Feb Favorites

There is a lot of new music out this month. Below are the new albums I recommend, and a few others I do not. 
Here is a playlist sample of the February highlights:
https://open.spotify.com/user/fluid3sally/playlist/1OMOy6cB0mDWc3i5nyAZaS
 
Recommended:

Magic Wands - Jupiter
The first Magic Wands, Aloha Moon, is a Spunk Rock Classic. The much anticipated follow-up is worth the wait, and worth a play. Expect it to be more introspective than the first one. I wrote a separate review here:
http://joelspunkrock.blogspot.com/2016/02/new-record-review-magic-wands-jupiter.html

Lacey Sturm - Life Screams
Several strong spunky songs on this one. Not as good as the 2005 Flyleaf classic, but a welcome addition. separate review in process.
see also my buddy Jack's post here:
http://jackwillowbee.blogspot.com/2016/02/2016-lacey-sturm-life-screams.html

Man with a Mission - The World's On Fire
These guys have a good hard-rock sound with accessible vocals (some lyrics in Japanese). I wasn't blown away by this record, but I was pleasantly surprised. It is pretty good. certainly worth a listen. note: the sampler playlist has an older song because this one is not on Spotify (yet).

The Jezebels - Synthia
I didn't think I liked the Jezebels, but this one may be changing my mind. It is dark and moody, intense at times, not the spunkiest thing I've heard, but a good listen throughout.

School of Seven Bells - SVIIB
This is a cool record by a cool band, that is, sadly, no longer with us. School of Seven Bells have an ethereal sound that is at times entrancing and at times danceable. It uses a lot of electronics, but is still quite personable and emotive. This album is moody and gloomy at times, but a good listen. Maybe the best pick by this group. Recommended for fans of Ladytron

Deluxe - Stachelight
This group incorporates some big-band and swing elements. This record is pretty cool, some good party songs. Recommended for fans of Amy Winehouse and Chantal Claret.

DIIV - is the is are
This is an interesting record, good sound. with a mellow sound somewhat similar to the new Magic Wands, this must be the month for dream pop. This one sounds vaguely reminiscent of Sonic Youth's The Eternal, although not as noisy. Recommended for fans of Interpol and 2000's era Sonic Youth


Close, but nope

Santigold - 99 cents
Santigold has had some cool songs in the past, so I was looking forward to this one. disappointment. pass. songs feel uninspired. There is a redeeming track, Rendevous Girl. Outside the War is also somewhat interesting.

Dressy Bessy - Kingsized
I used to think I liked this band, now I'm not so sure. Maybe it was just that one song, The Things that You Say that You Do, the modern equivalent of a one-hit wonder. anyhow, this new one is pretty bland. pass.

Anneke Van Giersbergen - Verloren Verleden
Anneke used to be in The Gathering, a prolific Rock band from Holland spanning the 90's and 2000's. Their catalog has a lot of variety, including some great spunk moments. They are often described as symphonic metal, and those words do apply well to early Gathering records. But their later stuff, not so much. Now, Anneke has come full circle to a soft sound like a lullaby. I found this record quite boring. a shame. If not familiar, do check out the Gathering (before she left in 2007), but leave this one alone.


other, noteworthy

Anthrax - For All Kings
Last month we had a new Megadeth, this month new Anthrax. a good time for late-80's metal heads. This one sounds pretty good, if you're into that sort of thing.

Nevermen - Nevermen
Recommended for fans of Mike Patton. If you're not already a fan, this is probably not a good place to start. My buddy Jack has more to say about it here:
http://jackwillowbee.blogspot.com/2016/02/2016-nevermen-nevermen.html

Simple Plan - Taking One for the Team
Simple Plan is a pop-punk band from Montreal. This sound is not for me, but this is a reasonably good record. Recommended for fans of Jimmy Eat World, Fallout Boy, and the All American Rejects

The Suffers - self titled
The Suffers enticed me at first with the concept of their band. It is a large group of people featuring a variety of instruments (guitars, horns, various percussion) and a style fusing jazz, soul, funk, ska, reggae, etc. Unfortunately, the execution on that idea is weak, and this album leaves me bored. I will keep an eye on this group though, because I think I hear potential.

Black Peaks - Statues was scheduled for release in Feb. Now moved out to April. looking forward to this one.

Chantal Claret has a new EP out yesterday, Conquistadora. Chantal is a star here on Spunk Rock.. named #11 most bad-ass Rock'N'Role-model with SAF=92, more on that here
http://joelspunkrock.blogspot.com/2016/02/top-20-bad-ass-rocknrole-models.html
Many of those points were earned in the now-defunct band Morningwood, but her solo LP, The One the Only, has its own spunk too. Chantal embodies the Spunk Rock attitude. For these reasons, I make mention of the new EP. I mostly focus on new albums, just for the sake of time. I barely have time to keep up with new albums, let alone all the new EPs and singles out there. This one is not on Spotify yet, so it's not on my Feb Favorites playlist. Do check out the Rock'N'Role-model playlist though, if you haven't already.

New Record Review: Magic Wands - Jupiter

I've been waiting for this one. The first Magic Wands album, Aloha Moon, is a Spunk Rock Classic. The much anticipated follow-up, Jupiter, arrived today, and it is worth the wait. Like its predecessor, this record has dreamy vocals set to pleastantly psychedelic guitars. This one is layered with sounds, there is a lot going on in the background. The first one was more of what I call "extroverted" music - good for a house party, good for dancing. This one has more of an "introverted" feel.. more cerebral better suited for a small, intimate gathering, rather than a dance party. Several of the songs have fast tempos, but with more punk than funk, they are less danceable, instead occupying space in your head. This is not to say that one or the other is better, just that the new one is different. which progress. which is good.

Magic Wands are one of the best artists going today with what I call a "psychadelic" sound (sometimes called "dream pop). Remarkably, they do this in a way that is very pleasant to the ear. The guitar dissonance holds together as music so well that it could almost pass first glance as pop-rock. This is a great record to relax with a glass of wine at the end of the day. Or to accompany a trip to the art museum. Look for more on this theme later when I discuss the concept of "Spunk Rock After Hours."

Jupiter, the song, starts with a pounding, driving beat, that drags and doesn't quite break loose. A prelude. The repetitive bass lines gives a hypnotic effect, and the sounds gradually build towards a trance as the vocals come in. This is a great intro to set the stage for what is to come.

Chariot picks up the tempo a bit, and continues to paint a dreamy landscape of textured sounds.

Dream street slows the tempo back down slightly, but the rhythms are still loose and free. The bass lines are more open ended giving the guitar lines room to roam. A very enchanting song, great for dancing by oneself. I'll take a walk down dream street anytime.

Love soldier - more upbeat again. This would be a playlist pick. The melodies on this record are pleasant, yet somehow elusive. I'll need to listen to this several times to really unpack the song structures. Some of the earlier songs, such as Warrior and Black Magic had melodic one-liners that might catch in your head. Here, I get the sense that if the songs get stuck in my head, it will be as I sleep, but remain elusive to my waking mind.

Lazer Bitch is another playlist pick. It keeps the beat alive and has the head spinning by the end.

Himalaya is slower in tempo, but still loose and free. By now I'm fully entranced and ready to roam.

I'll Never Go There Again picks up where Himalaya left off, leading the journey through sparkling guitar riffs and shimmering vocal melodies.

Heartbeat rounds out the album nicely. Jupiter II fills 13 minutes and the end. if there is a song to skip on this record, it is the last one. Not that Jupiter II is a bad song, it just has less going on than the rest of the songs.. sort of a come down. I could stop after Heartbeat and feel like I had a great music listening experience.

Overall, this is an excellent record up against high expectations (the sophomore jinx). The first of the year I can recommend without qualification. It is one good song after another. A candidate for 2016 top 10.

Top 20 Bad-Ass Rock'N'Role-Models

I've been wading thru a lot of suck-boring music lately, in an attempt to bring you the nuggets amongst dirt. There have been a few cool records so far this month. about as many as we've had snow days here in the north-east.

I'll have a list of Feb favorites soon. In the meantime, I thought I'd cheer up by making a list of bad-ass rockers in some order of spunk'n awesomeness. (all active now).

I'm also introducing the "Spunk Rock Ass-Kicking Factor" (SAF).
 
This score measures the degree of ass-kicking demonstrated by each artist on a scale of 0 to 100. For context, I provide an abridged reference at the end, with other (not necessarily active) artists who are well known.

here is a playlist with samples of each artist on the top-20
https://open.spotify.com/user/fluid3sally/playlist/6ZqT1SR9QVZJ9MbsOBwsl2

If you object to my use of any images, leave a comment and I'll take them down.









#1 Corin Mother-F'n Tucker 
Sleater-Kinney
Spunk Rock Ass-Kicking Factor =100

"I'm the queen of rock'n'roll"







 























#2 Emily Armstrong
Dead Sara
Spunk Rock Ass-Kicking Factor = 99.9
If Dead Sara didn't exist we would have to invent them.
 





 


































#3 REL (Ariel Bloomer) 
Icon For Hire
Spunk Rock Ass-Kicking Factor = 99.8
the Spunk Rock poster child

 





 

















#4 Lzzy F'n Hale
 Halestorm
 Spunk Rock Ass-Kicking Factor = 99.7
 "You call me a bitch like it's a bad thing"

 






































#5 Beth Ditto
Gossip

Spunk Rock Ass-Kicking Factor = 98
There is nothing standing in her way of controlling the stage

#6 Nina Diaz
Girl In A Coma
Spunk Rock Ass-Kicking Factor = 97
watch her eyes as she transforms into a Rock'N'Roll monster


































#7 Maja Ivarsson
The Sounds
 Spunk Rock Ass-Kicking Factor = 96
something to live for




























  


#8 Free Domingez
Kidneythieves
Spunk Rock Awesomeness Factor = 95
"there are skies that paint a bluer blue"






























 #9 Shirley Manson
Garbage
Spunk Rock Ass-Kicking Factor = 94
Beloved Freak









 


















  


#10 Karen O
Yeah Yeah Yeahs
Spunk Rock Ass-Kicking Factor = 93
something like a phenomenon
























#11 Chantal Claret
Morningwood
Spunk Rock Ass-Kicking Factor = 92
for kids who love the Rock'N'Roll, who got the style and the soul




































#12 Lexi Valentine
Magneta Lane
Spunk Rock Ass-Kicking Factor = 91
The constant rocker

































#13 Aimee Echo
TheSTART
Spunk Rock Ass-Kicking Factor = 90
"the last time I saw you was the first time I saw god"





























#14 Emily Haines
Metric
Spunk Rock Ass-Kicking Factor = 87
in case you still value song writing

#15 Cerys Matthews 
Catatonia
 Spunk Rock Ass-Kicking Factor = 86
game on


 















  
#16 Aja Volkman
Nico Vega
Spunk Rock Ass-Kicking Factor = 84
"this is your life and it can rule"































#17 Taylor Momsen
The Pretty Reckless
Spunk Rock Ass-Kicking Factor = 82
since I started listening to TPR my life has come along quite nicely, actually






























  
#18 Chibi (Sara Taylor)
The Birthday Massacre
Spunk Rock Ass-Kicking Factor = 80
like Halloween?










































#19 Nathan Grey
BoySetsFire
 Spunk Rock Ass-Kicking Factor = 78
not for approval, not yours anyhow
defined by your submission to a common sense
that never had.. anything.. to do with me

















#20 Courtney Love
Hole
Spunk Rock Awesomeness Factor = 74
playing your song


























 Here is a partial list of Spunk Rock Ass-Kicking Factors for context on the scale:

Kurt Cobain - 77
Henry Rollins - 76
Michael Stipe - 73
Debbie Harry - 72
Jimi Hendrix - 71
Kathleen Hanna - 70
Kate Pierson - 69
Fred Schneider - 68
Jim Morrison - 68
Poly Styrene - 67
Janis Joplin - 67
Eddie Vedder - 66
Ian Mckaye - 65
David Bowie - 64
Donita Sparks - 64
Carrie Brownstein - 63
Maynard James Keenan - 62
Lacey Sturm - 61
Iggy Pop - 61
Joan Jett - 60
Ozzy Osborne - 58
Freddy Mercury - 58
Steven Tyler - 57
Geddy Lee - 56
Mick Jagger - 55
Rob Halford - 54
Hayley Williams - 53
Ash Costello - 52
Gwen Stafani - 51
Scott Weiland - 50
Lee Ranaldo - 49
Thurston Moore - 48
Pete Townsend - 48
Dave Grohl - 47
Lou Reed - 46
John Fogerty - 45
Chris Cornell - 44
Ronnie James Dio - 42
Jack White - 41
Eddie VanHalen - 40
Alice Cooper - 39
Stevie Nicks - 38
Amy Lee - 36
Dee Snider - 30
John Mayer - 25
John Cougar Mellencamp - 9
Tom Petty - 7

Bowie Revisited

Bowie Revisited
or portrait of the artist as a dying man


I wrote a separate post on David Bowie's Blackstar shortly before news of his death.  Looking back, I have a new-found appreciation for this record. It plays as a sort of musical last will, as he clearly knows he is dying. I guess I wouldn’t expect that to be his most exciting work. But it is remarkable artistically, to have a portrait of an artist as a dying man. Richard Feynman died at age 69 of cancer. His last words are reported to have been “I would hate to die twice, it’s so boring.”

It seems plausible that a musician would think “I’m dying, I should share the experience with the world.” I can imagine someone coming up with that idea. But then to muster the strength to pull it off, to write, produce and record an album from one’s death bed, and then to pull off the timing to actually die within days of its public release.. well, that takes someone like David Bowie. For Bowie, art, music, and life were always intertwined.. so too with death. “Isn’t that just like me?”

It goes against the basic spunk rock principles such as the idea that music can make me feel young, excited to be alive. Bowie has gone there in the past. But here he is at the end of the journey, at a stage which is, like it or not, part of life. He looks into the big goodbye and gives us a glimpse of what he sees.