stevecanmakeanythingnerdy

Session #10 Artist: The Iron City House Rockers: Love’s So...

Fri, 22 Jun 2018 07:52:36 -0400

Session #10
Artist: The Iron City House Rockers: Love’s So Tough
Time: 38 minutes
Calories: 257
Songs: 9
Calories burned per minute: 6.77
Calories burned per song: 29

Iron City Houserockers were started in 1976 as the Brick Alley Band by band leader Joe Grushecky, whose former life was as a high school special education teacher in Pittsburgh. The band was a fairly typical bar band. It was distinguished by Grushecky’s taut, focused songs about life in the heartland and a distinctive, harmonica-and-guitar-driven sound borrowing heavily from the influence of the Rolling Stones and the J. Geils Band. Most of the members of the Iron City Houserockers came from a genuine blue-collar background: Art Nardini was the son of a mechanic and a part-time college student, Joe Grushecky was a coal miner’s son, and Gil Snyder’s father was a construction worker. In 1977 they signed with Cleveland International Records, headed by former Epic Records A&R chief and Pittsburgh native Steve Popovich. Popovich is credited with christening them the Iron City Houserockers, but this caused some problems when touring outside their native Pittsburgh—especially when they played Cleveland. Once, their tires were slashed. The band’s debut album, Love’s So Tough, was released in April 1979. With dense, no-frills production by Popovich and Marty Mooney (known as “The Slimmer Twins”). The album successfully captured the band’s live sound. “Hideaway” (the first single) and “Dance With Me” were viewed as standout cuts. Even if I were not aware of the Pittsburgh, PA connection, I would have guessed as such due to them thanking the Steelers so prominently in the liner. I picked this up at a flea market for a mere quarter. I figured for that price it was worth the investment to see if the derby hats on the back were worn because they were A/C D/C fans or just because they liked the show Taxi. Seems maybe more like the latter. “ I Can’t Take It” starts the platter off and it is very evident the bar rock side of the band. It almost hits you in the face like all of the stale, spilled beer (and barkeepers friend used to clean it up) when you walk into one of those basement dive bars. You know that smell. Blues and piano rock…like Eddie and The Cruisers soundtrack style. I am hearing harmonicas and Springsteen. “Hideaway” follows and is just more of the same. Actually, IS IT the same? Very similar. “Turn It Up” is strictly ballad, and weirdly confirms some of that A/C D/C influence I was looking and hoping for. Imagine Bon Scott on “Big Balls”. The next tune contains a nod I never expected in the harmonicas. “Dance With Me” starts out very Dylan, not only in the harmonica riff, but also in vocal style. Soft and gentle with Billy Joel story time elements. They are blue collar after all. “Love So Tough” A. K. A. The title track is next. And it better be good, right? They named the album in its honor. Actually so far it is one of the better tunes. More energy and power, and oh yeah, FREAKING COW BELL!!! I’ve got a fever… (#seewhatididthere). “Veronica” is next and is the obligatory girl song. This side does seem more rocking…or should I say HOUSE rocking (#seewhatididthere) than Side 1. Mayberry those beers have finally kicked in. “Heroes are Hard to Find” was a little more of a let down. I found myself daydreaming during this one. The last two songs are “Stay with Me Tonight” and “I’m Lucky”. The first is another surprise in that it sounds like Elvis Costello guests on vocals. I think maybe some of The Houserockers cover set is leaking through. It’s another slow churned turn. The latter is all power chords, bar chords, and bar stools. An homage to the Steelworkers community they serve and who most likely supports them in return. It has some really sarcastic guitar leads and solos. You know, wanky. Steely Dan?? (#seewhatididthere). It should be noted, the production values are through the roof! Overall though, meh. So, yea, with that officially ends randomecordworkoutspringtraining2018! Season six is just on the horizon, so stay “tooned”

The Iron City Houserockers: “Love So Tough”

https://youtu.be/nzZAWpQyvts

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Session #9 Artist: Bobby (“Boris”) Pickett and The Crypt Kickers...

Tue, 19 Jun 2018 07:20:17 -0400

Session #9
Artist: Bobby (“Boris”) Pickett and The Crypt Kickers : The Original Monster Mash
Time: 30 minutes
Calories: 201
Songs: 12
Calories burned per minute: 6.70
Calories burned per song: 16.75

Robert George Pickett was known by the pen name Bobby “Boris” Pickett and was an American singer, best known for co-writing and performing the 1962 hit novelty song “Monster Mash.” His father was a theater manager and as a nine-year-old, he watched many horror films. This undoubtedly influenced him with his later aforementioned novelty tune. The song was a spoof on the dance crazes popular at the time, including the Twist and the Mashed Potato, which inspired the title. The song featured Pickett’s impersonations of veteran horror stars Boris Karloff and Bela Lugosi (the latter with the line "Whatever happened to my Transylvania Twist?”). It was passed on by every major record label, but after hearing the song, Gary S. Paxton agreed to produce and engineer it. Among the musicians who played on it was pianist Leon Russell. Issued on Paxton’s Garpax Records, the single became a million seller, reaching #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart for two weeks before Halloween in 1962. It experienced a few surges throughout the years, but it is basically Bobby Pickett’s legacy. He also did some film work and other attempted parodies (one on Star Trek) but only “Weird Al” Yankovic dominates in that category. So essentially “Monster Mash” starts off the whole album, and truly it is a scene setting. You know the tune (it WAS a graveyard smash after all! #seewhatididthere )and have heard it, so after hearing it, the supposition is that the listener understands it is an international super hit and all the monsters want to write a similar (apparently similar SOUNDING) tune to cash in, too. You get a first hand account of this through the next tune “Graveyard Shift “ as told through the eyes of Igor and “master”. It really is just a filler over some background music. Bug out music, daddy-o! “Blood Bank Blues” is next and comes from Dracula’s POV. He needs some blood man! The thing is, this record is decent, the music is good, but it is just so dated and almost juvenile. It really only holds one place and that is on your turntable for a Halloween party. Family friendly fun. More comedy Halloween skits are performed via “Rabin-The Fiendage Idol”. This time the werewolf Rabian chimes in. Tons of terrible puns, so of course I love it. “Monster Holiday” quickly comes behind. Gotta hit the Christmas market too, you know! Even the undead like to celebrate Christmas! No $#!+ it sounds exactly like the “Monster Mash” part two. Followed, of course, by another skit type tune called “Monster Minuet”. Not Monster Minute - which is about the length of this song. This one is all about the rise of Pickett and his song. Boy, SOMEBODY is really up on themselves… Side two appears to be more of the same. Draco gets to chime in about his “Transylvania Twist “. It’s basically an instrumental tune, but it IS catchy…for a bloodsucker. “Sinister Stomp” is finally another actual tune, but again a Monster Mash re-hash. Bobby, Boris, baby…you gotta get a new shtick man! At the very least a stomp should be surfer similar. I think all of these various characters are meant to be the Crypt Kickers, but it’s not 100% clear. “Me and My Mummy” is a love crooner that follows and it’s set up between Drac and a lady Mummy. I feel like Drac is a poor lamenting schlub who gets the short end of the stick on a lot of these tunes. Poor dude’s just out for blood, man. “Monster Mash Party” is literally a skit about the…successful run of “Monster Mash” where…all the monsters…celebrate it’s/their success?? Definitely good for your Halloween party, though. “Bellas’ Bash” is another instance where Drac attempts to create another #1 hit. I don’t know, maybe I was wrong about Drac…maybe he’s just a spiteful, obsessive, vengeful Monster (#seewhatididthere ). He needs to chart a hit, man! The album ends with “Let’s Fly Away”- which is really just talking between Vampyra (spelling?) and Dracula that sounds suspiciously like sex. I am going to be honest here, I am not entirely sure I fully comprehend what is happening here. So, yeah, it’s a fun, but emphasis on the juvenile Halloween record. It’s pretty much only worth it for “Monster Mash”. The rest is just unnecessary filler.

Bobby (“Boris”) Pickett and The Crypt Kickers : “The Monster Mash”

https://youtu.be/-tHyRQOdqf0

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Session #8 Artist: Starz: S/T Time: 40 minutes Calories:...

Sun, 17 Jun 2018 07:22:38 -0400

Session #8
Artist: Starz: S/T
Time: 40 minutes
Calories: 280
Songs: 10
Calories burned per minute: 7.0
Calories burned per song: 28.0

Ok, ok, ok, so what silly quip or factoid will RRW reveal to you about this band you may never have heard of? Well, starting right off, the first thing I will say is MAKE yourself familiar with Starz, right flipping now. If you are like me, you constantly flip past their records in bargain bins looking for gold. Well, you, like me, are the fool in this situation, until one day… Attracted by the cool embossed logo (designed by Michael Doret) I decided to flip over the record and check out the back. My eyes were met with a bunch of dudes with some crazy Rollie Fingers looking ‘staches and 70’s hair in black leather. Ok, so probably some rock leaning. As I am looking it over, a friend of mine with pretty good taste gave me the encouragement to pick it up, saying it was pretty good Kiss influenced stuff. He was not wrong. Starz is a heavy metal and power pop band from New Jersey, United States. Despite a lack of big commercial success, the band has a lasting cult following and has been cited as a major influence by bands such as Mötley Crüe, Poison and Twisted Sister. Here’s another weird twist, they didn’t start out that way. No, quite the opposite actually. Starz was formed out of the ashes of an early 1970s pop music band, Looking Glass, which you may recognize their number 1 hit single “Brandy (You’re a Fine Girl)”. After lead singer Elliot Lurie left Looking Glass in 1974, the three remaining members (keyboardist Larry Gonsky, bassist Pieter Sweval and drummer Jeff Grob, who adopted the stage name Joe X. Dube) teamed up with Michael Lee Smith (vocals) and guitarist Brendan Harkin to continue the band and soon changed their name to Fallen Angels. Eventually Gonsky left and was replaced with former Stories guitarist Richie Ranno. They changed their name to Starz, and were introduced to the Kiss management team. From there a deal was struck with Capitol and the rest is history. To this day the band remains in relative obscurity, but I promise you that is a travesty. This album is amazing from start to finish. The action starts in five with a tune called “Detroit Girls”. By the way, this was a hard fast lesson in never getting the titles from the album art. Always, always, always off the label on the platter. Not a single track listed follows the order listed on the album art. Anyhow, the first cut is chock full of Kiss-like riffs. Heavy handed hi-jinx. “Live Wire” follows and again, that Kiss influence shines through. “Tear it Down” is the first instance of a more original sound. It’s a slower, more melodic and hook-laden blues influenced number. Pretty decent. “Boys In Action “ contains some nice riffage! Bad ass metal. I can totally see how Brian Slagel of Metal Blade Records contacted Ranno in 1989 telling him of his longtime admiration of the band and asked if Ranno held the rights to any of the band’s material, so he could eventually re-release it. Even a few cool fake out endings. This is cool kid music. “She’s Just a Fallen Angel” is next, and perhaps an homage to their former namesake. Formulaic smooth 70’s hard rock and brilliant every step of the way. I imagine this band to be very similar to the fictitious band in HBO’s short lived Vinyl series. Perfect end to side one. Side two is where the band really comes into their own though. “Monkey Business “ see’s to that. It has some pretty rad guitar harmonics (ch-ch/ch-ch) and literal screaming guitar solos. It’s truly everything that is righteous about 70’s rock. Even though that track is hard to beat, “Night Crawler” is hands down the brightest spot on the whole album. From the title to the Goddamn beautiful guitar work, it’s a piece of art. F#&*!@g genius chord progressions, both major and minor. Harmonies too, I promise you will love it. It might actually be the perfect song. I could talk about it all day, but there are still 3 other tunes to get to. “Over and Over” is a pretty straight ahead song. Good melody, but comparatively, nothing outstanding. “Pull the Plug” is next on the docket. Very ahead of the time for 1976. Almost experimental in nature with the heavy use of delay pedals. This is 100% a guitar-as-phallus song, but in a good way. By the way, if we are just rearranging songs then this ones should OBVIOUSLY be last. C’mon! Do I have to think of everything?? Finally it all ends with “Now I Can”-a heavy as bricks riff, centered with killer production. Yeah, lots of good stuff on here. I feel like this album was a reaction to The Doors…just a vibe I get. Starz were definitely Stars that just never got the deserved recognition. These dudes are like farmers: outstanding in their field (#seewhatididthere).

Starz: “Night Crawler” (there were live versions but the footage was more current and honestly not as powerful as the original studio effort)

https://youtu.be/49wqGFQTrfM

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Freshly cleaned wax

Fri, 15 Jun 2018 22:22:35 -0400

Freshly cleaned wax

Session # 7 Artist: The Beatles: Beatles ‘65 Time: 28 minutes...

Tue, 12 Jun 2018 07:23:14 -0400

Session # 7
Artist: The Beatles: Beatles ‘65
Time: 28 minutes
Calories: 198
Songs: 11
Calories burned per minute: 7.07
Calories burned per song: 18

So, who doesn’t know who The Beatles are? I mean, really. What rock have they been living under. I will only touch on the basics so as not to add insult to injury. In case you are NOT familiar- The Beatles were an early 60’s pop combo responsible for the first real “foreign frenzy” in music. Elvis could be considered the first true frenzy, but these guys were from England. Liverpool to be exact…waaaaaay across the pond. They brought American teens to their knees and put them in tears. Literal tears. With members John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison and Ringo Starr, they became widely regarded as the foremost and most influential music band. Their music was rooted firmly in skiffle, beat and 1950s rock and roll. They basically created and helped pioneer the Merseybeat genre. The later Beatles experimented with several musical styles, ranging from pop ballads and Indian music to psychedelia and hard rock, often incorporating classical elements and unconventional recording techniques. The Beatles are the best-selling band in history, with estimated sales of over 800 million physical and digital albums worldwide. They have had more number-one albums on the British charts and sold more singles in the UK than any other act. They are also the best-selling music artists in the United States, with 178 million certified units. But … that’s a whole other era. Right now, we are focused primarily on the early Beatles. This album is technically their 7th American release, but 5th studio effort. (Repackaging, etc]. Originally it was released in December of 1964 and includes eight of the songs from “Beatles For Sale”. The omitted tunes were later issues on “Beatles VI” so it’s really this kind of weird almost in between record…which is why you will often find it readily. I believe it was strictly a money maker/cash in on the hype transition record, but it did spend some time on the charts and jumped from the bottom to the top in just one week. It’s also considered one of the band’s first attempts at a classic concept album. It works as a musical whole rather than individual tunes on a collection. It is also in part a nod to other popular artists of that same year doing similarly titled records. (Ex: Sinatra ‘65 and Ellington ‘65). The collection really does have some good stuff on it though. In reality it’s kind of an overlooked album. “No Reply” starts it all off. It certainly retains that classic ‘64 sound. “I’m A Loser” is another sort of forgotten gem. Featuring those really great harmonies you love The Beatles for. Or at least I do. “Baby’s In Black” has a great color analogy (she’s in black/I’m blue) and “Rock and Roll Music” is of course one that is recognized. The very same emphatic Beatles that sent those unwitting teens into sobbing, nonsensical, blubbering messes. You’ve seen the footage. “I’ll Follow The Sun” introduces some melodic Beatles, perhaps an inkling into their later career. I mean they were already experimenting with acid by this point. Perhaps bad for your health, but great for their musical career! “Mr. Moonlight” ends side one and is in the vein of another of their famous styles. I believe it also features what sounds like a farfisa. I am probably misspelling that, but yeah. Side two, track one is “Honey Don’t”-more of a blues style, and probably more indicative of their earliest days in Hamburg. It almost sounds like Jim Morrison is fronting the band. Honestly, I have heard better from them. This is a filler tune. Blues riffs and walking bass and not much more. Playbook/ textbook. It is one of the few times George and Ringo are called out by name though. “I’ll be Back “ is a song about the terminator and his impending box office takeover in the 80’s. No? Not buying it? Well, it is another soft hit for the band. Some charting I believe, but I don’t think it went terribly high. It’s a slower prom style dance move. “She’s A Woman” continues the theme with some slight vocal waivers, I might add. Unusual for the band, but it gives the impression these recordings may have been rushed. Or it could be they were burnt out from constantly touring. At any rate, it is followed by “I Feel Fine” which is another notch on the old hit belt. Though comparative to their entire catalog, it’s definitely on the B side (#seewhatididthere ). Good harmonies and a cascading pre chorus. Nice. Finally, ‘65 closes with “Everybody’s Trying To Be My Baby”. It’s full on Elvis style, and showing some Sun Records love. I really don’t understand why this wasn’t a more popular album, but I suppose the above sheds some light. Over saturation I guess. There’s definitely some good stuff on here.

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Session # 6 Artist: Bob Dylan: The Times They Are...

Thu, 07 Jun 2018 07:29:04 -0400

Session # 6
Artist: Bob Dylan: The Times They Are A-Changin’
Time: 47
Calories: 320
Songs: 10
Calories burned per minute: 6.81
Calories burned per song: 32.0

Bob Dylan: now there is a name most everyone knows. Born Robert Allen Zimmerman, May 24, 1941, he is an American singer-songwriter, author, and painter who has been an influential figure in popular music and culture for more than five decades. Much of his most celebrated work dates from the 1960s, when he became a reluctant voice of a generation with songs such as “Blowin’ in the Wind” and “The Times They Are a-Changin'”. Those songs became anthems for the Civil Rights Movement and anti-war movement. Seems like this Dylan guy really spoke to a lot of people and was doing something right. This is his third album and is quite political in nature. And it all starts with “The Times They Are A-Changin’”. To be frank, this is probably one of a handful of tunes I know by the dude. For Hippy’s sake, this is the tune that changed everything. It was adopted as an anthem and movements formed. It’s good, don’t get me wrong, but it’s very mellow and folky. Fine for some, but
I like the amps. Piercing harmonica too. Back off from the mic a bit, Bobby. “The Ballad of Hollis Brown” is up next. Blues influence on this one. It’s a cyclical cynical tune, revolving around one central riff really. Again, I can appreciate what’s going on with this, but that’s as far as it goes. “With God On
Our Side” does speak to me a little more. It’s a song (very generally) about war and death. I resonate with the bitingly sarcastic truths represented. “One
Too Many Mornings “ is much of the samesies. “North Country Blues” finishes out side one. At least we achieve a different song structure with this one. More gospel. This could truly be on the O’Brother where art thou soundtrack. (Great soundtrack by the way). Again, it’s not that I don’t like this, it’s just really had for me to see it in the context of true music, as it really feels like spoken word or poetry over background music. Folk is just too light and airy for me. I dig electricity. Side two is much of the same, starting with a tune about MLK’s death and assassination. Unfortunately a case of history repeating. It is followed up by another “meh” tune with a song called “Boots of Spanish Leather”. “When The Ship Comes In” is peppier and may be the most rocking tune on the whole album. Decent. The next song has an almost pimp analogy, presumably about a rich slave owner. It’s called “The Lonesome Death of Hattie Carroll”. Keep in mind civil right were still an ongoing struggle and new concept, so this really speaks to the times. It’s a very sad tale about how another human was mistreated and another human literally gets away with murder. It’s kind of enraging, which I suppose is the point. “Restless Farewell” gives us the final representation of Dylan’s brand of game changing musical interface. A fade to acoustic slumber. I will say this about Bob. He is wonderful at using words to paint a picture. So descriptive and colorful. You can easily conjure images based on his lyrics. I do love that feature. Respectable and political, but still polite while doing so. I am glad it exists, but sorry, the songs all do sound the same.

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Session # 5 Artist: Big Country: The Crossing Time: 50 minutes...

Thu, 31 May 2018 21:00:57 -0400

Session # 5
Artist: Big Country: The Crossing
Time: 50 minutes
Calories: 363
Songs: 10
Calories burned per minute: 7.26
Calories burned per song: 36.30

Big Country are a Scottish rock band formed in 1981. They had their most successful run in the early 80’s with the song of the same name as the band, though they still play currently. The band’s music was most distinctive for the sounds it infused with Scottish folk and martial music styles, as well as for playing and engineering their guitar driven sound to evoke the inspirational spirit of bagpipes, fiddles and other traditional folk instruments. They were quite successful at it. Sadly, they were not as successful at achieving more stateside recognition. They put out subsequent albums that charted well in the U. K. But did not do much else. As the band continued to try and survive the music industry, they slowly deteriorated, and by the 90’s were different variations on themselves. At one point members of The Alarm and Simple Minds filled in, or replaced retired personnel. The current iteration functions without vocalist and guitarist Stuart Adamson, who died in the early 2000’s. It seems he had a problem with alcoholism. A sad truth, but that is the beauty in music. Once you write something that sticks with people, your music lives on, and I am sure most of you out there would agree that “In A Big Country” is a well recognized hit. It certainly a great way to start the record off. And this is the LP. Erosion, so it’s quite a bit longer. They used to do that in the 80’s. Extra long means extra “shot,”’s and drum fills. Very Slade influenced if you ask me. A nice, big, meandering solo that carries the song like the wind, too. “Inwards” follows on the heels and contains amazing production value. A bit more upbeat on this one, too. Punchy almost and with a slight hint of reggae influences and flavors. “Chance” is third in line. Mellow is the tone now and a little secluded. I think I am hearing a mandolin? Truthfully I am not confident in that. I suppose a quick glance at the liner notes might reveal that tidbit, but I am feeling lazy. We’ll just have to let the mind wonder. I do know for certain there is a power rock out for the ending, and that was worth the (*ahem*) CHANCE. (#seewhatididthere) “Fields of Fire” is the next cut. This one was also a single (actually before “Big Country”) complete with video and all. Bassist Tony Butler is definitely making his own sound. Playing the band into some uncharted territory. Seriously though, it is a very distinct style. “The Storm” has a New Model Army influence, believe it or not, Ripley (#seewhatididthere). “Harvest Home “ begins side two in a beautiful way. An almost wanky, metal level solo fills the ears and is bad ass! It helps solidify that signature sound I spoke of earlier. I believe too, this was also a single from this album. “Lost Patrol” is another mid-tempo meandering musical adventure. Nothing new or groundbreaking, but a good filler all the same. “Close Action” is a mountain holler ballad. I don’t know if it is the name or what, but it effectively conjures images of the band on hillsides of green with castles in the background, a brisk wind ripping though their hair. The last two tracks are “1000 Stars” - with it’s meaty drum fills and examples of the complete and complex tunes Big Country has the chops to write- and the tune “Porrohman”. The latter has a cascading builder of an intro. This tune seems to incorporate everything we have learned about the band so far: snappy solos, meaty drum fills, the shouted “shot!”, all of it. While it is hard to say for sure if Big Country is just a part of the music industry’s infatuation with Ireland in the 80’s (looking at U2)(#seewhatididthere ) or if it truly is just luck and talent. I vote for the latter, personally. You know, I am even hearing a little Bow Wow Wow meets Dexy’s Midnight Runners at the end there. The tunes are certainly lengthy, with an average of about 4+ minutes! Big Country is really a unique band that probably deserves another look.

“In A Big Country “ Big Country (everyone looks super Scottish in this video, just FYI)
https://youtu.be/657TZDHZqj4

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Session # 4 Artist: Dick Dale and his Del-Tones: Checkered...

Sat, 26 May 2018 07:25:36 -0400

Session # 4
Artist: Dick Dale and his Del-Tones: Checkered Flag
Time: 25 minutes flat
Calories: 183
Songs: 12
Calories burned per minute: 7.32
Calories burned per song: 15.25
Laps: 4
Fuel used: hi octane surf wax!

From the wiki: “Dick Dale (born Richard Anthony Mansour on May 4, 1937) is an American surf rock guitarist, known as The King of the Surf Guitar. He pioneered the surf music style, drawing on Middle-Eastern music scales and experimenting with reverberation. He worked closely with Fender to produce custom made amplifiers, including the first-ever 100-watt guitar amplifier. He pushed the limits of electric amplification technology, helping to develop new equipment that was capable of producing distorted, “thick, clearly defined tones” at “previously undreamed-of volumes.” The “breakneck speed of his single-note staccato picking technique” and showmanship with the guitar is considered a precursor to heavy metal music, influencing guitarists such as Jimi Hendrix and Eddie Van Halen.” Pretty impressive from the start. In Dale’s early life, his family moved out to California where he learned to surf. He was legit. That and due to his Arab heritage, he also had a strong interest in Arabic music, which later played a major role in his development of surf rock music. Dude just created a whole new thing out of two of his passions! What the what!!?! Dale was a surfer and wanted his music to reflect the sounds he heard in his mind while surfing. He was among the first guitarists to use reverb—which gave the guitar a “wet” sound that has become a staple of surf music. He also helped create “stomps” which are basically self booked shows. In the early 60’s that was the shit! He started one of the first music crazes, but it was short lived due to the British Invasion in 1964. He had a significant increase in popularity and resurgence in the mid 90’s thanks to Quentin Tarantino’s use of one of his more famous tunes in his film Pulp Fiction. An interesting non-musical side note is that Mr. Dale does not drink or do drugs. He also gave up red meat. A surfer with conviction!! So Checkered Flag is his third proper studio effort. In listening start to finish there is a definitive pattern. Vocals/non vocals. A full blown song with lyrics, then an instrumental. “The Scavenger “ is the drag city rock and roll theme you need to start it off right. Pretty straight up 60’s pop, really. Horns and all. It’s a flipping dance party! “Surf Buggy” is the first instrumental and it’s a great mid-tone, mid-fi surfy number. Most what modern individuals would think of when they hear the name Dick Dale. “Hot Rod Racer” takes us back to the greaser garage with some squeaky vocal duties. Get that guy some oil! There are a lot of good instrumentals on this platter, but “Mag Wheels” might be one of my faves. Snappy and all about car parts, with some minimal vocals. It’s pretty classic. Dale knew how to cater to an audience that’s for sure. “Big Black Cad” is pretty bad ass too. Beach Boys meets The Surfaris. Really that’s truly the best description I could ever give. “Ho-Dad Machine “ is the next cut up for bid. Another nice and easy traditional surf-strumental. Effectively that ends side one. The flip side contains more of the same patterns and amazing licks that Dale is known for. The Del-Tones channel their inner DC5 for “Grudge Run”. Very emphatic and boisterous all contained inside a blues riff. “Motion” ( you guessed it, instrumental) is reverb drenched and thank goodness!! Nice tune. “426 Super Stock” is a pure sign of the times. On trend! Even more so than that is one of Dale’s other famous instrumentals, “The Wedge”. This one is on par with “Misirlou” level guitar staccato pickings. You will want to move to this one. The comical “It Will Grow On You” follows quickly on that. Keep in mind the whole album was 25 minutes flat, so these songs are whizzing by, just like the cars they are meant to compliment. It’s another tune about working on cars. I think, though Dale knows his audience, and he saves the best for last. “Night Rider” has some of the hottest licks on the whole album! A cherry workout! Let’s give The Del-Tones some credit too. They really step up on this recording, and all of it is contained on a nice thick slab of black wax, vintage cut, yo! If you want some sweet surf inspired instrumentals there really is no reason to look elsewhere. Dick Dale really is the King of Surf Guitar. All hail the King!

(Please forgive the cheesy movie intro at the beginning )
“Night Rider” Dick Dale and his Del-Tones
https://youtu.be/Ix9dZBtptsc

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Session # 3 Artist: Quicksand : Manic Compression Time: 39...

Thu, 24 May 2018 07:20:07 -0400

Session # 3
Artist: Quicksand : Manic Compression
Time: 39 minutes
Calories: 286
Songs: 12
Calories burned per minute: 7.33
Calories burned per song: 23.84

Quicksand is an American post-hardcore band from New York City, United States, started in 1990. Their debut self-titled EP was followed by two major label albums, Slip (1993) and Manic Compression (1995). Quicksand’s sound has been compared to that of post-hardcore bands Fugazi and Helmet, and truly it IS a mix of both of those distinct sounds. Probably most endearing is the rich and textured bass sounds. This comes out of the credentials. You see, frontman/guitarist Walter Schreifels was the main creative force behind the Gorilla Biscuits and bassist for Youth of Today. The band almost seems to have success handed to them. They released their but ep only 6 weeks after forming on influential hardcore label Revelation. Major labels came calling shortly after that. In my personal opinion, Slip is the better album, but the band received most widespread recognition and chart success with this album. After the initial break up, Walter Schreifels started his World’s Fastest Car project and produced records for the hardcore punk band CIV, another excellent and credible hardcore punk band with similar histories roster. Drummer Alan Cage joined up with another long-time house favorite Seaweed. Enough about the semantics of the band, let’s talk about this collection of tunes which emended the band as hardcore champs in the mid 90’s. “Backward” starts it all off with beautiful post hardcore in metallic fashion. Those ex-gorillas lay down some real biscuits (#seewhatididthere). Hot and fresh out the kitchen! Subtle harmonics give a nice touch too. “Delusional” is the next brick heavy tune, and sludge is a word tat accurately describes the sound you’ll hear. This could easily be filed with the likes of Helmet, Snapcase and other New York style post hardcore staples. Yes even that silly Filter song that goes “Hey man nice shot”. “Divorce” is a faster blast of cast Iron Maiden (3seewhatididthere) and it doesn’t let up. “Simpleton” might be (in my opinion) the bee’s knees of the album. It is riff centric and statistical Hardcore 101. Punk enough to share a bill with the likes of Minor Threat, but metal enough to support an act like Slayer too. What I find most appealing about Quicksand are the smart lyrics and the fact that they are yelled appropriately. What I mean by that is forcefully, but so you can still understand and hear them. The next two tunes (“Skinny (It’s Overflowing)” and “Thorn In My Side”) are okay, but just filler I would say. The latter having some nice dropout action. “Landmine Spring” finishes out side one with nice, meaty drum fills and some overall excellent percussion work. For side two, “Blister” breaks the bubble. Speaking of breaking…if you have ever wondered where Breaking Benjamin stole their schtick from, wonder no more. This tune is pretty much the blueprint they work from. “Brown Gargantuan” molts into a metal machine at the molecular level with much machismo. Those discordant tendencies (not suicidal #seewhatididthere) are never far behind though, and come raging back in “East 3rd St.”. After that “Supergenius” shows the true hardcore colors. And, what’s that? Did Quicksand just Drop D?? I think they did. (But seriously I don’t play guitar so I really don’t know). But I am pretty sure they did. Finally, closing out he album, and winning the best song title award is “It Would Be Cooler If You Did”. At this point it should be noted that this session may not be 100% accurate as it was interrupted by a tornado warning. HOW SPRING IS THAT?!?!? Overall this collection may be more mature, but I PERSONALLY feel that “Slip” is more cohesive as a body of work. “Manic Compression” is rich and textured and technically complex, but I feel like “Slip” is just more raw. Either way, it’s a good trip down 90’s hardcore lane.

“Simpleton” Quicksand
https://youtu.be/AzEsZiLlg2E

#randomrecordworkout
#randomecordworkoutspringtraining2018

Session # 2 Artist: New Bomb Turks: Information Highway...

Sat, 19 May 2018 06:47:20 -0400

Session # 2
Artist: New Bomb Turks: Information Highway Revisited
Time: 41 minutes
Calories: 307
Songs: 15
Calories burned per minute: 7.49 calories
Calories burned per song: 20.47 calories

All right punkers , garage rockers and fans of obscure musical acts! This is it! The band you have been waiting for! Columbus, Ohio’s very own New Bomb Turks! In case you were wondering The band’s name refers to the main character (Newbaum Turk) in the 1980 film The Hollywood Knights. I will never forget how influential this band was to me in my formative college years. It was a cold snowy winter late January day in 1993. The new year and semester were just underway and everything was so full of promise. I had an hour or so to kill in between classes so I decided to hit up the campus record shoppe. Flipping through the usual fodder of Bloated alt rock CDs and finding nothing impressive, I was really just there to wast time. Then, this colorful cover caught my eye. On the new release wall was “Destroy-Oh -Boy!”. I thought the title was amusing so I picked it up. Then, I thought the titles looked pretty interesting and the back cover contained a bunch of dudes that looked like they were having a good time. Honestly, they reminded me of my band, so on a whim having no idea what they sounded like, I decided to just buy it. “Destroy-Oh -Boy!” Am I glad I DID!! (#seewhatididthere). It was such a good record. This LP right here is their blistering sophomore debut. Even more incendiary than “Destroy-Oh -Boy!” If that’s even possible. 15 new insane romps drenched in sweat, gusto and just general good times. This four piece is great at combining high octane energy and punk with just the right amount of distorted simple garage raunchiness, and still managing to throw in some humor and wit that will surprise you. Lo-if genius. What is most impressive is Eric Davidson’s musical knowledge. The guys knows his bands, and who to cover. He’s pulling some obscure stuff out and making it rock harder than the original. And this was in the 90’s yo! Additionally, In 2010, Eric Davidson wrote We Never Learn: The Gunk Punk Undergut, 1988-2001. It is a paperback chronicling the underground punk movement between 1988 and 2001, particularly the Gunk Punk era of lo-fi recordings and garage and blues punk. Well, I suppose we should talk about the music at some point, huh? “I’d slips In” starts off the platter the right way. Lo-if at Hi-Q headquarters. I love the fake out ending and stingers they are so good at. This is the band in their prime. “Bullish on Bullshit” is admittedly similar. And the next track, “If I Only Could” is even faster if you can believe that. Oh, yeah that’s a key element. Most of these songs are clocking in around 120-140 beats per minute. That’s pretty fast. At only around 8 minutes in we are on the 4th track, and that is “Brother Orson Wells”. Time to mix in the slo-gin, and set the speakers on fire. These are some of the classic Turks numbers. “T.A.S.” Is next. I won’t spoil it for you, but check the link to figure out was it stands for. Nice driving beat. This makes it a little different than normal NBT, but it’s nice. It’s even got a few moments of nasty distortion and sloppy solos. F#%& YES! “Fingernail Chomp” (a barn burner) and “Dented and Spent” round out side one, the latter having some hellacious hooks. Side two picks right up with “Girl Can’t Help It” and I have a confession. This song has stuck with me for over 25 years and I often play it when I am practicing drums by myself. Also, I love the double time trick and they rock out to crescendo at the end. “Grandpa Atomic” is another memorable blast, and “Never Will” has quite a few signature moves and drop outs. It’s just plain good filler. “Apocalyptic Dipstick” is another example of the witty punk that NBT obsesses about and thrives at. I am constantly amazed at how many words Eric can fit into a sung sentence and still have time to breath without drawing attention to it. “Lyin’ on our Backs” introduces the harmonica, if only briefly. Truly one of the better tracks and an NBT classic, is the tune “I Got Your Bitter End”. Strangely though, they chose to keep going and churn out one more turd-gem. “Straight on Chaser” had me sweating so much by this point that my eyes were burning. They just never let up!! I really cannot stress enough how rock and punk and roll this band is. They are still a pretty big influence on my tastes and I feel they wrote some of the best garage punk music in the 90’s that stands the test of time. Incredible live too. Go check them out if you get the chance, but do it right. Start off with “Destroy-Oh -Boy!” Like I did and move swiftly to this album.

“Girl Can’t Help It” New Bomb Turks
https://youtu.be/zCHq5oQ-ifg

#randomrecordworkout
#randomecordworkoutspringtraining2018

COMING SOON

Sat, 28 Apr 2018 06:56:14 -0400

COMING SOON

RANDOM RECORD WORKOUT SEASON 5 The Final Championship...

Mon, 02 Apr 2018 20:59:47 -0400

RANDOM RECORD WORKOUT SEASON 5
The Final Championship Battle

Here it is, The RANDOMRECORDWORKOUTSEASON5FINALCHAMPIONSHIPBATTLE!! (Whew, that’s a mouthfull!). Down from the Great Eight to the vinyl four and now the best two records of the season. The best of the best of the best of the best! Let’s see who will play on to be deemed the champion of season 5!

The Jam : In The City (Side 1 ) ranked #2
Vs.
The B'zz: Get Up (Side 1 ) ranked #5

So by now, you know the players, both SIDES and out (#seewhatididthere), so I won’t bore you with quirky stories or tidbits about where they’re from or my take on wether the songs rocked or not. Obviously they must or they would nor have gotten this far.
Instead, I will simply lay out the stats and let the numbers tell you their story. The numbers don’t lie after all. I can tell you this, though. It is the closest finish EVER in the history of RRW. By 1/100th of a calorie. Now, that’s a Cinderella story. No, not the band. (#seewhatididthere)

The Jam : In The City (Side 1 ) ranked #2
In The City is a high energy, jumps in the air, complex tapestry of mod influenced kick in the pants. Weller and company make a three piece sound so full and bombastic. They’ve got it all, from traditional blues to rock and roll, it’s a non-stop party wall of sound. The Jam prove they have the goods on this platter.
The stats-
Time: 16 minutes
Calories burned : 126
Songs: 6
Calories burned per song: 21.0
Calories burned per minute : 7.88
Stars earned: 14 out of 18 possible.

The B'zz: Get Up (Side 1 ) ranked #5
The rookie debut from Chicago area natives and former members of The Boyzz. And an impressive one at that! They are one of the only acts to ever appear on American Bandstand as an unsigned act (but to be fair The Boyzz were on epic and that is the label that ultimately signed them) It’s rock, and roll, and ballad and soul. A good range of hooks, tempos and some piano and hand claps for good measure. Diverse and true. I really believe these guys put a lot of effort into their tunes, because while it is a rookie effort, the song writing has a masterful level of maturity. Basically, these guys are badass. For proof, witness “Get Up, Get Angry”- the lead off batter…

The stats-
Time: 18 minutes
Calories burned : 142
Songs: 5
Calories burned per song: 28.4
Calories burned per minute : 7.89
Stars earned: 11 out of 15 possible.

So there you have it. By a mere 0.01 calories, The B'zz come out of their hive of obscurity and use their rookie debut to become the highest calorie burner of season 5!
It truly is an 80’s rock masterpiece from start to finish. Do yourself a favor and click on the link below. Fair warning though, good luck finding it, as I have only seen it one time, and mine is a promo copy. Congrats to The B'zz! Now get up, and get ANGRY!
Randomrecordworkout is done for now, but Randomrecordspringtraining is right around the corner, and after that? Season 6!! 6!!?!??!?

The B'zz: Get Up
In it’s entirety.

http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLtN4dmtHgNq4l_kI9POU16SKIiNQg1DIs

Ok RRW fans! Here we are already! This season went so fast!!...

Mon, 02 Apr 2018 20:52:30 -0400

Ok RRW fans! Here we are already! This season went so fast!! Down to the final vinyl! The RANDOMRECORDWORKOUTSEASON5FINALCHAMPIONSHIPBATTLE! This is where the excitement culminates as we determine who will walk away the winner f season five! Who is the biggest, baddest, rockin’-est (?) calorie burner. Did you pick your bracket correctly? Will it be The Jam? Or it may be The B'zz! You’ll have to tune in and see. Just to be clear, the rules are no different. Just like in the regular season, the times, number of songs, and calories burned during each spin are recorded. The record which burned the most calories per minute is determined the winner and in this case, the FINALCHAMPION!!!! It’s truly a RANDOM RECORD WORKOUT!! And it’s the best of the best! Yes! The RANDOMRECORDWORKOUTSEASON5FINALCHAMPIONSHIPBATTLE!!
GET EXCITED!!

#randomrecordworkout
#randomrecordworkoutseason5
#randomrecordworkoutmadness
#RANDOMRECORDWORKOUTSEASON5FINALCHAMPIONSHIPBATTLE
#bracketology

RANDOM RECORD WORKOUT SEASON 5 The Vinyl Four Battle 2 The...

Sat, 31 Mar 2018 07:47:32 -0400

RANDOM RECORD WORKOUT SEASON 5
The Vinyl Four
Battle 2

The Inmates: Shot in the Dark (Side 2 ) ranked #6
Vs.
The B'zz: Get Up (Side 2 ) ranked #5

The Inmates: Shot in the Dark (Side 2 ) ranked #6
Boy, if I didn’t know better, I would almost think this LP was a split between two bands. One of them sounds like an alt country rock-a-billy outfit, and the other is a Rolling Stones influenced mod rock outfit. The problem is, it’s NOT. The same band did both sides of the record. It’s just not cohesive. In my personal opinion this is the much better side. Right to rockin’ with the track “Talk Talk”. Catchy and has an official video to boot. “Why When Love is Gone” is another catchy tune with the Beatles and Stones influence painted firmly on the sleeve. “Sweet Rain” is practically a Stones rip off. A short burst of mid tempo rock. “Crime Don’t Pay” is the last original on this side. The inmates ought to know, too…they are INMATES after all. (#seewhatididthere) another fairly decent rock entry. The final number is a cover of the Rascals “(She’s ) Some Kind of Wonderful”. If I may say, it seems weaker than the original. It just lacks the soul the Rascals brought to it. The Inmates may have spent too much time behind bars, and it is affecting their judgement.

The B'zz: Get Up (Side 2 ) ranked #5
Chicago rockers The B'zz (largely former members of The Boyzz) have made a pretty big impact this season. Coming on late and forcing their way into a frenzied power riff for the finish. Quite a BUZZ has formed. And they make those power riffs known right off the bat. “Make it Through the Night” has power riff after power riff. The ballad to serenade us as we set sail on the seas of rock. Great start. “I Love the Way” is more upbeat and contains more A + riffs. Introducing some delicious keys and harmonies. “Take Your Time” is a B side for sure. Blast off for fun and rock out. Take your time though. It’s a quick ride on the riff rocket. Damn! “Not My Girl” is a…Do-wop honkey tonk number!?! Yipes! Meh, a piss take as far as I am concerned. They can’t all be winners I guess. Props for trying to create diversity though. “Runaway Love Affair” sees that the Boy'zz are back! (#seewhatididthere). More rock riffs, big beats, hooks and hair! Boston level riffage meets the emotional range of Journey. Why the hell wasn’t this band more popular?! The B'zz could have been larger than the buzz coming out of my stereo when cranked (#seewhatididthere) (#thisampgoesto11)

Today, The Inmates took a shot in the dark and burned 118 calories over 5 songs and 16 minutes. That is 23.6 calories per song and 7.38 calories per minute. They earned 11 out of 15 possible stars. The B'zz created a buzz and got up…to about 143 calories burned over 5 tunes and 18 minutes. That is 28.6 calories per song and 7.94 calories per minute. The B'zz earned a pretty impressive 13 out of 15 possible stars, too. Looks like those killer B'zz are moving on to face off in the final RANDOMRECORDWORKOUT championship battle! Excitng!

Listen for yourself! Check out the links:

The Inmates: “Why When Love is Gone” … All I could find was a lame fan made video, so instead here is an entire live gig.

https://youtu.be/OPl_9Zs9218

The B'zz: “Make it Through the Night”

https://youtu.be/1NVxfRWI5OM

#RANDOMRECORDWORKOUTSEASON5
#RANDOMRECORDWORKOUT
#THEVINYLFOUR

RANDOM RECORD WORKOUT SEASON 5 The Vinyl Four Battle 1 Here it...

Thu, 29 Mar 2018 18:36:05 -0400

RANDOM RECORD WORKOUT SEASON 5
The Vinyl Four
Battle 1

Here it is, THE VINYL FOUR!!! Down from the Great Eight to the best four records f the season. The best of the best of the best! Let’s see who will play on to the fnal championship battle!

The Jam : In The City (Side 2 ) ranked #2
Vs.
Frosted: Cold (Side A ) ranked #8

The Jam : In The City (Side 2 ) ranked #2
By now you know The Jam. The number two ranked seed and A powerhouse in the mod genre with just enough of a punk edge to earn scene points. They use their sharp wits and even sharper dress code to set themselves apart. England’s got it alright! The Kinks amped up times ten!
“In the City” starts it off with a punch to the face. Raise your fist and get the young idea! I mean, it has to be good if it’s the freakin’ track you name the album after, and it’s aaalllll the way on side two! “Sounds from the Street” is another instant classic. Mid tempo mod blockade. Big ideas and even bigger hooks! “Non Stop Dancing” is next conjuring up images of american bandstand. More do-wop 50’s rock which seems slightly odd, but not really totally out of place for the band. Awesome staccato stops. “Time for Truth” with it’s harmony throughout and “Takin’ my Love” with their level up punk blues standards and practices are next in line. It all comes to a thrilling conclusion with “Bricks and Mortar”-a nice sentiment for today’s age. One thing is certain, love them or hate them, you cannot understate The Jam’s importance and influence on the late 70’s and early 80’s punk and underground movements.

Frosted: Cold (Side A ) ranked #8
Frosted is one of the surprise entries this season. They came onboard with this rookie debut and have shown they bring the goods. It could be their high energy levels or their well crafted pop punk tunes, or it could be the credentials of Jane Weidlin (the Go-Go’s) at the helm. This go around Frosted played their A side with 7 pretty much perfect punk pop numbers. It’s like Jane picked up a Green Day record in 1994 and blew her shit and started a band. Awwww that sweet 90’s pop punk tho…file under Breeders/Green Day/Weezer/Magnapop. A nice mix of alternative indie punk. I also love how in the liner notes the publisher is “Weidewacker music”. Wah-waaahhh. “Dis-Integrated” begins the harmony filled bliss fest. “Call Me Crazy” has an excellent loop riff that is well executed and is catchy. Love that pop-o-matic snare drum. Bright and dry. “Homeless” is an alt rocker through and through. Nice lead solo though. “Amerinoid” is the blitz fitz track that really stands out the most to me. It has radio friendly single written all over it. Break neck gut punch. You know it’s good when I remember it from two months prior after hearing it once. “ Cold” is the title track, but in my opinion it’s a little weaker than the rest. This could have easily been on Sub Pop back in the day. “Never” is another catchy AF tune that balances well. Jane! She has the perfect vocals for this band. Finally, “Shoulder the Sky” finishes it all out. It’s more of an introspective song. A macabre dance of the shoegazer. Yeah this record is for sure going into my regular rotation.

Today, The Jam came into the city and into their own on the classic piece of wax. 17 minutes, 6 songs and 138 calories later I was doubly impressed. They burned 23.0 calories per song and an incredible 8.12 calories per minute! They also earned 16 out of 18 possible stars. Frosted came in from the cold, and warmed up with 7 amazing pop punk indie gems over 24 minutes and burned 180 calories in the process. They burned 25.71 calories per song and 7.50 calories per minute. They earned 15 out of 21 possible stars. While it was a valiant effort, it just wasn’t enough to beat those mods, The Jam. Looks like The Jam will advance to the FINAL RANDOM RECORD WORKOUT of season 5!

Listen for yourself! Check out the links:

The Jam: “Sounds from the Street”

https://youtu.be/92WixpWX68Y

Frosted “Never”

https://youtu.be/FZTHJxFIM2Q

#RANDOMRECORDWORKOUTSEASON5
#RANDOMRECORDWORKOUT
#THEVINYLFOUR
#bracketology

Ok RRW fans! Here we are already! Down to the final vinyl! ...

Wed, 28 Mar 2018 20:22:03 -0400

Ok RRW fans! Here we are already! Down to the final vinyl! THE VINYL FOUR! This is where the excitment ramps up as we determine the who will face off in the final championship battle to determine the biggest, baddest, rockin’-est (?) calorie burner. Will it be The Jam? Maybe Frosted? It could be The Inmates. Or it might just be The B'zz! You’ll have to tune in and see…and don’t forget to fill out a bracket if you are so inclined. Just to be clear, the rules are no different. Just like in the regular season, the times, number of songs, and calories burned during each spin are recorded. The record which burned the most calories per minute is determined the winner and advances to fight another day. It’s truly a RANDOM RECORD WORKOUT!! And it’s the best of the best! Yes! The VINYL FOUR!!!!!!! GET EXCITED!!

#randomrecordworkout
#randomrecordworkoutseason5
#randomrecordworkoutmadness
#thevinylfour
#bracketology

Bracket busted yet? The Vinyl Four are Set! Action starts soon

Sat, 24 Mar 2018 14:41:48 -0400

Bracket busted yet?
The Vinyl Four are Set!
Action starts soon

RANDOM RECORD WORKOUT SEASON 5 The Great Eight Battle 4 Village...

Thu, 22 Mar 2018 22:14:31 -0400

RANDOM RECORD WORKOUT SEASON 5
The Great Eight
Battle 4

Village People: Renaissance (Side 2 ) ranked #4
Vs.
The B'zz: Get Up (Side 2 ) ranked #5

Village People: Renaissance (Side 2 ) ranked #4
If you would have told me five years ago that I would be doing a blog about exercise and listening to records, I would have said “no way”. If you told me that the VILLAGE PEOPLE would be a competing record, I would have laughed (they pretty much embody everything I hate about music, trends and the industry). If you told me they would be in my top 8 records and competing for the top spot, I would have laughed AND said “no way!” Believe me when I say, NO ONE was more surprised than me at how incredibly good their new wave stuff was. Correction: their desperate, and I am sure, label induced attempt to stay relevant in the changing climate of the late 80’s music industry new wave stuff. Still though, it holds up! It is simple keyboard heavy bliss. Let’s see if the 4th ranked Village People can stay relevant to the RRW challenge. “5 O'Clock in the Morning” is not only a terrible time to be awake, but also the name of the first cut on side two. It has everything you might expect of a typical Village Person song: drama, epicness and themes. Certainly the disco mixes in with some rock elements. Dang it, the Village People are trying! Even some orchestral strings and such. The undercurrent is actually decent. It is a long adventure though, O'clocking in at 5 plus minutes (#seewhatididthere). Next is the rhetorical “Do You Wanna Spend the Night” and without hesitation the Villagers are back to their old tricks. Disco innuendos everywhere! Disco FEVER you might even say. Meeps!! A few redeeming keyboard riffs (were they basing this material off the success of Lipps, Inc.?) but otherwise a completely forgettable. Totally a floatation device. Oh, this side is so sad! I actually feel bad for the Village People. “Fireman” follows next. Fight the fire, fireman! It’s a full on disco inferno! Studio 54 alarm blaze!! While I TRULY appreciate the authentic firetruck like noises, my ears are bleeding so it goes a little unrequited. The last effort is a song called “ Jungle City”. It is starting out promising, but could realistically go either way (just like VP apparently : disco or new wave). It is a bit rocking by comparison including some nice guitar solos and group vocals. If comparing to side one though, it may as well be re-titled “Jungle Shitty” nice classic fade out. I know I am in the minority here, because this side is more indicative of what the Village People are known for. MOST individuals that would consider themselves fans of this group would love this side, and would cite side one as the reason for epic failure. I on the other hand, disagree and say more of side one please! New wave Village People are the shizz!!!!

The B'zz: Get Up (Side 2 ) ranked #5
Today’s challenger is the obscure rock band from the Chicago area known as The B'zz. They made enough of an impression in the regular season to earn a 5th seed ranking. An interesting note about e band: The B'ZZ released a lone record, the exuberant Get Up, and maintains the distinction of being the only unsigned act ever to appear on American Bandstand. They formed out of the biker boogie outfit known as The Boyzz (presumably why shortening to the B'zz happened?). I think if you give this record a listen, you too will be as impressed as I was. Let’s see if the B(‘zz) side is just as good (#seewhatididere). “Make It Through The Night” begins side two and it kicks right off with a wall of guitar. Just like a song about making it through the night should. Emotional like Night Ranger, but more dangerous. Yes, I said dangerous, these riffs are SHARP!! And those voluptuous keys! So big and full! I love the way they pull it all off, and “I Love The Way” is the next track! I detect a little bit of Bad Company on this tune. These guys know how to keep your interest with a good solo. This could see radio play IMO. “Take Your Time” is next up with it’s amazing power riff after power riff. I feel B-side level worthiness on this track. Good hooks, no juke flukes. “Not My Girl” is probably the more forgettable track on this collection. Not that it’s bad, but they can’t ALL rock hard. It is merely weaker than the rest. Also, strangely do-wop which seems unusual when compared to the rest of the album. “Runaway Love Affair” is right back to the catchy hooks and zippy chorus rounds. It is really too bad tat this band only put out the one album. I feel like they could have been contenders in the radio rock arena if given proper promotion and label backing…but, that is what makes this so fun. Discovering obscure bands that rock. It’s like a little music secret. My only complaint? They hardly employ the STINGER!! C'mon, guys!!! It a no brainer and double entendres! (#seewhatididthere) Combining the best elements of Cheap Trick, Loverboy and Bon Jovi.

So the surprising presence of The Village People saw a renaissance of their disco roots on this go around. They did 4 numbers in 20 minutes and burned 146 calories (as well as my biscuits for not doing any New Wave which they are clearly better at). That is 36.50 calories per song and 7.30 calories per minute. They earned a paltry 5 out of 12 stars as well. As for The B'zz, well, they got angry and returned to regular season form. They cranked out 5 tunes in 18 minutes and burned 142 calories in the process. That is 28.40 calories per song and an amazing 7.89 calories per minute. They earned 12 out of 15 possible stars. The B'zz certainly live up to the Buzz surrounding their name and move on to face off in the vinyl 4!

Listen for yourself! Check out the links:

Village People: “Jungle City”

https://youtu.be/Ik6gxfHvDts

The B'zz: “Take Your Time” (the bandstand footage I bragged about last time…2 for one! Watch for the keyboard being played with a mouth, possibly a tongue. NO. SHIT.)

https://youtu.be/LvX5F12olDI

#RANDOMRECORDWORKOUTSEASON5
#RANDOMRECORDWORKOUT

RANDOM RECORD WORKOUT SEASON 5 The Great Eight Battle 3 Judas...

Sat, 17 Mar 2018 10:25:48 -0400

RANDOM RECORD WORKOUT SEASON 5
The Great Eight
Battle 3

Judas Priest: Screaming For Vengeance (Side 1 ) ranked #3
Vs.
The Inmates: Shot in the Dark (Side 1 ) ranked #6

Judas Priest: Screaming For Vengeance (Side 1 ) ranked #3
Ranking solidly at number three is one of the most highly influential metal acts to come out of the UK. They pretty much helped solidify the blueprints of what would become metal in the early 80’s and beyond. Also, during the regular season they were a perfect 12 out of 12 stars. A feat no one else managed to accomplish all season. Glenn Tipton’s axe work and Rob Halford’s massive, throaty vocals showcase the height’s (but not limits) of the band’s talent. A short instrumental burst called “The Hellion” starts it off. Complete with those metal licks you know and love, slow and building. Then blazing into a fast paced and blistering heat like the sun with “Electric Eye”. That’s what sets the band apart. Their thinking outside the box and simple, but complex arrangements. Absolutely in a league with bands like Black Sabbath and Iron Maiden. It doesn’t take too long for the signature Halford range to come into play. Enter “Riding on the Wind”. This one is ALL up in the altitude. Glass shatters and a sweet cutting blade solo slices off the choice sounds of metal as the riffs shred your face. Very produced and almost A/C D/C in tone. “Bloodstone” has a thickened pace and is a bit slower, but still boiling under the surface. A full on pound of guitar froth. The band rarely reaches pop metal status, but “(Take These) Chains” sure comes close. The Priest even does that well, so get on your knees and pray for mercy. Take these restraints and shove them down your radio friendly throat! Some Hype sticker action on this one, too. Maybe a hopeful single. The final number is “Pain and Pleasure”-a slow rocker that is proper B side material. Not bad, but almost filler by comparison. I cannot understate that JP are genre defining pioneers. A true work of art, just like the beautiful cover by Doug Johnson. I can only imagine that THIS is the band Cult leader David Koresh though he had. (#seewhatididthere) (#ironic). Perhaps JP is the reason there is so much leather in metal.

The Inmates: Shot in the Dark (Side 1 ) ranked # 6
The contender today are fellow Brits, the 6th ranked Inmates. The band has a very Elvis Costello meets 60s style of rock-a-billy pop. In fact, side two is almost strictly rock-a-billy. I mean I like Gene Vincent as much as anyone, but I was expecting a little more of the mod flair from their debut LP. Seems like a weaker version of the band. Almost like the Stray Cats. It all starts off with “(I thought I heard a) Heartbeat”. A slow, locked in groove that almost gives a country vibe. It could probably start out stronger. “Tell Me What’s Wrong” is more common sense Reverend Horton Heat meets low octane vocals. Again country leanings, almost like Social Distortion covering Johnny Cash. Another near country twanger is “So Much In Love”. Did the label force their hand? Side two had so much more oomph. Wow, this is getting sluggish and tough to get through. “Stop it Baby” is not only what I am thinking, but also the name of the next rune. Now, HERE WE GO!! This is the band I remember. The label execs must have left the room. A nice, rockin’ beat and yes to the mod nods. This is the Gene Vincent stuff I loved! “Waiting Game” follows with a back and forth slow/fast dichotomy. True rock-a-billy at it’s heart. “Feelin’ Good” is the final installment and it’s essentially Johnny Cash again, but if he were Gene Vincent. Are you getting it yet? Story time rock-a-billy! I would say half of this side is really good, and the other half suffers from interference. It doesn’t seem like the same rockers as before.

So judas Priest continued to scream for vengeance and in doing so, burned 139 calories over 19 minutes and 5 (technically 6) songs. That is 27.8 calories per song and 7.32 calories per minute. JP earned 12 out of 15 possible stars this go around. The Inmates took a shot in the dark and played 6 (actually) songs over 18 minutes and burned 137 calories. That is 22.83 calories per song and 7.61 calories per minute. They earned 14 out of 18 possible stars. So despite the metal masters putting in 19 solid minutes of sonic seduction, the numbers don’t lie. A giant upset!! The Inmates take the prize today and move on to face off in the Vinyl Four!

Listen for yourself! Check out the links:

Judas Priest: “Electric Eye”

https://youtu.be/UMJF37BVGTA

The Inmates: “Stop It Baby”

https://youtu.be/Rft9VOGK_d0

RANDOM RECORD WORKOUT SEASON 5 The Great Eight Battle 2 MC5:...

Wed, 14 Mar 2018 20:46:38 -0400

RANDOM RECORD WORKOUT SEASON 5
The Great Eight
Battle 2

MC5: High Time (Side 1 ) ranked #1
Vs.
Frosted: Cold (Side B ) ranked #8

MC5: High Time (Side 1 ) ranked #1
Back again is the Motor City Five to keep hope alive. They razzle dazzled us in the regular season in the final battle. So much so they are ranked at number 1! They burned the most calories per minute and made a huge impact. This go around they will try to fan that flame into a full on inferno with tracks from side one of their thrid and final studio installment High Times. You might remember MC5 being a political powder-keg, but this side is just a bit more subdued. More soul than scold. It’s almost like a love letter to rock and roll. The rolling papers, I mean riffs start right off with “Sister Anne”. All guts AND. The glory with the blues infused rock on the go attitude. She must be a pretty groovy chic. Harmony and the harmonica! MC5 spare no expense. The only drawback is that it’s a bit longer than should be expected. A Jam-bouree! (#seewhatididthere). “Baby Won’t Ya” is nice and tight, with a cacophony of vocals. It’s got more soul than James Brown. Sonic Smith nails down the foundation while brother Wayne Kramer weaves it together. This band is so goddamn brilliant in their arrangements. “Miss X” introduces some piano and studio reverb. Tyner pleads for mercy and the “live” effect seems a bit contrite. Though it may not be an effect. I wouldn’t be surprised at all if the song were just recorded in one take with room mics. A technique not terribly uncommon for the times. It’s about as ballad as this band dare get. The final cut is the catchy and straight forward “Gotta Keep Movin’” which sounds like it could easily be an outtake right off the “Back in the U. S. A. ” sessions. Maybe not as blistering as side two, but still a pretty decent effort. Again, this was the worst selling and charting album for the band, but it really is some of their richest tapestry. This is an underrated and important rock record that you need in your collection if you have any hope of ever being cool. I can’t help but wonder if the band were still in full regatta today what they might have to say about the political swamp that exists now.

Frosted: Cold (Side B ) ranked #8
This band, you may remember, surprised us in the regular season with their amazing pop punk sensibilities and boasted some former Go Go’s credentials. They did enough damage to earn themselves a seat at the table of the great eight. They just squeaked in, earning an eight ranked position. They remind me of the Gin Blossoms on speed. Actually, they remind me of a really fantastic band called Magnapop with Jane Weidlin’s (aforementioned Go Go) blissful vocal takes and the pounding skins. Maybe even The Breeders a little. They’re the real DEAL, Kelly. (#seewhatididthere). Anyhow, they waltz right in with “Bed”- a heavy and soft number all at once. I think it’s a love making song, exciting! “Hope” has that pop/punky drive that solidifies their power. This band could easily have held their own on tour with Dookie era Green Day. “Praying” follows that up with some happy, radio friendly noise of the Bangles and Go Gos variety. Makes sense because this one of the collaborations between Hoffs/Caffey/Weidlin. “My Boyfriend” is a slower number, perhaps a confessional? A typical pop punk lament wi a twist. It’s also short AF. “Hey Girl” is a quick, kind of throwaway number, but it is quickly relieved by the energy of “Empty and Meaningless”. This songs reminds me of on the mouth era Superchunk. I could see this in regular rotation on 120 minutes. “Sliver of Glass” is practically Belinda Carlisle on leads or maybe the Bangles. I think it’s another collaboration. FroSTed is the power puff girls as an actual band. You really can’t go wrong with their one and only album.

So, the mighty MC5 came down off their high times and burned an INCENSING 162 calories over 22 minutes and 4 songs. That is 40.5 calories per song and 7.36 calories per minute. They earned 9 out of 12 stars while doing so. FroSTed took 21 minutes to burn 160 calories and did it over 7 songs. That is 22.86 calories per song and 7.62 calories per minute. They earned 13 out of 21 possible stars. It looks like those frosty top punx lit the fire and took the crown today! FroSTed win!

Listen for yourself! Check out the links:

MC5: “Baby Won’t Ya”

https://youtu.be/iM876krhFBg

Frosted “Hope” (audio quality is terrible, but I like the live in-store)

https://youtu.be/1S1Ck7-mupM

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