"Seconds of Pleasure" by Rockpile (released 1980 - remastered 2004)
The only release from these legendary English new wave/retro rockers. Featuring Nick Lowe (bass, vocals), Dave Edmunds (guitar, vocals) Billy Bremner (guitar, vocals) and Terry Williams (drums, drums, drums) Rockpile revs up American rockabilly and R&B to perfection. Every song is filled with memorable melodies and is bursting with hooks. Covers of "Teacher Teacher" and "If Sugar was as Sweet as You" get things off to a rollicking start. The bouncy "Heart" features an outstanding vocal performance by Bremner and a blistering solo from Edmunds. Chiming guitars and brilliant harmonies propel "Now and Always". Cracking drums launch the shuffle "Play That Fast Thing (One More Time)" "Wrong Again" is a spunky number highlighting Edmund's vocals and guitar. The bubbling soul of "When I Write the Book" is driven by drums and organ. "Fool Too Long" is a dark rocker filled with crashing guitars and vocal harmonies. The album ends with the ripping "You Ain't Nothin' But Fine" maybe the best song Chuck Berry didn't write. The remaster includes the songs from the 45 issued with the original pressing of the LP. It features four Everly Brothers songs lovingly sung by Lowe and Edmunds. There are also three excellent live tracks making this remaster a must buy. It's sad that this is the only release by Rockpile but we're fortunate they left us with this little slice of pop brilliance.
"Majesty Shredding" by Superchunk (released 2010)
I am late to the party in regards to "Superchunk", a four piece indie-rock outfit from North Carolina who have been around for over 20 years! Two members (Mac McCaughan and Laura Ballance) formed Merge records which continues to be an influential tastemaker for indie music (Arcade Fire, Dinosaur Jr., M. Ward) and this is their first album in almost ten years! This release sounds incredibly fresh, radiates positive energy and is an astoundingly great record from beginning to end. The disc opens with a howl of feedback and some splendid distortion-fueled guitar skronk on"Digging for Something". The strangely titled "My Gap Feels Weird" follows up with more glorious guitar crunch and strong vocals. "Rosemarie" is a beautifully melodic mid-tempo rocker which leads to my favorite track "Crossed Wires". Buzz saw guitar riffs fuel the tune into a super catchy chorus and more fuzzed out six-string bliss. If they just repeated these same songs again and again I would be satisfied, but no, there's more! The frantic punch of "Slow Drip, the string enhanced "Fractures in Plaster", the roaring twin guitar hum of "Learned to Surf"and the hyper punk workout "Rope Light". "Everything at Once" closes the album in majestic rocking style. Passionate vocals, sugar-coated guitar noise, great songs, if you like Husker Du at their melodic best you will love Superchunk!
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