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Eat 'Em and Smile (Album of the Day)
After an E.P. of amiable covers showed that David Lee Roth had kept his sense of humor when he left Van Halen, EAT 'EM AND SMILE showed that he still had his ear for hard rock. For his first full-length solo album, Roth recruited three of the best players on the scene – former Zappa guitarist Steve Vai, future Mr. Big bassist Billy Sheehan and drummer Gregg Bissonette – and got down to business. With VH vet Ted Templeman producing, the set gets off to a scorching start with “Yankee Rose” (which became an MTV staple, along with “Goin' Crazy”) and rarely lets up until Dave's closing take on the Sinatra classic “That's Life.” Displaying both the spirit and the chops of Roth's former band, EAT 'EM AND SMILE will put a smile on the face of any headbanger, and we'll give it another spin to wish Diamond Dave a happy birthday.
There Is No Enemy (Album of the Day)
Released 10 years ago this month, THERE IS NO ENEMY represented a strong return to form for indie jam band Built To Spill. Singer-guitarist Doug Martsch's intricate lyrics don't seem as inscrutable as in the past - the urgent, emotionally resonant tone of this music is unmistakable on such originals as “Hindsight,” “Nowhere Lullaby” and “Life's A Dream.” The guitar solos are superb as usual, but the entire band dives head-first into these songs; this would be the final album with longtime bassist Brett Nelson and drummer Scott Plouf, who really go out with a bang. Pitchfork called THERE IS NO ENEMY “easily the best Built to Spill album of the decade,” and it stands proudly with the band's alternative rock classics of the 1990s.
Zebra (Album of the Day)
Formed in New Orleans in the mid-1970s, Zebra relocated to Long Island in pursuit of their dreams, and earned a contract with New York-based Atlantic Records. ZEBRA became one of the fastest-selling debuts in the label's history, and one listen shows why – it's first-class hard rock with strong Led Zeppelin influences. Produced by Jack Douglas, the 1983 collection is packed with great songs, all but a version of “Slow Down” penned by frontman Randy Jackson; “Tell Me What You Want” and “Who's Behind the Door?” were both radio hits and “Take Your Fingers From My Hair” would later be covered by Dream Theater. Still the trio's biggest commercial success, ZEBRA features catchy progressive metal sure to please headbangers of every stripe.
Wild! (Album of the Day)
Erasure hit the big time with THE INNOCENTS, and the British synth-pop duo made the most of that breakthrough with follow-up WILD!, released 30 years ago today. The 1989 Sire set was the group's second consecutive U.K. chart-topper, thanks to such irresistible singles as “Drama!,” “Blue Savannah,” “You Surround Me” and “Star.” Andy Bell and Vince Clarke worked with separate producers (Gareth Jones and Mark Saunders, respectively) on the vocal and instrumental parts, and the strategy paid off with inspired performances and inventive arrangements that demand repeated listening. Danceable, theatrical and filled with hooks, WILD! captures Erasure in peak form and remains a fan favorite.
New Wave (Album of the Day)
Florida punk heroes Against Me! had a trio of indie albums under their belts when they signed with Sire for NEW WAVE. If less rough-hewn than their earlier work, the 2007 collection is just as passionate, and the sharper production - by the great Butch Vig - only adds to the power of this music. The song “Piss and Vinegar” offers an apt description of the fiery singing and playing here (James Bowman's guitar work is particularly impressive), but tracks like “White People for Peace,” “Stop!” and Modern Rock charting “Thrash Unreal” make it clear there's a lot going on underneath the electrifying surface. This was Spin magazine's album of the year, and musician Ben Lee covered it in its entirety, noting that “as heavy and gnarly as it sounds at times, it is unmistakably a pop masterpiece.” One listen to NEW WAVE and you'll join the fan club too!
Pick of the Litter (Album of the Day)
When it comes to '70s R&B, the Spinners were the cream of the crop and PICK OF THE LITTER shows why. The collection was the group's fourth for Atlantic Records, and like their others for the label, was cut with Philly soul genius Thom Bell behind the boards. The quintet sing like angels; if tenor Philippé Wynne got most of the attention, don't discount the velvety vocals of Bobbie Smith and Henry Fambrough (Dionne Warwick makes an uncredited guest appearance for good measure). Eight tracks and not a dog among them - while ballads like “Sweet Love of Mine” predominate, there are several uptempo numbers as well, such as “Games People Play,” which topped the R&B singles chart on this day in 1975. PICK OF THE LITTER reached the Top 10 on Billboard's album chart as well, becoming the Spinners' most successful LP.
Freddie King Is A Blues Master (Mono) (Album of the Day)
Born on this day in 1934, Freddie King was nicknamed “The Texas Cannonball,” and his powerful guitar playing could certainly knock you flat. In the late 1960s, a fan and fellow musical king – King Curtis – brought Freddie into the Atlantic Records fold for a pair of fine albums. FREDDIE KING IS A BLUES MASTER is the first of these, and demonstrated that the performer's blues mastery extended to singing as well as string bending. The dozen tracks delve into deep soul on a mix of strong originals (“Play It Cool”) and well-chosen covers (Curtis Lewis' “Today I Sing The Blues”). With sax accompaniment from Curtis and piano work by James Booker complementing the axeman's explosive solos, FREDDIE KING IS A BLUES MASTER shows the Rock and Roll Hall of Famer at the top of his game.
The Kindling Collection (Album of the Day)
An alumnus of both The Byrds and The Flying Burrito Brothers, Gene Parsons couldn't have had a more confusing name. He's no relation to Gram, yet to judge from KINDLING, the album he made between stints in those legendary groups, his ear for country-rock is just as strong as his more famous predecessor. The 1973 Warner Bros. collection, produced by Russ Titelman, is a tour de force for Parsons, who penned most of the material (including such ace tracks as “Monument” and “I Must Be a Tree”), sings, and plays percussion and numerous stringed instruments beautifully. He's joined by several stellar guests, including Little Feat keyboardist Bill Payne, ex-Byrd bandmate Clarence White on guitar and the tenor vocals of Ralph Stanley, raising the bluegrass quotient of this set even more. If you love roots or Americana sounds, you owe KINDLING a listen, and we'll give it another spin to wish Parsons a happy 75th birthday.
Bread (Album of the Day)
David Gates, Jimmy Griffin and Robb Royer joined forces as Bread to become one of the most appealing soft rock acts of the 1970s. The Los Angeles-based trio's eponymous debut saw the three multi-instrumentalists joined by a pair of session drummers (one of them being Jim Gordon), and though it only reached #127 on the chart, the Elektra collection was a clear indicator of great things to come. Gates' “Dismal Day” made a fine single and his “It Don't Matter To Me” would later become a Top 10 smash, while the Griffin-Royer partnership contributed such fine songs as “Could I” and “Friends and Lovers.” The strong material is complemented with inventive arrangements that can sound surprisingly tough to listeners who only know the band's hit ballads. Celebrating its 50th anniversary this month, BREAD is a terrific album any way you slice it.
The Best of (Album of the Day)
Morrissey surpassed the commercial success of his former band The Smiths after the singer-lyricist launched a solo career in 1988. Over the next 10 years, “Moz” released six studio albums and a string of hit singles before going on a brief recording hiatus, and his most memorable work as a solo artist up to that point was collected on THE BEST OF MORRISSEY in 2001. That classic compilation has just received its first-ever vinyl release as a 2-LP set featuring tracks from each of the performer's solo albums and several single sides. Among the many highlights are “Everyday Is Like Sunday,” “Hairdresser On Fire,” “”Sing Your Life” and “The More You Ignore Me, The Closer I Get.” Along with a standard pressing, THE BEST OF MORRISSEY is available on clear vinyl exclusively from Rhino.com (limited to 500 copies).