Reviews Written By: A1LQIGGUB7R6JSprovided by Amazon.com |
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 | In Defense of History | |
 | "Interesting, but Limited Appeal" | 2008-09-09 |
| Interesting but not engrossing refutation of the alleged post modern attack on the discipline of history. It probably seems more important if you take the post modern attack seriously to begin with, and I don't. It is true that historians write only their interpretation of history, and not the actual fact of history, but this is something that all historians worth their salt are keenly aware of, and while it is a fault of the discipline in a very real sense, it is also one that cannot be overcome. Everything is filtered through people, that is simply the nature of our existence, this does not mean either that history is meaningless or even that all interpretations of history are equally valid, it simply means we must read widely and critically to arrive at the truth of what happened and what the events mean. If the post modernists are correct, then Holocaust denier's versions of WW2 are just as valid as those relying on the facts of what happened, the notion is, of course, absurd. The deniers' position, based on prejudice in the service of a political agenda is not just as valid as that of true historians, no matter how biased the latter may be. Further, some things did happen, no matter how much we might enjoy musing about the illusionary nature of realty and Evens is right to point this out. The book is on the whole worthy, engagingly written in Evens usual accessible style, but given its intellectual obsessions is of perhaps limited interest to those outside the discipline of history. Of course, there is quite a bit of talk of historiography, which might be of interest to some. | ||
 | Denying the Holocaust: The Growing Assault on Truth and Memory | |
 | "Interesting On Many Levels" | 2008-08-08 |
| This is the book that set off the famous libel suit by infamous neo Nazi David Irving which became the subject of a couple of other books. It also purports to be the first examination of holocaust denial and its tactics. As such it is quite interesting. I fond the section on the attempt to place adds in college newspapers particularly interesting. Lipstadt's argument, that holocaust denial should not be given any academic respectability seems at first glance to undermine the idea of keeping from history from being politicized by enforcing an orthodoxy saying the holocaust happened. But of course the truth is the holocaust did happen, and no one would lend credence to a `historian' that claimed that the Second World War never happened. Facts are facts. Worse, the deniers do have an avowed political purpose, and one that advocates the very thing they deny. There are, indeed, some thoughts that are beyond the pale and should not be tolerated in a civil society, lest we lose sight of objective reality and begin to believe that up is down. The history and phases of the denial movement is fascinating and various players are all well drawn and the book is a rich source of information about the deniers. Highly recommended. | ||
 | Letters To Cleo - Wholesale Meats And Fish | |
| "Pretty Good Stuff!" | 2004-11-17 |
| Hard chick rock with an alternative sheen. Letters To Cleo were not the first in the genre, nor the best, but they were good at what they did. Will please fans of Fetchin Bones, Sheer and The Breeders. "Demon Rock' `Fast Way' and `Awake' are standouts. In a different world they might have been huge, but like a lot of like minded artists, they never quite made the big time. | ||
 | Lone Justice - This World Is Not My Home | |
 | "The Album Should Not Be In Your Home" | 2003-04-15 |
| The castoff collection sounds just like a collection of b-Sides, which is, I suppose, what it is. The album is simply not as good as LJ's albums. Maria McKee's cowgirl posturing is off putting, and her screeching will make you beg for mercy. McKee is a great singer, but you'd never know it from this album. Everything here is a bit off kilter, if you doubt, compare her version of "Way's To Be Wicked' with Tom Petty's vastly superior original. Stick with LJ's actual albums, or better yet, McKee's solo work. | ||
 | Letters to Cleo - Go! | |
 | "Go Ahead And Give It A Buy" | 2003-04-07 |
| Letters to Cleo were a chick fronted alt band from the early nineties that combined elements of shogazing bands like My Bloody Valentine with the crunch of harder alt bands like sheer and the pop sensibility of Jesus Jones. Success proved as elusive For Letters To Cleo as it did for like-minded artists Certain Distant Suns and Eve's Plum. They were pretty good at what they did; the musical mainstream just didn't bite. They definitely sound of their times today, but the album will be a sure hit for fans of the genre or those who are nostalgic for the times. | ||
 | Various Artists - The Big Chill: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack, Plus Additional Classics From The Era | |
| "Good Soundtrack" | 2002-10-25 |
| A fine classic rock comp if that's your thing, although, if that is your thing you probably have all these tracks already. Of course you might need an instant 'mix tape'. | ||
 | Candlebox - Lucy | |
| "Almost As Good As The Debut" | 2002-10-24 |
| This album nearly spelled the end of this 90s style metal outfit, though it's hard to see why. They still make hooky, radio friendly hard rock in the style of Alice In Chains or Soundgarden, and there is no real change in style or tone from their well respected debut. Maybe the label just printed too many copies or maybe their day had passed, rap metal a seems to have sucked up all the teenage rebellion boys not worshiping Snoop Doggy Dog Dog Dog. Fans will not be disappointed. All the tracks are fine, I especially liked 'Simple Lessons' 'Become (To Tell) and 'Drowned'. | ||
 | Overdrive: Bill Gates and the Race to Control Cyberspace | |
| "Actually In Park" | 2002-08-14 |
| Gossipy, disorganized and poorly written anti-Gates screed. This book is so badly written it's hard to get through it, even for someone who is a knee jerk hater of Chairman Bill (like, well, me). The author meanders about, jumping from topic to topic like a kangaroo, leaving the reader at first dazed and confused, but finally bored and annoyed. Worse, he spends an inordinate amount of time discussing Gates personal life, from the chairman's alleged over attachment to his mother to the birth of his kids. Excuse me, but I'm interested in the business end of Gates' life, I don't care if he wants his mommy. Wallace spends an entire chapter gushing about Gates' Hawaiian wedding and how exclusive and elaborate it was. Doubtless Wallace is envious, I was bored. The anti-trust battles are poorly explained, at best, why did Bingaman refuse to prosecute chairman bill? We can only guess. This book has little to recommend it, although Judge Sporkin thought highly of the prequol, HARD DRIVE. I never read it, and after reading this disjointed mess I don't think I will. | ||
 | Nick Lowe - Dig My Mood | |
| "I Dug It, You Will Too" | 2002-08-08 |
| I'll be honest, I miss the rollickin, rockin good time smart alec that Nick Lowe once was (check out PARTY OF ONE or COWBOY OUTFIT) but whatever he does, he does it well. Lowe has ever been a bit of a musical chameleon, that was rather the point of JESUS OF COOL, after all. Once upon a time, he did British Invasion pop with Kippenton Lodge (see HENS TEETH by Brinsley Schwarz) then he did Byrds style country rock and psychedelia (early Brinsley Schwarz) and then he did country, pub and rockabilly solo and with Rockpile. Here he has transformed himself into a soulful lounge singer who actually has a soul. Few performers could pull off so many styles and stay true to their muse, but the Basher is a master. Best tracks are 'Failed Christian', 'What Lack Of Love Has Done', 'Man That I've Become' and especially 'Faithless Lover'. All are heartfelt, moving songs with a quiet intensity that Nick has hinted at for years (check out 'You Make Me' from LABOR OF LUST or 'Heart' on NICK THE KNIFE) but which really came to the fore with the excellent IMPOSSIBLE BIRD. Here the transformation is complete. I'll admit, it took me a while to get into this album, since it was so different from most of his earlier output, but every Nick Lowe gets better with repeated listening. That is what makes him a genius. | ||
 | Johnny Clegg & Savuka - Heat, Dust and Dreams | |
| "Inevitable Consequence of Genius" | 2002-08-07 |
| Johnny Clegg has been marketing his unique blend of western and African music for many years now, though he is criminally ignored in the US, he is better known to European and African music fans. Johnny's mix of rock music with traditional Zulu singing was the inspiration for Paul Simon's critically acclaimed GRACELAND album and is somewhat similar to music made by South African ex-pat Dave Matthews. A peerless songwriter, Clegg is known both for his politically charged stompers (check out the poignant, pointed 'Inevitable Consequence Of Progress', told from the perspective of a helicopter gunman hunting African tribesmen) and moving love songs (like 'I Can Never Be (What You want To Be)'). He concentrates on the political here, and given his South African originals it's no surprise that he has a leftist, pro-democracy bent. South Africa has seen all to recently the ravages of the right, and doubtless only hard line racists will find conservatism's disingenuous lies appealing. Any Clegg album could just as easily be a greatest hits for a lesser artist, and every track is excellent, but special kudos go to the stomping, irresistible 'These Days', the thoughtful "When The System Has Fallen' and the lively, ferocious 'Foreign Nights'. Worth whatever you pay for it. As for his live shows, well, they have to be seen to be believed. | ||
 | Johnny Clegg - Third World Child | |
| "Learn To Speak A Little Bit Of Zulu" | 2002-08-06 |
| When I heard Juluka broke up, I was floored, the only solace I had was the rumor that Johnny Clegg would be releasing material as a solo artist, needless to say, the appearance of THIRD WORLD CHILD proved the rumors to be true, much to my delight. Lighter and more mainstream than his Juluka efforts, Johnny's Savuka albums are equally excellent. Continuing his passion for missing western and African music styles, Clegg's brilliant, lively music is as good as it gets. Clegg is equally adept at charged political diatribes, love songs and slice of life pieces, but here he concentrates on the political, producing some of the best protest music of our time, check out the anthemic, blood boiling title track, the mournful, hopeful `Asimbonanga' and the excellent, haunting `Missing'. All of Clegg's music is upbeat and percussive, and there really is no other artist just like him. Unbeknownst to many, Johnny was the inspiration for Paul Simon's excellent GRACELAND album, which mixed western and African music in a similar style. Buy and be likewise inspired. The only complaint I have is the replacement of the excellent and now hard to find `Gumba Gumba Jive' with the Savuka version of `Scatterlings', which was made famous by its inclusion in the Rainman soundtrack. Nothing against the fine remake, but `Gumba Gumba Jive' is a track not to be missed (it is available on an import only greatest hits of Savuka, as well as the original run of the vinyl album). | ||
 | Widespread Panic - Widespread Panic | |
| "Makes Sense To Buy" | 2002-07-31 |
| I bought this album out of the bargain bins back in 91, basically because I thought there name was cool, and it was quite a nice surprise. Panic are a jam band similar to Blues Traveler, The Spin Doctors or Phish, the foursome have taken up the torch from the Almonds and The Dead. Although Panic are not the most famous or successful of the new jam bands they are actually quite good. This eponymous album is their best, including their single best track, the sharp, forceful `Makes Sense To Me', also worthy of note are `Walkin (For Your Love)', `Send your Mind' and `Pigeons'. The band, in spite of its obsessions, makes good hooky rock, and write some fine insightful lyrics. The excessive jamming is kept to a minimum here, making the album accessible to newbies, as well as a treat for fans. Highly recommended. | ||
 | Widespread Panic - Widespread Panic | |
| "Makes Sense To Buy" | 2002-07-31 |
| I bought this album out of the bargain bins back in 91, basically because I thought there name was cool, and it was quite a nice surprise. Panic are a jam band similar to Blues Traveler, The Spin Doctors or Phish, the foursome have taken up the torch from the Almonds and The Dead. Although Panic are not the most famous or successful of the new jam bands they are actually quite good. This eponymous album is their best, including their single best track, the sharp, forceful `Makes Sense To Me', also worthy of note are `Walkin (For Your Love)', `Send your Mind' and `Pigeons'. The band, in spite of its obsessions, makes good hooky rock, and write some fine insightful lyrics. The excessive jamming is kept to a minimum here, making the album accessible to newbies, as well as a treat for fans. Highly recommended. | ||
 | EMF - Schubert Dip | |
| "Dated Alt Pop" | 2002-07-27 |
| EMF are the schlock pop hooligans responsible for the catchy 'Unbelievable'. I suppose that if you must have that little curio there is nothing for it, but believe me, that is all EMF ever did. I still remember the big controversy over what their name meant, of course, nowadays no one even remembers their name. | ||
 | Labour of Love-Music of Nick Lowe | |
| "What, Not Labor Of Lowe?" | 2002-07-23 |
| This excellent tribute album demonstrates the strength of Nick's songwriting, although this is not something that has gone unnoticed by his fans. Nick Lowe's cutting wit and his unfailing gift for the hook are the reason that he has been around so very long. Amusingly, Lowe is probably best known for Elvis Costello's cover of 'What's So Funny About peace love And Understanding', though that song is not included here. Even more amusing is the fact that a little noticed cover of that same track on the monster selling BODYGAURD soundtrack made Lowe a millionaire. It's all about the covers, and this little gem of an album is chuck full of excellent covers. Especially notable are Petty's 'Cracking Up' (originally included on his bloated box set, which is also excellent, by the way), Parker's 'The rose Of England', Greg Brown's 'Where's my Everything' and Marshall Crenshaw's 'Television'. I suppose that given the excellence of the contributing artists, it's no surprise that LABOR OF LOVE is a five star album. It's a must have for his fans and excellent introduction to the Jesus Of Cool for the uninitiated. | ||
 | Bap Kennedy - Lonely Street | |
| "Excellent For Music Fans Of All Eras" | 2002-07-07 |
| Bap Kennedy's music is instantly likeable. Pleasant, thoughtful and beautifully constructed this superb album is surpassed in quality only by 'Domestic Blues', which you also should buy. Bap's music is lively alt country, in spite of his Irish heritage, reminding one of the Byrds, The Dead and The Flying Burrito brothers, as well as more recent bands like The Bottle Rockets and Son Volt. Stand out tracks include 'Drunk On The Blood Of Christ', 'Almost Always Wrong' 'Stuck With Myself' and 'Be Careful What You Wish For'. A | ||
 | Money and Politics | |
| "Money In Politics? The Solution Is Here" | 2002-03-25 |
| An excellent little pamphlet summarizing a number of interesting solutions to our current highly flawed campaign system. Not only do Fine, Miller and Donnelly offer a compelling solution that has already proven effective at the state level, they also allow their critics to rebut their arguments in the book, this is rare indeed, and welcome. Rarely do you see a volume so evenly discuss and represent contrary and conflicting viewpoints so well. It is certainly food for thought, and will provide even those opposed to the Fine/Miller/Donnelly solution with interesting reading. Highly recommended for anyone with an interest in contemporary politics, but especially those who feel that money has distorted or destroyed the American system. Highly recommended. | ||
 | The Popinjays - Tales from the Urban Prairie | |
 | "... Bucks? NO NO NO" | 2001-08-15 |
| I�ve been told that the Popinjays are intended to be annoying, well, they have succeeded. | ||
 | Graham Parker - Hold Back The Night | |
| "Mercury Poisoning Or�" | 2001-03-08 |
| Quite a fine little comp. Fans won't need it, as they will have all of these tracks elsewhere, however it could serve as a fine introduction to GPs excellent Mercury period. He made three albums worth of material for Mercury (HOWLING WIND, STICK TO ME and HEAT TREATMENT), one much maligned live album (THE PARKERILLA) and one hard to find EP (THE PINK PARKER EP). All are worth owning, if you want to know why, start here. He was at the peak of his powers in this period and those unfamiliar should take note. | ||
 | Dave Edmunds - Repeat When Necessary | |
| "REPEAT REPEAT REPEAT!" | 2001-02-23 |
| This album smokes. Edmunds was at the peak of his powers, and his back up band (see; Rockpile) was the best he's ever had. Dave comes out swingin with the excellent 'Girls Talk' and doesn't slow down til it's all over. Raucous, lively and punchy, this is pub at it's best. Good rockin rockabilly in the fifties tradition. Fans of Cowboy Mouth, CCR and Men At Work should take note. Rockpile was the king of all bar bands, unstoppably great, and no matter what name they recorded under they were irresistible (see Lowe's LABOR OF LUST and their own SECONDS OF PLEASUSE). It's a pity they didn't stay together (Billy Bremner, where are you?). Pay special attention to "Crawling From The Wreckage', 'Sweet Little Lisa' and 'Creature From The Black Lagoon' PS And by the way, Huey Lewis plays harmonica on 'Bad Is Bad', which he covered on SPORTS. | ||
 | Jez Lowe & Bad Pennies - The Parish Notices | |
| "Top Notch" | 2001-02-07 |
| I bought this album because it had a sticker on it that said that Richard Thompson thought Jez Lowe was the greatest thing since sliced bread, and gOd bless him, he was right. Lowe is a folkie straight out of the Thompson tradition, with a somewhat more Celtic feel. This is his finest album, excellent from beginning to end. Lowe's fine singing is made more appealing by his accent, which he himself mocks ('a Scotsman said my songs were shite and me accent was a scandal and the only true born Johnny's left were Sting and Johnny Handle'-you have to love lyrics like that!). His songs are insightful and richly detailed, and his feel for the material is obvious. He is especially good with material describing the trials of the common man (More sample lyrics: 'you spent your life in the land of plenty while I've spent mine where the bowls are empty...blood's no thicker than the cold no North Sea no more'). It's rare that you find a folkie this good and this lively. His music swoons and it bounces, it is catchy to the point of irresistible and so danceable you'll be tempted to get up and go every time you here it. Will please fans of The Proclamers, Bap Kennedy, The Irish Rovers and Nick Lowe. Standouts include 'Glad Rags Again', 'Propping' 'Spitting Cousins' and 'Had Away, Gan On'. Unconditionally recommended. | ||
 | Cowboy Mouth - Mouthing Off Live | |
| "Lovely Live" | 2001-02-02 |
| Seeing Cowboy Mouth live is a religious experience. This CD really does not do their amazing shows justice, of course, but it is excellent. As a rule I am suspicious of live albums, which often are neither as good as a bands live shows nor their studio albums. This is true even of this album, but because CM start at such a high level the album is still excellent. This album was originally released in the early 90s (as Mouthin Off) and was actually CMs first release, and they sound righteously raw and energetic. It's a great addition to any fans catalogue, especially since it includes a number of songs unavailable elsewhere, including two tracks (Don't Come Home A Drinkin' (With Lovin' On Your Mind) and Listen To What I Say) that are actually studio recordings that are available nowhere else. There is an expanded version of the album that was released in 97 and is even better, but best to buy this sucker now while it's available, you won't regret it. Additional standouts include 'Down By The Riverside' and 'Light It On Fire'. | ||
 | Melissa Ferrick - Willing to Wait | |
| "Don�t Be �Willing To Wait�, Just Buy It" | 2001-02-02 |
| I picked this album out of the bargain bins basically at random, when I listened to it, I was stunned. I promptly began hunting for her other releases, now I own every album she has put out and I highly recommend them all, all are available on Amazon.com. Melissa Ferrick is the best female singer-song writer working. This is her best album. Her insightful introspective lyrics and beautiful emotive singing will please any fan of Beth Hart, Sinead Lohen or Maria McKee, as well as fans of Paul Simon, Mark Curry and James Taylor (sample lyrics "There'll be no white sheets on my block but my daughter would never marry a black man ....and if you let little girls play with trucks their sexuality gets all screwed up and Polish jokes are just for fun..."). Standout tracks include `Any Time', `Gotta Go Now', `Willing To Wait' and `Cracker Jack Kid'. Highly recommended. | ||
 | Vigilantes of Love - Live at the 40 Watt | |
| "Great Live, Great In the Studio, Just Plain Great" | 2001-01-24 |
| It's amazing how good VOL sound live, but generally speaking even great live bands don't make great live albums. This is not true of VOL, and this album is proof. They are quite able to duplicate their excellent studio sound in concert, or maybe it's the reverse, either way they sound fantastic. I needed only see them once to be convinced that I needed to buy all their albums. Live Bill's emotional connection to his music just pours out. Sound wise they are fine folk rock, similar to Sister Hazel, Gin Blossoms and The Counting Crows. Any of their albums is worth owning, and this one, which features tracks from a number of the studio albums, is a great starter. Standouts include "Could Be A Lot Worse', 'Avalanche' and 'The Opposite's True'. I also highly recommend VOL's studio albums TO THE ROOF OF THE SKY, BLISTER SOUL and AUDIBLE SIGH | ||
 | Songs of Protest | |
| "Fun and educational!" | 2001-01-24 |
| This excellent album combines some of the greatest protest songs of the sixties in one very listenable package. One might quibble about the song selection (what, no Dylan?) but one cannot argue with the excellence of the music presented. It's a wonderful collection, perfect for a sixties enthusiast, even the tracks you don't recognize (and I knew almost all) are excellent. Many are the best tracks by the artist. Standouts include (but are not limited to) `Sky Pilot', `Signs' `War' and `Eve Of Destruction'. This album is a true relic of the period, and expresses many of the political concerns of the hippie movement. Highly recommended, especially for fans of the era. | ||
 | Cowboy Mouth - Mercyland | |
| "Let�s Have A Hand For The Drummer Man" | 2001-01-20 |
| This outstanding album will delight fans of alt-country bands like Son Volt and Steve Earle as well as fans of psychobilly madmen like Webb Wilder and The Beat Farmers and even fans of straight ahead rock bands like the Counting Crows and Sister Hazel. Please keep in mind that the Mouth are better than all of the aforementioned artists. Live, they are irresistible, in the studio, they are heavenly, and I feel compelled to reiterate the words of other reviews who have said "they make you believe, if even for a little while, that everything is going to be alright.". They provide passion, insight and rollicking good music. It's a crime that they aren't huge. This album is so good that I made a habit of picking up extra copies to give to friends (including LoE and tMoBY). All the tracks are standouts, but I will give a few an honorable mention: `Drummer Man', `Shotgun In My Soul', `Crazy Bout Ya' and `Out Of My Way Back To You'. I recommend Cowboy Mouth to everyone, and you should buy ALL their albums. | ||
| Cowboy Mouth - Mercyland | |
| "Let?s Have A Hand For The Drummer Man" | 2001-01-20 |
| This outstanding album will delight fans of alt-country bands like Son Volt and Steve Earle as well as fans of psychobilly madmen like Webb Wilder and The Beat Farmers and even fans of straight ahead rock bands like the Counting Crows and Sister Hazel. Please keep in mind that the Mouth are better than all of the aforementioned artists. Live, they are irresistible, in the studio, they are heavenly, and I feel compelled to reiterate the words of other reviews who have said "they make you believe, if even for a little while, that everything is going to be alright.". They provide passion, insight and rollicking good music. It's a crime that they aren't huge. This album is so good that I made a habit of picking up extra copies to give to friends (including LoE and tMoBY). All the tracks are standouts, but I will give a few an honorable mention: `Drummer Man', `Shotgun In My Soul', `Crazy Bout Ya' and `Out Of My Way Back To You'. I recommend Cowboy Mouth to everyone, and you should buy ALL their albums. | ||
 | Webb Wilder - Hybrid Vigor | |
| "I Want To BECOME A Human Cannonball" | 2001-01-19 |
| Webb Wilder is a pub rock/roots rock madman in the style of Cowboy Mouth with just a dash of psychobilly thrown in. Fans of Chickasaw Mud Puppies, Southern Culture On The Skids and The Bad Livers will be especially pleased, although I also recommend the album to fans of straight ahead rock bands like Sister Hazel and Counting Crows, countrified rockers like Steve Earl and Hal Ketchum and witty pub artists like Nick Lowe and The Barenaked Ladies. Punchy, lively and wild, Webb Wilder is definitely a treat for the senses; the album makes you want to dance. Hell, I bought it for full price, that's got to tell you something! Stand Outs are "Human Cannonball' and 'Skeleton Crew'. Well, what are you waiting for? Buy it! | ||
 | The Guess Who - The Best of the Guess Who | |
| "This is a perfect album." | 2001-01-19 |
| Every track is a masterpiece. It's the kind of album that I play again and again, and never tire of. It's an album that I take on every road trip, and play every time. Truth be told, although The Guess Who were a great band, most of their albums were uneven. This collection, however, is masterful, all the great tracks from their early albums (most with Randy Bachman) collected together and thus made irresistible. The early Guess Who combined great lyrics, great Who style music and soulful singing. Indeed, Burton Cummings is probably the most underrated vocalist of the rock era, his passionate emotive style makes Joe Cocker sound like Bob Dylan (check out `No Time'). Best single track is `No Sugar Tonight/New Mother Nature'. Without a doubt one of the greatest albums of the era, all fans of sixties music should own it. | ||
 | Brian Setzer - The Dirty Boogie | |
| "It�s Jumpin, It�s Jiven" | 2001-01-18 |
| Setzler is a retro master, that is certain. This lively album is a mix of swing and rockabilly that packs quite a punch. Although I doubt any modern swing fan would be unfamiliar, he is recommended to fans of the Cherry Poppin Daddies and Big Bad Voodoo Daddy. Indeed, he was doing it long before these other bands, and he will survive the demise of the new movement. Setzler, solo and with the Stray Cats is rightly considered the father of modern swing. Stand out tracks include `Rock This Town' and `This Cat's On A Hot Tin Roof'. | ||
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