4.8.13

I'm posting this minutes after authorities captured that asshole in Watertown. Well done, boys!

On April 8th I listened to Catherine Wheel Ferment, Oasis The Masterplan, and Nine Black Alps Sirens. All in honor of Silent Barrie’s birthday! He picked ‘em!

I should say that Barrie has been, rather diligently, following along with the year of music and listening to everything that I am. It’s been great to have a real musichead, although he’s almost a complete Anglophile, to discuss these records with as I listen to them. “He keeps asking me, “when is Britpop month?” Soon. Happy Birthday Barrie!

I listened to Chrome last month from Catherine Wheel and wrote about how I had interviewed Rob Dickinson in the 90’s and asked him about being cousins with Iron Maiden’s Bruce Dickinson. Rob was a douche about it.

In 2001, I was living in the Philadelphia suburbs of New Jersey and working for a music industry trade magazine. On February 15, I ventured up to the Mercury Lounge, in NYC, to see a band play a small label showcase. I have no memory of who I saw that night. But, as I was standing at the bar waiting for the band set to start, Rob Dickinson saddles up next to me to order a drink. I barely looked up and moved over a pube so he could order. As he’s finishing up his transaction, I turned and noticed I was standing next to the lead singer of Catherine Wheel. “Hey. Rob Dickenson. What are you doing here?” I say in a nice-to-see-you kind of way. “I’m trying to live here,” he says with a douchey look on his puss, scoops up his drink order, hands one to a smoking hot chick he’s with and walks away. I'm just standing there feeling like a total pud. “I thought you were gay,” is all I can muster under my breath as I turned back to the bar.

The very next night I went up to NYC to see Coldplay play a sold old Irving Plaza! I went up with Mike Parrish, who had a ticket, but I didn't  I was looking for a miracle. We set up shop in a bar a few blocks from the venue and as show time approached things were starting to look grim. But then just like that it happened! A friend from Capitol Records hooked me up with a ticket for the big show! I was over the moon! We finished up our beers and headed over to Irving.

The place was packed. The downstairs bar was a nightmare, so we took the far stairs up to the back balcony bar. As I’m romping up the stairs, feeling all is right in the Rock ‘N’ Roll world tonight, who do I see coming down the stairs? Rob “Fuckin’” Dickinson! “Hey Rob! Stop following me around! It’s embarrassing,” I chirped with an ear to ear grin on my face. If looks could kill, I would have been stricken from this life right there. Luckily, they can’t! Rob muttered something to the person he was with an kept moving down the stairs... I couldn't have cared less! Or I could have? No I couldn't. Regardless, nothing was gonna ruin my night! I sashayed up to the bar, got my beer and was ready to see Coldplay! You have to take into account this is brand new Coldplay! All they put out so far was Parachutes and man was it brilliant!

We went back downstairs, moved into place and got ready to witness greatness. Chris Martin came out looking like a bucket of shit and told the crowd he had the flu. If I remember correctly, he sang "Trouble," but shit his pants right in the middle of it. Then he pulled Mindy Cohn from the audience to sing “Yellow” for him. Her mic got turned off after the first couple of lines and the audience sang the rest. The show was over after two songs. I blame Rob Dickinson! He probably gave Martin the flu just to piss me off!

"I hate you, Brad."

To me, Ferment has always been about “I Want To Touch You” and “Black Metallic," and they are fucking great. The rest of the album is corny lyrics and a repetitive rehash of their “sound,” which at its best you can get lost in, and at its worst just goes on and on. Just try and listen to “Balloon” and “She’s My Friend.” Just awful. 

However, I’m going to put “Shallow,” in my future playlists. A little lost CW gem.

Do you remember when Oasis was so fucking good that their b-sides were hits? Good times.

Masterplan isn't a full on collection of greatness, but the good stuff is so good! “Stay Young,” was my 27-year-old anthem! I tried! I tried so hard Noel, but I got old. “Acquiesce” is as big of a hit as anything that band has ever done! “Fade Away,” “Rockin’ Chair,” and even the instrumental “The Swamp Song” all should have been smash hits that everyone knows! Their live version of “I Am The Walrus,” is a lot of fun, but not my first choice for a Beatles cover.

In conclusion, I LOVE OASIS!

I could not hate that album cover more. Just terrible.

I haven’t paid much attention to Nine Black Alps since their debut album. I actually haven’t listened to much by them since, but “Get Your Guns” has been a staple in my MP3 player since 2005.

I liked listening to this album, but it’s so generic. Everything seems borrowed and just thrown together, but I definitely don’t hate it. I liked “Penny Cinderella,” and “Phosphorescene,” because it doesn't sound much like anything else on this album and it's so English.

Tomorrow I listed to Live Throwing Copper, Fuel Sunburn, and Palma Violets 180.

Here's the April Playlist!