The Vaselines with Jeffrey Lewis – First Unitarian Church (Philadelphia) – October 3, 2010
We didn’t get there in time to see Jeffrey Lewis’ set, but The Vaselines sounded great. They played pretty much every song one could want both from the old days (“Son of a Gun,” “Jesus Doesn’t Want Me for a Sunbeam,” “Dum Dum,” “Rory Rides Me Raw” and “Molly’s Lips”, amongst others) and from the new Sex with an X (the title track and “I Hate the’ 80s” being its standouts). Frances McKee also made lots of suggestive and often very funny double entrendes during the between song interludes, but it was all in good fun.
Teenage Fanclub – Man-Made (Merge)
Although some dismiss this 2005 album due to John McEntire‘s production and the hushed, mute tone of most of its material, I like it a lot and frankly, can’t stop playing at the moment. Raymond McGinley‘s “Only with You” is the best song here, but if you listen closely, that one and other gems like Norman Blake‘s “Cells” will grab a hold of you and have a hard time letting you go.
Dag Nasty – Dag with Shawn (Dischord)
This is Dag Nasty’s debut Can I Say, but recorded with original singer Shawn Brown, later of Swiz. These versions are quite different from the ones with Dave Smalley (who ended up singing on the original Lp), but I’d argue that this collection of songs would have had just much of an impact had it been released in this form. There are slight differences. The songs “Values Here” and “What Now”? are missing, the track order is a little different and the non-album track “Another Wrong” is added. Still, listening to this feels like listening to an alternate take on an established classic. I pre-ordered the Lp and though it hasn’t arrived yet, I’ve gotten to listen to this via mp3s that Dischord provides to everyone who pre-orders. Look for a full review once I get the Lp.
Shades Apart – Shades Apart (Wishing Well)
When I heard that this underrated NJ band had gotten back together for a one-off show at the Court Tavern in New Brunswick about a week ago, I put this one on the turntable and magically, I was transported back to the days when they would play New Brunswick and the surrounding area on a regular basis in the early to mid ’90s. This one, though, is their debut from 1988 and their only release on Wishing Well. Sounding less like a traditional hardcore band than a hybird of Dag Nasty/Descendents and Grippe-era Jawbox, this long out-of-print gem needs to be heard by anyone into this style who either doesn’t know them or who thinks that they’re just the band known for their mid ’90s cover of “Tainted Love” and some alt-rock radio hits in their later, major label years.
Shades Apart- “Dude Danger” EP (Sunspot)
Their second release, on the short-lived but great Sunspot label, finds them mining much the same territory as they did on the debut. Both this one and their debut were available on a single CD in the mid ’90s, but are now quite hard to come by and little known even to some fans of their later, more well-known material. I’m glad I held on to that CD since I used to have this on vinyl years ago but no longer do.
The Pogues – “Do You Believe in Magic?”
File this under “I never even knew this existed until a few days ago”. They basically took the uber well-known Lovin’ Spoonful song and made it sound like something that should’ve come off of Rum, Sodomy and The Lash. It’s an outtake from the Poguetry in Motion sessions.
Stars – Set Yourself on Fire (Arts and Crafts)
This is Stars’ finest hour and songs like “Your Ex-Lover is Dead,” “What I’m Trying to Say,” “Ageless Beauty,” “Reunion” and “Calendar Girl” are just as great now as when this first came out. I only wish that they could’ve kept up the momentum.
Screaming Females – Castle Talk (Don Giovanni)
Although they still sound like a 21st century update on classic Wipers material, but with a female vocalist (and yes, sometimes screamer), Castle Talk is a huge improvement over their last full-length Power Move, This time around, the songs are better, the solos rage more and the overall sound benefits a band of their style much more. Kudos to them for finally making a record that deserves to stand next to their astounding live show.
Sticks and Stones – Theme Song for Nothing (Gern Blandsten)
Upon hearing news that Chunksaah! Records will release their 1987 cassette Inner Revolt as a one-sided 12” EP imaginatively titled 1987, I’ve been listening to some of this great late ’80s/early ’90s NJ punk band’s other material. I’ve long praised them as my favorite band to come out of the fertile New Brunswick scene of that time period, but I think that this is their finest moment. How music this catchy, passionate, life-affirming and enjoyable didn’t find a wider audience is beyond me.
For Against – Shelf Life (World Domination Recordings)
