I've listened to a few T. Rex songs and have two of these songs from this album on my liked songs (Mambo Sun) and (Life's a Gas). T. Rex is very chill while also still being very cool rock and roll. Cosmic Dancer is another favorite. The strings that come in on the chorus make my brain feel gooey and good. I hate that Jeepster reminds me of the Tarantino film but it's such a classic banger that surprisingly didn't get more air time. Not that Tarantino films are bad, I just dislike him as a person. I added Jeepster to my liked songs, again. I feel like Spotify will just play certain artists so much that you become burned out by the song, which is why I originally removed it. Hopefully I don't have the same problem. Monolith is an interesting down tempo song where Marc wails above his slight fuzz guitar. The harmonies in the back just add the cherry on top. I was unaware that Bolan died in 1977 right before the final release of their last album. Such a loss considering the potential he had for further projects. I'm certain he would have had a thriving and interesting solo run. RIP Marc... Lean Woman Blues is interesting. It suggest he has fallen for a woman who doesn't feel the same way about him, thus blues. The solo is a choatic masterpiece. We all know "Get it On" the most played song of T. Rex. But for some reason I never paid attention to the lyrics so much. Built like a car? Does that mean she has curves? Teeth like a hydra. Now this could mean she speaks like the devil or is a native english speaker? Who knows to be honest. He mentions slim in the beginning so maybe he is saying she is slim waisted but curvy in other places, thus she dances when she walks. I noticed a parallel with Planet Queen and The Pixies "where is my mind." The intros are almost exactly the same. Fair to say The Pixies would be influenced by T. Rex. Turns out I am right... "In a 1988 interview, the Pixies' songwriter said that T. Rex's "if it sounds cool" approach influenced his writing." Is this entire album about one woman? Every song is about a woman. Oh I guess it's about androgyny and sexuality rather than one woman. So Marc is just a sexual being. Which makes sense for Glam Rock. Girl is probably the weakest song on the album so far but still better than many other bands good songs. The Motivator is quite similar to the groove of Get it On. I wonder if this song was played together with Get it On. "Life's a Gas" is missing out on a potential life partner but realizing it all really doesn't matter at all does it? Poetic of him to say "I hope it's going to last." Realization of ones own mortality. So Marc just came into the scene, started a revolution in music and went back to his home planet. Okay Rip Off is a gem. Honestly sounds like a modern punk band song. The lyrics suggest to me gay and straight sex, "rockin in the nude, I'm feeling such a dude" ... "See your baby's stud, sliding in my mud." I mean come on, pretty straightforward there. I love it. Being bisexual myself I am really relating to this album and it's sexuality. I'm sure if everyone in the 70s listened to this without hearing the lyrics they would have never known, and perhaps would have been less received in the more conservative 70s. Of course hippies were different then. Raw Ramp is the 70s version of "Roses" by Outkast. The lyrics at the end suggest he was seduced by an older woman. The end also goes back to Bang a Gong style. Reminds me of Pink Floyd using overarching themes in their albums to tie it in together. I'm sure live they could just jam and weave in and out of these songs. More like a jam band. Overall this album deserves it's place in the catalogue of most influential albums. This sounds like it came out in the early 2000s because it was so far ahead of it's time. After reading a bit on Marc and his career it appears he wanted to always keep this sound in all his future projects and either didn't want to change or didn't know how to proceed. Many compared him to Bowie who was also influenced by T. Rex. The difference is that Bowie changed with the times. Who's to say if Marc hadn't died that he would have changed or made a more experimental album. Either way this album is a crowning achievement that any artist could be proud of. The themes represented in here appeal more to me than Bowies tongue in cheek approach. I noticed a lot of reoccurring lyrics in this album. One word used a lot is mud, and walking. This has inspired me to want to know more about Marc.
Great album, inspirational and lyrically profound and relevant today. Flavor Flav is okay. The music imo is not that great, even by the standards of 1988. Some of the beats are really good but the high pitched 4/4 repeating patterns can drive you insane. Great album, but probably wont revisit anytime soon.
Starting with P-Funk, which is a classic that was already on my liked songs. Parliment has always been in my wheelhouse. Though I haven't gave this entire album a proper listen. So I'm gonna kick back and let my ear drums be soothed by funk. I love how tongue in cheek this band is, "Let me put on my sunglasses so I can see what I'm doing." Most of the lyrics are very about making love, but also playing funk, which go hand in hand I'm sure. I love the outlook of a horny alien coming to Earth to give us mortals a party and a good time. The samples in Mothership are sooo good. Let Me Ride by Dre and Regulate by Nate Dogg is where I first heard this sample of course. With Unfunky UFO I am reminded of The Mighty Boosh show about how George Clinton kicked the funk over the mothership and it landed at the bottom of a lake for Old Greg to find. Where is the funk today? Those keys were so impressive on The Bumps Bump song that I had to look up who it was. Of course it's a musical prodigy, Bernie Worrell. Who played with the Washington Symphony at age 10! Bootsy calls him the Jimi Hendrix of keyboards. I think I agree. He also did Talking Heads for Stop Making Sense! And Fela Kuti. I never knew, but now it makes sense. He used the minimoog keyboard for Parliament. Anything Moog from the 70s was gold. Speaking of he also used a gold wah wah. Alright went on a deep dive about the sounds and keyboards used by Bernie. Definitely adding him to my list of innovators. Well Handcuffs is a little problematic but this seems to be a theme from all these albums from the 70s. "I have to keep you barefoot and pregnant." Rules for you, but not for me mentality. God bless this song even says they don't care if they appear chauvinist. Just look at the lyrics. This album is just a party. Next up is the classic, "We want the funk, give up the funk." Overall this is a classic album, and now I am seeing that George Clinton and Pariament are coming to Ventura Music Hall. I might have to buy tickets, even though my wife is probably pissed about all the ones I've already bought.
The first song out the gates is a testament to Nina Simones range. This blues song is clearer, more guttural and beautiful than many of the classic blues songs in history. I Love your Loving Ways! Four Women is simply incredible. A no holds back message to the world around her about the power of women. Omg, I looked up what this song is about and it makes it so sad. It's about the Birmingham bomb that killed four women at the 16th street baptism church. Such an incredible song and performance from Nina Simone. The different viewpoints and her voice crescendoing at the end. Just, it takes your breath away. What more can I say is such a nice song to come next to. This reminds me of my devotion to my wife. I always forget how incredible Nina's voice is. God bless. Break Down sounds almost like a trippy 60s prog rock anthem. Wild is the Wind, this version infinitely better than David Bowie's. I may be biased against him considering his actions in his life that made me not like him. Plus, he doesn't have an ounce of the soul that Nina has. Listening to this album while working is difficult. I want to just do a deep dive on Nina and her life. Maybe another time. Black is the Color of my True loves hair is probably my favorite song from the album. Short album, but powerful. This is something I for sure want to get on vinyl now.
This album showing up is hilarious. I just showed this album to my teenage son and said this was mostly what I listened to in the past. I could probably sing this entire album. Let's start out with Burnout which starts with that blasting drum intro straight into the album. I love albums that do this. No crazy intro, just a simple sweet drum fill and immediately starting. As a 40 year old punk this Burnout song still holds true. Having a Blast has such fun breaks in the song that make it exciting and fresh even today. Tre Cool really is cool. Chump is great for anyone who's had a friend or past ex that was just not who you thought they were. And in the end become your enemy. Pulling Teeht is about being with the wrong abusive woman and saying you love her just so she won't be violent with you. The swing of Basket Case is so damn good. Like the drums, the bass. Honestly, Mike Dirnt and Tre Cool are incredible musicians. As well as Billy Joe of course. But it would be interesting to see what projects those two could get into. This entire album flows with the tone and feel of the bass and drums. Green Day is such a great fucking band. They get crap in the punk scene as being too trendy but honestly their actions even now scream punk. They deserve a huge place in Punk Rock and Rock music in general. I don't know if they decided to make the best punk band but they definitely succeeded and I will always sing their praises. Those drum fills are so crisp on She. Sassafras is probably my favorite from the album. It never fails to bring me back to being in my garage as a kid and attempting to play the drums and just jamming. Still now my garage is my sanctuary from everything. This is inspiring me to go home and play drums now. In The End is a song that would have fit well on 1039, as the sound is similar. More charged, faster. The drawn out sooo with the short stop is amazing. Then the rolling break at the end on the snares as Tre just wrecks. Tre Cool is someone I want to look more into now. F.O.D. gives some insight into how Billy creates. Just a slow jam on the acoustic. Then that feedback kicks in and...you know what I can't explain it because I think you suck! It's kinda sad to just hear All by Myself not on a cassette tap like I am used to. We used to have to look for this hidden songs!
This is my first listen of a band I actually didn't know. Currently "bury me deep in love." The production is really good on this first track. Almost a Roxy Music vibe. Love the keys in this. Not really a fan of this song. Kinda repetitive. Does give me that post punk sound but I don't think I would search this out. Kelly's Blues has a great intro. Love the guitar and beat with the bass. Don't think I have ever heard a bass with this sound. Kelly's Blues is better imo. Trick of the Light, it's okay. I don't know. This album has yet to really catch me yet. The singer is great, production is great. But it's just too sappy for me. Hometown Farewell Kiss really solidified my dislike for this haha. That guttural Heugh he does in the song cracks me up. Yeah, this album is not good...for me at least. I can see the appeal. Especially in the past and it's influence on post punk. But the lyrics aren't that great. The music is sappy and takes itself too seriously.
