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- Review count5
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- First reviewSeptember 13, 2017
- Last reviewSeptember 14, 2017
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- Average rating4.6
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Parkas4Kids's Reviews
![Walk in Africa [LP] - VINYL](https://pisces.bbystatic.com/image2/BestBuy_US/images/products/2172/21727139_sa.jpg)
Posted by: Parkas4Kids
from Dundalk, MD, USA
In today's watered-down market of punk rock, we are not reminded often enough that this genre was considered highly dangerous during the late '70s and early '80s. The first generation of punk rockers often found themselves in fist fights with the police, the general public, and sometimes even their own fans. And yet, oddly enough, what began as a nihilistic movement to remake the music industry as a whole has since been adopted by society. Bands like the Pistols, the Clash, the Ramones, and Black Flag (to name a few) have blazed a legacy of incendiary records that were often recorded and released outside of the music industry, and it's taken a generation and then some for many of these bands to get the recognition they rightfully deserve.
One such band to finally earn its due is National Wake, a mixed-race reggae-punk band from South Africa. While this may seem like no big deal to those learning about the band since the 2013 release of this anthology, the very existence of this band was very much a big deal during their brief existence. Apartheid was in full effect in South Africa from 1948 through 1994, which means the very existence of the band was illegal. When you take into account that National Wake's primary focus was to bring about the end of apartheid...well, that's about as punk as you can get (sorry, Johnny Rotten). But what kind of music did the band make, you ask? Take equal parts Bob Marley & The Wailers and The Clash and add a quarter cup of Fela Kuti, and that is pretty much the recipe for their music.
Sadly, this collection only yields us fourteen songs to act as a compass for their musical career, but at least those fourteen songs are each sheer dynamite. Leaning more heavily on the side of reggae, dub, and traditional African music, their lyrics were incendiary to say the least. And then there's the 17-plus minute "Vatsiketeni," which is simply an ingenious piece of music. Sadly, the band was up against an oppressive government that, on more than one occasion, threatened not only to imprison the band members but also to kill them for crimes against South Africa. Thankfully, their efforts helped bring an end to apartheid less than two decades after they began performing, and they have left behind a legacy that will live on.
My Best Buy number: 0953637391
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Posted by: Parkas4Kids
from Dundalk, MD, USA
Kadavar are something of a quandary. To look at the band members and to listen to their music, you'd think they just stepped out of a time machine or thawed from a deep freeze. Their sound and style is so authentically early-'70s psychedelic rock/heavy metal, you would think these guys were roadies for Black Sabbath back before they recorded their first album. And yet these guys started playing together as early as 2010, a shock to the production-heavy music industry of the 21st Century.
Not as heavy as their self-titled debut, "Abra Kadavar" focuses more heavily on the band's psychedelic influences as opposed to their obvious heavy metal influences. Eschewing the longer, slower, heavier riffs from their first album for shorter, tighter songs, "Abra Kadavar" is the equivalent to Black Sabbath's "Paranoid" in terms of structure and approach. Regardless, this album is leaps and bounds above just about everything else coming out. These guys are seriously in a completely different category than the rest.
The true surprise that comes with this album, though, is the bonus disc: "Live in Antwerp," the band's first official live album and the first to fully feature new bassist Simon "Dragon" Bouteloup. Dipping into both their self-titled album and "Abra Kadavar," the album features the band's debut LP in its entirety (including the bonus track "Living in Your Head") and three songs from "Abra Kadavar": "Come Back Life," "Doomsday Machine," and "Eye of the Storm." Also included is the previously-unreleased "Broken Wings," a song surprisingly not included on their most recent album, 2015's "Berlin." What is most interesting about "Live in Antwerp" is that it feels like any of their other studio recordings; the band purposely record their vocals, guitar, bass, and drums to simulate the sound and feel of a live concert, and the proof of that is right here.
If you are not yet familiar with Kadavar, do yourself a favor and pick up the tour edition of "Abra Kadavar." You will in no way regret the purchase, and you'll be rocking out to both discs for weeks on end. Just be mindful to not headbang so hard you hurt yourself!
My Best Buy number: 0953637391
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I would recommend this to a friend!
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![The Essential Pearl Jam [CD]](https://pisces.bbystatic.com/image2/BestBuy_US/images/products/2444/2444007_sa.jpg)
Posted by: Parkas4Kids
from Dundalk, MD, USA
I've always had a strange love/hate relationship with Pearl Jam. I remember vividly getting the cassette for "Ten" when it came out in '91 and almost wearing it out. After hearing "Jeremy" on the radio for the first time (99.1 WHFS, baby!), I was hooked. But what was strange was that no one else who also listened to "alternative rock" seemed to like them at all. It wasn't until after "Vs." and "Vitalogy" came out that everyone was all, "OMG, PEARL JAM, I LUV THEM," and I honestly got tired of hearing the same songs over and over and over again.
Over the years, I've come back to and left Pearl Jam like a bad habit. "Ten" remains the only album of theirs I've ever purchased in a physical format--I eventually upgraded my worn-out cassette for a CD--and it took me years before I finally bought "Vs." When my wife turned out to own "Vitalogy" at the time we started dating, I realized the circle had finally become complete. However, I've never listened to any of their albums after "Vitalogy"; I've honestly never cared to. Don't get me wrong, I like Pearl Jam (overall), I just don't like them *that* much.
That's what makes this greatest hits album so perfect. Yes, it highlights their biggest hits as well as some of their lesser-known-but-still-noteworthy songs. It's also an incredibly well-balanced compilation, keeping the rockers on the first disc and the slower tunes on the second disc. It also flows very well and captures a pretty broad spectrum of their time with Epic Records. Unfortunately, the sound quality leaves much to be desired, especially after you hear the remastered editions of "Ten," "Vs.", and "Vitalogy." I also don't know why anyone thought it a good idea to use the single version of "Even Flow," because, in my opinion, it's borderline terrible compared to the album version. Aside from that, this is honestly a solid collection of songs and an earnest representative of their earlier work.
My Best Buy number: 0953637391
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No, I would not recommend this to a friend.
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![Wasted...Again [CD]](https://pisces.bbystatic.com/image2/BestBuy_US/images/products/0565/0565515_sa.jpg)
Customer Rating
5
A Retrospective of Black Flag Circa 1976-1986
on September 13, 2017
Posted by: Parkas4Kids
from Dundalk, MD, USA
It's taken me years to put together what I consider the "essential" collection of Black Flag releases. I've listened to everything in their catalogue, and their body of work is...extensive. But how do you come up with the ultimate collection of albums/singles/EPs? Well, "Wasted...Again" is a pretty good place to start.
Before I go any further, let me say this: I had "The First Four Years," but I was looking for more of a career overview when I bought this album, and that's exactly what this is. "Wasted...Again" is more of a retrospective than a greatest hits album. "The First Four Years" is a compilation of the pre-Henry Rollins releases (everything on that album had been previously released), and "Everything Went Black" was basically a collection of demo recordings (if you can call them that). My collection includes "Nervous Breakdown," "Jealous Again," "Six Pack," "Damaged," and "Wasted...Again." That's it. In my opinion, those are the "essential" Black Flag releases.
Unfortunately, "Wasted...Again" covers only a portion of Black Flag's earliest releases, which are among my favorite, but it does manage to cover some of the best of their later releases, too. The first half of the album are covered in "The First Four Years" with the exception of "T.V. Party," which is from "Damaged" (not the "T.V. Party" single; I've listened to both versions, and this one is from "Damaged") and "I Don't Care," which is from "Everything Went Black." It's the second half of the album that makes it worth the money. Of the second half, "Louie Louie" can also be found on "The First Four Years" and "Gimmie Gimmie Gimmie" is from "Everything Went Black." The rest of the songs are album cuts, my favorites being "Slip It In" and "Drinking and Driving."
If I were to come up with an overall career overview of Black Flag's work, it would be different. I think the same goes for pretty much every fan out there. However, the twelve songs here are an excellent introduction to the mind of Greg Ginn & Co., and I think that was the point. Keep in mind that the "I Can See You" EP would not be released for another two years after the release of "Wasted...Again," and no live cuts were included on this album, either. Everything here was recorded in the studio.
My Best Buy number: 0953637391
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I would recommend this to a friend!
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![Star Wars [CD]](https://pisces.bbystatic.com/image2/BestBuy_US/images/products/4320/4320435_sa.jpg)
Customer Rating
4
Free Wilco! (Literally, Not Figuratively)
on September 13, 2017
Posted by: Parkas4Kids
from Dundalk, MD, USA
For years, Wilco albums has been one of those bands that constantly pops up under my Recommendations (they still do), but I'd honestly never taken the time to sit down and listen to an album. After Jeff Tweedy released his first solo record, I thought he'd parted ways with the band and that they wouldn't be making music anymore. Then, when 'Star Wars' got released for a limited free digital release, and I decided it was time to get my first Wilco album. I mean, ain't nothing cheaper than something free, right?
I'm a big fan and supporter of indie music. Granted, it seems like it gets harder and harder to define what's "indie" anymore, but what I like is bands that aren't afraid to experiment with new ideas or challenge our perception of genre labels. I think that's why The Internet has been trying to get me to listen to Wilco for all these years. And, after having listened to 'Star Wars' several times, I can see why.
Being my first Wilco album, I had no idea what to expect. As overused a term as "indie" is, "alternative" is an even more overused term when describing music. What was "alternative" when the term was coined isn't "alternative" anymore, so I try to avoid using it whenever possible. However, seeing as how Wilco began back in 1994, I think it's an appropriate use of the term. Tweedy & Co. definitely push the "alternative" envelope by experimenting with non-traditional sounds and elements into their music. They are clearly a very diverse and talented group of musicians, and it's no wonder they've been as successful a band as they've been.
While this is my first Wilco album, it's hard for me to pinpoint any particular songs I can identify as my favorite. "Random Name Generator" will often pop into my head at random times, so it's an easy go-to earworm. But will this be my only Wilco album? Probably not, unless I decide not to sit down and listen to any of the rest of their recordings. One down, eight to go....
My Best Buy number: 0953637391
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