HIDDEN TREASURES - FREE PLAY

[RJhog (Admin)]

This is my last post subbing for Scott (who is subbing for me on the AOTW forum).  I know one person for sure that will be happy about it.  And I'm gonna keep it quite simple this week.  We used to do free play in the gym back in the day, and this is my musical form of it.  I'm gonna pick four random songs that I like, nothing more, nothing less.

Playlist: HERE

The Smithereens

11

1989

Did You Know? This is my least favorite of the band's first three albums.  My ranking of those three albums would be Especially For You, followed by Green Thoughts, then 11.

1. Cut Flowers

The Smithereens are an American band from New Jersey.  I have liked them since I first saw the video for Behind The Wall Of Sleep around 1986.  If you are unfamiliar with the band, they play a Beatles influenced brand of power pop. They feature a terrific rhythm section augmented with strong guitar work and are fronted by vocalist, guitarist and main song writer Pat DiNizio.  Don't dismiss this song or band just because you don't understand them.  They are great.

Whiskey Myers

Firewater

2011

Did You Know? I discovered this band via the internet.  One day they showed up in the "other folks purchased this" category on Amazon.  

2. Broken Window Serenade

Whiskey Myers is from Palestine, Texas.  They are classified as a country band on Wikipedia, but I'm not buying it.  I have their last two albums that say there is more rock than country in their music.  Now, that's not to say there is no country their.  It's a smooth mixture that reminds me of a cross between the Marshall Tucker Band and Led Zeppelin. Broken Window Serenade is a very, very dark song lyrically.  But it does feature some very nice guitar work, as does all of the band's music.  

Foreigner

Foreigner

1977

Did You Know? The first time I heard Foreigner is one of those "I'll never forget" moments for me.  I was standing in my cousin's den and Cold As Ice came on the radio.  Don't know why I remember that, but the rest is history.

3. The Damage Is Done

You may be thinking I have a penchant for ballads.  Maybe so.  But not too many on one album.  And they have to be great songs, like this one.  Lou's vocal is just great on this song.  I really don't have much more to say other than this is my favorite Foreigner song.

Meat Loaf

Bat Out Of Hell

1977

Did You Know?  I like Meat Loaf, but this is really the only album that I hold in high regard.  It's perfect, while everything else is hit and miss.

4. For Crying Out Loud

Well, what did I say earlier?  I like the ballads.  And this one is my all-time favorite ballad and song in general.  It is an epic song, closing out an epic album.  It is an eight plus minute slice of beauty.  The piano, the strings, the drums, the lyrics and lastly, the amazing vocals.  It's light, it's heavy.  It's majestic.  I've never heard a better 8 minute song.

[Scott]

Actually this playlist costs a lot because I have to listen to the Smitherweenies...  And that's a high price to pay!!

[Meow]

i could never really get into foreigner, something about that guys singing voice just didn't do it for me, to high i guess, other than that, they could put a decent tune together

[Jon]

There's a theme here. Maybe a theme of lost love or something maudlin like that,  but there's a theme. They are all ballads as well, so there's a meaning to this list. Ain't gonna buy that "nothing more, nothing less" stuff.

Someone might find out that the song from The Smithereens is not the worst song here. I'll wait and see if I'm correct, but there's another song they might dislike more. 

This was quite a depressing listen if you pay attention. I guess it's alright. I'm now going to find something upbeat so I'm happy again.   

[Niels (Mod)]

I wouldn't say, I agree with Meow, but once in a while, this site reminds me of an american AOR-site, you know, Foreigner, Journey, Kansas, Styx and all the new Southern Rock bands and all the ballads 

Are we really done listening to and discussing Beatles, Zeppelin and The Who, the 3 best bands on the planet Earth?

(Please don't mention S.Wilson or Prog. I'm not that "single-tracked")

[Scott]

Stay tuned....

[RJhog (Admin)]

It's an open forum. We probably aren't talking about the big three because no one (Including yourself) has bothered to start a thread on them.

[Niels (Mod)]

Challenge accepted.

[RJhog (Admin)]

YOU MY BOY BLUE!

[Scott]

Smitherweenies...  Cut Flowers would not be the odor I would associate with this band or this tune.  Cut cheese?  Well that's getting closer.  With apologies to Jon, this band has a Friends theme song feel in everything they do, there I said it, its Rembrandts 2.0 and neither are good.  

Whiskey Myers.  My uncle used to drink cheap whiskey, pretty sure it was not because it tasted good but because it you wasted faster.  You may classify this as Country Rock if you;d like but the lyrics are full on country cheese!  Hey, theres a cheese theme developing!  

Foreigner.  Great band, great album, great tune!  Got no issues with Gramms vocals.  Happen to think he's one of rocks most underrated!

Meat Loaf.  Think this got mentioned in my one and only, totally unique, album closers playlist.  the list started 0 for 2 and ended 2 for 4.  Jon's right about one thing, this was a very mellow playlist.  Didn't like either of the first two tracks, but I'm guessing Jon likes the Smitherweenies better than Whiskey Myers.  Its kinda like picking the lesser of two evils, there both still evil...

Nice work taking over this month, I've had fun with AOTW and I think you've done yourself proud holding this playlist up ...  Back to normal next week...