New Music!

[RGMike]

Bluegrass Van Halen covers with David Lee Roth?  Brad Kava sez: Worst. Album. EVAH!

http://blogs.mercurynews.com/aei/2006/06/david_lee_roths.html

[Gazoo]

I have a new gig, writing thumbnail singles reviews for Stylus Magazine's Singles Jukebox, a fun Rate-a-Record feature with some amusing contributors.  A recent entry: http://www.stylusmagazine.com/articles/the_singles_jukebox/mp1-mp2-mp3-go.htm . . . Should be fun.

So I've listened to a lot of new singles this week and want to highly highly recommend "Pull Shapes" by the Pipettes.  I don't know who they are, but the track is gorgeously bubbly and evokes the Belle Stars singing "They Don't Know."

Will post more reviews after I find out what I'll be reviewing for Stylus.

[RGMike]

I have a new gig, writing thumbnail singles reviews for Stylus Magazine's Singles Jukebox, a fun Rate-a-Record feature with some amusing contributors.  A recent entry: http://www.stylusmagazine.com/articles/the_singles_jukebox/mp1-mp2-mp3-go.htm . . . Should be fun.

So I've listened to a lot of new singles this week and want to highly highly recommend "Pull Shapes" by the Pipettes.  I don't know who they are, but the track is gorgeously bubbly and evokes the Belle Stars singing "They Don't Know."

Will post more reviews after I find out what I'll be reviewing for Stylus.

kudos to Adem Ali for pointing out that the Paris Hilton song sounds like UB40's "Kingston Town", which I said here several weeks ago.

[Gazoo]

Will post more reviews after I find out what I'll be reviewing for Stylus.

So the songs that I'll be reviewing this week are:
Taylor Hicks, "Do I Make You Proud"
Infernal, "Ten Miles From You"
Fall Out Boy, "A Little Less Sixteen Candles, A Little More Touch Me"
Hello Saferide, "The Quiz"
Justice vs. Simian, "We Are Your Friends" (aka "Never Be Alone")
Peaches. "Downtown"

My scribblings on the ones I wasn't assigned:

Rascal Flatts, “Life Is a Highway”
As mixed-media marriages go, this one’s as surefire a hit as they get: as predictable and bland as Uncle Kracker’s “Drift Away,” and of course already rewarded mightily for it. The singer barely keeps the second verse’s uptempo pace, and is so slavish in his interp that he even does the annoying “a-gimme-gimme-gimme-gimme-yeah!” thing. At least the guitarist gives it a new solo. [5]

Lily Allen, “Smile”
Her delivery (“little” = “li-uhl”) is only mildly less grating than Mike Skinner’s, but the words are clever and the chipper beat bounces merrily along. If Lady Sov couldn’t break in the States, there’s no reason to think this will, but the judicious use of window-hanging wind chimes is a plus. [7]

Regina Spektor, “On the Radio”
She so wacky! I like that she digs Axl Rose hubris, but she should know that linearity of thought and structure is not overrated. Gina seems afraid that if she deals in generalities instead of imaginative arcania, she’ll only touch the skin instead of the heart. Fair enough, but extend that clapping outro so I can jump rope to it. [7]

Pipettes, "Pull Shapes"
Simply lovely morning music for those who miss the Belle Stars and think they could've done marvelous things with Tracy Ullman's "They Don't Know." Oh, Pipettes, yr so fine. [9]

Beyonce f/ Jay-Z, "Deja Vu"
A reasonably fun cha-cha modulation, but hardly the Monster Summer Jam everyone expected of her. Staccato as ever, she works formula and gets away with it. [7]

Marie Sernholdt, "I Need a House"
The most embarrasing thing I've heard this year. And I've heard the K-Fed. [1]

[RGMike]

Gaz (and anyone else) -- have you heard this "I Wish I was a Punk Rocker With Flowers in My Hair" song?  KFOG played it again this AM, can't remember the (British) woman's name. Great lyrics, which coulda been written by Gaz (were he a Brit).

[Lightnin' Rod]

So the songs that I'll be reviewing this week are:
Taylor Hicks, "Do I Make You Proud"

Sadly, I've already experienced this one, on the American Idol final.  And no, this one makes noone proud.  Not even momma Hicks.  Meant to be inspirational, the only thing it might inspire me to do is have my eardrums removed.

[ggould]

Gaz (and anyone else) -- have you heard this "I Wish I was a Punk Rocker With Flowers in My Hair" song?  KFOG played it again this AM, can't remember the (British) woman's name. Great lyrics, which coulda been written by Gaz (were he a Brit).

I haven't heard it, but thought I'd check out the lyrics:

Chorus:]
Oh I wish I was a punk rocker with flowers in my hair
In '77 and '69 revolution was in the air
I was born too late into a world that doesn't care
Oh I wish I was a punk rocker with flowers in my hair

When the head of state didn't play guitar
Not everybody drove a car
When music really mattered and when radio was king
When accountants didn't have control
And the media couldn't buy your soul
And computers were still scary and we didn't know everything

[Chorus]

When pop stars still remained a myth
And ignorance could still be bliss
And when god saved the queen she turned a whiter shade of pale
My mom and dad were in their teens
And anarchy was still a dream
And the only way to stay in touch was a letter in the mail

[Chorus]

When record shops were still on top
And vinyl was all that they stocked
And the super info highway was still drifting out in space
Kids were wearing hand me downs
And playing games meant kick arounds
And footballers still had long hair and dirt across their face

[Chorus]

I was born too late into a world that doesn't care
Oh I wish I was a punk rocker with flowers in my hair

[RGMike]

So the songs that I'll be reviewing this week are:
Taylor Hicks, "Do I Make You Proud"

Sadly, I've already experienced this one, on the American Idol final.  And no, this one makes noone proud.  Not even momma Hicks.  Meant to be inspirational, the only thing it might inspire me to do is have my eardrums removed.

Is his FORD commercial, like, the worst career decision in recent memory? Or is it just me?  Fingernails on a blackboard.

[ggould]

So the songs that I'll be reviewing this week are:
Taylor Hicks, "Do I Make You Proud"

Sadly, I've already experienced this one, on the American Idol final.  And no, this one makes noone proud.  Not even momma Hicks.  Meant to be inspirational, the only thing it might inspire me to do is have my eardrums removed.

Is his FORD commercial, like, the worst career decision in recent memory? Or is it just me?  Fingernails on a blackboard.

I was wondering who the gray-haired guy in the Ford commercial was.  I figured it was some sort of play on a Michael McDonald type.

[Lightnin' Rod]

So the songs that I'll be reviewing this week are:
Taylor Hicks, "Do I Make You Proud"

Sadly, I've already experienced this one, on the American Idol final.  And no, this one makes noone proud.  Not even momma Hicks.  Meant to be inspirational, the only thing it might inspire me to do is have my eardrums removed.

Is his FORD commercial, like, the worst career decision in recent memory? Or is it just me?  Fingernails on a blackboard.

He'll be back fronting bar bands before long.  Which is fine, really.  If I ever get married, I might be able to hire his band.  He's a cut above your average wedding singer.

[Gazoo]

I figured it was some sort of play on a Michael McDonald type.

You don't know how right you were.

[RGMike]

I'm constantly astounded by the number of great new songs that Little Steven features each week that never make the leap to getting actual airplay on either KFOG or The Bone.  The new Joan Jett and Cheap Trick songs oughtta be on the air. (The excellent new Willie Nile album, which Steven has been playing for weeks, is actually getting play on The Peak, but then Nile is a NYC guy.)

I've especially come to love the new song by Primal Scream, "Country Girl", a Stones hommage that sounded especially good last nite in the context of a salute to Mick 'n' the boys.

[mshray]

I'm constantly astounded by the number of great new songs that Little Steven features each week that never make the leap to getting actual airplay on either KFOG or The Bone.  The new Joan Jett and Cheap Trick songs oughtta be on the air. (The excellent new Willie Nile album, which Steven has been playing for weeks, is actually getting play on The Peak, but then Nile is a NYC guy.)

I've especially come to love the new song by Primal Scream, "Country Girl", a Stones hommage that sounded especially good last nite in the context of a salute to Mick 'n' the boys.

I heard a little of Selvin on the City last night, he was featuring 'Sly Stone's Norht Beach' & I heard a very interesting duet of him & Billy Preston doing "Little Latin Lupe Lu" recorded on Nob Hill somewhere on Bush.

[RGMike]

I'm constantly astounded by the number of great new songs that Little Steven features each week that never make the leap to getting actual airplay on either KFOG or The Bone.  The new Joan Jett and Cheap Trick songs oughtta be on the air. (The excellent new Willie Nile album, which Steven has been playing for weeks, is actually getting play on The Peak, but then Nile is a NYC guy.)

I've especially come to love the new song by Primal Scream, "Country Girl", a Stones hommage that sounded especially good last nite in the context of a salute to Mick 'n' the boys.

I heard a little of Selvin on the City last night, he was featuring 'Sly Stone's Norht Beach' & I heard a very interesting duet of him & Billy Preston doing "Little Latin Lupe Lu" recorded on Nob Hill somewhere on Bush.

I think my Friday post about "The Family Stone Experience" playing the Santa Cruz Boardwalk got lost.

[Gazoo]

I'm constantly astounded by the number of great new songs that Little Steven features each week that never make the leap to getting actual airplay on either KFOG or The Bone.  The new Joan Jett and Cheap Trick songs oughtta be on the air. (The excellent new Willie Nile album, which Steven has been playing for weeks, is actually getting play on The Peak, but then Nile is a NYC guy.)

Oh yes.  Glad you've heard the Willie Nile, it really is underexposed.  And in fact, I'd nearly forgotten it until your mention.

So here's this week's Stylus Singles Jukebox, with a few of my comments dispersed throughout.  Hope you all check out that Pipettes tune.