You Can't Kill Rock N Roll- Ozzy Osbourne's "Under Cover"

 

When this album came out, I thought it was a bad idea. Jerry Cantrell lent his guitar skills to this session to make it a better idea. The opening track is a cover of Joe Walsh's "Rocky Mountain Way," which Ozzy's voice is suited for, and feels pretty effective. I am not sure I need him to cover the Beatles' "In My Life". I get that the Beatles were a huge influence on him, so he felt he needed to do this. In all fairness, he exceeds my expectations here, but I am sure this is a song he has been singing along to his entire career. 

"Mississippi Queen" makes more sense. Leslie West plays the guitar solo on this, which makes even more sense. His cover of "Go Now" is a take on the Moody Blues version. It has more movement. The more metallic guitar helps to give it its own identity, and Ozzy is not changing his vocal approach for any of these songs. John Lennon's "Woman" sounds like "So Tired" from "Bark at the Moon" in Ozzy's hand. The first song from a band whose original I am really invested in would be King Crimson's "21st Century Schizoid Man," which I think Voivod did a better version of, and I expected them to at least nail the staccato verses, but the original is heavier. 

If you need proof of who is a better singer between Ozzy and Bowie, just um give this a listen. Bowie's vocal is ballsier and I think better than the Mott the Hoople original, sure Ian Hunter shows up too here. He does rock out to "For What It's Worth" by Buffalo Springfield, which is an odd choice, though most of these songs are odd choices. He sounds like Fozzy Bear on "Good Times" by the Animals, which does not really click for me. "Sunshine of Your Love' makes sense on paper. The guitar tones could be better, and Ozzy sounds fine; most of the problems feel production-related, as the guitar is lower in the mix than Ozzy. Arthur Brown's "Fire" works better than expected. 

John Lennon is obviously Ozzy's favorite Beatle, as he also covers "Working Class Hero". This one is darker and works better for what Ozzy does. "Sympathy For the Devil " feels a little too upbeat, as coming from Ozzy it should be darker than the Rolling Stones version, but that is not what is happening here. I will round this one down to a 9, not the best song choice, but Ozzy's voice is his personality that he brings to the songs, to make them his more often than not.

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Outkast vs the Beatles

There is a meme going around that says "When society says Outkast is better than the Beatles then we can truly start healing" which is ridiculous on many levels, but since this is a music blog we are going to just look at the facts of this argument. If you were to ask me to pick an album to listen to depending on my mood I would likely pick Outkast. However, if you were to ask Andre or Big Boi who was better they would tell you the Beatles. This is because they know three of the artists that influenced them Prince, George Clinton, and Jimi Hendrix have all gone on record as saying the Beatles influenced them, 

But let's take this a step further and see who is better pound for pound when it comes to their albums so I am going to put their albums head to head since Outkast's final two albums are double albums I will give the Beatles the handicap and use the Beatles first 7 albums in this battle of the bands. 

ROUND 1

Please Please Me vs Southernplayalisticadillacmuzik

Up first ... Please, Please Me

Filler Songs - 'Misery", "Anna", "Chains" "Boys", "Baby it's You", "The Taste of Honey", "There's a Place"  

Great Songs -"I Saw Here Standing There" "Ask Me Why" "Please, Please Me", "Love Me Do", "PS I Love You"  , "Twist and Shout" 

Score 6 

Southernplayalisticadillacmuzik

Filler songs -"myintroletyouknow", "Funky Ride", "D.E.E.P"

Great songs -'Ain't no thang" 'Southernplayalisticadillacmuzik", "Players Ball", "Claimin' True", "Git up, Git Out" , "Crumblin Erb" , "Hootie Hoo" 

Score-7

Winner -Outkast ... by 1 point 

We will proceed but it should be noted that Outkast has 3 session bass players as compared to Paul McCartney playing his own bass lines, as well as using session guitarists, where George and John played their own parts, along with six backing vocalists, since at this point neither member of Outkast had attempted to sing at this point where all four Beatles sang on their first album 

Round 2 

"With the Beatles" vs "ATLiens" 

"With the Beatles"

Filler - "It won't be long", "Don't Bother Me", "Little Child", "Little Child", "Rollover Beethoven", "Hold Me Tight", "I Wanna Be Your Man", "Not a Second Time" 

Great Songs - "All I've got to Do", "All My Loving", "Til There Was You",  "Mr. Postman", "You Really Got a Hold on Me", "Devil in her Heart", "Money'

Score-7

"ATLiens"

Filler-"Babylon", "Wailin" , "13th Floor / Growin Old"  

Great Songs - "Two Dope Boyz", "ATLiens" , "Wheelz of Steel", "Jazzy Belle", "Elevators", "Ova Da Wudz", "Mainstream" , "'Decatur Psalm", "Millenium", "E.T"     

Score -10

Winner of Round 2 - Outkast 

I knew this one would be a slaughter as this is my favorite album and I typically dislike the Beatles' early years when they were basically a glorified cover band but with 13 years of music journalism under my belt, I can detach and analyze even albums I dislike due to personal tastes objectively, by asking how did it hold up over the years, and are they effective at what they are doing? 

Total score - 

The Beatles - 13 

Outkast-17

Round 3 

"A Hard Day's Night"  VS "Aquemini" 

"A Hard Day's Night"

Filler-"I'm Happy Just to Dance with You", "Tell Me Why", "I'll Cry Instead", "When I Get Home", "You Can't Do That"    

Great Songs- "A Hard Day's Night", "I Should Have Known Better", "If I Fell", "And I Love Her", "Can't Buy Me Love", "Anytime At All", "Things We Said Today", "I'll Be Back"     

Score-8

"Aquemini" 

Filler -"Aquemini", "West Savannah", "Mamacita", "Ya'll Scared"    

Great Songs - "Return of the "G" ", "Rosa Parks", "Skew it on the Bar-b", "Synthesizer", "Slump" , "Dat Art of Storytellin pt 1", "Da Art of Storytellin pt2", "Spottieottiedopalicious", "Liberation", "Chonkyfire"       

Score-10

Winner of round 3 -Outkast 

Points of interest are that this is the first album where Outkast used rock guitars on "Chonkyfire", their session guys were basically recycling Funakdelic riffs and not exactly redefining guitar playing here. If you are a Beatles fan and do not like this beatdown, we are putting the Beatle's worst album against Outkast's best and still have four more to go. 

Total Score 

the Beatles -21

Outkast-27

Round 4 

"Beatles For Sale" vs "Stankonia" 

"Beatles For Sale"

Filler -"Baby's in Black", "Rock N Roll Music", "Mr . Moonlight", "Kansas City", 'Words of Love", 'Honey Don't ", "I Don't Want to Spoil the Paty", 

Great Songs -"No Reply", "I'm a Loser",  "I'll Follow the Sun", "Eight Days a Week", "Every Little Thing", "What Your'e Doing", 'Everybody's Trying to Be My Baby"  

Score- 7

'Stankonia" 

Filler- 'Snappin & Trappin" , "Toilet Tisha" , "Stankonia", 

Great Songs-"Gasoline Dreams", "So Fresh So Clean", "Ms. Jackson", "Spaghetti Junction", "I 'll Call B4 I Cum", "B.O.B", "Xplosion", "We Luv Deez Hoes", "Humble Mumble", "Red Velvet", "Gangsta Shit", "Slum Beautiful" 

Score 12    

Winner of Round 4

Outkast

Total Score- 

The Beatles -28

Outkast- 39 

Round 5 

'Help!" vs "Speakerboxx 

"Help!"

Filler -"I Need You", 'Act Naturally", "You Like Me Too Much", 'Dizzy Miss Lizzy" 

Great Songs - "Help!", 'the Night Before ", 'You've Got to Hide Your Love Away", 'Another Girl", 'Ticket to Ride", "It's Only Love", "Tell Me What You See", "I've Just Seen a Face", "Yesterday"   

Score -9

"Speakerboxx" 

Filler- "Bowtie", "Tomb of the Boom", "Flip Flop Rock", "Reset',   

Great Songs- "GhettoMusick", "Unhappy", "the Way You Move", 'the Rooster", 'Bust", "War", "Church", "Knowing", "Last Call"     

Score-9

Winner- tie 

At this point in the Beatles' career, they were coming into their own, as this was where Outkast hit their commercial peak

Total score-

the Beatles - 37

Outkast-48

Round 6  

"Rubber Soul" vs "The Love Below" 

"Rubber Soul"

Filler-"What Goes On" 

Great Songs- 'Drive My Car", "Norwegian Wood", "You Won't See Me"  "Nowhere Man", 'Think For Yourself", "The Word", "Michelle", "Girl", "I'm Looking Through You", "In My Life", 'Wait" "If Needed Someone" "Run For Your Life"

Score- 13

"the Love Below"

Filler-"Love Hater", "Happy Valentines Day", "Spread", "Prototype", 'She Lives in My Lap", 'Behold a Lady", "Pink & Blue", "Love in War", "She's Alive" 'Dracula's Wedding" "My Favorite Things", "Take off Your Cool", "Vibrate" 

Great Songs-"Hey Ya", 'Roses" 

Score- 2 

the Winner- the Beatles 

So we have one of the Beatles' better albums again Andre 3000 attempt to be Prince with a boring disco of meandering sounds, with "Hey Ya" as the only song that left an imprint. 

Total score-

The Beatles - 50

Outkast-51

Round - 7

"Revolver" vs  "Idelwild" 

"Revolver"

Filler-"Dr Robert" 

Great Songs- "Taxman", "Eleanor Rigby", "I'm Only Sleeping", "Love You to", "Here There and Everywhere" "Yellow Submarine", "She Said She Said", "Good day Sunshine", "And Your Bird Cam Sing"  "I Want to Tell You" "Got To Get You into My Life" "Tomorrow Never Knows" 'For No One"

Score-13

'Idlewild"

Filler-"Mighty O", "Idlewild Blue", "N2U", "Chronomentrophobia", "The Train", "Life is Like a Musical" "Hollywood Divorce", "Makes No Sense", "PJ & Rooster", "Mutron Angel", "the Greatest Show on Earth", "When I Look In Your Eyes", "Dyin to Live", A Bad Note"       

Great Songs-"Peaches", "Morris Brown" "Call the Law", "Buggface", "In Your Dreams"  

Score-5

Winner- The Beatles

It's a shame that Outkast's last album was the soundtrack to the chaotic bomb of a movie that was "Idlewild" It's ok we won't put it up against"Yellow Submarine" by asking which is a better movie column. 

 Final Score 

the Beatles -63

Outkast-56

So The Beatles came back and edged out a win against Outkast, but if we are really being fair here and Outkast is the better band that society should admit to them being then shouldn't we put them head to head against the Beatles best albums? rather than just the first 7? To give keep things fair we will count the White album as two albums.

REMATCH ROUND 1

"Revolver" vs  "Southernplayalisticadillacmuzik"

"Revolver"

Filler-"Dr Robert" 

Great Songs- "Taxman", "Eleanor Rigby", "I'm Only Sleeping", "Love You to", "Here There and Everywhere" "Yellow Submarine", "She Said She Said", "Good day Sunshine", "And Your Bird Cam Sing"  "I Want to Tell You" "Got To Get You into My Life" "Tomorrow Never Knows" 'For No One"

Score-13

"Southernplayalisticadillacmuzik"

Filler songs -"myintroletyouknow", "Funky Ride", "D.E.E.P"

Great songs -'Ain't no thang" 'Southernplayalisticadillacmuzik", "Players Ball", "Claimin' True", "Git up, Git Out" , "Crumblin Erb" , "Hootie Hoo" 

Score-7

Winner- the Beatles 

REMATCH ROUND 2 

"Sgt Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band" vs "ATliens"

"Sgt. Pepper"

Filler-"Sgt Pepper's Reprise"

Great Songs-"Sgt Peppers...", "With a Little Help From My Friends", "Lucy in the Sky With Diamonds", "Getting Better", "Fixing a Hole", 'She's Leaving Home", "Being For the Benefit of Mr. Kite", "Within You Without You" "When I'm 64" "Lovely Rita" "Good Morning, Good Morning", "A Day in the Life". 

Score-12

"ATLiens" 

Filler-"Babylon", "Wailin" , "13th Floor / Growin Old"  

Great Songs - "Two Dope Boyz", "ATLiens", "Wheelz of Steel", "Jazzy Belle", "Elevators", "Ova Da Wudz", "Mainstream", "'Decatur Psalm", "Millenium", "E.T"     

Score -10

Winner- the Beatles 

Outkast put up a little more of a fight here

Total score -

the Beatles - 25 

Outkast - 17

REMATCH ROUND 3

"Magical Mystery Tour" vs "Aquemini" 

"Magical Mystery Tour" 

Filler -"Flying" 

Great Songs - "Magical Mystery Tour", "the Fool on the Hill" , "Blue Jay Way", "Your Mother Should Know", "I am the Walrus" , "Hello Goodbye" , "Strawberry Fields Forever", "Penny Lane". 

Score-8

"Aquemini" 

Filler -"Aquemini", "West Savannah", "Mamacita", "Ya'll Scared"    

Great Songs - "Return of the "G" ", "Rosa Parks", "Skew it on the Bar-b", "Synthesizer", "Slump" , "Dat Art of Storytellin pt 1", "Da Art of Storytellin pt2", "Spottieottiedopalicious", "Liberation", "Chonkyfire"       

Score-10

Winner- Outkast 

Outkast takes this one! 

Total Score-

The Beatles -33

Outkast-27

 REMATCH ROUND 4

"The White Album" pt 1 (sides 1 &2) vs "Stankonia"

"The White Album" pt 1 (sides 1 &2

Filler -"Wild Honey Pie", I Will", "Julia" 

Great Songs-"Back in the USSR", "Dear Prudence", "Glass Onion", "Ob-la Di-Ob-La-Da", "the Continuing Story of Bungalow Bill", "While My Guitar Gently Weeps" "Happiness is a Warm Gun", "Martha My Dear", "I'm So Tired", "Blackbird", "Piggies" "Don't Pass Me By", "Why Don't We Do it in the Road" 

Score -13 

"Stankonia" 

Filler- 'Snappin & Trappin" , "Toilet Tisha" , "Stankonia", 

Great Songs-"Gasoline Dreams", "So Fresh So Clean", "Ms. Jackson", "Spaghetti Junction", "I 'll Call B4 I Cum", "B.O.B", "Xplosion", "We Luv Deez Hoes", "Humble Mumble", "Red Velvet", "Gangsta Shit", "Slum Beautiful" 

Score- 12    

Winner-the Beatles 

They edge out what might be the best Outkast album with the first half of the White Album

Total Score

the Beatles - 46

Outkast-39

Rematch Round  5

"The White Album" pt 2 (sides 3 &4) vs "Speakerboxx" 

"The White Album pt 2" (sides 3 &4)

Filler -"Birthday" , "Mother Nature's Son", "Revolution 9" , "Good Night" 

Great songs-"Yer Blues",  "Everybody's Got Something to Hide", "Sexy Sadie", "Helter Skelter" , "Long, Long, Long" , 'Revolution", "Honey Pie", "Savoy Truffle" , "Cry Baby Cry"  

Score-9

"Speakerboxx"

Filler- "Bowtie" , "Tomb of the Boom" , "Flip Flop Rock", "Reset' ,   

Great Songs- "GhettoMusick", "Unhappy" , "the Way You Move" , 'the Rooster" , 'Bust", "War", "Church", "Knowing", "Last Call"     

Score-9

Winner- Tie, 

Not all of the Beatles' experiments worked as well. 

Total Score-

The Beatles - 55

Outkast -48

REMATCH ROUND 6

"Abbey Road" vs "the Love Below"

"Abbey Road"

Filler-

Great Songs- "Come Together", 'Something", Maxwell's Silver Hammer", "Octopus' Garden", "I Want You", "Here Comes the Sun", "Because", "You Never Give Me Your Money", "Sun King", "Mean Mr. Mustard", "Polythene Pam", "She Came in Through the Bathroom Window", 'Golden Slumbers", "Carry That Weight", "The End" 

Score-15

 " the Love Below"

Filler-"Love Hater", "Happy Valentines Day", "Spread", "Prototype", 'She Lives in My Lap", 'Behold a Lady", "Pink & Blue", "Love in War", "She's Alive" 'Dracula's Wedding" "My Favorite Things", "Take off Your Cool", "Vibrate" 

Great Songs-"Hey Ya", 'Roses" 

Score- 2 

Winner- the Beatles

This paints a pretty concise picture, as if you bring up the argument that Outkast do not play their own instruments, so should not even be in the running most people will use the fact Andre can play keys and flute making him a musician, but when left to his own devices he gets slaughtered in this match up, nor would be fair any better against any of the Beatles solo albums. 

Total Score

the Beatles -70

Outkast- 50

REMATCH ROUND 7

"Let it Be" vs "Idlewild"

"Let it Be" 

Filler-"Dig it", "Maggie Mae"

Great Songs- "Two of Us", "Dig a Pony", "Across the Universe", " I Me Mine", "Let it Be", "I've Got a Feeling", "One After 909", 'the Long and Winding Road", "For You Blue", "Get Back" 

Score-10

"Idlewild"

Filler-"Mighty O", "Idlewild Blue", "N2U", "Chronomentrophobia", "The Train", "Life is Like a Musical" "Hollywood Divorce", "Makes No Sense", "PJ & Rooster", "Mutron Angel", "the Greatest Show on Earth", "When I Look In Your Eyes", "Dyin to Live", A Bad Note"       

Great Songs-"Peaches", "Morris Brown" "Call the Law", "Buggface", "In Your Dreams"  

Score-5

Winner- The Beatles

Final Score- 

The Beatles -80

Outkast-55

To Outkast's credit, they are the only rap artists that you can compare to the Beatles. At the end of the day, they just can't hang as the Beatles were more prolific songwriters, whose work stands the test of time. If you are still in denial then let's look at who had the greatest impact on music. Outkast influenced a few neo-soul artists like Frank Ocean, but when they faded from the scene did not leave a lasting impression on the direction of hip-hop after they disbanded. It is sad because hip-hop would have been better for it if they had taken notes from Outkast and instead it devolved into mumble rapping trap pop, which led to Big Boi stating that is why they did not want to get back into the game because he did not fit in that picture. While the Beatles influenced almost everyone including Outkast, if we are going to name names the list would include David Bowie, Black Sabbath, Jimi Hendrix, George Clinton, Kiss, Radiohead, Queen, Pink Floyd, King Crimson, the Who, Motley Crue, Cheap Trick and trickled down into all the bands those bands influenced. Unfortunately, people are not educated in this regard, but now you are. 

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the Top 200 Greatest Rock Singers -80 to 71

Now  past the half way point of our  list of the top 200 greatest rock singers, inspired by the travesty that was Rolling Stone's supposed list. Where they got it wrong, this list hopes to be more effective,  not only focusing on rock singers and those adjacent to the genre. If you have been reading you know the focus is not only on  technical vocal ability, in terms of range and power, as well as their dynamics, phrasing and the overall character of their voice. Can they emote from different places? How well does their voice hold up live? . How they control a crowd or their entertainment value as performers is also not a factor; there are some great front men who are also sub-par singers. There are also not going to be any Bob Dylan like singers, who are better songwriters than vocalists.

Pop singers, are far and few between, with  a few country or jazz singers who crossover just enough to qualify for this list, while having a significant influence on rock music. Don't expect rappers on this list or metal vocalists who just scream or growl, but never actually sing. I am keen on singers who are derivative of other singers. The bulk of these do their own thing, the few paying tribute to other artists made enough of an impact with their music. Having a unique vocal quality is going to be one of the most important factors often trumping technical ability. If they sound too much like Steve Perry from Journey after listening to their vocal coach rather than developing their own style, it is also not going to fly. Some of these might have been ignored by mainstream music media, but by the time we get to the top 10, I am sure it will all make sense, so here are the Top 200 greatest rock singers.

80-Jason Isabell

Breaking the country mold in many ways, he often takes the stage with his rock band the 400 Unit. His warm baritone does not rely on a country twang. He can also belt it out from his chest register as well as any rock singer.

 

 79- Phil Lynott 

Thin Lizzy is another band that if you judged them by their radio singles you would havea skewed idea of what they do. Due to this I used to think Phil just sang like a 70's cab driver in New Jersey, after hearing songs like "Jail Break" and "the Boys are Back In Town". He has a warm soulful voice that balances attitude with a lot of heart. His matter of fact delivery gives their songs an honest feel.

   

 78-Mikel Akerfeldt  

The Opeth mastermind might no longer employ his powerful death metal growl, but that is typically ok as he has perfected his clean singing voice. There is a mix of soul and 70's prog to the cadence of his voice. Light and introspective, he has slowly worked in more command to his singing though never really belts it out preferring a softer touch.

 

77 -Eugene Edwards

His band 16 Horsepower was ahead of their time as they laid the ground work for the current trend of apocalyptic bluegrass.  His voice however matured to his final for with his project Wovenhand, that is sonically heavier, calling him to deliver a more powerful performance.

  

76-Taylor Swift

Before you talk shit about Tay Tay, let me ask you one question... have you heard her "Folklore" album? Chances are you have just lumped her in with other pop singers. She proves she can use her voice as an instrument. Her country beginnings taught her a lot when it comes to having chops. She can throw her voice around how ever she sets her mind to it, and makes the most of studio tricks and stacking vocal tracks rather than relying on them.

 

 75- Simon Le Bon

Of all the big 80s super stars who emerged from the New Romantic movement, I listened to Duran Duran the least. That is not to say I do not respect the hell out of them as I do. Le Bon's vocals are at the center of that respect as his voice is pristine with a tenor that smoothly glides where he wants it. 

 

 75- Madonna 

She really became a powerhouse, once she accepted the fact she is an alto and started singing where her vocal cords were meant to go, gaining a great deal of power. She has some really impressive low notes in her range

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73- Mick Jagger

The idea of Jagger would rate higher , but we are talking about what the actually do as singers. His biggest asset is his attitude and always knowing how to put his voice in the right places. His solo work proves he can stand on his own without Richards.

 

72-Eddie Vedder

His growly baritone inspired other singers to try their hand at grunge in the 90s. Often imitated Vedder was an original, who drew from greats before him without trying to be anyone but himself. He is very emotive and uses his voice like an  instruments often making his lyrics obsolete. 

   

71- Paul McCartney

Technically he might be the best singer of the Beatles, might be. This is not a list of favorite singers, if it was Paul would not be on here, he is too sappy for my tastes. I am not going to deny his talent and he has a set of pipes on him that have graced some of the Beatles best work.

 

Up From the Underground: Latimer House's All the Rage

After relocating to Prague this band began to create a brand of Brit Pop that is very different from you might normally think of . The genre lends itself for bands to either emulate The Beatles or the Smiths. Which side they fall on takes some time to surface as influences not typical of "brit pop" are more obvious.The vocals  are more casually spoken in almost a Lou Reed manner than the typical Brit pop croon. The jangle of the guitar is in similar vein to early Strokes.The only element that I hear bearing in common  ground to the Smiths is the bass line which to capture that Andy Rourke sound requires it to be pushed up front and a little more swagger. In fact I'd almost compare this band more to Johnny Marr's other project The The. Granted here we hold anything being compared to anything Morrissey related under more belabored scrutiny.

The tapestry they set their songs against is unique, the strings to "Burn" are rather Beatlesque. The more droning narrative to the vocals, makes me think of Current 93 or Death in June, if either band was given anti-depressants.The rather upbeat mood which coats the bulk of album, is often too hopeful for me.The skip in the step of  "Eye Can See" carries the zest of  "It's Getting Better".

The more Lou Reed elements return on "Open Your Heart". The guitar is rather straight forward almost like something Tom Petty would do , but with a surreal backing of strings and horns behind it , this reminds me of some of New Model Army's more experimental moments or even Cult of Youth if they were writing songs for Chicago... the band not the musical.

The Beatles influence on "Brit Pop" is unmistakable, the ear where Latimer House differentiates themselves from other bands steeped in Beatlemainia is the vocals are much more like Ringo Starr's than Lennon or McCartney. So if Ringo is your favorite Beatle then this album is a must for you, as there are moments on a song like "Bird Cage Walk" that seems to pulls from even Ringo's solo work. "Red Heart Sequin Blues" has a walking bass line and an old roadhouse boogie to it solidifies the Ringo comparisons, as this is something I can hear his All- Star band jamming on.

I prefer the more subdued vocal approach to the title track finds the band in a much more Pink Floyd like dream-scape, which seems to be an area that they should allow themselves to more fully explore as it is one of the albums strongest songs. Singer Joe Cook's voice sounds relaxed and tonally more resonate. The guitar playing also excels here as it is allows to drip like rain on the outskirts of the psychedelics, rather than having to adhere to the form of the riffs.

There is a weird blend of country and funk to "Love's Undermined". The Keyboards tend to dominate this song. They dip back into the Strawberry Fields on "Splash" though the vocal phrasing leans more toward Lou Reed, so if you have ever gotten high and wondered what it would have sounded like if Lou Reed has been brought in to replace John Lennon, you now have your answer.

The album closes with "Bubblegum" that marries "Delicate Sound of Thunder" era Pink Floyd, with 80's new wave , the likes of Men at Work or the Proclaimers. The strings fill out the background, but with a less Beatles flair. The vocals have some questionable moments in terms of pitch on this one, but perhaps it was a stylistic choice. This guy is no Morrissey by any means, and the lyrics tend to serve more for narrative voice than the melodic focus. So it would be like comparing Bob Dylan to David Bowie.

Overall, if you have a soft spot of 80's inflected Brit Pop, that's more Beatles than Smiths, like Utopia or Ringo's solo work then make sure you check this out. Though, happier punks with a love for the days in the 80's when the line became blurred for bands like Television, might find this worth a listen as well.

 

Up From the Underground : the Mona Lisa Twins

 I was pretty shocked after hearing the guitar playing on their album "When We're Together" that these two cute Austrian girls are only 19.  Their album starts up with  the title track,  a straight forward  almost rockabilly number with unison harmonies. The guitar work is more intricate than the radio pop of the sixties that the girls wink towards.  The  crisp production  avoids being apologetic about the playing as garage rock.  The addition of  harmonica on "Won't You Listen Now"brings a more folk warmth.

Like Simon and Garfunkel , as their strength is their songwriting , which is nuanced by the great guitar playing on this album that captures the feel on the time period recreated . Early Beatles rides the boogie of "This Boy is Mine"  in the vein of  "Can't Buy Me Love" the guitar phrasing even pays homage to Harrison's playing in this era.  This is also the first song where they do not sing in unison through out and use their harmonies only as accents.

The strum of acoustic guitar has the feel more "Revolver" era Beatles, their voices never  over emote and stay honest in their inflections in a manner that would appeal to fans of indie rock. Even when things take a turn into balladry, their harmonies remind me of Rasptutina ever so slightly though it drifts on a much less quirky and much dreamier direction not unlike Joanna Newsome.

The backing band has ample chops to keep their bassist playing rolling melody patterns underneath sections simpler strum to them when their harmonies take the spotlight. Though the pre-psychedelic Beatles seems to be the rule of the day, yet the girls keep their sense of identity injected firmly into this formula. The swing of "June" helps keep them varied and continues to amaze with their smooth vocal blending.

The more Simon & Garfunkel feel returns on "The Wide, Wide Land". The guitar playing as a finer ear for detail than the folk music from this era and has a dynamic flow to it once the percussion kicks in. "All About Falling in Love" straddles the fence between folk and the 60's Beatles pop, with the harmonies leaning in the direction of the latter.  The songwriting never has a lull as their aren't anything songs I would think of as filler, staying pretty strong.

"I Wanna Kiss You" has the fun Beatles boogie to it though their harmonies are unique to them as they transition back into the verse. By the time the album closes with the closest wink to the psychedelic years it's clear these girls aren't just a sum of their influences with touches of 90's indie rock  like Liz Phair sprinkled about before the harmonica comes in.

These girls have some great things ahead of them if this is what they are capable of at 19. The guitar playing and harmonies really shine and keep the album a fun listen even more than the classic pop bounce that keeps things moving.