SONGS THAT KROQ FORGOT #2

SONGS THAT KROQ FORGOT #2

(This is the same intro as my previous KROQ blog post. If you read the intro to Part 1, then  feel free to scroll down to the videos...)

Back in the late '70s and early '80s, if you were a fan of New Wave, Post-Punk, Power Pop, and Synthpop and you lived in Southern California, your radio station of choice was probably KROQ (106.7 FM). Back in the day, KROQ didn't follow trends like they do now - they set them!  KROQ would play singles, album cuts, b-sides and anything else that suited their fancy.  And they didn't just play stuff that was released in the U.S.!  They would also play import singles and album cuts and were responsible for many bands gaining attention from the American labels in the first place.

When KROQ would jump on a song, they'd play it in medium to heavy rotation for a certain amount of time and then it would disappear from their playlists entirely.  As the '80s became the '90s (and when KROQ went from great to ghastly), there were hundreds and thousands of songs that KROQ once supported heavily that seemingly evaporated into thin air and would never make an appearance on their 'flashback' playlists. The once-great radio station had moved on like many of us do...

But what about those lost songs?  The ones yo used to love so much... What about the memories they conjure up when you hear them again after decades of being hidden away in the darkened recesses of your mind?  

Do they remind you of stolen kisses with a long-lost sweetheart?  

Do they remind you of driving to McDonalds during lunch hour in your senior year?  

Do they remind you of driving up PCH along the beach and playing these songs as loud as possible?

Do they remind you of life-long friendships?  Long lost loved ones?

Well, they should because they are the soundtrack of your life.

I am here to remind you of those songs you loved (or loathed) back then... the songs that ushered in a music revolution that was already becoming a little stale by the time MTV became popular.  These songs once made a difference in our lives.  Like Johnny Mann, they made us 'stand up and cheer'.  The truth of the matter is, they STILL mean something.  They are the heartbeat of a generation that is now closer to retirement age than they are their high school heyday.  These songs made it a lot easier to get through the day and that is all that matters.  Let them take you back to a time when your heart was still full love and your youth was still...er.. young!

P.S.  Some of the bands are still remembered while others are unjustly forgotten... but these gems from the late '70s and early '80s are still as wonderful as ever.  They are the SONGS THAT KROQ FORGOT!

PART TWO:

MAURICE & THE CLICHES/"Soft Core"

THE SWINGERS/"Counting The Beat"




MACHINATIONS/'Pressure Sway"




BURNING SENSATIONS/"Belly Of The Whale"





THE PLIMSOULS/"Now"





20/20/"Nuclear Boy"





INDUSTRY/"State Of The Nation"





SPLIT ENZ/"Hard Act To Follow"




NOVO COMBO/"City Bound (E Train)"






POSITIVE NOISE/"Positive Negative"

RECORD STORE DAY: 10 (More) Albums That Changed My Life, Part Four - NEW WAVE Edition

10 (More) Albums That Changed My Life

Part Four: 

NEW WAVE Edition

By Stephen SPAZ Schnee

     In order to change the format a little, I thought I’d present a list of another 10 amazing albums that changed my life, but this time I’d venture out into that amazing wilderness called NEW WAVE… which really isn’t a musical genre at all… And, lo and behold, this list contains albums and artists that actually scored hits thanks to radio stations like KROQ and, of course, MTV! It was always a thrill when an album that I had owned for months finally got the attention it deserved and started selling. As many of us know, there are so many great bands of all genres that deserved fame and fortune but, for some reason, it just never happened for them…. 

     So, what was New Wave? Well, as I stated, it wasn't initially a genre of music: it originally was a description given to a fast-growing movement of new artists that had evolved from the Indie and Punk scenes of the late '70s. These new artists were a little more accomplished musically and created songs that were more sophisticated and melodic than their Punk and Indie brethren, yet they still retained the excitement and quirky energy of Punk. 

   New Wave was actually a lazy way for critics to describe a band. Did The Jags and Culture Club really have anything in common stylistically? Er…no. Howabout The Fabulous Poodles and The Human League? Nope. Squeeze and Depeche Mode? Not really. But all of the aforementioned bands have been called New Wave during much of their careers. It boils down to lazy journalism written by stoned Prog Rock-loving critics who no longer understood the concept of a three minute Pop tune. Eventually, all the different sub-genres (Synthpop, Power Pop, Mod, Post-Punk, Goth, Ska, etc) became part of the New Wave umbrella and that is where they remain today. 

     I personally don't use the term New Wave to describe any of the bands I listen to, but in order to make the case for lazy journalism, I will on this blog entry! 

     Here are 10 albums that never fail to take me back to a certain period in my life. They may or many  not have sold millions of copies but they had an enormous impact on me. And they are albums I will cherish until my dying day….  I still remember the exact record store I made the purchases at and the first time I sat down with the headphones and gave it a listen...

     I’ve listed them in alphabetical order by band because, to be honest, I can never say that one of them had more of an impact on me than the other. They are all equally important. And I've refrained from explaining WHY they mean so much to me. Those reasons are ones that only I would understand... (and I'm sure that your choices are made based on similar situations and circumstances).

BLANKET OF SECRECY/Ears Have Walls

DEXYS MIDNIGHT RUNNERS/Too Rye Aye








THE ENGLISH BEAT/I Just Can't Stop It

THE FIXX/Reach The Beach

 

A FLOCK OF SEAGULLS/A Flock Of Seagulls

INTERVIEW/Interview (AKA Snakes & Lovers)

NEW MUSIK/Sanctuary

PREFAB SPROUT/Two Wheels Good (AKA Steve McQueen)

SPANDAU BALLET/True

SPLIT ENZ/Time & Tide

SPAZ: 10 Albums That Changed MY Life, PT. 1

10 Albums That Changed My Life
Pt. One

By Stephen SPAZ Schnee

For a music fan, listening to certain albums can unlock many memories that are usually hidden somewhere deep within the recesses of the brain.  Those memories could be good or bad, but the magic of the melodies bring those ragamuffin thoughts and emotions back up to the surface again.

     We all have favorite bands or albums that we listen to over and over again throughout our lives but there are always certain ones that really make an impact.  You may not consider these as the band’s best albums, but they are the ones that matter the most.  They are the key that opens those time capsules within us and allow us to relive the thrill (or sadness) of a certain time in our lives.

     Here are 10 albums that never fail to take me back to a certain period in my life.  They may not have sold millions of copies but they had an enormous impact on me. And they are albums I will cherish until my dying day….There are many more I’d like to list, but don’t want to bore you with too much at once.

     I’ve listed them in alphabetical order by band because, to be honest, I can never say that one of them had more of an impact on me than the other.  They are all equally important. And I've refrained from explaining WHY they mean so much to me.  Those reasons are ones that only I would understand... (and I'm sure that your choices are made based on similar situations and circumstances).

BRAM TCHAIKOVSKY/Strange Man Changed Man

THE JAM/Sound Affects

THE LAST/L.A. Explosion

MADNESS/Absolutely

THE RECORDS/Crashes

SHOES/Present Tense

SPLIT ENZ/Frenzy

SQUEEZE/Argybargy

XTC/Drums & Wires

YACHTS/S.O.S. (AKA Yachts in the UK)

SANTA RECOMMENDS...CROWDED HOUSE

Hello, kids!

CHRISTMAS is almost here!  My elves are busy building toys, reading your e-mails and keeping busy.  A few of them spend far too much time on Facebook these days, but we're still on schedule so I won't complain.

Have you written out your Christmas wish list yet?  No?  Well, you better get busy.  There's only a little time left before I load my sleigh up with gifts and make my journey around the world on Christmas night! 

If you are having a hard time deciding what you want, may I suggest this?

CROWDED HOUSE

THE VERY VERY BEST OF...

Arising from the ashes of Australian legends Split Enz, Crowded House was led by the enormously talented Neil Finn.  With drummer Paul Hester and bassist Nick Seymour at his side, they had a huge hit right out of the box with "Don't Dream It's Over".  For the next few years, the band was unstoppable.  Their career highpoint was when Neil's big brother Tim joined the band for their Woodface album and a slew of hit singles that made them superstars in Europe, Australia and elsewhere.  The band managed to squeak only one album out after Tim left and they broke up in the mid '90s. Thankfully, they've reunited and are creating music today, 25 years after originally forming.  This collection contains their most memorable hits and longtime favorites and is the perfect introduction to a band that really deserves more attention than you've given them in the past.  They are one of the most consistently magical bands on the planet and this is a release that should be stuffed in every stocking this year.
I must get going now.  Mrs. Claus needs some help in eating those cinnamon rolls and I don't want to miss out!  They are fresh out of the oven, you know! Yum Yum!

Ho! Ho! Ho!

Santa

CROWDED HOUSE/Intriguer: new studio album available July 13th, 2010!

CROWDED HOUSE

INTRIGUER

7.13.10

Following up on their 2007 release, Time On Earth – their first studio recording in fourteen years – New Zealand dream-pop auteurs Crowded House deliver Intriguer, scheduled for release on July 13th, 2010, on Fantasy Records, a division of Concord Music Group. The internationally acclaimed group begins a nationwide tour of the U.S. and Canada in support of the new album on Monday, July 12th. Also available that day will be the 2-disc Intriguer Deluxe Edition, featuring a special bonus live DVD.

Produced by Jim Scott (Wilco), Intriguer once again brings together singer/guitarist and chief songwriter Neil Finn with original Crowded House bassist Nick Seymour and keyboardist/guitarist Mark Hart, who’d been with the band from 1989 until its last days. Also on board is drummer Mark Sherrod, the relative newcomer to the family, having joined the band for the making of the aforementioned Time On Earth. Recorded at Roundhead Studios in Auckland, New Zealand, in the spring and summer of 2009, the album includes songs that “have been worked over on the road and transformed a few times, some all the way back to square one,” says Finn. “It’s a good place to return to from time to time.”

Intriguer opens with “Saturday Sun,” a track whose straightforward backbeat calls to mind the best elements of ‘60s pop. The follow-up track, “Archer’s Arrows,” takes a more ominous turn with the help of some carefully layered vocals and the violin work of Lisa Germano (who later reappears on the pensive “Even If”).

“Falling Dove” is both melancholy and defiant, while “Isolation” derives its dreamlike sensibility from a heavy dose of guitar tremolo and the dreamlike vocals of Finn’s wife, Sharon Dawn Johnson. Both of these tracks, positioned back-to-back in the sequence, benefit from the psychedelic guitar work of Liam Finn, Neil’s son and longtime collaborator in the studio and onstage.

“Twice If You’re Lucky” is a prime example of the aforementioned evolutionary process that left its mark on most of the songs on Intriguer. “We played an alternative version, more complex and mysterious on tour, then deconstructed back to the original, simple form in the last week of recording,” Finn explains. “I am inclined to circle songs, looking for any bit of advantage I can find – a verse, a chord or a word to change.”

“Elephants” is the wistful closer, driven by lush piano harmonies that seek to linger a while and take in the fleeting moment before the story comes to close.

“Intriguer is exotic in parts, traditional in origin,” says Finn. “Through many a twist and turn we fashioned some drama and intrigue. You will find some threads that go back through all that history and some new discoveries as well that will need to be followed up. Its part of the continuum and it may just be the best thing we’ve done…until the next one.”

2007’s Time On Earth, turned the band on to what Finn calls “the scent of something new.” Thankfully, for the rest of us, Intriguer proves the Crowded House story in many ways, is just beginning.

Don’t miss Crowded House on tour!

Mon Jul 12 Toronto, ON Massey Hall

Tue Jul 13 Montreal, QC Metropolis

Thu Jul 15 Ottawa, ON Lebreton Flats Park

Fri Jul 16 Buffalo, NY Erie Canal Harbor

Sat Jul 17 Boston, MA House of Blues

Mon Jul 19 New York, NY Bowery Ballroom

Tue Jul 20 New York, NY Bowery Ballroom

Wed Jul 21 New York, NY Bowery Ballroom

Fri Jul 23 Montclair, NJ Wellmont Theatre

Sat Jul 24 Atlantic City, NJ House of Blues

Mon Jul 26 Vienna, VA Wolftrap

Wed Jul 28 Clearwater, FL Ruth Eckerd Hall

Thu Jul 29 Miami, FL Fillmore Miami Beach

Fri Jul 30 Orlando, FL Hard Rock Live

Sun Aug 1 Atlanta, GA Tabernacle

Mon Aug 2 Nashville, TN Ryman Auditorium

Wed Aug 4 Austin, TX Stubb’s Walker Creek

Thu Aug 5 Dallas, TX House of Blues

Fri Aug 20 Los Angeles, CA Club Nokia

Sun Aug 22 San Diego, CA Humphrey’s Concerts by the Bay

Mon Aug 23 San Francisco, CA Warfield

Tue Aug 24 Saratoga, CA Mountain Winery

Thu Aug 26 Troutdale, OR Edgefield Amphitheater

Sat Aug 28 Seattle, WA Chateau Ste. Michelle Winery

Sun Aug 29 Vancouver, BC Queen Elizabeth Theatre

Mon Aug 30 Victoria, BC Royal Theatre

Wed Sep 1 Edmonton, AB Northern Alberta Jubilee Auditorium

Thu Sep 2 Calgary, AB Southern Alberta Jubilee Auditorium

Sat Sep 4 Apple Valley, MN Zoo Amphitheater

Sun Sep 5 Chicago, IL House of Blues

Crowded House - Saturday Sun from Crowded House on Vimeo.

Brothers in arms: TIM FINN and NEIL FINN are at it again!

While we all anxiously await a new FINN BROTHERS album or a SPLIT ENZ reunion tour outside of Australia and New Zealand, we'll have to make do with some other fine FINN releases in the form of TIM FINN's excellent two CD Anthology: North South East West and NEIL FINN's project, 7 WORLDS COLLIDE!

For those of you who have yet to experience the Finn magic, just let me tell you that these two are ordinary men with extraordinary talents! Tim's been on the music scene for nearly 40 years while Neil trails just behind him with just under 35 years in his back pocket.

Tim started Split Enz in 1972, inviting young Neil to join the band in 1977. They achieved astounding success in the early '80s before disbanding halfway through the decade.

Neil formed Crowded House and, returning the favor, invited big brother Tim into the band for the Woodface album. Tim then left and went back to a solo career while Neil carried Crowded House onwards for a few more years.

In the meantime, they've managed to release two Finn Brothers albums while juggling their own separate careers, some Split Enz reunion shows and a whole lot more.

Towards the end of 2009, the Finns graciously gave us two separate, unrelated releases that will cool the flames until the next Crowded House album and Tim Finn solo release comes along...

Although I thought it could never be done, Tim Finn's North South East West two CD anthology brings together the best of his solo recordings, Split Enz hits, Finn Brothers tracks and some new recordings all in one package.

This collection starts out with seven classic Split Enz songs like "Dirty Creature", "I See Red", "Poor Boy" and "Six Months In A Leaky Boat". An eighth Enz tune, "Stuff And Nonsense", is represented here by a newly recorded version by Tim and Missy Higgins.

Though there are no Crowded House songs included, there are new versions of "Weather With You (by Tim, Neil and Neil's son Liam Finn), "How Will You Go" and "It's Only Natural" (by Tim and Bic Runga).

The rest of the collection features tracks spanning Tim's entire solo career including cuts from his '83 debut solo album, Escapade up through 2008's The Conversation.  The album Big Canoe is represented by a newly rearranged version of "So Deep".

Apart from the re-recordings listed above, there are also some great previously unreleased tunes including "Into The Water", "Nothing Unusual" and "Light Years Away".

If you don't have any of Tim's recordings, this is the perfect place to start.  If you are already a fan, there are enough gems to make this an absolutely essential purchase!

The first 7 Worlds Collide album, released under Neil Finn's name, was a unique live performance experience, fusing the varied talents of a stellar cast across a range of cover versions to create a series of shows that culminated in the live album of the same name.

Seven years after that project, instigator Neil Finn has upped the ante with the new 7 Worlds Collide project, The Sun Came Out, a double album of original songs created and recorded by many of the original cast alongside notable new additions in an intense three weeks in his native New Zealand. This time the beneficiaries of this album will be Oxfam, as well as music

Familiar faces from the original album abound, Johnny Marr, Ed O’Brien and Phil Selway of Radiohead but this album, first and foremost presents the listener with new songs rather than interpretations of old favorites. The Sun Came Out also features a whole host of new guest talents such as KT Tunstall and Wilco and heart stopping firsts, including Phil Selway's songwriting and vocal debut as well as dream collaborations such as those between Johnny Marr and Wilco's Jeff Tweedy; and KT Tunstall and Neil Finn .

At the heart of the record is Neil Finn. His enthusiasm and drive persuaded the likes of celebrated producer Jim Scott, Lisa Germano, Johnny Marr and Wilco’s Jeff Tweedy, Pat Sansone, John Stirratt and Glenn Kotche (amongst others) to spend their Christmas holiday in New Zealand and even interrupted KT Tunstall’s honeymoon in the process.

The album's high point, for me anyway, is "Too Blue", by Johnny Marr and Neil Finn. This glorious pop tune is the younger, happier brother of "There Is A Light That Never Goes Out", a song written a few decades back by Marr and his Smiths mate Morrissey.  The previous 7 Worlds Collide album contained a live version of that Smiths track with Neil singing lead and it remains the second best version of that song. "Too Blue" is just as strong. Did I already say it was glorious?


The worst thing about a Finn album being released is that you have to wait until the next one comes.... and I'm not a very patient guy.  So, come on Tim and Neil... I'm waiting!

I don't wanna sail,
Stephen SPAZ Schnee

TIM FINN-"The Conversation" Review

TIM FINN-"The Conversation" Review

For nearly 30 years, Tim Finn has been my second favorite vocalist of all time...just a few notches down from Elvis Presley. Hell, I skipped my high school senior prom in '82 just to go see Tim's old band, Split Enz, perform at the Hollywood Palladium (ah, the memories!). So, for me, a new Tim Finn album is always a call for celebration. While I've loved most of his solo work, it's really hard to compare it to the collaborative essence of Split Enz, so I never do. I don't even bother judging it against his other projects like Crowded House, the Finn Brothers or ALT. I look at each album as it's own entity and accept it for what it is: a Tim Finn solo album.

So, with that being said, I was floored by his 2006 effort, Imaginary Kingdom. I felt that IK was even better than his solo debut, Escapade, which I didn't think he'd ever top. This is not to say that his other solo releases haven't been good. I think that a listener attaches themselves to a certain record like an old barnacle and hangs on for dear life. When I heard Imaginary Kingdom, I felt that he had released his best solo work to date and I had found a new home to lay my weary head.

The Conversation, his 2008 release, has found me packing my bags and moving to a new resting spot: Finn has taken the best elements of his songwriting skills, scaled back the production and presented an album so rich with melody that no economic crisis could penetrate this wealthy platter of song. This is by far the best album of the year...and that's no easy feat since 2008 has had some really great releases. It's also the best album in his 25 year solo journey.

The album is warm, comforting and personal but while Tim sings of HIS life, it can often mirror the feelings and thoughts of the listener, creating a virtual 'conversation' between the performer and the audience. While the album's title refers to the interaction of the different musicians playing together, it becomes much more than that when experienced in the comfort of your own home. Former Enz members Miles Golding (violin) and Eddie Rayner (piano) join Tim on this journey and their familiarity with Tim's music allows them to add a personal flavor to this rich stew of haunting melodies. Tim's voice is superb throughout, sounding like a man who has found peace in who he is and is comfortable in his own skin. While 'Out Of This World' is the lead single, there are many other inviting moments that will reach out to anyone looking for a singer/songwriter who offers more than just a new face in an overcrowded market: 'Rear View Mirror', 'The Saw And The Tree', 'Forever Thursday' (which could be a distant cousin of his classic 'Through The Years'), 'Straw To Gold' and more. On the first spin of the album, you'll find some magical moments but the album truly reveals itself with each additional listen and you'll soon find yourself joining in on this Conversation.

So, after 30 years, I'm still a dedicated fan with much respect for the man and his abilities. Tim Finn may be an ordinary man but he has extraordinary talents.