Protect your neck! 4 volumes of Wu-Tang Soul.

Like most smart-minded people with good taste in music, I have enjoyed The Wu-Tang Clan since the beginning and have continued to listen to their many solo and side projects. Personally, I love Ghostface, but I think it's all good. The Rza created a sound all his own, and Wu-Tang blended hip hop with martial arts with awesome results.

Heck, I even remember the Wu-Tang Collection of VHS tapes that were hard-to-find Kung-Fu movies that were introduced by The Wu-Tang Clan, and might have had a music video as well.

But that's not why we're here today. Today we're talking about soul, and Wu-Tang is full of soul. I found this 4 disc collection called Shaolin Soul that features many of the songs sampled in Wu-Tang related songs. Lots of classics by Syl Johnson, Al Green, The Dramatics and more. These are awesome soul CD's and totally necessary for anyone who likes soul or Wu-Tang!

 

 

Go, download and enjoy.

-JZ

Koko Taylor has a whole lotta soul!

If you aren't familiar with Koko Taylor, then you are in for a treat. Taylor is best known for being a fiesty blues vocalist with a certain gravely raw power to her voice, and is also frequently referred to as "The Queen of the Blues."

 

Most people have heard Koko's biggest hit, "Wang Dang Doodle," a song orignally performed by Howlin' Wolf. However, many folks should also be familiar with one of her lesser-known hits, Insane Asylum, which was later made popular by The Detroit Cobras.

This stirring blues tune was the B side to the more upbeat "Fire," and was a duet with Willie Dixon. Dixon was already a popular blues vocalist, musician and song writer by this time, and he is credited with both discovering Taylor and writing many of her songs.

Koko's first Chess album was the self-titled Koko Taylor from 1969. It's a beautiful mix of rhythm, blues, soul and rock. Taylor's vocals can only be described as powerful and this power translates lyrically as well with such songs as "Whatever I Am, You Made Me" and "Love You Like A Woman." This was my first introduction to Koko, and I think it's a solid album through and through. Dark, soulful, rough, raw, hopeful and bluesy, this album is awesome.

Whether this is the first time you've heard of Koko Taylor, or maybe just a friendly reminder of her awesomeness, take this opportunity to familiarize yourself with some great blues and soul from "The Queen of the Blues!"

-JZ

Fading All Away

I own and enjoy pretty much everything Jay Reatard did. Well...I own Terror Visions, but I don't necessarily listen to it all the time. You know? I love the early trashy, thrashy rock n punk stuff with The Reatards, and I love his solo stuff, which went on a different tangent.

There's something so infectiously catchy and amazing about his "britty punk" solo stuff. I just can't help myself.

I'm jacked about The Rippers! (insert rimshot)

So, I can't find out much about The Rippers, but I knows I likes em!

What I have found out is that they've only been around for a couple of years, they're all Italian and stuff, and they're all garage rock awesomeness! I'm going to be honest- in later garage rock, and a lot of later garage revival stuff, you have songs that get into psychedelic territory. I'm not really into that. I like the hard-driving, rock 'n' freaking roll side of garage. That's more the style that you get from The Rippers. Now, I'm saying they're like Supercharger or anything. God... I love Supercharger. But if Supercharger and any Billy Childish band had a baby, but wasn't so lo-fi, it might sound like The Rippers. What I'm trying to say is its all fast, all the time and I love it.

I also really love all of the graphic design they have, and I think they have a great aesthetic going for them. These guys really know their garage rock history.  Plus, their names are Ripper I, Ripper II, Ripper III and Ripper IV. I love it.

If you want some awesome fast Garage Rock, go and get anything by The Rippers!

Dragsploitation Now!

I'll be the first to admit that I'm always behind in discovering music. Doesn't bother me. There's so much out there to find!

So it's appropriate that one of my FAVORITES that I've been listening lately, Dragsploitation... Now! by The Drags, is from 1995...

It's raw, it's gritty, it's lo-fi and it's all GARAGE PUNK ROCK!

It makes me think of The Mummies, maybe The Trashwomen, Supercharger and Teengenerate, but with great call back vocals and a trashy awesomeness and hard rockin' fun that I've found rare in most bands.

The Estrus website claims that the "CD has been banned in three states due to it's unrelenting rock power that defies both society and law! This EP is not for the squeamish...grab it before it grabs you!"

I'd tend to agree. I would also suggest you grab it. Heck, grab anything else you see by them, too!

Gotta love The Monks!

The Diamond Dogs are awesome.

You like The Diamond Dogs? Because I think they're awesome.

 

"He he he, hi there."

 No, I'm not referencing David Bowie, I'm talking about the Swedish rock group, The Diamond Dogs.

 If you don't know them, consider yourself lucky that you have like 14 albums to discover. Some may be harder to find than others. Damn livin' in the USA, sometimes...

They may be a bit hard describe, but I'd say that a mix of 70's Southern Rock with Motley Crue and Guns N Roses when they're in a ballad-y mood would be somewhere in the ballpark. Even if that doesn't help you, just take my word for it that they play some good old fashioned Rock N Roll, and you should enjoy it.

I'm a big fan of Swedish music in general. They really like their hard metal, and they really like their Rock N Roll and I really like them. The Diamond Dogs are somewhat of a Swedish supergroup, boasting many members, past and present, who played in other need-to-know Swedish rock outfits such as The Hellacopters and The Soundtrack of Our Lives.

If you're looking for some new rock to listen to,  I'd try The Diamond Dogs. They just put out really quality albums and have a great feel. I'm usually pleasantly surprised when one of their songs shows up on my iPod's shuffle.

Don't say I never gave you anything...

Enjoy!

Keep stopping back for more Rock & Soul!

Jeremy Zombie