Album: Twin Plagues Artist: Wednesday Release Date: August 13, 2021 Label: Orindal Records Favorite Tracks:
“They Burned Down Dairy Queen”
“How Can You Live If You Can’t Love How Can You If You Do”
“Gary’s”
“Ghost of a Dog”
Thoughts” The Asheville, North Carolina quintet has a 90s sound without feeling retro. Vocalist Karly Hartzman sings introspective lyrics with a bit of a twang over crunching guitars. It’s kind of like The Nields crossed with My Bloody Valentine. All the tracks are lo-tempo, but there’s enough variation in the music and emotion in the vocals that it never gets tedious. Rating: ***
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
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: 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: ***
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
Album: Afrique Victime Artist: Mdou Moctar Release Date: May 21, 2021 Label: Matador Records Favorite Tracks:
“Chismiten”
“Tala Tannam”
“Asdikte Akal”
“Afrique Victime”
Thoughts: Mdou Moctar is a guitarist, vocalist, and songwriter from Niger who is one of the Tuareg people, a semi-nomadic Muslim group of the Sahara region. His musical style is called assouf or “desert blues,” popularized by artists like Ali Farka Touré and Tinariwen. Moctar and other assouf artists take influence from the guitar playing style of Jimi Hendrix, although the musical structure deviates wildly from the Western pop system of verse-chorus-bridge. A lot of reviewers describe the music as psychedelic although I’d say it’s more improvisational and more of a hypnotic reverie than a drug trip. The songs are sung in the Tamasheq language, but I’ve read that they deal with the horrors of French colonialism and the ongoing exploitation of Africa by the West, as well as songs of love and resilience. Listening to this album was an “ear-opening” experience.
Formerly known as A Tribe Called Red, The Halluci Nation are a duo of Tim “2oolman” Hill and Ehren “Bear Witness” Thomas, First Nations artists who mix electronic sounds with traditional indigenous musical styles. They originated their sound at Electric Pow Wow club nights in Ottawa and have continued to wow me with their albums and singles over the years. On this latest release they are joined by many guest artists and venture into different styles like hip hop, dubstep, and R&B, although the electric pow wow remains at the base of it all.
Album: Welcome 2 America Artist: Prince Release Date: July 30, 2021 Label: NPG Favorite Tracks:
“Welcome 2 America”
“Stand Up And B Strong”
“When She Comes”
“One Day We Will All B Free”
Thoughts: Recorded in 2010, this is the first posthumous album of previously-unreleased songs by Prince. Backed by by bassist Tal Wilkenfeld and drummer Chris Coleman, the album contains funky tracks reminiscent of P-Funk as well as earlier Prince music. Lyrically, the songs focus on topical issues of 2010, many of which feel relevant still in 2021. The problem is that as a protest song writer, Prince has no subtly. He observes a lot of America’s problems but really has nothing to say about those problems. With that being said, it’s a solid album by a great artist and his collaborators, even if it pales besides his best work. Rating: ***
Album: Jubilee Artist: Japanese Breakfast Release Date: June 4, 2021 Label: Dead Oceans Favorite Tracks:
“Paprika”
“Be Sweet”
“Savage Good Boy”
Thoughts:
Japanese Breakfast is an indie pop project lead by Michelle Zauner. The album is full of joyful pop sounds that hit right just now. I like the sonically dense musical arrangements and the interplay between lead and backup up vocals. The songs are also hooky as heck!
