There is nothing ordinary about Seattle (by way of Port Angeles, WA) based classic rock quartet The Lonely H. And there is nothing ordinary about their new release, Concrete Class. Following up their 2006 debut, Kick Upstairs, and 2007’s Hair, The Lonely H’s Concrete Class reels with the rawness of Bob Seger’s blue collar howl and rolls with the purity of a Tequila Sunrise.
Jenny Lewis / Acid Tongue
A modern classic. It’s a simple, traditionally influenced ballad, delivered with bittersweet melancholy. A tale of starry-eyed love and growth, it sends shivers down my spine every time. When the last chorus hits, accented by a cathedral of harmonizing voices, the line, ‘It just made me tired’, makes me feel both tired and rejuvenated simultaneously. Oh, sweet contradiction. [Mark]
The Eagles / Take It To The Limit
The Eagles get a bad wrap. But I bet you didn’t know that in 2008, they were the number two grossing touring act in the world, just behind Madonna and ahead of Petty and Springsteen. And their greatest hits, Volume 1, which doesn’t even include Hotel California, is the number two top selling album ever (according to some semi-credible internet source.) And it’s for a damn good reason. Their songs, in addition to the perfect musicianship (yeah, I said it), are easy for the everyday man to identify with. With songs of excess (Hotel California), love (Best of My Love), breakups (Already Gone), rambling (Take It Easy), and as in one of my faves, Take It To The Limit, regret and escape. The vocals soar like a real live eagle as Randy Meisner demands the most out of life. It’s easy to conclude that the the Eagles had their hand on the pulse of a generation, and many to come. Respect. [Mark]
The Parlor Mob / Hard Times
I first heard of these guys when we tried to set up shows with them, but by that time, they were off to bigger and better things. They were about to release their debut album And You Were A Crow within the next couple months, which happens to be one of the best records of 2008. Hearing the album is one thing, but seeing them live makes you rethink everything you thought about your own music. [Ben]
Warren Zevon / I’ll Sleep When I’m Dead
I’d read about Warren Zevon a little before hearing him and it basically made him out to be a crazy drunk. But when I listened to his Greatest Hits that Johnny came across, I realized there’s a lot more to the name than stories of guns and alcohol. We must have played this song about hard living a thousand times during those grueling months on the road. Something about it gives you the few extras hours you need in order to get through the night. [Ben]
Nazareth / Hair of the Dog
This song is way too bad-ass for radio. I used to call a station almost every day and request this ripper. They played it every time until the DJ was able to recognize my voice, and then he would hang up as soon as I said ‘Hair of …’ But I didn’t stop there. I bought the record and spun it in my room and rocked the fuck out 24/7! [Eric]
Electric Light Orchestra / Evil Woman
I’m choosing this number because I lost my virginity to this song. I know everybody ties memories to this personal event, but this one is sort of ironic: the girl broke up with me later in a very sinister way, making her the ‘evil woman’. I guess I should have seen it coming! [Eric]
The Felice Brothers / Frankie’s Gun
We played Albany, New York, one winter and, my God, was it cold. Our hands went numb by load-in and smoking cigarettes outside was a losing battle. The bar’s jukebox played this modern outlaw folk band and damn if I wasn’t hooked. They sound like Dylan and the Band post a-week long binge, and they sing of stashing bodies, heroine addiction, and accidental shootings. This track off their self-titled album is a peak. Country & Folk have gone a bit soft lately, but this fun honky groove about drug-running brings back the outlaw spirit of old country. We snuck into their show in Austin, and they burned down the barn and were hammered drunk to boot. [Johnny]
Harold Melvin & The Blue Notes / The Love I Lost (Pt 1)
I’m a sucker for 70s soul, and this track has it all. The best hangover cure I’ve found are 70s strings. They’re nice and wet and wash you clean. The other fellas might not agree with me on that one, but I swear it works. Better than a Bloody Mary. Harold’s rough voice soars. This track gets parties started, and drags me out of gutters. It also conjures up Willy Wonka, but I can’t explain that one. Maybe it’s the glass elevator. [Johnny]
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