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Wire – Object 47 (Pink Flag)
Wire’s first album of new material in 5 years finds them in a more mellow and accessible mode than they were on 2003’s Send, an album comprised mostly of songs from the first two volumes of the Read and Burn series. Although another Read and Burn EP (the best of the bunch) came out last year, Object 47 instead features all new material. Opener “All of Us” will remind listeners of ‘80s peaks like “Kidney Bingos”, though without the dated production that marred some records during that period. Elsewhere, there are tracks that are dead ringers for mid ‘80s NEW ORDER and even early ‘90s synth-pop era MINISTRY, but again without the ‘80s production. Still, make no mistake, this is a Wire album and the overall sound is still harsher and more unsettling than what I noted above. Still, on initial listens, it’s more inviting than Send.
Mission of Burma – Bowery Ballroom (New York) – Saturday, June 14, 2008
Playing all of Signals, Calls and Marches in order in addition to other early singles and period tracks, Mission of Burma perhaps put on the best show I’ve ever seen them do. At the very least, they were at their absolute tightest and heaviest. And though no material from Vs was played , they did do some songs from 2006’s excellent The Obliterati and finished with a cover of PERE UBU’s “Heart of Darkness”. Now if we can only get them to start playing the WIPERS classic “Youth of America” again. Otherwise, this was perfect!
Misfits – Static Age (Caroline)
Unreleased until the mid ‘90s (though songs would show up on the remixed 1986 collection Legacy of Brutality and on the self-titled compilation on Caroline which served as an introduction to the band for many fans), this is in my opinion the strongest of the Misifts’ three studio albums. The overall sound is still more arty and post-punk-influenced than their subsequent, much more straightforward hardcore, but songs like “Teenagers from Mars.” “Hybrid Moments,” “Bullet” and “Return of the Fly” (which I first heard on a bootleg split 7” with BIG BLACK) constitute some of the finest horror punk ever recorded, easily up there with the best works of THE DAMNED, TSOL, THE CRAMPS, SIOUXSIE AND THE BANSHEES, 45 GRAVE and others.
Ignition – Complete Services (Dischord)
In the hardcore scene, this late ‘80s Dischord band remain legendary along with other pioneers of “emo” like EMBRACE, GRAY MATTER and especially RITES OF SPRING. It’s a shame, then, that they’re not more well-known outside of that scene and that this incredible CD, which Dischord put out in 1994, has been out of print for a few years now. Featuring ALEC MACKAYE (IAN MACKAYE’s brother and also of THE FAITH and THE WARMERS) on vocals, CHRIS BALD (The Faith and later Embrace) on guitar, CHRIS THOMSON (who went on to front CIRCUS LUPUS) on bass and DANTE FERRANDO (also of Gray Matter and IRON CROSS) on drums, they were like a DC hardcore all-star team. The vocals are passionate, the lyrics political but more questioning and inquisitive than hectoring and preachy and the playing is edge of your seat intense. There’s experimenting on some of the tracks (particularly “Kiwi Chant” and “Chicago Song”, indicating where some of these musicians would go next), but they never forgot to bring the melody and did a better version of “Keep It Clean” than THE VIBRATORS original!
The Stone Roses – The Stone Roses (Silvertone/RCA)
Do I even have to review this? It just takes me back to being 15, taping 120 Minutes every Sunday and watching it the following day and oh yeah, it shows up on lots of UK “best album of all-time” type polls every time for a reason and that reason is that it’s one of the best debuts made by anyone.
Lifetime – Seven Inches (Glue)
OK I realize that all of this material was reissued last year on the double CD compilation Somewhere in the Swamps of Jersey, but when this originally came out in 1994, Lifetime were nowhere near what they eventually became. I had no idea at the time that they’d become legends, but listening to this stuff now, it’s obvious why. They had just added DAVE PALAITIS on bass and SCOTT GOLLEY on drums, thus solidifying their up to that point ever changing lineup. This lineup recorded the “Tinnitus” EP (represented here) and a little while after that, this CD compilation came out. It chronicled that 7”, their 1st 7” (in remixed form) and a compilation track that was included on the cassette and CD versions of that 1st 7”. Overall, the “Tinnitus” 7” (and particularly the incredible “Isae Aldy Beausoleil”, the best song they’ve ever recorded) forecasted where they go next, but I’ve always found the 1st 7” underrated, particularly by the band. Sure, some of the lyrics are corny (particular “Souvenir”), but the songs are catchy and so I’ve always liked it anyway.
Alex Kapranos – Sound Bites (Penguin, 2006)
You don’t even have to like FRANZ FERDINAND or even know anything about either the band or the Austrian archduke they’re named after in order to appreciate this book. Kapranos, a former worker in many Glasgow kitchens, loves food and this obvious love rolls off the pages. His sense of food as adventure is similar to ANTHONY BOURDAIN, but without the attitude. It’s a series of vignettes about eating experiences in different locales and as such, I wish that some of the stories were a bit longer and more detailed. In any case, whatever this book lacks in volume is made up by its adventurous spirit and love of exotic foods and destinations.
Rise Above: The Tribe 8 Documentary (Not Rated)
I’ve liked TRIBE 8 since their 1st 7” Pig Bitch, which was recorded for Outpunk, so when I recently found out a documentary had been made about them, I instantly put it on my Netflix queue (yes they have it!) and bumped it up to the top of my queue. Fortunately, this is an excellent documentary done with an obvious love and admiration for the band and what they stand for. Going far beyond their musical influences and what have you, it delves into the human story behind each musician, often involving details of interpersonal relationships and their professional lives outside of the band as well.
Agent Orange – Living in Darkness (Posh Boy)
One of my favorite records of all-time, everything about this one is just perfect. There are 4 songs on each side of the original 12” and all of them are perfect. Not a note is wasted on this and this mix of early ‘80s pop-punk, surf guitar and ‘70s heavy metal has never been topped by anyone, even the band themselves. This is one of those records I turn to when I’ve had a rough day and thus I love it as much as when I first heard it when I was 19.
Colin Meloy – Sings Sam Cooke (self-released)
This is getting to be an almost annual tradition. During each of his last 3 solo tours, Meloy has issued a home-recorded covers EP with each EP concentrating on a different artist. After covers EP of songs by the likes of MORRISSEY and SHIRLEY COLLINS, this time it’s SAM COOKE who’s being reinterpreted by Meloy. To be honest, I had my doubts about this one. Although I love both Cooke and Meloy, I wasn’t sure if Meloy could pull off singing the songs of one of the greatest vocalist of the 20th century. After all, would his somewhat nasally and reedy voice (not that these are bad things as they perfectly fir THE DECEMBERISTS’ material) be able to do justice to the vocal powerhouse that was Sam Cooke. The answer, almost shockingly, is yes! Meloy doesn’t deviate too far from the original melodies of songs like “Cupid,” “Good Times” and “That’s Where It’s At”, but still manages to put his own unique stamp on them as well, making them that much more endearing. This isn’t a substitute for the great Cooke originals, of course, but it fits in remarkably well with the other 2 EPs in this series.
