Petra Haden, of That Dog and the Rentals, has joined the Decemberists. Also, John Moen replaces drummer Rachel Blumberg.
The Cure – Three Imaginary Boys
The Cure – Three Imaginary Boys [Deluxe Edition] (Rhino)
It’s hard to remember that the Cure has been around since the 70s. Had they split up after 1989’s Disintegration, they’d be hailed as the most important alternative band of the 80s. The Cure’s influence on 90s alt-rock makes even the Pixies seem like, well, a band that never influenced anybody. But before the Cure found their calling as pioneers of synth-heavy mope rock with long, noodley intros, they were a quirky pop-punk band. A three-piece even! That incarnation of the band did not last very long one album and a handful of singles are all we’ve got from that era.
Three Imaginary Boys was never officially released here in the States; we instead got Boys Don’t Cry, a classic collection of the early singles combined with the best album tracks. If you’re only familiar with Boy Don’t Cry and have never heard the original, you might be disappointed by the handful of original songs that didn’t make the cut—″Another Day,” “Meathook,” and “It’s Not You” are far inferior to the a-sides that replaced them: “Boys Don’t Cry,” “Jumping Someone Else’s Train,” and “Killing an Arab.” Three Imaginary Boys‘ Hendrix cover, “Foxy Lady,” sung by bassist Michael Dempsey, is a goofy mess, and the original hidden instrumental, now titled “The Weedy Burton,” is a throwaway lounge trifle. (The best non-Cry song, “Object,” was actually a bonus track on the cassette but was left off the 1990 cd reissue.)
The second disc in this new Deluxe Edition annoyingly places barely listenable live tracks and forgettable demo versions alongside classic singles and decent outtakes. What’s really frustrating about Disc 2 is what it doesn’t include. Where’s “Killing an Arab”? Where’s “Plastic Passion”? At least the latter was included on the Join the Dots box set, but the exclusion of “Killing an Arab” is utterly inexcusable. It was their first single! And it’s about Camus’ The Stranger, for crying out loud, so only a complete barbarian would perceive any racist sentiment in it. Other period b-sides would be preferable to the mediocre-audio demos, but I can respect that you wouldn’t want to penalize fans who shelled out the dough for Join the Dots. But why not gather the fantastic Peel Sessions?
Oh well, you can’t get everything you want, and the quality of the first disc more than makes up for the gripes about the second disc. The remastering sounds excellent, and the songs are really great! Sure, a lot of the guitars sound cheap and tinny. They were. This is the sound of a young band trying to figure out what they want to be. And they never sounded better.
Madvillain – Figaro (Stones Throw 101 Remix)
“Figaro (Stones Throw 101 Remix)” by Madvillain. Produced by Madlib, from the Stones Throw 101 Mix CD/DVD. Via.
A Simple Twist of Fate: The Saga of Roger Salloom
In the 1960s, singer-songwriter Roger Salloom hung out in San Francisco with the likes of Janis Joplin and the Grateful Dead. His band opened for rising stars like Santana, Procol Harum and Van Morrison. He was on the same label as Creedence Clearwater Revival, and label honchos told him they thought he was going to be the household name.
It didn’t happen. Creedence took off instead. Santana grew huge. Salloom’s band released a critically acclaimed record, Salloom, Sinclair and The Mother Bear, that was named by the Chicago Tribune the Top Album of 1968. But through a quirk of fate, timing, the market, his character, or a combination of all four, Salloom’s career never took off.
Continue reading A Simple Twist of Fate: The Saga of Roger Salloom
The OC: Silk Purses and Lovesick Blues
You knew Marissa would be booking passage back to Drunkskankistan the second she and her lawn guy boy toy caught Jimmy Cooper giving Julie a thorough oral exam. Yes, in what might have been this season’s most cohesive “OC”, Jimmy Cooper announced his departure, the Fawn climbed back inside the bottle (Julie, with an awkward eye at DJ: “Let me guess, Tequila” – snap!), Seth and Chino switched identities, the Firecracker made out with her “nephew” while lunching with her “sister”, and Summer dressed up like Hand Sown Home Grown-era Linda Ronstadt. Awkward walk-ins, angry walk-offs, shocking confrontations, and puke on Modest Mouse’s merch table – it could have been a storyline on “The Valley”.
The Case Against Michael Jackson
The Case Against Michael Jackson – An authoritative, behind-the-scenes account of the prosecution’s case based on a review of confidential law enforcement and government reports, grand jury testimony, and sealed court records provided by sources.
Jennifer Gentle – I Do Dream You
“I Do Dream You” by Jennifer Gentle, from Valende, on Subpop. Nice garage pop from Italy!
Benchley: Among the Horses
The Letters of Gary Benchley, Rock Star: Among the Horses – Our hero leaves the rock of the city to camp among the hippies of Vermont and discover where “whoa” comes from.
2004 Best Music Scribing
2004 Best Music Scribing Awards by Jason Gross of Perfect Sound Forever.
Salon: Payola is dead!
Salon: Payola is dead! Now what we will listen to? “The bizarre, sleazy system of independent radio promotion may finally have bitten the dust. But believe it or not, pop radio may get even worse.”