Spinning Platters Picks Six: Bands I Forgot From The 80’s

Pull out those analog synths it's 1983 again.
Pull out those analog synths it's 1983 again.

Lets be clear up front – this is a personal list.  I came across the Associates the other day and it got me thinking about bands that I was REALLY into in the 80’s that I had forgotten about.  I dug into some old records and websites and came up with this six.  Some bands from the 80’s that you may have forgotten and loved will not make the list because I have not forgotten them.  This is not a best bands from the 80’s.  Purely a personal list of bands that touched me in some way that I had forgotten about.

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Album Review: Brendan Benson – My Old, Familiar Friend

Who knows what this cover represents
Who knows what this cover represents

I’m a big Brendan Benson fan. I was a fan before The Raconteurs. Lapalco being one of my all time favorite albums but I was not overly happy with his last album, The Alternative To Love, which had its moments but was, overall, somewhat inconsistent.  So how does his new one My Old, Familiar Friend stack up.  Keep in mind that this review is all based on a first listen and of course songs may grow or otherwise on me given time.  So what has spending his time with Jack White done for Brendan? Continue reading “Album Review: Brendan Benson — My Old, Familiar Friend”

10 Quick Questions with Michael Butler, Podcaster and Bass Player

Real bass players hang it low
Real bass players hang it low

Michael Butler, Bay Area based musician and one of the original podcasters, runs the Rock and Roll Geek Show podcast along with playing bass for 80’s revivalist rock band Jetboy (and recently playing bass for live shows with Ginger from UK rock underground stars The Wildhearts.)
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Spinning Platters Picks Six: Ways To Discover New Music

You won't need a crane
You won't need a crane

I’m the sad case of a middle aged man who only likes to listen to new music and refuses to buy in to “it was all better when I was younger.”  So this gives me a problem – How do I find new music?  Well I have come across some excellent methods that work well for me.  They allow me to discover new bands, listen to them and decide what I want to buy.
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Album Review: The Sounds – Crossing The Rubicon

This horse is trying to get your attention
This horse is trying to get your attention

What do you get if you take a sampling of the Scandinavian delights of Abba and the rock-based Backyard Babies or Hellacopters ?  Add in some Max Martin style production and maybe even some A-Ha and you have The Sounds new album, Crossing The Rubicon.

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