Ricky Flake: Last-minute Christmas gift ideas
These gift ideas come from columns or correspondence and include comics, books and video/audio offerings reviewed this year plus two new ones at the end.
1. World War IX band and Justin Melkmann Comics
This NYC-based old-school punk band keeps going despite the personnel-go-round; and, the comics drawn/composed by guitarist/songwriter Justin Melkmann keep listeners entertained visually.
The last comic/EP received was "Earaches and Eyesores #5," which bears the title of their latest-at-the-time recording, "If One of These Bottles Should Happen to Fall."
2. Potential gifts from items reviewed in January and February
A. "Rockpalast: The 50th Birthday Concerts," Jack Bruce (Made In Germany Music/MVD)
B. "All Of My Memories: The John Denver Collection," (RCA/Legacy)
C. "Planes, Trains and Eric," Eric Clapton (Eagle Rock Entertainment)
D. "Boardwalk Empire Volume 3: Music From the HBO Original Series," (ABKCO Records)
E. "Uprising Live!" Bob Marley (Eagle Rock Entertainment)
3. Potential gifts from items reviewed in March and April
A. "Wild: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack," Various Artists (FOX Searchlight Pictures/Legacy Recordings)
B. "Psychedelic Resurrection," The Blues Magoos (Kayos Productions)
C. "Punk USA: The Rise And Fall Of Lookout! Records," Kevin Prested (Microcosm Publishing)
D. "#imsonewleans," Kermit Ruffins & The Barbecue Swingers (Basin Street Records)
E. "Coming Forth By Day," Cassandra Wilson (Legacy Recordings)
4. Potential gifts from items reviewed June and July
A. "Motobunny," Motobunny (Rusty Knuckles Music)
B. "Soul Ballads," David Clayton-Thomas (Airline Records)
C. "Born On Fire," Ike Reilly (Rock Ridge Music/Firebrand Records)
D. "Snakepit Gets Old: Daily Diary Comics 2010-2012," Ben Snakepit (Microcosm Publishing)
E. "Please Kill Me; The Uncensored Oral History Of Punk," Legs McNeil & Gillian McCain (Grove Press)
5. "Beautiful Monster," Sky-Pony (Knitting Factory Records, HHHH) "Big Hits Live From the Last of the Breed Tour," Willie, Merle & Ray (Top Hat Tunes, HHHH)
These two CDs could hardly be more different: the first is a collaboration between award-winning stage/film/TV writer Kyle Jarrow and his Broadway-performing lead-singer wife, Lauren Worsham. The second is a live performance from three elder statesmen of country music.
Sky-Pony's lineup includes a cellist and Jarrow's songs are impossibly catchy with a dark worldview. This is the gift for that musical-loving fan of twisted pop.
Classic country fans will dig the second CD, which features Willie Nelson, Merle Haggard and Ray Price singing their big hits with backing by Asleep at the Wheel and the Cherokee Cowboys. They playfully alternate vocals on many songs, and things seem both relaxed and slick on songs like "Make the World Go Away," "Mama Tried," "For the Good Times," "Silver Wings" and "Pancho & Lefty."
Ricky Flake, music fan and former punk rocker, lives in Biloxi. Reach him at flakericky@gmail.com
This story was originally published December 17, 2015 at 6:55 PM with the headline "Ricky Flake: Last-minute Christmas gift ideas ."