The Swirling Eddies - "Zoom Daddy"

The Swirling Eddies - Zoom Daddy

1994, Alarma

1. I Had a Bad Experience With the C.I.A. and Now I'm Gonna Show You My Feminine Side

2. Mr. Sharky

3. (Disco) Love Grapes

4. Nightmare at Elks Lodge

5. The Golden Girl of the Golden West

6. Sweet Mother of God

7. The Twist

8. God Went Bowling

9. Multipurpose Man

10. Pyro Sets a Wildfire

11. Some Friendly Advice

12. Art Carney's Dream

13. Holy, Holy, Holy

14. Zoom Daddy

I bought this shortly after I posted my Outdoor Elvis review and someone left a comment suggested I get Zoom Daddy. I just have one thing to say to that person: THANK YOU SO MUCH! The Eddies' third disc is something of an enigma. While the previous effort was pretty easy to classify, this one is well... unique. In fact, my first time through I asked myself, "What the heck am I listening to?!" Be forewarned, Zoom Daddy takes a few listens to sink in. Probably the first thing I noticed is that despite the humorous song titles this album is serious as a heart attack. While some of the imagery is amusing the points that are being made are somber and grave - pondering the deeper mysteries of God and the human condition. "The Twist" is a heartrending depiction of Christ on the cross and "Art Carney's Dream" is a farce with one of the most beautiful refrains I've ever heard ("Then I caught sight of You/And Your beauty broke my heart"). The music itself defies classification. You really just have to hear it for yourself because I really have no way to describe it. "Nightmare at Elks Lodge" is an strange little ditty that oddly enough, sounds just like the title describes - slow lounge verses with an off time chorus. The atmosphere of the song makes me think of the game Bioshock. The guitar parts are filtered through some strange effects and Tim Chandler's bass seems a lot more upfront. Of course, since I think Tim Chandler is one of the most underrated bassists out there, this is only a good thing. I still amazed at how wonderful, poignant, and thrilling this album is. Highly, highly recommended!

Useless Fact: The band drops the silly nicknames they'd used on the previous album. OR this is a bunch of impostors if the liner notes to Sacred Cows are to be believed.

Sixpence None the Richer - "Divine Discontent"

Sixpence None the Richer - Divine Discontent

2002, Squint

1. Breathe Your Name

2. Tonight

3. Down and Out of Time

4. Don't Dream It's Over

5. Waiting On the Sun

6. Still Burning

7. Melody of You

8. Paralyzed

9. I've Been Waiting

10. Eyes Wide Open

11. Dizzy

12. Tension is a Passing Note

13. A Million Parachutes

I remember when I got this the first time that I didn't like it much. I thought it was an attempt to cash in on the commercial success of "Kiss Me" with a whole album geared toward the mainstream market. However, I've been giving this a second chance and I have to say I've enjoyed it a lot more this time around. Is it really more commercial? You bet. "Breathe Your Name," "Tonight," and "Waiting on the Sun" are just begging for radio airplay. I've been wondering whether the new direction is something the band wanted to do or something they were pushed into by the label. Though it would seem odd that Squint would push anyone into anything but maybe that was after Steve Taylor left. Anyway, I still enjoyed those pop tunes. Then there's the beautiful and mesmerizing "Melody of You" with the finger-picking guitar strain and Leigh's melodic, soft vocals make that track a standout. I also enjoy the Crowded House cover, "Don't Dream It's Over." The only song I don't really care for is "Dizzy." I'm not sure what it is but I get a little bored with this tune. I don't think this is the best the band has done, but it's a lot better than I originally gave it credit for.

Useless Fact: This was the last disc before the band took an extended hiatus.

Crashdog - "Cashists, Fascists, and Other Fungus"

Crashdog - Cashists, Fascists, and Other Fungus

1994, REX/Grrr

1. G.O.P.

2. ?School

3. My God

4. Family Tree

5. George's Poem

6. Option

7. Hateedge

8. Same Old Pain

9. Helpless

10. The Tale of Two Parties

11. Five

12. Intolerance

13. Cradle

14. Monster

15. Sept. 1994

16. Eve of Destruction

I got this recently because I'm trying to fill out my Crashdog collection and I remember enjoying this back in the day. Unfortunately, this didn't turn out as good as my memories would have me believe. Despite the fact that I said the band changed their sound in my Mud Angels review it really hasn't changed. It's still old school punk albeit without Spike Nard's trademark feux-British timbre. He gave the band a distinct sound and I don't think former guitarist Andrew Mandell is really up to the challenge. His voice got on my nerves after awhile he almost sounds like Gene from Lust Control only Andrew sounds like he's seconds away from passing out. The other problem with Andrew in front of the mike is that it takes him away from the guitar. Crashdog's guitar parts have, to me, always been far more technical, vibrant, and alive than most bands of this ilk. How many punk bands do you know that had honest-to-goodness leads in their songs? Not many I would wager. Sadly, on Cashists you won't hear anything like that - it's just standard punk power chords. Though the album isn't without it's bright spots. I think it starts off strong with "G.O.P." and "?School" and ends strong with the phenomenal "Sept. 1994" (featuring Bones Krogh back on bagpipes!) and cover tune "Eve of Destruction." I kind of wish the whole album sounded like those last two tracks as they are by far the most interesting thing this platter has to offer. Maybe that's why Andrew went on to form Ballydowse later on... hey... maybe I'll like Ballydowse. Gotta check them out at some point.

I'd also like to bring up one little nitpicky issue about the lyrics. They're a lot more political this time around (not that Crashdog ever shied away from politics). That' doesn't bother me but what I thought was funny was when in "My God" Andrew sings, "My God/ Doesn't hand out disease as punishment." To which I said, "Um... yes he does... and has! Read the Old Testament!" Now I know what he's saying - that H.I.V. isn't specifically designed by God to punish people, but the statement he makes is false. God has done that and may still do that. That doesn't mean he doesn't love us. I know I just sounded like I contradicted myself, but I didn't.

Useless Fact: Crashdog did one more album called Outer Crust and a "greatest hits" CD called 7 Years to Nowhere before calling it a day. As stated before, Andrew went on to form Ballydowse.

Hedberg, Mitch - "Mitch All Together"

Hedberg, Mitch - Mitch All Together

2003, Comedy Central

1. This CD is in Stores

2. Sandwiches

3. Not Track Five, Not Chainsaw Juggler

4. Teeth

5. Candy Bars

6. Houses

7. Pop

8. The Pipe

9. Business Cards

10. Sesame Seeds

11. Three Easy Payments

12. Arrows

13. Saved by the Buoyancy of Citrus

14. Mitch in the S'th

15. Bed and Breakfast

16. X

17. Movie Pot

I got this the same time as Strategic Grill Locations. I think this one, being shorter, and a better ratio of funny jokes to lame ones. It also kept me sane on my long car ride. I think I must have listened to those two CDs ten or eleven times while driving. I think I even got lost around Washington while this disc was playing. My disc also came with an extra DVD with a couple of Mitch's sets on it.

Useless Fact: After Mitch died an album was released called Do You Believe in Gosh? It really sucks that he died. He was really funny.

Hedberg, Mitch - "Strategic Grill Locations"

Hedberg, Mitch - Strategic Grill Locations

1999, Comedy Central

1. The CD Jokes

2. Koalas

3. Highlights

4. You Were Good

5. Shaving Too

6. Minibar

7. Beret and Pancakes

8. The Velcro Wallet

9. Dry Clean Only

10. Gambling

11. My Necklace

12. Acting

13. Lynn

14. Tomatoes

15. Six People Isn't Convincing

16. Cookies

17. Oatmeal

18. Smackie the Frog

19. Frogs and Bears

20. Fire Exit

21. The Dufrenes

Mitch Hedberg helped me get through the 22-hour drive from my hometown of Elmira, NY to my new residence at the time in Deltona, FL. I love Mitch - he's so weird. I first heard about him from a friend in college who told me about Mitch's penchant for totally random one liners. "This shirt is dry clean only, which means it's dirty!" For this particular set he's got a guy backing him up on bass so while Mitch is doing jokes you hear this walking bass-line through the whole thing. It's kinda cool... makes the set almost like a cracked out Peanuts special. Speaking of cracked out... I can't say for sure but I'm almost positive that Mitch is high during this set. After all, he openly admits to using drugs. Some of the jokes don't go over very well and I think if they would have shortened this disc some it would have been better. Though the good jokes totally cover for the total random crap jokes.

Useless Fact: According to wikipedia the album title is from a joke that wasn't included on the CD. Seems like you'd want to keep the titular joke on the album but that's just me.

Barren Cross - "State of Control"

Barren Cross - State of Control

1989, Enigma

1. State of Control

2. Out of Time

3. Cryin' Over You

4. A Face in the Dark

5. The Stage of Intensity

6. Hard Lies

7. Inner War

8. Love at Full Volume

9. Bigotry Man (Who Are You?)

10. Two Thousand Years

11. Your Love Gives

I got this not too long after I got Atomic Arena. I remember because I was in 7th grade and it was during Christmas. I got this along with Seventh Angel's Lament For the Weary and I also remember I had gotten real sick. I think I spent a whole day in my room sleeping and I wasn't prone to getting that sick. Whether or not that had anything to do with me not like this disc for a long time I don't know. For some reason this just didn't do anything for me except for "Out of Time" and I think I liked that song because the feux newscast in the beginning is funny. I finally checked this out again after years and years and you know what? I don't know what the heck was wrong with me. This is every bit as good as Atomic Arena if not better. Certainly the lyrics are better that's for sure.

Useless Fact: Someone told me once that the beginning of "Out of Time" was taken from some movie. Probably one of those 70's Christian end times movies. You want to have some fun? Get some friends together, get pizza, and find a copy of "Thief in the Night." It's hilarious!

Sixpence None the Richer - "My Dear Machine EP"

Sixpence None the Richer - My Dear Machine EP

2008, Independent

1. My Dear Machine

2. Amazing Grace (Give It Back)

3. Sooner Than Later

4. Around

So a couple years ago Sixpence put out this little EP of shiny brand new songs for download on some obscure website I'd never heard of. By the time I had heard of it, it was way too late to get them. Thankfully the internet is a big place and I did find these tracks though shadowdy means *manic laughter!*. It's a fantastic EP - but it's really just enough new Sixpence to piss me off. These songs are among the best the band has written... ever. If this is indicitive of the new stuff then they need to get an album out post-haste. "My Dear Machine" is a fuzzy pop song that could be a hit single if it had been released by a label. The other songs are great and Matt Slocum's lyrics carry that same blend of spiritual longing and sadness like in "Amazing Grace (Give It Back)" "You're in every place/ In every time/ And yet You're so damn hard to find/ Please Lord, give it back to me." The infectious chorus of "Sooner Than Later" will stay in your head for days. I really, really wish this band would put out a new album!

Useless Fact: I'm not sure if this came out before or after The Dawn of Grace. I've heard rumors of a new album on the horizon but haven't heard anything concrete.