Cheevyjames’ Musical Roundhouse

Released: 1969
Tracks: Peaches En Regalia; Willie the Pimp; Son of Mr. Green Genes; Little Umbrellas; The Gumbo Variations; It Must Be a Camel
Best track: Peaches En Regalia
Track to skip: Gumbo does drag a bit, but it’s got some cool and funky bits so I usually don’t

The groove on Willie the Pimp is awesome and after a few verses Zappa takes off on a never-ending solo. I’m not as impressed with this as most people seem to be, but it’s not that offensive to my ears. Green Genes is excellent, an instrumental re-working of the Uncle Meat song. Great song. Little Umbrellas is really gorgeous, with a typically great Zappa melody. I think that Frank Zappa was one of the best melody writers EVER in the history of rock. His melodies are always beautiful and so different than everything else. For me, that’s what makes his music so special.

Gumbo Variations continues on with a great bass riff. This song is basically just an excuse to jam out. A good, but screechy, sax solo by Ian Underwood (Ian’s a total monster on this whole album, handling all the horn and keyboard duties), then a BAD ASS violin solo by Sugarcane Harris followed by some more jamming. The album ends with Camel, a nice little song. It’s good, but Zappa’s percussion is too loud in the mix.

This album has really grown on me since I first bought it. At first I liked Peaches and that was it. But the more I listen to it, the better it gets. On this particular listening, I think this album totally rocks and I’m starting to understand why this is always at the top of everyone’s list for best FZ album. Not quite there, but it’s absolutely essential and a great thing to listen to. Often.

Rating: 90

Released: 1985
Tracks: Armed and Dangerous; Raise Hell; God Save the Queen; Metal Thrashing Mad; Panic; Soldiers of Metal; Howling Furies
Best track: Armed and Dangerous
Track to skip: God Save the Queen

This thing’s pretty short, but it gives a good indication of what Anthrax was about. Dan Spitz’s guitar style is very present here and he was actually one of the better guitarists in Thrash/Speed Metal in the 80’s. I don’t know why they decided to do a version of God Save the Queen. They are way too talented to be the Sex Pistols; they just play their instruments too well. Joey’s fake British snarl sounds SO bad on this. This track is very embarrassing to listen to. Soldiers & Howling Furies are actually early stuff and feature Neil Turbin on vocals (I never noticed before). He’s not bad, but Belladonna’s a better vocalist. Even with all the bad lyrics on this thing, it’s OK to hear on occasion, but not mandatory listening or anything. If you’re a serious Anthrax fan you’ll like it, otherwise just stick to one of their main albums (like State of Euphoria, Persistence or White Noise).

Rating: 57

Released: 1994
Tracks: Bring it On; Prayer for the Dying; Dreaming in Metaphors; Don’t Cry; Fast Changes; Kiss From a Rose; People Asking Why; Newborn Friend; If I Could; I’m Alive; Bring it On (Reprise)
Best track: Prayer for the Dying or If I Could
Track to skip: if you’re still sick of it (I am) then skip Kiss From a Rose

All the songs are great in one way or another, but for me the highlights are Prayer for the Dying and If I Could. Prayer has a great chorus and an addictive groove. If I Could features is a duet with Seal and Joni Mitchell and they blend so well together. Man, she’s got a great voice.

The great thing about this album is that it can be enjoyed on many levels. You can appreciate the perfect production, Seal’s vocals, the overall musicianship, the super grooves or just the flow of the whole thing. It’s a seriously good album and something I think most everyone should own.

Rating: 93

Released: 1964
Tracks: A Hard Day’s Night; I Should Have Known Better; If I Fell; I’m Happy Just to Dance With You; And I Love Her; Tell Me Why; Can’t Buy Me Love; Any Time At All; I’ll Cry Instead; Things We Said Today; When I Get Home; I’ll Be Back.
Best track: A Hard Day’s Night
Track to skip: I’ll Cry Instead, but it’s not that horrible

This is the only Beatles album that has only Lennon/McCartney songs and no one else’s. George gets to sing I’m Happy Just to Dance With You, which is decent, but it’s obvious they didn’t want George singing the best songs on the album (he gets his revenge on Sgt. Pepper and Abbey Road). Ringo is relegated to playing drums only for this one.

The songwriting has significantly improved from the last two albums. They’re still only singing about girls (bleh) but the songs are better. Of course they’re still releasing their best songs as singles, but they really got it right for this album. It flows really well and it’s solid all the way through until the end. They even manage to close the album with a great song and not a clunker like they usually do.

Go get this, it’s the best of all the pre-drug albums and a great example of why they were so damn huge back in 1964.

Rating: 86

Released: 1963
Tracks: It Won’t Be Long; All I’ve Got To Do; All My Loving; Don’t Bother Me; Little Child; Till There Was You; Please Mister Postman, Roll Over Beethoven; Hold Me Tight; You Really Got A Hold On Me; I Wanna Be Your Man; Devil in Her Heart; Not a Second Time; Money.
Best track: All My Loving, possibly Till There Was You
Track to skip: I hate to say it, but you can skip most of the songs. Worst are Little Child, Roll Over Beethoven & Hold Me Tight.

One thing that’s pretty annoying is that 6 out of the 14 are covers. I know it was standard practice back at the time and the Beatles pretty much got rid of that idea, but I’d still rather sit through an album of all-Beatles material. However, judging by the bad stuff that is on this thing, maybe it was good they added the covers in. Some notable firsts on this album: It Won’t Be Long is the first instance of the “yeah’s” that would be all over their work until the end. George Harrison’s first composition, Don’t Bother Me, makes its appearance on here. The track is OK, actually one of the better ones on here. It’s got that kinda 60’s ‘spy music’ feel to it. I’m sure there’s a better name for it. Not bad at all for his first attempt at songwriting (I’m not counting Cry for A Shadow, since that was a collaboration with Lennon).

Overall, this is not an impressive album. Once they got things going (Help) then they really did become a Force. With The Beatles is just OK. The bad songs drag it down, and that’s more than half of them. Not something I’d recommend to everyone, but if you like the early stuff you probably won’t have a problem with this.

Rating: 68

Recorded: 1969; Released: 1998
Tracks: 21st Century Schizoid Man; Drop In; I Talk to the Wind; Epitaph; Mantra (not listed); Travel Weary Capricorn; Improv (including Nola and Etude #7); Mars; Trees.
Best track: Mars
Track to skip: nothing

Besides the excellence of the playing, the main attractions to this CD are the inclusion of I Talk to the Wind (only time a live version has been released) and the totally unreleased Trees which none of us Crim-heads knew about before the announcement of this disc. Both are excellent and reasons enough to get this.

Yes, the sound quality of this thing is only OK. It doesn’t bother me, just imagine you’re listening to a real good quality bootleg. The album has an intense Schizoid Man to start things off. Wow. This is a really solid gig these guys did and it still amazes me that a band existed in 1969 that was THIS intense and creative.

I Talk to the Wind is beautiful and Mars is probably one of the best versions released so far by the band. Damn, this version of Mars sounds like the soundtrack to the end of the world! The improv is pretty good, better than most of the ones that this lineup did. The best way to describe this CD: INTENSE. Everything is intense. Wow, this thing is totally electric. As for Trees, the beginning part has 3 part harmony (sung by Lake, Giles and McDonald) and sounds how the Beach Boys should have sounded if they used their talent to more than just pop songs about surfing. This beginning section is just beautiful. The song then goes on to what would in a few weeks become parts of Pictures of a City.

This is a very good release (not really sonically, but performance-wise) and one that you should totally get.

Rating: 90

Released: 1957
Tracks: Blue Train; Moment’s Notice; Locomotion; I’m Old Fashioned; Lazy Bird
Best track: too hard, all are outstanding. I’ll pick the head of Blue Train if I have to.
Track to skip: you gotta be kidding! All are great.

For this album he brought along the talents of Lee Morgan on trumpet, Curtis Fuller on trombone, Kenny Drew on piano, Paul Chambers on bass and “Philly” Joe Jones on drums. Coltrane borrowed Chambers and Jones from Miles Davis’ group, with whom Coltrane had played.

The very beginning of Blue Train is probably the most striking moment of the album. It’s a very Minor and sad riff and a very different opening for the album. I’d always expect the first song on an album to start out running and just be a big kick in the ass. Coltrane took a subdued approach and really makes an impression with it. Blue Train is excellent, especially the head/main riff; it’s one of the most memorable and classic moments in recorded music (to my ears).

Everybody’s solos throughout the album are good and no one really takes the initiative and becomes the leader of the group. I think Coltrane’s inexperience kinda made him hold back a bit. Moment’s Notice is also a great composition, with a lot of good soloing. Listening to the album for purposes of this review, I was struck of how melodic EVERYTHING is on this. Every player is just shooting out these wonderful melodies all through this thing.

This is a very accessible album if you are new to the world of jazz. There’s no dissonance, no weird stuff and everything is pretty easy to follow. Good stuff to pick up.

Rating: 89

Released: 1995
Tracks: The Cathedral of Tears; First Light; Midnight Blue; Reflection I; Second Light; A Blessing of Tears; Returning I; Returning II
Best track: Midnight Blue
Track to skip: absolutely none, they’re all great

I like it when Fripp makes a bunch of weird noise with his Soundscapes, but this peaceful stuff is so much better. It’s great music to put on and think to. Think about loved ones, lost ones, yourself, where you’re going. It’s not like cheesy New Age music that’s supposed to heal you or relax you or some crap like that. I think this music actually makes you THINK and concentrate on it as well.

This is a truly beautiful album and I totally recommend it as a first purchase if you’re interested in this Fripp guy. Great disc.

Rating: 93

Released: 1992
Tracks: Your Quimby Dollars at Work; I Can’t Stop; Uglytown; Open Up!; Dhen Tin; Spearmint Pup; Fencing; Always Man; My Immense Superiority Over the Silverfish; Eno and the Actor; The Car Song; Heaven Likes You/Apple Pie; Backstage With Wilson Phillips; Here is What I Dreamed; Here is Why; Performing Miracles; Spoon Guy; And That’s Why It’s Called Spunk; Johnny One-Note/The Exciting New Toothpaste From Mars; Day of the Cow 1; Snowcow; Day of the Cow 2; We’re Rockin’ All Night With the Tangy Flavor of Cheddar; Rosemary Girl; Lightnin’ Roy
Best track: Uhhh, Cheddar? Quimby? Uglytown? Always Man? Dhen Tin? Pick one of those, it changes every time I hear this thing.
Track to skip: not recommended

This album was the first thing of Keneally’s that I heard and it really caught my attention. On his website there’s a little 2 minute preview of the albums’ 25 tracks. It blew me away. The music seemed very familiar to me. I hadn’t ever heard a note of his music, but when I heard it I felt like I knew this music, like I was really familiar with it deep down in my soul. This is only the second time this phenomenon has happened, and the first time was with Dah-veed’s music. A pretty rare thing. What can I say, it just connected with me.

It took me a while to buy this one, I got it after Dancing and Wooden Smoke and at the same time as Sluggo. As an album, it’s not as good as Sluggo, which isn’t as good as Dancing. However, this thing is DAMN impressive. How does a person have all these excellent ideas hiding in his brain for so long before releasing it as his debut album? It kills me that a person can be this creative.

Hat is very chaotic; Keneally rarely stays in one place for very long. This is good or bad depending on your tolerance for those kind of things. I like it. It does show a sign of immaturity, but it doesn’t take away from the immense creativity Keneally has and just lets loose on this piece of plastic. And don’t be dismayed by the 25 songs, most are around 3-4 minutes and 9 of them are under 2 minutes long. Only Lightnin’ Roy is excessive, clocking in at 13 minutes.

Hat is not the most amazing album ever made, nor is it Keneally’s best album. It is very good, a lot of fun, and something to pull out after you’ve listened to Dancing a few thousand times, and Sluggo a few hundred and you still want more Keneally. Trust me, it happens. It won’t stay in your CD player, but it’ll always put a big ol’ smile on your face.

Rating: 83

Addendum 11/27/02: This review has always bugged me. The grade of 83 never really sat well with me and over the months since I wrote it I always felt I gave a wrong grade. I re-listened to it again last night (in reviewer mode, not in fun sing-along mode) and decided that Hat does not deserve an 83. It’s better than that. It still doesn’t qualify as ‘A’ material, but that’s OK. It was his first attempt. For most of the 70 odd minutes, this album is very entertaining. Also, it’s a great debut, and very impressive. So, new (and correct) grade for this is:

Rating: 88

Released: 1982
Tracks: I Advance Masked; Under Bridges of Silence; China - Yellow Leader; In the Cloud Forest; New Marimba; Girl on a Swing; Hardy Country; The Truth of Skies; Painting and Dance; Still Point; Lakeland/Aquarelle; Seven On Seven; Stuttified
Best track: The Truth of Skies, but it’s tough to pick just one.
Track to skip: The album’s really like one long piece, so it’s gonna sound similar no matter what song you’re on

Complex, but very nice melodies with lots of (what I’ll call) beautiful guitar colorization. Fripp’s Frippertronics are all over this and so are Summer’s Whateverhecallsthem. When they go into ‘beautiful-mode’ it is so damn amazing the stuff they do. Gorgeous melodies. The complex stuff will totally fry your brain. Either way, this is a really great album.

Not recommended for parties or dancing; if you want to be happy, get it!

Rating: 90

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