Neil Young - After the Gold Rush (1970)

I found this in a used CD bin at Jupiter Records in San Diego. I have the LP but it is in storage :( I think I just needed to hear a little Neil. So many classic songs on this LP that it is hard to write about because most of you know it. Technically, this Neil's third solo LP and second with the superb Crazy Horse (this time with a 19 year old Nils Logren). If you like rock'n'roll maybe with a little a twang, then this is a must.

The Babys - Union Jacks (1980)

The Babys! Well, fairly well known and decent staple of FM radio in the late 70s and early 80s. Eventually, John Waite (lead singer) left the band to go solo and had a few hits in the MTV era. Good old fashioned mainstream pop band. The Babys were melodic with a little bit of muscle but not really power pop. They should have had more hits but they also should have had better songs. Still, not a bad band to get into and enjoy. Here is a hit from the album and then, my favorite song from the album, Back on my feet again. Midnight Rendezvous

Book - My Sister, The Serial Killer by Oyinkan Braithwaite (2018)

Wow. Short, quick read but hard to put it down.  Written from the point of view of Korede, the sister to the serial killer Ayoola. This book captures well the stress and thoughts of an older sister that knows her sibling is troubled but who must protect her at any cost. Braithwaite takes a creative approach to the book with lots of small chapters capturing certain moods and scenes. There is no wasted words in this novel. Also, the plot twist at the end is unanticipated but welcome. Recommended.

Baby Lemonade - The Best of Baby Lemonade (2015)

I know Baby Lemonade because they play as Love Revisited or The Love Band when backing original songwriters and founding members of Love, Arthur Lee and Johnny Echols. My admiration for this band is already through the roof given the professionalism and passion they approach playing as Love. Funny thing? I have never really heard one of their records. This is my first time listening to them as a stand-alone band. This CD is a "Best of.." so it gives me a nice little introduction to the music that they recorded over 4 albums.

Well, the CD opens with just a stellar track called Greenboat. To my ears, just a stone cold classic indie pop song. As far as I am concerned, discovering this song instantly made me feel that buying this CD was a great deal. However, that is not where the goodness ended. The next 11 songs are up to par if not as stunning as Greenboat. For instance, listen to the tenderness of the song World Lines, or the frentic Pop Tarte. Overall, great compilation that requires that I seek out all of their previous albums. You should as well.

Love Revisited - July 15, 2005: Burg Herzberg Festival Germany

I posted this on Facebook not too long ago included here with a few edits:

Last night I saw something very special. I was still in my teens when I was introduced to the album, Forever Changes, by Love. Love was an LA based band lead by Arthur Lee. The band also included other incredible musicians and songwriters as well (e.g., Johnny Echols and Bryan Maclean to name just two). Forever Changes is a beautiful album with gorgeous melodies and arrangements. It is very much a contemporary and as good as Sgt Pepper’s (The Beatles) and Pet Sounds (Beach Boys). In my opinion it is slightly better than those two phenomenal albums. Much later, after some trouble in his life, Arthur Lee recruited(?) the LA band Baby Lemonade to back him and tour as Love. The marriage was a match made in heaven. It was a young band of great musicians who were fans of Love and they played beautifully. The songs “lived” again, as well as Arthur Lee and Love's legacy. If you get a chance find, on YouTube the shows that this version of Love did in London where they reproduced song by song the album Forever Changes, including the orchestral arrangements that were found on the original album.

I eventually saw Love play while I was living in Minneapolis. It was in the mid 2000s and they played at First Avenue with another great 60s band, The Zombies. By the time they played in Minneapolis they had picked up original guitar player Johnny Echols as part of the band. Watching those two legends play together was perfect and emotional. It was good to see two members of the original band finally getting some of the recognition for their masterpiece. A few years later Arthur Lee passed away. However, it was good to read later on that Love with Johnny Echols would continue to play this amazing music as Love Revisited (or The Love Band). Last night was my first chance to see this version of the band again. Baby Lemonade and Johnny Echols as Love Revisited played the Casbah and just wowed me with their precision and respect that they show to the music. Johnny Echols, who looks exactly the same as he did in the mid 2000s, played his SG fluidly and was clearly having a great time listening to the music of his band being played expertly, and watching his music listened to adoringly by the Casbah audience. I smiled all night and often closed my eyes just realizing how lucky I was to be there at that very moment. Yet, if there was a highlight for me from an extraordinary night, it was listening to the band play this song below. Enjoy it for yourself. 

This CD was made available at the show and it is the band with Johnny Echols already in the band but after Arthur Lee had passed away.

Various Artists - Beat From Badsville: Trash Classics from Lux and Ivy's Vinyl Mountain Vol. 3

So, here is a little background. Lux Interior and Poison Ivy led a legendary punk, trash, garage rock band called The Cramps. In addition, Lux and Ivy were big time record collectors especially of the single or 45 variety. When Lux (singer and cofounder) died, his wife, guitarist and cofounder, Ivy,  essentially ended The Cramps. After The Cramps ended, given the general desire and glee for anything related to The Cramps, compilations (like this one) started to appear that supposedly take records from Lux and Poison's record collection and makes them available to the general population. Much like The Cramps, the records here range from 50s rockabilly and rock'n'roll, novelty records, and early RnB/doo-wop. Most of these artists are unknown (e.g., Glenn Reeves, The Morrocos, The Bobbettes), however, there are a few songs by more well known artists including Wanda Jackson, Screamin' Jay Hawkins, Annette (Funicello), and teen-idol, Fabian.

Here is taste of what you will find on here:

Wanda Jackson - Mean, Mean Man
Charlie Baker - You Crack Me Up
Annette - Jo Jo The Dog Faced Boy

The Muffs - Happy Birthday to Me (1997)

Well, I bought this used not too long ago and had not had a chance to listen to it until this week. My bad. This is a great slice of pop punk and alternative rock that satisfies all your needs for crunchy guitars, gritty, strained female vocals, and sing-along melodies. When adding this to my Discog collection, I was surprised that this was from 1997. The music is not dated at all it is a pleasure to hear a bit of crunch to the guitars. In listening to it now, I am reminded of The Thermals. To my ears there is a similarity although I think the Muffs are a bit more melodic. I will need to explore more records by The Muffs. You should as well. Here is a taste of Crush Me  and a personal fave, All Baby Blue.