Author: Andy Labis

New Beginning

Artist: Sisters With Voices
Listenability Scale: 50%
Released by: CMC International Records
A Review by:
– The Dude on the Right

In the rhythm and blues world, Sisters With Voices, aka SWV, were big. Very talented on the singing side, soulful on the lyric side, but my only complaint is that every song on this CD pretty much sounded the same. I will admit that R&B isn’t my forte, so I’m sorry if I can’t appreciate the different nuances in the music, but nothing stood out on this CD for me, I guess mostly because none of the songs strayed from the standard “I’m getting down with my woman and need some romantic background music” motif. R&B fans might like it, I didn’t, so I’ll split my opinion down the middle and give “New Beginning” a 50% on the Entertainment Ave! listenability scale.

That’s it for this quick review! I’m The Dude on the Right!! L8R!!!

7 Deadly Zens

Artist: Tommy Shaw
Listenability Scale: 75%
Released by: CMC International Records
A Review by:
– The Dude on the Right

Yes, that’s Tommy Shaw, the dude from Styx, and if you’re a Styx fan, you couldn’t do wrong getting this CD. “Ocean,” the opening track, is a strong rocker, but he does show a more sensitive side on a song like “A Place to Call My Own.” I was pleasantly surprised playing this CD, as it’s one of those I hadn’t paid attention to before. It’s got some solid rocking songs, some slower songs, and some guests like Ted Nugent, Jack Blades, and Kevin Cronin. It’s got more of a Damn Yankees feel rather than a Styx feel, but if you’re a fan of either this one’s not bad.

For me, it’s about a 75% on the Entertainment Ave! listenability scale. This one is on my list of CD’s to add to my computer jukebox, at least most of the tracks.

That’s it for this quick review! I’m The Dude on the Right!! L8R!!!

Face the Promise

Artist: Bob Seger
Listenability Scale: 83%
Released by: Capitol Records
A Review by:
– The Dude on the Right

It was over ten years ago when I attended my first Bob Seger concert. At that time he was supporting his "It’s a Mystery" album, and for the concert I was happy to see that Bob, at age 51, was back from "finding himself" for that album and tour. Back in 1996, for that album and tour, he took about four or five years to find himself, record, and tour again. Little did I know that it would take him another ten years to do the same? But he came out with a new CD recently called "Face the Promise," and I won’t say I want him to take another ten years to find himself, but it is still good to see the he hasn’t strayed away from his Midwest sounding rock and roll roots. And that means guitars, hard driving rock and roll, and sometimes some country twang in there for good measure.

In the terms of hard driving, guitar drivin’ music, "Wreck This Heart" opening the CD will bring you right back into that mode, reminiscent to me of both Bruce Springsteen and the Michael Stanley Band, both influential for me in my young roots growing up outside of Cleveland, Ohio in the late seventies and eighties. Things slow down a bit for "Wait For Me," the first single, which actually reminded me of some of the songs off of Warren Zevon’s "The Wind," but then "Face the Promise" kicks back into that railroad driving style of rock. "No Matter Who You Are" continues pounding out messages Seger has been singing about for years, and as wrong as it might sound for a Bob Seger CD, the strings in "No More" are perfect for the tone of the song.

As the CD progresses on, there’s the drowning, country tinged "Won’t Stop," Patty Loveless has a great duet with Seger on "The Answer’s in the Question," and even though "The Long Goodbye" isn’t a great "dancin’ with your honey song," it’s still got that rock and roll tone yet being a ballad.

Yes, I missed one main song, but I thought I would leave it for last, because this song really doesn’t have a chance to tear up any rock charts, and for the most part, I can’t see any of the songs on the CD tearing up those charts because today’s rock and roll stations aren’t the rock and roll I remember anymore, and those playing Bob Seger tunes don’t usually seem interested in heavily promoting new songs (sadly, because they are as good a lot of times as the classic songs they are playing). The song, though, with the most potential for Mr. Seger is the kick-ass, Vince Gill penned "Real Mean Bottle," for which Bob enlists the help of Kid Rock for a duet. Drop it on the country airwaves in heavy rotation because I have a decent feeling a lot of country music fans are, or can be, fans of Bob Seger, and this song fits right up that alley.

As I’ve written a lot of times, and probably will every time I right one, CD reviews are not my thing, because you either like the music or you don’t, and I can’t convince you otherwise. If you like the sound of rock and roll, sometimes mixed with some country, "Face the Promise" will probably fit right in your alley. There are 12 songs on this CD of which I know 10 will end up on my iPod, so that gives "Face the Promise" an 83% on the Entertainment Ave! listenability scale. And even at 61, I hope Bob Seger tours again because there is nothing like seeing "Turn the Page" live, and I could only hope Mr. Rock makes the trip to Chicago to do "Real Mean Bottle" as a guest of Mr. Seger, and if a publicist sees this, I would love to be able to be there to take the photos.

That’s it for this one! I’m The Dude on the Right!! L8R!!!

A Go Go

Artist: John Scofield
Listenability Scale: 65%
Released by: The Verve Music Group
A Review by:
– The Dude on the Right

John Scofield is a jazz guitarist and for this CD you pretty much get lots of songs that are musicians just jammin’ away mostly highlighting the variations John puts out, but also spotlighting the keyboard jammin’ talents of John Medeski. If you’ve read some of my previous reviews, you know I appreciate jazz talents but don’t spend the time to analyze the nuances and specifics of a jazz records, and because of that, pretty much I lump this CD into the “if you are a fan of jazz guitar, you might want to give this a listen” group. For me, lots of things sounded the same from song to song, but the keyboard transitions did mix it up. This one’s a nice background music CD for me, but I’m not going out of my way to play it. I’ll give it a 65% on the Entertainment Ave! listenability scale.

That’s it for this quick review! I’m The Dude on the Right!! L8R!!!

Did You Get a Flu Shot Yet?

Over the weekend I got myself a flu shot. I won’t get started about how messed up the health industry is when the lady said that in order to submit getting the shot to my insurance that it was $50, but if we paid upfront it was only $20, so I’ll just get to the actual getting of the shot itself. For years, well, for 43 years, I had never gotten a flu shot. I guess I tend to go on the theory of trying not to keep my hands near my face, washing my hands a lot, and is it really good to put a dead virus inside my body on purpose, but last year during a routine visit to my doctor, she recommended getting the shot, that the flu was going to be bad, and that protection wasn’t a bad idea. Of course last year when I got the shot it turned out to be a pretty lame flu season, and they said the shot didn’t do much good anyway. Alas, this year they say the flu season sucks and that the shot actually works in keeping it at bay, so there I was, rolling up my sleeve and not passing out.

I’ll still be trying to wash my hands a lot, keep my hands aways from my face, and cross my fingers that the flu stays away, but in any case I plight: Did you get a flu shot yet?

That’s it for this plight! I’m The Dude on the Right!!  L8R!!!

Do You Flash Your Lights to Signal Cars About a Speed Trap?

Where I live I have grown accustomed to the usual locations the police will use to set up a speed trap. I’m not that much of a lead-foot to begin with, in fact, on a trip years ago with a bunch of friends of mine, whenever a car would pass us up one of them would undoubtedly says something like “Grandma Moses just passed us up!” Today, though, while driving down the road, a car was coming at me flashing his lights. I suppose it was a nice reminder about a police officer parked up ahead in one of the normal speed-traps, but for me it was unnecessary and actually mostly annoying because the car in front of me decided that sure, he needed to slow down, but instead of going the prescribed 40 miles per hour he felt it necessary to drop down to 30, I suppose just in case the officer was looking to pull over someone for going the speed limit.

I know there were stories years ago about how flashing your lights could get you attacked by bad people, or that you can get pulled over by the police for flashing your lights (I guess this varies by state), but most people probably find it harmless, except for me who gets annoyed by the cars that now go slower than the posted speed limit. I have a time or two flashed my headlights at someone driving at night without their lights on, but I can say that’ I’ve never done it to signal a speed trap. As such I plight: Do you flash your lights to signal cars about a speed trap?

That’s it for this plight! I’m The Dude on the Right!!  L8R!!!

They’re All Gonna Laugh at You

Artist: Adam Sandler
Listenability Scale: 115%
Released by: Warner Bros. Records
A Review by:
– The Dude on the Right

It was around Thanksgiving, and the radio stations were playing “The Thanksgiving Song” from Adam Sandler’s “They’re All Gonna Laugh at You.” Alright, so the holiday is over, so I guess the timeliness of this review is over, but actually, the song I really liked hearing was “Lunchlady Land.” We’ll get to that soon enough.

As I’m listening I am really beginning to realize that Adam Sandler is one sick individual. Cool. Just looking at the 22 tracks on the CD and I think you can come up with that opinion for yourself. Let’s see, there’s tracks like “The Longest Pee,” “The Beating of a High School Janitor/Bus Driver/Science Teacher/Spanish Teacher,” “I’m So Wasted,” and “Teenage Love On The Phone.” All little comedy bits, sometimes pushing the limits on decency, Adam and all-star comical cast (the list ranges from Rob Schneider to David Spade to Tim Meadows to Conan O’Brien) recreate scenes hopefully not straight out of anyone’s home or school. But as sick as some of the skits get, they can sometimes be testimonials to the challenges and translations of one form of language to another, especially in listening to any of the Buffoon skits. Then of course, I hope your head is screwed on straight or you might be doing tailspins by the end of “Buddy” (I haven’t heard that much stereo separation since Queen or Pink Floyd).

But as much as Adam Sandler is about skits, he is as much about music and it can be funny, sick, happy, or sad, and Adam has a way of putting it all together. Let’s first take a look at “Food Innuendo Guy.” Here’s a nice rocker to the images drawn by melons, cucumbers, celery sticks, and different places they can end up. If you can’t figure this out, well, you either fit in the “parental advisory-explicit lyrics” category or have been sheltered all of your natural born life and since now that you have found the internet you are discovering an entirely new world. Listening on we get to “The Thanksgiving Song,” a tribute to the holiday in all of its forms. Adam keeps with rhyming through the entire song by eating turkey in a brown show, with Betty Grable, and Jimmy Walker saying “Dynomite.” It’s a simple little ditty with catchy little lines and is starting to become a holiday favorite.

And then there is “At A Medium Pace.” Here’s a gentle love song to woo any lady. Oh yea, put this one on as you’re making your moves on the couch and she is sure to be yours. Let’s just say that I think the use of the shampoo bottle may be just a tad much for your lady, but hey, you never know, she might just get into that. Let’s just say this keeps along with that “parental advisory” label.

Cruising to track 18 and I get to one of my favorite Adam Sandler songs, “Lunchlady Land.” Stirring images of every scary lady most of us have had the unfortunate chance to meet while standing in line for food at the cafeteria. Now, I know there are some nice Lunchladies out there, but I do think many of us have hit one of these ladies, perfectly described, by Adam Sandler, much less the food menu as so described. The song/story describes the rebellion by the lunch-time food against the lady, but how Sloppy Joe saves the day. The song is cute, and will have you singing “Sloppy Joe, slop, sloppy joe” all day long.

Finally, in the music category, there’s “My Little Chicken.” Let’s just say that I think there are pictures showing the love described here floating around the newsgroups somewhere.

All in all, Adam Sandler probably didn’t make too many fans of parents or lunchladies on this CD. But so what, some things need to be said and Mr. Sandler tries to find a way, any way, to say it.

Hmmmm? How to rate this CD. Song wise I hit the 80% mark on the listenability scale, and comic wise I hit a 53% for the skits (on a CD I think songs work a little better than skits – save those for the live shows). All in all, averaging it out, it’s a 60% on the listenability scale.

That’s it for this one, I’m The Dude on the Right! L8R!!!

Stan and Judy’s Kid

Artist: Adam Sandler
Listenability Scale: 15%
Released by: Warner Bros. Records
A Review by:
– The Dude on the Right

I’ve usually liked Adam Sandler. Whether it be his movies or his CD’s, Adam usually gets a laugh out of me, actually, usually, many laughs, and his characters are either stupid enough to laugh at, or I guess stupid enough to feel sorry for in a happy sort of way. Then I picked up “Stan and Judy’s Kid” and I now am not as big a fan of Sandlers as I used to be.

Like his other CD’s “Stan and Judy’s Kid” is a mix of skits and songs, but of the 17 tracks of material I only liked 2, both of them songs, although the ongoing “Cool Guy” skits did teach me a lesson.

Where to start on this CD? Well, I guess I’ll tell you what I liked and this won’t take long. First off there is “Chanukah Song Part II.” Although having heard it before, I always liked the Chanukah Song, in all of it’s versions, and sometimes it even makes me wish sometimes that I were a Jew rather than in the group of O.J., who’s still not a Jew. A new list of Jewish folks, the same melody, and I’m still singing along. And secondly, the other thing I liked on the CD was the song “She Comes Home to Me.” It’s a crooner song, kinda like Sinatra but with lyrics I doubt he’d touch with a ten foot pole. Let’s just say that the dude’s love is a highly paid whore who’ll “go down on a yack, lick a horse’s nut sack,” and I think that’s as far as I need to go about that song. I laughed my ass off for that one.

But then there is the rest of the CD. Most of it has Adam in a goofy voice, telling stories that aren’t really funny. For “Hot Water Burn Baby” Adam’s in his little kid voice with a story getting to how hot water burns a baby, with a twisted ending, “The Psychotic Legend of Uncle Donnie” has people getting killed with a boat propeller, and “Whitey” is a sixteen minute story of a dude in a mall. The ongoing skit for the CD is “Cool Guy,” done in five parts, basically with the moral of the story being you shouldn’t give your penis a name, such a tallywhacker, or at least don’t tell the girl you’re trying to score with it’s name. It will never work out.

I guess I was hoping for more from Adam Sandler. I know he can be funny, but sadly “Stan and Judy’s Kid” wasn’t. In the end I can only give the CD a 15% on the listenability scale. I tried to listen to it a couple of times but just kept hitting the fast forward button to get to “She Comes Home to Me” and “Chanukah Song Part II.” I’d say go and buy it for “She Comes Home to Me” alone, but I don’t think that one song is worth the fifteen bucks. Oh well.

That’s it for this one! I’m The Dude on the Right!! L8R!!!

Stranger in this Town

Artist: Richie Sambora
Listenability Scale: 100%
Released by: UMG Recordings
A Review by:
– The Dude on the Right

One thing irked me a little the couple of times I saw Bon Jovi, and that was Jon would sometimes sing some of his solo hits, but we didn’t get any Richie Sambora solo material. Maybe Richie’s choice, maybe Jon’s, but in any case, “Stranger In This Town” is one of my favorite albums spotlighting both the songwriting and musicianship that is Richie Sambora. There seems to be some dissension in terms of the opening track “Rest in Peace,” but for me, it really sets up the CD nicely. You can hear some of the sound of Bon Jovi, but Richie adds a nice, bluesy feel to songs that are sometimes haunting, sometimes rocking, but for fans of great guitar, this should be added to your collection.

My favorite on the CD is “The Answer,” the closing track, but pretty much all of the songs hold their own. I liked the “listening instructions” for the CD: “Turn down the lights, Light a candle… Welcome…”, but I would have added one more instruction – “Turn the volume up a little…” because this one sounds great with volume turned up, maybe more than a little. This has been one of my favorite CD’s since I first heard it. 100% on the Entertainment Ave! listenability scale.

That’s it for this quick review! I’m The Dude on the Right!! L8R!!!

Do You Own a Library Card?

I know this may sound crazy, but I don’t have a library card. Sure, I’m 45 years old, and I’m also wondering how many of you have one, but in a short plight, one of my goals this year is to actually get off my but, go to my local library, and get a library card. I know this might sound crazy, what in this day and age of iPads, Kindles, and Half Price Bookstores, but as I have started reading every now and then, I have also heard how libraries are now offering the ability to “borrow” eBooks, where, for a short period of time you get to “check out” an eBook, kinda like renting a book for your Kindle only it’s free, and then, after a few weeks, they automatically “return” your book to their “shelves” so that the next person can “borrow” the book.

It sounds like an interesting concept, I do wonder why, sometimes I actually buy a Kindle book when I pay good money for it and find out it kind of sucks (And don’t get me started on the “Try a sample” concept where at times I’ve done that only to find that the sample ends maybe one page into the actual book, leaving me to only read a lousy introduction and maybe see who the book was dedicated to.

So, we’ll see how this goal for 2013 goes, and right now when I answer my plight question the “No” box will be clicked, but I’m plighting: Do you own a library card?

That’s it for this plight! I’m The Dude on the Right!! L8R!!!