5 comments about The Last Dog & Pony Show.

1. Jeezuz. this is a GREAT album. I should not have been suprised, he is such a rockn'roll treasure (but at my age, I have to headbang in private.)
   Bob Mould is a GREAT rocker, he does everything right, period. Don't make room for any wannabees, Bob, you keep on with your bad self..I want to hear you doing this when you are seventy! c



2. i love this album, but not as good as bob's latest, body of soul. i got it at emusic. only cost me about 2.50 for all 12 cuts.



3. Supposedly this is the last rocking electric buzzsaw guitar styling Mould release...which is sad, "If it ain't broken...why fix it". So far he hasn't made a traditional Mould album since this album(well a live album from this tour). So, this may be the last true Mould album. It's admirable that the guy is as good as his word. But in a way it's sad there will never be a decent Bob Mould album for us rockers to enjoy. Don't get me wrong, I like his acoustic stuff but the dance stuff on "Modulate"(which I haven't heard yet) isn't my cup of tea.
   
   Well this record turned out pretty awesome...about as good as the last "hebcap" album, except less depressing and more uprising. A good thing about this is the absence of a drum machine and the attendence of a real drummer. Standout cuts are"New#1" "Moving Truck", "Classifieds", "Skintrade", and "Reflecting Pool". The track "Megamanic" is good for laughs.



4. Bob Mould is a songwriting genius. This album has a certain vibe to it. It really starts to grow on you.



5. From his work in alternative rock innovators Husker Du, through the more radio-friendly Sugar, and four solo albums, Bob Mould has touched on the best of punk, folk, power-pop and modern rock, influencing countless artists in the process. Dave Grohl is one of his most famous fans, and its hard to imagine the Foos without Husker Du having existed. This 1998 album was his last fully-electric one before a long hiatus, recently ended with soem electronic dabblings.

   Its a respectable but unspectacular signoff. It starts quite well with New #1, a strangely addictive acoustic number which lacks a chorus in the traditional sense, but packs some punch as it builds. Taking Everything is the highpoint, an obvious single with a catchy refrain.

   Skintrade also stands out, as does Classifieds, with its cynical analysis of looking for a partner in classified columns. Like all Bob's songs about relationships, the lyrics aren't gender-specific, due undoubtedly to Bob being perhaps punk's first openly gay star. There is a more sensitive string-laden Along the Way to close, but less impressive are by-the-numbers tracks like Moving Trucks and Vaporub.

   Although not bad, and worth ahivng in the collection, it can't be recommended as a starting point. Try Sugar's Copper Blue for a poopier sound, or Bob's self titled solo album, but for the real Husker Du deal, it has to be New Day Rising.

1 comments about Diamonds on the Inside.

1. Just what i needed for a rainy day, a NEW BEN HARPER ALBUM, BEST YET NO DOUBT. He does the whole rainbow, the way only Ben Harper can, with great reggae like MY OWN TWO HANDS, great ballads in varieties of both folk and rock sounds like EVERYTHING and DIAMONDS INSIDE. The album touches other genres as well, from 70's funk to African-style gospel alla Paul Simon, and he does them well. While Ben Harper has always done different styles of music and done them fantastically, he feels less confined by the various genres here. He somehow shines through the music much more consistently on this album and seems more in touch with each of the songs as he sings them. I think unlike previous albums, where three or four tracks clearly stood out from the rest, here ther are legitimately 8-10 GREAT SONGS, depending on your tastes. If you liked Ben Harper before, this is by far his most compelling studio effort. The album breaks manages to maintain and even amplify what has made Ben Harper great till now, while breaking new ground and being original, and it miraculously does this over complete album, with only 2-3 tracks i'd classify as good-mediocre Ben Harper. The rest will shine, you might not like all, but if there aren't at least 5 or 6 songs you LOVE on this album you are not a Ben Harper fan. For people new to Ben Harper, this is the album to get. While some MAY argue that LIVE FROM MARS is more intimate, or that there favourite song was on FIGHT FOR YOUR MIND, I would be surprised to hear anyone say this wasn't his best album yet easily. So if you are interested in the BEST ARTIST OUT THERE, this is the albums to grab for sure. And for everyone who does, and everyone who doesn't too, there is a TOUR coming, with another new light Jack Johnson, coming this year, so COME OUT, and support REAL ARTISTS and people who love their music. Enjoy the Album everyone.

5 comments about Blood & Chocolate (With Bonus Disc).

1. Recorded at a time of admitted great strife within the EC/ Attractions camp Blood and Chocolate is chock full of EC's usual pop masterpieces (Blue Chair), cruel indictments of middle class culture (Tokyo Storm Warning), and stark and brutal confessions of love and humiliation (I Want You). The original Attractions sound of This Years Model and Get Happy, absent for the last few albums, is back in its full, guitar throwing glory under the guidance of friend and producer Nick Lowe. The instrumentation doesn't waver much from the Attractions basic line up of guitar, bass, keyboards and drums with Nick the Knife adding acoustic guitar to beef up the predominately live in the studio recording. And though, as the liner notes and various tales of the time proclaim, the group was coming apart at the seams the tension seems to work.
   The bonus disc is an Elvis fans delight, filled with neat little outtakes, cuts that didn't make the final album and solo performances of songs that would eventually end up on Kojak Variety.
   "...while the KKK convention are all stranded in the bar/ they wear hoods and carry shotguns in the main streets of Montgomery/ but they're as helpless here as babies as they're only here on holiday"



2. This, along with Imperial Bedroom, is my favorite Costello/MacManus album (I actually prefer his real name, Declan MacManus). I have loved the fact that Costello has changed over the years, trying ever musical style known to man, writing probably around 1000 songs or so, and has never really made a godawful album (Goodbye Cruel World, generally considered his worst album, has some good tunes on it). Declan released 2 albums in 1986, King of America (another masterpiece), and this one. This one is much rawer and more powerful. The opener, Uncomplicated, is superb. The next one, I Hope You're Happy Now, is cool, too, but the 2 masterpieces are Tokyo Storm Warning, a breathless, amazing piece of wordplay and music, and the song I Want You is one of the best songs about love (and anger) I've ever heard. Costello has been really amazing throughout his career. He can still turns the anger on, but it never defined him as an artist or as a human being. He's not stuck in arrested development, like some rockers can be. He continues to grow as an artist. He may have started out as a punk, but he isn't a punk, and honestly, never really was. He has a ton of depth that really comes out in his music. Declan rules...
   
   For the record, the name "Napoleon Dynamite" was a pseudonym used by Declan on this album. It was appropriated for the movie years later, even though the director claimed he never heard of this album (which I doubt personally)...



3. Why did I put this album aside? Why did I think this was a bad record? I guess I was just plain stupid. This is a good as anything Elvis has ever released. I think sometimes the best albums sound awful the first time you hear them. Why is that so? Because something worth listening to takes some effort from the fan. I have also rediscovered Spike, another brilliant recording that I thought was a mistake.



4. ...And because I love Elvis Costello, I love this album. It's super sweet. Good cleaning-the-house-music. Also good for game nights with friends and wine. Upbeat and sort of goofy... and who can resist Elvis' lyrical mastery? No one, that's who.



5. I don't know THAT much about Elvis Costello, but I recently bought his whole catalog on CD except for just a few recent releases. My favorites are Aim Is True, Almost Blue, which I've had since their initial LP release, and King of America, which is new to me and is SO great. Blood And Chocolate is real nice to listen to. There's certainly nothing wrong with it, like there is something kind of wrong with "Spike". The essays by Elvis Costello on the Rhino discs are great.

5 comments about No Good for No One Now.

1. Among the other Mike Kinsella records I've listened to - American Football, Owen, I Do Perceive - this one is, to me, the clear standout (and I rate American Football 5 stars as well). On this album, and no other (not even AF), do I get the sense of hearing a moment that is captured only once and can never be reproduced again. I don't mean to say that after this performance Owen's music can only decline, but that something is communicated on NGfNON without comparison.
   
   Anyone who gets into an Owen/AF record knows that the subject matter is more or less failed relationships. But whereas AF suffered from sounding nervy and confused (the feeling I got, anyway, after the songs had ended), Owen too cloudy and IDP too detached, NGfNON is a sober confrontation with whatever needed to be dealt with. Even when Mike curses and makes some awkward admissions (i.e. "it's my right to be a f'-n baby sometimes"), I feel he recognizes the consequences of what he's saying.
   
   That investment makes all the difference. Combined with the comfortable sound of the album, it gives me the awesome feeling of someone who is not simply emoting, but who has actually mastered his emotions.



2. 3 1/2
   
   Slightly more melodically intricate, this worthy companion (and perhaps slightly more developed) to Owen's debut is sure to please fans of the mellow progressions that lie in these soft but effective odes to lost love.



3. Mike Kensilla is amazing. All of his projects have been different, yet golden in their own right. I would compare it to Further Seems Forever and Dashboard, both good but a different sound. Owen is soft indie with beautiful lyrics that remind me of The Weakerthan's lyrics. Check out Nobodys Nothing, and The Ghost of What Should have been. Two really great songs in my opinion. So if you liked Kensilla's other projects ie American Football or Owls; or Death Cab then this should be a great CD for you.



4. If you like the emo mixed with the folk mixed with the electronics mixed with a twist of Kinsella, this is the disc. The lyrics are strong and the songs kept me quessing. I even teared up a few times. I love this album.



5. Mike Kensilla has created a beautiful peace of art work with his third solo album 'No Good For no One Now'. The album was released in November of 2002 off of polyviny records. Although it contains only seven songs, they are well constructed. Sure the album leaves you wanting more...
   Kensilla's voice is completely refreshing. All of the songs on the album are slow and inspiring. If you like coldplay or travis, Owen isn't far behind. Kensilla writes and performs all of his music on the album.

5 comments about So Much Shouting, So Much Laughter.

1. is the funk. Ani 70's. Doin it with Horns. Talkin to the audience in a way that would enrAgE some. Dig important right on crusAder songs lliKe "Letter tO a John" aNd the first song..



2. I bought dialte and really liked it. I took a chance and bought this.
   Wow! I normally listen metal and rock. This has become one of my favorite albums of all time. I read some of these reviews and saying stuff like sloppy recording and other negative comments. Give me a break it's pure
   artistry. Ani un edited. The lady has an opinion and has something to say.
   The lyrics are great the musicianship of her and her band are as good as any. Every time I listen to it I hear something new. I'm guy and am touched to near tears on several songs and am not afraid to admit it. Gratatute and welcome to in perticular.
   This girl can get an emotion accross in a song like few can. So many styles combined. I needed some thing differnet and was bored with the same 50 classic rock songs and stations playing the same 20 new songs for 4 months. Just what I needed. Refreshing.



3. You MUST be a fan to enjoy this. One of the worst guitar sounds I've ever heard in a professional recording. I knew Ani was a love her/hate her performer, but a couple of her full acoustic songs I had heard weren't too bad. I got this record from Swaprocks.com (thankfully I didn't pay for it). Very disappointing. The songwriting is quirky, and the lyrics intricate, but didn't work for me. If you're sure you like her music you may have a better chance at finding this release enjoyable.



4. This album is amazing! I am a huge Ani fan and this double disc is one of my favorite Ani releases. It is a collection of a lot of her great songs[32 Flavors, Dilate, and my favorite, Jukebox] but with a funky spin. Every note is harder and has more emotion then the versions you will find on her CDs. She performs with her 6 piece band which is made up of some horns, keyboards, and a booming bass. A lot of the songs sound completely new because of the passion in the performance. It also has 3 previously unreleased songs on it. I strongly recomend this CD to anyone, from obsessive fans to first timers!



5. This album will do much to increase the "Ani is the female Dylan" hype. Like his Bobness, Ani often tries to reinvent herself, tours relentlessly, inspires loyal dedication in her fans and now (as this release proves) can't choose a good live set of tracks to save herself.
   
   I loved Ani's last live release (Living in Clip) which I picked up before I had the chance to see her live. I gave LIC four stars but then I had no point of comparison. When this release was announced I was looking forward to hearing some of the inspired versions of great songs that I had seen at live shows. Sadly the songs here do nothing to inspire the way "Clip" did and leave me fondly remembering concert highlights that for some reason were overlooked in favour of the dud tracks presented here. This is definitely Ani's version of "Dylan and the Dead" and is best overlooked in favour of the far superior concert releases avaliable on her official site.

5 comments about Best Bit EP.

1. I've never written a review on Amazon before, although I am a frequent shopper, but this cd is incredible. If you never heard of beth orton or terry callier, who cares? Give it a try. The music is so moving, you won't be able to stop listening to it. Trust me on this one.



2. I have been a Beth Head for about four months now and have bought up almost everything I can find by Ms. Orton. The song Best Bit is an obvious reference to her mother, whose passing apparantly has affected her music in every way. The second song, Skimming Stones is probably the only cut on this EP which could be considered as filler. It, however, is quite infectuous in its own right. The two collaborations with American folk singer Terry Callier are outright fantastic! Callier's voice on Dolphins is strong and controlled and Beth just follows along nicely with him. Lean on me is a powerful tune that some day will become a folksinging legend. All this leads us to the final cut on this short but great album; Touch Me With Your Love is a re-recording of a song from Beth's first album, Trailer Park. The song is no nonsense music. Beth Orton at her best with just vocals and guitar. If I had to play one song by Beth to someone who had never heard of her, that would be the one. I would recommend this EP to anyone who is fond of folk music with a lot of soul. Beth's music just keeps getting better and better.



3. This collaborative work with the great Terry Callier was an interlude following "Trailer Park", while "Central Reservation" was still gestating. Callier is an icon in folk circles, and Orton celebrates his influence in the "Trailer Park" liner notes. Small wonder, then, that she seems to be having so much fun jamming with him on this release.

   Though Orton includes some original tunes on this EP, the middle cuts are the centerpiece. Here, Orton shares vocals and guitar duties with Callier. The result is a burlap collaboration of sweet guitars and plain-jane harmonies. They sound for all the world like they're hanging out in the living room, having a blast. We are lucky enough to watch and listen. The "best bit" is their rendition of Fred Neill's "Dolphins", which I've only ever heard another cover of, that by Linda Ronstadt on the Stone Poneys' "Hand Sown, Home Grown" album. Orton and Callier let the lyrics carry them and they follow along with wonderfully open results.

   A common criticism of Orton is that her vocals tend to reediness or wander off-key. Whilst I don't hear the off-key bit much at all, I think the reedy quality to some of her vocals adds to her essential appeal as a "folk" singer. We have become so exposed to slick, highly produced music we seem to forget that most music is organic, hand-made and tends to be messy. The squeak of fingers changing chords, the trail of a note on a last gasp of breath, the sharp inhalation between phrases or notes -- this is the stuff of music. The "rough edges" on these tunes are their beauty. Enjoy!




4. This brief bit of Beth Orton's magic really cannot be missed. Each of the five offerings is, in my opinion, "amazing" (in the words of another reviewer). But possibly the best track is "Lean On Me," written by Beth, of course, and sung with her jazz buddy Terry Callier.

   This short but infinitely sweet EP is a must for any Orton fan, and a good introduction to her voice and talents. I never tire of it. Ever. Which is about the highest compliment I can give. Order it yourself and find out!




5. This is a must for all Beth Orton fans. All the songs are absolutely great (excluding the slow dragging 'Dolphins') and Terry Callier's duet with Beth on 'Lean on Me' is amazing. Buy this or be sad.

3 comments about Out of Our Idiot.

1. Remember "Ten Bloody Marys and Ten How's You Fathers?" Or maybe "Taking Liberties?" Both of those were discs issued to sweep up the ever prolific Elvis Costello's B-Sides, soundtrack work and side projects. Unlike "Liberties," "Out Of Our Idiot" has never been given a proper release here in the states. It's also slowly being rendered superfluous by Rhino's gradual issuance of bonus material on individual EC album reissues. Just don't count on me to slip this one onto a used disc sales list anytime soon. I'll keep it for the Spaghetti Western "A Town Called Nothing," featuring Elvis' dad on the trumpet. Or his match-up with T-Bone Burnette on "The People's Limousine." Or an early flirtation of the Burt Bacharach catalog, duetting with Nick Lowe on "Baby It's You." Etc.....

   Worth it if you're a completist. (Like me.)




2. These are the songs that didn't make it to the official releases. Even Elvis's outtakes are better than most bands best efforts. 'Turning The Town Red' is a radio classic (that has never been played on the radio). 'Black Sails In The Sunset' is a beautiful pop song. 'The Flirting Kind', 'Heathen Town', etc. As a songwriter myself, I could only hope that my work measures up to Elvis's outtakes. Elvis is a master songwriter who has written so many great tunes that he can allow some of them to never see the light of day. I'm going to go through his trash cans and a probably find enough material to launch my own career. Thanks Elvis.



3. this release nearly slipped under my radar, don't let the same fate befall you. All the Costello "greatest hits" attempts to date have been extremely weak..while not strictly a greatest hits album, this disc offers an incredible range of delights much as "taking liberites" did. If you are a Costello fan, this is a must have.

3 comments about Scarlet Stories.

1. Everything in her Scarlet's Walk album has become more clear to me after listening to this CD. Even when she speaks, words have a way of singing a melody. It's kind of hard to explain. I guess if you're a big fan like me, then you apparantly know what I mean! lol
   It is an absolute must have for any E.W.F.
   Highly recommended and you WON'T be disappointed if you purchase this very interesting item. It is simply beautiful.



2. On this CD Tori tells the story behind the album "Scarlet's Walk." It's interesting to listen to, because she connects every song together in one big sorta fairytale. The product description implies that there is music on this CD when in fact there is none, it's Tori speaking about the album for nearly 40 minutes. This was a promo item, I aquired mine from a record store without purchasing anything. I won't tell you how much you should or shouldn't spend on this, it's up to you to put a price on your Tori obsession! ;-)



3. This was a promotional item that was given out for free when the album was first released. It's a great little thing to listen to, but it did not cost a penny and it certainly isn't worth $25.

5 comments about The Other Side of Daybreak.

1. Don't let Orton's heart-wrenching cover of Ooh Child fool you into thinking this is little more then a glorified b-sides/remix disc exploiting her small fan base, and reminding all others of her trite songwriting abilities. She needs to stick to the minimalist acoustic thing, because when she even ventures into electronic-ville, her songs are devoid of life.



2. From the OBJECTIVE reviewer...if this was Beth's attempt to improve on her less than stellar release "Daybreaker" she failed miserably and should have left it alone.



3. Anyone who pans this album is daft. This is vintage Beth, and that means it is pure unmitigated pleasure. True, it is a remix album. But this is Beth we're talking about here: her songs can be cut a dozen different ways like precious stones, and always reveal new complex subtleties and pure folky pop goodness. This album has everything you would expect from her: tripped out electronic vibes overlaid with lush orchestral & idiosyncratic acoustic instrumentation, all nicely jibing with Beth's quirky honest lyrics.
   
   There are several great little songs remixed here: Carmella (trk 6) is one of her best, in my book. It opens with a catchy hook, and when the usual sensual bass riff kicks Beth has me spooging yet again. Bobby Gentry is great, too. It has a relentless bass line and Beth's vocal is ferocious.
   
   Other highlights: an exquisite live version of Concrete Sky. That 70's soul song "Ooh Child Things are Going to Get Easier" is superbly covered. Then- speaking of spooge- there is a video of Concrete Sky included. Beth not only rocks, she is an utter minx. Great music - some of the very best - and Beth making love to the camera in short shorts. What's not to love?



4. F*cking great album! She's so natural and beautiful and so at home with all the coolest beats around her provided by Four Tet, Roots Manuva and Two Lone Swordsmen... Extreme feel-good album which goes nice with a latest from Nitin Sawhney "Philtre", also an amazing piece of modern conscious kickass street credited singer-songwriter stuff like this one! Thanx for the great artist Four Tet for leading me to her, because I got interested of this mostly after I saw he's remixed two tracks here.



5. It's been both on The Dvision & The District! And it is so inspiring that you'll smile for an entire day! I literally did today...

5 comments about Bed.

1. I am a big JULIANA HATFIELD fan and BED is an excellent album. Check out the songs BACKSEAT, RUNNING OUT, and LET'S BLOW IT ALL.
   
   MY RANKINGS:
   
   1) BEAUTIFUL CREATURE ("beautiful" album, Juliana at her peak)
   2) BED
   3) HEY BABE (Juliana's 1st solo album, exudes rawness)
   4) GOLD STARS (Bestof)(for the 4 new songs and GOD'S FOOT stuff)
   5) BECOME WHAT YOU ARE (most commercial album, but not best)
   6) ONLY EVERYTHING (SIMPLICITY IS BEAUTIFUL is a gem)
   7) PLEASE DO NOT DISTURB
   8) JULIANA'S PONY (Evil twin sister of BEAUTIFUL CREATURE)
   9) IN EXILE DEO (TOMORROW NEVER COMES steals the show)
   10)MADE IN CHINA (Juliana's most recent and worst Album)



2. In the late '90s, alternative music was collapsing on all fronts, with a smooth and overproduced variant of it starting to seize public attention, and the burgeoning Boston alternative scene pretty much completely collapsed. For her part, Juliana Hatfield had a rough go, with "Only Everything" not selling as well as the superb "Become What You Are" and the label rejecting her proposed followup, "God's Foot" (unreleased to this day). Hatfield broke with the major label and snuck and EP out (the phenomenal "Please Do Not Disturb") before releasing "Bed", again on an indepedent label.
   
   What's perhaps most surprising about "Bed" is that it largely feels like a followup to "Only Everything". Given how different the material from "God's Foot" and "Please Do Not Disturb" was from that album (the former was well constructed and arranged, the latter loose and agressive), its a surprise that four years later she'd return to that sound. The main differences is that she's experimenting quite a bit more with vocal harmonies, and the mood is overall a bit more passive. The big problem is that, like "Only Everything", while the material is largely decent enough, very little of it actually stands out.
   
   What does stand out is fantastic-- opener "Down on Me" in the tradition of "Only Everything"'s "What a Life" starts with a blast of feedback and churns and bubbles as Hatfield mumbles her sarcastic lyrics before breaking into one of her better solos on record. "Backseat" is among the best ballads she's written-- an extended, driving piece with a lovely chorus, it really is inspired. Ditto for the somewhat heavier "Bad Day", with the kind of catchy chorus that drills itself into your head and some great fretwork again from Hatfield. But for these, there's too many songs that while not particularly bad, just don't go anywhere ("I Want To Want You", "Live it Up", "You Are the Camera").
   
   A note-- if you can dig it up, the Japanese release of this is well worth getting-- it includes the entire "Please Do Not Disturb" EP as well as two other tracks available nowhere else.
   
   Even with its flaws, "Bed" is a good record. Newcomers to Hatfield's music should probably start with "Become What You Are", which is both more accessible and a better record, but this may be a good second or third place to look.



3. Juliana Hatfield really puts together a solid album with "Bed." Unfortunately, the album registered only on the indie scene. It has one of the best pop songs ever written, "Backseat." The album has a more ROCK feel to it, but she doesn't loose that quirky sense of pop she has. And her voice...enough said. I'm looking forward to what she has in store for the future.



4. buy this album. see her on tour. it will be the best money you ever spend



5. The dreaminess with which hatfeild has, comes through on several of her songs. Her efffort with which she had to change labels because her old label wouldn't put the album out was worth it to "Old" Hatfield fans. But the new album is similar to past albums and leaves not much room for new things. Hope fully though the album will catch a few eyes and a few new listeners.