The Black Keys The Big Come Up

What qualifies as an important record?  Is it rarity? Collectability?  No, while these things are important to someone who is into collecting records as investment?  It is indeed not what makes a great record.  The music, the mastering, the pressing and the artwork are what makes a great record, because if it is not truly a creative force behind the project, it is dead on arrival.

In the past three or four years, America has started to pay attention to a ‘new band’ from Akron Ohio.  Two white guys with the souls of bluesmen who form a two man outfit called The Black Keys.  They first began to make a little bit of noise when they released a single in 2006 called ‘Your Touch’ off of their 5^th release entitled ‘Magic Potion’.  There was something new and yet completely familiar to the formula that Guitarist Dan Auerbach and  drummer Patrick Carney had put together.  The following two releases, 2008’s Brothers and 2011’s El Camino would see the two tour the world several times and win Grammy after Grammy.  The hipsters jumped on the bandwagon and all of a sudden the Black Keys were a household name.  People would run up to them and congratulate them on their debut record ‘Brothers’ even though the duo had recorded 5 albums prior.  Ahh, the wonders of success, much reminiscent to fans jumping on Nirvana’s bandwagon in 1991 and claimed to be down from the beginning even though they did not realize Nirvana had already released a full length debut a year prior.

All of this is irrelevant thou as we are going to look at the beginnings of a band that now seemed poised for success from the beginning, although for years this band received no airplay and did what they were best at…delivering hard edged electric dirty riff blues and toured the country on the strength of their live show. 

In 2002 an independent label called Alive records released the classic album The Big Come Up, the debut record from the Black Keys and we have finally reached our review which is, of course, the moment you have all been waiting for.

The Big Come Up is one of those records that would consider an important record.  It is loud, edgy and in your face, paying tribute to a wide array of artistic influences from Junior Kimbrough to Captain Beefheart.  The album is one of the best examples of lo-fi recordings around.  This record feels like it was recorded in a garage instead of a studio.  It is dirty and raw and doesn’t feel like there was any tweaking of the soundboards, instead going from the amplifier to the record and then to your ears. 

The 180 gram pressing is raw and loud and far superior to the cd which is overdriven and clips like mad during the louder points of the songs.  The album contains the first of several tributes to one of their influences, Junior Kimbrough, later they would record an entire EP of Kimbrough’s  songs.  This album contains a reinvention of his song Do the Rump.  From the very beginning it is certain that these two Akron natives are not just going through the motions of playing the blues, they are living and feeling the blues with each and every note. 

My only complaint about this album is the lack of love this album receives in their live shows.  The only track that is included in their live sets is the album’s single ‘I’ll be your man’. Don’t get me wrong, this is a great track, however, there are songs on this album with strength that far surpasses their other outings. 

In short, The Big Come Up is an important record.  It’s the starting point of a band, who have achieved critical success however have not yet begun to scratch the surface of what they are capable of.  This album needs to be in your LP collection.  If it is not, make sure it gets added soon.

scrap 224; Van Halen A DIFFERENT KIND OF TRUTH

This is a journey into sound.....
(my 10th review)

...and then 28 years later Diamond David was welcomed back into the fold where he, Alexander, Edward, & Edward's son Wolfgang lived happily ever.
If there is a God & yes I do believe there must be, then some prayers are in fact answered, some fairy tales come true, world peace can be achieved, & Van Halen can have one David Lee Roth back as their frontman/singer. Sammy Hagar was a new singer for Van Halen. David Lee Roth is THE singer for Van Halen.
Back in 2007, the Van Halen Reunion Tour was alive & well. The original Van Halen line up was 3/4 intact & on tour (substitute Ed's son Wolfgang for long-time bassist Michael Anthony)
Fast forward to 2011-2012. Rumors began to swirl cyberspace that Van Halen could possibly be sort of back in the studio (5150) recording a new album. And then on January 12, 2012, rumor became reality when the first single off a yet untitled new album was released. TATTOO hit the world at large & the new/old Van Halen was off & running. By January 23, 2012, TATTOO was ranked #1 on Billboard's Hard Rock Singles chart, the #1 most played song at classic rock radio in its first week and #1 most added song at mainstream and active rock radio. TATTOO had mixed reviews. A wide range of opinions from love it to hate it. I didn't like it at first but have come to love it now. Then new rumors began to rise. TATTOO was actually based on a never released song called DOWN IN FLAMES. Then more rumors; was this seemingly mythical new album with Diamond Dave ALL old demos from the 70's that they did prior to 1984? In an interview, new/former lead singer Sammy Hagar said so, & for the most part he was right.
On February 7, 2012 all rumors were confirmed. A DIFFERENT KIND OF TRUTH was released. 13 'new' tracks with David Lee Roth at the helm of the good yet plenty battered ship Van Halen. Now that Dave, Alex, & Eddie are all in their late 50's the kicks & jumps aren't as high. Dave's Jack Daniels stained voice doesn't quite have the same range as it used to but musically & lyrically the boys are in tip top form. Dave's singing his ass off. Eddie is not just playing his ass off he's again re-defining the rock guitar. Alex has been reborn again hard on the skins (perhaps because he is now an ordained minister) & Ed's pride & joy Wolfgang is dangerous on the bass & bonus, he can sing too.
A DIFFERENT KIND OF TRUTH is the best of the re-worked past & the retro future all in the present.
The 13 'new' tracks I spoke of earlier are; 1. Tattoo. 2. She's the Woman. 3. You & Your Blues. 4. Chinatown. 5. Blood & Fire. 6. Bullethead. 7. As Is. 8. Honeybabysweetiedoll. 9. The Trouble With Never. 10. Outta Space. 11. Stay Frosty. 12. Big River. 13. Beats Workin'
All these songs have that retro feel to them & yet still manage to sound resoundingly new in my opinion. I have listened to this album in its entirety on numerous occasions & have yet to find any reason to not love this album.
Since A DIFFERENT KIND OF TRUTH was released on CD in 2 versions (standard & deluxe) & online. I purchased the deluxe edition. That version came with two CD's. The standard album & a bonus disc (The Downtown Sessions) consisting of the band rehearsing acoustic versions of; Panama, You and Your Blues (Intro), You and Your Blues, and Beautiful Girls. A Collector's Edition vinyl album was also released. This double gatefold LP vinyl includes all 13 songs on two 180g LPs plus custom LP artwork done by David Lee Roth.
I have to admit the vinyl format is absolutely beautiful. The LP's are in a bright red color that matches the red color on the cover artwork. A silver/bronze Art Deco locomotive engine with the classic VH logo in the upper right hand corner. (speaking of which, is extremely similar to The steam locomotive featured on the cover artwork is a New York Central Railroad J-3A Dreyfuss Hudson. Aside from a reversed angle of the locomotive, the artwork appears very similar to the 1975 Commodores album Movin' On, released by Motown Records.)
The records are as flawless sounding as they are cool to look at. They are loud. They are clean. High's, mid's & lows are all in wonderful vinyl harmony. If you are a fan of Van Halen, especially the DLR era music this is definitely the album you've waited well over a generation for. That's the truth. The whole truth, & nothing but a different kind of truth. So help me God. Go Spin it.

scrap224; Def Leppard HYSTERIA

 

This is a journey into sound..... 

80's British rock. That statement is humorous yet an accurate one when describing Def Leppard. Already a handful of good to great albums to their credit it would be their 4th album, HYSTERIA that would solidify them as one one the biggest & best rock bands of all time. HYSTERIA was released on August 3rd, 1987. It is still their best selling album selling 20 million + so far. Of the 12 tracks on the album 7 were released as singles. HYSTERIA gave the world such music as; Rocket, Armageddon It, Love Bites, Pour Some Sugar On Me, Hysteria, Women, & Animal. A virtual greatest hits from a single album. Hysteria went on to dominate album charts around the world for three years. RIAA x 12 platinum sales in America 2009. Hysteria currently sits as the 51st best selling album of all time in the US, and spent a record 96 weeks in the US Top 40. The album has sold more than 20 million copies worldwide.

The album has earned critical acclaim from a number of sources. In 1988 Q magazine readers voted Hysteria as the 98th Greatest Album of All Time, while in 2004, the album was ranked at number 472 on Rolling Stone's list of the 500 Greatest Albums of All Time.
On 31 December 1984, drummer Rick Allen lost his left arm when his Corvette flipped off a country road. Following the accident, the band stood by Allen's decision to return to the drum kit despite his disability, using a combination electronic/acoustic kit with a set of foot pedals that triggered (via MIDI) the hits he would have played with his left arm. The original name of the album was ANIMAL INSTINCT, yet it would be drummer Rick Allen's suggestion to title the new album HYSTERIA due to all of the events that happened to him & the band during the 3+ years it took to record it.
HYSTERIA is personally my favorite Def Leppard album & one of my favorite albums ever, & the vinyl version is no exception. The sound is clean, loud, & warm. In my opinion; a nearly perfect vinyl album. You don't have to get hysterical to listen to HYSTERIA, but it should at the very least make you happy. Spin it.

scrap224; Aerosmith PUMP

This is a journey into sound.....

When drug addiction & child abuse met gasoline. First of all I must state upfront that I'm am not now nor have I ever been a big Aerosmith fan. I am not a Steven Tyler fan. For me they have always been all over the map musically & lyrically. They do have a wonderful collection of greatest hits but never a complete over-all great album. In 1989 Aerosmith released their 10th studio album; PUMP. for my money & Aerosmith tastes, this is as close to a complete great album as they have ever gotten since TOYS IN THE ATTIC.
PUMP consists of 10 solid tunes & a fair share of monster hits. PUMP had 6 of its 10 songs released as singles & is currently certified 7X Platinum. The track listing is; 1. Young Lust. 2. F.I.N.E. 3. Going Down/Love in an Elevator. 4. Monkey On My Back. 5. Water Song/Janie's Got a Gun. 6. Dulcimer Stomp/The Other Side. 7. My Girl. 8. Don't Get Mad, Get Even. 9. Hoodoo/Voodoo Medicine Man. 10. What It Takes.
This is a very good to great album. I can & listened to it many, many times in its entirety with no complaints. For me, this IS Aerosmith. Personally I really dig Monkey On My Back as my favorite track.
The band at this time consisted of Steven Tyler, lead lips, harmonica, & keyboards. Joe Perry, lead guitar. Brad Whitford, rhythm guitar. Tom Hamilton, bass. Joey Kramer, drums & percussion.
I feel like Aerosmith sounds best in the vinyl format. There is something about their rocking eclectic sound of the standard rock band instruments with the additions of a harmonica, piano, & the occasional horn section that melds well in the comfortable audio climate an LP records provides. My copy is on 180g vinyl & sounds superb.
This album does have additional treat. I love the cover art. The 2 nearly identical black flat bed trucks except in size. The little one (says PUMP on the door) is piggy-backed on the bigger one. It's fun & extremely iconic. Then the standard Aerosmith logo stamped on the black & white photo in violet. Good stuff all around. Although its now nearly a quarter of a century old (23) PUMP deserves a new listen. Get pumped, & go spin it. It is time well spent.

scrap224; Pearl Jam Vs.

This is a journey into sound.....

1. Go. 2. Animal. 3. Daughter. 4. Glorified G. 5. Dissident. 6. W.M.A. 7. Blood. 8. rearviewmirror. 9. Rats. 10. Elderly Woman Behind the Counter in a Small Town. 11. Leash. 12. Indifference.
These 12 songs make up Pearl Jams 2nd album Vs. released on September 19, 1993.
Back in the day, during my formative high school years Grunge music was what was ruling the airwaves everywhere. Seattle Washington was now the new hub of cool. Bands like Nirvana, Alice In Chains, Soundgarden, & of course Pearl Jam were the new 'Big Four'. Of these four bands Pearl Jam was & still remains my favorite. Their first album 'Ten' was new, loud, & personal. Vs was that but much more aggressive in my opinion.
I guess I will discuss the title or titles first. To begin with Vs. was called Five Against One. Then it was to simply be self titled. Then at the last minute the new Pearl Jam album became title Vs. These titles all reflected Pearl Jams current attitude toward the corporate business world. An attitude they capitalized on ever since. The band during this album was; Dave Abbruzzese on drums, Jeff Ament on bass, Eddie Vedder on vocals & rhythm guitar, Stone Gossard on rhythm guitar, & Mike McCready on lead guitar.
I have 4 copies/versions of Vs. my first version was on cassette which I got on its release date. My cassette simply says Pearl Jam due to the album changing titles. (I have a cousin who has a cassette that says Five Against One.). Second, I have the standard CD. Third, I have the expanded CD that includes outtakes & other various later to be released tracks. And finally, the re-released vinyl edition on 180 gram vinyl which of course is the actual purpose of this review.
This vinyl version has a full rich sound. Every note rings true & has an aggressive & sensual feeling about it. The lyrics are both intrinsic & worldly. Pearl Jam are vinyl fans & intend for their albums to not just be released on vinyl but to be experienced through vinyl. I whole-heartily agree. 'Go' get this on vinyl & take it for a spin.

Jimi Hendrix Valleys Of Neptune

Everyone has their own opinion as to who the greatest guitar players in the world are.  Everyone’s list is different.  Some will say Jimmy Page, or Clapton or even Stevie Ray Vaughan.  If you poll the greatest guitarists in the world as to who the greatest of all time is, they will likely tell you that their pick is the man for whom this review is written.  That man is the legendary James Marshall Hendrix.

In the few short years that Jimi graced us with his music, he managed to redefine how people think about music played on the electric guitar.  Hendrix is rock and blues and soul and funk all rolled into one and of course backed by some of the most prolific musicians that anyone had heard up to that point.  The original Jimi Hendrix Experience featured Jimi backed up by Noel Redding on bass and Mitch Mitchell on drums.  Eventually Redding left the lineup and was replaced by Billy Cox on bass in both the Experience and in Band of Gypsies.  This could simply be a history lesson on Jimi Hendrix, however this review has purpose.  Everyone has heard Jimi’s classic albums so to rehash Electric Ladyland or Are You Experienced would simply be a lesson in futility since everyone has their own ideas of these albums.  So why is Jimi Hendrix relevant today for this review?  In  2010, Jimi Hendrix’s estate released a collection of songs that were to be included in Jimi’s next studio effort.  U fortunately he died before he could present them to the public, however these songs were finally realeased as a full length LP titled Valleys Of Neptune.  Featuring both of the lineups of the Jimi Hendrix Experience, Jimi presents songs on this album that are both familiar and new at the same time. 

Clocking in at just a little over 45 minutes, Hendrix fans were delighted to hear that not only did the material sound fantastic, it was completely contemporary sounding, proving to everyone once and for all just how far ahead of his time he was.  Opening with a new rendition of Stone Free the listener is immediately shown that they are not going to be listening to the same classic versions of songs that made Jimi Famous.  Other classic tracks have been reworked here such as Red House and Hear My Train a Comin.  Each of these tracks presenting them in a new way but with a fluidity and feel that is as natural as the originals.  The bass and drums are strong and build a strong foundation that Jimi uses to take the listener on a journey like no other musician can.  The most sought after song of all of Jimi Hendrix’s unreleased catalog, Valleys of Neptune, is officially released for the first time on this release.  The song is simply perfect even in the unfinished version that appears on the album. 

This album was released as a limited edition numbered vinyl pressed on 200gram vinyl.  This record is thick and the grooves are cut deeply providing a solid surface for Jimi’s soaring guitars, and of course the rhythm section of the Experience so strong that no other rock band of the time would have been able to handle them.  The vinyl spinning for this review is number 329 of 10,000 that were released worldwide.  It is a double LP in a gatefold sleeve with each record in heavy plastic sleeves.  The complete liner note book is a 11”x11” 8 page booklet with essays about the release of this project.  Jimi’s original sound engineer worked on this project to insure that it sounded as good as it possibly could. 

Side by side comparison of this album is tough.  Usually the vinyl will sound better when played side by side with the cd.  In this case, they are a wash.  This is not a bad thing for vinyl lovers, but rather a good thing for cd lovers as the cd was made from the vinyl master instead of a completely different master being made for the vinyl.  CD listeners, you can hear the dynamics of the vinyl without having to find an out of print and expensive copy, though if you wish to do so, don’t let me stop you.  No matter how you listen to this album, listen to it.  There was only one Jimi Hendrix and for the first time in many many years, a new album of original Hendrix material was released to the world. 

If you are a fan, get it…if you aren’t a fan, this is a great time to start and find out what the Jimi Hendrix Experience was all about. 

scrap224; Huey Lewis & the News SPORTS

This is a journey into sound.....

As diverse a decade as the 1980's were, there are some bands better remembered than others. Some were of the one hit wonder variety while others were able to establish themselves as a premier act. From the bars of San Francisco California I give you Huey Lewis & the News. Already an established act in their area & some radio play nationally via their first two albums; Huey Lewis & the News & Picture This, the band was hoping to make it big with their next album and they did just that. Their third album made Huey Lewis a household name. The album in question was SPORTS. This album is very important to me personally because in 1983 when it was released I was a mere 8 years old. For my birthday I received my very first music from my parents. It was Huey Lewis & the News SPORTS, on cassette. So obvisiouly this album has a special place in my heart. To me Huey Lewis & the News is a 'band' in the truest sense. Guitars, an harmonica, horns, & keyboards give them & this album a tremendously full and unique sound & one of reasons I have always enjoyed listening to it.
SPORTS was a nearly immediate hit. It has been certified 7x Platinum. It had five of its nine tracks as singles. And by the end of 1984 SPORTS ranked second on Billboards top 200. Second only to Michael Jackson's THRILLER not bad company back then. More good fortune was to come the bands way when they contributed two songs for a movie called Back to the Future.
The track listing; 1. The Heart of Rock & Roll. 2. Heart & Soul. 3. Bad Is Bad. 4. I Want A New Drug. 5. Walking On A Thin Line. 6. Finally Found A Home. 7. If This Is It. 8. You Crack Me Up. 9. Honky Tonk Blues. And it all clocks in at a brisk 37:46. The band personnel at the time was; Huey Lewis- lead vocals & harmonica. Mario CIpollina- Bass. Johnny Colla- Guitar & Saxophone. Chris Hayes- Guitars. Bill Gibson- Drums & Percussion. Sean Hopper- Keyboards.
My personal favorites are basically a coin flip for me. Once you are able to memorize every note & lyric of every song on an album a favorite song becomes a moot point.
My vinyl is not an original unfortunately. It is a brand new reprint. The sound is amazing. It's clean. It's clear. It's alive. If you are indeed in need of a new drug then finally give this album a home, your home. Spin it.