Jonas Brothers: The New Beatles?
It seems like only weeks ago that the Jonas Brothers released a new album--but thankfully, just as the iconic and best-loved bands of the '60s managed to release three albums in one year, here comes their new one!
Yes, in many ways, today's music scene recalls the glory days of eras long past!
For starters, the Jonas Brothers are brothers! Just like the Everly Brothers, the Louvin Brothers, the Statler Brothers and the Blues Brothers!
Secondly, like many of the '60s' best bands, they've recorded an album and are offering it for sale!
Finally--and I suspect this is the clincher--by all reports, it's audible!
Who says you can never go home again?
Jonas Brothers: Lines, Vines And Trying Times (Hollywood) I think most of us are predisposed toward liking the Jonas Brothers, especially since that video popped up featuring one of the guys dancing like Beyonce! And most of us also realize that one-time teen idols, as they mature, may want to take a firmer hold of their careers and start getting, well, you know, artistically serious! That being said, is the world really ready for a soul-baring, confessional epic devoted to cocaine addiction, the link between bulimia and licorice, and an embarrassingly personal series of love songs directed at television star Judge Judy? Probably not! So maybe this great album will serve us all in the interim! Perhaps one day, like the Jonases, all of us will have our own coats of arms!
Paranoid-Jonas Brothers
George Harrison: Let It Roll: Songs By George Harrison (Capitol/EMI) In some ways a member of the Jonas Brothers of his era, but with longer hair, George Harrison made lots of interesting records after leaving his baby band the Beatles! This new collection of hits spotlights many of his best known songs--including "My Sweet Lord," "Give Me Love (Give Me Peace On Earth)" and "All Those Years Ago"--as well as live versions of his classic Beatle tracks "While My Guitar Gently Weeps," "Something" and "Here Comes The Sun"--and is the sort of thing you'd want to have around your house just on general principles! Valuable for refreshing our memory about Harrison's upbeat and compelling post-Beatles material, which often stood in the shadow of solo material by his former bandmates Paul McCartney and John Lennon, this collection is classy, formidable, hook-filled and wry! You know what? He wasn't bad!
Got My Mind Set On You (2009 Digital Remaster)-George Harrison
Street Sweeper Social Club: Street Sweeper Social Club (ILG) Well, let's look at the positive side of all this! Tom Morello was lead guitarist of Rage Against The Machine and Audioslave! A skilled player, he was the best part of the former band, since--can I be frank?--the rapping dude who made Rage Against The Machine unlistenable was something of a dunderhead! As for Audioslave, well, he made Chris Cornell sound like he was fronting a more commercial Soundgarden! Just as we'd all hoped! And Boots Riley? He was the former leader of hip-hop group the Coup--whose major claim to fame was an incredible album cover predicting the destruction of the World Trade Center! The verdict on this unexpected collaboration? It's unanimous! "Boots" may be the coolest first name in all of rock 'n' roll!
100 Little Curses (Amended)-Street Sweeper Social Club
Holly Williams: Here With Me (Mercury Nashville) Back with her second album in five years, Holly Williams is an interesting artist! Genetically, she can't be beat! Her grandfather was Hank Williams, her dad is Hank Williams, Jr., and Hank III is her half-brother! Plus she was once interested in pursuing a career in modeling! Get my drift? As a special bonus, however, she's actually good! Though she didn't write as many songs here as she did for her debut set, most of the material is equally fine, surprisingly personal, and not especially sounding like it was made for TV! Like most of us, I'd be interested in taking her to a fast-food restaurant!
Three Days In Bed-Holly Williams
Big Star: #1 Record/Radio City (Ardent/Stax) If you're into rating records on a 1-10 scale, 10 being great, this disc--which features the fabulous first two records by Memphis' legendary Big Star plus bonus tracks--would have to be a 20! Loved by rock critics but purchased by precious few, these early '70s discs completely laid out the future for the musical movement that would be called "power pop," inspired some of the best and brightest musicians of the last 30 years, and eventually cured cancer! No, wait--this band was so great that the Replacements later wrote a song about its leader, Alex Chilton, called "Alex Chilton"! And Nirvana sounded just like the Replacements, but not as good! And everybody after Nirvana sounded just like Nirvana, but not as good! In short, Big Star was the last good band there ever was! Not counting the Jonas Brothers, of course!
Daisy Glaze-Big Star
Tiny Masters Of Today: Skeletons (Mute) It's no coincidence that this album is coming out the same day as the latest one by the Jonas Brothers! It's a Tuesday! An action-packed masterwork starring youngish brother and sister Ivan (15) and Ada (13), Skeletons deserves all the plaudits accorded the duo by the likes of the Yeah Yeah Yeahs, David Bowie, Fred Schneider, Kimya Dawson, and probably some relatives! With a sound referred to by some of the most knowledgeable blog writers in existence as "lo-fi, high-intensity fun," the Tiny Masters are simply better than anyone else who is older than they are! Sound enticing? You bet! And if you're like me, and maybe nervous about buying into the hype, here's what will seal the deal: According to Amazon, customers who bought this item also bought the Quantum Of Solace DVD!
Skeletons-Tiny Masters Of Today
Scott Walker: 30th Century Man DVD (Oscilloscope) Let me highly recommend the American release of this fascinating UK documentary about American-born music legend Scott Walker--whose earliest days in pop trio the Walker Brothers set the stage for one of the most remarkable artistic transformations in all of pop music. An excellent historical account of the man's beginnings and subsequent journey into weirdness, featuring a stellar array of celebrity admirers and hangers-on, this disc is compelling viewing any way you look at it! Especially on a DVD player!
30 Century Man-Scott Walker
Davy Knowles: Coming Up For Air (Blix Street) Those of us in the know were marveling at the last album by Davy Knowles' Back Door Slam, a trio from the UK's Isle Of Man who have somehow managed to take the classic Brit-blues sound of Chicken Shack, the Keef Hartley Band, John Mayall's Bluesbreakers, Fleetwood Mac, Savoy Brown, and, I dunno, Skid Row, and make it sound fresh, new and exciting! Additionally, those who caught Jeff Beck's last American tour also caught Knowles in action and were similarly thrilled! It's like, everything old is new again! This latest album is produced by Peter Frampton--whose classic work with Humble Pie I suggest you check out right now--and is in every way a winner! Except in Worst Album Ever competitions, which are rarely held!
Taste Of Danger-Davy Knowles
Do It Again: The Steely Dan Years by Dave DiMartino (Kindle Edition) The best book ever written? It's hard to say! All I know is, I was captivated by every word! Originally penned in 1985 and callously rejected by a major book publisher, this epic tome sat in a drawer at home, alone and weeping, until modern-day technology allowed it to be resurrected and offered for commercial sale right here! It would be extremely poor form for me to imply that this writer has a talent that borders on incredible genius--at least without also mentioning he's remarkably good-looking as well! I'd buy five!
Michael Buble: Michael Buble Meets Madison Square Garden (CD/DVD) (Reprise) I'm into avant-garde concept albums as much as the next guy, but this is one freakish set! Following the first 10 seconds of the album--in which the celebrated singer announces, "Hello, I'm Michael Buble"--a full 35 minutes of silence transpires until, eerily, a low groan gradually builds, chairs apparently flop up and down, and a horrifyingly deep voice utters, extremely slowly, "Hellloooo... I ammm Madison Squaaare Gardennn!" Sounds great in 5.1 surround sound!
I've Got The World On A String [Live From Madison Square Garden]-Michael Buble
The Beatles will forever have generation after generations of fans who appreciates the music they gave in their day. In 10 years, JB will be broke, washed up, and on a reality show before you know it.
The Jonas Brothers are one of THE worst things to hit the music industry. At times they can be good (like in December), but most of the time, their lead singer, Joe, can't come even close to carrying a tune thus wrecking the band. Their show, JONAS, is an epic failure. Every time I review them, they are 12-69!!! YOU HEARD ME! 12-69!!! That's like as bad as the Washington Nationals and the Detroit Lions of 2008 COMBINED!!! They are a pathetic excuse of singers and actors.
Don't buy their CD. If you do, you MAY regret it.
Now, the George Harrison album...THAT is something to look forward to.