Posted by
Eric Reanimator December 3, 2007 -
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I didn’t buy a whole lot of records this past year. It was a combination of lack of funds, a lack of desire to store (or move) any more records, but in all honest it was also a lack of there being a whole lot that I was really interested in enough to buy. What I figured I would do with this post is to simple look back and make a few comments about records that came out this year that I purchased. You might see a few faves on this list, or you might see something that catches your fancy, and maybe a few of you might see something that might be a good holiday gift for someone in your life. In fact I am going to add a recommend gift for tag at the end of some of these.. in the words of XTC Let’s begin!
Link Wray- White Lightning: Lost Cadence Sessions '58.
This cd covers the original sessions recorded by Wray that produced his hit Rumble. It’s a solid set of his classic instro sounds, and if you are not hip to his sound yet, this is a good place to check him out. It’s also something you might want to give to the aging 50’s rockabilly rebel in you life, no matter how old they really are. It’s also something that a grandfather or uncle who was in their late teens back at the end of the 50’s Might like. Like a few of the items on I am going to be talking about this album was recorded before 2007, but this was the first time it was available released… at least in the USA..
The Cocktail Slippers- Mastermind
These power-pop, punk, garage rock, girl group act from Norway finally get a US release of their work. I have written about them more than once, so I will just say, if you have a Pipettes, Donnas, or Dollyrots fan you are shopping for, this could be something to look into.
Lee Hazelwood- Cake or Death
The final testament of one of our greatest outsider musicians. While it’s not as classic as some of his early work, it is well worth checking out.
The Charms- Strange Music
This was a record in heavy rotation for me early in the year. Great power pop meets Joan Jett feel. You have a teenage cousin who is just getting into something beyond the Top 40… check this one out.
Hammerlock- Forgotten Range
Greasy, biker bar, outlaw, country, rock.. these are all terms that come to mind when I think of Hammerlock. They are a little bit Motorhead, a little bit Hank Williams, and a little bit 70’s style hard rock. Very accessible to open minds who aren’t offended easily. Is there a real biker type that you have on your list? Someone who you don’t want to give something other than a case of PBR? Hammerlock could be the key.
Southern Culture on the Skids- Countrypolitan Favorites
If Hammerlock isn’t your kind of country then this SCOTS album should be. Only it’s not just country stuff, there are some garage rock covers… and even a cover of the Kinks and one of T. Rex. This is a solid fun record. I really wish it had gotten more buzz and more attention. Not only is this a great record for the ironic hipster, but I bet that some of the more square parents (who were rising kids in the 60’s and 70’s) might find something to dig on this one.
Mary Weiss- Dangerous Game
The former Shangri-Las singer returns with a solo record. As I recall this was her first one ever. She has a great voice and the song selection is a fitting selection of garage rock and straight up rock and roll tunes. This one would be perfect for those who recall the 60’s girl group sound or just dig women with great voices.
Various Artists- Girls Got Rhythm
Covers of Metal, Punk, and Cheap Trick by bands of women with names like: Thunderstruck, Ramonas, Cheap Chick, and Mistress Of Reality… you get the idea. It’s a solid fun record. Some covers are better than others, but what ever. I have no idea who exactly I would give this record to, but I know that there are a couple of people that would dig it. Maybe a metal head with an open mind might.
Various Artists- Flattery: A tribute to Radio Birdman Vol 3.
If you can find a copy pick it up, more great covers of Radio Birdman, more band to be discovered. I would love to say give this to anyone, but honestly, anyone that was disappointed by the new Stooges record might dig this in it’s place.
The Groovie Ghoulies- 99 Lives
Ok this one is darker than their past efforts, but the fact that the Ghoulies called it quits a week before this record arrived on shelves might give some indication as to why it was so dark. Still it’s got that trademark fun, bouncy, punky garage sound, and it would make an excellent choice for the tween Goth Hot Topic shopper in your life.
Jon Rauhouse- Steel Guitar Heart Attack
You like Neko Case enough to pick up a record to hear her belt out one tune? Even if that’s enough to get to you check this record out, you should anyways. Steel Guitar all over the place, covering jazz standards, covering country hits, and old TV themes, it’s all killer. This is a record that you could play for your grandparents with out worry and with out being bored. Great songs, great playing, amazing voice, and it’s just right.
The Forbidden Dimension- A cool sound outta hell
I don’t know what else to say about this record that I haven’t already in the last couple of months. It’s amazing, and I love it.
World / Inferno Friendship Society- Addicted To Bad Ideas
Honestly I don’t really know what to make of this record other than to say that I like it. It’s got something, a punky cabaret edge, and energy. It’s a little bit Dresden Dolls, a little bit big over the top Rock Musical (think Bat out of Hell), and it’s all wrapped in this Weimar Republic feel and look and sound… It’s a record that I am still decoding. This one would be perfect once again for the Hot Topicer in your world.
Shooter Jennings- The Wolf
The third album from the son of Waylon Jennings, which pretty much carries on his dad’s legacy. It’s a bit outlaw and edgy, a bit alt country, a bit Nashville.. in fact I bet that they would hold up this record if someone were seriously saying that they exclusively releasing pop music these days. Got a country loving young person who plays way to much of… uh… hum… I don’t even know what/who the current country pop mindwrecker is… but this could be a good place to start them on the road away from the Nashville machine.
So new albums released this year that I bought.. and I mean a physical copy of, only 14 this time around. I don’t regret buying any of them, some I have listened to more than others, Hammerlock for instance had the most frequently played new track, Conquest Train in my iTunes for 2007, while I haven’t played some of the tracks from The Girls Got Rhythm comp yet. If I had it to do over, I would have gotten the Southern Culture on the Skids on LP, because when ordered from the label it came with a few download of the MP3 for the album.. which also was the case with the Forbidden Dimension record. I did get the LP of that one, there isn’t a CD available (but you can also buy the download on it’s own). Interestingly the Shooter Jennings record was released in the following formats: CD, LP, Downloadable, and the one that I got.. A LP with a CD, which only cost a few bucks more than the regular CD or LP, and in fact I paid $17 for my copy, which is as much as you are likely to pay for the CD at a lot of places. I would have also bought the World / Inferno Friendship Society- Addicted To Bad Ideas on LP, but I wanted to help out my buddy who needed a couple of buck in cash to make the rent at his record shop/
I don’t have any new records in mind to buy for next year yet…wait I take that back there is a new Hellacopters record on the way, and the Bang Sugar Bang record that was to be released this year might come out someday.. other than that I will just have to see what the new year (and maybe the next couple of weeks bring)
Thoughts, comments, your fave records of the year?
