Single Review

Jamie Woon – Night Air (Ramadanman Refix)
Night Air by Jamie Woon is the first release of his new album and with this new remix (or Refix) by Ramadanman we are shown 2 sides of his personality, this version is much more in the vein of early Massive Attack and Trip-Hop.

The basic track is kept simple with just stuttering drums and echo laden treated keys to help cushion his voice. I can see a comparison with Kid A era Radiohead although that's mainly through production trade-marks rather than any vocal or song writing (very similar keyboard stabs to “Idioteque”. A pretty relaxed production especially when compared with the original version which I believe will be the A-Side to this remix. On repeat listening there seems to be a lot of quiet time where I assume other songs would be mixed although as a solo piece sounds a little too empty and lacking in idea's.

Jamie Woon is definitely still one to watch on the London circuit (recent support act's have included Amy Winehouse) as his solo show with guitar and minimal line up shows his talent and songsmith skills, unfortunately this isn't the best setting for his own style of music and soul infused vocals. The original recording from which this was taken is better in ever respect with a straight pop hook and overall better production and personality. Less is more, except in this case. To little too late.

Managed to get my first piece published on a music website...

thank you Musicvita.com


www.musicvita.com/music-freak/daily-stuff/6535-the-rock-and-roll-hall-of-fame-nominations.html

http://www.nme.com/news/alice-cooper/53209

THE ROCK AND ROLL HALL OF FAME NOMINATIONS.

The Rock and Roll hall of fame has listed it’s nominations for this year. Artist diverse as Alice Cooper, LL Cool J, Donovan, Tom Waits to Dr John all deserving as they are individually for recognition will still have to be discussed and decided on whether they are “rock and roll” enough to enter this museum.

Obviously the artists that have come before are all valid and great, great artists but the issue I have with the whole concept is that it’s very mainstream and corporate, an almost “Tutti Frutti” sponsored by McDonalds. Rock and Roll as a genre was about and should always be about rebellion and sticking 2 fingers up at authority. Older rock stars from yester-year in tuxedos with their plastic surgery obsessed wives grinning as they get another award simply for still being alive seems to go against everything they ever stood for.

In my opinion if such a thing as “the rock and roll hall of fame” had to exist at all then it would be in an abandoned warehouse half falling down after the 1000th party, beer stains all over the floor, half asleep teenagers in piles while the police try and break down the back door, the Waldorf Astoria in New York with a couple of hundred dollar plate dinners isn’t.

Artists such as Chuck Berry, The Beatles, The Who have all been in for many years nowadays its Bon Jovi? The most easy going parent friendly 80’s poodle perm rock (with a small r) band ever to shuffle out of New Jersey. It seems that the only criteria you need to enter these days to be eligible is for their first release to be at least 25 years old. Although in the past acts such as the Dave Clarke Five missed their chance even after winning more votes as not enough Rap artists were mentioned so Grandmaster Flash won the nomination (this was later confirmed by Rolling Stone Editor Jann Wenner), Dave Clark Five had to wait another year. Rules, rules, rules. The very thing rock and roll came to break. A year when Donna Summer could be winning over Darlene Love or Laura Nyro for anything is the REAL day the music died.

On Shakey Ground....

Le Noise - Neil Young

One of the problems with reviewing anything after a first listen is that some albums are "growers" and a few more listens down the line it might all click and work. The latest Neil Young record seemed a dream collaboration on paper with sound scape producer and fellow Canadian Daniel Lanois who's past productions have included U2 vast backlog and Bob Dylan's masterpiece "Time Out Of Mind" but after the initial listen I was left less than impressed. It's Neil Young, the songs should be great and I tried to listen and judge each one on it's own merit rather than the past history of great tracks he already has in his cannon. It's both over produced and under-produced at the same time (if that's possible.) It's simply Neil Young and his Les Paul playing through songs while Lanois treats the sounds through a host of echos, delays and reverbs. Neil Young isn't The Edge and I don't think this side of production shows his style off particularly well. Songs like "Walk With Me" sound like they were written in 10 mins then recorded which may be thrilling for the artist but without the hindsight of editing and improving sound a little below par when compared to an instant classic like "Pocahontas" or "Wrecking Ball" and I think the main problem is that the band is missing. Crazy Horse are a powerhouse rock and roll band that always lift the songs up and although Daniel Lanois's production on them may have been the wrong move over their gritty raw sound. I think an opportunity was missed to showcase Young's acoustic playing with only a couple of tracks given to this. "Hitchhiker" is a song from the 1970s which was never recorded until now and brings the last 3 songs up a notch because of the pedigree (although "Peaceful Valley Boulevard" sounds like the old hippy inside him is still alive and kicking and not in a good way)but on the whole it seems a little to much like a bunch of Demo's ran through a reverb plate. I think I hear Rick Rubin rubbing his hand's together and praying Neil Young returns his phone calls.

I'm sorry we don't hear a single.....

In the times we live in it seems that the general public loves nothing more than a list, a best of, a top 10, something with order that can tell them in no UN-certain terms how things are rated. If it wasn't for the "best of" TV shows what would Jimmy Carr do with his evenings? After reading the last installment of "the best albums of the 00's" I've decided to go the other route and list the Worst albums of a great artists career. A time when it was all going so well then they released a golden turd of an album and torn between the love of the band/artist and blind faith we went and slapped our tenner on the counter only to turn into a donkey on the bus home as track 3 played...

right as I'm juggling this and "real" work I'll give you 3 to be going on with...



3 - Sometime In New York City - John Lennon
This came out after Imagine a time where a Beatle (a former one at that) could do no wrong. After all he was going to bring peace to the world and introduce Yoko Ono on the pop world and then this happened. Lennon moved to New York (his home for the remainder of his life) and got caught up with a bunch of stoned hippies looking for a revolution, being the band wagon jumper that he was John Lennon jumped feet first into the "struggle" and decided to sing songs about "real issues" almost like a daily newspaper of songs. Apart from guaranteeing that your songs are going to be dated by the time they are eventually released it also splits your fan base in about ten different directions. Does some 13 year old girl who lives in Nebraska really care about a riot at Attica State prison? Another downfall of this album is that Yoko is given centre stage (not for the last time) and she simply isn't good enough to be paired against one if not the greatest songwriter of his generation, its like Bob Dylan making an album with Ringo and giving him half the album for his own songs...you just feel that your missing out on more great stuff by listening to crap.

It does have its highlights, though not many. New York City is a good old fashioned rocker and on the live side the track Well (Baby Please Don't Go) with Frank Zappa And The Mothers Of Invention is inspired.

Apart from these shining moments there is a couple of "alright" moments, Born In A Prison is sweet and Woman Is The Nigger Of The World is almost saved by Phil Spector's bombastic production even if the sentiment seems like its trying far too hard. After this album dropped like a rock Lennon made "Mind Games" which although wasn't back up to Plastic Ono Band standards still was heading in the right direction.


2 Grace/Wastelands - Peter Doherty
Peter Doherty (no longer Pete he means business now)former/current member of The Libertines/Babyshambles was going to show us and the judgemental tabloid newspapers who hounded him through his drug addiction and supermodel love affairs, he was going to show us all, with his poet heart and punk chord changes. What happened? Like Paul McCartney and John Lennon's writing partnership with Carl Barat and Pete Doherty you could usually tell who wrote which song just after one hearing, Doherty was the soul of the Libertines so a solo album seemed a great idea, him and acoustic and no smack head friends plunking away in the background. What happened? Grace/Wastelands is a warm fart of an album, it was released, ignored and then kicked into the bargain bin. No highlights, some of the half finished songs had already been heard on demos that had been floating around the web for months previously. A missed opportunity and proof that The Libertines reunion was needed for all members. The single "Last Of The English Roses" is 2 star by numbers Babyshambles b-side with even his fey "ro-oh-ses" cute little boy routine not helping "paper over the cracks" with this one. Total shambles.

1 - Metal Machine Music - Lou Reed
Obvious? Probably but what else could take the crown for worst album ever, even by a great artist. Lou Reed chief songwriter and leader of The Velvet Underground, just this alone would put him in the highest stream of rock royalty and even his solo albums had shining moments (Transformer, Berlin)but this 1975 double album of just Feedback and Noise takes some beating. Rock journalist Lester Bangs thought it one of the best albums ever, something to blow away the cobwebs ever morning although personally my copy would be covered in them through lack of listening to. Though like Revolution #9 (the beatles) did before him, it's not the fact the track is bad its the fact that they had the balls to do it in the first place which gives them the kudos in the end. Right you hum it and I'll play it Lou...EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE

All quiet on the western..avenue...

Things are looking a bit quiet on here since Friday but rest assured I'm simply biding my time. Digesting new albums from Neil Young and Arcade Fire while waiting for the new Kings Of Leon offering.

Also still deciding whether the new MONO versions of Bob Dylans albums is worth the re-buy. I already have them on CD, now there is the MONO versions, then I guess they'll release them again in 5.1 stereo with extra tracks, then release them again in its "original" packaging with the extra songs taken off, then just before he changes label they'll be released MONO version and 5.1 stereo versions together with alt.versions of takes. No wonder nobody cares that the Internet is taking over the industry, the bankers and fat cats have been robbing the punters for years i.e. making you buy something you already own.

stay strong bruvvers and sisters!

great lost tracks...

The weekend is almost upon us and like me I'm sure a lot of people will be heading out for a night of drunken regret and fun and games. Most will end up at someone’s flat/house or back at there's with the partner and friends of their choice and while the drinks are being topped up the cd player/itunes play list will be readied and you'll be faced with the decision of "what do i play"... here are a few lost classics that in the world of spotify will be a few clicks away and will expand your horizons further than Be Here Now for the 1000th time...


1) Strawberry Letter 23 - Shuggie Otis - this is the original version of the brothers Johnson hit (used to great effect in Jackie Brown but I prefer the original)

2) When The Kingdom Comes - Primal Scream - This little played b-side of the Accelerator single is a throw back to the rock and roll strutters of their early tracks, look out for Paul Weller's 12 string guitar solo...zap!

3) Lets Put Our Hearts Together - The Beach Boys - This Brian Wilson track off the 70s LOVE YOU album is a duet between him and his then wife Marilyn, even throughout his insanity, drug in take, not recognising his own children (and offering them drugs) the manson family hanging out at his house and superstardom you can still see the little spark between them is still there, even though not for much longer...Pete and Kate? Kurt and Courtney? Do me a favour...

4) It's Gonna Work Out Fine - Ike and Tina Turner - Forget the dodgy film, forget his drug addiction and liberal use of the back hander as and argument finaliser here is the reason we remember them as a team. Great slippery groovy soul

5) The Rat - The Walkman - As sad as it seems with a band of this much potential, their only good track...but it’s a banger...

6) I'm Glad - Captain Beefheart - Or Bee-Fart as Stephen Fry would say, this slow soul track from the former Don Van Vliet from his Safe As Milk album also featuring Slide Guitar prodigy Ry Cooder.

7) Parachutes - Sean Lennon - Yes,yes would I like this if he wasn't a Lennon? Yes definitely, a great track from the 5 star album Friendly Fire

8) Quarter To Three - Gary U.S.Bonds - A staple of frat rock radio and later the E-Street bands mammoth set, scratchy, cheap sounding, huddled around 1 microphone in a garage somewhere with a honking sax in the background. Or the soundtrack to the best party ever.