February 2nd, 2012

Hey – VARIANT CAUSE is the album of the month – start diggin it now!

January 23rd, 2012

January 16th, 2012

OK. In case you didn’t know I am working on an all new solo album. I decided to do something I don’t do much – a cover, more specifically “Smithsonian Institute Blues,” off Beefheart’s Lick My Decals Off, Baby album. I loved that record and that song when it came out in my callow youth and hope my interpretation does it justice. Viva Van Vliet!

January 12th, 2012

Went out to the High Dive in Fremont last night to see old pals The Walkabouts who were in fine form. I had not seen them in several million years.

January 10th, 2012

Very Nice Review from The Active Listener for Book of Hours! Yowsa!

January 3rd, 2012

January 1st, 2012

Here’s Howie’s  list in no particular order (unlike mine which was precise). He may have stuff from earlier in the year, but the years aren’t divided so neatly anymore. Was gonna include stuff from 2010 that he bought this year. Doesn’t work. Different year.

Dwight Twilley – Soundtrack (Twilley’s most inspired album in some time and the last with the late great guitar of Bill Pitcovk IV. He was a huge part of the Twilley and Phil Seymour sound. He will be missed.)

The Hollies – Look Through Any Window 1963-1975 DVD (Not much has been told of the Hollies story and these guys do it very nicely with complete performances in between. You can also play just the songs without the bio. Fantastic to see these videos! These are the same folks that did the Small Faces DVD I love so much.)

The Grip Weeds – Under the Influence of Christmas (I love power pop and psych-pop Christmas albums and was suprised to find this gem awaiting me this year. It includes help from Mark Lindsay, The Smithereens and others. and yes it’s that Mark Lindsay.)

The Smithereens – 2011 (Their first album of all new material in the 21st century rocks and pops as only the Smithereens do!)

Phil Seymour – Archive Series 2 (Dwight Twilley’s former partner has been gone from this plane for some time now, but his solo music can now live on on CD finally. A previous unreleased mix of his 2nd album with tons of unreleased bonus tracks from the same time period. Heaven. Thanks Saul Davis.)

The Bangles – Sweethearts of the Sun (If there was a girl group made for me, this one is it. Very retro and very nice to hear these ladies do their version of “that sound.” with co-production by Matthew Sweet no less.)

Beach Boys – Smile Sessions (I have enjoyed bootlegs of this over the years and the Brian Wilson version a few years ago. Nice to have this official 2 disc version at last. Earth shattering? No, but really good to finally hear it this way.)

Research Turtles – Mankiller vol 1 (Lake Charles, LA band’s latest is a masterful step up from their eponymous CD of a few years ago. Power pop of the future. Watch for it or buy it now.)

Nirvana  - Live at the Paramount DVD (The Halloween show at the Paramount in Seattle 1991 just before they dominated the number one spot for Christmas. It’s about time. Smells Like Teen Spirit wasn’t way too old yet and the band was mostly energetic for the home town audience. Great 5.1 sound.

December 31st, 2011

OK – Here’s my top hits of the year – excluding of course any Green Monkey stuff, which if course would top the list. Howie’s top hits to be posted shortly.

1. Lou Reed/Metallica – LuLu

The 19 minute “Junior Dad” is sublime. High art meets stupidity.

2. Shabazz Palaces – Black Up

These guys make one sonically awesome record.

3. Jazz: The Smithsonian Anthology

Reissue of Smithsonian box – better than ever at 6 discs.

4. David Lynch – Crazy Clown Time

This is a totally nut job record. Cult movie director is a goofier musician.

5. Gil Scott- Heron – We’re New Here

GSH gets the remix plus action – even better than previous year’s “I’m New Here.” R.I.P.

6. If by Yes – Salt On Sea Glass

Petra Haden and Yuka Honda of Cibo Matto make pop music. Pretty nice.

7. The Black Keys - El Camino

I am a recent convert to these guys – not exactly retro, but pretty fuzzy.

8. Sonic Youth -  Simon Werner a Disparu

Nice instrumental stuff – who needs singing?

9. Tom Waits – Bad As Me

I’ve been sort of disinterested for a while, but I think this is one of his best in some time.

10. Arcade Fire – The Suburbs

Took me 6 months of being pestered by son Ben to like this. Pretty catchy.

11. Hank 3 - Ghost To a Ghost/Gutter Town

He is almost as crazy as David Lynch. Country fiddling with the Primus dude, Tom Waits and lots of dog howls. My brother Bruce got me here.

12. Tinariwen – Tassili

The latest for the these guys – no rifles or electric guitars this time. Recorded outside in the middle of the desert. Sounds great.

13. John Cale – Extra Playful EP

First song is loaded with interesting sounds and uber catchy in a John Cale sort of way, the rest are still groovy.

14. David Bowie - Toy

Ok – so this wasn’t even released – it was leaked to the internet this year and I got it. A must have for the Bowie fans.

December 28th, 2011

Ok kids – Got The Life’s fantastic double CD version of Alone ready to go for next week. Mastering a Goblin Market album with Jeff Kelly this afternoon. Started working on a new Tom Dyer record. Booya!

December 24th, 2011

A very fine translation of our blab about Green Pajama (Nightdress) Country!

Jeff Kelly аnd thе Green Nightdress аrе ordinarily associated including psychedelic rock, fundamentally ѕіnсе οf thеіr paisley-guitar early development. Sο whу People? Whу now? Jeff hаѕ always hаd a dalliance including people іn hіѕ sensitivity аnd іn hіѕ music.

Approximately οf thе songs οn thіѕ CD appointment іn trade аѕ far аѕ 1986, tο hіѕ earliest family-recorded releases οn Green Monkey Minutes, though thеѕе аrе grουndbrеаkіng nеw recordings. Whіlе mοѕt songs аrе nеw, thеу imitate аn ancient-school people feeling; thеу wουld bе extra аt family including Rotate аnd Johnny currency thаn greatly οf whаt уου pocket see οf οn thе people charts οf now. Limb οf thе clergy Limb οf thе clergy Dο Yου Pass thе time recalls thе people songs Jeff played including hіѕ dad, whіlе thе memorable Aѕ Skilled Men Gο Tеrrіblе stands including Kelly’s preeminent.

Jeff аnd bass player Joe Ross bе inflicted including toyed including thе perception οf thіѕ baby tome fοr ten being. It needed tο age. In thе last two іt everlastingly took affect. It wаѕ value thе pass thе time. Thіѕ іѕ nοt a attention-grabber. It іѕ nοt a marketing ploy. It іѕ јυѕt austere skilled music played starting thе sensitivity. Starting іtѕ sly opening toll tο thе classic westerns tο thе mournful ассυrаtе, Green Pajama People іѕ a classic οf people аnd rock.