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Jeff Buckley

2/26/2014

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To be honest, I saw Jeff Buckley live, more than once, before his brilliant CD "Grace" was ever released.  And I was not impressed.  He was just a shirtless and scrawny weirdo with a high falsetto voice and an acoustic guitar.  People talked about his famous dad (who I had only heard of in passing) and how he was going to be huge.  But to me?  Meh. 

I even saw him one at the legendary downtown NYC spot Sine'.  But again he underwhelmed me and I was at the spot to hang out with my pal Matt who was doing sound.  Did I just not get it?

Or maybe Buckley was still developing his brilliant whisper to a wail style.  The songs mad no impression on me. We may have even spoke. But no photo op (why waste film, yes it was film then) or lifelong bond.  But a year later when his debut CD "Grace" came out it changed my musical world.  "Grace" is packed with majestic songs sung with pure passion.  Buckley's scream is so packed with emotion you can't help but be moved by it. The songs "Lover You Should Have Come Over" and "Last Goodbye" still make me shudder with joy.  The CD has been played so many times I have had to replace it twice.  I remember one early morning drive from Los Angeles to Las Vegas with my brother where we blared the CD 3 times in a row while driving at 85 miles per hour through the desert landscape.

"Grace" is the perfect blend of joy and sadness.  Exhilaration and desperation.  Part Thom Yorke.  Part Leonard Cohen (Including a cover of "Hallelujah.") and part Pixies. "Grace" is a most own.  If the tracks "Mojo Pin," "Dream Brother" and "So Real" don't move you, check your pulse.  You may be in a coma. 

While recording demos for his follow up to "Grace" in Memphis Buckley decided to take a night swim in Wolf River.  Sadly, that decision would cost him his life.  He drowned on May 29th, 1997.  His body was found the next day. Robbing the world of more possible greatness from the young talent. 

While several CDs of unreleased material have surfaced since his untimely death, none measure up to "Grace" and its enduring perfection.  A 2 CD deluxe edition is available and included some cool covers and  bonus DVD. 


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The Power Station

2/26/2014

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Volume #2 of the music appreciation society looks at The Power Station, less of a band than a superstar collective of major recording artists who came and went as they pleased.  At some point they all left. 

Comprised of vocalist Robert Palmer, Chic drummer Tony Thompson and Duran Duran's Andy Taylor on lead guitar and John Taylor on bass, the foursome could easily be called the ultimate 80's super group or at the least ultimate 80s side project. 
   
The Power Station was formed in the New York City recording studio on the same name after a chance encounter between the Taylors, who were on a break from Duran Duran, and Palmer who was working on new solo material.  In a rolling Stone interview from the early 80s Andy Taylor said that he wand John, who had been life long fans of Chic recruited Thompson and Bernard Edwards (who produced the disc) to help them "Record the ultimate T-Rex cover."  They did that and more. 

The debut CD was a huge hit thanks to legions of hungry "Duranies" hungry for new material and massive MTV exposure for the stylish videos to the albums tracks "Some Like It Hot" and the T-Rex cover "Get It On (Bang A Gong)."  This CD was the soundtrack to my youth.  Specifically junior year in High School.  I wore the tape down by playing it again and again in my boom box.  Today it remains a go to disc for late night drives and road trips.  It is without a  doubt in my all time top ten CDs.  Ever.

The Power Station allowed the individual band members to do things they had not been able to do in their other bands.  Andy Taylor, who had been drastically underused in Duran Duran got to unleash his inner guitar god as shred through the tracks "Communication" and "Murderess."  Taylor even got to handle some vocals, sharing the mic with Palmer for the band's solid take on the Isley Brother's "Harvest For The World."  Drummer Thompson got to get his rock on.  We know the man was funky from his time in Chic but this CD let him really kick out the big beats and John Taylor get to flex his funk muscles and create some memorable bass lines.  Robert Palmer, who had delivered so many great moments in the 1970s,  is at the top of his game vocally on this record.  His deep baritone crooning through the ballads "Still In Your Heart" and "Lonely Tonight" help to make The Power Station his Magnum Opus. 

After the album became a hit the band announced they were heading out of the road fro a massive world tour sans Robert Palmer.  After much back and forth he decided to continue work on his solo material.  Again, I mentioned this was a band of departures.  The only live performance fans got to see with Palmer was their two song set on "Saturday Night Live."  One of those songs "Some Like It Hot" can be seen on the bonus DVD that comes in the deluxe edition of The Power Stations debut.  For the tour and Live Aid concerts glam god Michael Des Barre maned the lead vocals.  The band and their new singer even appeared on "Miami Vice" where they debuted the one new track "Someday, Somehow, Someone Gonna Pay." (Also on deluxe CD)
The band eventually ceased to exist after Andy and John Taylor returned to their "Day Jobs" in Duran Duran. 

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Surprisingly The Power Station regrouped in 1995 to record the 1996 release "Living In Fear."  But just two weeks into the recording of the CD, John Taylor left the band to deal with "Personal Issues."  Bernard Edwards, who was once again on board to produce, then stepped in and handles bass duties.

Andy Taylor, Robert Palmer, Tony Thompson and Edwards pressed on, creating "Living In Fear."  The end result is a bit muddy and odd.  Although they used the same formula as they had on the debut, two cover songs and the rest rock tinged funk originals, the disc is a bit off.  The rock is too heavy.  The bass lines sludgy and the experimentation goes too far. 

The covers, which include a soul-less take on Marvin Gaye's "Let's Get It On" and a slowed down to a crawl version of The Beatles "Tax Man" are just okay.  The tracks "Dope" and "Living In Fear" have a vintage Black Sabbath sound, which doesn't really work.  Andy Taylor takes over lead vocals on one track "Scared," which is a great song but doesn't sound like The Power Station we know and love.  Sadly, the Cd is marred in tragedy because producer/bass player Bernard Edwards died of a massive heart attack while completing the album.  The album was released in 1996 to little fanfare or attention. 

In 2003 Robert Palmer died of a massive heart attack in France.  Just a few month later drummer Tony Thompson passed away after a short battle with cancer.  John Taylor, now clean and sober, returned to his post in Duran Duran.  In 2004 Andy rejoined DD just long enough to record and tour behind the "Fab Five's" comeback CD "Astronaut."  But while recording Duran's next CD "Red Carpet Massacre" it was Andy Taylor's time to step away, as he quit the band and never returned. 

The Power Station's debut CD remains a solid testament to solid collaboration.  By combining Duran Duran's axeman with their heroes--Bernard & Tony from Chic and tossing in one of the greatest white soul singers ever in Palmer was genius.  The only shame is, apart from their SNL shot, we never got to see the live performance of Palmer, Thompson,Taylor and Taylor perform.  Pick up the band's debut CD, which is readily available on Amazon.com.  
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With Robert Palmer
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Backstage with John Taylor on Duran Duran's "Big Thing" Tour.
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Curiosity Killed The Cat

2/24/2014

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For volume #1 on Keith Valcourt's Music Appreciation Society I spotlight the 80's funk jazz combo Curiosity Killed The Cat.  Formed in 1984 the funky foursome was comprised of Ben Volpeliere-Pierrot (vocals), Julian Godfrey Brookhouse (guitarist)
Nick Thorpe (bassist) & Migi Drummond (drums) quickly made a name for themselves on the London club scene and signed to Mercury Records. 

Their debut CD "Keep Your Distance" was released in 1987 and is nothing short of pure pop perfection.  It features a blend of 1980s pop with jazzy riffs and silky smooth vocals.  If you are a fan of everyone from Steely Dan to The Blow Monkey, Sade, Level 42 and Swing Out Sister you need this CD in your collection. 

At the time the band was unfairly compared to other British pop "Boy Bands" like Wet Wet Wet and Johnny Hates Jazz because of their stylist videos and model good looks.  Critics dismissed them.  Which is a shame because the guys could actually play their asses off.  Singles for the disc ruled the British charts.  "Down To Earth" hit number 3.  "Misfit" was at number 7.  And "Ordinary Day" went to number 11.  The U.S. charts were much harder to crack.  The only real interest the band captured here was after POP Art God Andy Warhol directed and appeared in their music video for "Misfit."  My favorite tracks include the singles and the ultra breezy single "Free."
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Curiosity Killed The Cat's second debut pulled off a feat not often delivered by a band on their sophomore release, surpassing the brilliant debut release with an even higher quality disc.  "Getahead" came out in 1989 is packed with lush, groove heavy sounds of summer party.  The vibe is as equal parts celebration as it is lament.  Tracks "Do You Believe In" and "Cascade" dare you not to sing along after just one listen. 

The ballad "In The First Place" still moves me to tears every time.  The lead single "Name & Number" has been successfully sampled/covered by both De La Soul and Little Mix.    
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For the band's third and final CD "Back To Front" Curiosity Killed The Cat reduced their size (to a trio) and ditched "Killed The Cat" from their name.  Becoming simply Curiosity.  As was the case with Kajagoogoo, the name reduction didn't work.  It confused the fans.  Truth be told, I didn't even know this CD existed until the summer of 2013, some 20 years after it was released.  I bought it as a $30.00 import from Japan. 

The disc was never released in America or Canada and only saw limited light of day in the U.K.  Soon afterwards the band went away. 

Although the CD lacks the hits of their first two releases, it does feature a couple of great covers in the form of "Hang On In Their Baby" and "Killing Me Softly."  The production is very 1990s, with the pre programed drums making most songs sound hollow.  Think "Been Around The World" by Lisa Stansfield.  The two best tracks on the CD "Work It Out" and "Gimme The Sunshine" would fit well on a Curiosity Killed The Cat best of mix CD, which I'll gladly make for you for a price.  (Either $8.00 or 2 boxes of thin mints Girl Scout Cookies.) 

In recent years Curiosity Killed The Cat (now reduced to just singer Ben Volpeliere-Pierrot) has played at several retro festivals but only in England and Scotland.  Damn it!   My dream is that someday Curiosity Killed The Cat will play an 80s fest here in America.  Perhaps with The Blow Monkeys, Nik Kershaw and Level 42. 

Next time you are at your local record store (yes, they still exist) or thrift store look for Curiosity Killed The Cat CDs "GetAhead" or "Keep Your Distance." Or get the deluxe edition of the debut CD online.   Both deserve your music appreciation. 

Keith Valcourt



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Keith Valcourt's Music Appreciation Society--INTRO

2/24/2014

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As a music reviewer (not critic) I am constantly in search of new tunes to write about.  The next band, CD or reissue are my prey.  And I am the hunter.  Music is my addiction and I'm in constant need of the next fix.  The latest trend.  Undiscovered band or re-release from longtime favorites.  I need them.  I need to write about them.
Sadly, in the rush to review stuff (deadline are deadlines) I only spend a few days at best with each piece of music.  A CD gets listened to 2 or 3 times, the review gets written and the disc gets shelved away in my vast collection of 10 thousand plus CDs. 

Yes, I'm bragging.  Many never to be heard or seen again, until I do my yearly clean out/reduction of my collection and wonder "What the heck is this CD?"  Writing about music in a way takes the fun out of listening to it.  I don't appreciate the latest CDs Arcade Fir and Lorde discs as much I appreciated CDs I listened to decades ago when music was for pure pleasure.  That is why I decided to start this new music blog.  For pleasure.

Welcome to Keith Valcourt's Music Appreciation Society.  Rather than review new Cds here, I will delve back into my archives of 10,000 CDs (Again--Bragging) and revisit bands and CDs that I truly appreciate.  Maybe they are some of your favorites.  Or maybe you've never heard of them. Maybe you will even discover some great music.  I just hope you appreciate them as much as I do. 
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    Keith Valcourt

    Music is the motivator and the agitator.  For more than 8 years I have worked as a professional music writer.  My work can be seen in Hustler Magazine, TheRockRag.com & Rockerzine.com.

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