-- Recent Listens --

In the digital age, sometimes we only listen to snippets of songs and base our purchases on that.  Unfortunately, we miss a lot of good stuff.  I still listen to CDs top to bottom, just like LPs.  Call me an Olde School Fool.

Manfred Mann
The Manfred Mann Album ('64)
My Little Red Book of Winners ('65)
Throw away their '64 hit single, "Do Wah Diddy Diddy" (which just plain sucks) and this double CD of their 1st and 3rd releases gives us early pop with some unexpected punch.  With an exceptional vocalist/harmonica man in Paul Jones and Mann's take on keys, these tunes are more sophisto than expected.

B.B. King
In London ('71)
Underrated.  Stalwart supporting cast.  Every song sounded as if they cut the track off.  I demand more than 38 minutes.  Where is the full show?  Until that happens, this disc is fulfilling.

Faces
A Nod Is As Good As A Wink To A Blind Horse ('71)
Pre-Stones Ron Wood shines.  Post-Beck Rod Stewart swings.  Rollicking piano from Ian McLagen.  Only four total LPs.  This is #3.

Argent
Ring of Hands ('71)
Rod Argent (Zombies) has written a couple of classy hits: "Time of the Season" and "She's Not There".  Though no standouts, this album releases some uplifting prog and psychedelic rock.  Leading up to another Argent crack track: "Hold Your Head Up".

The Guess Who
Live At The Paramount ('72)
Seventeen minutes of "American Woman" is pure crotch rock.  This whole disc is great.  Cummings never sounded better.  Other flav-o-rites are "Pain Train"  and "Truckin' Off Across The Sky". 

Jaco Pastorius
Jaco Patorius ('76)
Weather Report.  Herbie Hancock.  Lenny White.  Jaco was the best bassist on the planet and left too early ('87).  Fretless electric.  Magnificent.

Ian Gillan Band
Scarabus ('77)
Defined as a jazz/rock band?  Though a bit eclectic with jittery rhythms and tight arrangements, Gillan summons his demons with patented screams and rockisms.  The extra live track, "My Baby Loves Me", is a trip.

Thin Lizzy
Black Rose: A Rock Legend ('79)
9th studio for Lynott.  Gary Moore has his 6-string signature stamped throughout.  Last great TL LP.  Too bad Phil and Rory Gallagher couldn't cook up for some Irish stew.

Frank Zappa
You Are What You Is ('81)
And not what you eat?  Songs like "Harder Than Your Husband" and "Dumb All Over" pretty much sum up FZ's take on American society: Modern Americans behave as if intelligence were some sort of hideous deformity.  Quote/Unquote.

Robin Trower
20th Century Blues ('94)
#14 for rotating Trower Band.  Still methinks the trio format works best for Procol Harum guitarmeister.  Explodes on most songs with sopping fuzz and curdling wah-wah. 

Andrew Bird's Bowl of Fire
The Swimming Hour ('01)
Very cool and refreshing, especially after a dip.  Blending of several musical styles.  Bird was trained in the Suzuki Method.  Not Toyota.  Sounds of Donovan with violin and guitar edges, making this a bit complicated.  But fun.

Sex Mob
Dime Grind Palace ('03)
Slide trumpet from standout (and monster) Steven Bernstein.  Crazy.  Avant garde.  Jazz.  Own them all, your ears will never be the same.  Oh, and their name kinda gets you excited.

Stephen Stills
Man Alive! ('05)
Why did it take 14 years for SS to make this?  Vocals still intact.  Crushing and/or heartfelt guitars.  A little gospel.  A little reggae.  And a lotta great, intelligent music.  

Chuck Prophet
Let Freedom Ring ('09)
A knockout should end things.  "Sonny Liston's Blues" opens up for another frenzied/visceral/smooth/ragged adventure from CP.  # 11 from a performer I have witnessed 3X.  And hope to see again.
 
Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers
Mojo ('10)
One hour of TP doesn't sound like a great situation to be in.  However, this blues drenched rocker kicks it.  Though sometimes falls back into "Damn The Torpedoes" era, this is refreshing.  Vocals, as usual, are the tough part.  Mike Campbell (guitar) totally steals the shoo.

There you have it.  Music journalists (of which I'm not) tend to scrutinize and analyze a bit much.  By being concise, I hope I didn't bore you with profound statements and insightful perspectives.  I usually don't have many of those anyway.

   

 

                                    

Opinion : California and Prop 19

Everybody has an opinion, like we all have a brain.  So, mine is of little significance or relevance except to myself.  But I shall share my viewpoints with you anyway.

Proposition 19 Proposes:

1)     Adults (21+) can carry up to an ounce of their own pot and related paraphernalia without fear of arrest by state and local authorities.

My Humble Opinion:  How about the feds?  I know they have more to worry about, but a few high-profile cases that they can broadcast will make the public even more fearful to display their goods.  And define 'related paraphernalia'.  Does that include a hookah or three-foot bong?  Or just a roach clip?

2)     The ability to tend a home garden up to 25 sq. feet and consume its grow in a 'nonpublic place', but not in parks, near schools or on the street.

My Humble Opinion:  Once again, define 'nonpublic place'.  Doesn't that mean 'private'?  So, parks, schools and the street are out.  I definitely think the school part is important, especially if it's grade and middle schools.  But if anybody with a decent sense of smell has walked even near a high school can attest, the smell is of tobacco.  Maybe masking pot?  Both are harmful to young lungs.  I think it will be extremely hard to enforce the size and quantity of gardens.  Neighborhood watch groups?  Isn't it the seeds that are required to start a garden?  And where are these seeds purchased?

3)      Leave it up to local governments to license businesses that want to allow onsite pot use by its patrons.

My Humble Opinion:  Another quagmire of rules, licensing transactions and bureaucratic BS.  Just like tobacco, smoke is smoke.  Vaporizers?  Edibles?  It is, of course, up to the individual to frequent these establishments or not.  Contact highs should also be addressed. 


4)     To authorize commercial cultivation and retail sales.
5)     To reap revenues through taxes and fees.

My Humble Opinion:  The last three items are all aimed at making money.  But will the local/state municipalities use it wisely?  How can these funds be used competently?  Education at all levels, job creation, etc.  Once again, how to divvy up the money will be tricky.


The current decriminalization of pot (in many states) is already in place.  I think that this is the level that it should stay at.  It seems more and more police are turning a blind eye on public usage, if no harm is being done to the citizens in general.  The safety of the public is essential in determining if pot use is OK.  All the medical pot laws are in disarray and need tightening up.  Passing Prop. 19 will only muddle this issue.  I don't know what it will take to make pot as easy to purchase as liquor.  It should, at some time become legal.  At this time, however, I am very skeptical as to its validity.  I would vote NO on Prop. 19.