I-94 BAR TOP TENS

I don’t tend to pick up on much music in the year that it’s released.  I usually only ever latch onto albums several years after they’ve peaked in popularity for some reason.  That said here are a few items that took my fancy in 2009.

Ivy St – Picture Machine cd
In two words, dark and intense. A Tasmanian group who possess that special something that you can’t quite put your finger on but want to get more of. A class act who have only just begun to scratch the surface.

Johnny Casino & The Secrets – Live On 3PBS cd
Top songs and a top vibe with this live set.  One of a few groups that have made me think I’d like to be playing in that band.

Liam Finn & Eliza Jane – Champagne in Seashells cd
A revelation and an inspiration live.  Opened up a whole world of performance possibilities after seeing them. I like a ‘solo’ act that can avoid the rote acoustic strum-strum for 45 minutes too.  The first two tracks on this EP are thoroughly enjoyable.  I’m also envious of artists like Liam who can play all the instruments on an album a’la Graham Coxon or Grant Hart.

Nirvana – Live at Reading cd/dvd
After years of owning a bootleg cd with half the set missing and a video with a time stamp at the bottom of the screen blocking the picture, this release was a pleasure for the eyes and ears.  A small round of applause to whoever it was that polished the footage of this set up for official release, it’s wonderfully sharp.

The Hold Steady – A Positive Rage cd/dvd
As a regular guy with one foot in his thirties who likes to play guitar loud, I thoroughly enjoy this bunch of regular guys with both feet in their thirties who use loud guitars to belt out anthems for regular girls and guys to get drunk and shout along too. I wish more rock lyricists were half as interesting with their turns of phrase as Craig Finn is. This set is a nice document of an apparently typical THS night out.

The Russell Brand Radio Show – The Best Of What’s Legal cd/dvd
Never have I enjoyed a spoilt only child running amok until I twigged to Ol’ Russ’s BBC podcasts before he got yanked off the air in ‘08.  This collects the best (legal) bits here on 3 cds.  If that wasn’t enough, all the same highlights appear again on dvd filmed by the in studio camera so you can see Russell fidget about on the mic dressed in tight black girls jeans. His schtick can wear a little bit thin after 3 consecutive cds so I recommend small doses, unless of course you can’t get enough of a verbose 30 something dressed as a pirate, behaving like a cheeky 17 year old and telling stories of his bedroom conquests. Oh behave.

Pearl Jam – Etihad Stadium 20 November 2009
Although impossible to avoid in the 90′s I wasn’t particularly interested in this bands music until their Jack Irons period and gave them another listen and kinda stuck around ever since.  50,000 people in a stadium sounds potentially awful but I’ve never seen a band more on their game or an audience give so much back to the musicians on stage as I did that night.  An incredible sense of community I’ve only witnessed at local shows with a squillionth that sized crowd.  To convert that vibe to 50,000 is impressive. A cracking Baba O’Riley to cap the night too.

Third Man Records Subscriptions - musically I particularly dug on the cover song b-sides of all the Dead Weather 7′s more than the Dead Weathers own output but all the releases by TMR are pretty quality from the product manufacture to the music.  I also like the little touches like messages engraved in the vinyl run out grooves or the random live webcam performances at Thirdman Studios and all sorts of other cool content like competitions to win Jack Whites clothes.

Nurse Jackie (TV Series) - I like interesting characters and Nurse Jackie ticks a lot of boxes for me.  The comedy is dark and the mess of contradictions that is the lead character keeps it interesting.  Ideally I’d like to be able to write 3-minute songs that involved complex characters like Nurse Jackie but Pete Townshend has already done that quite well.

Youtube links on Facebook – Viewing all sorts of amazing and random things that I wouldn’t otherwise remotely think to search out.  This clip of Hobart musician Peter Escott of Native Cats fame performing a stand up routine at the local comedy night is one such example…

Observe and Report (movie) – just kidding.  This movie was terrible. Seth Rogan should have stopped at Superbad.

A standing Patrick discusses not giving the anarchist a cigarette because they're bad for your health with ex-Deviant Mick Farren.

My top ten of the year :

1. Johnny Paycheck – Nowhere To Run/The Little Darlin’ Years
2. The Rolling Stones – Get Yer Ya-Ya’s Out! 40th Anniversary Edition
3. Dan Auerbach – Keep It Hid
4. Big Star – Keep An Eye On The Sky
4. Occult Detective Club – Tortures
5. Thomas Function – In The Valley Of Sickness
6. Betty Davis – Nasty Gal
7. Blakroc – s/t
8. Jim Jones Revue – Here To Save Your Soul
9. Where The Action Is – Los Angeles Nuggets
10. Powell St. John – On My Way To Houston

Top 10 movies (w/DVD releases)

1. Extract by Mike Judge
2. Moon by Duncan Jones
3. District 9 by Neill Blomkamp
4. The Friends of Eddie Coyle by Peter Yates (DVD)
5. The Hurt Locker by Kathryn Bigelow
6. A Serious Man by Ethan and Joel Coen
7. The Hit by Stephen Frears (DVD)
8. The Road by John Hillcoat
9. Baader Meinhof by Uli Edel
10. Star Trek by J.J. Abrams

Postcard From London: Don't you wish you went too?

Pretty weak year for new albums, I thought, though some great reissues and archival releases made up for that. Gig-wise, it was quality over quantity, as three consecutive nights of the Mott the Hoople reunion shows in London stood far above anything else I saw this year (or most other years). Truly magical and quite emotional.  It was inspiring, as well, to play shows with some great young bands from around here (Vancouver/Vancouver Island) and be reminded that it’s not all ironic facial hair and indie rock from here on in. So, hats off to you, Pretty Vanilla (super-catchy T. Rex lovers) and Madonna Bangers (channeling Born Innocent-era Redd Kross w/ your bratty punk rock). Burn the Flame!

FAVORITE ALBUMS

Visqueen-Message to Garcia (Local 638) Rachel Flotard, leader of these awesome Seattle rock and rollers, may be the most underrated songwriter on the planet. And yeah, she’s got a whole lot of soul.

Pointed Sticks-Three Lefts Make a Right (Northern Electric) Vancouver punk/pop (the good kind) legends reunited a few years ago to tour Japan (where they’re huge!) and this album, released 29 years after their first, happily finds them sounding pretty much the same.

Young Fresh Fellows- I Think This Is (Yep Roc) More Pacific Northwest fun and a fine return from the band I’ve seen more times than any other (40 +).

Black Crowes-Before the Frost….After the Freeze 2-lp vinyl version ( Silver Arrow) They’re frequently maligned but I don’t mind.

Reigning Sound-Love and Curses (In the Red) Little disappointing at first but repeated listenings prove very rewarding.

Honorable Mentions: Cheap Trick, Walter Lure, Roger Manning, Tinted Windows

FROM THE VAULTS

Stooges-You Want My Action (Easy Action) Holy Shit.

Big Star-Keep An Eye On the Sky box set (Rhino) Sounds better than ever and a new live show to boot on the last disc.

Rolling Stones-Get Yer Ya-Ya’s Out (Abkco) My only complaint would be that there must be more potential bonus material in the can than what they included here. The dvd is 28 min. but what an awesome 28 min. Great idea, too, to include the opening sets by B.B. King and Ike and Tina, as had originally been intended.

Death-For the Whole World to See (Drag City) Seemingly from out of nowhere.

Chris Bell-I Am the Cosmos (Rhino) Reissue of the 90’s release w/ an extra disc of demos, collaborations, etc. Title tune one of the best songs ever written.

Honorable Mentions: Rationals, Imperial Dogs, Ian Hunter, Neil Young

Final thought: Repeated airings of the Instant Live Recording of the first Mott Hammersmith show confirm that, yes, it was really was that great.

Jake and his fellow Snoozefests

OK, so during writing this I’ve realised i haven’t done anything with my year, So i’ll mention some shit that wasn’t from this year, but i’ve played it / loved it this year.

1. Mick Hadley & The Others performing at Notes – My band opened this night, and i purposely cut our set short so i could see Mick Hadley sooner. So glad i did. Every band was great that night, but Mick Hadley has got the goods.

2. The Frowning Clouds – In my opinion, the best current band in Australia… The ep is great, The live shows are even better… can’t wait for the album.

3. The Black Lips – 200 thousand million – This is probably the only record i’ve bought that was recorded in 2009… i dig it though.

4. The Return of Clint Eastwood to the screen in Gran Torino – He’s everything a woman wants, and everything this man wants to be.

5. Danelectro – So, it was my 21st this year, and as a present i decided to buy a 1966 Burns double six 12 string… There were many complications with shipping, so it fell through. So i bought a much cheaper Danelectro DC-12 …. which took two weeks to arrive, and when it did arrive, i opened the box and discovered they had sent the wrong guitar, they had sent me a Danelectro ’67 Hornet (guitar Pete Townshend made famous) so i complained like a renegade freight train outta hell (even though i loved the hornet) and for an extra couple of bucks, they sent me the DC-12 on top of the hornet for basically the same price.

6. Playing with the Hitmen – I forgot to bring my guitar to this show, so luckily a friend lived around the corner and got to use his 1970′s telecaster. Gonna forget to bring my twanger more often… Also, Decline of the Reptiles and Hitmen both ruled.

7. El Topo - Carrie of the Booby Traps got me onto this one… This film opened my mind more, or as much as, any drug has. Alejandro Jodorowsky even got me reading up on all kinds of junk about tarot and enneagrams that my 18-year-old self would have cringed at.

8. New Michael Marshall (Smith) book – I haven’t even read it yet, only because i have a bookshelf of junk to get through… But this guy is my favourite author and although i know it ain’t gonna be another “Only Forward” or “Spares”… i know i’ll still love it.

9. The Macguffin generator - Best invention of 2009. Happy Phlegm enterprises.

10. The Seabarers – This up and coming band are going to blow the world’s butthole apart.

Would buy a used Ramones hat from this man?

Not in any order, as usual:

1. Laughing Clowns at ATP Sydney: I wasn’t a big fan back in the day but the re-release of all their recordings on Hot prompted a major re-evaluation. If you can’t see the logical progression through the Saints to Ed Kuepper’s solo stuff via the Clowns, you ain’t looking hard enough.  This show was the highlight of ATP for mine and left the pyjama party antics of a certain Saint in the shade. Wish I’d taken the trouble to catch the return engagement at The Basement.

2. Hitmen Re-Loaded: Dave Laing of Savage Beat excelled himself with the “Tora Tora DTK” package while the “St Valentine’s Day Massacre” live recording with Niagara has the impact of a kick to the face. Live, the Hitmen’s two-night stand in Sydney at the Sauna – sorry, Sando – required super-human commitment in sweltering heat and stifling humidity, and the band pulled two shows out of the fire to come out smiling. There’ll be another 2CD package of archival gems in the racks any tick of the clock and assaults on Europe and Australia (hopefully with Niagara) loom. You can hate ‘em but you can’t kill ‘em.

3. Simon Chainsaw and Sonny Vincent: I’ll not hear better punk rock albums than “Rock and Roll Uranus” and “Sonny Vincent With Members of Rocket From The Crypt” in the same year. Two guys on different continents doing it their own way.

4. The Snoozefests: This trio of youngsters from the New South Wales Central Coast are the best new band I heard in 2009. I’d probably have a similar opinion of The Frowning Clouds from Geelong but missed their under-the-wire Sydney visit. Grab the Snoozefests’ album, “One Way Ticket To Snoresville” (it’s not) and catch ‘em live. They’re rough around the edges, apt to take the piss out of themselves, funny and fun. Thanks for the tip, Carrie.

5. Mick Hadley & The Others live: Some thought Mick Hadley and his backing band would deserve a Purple Heart for their slot supporting the Stems’ farewell gig in Sydney. They walked away with a Medal of Honour. Watch for a repeat gig or three in 2010.

6. “All Your Love” by Mick Medew & The Rumours: Album of the Year (but I’m biased – I put it out) and a top bunch of blokes.

7. The usual truckload of albums drifts in and out of the ranks of my top ten…“Stop Plus Singles 1978-86” by Little Murders is a gem…I played shit out of ”Cave Girl” by in-exile Brendan Kibble’s Austin, TX band The TexReys…”Deutschland” by the eternally underrated Kevin K…  Gloria – New Christs: It’s not “Distemper Mk II” but so what? It stands on its own legs…Dr Tek’s soul band and their “On The In Side”…a retrospective (“A Million Miles An Hour”) and a newie (“Got Me a Hot One”) from vet Roy Loney rocked da Bar…X’s “X-Aspirations” re-issue… The Interconti nental Playboys’ “Hymns Of The Flesh” was a winner, even if the street press critics are yet to wake up…Penny Ikinger’s “Fragile” EP…Kill Devil Hills’ ragged and glorious “Man You Should Explode” was a mindfuck… “The Eternal” by Sonic Youth…“Think Rational!” by The Rationals: Fusing beat-band rock with blue-eyed soul and psych….volumes two and three of “Drink Fight Fuck” (like a punk rock K-Tel collection, only better) on Zodiac Killer….”De Ja Blues” by The Pink Fits (R.I.P.)…”Makin’ It With…” – The Booby Traps…”Romance and Adventure” – The Ooga Boogas.

Mentions for some late arrivals “Tell ‘Em What Your Name Is! (Black Joe Lewis & The Honeybears), “With You Right By My Side, Baby The Deal Just Can’t Go Down” (punk-gospel-rock from Sydney band The Maladies), “Damn You Ra” (a killer album from Sydney’s Holy Soul), the Daptone “Gold” collection and “The LP Is Dead” (solo album by Dictators skinsman JP Thunderbolt Patterson.) Plus the ones I’ve forgotten (and the Stooges box that’s yet to arrive.)

8. Best Fest: ATP Sydney by a country mile. Honourable mention to Flip Out! Sydney, even if a little variety might not have gone astray.

9. Best Comeback: I’m reserving judgement on the Stooges as the YouTube of their Brazil return was scratchy and a little low energy…so step up Decline of The Reptiles who were pretty close to great most times their stepped onto the green.

12. Neil Young at Sydney BDO: Stunning shit. Front row view. Skidmark (who was along for the ride) doesn’t drink and nor did I this  ‘cos the lines were horrendous but no enhancement was needed.

11. Death: As in passing away. Farewell Ron Asheton, Sky Saxon, Les Paul and Lux Interior. Not a Good Thing in a Top Ten but there had to be some way of mentioning the fallen. We will remember them.

"Snatch the pebble from my hand, Grasshopper"

I-94 Bar Elder Statesman who blogs at The Stashdauber

1. Nels Cline – Coward. When Nels joined Wilco, I quipped, “Finally that band has a reason to exist!” – namely, to give the avant-guitar genius a payday so he can make records like this one. Whether he’s playing chamber jazz with his own ensembles, feedback-and-noise duets with Thurston Moore, or Miles Davis-meets-the-Stooges jazz-funk-skronk with Banyan, he’s always inventive and interesting – my fave currently working axe-slinger, along with Boris’ frequent collaborator Michio Kurihara. On Coward, he overdubs all the parts himself, and the results include a shimmering 18-minute tribute to the murdered microtonal guitarist Rod Poole and a six-part suite which touches bases that include Ennio Morricone, surf, Pink Floyd, garage-psychedelia, industrial noise, break beats and Bollywood. I’ve had this for almost a year now and sometimes I still don’t want to hear anything else.

2. Bobby Previte – Pan Atlantic. Previte’s a Lower Manhattan eminence who came up playing in upstate bar bands. He’s always been a composer first, a drummer second, thank Ceiling Cat. Using just five pieces, this record combines jazz, classical, and rock textures and procedures to produce an orchestral, cinematic sound in the same way as Zappa’s Hot Rats and Zorn’s The Big Gundown did. Who else would overlay a rhythm bed from the Chicago Transit Authority songbook with blood-curdling freeblow saxophonics? Previte’s band of European improvisers blows hot, but always within the framework of the composer’s designs.

3. Snowbyrd – Diosdado. A local – well, at least from Texas (San Antonio, to be exact) — release with a compelling backstory. Despite having the worst band name in recent memory, these guys – a pair of Anglo brothers on vox/guitar and a Chicano drummer, sorta like Rank and File, with a revolving Spinal Tap bass chair – play a potent mix of desert-dusty psych and y’allternative that sounds to these feedback-scorched ears like a blend of Lazy Cowgirls, Rich Hopkins’ Luminarios, and Fort Worth’s own late, lamented Woodeye. Drummer Manuel Diosado Castillo, in whose honor the album is titled, founded of an S.A. cultural arts organization and died of cancer back in January. He was almost too much drummer for this music – think Keith Moon sitting in with the Bottle Rockets – but he brought much power and drama to the songs, many of which are proudly hometown-scene referential in the best possible way. Per Manny’s wishes, they’re going on with a different drummer. Bless them.

4. Bonedome – Thinktankubator. Journeyman Dallas alt-rock muso Allan Hayslip (Vibrolux, Prince Jellyfish, Rock Star Karaoke) steps up to the plate for his first outing as frontman and sole writer and knocks one out of the park, evoking (to these feedback-scorched ears) the spirit of Big D’s best-ever contribution to brainy pop-rock, obscuro genius Reggie Rueffer’s bands Spot and the Hochimen. Melodic yet aggressive, with the smartest lyrics I’ve heard in a long time – maybe since the Hochimen’s Tierra del Gato a few years back, in fact.

5. Dennis Gonzalez/Yells At Eels – The Great Bydgoszcz Concert. I once had the honor of playing a gig with 20something Dallas bassist Aaron Gonzalez, at the end of which he showed me his fingers, which all had skin hanging off them from wrestling that big upright. Since he and his brother, drummer Stefan Gonzalez, coaxed their trumpet-playing dad Dennis (whom I’ve known, off and on, for 30 years now) out of musical retirement a decade ago, they’ve gone from strength to strength, but this album – released on the tiny Euro Ayler label, with Portuguese saxophonist Rodrigo Amado joining the trio – is the first one to capture the improvisational fire they’re capable of in live performance. The versions of Stefan’s “Crow Soul” and Ornette Coleman’s “Happy House” are particularly fine. This year, Dennis also self-released a 1989 board tape of a band he co-led with tenorman Frank Lowe, and Mayyrh Records dropped the recording of Aaron’s droney ambient live action Age of Disinformation.

6. Flaming Lips – Embryonic. It’s impressive that a band as popular as the Lips – who made the transition from underground to mainstream about as gracefully as anyone ever has and whose arena rock spectacle surpasses anyone’s from this side of the Atlantic with its blend of majestic grandeur and self-effacing humor – would make a record as willfully Out There as this one. By At War With the Mystics, they’d pretty much mined all the gold from the vein of existential psych-pop they’d struck with The Soft Bulletin, so there was nothing left for them to do but finish Wayne Coyne’s sci-fi movie, record a cover of Dark Side of the Moon for iTunes, and return to their more anarchic In A Priest Driven Ambulance sound, albeit with better execution and production values. Sure, Radiohead did it before, but I actually liked (read: gave two shits about) the Lips’ “accessible” music.

7. Reissues: Neil Young’s Archives, Vol. 1: 1963-1972 is as important for the manner in which it organizes and presents his compleat history as it is for the music, which in his heart of hearts, he knows is his best. It’ll probably never supplant Decade in my collection, however, brevity being the soul of listenability. The Rationals’ Think Rational is the fulfillment of a damn-near-40-year-old dream, bringing together all of the band’s early singles, the demos and oddities from the never-offically-released 1966 “fan club album,” and others even more obscure. These guys never cut a bad side. Now if somebody will just reish their 1970 Crewe album…

8. Live: The Gunslingers from Grenoble, France, were a lot more awe-inspiring at the Chat Room in Fort Worth (sizzling energy and a packed room on a Wednesday night) than they were at their SXSW showcase (a soundman with a cloth ear and uncooperative borrowed equipment). The No Idea Festival at Lola’s Stockyards brought avant-garde improvisers from Austin, Zurich, Berlin, and Japan, along with some locals, to the heart of Fort Worth’s cowboy culcha. Old punks the Nervebreakers at Club Dada in Dallas sounded every bit as good as they did back when they were opening shows for the Sex Pistols, Clash, Ramones, et al., and it was a gas to see so many people I hadn’t run into in 30 years.

9. DVDs: The Patti Smith documentary Dream of Life is an intimate portrait of an artist I’ve always underappreciated, whose full stature has only really become apparent in her maturity. Lou Reed’s Berlin is just the best live performance film I’ve ever seen. (Having Julian Schnabel of The Diving Bell and the Butterfly direct didn’t hurt; having Steve Hunter on board as bandleader-guitarist clinched the deal.) Forget Lou’s and this album’s reputation for bad vibes; the sheer joy of the musicians playing this music is palpable, and it sounds once and for all like great work.

10. Miscellaneous: Doc’s Records opened within walking distance of my house late in the spring, so I’m once again experiencing the joys of digging through crates of vinyl where the percentage of diamonds over dogshit is high (and, um, spending way too much money). I haven’t heard their album yet, as it’s an obscenely expensive import, but Italian funk band Calibro 35’s Youtube videos are shit-hot. And of course, the Youtube vids from the reconstituted Iggy & the Stooges’ shakedown cruise in Rio are a harbinger of good things to come. “Straight” James Williamson’s return to the fold — welcome back, sir! — mitigates the sadness from Ron Asheton’s untimely death.

Speaking of which, my father’s passing this year occasioned a lot of introspection. Mainly the idea that I haven’t done as well as I should at a lot of things that I think are important, and that the time to rectify that is finite. Started scribing for the FW Weekly again, which I’m enjoying more now that I no longer rely on it for my livelihood and I can pretty much write about anything I want. Stoogeaphilia is playing less this year than last, but I think it’s possible I’m enjoying it more, and Hentai Improvising Orchestra appears to have a lot more potential than did PFFFFT!; we’ll see. I was going to wait to submit this list until I got my copy of Easy Action’s 1971 Stoogebox with Ron and James on guitars, which is supposedly in the mail, and the Tom Waits live album that’ll be out November 17th, but whatthehell.

Writer, photographer, surf music enthusiast, ex-Stiff Kittens member from Melbourne.

1. Dirtbombs@ The Tote- Years ago I also saw these guys at the Ding Dong Lounge. I squeezed right up front with a pot in each hand and a grin from ear to ear, just fabulous. Nothings changed. Mick Collins vocal/guitar attack and twin drummer energy grooves just blow me away every time.  

2. Ian and the Aztecs-“Don’t Ha Ha” 7inch vinyl. Featuring Ian Carlton from New Yorks Rocky Velvet and the rhythm section from Los Straightjackets, great reverb driven rock and roll.

3. Mojomatics-“Don’t Pretend That You Know Me”.  This Italian duo cover a lot of ground under the garage rock pop umbrella and I’m still diggin’ em! I hope they make it down here next year.

4. Little Red- Listen To Little Red- Impressive debut from young Melbourne band.

5. Dead River Deeps- “You Can’t Fight The Sun”. Rockin alt country from this Melbourne four piece. I caught the cd launch for this their debut release and the performance and buzz in the room was a real turn on.

6. Cramps- Stay Sick.  A friend I haven’t seen for years showed up recently and returned this old Cramps album of mine. I took it on a recent road trip and loved every minute of our reunion.

7. Hunger- The movie. I’ve had trouble getting any free time this year, but this was worth it.

8. Combat- The Best Of Sgt Saunders. A Christmas gift. Nothing like getting out of the midday heat over summer, drawing the curtains, cracking a beer and watching Vic Morrow and squad put the German army to bed in this classic WW2 based B&W US television series.

9. Lowenbrau- Lager. A beautiful beer. Still hangoverless…..PLAY ON!

10. The Atheist Manifesto. A wonderful book for anyone who loves Santa Clause and the Easter Bunny, but has alittle more trouble with Christianity, Judaism and Islam.

Top Five X 2

by Gretchen “Dixiegrrl” Wood, host of the Hanging On For Mercy podcast on garagepunk.com and contributing writer for perfectsoundforever.com and Atlanta’s Stomp and Stammer magazine 

Eddy Current Suppression Ring - Primary Colors (Goner) Yet another high five for their sophomore release. Fresh and angular, aggressive bass reminiscent of Australia’s X, clanging guitars tight like Wire or Gang of Four, seductive chanting melodies, sneering vocal. All at once, distinctly primal and very modern. Can’t wait ’til they return to the States!

Gentleman Jesse – s/t (Douchemaster) This highly anticipated debut full length absolutely delivers on the promise of their “I Don’t Wanna Know” 7″. Infectious angsty power pop out of Atlanta, this be the act tapped by Paul Collins himself to be the Beat on his next tour. 

Charlie Pickett - Bar Band Americanus (Bloodshot) This criminally overdue retrospective from Florida’s rockin’ answer to the Flamin’ Groovies encompasses everything that’s passionate, pissy and smart in Pickett’s catalog. Back in the 80s when he was making records, only the most savvy knew about this cat. Now everyone else can get hip as well…

Mike and the Ravens - Noisy Boys: the Saxony Sessions (Zoho Roots) Forty-five years after a summer of wild-ass shows cut short by hijacking the steeple PA system at the local church to blast the valley with rock n’ roll, these 1962 frat rockers from VT reemerged from their respectable lives to obliterate notions of grandpa rock with a big bluesy voice, snarly guitars, and sophisticated songwriting that reveals a knack for hooks.    

The Finkers – Epilogue (Off The Hip) Where on Earth have these boys been hiding? Few of their Melbourne scenester compatriots have even heard of their perfect pop, their soulful tunes, their yearning hooks, and they sure are missing out. Sure a two-CD set is a bit of a commitment especially when it’s presented as the band’s sayonara, but song for song, this delivers. Even the covers are smart picks from the Stems, Groovies, and Real Kids. I sure hate to say goodbye to this act before I’ve hardly said hello.   

live shows…
Roky Erickson @ 40 Watt – Athens, GA (Aug) Legendary Thirteenth Floor Elevators front man, continues to resurrect himself from debilitating mental illness to hit the stage even more fiery than either of his two appearances at the Ponderosa Stomp. Those in the know  said even more fiery than his most recent show at SXSW… And this came down a scant five minutes from my crib. lucky me!

Mary Weiss/Reigning Sound @ the Earl – Atlanta, GA (Nov) The lady’s hitting her stride, her voice booming, her joy palpable. What can ya say about the Reigning Sound except that they always throw down. The icing was Jayne County down from NYC usurping MC duties. The entire night, nothing short of grand send up for local mag Stomp and Stammer’s lucky 13th birthday.

Patterson Hood @ Melting Point – Athens, GA (Oct) Few command a stage with songs and stories like the Drive-By Truckers’ front man. In genteel surroundings with chairs, tables, candles, and even table service, he delivered one of the most compelling solo acoustic performances this side of Richard Thompson or Steve Young.     

Dexter Romweber Duo @ Star Bar – Atlanta, GA (Feb) watching him transcend this old world to fight demons and commune with spirits while he flails away on that old Silvertone, With his sister Sara (Let’s Active, Snatches of Pink) on drums, Dex is free to boom away his best voice ever.

Herman Hitson @ the Earl – Atlanta, GA (Oct) This old school Atlantan’s wrenching performance of “Bad Girl” – a deep soul classic, the best known version by fellow Atlantan Lee Moses – was plenty soaring to earn a year end mention. The few of us that remained at the end of that long night were doubled over in breathless euphoria.  

Arthur S – Native New Yorker, I-94 Bar writer, scholar, gentleman, family man, and eunuch.

As the Barman rings the bell, exclaiming in an urgent voice “Hey loser, you gotta leave, it’s closing time” for the year 2008, there’s a sense of urgency to compiling a “Best Of “ list.  So, in between the holiday parties, frantic shopping for gifts, and unnerving traffic, I like to take a break from the madness.  Usually, for me it consists of relaxing, sitting back with my favorite libation of the moment (right now, it you ask it’s an antacid on the rocks – straight up) and reflect on the years past discoveries.  Happy Holidays, happy new year!! 

Top Ten (In A Particular Order? All are great, what are you kidding me!)

The Black Angels: Directions To See A Ghost (Light In The Attic) – Heavy duty pysch- action from Austin, Texas.  Nice fuzz and drone from this six-piece band who backed Roky Erickson on a recent West Coast USA tour.  The band hits their stride on this being their second album.

Alejandro Escovedo: Real Animal (Back Porch) – Former songwriter for the Nuns, Rank and File, and The True Believers combines efforts with producer Tony Visconti (Bowie, T-Rex) to create a stirring album rich with style and class.  The song “Chelsea Hotel’ 78” is so ironic in it’s use of Sex Pistols gutter glam, strings, and country echo. On top of this, you get Lou Reed’ backing vocals.  Awesome, well worth checking out!

Pat Todd and The Rank Outsiders: Outskirts of Your Heart (Rankoutsider Records) – On a consistent basis, Mr. Todd can always be counted on for raunchy, catchy as all hell songs.  In Mr. Todd’s musical viewpoint, the albums Exile on Main Street and L.A.M.F. encapsulate everything great about rock and roll.  Outskirts of Your Heart makes a good case for following in that tradition.

Nick Cave and The Bad Seeds: Dig, Lazarus, Dig! (Mute Records) – You know, I saw old Nick back in October at the Wamu Theater at Madison Square Garden here in NYC.  He was playing with the crowd, and in a self-deprecating manner, mocking his sex symbol – rock star status.  In short, Nick was having a ball onstage.  As for the music, it was forceful, direct and to the point.  The January 2009 ATP festival curated by Mr. Cave I am sure will offer much of the same excitement.  As for this album, Dig, Lazarus, Dig!!! (and Grinderman) resembles the stylistic change in direction Iggy took with Lust For Life in attempting to get back to a basic, no holds barred approach. 

Jim Jones Revue: Self Titled (punkrockblues) – Jim Jones (of Thee Hypnotics and Black Moses fame) offers a tour de force of crazed, energetic rhythm and blues served up with a chaser of Detroit angst.  Go get yourself some!

The Soundtrack Of Your Lives: Communion 2 CD – A much anticipated release by these ears, and it does not disappoint.  As in any double album / 2-CD format, having twenty-four songs spread out over two discs is a huge task.  However, as a testament to this band’s abilities / talents, TSOOL succeed in keeping your interest, and focus on many of the great songs.  Included is a great cover of a Nick Drake song they make their own.  Overall, this two disc set is a monster release by these Swedish Legends.

The Supersuckers: Get It Together CD – After a brief hiatus, the road worn but never weary Supersuckers return with another disc that as usual will get your house busy in no time lost at all. After twenty years, The Supersuckers are still all about having fun, getting down with your bad self, and respecting the rawk.  On this album, the band raises the I.Q. quotient a bit more, offering a glimpse into the world of a musician (averaging anywhere between 130–150 shows a year), and the sacrifices involved.  No, there’s no thought provoking lyrics included here (if you want that check out the Jonas Brothers); however, if you want clean and mean rock action, its here for the taking.

Acid Mothers Temple: Whether in the format of “The Melting Paraiso UFO” or “The Cosmic Inferno”, 2008 bared witness to the band’s highly prolific output of ten releases in this year alone on various independent labels.  Although to not everyone’s tastes, due to in part the avant-garde approach they take (minimalism, free jazz, etc) Acid Mothers Temple (led by the highly talented guitarist / composer Kawabata Makoto) are an amazing collective of like-minded musicians taking music to the extreme.  Each release offers a different side of the band.

Sonics Rendezvous Band: The Second Chance (Easy Action) – Every time another archival recording of this legendary band is uncovered, released on compact disc, the brilliance of this unit becomes ever more apparent.  Here’s a band worth it’s weight in gold.

The Duke Spirit: Neptune’s Call (Artist First) – An outstanding album by this London based band who seem to be gathering steam as we speak.  Rocking songs such as “Send A Little Love Token”, “The Step and The Walk”, “Into The Fold”, “You Really Wake Up The Love In Me”, “Lassoo”, “My Sunken Treasure” all live up to the pre-album hype. 

Honorable Mentions:Nebula: Heavy Psych CD EP, Seger Liberation Army: Down Home CD, The Flaming Sideburns: Back 2 Grave LP, The Bellrays: Hard, Sweet, and Sticky CD, Mark Lanegan / Isabel Williams: Sunset at Dirt Devil CD, The Radishes: Strychnine CD EP, and On the Road Again TV Series focusing on a culinary road trip through Spain. Rioja / Tempranillo, and Seafood: two tastes that go great together.

I-94 Bar occasional writer and Melbourne man-about-town TJ Honeysuckle’s all-Australian ten of 2008. TJ also blogs here.

In no real order…

ECSR- Primary Colours (Aarght! Records) A plain wrap cover conceals some top-shelf stuff. Excellent live, too, though shows were limited this year.

Witch Hats- Cellulite Soul. (In-Fidelity)  Messy, sprawling bratty noise. They dumped most of this from their set list after flogging it every night on their US tour. The new album (already in the can) will be very different.

Oogas Boogas- Song Of Romance And Adventure. (Aarght!) Good time filth and fun. Contains some of the best lyrics of the year, definitely has the cover art of the year.

Snowman- The Horse, the Rat and the Swan (Dot Dash) Noisy and abrasive, this was different to any other record I listened to this year. A great way to say goodbye before the band relocated to London.

Sand Pebbles- Ceduna (Sensory Projects) A concept album about going to a lonely beach and taking drugs? Oh, you old hippies. Thanks.

Lurid Yellow Mist- We Wuz Curious (Illustrious Artists) Two stalwarts of the Melbourne music scene, Dave Graney & Clare Moore, make it sound effortless, fresh and kinda sleazy all at the same time.

Nathan Hollywood- Red Night Falling. (In-Fidelity) Intensely realised, dark country that never strikes a false note. Hollywood is also the handsomest bastard in town.

Beaches- Beaches (Mistletone) A late entry, this is mesmerising stuff. Extended three-guitar instrumental jams, for the most part, from a relatively new outfit.

Crystal Thomas and The Flowers Of Evil- self titled (Stovepipe) A country-ish confident debut, dedicated to Ian Rilen and infused with a lot of his spirit. Booze, motels, lovers and arguments. Hopefully she will do more in 2009.

Mandu- To The Shores Of His Heaven (Aztec) Reissue of an amazing 1974 gem. Aztec call this one of the greatest Australian records ever made, and they should know. For what it’s worth, I absolutely agree with them.

I-94 Bar regular and Beat magazine contributor, Melbourne

1. Patti Smith, Hamer Hall, October 2008.  Counter intuitively, the older I get, the less inclined I feel towards the reverential treatment of the bands I loved in my formative years (which possibly puts me at odds with many Bar patrons).  I hate – with unbridled passion – the myopic dismissal of contemporary bands as pale imitators of artists of yore (with notable exceptions, of course).  So it was in that context that I wondered if Patti Smith could hold a candle to her legendary status.  And, by fuck, did she.  At age 62, Ms Smith can still rock out with the best of them, with all the punk rock empathy she brought to the stage 30 odd years ago.

2. Dolly Rocker Movement, Birmingham Hotel.  Killer gig from arguably Australia’s premier psych outfit.  It started out good, morphed into excellent half way through the night, and by the end of the evening had reached stratospheric levels of quality.  Only a member of the Frowning Clouds inadvertently causing a blown fuse curtailed the set.  The third Dolly Rocker Movement album – due early 2009 – promises to be one of the premier releases of 2009.

3. Flip Out! Festival.  We were in the midst of a flu break-out in the house, but I dragged my sorry arse out of bed to ride to the Corner in the early evening.  I missed half the festival, but it almost didn’t matter.  The bands were fantastic – Beaches, MOTO, King Automatic, Deaf Wish, Eddy Current Suppression Ring – and the inter-band house music (courtesy of Leon from Sailors/Ooga Boogas) was the perfect foil.  What better choice to follow King Automatic than George Michael’s Careless Whispers?  Culture jamming rocks.

4. Beaches.  As a concept, five women playing psychedelic freak-outs is enough to make a cocaine ravaged PR flack ejaculate in a storm of superlatives.   If there’s a criticism to be made, it’s that the songs could be longer, and the sets stretch way into the evening.  Bend it like Garcia.

5. Johnny Casino, live and on record.  There’s a temptation to become blase about the man born John Spittles – even on a bad night, the bloke shits all over his closest contenders.  Forget ‘the Australian Greg Cartwright’ – Greg Cartwright is the American Johnny Casino.

6. Ooga Boogas, Romance and Adventure.  The leading Australian garage rock release for 2008.   I’m an Ooga Booga, and my cock’s made of wood, it drags on the ground, yeah and it still tastes good.  Shakespeare, Keates, Shelley, take your pick – the Ooga Boogas do it all and more.

7. Kim Salmon and the Surrealists, Tote.  The purists moan that it’s not the ‘real’ Surrealists without Pola and Hooper (Sportsbet is taking 100000-1 on a reunion of that line-up) – and if you ever want to pick a fight with Mr Salmon, tell him that to his face.  But the Surrealists was always a sound, and a feel, and Kim has found his Surrealists voice again.  Watch out for the new Surrealists album on Bang! in 2009.

8. Deaf Wish, whenever.  The vitality of youth in its perfect punk rock guise.  In 20 years time these guys will all have done shitloads of other stuff, and people will wax lyrical about the halcyon Deaf Wish days.  See ‘em while you can.

9. Extreme music nights.  Two examples:  firstly, Tina Arena at Hamer Hall, followed by Hitmen at the East Brunswick Club.  Possibly the most bizarre night of music I’ve ever encountered.  Secondly, Bon Jovi at Myer Music Bowl (I never thought I’d find myself in a crowd of 5000 people seeing Living On a Prayer), followed by a night of psychedelia at the Esplanade Hotel.   Gold nights, both of ‘em.

10. Los Dominados, Pet Head album launch, Public Bar.  In front of 50 punters, with Cooper’s ale on tap at flattering prices, Los Dominados tore the place to pieces.  Helen Cattanach (Escape Committee, Moler) and Mike Alonso (Jape Squad) deserve more recognition.  But no-one ever said we live in a just world.