As far as synth-pop records go, Ministry’s debut major label effort, With Sympathy, has always been one of my favorites. I remember buying the album sight-unseen in 1983, having read…
Darren Robbins
1 Min Read
To promote the release of their latest album, How To Dismantle An Atom Bomb (and to film the video for the single “All Because Of You”), U2 performed on a…
Darren Robbins
1 Min Read
We all have our guilty pleasures, right? I know a guy in a death metal band who is a huge Carpenters fan. I like my 80’s music cheesy. I bought…
Darren Robbins
1 Min Read
In 1986, there was a mini-revival of rock-tinged country acts. Two such bands came charging out of Wisconsin, releasing their debut efforts within weeks of each other. One you’ve heard…
Darren Robbins
1 Min Read
It’s easy to hate a band with a career-making/career-stunting hit like “Closing Time”, but I will go on-record as saying that Semisonic wrote some cool songs. In addition to the…
Jeff Giles
1 Min Read
Some of you have been patiently waiting for this, and patience is nothing if not a virtue, so prepare to be rewarded. This week’s Bootleg City is THREE discs of…
John C. Hughes
2 Min Read
1982 was a big year for the J. Geils Band — after 13 albums, hundreds and hundreds of live shows and a few scattered Top 40 hits, they became overnight…
Jeff Giles
24 Min Read
[Jefito’s note: Elo, kiddies, and welcome to the Complete Idiot’s Guide to Cheap Trick! This week’s entry is an unexpected, pleasant surprise for me — a couple of weeks ago,…
Darren Robbins
2 Min Read
Ah, yes, 1978. Chicago. Where else would a power pop fan have wanted to be at the time? Within a stone’s throw of the Sears tower, you could’ve hit any…
Darren Robbins
1 Min Read
Due to popular demand, the 2003 In Color tracks are being made available through March to all DONATE TO CHARITY SLICE readers. To sweeten the pot, I am also making…
Darren Robbins
4 Min Read
Starz/Starz (Capitol) 1976 From the ashes of early 70’s one-hit wonder Looking Glass (“Brandy (You’re A Fine Girl)”) came this New Jersey hard rock act. Managed by Bill Aucoin (who…
Jeff Giles
2 Min Read
Okay, I know I promised some sweet live Boss this week, but my daughter had other ideas for my time. I spend less time writing these Bootleg City entries than…
Darren Robbins
1 Min Read
For those not in the know, before Butch Walker was the producer de jour that he is these days (producing and co-writing with artists from Midtown to Sevendust to Avril…
Darren Robbins
1 Min Read
To even the most ardent of Adrian Belew fan, his membership in the little-known group the Bears is but a footnote. As a member of this band, Belew released two…
Jeff Giles
2 Min Read
David Cassidy – David Cassidy (1990)purchase this album The words “David Cassidy” and “minor MOR classic” might not seem like a natural fit, but believe it or not, about fifteen…
Jeff Giles
2 Min Read
Jules Shear – Dreams Don’t Count (2006)purchase this album What do Danny Kortchmar, Ric Ocasek, Elliot Easton, Cyndi Lauper, The Bangles, Peter Gabriel, Marshall Crenshaw, Tommy Keene, The Waterboys, The…
Jeff Giles
1 Min Read
Jack Johnson and Friends – Sing-A-Longs and Lullabies for the film Curious George (2006)purchase this album I’ve developed sort of a reputation around my house for hating Jack Johnson’s music,…
Jeff Giles
2 Min Read
The Veronicas – The Secret Life Of… (2006) purchase this album There was this girl when I was in high school — I forget her name, but it was probably…
Jeff Giles
10 Min Read
[jefito’s note: You see those two guys up there? That’s Ken from Gaper’s Blog and his old pal Jeff, otherwise known as the people responsible for today’s Smiths Guide. I’m…
Jeff Giles
1 Min Read
Got an e-mail from Matt at Wiredset Records, announcing the label’s impending Stateside release of Colin MacIntyre’s This Is Hope. The album’s been out in other parts of the world…
Jeff Giles
1 Min Read
Got an e-mail from Matt at Wiredset Records, announcing the label’s impending Stateside release of Colin MacIntyre‘s This Is Hope. The album’s been out in other parts of the world…
Jeff Giles
2 Min Read
As some of you know, in a former life, I was a recording “artist”/label owner. From 1994 to 2001, I sat waist-deep in Grab Bag Records, whose tiny stable included…
John C. Hughes
1 Min Read
Another band Melbourne from punk’s ashes, Hunters & Collectors began life in 1981 as a raucous, horn-fueled live act, feeding off audience participation and feel more than songwriting. Over the…
Jeff Giles
1 Min Read
Marilynne Robinson, Gilead (2004) purchase this book I’d never have believed I’d see a wife of mine doting on a child of mine. It still amazes me every time I…
Jeff Giles
1 Min Read
Marilynne Robinson, Gilead (2004)purchase this book I’d never have believed I’d see a wife of mine doting on a child of mine. It still amazes me every time I think…
Darren Robbins
1 Min Read
When you talk about woefully obscure bands, arguably, the “Most Obscure Major Label Band of All Time Award” just may go to Canada’s The Deserters. I would be willing to…
Jeff Giles
1 Min Read
Good morning, friends, and welcome back to Bootleg City! Today’s visit takes us to The Other Side, a collection of live and unreleased tracks from a Mister John Hiatt. I…
Jeff Giles
1 Min Read
Good morning, friends, and welcome back to Bootleg City! Today’s visit takes us to The Other Side, a collection of live and unreleased tracks from a Mister John Hiatt. I…
John C. Hughes
1 Min Read
Originally presented on April 28, 2005. Another Lost in the “Ëœ80s oddity”¦there’s not much biographical info or background floating around about The Other Ones, a Scandinavian-ish group who put out…