KYUSS (ABO #242)

KYUSS
DESERT ROCK

A cult favorite if there ever was one, Kyuss is also a very important band that influenced the whole stoner scene. Yet, they were in a league of their own. This band smells of dust and gasoline, never compromised yet established themselves as a driving force in this new scene we now call stoner rock. Certainly, the influence of bands such as Black Sabbath or Blue Cheer can be noticed in their music but they infused their sound with a unique blend of heavy psychedelia that made the difference. Sadly, they never got the success they deserved but their following projects (Fu Manchu, Unida and, even more, Eagles of Death Metal & Queens of the Stone Age) managed to secure an audience that always failed to confirm Kyuss success.
For the few of you who haven't yet had a taste of this amazing band, here's the chance to embark on a one hour ride...through the desert.

My KYUSS List
1 - Welcome to Sky Valley (1994)
2 - Blues for the Red Sun (1992)
3 - ...And the Circus Leaves Town (1995)
4. Wretch (1991)
5. Sons of Kyuss (1990)

FRANK MARINO & MAHOGANY RUSH (ABO#241)

FRANK MARINO

SPIRITUAL SON

(1972-2005)

As many canadian artists, Frank Marino and his band suffered from USA's domination on american show business. But he sure was a great artist and made nothing less than 14 albums (including 2 live albums!). Sadly Marino didn't took fame as much as he should have. Even with a great position in the second edition of The Cal Jam (in 1978), he and his band never went further than a close fan base. His guitar is yet much greater than any other Hard/Blues/Rock guitar heroes ! A better comparison is that, for me, Frank Marino is the only man who has been able to feel Hendrix's absence since his death un 1970. If you don't know him, the first listen of any of his songs should remind you what Jimi sounded like. But, in a way, no one ever wanted another Hendrix...

My Frank Marino & Mahogany Rush TOP3 :

1. Tales Of The Unexpected (1979) [MR]

2. Juggernaut (1982) [FM]

3. World Anthem (1978) [MR]

My Frank Marino & Mahogany Rush BOTTOM3 :

1. From The Hip (1990) [FM]

2. Power Of Rock'n'Roll (1981) [FM]
3. Child Of Novelty (1973) [MR]

KLAUS NOMI (ABO #240)

KLAUS NOMI
DO YOU NOMI?

This strange little man from Essen, Germany became somewhat of a cult idol after his tragic death in 1983. He was, back then, at the beginning of a promising career which was sadly interrupted by AIDS. Relocated on the other side of the Atlantic ocean, his falsetto voice, strange costumes, otherworldly aura all created a character which became a favourite of New York City's arty/new wave late 70s scene. It took him quite a long time to secure a record deal even after his spectacular appearance with David Bowie on Saturday Night Live but, when he finally did, success was there for him. Two albums were released while he was alive, the self-titled "Klaus Nomi" and "A Simple Man", both displaying Nomi's peculiar mix of new wave and operatic themes. One can wonder why a career that short deserved a "baistophe", the answer is quite simple: it just needed it. Whatsmore, the addition of 2008's "Za Bakdaz: The Unfinished Opera" (a collection of early demos) has provided a worthy addition to the tracklist. So, here it is, "Do You Nomi?", a 55 minutes long tribute to a great artist which left us too soon.

GACKT (ABO #239)

GACKT
THE VIZITOR FROM THE SKY
(1999-2007)

For Baistophe’s first venturing into the world of Japanese Pop-Rock, let’s have a look back at the solo career of Gackt. Half-pop idol half-rock star, Gackt gained fame from his early years as the singer of the Visual Kei band Malice Mizer. There he proved being not only a great singer, but also a finemulti-instrumentalist and composer. After leaving Mizer in 1999, he initiated a solo career which was closely followed by many fans since the very beginning.
Hiding both private life and musical projects behind a veil of mystery, Gackt is a hugely popular figure in Japanese culture. He was committed as an actor in several features, as a main character in a Final Fantasy episode, wrote his autobiography along with poetry, and even provided his voice for the vocal synthesis "Vocaloid" series. Yet this CD explores what he does best : writing songs that can get tremendous success and radio airplay, but adding significant production values. His shows, all the best being available on DVD, are also nothing short of spectacular.

MY GACKT TOP 3
1- Crescent (2003)
2- Mars (2000)
3- Diabolos (2005)

MY GACKT BOTTOM 3
1- Love letter (2005)
2- The seventh night unplugged (2004)
3- Rebirth (2001)

(this BAISTOPHE has been cooked by Kaworu & Baker, may they be thanked for their great work)

BLUR (ABO #238)

BLUR
FOR TOMORROW

One of the britpop's finest bands and one that was able to evolve into something arty, Blur is certainly a band that needs no introduction. Throughout their career, these London lads released 7 albums all of which have more ups than downs. While their third album, the very entertaining Parklife (1994), was the one launching their international stardom it was their self titled 1997's release which helped them break free of their britpop etiquette and allowed them to start experimenting on a whole other level. That was probably what caused their demise too as the limitation of the band ultimately lead Damon Albarn to want to pursue new projects of which Gorillaz is the most famous. True too that Graham Coxon, their guitarist, leaving the band didn't help and the mixed bag their final, to this day, album (2003's Think Tank) certainly suffered his lack of implication in the project. But that was 6 years ago and now the four men matured, patched up their differences and did a few concerts so to officially bury the hatchet. Let's hope it'll lead to a brand new album and that it'll be as good as the songs displayed on this compilation. I guess we'll have to wait and see and, meanwhile, enjoy Blur's baistophe.

Blur - Girls And Boys

Blur - Charmless Man mv

My BLUR List
1 - Parklife (1994)
2 - 13 (1999)
3 - The Great Escape (1995)
4 - Blur (1997)
5 - Modern Life is Rubbish (1993)
6 - Think Tank (2003)
7 - Leisure (1991)

ROGER WATERS (ABO #237)

ROGER WATERS

TIME FEARS

(1970-2006)

After the Pink Floyd completely broke up at the end of the Final Cut session after about five years of in fightings, two members were very quick to come back in the music business with his second solo album: David Gilmour and Roger Waters, the two who will hardly forgive each other for having fastened Pink Floyd's explosion. At this point two clans were born to support the one who could the best the Floyd's identity. For many, maybe too many, Roger was the bad guy who wanted the chief of the band and never gave much more interest to his works after. Yet, Waters made the most interesting post Floyd music any ex-member has ever made. However, the Floyd spirit had nearly gone and what remained in Waters work was the narrative music which was born with "The Wall" album. Some might love, some might not... But one thing is sure with Roger Waters: He managed to exorcize his old demons while he was at the highest point of celebrity and managed to be loved for what he was making... not for what or who he was.

Roger Waters - Perfect Sense, part 1 & 2

My Roger Waters TOP :
1- Amused To Death (1992)
2- The Pros And Cons Of Hitch Hiking (1984)
3- Music From 'The Body' (1970)
4- The Wall Live (1990)
5- When The Wind Blows (1986)
6- Radio K.A.O.S. (1987)

MÖTLEY CRÜE (ABO #236)

MÖTLEY CRÜE
CONFIDENTIAL:
NAUGHTY CUTS FROM THE CRÜE CABINET

In a way, this little bad ass of a band were precursors. Following their trail, the hair metal wave which struck the 80s American charts created a lighter, poppier version of Crüe's original sound. Which brings me to the core of this little introduction, what did make Mötley Crüe the band we now know? At the early stage of their career, they could have been considered as the bastard child of 70s Alice Cooper and the New York Dolls. Their sound was raw, unpolished and damn exciting if you ask me. This all started after the band secured a major deal with Atlantic records and released their second album, "Shout at the Devil". From there, as well as achieving stardom, their music started to become a tad more pedestrian if always entertaining. "Theatre of Pain" and "Girls, Girls, Girls" certainly were not as juicy as their first two long-plays maybe because the various excesses known to rock'n'roll lifestyle started to be too much of a burden for the four angelenos. Coming back clean and with Bob Rock at the deck, Crüe then released what remains their biggest commercial success, "Dr Feelgood", which saw the band tighten up their sound and achieving what I consider to be their finest work to this day. Hélas, with their singer leaving doomed the band for years to come. In 1994, they released a self-titled album with another singer (John Carobi) and a new sound, something "à la mode du jour" aka more grungy, While decent, this album didn't get much success and, three years later, original singer Vince Neil came back. Since that, the road has been quite dodgy for the Crüe. Three albums have been released ("Generation Swine" 1997, "New Tatoo" 2000 and, finally, "Saints of Los Angeles" in 2008) with mixed success but still a few good songs.
So, here we are now, the Mötley Crüe's baistophe, covering their long and chaotic history, is here for you to enjoy. You know what to do.

Motley Crue - Home Sweet Home

Motley Crue - Kickstart My Heart

My MÖTLEY CRÜE Top 3
1 - Shout at the Devil (1983)
2 - Dr. Feelgood (1989)
3 - Too Fast for Love (1981)

My MÖTLEY CRÜE Bottom 3
1 - Girls, Girls, Girls (1987)
2 - Saints of Los Angeles (2008)
3 - Generation Swine (1997)

AL DI MEOLA (ABO #235)

AL DI MEOLA

INCANDESCENT

(1976-2007)

Al Di Meola is one of the biggest influencial guitarists in the world. First because of his high adaptability to any kind of music, from simple rock to RNB (with Leonid Agutin), but his main love belongs to acoustic guitar and hispanic music (including south american music). From his very first solo album back in 1976 to his latest one in 2006, his landscape includes Santana and Pat Metheny and his tributes to artists like Astor Piazzola are what we remember first.

Much more famous for his contribution with RETURN TO FOREVER, whom he joined back in 2008, Al Di Meola remains a great miss in many guitar lovers collection.

My Al Di Meola TOP3 :
1- Elegant Gypsy (1977)
2- Splendido Hotel (1980)
3- Land Of The Midnught Sun (1976)

My Al Di Meola BOTTOM3 :
1- Vocal Rendez-Vous (2006)
2- Tirami Su (1987)
3- Soaring Through A Dream (1985)

[Di Meola Revisited (2003) has no interest except if you want a more concise best of than this one]

WILLIAM SHELLER (ABO #234)

WILLIAM SHELLER
UN HOMME HEUREUX

This could have been a greatest hits but that wouldn't have honored Sheller's work fairly. So, I chose to mix old & new, live and studio, bombastic and intimate. William's work is diverse and versatile enough so that 10 people would do 10 different tracklists while trying to achieve just the same goal: pay of worthy tribute to one of France's most talented artists.
From piano ballads to fierce rockers and preciously-crafted orchestral epics, Sheller, a classicaly trained musician, managed it all with wit and talent. Those 44 songs are my favourites of the artist's catalogue and make, in my humble opinion, a honest and entertaining introduction to
the man's work. Those who like The Beatles, XTC, The Moody Blues, early-Billy Joel or Elton John's early works should really check this one but, even if you're not a pop-addict, William has enough depths to move you (see "La Navale" or "Guernesey) or to rock your ass off ("Excalibur" and "Les Enfants Sauvages"). Plus, that French chanson "je ne sais quoi" definitely gives Sheller an edge, a "uniqueness" anglo-saxon artists don't really have, not in the way a cultured American/French Sheller does.
I guess all you have to do now is...Enjoy!
(this baistophe includes a 16 pages booklet with the lyrics of the songs)

My WILLIAM SHELLER Top 3
1 - Univers (1987)
2 - Ailleurs (1989)
3 - Les Machines Absurdes (2000)

My WILLIAM SHELLER Bottom 3
1 - Rock'n'Dollars (1976)
2 - Symphoman (1977)
3 - Nicolas (1980)

My WILLIAM SHELLER Live Top 3
1 - Olympiade (1995)
2 - Olympia 82 (1982)
3 - Sheller en Solitaire (1991)

MICHAEL JACKSON (ABO#233)

MICHAEL JACKSON

THE LOST CHILD

(1971-2001)

I think noone is unaware of Michael's death last week and we couldn't let that event be ignored by our blog which is meant to be as exhaustive as possible. Of course, exhaustive does not mean anything, and we we have wondered if Michael Jackson had to be baistophed. This didn't seem to be an evidence for everybody. To my opinion, I suggested to re-listen all the albums I had from him, plus the two last ones. Even if he was a truly strange person, I must confess that I'm amazed each time I listen to his 2 best selling albums. Only to think that, in 1987, a guy who was stamped 'RNB' made songs that rocked more than any other real rock bands is simply a performance. Indeed, Jackson managed to bring black and white communities to an agreement about music. RNB or Rock ? who gives a fuck. That's simply music and we just like it.

So this was an evidence for us to baistophe Michael but it was for making a HISTORY CD1 reissue, that was uninteresting. What you will find here is, of course all is great 80s years, but also the so often forgotten great 70s Motown years and many rare tracks that are unavailable on any official CD. So we think it's a useful compilation

So let's forget all the paper and tabloids article to focus on the career. Michael Jackson had just kept being a child... a lost child.

My Michael Jackson TOP3 :

1- Thriller (1983)

2- Bad (1987)

3- Dangerous (1991)

My Michael Jackson BOTTOM3 :

1- Invincible (2001)

2- Blood On The Dance Floor (1996)

3- Ben (1972)