Vikings & Beekeepers

Mclusky were doomed to break up early. Bands like this are impossible to sustain. After five years and three albums (My Pain And Sadness Is More Sad And Painful Than Yours, Do Dallas and The Difference Between Me And You Is That I’m Not On Fire), the Welsh trio imploded in early 2005. They just couldn’t sustain the pressure of being the world’s fiercest, meanest, nastiest band. Led by lead singer Andy Falkous, Mclusky spearheaded the resurgence of a musical genre I like to call Asshole Rock. That is, rock music - typically steeped in a strong punk tradition - that aims to be unpleasant and uninviting. Asshole Rock’s biggest icon would be Steve Albini, the man behind such mean-spirited and horrific bands as Big Black, Rapemen and Shellac. Albini manned the boards as engineer of Mclusky’s last two albums as well as classic albums by the Jesus Lizard and the Pixies, two of Mclusky’s biggest influences. (more…)

Artist: The Strokes (more…)

Every couple of weeks Vikings & Beekeepers will induct one album into its Hall of Fame (capitalization denotes legitimacy). The albums inducted into the V&BHOF (acronym denotes awesomeness) will not necessarily be a highly regarded classic (although it may be) and it will not necessarily be an overlooked gem (although it may be). The only defining characteristic of these albums will be high quality and the ability to inspire me to write about them. For our first induction I decided to go all the way back to the relative early days of rock n’ roll, back around the time rock started to get good. Ladies and gentlemen, let’s take look The Who’s 1965 debut, The Who Sings My Generation. (more…)

I’m probably not the best person to attempt to eulogize Lee Hazlewood. I’m not well versed in the minute details of his life and career, and I don’t have much more than a cursory knowledge of his music. My wife really enjoys his stuff and we are currently scouring record shops for his album Friday’s Child, but I’m a relative Hazlewood novice. However, that doesn’t mean I don’t enjoy immensely what I’ve heard from him. His work with Nancy Sinatra, in particular, is wonderful. Hazlewood’s haunting, reverb soaked vocals provided the perfect foil for Sinatra’s Go-Go ’67, “boots are made for walking,” white lipstick and miniskirts shtick. The little I have heard of Hazlewood’s work I’ve enjoyed. I want to share that with you. These are the songs that have peaked my interest in further pursuing Hazlewood’s work. Perhaps they will initiate some of you to hop on the Lee Train. If not, let these songs serve as a reminder of one man’s talent and artistry. Here’s to Lee. (more…)

One time, when I was eight, while playing a softball game on a very busy summer day at Sylvan Lake (near Red Deer, Alberta) my uncle decided it would be a funny idea to pants me while I led-off on first base. Since, we were at a lake, I was wearing my swimming trunks, and since I was wearing my swimming trunks, I was not wearing any underwear. Needless to say, there I was, buck ass naked from the waist down, still in my crouch, hoping to steal second. Hundreds of people staring. I quickly hiked up my trunks, turned around to my uncle in shock and burst into tears. Desperate to hide myself from anyone’s vision, I ran to the nearest place that would conceal me, my uncle’s arms (talk about a guilt trip).

I get the feeling that Travis Morrison can relate. (more…)

Musical obsessions are seasonal. One minute I’m spazzing out about the workingman folk rock/glam metal guitar fusion of Thin Lizzy, the next I’m tripping over myself to spread the word about This Heat. I am always in the middle of/getting over/getting into a musical obsession. For example, right now I’m on the tale end of a King Crimson kick, fully immersed in a Guided By Voices fascination and I’m considering a love affair with either Frank Black or Gene Clark’s solo work. They come and go. The admiration stays forever, but the Pac Man-like gorging on anything and everything that links to these special artists eventually fades. There is one major exception, however: The Band.
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