Why Do I Love Queen?

The first time I heard Queen was on the awesome bootleg "Command Performance" documenting Queen's performance at the Hammersmith Odeon, London England on December 24, 1975. From there I branched out to their studio albums.

If you really want to know why I love Queen the way that I do, you need look no further than side two of their second album, Queen II... it goes something like this...

Ogre Battle (Queen II)



The Fairy-Feller's Master-Stroke / Nevermore (Queen II)



The March Of The Black Queen (Queen II)



Funny How Love Is (Queen II)



The Seven Seas Of Rhye (Queen II)



And that, my friends is why I love Queen...

Klaatu Barada Nikto

No wait, while I am a big fan of The Day The Earth Stood Still, with Michael Rennie as our man Klaatu himself (Keanu who?) (Quick, what was the robot's name? If it took you more than a nanosecond to think of it, well, no bonus points for you...).

Hail to the king baby...

And while I love Bruce Campbell as Ash, the hero of all three of Sam Rami's brilliant Evil Dead movies, it isn't that Klaatu Barada Nikto of which I wish to speak.

Rather, I am here today (well, tonight technically) to speak of the Canadian Prog Rock band who took their name from Michael Rennie's iconic character.

The first I heard of Klaatu was following the August 1976 release of their debut LP release, 3:47 EST. I would have been hanging out at Star Records... the record store I grew up in, downtown Oshawa, when the proprietor Mike played it for me. Well, probably my best friend and I. While, at the time, Led Zeppelin, Aerosmith, Alice Cooper and Deep Purple were more our usual musical fare, there was, nonetheless, something very unique and fetching about this new band.

From the opening strains of Calling Occupants of Interplanetary Craft (The Recognized Anthem of World Contact Day) to the decaying last notes of Little Neutrino (well, until the mouse squeak at the very least) the whole album struck a very powerfull chord. And we weren't the only ones that noticed. While Klaatu never really blossomed much outside of their, as it turned out, native Canada, enough people were intrigued by their musical supplications to analyze the album further.

At some point, not long after the release, rumours surfaced that Klaatu were, in fact, the reformed Beatles, recording in annonimity; not a bad feat for a rumour in a day and an age when the concept of the world wide web was still just a wet dream of one computer nerd or another.

In point of fact, Klaatu were Canucks John Woloschuk (vocals, bass, acoustic guitar, keyboards), Dee Long (guitars, keyboards, vocals) and Terry Draper (drums, percussion, vocals). The Beatles rumours were something that the band members chaffed at and always denied.

Part of the mystique that allowed these rumours to flourish in the first place had alot to do with the fact Klaatu never played live. They were a studio band; a concept which The Beatles, in their later days, had, if not invented, perfected. Lack of any real liner notes regarding personelle on their albums only helped to fan the flames.

Their second album, Hope, was considered by many fans to be equal or, in some ways, superiour to their debut release. Hope was a concept album recorded with The London Symphony Orchestra, about, as Wikipedia states "the sole survivor of an arrogant race of beings, who warns space travellers of hazards in the last days or his life"

For me this second album didn't quite resonate as strongly with me as their first. That being said, there were still some pretty fucking strong tracks and, as a whole, acquitted itself most admirably.

Songs like Madman, The Lonliest of Creatures, So Said the Lighthouse Keeper and Hope were more than worthy successors to the first album.

Klaatu releaed three more albums; Sir Army Suit (1978), Endangered Species (1980) and Magentalane (1981), but none of them ever managed to match their first two releases.

Here then are my picks for some of Klaatu's best works. If you have already known of the band, I hope this serves as some kind of reminder of a bright, young band... If you haven't, then I hope this serves as a sufficient introduction.

Calling Occupants of Interplanetary Craft (The Recognized Anthem of World Contact Day) (3:47 EST)



Sir Bodsworth Rugglesby III (3:47 EST)



Anus of Uranus (3:47 EST)



Sub-Rosa Subway (3:47 EST)

A friend of mine, by the name of Steve Douglas, asked after the song Sub-Rosa Subway from Klaatu's first album in no small part due to the fact it, of all the songs on the album, sparked the whole Klaatu are The Beatles kerfufel. Or Are Klaatu The Beatles? kerfufel, depending upon how you look at it. The song was left out by way of a brain fart I had. This is a great tune and, even after all these years, I'll be damned if they don't sound, at least a little, like that long ago band from Liverpool.



True Life Hero (3:47 EST)



Madman (Hope)



We're Off You Know (Hope)



So Said The Lighthouse Keeper (Hope)



By the by... in answer to the above mentioned question... the name of Klaatu's bright and shinny friend is... Gort.

Gort, Klaatu Barada Nikto...



And now you know.

So, who out there likes live music?

Sorry, wrong question.

Who out there LOVES live music?

Yeah, that would be the right question.

If you LOVE live music the way that I LOVE live music, then, have I got a site for you. Do yourself a huge favour and check out www.wolfgangsvault.com.

Wolfgang's Vault is the place where a whole shit load of Bill Graham's meticulously compiled archives from the heyday of rock 'n' roll has been assembled. Don't know who Bill Graham is? Well, back in the day, he was only THE most influential concert promoter. How influential? Let me put it this way; if any band played in North America, odds were they were presented by Bill Graham. Were talking The Rolling Stones, The Who, The Band and a shitload more artists that didn't necessarily have the word "The" in their title.

How about The Sex Pistols very last public performance with Sid Vicious? Never mind audio, WV has it in pristine video as well.

The Who at Tanglewood outdoor theatre in Lenox, Massachusetts near the end of what for them I'm sure was an interminable run of playing Tommy start to finish in stunning quality video. Aerosmith playing a watershed show at the Schaefer Music Festival in Central Park back in 1975 shortly after the release of their seminal album Toys In The Attic.

The complete Last Waltz show on video. One of the last shows Lynyrd Skynyrd ever performed before that fateful day in October of 1977 when the Convair 240 ran out of gas and crashed just outside of Baton Rouge, again captured on video.

AC/DC, U2 back in their club days, The Tubes, A Flock of Seagulls, The Allman Brothers Band, Alice Cooper and OH so many more artists captured in audio, video or, sometimes both.

If you love live music, then you really owe it to yourself to check out Wolfgang's Vault. It's free to join but, if you do want to become a premium member you can download many of these amazing time capsule shows.

So, here it is... a tentative, hopefull glimpse at the first couple of chapters of what will most likely be my next novel; a sequel to Not Only Am I With The Band... tentatively now titled I Am Not Animal.

Believe me when I tell you that the feed back you provide will most definately be taken to heart. So, if it pleases you, I now humbly ask for your feed back on the following. Be as brutal as you need be; the more honest the feedback, the better I can hope it to be come publication day...

Chapter 1: When an Animal Roars In the Forest

A point of view can be a dangerous luxury when substituted for insight and understanding.
Marshall McLuhan

I am not Animal
Slogan on a t-shirt circa 1981

Ruth had been working at the Whitby Free Press about two weeks before I finally worked up the courage to ask her out for drinks after the weekly newspaper had gone to press; which is to say that it had gone to Bowmanville to be printed, since our little slice of heaven in Whitby was nothing more than an expanded backroom and, therefore, had no room to house printing presses of our own.

There was a nice quiet bar right across the street; Larry’s Roost.

“I believe you promised me a drink this evening,” cooed Ruth in her Glaswegian accent.

The two of us had hit it off pretty well after the managing editor and owner Mike B had hired her, ostensibly to help his long suffering wife Marj out in the advertising department.

Ruth was petite, with shoulder length auburn hair that was almost too intense to look at. She cut a buxom figure, filled out in all the right places.

“I believe you are right,” I replied, hoping against hope that I had managed to maintain eye contact with her for a long enough period of time to remotely qualify as judicious.

She held out her bent left arm to me and bated her eyes coquettishly.

“Why sir, would you kehndly escort me to the digs so ah might avail mahself of a most refreshing Mint Julep?”

Guys, you really haven’t lived until you have heard someone with a thick Scottish burr attempting a deep southern U.S. accent.

“Either that,” I offered, “or we could hit Larry’s for a beer and a couple of Tequila shots.”

“Why sir, you was jest readin’ mah mahnd. Let me away and retrieve mah purse.”

Now on most press nights it was all hands on deck; the editorial staff, which consisted of Mike K and myself, would type all of our stories and headlines into a digital copy machine which would in turn spit out a block or strip of text which could then be cut as required on the layout board and “pasted” onto the copy sheet; the advertising staff which consisted of Marj B, Frank and, most recently, Ruth, hanging about and fighting it out with Mike K over page space and; the managing editor / owner Mike B who would screen any photographs earmarked for publication in that week’s paper using a similar process to the text. Once the last flat was finalized and approved for general edification all concerned parties would abandon ship in as expedient a fashion as to make even the speediest of rats proud.

On this particular evening I had no reason to assume that anything should be any different. I was under the impression that it was just Ruth and I left holding down the fort. Time was diligently chasing 11:30 pm so that situation should not have been that untoward.

As I waited in the customer facing convenience store front I heard another male voice engage Ruth. It was our glorious leader, Mike B.

In retrospect, words still fail me as to a physical description of Mike B; save to say that if Lou Ferrigno ever needed a stunt double then he had been born for that role. He was the type of leader who would, quite without any kind of conscious effort on his part, inspire undying scorn and ridicule amongst his charges.

Now what the fuck does he want?

Five minutes past; then ten while I remained upfront, as quiet as humanly possible. Pushing 15 minutes I was just working up the nerve to make my way back towards the bullpen when Ruth appeared from out the darkness. We stood and regarded each other silently for a moment. It was her who broke the silence, not with words per se, although her actions of pressing her boobs up against my youthful body spoke volumes.

“I’ll meet you over at Larry’s in fifteen minutes; twenty tops,” she purred. “Order me a Labatt’s Blue, and a Blow Job for yourself.”

Any rational thought that I might have been capable of at that point completely deserted me. If she had kept rubbing up against me like that I couldn’t promise I wouldn’t have given my all right then and there. Thankfully, she withdrew.

“F..f…f…fifteen minutes,” I stammered, “I’ll be there.”

Ruth smiled beatifically at me before turning and sauntering back into the darkness.

I stood, dumbfounded, watching her perfectly formed ass retreat from me; each subtle shift of her cheeks promising more than any young man could ever hope to imagine.
 
Chapter 2: Captain Kenny Strikes Again

“Are you sure you don’t want to stay here another year and take your Grade 13?”

I was sitting in the principal’s office in good old M.C.V.I. Ken Ridge; Captain Kenny to those who haunted the hallowed halls of the school radio station C.R.S.M. The thought of spending one more year in this emotional hell hole freaked me out more than I could have ever known.

“Well?” he damn near bellowed; just daring me to resist; contradict him.

I looked balefully at my shoes as if they might provide some kind of hither to unknown pearl of wisdom. Nothing; well shit.

“Fine,” Captain Kenny continued, taking my silence as acquiescence, “we’ll get you all set up for…”

“No…” I interrupted meekly.

He paused.

“What?”

“No,” I managed.

“No?”

After a tentative moment.

“No.”

Well, this just changed things; changed things all to hell and back, didn’t it. Captain Kenny puffed himself up to prodigious dimensions in advance of the well rehearsed speech.

“Now you know…” he glanced surreptitiously at the dossier sitting on his desk, “Stephen that grade 13 grads are much more likely to…”

“I want to be a journalist,” I blurted.

He paused, briefly, but this revelation didn’t set him back much.

“Well now, if you want to be a…”

“Doesn’t grade 13 focus primarily on mathematics?”

My chutzpa still manages to inspire and amaze me to this very day.

“Well,” stammered my soon to be my former principle.

“I’ve already done the research; I don’t need grade 13 to attend Durham College for Journalism.”

“But,” continued Captain Kenny.

“So,” I overrode, “I will not be returning to M.C.V.I. next year to take grade 13.”

This, at last, seemed to stymie his attempts to bring me back. We sat there in his office; the minutes slowly ticking away. After five minutes of staring at each other he sprang purposefully to life.

“Please send in the next student,” he barked into his intercom.

Well damn; I knew when I have been dismissed.

Aardvark's Musical Musings - Frank Zappa Edition

The new and (hopefully) improved Aardvark's Aattic will be launching soon. In the meantime, I thought it would be fun to resurrect a little project that I at one time did for my friend Stefan over at his excellent Freedomain Radio site.

I'd like to take you on a journey of my favorite bands, musicians and songs that helped to shape my musical milieu such as it is. If you are familiar with these artists, then it will be a good chance to revisit an old love. If you aren't, then give them a try. You just might find a new addition to your musical mosaic.

Let's start off near the end of the alphabet with my first subject, one Frank Vincent Zappa (December 21, 1940 - December 4, 1993). Zappa was, to my mind, a musical genius, dabbling as he did in rock, jazz, electronic and orchestral themes infusing each with a scathing sense of humour and flair. In his day Zappa was insanely prolific, with well over 100 releases to his credit. While alive Frank recorded every live show; when not on the road he recorded ceaselessly in the studio environment. So much so that his widow and current keeper of the Zappa Family Trust, Gail, is still able to release original, fully realized compositions and live recordings 18 years after the great man's death from prostate cancer.

Frank started his career with The Mother's Of Invention, and weren't they just all of that and more. Upon the Mother's disolusion, Zappa continued on. His musically demanding style naturally attracted like minded virtuoso players. During his time, Frank Zappa discovered currently day defacto musical giants such as;

Guitarist Steve Vai (David Lee Roth, Public Image Limited, Whitesnake, Alice Cooper, G3) who Zappa referred to as his "little Italian virtuoso". Vai was listed on Zappa recordings from that era as having played "stunt guitar" or "impossible guitar parts".

Drummer Vinnie Colaiuta (Gino Vannelli, Joni Mitchell, Megadeath, The Beach Boys, Leonard Cohen, Jeff beck, Sting)

Guitarist Adrian Belew (David Bowie, Talking Heads, The Tom Tom Club, King Crimson) who described his time with Frank Zappa as a "crash course" in music theroy, due in no small part to Zappa's rigorous rehearsals and often technically demanding music, and has commented "I went to the Frank Zappa School of Rock."

Trombonist Bruce Fowler (Captain Beefheart, Eric Clapton, Stan Ridgway (Wall of Voodoo vocalist))

Vocalists / Comedians Flo & Eddie (Mark Volman aka the Phlorescent Leech and Howard Kaylan aka Eddie) (The Turtles, T-Rex, Steely Dan, David Cassidy, Keith Moon, Bruce Springsteen, The Psychedilic Furs, Ramones, Duran Duran, Alice Cooper)

Drummer Chester Thompson (Weather Report, Genesis, Phil Collins, Steve Hackett)

I could go on and on. Suffice it to say that Zappa always endeavored to surround himself with players who would challenge him musically.

One of the first songs I remember hearing was Dancin' Fool from his Sheik Yerbouti release. My best friend at the time Bill played it for me. Here then is a version which Zappa performed on the show Saturday Night Live in October of 1978. I don't think I can introduce this any better than Frank himself did.

Tonight we'd like to do a song about an important social problem, Disco; it deals with lonely people with no natural rhythm impinging on each other in the darkness, it's called Dancin' Fool

Dancin' Fool


Of course, growing up a young Zappa neophite it wasn't to long until I heard of THE song; you know, the song that no one mentioned or talked about in polite society. That song was, of course, Dinah-Moe Humm. Check out the painfully young Adrain Belew on guitar and vocals.

I couldn't say where she was coming from, but I just met a lady named Dinah-Moe Humm...

Dinah-Moe Humm


One thing that has always amazed me about Frank Zappa is his ability to create a great song on just about any topic imaginable. Take this next song for example. For ten long years convicted felon Michael Kenyon cut a swath from Illinois to California, robbing and, more than just occasionally administering an enema to his female victims. This man became known as the Champaign Enema Bandit (named thus after his first known attack in Champaign Illinois), the Ski Mask Bandit and, as F.Z. famously immortalized him in song, The Illinois Enema Bandit.

Is that a song title or what?

Lookin' for some rustic teenage rump, that he just might wanna pump

The Illinois Enema Bandit


Like a lot of my original musical awakening, my best friend in high school was a big Frank Zappa fan. I remember listening to my first Frank Zappa album from start to finish at his folks place. That album was Zappa in New York. The version of this next song, The Torture Never Stops on that LP blew me away. That and Titties and Beer

A sinister little midget with a bucket and a mop where the blood goes down the drain

The Torture Never Stops


A highlight of many Frank Zappa live shows were the ad lib routines that followed a very basic format but took on the flavour of the current concert's city. Here is one such instance based loosely around a Frank Zappa call to Room Service.

Room Service


At the end of the day though, Frank was at his best when he was waging a full frontal assault on everyday sacred cows. If I might make a suggestion then please watch these next three videos one after the other, the way they were played live in concert on this particular tour. The first video, Dumb All Over calls into question the practice of oh so many people to blindly follow one particular religious dogma or another.

The second, a personal favorite of mine, Heavenly Bank Account skewers television evangelism right where it hurts. Last, but certainly not least, Suicide Chump ridicules, well, suicides.

Remember, there's a big difference between kneeling down and bending over...

Dumb All Over


Heavenly Bank Account


Suicide Chump


While I believe The Rock 'n' Roll Hall of Fame is, in many ways apocryphal, I'm sure that having contemporaries of yours speak sincerely and lovingly of your contribution to the vast cannon that is rock 'n' roll music must surely be gratifying. In that spirit, I feel pretty comfortable in the belief that Frank just loved this homage to his memory by non other than Lou Reed.

Just a pity that Frank's daughter Moon Zappa's acceptance speech was so forgettable...

Frank Zappa Rock 'n' Roll Hall of Fame Induction by Lou Reed


Check out Frank's testimony before congress on the topic of censorship and it's place (or non-place as the case may be) in popular culture. At a time when the PMRC (that would be Parents Music Resource Center) was a growing threat in music, Frank was one of the few that stood up and spoke out against censorship of any kind. It is down to his tireless efforts, at least in part, that we still are able to enjoy a fundamentally free view of the popular music landscape.

For that, if for no other reason, I will always love Frank Zappa.

I leave you now with one final video, and the text of a warning sticker which appeared on each and every Frank Zappa release since the threat of the PMRC became real:

WARNING/GUARANTEE: This album contains material which a truly free society would neither fear nor suppress.

In some socially retarded areas, religious fanatics and ultra-conservative political organizations violate your First Ammendment Rights by attempting to censor rock & roll albums. We feel that this is un-Constitutional and un-American.

As an alternative to these government-supported programs (designed to keep you docile and ignorant). Barking Pumpkin is pleased to provide stimulating digital audio entertainment for those of you who have outgrown the ordinary.

The language and concepts contained herein are GUARANTEED NOT TO CAUSE ETERNAL TORMENT IN THE PLACE WHERE THE GUY WITH THE HORNS AND POINTED STICK CONDUCTS HIS BUSINESS.

This guarantee is as real as the threats of the video fundamentalists who use attacks on rock music in their attempt to transform America into a nation of check-mailing nincompoops (in the name of Jesus Christ). If there is a hell, its fires wait for them, not us.

We're Turning Again

Merry Christmas

Growing up there were two television shows that would be watched in our house that would tell me Christmas was right around the corner. One was televised on Christmas Eve itself. This was the annual broadcast of the 1951 version of "A Christmas Carol" more correctly titled Scrooge); the black and white classic which starred Alastair Sim as the quintessential Ebenezer Scrooge. Each and every Scrooge that has come along since owes, at the very least, a tip of the hat to this 1951 cinematic masterpiece.

Christmas still isn't Christmas without a viewing of that movie. I must have watched it a hundred times or more in my lifetime and I still tear up at Scrooge's redemption. I know for a lot of people Christmas is "It's A Wonderfull Life" and, having finally seen it for the first time a few years back, I can fully understand why. It is a wonderfull movie.

But for my money nothing can hold a candle to "Scrooge". Check it out on YouTube in nine parts. If you have never seen it, then do yourself a favour; you really, REALLY need to watch this movie. As Bill Murray

noted in the excellent parody Scrooged "You're life might well depend upon it.

 

Here then, on the ubiquitous youtube, is that great Christmas classic.

Scrooge - Part 1 
Scrooge - Part 2   
Scrooge - Part 3

Scrooge - Part 4   
Scrooge - Part 5   
Scrooge - Part 6

Scrooge - Part 7   
Scrooge - Part 8   
Scrooge - Part 9

The second television event which always spelt Christmas for me was, and still is A Charlie Brown Christmas. Is there any other special out there that so keenly captures the joy; the absolute beauty of a child discovering that there is more to Christmas than initially meets the eye. If there is I would sorely like to see it.

A Charlie Brown Christmas - Part 1
A Charlie Brown Christmas - Part 2     

In the end though, for me, Christmas has always meant getting together with my Aunt Martha, Uncle Bruce and my three cousins, Bryan, Andrew and Katherine. My folks and I would come into Scarborough for Christmas Day dinner and they would go to my folks place for New Years Day dinner. The following year, the roles would be reversed. This tradition continued for many, many years; eventually incorporating Andrew's wife Sheley, Kath's husband Andy and their kids and my spouse Rhonda. The table got pretty darned crowded. Bryan, his spouse Judy and their kids live in Calgary so their appearances have been somewhat limited, although they are never far from mind and always in our hearts.

Contrary to popular belief I do like Christmas carols; I do. It's just that my tolerance for the genre was supremely challenged when I worked retail and would start listening to festive tunes somewhere around the first week of November. By the time Christmas rolled around I had little time for Christmas tunes. No "Bah Humbug!" when I left work. More like, thank goodness I can listen to whatever it is that I want to now. Sometimes that actually does include Christmas music. I've just never been able to see the logic in forgoing any other kind of music during the Christmas season.

What would my favourite Christmas carol be? "Hark! The Herald Angels Sing"; more of a Christmas Hymn, I know. It’s my favourite; I’m sure, in no small part to the fact, at the end of A Charlie Brown Christmas, the Peanuts gang all gather round Charlie Brown's beautiful tree and sang that hymn as the credits rolled. Then again, maybe it’s because it was the recessional hymn at our Carol Service on Christmas Eve while I was growing up. Either way, it is a very powerful song which can still bring a tear to my eye on that oh so Holy Eve. I remember some Christmas Eve's leaving church in the cold hours after midnight with a fresh layer of snow upon the ground when none had been present as we first entered a couple of hours earlier.

Just as Charlie Brown did in his special, I have felt for years that Christmas has lost its way somewhere. People seem far more concerned about buying a gift which will top the gift their friend might buy for them; Christmas lists get longer and longer; people's tempers get shorter and shorter. Isn't this supposed to be the time of year when we all embrace the phrase "Peace on earth, good will toward men" even if for only a little while?

If there has ever been a time of year to be with those you love, without condition, without reservation, then this must surely be it. Truth be told, the week between Christmas Day and New Year’s Day must surely be a time of sublime reflection and thankfulness; for all that we have; for all of our blessings, regardless of how copious or limited those blessings may or may not be; but mostly we must be thankful for those whom we love and those who love us; friends, family, acquaintances. Need not matter. To say that kind of appreciation and reflection should actually exist on a year round basis is a gross understatement. Yet, now is the time, if at no other time during the year. Count your blessings; smile at someone who has never smiled at you. Be the type of person that you have always wished you could be.

And so I leave you now saying to you and yours, have a very Merry Christmas and a Happy, Healthy and Prosperous New Year,

The Aardvark

The Change Rock The Edge 102.1

On Saturday, January 23rd The Change played The Edge 102.1 streetfront studio's Steamwhistle Indie Club ; a small venue to be sure; much better suited to a summertime gig, what with it's ceiling to floor pane glass windows across the vast majority of the studios considerable street front. Yet once [check] struck the first chord of [check] the minus [check] tempertature just vanished. This was only my second time seeing the band in an electric setting, only serving to reinforce my first impression of them electric a mere mater of months before at [check].

Now, when you reach my advanced years [49 if you must know] odds are you have already gone through any number of music appreciation stages. This tends to follow a fairly set progression:

1) Oh My Freaking God, I've Never, Ever Heard Anything Like That Before
2) Oh My Freaking God, Nothing Else Compares To (artist refernced in #1, henceforth referred to as your first musical love)
3) Oh My Freaking God, Who The Hell inspired (your first musical love)
4) Oh My Freaking God, Why Have I Never Heard This Other Band Beofre
5) Oh My Freaking God, Why Did I Waste So Much Time Focusing On (your first musical love)
6) Oh My Freaking God... I Love Music

It's a bloody shame then considering the fact that a staggering number of people never, EVER, get past number 2 just previously referenced somewhere up there previously. Which is more than just a little more tragic than your run of the mill tragedies. Kind of reeks of 70 year olds lurking around wearing tie dye shirts and faded levi's expounding upon why nothing worth while ever happened in  music once Dylan went electric back in 1965 at the Newport Jazz Festival. I would rather die than become one of THOSE. When you have spent a lifetime in love with music and have progressed beyond number 2, beyond number 4, perchance to progress, dare i say it, beyond number 5 and light upon number 6; that, for me, has always been the ultimate.

Falling in love with a song, an album, an artist is all about growing up musically. Fixating upon that song, that album, that artist for a lifetime is a crime and a tragedy rolled up into one.

So you might ask, what the does that have to do with The Change?

Well, if you are a number 2, then probably not much. If you are a number 4, 5 or, dare I say it, 6, then quite a lot I think.

There comes a point in every music affecianado's life when you must sit back and take stock of the music you love; why am I just not drawn to anything recorded past 1976, 1977, 1978 (insert your appropriate year here); is there something wrong with me? The long answer is, no, there isn't anything wrong with you. It just so happens the short answer is the exact same. When someone spends their entire life in love with a certain musical style and they awake one day to realize all the music they really, truely love is at least 10 years old; well, it can be pretty traumatic.

I have always tried to keep an open mind as well as an open ear to new artists, new bands, new songs, new CD's; but it hasn't always been easy. I'll tell you right here and now that Rap has, by and large, never done it for me. I understand the genre; I understand the origins, the wheres and the why fores. It has just never spoken to me on a viseral level. Now I did say "by and large"; there have been a few Rap artists that I have come to appreciate, largely because they wore their musical roots on their sleeve. Beat poetry of the late 50's early 60's, R&B from the same era; that, to me, is the paternaty of Rap music.

The whole American Idol mentality just leaves me cold. While there have surely been talented singers on the show they are being invested with some kind of musical legitamacy just by the fact they have, quite literally, won a game show. A game show more talent based than many of them to be sure but, what the fuck?

There are Indie radio stations bringing the cutting edge of new music, with all of it's teen angst revamped for the current generation; but I've lived through the uber raw reality of that years ago and come out alive on the otherside. Which kind of belies the thoughts and emotions expressed in that music. I lived it; I felt it with all of my being; yet I came out relatively unscathed on the otherside. So, while I can appreciate the words, while the music can take my soul on a magic carpet ride, I just can't loose myself in the message that music brings anymore.

Which is why happening across a band like the Change can have such a profound effect upon you. You, of course, being me.

If you are like me, how many times have your sat back and thought, what would it have been like to have been there when Elton John played that fatefull series of shows starting off the night of August 25, 1970 at the legendary Troubador Club in LA; when The Beatles rocked The Star Club in Hamburg, Germany or The Cavern Club in Liverpool in the early 60's; to have been there during The Rolling Stones eight month residency as house band at The Crawdaddy Club in 1963; at one of the mighty Led Zeppelin's early stints at LA's Filmore West or Boston's famed Tea Pary.

Growing up when I did the answer would be countless times. Then, out of the blue and quite accidently comes a fledgling group. A group which, as I have mentioned before, wears it's influences on their sleeve without being derivative; a group which takes old themes of love, angst and loss and brings them alive in the modern era; a group which, like most truely great groups, resists the temptation of lacing their set with "covers"; eschewing them for all original compositions.

Who out there has seen the movie "Almost Famous"? Anyone? Anyone? Beuller?...

Before each and every gig they play The Change go into a huddle onstage; what is said or discussed amongst them I can only speculate. In my minds eye I hear the fictional band Stillwater from Almost Famous going into their huddle and chanting

This band knows where they came from; this band seems to know where it is that they could potentially go.

You're right, how can anyone ever know that. Truth is, they just fucking rocked. They still do.

The Change

The Change are Marcus Adrian - Vocals, Acoustic Guitar and Harmonica, Gregg McGean - Lead Guitar and Backing Vocals, Matt "Mars" Finbow - Rhythm Guitar and Backing Vocals, Kevin Pogue - Bass, Roy Bartell - Drums and Percussion. With influences as wide and varied as Aerosmith, Bob Dylan, Jimi Hendrix, REM and Buddy Holly (to name a few), their sound is at once very unique and most familiar at the same time.

With one EP and one full CD of original compositions, under their collective belts the first year as a band has seen a lot of firsts for the Change. To mark the relase of their first full length CD, "Roll Y' Tongue", the band played a showcas gig at one of Toronto's prestigious rock clubs, The Horseshoe Tavern, a stage whose boards have been trodden by The Rolling Stones, The Police, The Ramones, Blue Rodeo, The Tragically Hip and Our Lady Peace (again, to name a few). The night was hosted by Toronto radio station 102.1 FM CFNY. This is a band on it's way up folks, make no mistake. One of those rare instances when five distinct personalities get together, strap on their instruments and gell in a way that, if it was easy, everyone would be doing. But it isn't, and so The Change are another comparatively rare instance.

I had the pleasure of catching them live in the kind of venue that you can only ever hope to catch a rising star in it's infancy. An acoustic gig at a coffee shop, For The Love Of Jo's in Port Perry; a location that had seen a number of the members performing solo as part of the usual open mike Friday nights. A kind of payback to Gabby, the owner to be sure. Call it The Change's Cavern Club; the comparison would not necessarily be that far off the mark.

For an aging music aficionado such as myself the pursuit of new music that actually speaks to me in a meaningful way is not as easy as it once was. How can one claim to be a lover of music when the majority of new music just leaves one cold. I will be the first to admit right here and now that I have just never, ever gotten rap, hip hop or techno. Valid musical styles I'm sure; just never for me. To me that music just sounds unabashedly derivative.

While I do hear the seeds of a number of artists which I grew up with and grew to love in their music the thing which sets The Change apart is the fact that they wear their influences on their sleeve for all to see. Marcus Adrian's vocals defy any kind of easy categorization. Kind of an unique amalgamation, if that makes any kind of sense. Marcus's overall range is most impressive.

Gregg McGean, with his bone white Fender Strat, adds tasteful, strident fills, while his solos hearken back to old Slowhand himself; not trying to flash with sheer speed (although he can when he wants to) but rather adding just the right kind of musical punctuation required to drive the song forward. Stratocasters have a very distinct voice, and Gregg takes full advantage.

While watching The Change on a small stage may not have given a true and accurate instance of their individual onstage personas I was still, none the less, drawn back to the energy that Matt Finbow consistently radiated. Playing rhythm guitar and singing backing vocals his energy was infectious. While I could sense the same kind of energy from the other band members, most demurred to the small stage which they occupied. Even Matt himself... but only for so long. Eventually he just could not contain the energy any longer.

There has never, EVER, been a band that I have admired that did not have a solid, killer rhythm section. The Stones with Bill Wyman and Charlie Watts, Aerosmith with Tom Hamilton and Joey Kramner, the mighty Led Zeppelin with John Paul Jones and John Bonham; a strong rhythm section

does any number of things. They anchor the beat, giving it continuity and presence. They allow it to expand beyond the norm; all the while keeping up and keeping pace. They provide a solid bedrock to allow the lead vocalist and guitar players to stretch out and let loose.

Kevin and Roy are just such a rhythm section. When all else seems to be coming apart at the seams they are capable of bringing it all back in focus. Kevin plays bass guitar almost as a lead instrument. He put me in mind of Geddy Lee in that respect. While the coffee house show pretty much limited Roy to a pair of bongos, I none the less had to check from time to time that he had not somehow snuck a full set of drums in, such was the beat that he was able to lay down.

And their CD? I like it; very much. The tunes are catchy in a way that stays with you even after a single listening. The harmonies are as tight as any band with five plus years of history; never mind that The Change have had, pretty much, one year to hone their skills. All original tunes I might add; which takes a certain amount of hutspa unless, of course, those original tunes can stand up on their own. Which, trust me, these songs not only can, but do.

A personal favourite of mine is "Her Revolution"; a tune which showed up both on their demo EP and their new CD "Roll Yr' Tongue". "Hit's The Spot" is another fave. "Citizen Of Grace", "I Feel Fine" and "The Change" all resonate with the same, true energy.

I hope that people who know me and know of my passion for music also know that I would not be touting these five young men if their music had not made me sit up and take notice. Trust me folks you owe it to yourself to check The Change out; you will not be disappointed.

Don't we all need a Change from time to time.

The Change - Roll Yr' Tongue is available on Amazon.com and iTunes (too name just two).

Links

The Change on Facebook

 The Change on MySpace

Say it isn't so Charlie!!!!

I suppose you heard the kerfuffle caused by the Charlie Watts Quits Rolling Stones headlines which cropped up at the beginning of September. It kind of got me to thinking "What if that had been true?" I mean, The Stones have survived other members leaving. Brian Jones left (was kicked out) the band and was replaced by a painfully young Mick Taylor. Mick Taylor quit the band, just as they were going to go into rehearsals for an upcoming tour of North America. Ron Wood stepped into Taylor's shoes as a temporary replacement and has just never had the good manners to leave. Bill Wyman, stoicism incarnate decided that, after the bands 1989 - 1990 comeback tour, he'd had enough. Journeyman bassist Darryl Jones stepped into his shoes most admirably and has been there ever since.

So, what then if Charlie had quit The Stones? If Mick Jagger or Keith Richards leave the band, well, the band has come to it's end; but Charlie? Hmmm. In a word, yes. That spells trouble for The Rolling Stones. Charlie is the one that keeps the beat. So what, you may think. So, Charlie is from the old school; the less is more school; the "shit, drum solos even bore me" school. Could any other drummer honestly step into Charlie's shoes and steer the mighty ship along it's course?

We may never know. The Rolling Stones camp, understandably, categorically denied these rumours. So Charlie remains with The Worlds Greatest Rock and Roll Band. At least until tomorrow.

Still, it got me to thinking of other bands from my youth that do not have those options; bands who had an integral member of the band kick the bucket before their time. Sure Brian Jones formed the Rolling Stones, and most likely named them, but by the time he left (was kicked out) he had pretty much become an also ran in the massive tsunami that was the writing partners Jagger / Richards.

Freddie Mercury, flamboyant lead singer for Queen came immediately to mind. A favourite band of mine who I saw live three times during their '70s heyday. The band disbanded after Mercury's death. They did reform (kinda) for a few years with ex Free / Bad Company vocalist Paul Rogers but without long-time bassist John Deacon. Did it work? Yeah, to a point it did. Paul Rogers is an awesome vocalist in his own right (check out Muddy Water Blues: A Tribute to Muddy Waters if you need any proof). He never was nor did he ever try to be Freddie, which is the only way anyone can hope to pull something like that off.

In the end he tired of the whole thing and handed in his resignation. No more "Queen".

Then there is the case of John Henry Bonham; an integral part of the engine that drove the mighty Led Zeppelin. When Bonham died during rehearsals for the 1980 North American tour (from and alcohol overdose no less (how rock 'n' roll is that?)) the band formally retired, citing the difficulty in finding someone else to helm the ship as good old Bonzo had.

For years afterwards Plant eschewed all things Zeppelin. Finally, in the early 90's he recorded and toured with Jimmy Page once again. But Plant eventually tired of that pursuit and quit. Then Ahmet Ertegun died. Who was Ahmet Ertegun I hear some of you asking? Why, none other than the person who assured Led Zeppelin was signed to their record contract with Atlantic Records.

So, when Ahmet passed on and joined the choirs invisible, the mighty Led Zeppelin took flight once more, with the late great John Bonham's son Jason at the helm. Even with the accolades ringing in their ears and the other two (three) members of the band ready, willing and able to tour behind their resurrected success, Robert Plant demurred.

Randy Rhodes (Blizard Of Oz), Steve Clark (Def Leppard), Joey Ramone (The Ramones), Bon Scott (AC/DC); the list goes on and on. And The Who. How could I ever forget The Who. Manic drummer Keith Moon and the Ox himself, John Entwistle have both died while active members of the band. A full 50% of the original lineup have snuffed it and still Roger Daltry and Pete Townsend continue. But they are a bit of a rarity in that respect.

Now the point of this little ramble isn't to question the relative wisdom of continuing on or breaking up once a member has joined that great big jam session in the sky. However, it did get me to thinking how many of the bands that I have loved growing up are no longer active.

So I Googled "Dead Rock Stars". Holy crap Batman, I don't think I am the only person who has considered this subject (Well no shit Sherlock). So, for your amusement, edification, rock and roll knowledge and just basically why the fuck not, here are some of my favorites:

Now, admittedly, this first one does have an axe to grind; witness "For their rock is not as our Rock... Deuteronomy 32:31. Still, that being said, it is a pretty comprehensive list of who died and what from. Premature Death Of Rock Stars

How could I ever hope to say it any better than this; Welcome to the club rock stars are dying to get into. Rock and Roll may never die but rock stars do! This site is a list of dead rock stars, dead people associated with rock and dead people whose music helped influence and create rock (which I feel includes Jazz and Country artists), sorted by the date of their demise. This is a tribute to them. LONG LIVE ROCK!!  The Dead Rock Stars Club

A nice little site with selected dead rock stars Tribute To Dead Rock Stars

Now this one kind of rocks; that and it has a cool title. The 50 Most Awesomely Dead Rock Stars

Since so many rock stars that we here admire in North America originaly either came from or cut their teath in swinging London Town, here is a tour for you to take the next time you find yourself in that fair city. Dead Rock Star Tour Of London

Last but not least, one of my favorites. Find A Death. The link below will take you to a brief synopsis of Brian Jones, founder of the Rolling Stones (no Mick Jagger and Keith Richards did not found the band, regardless of what the spin doctors have managed to feed you over the years). But the website is so much more than that. In depth discussions of famous peoples deaths. More importantly there is a link to a site which will predict when it is that you are going to die. Creepy, n'est pas? My personal Day of death is Monday, August 22nd, 2033. I currently have 749,018,944 seconds left to live. O.K., so who's opening the book? Find A Death

The Aardvark

I wonder what those veterans, those young men who went to war on our behalf and paid the ultimate price would think about the slow but long overdue resurgence of gratitude and admiration the younger generations seem to be brought up with these days. For many years it wasn't acceptable to thank and respect those that went to war so that we could be free.

It seems to be some defacto fact that, the further away that human kind gets from any kind of global conflict the further away the generations get from the truth, and therefore, a true appreciation of the sacrifices made by every countries youth, because youth make the best fodder. And so it was the further we got from the Korean and Veitnam wars the further our youth got from the whys and wherefores.

But 9/11 and all that came after has changed that, hasn't it.

It's ironic, is it not, that the freedom earned in blood and the future of every country's youth embroiled in conflict buys those that come after the freedom to question and criticize the sacrifices that bought them that self same freedom.

My uncle Alec fought in the second war to end all wars, proudly and without reservation. Not because it is what he wanted to do; rather because it was what he felt duty bound to do; for all those that could not to be sure.

He lost his best friend during Operation Market Garden. He once told me about crawling through a graveyard where he and a few comrades had gone to pay tribute to one of their fallen while the shells from an enemy bombardment fell all around. When they stood up afterwards, little tufts of grass had wrapped around their spit and polished buttons. While they could chuckle about it afterwards, while the bombardment was taking place they were terrified for their very lives; who could EVER hope to appreciate the kind of terror they felt, unless they, themselves, had been in a similar situation.

My parents and many of my relations lived through The Blitz, school aged children and therefore to young to take up arms. To me, sitting here safely in 2009. The thought of going to school in the morning after a bombing raid, walking past the bombed out hulks of homes and buildings that had been there just the day before is incomprehensible.

Freedom and democracy are the end results of the cost of a countries youth.

I have been fortunate in my lifetime to not only have known my much loved uncle, but also a very dear friend who served with both the 48th Highlanders and the Cape Town Highlanders. While Bob MacDonald was never called upon to go to war, he was always more than willing to do so. In fact, while a member of the Cape Town Highlanders, Bob was called to duty during those tumultous days during the end of Apartheid.

Growing up watching John Wayne, Sly Stalone and Ahnold beating back the bad guy it is very easy to say that, if called upon, anyone of us would have done the self same. But think about it. Could you honestly say you would be willing to crawl through the rat infested hell holes that were the trenches on the Western Front during the first war to end all wars?

Could you honestly say you could sit their and watch your best friend blown up in a tank from a hidden 88mm gun that you had been dispatched to find but never could.

Could you watch someone, friend or not, laying in a ditch futily trying to stuff their internal organs back into their own body just to stay alive.

Could you ever watch and attempt to comfort a friend while their lifeblood flowed inexorably from their body.

Unless you can, how could you ever hope to question the sacrifice that they make. You can hate and disagree with a war. That is your right, paid for in blood by soldiers. But do not; and I mean DO NOT question the soldiers who are there trying to protect the rights of freedom on your behalf.

All year through, but at this time in particular, each and every one of us owes those who currently serve and those who have served before a debt far to great to ever hope to repay. And those who made the ultimate sacrifice? Words fail me.

On November 11th, and during the entire week of the 11th, you owe it to a veteran to say a heart felt Thank You. That would be a start, because those who protect us from harm deserve our thanks, not to mention our prayers 365 days a year.

In Flanders Field

by John McCrae, May 1915

 In Flanders fields the poppies blow

Between the crosses, row on row,

That mark our place; and in the sky

The larks, still bravely singing, fly

Scarce heard amid the guns below.

We are the Dead. Short days ago

We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,

Loved and were loved, and now we lie

In Flanders fields.

Take up our quarrel with the foe:

To you from failing hands we throw

The torch; be yours to hold it high.

If ye break faith with us who die

We shall not sleep, though poppies grow

 In Flanders fields

A past remembrance of my Uncle Alec

Revenge of the Extended Warranty

Is there anything quite as awful in this world as an Extended Warranty?

While it sounds like this wonderful marketing inspiration is there to give you piece of mind after you have made an expensive purchase, their true goal, their true raison d’être is to make money.

Business' are in business to make money, not to make you life any easier.

In November of '07 I bought a brand spanking new Hewlett Packard Media Edition laptop, 17" screen and all. When I made that purchase from a large big box store (Best Buy) I wanted to protect my investment. After all, I was dropping $1,400 on a new laptop. When the salesman innocently enquired if I wanted to sign up for their extended warranty I thought, shit I had probably better just in case something happened to this bad boy.

Seemed reasonable. $399.99 later I was the proud new owner of a kick ass laptop and peace of mind for the next three years that should anything happen my laptop and I were golden.

Skip forward 22 months. The display on my laptop started acting flakey. Weird patterns would arbitrarily crop up and then just as arbitrarily disappear.

WTF? After a few days the laptop would just boot up to a screen filled with vertical parallel lines and nothing more.

Video card is shot, right?

So, I made my way to the local Best Buy store, located in the Scarborough Town Centre complex. First thing I did was to check to make sure that the laptop was under warranty. Check.

Thus armed I made my way over to the much vaunted Geek Squad. Who ya gonna call? Geek Squad. Doesn’t have the same ring to it though, does it.

I fired my baby up for one of their techs to show the aforementioned behaviour. Sure enough, he concurred, my video card was FUBAR. Still under warranty? You betcha. So, no problems then, right?

Wrong.

After about a week I started getting antsy. The Aardvark without a laptop is not a pretty sight. The Geek Squad dude had given me a website where I might go and check the progress of my order. Which I did. It had been shipped; it had been received; it had been looked at and, wait a minute, that can't be right.

The problem wasn't covered under the extended warranty?

Again I say; WTF?

I checked with the Geek Squad (hitherto fore referred to as GS). You'll hear from someone soon, they assured me.

But what about the message on their website?

You'll hear from someone soon.

So I waited.

Two days later I did, in fact, hear from someone. This someone was telling me that once they popped the lid on my laptop they found extensive water damage.

Extensive water damage? WT... Well, you get the idea.

Plus things were cracked inside and not in generally good repair.

So they were reneging on their warranty. The self same one I dropped $399.99 (plus GST) on in happier, more naive times.

We can still fix it, they insisted, it will cost you $800 (plus GST).

Were they high? $800 to repair something which I had spent $399.99 (plus GST) on to protect against just such an eventuality? To the best of my knowledge I never spilled ANYTHING liquid on my laptop. But since it would only deteriorate to an I said - They said kind of thing I didn't dispute the fact to stridently, other than to say that I never spilt anything on it.

I told them to stuff the $800 (plus GST) where the proverbial sun doesn’t shine and to send it back to the big box store (Best Buy) that I dropped it off in the first place.

Should be there in a day or two they assured me.

At that time I started looking online to see how much a new system board would cost for my laptop. This was the thing that they said was screwed up. $200 give or take (plus GST). Fine, much better than what they were going to charge me.

I am quite comfortable under the hood of a computer so replacing a system board would be a new challenge but not one which I would be uncomfortable with.

Well, their day or two turned out to be a full seven days. When I got my laptop home I tried to fire it up, expecting to see the previously observed horizontal parallel lines. Except pressing the power button did nothing.

Nothing I tells ya.

It wouldn`t even start to boot up. Definitely not the same shape that I dropped the damn thing off in the first place.

The next day I went back to Best Buy (a big box shop) to complain, loudly and robustly) to anyone in a position of power that cared to listen.

All I got for that pain was a not so subtly veiled suggestion that I knew damned well that I had spilled something all over the keyboard but was just trying to put a fast one by them.

Bastards. My hackles still bristle with the memory.

So, I went home, called my insurance company and three days later was in possession of a cheque for $1,199.99 ($1,399.99 less a $200 deductible).

That was Tuesday of this week. My immediate reaction was to run out and buy a new laptop. Yet I hesitated. I didn`t want to buy the first laptop that presented itself and, since I knew that the October 22nd release of Windows 7 was going to bring a veritable flood of new computer hardware I waited a couple of days.

So, after much investigation, I ventured forth to a big box shop (Best Buy, but not the one at STC) and purchased the puppy that I am now typing this entry out on. It has more horsepower than my old laptop did, a larger faster hard drive, Windows 7 Home Premium OS (soon upgraded to Windows 7 Ultimate once I got the darned thing home) and so much more. At 15.6 inches the screen is smaller by 1.6 inches, but then again, size doesn’t matter (right ladies?)

The point of this entire diatribe? Well, I hope to warn you off purchasing extended warranties for any of you big budget purchases. It just isn't worth it and, in many ways, is just a money grab from you, the consumer who feels vulnerable after laying down your hard earned cash on a big purchase.

Extended warranties, by and large, are a cash grab. Nothing more and nothing less. If you still feel compelled to go that route... well, question anyone trying to sell you on the concept mercilessly; about every kind of contingency that you can possibly imagine. If they agree that everything is good, get it in writing. If they blanche at any point? Well, you can always thank me latter.

The Aardvark

R.I.P. Les Paul (June 9, 1915 – August 13, 2009

The world of rock music lost one of it's pioneers Thursday. Les Paul, who was instrumental (so to speak) in the development of the solid body electric guitar, an instrument which "made the sound of rock and roll possible" passed away of complications from pneumonia. He was 94.

To say that he had a profound effect on the world of rock 'n' roll would be a gross understatement. Along with pioneering his eponymously named guitar Paul developed and produced the first multi track recording machine, accomplished by stacking eight mono tape machines and sending their outputs to one piece of tape. This allowed him to record each element of the music on a separate track. In this way Paul was able to mix the volumes of the vocals and instruments     separately as well as the ability to add effects to each channel individually.

Another innovation of his was the addition of an extra playback head to his tape recorder which produced a delayed effect which became known as tape echo. This technique gave the recording more of a "live" feel and allowed the player to simulate  different playing environments.

Les Paul was a true legend. Thinking back now over all the guitarists who adopted his creation as their signature axe; Jimmy Page, Jeff Beck, Eric Clapton, Duanne Allman, Mike Bloomfield, Eddie Van Halen, Peter Frampton and Slash to name but a few. Paul is Steve Miller's godfather. Jimi Hendrix consulted him about the construction of Electric Ladyland Studios. He was inducted into the Rock 'n' Roll Hall Of Fame at the 3rd annual induction dinner. Jeff Beck was his presenter.

The Gibson Les Paul has always been a personal favourite of mine. I like the look, I love the sound. In that I am not alone.

It isn't everyday that we loose a true original. Thursday, August 13th, 2009 was one of those days. So rest in peace Les, and thank you for your gift.

Enjoy that great jam session in the sky.

The Aardvark

For more information on Les Paul check out the following links:

In Loving Memory of Les Paul (Gibson Guitar)

Les Paul: Lesson's Of A Legend by Jim O'Donnell 

Rock 'n' Roll Hall Of Fame Inductee

Emerson, Lake and Palmer - Pictures At An Exhibition - Deluxe Edition


Artist: Emerson, Lake and Palmer

Label: Sanctuary Records

Release Dates:

Original: November, 1971
CD: October 7, 2008

Discs: 2

Aardvark's Rating:


out of 5



Emerson, Lake and Palmer's take on Ravel's arrangement of Mussorgsky's classical piece "Pictures At An Exhibition" has never been one of my favorites works in their cannon, yet it still stands up as a uniquie glance back at a time in progressive rock's infancy, when anything went.

Originally the band recorded and filmed an entire concert at the Lyceum Ballroom, but an intermitent hum from the vocal mikes negated any kind of release of that material. It was decided to give it one more go and their performance of Mussorgsky's masterpiece was captured to the bands satisfaction at the Newcastle City Hall in England. ELP's encore from that period, B Bumble and the Stingers hit "Nut Rocker", a rock take on the Nutcracker Suite, was included.

At the time Pictures was intended to be included as a bonus disc with their then current release, Tarkus. The idea was scraped and was, instead, released as a budget priced disc on it's own.

The piece, or an abreviated version of the piece, would remain in the bands repetoire throughout the rest of the 70's and for their 90's reunion tours.

With more modern recording and editing techniques, any sonic issues with the original recordings meant to comprise the Pictures LP have been eradicated. Their entire set from that night is included in this deluxe edition on disc two.

If your idea of the quintessential Emerson, Lake and Palmer song is Lucky Man, then run, don't walk, away from this release. If, however, you enjoy some of their more demanding pieces this release is for you.

Disc One (Recorded live Newcastle City Hall, England 26th March 1971): Promenade (Instrumental) The Gnome / Promenade (Vocal) / The Sage / The Old Castle / Blues Variation / Promenade (Instrumental 2) / The Hut Of Baba Yaga / The Curse Of Baba Yaga / The Hut Of Baba Yaga (Part 2) / The Great Gates Of Kiev / Nut Rocker / Pictures At An Exhibition Medley i) Promenade (Instrumental) ii) The Gnome iii) Promenade (Vocal) iv) The Sage v) The Hut Of Baba Yaga / The Great Gates Of Kiev/


Disc Two (Bonus Tracks - Live at the Lyceum Ballroom, December 9, 1970): Promenade (Instrumental) The Gnome / Promenade (Vocal) / The Sage / The Old Castle / Blues Variation / Promenade (Instrumental 2) / The Hut Of Baba Yaga / The Curse Of Baba Yaga / The Hut Of Baba Yaga (Part 2) / The Great Gates Of Kiev / The Barberian / Knife Edge / Rondo / Nut Rocker

Emerson, Lake and Palmer - Brain Salad Surgery - Deluxe Edition


Artist: Emerson, Lake and Palmer

Label: Sanctuary Records

Release Dates:

Original: November 19, 1973
CD: October 7, 2008

Discs: 3 (2 CD / 1 DVD)

Aardvark's Rating:


out of 5



Originally titled "Whip Some Skull On Yer" (Cockney slang for fellatio), "Brain Salad Surgery" (a slightly less obvious euphamism for fellatto) was to became Emerson, Lake and Palmer's masterpiece. Forward thinking and original for it's time Surgery is one of those albums that sounds best when played start to finish without a break.

From the opening strains of the bands take on "Jerusalem" and on to the rather abrupt end of the album, ELP took the themes which had been dabbled with on past releases and brought it into a sharp, cohesive focus.

The electronic cacophony of "Toccata" followed, a song for which Carl Palmer used home made drum triggers for what could well have been the first drum synthesizer ever captured on record.

Following in the footsteps of "Lucy Man" and "From The Beginning" Greg Lake penned and recorded the poignant "Still... You Turn Me On" which led right to "Benny The Bouncer" a fun ragtime, piano driven song.

And then, there is Karn Evil #9: a song which Pete Sinfield, an old friend from Lake's King Crimson days helped with the lyrics and also helped title the song, commenting that it sounded like the music sounded like a carnival. And so, the 30+ minute epic was born.

This deluxe edition sounds fantastic and has two discs of bonus content: a CD of b-sides, and outtake and the original first mix of the album rejected by the band and a DVD of the album mixed in 5.1 surround sound.

If you love Progressive Rock, or are just curious about what all the fuss was about, you owe it to yourself to pick this title up.

Disc One (Original album remixed): Jerusalem / Toccata / Still... You Turn Me On / Benny The Bouncer / Karn Evil 9 1st Impression Part 1 / Karn Evil 9 1st Impression Part 2 / Karn Evil 9: 2nd Impression / Karn Evil 9: 3rd Impression


Disc Two (Bonus Tracks): When The Apple Blossoms Bloom In The Windmills Of Your Mind I'll Be Your Valentine / Brain Salad Surgery / Karn Evil 9: 3rd Impression - Original Back Track / Jerusalem - First Mix / Still... You Turn Me On - First Mix / Toccata - First Mix / Karn Evil 9 1st Impression Part 1 - First Mix / Karn Evil 9 1st Impression Part 2 - First Mix / Karn Evil 9: 2nd Impression - First Mix / Karn Evil 9: 3rd Impression - First Mix / Excerpts from Brain Salad Surgery - From the NME Flexidisc


Disc Three (DVD 5.1 Mix): Jerusalem / Toccata / Still... You Turn Me On / Benny The Bouncer / Karn Evil 9 1st Impression Part 1 / Karn Evil 9 1st Impression Part 2 / Karn Evil 9: 2nd Impression / Karn Evil 9: 3rd Impression

R.I.P. Michael Jackson (August 29, 1958 - June 25, 2009)...

So the long saga, sometimes thrilling, sometimes not so much so, has come to a premature end. The talent of the self proclaimed King of Pop is undeniable. While his tabloid lifestyle dominated the later part of his life, it is not my intention herein to question the whys and wherefores. Whether you considered him a freak or a genius, I shall leave the non musical flotsam and jetsom of his life to those more knowledgable than I to debate.

Jackson, who was awarded a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 1984, dominated the pop landscape during the 80's in a way that few, if any, had before or have done since. As a solo artist he had a total of 13 number one Billboard Hot 100 hits, including 3 during 1983 alone (yeah, they were from THAT album). His first number one was a love song to a rat that went by the name of Ben (1972). His last was You Are Not Alone (1995) from his double cd HIStory.

Thirteen more number ones on the Billboard R&B charts, 29 Top 10 Hot 100 its. During his heyday, high profile guitarists Eddie Van Halen (Beat It) and Steve Stevens (Dirty Dianna) added their considerable guitar prowess to the proceedings. Sir Paul McCartney dueted with MJ on Say Say Say, one of those three aforementioned number ones achieved during that heady year 1983. Not to shabby for any artist.

Then there was Thriller. The world wide number one selling album of all time which, to date, has sold in excess of 100 million copies. That's a lot of damned zeros folks; and it will only go up in the days and weeks to come.

Admitedly Michael started to loose me the night I sat in anticipation of the video premiere for his then current single Black Or White. The song itself was quite good; very catchy even. But when the main part of the video ended and Michael went on a rampage in a city street, smashing car windows, "Hooooooooooooo"ing here and there, with no aparent rhyme nor reason, well, it just reaked of being controversial for controversy sake.

I understand and appreciate that sometimes you have to shock to get your point across, but, for the life of me, I just can't figure out what the hell his point was. Apparently, neither could he since the very next day he made a public apology following the world wide approar that followed. While I never followed Michael that closely at the best of times, I believe that was the one and only time the full video was played on the public airwaves.

The first time I heard a young Michael singing was when he performed "ABC" with his brothers in The Jackson Five. I still love that song.

So rest in peace MJ. Visionary, humanitarian, freak? From today and moving forward non of that should matter. At the end of it all, the only thing that any artist can truely hope is that their art stands the test of time, long after they are gone.

On that point alone I don't think Michael Jackson has anything to worry about.

The Aardvark

Black Sabbath - Paranoid - Deluxe Edition


Artist: Black Sabbath

Label: Sanctuary Records

Release Dates:

Original: September, 1970
CD: April 7, 2009

Discs: 3 (2 CD / 1 DVD)

Aardvark's Rating:






Would it suprise you to know that Black Sabbath's sofmore release was originally slated to be called "War Pigs"? Yet, at the last minute, after the cover artwork had already been shot, the producer announced that the album which they had just struggled to produce was too short. Well, shit; what to do?

Why, record another song, naturally. And thus was born Paranoid, one of Black Sabbath's most easily recognizable songs; a song which, to this very day, finds it's way into their encores with alarming regularity.

Paranoid, the song, became the title of the new release. And what a release it was. One of the things that sets a true superstar band apart from all other bands is their ability to release a second disc which exceeds, if not just meets, the popularity of their first one.

While Black Sabbath, by Black Sabbath had such notable songs as "Black Sabbath", "The Wizard" and "N.I.B., Paranoid produced and entire album of notable songs... "Paranoid", "War Pigs", "Fairies Wear Boots", "Iron Man" and "Electric Funeral"... well, what can I say.

Black Sabbath was THE band which laid down the blueprint for most, if not all, heavy metal bands to follow. Steppenwolf may well have been the band to coin and popularize the phrase, but Black Sabbath made it manifest and real.

For anyone who likes Black Sabbath, or even just wonders about the roots of their favorite metal, thrash band need look no further than "Paranoid".

Dig it!

Disc One (Original album remastered): War Pigs / Paranoid / Planet Caravan / Iron Man / Electric Funeral / Hand Of Doom / Rat Salad / Fairies Wear Boots


Disc Two (Quadrophonic Mixes): War Pigs / Paranoid / Planet Caravan / Iron Man / Electric Funeral / Hand Of Doom / Rat Salad / Fairies Wear Boots


Disc Three (Early takes, demos etc): War Pigs / Paranoid / Planet Caravan / Iron Man / Electric Funeral / Hand Of Doom / Rat Salad / Fairies Wear Boots