Michael's podcast

Focus continues the W.M.D.S. tradition of 20 minute openers with a rock opus from side 2 of “Moving Waves.” While the majority of the track is filler, and not as concise as last week's “Get Ready,” fans are treated at 9:45 with a five minute bouncing bassline that leaves listeners a sole option: dance your ass off.

The Small Faces' self-titled opener from 1968's “Ogden's Nut Gone Flake” carries on the instrumental-feel with a track that could be used as a psychadelic pop singer's WWF entrance music. Another brit-pop album heavily influenced by Sgt. Pepper’s comes from rivals, The Rolling Stones, with their overlooked psychedelic album rock, “Their Satanic Majesties Request.” “Sing This All Together” opens the album with a welcoming ballad about unity and friendship. The albums true gem, however, goes to bassist Bill Wyman’s joyous journey, “In Another Land.” The organ drills excitement down your spin, much like the next track, “Happiness Stan,” by the Small Faces. The Small Faces’ style switched to a bit more “guys night out” when Rod Stewart joined, dropping the name to Faces. “Miss Judy’s Farm” illustrates this braggadocio rock.

It's A Beautiful Day becomes the first artist to make repeat appearances on W.M.D.S. and for good reason. The rhythm n blues driven piano on “Bye Bye Baby” fits perfectly with the high energy chorus sang back and forth by the band. Taken from their sophomoric release but there's nothing sophomoric about it, as seen in the beautiful instrumental “Grand Camel Suite.” Spirit’s “Why Can't I Be Free?” and The Moody Blues’ “Dear Diary” proceed the sample-worthy I.A.B.D. jam, as they both have been sampled in underground hip hop tracks (Cunninlynguists the former, Masta Ace the latter). Closing out the album are two bluegrass tracks. “Classical Banjo” by the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band warms you up the awe-inspiring “Nashville Blues” by United Artists. If there is one song on W.M.D.S. Vol. 2 that makes all others look like horseshit… it’s this one.

"When Music Didn't Suck Volume 1" is my first mix of vinyl-recorded songs that tickled my ears with delight.

Rare Earth opens the compilation with a groovin' 22 minute cover of The Temptations' "Get Ready. Adding four trippy folk tracks, Donovan makes eargs tingle with "There Was A Time" from Wear Your Heart Like Heaven and "The Music Makers" from Cosmic Wheels. The virtuososic stylings from the violinist in It's A Beautiful Day, however is sure to be listeners' high notes with W.M.D.S.V.1. Escaping from the dominant psych-rock presence on the mix, Van Morrison lights up hearts with his blue-eyed soul anthem "Wild Night." Various tracks from a "Nuggets: The Psychadelic Era" record compose the rest of the mix, including The Thirteenth Floor Elevators' electric "You're Gonna Miss Me." Warning: This track may make you jump out a window from excitement.

Lend me your ears then write, and my next mix may be more to your delight.