The Fabled Automatic

Kevin's album of the year: Old School-Nils Lofgren I read an interview about this album on Backstreets and decided to give it a try. I’ve been listening to Nils since his power pop , guitar slinging days of the early 70s, way before he joined the E Street Band. What intrigued me from the interview was that a lot of the album was recorded “live” without overdubs and post production.  Lay down the track and let ‘er rip. I certainly wasn’t disappointed.  His guitar craft is better than ever and his voice has matured. The album is a great blend of rockers, ballads and  blues with some old school Nils ala the Grin days, the power pop of Love Stumbles On and Just Because You Love Me thrown in to tie it all together.  To top it all off, I can relate the titles: 'Old School' , 'Sixty is the New Eighteen' (I can only hope!) and ' Ain’t Too Many of Us Left'. My favorite song on the album is ' Miss You Ray' , Lofgren’s tribute to Ray Charles.   “I poun...

Other recommended listening from 2011 The Damnwells – No One Listens to the Band Anymore.   I picked up this band from the guys at the Popdose podcast . They share my tastes and generally steer me in the direction of good music. I don’t really know how to describe this band and can’t pinpoint exactly what I like about them, but I listened to this album a lot this year.  It is great music for work; upbeat and very catchy so that you don’t have to pay attention all the time to enjoy it, but well written so it is worth really listening when you do. Lots of good rock and roll on this record, but the slower ‘Werewolves’ is a standout and really showcases frontman Alex Dezen’s voice and songwriting ability.  --SCB Alison Kraus and Union Station - Paper Airplane   Union Station is everything that’s right about bluegrass.  This is a group of very talented musicians and Alison Krauss sings like an angel. The album opens with her soaring soprano on the title ...

Happy New Year from the Fabled Automatic.  Sorry for the month long hiatus, holidays and all that.   But we are back and hopefully better than ever with lots of great music to look forward to in 2012.   Look for a dual post this weekend about our favorites of 2011, it was a great year for the artists we love and for new discoveries. Speaking of music to look forward to in 2012....  We FINALLY get the news today of the new Springsteen release entitled "Wrecking Ball".  www.backstreets.com   The first single "We take care of our own" is out today.  Lots has been said about the new record. Of note from manager John Landau. "Bruce has dug down as deep as he can to come up with this vision of modern life. The lyrics tell a story you can't hear anywhere else and the music is his most innovative of recent years."   It has been described as "very rock, and very angry" using a wide range of influences.  Regardless of whether y...

Based on some recommendations from fellow Springsteen fanatics, I have been checking out a more recent Jersey-based act a little bit lately, The Gaslight Anthem .  I would describe what I have heard so far as power-punk-pop; lots of recognizable influences in their music. I really like them so far.  Last week they played the final show of their tour at the Asbury Park Convention Center; Bruce's back yard of course and a venue frequently used by the E Street Band to warm up for their own tours. Wouldn't you know, the man showed up, clearly ready to hit the road and the stage this spring.   Proving once again that he is the man.  Great song and, to me, what the history and the future of Rock and Roll is all about.  I think the look on the the lead singers face at 3:15 just about says it all.  Part II.  Thanks to Pat for this link. And the reciprocal, from the same day.  The verse Brian from Gaslight Anthem takes is phenomenal.  I ha...

Read today that Craig Finn, frontman for one of The Fabled Automatic's most favorite bands, The Hold Steady , will release his first solo record "Clear Heart Full Eyes" on January 24th.  Not to mention a tour to go with it that will have stops in both the StL and the AtL.  Check out a preview here. http://bit.ly/twihG5 I am excited about this and interested to see what directions he takes with his solo work, but after listening to the previews and noting how much like Hold Steady songs they sound (not surprising given his ultra-distinctive voice), I am a bit worried about the future of the band.  Couple this solo project with the departure of keyboardist Franz Nicolay in 2010 (which has really changed their sound) and one has to wonder about the trajectory of the band. They are probably my favorite band discovered in the last five years (I think Dad would second that), and I would hate to think that we're already on the downhill with these guys, especially coming of...

There are an endless number of reasons to like a song, but it usually comes down to the fact that it makes you feel good somehow; it has a catchy or meaningful lyric, a pleasant melody, a scorching solo or perhaps it just plain sounds good in your ears.   Often, however, it is because it associated with a memory that is especially personal and unique to you. I’m not a big Van Halen fan.   Eddie is a phenomenal guitarist and the band is musically sound but I never particularly cared for David Lee Roth.   He has an interesting voice but I could never get past the little shriek he does.   Truth be told, I much prefer the Sammy Hagar edition of VH.   There is, however, one VH/DLR tune that ALWAYS brings a smile to my face. Back in about 1995 my wife and I told Scott we’d get him a twelve string guitar for Christmas.   He and I decided we would make a “Grand Tour” of all the guitar stores in northeast Atlanta over Thanksgiving weekend.   Along with...

Great news from E Street this week.  Bruce and The E Street Band will indeed be hitting the road behind a new album in summer 2012.  What the lineup will look like and how the horn 'section' will be filled remains to be seen.  After The Big Man's passing, both Bruce and Steve emphasized that the band would still make music together, because 'that's really all we know how to do'.  I for one am glad. www.backstreets.com Another interesting note on Backstreets.com this week... Thanksgiving Day 2011 is the 35th anniversary of perhaps the greatest concert (and without a doubt the greatest rock movie) of all time ,  The Band's legendary farewell performance, The Last Waltz. I knew it was my favorite holiday for a reason.... Little Steven (the coolest guy in the world, post on that coming soon) is honoring the occasion with Robbie Robertson week on The Underground Garage.  If you have never checked out his radio show, you really should.  It is one of th...