CD Odyssey Disc 14: Steve Earle

The Randomness of the CD Odyssey is treating me kindly - I am scoring a bunch of good albums - it's almost like this collection was built by me!

Anyway, Disc 14 is an artist very near and dear to my heart. The album is...

I Feel Alright
Artist: Steve Earle

Year of Release: 1996

How I Came To Know It: I've known and appreciated Steve Earle the artist for a long time. His first album "Guitar Town" in 1986 is when I first listened to him. He came and went in my mind, but I got seriously into him in 1997 - the year after "I Feel Alright". "I Feel Alright" is me drillin' for gold.

How It Stacks Up: I have 13 Steve Earle albums. If there is one I am missing, rest assured I'll find it and buy it. Of those 13 Albums, "I Feel Alright" is up there in the top 3. Even the top 2.

Rating: 5 stars.

Steve Earle is a hard core country singer in the tradition of Johnny Cash, but with a rock edge that makes his style all his own. His albums have bluegrass, blues, rock, country and folk elements - and all these elements work.

"I Feel Alright" comes out a couple years after Steve Earle served time in the slammer for two years on drug related charges. Earle is a recovering heroin addict. If you haven't read last month's Rolling Stone, it is worth checking out the Steve Earle interview, which covers part of this period.

This album isn't the first "sober" album (that is Train A Comin') but I think it is the best at evoking the feel of someone with a lot of regret for the things he's done, but who hasn't lost his edge from that regret. It is an album that has hope for the future, but it is a hard-edged honest hope, resting on a foundation of hard-won experience. While not a concept album, taken together these 12 incredible songs are a work of art.

Some of the tracks are unabashed outlaw country-rock, including "I Feel Alright", "Hard Core Troubadour" and "The Unrepentant". These are drive your car with the top down and take on the world songs.

Others speak to loss and regret - a retrospective on all the loss that is generated when a person's life spins out of control. Loss that doesn't come back just because you manage to get ahold of the wheel again. "Hurtin Me, Hurtin You", "Now She's Gone" are aching tracks of a heartache entirely self-inflicted.

My favourite of these is "Valentine's Day" - a touching song about a man who has forgotten his sweetheart on the big day, and with no card and no rose, resorts to writing her a song. You hear it, and you feel proud as if you wrote it for your sweetheart (while at the same time making a note to yourself not to forget any anniversaries). If you can't write like Steve Earle (and few can) you better make sure you get a card.

I think the toughest song is "CCKMP" which stands for "Cocaine Cannot Kill My Pain" - a song about how, for the heroin addict, only heroin will do. The song is plaintive, and painful, and has a low hum in the background that evokes both the feeling of numbness of heroin, and the longing for that numbness. It makes you feel - just a small bit - what it is like to be an addict, even when that addict is sober.

Lastly, the duet with Lucinda Williams "You're Still Standing There" introduced me to Lucinda Williams - another one of my favourite artists of all time.

So this album is incredible, the music, the lyrics, the connections, its place in Earle's career, and its ability to draw you out of what you know and appreciate "the other side of town".

When I am trying to hook people on Earle (which is often), I go for Guitar Town and this album. They are the gateway records that will make you an addict of Earle, just like I am.

Best tracks: all tracks

CD Odyssey Disc 13: Nick Cave

It has been a few days without an entry. Part of this was a weekend where I didn't get any painting done, and part was that the album I had in my car held my interest for quite a while.

Disc 13 is...The Boatman's Call

Artist: Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds

Year of Release: 1997

How I Came To Know It: Sheila had heard about Nick Cave - maybe on line even (yikes!) and inquired at Ditch Records about which album to get. "The Boatman's Call" was their recommendation after getting a good sense of what kind of music we like. Ditch Records rocks!

How It Stacks Up: I am in the middle of drilling through the Nick Cave collection, but currently only have 6 albums. I put The Boatman's Call tied for first among those 6.

Rating: 4 stars. I struggled here. This album is as close to 5 stars as you can get without getting 5 stars. I am a hard marker. I'm going to tag it with both, since I've changed my mind back and forth a hundred times. Whatever the arbitrary tag - it is an awesome record.

Nick Cave is like the Australian Leonard Cohen. He has been around in this incarnation since 1984 with very little love in terms of charting. No #1 records that I could find. Another reason to like him.

The Boatman's Call has a sound that is both ambient and comforting - loving and sinister. I think it represents Nick Cave at his best.

Cave has a voice like Cohen - probably better. It is kind of lascivious and deep at the same time. As my friend Steve would say, he is an enigma wrapped in a fortune cookie.

The opening track "Into My Arms" is hands down a 5 star song. Check out this opening:

I don't believe in an interventionist God
But darling, I know that you do
But if I did, I would kneel down and ask him
Not to intervene when it came to you.
Not to touch a hair on your head
Leave you as you are
If he felt he had to direct you
Direct you into my arms

Awesome.

The only song on this album that is remotely average is "black hair" which goes on and on with a poetic device that repeats how the object of the singer's affection has black hair. Even this song is redeemed with the plaintiff ending, as we learn tomorrow she is leaving...

Great pairings on this album would include "(are you) the one that I've been waiting for?" which I'd pair on a best of with BOC's "You're not the one I was looking for (but you're the one for me)" and "Idiot Prayer" which goes with both Dylan's "Idiot Wind" and Alice Cooper's "Stolen Prayer". Also "People Just Ain't No Good" with Lyle Lovett's "Creeps Like Me" Holy before and after extravaganza - spin that wheel, Vanna! Give me an "N"!

Anyway, what I'm saying is in the world of music, "The Boatman's Call" is money. Or as Vanna would say "Big Money". You clap Vanna - you tell the world.

Best tracks: Into my arms, lime-tree arbour, (are you) the one I've been waiting for?, pretty much the rest of them.

CD Odyssey Disc 12: Swingers

I debated leaving out soundtracks, but decided to include them at the same level as "best ofs" - sort of someone else's mixed tape.

Disc 12 is...Sountrack from the Movie "Swingers"
Artist: Various

Year of Release: 1996

How I Came To Know It: It's a soundtrack, so not surprisingly, I saw the movie and liked the music.

How It Stacks Up: I have a whopping 23 soundtracks, as it turns out. This doesn't count scores, as I'm not subjecting myself to a bunch of scores. I'd say Swingers is top 5 or 6, but not the best. Still, it is pretty solid.

Rating: 4 stars.

Swingers was that movie about slacker 20 somethings trying to meet girls in the mid-nineties. It has the most painful, cringe worthy answering machine message gone wrong in the history of moviedom. If you haven't seen it, it is a pretty good movie - I'd give it 3 stars. Also, the characters play EA Sports hockey, which is a step in the cool direction - and it was the version where blood came out of your player if he lost a fight. Hey, EA sports programmers - put that back in!

Anyway, the soundtrack is all lounge and swing stuff. This was definitely an "in" sound in the middle of the nineties, and I was sucked into it along with many.

This soundtrack launched temporary stardom for swing band 'Big Bad Voodoo Daddy', who were pretty good in the day. They were so big, they even played at a Superbowl halftime show. BBVD had 3 tracks on this album, the best of which is "You & Me & Bottle Makes 3 Tonight".

The Jazz Jury also gets three songs on the album, but no career launch. Hey, as Bad Santa teaches us, they can't all be winners, kid.

This album is a solid mix of old favourites like Dean Martin, Bobby Darin and George Jones, mixed in with up and coming artists putting a new take on swing music.

It is very sing-a-long, which makes it great in the car. Who doesn't sing along when you hear "King of the Road"? All of you who put up your hands, be ashamed. I sang along today with the top down. No, I did not stop because I was at a red light. I'm sure everyone wanted to hear me, or they wouldn't have rolled down their windows...in 28 degree heat.

Best tracks: "You & Me and Bottle Makes 3 Tonight" by BBVD, "Knock Me a Kiss" by Louis Jordan, "Groove Me" by King Floyd, "King of the Road" by Roger Miller, "Pick Up the Pieces" by Average White Band. This last track is real funky.

CD Odyssey Disc11: Enya

The dice choose a second album that is "the most famous" and the second album in a row that came out in 1988.

Disc 11 is...Watermark
Artist: Enya

Year of Release: 1988

How I Came To Know It: I discovered Enya like most people - I heard "Orinoco Flow" on Muchmusic and decided I liked it. In my defence, I was entering my "folk phase".

How It Stacks Up: I don't know how many embarrassing admissions this post is going to have, but here's another one. I own 5 Enya albums. Yikes. "Watermark" is probably the third best, or middle of the pack.

Rating: 2 stars (with an embarrassed thumbs up).

Enya got her start in Clannad, an Irish folk band with new age tendencies. Yes, I also like Clannad, but I refuse to be embarrassed about that until I roll them.

"Orinoco Flow" was a huge hit back in 1988. Even now when I replay it, it is a bit on the overplayed side, and its been many years since Enya saw serious rotation on the CD carousel. Still, it is a good track, and catchy.

The rest of the disc is not so catchy, but wears a little better. Enya has an ethereal quality to her voice. This is 1 part a very cool voice, and 1 part that she is famous for putting a ton of layers into her voice (lots of takes, all lined up together) to give her that unearthly ambience. It is artificial yes, but it works.

This is about as far as I stray into "New Age" and I think for good reason. I think Enya is to New Age what Phat Boy Slim is to techno. Yes, I have Phat Boy Slim, but I won't be embarrassed about that until I roll it.

This album gets a 2, but a thumbs up, because it is actually well written and creates a nice mood. It is even good for driving, but the embarrassment factor at red lights is really high. Not "Jerky Boys" high, but easily "Gangsta Rap" high.

I think everyone has music that they would find embarrassing at a red light. Mind you, most have the good sense to not post it on the internet.

After review, I'm keeping this album, and living with the shame.

Best tracks: Storms in Africa, Exile, Orinoco Flow, The Longships

CD Odyssey Disc 10: Michelle Shocked

I seem to be getting a lot of music I picked up in my early 20s. I once worked on the green chain in a lumber mill with a guy who said after 25 you don't pick up new music. Not at all true, but the dice seem to want to agree with that dude.

Disc 10 is...Short Sharp Shocked

Artist: Michelle Shocked

Year of Release: 1988

How I Came To Know It: This was my second Michelle Shocked purchase - I got interested in her in 1992 when I was heavy into my folk music phase. I heard "Come A Long Way" - Short, Sharp, Shocked is just me drilling backward.

How It Stacks Up: I've got 3 Michelle Shocked albums. This one is a strong second in my books, although most people say it is her best. It is certainly a classic.

Rating: 3 stars.

This album is solid, and features the 5 star track "Anchorage". Anchorage is an incredible story filled with subtext about a woman writing to an old friend. We know that somehow a man (Leroy) has come between them, but the song is subtle enough, and respects you enough to let you figure it out.

Short Sharp Shocked is a folk album in my book, but Michelle Shocked has a real bluesy quality about her throughout. She has great phrasing as a vocalist, and as is often the case with the better folk musicians, she tells a good story.

One thing I love about all 3 of my Michelle Shocked albums is on each one she really tries a new style. I'm sure this has kept her from being famous, since she probably loses some audience with each change. Personally, I like that she's willing to take risks. Any moron can write pointless formulaic music (note to Nickelback - please stop any time). No, this will not be the last time I attack Nickelback. Yes, it is like shooting fish in a barrel, but they are evil fish, and need to die.

But I digress...

The cover photo is a bit goofy. Maybe I just don't go for the "protest action shot".

Best tracks: Anchorage, Memories of East Texas, If Love Was a Train

CD Odyssey Disc 9: Tchaikovsky

Our next random roll brings us to another abrupt u-turn - although perhaps not as abrupt as some might thing. We travel today from metal to classical.

Disc 9 is...Tchaikovsky Box Set, Disc 1 (of 5)

Artist: Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky

Year of Release: These recordings were done in 1980 and 1965 originally, but Tchaikovsky lived from 1840-1893, so somewhere in there.

How I Came To Know It: It was university in about 1989 and I wanted to expand my musical horizons. I loved the 1812 Overture, and I found a Tchaikovsky boxed set - 5 discs worth of music for $25.

How It Stacks Up: As a boxed set, this follows the "best of" rules, so can't really be stacked up. I will say that as classical composers go, Tchaikovsky was my first love, and remains my favourite years later.

Rating: 4 stars. It would be 5, but there is a song on here that is just a movement of a larger piece ("Andante cantabile" from String Quartet No. 1 in D Major, Op. 11) You simply can't abbreviate a piece like that and expect 5 stars for your album.

I am not a huge classical music fan but I do enjoy it from time to time. As I noted above, of all classical composers I put Tchaikovsky #1, and I have probably 5 times as much of his stuff (note 5 disc set) as any other composer. OK - I think I have 2 Mozarts.

Tchaikovsky is sort of the heavy metal composer of his day. It has often been said that metal captures in modern music some of the grandiosity of classical music. I certainly think that is true, particularly if you listen to bands like Iron Maiden or Dimmu Borgir (he said, thrusting another mortal blade into the rib cage of musical snobs the world over).

The sad thing about classical music is that today we think of it as a score for something else, like a movie, or we treat it as inoffensive background music. It is totally malappreciated as a result.

Classical music is meant to be heard at high volume, so you can pick out the nuanced quieter parts of the piece, but also be blown away by the bombast of the kettle drums and trumpets when they lay on. It is meant to be heard in silence as well - not with people talking over it, not with some movie fight scene. It is meant for a darkened room or at the very least, a solitary man in a car.

Fortunately, the CD Odyssey has rules that ensure this will happen (see sidebar).

As a result, I appreciate this disc in its full glory, and was once again moved by Tchaikovsky's brilliance. His music is meticulously planned in its construction, and yet emotionally resonant throughout. Also the waltz section of Serenade in C Major is so good it will make you like waltzes. Hey - there's a reason he's my favourite classical composer.

So if you want to get into classical music, I heartily recommend a little of the old Pyotr Ilyich. It will make your gulliver quite happy.

Best tracks: In addition to the piece of music I noted above, this disc basically only has two tracks - the full versions of "Serenade in C major, Op. 48" and "Symphony No. 4 in F minor, Op. 36". Both are awesome, but for best, I've got to go Serenade in C major. It is incredible, and you've probably heard it so many times you'll recognize it instantly and say "oh yeah! I love that one!"

CD Odyssey Disc 8: Megadeth

Random order is fun. From rock to jazz to metal to folk and now back to metal again. And people wonder why I let dice rolls influence my leisure time.

Disc 8 is...Peace Sells...But Who's Buying?

Artist: Megadeth

Year of Release: 1986

How I Came To Know It: Although an avowed Heavy Metal Meathead, I haven't had much time for Megadeth. Recently, my buddy Ross put the song "Peace Sells" on and I liked it, so I bought the album.

How It Stacks Up: I have 2 Megadeth albums. This one is far superior to the other.

Rating: 3 stars

What can you say about Megadeth - founded by Dave Mustaine - a guy so messed up that Metallica kicked him out of the band.

Megadeth is known for provocative (for their time) cover art and lyrics. This cover is a bombed out UN building I believe. Does that image provoke you? If so, Megadeth is probably very happy with their work.

Megadeth is a lot like Metallica, but not as good. Note that when I speak of Metallica being good I am speaking of pre-Black album. Post-Black album might taste like pumpkin pie, but I wouldn't know, cause I've never eaten the filthy...

But I digress.

In a word, Megadeth is inconsistent. This album is pretty obvious and boring in many places, although the first three tracks are solid, and the band can definitely play. It culminates in "Peace Sells". This is a track that holds its rightful place among the greatest metal songs in history. Best line, "What do you mean I don't support your system?/I go to court when I have to."

It is awesome, and on that basis I'm giving this album 3 stars, where ordinarily it might just warrant 2.

If you must buy a Megadeth album I think it is this one. I've also heard Rust in Peace is pretty good, but I don't have it. Maybe one day in a moment of metal weakness...

Best tracks: Peace Sells

CD Odyssey Disc 7: Leonard Cohen

The seventh disc is our second Canadian entry on the CD Odyssey - and a big departure from Black Sabbath.

Disc 7 is...Songs of Love And Hate

Artist: Leonard Cohen

Year of Release: 1971

How I Came To Know It: When I was in high school some of my friends and I would scour the poetry section looking for good stuff. It helped if it was dirty. It was there I discovered "Spice Box of Earth", a book of Cohen poetry. It was incredible stuff, made all the better because it had all kinds of dirty, erotic imagery. So I came by Leonard Cohen through his poems, not his music. In about 1989 I found out about his music, but "Songs of Love and Hate" came late to the collection - frankly it was hard to find.

How It Stacks Up: I have 10 studio albums of Cohen and 1 live album. I'd say of the 10 studio albums, I'd put this one 8th. This is not to say it is bad, it is more a reflection of how good Cohen is.

Rating: 4 stars

This album is a bit of a downer. It is Cohen's third release, after the ubiquitous "Songs" and the lesser known but incredible "Songs From a Room". It is not as good as these, but it has its moments.

Cohen is an incredible poet, who is underappreciated as a song writer. This particular album is a bit derivative of his earlier stuff musically, so not much there, but it does have some tracks that stand out.

In particular, "Last Year's Man" is a great expression of writer's block, and the pressure of success. Joan of Arc and Famous Blue Raincoat(both famously remade by Jennifer Warnes) still makes the cut in concerts. Joan of Arc in this original format is not a duet, and I think it suffers for it. Later versions with a female voice singing Joan's parts, and Cohen singing for "fire" are superior.

If you are a completionist, buy this album. It is not his best but it has enough great tracks to warrant 4 stars and some of your dough. If you only want to own 2 or 3 Cohen albums, I must reluctantly tell you to skip it (but only after advising you that you are a moron for wanting to skip any Cohen album not called "Dear Heather").

Best tracks: Last Year's Man, Famous Blue Raincoat, Joan of Arc.

CD Odyssey Disc 6: Black Sabbath

Disc 6 is a desert island disc. One of the greatest records ever made. Without further ado...

Disc 6 is...Vol 4



Artist: Black Sabbath

Year of Release: 1972

How I Came To Know It: Although I've been a Black Sabbath fan since a tender age, I have to admit that I came to Black Sabbath in the Dio Years and my first love was "Heaven and Hell". I always admired the classic Sabbath, but it wasn't until my buddy Spence (with Nick tag-teaming me in the other ear) reminded me to give the early stuff a new listen. Wow.

How It Stacks Up: I have 11 Sabbath albums (6 Ozzy, 4 Dio and 1...er...Ian Gillan). Vol 4 is the greatest Sabbath album ever made. And that is saying a lot.
Rating: 5 stars, but only because the system only goes to 5.

Vol 4 has everything you could want in a Black Sabbath album - everything that makes them arguably the founders of an entire musical movement (Heavy Metal) and unquestionably one of the greatest rock bands of all time.

Ozzy is at his peak, Iommi's guitar solos are awesome, and Bill Ward's drums have that precise, but somehow ominously hollow drums beats. Geezer also great.

Many of Vol 4's greatest tracks have this incredible riff, followed by another completely different, equally incredible riff in the same song, perfectly playing off one another back and forth. Then, in the midst of this perfect balance comes heavy drum or a guitar solo. And the solos do not soar pointlessly over the top of the song - they form a part of the song. Half the time you find yourself listening to the solo, half the time the driving riff. You can just slip back and forth seamlessly, or take it all in together - it just depends on what you want right then.

The opening of Wheels of Confusion is this otherworldly sound that puts you a little off, and then rescues you with driving guitar. 8 minutes later the song has gone through at least 3 separate stages, each one of which would stand alone as an incredible rock piece. At this point, you are only 1 track in.

"Changes" reminds us all of the confusion of a broken heart when we are new to the experience. It is on a level with Alice Cooper's "18" in capturing the emotional intensity and directionless of a young man who first sees the world stripped of romance. It is disillusionment, it is deep, dark and painfully raw. It is Sabbath on piano.

Track 5 is quite simply one of the greatest driving rock songs ever written, from the opening high hat, through the dirty guitar, to Ozzy's screeching vocals honouring a space traveler that is too cool to be an astronaut - he could only be...a Supernaut. Every time I hear this track, I want to be a Supernaut, and every time my wish is granted.

Tomorrow's Dream, Snowblind, St. Vitus Dance - all tracks that on any other album would be the greatest track available. On Vol 4 they are just another great track - as Sabbath unrelentingly lays down excellence.

Vol 4 is 37 years old. It is still as heavy an album as anything the world has heard since. Later bands have been busier, they have been angrier, and they have been louder - but none have been heavier.

If you don't own this album - go buy it. If you own this album, go put it on. Seriously, stop reading this and go put it on. You're welcome.

Best tracks: All tracks.

CD Odyssey Disc 5: Thelonious Monk

OK - it has come to my attention that I called disc 4 disc 5 in my last entry. Let it be known that this is in fact now Disc 5 - all other disc 5s in the CD Odyssey are imposters.

Disc 5 is...This Is Jazz 5: Thelonious Monk



Artist: Thelonious Monk

Year of Release: 1996, but the music is from 1963-1968

How I Came To Know It: I can't remember. I'm pretty sure I never had any friends or ex-girlfriends that were into Thelonious Monk, and I'm not all that into jazz. Back in about 1991 I had a brief stint trying to "get" jazz. I'd go down to Herman's Jazz Bar and try to soak it in, and figure it out. I gave up after about 9 months or so. Besides, I couldn't get anyone to go and jazz girls were really hard to pick up. Maybe I was just doing it wrong...

How It Stacks Up: Not Applicable. This is not a Thelonious Monk album per se - it is a best of/greatest hits. It isn't a real album at all in that way, so it can't be rated. I do have one actual Thelonious Monk album "Underground" which I will stack up when I get there.

Rating: Not applicable. Best ofs aren't really rateable, but if they were, I'd give Thelonious 5 stars. Yeah, you heard me right, punchy.

As I mentioned earlier, jazz never came easy to me. It is a complicated music, and sometimes I think they're just doing that to piss the rest of us off. After my initial foray in 1991, I gave up on jazz for years.

The timing is hazy, but maybe about ten years ago I gave it another shot, and I had heard good things about Thelonious Monk. Turns out, those things were right. Whether it was just the right time in my life, or whether it was the magic of Thelonious' piano (and the kick-ass Charlie Rouse on Sax) it worked this time.

I'll never be a huge jazz fan, but I have an appreciation for certain artists - mostly old stuff like Miles Davis, Charlie Parker, Dave Brubeck. Stuff that is simple enough that I get it.

Monk (and Rouse, who should get half the billing on this one) can really play, even by the high standards of jazz musicians. Half the time, I can't believe the notes they are laying down, and the other half I am enthralled by the perfect use of pause between notes.

This album is all good - it makes you want to get up and dance in a crazy fashion, or just sit at a red light and flail your arms around like an idiot. Yes, I do these things.

I do listen to this one a fair bit - more than any other jazz record I have, but I still have a tough time knowing which track is which. They are all good. My friend Penelope says that to understand jazz you first "have to know what song they're fucking with". Maybe that's so, but I'm too much of a neophyte to know if it's true. I choose to think it is, because it's a saucy theory, and includes swears.

Sadly, there are folks out there that think the only good music is jazz. Attention you closed-minded folks - you are about as right as the people who think only hip hop has good music. Except you probably have less friends.

Sorry - couldn't resist a poke at musical snobbery. There are a lot of ways to express the beauty of the world through music, and to limit yourself to just one seems the height of foolishness. Free your mind, and the rest will follow, as En Vogue once said. We know En Vogue was right, because they looked soooo good on that runway...

Back to Monk - he's great. If you don't love jazz, or don't know jazz I'd say start with either this or Dave Brubeck - you can't go wrong with them. May you have better luck than me understanding the stuff that comes after.

Best tracks: Blue Monk, Rhythym-A-Ning, Monk's Dream

CD Odyssey Disc 4: Black Mountain

With the embarrassment of the Jerky Boys behind us, I guess the dice gods decided it was time to get good and pretentious.

Disc 4 is...In the Future

Artist: Black Mountain

Year of Release: 2008

How I Came To Know It: I think Black Mountain is one of those bands I found on my own. I had seen it as a prominent pick at a local record store, and I had read some good reviews so I took a rider on them. Also, you have to admit it is pretty cool cover art.

How It Stacks Up: Black Mountain only has two albums to my knowledge, but lots of side projects. “In the Future” is their first. I have both, but I started with “In the Future” and worked backwards. I would say “In The Future” is the better record, but many have told me they feel the opposite. I briefly owned singer Amber Webber’s side project “Lightning Dust” after I fell in love with her voice. However, “Lightning Dust” is as bad as its title would suggest – I sold it before I even got through three listens.

Rating: 3 stars.

Black Mountain is a Vancouver band, but I don’t let how local a band is influence my opinion. That’s just a fun fact to know.

This is a hard album to rate, although when I first bought it I went on about it insufferably. It is good that the Odyssey is causing a more considered second visit.

On the one hand, it is a great new take on a lot of different seventies sounds, like Pink Floyd and Black Sabbath, mixed in with a sort of new rock/indie sensibility.

On the other hand, this is a band that clearly takes themselves way too seriously. They want to be the next big thing, and their desire to be unique and new is painfully evident – so while they do achieve their own sound, it can sometimes be strained.

Having said that, you aren’t a failure in life simply because you aren’t as good as Rush or Black Sabbath or Pink Floyd. That is a pretty unfair comparison.

Some of the tracks are incredible, and I think highly innovative. Others sound like a music school project. This is all kind of summed up in the 16 minute plus “Bright Lights”. This song is great in places – particularly when writer Stephen McBean is getting his Sabbath guitar-riff groove on. In other places, it is weird in a good way – the crazy vocals of both McBean and Webber sound kind of darkly angelic, with a hint of blues. Then the same sounds take a turn for the weird – but in a bad way. Aimless synth sounds that just go on too long and don’t quite get anywhere. It is a sixteen minute song that should’ve been eight minutes, and a sound that is good, but could’ve been great.

As a sidebar, Amber Webber’s voice sounds so much like Crash Vegas Lead Singer Michelle McAdorey (yeah, I cheated and looked that name up) – I briefly thought they were the same person, forgetting almost twenty years had passed. We’ll get a little Crash Vegas later in the Odyssey...

Lastly – I’d like to point out that Black Mountain makes a cardinal sin on “In the Future” – pointless extra tracks. This time they take this to a whole new level, in the form of an EP of 3 songs called “Future Songs” included with the main LP (did I mention they were a tad pretentious?) The original album is 10 tracks, and given one of them is an epic, that’s plenty.

Attention budding rock and rollers – know when to say when.

Best tracks: Stormy High, Angels, Wucan.

Hireling

I finally finished another figure - this time it is a hireling or henchman of some kind. He stands about 1 inch tall.

I did an OK job on this guy, but he is one of those figurines where you wonder what possessed you to purchase him in the first place. He's not exactly heroic. I was probably inspired by the raw turkey he is carrying around. You can see it up in the top left of this shot:

Here he is from behind. This guy is totally laden down. He is carrying 2 quivers, a bow, a warhammer, a longsword, an axe, a book, a shield, rope, a lantern, 2 sleeping bags, a frying pan, a bottle, a barrel, a backpack, 2 satchels, 2 sacks and a dagger.

I like to imagine a backstory when I paint a fig. I think this guy works for some conceited knight who makes him carry everything. The knight is a "Knight of the Hart" from Furyondy. Their coat of arms is antlers d'or on a field vert (he said, showing off his heraldic know-how). I painted the arms on both the shield and on the quiver hanging from his belt. Here's a third shot showing this (the shield's arms are obscured by the turkey).

This guy needs a new job, but I guess in the medieval era, this was probably considered a good gig.

CD Odyssey Disc 3: Jerky Boys

The third roll goes from the sublime to the ridiculous.

Disc 3 is...The Jerky Boys

Artist: The Jerky Boys

Year of Release: 1993

How I Came To Know It: This album was introduced to me by my buddy Jeff O. I lost touch with Jeff years ago, and I often wonder how he's doing. He was one of the happiest people I've ever met, so it is fitting that he put me on to a pretty funny comedy album.

How It Stacks Up: This is the only Jerky Boys album I own. I think there are at least 4, but this one is the famous one.

Rating: 3 stars

The Jerky Boys were basically a couple of New York guys who would record the prank calls they made around the city and then distribute them on underground, wholly illegal tapes. That is how I first heard them (some of that stuff never made it to legitimacy).

The CD was a result of them getting so famous doing these tapes, they eventually got a record deal. At least that's how I remember it - and since it is a Creative Maelstom, and not a Historic Maelstrom, I'm sticking with that.

Anyway - it is damned funny stuff, although it is even more embarrassing to listen to in the car than gangsta rap. I actually turned it off at stop lights. With the gangsta rap, I just turn it down.

I don't think we need to spend a lot of time here - if you want to hear it, then buy your own, jerky!

Best tracks: Irate Tile Man, Car Salesman, Super Across the Way, Auto Mechanic, Punitive Damages.

CD Odyssey Disc 2: Piece of Mind

There are times when the randomness of the universe is a real gift. Of my hundreds of discs, the second disc in the CD Odyssey after rolling Judas Priest is...Iron Maiden. You just can't script this kind of stuff.

I've done a lot of driving today, so I am already through disc 2! At this rate I could be finished in two years! I'm sure that's what Odysseus said as well. Instead, his buddy Aias went crazy and stabbed himself in the thigh, then Odysseus spent 10 years as Calypso's love slave and got home a decade later to find his house overrun with freeloaders.

But I digress...

Disc 2 is...Piece of Mind


Artist: Iron Maiden

Year of Release: 1983

How I Came To Know It: In my youth, I loved Iron Maiden. Love is not too strong a word. I could sing the lyrics to 'Rime of the Ancient Mariner'. I knew that Bruce Dickenson put his pants on one leg at a time, but I still thought he made gold records (yeah, I know that's a different Bruce Dickenson). Due to financial consideration, I never owned Piece of Mind as a kid, but I knew many of the tracks. I'm glad to bring it back to its righftul home (mine), now that I am an old rock n' roller with a paycheque.

How It Stacks Up: I have 7 Maiden albums. I'd put this one 3rd best, and a strong third at that! The only reason it is third is that 1 and 2 are that good - but let's not get ahead of ourselves, we've got a lot of sailing left before we reach the Blessed Isles...

Rating: 4 stars

Piece of Mind has everything a young (or old) metal-head could want. Bruce Dickenson has the best metal pipes in the business (Dio's are pretty good as well) and he wails. The guitars rule. In particular, I love the crazy-assed shit that Maiden will write about.

This album features songs about:
- The 1968 Action/War film "Where Eagles Dare"
- The Book of Revelations
- The myth of Icarus, who died flying too close to the sun.
- World War Three
- Man Discovering Fire
- Dune (more specifically, an ode to Paul Atreides).

Also, all these songs are good! OK, the one about discovering fire is not so good, but the movie covering the same topic is far worse.

In addition to reminding me of a great myth, "Flight of Icarus" always reminds me of an art project some guy did in my "Greek Mythology" class when I went to UVIC.

We were tasked in making a creative interpretation of a a Greek myth. One day during the assignment - the class arrives to find all the curtains in the room drawn (it was the second floor of Clearihue Building).

As everyone settles in, we start hearing "No Icarus! Don't fly so close the sun! The wax holding on your wings will melt! No, Icarus! No!!!!" It sounds like someone in the courtyard outside is off their rocker. As he yells, someone pulls the curtains back. On the roof outside, he has placed the bottom half of a mannequin - looking like it has crashed through the roof, face first (bottom up - and prominent).

Down in the courtyard, it was our classmate yelling - rooms all around were looking down, thinking him quite mad.

I thought he was quite awesome. Kudos to you, fellow Myth Student - whoever the hell you were. Thanks for the memory.

OK - back to the record:

Best tracks: Flight of Icarus, Revelations, The Trooper, Sun and Steel, To Tame A Land.

Do you have an opinion about this album? Post it! Or lurk - that is good too.

CD Odyssey Disc 1: Screaming for Vengeance

The CD Odyssey begins again! Last time, this quest took almost three years, and that was about 5 years ago, so I expect it will take a little while longer this time.

For those of you who would wonder why the hell should I bother I will only say, "Do you want to climb this mountain or just get to the top?"

This year, on the advice of my friend Karen, I am going to roll randomly to determine what order I go in. Full CD Odyssey "rules" are on the sideboard.

Disc 1 is...Screaming For Vengeance


Artist: Judas Priest

Year of Release: 1982

How I Came To Know It: In my youth, I was a heavy metal meat-head, so this album has been in my life a long time. Admittedly this was the second JP album I ever knew - the first was Defenders of the Faith. I'll talk about that when I roll it...

How It Stacks Up: I currently have 8 Priest albums. I'd put this one 3rd or 4th in overall awesomeness.

Rating: 4 stars

Screaming For Vengeance is a seminal album in the history of heavy metal. Many would say Priest and Maiden are the first two true heavy metal bands. My money is on Black Sabbath, but I think there is an acceptable (preferably drunken) argument for Priest/Maiden.

This album is the poster-child for what good Metal is all about. It is full of Rob Halford belting his guts out, screaming guitar solos (the guitars are screaming for vengeance, no doubt), incredible riffs and symphonic sound.

A big shout out to my buddy, Ross the Boss. Ross is the biggest Priest fan I've ever met, and he helped rekindle my love for JP. That was a good deed indeed.

As many of you know I saw Priest in concert last year. To paraphrase Tennyson, though they are not that strength that in old days moved earth and heaven, that which they are, they are. And what they are still rocks.

Best tracks: Electric Eye, Bloodstone, Screaming for Vengeance, You've Got Another Thing Comin'.

Do you have an opinion about this album? Post it! Or lurk - that is good too.