Jul 16, 2012

R.I.P. Jon Lord (Deep Purple)

Today the rock world lost another luminary, although one that might not quite be the household name he deserved to be. Jon Lord, most famously of Deep Purple, passed away today after a battle with pancreatic cancer. His furious work on the Hammond organ added some serious heft and texture to the band's epic live jams. Here is a great example of his work on "Child in Time" from UK television in 1970:

Jul 11, 2012

The Killers - "Runaways"

As long-time readers may know, I've always been a big fan of The Killers. They aren't a particularly original band, but there's something undeniable about their particular brand of arena-ready rock. They've got a fourth album, Battle Born, ready for release this Fall and they just released the lead single, "Runaways". Its a good one too, better than anything from their last album and enough to have me anticipating fresh music.

Jul 10, 2012

R.I.P. Jimmy Flemion















I came to The Frogs like many of my peers did, through their alt-rock connections. First via their brief appearance during the Smashing Pumpkins' Vieuphoria video, then their cover of "Rearviewmirror" on the b-side of Pearl Jam's "Immortality" single, and even later opening for, and fooling around with, the Pumpkins. Seeing them live was both a thrill and a revelation, angst-ridden grunge had allowed me to forget how fun rock and roll could be. Dennis and his brother Jimmy reminded me. Dennis will be missed.

Jul 9, 2012

The Tallest Man On Earth - "1904"

I've been missing out on this guy. I think it was because he started getting hype around the same time as several other similarly awful named artists (Here We Go Magic, How To Dress Well) and I dismissed the all out of hand. My mistake. This guy is fantastic and this song from his latest album, There's No Leaving Now, has been getting a lot of spins.

Jul 8, 2012

Some recent purchases...





















I can't believe that it has been six whole months that I've left this blog sitting untouched but, here we are. A large part of the reason has been my energies have been focused on a new project at a new location: the alternative to what. Over there I'm working my way through every song to appear on the Billboard Modern Rock Top Ten between January of 1990 and December of 1999. It will be a long journey, to be sure, but it has already been loads of fun. Swing by and check it out.

For the first time in what seems like forever, I had an opportunity to do a little thrift store record shopping while in Bay City, Michigan last week, and ended up with one of the best used vinyl hauls I've had in a long, long time. A quick look at what I have to look forward to hearing...

The Band - Cahoots
The Band - Northern Lights, Southern Cross
Yes - Yessongs
Jessi Colter - I'm Jessi Colter
Tim Buckley - Happy Sad
Judas Priest - Sin After Sin
The Beach Boys - Friends/Smiley Smile
Jean Michel Jarre - Oxygene

A haul of which I was particularly proud, particularly the Tim Buckley and Judas Priest records. But my most exciting score, as pictured up top, was what I came across just as I was leaving an antiques market in Bay City. That's right, a box containing volumes III through VI of the historic Metal Massacre series, on colored vinyl no less. And very very reasonably priced. I can't wait to dig in.