Rickter Scale Show 165 - Rick's Picks

[Rick and Roll]

airing Sunday, January 27 from 8-11 PM EST and Monday, January 28 from 1-4 EST

I have a fun theme lined up for next week, but I've been fixin' (thanks to Dangerboy and Bryan Miller for teaching me that term last Progday) to just go down the collection and just select what comes naturally. This is one of those times.

Dave Kulju - Don't Mind Me

From his 2007 CD "Abstract Expression"...a great one!

Jeff Beck - Play With Me

From "Wired"...I subconsciously put those two songs together - sounds a bit-self indulgent when you do that.

Jack Foster III - Broken Hallelujah

All praise yet another winner from the Jazzraptor, from "Tame Until Hungry", also from 2007.

Tool - Parabol / Parabola

Two connected "Lateralus" cuts, IMO one of the most fascinating records.

Zenpool - The North Shore of Heaven

Something to tie you over until Kirk gets this kitchen thing cooking.

Chaos Code - Distance

From my good friend Cliff's band, a long song with help from the luminous Mike Potter of Orion.

Bruce Hornsby - Spider Fingers

"Hot House" is a record kind of lost in the shuffle, but this opening track is killer. I'd give up both hands to play like him...well maybe not come to think of it.

Nova - Thru The Silence

"Vimana" is a pretty cool record.

Steve Vai - Fire Garden Suite

Maybe the most progressive song he's done, the guitar is even more ridiculous than his usual ridiculousness.

Pink Floyd - Keep Talking

I'm not much into them after "Animals", but there are a few gems on the later CD's. I love this cut.

Joe Jackson Band - Love At First Light, Fairy Dust

These two are 2004's "Volume 4" featuring Joe's reformed early band. These diverse songs show what a musical chameleon he is. The first is a beautiful, passionate track and the second is jazzy with some blazing piano.

Kit Watkins - Mt. St. Helens

We used to play his record to death in college. It's a really good song to get high to. Or so I'm told.

Thomas Dolby - Airhead

"Aliens Ate My Buick" is a FUN record.

DFA - Escher

This version is from the Nearfest performance. Great Italian fusion band.

Shooting Star - Last Chance

Special thanks to the Teerminator for reconnecting me to this song from 1980.

David T. Chastain - Project Transformation

More killer fusion.

Genesis - Seven Stones

Awash in Mellotron, what a great piece.

Black Sabbath - Air Dance

Features Don Airey on keys, one of the many cool moments on the ambitious "Never Say Die".

Helmet of Gnats - Chinese Leftovers

Even more killer fusion!

Crack the Sky - Flashlight

There's no way I'm staying in my seat at Rosfest for this one. Rick Witkowski blazes on the closing solo.

Violent Silence - Kinetic

Although the show was randomly picked, it would be a travesty if Sweden was not represented.

Jan Akkerman - My Pleasure

No, Jan - MY pleasure.

Amagrama - Ciclotimia

My dear friend Chris Lamka from Of Sound Mind always suggests some South American prog. I think these guys were like 19 when they recorded this several years back. Amazing cut.

Tabula Rasa - Gryf

From 1975, a fine effort from this Finnish band. Lots of rocking flute.

Kansas - A Glimpse of Home

I'm not so sure that "Monolith" isn't my favorite Kansas record. If you can't exult at the end of this tune, you may need to join the Grinch at the Christmas table.

Lots of variety for everyone, enjoy!