Things that suck, things that don't

My birthday loot included two cds. One cd is fantastic. The other cd is...um...Happy Birthday! I hope you like CRAP!!!

The Crap:

Another Fine Day by Golden Smog is nothing short of a disjointed, abysmal mess. I realize that it is a side project for the members of The Jayhawks, Soul Asylum and Wilco (not to mention the various guests). Side projects need not suck, however.

The song 05.22.02 is nothing short of Wings inspired rubbish. So insipid is this little tune, it would have ended up on the cutting room floor, so to speak, not even fit for airplay on AOR 70s radio. Folks...that is the least aurally offensive cut on the album. I can rattle off a song that was "inspired" but whatever track is listed on Another Fine Day.

I do not want to seem like a bitter pill but crap is crap. It makes me sad when an album I anticipate sucks without ceasing. Along with Smile by The Jayhawks, Another Fine Day will be assigned the role of coffee table coaster.

Might I recommend trolling your local, used record stores for Weird Tales by Golden Smog instead?

The Not-Crap:

The drummer for the Jayhawks (and sometimes song writer), Tim O'Reagan, has put out a solo album. It is self titled.

This album is nothing short of amazing. I haven't heard music this blissful since Son Volt's album, Trace. The arrangement is phenomenal. It is unpretentious and delightful. Without pulling out the Roget's I cannot think of enough complimentary words to describe it.

Even more appealing for the die hard fans of the Jayhawks is the return of Karen Grotberg. I simply adore her backing vocals.

If alt-country is your thing, go find this cd as soon as you can. You will not be disappointed.

I regret that I am not so adept in writing about music. Dock likes to keep me quasi-ignorant to production values, blah blah blah, so I can provide him with honest, empty-headed feedback of recordings he has done. I can only tell you what pleases my ear and what offends.

Lastly....I am still completely besotted with the Dixie Chicks' album, Taking the Long Way (listen to it here for free!). Continuing with the Jayhawks theme of this post, Gary Louris co-wrote some songs for this disc. Everybody Knows has become one of my favourite tracks although I still think the strongest song is Voice Inside My Head. There is something about the flange on the backing vocals in Voice Inside My Head which is simply ethereal.

OMG...my smugness is making me sick. And I'm starting to sound like Dock. I think I shall stop here before all is lost.