The Outfit:

The Outfit:(2016)

Met this band from Denver when they need a local act on the bill, and Til Willis & Erratic Cowboy answered the call. They've always been an awesome energetic group of gentlemen who happen to play some kickass Rock'n'Roll. By complete happenstance, I was in Denver when they played the release show for this album. I was playing a gig across town. After the show, my buddy Steve and I hopped a ride over to catch these guys. Picked this record up after the show. Now, most reading this probably haven't ever heard of this band, so what do they sound like? Well, I know they've drawn some comparisons to the Strokes, and I can hear that. However, I also hear a bit of a Dead Boys tone in there. Great album! 

Nirvana:

Bleach:(1989)

When Nirvana were at the peak of their popularity, I didn't like 'em. I'm the odd duck that shuns most things that get too popular. It's like my brain just shuts down, and says, "Nope, we're not liking that, just because." So while Alt-Rock of the Nineties reigned supreme, I was listening to old blues. It was my way of being rebellious, Punk, if you will. After all the fury over the music died down, I could go back, and admit that there was good stuff there, like Nirvana. Bleach, contains one of my all time favorite Nirvana songs, Negative Creep. It's just so unrelenting, in the best possible way. Only recently did I come by a vinyl copy of this album, which just has so much more bottom end than a CD. 

Nico:

Chelsea Girl:(1967)

For years, I never thought I'd own an entire record of Nico singing. I could tolerate her on the Velvet Underground's debut, but that was it. Then one day, about eight years ago, on a whim, I decided I needed to give this album chance. Partly because I'm a Jackson Browne fan, and not only does this album hold the first recording of These Days, but Browne plays guitar on half the album. Lo and behold, I couldn't stop playing the album. It's become a favorite of mine to play in the mornings. There's an otherworldly mystic quality to it that seems to fit the sunlight around 7:30/8am. 

Daniel Lanois:

Acadie:(1989)

Belladonna:(2005)

Flesh and Machine:(2014)

Goodbye To Language:(2016)

Daniel Lanois was one of two artists that introduced me to just how atmospheric an album could be. That it could be a world unto itself. Tiny movies. Emotional grooves. I love the fact, that for all his technical ability, he never lets it get in the way of feeling. I have more albums than I care to count that have Daniel Lanois's fingerprints on them, and quite a few of them are some of my favorite albums of all time.

Richard Hell and The Voidoids:

Blank Generation:(1977)

 A fabulous album by someone who doesn't get as much credit as he probably should in the evolution of rock'n'roll. Just being a founding member of Television earns high marks in my book. Unlike a lot of the mid-seventies New York scene, Richard Hell seemed to be a little more forward thinking in much the same way as Patti Smith. That's what translates into this being a seminal album. I never get tired of hear this record.