Category: Album Reviews

Alchemy – Live

Artist: Dire Straits
Listenability Scale: 95%
Released by: Warner Bros. Records A Review by:
– The Dude on the Right

Sure, I always liked “Sultans of Swing”, but never classified myself as a Dire Straits fan. That changed when I saw a band called Crack’d Actor play in college, doing a cover of “Expresso Love.” For some reason that song got me hooked, and “Alchemy” is one of those CD’s that I love to crank-up because in my opinion, it’s much better on the louder side.

This is a collection of a bunch of great Dire Straits’ songs, from the mentioned “Expresso Love” to “Romeo and Juliet”, “Solid Rock,” and after you’ve listened to the CD’s a couple of times, who doesn’t yell with Mark Knopfler, “Thank yououou” before a great version of “Sultans of Swing.”

Dire Straits always did a great job of mixing fantastic guitar with great keyboard nuances, and Alchemy is a great live collection showing the multiple talents of one of the great bands.

It’s a 95% on the Entertainment Ave! listenability scale. It’s better loud – go ahead, bother the neighbors.

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

Pump

Artist: Aerosmith
Listenability Scale: 90%
Released by: Geffen Records
A Review by:
– The Dude on the Right

Sometimes having a lot of CD’s isn’t a good thing because you forget how much you really liked some of them. Case in point for me was Aerosmith’s “Pump.” As I went from song to song, I realized that every song on this CD is a keeper for me. Sure, there is a similarity in songs, with the usual driving guitar of Joe Perry and the over-the-top voice of Steven Tyler, but if you listened to any rock radio in the late 1980’s and ‘90’s, you can recognize many a tune from this one, namely “What it Takes,” “Love In An Elevator,” “The Other Side,” and “Janie’s Got a Gun,” and along with those you also remember every music video.

This is just a great, rockin’ album, and even past the radio hits, everything is solid and shows the talents of one of the best bands out there. 90% on the Entertainment Ave! listenability scale.

That’s it for this quick review! I’m

The Dude on the Right!! L8R!!!

Hillbilly Homeboy

Artist: Tim Wilson
Listenability Scale: 20%
A Review by:
– The Dude on the Right

I’m sure there are people who find Tim Wilson funny, but I’m not one of them. I mean, I try to relate to where a comic is coming from with the best of them, but this time I couldn’t relate. There were a couple of things that made me grin while listening to this CD, namely the “Tide & Skittles” bit, the line about John Rocker going to his proctologist who told him he found his head, and I didn’t know anyone did an impression of Michael McDonald, but for the most part I just didn’t find myself laughing that much. If you’re a fan, you’ll probably laugh your ass off, but for me, this one’s a 20% on the Entertainment Ave! listenability scale.

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

Double Wide

Artist: Uncle Kracker
Listenability Scale: 75%
Released by: Lava/Atlantic Records
A Review by:
– The Dude on the Right

So you liked Uncle Kracker because he does the song “Follow Me,” which if you listen to the lyrics you find out that it’s a song about cheating on your husband/fiancé with a loser whose only quality is able to turn you on. It’s a lovely little song, so then you bought the CD, popped it into your CD player, and one of the first things you hear is Kid Rock giving advice to Uncle Kracker, namely “make sure you pinch it at the top before you roll it down.” Okay, that’s a little stunner, so you keep listening and get treated to some swearing (guess you should have paid a little more attention to the “Parental Advisory” label), and find out that pretty much, Uncle Kracker is a rapper who mixes melodies into the songs, like on “Yeah, Yeah, Yeah.” Don’t get me wrong, I like this CD, and give it a 75% on the Entertainment Ave! listenability scale, but it always cracks me up a little bit when a singer or band put one or two radio-friendly tunes on a CD (Sugar Ray did that at the beginning of their boom days too), but when you pop that CD into the player, things are totally different.

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

It’s All About to Change

Artist: Travis Tritt
Listenability Scale: 90%
Released by: Warner Bros. Records
A Review by:
– The Dude on the Right

My tormented secretary doesn’t listen to country music much anymore. She said pretty much every song had something depressing about it, or at least sounded depressing. As I was listening to “It’s All About to Change,” I started to tell her, “Hey, this is an upbeat song,” referring to “Bible Belt,” and then I remembered it was pretty much the story of a preacher who cheats on his wife. As I looked through the song list, I pretty much had to agree with her, but still, I’ve always enjoyed this CD. “Here’s a quarter, call someone who cares” is one of those classic lyrics, and even though “Bible Belt” is a sad story, it’s still a fun song to sing along with.

I’m not a fan of “Homesick,” but pretty much love the rest of the CD, so for that it’s a 90% on the Entertainment Ave! listenability scale, even if most of the songs are really kinda depressing.

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

Tiny Music… Songs From the Vatican Giftshop

Artist: Stone Temple Pilots
Listenability Scale: 100%
Released by: Atlantic Records
A Review by:
–  The Wimp

Stone Temple Pilots continues to be a band that never ceases to amaze. Their latest release, “Tiny Music…Songs from the Vatican Gift Shop” is another classic. I can honestly say that although Pearl Jam’s “ten” is one of the greatest albums of all time, STP, album for album, is the better band. STP continues to blend a variety of sounds into their own talented mix.

Not taking anything away from STP’s music, but it continues to be the type where you say to yourself, “This sounds like…” Early on, it was Pearl Jam and Soundgarden progressing now to a seventies retro meets Jane’s Addiction with a country/hula twang thrown in. This album has been on top of my “always listen to” pile with Dokken’s “Dysfunctional” and Van Halen’s “Best of – Volume I” for the last few months. It’s a great album, and with hits like “Big Bang Baby”, “Lady Picture Show”, “Tumble in the Rough”, and “Trippin’ On a Hole in a Paper Heart”, this album is one of my “soon” to be published (Dude on the Right, my editor, chuckles at this point) “Wimp’s Top 25 Albums of the All Time.” Here are my comments for each of the tunes.

– Press Play (Instrumental)
Funky seventies retro thang. It works for me.

– Pop’s Love Suicide
Whiny grunge song. Kinda grating but lots of energy.

– Tumble in the Rough *****
Groovin’ song with some radio play.

– Big Bang Baby *****
A seventies retro…STP is the only band in the 90’s that has been able to pull the seventies retro thing in a cool way.

– Lady Picture Show *****
Another great song with radio play. A grunge tune with a hidden sadness

– And So I Know
A slow song that reminds me of a mild Jane’s Addiction ballad.

– Trippin’ on a Hole in a Paper Heart *****
Yet again another classic. Groovin’ grunge at its finest.

– Art School Girl
Funky song…I love it. “I got a girlfriend, she got a girlfriend.” Hubba hubba

– Adhesive
Another ballad. The kind you chill with after lovin’. Heeeyyy baby.

– Ride the Cliché
Another grunge sounding tune. A good song towards the end of the CD, where most bands tend to hide the so-so songs.

– Daisy (Instrumental)
Two instrumentals on one album…hmmm. Hula music…ahhhh. (See previous note about end of album songs)

– Seven Caged Tigers
Good song with grunge sound. This album is worth listening to from start to finish.

(Songs marked with ***** are songs that I think would make any album great)

Well, all in all a great album. I’m giving this one a 100% on the Entertainment Ave! listenability scale!

That’s it, I’m The Wimp!

Coming Up for Air

Artist: Michael Stanley
Listenability Scale: 100%
Released by: It’s About Music
A Review by:
– The Dude on the Right

I grew up near Cleveland and at the time there was one group that ruled the airwaves. That group was the Michael Stanley Band. They could sell-out multiple dates at Blossom Music Center (one of the best outdoor venues I’ve ever been to), always seemed to have a lock on the radio airwaves, and basically just rocked. But, as huge as they were on the Northcoast, they could never break into the big-time in the national arena. They did some opening dates for a bunch of national acts, had a couple of top 40 hits, but just never could get over that hill. It was really too bad because the rest of the world doesn’t know what they were missing. Well, eventually the members of the band went their separate ways but Michael Stanley stayed active in the Cleveland area, did some local TV, local radio, and did some concerts as Michael Stanley and Friends. He even collaborated with some folks and made a new band called Ghost Poets, leaving some of his rock & roll roots behind for a little more mellow sound. Old MSB music was re-issued on CD’s, I snatched up most of them, but in my years I have always missed out on one thing and that is seeing Michael Stanley, with or without Band, live. From what I’ve been told it’s one hell of a show, but I’ve just never been able to make it. Well, enough of that ranting and raving, Michael Stanley has a new CD out, at least it was new to me, and he still re-affirms my belief that the rest of the world is missing one of the better musical talents of the 70’s, 80’s and 90’s.

Back in my place I tore the plastic off of the CD case, and popped it in my CD player. Looking at the credits I saw some familiar names in the likes of Bob Pelander, Tommy Dobeck, Danny Powers, and Jennifer Lee. I also cam to find that this CD was put out a while ago and I didn’t know it. Sometimes the best little surprises take time. So, I pop open a cold beverage, plop down at my computer, and do a little web-surfin’ while I listen. A few more listens and this is what I think.

Track # – Song Title – (Length)
1. After Hollywood (4:30)
Nice opener. I’m startin’ to dig the CD.

2. Coming Up for Air (6:35)
Reminds me of his work with Ghost Poets. It’s moody, a little jazzy. Not a rocker, but I like the voice distortion in the middle.

3. Poison Pen (4:52)
Another moody/jazzy song. Cool story.

4. Talking in Tongues (5:41)
Some of the lyrics go: "God’s between your thighs," "Talking in Tongues," and "He couldn’t find an inch of her he hadn’t memorized." Talk about "getting in the mood" music!

5. Sendaway Underwear (4:57)
A little more of a rocker and a unique twist on those slinky lingerie catalogs. If the sex life in your marriage has hit the pits, follow the advice of this song!

6. Everybody (5:22)
A song about society. Another up-tempo song, and I love the line "buy a dog you want a friend."

7. Wherever You Go (5:42)
A slower song, but one of my favorites on the CD.

8. Yesterday’s Eyes (5:11)
Another slower song, another message of things lost, but a cool song none-the-less.

9. Complicated (4:49)
Keeping with the slower tempo songs, Michael’s voice sounds great.

10. Just Between Friends (3:31)
The tempo is back up, and everyone needs them – friends that it.

11. Horizontal Mambo (4:33)
Mr. Stanley, where is your mind? First we’ve got thighs and tongues on "Talking in Tongues," and now, well, if you can’t figure out this song from the title you need, well, maybe you’re a little too young. Tempo is kept up, it’s a rocker reminiscent of some classic MSB, but I was sad to hear Janie is now into girls.

12. Sha-La-La-La (4:27)
My mind, in keeping with the theme of the last song, I hear a line like "you’ve always been a dancer and you always will" and I see ladies on fire-poles. Whether my theory is wrong or right (I tried to read into the lyrics, but they end up a little vague), it is a quirky little tune with a cool beat.

13. Terms of Surrender (4:12)
A nice love song. Another of my favorites.

In the end, and maybe my attitude is a little skewed because I’ve always been a big Michael Stanley Band/Ghost Poets/Michael as a solo dude fan, but Coming Up for Air ends up on one of my higher rotation CD’s. For me there isn’t one bad song on the CD, and that rates it a 100% on the Entertainment Ave! listenability scale. If you liked Ghost Poets, you’ll probably like this CD, if you liked the Michael Stanley Band, you’ve probably grown up a little and will probably like this CD, and for those of you who have no clue who I’m talking about, hell, you might just like this CD too.

Michael Stanley, after all of these years, still has it. He has seemed to slow things down a little, and I guess he’s changed with the times, but he still has a great voice and puts forth some of the best lyrics out there. It’s kinda funny how nothing pulls back an image like a familiar voice, and Michael’s was one I heard singing many times while I was growing up. I’ve got some new music for some newer images, now if only I had an image of him in concert!

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

American Road

Artist: Michael Stanley
Listenability Scale: 92%
Released by: Line Level Music
A Review by:
– The Dude on the Right

There is something to be said about musical consistency, and although not as pop-driven as he once was when he was with Band, Michael Stanley just consistently puts out music that brings me instantly back to growing up on the north coast, in a steel and auto town called Lorain, Ohio, and still loving that Midwestern rock that I still know all of the words to.
The latest offering from Michael Stanley is titled "American Road," and if you’ve ever heard anything by Michael Stanley, or the Michael Stanley Band, there will be familiarity with the sound, but he still does his best to keep things fresh. The CD opens with "Nothing and Everything to Prove," a guitar-driven rocker that quickly reminds you of the sound of Michael Stanley. The title track "American Road" takes us on the trail out west, and there’s lots of reminiscing in "The Times We Had." But Michael stretches things a little, grooving it up some with the eternal questions "What Would Frank Do," an ode to Frank Sinatra and what he would do when closing time comes around, and even gets some bluesy stuff going with "Backing Up Sally G," one of the funnest songs on the CD. I’m still trying to figure out the lyrics a tad, because one would think with the song title, and his singing about being a in a band at a bar, that Sally G. were the lead singer of this band, but with lyrics like "And then Sally hits the stage, all I can do is stare, she’s got legs that go forever, and a world-class derrière," "And now she’s down to nothing, and I just forgot my name," and finally "And I swear my friend for just one night, I’d die a happy man, ‘cause the girl can pick up dollar bills, and never use her hands…". With that I’m now assuming Sally G. is a stripper, but I have yet to be in a Gentlemen’s Club with a band, but I suppose they might be out there somewhere.

Probably the most commercial sounding song, maybe able to get some airplay on adult contemporary radio or satellite, or maybe used as a montage type of song for a movie soundtrack, would be "Wake ‘Em Up." The sort of funny thing I found about the song, though, is that in keeping with old time rock and roll roots, it’s probably got an intro that’s a few bars too long, but then again, that’s old school rock and roll.

Some decent up-tempo songs, some blues and groovin’, and quite a few medium to slow "reflecting on life type" of songs round out "American Road." There’s also a decent cover of "Be My Baby," the Spector/Barry/Greenwhich song probably made most famous by The Ronettes, and really, the only song I can take or leave would be "Vicodin & Prayer," but that’s just me. He’s backed up nicely on the CD with lots of his friends and Jennifer Lee does a great job at handling most of the back-up vocal duties.

Sure, I will admit a little bias in reviewing this review as Michael Stanley both with Band and without, has always been one of my favorite artists, so my liking 12 out of 13 songs gives "American Road" a 92% on the Entertainment Ave! listenability scale. If you’ve ever liked an old Michael Stanley type song, you’ll probably enjoy this CD, and if you’re looking for just some good ol’ Midwest type of rock, it’s pretty much here.

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

The River

Artist: Bruce Springsteen
Listenability Scale: 100%
Released by: Columbia Records
A Review by:
– The Dude on the Right

I was so pleasantly surprised when this CD set came in the CD project rotation. Why? Well, like I’ve said many a time in these reviews, sometimes having the computer jukebox isn’t a great thing because you can go for years without hearing that one song that you love. And this song has many.

From the classic sing-a-long “Sherry Darling” to the epic story “The River”, most Springsteen fans will agree that this collection is a must have. You get every nuance of Springsteen, from his frolicking songs like a “Ramrod” to his relationship works like an “I Wanna Marry You.” You get the upbeat “Out in the Street” to the brooding “Wreck on the Highway.” I could go on and on about this double CD set, but if you ever want to hear something that spans all of Bruce’s musical stylings, this one pretty much sums it up. It’s simply a 100% on the Entertainment Ave! listenability scale for “The River.”

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!!!