Tag: rock

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

417. Jeff Beck

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(June 2022) Episode 417 is JEFF BECK. One of the three Gods of Guitar to emerge from the Yardbirds, he did not earn the same fame as Page or Clapton. This may be due to an idiosyncratic, haphazard output that veered in style from blues rock to jazz fusion, pop rock, rockabilly and modern rock, all of which provided platform for his guitar chops. His musical legacy, though, comes from the first two albums, with Rod Stewart and Ronnie Wood, which laid the foundation for heavy metal and blues rock, and gave us some classic rock staples.  And of course from his much-admired innovations and talents on the six strings.

Favourite album: Truth

Favourite song: Beck’s Bolero

Compared to expectations: ↓

Recommendation: mostly for guitar-o-philes

409. Procol Harem

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(May 2022) Episode 409 is PROCOL HAREM. You know them from their first single “A Whiter Shade of Pale” but they were more than a one-hit wonder. The first three albums, with Robin Trower’s fuzzy guitar and Matthew Fisher’s reverberating organ, are a peak late-60s mix of quasi-psychedelia and baroque rock. They are also considered one of the first prog-rock bands. Vocalist and pianist Gary Brooker, with a voice that is the love child of Steve Winwood and Pete Townsend, is the constant from the beginning though a long run of avoidable albums.

Favourite album: Procol Harem

Favourite song: She Wandered Through the Garden Fence

Compared to expectations: ↓

Recommendation: relevant for a deeper dive into late 60s British rock, as well as those interested in the roots of prog rock

405. Happy Mondays

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(May 2022) Episode 405 is the HAPPY MONDAYS.  Arguably the most Madchester sound within the Madchester scene, with plenty of grooves and rave beats.  But they lacked the melodic charm of peers the Stone Roses and Charlatans.

Favourite album: Pills ‘n’ Thrills and Bellyaches

Favourite song: Bob’s Yer Uncle

Compared to expectations: ↓

Recommendation: worth a listen to see what the Madchester thing was all about

404. Death

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(May 2022) Episode 404 is DEATH (the proto-punk band, not the death metal band).  My primary interest is in their role as a proto-punk band, although they didn’t make a mark outside of their native Detroit until rediscovered decades later. Also unusual in that they were a trio of Black brothers who started out in funk but got turned on to hard rock, with political and later Christian themes. Their sound is like mixing MC5, Love, the White Stripes and Glass Harp in a blender. 

Favorite album: …For the Whole World to See

Favorite song: Politicians In My Eyes

Compared to expectations: ↓

Recommendation: only of interest to those exploring the roots of punk

396. Crowded House

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(April 2022) Episode 396 is CROWDED HOUSE.  It’s generally more soft rock than my taste, but I’ve always admired Neil Finn’s songwriting skill (kinda the kiwi Difford/Tilbrook).  There are some pop gems in here.

Favourite album: Woodface

Favourite song: It’s Only Natural

Compared to expectations: same

Recommendation: their greatest hits album (Recurring Dream) is worth having

393. The Beta Band

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(March 2022) Episode 393 is THE BETA BAND. Like me, you may know them from that iconic head-bobbing scene in the movie High Fidelity.  It’s hard to describe their esoteric mix of folk, electronica, loops, beats and experimental sounds, but it is generally enjoyable. I don’t know if it was intentional, but the “beta” in the name implies it’s not a finished project, and it sounds like it.

Favourite album: Hot Shots II

Favourite song: Dry the Rain

Compared to expectations: same

Recommendation: if you’re looking for something unconventional

390. The Charlatans

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(March 2022) Episode 390 is THE CHARLATANS (UK).  A band out of Madchester scene (dream pop with funky beats) that survived its demise (where did you go Stone Roses?). They impressively transitioned through Britpop, with some good albums in the 90s, and kept evolving their sound with melodic rock and lush pop.

Favourite album: Us and Us Only

Favourite song: Forever

Compared to expectations: same

Recommendation: they should be in your 90s Britrock rotation

386. Kula Shaker

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(February 2022) Episode 386 is KULA SHAKER. Their debut was lightning in a bottle, a Harrisonesque mix of Britpop, Indian music and Hindu mysticism. I had it in heavy rotation back in the day. Subsequent albums, despite occasional good bits, never matched the charm.

Favourite album: K

Favourite song: Into The Deep

Compared to expectations: ↓

Recommendation: just K (debut album)

385. Blue Cheer

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(January 2022) Episode 385 is BLUE CHEER. One of the loud and heavy bands from the late 1960s – and you know how much I love loud and heavy bands from the late 1960s – that is seen as a precursor to heavy metal. The sound on their first four fuzz-laden albums (the only ones you need listen to) is like Vanilla Fudge mixed with Iron Butterfly with a cup of MC5. Like many of that era, inevitably, they reformed to record some terrible albums in later decades.

Favorite album: Vincebus Eruptum

Favorite song: Come and Get It

Compared to expectations: same

Recommendation: for those who like 60s deep cuts and metal historians