But it's alright now...

Photo by Helmut Newton

The newest Rolling Stones documentary, "Crossfire Hurricane", finally making it's way to the U.S. courtesy of HBO, is a celebration of the Stones 50th anniversary as a band. Based on interviews conducted on the eve of their 50th anniversary date (with no cameras allowed), "Crossfire Hurricane" is an amazing collection of mostly previously unseen footage, presented largely in chronological order. Even a good deal of the familiar footage is offered with alternate views / takes. The film opens with a segment with Dick Cavett and Mick Jagger backstage at Madison Square Garden before a show in 1972, followed by the band onstage launching into "Street Fighting Man". Then it's back to the beginning of the band's history. From interviews to concert performances to television appearances to offstage footage, this is just a dazzling movie for any Stones fan. The band interviews (which include Bill Wyman and Mick Taylor) mesh magnificently with the film. Part of the pre-release hype noted that "no subject is taboo" and, true, not too much goes left unsaid. But the film does stop a little short on the band's history, basically ignoring the last 20 years. Alla the unseen footage makes it an definite must see for any Stones fan worth their salt. For those who've lived in caves or the very young, it also is a great document of one of the greatest bands in rock history. As a fairly serious Stones fan, I absolutely loved this film. "Crossfire Hurricane" is on HBO On Demand until December 17.

Psychedelic dimensions...

I finally got around to hearing the new Neil Young and Aerosmith CD's last week. The Aerosmith CD, "Music from Another Dimension" played out to my suspicions, mentioned here last time. There's a definite split beyond rockers nodding and dipping into the band's rich past, and more of those power ballads that they threw out at us in the '90's. While those ballads were very successful for the band and there's still a decent size audience for them, in my book they're kinda played out. Steven Tyler is said to have a fondness for the style because it allows him to show the range of his voice, which it does. To me, there might be somewhere else they could go with it. It just doesn't seem like they're breaking any new ground with these types of songs. The rockers on the other hand, do open up in a slightly fresher direction and do have that sense of that "old Aerosmith" sound. Strangely enough, the balance between the two types of songs is split almost exactly down the middle. Of the stand out songs, one is one of the bonus tracks. Even the 3 extra tracks kinda leave you a bit mystified. Dunno... maybe it needs to grow on me a bit more but, at the moment, it didn't really have me all that excited. All of the talk leading up to this release usually jumped right over their last release "Honkin' On Bobo" like it never existed. But, ya know what? I think that was a better CD and staying in that vein (not necessarily an all or mostly covers record) woulda been a bit more powerful and woulda showed their teeth a lot more. But as a lot of these great bands of the '60's and '70's start reaching their 60's and '70's, they've earned the right to put out whatever kinda record they feel like making at this point and a lotta them do.

Which leads me to the new Neil Young release, 'Psychedelic Pill'. The great thing about when Neil hitches up with Crazy Horse is they just lock into that sound and groove and just go. A lot of it is familiar territory and you can tell that they could just give a crap. Songs go on for long periods of time ("Driftin' Back" clocks in at a live Allman Brothers like 27+ minutes) and it all sounds like, well, Neil Young and Crazy Horse. The stand out for me is the title track which throws in a 'Le Noise' like flange throughout the song (there's a bonus version without the effect). This CD didn't necessarily excite me too much either but I do like it though. Neil and the Horse are very comfortable with the sound they've been working on for 40 years now and that's cool. If you like your Neil Young grooves without experimentation, you should be happy with this CD.

Be sure to check out tracks from both CD's on NOTIMEWARP RADIO

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Back in ye saddle...

Just got done watching the stream from this afternoon's Aerosmith concert at 1325 Commonwealth in Boston. This was the apartments they lived at way back in the day when they were just starting out. They decided to return to the scene for a free outdoor gig on the bed of a truck, to celebrate the release of their to-be-released-tomorrow album, 'Music From Another Dimension'. After being presented championship game balls from New England Patriots' Owner Bob Kraft, the band grooved their way through a 9 song, 45 minute set of, surprising mostly older material. Opening with "Walking the Dog", they followed with 2 more from their first album before jumping to "Lover Alot" from the new CD. Other than "Oh Yeah", this was all they did from the new CD. I found it interesting that the whole 80's and 90's ('00's too) were completely left out. No power ballads either. The point seemed to be how well (and how much) the new songs fit in with the early catalog. Even though it's worked out quite well for them, Aerosmith is another band who has a faction of their fan base that wishes they would revert back to their "good old days" and just rock. Of what I've heard from "Music From Another Dimension", they seem to be appeasing both factions of their fan base. It doesn't exactly sound like two different records mashed together but more something for everybody. The show anyway, found Aerosmith in good form. They didn't really let loose until the end on "Train Kept a Rollin'" but it was still worth the wait. Coulda been a little lack of return energy perhaps from the crowd. Large in size, small on noise and feedback (unless you wanna count the Patriots cheerleaders). It's still a good watch and hopefully is just a warm up for the upcoming tour/media blitz. You can also catch some tunes from the CD on NOTIMEWARP RADIO...

                                                                (photo by Matt Stone)