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3/2/2009
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CD Spotlight Archive
1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004

The Beatles: 1
December 29, 2000
They formed roughly 40 years ago. They broke up roughly 30 years ago. One of them has been dead for 20 years. But the Beatles continue to prove their timelessness with their latest release, simply titled 1. Some may say 1 is a dispensible "greatest hits" CD. But don't tell that to the 3.3 million people who have bought the album since its release just five weeks ago (I was personally responsible for 3 of those). By now it is very likely this CD has already outsold both the "blue" and "red" double-CD Beatles compilations re-released back in '93. And it's looking like the CD may become the best-selling album EVER.

So just what is it about this disc that makes it so special? I have a few guesses. First and foremost, it's really the first SINGLE-CD release of Beatles hits. Kudos to the record company for allowing 72 minutes of music on one CD, rather than laying down 90 minutes worth of music and making us pay for a double-CD. Second, every song on the disc was #1 in some country at some point. Can you think of ONE other artist who can release a CD containing TWENTY-SEVEN number 1 singles? I think not!

Third, Beatles hysteria (while it never really went away) is experiencing a rebirth of sorts. The 1990's saw the release of several new Beatles compilations. 2000 marked the 20th anniversary of John's death, and saw the release of the much-anticipated Beatles Anthology book. Timing is everything, and 1's pre-Christmas release guaranteed it's place in many a stocking. Lastly, it's just good music. I dare you to play this CD without singing along to ANY of the tunes. It's physically impossible! Long live The Beatles!

Tony Iommi: Iommi
November 13, 2000
In the spotlight this month are two CDs: Tony Iommi's solo debut, aptly titled Iommi, and Collective Soul's latest offering, Blender. If you don't know who Tony Iommi is, you're probably not alone. Would it help if I told you he was the lead guitarist (and mastermind) of Black Sabbath fame? After 30 years with Sabbath, Mr. Iommi has finally released a solo album, and he has done it in grand fashion.

You see, Iommi wrote the music for his disc, but he invited 10 of his favorite singers to write the melodies and lyrics, and to belt out the tunes. This guy has influenced SOOO many of our favorite rock bands, and it's neat to hear some well-known frontmen (and one woman!) test their vocal chords over Iommi's trademark power chords.

Highlights include the opening track featuring Henry Rollins, the single "Goodbye Lament" featuring the Foo Fighters' Dave Grohl, "Black Oblivion" featuring Smashing Pumpkins' Billy Corgan, as well as tracks boasting vocals from Type O Negative's Peter Steele and Billy Idol. And for you purists out there, there's even a Sabbath reunion of sorts on the track "Who's Fooling Who", featuring Bill Ward and His Ozz-ness! And just to address a pet peeve of mine: Some are calling Iommi the heavy-metal version of Santana's Supernatural, but in fact Iommi was working on this album before that craze hit. Do yourself a favor and go pick this one up!

Collective Soul: Blender
November 13, 2000
Speaking of artists influenced by Iommi's "other" band, Collective Soul recently released Blender, their fifth studio album. That's right, folks, the "one-hit wonders" who brought you "Shine" have put out FIVE albums already! On first listen I was a little concerned. Collective Soul is about as "pure rock" as they come, but this disc and their last one are showing some hints of electronics, drum loops, and other non-"pure rock" traces (by my definition, anyway). I was even more concerned that the disc ran less than 40 minutes, and the longest song was 3 minutes and 48 seconds.

But don't be fooled by my early concerns: Blender is a Collective Soul album through-and-through. By the second listen I was warming up to the tunes, and by the third listen the album had won me over. All 11 tracks are excellent, from signature Collective Soul tracks like "Skin" and "Why Pt. 2" to the eclectic "You Speak My Language". Also check out "Perfect Day", a gem featuring some vocals and piano work from Elton John. And one final note: These guys are amazing live, so make sure you catch them when they come to town!

Fuel: Something Like Human
September 29, 2000
This month's featured CD should be no surprise to anyone. Yes, it's Fuel's sophomore effort, Something Like Human. Granted, I'd probably feel obligated to feature Fuel this month, even if the CD sucked. But let me tell you, there's NO sucking going on here! The boys open the album with a bang, in the form of "Last Time". Ya gotta love the single, "Hemorrhage (In My Hands)", even if you have trouble spelling "hemorrhage". By the fifth track, Fuel throws its longtime fans a bone (and quite the tasty one at that) in the form of the oft-live-performed "Bad Day". The biggest surprises for me on the disc were tracks like "Easy" and "Down", which make me wonder just how much Alice In Chains and Stone Temple Pilots these guys have been listening to lately! No complaints here, though. Fuel continues to deliver solid rock-and-roll, and this album is a must-have for any modern rock fan. It's hard for me to digest the fact that the first time I saw these guys (Summer '95) they were playing covers during happy hour at The Twist in the Harrisburg Marriott. Even back then, I knew Fuel had something special. With Something Like Human, they continue to impress.

Eve 6: Horrorscope August 6, 2000
Horrorscope, the sophomore effort from Eve 6, picks up right where the band's self-titled debut left off. These guys have a gift for writing hook-laden pop/rock you'll be singing long after the CD stops playing. I hope Eve 6 doesn't get pigeonholed as a one-hit wonder ("Inside Out"), because both CDs have a lot to offer. "Promise", the first single, was apparently written before the first album was even recorded, and has as much mass appeal potential as "Inside Out". "On The Roof Again" and "Sunset Strip Bitch" are well-crafted tracks that will have you singing along by the second or third listen. The whole album rocks, and it's definitely one of a select few albums on my "must-have" list for this year.

Nina Gordon: Tonight and the Rest of My Life
July 6, 2000
Maybe there is a silver lining to be found in the fact that Nina Gordon left Veruca Salt after 1997's Eight Arms To Hold You: This year we get a new album from Louise Post's new incarnation of Veruca Salt and a new album from Nina!

Don't expect a Veruca Salt knockoff from Nina's first solo CD, Tonight and the Rest of My Life (with the possible exception of "Badway"). Instead, Nina showcases her quieter, more melodic side. The results are quite impressive, not to mention addictive. Pick this one up and listen to it in your quieter moods, but make sure you crank the loud tunes to remind you that Nina still knows how to ROCK!

Veruca Salt: Resolver
July 6, 2000
Louise and the totally-regrouped Veruca Salt also strayed a bit from the traditional Veruca Salt format. There are more all-out rockers on Veruca Salt's Resolver than on Nina's disc, but there are also several songs showcasing Louise's softer side. Personally, I think Nina and Louise made a great songwriting team, and I miss the old Veruca Salt. But if both of them can continue to crank out quality CDs like these two, I'll be happy to listen to them both.

No Doubt: Return of Saturn
May 29, 2000
We had a long wait between No Doubt albums. 1995's Tragic Kingdom shot up the charts on singles including "Just a Girl", "Spiderwebs", and "Don't Speak". Then No Doubt seemed to drop off the face of the Earth. In reality, the band was putting all its energy into the new followup album, Return of Saturn. Everything about this album is great. Almost all traces of the band's ska roots are gone (personally, I am not a big fan of the ska genre), and a very unique rock sound has emerged. Radio staples "New" and "Ex-Girlfriend" are great tracks. "Simple Kind of Life", Gwen Stefani's first songwriting credit, is another cool tune (it will grow on you if you don't like it on the first listen!). But "Artificial Sweetner" (an ingenious metaphor for "faking I love yous") is by far my favorite tune on this disc, and is reminiscent of the lyrically creative tunes penned by Dave Pirner of Soul Asylum. Speaking of creative, even the album title is great. Apparently the "Return of Saturn" to a particular spot in its orbit occurs every 30 years. And wouldn't you know it, Gwen turned 30 last October.

Muse: Showbiz
April 10, 2000
This month's featured CD is Showbiz from the British band Muse. Rarely does a new band strike me as strongly as Muse did from my very first listen. At the risk of pigeonholing them, I have to admit that the band reminds me a lot of Radiohead. Both bands have creative musical styles accentuated by passionate vocals, but both bands also have their feet firmly planted in quality guitar rock. From sparse acoustic songs (Unintended) to crank-it-up rockers (Muscle Museum, Uno, Cave), this album has a lot to offer. Showbiz is one of only a handful of albums I consider to be excellent from start to finish. While there have been a couple of singles released from the album, don't expect to hear a lot of these guys on the radio. But do yourself a favor: Turn off that latest Britney Spears or Kid Rock tune and go buy this disc right away. You won't be disappointed!

Clove: Go
March 5, 2000
If there was any doubt in your mind that Clove's Go would be featured in this month's CD Spotlight, you just don't know me very well! Yes, the long-awaited followup to the band's 1998 release, The Fragrant Explosion is finally here! Clove has gained an enormous amount of popularity in the past two years, and Go is clear sign that their success will continue well into the future. Lead singer Jennifer Cerreta delivers creative lyrics that tell interesting stories and showcase her ever-impressive voice. Add to that the tight instrumentation Dave, Jen, Kevin and Rick have perfected over several hundred gigs, and you've got one fine album. Among my favorite tracks are the title track, Family, Savannah and Backseat. And let's not forget the awesome cover of Led Zeppelin's "Going To California"! For samples of all the songs on Go and lots of other cool stuff, be sure to visit Clove's official web site. While you're at it, have a look Clove's first fan page, For My Fellow Fans of Clove (nice work, Matt!). Last but not least, go see a Clove show! You won't regret it!

D'arey October: Guide To Teenage Glamour
January 24, 2000
D'arey October and Mary Prankster have quite a few things in common. They're both female-fronted. They both have a great sound and great originals to go with it. I think I'm correct in assuming they're both using pseudonyms. :-) They both have some songs you wouldn't hear on the radio without some bleeps. They're both playing at Hiester's Lanes in Reading on Feb 19 (be there!). They've both been featured in past CD of the Month spotlights right here. They've both recently released their second CD. And guess what? Those very two CDs are sharing my CD of the Month spotlight (hey, I make the rules around here!).

D'arey October's Guide to Teenage Glamour is everything I was hoping for in a follow-up to D'arey October's 1998 release, Fighting the Moon. The tunes rock. The band is tight. D'arey's vocals are excellent. This band has very rapidly worked its way into my list of local favorites. Both CDs are a must-buy, and their live gigs are a must-see! Here's hoping this band has a long and prosperous future, 'cause I think they've got big things ahead of them.

Mary Prankster: Roulette Girl
January 24, 2000
Roulette Girl, Mary Prankster's sophomore effort, continues the tougue-in-cheek humor of her 1998 release, Blue Skies Over Dundalk. In general the new tunes are a little more radio-friendly than those on her first disc, but they've every bit as well-written and funny (and, yes, brief). Mary is another must-see live act. Okay, her catalog of originals doesn't take much more than 40 minutes to rip through, but her onstage banter is beyond compare. And, hey, her new tune "Punk Rock Heaven" is enough to scare me into going to every one of her shows!

Past CD Spotlights:

Alter Bridge: One Day Remains
Alanis Morissette: Unplugged
Audioslave: Audioslave
Avril Lavigne: Let Go
Avril Lavigne: Under My Skin
The Beatles: 1
Big Wreck: In Loving Memory Of...
Big Wreck: The Pleasure and the Greed
Black Sabbath: Reunion
Chevelle: Wonder What's Next
Chris Cornell: Euphoria Morning
Clove: Go
Clove: Absolutely Nothing
Collective Soul: Dosage
Collective Soul: Blender
Courtney Love: America's Sweetheart
Darcie Miner: Down To Earth
D'Arey October: Fighting The Moon
D'Arey October: Guide To Teenage Glamour
Evanescence: Fallen
Eve 6: Eve 6
Eve 6: Horrorscope
The Exies: Inertia
Foo Fighters: There Is Nothing Left To Lose
Foo Fighters: One By One
Fuel: Something Like Human
Fuel: Natural Selection
Garbage: Beautifulgarbage
Gas Giants: From Beyond The Back Burner
Hole: Celebrity Skin
Jane's Addiction: Strays
Julian Fist: Pushing Audio Platinum
Lennon: 5:30 Saturday Morning
Live: The Distance To Here
Live: V
Liz Phair: Liz Phair
Mary Prankster: Blue Skies Over Dundalk
Mary Prankster: Roulette Girl
Michelle Branch: The Spirit Room
Moodroom: Hung Up On Breathing
Muse: Showbiz
Nina Gordon: Tonight and the Rest of My Life
No Doubt: Return of Saturn
Our Lady Peace: Gravity
Pearl Jam: Live On Two Legs
Pearl Jam: Live in State College 5/3/03
Pearl Jam: Lost Dogs
Puddle Of Mudd: Control
Republica: Speed Ballads
Silverchair: Neon Ballroom
Stone Temple Pilots: Thank You
The Cranberries: Bury The Hatchet
The Jellybricks: Soap Opera
Thornley: Come Again
Tonic: Head On Straight
Tony Iommi: Iommi
U.P.O.: No Pleasantries
Velvet Revolver: Contraband
Veruca Salt: Resolver
Zwan: Mary Star of the Sea

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