Tag Archives: Tom Waits

Spinning Monday or: The Haul 5/8/21

10 Monday May 2021

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Salutations™!!

The BCPF and I had a fantastic day on Saturday. The weather was wonderful, dinner and lunch were both wonderful, record buying at Underdog Records and home-listening were wonderful. Here’s the haul:

©Crush Music/Atlantic

Iron And Wine – Archive Series Volume No. 5 — This, according to the hype sticker is the LOST debut album recorded by Sam Beam while he was still in college at Florida St. It’s limited to 1000 copies, I think. It was a good listen. Sounds just like the rest of his stuff. That’s a good thing. New.

Weezer – Van Weezer — Indie Exclusive Pink Vinyl. Hype sticker on shrink: Van Weezer Neon Pink. Track B6 is hidden and is not mentioned in the track listing. This album was supposed to be released last year upon the commencement of their tour but because the world stopped, that was put off. This is heavy, but still very much Weezer. It’s dedicated to Ric Ocasek and Eddie Van Halen. New.

Emmylou Harris – Red Dirt Girl — 2×LP. Grammy Award Winner for best contemporary folk album. Non-gatefold sleeve. Sealed. NM.

Big Star – #1 Record — Wow. #434 on the RS list that matters, #474 on the one that doesn’t. This whole record is amazing. This is what I wrote when I reviewed it in November 2014: My second exposure of Big Star on this countdown. Again, not what I expected. “Feel” is a old-fashioned rock tune that has a great chord progression and dissonance that makes for creative song construction. Really the whole album is ahead of its time. I don’t feel the dissonance was really realized until many years later and here it was as common as a family supper on Sunday. The production was slick as heck, too. The dual lead singers made this a formidable force in music at the time, even though I, admittedly, was shut out from much of that until now. I didn’t know what I was missing and it’s a shame to say so. Harmonies that are tighter than a drum and the excellent musicianship and songwriting over all make this a wonderful album to listen to. I still believe that and double my enthusiasm now. It really is a great record. Limited Edition, Reissue, Repress, Clear White w/Blue Swirl, 180g. Limited to 500. Sealed, but since my belief is “records are to be listened to not looked at,” I opened that bad boy right away. NM.

Tom Waits – Nighthawks At The Diner — 2×LP, Special Pressing; Gatefold from 1975. Records are auto-coupled, meaning record 1 contains sides 1 and 4 while record 2 contains sides 2 and 3. I love Tom Waits songs. I just don’t always love Tom Waits doing them. I don’t know about this one as I’ve not heard it yet, but I can’t wait to. VG+.

Tom Waits – Foreign Affairs — PRC Richmond pressing from 1977. The liner notes include this line: “Forward all my mail to the corner of Pork & Beans.” All the same things I said about Tom Waits above, ditto. VG+.

It was all I could do to not buy a $75 VG+ copy of Rain Dogs from Tom Waits. It’s on the list and that’s the only time I’ve seen it. But, I just couldn’t do it. I really wanted it, though. But, there was plenty to go through, I was just disciplined… somehow. Underdog Records always has great things to find to bring home to have a listening party, either alone or with a group (being socially mindful, that is). Underdog is open Wednesday-Saturday and you can purchased new vinyl 24/7 by visiting the Underdog Records website. Record Store Day is in June and July you can see the drops lists by visiting that website. I use Discogs to track my collection. You should, too.

Until tomorrow, keep spinnin’…
Scorp out!

—
“Wondering what are you doing? You’re driving me to ruin. The love that you’ve been stealing has given me the feeling. I feel like I’m dying. I’m never gonna live again. You just ain’t been trying. It’s getting very near the end.” – “Feel” (Bell/Chilton)

Now Normal Chronicles or: Do You Mean Donkey?

16 Friday Apr 2021

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Salutations™!!

Today is the 22nd anniversary of Tom Waits’ Mule Variations album. It’s #416 on the RS list that matters and fell off for the RS list that doesn’t. It’s a good album, but I can only take Tom Waits so much at a time. This is a great cover. Enjoy!

Until tomorrow, same blog channel…
Scorp out!

—
“There’s a house on my block that’s abandoned and cold. The folks moved out of it a long time ago. And they took all their things and they never came back. It looks like it’s haunted with the windows all cracked. Everyone calls it the house… The house where nobody lives.” – “The House Where Nobody Lives” (Waits/Brennan)

Spinning Sunday or: The Haul(s) 7/3-4/20

05 Sunday Jul 2020

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Salutations™!!

The BCPF and I both took Friday off, so we treated it like a “first Saturday.” We did the things we do for Saturday. We had breakfast/brunch/lunch, went to Underdog Records then came home and listened to what we got. We repeated the process on the actual Saturday, too, although that wasn’t the plan. Anywhat! Here’s the two-day haul (and a note that all these releases are “new”):

The_Waterboys_Album_cover

©Chrysalis/Island

  • Nirvana – In Utero (2013 Mix) — I’ve had a tumultuous relationship with Nirvana. But, most of my disdain has passed and I am more on the “appreciate” side of them, now. This is the 20th-anniversary remix of the album from 2013. But, this is also a reissue of that version. 2xLP.
  • Wilco – Yankee Hotel Foxtrot — #493 on the RS list, it’s one of The BCPF’s faves. “Heavy Metal Drummer” was put on a mix CD for me when we were both just friends. I like that they mention KISS throughout and that Mediocre Bad Guys covered it. The buildings on the front cover make up Marina City in Chicago. When we were in Chicago last we stayed at the Hotel Chicago which is directly behind Marina City, part of the complex itself. It was something out of Mad Men but elegant. It was definitely a weird stay but we enjoyed it. Not quite as much as we enjoyed the Sofitel but that was one of the nicest hotel rooms we’ve ever had. 2xLP.
  • Tom Waits – Swordfishtrombones — I liked this one better than I liked the other we got from Mr. Waits this weekend. I know it’s his schtick. I know it’s his gimmick. But, I really dislike it when he gets the most grumble for his buck in his voice. He actually sings in a regular tone and timbre for some of the songs. When he does that, his voice actually comes through. He sounds like he’s faking it at times when he grumbles. But, his piano playing is fantastic. I love that part (of both albums).
  • Tom Waits – Heartattack And Vine — Ditto everything I said on the previous entry.
  • The Mothers Of Invention – Weasels Ripped My Flesh — I have been trying to at least understand Zappa better. This credited to The Mothers of Invention but only so because of the live material. The studio stuff was Zappa solo, as the Mothers had disbanded two albums prior. I have tried to take the approach to Zappa as the fact that he was a talented jazz musician that liked take the idea of jazz to the far extreme boundaries of the genre. Sometimes it’s beautiful. Other times it is anything but. This, well it just is.
  • The Waterboys – The Waterboys — The debut album from this Edinburgh-based band. While not on this album, their biggest hit was probably “The Whole of the Moon.” I hear a lot of Doug Davis (yes that Doug Davis) on this. Not that he was on it, but I hear some influence on it. I know that he’s a fan of the band. It was a great listen.
  • The Mountain Goats – We Shall All Be Healed — The brainchild of John Darnielle, the award-winning author and musician, The Mountain Goats, again, is a favorite of The BCPF. He’s funny, witty, and a good musician. I get kind of tired of everything sounding the same but again, the content makes up for that.
  • Nina Simone – My Baby Just Cares For Me — This is the Nina Simone album that I mentioned last week that we got two weeks ago. It finally made it to Discogs so I could include it. It was a great record and we really enjoyed it.
  • Madonna – Madame X — Madge’s latest album, released Summer 2019. A lot of electropop and a mixture of activism/connected and Madonna pop sensibilities. Not a bad record. I got it brand new from the clearance bin. Was regularly $30+ but I got it for $16. Win!
  • Schubert / The Budapest Quartet – The Last Quartets — This is technically “new” because it is still sealed and never opened. Jonathan had it in the “used” bins. It was supposed to be purchased on Friday but we accidentally left it in the bin instead of grabbing it. We got it yesterday. 3xLP of Schubert. Yes.

For the next selections, these are all “imports.” Most are “unofficial” releases which, to me, anyway, could mean “bootleg.” But, they were sold to Jonathan through a distributor, so I don’t know. Anywhat! All are “new.” Here we go.

  • Pink Floyd – Live In NYC 1977 — I love Pink Floyd. They hover around the 5-8 spot on my “all-time favorite” list. This is basically Wish You Were Here live. The sound quality is awful as is the performance, but it’s cool to hear it. I didn’t mind the fact that they didn’t recreate the album, they interpreted their own album. Clear “coke bottle” vinyl.
  • Echo & The Bunnymen – BBC Recordings 1979-1980 — I didn’t know E&BM went back that far, but they did. When I heard these songs yesterday, I thought it was U2, but it’s not. U2 has been around since 1976, I didn’t know that, either. Still, the fact that this album sounded like Boy or October is a good thing, as I like everything U2 up until Zooropa. Not my fave by any means. This was a great listen and makes me love that era of the “first wave” even more. We need more of this.
  • Pixies – Into The White- BBC Recordings From 1988 And 1989 — Everything that I said about Mothers of Invention earlier? Well, multiply that by about 20. I like Pixies in the studio. Live, they get weird. I have a hard time taking them seriously, but I try.
  • Brian Eno – The BBC Sessions — I am a fan of Brian Eno. At least I think I am. One thing the BBC Sessions always tell me is that people get weird (or weirder in Eno’s case) when they step into the BBC Studios. Now, to be fair, we haven’t listened to this one, yet. So, it may not be weird. I am just preparing for it to be.

A big haul, for sure. Bigger than most, recently. Good stuff. A lot of listening time. Jonathan has Underdog Records, the brick-and-mortar, open Thursday through Saturday 11-7, and doing deliveries on Mondays, Tuesday, and Wednesday as long as weather permits. Watch Instagram and Facebook for what he’s putting out, be it new or used. You can shop for new vinyl anytime, day or night, by visiting the website. I use Discogs to keep track of my collection and you should, too!

Until tomorrow, keep spinnin’…
Scorp out!

—
“Well, the eggs chase the bacon round the fryin’ pan and the whinin’ dog pidgeons by the steeple bell-rope. And the dogs tipped the garbage pails over last night. And there’s always construction work bothering you. In the neighborhood.” – “In the Neighborhood” (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.

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“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.

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“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.

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“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.

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“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)