www.LittleLighthouse.net
:The Little Lighthouse Free Form Radio:
:add rss podcast feed:
All About Me
My radio show - The Little Lighthouse
Yours truly with Tommy Ramone!
The Best of 2007
The Little Lighthouse official year-end chart
Albums
1. The Moaners - Blackwing Yalobusha
Second effort for the two rockinest ladies on contemporary music scene. The new album is stretching beyond the neo-blues genre, with “When We're Dead And Gone†having a melody of a 60s girl group hit and a nod to blaxploitation in “Foxy Brownâ€. In addition, Melissa and Laura are capable of pulling the most exciting live show you can imagine.
2. Disciplina Kicme - Kada kazes muzika na sta tacno mislis reci mi
Bass-less bands are quite a common occurrence today. This band, however, has no guitar – just bass and drum. The leader of this band, Koja, is also the leading personality of the rock scene in (whatever was left from) Yugoslavia since the mid 80s. It's impossible not to admire Koja's consistent will to experiment with new sounds, keeping the groove, fun, funk and kink, never loosing the link to the most basic and primitive rock postulates of rock'n'roll. Disciplina's first album in their mother tongue since Yugoslavia broke up, brings additional surprises for the new generations. Even though Koja tried to export his sounds internationally in the nineties, he remains unknown outside of his country. The new album is among the best work he ever did, so this is a good place to start exploring his unique crossover across pretty entire history of rock'n'roll: hard rock, blues, punk, underground and hip-hop.
3. Rickie Lee Jones - The Sermon on Exposition Boulevard
Rickie Lee manages to sound fresh after being present on rock'n'roll scene for 30 years with a bold mixture of expressionism, beat poetry, post rock and traditional singer-songwriting. This is not a return or a reunion, it's part of Rickie Lee's consistent journey of constant rejuvenation. Spiritual and sacriligious, lighthearted and deep, sexy and modest at the same time. Timeless as always.
4. King Louie & The Loose Diamonds - Memphis Treet
Record that not only sounds explosive, but literary has a burning myth about itself. This record was conceived in Memphis legendary Easley Studios when an electrical short started a fire and burned down the studio. It was finished later on in Mississippi and the two sessions were put together by legendary producer Jim Dickinson. King Louie is legendary itself, helping the tragic Exploding Hearts in writing their contemporary classic Guitar Romantic in 2002. A lot of what we loved about Guitar Romantic is in “Memphis Treet†as well, but with much more musical layers added here by an all star Memphis line-up.
5. Royal Purple - Psychoacoustics
If you're in a rock'n'roll band, you can go ahead and try to come up with a brand new sound. That's easy, because you don't have to know anything about rock'n'roll, you don't even have to know how to play and you don't need a heart – but you'll probably fail like the most bands around. Or you can go ahead and make a honest retro record and pay a tribute to the past. If you are not a good musician and have no clue about rock'n'roll history, you'll fail at that too. Royal Purple are insanely good while following the retro path. Their record Psychoacoustics is like reading the most perfect book about 60s rock'n'roll. All cliche's are there, but the special ingredient is easiness, musicianship and lots of love that they put into every note and beat they make.
6. King Khan and The Shrines - What Is
Party record of 2007. This is a garage deal with soulful horns and Beefheart in heart. Packed with concentrated fun and great humor, this CD has plenty of fuel when your engine is down.
7. Harlan T. Bobo - I'm Your Man
Second album for Bobo who emerged as the leading artist in contemporary Memphis. Possibly the only record that moved both those who despise Pitchfork and those who devour it.
8. Marc Ribot - Ceramic Dog
Possibly the greatest guitar player ever finally decided to make a hard rock record with heavy guitars and drums sounding like Mitch Mitchell was behind them. Recorded live, it has enough energy to power an entire state.
9. Trolleyvox - The Karaoke Meltdown
Trolleyvox was around for awhile, but I heard their opus only earlier this year. Karaoke Meltdown appeared in 2006, and it's a playful and energetic powerpop burst. It contains some of the finest songwriting with clever lyrics. The standouts are “You Just Wait†charged with political anger and “I Know That You're High†psychedelic pop answer to “Smells Like Teen Spiritâ€. This year, the band published two more albums, fully acoustic “Luzerne†and electric “Your Secret Safeâ€. However, they are a bit of a lengthy stretch and both lack the immediacy and sense of urgency of “Karaoke Meltdown†although they do contain some great moments too.
10. Sonic Chicken Four
Perpignan in South of France is Memphis of Europe. It seems that every band that I heard from that town has the same rawness and insanity of bands that typically come from Memphis. Although bands from the area seem to prefer the short form, Sonic Chicken Four showed up this year with a long player. They have that dirty garage sound with a humorous twist and slight French accent that can keep you going all night.
11. Dax Riggs - We Sing of Only Blood or Love
Dax Riggs is a Louisiana man with a great taste. Listening to this record will make you think that this might be some cool unknown work from the golden era of grunge, at other moment you hear a 70s style confessional blues. And then he'll hit you with a cover of Richard Thompson's “Wall of Deathâ€. But at all moments it won't escape you that Riggs is an authentic talent with something new to say.
12. John Doe - A Year In The Wilderness
Legendary X bass player is not losing his steam. In fact, he is building an even more consistently strong reputation as a solo artist than what his famous band had in the past.
13. David Bromberg - Try Me One More Time
Acoustic set puts legendary Bromberg back into the music radar.
14. James Luther Dickinson - Killers From Space
Famously chaotic discography of legendary Memphis producer Jim Dickinson seems to become more periodic in his later days. Album with the most hideous cover this year actually contains extremely strong stuff between the grooves. You could say that you can't expect anything lesser from Dickinson, but this year he surpasses his last year's album “Jungle Jim and the Voodoo Tiger†by far.
15.-20.
Soulsavers – It's Not How Far You Fall It's The Way You Land
Danny & Dusty – Here's to you Max Morlock
Danny & Dusty – Cast Iron Soul
Bamodi
Sirens – More Is More
The Hold Steady – Boys and Girls in America
21.-25.
Linda Thompson – Versatile Heart
Pop Levi – The Return to Form Black Magick Party
Thurston Moore – Thurstota
Wilco - Sky Blue Sky
Singing Loins – The Drowned Man Resuscitator
Pieta Brown – Remember The Sun
26.-30.
Detroit Cobras – Tied and True
Buffalo Tom – Three Easy Pieces
Lucinda Williams – West
Black Lips - Good Bad Not Evil
Deadstring Brothers – Silver Mountain
Singles, EPs and other short form
1. Double Negative - The Wonderful and Frightening World
Furious 15 minutes of pure 1980's hard core. The record will be over and you won't know exactly what just happened to you.
2. Jay Reatard - Night of Broken Glass
Out of a series of great Retard's eps and sps this year, Night of Broken Glass comes out as most interesting, almost a weird crossover record between garage rock and hip hop.
3.-5.
British Sea Power – Krankenhaus
Jay Reatard – I Know a Place
The Black Keys – Live Ep
Comps and reissues
1. True West - Hollywood Holiday Revisited
Seminal ep of the paisley underground scene reissued with in gorgeous fidelity and with their first lp Drifters as a bonus. It wouldn't hurt at all if there would be a second cd of demos and such, but I'm definitely happy with the two tracks extra that there are.
2.-5.
NRBQ – Ludlow Garage
Warren Zevon – Preludes Rare And Unreleased Recordings
Love Is the Song We Sing – San Francisco Nuggets 1965-1970
Blast from the past
1. Kathy McCarty - Another Day In The Sun
Once upon a time in Austin TX there was an extraordinary band called Glass Eye. Kathy and Brian were in it. Glass Eye had a timeless sound that was difficult to place. With full drum sound, heavy bass and Katy's spacey vocals, they were completely different than any other 80s underground act. You could say they were ahead of their time. Kathy and Brian reunite for the new album in 2005 for the first time since the Glass Eye broke up with original songs, although Kathy and Brian published two cds of Daniel Johnston songs in the nineties. “Another Day In The Sun†is an incredibly strong LP. Had I heard it in 2005 when it came out originally, it would've been my favorite that year. Since I missed it then, it was by far my favorite spin this year.
Spirit in the sky
The Little Lighthouse is a free form rock'n'roll radio show loosely based on connecting dots between roots, branches, histroy and future of rock'n'roll.
The Little Lighthouse had its first incarnation from 2001 to 2005 on Louisiana State University college radio KLSU . The second incarnation of the show was on University of Utah college radio station KUTE in 2006. Then I relocated to Cleveland OH in December 2006. Currently, The Little Lighthouse is looking for a time slot on one of Cleveland's many radio stations. In 2008 The Little Lighthouse started coming out in "Flashlite" edition form as a podcast on Littlelighthouse.net. The same edition is streamed on the Internet radio station Radio SC , college radio station owned by Studentski Centar in Zagreb, Croatia.
Mission Statement:
* The Little Lighthouse supports
1: Bands and artists who are not afraid to experiment, mix genres, keep the music alive and dynamic.
2: Bands and artists who pay attention to traditions of rock'n'roll and fine songwriting
3: Music that comes directly from heart
4: Local and unsigned artists (please contact me, I will give a careful listen to any new band)
* The Little Lighthouse pays special attention to the mildly forgotten moments in rock history and explores rare and unexploited records, songs, and artists.
* The Little Lighthouse won't repeat songs unless there is a very good reason for it (I sometimes like to break this rule, especially in case of requested songs).
Info for bands:
I will be more than happy to hear your music and see you live. Please contact me using this email address .
Chuck Berry, Buddy Holly, Johnny Cash, Gene Vincent, Mose Alison, Freddy Cannon, Charlie Feathers, Muddy Waters, Beatles, Rolling Stones, Kinks, Byrds, Bob Dylan, Kingsmen, Beach Boys, Donovan, Stooges, Who, Nazz, Velvet Underground, Jackie DeShannon, Irma Thomas, Indexi, Grupa 220, Laura Nyro, Carole King, Gladys Knight, Marvin Gaye, Fairport Convention, Four Tops, Motown, Easybeats, Small Faces, Creation, Kim Fowley, Tomorrow, 13th Floor Elevators, Daisy Chain, Nightcrawlers, Kinckerboxers, John Fred, Traffic, David Bowie, T Rex, Big Star, Stray, Bobby Charles, Faces, Rod Stewart, Todd Rundgren, Ramones, Clash, Jam, Blondie, Jim Dickinson, Modern Lovers, New York Dolls, Television, Saints, NRBQ, Neil Young, Richard and Linda Thompson, Nico, Brett Smiley, Philly Sound, Winkies, Count Bishops, Chilli Willie And The Red Hot Peppers, Drago Mlinarec, Time, Ian Dury, Mungo Jerry, Badfinger, Funkadelic, Parliament, Patlet, Raspberries, Arrows, Ducks Deluxe, Brinsley Schwartz, Elvis Costello, Nick Lowe, Tav Falco, Linda Ronstadt, Gram Parsons, Emmylou Harris, Cheap Trick, Grandmaster Flash, Public Enemy, Husker Du, Minutemen, Gun Club, Flesheaters, Divine Horsemen, Gang of Four, Rip Rig and Panic, Pop Group, Glaxo Babies, Replacements, Sonic Youth, Dream Syndicate, Rainy Day, Thin White Rope, Dinosaur JR, Rain Parade, Trotsky Icepick, Gori Usi Winnetou, Leaving Trains, Green On Red, True Believers, Windbreakers, Shivvers, Soft Boys, Kimberley Rew, Rank And File, Viv Akauldren, Meat Puppets, XTC, Victoria Williams, Lucinda Williams, Dukes of Stratosphere, DC3, Angst, Blasters, X, Last, Firehose, Marshall Crenshaw, Days of, The Only Ones, Gories, Scientists, Giant Sand, Giant Sandworms, The Band Of Blacky Ranchette, Rainer Ptacek, Mudhoney, Mud Boy And The Neutrons, Hellcats, Dead Milkmen, Messerschmitt, Idoli, Film, Haustor, Azra, Kud Idijoti, Studeni Studeni, Elektricni Orgazam, Majke, Pokvarena Masta, Disciplina Kicme, Spoons, Sarlo Akrobata, Nova Mob, Sugar, Anastasia Screamed, Buffalo Tom, Mark Lanegan, Teenage Fanclub, Uncle Tupelo, Gibson Bros, Cobra Verde, Guided By Voices, Kropotkins, Mega City Four, Julian Cope, Wilco, Beck, Shotgun Rationale, Fall-outs, Queers, Snuff, Alejandro Escovedo, Lorette Velvette, Oblivians, 68 Comeback, Steve Wynn, Bash And Pop, Common, Roots, North Mississippi Allstars, Jeffrey Evans, Bassholes, Mellow Drunk, White Stripes, Exploding Hearts, Electric 6, Smarties, Desert Hearts, Akibas, Reigning Sound, Black Top, Dirtbombs, Casual Elvis, Desert Sessions, South Filthy, The A-Lines, Mr Airplane Man... and many many more
Down By Law (Jim Jarmusch), Firemen's Ball (Milos Forman), If (Lindsay Anderson), Breathles (Jean Luc Goddard), Harvey (Henry Koster), To Have and Have Not (Howard Hawks), To Be Or Not To Be (Michael Curtis), Apartment (Billy Wilder), Some Like It Hot (Billy Wilder), Party (Blake Edwards), Being There (Hal Ashby), Unmarried Woman (Paul Mazursky), Strawberry Statement (Stuart Hagmann), Wickerman (Robin Hardy), Singles (Cameron Crowe), Dead Man (Jim Jarmusch), 2001 A Space Odyssey (Stanley Kubrick), Pandora's Box (Georg Wilhelm Pabst), Lift to the Scaffold (Louis Malle), Blow Up (Michelangelo Antonioni), Le Samurai (Jean Pierre Melville)... I'll add more.
Kocka kocka kockica, Smogovci, Nepokoreni grad, Top lista nadrealista, Velo misto, Cosmos, Only Fools And Horses, Office (british version), Black Books, Alan Partridge, La Linea, Tom And Jerry...
Snezana Zabic, Kurt Vonnegut, Charles Bukowsky, Goran Tribuson, Danilo Kis, Dubravka Ugresic, Carl Sagan, Arthur C Clark, Isaac Asimov, Jerzy Kosinsky, Joseph Skovecky, Aleksandar Hemon, Slodoban Tisma, William Saroyan, JG Ballard.
Sarah Zabic