MonDAVEs Top Ten Records of 2022!

Well, it’s that time of year again, when all us music geeks get to talk about their favorite records of the year. 2022 was kind of an interesting year for me as far as my musical purchases go. There were only a few records I thought were excellent, but there wasn’t anything that I particularly despised either. Most records were just kind of somewhere in the middle for me. Maybe I’m getting older and a little bit jaded. Maybe it was a slow year. Maybe I’m just tired.

Anyway, here’s the top ten new release discs that kept my ears occupied this year.

10. Drive-By Truckers-Welcome To Club XIII
DBT is one of my all time favorite bands so it’s pretty rare when one of their albums doesn’t find its way into one of my top ten lists. This album is full of nostalgia for the band’s early days, reflective in tone, yet still somehow reflective of our time now. All the elements of the best Truckers records are on display from their alternative country style to an appreciation of Southern R&B, classic rock licks, and a punk attitude. This one came together in just a few days and was recorded quickly. Sometimes that can make for a great album, sometimes not. Welcome To Club XIII lands somewhere in between. There are some fine moments, no doubt, but a number of these songs feel like they could have been fleshed out a little more. Still, the high points are more than enough reason to keep returning to the club.

9. The Cult-Under The Midnight Sun
The Cult are one of those hard rock bands who have been around for a long time but flown just under the radar of massive popularity-though they have had their share of cult (no pun intended) success. They are mostly known as a hard rock outfit with wailing guitars by the underrated Billy Duffy and the Jim Morrison/Dave Vanian style lead vocals of Ian Astbury. They have always mixed AC/DC riffs with semi-goth imagery and pseudo-mysticism. It’s an interesting package for sure, but this album is a bit of a departure for the band. The hard rock side has been quite toned down here in favor of moodiness and slow grooves. It’s proven somewhat divisive among fans but the more time I spent with this album the more I liked it. It’s a grower for sure, but worth the effort.

8. Rolling Blackouts C.F.-Endless Rooms
I just discovered this group earlier this year while poking around the Sub Pop records store at the Seattle airport and looking for something new to listen to. This record was being pushed heavily, so I took the bait, and I’m glad I did. Rolling Blackouts C.F. (Coastal Fever) is an indie rock band who sound like American guys trying to sound British. Turns out they are Australian, which legitimizes it somehow. Anyway, the sound is somewhere between R.E.M. and Joy Division, minus the interesting front man and keys. RBCF instead has three guitarists and vocalists. While I am unfamiliar with their early work, this album uses these attributes to create an aural palate that is both familiar and fresh. It never quite works itself up into an all out rocker of an album, but it is an enjoyable and interesting listen.

7. Def Leppard-Diamond Star Halos
Like any band that has been around for decades, Def Leppard have made some really great albums and some really bad ones, with most falling somewhere in between, but more winners than losers I think. Diamond Star Halos is very nearly great, but it is also maddening when it falls short. First, the good stuff. Never ones to hide their influences, this album is at its best when the 70’s glam rock touches are focused on and come shining through. There are even a few riffs that recall the band’s pre-megastar days. There are a few surprises musically with Eastern influences and a bit of psychedelia mixed in here and there, and most of the ballads hit their mark expertly. The downside? Well, there’s a little bit too much of a cheese factor to a few of these songs, even for Def Leppard. The album is also far too long. By the time we get to the end of the record, the last few really good tracks suffer because the listener is just worn out. I’m also suspicious of the drums on some of these tracks-I think the original drum machine demo tracks were used in a few songs instead of using Rick Allen’s drum tracks. Granted, Allen plays a (mostly) electric kit, but there are at least two songs where it doesn’t sound like a human being playing at all-and believe me there is always a notable difference between man and machine. I could be wrong, but that’s the vibe I get. Still, the first half of this record is every bit as good as anything the band has put out in thirty years and is lots of fun. The second half not as much, but there are highlights to be heard throughout and it’s a great record to listen to in your car, way too loud, on a Summer’s drive. And if that isn’t reason enough to dig a Def Lep record I don’t know what is.

6. Sloan-Steady
I have heard Sloan referred to as Canada’s finest power pop band, and while I won’t disagree, I feel that descriptor to be both limiting and misleading. Sure, there’s lots of great hooks, but these songs are also smart. All four members write and sing lead, so with any Sloan record you’re liable to hear a hook filled sing along sing followed by a punchy, riffy rocker, then a thoughtful alternative piece, topped off with some AM gold. Then song #5 kicks in. The various writing styles are all obviously different, yet the songs fit together perfectly. Sloan have made a career out of delivering well crafted, clever rock songs and Steady continues that tradition. Well worth checking out for fans and newbies alike.

5. Nikki Lane-Denim And Diamonds
My favorite alt country record this year. Nikki Lane sings with a voice that sounds like a smoky club, and her songs speak of confidence brought on by mistakes made, lessons learned, and a quick witted irreverence flying in the face of what the world expects her to be. While this record is a little bit less country than her previous collection, it’s in there all the same. This record was produced by josh Homme of Queens Of The Stone Age, and his presence is felt early on, for better or worse. However, once he gets out of her way Nikki Lane makes some honest, observational music that makes this record a treat to listen to.

4. Off!-Free LSD
This is the punk rock record I didn’t know I was waiting for. This is aggressive music with intelligence, and a bend towards the artistic. The band consists of veterans from the hardcore scene, most notably the bands Circle Jerks and Redd Kross. While not quite as fast and angry as their debut, this record certainly carries that spirit. It also features some industrial noise style connecting tracks throughout the album in what I like to think of as punk rock’s Metal Machine Music, which I hope would make Lou Reed proud. This is a great record, and I am so happy these guys are back.

3. The Linda Lindas-Growing Up
For those who may have been living under a rock, the Linda Lindas are a pop punk band made up of teenage girls aged 12-18. They garnered national attention when their performance of “Racist, Sexist Boy” at the Los Angeles Public Library went viral and appeared on national news. While this album may have a little more polish on it than I would like, and indeed more than their EP and early singles had, there’s no denying the strength of the songs. They mix modern pop punk with early ’80s new wave structure and riot grrl attitudes. This is an album full of Girl Power anthems for Gen Z, and I am here for it. The Linda Lindas have gone from small gigs around LA to national tours, and I genuinely hope more big things are in their future.

2. Dropkick Murphys-This Machine Still Kills Fascists
Who ever thought that Celtic punks DKM would release a mostly acoustic, country tinged album of left over folk songs, and that said album would be one of their best? Nobody. probably, but here we are. The lyrics are unused pieces by the late great Woodie Guthrie. Since the band had covered some of his songs in the past to great success (Shipping Up To Boston, anyone?), Guthrie’s grand daughter Nora invited the band to go through the archives and see what they could find. Armed with a group of lyrics, the band set about writing songs that would honor Woody’s style, yet still be great DKM songs. They succeeded. Not only is this a welcome change to the catalog, but it’s just a really good, fun record that has been in constant rotation since I first heard it.

1. Eddie Vedder-Earthling
This is just a great record. Vedder is in fine voice throughout, and it actually sounds like he’s having fun making the album. These songs are all great, and the sound is fresh and upbeat, even when the lyrics might not be. Eddie brings in friends both famous and not to perform on the tracks, and the creative energy between them is felt on every song, which is infectious to the listener. Earthling is better than the last two Pearl Jam records combined, and it is hoped that some of this energy will spill over into the next PJ record so we can get another classic out of them. For now though. this will more than fit the bill and is absolutely deserving to be my record of the year.

Okay, so that’s the top ten. There were a few others I enjoyed this year that almost made the list, and I’m sure I’ll retroactively discover a record that should have made it (i always do!), but this is a pretty good representation of the music I enjoyed in 2022. Here’s to more great stuff next year and beyond!

Hey, since we won’t talk, have a happy and safe New Year’s celebration, and I’ll see you back here in 2023 for more MonDAVEs.

A Very MonDAVEs Christmas (Part Three)

This week I’ll be wrapping up this series on Christmas TV specials by looking at four classics that are practically guaranteed to make anybody feel like a kid again. Give them a view this week and get into the jingle mood!

Rudolph The Red Nosed Reindeer (1964)

About ten or twelve years ago, one of my wife’s relatives had temporary custody (long story) of a young child who looked exactly like Hermey the elf. No exaggeration. Exactly like him. Hermey in human form. Iused to talk to him about what he wanted to be when he grew up and try to talk up the field of dentistry. I think about him this time of year and wonder if it stuck. I really, really hope so.

Anyway.

Rudolph the television show was based on Rudolph the song which was based on Rudolph the story written in 1939(!) by Robert L. May. Initially a storybook handed out for free by Montgomery Ward department stores, Rudolph has become an icon of Christmas, and quite a lucrative one, no doubt. Rudolph the song followed ten years later in 1949 and is still sung every year. In 1964, the Rankin/Bass company delivered the stop motion animated classic Rudolph television special, which is arguably his most popular adaptation. Rudolph appeared in cartoons, comic books, View Master reels (remember those?), and scores of other products but it is this special that most people think of whenever the red nosed reindeer is brought up.

Interestingly, the producers of the show didn’t have a copy of the original book when making the show. With only the song as a guide, Rankin/Bass added in a fairly wild original story where after being ridiculed for his shining nose Rudolph runs away from home with Hermey the elf who longs to be a dentist. Along the way they meet up with Yukon Cornelius (my favorite character, hands down) who is digging for gold, er, peppermint, and also hunting the Abominable Snowman because of course he is. Somehow or other the gang winds up on the Island of Misfit Toys (featuring toys such as a Charlie In The Box) before making their way back to the North Pole during a dense fog, prompting Santa to ask Rudolph to use his shiny nose to help guide the sleigh and save Christmas.

Nuts, right? But it works.

The reason it works is because Rudolph is all of us. We all feel like misfits to one degree or another and America loves an underdog story, so when Rudolph saves the day and finally gains acceptance we all cheer him on. Even Hermey and Yukon get accepted back into the community and everybody gets a happy ending. Even the misfit toys get picked up by Santa and delivered to grateful kids, although not originally. The special ends with scenes of Santa and Rudolph delivering toys while the credits roll. However, audiences were not satisfied with the unresolved ending for the misfit toys, so the credits were changed to show Santa delivering them to kids as well.

If you haven’t seen it for a few years, you may be surprised that the first part of the special can be a little difficult to watch, especially when the other reindeer are so cruel to Rudolph (with Santa being, well, oblivious at best) and Hermey gets into trouble with the head elf. However, the high points pull it all together nicely.

Santa Claus Is Comin’ To Town (1970)

After the success of Rudolph it was only natural the Rankin/Bass made a special featuring the big man himself. While it hasn’t quite attained the classic stature of Rudolph’s show, I think this special is every bit as good if not a little bit better, at least on the technical side. The animators have really improved the stop motion style on this one, and the story is sweeter overall.

This one is a version of the Santa origin story. It details how he fell in with the elves, why he goes by two names (Kris Kringle and Santa Claus), how he fell in love with Jessica, or Mrs. Claus as we know her today, and how and why the whole giving toys at Christmas bit started. The songs are quite catchy in this special as well, if not quite as classic.

It also features voice work by the late great Paul Frees, perhaps the only voice artist to give Mel Blanc a run for his money. Apart from doing voice work in numerous Rankin/Bass productions he worked for Jay Ward productions by voicing Boris Badenov and Inspector Frnwick in Rocky and Bullwinkle, also providing voices in Tom Slick and Super Chicken among others. Frees also narrated The Manchurian Candidate, did multiple voices for Disney projects, and played both John Lennon and George Harrison in The Beatles cartoon. Google his resume, it will knock your socks off. Frees at work is always a treat and he is on full display here.

Okay, so the whole “sit on my lap and give me a kiss a toy” song doesn’t work really well in today’s climate, but that’s not what the writers meant and you know it, now get your mind out of the gutter for cryin’ out loud. Then, sit back and enjoy this big hearted, slightly overlooked and underrated gem.

How The Grinch Stole Christmas (1966)

What can be said about this one, other than it’s pretty much perfect? With a story by Dr. Seuss, narration by the great Boris Karloff, and wonderful animation directed by Chuck Jones of Looney Tunes fame, you can’t miss.

The first third of the film is actually my favorite part, when The Grinch hatches his evil plan of stealing Christmas from the Whos down in Whoville (in order to stop all the noise they make which, to be fair, as an adult I kinda see his point) and goes about his preparations. The animation is most reminiscent of the Looney Tunes cartoons here and is a treat to watch, especially the interactions between Mr. Grinch and his so-cute-I-can’t-even-deal-with-it dog Max.

Then, of course, he sets his plan into motion. The animators do an excellent job at coming up with clever ways for old Grinchy-poo to go about his business…and then THAT SONG kicks in. Sung with what can only be described as glee by the deep voiced Thurl Ravenscroft (who, with that name should have been like a wizard or something) and the special goes to a whole new level.

After seeing how devious and awful The Grinch can be, especially when lying through his crooked teeth to the adorable Cindy Lou Who, his eventual and, let’s face it, inevitable transformation is rivaled only by that of Ebenezer Scrooge himself. This is a wonderful little cartoon and has definitely earned its place in the pantheon of great Christmas specials. It is also a million times better than the live action movie, don’t even talk to me about it, get outta here with that nonsense. The original is where it’s at!

A Muppet Family Christmas (1987)

What is the greatest Christmas special ever made, and why is it A Muppet Family Christmas?

Let me make the case.

There have been many entries in the MCU (Muppets Christmas Universe), but this one tops them all and is a show for the ages. The premise is about as straightforward as you can get. Fozzie Bear has decided to surprise his mother by coming home for Christmas and as a bonus he brings all of his “weirdo showbiz” friends with him to the old farmhouse. Trouble is, Mama (Emily) Bear has planned a Christmas vacation in Malibu and rented out the house. Everyone arrives at Emily’s doorstep at the same time and hilarity ensues. There are a few side plots as well. One features the Swedish Chef attempting to cook the Christmas turkey, which is bothersome for him since the turkey is quite naturally against the idea. Another is the fact that Miss Piggy is running a bit late to get to the farmhouse, and there’s a massive storm coming. There’s also a cute sub plot featuring Fozzie where he finds a new partner for the act.

This is enough to set the stage for a quality Muppet venture, but then Jim Henson and company up the ante by introducing the Sesame Street gang into the mix as carolers, and of course more guests for Mrs. Bear. They also use this opportunity to stage a Christmas pageant which is genuinely hysterical. Watching the characters from both worlds interact is delightful, and it’s filled with meta humor, even though back in the 80’s that wasn’t really a thing. We are also treated to a song from the non-cartoon Muppet Babies via an old home movie, and a version of Jingle Bell Rock by Dr. Teeth and The Electric Mayhem that may well be my favorite version ever.

But wait, there’s more! Remember those would be renters I told you about? Well, they are none other than Doc and Sprocket from Fraggle Rock! Does that mean the Fraggles will make an appearance too? Of course it does, and the original song featured in their segment stays in my head each year until roughly June. Not a complaint.

I’ll be the first to admit that, as much as I love them, Muppet productions can be pretty hit and miss. Not this one. All the jokes land. Every beat is hit. It warms your heart and tickles the funny bone in equal measure. This special is highly quotable, and I never get tired of it.

The thing is though, you’ve got to look for it. Due to all the music involved (and there is a lot), licensing this thing for home use proved to be a nightmare. A version did appear on home video years ago, but due to those licensing issues some of the aforementioned songs, and at least one major scene involving Fozzie wound up being left out. This makes the callbacks to that scene and the resolution of the “double act” plotline ineffective. So in order to watch this production in all its glory, you gotta go to You Tube, and make sure you have selected the “full” special. There is even one option that lets you watch the original broadcast with ads.

This largely unknown special is well worth searching out. It’s a classic around our house, and once you see it, I hope it will be a classic at yours as well.

Okay, that’s the Christmas Specials Round Up for you. I know there are many shows I didn’t touch on, many of them absolutely deserving mention, but I can only do so much. Also, I gotta save something for next year.

Here’s wishing a Merry Christmas to all my readers. Enjoy the happiness and peace of the day.

And if you celebrate other holidays this time of year, I hope they are full of joy and meaning for you as well.

See you next week.

Labor Day 2022

MonDAVEs is closed for the holiday. I hope you all had a safe, happy day filled with relaxation, family/friends and food.

Apologies for any inconvenience. I’ll be back soon.

P.S. For my readers outside of the U.S. (which, remarkably there are some of) who may be unfamiliar, Labor Day is a holiday where we celebrate the American worker by not working. Which is pretty much the most American thing ever.

Another One Of My Big Ideas

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Have you ever wanted to use big, impressive sounding words, but were afraid to do so because you weren’t quite sure you knew their meaning? Well, worry no more friends because I have just the item for you. Coming soon-ish to any bookstore that will carry the darn thing, it’s Dave’s Incredible Inaccurate Dictionary*!

This pocket sized book will give you loads of new words to slip in to presentations, work e-mails, or even casual conversation. Dave’s Incredible Inaccurate Dictionary* is different and, frankly, superior to other dictionaries in that it doesn’t tell you what these words actually mean, but what they ought to mean. Okay, so you still won’t know what these words mean, but then, let’s be honest, most of the people you use them with won’t know what they mean either, so you’ll still come out looking like a smarty-pants in front of your peers and isn’t that all you really want?

The following are some excerpts from this sure to be world changing book.

Abundance: An abandoned musical about baking bread choreographed by Michael Flatley.

Antithesis: A Greek tragedy with several humorous scenes.

Brouhaha: A person, usually male, who has had one too many beers and thinks he’s funny.

Conundrum: The thing that wraps itself around an enigma.

Dubious: That feeling you get when you know that you and your group are the ones currently being spoken about.

Enigma: A thing usually found wrapped in a conundrum.

Gallivant: A medieval knight used in literature of the period to teach children how to behave properly. Usually appeared with a serf named Goofus.

Kumquat: I don’t know, I think it’s some kind of a bird, maybe?

Lollygag: The act of making someone else stop talking by shoving suckers in their mouth.

Metaphor: An inside joke.

Nincompoop: Very expensive laxatives.

Nosegay: Flowers. What, you thought I was going there? Come on man, give me a little credit.

Oxymoron: A dumb guy who’s clothes are really, really clean.

Reiterate: To make something cold, over and over again.

Vernacular: A type of hat popular in the 1930’s.

There now. Don’t you feel smarter already? All these words and many more will be at your disposal when you purchase Dave’s Incredible Inaccurate Dictionary*, coming soon from Brinkcorp Industries**!

*Not a thing.

**Also not a thing.

Laugh Until It Hurts

Read that title again. It’s not “laugh because it hurts”, or “laugh through the hurt”, those are separate, valid ideas and are for discussing another time.

As most regular readers know, I spent most of my twenties in the world of stand-up comedy. I never made it past the small fish in a big pond level, true. However, I did enough gigs, traveled enough, and met/knew enough full time professional comics that I can speak to the subject with some bona-fide knowledge and experience. I’ve discussed my complicated relationship with comedy before, that’s not what this post will be about. I want to discuss the other side for a moment, the absolute joy that going to a live comedy show can bring.

I am not a person who is offended easily. I don’t mind “foul” language (if such a thing can even be said to exist). Just because I have chosen not to use it in my own work recently doesn’t mean I am offended when others do. I also believe that there is no topic that should be off limits to joke about, based on what I call the rule of “extent and intent”. Basically, if the subject matter, or topic of the joke, is blown up to outrageous proportions to where one can’t possibly take what is being said all that seriously, and if the idea behind the bit is to point out what’s inherently funny about an aspect of the topic itself, or the reactions and results that indirectly come from said topic, I’m fine with pretty much any joke out there. It’s okay to use shock value, as long as you can back it up with some relevant, well thought out ideas. I’ll even laugh at a dirty joke as long as it’s told well, and there’s something to it besides just the vulgarity. The only rule I have ever had when writing, performing, or viewing, is that it’s never okay to be mean for the sake of being mean. Also, try to be original. If not in the subject matter, at least in presentation, and in the crafting of the material.

Anyway, I have been thinking about this topic a lot lately, since the Grim Reaper has been declaring open season on comedians over the past few years. Some of the comedians I used to watch for hours, studying the way they both constructed and delivered their jokes, people who were some of our heroes in the scene have all passed on far too soon. When this happens, the natural thing to do is to go back and watch some of their old material, knowing full well that it will always be funny, but never quite hit the same way again.

Then I started thinking about the many great comics I have seen live. I’ve seen some of the greats, and the near great. Also the bottom of the barrel, but never mind about that. Most shows I’ve seen have been good, some have been great. Then there are the special, rare, elite shows. These are shows when I laughed so hard and so often tears came out, and I could not catch my breath. Some legendary performers did not have this effect (although their shows were very good), and a few comics that I mention you may not know off the top of your head. Let’s talk about them all. The following shows are not ranked, it would be a fool’s errand to attempt. Anyway, here we go.

Emo Phillips-I’ve seen Emo a few times, but his headline set at Comedy Etc. (RIP) in Fairview Heights, IL was the best. This was during the period where he ditched the Pageboy haircut and had slightly toned down his usual stage character. This actually made his material even funnier, and since he is one of the best American one liner joke writers ever, the whole night was just amazing. Emo is always worth watching so catch him when you can and be prepared for a great set. This one though, was my favorite Emo set.

Dennis Wolfberg-His is a name that is pretty much lost to all but the most devoted fans of late 80s-early 90s comedy. That’s somewhat understandable since so many have come along after. Also, his material may fall a little flat to a modern audience-stylistically, not topically. The thing about Wolfberg was that his jokes weren’t all that funny, but HE was funny. He was funny to look at, and funny to listen to, perhaps one of the last holdovers from the old time comics in that way. I don’t remember much of what he said-told a story about being injured in his privates I think-but I do know that by mid show I was laughing so hard I had slid down my chair and was halfway under the table, convulsing from laughter. Something about the way he acc-CENT-uated the…wwwwwwwwORDS he used ladies and gentlemen left me in fits. His was a sad loss.

Dana Gould-Often credited as one of the founders of the alternative comedy scene in America, Dana has written for The Simpsons, and guest starred in many of your favorite shows. He once said that in the Simpsons writing room that he was the one who came up with the “objectionable joke that inspired the less objectionable joke that made it to air”, and that’s probably a good description of his material. He is at once intelligent, silly, sarcastic, satirical, confessional, and very adult. I’ve never left a Dana Gould show without being in awe of his next level brilliance. It’s actually impossible to pick a favorite Dana show, but Westport Funny Bone in the 90’s is probably the favorite.

Gilbert Gottfried-I saw Gilbert in what I call the “before time”. You see, before he was known for just showing up and telling dirty jokes, Gilbert was one of the most creative, unique, and yes, mostly clean comics out there. His onstage character combined modern delivery and thought processes with Borscht Belt humor. Not only was it bizarre, it was hysterically funny, even when you didn’t know what it was you were laughing at. Seriously, look up his early stand up from the 80s-specifically his HBO “One Night Stand”, or just his Letterman debut. Night and day difference, and SO FUNNY. The show I saw is burned into my memory (what I can remember anyway) as one of the best experiences I have ever had in a club as an audience member. I have seen hundreds of shows-it was that good.

At this point I feel like I need to shout out another local comic who never made it, but was one of the funniest person I ever saw. Paul Stoekline (I think that’s how he spelled it) was the only local comedian I would never want to follow, and I was most in awe of how his brain worked. The fact that out of all of us he didn’t go on to bigger, better things is a crime.

Anyway, I guess I wanted to share those experiences to inspire others to go see live comedy, Covid restrictions permitting, of course, because there’s nothing like a live comic in a club. See the legends while you can, and the up and comers while they are still hungry and fearless. The intimacy and immediacy of the moment is something that cannot be replicated in a theater or, especially, at home.

For one thing, while sitting at home watching the television (or YouTube), you miss seeing the event with a crowd. Laughter feeds off of laughter, so the good vibes get passed around the room, and for a small period of time you are unique, one time sharing an experience with other people and you can’t get that in your living room. Also, most performers are different when they know they are being recorded. The shows aren’t as loose and comfortable, they are a little bit stiff. Not that most people viewing would notice but if you’ve seen enough shows you know what I mean. It’s a natural reaction. Sometimes it’s purposeful, sometimes not, but the difference is there. You will still laugh (if it’s funny), but the live show would be so much better.

Now, having said that, there is no guarantee that you will have the special experiences mentioned above. It takes a perfect storm for these shows to happen. The comic must be completely on his/her game, the audience open and ready, the club at just the right temperature (comfort is a factor), and there needs to be some sort of unidentifiable spark in the air that you can’t define, but you feel it when it happens. This is also true of live theater and music as well.

But still, go. At bare minimum you will be entertained, and have a nice evening out, which in these times may be enough. Let yourself be open to hearing a different, possibly loopy point of view, let down your walls, and be willing to laugh until it hurts. You will leave in a better place than you arrived.