Tag: rock

516. Steppenwolf

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(August 2023) Episode 516 is STEPPENWOLF. Their fame is well-earned from two big hits, the anthemic “Born to be Wild” with its proto-metal riff and the psychedelic funk of “Magic Carpet Ride.” Steppenwolf’s late 60s albums of slightly acidic rock epitomize the sound of the Woodstock era, including some political messaging. Other than those hits, though, there is little to distinguish the music, other than John Kay’s gravelly baritone. They continued through some forgettable albums into the mid-70s.

Favorite album: The Second

Favorite song: Magic Carpet Ride

Compared to expectations: same

Recommendation: I own their greatest hits record but realize I haven’t put it on in decades, so I guess that tells me that the two hits are enough.

513. Ween

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(August 2023) Episode 513 is WEEN. This is Weird Rock, one of those acts that makes you wonder: how does someone think up this stuff?  This duo out of Pennsylvania attacked the peak alt/indie years with satire, irreverence and deconstruction, evoking what Zappa’s Mothers did to the counterculture era.  They did so from every angle: rock, prog, punk, soul, funk, island music, country (a whole album!), etc. Like Forrest Gump’s box of chocolates, you have no idea what the next song will bring. On first approach I can’t decide whether they are subtly subversive geniuses or try-hards that don’t quite hit the mark. It will take more listens. Although I suspect that will lead me to the former.

Favorite album: The Mollusk

Favorite song: Dr. Rock

Compared to expectations: ↑

Recommendation: It is worth a try, and I may offer a firmer recommendation after subsequent listens.

510. Deep Purple

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(July 2023) Episode 510 is DEEP PURPLE. I had never intended to review this band, figuring the over-saturated classic rock radio hits were enough. But since several rock/metal bands I like cite them as an influence, I thought I’d give it a go. This review give me an added layer of appreciation of their classic sound (the “Smoke on the Water” era) but I do not put them on par with the others (Led Zeppelin and Black Sabbath) included in the ‘unholy trinity.’ I did find some interest in their first three albums, late-60s psychedelic and proto-prog affairs, including the syncopated groove they developed on “Hush” and other songs.  One thing that distinguished Deep Purple is the prominent use of the organ, deployed by Jon Lord as a second heavy guitar.  After Ian Gillan left in the mid-1970s (he would return, leave and return again) the band fell into pedestrian boogie rock and hard rock, recording 15 albums (up to the present decade) about which I found nothing remarkable.

Favourite album: Machine Head

Favourite song: Hush

Favourite song sung by Ian Gillan: Highway Star

Favourite instrumental: Playground

Compared to expectations: same

Recommendation: I can’t quite recommend a greatest hits album, so just turn on classic rock radio and wait for the hits to come on.  I do point out the three 60s albums to connoisseurs of that era’s psychedelia and proto-prog.

509. The Sorrows

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(July 2023) Episode 509 is THE SORROWS, a British beat band of the mid-60s. They were mod and had an edge, a style known as “freakbeat,” with some dabbling in psychedelia which was customary at the time.  I love all things from that era. They had only one hit in the U.S. (“Take a Heart”) and fell apart after a few years.

Favourite album: Take a Heart

Favourite song: You’ve Got What I Want

Compared to expectations: same

Recommendation: Probably too niche unless you’re obsessed with that era (like me), so I’ll make another pitch here for the Nuggets 2 box set which includes “Take a Heart”

508. Shonen Knife

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(July 2023) Episode 508 is SHONEN KNIFE, a reminder of the simple joy of uncomplicated rock-n-roll.  That they are a trio of women singing in Japanese or accented English adds to the charm and shows the universality of the rock idiom. Their style is labelled pop-punk, but I’d also say garage rock.  It’s apt to call them the Ramones of Japan, and they own it, putting out an excellent cover/tribute album. They broadened their sound over four decades (including a good album released this year), but they always keep the core approach, including silly lyrics as odes to ordinary things (“Banana Chips,” “Rubber Band,” “I Am A Cat,” “Spicy Veggie Curry”).  It’s spunky fun.    

Favorite album: Pretty Little Baka Guy

Favorite song: Twist Barbie

Favorite fast tempo song: Economic Crisis

Favorite ballad: Sunshine

Favorite covers album: Osaka Ramones

Compared to expectations: ↑

Recommendation: Highly recommend. It puts you in a good mood.

503. Bongwater

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(6/14/23) Episode 503 is BONGWATER. Some bands are so off-the-wall that part of the appeal is listening and wondering “how could anyone think of such a thing?”  Such is Bongwater: part band, part performance art project of the duo of Mark Kramer and Ann Magnuson (who you will recognize as an actor from various TV shows and movies).  There are sound collages, bizarre stories spoken over trippy psychedelics, shock lyrics, and lots of far-out cover songs. They had a brief and unique run in the late 80s/early 90s.  I am drawn by the audacity.

Favorite album: The Power of Pussy

Favorite song: Folk Song

Compared to expectations: same

Recommendation: Try it if you like bizarre stuff

499. The La De Das

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(6/1/23) Episode 499 is THE LA DE DAS. They gained popularity in New Zealand in the late 1960s by recording the sounds of the contemporary big acts in the UK and US. While their quality never matched that of the bands they mimicked, there are a few cool songs. Their style was standard for the era: blues rock, psychedelic, lots of covers, and even an obligatory concept album (“The Happy Prince”).

Favourite album: The La De Das

Favourite song: How Is The Air Up There?

Compared to expectations: ↑

Recommendation: Rather than seek out La De Das albums, buy the fantastic Nuggets II box set, which features “How Is The Air Up There?” – well worth the investment.

498. Sir Lord Baltimore

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(May 2023) Episode 498 is SIR LORD BALTIMORE. They were making heavy metal music and didn’t even know it, as the genre hadn’t been defined yet. A power trio out of New York City recorded two excellent albums of heavy, bluesy, fuzzy, frenetic rock, sort of a blend of Cream and MC5, released in the same years Black Sabbath was getting going (1970-71). Then they fell apart, and reunited decades later for a revival album which was not good.

Favourite album: Kingdom Come

Favourite song: Kingdom Come

Compared to expectations: ↑

Recommendation: their albums are in deep dive territory, but have aged like fine wine

496. Violent Femmes

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Episode 496 is the VIOLENT FEMMES. Their first album is the soundtrack to my college dorm years, providing drunken sing-alongs for students trying to get real-life affirmative answers to the questions in “Add It Up.” The Femmes were alt music a decade before we started using that term. They’re labeled folk-punk but I’d call it geeky neo-skiffle. There’s a clear resonance with Jonathan Richman, but I hear parallels with They Might Be Giants (and a bit of Talking Heads, not surprising given their association with Jerry Harrison). I stopped following them after the second album and expected a drop-off from there, so I was pleased to find out they generally kept it fresh and fun over the decades.

Favourite album: Violent Femmes

Favourite song: Add It Up

Special sauce: the bass work of Brian Ritchie

Compared to expectations: ↑

Recommendation: The first album is essential, especially for those of us of a certain generation, but it’s worth exploring other stuff too. 

495. The Amboy Dukes

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(May 2023) Episode 495 is THE AMBOY DUKES. Known primarily for the psychedelic gem “Journey to the Center of the Mind” and for being Ted Nugent’s first band, they made some good recordings covering the range of late 60s/early 70s sounds: blues rock, psychedelia, groovy rock, prog. Overall it is an uneven affair, within and across albums, never solidifying a musical identity. They eventually did when, amidst personnel changes, Nugent full took over with his guitar-frenzied boogie rock, with which he transitioned seamlessly to a successful solo career.

Favourite album: The Amboy Dukes

Favourite song: Journey to the Center of the Mind

Compared to expectations: same

Recommendation: a greatest hits album will suffice, although “Journey” is the only essential thing