Willie Dixon -- Walkin' The Blues (V/A)

  Willie Dixon is the quintessential Chicago Blues writer, he worked with everyone, and was a key figure to the bridge between Rock 'n' Roll and the Blues.  Walkin' The Blues works like a compilation,  all the numbers solely written by Dixon, but is nowhere close to his entire catalogue, it's merely like a starter kit to use as example to his greatness.  So who's on this album, Little Walter, Bo Diddley, Muddy Waters, Howlin' Wolf, and Dixon (of course) ... etc ... you get where it's going.  This record has eighteen beyond classic, I'd say legendary tracks, naming the best songs is impossible, but I can tell you my personal favorites, which is, My Babe and Pretty Thing.  Both songs are woman themed, but unlike most blues numbers these do not portray women negatively, they're more from the loving man stand point -- which I find very cool.  Walter's, My Babe, is a smooth Blues number with some killer harp, while Diddley's, Pretty Thing, is a Bo beat jungle hopin' Rock 'n' Roll track.  Don't get me wrong the rest of the record is just as good as these two songs, but what the hell am I going to do, write little snippets about eighteen tracks, I don't think so, and if I did, I'd be typin' the Blues!

Talking Heads -- 77

  Classic debut release 77 seems to be linked to punk rock, but only murderous track Psycho Killer can sorta fit into that mold, even with that it's closer to a Joy Division tune than the Sex Pistols.  The rest is a kinda funky new wave sound.  Lyrically the album reads like observations of the modern world, it makes you think the future is now, but even at it's 1977 release, Byrne knew what timeless modern elements to mention so its relevance would last, who couldn't relate to the nonsensical The Book I Read, which is about just what the title says, he depicts the steps you would take if you were to tell another about the book you read, or Don't Worry About The Government, about the building he lives in, picking it, the highway that takes him there, then the highway that takes his friends there .... so on and so forth!  Those are just examples but I'm sure you get my drift and just outta nowhere does anyone else find that David Byrne looks like he should be a bizarre dentist?

Tom Waits -- Blue Valentine

  Drenched in smoke, whiskey and drugs, Blue Valentine has a feel of a dark blues/ jazz lizard lounge, with Waits at the helm like the go-between Howlin' Wolf and Dr. John.  Blue Valentine is great, with the exception of Somewhere (from West Side Story) and Kentucky Alley, which are so bad I had to skip 'em, I have no idea how they didn't make it on the cutting room floor, they sounded like ridiculous exaggerations of a drunken Howlin' Wolf,  with just plain bullsh*t orchestrations.  The record lyrically speaks to the beat down pseudo-intellectual crowd who just can't make it in this world, and probably wouldn't want to anyway.  Christmas Card From A Hooker In Minneapolis is a good example, it reads like a letter, reminiscent of Cohen's Famous Blue Rain Coat, a themed narrative from the disenfranchised.  This is one Blue Valentine you'll definitely wanna get!

John Lennon -- Rock 'n' Roll

  This album was recorded during Lennon's extended boys lost weekend period that lasted years!  Rock 'n' Roll is exactly what the title says, all classic covers from the early days, basically the people who influenced Lennon into the music business.  There aren't too many surprises here, huge amount of of famous session musicians, Phil Spector's wall of sound, and pure Rock 'n' Roll music.  Stand By Me the only chart topper on this record proved to be the best song on the album, you can hear the Bowie-esque plastic soul sound in the tune, which shows that Lennon can influence and be influenced.  Oh the three blurry figures on the front cover are, Paul McCartney, George Harrison and Stu Sutcliffe.

The Exploited -- Horror Epics

  Mega angry hardcore punk one trick pony The Exploited's fourth studio release.  These guys are known to be anti ... well, everything ... hippies, cops, rumoured to potentially be racist, the list goes on and on ... But I'm not buying it!  Take away the screaming anger, the album, lyrically, focuses on starvation of the third world, hence the term Horror Epics.  Who knew that a group with one of the worst raps had such global concerns??   Musically this record is terrible, constant shouting, cookie cutter guitar riffs and horrible robotic drumming!  My Life and title track Horror Epics make up for some of the rubbish, both are the same and are very unique.  The pair have, tribal style drums, psychedelic guitar noise, Pink Floydian Let There Be More Light style bass riffs, and even the horrendous screaming helps the dark, desolate, desperate atmosphere ... come to think of it, global concerns and Psyched-out music kinda sounds like a bunch of hippies to me -- just don't tell them that!

Footnote: why is there only one guy in the horror get up?

Sweet -- Desolation Boulevard

 Poseur Glam rock Ballroom Blitzer's classic album Desolation Boulevard is the only Sweet album worth getting, but still it's not any good.  Some of the hits like Fox On The Run and Ballroom are fun party tunes, but I can't take this music seriously, it feels like a bubblegum pop joke, which I heard they started out as.  The only song with a hint of originality is AC DC, it reminds me of the heavier side of Mott the Hoople and Slade.  I wonder if it inspired a certain group's band name??  Other than that, I don't care much for Sweet, it just sounds like a cash grab, but if there's one to get, this album is the boulevard to rock on -- no wonder it's so desolate ... maybe just watch Wayne's World instead!

Otis Redding -- Live In Europe

  Backed by Booker T. & the MG's on this Redding classic live album.  For starters the sound isn't the best and the song tempos are off, but who the hell cares this live album is great!!  All the hits are represented here.  The wild raw energy of the concert comes out beautifully, loud horns, fast pace and the tremendous voice.  What a show it must have been!!  Otis's energy was at a all time high, coming off the buzz of showing the psychedelic generation who's still the boss at the Monterey Pop Festival.  Unfortunately this record was the last release before Redding's death in a plane crash, but it's a great end to a great soul man's superb career, so show him some RESPECT!  Deh-Nah-Neh-Nah-Neh!