Tracks from the Far East and beyond

Okay, each of the four RCA albums (Antenna, Rhythmeen, XXX and Mescalero) contain a bonus track on the Japan editions. If I recall correctly I believe this is to encourage the Japanese consumer to purchase the Japanese release as it can often be cheaper for them to find the English version, whether from import stores or through the internet. There are a total of six tracks that are not on the standard albums, these comprise:

Everything (Antenna)
Isn't Love Amazing (Rhythmeen)
Ninja Shack (XXX)
Sanctify (Mescalero)
Mary's (Breakaway single)
Stop Breakin' Down Blues (What's Up With That single) - cover, not an original song

I own copies of each, with the exception of "Everything". I haven't found the right price on that yet.

Anyway, this are all generally outstanding songs, with the exception of Mary's. It's bad, really bad. But hey, that's just my opinion.

I'll occasionally write about each of these, sort of a review. Also how each meshes with their respective album.

First up, "Isn't Love Amazing" from Rhythmeen. Amazing track from an amazing album. I can't imagine listening to this 1996 masterpiece without the bonus song. Very simple in structure, verse-chorus-verse-chorus- guitar solo (45 seconds, give or take) - verse-chorus - outro solo (1 min 30 sec, give or take) - drum solo (!). Lyrics are typical nonsensical latter day ZZ - intriguing but simplistic. "Ferociousness is all she craves, precociousness don't get me laid" - sounds awesome when you sing it, but I can't find a definition for the word that makes sense to the song. "She got something best of all, and it put my yah-yah gainst a wall" - you get the idea. The best part is the outro solo - like the rest of the album Dusty lays down a low, low bass rythym while Frank hits the cymbals. Billy rips it up with timely blues licks and brings it full circle with a sustained, distorted note that he bends and releases several times - sounds awesome. Dusty and Billy drop out and Frank continues with a 10 second drum finale, completed by Billy's enthusiastic and maniacal laugh and shouts of "oh yeah! oh yeah!".

The track fits the album perfectly. It you can find it for a good price (think Ebay) then pick it up. You will love it.