Bloggerhythms

The Clash were the only punk band I could ever listen to. Perhaps it was because they could find melody, a little bit of harmony and even some thought provoking lyrics and combine them with hooks that could grab you instantly - something no other punk group was ever able to do. Whether they realized it or not The Clash possessed songcraft and that is always a very good thing. The quartet even had a sense of humor and "Should I Stay Or Should I Go" is a good example of that. I'm not sure the song was intended to be funny, but for some reason it always struck me that way. Mick Jones combined his sneering vocals with lyrics such as "If I go there will be trouble, and if I stay it will be double." He's telling his girl that she loses either way.  "Should I Stay Or Should I Go" is from  Combat Rock , the last album The Clash recorded with their classic lineup of Jones, guitarist and singer Joe Strummer; bassist Paul Simonon, and Topper Headon - a drumme...

Ralph McTell has been a much beloved singer-songwriter in the UK for decades, but he is virtually unknown in America except for his outstanding " Streets of London " that he released here almost fifty years ago. The veteran folkie and singer-songwriter with the great baritone voice had this to say to KLOF mag  -  one of Great Britain's leading music blogs -   about the recent 100th anniversary of the memorial built in Ypres, Belgium that is dedicated to the missing 50,000 unknown British and commonwealth soldiers who died during what was then called The Great War:  " I believe the funeral of The Unknown Soldier is one of the most profoundly moving ceremonies ever conducted. It took place in 11 / 11/ 1920 and was attended by thousands who stood in reverent silence as the coffin was paraded through the streets of London on a gun carriage, drawn by six black horses. The king walked behind the cortege, the bereaved fami...

Night & Day: Big Band is the album Chicago released in 1995 two years after the ill-fated  Stone of Sisyphus  was recorded.  When I first discovered it in a record store I immediately thought "OMG, more unnecessary dreck from this formerly great band." Then, a different thought popped into my head. "Hey, because it's a big band CD maybe the Chicago horn section is actually playing a prominent role again," and upon listening I was gratified to learn that their original horn section of James Pankow, Walt Parazaider, and Lee Loughnane were all on board and did a really fine job.  Much of  Night & Day  is the closest Chicago came to rediscovering their original jazz-rock roots that they completely abandoned in the late 70s. At the same time  they managed to sound like the Bill Champlin-Jason Scheff version of the band they evolved into in the 90s but with a new a sense of purpose. While the famous outfit doesn't sound like th e vintage Kath-Guerci...

It doesn't get more honky-tonk than Cut 'N Shoot. Gurf Morlix's third solo CD - all of which were recorded after leaving Lucinda Williams' band behind - is pure truck drivin', cryin' in your beer, woe is me, outlaw, country music. It's classic Grand Ole Opry. It's Buck Owens, Hank Williams and Jimmie Dale Gilmore. It is not for city slickers, but if you own a shotgun, a pickup, and a cowboy hat, this album may be your glass of Bud. When you hear these thirteen tracks you'll instantly know you're listening to the real thing.  The song titles and lyrics tell the whole story. "They're Hangin' Me Tonight" is the obligatory song about hard times and a life gone bad. Titles such as "Were You Lyin' Down When You Stood Me Up?" and "I've Got Half a Mind to Tell the Whole Truth" are not only great stereotypical, country song titles, they are pure rural poetry.  Morlix, who played every instrument except for t...

I wasn't going to discuss Diamonds & Rust -  Joan Baez's most important and popular album after featuring its title track as an Almost Hits  entry a little over a year ago - but I've changed my mind because of the huge influence this record had on my musical life. Diamonds & Rust  came out in 1975 as my college days were winding down and I was immediately attracted to it in large part because of Baez's sublime vocals. I've always been a sucker for great singing and conversely, vocals are one of the reasons I had a whole lot of trouble listening to many of the highly regarded singer-songwriters of the day. Based only on their voices I mostly found Bob Dylan, Tom Waits, Randy Newman, Elvis Costello, Bruce Springsteen, and a few others quite taxing on my ears. I didn't care if these artists had anything important to say because I couldn't get past their voices. I asked myself, why, oh why, are so many of the most highly regard...

The Midiri Brothers' small jazz groups and big band arguably represent the classic Benny Goodman sound of the '30s and '40s better than any other musical organization ever to grace my ears. Joe Midiri is so devoted to Goodman's music that his groups often play the big band pioneer's recorded works transcribed note for note rather than interpret the pieces themselves. This may not be to the liking of someone who would rather own an original Van Gogh in lieu of a print of his work, but since the Midiris' are the only musical organization that I'm aware of that plays the clarinetist's music as a way of life their fans are happy, and judging by much of their press, deliriously so. This live concert CD was recorded at Bridgewater, N.J. on Jan. 13, 2001 on the occasion of the Midiris' second straight performance at an annual salute to Goodman. The brothers were thrilled to be the first group ever invited back two years in a row. The group performing then ...