Southside Johnny and the Asbury Jukes - Hearts Of Stone (released - 1978)
This is the album where Southside Johnny & The Asbury Jukes put it all together and should have hit the big time like their buddy from Jersey, Springsteen, except that it never happened. Following two albums of uneven (but eminently enjoyable) R&B covers paired with originals. "Hearts Of Stone" is where everything coalesces. The wizard behind this musical alchemy is Steven Van Zandt (Little Steven) whose soulful songwriting, arrangements, production, rhythm guitar and background vocals create a masterpiece! Southside has obviously studied the great Sam Cooke's style and has a passionate blues soaked voice made for this music. The mighty Max Weinberg guests on drums and the horn section led by trombonist, La Bamba ("Conan") drive every song. The album explodes out of the blocks with the pounding "Got to be a Better Way Home" highlighted by a screaming guitar solo from Billy Rush. "I Played the Fool" stands toe to toe with the best of Motown. The Springsteen songs (from his "Darkness on the Edge of Town" sessions) are wonderful. The title track is a soaring ballad that culminates with a transcendent guitar solo from Van Zandt and the perky "Talk to Me" is the hit single that never was. My two favorites are "Take it Inside" where the drums and guitars build to release on the horn drenched chorus and "Trapped Again" which simmers through the verses before culminating in another emotional spiraling solo from Billy Rush! There's plenty more but you get the idea. Similar to Boston's J. Geil's Band this is real, heart-on-your-sleeve, dynamic, sweaty, rock and soul music at it's best. Although they perform to this day, due to take your pick; lack of promotion, little airplay, bad timing, waning interest in R&B music or all of the above this overlooked but acclaimed album ended up as the high water mark for the band.
Tinted Windows - Tinted Windows (released 2009)
This album is truly a sum of it's parts. James Iha brings his buzzing guitar from Smashing Pumpkins, Bun E. Carlos pounds the drums in vintage Cheap Trick style, Taylor Hanson (from teen idols Hanson) supplies the perfect pleading tenor voice and pop genius mastermind Adam Schlesinger (Fountains of Wayne) supplies the bulk of songwriting, bass and production to this Power Pop supergroup! Power Pop is a genre focusing on strong melody, catchy hooks and lots of guitar - glorious chiming, jangling, fuzzy guitar (early examples would be Badfinger, The Raspberries and Big Star). Here is a record that doesn't pretend to be anything other than what it is - expertly crafted songs with tight melodies and dripping with hooks! It's all too rare that a record like this comes along that is entertaining front to back and just plain FUN! Perfect pop gems are sprinkled throughout the album, from the opener "Kind of a Girl" through "Without Love" "We Got Something" and "Doncha Wanna" to closer "Take Me Back". A pretty ballad written by Iha "Back With You" breaks the tempo up nicely following the driving "Can't Get A Read on You" (a song Green Day would be proud to have written). "Nothing to Me" finds Taylor doing a pretty incredible Robin Zander (Cheap Trick) impression. This band is absolutely bursting with talent and each member's skills are shown to great effect. Iha's guitar leads and fills are always sharp and succinct never stepping on the melodies or Hanson's great vocals. Although the band did tour following this release it seems this 36 minutes of music may well be all we're left with from Tinted Windows. Always leave them wanting more - mission accomplished.
