You read that right. Big whoop 1974! Nothing blew me away, and worse, I all out hated one of the albums in this chunk. How dare you, Robert Wyatt, release such noise in the year of my birth?!? I don't know what your story is since I'm to lazy to Google your name, but if I ever meet you, I'm going to slap you in the face with my sock!
Anyways, it's not all bad. On the whole, 1974 was better then some other years. I hope Mrs F. Wall is right and that music will get better for when I'm aware of it, which should be around 1982. I expect the Bay City Rollers to appear before that...
It's time for the list! Here's how it all went down. Remember, if you're curious about these albums, the pictures are links to the Amazon page where you can sample for free.
0314 Supertramp – Crime of the Century - This is the one with both "Bloody Well Right" and "Dreamer" on it, so is might be the only Supertramp you need. I have to admit, I like these guys. Not too pretentious, but pretentious enough to be interesting.
0315 Thompson, Richard & Linda – I Want to See the Bright Lights Tonight - I've spun this one a few times before, and like it a little more each time. It's that odd singer/songwriter/not really folk/not quite rock 70's thing, but it really works well. Sad songs about other people having fun.
0316 Scott-Heron, Gil & Brian Jackson – Winter in America - This is a jazzy soul record that would of been not bad except for the first song. Anyone familiar with "Ping Pong" mixing will know that it can be a little annoying. The first track on this is so over the top ping pong mixed amongst other things that I'm sure it was literally driving me crazy. I nearly baled on the album. So no, no recommend here.
0317 Queen – Sheer Heart Attack - Queen appears twice in 1974! Not only that, but this is a great Queen album. It has the brilliant "Killer Queen" which hints at the greatness that will be "Bohemianism Rhapsody" as well as "Stone Cold Crazy" which will be one of Metallica's best songs. The rest of the album is pretty good too. Well done Queen!
0318 10cc – Sheet Music - I don't know why I expected to hate this. The name 10cc just filled me with dread. The first song is about the stock market, the second about the worst band ever. I fell in love at first listen, this is an awesome record! Well done 10cc, you're the first contender for the highly coveted "Best Of 1974"!
0319 Young, Neil – On the Beach - This one confused me since I thought it came after "Tonight's The Night". I was wrong (Tonight's The night was recorded first, but this was released before it.) Anyways, this is another great Young record. It starts off kind of optimistic with "Walk On", then starts to get darker and darker until Ambulance Blues wraps it all up in a stark blanket. Amazing stuff.
0320 Jones, George – The Grand Tour - With a title like that you'd think this was a live album. Well you would be wrong dummy! A more then decent collection of songs about heartache and loss. It is a country and western album right? It lost me a bit in the middle though. The production just wasn't there, and none of the tracks where as good as the opening title track, or the album ending "Our Private Life".
0321 Clark, Gene – No Other - I enjoyed this one. The last one of his was a country rock affair. This one continues down that path, but then moves forward into kind of spacey-rock. Not in a bad way either since the songwriting is tight. I wonder what happened to Gene Clark, you never hear of him now, but he's pretty solid on these albums.
0322 Steely Dan – Pretzel Logic - This is the album that released "Rikki Don't Lose That Number" on the world, and that is why there would be a special place in hell for Steely Dan if hell existed.
0323 Newman, Randy – Good Old Boys - Another solid affair from Newman. This one sounds like it could be part of a Toy Story soundtrack in places. Well, not lyrically, these songs are for grown ups. Funny, cynical and romantic all at the same time. My only critique is that shortly after listening to this I kept humming Dr. John songs...
0324 Marley, Bob & the Wailers – Natty Dread You saw the name Bob Marley, so again you know exactly what to expect. I liked this one more then the previous one. More polished and seemed more personal as far as the preachy songs go. It has "No Woman No Cry" on it, so that might be a selling point for you.
0325 Wyatt, Robert – Rock Bottom - I don't know what to even call this. Jazzy-prog rock? I hated it. Sounded like random whooshing synth sounds with garbage spoke/sung over it. Avoid.
0326 Parsons, Gram – Grievous Angel - I've spun this one a few times over the years. It's not the greatest alt country rock album you'll listen too, but it's pretty good. I like that he has such a non-country voice and is singing over such classic country music arrangements. The songs are good. This is what the Eagles would be like if they weren't terrible and so emotionally distant from their music.
So that's 1974, the year of my birth in music! I'm not giving any of these the "Best of 1974" award since none of them blew me away as new discoveries. Otherwise, Neil Young, Van Morrison and 10cc can Indian leg wrestle for the title since they were the best of the bunch I think.
In other news, The Beach Boys have announced that the original sessions for "SMiLE" from 1967 have been spruced up, and an official release is coming this year! Clap your hands and raise a cheer! Go on. I'll wait. Done? Great! Why is this so important? Well, "SMiLE" is the greatest of the legendary lost albums, one which many think would of replaced "Sgt. Pepper" as the most defining album in rock music. Imagine it, the Beatles kind of disappear in the wake of The Beach Boys. It's hard to believe eh? I've listened to at least 4 bootleg reconstructions, as well as the demos released in the Beach Boys boxset, and let me tell you, it really is amazing, timeless, beautiful music. I can't wait for it! It should sound marvelous coming from first gen masters. Huzzah!
I have to get this damned project finished so I can catch up on the new stuff I'm missing... I'm going to presume that there is actually good new music being made. I don't actually see any evidence of this in the current media, but I dare to dream!
I would like to say, following your own logic, that 1982 will be an awesome year because it's when I was born. I do, however, already know that Adam and the Ants were at number 1 with Goody Two Shoes the week that I was born. I enjoy a boogie to Prince Charming as much, if not more, than the next guy. And to be fair, generally enjoy lots of stuff from the 80s. But that's because I enjoy kitsch. I'm not sure they'll be a promising decade for someone who actually likes music!
ReplyDeleteAlso, when you get back to listening to modern music, I recommend Kate Miller-Heidke. She was good enough for Ben Folds to ask her to support him on tour. 'Nuff said.
There's a lot of 80's music I like too, though I doubt one of my all time favorite bands The Dead Milkmen will make an appearance ha ha.
ReplyDeleteI'll check Kate out, thanks for the recommend!