The upcoming Foreigner thing scares me. One original member, remixing old tunes, the Wal-Mart exclusive and the fact that the last good album they put out was over 25 years ago. Know when to say when.

The occasion of Jerry Garcia’s 67th birthday coincides with me reading a great book called Garcia written by Blair Jackson which recounts Garcia’s life and also that of the Grateful Dead. It’s comprehensive without being weighty and it flows nicely for being over 550 pages. If you want to know more about Jerry and the Dead all in one read, this is the book to purchase.

Being a fan of all things X including the Knitters and the various solo works of Exene Cervenka, Dave Alvin and John Doe, I was excited to pick up Country Club, Doe’s new release with Canadian stalwarts the Sadies. After one listening, the jury is still out…

Great White’s newest release, Rising, is out on Shrapnel Records. If you liked the hard and heavy side of this band (Zeppelin influence), then this one is probably not for you. If you liked the band’s other side (80s sound with a few power ballads), you will be a happy customer. On a personal note, I’ll never forgive these guys for killing Ian Hunter’s “Once Bitten Twice Shy.”

Looking for some Judas Priest on DVD? Grab the 2006 release Live Vengeance 82 and turn it up in surround sound. Originally an exclusive release with the Metalogy box set before being issued as a stand alone unit, it is filled with great tunes. Highlights include a ripping version of “Screaming for Vengeance,” an eight minute meltdown of “Sinner” and ten minutes of “Victim of Changes.” Here’s to Harleys, the Hellion, and Halford.

Has anyone else heard “Stand Tall,” the 1976 hit single by the great Burton Cummings of the Guess Who, being used in the french fry television commercial? What the *##%? Who in the hell thought of this? The point of the spot is to show that the fries stay firm after coming out of the oven. While I’m sure Burt is seeing some green from granting permission to use the song, my reference point for that tune is now fried.