Not so Pleasant Dreams: RSD release casts a darker hue on a crucial Ramones album

Details

By Robert Brokenmouth

Robert Brokenmouth

02 July 2023

Hits: 3178

Pleasant Dreams - Ramones (Rhino Records)
Pleasant Dreams Demos – Ramones (bootleg)

(Written from 23 May through 3 July 2023)

Ever notice how our first impressions are the strongest? That whatever we encounter first, stays with us, often for decades, and often despite intellectually knowing that that first impression is in fact wrong?

Like lasagne sticking to a carpet (don't try this at home) or a losing soul clings to pride, with both pasta sauce and draining soul not having a clue about what they're sticking to, or why, or even that they are sticking to anything.

Similarly, what we discover when we're young often stays with us no matter how wrong we might be. 

• rhino
• ramones
• record store day
• marky ramone
• dee dee ramone
• ed stasium
• joey ramone
• pleasant dreams
• graham gouldman
• Johnny ramone
• Everett true

Read more …

Heavy duty message from the depths of a Michigan winter

Details

By The Barman

The Barman

02 July 2023

Hits: 2214

Broken – Kevin k (Vicious Kitten) 

Recorded with all dials in the red in a basement in the cold of a Michigan winter, “Broken” shows Bowery veteran Kevin K is anything but. Your sound system may be, though, after 12 songs that don’t skimp on distortion.

Glossy production and Kevin K have rarely been mentioned in the same breath. Ironically, his most polished record, “Magic Touch”, also came out on Vicious Kitten 23 years ago. Apart from being on the same imprint, “Broken” bears no resemblance and sounds like Blue Cheer.

Kevin K played all the instruments on “Broken” (with some minor drum machine assistance) and the production is homespun. The “never too loud” ethos and claustrophobic feel might leave you gasping for breath midway through but I suspect that’s the intention. 

• broken
• kevin k
• dead boys
• vicious kitten

Read more …

PJ and him: Mark Cornwall's weird tale inside the goldmine

Details

By Patrick Emery

Patrick Emery

01 July 2023

Hits: 3196

_{Author Mark Cornwall and "Proby and Me".}

As a child growing up in the south-east South Australian town of Mount Gambier, Mark Cornwall recalls seeing an American singer performing on the Beatles’ television special, “Around the Beatles”. 

“He had a pony tail and this was 1965. This weird stage outfit, buckled shoes, singing “Walk the Dog’,”  says Cornwall. 

The artist was Texan-born James Smith, known better by his stage name PJ Proby. Proby had first come to public prominence with the top 10 hit “Hold Me” and would go on to generate and foster a mixture of popular interest and media controversy over the course of the rest of the decade.

• clyde bramley
• proby and me
• brett eldorado
• mark cornwall
• pj proby

Read more …

The Primevals are holding the line

Details

By The Barman

The Barman

30 June 2023

Hits: 2501

The Dividing Line – The Primevals (Heavy Medication/Triple Wide/Ghost Highway)

It’s 40 years after they formed in the no-nonsense Scottish city of Glasgow and If you haven’t worked out what The Primevals are on about three songs into this, their latest and 14^th album, you need to have a wee dram and a good, hard look at yourself.

Admittedly, a band that dates from 1983, worked the European circuit on the back of a French New Rose Records deal, disappeared and resurfaced to start a second life a decade-and-a-half ago and has undergone considerable member churn could be a hit or miss proposition, but The Primevals keep delivering. 

• primevals
• glasgow
• new rose
• heavy medication records
• Michael rooney

Read more …

CSI not needed to solve this homicide

Details

By Ron Brown

Ron Brown

28 June 2023

Hits: 3122

Rock ‘n’ Roll Homicide – Trading Aces (Ripple Music)

Hello I-94 Barflies , it’s been a while but there’s a bit to talk about with The Farmhouse rocking to the sounds of  Trading Aces’ “Rock ‘n’ Roll Homicide”, and what a ripper this album is.

Trading Aces is a supergroup of well-known, and not so well-known, musicians coming from all over the world to pay homage to one, the late Eddie Van Halen, and, boy, does it rock. 

Frank Meyer of the Streetwalkin’ Cheetahs is joined by Dennis Post of City Kids (both on guitar and vocals) .Bjarne Paamand (Warrior Soul) is on bass and Ivan Tambac (also Warrior Soul) is on drums. They got together to make some tunes and express their grief at the loss of Eddie into some hard rock, metal, punk and pop.

• frank meyer
• streetwalkin' cheetahs
• eddie van halen
• city kids
• rock 'n' roll homicide
• trading aces
• ripple music
• warrior soul

Read more …

A cup of Milo to go

Details

By The Barman

The Barman

27 June 2023

Hits: 1892

One of the most irreverent bands ever to come out of the Southern Californian punk scene,Descendentsare returning to Australia and New Zealand this October, playing six headlining shows. 

Descendents have one of the most enduring legacies of any punk rock band in history. Known for their early, defining timeless classic albums such as “Milo Goes to College” and “I Don't Want to Grow Up” and songs, “Hope”, “Suburban Home” and “Good Good Things”.

Milo Aukerman (vocals), Bill Stevenson (drums), Stephen Egerton (guitar) and Karl Alvarez (bass) will be joined by a swag of local supports listed below.

• tour
• australian
• new zealand
• decedents
• yours and owls

Read more …