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The Hot Toddies - Get Your Heart On (2010 Asian Man Records) The follow up to 2007's "Smell the Mitten" comes to us just in time for the long lazy days of summer. High harmonies combined with low humor (in the very best sense of the word) makes for an album both clever and wicked. We get a taste of the French with the lead off tune, Ordinareur Ordinare, and its ending refrain of "I know nobody wants me". A bit disturbing is the next tune, Max's Mankini, and the visuals one may suffer during the listen, but we are quickly whisked away to the pleasantly promising Only With You, "...Got My Jameson here by my side and if you can find the pot maybe I'll get high with you, only with you". And it just keeps getting better, a bit of surf sounding guitar, a strong bass/drum section to carry the weight and a smattering of keyboards to sweeten up the overall sound. I have to admit, I had to look up who Matt Skiba was, old fart that I am, but you can hear the girls honest desire in Matt Skiba Sandwich. And just in time for the summer's next installment of the Twilight saga the ladies have crafted a nice dark tale of a vampire's love, lust and indifference, "I'm a blood sucking fucking vampire". Time spent on the road playing the clubs, lounges and bowling alleys dotting the landscape has really payed off in the chops department. The guitar (a pretty black Epiphone last time I saw them) and bass (Fender, of course) passed back and forth between Erin and Heidi, Jessica tickles the keys and Sylvia holds it all together on the well played drum set. Four part harmonies and a look of geniune enjoyment as they play their songs is a nice departure from a lot of the posing and yelling that one comes across in the wilds of clubland. The music is tight, well arranged with that slight hint of grit that makes it sound so hand hewn and original. Hailing from Oakland, Ca. and playing far and wide across this vast and varied landscape the Hot Toddies may be coming to a venue near you. Do yourself a favor, clear the calendar, call a few dozen friends and trot on down for a night of magical musicial merriment and mellifuous melody. Track Listing 01. Ordinateur Ordinaire The album is available on CD, in MP3 format and, best of all, a select few copies have been pressed to virginal white vinyl (got mine, thanks). Stop by their site and give 'em a listen or two. On MySpace: http://www.myspace.com/thehottoddies Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/TheHotToddies Also available - Smell the Mitten
These reviews are a random sampling of music I've been listening to and are not necessarily current nor recent releases, but music I find interesting and worth sharing. |
Recent Acquisitions - 5/1/2010 LPs, CDs and Whatnot that I've gathered from flea markets, used CD shops and the like. Some pretty good finds from the local flea market last weekend. John Martyn - Foundations (LP) 7 90853-1 |
Review Archive The Red Button - She's About to Cross My Mind (2007 Grimble/IODA ) The Southern Backtones - Los Tormentos De Amor (1999 Pinche Flojo Records) |
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| Acquisition Archive The dusty heap of orphans and cast-offs rescued from the great thrift shop in the sky. | |
Blog, Articles and Random Musings - 2/26/2010
The Buzzcocks at the Blank Club, San Jose on 2/19/2010 The night started out on a high note with local San Jose band The Odd Numbers taking the stage. Wearing their new wave roots proudly the band straightened their skinny ties, hoisted their Rickenbackers high and launced into a strong set that would've done the Jam proud. Actually, only the bass player was wearing a tie, but you get my reference. And it's always a pleasure to see a drummer with vocal abilities. Nice effort gentlemen. Although I did forget to go back and pick up a copy of their CD. Next time, definitely. Next up was Images, a young trio from Los Angeles. Tight, fast and loud. With the guitarist and drummer splitting the vocals duties and the bass player living in the upper register most of the night they proved themselves worthy to trod the boards as a precursor to the legends to follow. A sad note, the fellows were too young to remain in the club after their set and were ushered out the side door by the club security personnel prior to the main acts set. The heartbreaking trials of youth! At last the appointed hour was upon us and the Buzzcocks took the stage. Looking a bit worn about the edges with a little gray creeping the band launched into their set with good natured abandon. One of only two shows in the states this time around (a major coup for the booking team at the Blank club) the band played everything anyone could have asked for and what most impressed me was the fact that they looked like they were really having a good time all night. Smiles all around. The current line up includes Tony Barber on bass and Danny Farrant on drums, both of whom turned in tight performances. Pete Shelly's voice was strong and he was playing a nice Epiphone all night while Steve Diggle switched between a blonde Rickenbacker and a white Telecaster sporting a small British flag. Diggle can hang with the best of them and he used those guitars to slash and shred through each song like his life depended on it. |
At the end of the set proper the band left the stage to the strains of the crowd singing the refrain from "I Believe" at the top of their lungs..."There ain't no love in this world anymore!". Back for a short encore and our heroes were escorted from the small stage, lingering a few moments to shake hands and receive thanks from those closest to the stage and then they were whisked away. Count yourself among the lucky souls who were in attendance, I don't think this thrill will be repeated in the near future. Set List Boredom Encore: Harmony Click here for photos of the show.
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Blog Archive And the words echoed from the walls, and the walls, deaf though they were, were not without understanding and emotion.. M. Schott 2010 |
About the Collection
All albums represented on these pages have been carefully selected from my ever growing personal collection of music. Although the intent is to share the wealth of diverse art gracing the covers of vinyl records, I have included a few select CDs, cassettes and even a reel-to-reel tape or two. You'll find both classic albums and some you've never seen, artists both familiar and foreign. The music ranges from jazz, rock, punk, a little country, some show tunes, various artist collections and some hard to describe items as well. There are albums on various shades of colored vinyl. Some are selected for their subject matter, both good and bad. Some for their inherent strangeness, some for their beauty. Of course any collection is subject to the filter of the assemblers' mind and this grouping is no different. All of these albums come with memories attached, some you may share such as a remembrance of a particular live show or the anticipation of certain's records release. In any event I hope you enjoy the selections and my musings upon each album as you browse through these pages.
