My rather extensive music collection tends to contain somewhat older material as a rule. I have oft said that most newer bands and musicians lack a certain "something" that older ones posses. Who can stack up against the likes of Hendrix, Pink Floyd, The Doors, Ted Nugent, Blue Oyster Cult, ZZ Top, AC DC, Zep, Cactus, Peter Green, etc.? Most (except for blues, which is fodder for a future post) new stuff sounds forced, with second class singing.
.
The problem for an audiophile like me with these notions is that eventually the most loved musicians stop- you know- they’re old! At a point, there’s nothing left to purchase for the collection (well, not really, but…). How many more CD’s will Hendrix release? While admittedly the move of the music marketplace to internet retail and its searchable databases combined with computer recording production capabilities has made more material available, a person must eventually seek some new music.
.
After years of pooh-poohing my kids music, encouraging them to "give dear ‘ole dad’s stuff a chance" (actually, they do like lots of my music like Pink Floyd, etc.), I gave some of their tunes a listen. After always saying "no" to teenage requests to go to Boston or Great Woods for concerts, promising that I would take them to any concert they wish within the state- especially our beloved Meadowbrook Farm here in Gilford, NH, I had to put my money where my mouth is.
.
There I was at a concert- not at Meadowbrook, but the Hampton Beach Club Casino (noted for it’s great lineups, but the crappiest place on the planet, other than Lupo’s in Providence, RI, to see a show) where I took my daughter and niece to see an Austrailian band called Jet. Wow! These guys absolutely rocked! Sitting with all the parents in back while the youngsters danced and watched standing on the dance floor, it seemed obvious that this group of musicians appealed to music lovers of all ages.
This young band blasted a new, yet strangely familiar sound. At times they’re AC DC. Sometimes Cream. Black Crowes. Beatles. No, it’s Jet. Their first album, Get Born, came out in 2003. Fans, now including me, have been waiting for another ever since. At some point, I gave up hope, figuring that they had somwhere along the way flamed out.
.
And then, finally, earlier this month, their sophmore effort, Shine On, hit the shelves. It was well worth the wait. If you are a Beatles fan, and wondered what a brand new Beatles appearing in the new century might sound like- this is it. While not a clone band or anything like that, the music just "feels" like that of the Fab Four. At times, think the Help! album. At others, it’s the heaviest material reminiscent of the White Album. It doesn’t hurt that the singer sounds a lot like John Lennon.
.
But wait! If your tired of the Beatles, don’t pass these guys by because all the while, they sound fresh and unique. Confusing? Maybe. Just give it a listen- you’ll see what I mean. If they come to your town for a show, get tickets and go see them- it’s classic rock and roll- blazing guitar, melody and harmony from days gone by, with the energy of today’s rock world. My favorite tunes are Come On Come On, Rip it Up, and All You Have To Do… today, anyway. Tomorrow, it’ll be other songs. Bottom line: they’re all great.
======================================================================
My second recent purchase of "new" music is the latest from Audioslave, Revelations. Again these guys were brought to my attention by my son. While certainly more "mainstream" than my normal tendency, the great thing about them is that they are very good. Usually the "mainstream" features mediocre perfprmers while leaving some of the best to relative obscurity. Not so, here.
.
Made up of the music portion of the band Rage Against the Machine and the singer from Soundgarden, these guys are the "supergroup" of today. And they really do have it all- amazing sounds a-la Pink Floyd, but all done with the instrument, not the "tape", and top-shelf singing- something lacking in much of today’s music.
.
Listen very close to the guitar work, and you’ll hear the ghost of Hendrix. Listen close to the music and you really can appreciate the level of talent. The second song on the album, One and the Same is like a heavy metal, kind of disco-ish song that you know must be THE dance tune at high school dances everywhere. It’s my favorite, along with the last tune, Moth. Listen to that tune and tell me you don’t see the moth in your mind’s eye (ear). Again, for this album, as in their two prior, there is not one bad tune.
.
I must thank my kids for introducing me to some fantastic new music- music that just like my old favorites, bridge the "generation gap." Or maybe, I’m just a big kid. Yep- I WILL be one of those grey-hairs you see at the concert someday…
