Several outstanding reissues and a terrific new album are worth exploring this week.
Title: God Bless The Go-Go's (Eagle Records)
You might like if you enjoy: The Go-Go's, Belinda Carlisle
Tell me more: God Bless the Go-Go's, the Los Angeles' quintet's 2001 reunion album has just been released as a must-own deluxe edition. Celebrated in connection with its 20th anniversary, God Bless the Go-Go's has been reissued on CD, vinyl and digital formats via Eagle Records. This is the first time the original album version of the album is available on LP (pressed on 140-gram, blue colored vinyl). The deluxe CD and digital versions feature new cover art and both include two bonus tracks. The album fully captures the power and magic of the Go-Go's' groundbreaking 1981 debut Beauty and the Beat. The driving "Unforgiven" (featuring guest Billie Joe Armstrong of Green Day), "Stuck In My Car" and "Automatic Rainy Day" display a flair for melody and power pop without abandoning the group's punk roots. Equally potent are the tuneful mid-tempo confessionals "Apology," "Vision of Nowness" and "Insincere" as well as the shimmering ballad "Here You Are." The two winning bonus tracks – the straightforward rocker "I Think I Need Sleep" and melodic "King of Confusion" – definitely make this collection worth adding to your collection. Here is one fan happy to hear that singer Belinda Carlisle, lead guitarist Charlotte Caffey, singer-guitarist Jane Wiedlin, bassist Kathy Valentine and drummer Gina Schock are set to be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame's class of 2021 on Oct. 30. Information: gogos.com.
Title: All Night Long: An Anthology, 1965-1967 (Omnivore Recordings)
You might like if you enjoy: The Animals, 1960s rock, the Kingsmen
Tell me more: The explosive sound of '60s garage rock is captured across the outstanding new compilation All Night Long: An Anthology, 1965-1967 featuring the Palace Guard. Although poor management ultimately dimmed The Palace Guard's prospects for widespread acclaim, the Hawthorne, CA-based troupe did have enough regional success in Southern California to record enough great material to fill a disc. There are rousing rockers – notably the opener "All Night Long" along with "Falling Sugar," "Oh Blue (The Way I Feel Tonight)," "Saturday's Child" and "Party Lights" – which collectively capture the spirit of the era. Just as impressive are the wistful mid-tempo rock cuts showcasing the band's wonderful vocals ("Playgirl," "A Girl You Can Depend On," "If You Need Me" and more). The psychedelia-styled "Greed" is another true gem on the set. The Palace Guard featured brothers Don, John and David Beaudoin, their roommate Mike Conley, drummer Emitt Rhodes (who subsequently enjoyed success with Merry Go Round and a solo career), bass guitarist Rick Moser and lead guitarist Chuck McClung; Terry Rae replaced Rhodes in 1966 while Teddy Rooney replaced Moser in early 1967. Information: OmnivoreRecordings.com.
Title: Van Weezer (Atlantic / Crush)
You might like if you enjoy: Weezer, 1970s and '80s hard rock
Tell me more: Weezer explores their adolescent influences along with an appreciation of the electric guitar on their fifteenth album Van Weezer which has its obvious roots in the band's early love affair with melodic hard rock of the 1970s and '80s. Weezer (singer-songwriter-guitarist Rivers Cuomo, guitarist Brian Bell, drummer Pat Wilson and bassist Scott Shriner) conjures up the days of Van Halen, Ozzy Osbourne and Whitesnake to deliver a batch of instantly-likable tracks. Take "Blue Dream" – which sonically echoes Osbourne's 1980 classic "Crazy Train" – Weezer blend their signature melodic sheen with plenty of guitar-anchored hard rock attack. "The End of the Game" with its hammering guitar intro and in-the-pocket crunchy verses evokes hits by Whitesnake and 38 Special. Even while cranking up the guitars the band's melodic sense rules the day; the head-banging "1 More Hit" is bolstered by a vocals-heavy chorus and a wicked mid-song heavy metal break while "I Need Some of That" is equally strong with an undeniable chorus and tuneful guitar lines. Elsewhere, Weezer's own distinctive style is showcased on several of the disc's best cuts; "All the Good Ones" recalls the sound of their 2005 favorite "Beverly Hills" while "Sheila Can Do It" mirrors Weezer's mid-90s power pop-meets-indie rock approach. Always eager to surprise, Weezer closes with the gentle acoustic ballad "Precious Metal Girl." Information: Weezer.com.
Title: It Sure Looked Good on Paper: The Steve Goodman Demos (Omnivore Recordings)
You might like if you enjoy: Steve Goodman, John Denver, Don McLean
Tell me more: Blessed with a terrific voice and equally impressive talents as a top-tier songwriter and acoustic guitar player, Steve Goodman sadly lost his battle with leukemia at the age of 36 in 1984 – before the Chicago native could be acknowledged beyond the small and dedicated group of artists and fans who recognized his greatness during his lifetime. Los Angeles' Omnivore Recordings has gone a long way over the past several years to reintroduce Goodman to a wider audience of discerning followers; the newly-issued It Sure Looked Good on Paper: The Steve Goodman Demos is packed with 20 previously-unissued recordings that include both solo acoustic and band demos. The range and depth of the material is truly impressive; an uptempo run through his beloved original "City Of New Orleans," winning Gram Parsons-flavored decree "Eight Ball Blues," romantic "Would You Like To Learn To Dance" and "Yellow Coat," countrified standout "You Never Even Call Me By My Name" co-written with John Prine (and a 1975 hit for David Allan Coe), melancholic "Song For David" and lovely closer "The Water Is Wide." The collection features restoration and mastering by Grammy Award-winning engineer Michael Graves, who has again teamed up with Grammy-winning producer Cheryl Pawelski (who compiled this 20-track collection) to add another important chapter in celebrating the work of Goodman's legacy. Available via audio CD and gatefold double LP, the release features new liner notes by Lee Zimmerman and photos from the Goodman family archive. Information: OmnivoreRecordings.com.
Title: State Songs (Craft Recordings)
You might like if you enjoy: They Might Be Giants, Fountains of Wayne
Tell me more: An expanded digital edition of John Linnell's 1999 cult classic State Songs has just been released via Craft Recordings. One half of groundbreaking outfit They Might Be Giants (along with John Flansburgh), Linnell introduced "State Songs" via a five-song EP issued in 1994; five years late a full-length album was released on audio CD by Zoë/Rounder Records. More than two decades after its creation, "State Songs" remains a fun and fascinating listen with a vast array of far-flung instruments, wide-ranging musical styles and smart lyrics fused together into something special. The instrumental carousel-flavored "Illinois," power-pop gem "The Songs of the Fifty States," sly "West Virginia," buoyant "South Carolina,"glorious "Montana" and Americana art damage cut "Pennsylvania" are among the early standouts on the timeless collection. Just as inviting are the genre-defying "Utah," lovely "Arkansas," swirling "Maine" and the catchy bonus track "Louisiana" (the latter initially released as a B-side on the 1999 vinyl single of "Montana" - a collectible die-cut record in the shape of the USA). For those who love "State Songs" the additional good news is that Linnell is readying his next solo release, "Roman Songs"; that forthcoming EP is reportedly made up of songs written entirely in Latin. Information: CraftRecordings.com.
Robert Kinsler
