Author: Ron Spizziri
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Ron’s Picks – The Replacements, ‘Let It Be’
This week in Ron’s Picks, he looks at The Replacement’s album, ‘Let It Be.’ A ballsy move to name your record after a Beatles album! In 1981, a Minneapolis-based band by the name of The Replacements released an album of noisy, sloppy punk-flavored rock. They followed up their debut effort with an E.P. and then…
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Ron’s Album Picks – The Mono Men
Ron’s got another album recommendation for us. This week, we have The Mono Men, who form a combination of infectious guitar rock and 1960s fuzz. The Mono Men were a Bellingham, Washington, rock quartet, formed in 1989 by singer/songwriter/guitarists Dave Crider (head of Estrus Records) and John Mortensen. Following in the footsteps of such noisemakers as…
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Ron’s Album Picks – The Pandoras
In another edition of Ron’s Album Picks, Ron pays homage to one of the rare female punk groups to break onto the 80s alternative scene. The mid-80’s were not particularly kind to rockin’ girl groups and female solo artists as far as garnering airplay or record sales were concerned. For example, the Top 100 Billboard…
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Ron’s Album Picks – Hellbound Glory
Another album pick from Ron! It’s time for some good old fashioned, home-spun badass rock. Hellbound Glory certainly win for having an awesome band name. In the mood for some badass country-flavored rock’n’roll tunes? Then look no further than Scumbag Country, the 2008 debut album by California’s Hellbound Glory. Drawing inspiration from the likes of…
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Ron’s Album Picks – The Meows
Ron polishes off another underrated gem from his collection! This time he’s spinning the inimitable Spanish rock band The Meows. Who could resist such a name? Although I’ve always been drawn to a wide range of non-mainstream music (everything except rap and opera), every now and then I find it refreshing to listen to some no-frills, heavy-handed…
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Ron’s Album Picks – The Hold Steady
Ron has another album recommendation for us, just in time for Canada Day. This time it’s for Brooklyn-based, long standing alt rock stalwarts The Hold Steady. Continuing my daily routine of re-discovering some of the albums that have appeared on my annual Top Ten lists during the past 35 years that I’ve been hosting Nightwaves on…
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Ron’s Album Picks – The Cynics
Ron, host of Nightwaves on CFCR, comes through with another great diamond in the rough, this time recommending Pittsburgh Garage Rock Revival band The Cynics. Following a three month-long hiatus due to COVID-19, Nightwaves, the radio show I’ve been hosting for 35 years, has returned to CFCR, 90.5 FM Tuesday evenings at 9 pm. The…
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Ron’s Album Picks – The Ugly Beats
We may be able to go outside and hang out again, but Ron is still coming at us with some fresh album picks for summer. Continuing my recently acquired practice of giving a listen to some of the albums that have appeared on my Top Ten lists from years gone by (as featured on my…
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Ron’s Pandemic Picks – The Last
Ron has another album recommendation in case you’re still feeling that COVID 19 cabin fever. This week, he dishes on the underrated power pop group The Last. One of the ways I’ve been spending my free time during these COVID days of self-isolation has been by re-visiting some of my favorite record albums from over the past 35 years, as selected…
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Ron’s Pandemic Picks – Plan 9
Ron’s back with another album recommendation to get you through that Coronavirus induced ennui. This week, 80s band Plan 9, who boast four unique guitarists. As mentioned in last week’s column, during these self-isolation days I’ve been listening to some of my fave albums from the past 35 years or so. My selections are culled from…