What Caught My Musical Attention In 2017 AD…Part 1 of (2)

What Caught My Musical Attention In 2017 AD…Part 1 of (2)

Musically speaking, my head (and ears) can almost always be found back, oh, somewhere between 1977 and 1995.

But there will be times I am forced to surface into the present to catch some light and feed and in the process and some effort, stumble across some pretty awesome new music.

OK, fine, most of of my list consists of bands, or members that have been in other bands that have been around since 1977 or shortly thereafter….any further questions will require me to lawyer up.

I am sure I overlooked some bands…all I can say is whoops!  I shudder over the thought of all the awesome music we fail to never hear or overlook in our short, brutish lives.

In no special order, I humbly present what caught my musical attention in 2017…Part 1 of (2)….and only 10 days into the new year, a big improvement from years past….

I also added a Spotify Playlist showcasing songs from each of the bands (all the way down…).  I will update the playlist when part II of this series is released….

Enjoy like i know you will!

 

1. Dead Heavens- Whatever Witch You Are –  Backed by a super group of musicians (Guitarist Paul Kostabi (White Zombie), Bassist Nathan Aguilar (Cults) and Drew Thomas (Bold, New Rising Sons, Into Another), NYHC legend Walter Schreifels (Gorilla Biscuits, Quicksand, Youth of Today, Rival Schools, Walking Concert, World’s Fastest Car, etc), discovers guitar effect pedals and gets on his 70’s psych garage rock on with this one of many fun projects.   I caught an intimate, live show @ Garwood NJ’s Crossroads back in June and they blew everyone away!   If you are having a “smoke on the water” nostalgia, check out their first full release.

2. Rancid – Trouble Maker – This Bay Area band has always been a hit or miss with me with nothing ever coming close to 1994’s Let’s Go and especially 1995’s And Out Comes the Wolves, but their latest release knocks it out of the punk rock park and restores my faith.

 

3. Buffalo Tom – Let Me Come Over (25th Anniversary)- although not my “go to” record, this nevertheless fantastic album put my power pop fuzz rock Gods on the map back in 1992. There is an equally fantastic 1992 University of London live set from included as an added bonus capturing the Boston trio’s golden age.

 

4. The Smiths – The Queen is Dead (Deluxe Addition)– my Mancunian Gods re-release a phenomenal album that NME claims is the top album release ever, packaged with a number of unreleased demos and live tracks that will keep the die-hards (like me) relishing.

 

 

5. The Brixton Riot – Close Counts – NJ power pop garage heroes return with a phenomenal release on constant spin in my life. Songs “Caroline”, “Maybe Tomorrow” and “Talk About Nothing” are just a few of the many standouts.  Now I can take a break from listening (and requesting at shows) to “Pinwheel” off of 2012’s Palace Amusements….wait, what am I saying…..

 

 

6. Overlake – Fall – The NJ shoe-gaze trio powerhouse return with another solid release off the residual highs of 2014’s Sighs. “You Don’t Know Everything” and “Winter Is Why” simply slay it.

 

7. DC and the Desperados -Self Titled– The next big SOMA NJ sensation releases an ass-thumping, debut recording. With a Stones meets the Stone Roses/Bez-dancing, garage vibe (does that make sense?), songs like “JRZ PLTS” “Not Falling” and “Talking Shit” will keep your yoga-toned rump shaking.

8. The Menzingers – After the Party- Philly via Scranton, PA-based melodic punk and roll that I can’t get enough of. “Midwestern States” (one of my favorite songs of the year) and “Your Wild Heart”, “Black Mass”, “Lookers” are just some of the many gems found here.

9. The Forevers –Cotton Thrones – members of Rochester, NY’s power pop beauty Muler continues the loveliness with this latest head-turner of a project. Tunes like “Plum” and “Bloody Nose” are rocking.

 

 

10. Bloodclot- Up In Arms – NYHC legendary front man John Joseph’s and best release since the monumental Cro-Mags 1986 self-title released, offering 12 songs of pure metallic-hardcore punk that will heavily assist in any serious gym workout.  Backed by another super group consisting of past members of Danzig, Queen of the Stone Age, Warzone, Glen Campbell, Agnostic Front and Motorhead, this band and album will seriously give you a serious case of ass whup.

 

11. The Replacements – For Sale – Twenty nine (29) live songs from a 1986 Maxwell’s (Hoboken NJ) set from the most famous Minneapolis quartet ever with Bobby (RIP) on guitar? Do I need to say more?

 

12. Cigarettes After Sex -self-titled – turned onto this group by a Chicago-based co-worker, this Brooklyn, NY band offers swirly, reverby low-fi ambient pop. Think a male vocal version of Mazzy Star. Perfect music to chill too.

 

13. Bash & Pop – Anything Could Happen – after a 24 year hiatus, the ‘Mats (in)famous bass player, Tommy Stinson returns with his kick ass bar band project.

14. The Jesus and Mary Chain-Damage & Joy – not as good as their 1985 self-titled release, 1987’s April Skies or 1989’s Automatic (all drum machines aside), but marks a decent return for the fuzz-drenched Reid brothers with songs blending in seamlessly with the classics.

15. Allied Chemical-Swordfish Soup – SOMA NJ rockers release a solid debut effort of eleven (11) witty, fuzz-pop gems a la Pixies. I can listen to songs “Sun-Filled Living Rooms” and the beautifully trombone-laced “Joey’s Place” on repeat for eternity.

 

16. Kite Fight –self titled- Three Buffalo, NY bred lads form a Philly, PA based band and take cues from the DC Dischord Records post-punk sound and Drive Like Jehu and tweak it into their own, refreshing formula with a two guitar, one drum set and no bass secret recipe. “Try Deny” is just one of my favorites off their debut 5 song EP release.

 

 

 

Part II Soon……xoxo

Mint 1967 classic rock-n-roll covers

Mint 1967 classic rock-n-roll covers

I think it was almost a year 1/2 ago or more when Neil Sabatino mentioned to me he was planning on putting out a covers release on his label Mint 400 Records but the twist was all the songs were originally written or released in 1967! That is like 47 year ago people. 1967 was a significant year in music and this covers compilations just scratches the surface with current group who are re-interpreting for posterity their own unique takes and in our humble opinion do it justice 100%.

1967-band-COVERs-mint-400-records

So much psychedelic music and a whole era of uncharted waters in pop music, far too much to mention here as there are whole blogs that really blow it out better than our little brain can handle. The First Pink Floyd album came out then and whole bunch of groups like The Kinks or The Creation had releases that we are still unearthing today. Was basically like the 90’s but the original 90’s if that makes any sense. A musicology student finding this download in the future will be very grateful when they discover this in a meta archeological dig. They say every 30 years popular music re-invents itself and we have yet to see anything as original as this era. Musically we have been borrowing ever since. So we will see what happens but here is a great set of re-interpretations of some amazing songs by 21st century bands and artists like The One & Nines, Fawn and Rabbit, The Duke of Norfolk, Fairmont, Jack Skuller, The Maravines, Moscow Centre, Murzik, Neterare Fan Club, Tri-State and Zach Uncles. This is a great idea because these bands actually don’t give a shit about EDM? Some things should just be honored and set free. So here it is. Stalk the label and download some nuggets need that re-discovery. facebook | Twitter

Nico-gif-Ill-be-your-mirror-VelvetUndergroun

Here’s a few 1960’s pop selects:
Let’s Spend The Night Together MP3 Cover The One and Nines – Original by The Rolling Fucking Stones.
To Love Somebody” MP3 cover by Fairmont. Originally released June 1967 by The Bee Gees
I’ll Be Your Mirror” MP3 cover by Murzik. Originally released by The Velvet Underground original lead vocal by Nico.

DOWNLOAD THE WHOLE ABLBUM FOR FREE HERE.

RELATED LINKS
Pet Sounds Covered by Mint 400 Records
Choice download links for band The Creation
Documentary Movie review: “David Bowie Is” is a bunch of bullshit By Keith Hartel

Likey this on facebooks

RIP – Ian McLagan from faces with words by Matt Pinfield

RIP – Ian McLagan from faces with words by Matt Pinfield

Matt PinfieldRIP: Today New Jersey Native Matthew Pinfield DJ/program director and famous MTV VJ had this to say on facebook about the passing of Ian McLagan age 69.

DOWNLOAD SMALL FACES: (BEST OF BRITISH ROCK)
Ogden’s Nutgone Flake MP3
Lazy Sunday MP3
Show Me The Way MP3

STONES:
Miss You from Some Girls (1978 MP3 w/ Ian McLagan on keyboards

 

 

 

 

 

 

I know I’ve waited a few days to respond to the news that my great friend Ian McLagan’s unexpected death of a stroke as I was shocked and saddened when my girlfriend read the news to me. I met Mac on a connecting flight where we happened to be sitting directly across the aisle from each other. We because fast friends and that flight went fast as he told me stories of Faces and Small Faces and had me laughing all the way. He was a funny, clever and spirited man who was a master of the Hammond B3 Organ and the Wurlitzer Piano. He came to WRXP and did my live Direct TV broadcasts at SXSW with me. He gave me 2 things I would have gladly paid for anyway, his autobiography All The
Rage and the Faces box-set 5 guys Walk Into a Bar. He lived through the tragedy of losing his wife in a car crash and never lost the spark of positivity that made you love and appreciate him so much. He played on so many great records with so many other legendary artists that there are too many to mention from The Stones to Springsteen. He was getting ready to hit the road again with Nick Lowe when this story broke. Needless to say, he will be missed by friends and fans alike.

 

RIP – Ian McLagan from faces with words by Matt Pinfield

Classic WRSU FM Matt Pinfield 5/23/83 3 am
[mixcloud http://www.mixcloud.com/jeffwertz/classic-wrsu-fm-matt-pinfield-52383-3-am/ width=660 height=208 hide_cover=1 hide_tracklist=1]

Summer cover songs – Kendra Morris does Radiohead & The Rolling Stones

Summer cover songs – Kendra Morris does Radiohead & The Rolling Stones

Kendra Morris covers Radiohead and The Rolling Stones
Because we’re equal parts exploiters (not just punks with decent haircuts) and mostly men over here at the mighty Review Stalker Music Blog. We like decent looking women who can sing and do pretty chill alternative covers every once in awhile. Here’s two summer jams by Kendra Morris doing “Miss You” by The Rolling Stones and “Karma Police”. We knew it would come to this one day. Nobody can write a good song so they they wrap themselves on a lesser known artist’s “hit” songs. Granted if we saw her singing at an outdoor bar in the Hamptons or for a wedding band we would be pretty impressed. Don’t get me wrong she does a real good job on both. Good instrumentation. These kind of tracks are good in particular when you are stuck at block party and everybody hates your music anyway. This here is white lady blues I tell them. It’s all good. My damn neighbors only know one song by Thom Yorke anyway… Enjoy.

Related Articles:
Clair Reilly-Roe covers U2 on Island In The City (She is hot too)
Summer Tones Playlist 2011: Something Old, New Borrowed and Blue Part 2

What would Keith Richards do?

What would Keith Richards do?

So what the Blues got to do with it? I’ve been watching Treme on the cable and reading Keith Richard’s autobiography and getting back into the roots of american rocknroll and funk for that matter for the past couples year and I realize I don’t know shit. So much music so little time to live and breath it like so many before. Modern music as we know it would not exist if it’s weren’t for the blues. Took me a long to realize this. The army gave folks in the south band instruments and they made music using trombones! Keith obsessed on sounding like Elmore James, Chuck Berry and worked to get a sound out of whatever was at his disposal making him a blueman. Then eventually because he was in The Rolling Stones he just got to jam with whoever he wanted to and adopted tuning his 6 stringer to a five string guitar tuning the 5-1 to G, D, G, B, D to get his sound and write some of the most awesome blues hybrid guitar songs ever written. Not going to deep dive at all the way but instead celebrate just some of the hybrids. I’m sure there are hundreds of examples and I’m not even sure my ear could pick-up on any of them unless you explained; but if you ever wondered why a cover band was not just pulling off a Stones song it’s not because their feel was off or tone but maybe because the tuning was wrong or they just never got high. Other great alt blues songs have a topicality and delivery vibe that you either get or you don’t. When you get a chance to read Keith’s autobiography LIFE you’re going to be pretty impressed by his ability to stay in the zone and function in his heyday. So when you’re up against the wall just ask yourself what would Keef do? Then it ride all night long till the record skips and you’re passed out.

Mississippi Breaks MP3 by Mule – features the guitar playing of P.W. Long. this band came together after Laughing Hyenas would practice with Kevin Munro and Jim Kimball’s badass sidefaced drumming.
The Shakin’ Fears MP3 by P.W. Long’s solo release We didn’t see you on Sunday? is probably as close to a Mule song you’d ever get so just chug the Jack Daniels and everything will be alright.
Nothin’ Man MP3 by R.L. Burnside from Wish I Was In Heaven Sitting Down
Money Rock’N’Roll MP3 by The Jon Spencer Blues Explosion
Tumblin’ Dice MP3 by Johnny Copeland from the All Blues’d Up compilation which features songs by The Stones.
Leaving Trunk MP3 by Taj Mahal. Great harmonica on this track. Very straight forward blues progression.
Sweet Brown Sugar MP3 by Robert Belfour from Pushin My Luck. This sounds like old blues done right today.
Drinking Muddy Water MP3 by the North Mississippi Allstars from Shake Hands With Shorty. This is a very good contemporary blues band.
Dimples MP3 by John Lee Hooker On Vee-Jay 1955-1958 recordings.
Hustled Down In Texas MP3 by Johnny Winter from Second Winter (1969)
Everybody Needs Somebody to Love MP3 from the movie soundtrack – The Blues Brothers. Probably my first introduction to the blues and what a way to have it delivered. Still one of my all time favorite movies too. Covered by Wilson Pickett, The Stones and originally recorded by Solomon Burke (1964). Was also covered by Gerry Garcia band and 13th Floor Elevators.
All Down The Line MP3 by The Rolling Stones from Rocks Off!