Category: Episodes

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

425. Donovan

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(July 2022) Episode 425 is DONOVAN. The Prince of Hippy Folk Rock. I had only known him through a greatest hits disc, but discovered there is a lot more to enjoy. His first two albums were Dylan clones, but he found his own original voice and style in a series of late 1960s albums, full of flower power, psychedelia, whimsy, and cosmic musings. Even the children’s music has charm.  The quality dropped in the 70s and 80s, but a couple of his 21st century albums were strong and creative.

Favourite album: A Gift from a Flower to a Garden 

Favourite song: Hurdy Gurdy Man

Compared to expectations: ↑

Recommendation: the greatest hits will suffice but you’ll probably enjoy a deeper dive into the 60s albums.

424. Roy Orbison

~ ernopepper ~ 1 Comment

(July 2022) Episode 424 is ROY ORBISON. He’s in the pantheon of early rock-n-roll icons, but also stands apart. For one, his melodic crooner voice contrasted with the bombast of his peers. And his music resided discretely at the intersection of rock, country and pop. Again, I’m not a listener of early rock-n-roll, but his songs don’t sound as much like museum pieces as those of fellow icons. With Lefty, I have now reviewed all the Traveling Wilburys.

Favorite album: In Dreams

Favorite song: Oh, Pretty Woman

Compared to expectations: same

Recommendation: mostly for historical interest