The Best Rock Instrumentals & Opinions on Trouble

Who needs lyrics? This week, Jim and Greg play the Best Rock Instrumentals.

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Best Instrumentals

The history of rock 'n' roll is filled with memorable lyrics, but sometimes it's the wordless songs that stick. This week, Jim and Greg celebrate the Best Instrumentals. Not just any "instrumental" track will do. Both Jim and Greg agree, no "fa fa fa's" or "la la la's" admitted. Here are their lists:

Greg

  • Duane Eddy, "Peter Gunn"
  • Booker T. & The MG’s, "Time is Tight"
  • Higher Intelligence Agency, "Spectral"
  • Deltron 3030, "Mastermind (Instrumental)"

Jim

  • Dick Dale, "Misirlou"
  • Wire, "The Commercial"
  • Future Sound of London, "Antique Toy"
  • Keyboard Money Mark, "Revolt of the Octopi"

Listeners’ picks:

  • Drew James in West Allis, Wisconsin: Frank Zappa, "Peaches En Regalia"
  • Amy Loberger in Oak Creek, Wisconsin: Led Zeppelin, "Moby Dick"
  • Andy Mitchell in Chicago, Illinois: Four Tet, "My Angel Rocks Back and Forth"
  • John Chrissos in Rochester, New York: Simple Minds, "Theme for Great Cities"
  • Marshall Preddy in Houston, Texas: Uncle Tupelo, "Sandusky"

The Distortion Field Trouble

The Distortion Field

Call 'em doom metal or stoner rock, the Chicago band Trouble has been bringing the heavy since 1979. The band's new album The Distortion Field reunites original guitarists Bruce Franklin and Rick Wartell, and subs in Kyle Thomas for longtime vocalist Eric Wagner. Does the reunited band fare better with the critics than Black Sabbath did recently? Greg says yes, though there are four or five Trouble albums he'd rank above The Distortion Field. The band hasn't updated its original sound: an innovative merger of British heavy metal and psychedelia. That's fine by Greg, but he does miss the conceptual heft Wagner gave to earlier Trouble lyrics. Greg gives The Distortion Field a Burn It. Jim agrees. He needed some head-banging this week, and for that The Distortion Field does just fine. Burn It.

Notes

Speaking of Burning...

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