Music That Matters, Pt 27

The music we love as teenagers is the music we bind to for life. It’s a fact. Our iPods – remember those? – were proof. No doubt you're still listening to playlists based on the formative periods of your life. I certainly do. (Some reside on my Spotify account now.) And why not? It makes us feel good—an iced brain bath for the ongoing existential anxieties.


But the intent of this blog wasn’t to be the flashbacks of some gargoyled grayhead posting about the sorry state of music after my coming-of-age. I’ve dwelt in the old school, admittedly, but I’m graduating now.

So watch me gush: We should all do as much. In the age of Trump – whether supporter or resister, these are times that could benefit from some positivity. Especially, in the age of social media: we’ve all become tireless bleating whingers of something or other. Note to Boomers: Good music is still being made. Let’s move on.

263) Scheer, Shea (1996): Guitars like chainsaws ripping through a junkyard’s worth of rusted F-100s while a plaintive girly voice chirps tales of trauma: Scheer’s sound was a beautiful marriage of disparate personalities, and like most marriages, this one was also short-lived. Hailing from Belfast, Scheer managed one album and major tour, released a less interesting followup before the record company lost interest in them. They were a niche market, one that Baby Metal would pursue years later (in the extreme). But Scheer did it much, much better.

264) Killing Joke, I Am the Virus (2015): OK Boomer? Name a Millennial band that roars like this. These grayhead veterans crush on their album Pylon. And yet, AllMusic said the album “doesn't sound terribly innovative.” MetaCritic gave it a 77/100, according to Wiki. F**k ‘em. The sound will make the atlas joints in your neck want to go full bang. This album rages with fire and menace and both the guitars and drums deliver like a Chicago P.D.’s taser.

265) Ann Peebles, I’m Gonna Tear Your Playhouse Down (1973): If you hear Al Green in this it’s because Peebles had Green’s production team and band are behind her. As a singer, her style was mature and subdued and she’d the critics’ love behind her, especially the white ones – Robert Hilburn in the Los Angeles Times was a big fanboy. However, this critical love never seemed to bump her into the mainstream, which is a shame. As for the song itself, I’m a sucker for the passive-aggressive love songs that follow the general formula of I’m going to leave you. Soon...Maybe...



266) Sebadoh, Careful (1994): Back when college radio was a thing and record companies were paying attention, Sebadoh were darlings. Founded in 1988, these Massachusetts college town dropouts were what was “alternative” then: a descriptor generally referring to bands low on musical virtuosity – that eschewed soloing, heavy on the irony, mildly introspective if not entirely emo, and with mostly vague lyrics. It all seems so long ago now. At the time the album was hailed and ended up on a number of Best of the Year lists.



267) The Ghost of a Sabre Tooth Tiger, Too Deep (2014): Aussie psychedelicists, Tame Impala – a band mining similar lode as GOASTT – had Sean Lennon’s endorsement as sounding most like his dad. TI has also hit the big time, something GOASTT was never going to do. GOASTT’s sound is also très retro and much more Strawberry Alarm Clock than Revolver. But much more than TI, they stick their melodies and their psychedelics have more atmosphere. Their thievery is affectionate and sincere. I think this band is way better: Good songs, solid jams, better lyrics, and way heavier.



268) Jack Bruce, Rope Ladder to the Moon (1969): This guy was the genius behind Cream way back when, but for some reason couldn’t find his much commercial mojo without Eric Clapton’s guitar. His early solo albums – especially this one – are now considered classic and enjoyed some success in their time, mostly in England. Bruce did a series of albums in the 70s, experimented with a few things – played with Leslie West and Robin Trower (what was he thinking?), did some jazz – but couldn’t seem to find his audience again. He was eventually dropped from his record label. Sad: Jack deserved so much better.




269) Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds, Midnight Man (2008): Of old guys doing good, still, you could count them on one hand – Cave, Tom Waits, Leonard Cohen to the end, occasionally Bryan Ferry, Andy Partridge, Stevie Wonder maybe – but the crimes of the many refusing to sunset overwhelm them. Look at this list from 2019 of nearly every band you can think of – reductive, missing original members, and with voices you’d think couldn’t blow out a candle – and they’re still touring. But listen to Cave here – he continues to have something to say and says it with a muscular voice. Nick ought to share some that Viagra – some of his peers could use it.

This is one Boomer who’s okay.



270) Beck, Sexx Laws (1999): White boy R and B with Country flourishes that delivers – and his falsettos crush.




271) Minnie Ripperton, Reasons (1974): Maya Randolph’s long-deceased mother brought whistle tone singing to the mainstream and had this moment of glory back in the day after years of toiling in the undistinguished Rotary Connection. Her Olympian near dog whistle registers aside, her voice was a lot more than just muscle. This is the song she should be remembered for, not Loving You.




272) Elvis Costello, So Like Candy (1991), Veronica (1989): Looking for inspiration and impetus, Paul McCartney and Costello teamed up in the late 80s and collaborated on songwriting. Some were Costello’s, some were McCartney’s (My Brave Face). In 2017 McCartney released some that he’d been keeping in the can all these years. For me, of the lot, these were the best: So Like Candy was the jewel in the crown. (Veronica was the hit.)






272) Anastasia Screamed, Tornado (1991): Another college radio darling band – ca. 1987-1992 – these Beantown-transplants-to-Nashville alt f**kboys would end up far more obscure than Sebadoh. Singer Chick Graning is the prize here. This EP was their moment of glory.

273) The Brecker Brothers, Some Skunk Funk (1975): If you don’t know who they are, you know their samples. Both brothers, Randy (trumpet, flugelhorn) and Micheal (sax, flute) played with just about everyone over their careers and elder Randy was a member of the original Blood, Sweat, and Tears lineup. If the album’s hit single was any indication, they were throwing everything into the box to make a hit record as any bump-shoveling AR dude could’ve hoped for. The proof being their appropriation of Average White Band with added disco sauce that became the album’s hit single. But Skunk Funk shows the band way hotter, more ripped, and trades out the disco sauce for fusion – like trading up for hot salsa from ranch dressing.




Bonus! Elbow, Leaders of the Free World (2005): These Mancunians have been kicking around since 1997. They’re now eight albums in but this was from their third. This demands your attention from the start. I’ve always been a fan of their relaxed intensity. A reminder that many of the best things you’ll ever hear will come to you in a whisper. These guys are cunning whisperers.