Changing Weezers

-


First things first, Record Store Day is this weekend--April 16th--and I want to encourage you to seek your local, independently owned, record store and purchase some records. Why? A couple of reasons. Records can heal your heart, they are magical transportation devices full of music. Also, mom and pop record stores are DEEPLY important. They can’t beat Spotify, they can’t beat iTunes. They’re a place to meet and bond with other people who love music just as much as you do. Also, they’re local businesses, and if you don’t think supporting local business is a good thing, then I’m gonna build a wall around you and make you pay for it.


Right, now that the PSA is done--wowzers is the new Charles Bradley album a thing of beauty! What? You don’t know who Charles Bradley is, you don’t have any music from the mighty house that is Daptone Records in your collection!? Woe unto you, Kangaroo Boy. Daptone Records is a Brooklyn based label that specializes in soul music. Real, honest, beautiful soul music--with a vinyl centric approach and an aesthetic similar to the glory days of Stax Records outta Memphis.


“Changes” is Bradley’s third album on Daptone subsidiary Dunham Records, and it’s an absolute knock out. I first became aware of Bradley through his amazing cover of Neil Young’s “Heart of Gold,” and this new LP takes its title from a previously released Record Store Day only cover of Black Sabbath's “Changes.” Bradley is an underdog who is enjoying a breakout career at the age of 67, since being discovered as a James Brown impersonator. It’s hard to not love the guy, but when you hear his soulful wail--it’s downright impossible. This is a record you need to hear, and it’s Bradley’s strongest album to date. Wall to wall perfection.


Speaking of things that will fill your heart with love, Weezer has a new album out, and it’s their second in a row to actually sound like a Weezer album. In 2014, Weezer released “Everything Will Be Alright In The End,” a true return to form album that partnered the band back with Ric Ocasek and brought Weezer back to their there was much rejoicing. With the band's new album “The White Album”--keeping with the recurring theme of self-titled albums distinguished by the color on the cover--Weezer keeps the winning streak going, showing their return to form was not just a fluke.

“The White Album” features a summery/beach vibe, with moments where the band are channeling Brian Wilson. It’s a fast, catchy, snappy album coming in at around 35 minutes running time. It’ll also be the soundtrack your warm weather adventures deserve. It’s just especially hearting to me to know that Weezer has made two really great albums in a row. Even if their follow up stumbles, it’s been nice to see this beloved band on a winning streak. Why wouldn’t you want to fill your life with such lovely sounds? Check out both records soon. Buy some this weekend.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Mr. Thompson, Thanksgiving, and Her

-
Image
I was standing in the fresh market, and I was having a panic attack. I’ve cooked Thanksgiving meals before. I’ve been in supermarkets the day of Thanksgiving with no trouble at all. This was different. I was getting ready to cook Thanksgiving dinner for a woman I found myself attracted to. We had gone out a few times, and each time was even lovelier than the last. Despite my angst and bitter disposition at the universe for the way that romance has treated me, the fact of the matter is, as Morrisey said, “I am human and I need to be loved.” Grocery shopping is one of the ways I relax, I know that’s weird, but that’s me. The rational part of my brain began to counter my panic centers as soon as the attack started. “Dude, you’re in a grocery store! You love this! Bread! Food! Cheese! Cookies! Those really nice organic cleaning products! Chill, brah.” Logically I knew I had this. I’ve cooked entire holiday meals by myself before. But the part of my brain that fuels the anxiety a
Read more

The Strangest Movie I've Ever Seen

-
Image
There are certain movies that defy description. Movies that are so strange, so bizarre, people would swear you were making them up, until you actually produced a copy of the film and showed it to them. There are movies in this world that were designed to be weird from the get go, but nothing is quite as weird as movie that wasn't designed that way. A movie that was made just as any other movie on the yearly slate for the studio. A movie that was made not as a strange B picture, but as a major A production, with a big name cast, a budget, and everything. Such a movie is MGM's 1971 picture Pretty Maids All in a Row . It is, without question, the weirdest movie I've ever seen. Pretty Maids All in a Row is such an odd movie, that I have a hard time trying to wrap my brain around it. It's very much a product of its time, and very much the kind of movie that NO ONE would dare try to make today. It's a film that I had never heard of, until a recent DVD release b
Read more

Blood Cold Mysteries

-
Image
If there is one bit of esoteric classic movie stuff that simply fascinates me, it’s the trilogy of films directed by veteran actor William Conrad—and all released in 1965. They’re the three of only four feature films directed by Conrad, who spent all of his other directorial adventures on the small screen. The late William Conrad was a famed actor, playing Matt Dillon on the original radio version of “Gunsmoke,” and coming to full pop culture fame on TV in “Cannon” & “Jake and The Fat Man.” For this writer, Conrad will always be immortal for being the narrator on “Rocky & Bullwinkle.”  The three films in question all were released by Warner Brothers—where Conrad had a production office it seems—and are: “Brainstorm,” “Two On A Guillotine,” and the film I’m going to talk about today, “My Blood Runs Cold.” One of the reasons I’m fascinated by these three films is my built in soft spot for 1960s, black and white horror fare with crazy, bombastic promotion. I adore the f
Read more