Seconds Please

Recently...okay recently was in March when I started writing this post, but anyway, I still need the set-up to give it some context. In March, we went on a family vacation to a warmer climate, which was great. I generally use vacations as an opportunity to splurge on Q Magazine at the airport, which is an "import" and about $13 an issue, so it's not a regular purchase. Though now I have a subscription thanks to my in-laws, sweet! But March was no different. I wanted the one with the Noel Gallagher cover story, but we're a month behind Britain in receiving these so I got the one with AC/DC on it. Inside, there was a 20 page special on The Stone Roses' 2nd album "Second Coming" (not one of my faves, as you will see below, but still has some great songs). While I was reading this article, I was listening to Noel Gallagher's High Flying Birds great second album "Chasing Yesterday" (see last post). This got me thinking of my favourite 2nd albums, so here we are.

The 2nd album these days really is make or break for most bands. The general record buying (or downloading) public have relatively short attention spans and it's difficult for bands to build a career like it was back in the day. One of the best feelings is finding a great debut album by a new artist and becoming really immersed in it...but then one of the worst feelings is when that artist stumbles on their 2nd album. It really kills a lot of momentum and you kind of feel bad for them. Case in point for me was the 2nd effort by Candlebox. I really enjoyed and still enjoy their self-titled debut so I was excited when I heard their 2nd album was dropping in October 1995. "Lucy" came out and the first single Simple Lessons was decent, but the album ultimately didn't deliver. It's half-good but a lot of the songs don't go anywhere. They fell into the trap. Their third album "Happy Pills" course corrected appropriately but the momentum built from their debut was gone. I should note that Candlebox are still together and playing shows / releasing music. Nice. 

Here is my list then, in no particular order. Additionally, I am leaving out "What's The Story Morning Glory?" as it my favourite album of all time, so I guess by default it is my favourite 2nd album ever as well. I promise there will be a post where I don't mention Oasis. But this isn't that post.

I also have likely 100% forgotten some so I may have to do an addendum piece at a later date.

The Clash "Give 'Em Enough Rope" (1978)

Technically, in the US this was their first album but it's their 2nd studio release so it qualifies. I got into The Clash kind of late in life. I think I bought "London Calling" in 1999 or 2000 and then subsequently purchased their entire discography. Now, I'm working on getting it on vinyl. "Give 'Em Enough Rope" starts off with the explosive Safe European Home, definitely in my top 5 Clash tunes ever then segues into one-two punch of English Civil War and Tommy Gun. Overall, it's a solid effort that sets the table well for "London Calling".

Smashing Pumpkins "Siamese Dream" (1993)

This was the first Pumpkins record I bought on the strength of hearing Today (or maybe Disarm because I don't think I have ever been that cutting edge) on the radio. When I was getting back into music and discovering newer artists I just assumed their latest record was their first. Like I was the Christopher Columbus of this band's life! So I was pleasantly surprised when I heard SP had a first album called "Gish". Also a great record. But "Siamese Dream" is an epic one, filled with angst, guitar feedback, classic rock riffs and ferocious drumming. Seriously, Jimmy Chamberlain is a complete beast and incidentally has re-joined the band for their summer tour (maybe permanently, it's hard to keep up). The singles on this one are killer, but the deep cuts also resonate strongly with me, specifically, Hummer, Silverfuck and Mayonaise. Also, killer B-sides during this era, captured nicely on the 1994 collection "Pisces Iscariot".

Weezer "Pinkerton" (1996)

This is a noisy, raw, somewhat abrasive record after their first fairly polished effort. But underneath the rawness the songs are there and it came into my life at the right time; 2nd year of University, girl problems, etc. The way Rivers wrote lyrics on this album is sort of the way I used to write short stories. Maybe a little bit too emotional, but as I said earlier, "Pinkerton" was the right record for me when it came out. The reissue that dropped in 2011 or 2012 (I'm too lazy to look it up) is packed with great B-sides that indicated Rivers Cuomo was a song writing beast during this era. I still listen to this one often.

Radiohead "The Bends" (1995)

I knew Creep, sure, but this was my first Radiohead album, given to me by my cousin Kyle in the summer of 1995 (along with Dave Matthews Band's "Under the Table and Dreaming"). I am not sure how I remember this stuff! Anyway, I only knew Fake Plastic Trees and that is likely all I listened to on this one at first, but sometime during the first month of university, I let the whole record play and was blown away. Planet Telex, The Bends, High & Dry, Just, Sulk, Black Star, and the penultimate closing track, Street Spirit (Fade Out). It kind of flip flops for me what album I like better by Radiohead, "Ok Computer" or this one, but this was the gateway into their world for me. There are not a lot of better guitar albums overall that I've ever heard. Additionally, great B-sides during this era. As you can tell, I like B-sides, I may need to do a post on this sometime.

The Black Crowes "The Southern Musical Companion" (1992)

I want to say that this was my first Black Crowes album and then I went back and bought "Shake Your Money Maker". This album is filled with dual guitar goodness from Rich Robinson and Marc Ford on every song. The opener Sting Me sets you up and Remedy knocks you down. A couple of slow ones in Thorn In My Pride and Bad Luck, Blue Eyes Goodbye and then the fury of Sometimes Salvation and Hotel Illness. I know I'm not ranking these albums but this one is definitely in my top 3 of best second albums ever. Never get tired of listening to it.

Counting Crows "Recovering The Satellites" (1996)

A difficult album from the emotional place that lead singer Adam Duritz was in during the recording process, this is also the one where the band "plugged in". No doubt "August And Everything After" is a mellow classic. T Bone Burnett brings out the best roots flourishes in all artists he produces but this release completely fits where Duritz was at. You know, dating and breaking up with the females in the "Friends" cast and that sort of stuff. Produced by Gil Norton of the Pixies' "Doolittle" fame, this album is noisy and abrasive in places but it works. It showed the band could do mellow and rocking equally well. Loved the first single Angels of the Silences and I still do. This one definitely needs a vinyl re-press stat.

Stone Temple Pilots "Purple" (1994)

Still love this record. I do like "Core" quite a bit but "Purple" is my fave STP record a) because the songs are there and b) because of the memories attached to it. I just remember me and my friends driving around with this album blaring throughout the summer of 1994. In terms of the music, this is a step forward for STP in terms of sound; it still has the grunge flourishes that defined "Core" but also has some nice acoustic sounds (Pretty Penny) and trippier bits (Lounge Fly). Plus, you can't go wrong with Interstate Love Song as a summer anthem. Or really as an anthem, period, end of sentence.

Liz Phair "Whip-Smart" (1994)

My friend Simon got me into Liz Phair and I believe this was the first album I picked up by her. And I think I got it for Christmas in 1994 so likely my parents got it for me. Nice, I guarantee you they went into the now defunct CD Warehouse in Burlington with a list and made someone get it for them. It's I guess what they call "lo-fi" but the song writing is there and Supernova should have been a bigger song than it was. She had to wait until hooking up with Avril Lavigne's producers to get her big hit in 2003 (or 2004), but by that point, I had unfortunately moved on.  

The Gaslight Anthem "The '59 Sound" (2008)

I got into Gaslight Anthem in 2009. Not sure if I read about them or if Springsteen mentioned something about them being from New Jersey...but I picked up "The '59 Sound" without hearing any of their songs and promptly played it right through. And then right through again. So many great songs and it's a pretty big leap from their first album "Sink Or Swim" (also good just very raw). These songs remind me of Springsteen but lyricist / singer / guitarist Brian Fallon has his own way with words that pulled me in. He name drops Springsteen, Counting Crows' Round Here and also Tom Petty and you really can't go wrong with any of that.

Pearl Jam "Vs" (1993)

True story, I really disliked Pearl Jam during the "Ten" era. I don't know why, it might be because they were making Bon Jovi less relevant, it might be because I was rebelling for no apparent reason, it might be because I didn't like (and still don't like) the song Jeremy. Who knows? I bought my friend Hutch "Vs" the first week it came out for his birthday. Because I was and still am obsessed with music, I decided to open it up and give it a spin before giving it to him. Not sure how I would have got the shrink wrap back on but anyway. From the opening notes of Go something changed in me and I let Pearl Jam into my world. I played that album likely 2 or 3 times in a row and then the next day, I went and bought another copy for Hutch. There will be a post on Pearl Jam one day...

Third Eye Blind "Blue" (1999)

I mean, I really like Third Eye Blind, I wrote about them in the post "Don't Call It A Comeback" and I went to see them live last summer, so I won't go into a lot of detail here. There are many great guitar jams on this record fused with catchy tunes and the closer Darwin doesn't get nearly enough props in my book.

Foo Fighters "The Color And The Shape" (1997)

Everlong, My Hero, Monkey Wrench, Hey, Johnny Park!, all of these songs are massive. The record itself, for all the turmoil surrounding it (Dave Grohl fires drummer and re-cuts all the drum parts himself) is really solid. There are some nice quiet songs on this one too, plus in this era they cut the memorable cover Down In The Park for the X-Files show or movie soundtrack. It's included in the 10th year anniversary edition of this album and is a great song. I think maybe their next album "There Is Nothing Left To Lose" is my favourite, but this one is up there.

Garbage "Version 2.0" (1998)

I just saw Garbage a few weeks ago, when they performed their first album and its associated B-sides in their entirety. Garbage can still bring it. Their performance was inspired and they ended the night with Push It from this album. Everyone went nuts. The first 8 songs on "Version 2.0" are really amazing, and although I'm not a huge fan of 3 of the last 4 songs, the closer You Look So Fine is one of the best songs in their catalog. I think I listened to this one quite often in the summer of '98. That should totally be a song, Bryan Adams needs to get on it! Also, wait for it (the sound of a broken record), great B-sides from this era also.

Travis "The Man Who" (1999)

Lots of people like to say that Travis is the "poor man's Coldplay", even though Coldplay came out after them. So maybe no one says that they are this. But on this album they do out-Coldplay Coldplay. After their rough-edged first album, it appears Fran Healy listened to Wonderwall and got inspired, turning out some great, textured rock tunes, such as Writing To Reach You, Turn, As You Are, Driftwood, etc. I'm not partial to Why Does It Always Rain On Me? but I can see why people enjoy it. After this one, I really enjoyed Sing from "The Invisible Band" but their later albums left me a little cold until they made a nice comeback last year with "Where You Stand", which took a lot of style notes from "The Man Who".

I Mother Earth "Scenery & Fish" (1996) & The Watchmen "In The Trees" (1994)

Man, I almost forgot both of these! I wrote about both of them in previous posts but they need to be included on the list because they are sooooo good. Incidentally, the Watchmen released a 20th anniversary edition version of "In The Trees" I believe last year, filled with demos, live and acoustic tracks and it is great. And I just read IME is putting out a new single November 6th. Nice.

Okay, I will stop for now, as this is a pretty decent list.

Until next time (I promise I won't be as long between posts, hopefully)...

We Got The Love

First off, happy belated New Year to the 5 people that read this blog :).

A few nights ago, I was presented with a great opportunity to see one of my favourite bands in a unique setting.

I'll back track for a bit, last week, I was in Florida with my family on vacation and was checking my news feed on the Facebook when I saw that I Mother Earth were having an event at Phoenix Concert Theatre in Toronto on January 28th to debut their new song, hang with fans, play an acoustic set and hang with fans. Automatically I contacted my friend John (also a big fan) and said we should completely go. Although it was his 10th Anniversary that day, he said he'd see what he could do. All you had to do was email saying you wanted in. It was free!

He was down with going (thanks Jen!) but I was still on the fence due to a prior commitment on the night of Friday the 30th with work friends. When you have smaller children, and both spouses work, you need to pick your spots. So I never committed and I felt kinda bummed but the nice Florida weather and good times with the fam pushed it to the back of my mind.

We landed last Sunday and I got a text from John saying that the drummer of his band was friends with Jag and Chris Tanna, guitarist and drummer of IME, respectively, and his drummer got him and a plus 1 on the guest list as the gig was sold out (or I guess full) already. John asked if I would be the plus 1. Um, yes, of course I would and thanks to my wife for understanding that this event needed to be attended. So we were in.

It's probably best to recount my history with I Mother Earth, as I tend to do frequently with all bands I write about in this space before moving forward.

I know I got into them when "Dig" came out in 1993 or 1994. Rain Will Fall was and still is such a killer song that when I first heard it, I picked-up the album. "Dig" also spawned the Canadian rock staples Not Quite Sonic, Levitate and my personal favourite So Gently We Go.

"Scenery & Fish" then came out in 1996, when we were in 2nd year of University. One More Astronaut had become a pretty big hit on MuchMusic and the radio but "S+F" was an album you could put on and let play. Every song was and still is solid. In 2nd year, we used to play Risk, the game of World Domination, every Thursday night from I want to say January 1997 until April or May 1997 and there were 2 albums that were always played in their entirety - Tool's "Aenima" and "Scenery & Fish". I have fond memories of those days, not because I ever won Risk but because it was a great chance to have some cocktails, strategize, get mad at each other and listen to great music.

One of the best things about Guelph was that Canadian bands often frequented Peter Clark Hall, which was a concert hall (using this term very loosely) in the basement of the University Centre. These were mostly Canadian bands but as the 90's gave us a lot of great Canadian music, this was amazing. I believe the concerts were $10-$15, which is a steal. Additionally, bands often came out after their shows and hung out in the hallway.

I Mother Earth made it to PCH in the winter of 1997 and as soon as it was announced, we were all over it. They rocked it (John tells me that the power cut out during one of the songs, which I vaguely remember) and we were hoping we could meet the band afterwards (we all had our CD booklets of "S+F" ready). The crowd was intense and large though in the hallway after the show so we decided instead to hit the Brass Taps for a few post-show beverages. After a few hours of tipping some back, we headed back to the dorm...only to be greeted by Edwin, then lead singer, in the University Centre by himself. John asked if he was "off duty from signing autographs", he laughed and then signed our booklets. This capped off a great evening.

It was then kind of a shock when in the summer of 1997, the announcement came that Edwin was leaving IME. The band was riding a great commercial peak and seemed ready to explode. I know I was disappointed, but these things happen. Maybe we should have read something into Edwin being on his own when we ran into him at the UC. Edwin's replacement was Brian Byrne, whom I hadn't heard of. The first taste of the new IME was Summertime In The Void. This is a great song which showcases Brian Byrne's vocals well. "Blue Green Orange" was released in 1999 and while I will admit it is the IME album I listen to least, it contains one of my top 5 IME songs ever in When Did You Get Back From Mars? Edwin, meanwhile released his solo debut, which I have and dig a few of the tunes.

IME then disappeared for a bit before resurfacing with "The Quicksilver Meat Dream" in 2003. Like The Sun was the first single and I remember seeing the video frequently on MuchMusic. I picked up the album and was immediately blown away in a very positive way. It is completely different in sound vs. anything that came before it from the band. Progressive, dense but still retaining a strong sense of melody. I love "Scenery & Fish" but I think "The Quicksilver Meat Dream" is my fave IME record. This album is deemed to be "uncommercial" but if one actually gave it more than a single listen, I'm sure they could hear how accomplished and complex it is. It was on "TQSMD" tour that I finally saw IME live with Brian Byrne, at the Opera House opening for Theory Of A Deadman. Yes, ahem, we'll leave it at that. The band put on a 2 hour+ show as openers and Brian Byrne's vocals were on, way on. I have seen over 100 concerts in my lifetime and Brian Byrne is easily in my top 5 live vocal performers ever. So versatile and it seems effortless for him. Then IME disappeared again. Hiatus, which was disappointing given how strong "TQSMD" was/is. Brian Byrne released a couple of solo albums (I only have his debut, "Tuesdays, Thursdays and if it Rains", which is a strong collection of songs), the Tannas went onto other endeavours and Bruce Gordon, the bassist, joined the Blue Man Group.

It seemed like it was over but then a cryptic countdown was posted on their website in early 2012. When the dust settled, IME was releasing a new song (yes) and getting back together for live shows at the Sound Academy (double yes). John and I were all over this. We ended up getting tickets for the 2nd date at the Sound Academy (it was the first date but they had to add another show due to overwhelming demand). The concert was epic, I think around 3 hours and everyone was in top form. Plus the new single We Got The Love was/is fantastic. To me, it sounds like it could belong on "Scenery & Fish" and it blew up at Canadian rock radio.

So now we are up to speed, back to 2015 and I was really pumped to hear the new tune, see the guys play acoustic and potentially get a chance to talk to the band. They allowed us each to listen to the song on our own listening station, complete with headphones. The song is called The Devil's Engine and it comes out on iTunes February 15th, so everyone should check it out. I predict that it will be a pretty big hit on rock radio (John agrees). It's the heaviest song the band have done but again doesn't stray away from strong melody. I'm anxious to hear it again (repeatedly). The acoustic set was great, hearing songs such as Used To Be Alright, I Is Us, Pisser, Good For Sule in an acoustic context is always a positive. Then the band came out to hang with fans once the show was done and we had the privilege of meeting both Brian and Jag, who were both super nice and down to earth. Jag told us that more is on the way from the band this year. Definitely a great night.

You have to hand it to a band for putting the fans first - not a lot of bands would go the extra mile of putting this type of event on, not to mention actually taking the time to interact and get to know fans. So thank you gentlemen of IME for a great evening, thanks to John for allowing me to be a plus 1 and thanks to my wife again for understanding.

One final but certainly not unimportant point, the evening was free but the band did ask for donations to The Unison Fund, which helps out Canadian musicians who are facing personal or professional challenges. It is cool that the band is supporting - it makes sure that we'll be able to hear great Canadian music for years to come. Check it out at http://unisonfund.ca/

Until next time...