Compilations

Various Artists
The Kendall Live (CD, s.n., [2002])

The Kendall Live CD was released in May. It is a compilation of live recordings from the Kendall Café of Boston-based and national acts including Merrie Amsterburg, Mike Gent, Barbara Kessler, The Splendid Nobodies, Deb Talan, Todd Thibaud and Amelia White. The CD release show took place on May 23 at 608. CDs are available at the Kendall Café and proceeds benefit the Neely Cancer Fund. The Kendall Café (233 Cardinal Medeiros Ave. in Cambridge, MA) presents live, original music 7 nights a week.

www.thekendall.com

Maria McLaughlin, E-Mail Message, December 19, 2002

Various Artists
Alexis (CD, Slate Roof, 2002)

There was a special CD Release show at the Lizard Lounge on December 14 to celebrate the music of Alexis Gewertz Shepard. Alexis was a gifted, emerging singer-songwriter who died in 1998 at the age of 28 when a truck collided with her bicycle. Her death came just a few days before she was to begin recording her first CD of original songs with her band. Fortunately, there was a live radio performance and a few other songs on tape, which Pete Weiss at Zippah Studios and a number of local musicians used to record her songs. This recording was released by Alexis' band mates, close friends and family. Her songs are performed by many local musicians including Franc Graham, Faith Soloway, Deb Pasternak, Jenny Reynolds, Ken Batts, Jim Bouchard, Karen Harris, Esther Friedman, Sandi Hammond, Dave Dersham, Paul Kearnan, Pacey Foster, Nathan Thompson and The Gone Boys, along with her former band mates John Rapoza, Jerry O'Hare and Mike Aiello.

www.alexisshepard.com

Maria McLaughlin, E-Mail Message, December 19, 2002

Demos

Downbeat 5
Three Bullets for Alice (CD, s.n., [2002])

• The Downbeat 5's Three Bullets for Alice starts out strong with a cover of "(He Makes My Heart Go) Dum Dum Ditty." This version sounds so little like the original, "The Dum Dum Ditty" by the Goodies (b/w the interesting "Sophisticated Boom Boom"), that I wonder if maybe the DB5 learned it, instead, from the cover by the Shangri-Las. The original number, "Three Bullets for Alice"--charmingly named--is a classic rock 'n' roll instrumental. If I were to take a blindfold test, I can't imagine that I would be able to tell that "Three Bullets for Alice" isn't a genuine oldie. Jen Rassler's voice is best suited for "Cryin' in the Night," which could fit equally well on either The Boston Incest Album or one of the We Had a Wicked Good Time compilations. One of the charms of this demo is that it has authentic demo-quality sound. The Downbeat 5 is currently working up an album; and it'll be interesting to see whether it helps or hurts when Rassler's vocals are miked with an actual mike. On the Shondells cover, "Mirage," she spits out words in a way that I can't picture coming from Tommy James. Thanks to Nancy Neon for arranging that a copy of this gem of a demo be sent here.

Amy Fox
Acoustic Demo (CD, Affectagious, 2002)

• From the Underbelly (CD, Affectagious, 2001) was one of the brightest spots in a very bright year in music. And Amy Fox's acoustic demo tells us there's more great material on the way. This is a sampler: three songs, each quite different from the other two. My favorite is the opening number, "European Waterline." It's probably not mere coincidence that it's the track that leads off the disc. I could easily picture Bonnie Raitt or Lyle Lovett covering "European Waterline." It would also seem to be a natural for another Maine singer, Jess Tardy.

Pamela Means
Four-song demo (CD, www.pamelameans.com, n.d.)

• I confess to near-total ignorance about Pamela Means and her career; but one listen to this demo is all it took to get me hooked on her guitar playing. Her style falls somewhere between that of '60s Richie Havens (she even has a great Richie Havens story) and Melissa Ferrick. So, the one thing I know is that I hope to hear more.

Nervous Eaters
Eaters (CD, s.n., n.d.)

• The Nervous Eaters demo is much too old to include here; but I'm listing it anyway, because so few fans seem to know about it. I'm not totally clear on the lineup, but the frontman is none other than the great Steve Cataldo. Slowly but slowly he's been working on getting these recordings into shape for release as an album, and the demo is very promising. It must have been a couple years ago, in an e-mail, that he spoke of being an old guy now. You won't hear it here. This is kicking stuff. Maybe he was kidding. Incidentally, Gary Shane made it possible for me to hear tapes of live Nervous Eaters radio broadcasts, and it was nothing short of a revelation. Punk attitude, accessible melodies, serious variety, and some really rocking stuff. These tapes also bear out much of what Cataldo said in interviews around the time of the ever-controverial major-label release and for quite a while after. Imagine what it would have been like if the Eaters had recorded an album, in the band's early club days, for an indie label.

Reissues

Willie Alexander
Solo Loco Redux (CD, Captain Trip CTCD-410, 2002)

• Many people thought Solo Loco (LP, Bomp, 1981) was Willie Alexander's best album, judging from what I've read in the press and heard from fans. Solo Loco Redux is an expanded version of the American release and, I imagine, of the prior French issue. Though Alexander is chronologically from the hippie generation, his music has long blended the earlier beatnik and later punk periods. From this album right through the '90s recordings he made with the Persistence of Memory Orchestra, he has combined many simple techniques to create a sometimes complex-sounding whole. The compact disc's lack of surface noise allows more subtleties to come through. For instance, the piano and drums have a feel, in places, similar to Phil Spector's (and Brian Wilson's) Wall of Sound counterparts. As is often the case with WA, many songs feature remarkably spare lyrics. Except for the title, "Autre Chose" could hardly be said to have any words at all. Now that an expanded Solo Loco is available on disc, can my own favorite Willie Alexander album, Autre Chose (2 LPs, New Rose, 1982) be far behind?

Jon Butcher Axis
An Ocean in Motion: Live in Boston 1984 (CD, Atom ATOM0202, 2002)

• It doesn't take a lot of thought, it doesn't take a lot of listening to see one of this album's greatest virtues. The track list shows that the material is drawn mostly from the Jon Butcher Axis' first two vinyl-only albums. Of course, Butcher's fans would probably want this long-overdue live set anyway; but the program of songs is a definite plus. Recorded live at the gone-but-not-forgotten Channel in Boston, this record displays the acoustics that were peculiar to that cavernous nightclub. I haven't been able to crank the volume (though I suspect it may be the way to go); but I did listen on headphones, which revealed a lot better sound than the low volume--favored by my neighbor--ever could. Strong performance, appreciative audience, and fantastic flashback to 1984 at the Channel. Oh yes ... and this isn't actually a reissue, but we had to fit it in somewhere.

Robin Lane and the Chartbusters
Robin Lane & the Chartbusters (CD, Collectors' Choice CCM-308, 2002)

• This is the classic Robin Lane and the Chartbusters album, and the compact disc reissue is an essential item in the New England Music Scrapbook basic library of our region's rock 'n' roll. This record is loaded with great songs; and the band performs them in an engaging style that, at times, is reminiscent, instrumentally, of the Byrds. While this is not a modern recording, the sonics are quite good enough; and the disc has the warmth and density that were present on many of the best LPs. Personal favorite tracks include "When Things Go Wrong," "Be Mine Tonite," "Why Do You Tell Lies," and especially "Without You." And ... as I understand it, the new Chartbusters album is being manufactured right now.

David Mallett
David Mallett (CD, North Road, 1978, 2002)
Pennsylvania Sunrise (CD, North Road, 1979, 2002)
Hard Light (CD, North Road, 2002)

• Three classic albums reissued simultaneously, in a limited pressing. It was pretty clear from the time these arrived that, combined, they would be my Reissue of the Year. Each is special in its own way. Many people think of David Mallett as his recording debut, though he made singles with the Mallett Brothers in the '60s and at least two compilation tracks with Don Hinkley in the '70s. A single of "The Garden Song" was out well before the LP. Pennsylvania Sunrise is special to me, at least, in that it's my all-time favorite David Mallett album. But both of those recordings, as good as they are, were already very well represented on the Inches and Miles compilation. Hard Light is a very different story, with only three songs on the earlier CD. So now, once again, we can listen to classic recordings such as "Mr. Arthur's Place" (hard to believe Mallett didn't write that one) and a couple covers of country music classics. "You Say That the Battle Is Over" was a curious omission from Inches & Miles. It has long been a crowd pleaser. Mallett rewrote part of a verse, composed a new darker tune, then restored the original melody--and the song remained popular throughout all these changes. Moreover, it's an exceptionally well-written topical song.

Eddie Sulik
A Farewell Legacy (CD, Hard Rock Hattie LS 1000-003, 1999)

• Though this CD is three years old, I just learned about it in the fall, thanks to Joshua Mamis. I'm mentioning it here, though it's not a 2002 release, because this is an important reissue, representing an early New England country-rocker who performed original material and displayed a voice that's about perfect for the occasion. We have heard that a dispute exists over the rights to these recordings, though we know little more. Josh Mamis has given us permission to post his feature article on Sulik, so please check this site later.

Todd Thibaud
Squash
Tone-Cool

• There's more than one basis for judging a recording. When considering pure enjoyment, Todd Thibaud's Squash would be hard to beat. Wham! Thibaud and company ace the first four tracks, including the hook-laced "Uninvited, Overdue." And they're not slouches on the others, either, with melodically-engaging personal favorites sprinkled throughout the album. Thibaud's songs can be melancholy, such as my favorite here, "Is It Love," with the line, "Is it love that keeps me here to someday find it gone." We give producer Adam Steinberg high marks, indeed, for his part in making this disc a career highlight for Todd Thibaud. Tone-Cool Records re-released Squash in October.

Top Picks from New England Journalists

Mighty Mighty Bosstones, A Jacknife to a Swan (SideOneDummy) Boston's own ska-punksters put some punk back into the equation and come up rocking. The song "I Want My City Back" is a raucous tribute to Kenmore Square before it was gentrified.

-- Steve Morse, Boston Globe, December 8, 2002

Aimee Mann, Lost in Space (Superego) Pop songs don't come any smarter, gloomier, or more beautiful than these. A brutal, eloquent ode to obsession from a master of the form.

-- Joan Anderman, Boston Globe, December 8, 2002

Consonant, Consonant (Fenway Recordings). Yes, this year's Mission of Burma reunion was/is a blast and a half. But that's only tangentially related to this terrific album, which finds Burma member Clint Conley returning to songwriting after two decades and pretty much picking up where he left off. Still, working with a notably different line-up (double guitars; Fuzzy member Winston Braman playing bass instead of Conley; Chris Brokaw displaying a very non-Burma guitar style) brings a lot of freshness to the mix. Conley's new songs hit on all levels--they're cerebral, emotional, and aggressive. And there are still enough hooks to remind you it's the same guy who wrote "Academy Fight Song."

Peter Wolf, Sleepless (Artemis). On his three solo albums over the past decade, Wolf has been growing out of his Woofa Goofa persona and letting his guard down. This is his solo peak, a deep-blue and soul-drenched album that shows how overlooked he's been as a songwriter. It's also the best new album that Mick Jagger has appeared on in at least a decade.

Tanya Donelly, Beautysleep (4AD). This should have been her commercial comeback; instead it was her creative one. It was fine to hear her try out a relatively straight-ahead rock sound over the past few years, but strange beauty is still what Donelly does best. And that's what she does here, on her best set since Belly's debut. The voice and the melodies soar, and the songs are framed by some of the most out-there parts that guitar hero Rich Gilbert has ever played.

Blake Hazard, Little Airplane (Kimchee). Good Lord, it's another Kimchee release featuring a smart, intriguing female singer. This one's no surprise, however--it's been clear for years that Hazard's had some fine pop up her sleeve. Working with partner John Dragonetti, she's gotten into an electronic setting that suits her songs perfectly; this is a couple who know how to amplify each other's strengths.

-- Brett Milano, Boston Phoenix, December 26, 2002

These have been selective excerpts from Brett Milano's 2002 local (Boston) top ten. Other albums he honored include

Mary Timony
The Golden Dove (Matador)

The Gentlemen
Blondes Prefer the Gentlemen (Soda Pop)

• We are very interested in the Gentlemen, particularly because of the band's apparently convincing win in the 2002 WBCN Rock 'n' Roll Rumble. We also consider Soda Pop to be one of the best label names we've seen lately.

Seana Carmody
Struts & Shocks (Kimchee)

Mr. Airplane Man
Moanin' (Sympathy for the Record Industry)

27
Animal Life (Kimchee)

Avoid One Thing
Avoid One Thing (Side One Dummy)

Velvet Crush, Melody Freaks (Action Musik). In stark contrast to Soft Sounds, the Velvet Crush album I wrote about last week, this one is much more in the classic Crush mode, with vibrant melodies, gorgeous guitar sounds, and some really nice singing. Billed as a "Collection of Demoes and Outtakes 1990-1996)," the disc is a sweet and sometimes poignant look back at one of Providence's best pop bands. There are alternate takes of seminal Crush tunes like "Hold Me Up" and "This Life Is Killing Me" as well as some great versions of "My Blank Pages" and "Star Trip." It's a real team effort, too, a trip back to the time when Menck, Chastain, and Underhill were a tight-knit trio, before reality and disillusion got in the way. Still, it's nice for hardcore fans like us that they left this inspired little suicide note to remember them by.

-- Bob Gulla, Providence Phoenix, December 27, 2002

This is an excerpt from Bob Gulla's 2002 local (Providence) top thirteen. Other albums he honored include

M-80
Put Down the BB Gun (?)

The Slip
Angels Come on Time (Rykodisc)

Jason Colonies Band
Bitter Sweet (?)

The Marlowes
Sugarbursts & Thunderbolts (?)

Fast Actin' Fuses
Sayonara (Rodent Popsicle)

Gruvis Malt
. . . with the Spirit of a Traffic Jam (Lakeshore)

Al Basile
Shaking the Soul Tree (Sweetspot)

Bill Petterson
Parts and Labor (Wire)

John Harrison Trio
Roman Sun (Whaling City Sound)

As the Sun Sets
8949 (Trash Art!)

Katie Lee Hooker
KLH (?)

Haymakers
O-Kay Plus (?)

Sara Cox, Darien Brahms, and Jenny Jumpstart at St. Lawrence A&CC Before a packed house, these three demure divas lit up the old church like the hand of God. It was so whisper quiet between songs that the gals got noticeably nervous. But we couldn't take our eyes off them.

-- Sam Pfeifle, Portland Phoenix, December 27, 2002

We don't know a lot about Jenny Jumpstart, but we're admirers of Darien Brahms and her retro-progressive sound. We keep hoping to hear more of her. Sara Cox is a wonderful singer with the Maine band, the Coming Grass, which group has an excellent new CD. (It arrived too late to be considered for my 2002 Top 10, but there's always 2003.) Sara has a solo career, too, though she's badly under-recorded. We'd like to think that's a situation she's looking to correct.

The Valley Advocate is this (Brattleboro, Vermont) area's alternative weekly, though it's based in and published from Easthampton, Massachusetts. It covers the Pioneer Valley from the Springfield, Mass., area up to Southern VT. I noticed a couple interesting local acts included in columnist Gary Carra's "Nightcrawler Notables 2002."

BEST SONG TO INSPIRE NON-MUSICIANS TO PICK UP THE BASS AND EXISTING BASS PLAYERS TO QUIT IN FRUSTRATION AT THE SAME TIME: "Hey Victa," Joe Sallins (from The Joe Sallins Experience Studio-Live). He's won Grand Band Slam kudos and national awards and toured the globe ... and he's right from Springfield. For those who still don't know Joe, however, this five minutes and 55 seconds of slaps, pops and percussive flurries is a more than ample introduction to the local four-string wizard. (Valley Advocate, January 9, 2003)

I'm afraid I haven't heard Joe Sallins for a long while, so there's little I can add. The other band is a very different story. I included the Stone Coyotes' latest CD on my 2002 Top Ten album picks in Part 1 of this page. Frontwoman Barbara Keith is a natural wonder. She was in the band Kangaroo in the 1960s, and yet her voice sounds like she's about 20. She has a curious reputation for being a singer-songwriter with more than a little country influence (she does do that sort of material at times), though normally she prefers to blaze her way through punk and heavy metal tunes. Carra had this to say about one of Keith's songs:

BEST SONG ABOUT A PLACE THAT NO LONGER EXISTS BY A BAND THAT DOES: "The Tic Toc Lounge," by The Stone Coyotes (from Ride Away From The World). "I know a place where the dance floor shakes/Where the room's getting ready to roll/I'm going down to the Tic Toc Lounge."

Area favorite pays homage to a former Springfield institution. Instant classic. (Valley Advocate, January 9, 2003)

Part One

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