What I’m listening to this week.
By: Hank Kalet
Monday music:
Highly recommended are the new R.E.M. best of collection, "In Time," especially if you can get your hands on the special edition with the bonus disc of b-sides and rarities. Best ofs can often be rather weak, but this features a couple of great new tunes and offers some nice packaging.
Also recommended is the surprisingly good comeback effort from The Romantics, "61/49." The band is remembered primarily for their skinny ties and red leather suits, but they are a rocking band in the tradition of the MC5 (without the politics) or the great garage-band and British Invasion groups of the 1960s. The disc really rocks.
Joe Strummer & The Mescaleros have issued Stummer’s final disc, a powerful rock record called "Streetcore." The disc is more of a rock and roll record than the former Clash frontman’s previous Mescaleros efforts, and features the punk-folk rocker, "Coma Girl," the rocking spiritual "Get Down Moses" and a pair of acoustic covers: Bob Marley’s "Redemption Song" and "Silver and Gold," previously recorded by Bobby Charles as "Before I Get Too Old."
There’s also a great tribute disc called "Livin’, Lovin’, Losin’," with country and country-rock performers offering updated takes on the greate Louvin Brothers’ songs.