Hayes Carll "Another Like You"

Here's another great song from Hayes Carll's new cd KMAG YOYO. Go buy it.

Recent Release:Hayes Carll-KMAG YOYO

(Sorry for all the excess stuff at the beginning and end, it was the clearest version I could find).

If the country music establishment didn't suck and programmers had any brains, then more people would know about Hayes Carll, and he'd be the biggest name in country music. But that's not how things work, so if you don't know let me clue you in.

Hayes Carll's new album, KMAG YOYO (military code for "Kiss My Ass Guys, You're On Your Own") is one of the best alt-country albums you're likely to hear this year. The title track is a view of Afghanistan by a teenage soldier set to a rockin' swamp beat (see above). It's a great song, and it's one of my least favorites on the record.

The album opens with "Stomp And Holler", a working class, party time anthem. Multiple styles are represented here from rock to hillbilly country, bluesy folk and beyond. All styles are played with respect and handled brilliantly. Carll has put together a crack band that can make you want to dance and then turn on a dime and make you cry into your beer.

Okay, so how are the lyrics? Spot on, thank you very much. Carll discusses his life spent with too much time on the road and in too many seedy bars, but also goes bigger than that. Relationships of all kinds are discussed, from familial in "Thank God For Christmas", to the desperate ("Hide Me" and "Chances Are"). And how often do you hear a hobo song these days? Try "Bottle In My Hand" for a glimpse into the life of a modern wanderer.

Perhaps the best song on the record (and if not best then certainly favorite) is called "Another Like You". It is a duet performed perfectly by Hayes and Cary Ann Hearst. The music is classic country, but the lyrics are a decidedly modern look at the possibilities of two people from opposite sides of the fence who just may find themselves together. This tale of bi-partisan lust is not quite as funny as his classic "She Left Me For Jesus" from Carll's last record "Trouble In Mind", but it's a lot more accessible and still good fun.

So, great songs and great performances. The pacing is a little sleepy in the second half, but the individual songs are solid. I can't recommend this enough.

4 and 1/2 out of 5 Daves

Recent Release:Mr. Big-What If...

Mr. Big is back with a brand new album entitled "What if...". It's a good place to start for people who may be new to the band, and is recommended for those who only are familiar with "To Be With You" and the unfortunate spandex years. For those of us who were fans back in the day, pick it up immediately and wonder what the hell took so long.

Lead single, "Undertow" eases the listener in. The song reminds us instantly of the Mr. Big sound and reminds us that melodic hard rock doesn't have to suck, while hinting at the musical prowess of the band. Then the album explodes.

Make no mistake, this is a rock album. From the riff-o-rama sounds of "American Beauty", the Zeppelin influenced "Nobody Left To Blame", ensemble show off piece "Still Ain't Enough For Me" to feel good closer "I Get The Feeling" there's a lot here to blast from the car speakers. The music is solid hard rock, with an unmistakable groove that has always set Mr. Big apart from their contemporaries. Hell, the intro to ""I Won't get In My Way" even has an almost Iron Maiden feel to it. So all doubters can now officially be silenced.

Yes, there are still some ballads here, it wouldn't be a Mr. Big record without a few. One is actually just a slow tempo contemplative song called "Stranger In My Life" which isn't great, but is an effective mood changer. The other, "All The Way Up" masquerades as a typical rock ballad, treading dangerously into "hair" territory until the chorus, when it is revealed that the song is lamenting a literal lost love, conveying more depth and feeling than one would assume. An good trick, and it works.

And for all you musos, yes, the band is in fine form here. Drummer Pat Torpey still lays down a mean groove and his technical elements have only gotten better. Eric Martin still sings with a clean, soulful voice. Though he sings in a slightly lower register (age will do that to you) it suits him. Billy Sheehan plays his ass off as one of the few "Lead bassists" out there and does nothing to tarnish his reputation here. And of course this CD marks the return of guitarist Paul Gilbert. Here is where long time fans rejoice as Gilbert's sound and songs were missed during his absence. his fingers are on fire.

Yet, for all my praising of the disc, it doesn't all work. Some songs just never really get beyond the main riff as an idea. Others are attempts to sound more current that fall short. And, as much as I love the guy, there are points in which Mr. Gilbert needs to pull back a touch. While overplaying is encouraged in this band, a few solos stand out as being too much, and that's saying something!

Still, those complaints are small when compared with the positives on this record. The band has never sounded more alive. These songs move and breathe and prove that Mr. Big is still a musical force to be reckoned with. Well done.

4 out of 5 Daves.

Recent Release:...And You Will Know Us By The Trail Of Dead-Tao Of The Dead

(okay so I said I wouldn't use any single image you tube stuff. I was wrong. Get over it.)

The band with the longest name in rock is back with their seventh album. For those unaware, Trail Of Dead (I'm not typing all that out anymore) are an indie neo-prog rock band. Think The Pixies meet early Pink Floyd and you've got a good frame of reference. The band's strengths lie in the ability to mix multiple styles (punk, prog, folk, pop, whatever) into one cohesive package. That talent is certainly on display here, yet while the band has many strengths they are not without their weaknesses.

The good news about this record is that everything fans love about Trail Of Dead is here in abundance. Few groups today can create a soundscape the way T.O.D. (how's that for shortening the name?) do. This album takes the listener to many areas from the immediacy of opening track "Pure Radio Cosplay" which kicks off in an almost pop-punk vein to the all out fire of single "Summer Of All Dead Souls" to the acoustic song with the metal riff called "Weight Of The Sun", and the drifting "Ebb Away" there's plenty to sink one's teeth into here. Long time fans should be pleased, and new listeners intrigued.

But T.O.D. are an art rock band, and as with most bands of this nature the experiments run both ways. "Tao Of The Dead" is (so) divided into two separate parts, played in two different tunings. The first part takes up the majority of the disc, and is the most exciting part of the record. Part two:"Strange News From Another Planet" is a five part suite. It is also the name of principal songwriter Conrad Keely's graphic novel, the first section of which makes up the booklet for the disc.

Here's where the trouble comes in. All packaging would indicate that this is a concept album, but Keely has stated it is not. Surely "Strange News..." is, but if the rest is not then why are the songs in part one interconnected, and why are elements from the comic referenced in it? Perhaps in the age of the digital download the question is moot, but if the band is going to go to as much trouble with the packaging as is done here then there's got to be a reason, right? I mean, hey, it looks great but connect some dots guys.

Musically there are some issues as well, especially with part two. How shall I put this delicately? Part two of this record is, well...pretty boring. Especially after the extremes the listener is taken to throughout the first part of the disc. Perhaps it would have worked better as an opening sequence? Or did it need to be at the end because this actually is a concept record?

Obviously I am unsure of the conceptual nature. Certainly multiple themes are addressed but I'm not sure where the lyrics are going. The lyrics are not provided, which is fine, but it does make things harder to understand. That may be by design, I'm not sure. I do know that the mix could have been better, the vocals are too low throughout most of the album. It's okay to be a little vague and let the listener interpret for him or herself, but these issues all add up to getting in the way of my enjoyment of this disc. Which is a pity because i really like a lot of it. I just don't know what it all means.

All in all I do recommend "Tao Of The Dead" as a listening experience. There are some shortcomings to be sure, but this is the type of record, and band for that matter, that requires multiple listens to truly appreciate. So the next time you feel like listening to some art, or just challenging yourself a little musically, this would be a good way to go.

Rating: 3 out of 5 Daves.

What's Going On Here?

Okay, not entirely sure why, but my own blog seems to be against me. The Motorhead review I did last week has disappeared. I can find it, but I can't get to it so I can repost it. I didn't even use any video in it, just straight text so there should not have been a problem.

Speaking of video, I have tried to include some cool stuff on my already delayed review of Trail Of Dead's new record, but can't get it to load. So that's still coming but it's just not going to be what I want it to be.

I am also waiting on some new music. I ordered a new disc to review, paid extra for quick shipping ('cause I don't get sent stuff, this is all out of pocket and out of passion for the material), and I still don't have the product in my hand. In fact, I received my notice that the discs in question were shipped today, a day after the releases date. What's the point of a pre-order if the disc arrives after the street date? Wasted money on that one, hopefully the music is worth it.

So I'm postponing work for a day or so. I'm just frustrated and won't be able to do anything good until I step away for a while. Hopefully everything will go smoothly from here on out. Back soon with more stuff. Thanks for reading. Tell your friends.

Random Thoughts On The Grammys

So the Grammys are over for another year. It's been years since I watched with anything other than mild interest, but because of this blog I decided to make the effort. About 1/2 hour into the show I realised that this was my chance to really discover what the rest of the world is listening to. My favorite bands don't get nominated. Well, sometimes they do, but not very often, and seldom for any televised awards. So here are my thoughts as I scribbled them down during the broadcast. Apologies to my brother for stealing this format.

-Opening: Okay but too long. Turned out to be less a tribute to Aretha and more an excuse to show off. It has been remarked that this was Christina Aguilera's chance to redeem herself after last Sunday's fiasco. She did a good job, but if she wanted to redeem herself she should have sang the National Anthem to kick off the show. That would have been great.

-Stop rewarding Train please.

-Dear Lady Ga-Ga, I don't care what kind of crazy crap you wear, nothing beats Elton John in his Central Park concert appearance dressed like Donald Duck. Nothing. Also, why does your "Born This Way" song sound so much like Madonna's "Express Yourself?"

-Kinda liked Miranda Lambert's song. Liked her better-she looked exactly like a Southern woman should when she gets dressed up. Big hair, dress a touch too small and no attempt to hide the accent or her southern roots. Bless her.

-Muse was pretty cool. Never paid them much attention before but now I'm interested. There will be those tomorrow who say that the revolution based visuals were in poor taste with what's gone on in Egypt and all. I say good show. It's rock and roll, no political correctness allowed.

-Surprisingly, I dug Bruno Mars. Had kind of a hard edged Smokey Robinson vibe. Not technically perfect note to note, but a full on performance and that's the kind of soul music I like.

-Every time I see Usher I like to pretend he's actually Webster. Made the whole Justin Beiber thing kinda weird. And funny.

-The Avett Brothers and Mumford And Sons were both very good and entertaining. High quality stuff. But then Bob Dylan came out. I know he's getting up there, but what happened to his voice? Sounds like Lemmy doing a Dylan impersonation.

-Jeff Beck looks like Alice Cooper after a punch in the nose. Yikes.

-Jamey Johnson deserved the Country award. Lady Antebellum winning was a joke...but not as bad as Zac Brown winning.

-Um, Cee Lo...um, what the hell was that? Elton John meets George Clinton...with Gwyneth Paltrow. Okay. Didn't need the puppets-I think Cee Lo might be a puppet. The most entertaining song all night.

-"Jolene" is a great song. So good even Norah Jones and John Mayer couldn't screw it up and make it boring...like the rest of their songs.

-Seth Rogen's joke better than Neil Patrick Harris. Meaner though.

-All right, reluctantly, Katy Perry is kinda hot. I feel bad about that.

-Still don't get the Eminem thing.

-Until tonight I'd never heard of Esperanza Spalding. Best New Artist, huh? Good for her I guess.

-Nice to see a Solomon Burke tribute. Too bad Belushi's dead, he would have been better than Jagger, and Mick hit it out of the park!

-Jennifer Lopez looked pissed off all night like she didn't want to be there.

-Okay, you're wrong Academy. "Need You Now" officially sucks. Officially. Sentimental and insipid.

-Arcade Fire made a lot of noise. Not a fan, but that was pretty good. Also it's nice to see the broadcast go out with a rock song.

There was more but I think that's enough. Oh, except for one thing. Isn't this supposed to be an awards show first? I mean, there used to be a lot more awards given out and now they seem like an afterthought to the performances. Don't get me wrong, it's entertaining. I just think that by televising fewer awards some artists aren't getting their due respect. The fun parts of these shows are the spontaneous moments and the very human emotions of the winners and sometimes the losers too. It might make for a more well rounded and satisfying show. Just sayin'.

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Brief Update

The Grammys are being held tonight. Look here afterwards for my post. I'll try not to make it all about "this sucked, that sucked, so-and-so got cheated", but I make no promises. Stay tuned.

...And You Will Know Us By The Trail Of Dead put out a new record this past week. I wrote a review of it and lost it somehow. I'll try to find it and put it back up or write a new one if I get time. It was a great review though...insightful, humorous, beautifully written, you'd have loved it. Trust me.

I was remiss in my Motorhead review not to have mentioned the guitar work of Phil Campbell on this new record. Always an underrated player, he recorded these tracks while looking after his dying father. That could have gone either way as emotions can either make your playing great or totally distract you and negatively affect performance. Fortunately the former is true here. It's the best he's ever done. And the more I listen I think I may need to give this record that extra half Dave after all.

Also, I realise that there was no clip with the review as has been my habit so far. Well, it's my blog so I can do what I want, but the reason is that I couldn't find anything new I liked that was not fan shot footage, or just a still of the album cover while a song played. Not a fan of that... I mean, at least use a collage! So sorry, no clip.

Check back tonight after the Grammys for the next post.

Recent Release:Motorhead-The World Is Yours

Not much needs to be said about a new Motorhead release. When you put on Motorhead you know what you're getting. Loud guitar, gargle-with-razor-blades vocals, and tough as nails rock and roll. The only question is, does the new release live up to the legacy?

Well, difficult question since the early 80s albums are total classics that can't really be equaled. However, through all the years of multiple line ups and labels (35 years and counting!) the band has stayed fairly consistent. So even if the newer material isn't instantly classic, it's still pretty damn good. And that's all due to Lemmy.

For those who don't know (if not, why not?) Lemmy Kilmister is the leader and chief songwriter of Motorhead. He is iconic. He is a giant middle finger to the establishment and the status quo. He has bedded more women (somehow) and taken more speed than pretty much anybody (no, seriously, his blood is toxic!). Now I may not always agree with his lifestyle or philosophical world view but I love Lemmy. Few others can claim to be as rock and roll as he, and fewer still can back it up.

Which is why Motorhead rules, as they've proven time and time again. And this new release, The World Is Yours, is another testament to their legacy. There is a misconception out there that Motorhead is a heavy metal band, and they are undeniably heavy, but the boys are a straight up rock and roll band. From the stand out opener "Born To Lose" to the boogie based "Rock And Roll Music", the chug along glee of "Get Back In Line" and the heavy handed "Brotherhood Of Man" , the new record, while not necessarily one of the best, still has plenty of moments to please any Motorhead fan, those who have been following all along and new converts as well. It is loud, bold, obnoxious, and politically incorrect. And I wouldn't have it any other way.

3.5 out of 5 Daves.

Update 2/6/11

R.I.P. to Gary Moore. Best known as a solo blues guitarist, Moore also did stints with Thin Lizzy and John Mayall's Bluesbreakers. He was one of those unsung heroes who deserved much more attention and accolades than he received. The blues rock community lost one of its' best.

Also...R.I.P. to the Black Eyed Peas career after that horrible Super Bowl half-time performance. I don't say this because I'm not a fan of their music, I say it because the show was truly terrible. Sure, all the effects and light-up people looked good, but sound problems plagued the set and it never seemed to flow musically. Everyone involved should be embarrassed. Especially Slash. Hell, that was so bad it almost made Christina Aguilera look good.

Poor Christina. She even dressed up nice to sing the national anthem tonight, being very respectful of the material and position she was in. And then she botched the words. Now, in her defense, we've all forgotten words to songs from time to time-even the songs we write. And "The Star Spangled Banner" is a difficult song to sing well. It takes concentration to hit the right notes. I know, I sang it for years in school choirs. But come on, girl. You couldn't get a teleprompter? Write it on your hand? Anything? On the country's biggest stage she should have known that thing backwards and forwards and be able to sing it in her sleep. Ah well, it was still better than Roseanne Barr's version. And REO Speedwagon's too (I'd provide links here but why?).

And there's your last minute update. Back soon.

Week In Review

Here's my take on what's been happening this week.

White Stripes Break Up

The White Stripes made it official this week. The breakup is not too surprising, really. Jack White has had multiple side projects, and is busy making records with legendary female artists so something had to give. It seems to me that The White Stripes had gone about as far as they could. I freely admit that I'm not much of a White Stripes fan. A few songs here and there but overall I was never particularly impressed. I always liked what I thought they were trying to do more than what was actually accomplished (though I enjoy Jack's side projects much more). So no big eulogy here but still worth noting and giving a tip of the hat to the band.

Rolling Stones Tour? Probably.

The rumours have been flying about a possible 5oth anniversary tour by The Rolling Stones. Band members have both confirmed and denied a tour in separate interviews. The most recent development being a mention of said tour in the lawsuit involving Live Nation and an ousted executive. The current statement from The Stones is that there are no "firm plans" to tour. Which says to me that plans are still up in the air, or being finalized as we speak. Their iconic logo has already appeared on the website for the Glastonbury Festival so it's almost a given they will be playing. It's just that contracts and the suits won't let any details out until the ink is all dry. It is my prediction, therefore, that we'll see a tour this year. My advice would be to go if you get the chance. The band still puts on a good show, and even they can't do it forever.

Rush To Revisit "Vapor Trails"

Legendary progressive rock trio (and one of my all time favorite bands) Rush are about to do something interesting for their fans. Their "Vapor Trails" album has been seen as a mixed bag since its release in 2002. It is a dark record, both musically and lyrically. Not surprising since it came on the heels of drummer/lyricist Neil Peart losing his wife and daughter and the understandable downtime involved. The material is not quite up to par in my opinion, but it is not without its high points. Part of the reason for my, and many other Rush fans' disappointment with the record was with the sound. Most Rush albums invite repeated listening, but this was actually difficult to listen to. Muddy, flat, and overly abrasive are all appropriate. Well, the boys are about to make amends. They are completely remixing the CD. No rewrites or re-recording to be done, which is as it should be. The record is a document of the band at that time and should remain so. However, brightening the songs up and letting the writing shine through may just be what's needed to give this disc a more prominent place in the Rush catalog. Even if it doesn't, kudos to the band for trying to right a wrong, noticing a mistake and doing their best to make things right with the fan base.

Happy Birthday to Alice Cooper. The originator of theatrical rock, and still the best.

Coming Up: New releases by Motorhead, Drive-By Truckers and more.