04/23/2007
Mix Disc Monday Home / Music Home / Bullz-Eye Home
The term power trio came about a few decades ago
with bands like Cream, Rush, and Triumph. But limiting
a mix of three-piece bands to classic rockers is, well,
limiting. So here is a list that includes three-piece
rock from the ‘80s, 90’s and today. Yeah, that just
sounded like one of those cookie cutter radio station
promos, didn’t it? Well, who needs radio when you can
make your own playlists from files of music on your
computer? Here is my three-piece band entry:
"Long Way Down," Goo Goo Dolls (A
Boy Named Goo)
This album bridged the gap between the Goo Goo
Dolls’ raucous punk rock days and their made-for-radio
albums – meaning it is melodic, raunchy, and ear-splitting
all at the same time.
"Limelight," Rush (Moving Pictures)
Sometimes the music created by just three band
members exceeds the sum of its parts. That was
always the case with Rush. You will marvel at the
musicianship of these guys individually and collectively,
so long as you can tolerate Geddy Lee’s piercing
vocals.
"Lay It on the Line," Triumph (Just
a Game)
I’m old enough to have seen these guys live in
the ‘80s, and it is still one of the best shows
I’ve ever seen. Guitarist/singer Rik Emmett was
the shit, and probably still is.
"Flathead," The Fratellis (Costello
Music)
This new band may just rock the very balls off
of you. If you don’t start tapping your foot or
bobbing your head when you play this song, chances
are you start your day with a glass of prune juice
and yell at the neighbor’s kids to get off your
lawn.
"Never You Mind," Semisonic (Feeling
Strangely Fine)
Everyone knows "Closing Time," but this
album is deeper than a pool of (insert your witty
metaphor here). Seriously, Dan Wilson and company
crafted only one great album out of the handful
they released, and this is it.
"Until You See," Marvelous 3 (Hey!
Album)
Before Butch Walker became famous producing the
likes of Avril Lavigne and Bowling for Soup, and
even before he put out his genius solo album, Left
of Self-Centered, he fronted this kickass
three-piece band.
"Happy Day Mama," Better Than Ezra (How
Does Your Garden Grow?)
That’s "Happy Day MAY-MAY," and not the way it
looks at first glance. BTE has penned plenty of
moody, brooding alt-pop songs, but this bouncy
track is the kind of thing you might hear in your
head if you found a $100 bill on the street.
"Doorman," Stereophonics (Language,
Sex, Violence. Other?)
The breakout album from this British
rock band is full of gritty songs with enough
testosterone to help spawn a small country. And
it has the lyric, "Suck my banana / Suck it with cream."
Enough said?
"Smells Like Teen Spirit," Nirvana (Nevermind)
Forget about the fact that this band helped to
change the rock landscape in the ‘90s, and for
a moment just take them for what they were: a fucking
great band.
"Next to You," The Police (Outlandos
d’Amour)
Before new wave was a recognized term,
the Police fit into more of a raw punk category
with a pop sensibility. And this song rocked
about as hard as anything they ever put out.
"You Wanted More," Tonic (Sugar)
The modern rock movement at the turn of the century
was in full swing when Tonic was popular. If you
like melodic songs and guitars driving them, chances
are you dig this band’s music.
"Always Love," Nada Surf (The Weight
is a Gift)
If ever there has been a band that has mellowed
with age like a fine wine, it’s Nada Surf. The
band had a modest modern rock hit in the mid-nineties
with "Popular," but this 2003 effort is the band’s
most complete album.
"From the Beginning," Emerson, Lake & Palmer
(Trilogy)
Lumped into the progressive rock genre
that included the likes of King Crimson, Yes,
and Gentle Giant, ELP wrote a few moody, beautiful,
acoustic-driven gems like this one.
"One More Chance," Zebra (Zebra)
Zebra effectively blended their influences, Led
Zeppelin and the Moody Blues, into something completely
unique and moving. This track is a perfect example
of two styles meshing into something way greater
that the sum of its musical parts.
"White Room," Cream (Wheels of Fire)
It would be really bogus to leave off one of the
great three-piece bands in rock history, so I’ll
fittingly end with Cream. Eric Clapton, Jack Bruce
and Ginger Baker had a sound that epitomized classic
rock as we know it.