Whether you've made a list of resolutions or simply just plan on beginning anew, today is the last day of another year, and at the risk of sounding maudlin, years seems to be going by all too quickly and there is still so much more to do, people and places to see, laughs to be had and music to be heard. So even if you're not one for resolutions, at the very least, wake up tomorrow with a clean slate, a clear head and enjoy another shot at it all.
I want to thank all of you for sticking around as long as you have. This has become a great community, and I actually feel closer to some of you than to some I've met and known my whole life. It takes great patience and restraint to be respectful and polite and generous and complimentary and it takes absolutely nothing at all to hide behind a screen name and a computer and simply tear someone's head off. I'm grateful that we saw little of the latter this year.
Nothing makes me happier than music. Listening to it, buying it, selling it and sharing it. So thank you again, for allowing me this space to vent both positively and not so positively.
I've been listening to a lot of Irma Thomas these last few days and it made me dig out some photos I took of both she and Mavis Staples in the Gospel Tent at the New Orleans Jazz Fest of 2009. Then, out of the blue, I get an e-mail from cmealha with an Irma tune attached. This would be the perfect time to roll out an Irma/Mavis Weekend Mix, right? Didn't happen. But we do get things started with a bit of Irma.
The rest just came together, as usual.
Didn't love The Empty Hearts record as much as I wanted to, but the tune included here is a fave. Another recent obsession is The Merry-Go-Round and Emitt Rhodes. Rhodes' self-titled debut is a cult classic, but the rest of his output is nothing to shake a stick at, and The Merry-Go-Round stuff is better than all of it. I think.
Enjoy the music.
TRACKLIST
Break-A-Way- Irma Thomas
Postcard- The Hollies
Pyjamarama- Roxy Music
Baby Baby- The Vibrators
When I'm Dead & Gone- McGuinness Flint
Visit To The Doctor- Andy Partridge
Golden Days- King Pleasure
Your Good Thing (Is About To End)- Lou Rawls
She May Call You Up Tonight- Richard Thompson
I've Got Something On My Mind- The Left Banke
Misfits- The Kinks
Missing You- The Merry-Go-Round
Not Tonight- The New Cars
Just A Little Too Hard- The Empty Hearts
Complicated Shadows- Elvis Costello
All Things Must Pass- George Harrison
Here are some actual quotes regarding Christmas music.
"Aaww, it's alright. It's nice and it's only for a few weeks a year."
"If I hear Marshmallow World one more time, I'm gonna put my foot through the television."
"I like traditional Christmas music."
"I admit I am not much of a fan of Christmas music. I endure it for a couple of weeks for my wife's sake."
"If I hear that Mariah Carey tune one more time, I'm gonna put my fist through that car radio."
I don't mind it, as long as it's mixed up a bit...like this.
A Very Sorry Christmas- The New Mendicants Let It Snow!- Jon Auer The Little Drummer Boy- The Fab Four Do You Hear What I Hear?- Spiraling Christmas Must Be Tonight- The Band All I Want For Christmas Is You- Carla Thomas It's Christmas Time- Sun Ra & the Qualities Blackberry Winter- Keith Jarrett Linus & Lucy- Dylan Maida Postcard From London- Ray Davies & Chrissie Hynde Rumple Minze- Wyldlife All I Want For Christmas Is You- Mike Viuola & The Candy Butchers Rock N Roll Wimter- Roy Wood's Wizzard Old Fashioned Christmas-Duke Pearson zip
"I learned long ago never to wrestle with a pig. You get dirty, and besides, the pig likes it. -George Bernard Shaw
There is a lot of really stupid, stupid shit online. Some of it is impossible to avoid. I cannot wrap my head around the absolute garbage that people get away with on Facebook.
That being said, I am grateful for the respect that is shown on these pages.
Music tomorrow.
Rest In Peace, Joe.
Monday, December 22, 2014
Apologies for the sporadic posting. I am all over the place and there seems to be no end in sight. Okay, that's not true. January 2nd, 2015 is definitely in sight.
For those who missed it, the video that was removed below was the long lost Paul Stanley Folgers Coffee commercial from 2000. Trust me, you're better off not seeing it.
Stay tuned, as I have a couple of year-end mixes lined up. I just need to find an hour to prep.
A bit of a whirlwind week here, but I did find time to take a relaxing train ride to south Jersey and the iPod paid in spades, suprising me with a few gems I hadn't heard in a while.
When I got to south Jersey, my cousin and I had a discussion about Eric Clapton, the ups and downs, the good and bad. I recalled seeing him live in 2004 and thinking, "This was so fantastic, I can almost forget just how many terrible records he's released." One particular high was his version of "I Shot The Sheriff." It's here, but it is an audience recording. Totally worth the ear-adjustment.
Enjoy the rest.
TRACKLIST
Baby We're A Bad Idea- John Paul Keith
Anytime You Want- Sean Costello
She Don't Love Nobody- Nick Lowe
Hectified- Jason Falkner
Apricot Brandy- Rhinoceros
Bread & Butter- The Newbeats
Club Nitty Gritty- Chuck Berry
Dandelion- Rolling Stones
The Hard Way- The Kinks
I Want You Back- David Ruffin
I Shot The Sheriff (MSG, 6/29/04)- Eric Clapton
End Of A Dream- James Booker
I spent a solid two hours listening to the great Ann Peebles records on Hi. Both "Part Time Love" and "Straight From The Heart" are as good as any soul records in the history of soul records.
Just thought I'd pass this on, in the event that you might not have known.
My friend David Handleman asked me what I thought about producer Steve Albini's keynote address in Melbourne. I told him. He said, "That should be an Op-Ed." So I wrote something. It worked.
It's been a crazy couple of weeks, with a crazy couple of more ahead. I am sure you all know what I mean. This time of year can do a number on you if you're not careful.
I will do my best to keep you entertained as 2014 comes to a close, though I admit, these pages might get sloppy. Take today's mix, for example...
I was not prepared for a proper Weekend Mix, so what we have is a little of everything, kind of like a holiday Turducken.
Songs Of The Week with a few tunes that were ready for weekend mixing and a handful of tunes from my faves of the year.
Hope ya dig it!
TRACKLIST:
This Time It's For Real- Southside Johnny & The Asbury Jukes
Weight Of The World- Ringo Starr
Angry- Paul McCartney
Sweet Navel Lightning- Tim Moore
Sweetheart Like You- Bob Dylan
Ghosts- Martin Briley
So Glad To See You Here- Paul McCartney & Wings
Beloved Infidel- Todd Rundgren
Down On My Knees- Bread
Places Far Away- NRBQ
Tchefunkta-Stanton Moore Trio
Dizzy Heights- Neil Finn
Everybody Sonetimes- Glenn Tilbrook
May My Heart Be Cast Into Stone- The Toys
One Life At A Time -Thompson
Cruel Annette- New Mendicants
Come Back Home- John Hiatt
Harvest Festival- XTC
It wasn't a difficult task to think of the records that got played most in 2014. I play them so often, I could rattle them off in under a minute. Watch me!
The Who Sell Out
The Who- Meaty, Beaty, Big & Bouncy
David Bowie- Low
Led Zeppelin- III
Queen-A Day At The Races
Todd Rundgren- Liars
The Zombies-Odessey & Oracle
Bruce Springsteen- Magic
Bruce Springsteen- Born To Run
Rolling Stones- Through The Past Darkly (U.K. MONO LP)
Bob Dylan- Blood On The Tracks
The Kinks- Face To Face
I could go on with another dozen or so titles that I never tire of and that seem to never get filed away. But I should stop, otherwise I will never get to the business at hand.
2014 had its moments, the rollout of Jimmy Page's new Led Zeppelin remasters, for example. We've seen thousands of reissues come and go, but for my tastes, none have been so perfectly executed. Beautiful vinyl packages with tremendous sound, interesting bonus material, priced affordably in comparison to new vinyl in general. Yes, I do love The Complete Basement Tapes, and that 1974 CSNY set is damn good. But the LZ remasters take the cake as my favorite reissues of the year.
Bubbling under my Top 10 of the year:
The critically acclaimed "The River & the Thread" from Rosanne Cash was a terrific way to start the year, and as much as I liked the record, I do think it was a bit overrated and not the best of her career as so many stated.
The New Pornographers released another solid record with "Brill Bruisers," an album that never relents on sound, hooks and melodies. Usually, that's exactly what I want. My only issue with this record, like all other New Pornographers records is that, as great as they are, they are all interchangeable. Put their last four records on shuffle and I'm hard-pressed to tell which is which. (And I never know what the hell A.C. Newman is talking about.) Still, this one is a keeper.
The Thompson Family record, the brainchild of Richard and Linda's son Teddy and featuring mom and dad, siblings and grandchildren, is short and sweet and a great late year add to a somewhat weak year for new records.
The Rival Sons continue to kick ass and take names with their 2014 release "Great Western Valkyrie." It's really good to see a band rockin' out and having fun!
Number Ten:
THE NEW MENDICANTS- INTO THE LIME
As you may or may not recall, I don't love Teenage Fanclub. I know I
should, but I don't. I won't use this post to explain in detail just
why, as it was all said on an earlier post. I would like to add that I
saw the Pernice Brothers live on two separate occasions and they bored
me both times. I listened to The Sadies some years ago and I don't have
feelings either way.
So here come The New Mendicants, a band featuring Joe Pernice, Norman
Blake of Teenage Fanclub and Mike Belitsky of The Sadies and it
absolutely killed me.
Clocking in at just over 30 minutes, my favorite LP length, The New
Mendicants deliver a beautiful record full of the jangle and hooks I
seem to be missing when listening to TF.
(Okay, I'll say one thing.)
I recognize Teenage Fanclub's ability to write accessible pop hooks, but
what I found on "Into The Lime" was something unique, a collection of
songs where each one stood out from the other. With TF, it was too often
I couldn't tell one song from the other.
I'm not here to bury TF, but to praise The New Mendicants.
Number Nine, Nunber Nine, Number Nine, Number Nine, Number Nine:
BRIAN ENO & KARL HYDE- SOMEDAY WORLD
Brian Eno's first four vocal records are some of my favorites of all time and for years I wished there would be one more non-ambient, totally wacko release from the man. This collaboration with Underworld's Karl Hyde is not quite as wacko as I had hoped, but it really comes close. Great rhythms, unique arrangements and very hooky. This one got better with each spin.
Number Eight:
ROBERT PLANT & THE SENSATIONAL SPACE SHIFTERS-LULLABY...AND THE CEASELESS ROAR
Whether he ripped up a check for millions of dollars or not, Robert Plant has no interest in a Led Zeppelin reunion. I understand completely. As long as Plant continues to create fresh new
music as satisfying as "lullaby and...The Ceaseless Roar," the rigors of
the road and having to slog through the same old material becomes less
and less appealing.
On this record, Plant and his band, the Sensational Space Shifters,
offer a collection of music that covers British folk and blues, with
heavy Celtic overtones, and yet still feels very riff-heavy, as to not
let you forget that the singer was once in a very popular hard rocking
band. Plant's vocals rarely rise above a whisper or croon and that's not
a negative. The man is singing and is singing beautifully.
There is a lot going on here, but it remains incredibly musical. Yet
another strong release from Robert Plant, starting with 2005's "Mighty
Rearranger." Jimmy Page should listen to Robert's advice and put away
any thoughts of a reunion tour, pick up the acoustic, and write some new
tunes the way he did at Headley Grange in 1970. Plant has already said
he'd be happy to sing them.
Number Seven:
GLENN TILBROOK- HAPPY ENDING
Still hooky after all these years, one half of the brilliant Squeeze songwriting team Glenn Tilbrook has released an absolutely charming album. Stripped down to what resembles an early Tyrannosaurus Rex album without the fairies and prophets, "Happy Ending" is a pop joy from top to bottom, with Tilbrook and his band mates successfully taking turns on vocals.
Number Six:
JOHN HIATT-THE TERMS OF MY SURRENDER
"The Terms Of My Surrender" is the closest Hiatt has gotten to a
straight blues record. While it's not completely barebones, the songs
are basic. Acoustic guitar and harmonica at the core, but by no means an
acoustic record, Hiatt's 2014 entry offers some of his best lyrics in the
simplest setting. Songs like the country-folk of the"Wind Don't Have To
Hurry" and the front porch strumming of "Nothing I Love" are both taken
to a slightly higher level...like most of the songs here... by adding
just the right brushstrokes of backing vocals, or hammond organ, or
swampy drum grooves. Just when you think you've been served a Howlin
Wolf retread, Hiatt and his band surprises you in the best of ways, like
on the gospel shuffle "Old People," with my new fave couplet: "Old people are pushy/they don't have much time/they'll shove you at the coffee shop/And cut ahead on the buffet line."
It's not all tongue in cheek, as Hiatt can still break your heart, as he
has done so many times in his career. This time it's in the album
closer "Come On Home."
Number Five:
CHUCK PROPHET- NIGHT SURFER
Few artists have released solid albums as consistently as Chuck Prophet. I love this man. Chuck Prophet can spin a yarn. He can write a hook. He can play guitar. 2012's "Temple Beautiful" was all about San Francisco and it was a fave
of that year. "Night Surfer" feels very autobiographical. I was moved.
It thrilled me both musically and lyrically. I cannot recommend Chuck
Prophet or "Night Surfer" enough.
Number Four:
STANTON MOORE-CONVERSATIONS
I'll bet that those of you who visit New Orleans on a somewhat regular
basis, whether for Jazz Fest or Mardi Gras or just to enjoy a long
weekend of food and music, have your go-to artists. It's been 15 years
now that Stanton Moore has been my go-to artist. I'd search weeks in
advance for club dates featuring Stanton, either playing with Galactic
or leading his own bad-ass funk trio with the great B-3 player Robert
Walter and the ubiquitous and talented Will Bernard on guitar, or anyone
of the collectives like Dragon Smoke with Ivan Neville or Garage A
Trois with Skerik, Mike Dillon and old pal Charlie Hunter. If I was in
New Orleans for a week, good chance I saw Stanton Moore play somewhere
with someone 4 of those 7 nights.
100+ performances, with a good dozen or so different bands over 15
years, and nothing thrilled me as much as seeing the Stanton Moore Piano Trio live. One main reason is that
my other go-to band is the city's legendary jazz outfit Astral Project,
once a quintet, now a quartet. Stanton's piano trio features Astral
Project's bass player and one of the most unique and innovative bass
players in all of music, James Singleton and original Project
piano-player, the brilliant, melodic and always daring David
Torkanowsky. I may be gushing, but this line-up is a New Orleans dream
of mine and what they exhibited that night, and probably every Tuesday
night at their regular residency in NOLA's Snug Harbor was beyond your
piano-trio norm.
These guys are the best at what they do. They are never satisfied.
Whether taking on a Monk classic or highlighting the work of legendary
New Orleans musician and producer Harold Battiste, this trio makes the
music of twice as many players. If a jazz trio can put on a rock and
roll show and still keep the purists happy, then you know, this trio
needs to be heard.
"Conversations" does what so many records have tried to do but failed, it perfectly recreates that live vibe.
Number Three:
WILKO JOHNSON & ROGER DALTREY-GOING BACK HOME
An unlikely pairing? You'd never tell from the result. This record is a burner, with a once-dying Wilko Johnson playing better than ever and Daltrey screeching like he did in the days of The High Numbers. The Dylan cover is a misstep, but the other 30+ minutes is stellar.
For the first time ever, I have a tie for my Number One slot and I'll tell you why...
These two 2014 releases got played the most. They both got better with each spin. They both offer something completely different from each other. I felt that these two records represented two great qualities in record making, so they both win.
NRBQ-BRASS TACKS and NEIL FINN-DIZZY HEIGHTS!
These are my favorites records of the year.
DIZZY HEIGHTS
Neil Finn has not rested on his laurels. As a member of Split Enz, Neil Finn was responsible for some of new wave's catchiest singles. As a member of Crowded House, he left a bit of the quirk behind with his brother Tim and created a pop anthem in "Don't Dream It's Over," not to mention some of the finest pop albums of the 80s and 90s. His record with brother Tim, "Everyone is Here" is possibly the best work that either has to offer. But it's "Dizzy Heights" that has taken all of those qualities to new...uh...heights.
This record is an epic. It unfolds slowly, revealing hidden charms as it goes along. Underneath the production which at times can be a bit daunting, you will find a trove of Finn's trademark melodies and harmonies. Like any epic, whether a novel or a film, if you stick with it, however demanding, the rewards will be rich. I love this record and I am still finding new things to love as I continue to play it.
BRASS TACKS
Unlike "Dizzy Heights," this NRBQ record offers exactly what you'd expect from this legendary band. If you love, say, "Blonde On Blonde" and have waited years for Bob to release another "Blonde On Blonde," you have been disappointed time and again. This is not to say Dylan hasn't released some fantastic work. But in NRBQ's case, "Brass Tacks" IS the album you want 40 years on.
The arguments continue over whether this really is an NRBQ record. "Oh it's not the same since Big Al left." You know what? It kinda is and every track on "Brass Tacks" is a joy. Terry Adams can still write that sweet pop gem and then blow your mind with his Monk via Sun Ra via Fess piano playing.
I love this band. I love this record. And I can only hope there are more albums and live shows coming soon.
Glad to see so much love for the New Pornographers album and Spoon.
I also liked Ty Segall's Manipulator a ton.
I loved Beck's record when it came out but lost the thread with it. Should pick it up again.
A
couple 2013 albums that didn't really catch my ear til this year, but
now on repeat play: Laura Marling's and Vampire Weekend's.
Haven't
heard Ariel Pink's new album yet, but high hopes. TV on the Radio's
record sounded terrific on first listen, but need more time with it.
Complete Basement Tapes and CSNY 1974 essential adds to the canon.
One
discovery for me this year was Art Garfunkel's Break Away, which I
bought a vinyl copy on the street for $1 and turned out to have some
terrific pop on it. Would have made me vomit back in the day, but now
that I'm old I can appreciate the craft. (One benefit of aging is that
my taste has become much more Catholic.)
Bruce H.
One look at this list and you'll see why I almost didn't bother. No one
will know or care about any of my choices. I'm not trying to be obscure.
These are some I played more than twice.
In no particular order:
1-John Luther Adams "Become Ocean"
2-John Zorn "Psychomagia"
3-Jolie Holland "Wine Dark Sea"
4-Actual Water "Call 4 Fun"
5-Zeitkratzer "Metal Machine Music"
6-Boozoo Bajou "4"
7-Shaolin Afronauts "Follow The Path"
8-The Bombay Royale "The Island Of Doctor Electrico"
9-Steve Malkmus/Jicks "Wig Out at Jag Bags"
10-Dusan Jevtovic "Am I Walking Wrong?"
BuzzBabyJesus
For me there was no clear-cut top album this year, the way Jason Isbell
was last year (with Kacey Musgraves and Brandy Clark not far behind).
But there were several very solid records I found myself returning to
often. For reasons I can't explain, female artists dominate my list:
(in no particular order:)
Jenny Lewis —"The Voyager"
Chrissie Hynde —"Stockholm"
Lydia Loveless —"Somewhere Else"
Nikki Lane — "All or Nothin'"
The Secret Sisters — "Put Your Needle Down"
ExHex — "Rips"
Tim Easton — "Not Cool"
The Black Keys — "Turn Blue"
(Ed. Note- The Lydia Loveless opened up like gangbusters. But it lost me soon after. I had a problem with her voice, which never really gets out of this small little range, or at least that's what I'm hearing.)
and I guess I'll get grief for this but I'm going to add
Lucinda Williams's record to my list. I look forward to your rebuttal.
I've only heard the Thompson family's album once so I'm not putting it on the list but I expect it'll be a new favorite...
Ken D.
(Ed. Note- There was a period, from "Sweet Old World" through "World Without Tears," where Lucinda Williams could do no wrong. She was never out of my rotation and I even built a long weekend in New Orleans around her House Of Blues show. But then each subsequent release started to sound more like someone trying to be Lucinda, like a comedian's comical impersonation. I really don't like this new one at all.)
Rival Sons
Rich Robinson
Prefab Sprout
Ryan Adams
Trigger Hippy
Tom Petty
Merchandise
U2
Hold Steady
Drive by Truckers
Gary Clark Jr
Elbow
The Church
Simone Felice
You'll Never Do It Baby- The Lyres
Daisy Jane- America
Hurry Up John- The Idle Race
Forbidden Love- The Darkness
Just Like Me- Brendan Benson
Don't Burst My Bubble- Small Faces
Crash Street Kidds- Mott The Hoople
I am well aware of the fact that my little complaints about everything from lousy weather to delayed flights to hipsters, the Grammy Awards and back, are nothing in comparison to real problems and issues that so many struggle with on a daily basis.
That being said...
My cousin and I went on a record buying excursion, by appointment, to the very south of New Jersey, in a place known as Toms River. It was a place that promised riches and gold and music and lollipops and wax lips and most of all, "over 40,000 records, all in great shape." I was skeptical. So was my cousin, but he stayed positive. Someone had to and that someone was not going to be me.
The owner of said records greeted us at the door and within two minutes of entering his home, tried selling us Lionel Trains, a used Hewlett-Packard printer and an autographed Kiss mirror which he was "asking two million dollars for, but not really, but you know what I mean, like I want close to that." He asked if we wanted to see "a really cool jukebox." I choked out a "sure." But then, he couldn't find the picture on his computer. But we did get to see pictures of his daughter playing piano, a dinner party given by his wife, and an old record player he was about to put on eBay for "$45,000. We'll see. Someone will want it."
He finally took us to the basement, which resembled the last scene in "Raiders Of The Lost Ark." There they were. 40,000 records. Boxes, floor to ceiling, wall to wall. Loose records. Records all over the place. Records!!
I was skeptical.
I asked about cost. Three times!
Here were the promises made:
"You will leave here with what you want."
"You are friends of a friend, so you can cherry-pick."
"We wll both make money."
"I am not a museum."
"Don't worry, have fun."
I was skeptical.
Twenty minutes later, after rummaging through 5 boxes and finding about 30 records. I stepped back. Something wasn't right. I went upstairs and asked again. "Can you please give me an idea of what you're asking for these records? My cousin and I don't want to go through all of these boxes and then have you turn down an offer."
He replied, "No offer has ever been turned down. We will both be happy. I am not a museum."
Three hours later, covered in soot, asbestos and who knows what else, we completed about 10% of the stash and decided to call it, assuming we'd be back at some point.
We found hundreds of records, but had to settle for 173, as we had a budget.
Some very nice titles, though only a dozen or so real gems were found. Most were just good solid titles, Patti Smith, the Stones, Bruce, Pink Floyd, etc.. Some nice punk and soul. Rarest things we found were Richie Sambora's first band Message and a mono Little Eva record. Nice records. Good condition, but not mint. We made an offer. It was not only fair, but more than our usual offer. We wanted to come back.
This arrogant, crude, humorless, condescending excuse for a man, started taking one LP at a time and asking us what we were going to do with the records. "Is this for resale or to keep?" "You know what this goes for?" I did know what "it" went for. He didn't. When I asked about a record on Epic I had never seen before, by a band called West, he offered this choice bit of information, "They were a band on Epic."
He counter-offered a price that was exactly four times what we offered. We were speechless. He asked again, "What are you going to do with that Jeff Lynne?" It was a 12" of his solo single "Doin' That Crazy Thing." I said, "I'm a fan, so I'll probably keep it." He said, "Look here. A french picture sleeve 45 went for $62." "Okay," I said, "but this isn't a French picture sleeve 45." At that point, I wanted him to eat the Jeff Lynne 12".
We were livid. We left with nothing, leaving this pompous asshole in his museum with his records, trains and used printers. He said, "Ah, that Brazilian guy...you know him? You read about him, the one who buys everything? He's coming. He'll take it all. It'll all be gone in two weeks."
Thanks, jerk-off.
Out of respect for his wife and children, I will not mention his name. But he is out there, with a website and some fine endorsements. But as a public service announcement, I will offer this:
This guy is a creep and liar. He wasted our time and will waste yours. Have I mentioned that he was a condescending pompous ass?
Thanks for your time.
Here is an Ian McLagan-centric mix for your weekend.
TRACKLIST
Had Me A Real Good Time- Faces
What'Cha Gonna Do About It- Small Faces
Little Bit Of Love- Dwight Twilley
The Word- Bettye Lavette
My Way Of Giving- Small Faces
Monday- Wilco
Glad & Sorry- Faces
The Truth, the Whole Truth, Nothing But The Truth- Ian Hunter
Song Of A Baker- Small Faces
Can't Buy My Love- Barbara Lynn
Deep Six Saturday- Tommy Keene
Too Bad- Faces
Slangshotz & Boomerangz- C.C. Adcock & the Lafayette Marquis
Debris- Faces
You Need Loving- Small Faces
If I Should Fall Behind- Bruce Springsteen
Oo La La- Faces
Bobby Keys just passed away. I don't like doing the obituary thing on these pages, but we now just lost Ian McLagan and I feel like I have to. Ian McLagan made one night in 2003 one of the best nights I ever had.
There's a jazz club in New Orleans called Snug Harbor, one of the best of its kind. It's also the first place I visit once I step foot on the grounds of the Crescent City. Quiet and cool, with a fine restaurant on the left and a very hip and friendly jazz bar on the right. I walked in, just a few hours after deplaning, and asked for a table. As I walked through the room, I noticed Ian sitting by the window. It's rare when I care about meeting my rock and roll heroes. I never want to. But tonight was different. It was New Orleans.
I introduced myself and apologized for the intrusion. I explained I was a fan and felt like this was a great way to start this particular visit to my favorite city. Ian all but asked me to join him. We discussed Jazz Fest, my record store, Austin and more. It felt like an hour, but was probably five minutes. He asked about the record store and wondered if I'd be interested in a boxed set he was putting together of the Faces. I'm sure I gushed all over his gumbo, but we had a nice chat about rarities, hits and just boxed sets in general. We shook hands and I made my way to my table to finally meet my party.
I was as high as a kite.
15 minutes later, as I was shoving one of the best burgers in New Orleans into my face, I felt a presence over my shoulder. I assumed it was the waiter. It was Ian.
"Sal? Sorry to bother you but, you really think people are gonna want Faces rarities?"
I said yes, though it probably came out as "Frrsnpsstlullss."
He thanked me. He thanked ME.
Ian McLagan was one of my favorite musicians, was part of some of my favorite records of all time, wrote one of the greatest rock and roll memoirs ever and he was a gentleman.
I usually wait for everybody else's Top Ten to catch up on what I missed
because my ability to sample and savor just isn't what it used to be. I
started to look at Rolling Stones list but was flummoxed by their
listing U2 as #1 (admittedly, it was pretty good but best of the year?)
and Springsteen's throwaway High Hopes as #2. I stopped there.
Based on my own listening, here are my ten faves, in no particular order (I look forward to both validation and derision):
Chuck Prophet - Night Surfer
Spoon - They Want My Soul
Beck - Morning Phase
New Pornographers - Brill Bruisers
St Vincent - St Vincent
Future Islands - Singles
Gaslight Anthem - Get Hurt
Benjamin Booker - Benjamin Booker
Bart Davenport - Physical World
Reigning Sound - Shattered
(Ed. note- The Benjamin Booker is on deck. I won't say which...just yet...but there two records on this list that did nothing for me and I've read nothing but good things about both.)
Shriner:
So, a couple of things (actually released in 2014 that wasn't a reissue)
that I liked a lot (but maybe not "the best") and have gone back to
multiple times
New Pornographers: Brill Bruisers
Sloan: Commonwealth
Weird Al: Mandatory Fun (what can I say -- I loved it)
Lorde: Pure Heroine (is this a 2014 release? it's in my iTunes that way...)
(Ed. note- Sloan is one of those bands, like Teenage Fanclub, that
I've tried relentlessly to appreciate. I get the mission
statement of both, but every record I listen to leaves me wanting so
much more. Do I dare go in again with "Commonwealth?")
Reissues (or old stuff): There was a lot that was pretty good, but I really liked the CSNY 1974 set.
There
was a lot of OK stuff that was enjoyable, but not "great" (Chrissie
Hynde's "Stockholm", The Legal Matters s/t,, Phonograph Volume 1, Autumn
Defense "Fifth" )
And -- like Sal -- I heard lot of great stuff that I discovered this year that came out before 2014...
What
I really didn't like: Sheezus by Lily Allen. As much as I liked her
first album, its been diminishing returns ever since. And "The Art of
McCartney" was a big disappointment.
(Ed. Note- I didn't talk about "The Art Of McCartney" since our pal Steve Simels had already said what I wanted to say over at his place. But man alive, there is a lot of nothing on there. My biggest issue with the collection is the very thing I was originally happy about, the fact that Macca's band is the house band. I thought these seasoned vets would have the wherewithal to create something other than safe backing tracks for the vocalists. But it's even less than safe backing tracks. There is zero bite. Just bland karaoke. There are a few winners, especially Jeff Lynne's brilliant take on "Junk." I also liked Dr. John's turn on "Let 'Em In" and like Simels, found Dylan's "Things We Said Today" to be "weirdly compelling." Only two songs, both on the bonus disc, really hit me as terrible and I think it's because I wanted both to be great. Ronnie Spector's "P.S. I Love You" and Darlene Love's "All My Loving" are embarrassingly bad. Otherwise, here is the "missed opportunity of 2014." And now, back to Shriner.)
Stuff I've forgotten about already that I had been looking forward to: The new U2, "M B V", "The Both"
And
I'm way behind on some 2014 releases that I still haven't heard yet
that I still have hopes for (Dylan Basement Tapes set, new "Linus of
Hollywood", new Rumer, new "Well Wishers" etc...) so there may be some
stuff I'm missing.
Raw and emotional. Simple and beautiful. We can never fully explain why some things hit us harder than others, but this version of Stephen Foster's "Hard Times" by Indiana Hoover knocked me out.
2014 was not a great year for me musically. To be clear, I listened to some of the most amazing music in 2014, it's just that most of it was recorded before 1980. As I piece together my "Best Of 2014" list, I noticed that I really only loved about seven records on the list. There are three I liked very much and just too many others that left an Alvy Singer frozen smile on my face. One or two actually made me angry. (I'm talking to you, Lucinda!)
It's the never-ending debate over how things ain't what they used to be. I am guilty of "get off my lawn" syndrome, but I do not think I am overreacting. As another year comes to a close, I am again disappointed in what passes for great. (I'm talking to you, War On Drugs!)
I will get my list up soon, but until then, if anyone would like to share their best and worst of the year, leave it in the comments and I will post it over the next week or two.
