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Classic Review: Free Drugs;-)

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Band: Harlem
Release: 2008
Label: Female Fantasy

1. “Witchgreens” – A-
2. “Caroline” – A+
3. “South of France” – A
4. “Irresistible” – A
5. “Beautiful and Very Smart” – A++
6. “Psychedelic Tits” – A-
7. “Think I’m Thinkin’ Bout” – A-
8. “Disneyland” – A
9. “Little Black Cowboy” – A
10. “I’m on Drugs” – A-
11. “Red Herring” – A
12. “Hundred a Dollar a Night Man” – A

Comments: Not as great as Hippies, but still amazing. “Beautiful and Smart” is an instant favorite.

Grade: A

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Side note: Check out this video for “Friendly Ghost”

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Classic CD Review: Revolver

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Band: The Beatles
Release: 1966
Label: Apple

1. “Taxman” – A+
2. “Eleanor Rigby” – A
3. “I’m Only Sleeping” – A+
4. “Love You To” – B-
5. “Here, There and Everywhere” – B
6. “Yellow Submarine” – B
7. “She Said She Said” – A-
8. “Good Day Sunshine” – B+
9. “And Your Bird Can Sing” – B-
10. “For No One” – B+
11. “Doctor Robert” – B-
12. “I Want to Tell You” – B-
13. “Got to Get You into My Life” – A-
14. “Tomorrow Never Knows” – B+

Comments: “Start!” oh wait not really. “Taxman” !!! I was very confused at first. Funny little story first. I was listening to a Jam live record before I listened to this and coincidentally the last song played was “Start!” so when this first played I thought what the fuck! It’s an amazing song. I’m not going to make excuses. “Eleanor Rigby” is a pretty sweet ditty with a nice little violin and melody. It’s not something I’m going to constantly listen to for the rest of my life, but it’s already a classic worthy of replay. I like the psychedelia involved in “I’m Only Sleeping,” which is why I gave it such a high mark. “Love You To” is weird and doesn’t excite me. Sorry, “Here” doesn’t do anything for me. It’s too slow. Not a bad song, but definitely not a favorite. “Yellow Submarine” has been noted in many musical circles as a fine song. A fine song, indeed. Just not “Juvenile” or “O Katrina.” “She Said” is rocking and catchy. “Doctor Robert” is funny, but boring. “Got to” is like King Khan and the Shrines! Good stuff! Overall, I like a lot of the tracks on here. I’m not going to say it’s a great record through and through, but it makes for some fun times.

Grade: B+ (87)

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Classic CD Review: A Hundred Miles Off

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Band: The Walkmen
Release: 2006
Label: Record Collection

1. “Louisiana” – A+
2. “Danny’s At The Wedding” – A+
3. “Good For You’s Good For Me” – A+
4. “Emma Get Me A Lemon” – A
5. “All Hands & The Cook” – A+
6. “Lost in Boston” – A+
7. “Don’t Get Me Down” – A-
8. “Tenley Town” – A+
9. “This Job Is Kiling Me” – A
10. “Brandy Alexander” – A
11. “Always After You” – A
12. “Another One Goes By” – A++

Comments: Naturally, this is a fantastic Walkmen album. It’s faster and more instrumentally chaotic than say You and Me or Everyone Who Pretended; more garage rock focused, if you will. Hamilton’s delivery and style is much different than most of what is classified under that garage or post-punk revival umbrella. It’s a more vintage and structurally fascinating way of going about business. Take for example, “Tenley Town.” It’s the band’s heaviest song (can I call it a punk jam?) and might seem a little experimental on the band’s part, but it fits in so well with the softer stuff. “Another One Goes By” is a great Bob Dylan-esque album closer. You can barely hear a really catchy lead guitar part in the middle of the song. Great flow. I’d say it’s my favorite song off this album. Best for last as they say.

Grade: A (96)

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Classic CD Review: Everyone Who…

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Title: Everyone Who Pretended To Like Me Is Gone
Band: The Walkmen
Release: 2002
Label: Startime International

1. “They’re Winning” – A
2. “Wake Up” – A+
3. “Everyone Who Pretended” – A+
4. “Revenge Wears No Wristwatch” – A
5. “The Blizzard of ’96” – A-
6. “French Vacation” – A
7. “Stop Talking” – A
8. “We’ve Been Had” – A
9. “Roll Down The Line” – A-
10. “That’s The Punch Line” – A
11. “It Should Take A While” – A-
12. “Rue The Day” – A-
13. “I’m Never Bored” – A
14. “Don’t Be Long” – A-

Comments: This was hardly a debut record in the traditional sense. All five members arrived in the band in 2000 after performing in one of two polished bands: Jonathan Fire*Eater or The Recoys. Fire*Eater landed a major label deal with Dreamworks and were a significant influence on The Strokes while The Recoys were less of a big deal, but drew their sound from “vintage” garage groups like the Troggs and Standells. The group wasn’t really young at the time of this recording. All members were at least 25 and had significant experience at their individual schticks. They had, what seems evident now, a great handle on how they wanted to sound. Even now critics are at a loss in terms of how to really describe the band in words and labels that modern listeners may feel comfortable with. It’s bare bones and minimalistically dreamy, but very real. Just enough keyboards, just enough lead, just enough bass, barely surfacing rhythym, and penetrating vocals. When I first bought this record last summer, I remember I wasn’t as enthusiastic as I am now. It definitely takes a few listens to just take in what the Walkmen have to offer here. This isn’t the best album from the group, but it does give kids like you and me a pretty good look at the beginnings of a band that hasn’t matured all that much since their formation. That’s saying a lot.

Grade: A- (93)

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Classic CD Review: Raw Romance

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Band: Nobunny
Release: 2009
Label: Burger Records

1. “Your Mouth” – B-
2. “Oh Cody” – B
3. “Mask’s On” – A-
4. “Monster Kiss” – B
5. “Apple Tree” – B+
6. “Hippy Witch” – B
7. “I Am A Girlfriend” – B+
8. “It’ll All Come Back” – B
9. “Tonight You Belong” – B-
10. “Mess Me Up” – A
11. “The Gutter” – A-
12. “Vicious Circle” – B+

Comments: Nobunny loves you! This piece of music was released on cassette, which is just about as outdated as Nobunny. Unlike Love Visions, Raw Romance is chalk full of slow and modest twee pop. You won’t have much luck finding something as energetic as “Chuck Berry Holiday” on this cassette. If you just want to chill in your chair and intake psilocybin mushrooms or the like then go for this thing. If you want to go up, down, north, south, east, or west then you’ll definitely prefer Love Visions. The sound quality on Raw exceeds Love, which is something I certainly didn’t expect. It’s funny hearing an extremely lo-fi demo version of “I Am A Girlfriend,” my favorite Nobunny song this side of “Chuck.” The demo of “Mess Me Up” is mad good. Funny Johnny Cash impersonation on “The Gutter.”

Grade: B (86)

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Classic CD Review: Love Visions

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Band: Nobunny
Release: 2008
Label: Goner Records

1. “Nobunny Loves You” – A+
2. “I Know I Know” – A–
3. “Mess Me Up” – A-
4. “I Am A Girlfriend” – A
5. “Tina Goes To Work” – A-
6. “Chuck Berry Holiday” – A+
7. “Boneyard”- A+
8. “Somewhere Near” – A-
9. “Church Mouse” – A
10. “It’s True” – B+
11. “Don’t Know, Don’t Care” – C-
12. “Not That Good” – A-

Comments: When you think of Nobunny, you think of a crazy guy decked out in minimal layers of clothing and a bunny mask. Just listening to him and his ever changing crew on this record is like watching a 3-D movie with a blindfold on. This is the kind of disc that probably works the best on vinyl and I’m as apathetic towards vinyl as the next guy. Though, I must admit the digital version on headphones has some entertaining odds and ends. “Chuck Berry Holiday” is so great. WHERE DID SHE GO? I DONT KNOW! The surf/Mika Miko qualities of “Boneyard” make for a great follow-up.

Grade: A-

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CD Review: Stroke [2009]

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Band: Various Artists
Release: 2009

***DISC ONE***
1. “Pull Down The Shades” – Jay Reatard – A+
2. “Rebel” – The Checks – A
3. “Ain’t It Nice” – The Bleeding Allstars – A+
4. “Don’t Catch Fire” – Peter Gutteridge – B+
5. “Luck or Loveliness” – The Chills – C
6. “Nothing’s Going to Happen” – David Kilgour – B-
7. “All My Hollowless to You” – The Crying Wolfs” – B+
8. “Beauty” – Stephin Merritt – B
9. “Nostalgia’s No Excuse” – Portastatic – B+
10. “Crush” – The Mint Chicks – B-
11. “I’ve Left Memories Behind” – Jay and Sam Clarkson – B-
12. “Burning Blue” – Sky Green Leopards – A
13. “The Slide” – Shayne Carter – B
14. “Grand Mal” -Pumice – C-
15. “Knoxed Out” – Hamish Kilgour – D+

***DISC TWO***
1. “Not Given Lightly” – Boh Runga – B+
2. “Bodies” – Bill Doss – C+
3. “Sign the Dotted Line” – Jeff Magnum – B-
4. “Lapse” – Bill Callahan – B+
5. “Growth Spurt” – Genghis Smith – B+
6. “Coloured” – Yo La Tengo – B
7. “Dunno Much About Life but I Know How to Breathe” – AC Newman – C+
8. “Glide” – Alec Bathgate – B+
9. “Inside Story” – Don McGlashan – B
10. “The Outer Skin” – Sean Donnelly – B+
11. “What Goes Up” – Lambchop – C
12. “Brave” – The Mountain Goats – B
13. “Round These Walls” – The Tokey Tones & Friends – A-
14. “Just Do It” – The Bats – A-
15. “My Only Friend” – Will Oldham – B+
16. “It’s Love” – The Pyjama Party – B+
17. “Becoming Something Other” – Jordan Luck – B-
18. “Driftwood” – The Verlaines – B+
19. “Song of the Tall Poppy” – Lou Barlow – B-
20. “Nappin’ In Lapland” – The Nothing – C-
21. “Sunday Song” – Tall Dwarfs – B

Comments: Jay starts off this cover tribute album to Chris Knox, a highly inspirational rock musician from New Zealand, with “Pull,” originally more of a punk sharp shooter. Jay managed (talking about him in the past tense is depressing) to make it really sound like his own with a softer combination of acoustic and electric. It’s awesome to listen to Jay’s faux Brit accent come out when he chants “pool down the shaydes” haha if you know what I mean. Fun bubblegum rock comes on “Rebel” which reminds me of “Buddy Holly” by Weezer. I had to double check that JR didn’t sing “Ain’t” because it sounds literally like something he’d do. I’m going to say he definitely stole (or playfully borrowed) elements of this song and incorporated them on various releases, namely “It Ain’t Gonna Save Me” but others as well. “Don’t Catch Fire” is a slow erotic shoe-gazer, I guess. “I watch your strip tease till I have to go.” That’s an intense line. “Burning Blue” is comparable to softer Jay stuff so obviously it’s awesome! And check out that song title…look familiar?

Final Evaluation: Very Positive (Disc 1>Disc 2)

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Classic Review: Clap Your Hands Say Yeah [2005]

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Title: Clap Your Hands Say Yeah
Release: 2005
Label: None [Self-Released]

1. “Clap Your Hands” – A-
2. “Let The Cool Goddess Rust Away” – A-
3. “Over and Over Again” – A
4. “Sunshine and Clouds (And Everything Proud” – A
5. “Details Of The War” – B
6. “The Skin of My Yellow Country Teeth” – A-
7. “Is This Love?” – B+
8. “Heavy Metal” – A+
9. “Blue Turning Gray” – A-
10. “In This Home On Ice” – A+
11. “Gimmie Some Salt” – A-
12. “Upon This Tidal Wave” – A-

Comment: Hear me out! This album is awesome, but not over the top best of the 2000s kind of material. The gems are kind of obvious: “Over and Over Again,”In This Home On Ice,” and “Heavy Metal.” Though, strangely, I prefer Ounsworth’s early demo of “Heavy Metal” to the one on here. Still, it’s one of my favorite songs at any rate. The little instrumentals are not filler at all and this is something other bands just should (have) take(n) note of! On another note, I don’t really have many negatives to dish out. I’m willing to hope some of these songs grow on me (which is weird to say a mere five years after the album’s initial release).

Grade: A- (91)

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Classic Album Review: Turn It Up Faggot

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Band: Deerhunter
Release: 2005
Label: Stickfigure Records

1. “N. Animals” – A+
2. “Adorno” – A++
3. “Tech School” – A-
4. “Ponds” – A
5. “Language/Violence” – A
6. “Oceans” – A-
7. “Basement” – A-
8. “Young Layer” – B-
9. “Death Drag” – A-

Comments: I turned it up, but I’m not a faggot. This shit is pretty much dance-punk at its finest. Crazy dances that is. Don’t expect to grind or do the cha-cha slide, you gotta friggin’ blast this and just do the craziest shit you can conjure up. Like seriously LCD Soundsystem couldn’t even come up with this type of genius. I’m sort of surprised Bradford hates it, I mean there’s nothing to be ashamed of, except maybe a couple (tops) of tracks. It’s a complete volte-face from all of his other music, but still. Definitely, this is solid material for college radio stations. Yeah, a lot of the songs are based on the same ideas of noise and repetition, but it’s not facetious like Lightning Bolt.

Final Grade: A- (92)

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Classic CD Review: Bows + Arrows

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Band: The Walkmen
Label: Record Collection
Release: 2004

1. “What’s In It For Me?” – A+
2. “The Rat” – A++
3. “No Christmas While I’m Talking” – A-
4. “Little House of Savages” – A+
5. “My Old Man” – A
6. “138th Street” – A+
7. “The North Pole” – A
8. “Hang on, Siobhan” – A+
9. “New Year’s Eve” – A+
10. “Thinking of a Dream I Had” – A++
11. “Bows + Arrows” – A++

Comments: This is a seminal album for the Walkmen. Highly regarded as their best offering of the triple ’00s (perhaps a false statment, I really really dug 2008’s You and Me), it’s got a delicate mix of fast post-punk ditties (Rat, House of Savages, Thinking of a Dream) that come off as inspirational (perhaps to a band like Editors) and all the slow and sweet ones (which you know, damnit; I don’t need to list them). The first time I listened to portions of this record was a few years back. I thought it sounded incredibly antique, yet pretty easily accessible. It might just be Ham’s singing, coupled with Paul’s classy guitar play. This classy guitar play is exemplified on “138th Street,” which is about such a serious matter as a man starting anew from what seems to have been a troubled past. In general, this isn’t really light-hearted, but you can’t really expect that from this band. Their concert attire is typically business casual to formal…that tells you something about these gents. Perhaps my favorite of the low brow tunes is “Hang On, Siobhan,” presumably about a girl who wants more and more of the songwriter, but he’s a bit sick of her routine and wants her to slow things down. “New Years Eve” — I’m sure a lot of people can relate to this quick ditty, seeing as it’s over pretty damn fast…like a 12/31 one night stand. “Thinking of a Dream I Had” is just a too good to pass up track. It’s infectious and puts me in high spirits. I listened to it constantly in the winter of 2007/2008 while doing homework at 5:00 AM. Homework at that time is depressing, but this was an aural escape. The organ parts are just out of this world, dude. “Bows + Arrows” is an amazing closer. Ham really belts this out perfectly and is so convincing.

Final Grade: A (97)