The Best Rock Instrumentals & Opinions on Trouble
Who needs lyrics? This week, Jim and Greg play the Best Rock Instrumentals.
Music News
While pop divas like Katy Perry and Lady Gaga have impressive strategic plans for their upcoming albums, news from Beyonce’s camp suggest things are more chaotic over there. Sources told the Hollywood Reporter she recently scrapped 50 songs and is starting over, despite having the promotional push of the Superbowl and a world tour.
Is it fair to say Jack White’s an all-around good guy? First, he may have donated money to a Detroit baseball field. Then he pitches in to save the city's historic Masonic Temple. And now he's made a generous $200,000 donation to the National Recording Preservation Foundation. Three cheers for this former guest!
Influential guitar player and songwriter J.J. Cale died this week at age 74. Countless musicians have covered Cale over the years, from Captain Beefheart to Neil Young. And to honor him, Jim and Greg play one of Young's favorites, "Crazy Mama."
Best Instrumentals
The history of rock 'n' roll is filled with memorable lyrics, but sometimes it's the wordless songs that stick. This week, Jim and Greg celebrate the Best Instrumentals. Not just any "instrumental" track will do. Both Jim and Greg agree, no "fa fa fa's" or "la la la's" admitted. Here are their lists:
Greg
- Duane Eddy, "Peter Gunn"
- Booker T. & The MG’s, "Time is Tight"
- Higher Intelligence Agency, "Spectral"
- Deltron 3030, "Mastermind (Instrumental)"
Jim
- Dick Dale, "Misirlou"
- Wire, "The Commercial"
- Future Sound of London, "Antique Toy"
- Keyboard Money Mark, "Revolt of the Octopi"
Listeners’ picks:
- Drew James in West Allis, Wisconsin: Frank Zappa, "Peaches En Regalia"
- Amy Loberger in Oak Creek, Wisconsin: Led Zeppelin, "Moby Dick"
- Andy Mitchell in Chicago, Illinois: Four Tet, "My Angel Rocks Back and Forth"
- John Chrissos in Rochester, New York: Simple Minds, "Theme for Great Cities"
- Marshall Preddy in Houston, Texas: Uncle Tupelo, "Sandusky"
The Distortion Field Trouble
Call 'em doom metal or stoner rock, the Chicago band Trouble has been bringing the heavy since 1979. The band's new album The Distortion Field reunites original guitarists Bruce Franklin and Rick Wartell, and subs in Kyle Thomas for longtime vocalist Eric Wagner. Does the reunited band fare better with the critics than Black Sabbath did recently? Greg says yes, though there are four or five Trouble albums he'd rank above The Distortion Field. The band hasn't updated its original sound: an innovative merger of British heavy metal and psychedelia. That's fine by Greg, but he does miss the conceptual heft Wagner gave to earlier Trouble lyrics. Greg gives The Distortion Field a Burn It. Jim agrees. He needed some head-banging this week, and for that The Distortion Field does just fine. Burn It.
Notes
Speaking of Burning...
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Featured Songs
- Goose Island Credit Music: Pure Sunray, "Caramel," Pure Sunray, 2013
- Beyonc'e, "Grown Woman (Live Performance," Unreleased, 2013
- The White Stripes, "We're Going to Be Friends," White Blood Cells, V2 Records, 2002
- J.J. Cale, "Crazy Mama," Naturally, Shelter, 1972
- Link Wray & His Ray Men, "Deuces Wild," Deuces Wild (Single), Swan, 1964
- Dick Dale, "Misirlou," Misirlou (Single), Deltone, 1962
- Duane Eddy, "Peter Gunn," Gold, Spider Music, 1986
- The Beastie Boys, "Sabrosa," III Communication, Capitol/Grand Royal, 1994
- The Meters, "Cissy Strut," The Meters, Rhino, 1969
- Booker T. & the M.G.s, "Green Onions," Green Onions, Stax/Atlantic, 1962
- Booker T. & the M.G.s, "Time Is Tight," Time Is Tight (Single), Stax, 1969
- Wire, "The Commercial," Pink Flag, Harvest, 1977
- Frank Zappa, "Peaches en Regalia," Hot Rats, Bizarre, 1969
- Led Zeppelin, "Moby Dick," Led Zeppelin II, Atlantic, 1969
- Four Tet, "My Angel Rocks Back and Forth," My Angel Rocks Back and Forth, Domino, 2004
- Simple Minds, "Themes for Great Cities," Themes for Great Cities: Definitive Collection 79-81, Stiff Records, 1981
- Uncle Tupelo, "Sandusky," March 16-20, 1992, Rockville Records, 1992
- Higher Intelligence Agency, "Spectral," Colourform, Headphones, 1992
- The Future Sound of London, "Antique Toy," Dead Cities, Astralwerks/Virgin, 1996
- Radiohead, "Meeting in the Aisle," Airbag/How Am I Driving?, Capitol, 1998
- Deltron 3030, "Mastermind," Deltron 3030, 75 Ark, 2000
- Money Mark, "Revolt of the Octopi," Mark's Keyboard Repair, Full Frequency/Pgd, 1996
- Trouble, "Paranoia Conspiracy," The Distortion Field, FRW Records, 2013
- Trouble, "Hunters of Doom," The Distortion Field, FRW Records, 2013
- N/A, "Also Sprach Zarathustra," 2001: A Space Odyssey (soundtrack), Sony Classical, 1968
- Blondie, "Call Me," Call Me (Single), Polydor/Chrysalis/Salsoul, 1980
- Michael Shelley, "Mix Tape," I Blame You, Bar/None, 2001
- Liz Phair, "Wild Thing," Girls! Girls! Girls!, Girly Sound/Self-Produced, 1991
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