& THE BLACKHEARTS

JOAN JETT AND THE BLACKHEARTS

I have this memory - which may or may not have much to do with reality - of Joan Jett and the Blackhearts' "I Love Rock 'n' Roll" and the Go-Go's' "We Got the Beat" both getting huge radio airplay at around the same time back in '81 or '82. I would have been about 11. For me, at least, it's been all downhill since.

Of course, it couldn't have been a picnic for Joan, either. After all, having a monster hit like "Rock 'n' Roll" often sounds the death knell for even the most promising of young artists. But Joan Jett was anything but a babe-in-the-the-woods even then, having been a member of the jailbait-as-marketing-tool band the Runaways for three years - a band that was (dare we say it) "big in Japan" and producers of the hit song "Cherry Bomb."

Post-"I Love Rock 'n' Roll," Joan Jett and the Blackhearts have released records somewhat sporadically (though 1988's Up Your Alley went platinum on the strength of the Top 10 single "I Hate Myself for Loving You" and 1994's Pure and Simple served as something of a comeback album). And, yet again proving her resiliency, Jett survived the 1987 cinematic debacle Light of Day with Michael J. Fox.

Which finally brings us to 2006 and Joan Jett and the Blackhearts' latest CD, Sinner. Peering out from the cover with a bit of kittenish come-hither, the now 45-year-old Jett still looks like she could carve out a man's kidneys with one expertly finessed stiletto. More importantly, the music still packs the hard-rock heft and tough-chick riffs that have always defined her sound with the Blackhearts. So... call it another comeback if you must, but Joan Jett has been making this type of music for a full two/thirds of her life, not to mention inspiring the next generation(s) of riot grrls to strap on guitars and make just as big a racket as the boys ever did or ever could. She empowers them also with her stature as founder and leader of Blackheart Records for the past 25 years and as host of her own Sirius radio show, Joan Jett's Radio Revolution.

Joan Jett and the Blackhearts are currently on the road with this summer's Warped Tour. Check out their MySpace page [here] for a list of upcoming shows.

[MP3] "A 100 Miles Away"

[MP3] "Everyone Knows"

EASTERLY

The Salem, Oregon band Easterly started out in 2001 with singer/songwriter Noah Hall front-and-center. Since then, however, Hall has made room for five bandmates, most of whom have contributed songs to the greater good of the collective.

Still, Hall's songwriting and voice remain the standout centerpiece(s) for these indie popsters, though their infectious guitars and harmonies play a huge part in the bigger picture. So far, Easterly have been compared to everyone from the Pernice Brothers, Brendan Benson, Grant Lee Buffalo, Teenage Fanclub, and the Posies. Yet, for all that, they have a sound all their own and deserve to be heard well beyond the boundaries of the Pacific Northwest.

Easterly will soon be mastering their second full-length CD, and we'll be updating you on that album's availability as soon the information becomes known. In the meantime, check out a couple of unmastered tracks from the CD below, as well as a number of MP3s from the band's first record on their website's "media" section[here].

You can purchase that CD from Amazon.com or from Not Lame Recordings.

Easterly will be playing Portland, Oregon's Doug Fir Lounge on July 27 at 8 PM along with the acts the Days and Nire. Check out their MySpace page [here] to look up their multiple shows in Salem in August and to hear even more sound samples.

From their self-titled LP, 2004 >>>
[MP3] "Wicked Conversation"
[MP3] "Happiness"

From their forthcoming LP, 2006 >>>
[MP3] "It's No Secret"
[MP3] "Seek Ye First"

THE '60s, VOL. 2

A second serving from the '60s...

Please left-click [here] for the tunes.

TRACKLIST >>>

01 Chubby Checker/The Twist
02 The Ventures/Walk, Don't Run
03 Steppenwolf/Born to Be Wild
04 The Hollies/Bus Stop
05 Ben E. King/Stand By Me
06 The American Breed/Bend Me, Shape Me
07 The Association/Cherish
08 The Lovin' Spoonful/Summer in the City
09 Jan & Dean/Surf City
10 The Beau Brummels/Just a Little
11 We Five/You Were on My Mind
12 The Supremes/My World is Empty Without You
13 Bee Gees/I Started a Joke
14 Sonny & Cher/I Got You Babe
15 Roy Orbison/Oh Pretty Woman
16 The Beach Boys/Good Vibrations
17 The Lemon Pipers/Green Tambourine
18 John Fred & His Playboy Band/Judy in Disguise (With Glasses)
19 The Box Tops/the Letter
20 The Foundations/Build Me Up Buttercup
21 Neil Sedaka/Breaking Up is Hard to Do
22 Shelley Fabares/Johnny Angel
23 The Rascals/Good Lovin'
24 The Spencer Davis Group/Gimme Some Lovin'
25 Otis Redding/(Sittin' on) the Dock of the Bay
26 The Rolling Stones/Paint It, Black
27 Jefferson Airplane/White Rabbit

FOUNTAINS OF WAYNE

I intended to post this a few days ago, as Fountains of Wayne were scheduled to start airing on the PBS show Soundstage at that time. Still, it's a "check your local listings" thing, since they won't be on in the Detroit area here till tomorrow. Regardless, this gives us a chance to offer up some primo tunes from one of today's great pop outfits...

From the LP Welcome Interstate Managers, 2003 >>>
[MP3] "Stacy's Mom"
[MP3] "Valley Winter Song"

From the LP Utopia Parkway, 1999 >>>
[MP3] "Denise"
[MP3] "Prom Theme"

From their self-titled LP, 1996 >>>
[MP3] "Radiation Vibe"
[MP3] "Please Don't Rock Me Tonight"

THE SMITTENS

In writing about the Icicles yesterday - as well as their two upcoming shows in Michigan - I neglected to mention that they'll be playing those shows with the Burlington, Vermont band the Smittens. Well, how better to rectify that situation than to shine a little spotlight in that band's direction as well.

The Smittens describe their music as "fi-curious indiepop" and a "DIY punky bubblegum pop explosion." Indeed. Just listen for yourself....

You can click [here] to purchase the Smittens' latest CD, A Little Revolution. Click [TC's Speakeasy in Ypsilanti and August 5 at the Sazerac Lounge in Grand Rapids. Be there or be square, and all that....

[MP3] "Good Migrations"

[MP3] "Stop the Bombs!"

THE ICICLES

Off-hand, I can't ever remember having posted on an artist from my home state of Michigan before. (Well, I think Madonna might have gotten in there somewhere, but she's British now and doesn't count.)

On the other hand, the Icicles are the genuine Great Lakes article, and I doubt they have any intention of feigning Brit accents and escaping our state any time soon. Not when they seem to be having so much fun where they are right now. Well... judging by their music, at least.

The Icicles play breezy, '60s styled pop - all swirling synths, groovy basslines, girl harmonies, handclaps, and tambourine. The All Girl Summer Fun Band is a logical comparison point. Heavenly as well.

The band's debut LP, A Hundred Patterns, can be purchased for just $10 from Microindie Records [here]. You can also sample some live tracks at their MySpace page [here].

Finally, for those anywhere in the Michigan area in early August, the Icicles will be playing TC's Speakeasy in Ypsilanti on August 4 at 8:00 and the Sazerac Lounge in Grand Rapids on August 5 at 9:00.

[MP3] "Snowman"

[MP3] "I Wanna Know"