Courtesy of our good friends Sal and Tony of NYCD here's some interesting and alarming information about this week's new releases.
HERB ALPERT - "RISE." Herb's 1979 comeback features the still-brilliant title track, with some other not-so-brilliant tracks that sound like anything from a chase scene in a Robert Urich TV special to background music for a David Copperfield plate-spinning extravaganza. If that's your sort of thing, then enjoy.
PERRY FARRELL'S SATELLITE PARTY - "ULTRA PAYLOAD." There are few we find as annoying and repulsive as Perry Farrell. This could be his "Rhapsody In Blue" for all we know, but we'd still hate it, because Perry's an annoying Jewish rocker (we can get away with saying that because Sal is Jewish). Features some more annoying people, including Fergie, Flea, and the very dead but still annoying Jim Morrison.
R. KELLY - "DOUBLE UP." We'll give this to him -- the man is popular. So who are we to judge such masterpieces as "Freaky In The Club" and "Pull Ya Hair"? For all we know, such great composers as Shostakovich and Carole Bayer-Sager also had bizarre liaisons with underage strumpets.
JOHNETTE NAPOLITANO - "SCARRED." The legendary (yes, legendary) vocalist from the legendary (you heard us right, legendary) Concrete Blonde releases her long-awaited solo debut, and Sal is loving it. She's abandoned the Dracula-meets-Emiliano Zapata sounds that seemed to dominate the last two Concrete Blonde records for good ol' fashioned goodness in the guise of ballsy singer-songwriter fare. Also includes covers of Coldplay's "The Scientist" and a killer "All Tomorrow's Parties."
ROBERT POLLARD - "CRICKETS." It's been at least two weeks since Robert Pollard put out a new record, so the fans are getting antsy. Features the usual drums made out of aluminum foil, amps running on C batteries, and vocals sung through a bullhorn. Low-fi and lovin' it!
RICHARD THOMPSON - "SWEET WARRIOR." Truth be told, Richard Thompson releases records almost as quickly as Robert Pollard. The difference is that Sal loves Richard Thompson and hates Robert Pollard. Nonetheless, this new full-on electric record doesn't stray far from anything Richard's done before -- and that's a good thing. Smart lyrics, great hooks, and some of the greatest guitar playing you'll hear this side of Ace Frehley (you know that's a joke, right?).
There's more at the blog, so scurry over there and start ordering!
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ReplyDeleteYes, collecting GbV and Bob Pollard releases is most definitely an exercise in frustration. I try to collect as much as I can by him but I'm always three or four releases behind.
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