The College Crowd Digs Me

"When I was down  she was full of advice." ~ Golden Smog ~ Golden Smog was for all intents and purposes a side-project providing another outlet for several creative musicians already in established bands. On "Down By The Old Mainstream" (1995) ...the participants were... Dan Murphy of Soul Asylum..... Jeff Tweedy of Wilco..... Gary Louris & Marc Perlma n of The Jayhawks..... Noah Levy of Honeydogs..... Kraig Johnson of Run Westy Run. Labeled an alternative country-rock band, Golden Smog was classic-relaxed kool and it shows up in every song. The music was loosey-goosey ...(but not sloppy)...and free from any real management expectations. This was regular guys (minus ego) having fun and making good music. Lost Gem:-->   "V" ...sounds fresh...yet so familiar.  Easy to warm up to. Simply a bandmate's remembrance of a nice barmaid from the past. Rocks sweet! Have you heard this gem? When I was down she was full of advice...

"...And empty clothes that  drape and fall on empty chairs." ~ Don McLean ~ When American troubadour Don McLean released his second album... "American Pie" (1971) ...with the 8:30 minute cultural megabomb title track ...he quickly became the... "cryptic keeper of the flame." Everyone started coming out of the woodwork espousing their theories on what each line meant. Then radio started spinning... "Vincent (Starry, Starry Night)" from the same album, and fans discovered he was much more than a one-trick pony. Soon teachers began using McLean's descriptive songs as introductions to poetry. And, in this instance...as a doorway to the wonders of art. Add Don McLean's gentle voice to his timeless songs and we have another songwriting treasure to add to our musical collection. (On a side note...Ed Freeman's  production is crisp and clean..no wait...I mean...McLean.) Lost Gem:-->   "Empty Chairs" ... is a b...

"I'm gonna make her laugh.   I'm gonna make her...shh." ~ Violent Femmes ~ Who'd have thought three Milwaukee boys could lay down such cool apocalyptic punk junk? Thick as a brick with windows to break, Violent Femmes caught a shooting star and rode in with a wicked self-titled album. (1982) (In 1983, two added tracks were issued on their self-titled re-release . ) This is frustration multiplied. Teen angst on a rampage . Violent Femmes Actually, this is probably as truthful an attempt at expressing a teenager's inability to "cop a pop" as you'll likely find. Wild and crazy folk rock at its best! Lost Gem:-->   "Gimme The Car" ...Quirky spazz vocals from angst king... Gordon Gano ...only make his fantasy plans sound all the more desperate. And Brian Ritchie's bass work is stellar. Come on...everybody knows that a car is a teenager's motel! Have you heard this gem? Come on dad gimme the car tonight...

"The sun begins to rise as he begins to close his ey es." ~ Bob Seger ~ "Night Moves" was Detroit road warrior Bob Seger's 9th album and would be the record that finally propelled him up into the super stardom spotlight. But think about that a moment. His 9th album!   Man, how many of us might have just closed up shop?  (Oh, by the way...Bob's earlier stuff was excellent by any standard!) But like the spot-on defiant attitude Seger's album cover projects...the man is a determined cuss.  And we are all the better for it. Lost Gem:-->   "Sunburst" ...a successful, but slightly jaded, rock star...replays the repetitive concert nights in his head. This mid-tempo cutter is the perfect bookend to the "on-the-way-up" classic... "Turn The Page". Have you heard this gem? The crowd without a face begins to fill the space in the arena. Flashlights at his feet the lion from the street awaits the Christians. A blind...

"She feels like leavin'  and she don't know why." ~ America ~ America was a folk rock band with gorgeous three-part harmony. An acoustical trio from military families... Gerry Beckley ,  Dewey Bunnell   and Dan Peek ...fit together like brand new Legos . The music was tight and warm and had found an audience...so when America released their 2nd album... "Homecoming" (1972) ...like their first record, it soon went platinum. It was to be their last platinum studio album . Fans and critics alike recognize  "Homecoming"  as the band's finest moment...leading off with the driving "alligator lizards in the air" song... "Ventura Highway" . Dan Peek, Dewey Bunnell, Gerry Beckley Filled with flashes of country rock mixed with Kalifornia kool... America had their metaphorical..."Dark Side Of The Moon" . Lost Gem:-->   "Don't Cross the River" ...Even though added to their Greatest Hits pa...

"Round and round and round she goes  like Shirley's curlies at the movie show." ~ Widespread Panic ~  Widespread Panic is a wonderful jam band in the tradition of the Dead and Phish . Allman Bros  quickly come to mind, as well. Hailing from Athens, Georgia...this jam-rock jewel is especially enjoyable live.. .sweating like a chain-gang on a horse with no name. However, Widespread Panic make some pretty excellent studio albums too. "Don't Tell The Band" (2001) is a sweet treat...filled with tight songs that hit that smooth groove button.   Deadly and satisfying...and often.  Lost Gem:-->   "Little Lilly" ...is classic Widespread Panic that finds its slide-glide early and sticks it to your ears. Have you heard this gem? Oh, Lilly likes Beatles songs The words are off, but they don't feel that wrong She came in through the bedroom window like a blue girl Like a blue girl, like a blue girl No, never has she tried to...

"Tomorrow the plow becomes the sword. Make us stronger in our danger." ~ Wishbone Ash ~ "Argus" (1972) is considered by many to be Wishbone Ash' s must own tour de force. Andy Powell and Ted Turner were creating honey with harmony twin lead guitars . Groundbreaking stuff at the time. And backed up with fierce bass and drums. Wishbone Ash were a healthy blend of hard rock and prog ...played with insane confidence and perfection. Simply magic . Lost Gem:-->   "Warrior" ...is filled with images of timeless mystical battles yet to be met. The loud/soft changes are perfect with an unforgettable chant fade-out. Have you heard this gem? I'm leaving to search for something new, Leaving everything I ever knew. A hundred years in the sunshine Hasn't taught me all there is to know. In the valley, we will gather there, Helpless in our surrender. Tomorrow the plow becomes the sword Make us stronger in our danger. Time will pass a...