May 6, 2002

Official Nonsense:

Editor at large - Kurt Torster (sfkrock@...)

With help from: Stefan Edstrom, Klaus Brandlhuber, Tim Henderson, Peter Sims, Mark Alger, Melanie Papcun and others.

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If you wish to donate some $$$ to help offset the minute costs associated with editing this rag, you can do so through PayPal. My address there is ktorster@.... And from now on out, any amount donated will get you a CD packed with all 18 Gems featured so far as MP3s of the week. I burned one for myself and it makes an incredible AOR CD, so I figured I would pass it along and maybe you might find something new you dig. So, simply put…donate some cash and get me your mailing address and you can get yourself a CD with the following tracks, SFK GEMS VOLUME 1: Richard Marx – I Get No Sleep, Bridge 2 Far – We Got Away, John Eddie – When Love Turns Mean, Dare – Runaway, Fee Waybill – Saved My Life, Geoff Moore – The Vow, Dakota – Over In A Minute, Michael Bolton – You’re All I Need, Bob Halligan Jr. – Could Have Been You, Triumph – Don’t Love Anybody Else But Me, Night Ranger – Color Of Your Smile, Danger Danger – Feels Like Love, Desmond Child – I Don’t Want To Be Your Friend, David Cassidy – Lyin’ To Myself, Street Talk – Someday (I’ll Get Over You), Pat Benatar – All Fired Up, Dan Reed Network – I’m Lonely Please Stay, Patty Smythe – Heartache Heard Around The World. And yes, there will be a Volume 2 later this year. Oh, for those that donated in the past, just email me your address and I’ll zip you one out. Just my way of saying thanks for the support!

Kurt's Krap:

On the SFK site, a lot of you have noticed the webcam shot that was added a few months back. Well, I have changed it to a new one…a pretty cool view of Newark International Airport, where at any given moment you just may catch a plane landing.

Welcome to Ozzy’s tech support…can I help you?

New secret weapons in the war on the Taliban…

I am The Bastard!

I thought my neighbors were nuts…

Another way of spelling losers…

Do not view this picture on a full stomach!

WTF? Bonus WTF?

You know, I have no love for suburban housewives drive SUVs bigger than a bus. Obviously these people don’t either.

What DVD I watched this weekend: nothing, weird weekend…wound up watching Trading Spaces all night and falling asleep in front of the TV. It sucks getting old.

SFK MP3s Of The Week:

[Now, SFK offers up 4 MP3s each week in different categories. Enjoy!]

Forgotten gem – Patty Smyth – Heartache Heard Around The World – One of the most upbeat tunes ever, with a chorus to die for. She’s also my favorite female artist, Patty can do no wrong to my ears.

Live/acoustic – Tesla – Little Suzi – From their “Replugged” collection, a classic rocker from a classic band.

Rare – Goo Goo Dolls – Take Me Out To The Ballgame – By request! The Goos awesome kick ass take on the baseball classic, from their promo “Dizzy Up The Goos” collection.

Cover tune – Jason Falkner – Do Ya – From the recently released tribute to Jeff Lynne, “Lynne Me Your Ears”, Jason kicks a little bit o’ ass with this cover.

YOU Rate The Sites:

Last month, give guys gave a HUGE 4.87 rating to Heavy Harmonies.

This month, we turn the vote to the always excellent Melodic.Net.

Vote on it at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/sfkrock/surveys?id=751462 .

The Top 5 (2002):

[This is simply a running tab of my choices for best album of the year. It will fluctuate with mood, but is a pretty good representation of my most listened to discs so far.]

[1] Goo Goo Dolls – Gutterflower
[2] Highway 9 – What In Samhill?
[3] Mecca - Mecca
[4] Harem Scarem – Weight Of The World
[5] Eric Martin – I’m Goin’ Sane

News Bytes:

Small issue…not lots of news…oh well.

The awesome Adult Contemporary Music In Japan website has finally been updated after a long absence. This is THE place for Westcoast AOR on the net.

The incredible “What In Samhill?” from Highway 9 sees its release this week in the US. For those looking for a good deal, Target stores are advertising the disc for it’s first week release at $5.99!

There are rumors that opening various dates on Foreigner’s US tour will be bands like Night Ranger, Kansas and Cheap Trick. Their Behind The Music was decent, though I’m a little disappointed that “Mr. Moonlight” got nary a mention.

I gotta say, that new Moby single, “We Are All Made Of Stars”, is pretty damned good. I won’t buy the album though because I am sure that over the next year, every song on it will be used to advertise everything under the sun.

Guns N' Roses will perform at the third annual Summer Sonic festival in Osaka, Japan, which runs August 17 & 18. They will also play the Leeds site at the Carling Weekend on August 23.

Sugar Ray will appear in the new Scooby Doo movie, performing the song “Words To Me”.

Rush has added more US dates on their tour, posted at their website.

Creed has canceled the second North American leg of its “Weathered Tour” after frontman Scott Stapp was in a car accident. Stapp’s car was struck by another vehicle and the musician’s body “absorbed a 60-mph impact”. Stapp has been advised by medical professionals to cancel the tour as he recuperates.

Ex-Megadeth bassist Dave Ellefson and guitarist Al Pitrelli are to join Sebastian Bach’s touring band for a series of shows later this month. However, this is only a temporary arrangement and is unlikely to stretch beyond May.

“The Greatest Hits Of Big Country And The Skids” is the title of a 36-track retrospective being released on May 29 in the UK. A double CD, this is being released as a tribute to the late Stuart Adamson, a crucial part of both bands.

Butch Walker has completed his first solo disc, “Left Of Self-Centered”. Butch describes it as a “rock and roll all you can eat buffet”. He hits the road with Lit. Here’s some dates:
May 19 Atlanta, GA Earthlink Live
21 Raleigh, NC Lincoln Theater
22 Winston-Salem, NC Ziggy's
23 Charlotte, NC TBD
24 Ft. Lauderdale, FL The Culture Room
25 Tampa, FL Jannus Landing
26 Orlando, FL House Of Blues
27 Ft. Myers, FL Neptunes
29 Lafayette, LA Grant Street Music Hall
30 New Orleans, LA House Of Blues
31 Dallas, TX Deep Ellum Live
June 1 Houston, TX Numbers
2 San Antonio, TX Sunset Station
4 Denver, CO Ogden Theatre
5 Salt Lake City, UT Escape
7 Boise, ID Big Easy
8 Portland, OR TBD
9 Seattle, WA Graceland
11 Sacramento, CA TBD
12 Stockton, CA San Joaquin County Fair

Judas Priest will release a DVD called “Live In London” on July 1. It was shot at the band’s pre-Xmas show last year at the Brixton Academy and includes lots of behind-the-scenes footage.

Joan Jett has recorded a cover of the Beatles' "The Word" for a new compilation that benefits breast cancer charities titled "It's About Eve (Music for the Cure)".

Accord to Sharon and Ozzy on The Tonight Show With Jay Leno, The Osbournes has been officially renewed for a second season, to take place at the family’s home in the UK.

Here’s the tracklist for the soundtrack to “Spirit: Stallion Of The Cimarron” by Bryan Adams: Here I Am, I Will Always Return, You Can't Take Me, Get Off My Back, Brothers Under The Sun, Don't Let Go, This Is Where I Belong, Here I Am, Sound The Bugle, Run Free, Homeland, Rain, Long Road Back, Nothing I've Ever Known and I Will Always Return.

For her first headlining tour, Pink is playing some interesting cover tunes including “Sweet Child O’ Mine”, “Janie’s Got A Gun” and “What’s Up” (4 Non Blondes). She was quoted as saying something to the effect of “I want to rock, if people get pissed, fuck ‘em”.

Jane's Addiction is nearing completion on "Hypersonic" with hopes for a fall release.

Bruce Kulick has contributed lead guitar to the track "Sweet FA" for the upcoming Sweet tribute album, to be released later this year. Appearing under the banner JK's All Star Experience, Kulick is backed on the track by an all-Swedish cast consisting of, among others, rhythm guitarist Lars Chriss (Lion's Share), bassist John Levin (ex-Europe), vocalist Jonas Nilsson (Rednex), and keyboardist Tommy Denander (Radioactive).

The Scorpions will release a new compilation album called “Bad For Good – The Very Best Of The Scorpions” at the end of this month. And it will include two brand new tracks, “Bad For Good” and “Cause I Love You”, both produced by Dieter Dierks (the first time band and producer have worked together in nearly 15 years).

Joe Satriani is set to release his latest album, “Strange Beautiful Music’” in late June. It features a guest appearance from King Crimson’s Robert Fripp. Satriani will co-headline a US tour with Dream Theater in late summer, with King’s X opening up the show.

Harem Scarem will play three dates in Germany with Pulse. June 4 in Frankfurt, June 5 in Augsburg and June 6 in Rottenburg AN.

The John Oates solo disc is titled “Phunk Shui” and will be released on August 8. It will have 11 tracks, with the Japanese bonus track being “Mona Lisa’s Eyes”. On a side note, I got my tix to see Hall & Oates with Todd Rundgren at the PNC Arts Center in August…6^th row..sweet!

Image Entertainment will release the DVD of Rick Springfield’s “Beat Of A Live Drum” concert video from 1985. The press release states: “He soared to the heights of stardom in the '80s as a teen idol, a soap star on General Hospital, and a platinum-selling, Grammy-Award winning music artist. This concert event showcases the energy and vitality that propelled Springfield to the top of the pop charts, filled with spectacular live footage, giant projection screens, integrated music videos, and thousands of adoring fans. It's an unforgettable evening with one of the hottest performers of the '80s! Songs: Don't Walk Away, Alyson, Living in Oz, Affair of the Heart, Celebrate Youth, Human Touch, My Father's Chair, Jessie's Girl, State of the Heart, Bop 'Til You Drop, Don't Talk to Strangers, Love Somebody, Souls, Dance This World Away, Stand Up”. Rick will also release his “Alive” video on DVD through his website.

Brian Wilson will release “Pet Sounds Live” in June, which was taken from his highly successful four night stand at London’s Royal Albert Hall. Brian was backed by The Wondermints.

The Dave Matthews Band's new album, "Busted Stuff", will be released on July 16.

The SFK Deck O’ Fluffiness:

Michael Bolton – Only A Woman Like You – I wonder if Mr. Bolton knows he’s too old to be in a boy band. Roping in help from people like Max Martin, Mutt Lange and Shania Twain, you would think this thing would, um, rock a bit (or be upbeat at least)…but nope. It’s pretty much the same old adult contemporary schmooze Michael has been doing for years. Only this time with a much better production... and yes, he still sounds like the male version of Celene Dion (I guess someone has to). The songs here aren’t all that bad, and they are the kind that if they come on the radio I wouldn’t turn them off, but there’s nothing here I would go out of your way to listen to. And that is probably the biggest strike against this set. Inoffensive and bland.

Michael Carpenter – Up Close – I’ve read a lot about Michael on some pop boards but until now, never heard any of his music. Man, what I have been missing! I liken this guy to some sort of pop sponge, where at any moment his music ranges from late 60s hard edged Beatles/Beach Boys pop, 70s AM Gold radio pop to 80s new wave skinny tie power pop. And it’s all GOOD. I mean REALLY GOOD. Featuring twelve tracks from his two studio releases along with six bonus tracks (actually eight as two are uncredited), this has easily moved into rank as one of my favorite discs of all time. Intelligent, melodic, harmonic…what more could one ask for?

The Incredible Moses Leroy – Electric Pocket Radio – How in the world do I begin to describe this one? How’s this…it’s Lenny Kravitz joining Daft Punk, playing in an ELO cover band while being channeled by the spirit of Austin Powers. I think. It’s original, that’s for sure BUT it’s not so eclectic that it’s not enjoyable, because it is one of the most consistent and fun pop albums I’ve dug in quite a while. Songs like “Anthem”, “1983” and “It’s A Sunday” are guaranteed radio smashes, they are just so good the defying categorization. This guy deserves to be a superstar.

Neal Morse – It’s Not Too Late – When this one, from the Spock’s Beard vocalist, was recommended to me, I was really expecting it to be overlong prog rock along the lines of Dream Theater or ELP. Happy to report it’s not even close to that! I guess this solo release is Neal getting his pop tendencies out of his system and the results are fabulous. A bit like the piano heavy side of Don Henley (bits of Elton John and Ben Folds here too), there is not a song on here that doesn’t make you “feel” it. The songs are instantly memorable, yet have enough depth and complexity that each listen brings something new to your ears. Absolutely brilliant all around.

Various Artists – Listen To What The Man Said (A Tribute To The Music Of Paul McCartney) – OK, I’ve made it well known that I am no big fan of tribute albums, but every so often you do come across a good one. Like this one for example (and the Jeff Lynne tribute I’ll review next week). It does have it’s bad (members of the Barenaked Ladies covering “Junk” lives up to it’s title and The Minus 5 seem clueless on “Dear Friend”), but overall the good strongly dominates here. Memorable covers from Owsely (“Band On The Run”), SR-71 (“My Brave Face”), Semisonic (“Jet”) and The Merrymakers (“No More Lonely Nights”) all make this pretty listenable. Fans of Macca should dig this, as obviously all the tunes are done with love (rather than the quickie cash-in jobs from Cleopatra/Deadline).

Feedback:

From: Joe Vana
Hey Kurt! Thanks for giving Kevin Gilbert his due!! He is one of my true idols....

From: Mark Orsted
the RS Speak To The Sky you mention is just a "bargain basement" collection of songs from the Mission Magic Cartoon series he did. The compilation was out several (8-10?) years ago, and has just been reissued.

On a cool note though, Wait For Night and Beginnings have both apparently been reissued on CD in Canada.  I'm awaiting copies to "confirm" they are legit, etc, now. Will keep you posted.

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