Thursday, December 31, 2009

Hark! The Fab Four Sing

I can't even count how many times I saw this in the Christmas Music bin and just passed it by. The cover looks like a cheap take-off of the Beatles 1 compilation but thanks to a tip from Mistletunes I'm now listening to the best Beatles parody/tribute since The Rutles and a great Christmas record to boot. This out of print album by Beatles tribute band The Fab Four along with the equal (if not better) followup Have Yourself A FABulous Little Christmas make up 20 Christmas Classics done in perfect Beatle style (from pop to psychedelia). The Fab Four offer a compilation of the two as Hark! on their own website. It seems to be sold out but if you look around the web you can may find a copy.


Thursday, December 24, 2009

Another Christmas Gift For You

The absolute favorite Christmas album around Philco headquarters this year is 2004's Another Christmas Gift For You by Chandler Travis and his Casual friends. It may be hard to find in your local record shop these days but iTunes and Amazon Digital have it for less than 10 bucks. Don't you just love a bargain?

A free mp3 of If We Can Just Make It Through Christmas can be found here

Wednesday, November 25, 2009

Sunday, November 08, 2009

Saturday, October 24, 2009

Captain Fantastic

Elton John will be the New England Patriots' honorary captain this Sunday when they travel to Wembley Stadium to take on the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Sunday, September 20, 2009

The Act You've Known For All These Years

Cheap Trick. Sgt. Pepper. Amazing.
In case you've forgotten,
here comes Cheap Trick to remind you how good Sgt. Pepper really is.
Then they do a kick ass Abbey Road medley.
Highly recommended.

Monday, September 07, 2009

Tell Me When It's Over


25 years ago I missed the Dream Syndicate's opening set before REM because I was partying in the parking lot. This almost makes up for it.

Friday, August 14, 2009

Woodstock: 40 Year Yawn

I didn't buy the Woodstock original soundtrack album, it was always just there. Three record set, triple gatefold sleeve. it was an audio documentary and I worshiped it. Give me an F. It wasn't just the music it was what was between the songs. Stage Announcements!. Oh to have been there , I thought. The movie was even better, not that edited version they played on TV, but the one I saw at EM Loews. The speed kicking in during Soul Sacrifice. Marijuana Exhibit A. This was my high school education., Joe Cocker my tie-dyed teacher. Breakfast in Bed for 400,000! I couldn't get enough. We're scared shitless! I'm Going Home!
The Director's Cut on Laser Disc was interesting but it's hard to flip six sides in one sitting. Thirty years on (for me) the original soundtrack is lost and the laser disc player is busted. I don't watch or listen to Woodstock anymore. Didn't really even think about it, until now. New Director's Cuts with lost footage! Fifty dollar and up fringe covered Blu Ray 40th anniversary DVDs! A library of new books. Sounds tempting. Nope. Peace might sell but I ain't buying. Does anyone who wasn't there care anymore? I tried to watch it on HDTV the other night and the magic wasn't there. Am I too old or is it just old news? It might still a great documentary but it played better back in the day when bands were still a mystery and every bit of live footage of your favorite band wasn't available at the click of a mouse. I'd still like to see that lost Creedence footage in high quality though.. Forget it, I'm going to put on my We're Only In It For the Money T-shirt instead.

Tuesday, June 23, 2009

Power Pot (Hit Record)

The original Raspberries album came with a raspberry-scented sticker.
This used CD I bought smells like pot.
Coincidence?

Friday, June 05, 2009

Sunday, May 24, 2009

Saturday, May 09, 2009

A Pair Of 45's Made Me Open My Eyes

Everybody knows The Hollies 1972 hit single
Long Cool Woman In A Black Dress
Not so many know the less successful followup
The Day That Curly Billy Shot Down Crazy Sam McGee

long cool woman

Saturday, May 02, 2009

Kissology Volume 4: Wishology

Just when you thought an episode of Fairly Oddparents couldn't be more ridiculous, KISS shows up.

Friday, May 01, 2009

Dark World Gallery 4

Don Hartmann
GENTRIFICATION LIQUIDATION
MAY 2 - 30
Opening Reception: May 2 6PM

'Cause They Sez So


Listen to the new New York Dolls album in it's entirety on
If it's half as good as the last one it's worth picking up.
Produced by Todd Rundgren
(whose last couple albums ain't too bad either)

Sunday, April 26, 2009

I Had No Idea

This is not a rock record. It is pure pop. It's not often I think a record is great on first listen but this one hit right away. It's the perfect pop record McCartney doesn't make or an ELO record with heart. The voice reminiscent of Freedy Johnson and the songwriting deceptively simple. A mood piece and nearly a masterpiece.



Friday, March 06, 2009

Dark World Gallery Presents

Morgan Freeman
La Teneure en Matieres Grasses Mangouste
March 7 - April 3
Opening Reception: Sat. March 7 from 6 - 10pm

These paintings are roughly based on the foundation of the ideas associated to, not related, with the theories of “Clear”. ”Clear” being the ever present illumination from which we see color past and not past color to a “Progressive” work. To view is to see; whereas these works are to be seen in still darkness or a null of illumination excluding the function where the psyche concludes the absence of the work itself in relation to a new found creation by the observers understanding that the work is perpetually changing the canvas face, not for beauty but for an uncertain outcome. Its form is withered do in part to the objectification of its lacking function.
179 Grafton Street
Worcester Ma

Monday, February 16, 2009

Saturday, February 07, 2009

Dark World Gallery


The opening reception for Dark World Gallery's PREMEIRE show is on Feb. 7th from 6-10pm


Jonathan Hansen
THE ASYLUM SERIES
Dark World Gallery's first exhibit is Jonathan Hansen's The Asylum Series. This collection of work digs deep into the psyche of patient care and procedure during the 1940’s, which include seclusion rooms, lobotomies, and grotesque surgical techniques. Jonathan’s intimate multi-media paintings feature people and illustrations juxtaposed somewhere between healing and hurting.

Dark World Gallery
179 Grafton St.
Worcester MA 01604

OWNER/DIRECTOR Ben Mack
CURATORS Jon Hansen & Don Hartmann


http://www.darkworldgallery.com/

Monday, January 26, 2009

The Move

Although I had a few Move compilations in my record collection for years, it wasn't until I heard the Liquor Giants spot-on cover of Fire Brigade that I went back and discovered how great their early material was. If you don't already own all the original albums the newly released Anthology is a good place to start.