The Beatles (The White Album)

Rolling Stone Rank:10

Well, now that we're past that ugliness, let's get The Beatles. We've come to the end of the Top Ten, and really you can make an argument that this album doesn't belong in there.

It really doesn't gel together, and the RS article does a perfect job of describing the distance between the band members. Apparently Ringo quit for awhile, but to be honest, who would have cared if he did?

Other than that, my only complaint with this album is that it seem very studio-produced. Not very connected to their fan-base. Y'know, lots of Story songs, about people that aren't The Beatles. And people care much more about The Beatles. It doesn't really get good until While My Guitar Gently Weeps. But, in a was only John and Paul could, they pull off a pretty good album. Lots of hits, and lots of well written songs. Its just that the songs didn't fit together as well as some of their other albums did.

Take some time, take a listen, post your thoughts.

Stats:

Album: The Beatles
Artist: The Beatles
Year: 1968
My Favorite Song: While My Guitar Gently Weeps

Blonde on Blonde

Rolling Stone Rank:9

Everything that I liked about the other Dylan album is absent from this one.

OK, that might be a bit over the line, but still this was terrible. If you go back to read my post on his other entrance into the top 10, you'll read me defending all the people who only knew Dylan as a caricature Well this album was just that.

Since nobody reads this blog, I don't really feel the need to say anything redeeming about Blonde on Blonde, if you like it, the YOU post about it. I didn't think for a second this album is one of the TEN BEST OF ALL TIME. Screw you Rolling stone.

This is so bad, I'm doing my White Album review right now. screw waiting 'till tomorrow...

Take some time, take a listen, post your thoughts.

Stats:

Album: Blonde on Blonde
Artist: Bob Dylan
Year: 1966
My Favorite Song: None

London Calling

Rolling Stone Rank: 8

What can you say about this album, it literally has everything. London Calling may be the best album opener ever, and the styles vary throughout the 19 tracks.

Perfectly described by the writers of Rolling Stone, there is little else I can add to their description. Only to say this: Listen past London Calling, there are a lot of great songs on this album but most people don't get past the first track

Here is where I would normally write a lengthy description and history of punk rock, how the Sex Pistols are sexy and loud, but the Clash wrote music

But, I'm going to see Justin's Band 'Stashe! Oh yeah they rock.

Take some time, take a listen, post your thoughts.

Stats:

Album: London Calling
Artist: The Clash
Year: 1979
My Favorite Song: London Calling

Exile On Main Street

Rolling Stone Rank: 7

Ahhh, the blues.

How I've missed thee. Your passion, your groove, your everything.

Exile on Main Street, as Rolling Stone aptly puts it, is the Stones literally in exile. They recorded the album living in France, attempting to escape a variety of problems they were dealing with. And it sounds as un-British as is possible. If you didn't know the group, you would think this was recorded in Nashville, or the deep south.

I'm tired, so I can't quite give this album the length it deserves, but needless to say it's higher than 7th on my list. One more thought: people who try to compare The Beatles and The Stones, just because they're both from Britain, don't really understand how different the two bands were. There is no experimentation in Exile, just straight blues, great licks, and boogie beats.

P.S. "Shine a Light" comes from this album, it's also the name of the Scorsese documentary released last month. I haven't seen film yet, so I can't comment, but I hear it's really good.

Take some time, take a listen, post your thoughts.

Stats:

Album: Exile on Main Street
Artist: The Rolling Stones
Year: 1972
My Favorite Song: Tumbling Dice

Tomorrow: The Clash.

What's Going On

Rolling Stone Rank:6

Coincidentally, 6 is as high as this album got on the charts.

Anyways, my thoughts on this album conflict with one another. First of all, my negative thoughts:

There is no way this album would be received well if it was released today, different than the five albums before this, and most of the albums after it. Forgetting the borderline-sacred lyrics, the music is sooo Motown which is soooo dated. OK, so once you get past that the music is really good, great flute + sax features which in my opinion drives the whole album but more on that....now

My other major complaint with this album is the laid-back attitude that Mr. Gaye sings with. I understand that he is just singing his style, but with the edgy ant-war sentiment. But if you didn't understand English you would have no idea what point he is making, there is little passion in his voice. OK, now for positives:

Obviously huge for the anti-war movement, Marvin Gaye set the stage for many other Motown artists to express their artistry. up until then, the Motown style and label was much more concerned with popularity than a social conscious. Ironically it was Gaye's commercial success though that paved the way...

It's worth a listen, although I think it was ranked higher on the RS list than it deserves, I think Rolling Stone put the social significance before the actual music.

Take some time, take a listen, post your thoughts.

Stats:

Album: What's Going On
Artist: Marvin Gaye
Year: 1971
My Favorite Song: What's Going On

Tomorrow: The Freakin' Rolling Stones!!! Finally!

Rubber Soul

Rolling Stone Rank:5

This album marked the change. The beginning. For The Beatles, and for popular music. While still holding on to their pop-music roots, The Beatles began to branch out their sound. Admittedly, they were heavily influenced by Bob Dylan's recordings (so in a sense you could credit Dylan for starting this whole movement). But, The Beatles did it better than anybody ever will. They are the Beethoven of rock music...see his work was credited as "bridging the gap" between classical and romantic music.

We have a lot of innovation in this album for The Beatles. Something the Rolling Stone article talks about... First, the use of Sitar in popular music (Norwegian wood). Also, the overall tone of the album takes a cynical, sarcastic, self loathing tone. Definitely a change from Love Me Do.

Anyway, it was great but it brings about the one criticism that people have with The Beatles.

Mainly this thought: If this is a list of the 500 greatest albums, how is it possible that The Beatles are 3 of the top 5? Are you saying that The Beatles 3rd best album is better than The Rolling Stones' greatest effort?

In a word. Yes.

No doubt, Keith Richards can produce a killer riff. And Mick wrote some prolific stuff. But, not better than John, Paul, George, and Ringo. For me, there is no argument. It is simple, The Beatles are leaps and bounds above the rest. Disagree? Write a comment...

Take some time, take a listen, post your thoughts.

Stats:

Album: Rubber Soul
Artist: The Beatles
Year: 1965
My Favorite Song: In my life

Later Today: I have a long car ride in front of me tonight. So I expect to get through Marvin Gaye and my first Stones' album.

Highway 61 Revisited

Rolling Stone Rank: 4

Now, I know what you think when you hear of Bob Dylan. You think of a caricature of Bob Dylan. Some mopey headed mumbling impression of a man. But have you ever listened to his album? Yes, we've all heard "Like a Rolling Stone". And yeah, it's pretty obvious you know what he's talking about. So when you tell people that he was a voice of the generation but he's not THAT good, you really believe what you are saying.

But you don't know.

You don't know how great Dylan is, and how great this album was.

It was recorded in 6 days. 6 Days! Of course this was after Dylan had gone electric, and this is pretty obvious when you listen to it. Although the last track, Desolation Row, is a great acoustic tune.

Also the shuffle on the title track "Highway 61 Revisited", is a fantastic blues lick that sets the tone of the entire album. Overall, it was fantastic, and it really set me straight on my opinion of Dylan. After listening to this album today, I can't wait for when I get to Blonde on Blonde.

Take some time, take a listen, post your thoughts.

Stats:

Album: Highway 61 Revisited
Artist: Bob Dylan
Year: 1965
My Favorite Song: Like a Rolling Stone

Tomorrow: Third Beatles Album of the week.....Rubber Soul.

Revolver

Rolling Stone Rank: 3

Revolver is awesome. There is no other way to describe the awesome-ness of this album. It has everything and anything you want.

I remember listening to this album for the first time. Every week in 8th grade, I had to walk from the middle school to the high school for percussion lessons. And after my lesson I would walk from the high school to the library. No joke, I think I listened to Revolver and Rubber Soul every week those final months of the year.

So two things came out of this experience, and both have been pretty enjoyable. A life-long love for The Beatles, and ummm oh yeah my career. (yes i realize that is just a link to a website with my name on it, but y'know I'll take what I can get.)

Ok, so where was I? Oh yeah, this album has EVERYTHING. Allow me to go track by track....

1.Taxman- Hard Rocking Harrison tune, with McCartney ripping out a guitar solo

2.Eleanor Rigby-One of the most well-known Beatles songs, plus it's Matt's favorite.

3.I'm Only Sleeping- John's song. Features some innovative tape techniques, that as an 8th grader I didn't really understand, but I knew it sounded cool

4.Love You To- Geroge's take on the Indian music style, also features tape techniques, and tabla

5.Here There and Everywhere-classic love song. I believe I sang this to my girlfriend once...

6.Yellow Submarine- Sing-a-long for everyone! No substance, but hey, it's Ringo!

7.She Said She Said- Yah for Acid! I haven't, but John, Ringo, and George did. Then they wrote a song.

8.Good Day Sunshine- Great song to start the second side of the album, Paul said he was going for "The Lovin' Spoonful" style.

9.And Your Bird Can Sing- Great vocals, and a rocking melody line in the guitar.

10.For No One- My Second favorite song on the album. Fantastic lyrics, beautiful song.

11.Doctor Robert- Another drug song, y'know as I go through this I'm starting to realize there's a lot of drug related songs on this album....Well, anyways, as an 8th grader I really liked the construction of this song.

12. I Want to Tell You- The Beatles used a fade-in for this song, something rarely used, but they use it fantastically, and who didn't love the piano banging out minor octaves.

13. Got to Get You Into My Life- Paul screaming out lyrics. Doesn't get better than that.

14. Tomorrow Never Knows- A great pychadellic song with more audio experiments.

Well, I took a lot of time to break down the tracks, but just to recap: The album is great, as far as I can tell the first time we hear the main vocals through on both the left and right tracks is the chorus of Eleanor Rigby. Powerful moment. Good stuff.

Take some time, take a listen, post your thoughts.

Stats:

Album: Revolver
Artist: The Beatles
Year: 1966
My Favorite Songs (Tie): Here, There and Everywhere & For No One

Tomorrow: Highway 61 Revisited.

Pet Sounds

Rolling Stone Rank: 2

Essentially, Brian Wilson wrote the album by himself (which comes through in his intensely personal lyrics). But, as you will read in RS's take, Wilson actually was inspired to write the album after hearing The Beatles' Rubber Soul.

Listening to this album is an experience. I invite any and all to take part in Brian's masterpiece.
The sound, well it is THE California sound. I'm pretty sure the Wilson brothers played every single instrument that they could get their hands on when creating Pet Sounds.
The singing was magnificent, in the way that only the Beach Boys could pull off.

I guess the most appealing, or unappealing depending on your view, part of this album was the intense personal nature of the lyrics. Wilson waxes poetically about all the aspects of love, but I could see how these love songs could turn people off to the album. He spent a lot of the Pet Sounds detailing literally every type of love song you could think of, definitely NOT The Beatles singing about circuses and fixing a hole. Brian really used this album to speak directly to his fan base.
All except for "Sloop John B". Nothing to really say about the song, except that I love it but it was a complete non-sequitur for this album.

Anyway, definitely deserving of the #2 rank on RS, it's an unbelievable journey through the mind of a genius. Made even more unbelievable when you realize this came just before his mental breakdown...

Take some time, take a listen, post your thoughts.

Stats:

Album: Pet Sounds
Artist: The Beach Boys
Year: 1966
My Favorite Song: I Just Wasn't Made for These Times (The hidden gem once you get past the singles)

Tomorrow: Revolver.

Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band

Rolling Stone ranks this Beatles album at the top of their list
Here's what they say about it.

While I personally think that Abbey Road was better, who could argue with this selection. I like to think of Sgt. Pepper as the 1972 Miami Dolphins:
And how you ask?

Well, just like the Griese-led Dolphins, it is not the individual but rather the team that produces a winner. These songs heard together are great, don't get me wrong, but there is a reason that none of them alone crack the Top-25 of Rolling Stones Top Songs.

Anyway, it's 2008 so everybody knows all the innovations that the Beatles showcased on this album. The Beatles had stopped touring at the point of Peppers' release, so that fact they we open with the introduction of a fake band, playing in front of fake audience makes the album even more special.

Another reason that made this album special was the cross-contamination of Lennon-McCartney:
John's songs on the album kept a peppy upbeat tone ("...Benifit of Mr. Kite").
While Paul's numbers had surprising undertones ("Fixing a Hole", a song about addiction).
Their duality was even more evident on McCartney's "...Getting Better" (Lennon famously added "It Can't Get No Worse")
And the flimsy middle section of John's Masterpiece "A Day in the Life"


So does that make George Martin the Don Shula of this album?

Stats:

Album: Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band
Artist: The Beatles
Year: 1967
My Favorite Song: A Day in the Life

So take some time today to listen and respond......
What do you think about Pepper's?
Favorite Song?


Tomorrow.....heading towards the Beach.....

A New Direction For The Blog

So New Idea!

Rolling Stone has a pretty well-known top list of 500 albums...
(The wheels are spinning, aren't they?)
And I LOVE listening to albums, so the solution seemed obvious:
1 Album a day, I'll blog it, and give people the opportunity re-live their favorite albums...
(Notice the optimism...people, oh Brian)

Now where to start? 500 or 1?
Well....Let's just say this. I don't own Touch.