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Spinning Sunday or: The Hauls 4/17-4/24/21

25 Sunday Apr 2021

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Salutations™!!

This is this week’s and last week’s hauls together as this week was slammed with video projects. I’m jumping out at it because I have several to go through… Here’s the hauls:

©Merge Records

4/17:

Madonna – Ray Of Light — This is #367 on the RS list that matters and #222 on the one that doesn’t. Comes with color printed inner sleeves with lyrics, credits & pictures. Matte cover, not laminated. 2×LP. New.

Depeche Mode – Songs Of Fate And Distortion — Remix import album (unofficial). The title is a play on their album, Songs of Faith and Devotion. New.

Aretha Franklin – I Never Loved A Man The Way I Love You — #84 on the RS list that matters and inexplicably #13 on the one that doesn’t. It’s good, yes, but that good? No. No way. Uh-uh. Forget it. From the hype sticker: Soul Queen Aretha Franklin’s 1967 breakthrough studio album – Featuring signature song “Respect” – Original Mono Recording – 180 Gram Vinyl. New.

Wye Oak – Civilian — This duo out of Baltimore are on Merge Records and we know what that means! Merge Records = The BCPF gets it. This man/woman duo is full instrumentation. Jenn Wasner plays guitar/bass/keys/vox and Andy Stack plays drums and keyboards. He plays the drums with his feet and his right hand and plays bass lines and such with his left. New.

U2 – Wide Awake In America — I had this on vinyl, but it’s just a club edition (not that I care about that part) in VG condition (I DO care about that part). This is a remastered, 180g reissue that was in NM condition. I couldn’t pass that up.

4/24:

Yes – Yes — The bands 1969 debut studio album. Two of the members, Jon Anderson (vox) and Chris Squire (bass), would stay with the band for quite a while, well on and off. Anderson would leave and come back, leave and come back. Squire was the bass player until his death in 2015. 2×LP, Reissue, Remastered, 180 GR, Gatefold, Embossed. New.

Red Hot Chili Peppers – Mother’s Milk — This is the first album from RHCP that I ever knew of and still only heard the Stevie Wonder cover, “Higher Ground.” I respect the heck out of RHCP, all the way around, but I just can’t really get into them. The BCPF picked this one out, but I’m glad she did. I am glad to have it in the arsenal. Reissue on 180 gram Vinyl as part of the Capitol From The Vaults Series. New.

Tears For Fears – The Seeds Of Love — This was the 1989 follow-up to 1985’s megahit Songs from the Big Chair. It didn’t quite have the same punch but the title song alone is worth the price of admission. Reissue, Remastered, 180 gram. New.

Genesis – Selling England By The Pound — The penultimate Peter Gabriel Genesis album. I couldn’t tell you a single song from this album without looking it up (I would have guessed “I Know What I Like (In Your Wardrobe)” and would have been right, but not for certain). But, I didn’t have it and I wanted it. So, there. Deluxe Edition, Mixed, Reissue, Remastered – Half Speed Mastering. 2008 Mixes by Nick Davis & Genesis. 180 Gram Audiophile Vinyl. New.

Peter Murphy – Should The World Fail To Fall Apart — Murphy’s debut solo album from 1986 following his departure from Bauhaus. By the way, the other three members of Bauhaus (Daniel Ash, David J (and his brother), Kevin Haskins) formed Tones on Tail (at least Ash and David J) and subsequently Love and Rockets. Anyway, this sounds great. That deep voice and synth-poppiness are fantastic here. I dug it. Reissue, Gatefold, Blue Vinyl. New.

Bauhaus – The Bela Session — Speaking of Bauhaus, 2018 limited edition colored vinyl (I think, we haven’t opened it yet) 12″ EP. New.

So, that’s the haul from the last two weeks. I think it’s a good haul. Record Store Day is coming in June and July and the list is available if you go to the RSD website. Jonathan has suspended Underdog Records store-to-porch deliveries due to a problem with his vehicle after a car in front of him kicked up a piece of shrapnel and it was hurled at the car like a spear. So, I’ll keep you informed when or if he resumes. Or you can watch the Underdog Records social media for more accurate and timely news about it. You can order new vinyl, anytime, day or night, by visiting the Underdog Records website. I use Discogs to track and document my record collection. You should, too.

Until tomorrow, keep spinnin’…
Scorp out!

—
“High time we made a stand and shook up the views of the common man. And, the love train rides from coast to coast. D.J.’s the man we love the most. Could you be, could you be squeaky clean and smash any hope of democracy? As the headline says you’re free to choose, there’s egg on your face and mud on your shoes. One of these days they’re gonna call it the blues, yeah, yeah.” – “Sowing the Seeds of Love” (Orzabal/Smith)

Now Normal Chronicles or: Shload

29 Tuesday Sep 2020

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Salutations™!!

Today is a big day in musical releases. Glorified Magnified from Manfred Mann’s Earth Band turns 48. All the World’s a Stage from Rush is 44. The Stranger from Billy Joel is 43. Celebrate! from Kool & the Gang and Hotter Than July by Stevie Wonder are 40. Bend Sinister from The Fall, Somewhere in Time from Iron Maiden, Brotherhood from New Order, The Pacific Age from OMD, and Chicago 18 are all 34 today. Strangeways, Here We Come from The Smiths and The Uplift Mofo Party Plan from Red Hot Chili Peppers is 33. Core from Stone Temple Pilots, Dirt from Alice in Chains, Our Time in Eden from 10,000 Maniacs and Us from Peter Gabriel are all 28. Bridges to Babylon by The Rolling Stones Urban Hymns from The Verve are 23. There are more but none that I really want to talk about.

Whew! That’s a lot. I mean, two huge grunge-era releases, one of the best from Maiden and we know what a fan of Peter Gabriel I am. But, since The Stranger is my favorite album from Billy Joel and this is my favorite song by him, it’s a no-brainer and this dude does it very well. I do kind of wish the saxophonist wouldn’t have been so diva-ish about his parts. Enjoy!

Until tomorrow, same blog channel…
Scorp out!

—
“Things are okay with me these days. Got a good job, got a good office. Got a new wife, got a new life and the family’s fine. We lost touch long ago. You lost weight I did not know you could ever look so nice after so much time.” – “Scenes from an Italian Restaurant” (Joel)

Spinning Sunday or: The Haul 5/30/20

31 Sunday May 2020

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Salutations™!!

RHCP-BSSM

©Warner Bros

YES! You read that correctly. The “haul” and not the “listen.” I haven’t decided yet if I’ll put what I’ve listened to in the last week. You’ll know by the time the end of this blog post happens. So, back to what this means. It means that Underdog Records is back open! It also means that there are a lot of new restrictions that you have to abide by to enter the store. Only five customers are allowed in at a time and each must wear a mask and you get a squirt of hand sanitizer when you walk in and other than cash, all forms of payment are “touchless.” I’m good with all of that.

As I’ve said on the podcasts, I’m not sure that I’m ready to reinsert myself into society just yet. I know Jonathan really didn’t want to open this early but, the need kind of superseded his “want.” When we were there (just after 11am), there was one guy in the store. He left and one of my friends walked in. Soon after that, one more person came, got what was being held for them, and walked out. A gentleman and his son came in and we talked about my Pittsburgh Steelers mask and that was it. Jonathan has spaced the “freshly used” section so the rows that aren’t right up against each other. It was a great “first experience back.” To tell the truth, other than smothering in my mask, it was so great to be back. Now that that was more long-winded than I expected. Let’s do this haul!

  • The Smiths – Louder Than Bombs — Although I skipped most of the compilation albums on the RS list, I stated in my review that I “broke my own rule” and listened to it. The BCPF is huge on the Smiths and my views on them have changed since then, too. I enjoy them… at least in small doses. This is #369 on that list. 2xLP. New.
  • Red Hot Chili Peppers – Blood Sugar Sex Magik — #310 on the RS list, this is my favorite (and to most extents the only one I like) RHCP album. The first time I ever played and “slap bass” in front of anyone was on “Suck My Kiss.” I still love that song. It’s 2xLP and is probably about 5 songs too long, but I don’t mind it. New.
  • R.E.M. – Document — #462 on the RS list, this has some really good stuff on it: “It’s the End of the World as We Know It (And I Feel Fine),” “Finest Worksong,” “Oddfellows Local 151” and “The One I Love.” The latter being one of the most misunderstood “love songs” I know of along with “Every Breath You Take” from the Police and “You’re All I Need” from Motley Crue. These songs are not love songs, people. New.
  • Yo La Tengo – Summer Sun — Yo La Tengo is one of The BCPF’s bands. I can’t tell you much about them except that they scatter their styles and I don’t mean just album to album. They are basically all over the place on each album, too. She digs them, so there. 2xLP. New.
  • Yo La Tengo – I Am Not Afraid Of You And I Will Beat Your Ass — Same as before. She said this was one of her faves in college. 2xLP. New.
  • Mazzy Star – So Tonight That I Might See — I know nothing about Mazzy Star. This is another of The BCPF’s doing. I know they are a California band and a female lead singer. That’s all I know. This is a reissue and new.
  • Bauhaus – In The Flat Field — Yet another fave of The BCPF. I knew the name of the band when I met her and heard “Bela Lugosi’s Dead” and their cover of “Ziggy Stardust,” and knew of Peter Murphy and more intently Love and Rockets (all from SiriusXM’s 1st Wave) before I met The BCPF. So, basically, you take Peter Murphy and David J from the band and you have Tones On Tail. Insert David J back and you get Love and Rockets. This was their (Bauhaus) debut album. Reissue. New.
  • Bauhaus – Mask —  Their second album and ditto on the previous entry. New.
  • Def Leppard – On Through The Night — The debut album from Def Leppard. I know this is the favorite DL album of several of my friends. I don’t get that. It’s good. But, even The BCPF (who admittedly doesn’t listen to this kind of music) asked after it was played, “that was Def Leppard? That didn’t sound like them.” I liked the more polished, hit-driven Def Leppard better. New.
  • Coldplay – A Rush Of Blood To The Head — The sophomore effort from Martin & Co. which is the follow-up to one of my all-time favorite albums, Parachutes. This has some great stuff on it but isn’t its predecessor by any means. That doesn’t excuse the fact that this album is on the RS list at #466. New.
  • Foo Fighters – Foo Fighters — I will admit that I am not a huge FF fan but I respect the heck out of them. I want to like them and love watching documentaries and specials about the band. Songs from this album, though, I really do like. I have it on CD and now I have it on vinyl. Yay me! New.
  • Superchunk – Here’s Where The Strings Come In — Another fave of The BCPF and one that I have actually seen (I think twice) live with my girl. They put on a good live show. It’s not flashy as I’d prefer but it is high energy. I don’t know about this album but she saw it and wanted it. ‘Nuff said. New.
  • Verdi – Great Men Of Music — It was in the used section but it was still in shrink wrap and is in NM condition so I’m going to say it’s new. It’s a box set with 4xLP.
  • The Coup – Coup De Grace — There is nothing that I can find about this band online. This is a cut-out but sealed copy. It’s listed as “classic rock” on Discogs. That’s what I know. I’ll report when I know more. NM.
  • Patty Smyth – Never Enough — Smyth’s debut solo album after leaving Scandal. NM/EX.
  • Eric Carmen – Boats Against The Current — This album is chock-full of big-name guests from the 70s/80s. Ollie Brown, Andrew Gold, Jeff Porcaro, Bobby Keys, Brian Wilson and Bruce Johnson from the Beach Boys, etc. It’s a sealed cut-out and is listed in NM/VG++.
  • Mike Bloomfield And Al Kooper – The Live Adventures Of Mike Bloomfield And Al Kooper — Another I know nothing about but according to Wikipedia: “The performances, recordings and production cannot be described as flawless; in his sleeve notes, Kooper describes the difficulties of finding rehearsal space, Bloomfield’s insomnia,[1] and the failure of a vocal microphone during “Dear Mr Fantasy”; the track “I Wonder Who” is faded during a Bloomfield solo for no apparent reason. Nevertheless, the album remains an important, if raw, document of a live blues-rock performance of the period and, apart from its intrinsic qualities, is notable not only for one of the earliest live recordings by Carlos Santana but also for Bloomfield’s debut as a vocalist.” It’s kind of beat up and is listed as VG.
  • Commodores – In The Pocket — It is the last Commodores album to feature Lionel Richie, as he left the band to start a solo career the following year. I wish I had blue jeans with The Less Desirables logo embroidered on it like on this cover of this album. NM/EX.
  • Saint-Saëns / Charles Dutoit, Montreal Symphony Orchestra – Symphony No. 3 Organ — I love Camille Saint-Saëns. I don’t know how I feel about the organ part, but I love his work. We’ll see how this goes. It’s NM/EX.
  • Mike Oldfield – Tubular Bells — This album celebrated its 47th anniversary on Monday. I have heard about it but don’t know much about it. The vinyl is VG+, the cover is VG.

So, this is a huge haul. It was necessary, at least to me. I needed that. My spirit raised exponentially. To see and talk with Jonathan was amazing, even if I couldn’t and didn’t shake his hand. Being able to rummage the bins was therapeutic. Jonathan will still be doing deliveries and the store will only be open a few days a week but when it is, it will be regular store hours. You can follow him on the social channels and you can always purchase new vinyl any time, day or night, by visiting the Underdog Records website. We haven’t quite gotten back to the TLD/UR special of the week but we are hoping to, soon. Thank you, Jonathan, for keeping it going. I loved my visit to the candy store. Also, I use Discogs to track my collection and it has come in handy for random listening.

To that, I think I have decided that as long as I am working mostly from home that I will continue to use the random method that I have been using and will use Monday’s post for reporting that. I know my blog has become more music-based with anniversaries and such, but music is and has always been such a bit part of my life that I think it fits. Speaking of music and what I do, I have a couple of podcast projects in the works that are music-focused. I’ll certainly talk about it here. You know I will.

So, until tomorrow, keep spinnin’!
Scorp out!

—
“So, if there’s something you’d like to try… If there’s something you’d like to try, ask me, I won’t say no, how could I?” – “Ask” (Marr/Morrissey)

 

 

Say Anything… or: The Less Desirables Movie of the Week

10 Saturday Jun 2017

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Salutations™!!

a/perture cinema, the Official Movie Sponsor of The Less Desirables, presents The Less Desirables Movie of the Week, Say Anything… (1989), starring John Cusack, Ione Skye and John Mahoney.

Say_Anything

©20th Century Fox

 

Per IMDb: “A noble underachiever and a beautiful valedictorian fall in love the summer before she goes off to college.”

Lloyd Dobler (Cusack) starts obsessing over Diane Court (Skye) at their high school graduation. She’s the valedictorian, and most assume she’s “out of his league.” She has won a fellowship to attend school in England and her father, Jim (Mahoney), couldn’t be happier. Jim is the owner of a retirement home and is his daughter’s best friend, after the divorce from her mother. They have a good bit of money and that adds to the ways that Diane and Lloyd are different, although neither of them cares.

Jim is worried that Lloyd may be a detriment to Diane’s upcoming matriculation in England; afraid that she’ll want to stay home instead of going. The more the two teens get involved, the more Jim becomes less tolerant of Diane’s “freedoms.” It doesn’t help that the IRS is investigating Jim on fraud charges through the retirement home.  Do the crazy kids stay together? Do they break up? What happens with the IRS? You’ll have to watch to find out.

As usual, Joan Cusack plays in the film with her brother, John. She doesn’t give any Oscar-winning performances but that wasn’t what she set out to do, in this film. It was so strange seeing John Mahoney with dark hair and playing a role outside of Martin Crane, Frasier’s father in the television series. There are times when you don’t like him and I’m not used to that with him, either. There are times when you certainly do like him, though.

The BCPF thinks Ione Skye got the part because she’s pretty while I think she is an awful actress and looks like a horse. As the film went on it was like she learned to act. The acting was less atrocious from her the deeper the film went. Beyond that, I think that she and Cusack (who can act) actually had good screen chemistry.

Another Frasier cast member, Bebe Neuwirth (she played Frasier’s ex-wife, Lillith), made an appearance here, as well. Other cameos include Jeremy Piven, Chynna Phillips, Eric Stoltz and Lili Taylor.

Probably the most notable thing about this film is its soundtrack. One of the most famous scenes of teen-driven dramedies happens in this film: the iconic holding of the boombox playing “In Your Eyes” from Peter Gabriel (off my favorite album of all-time). Cusack reenacted that onstage at a Peter Gabriel show a few years ago. In addition to PG, the soundtrack included Nancy Wilson of Heart (her husband, Cameron Crowe wrote the film), Depeche Mode, The Replacements, Cheap Trick, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Living Colour and Joe Satriani. It’s a great soundtrack and the songs fit well in the film.

Overall, I think it was a decent film. Not my favorite of teen films but it was pretty good. Rotten Tomatoes has it at 98% Fresh with an Audience Score of 85%. IMDb has it at 7.4 stars out of 10. We rented it from Amazon Prime and I will rate it 4 stars out of 5. Have you seen it? What would you like to hear/read me review?

Until tomorrow, same blog channel…
Scorp out!

—
“One question: are you here ’cause you need someone, or ’cause you need me?… Forget it, I don’t care.” – Lloyd Dobler

Poet and a Prophet or: Got You Under My Skin (RS Part 20)

12 Tuesday May 2015

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Salutations™!!

The “Rolling Stone’s Top 500 Albums of All Time” segments are getting tight now. The higher it gets the better, theoretically, they should get even better. I say higher. Is it higher or lower? The numbers get lower but I think of it as higher on the list. #1 is the highest, right?  So let’s go with that. The higher, the better. And, this segment will close out the 300s. We’re moving along nicely. Enough yakking, let’s hit it!

1BSSM

“Blood Sugar Sex Magik” by RHCP

#310 – Blood Sugar Sex Magik by Red Hot Chili Peppers. Caveat: I didn’t listen to this in order or for the list. That’s not a bad thing, I’m not “skipping” it. I didn’t realize it was coming on the list at this time but I’d already listened to it, in its entirety about a month ago. If I think Chili Peppers, I think this album. I’ll say it, I know I’ll get flogged for it, but I had never heard of them before seeing the video for “Give It Away.” At that time it was mostly played on 120 Minutes and I stayed far away from that. I just did, sorry. But, “Give It Away,” “Breaking the Girl,” “Under the Bridge” and “If You Have to Ask” are great songs, but to me the gem and jewel of this album is “Suck My Kiss.” I’m partial to that one because I played it in probably the first real band I was in after my move to NC. Flea is a beast and to play his bass lines are quite difficult. Especially when you’re a pick player and he does all his stuff finger style. There are advantages and disadvantages to both it’s just style, plain and simple. That just means he’s hard to duplicate, even if I was a finger picker.  It’s a great album and I’m surprised it’s this low on the list. Dug!

#309 – Willy and the Poor Boys by Credence Clearwater Revival. Every time I hear CCR I think of my uncle Curt. He is a big fan. After being part of the CCD Vagabond Saints Society show a few years back, I gained a new respect for them. I didn’t really care about them when I was younger, I don’t turn it now. I do find it funny they have this bayou sound when they’re from Southern California. Oh well. “Down on the Corner” has an iconic riff. You know exactly what that is when you hear it. Follow that up with “It Came Out of the Sky” and it’s that straight forward rock and roll. Actually, that is what I’d call rock and roll. Sixties at its heyday. I’d say outside of Black Sabbath or Led Zeppelin, this is some heavy stuff. At least some of it. Still rock and roll, though. This rolls more than some rock. I really like it. They get that southern shuffle happening in “Feelin’ Blue.” Not necessarily a shuffle beat but the ambiance of the song itself is groovy like a shuffle. The anti-war anthem and Forrest Gump staple, “Fortunate Son” is a fave of mine.  Although, it seems Fogerty was waiting to burst a vein singing it. Sign of the times, I guess. I don’t think I ever knew how short that song is coming in at just under two and a half minutes. “Don’t Look Now” reminds me of some Elvis song. And then finish it off with a very dark song, “Effigy” about a funeral pyre or something as Fogerty asks “Who is burnin’?” A little noir, but that’s ok, again, so were the times. Great album, I dug it!

1Songsforswinginlovers

“Songs for Swingin’ Lovers” by Frank Sinatra

#308 – Songs for Swingin’ Lovers by Frank Sinatra. Oh, my first Frank on the list, I do believe. One of the oldest albums on this list, I believe, too. There was some Robert Johnson I think and that would probably be older, but this style of popular music was still a relatively new thingy back in 1956 so I can see why this is included. I’m a big fan of Frank, too. Ol’ Blue Eyes was the consummate gentleman’s crooner back then. He’s incredible. It’s classic Frank, too. “You’re Getting to be a Habit with Me,” “Pennies from Heaven,” “I’ve Got You Under My Skin,” “Makin’ Whoopee.”  I know a lot of people do these standards but while some may be staples for others, to me, if Frank put his stamp on it, then it’s his, no matter what. No offense, to Louis, Sammy, Deano, Ella, Etta, Tony, Vic, Mel or Nat. Dug!

#307 – A Hard Days Night by The Beatles. Another one that I didn’t actually listen to for the list. I’m a huge Beatles fan (second favorite band) and I have them on constant shuffle on my iPod. All the Beatles albums are on there so while I may not get it in order, I do get it often. Heavens Sake used to do the title track as our show closer, it was always fun to play. “And I Love Her” is a sweet little song as is “I’m Happy Just to Dance with You.” You know a song’s powerful when they name a movie after it, á la “Can’t Buy Me Love.” Not saying the movie was as good as the song, though. I’ll never forget “I’ll Be Back” because, being a KISS fan, Gene and Paul did that on the “mockumentary” KISS EXposed (1987). That was the first time I heard it. I’ll say it’s not my favorite Beatles album but it’s still a darned fine one. Dug!

1Odelay

“Odelay” by Beck

#306 – Odelay by Beck. I don’t know that I knew this was so electronic. Lots of his and scratches along with the hyper-spacious ‘verb along with some surf-a-billy stylings, at least in the first song, “Devil’s Haircut.” There’s some hints of hip-hop/alternative that was popular in the mid-’90s. From what I can tell, this album was spot on for the times. There is also no shortage of noise on this disc. I’m not three songs in and I don’t know how to categorize this. I like that. I don’t want to be held to a genre, I want to listen to enjoy. It’s all rock (well, “Lord Only Knows” is mostly rock) as far as I can tell. Still, the hints of hip-hop are prevalent. Samples are prevalent and that’s not a bad thing. I’m not sure if I’ve ever heard anything on this album I’m thinking maybe something will pop out on me whilst listening, but thus far, nothing. Nice jack-ass sounds on “Jack-ass.” I also love that they have an actual track dedicated to sounding like the end of a side on a vinyl album. And the intro to “Where It’s At” sounds like a record actually being needled. I believe my favorite song is the ’70s esque “Sissyneck.” It’s pretty great with it’s laid back groove, melody and lyrics. This is a great album and I recommend it! Dig!

#305 – Car Wheels on a Gravel Road by Lucinda Williams. Alt-country and I mean ALT country. I can’t tell if I think she was drunk for the whole thing or if that’s just her way of doing things. To me, it sounds like listening to people sing from some small church in the backwoods somewhere in Rural America. Maybe it sounds good to (insert deity of choice here)?  I’m not saying she’s bad, just that it kind of sounds week with some over-exaggerated country accent. Perhaps that’s really how she does, but “cawfeeee, ayggs and baycun” sounds a bit contrived. It’s decent country music, I just can’t get past that accent. And I’m from the country. I’m going to be ridden hard for this review, but I just don’t get past some aspects of this album and, I suppose, Ms. Wiliams. Again, the songs aren’t bad, well written and mostly well played. I can’t tell if it’s a joke. She’s just annoying me. Reminds me of “Mercedes Benz” from Janis Joplin and I always felt that was a little bit tongue-in-cheek. There are bright spots, though. “I Lost It” is a pretty good song. I also didn’t hate “Lake Charles.” Granted both of those songs are later in the set, perhaps I grew accustomed to her voice? Don’t think so. Didn’t dig..,

1Grace

“Grace” by Jeff Buckley

#304 – Grace by Jeff Buckley. Laid back but powerful. That’s my first impression of the opening track, “Mojo Pin.” Buckley lets it rip in some Zeppelin-like instrumentation during that tune. The title track which follows is a shuffle beat with great instrumentation. Hearing this song, I kept saying, “what does this remind me of?” I
figured it out and wonder if Jon Witteveen was at all inspired by Buckley when he was writing tunes for Creamy Velour’s Angel’s Guise album? If so, well played, sir, well played! The BCPF says she’s conflicted with this album. She rants and raves about his version of “Hallelujah” which is pretty fantastic. However, I’m not hearing anything that I don’t like. I especially love his guts to use that rich and powerful falsetto on “Corpus Christi Carol.” That’s some awesome stuff; so emotional. I really like this album, wonder why it’s not higher and would like to have it on vinyl. I definitely DUG this one!

#303 – John Wesley Harding by Bob Dylan. Oh Jeff Buckley, I thank you for being the rock stuck between two horrible singers. The upside? The two bookends were actually great songwriters, I just hate to have to listen to them sing it. Plusses and minuses here? I hear the stories that he’s telling and I’ll catch glimpses of greatness (excepting the vocals) but other than “The Ballad of Frankie Lee and Judas Priest” and “All Along the Watchtower” I’m not finding anything that really grabs me. Wait, for some reason, “Down Along the Cove” is grabbing me. Not inappropriately, mind you, but it’s grabby anyways. But, overall the “recently gone electric” Dylan wasn’t really doing it for me. Meh.

“Fear of a Black Planet” by Public Enemy

#302 – Fear of a Black Planet by Public Enemy. A pivotal album in the hip-hop world. It embodies all the things I think of when I think of “classic” hip-hop. Lots going on and social, accessible, activist lyrics like in “Brothers Gonna Work It Out” and the highly successful single, “911 is a Joke,” which I think is a great song. Hello Vincent Price. “Incident at 66.6 FM” pretty much tells the tale of struggles, scrutiny and negative press the group had to endure. The rap is good, the tunes are good, the album is good. This is one of the early days of sampling’s finest hours. Almost all of the album’s music is made up of samples from a very wide array of tunes and genres. Oh and Flavor Flav is hilarious both in real life and on here.  Chuck D is pointed and takes charge. The flow of the songs is quite rapid, it just moves. It doesn’t linger, it doesn’t need. Not hard to pick out Ice Cube on “Burn Hollywood Burn.”  A lot of anti-racism and “take control of your situation” talk in these songs. I think they pulled it off perfectly, at least in the beginning. I think this album is about 7 or 8 songs too long. It gets redundant after the title track. The tracks seem to lose substance and just be a bunch of samples and effects. It ends with a (pun intended) powerful “Fight the Power.” Overall, a landmark album that I think was great, albeit a bit long. Dug.

#301 – Coat of Many Colors by Dolly Parton. Talk about stark contrast.  From Public Enemy straight to Dolly Parton.  The title track is one that Dolly says is one of her favorites she’s ever written. One thing I love about Dolly is she does write most of her own stuff. On this album there are three songs written by Porter Wagoner, her long-time collaborator and close friend. I personally thought they were “together” but I don’t see any real evidence of this. Anywhat! Back to the title track, it’s basically a retelling of the Joseph and his coat of many colors from the Bible, as told by her mother. “Traveling Man” is funny and I wonder if it doesn’t have something to do with Wagoner, at least a bit? There’s Americana-laden pop in here, too. Not really even country as I’d categorize it. I think the Porter Wagoner aspect always led me to believe that she was more country. It’s her accent, too, maybe? Dolly’s voice is really strong and amazing on this album. I know ma père was a big fan of hers and I listened some but not really in depth, as a child. I’m actually taken aback a bit listening.  She’s really great. Powerful voice, powerfully written songs, powerful storytelling. What more could you want? Definitely dug!

So we’re down another hundred. I’ll be writing a post next week that will serve as a retrospective of this 100 albums. But, that’s next week. This segment had a lot of good stuff; only one I didn’t like and one I was mostly indifferent about. I’m looking forward to the next segment as well as the next 100 set. What do you think of the albums on this section? What do you think of my views? Do you agree or disagree? Drop me a line and let me know!

Until tomorrow, same blog channel…
Scorp out!

—
– “Corpus Christi Carol” by Anon., Britten, Buckley from Grace

Scar Tissue or: Triple Albums Must Pass (RS pt 10)

10 Wednesday Dec 2014

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Salutations™!!

I have to start this post off with some back tracking.  A few RS posts back I skipped over George Harrison’s All Things Must Pass album because of technical difficulties.  The difficulties being, it wasn’t available on Rhapsody and that I owned it but hadn’t listened to it.  It’s a triple album and that’s a lot of songs to aggregate to put into a playlist, when I have it already. So I went back and listened.  So the first part will be out of sequence.

all things must pass

“All Things Must Pass” by George Harrison

#433 – All Things Must Pass by George Harrison. I believe that George Harrison was the most unique, if not the best, of the songwriters in The Beatles.  Now, don’t get me wrong, I don’t think his songs were the best, I just think he was ahead of his time in songwriting.  Paul and John were awesome songwriters and their songs were amazing.  But, I think George was a madman when it came to penning songs.  For The Beatles alone, look at “While My Guitar Gently Weeps.”  IF that was the only song that he wrote, it’s a monumental one-off.  But, that wasn’t all.  This album, All Things Must Pass, also highlights this fact.  This was a shload of songs that I guess Paul and John didn’t think was good enough for their little group.  A caveat to this part is that while I have the album, I believe it is the 2001 remaster that I have and it only offers an instrumental version of “What Is Life.”  Four and a half minutes of an instrumental version of a classic hit.  Boo, to that, I say.  Also, I don’t get the whole idea of the “jam” records that went with it, the “Apple Jams” part.  I get that jamming is an integral part of songwriting and collaboration, but jeez o’pete!! And “Out of the Blue,” um… !?  It’s 11:18 long… AND it fades out.  At what point do you think, well, this has gone on long enough, let’s just fade it.  Obviously at 11:18, but MY point is: how much longer did it go before they stopped?! It was ridiculous and to me not at all entertaining.  Anywhat! Let’s get back to the main album.  I’m trying to figure out how Alice Cooper wasn’t sued for “Only Women Bleed.”  That, too me, is a rip off of “Isn’t It a Pity (both versions).” “My Sweet Lord” is fabulous and I’m a big fan of “Beware of Darkness,” “Awaiting on You All,” and the title track, too.  Overall, a great album, but in my opinion, way too long.  At least ditch the jammy stuff, to me it’s not needed.  Sorry that one went on so long.  Dug, but disappointed, too.

#410 – Time Out of Mind by Bob Dylan. I will start off saying that I love the first song, “Love Sick.”  Something dark and foreboding, yet incredibly sexy about that song.  I don’t think it’s necessarily supposed to be sexy but it is.  The pain in the storytelling of “Standing in the Doorway” almost makes the listener feel the same.  I love the dirty blues/jazz rhythms and “down home” feeling of this album, although I usually don’t.  I could listen to this again (disclaimer: I did refresh for the review, which I do for every album).  I dug it!

AlbumStrangeDays

“Strange Days” by The Doors

#409 – Strange Days by The Doors.  I’ll always picture Val Kilmer when I think of Jim Morrison.  That and the fact that I saw the alleged location of his death in Paris.  Never have I been a big fan of The Doors, but I liked listening to this. You don’t have to be fan to like listening to something, I have figured.  From the title track to “Love Me Two Times” and “People Are Strange” (probably my favorite Doors tune, although I think I like Echo & the Bunnymen’s version better) this is some great stuff.  This, their sophomore effort ends like the debut album did, with a 10+ minute song.  Dug!

#408 – I Do Not Want What I Haven’t Got by Sinéad O’Connor. Sinéad O’Connor has an amazing voice.  Much power, emotion, feeling and conviction is busting from her pipes.  I love her version of Prince’s “Nothing Compares 2 U” and also “The Emperor’s New Clothes.”  The laid back “Black Boys on Mopeds” is only laid back in sound; there is political gunk all over this album.  Not a bad, either.  You can listen and picture her ripping the crap out of the Pope’s picture all over again.  For whatever reason, “Nothing Compares 2 U” wasn’t included on the version of the album I listened to (Rhapsody) although the song was included in some compilation elsewhere on the service.  Anywhat! I dug the album.

#407 – Sandinista! by The Clash.  Another, I repeat, yet another triple album.  You get a lot for your money with triple albums… if you like what you’re listening to, that is.  The Clash and I are in an on-again/off-again kind of relationship.  Usually, I’m off.  Three LPs full at one time… whew…  The first track, “The Magnificent Seven” has an awesome bass line which was played by a bassist that wasn’t even in, and was never in, the band.  It was guest bassist, Norman Watt-Roy. According to Wikipedia (yeah, I know) it was the first major white rap song.  I even predates Blondie’s “Rapture” but about six months, the site says.  I think The Clash gets in appropriately lumped in with punk, even though they’re more a pop band, in my ears.  Throw in some Motown, island music with vibraphones and such and you’ve got yourself a party.  The trouble is, I’m not really feeling it. Way too long and just couldn’t bring myself to care. I don’t get it myself, just how it is.  Didn’t dig.

Rid_of_Me

“Rid of Me” by PJ Harvey

#406 – Rid of Me by PJ Harvey. First track (title) starts off very quiet.  I thought something was wrong with it.  She kicks it in about halfway through the title track, then quiet again.  I know it’s for artistic value but somewhat confusing to me.  The rest of the album is melodious wailing at its finest.  I’m always impressed with the dissonance in both her voice and the musical arrangements.  “Legs” is good, almost teeth kicking.  Can you say angst?  She can! Dug!

#405 – Radio City by Big Star.  Being that I have a chronically bad case of the “Not Knowing Any Betters,” I listened to Radio City when I listened to (and reviewed) #1 Record (#434). Rhapsody put them together, I didn’t know they were separate albums. My bad. I dug it though.

#404 – Dr. John’s Gumbo by Dr. John.  Never have I wanted, or craved, jambalaya, red beans and rice or other creole foods as I did whilst listening to this album.  Big Easy indeed.   I can see him, Tom Waits and Joe Cocker standing at a mic doing music “in the round.”  “Iko Iko” starts it off and I had never heard a version like it.  “Somebody Changed the Lock” is sad for him, but a great song.  Admittedly, all I knew about Doc was “Right Place Wrong Time.”  This is the less commercial version of that style of music.  Comparable, yes, but not necessarily the same.  Boogie-Woogie, hints of Zydeco, and straight out rock.  Entertaining.  Another good quality, the songs were relatively easy to get through; short and to the point.  No fluff or muff, it was a good listen.  That being said, I don’t ever have to hear it again.  Dug, but done.

Lynyrdskynyrd

“(Pronounced ‘Lĕh-‘nérd ‘Skin-‘nérd)” by Lynyrd Skynyrd

#403 – (Pronounced ‘Lĕh-‘nérd ‘Skin-‘nérd) by Lynyrd Skynyrd. I have a confession to make. Seems like I do that quite often.  If you know me in real life you know that I despise Skynyrd.  My house is a “Skynyrd Free Zone,” as is my vehicle.  The thought of hearing them turns my stomach, just like 12-bar blues (we’ve talked about that before). But, guess what. I have seen them live before.  I took the “Ex” and her brother (both HUGE fans of the band).  I loved Paul Rogers’ set as an opener.  But, truthfully, I didn’t even want to get out of the car.  I’m not a fan of the contingency that are Skynyrd fans.  Rebel flag waving, white goofballs that do nothing but yell “woo!” one after the other, after the other, chugging their Bud Lights and PBRs and listening to Skynyrd at awful volumes, just to get in the show, accidentally bump into each other want to fight, get everyone around them stirred up, only to hug it out and sing along to their favorite or next-to-favorite tunes together.  Tension is high, ridiculously so, and well, I can’t stand it.  DISCLAIMER: I do not lump all fans of Skynyrd, or Bud Light or PBR drinkers in the same category, recklessly.  There has to be a mix of all of it.  BUT, that being said, I don’t like that crowd, they scare me, horribly.  No offense is intended, I’m just laying it out there.  Now, remember I said I had a confession.  The scenario laid out above, notwithstanding, I actually don’t mind the music of Skynyrd.  Even though this album has the all-time worst song ever written (yes even worse than “The Christmas Shoes”), known as “Freebird,” this was a pretty decent album. Most of Side 1 are great songs.  “Tuesday’s Gone,” “Gimme Three Steps” and “Simple Man” really are great tunes. “Freebird” sucks on many levels: I hate the whining of Ronnie Van Zandt through out, the length of the song, the aforementioned association of the certain type fan, and don’t get me started on the heckling opportunities at live venues.  Here’s your middle finger and it’s no charge.  Abstaining from proper ranking, here. Sorry.

#402 – Illmatic by Nas.  I was dreading this. Only because usually rap is just not my thing.  I’ve been disappointed, mostly, by the rap/hip hop choices thus far; I think I’ve been waiting to be wowed.  Well, other than the obviously obligatory use of the “N” word, the music in this one is quite good.  Cursing hasn’t ever bothered me, jeez, I’ve a potty mouth on me. I just usually leave that off of this blog, just no need for it.  Some sad stuff, indeed; some good stuff; optimism and darkness.  The raps are honest and from the heart.  I was even nodding and toe-tapping between the cringing (“N” words, again).  Dug, but done.

californication

“Californication” by Red Hot Chili Peppers

#401 – Californication by Red Hot Chili Peppers.  This album is no Blood Sugar Sex Magick. Nope, most certainly isn’t.  Not saying it doesn’t have some good stuff, nosiree!  They did get John Frusciante back, though.  They needed him, I think.  “Scar Tissue,” the title track, “Otherside,” “Porcelain,” all great songs.  But, I think I was expecting something new.  To me the jump from Mother’s Milk to  Blood Sugar was innovative, even if I can’t really say how, I’ve never been a huge fan of Chili Peppers. But, there was something.  I’d have thought that after going through [Dave] Navarro and getting John back would have been something profound.  I just wasn’t blown away.  I will say though, that no matter what he does, Flea… he’s a beast.  Dug-ish, but disappointed.

So that was the first 100 of this countdown/list thingy.  I guess I’ll take some time to reflect later this week, before moving on to the next batch.  Keep an eye out for it!

Until tomorrow, same blog channel…
Scorp out!

—
“Since u been gone I can do whatever I want
I can see whomever I choose
I can eat my dinner in a fancy restaurant
But nothing
I said nothing can take away these blues” – Sinéad O’Connor, “Nothing Compares 2 U” by Prince