ELECTRONIC - "GETTING AWAY WITH IT" WITH "LUCKY BAG"

Electronic is a British New Wave band formed in the 90's by New Order lead singer, Bernard Sumner and Smith's guitarist, Johnny Marr.  My interest in the band is based on the participation of the Pet Shop Boys on their first record.  I picked up this single because Neil Tennant sings background vocals and is the co-writer of 'Getting Away With It'.

The second track on the single, 'Lucky Bag' has no input from either Pet Shop Boy.  It is decidedly more house oriented than the lead track and certainly fits in with the music that was popular at the time.  It's an instrumental but it's still a nifty little tune.

With 7 tracks total, it's a value single for sure.  Although there aren't a huge variation of versions here, there's enough to make it worth checking out.  'Getting Away With It (Nude Mix)' sounds like it could've been mixed by the Pet Shop Boys and features a distant clip of Neil Tennant singing, "I love you more than you love me" over and over.  There's a Vocal Remix of the track that includes Sumner's vocal track.  But I prefer the Nude Mix to the Vocal Remix.

It's a good single and I'll discuss the track in greater detail when I do the actual album.  My final words:  A NIFTY SINGLE FROM AN ICONIC BAND!

ELECTRONIC - "GETTING AWAY WITH IT" WITH "LUCKY BAG"

01. Getting Away With It (Full Length Version)

02. Getting Away With It (Extended Version)

03. Getting Away With It (Instrumental)

04. Lucky Bag

05. Getting Away With It (Nude Mix)

06. Getting Away With It (Vocal Remix)

07. Lucky Bag (Miami Edit)

ROB ZOMBIE - THE BEST OF 20TH CENTURY MASTERS THE MILLENNIUM COLLECTION

I'm a little uncertain as to what qualifies one to be a 20th century master in the millennium collection.  But whatever it is, Rob Zombie has the chops.  He's already released a greatest hits collection, so this assemblage comes across more like a rehashing than a brand spanking new release.  The most interesting aspect of this disc is the fact the tracks play in sequential order from date of release.  The collection also includes songs from White Zombie.

The first song is 'Thunder Kiss '65'.  It's a pretty good White Zombie song, but not one of my favorite.  It's one of those early songs showing you how cool the group was going to be once they busted out.  It's followed by 'Black Sunshine', another track from the White Zombie disc, "La Sexorcisto: Devil Music Vol. 1".  White Zombie started out as a thrash metal hardcore punk band.  The music on this disc shows a transition of sorts.  The group is moving toward a more mainstream sound and away from the white noise of it's earlier stuff.  But as yet, the band still hasn't created a completely original sound.

The next two songs come from White Zombie's next album, "Astro-Creep: 2000" and it's a more solid record.  'More Human Than Human' starts off the set and demonstrates the sound you would associate with the Zombie brand.  It's followed by 'Super-Charger Heaven' which also falls into the Zombie sound.  These two tracks feature heavy guitar chords and a deeply sinister, almost spooky sound.  Combined with Zombie's fascination and incorporation of classic horror into his visual image, it's a highly effective and unique combination.  It's a blend that sets him apart and creates a niche market for him.

Shortly after this period, White Zombie disbanded and Rob Zombie started releasing on his own.  His first solo record was "Hellbilly Deluxe" and the next 3 songs are from that disc.  'Dragula', 'Superbeast', and 'Living Dead Girl' are all excellent examples of the Rob Zombie sound and I'm a huge fan of them all. This album is amazing!  It's one of the best he's ever done!  I'll discuss them all in greater detail when I do that album.

The next 3 are from his follow-up album, "The Sinister Urge".  'Never Gonna Stop (The Red, Red Kroovy)', 'House Of 1,000 Corpses', and 'Feel So Numb'.  More excellent tracks and ones I'll go into more detail on their own albums.

'The Devil's Rejects' and 'The Lords Of Salem' are both from "Educated Horses" and I've already discussed them so I won't bother here.

Ultimately, this is a great collection, though hardly worthy of purchase unless you haven't invested in any his previous material.  There's nothing new and nothing special about this disc other than it includes a strong sampling of his work.

My final word...:  SKIP IT UNLESS YOU JUST WANT THE HITS!

ROB ZOMBIE - THE BEST OF 20TH CENTURY MASTERS THE MILLENNIUM COLLECTION
01. Thunder Kiss '65
02. Black Sunshine
03. More Human Than Human
04. Super-Charger Heaven
05. Dragula
06. Superbeast
07. Living Dead Girl
08. Never Gonna Stop (The Red, Red Kroovy)
09. House Of 1,000 Corpses
10. Feel So Numb
11. The Devil's Rejects
12. The Lords Of Salem

FLEETWOOD MAC - SAY YOU WILL

"Say You Will" came at a time of change for Fleetwood Mac and the world in general.  It's the first album with the conspicuous absence of Christine McVie.  It's a tribute of sorts to the lives lost from terrorist attack on the World Trade Center towers.  It was Fleetwood Mac's first attempt at using technology to prevent CD ripping and illegal downloading.  And finally, the disc came out when groups were trending away from buying CDs in favor of digital downloads.

I spent a whole afternoon looking for the songs from this disc online to download and I think I never found the whole album.  I eventually settled for the few songs I could find.  But now, I actually own the disc myself!

Usually, Fleetwood Mac CD's are based on a very simple formula.  Each songwriting member contributes a certain amount of songs and the disc will bounce back and forth between the tracks.  With the noticeable lack of Christine McVie numbers, "Say You Will" becomes a toss up between Lindsey Buckingham songs and Stevie Nicks songs.

The first song is a Buckingham number and it's called, 'What's The World Coming To'.  I won't get too in to depth on each song other than to say my general thoughts as this disc is very long.  I like this number and it reminds me of something you'd here on "Tango In The Night".  'Murrow Turning Over In His Grave' is another Buckingham number and starts off sounding like a country pluck fest, but the vocal arrangement and delivery is so different and interesting...  It reminds me of the classic, 'Tusk'.  Very different and musically complex.  This is why Buckingham is a great musician.  'Illume (9-11)' is the first Nicks track.  I have to say, in general, the music she does with Fleetwood Mac is often quite different from the material she releases on her own.  There's more musical complexity on the stuff she does with F.M.  That's probably because Buckingham is arranging her songs.  Though poignant, this track isn't as exciting at the two previous songs and leaves you wanting more.

'Thrown Down' is the next Nicks track and it ups the ante for her on this disc.  Instead of staying monotone, Nicks sings up and down her proven scale and gives some variety on this track.  It's very exciting.  'Miranda' is a Buckingham tune and it features more complex vocal acrobatics over the music.  Another Lindsey song, 'Red Rover' is up next.  It's a frantic little number and can set you on edge if you're not ready for it.  There's a number of tempo changes happening throughout.

'Say You Will' is the title track and is a Stevie Nicks composition.  This is an awesome ditty.  It features a lovely duet between Nicks and Buckingham on the chorus.  The two have a natural harmony together.  Their voices compliment each other well and you can get carried away by the sweet sound they create.  'Peacekeeper' takes us back to Buckingham's writing and this one maintains the harmony between the two lead vocalists.  It incorporates something that sounds like South American pipes playing over the chorus.  'Come' stays in Lindsey territory.  It's a moody number.  Somehow, I expect it reflects his real life personality.  The haunted melody drowns itself into the next Nicks song.  The natural progression between these two is compelling.  'Smile At You' may increase the tempo, but it doesn't alleviate the dark mood.  

'Running Through The Garden' starts out in a similar place, but quickly changes and picks the album back up and gets the beat pumping again.  'Silver Girl' is the third Nicks number in a row and pulses up at you from some distant place.  It seems like it will drop the bottom out of the momentum but it keeps the groove going.  Lindsey is back with 'Steal Your Heart Away'.  There's some delicious harmonizing on this one.  Very thrilling.  It's followed by 'Bleed To Love Her' and it's also a great tune.  Next up is 'Everybody Finds Out'.  Stevie has a habit of writing songs about an imaginary woman she narrates about.  This song falls into that category.  You always suspect she's singing about herself in the third person, but it can get annoying at times.  On this song, it's not so bad.  The groove is there and F.M. are in the pocket.  They deliver this one in excellent form.

'Destiny Rules' is a song I'd expect to find on "Trouble In Shangri-La".  Absolutely wonderful.  'Say Goodbye is Lindsey's outro and it's a complicated farewell.  One you couldn't leave the album on.  Therefore, Nicks come back with the final 'Goodbye Baby'.  This lullaby is almost sad and perfect for ending the disc.  

And that would be it...  If this were the album.  But my version includes a disc with additional tracks.  The first number is a Bob Dylan cover called 'Love Minus Zero/No Limit'.  Lindsey takes over lead vocals here and delivers a wonderful version.  'Not Make Believe' is the 2nd track and it's a Stevie Nicks number.  This is a strong number by her and seems a shame it wasn't included on the regular album.  The final two tracks are live songs recorded for AOL Sessions.  You get 'Peacekeeper' and 'Say You Will' to round out the disc.

Although it didn't break records like other Fleetwood Mac albums have, this is a satisfying album.  It's got all the elements that make Mac the band so many people love.  It's a shame Christine McVie wasn't a part of it.  Her absence is notable and the one failing this disc has.  It's a collection of strong material and one that should've done much better commercially.

My final words:  A WELCOME REUNION FROM GOOD FRIENDS LONG AWAITED AND GREATLY ENJOYED!

FLEETWOOD MAC - SAY YOU WILL

01. What's The World Coming To

02. Murrow Turning Over In His Grave

03. Illume (9-11)

04. Thrown Down

05. Miranda

06. Red Rover

07. Say You Will

08. Peacekeeper

09. Come

10. Smile At You

11. Running Through The Garden

12. Silver Girl

13. Steal Your Heart Away

14. Bleed To Love Her

15. Everybody Finds Out

16. Destiny Rules

17. Say Goodbye

18. Goodbye Baby

BONUS DISC

01. Love Minus Zero/No Limit

02. Not Make Believe

03. Peacekeeper (Live From AOL Sessions)

04. Say You Will (Live From AOL Sessions)

NORAH JONES - FEELS LIKE HOME DELUXE EDITION

The smokey sultry sounds of Norah Jones explode on this deluxe edition of "Feels Like Home" and you get a ton of bonus material.  Three unreleased bonus tracks plus a bonus DVD with videos and some live performances.  Price wise, there wasn't too much different between the regular release and this deluxe edition.

The bass kicks off the opening track, 'Sunrise'.  The percussion plods along like a strolling cowboy on a horse and borders on country.  But it's absolutely delightful.  It's followed by a guitar driven blues number, 'What Am I To You?'.  This track features some organ playing over a rocking number.  Norah is asking her lover to verbalize how he views her and the relationship.  It's a smooth number and it flows like a long slow drag from a cigarette.  Next up is 'Those Sweet Words' with it's relaxing melody and soft sentimentality.

'Carnival Town' is the next number and it's an almost total departure from what you'd expect from Jones.  The minor chords and haunting piano take this song in a direction completely different from the previous numbers.  There's a Georgia swing reminding me of Johnny Mercer.  'In The Morning' clocks in over 4 minutes and has the distinction of being the longest track on the regular album.  There is one track from the bonus songs that clocks in a little longer, but this little groove is the longest.  There's some hesitation happening.  Something tense.

Imagine yourself sitting in a bar with maybe one or two other people; cigarette smoke drifting lazily around and a table all to yourself and you're in the moment set up for this number.  'Be Here To Love Me' drifts around you like absolute atmosphere.  'Creepin' In' chugs up next and increases the tempo of the album.  If I'm not mistaken, Dolly Parton is singing on this number with Jones and she's phenomenal.  It's an absolutely addictive sound.  'Toes' is another easy going number that washes over you like a stroll down a tree lined sidewalk.  It's followed up by 'Humble Me' which sounds more like a lullaby than a love song.  

'Above Ground' features some satisfying brush snare.  'The Long Way Home' comes back and revives the country sound you've heard a little on this album.  'The Prettiest Thing' is probably my favorite number on the album.  It's a combination on all the various sounds showing up on the disc.  'Don't Miss You At All' is the final track and you can picture Jones sitting in a lounge at a piano singing this incredible number.

The next three tracks are the bonus tracks.  'Sleepless Nights' is another country crooner.  It's got some lovely harmonies and the vocal performance is delicate and lilting.  'Moon Song' is a sweet track that's very fanciful and dreamy.  'I Turned Your Picture To The Wall' is the final number on this version and is another amazing number.

The DVD contains 4 live performances, 2 music videos and an interview with Jones.  It's a thrilling disc and very enjoyable.

This record, more than the last one, is almost pure country.  There's some electric guitar and electric organ, but it's infused with a more organic sound.  Jones is at the height of her ability and she delivers on this one.  100%.  My final words:  ANOTHER MASTERPIECE FROM AN AMAZING TALENT!

NORAH JONES - FEELS LIKE HOME DELUXE EDITION

01. Sunrise

02. What Am I To You?

03. Those Sweet Words

04. Carnival Town

05. In The Morning

06. Be Here To Love Me

07. Creepin' In

08. Toes

09. Humble Me

10. Above Ground

11. The Long Way Home

12. The Prettiest Thing

13. Don't Miss You At All

14. Sleepless Nights

15. Moon Song

16. I Turned Your Picture To The Wall

DVD

01. In The Morning (Live)

02. She (Live)

03. The Long Way Home (Live)

04. Creepin' In (Live)

05. Sunrise (Music Video)

06. What Am I To You? (Music Video)

07. Norah Interview

CAMOUFLAGE - METHODS OF SILENCE

Camouflage is a band I discovered back in the 80's in high school.  They're a interesting German band.  Here's a little history from my point of view.  On the heels of huge English New Wave bands, the demand for synth pop was huge and labels were signing up virtually any band with a solid synth sound.  

Camouflage was one of these bands.  It was snatched up based on the demand for synth pop.  There's a huge amount of generic New Wave acts and when I first bought this album, I thought it might be one of these bands.  My actual reaction is somewhat mixed.

Do I think Camouflage is a generic band?  No.  But I do think the band was formed by guys who admired and wanted to emulate larger synth acts like Depeche Mode, Erasure, Pet Shop Boys and others.  Musicianship is somewhat lacking, but as the group continued over time, they incorporate more acoustic instruments and you can tell their musical proficiency has dramatically improved.

"Methods Of Silence" is the second album by this trio and it had some minor success on the charts.  The band's biggest hit came on their first album.

The first number is 'One Fine Day' and it starts off with an Oriental sound that fades into a mid tempo pop song.  As with many groups from non English speaking countries who sing in English, the lyrics can be slightly unusual and off beat.  The next song is 'Love Is A Shield' and although it's the biggest hit from the record, it's not exactly my favorite song.  I like it, but other tracks on the disc are more interesting.

'Anyone' continues the Oriental feel using orchestral power chords to start the track.  Of the 3 songs so far, this one is the most interesting musically and lyrically.  'Your Skinhead Is The Dream' is a rather strange song with spoken lyrics and flute sounds.  'On Islands' is an album focusing mainly on an acoustic guitar strumming motif.  It's the most organic sound on the whole album.

The next five songs comprise the second side of the cassette; which is the format I bought the album on originally.  And let me tell you, here is where the album really shines.  The second side is the stronger of the two.  It begins with 'Falling Down'.  Another Oriental intro and then a heavy beat kicks in with a strong guitar rif.  The lyrics are somewhat confusing, but the arrangement is extremely exciting and well done.

It's followed by 'Sooner Than We Think'.  The percussive arrangement is interesting and the vocals are surprising.  It all flows out in a deeper key and it's remarkable.  It's highly reminiscent of early Depeche Mode except the subject matter is more complex and adult.  'A Picture Of Life' is another dramatic number.  The music is quite interesting and enjoyable.  The lyrics have potential and seem to tell the story of a young man who dies and no one cares.  They never really give you an indication as to why the youth wasn't cared for so it ends up falling rather hollow and inept.  Still, the song is lovely.

'Les Rues' is an unsettling number.  The music is offbeat, the percussion is strange and the lyrics are spoken whimsically in French.  There's some orchestral bits throughout and they add quite a bit to the texture of the song.  The final track is 'Rue De Moorslede'.  It's more of an outro and has the odd sound of some crazy circus.  It's quite effective all together.

So Camouflage is a group I didn't expect much from initially, but in the end, I quite enjoy the band and love this record.  My final words:  AN UNDER-RATED 80'S CLASSIC!!!!

CAMOUFLAGE - METHODS OF SILENCE

01. One Fine Day

02. Love Is A Shield

03. Anyone

04. Your Skinhead Is The Dream

05. On Islands

06. Feeling Down

07. Sooner Than We Think

08. A Picture Of Life

09. Les Rues

10. Rue De Moorslede

YIP DECEIVER - MEDALLIUS

Yip Deceiver...  I have no idea what the name means.  I'm not sure I even have a guess.  They were the opening band on Electric Six's last tour.  I met one of the members prior to the show and I decided to pick up the disc and give it a go before I even heard them play.  Some of the last bands Electric Six has toured with have been very exciting and interesting.  They haven't steered me wrong yet so I took a chance.

The first group played and they had a huge turn out.  I guess they were a local band, but a lot of people showed up just for them.  I didn't watch the show, but I could hear them and although they weren't awful, I didn't hear anything setting them apart from anyone.  After they played, I was a little concerned for the next group.

Imagine my surprise when two guys took the stage.  Just two guys.  They then proceeded to blow us away with an interesting blend of techno pop and dueling vocals.  Now I've had this experience before.  I've seen bands live I thought were terrible and when I purchased their albums, I loved it.  I've also seen bands I thought were incredible live only to hate their released material.  After listening to Yip Deceiver for a day, I can honestly say, I enjoy both very much.

The music is much more nuanced when you hear it on the disc.  I'd be hard pressed to say what sets this band apart from other groups.  The music they record is reminiscent of 80's New Wave and Electro Pop.  It's highly synth driven.  They mix some live elements in, including guitar and percussion; otherwise, it's very much in the vein of an 80's Synth Band.

And let me be the first to say, there's nothing wrong with that and we need much more of it in the world.

The first track is 'Presets' and of the tracks on this disc, this one seems to be the earliest written and recorded.  The music becomes progressively tighter and more aligned as the songs play.  Which is interesting because you can see the production value on each track improve greatly.  The second number is 'Get Strict'.  This song reminds me of the way bands like Information Society and Cause & Effect would write music.  'Lover' clocks in at #3 and continues the vocal sparring between the band members.  It's an enjoyable number and there are some interesting sound effects throughout the song.

'World Class Pleasure' kicks in with a strong Prince influence.  The drum sounds are deeper, heavier and the synth lines are similar to those used in Minneapolis sound.  There's some rhythm guitar playing there too and the groove is undeniable.  As much as I've enjoyed the disc, this song totally ramped up my interest in what the band is doing.  It's more satisfying and produced.

'Go On' introduces new elements as well.  Horns lines throughout along with some electric guitar strumming.  'Color Me In' features some juxtaposing keyboard lines overlapping each other.  It's oddly disjointed but it works.  As simple as it is, it's one of the best numbers on the disc.  I'm absolutely digging this track.  'Obnoxia' brings back some happy keyboard playing and reminds me of Owl City.  I love songs with happy music even if the subject matter is more on the darker side.

'2nd Son Of A 2nd Son' features a more complicated beat than usual for the group.  It's got some of the best lyrics by them and it's truly pleasurable to hear.  'Theme' is more of a segue between songs, but it's an interesting listen.  It's followed by 'Tops Part ll'.  This track is also good and it has a beat similar to something you'd hear in 90's R&B.  In fact, it sorta reminds me of Dave Gamson's production work with Scritti Politti.  The vocal arrangement borders on something Prince would've done in the mid 80's.

The album ends on an absolute strong note.  'Double Future' could easily be the best track on the album.  It has an unrelenting groove and seems to be a fully realized vision of the collaboration between these two artists.

I'm excited about this disc.  I love discovering new groups and enjoying what they're doing.  I'm not interested in standard fare pop, but I do love the sound of it.  Therefore, I embrace bands that can take a modern sound and do something different and interesting.  Yip Deceiver accomplish this in Spades and I'm looking forward to hearing more.

My final words:  EXCITING, UNEXPECTED, THRILLING AND UTTERLY WELCOME!

YIP DECEIVER - MEDALLIUS

01. Presets

02. Get Strict

03. Lover

04. World Class Pleasure

05. Go On

06. Obnoxia

07. 2nd Son Of A 2nd Son

08. Theme

09. Tops Part II

10. Double Future

CELINE DION - CELINE DION

I know what you're thinking...  Oh I totally know.  You're asking yourself...  "Why????"  And the truth is very simple.

I feel like a preacher beating the same topic into the ground for the billionth time.  I don't like singers.  As a general rule, I don't throw my hat into the ring with artists who identify themselves strictly as a vocalist.  I know that's an unpopular position to take considering how famous these people get in the music industry.  But I don't see the point.  It makes no sense to me.

Celine Dion is a technically proficient vocalist.  She has a powerful voice and an awesome range.  But I can't get excited about her.  She has an almost country twang I'm not partial to and frankly, I think her choice of music is lacking.

This will be one disc I won't bother breaking down because the majority of the music and arrangements are so generic they barely register on my radar.  There's almost nothing on this disc for me to get excited about.  Once in awhile there's an interesting musical moment, but they're overshadowed by cliche lyrics and run of the mill vocal arrangements.  Not even a voice as powerful as Dion's can make the mundane sound extraordinary.

Not even the inclusion of the Disney hit, 'Beauty And The Beast' can rescue this disc from obscurity.  The one redeeming quality of this album is the 2nd to the last song.  'With This Tear' was written by Prince although it lacks his magical touch.  It's an exceptional tune and is the one track on the album with any emotional strength.  The down side is the arrangement.  Dion's session musicians play the instruments and her producers are responsible for the arrangement.  Still, even when you have the power to kill songs, it takes a special sort of screw up to ruin a Prince track.  And enough of Prince's input survives to see this song as the shining star of a lackluster recording.

Sadly, this is the only place you can find this song making the album a must have for Prince collectors.  There's no way around this one unless you're comfortable buying your music digitally and not owning a physical copy.

Dion gives it her best shot, but one thing this album does demonstrate is her desperate need for a decent producer and better writers.  If she did an entire album with Prince input, she'd be challenged as a singer and also come out with some interesting songs.  As of today, she's a singer living on the strength of a few hit songs.  Most of which are tied to major motion pictures.  That's not the resume of an artist who is looking to leave a legacy behind or create music that will really last a lifetime.

My final words:  SKIP IT... DOWNLOAD INDIVIDUAL TRACKS...  SPARE YOURSELF THE WASTED TIME.

CELINE DION - CELINE DION
01. Introduction
02. Love Can Move Mountains
03. Show Some Emotion
04. If You Asked Me To
05. If You Could See Me Now
06. Halfway To Heaven
07. Did You Give Enough Love
08. If I Were You
09. Beauty And The Beast
10. I Love You, Goodbye
11. Little Bit Of Love
12. Water From The Moon
13. With This Tear
14. Nothing Broken But My Heart

THE CHRIST PUNCHERS - PSALMS FOR A NEW DARK AGE

Ok, so I was warned up front when I picked up this CD.  I know virtually nothing about this band.  I haven't even looked them up online yet.  I've basically dumped the CD on my iphone and spent the day wandering around listening to it on my headphones.  

And wow...

This isn't a band for the average listener.  The best way I can describe this group is to call them metal's answer to jazz.  It's instrumental metal with an exorcist subtext.

The cuts are deep and sound like they've been cobbled together from every punk/hardcore breakdown you've ever heard in your entire life.  This band definitely likes to spend it's time close to the floor.

As I listened to the disc, each song built a sense of anticipation in me that never fully paid off.  The songs create a tense progression that doesn't go anywhere and leaves me feeling unresolved.  Sometimes the songs loop themselves into drones.

It's hard to actually describe or dialog about the individual tracks because they are mostly very simple breakdown motifs that repeat over and over for the duration.  There's a great deal of atmosphere in between the tracks and sometimes recorded vocals taken from strange clinical information films is slowed down to a disturbing speed and played along with the music.

They seem to want to demonstrate the absurdity of mass media marketing and how creepy the undercurrent of social thought in america is.  It borders on the insane and the absurd.  I'd have to listen closer to the looped spoken words played over the music to fully understand what the group is actually trying to say, but I will say this much...  

This band would be perfect scoring some highly creepy horror films.  Or work by Dario Argento.

Ultimately, this isn't a disc I would pick up and play in heavy rotation.  But it is a disc I could listen to under the right circumstances and when I was in the right mood.  My final words:  SOUNDS LIKE THE SCORE TO A SHORT HORROR FLICK BY AN ITALIAN SLASHER DIRECTOR.

THE CHRIST PUNCHERS - PSALMS FOR A NEW DARK AGE

01. Trinity

02. Tread Of The Iron Legion

03. Destroying Angel Descends

04. The New Deal

05. You're The Problem

06. HAARP

07. Be Like Tom G.

08. Burning Bridge To A Fallen Empire

09. Soma 

10. Propaganda And The Control Of The Human Mind

DICK VALENTINE - HALLOWEEN FINGERS

This is gonna be a weird entry.  For a number of reasons.  Dick Valentine is the lead singer of Electric Six among other projects...  He's the singer of Evil Cowards and provides vocals for other groups as well.  Depending on who you talk to, "Halloween Fingers" is either the 2nd or the 3rd solo album he's released.  "Smog Cutter Love Story" by The Dirty Shame is considered by most fans to be the first solo album.  Which would make "Halloween Fingers" the third, but thematically, musically and based on the name, it's his second.  The first being "Destroy The Children".

I've had both of these albums in digital form for awhile now and I've lived with them for some time.  But as of last night, I finally own physical copies.  Before I get into the music, I need to stretch out the definition of my blog and what I normally write about.  I need to explain something.

I think last year could be the worst year of my life.  There's a natural and reasonable separation between celebrity/musicians and their fans.  It's a boundary I've always respected and although I've been imposing to get where I want to be in the past, I feel I do so at appropriate times.  I wouldn't approach or bother someone during their private downtime.  But I see nothing wrong with chatting up a band before or after a concert.  That is the acceptable time to interact with these people.

But there is an emotional connection fans form with musicians.  Although you don't have contact with someone in a band on a day to day basis, if you listen to their music regularly, they become a familiar voice in your life.  Whether you realize it or not, that familiarity creates a degree of trust.  It's why we have emotional connections to our favorite music.  Still, a rational mind can separate that from reality, while obsessive fans cannot. 

I had a moment last night, while talking with Dick Valentine...  It was awkward because it was a personal moment.  In a very dark and lonely moment last year, when the world seemed overwhelmingly sad, I reached out.  

I reached out to a voice I trusted and met compassion.

I really needed to thank him for that.  And it was awkward as hell.  But I meant it sincerely.  Thank you.

So the first thing that strikes me when listening to "Halloween Fingers" is how much is resembles an Irish Jig.  And I mean that in the nicest possible way!  It's actually wonderful.  There's a whirling dervish spin happening in the tempo of the disc that's both fun and completely unexpected.

One of the things I love most in artists is the ability to incorporate various sounds and styles.  Just when you think you have a handle on the sound of Electric Six; Disco, Punk, Rock, Folk, Pop, New Wave, Metal, Techno, Alt. Country, Industrial; they release something that moves into new areas entirely.

Dick Valentine does that again here.  Comprised of 13 acoustic tracks, the disc can seem like a short listen, but the songs are packed with Valentine's signature lyrics.  Complex, tongue 'n' cheek and deeply insightful.  'Halloween Fingers' the title track starts off at a jolly pace and pictures of Riverdance Dancers spritely leaping across a stage dressed as witches while confetti fall all around you like glittering stars flopping down from the rafters.  'Omaha Steaks' follows it up with a more somber sound and an interesting violin motif.  I love the line, "Beautiful girls turn into beautiful ghosts".  'Dry County' is the first track to feature drums and a fuller band arrangement.  Aside from the violin, Valentine plays all the instruments on this disc.  'Dry County' is an enjoyable number and could potentially create a following completely separate from his traditional E6 listeners.

'Totally Unqualified' returns to the twirling guitar strumming you expect to hear on an acoustic CD.  The surprise in this song shows up in the clever lyrics.  There are some interesting lines in this song and they're quite fun.  Disturbing, but fun.  'Litterbug' enjoys a musical harmony between the guitar and violin and is followed by one of my favorite tracks on the disc, 'We Will Leave You In Toronto'.  This track has a straining quality adding tension to the musical arrangement.  Dick sings the song in a unhurried way, but he uses the music to punctuate the storyline and add depth to the narrative.  It's very effective and haunting.  'Loss Of Life' features an incredible bridge three quarters of the way through with a live segment similar to what he does in E6 concerts.  I also love the shouting on the track.

'I Want To Eat A Complete Stranger' is a metaphorical number recalling the Irish folk sound of 'Halloween Fingers'.  It's another track I really love.  Very fun and easy to sing along with.  'I'm Going Back To Sleep' is a song I can see a lot of modern bands covering.  It's sheer enjoyment from start to finish.  'Lend Me Some Of Your Ammunition' is the shortest track on the disc and features a verse, chorus and a fading bridge.  It seems more like a song idea than a fully fledged song.  It's something I'd expect to hear on "Sexy Trash" rather than this solo album.

'Gimme Five' is a great song and features some of the best lyrics Valentine's written in years!  Absolutely brilliant.  'Ever Since I Never Saw You' jumps out at you from the speakers and oddly enough feels like a road map for dysfunctional relationships.  He describes his "fans/lovers" as monsters that keep coming back, but who "Can't escape his love".  'Running Out Of Potato' rounds out the disc and is another fun and frantic number.  You end your listening experience on a high note and let's be frank, there's nothing wrong with that...  Ever.

I think you have a certain expectation when you buy an album from a musician and it's announced or known to be an acoustic record.  Especially if the artist isn't famous for their acoustic work.  Most of these albums are embraced by the hardcore fans, though seldom if ever trumpeted as defining additions to a musical body of work.  They can be predictable in the sense that an artist can limit themselves by committing to an acoustic sound.  However, that doesn't happen here.  Dick Valentine is a man who knows his strengths.  Granted, he's learned them over time through trial and error, but this disc shows the man playing to his strengths and using his talent to redefine what can or can't be done with an acoustic disc.

There are at least 5 songs on this disc I would hold up as comparable to the best songs of E6, Evil Cowards, White Gold... etc, etc...  Despite the short length of the songs, this is one disc worth owning.  Even if Electric Six isn't your cup of tea, this one might be.  My final words:  RUN, DON'T WALK, DON'T EVEN PASS GO - HEAD ON DOWN TO THE NEXT E6 SHOW - AT THE MERCH TABLE YOU SHELL OUT YOUR DOUGH - OR GET HALLOWEEN FINGERS ON DIGITAL DOWNLOAD - OO WE OO WE OO!

DICK VALENTINE - HALLOWEEN FINGERS
01. Halloween Fingers
02. Omaha Steaks
03. Dry County
04. Totally Unqualified
05. Litterbug
06. We Will Leave You In Toronto
07. Loss Of Life
08. I Want To Eat A Complete Stranger
09. I'm Going Back To Sleep
10. Lend Me Some Of Your Ammunition
11. Gimme Five
12. Ever Since I Never Saw You
13. Running Out Of Potato

ELECTRIC SIX - VIBRATOR

Because I'm seeing them this Saturday night, I thought I'd do a quick Electric Six review.  And this is a short one folks.  This particular CD is a UK Promo for the track 'Vibrator' from "Senor Smoke".  

Everything I've read suggests there's a slight difference between this version of the song and the one you actually get on the album.  Apparently, this version was offered as a free download online to all of the fans.

This is an actual record company release, not a bootleg and believe it or not, the artwork is genuine.  The last time I saw the band in concert, I was able to get the cover signed by everyone and Dick Valentine mentioned he hadn't seen one in awhile.  I guess that means they're fairly rare.

Of course mine is well taken care of and maintained.  And 'Vibrator' is a song I enjoy as well.  It basically concerns itself with saying "My woman don't need no vibrator" because she gets everything she needs from her man.  I relate to this song on a very unusual level.  One I'm not willing to discuss in this blog so I'll suffice it to say I understand this tune.  I really do.

My final words:  A COLLECTOR'S ITEM IF EVER ONE EXISTED.

ELECTRIC SIX - VIBRATOR

01. Vibrator

SADE - DIAMOND LIFE

This actually was my first Sade CD.  Well, in those days it was a cassette.  'Smooth Operator' was the song that inspired me to buy the tape and one that I really loved.  Even though I still love the song, it stopped being my favorite once I gained exposure to more of her material.  There are so many great songs by this band.

'Smooth Operator' starts the album off and it's a smash hit of course.  Anyone who was around during the 80s remembers this song.  I don't know how high it went on the charts, but I know it's one of their most well known numbers.

It's followed by the song that might very well be my absolute favorite Sade song of all time.  Knowing what I like instrumentally, you wouldn't consider this song as one I'm partial to.  But it's the lyrics and the sentiment that make this song so important to me.  'Your Love Is King' is the most romantic song ever written.

"Your love is king, crown you in my heart."  Absolute brilliance.

'Hang On To Your Love' is the next number and it maintains the island/reggae sound texture they're known for.  It's also got another amazing message.  When Sade writes about love, it's a strong powerful commitment.  A deep abiding love.  One I think about a lot.  'Frankie's First Affair' fits into another type of Sade song.  It's the storytelling side of the band and reminds me of an older kind of song.  From the 50s.  It has elements of those songs by girl groups like the Shangri-Las.  There are a couple other songs on this CD that fill in the same category.  'Cherry Pie' and 'Sally' are the two I'm thinking of.  I'm not sure I love these songs as much as the others, but they're still enjoyable.

'When Am I Going To Make A Living' is a song about making life better for yourself.  It's quite subdued.  It's followed up by 'Cherry Pie' and 'Sally'.  Of the two, I prefer 'Cherry Pie'.  'I Will Be Your Friend' is the next track.  It's a very sweet sentiment and another song I really love.

'Why Can't We Live Together' is the final track and I remember hearing this one about the same time I heard a song by the Pet Shop Boys with a similar title.  I sometimes confuse the two.  But I do love it.

Although this isn't my favorite Sade album, it has my favorite songs on it.  This is a band that you can't really define from album to album.  Each subsequent release enriches the body of work as a whole.  Unlike an artist like Meshell Ndegeocello who's sound changes with each release, Sade seems to add chapters to an ongoing book.  They continue the story.  My final words:  IF ROMANCE WAS MUSIC, THIS ALBUM WOULD HAVE IT ALL.

SADE - DIAMOND LIFE
01. Smooth Operator
02. Your Love Is King
03. Hang On To Your Love
04. Frankie's First Affair
05. When Am I Going To Make A Living
06. Cherry Pie
07. Sally
08. I Will Be Your Friend
09. Why Can't We Live Together

THE NEW POWER GENERATION - IN THE WAR

This CD single is a 26:00 minute workout by Prince and the New Power Generation.  It's a live track and mostly improvised.  Online research has revealed the track was recorded at a concert played at Paisley Park on June 20, 1998.  The actual song lasted 45 minutes and even in its edited form, it's the longest released song by Prince.

The single was initially released as a cassette single through the 1-800-New-Funk number.  The CD version was sold at live shows during the 2000 Hit And Run shows.

I can't remember where I got my copy.  I know I was sent a copy on cassette by 1-800-New-Funk, but I don't have it anymore.  I'm not sure what happened to it.

As a song, it's laid back and relaxed.  Prince speaks over some chanted vocals.  It's not a track I listen to on a regular basis, but it's one I enjoy when I do hear it.  I wouldn't mind hearing the whole track.  You don't realize it's 26:00 minutes when you let it play.  It flows along and is relaxing enough to allow you to space out.

It's a unique Prince release and one I'm glad I own.  My final words:  ONE OF NPG'S BETTER RELEASES!

THE NEW POWER GENERATION - THE WAR
01. The War