Bram Tchaikovsky ‘Strange Man, Changed Man’
Today’s Cool Album of the Day (#813 in the Series) is Bram Tchaikovsky, Strange Man Changed Man The legend says: ¨A long time ago, a bunch of bored cavemen, hungry of fun and sex, invented Rock´n´Roll…¨ It must be true, and we must be grateful: they invented something of the same transcendence as the Ferris wheel; one of the most proteiform and free examples of contemporary art. Did I say art? Yes, maybe the 8th form! Along there with Music, but with its own singular status. Joyously alive, always changing, the perfect constant motion machine. This album is one of the finest examples of the genre. Sadly overlooked, it condensed in itself all of the stamina and the joie...
Roxy Music “Manifesto”
Today’s Cool Album of the Day (#729 in the Series) is Roxy Music, Manifesto The conventional wisdom surrounding Roxy Music seems to suggest that there are two distinct “periods” of the band’s initial existence. The first phase, from the band’s inception through 1976′s Siren, was characterized by dual predilections for high-brow artiness and otherworldly glamour; and the second phase, from 1979′s Manifesto through 1982′s Avalon, signaled the band’s transition into a brooding, stylish, and literate pop hit machine, helmed by Bryan Ferry’s inimitable voice and buoyed up by a small army of studio technicians. However, while there are undeniably two sonic phases to Roxy’s chronology, Manifesto, often hailed as the first album of Roxy’s later period, really finds...
Shoes “Present Tense”
Today’s Cool Album of the Day (#634 in the Series) is Shoes, Present Tense. Today we’re looking at the band Shoes and their album Present Tense. Are you familiar with Shoes? If you’re from the Midwest area of the States that there is a very good chance you are. There is also a good chance that you’ve heard of them if you were anywhere near MTV in its very early days, you remember when they used to play music videos! It was quite fun and in those days because there was some intrigue and what they played because not everyone had videos so they had to play what they could get so you often saw some quite...
The Undertones “The Undertones”
Today’s Cool Album of the Day (#627 in the Series) is The Undertones. This is an album that claimed a place in my heart 30 years ago and retains it to this day. And that’s not just because of its musical merits, of which there are indeed many. It’s also due to the time, the place and the circumstances during which I first really got into it, and the company I was keeping at the time, all of which invoke nothing but good, happy memories. I’d like to take you back now, way way back to the long, hot, glorious (in my recall at least!) summer of 1982. Back when I still had my youth, my good looks...
Brand X “Product”
Today’s Cool Album of The Day (#582 in the Series) is Brand X, Product. Brand X was a band that wasn’t a band, well not at first were they a band, but then became a band. You Got it? Here’s the idea. Genesis drummer and new lead vocalist Phil Collins along with Atomic Rooster guitarist John Goodsall were looking for something to do as a side project. How long was it supposed to go on? Well not long really. Just do some jamming and maybe record a platter or two if the sound came together. This was in 1976. They added bassist Percy Jones and keyboard Robin Lumley to complete the band. They decided to release an album here and there....
UFO “The Chrysalis Years (1973-1979)”
Today’s Cool Album of the Day (# 553 in the Series) is UFO, The Chrysalis Years, (1973-1979). I am going to delay with the normal album review inroduction and substitute it with: IT’S ALL HERE! ALL YOU COULD WANT FROM THIS SEMINAL 1970′S HARD ROCK JUGGERNAUT. AND IT COSTS LESS THAN NINETEEN DOLLARS ON LINE! Now that I have that out of my system…… UFO was a great heavy rock band that my friends and I worshipped as teenagers in suburban Chicago. My first show was UFO at the Aragon Ballroom on October 10, 1975. This group had everything. UFO possessed the piledriving rhythm section of Peter Way (bass) and Andy Parker (drums). They featured serviceable short term...
Frank Zappa “Sheik Yerbouti”
Today’s Cool Album of the Day(#539 in the Series) is Frank Zappa’s Sheik Yerbouti. (Zappa Records) If you ask Frank Zappa fans which album of his is there favorite an I’ll guarantee, Sheik Yerbouti will get some votes. No It probably will not win, it might, but it will definitely be in the team picture. It’s a double album. (Why Not, Zappa and the Mothers of Invention’s Freak Out! Was the first double album in Rock and Roll History) Some songs are length, extended solo guitar pieces. Some songs are tight, shorter radio friendly hits. Well, for progressive stations that don’t mind a little twisted lyric here and there. What are we referring to there? How ‘bout...
The Ramones “It’s Alive”
Today’s Cool Album of the Day (#470 in the Series #46 in the Live Saturday Night Series) is The Ramones, It’s Alive Rock and Roll Hall of Fame members The Ramones performed 2,263 concerts in their career. They picked one of the best to record and use as a live album and eventually a concert video. The show was New Year’s Eve in 1977. It would take until April of ’79 to get this released. The double album contains 28 songs and there’s not a bad one in the mix. When this was recorded the band had released three classic albums, The Ramones, Ramones Leave Home and Rocket to Russia. Those three albums are represented heavily on the live...
Neil Young and Crazy Horse “Live Rust”
Today’s Cool Album of the Day (#463 in the Series, #45 in the Live Saturday Night Series) is Neil Young and Crazy Horse, Live Rust If I read it one more time I’m going to hurl. Now what would that be? Well that would be that Live Rust was recorded on Neil Young and Crazy Horse’s tour supporting Rust Never Sleeps. No, No a million times no! Most of Live Rust was recorded at the Cow Palace in San Francisco on October 22, 1978. Rust Never Sleeps was released, June, July 1979. Live Rust was released on Nov., 1979. How wrong is the statement that Live Rust was recorded to support Rust Never Sleeps? Well, some of Rust Never Sleeps...
Ian Hunter “You’re Never Alone with a Schizophrenic”
Today’s Cool Album of the Day (#424 in the Series) is Ian Hunter, You’re Never Alone with a Schizophrenic Remember when ABC ran “In Concert” every weekend? Midnight Special” was on as well. There was one band that I could swear that was on every week. They were on so often that I really started not liking them, they of course were Mott the Hoople. Yup, every week I’d turn it on and sure enough, there would be this goofy looking band with a guy or two wearing these strange looking boots. I was young and didn’t know much about them. As I got slightly older I got to like the band as I actually started listening to the music. ...
