The best part (Young Mister)

Young Mister - Young Mister  (2016) *****

Nominated by: Gee Kay

Music club: Wander to Wozza's

Playlist addition:  Anybody Out There

After about the sixth run through, I knew this was a five star classic because I realised I had changed my playlist choice every time I listened to the album. 

Yes, every song is an instant keeper. I have only positive comments for Young Mister! What a great find.

Like a lot of other power pop bands, Young Mister has echoes of other power pop bands (Cheap Trick, Badfinger, Raspberries etc) but the distinctive vocals by Steven Fiore add a point of difference.

Are there any points against?

How about it fitting on one side of a Dindy C60?

Nope - its brevity as an album is an asset - leaves me wanting more. 

The lyrics? I don't even care that the lyrics aren't great at times. It's a bit like Nil Fun's attitude to lyrics - as long as it sounds right - go for it.

Any weak songs?

Nope - I'll admit that it took 3 or 4 listens to really grab me lock stock and two smoking barrels, but in the end, the songs I didn't warm to initially quickly became favourites. Smiley faces all round!

Your best selection since your last best selection Gee Kay! Nice one Stu!

Misty frequencies

Che Fu- The Navigator (2001) ***

Nominated by: KS

Music club: Wander to Wozza's

Playlist addition:  Misty Frequencies

For various reasons I just don't get the appeal of three genres: House/ trance; opera; and rap. Individual songs - sure. But a whole album? No thanks.

So I approached The Navigator with caution, and breathed a sigh of relief for the first few songs. Misty Frequencies features Che Fu's smooooth vocals and has a lovely easy lopping beat. It's everything you expect of a Pacifika groove.

Unfortunately, that's the best moment on the album for me. The next two tracks are okay, a bit ho hum, and then we're off into a pile of songs that combine some singing and some rap, Che Fu style. 

The positive thing here is that the subject matter isn't offensive or too confronting and the musical sounds remain solid and in the groove. So while I can sway to the beat, I tend to drift off when the rap starts in something like Top Floor, and I reach for the skip button.

I know I'll be in the minority for this one. I can just picture my amigos on their sun drenched decks, in Hawaii shirts and straw hats, sipping their banana daiquiris with this playing in the background. And, all power to them.

I'm way more boring and reading a book while listening to this would drive me batty. I can read to heavy metal, but once rap gets going I lose focus immediately, and try to focus on the words. Just me.

Even though I'd not listen to this by choice, I'm still happy Kev suggested it. I do like trying to get to grips with this stuff from time to time.

Wind it up

Steriogram - Schmack! (2004) ***

Nominated by: GK

Music club: Wander to Wozza's

Playlist addition:  Walkie Talkie Man

As I started listening to this, I had to smile - I had an instant mental image of Gee Kay listening to this at chez Knowles with a baseball cap on backwards, busting some moves on his skateboard, and getting down with the kids with an oversized shirt and his jeans resting down at the knees level.

This is music that I have never really been able to relate to. I enjoyed NZ group Supergroove back in the day but when they came and played at the high school where I was teaching I realized with a shock that I was not their demographic - 15 and 16 year old hip kids were.

That doesn't mean I don't admire their musicianship, enjoy individual songs like the metalish In The City and the more poppy ones Go, Walkie Talkie Man, and appreciate their talent, but ultimately I'm going to sound like my parents listening to pop music of the sixties - it soon all sounds like the same song!

Steriogram are a band my kids liked. I even have a CD of theirs that they left behind when they left home. I've kept it (CD single of Go) for nostalgic reasons (it has a 2 pound sticker on it), but also because I enjoyed it.

On Schmack! I found it hard to differentiate individual songs apart from the two or three I've mentioned. A whole album of frenetic rap style vocals is a tad difficult to experience at one sitting for an old geezer.

Anyway - things I liked: the rush of teen energy - it's invigorating in small doses (too much can be exhausting); the video for Walkie Talkie Man - it deservedly won awards; the artistic vision - I love the fact that they found a sound - a unique Steriogram sound, and they stuck with it.

Thanks for reminding me of this band Gee Kay. Need a bit of a lie down now though.