Music Humor and Parody

Rock School

If you've ever been in a band this page will look real familiar! I first saw this in cartoon format in a local music scene magazine a couple of years ago. I especially like the " Making the Correct Facial Expressions While You Rock". :)

  !!!!!!!!!!! ROCK !!!!!!!!!!!

Bands

Frank Black / The Pixies

He's a former member and founder of the Pixies. He now is on his 4th commercial solo album under the name "Frank Black and the Catholics". I got to see him during his last tour in support of the first Catholics album 3 times and he is always a great show. He now has the guitarist for the legendary Boston band Human Sexual Response playing with him. (He even plays Los Angeles with a drumstick!)

I enjoy most of the solo albums, but his new lo-fi albums with the Catholics lack that special something sometimes and the new drummer from Miracle Legion kinda stinks.

Rumors still exist about a Pixies reunion, and on one hand I'd like it to happen, but I was pretty disappointed with Jane's Addiction reforming.

Partial Discography

Pixies:

Come On Pilgrim, Bossonova, Surfer Rosa, Doolittle, Trompe Le Monde

Frank Blank:

Frank Black, Teenager of the Year (EPIC!), Cult of Ray.

The Smiths

TODO

TODO

Partial Discography

TODO

R.E.M

The first R.E.M song I ever heard was So. Central Rain and I remember not knowing who it was for over a year. The song wasn't played that often on the radio so it was tough to find out who the artist was. The local music store was no help either. Some people say that they are the most influential American band *EVER*.

I like their earlier stuff more but even the albums prior to New Adventures in Hi-Fi are still very good. I couldn't get into Hi-Fi and have yet to even buy Up. I own all of their albums except Up... Pete Buck has an excellent style of playing, but unfortunately he has "grown out" of the electric guitar and prefers acoustic guitar. Too bad.

Partial Discography

Chronic Town(EP), Murmur, Reckoning, Fables of the Reconstruction, Life's Rich Pageant, Green, Out Of Time, Automatic for the People. Dead Letter Office has some funny stuff on it. It's a b-sides, outtakes album and also includes the Chronic Town EP as a bonus.

Charlatans UK

I got into this band when Between 10th and 11th (above pic is cover) came out. That album was their sophomore effort and to this day it is still my favorite. They have had a tragedy when their keyboardist (who to me was the cornerstone of the band) Rob Collins passed away. He definetly had a great sound with the Hammond. His replacement is Tony Rogers.

Partial Discography Some Friendly, Between 10th and 11th

Catherine Wheel

TODO

TODO

Partial Discography

Ferment, Chrome, Happy Days

The Clash

TODO

TODO

Partial Discography

TODO

RUSH

One of my guilty pleasures left over from my childhood. Being a drummer you can't help but like Neil Peart, even if he plays with the feel of a robot most of the time. He played some of the coolest drum parts I've ever heard. He also had a HUGE drum kit, which I don't like anymore ( less is better ). He's a good lyricist too if you're into geeky stuff like me.

They have at least 13 studio albums, and 4 live albums. I've seen them 7 times live and it's a pretty good show. They have a new album out called "Vapor Trails" which is pretty good. I did get to catch them live at the Tweeter center.

Partial Discography

RUSH, Fly by Night, Caress of Steel, 2112, All the World's a Stage, Farewell to Kings, Hemispheres, Permanent Waves, Moving Pictures, Exit Stage Left, Signals, Grace Under Pressure, Power Windows, Hold Your Fire, Show of Hands, Presto, Roll the Bones, Counterparts, Test for Echo, Vapor Trails

Local Music (Boston area) These are some of the local bands I like ( most aren't around anymore... <sigh> )

It's pretty surprising how many bands have come out of the Boston area... The music scene doesn't seem to be as big as it used to be. The Rat is longer around which was an automatic gig for almost any band. The Channel, Edible Rex, Bunratty's, and other rocks clubs are gone, replaced by dance clubs.

Jocobono, The Heretix, Tribe, Bim Skala Bim, Morphine/Treat her Right, Sebadoh, The Cars, Galaxie 500, Dinosaur (Jr), Mission of Burma, The Pixies, Buffalo Tom, Orbit, Belly, Gigolo Aunts, Juliana Hatfield/Blake Babies, The Mighty Mighty Bosstones, The Del Fuegos, The Atlantics, The Neighborhoods, Chucklehead, Til Tuesday, O Positive, Jen Trynin, Jonathan Richman and the Modern Lovers.

A great place to read about these bands is Dirty Water: The Boston Rock and Roll Museum

I've lost touch a little with the scene but the latest local album I've bought, Jocobono, is excellent. It's on the CherryDisc label. If there are any interesting bands that are playing in Boston that anyone could recommend give me an email.

80's Bands and other 'One Hit Wonders'

Some of my favorite 80's bands:

Gary Numan, B-52s, Depeche Mode, New Order, The Waitressess, Flash and the Pan, Sisters of Mercy, The Jam/Style Council, Concrete Blonde, Murray Head, Translator, Echo and the Bunnymen, Tears for Fears, Squeeze, The Fixx, China Crisis.