ABC “The Lexicon of Love”
Today’s Cool Album of the Day (#1039 in the Series) is ABC, The Lexicon of Love When I pulled this one out for a listen I was really curious as to how it would sound, it’s been many years that I’ve listened to it. Sometimes these 80’s synth-pop or “New Romantics” genre bands don’t stand up so well. This stands up quite well I must say. I think that the bands high raw musicianship level has much to do with that. Just listen to Brad Lang’s bass push and highlight the opening number “Show Me,” or even on the hit “Poison Arrow.” It’s a shame that he was a guest musician and not an actual member. I’ve read some reviews...
Missing Persons “Spring Session M”
Today’s Cool Album of the Day (#983 in the Series) is Missing Persons,Spring Session M. (Capitol) I don’t know many bands that would 100% fill the term “Cool” better than Missing Persons. Not only did they have the “look” but they definitely also had the “chops” to go with it. They were one of the original bands that received a huge boost by MTV. The hot look of lead singer Dale Bozzio had a ton to do with that, especially when the ex-bunny dressed in only bubble wrap. Hot looks only take you so far without musicianship however, and as good as they looked, they played even better. Dale Bozzio’s “other half” was drummer Terry Bozzio. This man...
Dave Edmunds ‘D.E. 7th’
Today’s Cool Album of the Day (#962 in the Series) is Dave Edmunds, D.E. 7th Welsh rocker, Dave Edmunds released the fabulously rich album, “D.E. 7th,,” in the spring of 1982 after the turmoil of seeing the band he had been with for most of the past decade dissolve and changing record labels. It was his first project for the Columbia label after spending five creatively productive years with Led Zeppelin’s “Swan Song” label and the first in nearly a decade without his old Rockpile cohorts, with whom he recorded and produced as a solo artist, band and on Nick Lowe’s solo projects. Being the talent magnet that he is, he never missed a step by reuniting with...
Donald Fagen ‘The Nightfly’
Today’s Cool Album of the Day (#929 in the Series) is Donald Fagen, The Nightfly I never would’ve thought that my favorite Steely Dan album wouldn’t even be a Steely Dan album. But as strange as that may seem my favorite work by Mr. Donald Fagan is his first solo album called The Nighfly. It can’t be considered a Steely Dan album because it does not include Fagen’s longtime band partner Walter Becker, but I’ve enjoyed this work more than any of the Dan projects so that’s really what I’m getting at. One of the complaints that I often hear about Steely Dan is that their albums are so perfectly recorded, so perfectly produced, that they actually become...
Bill Nelson “The Love That Whirls (Diary of a Thinking Heart)
Today’s Cool Album of the Day (#475 in the Series) is Bill Nelson, The Love That Whirls (Diary of a Thinking Heart) Who is Bill Nelson you ask? Well, did you read our recent Be-Bop Deluxe feature written by one of our contributors Jim McCabe? Bill Nelson was the leader/guitarist/front man for them. That piece triggered much discussion about Bill on the site and facebook. Many people were not aware of the long and prosperous solo career that Bill has had. So I’ve decided to come right back with one of his best solo efforts, The Love That Whirls (Diary of a Thinking Heart.) Be-Bop Deluxe pretty much called it a day back in 1978 with the release Drastic...
Devo with Neil Young ‘Hey Hey My My (Into The Black)
Song Of The Day by Eric Berman – “Hey Hey My My (Into The Black)” by Devo w/Neil Young Q: Where do the worlds of The Kingston Trio, Devo and Neil Young all collide? A: In the film Human Highway, of course! Human Highway was a dreadful film released by Bernard Shakey (aka Neil Young) in 1982. The move was filmed between 1978 and 1981 and it starred Neil Young, Dean Stockwell, Dennis Hopper, Russ Tamblyn and Devo. It was briefly shown in movie theaters upon its release and was never to be seen again until its home video release in 1995 on VHS. It is currently out of print. While the movie is quirky and mostly incoherent, it...
Rank and File ‘Sundown’
Today’s Cool Album of the Day (#795 in the Series) is Rank and File, Sundown. I’m not sure how many of you know this band, or much less this album. Rank and File had a pretty unique sound. “Cowpunk” was the term used to describe their music. I’ve also heard “Country-Punk.” Whatever you want to call them, make sure you have “fun” somewhere in the mix. Alejandro Escovedo was in the band. He’s gone on to a fine solo career and is probably more popular than ever. The best songs here? Check out “Amanda Ruth,” “I Went Walking,” “Coyote” and what I think is their best tune, ‘The Conductor Wore Black.” This had been quite hard to find for...
Romeo Void “Benefactor”
Today’s Cool Album of the Day (#775 in the Series) is Romeo Void, Benefactor. Romeo Void’s Benefactor album is another perfect example of some of the cool post punk/new wave sounds of the early 80s. There was a refreshing blend that mixed a little bit of punk, a little bit of ska, a little bit of the new romantics and maybe even a touch of reggae at times. It allowed many people to hit the dance floor again that might not have since growing tired quickly of the disco era. Benefactor was released in 1982 and stood up well alongside albums released by bands such as The Psychedelic Furs, Ministry, OMD, Our Daughter’s Wedding, A Flock of Seagulls,...
Dire Straits “Love Over Gold”
Today’s Cool Album of the Day (#722 in the Series) is Dire Straits, Love Over Gold It’s hard to believe that Dire Straits only released six studio albums. They had such a reach and such an impact on music that it seems that they were one of those acts that would spit them our year after year. That was actually true for the early part of their career when they indeed released their first four albums in a short period of five years. That was from 1978 through 1982. They then took a couple years off before releasing their most popular album sales-wise that would be Brothers in Arms. After that album’s success they would really lay low,...
The Roches “Keep on Doing”
Today’s Cool Album of the Day (#689 in the Series) is The Roches, Keep on Doing. I recently heard a song by The Roches on the radio and then it hit me, man I hadn’t thought about them for a long time (Sorry ladies if you’re reading this. I’ll make it up to you!), What a shame, I really like their music. It’s been too long! What did I like about them? I think it was the melting of sounds that intrigued me when I first had this album thirty years ago. That and the sense of humor that is clearly visible in these songs. The Roches were a New York band that began in the late ’70....
