Tag Archives: Top 500 Albums

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

25 Tuesday Nov 2014

Posted by in Music Review

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

, , , , , , , , , , , ,

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!

portishead

“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!

boy

“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!

Van_Halen_album

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.

Wirepinkflagcover

“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

Girl Power or: No Danged Oxford Commas! (RS pt 8)

11 Tuesday Nov 2014

Posted by in Music Review

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

, , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Salutations™!!

One good thing about these RS lists is that it gives me fodder for the NaBloPoMo.  And it’s fun to do, so they go hand in hand.

Let’s move on to the next dealio…

VampireWeekendCD2

Vampire Weekend (self titled)

#430 – Vampire Weekend by Vampire Weekend.  I love the cool drum pop/Brit feel that I sense from this album.  Some cool vocal tricks and groovy rhythms make for a delicious aural experience; especially “Oxford Comma.” The BCPF, along with other grammar freakos, and myself have debated the Oxford Comma’s legitimacy and its negligibility.  And so you know, the Oxford Comma is that comma that comes in a list and is placed before the final conjunction.  Such as: one, two, three, and four.  That comma in front of “and” and after “three” is really unnecessary, yet, some “scholars” and grammarians think it should be there.  Wow, how did this become a whole entry about that silly comma?  Oh yeah, the song.  It’s a cool song.  It’s a cool album.  Dug!

#429 – Another Green World by Brian Eno.  Oh, Brian Eno.  It was but a few entries back (#432) that I got to know you and your weirdness.  This is still weird but more palatable to me.  It’s more instrumental than lyric-based.  Out of the 14 songs, only 4 have lyrics.  It’s groovy and I don’t mean in just some hip kind of way, I mean it’s got some groove.  Not funk groove mind you but some very interesting things.  “St. Elmo’s Fire” is one (many years before the movie).  It’s some great piano and keyboard work, too.  I dug it.

Police-album-outlandosdamour

“Outlandos d’Amour” by The Police

#428 – Outlandos d’Amour by The Police.  Okay, I know I’ve professed my love of The Police before.  Further, I think I have a man-crush on Sting and I’m not afraid to admit it.  So this was the one that broke it open; the debut.  Hit songs like “Roxanne,” “Next to You,” “So Lonely” and “Can’t Stand Losing You” are, of course the staples but there are other gems on here like “Born in the 50s,” “Hole in My Life” and “Truth Hits Everybody.”  The one thing that I find myself singing to The BCPF is the opening part of “Be My Girl/Sally.”  This whole album should be on everyone’s list to at least hear if not own.  I own it, well, I have Message in a Box which is all The Police albums in one collection, but I do “own” it.  DIG LOVE!!!!

#427 – Sleepless by Peter Wolf. The former singer of J. Giles Band comes on with some oldish boogie-woogie and country mash vibes.  Jangly and with some good musicians but overall, not something that I’d just sit and listen to.  “Run Silent, Run Deep” is kind of chilling. “Oh Marianne” has some Spanish overtones.  Still, most of Wolf’s singing is some amalgamation of talking and singing.  And, the album is from 2002.  It has an older sound, and it just seems it’s out of place.  I won’t say I don’t like it, but why is it on this list?  That’s been the biggest puzzler to me for the whole thing: why is that even here?  Meh, didn’t not dig it but didn’t knock me out. Again, meh.

CheapTrick_Live_atBudokan

“Cheap Trick at Budokan” by Cheap Trick

#426 – Cheap Trick at Budokan by Cheap Trick.  Return engagements.  That will become a theme here as we start digging into the list, I’m sure.  We’ve had my favorite Cheap Trick album, In Color on the list and now, a live album that I can actually get behind from that band.  I’ve never been a fan of live albums.  Yes, there’s the energy of the live shows and yes there’s dynamic, but I don’t really (or generally) care about that.  I am all about production.  I’d rather hear a producer’s vision and how they can convey that.  All that being said, this album kicks boot-ay!  I especially like the extended version, or “The Complete Concert” that showed up in 1998.  The impact that this disc had on live albums, to me, is comparable to KISS Alive!  It’s one that has stood the test of time, was well put together and doggone, people like it.  To do something different, my least favorite track on the album, “I Want You to Want Me.”  Not (only) because it was played out, but because I really like the studio version 10x more. If you only listen to one live album, in my opinion, it should be KISS Alive!, but if you listen to two, then the second one should be Cheap Trick at Budokan (both versions). DUG!

#425 – Grievous Angels by Gram Parsons. I didn’t know much about Gram Parsons, really anything.  I know he was in the Byrds and I know he was part of The Flying Burrito Brothers.  The album is nestled in one of the coolest named genres in popular music, “Cosmic American Music” (which is a term he coined), a combination of country (alt country?) and rock and roll.  And, I’ll admit it’s not really my thing, but he pulls it off beautifully.  One thing I’m not sure of is why they didn’t call it Grievous Angels by Gram Parsons and Emmylou Harris.  There is only one song on the entire album that she isn’t prominent on, and on that she’s not on it at all.  Anywhat!  This album was released but a few months after Gram Parsons passed away from a mix of alcohol and morphine and I have to say: the album cover sucks.  It really, really sucks.  But, the contents are really good.  Some boogie rock with Tom T. Hall’s “I Can’t Dance” and some laid back ballad action in “$1000 Wedding” and my favorite line (“I’d even like to see her mean ol’ Mama.”).  But, to me, the highlight is the first track, “Return of Grievous Angel.”  It sets the pace as any opening track should and makes everything alright.  I could listen to that song over and over and truthfully, I could listen to most of it over and over, even though, as I stated, it’s not my thing.  I think it become, at least partially, “my thing.”  DUG!

Springsteen_The_Rising

“The Rising” by Bruce Springsteen

#424 – The Rising by Bruce Springsteen.  More Bruce. Not only is that a statement, I think it’s a request, too.  I’ve not hidden my mixed feelings about Bruce, but as time goes on, I can’t help but admit that I’m liking it more and more.  Especially after I’ve seen him live.  The rest of the band was kind of boring but he was on fire.  Anywhat! I’m off track.  The power of this album is the honesty and emotion of a country recovering from its darkest day and most devastating blow, ever, September 11, 2001.  It’s hard to pick any particular part that stands out as the emotion is prevalent throughout.  My faves are the title track and “My City of Ruins.” DUG

#423 – Anthology by Diana Ross and the Supremes. Anthology, greatest hits, compilation = nope.

#422 – Presenting the Fabulous Ronettes featuring Veronica by The Ronettes. The debut album with some lovely, big haired ladies. Ronnie’s voice is one-of-a-kind and awesome.  Probably their biggest hit “Be My Baby” is on this disc and the rest of the album is laced with girl-power.  Phil Spector’s work is, well, Phil Spector.  Hard to beat that.  Doing some reading on it (admittedly on Wikipedia), it seems to have a decent list of guests including Sonny & Cher.  A pretty good album but don’t know that I’d listen to it again; at least not all the way through. It’s ok.

#421 – Best of Girl Groups by Various Artists.  Ok, I get girl groups. Girl singers and musicians in general, especially at this time in musical history, laid the road for pop divas, punk chicks and rock goddesses. No doubt they rocked when they did.  I did listen to the album, but I’m not reviewing any compilations.  In my opinion, they don’t belong on this list.

I really hate that we ended this section of the list with that bad vibe.  However, there’s good stuff coming.  Give these a listen and make your own reviews of the albums that I’ve talked about.

Until tomorrow, same blog channel at SOME blog time…
Scorp out!

—
“Would you be my girl, would you be my girl, would you be my, be my, be my girl?” – The Police (Sting/Andy Summers) from Outlandos d’Amour  

A Little Irish Ditty or: Can You Believe I Quoted Kurt Cobain? (RS pt 7)

02 Sunday Nov 2014

Posted by in Music Review

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

, , , ,

Salutations™!!

I’ve been concentrating on so much honeymoon stuff (and there is still plenty to come for that) that I have neglected my “list” and thought it was time to get back to it, if you will.

So I’ve listened to a lot more than I’ve written about; more than I will write about today.  So I’ll try to break down the next 10 on the list.

#440 – Rum, Sodomy & The Lash by The Pogues. Ok, so, this is the first time that I remember ever listening to The Pogues.  It reminds me of hanging out at my favorite Irish pub (in this case, being Finnigan’s Wake Irish Pub & Kitchen in Winston-Salem) on St. Patrick’s Day, it being close to 1am and everyone – including the band – are spaced out of their minds on Guinness and Jameson Irish Whiskey.  From there it just trips into a full-blown drunken Irish-fest that makes me dread waking up in the morning.  Although I’ve never had a hangover, this would probably give me one.  The whole album was non-stop kick-arse (see what I did there?) Irish nonsense and that is a great thing.  Could I listen to a lot of it? No way. But this was worth the listen.  Dug.

#439 – One Night Stand – Live at the Harlem Square Club, 1963 by Sam Cooke. Generally, I hate live albums.  I did not hate this live album. Some of my faves from this album is “Chain Gang” and “Cupid.”  There’s a lot of soul coming through on this disc.  It was the way I like albums, not too long and not full of fluff.  I, like everyone, feel that my time is important and I don’t want to waste it with crap.  This was not crap.  Dug.

boysdontcry

Boys Don’t Cry by The Cure

#438 – Boys Don’t Cry by The Cure.  For some CRAZY reason, this album is not available on Rhapsody (which you’ll see is not uncommon in this list) and I had to be a bit creative.  Actually, creativity is relative; I just found all the songs and put them in order via the track listing on Wikipedia. Resourceful is probably a better word, instead. Hey! It is a compilation album, so I compiled. Anywhat!  I thought the album was edgy, which considering the artists in question, it should have been.  I think I’m still stuck on how it was a compilation album when at the time of its release there was only one album (Three Imaginary Boys) out from them .  I know “Killing an Arab” was controversial and therefore left off that premiere album.  Maybe it was some of that stuff. I don’t know.  All I do know is that I thought the album was good, just confusing as to why it actually was a record, I think. Dug.

#437 – Tha Carter III by Lil Wayne.  Pfft. Some of the music on this album was OK but, really I couldn’t take his whining seriously.  It was like listening to a 13 year old try to hit on girls and failing miserably.  Not saying that’s what he did this whole album, but enough to matter.  Some may say that I’m listening with my ears and not my mind or heart, or whatever it is they say, but the fact is, my ears have to hear it and they don’t like it – at all.  I almost skipped even putting this in the review, but because I did listen to the whole thing, I think it was awful and uninteresting. I did not dig this one, at all.

#436 –  Sea Change by Beck. I was dreading this one, too.  I was.  I was waiting for the familiar “Loser”-esque songs to start.  This album is why I do this list; to find things that I either didn’t know about or had misconceptions about.  I sat through the first three songs: “The Golden Age,” Paper Tiger,” and “Guess I’m Doing Fine,” with a confused look on my face.  I didn’t understand what I was hearing.  In fact, I went back and listened to the album again, later.  I would own this album.  It’s a departure from what I think of when I think of Beck (again “Loser”).  Don’t get me wrong, I’m not opposed to “Loser” but I have to be in the mood to hear that kind of stuff.  This album carried a whole different perspective for me.  Some of my faves are “Guess I’m Doing Fine,” “The Golden Age,” “Lonesome Tears,” and, really I can’t point to anything I didn’t like. The whole thing = awesome!  I want this album. Dig doesn’t even cut it here!

In_Utero_(Nirvana)_album_cover

In Utero by Nirvana

#435 – In Utero by Nirvana.  So like #436, I was so dreading this one.  I put it on, sat back and waited for the suckage to start.  To my surprise, it never did.  I should clarify.  I was one of the many “hair band” era musicians who were in bands that wanted to do what everyone else did at the time and then Nirvana came along and crushed the dreams of many.  Kurt Cobain and his followers, to me, were the bane of my existence and how anyone could compare him to John Lennon, I would never understand. There was references about him not killing himself soon enough among other things.  I can say that I am not proud of those sentiments and although I think he was a piece of crapola, I can’t deny his songwriting abilities.  I’ll never understand, nor believe, that he can even touch John Lennon, but those who do, I can’t argue with you.  All that said, this album is truly a great rock album.  As a life long sufferer of Tourette Syndrome, who doesn’t love a song named “Tourette’s?”  Nothing matches the hits on this album, though.  “All Apologies” and “Heart-Shaped Box” are the shiznit, no lie.  DUG!

#434 – #1 Record by Big Star. 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.  DUG!

#433 – All Things Must Pass by George Harrison.  Ok, here’s the thing.  This is one of those inexplicable absences on Rhapsody that I spoke of earlier.  And, because it’s a triple album (meaning a shload of songs), on top of the fact that I own it (but haven’t listened to it in album order, yet) I didn’t want to piece it together.  Since I have it, I WILL listen to it.  However, at the time of this writing, I haven’t thus far but will.  I’ll update the blog with its inclusion at a later date, I promise.

#432 – Here Come the Warm Jets by Brian Eno.  Um… I’m sad to say I don’t know anything of Roxy Music before Avalon. From what I can gather, it was a glamish/arty kind of thing.  I will have to listen back on some of it, when I get the chance.  So, also from what I can gather,  this was a lot like what Roxy Music was by the time Eno left them.  Really, my only knowledge of  him was a little bit of his experimental ambient music.  I once had a VHS tape (remember those?) in which you had to turn the television on its side, which was hard for those with console TVs (I didn’t but my parents did) and it was like some bubblish blue haze thing that had some naked women dancing or something, I don’t really know. I watched about 20 minutes of it and was confused.  I turned the TV back to the position it was supposed to be in and realized that the TV never worked the same again.  The only other knowledge I have of Eno is his work with U2 and Genesis. Anywhat.  This is fun and experimental but I don’t know how much I can listen to it.  “Needles in the Camel’s Eye” and “Dead Finks Don’t Talk” are both interesting as is “The Paw Paw Negro Blowtorch.”  I really don’t know what more to say, here.  Um… dig…ish?

Stories_From_The_City,_Stories_From_The_Sea

Stories From the City, Stories From the Sea by PJ Harvey

#431 – Stories From the City, Stories From the Sea by PJ Harvey.  I had no real experience with PJ before this.  Kind of like a mellower version of Hole with a singer who can really sing.  So I guess it’s not like Hole at all.  All the angst with all the talent, I’d say.  Great instrumentation and great vocals. Her vocals are haunting yet direct and in your face.  It’s refreshing and it’s fairly low on the list at #431.  There is one more PJ Harvey album on the list (still in the 400s) coming and no more, that’s disappointing.  I’d return to this one at a later time to listen through a few more times, and look forward to doing so.  I’d go as far as saying I’d own it.  Some faves: “A Place Called Home,” “Big Exit,” and one of my favorite titles, ever, “The Whores Hustle and the Hustlers Whore.”  I dug it!

So sorry that I waited so long, but now that I have the “National Blog Posting Month” thing to do, then I guess I’ll have plenty to write about.  This is day #2, so we’ll see how it goes.

Until next time (tomorrow?) same blog place at SOME blog time…
Scorp out!!

—
“Mayday every day, in my heart.
Could’ve had a heart attack, in my heart.
We don’t know anything, in my heart.
We all want something fair, in my heart.” – Kirk Cobain, “Tourette’s” from In Utero

Yet Another Undertaking or: How I Agreed to Inundate You With Blog Posts

01 Saturday Nov 2014

Posted by in Blogging, Life as We Know It

≈ 4 Comments

Tags

, , , , , , , ,

Salutations™!!

So we know that I’m a bit erratic or even sporadic when it comes to writing these blog posts.  Some of you may think that it’s good that you don’t hear from my blabbing self that often, some complain that I don’t do it enough.  Sometimes I have things to say, sometimes I don’t.

So, I’ve recently agreed to, along with Kristen Daukas and Nick Badgio, thus far, to participate in this thing called NaBloPoMo which is some fangdangled way to say National Blog Posting Month.  The idea behind this insanity is that bloggers post every day for the month of November.

Head in Hands

“Sheesh, the things I get myself into”

A-Blog-Post-A-Day-For-A-Month.  Sheesh, the things I get myself into.

Eugene sometimes says that I get too into lists, like the Rolling Stone Top 500 (see my many posts about that lunacy); that’s a commitment.    Then I get the honeymoon stories, which I have gotten good reviews for, and will continue to do those.  So, the trick will be to do what I need to do in bulk.  Kind of get ahead, if you will and keep them in the pipeline.  Maybe, something in my life will be interesting enough to create a post here and there.

So, you, dear reader, will be either the beneficiary or the target of turmoil for my month-long ramblings.  Of course, I could just let everyone down and “not find the time” or just forget.  So, today, November 1 is nombre de jour (day #1) and let the madness begin!

Then, until next time (tomorrow?), same blog channel at SOME blog time…
Scorp out!

—
“A writer — and, I believe, generally all persons — must think that whatever happens to him or her is a resource.” – Jorge Luis Borges, Twenty Conversations with Borges, Including a Selection of Poems : Interviews by Roberto Alifano, 1981–1983

The Journey Within a Journey (RS Part 3) or: Damn a Bunch of Merle

28 Tuesday Jan 2014

Posted by in Music Review

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

, , , ,

Salutations™!!

My updates were actually on track to be regular and something happened on the way to the forum…

That would be Merle Haggard.  Damn you Merle!!!  This is part 3 of a darn many chapters in my epic journey through the 500 Albums of All Time according to Rolling Stone Magazine.

A lot has happened; let me get going from where I left off:

#485 – Vitalogy by Pearl Jam. I have never been a fan of Pearl Jam, mainly because of Eddie Vedder.  The music is generally good and the musicality is generally spot on.  He’s just annoying.  BUT… this album was actually good.  I wouldn’t say great, but I won’t kick it out.  I don’t own it, but I would.  “Better Man” was a great song and truly, there wasn’t any real weak links that I remember. I dig it!

#484 – All the Young Dudes by Mott the Hoople. I’ve not had a lot of context of Ian Hunter other than he wrote “Once Bitten, Twice Shy” and sang on Freddie Mercury’s tribute show.  I knew he was with Mott the Hoople.  I was neither looking forward to nor dreading this album.  I said to myself, “Self (sometimes I really do call myself that), this is a classic album and people talk about it all the time, let’s see what happens.”  I won’t say that I was overly impressed, but did find it quite interesting.  I have never been a fan of Lou Reed which will come later in the list but the version of “Sweet Jane” is quite vanilla compared to the Velvet Underground version.  I’m a fan of Bowie so I was intrigued on his production and yes, he penned the title track after they turned down “Suffragette City.”  Not a bad album at all.  I’d listen to it again, but I’d not rush to do so.  I dug it, but eh…

#483 – Entertainment by Gang of Four. THIS is punk I can get behind.  It’s just fun.  Is that the intention?  I don’t think so, but it certainly is.  To me, and this is only MY opinion, most punk is scattered and disjointed, which I get, is the point; nonconformity at its best!  It is however, usually not for me.  I do feel on this album they wanted to be that way and it just wouldn’t happen.  Fun. I’d own it! I don’t know why things are now based on owning and listening again, but it’s worked its way into my blog, lol.  My rules as I come up with them, I guess, lol. Oh, and I DIG it.

#482 – Guitar Town by Steve Earle.  Ok, Eugene, I am sure you’re wanting to know about this one. The ONLY exposure to Mr. Earle I’d ever had was, of course, “Copperhead Road.”  I was delighted that there was no inclusion of that song on this album as I want to put my face through a plate glass window every time I hear it.  This album did not make me feel that way.  Did I think it was wonderful?  No. Did I find it entertaining?  Yes.  It’s good 70/80s Country Rock that was well above my expectations.  I wouldn’t turn it off, but not interested in owning it.  Dug.

#481 – Voodoo by D’Angelo.  Boring. Slow jams are great, usually, and while the musicality is entertaining, they were in abundance.  I never got what was supposed to be happening.  It was like music was just… there.  I didn’t get a lot of substance from it.  Did not dig.

#480 – Only Built 4 Cuban Linx by Raekwon.  My mother always said if I couldn’t say anything nice, I shouldn’t say anything at all.  Done, “son.”

#479 – Maggot Brain by Funkadelic. Eddie Hazel is a genius!  George Clinton is a genius! This album was right on and far out from note #1.  The Parliament vocal work is wonderful.  Hit me more Billy Bass! LSD laced lyrics, open head ideas and execution. Yummy! SO… yeah I dig it.  I would own it.  I want to own it.  I want to hear it on vinyl.  DUG!

#478 – All Time Greatest Hits by Loretta Lynn.  Ok.  I have to say this.  I believe live albums and greatest hits albums should be excluded from this list.  No exceptions, no matter how much I like them.  Greatest hits are someone else’s idea of what the best songs were.  And, yes, being in the record industry (artist) in the past, I know that the producer will generally take the collection of best songs recorded to put into a collection or “album.” This should not be here, but that being said, it wasn’t bad.  I’ve never really cared one way or another about country music and this IS country music.  Georgia Florida Line or whatever they call it and those like it are “settling pop wannabes.” No offense is intended to fans of those artists, just my opinion.  It did take me back a bit to my childhood when my father would listen to nothing but.  Well written, mostly clean fun and the not-so-hidden feminism that exudes from this Matriarch of C&W is worth a good listen. Dug.

#477 – Down Every Road by Merle Haggard.  Oh, the bane of my existence.  Not really.  The fact that it was back-to-back with the other classic country (see #478) was a bit to take at one time.  On top of that fact, this was a 4-disc (100 songs) collection, which as I said earlier, should NOT be here.  Rhapsody, the music service I subscribe to and which makes it possible for me to listen to full albums at a time, did not have this available.  So I had to go to Amazon and find the disc’s track listing and manually insert all 100 songs (actually only about 96, I had to go to YouTube for 4 songs that couldn’t be found on Rhapsody) into my playlist.  So what I did was split it into 4 different listens – one for each disc.  I listen in about 4 different places so while one computer had this lined up, I continued the listening journey on other computers.  This did hold me up since I wanted to do a full review.  Ok, to make a short story longer, this, too, was reminiscent of my childhood; not necessarily in a good way, but definitely not in a bad way.  I recognized, as I did with Loretta, many of the songs.  Catchy, if not sometimes depressing, little ditties which lend to the all-encompassing moniker and genre called, “Tear in my Beer” music.  “Okie from Muskogee,” “The Fightin’ Side of Me,” and “I Wonder If They Think of Me” are just a few gems in this long trek of an album that I really remember.  At times, I’ll admit I wanted to just skip and I had several people who know me come into the office to stare confused at why this was coming from speakers that were close to my ears. I personally know someone named Irma Jackson, too. Weird.  Overall, I liked it, but again, it shouldn’t have been on here.  Dug.

#476 – Life After Death by Notorious B.I.G.  I put that it’s by Biggie, but is it really?  I can find that Biggie is only on about half of this record.  The other half is someone else doing all the work and him taking credit for it.  But really, what is he taking credit for? Many… MANY of the songs “feature” this person or that person. Almost a shame to call it his. There’s 24 tracks on this record and I don’t think there was one single track without the “N” word in it.  Look, I know I’m white.  I may have said the word before, but DAMN! I can’t stand to hear it, especially repeatedly and abundantly.  It made it difficult to listen to and I certainly didn’t enjoy it.  Artistic or creative license and what have you, I don’t care.  It was horrible and disgusting to listen to.  Hated it. F-

#475 – Armed Forces by Elvis Costello & The Attractions.  After the audible debacle that was #476, it was good to get back to music that didn’t make me want to lose my lunch.  He born Declan MacManus, which I think is a much more impressive and cool name, has always been in my ears as one who changes his sound often and that includes vocal styles.  He can sound like Elvis Costello in one instance and a whole different Elvis Costello in the next.  I’ll never consider myself a connoisseur of his music or claim to really know much about him.  I have three EC albums, one being a greatest hits – and that doesn’t count, remember? – and am happy with two of them.  So to compare this to other things he’s done and where he stood in his life and career at the time would be pointless and lying.  I will say, however, that “Accidents Will Happen” and “(What’s So Funny ’bout) Peace, Love, and Understanding” are two of my faves from EC.  I’d add this to my EC collection and I really dug it!

#474 –Próxima Estación: Esperanza by Manu Chao.  Um… I don’t get it.  I’m not knocking it, I just didn’t get it.  I heard some good musicianship but I just couldn’t feel it.  Sorry.

#473 – The Smiths by The Smiths.  I have always poked at The Smiths and especially Morrissey, mainly to aggravate the Near Mrs (get it).  She told me as a caveat, “this isn’t their best album.”  To this I replied, “there’s a good one?”  And then, I’m smacked hard, upon my face and torso with extreme prejudice.  Not really.  This wasn’t bad.  I didn’t hate it.  It’s Morrissey in his usual moaning mood that is what makes him unique and, I’ll admit, somewhat cool.  Even if that’s not what he wanted.  Life in Manchester really took its toll on him and the band, or so it seems.  His tongue-in-cheek disdain for just about everything is offset by awesome music by Johnny Marr and pals.  And if you didn’t know, some of the keyboards were played by Paul Carrack.  I enjoyed listening to it and would own it.  Shhh, don’t tell The BCPF.


 #472 – Faith by George Michael.  No matter what you think/feel about his personal life, stance, views, etc., the man can write! His first full-length foray after the break up of Wham!, Faith is an album that I certainly already had, loved, and fell in love with, again.  “I Want Your Sex,” “Father Figure,” “One More Try,” “Faith,” and “Monkey” were all chart toppers. The songs that didn’t make it on the charts were quite listenable as well and my favorite song on the whole album, “Kissing a Fool,” is one that at the time I just thought cool, then others did covers, notably Michael Buble, and the coolness went through the roof.  I love standard jazz-style songs like this.  One of my top 30 albums of all time, this is just good stuff start to finish.  DUG in every way.


 #471 – I Want to See the Bright Lights Tonight by Richard & Linda Thompson. Whoa! This is some haunting stuff.  Not saying it is my favorite, but I can see where some of this would lead to stuff that BCPF started digging years later.  Someone refers to it as wrist-slitting music in one review I read.  That’s what I refer to a lot of stuff that BCPF listens to. I can hear some similarities.  I have to get her to listen to it, now.  Richard is renown in the spectrum of folk/alt-folk world.  I don’t know how long they stayed married but I don’t think it was long.  What little time they did make music, was decent stuff.  I get chills listening to “The Great Valerio.” Some of it is quite Celtic in nature, at least in my ears.  Dug.

I’m sorry this is so long and I’m also sorry it took so long.  But don’t blame me, blame it on the Okie!

Until next time, same blog channel at SOME blog time…  Scorp out!!

 

The List Born Under a Bad Sign (RS Part 2) or: You’re a Shining Star

28 Tuesday Jan 2014

Posted by in Music Review

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

,

Salutations™!

This is the latest update on my listening habit and some reviews.

Where was I?  Oh yes.  I have just reveled in the glory that was Touch by The Eurythmics. And… what glory it was.  So… I was riding high the next wave, and while it had some calm waters, the seas got choppy and the surfing, well, had its moments when the sharks were in the water.  Let’s see:

#491 – Albert King, Born Under a Bad Sign.  I’ve made no bones about the fact that I don’t like blues music.  Not music that is rock with a lot of blues riffs and the like; the blues of, well, Albert King, B.B. King, etc.  I get that some people really dig it and to them I say, ‘dig on!’ but I just prefer not to listen to it.  It’s not about not feeling it, it’s about feeling flush and itchy waiting for it to be over (to which I am not joking or being facetious), I really do NOT like this stuff.  I’ll probably catch hell for that.

#490 – ZZ Top, Tres Hombres.  THIS I liked.  For a while I listened to the local “classic” rock fare around here and they played their fair (or after a while unfair) share of ZZ Top, most of which was from this album.  And when you let it breathe for a bit (read: 5-plus years), it’s really good stuff.  It still sounds fresh and certainly had balls. Dug it!

#489 – KISS, Destroyer.  Hmmm.  How can I explain this album?  Yes. KISS is my favorite band.  Yes. They are the reason that I am a musician (especially Gene Simmons).  Yes. Yes. Yes.  But… probably to the surprise of almost everyone.  This is not one of my favorites.  Actually, it may fall further to my least favorite section.  It does have one of my favorite songs ever by the band, “God of Thunder.”  Written by Paul Stanley, Gene made it his own and is known in some circles as the God of Thunder, a modern day Thor (as the line goes).  It also has the highest ever charting song by the band, “Beth.” As cheesy as it is, I do like it still and loved it when Eric Carr redid it on Smashes, Thrashes & Hits. Don’t get me wrong, even my least favorite KISS albums are my favorite KISS albums.  I could write whole blogs on KISS albums as they concern me, but I won’t, as there is much to do.  I dug it without question.

#488 – Hüsker Dü, New Day Rising. I had hopes for this after reading the review from Rhapsody (where I listen to the majority of these albums) when it talked about other contemporaries and their contributions to the times this album was released.  Those hopes immediately shattered when I started listening to this album.  Let’s just say this:  I had to pass gas in a chair, turn around, then lick it to get the taste of this album out of my mouth.  There was nothing, at all, good I could say about it.  I felt violent and wanted to punch someone after it was over.  Luckily, there are few people in the bunker during that time of day.  DID NOT DIG IT.  Bury it, even.  Again, I’ll probably get hell over that one.

#487 – Cyndi Lauper, She’s So Unusual. Ah, a breath of fresh air after that last turd.  Great production. Well written songs.  Lauper, like Annie Lennox, has a very distinguishable voice.  To hear her talk, unlike Annie, I can’t take much, but to hear her sing is great.  There were only 10 songs on the album and 7 of them released as singles, including covers of Robert Hazard’s “Girls Just Want To Have Fun,” as well as “All Through The Night,” “Money Changes Everything,” and Prince’s “When You Were Mine.”  Still love hearing “She Bop” and “Time After Time.”  Thoroughly enjoyed this one. DUG IT!

 #486 – Earth, Wind & Fire, That’s the Way of the World. “Shining Star” starts this album off and I always thought, when I first heard it, that it was Jerry Reed.  Then, it funked out nicely.  I like that.  Verdine White is one bad mutha.  His bass playing is fabuloso, especially in the title cut!  Philip Bailey I like a great deal, too.  And as much as it probably pains you, dear readers, I loved “Easy Lover” with Phil Collins.  My favorite song from EW&F is still “Let’s Groove,” which is NOT on this album.  “Africano” was a great instrumental and the production is great on the whole album.  After listening to “Reasons,” I am quite aware where Sheffield and Blaustein got the inspiration for the Soul Glo theme in their film, the Eddie Murphy vehicle, Coming to America; that’s not a bad thing.  All-in-all… I dug it.

 So that’s where I stand thus far.  Know that I don’t claim to be the all-knowing.  These are only MY OPINION.  I invite, no I beg, you to listen to them yourself and see what you think.  Just like all of us have different taste buds, we all have different auditory reactions and preferences.  Don’t bash me, but you can debate me.  I may not have an answer or reason as to why I do or do not “dig” something.  I’ve decided (as long as I can remember it next time and the time after that) that I’m going to say I either dug it or did not dig it.  Why? Same reason I don’t care to pee in my yard… I’ll leave it at that.

Until next time, same blog channel at SOME blog time…  Scorp out!!

A List is Just a List or: Careful with that Axe, Eugene

28 Tuesday Jan 2014

Posted by in Music Review

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

, , , ,

Salutations™!!

So in searching for something to write in this blog (I never think my life is exciting enough to talk about), someone (Paul Jones III) suggested that maybe I could blog about my latest personal enhancement endeavor.  So why not!?

As I’ve mentioned before, I did the 1997 list as well as the 2007 list of the AFI’s Top 100 Movies of All Time.  Not only that, but I’m only 54 films away from seeing all FOUR HUNDRED (400) of the nominations that went into get the top 100.  So being I’ve been a lover of music – some would debate that (*cough*Ed Bumgardner*cough*) at times – all my life, and after watching my friend, Doug Davis, talk about it, I decided to take on the Rolling Stone Top 500 Albums of All Time.

Why would I do this?  Well, the aforementioned Messieurs Bumgardner and Davis and I have had many discussions about music over the past few years.  I say conversations when in all actuality they are usually Doug posing a question and me spewing forth some erroneous (and sometime deliberate) baloney that maybe I do or don’t know anything about and Ed then reprimanding me (read: ripping me a new one).  OR as another friend, Mitchell Snow, told me yesterday… “you make a habit of joyfully taking a dump on my Pantheon.”  And I emphasized joyfully.

Anywhat… back to the why.  After being EDucated over the years, I felt this list was SOMEONE’s attempt at a best of list and since my men crushes (yeah I said it) are talking about it, I could probably learn something from this list.  I’m going in with as open a mind as I can have; what Ed calls “feeling, not listening.” I want to discover things that I wouldn’t know existed or things that I have overlooked for whatever reason. I want to see what the big deal is about.

I started this thingy on Halloween, 2013.  I write this on Friday, November 8.  I know this is going to be a long, sometimes arduous, journey.  It will take time and I’m trying to launch into the next as soon as I can while not forgetting to “chew my food” or absorb what it is I’ve just finished listening to.  I have just finished #492, Touch from Eurythmics.  I’m not going to give an account of everything that I listen to, but I will try to blog about certain ones as we go.  I’ll catch you up at least on what’s happened so far and if there is anything I need to talk about that I haven’t talked about on my Facebook page.  Let’s start here:

#500 – Outkast, Aquemini; #499 – B.B. King, Live at Cook County Jail; #498 – The Stone Roses, The Stone Roses; #497 – The White Stripes, White Blood Cells… stop.  The White Stripes I’ve never been a huge fan of outside of the innovation it seems that Jack makes with his “I don’t care” approach (I know he does) to songwriting.  This was the first on the list that I will say that I “enjoyed” to the point of making a note about it.  Outkast, B.B. just didn’t move me, but weren’t horrible.  Stone Roses had its moments, but nothing that I want to elaborate on.

#496 – Boz Scaggs, Boz Scaggs; #495 – Bonnie Raitt, Give It Up; #494 – MGMT, Oracular Spectacular… STOP!  Holy Moley!  This was the first album on the list that left my mouth and eyes competing as to which could be wider.  I love electronic music and this was a beautiful thing to behold.  A true OM(enter entity/deity here) moment for me!  You can look at the Facebook archives for my review, but it was delicious!


#493 – Wilco, Yankee Hotel Foxtrot  Not a bad album, I’ve heard it before and it’s a fave of BCPF.  I’ll always have a place in my heart for “Heavy Metal Drummer” and not just because the Mediocre Bad Guys do it.  It was on a mixtape made by my sweetie before we were even dating.  “Jesus, Etc.,” “I am Trying to Break Your Heart,” and especially “Poor Places” were all great additions as well.
#492 – Eurythmics, Touch  This is a pure delight to listen to and I’ve only heard a few songs as I’m writing this.  I love Annie Lennox, though, so I’d probably love it anyway, I just never had the pleasure of doing it. **And now I’ve listened through it.  This was a great album.  Great rhythms (hence the name), great textures and layers, and Annie’s voice is amazing; such power.  Great quality song writing.  Chilling at times, to tell the truth.  This, along with MGMT have been the true highlights so far with me.
I’ll write more reviews as the list winds down.

My bestest buddy, Eugene B Sims asked me the other day, “What the hell is with you and these lists!?!?”  I truly didn’t have a real answer but I thought about it today and I have that answer, but I must preface it with this…

My fiancee, the BCPF, is a list maker and doer, as well.  She fancies the Top 100 of Some Old Scholars That Made Lists (I’m making that up) and all kinds of things about books.  “Booksbooksbooksbooks I love books. Booksbooksbooksbooksbooks….”  She has a coffee can with slips of paper in which the most famous (and some not famous but equally as important) and she picks randomly. She said it best when she said: “there is so much out there to read and if I left it to my own devices, I may never read some of the best books ever written.”

So I say in the same vein that there are many movies and much music that I know I miss out on and some I don’t know I’m missing.  When I am left to my own devices, I’ll pick the same stuff over and over again and be prejudiced towards the things that I only believe to be what I don’t like.  These lists (especially AFI’s) are compiled by industry people and “experts” at least to the point of some importance, even in their own minds (that was for Rolling Stone).  There are other lists that I will take up in these areas, too, as I get time.  Point of fact, my friend Keith Wilson just emailed me the 2003 list so I’ll have to match them up. 🙂   A side note… when I went through my heart surgery last year, my sweetie bought me the actual magazine with this list in it.  Thank you, Baby!

Bare with me as I make this journey (and continue my movie one).  This may be the fodder I need for the spewing forth I bring to the teeming masses.

Until next time, same blog channel at SOME blog time…  Scorp out!