Dave Rave: Canada's answer to Nick Lowe and Ian Hunter
Written: Jun 22 '06 (Updated Jun 24 '06)
Product Rating:
Pros: Guests Mitch Easter(REM), Billy Ficca(Television), Jon Tiven(Huey Lewis) and Lauren Agnelli (Washington Squares).
Cons: None.
The Bottom Line: Volume 1 of two separate Dave Rave anthologies gathers his solo and band hits (The Shakers, Teenage Head) together in one collection. Music that fans of Nick Lowe will enjoy.
Don_Krider's Full Review: Anthology Volume One by Dave Rave
Canadian rocker Dave Rave (real name Dave DesRoches) isn't well-known in the U. S., but in Canada he is one of the nation's greatest gifts to rock and roll, the pride of Hamilton, Ontario.
Dave Rave became very popular in the late 1970s and early 1980s in Canada with a hit-making band called The Shakers ("Shake Some Action"). The Shakers also had a string of Canadian hit albums produced by Daniel Lanois (U2) and Jack Richardson (The Guess Who, Alice Cooper, Bob Seger).
From there, Rave joined another very popular Canadian outfit, Teenage Head ("Can't Stop Shakin'"), replacing Frankie Venom as lead singer.
He has been a member of a number of other acts over the years, has a successful creative partnership with singer-songwriter Lauren Agnelli, and has produced enough material to cause producer Lisa Millar at Bullseye Records of Canada to put out two great new anthologies, "Volume 1" and "Volume 2," which showcase Dave Rave's incredible diversity as an artist.
The music ranges from punk rock Ramones sound-alikes to power pop moments that remind one of The Romantics to pure roots rock 'n' rockabilly that has earned Dave Rave the title of "The Canadian Nick Lowe" from many critics.
Such is his international status that Dave Rave was the first North American artist signed to Russia's Melodiya Records label. He is also a favorite among musicians and producers needing a strong session player - he's worked with singer Alex Chilton (The Box Tops, Big Star) and producer Andrew Loog Oldham (who produced some of The Rolling Stones' biggest hits), among others.
To me, Dave Rave's music reminds me of several artists, including Nick Lowe ("Cruel To Be Kind"), Ian Hunter ("Cleveland Rocks"), with perhaps a touch of Burton Cummings (The Guess Who) in the mix.
Some photos of Dave Rave look like Ian Hunter with sunglasses. In other photos, he could be the guitar-playing boy across the street from your home.
Two anthologies
Bullseye Records of Canada thinks highly enough of Dave Rave to release two "Anthology" volumes as separate releases, each opening with previously unreleased tunes to show where Dave Rave's music is now and then taking the listener on a time warp through past hits and personal best song choices.
"Volume 1" is subtitled "The Hot Tunes," the songs that made Dave Rave an international star, while "Volume 2" is called "The Cool Tunes," or the songs that you might enjoy with friends at a party. Both CDs were released in 2006.
"Volume 1" will be reviewed here.
This CD
The Dave Rave "Anthology Volume 1" features 21 tunes and has a total running time of 71 minutes and 35 seconds.
The tracks are from a number of acts, all featuring guitarist Dave Rave on lead vocals. The producers include Dave Rave, Laura Agnelli, Daniel Lanois (U2), Jack Richardson (The Guess Who, Alice Cooper, Bob Seger), Mitch Easter (REM) and Gary "Pig" Gold (The Ghost Rockets), among others.
Among the recording engineers is Dennis Ferrante (who engineered the first three Raspberries albums and who also engineered Linda Ronstadt's "Heart Like A Wheel" album), a guy who helped make the sound on some of my favorite recordings.
Producer of the compilation is Lisa Millar for Bullseye Records Of Canada. She, Dave Rave, and others offer commentary on each track in this compilation in the photo-filled 16-page CD booklet.
Among the players on the various tracks are Billy Ficca (Television, The Waitresses), Bill Dillon (Sarah McLaughlin, U2, Paul Simon, Peter Gabriel) and Jon Tiven (Huey Lewis, Jeff Healey).
According to a press release from the record label, two of the tracks, "Rock The Party" and "Madeleine Says", will be released as singles and as videos in 2006.
The tracks
"Rock The Party," "Baby It's True," "Out The Door," "Shake Some Action," "Do Anything," "Let's Face It," "Special Dedication," "Can't Stop Shakin'," "Fun, Booze & Corvettes," "Dance With Your Doll," "Let's Shake," "Pure Honey," "Weight Of The World" and "When Patti Rocked."
Also, "Mr. Silver Tongue," "Dreamin' After The Movies," "So Invisible," "Everyday Magic," "Madeleine Says," "Love Fades" and "Nicki."
Recommendation
Dave Rave's "Anthology Volume 1" shows why Dave Rave is so popular in Canada and elsewhere (and makes you wonder why U. S. success hasn't yet arrived). It's a well-constructed pop museum on a CD, a treat for folks who love guitar-driven rock and roll mixed with some very sweet pop ballads. Music with melody, a rarity these days.
Should please power pop and classic rock fans (Nick Lowe fans will love it). It pleased me.
The best tracks
"Rock The Party"
The CD opens well with the punk rock vibe of "Rock The Party" in which punk rock hits you hard in the face in this 2006 recording by Dave Rave & The Crashtones. It reminds me most of The Ramones"Rock 'n' Roll High School" in its execution. Mark Rogers beats the heck out of a drum kit on the tune while the background singers sing "rock, rock, rock, the party" as Dave sings lead. A 1970s punk rock throwback, yes, but fun just the same.
"Out The Door"
The Shakers"Out The Door" brings back memories of Rockpile (which featured Nick Lowe and Dave Edmunds), full of rockabilly rhythms and Stray Cats-style guitar sound effects.
In fact, Rave says in the CD's liner notes that Dave Edmunds' ("I Hear You Knockin'") album "Trax Of Wax" was the song's role model. You can also hear Teenage Head guitarist Gord Lewis on the track.
"Shake Some Action"
One of six Shakers' tracks on "Anthology Volume 1," the song "Shake Some Action" was captured live by U2 producer Daniel Lanois (who also engineered the track). It showcases what a fine band The Shakers were, very much in the Rockpile-mode in their sound.
"Let's Face It"
The Shakers sound a little too close to The Romantics"What I Like About You" in their melody here, but "Let's Face It" still stands on its own merits. This is 1980's rock, reminding one of The Romantics, The Cars and The Knack. It stands above most chart hits of its era.
"...there was a time when we were more than friends, a part of something that will never end, now as the day gets longer, my faith is getting shorter, let's face it baby..."
"Fun, Booze & Corvettes"
A previously unreleased track from 1985, "Fun, Booze & Corvettes" again unites Rave with Teenage Head guitarist Gord Lewis (his friend since first grade) in a track by Dave Rave & The Trouble Boys.
The guitar riff at the songs core is very similar to the one that opens The Sweet's "Wig-Wam Bam," a little American Indian-sounding drum beat helping propel this sweet little rocker about the simpler joys in life.
"...sharp clothes with some cheap perfume, but little darlin' can't leave her room..."
"Weight Of The World"
Sounding like an outtake from Nick Lowe's "Labour Of Love" album, "Weight Of The World" by The Dave Rave Group is one of the best tracks on this compilation. It has a "Cruel To Be Kind" backbeat with a gentle rock melody, with some nice commentary in the lyrics.
"...the weight of the world is too much, when you stand alone..."
Produced by Gary Pig Gold, who co-wrote the tune with Jon Tiven, Sally Tiven and DesRoches, recorded the track with Raspberries' engineer Dennis "The Fly" Ferrante helping out in the studio.
"When Patti Rocked"
Slow ballad with some gentle guitar and a harmony-filled chorus, Rave is great here in this song written by DesRoches. It features what producer Gary Pig Gold calls a "pulsing piano line" from Doc Proctor on the chorus with a cool beat on tambourine by Bob Doldge.
"...I remember every night, every minute of the day, I could call you up, there was something you say, now I hear your voice on the radio, when Patti rocked, the gamblers start to roll..."
"Mr. Silver Tongue"
Written by DesRoches and Agnelli, this is one heck of a Stones-ish rocker. Most bands would die for a hard rocker like this one. Crunching, sizzling guitar work, smashed skins and throbbing bass pulse through the song's veins. The Dave Rave Conspiracy produced the tune with Gary Pig Gold featuring lead guitar provided by Coyote Shivers. Fantastic tune.
"Dreamin' After The Movies"
Teaming with Lauren Agnelli was a good step for Dave Rave.
Agnelli used to write for CREEM magazine under the alias of Trixie A. Balm in the '70s. She once did press releases for Patti Smith and was a member of the Mike Chapman-produced Nervous Rex. She was also once part of the Grammy-nominated Washington Squares, who are described as "neo-beatnik folksters" at her website.
She's a cool songwriter, and a fine singer, once described by The Village Voice as "a modern-day Julie London."
Recording as Agnelli and Rave, the duo offer up "Dreamin' After The Movies" as a great slow rocker with production from Mitch Easter (famed for his work with REM, he also plays guitars and drums on this track) and was recorded in North Carolina at Easter's Drive-In Studio.
It's an airy number with a very clear production, Dave Rave's lead vocal crests a musical wave above Lauren Agnelli's backing vocal (she also plays bass and Glockenspiel on the tune).
Rave was influenced by REM's first two albums at the time, and working with Easter seems to have brought out a different side in Rave. Working with Agnelli, he says, taught him "where language could go." It's a good creative partnership.
"Dreamin' After The Movies" is easily my favorite song on the album.
"...I don't like movies 'cause they always end, I don't like dreamin' 'cause I miss my friend when he's gone, and my eyes are wide dreamin' after the movies..."
"Everyday Magic"
Recorded by The Dave Rave Group featuring The Trews and Gord Lewis, this DesRoches tune again dives into Rolling Stones territory (think "Shattered") for a delicious rocker.
"...someone's talking, at the point of no return..."
"Madeleine Says"
Mold The Beau Brummels, The Searchers, The Hollies and The Turtles into one song and you would come up with "Madeline Says" (written by DesRoches with Toronto songwriter Chris Stopa). Recorded by The Dave Rave Group with Chris Stopa.
Great little 1960's British Invasion throwback with a simply gorgeous, uptempo melody, produced by Glenn Marshall.
"...Madeline says that nothing will ever bring her down to earth..."
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