na: joan jett!!
“I don’t give a damn ’bout my bad reputation!”
Joan Jett & the Blackhearts, Bad Reputation; Joan Jett & the Blackhearts, I Love Rock N Roll: Two big surprises today: Joan Jett’s Bad Reputation and I Love Rock N Roll. I know some people view Jett as ’80s hard rock, but to me she’s about as punk as they come: all attitude and sneer and fistfight-riffs. I don’t see how anyone can come out the other side of the bruising “Bad Reputation” with any other opinion. Both of these records are badass, and if you’ve got even the tiniest soft spot for power-punk, you’re going to love these. Bad Reputation gets the strongest endorsement — even the ballads are basically straight power-pop (See: “You Don’t Know What You’ve Got”") — but I Love Rock N’ Roll has its charms, too. Somewhere, Lindsey Weir is smiling big.
And if that’s not enough, we’ve also got:
Apparat, Things to Be Frickled: Remix record from eMusic faves Apparat. eMusic’s Andy Battaglia interviewed Apparat as part of our ’07 year-end rollout. This album finds fellow electronic dabblers like Thomas Fehlmann and Telefon Tel Aviv making all of Apparat’s songs go terrifically pear-shaped.
Various Artists, Fallin’ Off the Reel, Vol. 1: The Fallin’ Off the Reel series collects and compiles the hard-funk 45s released by the Truth & Soul label. Volume 1 and Voume 2 are both highly recommended: serious funk for fans of the great, grimy Soul Fire label (before they got cleaned up a bit to become the more-precise but just-as-great Daptone). Both comps are big wins for R&B fans, and are serious fodder for budding DJs.
Admiral Tibett, Weeping & Mourning: A strange bit of digital reggae, somewhere right between dank roots and bright dancehall. Some of the production is a bit chintzy, but Tibett’s got a light, sweet voice that helps to get the songs over.
Much better is Dennis Brown, 20 Magnificent Hits. Dennis Brown has recorded so many spectacular songs that every new collection is essential. This one’s a good one, too, especially for the spectacular “The World is Hot Like a Melting Pot,” where Brown holds notes out for measures at a time.
See also Cornell Campbell, Silver Jubilee: Over two-dozen fantastic songs from Campbell including, of course, “The Gorgon.” This is more great roots music, heavy on the Rasta message and that bounding one-drop rhythm. These last few weeks have been an embarrassment of riches for reggae fans, and this release just adds to the spoils.
Even heavier on the Rasta vibe is The Mighty Diamons, Inna De Yard: This is close to the drum-heavy Nyabinghi worship music Ras Michael built his career on. This is less tuneful and a little more chanty, for lack of a better term. It is heavy, though: you can feel the incredible weight of these songs in even the brief samples. Recommended for the serious reggae fan.
We also got a pretty hefty stash of African music from the Jober label. I’ve spot-listened to a lot of this and it seems very heavy on the synths, with a few remarkable exceptions (a like this and this). I’d suggest sampling these before diving in.
Coincidentally, I downloaded ‘What Would Joan Jett Do?’ by The Launderettes only the other week – good stuff!
http://www.emusic.com/album/Various-Artists-Coolest-Songs-In-The-World-Vol-5-MP3-Download/11186281.html
i love the choice of image.
r.i.p. best show ever.
Seriously. The only show on TV where I actually felt like I’d met all of those people in real life.
Agreed.
I know Dennis Brown is supposed to have “The Voice” (and his voice is great), but Cornell Campbell is my favorite voice in reggae (maybe tied with Horace Andy).
is that beverly hills 90210? Gee they really look young! And not that glamouras
Chris, Unsure of the Seriousness of your comment so jic
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Freaks_and_Geeks
Also I’m super glad for the Joan Jett, I’ve wanted a copy of their cover of Crimson & Clover For umpteengillion moon cycles.
The Free track today Ben Sollee is really good I’ve actually had to keep restarting it so I can listen again
http://www.emusic.com/album/Ben-Sollee-If-You-re-Gonna-Lead-My-Country-MP3-Download/11211403.html
@Daniel: Cornell to me has always seemed super underrated, though I’ll totally co-sign Horace Andy. That guy has to be one of the greatest vocalists of all-time. Also, if you get the chance to see Alton Ellis go: most old-school reggae guys kinda bomb out live, but Alton still totally brings it.
Joe; Off-topic a bit, but Horace Andy’s Spying Glass — from the Dance Hall Style disc (on the Wackies label) — is one of the best pop songs I’ve ever heard. That undulating guitar and synth line, plus Andy’s voice, sound ominous. The disc is also on eMusic.
http://www.emusic.com/album/Horace-Andy-Dance-Hall-Style-MP3-Download/10872577.html
Oh, man, Dance Hall Style is one of my favorite records of all time. So much that I have a Horace Andy Dance Hall Style T-Shirt.
MiDoJo – tongue in cheek – I had no clue about this show, living in Germany at the time…….
The Fallin’ Off the Reel compilation is great stuff. Thanks for the rec.
I was never a huge Joan Jett fan, but Bad Reputation is a real classic. And yeah, Lindsay Weir is definitely smiling.
Chris, Check it out (you can probably Netflix it or Local Blockbuster) It’s really a great show and was a (the?) starting point for Seth Rogen (Superbad/Knocked Up) (I know that’s spelled wrong) and the Girl/Woman who plays Velma in the Live action Scooby Doo Movies. But Even if those two statements turn you off the show is absotivly awesome.
MiDoJo, Linda Cardellini is the actress you’re thinking of. Other fine cast members: Jason Segel (appeared in Knocked Up and starred in Forgetting Sarah Marshall–Judd Apatow’s people seem to keep coming back to work with him), James Franco, Joe Flaherty…great cast all around.