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Showing posts from March, 2010

Lost Gem: "Paper Thin" - John Hiatt (1988)

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"I was gonna get up off that bar stool... Just as soon as I could figure it out." -->John Hiatt<--  John Hiatt's ninth album... "Slow Turning" (1988) ...is loaded with top to bottom diamonds.  This warm-hearted troubadour is known for his clever songwriting... twisting phrases left of center...but always achingly dead-on .  Whether singing rockers of road-trip freedoms...or casting shadows on hard-lessons learned. Sounds like a contradiction...but that's just John Hiatt . Lost Gem:-->   "Paper Thin" ...oh man...but ain't this a solid  prime Hiatt rocker.  Exhilarating poundage with a raucous 'Stones' vibe. Have you heard this one? I was gonna get up off that bar stool Just as soon as I could figure it out Why I was sobering up at the car pool Stood up at the dance with no twist and shout When you're burnin' with your last desire And every memory haunts you You write it down in alcoho

Lost Gem: "Fine Memory" - Bob Seger (1975)

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"And later as I was driving... the sky was getting light. And the sun came through the trees." ~ Bob Seger ~ "Beautiful Loser" (1975) ...was Bob Seger's eighth album and was just one year away from one of the best live albums of all time. "Live Bullet " ...recorded in his hometown of Detroit...would, at last, put Bob on the road to stardom. But it was on his "Beautiful Loser" release where the seeds of Seger's songwriting skills began to really take shape. Bringing it from the heart...and from the heartland. Lost Gem:-->   "Fine Memory" ...is a gentle acoustic ballad.    Beautiful in its simplicity.  Heart-aching in its complexity. Have you heard this one? Last night I saw you walking Past my bed late at night And the moon shone Through your gown Such a fine memory I think I'm gonna take it with me And later as you were sleeping Sleeping close to me I felt your hair on my skin Such a fine

Lost Gem: "Enemy" - Days Of The New (1999)

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"Listen down, you little man... I'm not the one who's tryin' to change you." ~ Days Of The New ~ This was Days Of The New 's 2nd album and is often referred to as... The Green Album . Led by Travis Meeks ...this was mostly a new ensemble...with Meeks taking the band in an inspired and ambitious direction. Meeks ' underrated release...taps into an almost acoustical heavy metal drift ...mixed with occasional orchestrated backing...that dips the toe into the techno pool. It works. And it rewards the listener with repeated listens. Lost Gem:--> "Enemy" ...opens with electro-drum beats that lead into an aggressive acoustic guitar battle ...creating vibes of ominous warning. Urgent in delivery. "Enemy" ...is just one of several tracks on this forgotten puppy that deserve fresh ears to... 'listen down'. Have you heard this one? Yeah  (Yeah) Yeah  (Yeah) Listen down you little man I'm not the one w

Lost Gem: "T.B. Sheets" - Van Morrison (1967)

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"The cool room... Lord...is a fool's room." ~ Van Morrison ~ Sometimes it depends on when you catch the train...that determines how long you want to ride. If you've never been quite able to understand or connect with... "Van the Man ". ..then I strongly urge you to climb upon this.. RnR choo-choo. ..right here. This song and soul-stirring performance would almost stamp Morrison's HOF ticket alone. (but...of course...one could say that about a dozen other Van songs). And can you believe this was recorded in...1967?! Lost Gem:--> "T.B. Sheets" ...is awesome raw...with Van's bluesy intense recitation of an uncomfortable visit with a very sick friend...riding over a hypnotic repetitive riff. Plus the emotional chill-inducing harp play from Van is nails. Van was inducted in the RnR HoF in 1993 . Have you heard this one? Now listen, Julie baby It ain't natural for you to cry in the midnight. It ain't natural for you to cry way

Lost Gem: "March Of The Black Queen" - Queen (1974)

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"I reign with my left hand, I rule with my right. I'm lord of all darkness. I'm queen of the night." ~ Queen ~ This lost gem can be found on Queen's 1974 release...aptly named... "Queen II" . Initially met with a cold reception... Queen II   has since been recognized as a brilliant piece of craftsmanship. The iconic album cover would be used to springboard their most famous video a few years later. Lost Gem:--> "March Of The Black Queen" ...is a jaw-dropping epic hammer-throw.  Frontman Mercury   along with the guys sound loaded for bear ...moving easily from gentle desperation to angry impatience  both in tempo and attitude. Harmonies are head-shaking and Brian May's guitar spank, at times, bring to mind angry fire bees swarming to defend their hive. Have you heard this one? Do you mean it Do you mean it Do you mean it Why don't you mean it Why do i follow you and where do you go You've never seen nothing

Lost Gem: "Seven Days" - Ron Wood (1979)

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"Seven more days... all I gotta do is survive." -->Ron Wood<-- "Gimme Some Neck" ...(love the title)...was legendary Ron Wood's third solo offering...released in 1979. And though production (Roy Baker) ...at times sounds tinny... Wood delivers a pretty solid record. Of course, having all the other Stones at your command ...plus other top notch musicians in the studio...doesn't hurt too much. Wood's vocals and guitar work are strong...and there is an infectious...looseness ...heard throughout this release that would make even the most cynical thumbnosers... crack a smile. "Seven Days"... is a Ron Wood killer . Written by "Bobby D."...Wood sings it like he means it. Even out-Dylan's Dylan ...sounding like the rhyme king after a two-night bender. Go get this! Have you heard this one? Seven days, seven more days she'll be comin' I'll be waiting at the station for her to arrive Seven more days, all I gotta do is

Lost Gem: "John Wayne Gacy, Jr." - Sufjan Stevens (2005)

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"And in my best behavior... I am really just like him." ~ Sufjan Stevens ~ "Illinoise" (2005) was a tour-de-force of various folk-rock "avantgardeness" that defies description. Sufjan is an amazingly talented artist....skilled in over twenty various instruments. And he creates a kaleidoscope of melodies filled with arrangements of beautiful strings and brass. This ear-pleasing buffet runs a gamut of full orchestra tones to a down-low minimalism. This must-own CD works on many levels...but what stands out for the listener is the love and perfection Sufjan puts into each song.   Begs for repeated listens. Lost Gem:--> "John Wayne Gacy, Jr." ...chills the spine with its s ad, beautiful and unforgettably disturbing examination of a serial killer and how...much too closely...evil may lie within and around all of us. S tunning . Have you heard this one? His father was a drinker and his mother cried in bed Folding John Wayne&

Lost Gem: "Donna" - 10cc (1973)

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"You made me stand up. You made me sit down, Donna. " ~ 10cc ~  10cc's self-titled debut...initially...sounds like a fluster-cluck of styles ...in search of a definitive direction. Yet there are still a few worthy tracks here...not to be missed. Power pop styles with great harmonies and musicianship ...each produced with very smart attention. Compelling mucho-respectable ear-candy. Lost Gem:--> "Donna" ...is a jaw-dropping...tongue-in-cheek...plate of pop falsetto perfection.   Like Brian Wilson & Frank Zappa playing Slap Jack ...   And one that will have you walking around the house singing like a "little guuurl". Have you heard this one? Oh Donna You made me stand up You made me sit down, Donna Sit down, Donna Sit down You made me stand up Donna waiting by the telephone Donna waiting for the phone to ring Oh Donna You make me break up You make me break down, Donna Break down, Donna Break down You make me break up Mean