Music Reviews by Duane Simolke

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The Acorn Gathering You can join the fight against cancer right now by ordering The Acorn Gathering from an online bookstore or at your nearest Barnes & Noble Booksellers. From a scandal-rocked town in West Texas to a Blackfeet Indian reservation in Montana, these short stories take readers to surprising places in America and the human heart! The music reviews start below. I could name many other twenty-first century bands who deliver straight-forward rock songs and ballads with a lot of harmonies and some catchy lyrics. But none of those other bands have the amazing Rob Thomas as their lead singer and main songwriter. Thomas is a major talent, and he surrounded himself with band-mates that fit his style perfectly. This album provides an hour of satisfying rock 'n roll. I'll never forget the first time I heard U2. The song "New Year's Day" started playing on my radio, and I stood transfixed. I had never heard anything like it: the passionate vocals, the chilling lyrics, and the truly unique guitar style. As soon as I found a copy of WAR, I bought it, and found each song as satisfying as "New Year's Day." Now, I've heard countless U2 ripoffs, not to mention several other U2 albums. Still, I can't hear the songs from this album and just think of them as background music; they still demand my attention. While U2 continues to deliver great new music, WAR stands alone as one of rock's greatest albums ever. Easily one of my favorite CD's from my favorite rock `n roll decade, Rio holds up well, even after many hit CD's from the 80's grow tiresome and hollow. Songs like "Hold Back the Rain" and "The Chauffeur" prove the versatility of Double D's music and Simon LeBon's voice. Of course, "Hungry Like the Wolf," "Save A Prayer," and the title track helped cement the band's reputation as radio favorites and MTV darlings, but I love all the songs here. I also must say that, before "New Religion," I had never heard a song that uses two different choruses simultaneously. So I Married An Axe Murderer will hardly go down as a great movie, but I found it charming and funny. While watching, I also kept noticing how the soundtrack rocked! This CD contains a great mixture of bands from the late eighties and early nineties. From Toad the Wet Sprocket’s loving tribute “Brother” to a fun remix of Big Audio Dynamite’s classic “Rush,” you’ll find many pleasing tunes. However, they really didn’t need to include Mike Meyer’s beatnik ode “This Poem Sucks,” or two different versions of “There She Goes” (a song that has been remade at least once more since this album’s release). Still, give it a listen. You might even want to see the movie! Most of this music came out from 1976 to 1980. I'm writing this review in early February 2001. Disco icon Harry Wayne Casey (aka KC) recently turned fifty; he is still constantly touring and playing many of these same songs. So why am I still listening? Because it's fun! Even though most of these songs use a frantic dance beat, they are surprisingly relaxing and soothing. Maybe it's because they remind me of when I was a teenager, escaping into the enjoyable rhythm of KC's albums and cassettes (we won't mention eight tracks). Maybe I still love KCSB because they provided us with enjoyable music that never gets old. From the strange, haunting beat that introduces Kosheen's song "Hide U," to the frantic mixture of vocals and synths at the beginning of Mandalay's "Beautiful" (the final song), this soundtrack will please and surprise dance fans. While the viewers of the hit Showtime series might think of favorite scenes in relation to the songs, any dance fans should enjoy this techno-heavy continuous mix. The only part that shouldn't surprise anyone (especially not the gay men who were the original target audience for Queer As Folk) is the focus on female singers. Deborah Cox, Kim English, Sara McLachlan, and several other top-notch vocalists give strong, impassioned performances. While the first soundtrack included a remake of the already danceable "Let's Hear it for the Boy," this one includes Etta James belting out a thumping dance remake from a more unlikely source; "Miss You," started as a laid-back, blues-flavored hit by the Rolling Stones. As with the first season soundtrack, I love this one all the way through--except that this CD has one song that becomes annoying with repeated listening. While there isn't a particular song that I like above all the others (like Full Frontal's "You Think You're a Man" on the first soundtrack), it's a nonstop dance collection that offers nonstop satisfaction. Club DJ's can go take a break while this one plays in its entirety. Better yet, they can go dance with the crowd!

Despite the fact that their debut album provides their entire play list, Scissor Sisters manage to deliver a DVD collection that includes a full-length concert, several music videos, a documentary, and much more! This DVD reportedly includes some Easter eggs as well, for those with the patience or equipment to find that sort of thing. The picture quality during the concert falters at times, but the sound quality is perfect, and that really matters the most in this case. Fans of this theatrical dance band will enjoy seeing how they interpret these already familiar songs on stage. Keep in mind that singer Jake Shears previously worked as a go-go dancer; or just think of Queen's Freddy Mercury with just as much peacock attitude but even more energy! All of the members bring their unique personalities to the show and the music. The ending number goes so far over the top that it seems like the Muppets crashing a live performance of The Rocky Horror Picture Show! The music videos capture the humor and energy of the band in other ways, allowing them to play with costumes, low-budget special effects, and silly plot lines. The documentary goes a long way in explaining the bizarre antics but immediate magnetism of this hot new band. "Megamix." This eight-minute medley combines some of KCSB's most popular songs. It uses a new recording that flows together, instead of splicing together clips from separate recordings. "Somebody Somewhere." Backup singer Maria De Crescenzo steps up to sing this beautiful ballad with KC. Besides the great vocal match, the lyrics will inspire and comfort listeners. This song would make a great dedication! "Will You Love Me In The Morning." KC forgets to breathe in his rapid delivery of impassioned lyrics. "Hold Me Tight." This dance song would fit perfectly into a collection of club mixes, except that it's already mixed just right! "Give It Up." A new version of their 80s hit. I don't like it quite as much as the original, but it comes close enough as an alternate version. "Please Don't Go." A scaled-down live version, with just KC and a piano. KC adds an extra love note in the bridge. "Coast To Coast." Funky and distinctly 90s dance music, but also distinctly Sunshine Band. "I Can't Forget." Another ballad that would make a great dedication. It reflects an enduring relationship, not unlike the one between KC and his fans. "Gonna Let It Go." This uptempo ballad deals positively with moving on after a failed relationship. "Don't Stop." A surprisingly danceable remake of the Fleetwood Mac classic. The optimistic message makes it an obvious song for KCSB to record. "Turn The Music Up." Basic KCSB, spotlighting a jazzy sound with heavy percussion. I would have started the CD with this song (with the medley second), because it's signature KCSB, and because of the title. "Desire." Though upbeat and danceable, this track sounds unlike any of the others, often letting the sexy backup vocals take over. "High Above The Clouds." Another major departure for the band, this techopop number provides a lovely ending for an enjoyable collection. This CD of KCSB's second album is as enjoyable as when I first heard the vinyl version, but the CD has seven bonus selections! Two of those bonus selections are my two favorite songs from their first album, Do It Good. The CD ends with two remixes. The remix of "Get Down Tonight" is fun, but I prefer the one that appears on Part 3 and on 25th Anniversary. The remix of "That's The Way (I Like It)" adds extra percussion and some tempo changes; I can't say for sure, but I might like this remix even more than the original version of that classic dance song! This is a five-star review. I have a few complaints. (1) Though I haven't actually counted, it seems that half the songs from KCSB have at least one of these words in the title: boogie, party, go, do, don't, body, it. Examples: Do It, Do Me, I Like To Do It, Keep It Comin' Love, That's The Way I Like It, Please Don't Go, Don't Stop, Don't Let Go, Don't Run, etc. Those songs aren't all on this collection, but you get the idea. (2) Four of the 24 songs on this collection are a bit bland. (3) Like most two-CD sets, the packaging is shoddy, and I'm afraid I'll break the CD's whenever I take them out of the jewel case. So why five stars? Despite the above gripes, this collection rocks, thumps, wakes, and shakes! So, okay, KC, keep doing it, and your fans will keep partying! Please don't go! I had heard and loved KCSB's recording of "Thank You," without ever realizing it was them. So, there is obviously a lot of musical variety here. KC has a great vocal range, and this collection truly showcases that range. By the way, this anthology is also available with just the first CD, but the two-CD set is just a few dollars higher. Pay the few dollars extra. The second one has some great tracks that I had never heard! This two-CD set includes many songs that I hadn't heard in years. I've enjoyed hearing them again. As a teenager, I loved KCSB, even after their popularity faded. I eventually quit listening for a while, but now I don't know why. This is fun music, and I still hope to one day see KCSB in concert. Like one of the other reviewers, I am especially grateful for the inclusion of "I Betcha Didn't Know That." The lyrics to that song go way beyond the usual party songs we expect, and they help produce a ballad that's as beautiful as the more popular "Please Don't Go." In fact, I mostly like this collection for the less popular songs, as the mega-hits appear on literally dozens of other CD's. I still hope The Painter comes out on CD. That album went mostly unnoticed, and I've never seen any of its songs on CD. However, it's KCSB's most diverse album and definitely worthy of a second chance. A sampling of other singers or bands I love (in no particular order): Green Day, Styx, Journey, Queen, Van Halen, Toad the Wet Sprocket, Erasure, Elton John, Hall & Oates, Billy Joel, the Eagles, Depeche Mode, Extra Fancy, Donna Summer, Fall Out Boy, Tal Bachman, Collective Soul.