5 comments about The Same Old Blood Rush with a New Touch.

1. When you first get the record, it's the catchiest thing ever. I really loved "Fourth Drink Instinct" and "The Curse of Curves". The only problem is after listening to a million times, it gets kind of old. So if you get it, it's really good, but you forget you have it. I guess it's to good relisten to if you haven't heard it in a while.



2. Ok, I've tried to not like Cute is What We Aim For; I really have. I don't want to like them, but their songs are so damn catchy that i can't help but Love them!
   
   Ok, I'm not saying that the music is of superior quality, but their catchy lyrics, impressive vocals, and instrumentation make it impossible to get out of your head.
   
   Whether you hate Cute is What We Aim For or love them, you will no doubt have every tune off of "The Same Old Blood Rush With a New Touch" in your head. Just try to resist the urge to sing along; I dare you.



3. To be perfectly honest I grew up on the likes of The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, Warren Zevon, and Tom Petty, so basically I'm firmly ensconsed in the Rock camp, but I'm always willing to give other bands a chance.
   
   I kinda wish I didn't give this band one.
   
   The songs are catchy, certainly, in the same way that 'The Song That Never Ends' is. You will soon wish to drive a stake through your skull. The band members are not bad musicians, but they are solidly average. The singer, well he can hit higher notes than I can, which would be impressive if he didn't sound so much like a prepubescent boy.
   
   CIWWAF is clearly attempting to follow in the footsteps of Fall Out Boy or Panic! At The Disco but their stride falls short.



4. My 13-year-old daughter and I went on a road trip. We took one CD -- "Rotation" by Cute is What We Aim For. She was going to convince me why this band was great. We had quilts and snacks and drove through the beautiful mountains near Tahoe and I became a fan. We listened to each song numerous times and my daughter would tell me what she thought they meant and I would relate what I thought they meant -- each from our own experiences. We had the best time, dancing around in the car, spending some quality time and I learned a lot about her from how she interpreted the songs. She was able to tell where they were making fun of themselves and where they were giving a message. My kid is smarter than I gave her credit for. I even caught myself singing "Practice Makes Perfect" at my job the next day and everyone was like, "What's that?" and then they listened. And then they liked it! I'm too old to say Shaant is HOT, but I'm gonna say it anyway. Shaant, you're HOT! They all seem like really cool guys and I'm excited to say I'm taking my daughter and her friends to go see them at the Boardwalk in Orangevale, California. Keep up the good work GUYS!!!



5. I took my 13-year-old daughter to a Fall Out Boy show and Cute is What We Aim for was one of the opening bands. They sounded like many other bands and nothing was out of the ordinary about them (except for that lead singer Shaant Hacikyan is one of the hottest of the latest crop of hotties under 30).
   
   But staring at a good-looking guy flinging his hair around gets old after 10 minutes no matter how gorgeous he is.... Then they did Curse of Curves and the crowd went wild so I made a note to myself to check out the song. I promptly much forgot about them after the show (Fall Out Boy blew all four opening acts off the stage) but my daughter played Curse of Curves a few times and the song kept getting stuck in my head so I put it on my MP3 player and really enjoyed it.
   
   I delved a little further and listened to the rest of the CD and it's not bad. The #1 problem is that the songs tend to get stuck in my head and even though **SOME** of the lyrics are catchy and witty, they're too often repeated a ridiculous number of times (the main lyrics of the song Risqué are repeated no less than EIGHT times in under four minutes) and they're all pretty much "shallow as a shower" (to steal a line from "Curse of Curves").
   
   I've read several online reviews where people deem Hacikyan a "lyrical genius" and that's a very sad statement regarding today's youth--especially considering that when Led Zeppelin released their first recording which contained "Good Times Bad Times", "Babe I'm Gonna Leave You", "Dazed And Confused", and "Communication Breakdown" and when The Who wrote and recorded their first album that had "My Generation" and "The Kids Are Alright" on it, they were the same ages as these guys.
   
   I want to like CD more and this band has good potential but the CD falls short of what they can probably do. I can only listen to about half of it before I have to turn it off to hear something more substantial--even with the catchy hooks and cute lyrics.

5 comments about Bandwagonesque.

1. I drove cross country alone at 18 with this album. Somewhere around Ogden Utah I realized I loved this album. 16 years later I still listen to it. I have to admit I bought it because they were on SNL and the lead singer wore a cardigan. I catch myself humming December sometimes. This album is a tragedy, in that it's greatness was matched by my peers refusal to listen to and appreciate it. When I was younger I thought my taste was flawed, turns out they were idiots. I recommend bootcamping this one. I envy anyone who has yet to crack a beer cue this one up.



2. 15 years after its release, this album still sounds really crisp and fresh. I can picture this being on the radio today even moreso than in the early 90's. Great listen from a bunch of great Scottish lads.



3. BANDWAGONESQUE was my introduction to Teenage Fanclub. This is "The Fannies" 3rd release and their first successful achievement. It also gained notoriety by beating out Nirvana's Nevermind, My Bloody Valentine's Loveless, and R.E.M 's Out of Time as 'Album of the Year' by Spin magazine.
   This album's lyrics and melodies shows that the Band were highly influenced by The Byrds, The Beach Boys, and of course Big Star.
   I really can't believe Teenage Fanclub weren't considered the future of British Rock. Oasis and Blur won over that Crown. Blech! ...Kind of sad since Teenage Fanclub features 3 Master singer/songwriters in Blake, Love & McGinley.
   BANDWAGONESQUE has so many wonderful highlights in twelve songs. It seems like it would be a 'Greatest Hits' for any above average Rock band. Although their later stuff is just as Good. Check out 1995's Grand Prix, which is even more lush w/ guitars a shinin' bright and clear, also no fuzz-boxes. Yep, BANDWAGONESQUE & GRAND PRIX are my two favorite studio albums by this marvelous band.
   My favorites on BANDWAGONESQUE include: Opener - "The Concept" - "December" - "What You Do to Me" - "I Don't Know" - *Star Sign* - "Metal Baby" & "Sidewinder" but ALL are close to perfect 'lil pop-rockin' Hits, well to me at least.



4. This album reminds me of a great alternative rock radio station in Minnesota circa 1991. Just at the time I thought "rock" was dead, along came that radio station and albums like this. "The Concept," "What You Do To Me," and "Star Sign" received regular rotation on the old KJJO, and what great tunes they were. Over the course of time this album has become a favorite in my collection. Good times. Great tunes. If it weren't for my discovery of classic alternative bands like this I'd probably be listening to country-and-western now. Ugh. :)



5. from the stunning opener "the concept," with its wonderfully lyrical guitar solos, on through the closing intrumental "is this music?" this is a power pop classic. other standout tunes include "pet rock," which includes great hard rock guitar, "sidewinder," full of exquisite harmonies, and "guiding star," a song of majestic gently beauty. this is a recording all rock/pop lovers should have.

5 comments about '80s Gold.

1. Over all Hip-O records has done an excellent job on their Gold series compilations. Of all the 80s collections out there I think this is the best and it covers all the different styles in the 80s and it is arranged in chronological order which makes it fun tracking the changes over the decade. Almost every style is represented from the soft rock of Christopher Cross, to the R&B of Bobby Brown, to the Brit Pop of Tears for Fears, and the rock of Survivor. There are absolutely no fillers here since this were all chart toppers (though I could have done without "Up Where We Belong").
   
   Some complaints that come up with most all compilations is that it seems like some of the biggest stars are always missing but do to label politics and artists not wanting their music on these compilations you are always going to be missing some major moments of the decade. With that said, for example groups like Journey seem to always be missing but if you are a fan of Journey's 80s hits you will already have their Best of so why would you need the same song you own on this CD as well? So when I buy these compilations I consider it like buying "the best of the rest". Getting a sample of songs from artists that I may not want to buy a full CD of. So I tend to focus on what is here over what isn't. And what is here is some of the best songs from the decade and there is enough variety to keep it interesting from track 1 on disk 1 to the last track on disk 2.



2. This is a list of 80's Gold and it doesn't have Michael Jackson, Joan Jett, Chicago, or Madonna? Some good material on the disks but far from a complete set.



3. Although it does have some songs that I think were not that great, and there are probably some others that should have gone on here, for the price and the great songs that it does have, I would consider it a great purchase for anyone who loved the '80s.



4. This two CD set showcases 33 number one hits during the 1980s. As a set of #1 Billboard Hot 100 Chart topping hits, this is a wonderful two CD set. On the other hand, however, there is the total absence of music by such performers as Michael Jackson and Madonna. The sound quality is great and the value is good, but it isn't complete without still more other artists.
   
   But don't give up on this one! There are several really good things I can say about this set. The collection boasts catchy tunes such as "Addicted To Love" by Robert Palmer and "My Prerogative" by Bobby Brown. The scope of the music is pretty wide: you get aggressive tunes such as "My Prerogative" right along with ballads like "Up Where We Belong" by Joe Cocker and Jennifer Warnes. That's impressive.
   
   I give this four stars for its' very good quality. I would have given it five stars were it not for the fact that Jackson, Madonna, Cyndi Lauper and others just aren't here. Their songs, although maybe not all number one hits, were just as golden. I guess maybe this makes me a purist, but that's my honest opinion.
   
   After all is said and done, the songs picked are some of the very best to come out of the 1980s and I personally like most if not all of these songs. This was my decade in that I was in college at the time; and when I listen to these tunes I have fond memories of when life was a little bit sweeter and easier. However, I just can't help but wish there was more.
   
   I recommend this as great a great starter kit for someone who wants to get into '80s music. It's more for the casual fan of this era as well. As for the purists, they probably have all these songs in their library already and they should clearly continue buying more music to make their collection of '80s gold truly complete.



5. There have been hundreds of 80s compilation albums on the market in the past decade. But this is a mammoth of a collection right here, with 33 No. 1 songs from that decade! I think that because most of these songs are 20 years old or more, this decade is getting more respected because of the Internet, upcoming 20 to 25-year class reunions and other areas. Purists are going to criticize why Michael Jackson and other artists aren't on this collection, but this is very complete. The Gold series that Universal has been doing since 2005 has done a good job compiling these albums. Standouts--hits from Diana Ross, Lionel Richie, Hall and Oates, A-ha, Expose, Bobby Brown, Paula Abdul, Fine Young Cannibals, Belinda Carlisle, the late Robert Palmer and others. Please get this album and respect these songs from a 2006 standpoint. These songs have influenced most of today's music and the numerous rap/R&B and pop/rap collaborations currently on the charts.

5 comments about No Dice.

1. This album is right with STRAIGHT UP and WISH YOU WERE HERE. I love the opening I CAN'T TAKE IT. All of the songs just rock on this album. NO MATTER WHAT is like one of the greatest songs ever, and WITHOUT YOU is known to be covered by Nillson, Heart, and Mariah Carey; Badfinger's is the definitive version in my eyes, though. Joey Molland joins the band and his debut song is LOVE ME DO. I love that track! The bonus tracks are great too. I'LL BE THE ONE and MEAN MEAN JEMIMA rock out, and I love WE'RE FOR THE DARK, BLODWYN and WATFORD JOHN. BELIEVE ME rules too. Excellent stuff here.



2. Well. I guess you all heard the news by now. "The Daily Snitch", one of London's top newspapers printed a story with huge headlines, "TOP SEER TO RETIRE FROM REVIEWING", including a picture of me being rushed into a waiting taxi cab. I want to assure all my fans that this is not the case. While it is true that I have stated that I wanted to cut back because of all the work involved. I was thinking of just submitting two sentences as a review, like many others (you have seen them, haven't you?). Two blerbs that say nothing and aren't challenging in the least. Of course it would be safe and non-threatening. And everyone goes home happy. Who cares if Metamorpho's Universal sacrifice is shattered like fine Lennox crystal dropped on the floor? Well.....at least there's glue. :)
   But, let's move on to Badfinger, shall we? I knew they were excellent a long time ago, and while I listen to it now, it has lost none of the magic it had since the first time I heard it. Such a phenomenal pop outfit that reminds one of the Beatles. And why shouldn't it since two of them (Paul McCartney and George Harrison) guided Badfinger in so many ways? It was the wisdom and experience of how recording gets done that contributed to their superior sound. Also the smarts to recognize the talent that existed. It is the quintessential format of a pop quartet that is employed here. The harmony vocals, although rougher than the Beatles would use, are used here. We have the rythmn guitar keeping constant as tasty bits from the lead guitar color and shape the sound. The nice bass fill, jumpy and essential, and the sometimes active and sometimes understated drum breaks. Add to that, piano, some horns, and you have a very nicely put together album indeed.
   But let us not forget that the songwriting here is above parr in so many respects. They all could write tunes - and none of them were shabby in the least! When you listen to the album you will be astounded on the variation of construction. They include tough rockers like "I Can't Take It", "Love Me Do", "No Matter What", and "Watford John". Semi-sweet odes such as like "Midnight Caller", "Without You", "It Had to Be", and "We're for the Dark". Included with this is the country-flavored rock of "Blodwyn". In fact people, if you like the diversity of what pop/rock can be, then you should investigate this album. There is not one bad cut here.
   I suppose by now that everyone knows the story of Badfinger. Pete Ham's suicide, the non-support and atrocious activity of their record company. It is an amazement to me that a group this talented shouldn't have been mega. But, that only supports my wise Seer's outlook (after much reflection) that the best music out there is music you have never heard. Keep in mind, that, in some weird way, we are victims as much as Badfinger in the fact that the music industry has vast power of what you do or do not hear. We are the ones who have to do the work and seek out the gems. This one really was a no-brainer for your Metamorpho (stop that snickering--I hear you!).
   Anyway, enough braying on my part. If you like nice melodies, great songs, and beautiful construction, get this c.d. You won't be disappointed. It is a pure joy.
   Time to go and see if the newspaper will print a retraction. Hmmm...I think I'd have better luck purchasing another Lennox crystal. Oh well.
   
   Well beyond the looking glass - your "non-retired" Metamorpho



3. Badfinger's best, most cohesive album. This is on par with Lou Reed's Transformer, T. Rex's The Slider, Mott the Hoople's All The Young Dudes, and David Bowie's Ziggy Stardust. I have personally worn out three vinyl LPs, I like this album so much. Pete Ham's guitar work is the under-rated under-appreciated strength of this album. Soaring vintage Les Paul solos, both laidback and in-your-face, are the common thread connecting the feel and atmosphere of all twelve original songs. This is a great guitar album. The extra tracks are dismissable, with the exception of the superb "I'll Be The One". (Rumor has it that the cover model is Joey Molland's wife, Kathy.)



4. For a short time Badfinger filled the void left by the breakup of the Beatles. "No Dice" and the following album "Straight Up" are classic pop albums that had the harmony, melodic sense, energy and feeling that were the hallmark of the best of the Beatles music. While the Beatles had Lennon and McCartney Badfinger only had one "great" singer songwriter-Pete Ham, though Tom Evans was an excellent singer and wrote some memorable songs. The other members wrote and sang but it was Ham who provided the group with the best songs and the most inspired vocals.
   The heartbreak of his finest song "Without You" (co-written by Evans) is only heightened by the knowledge of his tragic suicide (years later Tom Evans ended his own life the same way), and with no disrespect to Harry Nilsson, this is the definitive version.
   Pete of course was surrounded by a group of solid singer, writer, players that made Badfinger one of the best groups in the early 1970's and "No Matter What" is one of the few songs that have stood the test of time and still seem fresh every time you hear it.



5. I dont need to repeat everyone here, but this is a must own cd. You can thank us (and Joey when you see him at the Chicago Beatlefest in August) later.

5 comments about I Am the Cosmos.

1. This album was put together by Chris' brother David (who wrote the liner notes) and released in 1992. The tracks were recorded throughout the mid seventies and to me, they feel like an extension of his work with Alex Chilton on Big Star's excellent debut "#1 Record". A good companion to that LP with the compositions giving off a similar feel but this time without the background vocals that Chilton provided. In addition to Bell, Ken Woodley plays bass guitar/organ and Richard Rosebrough is on drums.
   
   My favorite tracks are the title track, the ballad "You And Your Sister" (this one featuring backing vocals from Chilton), "There Was a Light" (features a great Beatles sounding melodic solo), "Look Up" and "Speed Of Sound" (great keyboard work).
   The rockers are a bit more rough sounding ("Fight At The Table" is by far the weakest track) and of them, song number six "Make A Scene" is the best one for me. "Get Away" and "I Don't Know" are in fact the same song but different takes with the latter being the superior one.
   The alternate version of "I am The Cosmos" sounds very similar to the original and the two different takes of "You And Your Sister" lack Chilton's back up vocals so I prefer the original.
   
   The problem with this album is that honestly, is not one I pull out to listen to often. In fact I can't remember when was the last time I listened to it...definitely quite some time ago. To me, some of the songs are a bit melancholic and depressing which is not surprising since before dying in the car accident, Bell had tried to commit suicide twice (he even mentions this on the second track "Better Save Yourself"). Definitely not the best album to cheer you up...
   Still the music is excellent though and if you liked Big Star's first record (I listen to this one much more often!), then check out what Bell was capable on his own!
   Thanks for taking the time to read!
   Later...



2. Had it not been my recent infatuation with Big Star, this is a record that I would have never considered. I've just turned 50 and been a fan all my life of power pop such as Badfinger and Cheap Trick but Big Star was a band I never listened to until recently. Their first two records are genre defining, and I could not wait to listen to everything I could find recorded by Alex Chilton and Chris Bell.
   
   There are several tracks on "I Am The Cosmos" that show the talent Chris Bell had- the title track is gorgeous (though I have to admit the Posies covered it better), "Speed of Sound", "Get Away", " I Don't Know" and "I Got Kinda Lost" sounds like they would fit well on a Big Star record. Several other tracks have an early solo John Lennon sound- "Better Save Yourself" and "There Was A Light". There are several versions of "You And Your Sister" that Bell recorded with Chilton that show how well they sang together. However, several other tracks on this disc are just plain awful and I wonder why they were included ("Fight At The Table, "Though I Know She Lies"). Of note- Chris' brother David Bell has written a brief history in the liner notes of his brother's influences, how he got involved with Alex Chilton and Big Star, his short solo career and his untimely death.
   
   Overall I think this is a must have for any fan of Big Star, but it is by no means a classic record.



3. Chris Bell did not have the easiest life. He founded Big Star, only to leave the band, eclipsed by Alex Chilton. He believed in Christianity but struggled through life as a musician and with his attraction to men. He was killed in a car accident in 1978. This record really is an experience to listen to. Much like anything by solo John Lennon to Nirvana's In Utero. When I heard this I was angered that he left Big Star. He was rock's Rimbaud and he left us much too soon.



4. If Big Star's Radio City and #1 Record are five star records, this is four-and-a-half. The high points are just as high (the title track, You and Your Sister), the weakest tracks maybe a bit weaker. There is a real melancholy beauty to this music. It creates its own atmosphere.
   
   Liner notes are rarely worth mentioning, but the ones here (by Bell's brother) are fascinating, telling the story of the recording and mixing of these tracks in Europe, including a brief encounter with Paul McCartney at Abbey Road. Bell's is a sad story in many ways, and his depression is palpable on Cosmos. One of those artists who was severely underappreciated in his too-short lifetime and still underrated today.



5. This is a stunning singer-songwriter album.
   It is a message from the heart and to the heart from a voice and vocals that are from a cosmos outside of our everyday,it is locked deep within our souls and ideas that drive our reason for living.
   Great praise for making this beautiful piece accessible through the power of needing to see it released to the public.

5 comments about Shock/Denial/Anger/Acceptance.

1. A wonderful collection of rock songs by an artist many thought peaked in the early 80's. The music has edge and the title of the CD is fitting. My favorite track is "Jesus Saves" (white trash baby like you) which is now a staple of his live performances. Highly recommended!



2. Noone could have expected this kind of album from Rick Springfield in 2004, or any other year. He had proven to be a master of folk-pop, power-pop and adult rock over the course of his long career, but this was entirely different. This album has all the above genre's, plus some light jazz and slight reggae as well, but for the most part, "Shock/Denial/Anger/Acceptance" is straight-up modern hard rock. There's plenty of balls about this album, which is a conceptual work based on the four phases of mourning. In this case the artist is examining the collapse of a romantic relationship, and to say the results are gripping is an understatement. This is one of the most emotionally charged efforts ever recorded in rock history, with not even one filler track amongst it's 17. Anyone who would dismiss Springfield as a lightweight has never heard this cd. And anyone who has heard this is likely changed in some way, whether as superficially as realizing the artist is far deeper than they thought or as profoundly as finding solace within these grooves. A person stumbling through the wreckage of a failed relationship will certainly know much of what is detailed throughout this brilliant album.
   "Shock/Denial/Anger/Acceptance" is definitely the finest Rick Springfield album to date and may very well be one of the greatest albums of all time.



3. As a teenage girl I was just wild about Rick Springfield ...not just for his looks but for his music too.
   Well I got older (40) and so did he. Now it is the music and the message of the lyrics that have the impact on me. I really like this album for the variety of genres he does on it. To me he has kept up with the times in his music and adds his own personal touch on things (My Depression) being one of them. A lot of the tunes lean towards pop music with a little heavier guitar in some. I also love the blues tune he throws in. The unique thing about this album is he has also thrown in short little songs...(maybe 30 seconds long) it may be something fun he was trying or to emphasize the diversity of the album. In any case if you are buying this for the Rick Springfield of the "80's" you are going find a bit of a change. To me it is for the better. Definitely be open to variety when you listen to it. It is one of those albums that won't be for everyone...You can only please half the people half the time anyways....but I am really glad I purchased it. Also this was not a whim purchase but I have been looking for this particular album of his for 2 years because I was looking for one song I had heard on the radio. I am so pleased as I really love 90% of the songs on it. Amazon.com was the only one who carried it. You would have to go to a special music vendor to find it.



4. I have been an RS fan since the tender age of 8. I remember my mother playing "Love Is Alright" and immediately falling in love with that voice. Then I saw that face :-) I digress... Now at 36, I listen to some of his older music from Tao & Rock of Life, and really appreciate the insight and emotion expressed in those lyrics. I find myself relating to those expressed in this album just as much. While there is a bit of anger displayed in some of these lyrics, there is also much much more there including hope and love... Of course, the music is just as fantastic- it really really rocks. I loved this album, but I can certainly understand why someone who loved Jesse's Girl (one of my least favorites)may not be that into it.



5. In a word, this album is "gritty" (and great). Springfield's never gotten the credit he's deserved for songwriting with substance (even with "boy meets girl" songs). Those songs had hooks but they also had great stories or lyrics that were heartfelt, had clever word twists, double entendre, etc.
   
   Springfield is in top form on this album. But he doesnt forget his former power pop signature. "I Will" is a bridge between his slick hooks of the past and his new grittiness.
   
   It's great to see a musician who could rest on his laurels, but doesnt. This aint no Clay Aiken album.

5 comments about Wish You Were Here.

1. Pete Ham was never content to simply step into the empty, spotlit stage remaining in the Beatles' wake. He shed any direct inclinations of being a Macca or Lennon clone years before - "Name of the Game" from Straight Up remains a defining statement of Pete's singular ability. While "Just a Chance" rocks like a mother and "Meanwhile Back at the Ranch" makes you want to put the top down and step on the gas, he takes another step forward in declaring his emerging songwriting genius with "Dennis". Simple, yet poetic in its lyric, the melody is as haunting and compelling as any in music. Sometimes when a song touches one so deeply, it is difficult to define what about the tune is so moving. Pick up this record and hear it for yourself. No rock fan should be without it. Incidentally, Joey Molland turns in one of his prettiest melodies in "Love Time" - silly title, beautiful tune.



2. This is perfect. Buy it. It will make you understand why we never needed Oasis in the first place.



3. It may take a listen or two to get used to the tracks, but once you do there is no looking back. Shades of the Beatles and ELO. This album is as good as Abbey Road. A tragic story about this talented band, but if you like their four hits heard all over 'oldies' radio then you will love all these new songs. 'Meanwhile Back at the Ranch- Should I smoke? will bring you back to that classic British sound. I can't put this CD away.



4. Nothing short of a pop/rock masterpiece. In my opinion, the band's best album. Unfortunately it was overlooked by just about everyone and received very little or no airplay in the US during a time when airplay was crucial to an album's sales and success.



5. Wish you were here is one of the top 5-6 classic rock albums of the 1970's. And for my money the greatest Badfinger album EVER. It has the feeling of, "hey let's just let it all out, the hell with the record execs."
   
   No pre-packaged ideas here. No let's try hard to write a top 40 single here (although there are a few gems). This is Straight Up on amphetamines. No Dice rolling lucky 7's!! This is classic rock at it's classic best. Breathtaking musicianship, some great orchestra arrangements and even the Average White Band horn section lending to the genius.
   
   Wish you were here is a MUST buy for classic rock fans, or just fans of great music period. Obviously never straying too far from the nurturing tree, Wish You Were here, has that Beatles sound here and there, what do you expect " the Snoop Dog sound"?? But this is a powerful, passionate record that if you like the genre, you will like Badfinger's Wish you were here. Makes me wish the Band was still here. Sadly they are not, so don't miss this opportunity to purchase a piece of Rock history.

5 comments about Quiet Please: The New Best of Nick Lowe.

1. Nick Lowe has had a fabulous career (35+ years and running), both as a singer-song-writer and as a hugey influential producer. He has released 'best of' compilations before (such as the excellent 1984 "16 All Time Lowes"), but now comes this 'new best' compilation.
   
   "Quite Please: The New Best of Nick Lowe" (2 CDs; 49 songs; 156 min.) brings what arguably could be called the ultimate 'best of' compilation of Nick Lowe. CD1 (25 tracks; 79 min.) brings us Nick Lowe rougly up to 1988, with so many classics brought by or written by Nick Lowe. It starts with a 1974 "(What's So Funny 'Bout) Peace, Love and Understanding" first made famous by Elvis Costello but brought here by Brinsley Schwarz. The 1978 "Jesus of Cool" and 1979 "Labour of Lust" albums get plenty of tracks, and rightfully so, as they feature Lowe at the pack of his commercial success ("Cruel To Be Kind", "I Love The Sound of Breaking Glass", "Cracking Up', etc.). Check out also the excellent "Heart of the City", a b-side featured on a Stiff Records compilation. Lowe wrote/produced a couple of great tracks for Rockpile ("When I Write the Book" and "Play The Fast Thing (One More Time") that are also included here.
   
   CD2 (24 tracks; 77 min.) brings the post-1988 output, and the music is remarkably good, if not quite as outstanding as the early output. 1998's release "Dig My Mood", 2001's The Convincer" and the 2007 'come-back' album "At My Age" all get 4 or 5 tracks. I was really pleasantly surprised in particular by the "At My Age" album a few yers ago, which tells me that Nick Lowe has more good stuff up his sleeve. There are no new tracks on this generous and fantastic compilation, but I will keep my eye on Nick Lowe. Meanwhile, "Quite Please" is a fabulous overview of Nick Lowe's long and illustrious career.



2. Apart from "Cruel..." I rea;;y didn't know I lot about Nick Lowe before buying this cd. Mostly catchy little tunes that tend to grow on you. Some of the most "quirky" and imaginative lyrics I have heard. Excellent value, thoroughly recommend.



3. A couple of weeks ago I happened to see a man on Austin City Limits, while channel surfing. I was mesmerized by his charisma. I had never heard of him before. He had the audience, including myself, eating right out of his hand. After his perfomance, I ran to my computer and read everything I could about him. I ordered this album and have not listened to anything else for over a week. I am still trying to decide which song I like the best. So far it has been I Trained Her To Love Me, but my choice seems to change daily. I will have to include Nick Lowe along with Jimmy Buffett and Gordon Lightfoot as my favorite artists.



4. This is a very listenable CD that includes both old favorites and newer stuff. It's so wonderful that so many great artists from back in the day are still creating, and apparently living healthy.



5. BASHER was a terrific best-of disc. But QUIET PLEASE is a true collection, a retrospective that reveals the songwriting and performing genius of Nick Lowe.
   
   Disc One collects his earlier, more rock-oriented material; about 60% of it mirrors what's on BASHER. Highlights: "(What's So Funny 'Bout) Peace, Love and Understanding," a track omitted from BASHER; the vicious and funny, "American Squirm"; and the incredibly catchy "I Knew The Bride (When She Used To Rock and Roll)". Quibble #1: Lowe has chosen to omit his cover of John Hiatt's "She Don't Love Nobody."
   
   Disc Two is mellower, more acoustic and more personal. As much as I like the earlier stuff, this is the disc I find myself listening to more often (like right now, as I write this). Highlights: "All Men Are Liars," which as funny as it is, cuts a little too close to the bone; "People Change," a sweet, wise and sad rumination on one of life's core truths; and "Don't Think About Her When You're Trying To Drive," the demo version of the Little Village song, which differs significantly from the previously released version.
   
   There are 49 tracks here, so of course there are one or two clunkers. And (quibble #2) there are no printed lyrics included. But if you want to follow a major musical artist from the beginning of his career to current day, and get a look into his heart, soul and funny bone, you really won't go wrong with this utterly addictive collection.

5 comments about Scarred.

1. I loved her work in Concrete Blonde and with the Heads, so being disappointed by this album is even more disappointing. Her voice sounds seriously distressed here, which makes the songs about being old, rundown, and an alcoholic/junkie sound a little too embarrassingly close to the bone. Some of this stuff is sung like she's a done-in alcoholic. Or she half-speaks things, which generally sounds more pretentious. In "My Diane," her sung lyrics in the chorus keep running over the music in ways that sound highly unprofessional instead of poignant.
   
   The catchiest song here is "Amazing," which unfortunately has.. uncomfortable lyrics in the stanzas. If you want an idea, think of someone with absolutely no self-esteem and a crush on someone so intense you feel pity for her/him. The sung chorus to the otherwise spoken word "Poem of the Native" is also catchy.
   
   There are lots of great moments musically, but the lyrics and--I hate to have to say this for things Johnette sings--voice are often such a problem.
   
   There are two cover songs here. One is an unpretty and occasionally twee cover of Coldplay's "The Scientist" that'll make you wish you were listening to the original instead, and the other is of Lou Reed's "All Tomorrow's Parties," in which Johnette's voice is so ragged, frail, and misused that I can't even listen to it all the way through.



2. Napolitano has been one of my favorite singers and song writers for years. I loved Concrete Blond, bought all the cds and caught them live. When the band faded away, I thought it was over, but her new release, Scarred, takes me back to classic Concrete Blond days of the 80s and 90s. The songs are well crafted, and she still has that compelling voice.



3. Johnette Napolitano's (formerly lead-singer/ and guitarist of Concrete Blonde) solo-cd release, SCARRED (2007/May), surprised me because she bravely held up a mirror to her fans so they could identify, in themselves, her emotional progress during the last few years. These same raw and vulnerable personal stories/tunes and worldly struggles were imprinted into those CD grooves for all listeners to formulate their own opinion. If you love Johnette's off and on band, Concrete Blonde (as do I), do not be upset with her veering from her band formula.
   
   This CD is intensely good, and intensely captivating (as you realize when you play it for the 8th time in a row.) When she sings the song, Amazing, I feel as though I have been privy to some innermost confession, and I am trying to honour the song by listening carefully. Yet, I cannot leave' this song, as it is akin to speeding past a tragic car accident. One is compelled to slow down, turn around and find out how it all ends, no matter how squeamish we feel. (Fortunately the song, Amazing has a far better outcome - a more lifting outcome - than your average car upset.)
   
   This album affected me and I didn't know whether to roll my eyes, dismiss the occasional cliché, laugh or cry. So I decided to simply empty my mind, sit back and let the songs fill me. Meanwhile, all my emotions were taking turns vying for the forefront, determining which mood should slip out first.
   
   A lot of people appear to enjoy the song, The Scientist, (as do I). However, I really enjoyed Save Me, after briefly being confused about the song (I assumed Johnette was covering a version of Amy Mann's, Save Me. (Another great album.)
   
   During 2007, I did a quick interview with Johnette while she was touring Canada to promote the release of Scarred. (Found in swanktrendz.com (under the heading Interviews) and I found her to be akin to a giant onion; composed of many layers; too many to be revealed during one interview - yet she welcomes the writer to give it a go.
   
   This is definitely an album worth your pennies, and definitely a woman that demands you take the time to check out her voice and views. I enjoyed this cd and feel it is time for more, Johnette. Bravo! 4.5/5



4. The singer clearly misses her former bandmates here. Not surprisingly, the lyrics and vocals are quite good. But the CD hardly kept my attention, and the lyrics and emotions merely sounded INDULGENT without Concrete Blonde's overall sound. My money would have been better spent elsewhere.



5. She goes up and down with personal tragedys and then bursts forth with happy solutions to certain problems as only she can! The front and back of the album cover gives you a hint.

5 comments about Super Hits of the '70s: Have a Nice Day, Vol. 15.

1. The rare gems worthy of my appeal are "At Seventeen" by Janis Ian, "Sky High" by Jigsaw, "Fallin' in Love" by Hamilton, Joe Frank, and Reynolds", and "You Sexy Thing" by Hot Chocolate (which I thought would be better placed in Rhino's "Didn't It Blow Your Mind" series which is the soulful sister collection to "Have a Nice Day").
   
   Let us remember that this is a collection of respectfully charted one hit wonders and the such so it will contain tracks that were big during its era of release, but totally forgettable now. For instance, "Convoy" by C. W. McCall, "Black Superman - Muhammad Ali" by Johnny Wakelin, and "Saturday Night" by the "here today, totally gone and forgotten tomorrow" Bay City Rollers.
   
   One country beauty here is the soft and heart breaking "I'm Not Lisa" by Jessi Colter. I barely remember hearing Dwight Tilley's "I'm on Fire" but it's pretty good.
   
   The stinkers here are "Run Joey Run" by David Geddes. But thankfully, he helped us forget this stupid song by releasing another song even more stupid. Beware of volume 20 where his song "Last Game of the Season" taints the collection. "Rocky" is just plain dumb. Austin Roberts sealed his fate as a pop suicide artist with this crappy song. Yes, it went Top Ten, but so did a lot of absolute crap while some fabulous songs couldn't get into the Top 40. That's the mystery of the seventies, I guess.
   
   "Eighteen With a Bullet" by Pete Wingfield isn't entirely uninteresting; it just feels out of place with everything else on this CD. If I play it by itself, I like it. If I'm playing the whole disc, I don't care for it. I don't know why. Anyway, volume 15 is where the "Have a Nice Day" series ended for about 2 years. The following year, Rhino started right away with releasing the "Didn't It Blow Your Mind" collection of the early seventies soul charters, which justifies why I noticed so many important one hit wonders were not getting released. I'm glad Rhino released these CD's divided like this. I have all 25 of the "Have a Nice Day" collection and all 20 of the "Didn't It Blow Your Mind" collection. All 45 of these CD's may have an outstanding value maybe a hundred years from now (if we still play CD's).



2. This series has songs that are unavailable on almost all other collections. If you want some of the great "one-hit wonders" from the 1970's, then this is the place to go!



3. With this look at 70s A.M. radio hits, Rhino gives us proto-power pop (Dwight Twilley), a bit of bubblegum (Austin Roberts, David Geddes), country (Jessi Colter), folkie earnestness (Janis Ian), the 70s idea of a 'boy band' (Bay City Rollers), and a foretaste of disco (Hot Chocolate).
   
   HIGHLIGHTS:
   "S-A-TUR-DAY NIGHT!" is still as insistent today as it was then, threatening to resurrect Rollermania if played at good volume. The percolating "You Sexy Thing" also continues to charm. "At Seventeen" is the anthem of "ugly ducklings" everywhere and the frenetic stabbing strings of Jigsaw's "Sky High" make it one of the finest one hit wonders ever.
   
   MIDDLING:
   These two are kind of in the "love it or hate it" category so I chose to make special mention of Austin Roberts' "Rocky" and David Geddes "Run Joey Run". Both feature melodramatic plotlines ('Rocky' dies young leaving the song's protagonist a single father while "Joey" is a single father dodging the shotgun of his would-be bride's father) that ensure not much middleground. I like them both but they're definitely not for everyone.
   
   LOWS:
   Usually I like power pop but Dwight Twilley's "I'm on Fire" leaves me cold. "Fallin' in Love" is a bland followup to the zippy "Don't Pull Your Love" (even if it was the bigger chart hit). Pete Wingfield's "Eighteen With A Bullet" is an unlistenable mess.
   
   3 1/2 stars



4. These songs are all basic throwaway hits. The only reason why I gave it five stars was because it had Rocky by Austin Roberts on it. Its the only cd ive ever found with the song on it. Its one of my all time favorite songs and im glad that I finally found it on cd.



5. I REALLY LIKED THE MUSIC BUT THERE IS ONE SONG I WANTED TO LISTEN TO BUT I COULDNT WHITCH WAS ROCKY BY AUSTIN ROBERTS,AS I WANTED TO KNOW IF IT WAS THE SAME SONG I HAVE BEEN LOOKING FOR,FOR AGES. THANK YOU SHAYLE