Listen To Bob Dylan a Tribute Drive-Thru Records 2005

Disc one
1."Don't Think Twice (It's Alright)" performed by Steel Train
2."Like a Rolling Stone" performed by Anberlin
3."Mr. Tambourine Man" performed by Roark
4."Tonight I'll Be Staying Here with You" performed by Socratic
5."Blowin' in the Wind" performed by House of Fools
6."Girl of the North Country" performed by As Tall as Lions
7."The Man in Me" performed by Jenoah
8."I Believe in You" performed by Cerys Matthews
9."Simple Twist of Fate" performed by The Format
10."A Hard Rain's A-Gonna Fall" performed by Jason Mraz

Disc two
1. "Rainy Day Women #12 & 35" performed by Rock n Roll Soldiers
2. "It Ain't Me Babe" performed by David Melillo
3. "Positively 4th Street" performed by I Can Make a Mess Like Nobody's Business
4. "Just like a Woman" performed by Something Corporate
5. "She Belongs to Me" performed by Kisschasy
6. "To Ramona" performed by Days Away
7."Boots of Spanish Leather" performed by Julia Haltigan
8."I Want You" performed by James Blunt
9."I Shall Be Released" performed by Steel Train
10."The Times They Are A-Changin'" performed by The Stay at Home Joneses
11."The Lonesome Death of Hattie Carroll" performed by Rx Bandits

This is not you average tribute album. This is a clean cut case of how music can be interpreted differently and still take your breath away, remember we are talking about Bob Dylan. On this album, mostly young upstarts give us Bob's music in a new way. Stefanie Reines of Drive-Thur Records put this Tribute together with the intention of showing how Dylan still opens people's eyes even today. She puts a Quote in the liner notes, " It's not that Bob Dylan's music changed my life, it's that his music changed how I look at my life." Some of these songs have a Pop like glossy finish, or Indie like style. This is not wrong in any way. It's what makes this tribute sound more like a real tribute then just people trying to be Bob Dylan.
Highlights on the first disc of this double album are laid back and pleasing to the ears. Steel Train "Don't think twice (it's all right)," starts us off and running. Anberlin with "Like a Rolling Stone," makes one want to look into this bands catalog to see if they are always this good. Next is a uplifting "Mr. Tambourine Man" by Roark. Socratic can stay here any time with there playful harmonies. Might have picked a different song for House of Fools, "Blowin in the Wind" needed something more. Coming in on number six is As Tall As Lions, they make the north country very inviting. Then Jenoah does "Man in Me" bringing out something in anyone listening. Cerys Matthews in the first girl on this collection and belts out the lyrics to "I Believe in You." Then a soft and stunning "Simple Twist of Fate" by The Format. And coming in at the rear Jason Mraz with "Hard Rain's A-Gonna Fall." Marz really channels Dylan on this track.
Then when you thought it was all over, there is a second disk. Great to see that lots of the younger singer songwriters are up to playing Dylan. Rock 'n' Roll Soldiers have a lot of fun hooting' and hollering on "Rainy Day women #12 & 35." Then on "It Ain't Me Babe," Dave Melillo puts out a nice effort. If there is a bad cover of "Positively 4Th Street" I have not heard it. It's such a great song done justice again by I Can Make a Mess Like Nobody's Business. (winner of longest band name) The piano on this "Just Like a Woman" is a nice touch, most songs on this tribute are guitar songs. Something Corporate also seems to find the inner Dylan. Kisschasy has a slight ascent that makes "She Belongs to Me" different but most enjoyable. Days Away seem like they are in a far off place with "To Ramona." Then a song that does go somewhere, "Boot of Spanish Leather." This is the second girl in this group, and be glad Julia Haltigan was included because her voice is so sweet. To bad it is followed by a lack luster "I Want You," by James Blunt. Steel Train chimes in again with "I Shall Be Released," they have to be good live. The Stay at Home Joneses sings a "Times Are A-Changin'" that seems like a bar sing along. At last we come to the end with "The Lonesome Death of Hattie Carroll." The Rx Bandits putter and roll on to a jazzy end to this tribute of the great Bob Dylan.

Best Song: Boots of Spanish Leather - Julia Haltigan
Worst Song: I Want You - James Blunt
Weired Stand Out: The Lonesome Death of Hattie Carroll - Rx Bandits

P.S. The layout of these two discs is almost flawless, almost a non skip album. One of the rare tributes that you can share with others.

Rock and Roll Alert- Les Paul Jazz-Guitar Virtuoso and Inventor, Dies at 94

Thursday, August 13, 2009; 12:45 PM
Les Paul, 94, a Grammy Award-winning guitar virtuoso and inventor who helped bring his instrument, typically assigned to chug along rhythmically and compliantly, to the forefront of jazz performance, died today at a hospital in White Plains, N.Y. He had pneumonia.
Thank you Les for everything....

No Depression - What it sounds like vol.1 Dualtone Music Group 2004

1.The Time of the Preacher -Johnny Cash 3:42
2.Is Heaven Good Enough for You -Allison Moorer 4:44
3.Faithless Street -Whiskeytown 3:55
4.Five Hearts Breaking -Alejandro Escovedo 4:11
5.Cowboy Peyton Place -Doug Sahm 4:44
6.Does My Ring Burn Your Finger -Buddy Miller 3:15
7.Parallel Bars -Robbie Fulks, Kelly Willis 3:07
8.Thrice All American -Neko Case 3:14
9.Down to the Well -Kevin Gordon ... 4:09
Performed by:Kevin Gordon, Lucinda Williams
10.Dam -Kasey Chambers 5:32
11.Farther Along -Hayseed, Emmylou Harris 4:59
12.How I Love Them Old Songs -Hole Dozen 5:41
13.No Depression in Heaven -Carter Family 2:53

The question is... What is Alternative-Country? Is this a younger cousin of Country Music or just Rock with a back-woods sound. No Depression is a magazine that dives into this debate. Keeping an opened mind and looking into the blending of genres "whatever that is." Started in 1995, No Depression has come up with many examples of Alt-country and in 2004 gave us a taste of "what it sounds like" For starters is a great collaboration on a Willie Nelson song with Johnny Cash and some players of grunges big bands. (Thayil-Soundgarden, Novoselic-Nirvana, Kinney-Alice in Chains) The hard guitar Matches the with the powerful lyrics. Next Allison Moorer sings a pretty song written for her mother and recorded with her sister Shelby Lynne. Then you hear a hint of Gram Parsons in Whiskeytown's "Faithless Street." Putting new next to old school with Escovedo and Sahm as tracks 4 and 5 sounds great. Lots of people cover Buddy Miller but can not duplicate his lean and twang. This collections first duet "Parallel Bars" makes one picture dive bars and pool tables. Strange next to see Neko Case in here but it shows that when they say "Whatever" they mean it. Gordon could not go wrong with Lucinda Williams as a partner on there duet. Country is very American but Ms. Chambers shows that Australians can be a little bit Country too. Now its time to step into the past with the next three songs. Starting with Hayseed doing an old standard with the beautiful Emmylou. Then a song written by the often forgotten Mickey Newbury, and recorded live as a tribute with gang of musicians. And to lead us off into the night the Carter family. This disc does everything but depress. Put together by people that want to show you what Alt-country is, but not tell you what it could be.

Best Song: Time of the Preacher - Johnny Cash

Worst Song: Five Hearts Breaking - Alejandro Escovedo

Weired Stand Out: Thrice All American - Neko Case and her Boyfriends

P.S. This CD was lots of fun and I liked Escovedo, but I have to pick one out of the rest for worst song. Sometimes its a hard task.

Good Rockin' Tonight Sun Records 2001

1.Paul McCartney: That’s All Right
2.Jeff Beck & Chrissie Hynde: Mystery Train
3.Jimmy Page & Robert Plant: My Bucket’s Got a Hole In It
4.Johnny Hallyday: Blue Suede Shoes
5.Elton John: Whole Lotta Shakin’ Going On
6.Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers: Blue Moon of Kentucky
7.Van Morrison & Carl Perkins: Sittin’ on Top of the World
8.Bryan Ferry: Don’t Be Cruel
9.Bob Dylan: Red Cadillac and a Black Moustache
10.Eric Clapton and the Impressions: Just Walkin’ in the Rain
11.Matchbox Twenty: Lonely Weekend
12.Sheryl Crow: Who Will the Next Fool Be?
13.Chris Isaak: It Wouldn’t Be the Same Without You
14.LIVE: I Walk the Line
15.Howling Diablos and Kid Rock: Drinkin’ Wine Spo-Dee-O-Dee
16.Mandy Barnett and the Jordanaires: You Win Again

Everyone that loves Rock understands the link to Country Music. Sun Records was one of the early labels that helped bridge the gap and became the birthplace of rock'n'roll. This tribute is star studded and why not? All the musicians have a deep respect for the founding fathers that laid the ground work. Unlike some other tributes this one done for Public Televisions American Masters is fun, loose, and rolls on with very little bumps in the road. Everything is all right when Paul McCartney says so. Jeff Becks recording with Chrissie Hynde makes one hopeful that there are more tracks together somewhere. Plant is so into the nostalgia that you can hardly pick-up his English accent. Elton John has been playing "Whole Lotta Shakin Going On" since the 70's. Using it as the encore on the live two disk First Visit 1971. Could you make a tribute of any music from the south without Tom Petty? "Sittin' On Top of the World" a great song with two great performers Morrison and Perkins. Next Bryan Ferry sounds toned down, solid and crisp on "Don't Be Cruel." Dylan and Clapton both do love songs. Then Matchbot Twenty sounds like an alt-country band with "Lonely Weekend." Sheryl Crow always impresses when doing covers. Live hardens "Walk the Line," and Kid Rock gives a hip-hop feel to "Drinkin Wine." These where the only two to put a modern spin on the classic songs. Everyone wins with this CD, the listener, Sun Records, and of course Public Television.

Best Song: Mystery Train-Jeff Beck & Chrissie Hynde
Worst Song: Walk The Line-Live
Weired Stand Out: Lonely Weekend-Matchbot Twenty

Rock and Roll Alert - Neil Young Box Set

Love Neil Young? Did you go to record stores looking for this holy grail box set he put together of his first 10 years. Well dear Rock and Rollers I have found it for you. Yes, Yes thanks are in order....quite right. The best thing is that when you buy it your money goes to Public Television. We all love PBS, and more of us should do our online shopping at http://www.shoppbs.org/. They have many, many live music DVDs and some hard to find special editions and out of print Cds. The one asked for the most at the record store I am employed at is the Black & White Night with Roy Orbison. Filmed right before he died with a cast of characters as a PBS music event its sadly out of print. But you can pick it up from the source. The Neal Young Archives Vol. 1:1963-1972 8pk of Cds starts with his Winnwpeg band the Squires, heavily influenced by early rock that of Sun Records, through to his breakthrough solo album Harvest. This can all be yours for $99.98 With free shipping with over a $60 dollar purchase. This has been a Rock and Roll Alert.

Almost Famous Ost Dreamworks 2000

Almost Famous Original Soundtrack

Simon & Garfunkel: "America" (Paul Simon) – 3:37
The Who: "Sparks" (Pete Townshend) – 3:48
Todd Rundgren: "It Wouldn't Have Made Any Difference" (Rundgren)– 3:51
Yes: "I've Seen All Good People: Your Move" (Jon Anderson) – 3:33
The Beach Boys: "Feel Flows" (Carl Wilson, Jack Rieley)– 4:44
Stillwater: "Fever Dog" (Nancy Wilson) – 3:10
Rod Stewart: "Every Picture Tells a Story" (Rod Stewart, Ron Wood) – 5:55
The Seeds: "Mr. Farmer" (Sky Saxon) – 2:51
The Allman Brothers Band: "One Way Out" (Live) (Elmore James, Marshall Sehorn, Sonny Boy Williamson II) – 4:59
Lynyrd Skynyrd: "Simple Man" (Gary Rossington, Ronnie Van Zant) – 5:56
Led Zeppelin: "That's the Way" (Jimmy Page, Robert Plant) – 5:37
Elton John: "Tiny Dancer" (John, Bernie Taupin) – 6:15
Nancy Wilson: "Lucky Trumble" (Nancy Wilson) – 2:42
David Bowie: "I'm Waiting for the Man" (Live from Live In Santa Monica '72) (Lou Reed) – 5:43
Cat Stevens: "The Wind" (Stevens) – 1:40
Clarence Carter: "Slip Away" (William Armstrong, Marcus Lewis Daniel, Wilbur Terrell) – 2:32
Thunderclap Newman: "Something in the Air" (John Keen) – 3:54

We all loved watching the story of a young rock writer, what about listening to it? "America" an American song for a home grown story. This is one of every ones favorites from Simon & Garfunkel, go ahead sing along. Quiet Who instrumental "Sparks" goes well with light mood. "It Wouldn't Have Made Any Difference" if this Rundgren song was left out of the soundtrack. Then it would go from the Who To Yes, small names for big bands. The old Dreamworks label through in one of the trippiest Beach Boys songs, "Feel Flows," even the name is Trippy. Then the fake band from the movie makes an appearance. Rod Stewart wrote "Every Picture Tells a Story" With Ron Wood, a very successful calibration. Wonder what kind of seeds "Mr.Farmer" was planting in 1966 when it was written. Now for the southern rock portion of the evening, we get both the Allman Brothers Band and Lynyrd Skynyrd. The Allmans playing the Elmore James cover they mad popular with rock audiences in the 70's. Another soft sounding song from a heavy band with "That's The Way" from Led Zeppelin. "Tiny Dancer" a singalong the movie always makes you feel like your on the road to another show. Cant go wrong with live Bowie...especially when covering Lou Reed. Then short but sweet Cat Stevens with "The Wind" The soulful Clarence Carter helps us "slip away" back to a better time when radio was king. But even then people knew that something was in the air, something that just kept slipping. How much fun it must have been to not only live the rock n roll dream but also to write about it.


Best Song:Tiny Dancer -Elton John
Worst Song: It Wouldn't Have Made Any Difference-Todd Rundgren
Weird Stand Out:Mr.Farmer-The Seeds

Love Sucks 2006 Rhino

Tracks:

1. 1. Love stinks-J Geils Band


2. I hate myself for loving you-Joan Jett & the Blackhearts


3. Everything about you-Ugly Kid Joe


4. Ever fallen in love(with someone you shouldn't've?)-Buzzcocks


5. Love will tear us apart-Joy Division


6. Pictures of you-Cure


7. Answering machine-Replacements


8. You're no good-Linda Ronstadt


9. I'm not in love-10cc


10. Love hurts-Gram Parsons


11. Who loves the sun-Velvet Underground


12. Glad to see you go-Ramones

Love sucks as a compilation rolls on and on one great song after another, all linked together by love. The bad part of love, the tough and unfair love....J. Geils thinks it sucks, Joan Jett hates herself for it. You get the feeling you should stay away from love. Why let it tear you apart? Why fall for the wrong person and end up hating everything about them? At least the Cure makes it sound like love is special and devastating. Then with the Replacements you can here the heart break in his voice. The switch from "Answering machine" to "You're no good" is a little ruff, maybe bring the Cure down to make a better mix. Can't talk about how hard love is without Gram Parsons. "Love hurts" sounds so calm and understanding, just what you need after love is gone. The Velvet underground at least sound upbeat about heartbreak, who cares about everyday things when in and out of love. And to send us off the Ramones are "Glad to see us go." This compilation hits it target right where it hurts, the heart.

Best song: Love hurts- Gram Parsons
Worst song: I'm not in love- 10cc
Weird standout: Answering machine- Replacements

PS. I have to say that the liner notes are hilarious. Written by Cory Frye,the northwest feature writer/columnist for Rhino, funny funny guy. First he badmouths the Beatles and there concept of every kind of love. Then goes on to pick love apart. You can see a real generation gap when it comes to thoughts on love. The way he writes you get the feeling he does not get that the only reason love sucks so much is because it is so good...while its good. Is it worth all the disappointment? Hell yeah it is!! Over and over and over loves brings you up to let you down, but the highs out weigh the lows most of the time. So maybe the Beatles where High on loves peaks, not just drugs. SQ