Friday, January 20, 2012

Gene Loves Jezebel -- Desire

  This five song EP is the cross between The Bauhaus and The Cult ... I kinda thought I'd hate it once I put it on, but I didn't, it wasn't so bad, although it wasn't so good either.  Title track Desire was by far the best tune on the EP, you can definitely hear some Jane's Addiction roots buried in all these songs, and that's about all there is to say about it!

Thursday, January 19, 2012

The Dictators -- Bloodbrothers

  I usually like the Dictators, but this 1978 release stinks.  Bloodbrothers sounds like the equivalent of British Pub Rock mixed with arena Kiss style anthems.  There wasn't much to like about the record other than the fact that it's from The Dictators.  Stay With Me is the album's only saving grace, but it simply wasn't good enough.  Otherwise these guys are a great band, their first release is irreplaceable, but this one is a total write-off!

Wednesday, January 18, 2012

Little Richard - Live! 10 Super Hits

  For starters this record is not a live album, it's got 10 of Richard's early Super Hits!  Every song on this short record is through the roof awesome!  I can't get over his poignant, matter of fact shout singing, with the R & B back-up which are borderline Funk by 50's standards.  Richard went on to be a preacher and made some pretty bad music later on in his career, but his beginnings are nothing short of sheer brilliance, Rock 'n' Roll wouldn't be the same without him, a pure artist.

Tuesday, January 17, 2012

Squeeze -- Argybargy

  What a piece of sh*t!  I tried to listen to this record but had to turn it off after a couple numbers, although I did check to see if there were any hidden gems -- no dice!  I feel bad for all the good New Wave bands out there who have been roped in the same category as these jokers.  I did hear that their next release is quite good, I might give it a try at the right price, but if it was left up to Argybargy would I ever buy another Squeeze album ever again, no chance in hell!

Monday, January 16, 2012

Alice Cooper -- Killer

  Glam Shock 1971 Killer album by Alice Cooper seems to break up into two camps, part good ol' Rock 'n' Roll hits, and part bad Prog Metal misses.  Although some of us associate Cooper with the 80's cheese ball image who doesn't like pizza, these early albums were brilliant, pre-dating the British Glam Rock scene by a couple years, and Marilyn Manson's corny wanna be rip-off by decades.  Personally I find the offensive tunes to be so over the top that it becomes tacky rather than shocking.  Otherwise Killer kicks ass, and if you are unfamiliar with Alice Cooper's radness, I'd go for 1974's Greatest Hits, which I normally wouldn't recommend these types of compilations, but it's got all the good stuff, minus the stinkers!

Friday, January 13, 2012

MC5 -- Babes In Arms

  Super charged Punk Rock band the MC5 are often cited as being a Proto-Punk outfit ... but seriously these guys make the Anarchist Punks of the 70's look like a bunch of babies in comparison to the White Panther Party, they did more than practice what they preach, they lived it like a religion!  Babes In Arms works like a Best Of/ Rarities compiled by Kramer's personal recordings, from early stuff, to reworked album tracks, to alternate takes.  Originally put out as a cassette only release in 1983, it finally made it to vinyl.  Anything by the 5 isn't short of being wild and great, meaning, "KICK OUT THE JAMS MOTHERF*CKERS!!!"

Thursday, January 12, 2012

Modern Lovers -- The Original ...

  Recorded in 72' by Rock luminary Kim Fowley ... this album is a little rough around the edges, more like a demo than anything.  Richman had quite the pre-supergroup backing him, who went on to be in the Real Kids, Talking Heads and The Cars.  All in all the album is a cute artifact as well as a piece of shit.