Afghan Whigs: Gentlemen

What Jail is Like Edition

This is a heavy, dirty, wounded fist punching you in the gut. I can't listen to it all the time. I first got this after I saw the video for "Debonair" on MTV late at night. It was my soundtrack for the "Deathtrip", when Justin Knight and I drove through blacked-out LA to San Francisco, the day after the Northridge Earthquake. The look of this band; the sound, kinda blew my mind. Greg Dulli's vocals are rough, raw, and not that great, but perfect for the songs...Songs about addiction, broken relationships, and self-loathing. I understood these sentiments in my young adult years, naive as I was to the bigger picture. While I don't relate in the same way now, I can appreciate the chronicle this album represents, and the cries for salvation in every odd chord or sloppy drum-fill.

And the album cover...

I saw Afghan Whigs at the old SOMA, and they played a lot of this album, as well as a great cover of "My World is Empty". Dulli chain-smoked onstage in black-jeans and a white button-up shirt, and I remember thinking he was the coolest sumbitch ever. The band drove through their set with relentless energy, and I felt like a bad-ass for being there. What foolishness. What bold, young, brash, beautiful and utter foolishness.

The Album Leaf: In a Safe Place

Fever Dreams Edition

Once, when I was in Junior High, I got sick with the flu, and missed something like a week and a half of school. At some point, and I remember this distinctly, I lay in bed, and I believed that I was not resting on a mattress, but on the head of a pin, and if I moved, I would impale myself straight through. I lay perfectly still, my eyes half open, as all the furniture floated to different corners of my room, threatening to crash to the floor if my concentration-slash-daze was broken.

There was no pain, only the sense that pain was possible and very real. There was no comfort, only the desire for relief. Uneasy, spacey and humanly morbid. Was I hallucinating, or dreaming? I'm not entirely sure, but the experience was very real.

Just so, The Album Leaf.

Alaska!: Emotions

Deadliest Catch! I Get It! Edition

Rookie Card played with these guys in LA. That is, we played on the same stage earlier in the evening, but before everyone decided to show up. Spaceland. Ugh. And yet, despite the lame experience, I really like Alaska. This three-piece does great spook-pop. The song, "Broken", specifically reminds me of the Silent Hill soundtrack. Not the movie, the game. Those who know, know; Fuzzy and ethereal, yet with a definite groove. This is another band I keep meaning to find more of.

Alaska has become pretty prominent in our current pop-culture. Jewel claims Alaska above San Diego in interviews. Sarah Palin, The Deadliest Catch. ( Also, that crab-fishing show.) I‘d like to visit someday. There is a small town called Unalaska in the Fox Archipelago that looks delightful, and also scary. As in, haunted town scary. I’m sure it doesn’t help that half the year is dark and frozen.

The Advantage: Elf Titled

8th-Bit Wonder of the World Edition

I first read about The Advantage, named after an old Nintendo joystick controller, on a video game related website raving about what a great show they put on. Not so much for stage presence, but musicianship. When they came to San Diego, I made it a point to go see for myself. What's interesting about these guys, as opposed to other video game-themed bands, is the exactness and precision in the way they make their guitars and drums sound like the 8-bit midi sounds we grew up with in old Nintendo games. Certainly there is a greater richness to the audio which comes from using analog instruments to mimic digital samples, but every nuance and beat is upheld and carried over, which is fairly amazing considering the staccato, punchy nature of the music. The Advantage are, to be sure, accomplished musicians.

I for one love hearing themes from Contra, MegaMan and the classic Sunsoft Batman game blasting from my car stereo. The Advantage has good taste, and choose songs that stand apart and make you tap your foot. Fans of the NES would do well to track down this album. However, if you have no sense of nostalgia for the halcyon days of retro gaming, you might be left feeling indifferent. Even so, if you choose to pass on the CD, go see them live if possible. That might change your mind.

Not The Advantage, but fun:

Bryan Adams: So Far So Good

Giant Crabs Edition

I had to delete the comma between "Far" and "So" twice after looking at the cover again. Also of note on the inside of the booklet: Why is Bryan Adams taking a piss on his truck? I don't get it...

Looks like I have a lot of "best-of's" and compilations. I guess I do, though I listen to them far less than full albums. However, for Bryan Adams, this will do it for me. Every hit is on here; All the movie stuff, the video stuff and the stuff in between, like the duet with Tina Turner on "It's Only Love". I like that. While Adams' music is ballad-centric, I like his "rockers", particularly "Summer of '69" (Bryan was 10 years old in 1969, btw.) and "Kids Wanna Rock", which I remember fondly as being used in an episode of Dynaman. Overproduced, with nary an edge to be found, this comp is more nostalgia than anything. Good for a spin every couple years, I guess.

Except the song "Run to You". Here's a taste of the lyrics:

"Shes got a heart of gold she'd never let me down
But you're the one that always turns me on
You keep me comin' round
I know her love is true
But its so damn easy makin' love to you"

What a cheating piece of crap!

Agua Dulce: Agua Dulce

Real Men Play Bongos Edition

This is the 1998 self-titled EP from the local Latin-Jazz group. I don't know if they're active anymore. I think I got this from a guy at my old work who got it from a customer who was in the band. Honestly, I never gave it much of a listen until recently. I probably wouldn't have appreciated it very much, except two years ago, I saw some live Latin-Jazz as performed by Jack Costanzo, aka Mr. Bongo. In the live setting, watching folks salsa dance and swing, I was smitten. I wanted to purchase some Latin-Jazz then, but never got around to looking into it, or figuring out where to look.

The best part about seeing Jack Costanzo was certainly the bit about him giving ME a shout out during the show. See, my in-laws know him from church, and he invited them to the show. They took me for my birthday, and I got to meet Jack, who is probably one of the sweetest, coolest guys in "the biz" I've ever had the pleasure of meeting. I say this here, and I'll likely say it again, even as it totally distracts from Agua Dulce, but really...Jack is much more entertaining.

This is a fun record, with some catchy, albeit ambiguous tunes on it. I'd be hard-pressed to remember any names. It'd play well at a party or as background music at work...work where you're allowed to dance. The album cover looks like it belongs on a Yes album, which I approve of.

Now, Mr. Bongo!

Aerosmith: Aerosmith

Boston Bad-Ass Edition

Yes, I said bad-ass. Aerosmith's first, humbly unnamed, is a kick in the teeth. The version I have is righteously remastered, and perhaps watered down because of it. This disk would benefit from some vinyl crackle, at least to represent the rough and tumble that the five boys represented at the time. The liner notes on this CD are wonderful - Reviews and fan-appreciation for the band from the time of this album's debut, properly lauding the lads as "true to themselves; There's no imitation country or superhip posturing or frosted hair and beautymarks..." (Dann DeWitt)

So yeah, while described as "hard", it's nothing to today's "hard", or even the 80's "hard". I imagine I'd like to hear Aerosmith playing a club while I drank a strong beer and chatted with friends on a Friday night. More jammy than AC/DC, but with equal measure of cheeky tough.

I thoroughly enjoy watching Steven Tyler and Joe Perry talk about their Rock'n'Roll in the film, The Decline of Western Civilization Part 2. (See the opening to this film below - Aerosmith at 4 mins. in) They're practically laughing at the metal heads that followed them, and I don't blame them. I'd likely let my boy listen to Aerosmith today, but would as soon break all speakers in the house than let Insane Clown Posse cross the air. I wonder what he'll accept at my age? The mind reels...

Aerosmith: Toys in the Attic

Not GI Joes Edition

Toys in the Attic was the first music I heard from Aerosmith, recommended to me by Ray Klaar, my guru of music through High School. Subsisting on a steady diet of Iron Maiden and Stryper at the time of my first listen, this stuff was a revelation. Groove and bluesy-rock mixed with some pretty heavy licks. Nothing a fan of Led Zepplin wasn't already familiar with, but I wasn't yet a fan of the Zep, so this did me good.

Listening to the whole album again after many years was interesting. There is much more to early Aerosmith than "Walk This Way" and "Sweet Emotion". Both were, of course, stand out tracks, but "Uncle Salty" and "No More No More" hold up still, yet go largely under appreciated.

I was ruined on Aerosmith for a little while. I had a girlfriend who loved them, though mainly post-"Pump" stuff. It was a strange relationship at a strange time in my life (what time or relationship in one's late teens isn't strange?) and as Aerosmith seemed to be the soundtrack to it all, I lost what was once a good feeling towards them. Time heals, I guess. I'm a different person, but I can still dig a good tune.

AC/DC: '74 Jailbreak

Albums Contain/Definite Cuts Edition

This is an EP with four tracks that were on on the Australian-Only release of AC/DC's first album recorded in 1974, and "Jailbreak", another "lost track". Bon Scott sings here, and the bluesy chunck-rock that defined AC/DC is in full effect. There is a live quality to these recordings that make you understand why AC/DC became the rock icons they are today.

Where does AC/DC stand in my collection? Well, I certainly like the quick, mindless rock these guys define. They are like blue-blooded chaps you'd like to have a beer with on a Friday night after a long week working at the docks. But I don't work at the docks. I'm a nerd, and while AC/DC is fun, it's like novelty fun for me; A lark that I might turn up if hanging with old friends on a "guys night out". So, I'd love to see them live, but I'd never pay more than $15 do do so.

On the other hand, there's this from 2000. From the article:
(Michael Stipe of R.E.M.) was taking part in the Sarasota Film Festival, and attended the State Room party to present actor Stephen Dorff with the festival's Young Lion Award. At the party, a photographer tried to get Mr. Stipe to pose with another rocker, AC/DC lead singer Brian Johnson, who lives in Sarasota, but the R.E.M. singer refused. That didn't seem to bother Mr. Johnson much, though. The singer, who immortalized "Back in Black," told one partygoer: "I got to tell you, mate, I don't like him, and I don't like his (expletive deleted) music."

AC/DC: Ballbreaker

Australian Creeps/Dangerously Close Edition

Where Back in Black was the triumphant return of AC/DC after the death of original singer Bon Scott, Ballbreaker feels like the seventh-inning stretch for some tired dudes who maybe aren’t that into it anymore. The paces have slowed, there’s a little less spark, and none of the songs are as memorable or catchy as anything that’s gone before. Opener "Hard as a Rock" is solid as a rock, for sure, but hard. I dunno.

I had a friend in high school named James who love, love LOVED AC/DC. As in, it was the only band he cared about, far as I knew. He was a fresh-faced, tall, skinny dude with an easy going, chilled out nature. Clever too, so when I read stupid song titles such as “Cover You in Oil”, “Burnin’ Alive” and “Caught With Your Pants Down”, and James’ is the first face I see in my mind when I reminisce on the times I used to listen to AC/DC a little more regularly, I have to chuckle a little bit.

AC/DC: Back in Black

Angus Can't/Defeat Children Edition

Now we're talkin'! This is the seminal AC/DC album, in my humble opinion. If you have to own one, it should be this one. I caught on late, however. The first AC/DC album I got on tape back in the 80’s was “Who Made Who”, the soundtrack to Stephen King’s film “Maximum Overdrive”. A lot of “Back in Black” is on “Who Made Who”, but it just feels better here. It was pretty obvious that Maximum Overdrive was Stephen King’s “ego-project”, going so far as to include his self-professed favorite band as the soundtrack. It didn’t save the movie, sadly. Emilio Estevez, what happened to you?

The title song on “Back in Black” holds a special place in my heart, since I performed as Angus Young in a Battle-of-the-Airbands in High School with my friends. I rocked it; School-jacket, backspin and all. I stayed up very late making an AC/DC stage sign out of PVC pipe the night before. We got huge applause, but it was the cheerleaders doing…some nonsense…that won the night. Bah!

Lyrically, this album is like Haggis: All guts and junk-meat. It's edible, but you probably don't want to chew on it too long or think about it too hard. Musically, though, the whole album is tight, crunchy, catchy rock at its purest and blackest. So good, it's a cliché. Don't let that scare you off.

Sterling Rocks Out to AC/DC from Jim Renaud on Vimeo.

The Best of ABBA: The Millennium Collection

Swedish Supergroups Have More Fun Edition

This is one of the albums I would never have bought for myself. Shandree is the ABBA fan, but listening to this CD I understand the love. Luscious production, harmonies, and arrangements abound. I was struck by their early songs being more story-driven, lyrically. Like prog-pop, or Epic-Disco. I'll go with that. "Waterloo" and "Fernando" in particular contain strange, referential lyrics for blonde-bubblegum pop.

Fun Fact: My lab cohorts at Sony will often yell out "FERNANDO" when the mood strikes. Whatever mood that may be.

Oh, Sweden.

Also, this:

The 5.6.7.8's: Bomb the Twist

In Japanese, "Nani?" Means "What?" Edition

I bought this 6-song EP at Amoeba in San Francisco while on a small tour with Rookie Card, my former band. I'd just seen Kill Bill on DVD, and the special features had a couple songs by this Japanese girl-trio performed live-ish. You know their song, "Woo Hoo". (Yes, you do.) I especially enjoy the title track , when singer Ronnie "Yoshiko" Fujiyama scream-chokes her lyrics in terrible "Engrish" over their signature retro surf-punk sound. Awesome.

My wife Shandree and I saw them at the Casbah, where the well-dressed ladies seemed to roadie themselves and put on a tremendous show, full of energy and fun. It was fairly embarrassing to hear white boys calling out "Nihon-Jin!!!" (Japanese Person!!!) between every song. Whatever. "Three Cool Chicks", indeed. Shan and I looked for them when we went to Japan, yelling out "Nihon-Jin" on every corner. No luck.

Also embarrassing: A middle aged woman stood at the front of the stage, begging the ladies to sign something for her while they set up their gear. Finally, reluctantly, the drummer was the last to sign(setting up drums is always a pain. I should know) and then, immediately, the lady LEFT THE SHOW. NTF?!

Disk-a-Day is GO!!!

Well Rounded Introductions (+ Full Disclosure) Edition

Well, after a little over half a year (give or take) blogging my CD-a-Day posts at a more chaotic and personal blog, Don't Panic. NOW!, I've decided to consolidate them here, with a url more matching the title, and with an eye towards more focus for new readers and my old readers alike. I'll be starting from A again, re-posting some of the old blogs that no one really read, with relevant edits as necessary.

Also, in regards to the above mentioned FULL DISCLOSURE (capitalized for emphasis), I've decided to try and monetize this beast. That is, I'll provide links to the disks I "review" and if you click on them and buy stuff (if Amazon allows it, of course) I'll make money.

But, that is not the PURPOSE of this blog. I started my CD-a-Day posts as a means of motivating myself to write daily, and that's what I intend to continue doing. These posts mean more to me than the music they are titled after...the music is important, but like most THINGS, it is secondary (at best) to who I am, who I care about, and who I look to. The truth about life is that "who" matters much more than "what", and so I'm using the "what" to lead to the "who". (Not "The Who"...sorry Pete Townsend).

As for the title...say it out loud. Kinda rolls off the tongue, yeah? Sadly, the spelling of "disk" with a "k" usually refers to magnetic media, like Floppy Disks or Hard Disk Drives, while "disc" is generally accepted when referring to Optical Discs, Like CDs and DVDs. Well, some yahoo s already took "disc-a-day", "discaday", "cd-a-day" and "cdaday". So, I'm left with a less accepted spelling and likely less traffic because of it.

Posh, I say. Again, the blog isn't really ABOUT CD's. It's about (our) human experience, where music is the catalyst and common ground. And where "Disk" is defined as any surface that is flat and round, or seemingly so:i.e. the disk of the sun, I hope this blog will prove to be deeper than flat. You'll just have to get up close to find out.