Robert Barry Francos FFanzeen Albums and Singles/Video Reviews: November 2021

 

Albums and Singles/Video Reviews: November 2021

Text © Robert Barry Francos / FFanzeen, 2021
Images from the Internet

 

Note that these reviews are alphabetical by first letter, and not listed in a “ratings” order.

 

Albums:

 

James Lee Stanley & Dan Navarro
All Wood and Led
www.allwoodandled.com
This release is just part of a series of covers of classic rock songs, where the “wood” represents acoustic guitars, which have included albums of material by the Rolling Stones and the Doors. As Navarro says, “With absolute respect and admiration, we chose not to simply duplicate the originals, but instead imagined, ‘What if Led Zeppelin had lived in Laurel Canyon in 1967 instead of England?’” The folkie soul in me is quite satisfied with the rocker part of this collection. They nail such classics like the obvious “Stairway to Heaven,” “Whole Lotta Love” and “Dazed and Confused,” but they also do a stack of non-radio saturated numbers like “Good Times Bad Times” and “Hey Hey What Can I Do?” True to their word, they reinvent the songs to their own spirits and it works out incredibly well. The Doors was a pretty easy translation, and the Stones’ blues riffs fit quite well into the model, but Zep is more of a transition, but the hand-to-glove still works in surprisingly good ways, mainly due to Zep’s use of Olde English melodies in rock form, such as “The Battle of Evermore.” If you are either a folk fan or a curiosity seeker, this may meet your needs on multiple levels.
Full sample song HERE https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kUTEl_Qz1Is

 

Nine Pound Hammer
When the Sh*t Goes Down
www.acetate.com
As the sticker on the CD clearly states, “Original members Blaine Cartwright and Scott Luallen team up with Ramones Super-Producer Daniel Rey.” Who in my shoes could not have their curiosity piqued? Especially since I am not very familiar with the Kentucky cowpunk (their description) band. I must say, after most of my life being force-fed Southern Rock like Skynyrd with the occasional good stuff like Rank & File and Nashville Pussy (which shares Blaine as guitarist), this is so refreshing. From the opening, using a clip of Mel Blanc’s Foghorn Leghorn, you know they don’t take themselves too seriously (meant in attitude, not aptitude). Starting strong with “What Kind of God,” and especially the second, title cut, you can definitely hear the Rey influence as the sound is laid bare and stripped, though Cartwright’s guitar flairs brilliantly here and there. It’s almost like the Ramones zeitgeist if they listened to country rather than surf and girl groups. At gut-wrenching speed, most songs are quite short at about 2:30, with a couple being longer. Their mindset can be heard on titles like “Street Chicken,” “Mama Lied,” “Billy Lost His Feet,” “Get the Hell Off the Farm,” “Daviess Co Tractor Massacre,” and “Lizard Brain.” I know I haven’t gotten the full effect of the lyrics yet, but this one is so much fun and kicks so much butt, it will certainly be replayed, so I’ll get there and enjoy the ride. Just wish there was a lyric sheet included.
Full sample song HERE https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0P0bgtnOq3g

 

Yod Crewsy
The Longings of Paul Roalsvig
www.darkmarbles.com
Before he was in bands like the Splatcats, the Sky Cabin Boys, the Bernie Kugel Experience, and the Dark Marbles, Yod was known by his birth name, Paul Roalsvig. This two-disc collection is split into a “Love” group and “Peace” selection. There are 31 cuts in total, being a mix of covers both infamous and obscure, and originals. Some of Buffalo’s musical royalty appear on here, such as Dave Meinzer, Russell Steinberg, and Cathy Carfagna. He starts off strong with Icehouse’s “Crazy,” which follows one of Yod’s personal favorites, the poppy theme to the film “That Thing That You Do!” Third cut in is when we get our first original, “I’ll Keep Sending You Flowers,” proving that Crewsy knows his way around creating both a melody and a strong lyric. Of course, I won’t be discussing all the cuts, but will pick and choose. His cover of the Stones’ “Dead Flowers” is almost projected through a folk lens which actually works quite well. More somewhat obscurities with Dylan’s bluesy “I Threw It All Away” and the Monkees’ “Sometime in the Morning,” and then a deep version of Orbison’s classic “In Dreams.” The more folk-oriented Peace disc starts off with one of my fave tunes, “Eve of Destruction”; here it is handled more folk pop leaning towards the Turtles cover rather than Barry McGuire, but the stanzas are intact. Included are masterful covers such as Dylan’s snarky “With God on Our Side” (banjo led), Nick Lowe’s “(What’s So Funny About) Peace, Love and Understanding,” and a raucous Five Man Electrical Band’s “Signs,” But the gem here is the back half of this second disc that is solid originals, including “Edie” (about Edie Sedgwick) and the timely ballad “When They Stormed the Capital.”
Full sample song HERE https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H5RvqACj9pU

 

Singles:

 

Chesty Malone and the Slice ‘Em Ups
Turn to Crime
1332 Records / www.chestymalone.com/
Despite moving relatively recently to the hinterlands of Pennsylvania, CMatSEUs have lost none of their drive or appeal. The main focus is still vocalist Jacqueline Blownaparte and her partner in – er – crime, guitarist superb Anthony Begnal, with a new bassist and drummer. Their aggressive hardcore both brings reminiscence of the 1980s style of in-your-face madness with a touch of harmonies that do not fall into the wishy-washy ‘90s Green Day kind of fluff. What I especially like about the chorus is that it can be both chantable, and can be used in the fist pumping way to build up adrenaline for the mosh pit (or in lieu of it). Possibly the best comparison would be the flavor/attitude of the Cramps mixed with the influence of the likes of GBH. This is just one side of their new vinyl single (7”-er, remember them?). This is one of the better post-hardcore sound I have heard in a while, and a high mark even for them, and they set the bar high.
Can be heard HERE https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vIldDtRAtYg

 

The Dictators
“Let’s Get the Band Back Together”
2:25 minutes

Dictators Multi/Media

I have liked the Dictators (DFFD) since I heard their introductory album, and even more when I saw them live (CBGB in 1975) for the first of multiple times. Over the years, HDM got most of the attention, but I always thought that the songs Andy/Adny Shernoff voxed were amazing, as well. They had a style that was metal and could be juvenile at the same time, which was part of their charm. Songs were singalongs and often brilliantly silly (such as “Master Race Rock”), but they could also be profound (“Steppin’ Out”). Over the years through various incarnations of the band, they are back, with Andy on vocals and bass, ace metal guitarist and right winger Ross “The Boss” Friedman, Albert Bouchard (ex-Blue Oyster Cult) on drums, and for this recording, the recently late, great rhythm guitarist Scott “Top Ten” Kempner. This song feels, in tone, like it could fit somewhere between the first and second album. The “C’mon” in the chorus, sung by Manic Panic/Sic F*cks’ own Tish and Snooky Bellomo, is certainly chantable, layered with Andy’s New Yawk accent, sounds like fun. The phrasing of the song is a bit melodic rock, even with Ross’s solo burst, but with its occasional hint of early rock’n’roll on some parts, it is definitely an enjoyable listen.
Can be heard HERE https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZQnPOgYf5c4

 

Gary Louris
“Almost Home”
3:31 minutes

https://orcd.co/jumpforjoy
This travel song has a nice “hoo-hoo-hoo” chorus to sing along with, with it’s poppy and upbeat singer-songwriter tone. Of course, as should be, the rhythm is steady like the wheels of the car (truck?) humming along a highway, not too far from the final exit. Louris’ vocals fit the sound so well, and the video that accompanies it is arty without being obtuse. It’s as simple as the driving beat. Humorously, I wonder about the line “When I close my eyes, I see your face…” Err, aren’t you driving? Still, the chorus is extremely catchy as a possible earworm and is a hoot. A good listen, but that should come as no surprise as he was in the seminal band The Jayhawks, and a founding member of “supergroup” Golden Smog.
Can be heard HERE https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fxqMjljRSpA