What a wonderful puddle

Song in my head:
"What a Wonderful Puddle" by Braid

NME reports that Queen is reforming with Paul Rodgers from Free and Bad Company on lead vocals. I don't know if the guys knew it or not, but April Fool's Day is not in December.

So I read the side-chapter in Everything about how the Manics never made it in America. There are great arguments as to why this is however I find Price's sentiments about the size of the American-based fans a little misleading. I know quite a few people that know who they are and all of their records have been released in the US (though some were belatedly released after the rest of the world got them). But Price's feelings that this band that wanted to look like Duran Duran but sound like the Sex Pistols could never hit the top of the charts in America is pretty right-on.

My Christmas shopping is done and I didn't have to endure any crises trying to find anything. I had to order a couple of things online but everyhing else was found around here. I'll be having an early Christmas again this year but the thing that counts (regardless of which day that it's celebrated) is that I get to spend time with my family and give/receive gifts.

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The Complete Idiot's Guide to Catherine Wheel

Originally posted: Tuesday, August 29th, 2006 Despite managing to release five proper albums, Catherine Wheel was one of those bands that always seemed to slip past the mainstream rock crowd. Yes, they got some nice airplay in their day, but people seem to have forgotten about them. You may hear “Black Metallic” or “Waydown” on a “classic alternative” show on Sirius or XM or maybe even on terrestrial radio, but that’s about it. For me, they were one of most consistent rock bands of the ’90s, meandering through shoegazer, hard rock, space rock and pop rock, all while eluding mainstream pigeonholing. Led by the smooth, warm pipes of vocalist/guitarist Rob Dickinson (cousin of Iron Maiden’s Bruce Dickinson), Catherine Wheel featured Brian Futter on lead guitar, Dave Hawes on bass and Neil Sims on drums. They weren’t a pretty-boy guitar band, but they weren’t a scuzzy bunch of ragamuffins either. Though the band hailed from England, Catherine Wheel found itself more welcome on American air

Best of 2021

Last year, my attention span was not wide enough to listen to a lot of LPs from start to finish. Too much went on in 2020 to focus on 10-15 albums, so I went with only a couple to spotlight. Well, 2021 was a little better, as I have a list of top four records, and a lot of individual tracks. (I made a lengthy Spotify playlist ) So, without further ado, here’s my list of favorites of the year: Albums Deafheaven, Infinite Granite (listen) Hands down, my favorite album of the year. I was not sure where Deafheaven would go after another record that brought My Bloody Valentine and death metal fans together, but they beautifully rebooted their sound on Infinite Granite. The divisive goblin vocals are vastly pared-down here, as are the blast beats. Sounding more inspired by Slowdive, the band has discovered a new sonic palette that I hope they explore more of in the future. It’s a welcome revelation. I still love their older material, but this has renewed my love of what these guys do. J

2023 Update

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