CDRevue: Chris Isaak, Beyond the Sun (Wicked Game/Vanguard Records)

Chris Isaak

Beyond the Sun

(Wicked Game/Vanguard)

It’s a few days before Christmas, and guess what? I already got a gift in my stocking!

No, it wasn’t the lump of coal I so whole heartedly deserve. And no, it wasn’t the huge chunk of cash I so need right now.

Instead, it was an invitation to meet up with Elle, the lovely British babe I met a couple of years ago at the beach. Though I had just dropped in on her four months ago in England as I was on my way home, it would be a great time to catch up with her now that she was stateside.

According to the card, she was in the states to promote her new clothing line, but was taking some time off for some R’n’R—be it rest and relaxation or just rock and roll, or just reckless and rowdy (probably the latter)—and wanted to spend the holiday together.

Who the hell am I to say no? More importantly, why would I want to say no to someone I had a really great time with, but who also had a tendency to get me into some occasional trouble?

Wait a second….just how in the hell did Elle get into my house? And, how did she even know where I lived? We met at the beach…

Santa, a hint please?

Oh, why worry about it. Elle was to be in Texas the week after Christmas, and though it would be cold, she had rented the same beach cabin where we met to the tunes of Chris Isaak. That worked fine for me. I was to be on vacation from work that week and I had nothing planned.

Knowing her, she would be bearing gifts, so I only felt it right to cook her a good home cooked meal in exchange for her company. I had perfected a killer Hawaiian chicken dish with a blonde barbecue sauce I call Chicken Keoli and figured she would appreciate it. That would require a trip to the local butcher.

So, I donned on my Santa hat, lit up a cigar and strolled on down to the truck. Once inside, I looked through my CDs that were scattered across the seat. Still in the case (hard to believe) was the latest from Chris Isaak, Beyond the Sun, and I figured what a lovely way to get reacquainted with Elle than the music of Mr. Isaak…

Jerry Lee Lewis. Roy Orbison. And of course, Elvis Presley, The King. What do they all have in common? They are music legends that have stood the test of time. Another name that will soon join that list, Mr. Chris Isaak. To be honest, after his tenure in the music business, it’s time to add him to the list now…especially after recording his latest release in the home of the afore mention artists: Sun Records.

Beyond the Sun finds Chris Isaak and his band Silvertone covering the classics from artists of yesteryear like Johnny Cash, Presley, and Orbison that formed a sound via Sam Phillips.  It’s an homage to the music and the musicians that influenced Isaak and his sound is reminiscent of his heroes.

In some instances, to cover these classics would be quite a feat and would be disastrous to cover, but when you have artists that don’t fall far from the tree, then you get a winner. Also, in some cases, it’s nice to hear a modern twist on old classics and interpreted in a different way, but it is also nice to hear a rendition performed almost the exact same way. That’s why I hope no one ever attempts to remake The Godfather: it couldn’t be justified. But, this tribute to Sun Records is justified and satisfying.

Chris Isaak’s cool, retro sound takes the listener back in time to when Sun Records was king, and the sounds of The King, Orbison, and Lewis echo in his delivery. As you listen you can hear Jerry Lee in Isaak’s version of Great Balls of Fire, the same can be said for Presley’s Can’t Help Falling in Love, and I love his vocals on Ring of Fire which is higher than Johnny Cash did years before.

Now, let’s not forget that it’s just not Isaak’s velvety vocals on these tunes. There’s the whole, newly expanded Silvertone band as well. Not only is Kenney Dale Johnson’s drumming solid, swinging and running with energy, but he does one helluva job as a backup singer as well. And as usual, Hershel Yatovitz and his six string slinging are powerful, melodic and right on point!

If there was ever a release to let you experience moments in the past, Beyond the Sun is it. Though some of the artists have passed on, their music and emotions live on through Chris Isaak’s covers. What a great way to honor those who have influenced a great, underrated career.

I placed my order with the butcher, and Christmas day he would be open early that morning for me to sing by and pick up my order of chicken and cappo. Until then, I figured I would walk back up to my box and call Elle to confirm my invite.

My key hit the door to find it unlocked. That’s weird, because the door always stays locked—just like my bathroom door always stays open. It was too early for Santa to pay me a visit, or was it? I know I wasn’t expecting company, or was I?

In I entered to hear the sounds of Beyond the Sun again, but now from my home stereo. I know for a fact I had not had that on. Damn, and that little girl from the photo shoot had stolen my gun the other day! I took a deep breath and slowly rounded the hall corner and peered into the living room.

And there was the culprit.

Elle, decked out in a pair of my baggy torn jeans, Cabo tee shirt and her own Santa hat, was laid back on my sofa, barefoot and her little toes wiggling at me. She pulled the candy cane out of her mouth and took a drink from her—my—glass of wine.

“You’re out of chocolate, you know?”

Damn….that British accent gets me every time! Now excuse me while I go unwrap my present…

CDRevue: Misfits, The Devil's Rain (Misfit Records)

Misfits

The Devil’s Rain

(Misfit Records)

You know what beats a Homecoming? A Send off.

And that’s exactly what I plan on doing, sending off 2011 off into the past and far away from me.

Can I do that with 2010 as well? Why the hell not. Both years are in the past…and both sucked. Oh, don’t get me wrong, there were high points in both years, but for the most part—forgettable.

Things to remember include getting swept away to Hawaii by a lovely British bird, the Winter X-Games in Colorado, and traipsing through France and getting reacquainted with the before mentioned British bird.  Not to mention, some really killer music.

Things to forget include furloughs, deaths, girls who lie, girls who take way too many pills, friends who backstab, food that sucks, people who don’t stick to their word. Not to mention some really crappy music.

But all is well. Here in a few days, 2011 will be gone like a big piss, and I will be back 2012 with every fiber of my rebuilt, refurbished self. Okay, Okay. So I’m getting a head start on the New Year Resolutions—but that can be a good thing!

Sometimes we have to hold on to some things from the past to motivate us into new things. The trick is to hold on to the good parts and left the bad just flush away. It’s something to remember in decisions in life and in music as well. Hell, when it comes to music, the vets are really killing the newbies when it comes to cranking out good tunes these days…and some still wear makeup…and leather….and skulls…

Change.

That has been a word used over and over and over the past few years. Apply it to what category you wish. The funny thing about “change” is that everybody wants it, and when it happens, they aren’t happy.

Why just limit that to politics of government or just the politics of the day to day work environment?

Why is it okay for Pearl Jam to change their music almost on every release? Why is it okay for Dream Theatre to write these epic long songs as opposed to how they started? Why does that damn Lady GaGa have to have so many odd looks? Isn’t that why we have Marilyn Manson….who also has changed up his sound as well.

2011 and enter The Misfits.

The Devil’s Rain is the Misfits’ first full length recording of new material in nearly a decade. Jerry Only is the…only…original member left in the band. And guess what? Everyone’s a critic—it’s horrendous, absurd, embarrassing…and its music created by guys that are almost senior citizens.

Kiss my ass.

Matter of fact, start a line and do it…I’m waiting.

The fact is, people want new Misfits material. Well, you have it. It’s really time to roll over and wipe your tears because in case you didn’t already figure it out, neither Glen Danzig nor Michale Graves is returning to front this band. Marks 1 and 2 of Misfits have long been gone and in that time, others like Only have struggled thick and thin to keep the moniker and music alive not only for themselves, but for the fans that have been around for more years than some have you have even been alive.

Bassist and now front man Jerry Only, along with ex Black Flag member Dez Cadena on guitars and new drummer in resident Eric Arse begin the new era of the legendary punk band and put their brand on it. It is not he classic Danzig sound that brought the band into popularity nor is it the more heavily rocky energy that Graves delivered in their rebirth. Their sound still has the 50’s Horror B Movie themes and sci-fi scares with the punkabilly feel to it, and others more rough edged. The guitars and beats are solid and blend well Only’s 50’s rockin and roll crooning. Their new, updated sound reminds me much of Volbeat, one of the few current bands that know how to make music. My only complaint is that the Misfit music is very well produced and polished shiny clean instead of that rough edge and manic energy that once hailed as king.

The album opens with the thunderstorm sound effects of the heavy title track, which is also the name of a 60’s B-Horror movie with William Shatner.The music is solid as all get-out and gets your head a-banging! Monkey’s Paw is a track I really enjoy, I guess because of the time of year. It reminds me of a Zombie Christmas tune with the hint of style heard from their Project 1955 release. I do enjoy the mellow and jazz meets rockabilly feel that sways from Where Do They Go? and thought it was genius to bring in the female backing vocals on it as well—damn them for thinking outside the box!

Overall, is The Devil’s Rain as classic and groundbreaking as Walk Among Us, or as hardcore and energetic as American Psycho? No, I’m not going to lie. I also don’t want to live every moment in the past. It’s like Houston: fun to visit but I wouldn’t want to live every minute there. It is a good release, and I, unlike others, am just grateful to have something new.

And I should mention, this CD is one helluva thing to listen to for your morning workout. At first, I don’t think the neighbors appreciated me cranking it up and playing it at 12:36 in the middle of the night, but hey, I needed something to wake me up and get me motivated. After the first week of spinning The Devil’s Rain in the witching hour, I began to notice that they were in much higher spirits and in much better moods than before.

Sometimes old geezers do know what’s best for ya. Now get off my lawn!