TonyDoug's CD Reviews

by tonydoug wright

Don DiPaolo, Everything You Want (DR Records, 2005)

THE BAND: Don DiPaolo (Vocals, Guitars and Drums) and Michael “Miguelito” LaMorte (Bass, Guitars and Background Vocals)

THE HISTORY: New York City-based singer-songwriter Don DiPaolo was a founding member of the Mach Five and Everything You Want is his first solo release on DR Records.

THE REVIEW: I’ve been reviewing CDs for Erasing Clouds for four years and I am always glad to hear CDs from aspiring singer-songwriters with a good pop-rock sound. Sometimes I’m sent CDs from bands that are “Too cool for pop music” and the end result is a 45-minute musical death sentence for my ears. Fortunately, there are the proud and few who still have the guts to write great pop songs.

Everything You Want is a decent pop-rock debut from singer-songwriter Don DiPaolo. Influences from 90’s acoustic rockers Matthew Sweet and the Goo Goo Dolls can be heard on tracks such as ‘Happening Again’, ‘Everything You Want’ and ‘2 AM’. This album does have the appeal factor for “modern rock” radio listeners but a few of the tracks on Everything You Want suffer from a repetitive vibe that could leave the listener looking for the button to move to the next track.

WHAT DOES JEFF AT THE RECORDS CENTER THINK: “I like this Don DiPaolo CD and I’d give this a 7 out of 10. Also, System Of A Down sucks balls”.

WEBSITE: www.dondipaolo.com

Heavy Trash, Heavy Trash (Yep Roc, 2005)

THE BAND: Jon Spencer and Matt Verta-Ray

THE HISTORY: Heavy Trash is a new project by indie rockers Jon Spencer (Jon Spencer Blues Explosion) and Matt Verta-Ray (Madder Rose and Speedball Baby).

THE REVIEW: Those of you who are familiar with Jon Spencer’s musical career know that the guy is pretty amped up when it comes to his love of the blues. Spencer does not have any qualms about proclaiming, “The blues are number one!” or repeatedly reminding listeners that they are listening to “The Bluuuues Explosion!” If you have listened to Matt Verta-Ray’s band Speedball Baby then you should not be surprised that these two got together to record an album of Rockabilly tunes.

When you listen to Heavy Trash’s self-titled debut you will be treated to some damn fine 50’s influenced rock that is laced with plenty of sleaze and swagger. Spencer and Verta-Ray’s thirteen-track effort is filled with a bunch of killer numbers such as ‘Dark Hair’d Raider’, ‘The Loveless’, ‘The Hump’ and ‘Walking Bum’ that reflect influences from singer Gene Vincent and guitarist Link Wray. This is a top quality release by Spencer and Verta-Ray and it just might silence those who have been down on Spencer’s musical output since Now I Got Worry.

WEBSITE: www.heavytrash.net