From: owner-loud-fans-digest@smoe.org (loud-fans-digest) To: loud-fans-digest@smoe.org Subject: loud-fans-digest V3 #5 Reply-To: loud-fans@smoe.org Sender: owner-loud-fans-digest@smoe.org Errors-To: owner-loud-fans-digest@smoe.org Precedence: bulk loud-fans-digest Tuesday, January 7 2003 Volume 03 : Number 005 Today's Subjects: ----------------- [loud-fans] My Forty (or so) favorites of 2002 [Bill Silvers ] Re: [loud-fans] reminder... [JRT456@aol.com] [loud-fans] (The Other) Loud Family [Michael Mitton Subject: [loud-fans] My Forty (or so) favorites of 2002 2002 was a year in which I heard many records that I liked, but none that I really loved. I kept buying records alright, but few grabbed me by the ears and swept me off my feet. So in making out a top-ten list, I found that I had a lot of records that felt deserved mentioning, but I was hard-pressed to start with number one (which explains why I spent the weekend playing records one more time and postponing my list till the very last minute). In that spirit, here's my favorite records of the year, and since I can't start at #4 or #5, here goes: 1) Superdrag- LAST CALL FOR VITRIOL (Arena Rock) The most immediately thrilling record I heard this year, Superdrag's kickass, supermelodic rock deserves the audience the Foo Fighters command. If "Baby Goes To 11," "I Can't Wait," and "Remain Yer Strange" don't move you, seek medical attention. With the addition of former V-Roy Mic Harrison to the group and the increased presence of bassist Sam Powers, Superdrag have made the most consistent record of their career (and their best, just ahead of 1996's SINCERELY YOURS). With Harrison contributing to Powers and frontman John Davis's writing, the next record should be a monster. 2) Roger Wallace- THE LOWDOWN (Lone Star) My favorite male vocalist branches out a bit from his trademark honky-tonk, serving his songwriting skills and interpretive gifts admirably. 3) Brendan Benson- LAPALCO (StarTime International) Benson's long-awaited follow-up to his debut 1996 ONE MISSISSIPPI actually managed to better it. Alternating introspective insinuation with some of the purest pop thrills of the year, once again Benson presented a critically-acclaimed gem that flew under the radar of the bigger audience it deserved. 4) The Figgs- SLOW CHARM (Earsmile) The Figgs, the best band in the world on any given night at a dive bar near you, work some slow charm into their mix of Costello/Parker/60'sWho guitar pop and show they've got more range than they'd ever demonstrated before. 5) Mike Ireland- TRY AGAIN (Ashmont) A wonderfully realized examination of a heart that can't help but try again, maybe even despite itself. It's great to finally have a recording of "The Other Way." 6) The Model Rockets- TELL THE KIDS THE COPS ARE HERE (Not Lame) Power pop can be such an ugly word, but when it's done this inventively, on a record that never strikes you the same way twice and gets better every time you listen to it, who cares what you call it? 7) Various Artists- CAUGHT IN THE WEBB (Audium) The finest of several first-rate tribute records in 2002, there's nary a weak track on this excellent tribute to King of the Honky-Tonks, Webb Pierce. 8) The Shazam TOMORROW THE WORLD (Not Lame) From the land of monster hooks, trashy riffs and neo-glam flash come Hans Rotenberry and The Shazam. It's not even The Shazam's best record, but it is their most consistent one. Big. Dumb. Fun. 9) Tift Merritt BRAMBLE ROSE (Lost Highway) Never mind the hype (or the out-of-proportion backlash to it), Tift Merritt's debut is a good one that would have ranked even higher with a little better self-editing on the reveries that wended their way into five and six minute territory. 10) Grand Champeen BATTLE CRY FOR HELP (Glurp) An inconsistent record that nonetheless at its best is uniquely exciting, even phenomenal, calling up thoughts of the early days of Uncle Tupelo or the Replacements. Grand Champeen are one of the best live acts out there these days and while it's not absolutely necessary to see them to "get" them, it will make you a believer. The next ten, in this year where I wasn't swept away by much of anything, could all be somewhere above and and may end up there after I have more time to think about it. And maybe I'll go on about them at more length at some other time and place. So, in alphabetical order: The Bigger Lovers HONEY IN THE HIVE Patty Griffin 1000 KISSES The Hives VENI VIDI VICIOUS Jim Lauderdale THE HUMMINGBIRDS Heather Myles SWEET TALK AND GOOD LIES Supergrass LIFE ON OTHER PLANETS Justin Trevino THE SCENE OF THE CRYING Susanna Van Tassel MY LITTLE STAR Kelly Willis EASY Tommy Womack CIRCUS TOWN ***Special Honorable Mention- for a few of the other really great tribute records (and how often, really, have you been able to say that there was even one?), any of which I would list above if not for my desire to list full band releases. Both of the Johnny Cash tributes, DRESSED IN BLACK and KINDRED SPIRITS, were in their own ways very worthwhile and I can't really favor one over the other. The Texas artists on HAPPY BIRTHDAY BUCK came together for another one that was well worth your attention, and the popsters on THIS IS WHERE I BELONG - THE SONGS OF RAY DAVIES AND THE KINKS came together for in particularly strong group effort. Any and all of these records will enhance your collection. Favorite Reissues/Compilations of 2002: 1) The Blasters TESTAMENT- THE COMPLETE SLASH RECORDINGS (Rhino) 2) Dwight Yoakam - REPRISE PLEASE BABY - THE WARNER BROTHERS YEARS (Rhino) 3) Uncle Tupelo - 89/93: AN ANTHOLOGY (Sony/Legacy) 4) Johnny Paycheck - THE SOUL AND THE EDGE - THE BEST OF JOHNNY PAYCHECK (Epic/Legacy) The rest of the top forty (or more), again in alphabetical order: Arlo STAB THE UNSTOPPABLE HERO The Apples In Stereo VELOCITY OF SOUND The Beatifics THE WAY WE NEVER WERE Frank Black and the Catholics BLACK LETTER DAYS/DEVIL'S WORKSHOP Caitlin Cary WHILE YOU WEREN'T LOOKING Elvis Costello WHEN I WAS CRUEL/CRUEL SMILE Tammy Cochran LIFE HAPPENED Imperial Teen ON Jim Lauderdale / Ralph Stanley & The Clinch Mountain Band LOST IN THE LONESOME PINES Lonesome Bob THINGS CHANGE The Loud Family FROM RITUAL TO ROMANCE Lucky Pierres CLOVERLEAF Aimee Mann LOST IN SPACE Rhett Miller THE INSTIGATOR Allison Moorer MISS FORTUNE Jill Olson MY BEST YESTERDAY The Possibilities WAY OUT Ron Sexsmith COBBLESTONE RUNWAY Spoon KILL THE MOONLIGHT The Vespertines self-titled The Waxwings SHADOWS OF THE WAXWINGS Tommy Womack CIRCUS TOWN Darryl Worley I MISS MY FRIEND I didn't really spend enough time with Hot Hot Heat, Anna Waronker, The Gentlemen, Sahara Hotnights, Idlewild, Radio 4, Ok Go, Chomsky, Phantom Planet, Miles, Radney Foster, Chris Hillman & Herb Pedersen, P76, Dolly Varden, Linda Thompson or Rodney Hayden or they "coulda been a contender." Notable Disappointments- The Damnations WHERE IT LANDS, Allison Moorer MISS FORTUNE, Lonesome Bob THINGS CHANGE The hype far outran the record- Wilco YANKEE HOTEL FOXTROT I don't get it at all- The Drive By Truckers SOUTHERN ROCK OPERA (and that's two years running now) Earliest Contender for 2003 record of the year- The Libertines UP THE BRACKET - not released in the US yet (UK street date was 10/21?) but I copped the tracks and can't quit playing it. Mick Jones produced it and it's great stuff. b.s. ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 6 Jan 2003 20:10:14 -0500 From: Dave Walker Subject: [loud-fans] reminder... Just a reminder that many PBS stations are running the Lance Loud documentary this evening (time varies by affiliate) -d.w. np: BoC - "Sunshine Recorder" ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 6 Jan 2003 22:00:54 EST From: JRT456@aol.com Subject: Re: [loud-fans] reminder... In a message dated 1/6/03 5:11:11 PM, dwalker@freeke.org writes: << Just a reminder that many PBS stations are running the Lance Loud documentary this evening (time varies by affiliate) >> The documentary hinted at the sad joke of Loud's career as a writer, but here's two fun facts that were left out of the show (and left out of the National Enquirer, too, thanks to a certain bitter old editor who still carries a grudge over a perfectly truthful article I wrote back in '99): Lance Loud actually made his living for most of his life as a male prostitute, primarily escorting prominent figures in the entertainment industry. And he emulated Warhol in keeping a detailed diary about his exploits. Certain folks are still very curious about whatever happened to that diary. I've always expected to see Lance's mom or sister suddenly named as a high-ranking executive for a major film studio. ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 6 Jan 2003 22:15:17 -0500 (EST) From: Michael Mitton Subject: [loud-fans] (The Other) Loud Family I assume you all have seen all the press that the documentary of the Loud family has been getting lately. (You can go to the Google News page and search "Loud Family" for lots of current articles. BTW, Google News is a fantastic page for searching the net for recent stories--I've found it indispensible for following news stories that don't get much coverage in standard outlets.). Anyway, the folks who did the series were on Fresh Air today, which I beileve gets archived somewhere at NPR.org. And finally, there's a new documentary that looks back at Lance Loud which is being shown on PBS. PBS schedules vary from city to city, but it could even be on tonight. As they say, check your local listings. - --Michael ------------------------------ End of loud-fans-digest V3 #5 *****************************