Missed Out Music
Some of The Replacements solo work.
When great bands split, they inevitably splinter into factions or solo self-discovery, such was the case with The Replacements. Paul Westerberg would go onto modest solo success, and even drummer Chris Mars had a strong debut with 1993's Horseshoes and Hand Grenades. When The Replacements came to their demise in the early 90's, bassist Tommy Stinson stepped up to sing and play guitar in a short lived pub-pop band known as Bash and Pop. Stinson also brought along former Mats' drummer Steve Foley to record 1993's Friday Night Is Killing Me. The group never got along very well, which prompted Stinson to perform much of the album by himself, although he did bring in some of Tom Petty's Heartbreakers to help.
Friday Night Is Killing Me would fade into cutout bin oblivion after mixed reviews and an aborted tour. A shame really, the album evokes that weepy "last call" sentiment on songs like "Tiny Pieces," as well as head banging fury on the charging "Fast and Hard." Stinson's voice strains in the upper register, no doubt a frenzied mimic of his mentor and former band-mate Paul Westerberg.
Amazon.com is currently listing this album used for $.22, not a lot for a piece of Rock n' Roll obscurity.
Posted by Joe Roth on Nov 27, 2007 @ 12:00 am
Windy City Watch
Oh Chicago, you give us our home, and many great bands. This week Bang! Bang! hit the Watch.
I sometimes take for granted all the good music that Chicago has to offer in any genre. I'll listen to songs, see bands live and then forget about them for a while - only to have them resurface at the right time and remind me just how hard they rock...
Posted by Lisa White on Nov 27, 2007 @ 12:00 am
Your Listening Pleasure
A small taste of new music. Sondre Lerche, Sigur Ros and The Brunettes in this edition of YLP.
Sigur Ros - Salka - A Sigur Ros B-side is not quite like any other band's B-side. As the track "Salka" demonstrates, the beautiful melodies, mournful, high-pitched falsettos and dreamy guitar soundscapes that have defined the band's career aren't just a tired gimmick, but an engaging combination that still has a few tricks up it's sleeve. Originally recorded during the ( ) sessions, it makes you wonder how and why it wasn't put out the first time around...
Posted by Jason Prechtel on Nov 26, 2007 @ 12:00 am
We've Got You Covered
The Get Up Kids tackle David Bowie.
Funny that one of my favorite Get Up Kids songs would be one that they didn't write. Then again, David Bowie very nearly didn't record "Suffragette City". That's right, he offered it to the much less known Mott the Hoople when the band was about to break up in 1972. They refused it and he wrote the band's most well known tune. "All the Young Dudes". Go look it up if you don't believe it. The rest of us will wait.
Who knows what would have happened if Bowie had recorded the latter of the two songs. Would we hear the Get Up Kids singing about boogaloo dudes? Just like the amount of licks to get to the center of a Tootsie Pop, the world may never know.
As cover songs go, this one is damn good. The Get Up Kids keep the original spirit of the song in tact, but inject it with the infectious disease (in a good way) that is their style of indie rock. It's a great take on one of the classics by the great David Bowie.
The Get Up Kids - Suffragette City [mp3]
Posted by Cory Roop on Nov 23, 2007 @ 12:00 am
Record Numbers
People still buy records. HEAVE breaks down the numbers.
Backed by a ridiculously catchy single and a non-stop blitz of MTV promo-spots, Alicia Keys took a commanding spot atop the charts this week, selling 742,000 copies of As I Am. Those numbers are the best for a solo female artist in almost four years, and the second best sales of 2007, behind only Kanye West. With the holiday gift season shifting into high-gear, and Keys' album featuring at least two other ready-made singles, As I Am should continue to have strong sales for the next several weeks...
Posted by Ryan Peters on Nov 22, 2007 @ 12:00 am