Random Thoughts from a Ryan Adams Marathon: Day 2

* A Stranger is Born is basically just Those Weren't the Days but in worse quality

* Forever Valentine features some seriously good stuff. Massive thumbs up for this.

* Stranger's Almanac has some serious moments of awesome. When people ask me of the goodness Whiskeytown have to offer, I will mash this album in their face.

* The Complete Fucker Demos is misleading. This sounds like a well produced album, not dislike something Ryan Adams would have released around 2007. Coolness.

* B-Sides and Rarities contains some good songs for sure. I Hope it Rains at My Funeral contains some seriously George Harrison-esque slide guitar.

* Pneumonia is just a straight up phenomenal album. Just a pure joy to listen to and an awesome way to end the Whiskeytown section.

* Destroyer is not a cover of the same-named album by Kiss. That's a real shame.

* Exile on Franklin St has some serious hilarity to it. Weird versions of songs that would become great plus just straight up weird songs. Interesting.

271 songs down.

Random Thoughts from a Ryan Adams Marathon: Day 1

* Blank Label is lame.

* Kotten is OK but I seem to forget anything about the music as soon as it finishes.

* Patty Duke Syndrome is seriously good. Somewhat similar to the rocking stuff Ryan Adams makes now. Must remember to listen to this more often.

* Exile on Daisy Street... lots of just... dirge? I don't know. You know when you go to a bar and the band playing are really pretentious and think they are playing like super progressive indy rock including 10 minute jams on the same boring chords? That is what these recordings are. 19 year-old Ryan Adams needed a punch in the face and someone to boo him off stage.

* The Skylarks is pretty much the same just shorter songs and better audio quality.

* The Space Madness Sessions is again more of the same. Ryan Adams obviously liked grunge a lot in the early 90s. However, the few tracks with a slight country influence are darn fun and would have been great if he revisted them with Whiskeytown (probably did - I haven't looked ahead to check).

* 1994 Solo Recordings is probably one of the most country things he's ever done, possibly due to the completely stripped back nature. Good stuff. Better recordings would be fun.

* it segued nicely into Rural Free Delivery, the first proper Whiskeytown recordings. Good straight up alt. country goodness

* Faithless Street is an album I never search out to listen to, however it must be noted it is awesome. Despite Ryan Adams' fake southern accent.

* The Freightwhaler Sessions are Whiskeytown with a bit less countryness and no fake Southern accent. Not bad things.

* Drunken Confessions is interesting. Listening to this you can kinda just picture some rednecks sitting around with instruments in their lounge making music. Not that DRA is a redneck at all, but by Prime that fake Southern accent makes him sound like one. Kinda think that is the point of it. Steal a Car is a mighty nice song.

* Those Weren't the Days is a top notch collection of quieter tunes. Like Ashes & Fire 20 years before it would exist. Further Down the Road is pure class and 10 Second Til the End of the World is just fantastic. Actually, this is really good. I'm guessing most of it can be found on Stranger's Almanac, which I will probably get to tomorrow.

115 songs down.

End of an Era

10 years ago, I told myself and the universe that I could not leave this Earth without watching every episode of the original series of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles.

And that day has finally come.

When I was 8 years old, the show first aired on NZ television. It instantly became a hit with myself and my friends - including four of us taking the names and playing 'ninja turtles' at lunch times. I taped as many episodes off the television that I could and watched them over and over again. It really was THE show that defined my childhood more than any other; more than WWF Superstars of Wrestling, more than The A-Team, and more than Parker Lewis Can't Lose (though that more likely defines 12-year old LOGMAN). I'm pretty sure it stopped airing on NZ television around 1992 or 1993, so there were many episodes I had never seen. Getting the chance to watch them all was a genuine goal of mine. As sad as that seems to sound to many, I don't care. This was my show.

So how did it feel to watch every episode some 25 years later?
To be honest, a mixed bag.

The episodes I loved as a kid were still awesome. Seasons 5, 6 & 7 certainly had their high points as well. But things like someone other than 'Uncle Phil' James Avery doing the voice of The Shredder often halted my enjoyment of an episode. The European Vacation side-season was all-round awful. So much awful. But the good out-weighed the bad more often than not.

Except for season 9. The introduction of Carter, the human boy/young man that mutated with metal and saved the TMNT on average of 1.8 times per episode just drove me nuts. Getting rid of the mighty Shredder is one thing, but then making the TMNT mutate into weird super mutants and still need a human to save them twice an episode just defeats the purpose of the entire show.

David Wise, I love you. But that was seriously the stupidest nonsense you have ever written. Even Kremzeek was better.

The other sad part to the last 3 seasons was the supreme lack of pizza. Not once did they partake in pizza with me. That made me sad.

Overall, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles will still remain my favourite cartoon series. But I have to admit now that The A-Team has surpassed it in terms of being my favourite TV show. However, I am glad to have finally watched every episode and will no doubt do it again, so long as the universe doesn't take me up on my offer from 10 years ago.

Next up on the viewing list is the mighty Gundam serials; I have just started on the original Japanese classic, Mobile Suit Gundam and plan to watch every episode of every different series (but have no set timeline for this). The year of Transformers is also coming, but I'll save that for another post...

LOVE GUN (1977)

All the women gathered to hear the ponderings of the great philosophers...

Spoiler Alert:
This album is good.

I don't even know where to start. Maybe the start of the album? Would that make the most sense?
'I Stole Your Love' is probably the 2nd best opening track Kiss have ever done - as much attitude as B.A. Baracus, and a duelling guitar solo as well! More please... 'Christine Sixteen' is Gene being the dirty old man he is and singing about picking up a school girl or something - doesn't matter, because that song is really cool. 'Got Love For Sale' is probably the biggest unappreciated gem in the entire Kiss catalog. It has so much groove and coolness, yet people seem to forget it exists. Listen to it once and you'll be hooked like me. Or I'll hook your face with a pointy guitar!

'Shock Me' is the first Kiss song with Ace singing vocals. Oh and he played bass and guitars on it, so it is more of an 'Ace & Peter' track, but whatever. That happens a lot from here on. Strange that Gene was the one that convinced Ace to sing on the song, but Gene never plays bass on any of Ace's songs. Not sure whose decision that was... oh yeah, the song rules. Unless Tommy Thayer is playing it. Then I boo him off the stage (or at least try to).

'Tomorrow and Tonight' is one of the weaker songs on here; the whole thing just reeks of 'trying to make an anthem' but not really succeeding. Don't worry, this isn't the first time and it sure won't be the last. Or worst.

This brings us to the title track... one of the best Kiss songs ever. Period. If you disagree, you are welcome. But as far as music, lyrics, vocals and everything else goes this song is pure Kiss-perfection. Ace's solos just bring so much attitude to this song at the end as well... Awesomeness personified.

Peter Criss makes his appearance with 'Hooligan' and I dig it. Some people hate Peter, but those people can suck my balls. He wrote some cool songs and in the Kiss setting they were able to make them rock a bit more than if he had been a solo artist (see my future reviews of his solo albums for more). 'Almost Human' just sounds like 'God of Thunder Part 2' - I'm not a huge fan of the original, so a re-visiting doesn't do much more for me. 'Plaster Caster' is another super great classic Kiss song that just captures everything about this band I love. In fact, it is the 2nd Kiss song I ever learnt to play and perform live. They should play that song live more often.

The last song on the album is the odd covering of 'Then She Kissed Me'. It is OK. While not at all terrible, it is a weird way to end one of the greatest rock albums of the 70's. Not only that, this was the last Kiss studio album to truly feature the original lineup. Things would change forever after this...

But what a way to end things.

Highlights:
I Stole Your Love, Christine Sixteen, Got Love For Sale, Shock Me, Love Gun, Hooligan, Plaster Caster

Lowlights:
Not getting the same recognition as Destroyer.

Verdict = 5 Smoking Les Pauls

ROCK AND ROLL OVER (1976)

The Kiss buzzsaw - for all your rock'n roll carpentry requirements...

This always feels like the 'forgotten make-up album' to me, purely because the majority of the tracks aren't live staples or appear on any of the million of Kiss compilations out there (a few of which I will review later). It might be because the album was sandwiched inbetween 2 of Kiss' defining albums so fans forget about how cool some of these tracks are. Or maybe the modern lineup of Kiss have no idea how to even play these songs at all - come see me, Paul Stanley, and I'll teach you how to play 'em. Just don't bring that loser Tommy Thayer to my house. And leave Gene Simmons behind, while you're at it. And don't bad-mouth Peter and Ace while you're here. Oh just forget it!

'I Want You' is classic Kissory, but with a cool duelling guitar solo. Then 'Take Me' is just the most non-subtle classic Kiss rock'n roll you could ask for. 'Calling Dr. Love' is actually one song from here that is still played live today - so I don't need to teach them how to play this one. Which is good, because it is 4 chords and I wouldn't want them to get confused.

Then the album hits that dreaded middle patch again... look, these songs aren't 'bad' as such, just not as good as the rest; when you are forced to compare a track like 'Ladies Room' to a track like 'Calling Dr. Love', it just sounds like filler. 'Baby Driver' is easily the worst Peter Criss song so far (don't worry, it won't keep that title) and 'Love 'Em and Leave 'Em' just kinda... I don't know... I bet it would sound cooler live.

Speaking of which, this album was actually recorded in a theatre to try and capture the real Kiss energy better - all their studio albums generally sounded pretty limp, so it was hoping setting them up like a live show would make everything sound awesome. I'm not overly sure how well it worked, but hey, that be some info for you.

OK back to the tracks... I've never heard a man brag about being fast in bed, but Paul Stanley does it and still rocks in 'Mr. Speed'; 'See You in Your Dreams' is pretty cool, and 'Hard Luck Woman' is kinda cool in that Rod Stewart kind of way (no, not how I look like Rod Stewart). Then the album ends with a hard rock punch to your genitals in 'Makin' Love' and we're done the same way we started - classic Kissory.

So yeah, much like Destroyer, an average middle section is sandwiched between some darn awesome songs. Much like how this album is pretty good but sandwiched between 2 of Kiss' best albums, thus probably making it seem less cool. Or more, depending on who you ask. I dunno... the album's artwork sure is cool though. Ace should have pointed his lazer blasting eyes to his left to stop Gene licking his chin. That's my thoughts, anyway.

Highlights:
Take Me, Calling Dr. Love, Makin' Love

Lowlights:
Nothing offensive here

Verdict = 4 Smoking Les Pauls

DESTROYER (1976)

"We're off to see the wizard... "

This album...

When I first became a fan of Kiss, THIS was the album everyone raved about. They still do. The cover art. The album title. The song titles. It all screams 'Ultimate Kiss Album'. It opens with 'Detroit Rock City', for crying out loud. So, I got the album and cranked it up loud... and...

... was thoroughly disappointed. It isn't that it is bad. It just isn't the non-stop amazingness that Kiss fans talk it up as.

The two opening tracks are amazing and set the album up well. And I do mean amazing. But then almost everything after is just... I don't know... they are good songs, they just never really quite hit their mark. Then to make up for it, they get covered in strings and pianos and choirs. 'Flaming Youth' is one of those songs that sounds like it has so much promise, but the chorus just kind of lacks any kind of hook that grabs you and makes you want to throw your fist in the air.

And that goes for everything in the middle of the album. 'God of Thunder' has never really done much for me, 'Great Expectations' is kind of humorous, 'Flaming Youth' and 'Sweet Pain' both rock hard in places, before the album goes back to classic awesomeness with 'Shout It Out Loud' and 'Do You Love Me?'.

Then there is 'Beth' - Kiss' first actual hit. For all the grief Gene and Paul and fans give Peter Criss, without him and this song Kiss would never have even broken through to the mainstream audience the way they did. For that alone, he deserves eternal high-fives from all of us.

This album is also seen by some (meaning me, LOGMAN) as the beginning of the end of Kiss as we knew it; it was the first album other people played on songs (rumour has it Ace wouldn't leave his card game to record a solo or acoustic guitar or something) and really shows the control/influence Gene and Paul were looking to take. It would be the only time it didn't fail, which we will get to later.

Awesome album. A little overrated, sure - but still awesome.

Highlights:
Detroit Rock City, King of the Night Time World, Shout it Out Loud, Do You Love Me?

Lowlights:
Nothing

Verdict = 4 Smoking Les Pauls and a thumbs up

Hilarious

Yes, I realise my amazing Kissathon blogging failed. I completed the Kissathon personally, but failed to post about it every day...

So before I finish watching every episode of the greatest cartoon ever created, I will endeavour to complete my mission. Just to refresh myself, I will actually do Kissathon again at the same time, as well.

Right after I finish listening to Psychic Lover.
This could take a while...