Here's an unacceptably large update featuring 20 albums. some are the absolute worst things I've heard yet, and others are some of my long time, all time favourites. I guess that's what happens when you're lazy with your postings and let these gather up for while....
0121 United States of America – United States of America
This is hyped for being an early electronic album. Don't be fooled, this is annoying sixties shit at it's worst. Avoid.
0122 Dr John – Gris Gris
Most know Dr. John from his single hit "Such A Night". This album isn't like that at all. A Creepy, swampy blues is found here, and it's good.
0123 Iron Butterfly – In a Gadda da Vida
This band and this album is only known for the title track, which is 18 minutes long and took up all of side 2. This doesn't mean it's any good. Side one is mostly a dud, and 2 minutes of the main riff on the title track is about all you need to hear. If you want a long song that takes up a side of an record, listen to side four of "Blonde On Blonde" instead.
0124 Pretty Things – S.F. Sorrow
Considered to be the first rock opera and a possible influence to "Tommy", it's not as good. It's not terrible though. Mostly they come of as Beatle clones from the "Rubber Soul" era.
0125 Simon & Garfunkel – Bookends
My favorite S&G album finds them getting a bit more experimental by branching out a bit from their folk roots. There's not really a bad song on it and is a great time when listened to in one sitting.
0126 Small Faces – Ogdens’ Nut Gone Flake
Side one is mediocre rock, side two is a goofy children's story. I didn't like either.
0127 The Band – Music from Big Pink
I've enjoyed this album since I first heard it years ago after discovering "The Last Waltz". The Band stand out by having a solid roots based sound. As a result this doesn't sound all that dated at all. Recommended.
0128 Beck, Jeff – Truth
The other English guitar god, or one of the others anyways makes his debut on the list. It's a bit bleh really. some blues with added guitar crunch. I've never seen the appeal of Beck, and have mostly down right despised Rod Stewart as a no talent asshole, so maybe that's getting in my way of enjoying this.
0129 Veloso, Caetano – Caetano Veloso (1968)
More Latin, Brazilian music is found here. I just got tired of it. As a result, it did absolutely nothing for me and gets a big pass.
0130 Walker, Scott – Scott 2
Oh good lord. This is the reason to do stupid lists like this! This album, honestly, is awesome in ways you never knew existed. I don't know if he's serious or if it's all one big joke, but the theatrical swagger, every word sang like his going to die and songs about gonorrhea, queers and opium make this irresistible. I repeated the album no less then 4 times before moving on. Highly recommended.
0131 Zombies – Odessey & Oracle
According to Wiki, this is the only Zombies album of original material. Good thing it's great.
0132 Morrison, Van – Astral Weeks
Van Morrison is great, and this is his first great album. I like "Moondance" more, but still, this was good.
0133 Byrds – Sweetheart of the Rodeo
This is still my favourite Byrds album I think. They pretty much said "Fuck it" and did a straight ahead country album. It's not ironic, it's passionate, and they sound right at home in the genre. Great stuff.
0134 Beatles – Beatles [aka White Album]
I still think at at 2 records, this is one side of music too long. There's some great stuff, but it's marred by some incredibly shit Paul McCartney songs like "Why Don't We Do It In The Road". The Beatles just flat out got to full of themselves by this album. It's still good, but they have done much better.
0135 Mothers of Invention – We’re Only in it for the Money
I've loved this Zappa album for a long time now. It's Zappa's response to Sgt. Pepper and the summer of love. He felt that he wasn't acknowledged for making concept albums prior to Sgt. Pepper, or recognized for any of the techniques that most of the bands flat out ripped off, and he sure as hell saw through that hippie stuff. It's actually two suites of songs, side one and side two. My only knock is that you can only listen to it two ways now, the original censored mix, or the 1986 uncensored mix that had re-recorded drums and bass. They really need to restore that original mix! It's a small complaint though, because either way, it's brilliant stuff.
0136 Young, Neil – Everybody Knows This is Nowhere
I'm a huge Neil Young fan, and I love this album. His first great solo album gets no complaints from me.
0137 Captain Beefheart & His Magic Band – Trout Mask Replica
Going into this one, I really wanted to love it. Beefheart has a great voice, and it's produced by Zappa, who I love. After giving it a few spins though, I just don't like. It sounds to me like some great songs are being played by people who don't give a shit about what they are doing and are just messing about. It leaves me feeling disappointed.
0138 Creedence Clearwater Revival – Bayou Country
CCR is a band that found a sound and stuck to it. You either love them, or you hate them. Well, the Dude approves and so do I.
0139 Crosby, Stills & Nash – Crosby, Stills & Nash
This band and this album exist for one reason only, and that's the hit "Suite: Judy Blue Eyes". The rest of this is simply more of the same, and worse, dull. Never liked these guys and only find them bearable when Neil Young plays with them.
0140 Blood, Sweat & Tears - Blood, Sweat & Tears (2nd Album)
This record has that song "Spinning Wheels" on it. This is important since I've been wrongly calling the Doobie Brothers a bunch of assholes for putting that song out. My apologies Doobie Brothers, Blood Sweat and Tears, you can go to hell!
There it is, a giant mix of the terrible and the awesome. Till next time.
Friday, October 29, 2010
Thursday, October 21, 2010
1001 Albums: 111-120
Here's another batch. I'm tired, so no blathering. This is the utilitarian post.
0111 Shankar, Ravi – Sounds of India (1968)
This is what I wanted to hear in that other Indian album! Fast, peppy songs that zip along faster then night of bad tandoori. Anyways, Ravi gibber jabbers a bit before each song, explaining what your about to listen to, but really, who cares, this was pretty sweet, toe tapping Indian music. Recommended over that one from the last pack anyways.
0112 Mutantes, os – Mutantes, os (1st Album)
As stated previously, I tend not to like albums that are sung in languages that I don't understand (IE: Anything not in English). This one though, which I think is mostly in Portuguese, was pretty good. It's musically interesting enough to hold my interest so that I don't get annoyed with not knowing what the songs are about. Not sure I'll give it a second spin though.
0113 Hendrix, Jimi – Electric Ladyland
I guess it shouldn't be too surprising that the entire output of "The Jimi Hendrix Experience made the list. That said, this one never did much for me either. Like his previous album, it's got a couple of stand out tracks, and a bunch that are just kind of there. Because this one's a double, theirs a lot of "meh" to get through to the good stuff.
0114 Cohen, Leonard – Songs of Leonard Cohen
Ahh Leonard Cohen! People either love you or hate you. I'm in the love camp. He has a voice that has no business singing a song, and just make his songs sound that more meaningful. Literate, passionate folk on here, I've always liked this album and continue to.
0115 Cash, Johnny – At Folsom Prison
This is one of those albums where I find it odd that there are people around who haven't actually heard it. Even if you're not a country fan, it's so atmospheric, it's worth at least one spin. That says it all. If your curious, get the original release and prepare to be impressed. If you want more of a commitment, then get the expanded version, it flows better and the added songs are great. My favorite though, is the Legacy edition featuring the entire concert on two discs. At any rate, check it out.
0116 Nyro, Laura – Eli & the Thirteenth Confession
I don't really know what to think of this album frankly. She's kind of a Joni Mitchel singer/songwriter type. Her songs though are more peppy and polished, playing almost like over produced Motown at times. Her voice though, isn't quite good enough to pull it off, so yeah, it's hard to know what to think with Laura. It's not terribly bad, but not exceptional enough for me to want to give it a second go anytime soon either.
0117 Franklin, Aretha – Lady Soul
Like the previous Franklin album, this was awesome. It's so good, Franklin is still known as LAdy Soul. Nuff said.
0118 Blue Cheer – Vincebus Eruptum
Appears to be a trio, all fuzzed out and in love with their peddles, but not convincing enough players to pull it off. Made me think of what Rush might of sounded like in Junior High. Their cover of Summertime Blues also did nothing to win me over. This stuff might of been great with a head full of acid before a dead show, but for me, it's a meh.
0119 Byrds – Notorious Byrd Brothers
I really liked this one. They are starting to tone down the gimmicks a bit, and it makes everything better. That said, my favourite song on here is "Wasn't born to follow", which is more freaky them most of the album.
0120 Big Brother & the Holding Company – Cheap Thrills
About as good as Janice gets for me. It's fuzzed out blues, but good fuzzed out blues. I liked the album cover more though...
0111 Shankar, Ravi – Sounds of India (1968)
This is what I wanted to hear in that other Indian album! Fast, peppy songs that zip along faster then night of bad tandoori. Anyways, Ravi gibber jabbers a bit before each song, explaining what your about to listen to, but really, who cares, this was pretty sweet, toe tapping Indian music. Recommended over that one from the last pack anyways.
0112 Mutantes, os – Mutantes, os (1st Album)
As stated previously, I tend not to like albums that are sung in languages that I don't understand (IE: Anything not in English). This one though, which I think is mostly in Portuguese, was pretty good. It's musically interesting enough to hold my interest so that I don't get annoyed with not knowing what the songs are about. Not sure I'll give it a second spin though.
0113 Hendrix, Jimi – Electric Ladyland
I guess it shouldn't be too surprising that the entire output of "The Jimi Hendrix Experience made the list. That said, this one never did much for me either. Like his previous album, it's got a couple of stand out tracks, and a bunch that are just kind of there. Because this one's a double, theirs a lot of "meh" to get through to the good stuff.
0114 Cohen, Leonard – Songs of Leonard Cohen
Ahh Leonard Cohen! People either love you or hate you. I'm in the love camp. He has a voice that has no business singing a song, and just make his songs sound that more meaningful. Literate, passionate folk on here, I've always liked this album and continue to.
0115 Cash, Johnny – At Folsom Prison
This is one of those albums where I find it odd that there are people around who haven't actually heard it. Even if you're not a country fan, it's so atmospheric, it's worth at least one spin. That says it all. If your curious, get the original release and prepare to be impressed. If you want more of a commitment, then get the expanded version, it flows better and the added songs are great. My favorite though, is the Legacy edition featuring the entire concert on two discs. At any rate, check it out.
0116 Nyro, Laura – Eli & the Thirteenth Confession
I don't really know what to think of this album frankly. She's kind of a Joni Mitchel singer/songwriter type. Her songs though are more peppy and polished, playing almost like over produced Motown at times. Her voice though, isn't quite good enough to pull it off, so yeah, it's hard to know what to think with Laura. It's not terribly bad, but not exceptional enough for me to want to give it a second go anytime soon either.
0117 Franklin, Aretha – Lady Soul
Like the previous Franklin album, this was awesome. It's so good, Franklin is still known as LAdy Soul. Nuff said.
0118 Blue Cheer – Vincebus Eruptum
Appears to be a trio, all fuzzed out and in love with their peddles, but not convincing enough players to pull it off. Made me think of what Rush might of sounded like in Junior High. Their cover of Summertime Blues also did nothing to win me over. This stuff might of been great with a head full of acid before a dead show, but for me, it's a meh.
0119 Byrds – Notorious Byrd Brothers
I really liked this one. They are starting to tone down the gimmicks a bit, and it makes everything better. That said, my favourite song on here is "Wasn't born to follow", which is more freaky them most of the album.
0120 Big Brother & the Holding Company – Cheap Thrills
About as good as Janice gets for me. It's fuzzed out blues, but good fuzzed out blues. I liked the album cover more though...
Wednesday, October 13, 2010
1001 Albums: 94- 110 "Broke 100!"
So I'm dreadfully late with this blog posting. So late in fact that I'm debating on scrapping the blog all together. I meant to post this as a wrap up for the first one hundred, and use that as an excuse to even out the numbers to better reflect future ten packs. I lost track of the last week or so though and blew it! Anyways, here's the remaining tracks to get the 100:
0094 The Byrds - Younger Than Yesterday
Another solid offering pooped out by the Byrds. None of it is as strong as the kick ass "So You Want To Be A Rock N' Roll Star?", but it's strong enough to keep you going for the ride.
0095 Young Rascals – Groovin’
Completely forgettable outside of the genius title track. The cover art makes you want to punch every single Rascal in the face.
0096 Jefferson Airplane – Surrealistic Pillow
If you haven't heard "White Rabbit" or "Somebody to Love", then you have failed at life. The rest of the album sounds like those two tracks, so it's all pretty good. Grace Slick can sing the shit out of anything, without her, this band wouldn't of been so memorable.
0097 Kinks – Something Else by the Kinks
I absolutely loved this album. More suburban rock by the Kinks that is absolute perfection. I will no longer forget that the Kinks are greater then their two most popular songs. ("You Really Got Me" and "Lola", in case you forgot....)
0098 Donovan – Sunshine Superman
It has two great songs, the title track and "Season Of the Witch". The rest was pretty forgettable folk rock that made me wish "Hurdy Gurdy Man" was on this one.
0099 Haggard, Merle – I’m a Lonesome Fugitive
It's Merle Haggard, and it's great. What more do you need to know?
0100 Hendrix, Jimi – Are You Experienced
Hendrix's debut makes a strong impression. Lots have been said about Hendrix and this album, I like it. Strong singles are more rock and pop then his future releases, and I think that's why I prefer this to his other albums.
There it is! 100 albums down out of the 1001! I've found this list to be much smoother to get through compared to the Rolling Stone Top 500. With the greater variety of genre and complete lack of compilations, even when I hit an album I hate there's enough variety to not kill my will to continue. That said, I'm still pretty far away from the potential horrors of the eighties....
Since I listened so far ahead before posting this one, here's the next 10 pack. A bunch of these are pretty near must listens, with a couple of crap ones that you should be able to figure out.
0101 Electric Prunes – I Had too Much to Dream (Last Night)
This was some kick ass garage rock that didn't over do the psychedelia. Liked it.
0102 Lynn, Loretta – Don’t Come Home a Drinkin’ (With Lovin’ on Your Mind)
A dead solid country "girl power!" album. Loretta is not to be messed with. That said, she sings about her own transgressions as well. The end result is a surprisingly complex album, sung with a voice that was born to sing these songs. Great stuff.
0103 Sharma, Shivkumar / Brij Bushan Kabra / Hariprasad Chaurasia – Call of the Valley
It's the 60's, so you knew that Indian music was coming, so this isn't much a surprise. How boring it ended up being though, was a surprise indeed. These songs sounded like warm ups that never get cooking. I was expecting something peppier. Shame!
0104 Velvet Underground – White Light/White Heat
I've loved this one ever since I first heard it years ago. The album starts strong, and keeps getting louder and more ramshackle by the track. By the time you get to the volume competition that is "Sister Ray", this ends up being one of, if not the, all time great rock albums. Awesome stuff, and sounds nothing like their previous album which is huge boners for me.
0105 Hendrix, Jimi – Axis: Bold as Love
Hendrix's second album has never done much for me, and continues to do so. It features some of his prettiest songs, but as a whole it never really gets off the ground. A side note, as much as this album doesn't grab me to listen to, it's killer fun to play on "Rock Band" if you're a gamer. Something to consider.
0106 Franklin, Aretha – I Never Loved a Man the Way I Love You
Fantastic album that's perfect in instrumentation, bringing on the blues and soul effortlessly, only to have Franklin kick the shit out of you with her awesome voice and no bullshit swagger. Amazing, and a must listen.
0107 Rolling Stones – Beggars Banquet
This, for me, is the first true Stones album. They aren't trying to sound like their blues idols or keep up with the Beatles, they are simply kicking out the jams as hard as they can. It's brilliant stuff, and completely holds up with the timeless music that inspired them in the first place. Highly recommended.
0108 Traffic – Traffic (2nd Album)
I've never liked Steve Windwood, and because of this, I've always avoided Traffic (Nyuk Nyuk). So while I'll admit that a few of these songs are pretty good, on the whole, I still don't like them, or him.
0109 Incredible String Band – Hangman’s Beautiful Daughter
Ends up that they aren't all that incredible, or much of a string band. They are fucking horrible in many ways. The songs all sounds like they're sung by a tone deaf hobbit, which does nothing to save abysmally, childish shit like "The Minotaurs Song". Only when he cribs some folk standards does this get bearable. Avoid.
0110 Kinks – Village Green Preservation Society
This might be the most perfect Kinks album they ever did. All that stuff I wrote about "Something Else"? Double it and just buy this fucking thing already!
Right! Until next time! If there is a next time... who knows...
0094 The Byrds - Younger Than Yesterday
Another solid offering pooped out by the Byrds. None of it is as strong as the kick ass "So You Want To Be A Rock N' Roll Star?", but it's strong enough to keep you going for the ride.
0095 Young Rascals – Groovin’
Completely forgettable outside of the genius title track. The cover art makes you want to punch every single Rascal in the face.
0096 Jefferson Airplane – Surrealistic Pillow
If you haven't heard "White Rabbit" or "Somebody to Love", then you have failed at life. The rest of the album sounds like those two tracks, so it's all pretty good. Grace Slick can sing the shit out of anything, without her, this band wouldn't of been so memorable.
0097 Kinks – Something Else by the Kinks
I absolutely loved this album. More suburban rock by the Kinks that is absolute perfection. I will no longer forget that the Kinks are greater then their two most popular songs. ("You Really Got Me" and "Lola", in case you forgot....)
0098 Donovan – Sunshine Superman
It has two great songs, the title track and "Season Of the Witch". The rest was pretty forgettable folk rock that made me wish "Hurdy Gurdy Man" was on this one.
0099 Haggard, Merle – I’m a Lonesome Fugitive
It's Merle Haggard, and it's great. What more do you need to know?
0100 Hendrix, Jimi – Are You Experienced
Hendrix's debut makes a strong impression. Lots have been said about Hendrix and this album, I like it. Strong singles are more rock and pop then his future releases, and I think that's why I prefer this to his other albums.
There it is! 100 albums down out of the 1001! I've found this list to be much smoother to get through compared to the Rolling Stone Top 500. With the greater variety of genre and complete lack of compilations, even when I hit an album I hate there's enough variety to not kill my will to continue. That said, I'm still pretty far away from the potential horrors of the eighties....
Since I listened so far ahead before posting this one, here's the next 10 pack. A bunch of these are pretty near must listens, with a couple of crap ones that you should be able to figure out.
0101 Electric Prunes – I Had too Much to Dream (Last Night)
This was some kick ass garage rock that didn't over do the psychedelia. Liked it.
0102 Lynn, Loretta – Don’t Come Home a Drinkin’ (With Lovin’ on Your Mind)
A dead solid country "girl power!" album. Loretta is not to be messed with. That said, she sings about her own transgressions as well. The end result is a surprisingly complex album, sung with a voice that was born to sing these songs. Great stuff.
0103 Sharma, Shivkumar / Brij Bushan Kabra / Hariprasad Chaurasia – Call of the Valley
It's the 60's, so you knew that Indian music was coming, so this isn't much a surprise. How boring it ended up being though, was a surprise indeed. These songs sounded like warm ups that never get cooking. I was expecting something peppier. Shame!
0104 Velvet Underground – White Light/White Heat
I've loved this one ever since I first heard it years ago. The album starts strong, and keeps getting louder and more ramshackle by the track. By the time you get to the volume competition that is "Sister Ray", this ends up being one of, if not the, all time great rock albums. Awesome stuff, and sounds nothing like their previous album which is huge boners for me.
0105 Hendrix, Jimi – Axis: Bold as Love
Hendrix's second album has never done much for me, and continues to do so. It features some of his prettiest songs, but as a whole it never really gets off the ground. A side note, as much as this album doesn't grab me to listen to, it's killer fun to play on "Rock Band" if you're a gamer. Something to consider.
0106 Franklin, Aretha – I Never Loved a Man the Way I Love You
Fantastic album that's perfect in instrumentation, bringing on the blues and soul effortlessly, only to have Franklin kick the shit out of you with her awesome voice and no bullshit swagger. Amazing, and a must listen.
0107 Rolling Stones – Beggars Banquet
This, for me, is the first true Stones album. They aren't trying to sound like their blues idols or keep up with the Beatles, they are simply kicking out the jams as hard as they can. It's brilliant stuff, and completely holds up with the timeless music that inspired them in the first place. Highly recommended.
0108 Traffic – Traffic (2nd Album)
I've never liked Steve Windwood, and because of this, I've always avoided Traffic (Nyuk Nyuk). So while I'll admit that a few of these songs are pretty good, on the whole, I still don't like them, or him.
0109 Incredible String Band – Hangman’s Beautiful Daughter
Ends up that they aren't all that incredible, or much of a string band. They are fucking horrible in many ways. The songs all sounds like they're sung by a tone deaf hobbit, which does nothing to save abysmally, childish shit like "The Minotaurs Song". Only when he cribs some folk standards does this get bearable. Avoid.
0110 Kinks – Village Green Preservation Society
This might be the most perfect Kinks album they ever did. All that stuff I wrote about "Something Else"? Double it and just buy this fucking thing already!
Right! Until next time! If there is a next time... who knows...
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