He wrote at the time, "Ike Reilly's music is unlike anything else currently riding the charts and record store shelves. To call him eclectic would be a bit of an understatement, he ventures into so many different genres giving each his own personal spin that it's impossible to nail him down. Even going as far as saying that Ike Reilly is what you'd get if you mixed the DNA of Joe Strummer, Elvis Costello, Lou Reed, Beck, Bob Dylan and Sheryl Crow doesn't quite convey what's he's all about.

"In an age where popular music seems to getting progressively mindless, Ike Reilly is a much needed breath of fresh air. He proves that rock music can still be versed in artistic expression instead of being simply a slick commercial product at the same time delivering addictive hooks and melodies. Far beyond your normal prosaic lyrical content, Ike plays the part of beat poet weaving stories interspersed with irreverent subject matters. If you've been waiting for an artist to renew your faith in rock n roll, look no further."

antiGUY wasn't the only one who thought highly of Ike. A longtime reader who posted under the name "Mr. huh? saying, 'My Generation Sucks!'" had this to say, "Damn this guy is incredible. I bought his album after seeing him as artist of the month. I can definitely hear some Chuck Berry in him as well. Here is a rare breed of artist that is accessible to both teenybopper (due to the insanely-catchy hooks and melody) and serious music fans as well (due to the quirky eccentric lyrics). He's an updated version of classic 50's rock with some pure comedic genius mixed in. He sings about universal themes of regret, loss, love, etc. but with humor and eccentricness that I didn't realize existed until now. God, this guy needs more exposure."

Fast forward to a week ago. Ike's publicist contacted me to inquire if we wanted to talk to Ike about his new rarities album, Poison The Hit Parade. I immediately knew that Ike would be perfect for an artist week special in the Day in Rock, but the slots were full for weeks to come. So I asked his publicist if Ike would be willing to tell us about ALL of the songs on the new CD and two days later Ike had come through. As you can see from the comments above, Ike's songs usually delve into some interesting areas that you won't find in most songs today. So the following song stories should be a real treat for you to read as you listen to the CD. Enough of our longwinded intro, here is Ike with the Inside Track to Poison The Hit Parade:

"Poison The Hit Parade": Kind of an outsider tale of the Midwest framed in a high school sports setting. Somebody called this song rock-a-billy Hip Hop. The guitar riff was Phil Karnats, and his guitar lead after the break is f***ing great. That's Ed Tinley following the guitar with a ghost vocal.

"Janie Doesn't Lie": I was playing that harmonica riff and the guitar rhythm. Ed Tinley played that dirty guitar with a dental assistant playing the drums. I sung some words. Some names of friends, something about Europe and weed. Never changed the words or really finished the song. Tinley mixed it...drums way up and it sounded good. Have to admit the song means nothing. Oh yeah there is a hidden message in it.

"Lust Song 78": A song about a girl in a summer dress. This song is fun unless you've got a daughter in high school. It's the acoustic version - we've got an electric version but this one rocks way more. Just an acoustic, one electric....something is buzzing at the end. Must be the amp.

"Dragonflies": This is what is commonly known as the "cancer anthem." I've caught myself lying to the dying before and this was inspired by false hope and personal weakness. Musically, it's kind of grand and again Phil Karnats' guitar s*** is soaring. Dave Cottini shines on the drums on "Dragonflies." During the mix, Ed Tinley told Phil that he (Tinley) played all the guitar. Phil wasn't confident enough in his memory to challenge Ed's claim. This has happened more than once. We lie to each other most of the time.

"Fish Plant Rebellion": This was the first attempt at "Fish Plant Uprising." It's a combo of how we used to play the song live and some bastardization of "Sprit in The Sky." We ended up ripping it up on "Staggering Evening." This version is much slower. It switches verses around and doesn't speak about Jackson's (the corrupt union official) wife having
somebody else's kid swimming in her womb.

"Cracker's Big Break": features my trusted compadre Craig Pressnell on spoken word. Craig is the main character in "Valentine's Day in Juarez" and many in the gay community say he is my muse. There is some truth to that. I steal many of his colloquialisms and they turn up in songs. He thinks if I put something he said in one of my songs it makes it his song. He is mistaken. We have had many drunken rows over this topic. I should be able to keep his litigators at bay. I just need to keep him in cock and vodka.

"New Assassination Blues": originally on "Salesmen & Racists." This was how the song evolved live. The recording has the traditional Dave Cottini count off. People I speak to -- listeners, fans, enemies, critics -- generally think this song is about George Bush.

"Hip Hop Thighs #16": Just a demo from "Salesmen & Racists." It's a bit rougher and the form is different. There was a suggestion that the song needed more uniform choruses. We did that for the other version and nobody played it anyway.

"Duty Free": This was the original version. Verses about three friends of mine going back and forth between the UK and the USA. It was a little too folky for the first record. The band Cracker recorded this version and released it as a single off their "Countrysides" record.

"Farewell To The Good Times": Just a ditty about friendship and loss and wasting time. Which I did a lot of.

"Cash Is King": A demo. My buddy Blaise Barton did a lot of s*** on this version. I can't remember what exactly. One of Ed Tinley's many lady friends was hanging around and she sang those background vocals. Johnny Weekend is a guy from Libertyville. I didn't really know him that well but he shingled my house. "St. James Infirmary" is a song my father sang and sings a lot. All local s*** in the song. I was really thrilled to have a new muscle car at the time. It's the black police package Crown Vic in the videos.

"The Train Bomber": is a about the fear of domestic terrorism. At the time I was blaming my boy Shane for something he didn't do. I made him the main character. He's the train bomber. The elusive one who blew the train right off the tracks. It's funny, a couple of years after the fact, and the song doesn't seem like the apology I thought it was.