JEFFREY MORGAN’S MEDIA BLACKOUT #629.270!

Pear – Extemp’ore (PearStudio) :: I’ll play it and tell you what it is later.

Bob Hilliard – Stop, You’re Killing Me (Warner Bros.) :: When roses and chocolates aren’t enough, remember that the greatest romantic lyric ever penned comes courtesy of this 1952 Damon Runyon gangster musical starring Broderick “10-4” Crawford: “While you’re fascinatin’ me, you’re assassinatin’ me.”

Nazareth – Big Dogz (Eagle) :: Ignore the abominable album cover that looks as if it had been designed way back in 1975 by Helen Keller on a Altair 8800 ’cause what’s inside is the heir of the dog that first tore a chunk outta your hide way back in, well, 1975. Once again spearheaded by the gritty scotch garglin’ vocals of Dan McCafferty, this is your basic meat and potatoes platter that doesn’t waste any time with frilly filigree garnishes on the side that no one needs. Bonus points for writing the exemplary “When Jesus Comes To Save The World Again” which is arguably one of the most superlative sanctified songs since ZZ Top’s “Jesus Just Left Chicago” was put in perpetual heavy rotation on Heaven’s Hit Parade.

Sparks – No. 1 In Heaven (Elektra) :: Written, of course, by the mightiest hand.

Twisted Sister – Under The Blade: Special Edition (Armoury) :: Is this deluxe reissue of the Sister’s 1982 debut an album of Alice Cooper metal or a disc of David Bowie glam? Only their scaredresser knows for sure, so the boys keep swinging both ways in search of a breakthrough teen anthem. Until then, the music plays second fiddle to the visuals, which is why the accompanying album-length DVD is essential viewing for frizzy hair and filed teeth aficionados everywhere!

Pear – Extemp’ore (PearStudio) :: Okay, having played it, I can tell you that this one opens with an admirable Miles tribute called “Dewey Davis” that contains spoken word advice from the man with the horn while the band provides an apropos sonic canvas over which Miles can rasp. After that, there follows a series of one-take tracks which run the stylistic gamut from Enoesque ambient jazz (“The Frenchman”) to extended ethereal jam sessions (“Session 15”) to progressive percussive paeans (“Von Schkinny”). But what really holds the whole thing together conceptually is the sheer ambitious scope of its sonic eclecticism which effectively ensures that each track has its own individual sound.

SIZZLING PLATTER OF THE WEEK: Lori Cullen – That Certain Chartreuse (self released) :: This certain chanteuse is back with a new album of classy jazzy covers that’s chock-a-block a-brimmin’ with reams of poise ’n’ perfection. The music is sparse in an elegant early evening ‘getting to know you’ way that isn’t afraid to occasionally apply a leisurely late night ‘let’s get more than friendly’ technique. Meanwhile, Lori’s voice is a multi-tracked delight that effortlessly flits from Samantha Sang (“Emotion”) and Gordon Lightfoot (“Rainy Day People”) to Peggy Lee (“Baubles, Bangles, And Beads”) and, strangely believe it, King Crimson (“Matte Kudasai”).

Be seeing you!