Wednesday, September 27, 2006
CD Review: R.E.M.
R.E.M.
And I Feel Fine: The Best of the I.R.S. Years 1982-1987
Capitol/I.R.S.
By David Chiu
Throughout its nearly 25-year career, R.E.M. has always put out consistent albums, some great ones. Fans would agree however that its best songs happened when the group was on I.R.S. Records for most of the ‘80s. During that period, the Athens, Ga. band defined—maybe invented—college music. The lyrics may be cryptic and singer Michael Stipe might sound incomprehensible. but the shimmering, melodic music draws from a tradition inspired by the Beatles, the Beach Boys, Velvet Underground, the Byrds and ‘70s punk. “Radio Free Europe,” the group’s first single might have seem out of place in an era of “Every Breath You Take” and “Billie Jean,” but it’s an adrenaline-inspired pop rocker for those disaffected by the sorry-state of commercial pop music then (and still now). The triumphs are many to be found on this compilation: “Driver 8,” the funky “Can’t Get There From Here,” “Gardening At Night,” the gorgeous “Fall On Me,” the band’s first Top Ten hit “The One I Love,” and the exuberant rocker “It’s The End of the World As We Know It (And I Feel Fine).” R.E.M. would eventually sign with a big major label and for a time, was the biggest band in the world thanks to “Losing My Religion” and “Everybody Hurts,” but there is no doubt that the early material collected on “And I Feel Fine” had something to do with that success. It is an absolute must for any collection on ‘80s modern rock music (If possible, get the double-disc edition that features some previously unreleased and live tracks from the era).
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# posted by NewBeats @ 5:34 PM
Monday, September 25, 2006
CD Review: Electric Light Orchestra
Electric Light Orchestra
On the Third Day
Face the Music
A New World Record
Epic/Legacy
By David Chiu
This is where ELO’s peak really hit (or starting to) with these albums finally reissued. On the Third Day (1973) doesn’t entirely break ELO free from the classical-inspired and experimental art rock of the previous first two albums (“Dreaming of 4000”) but the melodic pop instincts are present in the funky “Showdown,” the manic raunchy rocker “Ma-Ma-Ma Belle,” and the bluesy “Bluebird is Dead.” Grieg’s “In the Hall of the Mountain King” is given the rock and roll treatment but it’s no “Roll Over Beethoven.”
Face the Music (1975), and its predecessor Eldorado, marks the arrival of ELO as the mega-selling pop band and Jeff Lynne as the ultimate musical genius. With an emphasis on shorter songs and more hooks, Face the Music is filler-free, starting off with a breathless instrumental “Fire on High” (features Bev Bevan’s explosive drumming) through another disco-inspired tune Evil Woman and the slinky romantic “Strange Magic” up until the gorgeous finale “One Summer Dream.”
A New World Record (1976) is ELO at its creative and commercial peak. There is absolutely not one bad song in the bunch—nearly all of them have appeared on future ELO compilations— the hopeful “Tightrope,” the aching “Telephone Line” and the catchy “Living Thing” are the high points. A New World Record is the perfect pop album that would precede another ELO classic Out of the Blue. (This reissue, like the other two albums, feature bonus tracks of previously alternate takes and mixes; A New World Record features a new song from those sessions, the bouncy and hook-laden “Surrender”).
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# posted by NewBeats @ 6:25 PM
CD Review: Steely Dan
Steely Dan
The Definitive Collection
Geffen/UME
By David Chiu
Unlike the previous Steely Dan compilations, this latest one is more career spanning that it includes two songs from the last two reunion albums.. Fans will bitch that a favorite song or album cut isn’t on here, and that’s not the point. This strictly a single best-of for the more casual fan who is just looking for the meat and potatoes by the enigmatic duo of Walter Becker and Donald Fagen: “Do It Again,” “Reelin’ in the Years,” “Rikki Don’t Lose That Number.” “Peg,” and “Hey Nineteen” for starters. The more recent tracks such as “Cousin Dupree” and “Things I Miss the Most” is a continuation of the jazz pop sound from the Aja and Gaucho albums with the Dan not losing a bit of their sardonic touch.
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# posted by NewBeats @ 6:22 PM
CD Review: The Monkees
The Monkees
The Monkees: Deluxe Edition
More of the Monkees: Deluxe Edition
Rhino
By David Chiu
The original prefab group, the Monkees were American TV executives’ answer to the Beatles. Although the Monkees never matched the Beatles in terms of influence, let alone musicianship (although the members of the Monkees genuinely had some musical talent other than being photogenic), they made some tuneful pop music thanks to hit songwriters such as Boyce and Hart, Goffin and King, Neil Sedaka and Neil Diamond. Collectively, the self-titled debut and More of the Monkees don’t really deviate from the pop formula, nor do they contrast each other greatly other than offering some pleasant pop: “Last Train to Clarksville,” “(Theme from) the Monkees,” “(I’m Not Your) Steppin’ Stone” and their best song “I’m a Believer.” More’s “The Girl I Could Love,” one of the few songs written by a Monkee—in this case Mike Nesmith—is a strong song. These deluxe editions offer both the original stereo and mono versions of the albums and a slew of bonus material including alternate takes. Compared to the many fabricated pop groups that came after them, the Monkees were definitely one of the better ones.
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# posted by NewBeats @ 5:44 PM
Sunday, September 10, 2006
CD Review: Sarah McLachlan
Sarah McLachlan
Mirrorball: The Complete Concert
Arista/Legacy
By David Chiu
Sarah McLachlan’s 1998 live album, Mirrorball, was released at the height of the Canadian singer/songwriter’s popularity and the Lilith Fair, the music festival she spearheaded. Having previously released four albums, Mirrorball was essentially a live greatest hits album, drawing heavily from Fumbling Towards Ecstasy and Surfacing (The performances are so perfect that Mirrorball can pass as a studio album in itself). Having seen McLachlan live a couple of times during this period, I knew she has done a few more songs in concert than the 14 that originally appeared on this recorded set, including the upbeat gem “Vox.” Fortunately that song and nine others are tacked on to this new version of Mirrorball, which weren’t exactly hits but equally worthy in their own right: “Elsewhere,” the lovely “I Will Not Forget You,” the driving “Into the Fire,” the heavenly “Witness,” etc. They augment the more popular songs such as “Possession,” “Angel” and “I Will Remember You.” For those faithful fans who felt short-changed by the amount of songs on Mirrorball’s initial album release (unless they purchased the DVD) will be finally rewarded with this complete concert issue.
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# posted by NewBeats @ 6:44 PM
Sunday, September 03, 2006
CD Review: Boz Scaggs
Boz Scaggs
Hits!
Columbia/Legacy
By David Chiu
If suave, sophisticated British crooner Bryan Ferry has an American doppelganger, it would be Boz Scaggs, a name synonymous with musical class and soul. But unlike Ferry, whose songs are marked by a sense of romantic detachment and bittersweet irony, Scaggs lends a more rhythm and blues approach in his music. His distinctive voice evokes hot buttered soul capable of handling those funky taut rockers and subdued ballads. Hits!, first issued in 1980, is a mixture of those styles; now it has been repackaged 26 years later (with a more dapper-looking album cover than the New Wave-ish photo of the original release) with five additional tracks. One of the earlier members of the Steve Miller Band in the late ‘60s, Scaggs would later hit the big time with 1976’s smash album Silk Degrees featuring the members of Toto—several of its key tracks are on the compilation including the sweeping and groovy "Lowdown"; the funk continues on with the swinging "Lido Shuffle" and "Miss Sun"; As a balladeer, Scaggs touches without being overwrought as on the aching “Look What You’ve Done to Me” and “We’re All Alone” (famously interpreted by Rita Coolidge); he even breathes some dignity and life into typical MOR pop like "Heart of Mine." Hits! is a sufficient starting point for those wanting their taste of this elegant soul man.
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# posted by NewBeats @ 7:48 PM
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