I never really got into the Pixies, so this was my first real introduction to them. I wouldn't use this album to introduce them to other people though. It is a fine rock album, but I think it settles for "a fine rock album that is played in a bar to mask uncomfortable silences". Nothing really stuck out to me in this album the way "Sgt Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band" or "Kid A" does. It appears that the albums preceding Bossanova are the ones to really check out.
I thought I was getting a punk album for some reason so when I heard the Cuban sounds I thought "fun intro, lets see where it goes". I try not to google anything before I listen so that way if its brand new I go in with an open mind. Once the second song hit, I knew I was in for a treat. It had me thinking I was back in Epcot, or an episode of Burn Notice. The tone and tempo makes these songs seem upbeat but I dont know the words. Either way, I dig it.
This album has it all: an organ solo, walls of amps cranked all the way up, catchy riffs, catchy lyrics, and soaring melodies. The first of only two albums they would release, this album starts hard and doesn't let up for the next 38 minutes.
A highly rated album, this feels like the precursor to Radiohead. It has a lot of interesting things going on, but the songs seem to labor on longer than they should. Very repetitive in both the lyrics, which are minimal, and the melodies from the synths. I can see why, back in 1977, this was a ground breaking album but listening to it today isn't the easiest thing to do.
A departure from previous Byrds albums, they leaned heavily on Jesus and twang, sadly neither of which really helped them here. Sonically its not bad, as it was the first Byrds album to be released on Stereo, and you can hear some good guitar and steel pedal riffs but the lyrics fall flat here.
I dont know if I know a single Fiona Apple song but I do know the name. Apple's debut album "Tidal" hits from the opening and maintains a raw energy through the first 4 songs. I think pop is a bit disingenuous here. I would call this "girl grunge". It doesn't have the grizzliness of Cobain's tone but the lyrics, tone of music, and overall vibe really strikes me as a bit grungy.
90s era hard rock just has a sound. The lyrics are pushed in the back a bit so the singer has to work harder to make them come through the amps and drums. Screaming Trees isn't one I've heard of before, but they have a nice little melodic feel to them that comes through the kind of grungy wall of sound. The opening track had a really interesting sitar solo, something you really dont hear. It's like they saw what George Harrison did and took it to the next level. That is pretty neat.
Another one I've never heard, but knew Ray Charles. And I think this album so far is near perfect. It has upbeat songs, ballads, soaring lyrics and melodies, swinging backing arrangements and soul. It's fun to catch the little bits of other songs Ray uses in his songs on this album.
Starting off with one of his most famous songs, Prince starts "1999" on an upbeat and doesnt let up. This album, Prince's fifth, helped codify the Minneapolis sound - heavy in the drums and synths. This album also helped Prince break into the TV rounds, with two videos here being featured on MTV.
The Yardbirds are one of those bands everyone says they know, but can't really name a song. And thats ok! This isn't some gate keeping thing but instead a way to say how much the Yardbirds had an impact but it was less because of their music and more for who the members were. Three of the biggest guitar players came up through the Yardbrids: Eric Clapton, Jimmy Page, and Jeff Beck. The sound, a mix of blues rock, is the foundation of the bands each person went to after the Yardbirds.
This album is all Jeff Beck. He ranks up there in the guitar player pantheon but I feel is always overshadowed by Page and Clapton, among others. I think more people should deep dive Jeff Beck, he is a fantastic player, and it really comes through on "Jeff's Boogie" from this album.
The only Christian Aguilera I knew was the one song off her first album "Genie In A Bottle" as it played on MTV all the time when I was watching MTV heavily. When I saw this album as my album of the day, I was a little apprehensive as I'm not a pop person and wasn't thrilled. However it's clear this isn't a carbon copy pop album as the one I am familiar with. Aguilera really pulls from her influences of the era jazz swing era with sultry vocals, some techniques to make her sound more old timey (like on "I Got Trouble") and overall elevates herself here a bit.
Few albums have such a distinct opening track like Led Zeppelin with the two beats followed by the hi hat count. It set the scene for what would become the band Led Zeppelin. They started the movement towards hard rock, leading to bands like Black Sabbath, Creedance Clearwater Revival, others. The album is an ode to the blues, with Jimmy Page masterfully building up emotional riffs while John Paul Jones and John Bonham kept the beat with Robert Plant adding haunting vocals to accompany adding haunting vocals to accompany Page's riffs.
California punk is fun. It is bright, upbeat, and feels like you are sitting on a beach watching surfers. It hits you the same way the sun does first thing in the morning, full of life and ready for the day. The vocals are shrill and high pitched but it matches the rest of the vibe. The guitars are on the back pickup with the tone knob turned all the way up, ready to make you feel alive after a dark winter.
The name Allman uttered around guitar players will illicit some sort of reaction. A lot of people recognize Gregg and Duane Allman as two of guitar's greatest players with Duane really leading the pack. A massive what-if exists considering how young Duane died. He was already a pro at slide guitar and masted blues riffs. [[At Fillmore East]] put them on the national map, really pushing their sound out to the masses. It is 6 hours of non-stop blues rock packed with great slide riffs and catchy songs.
Everyone knows the song "The Weight" from The Band but I feel a lot of their other discography goes under the radar. This album is a concept album of America. The songs tell stories of experiences had across the country. Utilizing all kinds of instruments to make it happen, the Band put together a good album that anyone familiar with "The Weight" would be able to get into.
New Wave isnt a big thing for me. Obviously the first track is incredibly well known. The next two weren't bad but not really my jam. Didn't realize Boy George was in this band.
I can't stand Fleetwood Mac so I listened to one song just to confirm it.
Queen may have popularized [[glam rock]] but Bon Jovi definitely added on to it. "Slippery When Wet" combines heavier guitar sounds with catchy refrains. Songs like "Livin On A Prayer", "Wanted Dead Or Alive", and "You Give Love A Bad Name", you can listen to these songs and instantly think of how loud an arena would be when everyone shouts those songs in unison.
Not bad, not something I would have picked up. Has the typical British punk sound, very nasal guitars up front before the whole band comes in. Sometimes its a bit too much but the way the band sounds chaotic the singer comes through as a steading voice. That part is very neat.
Not bad, a little more electronic for me. But also kind of fun! I imagine this is where Meyer Hawthorne got some inspiration from.
My only knowledge of LCD Soundsystem was hearing "Daft Punk Is Playing At My House" on repeat when I worked at Hollister. I can see why people would rank this album highly. I imagine when it came out it was highly ground breaking. Just not my scene.
I'd like to think the opening track inspired Tycho. Its a very light and airy album that doesn't take up a lot of space. You can put it on, and just do things without having to worry about being deeply introspective of the album, the lyrics, the riffs, or anything else. It just exists in a way that a lot of other music can not.
A very upbeat album that spans genres. He has assists from people like Ron Carter, bringing in a distinct jazz vibe, Brazilian maestro Airto Moreira for more laid back Latin vibes and it comes through immediately.
Live album can be hit or miss. This is a hit. Even though I wasn't alive for it, I can feel the energy. The mixing, which is always hard live, really captures the sound of the band cleanly. I felt the opening riff to Smoke On the Water through my headphones.
Feels like a spiritual precursor to STRFKR. Very spacey, ephemeral, and vibe-y.
What if we took the Beatles, put them in sunny California, and let them rip. Thats what happened here I am sure of it.
I was unfamiliar with Blur and the beats they put down. I really dig it.
Look, the 70s were weird in small part thanks to this stuff. Herbie Hancock was pretty much a legend at this point after a decade of playing amongst other jazz luminaries like Miles, Wayne Shorter, Grant Green, Lee Morgan, and others. Unfortunately the times changes and cool jazz wasn't cool. But you should go listen to "Takin' Off" - which has the correct version of "Watermelon Man".
I can kind of understand the hype for Nine Inch Nails, but its not my thing.
I dont know much about Arcade Fire in general, but a very christian album wouldnt be the one I select at the top one of theirs.
All I knew about Leonard Cohen is he wrote "Hallejulah" but more familiar with [[Jeff Buckley's]] version, so this was a bit different from what I was expecting. However I dont hate it. Its got a "I dont care" type vibe as he belts out lyrics in that deep tenor.
