Category: Rock (Page 163 of 241)

Ruby Tuesday: Rialto, “Love Like Semtex”

September 18, 2007 / David Medsker

Spawned from the ashes of Kinky Machine, Rialto was singer/songwriter Louis’ Eliot’s foray into widescreen pop, a blend of Oasis and ABC, as crazy as it sounds (and with two drummers, in an apparent nod to .38 Special). The band’s debut, Rialto, was a nifty little pop record, the kind that any fan of British pop both present and past would appreciate (“Summer’s Over” steals a big chunk of “A Day in the Life” for its chorus). The biggest problem was that the album came out in 1998, a good three years after Brit Pop peaked. By that time, only the most devoted Anglophiles paid the band any mind.

I would be one of those Anglophiles.

I was hooked by “Love Like Semtex” from the moment I saw the title, since I had been in a rather combustible relationship eerily similar to the one Eliot describes here. Also, being a fan of the Pixies and Nirvana, I like quietLOUDquiet songs, so when this tender ballad, um, blows up in the second half, I had already been hooked, gutted, put on ice and lacquered for mounting.

Rialto released one more album, 2001’s Night on Earth, which was arguably better than their debut. They had moved on from Oasis, and went after Duran Duran, Depeche Mode and the Pet Shop Boys. Again, an Anglophile’s dream, but “Love Like Semtex” will stand as the band’s lighter-waving moment.

Rialto – Love Like Semtex

Alternative, External Music, Rock, Ruby Tuesday, Songs

Trapt! Live! Rawk! Whoooooo! _\nn/

September 13, 2007 / David Medsker

On a personal note, I do not miss the days when Spellcheck bands ruled the earth (Korn, Staind, Linkin Park, Trapt), but I understand that those bands sold positively boatloads of records, so this post is for the fans, yo. If you haven’t heard their new live album, succinctly titled Live!, you can stream the album here. Rawk on, brutha.

Alternative, Rock, Songs

Ruby Tuesday: Novo Combo, “Welcome Innervision”

September 11, 2007 / Mike Farley

You might remember the band Novo Combo from their modest MTV hit, “Tattoo,” which was from the band’s self-titled debut album on Polydor. But you may not recognize anything from their followup album, Animation Generation, that came out one year later (1982, for those of you keeping score). And after Animation Generation, the band unceremoniously split up. But after doing a Lost Bands feature on Bullz-Eye.com, I interviewed lead vocalist Pete Hewlett and was re-introduced to Novo Combo’s music.

“Welcome Innervision” was the first song I heard off of Animation Generation, once upon a time when you heard new music on the radio that was worth a damn. And I remember almost driving off the road because not only was this a great song, but the guitar solo by axe man Carlos Rios (who was making his Novo Combo debut) was one of the best I’d ever heard. In fact, it’s still one of the best I’ve ever heard, 25 years later.

Novo Combo’s two albums are out of print, but I managed to find copies of both. So for your listening pleasure, I give to you “Welcome Innervision.” And I trust that you’re sitting at your computer and will not drive off the road.

Novo Combo — “Welcome Innervision”

Lost Bands, Pop, Rock, Ruby Tuesday, Songs

Road Warriors 30

September 7, 2007 / Mike Farley

The Young Wild Things Tour kicks off October 18 in Columbus, Ohio and features kid hero bands Fall Out Boy, Gym Class Heroes, Plain White T’s and Cute Is What We Aim For. It’s a 34-date tour that winds up on Las Vegas on December 2.

Alt rocker chick PJ Harvey has announced two exclusive US performances in New York (October 10 at Beacon Theatre) and Los Angeles (October 15 at Orpheum). Harvey’s new album, White Chalk, is due out on September 25. No other US dates are confirmed yet.

Their live show has been called “riveting,” and now the Decemberists are back with their “Long and Short of It Tour” that starts October 28 in Chicago. The long performances will be just that, with epic, progressive songs from the band’s catalog, while the short ones will focus on their more pop leaning material. Here are Continue reading »

Alternative, American Idol, Concerts, Pop, Rock

What is the most rockin’ song of all time?

September 7, 2007 / Will Harris

The Onion A.V. Club’s blogger, Steve Hyden, has a nomination…but, man, that’s a subjective question if there ever was one.

So what’s your pick…?

Here are his rules:

1. It came out between 1955 and 1980.
2. It has to be bluesy, but not too bluesy.
3. It can’t be a classic rock radio staple.
4. It must make you drive at least 10 mph faster within the first 60 seconds and/or make doing the dishes fun.
5. You know it when you hear it.

And…GO!

External Music, Rock