Lake Street Dive's Soulful "Side Pony"

Lake Street Dive, a band fronted by lead vocalist Rachael Price, has been thrilling fans since 2004 with their unique sound at energetic live shows and a series of widely seen internet performance videos. Their current disc, Side Pony, is an enjoyable disc featuring an array of styles encompassing rock & roll, jazz, soul & even a hint of funk & disco. The album kicks off with “Godawful Things,” a jazzy, upbeat number that showcases Price’s powerful voice and features support from Bridget Kearney’s spirited bass playing, and Mike Calabrese’s sometimes rhythmic & solid as a rock drums. Things get even more spirited from there: the funky “Call Off Your Dogs” and “Can’t Stop” are sweet slices of 70s dance grooves with an r&b sheen. There's also an emotional ballad entitled "So Long" & the jazz/pop-infused, innuendo-laden title track.

The soulful vibes continue on “How Good It Feels” and "Mistake" and then “Hell Yeah” turns up the volume with a rocking number featuring great guitar work from Mike "McDuck" Olson, who’s also showcased on “I Don’t Care About You” & “Spectacular Failure.” Price’s vocals are strong & powerful, and in a few instances, they remind me of Bonnie Raitt or Grace Potter. However, she also retains her own unique style. This is a band that's tight & focused, and yet also feels as if they’re loose & spontaneous. A very difficult trick to pull off, and Lake Street Dive does it very successfully. Side Pony follows their fine 2014 release Bad Self Portraits, and it sounds like the band is having a hell of a lot of fun. You will, too. Side Pony is now available in stores & at online music sites. Here are links to the videos for the songs “Call Off Your Dogs,” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OMEPgLxvNPk, "I Don't Care About You," https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PotrCGpwqLI, and a cover of the Hall & Oates classic “Rich Girl” from 2013: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=89Oc1UE7SS4.

Jeff Lynne's ELO: Alone In The Universe

Jeff Lynne has been making great music since his days with British bands like The Idle Race & The Move in the 1960s. But he’s best known in the USA for fronting Electric Light Orchestra, and for being a member of the supergroup The Traveling Wilburys, along with Tom Petty, Bob Dylan, George Harrison & Roy Orbison. You probably know his music, but maybe not his name: As one of my friends recently noted "Jeff Lynne is one of the unsung heroes of rock & roll." Lynne hasn’t recorded an album under the ELO name since 2001’s underrated Zoom; his last solo disc, 2012’s Long Wave, was a collection of covers. But in November of 2015, he released Alone In The Universe, billed as Jeff Lynne’s ELO. If you love the layered vocals & production (backed with shimmering guitars) of ELO's 70s & 80s albums, Alone In The Universe will be a special treat.

The album kicks off with “When I Was A Boy,” Lynne’s paean to his younger days, listening to music on the radio, and being inspired to become a musician. That song sets the tone for the rest of the disc, which features recognizable touches of the classic ELO sound, but also hints of pop & soul, and even a bit of reggae, on “When The Night Comes.” In fact, these tunes could also fit comfortably on some of the albums that Lynne has produced for other artists, including former Wilbury band mates Petty & Harrison, as well as other rockers like Joe Walsh & Dave Edmunds. This is a true one man effort, with Lynne doing most of the vocals & playing all the instruments, except backing vocals by his daughter Laura & some percussion by engineer Steve Jay. The classic ELO sound is probably most evident on the aforementioned "When I Was A Boy," as well as "One Step At A Time" and the title track.

Other highlights include the soulful “Love & Rain,” the lovely ballad “The Sun Will Shine On You” & the Orbison-esque “I’m Leaving You.” The album features only ten tracks (twelve if you buy the deluxe edition) but it definitely shows that Lynne still knows his way around a good rock/pop song, and the disc doesn’t stray too far from the style we associate with his best work, on albums such as ELO’s Out Of The Blue & his 1990 solo effort, Armchair Theatre. It’s an enjoyable record that should please longtime fans. The other good news is that Lynne is planning a full tour in Europe and the USA later this year, with a band that includes longtime ELO member Richard Tandy. If you like ELO, or Lynne’s work with other artists, Alone In The Universe will be a great addition to your music library. Here are links to the video for “When I Was A Boy” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tM34A80RTv4, and a recent television performance of the ELO classic “Evil Woman” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W6DUEpsVQ4A.

Harold & Maude: A Cult Film With Heart

This week, we revisit a 2012 post (with some slight edits) about one of my favorite offbeat movies: this entry wasn't as frequently visited as some others on the site, and since 2016 is the blog's 5th anniversary, I'm bringing this fine film to people's attention once again.

The term “cult movie” is used to define a variety of films that have a devoted following, including the one & only The Rocky Horror Picture Show (1975), noir classics like Out of The Past (1947) and offbeat comedies like 1968’s The Producers. One of the most interesting films to have earned cult status (and deservedly so) is director Hal Ashby’s Harold & Maude  (1971), starring Bud Cort & Ruth Gordon as a most unlikely couple. Cort plays Harold, a young man who’s very obsessed with death. He stages fake (but realistic looking) suicides, trying to gain the attention of his socialite mother, who doesn’t understand him, or support him. She’s tried to send him to therapists, and even set him up on dates, with little or no success. But she just doesn’t get her son, or make a real effort to communicate with him. Harold struggles to be loved & accepted for who he is, not who his mother wants him to be.

One day, Harold meets Maude: a much older woman who has a free-spirited outlook on life. She is, in her own way, as obsessed with life as Harold is with death. The two form a bond and have a few whimsical adventures together. They also have some philosophical conversations about life & love, as Maude becomes Harold’s friend, mentor…and finally, something much more. He decides he’s in love with her, and despite their age difference, wants to marry her. But Maude has a secret; she has other plans, and she’ll teach Harold one more lesson before they part ways.

From that brief description you might be saying: Fake suicides? A 20-something man falls in love with a 70-something woman? I’m sure most filmgoers back in 1971 felt the same way. The movie was not a success on its original release, but the film’s reputation grew through showings on college campuses, midnight movie screenings & word of mouth. As its popularity grew, there were stage versions mounted in several countries, and a French television remake was also produced. I actually saw the film for the first time on a local New York television station’s late night movie in the mid 1980s, and immediately fell in love with it.

This is a wonderful, quirky movie with a great screenplay by Colin Higgins, who went on to script Foul Play & Silver Streak and wrote & directed Nine to Five. The understated, solid direction by Ashby, who also helmed Shampoo, Bound For Glory and Coming Home, is perfect for the material. The performances by Cort & Gordon are revelatory; they really have a wonderful chemistry, and are amazing in their roles. Another factor in the movie’s success is its excellent song score by Cat Stevens. The music fits the mood of the story and adds background, color and atmosphere to the film. Stevens had just experienced his first taste of US success (with the album Tea for the Tillerman), as the movie was being made & released, and Ashby campaigned to use his songs in the film.

The Criterion Collection released an impressive special edition of this wonderful movie on Blu-ray & DVD in 2012. In addition to an excellent new transfer of the film, extras include an audio commentary by Ashby’s biographer Nick Dawson and the film’s producer, Charles B. Mulvehill, as well as illustrated audio excerpts from interviews with the late Higgins and Ashby. There’s also a chat with Cat Stevens, and an informative booklet featuring several articles and essays related to the production, including interviews with star Cort & cinematographer John Alonzo (Chinatown), who also did some fine work on the movie.

The film has some great scenes & dialogue; it’s about two very different people coming together who celebrate each other's differences, and who also discover they have more in common than they first imagined. Harold & Maude is a very un-Hollywood sort of love story; two people falling in love with each other because of what’s in their heads as much as what’s in their hearts, and ending up as true soul mates. There are moments of black comedy, drama, joy & sorrow in this moving, one of a kind film. I recommend it to those seeking an out of the ordinary movie experience. You won’t soon forget Harold & Maude. Here’s a link to The Criterion Collection’s page for their edition of the film: http://www.criterion.com/films/27896-harold-and-maude, which includes their “Three Reasons” trailer.

Harold: Maude?

Maude: Hmm?

Harold: Do you pray?

Maude: Pray? No. I communicate.

Harold: With God?

Maude: With Life.  

- From Harold & Maude (1971)

"The X-Files" Returns With New Episodes

For 9 seasons & 2 movies, FBI agents Fox Mulder & Dana Scully investigated UFO conspiracies, weird creatures and strange events on The X-Files. The show (which premiered in 1993) went from cult favorite during its first couple of seasons, to television phenomenon & fan favorite by the time it ended its run in 2002. Now everyone’s favorite FBI agents are back in a six-episode mini-series. Can the magic of the series’ best episodes be recaptured? Based on the first two chapters of this mini-revival, I’d say the answer is a yes. The premiere, which aired January 24, was entitled “My Struggle.” Scully is working as a doctor/surgeon at a Catholic hospital, which is where we last saw her in the 2008 movie, The X-Files: I Want To Believe.  Meanwhile, Mulder is essentially in hiding, and narrates the beginning of the episode with a catch up on previous events for fans, and for those new to the show. It’s also clear the couple have separated sometime after the conclusion of that 2008 film.

Mulder & Scully are reunited & drawn into a case involving a woman named Seta (a strong performance by Annet Mehendru of The Americans) who claims to have been abducted by & experimented on by aliens. An online conspiracy theorist (nicely played by Joel McHale) leads the agents to the woman, but there appears to be more to the story than just a simple case of alien abduction. It also seems the conspiracy maven may have an agenda of his own. What is interesting (and a little frustrating) about the plot is it ultimately throws a curve into the series long-running government conspiracy/alien storyline. It’s one of those clever twists that seem to negate some of the stories that came before, but only time will tell if this new angle will provide us some true closure to the show's longest running plot thread. But what is undeniable is that the two leads quickly fall back into their wonderful onscreen chemistry, and it’s fantastic to see these characters again. Of course, Mitch Pileggi returns as Walter Skinner, the agents’ boss & sometime ally, and William B. Davis is back as the sinister Cigarette Smoking Man, who apparently survived his death at the end of the original series.

The revival’s second outing aired on this past Monday (the time slot where the rest of the miniseries will be seen in the coming weeks) with a much stronger entry entitled “Founder’s Mutation.” This story was more akin to the original series’ standalone or “Monster of the Week” episodes, though it still managed to tie into some of the show’s overall themes & arcs. The agents (now re-activated by Skinner) investigate the possible suicide of a scientist, and find out that his death is not as simple as it looks. This leads them to a government project that is working with children suffering from genetic mutations, and it brings back memories for both agents regarding their son, William. We last saw William at the end of the TV series when he was given up for adoption for his own safety. Is he a product of the same genetic manipulation as the kids seen in the episode? Was Dana implanted with alien DNA when she was abducted during the show’s original run? It’s clear that this miniseries is going to look at some of these issues, if not answer all the questions.

While the first episode wasn’t bad, and had some entertaining moments, I’d say the second episode was much more satisfying as a whole. The second entry has a much stronger plot than the first, and the dialogue and situations feel very much akin to what we saw on the original show. One of the best things about the revival is that Chris Carter (the creator of the series) is back at the helm, along with several of the series’ best writers, including Glen & Darin Morgan and James Wong. I have to admit, as a long-time fan of the series, it is a real kick to see it back on the air. In fact, most online reviews have pointed out that the upcoming third entry, “Mulder & Scully Meet The Were-Monster,” which airs tomorrow, is the best episode thus far. One interesting fact about this third outing it is if you look at the previews, there’s a quick glimpse of a character that looks very much like Carl Kolchak from The Night Stalker, which was one of Carter’s main inspirations for creating the show in the first place. Is it just a cool Easter Egg or something more? Tune in tomorrow and find out! Here’s a link to the trailer for the the mini-series: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-P-07yN806A.

2/2/16: Update: I've now seen “Mulder & Scully Meet The Were-Monster,” and it's the best episode of this mini-revival thus far. This humorous tale about the hunt for a mysterious creature is filled with in-jokes, easter eggs, and subtle (and not so subtle) nods to X-Files history. It's a wonderful valentine to long-time fans, and Duchovny & Anderson have a ball with their characters in this entertaining story, written & directed by Darin Morgan, who penned the classic  "Jose Chung's From Outer Space" for the original series. Let's hope the rest of the episodes of the miniseries are this good. Highly recommended. 

A Look Back at the "History of The Eagles"

With the sad passing of rocker Glenn Frey on January 18, I thought I’d re-post a previous review (with some minor updates) of the excellent documentary, History of The Eagles, which was originally released in 2013. RIP, Glenn, and thanks for the music.

The Eagles flew out from the shadows of serving as Linda Ronstadt’s backing band, and soared into the spotlight to become rock superstars. They had a string of hits, including “Take It Easy, One of These Nights, and Take It To The Limit.” While never a critic's favorite, the band had a legion of fans who loved their music. They hit their peak with 1976’s Hotel California, one of the most successful rock albums of all time. Then the cracks started to show, as internal conflicts, too much partying & the pressures of fame began to unravel the band. The group broke up in 1980, but resurfaced in 1994 with an MTV special, album & eventual tour called Hell Freezes Over. They’ve reunited on and off ever since. The two part documentary History of the Eagles charts their meteoric rise, fall & eventual reunion.

The film is filled with excellent behind the scenes footage, photos & performance clips from throughout the group’s career. In addition to interviews with current & former band members, there are also appearances by Ronstadt, Jackson Browne & Bob Seger. Part One traces the band’s beginnings through their split in 1980, and Part Two charts the road to their reunion and comeback. The band (including Don Henley, Glenn Frey & Joe Walsh) is remarkably candid about the good times & the bad times that occurred during the group’s heyday. The guys are open (and quite emotional) about their opinions, and sometimes they don’t always come off in a positive light. But Frey reportedly wanted the full story to be told, warts & all, and encouraged the filmmakers to not shy away from the tougher parts of the band’s history. It’s also interesting to see what former members like Bernie Leadon & Don Felder (who wrote a tell-all memoir about his tenure in the band) have to say about their time in the group. Because of Frey's recent passing, the his comments, this of his bandmates (and the entire film) take on an additional level of poignacy.

The band, whose Greatest Hits, Vol 1., 1971-1975 was named the best selling album of the 20^th Century by the Recording Industry Association of America, have an amazing body of work and History of the Eagles reminds us of their enduring catalog of classic songs. It also gives us a glimpse of the band’s then current lineup, which now includes Felder’s replacement, guitarist Stueart Smith. There's also footage of the group working on their most recent (and now possibly final) disc of original music, 2007’s Long Road Out of Eden. I wish there were some complete vintage performance clips featured as extras, but there is a bonus disc included (on both the DVD and Blu-ray versions) with an hour’s worth of performances from a 1977 concert at the Capital Centre, though it’s not the complete show.

 Director Alison Ellwood has done a remarkable job with this film; the three-hour plus running time of the documentary gives her ample time to really tell the band’s story, though Part One is a good deal longer than Part Two. This is a fascinating chronicle of the rise, fall (and return) of one of rock’s most memorable groups, and if you’re a fan of the band, and enjoy ‘70s rock or the country rock genre, the film is essential viewing. The movie originally aired on Showtime, but is available on Blu-ray, DVD and digital download. Here’s a link to the film's trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MkYZrcJzY-M and a vintage performance of “Take It Easy” : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7ZwFmNmB0OQ. Aside from listening to their music, watching this fine film is a fitting tribute to Glenn Frey’s (and the band’s) legacy.

Retro Tribute CDs, Part 2: Right To Chews: Bubblegum Classics Revisited

Last week, I took a look at a 1995 CD release called Saturday Morning Cartoons’ Greatest Hits, which featured alternative artists doing their versions of the theme songs from some classic animated series. This week, let’s review another cool album, this one focused on the bubblegum pop genre. Right To Chews: Bubblegum Classics Revisited, released by (the late, lamented) Not Lame Records in 2002, is a groovy disc that features indie artists covering songs from bands that run the gamut from well known acts like The Jackson 5 & The Osmonds to one hit wonders like White Plains & Daniel Boone. Its 25 tracks worth of stellar AM radio pop goodness from the late 60s & early-mid 70s, with those hummable tunes & “can’t get it out of your head” choruses. The record kicks off with The Rubinoos version of “Bubblegum Music” originally recorded by the Rock & Roll Dubble Bubble Trading Card Company of Philadelphia. It’s a rallying cry for the rest of the album, detailing the joys of listening to the bubblegum genre.

The rest of the disc features more well-remembered hits like The Flying Machine’s “Smile A Little Smile For Me” faithfully rendered by Chris Von Sniedern, and the catchy “Love Grows (Where My Rosemary Goes)” ably re-done by the band Beagle. Some of the covers punch up the original tune, like Teen Machine’s rocking take on The Ohio Express hit “Yummy Yummy Yummy,” and Doug Powell’s power-popped up version of The Partridge Family’s “I Woke Up In Love This Morning.” There are also some more obscure tracks from the period on the album, including Linus of Hollywood’s excellent reading of The Banana Splits’ tune “I Enjoy Being A Boy (In Love With You)” and Superstone’s romp through The Archies’ B-side “Melody Hill.” I also really dig Tammy & The Lords of Misrule’s version of The Sweet’s “Wig Wam Bam,” The Mitch Easter Sound’s awesome cover of Crazy Elephant’s “Gimme Gimme Good Lovin,” Cliff Hillis jamming on Tommy Roe's "Dizzy," and Marykate O’Neil’s romp through Gilbert O’Sullivan’s “Get Down.”

Most of the acts featured on the disc are from the power pop genre, and they infuse these tunes with their own special brand of pop/rock energy. These artists are clearly bubblegum fans, and the disc is so well-done that I think you’ll find yourself re-playing it for a long while after your first spin. Hopefully, you'll also be inspired to check out some of the original music by the artists featured on the compilation. Sadly, this album is long out of print, but with a bit of searching on the internet, you should be able to hunt down a copy, or at least listen to some of the tracks. If you do find a copy of the disc, make sure to read the excellent liner notes included with the CD. By the way, the cover is an homage to Herb Alpert’s classic 1960s album Whipped Cream & Other Delights. This may not be the greatest tribute album ever released, but it's certainly one of the most fun. Here are links to Einstein's Sister's take on "My Baby Loves Lovin" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yvrR2HQ_NYo&index=7&list=PLXQN6OnSVesyiQpEXJayEMPsEQXqbhNGE, Cliff Hillis with his cover of "Dizzy" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EsXW-oPJ1Bo&list=PLXQN6OnSVesyiQpEXJayEMPsEQXqbhNGE&index=2 and Beagle’s version of “Love Grows (Where My Rosemary Goes)”: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NrVhGZwayi0, from the album.

Here’s the track list from the CD: 1. Bubblegum Music - The Rubinoos

2. Yummy, Yummy, Yummy - Teen Machine

3. Smile A Little Smile For Me - Chris Von Sneidern

4. Goodie Good Ice Cream Man - The Andersons!

5. I Want You Back - Sparkle*Jets U.K.

6. Dizzy - Cliff Hillis

7. Gimme Gimme Good Lovin' - The Mitch Easter Sound!

8. I Enjoy Being A Boy (In Love With You) - Linus Of Hollywood

9. Love Grows (Where My Rosemary Goes) - Beagle

10. Goody Goody Gumdrops - Receiver

11. I Woke Up In Love This Morning - Doug Powell

12. Time To Change - Michael Carpenter

13. Goin' Home - Stingray Green

14. Feelin' So Good (S.K.O.O.B.Y. D.O.O.) - The Lolas

15. 1,2,3, Red Light - Joyride

16. Saturday Night - The Oranges

17. My Baby Loves Lovin' - Einstein's Sister

18. Little Bit 'O Soul - Walter Clevenger & The Dairy Kings

19. Get Down - Marykate O'Neil

20. May I Take A Giant Step (Into Your Heart) - Jim Laspesa & Michael Quercio

21. Down By The Lazy River - Wonderboy

22. Beautiful Sunday - The Popdudes

23. Superman - The Beatifics

24. Wig-Wam Bam - Tammy & The Lords Of Misrule

25. Melody Hill - Superstone

Retro Tribute CDs, Part 1: Saturday Morning Cartoons' Greatest Hits

The 1990s was the era of the alternative artist; every week, a new band arrived that would make an initial splash, and then fade away after a hit or two, despite heavy rotation on MTV & VH1. The decade was also the first real explosion of the tribute album genre. On a regular basis, it seemed like a new record was released that saluted a much loved band or popular style of music. One of the more unique discs to come out during this time was Saturday Morning Cartoon’s Greatest Hits. It featured current alternative artists (like Frente! & Tripping Daisy) covering theme songs from classic cartoon shows. The disc was sort of a “Gen X artists meets Baby Boomer TV memories” collection. For example, Liz Phair & Material Issue kick off the album with their version of “The Tra La La Song” from The Banana Splits, and Juliana Hatfield & Tanya Donelly take on the theme to Josie & The Pussycats, the show about the adventures of that all-girl band.

The bands all seem to be having a grand time: Matthew Sweet romps through “Scooby Doo, Where Are You?” and Mary Lou Lord & Semisonic give “Sugar Sugar” by The Archies even more of a candy coating than the original. The matchups of theme & artist are pretty cool: Violent Femmes take on "Epp Ook Ork Ah-Ah” from The Jetsons, and Sublime revs up the title song to “Hong Kong Phooey.” The music will bring back memories of sitting down on Saturday morning, munching on cereal & Pop Tarts, and watching your favorite shows. Where else can you hear Collective Soul cover The Bugaloos, Helmet sing about giant robots with Gigantor or The Ramones (the elder statesmen of this collection) power through the “Spider-Man” theme in their signature style. The one nod to modern animated shows is Wax’s version of “Happy, Happy, Joy, Joy” from Ren & Stimpy.

This is one of the more clever tribute albums to come out during this period. It's a fun disc that will bring back a lot of memories if you’re in the right age group, or the right frame of mind. There was also a VHS (hey, it was 1995, remember?) release of music videos from the album (hosted by Drew Barrymore) and an accompanying comic book, published by Marvel. While the videotape & the comic are a bit hard to find these days, the CD (while out of print) is still readily available online. It’s worth seeking out if you’re a fan of the bands involved, or have fond memories of enjoying all those classic cartoon shows in your younger days. Here are links to the covers of “Sugar, Sugar” by Mary Lou Lord & Semisonic, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aLfkOh-yCT0, The Ramones with  “Spider-Man” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i5P8lrgBtcU, and Juliana Hatfield & Tanya Donelly performing "Josie & The Pussycats" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nvH23b0E64c from the album.

Here's the tracklist from the the CD:

1. Liz Phair With Material Issue – The Tra La La Song (One Banana, Two Banana)

2. Sponge – Go Speed Racer Go

3. Mary Lou Lord With Semisonic – Sugar Sugar

4. Matthew Sweet – Scooby-Doo, Where Are You?

5. Juliana Hatfield And Tanya Donelly – Josie And The Pussycats

6. Collective Soul – The Bugaloos

7. Butthole Surfers – Underdog

8. Helmet – Gigantor

9. Ramones – Spider-Man

10. Reverend Horton Heat – Jonny Quest / Stop That Pigeon

11. Frente! – Open Up Your Heart And Let The Sun Shine In (from The Flinstones)

12. Violent Femmes – Eep Opp Ork Ah-Ah (Means I Love You) (from The Jetsons)

13. Dig – Fat Albert Theme

14. Face To Face – I’m Popeye The Sailor Man

15. Tripping Daisy – Friends / Sigmund And The Sea Monsters

16. Toadies – Goolie Get-Together

17. Sublime – Hong Kong Phooey

18. Murmurs – H. R. Pufnstuf
19. Wax – Happy, Happy, Joy, Joy (from Ren & Stimpy)

Next week: A look at another "far out" tribute disc.