Oh, hello Mr. Soul

Has Neil Young ever made bad music? The obvious answer (to this Neil Young fan) is NO! A couple weeks ago I bought Buffalo Springfield's 2nd album Again from 1967. It kicks off with a less-than-3-minute early Neil Young rocker called "Mr. Soul". This song not only showcases Neil's talent on the guitar it also foreshadows the future of his fantastic facility. In other words, the man can write!

The song essentially tells of his disgust with stardom and star-struck fans, which is amazing since he had literally just become a star! I think the story is that he had an epileptic fit on stage and then sat in the hospital for a few days and penned this song while reflecting on being 'a rock star'.

Everything about this song - from the way he sings to what he sings and the way he plays to what he plays is staggering. Both his voice and his guitar are full of angst and drive straight to the brain.

The driving song fades out with these words repeating: "Is it strange I should change? I don't know, why don't you ask her!" If you know it, you know it. If you don't, find it!

Good Things in LA?

Often, I speak disparagingly about Los Angeles. Usually my rants are centered on the smog, the traffic or the seemingly plastic feel of the place. However, every few years a truly groundbreaking band creeps out of the smog and causes me to take another look at the City of Angels. Of course, I generally don't change my opinion of the place... but, I do wonder where these bands come from.

These guys have been around for a few years now and I have heard their music. But, I recently picked up their initial 2005 EP Pikul (for $3) and have hardly been able to turn it off! Beginning with the opening track, "Kissing Families", this little gem grabs your attention and doesn't loosen it's grip until the very last distorted chord grinds through the amp. Then, if you wait about 90 seconds, the secret song kicks in and slowly schleps your mind along a dreamy sonic landscape.

LA's Silversun Pickups put on a great show at SXSW in Austin in 2006, which was the first time I heard them. Unfortunately, I wasn't there I just heard the recording of it. But, they were very engaging in a live setting and I began looking for their records immediately.

Live, they are able to recreate what they do in the studio with surprising detail. At times, the sound of Silversun Pickups hearkens back to mid-90s British 'shoegazing' bands like My Bloody Valentine or Ride, but ultimately, their sound is theirs. Their follow-up album, Carnavas, is also quite good, but anybody interested in checking these guys out really ought to start with Pikul.

They move in and out of a droning fuzzy wall of sound to wild, shrieking jabs with perfect balance. Each song tells two stories - obviously the lyrics, but the music itself is telling a story. Though Brian Aubert's voice is hypnotic, it was the music that initially caught my ear. Again, the lyrics do tell a story and that story is worth listening to. I just get caught up in the music itself. Either way, Silversun Pickups' EP and the full-length are both very solid albums from a very promising band.