Joey Gibson’s Blog

I got a record last night by a band called Big Sandy & His Fly Rite Boys and it is really good. Of course, with a name like that, how could it be anything other than good? According to the blurb at the Borders bookstore, it was recorded on vintage equipment so it really has an old sound to it. They sound kind of like the Stray Cats, but recorded about 1956. They also sound a lot like early Elvis. Anyway, the record is called It’s Time and is a really good listen. One of the things that I think helps the sound even more than the old equipment is that they recorded the record with the whole band in the studio, all playing at the same time, just like at a concert. Just like records used to be recorded. Most records today are recorded one instrument at a time and then mixed together afterwards. I really prefer the “everybody ready? All right, let’s go” method of recording. Call me old fashioned if you want.

I really hate songs that end by just fading out instead of coming to an end. It always strikes me as a cop out; the composer couldn’t think of a good way to end it, so they just turn down the volume until it’s gone. But come on! What are these guys going to do when/if they ever play to a live audience? It’s very annoying.

I will say that I’ve heard two bluegrass bands, The Dillards and The Del McCoury Band do live fade-outs that were technically amazing (they actually kept playing softer until you could barely hear them), but I still felt like they just couldn’t come up with a good way to actually end the dang song… Maybe it’s just me…

There’s an advert running on the television right now for AT&T Wireless that features, of all things, the song Blitzkreig Bop by The Ramones. My 4.5 year old son, Thomas, has been running around the house singing the “Hey! Ho! Let’s Go!” chorus that is so prominent in the ad. So Saturday we’re in the car heading for Milledegville, GA for my grandmother-in-law’s funeral. We’ve just been listening to some exquisite Capercaillie when I tell Thomas I have a surprise for him. I pop in my 15 year old copy of Ramones Mania and skip to track 9. As soon as the chorus starts his eyes light up and he starts laughing and singing along. Now it’s the only song he wants to listen to. I think we’ve heard it 12 times since Saturday…

I must confess that I really like t.A.T.u, the Russian (allegedly) lesbian, (allegedly) teenaged singing duo. (I also grew to like the Spice Girls years ago, but that’s another story…) Anyway, I’ve been hearing them on the radio for a while, but I recently got the record, and it’s quite good. Their cover of the classic song “How Soon Is Now?” by The Smiths is excellent. The song “All the Things She Said” is their defining song and is replete with sexually-charged, “we’re lesbians and we really really fancy each other” lyrics. Whether they are or are not into each other (or even girls in general) is up for debate, but they certainly play it up on camera and on stage.

This record is certainly not for the teen aged crowd (though I’m sure it’s a bestseller there), but for the adults, some good listening.