Category: Episodes

435. Candlemass

~ ernopepper ~ Leave a comment

(September 2022) Episode 435 is CANDLEMASS, a pioneer of the doom metal genre. But not my preferred flavor of doom metal; I find the operatic NWOBHM-style singing discordant with the low and heavy guitar approach. That’s why my favorite album (From the 13th Sun) is an outlier from their typical sound, more stoner and sludgy, but not surprising since they dedicated it to Black Sabbath.  Still, there are some good metal tracks elsewhere, although frequent lineup changes reduce consistency.

Favorite album: From the 13th Sun

Favorite song: Zog

Best album: Epicus Doomicus Metallicus

Compared to expectations: same

Recommendation: give them a try; your tastes may not be as finicky as mine

434. The Staple Singers and Mavis Staples

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(September 2022) Episode 434 is the STAPLE SINGERS and MAVIS STAPLES.  This family (patriarch “Pops” plus four siblings, including Mavis) is proof that blues, gospel and soul all share the same DNA. They began as a gospel group, but with a restrained, down to earth feel in contrast to normal gospel fare, grounded in Pops’ Mississippi blues guitar. They transitioned into soul and later funk. Mavis, already an accomplished solo artist, has had a revival in her golden years, with her best albums coming in the last decade.

Favorite Staple Singers album: Freedom Highway

Favorite Mavis album: One True Vine

Favorite Staple Singers song: John Brown

Favorite Mavis song: Can You Get To That

Compared to expectations: ↑

Recommendation: try the mid-60s albums for some good soul and sweet harmonies

433. The Woggles

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(September 2022) Episode 433 is THE WOGGLES. I can’t think of a contemporary band that embraces the garage rock sound more than this Atlanta-origin band. The early albums excel at irresistible guitar hooks and frenetic energy, with some rockabilly retro, although it can sometimes come off as bar band fare.  Later albums get more sophisticated, expressing a range of guitar rock sounds present in the Bible of the genre, the Nuggets box sets, with grit, fuzz and British inflections. No wonder they are heroes of Little Steven’s Underground Garage.  Fun stuff.

Favorite album: Rock and Roll Backlash

Favorite song: Blasting Cap

Favorite British Invasion homage: Porridge

Compared to expectations: ↑

Recommendation: three out of four stars

432. Budgie

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(August 2022) Episode 432 is BUDGIE. An early hard rock/heavy metal band from Wales. The clear influence is Black Sabbath, but some have made comparisons to early Rush, both as a power trio and for Burke Shelley’s high register vocals. Tony Bourge’s guitar provides fine hooks and crunch, combining for a great groove with Shelley’s bass and Ray Phillips’ drums. While not well known in the U.S., they proved influential to Metallica, Van Halen and others, not to mention all the NWOBHM bands and boogie rockers.

Favourite album: Budgie

Favourite song: Nude Disintegrating Parachutist Woman

Compared to expectations: ↑

Recommendation: any fan of heavy metal (or Sabbath in particular) should have Budgie’s first three albums

431. Gene Vincent

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(August 2022) Episode 431 is GENE VINCENT. Perhaps not a popular opinion, but I think the sultry “Be-Bop-a-Lula” is better than anything Elvis ever did. You know I’m not a fan of rockabilly, but his early work with the Blue Caps has some genuine appeal. And his influence is indisputable, particularly on the Beatles. He tried a comeback in the late 60s which, while commercially unsuccessful, is surprisingly enjoyable, in the country rock vein of the late Byrds and Flying Burrito Brothers. 

Favorite album: Gene Vincent and the Blue Caps

Favorite song: Be-Bop-a-Lula

Compared to expectations: ↑

Recommendation: mostly of historical interest, but maybe try those later country rock albums

430. Adam and the Ants

~ ernopepper ~ 1 Comment

Episode 430 is ADAM AND THE ANTS (+ Adam Ant solo).  “Kings of the Wild Frontier” was the one non-classic rock album in my high school collection, and I played it repeatedly to show how “alternative” I was. How lame. But revisiting it four decades later, it still kinda slaps — idiosyncratic new wave with Burundi drums, glam tones and a pirate ethos, and bouncy fun.  The first solo album is OK but you can skip the rest.

Favourite album: Kings of the Wild Frontier

Favourite song: Dog Eat Dog

Favourite solo song: Goody Two Shoes

Compared to expectations: same

Recommendation: You’re good with Kings of the Wild Frontier and Prince Charming

429. Misfits

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(August 2022) Episode 429 is MISFITS.  Misfits are close to what you might have had if the Ramones had staged the Rocky Horror Picture Show at CBGBs, but with a harder edge. There’s some good punk in here, but Danzig is an acquired taste that’s not really mine. They reformed later without him but it lacked the energy and camp.

Favorite album: Walk Among Us

Favorite song: Green Hell

Compared to expectations: ↓

Recommendation: just the first two albums

428. Django Reinhardt

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(August 2022) Episode 428 is DJANGO REINHARDT. A legendary, if not mystical, figure in the global history of jazz. He created a propulsive style, called hot club jazz by some, that put the guitar out front, or accentuated the melodies of violinist Stephane Grappelli.  His French-Romani background gave it a distinctive European flavor. And the fact he did it with only two fingers on his fret hand adds to the legend.

Favorite song: Brazil

Compared to expectations: same

Recommendation: an enjoyable ride, if you can stomach the occasional French lyrics

427. Screamin’ Jay Hawkins

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(July 2022) Episode 427 is SCREAMIN’ JAY HAWKINS. His contribution to the emergence of rock-n-roll was primarily his wild and macabre stage performances, making him a pioneer of shock rock.  The music was a mix of blues and R&B delivered in his booming operatic baritone, but is more style than substance.

Favorite album: At Home With Screamin’ Jay Hawkins

Favorite song: I Put A Spell On You

Most Realistic Song: Constipation Blues

Compared to expectations: ↓

Recommendation: just as a novelty

426. Megadeth

~ ernopepper ~ 1 Comment

(July 2022) Episode 426 of the “opus project” is MEGADETH, the last of the ‘big four’ thrash bands reviewed, and also the least. I’m turned off by Mustaine’s at-times cartoonish voice.  The first few albums have quality speed and grind. While the many albums that follow are peppered with occasional thrashtastic bits, but much of it is pedestrian metal and hard rock. Megadeth does feature in one of my favorite Onion articles.

Favorite album: Peace Sells .. But Who’s Buying?

Favorite song: Holy Wars … The Punishment Due

Compared to expectations: ↓

Recommendation: there are parts that kick, but I would fulfill your thrash needs elsewhere