Imelda May - Roadrunner
Strange experience, in that it goes from being something that doesn’t interest me in the slightest, then little bits pop up that I think are cool, but it doesn’t last. Not sure I’d call this rockabilly, tho. That’s part of the oddness—I can’t really slot it into any genre expectations.
Tammi Savoy - When Your Lover Don’t Love You
Really enjoyable, but it’s such rockabilly pastiche that it sounds like something we’ve heard before many, many times. Like a tribute band for a genre. So it’s sweet to listen to, but has no real impact.
Jessica Lee Wilkes - Groove's too Shallow
Love that bass sound. Unlike the Tammi Savoy song, it sounds of a genre without being pastiche.
Samantha Fish - Crow Jane
There’s value in slowing the pace. It adds a bit of danger and allows a person to better absorb what’s happening and to anticipate. I’ve never been that keen on that emotional blues singing style, but the performance more than makes up for it.
Sarah Shook - Nothin Feels Right but Doin Wrong
The risk of five songs all from the same style, I think, is that it blunts the impact from song to song. I mean, it’s perfectly fine and all, but I think I’d like it more if I played it first or if it came after something quite different.
All told, I think I like rockabilly in limited quantities, otherwise it has the same superficial effect as synthpop.
"Grab some wood, bub.'" - Richard Nixon, Checkers Speech, abandoned early draft
Thanks for the comments Marky and Doc. I decided since Heston has been using the hot rockabilly chick line why not go with that. Will noise terror be next...stay tuned.
In the meantime here's my late assignment for Marky's 5, hope you dont remove too many points for lateness.
1. No - Billy Nomates
The spoken elements remind me of...something damned if I can recall though. Im digging it though, the bass line is great. I wish it would go next level and tear shit up but that's me for ya. First exposure. 7/10
2. Better Off Dead - Jennie & The Slingers
I know nothing of this band other than what you mentioned, Madness never grabbed me (some might argue). I like the rockabilly/ska mixture. Its a great bouncy song. Will need to investigate further 8/10
3. Bionic Man - The Fabulous Poodles
So I hear the Jam sound that Doc mentioned, especially the intro and dare I say the vocals remind me a bit of Billy Joel at times (Im going mad hearing Billy Joel everywhere). 6/10,
4. Cars and Explosions - The Fans
Another new artist for me. I like how it sounds a bit disjointed and the menacing guitar that comes in at different intervals. 7/10
5. Kitty Ricketts - The Radiators (From Space)
Ahh yes the Radiators, great band that I haven't explored enough. My first time hearing this song, really good and I no longer have an excuse for not tracking down more of their material. The twisted carnival sound reminded me of a song my friend would play on his radio show. I had to reach out to him to figure it out. 8/10
This is the song I was reminded of. Which led me down a path of my old radio show days revisiting a lot of stuff I haven't heard/listened to in 10 to 15 years, could also be a topic for my next 5.
Tom Russell The Outcaste
Thanks for the comments Marky and Doc. I decided since Heston has been using the hot rockabilly chick line why not go with that. Will noise terror be next...stay tuned.
In the meantime here's my late assignment for Marky's 5, hope you dont remove too many points for lateness.
1. No - Billy Nomates
The spoken elements remind me of...something damned if I can recall though. Im digging it though, the bass line is great. I wish it would go next level and tear shit up but that's me for ya. First exposure. 7/10
2. Better Off Dead - Jennie & The Slingers
I know nothing of this band other than what you mentioned, Madness never grabbed me (some might argue). I like the rockabilly/ska mixture. Its a great bouncy song. Will need to investigate further 8/10
3. Bionic Man - The Fabulous Poodles
So I hear the Jam sound that Doc mentioned, especially the intro and dare I say the vocals remind me a bit of Billy Joel at times (Im going mad hearing Billy Joel everywhere). 6/10,
4. Cars and Explosions - The Fans
Another new artist for me. I like how it sounds a bit disjointed and the menacing guitar that comes in at different intervals. 7/10
5. Kitty Ricketts - The Radiators (From Space)
Ahh yes the Radiators, great band that I haven't explored enough. My first time hearing this song, really good and I no longer have an excuse for not tracking down more of their material. The twisted carnival sound reminded me of a song my friend would play on his radio show. I had to reach out to him to figure it out. 8/10
This is the song I was reminded of. Which led me down a path of my old radio show days revisiting a lot of stuff I haven't heard/listened to in 10 to 15 years, could also be a topic for my next 5.
Tom Russell The Outcaste
Thanks for the reviews rev. I think it must be the new wave sound that both you and doc hear the Jam in the Fabulous Poodles.
That Tom Russell track is great.
Forces have been looting
My humanity
Curfews have been curbing
The end of liberty
We're the flowers in the dustbin...
No fuchsias for you.
I'm way behind on these, going to try to do one a day to catch up.
Tom:
Sigrid—High Five
I liked the intro synth tones, but the chorus is a little grand for me. The melody is catchy but the vocals are a little reminiscent of stuff that was popular in the 2008 era when I was working at a record store, so they are not my favorite. I do really dig how normal she looks though. Anti-image as image. 4/10
The Amazons—Stay With Me
Basic song, but fun. Good energy, and weirdly appealing in its positive energy, something I don't normally go for. It reminds me of something but I'm having trouble placing it. 7/10
Embrace—Maybe I Wish
I don't have much to say about this other than liking the stereo image. I'll abstain from ranking as it's not really my area.
Starsailor—Faith Hope Love
This one sounds very much of its time. I like the consistency of guitar tone in the chorus, it creates a nice bed for the vocals. It's a good length too, following the Wire method of ending a song when it's done. 4/10
Metallica—Atlas, Rise!
I've always had a soft spot for Metallica even though I never own one of their albums longer than a month. This is cool, as you say, honest rock. A bit of a look back to the Black Album with length and structure from AJFA, maybe. Excellent solo from Hammett as usual, too. 8/10
Imelda May 7.5/10
Lots to like here... the vocal delivery, the ascending and then descending guitar part in the chorus and the nice abrupt end which I always prefer over a fade-out (might be why I still listen to Nirvana)
Tammi Savoy 6/10
First of all, I know next to nothing about this genre so take all this with a pinch of salt but I kind of wish they'd break through the restraint like you think they're going to do around the 2:25 mark. More of that vocal and more of that guitar and I'd be happier. It's just 'pleasant' - not that that is necessarily bad - but I think it could be more.
Jessica Lee Wilkes 7/10
I was dreading it a little bit when you mentioned horns but these were subtle enough to work. I do love a repetitive riff too
Samantha Fish 8/10
Love her guitar work... Saw something on youtube a while back when she was going over her gear or a signature guitar or something but I never really investigated further. The guitar reminds me of White Stripes
Sarah Shook 7/10
I only knew of her because of her song "Dwight Yoakam" (who I like a lot) and I like this one too. I think I prefer the country-ish side more TBH; that's not a criticism though
Putting a little stick about. Putting the frighteners on flash little twerps
I'm a little behind with the holidays:
We The People - Allen Toussaint. Sounds great. Love harmonies, warm instrumentation, terrific piano playing. 8/10
We Live Here - Bob Vylan. - Love the energy and great pissed off lyrics. Got me looking up Stephen Lawrence who I had never heard about (something The Clash had me doing as well - reading up on important figures that I had never heard of). I just wish the music was more up my alley. It's a bit turgid and sterile. 6/10
Mistadobalina - Del tha Funky Homosapien. Never listened to Del though I listened to a ton of early 90s hip hop. This sounds on par with ATCQ in a good way. Doesn't strive for greatness, but it's a solid track with enough fun vocal hooks to make it not too stagnant. 7/10
Lydia the Tattooed Lady - the Dead Milkmen. No review, just not my thing.
I WAnt to See the Bright Lights Tonight - Richard & Linda Thompson. - I kinda like parts of this. The horns and guitars are mixed really loud. Hooks are okay. It's very 70s and alright. 5/10.
Look, you have to establish context for these things. And I maintain that unless you appreciate the Fall of Constantinople, the Great Fire of London, and Mickey Mantle's fatalist alcoholism, live Freddy makes no sense. If you want to half-ass it, fine, go call Simon Schama to do the appendix.
Imelda May - Roadrunner
I'm already familiar with Imelda and actually used to converse with her ex-husband and guitar player Darrel on a football message board, a really nice guy and fellow long suffering Sunderland supporter. This is a really good song but I think there are better singers in her field. Kinda makes me want to hear Johnny Kidd and the Pirates doing it. 7/10
Tammi Savoy - When Your Lover Dont Love You
This is great, wish I could hear her singing the Imelda May song. It's a bit of a rewrite of Oh! Darling by the Beatles but that's fine. Excellent instrumentation and ballsy as fuck. 8/10
Jessica Lee Wilkes - Groove's too Shallow
You introduced this to me a while ago and it's been on my car playlist a few times now, some of my passengers have dug it too. Good song. 7.5/10
Samantha Fish - Crow Jane
This one didn't really click with me, I just found it too generic as a song. It is all well executed but doesn't move me. The guitar solo was good. 5/10
Sarah Shook - Nothin Feels Right but Doin Wrong
Yeah, I really dig this. I'm on the fifth listen through of all of the tracks and this chorus is really sticking. Some great tics and mannerisms on her vocals, giving it an original edge. Top work. 9/10
Looking forward to the noise terror picks.
There's a tiny, tiny hopeful part of me that says you guys are running a Kaufmanesque long con on the board
I've been busy pulling orphans from burning buses that are going over cliffs into fundamentalist shark-infested waters.
