Tuesday, August 29, 2006
NEW PETER FRAMPTON CD--it's INSTRUMENTAL
Peter Frampton's first ever instrumental album featuring Charlie Watts, Bill Wyman,
Mike McCready, Matt Cameron, Warren Haynes,Hank Marvin and Brian Bennett, 'FINGERPRINTS' will be released Sept. 12th 2006 in the USA.
For music samples, new photo, links just go to:
http://umecard.com/frampton/
I am a long time Frampton fan, but I wonder will an entire album without lyrics hold up...time will tell.
Zeph, out
Peter Frampton's first ever instrumental album featuring Charlie Watts, Bill Wyman,
Mike McCready, Matt Cameron, Warren Haynes,Hank Marvin and Brian Bennett, 'FINGERPRINTS' will be released Sept. 12th 2006 in the USA.
For music samples, new photo, links just go to:
http://umecard.com/frampton/
I am a long time Frampton fan, but I wonder will an entire album without lyrics hold up...time will tell.
Zeph, out
Sunday, August 27, 2006
LIVING WITH WAR by Neil Young
ROUND TWO
Readers,
My cyber bud and frequent 4 Way Site poster Ed, inspired me to take another run at Neil Young’s LIVING WITH WAR. I marvel at the sizable number of CSNY concert goers who are put off by much of the sentiment of this album, and the fact that they have to sit through 9 of the ten songs, to hear what they came to hear from the reunited super group this summer.
So as promised, here’s my take song-by-song of my third and fourth spins of LWW, using my TriPorts (great headphones, no I don’t own stock in the company) with the booklet of lyrics in hand:
After the Garden: grows on you since the refrain is pretty but repetitive, but is still a slam at George W Bush (GWB) and/or the US Government (“Won’t need no shadow man, Runnin’ the government”). You’d be surprised how many people like the US Government; ask all the illegal aliens who marched to stay in the USA for example. If done as an environmental plea, this could have been a great song.
Living with War: Ultra repetitive and dull, and “a holy vow to never kill again,” is something the terrorists are not taking, and need to be persuaded to do so by whatever means necessary.
The Restless Consumer: nauseatingly repetitive, but I agree we “don’t want no damned Jihad.”
Shock and Awe: point well taken, and wisdom is indeed hard to find. This one can stay. May be a semi-classic some day.
Families: focus on the sadness of the disruption of families as we are living with war. This one can stay, it makes the point. But that is part of the price of freedom.
Flags of Freedom: outwardly and lovingly Dylanesque; and yes sir, I believe in mine more than they believe in theirs, or at least as much in the case of our allies. My flag does indeed stand for freedom, and don’t you forget it.
Let’s Impeach the President: put aside the slam GWB subject matter and just listen to the sound as if it were all instrumental; it comes off like a grade school jam. Young is capable of so much better.
Lookin’ for a Leader: contains a backhanded slam of General Powell, who served his country unselfishly, so just for that it’s crap. With better lyrical treatment, and a more classic or timeless presentation of the theme, the same message could have been conveyed, and it would hold up longer than a few news cycles. America is beautiful, but I suggest has a human side; I resent the “ugly side” comment even if arguably true. This could have been a classic but anger took control I suppose.
Roger and Out: I take this one as a beautiful poignant thought about a fallen comrade; I hope that’s how Young meant it. I’m not sure, but this one can stay.
America the Beautiful: by far the best tune on the disc; why he included it is unclear to me, maybe for balance? The choir is warm and really adds to the treatment, but I have to say the late great Ray Charles did the definitive version in my lifetime. And this is the only one of the 10 songs here not performed in concert by CNSY to date this summer. Can you imagine the guys leading a large crowd every night in a group sing of this song…and on a DVD showing a few seconds from show after show in city after city? It would be breathtaking. I’d love to be part of that.
Bottom Line: I’ll give it an extra half star, so what’s that 2.5/5? I still see how a lot of us CSNY fans are put off by hearing all but the last song in concert at 200 dollars a seat, and some even reportedly walk out in protest. Forgive my repetition but save your money for Still’s MAN ALIVE! It’s a keeper you will enjoy for years.
Zeph, out
ROUND TWO
Readers,
My cyber bud and frequent 4 Way Site poster Ed, inspired me to take another run at Neil Young’s LIVING WITH WAR. I marvel at the sizable number of CSNY concert goers who are put off by much of the sentiment of this album, and the fact that they have to sit through 9 of the ten songs, to hear what they came to hear from the reunited super group this summer.
So as promised, here’s my take song-by-song of my third and fourth spins of LWW, using my TriPorts (great headphones, no I don’t own stock in the company) with the booklet of lyrics in hand:
After the Garden: grows on you since the refrain is pretty but repetitive, but is still a slam at George W Bush (GWB) and/or the US Government (“Won’t need no shadow man, Runnin’ the government”). You’d be surprised how many people like the US Government; ask all the illegal aliens who marched to stay in the USA for example. If done as an environmental plea, this could have been a great song.
Living with War: Ultra repetitive and dull, and “a holy vow to never kill again,” is something the terrorists are not taking, and need to be persuaded to do so by whatever means necessary.
The Restless Consumer: nauseatingly repetitive, but I agree we “don’t want no damned Jihad.”
Shock and Awe: point well taken, and wisdom is indeed hard to find. This one can stay. May be a semi-classic some day.
Families: focus on the sadness of the disruption of families as we are living with war. This one can stay, it makes the point. But that is part of the price of freedom.
Flags of Freedom: outwardly and lovingly Dylanesque; and yes sir, I believe in mine more than they believe in theirs, or at least as much in the case of our allies. My flag does indeed stand for freedom, and don’t you forget it.
Let’s Impeach the President: put aside the slam GWB subject matter and just listen to the sound as if it were all instrumental; it comes off like a grade school jam. Young is capable of so much better.
Lookin’ for a Leader: contains a backhanded slam of General Powell, who served his country unselfishly, so just for that it’s crap. With better lyrical treatment, and a more classic or timeless presentation of the theme, the same message could have been conveyed, and it would hold up longer than a few news cycles. America is beautiful, but I suggest has a human side; I resent the “ugly side” comment even if arguably true. This could have been a classic but anger took control I suppose.
Roger and Out: I take this one as a beautiful poignant thought about a fallen comrade; I hope that’s how Young meant it. I’m not sure, but this one can stay.
America the Beautiful: by far the best tune on the disc; why he included it is unclear to me, maybe for balance? The choir is warm and really adds to the treatment, but I have to say the late great Ray Charles did the definitive version in my lifetime. And this is the only one of the 10 songs here not performed in concert by CNSY to date this summer. Can you imagine the guys leading a large crowd every night in a group sing of this song…and on a DVD showing a few seconds from show after show in city after city? It would be breathtaking. I’d love to be part of that.
Bottom Line: I’ll give it an extra half star, so what’s that 2.5/5? I still see how a lot of us CSNY fans are put off by hearing all but the last song in concert at 200 dollars a seat, and some even reportedly walk out in protest. Forgive my repetition but save your money for Still’s MAN ALIVE! It’s a keeper you will enjoy for years.
Zeph, out
Saturday, August 26, 2006
SAMMY DAVIS, JR. THE DEFINITIVE COLLECTION: in appreciation thereof !!!
I grew up seeing Sammy Davis, Jr. on TV on many many shows. He was a great among greats like Sinatra and Dean Martin. I admit being a huge fan, who sadly never got to experience the man live in concert. The closest I have come was seeing the London stage shows (Rat Pack Live and Rat Pack: Confidential). If you ever get the chance and like this music, see one or both.
Now being the mainly “classic rock” type fan, I can’t justify huge dough to get a full collection of any one of the three aforementioned singers, but I did get the single best CD of Dino released last year; and it’s a winner. Sinatra is way too prolific a recording artist to ever have a single (or triple) CD definitive "best of," but readers please ask someone to try, OK? And just the other day, I picked up Sammy’s best, best of, released in the USA last week. And it’s a charmer.
First, even the songs in mono (gasp!) from the 1950s (double gasp!) recordings sound good to great. Once the album transitions into the stereo age, the sound improves and becomes dramatic in fidelity given the age of the recordings. Back then, they had at most a few tracks to work with and you simply HAD to be great on every take. Sammy and band and background singers (of which there are actually few), were indeed spot-on on all of these tracks. Even the natural reverb on the man’s voice which in today’s digitally over-processed and ultra-slick world should sound cheesy, does not!
Standouts…simply the entire record. Ultra-standouts include in no particular order, “What Kind of Fool Am I?” “I’ve Gotta Be Me,” “The Candy Man,” and the definitive version in my book of “Mr Bojangles.” One standard that so many top voices have tackled, “The Lady is a Tramp,” is simply SO well done, that within a few spins, I will say Sammy’s is the definitive recording of this unexpected treasure also.
Bottom Line: 5/5 Stars. If you don’t like it, someone in your family will.
Zeph, out
I grew up seeing Sammy Davis, Jr. on TV on many many shows. He was a great among greats like Sinatra and Dean Martin. I admit being a huge fan, who sadly never got to experience the man live in concert. The closest I have come was seeing the London stage shows (Rat Pack Live and Rat Pack: Confidential). If you ever get the chance and like this music, see one or both.
Now being the mainly “classic rock” type fan, I can’t justify huge dough to get a full collection of any one of the three aforementioned singers, but I did get the single best CD of Dino released last year; and it’s a winner. Sinatra is way too prolific a recording artist to ever have a single (or triple) CD definitive "best of," but readers please ask someone to try, OK? And just the other day, I picked up Sammy’s best, best of, released in the USA last week. And it’s a charmer.
First, even the songs in mono (gasp!) from the 1950s (double gasp!) recordings sound good to great. Once the album transitions into the stereo age, the sound improves and becomes dramatic in fidelity given the age of the recordings. Back then, they had at most a few tracks to work with and you simply HAD to be great on every take. Sammy and band and background singers (of which there are actually few), were indeed spot-on on all of these tracks. Even the natural reverb on the man’s voice which in today’s digitally over-processed and ultra-slick world should sound cheesy, does not!
Standouts…simply the entire record. Ultra-standouts include in no particular order, “What Kind of Fool Am I?” “I’ve Gotta Be Me,” “The Candy Man,” and the definitive version in my book of “Mr Bojangles.” One standard that so many top voices have tackled, “The Lady is a Tramp,” is simply SO well done, that within a few spins, I will say Sammy’s is the definitive recording of this unexpected treasure also.
Bottom Line: 5/5 Stars. If you don’t like it, someone in your family will.
Zeph, out
Thursday, August 10, 2006
POLITICS
Dear Readers,
Please grant me this indulgence. I would like to thank any and all persons involved in foiling the despicable plot to take down reportedly 10 or so commercial aircraft on the way to the USA from the UK that made the news today. The brave women and men in Pakistan, Great Britain and the United States and no doubt elsewhere have saved perhaps thousands of lives of our brothers and sisters, spouses and children, parents and friends.
Keep up the brilliant work ladies and gentlemen, your bravery and dedication is remarkable and world class.
We will always have a portion of the population who are evil, and a similiar portion I suspect that delude themselves and others that evil does not exist. You cannot make a deal with evil; nor can you call a cease fire with evil. You cannot "buy-off" evil. Those that believe you can, have either never studied, or never understood history...even recent history.
The good people who protect us and our loved ones sometimes make mistakes; it's only human. We sometimes attack that which should have never been attacked, but I do think more often than not, the good people are on the right track. We err on the side of taking out the bad people and protecting the peaceful.
It is truly sad that a very vocal but in my mind small (and small-minded) cross section of the population simply refuses to believe we are at war with terrorists and will continue to be so for the rest of our lives. They can sing their songs and some even mount their multi-millionaire lifestyles and preach to these naive individuals. But there is only one way to deal with terrorists.
Terrorists must be stopped in their tracks, by any means necessary, saving lethal or destructive force for the last resort. But sometimes lethal force can't wait. Ask anyone who lost a loved on in the USA on September 11, 2001; if they had a weapon on one of those flights, they would have used it to stop the terrorists without hesistation. I'm pretty certain the plane that crashed in Pennsylania on the way to Washington D.C. saw brave passengers use their bare hands to save many more lives than their own, and pay the ultimate price for doing so.
There is however a far more difficult next step. That is to teach the children of terror to love and not to hate, to respect and not to envy, to accomplish and not destroy. Yes, friends we must find a way to teach the children who were schooled in the towers of evil and hatred that this path is not the way to go. And that will be our best investment for peace in this war on terror. I pray some day we reach that goal.
Zeph, out
Dear Readers,
Please grant me this indulgence. I would like to thank any and all persons involved in foiling the despicable plot to take down reportedly 10 or so commercial aircraft on the way to the USA from the UK that made the news today. The brave women and men in Pakistan, Great Britain and the United States and no doubt elsewhere have saved perhaps thousands of lives of our brothers and sisters, spouses and children, parents and friends.
Keep up the brilliant work ladies and gentlemen, your bravery and dedication is remarkable and world class.
We will always have a portion of the population who are evil, and a similiar portion I suspect that delude themselves and others that evil does not exist. You cannot make a deal with evil; nor can you call a cease fire with evil. You cannot "buy-off" evil. Those that believe you can, have either never studied, or never understood history...even recent history.
The good people who protect us and our loved ones sometimes make mistakes; it's only human. We sometimes attack that which should have never been attacked, but I do think more often than not, the good people are on the right track. We err on the side of taking out the bad people and protecting the peaceful.
It is truly sad that a very vocal but in my mind small (and small-minded) cross section of the population simply refuses to believe we are at war with terrorists and will continue to be so for the rest of our lives. They can sing their songs and some even mount their multi-millionaire lifestyles and preach to these naive individuals. But there is only one way to deal with terrorists.
Terrorists must be stopped in their tracks, by any means necessary, saving lethal or destructive force for the last resort. But sometimes lethal force can't wait. Ask anyone who lost a loved on in the USA on September 11, 2001; if they had a weapon on one of those flights, they would have used it to stop the terrorists without hesistation. I'm pretty certain the plane that crashed in Pennsylania on the way to Washington D.C. saw brave passengers use their bare hands to save many more lives than their own, and pay the ultimate price for doing so.
There is however a far more difficult next step. That is to teach the children of terror to love and not to hate, to respect and not to envy, to accomplish and not destroy. Yes, friends we must find a way to teach the children who were schooled in the towers of evil and hatred that this path is not the way to go. And that will be our best investment for peace in this war on terror. I pray some day we reach that goal.
Zeph, out
