COLLEGE FOOTBALL 2009 BABY

ONLY 6 DAYS UNTIL THE START OF THE FOOTBALL SEASON.

GOOOOOOOOOO HEEELLLSSSS!

The Black Crowes Deliver With Before The Frost...Until The Freeze

The Black Crowes are back with another new record filled with tunes that will blow you away. Their songwriting has matured and working up in New York with Levon Helm has had a positive effect on the Robinson boys and their crew.

The album was recorded live at Levon's studios in Woodstock with a few of the Crowe's closet fans in attendance. What I would have given to be a part of that audience.

Before the Frost is an 11 song disc with all new songs that totally kick ass. From the start with "Good Morning Captain" to the last track "Last Place That Love Lies" this album is some of the best work they have done since The Southern Harmony and Musical Companion album. The highlight of the whole thing may be the 7+ minute long jam fest "Been A Long Time (Waiting On Love)"

OHHH but the Crowes are not through there. There is a second disc that will be available for free download, Until The Freeze. This offers another 9 songs, 8 originals and a sweet Stephen Stills cover, "So Many Times".

This is definitely a must have when it hits stores this Monday, August 31st.

ROCK OUT WITH CHICKENFOOT

FREAKING AWESOME!!!!!

The more I listen to this the better it gets. Pretty much every song kicks ass.

Sammy's vocals are on the money, Chad and Michael power through the tunes adding slamming rhythms and Joe is probably the most surprising. He has abandoned his perfectionist technical styles and just rocks out on guitar. All four come together as if they have been playing together for years and years.

With the exception of "Learning To Fall" the entire album effing rocks.

Hopefully they have a few more albums in them before they call it quits.

Cheap Trick: The Latest

Cheap Trick is a band that has been around forever. They have a handful of hits, mostly in their earlier years, but due to their loyal following they have managed to stick around mostly surviving on their live shows and live albums. Every so often they release some new music, and while not always hits it is usually pretty entertaining.

Their newest album, "The Latest" is another good record from the Illinois quartet. There are no chart toppers or radio hits, but it is a solid group of songs that are enjoyable to the ear.

Many downplay the band as has beens, but these are the people who never listened past the 70's or were only fans of the "Flame" in the 80's. This is their 4th album in the 90's & 00's and most likely the best. The band shows how good they really are with Zander’s impeccable vocals on a slamming version of Slade’s “When the Lights are Out,” an opulent psychedelic pop ballad “Miss Tomorrow” and then the smack to the face “Sick Man of Europe,” with Petersson’s predatory bass leading the way.

Always one of the best live bands around, their studio albums rock just as much...well most of them. This new one is definitely a must have, not only can you get the cd, you can download it, buy the record or 8-track. Yes I said 8-track, they released this album on 8-track, not sure why this was done.

Also, be on the lookout for a new live release recorded in Vegas when Robyn, Rick, Tom and Bun E. performed the Beatles "Sgt. Peppers Band" album in it's entirety.

Patterson Hood: Murdering Oscar (and Other Love Songs)

Patterson Hood is one of the best song writers around these days. Just listen to the tracks he has penned with the Drive-By Truckers and tell me any differently.

Here is his second solo album, "Murdering Oscar (and Other Love Songs), which is filled with a mix of brooding dark troubled tunes as well as some light hearted upbeat ones. With each track Patterson is able to tell a story in such great detail that the listener is transformed into his world and gets a glimpse of what he has experienced and what his life is about. Marriage, children, bad experiences litter the songs of this record.

To the DBT fan this album will come easy, but if you are new to Hood you may have to give it a few listens to really grasp how good this album is.

Levon Helm is Electric

Levon Helm, mostly known for his work with the Band, has released a new album, 'Electric Dirt'. It is the follow up to his critically acclaimed 2007 album 'Dirt Farmer'.

Where 'Dirt Farmer' had a rustic intimacy about it, 'Electric Dirt' brings out the soulful side. Filled a mix of folk, blues, soul and gospel tunes it is a great listen from start to finish.

It starts strong with a version of the Grateful Dead's tune "Tennessee Jed", one of the best versions my ears have had the pleasure of listening to. From there it just gets better.

With songs from such artists as Muddy Waters, "You Can't Lose What You Ain't Never Had" and "Stuff You Gotta Watch", The Staples Singers, "Move Along Rain" and Randy Newman, "Kingfish" to name a few you can't not help but to enjoy this record.

If you are looking for good music, not the usual crap record companies are pedaling out there these days, then check this album out. Definitely one of the best releases this year.

Drivin N Cryin; Back and Kicking Ass

Drivin N Cryin are back. They are out on the road in support of their new album 'The Great American Bubble Factory' which hits stores September 29th.

This will be the first studio album from these guys since 1997's 'Drivin N Cryin' album.

From what I have heard so far they have not lost anything from their earlier work. The songs rock, they kick ass and the lyrics are pretty damn good too.

Here is a track from the album, it is a song that has been around but is finally getting the proper treatment of being on an album.



This song and others such as 'Pre Approved, Pre Denied', 'Let Me Down', 'I Stand Tall' and 'I Se Georgia' are all great tunes.

Enjoy and check back for an official review of the album.

Arc Angels: A Bit Of A Let Down

Last Friday night I went down to the Variety Playhouse to check out the Arc Angels. They are back together again after several long years. Unfortunately a night filled with excitement ended in a bit of a disappointment.

The Variety Playhouse was packed, the techs were done fiddling with what needed to be fiddled with and the lights went down. People crowded toward the stage and the whoops and hollers were abundant as 4 shadowy figures made their way to their respected spots on stage. The spotlights came on, the music kicked in and we were all on our way to an evening of jamming out to the tunes of the Arc Angels.

They kicked the show off with the song "Paradise Cafe", Doyle Bramhall's guitar was kicking some major ass as he always does, laying down cool, smooth blues licks for the crowd to absorb with their ears. After that they proceeded to run through nearly all the songs on their album with a few other gems added in for good measure. Tunes like "Sweet Nadine", Living In A Dream" and "Angel Eyes had the crowd singing along, many times over powering the vocals of Doyle and Charlie Sexton. I felt the best job they did all night was on "Shape I'm In" and "Too Many Ways Too Fall". After a choice set they finished with a 2 song encore then parted ways with the crowd and headed off to wherever they go when their time on stage is finished. Musically a good set, a good sound, they hit all the songs everyone wanted to hear.

Now for the disappointment. Yes the music was descent, but the show was very bland, there was no showmanship. Doyle seemed pissed off about something all evening and spent the night pacing around the stage like a caged animal trying to find a way out. Often he was standing to the far left or behind his amps or even with his back to the audience. Charlie seemed to be in his own little world laughing about something that was funny to him only. He started the show saying it was great to back at the Point. It's the Variety Playhouse Charlie, the Point closed years ago. Chris Layton sat behind the drums with the same expression the whole show, a look of pure boredom. There was no kick ass jamming, no breaking into great blues guitar solos or anything. The guitar play was spot on, but nothing to take it to that next level and show how awesome a guitar player either of the 2 guys are. To me it seemed they were just walking through the motions to get through the night.

I expected more from these guys, I expected an awe inspiring show a show that grabbed me by the throat and said take this. I expected a night showcasing incredible guitar play, a show that was filled with passion for the music. All I got was a night of their greatest hits which, which was nice, but I could have saved the $25 and sat at home and blasted the CD over my stereo.

The Arc Angels, Tonight Live

Going to see the Arc Angels tonight at the Variety Playhouse.
Should be a good show, check back for a recap of the show this weekend.

www.myspace.com/arcangelsmusic

GOODBYE JAY BENNETT YOU WILL BE MISSED

Jay Bennett passed away last week, he was 45.

Jay was an integral part of the band Wilco from 1994 until 2001. During this time period Wilco produced the best music of their career.

In addition to Wilco he had a band in the 90's, "Titanic Love Affair", and released 5 solo albums post Wilco, all good stuff.

Jay died in his sleep after having hip replacement surgery.

He will be missed.

CHICKENFOOT!

I just finished listening to 5 tunes off of the new record by Chickenfoot that comes out in June. With the exception of one track that was a bit slow the other 4 kicked some major ass.

Who is Chickenfoot you ask? It is the new group put together by Sammy Hagar. It includes Micahel Anthony on bass (Van Halen), Chad Smith on drums (Red Hot Chili Peppers) and guitar virtuoso Joe Satriani on lead guitar.

"Soap On A Rope" starts out strong and finishes stronger. "Oh Yeah" may be the best of the five tunes I have heard. "Get It Up" is strong but lacks something, not sure what yet. "Down The Drain" starts off slow, but kicks in and turns out to be a kick ass tune. "Learning To Fall" is a slowed down ballad, was not too impressed with this one.

Over all real good stuff. They have developed their own style, it is hard rock that definitely has an edge. They don't sound like VH, nor The Wabaritos nor the Cili Peppers..and Satriani's guitar work has no resemblance to his solo work. This is a good thing.

Can't wait to hear the rest of the album.

WILCO'S NEW RECORD

WILCO / WILCO (The Album)

I just checked out the new Wilco record that comes out in the near future. My first go round I did not like it too much, everything kind of seemed to run together. Luckily I gave it another 2 or 3 listens because each time I give it a play it gets better and better.

This record is very similar to Sky Blue Sky. Great lyrics with haunting melodies. Once again they move away from the expiramental direction they had been heading and make an album that falls in line with their first couple of records as well as Uncle Tupelo.

If you get a chance check it out.

MAKE A MOVE WITH THE HILL COUNTRY REVUE

HILL COUNTRY REVUE - Make A Move

One word for ya..JAMMTASTIC! HILL COUNTRY REVUE'S (HCR) debut album, "Make A Move", is oh so much better than I could have imagined.

Cody Dickinson of the North Mississippi Allstars (NMAS) has put together a group of blues musicians that kick major blues ass. Fellow NMAS member Chris Chew on bass, Kirk Smithhart on guitar, Ed "Hot" Cleveland on drums and Dixie Dan Coburn belting out the tunes.

The majority of the album was written by Garry Burnside the youngest son of R.L. and Alice Mae Burnside. So growing up a Burnside and hanging with Junior Kimbrough has evidently rubbed off on his music chops.

The whole record has a great vibe, there is definitely a NMAS sound but HCR leans more toward the Allman Bros sound.

This album starts off with "Alice Mae" a good ol fashioned dirt blues tune right out of the NMAS repertoire. A few songs later your ears will be delighted with the tune "You Can Make It", this track could double as an Allman's tune, straight up with Duane-esque guitar licks. Then later on in the record they put a finishing touch on the whole thing with the down and dirty songs "Georgia Women" and "Ramblin'".

Man I dig this record. If you like good blues/southern rock then you need to check this out. If you are a NMAS fan you will not be disappointed.

Once again my friends...JAMMTASTIC!

WAIT FOR IT....WAIT FOR IT....

Only 111 days until the College Football season kicks off.

Helllls yeah.

MANNY JUST BEING MANNY

It looks like Manny Ramirez is going to be on a 50 game vacation, not by his decision of course.

Manny got slammed with a 50 game suspension today after testing positive for a banned substance.

The unofficial word is that it was not steroids nor HGH, but a substance on the MLB banned list.

He took a substance that increased his testosterone levels. Manny says he got medicine from a Doctor for a personal health issue, and the doctor did not think the medication would pose any problem.

So it looks like Manny got busted for using....to quote my lil' bro....."boner pills".

He was busted for a substance in his system that is either used in fertility treatments or in medicines like Viagra.

Here is what I think about the whole thing.

1. Manny should have checked the medicine out with MLB before taking it, not just go by what the doc thought. So if it had a banned substance in the medicine he deserves what he gets.

2. If it is proven to be a "boner pill" and he had legitimate medical reason to take it then it is pretty sad he is getting suspended for trying to put some "starch back in his shirt" so to speak.

3. Here is Manny getting suspended for using Viagra, and A-Rod admits to using steroids yet he is allowed to play with no penalties. I know that steroids were not banned at that time, but he was taking an ILLEGAL DRUG, Manny was not. Sad sad sad MLB.

I predict a big time appeal from the players union if that is an option.

YOU GOTTA LOVE DAYTROTTER.COM

Check this site out, it is pretty cool.

They are based out of Rock Island, IL and when bands are touring the country if they cruise near here a lot of them stop in and record a Daytrotter Session at the Horseshack. They have been doing this since 2006, at least that is when the archived shows start.

Daytrotter's goal is to have a different band record a session per day. They then take that session and put it on the web site for every ones listening and downloading pleasures.

It is a great place to check out bands you may not have heard of or to jam to some bands you love.

There are some great session such as Dr. Dog, Stephen Malkmus, Bob Mould, Of Montreal, Fleet Foxes, Blitzen Trapper, Aimee Mann and Spoon to name a few.

The site also offers Music Reviews, Videos, Tour Dates, and if you want to help out an online store.

So check it out and enjoy this site.

CRACKER, BEN AND A LITTLE BIT O' ELEPHANT

CRACKER - SUNRISE IN THE LAND OF MILK AND HONEY


The new CRACKER album, "Sunrise In The Land Of Milk And Honey" does not disappoint. It is chocked full of the catchy quirky lyrics that David Lowery is famous for along with some really nice guitar parts by Johnny Hickman.
While their last two records were decent but were lacking that Cracker feel, this one feels just right. The songs all rock and stick to your brain much like the first few Cracker records. The highlights of the record are "Yalla, Yalla", "Turn On, Tune In, Drop Off" and a redo of "Friends" with a little help from Patterson Hood of the Drive-By Truckers. They have a couple of other special guests, Adam Duritz (Counting Crowes) joins in on "Darling One" and John Doe (X) pitches in on "We All Shine A Light".
Over all this CD kicks some ass it can be listened to from start to finish without a dull moment, definitely no filler here.
To quote the boy (my son) when he asked me what CD was playing and I said Cracker he replied, "Mmmmm I like crackers".
Pick up a copy, it is well worth it.


BEN HARPER & RELENTLESS7 - WHITE LIES FOR DARK TIMES


Whether it is solo, with the Innocent Criminals the Blind Boys of Alabama or most recently, Relentless7, Ben Harper has yet to make a bad record. His ability to mesh sounds from all kinds of genres (funk, rock, folk, reggae and so on) is incredible.
This record may be his best rocker. His smooth voice and his even smoother guitar playing mingle with his backing band Relentless7 to create a sound that grabs your ears and takes you to a happy place where rock n roll lives and crap pop does not exist.
To quote the boy, as he sits in his car seat wearing his sunglasses and jamming on his air guitar, "I like that daddy, I like that". I can't argue with you there son.


CAGE THE ELEPHANT - CAGE THE ELEPHANT


Heard these guys for the first time the other morning. The song "No Rest For The Wicked" reached out through the speakers and smacked me upside the head, I had to crank it, it was the only way to listen to the tune. So of course after this little taste I had to check out the entire record.....wow. This is an awesome rock record. It is a crunchy, dirty, filthy ride taking you through all avenues of rock n roll. I can play this record over and over again. Check it out you will enjoy. What did the boy have to say? Nothing he has not heard it yet, but he will....yes...he will.

IT IS TIME FOR AN OVERHAUL!

I am a huge baseball fan, sometimes I think I like it more than football...sometimes. I don't mind the slowness of the game, I enjoy the strategy and the history and mystique of the game is matched by no other sport.

In this game of baseball I follow a couple of teams close, but the Braves are my team. From back when I was a kid, watching games on TBS with my grandfather, going to games at Fulton County Stadium in the 70's all the way through their incredible run in the 90's. Which brings us to today. This incarnation of the Braves is horrible. They have no offense, their starting pitching is decent, but their bullpen is ungodly awful and as much as I love Bobby Cox, I think it may be time to overhaul the coaching staff.

PITCHING:

Their starting pitching has been pretty decent. Derek Lowe, Jair Jurrjens have been great and Javier Vasquez has been ok. So far each of these starters have kept the Braves in pretty much every game they have started. Kenshin Kawakami has been down right horrendous, yeah that was good use of $8mill, and Jo Jo Reyes has been decent but he is not reliable.

Their bullpen is another story all together. While their starters usually leave with the lead or with the Braves within a run or two, the bullpen usually takes care of all of that and pet's their opponents do what they please. The Braves bullpen is dead last in not allowing inherited runners to score. The majority of their relievers have an ERA over 4.00. Yes Jeff Bennett has an ERA of 0.71, but that is because all the runs he gives up are credited to other people. He has pitched 12 innings and given up 20 hits. Soriano and Gonzalez have been decent, but the rest have got to go. If I see Peter Moylan come into another game I am going to hurt somebody.

OFFENSE:

I have never seen a team that is so horribly awful at putting the ball into play. The team has struck out 248 times in 881 at bats, that's 1 strike out every 3 1/2 at bats. They can't steal bases, they can't move runners over they have to rely on the home run but they have no one who can hit home runs. Jordan Schafer the wonder kid who homered on his first at bat, the savior of the Braves, yeah..he needs to be sent back to the minors. He is batting .238, with 2 homeruns, and 3 RBIs, uhh the homers and ribs all came in the first 3 games of season. He has 34 K's in 84 at bats.....I think it is safe to say he is having trouble hitting major league pitching. I won't even get into the Garrett Anderson fiasco.

COACHING:

I think it is time for Bobby to retire. He has had a great run and has done things with teams that no one has ever done nor will they do again. 14 straight division titles is one heck of a run. The other coaches I have issues with are Roger McDowell and Terry Pendleton. McDowell has been the pitching coach for 3 years, which have been the 3 worst pitching year the team has had in the past 20 years. Maybe something new is needed. Pendleton has not improved any hitters on this team the entire career he has been the Hitting Coach. Andruw Jones progressively got worse, Jeff Francoeur got worse, I can go on, name one hitter he has helped. Yes Francoeur has gotten better this year, but in the off season he hired the hitting coach at Texas to work with him, not Pendelton. Look at Andruw Jones this season, he is hitting .341, 3 hrs and 8 rbis......hmmm he is playing for Texas. Chipper Jones and other players use their dads as hitting coaches, get advice from them not Pendleton. So all I am saying is maybe it is time for a change.

I think it is time to blow this team up. You keep Chipper because he is "The Brave", you keep Brian McCann and you keep Jordan Schafer because he is going to be good. Other than that, start trading....if anyone wants any of the players. Obviously something ain't right in Atlanta or all those free agents would not have used the Braves to get better contracts.

Build this team through the minors, then add a few veterans to round things out...hmm didn't they do that in 91'?

Yes I know we are only a month and a half into the season, and things could change, but right now I don't see that happening.

WHAT THE HELL...AND DAMMIT...AND A FEW OTHER CHOICE WORDS!

Buying CDs is becoming harder and freakin' harder these days. I understand the world of downloading music is where it is at these days and yes I partake in it myself, BUT, not much compares to buying that new CD, opening it up, popping it in the player and jamming while perusing thru the liner notes. Can't do that with a download.

Now in a world where Turtles and Coconuts and Peaches are long gone the only places with CDs seem to be places like Wal Mart, Target and Borders to name a few. If you are looking for 100 copies of the next crap fad music they are great, but anything else you are out of luck.

Yes I dig the indie stores like Criminal Records and I order from stores such as Newbury Comics but going to Criminal has to be planned out due to not living downtown, and ordering over the net has the whole wait time that really sucks. Although my son does dig going down to Criminal.

The whole reason I am bringing this up is due to my frustration in finding one CD today. It is not even a CD from a hard to find band, from a small unheard of band or a band no one has heard of. It is a new CD from a band that has established hits, that has a decent following.

I went looking for the new Cracker CD today. I figure I would pull into Target and Wal Mart since they were on the path I was traveling, I knew Wal Mart would not have it, but sometimes, sometimes Target has a decent selection of new releases. Of course, no luck at Wal Mart, and Target would have been a good choice if I were looking for the new Prince (they had like 12 rows of that), Ciara, or some other country artists I have never heard of. OK, time to hit Borders, they usually have a good selection of hard to find CDs (who'd a thought Cracker would be hard to find).

So I go into borders and BAM....the music section has been shrunk down to an 8th of it's previous size. Where music was almost a quarter of the store it is now down to like 3-4 rows encompassing all the same genres. No Cracker, so I asked someone who worked there, they said it may be on this cart, we have not put out new releases yet. Nope..not there, so he looked it up. "Sorry we do not have it, but I can order it for you", uhhh no thanks.

Well it was time to call around before I ordered it or made the trek down to 5 points. I called Barnes n Nobles, FYE, CD Warehouse and a couple of Best Buys....finally I found a Best Buy hat had 1 copy....1 copy.

Well, I finally got my Cracker CD....but I am still ticked off about the whole record store industry.

BACK FROM THE DEAD!

No I have not recently returned from a Dead concert, I have just revived, refurbished, renewed, reorganized, re-whatever else you want to call it, Monkey Junction.

I will once again offer up reviews of music, shows, movies, books and anything else I feel like reviewing.

It is up to you weather you read it or not. If you check out my ranting and raving and you dig it, then pass it along to your friends, family, enemies, hell anyone who knows how to read and appreciates stuff.

OK, have to go wrangle a three year old away from grandpa and get him ready to head on home.

Later.