Album: Structure Artist: Water From Your Eyes Release Date: August 27, 2021 Label: Wharf Cat Records Favorite Tracks:
“When You’re Around”
“Track Five”
“”Quotations””
Thoughts: This album from the Brooklyn electro-pop duo Water From Your Eyes documents a break-up. Specifically the end of the romantic relationship between band members Rachel Brown and Nate Amos, although they remain together as a band and as friends. There’s a lot of variety to hear: Beatles-esque harmonies, shoegaze guitar, ghostly vocals, relentless industrial noise… It changes from track to track and sometimes within the song. But there is, er, structure here as the album is broken into two sets of four songs symmetrical to the other four. Rating: ***1/2
A year ago, Rolling Stone magazine released their most recent list of the 500 Greatest Albums of All Time, which includes a greater variety of artists and genres than previous lists. Looking through the list, there were many albums I’d never listened to before and a few I’d never even heard of. In fact, counting it up, I found that I’d only listened to 140 of the albums, although I’d heard songs from many more. So I’ve decided my project for 2021 is to listen to 10 albums each week and write up some thoughts about each one.
Artist: Bruce Springsteen Album: Nebraska Year: 1982 Label: Columbia Have I Listened to This Album Before?: No Am I Familiar With This Artist/Songs from This Album?: Yes Would I Listen to this Album Again?: Yes Favorite Tracks:
“Atlantic City”
“Highway Patrolman”
“State Trooper”
“Reason to Believe”
Thoughts: It’s hard to believe that Nebraska and Born in the USA were basically created at the same time. Whereas the latter album is full of anthemic rock and roll tracks with a full band and even some synths, Nebraska is stripped down and acoustic. It sounds like music from the heartland, perhaps some lost Dust Bowl ballads, even when Springsteen is singing about New Jersey.
Artist: John Prine Album: John Prine Year: 1971 Label: Atlantic Have I Listened to This Album Before?: No Am I Familiar With This Artist/Songs from This Album?: Yes Would I Listen to this Album Again?: Favorite Tracks:
“Hello in There”
“Sam Stone”
“Paradise”
“Your Flag Decal Won’t Get You Into Heaven Anymore”
“Angel from Montgomery”
Thoughts: Speaking of heartland music, John Prine of Chicago sings with a nasal twang in the styles of Nashville country and Appalachian folk. The songs sound timeless but touch on contemporary issues with both wry humor and heartbreak. I didn’t know much about John Prine until last year after his death from COVID-19, I listened to a number of his most highly-regarded songs. I’m glad to take this opportunity to discover more of his music.
Artist: Frank Ocean Album: Channel Orange Year: 2012 Label: Def Jam Have I Listened to This Album Before?: No Am I Familiar With This Artist/Songs from This Album?: No Would I Listen to this Album Again?: Maybe Favorite Tracks:
“Super Rich Kids”
“Pyramids”
Thoughts: Typically I’m not a fan of contemporary R&B or neo-soul or however you want to classify this music. But I found myself liking Frank Ocean more than expected. He has a great voice and does some interesting, weird things with his music. Lyrically, the songs tell stories about people I’m familiar with, although don’t necessarily like. I may just have to give this one another listen.
Artist: Jeff Buckley Album: Grace Year: 1994 Label: Columbia Have I Listened to This Album Before?: No Am I Familiar With This Artist/Songs from This Album?: Yes Would I Listen to this Album Again?: Favorite Tracks:
“Hallelujah”
Thoughts: Two things about Jeff Buckley: 1. I always conflate him with Jeff Healey who sang “Angel Eyes.” 2. I hold him responsible for the vast overexposure of the song “Hallelujah.” Granted, I like the song, but I prefer the Leonard Cohen version to the many imitators. Sadly, Buckley died shortly after making this album and was never able to build on his success.
Artist: Blondie Album: Parallel Lines Year: 1978 Label: Chrysalis Have I Listened to This Album Before?: No Am I Familiar With This Artist/Songs from This Album?: Yes Would I Listen to this Album Again?: Yes Favorite Tracks:
“Hanging on the Telephone”
“One Way Or Another”
“Pretty Baby”
“Sunday Girl”
“Heart of Glass”
Thoughts: I kind of forgot how much I heard Blondie on the radio as a small child. “Heart of Glass” is a perennial classic, but it felt good to be reunited with several other songs of my youth. Blondie really just were the coolest people around and this album exudes cool.
Artist: Eminem Album: The Marshall Mathers LP Year: 2000 Label: Interscope Have I Listened to This Album Before?: No Am I Familiar With This Artist/Songs from This Album?: Yes Would I Listen to this Album Again?: Favorite Tracks:
None
Thoughts: I hate this album. But Slim Shady doesn’t give a fuck what I think. So there.
Artist: Led Zeppelin Album: Physical Graffiti Year: 1975 Label: Swan Song Have I Listened to This Album Before?: Yes Am I Familiar With This Artist/Songs from This Album?: Yes Would I Listen to this Album Again?: Yes Favorite Tracks:
“In My Time of Dying”
“Houses of the Holy”
“Kashmir”
“Down By the Seaside”
“Boogie with Stu”
“Black Country Woman”
Thoughts: Although I haven’t listened to it in a long, long time, this remains my favorite Led Zeppelin album. The two discs have a lot of great blues rock tracks as well as some tunes that draw on English folk music. It holds up pretty well.
Artist: The Velvet Underground Album: The Velvet Underground Year: 1969 Label: MGM Have I Listened to This Album Before?: No Am I Familiar With This Artist/Songs from This Album?: Yes Would I Listen to this Album Again?: Yes Favorite Tracks:
“What Goes On”
“Pale Blue Eyes”
“Beginning To See The Light”
“The Murder Mystery”
“After Hours”
Thoughts: After all these years I’m still kind of surprised that The Velvet Underground can do melodic ballads. There’s a lot of great music on this album that sounds different from the great music on their other albums. There’s also “The Murder Mystery” an esoteric track with different songs being sung and poems recited simultaneously in a harmonic way. I don’t know if I’ve ever heard of anything like that before! I kind of wish Moe Tucker sang lead on more songs.
Artist: Bruce Springsteen Album: Born in the USA Year: 1984 Label: Columbia Have I Listened to This Album Before?: Yes Am I Familiar With This Artist/Songs from This Album?: Yes Would I Listen to this Album Again?: Yes Favorite Tracks:
“Born in the U.S.A”
“No Surrender”
“Glory Days”
“Dancing in the Dark”
“My Hometown”
Thoughts: This was my introduction to Bruce Springsteen as a child. My family had the tape but it also spawned 7 singles over a two year period, so it was inescapable. I remember being surprised I’d never heard of him before since everyone was calling him “The Boss,” but I guess I didn’t listen to album-oriented FM radio in my early days. Later, I learned that “Hungry Heart” was a Springsteen song, so I wasn’t entirely ignorant. Anyhow, I’m kind of amazed that this pure rock album with songs about everyday blue-collar Americans was such a big hit in the 80s, because the music and politics of the time were very different.
Artist: Pixies Album: Doolittle Year: 1989 Label: 4AD/Elektra Have I Listened to This Album Before?: Yes Am I Familiar With This Artist/Songs from This Album?: Yes Would I Listen to this Album Again?: Yes Favorite Tracks:
I started marking songs as my favorites and then realized that I just love all of them.
Thoughts: My older sister introduced me to a lot of good music over the years, and one album I got from her was Doolittle. In fact, she didn’t like it, so she let me keep it. I listened to it to death in my college years and beyond. It remains one of my favorite albums of all time.
Running List of Albums I’d Listen to Again
500. Arcade Fire, Funeral
498. Suicide, Suicide
497. Various Artists, The Indestructible Beat of Soweto
494. The Ronettes, Presenting the Fabulous Ronettes
489. A Christmas Gift for You from Phil Spector from Phil Spector and Various Artists, Back to Mono (1958-1969)
487. Black Flag, Damaged
485. Richard and Linda Thompson, I Want to See the Bright Lights Tonight
483. Muddy Waters, The Anthology
482. The Pharcyde, Bizarre Ride II the Pharcyde
481. Belle and Sebastian, If You’re Feeling Sinister
478. The Kinks, Something Else by the Kinks
477. Howlin’ Wolf, Moanin’ in the Moonlight
469.Manu Chao, Clandestino
465. King Sunny Adé, The Best of the Classic Years
464. The Isley Brothers, 3 + 3
462. The Flying Burrito Brothers, The Gilded Palace of Sin
459. Kid Cudi, Man on the Moon: The End of the Day
457. Sinéad O’Connor, I Do Not Want What I Haven’t Got
456. Al Green, Greatest Hits
455. Bo Diddley, Bo Diddley/Go Bo Diddley
453. Nine Inch Nails, Pretty Hate Machine
452. Diana Ross and the Supremes, Anthology
451. Roberta Flack, First Take
448. Otis Redding, Dictionary of Soul
446. Alice Coltrane, Journey in Satchidanada
444. Fiona Apple, Extraordinary Machine
443. David Bowie, Scary Monsters
440. Loretta Lynn, Coal Miner’s Daughter
439. James Brown, Sex Machine
438. Blur, Parklife
437. Primal Scream, Screamadelica
435. Pet Shop Boys, Actually
433. LCD Soundsystem, Sound of Silver
431. Los Lobos, How Will the Wolf Survive?
430. Elvis Costello, My Aim Is True
429. The Four Tops, Reach Out
428. Hüsker Dü, New Day Rising
427. Al Green, Call Me
426. Lucinda Williams, Lucinda Williams
425. Paul Simon, Paul Simon
424. Beck, Odelay
423. Yo La Tengo, I Can Hear the Heart Beating As One
Album: Cavalcade Artist: black midi Release Date: 26 May 2021 Label: Rough Trade Favorite Tracks:
“John L”
“Hogwash and Balderdash”
“Ascending Forth”
Thoughts: black midi are an experimental rock band from the UK with hints of prog rock, jazz fusion, and just plain noise. Their music is not easy to describe but it’s defined by odd rhythms and unexpected chord changes. There’s a bouncy guitar and bass rhythm on many tracks that reminds me of Primus but nothing else does. It’s definitely something worth checking out if you’re looking for something different. Rating: ***
A year ago, Rolling Stone magazine released their most recent list of the 500 Greatest Albums of All Time, which includes a greater variety of artists and genres than previous lists. Looking through the list, there were many albums I’d never listened to before and a few I’d never even heard of. In fact, counting it up, I found that I’d only listened to 140 of the albums, although I’d heard songs from many more. So I’ve decided my project for 2021 is to listen to 10 albums each week and write up some thoughts about each one.
Artist: Pearl Jam Album: Ten Year: 1991 Label: Epic Have I Listened to This Album Before?: No Am I Familiar With This Artist/Songs from This Album?: Yes Would I Listen to this Album Again?: No Favorite Tracks:
“Alive”
“Jeremy”
Thoughts: Pearl Jam is one of those bands that I respect for their music than one I chose to listen to. So I can recognize this as a solid album even if it’s not one I’d seek out. In fact I feel a strange sort of nostalgia for this album as this music was dominant in my late teen years. I don’t think I’ve ever listened to Ten before but I recognize pretty much every track on it, a testament to Pearl Jam’s presence in the 1990s.
Artist: The Police Album: Synchronicity Year: 1983 Label: A&M Have I Listened to This Album Before?: Yes Am I Familiar With This Artist/Songs from This Album?: Yes Would I Listen to this Album Again?: No Favorite Tracks:
“Mother” (just because it’s weird and sung by Andy Summers)
“Synchronicity II”
Thoughts: There was a time in my younger days when I had all of The Police albums on cassette and Synchronicity was my least favorite despite it having the band’s biggest hits. I think it’s because their earlier works mixed punk, reggae, and power pop in an interesting way while this album sounds more like prog rock mixed with Sting’s jazz pretensions. Or it could just be that I’ve heard “Every Breath You Take” enough for one lifetime. Anyhow, if I were going to put an album by The Police on this list I’d go with Reggatta de Blanc.
Artist: Erykah Badu Album: Mama’s Gun Year: 2000 Label: Motown Have I Listened to This Album Before?: No Am I Familiar With This Artist/Songs from This Album?: No Would I Listen to this Album Again?: No Favorite Tracks:
“…& On”
“Cleva”
Thoughts: Badu’s soulful work is a bit too slow-tempo for my tastes but it is definitely filled with emotion and lived experience.
Artist: Oasis Album: (What’s the Story) Morning Glory? Year: 1995 Label: Epic Have I Listened to This Album Before?: Yes Am I Familiar With This Artist/Songs from This Album?: Yes Would I Listen to this Album Again?: No Favorite Tracks:
“Wonderwall”
“Don’t Look Back in Anger”
“Champagne Supernova”
Thoughts: I had this album back in the 90s, listened to it for a while, and then grew tired of it and got rid of it (similar to Green Day’s Dookie). It was great to revisit this album. It definitely has some bangers and I caught myself trying to sing along while at the office. Overall, though, I would classify this album as good, but not great.
Artist: The Replacements Album: Let It Be Year: 1984 Label: Twin/Tone Have I Listened to This Album Before?: Yes Am I Familiar With This Artist/Songs from This Album?: Yes Would I Listen to this Album Again?: Yes Favorite Tracks:
“I Will Dare”
“Androgynous”
“Unsatisfied”
“Gary’s Got a Boner”
“Answering Machine”
Thoughts: This album is clearly The Replacements’ masterpiece, although I feel there should be more Replacements albums on this list.
Artist: Jay-Z Album: The Black Album Year: 2003 Label: Roc-A-Fella Have I Listened to This Album Before?: No Am I Familiar With This Artist/Songs from This Album?: No Would I Listen to this Album Again?: Yes Favorite Tracks:
“December 4th”
“Dirt Off Your Shoulder”
“Moment of Clarity”
“99 Problems”
Thoughts: I’m more familiar with Jay-Z’s music than I realized as his tracks have pretty much been in the ether of modern society since they’re release. Have people really been making “99 Problems” jokes for 17 years? Unlike a lot of the 21st-century hip hop albums on this list, Jay-Z raps aggressively rather than singing like his contemporaries, and it’s done over rock samples instead of slow jams. Thus it sounds old school and more palatable to my ears.
Artist: Aretha Franklin Album: Amazing Grace Year: 1972 Label: Atlantic Have I Listened to This Album Before?: No Am I Familiar With This Artist/Songs from This Album?: Yes Would I Listen to this Album Again?: Yes Favorite Tracks:
“Medley: Precious Lord, Take My Hand / You’ve Got a Friend”
“Climbing Higher Mountains”
“God Will Take Care of You”
Thoughts: This album captures Aretha Franklin returning to her gospel roots with a live performance at a church with the support of a choir. The church was the New Temple Missionary Baptist Church in Los Angeles and the accompaniment came from the Southern California Community Choir. Add to that the call & response and handclaps from the audience, er, congregation.
Artist: PJ Harvey Album: Rid of Me Year: 1993 Label: Island Have I Listened to This Album Before?: No Am I Familiar With This Artist/Songs from This Album?: No Would I Listen to this Album Again?: Favorite Tracks:
“Rid of Me”
“50ft Queenie”
“Dry”
Thoughts: Here’s another album I should be shamed for missing, considering that in 1993 I was in the target demographic: college student who liked alternative rock particularly The Breeders, Liz Phair, and other artists fairly similar to PJ Harvey.
Artist: Pretenders Album: Pretenders Year: 1980 Label: Sire Have I Listened to This Album Before?: No Am I Familiar With This Artist/Songs from This Album?: Yes Would I Listen to this Album Again?: No Favorite Tracks:
“Up the Neck”
Thoughts: The Pretenders are on my list of Bands Everyone Loves (Except Me), but I will give this album a fair shake. The advantage of this early album is that the band has more of a punk/new wave sound than their later pop hits. Also, “Stop Your Sobbing” is an obnoxious song, but so is the original version by The Kinks. I may be softening on The Pretenders but not enough to want to listen to it again anytime soon
Artist: George Michael Album: Faith Year: 1987 Label: Columbia Have I Listened to This Album Before?: Yes Am I Familiar With This Artist/Songs from This Album?: Yes Would I Listen to this Album Again?: No Favorite Tracks:
“I Want Your Sex”
“One More Try”
“Kissing a Fool”
Thoughts: My sister had this album so I’ve probably listened to it all the way through before. But even if I didn’t, pretty much every song was played repeatedly on the radio as this was the peak of George Michael’s imperial period. I remember “Faith” annoyed me, “Father Figure” creeped me out, and “I Want Your Sex” titillated. I also remember “Monkey” sounding very different. I think a dance remix ended up as a big hit.
Holy Cow! There are only 150 albums left to go!
Running List of Albums I’d Listen to Again
500. Arcade Fire, Funeral
498. Suicide, Suicide
497. Various Artists, The Indestructible Beat of Soweto
494. The Ronettes, Presenting the Fabulous Ronettes
489. A Christmas Gift for You from Phil Spector from Phil Spector and Various Artists, Back to Mono (1958-1969)
487. Black Flag, Damaged
485. Richard and Linda Thompson, I Want to See the Bright Lights Tonight
483. Muddy Waters, The Anthology
482. The Pharcyde, Bizarre Ride II the Pharcyde
481. Belle and Sebastian, If You’re Feeling Sinister
478. The Kinks, Something Else by the Kinks
477. Howlin’ Wolf, Moanin’ in the Moonlight
469.Manu Chao, Clandestino
465. King Sunny Adé, The Best of the Classic Years
464. The Isley Brothers, 3 + 3
462. The Flying Burrito Brothers, The Gilded Palace of Sin
459. Kid Cudi, Man on the Moon: The End of the Day
457. Sinéad O’Connor, I Do Not Want What I Haven’t Got
456. Al Green, Greatest Hits
455. Bo Diddley, Bo Diddley/Go Bo Diddley
453. Nine Inch Nails, Pretty Hate Machine
452. Diana Ross and the Supremes, Anthology
451. Roberta Flack, First Take
448. Otis Redding, Dictionary of Soul
446. Alice Coltrane, Journey in Satchidanada
444. Fiona Apple, Extraordinary Machine
443. David Bowie, Scary Monsters
440. Loretta Lynn, Coal Miner’s Daughter
439. James Brown, Sex Machine
438. Blur, Parklife
437. Primal Scream, Screamadelica
435. Pet Shop Boys, Actually
433. LCD Soundsystem, Sound of Silver
431. Los Lobos, How Will the Wolf Survive?
430. Elvis Costello, My Aim Is True
429. The Four Tops, Reach Out
428. Hüsker Dü, New Day Rising
427. Al Green, Call Me
426. Lucinda Williams, Lucinda Williams
425. Paul Simon, Paul Simon
424. Beck, Odelay
423. Yo La Tengo, I Can Hear the Heart Beating As One
A year ago, Rolling Stone magazine released their most recent list of the 500 Greatest Albums of All Time, which includes a greater variety of artists and genres than previous lists. Looking through the list, there were many albums I’d never listened to before and a few I’d never even heard of. In fact, counting it up, I found that I’d only listened to 140 of the albums, although I’d heard songs from many more. So I’ve decided my project for 2021 is to listen to 10 albums each week and write up some thoughts about each one.
Artist: Cream Album: Disraeli Gears Year: 1967 Label: Reaction Have I Listened to This Album Before?: Yes Am I Familiar With This Artist/Songs from This Album?: Yes Would I Listen to this Album Again?: Yes Favorite Tracks:
“Sunshine of Your Love”
“Tales of Brave Ulysses”
Thoughts: Disraeli Gears is always hailed as the big album for Cream, but I much prefer the more straightforward blues approach of their debut Fresh Cream, as well as songs from later in their career like “Badge,” “Crossroads,” “Anyone for Tennis,” and “I’m So Glad.” But none of that makes the RS 500 list, so I’ll have to admit that “Sunshine of Your Love” and “Tales of Brave Ulysses” are great, if overplayed, tunes.
Artist: Billy Joel Album: The Stranger Year: 1977 Label: Columbia Have I Listened to This Album Before?: Yes Am I Familiar With This Artist/Songs from This Album?: Yes Would I Listen to this Album Again?: Yes Favorite Tracks:
“Movin’ Out (Anthony’s Song)”
“Just the Way You Are”
“Scenes from an Italian Restaurant”
“Only the Good Die Young”
Thoughts: The very first album I owned (co-owned with my sister) was Billy Joel’s Glass Houses, which sadly does not make this chart. But early in my Billy Joel fandom I came to the realization that The Stranger is undoubtedly the peak album of his career. Anyhow, I know it’s fashionable to hate Billy Joel, but I’m glad that Rolling Stone acknowledged his place in rock/pop history.
Artist: Steely Dan Album: Can’t Buy A Thrill Year: 1972 Label: ABC Have I Listened to This Album Before?: No Am I Familiar With This Artist/Songs from This Album?: Yes Would I Listen to this Album Again?: No Favorite Tracks: none
Thoughts: Despite finding guilty pleasure for “Yacht Rock,” I draw the line at Steely Dan, who I have never, ever liked. This album turns out to have a number of classic rock radio staples that I didn’t know were by Steely Dan. I still don’t like them. I do wonder though, since Billy Joel is someone whose style of music doesn’t fit in with what I typically like, what would’ve happened if I’d been given a Steely Dan record as a child?
Artist: Depeche Mode Album: Violator Year: 1990 Label: Sire Have I Listened to This Album Before?: Yes Am I Familiar With This Artist/Songs from This Album?: Yes Would I Listen to this Album Again?: Yes Favorite Tracks:
“World in My Eyes”
“Personal Jesus”
“Enjoy the Silence”
“Policy of Truth”
Thoughts: Before Nirvana spearheaded the breakthrough of grunge, electronic music/synthpop bands from the U.K. were the dominant force in “alternative music.” Violator was basically a soundtrack to my high school years (as was Erasure’s The Innocents which Rolling Stone has somehow, uh, erased from the greatest albums list).
Artist: Buddy Holly Album: 20 Golden Greats Year: 1978 Label: MCA Have I Listened to This Album Before?: No Am I Familiar With This Artist/Songs from This Album?: Yes Would I Listen to this Album Again?: Yes Favorite Tracks:
“That’ll Be The Day”
“Words of Love”
“Everyday”
“Not Fade Away”
“Oh Boy!”
“Maybe Baby”
“Rave On”
Thoughts: Buddy Holly was one of the great rock & roll pioneers and his tragic death occurred before LP records became an artistic goal of R&R artists, so I’ll excuse the compilation in this case. Every song on this album is truly a “great” and there’s a stunning number of songs that later great rock artists made their own.
Artist: R.E.M. Album: Murmur Year: 1983 Label: I.R.S. Have I Listened to This Album Before?: Yes Am I Familiar With This Artist/Songs from This Album?: Yes Would I Listen to this Album Again?: Yes Favorite Tracks:
“Radio Free Europe”
“Pilgrimage”
“Talk About the Passion”
“Moral Kiosk”
“Sitting Still”
“We Walk”
Thoughts: There are surprisingly few R.E.M. albums on this list apart from Murmur, their brilliant debut album, and a later album I’ve never liked. I could make the case for Life’s Rich Pageant, Document, and Green all being on the list, but alas, I’m not a RS500 voter. At any rate, I can’t imagine what it was like for listeners trying make sense of Murmur in 1983. It’s too melodic for punk, too folk for New Wave, and too cryptic for pop. Despite not being of its time, the songs on Murmur have a timeless quality.
Artist: Johnny Cash Album: At Folsom Prison Year: 1968 Label: Columbia Have I Listened to This Album Before?: Yes Am I Familiar With This Artist/Songs from This Album?: Yes Would I Listen to this Album Again?: Yes Favorite Tracks:
“Folsom Prison Blues”
“I Still Miss Someone”
“25 Minutes To Go”
“The Long Black Veil”
“Flushed From the Bathroom of Your Heart”
“Jackson”
“Greeen, Green Grass of Home”
Thoughts: Johnny Cash took seriously the teaching of Jesus Christ to visit the prisoner. This album recorded in a prison contains songs about prison, by prisoners, and most importantly, to entertain prisoners. The enthusiastic response of the audience of imprisoned men complements the perfect performances of these songs by Cash along with June Carter, Carl Perkins, and the Tennessee Three. You can feel the disappointment when the prisoners are dismissed at the end.
Artist: Various Artists Album: Saturday Night Fever Year: 1977 Label: RSO Have I Listened to This Album Before?: No Am I Familiar With This Artist/Songs from This Album?: Yes Would I Listen to this Album Again?: Just the good songs Favorite Tracks:
“Stayin’ Alive” – The Bee Gees
“How Deep Is Your Love?” – The Bee Gees
“Night Fever” – The Bee Gees
“If I Can’t Have You” – Yvonne Elliman
“You Should Be Dancing” – The Bee Gees
“Disco Inferno” – The Trammps
Thoughts: Disco does not suck. The Bee Gees had an imperial period in the 1970s by basically appropriating Black and Latin American dance music. This album contains many of the Bee Gees greatest disco hits. But I also appreciated that other disco artists like Yvonne Elliman (singing a song penned by the Gibb Brothers) and The Trammps are represented. I’m less impressed by the ponderous instrumental tracks especially the silly tracks like “A Fifth of Beethoven” and “Night on Disco Mountain” which contributed to disco’s bad reputation.
Artist: Pulp Album: Different Class Year: 1995 Label: Island Have I Listened to This Album Before?: No Am I Familiar With This Artist/Songs from This Album?: No Would I Listen to this Album Again?: Yes Favorite Tracks:
“Mis-Shapes”
“Common People”
“Sorted for E’s & Wizz”
Thoughts: Pulp is another band I missed out on by being oblivious to the whole Britpop phenomenon. Although that’s not entirely true, because I always liked “Mile End” from the Trainspotting soundtrack and I sort of recognize “Common People” from this album (Actually, I recognize it because of a cover by William Shatner, of all people!). Anyhow it’s a pretty good album to discover 25 years too late.
Artist: Crosby, Stills & Nash Album: Crosby, Stills & Nash Year: 1969 Label: Atlantic Have I Listened to This Album Before?: Yes Am I Familiar With This Artist/Songs from This Album?: Yes Would I Listen to this Album Again?: Yes Favorite Tracks:
“Suite: Judy Blue Eyes”
“Guinnevere”
“You Don’t Have to Cry”
“Pre-Road Downs”
“Long Time Gone”
“49 Bye-Byes”
Thoughts: Crosby, Stills & Nash introduced the supergroup and soon pioneered arena rock as well. This was followed by group in-fighting and a severe decline in musical quality. But their debut album displays their absolute peak songwriting and gorgeous harmonies.
Running List of Albums I’d Listen to Again
500. Arcade Fire, Funeral
498. Suicide, Suicide
497. Various Artists, The Indestructible Beat of Soweto
494. The Ronettes, Presenting the Fabulous Ronettes
489. A Christmas Gift for You from Phil Spector from Phil Spector and Various Artists, Back to Mono (1958-1969)
487. Black Flag, Damaged
485. Richard and Linda Thompson, I Want to See the Bright Lights Tonight
483. Muddy Waters, The Anthology
482. The Pharcyde, Bizarre Ride II the Pharcyde
481. Belle and Sebastian, If You’re Feeling Sinister
478. The Kinks, Something Else by the Kinks
477. Howlin’ Wolf, Moanin’ in the Moonlight
469.Manu Chao, Clandestino
465. King Sunny Adé, The Best of the Classic Years
464. The Isley Brothers, 3 + 3
462. The Flying Burrito Brothers, The Gilded Palace of Sin
459. Kid Cudi, Man on the Moon: The End of the Day
457. Sinéad O’Connor, I Do Not Want What I Haven’t Got
456. Al Green, Greatest Hits
455. Bo Diddley, Bo Diddley/Go Bo Diddley
453. Nine Inch Nails, Pretty Hate Machine
452. Diana Ross and the Supremes, Anthology
451. Roberta Flack, First Take
448. Otis Redding, Dictionary of Soul
446. Alice Coltrane, Journey in Satchidanada
444. Fiona Apple, Extraordinary Machine
443. David Bowie, Scary Monsters
440. Loretta Lynn, Coal Miner’s Daughter
439. James Brown, Sex Machine
438. Blur, Parklife
437. Primal Scream, Screamadelica
435. Pet Shop Boys, Actually
433. LCD Soundsystem, Sound of Silver
431. Los Lobos, How Will the Wolf Survive?
430. Elvis Costello, My Aim Is True
429. The Four Tops, Reach Out
428. Hüsker Dü, New Day Rising
427. Al Green, Call Me
426. Lucinda Williams, Lucinda Williams
425. Paul Simon, Paul Simon
424. Beck, Odelay
423. Yo La Tengo, I Can Hear the Heart Beating As One
Album: Get Up Sequences Part One Artist: The Go! Team Release Date: July 2, 2021 Label: Memphis Industries Favorite Tracks:
“Let the Seasons Work”
“Cookie Scene”
“Tame the Great Plains”
“World Remember Me Now”
Thoughts: The Go! Team haven’t been as good as they used to be for a while. Or perhaps, the remarkable sameness of their music is an indication that they are as good as they used to be, they just haven’t changed while the listeners have. Anyhow, The Go! Team is always fun to listen to as they cobble together from various sources, the weirder the better. I think I like this album better overall than its predecessor SEMICIRCLE. Rating: ***
Last September, Rolling Stone magazine released their most recent list of the 500 Greatest Albums of All Time, which includes a greater variety of artists and genres than previous lists. Looking through the list, there were many albums I’d never listened to before and a few I’d never even heard of. In fact, counting it up, I found that I’d only listened to 140 of the albums, although I’d heard songs from many more. So I’ve decided my project for 2021 is to listen to 10 albums each week and write up some thoughts about each one.
Artist: Love Album: Forever Changes Year: 1967 Label: Elektra Have I Listened to This Album Before?: No Am I Familiar With This Artist/Songs from This Album?: No Would I Listen to this Album Again?: No Favorite Tracks:
“Alone Again Or”
Thoughts: This is one of those bands I thought I knew absolutely nothing about. But the opening track – “Alone Again Or” – seems extremely familiar. According to Wikipedia, it was used in a key scene in the tv series Russian Doll, but I expect I’ve heard it elsewhere. It oddly sounds like something by an indie band from 20 years ago than from 1967. Other tracks on the album have that baroque pop and psychedelic feel more common to the era. In fact, the album could be the cast recording of a late 60s Broadway musical from an alternate universe.
Artist: Notorious B.I.G Album: Life After Death Year: 1997 Label: Bad Boy Have I Listened to This Album Before?: No Am I Familiar With This Artist/Songs from This Album?: Yes Would I Listen to this Album Again?: No Favorite Tracks:
“Hypnotize”
“Ten Crack Commandments”
Thoughts: In 2004, I visited England with my friend Anthony. On our last night in London, we decided to just board the next bus that came by and see where it went. On the upper deck, a group of young men were blasting music from a boom box. A group of young women sat in the front row dancing in front of the window. Anthony, being the more talkative of the two of us, struck up a conversation with the double-decker DJs. When they learned that we were American they insisted on playing Biggie Smalls in our honor. No matter our country’s flaws, I always appreciate that American music is loved around the world. Granted my experience as an American is very different from that of Christopher Wallace. The album captures a world where worldly possessions and pleasures must be enjoyed while you can and where rap beefs turn deadly. The guests artists on this album are also an all-star team of 90s hip hop.
Artist: Otis Redding Album: Otis Blue Year: 1965 Label: Volt Have I Listened to This Album Before?: Yes Am I Familiar With This Artist/Songs from This Album?: Yes Would I Listen to this Album Again?: Yes Favorite Tracks:
“Ole Man Trouble”
“Respect”
“A Change Is Gonna Come”
“I’ve Been Loving You Too Long (To Stop Now)”
“Shake”
“Rock Me Baby”
“(I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction”
“You Don’t Miss Your Water”
Thoughts: Otis Blue has so many great songs on it that it could be mistaken for a greatest hits collection. Otis Redding originals like “Respect” (later to become Aretha Franklin’s signature tune) and “I’ve Been Loving You Too Long” are mixed with covers of “A Change Is Gonna Come” and two other Sam Cooke songs, The Temptations’ “My Girl,” and a version of “Satisfaction” that Keith Richards found to be an improvement on his own. Through Otis Redding’s skills as an interpreter of songs, Otis Blue is basically a compendium of mid-60s soul music.
Artist: Rod Stewart Album: Every Picture Tells a Story Year: 1971 Label: Mercury Have I Listened to This Album Before?: No Am I Familiar With This Artist/Songs from This Album?: Yes Would I Listen to this Album Again?: Yes Favorite Tracks:
“Every Picture Tells a Story”
“Tomorrow is a Long Time”
“(I Know) I’m Losing You”
Thoughts: When I was a kid, one of the signs of summer was a new hit song from Rod Stewart. From the late 70s to mid-80s, Stewart followed the trends from disco to New Wave to overproduced r&b, and those songs always seemed to be playing on the radio as we drove to the pool or the amusement park. Anyhow, this album is from much earlier in Stewart’s career and contain the type of songs that I didn’t hear until listening to classic rock radio in the late 80s. Ever the chameleon, the early version of Stewart performs bluesy roots rock. Having never been all too impressed by Rod Stewart, I’m surprised that I like this album a lot more than I expected.
Artist: Public Enemy Album: Fear of a Black Planet Year: 1990 Label: Def Jam/Columbia Have I Listened to This Album Before?: Yes Am I Familiar With This Artist/Songs from This Album?: Yes Would I Listen to this Album Again?: Yes Favorite Tracks:
“Brothers Gonna Work It Out”
“911 Is A Joke”
“Welcome To The Terrordome”
“Fear Of A Black Planet”
“Revolutionary Generation”
“Fight the Power”
Thoughts: I received a copy of this tape for Christmas in 1990. In the summer of that year I first heard and been awed by the “wall of sound” behind “Welcome to the Terrordome” which I still think of one of the greatest works of production and rap performance. Then there’s “911 Is A Joke” which anticipated a widespread Defund the Police movement by only a few decades. The album closes with the ultimate anthem, “Fight the Power,” from the 1989’s Do the Right Thing.
Note: while I typically try to share a song from the album, this remake of “Welcome to the Terrordome” accompanied by electric guitars is too awesome not to post.
Artist: Kendrick Lamar Album: DAMN Year: 2017 Label: TDE Have I Listened to This Album Before?: No Am I Familiar With This Artist/Songs from This Album?: No Would I Listen to this Album Again?: I feel I ought to, even though I didn’t love it Favorite Tracks:
“DNA.”
“LOVE.”
“XXX.”
Thoughts: You will no doubt not be surprised that like most hip hop artists from the last 30 years, I have not listened to Kendrick Lamar before. I liked the concept behind this album where Lamar reflects on his desires to do good and bad, his relationship with God, his success, sex, and his fears all in the shadow of Trump’s election to President. The single word titles work well as jumping off points. And the tracks have some great beats!
Artist: Jimmy Cliff and Various Artists Album: The Harder They Come: Original Soundtrack Year: 1972 Label: Mango Have I Listened to This Album Before?: No Am I Familiar With This Artist/Songs from This Album?: Yes Would I Listen to this Album Again?: Yes Favorite Tracks:
“You Can Get It If You Really Want” – Jimmy Cliff
“Rivers of Babylon” – The Melodians
“The Harder They Come” – Jimmy Cliff
“007 (Shanty Town)” – Desmond Dekker
“Pressure Drop” – Toots & the Maytals
“Sitting in Limbo” – Jimmy Cliff
Thoughts: Was there really a time when reggae was unknown in the United States? I guess this soundtrack album made it hard to ignore. While I’d never before listened to this album end to end, the songs it contains are so iconic that I’d heard them all many times before. Half of the tracks are some of the best work of Jimmy Cliff while “various artists” including the legendary Toots and the Maytals and Desmond Dekker fill out the rest of the album.
Artist: Nirvana Album: In Utero Year: 1993 Label: Geffen Have I Listened to This Album Before?: Yes Am I Familiar With This Artist/Songs from This Album?: Yes Would I Listen to this Album Again?: Yes Favorite Tracks:
“Heart-Shaped Box”
“Rape Me”
“Dumb”
“Pennyroyal Tea”
“All Apologies”
Thoughts: I never disliked Nirvana but I also wasn’t a big fan during the band’s short but brilliant career, despite the fact that it coincided with my college years. Still, listening to this music now it’s hard not to hear the soundtrack of my generation. And yet these songs also have a timeless quality to them, not unlike a lot of the Beatles’ best work. Over the years I’ve grown to appreciate Kurt Cobain and Nirvana a lot more than I did at the time.
Artist: Simon and Garfunkel Album: Bridge Over Troubled Water Year: 1970 Label: Columbia Have I Listened to This Album Before?: Yes Am I Familiar With This Artist/Songs from This Album?: Yes Would I Listen to this Album Again?: Yes Favorite Tracks:
“Bridge Over Troubled Water”
“Cecelia”
“The Boxer”
“The Only Living Boy in New York”
Thoughts: Simon & Garfunkel went out with a bang, their final studio album packed with hits. This includes the title track which has become something of a standard of popular music. There’s quite a variety of styles on this album too, with “El Condor Pasa” and “Cecelia” showing the beginnings of Paul Simon’s “World Beat” fusion. Then there is “The Only Living Boy in New York” which is among my favorite songs of all time.
Artist: Sonic Youth Album: Daydream Nation Year: 1988 Label: Enigma Have I Listened to This Album Before?: No Am I Familiar With This Artist/Songs from This Album?: No Would I Listen to this Album Again?: Yes Favorite Tracks:
“Teen Age Riot”
“Total Trash”
“Providence”
“Candle”
“Kissability”
Thoughts: Sonic Youth is a band that was discussed among the DJs at my college radio station and the other cool kids, but they’re yet another band that I didn’t get around to listening to at the time. It’s a shame because this is music that I’d like to have memories of instead of coming to it later in life.
Running List of Albums I’d Listen to Again
500. Arcade Fire, Funeral
498. Suicide, Suicide
497. Various Artists, The Indestructible Beat of Soweto
494. The Ronettes, Presenting the Fabulous Ronettes
489. A Christmas Gift for You from Phil Spector from Phil Spector and Various Artists, Back to Mono (1958-1969)
487. Black Flag, Damaged
485. Richard and Linda Thompson, I Want to See the Bright Lights Tonight
483. Muddy Waters, The Anthology
482. The Pharcyde, Bizarre Ride II the Pharcyde
481. Belle and Sebastian, If You’re Feeling Sinister
478. The Kinks, Something Else by the Kinks
477. Howlin’ Wolf, Moanin’ in the Moonlight
469.Manu Chao, Clandestino
465. King Sunny Adé, The Best of the Classic Years
464. The Isley Brothers, 3 + 3
462. The Flying Burrito Brothers, The Gilded Palace of Sin
459. Kid Cudi, Man on the Moon: The End of the Day
457. Sinéad O’Connor, I Do Not Want What I Haven’t Got
456. Al Green, Greatest Hits
455. Bo Diddley, Bo Diddley/Go Bo Diddley
453. Nine Inch Nails, Pretty Hate Machine
452. Diana Ross and the Supremes, Anthology
451. Roberta Flack, First Take
448. Otis Redding, Dictionary of Soul
446. Alice Coltrane, Journey in Satchidanada
444. Fiona Apple, Extraordinary Machine
443. David Bowie, Scary Monsters
440. Loretta Lynn, Coal Miner’s Daughter
439. James Brown, Sex Machine
438. Blur, Parklife
437. Primal Scream, Screamadelica
435. Pet Shop Boys, Actually
433. LCD Soundsystem, Sound of Silver
431. Los Lobos, How Will the Wolf Survive?
430. Elvis Costello, My Aim Is True
429. The Four Tops, Reach Out
428. Hüsker Dü, New Day Rising
427. Al Green, Call Me
426. Lucinda Williams, Lucinda Williams
425. Paul Simon, Paul Simon
424. Beck, Odelay
423. Yo La Tengo, I Can Hear the Heart Beating As One
Album: They’re Calling Me Home Artist: Rhiannon Giddens with Francesco Turrisi Release Date: April 9, 2021 Label: Nonesuch Records Favorite Tracks:
“Calling Me Home”
“Avalon”
“I Shall Not Be Moved”
“Bully For You”
“Amazing Grace”
Thoughts: Rhiannon Giddens, an innovative interpreter of various types of American traditional music is once again joined by Italian instrumentalist Francesco Turrisi. They both live in Ireland now and recorded this collection as a response to the COVID pandemic. The traditional songs are thematically joined by theme of home as a place one longs for as well as the theme of death as the ultimate home for all of us. Giddens voice is gorgeous on these songs and the instrumentation and arrangements are simple but still remarkable. Rating: ****1/2
Last September, Rolling Stone magazine released their most recent list of the 500 Greatest Albums of All Time, which includes a greater variety of artists and genres than previous lists. Looking through the list, there were many albums I’d never listened to before and a few I’d never even heard of. In fact, counting it up, I found that I’d only listened to 140 of the albums, although I’d heard songs from many more. So I’ve decided my project for 2021 is to listen to 10 albums each week and write up some thoughts about each one.
Artist: The Who Album: Tommy Year: 1969 Label: Decca Have I Listened to This Album Before?: Maybe Am I Familiar With This Artist/Songs from This Album?: Yes Would I Listen to this Album Again?: Yes Favorite Tracks:
“Sparks”
“Christmas”
“Pinball Wizard”
“Go to the Mirror!”
“We’re Not Gonna Take It”
Thoughts: I’ve always had trouble getting into The Who, which I feel bad about because I can tell that they’re a good band. Long, long ago I read Pete Townshend’s description of the rock opera, and I thought it sounded silly. Well, finally listening to the whole thing I’ve grown to appreciate the storytelling and the variety of musical styles that accompaniment. I may be on the way to becoming a Who fan after all.
Artist: Sleater-Kinney Album: Dig Me Out Year: 1997 Label: Kill Rock Stars Have I Listened to This Album Before?: Yes Am I Familiar With This Artist/Songs from This Album?: Yes Would I Listen to this Album Again?: Yes Favorite Tracks:
“Dig Me Out”
“Words and Guitar”
“Little Babies”
“Buy Her Candy”
Thoughts: One of the great alternative rock albums of the 1990s and it only sounds better over time.
Artist: T. Rex Album: Electric Warrior Year: 1971 Label: Reprise Have I Listened to This Album Before?: No Am I Familiar With This Artist/Songs from This Album?: Yes Would I Listen to this Album Again?: Favorite Tracks:
“Monolith”
“Bang A Gong (Get It On)”
Thoughts: Confession: I love “Bang A Gong (Get It On).” By the 1980s supergroup The Power Station. But the original version is good too.
Artist: Ice Cube Album: AmeriKKKa’s Most Wanted Year: 1990 Label: Priority Have I Listened to This Album Before?: No Am I Familiar With This Artist/Songs from This Album?: No Would I Listen to this Album Again?: No Favorite Tracks:
“AmeriKKKa’s Most Wanted”
“Endangered Species (Tales from the Darkside)” (featuring Chuck D)
Thoughts: The misogynist lyrics on this album are hard to get past, but Ice Cube’s flow and the expert production of The Bomb Squad make this album great to listen to. It’s definitely a transition album from the Old School rap of the 80s to the Gangsta Rap of the 90s filtered through the socially-conscious rap of Public Enemy.
Artist: Red Hot Chili Peppers Album: Blood Sugar Sex Magik Year: 1991 Label: Warner Bros. Have I Listened to This Album Before?: No Am I Familiar With This Artist/Songs from This Album?: Yes Would I Listen to this Album Again?: No Favorite Tracks:
“Under the Bridge”
“Naked in the Rain”
Thoughts: I’ve never had strong feelings for the Chili Peppers. I like some of their early stuff and I always liked Flea’s bass playing. This album seems to mark their transition into a band that’s just kind of boring. The 17 tracks on this bloated album certainly emphasize the sameness of their music. I remember liking “Under the Bridge” for a while before overexposure killed it for me.
Artist: The Rolling Stones Album: Beggars Banquet Year: 1968 Label: Decca Have I Listened to This Album Before?: Yes Am I Familiar With This Artist/Songs from This Album?: Yes Would I Listen to this Album Again?: Yes Favorite Tracks:
“Sympathy for the Devil”
“No Expectations”
“Parachute Woman”
“Street Fighting Man”
“Prodigal Son”
“Factory Girl”
“Salt of the Earth”
Thoughts: This is probably my favorite Rolling Stones album. The band is doing what they do best, recreating Blues Rock and incorporating other Americana. I know some of the Stones ended up getting houses in the United States, but I’m not sure how much time they’d spent America before they made this album. Nevertheless they seemed to have a greater appreciation for American roots music than a lot of Americans at the time. This is also the Stones at their most political, with songs like “Street Fighting Man” and “Salt of the Earth.”
Artist: Cyndi Lauper Album: She’s So Unusual Year: 1983 Label: Portrait Have I Listened to This Album Before?: I think so, my sister had the album. Am I Familiar With This Artist/Songs from This Album?: Yes Would I Listen to this Album Again?: Yes Favorite Tracks:
“Girls Just Want to Have Fun”
“When You Were Mine”
“Time After Time”
“She Bop”
“Yeah Yeah”
Thoughts: I did not appreciate Cyndi Lauper enough when she her debut album came out, but I’m glad to revisit this gem from my childhood. I’m actually impressed at how many of these songs were released as singles. Doubly impressed that Lauper was able to get a masturbation anthem played on the radio in Reagan’s America.
Artist: D’Angelo Album: Brown Sugar Year: 1995 Label: EMI Have I Listened to This Album Before?: Am I Familiar With This Artist/Songs from This Album?: Would I Listen to this Album Again?: Favorite Tracks: None
Thoughts: I hadn’t heard of D’Angelo before another one of his albums appeared earlier in this chart. Now that we’ve reached the appearance of his debut album on the RS 500, I know that I’ve been ignorant of D’Angelo for 26 years. This is probably because this type of music is Not My Thing, but I’m sure it’s great for those who like it. As an aside, there’s a recurring riff in some of these songs that makes me think of the McDonald’s jingle.
Artist: James Taylor Album: Sweet Baby James Year: 1970 Label: Warner Bros. Have I Listened to This Album Before?: No Am I Familiar With This Artist/Songs from This Album?: Yes Would I Listen to this Album Again?: No Favorite Tracks:
“Sweet Baby James”
“Fire and Rain”
Thoughts: I’ve always had mixed feelings for James Taylor. On the one hand, he’s an exemplar of the soft rock sound I don’t like. On the other hand he’s written some incredibly beautiful tunes with moving lyrics. This album is fine, but I think I’ll stick with his greatest hits.
Artist: Bob Dylan Album: Bringing It All Back Home Year: 1965 Label: Columbia Have I Listened to This Album Before?: No Am I Familiar With This Artist/Songs from This Album?: Yes Would I Listen to this Album Again?: Yes Favorite Tracks:
“Subterranean Homesick Blues”
“Maggie’s Farm”
“On the Road Again”
“Mr. Tambourine Man”
“It’s Alright, Ma (I’m Only Bleeding)”
Thoughts: Dylan goes electric with the backing of a rock & roll band on the first side of this album (although there are some supposedly electric tracks where I don’t hear electric guitars). This is almost a greatest hits album for Dylan since it contains songs I love in their cover versions like “Maggie’s Farm” and “Mr. Tambourine Man” (by The Specials and The Byrds respectively) and some of the best songs performed by Bob himself, “Subterranean Homesick Blues” and “It’s Alright, Ma (I’m Only Bleeding).”
Running List of Albums I’d Listen to Again
500. Arcade Fire, Funeral
498. Suicide, Suicide
497. Various Artists, The Indestructible Beat of Soweto
494. The Ronettes, Presenting the Fabulous Ronettes
489. A Christmas Gift for You from Phil Spector from Phil Spector and Various Artists, Back to Mono (1958-1969)
487. Black Flag, Damaged
485. Richard and Linda Thompson, I Want to See the Bright Lights Tonight
483. Muddy Waters, The Anthology
482. The Pharcyde, Bizarre Ride II the Pharcyde
481. Belle and Sebastian, If You’re Feeling Sinister
478. The Kinks, Something Else by the Kinks
477. Howlin’ Wolf, Moanin’ in the Moonlight
469.Manu Chao, Clandestino
465. King Sunny Adé, The Best of the Classic Years
464. The Isley Brothers, 3 + 3
462. The Flying Burrito Brothers, The Gilded Palace of Sin
459. Kid Cudi, Man on the Moon: The End of the Day
457. Sinéad O’Connor, I Do Not Want What I Haven’t Got
456. Al Green, Greatest Hits
455. Bo Diddley, Bo Diddley/Go Bo Diddley
453. Nine Inch Nails, Pretty Hate Machine
452. Diana Ross and the Supremes, Anthology
451. Roberta Flack, First Take
448. Otis Redding, Dictionary of Soul
446. Alice Coltrane, Journey in Satchidanada
444. Fiona Apple, Extraordinary Machine
443. David Bowie, Scary Monsters
440. Loretta Lynn, Coal Miner’s Daughter
439. James Brown, Sex Machine
438. Blur, Parklife
437. Primal Scream, Screamadelica
435. Pet Shop Boys, Actually
433. LCD Soundsystem, Sound of Silver
431. Los Lobos, How Will the Wolf Survive?
430. Elvis Costello, My Aim Is True
429. The Four Tops, Reach Out
428. Hüsker Dü, New Day Rising
427. Al Green, Call Me
426. Lucinda Williams, Lucinda Williams
425. Paul Simon, Paul Simon
424. Beck, Odelay
423. Yo La Tengo, I Can Hear the Heart Beating As One
