Tag Archives: Roxy Music

Spinning Sunday or: The Haul 1/26/19

27 Sunday Jan 2019

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Salutations™!!

jfrontiers

©Columbia

Yesterday, The BCPF and I got off to an earlier-than-usual start and had breakfast and then ran by Underdog Records. We were there before they opened so we got first dibs on his wares, but not until he opened, of course, we don’t do that. The record-listening time was cut short because we judged a chili cook-off for the Ardmore Neighborhood late in the afternoon. But, the haul was great and I was excited about three things, in particular. Here’s the haul:

  • Roxy Music – Manifesto — This is one of the ones I’m excited about. I have really enjoyed listening to Roxy Music stuff, whether I have it on vinyl or not. In fact, I listen to it on streaming, too. I also like the Brian Eno solo stuff. He was gone from Roxy before this album came out. I was just making a point. “Dance Away” is one of my favorite Roxy tunes and it’s on this album. VG+.
  • Journey – Frontiers — Another that I was excited about. I can’t believe I didn’t already have this, but now, I can’t say that any longer. This has so many good songs from “Separate Ways (Worlds Apart)” to “Faithfully,” “After the Fall” to “Send Her My Love” which happens to be one of my favorite Journey songs. I know the album and the band (in this era) got a lot of flack and scoffs but I love them and I love this album. VG++.
  • Stan Getz – Eloquence — Stan Getz. ‘Nuff said. VG.
  • Canned Heat – The Canned Heat Cook Book (The Best Of Canned Heat) — All I know from Canned Heat is “Going Up the Country” and “On the Road Again.” Both of those are on here, so we got it. VG.
  • The Joseph Consortium, Andrew Lloyd Webber, Tim Rice– Joseph And The Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat — I saw this on a traveling tour. I liked it, but then again… Webber and Rice. VG+.
  • Richard Strauss – Rudolf Kempe, Dresden Staatskapelle– Also Sprach Zarathustra — This is a “tone poem” from Strauss that was inspired by Friedrich Nietzsche’s novel Also Sprach Zarathustra (Thus Spoke Zarathustra). You and I, though? We know it as the theme to Stanley Kubrick’s 2001: A Space Odyssey. VG++.
  • Judas Priest – Hell Bent For Leather — The American version of Killing Machine from Priest. The album was renamed in the US because CBS/Columbia was wary of the implications following the Cleveland School Shooting in San Diego. Incidentally, that shooting led to Boomtown Rats’ song “I Don’t Like Mondays” because the shooter, 16-year old Brenda Spencer shot folks from her house across the street and when questioned about it, said “I don’t like Mondays. This livens up the day.” She still sits in jail 40 years later. But, this album rocks, as does all Priest, I’m learning. It’s the last one with Les Binks behind the drums. VG.

Again, with the swing through, I didn’t get to notice a lot of equipment that Jonathan had but there were things there, including a few cassette decks, speakers and of course, turntables/record players. And, again, check out the Curated by Underdog feature that Jonathan does, now. Go in and ask him about it. Listen to The Less Desirables, new episodes out every Wednesday night, to hear the TLD/UR special of the week.

I used Discogs to track and catalog my collection.

Until tomorrow, same blog channel…
Scorp out!

—
“Yesterday, when it seemed so cool, when I walked you home, kissed goodnight, I said, “It’s love”, you said, “Alright.” It’s funny how I could never cry until tonight when you pass by hand in hand with another guy. You’re dressed to kill and guess who’s dying. Dance away the heartache. Dance away the tears. Dance away the heartache. Dance away the fear. Dance away.” – “Dance Away” (Ferry)

The Second Hundred or Hit Hit Miss Hit

18 Monday May 2015

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Salutations™!!

So, we’re down another hundred albums on the Rolling Stone Top 500 Albums of All Time. As the title reads there were hits and misses. I’ll say, though, that there were many more hits than misses. There were good segments, there were great segments and there was one particularly uninspired segment.

Let’s start with that. For the most part the 10 album segments were at least decent; dare I say good? Segment 12, however (nos 390-381) was a wasteland of dirge to me outside the two opening albums, Elephants by White Stripes and End of the Innocence by Don Henley.  What else is on there, you may ask? Enter the Wu-Tang (36 e1a5f-rolling_stone_logo-svgChambers) by Wu-Tang Clan, Love and Theft by Bob Dylan, A Quick One by The Who, More Songs About Buildings and Food by Talking Heads (which I did give a “dug”), The Modern Lovers by The Modern Lovers, Smile by The Beach Boys. The award for the weirdest thing I’ve come across on this list is also in this segment. It’s called The Indestructible Beat of Soweto and was by the always vague “Various Artists.” This was a cornucopia of African music, which isn’t a bad thing, just isn’t my thing. And the most perplexing part was why? Why even include that on this list? And if you’re going to include it (and again, why would you?), why put it that high. Put it at #500 if it absolutely must be on this list. It’s not a bad album, just… why?!?

Let’s do my faves and least faves. I will say I left off the obvious, any of the Beatles, The Police, the above mentioned End…Innocence, etc. Basically, the stuff that I already know I loved, I left off this because the point is to be introduced to things that I a) didn’t have a clue existed or b) that I wouldn’t have sought out on my own.

So the least faves first, and these are in no particular order:
*Lucinda Williams – Car Wheels on a Gravel Road (#305). I hated that album. It was her ridiculous over-exaggerated “cuhn-treh” (country) accent, I think.
*Roxy Music – For Your Pleasure (#396). I think I was just expecting more from these guys. It was a major disappointment, especially from the album that was supposed to Ferry’s favorite. Ick.
*Pink Floyd – Piper at the Gates of Dawn (#347). I love Pink Floyd or should I say I love Pink Floyd from Dark Side on. Don’t give me extra weird Floyd.
*Muddy Waters – At Newport 1960 (#348). I. Hate. Traditional. 12-Bar. Blues. Why, if you’re putting this on a list, is it this high?.
*Wu-Tang Clan – Enter the Wu-Tang (36 Chambers) (#387). The “N” word for the “N” word’s sake is over done and I am just over it. This was as bad as listening to Raekwon in the first hundred. Ick, again.
*Sonic Youth – Daydream Nation (#328). I think this was more like Sonic Noise than Sonic Youth. I don’t know just didn’t dig it.

A pause for compilations. There are six, that I can find skimming on here. As I’ve said, and it seems to be confusing at times, I do like greatest hits and compilation collections. I do. I just don’t want to rate them as albums because I only do live albums (and at first I didn’t want to do that) and studio releases, not record label money-grabs. However, I did rate a few, just not all of them, the compilations are: Sun Records Collection by Various (#311); Ultimate Collection by John Lee Hooker (#377); In the Jungle Groove by James Brown (#329) that I didn’t rate. The three I did rate are: Substance by New Order (#362); Singles Going Steady by Buzzcocks (#360); Louder than Bombs by The Smiths (#369). Okay, they’ve gotten enough time from me.

My faves. Again, this is a truncated list and the ones that I rated “dug” with emphasis (in no particular order):
*Nick Drake – Pink Mooon (#321). Just a beautiful album. There’s not a lot to really even say.
*Lou Reed – Berlin *Bjork – Post (#376). She’s quirky and weird and I like it that way.
*Massive Attack – Blue Lines (#397). Chill music mixed with Soul/R&B. Yes, please.
*Jeff Buckley – Grace (#304). Beautiful from the beginning to the end. Sad a talent like this left the way it did.
*Tom Waits – The Heart of Saturday Night (#339). Tom Waits. A hit or miss with me usually but this was a younger, on-key Tom and it tripped my trigger.
*Talking Heads – Stop Making Sense (#345). Remember when I said I did review live albums? Well this is one of my favorites from the list thus far.
*Nirvana – Unplugged in New York (#313). Yes. I said that. Nirvana. In my faves. Nirvana! The beauty of this list right here.

There are probably many, many more I could put on here. For the most part I’d say it was (out of a hundred) about 80-85% likes, at least moderately. That’s really a pretty good rating. Even the ones that I really didn’t care for, I could put in the 80-85%. If I just count the ones that I listed above it would be only 6% dislike, but I know there are others and then some of lesser degree.  I enjoyed this segment, though, and I think that I was getting into the meat of the list and the same is going to be for the coming segments. Then, theoretically, I’ll be getting into the crème de la crème as the countdown winds down. So read on, Dear Reader, read on! And, if you disagree with me, as I’m sure you do, let me know. Send me your thoughts, one way or the other, I look forward to hearing from you.

Until tomorrow, same blog channel…
Scorp out!

—
“A classic record proves itself over time.” – Joe Levy, Music Editor, Rolling Stone

Sending an S.O.S to the World or: Caught Beneath the Landslide (RS part 13)

04 Wednesday Feb 2015

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Salutations™!!

The last leg of the countdown had some real duds for the Scorpster.  Here’s hoping that this leg is better, or at least slightly more pleasing.  We’ll see… Let’s hit it, running!

#380 – Funky Kingston by Toots and The Maytals. Reggae. Sigh… Reggae.  IF there is any consolation to having to listen to it it’s that there are a few songs that are closer to old Rhythm & Blues than to Reggae.  “Sailin’ On” would be an example of this.  Their version of “Louie Louie” is pretty okay, too.  But, for the most part, it’s reggae and definitely not my thing. Didn’t dig.

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“CrazySexyCool” by TLC

#379 – Crazysexycool by TLC. Don’t understand the “Intro-lude” but that’s ok.  It gets into the R&B that we’ve come to know and love from T-Boz, Left-Eye and Chilli.  “Creep” is the real lead song and it’s a groovy trip in hip-hopdom. “Waterfalls” is on this album and that’s a great listen.  “Red Light Special” is a damned sexy song, no doubt about it! As a matter of fact, this whole album is sexy. Left-Eye (RIP) was a drunk and whacky chick, for sure but it all worked for this album. All the way to the end with “Sumthin’ Wicked This Way Comes,” I dug it. D.U.G!

#378 – (What’s the Story) Morning Glory by Oasis. Although I have had this album for a long, long time, I’ve never listened from front to back.  I’m bad like that.  Another reason I need this list.  It’s the only way to keep me on task.  Otherwise, I skip to the hits or I wander aimlessly and nothing gets listened to.  “Hello” and hello to you! Great opener. Too bad these brothers couldn’t get their shite straight, there was real talent here.  I don’t know about Beatles level talent (as they claimed) but still darned good. “Wonderwall,” that ever present acoustic show staple is on this album.  It’s a great song, no doubt.  Did I mention that it was a shame they didn’t stay together?  “Morning Glory” is in your face and full on rocking it.  I liked that one a lot! There’s a lot of sound effects on this album, like the water that segues “She’s Electric” with “Champagne Supernova.”  Overall this is a fabulous disc and I’m glad I finally heard it 1 to 12. Dug!

#377 – The Ultimate Collection (1948-1990) by John Lee Hooker.  Anthology=collection or greatest hits.  Nope.

BjorkPost

“Post” by Bjork

#376 – Post by Björk. I don’t anything about Björk other than she’s Icelandic, former singer of Sugercubes and a bit “eclectic,” if you will.  The synth bass kicking arse at the beginning of “Army of Me” is fabulous and her voice is haunting. Somewhat seductive, although I don’t believe the song is supposed to be sexy.  It’s aggressive, but with more blue lyrics it would probably work, as well.  “Hyper-Ballad” is also bass intensive with brushwork percussion. That one is supposed to be sexy, I think.  “It’s Oh So Quiet” is very much a Broadway-esque jazz number with the dazzling Björk quirky treatment. This, so far is my favorite tune on the disc.  The music on this thing are all over the place and really I wouldn’t expect anything less from her.  “Isobel” is reminiscent of a James Bond theme with allure and intrigue and dissonant chord progressions. It is especially relative to the ’90s Bond pictures.  “Possibly Maybe” falls in this same mold, at least slightly.  She’s very jazzy and really, I dare say, she kicks butt! Her English is remarkable, by the way.  Love the conga solo in “I Miss You,” as well.  This album is great! DUG DUG DUG!!

#375 – Late for the Sky by Jackson Browne. The greatest thing about Jackson Browne is just that, Jackson Browne.  You always know what you’re going to get: solid songwriting and a great recital of such.  Has he ever written a bad song?  I never knew how much I did like him until recently.  But, that love (yeah, he just upgraded) is deeper than I knew as well.  It goes with the soundtrack of life, in a way.  Look at “Running on Empty.” Can any of you hear that and not see Forrest Gump running through the western US?  If you can, then you’ve not seen Forrest Gump.  But, that has nothing to do with this album.  That 1970s beyond-country-folk-yet-not-folk rock that he’s best known for is right here.  The title track starts the album and it’s fantastic; exactly what you’d expect. Browne always finds a way to make a chord change, in almost every song, that you don’t expect to happen.  Which, I guess in a way makes you expect it.  It could be a rise when you think it’s going to be a fall or vice versa. Nothing over the top, but right on spot. There are only 8 songs on the album but the shortest one is three minutes, eight seconds, including 2 six minute ones.  So even with less songs you’re still getting over 41 minutes of music which was about average for that time, I’d say.  While there aren’t any songs on this that I’d say that were greatly memorable, the album itself, as a collection is a pretty great listen.  I know there are other JB albums on this list, at least there should be. I look forward to them.  Highlights are “Fountain of Sorrow,” the title track, “Walking Slow” and “Farther On.”  Good stuff and I dug it.

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“Siren” by Roxy Music

#374 – Siren by Roxy Music. Now this is the Roxy Music that I know at least a little about.  “Love is the Drug” is one of my favorite Roxy songs.  Awesome bass work and that ’70s staccato guitar work. I love this song! “Sentimental Fool” is a six minute guitar and noise solo that I really don’t mind.  Normally that stuff gets away from me, but I dig it.  Bryan Ferry adds his vocal quirkiness to the song about 1/3 of the way in and he falsettos the stuffing out of it.  Again, I dig it. “She Sells” is in your face and fits that mold of the times.  Dance beats, jazzy-disco rhythms, British style and over exaggerated Ferry; a perfect mix and fit for this album. Isn’t that Mick Jagger’s ex on the cover? I dug it!

#373 – Volunteers by Jefferson Airplane. Jefferson Airplane is a band that I never really got into.  I think I had some weird hang up about them being “old people” music, although it wasn’t then and just because most of their fans are older, that’s not that old.  It’s hippie stuff, no doubt.  Some psychedelic shite, fo sho.  This is a little more laid back and I’ll admit that I’ve never done an illegal substance, ever, but this makes me think people would need to be high to truly appreciate it.  Not saying I don’t, just saying I think the experience would be even better.  There is an air about this album that reminds me of stuff that The BCPF would listen to, even today, so it’s stood (somewhat) the test of time.  Still anti-warish as was the time.  I think I will take Crosby, Stills and Nash’s version of “Wooden Ships,” though.  The song was written by Stills and Crosby and Jefferson Airplane’s Paul Kantner so it belonged to both, I just think CSN “owned” it. Dug, but nothing out of this world (they’re not a Starship, yet… bad joke, sorry).

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“Reggatta de Blanc” by The Police

#372 – Reggatta de Blanc by The Police. YES!!! I have professed my love for this band before and GOSHDARNIT! I have to repeat my love!!!  One of my favorite tunes, ever, “Message in a a Bottle” opens this bad boy.  One of the greatest guitar patterns ever; it sounds so full. I’m giddy just listening to it.  I can remember vividly the local super group, Vagabond Saints Society doing “Reggatta de Blanc” during their Police show; great job!  And “Walking on the Moon!?”  A simple song, but man, it has such a groove. I know some people discount it because of the ska/reggae aspect, but I think it’s awesome.  Oh, the woes of everything bad in “On Any Other Day.”  One of the best bass riffs, in my opinion, is from “The Bed’s Too Big Without You.”  The album is great. The album is awesome. There is nothing I can say bad about it. DUG

#371 – Whatever People Say I Am, That’s What I’m Not by Arctic Monkeys. Good Brit rock this, the debut album from AM. “The View from the Afternoon” and “I Bet You Look Good on the Dancefloor” both, out of the gate, kick you in the teeth and groove you at the same time.  I think it’s funny that one of the most laid back songs on the album is called “Riot Van.”  This album is fun, it rocks, it grooves, it is worth listening to.  I’d revisit this one at another time.  That’s a good sign, right? Dug!

So this segment, like the last ended, started off on a low note, but all the ones that I reviewed (remember the anthology) after that, I really liked.  So I’d say 8 out of 10 is a success! I wish they could all be like that.  Upon glancing ahead I see a lot of stuff in the next segment that I really look forward to hearing.  It should be fun. This was fun.  I hope it is for you.  What are you thoughts on these albums? By all means, feel free to send me a note, reply to the post, email me, Facebook me, Tweet me, just let me know your thoughts.

Until tomorrow, same blog channel…
Scorp out!

—
“How many special people change
How many lives are living strange
Where were you when we were getting high?
Slowly walking down the hall
Faster than a cannon ball
Where were you while we were getting high?” – “Champagne Supernova” (Gallagher) from (What’s the Story) Morning Glory?

The Waits is Over or: The Beatles Can’t Be This Low (RS pt 11)

02 Friday Jan 2015

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Salutations™!!

Well the first 100 down, let’s start the next 100.

#400 – Anthology by The Temptations. Right off the bat, greatest hits album. Great start, RS, great start. Skip.

#399 – Rain Dogs by Tom Waits. So after the success that I had with Mule Variations, I was looking forward to hearing more Tom Waits; thinking I had found a gem.  That was short lived however as this album didn’t compare to the previous one. This was more about reminding me of what I thought I was going to hear with Tom Waits the first time.  Sad, I say.  Not saying it was bad, just not what I was hoping for.  “Downtown Train” and “Rain Dogs” were the highlight for me. Meh,

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“Eliminator” by ZZTop

#398 – Eliminator by ZZ Top. Some of my childhood, this.  I’ll admit, too, that while I did have this cassette, I only listened to the hits off of it.  I was always bad about that; to some extent still am.  In the listening of this, there are the obvious “hits” like “Gimme All Your Lovin’,” “Legs” and “Sharp Dressed Man,” sure. But, I found my favorite song, and probably the gem, on this album (outside of “SDM”) is “I Need You Tonight.”  That song is money.  Now, the apparent disappointment in this album is the fact, or supposed fact, that Dusty Hill and Frank Beard aren’t playing much on this album. I don’t think it’s Dusty playing those popping bass lines in “Thug,” I really don’t.  Still, I really like it. Dig!

#397 – Blue Lines by Massive Attack. From the get-go with “Safe From Harm,” a smile on my face. I love this stuff.  I believe I actually own this album.  I may be wrong but I’m not in front of my collection to know. This is Chill and a mix of soul/R&B and some hip-hop. Case in point, “Be Thankful for What You’ve Got.”  Some Marvin-esque vocals and smooth R&B from Tony Bryan; that’s velvet right there.  Another fantastic track is “Daydreaming.” This I absolutely LOVE! DIG!!

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“For Your Pleasure” by Roxy Music

#396 – For Your Pleasure by Roxy Music. What the heck is this!?  Give me the Avalon Roxy Music any day.  I’m not a fan of jam prog stuff.  I love Pink Floyd but there’s only so much of the long jammy songs that I can handle.  Way too much for me.  With what I know of Brian Eno, he must be behind the suckage of this album.  I know I’ll get flack for it, but I do not like this at all.  There’s nothing memorable about it.  I’ve already forgotten who I was listening to. Didn’t dig,

#395 – Sound of Silver by LCD Soundsystem. Hard-hitting electronica/alt-dance music.  Made for club dancers, obviously, it’s a bit repetitive as that style usually is.  That’s ok though.  It’s not just “boots-and-pants-and-boots-and-pants” dance, either.  It’s hippy and trippy.  Good stuff, there.  The lead track, “Get Innocuous!” is a good way to hit the ground running.  I really liked “Time to Get Away.” It was minimalist but with awesome clavinet riffage. Hoo hoo hoo!  More delicious dirty as “North American Scum” cranks, next. Punkish, really.  “All My Friends” takes it from just dance to power pop and does a fabulous job of it.  Reminds me of rocking pop on the radio these days, but not lost in drivel.  It’s good stuff. “Watch the Tapes” is good pop punk with the electronica elements added in.  Mucho beats and looping happening here.  I think my favorite song is “New York I Love You But You’re Bringing Me Down.” I love the piano and snarky shots at the mayor and other iconic stereotypes. I like what I’ve heard from LCD Soundsystem up to this point.  This is no different.  I dug it!

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“Good Old Boys” by Randy Newman

#394 – Good Old Boys by Randy Newman. Wow.  “Rednecks” is a very unexpected slap to the face.  I know he’s singing about the subject tongue-in-cheek from the rednecks’ perspective, but I don’t like the “N” word and it was surprising.  That being said, I liked the song.  “Marie” is like a drunk letter to a love.  I love Newman’s piano playing.  It’s always so rich and powerful.  The album is full of typical Newman humor and disregard for manners.  That’s what makes his stuff so great! “Kingfish” is a good raunchy piano tune with over the top strings.  This is just a great album. DUG!

#393 – Kala by M.I.A. The first thing I noticed is that it’s hard to listen to this, not because of the music but because it’s got licensing issues.  Rhapsody couldn’t play, although they did list it.  It comes up and says not available.  YouTube also didn’t allow it to play because of licensing.  So Google let me play it, song-by-song through Vimeo and DailyMotion, etc. It’s rumored that she couldn’t get a long-term visa from the US to record because of her family’s ties to the Sri Lanka guerrillas.  The world fusion/hip hop styles are great.  Switch did a great job in production.  A lot of percussion-driven beats and it’s bass heavy. Lots of old school drum machines involved and at times it sounds discoish, and I love disco.  “Jimmy,” “Bird Flu,” “Paper Planes,” “Mango Pickle Down the River” are some of my faves.  Dug.

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“Let It Be” by The Beatles

#392 – Let It Be by The Beatles. My first reaction is: WHY is this album so low (or high?) on this list? How is any Beatles album this high on the list?  If it were Let It Be… Naked, then I’d understand that.  Anywhat!  With the exception of “Dig It” and “Maggie Mae,” I don’t have a song on here that is either not in the “like” column or a throw away, although I am a little tired of hearing the title track.  This album is great.  The last album released by The Beatles, it wasn’t the last recorded.  That would be Abbey Road.  “Two of Us” and “Dig a Pony” start the album out and I remember the first time I heard it, I was blown away. So full, so harmonic, so well written.  I did covers of “Dig a Pony” and “I’ve Got a Feeling” in a Beatles tribute show.  The Beatles are like my second favorite band of all time, behind KISS. Good stuff.  Dug!

#391 – The Pretender by Jackson Browne. I like that I’m listening to an album from someone I have continuously overlooked and at the same time respected.  Browne is a great songwriter and his songs are good to just take in and hear stories.  “The Fuse” has a sense of urgency and leads off the album. I must say I love true fade outs.  I don’t know how to feel about “Linda Paloma,” though. Kind of slamming Spanish music with a waltz.  It’s okay, just weird to me.  “Here Come Those Tears Again” is right back on the JB train. It’s the popish stuff that I expect from him. Even 3B liked “The Only Child,” as he is one of those.  “The Pretender” is a great pop song and a fitting end for a decent album.  I’d listen again. Dug.

Other than the silly anthology/greatest hits album thrown in, it was a decent segment of 10.  Some really good, some not so good.  I look forward to the next installment.

Until tomorrow, same blog channel…
Scorp out!

—
“I got to have a shot
Of what you got it’s oh, so sweet
You got to make it hot
Like a boomerang I need a repeat.” – ZZ Top, “Gimme All Your Lovin'” from Eliminator (1983)