1001 Albums Summary

So, I grew up on the Beatles, and their later solo work, this was one of my mom's favorite albums, dad liked it, but preferred Harrison. So I've heard this album a *TON*, I adore the two big hits that start the song for different reasons. But the rest of the album is just... a good 70s album, but not exactly my style of Yacht Rock hits that I fall into as comfort music, it's more experimental. I know a lot of the backstory of the album, the band had two members quit JUST before the album, and the previous two albums were kinda disappointing, so this was a make or break album, and it absolutely was a hit. Track list: "Band on the Run" – 5:12 Reminiscent of the Abbey Road Medley, a sprawling song that feels like Paul's style combining multiple themes into a coherent single if long song. Very fun and exactly my jam. "Jet" – 4:09 The other massive hit from the album, quite fun, and poppy, very much in Paul's more upbeat styling. A wonderful one two punch to open the album. "Bluebird" – 3:23 Pretty, fun, but nothing to write home about, a little repetitive in places. Things needed to come down and be quieter after how hard Jet hit. "Mrs. Vandebilt" – 4:40 This feels like a deeper album track Paul would have put on a later Beatles album. Not bad, but nothing special. "Let Me Roll It" – 4:51 A stranger mix of his harsher rock sounds with a gentle ballad. By this point it's a nice solid album, but this song feels like him trying to emulate Lennon's style. "Mamunia" – 4:51 Yup. More Paul. While this is more of good Paul, it's just... dragging and repetitive. He really needs John to kick him out of ruts. "No Words" – 2:35 Weirdly, this sounds more like a Harrison song. But it's the shortest song on the album, and it's a shame, because so far it's the third best song on the whole album. "Picasso's Last Words (Drink to Me)" – 5:49 Yay Paul doing his Americana shtick... I've always hated when he does these, it's not a bad one, but eh... I think Elton John does the schlocky Americana so much better than Paul does. And this one also does the "let's jam three or four songs into a single song", including throw backs to Jet. I get what he's going for, but Band on the Run, Live and Let Die, and the Abbey Road Medley do this better than this one. "Nineteen Hundred and Eighty-Five" – 5:28 Nice closer, but this sounds like he's emulating Brian Wilson. A stronger song (likely 4th place for the album for me) to wrap the album, but it just goes on TOO long, just when you think it's about to end it starts again. Overall thoughts: I mean, it saved Wings. It redeemed Paul, and is widely considered the best post Beatles album by any former Beatle. But, I'd frankly rather listen to the two singles, or some Beatles albums. Just like John went kinda sideways with his solo stuff, Paul really needed someone to tell him when his ideas are bad. Favorite song: Jet Least Favorite: Picasso's Last Words (Drink to Me) Album rating: 80/100 Familiarity: 90/100 Would I listen again: Yup, it's in my rotation for Beatles albums, so it comes up now and then. Not bad at all, but yeah, could be better.

I need to check how many of his albums are on this list, because... WHY? This is very middle of the road for him, I mean, it's not bad, but there are better albums (and singles) from Curtis. I'd never listened to this album of his before, but my dad loved the artist. It's... nothing special, nothing great, but a good (not great) example of the genre and his talents. I can listen to it on a technical level, and love what is done in songwriting, recording, and production, but for just casual listening, I'm not fully on board. "Billy Jack" 6:10 Funky, fun, but slow. This isn't exactly my normal jam as an entree, but more a side dish. "When Seasons Change" 5:28 Love the bells to open.another nice slow funky track, but by this point his falsetto is starting to grate on me a little. "So in Love" 5:15 The only single on the album, it's the strongest of the album so far, but very much more of the same, but more upbeat than the previous two. "Jesus" 6:13 Hey a bit of very slow Gospel! A change of pace without feeling out of place on the album. "Blue Monday People" 4:50 Well, a step up from the last track, back up in tempo while still feeling Gospel... At this point I'm grooving, but not enjoying. This album so far is what I would have as background music, not active listening music. "Hard Times" 3:45 Well, this sounds like it was written for Blacksploitation movies (which he did a lot of music for), it's the B-Side for So In Love, so it's more famous, and so far the second strongest track on the album. "Love to the People" 4:07 B Side to a non-album single, and... well... at least it's short. I'm kinda over the album by now. I simply lost interest. I can appreciate the technical sides, the writing, the recording, the mixing, but the results just... not my thing. Favorite Song: So in Love Least Favorite Song: Jesus Album Rating: 65/100 Familiarity Rating: 5/100 Would I listen again?: Nah. I'd let some of his stuff filter in, but I really didn't fully enjoy this.

Okay, now we're talking! This is considered the blueprint for the Blacksploitation soundtracks, and was one of his best solo works. This is a huge album, and so much better than the No Place Like America album. Also much easier to listen to in my opinion. I'm more familiar with some of the stuff on this album, but never fully listened to it. "Little Child Runnin' Wild" GREAT start to the album, soul, smooth, and just so emotional with strong lyrics and the instrumentation is great, perfect way to begin without a really grating falsetto. "Pusherman" Falsetto is back, but... it's not as grating as later, this feels SMOOTH, and is dropping a great feel and sound for the movie, while standing on it's own two feet. The fact that the album is more driving and up tempo really helps with his voice and style. "Freddie's Dead" First single off the album, and the biggest hit, yes bigger than the title track. And just the GROOOVE... oooh, I love it, everything about this just makes me happy. "Junkie Chase" (instrumental) Funky action soundtrack piece, WOW those brass hits, and the wah-wah guitar... it all goes together so beautifully, it's just a brilliant piece and you can just picture the kind of chase scenes it would underscore. "Give Me Your Love (Love Song)" Slowest track so far, a solid breather after Junkie Chase, and still so stunningly funky with the bass and percussive piano chords. It just keeps moving while being a nice change of pace. "Eddie You Should Know Better" And this is even slower, this points towards the more soul feel of There's No Place Like America, and this is more orchestral feeling, deeper and richer. But this is now too slow, we need to pick back up again after this. "No Thing on Me (Cocaine Song)" Backing beat is picked back up in speed, with a spoken word stat that is high range, and then when the singing starts back into falsetto, starting to grate a little. But SO smooth and nice for the track. "Think" (instrumental) Oh man... the oboe. This is just such a good 70s jazz piece, it feels like something the Not Ready for Primetime Players (SNL's band) would play to close out a night. It's Just a vibe, and with just the right hint of meloncholy. The oboe is what sets it apart, it's not the sound you'd expect on a piece llke this, and it just makes it so much more elevated! "Superfly" And the second single, and title track. SO funky, SO energetic, so *70's* This is one anyone that knows this era knows, and for good reason. It's also VERY much the model for title tracks for Blacksploitation films, compare it to Shaft (which came out a year prior) and the similarities in the styles are obvious. It's just fun, if VERY much of it's era. Overall thoughts: FUN! I mean, it's dated in style, and feels a little exploitative and stereotypical in places, but it not only succeeded at what it was attempting to do, but became the standard for it. This is Curtis's best solo album, and the whole thing is just a blast. Two great singles, and really what I was talking about in There's No Place Like America on how good he can get. Favorite Song: Think Least Favorite Song: Eddie You Should Know Better Album Rating: 8.5/10 Familiarity: 6/8 Would I listen again: Oh *HECK* yeah. This is fun in all the right ways, and the instrumentals are just so damn awesome they set my creativity off! VERY fun!!

And on to the next one. I'll be honest, never heard of the act, and I'm not doing much research before I listen. So I'm going into this with a familiarity of 0/10. So, no time like the present, let's dive in with the album. "Chan Chan" Oh. OH! This is GOOD. No hablo español. So the lyrics aren't meaningful, but wow, the sound... this is gonna be fun one isn't it? OH! That TRUMPET! Yeah, I'm in love. I was about to talk about the spanish guitar and bongos being so subtle, but that muted trumpet was such a perfect spice. Yeah, if this is setting a tone I'm gonna love this album. "De camino a la vereda" This just... feels like Havana or San Juan. It feels tropical and sunny. And now I need to go make a rum drink, because DAMN. Caribbean, and specifically Cuban things like this are my JAM. "El cuarto de Tula" Yeah, this is GOOD. This whole album so far would go on my Tiki Bar playlist. It's just the right vibe. I'm loving the whole thing so far. The talent and ability is amazing, and you can just tell they are friends and having FUN. This feels like a party jam session that got recorded. "Pueblo Nuevo" Oh! PIANO. This is a different feel, and I'm here for it, nice piano jazz. This is the kind of stuff my grandfather and father used to play. (Grandfather was a professional jazz pianist) This gives me happy memories. "Dos gardenias" Ooooh, down beat. LOVE it. This feels... Smokey. Soulful and gorgeous. This is so good with that muted trumpet so forward. "¿Y tú qué has hecho?" Oooh, this has a more traditional sound, and the duet is stunning. The baritone and tenor are blending nice, even if the bari is sounding a little croaky. This is just great! Wait, is it the tenor that is croaky? This is weird, I can hear one of them, but not which. "Veinte años" Just realizing these are all latin standards. THAT'S why it sounds so familiar... this is COOL. They are so talented and making them all their own. This is also the first female voice this far forward, in another duet. "El carretero" Back to the party! That upright base is FAT, I'm loving how forward it is, and the washboard is a nice driving percussion in the background. This is just expertly crafted. "Candela" The percussion!! And then the ensemble singing. Gosh... this sounds exactly like what I'd hear in the bodegas in Tampa where I would buy cubanos when I was in High School. I can practically smell the stewed pork, the toasted bread, and the pickles. Now I want a sandwich. "Amor de loca juventud" Wow, this one is familar, it sounds so much like some stuff my grandfather would play. Actually a little distracting because of that, but so good! "Orgullecida" Huh... again! Except with a gorgeous country twang to it, this is a treat! Steel Guitar is so fun to listen to. It either sounds tropical or country, this does both at once! And once the trumpet kicked in, it almost sounded like a Louis Prima track. "Murmullo" More Piano! Yay! Oh... wow... this is GOOD. the brushed snares, the bass, and the duet with the piano, it's just nostalgic and so good. "Buena Vista Social Club" This feels like a wonderful extension of the previous track. Just with no vocals. "La bayamesa" And a nice smooth finish to the album, this wtapped perfectly and with the drink I made earlier I'm just floaring and happy. GREAT hour of music and experience. Gosh, this was a surprise. SO much fun, so enjoyable and weirdly nostalgic in odd ways. ALso some of the combinations of instrumentations were unexpected in charming and bewitching ways that seemed to blend genres and just make this album more unique. It was a joy to listen to from start to finish, and such a wonderful experience. Favorite Song: Candela Least Favorite Song: Buena Vista Social Club Album rating 9.5/10 Familiarity: 4/10 Would I listen to again:This is my favorite so far. This whole album has been put on my Tiki Bar playlist, and yeah, I would vibe with this, expecially on a beach with flip flops and a cuba libra in my hand.

Pre-Listening thoughts: First live album from Nirvana, recorded just a few months before Kurt killed himself. I'm familiar with the album, I think my brother owned it. Nirvana was a great act, and this was their final real performance. When it was recorded it wasn't meant as their final word, but ended up being it. I've listened to this a lot, but it's been nearly 30 years since I listened a lot. This is a concert, not an album, so it's kinda… different. About a Girl: Acoustic really helps Nirvana. I think they are much easier to understand, and hear the talent in the performance. Great track to start the performance. Come As You Are: And now onto Nevermind, good to get something in here quickly. As good as the other two albums are, this is what got them famous, Bleach was only popular AFTER the fact. And any music hipsters can bite me, unless you were in Seattle, you weren't listening to Bleach until after Nevermind. Jesus Doesn't Want Me for a Sunbeam: Now, to fill out the setlist, a cover of a Vasolines song. I love the accordion! This works well with Kurt and Dave's vocals. The Man Who Sold the World: Another cover, this time of David Bowie! At least Kurt was open about screwing up, as it's a challenging song. He's doing a great cover here. Honestly, I think I prefer this over the original. Pennyroyal Tea: Into the final album for a couple tracks. Kurt solo on guitar and vocals, This is really a great sound. And show just how damn talented he is. (Even if I really prefer Dave's voice, Kurt's voice was the sound for Nirvana) Dumb: The second (of three) In Utero tracks, the cello is a great sound that comes clear in this, and was just what this needed to add some depth with it being unplugged. Polly: And back to Nevermind for another three tracks. It's interesting that they went with deeper tracks rather than the ones you'd expect like Lithium of In Bloom. All are great tracks, so no complaints, but still it's interesting. On a Plain: This gets into why I'm not a massive fan of Nirvana, the music is very repetitive… this is just… filler in my book. Something In the Way: And the last Nevermind song in the show. I genuinely like it. Like all their stuff, it just is a bit sad… But that's grunge for ya. That cello is pronounced again, really nice. Plateau: Hey time for three covers of the Meat Puppets, all from their second album. Featuring Curt and Cris Kirkwood from the Meat Puppets. It's a good take, and Kurt is doing interesting vocals, pushing higher than he normally does. Oh, Me: This shows some real range musically, just a bit country rock, and some delicious guitar Lake of Fire: This is great cover, such interesting strained vocals from Kurt, but musically it's very fun. All three of the Meat Puppet covers are wonderful listens, and a highlight of the concert. All Apologies: One final track from In Utero. A GREAT close out for the band's music. One of my favorite tracks from Nirvana. Just a great track. Where Did You Sleep Last Night: Wrapping the show with another cover, this time a traditional piece, one that Kurt had guested on for Mark Lanegan's debut album. Kurt was crediting it to Lead Belly, but he didn't write it. This is a very Nirvana cover, and sounds amazing, Overall Thoughts: A great finale for Kurt Cobain, showing his lighter side, his funny side, and his talent. I can get why this was so hard to work on after recording for Dave and Krist. It was a great concert, a lot of fun, and VERY much a cultural moment from my senior year in high school. (Yes I'm dating myself, HUSH!) The recording/performance was in November 1993, was broadcast on MTV a month later, then Kurt died in April of 94, and this was released in November of 94. The album ended there, but MTVs producers had been arguing with Kurt because they wanted an encore, Kurt refused, he thought the show couldn't be topped. Favorite Song: Oh, Me Least Favorite Song: On A Plain Album rating: 7 Familiarity: 9 Would I listen to again: Eh… being honest the answer is yes, but I'd not seek it out anymore.

Pre-Listening thoughts: I mean… It's Tommy. It's the proto-Rock Opera. It was a major movie, and had Elton John as the Pinball Wizard, of course I know about the album. It's iconic, but I don't think I've actually sat down and listened to the whole original album, only the movie soundtrack. This should be an amazing experience, as I know almost all the music, and love most of the songs. Most I've heard already anyway. The singles Pinball Wizard, See Me Feel Me, and I'm Free are very well known, as is Tommy Can You Hear Me? So yeah, ready for a rock experience! Fair warning the movie was a report that I did in college. I was a musical Theatre major and this was a VERY big deal for musicals. Let's go! Overture: Chords!! A good tone setting every musical or rock opera needs this kind of opener track, right exactly from the playbook. So exactly what is expected. The flugelhorn is a great sound though! The harmonies are so good. It goes through several themes and leitmotifs that will be used later in the album. A good actual overture that would be perfect for playing before the show or between acts in a Broadway musical. And then it gets into the introduction song, just a few lines of vocals. And ready to dive into the plot of this album. It's A Boy: Following up on the bit in Overture, the windowed Mrs Walker has a baby boy, after her husband died in WW1. Very broadway interstitial song. 1921: Here we go, a real "song" talking about 1921, and optimism for the upcoming year. Tommy witnesses his mom sleeping with a new lover, and insists he didn't see, hear, or will say anything about it. The captain comes home, after being assumed dead, and is killed by the lover. And the mom and lover cover it up and convince Tommy nothing happened. Amazing Journey: Tommy diassociates, and actually becomes deaf, dumb, and blind. And now relies on touch and imagination, musically this is so good, but lyrically it's sad, as Tommy falls into his fantasy life and truly loses his senses. The ending of this is so amazing and psychedelic! So good! Sparks: Continuing the internal world Tommy has developed, this instrumental piece just continues the previous song and just is so much fun audibly. Eyesight To The Blind (The Hawker): Hey the quack shows up, a doctor claims Tommy can be cured, it's bullshit. Musically it's aggressive and angry, and it is the start of the spiritual occult theming of the album. Christmas: Well, now Tommy's parents are getting upset about his conditions, and they lament that he isn't experiencing Christmas like other kids, and that he won't find Christmas stuck in his head like he is. The music is also aggressive, but feeling… fake. The first of the "Tommy, can you hear me?" phrases repeated is in this one. And also the See me, Feel me, touch me, heal me lines. Man this is VERY much a musical. Cousin Kevin: And now shit goes completely sideways, the parents start to neglect him, and leave Tommy with his cousin Kevin, who abuses the hell out of him. This is sad and a real low point in Tommy's life, but things get worse… The music is so off-putting and discordant it really illustrates how fucked up Kevin is. The Acid Queen: Hey the doctor's wife is back, and now she's giving Tommy drugs! More abuse of the poor kid as the lady drugs him and rapes him. Musically this is proclaiming and proud, which matches how the lady is completely delusional. A fun track to listen to, if you ignore the story happening. Underture: Tommy's acid trip! Another instrumental. Starting airy before getting more deep and aggressive, as the trip goes deeper. This is a great end to album one, as this is absolutely a entr'acte piece musically, and storywise it is a great drug trip, you can *see* the intended visuals as the song plays out. Do You Think It's Alright?: And back to more abuse of Tommy, the parents debate if it's okay to leave Tommy with Uncle Ernie, who's drunk. They decide to do it anyway… quick interlude leading into…. Fiddle About: Tommy gets raped *again*... Ernie takes advantage of Tommy, and yeah… it's as bad as you think it is. Musically it's repetitive and just uncomfortable, which is exactly what the goal is. Pinball Wizard: Here we GO!!! Great track. The champion Pinball player talks about how amazing Tommy is at playing pinball, without being able to see. Unlike what the song said, he's playing by vibration, not smell. In the song Tommy defeats the Wizard, becoming the best player. There's A Doctor: With success, the parents take him to a REAL doctor… Interlude. Go To The Mirror: The doctor runs lots of tests, and "see me, feel me" returns. The doctor determines that the problems are psychosomatic, and directs him to look into a mirror. A great rock track, and just optimistic sounding. Tommy Can You Hear Me?: A variant of what we've heard before, this phrase is a theme. Mom is now wanting him to come out of his head… to respond, to be normal. Smash The Mirror: And the lack of response gets to her, Tommy has been staring at his reflection for hours. And as she gets more angry… she smashes the mirror that he's been staring at. Sensation: And…. Tommy comes out of it! The smashed mirror breaks Tommy's mental walls and he begins to to have his senses again, and now he realize he can be a cult leader. People will respect and worship him! Something musically about this feels kinda Beach Boys. Miracle Cure: He's been cured of being deaf, dumb, and blind, and now is news! Interlude. Sally Simpson: One of Tommy's new followers is obsessed with him. She's not alone in this, others are similar, but this is from Sally's perspective, and how she wants to be with Tommy. I'm Free: Tommy's point of view as the cult leader, wanting others to join him, and experience what he's experiencing. The freedom of his new life I adore the guitar in this one. Welcome: And now Tommy as the cult leader is inviting people to join him, come into his home, into his cult. Spreading his word, increasing his flock. More and more, more than they can handle… expanding to fit them all. Tommy's Holilday Camp: The cult is at its peak now… Ernie working for Tommy, and it's… just wrong. It's a circus, not faith. The negativity won. We're Not Gonna Take It: Tommy tries to take back control, encouraging people to be clean and emulate him. The followers start whispering they aren't gonna follow, and then get louder… Tommy keeps preaching the idea of being internal ignoring your external senses, When Ernie is included to bring them to pinball machines, more cultists turn, and the rejection grows louder. Saying that Tommy is gonna be raped here is a bit a metaphor, that people are taking advantage of him. This then leads Tommy to reject the outside world again with See Me, Feel me coming back. As the musical wraps up, he has retreated back to his inner world and the remaining cultists sing his praises still. Overall Thoughts: Gosh… um… yeah, this is a broadway musical like Hamilton. No dialog, only music. It's *amazing*. I really didn't talk much about the actual *music* I noticed, I was caught up in the story, I suppose the other The Who albums that aren't quite so story focused will get more of a musical review from me. But yeah, this is one of my favorites to date. It's amazing that this was being recorded while The Beatles were breaking up. But it is absolutely a contemporary with Abby Road. Favorite Song: Pinball Wizard Least Favorite Song: Fiddle About Album rating: 9/10 Familiarity: 10/10 Would I listen to again: Yup. It's a great album! The story is interesting, and I just really enjoy the whole damn vibe. Its great.

Pre-Listening thoughts: So I know the group, love 'em, but don't think I listened to the album fully before. I love The Magic Number, and know this is ESSENTIAL Hip Hop. Like there is a reason it's on this list. Intro (3 Feet High and Rising): Hey sampled Intro track, spoken word pretending to be a game show. Great little skit, typical of the time, but this goes on a little too long. Good lead in to the first real track. The Magic Number: Sampling Schoolhouse Rock! What a great start. This is brilliant bit of sampling, and the flow is brilliant, and it just grooves. Change In Speak: Mmm, more great sampling. This just makes me happy. The rhyming is brilliant. Very solid work. This is exactly the kind of rap I adore, good sampling and flow. Cool Breeze On the Rocks (original version): Wow, samples. Just mixing a tone of stuff from EVERYONE to make a lot of neat sounds and music. Neat interlude. Cool Breeze On the Rocks (The Melted Version): After a rewind sound that goes for a few seconds, literally just the last 7 seconds of the original version. Not a bad edit for rights reasons, but wow, the original was so good. Can U Keep a Secret: This sounds like another interlude, sampling, and whispering. Yeah, nothing special just silly Hip Hop stuff. This goes on a little bit TOO long. Jenifa Taught Me (Derwin's Revenge): Yup, this typical NYC 80s Rap. This is the kind of stuff that De La Soul was breaking up with more extreme sampling and better production. This is very much studio work vs live samples with rapping over it. This is weaker, because they aren't flexing quite as much. Ghetto Thang: Here we go, flexing again, this is the kinda stuff that Dre listened to as developing his post NWA sound, another transition from 80s to 90s rap. De La Soul was from Long Island, so Gangsta doesn't work well for them. Funny does. Transmitting Live From Mars: Quoi? Pourquoi français? C'est très intéressant, mais les mots échantillonnés tous en français sont tout simplement déconcertants, surtout avec le titre. C'est la vie, ce n'est qu'un autre intermède. Eye Know (feat. Otis Redding): Sampling (Sittin' On) The Dock of the Bay and Peg it's a fun mix of genres and samples, It flows so well together, but why call out Otis, and not Donald Fagen? It's Otis's whistle, but Donald sang the lines from Peg. Take It Off: More silliness, it's another interlude, fun playing around, but nothing special. A Little Bit of Soap: And now another weird interlude with a nice sample of A Little Bit of Soap by The Jarmels. Tread Water: Okay another real song. SO much playing on this album, it really makes the real songs stand out. Potholes In My Lawn: Oh man, this has FLOW… and the samples are great. Good stuff. These guys are very unserious. Say No Go: Oooh, this is good, I hear Hall & Oats… yup there we go. This is funky in all the right ways, and VERY modern, this could be something from 30 years later if not for the way they hand off the mic. Do As De La Does: Okay, more silliness in an interlude, this is obviously a studio take on what would happen in club show at the time. You don't get this kinda sound anymore. Plug Tunin' (Last Chance to Comprehend): I love the playing with stereo, but this is very silly again. It's meant as a real track, but they can't past how playful they are. De La Orgee: Yay, another silly interlude, with moans and sex sounds… I don't like sound in porn, and I hate this. This would be a full on skip if I wasn't listening to the whole album. Buddy (feat. Jungle Brothers & Q-Tip) Very 80s… still Silly to start, but once they get into it, oooh, it's good. Hey, Q-Tip from Tribe. The guests in this are NICE. This is a great one. Description: Nice groove, but not much else going on. Me Myself and I: Oooh, I dig the samples. GOOD stuff. Oh yeah, this is one I know well, it's their biggest song of the album, and the best thing on the album without a doubt. This Is a Recording 4 Living In a Fulltime Era (L.I.F.E.): Another great track, why couldn't more of the album been like this? I've really enjoyed the stuff like this, but too much has just been… draining. I Can Do Anything (Delacratic): This is the last interlude, thank god. It shows off their beatboxing skills, which is nice, but I'm so done with these. I need a pallet cleanse now. D.A.I.S.Y. Age: Still silly, it's amazing, I fully get what's good here, but I'm… just tired and not enjoying anymore. Yay. I wonder if they actually gave away prizes to people that mailed in. Plug Tunin' (Original 12" version): Why did I decide to do the bonus track, I was already exhausted… This is a much more serious take of the track, which is much more enjoyable. This is at least a good end to this album. Overall Thoughts: Not really commenting on instruments because it's all samples, the only original stuff here is their vocals. Still the mixing, samples, blending and work is so groundbreaking, using so many techniques that now are standard for production. And the fact that this was done in the 80s, it's all done with tape, no digital here. This is impressive, and I adore what they did with it. It's weird that I can love the work, but not like the overall product. By the time I hit Me Myself and I, I was just exhausted and ready to be done. I would have LOVED it at the time, and it was SUCH a great antidote to the gangsta rap that was starting to overwhelm the era, still. I'm glad I've got it done. Favorite Song: Me Myself and I Least Favorite Song: De La Orgee Album rating: 4/10 Familiarity: 4/10 Would I listen to again: Nah… I love some of the tracks, but the interludes are not a good listen anymore.

Pre listening: I'm unfamiliar with the artist or album, but I like Prog-rock, so… will be interesting, 1973 is a good year for this genre, and it's not a long listen. So I'm ready to dive in. "Lark's Tongues in Aspic, Pt. 1" Okay, is that a Marimba? Interesting percussion to start the album and song. Yup, this is prog rock. Is this just gonna be 13 minutes of "noise"? Is that a SAW? (2:47) THERE we go, guitar and strings. This is at least interesting. Oooh, okay, much more interesting. Yup, very prog. They are playing with time signatures, and doing what you expect here from prog rock (Being experimental and effectively modern classical with odd instrumentation) This isn't BAD, but, I like a little more of a through line, and vocals really assist in this style of music in my book. "Book of Saturday" Very typical 70s British rock, influences of the Beatles, and other contemporary bands. I enjoyed the lyrics, this uses some reverse tape and the strings add depth. The harmonies in the last 30 seconds are gorgeous. This really could have been longer. "Exiles" More Prog Rock sounds, then into a nice English rock sound of the era. This is a nice smooth end to the A side, while very much sounding British prog. Wetton's vocals are sounding like they are slightly straining his upper range in places. It makes sense that the Wikipedia says Wetton didn't write this one, even if Apple Music does. "Easy Money" Well then, this has hints of heavy metal, The percussion in the album is insane. This band had to be a trip to watch live. Because they are all over the place. This is just good and solid prog rock! The laugh reminded me of the laugh in Gorillaz Feel Good Inc. "The Talking Drum" More dynamic range play… just quiet wind noises to start and what sounds like brass instruments being manipulated, then bongos? Welcome back to instrumental again. I'm really enjoying the sound of this one. Oh wow, this gets really fun. I'm a LITTLE grumpy about the very obvious PRODUCTION playing with volume. There is no reason in their tone or playing to be getting so loud. This needed a hand in the booth to slap whoever was playing with the levels and just slowly raising them. SCREEE!!!!!! THAT was a hell of an ending! Other than the constantly increasing volume this was such a great track! "Lark's Tongues in Aspic, Pt. 2" Starting with more metal sound, this is aggressive prog and I'm here for it! And back to really playing with time signatures. But still playing with levels. This is giving me YYZ (Rush) vibes. It's also got a lot of those bat like noises going on. Which is kinda amazing. Wow that violin is just… AGGRESSIVE… and the time signature work is absolutely working to keep you from feeling steady. This is a choice, I'm loving this a LOT more than Pt.1. Overall thoughts: This is not King Crimson's most popular album, that would be the other album on the list, In the Court of the Crimson King, also their first album. But it's a very good product of genre, location, and era. Just REALLY wish they'd have not done so much playing with dynamic range and the volume. Favorite Song: The Talking Drum Least Favorite Song: Lark's Tongues in Aspic, Pt. 1 Album rating: 8.5/10 Familiarity: 5/10 Would I listen to again: Absolutely, this genre is my jam. And it was just a LOT of fun to listen to.

Pre-Listening thoughts: My folks loved Joni, and I'm familiar with some of her work. Folk music can be great to listen to, and while I'm unfamiliar with the album by name, I know what I'm getting into.. This is her biggest album charts wise with the biggest single (even though Ladies of the Canyon's Big Yellow Taxi has had greater lasting power. This is the first of four albums we'll get from Joni, and Ladies won't be one of the four. So listen to Big Yellow Taxi on your own, it's one of my favorite songs, and is actually one of two songs I sang for my American Idol audition. (The other being Hooked on a Feeling) Court and Spark: Piano to start, very gentle and typical Joni, warm and builds after the first verse. Just a little melancholy like I'd expect from Joni. Album title track as opening track is an interesting album building choice. Help Me: (Second Single, Most popular single ever) Nominated for two Grammies. Oh YEAH! I know this track, mom used to listen to it all the time. Very good track, I love the winds that are in the background as almost seasoning. Very 70s folky songwriting, this almost could appear as the example of the genre from the time. Free Man in Paris: (Third single, top 3 single ever) Flutes are a little more audible here. I don't have a ton to write, these are good, and kinda comfort food music, what I grew up on. By now I'm sure I've heard this album before, likely mom listening to it. The multitracking harmonies are great on this track though! And this has Crosby and Nash doing backing vocals! Nice! People's Parties: This is just warm… soothing. Same Situation: Oooh, a seamless transition, that's neat, and good on an album! It feels like a continuation of the previous piece, but slightly more challenging and deeper. Car on a Hill: This has amazing multitracking, as the BG vocals are all Joni, And this also feels… smoky… but not like jazz club cigarettes, more pot and other casual drugs that the flower power hippies did. Down To You: Won a grammy Joni's piano playing is so good, I can see why dad loved this as much as mom. Another soft folk track that is just… comfortable. But this second part is a little more challenging sounding, before resolving back to a piano solo. Ooh, some gospel feel, and is that an oboe? The WARM orchestration is so comfortable, I can see why this won a grammy, it's good! French horn!! Just Like This Train: Back to normal, this is more radio friendly than the last track. Raised on Robbery: (First single, least popular on album) Oh GOSH, why wasn't this more popular? This is the most upbeat on the album, and a GREAT choice for the lead single, and SO different from the rest of the album. The feel of this is just so much less warm and safe, and more fun and exciting. While showing her musicality. This is AMAZING. You can hear Robbie Robertson's guitar so easily on this. Damn, lovie it so much! Trouble Child: Oooh, this seems more soul, and then she started singing and it pulled it out. Her voice is almost incompatible with what the intro promised, it's obvious by the shift when she came in that it was mixed to blend with her voice. This is another so close to being a change from her style, but it falls back into it. Damn it, the sound when she's NOT singing is what I want to hear, the moment she comes in, the sound changes, I want the song without her voice. I like the song with her voice, but it doesn't sound as good as the other promised song. Twisted: Another seamless transition, and MUCH more Jazz. THIS is fun. Love the muted trumpet. This is the only track on the album that she didn't write. This is my second favorite track, damn, this is good! CHEECH AND CHONG! That was unexpected and awesome! God that was a great finish to the album. Overall Thoughts: These tracks feel… short. (Except Down to You, which was just a wonderful long piece.) Really enjoying overall, it's comforting, safe, and brings back memories of childhood. Did I mention I'm Gen X and do have memories of the 70s and early 80s and the warm wood tones in homes, and music like this on the radio. Before the neon and harshness of 80s pop and new wave challenging this status quo. This is obviously more Jazz inspired than the earlier folk she'd done, and has some fun experiments that are still rather safe by today's standards. This was pulling the mainstream soft rock forward for sure. This did so much to pull her away from the folk rock Hippie who skipped on Woodstock to do the Dick Cavett show image. Favorite Song: Raised on Robbery Least Favorite Song: Trouble Child Album rating: 8 Familiarity: 8 Would I listen to again: Yup! The whole album is great! I can see why it was her most popular album.