Count Basie & Ella Fitzgerald Ella and Basie! Verve 1963

Count Basie & Ella Fitzgerald Ella and Basie! Verve 1963 CAT# ST 90028

Obviously, the title alone should tell most people this is worthwhile. Outside of a couple of tracks prior to this release, this was the first time Ella Fitzgerald recorded with Count Basie. They would continue working together from time to time afterwards. Considering this was released in 1963, it's a bit surprising that the two hadn't done more work together, you would have thought they'd met up at the peak of their careers, not it's twilight.  Which is kind of illustrated in the cover, it looks like two old folks having a chat at their retirement home.

That said, still and enjoyable album. Basie and Fitzgerald were both capable of doing their best work at this time, it was only their scene that was fading, not their talents. Like other Norman Granz supervised albums of the era, Granz tapped a young Quincy Jones to arrange. His arrangements are pretty tight and don't allow Basie to explore much. The focus of the album was clearly to showcase Ella. It's an easy album to listen to with a number of highlights.

On the Sunny Side of the Street

Mates of State Our Constant Concern Polyvinyl 2002

Mates of State Our Constant Concern Polyvinyl 2002 CAT# PRC-046

So much cuteness, just so much love, and melody, and cuteness...and yelling. Mates of State liked to yell a lot.

I'm a sucker it, guy-girl back and forth lyrical conversations, unpredictable bursts of keyboards, and the screamed chorus'. In fact, I was just recently discussing the attributes of an Illinois band called Wolfie with a friend. Wolfie was this out of tune, chaotic, twee-pop band that employed boy-girl vocals. As much as we both liked Wolfie for the amateur charm, we agreed, if there's a group that perfected the short lived late-90's twee-pop sound, it was Mates of State.

This album proves the theory, even though I consider it on the bottom rung of the groups total output, it's still charming and worth a few spins. At the time, Mates of State was touring heavily with the likes of locals, the Anniversary. The album was constructed on the road to follow up their debut, My Solo Project. The nervous energy of a debut record is gone and the you can tell the two were trying to concentrate on being less abrasive with their chaotic bursts. That said, there's still plenty of highlights. And, their exploration into straight pop is pleasant. They'd perfect their blend of chaotic twee-pop and guitar-less radio pop on later albums, but this is a good in between.

Uber Legitimate

The Life and Times Lost Bees Slimstyle 2014

The Life and Times Lost Bees Slimstyle 2014 CAT# thin0080

I don't do year end of lists. First, because I'm sure there's something I'd miss and second, because I can't afford enough new records to make an accurate judgement to begin with. Regardless, this is one of my favorites out of the few things I did pick up from this year. It's Shiner-esque power, ultra-mathy beats, and focused sound is spot-on throughout this LP. When you think it gets a bit too Radiohead-y and pretentious, the band just crashes down on drums and guitar, when you think it's going to get to 90's for you, they drop in enough electronics to keep it interesting.

Unfortunately, I think this album is going relatively unnoticed. Sure, the band appears to have the zine-famous thing down. The reviews are decent and there's always a mention of Allen Epley's Shiner work. But, I don't think it's going to be given the chance to set the world ablaze.

Truthfully, this band is now too old to be cool. Seriously, Shiner was like 20 years ago. It's like the Police in 1978 trying to fool everyone into thinking they were punk. The kids looked at them and said they were too good at their instruments to fit in. That's just as true with The Life and Times, they're too good to fit in. They're too proficient, they're too talented, and they got way too many cool tricks to be fitting in with the young, indie-rock crowd. The kids can't keep up with this, it's got dad skills (you know, the way your dad can beat you in 'HORSE' on a basketball court).

And that's probably just fine. Leave this for the Shiner fans and anybody with an open-mind. They're the ones that deserve it.

Ice Cream Eyes

Donnie Quinn Reno Junction Big K 1979

Donnie Quinn Reno Junction Big K 1979 CAT# 39863

Generally, Big K Records was putting out regional country albums, but this doesn't quite fit the bill. It's basically an Elvis Presley impersonation album, there's even a tribute tune. That probably sounds worse than it actually is, but that's the best description for it.

Donnie Quinn was apparently a teenager obsessed with the King. Of course, with that comes a healthy dose of country influences, from rockabilly to the straight early Nashville sound, but it's all filtered through Elvis Presley. The album also features the work of Terry Swope on guitar, who apparently like Quinn, was also obsessed with Elvis as he pens some of the tunes.

Again, though, it's not a terrible thing, a bit strange, but not terrible. The ballads don't need to be here, they showcase Quinn with his snarled lip vocals, just trying to channel some Elvis magic. But, it's no better than what Andy Kaufman was doing as a joke. When the band gets going on their "comeback" style Elvis-tunes, it's pretty enjoyable. There's some horns here and there, Donnie channels the best of sweaty, soul-driven, black, leather-suit, Elvis. It's no From Elvis in Memphis, but it's highlights aren't bad, just no where near as fulfilling as the real thing.

Alan White I'm Stranger Here Myself Laughing Willow 1987

Alan White I'm Stranger Here Myself Laughing Willow 1987 CAT# LW 1001

Full disclosure; I'm probably never going to grab this album again. This is going to be my first and only impression of this release.

I can't find much info on Alan White, based on the LP it appears his home base was Kansas City, KS. Other than that, you can find listings on-line from sellers, most people that have tried to sell this LP try to pass it off as jazz. Which is weird, it came out in 1987. People selling records should know that there are only like 5 80's Jazz albums that people are actively searching for. That said, it does have jazz influences, on the smooth, yacht-rock, side of jazz, but the influence is there.

So yeah, yacht rock or 80's blue-eyed soul is where this lands. Lots of programmed beats and synth, but still a lot of organic stuff, horns play a prominent role and sometimes the guitar takes center stage. Alan White sings with soul, he lands on Michael McDonald spectrum, in that, yeah, he's got some soul, but I can still tell he's white.

Overall, I'm not a fan of this type of thing, but despite not having an expert opinion, I believe this is a well done LP. For a privately issued LP, it's insanely well-produced. The LP was produced by Alan White himself so it's surprising I can't find a list of other work he was involved in. This should all sound terribly corny, cheap and plastic. But, kid you not, if someone played this for me and said, "This was huge in the 80's." I'd believe them. Alan White's songs are par for course, the lyrics aren't hokey, the players are capable, the songs are well put together and thought out, and again, the production is well done. It's a little simple, but hey, that was the scene. If slick, privately produced, jazz-influenced pop-albums from the 80's ever become a collector thing, I'd say this might record might get noticed.

Kansas Monolith Kirshner 1979

Kansas Monolith Kirshner 1979 CAT #EZ 36008

The reviews on this are pretty dismissal. For the most part, they are also accurate. The album represents Kansas' transition from goofy American prog rock band to the American pomp rock band they played out in the 80's.

The band had become great players by this point, they just ran out of ideas. This evident on "How My Soul Cries Out For You," but it's so goofy, I don't think anyone is revisiting the track after a single listen. Moments border on catching onto songs like "Point of Know Return", but they fall short because they aim for radio play rather than the band's original material.

It's also got some sort of theme to it. Super-powered, futuristic Native Americans that are trying to keep the world afloat. I don't know, makes for cool album artwork, which is the best thing you can say about this album.

Also, if you can make it the second side, "Away From You", is pleasant for pomp-rock, but, yeah, not sure if it's worth it.

How My Soul Cries Out For You

Pedaljets Self Titled The Communion Label 1989

Pedaljets Self Titled The Communion Label 1989 COMM13

There's a hype sticker on the back of this copy that states the following; "2nd recording from K.C.'s greatest quartet. D'ya like Zen Arcade? Raymond Carver stories? Lots of guitars? Then, come on down to Stipple County!" High praise indeed, but you'd expect it from the band's label.

To address everything there, though... Greatest quartet? Well, again, label hype. The Zen Arcade comparison is warranted. The Pedaljets sound like the rural in between to Husker Du and Replacements. Like Zen Arcade, this album is trying to tell a story. Thus, the Raymond Carver hype. The Pedaljets aren't Carver-good at telling stories, they aren't even as good as Husker Du, but A for effort. They fall shy of Westerberg on a lyrical front. The group is more about being a rock band than poets, anyway. The "lots of guitars" is also warranted. The band picked up an additional guitarist, which let them spread their sound out a bit more. This is much more ambitious than the previous album, Today Today. Initially, it sounds weaker than Today Today, but repeated listens prove this LP is the band's best work.

So, despite the shortfalls of the hype sticker, what the Pedaljets do well is make a great sounding album. This isn't awash in late-80's style. In fact, you'd think with the multiple guitars you're hearing something from the 90's. And, yes, the band is very similar to the Replacements and Husker Du, but this isn't a poor man's version. Musically, they're on the same level. Repeated listens are all you need. Just keep listening to this, it's better every time.

Also of note, the original artwork was done by Archer Prewitt who was a Coctail at the time, but went onto to form the Sea & Cake with Sam Prekop. This copy is also pressed on virgin vinyl, which may not have been standard for all copies, but the sound benefits greatly because of it. The Pedaljets would reissue a CD of the album with new artwork and mastering...it wasn't needed, it's great as is.