Chico Buarque- Construcao-***1/2
Grateful Dead- In The Dark- ***
Johnny Osbourne- Truths & Rights- ****
Echo & The Bunnymen- Meteorites- ****
Ozzy Osbourne- No More Tears- ****
(His best record, I think. Could use a 15 minute edit, though.)
Fats Domino- What A Party!- ****
Alvin "Red" Tyler & the Gyros- Rockin' & Rollin'- ****
(A great New Orleans double header for a steamy NYC afternoon. The Gyros, at any given time by the way, featured Allen Toussaint, James Booker, Lee Allen, Roy Montrell and Mac Rebennack!)
V/A- Licensed To SKA: Studio One 007-****
David Bowie- "Heroes"-****
Aerosmith- Pump-****
(The first comeback album "Done With Mirrors" was better than the drug infested "Rock & A Hard Place," but so was "The All Kazoo Orchestra Plays Jerry Vale." "Permanent Vacation" was excellent and they were legitimately "back." But, "Pump" sealed the deal. I love that the Toxic Twins went from near death to this record. Play it loud!)
The Rolling Stones- Steel Wheels- ****
(Speaking of great records that the codgers are conditioned to hate based on nothing...)
7 comments:
From my blog post Stones overview: "Steel Wheels 1989 was a solid return to form after a pretty awful decade. Even if the singles didn't outshine their past, the record as a whole held up quite well. And the featured ballads, Almost Hear You Sigh and Slipping Away, are both classics." https://kleaveburg.blogspot.com/2023/07/the-rolling-stones.html
That pretty much nails it, though as we've discussed in the past, I think at least four of your eight "mediocre" records are pretty great.
Yes, and as I've seen many times, you have a more open mind and broader appreciation than I. If I cherry-pick those records, there's great music on all of them, but they are harder to listen to straight through, at least for me. There's times I think I have been too critical, and maybe Black and Blue shouldn't be on that list.
Back when Rounder was recording tons of NO artists, Alvin made 2 great lps for them, that are phenomenal modern jazz masterpieces. Basically had the Astral Project rhythm section backing him, and also some guest vocals from Johnny Adams and Germaine Bazzle. Just 2 great, criminally overlooked, records.
While I loved Aerosmith’s appearance with Run-DMC, Permanent Vacation always left me cold and I had very little interest in it - and those tracks were ubiquitous. But, Pump - as you say ‘sealed the deal’! No hesitation in placing this album with their early classics. This slays every time! Added bonus: the hits were written by the band again. :)
Also, I realized that over the years, I bought each of your lower trifecta from you in Near Mint condition at a better than great price, so thank you for that too! :)
"Heart's Done Time," "Hangman Jury," "Angel," "Dude Looks A Lady," "Rag Doll," the title cut! Pretty solid, though I agree, "Pump" takes the cake. Still, "P.V." is strong...I think.
Gave Permanent Vacation another listen yesterday, after years of my prejudiced neglect. Reconsideration proved warranted as I enjoyed it more than before. Closer to the classics than I’ve given credit. Though, when the pinnacle is Rocks, that’s still some distance - for almost any album. Lol!
Re: Stones’ mediocrity - I listened to Bridges to Babylon and it was better than i recalled. Not great, but much better. It’s too long (only minutes less than Exile). Also, Dust Brothers callback: 3 of the of stronger songs were their productions. Didn’t remember this as being another Mick and Keith incommunicado period but, apparently that was the case.
Finally a shoutout to @Cleveland Jeff for a great (and accurate) review and ranking of all things Sloan on your site. Only good and great. Lol! Also, a fine Belle and Sebastian review. Well done. #IYKYK
#Black and Blue :)
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