J. Geils Band

Alright kiddos, I have some very important information that you need to be made aware of.  Lori Beth Denberg would describe it as "Vital Information."  It's a little frustrating, honestly, because I shouldn't need to tell you this.  You should know.  All of you should have been explained this at a very young age before you knew anything about me, or Rated Wrong, or before you knew that Al Gore even invented the Internet.

It's about the J. Geils Band.

Important fact: this album will teach you that J. Geils was actually the band's guitarist.

Now, I know what you're thinking - Don't think I don't - because I do.

You're thinking, "But, oh great wise man, J. Geils Band?  The "Centerfold" guys?  You seriously have an opinion?"

And the answer to your query is, YES.  A thousand times, yes, I do.  Because it just so happens that The J. Geils Band is one of the most underappreciated rock bands of the last 50 years.  More specifically, The J. Geils Band and their 1976 live album Blow Your Face Out.

She has something important he NEEDS to tell you.

Alright, it is true that their primary legacy as an 80s pop rock band is well deserved.  "Centerfold" and "Freeze Frame" are fun songs, but they're not going to change anyone's life.  In fact, their entire collection of studio albums are pretty disposable.

Much like how Doc Gooden built his legacy on one incredible season, J. Geils Band existed for one perfect album.

"South Side Shuffle", "Chimes", "Where Did Our Love Go?".  How on earth this version of "(Ain't Nothin' but A) House Party" has not become a college sing along equal to "Shout" is one of the great mysteries of the universe.

If you know one song from it, it's probably THIS live version of "Musta Got Lost", which isn't bad, but it's trageically not even one of the three best tracks on the album.

Come into the light, people.  Leave the cave of ignorance.

Still on the fence?  Okay.  Did you know there's someone in J. Geils Band who plays the harmonica, and ONLY the harmonica?  (AND his name is Magic Dick and he looks like THIS!)

Boom.

Seriously, Blow Your Face Out, it is one of the most transcendent live albums of all time.  UNDERRATED!

Gentlemen's DisAgreement - July 31st - 2014

Look out!  It's another episode of the Gentlemen's DisAgreement podcast!

In this episode Ryan Keough joins me to discuss the merits of A.V. Club Undercover's covers as well as what really are the greatest Saturday morning cartoons of our collective childhood.

0:00 - A.V. Club talk

13:50 - Cartoons

53:30 - Your Opinions!

Gentlemen's DisAgreement 7/31/2014 CLICK HERE!

Tokyo Police Club covers Wheatus for A.V. Club

One of the very best things going for music on the interwebs the last couple of years has been A.V. Club's A.V. Undercover series.

A series that employs indie rock bands (and GWAR) to perform covers of hit songs of yesteryear with their own personal touch.  It doesn't always come together, but when it does you get gems like when Superchunk covered The Cure's "Inbetween Days".

The Christmas songs have spun a few instant classics that you never would have dreamed of like this one by Wye Oak or this one by Big Red.

This latest installment comes courtesy of the Tokyo Police Club who perform a cover of the Wheatus hit "Teenage Dirtbag".  The song, originally the driving force behind Jason Biggs rom-com Loser, definitely adopts more of a garage band sound in this incarnation.  It doesn't quite top the greatest A.V. Club cover of all time, but it is still fun and well worth a listen for a quick trip down memory lane.