The Jam - Fire and Skill

Wow. I hesitated on buying this for a long time.  I love the Jam and there have been countless box sets and compilation packages that have been  released since they stopped being a band in 1982(?)  However, a recent post by a friend on Facebook whose musical tastes I respect, led me to reconsider purchasing this 6 CD box set of live shows from the band.  Luckily for me, the record store about a block from my condo had a box just sitting there for months and months.

Aside from writing great albums and great songs, The Jam were always known as being a fantastic live band.  With a sound of slashing guitars, this three piece sounded like a freight train unleashed on a concert hall. Their intensity was a second to none. Well, this box set really seems to capture the band in all of its glory. Each CD is one entire show from each of the last 6 years of existence of the band. The last six years basically spanning the time from their first album to the last album.  The first CD capturing the band very early is just a purse slash and burn affair. The power is great and the band is cookin'. The next few CDs still capture that intensity but the musicianship becomes better and the songs and melodies even more pronounced. I was especially taken with third CD that captured the show on February 16, 1979 at Reading University. Based on the set list, they had just released their third (and for many their best) album All Mod Cons. The last few CDs captured a still great band but with more sophistication. YouTube is just full of great Jam music but here is one my favorite songs of theirs Tonight At Noon.  For more intensity, check out In The City/Art School.

Dwight Yoakam - Original Album Series

The first 5 albums in one little cool box.  I recently saw Dwight Yoakam for the first time and I must say the show was great and he is a total professional.  When I was 18/19 years old and working at Off The Record in San Diego, it was strange to see his first album come out and all the punk kids buying it.  I later realized that Dwight was respected because he often played the same underground rock clubs in Los Angeles that all the punk bands played. In addition, Dwight played real authentic music rooted in that Bakersfield sound.  It was the authenticity that the punk rock and underground rock kids liked.

Dwight has appeared in movies and is a star. However, his fame really hasn't affected his music and his passion. I salute you Dwight!

Record of the Week: Mega City Four - Tranzophobia (1989) (CD)

I am back!. With Tranzophobia, Mega's debut album, I finally have all the the albums of one my favorite UK guitar pop bands of all time. They use to call it "adrenalin-pop" because of the frenzied pace of the songs. While the music was fast, Mega City Four always had a touch for melody. If you doubt me, listen to this great song from this album, Paper Tiger.  All the albums are great and a must-buy for any of you into melodic guitar based bands.