Stereo 360 - Enjoy Your Life Poolside

Name: Stereo 360
Album: Enjoy Your Life Poolside
Year: 2003
Style: Rock, Power Pop
Similar Bands: Rentals, Presidents of the USA, Fountains of Wayne, Lit, Under the Influence of Giants Nerf Herder, Rooney, Ultimate Fakebook, Zebrahead
"One-Word" Review: Generic Radio Rock
Based Out Of: Los Angeles, CA
Label: Baby Pea Records

Cover, Inner Back

Liner Notes, CD Tray

Back, CD, Lyrics

Enjoy Your Life Poolside (2003)

1. Superstar 2:42 (single)
2. Automatic 3:32
3. Plastecine 3:09
4. California 3:13
5. Vasoline Mouth 2:55 (Single)
6. Radio Parade 3:02
7. Don't Belong 3:58
8. Original 3:44
9. Restaurant 3:29
10. Sick of You 2:59
11. Beautiful 4:00

Album Rating (1-10): 7.5

Members & Other Bands:

• Shad Hills - Guitar, Vox (Cool for August)
• Luis Galdames - Guitar (Illapu, Sign of the Fox, Felix da Housecat, Zaturno, Pablo Milanes)
• Trevor Zimmerman Bass
• Moon Hills - Drums
• Arlan Schierbaum- Pianos, Keys, Moog, Accordion (Heaven & Earth, BJ Sharp, Meredith Brooks, Kris Wiley, Richie Kotzen, B-Side Players, Kelly Moneymaker, Mandrill, Brian Setzer, David Winoground, Cherry Bluestorms, Janiva Magness, Son of Skooshny, Nikki Lane, John Hiatt, Beth Hart, Joe Bonamassa, Rival Sons, Coronet Blue, Goldspot, Jimmy Barnes, Joey Sykes, Janey Street, Suitable Victims)
• Ryan Greene - Producer, Engineer, Mixing
• Tina Allen - BPR International
• John Krishack - Mgmt
• Geoffrey Hautvas - European Booking
• Jason Schmidt - Photos
• Tangle - CD package, Design, Art, Concept, Layout
• Jonathan Levin - Legal
• Gary Dollinger - Web Programming & Mgmt
• Brad Vance - Mastering

Unknown-ness: Never heard of this band. The artwork has a very warm/hot temperature feel to it, and reminds me of 311, although i don't think they will sound like that...but it will be somewhat close to brash, frat-boy rock, half way to Fuel (but not as hard).

Album Review: Here's the deal...not bad, but not that interesting. Some times they strive for Fountains of Wayne pop melodies and harmonies, and semi-heavy chugging guitars layer over, with one foot trying to fit into pop-punk shoes. This is generic radio friendly rock built for frat parties and background music while playing Golden Eye. The right energy to keep you awake and moving, but nothing upsetting or off-putting - or experimental (with the most basic use of the word). But, perhaps that would all change upon multiple listens. California and Vasoline Mouth are not bad pop songs, but their lyrics about getting jumped for no reason & i can touch you any way you think i should are kinda cringe-y & embarrassing. Don't Belong sounds straight up like a FOW power ballad.

Not much on the net about them. just a couple sentence review saying they play LA power pop influenced by Nirvana, Cars, Cheap Trick, & Split Enz in a press kit.

Stand Out Track: Superstar (only because there is a weirdly cropped video for the song)

Links:

Discogs

Allmusic

Rate Your Music
Dert Online
Spotify

Betsy Spivak - Belly Sweet

 Name: Betsy Spivak
Album: Belly Sweet
Year: 2000
Style: Folk, Singer / Songwriter, Acoustic
Similar Bands: Jefferson Airplane, Fleetwood Mac, Melissa Ethridge
"One-Word" Review: Floatsy Folksy
Based Out Of: Philadelphia, PA / Los Angeles CA
Label: Covergirl Records

Cover, Fold Out Notes, CD Tray Artwork

Back, CD, Liner Notes/Lyrics

Belly Sweet (2000)

1. Twiggy Blue Sky 3:06
2. 222 Ray Street 3:59
3. The Same 3:57
4. Altar Boy & the Female Form 3:56
5. Hundred Dollar Bet 4:15
6. Sally 4:22
7. Me for a Day 6:46

Album Rating (1-10): 5.5

Members & Other Bands:

• Betsy Spivak - Writer, Vox, Piano, Guitar, Producer, Arrangements, Mixing, Art Direction, Artwork
• Anthony King - Guitars, Producer, Arrangements, Recording, Art Direction
• Bruce Witkin - Producer, Recording, Mixing
• Raymond Pitts - Clarinet, Arrangements
• Ethan Phillips - Bass
• George Kaurtis - Drums
• Jack Lees - Percussion
  Diana Bridges - Backing Vox
• Dave Schultz - Mastering
• Marguerite Gaffney - Belly, Insert Photos
• Doug Nahary - Art Direction (dZm Design)anthony king
• Peter Creelman - Photos
• Bill Parker - Photos

Unknown-ness: I believe i had heard of Betsy Spivak before I bought this in a used bin, just curious if the word of mouth recognition was worth the music. I can't remember what it was like...my mind is set that this will be flowery, folksy Lilith Fair / Indigo Girls singer-songwriter style of music.

Album Review: Betsy has a very light, folky singer/songwriter storyteller vibe, with mostly acoustic performances, and a little country slide guitar. Nothing stood out to me, apart from the sexual exploring charged lyrics of Alter Boy/Female Form, but 222 Ray St is an enjoyable, straight forward song.

Betsy's father is the cofounder of the old Electric factory in Philly, and she studied classical music at Temple, also in Philly. Her early years were spent half in her native Philly, and half in LA. Even when moving back to Philly, he stuff did not follow her for a bit, as she felt part of both worlds. But the LA life opened her up creatively, writing in traffic, and finding her voice

Stand Out Track: 222 Ray St

Links:

Spotify

Allmusic

Rate Your Music

2006 City Paper

Snow & Voices - s/t

Name: Snow & Voices
Album: s/t
Year: 2005
Style: Singer Songwriter Pop, Dreampop
Similar Bands: Neko Case, Portishead, Cowboy Junkies, Fiona Apple, Mazzy Star, Isobel Campbell, Luscious Jackson
"One-Word" Review:
Based Out Of: LA
Label: Bird Song Records

Cover, Tray Artwork

Back, Lyrics, CD

Snow & Voices (2005)

1. Carry Us Home 4:07
2. Nothing Certain 4:41
3. A Dream of Happiness 3:36
4. In Pieces Through the Door 3:08
5. Goodnight New York 3:28
6. Like a Flower to the Sun3:45
7. Ordinary Girl 4:01
8. No Regrets 4:18
9. Go Your Own Way 4:00 (Fleetwood Mac cover)
10. You Are Beside Me 3:43

Album Rating (1-10): 7.0

Members & Other Bands:

• Lauri Kranz - Lyrics, Vox
• Jebin Bruni - Lyrics, Piano, Prohet V, Organ, Bass, Chamberlin, Celeste, Arp Pro, Nord, Guitar, Harmonium, Bass Pedals, Producer
• Greg Leisz - Lyrics, Guitar, Pedal Steel, Producer
• Buddy Judge - Guitar, Bass, Keys, Backing Vox, Producer
• Ric Menck - Drums
• Jennifer Condos - Bass
• Darrell Thorp - Piano Strings, Producer, Engineer, Mixing,
• Jeffery Cain - Guitar
• Jay Bellerose - Drums
• Mike Lazer - Mastering
• Cyndi Finkel - Photos
• Mike Weihs - Album Design (Heroes &Villains)

Unknown-ness: Never heard of Snow & Voices, so based on the artwork, color scheme and liner notes, i'm guessing this will be slow, folksy pop, with lots of space in the songs. Perhaps it will be more chamber music and dreamy, floating songs. The band seems like it is just Lauri Kranz and friends.

Album Review: Light and dreamy definitely describe this piano pop. "A Dream of Happiness" sounds like a slowed down, floating Imperial Teen track. "In Pieces Through the Door" has a distorted and Alt-90's Garbage + Portishead + Luscious Jackson sound to it, with a delightful catchy & building music box interlude. While it is not representative of the album, it is the most unique and complex track. "Goodnight NY." "Go Your Own Way." & "Ordinary Girl" are intimate, delicate lullabies where you can hear all the clicks and percussive elements of her turn of phrase as she sings with a slight cavernous echo. Flower to the Sun is a good, straight forward pop song, with a touch of country folk.

The band had three albums in 5 years, this being their first. There is more posted about their last 2010 album than this one, She had a career shift after that, and started a company called Edible Gardens LA, which she is still working with today.

Stand Out Track: In Pieces Through the Door

Links:

Discogs

Allmusic
Baeble Music

cover me songs
Rate Your Music
Anti Music
Xumo
KCRW-1
soundcloud
Interview with Lauri: We Are Bird

Edible Gardens LA insta
Edible Gardens LA
Ijamming

Portable - Secret Life

Name: Portable
Album: Secret Lift
Year: 1999
Style: Power Pop, Garage Rock
Similar Bands: Third Eye Blind, Everclear, Matchbox 20, Tonic, Our Lady Peace, Sister Hazel, Ours
"One-Word" Review: Brash, Middling Rock
Based Out Of: LA, CA
Label: TVT Records

Cover

Back, CD

Secret Life (1999)

1. What's Wrong 3:40
2. Help Yourself 2:58 (single)
3. Boy-Girl 4:40
4. medicate it 2:30
5. Redlight 4:29
6. Step On It, Go! 3:32
7. Erasable 3:04
8. Restraint 4:26
9. One Thing I Know 3:39
10. All Over Again 4:24
11. Terrible Two 4:48
12. Silence Please 4:55

Album Rating (1-10): 6.5

Members & Other Bands:

• Chance Hutchison - Vox, Guitar
• Gus Cicari - Guitar
• Jeff Menke - Bass
• Brian Lovy - Drums (The Kind, Anthony Castelo, Chance, Forever Like Red)
• Terri Nunn - Vox (Berlin, Ish, Sisters of Mercy, Pino Donaggio, Khadja Nin, Dan Siegel, Pamela Moore, Mariya Takeuchi)
• Matt Wallace - Produced, Mixed
• Mike Landolt - Engineer
• Mitch Rellas - Engineer
• James Murray - Asst Engineer
• Vicky Hamilton - Career Direction 
• Warren Entner - Career Direction 
• Sean Roberts - A&R Direction

Unknown-ness: Never heard of this band. Based on the cover, which looks like a Warhol 4-pane color study of a speaker (hubcap? drain?) and the dudes in suits on the back, i'm guessing they are a high energy, garage rock band; even if one has a goatee /soul patch combo. But it is on TVT, so perhaps they have a darker, industrial element? 

Album Review: I've listened to it once straight through, and at different points got notes of Green Day or the Strokes, but overall, this is some middle of the road rock, with some Third Eye Blind like, non-memorable vocals. The music also tries to surge, but also ends up being quite middling. Sorry to say, but this feels like the sort of music frat bros in college who have no taste in music get excited about. There's nothing either wrong nor memorable about this album. The song "Redlight" has a bit of a Muse / Ours vibe to it.

This, their debut album contains, the 5 sounds from their EP, which came out a few months earlier. Menke left the band after this record, and Sebastian Ciceri, Gus's brother, took over bass by 2000. Apparently the bland sound was left to this first record, and the second was seen as more adventurous by the band. Their third that never came to completion was on path to being much more representative to their live sound.

Stand Out Track: Step On It, Go!

Links:
Exclaim!
Discogs
Allmusic
Ink19 Levy interview
Sebastian Ciceri Wiki

Stargard - The Changing of the Gard

Name: Stargard
Album: The Changing of the Gard
Year: 1979
Style: Disco, R&B, Funk
Similar Bands: Gloria Gaynor, Donna Summer, A Taste of Honey, Supremes, Pattie Labell, Pointer Sisters, Rose Royce
"One-Word" Review: Playful funky while light rn'b
Based Out Of: Los Angeles, CA
Label: Warner Bros

Cover, Record

Back, Lyrics, Record

The Changing of the Gard (1979)

1. Wear it Out 5:17 (single)
2. (Once In A Lifetime) Dream Come True 4:45
3. Footstompin' Music 4:31
4. Take Me Back 4:37 /
5. Runnin' From the Law 4:41
6. Bedtime Story 0:15
7. I Just Imagined You 4:29
8. Put On Your Rollerskates 4:04
9. Lowdown Dancing 4:11
10. Flashback 0:28

Album Rating (1-10): 6.5

Members & Other Bands:

• Verdine White - Producer, Writer, Bass (Earth Wind & Fire, Ramsey Lewis, Craze, The Emotions, James Vincent, Gene Harris, Deniece Williams, Harvey Mason, Deodate, Jennifer Lopez, Audio Caviar, Solange, Chicago, Flo Rida, Kelly Clarkson, Carmine Appice,  more)
• Robert Wright - Producer, Writer, Keys (Moon Martin, Michael Wycoff, Fonzi Thornton, Jones Girls, Dalton & Dubarri, Tramaine, Genobia Jeter, Main Ingredient Feat. Cuba Gooding, more)
• Walter Ainsworth - Exec Producer
• F. Byron Clark - Remix Engineer, Recording Engineer
• Charles Fearing - Writer
• Debra Anderson - Vox (Junior Walker, Spyder Turner)
• Rochelle Runnells - Writer, Vox, Keys (Junior Walker, Candi Station, Checkmates Ltd, Arthur Wayne, Raydio, Spyder Turner, Candi Station)
• Janice C Williams - Writer, Vox (Junior Walker, Arthur Wayne, Checkmates Ltd, Spyder Turner, Raydio, Anderson Temple, Pryme)
• Robert E Carpenter - Writer
• Dean Gant - Writer, Keys  (Don Kinsey, Chosen Ones, Invisible Man's Band, Stargard, Linda Clifford, Spinners, Stephanie Mills, Larry Graham, Jones Girls, Madonna, Keni Burke, Anita Baker, Outkast, Peabo Bryson, Sunfire more)
• Allen Zent - Mastering
• Brian Gardner - Mastering Engineer
• Butch Lynch - Recording Engineer
• Serge Reyes - Recording Engineer
• Bruce Grayson - Recording Engineer
• Richard Seireeni - Art Director
• Robert Elias - Photos
• Alexis Caydam - Hair & Makeup
• Keiko - Costumes
• Keni Burke - Bass (Five Stairsteps, Peabo Bryson, Ca$hflow, Andy Lewis, Smoove, Preston Glass, Billy Preston, DJ Rogers, Bill Withers, Gladys Knight & Pips, Stargard, Linda Clifford, Dusty Springfield, Spyder Turner, Leroy Hutson, Les McCann, Emotions, Narada Michael Walden, Eugen Record, Terry Callier, Sly & Family Stone, Undisputed Truth, Clifford Coulter, Ramsey Lewis, Curtis Mayfield, Chocolate Milk, Ahmad Jamal, Smokey Robinson, Thelma Houston, Brenda Holloway, Natalie Cole, Cameo, more)
• Butch Azevedo - Drums, Percussion (Undisputed Truth, Sonald Byrd, Skool Boyz, Band AKA, The Dr's, Jay Gordon, Phillip Walker)
• Larry "Fatback" Talbert - Drums (Raydio, Barrett Strong, Bill Withers, Karen Pree, Edna Wright, Greg Perry, Jack Ashford, Dominic Frontiere, SofTouch, Bill Champlin, Phylliss Bailey, Maxine Nightingale, Shadee, Tom Jones, Jeffree, Thelma Houston, Dream Express, Lani Hall, Sir John Roberts, Jerry Knight, Ray Parker Jr, Menage A Trois, Mary Wells, Cheryl Lynn, Epo, Natalie Cole, Greg Perry)
• Joseph Baker - Guitar (Sly & Family Stone, Josephine Baker)
• Charles Fearing - Guitar (Raydio, Deniece Williams, High Inergy, Dusty Springfield, Edwin Starr, Jimmy Cliff, Ray Parker Jr, Tavares, Peaches & Herb, Bloodstone, Jeffrey Osborne, DeBarge, Dazz Band, Smokey Robinson, Sister Sledge, Teena Marie, Herb Alpert, Sam Harris, New Edition, Tina Turner, Bobby Womack, Four Tops, Lionel Richie, Dionne Warwick, Patti LaBelle, Barry White, Kurtis Blow, Nancy Wilson, Joan Baez, Temptations, Johnny Gill, Melba Moore, Ralph Tresvant, Celine Dion, Ce Ce Peniston, Teddy Pendergrass, SWV, Jennifer Love Hewitt, Enrique Iglesias, Ray Charles, more)
• Robert Palmer - Guitar (Booty People, Chaka Khan, General Caine, Halloween, Natalie Cole, Peabo Bryson, Luther Rabb, Garry Glenn, Robbie Dupree, Mary Wells, Band AKA, Syreeta, Gift of Dreams, LJ Reynolds, Danny Lugo, Destination, Bobby Womack, Billy Griffin, Fizzy Qwick, Billy Preston, Glenn Medeiros, Sheena Easton, Taja Secelle, Pepsi & Shirlie, Smokey Robinson, Starleana, Lionel Richie, i5, 2bd)
• Mark Davis - Keys, Recording (Starlight Express, Minnie Riperton, Rotary Connection, Curtis Mayfield, Calvin Carter, Marvin Gaye, Diana Ross, Earth Wind & Fire, Temptations, Smokey Robinson, Stevie Wonder, Jackson 5, Lionel Richie, David Ruffin, Undisputed Truth, Rose Royce, Natalie Cole, Sly & the Family Stone, Andrew Lloyd Webber, many)
• Eddie "Bongo" Brown - Percussion (Brass Fever, Funk Brothers, John Handy, Finished Touch, Stevie Wonder, Marvin Gaye, Wilson Pickett, Undisputed Truth, Supremes, Temptations, Four Tops, Bob Seger, Jimmy Ruffin, Carly Simon, Miracles, Quincy Jones, BB King, The Pips, Blackbyrds, Donnie Osmond, Commodores, Ben E King, 5th Dimension, Grease sndtk, Tower of Power, Deniece Williams, Billy Preston, Tavares, Peaches & Herb, La Toya Jackson, Gloria Gaynor, Kenny Rogers, High Inergy, Herb Alpert, Ray Parker Jr, Johnny Mathis more)
• Paulinho da Costa - Percussion (Baby'o, Fuse One, Patrick Williams, Samba 4, Sergio Mendes, The Bridge, Dizzy Gillespie, Quincy Jones, Michael Jackson, Sat. Night Fever sndtk, toto, Madonna, Ella Fitzgerals, Sarah Vaugn, Diana Krall, Claus Ogerman, many more)
• Donald Myrick - Horns, Musical Contractor (Phenix Choir/Horns, Philip Cochran, Artistic Heritage Ensemble, Sky, Intentions, Pharaohs, Salty Peppers, Phil Collins, Howlin' Wolf, Earth Wind and Fire, Ramsey Lewis, Chi-Lites, Emotions, Deniece Williams, Blue Magic, Valerie Carter, Twennynine, Gap Band, Pockets, Invisible Man's Band, La Toya Jackson, Pointer Sisters, Whispers, Dells, Bloodstone, Heaven 17, Philip Bailey, David Byrne, Bobby Womack, Jacksons more)
• Louis Satterfield - Horns (Phenix Choir/Horns, Philip Cohran & Artistic Heritage Ensemble, Sky, Intentions, Pharaohs, Salty Peppers, Phil Collins, Fontella Bass, James Cotton, BB King, Jack McDuff, Muddy Waters, Howlin' Wolf, Okie Duke, The Dells, Shel Silverstein, Mighty Joe Young, Earth Wind & Fire, Emotions, ChiLites, Staples, Denise Williams, Ronnie Laws, Gap Band, Tavares, Invisible Mans Band, Upchurch more)
• Raheem Lee Michael Davis - Horns
• Fred Jackson - Horns (Bobby Hutcherson, Horace Silver, Jimmy Smith, Carole King, Frank Zappa, Maria Muldaur, Bill Cosby, Terry Callier, Joe Sample, The Whispers, Solomon Burke, Dianne Schuur, Earth Wind & Fire, Boz Scaggs, Ramsey Lewis, Ry Cooder, Alice Coltrane, BB King, Natalie Cole, Peabo Bryson, Gap Band, Rick James, LaToya Jackson, Con Funk Shun, Tavares, Gladys Knight & the Pips, Sheena Easton, Quincy Jones, Boz Scaggs, Dee Dee Bridgewater, more)
• Oscar Brashear - Horns (Bird Memorial Quintet, Brass Fever, Count basie Orch, Gerald Wilson Orch of the 80's/90's, Henry Mancini & His Orch,Hubert Laws Group, Karma, Master Fleet, Teddy Edwards Brasstring Ensemble, Clayton-Hamilton Jazz Orch, more )
• Jerome Richardson - Horns (All Star Big Band, Cal Tjader, Cannonball Adderley, Charles Mingus, Charlie Shavers, Earl Fatha Hines, Eddie Lockjaw Davis, Four Flutes, Gene Ammons, Gerald Wilson, Henry mancini, Jerome Richardson, Jim Tyler, Jimmy Cleveland, Kenny Clarke, Lalo Schifrin, Larry Vuckovich, Lionel Hampton, Manny Albam, Milt Jackson, Nat Adderley, Oliver Nelson, Oscar Pettiford, Per Husby, Quincy Jones, Ray Brown, Tadd Damerson, Thad Jones, Mel Lewis, Blue Mitchell Orch, Clifford Jordan, Creed taylor, Ernie Wilkins, Gary McFarland, Gene Page, Hines Varieties, Kenny Burrell, Michael Coldin, Prestige All Stars, Sextet of Orchaestra USA many)
• Garnett Brown - Horns (Crusaders, Herbie Hancock, Lionel Hampton, Billy Cobham, Dizzy Gillespie, Brass Fever, Charles Mingus, George Russell, Gerald Wilson, Gil Evans, Thad Jones, Mel Lewis, Booker Ervin, Buddy Collette, Chico Hamilton, Duke Pearson, Gene Harris, Thomas Tedesco more)
• Beverly Ashby - Harp 
• Benjamin Wright - Orch Direction
• June Gatlin - Spiritual Adviser

Unknown-ness: I had never heard of this band. From the cover, I'm hoping it will be some solid poppy girl RnB, like Seduction, Vanity 6, of En Vogue. I fear it is a little early for that, and is smack dab in the middle of disco, so i won't be surprised if it tackles that genre.

Album Review: The album is just straight disco, there are some elements of funk involved (Wear it Out, Footstompin' Music, Put On Your Rollerskates). It is also not all light rn'b (Dreams Come True, Take Me Back, I Just Imagined You) with smooth Supremes-like harmonies. "Runnin' From the Law" and "Lowdown Dancing" are solid poppy funk with horns that remind me of Oingo Boingo, oddly enough.

Accoring to IMDB, they were the Diamonds in the 1978 Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band movie and recorded the theme song to the 1977 Richard Pryor film "Which Way is Up." This is their third album, first on WB's after departing MCA. As a band, the lasted for two more records (as a duo, minus Anderson) and broke up in 1983. 

Stand Out Track: Runnin' From the Law

Links:
Wiki

Discogs

Allmusic
IMDB
Blinded By Sound Deep Soul
Rate Your Music
Alchetron
In Da Mix Worldwide

Wasted Youth (LA's) - Get Out of My Yard!

Name: LA's Wasted Youth
Album: Get Out of My Yard
Year: 1990
Style: Hard Core, Punk, Metal
Similar Bands: NOFX, Bad Religion, Circle Jerks, Adolescents, Suicidal Tendencies
"One-Word" Review: Juvenile Tendencies
Based Out Of: Los Angeles, CA
Label: Medusa Records

Cover, Record

Back, Record

Get Out of My Yard (1990)

1. Young & Board 2:18
2. Blind Nuns 2:38
3. Ethiopian Nightmare 3:56 /
4. Happy Birthday 2:49
5. Missionary Imposition 2:08
6. Tormented 2:48

Album Rating (1-10): 6.0

Members & Other Bands:

• Chett Lehrer - Music, Guitar Glue Gun
• Paolo Rossi - Lyrics, Vox
• Joey Castillo - Drums (Danzig, Queens of the Stone Age, Bl'ast, Bloodclot!, California Breed, Eagles of Death Metal, General Fucking Principle, Goatsnake, Scott Weiland & the Wildabouts, Sugartooth, The Bronx, The Desert Sessions, Zakk Sabbath, Zilch, Mass Mental?, Son of Sam, Youjeen, Mark Lanegan Band, Boots Electric, The Bosshoss, Blackbird Days, Hifiklub & Alain Johannes, Love Zombies, Nick Oliveri, Sun trash, Last Internationale, Landfill Crew, The Hives, Patron, WC & the Madd Circle, Roberto Zenteno)
• Bryen - Bass
• Darin Scheff - Producer
• "Woody" - Engineer
• Barri Conley - Asst. Engineer, Mixing
• David O - Mixing
• Bobby Duron - Photography, Layout, Design
• David Arquette "Kingz" - Logos
• Lee Ellington - Car Drawing

Unknown-ness: I may have heard of this band, but don't much about them, if anything. I think they are a hard core, crust punk-ish band, and the band photo on the cover bring attacked by children in a kiddie pool paints them to be a punk band at the very least. Interesting, Patricia Arquette is thanked in the liner notes (wikipedia says she dated Rossi, and they had a child Enzo right around the time this came out), and David Arquette designed the logo.

Album Review: We're talking about a 79-80's hard core punk band that turned into thrash metal in the mid-late 80's as the personnel changed. The playing is fast, heavy and abrasive, but it maintains driving melody, and does not comes off as threatening as perhaps it was for the time & culture (or meant to be). Lyrically, the messages cover religion and consumerism.

Wasted Youth added the "LA's" to their name since there was also a British band of the same name. This version is a rerelease of the 1986 EP. This album was written by the previous (and second) front man, who quit while recording. So the version that finally came out was re-recorded by Paolo & team. Lehrer is the only remaining member of the original line up.

Stand Out Track: Tormented

Links:
Wiki

Discogs

Allmusic

Facebook
Metal Archives
Something Hard In There
Altopedia
Metal Music Archives
Rate Your Music
Berkeley B-Side
Spirit of Metal
Tour Dates

Warren, Paul & Explorer - One of the Kids

Name: Paul Warren & Explorer
Album: One of the Kids
Year: 1980
Style: Powerpop, Oldies
Similar Bands: Beatles, Marshall Crenshaw, Steve Forbert, Pezband, Shoes, Records
"One-Word" Review: Good & Plenty Pop
Based Out Of: Detroit, MI, Los Angeles, CA
Label: RSO, Polygram

Cover, Sleeve, Record

Back, Lyrics, Record

One of the Kids (1980)

1. One of the Kids 3:04
2. Takin' Her Back 4:01 (single)
3. The Others 2:29
4. A and R Man 3:06
5. Suzanne 3:59/
6. You Can't Touch Her 3:25
7. Kiss Me Chrissy 2:56
8. Faded Glory 4:30
9. For the Love of a Girl 3:07
10. Hats Off to Winners 2:50

Album Rating (1-10): 7.0

Members & Other Bands:

• Peter Coleman - Producer
• Paul Warren - Vox, Guitar (Rod Stewart, Rare Earth, Pacific Gas & Electric, Explorer, Jack Wagner, Robin Trower, Neil Norman, Bobby Sexton, Richard Marx, Ventures, Temptations, Undisputed Truth, Funkadelic, Elkie Brooks, Prism, Tina Turner, USA for Africa, Richard Marx, Tamara Champlin, Eros Ramazzotti, Alessandro Mara, Joe Cocker, Her Name is Death, ABC, Actual Russian Brides, Nite City)
• Steve Gornall - Guitar, Vox (Carl Stewart)
• Jimmy Hunter - Drums (Nite City, Nick Gilder, Hilary Laddin, David London, Gabriele Morgan, POOK Family All Star Line Up Band, Fortune, Bobby Barth, Bobby Alexander, Greg Ginn. Beckley)
• Dene Jordan - Bass, Vox 
• Doug Schwartz - Engineer Asst
• Steve Hall - Mastering
• Charles Weinberger - Mgmt
• Greg McCutcheon - Mgmt
• Glenn Ross - Art Direction
• Tim Owens - Design
• Moshe Brakha - Photos
• Rachel Guinan - Cover Kid
• Andy Owens - Cover Kid

Unknown-ness: Never heard of this band, but the mixed message of Warren smoking in front of the kids, yet declaring himself as one of the kids in the title is a shame. The kids, obviously from the future sport the 80's new wave business clothes with Geordie La Forge glasses. There was a big drive in the early 80's to mark yourself as new wave with the Red, Black & White color scheme, and this fits in with the red lines across the title and back of album. So the only question is how nerdy or power poppy will this record be...no mention of keys on the member list, so my guess is that it most likely won't be the bouncy neurotic powerpop, and will lean on the more pub rock sound.

Album Review: The album is full of singer/songwriter powerpop, lots of Beatles influence in the simple melodies, and basic, catchy song structures. The only difference, and quite shockingly so, is the driving metal anxiousness of "For the Love of a Girl."

Last June, I added a record from his band, Nite City, that preceded this album. Starting in the early 70's, Warren was a session guitarist for Motown Records (recorded The Temptations' "Papa Was A Rolling Stone"), as he was discovered in the area at 17. He moved with the label when they relocated to LA. After this one album and a bankrupt RSO label, he began his stint as a guitar for hire, before he ended up as touring guitarist for Richard Marx in 1987 - 1994 and Rod Stewart 1999 - 2013.

Stand Out Track: For the Love of a Girl

Links:

Youtube album + 1 extra track
Wiki

Discogs

Allmusic

Rate Your Music

Down Underground

This Is Powerpop
Local Show 2010

20/20 - Lookout!

Name: 20/20
Album: Look Out!
Year: 1981
Style: Power Pop
Similar Bands: Records, Pezband, Strokes, The Tubes, The Knack
"One-Word" Review: power-less powerpop
Based Out Of: Tulsa, Oklahoma / Los Angeles, CA
Label: Portrait, CBS

Cover, Record

Back, Record

(1981)

1. Nuclear Boy 3:20 (single)
2. Out of My Head 3:49
3. Strange Side of Love 3:37 (single)
4. Alien 3:39
5. A Girl Like you 2:29 /
6. Life in the USA 2:37
7. The Night I Heard a Scream 3:14
8. Beat City 3:02
9. Mobile Unit 245 4:10
10. American Dream 4:50

Album Rating (1-10): 7.5

Members & Other Bands:

• Richard Podolor - Producer
• Christopher Silagyi - Guitar, Synth, Piano, Vox (Ex Teens)
• Steve Allen - Lead Guitar, Keys, Vox (Long Players Band)
• Joel Turrisi - Drums
• Ron Flynt - Bass, Keys, Vox
• Tony Lane - Art Direction
• Nobru Tarui - Design
• Tim Guyer - Design
• Bill Cooper - Engineer
• Pat Foley - Engineer
• Shelly Heber - Mgmt
• Johnnie Randels - Photos

Unknown-ness: Never heard of 20/20. Not a fan of the font or overall color scheme of the album art, but they do look like a bunch of power pop rockers from the cover photo. The back darkly lit alley photo gives them a grittier, pub band feel, so I'm, not sure if it will be more in line with bands like Journey and Foreigner than Big Star or the Flaming Groovies.

Album Review: The album is pretty straightforward clean cut power pop, not much darkness or mysterious elements to their music, if any. I feel like the album is inspired by Star Wars with some of their lyrics on "Alien" and "Mobile Unit 245," or perhaps the pride (actually, sarcastic critique) in the US with "Nuclear Boy," "Life in the USA," and "American Dream". Either way, the album seems to capture the time in which it was recorded. "Out of My Head" feels a little Strokes-y (or the Strokes feel like this). And there is a slight tinge of psychedelia on "A Girl Like You." John Mellencamp's ROCK in the USA sounds a little like their "Life in the USA."

The nucleus of the band formed in Tulsa Oklahoma back in grade school. Inspired or challenged by cross town success of the Dwight Twilley band in LA, Allen and Flynt moved where they eventually came together with a fully formed idea of 20/20 by Mike Gallo, who departed before this record. Their first album was considered a power pop masterpiece, and this one a somewhat disappointing follow up. Like most bands, the writing was on the wall, and a third, final album followed as sales/promotion/ waned and frustration increased. Flynt & Allen regrouped in the 90's following album reissues and ended up putting a new pair of albums out in 95,98. Coincidentally, all members of 20/20 own or work in different recording studios.

Stand Out Track: Alien

Links:
Wiki
Discogs
Allmusic
Best Classic bands Top 10 power pop songs
Fredpopdom
Power Pop HOF
Pop Matters

Taste of Honey (A) - s/t

Name: A Taste of Honey
Album: s/t
Year: 1978
Style: Disco, Funk, Soul
Similar Bands: Gloria Gaynor, George Clinton, Chic, Sister Sledge, Musique
"One-Word" Review: Disco-Funk
Based Out Of: LA, CA
Label: Capitol, EMI

Cover, Record

Record, Back

A Taste of Honey (1978)

1. Boogie Oogie Oogie 5:37 (single)
2. This Love of Ours 3:20
3. Distant 4:38
4. World Spin 3:42 /
5. Disco Dancin' 3:29 (single)
6. You 3:20
7. If We Loved 4:24 
8. Sky High 5:04 (single b-side_
9. You're In Good Hands 3:52

Album Rating (1-10): 6.5

Members & Other Bands:

• Perry L. Kibble - Arrangements, Production Assistant, Backing Vox, Keys (JC Davis)
• Janice M Johnson - Lead Vox, Bass (Lionel Richie, Felton Pilate)
• Hazel P. Payne - Lead Vox, Guitar (Space People)
• Donald R Johnson - Backing Vox, Drums 
• Larkin Arnold - Back Quote, VP/GM Soul Music Division, Exec Producer
• Fonce Misell - Producer, Arrangements
• Larry Mizell - Producer, Arrangements
• Steve Maslow  - Recording
• Gil Jones - Recording
• Sergio Reyes - Mixing
• Butch Lynch - Mixing
• Jim Nipar - Mixing
• Ken Perry - Mastering
• Tom Oliver - Additional Recording
• Wade Marcus - String Arrangement & Conduction
• Roy Kohara - Art Direction
• Ken Anderson - Design
• Dick Zimmerman - Cover Photo
• Rosenberg/Levy - Liner Photo

Unknown-ness: I never heard of this band, but since buying this, i've seen the cover elsewhere, in a kind of iconic reputation. The image is great: two powerful, badass women stand with guitars and bass- in a world where that was very uncommon, in front of a honeycomb backdrop, driving the name home. The serious look on their faces gives question to the sweetness of the band name, "honey," so as to what is on this record, i can only judge as intriguing. Although the song names lend themselves to disco, i hope it leans toward real instruments, perhaps in a heavier, rock setting.

Album Review: This is pretty straightforward disco. Lots of swirling strings, and funky basslines, but there are some tender, softer moments that relax into the R&B world. Then there are some guitar solos peppered in that Hendrix and Prince would be proud of as well. 

The group started in 1971, and after doing USO shows internationally, they were "discovered" oncwe they returned home in an LA club. Named after Herb Alpert's song of the same name, not the play or film also of the same name. This iconic album had one of the biggest disco singles in Boogie Oogie Oogie, (written in backlash to an unresponsive USO crowd) which propelled both the single and album to go platinum in sales, and won them best new artist of the year, 1979 at the Grammys (first black group to do so). They burned bright and short, because as the Disco era was winding down, so did the band after their contract negotiated 5 album run. Surviving members have reunited in 2004 for a PBS special. And Janice M. Johnson, who is a member of the Native American Hall of Fame, carries on the band's name. They have been sampled quite a bit by rap/hip hop artists.

Stand Out Track: Boogie Oogie Oogie

Links:
Wiki
Discogs
Allmusic
Ultimate Disco Cruise
NJ 101.5
Jay Siegan Presents
IMDB
What Happened To...CBS News
Bold Soul Sisters

Surf MC's - Surf of Die

Name: Surf MC's
Album: Surf of Die
Year: 1987
Style: Hip Hop/Rap-Rock
Similar Bands: Beastie Boys, Run DMC, MC Hammer
"One-Word" Review: Embarrassing Surf Centric Rhymers
Based Out Of: LA, CA
Label: Profile

Cover & Record

Back & Record

Surf or Die (1987)

1. Surf or Die 5:15 (single)
2. Gotta Get Air 4:45
3. Big Wednesday 4:44
4. Rock That Beach 4:50/
5. That's Cali For Ya 4:09
6. Ths Surf is Live 3:13
7. Boomin' It 4:26
8. Can't Get a Tan 3:22
9. You Will Be Served 3:46

Album Rating (1-10): 4.0

Members & Other Bands:

• Paul "Sidewalk" Rodriguez
• Ivan "MC IVE" Mumm
• Tony "Kool G" Gilmour
• Phil Kettner (Laaz Rockit)
• Norman Kerner - Producer, Mixing, Surf Guitar (Paul Collins, The Grassy Knoll, Suzanne Little, Tara MacLean)
• Scott Roberts - Co-Producer, Backing Vox (Bill Summers, Con Funk Shun, Kevin Toney, Pete Escovedo, Wayne Shorter, Zero, Charlie Hunter, 3X Krazy, Demolition Men, Headhunters)
• Carl Herlofsson - Engineer, Mixing
• Jacob Hellner - Co-Engineer, Mixing
• Howie Weinberg - Mastering
• Tom Sherry - Brilliant Crew Cheif
• Mark Holzinger - Surf Guitar (Steve Carr, brent Brace, Groove.Org, Victoria Blyth)
• Tierney Muscatelli - Surf Guitar
• M Bomb - Surf Guitar, Sax
• Chris Atchison - Rock Guitar, Backing Vox (Ruffians)
• E-Rock - Bass
• Joel Smith - Bass
• "King James" Cassimus - Photos
• Paul Randolph Haven - Art Direction

Unknown-ness: Never heard of this band. I'm guessing their name says it all: Hip Hop MCs that love to surf. I guess it could be really ok or really bad. It's probably terrible.

Album Review: The album is quite embarrassing, like a lower, bottom shelf Beastie Boys. Their songs are about catching air, scoping girls out on the beach, not getting a tan, Wednesdays, and one classic line about one man's "monster in his shorts, stood up like a sword" when seeing a huge wave. The beats are simple, the guitars and bass are minimal, and the vocals follow a pre-set Beastie Boys template of styles and pitches. At the very least, the music will employ elements of surf rock, perhaps most obviously in This Surf's Live. But I wouldn't say they are like the Ventures, the Raybeats or Man or Astroman? at all. Also the single, Surf of Die (reached #90), uses samples from The Peter Gunn Theme and Sugar Hill Gang's Apache amongst others. They also sample the B-52's, and were in the right place at the right time to open shows for the Red Hot Chili Peppers with Faith No More.

Stand Out Track: This Surf's Live

Links:
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rare and obscure music

Sunshine Company (the) - s/t

 Name: The Sunshine Company
Album: S/T
Year: 1968
Style: Oldies, Pop, Psych
Similar Bands: Essex Green, Camera Obscura, Easybeats, Monkees, Bee Gees, Belle & Sebastian, Harpers Bizzare, Mamas & Papas, Association
"One-Word" Review: Hippy Loungey Pop
Based Out Of: Los Angeles, CA
Label: Imperial Records, Liberty Records

Cover, Sleeve Advert, Record

Back, Sleeve Advert, Record

The Sunshine Company (1968)

1. Look Here Comes the Sun 2:53 (John and Terence Boylan) (Single)
2. Reflections on an Angel 2:38  (single b-side)
3. Love, That's Where It Is 2:09 (T.Kaye, B. Schwartz, J.Fine)
4. Sunday Brought the Rain 2:41 (Gregg Allman)
5. I Can't Help But Wonder 2:11(Tony Michaels, Vinny Gormann)
6. I, To We, and Back Again 3:33 /
7. It's Sunday 2:15 (single) (Les Baxter)
8. You Don't Know Her Like I Do 3:10 (Steve Gillette)
9. Your Heart is Free, Just Like the Wind 2:27 (Chevallier-Thomas-Rivat-Shakespeare)
10. If You Only Knew 2:50 (Curt Boettcher)
11. Darcy Farrow 2:35 (Ian & Sylvia, Steve Gillette) (b-side single)
12. Without Really Thinking 3:36

Album Rating (1-10): 8.0

Members & Other Bands:

• Joe Saraceno - Producer
• George Tipton - Arrangements
• Maury Mandeau - Arrangements (John Bettis, Malina Reynolds, Steve Gillette, Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, Sevrin Browne, Mary Catharine Lunsford, Steve Martin Brothers)
• Larry Sims - Arrangements
• Lanky Linstrot - Engineer
• Woody Woodward - Art Direction
• John L. Eastman - Illustration
• Linda Graham - Poem
• William E McEuen - Mgmt (Nitty Gritty Dirt Band)
• Mary Nance - Vox
• Larry Sims - Bass (Loggins & Messina, Feather, Chris Hillman)
• Merel Bregante - Drums (Loggins & Messina, Feather, The Dirt Band, Chris Wall, Don McCalister, Eric Hanke, Sarah Pierce, Severin Browne, Chris Hillman, Steve martin, Gertrude Bradley,  Robert Jetton, Michael Brewer, Rich Rodgers, Cliff Sarde, John McEuen, Austin Lounge Lizards, Volunteer Fire Ants, Dale Watson, Jeff Hughes, James Durst, Bret Graham, Paul Cotton, Mandolin Bros, Regan Brown, Kelly & Ellis, Mike & Pam Martin)
• Douglas Mark - Guitar (Redeye)
• Dave Hodgkins - Guitar (Grains of Sand, Redeye)

Unknown-ness: Never heard of this band, but they look like your typical late 60's hippy, happy, shiny love band, so i'm guessing this will be upbeat bubblegum pop...maybe a little psych, too?

Album Review: So the album doesn't deviate much from it's cover image and genre. It will sometimes fall backwards on the ultra light bachelors vocal bands or loungey elements. Their name alone puts them solidly in the niche genre built around similar sounding bands, "sunshine pop." Their name was actually taken from the brand of snacks/crackers that shares the same name, and only materialized once they had a nationally charting single (Happy). They only lasted about 2 years recording 3 and a half albums, perhaps because the label greatly forced their creative hand in a different direction than what the band wanted. 

Stand Out Track: I Can't Help But Wonder, Love, That's Where it Is

Links:

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all but forgotten oldies

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Sumner - s/t

Name: Sumner
Album: s/t
Year: 1980
Style: New Wave, Blue Collar Rock
Similar Bands: John Mellencamp, Nick Gilder
"One-Word" Review: Wispy Power Rock
Based Out Of: Los Angeles
Label: Elektra/Asylum, Warner Communications, Nonesuch Records

Cover, Record

Back, Record

Sumner (1980)

1. Radioland 4:22
2. Dynamite 2:46
3. Wishes 3:28
4. Hot Night 7:28 /
5. No Time to Stop 3:24
6. Run Cindy Run 3:00
7. It Ain't Up to Me 2:56
8. You Excite Me 4:18
9. More Beer 3:14

Album Rating (1-10): 7.5

Members & Other Bands:

• Sumner Mering - Vox, Guitar (Lauren Wood, Rock Along)
• Larry Treadwell -Guitar, Backing Vox (Thomas Dolby, Lost Toy People, Repairs, J. Eric Freedner, Peter McCann, Lauren Wood, Tom Franzak, Allee Willis - Pee Wee Herman, Pointer Sisters, Ofra Haza, Mona Lisa, Cyndi Lauper, Fiorella Terenzi, Honey Pig, Jeff Larson, David Vidal, Gerry Beckley, America)
• Novi (Ilene) Novog - Keys, Electric Viola (Rebecca & the Sunny Brook Farmers, Nilsson, Dolly Parton, Linda Ronstadt, Emmylou Harris, Indigo Girls, Violent Femmes, David Poe, Flat Duo Jets, Cynthia Clawson, Kenny Loggins, Holly McNarland, 10000 Maniacs, 
• Robert Louis DiChiro - Bass (Les Deux Love Orch, America)
• Mark Sanders - Drums (Jah Wobble, Asunder Trio, Atlas, Badlands, Bruise, David Tucker Group, Dean-Trovesi Double Quartet, Deep Whole Trio, Dirty Songs, Elton Dean Quartet, Foils Quartet, Georg Graewe Quintet, Howard Riley, John Law, John Lloyd, London Improvisers Orch, Lunge, Minnow, Nick Stephens, Orch Entrophy, Paul Dunmall Moksha Big Band, PAURA, Predicate, Riverloam Trio, Rope, Santers, SFE, Six-In-One, Speeq, English Roots Band, Kris Wanders, The Number, Trevor Watts, Thomas Borgmann, Trio Nang Naak, ZFP Quartet more)
• Jack Nitzsche - Producer
• Bill Evans - Engineer
• David (Gino) Giorgini - Second Engineer
• Gregory J. Edwards - Prophet Programming
• Wally Traugott - Mastering
• Ron Coro - Art Direction & Design
• Jeffrey Scales - Photos
• Steven Steinberg - Mgmt

Unknown-ness: Never heard of Sumner, but it looks like he's got a full band on the back, so not just a singer/songwriter, but that's what I'd imagine this will be. 

Album Review: Sumner's vocals are slight and struggling. He seem a little pained, either like he's just getting over laryngitis or that the vocals will faint or dissolve away into thin air. Music this is pretty straight forward power pop/new wave. The theatrical Hot Night is unnecessarily 7 1/2 minutes long and is sparce, leaving a lot of room for anticipation and experimentation, and even though it builds slowly to a back alley, street walker rock jam, it really lacks anything exciting to look forward to. The album ending track is fratty in it's overly masculine chanting of the title "More Beer." "Radioland," "It Ain't Up to Me" and "No Time to Stop" (with is two note Simpsons theme sound-alike) are some catchy pop songs. While there are some strong, fun, bouncy bass lines throughout the record, and it definitely rocks at times, as a whole, it feels slight, like the vocals.

While Sumner may not be that popular, his daughter, as Weyes Blood, has become very popular over the past couple of years. Apparently she did not know her father was a touring musician (dated Joni Mitchell apparently) until she was about 6 when they lived in Doylestown. But it sounds like Sumner lived fast on the roller coaster ride that burned out many bands in the late 70s: from talented bar band to major label to one-(or two) album-and-done, then back into obscurity. 

Stand Out Track: No Time to Stop

Links:

Youtube Full Album

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Bandcamp

Weyes Blood Connection

Sumner Mering Ministries

Live Youtube Set Madame Wong's 5-31-80

Skatemaster Tate & The Concrete Crew - Do the Skate

Name: Skatemaster Tate & The Concrete Crew
Album: Do the Skate
Year: 1991
Style: Hip Hop, Jazz Fusion
Similar Bands: Urban Dance Squad, C+C Music Factory, Bent Fabric, Sublime, Arrested Development, Toejam & Earl
"One-Word" Review: Mellow Jazzy Beatnik Hip Hop Samples
Based Out Of: Los Angeles, CA
Label: 4th & B'Way, Island Records

Cover & Record

Back & Record

Do The Skate (1991)

1. Do The Skate 4:14
2. Get Dat Grove 2:37
3. Two Headed Love Child 3:20
4. Irv's 4:37
5. Willie Brown Live 3:51 (sample of "Pennsylvania 6-5000")
6. Justice (To The Bass) Nick & Scruff Version 3:14 /
7. Joe's Jam 6:27
8. Right Place 4:12 (samples: Hall & Oates "I Can't Go For That," "Could Be I'm Falling in Love," and "Right Place, Wrong Time")
9. More 3:25
10. Hey Wooley 4:52
11. Justice (To The Bass) Extended Boneless Mix 4:08

Album Rating (1-10): 5.5

Members & Other Bands:

• Willie McNeil - Producer
• D. Thomas
• Octavio - Sax (Arianna, Luis Miquel, Los Temerarios, LabA)
• Phil Nowlan - Guitar, Keys (Cool C, Three Times Dope, Tim Dog, Toshi Kubota, Jermaine Dupri)
• Skatemaster Tate (Gerry Hurtado) - Vox, Producer, Remixed (Porno for Pyros, Stone Cold Boners, Tate&Greg, Boo Yaa TRIBE, DJ Shadow, Cut Chemist )
• Willie Brown - Vox, Samples, Drums
• Natas Kapus - Backing Vox
• Don Kingski - Samples, Vox, Keys (Circle of Soul)
• Chris Garcia - Bass (Sweet Daddy, Fred Pellichero, Clay Aiken, Thyne Scabbard, Eduardo Rios)
• Jammin' Jay Davidson - Sax (Towson St U/College Jazz Ensemble, Mirjam, Marco, OC Smith, Joe the Butcher Nicolo, Cash Money and Marvelous, 7A3, Myles Goodwyn, Magnetics, Chena, Robbie B & DJ Jazz, Something Special, Cinderella, Tim Dog, Bad Mutha Goose & Bros Grimm, Pop's Cool Love, Taj Mahal, The Goats, Spearhead, Big Cheif, Ben Arnold, The Philosopher Kings, G. Love & Special Sauce, Monty Alexander, Pepper's Ghost, TM Stevens, Bon Jovi, Bruce L Cohen, Blues Anatomy, Mike Pinto, Labelle, Stroke, Greg Davis, Holy Water, Ronnie Spector, Up The Chain, Chris Kasper, Gina Sicila, American Mafia, Angel Du$t, Young & Heartless, Brit Floyd, Cast In Bronze, Pete Donnelly, Turnover)
• Andy "Funky Drummer" Kravitz - Drums (Butcher Brothers, Electric Love Muffin, Neptune Darlings, Steady B, Billy price & Keystone Rhythm Band, Schoolly D, Boo-Yaa TRIBE, Taj Mahal, Cypress Hill, Goats, Kris Kross, Wailing Souls, Billy Joel, Mona Lisa Overdrive, Luther Vandross, Smashign Orange, Rolling Stones, Spearhead, Shawn Colvin, Joan Osborne, Big Cheif, Candy Butchers, Midge Ure, Imogen Heap, Hamell on Trial, Juliana Hatfield, Figgs, Amos Lee, Pete Donnelly  more)
• Tupelo Joe Altruda - Upright Bass, Vox, Guitar (Afterhours, Buru jazz Ensemble, Cocktail Crew, Jump with Joey, Sounds of Zodiac, Tupelo Chain Sex, Screamin' Sirens, Thelonious Monster, Joe Strummer, Shy Party, Levi Decter, Solsonics, DJ Bonebreak, Skip Heller, Ramblin' James & Billyboppers, Big Sandy & his Fly-Rite Boys, Dread Filmstone, DJ Shadow, Cut Chemist, Ernest Ranglin, Seu Jorge, Almaz, Western Standard Time, Bebel Gilberto)
• Cooper - Bass 
• Z Grutzman
• Zachary Terrell - Piano, Keys
• Brown (Tony, Unsel) Brothers - Backing Vox
• Kevin Williams - Backing Vox (Bonedaddys, Untouchables, Corporation of One, Matt Wood, Ben Harper, Solsonics, Guru, Jump With Joey, English Beat, Tupelo Joe, After Hours, Zakiya Hooker, Anthony Burger, John Lee Hooker, Hubbard's Cupboard, Lights Out)
• DJ E-Z - Turntables 
• Tim Kerr - Guitar (Bad Mutha Goose & the Brothers Grimm, Big Boys, Jack O'Fire, King Sound Quartet, Lord High Fixers, Poison 13, Monkeywrench, Now Time Delegation, Total Sound Group Direct Action Committee, Up Around the Sun, Dicks, Quintron, Sugar Shack,  more)
• Joe "The Butcher" Nicolo - Coproducer, Remixing
• Scruff & Nick - Additional Production & Mixing
• Matthew Hyde - Engineering
• Dennis Dragon - Producer, Engineer
• Chris Bellman - Mastering
• Bernie Grundman - Mastering
• John Switzer - Mgmt
• Gabriel Leconte - Mgmt
• Gary Wishik - Legal
• Kim Buie - A&R Coordination
• Lori Graves - A&R Coordination
• Rachell Stoud - Sampling Equipment Consulting
• Deborah Melian - Art Direction & Design
• Michael Miller - Photography

Unknown-ness: never heard of this band. But i imagine it's west coast slacker hip hop, perhaps a mix of rap & hardcore, as i'm thinking of what skaters were into in the early 90's. 

Album Review: This is a very interesting record. The mix of free flowing jazz, jazz influence like using a sample of  Pennsylvania 6-5000, and sections that sound like the Alley Cat thrown into thoughtful hip hop lyrics and samples make me think that the musicians have a Jazz background, but wanted to fuse it to what they had around them: samples, smooth rapping and youthful street-wise topics, It makes me really wonder where the inspiration came from and what they were going for. Paying respect to jazz history by introducing a younger crowd to the fusion of beatnik night clubs and scratch /sampling. Some of the songs do have a juvenile and embarrassing take (Two Headed Love Child) and it makes me wonder how it was promoted what kind of "street cred" they earned from this. Who was their fans base? Definitely positive vibes on the album, but it is genre scattered too much for the casual listener like me. Imagine Arrested Development playing with Sublime trying to update Bent Fabric and Benny Goodman big band songs while playing Toe Jam & Earl on Sega Genesis. On the other hand, this is a true mixing of race, style and lifestyle...the absolute melting pot and predicted positive face of music in the future from 1991's view. So Tate was a real skating aficionado, skating on the amateur circuit in the 70's and hosting the Nickelodeon SK8-TV show, which only lasted 13 episodes. Well before this album in 1983, he started gaining popularity amongst the skate rock audience, having songs in a variety of skate videos, even getting a song in the film What About Bob?. Apparently he was a very friendly guy that would help out anyone he could who needed it. Tate sadly passed away in 2015 from liver cancer.

Stand Out Track: Justice (To The Bass) Nick & Scruff Version

Links:

Spotify full album
Wiki

Discogs

Allmusic

thrasher obit 10.15.2015

what about bob imdb

wiki zero

707 - s/t

Name: 707
Album: s/t
Year: 1980
Style: Power Pop, Light Rock
Similar Bands: Hawks, Producers, Shoes, Journey, Styx, Kansas, Nick Gilder, Foreigner, Ben Folds
"One-Word" Review: Piano Heavy Harmonic Pop
Based Out Of: LA, CA & Detroit, MI
Label: Casablanca Record & Filmworks Inc.

Cover & Record

Back & Record

707 (1980)

1. I Could Be Good For You 4:46 (single #52 BB Hot 100)
2. Let Me Live My Life 2:46
3. One Way Highway 4:17
4. Save Me 2:49
5. You Who Needs To Know 4:59 /
6. Slow Down 3:19
7. Feel This Way 3:49
8. Waste of Time 4:51
9. Whole Lot Better 6:37

Album Rating (1-10): 7.0

Members & Other Bands:

• Phil Bryant - Bass, Lead & Backing Vox (Sax Maniacs)
• Jim McClarty - Drums, Percussion 
• Duke McFadden - Keys, Lead & Backign Vox, Acoustic Guitar (Chi Coltrane)
• Kevin Russell - Guitars, Lead & Backing Vox (Brian & the Sensations, Rick Derringer, Clarence Clemons, Whitesnake, Phantom-Rocker&Slick, Kokomo, NYC, Taxxi, Frank Marino, Leslie West, Jimmy Dillon, Ted Nugent, Stu Blank, F Machine Sea Hags, Nils Lofgren, Rod & The Shotgun Blues, Ruminators)
• David Carr - Piano, Arrangements (Simeon, Janine Maunder, Rich Mountain Tower, London, Tim Steen, Judty McComb, Kyle Vincent, Sarah Sarah, Paul Colman, Acetylene, Antiskeptic, Naked Raven, Steph Atkins, Guy Sebastian, Cilla Jane, Solicitors, Joe Cannon)
• Norman Ratner - Producer
• Fred Ruppert - Executive Producer
• Bob Stringer - Engineer, Mixing
• Steve DeGennaro - Production Assistant
• Bess Gilbert - Production Assistant
• Russell Schmitt - Asst. Engineer
• Dan Everhart - Asst. Engineer
• Mike Saunders - Asst Mixing Engineer
• Ed Schreyer - Mastering
• Ross Warren - Album Design & Execution
• Gribbitt - Graphics

Unknown-ness: Never heard of 707. On one hand, they look like a power pop band, but i've also seen where this sort of album design means they are a jazz fusion band. The liner notes on the back do suggest there are three singers, so most likely not a jazz band, and their photographs on the band steer them clear from any sort of new wave act.

Album Review: The band had success with their lead off song from this album, and after two more albums, one recorded in 1981, but never released until 2004, they left their label and recorded their biggest record Megaforce, who's title track was the theme for the film of the same name in 1982. For that album, their new label wanted one single front man, instead of a shared mix of various leading vocalist. McFadden passed away in 2005, and Russell tried to continue in the spirit of 707 with new material which fell apart to the degree he is now just leaving it in the past. The name 707 was considered a catchy name, and was also Russell's birthdate. This record is mostly light power pop, lots of harmonies and piano support that reminds me of Ben Folds at times. 

Stand Out Track: Let Me Live My Life 

Links:

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Wiki

Discogs

Allmusic

metal storm

facebook

wikivisually

spirit of metal

oldies .com

website

heavy harmonies

a guitar forum

School of Fish - s/t

Name: School of Fish
Album: s/t
Year: 1991
Style: Jangle Pop, College Rock
Similar Bands: REM, Redd Kross, Dillon Fence, James, Toad the Wet Sprocket, Collective Soul
"One-Word" Review: Slacker Pop
Based Out Of: LA, CA 
Label: Capitol

Cover, Lyrics, Tape

Lyrics, Notes, Tape

School of Fish (1991)

1. Intro 1:42
2. 3 Strange Days 5:12 (single)
3. Talk Like Strangers 3:37
4. Deep End 4:53
5. King of the Dollar 2:47 (promo single b-side)
6. Speechless 4:56 /
7. Wrong 4:28 (promo single)
8. Rose Colored Glasses 3:43
9. Under the Microscope 4:34
10. Fell 2:50
11. Euphoria 5:45

Album Rating (1-10): 7.0

Members & Other Bands:

• John Porter - Producer
• Dave "Death" Pine - Engineer
• Ken Paulakovich - 2nd Engineer
• Lee Manning 2nd Engineer
• Alison Donald - A&R Direction
• Valerie Pack - A&R Coordination
• Jon Blaufarb - Legal Representation, Spiritual Guidance
• Sandy Tanaka - Mgmt
• Josh Clayton-Felt - Lead Vox, Guitars, Drum Box (Francis X and the Bushmen, Twig, Jewel)
• Michael Ward - Lead Guitars, Vox, Drum Box (John Hiatt, Wallflowers, Ben Harper, Innocent Criminals, Francis X and the Bushmen, Gogol Bordello, Guilty Dogs, Stripsearch, Harry Connick Jr, Lenny Laks, Mad Buffalo, Joel Simpson Quartet, Pinetop Perkins, Duck See Goose, Bo Dollis & Wild Magnolias, Jesse Johnson, Jude, Shawn Mullins, Jessica Riddle, Fastball, David Maxwell, Stripsearch, Gavin DeGraw, Eric Bibb, Avril Lavigne, Tracy Bonham, Shelby Lynne, Nerina Pallot, Five for Fighting, Anna Tsuchiya, Shannon Noll, Mikal Blue, Tom Freund, Kris Allen, Vanessa Da Mata, Glen Campbell, Sara Bareilles,  Cuntz, Sabrina Carpenter)
• Dominic Nardini - Bass
• Michael Petrak - Drums (Samiam)
• Tommy Steele - Art Direction
• Heather Van Haaften - Design
• Dennis Kelley - Photographer

Unknown-ness: I got this cassette back in High School at some point, but i don't remember why or what they sound like. Probably heard a song of theirs on Post Modern PST or 103.9 WDRE, and saw their cassette in a cheap bin, alas, i don't know what's on it. From the muddled guitar smashing image, wacky "Shadowy Men" sorta font, i'm going to guess this is meandering jangle pop.

Album Review: So as soon as I saw the name of the second track, and it started playing I at least remember the song 3 Strange Days very well. It did, in fact, make its way onto a mix tape when i was in high school. The rest of the album falls in line with what was popular for early 90's college radio pop. Half classic rock, half power pop, with a little psychedelic, drawn out musical support, and a lot of loopy, meandering melodies that come off as more slacker rock than pure, clean pop. Singer Clayton-Felt was diagnosed with Cancer and passed away in 2000. King of the Dollar breaks down into the lyric and guitar riff of "I Can't Get No Satisfaction."

Stand Out Track: 3 Strange Days

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Section (the) - Fork It Over

Name: The Section
Album: Fork it Over
Year: 1977
Style: Jazzy Rock, Fusion, Funk, Prog, Light Rock
Similar Bands: Brand X
"One-Word" Review: Pitch Perfect Smooth Jazzy Prog.
Based Out Of: Los Angeles, CA
Label: EMI, Capitol

Cover, Sleeve, Record

Back, Sleeve Notes, Record

Fork It Over (1977)

1. Suckers On Parade 3:47
2. LA Changes 5:25
3. Street Pizza 4:07
4. Hamsters of Doom 4:30
5. Bad Shoes 2:49 /
6. Moon Over Fontana 5:30
7. Rainbows 4:34
8. White Water 2:55
9. Magnetic Lady 5:41

Album Rating (1-10): 6.0

Members & Other Bands:

• Russ Kunkel - Drums, Vox, Percussion (James Taylor, Carol King, Jackson Brown, Carly Simon, David Crosby, Graham Nash, Lyle Lovett, Meatjack, Spinal Tap, Things to Come more)
• Leland Sklar - Bass (Phil Collins, James Taylor, Jackson Browne, David Crosby, Graham Nash, Wolfgang, Vince Gill, Barefoot Servants, Diana Ross, Hall & Oats, Clint Black, Reba McEntire, George Strait, Group Therapy, Suzy Bogguss more)
• Craig Doerge - Keys, Moog (James Taylor, David Crosby, Graham Nash, Jackson Browne, Sion & Garfunkel, Henske, Keepin' 'Em Off the Streets, Rosebud, more)
• Danny Kortchmar - Guitars, Field Drums (Don Henley, James Taylor, Carol King, The City, David Crosby, Graham Nash, Harry Nilsson, Linda Ronstadt, Jackson Browne, Attitudes, Jo Mama, King Bees, Slo Leak, Flying Machines, Yesca, more)
• Steve Forman - Percussion (Friendship, Eclectic Mouse, Topsy Turbys, Ray Manzarek, REO Speedwagon, Kim Carnes, Loggins & Messina, Sergio Mendes, Al Jarreau, more)
• Jim Horn - Sax, Flute, Piccolo (Duane Eddy, George's Band, His Dynamite Horn Section, Johnny Rivers, LA Boogie Band, Kip Tyler & the Flips, Lalo Schifrin, The Rebels, Shelter People more)
• Chuck Findley - Trumpet (Alf Clausen Jazz Orch, Buddy Rich Big Band, Don menza, Findley Bros, High Voltage, Johnny Rivers, LA Boogie Band, Klaus Weiss, L'il Jack Horn Sect. James Last, Peter Herbolzheimer, Ernie Watts more)
• Judy Henske - Lyrics
• James Taylor - Vox (Yo Yo Ma, Flying Machine, Mitchell/Taylor Boy Girl Choir, Simon-Taylor Family other acts)
• Joe Lala - Congas Timbales, Percussion (Blues Image, Manassas, Pacific Gas & Electric, Steve Rucker, Byrds, Stills-Young Band more)
• David Sanborn - Sax, Lyricon (Bob Mintzer, Gil Evans, Chaos Choir, Domenic Troiano, NY All Stars, Paul Butterfield Blues Band, Players Association, SNL band, World's Most Dangerous Band, More)
• David Crosby - Vox (CPR, CNSY, Les Baxter's balladeers, Beefeaters Byrds, Jet Set, Red Hots other acts)
• Roy Kohara - Art Direction
• Dave Willardson - Illustration
• Jim Shea - Photos
• Matt Hyde- Prcording , Mixing Engineer
• Rick Moody - Asst. Engineer
• Skip Saylor - Asst. Engineer
• Michael Boshears - Asst. Engineer
• Wally Traugott - Mastering
• Ian Underwood - Oberheim Knowledge

Unknown-ness: never heard of this band, but the front and back artwork support their band name (section of the record) and album name, since the section of the record cut is being forked over. Based on the mellow longhair band picture on the back, i imagine this will be some southern bluesy rock or powerpop, perhaps a bit snarky with their all-in concept album from name to imagery. 

Album Review: So this is a mostly acid jazz fusion band with prog rock. Mostly instrumentals with some high profile vocalists in James Taylor and David Crosby on one song each (the last track on each side of the album). They were basically the house band for anyone recording with Asylum Records, nicknamed the Mellow Mafia- based solely on their musical style: not their energetic stage presence and chaotic lifestyles. Together and or independently, these four helped shaped the all star careers of Carly Simon, Carole King, David Crosby, Jackson Browne, James Taylor, Don Henley, Linda Ronstadt and Phil Collins. They propelled the main acts live shows into superstar status, and helped write many of their biggest hits. They were a respected force as a group, and it would not have been possible for Jackson Browne to record his all-new, all-live album Running on Empty without them on tour for the three weeks it took to compile, during the same year this album came out.

Stand Out Track: Street Pizza

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