Hi there -
Here's my tracklist:

1. Sunken Treasure - Wilco
2. 'Cause we ended as lovers - Jeff Beck
3. Mystery Juice - Sean Lennon
4. Machine Gun - Jimi Hendrix
5. Giving it all away - Roger Daltrey
6. News from Spain - Al Stewart
7. Broken Glass and Lime Juice - Deke Leonard
8. Octoberman - Bill Nelson
9. Where have all the rude boys gone? - Ted Leo and The Pharmacists
10. Contemplation - The Nigiri Combo
11. For the sake of the song - Townes Van Zandt

Track Notes -
I kind of took a cross-section of the music I listen to with the idea of giving you some songs you may never have heard. Some of these songs are very rare. Although unintended there is a theme of "loss" which runs through the CD.

It makes sense I guess as this subject matter would have the most impact on me. Also with exception of 4 songs, all of the songs are more than 20 years old.

I put one of my original songs on here too. It's track #10, Contemplation. Just piano and sax. It features Colin Stetson on sax. He's an awesome player who plays in Tom Waits' band.

enjoy -

FJ

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If nothing ever changes then.....nothing ever changes

Notes about the songs -

1. Sunken Treasure - Wilco
To me Wilco's lead singer, frontman, songwriter and guitarist Jeff Tweedy is about as close to being the "real thing" is they get.
He's a cross between Kurt Cobain and Woody Guthrie. The song Sunken Treasure's message is merely that life isn't all the brochures said it would be.
A realistic statement. But also, there's a resiliance "Music is my savior" which I know a lot of us can relate to.
I've never been disappointed by a Wilco song. Sometimes you have to give a few listens but each album has become like a visit with your oldest dearest friend. This is from a double CD called BEING THERE and every song on it is great.

2. 'Cause we ended as lovers - Jeff Beck
Jeff Beck in my book is the 2nd greatest guitarist in Rock history. Hendrix being number one. The most recent Rolling Stone magazine had a top 100 guitarists in Rock feature. They put Jeff Beck at #14 and Hendrix #1, but I'll stick with my assesment.
Listen to the subtlety in this track. Technical expertise means little to me without emotion. Jeff Beck plays with unbridled emotion. This song was written by Stevie Wonder (I've never heard the original) and is from Jeff's flawless album "BLOW BY BLOW". If you like this song, buy the CD.

3. Mystery Juice - Sean Lennon
This is a great song. Sean Lennon is not one of my all-time favorite artists but I love this song. I feel the ghost of John Lennon here. I can't help but imagine the life Sean Lennon had losing his father at the age of 5 and having only his music as a way of learning from and understanding him. Mystery Juice works for me everytime I hear it. The CD is also titled Mystery Juice. This however, is the only song I really connect with from the CD.

4. Machine Gun - Jimi Hendrix
This song is from the Band of Gypsies CD. Recorded live, New Years Eve 1969/70 at The Fillmore East in New York City. Buddy Miles on Drums and Billy Cox on Bass. I chose this song because although it is lesser know than Purple Haze or Foxy Lady etc.., it exemplifies the pure fire of Jimi's personality and playing.
Hendrix created a genre of music amd set the bar for guitarists.

5. Giving it all away - Roger Daltrey
This song was written and also recorded by Leo Sayer. Daltrey has such a powerfully expressive voice. Daltrey, of course, had been the lead singer for The Who. This is from his first solo album titled merely "Roger Daltrey".

6. News from Spain - Al Stewart
Al Stewart is best known for his major smash hit "Year of the Cat". Stewart however was already quite popular in Great Britain as a folksinger. This song, News From Spain is from the album ORANGE which is from the early 70s. I love the wya this song builds and builds. As you know by now I like dramatic music and dramatic lyrics.

7. Broken Glass and Lime Juice - Deke Leonard
Welshman Deke Leonard was born on the same day (different year) as Beethovan. You can feel the weight and intensity in this very personal song about losing one's virginity. Deke is a great guitarist as well.

That's it for today... I'll write some notes about the others soon.

FJ

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If nothing ever changes then.....nothing ever changes

F.J. in S.F. -- I was just checking out your setlist here and wanted to say that the Ted Leo song you picked, was one of the last songs I regrettably had to cut off my disc. Can't wait to hear your disc.

OK, as a reviewer I suck but I see it's nearly time to change partners so here are my comments on this one:

First, I have never heard any of these before. A few piqued my interest in hearing more.

1. Sunken Treasure - Wilco: Not sure whether I like this one. 2. 'Cause we ended as lovers - Jeff Beck: I like this piece and I plan to visit Rasputin's soon ... 3. Mystery Juice - Sean Lennon: Ok, I guess I just don't get Sean Lennon. 4. Machine Gun - Jimi Hendrix: "Jimi!" 5. Giving it all away - Roger Daltrey: I still haven't figured out whether I like Roger Daltry, though I do like him on _Tommy_. 6. News from Spain - Al Stewart: Very well done and quite different from "Year of the Cat". Back to Rasputin's ... 7. Broken Glass and Lime Juice - Deke Leonard: OK. 8. Octoberman - Bill Nelson: "I am the Octoberman!" Great line. 9. Where have all the rude boys gone? - Ted Leo and The Pharmacists: OK. 10. Contemplation - The Nigiri Combo: Tako, Saba and Uni ... 11. For the sake of the song - Townes Van Zandt: OK.

Thanks, Fred.

Hello,
I have received your cd for this month.

xx
Danielle

I now have the disk - thanks Danielle!

Mike

I've posted the FJ disk to Annika. An early Xmas present

A real "ax heroes" compilation.
I liked all of it, with the possible exception of the ending of track 7 Deke Leonard, which sets my teeth on edge. However for me the real real highlights which I shall listen to many times are the first two and the last two. I need to look into Jeff Beck and Wilco. I'm listening to track 2 now with a big smile. And when you get my disk you'll maybe see that "Contemplation" is just my cup of tea.

This whole Tree thing is just so good!

Many thanks FJ!

Mike

Hi Fred,

I received your CD a few days ago. The first listen was o.k., but like Daniel's CD, I'm going to copy it and listen to it more closely over the x-mas holiday.


Cheers,
Annika

Hi Fred,

here my review of your CD. Sorry I’m a little late.

Wilco – Sunken Treasure

Great track! I have never heard of Wilco before - is the rest like this? Is there an album you could recommend ?

Jeff Beck – ‘Cause we ended as lovers

I’m afraid I’m not so fond of this one

Sean Lennon – Mystery Juice

Is this guy related to John Lennon? Anyway, great track.

Jimi Hendrix – Machine Gun

I’m afraid I just don’t like Jimi Hendrix. I know he’s considered a genius but I just can’t listen to this – it makes my ears hurt.

Roger Daltrey – Giving it all away

This one’s a nice track. But I would need to listen to more of his music to be able to form an opinion.

Al Stewart – News From Spain

I like the beginning of this. But there doesn’t seem to happen that much in this song...

Deke Leonard - Broken Glass and Lime Juice

This one’s cool! I could listen to more of this.

Bill Nelson – Octoberman

I like the song, but I don’t think I could listen to a whole album by him.

Ted Leo and The Pharmacists – Where have all the rude boys gone

Not for me

The Nigiri Combo – Contemplation

This reminds me of the soundtrack of the German Film Beyond Silence, although in the film it’s not a sax, but a clarinet. There’s also a recording of ancient choir music combined with soprano sax by Jon Gabarek. His album is called Officium, which is very nice, too.
This piece is great!!

Townes Van Zandt – For the sake of song

Quite nice, but I do find it a little schmaltzy


Anyway, thanks for sharing!
Cheers,
Annika

Hi Annika -
Thank you for the kind review of the CD. I wanted to answer your questions.

Wilco – Sunken Treasure

Great track! I have never heard of Wilco before - is the rest like this? Is there an album you could recommend ?

Jeff Tweedy is the lead singer and songwriter for Wilco. There's a truthfulness in his lyrics which I strongly relate to. I'm attracted to Wilco's music in music the same way I'm attracted to Suzanne Vega's music. After you listen to an album you feel as if you know the artist.
Sunken Treasure is from a 2-CD set called Being There. I recommend all of the Wilco catalogue but this might be a good place to start. Their most recent CD is called Yankee Hotel Foxtrot. There is a great documentary film about Wilco called "I am Trying to Break Your Heart". You might want to rent it,it's very well made and certainly gives you an idea what the band is like.


Q.
Sean Lennon – Mystery Juice :Is this guy related to John Lennon?
A. Yes. This is John's youngest son. The little dude who was 5 years old when John got killed.
I really dig this song but I'm not nearly as enamoured with the rest of his stuff.

I'm really glad you liked the Deke Leonard track. He's a personal hero. He has a small but loyal cult following.

I'm also very pleased that you enjoyed the Nigiri Combo piece "Contemplation". I'm playing piano on that one and Colin Stetson (Tom Wait's sax player)
is playing sax and clarinet.

The sun is shinning and Spring has finally come out to dance in San Francisco. Hooray !!!

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If nothing ever changes then.....nothing ever changes

1. Sunken Treasure - Wilco

Man, this is just so good! I love it! Great production and everything just fits together. I may very well follow this up.

It reminds me a lot of another tape-tree find that turned out to be gold, Ed Harcourt. Perhaps you ought to seek out his CD, Here Be Monsters, if you haven’t already. I’m sure you wouldn’t be disappointed. This one reminds me of the particular tape-tree track that sprung me into buying the EH CD which was Beneath the Heart of Darkness. It had the same loud bridge that rewards you on the return to the verse.

2. 'Cause we ended as lovers - Jeff Beck

Sexy and smoochy. I’m familiar with Jeff’s work with Roger Waters, of whom I’m a big fan, but I’ve never heard him on his own. As you say, technical ability coupled with passion makes for some very nice music indeed.

3. Mystery Juice - Sean Lennon

Nice song. I love acoustic guitar in pop tracks. Some nice harmonising in this too but I’m not overly keen on his voice – a bit nasal. I have to admit to not being much of a lyrics man, at least until I know something fairly well, but this really caught my attention: I'm always biting more than I can chew to lose the blues I choose to flew the coop, who knew? Brilliant.

Gets a bit early Floydy at the end, Careful with the Axe kinda stuff. Yeah, good track.

4. Machine Gun - Jimi Hendrix

I just don’t do Jimi Hendrix. I’ve tried but this just goes on and on until I have to ffwd.

5. Giving it all away - Roger Daltrey

This one didn’t grab me, although I did like it.

6. News from Spain - Al Stewart

So this is the Al Stewart that was on the British folk scene down London back in the 60s and plays great acoustic guitar? I recognise his voice but I wouldn’t have known this was him. All I’ve heard of him is a couple of tunes he did with one of my biggest guitar heroes, Bert Jansch. I’ve got a video of him playing Jackson C. Frank’s Blues Run the Game with Bert – a classic!

All that said, I’m not too keen on this track, despite the cello which I usually love.

7. Broken Glass and Lime Juice - Deke Leonard

I like this one. It has the qualities of an anthem. Strange that I’ve not heard of them before. Love the build up of key changes.

8. Octoberman - Bill Nelson

Sounds very 80s which is not necessarily a bad thing. I’m not too fond of it though.

9. Where have all the rude boys gone? - Ted Leo and The Pharmacists

A great rockin’ track. Not heard of this bunch before and like what I hear. I imagine they would be fantastic live.

10. Contemplation - The Nigiri Combo

Like this one a lot. Shame you seem to have run out of track notes! What’s this one all about then? Sounds very atmospheric and soundtracky.

11. For the sake of the song - Townes Van Zandt

Reminds me somewhat of the late Warren Zevon, but it didn’t grab me in the way that WZ does.

Overall

Quite an eclectic mix, Fred. Wilco was the standout track for me but there are many others. I’ve heard a few artists I had never heard of before and that’s what the trees are all about! Thanks!

Cams

Greetings Towies! I seem to be a bit late for last month’s CD review, but it was unavoidable seeing that I just got this last week. Actually, Bob sent me Pat’s disc as well. I have no idea which one was supposed to go first, but then again I doubt that it really matters. Sadly, this isn’t one of my favorite mixes, but it has one of my favorite bands (WILCO) and one of my favorite tunes: “Where have all the rude boys gone?”

Wilco – Jeff Tweedy is the man. I love Uncle Tupelo and I love Wilco. Anyway, this song off “Being There” really is a precursor to the brilliance yet to come on Yankee Foxtrot Hotel. The new album’s out tomorrow, and I’ll be the first in line to devour it! Great way to start out the disc.

Jeff Beck – I haven’t heard this guy’s name in a looooong time. Yeah, yeah, I know he was in the Yardbirds and for that I’m supposed to bow down, but I don’t. This is just another long instrumental that to be honest doesn’t hold my attention.

Sean Lennon – Well, he sure ain’t no Julian…(sorry, I couldn’t resist). This is my first time hearing the youngest Lennon son. This is pretty OK. I could see myself listening to this whilst sitting on a pebble by the river playing guitar…(I’ll stop). When this song finally kicks in, it really kicks in and I like it. It’s good to see he’s been more influenced by Sonic Youth than his mother.

Jimi Hendrix – I used to love ticking people off by saying Jimi was overrated. I’m not going to do that today. I’m cool with Jimi.

Roger Daltrey – Who? (I kill me). That early Who stuff was awesome. Once they lost the Mod look, they lost me. Of course in those days, my parents hadn’t even met yet. This actually isn’t as bad as it could have been.

Al Stewart – Where do I begin? After hearing the Foo Fighter’s version of “Baker Street” a couple years ago I had this idea of starting up a punk cover band that did really bad 70s AM-radio songs that get stuck in your head the minute you hear them. Mr. Stewart performed two of the first songs I would have considered for such a project, “Year of the Cat” and “Time Passages.” With that said, I really couldn’t give this song a fair shake.

Deke Leonard – Wow! I just don’t like this guy’s voice. I really haven’t anything else to say.

Bill Nelson – This sounds like a song from an 80s teen movie. I think Andrew McCarthy just blew off Molly Ringwald again. Ducky to the rescue!

TED LEO AND THE MOTHER F-N PHARMACISTS!!!!!!!!! – I SOOOOOO wanted to put this song on my disc and I’m really annoyed that I didn’t have room for it. Ted Leo is one of the coolest dudes around and this is one of his best songs. Now leave me alone as I bounce around the room.

The Nigiri Combo – An instrumental by the curator of this CD. And as I’ve said 100 million times, I’m not of fan of instrumentals, but I must say that this is well done even if it isn’t my style.

Townes Van Zandt – I’m not digging this and something’s telling me that I’m supposed to. Oh well.

Ooops, I just realized I got a bit dyslexic with the name of Wilco's last album...It is in fact called Yankee Hotel Foxtrot. In related news: upon first listen, Wilco's latest A Ghost is Born is a very wild ride.

Hey Scott -

Yeah, I'm listening to the new Wilco right now also. This is my 4th listen through. I'm starting to dig it, but I feel it would have been a lot better with Jay Bennett still in the band.

It reminds me a lot of the John Lennon solo stuff.
Good, great actually but you are kind of left thinking how good it could have been with George Martin or Paul McCartney contributing.

All that said, I'm starting to dig it.

I'm listening to "handshake drugs" right now.
Definitely liking this one.

Hello to everyone in Vegaland... it's been a while since my last post. Hope you all are doing well. I've been busy shooting an independent film called ALICE IN STORAGELAND. Still a little more filming to go. Check out the website at aliceinstorageland.com
Can't wait for the next Suzy V. album, hope she's recording.

peace and love from san francisco

FJ

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If nothing ever changes then.....nothing ever changes

I'm on about my third or fourth listen myself. I got to work and put it in the computer (so I haven't even had a chance to crank up the volume yet). I'm definately digging this. Very hypnotic. I suppose that's why I've accomplished so little this morning.

I actually heard Handshake Drugs on the radio this morning on the way to the Metro (it's an independent station and not one of those clear channel clones).