Nothing much to report, because I was away for a week. Here’s what I listened to while I was away.

1. KISS back catalogue
2. Willy Vlautin & Paul Brainard: Northline (soundtrack for the book I’ve been reading)
3. Haruko: Wild Geese
4. Curtis Mayfield: Curtis
5. Aretha Franklin: Aretha Now

Also some Otis Redding, Slade, Leevi and The Leavings, Tim Buckley, Buffalo Springfield, Wilco and The Leftovers…

Today I’ve been really enjoying Rhett Miller’s new album that arrived in the mail. First impression is that it’s pretty great. There’s one song that I don’t like at all, but the rest is thoroughly enjoyable.

But now I’ll continue reading Willy Vlautin’s Northline. Willy Vlautin is also Richmond Fontaine’s frontman. A great band whose new album is out next month I think.

I’ve been on holiday mode lately, but let’s add this useless list anyway:

ALBUMS:

1. KISS: Paul Stanley / KISS: Ace Frehley
2. KISS: Hotter Than Hell / Rock and Roll Over / Dynasty
3. Wilco: (The Album)
4. Haruko: Wild Geese
5. The Leftovers: Eager To Please

SONGS:

1. Paul Stanley / KISS: Wouldn’t You Like to Know Me
2. Paul Stanley / KISS: Tonight You Belong To Me
3. KISS: Goin’ Blind
4. Brendan Benson: Don’t Wanna Talk
5. The Leftovers: Get To Know You

My KISS addiction is just getting worse and worse. Last week I bought 6 more albums and the book KISS: Behind The Mask. New additions were Hotter Than Hell, Rock and Roll Over, Dynasty and Paul Stanley, Ace Frehley and Gene Simmons solos. I’ve listened to all of them except Gene’s solo (I left that for last because I’ve red that it isn’t very good) and I really like them. My favourite of this bunch has been Paul Stanley’s solo and not only because you could file Wouldn’t You Like To Know Me under the best power pop songs ever. Maybe the album is kind of borderline cheesy, but I love it.

I really enjoy the other ones too. Well Dynasty does sound a bit suspicious at times, but I’m starting to like it as well. During these early stages of my Kiss addiction my favourite KISS albums are probably KISS, Dressed To Kill, Love Gun and Paul Stanley’s solo, but things might change and all of the 70’s stuff is great. I think I need to add Unmasked and Creatures of The Night to my collection pretty soon.

The most useless lists of the week aka things I enjoyed during the week.

ALBUMS:

1. Haruko: Wild Geese
I’m totally addicted to this album and hardly listened to anything else during the week. She is a great folk singer-songwriter from Germany and this debut album is simply stunning.

2. Wilco: (The Album)
Eventhough this was one of the most anticipated releases of the year, it has to settle for the second spot for the time being because of my Haruko addiction. I need more time to make up my mind, but based on early listenings I like it a lot. Seems like they are going back to the right direction. Everything until Yankee Hotel Foxtrot was great. Ghost Is Born wasn’t very good at all, Sky Blue Sky was already a lot better (apparently they realised that it would be an okay idea to actually have some songs on a record) and this new one seems like a return to the good old days. Looking forward to spend more quality time with this album during this week.

3-5. The Gaslight Anthem and Calexico back catalogues
I was just getting prepared for their Ruisrock concerts. The Gaslight Anthem was the better one this time around. Some have said that it isn’t that great live band, but I enjoyed it a lot. Nothing to complain with Calexico either. Just that I would have made a completely different set list myself. Out of my imaginary top 10 Calexico songs, they probably played just one or two.. But that’s just pointless fan boy talk. Sorry about that.

Other Ruisrock acts:

First Aid Kit was really good
Faith No More.. well part of it was good if not really good, but part of it was incredible shit. How about having some melodies and songs and not just shouting your lungs out.

SONGS:

I could just list all the songs from Haruko’s album..