Red Sox in 3; A Grand Alex-Music To My Ears

Thursday Oct 25, 7:55 PM

I dont much care about this year's world series. As outlined earlier I feel for the long suffering fans in Cleveland. I guess it really was too much to ask for an Indians-Cubs series. Boston? Fine. But Colorado? I realize what they did to win the National League pennant but I just can't get excited over it. Red Sox-Mets; now you're talking. Red Sox-Phillies would have been interesting (Francona, Schilling back in Philly, a slugfest almost every night). But the fact that the Rockies are, statistically, one of the great defensive teams of all time? Yawn. I appreciate defense. I wish that boxscores could add another category-RS, as in" runs saved". But unless you can promise me Brooks Robinson circa 1970 or Graig Nettles circa '76 or Ozzie Smith in 1987, I'm not going to tune in to watch it.

The Red Sox had their scare. The only major league team close to them all season was Cleveland. The ALCS was in fact the World Series. It ends this weekend. I'll be watching hockey.

1,000 games for Alex Kovalev. !,000 headaches for 15 different coaches. I love the guy. Just imagine, if he had players other than Plekanic, Samsanov, Perezhogin, Ribeiro, Bulis, or Zednick as linemates the last three seasons. Oh, wait. In the 2004 playoffs he scored six goals and 10 points in 11 games, playing alongside Saku Koivu & Zednick. Imagine, say, Jaromir Jagr by his side. Or Peter Forsberg. Or Joe Thornton. Oh, wait again. We know what he can do playing with Jagr (mostly on the power play). Kovalev's career needs to be examined carefully. When not hampered by injuries he has put up solid numbers. When those numbers have dipped it hasn't all been on him. Toward the end of his first tenure in New York, Kovalev had as teammates/centermen a past his prime, the puck-is-mine-not-yours-Alex, Wayne Gretzky. And a past his prime Mark Messier. He gets sent to Pittsburgh. Re-born, playing mostly alongside Robert Lang and Martin Straka and part of one of hockey's great power plays with Jagr and Mario Lemieux. He remains effective offensively-even without Lang-on a terrible Penguins team. Sent back to New York he meets up again with a now 43 year old Messier. A past his prime Eric Lindros. And that noted play-making centerman at nine million a year Bobby Holik. Then it's onto Montreal for Josef Balej (when does Bob Gainey get full credit for that?). Other than Koivu, briefly, Kovalev has not had a centerman or linemates that fit his talent. That's an organization failure, not Kovalev's. Just watch, as I have since he got here, how many times Kovalev puts his teammates in a position to score. Rarely have I seen a talent with the Habs as good from the blueline in as Kovalev. While he still might not have the perfect centerman or linemates he's getting the opportunity to create offense on the power play. A major reason the team does not (so far) miss Sheldon Souray. Long live Alex.

While game one of the World Series was played at Fenway I was at Club Lambi for a cd launch party for The Jimmyriggers. Local musicians Andre Kirchoff, Ram Krishnan (yes the same guy who pours at Grumpy's) & David Pearce (son of Brent who used to sit in for Ted Tevan way back when) deliver the goods for the alt/country, country/rock crowd. The cd is Traveling Salesman, Killer On the Run...*** www.myspace.com/thejimmyriggers

More music you might have interest in with the holiday season approaching:

Ryan Adams: Easy Tiger *** 1/2 Tight, focused, happy; let's hope his Halloween Head is history

Johnny Cash: The Great Lost Performance *** 1990 Concert at Asbury Park before his American revival; rare live nuggets on this one http://www.invitatiionline.ro/johnny-cash-the-great-lost-performance-2007/

Guy Clark: Workbench Songs *** 1/2 Master craftsman whos songs never grow old
http://www.guyclark.com/

John Doe: A Year In The Wilderness **** Founding member of X delivers his best solo work with help from Dave Alvin, Kathleen Edwards & Aimee Mann http://www.yeproc.com/artist_info.php?artistId=9863

Goin' Home (A Tribute To Fats Domino) *** 1/2 Whos Who of Music biz salute New Orleans legend who lost his home and gold records in Katrina; first cd is a treat, second is just ok; the cause makes it worthwhile http://www.tipitinasfoundation.com/

Dropkick Murphys: The Meanest of Times **** My favorite Murphys cd; the title says it all spewed out with pure punk energy and anger; snaps, crackels but no pop; at Metropolis NOV 17
http://www.dropkickmurphys.com/

Steve Earle: Washington Square Serenade **** New Greenwich Village resident pays homage to his new home and new wife (Allison Moorer) http://www.steveearle.com/

Bryan Ferry: Dylaneque *** 1/2 Rolled my eyes when first heard of this Dylan tribute but it works. Try to find DVD to go with it http://www.bryanferry.com/

John Fogerty: Revival **** 1/2 Fantastic return to form with guitar heavy licks any punk band would be proud of; some great songs about American nightmare in Iraq http://www.johnfogerty.com/

Steve Forbert: Strange Names & New Sensations *** Workingman's musician now selling cd's on line and at live gigs; still worth listening to http://www.steveforbert.com/

Mary Gauthier: Between Daylight and Dark *** 1/2 pronounced Go-shay; gifted songwriter; some bleak stuff here http://www.marygauthier.com/

Ian Hunter: Shrunken Heads **** One of my all time favorite artists still going strong with well aimed swipes at Bush and neocons http://www.ianhunter.com/shrunkenus.shtml

Lee Hazelwood: Cake Or Death *** Legendary renegade songwriter knew he was dying while recording this; features original version of (These) Boots with Duane Eddy on guitar
http://www.everrecords.com/index.php

The Hold Steady: Boys And Girls In America **** Rock and roll party album of the year
http://www.theholdsteady.com/

Mark Knopfler: Kill To Get Crimson *** 1/2 Following tributes to U.S. in his last two albums Knopfler returns home to chronicle many lives; as close to a musical novel as you'll hear
http://www.mark-knopfler.com/

Jimmy LaFave: Cimarron Manifesto **** Gorgeous originals and three beautiful covers (including a striking re-working of Donovan's "Catch The Wind") by Montreal's favorite Austin musician; watch for november gig http://www.redhouserecords.com/LaFave.html

Bettye LaVette: The Scene Of The Crime *** 1/2 Soul great backed by Drive By Truckers recorded at Muscle Shoals http://www.bettyelavette.com/

Nick Lowe: At My Age ** 1/2 Nick doing the crooning thing; and so it goes...
http://www.nicklowe.net/

Joni Mitchell: Shine ** I admit it...I don't get it. I tried, I really did. Maybe you have to see the dances that go with it....or just read the lyrics and hum http://www.jonimitchell.com/

Robert Plant & Alison Krauss: Raising Sand **** 1/2 Beautiful; haunting versions of songs by The Everly Brothers, Tom Waits, Mel Tillis, Townes Van Zandt and the late, under appreciated Gene Clark; masterfully prodcued-as usual-by T-Bone Burnett who also backs up in the band which also features Norman Blake and Marc Ribot. A stunner. And Alison Krauss never looked so hot http://www.robertplant.com/
http://www.alisonkrauss.com/
http://www.tboneburnett.com/


Grace Potter And The Nocturnals: This is Somewhere **** I love this cd. Vermont resident Potter can rock and pop and write a damn good tune. If you want to feel what life is like for a young rock and roll band while touring "This" is it (along with Kings of Leon's "Aha Shake Heartbreak") . http://www.gracepotter.com/

Rilo Kiley: Under The Blacklight ** 1/2 Not nearly as good as Potter and nowehere near as good as the solo cd by lead singer Jenny Lewis http://www.rilokiley.com/

Tom Russell: Wounded Heart Of America (Tom Russell Songs) *** It's Russell songs covered by everyone from Johnny Cash to Ian Tyson to poet Lawrence Ferlinghetti plus a couple of new songs by the man himself http://www.hightone.com/product_info.php?manufacturers_id=138&products_id=335&osCsid=302073d13202e6e38e01a85dfc3bb1d8

Patti Scialfa: Play It As It Lays *** 1/2 I love her soulful voice; look for clues about her marriage to The Boss and you might actually find a couple; now if Bruce really had balls he'd let her open for him http://www.pattiscialfa.net/

Suzanne Vega: Beauty & Crime *** Vega's love letter to New York City http://www.suzannevega.com/

Porter Wagoner: Wagonmaster *** 1/2 The real thing; still sounding great at 80; lovingly produced and arranged by Marty Stuart http://www.anti.com/artist.php?id=42

The Weakerthans: Reunion Tour **** Tasteful, literary punk by Winnipeg Indies; includes "Elegy For Gump Worsley"; be sure to catch them Nov 2 at Le National http://www.myspace.com/theweakerthans

Neil Young: Chrome Dreams II **** It's getting mixed reviews but I can't get enough right now; some critics suggest "Ordinary People" is way too long at over 18:00. I say who cares how long a song is if it moves you? I think the song is fucking brilliant and I've heard it over a dozen times by now; like the ride home it seems to get shorter and shorter with each listen; if you're a big Neil Young (or Dylan, Van Morrison, Leonard Cohen, Elvis Costello) fan you've already dismissed what critics say. Buy/Download it now http://www.neilyoung.com/