Getting Back into the Swing of Things

 ...And I am back to the Blogiverse from my mostly medical absence. Few if any may have noticed but they don't care, I don't care either I just blog for the fun of it now days, if others see it they see it. Long story short I had some health issues, a toe/foot operation that was diabetes related with back issues that had me in the hospital for 2 weeks then 2 months in rehab with PT (Physical Therapy) and OT (Occupational Therapy) until my insurance quit and I had to relocate for 4 more months of rehab at an assisted living complex out-of-pocket. The back pain was what kept me down for so long. 6 months away from your home is a very long time. Being single, living alone and not in a relationship sucks in this situation, that is why I was in rehab for so damn long. No live-in caregiver. Your life gets disoriented and super off track. It is difficult to keep track of finances and lots of other everyday life things that you don't notice until you don't have access to them anymore. There was a period of almost a week when I was in the first rehab center (a regular retirement home) where my old cell phone gave out (it was very old and I kept dropping the damn thing) and even though I had my work computer, another story but I won't tell that one too long and complicated, with recent updates to the network and my lack of being on the network resulted in me being off the grid for 4 or 5 days? No internet and no phone, another long story I don't want to tell the details of (I sort of blogged about it here). Fortunately my sister (who is normally in CA but had come east to help me out some and see if I was getting good care) was able to get my Chromebook from my apartment so I could get back online and was able to get me a new Android cellphone that upgraded me in that department. So I was able to manage most of my finances OK. Work was another story and I did get back eventually.

Without going into detail there are a few permanent life changes. I'd rather not discuss the medical stuff.

I slowly got caught up with some of the TV that I had missed. I had access to TV but in the 2nd rehab the TVs were in common areas so I didn't always have control of what was being shown. A few of my shows I had watched and missed some episodes of I will have to get the DVDs of their last season(s) to checkout what my Xfinity Cable is now charging for On-Demand. Yeah I was away from some of those shows for that long.

I also now have access to my CDs so I can listen to stuff the way I prefer to listen to them and on my own schedule and not just watch some obscure fan made video on YouTube for the song.

Mondegreen Fun: In The GoldenTwilight Zone Earring

 Time for another round of "Mondegreen Fun" AKA "Misheard Lyrics". This one is from a song that was released in 1982 by the band Golden Earring, they are most notably known for their song "Radar Love". The song I had misheard the lyrics from is "Twilight Zone" from their album "Cut". 

The real lyrics are: 

"Soon, you will come to know

When the bullet hits the bone."

However, for many many years I heard the last line as "When the bullet hits the phone." Occasionally I would think that it was "Foam".

We Didn't Start The Fire Updated

This post is not about the tragic fires in Maui, Hawaii it is about the update cover of a popular song from the late 1980s. One of Billy Joel's popular chart toppers "We Didn't Start the Fire" was released in 1989. The song is just a well-organized and mostly chronological list of newsworthy events and pop culture from Joel's first 40 years of life 1949-1989 set to a catchy rhythm. He was 40 when he wrote it. The song became a popular teaching tool for history classes. Well now in 2023 some 34 years later an updated cover version has been recorded by the band Fall Out Boy. I heard part of the new version on the radio and thought it was OK. Not great but I can accept it a bit. I have since watched a YouTube video of it. The update picks up from 1989 to 2023, however the events listed are just randomly placed not in chronological order. The band has made a statement that they intentionally listed things out of order because of the way the world is currently in a state of chaos. It also concentrates more on pop culture than just historic events.

Unlike some recent amateur "updates" this official recording does not have a liberal bias against a certain Ex-President that the amateur versions have. Those seem to be intentionally biased and tend to be recorded by Never Trump Activists for the sole reason of spewing their hate for Trump. There was one version that just covers events from 2020. The only reference to Trump that I could hear/see in the Fall Out Boy cover is the lyric "Trump gets impeached twice". Many of their pop culture references you seem to have to be of a certain age to get or be a part of the later video game generations.

I really like Joel's original version and when it plays on the radio, I will listen to it all the way through even if I found it in the last few seconds of the song. The update slash cover I am unsure about. I think it is cool that there is finally a semi-decent update, even if it is a few years too early for a full 40 year chunk of history. Due to its randomness and the fact that I am not a huge Fall Out Boy fan I wouldn't say I fully like it. I like it some, but I would not go out of my way to listen to it over and over. I might listen to it if I hear it start and then I might not.

Here is a YouTube video of The Fall Out Boy version with some images of what they are singing. There doesn't seem to be an official video at this time if there will ever be one.

Mondegreen Fun - Misheard Lyrics A Rush Job

 It is time for another round of Misheard Lyrics or as it is technically known as "Mondegreen". Sometimes they can be earworms, sometimes not. But usually they will stick with you until you learn the real lyrics, if you do.

So for this episode I present a song from the rock group Rush. From their 1980 Album "Permanent Waves".

The song I misheard the lyrics to is "Freewill". 

The words are from the chorus, this line "I will choose a path that's clear, I will choose freewill". 

What I heard was "I will choose a bathysphere, I will choose freewill". I admit it was decades before I realized what the real lyrics were.

CD Update: Discogs Order From Japan?

 

OK so in my last post of 2022 I mentioned that I was waiting for a CD I had ordered through discogs from a seller in Japan. Well the CD arrived on 03 Jan 2023. I placed the order on 25 Nov 2022 and the seller marked the CD as being shipped on 27 Nov 2022. In my previous post I mentioned that I got it for a good price it was $20 for the CD and $10 shipping and tax. A total of only $30. Often when I saw the CD listed the price of the CD itself was at least $30 and shipping was often at least $30.

So to end the curiosity the CD in question was "Here We Go Again" (2004) by the band SR-71. I mainly got it for track number four "1985" a song that was covered by the band Bowling For Soup the same year 2004 and they turned the song into a big hit. The original version is a bit cruder in sound and overall quality in my opinion. Also the cover adjusts and smooths out some of the lyrics. A few weeks back I discovered another cover of "1985" by a group called First To Eleven which is pretty good. The first few seconds to the first minute I didn't like it but it grew on me.

SR-71 Here We Go Again (2004)

Image from discogs.com

Anyway part of the story with this disc is when it did arrive 5 weeks and some odd days after the initial order I noticed the package came from Utah. The mailing label was printed 25 Dec 2022 HUH? The company I ordered it from is in Japan. Apparently the company has a shipping center in Utah so they can send orders to the US (with AG after the company name). I don't really mind it because apparently the Japanese pressing of this CD is the only one thus the "rarity" of the release. Yes my copy has the OBI strip with it. That was one of the reasons I got this particular copy, some of the other copies don't have the OBI strip. A few years ago I didn't even know what an OBI strip was. It is the strip of paper on the side with all the Japanese writing that all Japanese album pressings have. They also include a booklet that has all Japanese writing. For some CD releases it is more that they include a booklet written in English. It is not a necessity for Japanese pressings for me but it makes them more fun.

On a different note: I had an odd Ebay experience. For one of my purchases in which the seller didn't give a tracking number, about a week after it was marked as shipped I get a message from the seller that the item was returned with address "no such number". That is very odd since Ebay has my proper address as well as Paypal (which I paid for it through). So I replay "that is odd" and send my mailing address in all caps so that any "i" s or "L" s or other similar letters can be identified and I spelled out Maryland so that the state abbreviation of "MD" is not mistaken for an "MO" (Missouri). 3 or 4 days later I got another message that the package was returned again and the seller asked if I had another address. I restate my bewilderment and say "unfortunately that is my only address". I don't want to go through the problems one could get by sending to my work address which is in SE DC on a letter street which could be misdirected to SW or NW or NE DC. So I said I guess you will have to refund me since it is "undeliverable". Poor seller must be handwriting everything and has bad penmanship? I would love to see a picture of the bad address to see how it was messed up. Latest is the seller is attempting to send for the charmed third time. I hope it gets here. And it arrived. The item for those curious was a back issue of a Sports Illustrated Suimsuit issue to replace a water damaged copy I had. The package had one of the previous labels that had been marked with the "NSN" No Such Number with return to sender sticker under the good mailing label. Turns out that they had replaced a 3 in my street address with an 8 everything else was right except my name on the original label was "Kris" and my last name of course was misspelled with the more common "son" ending. Another interesting thing, the seller according to the listing is in Illinois, the original label was sent from Michigan and the final label was from Texas. So the seller either has a couple of locations or they sent from a drop shipper.

Tues 24 January got a message that I sold an Ebay item. 2 promo buttons for the movie "Passion of The Christ" for $2.99 plus $4 shipping. Looks like one of those I'll loose a buck or two transactions. Just glad they sold to someone who wants them. My Ebay store is now down to 70 items. I am working on some draft listings of a few books.

Album Review: 22 Nailing Corpus Christi

Album Review: 22

Nailing Corpus Christi

This review was originally posted on rateyourmusic. on their community forums. This version of the review has had some editing and corrections.

The Nails Corpus Christi

1993 Safe House Records SH 2110 2

**.5

"Bobbie joined a new-wave band,
and changed her name to Bobbie-sox."

I got this album because of the track I had heard on the radio "88 Lines About 44 Women", and this album has three versions of it as bonus tracks on the CD. Each version is slightly different and is even slightly different than the radio version (which was additionally edited to censor words not allowed on radio by the FCC). The other tracks on the album are OK but in my opinion are a little below average. On some tracks the lead singer sounds like he should be singing about Elvis Presley or some country western story song, and on a few has a hint of a Jim Morrison sound to his voice. A few of the tracks have a slight anti-Christian feel to them. It is a light mocking or poking fun of, not a full-blown bashing. I'm pretty sure that is the theme of the album thus the title.

Album Review: 21 Joe Cool Plays The Blues

Album Review: 21

Joe Cool Plays The Blues

This review was originally posted on rateyourmusic. on their community forums. This version of the review has had some editing and corrections.

Wynton Marsalis/Ellis Marsalis Joe Cool’s Blues

1995 Columbia Records CK 66880

*****

"Little birdie, why do you fly upside down?
It's amazing, at the way you get around."

Anyone who has seen a Peanuts cartoon will recognize the first track Linus & Lucy which is often mistakenly called Snoopy's Theme by people who don't know it's title, probably because it is often used as the music that the gang dances and parties to. This version of Linus & Lucy is in a lower key than it's usually played plus the horns are muted. This whole album is music from or inspired by the Peanuts television specials and movies. This is one mellow smooth cool jazz album. When not reminding me of the cartoons this music takes me back to another part of my childhood. My mother's Godmother belonged to a country club and twice a year, sometimes more often we would go there on holidays for brunch or dinner. The club had a ballroom and a cocktail lounge. Often in the lounge there would be a jazz combo, usually just a trio (piano, drums and upright bass) at the time I was too young to appreciate jazz, so I never hung around the lounge. Plus I think children were not allowed in it. Back to this album. Many of the tracks are the themes for the characters, track 3 for example is Peppermint Patty and track 7 is Charlie Brown. There is even a track titled Oh, Good Grief! Track number 6 Wright Brothers Rag sounds like something that would play during one of Snoopy's WWI Flying Ace fantasy sequences. Track 11 Little Birdie is the only track that has any lyrics, I forget which special or movie it was featured in, but obviously it references Woodstock.

If you like jazz and you like the Peanuts cartoons then you wil love this album.

Album Review: 20 Flat Out Sounds Like Blue Oyster Cult

Album Review: 20

Flat Out Sounds Like Blue Oyster Cult

This review was originally posted on rateyourmusic. on their community forums. This version of the review has had some editing and corrections.

Buck Dharma Flat Out

1982 Portrait Records ARR 38124

***.5

"On the night I was born
They had the radio on
The countdown survey
From numbers forty to one
They played number thirteen
Mother was feeling fine
The station kept a rockin'
I was born on number nine"

For those of you who don't know Buck Dharma is the lead singer for Blue Oyster Cult. This solo album could almost be considered a BOC album except it doesn't have the band's symbol on the cover, I haven't checked the musician credits carefully enough to see if any other band members contributed to this album. It totally Rocks. My favorite song from the album is the first track on side one Born to Rock. When I first got this album, I put that song on a mix tape or two, I probably still have those tapes somewhere. As I said this album sounds as though it could be a regular BOC album. The only real surprise of the album is the cover of Come Softly to Me it just doesn't seem to fit well with the other songs, but it is still very good. If you are a fan of Blue Oyster Cult, then you should add this album to your collection. I don't think it has seen the digital light of CD yet and I'm pretty sure the vinyl version is Out of Print.

Note: Since my original reviewing of this album back in 2007 a CD release has been made. I need to find a copy. I think there is a bonus track.

Album Review: 19 Head Over Heels For Paula Abdul

Album Review: 19

Head Over Heels for Paula Abdul

This review was originally posted on rateyourmusic. on their community forums. This version of the review has had some editing and corrections.

Paula Abdul – Head Over Heels

1995 Virgin Records 7243 8 40525 2 2

**.5

"Now you tell me since you've been away

There was something you've been dying to say

Yes, I thought you had eyes for me

But I never was quite sure

Might funny that you never called

Ain't it funny now that you're gone

That you say you're in love with me

Now that's hard for me to believe"

A big disappointment. My least favorite Paula Abdul album. it's not bad it just doesn't have anything special to make it memorable. It basically killed her singing career, or at least de-railed it enough before she shifted gears to be a judge for American Idol. What is it with women who marry and then divorce those Sheen/Estévez boys? Other than the opening track Crazy Cool this album's only single, there is nothing that is particularly memorable. One thing is the video for the song is one of her sexiest videos (maybe because of the Pole Dancing), I think Promise Of A New Day is her sexiest video of all time. Track 2 My Love is For Real begins with a Middle East sound. What is up with that? Maybe a concept that went bad. Track 7 The Choice is Yours the lyrics are poorly enunciated at first, I thought she was singing something in French during the chorus. Track 8 Ho Down starts with an old 1920s style muted trumpets sound, which is either simulated to sound like an old vinyl Victrola disc or an authentic old recording, probably the former, and changes with scratching sounds that jumps into modern dance type music.

Album Review: 18 A Duo Of Broadway Babes

Album Review: 18

A Duo of Broadway Babes

This review was originally posted on rateyourmusic. on their community forums. This version of the review has had some editing and corrections.

Emily Skinner/Alice Ripley Unsuspecting Hearts

1999 Varese Sarabande 302 066 07

****.5

"Pretty women
Silhouetted...
Stay within you,
Glancing... stay forever,
Breathing lightly...
Pretty women,
Pretty women!"

For fans of Broadway "Show Tunes" this CD is super. Emily Skinner and Alice Ripley are two Broadway stars that have two of the sweetest and beautiful voices around, and they are beautiful to boot. They are best known for their roles as Daisy and Violet Hilton the Siamese twins from Side Show. In fact track two She's Gone sung by Alice was cut from the show.

Highlights from this album and some of the tracks I bought this CD for are Pretty Women (Sweeny Todd),I Don't Know How To Love Him (Jesus Christ Superstar) and one of my faves from this album The Alto's Lament sung by Emily. That song is a funny but true song about the types of roles that altos are given to sing in shows. Musicians and musical lovers will get a kick out of that song. OH there is a bonus track at the end that contains a rehearsal for an audition tape, some of the track is just plain silly. I don't think it should have been included. As much as I like this album, it is difficult to listen to more than two maybe three times in a row. 

Album Review: 17 Generic Public Image

Album Review: 17

Generic Public Image

This review was originally posted on rateyourmusic. on their community forums. This version of the review has had some editing and corrections.

Public Image Ltd Compact Disc

1986 Electra Records 9 60438-2

****

“Anger is an energy

Anger is an energy

Anger is an energy

I could be wrong I could be right

I could be wrong I could be right

I could be wrong I could be right

I could be black I could be white

I could be right I could be wrong

I could be black I could be white"

I first got this CD with the generic title Compact Disc back in the mid 1980s, (recommended by one of my buddies, well insisted really) then for some reason a few years later I sold it. I don't remember when or why, the why was obviously to get some buckage. Back then the first time I heard it, I didn't really like it except for the second track Rise which I tend to like, probably because it's so simple. A few months before reviewing this album, I searched for my copy but couldn't find it, because I wanted to hear that song. Well long story short I managed to find a copy off Ebay for cheap.

I enjoyed this album a lot, unfortunately its so generic sounding, there is little that stands up and grabs me, but I like it anyway.

This generic album has a nice light punk rock sound. The vinyl version is titled guess what? Album and the cassette version titled Cassette (if there were an 8-Track version that would have been called 8-Track). I suppose you could say it was softcore punk as opposed to hardcore. Public Image, LTD sounds like a cross between a typical UK punk band and REM, with a little Talking Heads tossed in.

Oh BTW for the first track titled FFF (all the tracks have simple titles, thus the generic feel to the album) stands for Farewell Fairweather Friends

I'd like to find sealed copies of the Cassette version and the album versions to put on display around my music collection. Newer remastered editions of this "album" is called "album" even on the CD versions.

Album Review: 16 The Greatest Bangling Hits

Album Review: 16

The Greatest Bangling Hits

This review was originally posted on rateyourmusic. It was one of the reviews I was assigned in the "Go Review That Album" game on their community forums. This version of the review has had some editing and corrections.

The Bangles Greatest Hits

1990 Columbia Records CK 46125

****.5

“Blonde waitresses take their trays

They spin around and they cross the floor

They've got the moves (oh whey oh)

You drop your drink then they bring you more

All the school kids so sick of books
They like the punk and the metal band
When the buzzer rings (oh whey oh)
They're walking like an Egyptian”

Even though I really enjoy this album I feel that it is mistitled as “Bangles Greatest Hits". It should more accurately be titled "The Best of The Bangles". My reasons first the song "Everything I Wanted" was PREVIOUSLY UNRELEASED. How can a song that has never been heard publicly before, be considered a "greatest hit"? The answer to that is the music companies need to add something new as filler so the old and current fans can experience something new. There were a few other songs that were never on the charts so again technically not a "hit" in the sense of not getting any radio airplay. The songs come from their 3 full albums (at the time of release 1990) "All Over The Place", "Different Light" and "Everything" except for; "Everything I Wanted" as mentioned before previously unreleased, "Where Were You When I Needed You?" the B-side to the single "Hero Takes A Fall", and their cover of Paul Simon's "Hazy Shade Of Winter" from the "Less Than Zero" Soundtrack (a song that became a bigger hit than the movie it was on the soundtrack to). Personaly I think at least one song is missing from this “Best of” album and that is “How is the Air up There?” from their self-titled EP released in 1982 I’ve always liked that song. There may be a few more but it has been ages since I've listened to their other albums.

The 1980s were mostly known for "Hair Bands", Rap music, Popularizing Punk Rock, New Wave, and a sort of Girl Group Revival. Girl groups had been around in the 1960s but they were mostly just singers, the '80s saw Girl groups that were actually "bands" in the sense that they played their own instruments. Some of them supposedly played their instruments but that can be debatable. The Bangles already knew how to play their instruments before they became a band (some bands had to learn to play their instruments). They also wrote their own songs most of the time. An exception was one of their biggest hits “Manic Monday” which was written by Prince.

My favorites from this album I guess would include: The cover of Katrina & The Waves “Going Down To Liverpool”, “Manic Monday”, “In Your Room”, “Eternal Flame”, “Hazy Shade of Winter” and probably “Walk Like An Egyptian” even though it was over played and over-hyped.

The Bangles have an excellent blend of harmonies, but honestly one can grow tired of Suzanna Hoffs’ high pitched voice. Drummer Debbi Peterson has a more pleasant but slightly husky voice especially when she takes the lead on her song “Be With You”. Her huskiness reminds me just a little bit of the Wilson Sisters of Heart.

The album certainly has an ‘80s feel to it. It also has a tiny international feel to it with “Walk Like An Egyptian” sort of, that song more sort of borrows a hint of the middle eastern feel with it’s mock Egyptian beat. A better international feel is the sitar (played by Michael Steele) of “In Your Room” or at least that ‘60s “lets impersonate George Harrison and The Beatles” feel.

In my book a best of album or a “Greatest Hits” album should contain those songs from a group’s repertoire that if the songs were on another album they would be the ones you would skip other songs to listen to. The more songs like that the better. I enjoy this album but for me not all the songs are songs I would skip to.

For people wanting to decide if the Bangles (previously known as “The Bangs”) is for them this is an excellent album to get. I would also suggest “Everything” and “Different Light” if you can find a copy getting the 5 song self-titled EP “Bangles” recorded when they were still the Bangs but re-released after their name change) is a plus for your Bangles collection.

Album Review: 15 Live Disco Jews Times Two

Album Review: 15

Live Disco Jews Times Two

This review was originally posted on rateyourmusic. It was one of the reviews I was assigned in the "Go Review That Album" game on their community forums. This version of the review has had some editing and corrections.

2 Live Jews: Disco Jews

1994 Hot Records HTCD 3375-2

***.5

"I'm should get a Physical physical
Gonna get a physical
I should get a physical
I'm Gonna practice safe sex
With latex,
I'm Gonna Use the latex for safe sex"
*Approximate lyrics (I couldn't find them on the internet)

2 Live Jews is a comedy/parody duo who go by the names Morty & Herschel who poke fun at popular songs (usually dance songs). They are really two young guys, but they portray little old Jewish men who constantly Kevetch and shop for bargains while trying to get aroused by hot young girls. The dirty old Jewish man stereotype. They toss around Yiddish terms and jokes, that are hilarious if you're Jewish, but since I'm not they are just partly funny. Some of the jokes are just plain not funny. They sound like stereotypical Jewish characters portrayed by Billy Chrystal, Robin Williams and/or maybe a Carl Reiner type.

OK so this album Burns the Disco Era down with Jewish humor. Each song is to the tune of a recognizable Dance Hit from the Mid-1970s to very early 1980s. Some of them you could probably guess, at least one of them I recognize the original song but forget the title. If you do recognize the song and remember the title PM me so I can update this review, be sure to mention which album review you are talking about. Most of them (the songs) are pretty interesting, but the final track the interview is boring. Unfortunately none of the songs really stand out other than the fact that they are poking fun at guilty pleasure disco era songs.

Track 1 Bargain Town = Funky Town
Track 2 Stayin' Inside = Stayin' Alive
Track 3 Mommy's Planning Your Bar Mitzvah = Play That Funky Music White Boy
Track 4 She's JAP = La Freak (La Chic)
Track 5 Sabbath Night = S.A.T.U.R.D.A.Y. Night
Track 6 The Herschel = The Hustle
Track 7 Physical = Physical (Well D'uh)
Track 8 What Did You Say = Y.M.C.A.
Track 9 Poop Real Good = Damn I recognize the song but can't remember the title.
Track 10 Jewish Lady = Disco Baby (or is it Disco Lady?)
Track 11 Mama Stein = Lady Marmalade
Track 12 Live at Studio 54 with Morty & Herschel = Interview

Album Review: 14 Double GTR

Album Review: 14

Double GTR

This review was originally posted on rateyourmusic. It was one of the reviews I was assigned in the "Go Review That Album" game on their community forums. This version of the review has had some editing and corrections.

GTR GTR

1986 Arista Records ARCD 8400

***.5

“Watching the actor, that takes the stage by storm
Stealing the limelight, while we’re in the wings
Sometimes the hero, must play the underdog”

First off GTR is the abbreviation of guitar that is used by the music industry for track labeling in multi-track recording studios. GTR was a mid-1980s supergroup during the time when making dream lineups was a cool thing to do. Fronted by guitarists Steve Howe (Yes and Asia) and Steve Hackett (Genesis) GTR was formed initially as a special project to attempt a full band sound using only guitars w/out keyboard synthesizers. Synthesizing the guitars worked well enough in the studio for the recording but didn’t work so well for touring so the band had a keyboardist for their concerts. The band was only around for 2 years before going their separate ways. I always thought it was just a one-shot project to begin with. It wasn’t until I did a little internet research that I learned they had actually gone on tour with the group.

The opening track which was the first of two singles from the album “When The Heart Rules The Mind” along with a couple of the other songs sounds more like a Styx or Kansas type song than a Yes or Genesis song. It still gets some airplay now and then on AOR (Album Oriented Rock) stations. I admit there were sometimes a few years back when I heard the song and thought it was Styx. In the past I had only listened to this album three maybe four times. No wonder “When the Heart Rules the Mind” was the only song I remembered. The second track “The Hunter” was also released as a single I didn’t know that I thought the album only had the one single.

The instrumental songs “Sketches in the Sun” a guitar solo by Howe and “Hackett To Bits” by Hackett both sound more Yes-like than most of the rest of the album. You could probably mix it together with some songs from Yes Songs and claim it was some previously unreleased material from those sessions. Another song that has that Yes sound is “Jekyll And Hyde” which is a fun song. My final song of note on this album is “Toe the Line”. I feel that song would be a nice soft ballad type song to end the main set of a concert with, the final song where the band leaves the stage before coming back for its encore.

Album Review: 13 Explosive Bond

Album Review: 13

Explosive Bond

This review was originally posted on rateyourmusic. on their community forums. This version of the review has had some editing and corrections.

Bond Explosive: The Best of Bond

2005 Decca Records B0004748-82 DDD

***.5

"I have seen blooms and blossoms, now I go.

To view the last and loviest, the snow.

(A frozen dream, a heart undone.)*

Forever burning, under the WinterSun."

*lyrics not audible for this line.

Explosive: The Best of Bond – This quartet of beauties have loads of musical talent as well as good looks. I am not sure of the band member’s ethnic backgrounds but many of their songs have a quick Latin Salsa and or Tango beat to them. They blend classical standards with an electric synthopop salsa blended sound that is reminiscent of a late 1970s action movie soundtrack. Track number two the title track “Explosive” could pass as the opening theme to a James Bond movie.

I first heard about Bond in an interview/preview from one of those entertainment tabloid television shows like “Entertainment Tonight” several years ago that introduced the group and perhaps plugged their album at the time (perhaps it was their debut album). I filed the group away as one to look out for. Unfortunately for a few years I only remembered they were a female quartet that jazzed up classical music. Eventually I saw or heard something from them again and eventually got this “dual disc” * [See Note at end of review]

As the group focuses on classical pieces and blend it with more modern musical techniques and styles this album is virtually instrumental. The few exceptions are “Viva!” which has a crowd, perhaps attending a soccer match shouting “Viva”, the catchy “Shine” which has some mariachi sounding voices (I’m not sure what they actually say if anything), and a short part of “Wintersun” (the lyrics of which I quoted at the beginning of this review) are the only songs that have lyrics. The track "Duel" also has vocal sounds but no lyrics.

The soccer match sounding “Viva!” starts out sounding like a Blue Man Group song it has a sort of PVC pipe instrument sound to it. “Wintersun” has parts that remind me of the popular 1970s Moog syntho-tune “Popcorn” by Hot Butter. The track “Duel” has some nice violin with some backing vocal sounds that are Enya-esk in its style. The traditional Christmas time classic “Dance of the Sugarplum Fairy” is even covered but simply titled as “Sugarplum”

Overall even though this album is reminiscent of a 1980s syntho-pop disco club soundtrack it is quite enjoyable. Casual listeners may recognize some of the standard pieces with that “I know that song but have no idea what It’s called” like those character actors you see in film after film but never know their name. When you see them you say, “Hey I saw that dude in the sequel to that Psycho Horror movie with that other dude”. The final track “Carmina” has that surreal eerie choir vocalizing that is used countless times in Demonic Haunting Horror Movies and trailers or epic fantasy movies with a huge battle on a mountainous plain. For years and years, I had heard that tune but never knew the title. I often forget the title, but now I tend to remember that it is on this album.

The DVD side of this Dual Disc only has 3 videos (Explosive, Fuego and Victory)

*NOTE: for CD/DVD combination discs like these Dual Discs (audio on one side video on the other) and packages that include both an audio disc and a video disc I do NOT review the DVD/Video portion here. Sometimes I review them on my personal blog, but rarely. I tend to forget about reviewing the DVD portion.

Album Review: 12 Surviving The Streets With Lynyrd Skynyrd

 Album Review: 12

Surviving The Streets With Lynyrd Skynrd

This review was originally posted on rateyourmusic. on their community forums. This version of the review has had some editing and corrections.

Lynyrd Skynyrd Street Survivors

1977 MCA MCAD 1687

****

"Well, the police said we can't drink in the bar

What a shame

Won't you come upstairs girl

And have a drink of champagne"

It's been a while since I've listened to this Classic Skynyrd album. Released in 1977 just three days before the tragic airplane crash that took the lives of several band members. After the crash MCA changed the original "Fire" or "Flames" Album cover (which shows the band members standing with flames of fire all around them) to the plain cover of this issue. For several years the original cover was very hard to find and expensive on vinyl and the CD issue only had this alternate cover. A remastered version with bonus tracks was issued in 2001 with the original cover (remind me to get that sometime). When this album was first released, I heard my brother's copy of it and especially liked "What's Your Name", "That Smell", "I Know A Little" and "You Got That Right". I think he still has it, with the original flames cover. Those songs are still my favorite ones from this album. Some of the others it's been so long since I've heard them that I'm not sure what they sound like or if I really like them. I will need to listen to this album again soon.

This album is definitely one of the ones to suggest to people who want to know which Lynyrd Skynyrd albums, besides greatest hits compilations, to purchase to start getting into the band. I believe it is the quintessential Lynyrd Skynyrd album.

Album Review: 11 Walking With Desire And Heart

 Album Review: 11

Walking With Desire and Heart

This review was originally posted on rateyourmusic. on their community forums. This version of the review has had some editing and corrections.

Heart Desire Walks On

1993 Capitol Records CDP 599627

***.5

"The night just walked in

In walks the night

In walks my fantasy

Darkness all around me

And I'm dying for the light"

This Heart album is just an average Heart album in my book. I don't remember any mega hits coming from it, maybe track 6 In Walks the Night was released as the first single? or was it track 9 Will You Be There (In the Morning)? The chorus harmonies from that song sound sort of like an Abba song. Track 4 The Woman in Me it took me a few listens to understand the chorus at times it sounds like Ann is saying "The woman and man" or "woman in man" either of which don't make sense. Track 5 Rage sounds like they are trying to get into some, kind of soft-metal sound. When listening to this album several times in a row, the song Ring Them Bells gets a little dull. I would not recommend this album as a starter Heart album, for that I would suggest one of their earlier albums and their self-titled album before getting into this album.

*Nancy recently released her first solo album You and Me on 07 May 2021.

Album Review: 10 Self Titled Heart

 Album Review: 10

Self Titled Heart

This review was originally posted on rateyourmusic. on their community forums. This version of the review has had some editing and corrections.

Heart Heart

1985 Capitol Records CDP 7 46157 2

****

"Darkness on the edge

Shadows where I stand

I search for the time

On a watch with no hands

I want to see you clearly

Come closer than this

But all I remember

Are the dreams in the mist"

It seems to me that most of these songs eventually became hits, or at least it seems like it. I often wonder why this album was self-titled. Usually a self-titled album is the band’s first album, but this was Heart’s 9th album (8th if you don't count The Greatest Hits album, which did have some original material). Anyway, the Wilson sisters kick some royal rock-n-roll arse on this album. The album starts heavy rockin' with If Looks Could Kill and continues, on from there. Perhaps the highlight of the album is These Dreams which is the first Heart song where Nancy* sings lead vocals instead of Ann. In the mid 1980s when this album came out Rock-n-Roll was all about Hair Bands and Nancy certainly let hers fly all over the place. I first got this album on vinyl, I think I still have it on that format, as part of my first dozen albums or so when I signed up to the then Columbia Record and Tape Club, eventually the mail-order service changed its name to the Columbia CD Club when they stopped dealing in vinyl in the early 1990s. All in all, this is probably my favorite Heart Album, I'd be hard pressed to pick a second favorite, I like them all.

*Nancy recently released her first solo album You and Me on 07 May 2021.

Album Review: 09 On Cloud Nine With George Harrison

 Album Review: 09

On Cloud Nine With George Harrison

This review was originally posted on rateyourmusic. on their community forums. This version of the review has had some editing and corrections.

George Harrison Cloud Nine

1987 Dark Horse Records 9 25643-2

****.5

“But it's gonna take money

A whole lot of spending money

It's gonna take plenty of money

To do it right, child.”

In my opinion Cloud Nine is one of if not the best of the later years George Harrison albums. It was produced by George and Jeff Lynne (ELO) which adds some orchestration to some of the songs making them sound bigger.

Like many of my reviews I don't know how I'm going to write them until I start on them, even then sometimes I change in mid-stride my approach. This album is mostly light and airy maybe that is what the title Cloud Nine means. I wasn't sure exactly how to write the review for this album so I will do the track by track thing:

Cloud Nine: The first track is also the title track. It makes some sense like the tradition of naming song titles with the first line of lyrics. Sometimes there is no title track. Anyway, this song I guess could be described as a sort of rock love ballad with a little bit of pep.

That's What it Takes: This song is one of the better mixes of the Harrison solos with Lynne's ELO sounds. The use of the harmonies gives it a soft heavenly sort of sound. It acts as a kind of preview of The Traveling Wilburys Sound.

Fish on the Sand: This one reminds me some of Harrison's Tribute to John Lennon All Those Years Ago sound wise. The title and some of the lyrics sort of suggest an awkward relationship.

Just For Today: A soft and slow tune that just sort of floats around giving a light peaceful air. The piano reminds me of Lennon's Imagine then with George's solo about mid-way I picture it as a slow-dance prom song with a little bit of that pseudo 1950s rockabilly.

This is Love: Another of the high ELO influenced songs. Part of it I almost expect to hear Roy Orbison joining in on it.

When We Was Fab: George’s tribute song to his Beatles years. It has that signature George Harrison weirdness to it. It mixes the eeriness of the cello sounds from Eleanor Rigby mixed with the I Am The Walrus Oooohh Chorus with kettle drums just to add some bounce. It finishes with some of George’s sitar sounds.

Devil's Radio: I think this song is making a statement about subliminal advertising and televangelist type preaching. Hidden agendas and how that evil influence. Then again maybe that is reading too much into it.

Someplace Else: Another slow prom dance song. I almost feel it is a second John Lennon tribute song that or pinning for a lost love.

Wreck of the Hesperus: Another one I’m not sure what to say. It is a good song I just don’t know how to explain it. It has a story song feel to it.

Breath Away From Heaven: Part of it has that Old Japanese kabuki tip-toeing type sound that one would expect from a John Lennon song not a George Harrison song.

Got My Mind Set On You: This is the second of the first two singles released from this album When We Was Fab was the first one. It is a fun but simple song. It is also a cover song originally recorded by James Ray in 1962 as “I’ve Got My Mind Set on You”. “Weird Al” Yankovic recorded the parody (This Song’s Just) Six Words Long on his Even Worse album.

In conclusion this is an overall excellent album. I would recommend it as an introduction to George Harrison’s albums especially his later ones.

Album Review: 08 Aerosmith Will PUMP You UP

 Album Review: 08

Aerosmith Will PUMP You UP!

This review was originally posted on rateyourmusic. It was one of the reviews I was assigned in the "Go Review That Album" game on their community forums. This version of the review has had some editing and corrections.

Aerosmith Pump

1989 Geffen Records 9 24254-2

****

"Janie´s got a gun

Janie´s got a gun

Her dog day´s just begun

Now everybody is on the run

Tell me now it´s untrue.

What did her daddy do"

This is one of the best later Aerosmith albums. In a few years it can be called a classic, if it's not already. With hits like Love in An Elevator, Janie's Got A Gun and The Other Side how can it not be a classic? I think the tracks What It Takes, My Girl and Young Lust have had some major airplay as well. This is Aerosmith at their best. The only thing that stumps me is the Celtic style Dulcimer Stomp and the extra "hidden" country jig track at the end of What It Takes, they are good they just don't seem to fit with the rest of the regular stuff. Maybe it's a concept for the album that I just am not getting. OH and also on track number four Monkey On My Back the A-Boys use their Giving Dog A Bone base riff. This album is a good starting off point for new Aerosmith fans.