Snake's Encore: Group Sex - Headquarters.

In Snake's Collection

Harvest - Neil Young

What can I add about this album? This is probably the saddest album I have ever heard and certainly that I own. This could either be really good or bad depending on my mood. I know it helped me cope with some times in high school. 'A Man Needs A Maid' still gets me most of the time. The orchestration wonderfully down and Young's vocal is so beautifully sorrowful that is always seems to strike that sadness inside. The electric songs were recorded in Young's barn and the live version of 'The Needle and The Damage Done' is from a recording at UCLA. Linda Ronstandt, James Taylor, and CSN add backing vocals throughout the album. I can't think of another piece of music that connects with me on so many levels and can elicit such a major emotional response.

Head Hunters - Herbie Hancock

This essentially started the Jazz Fusion genre. Herbie had wanted to do something a little more grounded than the crazy experimentation that is previous albums had been. Thus this album revolved more about R&B and Funk bases. There is absolutely no guitar on the album. Herbie wanted to use the Clavinet instead. Plus I think it is amazing someone can release a full album that is only four songs. Chameleon - 15:41, Watermelon Man - 6:29, Sly - 10:15, Vein Melter - 9:09. I just wonder what people thought of the singles Chameleon - 2:50 & Vein Melter - 4:00. That's almost 25 minutes of music edited down into just under 7. That is like listening to the single of 'In A Gadda Da Vida'. What's the point?

Noted Notables

Hard Day's Night - The Beatles

Yep, I don't actually have this one. Although that probably won't last long now that they just released the remastered albums. Here is the nugget I have. The title comes from something Ringo said after a marathon recording session that lasted through the day and well into the night. It 'had been a hard days night'. John used the line in his book, 'In His Own Right'. Dick Lester was approaching the Beatles about doing the movie and mentioned he wanted that to be the title. Thus it was. Ok I just thought of one more. 'Can't Buy Me Love' was the first Beatles song to feature only one vocalist. Paul is the only singer heard all the way through the song. There 2 for the price of 1.

Guero - Beck

I loved the single 'Hell Yes'. Beck later released an EP titled 'Gameboy Variations' in which he used classic Nintendo Gameboy sounds as the backing. 'Hell Yes' sounds even cooler on that EP.

Happy Trails - Quicksilver Messenger Service

I did some sampling the best I could. I am pretty sure I am going to have to buy this album though. They also rework 'Mona', another of Bo Diddley's classics and my personal favorite. I would equate this to the live jamming capabilities of The Dead with fewer members who are much better masters of their instruments.


Sorry, no Snubs that I saw.

1001 Albums (341-355): Group Sex - Headquarters

Note: We're a little top heavy with this bunch. I guess will test my theory on what's better – A group with a couple great albums and nothing else, or a group like last time with a bunch of average, but generally known groups. I can't wait to see how America votes. I get a little goofy at times here.

In Red’s Collection

A Hard Day’s Night (1964) by the Beatles

Finally an album that I own. As much as the Beatles had already garnered world-wide acclaim, the opening clang by George on his 12-string Rickenbacker proclaimed they were there to stay. While I won’t rank this album (or subsequent movie) at the top of my favorites Beatles list, this is really the first major transition in the group’s careers. It’s the first album where all the tracks were written by Lennon and/or McCartney.

Harvest (1972) by Neil Young

This is amazing, two albums that I have. I am glad I am sitting down. If this isn’t Young’s best album, it is at least his most recognizable and most successful. I am sure Snake will talk this one up a little more. I have this on CD and on Vinyl and it’s perfect to listen to this time of year. There’s just something right about popping this in and driving by golden (although that’s on now just starting to happen) fields of corn.


The Good

Guero (2005) by Beck

Beck reunites with the Dust Brothers (who he worked with on Odelay). It’s seems like I remember there being songs on this that I knew, but I can’t seem to figure out which songs those were. I generally enjoy Beck songs.

Headhunters (1973) by Herbie Hancock

Who could forget “Chameleon” after they heard it once? This music if funky before it became popular. It’s also jazzy and a hundred other things that Hancocks weaves into his tunes.

Headquarters (1967) by The Monkees

Tired of being called puppets, The Monkees released this album containing mostly original songs that they wrote and played. I used the word mostly, because they couldn’t quite fill the whole album.

The Middle

Guitar Town (1986) by Steve Earle

Well here’s about the fourth guy or group to be listed as the originator of alt. country. I’d call it the poor man’s John Mellencamp from what I’ve listened to.

Gunfighter Ballads And Trail Songs (1959) by Marty Robbins

A country western album if there ever was one. I think most people from this era of with parents from this era know the tune “El Paso.”

Something for Snake

Happy Trails (1969) by Quicksilver Messenger Service

I put this here because the first six tracks are a psychedelic live recording (reworking) of Bo Diddley’s “Who Do You Love.” They breathe new life into it that I think Snake would appreciate.


The Best of the Rest

Group Sex (1980) by The Circle Jerks

Well this probably wins the best album title and band name of the week award for no other reason that both make me laugh. Yea, I have the sense of humor of 12-year-old. This is a punk band formed by members of various better bands like Black Flag.

The Rest

Hail To The Thief (2003) by Radiohead

I thought for sure when I saw this album title (they don’t give band names in the index, just albums) that this would be a rap album. For once, I wish this were a rap album.

The Hangman’s Beautiful Daughter (1968) by The Incredible String Band

Apparently this group was coveted by every group rock band in the UK and U.S.A. Mostly because they could play pretty much any instrument. I listened to one tune “Waltz of the New Moon,” parts of it reminded me of “Mr. Kite” from Sgt. Peppers.

Happy Sad (1969) by Tim Buckley

Do you ever get the feeling that there are certain movements in pop culture subtly trying to make something of nothing? I don’t remember why that question came to me just now.

Hard Again (1977) by Muddy Waters

This is redemption for the legendary blue guitarist who had lost some of his luster early in the 70s. This won him his fourth Grammy and shut up his critics.

Haunted Dancehall (1994) by The Sabres of Paradise

Techno music. You know what I like? Techmo Superbowl. There’s no correlation between the two.

Haut De Gamme – Koweit, Rive, Gauche (1992) – by Koffi Olomide

I am tired after trying to spell all that right. If you want to know about this guy, do a google search or something.

Back on the path

Note: I've been meaning to post something either on the following topic or the Chicago Bears the last couple days and just hadn't found time for it. I reserve my thoughts on the Bears for later (probably Sunday when I am yelling at the TV screen). Alright, here we go again.

My wife and I spent part of Labor Day wandering around a flea market. Yes, we are in our 20's, but if you grew up in our families the habit of looking at large piles of aging junk is as genetic as blues eyes and blonde hair.

Anyways, my interest in such excursions usually focus on finding classic records to add to our collection or finding a cheap book to occupy my time. On this Labor Day, being currently without anything to read, I was specifically looking for a good read.

I found it.

But then again, I knew one day I'd end up doing this again.

I found a pristine copy of "The Gunslinger" by Stephen King. For those not keeping score at home, this is the first book "The Dark Tower" series.

Like Snake, who recently returned to the late 90s wrestling scene, I felt drawn to start down the path of the dark tower again.

Before I go any farther, the first copy of this book I had somehow got terribly mangled. The cover was ripped off and at some point the binding cracked and broke leaving the text in two big chunks. It's probably the most damaged I've ever allowed a book to get and I honestly don't know how it happened.

Anyways, I also bought a copy of the fourth book "The Wizard and the Glass," which I never owned. I had borrowed it from a friend for my first read. The two books cost me about $5 (about a $25 savings from buying them new at Borders or Barnes and Noble).

Later that day, I really set out on the path again by opening up the book and following the man in black and the gunslinger across the desert. A few things stuck out to me. One, I am a much better and understanding reader than I was when I first read this book a little over a decade ago. I am sure it took me a couple months to get through the text that clocks in under 200 pages. This reading took me four days and that's mostly because they tell me I have to show up to work on time and stay there.

Second, it's much easier to follow and pick up on all things King is setting up for the series going through it the second time.

Finally, like the Eye of Sauron in "The Lord of the Rings," the image of the dark tower is central to the entire series, but what's interesting is that it takes King 80 pages before it's introduced in this book. That's a pretty long time, but up till then it seems that the pursuit in the man in black is the driving force of the series.

Here is the first reference to the tower, I found it interesting. Plus, this provides a little of style that this book (which is different from the rest of the series) is written. This a scene where Roland (the gunslinger) hypnotizes the boy Jake that he meets at the Way Station in the desert. It's the middle of a long paragraph, so try to keep up.

He (the gunslinger) seemed to hear the sound of wind-chimes. Not for the first time the gunslinger tasted the smooth, loden taste of soul-sickness. The shell in his fingers, manipulated with such unknown grace, was suddenly undead, horrific, the spoor of a monster. He dropped it into his palm and closed it into a fist with painful force. There were such things as rape in the world. Rape and murder and unspeakable practices, and all of them were for the good, the bloody good, for the myth, for the grail, for the Tower. Ah, the Tower stood somewhere, rearing its black bulk to the sky, and in his desert-scoured ears, the gunslinger heard the faint sweet sound of wind-chimes.

"Where are you?" he asked.

What we find out is that catching the man in the black is the end of the beginning. It's a long road to the tower. I am already deep into the second book. I plan on sharing my thoughts and things I notice as I go. It may not interest anyone else, but I enjoy it and sometimes that's all that matters.

The Monday Night Battle

I sit awake at night holding my week old daughter. She still hasn't figured out people sleep at night and stay awake during the day. Never the less, she continues to stare blankly up at my face and I struggle to stay awake for fear I will fall asleep and drop her on the floor. 'On Demand' TV has become my friend, my only hope to find something entertaining enough to hold my attention @ 2am.

I scroll through the menu. There it is like a lighthouse beacon at sea, "Stone Cold Freeview" of WWE 'On Demand'. I proceed to punch up an episode of 'WCW Monday Nitro' from January 1998. This was the first show in which Nitro went to 3 hours and was fully battling 'Raw is War' in the heated Monday Night Wars for the 90's. This was probably the creative height of professional wrestling.

The memories of watching it live were much better, but at least I could fast forward through the boring matches this time. It was the height of the nWo and WCW's popularity. The memories continue flooding back of discussing the validity of Hollywood Hogan's title reign and playing nWo Revenge on N64 with Red.

It's been almost 11 years since that broadcast and eight since the WWE bought out the WCW and I quit watching wrestling. Still, I was now in the wrestling mood. I happen to see later the next night that 'Raw' is still on as I flip through the menu guide. I take the chance.

"What a minute," I say to myself as a familiar Rage Against the Machine entrance music plays and the arena is consumed in green lights. "Did I pick the On Demand stuff again?" Shawn Micheals and Triple H were walking out to the ring as Degeneration X, WWE's answer to the nWo in the late 90's. Micheals (now 44) and Triple H (40) prance around the ring and talk smack on the mic stick like they still somehow represent the young rebellious generation.

Nostalgia hits first, followed by this feeling that I am now old. For some reason I don't get wrestling anymore. This DX revival is somehow supposed to get me to watch more or maybe make the members feel young again. In the end, it just makes me realize that I haven't missed anything not watching wrestling for the last eight years. The only thing that I am sure has changed is the people who have died. Otherwise, I bet Ric Flair is still wrestling somewhere. They say forms of entertainment go in cycles. I say it just never changes.

1001 Albums (326-340): Goodbye and Hello - Groovin'

Note: All those that have been nervously waiting the return of this feature, it’s back. I intended to break these down as I have in the past, but I found that pretty much all these albums were on a equal footing. They are all good, not great, but probably all belong on this list. I decided to list them chronologically because I like seeing how things break down by decade.

1960s

Green Onions (1962) by Booker T. And The M.G.s

While most people don’t recognize “Green Onions” the name, once the tune plays the hook, the smooth guitar and steady percussion it’s like OK I know that. A fusion of rock and soul that inspired a lot future Southern blues rockers.

Goodbye and Hello (1967) by Tim Buckley

A bit of a cult legend, Buckley tried to leave the folk scene behind after being inspired by Sgt. Peppers. The album was critically acclaimed, but peaked at 171 on the U.S. Chart. He released a few more albums before dying of a drug overdose in 1975 at 28.

Groovin’ (1967) by The Young Rascals

The title track is a classic track to sit back and listen to in the summer sun. On the whole, The Young Rascals were a singles band leaving albums seeming more like greatest hits rather than cohesive albums. But, hell if write songs as good as this why does that matter.

Gris-Gris (1968) by Dr. John, The Night Tripper

Using studio time donated by Sonny and Cher, Dr. John set out to expose the dark underbelly of New Orleans via a concept album about a real voodoo preacher. This seems like it might be a real trip to listen to.

Green River (1969) by Creedence Clearwater Revival

This album feature “Lodi” which is one of my favorite CCR tunes. It also features “Bad Moon Rising,” that is probably the bands most recognizable song next to “Proud Mary.”

1970s

Goodbye Yellow Brick Road (1973) by Elton John

This is John’s most recognizable albums, if not his best. He hit it big with “Candle in the Wind” and “Bennie and the Jets,” two hits with very different pacing and sounds. Throw in a quick rocker like “Saturday Night’s All Right For Fighting,” and John proved he could play at any speed.

Greetings from L.A. (1972) by Tim Buckley

The clips from that I’ve been able find from this album seem to be more funky and sexually charge than his other works. All together, I haven’t heard enough to form a solid opinion on the elder Buckley.

Good Old Boys (1974) by Randy Newman

Before Newman started writing songs for every feel-good movie released in the last 20 years, he was a bold songwriter. This is a satirical album thumbing a noise at his perceived snobbery of northern people over the south. There’s some funny lyrics and the usual Newman hook and voice.

The Grand Tour (1974) by George Jones

The quintessential country album by an elder statesman of the genre, it is only apropos that Jones was writing about his failing marriage to Tammy Wynette.

Grievous Angel (1974) by Gram Parsons

Released after his death, Parsons put down the blueprint for country rock that the Eagles would repeat about a dozen times. He had a super group going here with Emmylou Harris on backing vocals and parts of Elvis’ backing band playing along.

1980s

Graceland (1986) by Paul Simon

Simon went to South Africa against United Nations sanctions and recorded an album. It was good enough that he didn’t get prosecuted. Talk about taking a chance on your talent.

Green (1988) by R.E.M.

While it’s easy to get caught up in the political intentions of Michael Stipe, if you listen to the hit single from this album – “Stand” – he’s really only trying to write songs that will sell albums. This one did that.

1990s

Grace (1994) by Jeff Buckley

Outside of his cover of Leonard Cohen’s “Hallelujah” which is remarkable and a must hear, I have not really been able to get into any of the younger Buckley’s songs. Maybe they’ll grow on me. Like his father, he died young. He drowned at the age of 30 in 1997. I vaguely remember hearing about this.

2000s

Gorillaz (2001) by Gorillaz

A creation of Blur’s Damon Albarn, Gorillaz caught peoples’ attention with their mixture of pop, rock, funk and rap. Oh, the carton characters that starred in the videos seemed to send this overtop. “Clint Eastwood” may have been the best song of 2001.

A Grand Don’t Come For Free (2004) by The Streets

Mike Skinner takes keeping it real in rap to a new level. He spins tracks about ATM withdrawals, cell phone batteries and trying to return a DVD. For real.

Red's Review of Get A Haircut and Get A Real Job

Note: I am terrible in a role as a music critic. I know what I like, but I usually struggle in saying why. Overall, I enjoyed Snake's collection with the second disc probably being my favorite of the two. I listed the bands below in order of appearance to avoid missing anyone. Well, it's been long awaited, so here you go.

The Bands, The Songs and the Lion (really there's no lion, but what if there were?)

Buckethead : Three Fingers; Waiting Hare

Overall I wasn’t big into Buckethead. I found the guitar scratching towards the end to grate on my nerves a bit on Three Fingers. I do dig the final line of “What he says might scare you to be cool.” Waiting Hare sounds like a duet with Gwen Stefani. At times, it drags a little bit.

The Louies: Asleep on the Trail of Tears; Winnebago
I get to liking Asleep… a little more every time that I hear it. My only criticism would be that it seems like it needs another verse or something. It just seems to end too suddenly. Winnebago I am torn on. There are parts that really rock quite well, but the chorus is sort of gimmicky and is one of those things that drives you a little bugs because it gets in your head.

The Donnas: All Messed Up

This is fast, no frills rock. Overall, a solid song from a group that I had only heard do a cover of Strutter on the Detroit Rock City soundtrack.

Black Label Society: House of Doom; In This River
I enjoy the lead vocals from this group. House of Doom is standard dark rock that would seem to fit the mood established by the group’s name. In This River is a tune that I can’t decide if I really, really like or just sort of tolerate. It’s hurt by the lyrics that at times seem overly repetitive.


Franz Ferdinand: No You Girls; Twilight Omens

Upbeat and entertaining, both of these tunes have the sound I’ve come to expect from Franz Ferdinand. It’s hard to not tap the to toes to No You Girls although I think I like Twilight Omens better.

Queens of the Stoneage: Burn the Witch; 3’s & 7’s; Tangled Up In Plaid

I didn’t take to Burn the Witch. Occasionally, I find I tire of Queens tune and this tune is very indicative of their stuff. The other two songs I liked more because I thought they were subtle departures from the band’s norm.

Serj Tankian: Lie, Lie, Lie; Saving Us

Not that I am keeping score, but I think there are two other bands featuring this guy as a lyricist. That honestly made it hard to differentiate some of this stuff until I sat down and started listed the songs by bands. Something about this guys voice just drives me nuts. Of the two, I liked Lie Lie Lie more. Saving Us had me asking if somebody would please save me.

The Raconteurs: Intimate Secretary; Hands

Is that Jack White that I hear? I believe so. A couple of good tunes here. Something about Hands I like more. It is a pretty close race.

Kool Keith: I’m Seein’ Robots

I get the message here of people getting too connected to technology and losing their humanity. Certainly a pertinent argument, but I am just not a big rap guy, plus this guys stuff always sounds a little out of place when it’s on its own.

System of a Down: Lonely Day; Sad Statue; Old School Hollywood

Hey, it’s Serj again. I am sure Snake is ready for me to rail on this since he knows my affinity for these guys. I’ll say it is hard not to into Lonely Day. The other two fall into the rest of my opinion of System of a Down.

The Zutons: Confusion; Dirty Dancehall

There’s only one tune from this collection that I like better than Confusion. I love the mixture of the vocals with the eclectic choice of instruments. Very cool tune. I liked Dirty Dancehall, but not quite as much.

Tenacious D: Tribute

I already knew this tune before this album. It’s OK. Funny at parts, but sometimes Jack Black goes a little over the top and his humor is predictable.

The Secret Machines: The Road Leads Where It’s Led; Nowhere Again

Nowhere Again wins the prize as my favorite song. First, I love the title. I always find myself singing along when he says “She’s lifting her dress up.” I guess I am a pervert after all. The Road… sounds like an early U2 song for me especially the vocals and that just doesn’t seem to fit the group as well.

Modest Mouse: Bukowski; Satin In A Coffin

I’ve heard Modest Mouse before but neither of these songs (I think). Both tunes do a very good job of mixing pace and style. Both tunes grade out at a very high level with me.

The White Stripes: Baby Brother; You Don’t Know What Love Is

This is a step back to the infancy of rock for Jack and Meg White. You Don’t Know What Love Is, is a great tune. Absolutely one of the best of this bunch. Baby Brother is solid also and takes me back to more simple times.

Big & Rich: Real World, Wild West Show

Here’s a band with songs on polar opposite ends of my grade list. I really like Wild West Show. It’s a driving sound that includes a piano and solid percussion and does everything to avoid becoming a full-blown country song. Real World on the other hand is an average country song. Once a “Yee haw” comes out and the fiddle gets a strummin’, I usually get a goin’.

Metallica: Broken, Beat & Scarred; The Unforgiven III

I am on fence about these songs. For the most part, they are OK. Broken, Beat & Scarred sounds almost too much like a couple other Metallica songs. Yet, it rocks and its hard to deny that. I sort of wish they’d named Unforgiven III something else, because I kept waiting for this to connect more to the previous two tunes. It just doesn’t quite reach that level for me and the opening minute or so seems out of place.

The Killers: Spaceman, Neon Tiger

Spaceman is a quick, peppy song. Both of these songs are unabashed fun. Pretty standard stuff in my eyes from The Killers.

Motorhead: The Chase Is Better Than The Catch

When I saw Motorhead in the listing, this is exactly what I expected from them. There’s nothing wrong with that. It’s a straight forward, punch-in-the-mouth kind of metal song.

YT Cracker: N.E.S.

Sort of like Winnebago, I can’t decide if I can get over the gimmick of this song. There’s a charm to revisiting the old Nintendo standards with the mixture of a clever rap. It’s something I think I can listen to once in awhile but not all the time.

Avenge Sevenfold: Sidewinder

I kept thinking of Possum Kingdom by the Toadies when I was listening to this. I don’t know if the riff is similar or if it’s just me. Overall a good tune that I thought sort of spirals around too much without getting to a point.

Grades

A+
Confusion
Nowhere Again
You Don’t Know What Love Is

A
Baby Brother
Wild West

A –
In This River
Twilight Omens
Lonely Day
Bukowski
Satin In A Coffin
Spaceman

B+
Asleep on the Trail of Tears
3’s & 7’s
Hands

B
All Messed Up
House of Doom
No You Girls
Tangled Up in Plaid
Neon Tiger
The Chase Is Better Than The Catch

B-
Intimate Secretary
Dirty Dancehall
The Road Leads to Where It’s Led
Broken, Beat & Scarred
Sidewinder

C+
Waiting Hare
The Unforgiven III

C
Three Fingers
Winnebago
Burn the Witch
N.E.S.

C-
Tribute
Real World

D+
Old School Hollywood

D
Lie, Lie, Lie
I’m Seein’ Robots

D-
Sad Statue

F
Saving Us

Dandelions

Note: Hey, we're still alive. Well I've been super busy at work and Snake welcomed in another offspring. I thought I'd pound out a free writing to get things back on track. I plan on posting my review of Snake's CDs in the next couple of days and probably getting back to the albums next week. The following is some random thing that popped into my head and I wrote as it came. That's free writing for ya.

"Be happy with nothing" – Check Your Head, BuckCherry

Karl's shoulders tensed, squeezing against his neck trying to pop his head with the pressure. What was that damned rhyme, he thought? The one he sang with Judy and Nancy and Suggs before shooting a dandelion off its stem with his thumb when they was all kids playing at Howards Park across from the processing plant that had broken windows and the smell of three-day old farts.

"Grandpa, why are you doing that?" The girl pulled on his arm. They were standing next to a busy street where cars sped and dodged indolent pedestrians. He looked down at the girl thinking she resembled her mother. He wiped at his mouth never acknowledging the layer of mucus and blood that lathered his skin. If he could only roll his shoulders, maybe get a massage. Yes, a massage would be heaven. A spiral of tension swirled in his shoulder blades. He was sure his face had to be turning blue.

Like Nancy's had that time she stayed too long under the water at the creek that ran below the old mill. They would swim – him and Nancy. Sometimes Suggs would come too, but never Judy. She claimed to fear the water on account she could not swim. Suggs told him that Judy dared not show her legs. They was bruised, Suggs said, all the way up to the hips and probably farther. Judy's papa was a nasty man.

"Grandpa! Grandpa!" The girl was screaming now. Why won't she stop screaming? He was on the ground now. When did that happen?

The damn rhyme though. Somewhere in it was a 'queen.' They had sang it in the field next to the creek. No, that's not right it was the park. With Judy, who was crying and crying with the yellow pedals pinched between her fingers.

That's not right. Damn old memories mixing themselves up. What the hell was he thinking about Judy anyhow? She'd been gone for 70 years. He couldn't even see her face. Stupid old men and their minds, he thought.

The girl was sobbing now. He didn't hear her.