Rare CD: SR-71 "Here We Go Again"

This is the hard to find third release (2004) by nu-metal band SR-71, who are best known for their 2002 "hit" called "Right Now." It can only be found as a Japanese import, which has a couple bonus tracks. Label：NIPPON CROWN
Number：CRCL-4585

Track listing:

1. Axl Rose
2. In Your Eyes
3. Gone
4. 1985
5. Mosquito
6. Here We Go Again
7. All American
8. Blue Light Special Life
9. 15 Minute Idol
10. One
11. Everything
12. Blood and Bourbon
13. She Was Dead

And yes, the track "1985" is the same song later made famous by Bowling for Soup.

Two sold on ebay recently, one for $51.05 and another for $34.00. The latter one got lucky...the CD is going for $60 on Amazon.com. Check now.

Review: Pat Monahan "The Last of Seven"

Pat Monahan solo = TRAIN WRECK

Train has gotten increasingly boring ever since their virtual masterpiece, "Drops of Jupiter." Now the lead singer Pat Monahan has put out a "solo" record that is no departure from Train...he's on the same track, one could say. The record is even more mellow and sleepy than the last Train release, and Pat steers the engine into tunnels that go nowhere melodically. Even notable guest star musicians can't breathe life into the snooze fest, which include Richie Sambora on "Someday" and Brandi Carlile on "Pirate on the Run." And who sings about pirates for Pete's sake? Did he wear a puffy shirt during the recording? Arrr. Pat's voice still sounds great, but the gospel choirs and fake beats and loops distract from it. And he left all the good songs at the station.

This record is getting 5 star reviews by many at Amazon. I just don't get it. What am I missing?

iPOD-worthy: 2

Official website.

Click here for the video for "Her Eyes"

Rare CD: Court Jester "King For A Day"

"This is an original copy of the mega rare and sought after 1991 hair rock indie King For A Day from COURT JESTER. This one is for fans of Steelheart, Dokken, Tyketto and XYZ."

CD sold for $87.08 on ebay (14 bids).

The most surprising thing about this listing...there are fans of Steelheart?

Rare CD: Dave Matthews Band "Warehouse 5 Vol. 1"

"...extremely rare Dave Matthews Band - Warehouse 5 Vol. 1 CD. This was a part of the 2000 Warehouse package..."

The tracks are as follows:

1. Crush - Centrum; Worcester MA 12.7.98

2. Warehouse - Madison Square Garden; NYC 12.3.98

3. #41 - Centrum; Worcester MA 12.8.98

4. Say Goodbye - The Palace; Detroit MI 12.10.98

5. Two Step - Kohl Center; Madison WI 12.11.98

CD went for $89.00 on ebay (10 bids).

Rare CD: Nirvana "Had It All"

"Label: Madman
Catalog Number: (Madman 41)
Recorded performance: 10-25-91 - The Palace (Rock For Choice Benefit) - Hollywood, CA United States

Runtime: 62:36 / 18 Tracks"

CD sold for $96.00 on ebay (12 bids).

Rare CD: Pure Prairie League "Live! Takin' The Stage"

We've covered Pure Prairie League before; some of their more obscure CDs will earn you a nice profit. This one went for $105.00 on ebay (17 bids).

Currently selling for $145.00 on Amazon.com. Check now.

Rare CD: Tori Amos "Bouncing Off Clouds" (CD single)

How much would you pay for a single track? How about $122.50? That is how much this Tori Amos CD single went for on ebay. Another went for $128.49 (same seller)

Rare CD: HIM "Razorblade Romance" (HER version)

The version of "Razorbloade Romance" that says "HER" instead of "HIM" is a rare find. This one went for $152.50 on ebay (15 bids).

Rare CD: Radiohead "Not My Fault"

"Radiohead "Not My Fault", a rare promotional CD from Capitol Records US in 2003. This CD includes a live performance from Electric Lady Recording Studios in NY on June 4, 2003 and was broadcast on KCRW in LA on June 26th, 2003 and Sounds Eclectic on July 20th, 2003. Track listing Intro, A Punch Up at a Wedding, I Might Be Wrong, I Will, Sail to the Moon, No Surprises, Interview, Interview, Go to Sleep, Karma Police, Everything in its Right Place, Fake Plastic Trees, There There, Outro."

Sold for $155.50 on ebay (18 bids).

Rare CD: Billy Idol "Live in Verona NY 9.3.2003"

"This is a brand new 2 disc set from the now defunct DiscLive company. These are very rare to come by as almost all pressings were less than 2500."

Sold for $172.57 on ebay (8 bids).

Rare CD: Metallica "Mandatory" (Promo)

"Original EXTREMELY RARE 1988 PROMOTIONAL release from Elektra Records. Long out of print and VERY SCARCE!!. This CD was released in 1989 to radio stations and was not sold in stores. Elektra/Asylum Records #PR8071-2."

Track Listing:
1. One
2. Master Of Puppets
3. For Whom The Bell Tolls
4. Seek & Destroy
5. Fade To Black
6. Welcome Home (Sanitarium)
7. The Thing That Should Not Be
8. Creeping Death

Sold for $182.50 on ebay (21 bids).

Rare CD: Almost Angels "Almost Angels"

"This is an original copy of the ultra hyper rare and obscure hair metal indie release from ALMOST ANGELS. Picture a heavier blend of Dokken, Leatherwolf, Pretty Maids and Know Illusion."

CD sold for $195.50 on ebay (24 bids).

Rare CD: Dave Matthews Band "Rapunzel" (Promo)

I don't know much about this one, but lots of rare DMB stuff is out there, some of which has been previously featured on our blog.

This one sold for $199 on ebay (But It Now option).

Rare CD: Heart Throb Mob "Hit List"

"This is as rare as a glam cd can be. This is an ORIGINAL PRESSING of Heart Throb Mob's 1993 cd "Hit List" that is BRAND NEW and STILL SEALED IN ITS ORIGINAL SHRINKWRAP! This band features Lonny Lovett (Dancer, Tilterworld, The Sinthetics, The B-Flix, The Superficials, currently of Still Standing) on vocals and the ultimate glam warrior Traci Michaelz (Candy Apple Queenz, Glamvestite Vampirez, Peppermint Creeps) on drums."

Sold for $250 on ebay (Buy It Now feature).

Rare CD: Re-Flex "Humanication"

We've covered the 80s dance pop group Re-Flex before, whose rare CD, "POLITICS OF DANCING" usually fetches over $100 on ebay. Now someone has auctioned a promo release by this group called "Humanication" - it sold for $311.66 on ebay (18 bids).

Rare CD: Nicholas Jonas "Nicholas Jonas"

Before the Jonas Brothers were formed, Nicholas Jonas (the youngest in the group) was slated to come out with his own solo release circa 2004.

This Daylight/INO Records/Columbia Pre-Release sold for $430 on ebay (32 bids).

Here's another one that sold for $275.03 on ebay (32 bids).

Rare CD: Tamar Davis "Milk and Honey"

Um, OK. For reasons unknown to me, this 2006 release by Tamar Davis is going for big bucks. Prince discovered this American Idol reject and had a big hand in this release (a quick look at the spelling of the songs titles will tell U Y).

A Japan import version recently went for $1,135.00 on ebay (23 bids). That is a lot of milk and honey.

Currently unavailable at Amazon.com. Check now.

Review: The Meadows "First Nervous Breakdown"

I must be in jangle-pop heaven. Fresh off a healthy dose of the stuff from Feel, here comes the latest release from The Meadows (Jan, 2008). Continuing in the same vein as their wonderful debut, this duo (Todd Herfindal and Kevin Houlihan) cranks out 10 more nicely crafted pop rock tunes with a modest twist of alt country. Fine musicianship, excellent harmonies, thoughtful lyrics, and sing-a-long hooks on every track. This is a perfect CD for a drive on a clear sunny day. Kind of like The Jayhawks on caffeine.

Don't let the skulls on the CD cover fool you. Much like their name implies, this is pleasant pop rock through and through.

Standouts for me include the lead off track "Knowing Don't Change A Thing", "Used To Say" and "Hard To Leave". My singular complaint...at just 10 songs, the Meadows leave you wanting more far too literally.

iPOD-worthy: 1, 4-10

The Meadows on MySpace. Official site.

Rare CD: Greg Kihn Band "Kihnspiracy"

Greg Kihn, who loves to title his albums with a play on his last name, is a virtual one hit wonder best known for "Jeopardy," which was so huge in the 80s that Weird Al made a parody of it. Of course, the Greg Kihn Band did have additional chart success, such as the earlier classic "The Breakup Song (They Don't Write 'Em)" from 1981. "Kihnspiracy" was released in 1983 and went to #15 on the BillBoard album chart, propelled by that "Jeopardy" hit, which just missed the #1 spot on the Hot 100.

Some of his CDs are quite rare and hard to come by. For example, a copy of this CD sold for $50.99 on ebay (5 bids).
It is currently going for $44.50 on Amazon.com. Check now.

Review: Feel "Steps to Reach A Human"

I am now convinced there is something deeply wrong with a world that does not let a brilliant singer and songwriter like Scot Sax rule the music world. Scot is the mastermind behind some of the greatest power pop and rock records in the last decade or so, whether they be by Wanderlust, Feel, or his solo work. I dare you not to feel better after putting on a Scot Sax record when you are feeling down.

"Steps to Reach A Human" is Feel's third release (2006), and contains 12 more tracks of their trademark jangle-pop sound and spot on harmonies. Most are acoustic-driven nuggets of sunshine that stick in your head for good after one listen. This release is a must for fans of the Jayhawks or the Thorns, but don't get the wrong idea...Feel is more pop rock than alt country.

As with virtually all of Feel's stuff, I cannot find a track that I don't like! But the stand-outs for me include "Pattern", "All Things To Everyone", and "Warm It Up".

I've noticed a trivial mistake on my CD and wonder if it holds true for all of them: songs 6 and 7 are reversed on the CD, as are tracks 9 and 10.

iPOD-worthy: all tracks!

Feel on MySpace. Scot Sax on MySpace.
Scot Sax - official site.