Sorry, I forgot to write about this album when I actually listened to it. So this is about 2 days after the fact. But nevertheless, there isn't much to say about this album that many haven;t said before
Nevermind represents one of the first albums in my life that I spent a large amount of time listening to. Now, I won't claim that I was on forefront of popular music (I was 6 when this album came out). I did fall for it when I reached my teens though.
Just like with Are You Experienced, the performance I appreciate most is the drummer. It is of course Nevermind where I began my life long love affair with the Dave Grohl. And apparently I'm not alone (At the time I thought I had found a diamond in the rough, but later at the first Foo-Fighters concert I went to it became quite obvious that many many others recognized Dave's brilliance.)
Time for bed, but what else is there to say about this prolific record? I guess, my one thought would be that their true sound really comes through on the second side of the album. But c'mon, who doesn't love Smells Like Teen Spirit?
Take some time, take a listen, post your thoughts.
Stats:
Album: Nevermind Artist: Nirvana Year: 1991 My Favorite Song: I want to say Lithium...but Smells Like Teen Spirit Tomorrow: The Boss
Just a thought on exercise here. Being one that never really does, I realize people talk about "feeling the burn", which I can definitely attest to feeling. But then there are people who relish the "good" feeling you get from pushing your body "to the limit". And while I'll grant that I'm not an athlete, I'm not sure I buy that. I mean, yeah there is a moment where you're thinking
All-right, this feels great! It's beautiful outside, the good music is rolling, screw it let's do a second lap around the lake..
but literally seconds later this thought emerges:
God, oh god. Why? My legs are in pain, yes it is nice, and yes the music is good, but this doesn't feel good at all. This feels terrible, fuckin' Cubs....
Oh, like you're surprised I use my hatred for the Cubs as motivation. OK, moving on to good music...
Blood on the Tracks was beautiful, a return to what made Dylan great, and far away from what made him stereotypical and shallow. All acoustic, and with a return to his story-telling nature, Dylan croons mostly about heart-ache and, well, pain.
And of course, this is what draws us in as listeners, or at least what makes me like and appreciate an album. When I can hear the passion in a singers voice I get a sense for the passion that they have for the music. How can I as a fan be expected to be gung-ho for an artists, if they don't seem to be? Well, Dylan returned to this, along with keeping the blues as a large part of his writing.
I'll end with a quote I found on wikipedia (Brian doing some extensive research for this post.....sigh)
Told of the album's lasting popularity, Dylan was later to say (in a radio interview by Mary Travers): "A lot of people tell me they enjoy that album. It's hard for me to relate to that. I mean, it, you know, people enjoying the type of pain, you know?"
I think this is something many artists feel about their music. As if fans are laughing with delight at the terrible misfortunes, and the personal anguish. But we all know this is not what makes music popular among fans, it is that fans relate and identify with the pain that the artists is going through, and the passion that Dylan and others sing with only forms a stronger bond with the listeners.
Take some time, take a listen, post your thoughts.
Stats:
Album: Blood on the Tracks Artist: Bob Dylan Year: 1975 My Favorite Song: If You See Her, Say Hello Tomorrow: Nirvana!
I am only posting this video, because Germany advanced in Euro 2008 today. Please to enjoy:
Anyways, I listened to Jimi Hendrix today. What a well put together album, and even though Hendrix may claim that it was not written on drugs, I would disagree. But, Hendrix persists in his lyrics
Take the title track, "Are You Experienced?", in which Hendrix croons: "Not necessarily stoned, but beautiful"
OK, so maybe I'm wrong, but it sure did sound trippppyyy...
Beyond that little squabble with a dead man, I really enjoyed the album, it's another example of why I'm enjoying doing this. Because I had really only listed to five tracks from this album before. Fire, The Wind Cries Mary, Foxy Lady, Hey Joe, and Purple Haze. And there are 12 more tracks on the album!
Hendrix does a great job of making his very produced album sound like its the main stage at Woodstock. Lots of reverb gives the album a big and live sound. Although it's clear that many of the tracks were put through extensive editing. The effect that's created give such a large sound to a band of only three members. Obviously most that is due to the talent of Hendrix and his band members.
Which brings me to the wonderful performance of Mitch Mitchell. Introducing the world to the fusion style of drumming, his style fills all the gaps with, umm well, fills. Damn, that sentence should have worded better. Oh well, anyways, just compare Mitchell to the drumming styles of say, Charlie Watts. Both recognized as good drummers, but entire different ends of the spectrum.
And then there's that Hendrix fellow. Feel free to read other articles written by people much smarter than me.
Well, Sorry it took so long to get to this album. Even though the readership is low, I feel bad that I wasn't able to keep up with my once-a-day goal. Anyways, with the school year finally over, and summer in full swing I hope that I can get back on the wagon.
So, The Beatles. As Rolling Stone says, this really was their farewell album to the fans. It is so well polished, so well done, just the epitome of what an album should be. Especially the second side.
For those of you unfamiliar of what the "second side" means, well you see before there were compact discs, music was recorded on vinyl records (and later cassette tapes). Obviously on this medium, there is only a certain amount of information that can be stored. But luckily, you could use the opposite side. It's pretty self-expanitory from there.
Well, the second side of Abbey Road may be the best constructed side of an album ever. Beginning with "Here Comes the Sun", the music flows together so well. And of course the last eight (nine if you include "Her Majesty") are known as the Medley. These songs blend in with one another, although they have no unifying theme. But musically, meld together perfectly
This is my favorite Beatles album, and probably the one I enjoy listening to the most. Named after the street and music studio, I think it is The Beatles at their peak. None of the songs are overtly political, all the member of the band were able to collaborate songs. And what is the produc? Pure musical genius. It just goes to show, when people put aside their egos and agendas, great things are born.
Take some time, take a listen, post your thoughts.
Stats:
Album: Abbey Road Artist: The Beatles Year: 1969 My Favorite Song: Oh! Darling Tomorrow: Are You Experienced?
This album was really great to listen to from front to back. I had never done that with this album, up until today, but I really really enjoyed it.
Being the snooty music major that I am, I was able to identify many of the early avant-gardetechniques that they were using (i.e. lots of drones, minimalist rhythms etc.). Then I went and researched that album (and The Velvet Underground) a little bit. And it made me even more impressed. Let's get away from the Andy Warhol mystique for a bit, and just talk about the band:
Their sound is so unique and innovative, really a breath of fresh air amongst the....well wait a second. Actually 1967 was a pretty innovative year in itself. The Beatles, The Byrds, Jimi Hendrix, hell even Buffalo Springfield came out in '67. So taking that into account, I don't I need to run with the whole "this was ahead of its time" review. Since I wasn't alive back then and I can't know for sure, maybe it wasn't.
But this album stands on its own. Even without taking into consideration its place in history, it s a great album. Lou Reed's lyrics shine through the cacophony of sound. The velvet (could I have picked a better word, yes. But it's 1:15am) sound of Nico was the perfect counterpoint to Reed's harsh lyrics and dry voice. The guitar is distinct and original, although Sterling Morrison pulls off the blues pretty well in Run Run Run. At first I was annoyed with the "drums"( I call them that because Maureen Tucker, played mostly on the toms and the bass drum on its side with mallets. Not exactly the loud and fast punk style I was expecting) on this album. But that only lasted one or two songs, and after that I was able to see how her playing tied in with the mood the rest of the band was setting for Reed.
And Lastly back to Andy Warhol. Now yes, it is a fair argument that Warhol used his exhibitions to push the Velvets onto the world, and maybe if they didn't have the Warhol celebrity fame they may have faded away like so many other did. And that is true to some extent, but I think when you say that, you really discount the effect that Andy had on this album. No not just the cover design. But also his insistence that Nico (Christa Päffgen) sing with band on a few tunes. i think that her sound really levels off the rest of the album, and make the tracks fit together as whole. Also, i believe, his role of producer influenced the overall sound of the album greatly. While there are many accounts that Warhol actually did nothing, there are some who say that doing nothing and allowing the band to make their own choices was doing something after all. Either way, I like the result.
Take some time, take a listen, post your thoughts.
Stats:
Album: The Velvet Underground and Nico Artist: The Velvet Underground Year: 1967 My Favorite Song: Heroin Tomorrow: More Beatles!
Just Incredible. I defy anyone to listen this album and have bad thoughts. It is the essence of cool, and the turning of point of jazz in the 1950s.
If you don't know, I listen to this albums while riding my bike. And let me tell you, this was the best bike ride I've had, now that may have something to do with the weather, but I think a lot of it had to do with the music.
I like Rolling Stone's review of this a lot, so I think it's silly to regurgitate some of the stuff they've written. Because for me to say it sounds amateur.
Anyway, the sound it so laid back, and well cool. Miles' sound is so mellow, but at the same time conveying a wide range of emotions. And of course credit needs to be given to the various other artists playing on this album: Paul Chambers, Jimmy Cobb, Bill Evans, Coltrane and Adderley. And while they all played great, it while Miles' vision that really set the tone (ummm pun intended) for the record.
Take some time, take a listen, post your thoughts.
Stats:
Album: Kind of Blue Artist: Miles Davis Year: 1959 My Favorite Song: Freddie Freeloader
This is an interesting entry for one of the best albums of all-time, in that it was not really constructed as album. Merely a compilation of the early recordings of Elvis. That being said, it is a fantastic representation of the beginnings of rock and roll. Or rather, the beginnings of the beginnings of rock and roll. The first? Well no, for the first rock recording I turn to Ike Turner and Rocket 88
That doesn't really matter though, this music stands on its own. Throughout the album, you can catch a little glimpse of the phenomenon that Elvis will become. It has some of the deep singing that Elvis is known for, his little high pitched beeps (hard to describe, but when kind of like yodeling when he pops up the octave for half a second). Anyways, it easy to see why Sam Phillips ran with this kid.
As for the music itself, good stuff. The typical songs you would imaging a group of youngsters to be singing about. Songs like, Blue Moon of Kentucky, I Don't Care if the Sun Don't Shine, and I love You Because, and of course That's All Right (the song that Sun released as Elvis' first single). The sound is very distinct, with lots of slapping base, fast moving swing and boogie. And the Ballads are slow and sweet, letting Elvis' voice fill the gaps
Definitely a great representation of the early music that Elvis sang, and I could see how Elvis fans would really eat this up. For the rest of us, I think this album deserves a place on your shelf as a chronicle of rock, or popular rather, music.
As a side note, thanks to the anonymous commenter who pointed out the hypocrisy of my Blonde on Blonde review.
Take some time, take a listen, post your thoughts.
Stats:
Album: The Sun Sessions Artist: Elvis Presley Year: 1976(released, recorded in 1954) My Favorite Song: I Don't Care if the Sun Don't Shine Tomorrow: Miles Davis
