|
(DECEMBER PODCAST 11mb 128kbps mp3 file) DECEMBER
2006 ISSUE #90
Desperate
Man Blues It's hard not to fall in love with Joe Bussard. Sure, he's an obsessive stick in the mud, a little politically incorrect, and he has some frustrating views about rock-n-roll (he calls it a "cancer"). But his love for music and 78 records is down right infectious, and you find yourself watching in admiration as the story of this legendary record collector unwinds in this DVD biopic. In case you're not familiar with him, Bussard is not just an average record collector, he is considered to be the premiere collector and authority of 78s from the early 20th Century. His home's basement is literally a museum, the walls lined with thousands and thousands of 78s, many of them ultra-rare or one-of-a-kind. When someone is doing research on music from this era, Bussard is usually one of the first people to get the call. Desperate Man Blues pays homage not only to the man who is Joe Bussard, but it also to the music he has come to represent. This is American music in its purest form, back when country, jazz and blues were developing in isolated pockets around the nation. The records were usually limited runs, and they often had a limited distribution area. If it weren't for Joe scouring the rural countryside for the past 50 years in search of these elusive discs, it is safe to say that much of this music would be lost forever. In effect, Bussard has become a lone voice in the wilderness, extolling the virtues of this "lost" era of American history in our modern, disposable media world. In the DVD, we get the back story of how Bussard got interested in these recordings and how he pursued this interest to the extreme. Bussard is interviewed in the basement in his element, chain smoking cigars, wearing bedroom slippers, and cueing up his favorite 78s. When the music plays, his eyes light up and he overflows with excitement. Seeing him in action, you realize that this goes way beyond some obsessive, pack-rat mentality. This goes to the very heart of passion. Joe Bussard loves this music to the point where he is almost inseparable from it, and the documentary does an excellent job of making this illustration. The beautiful irony is that the music of a generation which was bound for oblivion is being saved and presented to the world by an anachronism of a man who is just as lost in this modern world as those dusty discs. It is wonderful to know that neither Joe or his records will fade into obscurity without a fight. MISH MASH Mandate: Lost In Time
The Whole Story There is something quite odd about a coffee table book about punk rock. It just doesn't seem to fit that such a nasty revolutionary style of music should have such a beautifully done tribute such as this. I mean, the collection of photos alone is stunning in its scope, much less the fact that it is professionally and meticulously designed from beginning to end. It would almost seem more appropriate if it were printed up on the cheapest newsprint available and hastily stapled together in some backroom of a New York nightclub. With that having been said, any fan of punk music should drop everything and grab a copy of this book. This is the history of the genre covered as thoroughly as it ever has been, both in text and in photos. The book brings together a mass of essays by MOJO writers over the years and matched them up with some of the best photos from the era. The English and American scenes from the mid 70s to the present are represented, along with every artist that mattered (and a few that didn't), from Iggy Pop to The Ramones to The Clash to Green Day. There's also a section devoted to the greatest 77 punk albums of all time, giving you an in-depth list of all the records you need in your collection in order to be a true punk gourmet. Yes, the usual suspects are covered, but there's also a few gems thrown in that you may have forgotten about over the years. At the very least, it will provide hours of conversation over coffee at your next get together. Rock on! MISH MASH Mandate: What Do I Get?
|
 |
 |
 |
|
HEY BANDS! OPEN YOUR ONLINE T-SHIRT SHOP FOR FREE!
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Sojorn
Sojorn is the guiltiest of pleasures, one of those discs you turn up loud when no one else is around to hear or see. Sticky sweet and dripping with irresistible dance grooves, this disc is as infectious as they come. The basic setup revolves around a male/female vocal duo featuring Hunter Williams and Jennifer Morrison, set above glistening and pulsating pop. The team plays off each other rather well, Williams coming across as the prowling macho guy and Morrison as the flirty ingenue. They often venture into a hip-hop mode, with Williams rapping and Morrison weaving soulful melodies around his rhymes. It's the perfect combination for pop bliss. My only regret with this one is that I didn't have it over the summer---this is the perfect chill-out record for sitting by the pool. At the very least, I can dream about those lazy sunny days while I'm waiting out the hazy shades of winter. MISH MASH Mandate: Summertime Blues
|
|
Hello Operator
I don't know what it is about The Cars, but it seems that many new up-and-coming bands are paying homage to their quirky rock sound. Hello Operator embraces everything great about Ric Ocasek and the automotive boys, and they take it to the next level, making the sound all their own. The group blends the best of 80s New Wave plastic synth rock with today's post-mod punkery, slamming together a smart little EP that rides the vibe brilliantly from beginning to end. Where Hello Operator really succeeds is their songwriting; the tunes are tight and they aren't afraid to be catchy. The hooks glide like clockwork, and you'll be tapping your feet and singing along before you realize it. MISH MASH Mandate: Shake It Up
Every once and a while, a band will come along to wipe the slate clean. Caddle does just that, using their no-nonsense country rock to remind us that sometimes it's good to get back to the basics. Simply put, this is music from the bottom of the gutter --- down, dirty and just plain loud. Southern Rock is the main attraction, chock full of redneck attitude and classic country-inspired plays on words, and those bases are all covered in the first song, Mississippi Doublewide. And it only gets better from there. Caddle is the band you want playing when you walk in the honky tonk, because they provide the perfect soundtrack for drowning sorrows or a good old-fashioned barfight. MISH MASH Mandate: Mouth Of The South The Reformation "The Floral War" June Records 9 song CD
The Reformation is the working moniker for singer/songwriter/producer Westin Glass, who comes across in this release as a possible modern day successor to Brian Wilson. I know it sounds like a stretch, and it probably is. While Glass may not be quite at that level just yet, he's well on his way, as "The Floral War" falls just short of being a pop masterpiece. Yes, it's that good. Glass is obviously thoroughly schooled in late 60s rock, as his songs skillfully embrace the innocence and freshness of that era without coming across like a throwback. He avoids the trappings of overused angst, which is so prevalent in contemporary music, and still retains the modern flare of irony. At the same time, he somehow blends the optimism of yesteryear with the ever-so-slightest sting of rebellion, borrowing a few pointers from post-punk to keep everything on edge. In other words, it's the best of both worlds, and not many artists can pull that off. It'll be interesting to see where he can go from here. This disc would be hard to top, but if he does, then the comparison to Mr. Wilson won't seem too far off the mark. The Reformation Website Is It IN Yet? Self-Released 14 song CD
MISH MASH Mandate: Care Bears The Size Queens Website Impostor Syndrome Fresh Air Other-Electricities 4 song CD
© 2006 Mish Mash Music Reviews, All Rights Reserved
|
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
