A musical round up - Part Two

It's time for part two of my round up of some of the things that I have been listening to over the past months, and those records that are trying to break into my yearly top 10.

The Lemonheads - The Lemonheads

Evan Dando is back doing what he does best - pleasing power pop - and back doing it under the name of The Lemonheads. This album is liking meeting a old friend who you have not seen for a while, and thankfully, you still like them. I would stop short of calling this classic, but when this record is good it is very good - Become the Enemy is pound for pound as good as anything dando has written; No Backbone; In Passing; Black Gown and many more hit the spot nicely. A welcome return.

Union of Knives - Violence and Birdsong

One of the true surprises of 2006, this Glasgow band are well worth checking out. Described by NME as "Quivering Big Rock songs being circled by tribal electro-drums with guitars of solid glacier" there is a lot going on. Operated On is full of industrial drum beats and is one of the tracks of the year. Other highlights include: Evil has Never; Taste for Harmony; and Go Back to School. Recommended

Basement Jaxx - Crazy Itch Radio

Felix Buxton and Simon Ratcliffe have produced some of the more interesting and inventive modern dance music of recent years, and it is pleasing to see this continue on this album - just check the disco joy of Hush Boy for example. At times the need to do everything can make things hard going - Run 4 Cover featuring the talents of MIA and Lady Sovereign has a Jamaican dance-hall beat that grates. But move past here and take in Smoke Bubbles and On the Train. Actually on tracks such as these this album reminds me of Bran Van 3000.

Christina Aquilera - Back to Basics

God this album (or two albums) goes on a long time. Is it bad? No, it just isn't that great either. I am of the opinion that Aint no other Man is one of the finest singles of this year. Sadly nothing else here gets anywhere near this joy of this track. A few other tunes - Candyman; Still Dirrty; Back in the Day; and the album's second best track, Save me from Myself are all enjoyable enough (and in the last of these CA shows vocal restraint).

Meatloaf

I promised a review of the new album so here it is. First off, I have to say that I was surprised to find myself enjoying this record more than I expected. It is - in my mind at least - better than Bat Part II.

Having said that, the pseudo new metal opening of Monster's Loose is rather ropey (with Meat sounding a bit crap), and that's before we get near anything like In the land of the pig ... which is frankly just fucking dreadful.

So what do I like? Well, some of the cheesy badness works very well with me, so I have found myself won over by the likes of Blind as a Bat (the title alone is just so bloody stupid, it is impossible not to love it), What about the Love, and Bad for Good (with Brian May noodling away on guitar) . Cry to Me, If God could talk, and The future ain't what it used to be are also passable in a naff kind of way.

What about It's all coming back to me now you say? Dig out the Pandora's Box version and hear how this song should sound in full over the top manner - again complete with Todd arranged vocals.

Overall, the problem is this record just goes on and on and on. It is far far too long. So by the end boredom has pretty much set in. Still my good will means that I would give this outing ***/*****

Meatloaf

I promised a review of the new album so here it is. First off, I have to say that I was surprised to find myself enjoying this record more than I expected. It is - in my mind at least - better than Bat Part II.

Having said that, the pseudo new metal opening of Monster's Loose is rather ropey (with Meat sounding a bit crap), and that's before we get near anything like In the land of the pig ... which is frankly just fucking dreadful.

So what do I like? Well, some of the cheesy badness works very well with me, so I have found myself won over by the likes of Blind as a Bat (the title alone is just so bloody stupid, it is impossible not to love it), What about the Love, and Bad for Good (with Brian May noodling away on guitar) . Cry to Me, If God could talk, and The future ain't what it used to be are also passable in a naff kind of way.

What about It's all coming back to me now you say? Dig out the Pandora's Box version and hear how this song should sound in full over the top manner - again complete with Todd arranged vocals.

Overall, the problem is this record just goes on and on and on. It is far far too long. So by the end boredom has pretty much set in. Still my good will means that I would give this outing ***/*****

Ocasek on New Cars

Two interviews with Ric Ocasek touch on his feelings about the New Cars. In a interview with AV Club he says on the question of - Any lingering hard feelings over the Rundgren affair? "I don't know, you know? Why make trouble? That will stand or fall on its own. People can decide for themselves". While over at the Rocky Mountain News when asked - Approve of the New Cars? Disapprove?, says "It's somewhere in the middle." But honestly, wouldn't you have liked to tour? "I have this reputation for not liking to tour, and I can't say I do love it. I certainly didn't want to do a reunion tour. There were different factors why I didn't want to do that. I don't feel like I need to be revived. I've got things to do."

Dresden Dolls at The Roundhouse, 4th November

Fuck the rock and roll circus, this is the punk cabaret ... is how the Dresden Dolls were selling their two night stint at the Roundhouse in Camden. And, they were not kidding. Doors opened at 7pm and the entertainment started immediately.

From the moment you walked in the door and up the stairs to the main hall, bubbles were falling down on you - being blown from people on stilts at the top of the stairs, women were dressed as harlots, men looking like outcasts from Moulin Rouge and music coming at you from the main hall - a guy on the accordion as I arrived at 7.25. I must add that many of the audience had also dressed up for the show too, and very fine many of them looked too.

Yes, when the Dolls hit town they do so with a cast of thousands (well, about 30 anyway) including weird musical turns, comedians, and performance artists. The shows in london were lead by their mistress of ceremonies, Margaret Cho.

The lay out of the venue suited the performance with a main stage and then a couple of mini stages to the right and left, which fitted in well in the circular hall. Among those performing were actually a couple of people I knew, comedian Reggie Watts and Edward Ka-Spel and The Silverman of the not that well known by many, adored by others (including Amanda) The Legendary Pink Dots (Syd Barret meets Leonard Cohen with mid 70's electronica). Very entertaining.

By 9.30 we were ready for the main course and the Amanda and Brian took the stage. How were they? Pretty bloody good. From the opening notes of Sex Changes right through to the end of the set at 11.20, they kicked arse.

Highlights included: Backstabber, Coin-operated Boy, Jeep Song, Delilah, Shores of California and Sing. They had Edward Ka-Spel, Lena Lovich, and some of the performance artists helping out at various points in the show adding to the sense of fun. The show was being filmed for a DVD, which will have to be purchased.

Essentially if you have yet to introduce yourself to Amanda and Brian, now is the time.