Mika – The Boy Who Knew Too Much – 2009 (iTunes Amazon) How do I convince you that you should pick up the new Mika album? Certainly describing it as Freddie Mercury meets Elton John with a dash of George Michael and a less disco-scene Scissor Sisters and a whole Continue Reading
Allen Lulu
The Jay Leno Show.
I’ve said this before: There is as much scripted/acted television now, with FX, TNT, HBO, et al, as there was in the Golden Age of television in the 70s. (actually, more hours now than in the 70s/80s. And a lot of it is just as good or better. Well, much Continue Reading
Reflecting Pool: Violent Femmes – Freak Magnet
The last Violent Femmes record. Violent Femmes – Freak Magnet – 2000 (Amazon) Not Available for digital download. Right off the bat, with “Hollywood is High” and it’s screechy electric guitars, I got the sense that the Femmes were BACK in 2000. I hadn’t been this excited by a Femmes Continue Reading
Reflecting Pool: Violent Femmes – ROCK!!!!!
Considered their worst album!! Only released in Australia!!! It’s the lost Violent Femmes album!!!!! Violent Femmes – ROCK!!!!! – 1995 (Amazon) I have to thank my ol’ pal, John for supplying me with this record. Just about every review of every Violent Femmes album at some point declares that it’s Continue Reading
Reflecting Pool: Violent Femmes – Viva Wisconsin
I don’t normally review live albums in the Reflecting Pool, but since the next album in the Femmes’ oeuvre, Rock!!!! was originally only released in Australia (!!) and is supposed to be horrible, I will pass on it until someone can send me a free copy. Because of that omission, Continue Reading
Reflecting Pool: Violent Femmes – New Times
Violent Femmes – New Times – 1994 (iTunes – Amazon) This is actually the one I’ve been dreading. I was sent this for review when I was writing for Home Theater Technology 17 years ago. I listened to one track, got distracted by something and decided to write about something Continue Reading
Reflecting Pool: Violent Femmes – Why Do Birds Sing?
Gordon Gano’s got girl trouble. Girl trouble up the ass! Violent Femmes – Why Do Birds Sing? – 1991 (Amazon) You know this album isn’t even available on iTunes or Amazon MP3 download. A shame, really, because much of this record, for me, was a real return to the Femmes Continue Reading
Reflecting Pool: Violent Femmes – 3
Stripped down to their basics, can the Femmes find the fire? Violent Femmes – 3 – 1988 (iTunes – Amazon) You know what? I think the Violent Femmes are just exhausted. They cut their teeth busking on the streets of Milwaukee and they were hungry and edgy and young. Look Continue Reading
Reflecting Pool: Violent Femmes – The Blind Leading The Naked
The 3rd Femmes record. Bigger production. Better distribution. So, what happened? Violent Femmes – The Blind Leading the Naked – 1986 (iTunes – Amazon) I really couldn’t wait for this album to come out. I think I got it at Tower THAT day. And then I think I listened to Continue Reading
Reflecting Pool: Violent Femmes – Hallowed Ground
Their debut was a seminal Indie college radio release. How did Violent Femmes follow it up? Violent Femmes – Hallowed Ground – 1984 (iTunes) For my money, Hallowed Ground is Violent Femmes best work. It is one of the darkest albums (Country Death Song, a powerfully crafted masterstroke of familial Continue Reading