasey: I’m not sure those are fit to print. I think most of the “crazy moments” are pretty run-of-the-mill stuff for any band. We’re not snorting lines of ants or setting hotel rooms on fire. I’d love to tell you some story about my band cutting a drug-addled swath of destruction across North America but, we’re not that band. After the gig, we hang out and watch CNN, and fall asleep. I don’t have the energy for the other shit anymore.

Bill: What band or artist would you most like to tour with?

Kasey: You Am I.

Bill: What can fans expect in the near and distant future from Kasey Anderson and the Honkies?

Kasey: We’ll tour in fits and starts throughout the summer, and probably make a record in the fall. From there, I’m not sure. It’ll be a long time before I make another solo record, though, I can tell you that much. This band is way too good, and way too much fun, for me to walk away from.

Bill: Now, just for fun, let us know the first thoughts that come to mind when you hear the following:

Steven Tyler on American Idol:
Kasey: Shoulda been David Lee Roth.

President Obama’s birth certificate:
Kasey: It is disgraceful to me as an American that our president was put in a position where he felt it necessary to produce proof of his citizenship.

Charlie Sheen:
Kasey: Who?

The GOP:
Kasey: Greedy Old Protestants. Gang-raping Oppressed People.

Steve Jobs:
Kasey: I use Apple products but I don’t think a lot about Jobs. I hope he’s able to recover from his disease, though.

Marriage:
Kasey: It has always seemed like a pretty good idea but lately, I’m not so sure. I know people who put the effort into making it work, and I admire them a great deal. It’s a hard thing to say but, after my last couple of relationships, I’m not positive that I’m in a place where it makes sense for me to think about that. Odd way to end an interview, but there it is.

Bill: On behalf of BMF, thanks again for your time and best of luck with the new release!

Kasey Anderson - Official site - Facebook - Twitter

Catch Kasey Anderson and The Honkies on tour!

May 19 – San Francisco, CA | Great American Music Hall (with The Knitters)
May 20 – Petaluma, CA | Mystic Theatre (with The Knitters)
June 11 – Seattle, WA | Tractor Tavern (with Lazy Susan)
June 18 – Seattle, WA | King Cat Theater (with Soul Asylum)

The Best Albums You Never Heard

By Kurt Torster

Feel “Feel” (2002)

There are some albums that you just know from the very first crashing riff that it’s going to be something special.

Formed from the ashes of cult power pop bands Wanderlust and Bachelor #1, Feel was just one of those bands that, for a fleeting moment in time, released one of the most perfect power pop albums ever laid down. Not a note wasted, not a melody out of place. It’s crunchy when it needs to be, jangles otherwise and knows how to pace itself with the occasional introspection. It’s like the Foo Fighters decided to be as pop as they could be and enlisted the help of Paul McCartney circa “Band On The Run.”

What could have been a cross genre smash album sadly amounted to very little. Songs like the blistering “Won’t Stand In Your Way” and “Until They Close The World” could have ruled summer rock radio and beyond, while the more laid back “Under The Radar” and “Girl In A Raincoat” are the kinds of songs that these days are all over country radio. Throw in the sure-fire yet not quite hit “I Am The Summertime” and you’re left with an album that demanded repeat play.





I know Feel released a few more miscellaneous albums, EPs and tracks over the years and while all are pretty good, nothing came close to matching the punch and power of this set. Leader Scot Sax also wrote some songs for Faith Hill and Tim McGraw, but beyond that I know very little of what the band is up to lately. Shame really, because the staleness of the power pop scene could use a little kick in the ass right about now.

Scot Sax is now recording again with Wanderlust – throw them a bone to get it done at http://www.feedthemuse.net/wanderlust

Review: Jesse Young “Live Love Learn” [EP]

Singer/songwriter
Jesse Young is a singer/songwriter from Coconut Creek, Florida. In only a few years he has accomplished a great deal, including sharing stages with Jason Mraz, O.A.R., Fall out Boy, and the Steve Miller Band, among others, winning an online battle of the bands competition, beating out more than fifty bands to win the South Florida Band Challenge, and becoming one of six finalists selected out of more than 200 Florida artists to showcase for the Recording Academy at the 2006 Florida Grammy Showcase. Most recently, Jesse worked with Grammy Award-winning producer Zach Ziskin to record his newest EP, “Live. Love. Learn.”, an album fully-funded by fans via Kickstarter.com.

The EP consists of four songs that put the spotlight on the great potential this singer/songwriter holds. Each is meticulously crafted and bursts with energy…radiating sunshine into the room from your speakers. From the opening blasts of the horn-laced “Every Step We Take” to the driving surge felt in the sax-enhanced closer “Shattered”, these four tracks are pop rock heaven. In-between, “Live. Love. Learn.” continues to please with a mid-tempo number called “If You Go”, which is arguably the most commercial in the bunch. Hitting all the right melodic buttons, “If You Go” should be all over contemporary radio. There’s also one ballad – a pretty duet called “Running”. Kickstarters…this was money very well spent!

Check out Jesse Young if you like Ingram Hill, Graham Colton, or O.A.R. Keep your eye on this guy – he should be a household name soon if there is any justice in the musical world.

Jesse Young on MySpace. Official site.

Check out a live acoustic version of “Shattered”:

Classic melodic rock CD of the week

By Stephen Kasenda

DANGEROUS TOYS "Dangerous Toys" (1989)

Hailing from Texas, the tale of Dangerous Toys begins in 1981 when Scott Dalhover, Mike Watson, and Tim Trembley formed Onyxx. In 1987, Trembley recruited Jason McMaster from Watchtower to become their singer and changed their name to Dangerous Toys. The new band landed a deal with CBS to release their debut in 1989. Ironically, Trembley eventually left the band, to be replaced by Danny Aaron. This album was well-received and certified Gold in the USA.

The music of Dangerous Toys fell into the sleaze glam category - they played a mean stab of animalistic hard rock like dynamite ready to explode - this is the type of music your mama will hate. The first single, "Teas'n and Pleas'n", is a good starter and it gets better with "Scared", a groovy song with catchy chorus. My other favorites here are "Take Me Drunk", "Outlaw", and the peak of the album, "Queen of The Nile", probably the most commercial composition featuring a shaky, stomping chorus.

Jason McMaster's vocals remind me of Axl Rose a bit and the band plays quite tight here. Even though Dalhover and the rest of the gang ain't virtuosos, they made a great record and this is an exciting album if you want to just go crazy and have a couple of drinks on your Friday night.

Read more of Stephen’s features at MetalMusicArchives.

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.

Looks like I am not the only one disappointed with the new one from The Cars. See more reviews here.

Review: Raining Jane “Paper Nest” EP (2008)
Raining Jane is comprised of four women creating high quality organic folk pop. Exquisite songwriting, vivid imagery, and harmonies that remind me of what the Bangles might have sounded like if they were folkier. Check them out if you like Dar Williams, Melissa Etheridge, or Sarah McLachlan. They are working on their next record in the midst of collaborating with Jason Mraz and opening for Sara Bareilles.

Surprise of the week:
The latest from Sixx A.M. is killer – one of the best modern hard rock records so far this year. Full review coming soon.

Can’t miss this:
Goo Goo Dolls John Rzeznik performs with Daryl Hall on the latest installment of “Live From Daryl’s House”. Check out the news here.

Live Whitesnake double-album and DVD package coming June 7
CD1 : Slip Of The Tongue; Slide It In; Judgement Day; Slow An Easy; Kitten’s Got Claws; Adagio For Strato; Flying Dutchman Boogie; Is This Love; Cheap An’ Nasty; Crying In The Rain (featuring Tommy Aldridge Drum Solo).
CD2: Fool For Your Loving; For The Love Of God; The Audience Is Listening; Here I Go Again
Bad Boys; Ain’t No Love In The Heart Of The City; Still Of The Night.
DVD: Slip Of The Tongue; Slide It In; Judgement Day; Slow An Easy; Kitten’s Got Claws; Adagio For Strato; Flying Dutchman Boogie; Is This Love; Cheap An’ Nasty; Crying In The Rain (Featuring Tommy Aldridge Drum Solo); Fool For Your Loving; For The Love Of God; The Audience Is Listening; Here I Go Again; Bad Boys; Ain’t No Love In The Heart Of The City; Still Of The Night.

Random iPOD song of the week:
Slaughter “Street of Broken Hearts” from their sophomore release “The Wild Life”

Review: Still Spark “Still Spark”

Rock/Pop rock
Still Spark is a duo comprised of 90s alternative rocker Seth Freeman (of Boston’s Little John) and aerospace engineer-turned songwriter Dan O’Leary. The pair site musical influences as diverse as Van Morrison and Bob Dylan to Weezer and Nirvana. What comes out is a post-grunge pop rock sound characteristic of the late 90s. Freeman sums up the band’s philosophy as, “The meaning of Still Spark is about being okay with wherever we are, as long as we got there following our inspiration”.

The guys started the project with a Kickstarter campaign that was so successful that they were able to attract big name producers and players. The record was produced by Kay Hanley (Letters To Cleo) and Chris Zerby (Helicopter Helicopter, Hello Dragon), and features performances from musicians who’ve played with Our Lady Peace, Melissa Etheridge, Five For Fighting, and other luminaries best known for their 90s work.

The result is basically a modern sounding, guitar-driven record rooted in the late 90s sound. Vocals are reminiscent of Robbie Williams. One of the strong suits on the record is their use of lush harmonies and backing vocals, which are strategically placed in almost every song. They know some girls with excellent voices! While most songs are catchy enough as is, these sorts of additions take them to the next level and help the band stand out from the crowd. Highlights worth checking out include “Love Comes Calling”, “The Way I Am”, and “Best Times”. “The Limelight” is the standout ballad for me – it contains a good story wrapped in a nice chorus hook that grows on you quick. But honestly, you have to almost force yourself not to like something on this record – it is a great listen from beginning to end.

Check out Still Spark if you are a fan of Gin Blossoms, Five For Fighting, or The Rembrandts. The record is out now.

iPOD-worthy: 1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 10

Still Spark on MySpace. Official site.

Listen to “The Way I Am”

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