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Wed Jan 24 2024
Getz/Gilberto
Stan Getz
This sun-soaked album, along with many others in the OG Bossa Nova movement are among the greatest of all time, but Getz & Gilberto are the godfathers. Add into the mix Gilberto's wife on occasional vocal duties, with all of her detached sensuality, and you've got an album that spawned an entire genre. Bossa Nova literally means "new style", and it's one that captivated the hearts of romantics around the world with sax solos that sound like drizzled suntan oil on a well-satisfied afternoon lover. 5 stars.
5
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Thu Jan 25 2024
A Hard Day's Night
Beatles
Seems to be trendy to call the Beatles overrated lately and I'm so tired of hearing it. Call it "boomer music", call it "dated", but while you're at it, call it "music that informed everything that happened in pop thereafter and this album is when they were really hitting their stride.
In particular, Lennon was coming into his own, taking about 2/3 of this album's vocal & writing duties, with Paul taking on more as he got comfortable. This is the first Beatles album that they wrote every song on it, which is a feat in and of itself when it comes to 60's pop groups.
Apply that metric to pop stars today who can't have less than a dozen songwriters and producers and there's a reason to call something "mid".
4
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Mon Jan 29 2024
Live And Dangerous
Thin Lizzy
One of the few singer-bassists in music, Phil Lynott rips in the smoothest of fashions. Feel good 70’s rock at its finest and I never get tired of even their most over-played of arena-radio-saturated anthems.
That first track Jailbreak always confused me though..
If there was to be a jailbreak.. somewhere in the town.. won’t it likely occur in the town jail..?
4
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Tue Jan 30 2024
Toys In The Attic
Aerosmith
This may not be a perfect album, suffering from a few tonal inconsistencies, but it stands forever as an artifact of scuzzy 70's rock idealism. The tonal inconsistencies could be perhaps a metaphor for the resulting career Aerosmith & frontman Steven Tyler had in the decades to follow, with many hills and valleys artistically and otherwise, but that all said, when you talk about Aerosmith in the 1975, you put some respect on the name.
It's through the context of this entire album that you hear the true brilliance of overplayed classic rock radio staples "Walk This Way" and "Sweet Emotion" for the sonically-creative juggernauts that they are. While the Stonesy blues-rock of "Big Ten Inch Record" and orchestral Beatles-spawned ballad of "You See Me Crying" don't quite land as thunderously as their influences, they are satisfying in their earnest approach, only amplifying tracks like the title track and "Round And Round". This is because as always when it comes to Aerosmith, they are at their best when they are being themselves to the maximum.
3
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Wed Jan 31 2024
Pretzel Logic
Steely Dan
The mighty Dan of Steel's initial demographic seems to have been future Dentists and fathers who were too smart for their own good. But damn could they groove-- which is why their demographic is so small.
The intellectual prog rockers weren't concerned with groove and the funk/ soul crowd wasn't concerned with intellectual lyricism that was chalk full of clever references, inside jokes, and subtle snark.
Fagen/ Becker were 2 guys who unapologetically pushed their technical proficiency in the studio while capturing some real smooth grooves that, listening to this album, one just can't turn their back on.
This Dan album only has 2 tracks that are overplayed (Rikki & Major Dude) and revisiting, really lets me sink my teeth into lesser known tracks like Barrytown, the tone on East St. Louis, and the visual imagery in the lyrics of With A Gun.
Take East St. Louis Toodle-do for example, this should come off hokey as hell, but I just can't skip this track. Until the final second when you hear the gong strike (??) you're pulled into their bizarre nerd-universe where Duke Ellington covers live organically alongside the fusion of future dentists grooving to the obsessive music perfection of 2 men that have definitely read more books than any of us.
4
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Thu Feb 01 2024
Double Nickels On The Dime
Minutemen
Mike Watt's philosophy on bass playing and even to some extent, living, has always been a significant influence on me but I had oddly only heard Minutemen in passing. His 1995 solo album "Ballhog or Tug Boat?" was the one that landed on me early on by happenstance.
Catching up to, in his words, "the best album I ever played on", this is a long over-due introduction to Watt's earlier days. The album title and cover photo is appropo for the heavy-touring Minutemen, who made this double album into perhaps some of the best music for a long drive ever.
Pondering this album's place in hardcore history, I'm hearing a broadening in scope. There is everything from "Corona's" country shuffle, pleasing oddball lunacy such as "You Need The Glory" to countless angular no-wave jams. Nothing lingers on your speaker set for long, however, as the average length of a track seems to be under the 2 minute mark.
To say nothing of the drums and guitar, I'm especially loving the relationship between the vocals and basslines, barking and swerving around each other. I'm looking forward to a lot of future roadtrips to this one.
4
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Fri Feb 02 2024
One World
John Martyn
This album as earnest as it is exploratory. LOTS of effects and space echo going on. Part rootsy good ol boy sincerity, part late 70's jazz fusion sprawl-out, part post-Dead hippie vibes, this album sits real nicely in some warm comfort areas while breaking new ground for the era it was released in.
Not very familiar with Martyn so this was a welcome introduction.
4
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Mon Feb 05 2024
Mothership Connection
Parliament
George Clinton is one of greatest artists on the planet, and still prolific to this day. He took what James Brown was doing and literally took it into outer space. When Brown's bassist Bootsie taught Clinton about Brown's musical principle of "The One" (in a 4/4, everything happens on the 1), Clinton was never the same.
This album is pure joy, imagination, and enthusiasm for life and alternate funky realities, and represents one of the best George Clinton lineups in the Clinton Administration. Gary Shider on guitar, Bernie "The Wizard of Woo" Worrell on keys, and Bootsie Collins on bass.
Clinton's strength was always in his ability to assemble and channel talent to express his imagination, which hit it's larger than life pinnacle in this album.
This is one of DOZENS of albums in his catalogue, and by no means the best, but it's easily the most immediately palatable. For more on the social philosophies and bonkers sense of humor by this great man, dig into more albums by Funkadelic, Parliament, P-Funk all-stars, and Clinton solo. It's a funky, fun, sometimes dark universe that always makes me feel like I'm on top of the world.
5
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Tue Feb 06 2024
All Things Must Pass
George Harrison
Harrison got a lot of unique perspective and he really pours it all out on this one. Third solo album but first post-Beatles, so it really feels like a rebirth-- although many of the songs were written pre-Beatles departure.
He had so many disillusionments with the band, however, that this album feels like an escape into his own inner-world. I wouldn't have it any other way, had some of these songs been Beatles songs, we wouldn't have as rich a garden to disappear into with this album.
Harrison's reconnection with the sense of the divine on My Sweet Lord, McCartney burn of Wah-Wah, the gutting nuanced examination of heartbreak & humanity of Isn't It A Pity.. I could go on. The latter track guts me in the most beautiful way, and for an extra-curricular journey, check out Nina Simone's cover of this song which has you feel every fiber of the lyric's emotions.
Another gem on this album is Run of the Mill, a look at the dissolution of male friendship that lead to the end of the Beatles, a topic hardly explored in songwriting. Despite all this bittersweet reflection, this album feels like a long, overdue exhale. It feels like the best kind of closure, one with plenty of promise of a beautiful future to come.
4
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Wed Feb 07 2024
The Poet
Bobby Womack
We can all agree that Bobby Womack was a menace, but nonetheless quite talented. Despite his difficult upbringing and audacious to downright savage behavior, this album grooves real hard. Some great love songs, great reflective songs about death of his brother, and of course, songs about how complicated relationships can be-- something he knew a lot about.
Sonically, this 1981 album is deeply set in the boogie era, which sees this R&B crooner, blues rock belter, jazz-funk OG sound somewhat overproduced but nonetheless bigger than ever.
4
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Thu Feb 08 2024
John Barleycorn Must Die
Traffic
Finally, 1001 Album Generator challenges me with an album that I'm not that into. I think I've finally discovered what it is I vehemently dislike about Prog Rock.
If you're going to make folk, rock, or blues, make it as clever as you want but don't forget about the general listener. This is why Pink Floyd are usually more effective, and why early psych-era Traffic or even yuppie-horseshit era Steve Winwood never irritates me-- it's straightforward, catchy, and it grooves. Blues-rock and folk gets in it's own way when it tries to get too cerebral, let's not forget we gotta feel certain genres in the heart first.
I didn't hate this album, but I'm not super psyched to revisit it ever either. Now if you'll excuse me, I'm going to go crank Steve Winwood's 1986 yuppie classic "Higher Love".
I wonder if anyone ever brought him that higher love he kept requesting in that song..
2
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Fri Feb 09 2024
John Prine
John Prine
Prine wrote some very unique country songs, performed complete with great fingerpicking. Among these songs, some very biting songs about the Vietnam war's effects on veteran's and on America in general-- ripe subject matter for it's 1971 release date. Some other good songs about empathy for the elderly, real principles of Christianity, to the power of imagination ("Illegal Smile" - supposedly not about weed, I swear I looked it up!)
One can hear why he is country-western royalty and has legends like Dylan, Cash, & Kristofferson singing his praises.
Not only that but unlike many country legends, all songs on this album were written by Prine, a real showcase into his strength as a storyteller, even if his vocals on this album had yet to fully mature, it's clear he's giving his all nonetheless.
Real nice album, thoroughly enjoyable performance from Prine and band.
4
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Mon Feb 12 2024
Are You Experienced
Jimi Hendrix
After a stint in the military and messing around being a backup guitarist in R&B bands, Hendrix used this debut album to really let his freak flag fly as not only one of the best guitarists of all time, a psychedelic pioneer, but also as one of the best songwriters in the game-- a detail oft overlooked by his prowess as a guitarist.
This album is inspired and energetic, and showcases a large amount of range-- a suitable platform for his skill as a virtuosic impressionistic guitar player. Like Degas or Monet choice of color or liberal application of paint, it's the feel of the work, pooling with feedback, extra fret slides, and hearty note bends, as a whole that tells the story. Like impressionism, Hendrix is precise at his core, but cannot ignore the vibrance of all the other color, vibrance, and movement that bleeds onto the canvas.
5
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Tue Feb 13 2024
Buena Vista Social Club
Buena Vista Social Club
How badass is this album? Can't believe I've never seen this documentary but it's on my short list now. I can say, however, that having been to Cuba-- there are OG musicians everywhere and it's so inspiring that someone organized them as an ensemble to harness their potential on this record. It stands as this document that continues to captivate by shining a spotlight on Cuba's creative scene for the rest of the world to experience.
5
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Wed Feb 14 2024
Third
Soft Machine
An album I have not previously listened to. This holds up to my prior feelings about prog being too inaccessible and unfocused.
Track one is a cacophony that felt like a pretentious attempt to showcase how differently-thinking they are.
Also what's with prog musicians and their organs? Turn it down in the mix, good lord. Really not appreciating the vocal contributions on track 3 either, I find them mumbly and a bit off key. Beyond the vocals, the lyrics were meandering and I couldn't grasp much of anything that he was trying to express. I'd probably get more meaning from the song without words altogether.
Track 2, on the other hand, was actually pretty excellent. It worked as more of a jazz track, but it never lost a sense of groove and forward motion.
The first fourth of track 4 is dope and I could listen to a whole album of that kind of thing. Backwards guitars and bubbling effects really putting one in the zone. Of course they decide to make the next part of the track a jumpy jazz number, which works well unto itself but why they don't just make it another song when it clearly has nothing to do with the first aspect.... Then they go back to ambient and then back to jazz then back to ambient again.. Just make them separate songs, God I have so many questions for these people.
I'm glad I'm ruminating on this because I like a lot of difficult, avant garde music. I even like what many describe as boring or downright obnoxious music. What is it that I hate so deeply about these skilled and seemingly very informed musicians in the overall cannon of prog? Altogether, there's some cool moments in this album, and clearly a lot of talent. Ultimately, however, I find genres most grating when they have no restraint. Just because you have a lot of talent, and are brimming with ideas, doesn't mean you have to execute every single one of them to it's maximum degree.
1
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Thu Feb 15 2024
Crime Of The Century
Supertramp
This form of prog rock has the ability to hook me in at times, with their attention to groove and accessibility. I grew up on some of these tracks on classic rock radio and Supertramp has earned their place in classic rotations by making some tracks that have depth but are eternally relatable while being genuinely funny.
Their sense of humor is not undercut by their songs ability to genuinely hook you in with heart and sonic diversity. At times they groove, rock, and then pull you in with earnest heart.
This album isn't my jam, but I can't ignore its charms.
3
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Fri Feb 16 2024
Faith
George Michael
I spent a lot of time with this among many 80's albums and there is nothing aesthetically quite like the pop tone of George Michael. He deftly switches between styles as easily as 80's Queen or Prince, but creating this elevated, refined, grown up departure from his identity in WHAM!
These acoustic to electronic genre hopping provides a bedrock for his particular brand of sexuality-- and no I'm not talking about his queerness. I'm talking about his brand of sex positivity. The thirsty themes on the album are impossible to ignore-- I mean looking at the album cover, the sexuality so visceral you can practically smell the combination of male pheromones, leather, and armpit. Despite not being able to be out as gay for his career, however, he became an advocate for openness to everyone else, suggesting a positive frankness about what can be a difficult and shameful topic.
Terms are come to, however, with his closeted lifestyle and you hear it across the album as the genres flip. From the synth-driven minimalist belter-ballad "One More Try" to the heavily-lyrically-coded "Father Figure", using the Jewish 'Ahava Rabbah’ scale on the lead synth line (also used in traditional Jewish song "Hava Nagila".) It's not hard to see that he couldn't help but hint to his true identity, but did so in the most diverse & musically-informed way possible.
Ultimately whether you're into him or not, this album is impossible to ignore, which made him a superstar. It's the enduring musical brilliance and complicated sensual depth, however, that make this album last forever.
5
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Mon Feb 19 2024
Amnesiac
Radiohead
These here drowsy fellas with their droopy caterwaulin make some pretty impressive music that, incidentally, I never choose to hear on my own volition. It's not that I don't enjoy sad music, I certainly do enjoy sad songs, it's just that their brand is like drowning in a vat full of NyQuil. I mean, is that literally a drawing of a character crying on the album cover? Good God man cheer up!
But that all said, I do enjoy them at times and they have some very brilliant, soulful moments. And they are nothing if not one of a kind.
4
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Tue Feb 20 2024
Kind Of Blue
Miles Davis
This album is already one of my all time favorite albums and captures several masters of the genre coming together while at the top of their game. Miles tied them all together but in my opinion and gave framework for each track, but the real glue in my opinion was pianist Bill Evans. The classically-trained-turned-swinging-jazzman plays an almost maternal role, weaving around these seasoned musicians with his own gravitational pull, meeting their needs either with notes chosen, silence, or rhythmic comping.
The best part of this album is that you can be the biggest jazz nerd in the world and find endless layers to this album, or you can put it on quietly and eat dinner and it slaps either way.
From the first bassline of this album -- one of my favorite basslines ever-- to the sublime bliss of "Flamenco Sketches", this album is perfect.
5
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Wed Feb 21 2024
Miriam Makeba
Miriam Makeba
What a voice! Lush African arrangements and backing voices lift this one til it's closing minutes. You got some great covers and folkloric themes throughout so it's never a dull moment.
Part of what I love about music is the ability it has to take you to other regions and times and teach you about different human experiences through that transportational element. This album is definitely up there in that capability.
4
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Thu Feb 22 2024
We Are Family
Sister Sledge
GREAT album by the Chic Organization that's been sampled, DJ'ed, used & abused, and STILL lights you up from the inside out. From the well (over-)worn grooves of "We Are Family" to the underrated "Thinking of You", this album goes the distance.
This album was released in January of 1979-- 7 months before the infamous "Disco Demolition Night" in Chicago that roughly marked the end of disco. I can only imagine what it was like to be alive in that period of time in between.
4
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Fri Feb 23 2024
Songs The Lord Taught Us
The Cramps
The Cramps don't play by anyone's rules. They create their own reality. It's a reality where surf rock , rockabilly, punk rock, and goth sensibilities are perfectly harmonious neighbors and it's a reality I'll gladly often revisit.
There's nothing less goth than surf rock, and look how they pull off sonically referencing Link Wray's "Rumble" in "I Was A Teenage Werewolf".. it's as if there was something dark and brooding about the prior genre that only they noticed.
4
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Mon Feb 26 2024
Birth Of The Cool
Miles Davis
For Miles Davis and cool jazz genre in general, these tracks are especially economical in length. I attribute this to the format they were released originally but what each of them do, is really elevate the impact of the "small combo" approach of Davis' ensembles in this era. Really appreciating that it doesn't sound like more than a handful of players per track, allowing each instrument some freedom to stand out in it's own right. This post-WW2 genre will always strike a chord with me, and Miles was the best to do it. It's the best of big band and bebop without the brash aesthetic blasts associated with either, leaving pure, clean, cool improvisation-- allowing the listener to examine each musician's approach unassaulted by punctuated blasts of 25 simultaneous horn players.
4
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Tue Feb 27 2024
Rage Against The Machine
Rage Against The Machine
I sure hope things got better for this ornery fella yelling and hollering about his machine, but all the anger may have been worth it because this album is an enduring classic. There's so many styles and sonic references in this album, from r&b, to funk, to stoner rock, to hip hop. Textural guitarist Tom Morello alone is shifting from jazz to heavy metal.
5
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Wed Feb 28 2024
In Our Heads
Hot Chip
Certain albums I already have in my record collection, and this one is WELL WORN. Hot Chip are a collection of gearheads with encyclopedic knowledge of music and channel it into this blend of live house music with pop structures. Beyond that, for a band that came out of the "indie-sleaze" era, these well-written songs have an amazing balance of equal parts heart and humor.
This one takes me back and I'll always keep circling back to Hot Chip, and this is one of their finest and most cohesive of their catalogue.
5
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Thu Feb 29 2024
Songs In The Key Of Life
Stevie Wonder
This album is insanely good and a microcosm for Stevie's talent in general. When considering stepping away from fame and America after thoroughly proving himself, he signs another contract and comes through with this double album of banger after banger. Not only that, the songs are poignant, thoughtful, and get me thinking deeply everytime I hear them.
I could write more but... 5/5.
5
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Fri Mar 01 2024
Talk Talk Talk
The Psychedelic Furs
Great album, reminder to myself to relisten as I’m not super familiar with their catalogue. Loved it though, can’t wait to spin it again. Reminded me of some late 80’s Manchester style cuts.
4
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Mon Mar 04 2024
Play
Moby
IDC what anyone says, in the pantheon of electronic music, Moby is tasteful as hell. He's informed by house music, trip hop, ambient, krautrock, and on this album, infuses a lot of Library of Congress era blues samples. In these compositions I'd argue that he honors the integrity of the sample and gives them new life beautifully.
4
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Tue Mar 05 2024
Sunday At The Village Vanguard
Bill Evans Trio
Bill shines but the real standout of this live performance is bassist Scott LaFaro, who sounds like he's trying to out-rhythm-section his drummer. There are sections where they are just cooking together while Bill comps or lays back, content to let his chosen accompanists take the spotlight.
It says a lot when a leader chooses a team that they can learn from, and Bill Evans is always collaborating with the very best. This record is a perfect showcase of that.
5
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Wed Mar 06 2024
Channel Orange
Frank Ocean
This one takes me back. Super essential album that served as a powerful examination of the relationship between wealth and desparation. As an added bonus, it is infinitely listenable considering it's vocal hooks, production, and overall focus on groove that spans from electronica influences to callbacks to Stevie Wonder.
I'm no where near as obsessed as some of the fanatics out there (please explain, someone...?) but this is a killer album.
4
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Thu Mar 07 2024
Bat Out Of Hell
Meat Loaf
Well you can't say Loaf didn't bring the energy, but it sounds like some horny reject kidnapped the E-Street Band and made them make a musical theater album for some reason.
I'll probably never listen to this album on purpose again. RIP to Loaf tho. Gotta appreciate the passion. Seemed like a fun guy and that personality counts for a lot and clearly resonated with enough people.
Shoutout to Jim Steinman who wrote the whole damn album.
2
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Fri Mar 08 2024
Halcyon Digest
Deerhunter
Cool spacey indie rock that I slept on in 2010, glad I'm catching up with it now. Love their liberal usage of reverb, spring echo, and delay. Some very Animal Collective-production moments here which I'm not mad at.
Gonna work this into the rotation more.
3
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Mon Mar 11 2024
Enter The Wu-Tang (36 Chambers)
Wu-Tang Clan
Again & again!
It’s a miracle one album by Wu even exists in the first place let alone this and it’s follow ups. These guys did not have long life expectancies, some of them were even violent street rivals against each other.
This document is testament to what is possible when people put aside their differences and work together for a common goal. In this case the common goal was to make it in the rap game and get out of the slums of Staten Island. This album is the most pure form of that dream, rugged and raw, and refusing to compromise on the tonality.
Their personalities shine on this album, I corrupted by the spotlight, as a showcase of how much amazing talent there is that never sees the light of day because when they recorded it, they frankly had no idea how big it was going to be.
How could anyone? Their follow ups & solo albums were inconsistent in quality (more good than bad) but this is the crest of the wave. As much as I love this album I must recommend the double album follow up to this one however, as I consider it one of the most interesting follow up albums out there, and frankly very underrated.
5
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Tue Mar 12 2024
The Chronic
Dr. Dre
This album (and it’s spiritual sequel, Snoop’s Doggystyle) are pure gold lyrically and production-wise. Shamelessly pulling samples and interpolations from P-Funk, Dre creates a reality of finding his own path despite the bleak surroundings of his Compton upbringings.
5
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Wed Mar 13 2024
Headquarters
The Monkees
A little Kinks, a whole lot of Beatles, this album is a nice document of what happens when a band fights for autonomy from their label. They began as a product, and took control of their creative path. What they did with it? It wasn't the most original thing ever, but blew a lot of expectations out of the water and has a lot of great moments.
3 stars for their irrepressible human spirits.
3
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Thu Mar 14 2024
Femi Kuti
Femi Kuti
Apple doesn't fall far from the tree.
Nice utilization of 90's tech and song progressions taking where his father left off to it's natural progression, without compromising artistic merit. Working this one into the rotation more often. Great collection of work!
4
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Fri Mar 15 2024
Real Life
Magazine
A waltz on Track 7, ballsy but dare I say they pulled it off. It stands as a microcosm for this whole album of dynamic, inventive post-punk edge.
I had never heard of this band before and post-punk is one of my all-time favorite genres! That's what I'm coming here for, glad this album of the day was able to fill in the cracks for me. Looking forward to listening to their whole catalogue!
4
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Mon Mar 18 2024
Never Mind The Bollocks, Here’s The Sex Pistols
Sex Pistols
I'm more of a Stooges man but por que no los dos? This album, despite it's loaded history and holes to poke at it's "punk authenticity" is still a pretty fun ride. They owe the album's success to the very "unpunk" OG bassist Glen Matlock who loved a diverse array of music, including the Beatles. The other secret ingredient was guitarist Steve Jones, who played bass on most of this album after Matlock quit, as low-end replacement Sid Vicious could barely play the instrument he was hired to play.
If you want authenticity, look to the Stooges, look to the Clash, but some people involved in this album clearly understood the assignment and made sure this created a crater that made ripple effects for decades to come. Compliments to the chef on that note, at least.
3
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Tue Mar 19 2024
White Blood Cells
The White Stripes
Tonally raw and minimalistic, these songs and the duo's personality really shine through in this stark collection. White hit his stride on this album and it stands as a manifesto of putting in the work on songwriting and guitar-playing. Meg is the perfect drummer for this whose simplicity and personality elevates White perfectly.
I can't imagine this album coming from anyone else, and that's why this is such a unique output.
5
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Wed Mar 20 2024
Tea for the Tillerman
Cat Stevens
This may be a 5/5 but I have to spend more time with the songs I don't know. This album is like sinking into a warm bean bag chair. Whereas when I was much younger I'd write Stevens off as "effective songwriter but often cheesy", now this album is landing just right.
One can criticize all they want, but it IS a wild world, dammit. And it IS rather difficult to get by just upon a smile.
The man has a point.
4
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Thu Mar 21 2024
A Northern Soul
The Verve
This album is pretty cool. Loving the big reverbed out swirling guitar sound that builds a lot of atmosphere. Lots of tension and release between rowdiness and focus audible on this collection. I like it. I'll have to revist.
3
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Fri Mar 22 2024
Twelve Dreams Of Dr. Sardonicus
Spirit
Good time. Lot of good classic rock hooks with knods to prog that don't feel too weighted in pretentiousness.
3
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Mon Mar 25 2024
Blunderbuss
Jack White
Really solid showcase of White's core competancies; innovative and impactful guitar playing, songwriting, and now adding a broader spectrum of production & styles. The loss to that is that it's less cohesive than some of his more singular approaches.
3
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Tue Mar 26 2024
Cosmo's Factory
Creedence Clearwater Revival
Really well made and well written music, but for hicks. This is an unprecedented moment as, vastly familiar as I am with them, it is the first time I can remember listening to CCR intentionally.
"Who'll Stop The Rain" rips.
Some classics in this bunch that'll always land during a cinema scene needle drop. CCR really cornered the market on 2/3 of the quintessential "Vietnam war movie scene" cuts:
"Fortunate Son" (off another album)
"Run Through The Jungle"
They'll never top Hendrix's "All Along The Watchtower" cover however.
I sincerely look forward to never hearing the song "Ooby Dooby" again in my life.
"Looking Out My Back Door" sounds like a Muppet jug band. It's mildly comforting but altogether unnecessary. Such is the 11 minute long "Uh Hoiiiyde It Through the Grapevine" cover which is an original and competent take but I'll never be reaching for Fogerty's vocals when Marvin Gaye's version exists.
This is good music, I'd never dream to slap it out of anyone's ears. I won't be aching to hear it again however, when I inevitably hear it come on classic rock radio playing on some Uber dashboard in a southern state.
3
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Wed Mar 27 2024
What's That Noise?
Coldcut
Fun and innovative for the era, this collection is an intense kitchen-sink approach to capturing a huge range of electronic music capabilities of the time. Great samples, vocalists, and even song structure. This calls to mind "Paul's Boutique" in it's approach to sampling everything on planet earth, but in a tasteful way.
Not an everyday listen, but complements to the chef.
4
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Thu Mar 28 2024
Rock 'N Soul
Solomon Burke
Really solid r&b that occasionally subverts your expectation and although I don't know this album well, seems to hold a large place in history. Excited to know more about it. Didn't blow me away but really enjoyed it, will need to listen more.
3
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Wed Apr 10 2024
Our Aim Is To Satisfy
Red Snapper
This album rips. Never knew anything about this album before but clear that this ensemble plays with a lot of groove and impact while integrating traditional methods and technology. I'll be digging into their catalogue and given their unrelenting experimentation with instruments and genre, no doubt I'll be enjoying every bit of it.
4
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Thu Apr 11 2024
Ambient 1/Music For Airports
Brian Eno
This album is functionally good for a lot of things, but let me ask, have you ever listened to this in an actual airport? Crank this thing up on headphones, get to the airport early for your flight, dad-style, and move slowly through the airport. Stand on the moving sidewalks, speak to no one, take everything in around you while you let this 4 track collection rip.
What results is a very calming, cinematic experience. The title is not just Eno being cheeky, this is extremely well designed music for the headspace you’re in just before travel, in the purgatory of society where nobody is exactly living their ideal life. For better or worse, we’re waiting at the gates of a complete reset of our circumstances, and Eno is there to give us some simultaneous reflection and peace of mind about that.
The concept came to him in an actual airport, anxious before his own travel, which was not exactly eased by the top 40 coming out of the universal speakers. It was a new, beautifully designed airport, however, and why shouldn’t every sensory experience about it be as meticulously designed?
This is, in part, why I feel ambient music today seems to be having another moment. It’s music architecturally designed for the optimum headspace for a variety of states. It’s a functional tool in your toolbox for being present in oneself, for reflection on the impact of the past, all in the service of an optimal future. Maybe more calm, reflection, and stillness is what the world needs more of in recent years, whereever it is we’re headed.
5
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Mon Apr 15 2024
Sheer Heart Attack
Queen
This 1 starts out predictably spazzy as fuck but not for nothing, it continues as an engaging, diverse, and fun album through and through. So much creative ferocity on this album and a nice example of a formerly proggy band using their musical intelligence to create smart rock that actually lands with a wide-reaching audience.
4
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Wed Apr 17 2024
Moving Pictures
Rush
Rush gets made fun of a lot but this album rips. Their strength as a power-trio made up of 3 virtuosic musicians allow them to hone in on a certain idea and maximize it's sonic potential. The result is straight-ahead bangers that are still packed with intelligent ideas, but reduced to their most potent elements. Nicely done, you weird Canadian boundary-pushers.
4
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Thu Apr 18 2024
Get Behind Me Satan
The White Stripes
As opposed to his solo "Blunderbuss" album, this effort by Jack White captures his range in a pleasingly cohesive way. Despite switching methods between his signature heavy guitar to marimbas, piano, acoustic guitar, and more, Jack & Meg cracked open the snow globe to their whole universe of sonic capabilities and influences here.
Memorable hooks, poignant songwriting throughout, Meg on point, larger range of production but with excellent sounding analog recording style. 5/5
5
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Fri Apr 19 2024
I Want To See The Bright Lights Tonight
Richard Thompson
Don't know anything about Richard and Linda previously, but reading that they had parted ways around 1982. Before they did, they captured a lot of folky magic on this album, among apparently others. I like the balance of edge and grit with equal parts romance and empathy heard here.
Some rock, psych, trad Irish, & Greenwich influences going on here. Worth exploring more of.
3
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Mon Apr 22 2024
Rio
Duran Duran
This album comes in like a ton of bricks. Whether you're into the 80's new wave pop scene or not, these boys bring on this release. The bassist in particular is coming in hot with some real chops and great tone, cutting through the soaring synthesizers. Banger after banger, this one is a classic.
4
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Tue Apr 23 2024
Highway 61 Revisited
Bob Dylan
Just look at that cover with Dylan sitting there looking super cross but with his silky party shirt on, ready for hijinks. That's the vibe of this album for me, a lot of fun but on Dylan's terms through and through. Folkies want him to keep doing acoustic? Nope it's rockin time says Dylan. Want the musicians to tune their instruments? If Dylan can't tune his own voice to be in key then no can do. Want some tracks about having a good time? Nope, best he can do is some rollicking organ & some fun hooks here and there.
Starting out with one of the best "told ya so" tracks ever, "Like A Rolling Stone" is brilliant opening track as, even if I'm not in the mood for Dylan, I am 5 seconds after I drop the needle on that song.
5
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Wed Apr 24 2024
16 Lovers Lane
The Go-Betweens
Very earnest, sincere, but laid back to listen to. I'd have to give this more listens to really peel back the layers, but I altogether enjoyed this without it knocking my socks off. Definitely a place for this again at some point.
3
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Thu Apr 25 2024
Unhalfbricking
Fairport Convention
Very big range in folk seen here. Some cool hippie jam moments like "A Sailor's Life". Some sea shanty sounds, some Celtic trad like "Percy's Song", and some Joni Mitchell/ Laurel Canyon vibes for good measure. This isn't entirely my bag but I'm appreciating it quite a bit. If I came about a bonfire in the late 60's and these folks were singing their folky folk songs, I'd stay and hang out. Seems like a good scene.
Music is quality, feelings are earnest but not heavy handed. Good times.
4
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Fri Apr 26 2024
Electric Warrior
T. Rex
Majestic departure from his early Tolkien freak folk days, this album is already one of my all time favorites. His one of a kind larger than life personality is dripping throughout the whole album and album has no skips. Some total bangers on here, as well as some slower joints such as the reflective “Cosmic Dancer”.
Follow it up with “The Slider” & turn it up for track 1. Bolan forever.
5
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Mon Apr 29 2024
The Score
Fugees
The Score sees the Fugee's hit their stride while making their collective's unexpected final statement in one swoop before going their 3 separate ways. The result is a collection that is equally lyrical as well as hook-driven. Plenty of these tracks will live on as instantly effective needle drops forever while scores of the the bars wait with more layers of depth for new listeners to discover.
The collision of 3 independent and strong personality types working together in a project has long been a compelling formula, from the rock power trio, to a small jazz combo, to 3-MC equation of hip hop. Run DMC, De La, Tribe, Beasties, TLC, Cypress, Def Squad, and so many more prove how formidable a sound can be formed with this kind of lyrical triangulation. Also impressive when a trio can stick together through stylistic changes, creative disagreements, and personality clashes, and it's understandable that longevity wasn't meant to be.
This album remains a shooting star forever flaring brightly in the CV of Pras, Wyclef, & Hill.
4
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Fri May 03 2024
Survivor
Destiny's Child
The absolute highlight of this album is 4 tracks in when Beyonce interpolates weirdo italo hit "Tarzan Boy" by one-hit-wonder Baltimora, a track that totally rips but sadly that album won't appear on this 1001 list.
I did not enjoy these tracks when they came out, but was never able to place exactly why. Now, looking through the lense of nostalgia, I have to say while I'm enjoying the fun and a few of the production details of the tracks moreso than I did back then, this album still could have been quite a bit better. In short, all the sentiments feel cherry-picked for sales rather than coming from somewhere deep down. The least disingenuous-feeling moment is the end where they have an outro song where they take turns complimenting each other for 4 minutes.
It sold great and helped in launching a massive career for Beyonce so it obviously resonated (partially because it was marketed to death) but for every empowering moment of independence or self-actualization, there's a ton of petty, trite, disempowering moments. Product of the era, I suppose, but even back then, I remember recognizing how thunderous an effective track "Independent Women, Pt. 1" is and what a loss it is to water it down by the constant shout out to the mediocre movie it was attached to (Charlie's Angels). What could have been a legit feminist anthem feels like it was only made to be a prop in a movie trailer, which is disappointing.
With all the producers and songwriters on this there ought to be more personality here, but I'm walking away not feeling like I know anything about these women as people except that "they are the best, they look great, they'll get the man.." ect. Compare that to the era's TLC who have 3 distinct inner world's they attempt to explore throughout every album.
Who is Kelly Rowland and Michelle whatshername..? I know zero about them and all I know about Beyonce in that era is that she was "furiously independent". Not when it came to writing a song by herself-- her father and manager even worked to be sure credit was taken away from the actual songwriters in Beyonce's interview responses.
All in all there's some cool production choices here, the singing is fantastic, and one can't help but want to root for them in the era this came out, but overall this is lacking in cohesion and concept. I want more out of these 3.
Now, as a courtesy to anyone reading, if you, like me, are in need of a palette-cleanser, might I recommend a 1985 smash hit entitled "Tarzan Boy" by the almighty Baltimora. We can imagine that in a more perfect world, somewhere out there, Beyonce is still singing along.
2