Tag Archives: Tom Waits

Spinning Sunday or: The Haul 1/19/19

20 Sunday Jan 2019

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Salutations™!!

First off, let me say happy birthday to Paul Stanley. He turns 67 today! A very influential figure to my own musical journey.

It felt like we zoomed in and through Underdog Records yesterday. The BCPF and I are either recovering from or fighting off sickness. But, we ate breakfast in a hurry and then swung by Underdog and were home with a full six hours of record listening time. Here’s what we got:

tom_waits_-_small_change_(1976)

©Asylum

  • Tom Waits – Small Change — Still thinking of my friend Mitchell Snow who was performing Tom Waits on Friday night in Johnson City, Tennessee with the Vagabond Saints Society when he had what is speculated to be sudden cardiac arrhythmia. It was scary. The first track on this album is “Tom Traubert’s Blues” and Doug had asked if I could do it when VSS plays Ramkat in a week. I can’t do the show but, we found this record and I couldn’t pass it up. VG+.
  • The Mamas & The Papas – Deliver — I really know nothing about this album. I know The BCPF likes them and it was there. It’s in mono and is VG+.
  • Emerson Lake & Palmer – Works Volume 1 —  “Each member was allocated one side of a record to write and arrange their own tracks which were performed by the group. The fourth side features songs written by the entire group. Emerson wrote his Piano Concerto No. 1, Lake wrote several songs with Peter Sinfield, and Palmer picked tracks of varied styles.” – according to Wikipedia. VG+.
  • Donovan – Essence To Essence — I believe Donovan is my favorite musical hippie. He brings humor and wit to his songs about putting healthy stuff in your body and be nice to the plants and things. It’s weird but still good. VG.
  • Dusty Springfield – Stay Awhile – I Only Want To Be With You — The first album from Dusty to be released in the US. It contains “I Only Want To Be With You,” “Stay Awhile” and “Wishin’ and Hopin’.” $1 bin find but it looks to be okay. VG.
  • Dan Fogelberg – Souvenirs — Produced by Joe Walsh, who also played on just about every track, provided a more pop-based album instead of that folksy mess that he usually played. $1 bin find and in VG/VG+.
  • 10,000 Maniacs – In My Tribe — $1 bin find from The BCPF. I don’t know much about it, but it’s in pretty good shape. VG/VG+.
  • Charles Fox – “9 To 5” (Original Soundtrack Recording) — We actually got this last week and I don’t know why it wasn’t in Discogs. I totally missed it. But, it’s in now. It’s VG+.

I went through Underdog Records so fast yesterday that I didn’t get a chance to even look around to see what kind of equipment or other recordy things were about the store. But, I’m interested in finding out more about the Curated by Underdog thing. I wonder how hard it would be to curate music for me. I think it would be more of a challenge to Jonathan. I think I’ll ask him about it. You should, too. Listen to The Less Desirables to hear the TLD/UR special of the week.

As I’ve said, I use Discogs to curate my collection and see what I do or don’t have.

Until tomorrow, same blog channel…
Scorp out!

—
“Tumble out of bed and stumble to the kitchen, pour myself a cup of ambition and yawn and stretch and try to come to life. Jump in the shower and the blood starts pumpin’. Out on the streets, the traffic starts jumpin’ for folks like me on the job from 9 to 5.” – “9 to 5” (Parton)

Spinning Sunday or: The Haul 1/12/19

13 Sunday Jan 2019

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Salutations™!!

Underdog Records was jumping yesterday with people coming in and Jonathan was only playing local artists in the store for the first part of the day. He sold a good bit of local music, including selling out of a few, with that. I like when he does that. I had gone in and set some stuff back on Friday but we picked up the stuff yesterday. Here’s what we got:

tomwaits-mulevariations

©Anti-/Epitaph

  • Old Sea Brigade – Ode To A Friend — I call it my “husbandly duty” to find new music that my lovely bride, The BCPF will enjoy; stuff that is “up her alley.” When I record the weekly advert for Underdog Records on The Less Desirables, I use portions of new releases or whatever Jonathan has sent me to highlight and a lot of the time, I’ll find stuff that I think is really good, either that I will like, The BCPF will like or we both would. This is one that I thought she’d love. I had Jonathan get me one and we brought it home and she was very pleased with it. It’s laid back folky stuff and she loved it. I recommend listening to it. New.
  • Tom Waits – Mule Variations — #414 on the RS list, this is a 2xLP that is completely co-written with Waits’ wife and songwriting partner, Kathleen Brennan. I’m hit and miss with most Tom Waits stuff. The songs are beautiful and sometimes dark but his singing is what is the determining factor in my like/dislike. He sounds like he had a cocktail of gravel, concrete, and sandpaper whilst smoking two packs of Camels concurrently and saving cats from a burning building. It’s rough. EX/VG++.
  • Neil Young – After The Gold Rush — #71 on the RS list and while I feel that should be about 100 positions higher, it’s still a great album. Neil Young is another that I’m hit or miss with. VG++.
  • Rush – Signals — The follow-up to Moving Pictures, in 1982, Signals has “Subdivisions,” “New World Man,” “The Weapon,” and “Countdown.” Not my favorite Rush album but it’s still a good one. VG+.
  • Jay Ferguson – Thunder Island — I know the title track and that’s about it. I like the title track and it was only a few bucks so I decided to buy it with the picture of him in his fabric toe shoes. It’s just funny. VG+.
  • ABBA – Super Trouper — With “Super Trouper” and “The Winner Takes It All.” Their next album was the last studio album prior to their hiatus, which is still going on. VG+.
  • Heart – Private Audition — Released in 1982 and is the last Heart album to feature Mike DeRosier and Steve Fossen, who left after the recording of this album. VG+.
  • John Fogerty – Centerfield — Put me in coach! The title track, “The Old Man Down the Road” and “Rock and Roll Girls.” It was $1, so why not? VG+.
  • Joni Mitchell – Clouds — “Chelsea Morning,” “The Fiddle and the Drum” and “Both Sides, Now” are the tunes that The BCPF are most excited about. This is Mitchell’s sophomore effort and we have 10 of the first 11 of her albums. It was $1. VG.

I told you about Curated by Underdog Records, right? I think so. De is also digging out a lot of backstock of used equipment that Jonathan hasn’t had time to go through and they’re cleaning them up and getting some really great stuff up for sale. I really wanted that Sansui (as I wrote about). They have a lot of great stuff for those looking to break into or update their record collecting experience. Listen to The Less Desirables to hear the TLD/UR special of the week.

Discogs is how Curated by Underdog keeps track of what you have and how you do, as well!

Until tomorrow, keep spinning…
Scorp out!

—
“Woke up, it was a Chelsea morning and the first thing that I heard was a song outside my window. And, the traffic wrote the words. It came a-reeling up like Christmas bells and rapping up like pipes and drums. Oh, won’t you stay? We’ll put on the day and we’ll wear it ’till the night comes.” – “Chelsea Morning” (Mitchell)

Spinning Sunday or: The Haul 6/30/18

01 Sunday Jul 2018

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Salutations™!!

The BCPF and I were up early to head to Mary’s Gourmet Diner and then over to Underdog Records, yesterday. We were actually home before noon and that gave us over six hours of record listening before heading to Willows Bistro last night. That was great! Here’s the haul:

skidrow

©Atlantic Records

  • Skid Row – Skid Row – I have always been a fan of Sebastian Bach’s voice. He’s got power and soul. His range is amazing, too. This is a VG++ copy of the album was priced at about $20, so it was in magnificent shape and it was so fun listening to it on vinyl after years of CD listening. Great pickup!
  • Extreme – Extreme II: Pornograffitti – I wore the CD out for this album when I discovered it back in the very early 90s. I hate Gary Cherone’s voice outside of Extreme (like in Van Halen), but in Extreme, it fits darned-near perfectly. This was a VG++ copy. Now, my beef with the vinyl version of this album is the exclusion of “Hole Hearted.” I understand there are space limitations on vinyl (see my post a few months back about Dire Strait’s Brothers in Arms) but “Hole Hearted” made it to #4 on the charts! They could have left off “It (‘s a Monster)” or something else. Oh well. I also think this is the Canadian version of the album.
  • Polvo – Shapes – I had never heard of this band before but The BCPF says that they were a staple of the Chapel Hill scene in the early- and mid-90s. I know that it was mixed and partially recorded at my pal Mitch Easter’s Fidelitorium in K-Ville. It was a lot of soft to heavy stuff and I enjoyed listening with her. It was in VG++ shape.
  • Various – Lost In The Stars (The Music Of Kurt Weill) – Kurt Weill was a German/American composer and songwriter active in the 1920s through to his death in 1950. Perhaps his best-known work was The Threepenny Opera which featured the song “Mack the Knife.” This tribute has Sting, Lou Reed, Tom Waits, Marianne Faithfull, Todd Rundgren and others doing his songs. I loved all of it. The BCPF liked some of it. It was great stuff, to me. VG+.
  • Chris Stamey Group Special Guests The dB’s – Christmas Time – Chris Stamey is a Chapel Hill, NC native that spent a lot of time in WSNC. He was in bands with Alex Chilton of Big Star and he was also in Sneakers with Mitch Easter. He later formed the dBs with Peter Holsapple, which along with REM and Let’s Active (Easter’s band) led the charge for guitar bands in the southeast. It’s a Christmas album. That’s what I know of it other than what I’ve already said. VG+.
  • The Dream Academy – The Dream Academy – Yes, “Life in a Northern Town.” But, this album was so much more than just that song. The whole album is in that vein but it’s just as good as that song. This was in the $1 bin and there was a skip here and there but very little. I’m going to say VG.
  • Van Halen – Van Halen – the awesome first VH album and I got it for $1. After cleaning it up, it was in really good shape. Not much surface noise at all and not a single skip. I was quite pleased with that acquisition. I’ll go with VG.
  • The J. Geils Band – Ladies Invited – I don’t recognize any songs on here, but it was $1, so why not? VG.
  • Go-Go’s – Beauty And The Beat  – Yep, “Head Over Heels,” “This Town,” and “We Got the Beat.” No skips and it was only $1. VG.
  • Various – Top Gun (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) – $1 bin find. You don’t pass this soundtrack up. VG.
  • Michel Legrand And His Orchestra – The New I Love Paris – I’ve said it before but The BCPF and I are obsessed with French music from the 50s and 60s. It was $1 so there you go. VG-.

So, a while back, Jonathan had given me a crate of “warped” records that he was going to let me do some experimenting with because I wanted to play with flattening them. I went through some of them yesterday and while there was a little bit of warble on the turntable, none of the ones I pulled were too awfully bad. So, here’s what I cleaned from that stack:

  • Christopher Cross – Another Page – It’s the album with “All Right” and “Think of Laura.” The LP itself was in pretty good shape with the slightest warp. I would say it’s about VG.
  • Francis Albert Sinatra & Antonio Carlos Jobim – Francis Albert Sinatra & Antonio Carlos Jobim – Ol’ Blue Eyes. Not too bad. VG-.
  • Bruce Springsteen – Human Touch and Bruce Springsteen – Lucky Town – Sister releases, ninth and tenth of Springsteen’s studio albums, released on the same day. Lucky Town was still sealed. They each had a little warble but all in all, VG/VG+.
  • The Beach Boys – Endless Summer – 2xLP compilation album. I had to do some serious washing on this album and there were some spots on the album that I have no idea what it is. I washed it extra long and most but not all of that scum came off of the wax. I’d say G+, and that’s being generous.
  • Richard Marx – Rush Street – I’m a huge fan of Richard Marx, whether I should be or not. I dig him. One of my favorite tunes from him and this album is “Hazard.” I love the story. Not much warp, either. VG/VG+.
  • K.T. Oslin – 80’s Ladies – Still sealed and not much warpage. VG/VG+.
  • Various – Happy Days – Fonzie Favorites – Yeah, I don’t know. It was there and I couldn’t resist cleaning it to see what came of it. I’ve not listened to it but it’s mostly Doo-wop and old rock and roll. Everly Brothers, Bobby Darin, Bill Haley & the Comets, Jerry Lee Lewis, The Coasters, The Chantels, etc. VG.
  • Bee Gees – 1st – The guys, including the non-Brothers Gibb, look way young. It’s the coolest that Barry Gibb has ever looked, I’d say. It’s called 1st and for a major label, it is their first, but it’s third in their actual discography. It has the tune “New York Mining Disaster 1941” on it. VG. Mono.
  • Tom Jones – What A Night – I love me some Tom Jones. According to its Wikipedia page, “the album was promoted by Epic as showing a more sensitive and thoughtful side to the singer.” Okay. G+.

So, that’s a pretty good haul or at least a pretty good addition. Jonathan had a pretty good selection of receivers and turntables in Underdog Records yesterday. It’s a great way to start your record collecting (besides having something to play them on), having good and decent equipment.

Thanks to Discogs for providing a place to keep a record of what I have in my collection. Last night at Willows I was able to compare notes and collections with my good friend Michael. Discogs is great.

Until tomorrow, same blog channel…
Scorp out!

—
“A Salvation Army band played and the children drank lemonade and the morning lasted all day, all day. And through an open window came, like Sinatra in a younger day, pushing the town away, away. Life in a northern town.” – “Life in a Northern Town” (Laird-Clowes/Gabriel)

Silent Sunday or: The Haul 7/1/17

02 Sunday Jul 2017

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Salutations™!!

Good day for The BCPF and me at Underdog Records, yesterday. Good stuff. Many $1 bin finds but a few new and fantastic finds, as well. Here’s the haul: R-7786024-1448739666-5969.jpeg

So, yeah, a lot of good additions and some great listening yesterday. Getting started in vinyl? Have a collection you want to part with? Have a collection that you’d like to listen to again? Check out Underdog Records for all your vinyl needs (and wants). And use Discogs to catalog them.

Until tomorrow, same blog channel…
Scorp out!

—
“Looking at the world through the sunset in your eyes, trying to make the train. Through clear Moroccan skies, ducks and pigs and chickens call. Animal carpet wall to wall. American ladies five foot tall in blue.” – “Marrakesh Express” (Nash)

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

Steal the Rhythm While You Can or: Colder Than a Well-Digger’s What? (RS part 17)

16 Thursday Apr 2015

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Salutations™!!

So, here we are with another segment of the Rolling Stone Top 500 Albums of All Time. Hmm, the last few were pretty awesome, I thought.  I did peek, just a bit, to what’s coming and this may be a rough segment, but hopefully not too bad.  Let’s hit it, shall we?

#340 – Damaged by Black Flag. Um, ok. I feel like I’ve been punched in the ears – from within.  This is a sonic assault on the aural senses and I can’t decide if that’s a good thing or not. This is the first time I’ve ever heard anything from Black Flag.  I grew up looking at pictures of their album covers and t-shirts when I read Circus, Hit Parader or Metal Edge. I also only saw the t-shirts on pimply-faced punks that predated goths. Now, I’m not trying to stereotype, it is just how I remember it. Not lying, that’s how it was. I did know of Henry Rollins from some solo stuff, though, if that helps relieve the near head explosion that I know some of you are going through right now. There isn’t anything I can say about this album other than, dang! Angst wouldn’t really fit this as parts of it is actually kind of fun sounding.  There aren’t many songs that are over three minutes and that’s probably a good thing.  I think Rollins would have an aneurysm if they went on too long.  Overall, I don’t really like anything about this album. I hope there aren’t any other Black Flag albums on this list, but something tells me the listerati are not on my side, here. It is Rolling Stone, after all. Did not dig, which I am sure doesn’t surprise anyone that knows me.

1Heart of Saturday Night

“The Heart of Saturday Night” by Tom Waits

#339 – The Heart of Saturday Night by Tom Waits. Holy Smokes (pun intended)! Tom Waits is actually singing here. And he has a voice. A singing voice. The music is soothing and this is what I always expected when people talked about Tom Waits.  “New Coat of Paint” and the followup, “San Diego Serenade” are honest, emotional and a delight to listen to.  You can color me pleasantly pleased, indeed. Some great jazz crooner stuff mixed with folk troubadour-esque inflection. Some of the songs remind me of that era’s Billy Joel.  Not comparing, just saying I hear similarities.  I love that “Diamonds on My Windshield” has the phrase “colder than a well-digger’s ass.” I have always loved and have used it more than once. And Jim Hughart is one bad bassist. Great double work on this album. Some Springsteen-like sounds coming out of the speakers, too.  That’s what I hear in “(Looking For) The Heart of Saturday Night,” Springsteen. A fun fact about this album, Jim Gordon, the drummer for this along with Imagine from John Lennon, All Things Must Pass by George Harrison, as well as albums from The Beach Boys, Randy Newman, Gordon Lightfoot and Alice Cooper, among others, was sentenced 16 years to life for the murder of his mother (hammer and stabbing) in 1984. He’s still there. Che ers.  Oh, and I certainly, absolutely and vehemently DUG this album.

#338 – Cheap Thrills by Big Brother & The Holding Company. Yeah. Uh huh. Although I like some of the songs, I haven’t really ever gotten into Janis Joplin.  I don’t see the big deal. She’s all scratchy and annoying. But, there’s some emotion.  She has that. I once had someone tell me that they thought she was the greatest singer ever. I think they lost their mind.  I’m not thrilled with this album, it doesn’t suck but nothing I ever care to hear again. Didn’t dig.

1JethroTullAqualungalbumcover

“Aqualung” by Jethro Tull

#337 – Aqualung by Jethro Tull. Ah, heavy metal. So it goes. Some hard rock in parts but some Celtic craziness in others. Fantastic, I say. In “My God” you can hear every breath that Ian Anderson is pushing through that flute. I love that solo. I saw local Winston-Salem musician, Audrey Fannin (Muck) do a fine job performing these wild flute musings. My absolute favorites are the hits, really.  “Aqualung,” “Cross-Eyed Mary,” Locomotive Breath.” But, as a whole, it’s a darn fine album.  I’d like to hear it on vinyl. DUG!

#336 – In Rainbows by Radiohead. This is not my favorite Radiohead album.  I don’t know that I have a favorite, but I do know this one isn’t it. I bought it when it first came out and with limited knowledge of Radiohead, at all, thought it was just a bunch of noise. Not like pollution or anything, just a lot of noise.  I still feel that way mostly but it has some moments.  “Nude” is one of those moments. Ethereal and flighty it’s a great listen.  “Weird Fishes/Arpeggi” is shoulder bouncy and fun.  I love the synth ramblings of “All I Need.” It’s heavy and synthy, two things I like together.  Perhaps like chocolate and chipotle? I don’t know where that came from but something like that. After further reflection, I do like this album.  Leave off the first two tracks and I’m sold. Those aren’t bad just not my thing, I guess. But, yes, I dug it.

1superunknown-608x608

“Superunknown” by Soundgarden

#335 – Superunknown by Soundgarden. If I was going to count the “Big Three” that came out during the grunge revolution, Nirvana, Pearl Jam, Soundgarden, and I was going to pick my favorite among those three, then Soundgarden would definitely win. Chris Cornell’s vocals and Kim Thayil’s masterful guitar work are the “chalk it up to awesome” in this band.  And hey, as Don Jamieson said on That Metal Show, they have the balls to sing about a guy and spoons. There’s that.  From the Leslie effect on “Black Hole Sun” to the talkbox on “My Wave,” the guitar antics continue.  Intriguing lyrics and great song structure make this album (and pretty much all Soundgarden albums) a fantastic listen. “Mailman” just muddles along but it drags you with it and doesn’t let up on ya. There are various tunings happening along with some serious time signature craziness, which is certainly not out of the norm for Soundgarden. Am I the only one that sang “Butt Hole Sun?” The album is as solid as its predecessor, Badmotorfinger and I absolutely dug it!

#334 – Squeezing Out Sparks by Graham Parker. This is pure 1979/1980 record raucousness.  It’s telling of the time and that’s not a bad thing.  Solid recording and reminiscent of J. Giles or Rick Springfield with some Elvis Costello thrown in.  It’s a good mixture.  Something I could definitely hear Eugene listening to on his Zune. “Local Girls” is a good representation of music at the time and while I think there were no true “singles” on this album, this would have been the one to release. “You Can’t Be Too Strong” is an honest be-all-you-can ballad that through the bad stuff you have to stay strong. It’s an acoustic laden song that sits, perfectly, on the album.  But, still, as much as I enjoyed listening to the album, I have to wonder, what was it that made it worthy of this list? I don’t hear anything that is absolutely noteworthy, just a good album. Is this better than Meat Loaf’s Bat Out of Hell? No, so why is it ranked higher?  Is it better than Let It Be, Honky Chateau, Stop Making Sense or Lou Reed’s Berlin? Heck no. So why is it ranked higher?  Really, I don’t get that. But it’s a good album, nonetheless. Dug.

1220px-XWildGift

“Wild Gift” by X

#333 – Wild Gift by X. First off, I am digging the gravelly vox from Exene Cervenka. I also like the short song times. Punk isn’t my strong suit and I like that it passes by quickly. Not that I don’t enjoy it. It’s a decent record, but I couldn’t listen to it twice. “We’re Desperate” is a strong song and “Adult Books” is a fun little flamenco kind of thingy. I could see Gomez and Morticia Addams dancing to it, even though I know they didn’t necessarily flamenco, it’s pretty goth in its own way. John Doe sounds a lot like a less-on-key David Byrne. There’s a garage band lo-fi element here that I think adds definite character; did I mention this is punk? The boogie of “In This House That I Call Come” is another fun ditty. I bet they were a hoot to see live. Still may be, their Wikipedia page lists them as still active with 2012 being the last (at least on there) documented show. Again, to me, not as good as the albums I listed above, so why this high?  I dunno. Dug, for the most part.

#332 – Shoot Out the Lights by Richard and Linda Thompson. I think I’m starting to get annoyed trying to figure out why some of these are so high on this list, if even on it at all. There’s nothing wrong with this album, but there certainly isn’t anything special about it. I’m sure I’ll be voicing my frustration with this as time goes on, especially since we’ll be getting to the real grit and dirt of the list.  “Walking on a Wire” is a decent song. I like the bend resolve at the end of the song. “A Man in Need” reminds me of Talking Heads sonically and even in some of the vocals from Richard. I’ll say that I enjoy Linda’s vocals much more than Richard’s. When he’s not sounding like David Byrne, he’s doing a fair Gordon Lightfoot impression with some Tom Petty mixed in there. I had never even heard of R&L before this list (they were at #471, too). Again, I’m not complaining about the album, but questioning the quality of placement, either in the list or where in the list. Meh.

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“Help!” by The Beatles

#331 – Help! by The Beatles. I’m glad this list finished off strong. My confusion with this one is why it’s so low (high?) on the list.  Why any Beatles album (even Yellow Submarine) would be outside the Top 20 is beyond me. Good from beginning to end. Great, even. Some of my favorite Beatles songs of all time are on this album: “Help!” “I’ve Just Seen a Face,” “You Like Me Too Much,” “Yesterday,” “Ticket to Ride,” “You’ve Got to Hide Your Love Away.”  For my money, The Beatles are the greatest and most influential musical geniuses in the history or rock/pop music.  I’m not counting Beethoven, Chopin, Mozart, etc. I mean in the “modern era” and the future. Twelve thumbs up, if I had them.

This segment had some ups and downs. In Rainbows, Aqualung, Superunknown, The Heart of Saturday Night and Help! were spectacular. I want to know your thoughts on these albums.  Even if I don’t like it doesn’t mean you won’t. Actually, you probably will because my opinions are generally contrary to most.  I’d like to hear it, though.  Let me know, hit me up, tell me about it. Maybe the next segment will be better, overall?  We’ll see.

Until tomorrow, same blog channel…
Scorp out!!

—
“I think I’m gonna be sad
I think it’s today, yeah
The girl that’s driving me mad
Is going away” – “Ticket to Ride” (Lennon/McCartney) from Help!

 

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)

The First 100 is the Deepest or: The Good, The Bad, The Indifferent

12 Friday Dec 2014

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Salutations™!!

So I finished the first 100 of Rolling Stone’s Top 500 Albums of All Time.  I thought maybe I could give a little retrospective of what I liked and didn’t like in that first 100.

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Rolling Stone

I’m going to preface this with a caveat. I am not including albums that I would consider some of my faves.  I own and listen to Synchronicity all the time. Same with Destroyer, Van Halen, Faith, etc.  This list is about discovery, and some revisiting, for me. The reason I’m doing it is to see what I’ve been missing out on, what deliciousness I can unearth.  There were some awesome finds and some huge letdowns.  Some I’d love to have, some I’d love to have on vinyl even, and some I’d love to have destroyed.  Things that I dreaded, often left me feeling pleasantly surprised. While others that I may have been looking forward to disappointed me.  Nothing’s perfect and I know I feel this list is very much flawed. You don’t include compilation albums in top lists.  I don’t care how iconic that greatest hits or anthology may be.  I am a huge KISS fan and I don’t care two shakes about Double Platinum outside of my childhood.  Give me fully packaged studio albums every day.  I allowed the live albums after much debate with myself.  The performances in live albums tend to show some artistic merit and, often, more raw emotion.

I was going to make a Top 5 and Bottom 5, but I couldn’t limit to 5 that I liked.  There were plenty of those that I could have said I didn’t like but they had to really be bad to make the bottom 5.  These were chosen from going back to reread what I had written about in the last 10 installments.  These, also, are in no order. Here we go:

Top Finds #500-401

  • Boys Don’t Cry by The Cure
  • The Smiths by The Smiths
  • Oracular Spectacular by MGMT
  • Tunnel of Love by Bruce Springsteen
  • Mule Variations by Tom Waits
  • Vampire Weekend by Vampire Weekend
  • Back to Black by Amy Winehouse
  • Sea Change by Beck
  • Maggot Brain by Funkadelic
  • Touch by Eurythmics

And honorable mention goes to Guitar Town by Steve Earle

Bottom “I Can’t Unhear That” #500-401

  • John Prine by John Prine
  • Tha Carter III by Lil Wayne
  • Life After Death by Notorious B.I.G.
  • Only Built for Cuban Linx by Raekwon
  • Voodoo by D’Angelo

Yes, I realize that 4 of that 5 are rap albums. I’m not discriminating against rap albums as you’ll find plenty of them in the #500-401 that I stated my digging of.  So don’t read more into that than necessary.  I just found that I didn’t care about any of these.

Overall, I really enjoyed this segment of the list and I even appreciate the ones that I didn’t like.  I am glad I undertook this task and I look forward to the next 100!  Thank you, Dear Reader, for being interested in my ramblings enough to read through them.  On to listening!

Until tomorrow, same blog channel…

Scorp out!

—

“I just wade the tides that turned
Till I learn to leave the past behind” – “Guess I’m Doing Fine” by Beck from Sea Change

 

I’m the One or: How is That Album So High on the List!? (RS pt 9)

25 Tuesday Nov 2014

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Salutations™!!

We’re going back into the Rolling Stone Top 500 Albums of All Time!  When we last left off, there was some good stuff in that section.  Let’s see how this one stands up:

#420 – The “Chirping” Crickets by Buddy Holly & the Crickets. The debut of Buddy Holly & The Crickets, this is pretty rad production for the age.  1954 was still in recording infancy for this new-fangled Rock and Roll stuff.  Holly staples “Oh Boy” and “That’ll Be the Day” are here as well as a plethora of classic sweetness.  Is it something I could listen to for hours? Nope.  But, I could listen to it for the 29 minutes that I did and enjoy it.  So I dug it!

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“Dummy” by Portishead

#419 – Dummy by Portishead. Oh. My. Gawsh! I’m a sucker for chill music and this is chill on, well, I guess it’s stoned.  I don’t know, but I do know it was moving.  It’s a genre known as trip hop and it is trippy. I’ve never done an illegal substance in my life (and yes, I know some of you don’t believe that) but listening to this, I feel like I’m on some trip.  I was swimmy afterwards.  Entrancing, yet solidly heavy at times, it’s something that I could, would and should listen to often.  Beth Gibbons isn’t the greatest singer in the world but she’s the greatest thing that Portishead could have.  Her voice leaves the listener mesmerized in the sea of electronica that is laid before your ears. “Mysterons,” “Pedestal” and “It Could Be Sweet” are just SOME of the wonderfulness oozing from this album. I’m going to say I LOVE this.

#418 – Band on the Run by Paul McCartney & Wings. Um, what can I say about this? I’m never gonna touch the professional critics that have talked about this album for years upon years. The fact that it’s #418 out of 500 is very confusing to me.  Especially, peeking through some of the other albums on ahead.  Anywhat!  The title track is, to me, one of the greatest songs in Rockdom.  “Jet” is classic McCartney. Who doesn’t love the palm mute guitars? “Chick. Chick-chick. Chick. Chick-chick.”  CLASSIC!  “Let Me Roll It” always reminds me of local legend Doug Davis because he has performed it (with me on the stage) with his cover band The Mystery Dates for years.  “1985” or, I’m sorry, “Nineteen Hundred and Eighty Five” (sic) is an urgent little ditty that is awesome.  The version of this album that I have at home and the version I listened to in The Less Desirables Studio are a bit different as my CD version (American version) has “Helen Wheels” where the original (British) didn’t.  But, I really, really dig this album.  One of my faves, for sure!

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“Boy” by U2

#417 – Boy by U2. The first U2 album is also the first one we encounter on this countdown.  Produced by Steve Lillywhite after the original producer backed out shortly after the death of Joy Division singer, Ian Curtis.  That original producer was Martin Hannett who was known for his work with JD and was too distraught to work at the time.  Bono still was singing with heart and emotion with much younger vocal cords and zeal, not the predictable, yet still liked, way he sings today.  Edge hadn’t added 20 racks worth of effects, yet.  There was plenty of reverb as was par for the course in the early 80s first wave bands.  But, as stated about Bono, the whole band seemed hungry, in lyrics, in music, in all.  I love the live version of “Out of Control” on the Live from Slane Castle where Bono tells the story of asking all their families for money to record an album and get a record deal.  You can still hear that hunger in this version of the song.  “I Will Follow” is a staple U2 live song and it’s energetic and in your face.  The young’uns rocked it hard back then.  This album, while not the best U2 album, is still great and fun to listen to.  Especially when you imagine the time it was released.  DUG!!!

#416 – Mule Variations by Tom Waits.  I’ll admit it (I’ve done that a lot since I started this list, and will continue, I’m sure), I only knew three things about Tom Waits before this.  1) He was pretty bad a-double-s in Mystery Men, 2) He sings like he swallowed 3 tons of #78 stone (pea gravel) and 3) I didn’t like it.  So, with this, I can erase #3.  Not saying I love it, by any means, but I don’t not like it. Straight away, “Big in Japan” made me turn toward the screen with a most confused, yet, impressed look on my face. There is sass on that track.  Sass is putting it lightly, too.  Then move to “Lowside of the Road” and it gives that Delta blues feel that I could see/hear Robert Johnson tapping his foot to and singing and playing into a can way back in the day, while the devil waited on his appointment at the crossroads, wondering why he was late.  There is something about this album.  Sexy.  Sexy?  Sexy. Don’t know if it’s intentional or not, but it’s there.  Lots of dirty record sounds on this platter that makes it even more “dated” and, yes, more sexy.  There’s a creepiness to “Chocolate Jesus” that really trips my trigger, too.  Did I mention that this album is sexy?  Dug!

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Self-Titled by Van Halen

#415 – Van Halen by Van Halen.  FOUR HUNDRED FIFTEEN!?!?  Are you (blankety-blank- blank) kidding me!?  THIS album is the one that changed the face of modern guitar. It may not be the favorite to many VH fans (that usually goes to VH2) but I think this is the better album.  Not a bad song on it and Eddie’s work was fresh.  New.  Not at all shiny, either.  It was rough, crude. It was Van Halen.  The siren to over-driven bass in “Running with the Devil” set a precedence in which you knew you were going to get punched in the ears with a unrelenting onslaught of sound.  “Eruption” was the guitar solo to end all guitar solos; the new king of I want to learn that shite right now; the requisite training for getting your Local Guitar God license.  “I’m the One” slapped you while holding up and prepping you for another.  Tone-Loc even took “Jamie’s Crying” and made it into one of the best-selling rap songs of the ’80s.  That whine, that sass, that… that… ARGH! How in the ach-eee-elle-elle can this be this high of a number in this countdown?! Face palm! I LOVE this album.

#414 – Beauty and the Beat by The Go-Gos.  American New-Wave punk with CHICKS!!  Belinda Carlisle’s vocals weren’t punk but the words coming out of her mouth were.  Jane Wiedlin and Charlotte Caffey are beasts (or beauties) of songwriters.  These girls didn’t play around. But, you wanted to play around with them. They were hot and they were rockers!  “We Got the Beat” and it’s heavy revolving bass line from Kathy Valentine is noticeable as soon as you hear the first note. “Automatic” is a slow rocker that also showcases Valentine’s work and kind of grooves you at the same time. And, let’s not forget “Our Lips are Sealed.”  That song was the first hint we get of Belinda’s vocals.  Both on the album and it was their first single.  The album, by the way was unseated from the #1 position by Vangelis’ soundtrack for Chariots of Fire.  Just found that interesting. Dug!!

#413 – Double Nickels on the Dime by Minutemen.  Before, I mentioned how I only know something of this or that and blah blah blah. Well, I’m giving you yet another: I had never heard of Minutemen before.  Nothing.  The high school I attended back in the mountains of West Virginia had the Minutemen as their mascot, but this is different.  Much different.  The BCPF hadn’t heard of them either, although this is more in her league than mine.  It’s part Talking Heads, part punk, part straight rock.  It’s steady, let’s say that. It’s a double album in which the actual vinyl version had unique names for the sides: “Side D” (side 1), “Side Mike” (2), “Side George” (3), “Side Chaff” (4).  The band was a trio and there was no Chaff.  I don’t get it, but truthfully I don’t get a lot of this album.  45 songs.  The beauty of that is, only 1/4 or so are over 2 minutes long, the longest 3:05.  I’m not saying I don’t like it, but it’s definitely one that makes me wonder how in the honey-baked Hades this is higher in a list than Van Halen I?!?!?!?!  Neither here nor there on this one.

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“Pink Flag” by Wire

#412 – Pink Flag by Wire.  This album was NOT on Rhapsody, so I had to go to YouTube and listen to the whole album.  Some post-punk stuffs from this English band from 1977.  Again, don’t know a thing about this band other than what I looked up.  As I’m finding with a lot of punk albums, the songs aren’t very long. This works out quite well when it’s something that I wish would be over soon.  Again, as with Minutemen, not saying I don’t like it, just don’t want to hear it again.  Meh.

#411 – 461 Ocean Boulevard by Eric Clapton.  Typical Eric Clapton drivel. And did he not write his own stuff?  Jeez. 10 songs on this album and he has credit on only 3 songs not counting the first which is just arranged by him.  I roll my eyes because I think Clapton is one of the most over rated guitar players in recording history.  He does what he does okay, but what he does isn’t that great.  I’ve never made any qualms about my disfavor of “blues.”  Again, I’m not talking about bluesy riffs or stuff that’s anchored in the blues traditions and scales.  That’s fine, it’s blues music itself.  Especially the 12 bar kind.  The only stuff on here that I could even tolerate is “Get Ready” with Yvonne Elliman, “Please Be With Me,”  and Marley’s “I Shot the Sheriff.” People, get off the Clapton train, please!! Again, I give a meh.

After a great, strong start the segment went downhill at the end of the stretch.  Fell off at the end, really.  So I’m almost caught up with where I’m actually listening.  That will be the next ten, so I’m on my way.  The next will probably lead to an analysis of the first 100 that I’ve gone through. Stay tuned, Dear Reader.  Thank you for reading!

So until tomorrow, same blog channel…
Scorp out!

—
“I live my life like there’s no tomorrow, and all I’ve got I had to steal. Least I don’t need to beg or borrow. Yes, I’m living at a pace that kills” – “Runnin’ with the Devil” by Van Halen