Total Rock Fiend

OBSESSED WITH ROCK'N'ROLL... Reflections, ruminations and rebellious chatter from a lifelong Total Rock Fiend.

[totalrockfiend]

Time's Up Turn 35!

On August 28th 1990, Brooklyn NYC's Living Colour released their sophomore album, Time's Up.

Socially conscious, loaded with weird guitar noise, guest box from Chuck D, Flavor fFav, and Queen Latifah, and even a Paul Simon inflected ballad, LC's second outing pushed musical and stylistic boundaries will beyond their hit debut, Vivid.

But while Time's Up eventually went platinum and earned a Grammy for Best Hard Rock performance, sales failed to match Vivid's considerable success or yield a single anywhere the scale of the band's monster hit, Cult of Personality.

Looking back at my 30th anniversary review, I copped top to the fact that though Living Colour is one of my all-time favorite bands, Time's Up isn't my favorite entry in their catalog.

It lacks Vivid's vibe and excitement, and is well short of the ferocious attack on their follow-up release, Stain.

All of that said, it's solid album and a worthwhile listen.

Stand out tunes include the title track, Type, and This is The Life.

And, Living Colour Rawks, you can't go wrong with their music. Enjoy!

[totalrockfiend]

The Stooges, The Weirdness

How's about a lil' driving around music?

(also, how cool is it The Stooges had a second life 40 years later?!)

[totalrockfiend]

Stoned, Memoir of Andrew Loog Oldham, Rolling Stones Manager + Producer

Am I up for a little Saturday reading? Yup!

And looking at the to be read section of my bookshelf, I'm suuuuuuuper looking forward to diving into Stoned, the memoir of the Rolling Stones first manager and one-time producer, Andrew Loog Oldham.

And at over 300 pages, huge pages, each packed with tiny text, it’s clearly going to be a DEEP DIVE into the life of Mr. Oldham.

But obviously, the guy’s got quite a story... At the tender age of barely 20, OLH became the first manager of the then burgeoning Rolling Stones, vaulting the exciting, but still fledgling club act into the rarified airspace of bona fide popstars.

Oldham also produced the Stones early albums, helming everything from their eponymous debut through Between The Buttons. A run that includes the album Aftermath, which features famed Stones’ tracks like Paint it Black, Under My Thumb, and Stupid Girl.

Oldham is also credited with several key decisions integral to yielding the band’s massively successful and long-running career, including: 

Shifting the band’s focus away from founder, Brian Jones, and establishing Mick Jagger as the act’s central “Front Man.”

Establishing the band’s “bad boy” image as a antithesis to the squeaky clean Beatles.

And, perhaps most importantly, urging Keith Richards and Mick Jagger to write their own tunes. Apparently locking the duo in their apartment until they emerged with the first Jagger/Richards penned co-write, Tell Me.

Oldham parted ways with the Stones in 1967 at just 23 years old. But went on to found the indie record label, Immediate Records, signing and producing a who’s who of notable ‘60s and ‘70s era British pop + rock artists.

Of course, it’s his time with the Stones that interests me most. Particularly is role as producer and efforts instigating Mick and Keef as songwriters. A partnership that nearly rivals Lennon and McCartney.

Anyway, Stoned promises to be an entertaining read!

[totalrockfiend]

Rock + Roll Movies I Luv: The ALLnighter, Staring the Bangles’ Susanna Hoffs

Full disclosure, The ALLnighter is not a Rock + Roll movie. It’s stars rock star Susanna Hoffs of the Bangles.

But that’s too much to explain in a headline, so I’m sticking with my slightly disingenuous approach!

Anyway, the flick focuses on five friends on their last weekend before graduating from college. Pacifica College to be exact. A facetious beachside school that could easily be Malibu, California’s Pepperdine College.

And in typical angsty, entering-adulthood fashion, the quintet are starring down the future with a potent mix of fear and confusion over “what comes next!?”

Hoffs, who in her mid-60s remains a stunningly beautiful women, was at the peak of her allure. A twentysomething manic pixie goddess.

No great shakes as an actress. But certainly passable. And offsetting Hoffs screen skills is a young Joan Cusack (sister of John Cusack), who would go on to carve out a stellar Hollywood acting career.

The ALLnighter is a B-movie for sure. But a fun romp none-the-less. And well worth the watch if you’re interested in seeing a fetching Susanna Hoffs in a variety of scant outfits.

[totalrockfiend]

Motorhead Top 5 Album Power Ranking

How to describe Motorhead... A genre busting act that cross-pollinated the no f*cks giving attitude of punk and the relentless drive of metal, inadvertently blazing the trail for thrash and speed metal that were soon to come

I mean, what more can you say about a iconic band with such a powerful resume? 

Not much! Which is why I’m restricting my personal commentary on these legendary antiheroes to a... 

Motorhead Top 5 Album Power Ranking!

Why just weigh in on just their top 5 albums? With 22 studio albums, 15 live albums, and 16 complication albums, how else can you wrap your arms around such a prolific discography?

Plus, I love a good “top 5 album” ranking. That’s always where you get to the real cream of the crop. Especially with long-running band boasting 10 or more releases.

So, without further ado, let’s dive in!

Overkill

Crafted by the “classic line up” of Lemmy, “Fast” Eddie Clark, and “Philthy Animal” Phil Taylor, not sure how anyone could dispute that Overkill is clearly Motorhead’s best album? (Then again... There’s no accounting for taste ;---)

From the opening double bass roll of the incomparable title track onward, this pummeling record, released a decade ahead of it’s time, laid out the blueprint the for what would soon become thrash and speed metal. And in turn, inspired a gang of multi-platinum artist to come, including Anthrax, Megadeth, and the mighty Metallica, among many more future headbangers. 

Bastards

While Lemmy, Clark + Taylor may have comprised Motorhead’s “classic line up,” there’s little doubt that the later Lemmy, Phil Campbell, Michael "Wurzel” Burston, and Micky Dee incarnation served as the band’s most musically adept unit. 

And nowhere is this fact in more evidence than on the band’s 11th studio record, Bastards. Released in 1993, amid the grunge maelstrom overtaking heavy rock, Bastards is unapologetically metal.

Raw, driving, and relentless, Bastards’ tracks like On Your Feet or on Your Knees, Death or Glory, and Born to Raise Hell rock as hard, if not harder, than any tunes in the band’s considerable playlist. 

And the acoustic ballad (yup, there’s and ballad, and yup, it’s acoustic), Don’t Let Daddy Kiss Me, showcases a socially conscious side of Lemmy many Motorhead fans may not have expected.

Overnight Sensation

Released three years and two albums after Bastards and crafted sans former rhythm guitarist Wurzel, Overnight Sensation is nearly equal to the aforementioned album. And only ranks a step behind for being a slightly over-polished.

As I’m certain most Motorhead aficionados would agree, the band’s rawest, most unvarnished efforts are ultimately their best. Thus, while this shined up piece of work sounds stunning, it gets a few points off for being just tad too shiny.

Never-the-less, Overnight Sensation is totally rockin’ record, and features the Lemmy-Campbell-Dee lineup at its very best!

Ace of Spades

Though Overkill, a better album all around, preceded it, Ace of Spades is in many respects the record that really started it all for Motorhead.

Including the band’s most well known track, the title tune, Ace of Spades, the album is, in all honesty, Overkill Part II. Just not quite as stunning or punishing as the prior release.

But all of this said, Ace of Spades is truly a stone cold metal classic that holds up today. The record roars out of your stereo speakers in the 2020s every bit as raucous as when it originally dropped in 1980.

1916 (click to listen)

A transition album of sorts, 1916 marks Motorhead’s last record with the Lemmy, Phil Campbell, Wurzel, and "Philthy Animal” Phil Taylor line up, as Taylor would jump ship after this outing.

Though not the heaviest or best rendered Motorhead release, the album does feature some exceptional songwriting by one Mr. Lemmy Kilmister. 

Stand outs include the title track, 1916, a historical piece addressing the appallingly bloody “war of attrition” fought along the European Western Front in in World War I; ballads like  Love Me Forever and Angel City; and stomping rockers like I'm So Bad (Baby I Don't Care) and the excellent Ramones tribute,  R.A.M.O.N.E.S.

What Say You???

Well, I’ve thrown down my Motorhead Top-5 Album Power Ranking... 

[totalrockfiend]

NIRVANA, NEVERMIND | September 24, 1991 . Has it REALLY been 30 years for Nirvana's Nevermind? Feels like just yesterday... The album detonated like a bomb. And in one fell swoop, an unlikely trio of Seattle upstarts demolished Hair Metal. Turned the misnomer term "Grunge" into a household word. And spurred on the alt-rock revolution, massively fanning the flames of the genre that would dominate popular music for over a decade. Not too shabby for a couple of long-haired burnouts, huh? . . . . #totalrockfiend #cdcollecors #cdcollector #cdcollection #cdcollections #nirvana #nevermind #nevermind30 #grunge #altrock #kurtcobain #kristnovoselic #davegrohl (at Beverly Hills, California) https://www.instagram.com/p/CUO81xgrgO0/?utm_medium=tumblr

[totalrockfiend]

DAVID LEE ROTH | EAT 'EM AND SMILE, July 7, 1986 . No Eddie Van Halen? No problem! At least not as far as David Lee Roth was concerned when it came to his post-Van Halen debt solo album, which celebrates its 35 anniversary this week. . Joining forces with long-time Van Halen producer, Ted Templeman, Roth enlisted youthful, Frank Zappa-groomed guitar wizard, Steve Via, veteran session bassist, Billy Sheehan, and up-and-coming drummer, Gregg Bissonette to craft an infectiously rockin' album that was the antithesis of his former band's (dubbed by some as Van Hagar) then keyboard-driven sound. . And while VH's first Van Hagar effort out-sold DRL's debut, Roth's Eat 'Em went multi-platinum and peaked at #4 on the Billboard Hot 200. Ultimately proving Roth too had the musical skillz to pay the bills! . . . . #totalrockfiend #cdcollection #cdcollections #cdcollector #cdcollectors #davidleeroth #eatemandsmile #vanhalen #vanhagar #stevevia #billysheehan #greggbisdonette #eddievanhalen #tedtempleman (at Beverly Hills, California) https://www.instagram.com/p/CRFd6PfjU-p/?utm_medium=tumblr

[totalrockfiend]

Up next on my rock bio list? Former Rolling Stones' manager and producer Andrew Look Oldham's autobiography, Stoned.

Pretty sure after this and Bill Wyman's Stone Alone, I l'll have read all the major Stones' biographies.

A notable accomplishment? Probably not...

[totalrockfiend]

BECK | ODELAY, June 18, 1996 . Beck made it on the map with his minimalist, folk-rap novelty record, Mellow Gold. But Mr. Hansen earned household name status with his tasty follow up, the sample drenched, Odelay. Where It's At + Devil's Haircut scored the album's biggest hits. But the sneaky psychedelia of Derelict us secretly the record's best track. Shout out to this altrock landmark in honor of its 25th anniversary! . . . . #totalrockfiend #cdcollecor #cdcollecors #cdcollection #cdcollections #beck #odelay (at Beverly Hills, California) https://www.instagram.com/p/CQSKVWtD0mS/?utm_medium=tumblr

[totalrockfiend]

Van Halen's F.U.C.K. turns 30! Released on June 17, 1991, For Unlawful Carnal Knowledge marked this hard rockin' SoCal outfit's 9th studio album, and third with David Lee Roth's replacement frontman, Sammy Hagar. . Though the piano-driven top 40 tune, Right Now, scored the album's big hit, overall F.U.C.K. proved to be a vast improvement over the overtly poppy schlock of it's predecessor, OU812. . Love or hate this incarnation of VH (known as Van Hagar to many), it's tough to argue with the irrepressible charm of rockers like Pound Cake, Runaround + Top Of The World! . . . . #totalrockfiend #cdcollecor #cdcollecors #cdcollection #cdcollections #vanhalen #vanhagar #fuck #forunlawfulcarnalknowledge #sammyhagar #davidleeroth #eddievanhalen #alexvanhalen #michaelanthony (at Beverly Hills, California) https://www.instagram.com/p/CQQ9_t9DNA2/?utm_medium=tumblr

[totalrockfiend]

Meant to chime in to honor this fantabulous album's 30th anniversary last week, but time got away from me... . Anyway, New Jersey's answer to Hair Metal, Skid Row released their sophomore album, Slave To The Grind on June 11, 1991. . Leaning less on the power ballads that bouyed their eponymous debut to the top of the Billboard charts, Slave snarls through raging rockers like Monkey Business, the title track, Psycho Love + Riot Act. And ultimately results in what, to my ears, is the band's best work. . Sadly, the group parted ways with front man Sebastian Bach in the late '90s. And while a reconstituted Skid Row continues to tour the nostalgia circuit, they do so without Sebastian. Here's hoping the two camps can mend their fences and do some 30th anniversary Slave tribute shows! . . . . #totalrockfiend #cdcollecor #cdcollectors #cdcollection #cdcollections #skidrow #slavetothegrind #sabastianbach #hairmetal (at Beverly Hills, California) https://www.instagram.com/p/CQQ7q0yjeMQ/?utm_medium=tumblr

[totalrockfiend]

THE RUNAWAYS | EPONYMOUS DEBUT, June 1, 1976 . Nowadays, women who rock are far from a novel concept. But in the mid-'70s, precious few gals were allowed in the boys club, with most women in music relegated to the role of Pop diva or r&b songstress. The Runaways, of course, changed all that. . With music impresario Kim Fowley pulling the strings, the Runaways turned the girl group concept on its head playing a stripped down, proto punk version of rock and roll that would be emulated for decades to come. . But despite all the promise in the world and their own signature hit single, Cherry Bomb, the band splintered in just a few short years. The Runaways' shrapnel yielded Joan Jett and the Blackhearts and Lita Ford's long enduring solo careers, along with proving women could stand to the toe with anyone, boys included, in the game. . And on that note, here's a 45th anniversary shout out to LA's all-time greatest rock + roll girl group! . . . . #totalrockfiend #cdcollector #cdcollectors #cdcollection #cdcollections #therunaways #kimfowley #joanjett #litaford #jackiefox #sandywest #joanjettandtheblackhearts (at Beverly Hills, California) https://www.instagram.com/p/CPmogy2juHa/?utm_medium=tumblr

[totalrockfiend]

PORNO FOR PYROS | GOD'S GOOD URGE, May 28, 1996 . After Jane's Addiction band leader Perry Farrell and drummer Stephen Perkins jumped ship from their pioneering altrock outfit, their follow-up act, Porno For Pyros, hit the ground running. . The new group's debut album sold tons and even scored a modern rock hit with the quirky yet irrepressively charming, Pets. . Their sophomore effort, God's Good Urge, however, failed to reach the same peaks. But while selling fewer units and not charting any singles, the Pyro second release far outpaces their debut. . With a bevy of trippy psychedelic tunes and a cast a standout guest musicians, including Love and Rockets (The entire band!), Jane's Addiction guitarist Dave Navarro, Flea, and Mike Watt of fIREHOSE and Minutemen fame, The album is a wash in a lush, feel good sonic landscapes. . So here or some party 25th anniversary best wishes for this unique artifact of the alt-rock age! (at Beverly Hills, California) https://www.instagram.com/p/CPlMKcRj7Ok/?utm_medium=tumblr

[totalrockfiend]

SMASHING PUMPKINS | GISH, May 28, 1991 . From Black Sabbath the shoegaze in just five tracks... Is there a more apt description of the Smashing Pumpkins stunning debut album, Gish? None that rings true to my ears, that's for sure. . And no, I still can't believe it's been 30 years since I picked originally up this album from my local Warehouse Records. Boy, how time flies. . Gish is also another standout album from the class of '91, which includes the likes of Nirvana's Nevermmind, Pearl Jam's 10, Soundgarden's Bad Motorfinger, and the Red Hot Chili Peppers' Blood Sugar Sex Magik. Here's to one helluva of a year of revolutionary rock + roll! . . . . #totalrockfiend #cdcollector #cdcollectors #cdcollection #cdcollections #smashingpumpkins #gish #billycorgan #butchvig (at Beverly Hills, California) https://www.instagram.com/p/CPckxPNDY_x/?utm_medium=tumblr

[totalrockfiend]

WEEZER | THE GREEN ALBUM May 15, 2001 . Weezer's big time comeback record, the Green Album, celebrates its 30th anniversary! . After the soaring heights of their platinum debut, Blue Album, and the bitter crash of their sophomore follow up, Pinkerton (tho hindsight would cast this release as the emo rock scene-igniting masterpiece), many proclaimed Weezer deceased. . But after a 5-year hiatus and a surprise barn-burning run on the Warped Tour, The band came roaring back with the Green Album. And on the strength of its infectiously charming hit singles, Hash Pipe and Island In The Sun, the band reestablished themselves as alt-rock kingpins. A position they still occupy 15 studio albums and 25 plus years later... . . . . #totalrockfiend #cdcollection #cdcollections #cdcollector #cdcollecors #weezer #thegreenalbum (at Beverly Hills, California) https://www.instagram.com/p/CO6Q5BkDysy/?igshid=3u8ll702tytz

[totalrockfiend]

PRIMUS | SAILING THE SEAS OF CHEESE May 14, 1991 . Can 30 years really have passed since I fell hard for the clown princes of quirk? That's what the calendar says... So it must be! Anyway, was there an odder duck in '90s rock than Primus? . They certainly defied categorization. They got played on Headbangers Ball AND 120 Minutes, and eventually made their way to MTV's regular rotation. . Meanwhile, few acts of the era could make a similar claim. And even fewer acts put out albums is gloriously bent as Sailing The Seas of Cheese. . The mainstream had never heard tunes like Jerry Was a Race Car Driver, Sergeant Baker, or Tommy The Cat before. Nor would they again. But this unique moment in time allowed a supremely unusual band like Primus to shine. So three cheers for Sailing The Seas of Cheese and it's 30th anniversary! . . . . #totalrockfiend #cdcollector #cdcollectors #cdcollection #cdcollections #primus #sailingtheseasofcheese #lesclaypool #larrylelonde #timherbslexander (at Beverly Hills, California) https://www.instagram.com/p/CO39_psj738/?igshid=1okma9ewpt7bx

[totalrockfiend]

Can a whole decade really have passed since the Foo Fighters' Wasting Light was released!? Well, according to the interwebs, my third favorite Foo Fighters' album was originally released April 11th 2011... . Despite acquiring the "Boston (the band) of altrock tag," the Foos are as sharp and fierce as ever on their 7th studio album, and certainly know worse for the band's 16 years of wear. . This guitar-heavy rager features a cavalcade of special guests, including Pat Smear (who would re-join as a full-time member), Bob Mould, Krist Novoselic, and would reunite Dave Grohl with former Nirvana producer, Butch Vig. All of which adds up to another outstanding turn, naysayers be damned! . . . . #totalrockfiend #cdcollection #cdcollections #cdcollector #cdcollectors #foofighters #wastinglight #davegrohl #patsmear #bobmould #kristnovoselic #butchvig (at Beverly Hills, California) https://www.instagram.com/p/COvGEikjvNa/?igshid=1gezmz1ymvh5k