Oneness Of JuJu - African Rhythms (USA 1975)

Roddus Album of The Day

01.African Rhythms (7:18)
02.Kazi (4:20)
03.Funky Wood (1:13)
04.Tarishi (3:56)
05.Mashariki (3:25)
06.Chants (1:14)
07.Don't Give Up (5:43)
08.Incognito (8:14)
09.Poo Too (3:43)
10.Liberation Dues (4:36)
11.Liberation Dues (Instrumental) (9:07)
12.African Rhythms (45 Version) (3:30)

The awesome title track is what drew my attention to this band and I included it on my Afrofunk Roddus Sampler a while back. American based funky jazz outfit with strong African influence this album doesn't fail to live up to it's promise of  Afrocentric funky jazz music that keeps me interested throughout. Not all upbeat dance music, we get variety with some slower more jazz inflected numbers and although not pure Afrofunk like from the dark Continent itself, still a worthy effort. A Roddus Rating of 4/5.

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Sex Pistols - Nevermind The Bollocks Here's The Sex Pistols (UK 1977)

Roddus Album Of The Day

   

This Review has been prompted by watching a video of "Pretty Vacant" on YouTube this morning. Unbelievably, I don't even own an actual copy of this classic at present, mainly because I have all the songs on the "Kiss This" CD. Are the Pistols and their raw, snotty firebrand version of basic Rock N' Roll still relevant after 33 years for this 40 something male Caucasian. The answer is a huge resounding YES. The emotions triggered by this music this morning are a combination of pure nostalgia and bliss from the raw energy of this music. I haven't heard this stuff for some time and yet still I find this so uplifting and energising, just as it has been in the past when I have been down, even though the lyrical subjects are fairly cynical. It's the awesome monster riffs of Steve,  the punky attitude of Johnny, the excellent song writing of Glen, all held together by Paul's relentless drumming. I properly can't say much about this album that hasn't already been said over the years but I have a lump in my throat and a tear of joy in my eye as my ears are assaulted by this wall of blissful noise that changed the face of  popular music forever. The image of Johnny Rotten in the "Pretty Vacant" video with his snotty, cool, nonchalant pose, dark glasses and the best  fucken T-shirt ever worn by a rock musician, speaks volumes of the attitude of these guys and their music. Compulsory listening for any body interested in "Rock" music and  do hope that the younger generation are discovering this legendary band. The Roddusometer is totally off the scale for this one 5+/5.

Ray LaMontagne - Gossip In The Grain (USA 2008)

Roddus Album Of The Day

Ray kicks off this LP with a groovy Soulful R n'B number which gets the foot tapping along before phasing into the next track which is a string and piano driven Van Morrisonesque ballad, setting the pace for the diversity of this album and showcasing the vast music vocabulary of this contemporary American Singer/songwriter. A few more mellow tracks carry us along with Rays husky/whispered style singing before the interesting dittie about Meg White of the White Stripes. "Hey Hey Mama" delves into bluegrass territory finishing with a great touch of Dixie, "Nearly killed Me" is a nice blues and"A Falling Through" has a strong country feel to it.A well recorded and produced album and enjoyable  throughout..My rating 3.5/5.

City Boy - Young Men Gone West (UK 1977)

Roddus Album Of  The Day

01. Bordello Nights (3:06)
02. Dear Jean (I'm Nervous) (5:34)
03. Honeymooners (3:56)
04. She's Got Style (3:20)
05. Bad For Business (3:33)
06. Young Men Gone West (4:05)
07. I've Been Spun (3:24)
08. One After Two (3:29)
09. The Turnaround (3:18)
10. The Man Who Ate His Car (3:00)
11. Millionaire (4:28)

Time for another post from the indomitable Rare MP3 blog with this late 70s glam/pomp rock outing from this slightly successful UK outfit. An ok album with some catchy melody's and good guitar parts. Not exactly flavor of the month in the UK music scene of 77' with this AOR styled album but a worthy effort all the same. Overall  not very inspiring and I feel is worth a Roddus Rating of 2.5/5.

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The Standard - Wire Posts To Wire (USA 2004)

Roddus Album Of The Day

01 - Metropolitan (5:56)
02 - Even Numbers (7:11)
03 - Ghosts for Hire (4:22)
04 - Runway Week (3:50)
05 - Folk Song (6:30)
06 - Unicorns and Chemicals (4:49)
07 - Monks in New Jersey (5:22)
08 - A Black Machine (5:53)
09 - Jumprope In Hell (7:06)

Have had this one on the ipod for about three days now and still haven't really absorbed it. An atmospheric, slow burner of an indie album occasionally reminiscent of Interpol and somewhere referred to as the American Radiohead, which I think is unwarranted. A not unpleasant album, but not something that set the world on fire and is pretty obscure for that reason."Metropolitan" is the strongest track but nothing on here comes near their raw indie classic "Static" which I included on one of my samplers a while back. My rating 2.5/5

Jensen Interceptor - Jensen Interceptor (Canada 1980)

Roddus Album Of The Day

01. Megatune (Prelude) (1:15)
02. Tiny Thing (3:48)
03. Freedom Fighting (3:09)
04. Heavenly Angels (3:49)
05. Do You Want Your Love To Be (3:11)
06. Crazy Monkey (3:24)
07. Fine Man (4:07)
08. Blue Boy (3:28)
09. Cats In The Window (3:03)
10. Megatune - Theme For Bonnie Lee (7:06)

Another quality rarity from the volts of Rare MP3 Music Blog. This Debut album from this obscure  Canadian pop group starts off strongly with the lovely " Megatune" piano prelude and continues to provide us with a whole album of quality pop songs. Plenty of strings, piano, keyboards, some cool guitar breaks and nice female vocals flesh out this record and reminds me of a later and slightly less jazzy version of their fellow Canadians, The Hometown Band. Highlight of this set is the extended jazz/prog of "Theme for Bonnie Lee". My rating 3.5/5.

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Stone The Crows - Teenage Licks (Scotland 1971)

Roddus Album Of The Day

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This particular album, although well produced and well played, failed to really keep me interested for too long. I do like early 70s soulful blues styled rock such as played on this LP but the songs here are only average. Maggie Bell, the singer, has en excellent voice and reminds me of a female Rod Stewart. Actually, early Rod fans will probably enjoy this more than I do.Although  I don't dislike this album, it is not one I will listen to again too much, but still a keeper. rating 2.5/5

Inception 31-7-10

 Another movie that seemed to appear out of nowhere, probably because I don't have my finger on the pulse of such things. Several friends had seen it and were raving about it on facebook and after seeing the ads on TV I figured I would have to check it out.

 Right from the go this fast paced flick challenges you to stay  focused and watch carefully if you want to keep up with whats happening and what is reality within the movie and what is a dream.The Psychological concepts of dreams within dreams within dreams and ideas and beliefs being extracted or inserted into someones subconscious is novel, interesting and challenging to keep track of. I found it quite fascinating. The story itself was ok and as usual you had to suspend your belief in several scenes even within a film based on an unlikely concept. Of course the visual effects were pretty spectacular if somewhat over the top in their depiction of dreams.My biggest gripe of this movie in the pretty young student heroine, who is the architect of the dreams, who looks about 14, but has the wisdom and experience of someone about 40. Otherwise I really enjoyed Inception and defiantly recommend  it for 21/2 hours of great escapism. Rating 3.5/5.

Monster Magnet - Greatest Hits (USA 2003)

Roddus Album Of The Day

Heavy 90s Alternative rock makes up this grungy, metal influenced very hard rock compilation from this great sounding outfit. High quality production, great songs and bludgeoning guitar make for some excellent ear shattering experiences.There was plenty of this type of stuff going down back then and these guys are up there near the top of that hard rocking scene. Great stuff and deserving of a 3.5/5 rating.

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The Monks - Black Monk Time (USA/Germany 1966)

Roddus album Of The Day

My first introduction to the legendary Monks was via one of my many 60s garage compilations and their song "Complication", next to The Litter's "Action Woman" absolutely the greatest mother of a Garage/Punk song ever produced. The distorted guitar shredding intro alone is enough to give my ears an orgasm.

 It wasn't until fairly recently that I discovered their totally brilliant and fantastic debut(and only studio)album"Black Monk Time"after I read about it in "1001 Records You Must Hear Before You Die".The brilliance of this album just doesn't let up, not a weak song here and there is just nothing at all like this anywhere. Each track follows a variation of the unusual rhythmic style The Monks employ to give the album a cohesiveness of style and they also manage to keep it thrilling throughout. Catapulted almost to the very top of my all time favorite albums, the greatest 60s LP next to The Mothers Of Invention's "Freak Out", this stunner is required listening for any 60s music fan.Don't miss it.Rating 5+/5.

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Jimmy Smith - Midnight Special (USA 1960)

Roddus Album Of The Day

A nice Jazz album from organist Jimmy Smith. A mix of quality slow and mid tempo numbers fueled by Smiths laid back organ and fleshed out by the top saxophone playing of Stanley Turrentine and some cool guitar from Kenny Burrell. This top quartet for this session is completed by drummer Donald Bailey and they all play sweetly on this 1960 session. I had to re check the date for this as the sounds here anticipate jazz/funk and acid jazz by several years. Fairly straight jazz, with nothing too out there to scare your mother and well worth my rating of 4/5.

Pentagram - The First Daze Here 1972-76 (USA)

Roddus Album Of The Day

Compilation of early material from this hard rocking Sabbath influenced American underground metal band. Mostly unreleased tracks from the first period of this long lived but under recorded outfit. Fairly lo-fi stuff recorded live with some demos and with the first single included, the songs stand up well and the guitar playing is excellent. It is surprising they didn't generate more success. Stand out for me is ":Starlady" with a stunning piece of guitar work that give me goose bumps.Overall rating 3.5/5

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John Lennon - Rock N Roll (1975)

Roddus Album Of The Day

Sticking with the big guys for this next one which I have decided to do tonight because it ain't worth putting on the ipod for tomorrows listening. Unlike Bowie's awesome "Pinups" album' Lennon fails to do anything of much interest with these covers of  early rock n roll tracks that had influenced him over the years.Apart from the standout "Stand By Me" the rest of this album should only be of interest to Lennon Fanatics and completists.and I'm gonna give it a rating of 2/5.