Saturday, December 17, 2011

California Guitar Trio

California Guitar Trio
A Christmas Album
2002

Review
by Glenn Astarita

Not that there is an abundance of progressive rock-tinged acoustic guitar trios among the ranks, but this aggregation stands tall among its peers as the guitarists' inventiveness surges forward with this altogether warmhearted reckoning of Christmas carols and other pleasantries. The guitarists' nimble yet at times forceful approach is wholly evident during their highly rhythmic spin on "Jingle Bells." They perform the classic "Greensleeves" with a sensitive, chamber-like approach while also tackling the Lennon/Ono favorite "Happy X-Mas (War Is Over)." However, part of the magic resides within the trio's ability to delve into the inherent frameworks of each song, while also reformulating themes and rhythms into personalized statements. Essentially, the artists have produced a rather poignant Christmas outing, awash with interweaving lines and lilting harmonies, as they complement their superior artisanship and forward-thinking deployments with a cheerfully rendered collection of holiday favorites.



1 Carol of the Bells
2 Oh Christmas Tree
3 Greensleeves (What Child Is This?)
4 Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring
5 God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen
6 "Unto Us a Child Is Born"
7 Jingle Bells
8 Merry Christmas Mr. Lawrence
9 Happy Xmas (War Is Over)
10 Silent Night


Ho! Ho! Ho! Ho!



Gary Hoey

Ho! Ho! Hoey

1995





Review
by Stephen Thomas Erlewine
It's a little strange for a cult figure like Gary Hoey to release a holiday album so early in his career, but Ho Ho Hoey is a surprising Christmas album. Hoey certainly uses the opportunity to showcase his stunning technique, but he also decides to play musically, creating a true rarity -- a virtuosic instrumental rock album that will appeal to a wide audience, not just guitar fetishists.










Ho, Ho Ho Again



Gary Hoey

Ho! Ho! Hoey Vol 2

1997





Ho Ho Hoey became a surprise hit upon its 1995 release, so it made sense that Gary Hoey would follow it in 1997 with Ho Ho Hoey 2. What's surprising is that this second collection -- featuring such staples as "Deck the Halls," "Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree," "Frosty the Snowman" and "Feliz Navidad" -- is just as engaging as the first, functioning as both a charming holiday album and a technical tour de force.


1 Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree
2 You're a Mean One, Mr. Grinch
3 Frosty the Snowman
4 Happy Xmas (War Is Over)
5 The Christmas Song
6 Winter Wonderland
7 Greensleeves
8 Feliz Navidad
9 Deck the Halls
10 Ho! Ho! Hoey
11 I'll Be Home for Christmas




More Axemas For You!


Merry Axemas Vol 2 More Guitars For Christmas

1998

Review by Stephen Thomas Erlewine

Like its predecessor, Merry Axemas, Vol. 2: More Guitars for Christmas contains an abundence of clever, surprising instrumental interpretations of classic Christmas carols and tunes. Virtuoso guitarist Steve Vai has rounded up an impressive lineup of guitarists -- including Robin Trower, Zakk Wylde, Neal Schon, Al DiMeola, Steve Lukather, Stu Hamm, Steve Stevens and Trevor Rabin -- all of whom contribute distinctive, unpredictable variations of well-known standards. There are some moments that fall flat -- at this stage in the game, Ted Nugent inevitably sounds like a hack -- but overall, Merry Axemas is an enjoyable album that should satisfy most guitar fiends.



1 The Christmas Song Steve Lukather
2 O Come, O Come, Emmanuel Neal Schon
3 Do You Hear What I Hear? Steve Stevens
4 Sleigh Ride Stuart Hamm
5 O Come All Ye Faithful Trevor Rabin
6 White Christmas Zakk Wylde
7 God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen John Sykes
8 O Little Town of Bethlehem Robin Trower
9 Carol of the Bells De Meola, Al
10 Deck the Halls Ted Nugent

http://rapidshare.com/files/173375391/Merry_Axemas_-_Vol_2_-_More_Guitars_For_Christmas.rar

Ain't That A Kick In The Axe


Merry Axemas: A Guitar Christmas

1997

Review by Robert Taylor

The variety of Holdiay music has improved dramatically over the years and every 'type' of music seems to have jumped on the bandwagon. Not only are there Holiday Rock recordings, but now there are Holiday Guitar Rock recordings. While the music here is a mixed bag, it turns out to be a refreshing change from the contrived offerings that other Rock artists have produced. Kenny Wayne Shepherd kicks things off with a rousing version of "Rudolf the Red-Nosed Reindeer," while Eric Johnson proves to be the most technically proficient of the players assembled here. There are other strong offerings from Jeff Beck, Joe Satriani, Steve Vai, and Brian Setzer. However, the performances turned in by Joe Perry, Richie Sambora and Hotei do not measure up. Despite the uneven moments, this is worth picking for anyone who truly needs to rock around the Christmas tree.




1 Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer Shepherd, Kenny Wayne
2 The First Nowell Eric Johnson
3 Amazing Grace Jeff Beck
4 Jingle Bells Setzer, Brian Orchestra
5 Silent Night/Holy Night Jam Joe Satriani
6 Joy to the World Steve Morse
7 Christmas Time Is Here Steve Vai
8 Blue Christmas Joe Perry
9 The Little Drummer Boy Alex Lifeson
10 Cantique de Noel (O' Holy Night) Richie Sambora
11 Happy Xmas (War Is Over) Hotei

http://rapidshare.com/files/173357521/Merry_Axemas_-_Vol_1_-_A_Guitar_Christmas.rar

Sunday, December 11, 2011

Dust Yourself Off and Git Back Up On That Horse


Our good friend Shock over at Nosotros Somos Los Muertos let us know that due to the mysteries of the internet and Blogger their original site was brought down.
But wait......
The Shocker and his amigos are back with a new place on the internet and our hearts.
Make sure you update your links and readers to keep up with all of the cool happenings there.

Thursday, November 17, 2011

A Different Beach All Together


While living at the beach is great, when the weather starts to get cold I'm nowhere near the water. One of the methods I now use to get through the winter is spending time at another beach, Echo Beach. My friend, The Turn Table Terrorist, does an excellent job in keeping the Dub Fires ablaze via his weekly radio show Echo Beach on WLUW-FM in Chicago. Showcasing the ever-inspiring sounds of old school to the newest releases to be heard, it always puts my mind in the proper perspective. You can catch the show live at www.wluw.org from 8am to 10am GMT or if you're a Left Coaster like me, you can always catch up by heading to you can check out the extensive archives at archive.org (just search for "Echo Beach.").

Finally, another dub radio show, "The Echo Chamber," which was started by TTT and his good friend Dr. Strangedub (aka Michael Rose) back in 1996 on KFAI-FM in Minneapolis/St. Paul, is celebrating it's 15th anniversary on the August 31st show (from 2am to 5am CDT). This one's available live via the www.kfai.org web site and is also archived at archive.org. "The Echo Chamber" has the distinction of being the firstand longest running dub-centric radio show in the US.

But wait...There's more!.... If you act right now you can receive the excellent Echo Beach Around The World In Dub show that was broadcast this last April.
GET IT HERE

But wait... There's even more! The next Echo Beach show November 18th (early tomorrow morning) will have a guest DJ segment by another friend of mine, British soundmaster, DJ Aldo, with a broadcast from his Radio Ghana "Celebration of Dub" show he put together several years ago. To be able to bring the exceptional talents of these two together to create an outstanding show for the Dubbies out there is yet another miracle of the cyberworld.

Please make sure you leave some comments. Hope you enjoy the shows.



Friday, October 21, 2011

Arrrrrgh!


I boogered up something with my pic files the other night that did something I was not expecting hence the mess. But all of the links are fine and just waiting to be gratefully plucked. Hopefully it will be fixed in a few days..... if only I can remember how I did it the first time. Doogh!

Monday, October 10, 2011

I Never Liked Basketball Anyway


The Rules To Rugby - Watch more Sports

Thursday, September 15, 2011

Limbo Up...Limbo Down Limbo FURY!


The Reverberators
Limbo Fury
2001



I love it! This hot one is from my good friend Guy. How many of us who live at the beach get great surf tunes from out friends in Canada!! Get it, spin it, dig it.

T

The Reverberators get off to a flying start and cover a lot of ground on this album. "Low Down" opens with a deep guitar riff which is picked up by bass and drums as the sax (which does not dominate, but adds a tasty edge) joins in. It's pure fifties 12-bar rock & roll which could be comin' at ya from vintage vinyl. One stirring original follows another, as so many surging surf riffs and runs blast out of the speakers. "Paint It Bond" is a fabulous marriage of the Stones song and a 007 theme, and other tunes conjure up a wonderful variety of rockin' sentiments. This is an excellent CD with great production, and is a beach party all on it's own. Top Marks!


1
Terror Pipe
2
Tsunami 500
3
Kerouac's Revenge
4
5 Peso Room
5
Bikini Bounce
6
Banditos Stomp
7
Gringo's Gulch
8
Tango
9
Cubana Mood
10
Biker Dust
11
Limbo Fury

Slow Down And Enjoy


Hawaiian Slack Key Guitar Masters
1995

For ronald33

The Dancing Cat label has been the chief vehicle for exposure of Hawaiian roots music on the mainland, particularly of the slack-key guitar style, a virtuosic fingerpicking genre that nonetheless is far more tranquil than frenetic. This acts as a label sampler, with cuts from 11 different albums in the Hawaiian Slack Key Guitar Masters Series. With songs by the leading slack-key performers -- including Cyril Pahinui, Keola Beamer, Ray Kane, and Sonny Chillingworth -- it's a good introduction to the style, or a good collection for those who just want one representation of the form. It's surprisingly homogenous for a sampler, but then its serene washes of strings are very characteristic of the slack-key sound.


Tracklist:

1 Panini Pua Kea Cyril Pahinui
2 Ku'u Kika Kahiko (My Old Guitar) Kotani
3 Pohakuloa Kahumkou
4 Ke'ala's Mele Kwan
5 Maui Medley Isaacs, Isaacs, Kuo
6 Moe 'Uhane (Dream Slack Key) Chillingworth
7 Kalena Kai Beamer, Winston
8 Whee Ha Swing Kaapana
9 E Ku'u Morning Dew Beamer
10 Waikiki Hula Medley Kuo
11 Punahele Kane



Get it HERE

Friday, September 09, 2011

For My Friend Randy


A tune to celebrate the birthday of my friend Randy (Eek the Cat)

We all miss you.

Remember "It never hurts to help"

T


Joe Satriani - The Extremist - 01 - Friends by Trustar8

Wednesday, September 07, 2011

Just What We Needed

Tuesday, September 06, 2011

Rub- A-Dub-Dub


Box of Dub
"Dubstep And Future Dub"
2007
-
Cred-heavy London imprint Soul Jazz Records presents a compilation of exclusive tracks trailed as Future Dub and Dubstep from key artists associated with a largely UK-based scene. Big punchers such as Skream, Scuba, Digital Mystikz, Kode 9 are assembled, as well as Sunday supplement crossover it-boy, Burial. Channeling the future sound of South London boroughs, Box of Dub seems to set out to draw more clearly the links between contemporary Dubstep producers and their pioneering precursors - early dub explorers such as King Tubby and Scientist. Judged in terms of the degree of innovation or "futurity" manifested by these contributors, the results are mixed, though overall the material represents a decent overview of various trajectories within the sphere of dub-derived electronic listening music.

-
1. Digital Mystikz – I Wait
2. Haze and Ho feat. Paul St. Hilaire – The Light
3. Skream – Dub Island
4. Tayo and Acid Rockers Uptown – Dread Cowboy
5. Scuba – Subaqueous
6. Kode 9 – Magnetic City
7. Haze and Ho feat Paul St. Hilaire – Rise Up
8. Burial – Unite
9. Digital Mystikz – Guilty
10. King Midas Sound – Surround Me
11. Skream – Irie
12. Scuba - Respirator
-

Another Fine Tune From Jon




Enjoy

Friday, August 26, 2011

Let's Hope It's Not The Last


The Last Shadow Puppets
The Age of Understatement
2008
Ripped @ 320 w 3% recovery
Re-upped for Terry C

I've had this on my iPod for two years now and as you all know, I live my life on shuffle. These songs keep popping up and I have to check to see who it is every time since they always catch my ear. If you have not had a chance to listen to them, grab it now for a treat for your ears.


Review by Heather Phares

It's not that often that side projects are more ambitious than the players' main bands, but the Last Shadow Puppets, the collaboration between the Arctic Monkeys' Alex Turner and the Rascals' Miles Kane, is one of those rare birds. With their day jobs, Turner and Kane are revivalists of different strains of "angry young British man" rock, but with the help of drummer/producer James Ford (also of Simian Mobile Disco), arranger Owen Pallett (Final Fantasy), and the London Metropolitan Orchestra, on The Age of the Understatement they revitalize the lush, symphonic pop of early Scott Walker and David Bowie, when they needed an orchestra to express just how sweeping their feelings were. The title track's galloping strings-and-timpani drama begins the album, making it readily apparent just how ironic The Age of the Understatement's name is, and just how well the Last Shadow Puppets have recaptured that lavish late-'60s/early-'70s sound. The main update to it comes from Turner and Kane's voices; stark and suave like Walker and Bowie they are not, but that's a good thing -- their boyish, unpretentious voices and brotherly harmonies keep the album from dipping into kitsch. Instead, a surprising urgency runs through The Age of the Understatement, most noticeably on the taut "Calm Like You" and "Separate and Ever Deadly," but also on softer moments like "The Meeting Place" and the extremely Walker-esque "My Mistakes Were Made for You." Whenever the drama threatens to become too monotonous, the band knows when to change things up: "I Don't Like You Anymore" brings in more of the Arctic Monkeys' spit and spite, building up to a livid guitar solo that practically shakes with loathing, while "Standing Next to Me" and "Time Has Come" rein in the bombast. Despite all the intensity, the Last Shadow Puppets have a light touch -- their songs are short and don't overstay their welcome, and the whole affair is just arty and indulgent enough to make it special. It's not an overstatement to say that The Age of the Understatement is a likable, accomplished working holiday.

Tracklist:

1 The Age of the Understatement
2 Standing Next to Me
3 Calm Like You
4 Separate and Ever Deadly
5 The Chamber
6 Only the Truth
7 My Mistakes Were Made for You
8 Black Plant
9 I Don't Like You Any More
10 In My Room
11 The Meeting Place
12 Time Has Come Again

Get it HERE
New Link

Monday, August 01, 2011

Play Ball!


3Balls of Fire
Firepower
2002
320 w/3% recovery

Gettin' along in the basball season now so check out these


3 Balls of Fire, AKA The Men with the Burning Guitars, was formed in 1987 by guitarist/songwriter Burnin' Mike Vernon. Vernon, born in 1954 (Albuquerque, NM), joined his first band, Stoned Catsup, in Arlington, Texas, in 1969.

From '73-'75 Vernon studied Spanish guitar at the Univ. of Texas-El Paso and then returned to the Dallas-Ft. Worth area where he played in various jazz, blues, rock, and western bands. During this time he had the opportunity to sit in with such greats as Freddie King, Big Joe Turner, Stevie Ray Vaughan, and Gary Duncan of the Quicksilver Messenger Service.

In '79 he formed the instrumental group Perry Mason & the Defendants and cut two 45's for the Mars label. The group played all over the north Texas area and Oklahoma. By '82 the band's sound turned decidedly surf in nature as the band performed surf guitar songs from the '60's and originals by Vernon.

In 1985, Vernon moved to Austin and formed 3 Balls of Fire. Joining in on bass and drums was Vic Gerrard and Chris Stix Staples, forming the tightly-wound rhythm section on the Balls' self-titled debut recording on Amazing Records in 1987.

In 1989, Gerard and Staples joined Two Hoots and a Holler, and Vernon kept the group alive by adding Jackie Newhouse (Stevie Ray Vaughan's bassist until 1980) and a revolving list of stellar players from the Austin area. In the early '90's, the group released two cassettes, toured from Louisiana to California, had their music featured in the movie Good Girl, Bad Girl, and opened for Dick Dale's first national tour in Austin in 1993.
The original lineup of 3 Balls of Fire reunited in 1998 and released The Best of the Balls, 1988-1998 CD to critical acclaim. After two years of regular Friday night gigs at Ego's Lounge, they released the Friday Night at Ego's Lounge CD on Austin's Deep Eddy Records in January 2000. The Austin Chronicle listed the album in the Texas top ten of 2000. The same year saw the band do a tour with George Tomsco, backing the legendary guitarist for the Fireballs. In June 2001, Nokie Edwards of the Ventures toured select Texas cities with the Balls as his backing band!
The Balls released their FirePower CD in 2002, Chrome & Water in 2004 and Jet Set Guitars in 2008. All of the Balls' Cds have landed in several top ten of the year lists. Firepower was followed by the FirePower Express tour in summer 2002, and several cuts from the CD appeared on national tv (WB, FOX), NPR, three surf compilations, two surfing videos and Muzack!!! The Shock-n-Awe tour of 2003 was a smashing sucsess, and 2004 saw the release of 'Chrome & Water'and several west coast appearances. With appearances in New York and London,emmy-winnning television credits and the prestigeous Austin Music Awards in '06, the Balls just keep a rollin' to glory....

Tracklist



Sunday, July 31, 2011

I Am The Mothman!

I watched the new Jason Statham movie Blitz last night. Very cool movie as usual for JS. This song played during the final credits and I thought it was crankin'. Had to do a search for it and found that it's one of my favorite bands Kasabian. Give it a look/listen and let me know what you think.

Julie & The Mothman - Kasabian


Thursday, July 28, 2011

Viva La Fuzz! Again


Fenomeno Fuzz
Martinis & Bikinis
2005
Re-upped from 2007

Brought to today by Dr Charles



Biography
by Drago Bonacich
Mexican ska-punk act Fenómeno Fuzz was formed after heavy metal band la Frustración broke up by the end of the '90s. Known by their nicknames, the band's initial lineup was guitarist Fish, bassist PamF, drummer Tom, guitarist Andy, and singer Biani. To promote the release of Contrarevolución Ave., the group started playing around Mexico City along with Sor Juana and Mexican Jumping Frijoles. In March of 1999, Fenómeno Fuzz started opening for bands such as Lost Acapulco and los Esquizitos.

1 Buen Viaje Fantasma

2 La Noche De La Barracuda

3 Chiquilladas

4 El Beach Boy

5 28

6 Tiki Twist

7 Sirena

8 Mambo En Mocambo

9 Paradiso

10 El Bikini De La Chica Popof

11 El Extrano Caso D

http://rapidshare.com/files/51309766/Fenomeno_Fuzz.rar

Wednesday, July 27, 2011

He's Always One-Upping Things


Hangin 11
Surf Comp
GSD (Greek Surf Demon)
2011
Yes, he's at it again. Always going one step futher, GSD had put together another fine compilation of some of the finest surf tunage our ears can handle. Let these tunes help you ride out your summer. Myself, I am taking off to Europe and the Mediterranean to meet up with GSD in Athens and share an uzo together. We'll return sunbaked with many stories to tell at the end of August.
Ciao
T
Tracklist
01 Aqualads - Washout
02 Lost Acapulco - Malaga Storm
03 The Coffin Daggars - Bongo Pass
04 The Tomorrow Men - Mobius Transformation
05 The Secret Samurai - The Khazar
06 Los Venturas - Pumpin'
07 Long Boards - Skateboarding
08 Hella Vader - The Red Triangle
09 Razorblades - Ready For Some Action
10 Aloha Screwdriver - Tin Star Head Wound
11 The Reverb Syndicate - Last Train To Death Valley Junction
12 El Supernaut - Ode To Mr Lee & Mr Harris
13 Messer Chups - Aquanatic Business
14 Chalk Dinosaur - Fish Bone
15 Surflamingo - Las Campanillas Diabolicas
16 Lava Pups - Lava Tube
17 The Phantomatics - Hearse Surfin'
18 Ray Daytona & The Googoobombos - Mojito Lounge
19 Pavlov's Woody - Island Sand
20 The Agamemnonz - Apollo


Get this fine comp here: https://rapidshare.com/files/1606421803/Hangin_11.rar

Wednesday, July 20, 2011

Git On Down..... To The Beach


Curent Swell
Protect Your Own
2009

Current Swell, a band based in Victoria BC, is in the foreground of the “new roots” music front pushing out of Canada’s west coast. The band has been around for a few years getting their early recognition around the world as a mainstay in the “surf rock” community. Their sound continues to develop into a blues and roots feel, gaining even more popularity with their fans while sharing stages with bands such as Xavier Rudd, The Beautiful Girls, Bedouin Soundclash, the Beach Boys and many others.

As the band progressed through 3 full length albums and multiple national tours they gained international attention. “The online community has always backed us and is a big reason for our success”, said Lang, of their iTunes, YouTube popularity. The bands newest album, “Protect Your Own”, produced by Todd Simko(producer of Xavier Rudd's, Food in the Belly) is a slight departure from the direction of some of their other albums but has been well received none the less. Being a new addition to Canada’s Fontana North label and Japan’s Surf Rock Records is a testament to the bands growing momentum. “We believe in what a band stands for, the instruments we hold, our voices, a real song and a good time” said one band member. Solid song writing and musicianship are always backed by a solid groove, and that is distinctly “Current Swell”.

Playing bigger venues and festivals has taken the band to a new level in the past year. Not only larger audiences, but a larger “Swell”, with western Canadian fans being treated to a sometimes 6 piece band. “Kiltlifter” Dave, on the trombone has been making the rounds on stage, as well as “Ghosty” who joined after the Swell’s long time bass player Louis, moved along. Scott Stanton and Dave Lang are both on guitars while Chris Petersen has the beat locked down on drums. “Sometimes you just wanna jam with all your friends at once and it's great we get a chance to do that sometimes” said Stanton. “Getting to jam with someone you look up to, is even better” he said of the bands recent touring schedule with Australia’s “Ash Grunwald”. Fans would often get to see everyone trading solo’s and banging their heads to some bluesy mash up and loving it all the way through.

The coming year is looking good for Current Swell, with plans to tour extensively, including a much anticipated return to Australia as well as revisiting their favourite Canadian spots as always. The group is also breaking out some new tunes in the jam hall to eventually record and release, maybe in the coming year...

You can pick up their current album at their website HERE http://currentswell.com

Monday, July 04, 2011

Happy 4th of July

Saturday, June 18, 2011

Happy Father's Day To All You Dads & Papas


Gary Hoey
The Endless Summer II Soundtrack
1994
-
Biography by Greg Prato
Just as alternative rock was signaling the death knell for many of the "guitar shredders' of the late '80s, a few instrumentalists were able to sneak in under the radar, such as Gary Hoey -- who attracted some attention via his 1993 debut, Animal Instinct. Hailing from Boston, MA, Hoey was first a music fan before picking up the guitar -- following such renowned rock bands that hailed from the area (Aerosmith, J. Geils Band, Boston, etc.). It wasn't long after that Hoey decided to give the guitar a try, initially inspired by the usual guitar greats (especially Jimi Hendrix, whom he dug initially because of his "cool clothes"). Hoey was not entirely self-taught, however, as he would often hang around outside of Boston's renowned Berkelee School of Music, make friends, and then offer to pay them for lessons. Sensing that he should devote all of his time to music, Hoey dropped out of high school and began playing Boston's local clubs, making ends meet by teaching guitar to others.
Hoey's big break appeared to come his way in 1982, when Ozzy Osbourne began looking for a replacement for his recently deceased guitarist, Randy Rhoads. Despite a series of auditions (including Hoey being asked to fly out to Los Angeles), Hoey failed to land the gig, but in the process, he decided to relocate permanently to the West Coast. Packing up all his belongings into a U-Haul, Hoey arrived with $17,000 in his pocket (saved from his playing and teaching gigs). Years later, Hoey eventually came to the attention of manager Dave Kaplan, who helped get the guitarist's career moving forward. Although it wasn't the best of times to launch a career for a "guitar hero" in 1993 (with Nirvana and Pearl Jam being all the rage), Hoey did just that and, surprisingly, scored a sizeable MTV/radio hit with his cover of the early-'70s prog rock gem "Hocus Pocus" by the Netherlands-based group Focus. The album it was taken from, the aforementioned Animal Instinct, also featured contributions from a few notable names of '80s hard rock -- bassist Tony Franklin (ex-Firm), keyboardist Claude Schnell (ex-Dio), and drummer Frankie Banali (ex-Quiet Riot).
Hoey never managed to scale the same heights commercially, but it didn't prevent him from carving a niche for himself, as his albums got progressively more surf-based and rootsy. A friendship with surf guitar great Dick Dale soon blossomed, with Dale going as far as declaring Hoey as one of his all-time favorite players, alongside the likes of Eric Clapton, B.B. King, and Andrés Segovia (in Guitar Player magazine), which led to the two working together. The two talented guitarists went toe to toe on a remake of "Miserlou" (titled "Miserlou '97") for the 1997 benefit album M.O.M., Vol. 2: Music for Our Mother Ocean, which also saw Hoey produce and play on another track for the collection, "V-12 Cadillac," by a then still unknown Jewel.
Hoey continues to issue solo albums on a regular basis (including a series of Christmas-themed releases), as well as being a regular guest on several nationally syndicated radio shows (Mancow, Mark & Brian, etc.). He also has worked with various musical instrument and electronics companies creating his own signature gear for retail. In 2006, Hoey released American Made on Surfdog Records.
-
Review by William Ruhlmann
Power trio instrumental electric guitar rock to accompany footage of surfers, ranging from raging metal to wailing ballads. Jimi Hendrix lives again, and this time his name is Gary Hoey.
-
1. Riptide
2. Blast
3. Sweet Water
4. Low Rider
5. Walkin' the Nose
6. Drive
7. La Rosa Negra
8. Linus and Lucy
9. Surfdoggin'
10. Pipe
11. Shake & Stomp (Part II)
12. Theme from Endless Summer
13. Escape
14. The Deep
-

Friday, June 17, 2011

Uma Says........




Santa Esmeralda

Don't Let Me Be Misunderstood

1977

Not a great bitrate but still worth the listen.

Review

by Andrew Hamilton

Santa Esmeralda's debut dropped on Phillips Records in 1977, then on Casablanca Records for worldwide distribution; Hot Records reissued it on CD in 1994. Although the disc had originally been titled Santa Esmeralda Featuring Leroy Gomez, Casablanca renamed it to capitalize on the hit single "Don't Let Me Be Misunderstood." The old Animals classic covered an entire side of the original vinyl album; "Esmeralda Suite" was simply a reworking of the hit. Don't Let Me Be Misunderstood contains three other tracks: the dull ballad "You're My Everything"; an elongated remake of "Gloria" that's borderline disco; and the refreshing "Black Pot," a soulful number that uses Spanish guitars, flamenco percussion, and lead guitars to good effect. There are no bonus tracks, so you're getting the original album intact.

Tracklist

1 Don't Let Me Be Misunderstood

2 Esmeralda Suite

3 Gloria

4 You're My Everything

5 Black Pot

Get it HERE

Cruel or Gentle?


Charlie Sexton

Cruel and Gentle Things

2005

@320


Review


by Thom Jurek

It's been a decade since Charlie Sexton issued the sprawling, ambitious Under the Wishing Tree. But Sexton has been anything but idle. He's produced recordings by Lucinda Williams, Edie Brickell, Los Super Seven, Shannon McNally, and Double Trouble. He also played guitar in Bob Dylan's studio and road bands for over three years. Cruel and Gentle Things is only the fourth album issued under Sexton's own name. It was recorded, in many sessions over a number of years, whenever he got a break from his other occupational duties. It is a close and intimate affair that finds the songwriter and producer playing nearly everything over ten songs. There are a few guests who appear -- mainly bassist George Reiff and drummer J.J. Johnson, but overall this is truly a solo affair. The set opens with "Gospel," a slippery, languid acoustic blues testament to faith in times of trouble. The sheer skeletal beauty of the track is striking, and Sexton's vocal is full of a relaxed conviction that gets right at the heart of the lyric. Daniel Lanois would kill to have written this. Rock & roll enters on "Burn," a, dreamy and seductive nocturnal groove that stands in sharp contrast to the sheer lost-love desolation in its lyrics with a killer backing vocal by McNally. The rootsy country-folk stroll of "I Do the Same for You," with its lap steel and layered acoustic guitars, inspires with its gritty sense of dedication. "Once in a While," though another broken love song about moving on after a breakup, is bright bouncy pop fueled by a simple bassline and a layer of guitars. Dobro, ringing electrics, and skittering drums envelope the other instruments in a buoyant swirl around the singer. They seem to give him the courage to step out and state his willingness and truth. "Dillingham Lane" was written with Steve Earle and features Sexton's brother Will on backing vocals. A droning, open-tuned guitar piece, it narrates a look back to the street the pair grew up on. There's no romance in the lyric -- simply a statement of what was, looking at it as it informs the present. Ultimately, Cruel and Gentle Things is a series of postcards from various places and people in the songwriter's life. It comes across as an interior kind of travel record, one that charts, exposes, lays bare, and celebrates the years as the revelations of everyday life, lived in space and time but not bound by them. It is easily the finest and most poetic and musically realized record in Sexton's catalog.


Tracklist

1 Gospel
2 Burn
3 I Do the Same for You
4 Cruel and Gentle Things
5 Bring It Home Again
6 Once in a While
7 Just Like Love
8 Regular Grind

9 Dillingham Lane

10 It Don't Take Long


Get it HERE



Schools Out 1970 Style


Emerson, Lake & Palmer

Emerson, Lake & Palmer

1970

@ 320 w/ 3% Recovery


Review

by Bruce Eder

Lively, ambitious, almost entirely successful debut album, made up of keyboard-dominated instrumentals ("The Barbarian," "Three Fates") and romantic ballads ("Lucky Man") showcasing all three members' very daunting talents. This album, which reached the Top 20 in America and got to number four in England, showcased the group at its least pretentious and most musicianly -- with the exception of a few moments on "Three Fates" and perhaps "Take a Pebble," there isn't much excess, and there is a lot of impressive musicianship here. "Take a Pebble" might have passed for a Moody Blues track of the era but for the fact that none of the Moody Blues' keyboard men could solo like Keith Emerson. Even here, in a relatively balanced collection of material, the album shows the beginnings of a dark, savage, imposingly gothic edge that had scarcely been seen before in so-called "art rock," mostly courtesy of Emerson's larger-than-life organ and synthesizer attacks. Greg Lake's beautifully sung, deliberately archaic "Lucky Man" had a brush with success on FM radio, and Carl Palmer became the idol of many thousands of would-be drummers based on this one album (especially for "Three Fates" and "Tank"), but Emerson emerged as the overpowering talent here for much of the public.


Tracklist

1 The Barbarian

2 Take A Pebble

3 Knife Edge

4 The Three Fates: Clotho - Lachesis - Atropos

5 Tank (Instrumental)

6 Lucky Man


Get it HERE


Just Like Mama Said, Bring Yo' Ass To The Table!


Left Lane Cruiser

Bring Yo' Ass To The Table

2008


Review

by Jo-Ann Greene

In another life, Freddie J IV could have been a good ol' fingerpickin', porch-playin' blues guitarist. Basking away in the sun, he could have whiled away his time exploring the many shades of blues, from country hit whittling to Delta swamp wading. But there was fire in his belly and a flame in his soul, and in his hands the blues were transformed into an assault weapon. Bren "Sausage Paw" Beck was perhaps every mother's nightmare, a boy who seemingly just couldn't sit still. In a world pulsing with rhythm -- from the blood pounding through our veins to the cacophony of traffic in our towns -- Beck had to drum back in response at every turn, on anything and everything available. He is a continuous tattoo, battering out the beats of his own internal drums. Fatefully, one day the two met, and so was born Left Lane Cruiser, an astounding two-man blues band. Lo-fi is a totally inadequate term to describe their sound, a sizzling mix of Beck's pusillanimous drums, claps, percussion, and hoots and hollers and Freddie J's blistering guitar and husky vocals. This is the blues in their purest form, rough and ragged, rubbed raw by too much hard living and too many tough breaks. The blues' African-American progenitors could bare the pain in their souls, but dared not express the anger that underlay it. Cruiser, however, are under no such constraints, and on the trio of songs that close the set the music bristles with barely repressed rage that immediately brings the Stooges to mind. In contrast, the exuberant crash and bash of "Wash It," the dizzy stomp of "KFD," and the gleeful hook of "G Bob" all roil with a grand joie de vivre, with the exhilarating "Set Me Down" the perfect band anthem. Then again, every track on Bring Yo' Ass to the Table ripples with energy and an electric charge of creative frisson. Whether celebrating a plate of "Pork n' Beans," "Big Momma"'s delights, or "G Bob"'s steel guitar playing, the Cruisers rumble through the back streets of life, focusing on the small details, although the scathing "Amerika" does look at the bigger picture. A thoroughly unique journey down a well-traveled road; best now to sit yo' ass down a spell and listen to this stunning album.

Tracklist

1 Wash It
2 Set Me Down
3 Pork n' Beans
4 KFD
5 Justify
6 G Bob
7 Big Momma
8 Busket
9 Amerika
10 Amy's in the Kitchen
11 Mr. Johnson
12 Heavy


Get it HERE





























Sunday, June 05, 2011

Never Assume



Friday, June 03, 2011

Vios Con Dios Marshal Dillon


Sunday, April 03, 2011

A Taste For Beer

Enjoy

Thursday, March 17, 2011

Who Are YOU Lookin' For?






Bryan Himes
Lookin' For R.L.
2003

Don't remember where I picked this one up but grooved to it the other night. Well worth the d/l to start out your Friday night.

Bryan Himes has played his music all over the country opening for acts, Everlast, Chip Taylor, Carrie Rodriquez, Angie Aparo, Bright Eyes, and Paul "Wine" Jones
Blues Revue: ...shows he can carry the show alone.. displays an excellent voice.. nice job modernizing a Robert Johnson feel.
Cd Baby: .. is boiling water, white-flaming excitement and high-wired... he is a habanero pepper.. all emotion hanging out, gut-churning and gritty.
music is fresh sounding, and not dated, even when he drives into his influences.


Tracklist

1 .Take My Sickness
2 Cold as a Machine
3 Martha Ruth
4 I Want You Bad
5 Crazy
6 Contemporary Caucasian
7 Willin' 'N Able
8 When a Woman Gets You Down
9 Looking for R.L.

Get it HERE ******** Corrected Link******

Wednesday, March 09, 2011

Don't Hold Back Again!



Re-up for bfg666


The Chemical Brothers
Galvanize
2005


The Chemical Brothers have released the first of a wicked ass single from their latest album "Push The Button" and this is a guaranteed floor filler as it combines the best in electronica with a hip-hop flavor that will have everyone in a frenzy for months. The Chemical Brothers team up with rapper Q-Tip to create one of the best anthems we will hear for 2005. This song topped the UK Chart within its first week of release. The Original Version of this song is a down tempo BPM-Wise tune with killer violin hooks, a pumpin' baseline and some freak-n-sweet ass breakdowns and build-ups that are almost to hard to describe in words. Q-Tip deserves a lot of respect for bringing his talent to this record. Not to mention he will have a huge impact on bridging the gap between hip-hop lovers and electronic/dance lovers to unite on the dance floor at once. The funny thing is some people won't realize it's hip-hop and some people won't realize it's a form of electronic/dance.


1 Galvanize
2 Galanize (Extended Version)
3 Electronic Battle Weapon 7


+ bonus party track

GET IT HERE

Tuesday, March 01, 2011

How To Roll A Mercedes

Sunday, February 13, 2011

Happy Valentines Day!

Saturday, February 12, 2011

Enough For Everyone Get A Head Start


Trojan Ganja Reggae Box Set (3 discs) Re-up
2003

*
Ganja - Sensimellia, the sweet Collie Bud, the smooth Lambs Bread, has been the staple in more ways than one, of the Jamaican people for many a hazy decade. It's first recorded use was with the Arawak Indians who inhabited the lush island centuries before a certain Christopher Columbus 'discovered' Jamaica for his King and country to exploit. Unofficially, Ganja, or give it it's correct name, Marijuana, has held-up the Jamaican economy for many decades with it's export to the nearby USA bringing in a plentiful supply of much needed Dollars. The UK too appreciated the finest herb, and really took a liking to it in the swinging sixties as hippy culture from it's base in San Francisco spread peace and love worldwide.

It was known and used both as a brewed medicine and smoked through various means way before the Rastafarian faith took it to their hearts and minds. But now it will always be associated with those skanking Dreadlocks and their militant stand against oppression, exemplified by Bob Marley - the Rasta Rebel who dared to be photographed on his 'Burning' album sleeve with a smoking spliff between his lips. He was the ultimate anti-establishmentarian, fostered by Island Records to sell his rebellion to the white rock masses. And buy it they did, as well as sidling-up to the local Ganja-man for a couple of ounces of his finest direct from the lush hills way out in JA. One of fellow Wailer Peter Tosh's first solo releases was a demand to the government to 'Legalise It' - Ganja. The authorities predictable response was to ban his record from radio airplay.

Rasta and it's need to meditate soon found that a good chalice of herb aided the mind in it's relaxation, leading the user to higher heights and a serious reasoning could begin. The group Grounation was not complete without the said communal chalice, with the pipe passed from member to member instilling a feeling of togetherness - a being as one with nature.

By the time the Rastafarian faith had established itself in Jamaica, and been shunted aside by the mainly white authorities of the 1940's in to hill top communes or dank ghetto shantys, Ganja was as necessary as bread and water to the devotee. As the Rasta entered the recording studios in the formative 1960's so did the much loved herb. Like the religion itself, it was very much an underground thing,with severe retribution from the studio owner should either of the pair be discovered nestling in a dark corner.
Duke Reid of Treasure Isle Studio fame is well documented as disliking Rasta and all their accoutrements, and one of the only havens in those early oppressive days was Clement 'Coxsone' Dodd's Studio One recording set-up. As Rasta almost secretly moved within the music circles, fostered by the ghetto musicians who were all either of, or sympathetic to, the faith, then covert comments started to appear on record. Don Drummond's 'Addis A Baba', a call to the Ethiopian homeland, Vernon Allen's 'Babylon', a commentary on the oppression of the faith by the Police, and Tosh and the Wailers stirring 'Rasta Put It On' all did more than hint that a new regime was coursing through the masses in the 1960's.

With the Rasta came the Ganja and songs about it's benefits, and songs about it's destruction at the hands of the authorities started to creep out as the studio bosses could hold down the groundswell no longer. The late 1960's saw every studio in the small island full of young singers and players sprouting shoots of dreadlocks, while older men were in full flow, both musically and with their platted hair. Everyone wanted to praise the herb from DJ, King Stitt's 'Herbsman', giving a view of the provider, to Glen Brown's fire-lit seduction of 'Collie And Wine', the smokey Ganja influence was everywhere.

As its influence in Jamaican society grew, although most middle and upper class citizens would denounce in public the good weed's use (and happily smoke it way out of sight), the police and army were employed in scouring the green hills for secluded fields of lazy growing Marijuana. Persons could be stopped and searched on sight should there be any suspicion that a leaf or two was concealed upon their person.

With the rapid outbreak of Dread in the early 1970's every Rasta was a target for the increasingly heavy-handed police. While the growing income from the crop helped instigate turf wars of the most brutal kind as the gangster element came to realise the great profits that could be obtained from this earthbound commodity.

Ganglords started to align themselves with the two political parties and take-on soldiers to enforce the new law of disorder that was to rage through Kingston night after night.

As the roots 1970's moved on the Dread and the spliff were seen as typical Jamaica, bathed in hot sun and swimming in a clear everlasting ocean to a soundtrack of Bob Marley.

The reality was somewhat different from the tourist dream, with increasing violence in the ghettos as general elections came and went. Many died and even more lived in fear every night - a far cry from Thomas Cook's glossy brochure.

Meanwhile in the UK, many of the old skinhead appreciators of the reggae had decamped to Bowie and a new youth faction was tuning in with the Ganja smoking Rasta - the Punks.

From their white middle-class ghettos of Cheam and Basildon, they aligned themselves with the suffering Trenchtown people. Seeing themselves as equal in their struggle of oppression and hardship, they strode along the road in time to records such as Tapper Zukie's 'Chalice To Chalice' and the stepping Upsetter sounds of 'Bush Weed Corn Trash' from Bunny & Ricky. Imbibing along the way quantities of Ganja beside other more chemical and addictive substances.

Luckily by this time there was a plethora of militant Ganja soaked records beaming from the Kingston studios, as every artist issued a praise to the now 'blessed herb', so the Punks had plenty to feast upon. Johnny Clarke, Barry Brown, Black Uhuru, all stepped out their Ganja anthems alongside dozens of other offerings, and all educating the masses on the various varieties and delights of a good smoke.

Even with the advent of Dancehall as the 1980's began, and the rapid decline of the reality-lyric tunes, Ganja still was a mainstay subject for the new-style singers and fast rising Deejays like Yellowman. The new Dancehall culture maintained the enjoyment of Ganja, and though it was still a crime to be seen smoking the herb, its use had never been more widespread.

Sadly as the 1980's progressed, hard new drugs slowly and insidiously usurped the peaceful Rasta's Ganja, culminating in today's epidemic of Crack Cocaine. The UK's premiere chart show, 'Top Of The Pops' almost played host to a Ganja anthem, albeit in a very sanitised fashion when Musical Youth reconfigured the Mighty Diamonds 'Pass The Cuchie'. 'Pass The Dutchie', (a large cooking pot) turned a Ganja anthem in to a culinary delight for all concerned in September 1982, and on the way dropped the teen group in at number one. Dancehall sensation, Barrington Levy also had a crack (no pun intended) at the national top forty focussing on Ganja with 'Under Me Sensi' in February 1985, but sadly stalled at forty-one.
Even in today's HipHop hybrid Dancehall culture Ganja is still a subject singers return to for a little inspiration, and Mr Vegas is heading straight up the reggae charts with a recover of 'Under Me Sensi'. This is a long way from the literally, heady days of the 1970's when the dancehall was filled with throbbing bass and the Ganja cloud rose like a mist early on a summer morning over the dancers. Its pacifying influence pumping along to the heartbeat of the reggae and taking the audience in to the musicians secret world of sound.

Jamaica certainly gave the world reggae music but more secretly, it also instilled through its culture an appreciation of the good herb - something whether the authorities like it or not, has become part of modern day life.
Michael de Koningh
*
1 Herbsman King Stitt, Andy Capp
2 Ganja Plane GG Allstars
3 Ishan Cup Lloyd Charmers
4 Collie and Wine Glen Brown
5 Real Collie Dice & Cummie
6 Kaya Bob Marley & The Wailers
7 Kaya [version] Bob Marley & The Wailers
8 Lick I Pipe Carl Murphy
9 Lick the Pipe, Peter, Pt. 4 Jah T
10 Pass the Pipe Observers
11 Herb Tree Aston Barrett
12 Ganja Free Clancy Eccles
13 Kutchi Skank Upsetters
14 My Jamaican Collie Max Romeo
15 Feeling High Rupie Edwards
16 Half Ounce Big Youth
17 Herb Vendor Leroy "Horsemouth" Wallace
18 Better Calley (AKA Better Collie) Horace Andy
19 Calley Version Aggrovators
20 Bring the Couchie Come Reggae Crusaders
21 Couchie Dub Niney & The Soul Syndicate
22 Ganja Joe White
23 Collie Dread Johnny Clarke
24 Ashanti Ganja Dub Leslie Butter
25 Free the Weed Rupie Edwards
26 Free the Weed Dub Rupie Edwards All Stars
27 Bush Weed Corntrash Bunny & Ricky
28 Callying Butt Upsetters
29 Chalice to Chalice Tapper Zukie
30 A Hundred Pounds of Collie Cornell Campbell
31 I Love Marijuana Linval Thompson
32 Jamaican Colley [version] Linval Thompson
33 Smoke Marijuana Big Joe
34 Marijuana in My Soul Ranking Dread
35 Collie Weed Horace Andy
36 Marijuana Sly & The Revolutionaries
37 Marijuana in My Brain Dillinger
38 Herb Sly & The Revolutionaries
39 Collie Weed Barrington Levy
40 Collie Sly & The Revolutionaries
41 Scientist Ganja Dub Scientist, Roots Radics
42 Sensimilea Barrington Levy
43 Cannabis Dub Scientist, Roots Radics
44 The Great Collie Herb Derrick Morgan
45 Babylon Don't Touch My Sensi Neville Brown
46 Babylon Don't Touch My Sensi Dub Neville Brown
47 Sensi Man Mikey Brooks
48 Ganja Baby Clint Eastwood
49 Kaya Ronnie Davis
50 Sensi for Sale Tufftones
*

Ummmm-Ummmm Good! Re-Up w/ Vid




The Sin-Tones
Surf-O-Ghetti!
2002
*
Ripping Duties Courtesy of Teisco del Mar
Video courtesy of derdaca

Biography
by Jason MacNeil
Formed in the Toronto area, the Sin-Tones mix an eclectic blend of instrumental surf rock, rockabilly, and tinges of country to produce a wholesome sound. Much like fellow Canadian instrumentalists Shadowy Men on a Shadowy Planet, the band was founded by lead singer and guitarist Michael Hussey. Hussey, a produced playwright and drama teacher at Ryerson University, grew up listening to the likes of Johnny Cash as a child. But his career path changed after listening to a Dick Dale record and watching the motion picture Pulp Fiction with its surf rock soundtrack. The band has scored and appeared in some films as well as appearing on Canadian variety shows. In 2000, the band released their self-titled debut album.
*
By Joe Wood
Every now and then, when you hear a band, you know that there is the potential for greatness. Toronto's Sin-Tones most recent CD, Surf-o-Ghetti! (Fading Ways Music), gives me that feeling. Surf-o-Ghetti! spans several different styles—from surf to alt-country to rockabilly—and displays the various musical abilities and creativeness of this Canadian trio.
This short but fun blend of songs and surf instrumentals begins with "The Resurrection of Joe Clark", a surf theme song driven by Michael Hussey's guitar and backed by ooo's, ah's, and a well placed crow. "Knot of Wood" follows with a surfabilly sound reminiscent of works by the Cramps. "(Theme From) Chick Boat", another entertaining surf track, features vocals from female bassist Jo Bradley. (You can catch the campy action video of "Chick Boat" on the Sin-Tones website.)
In "Mail Order Bride" Hussey delivers a twang-y, hilarious ditty about the process of ordering your wife out of a catalog. This song is a pleasant complement to "Yesterday’s Tomorrow", the album’s other western-flavored offering. "Trailer Park Sadie", the one true rockabilly track on this CD, spotlights the Sin-Tones ability to deliver classic 50s rock ‘n' roll.
At a little more than 30 minutes in length this CD comes off a little more like an audio resume than a complete recording, leaving you hungry for more. Every song is right on musically and a lot of fun to listen to. Whether you are into surf or rockabilly this recording is a keeper. Hopefully we all will have the opportunity to hear more from the Sin-Tones...I know that I'm looking forward to it!
The Resurrection Of Joe Clark
Knot Of Wood
(Theme From) Chick Boat
Mail Order Bride
It Could Be...A Beaker Full Of Death
Picked Clean
Monster Truck-O-Rama
Trailer Park Sadie
The Jam Song
They Went Thattaway
Yesterday's Tomorrow
Final Frontier
Atomic Paradise
*