The CL Music Team kicks off some jams to rocket launch us into the work week! Here’s what we’re spinning now; to check out previous entries, click here.
– Charlie Pickett, Bar Band Americanus: The Best of Charlie Pickett And… (2008)
Does your favorite so-called Americana band rock as hard as Charlie Pickett? If not (and they don't), then why are you listening to them and not to him? Pickett plays the raw, riff-based rock you want to hear. He's kind of garage-y and kind of bluesy, like the early Stones. Sadly, I had temporarily forgotten about him until a friend slipped me this disc yesterday. It made my morning shine today, and I think I'll play it again tomorrow. Charlie Pickett is so awesome, he's not even in Wikipedia! And, he's from Miami. This collection of his greats is on Bloodshot Records. Start catching up with Charlie right here.
In my eyes, a true Genesis classic. Although the Peter Gabriel purists scoffed when cheeky drummer Phil Collins took over as lead vocalist of the band in the late 1970s, I still feel like Genesis produced a lot of quality work during Phil's tenure as frontman. This album in particular features a seamless, flawless marriage of slick production, clever songwriting, awesome keyboard work from Tony Banks and some of Phil's best vocals. "No Reply At All," "Keep It Dark," "Man On The Corner" and the title track were all smash hit singles; the rest of the album is pretty amazing as well. I never get tired of this one…
This article appears in Mar 31 – Apr 6, 2011.