The Joshua Tree

Rolling Stone Rank: 26

Going to make this review short as well. Sorry to loyal readers. My thought on U2 is that they are a great band, Bono is a great singer. They are very good at evoking emotion, and being socially relevant. They are very good taking up a cause. But, i don't think they are very good at writing original music. Don't get me wrong, Joshua Tree was very very entertaining to listen to. But as a music major, there was one major aspect that upset me. The endless subdivision this band seems to employ, I couldn't get over it.

Whether it's the bass playing 8th notes, or the rhythm guitar hammering out 16th notes. I just couldn't take it every song. I get that it moves the music along, i get that it keeps the music full of energy. I just can't take it all the time. Even Exit, what I thought was their hardcore song, went back to 8th note subdivision in the chorus.

It really took away with how good this album ought to be. I know that I should keep an open mind, but that really ruined that album for me. I'm going to give another listen in the next few days, trying to listen to it fresh and see if that does anything for me.

So all that being said, the hits sound great. That are fantastic at writing a hit song, a song that builds throughout until it hits a peak towards the end. Really enjoyable, and great to work out to, but it just got tedious.

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

Stats:

Album: the Joshua Tree
Artist: U2
Year: 1987
My Favorite Song: I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For
Tomorrow: Robert Johnson

Rumours

Rolling Stone Rank: 25

Quite an interesting album this was. Fleetwood Mac blends the California polished sound with an R&B down and dirty style. They almost seem to alternate every song between these two competing styles. But then again, they alternated songwriters on nearly every song, except The Chain which they all wrote.

Another captivating aspect of this album was the emotional state that the band members were in while composing the album. Check this out: Mick was in the middle of his divorce. John and Christine got divorced during the album. Lindsey and Stevie (Lindsey is the guy, Stevie is the girl) also broke up during the making of this album. This of course led to all the band writing songs about the break-ups of their significant other, who were in the band (hence the title of the album, Rumours. You see they all thought the others' were spreading rumours about them....oh you get it? OK.) But after the album was done, they all kind of realized that the highly emotional writing had helped them to get through their tough times, and oh yeah, there was the great album as a record of their recovery.

So given that background, it's easy to hear the tension throughout the album, hard to explain but you definitely feel that raw energy running throughout the album, emotionally charged would also be a good way to describe the aesthetic. And of course you can hear a mature Nicks ready to move on, her voice and writing are different from the rest of the band, you get the sense she a rising star in the making.

Overall, I liked the album. I liked the style they have, the songs vary just enough to keep me interested, but they don't stray too much from their California roots(Think pre-Walsh Eagles). If there is one problem with their sound, it's that I don't think they every resolve the tension built throughout the entire album. For me, it just ended, keeping me in the edge of my seat. I just want a rock out song somewhere in there. But then if it did, I'm sure I'd complain that "it all sounded great except for that one lazy rock out song". So let's just agree to disagree, Rachel Ray is on TV which is making me hungry.

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

Stats:

Album: Rumours
Artist: Fleetwood Mac
Year: 1977
My Favorite Song: The Chain
Tomorrow: U2

Live at the Apollo

Rolling Stone Rank: 24

I agree with the Rolling Stone reviewer. This is quite possibly the best live album ever made. Listening to Brown makes you understand the power he has over an audience. They hang on his every word. And, oh yeah, there is some great music on this album. It was fun to listen to, to be there with James, listening to him screaming and singing. You can visualize the way that Brown moved around the stage, optimizing the 'front man' persona that he cultivated so well. I think it's a must-listen for any music lover.

What's that? You need a visual? You can't take my words, all right, here's a clip:

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

Stats:

Album: Live at the Apollo
Artist: James Brown
Year: 1963
My Favorite Song: Lost Someone (10 minute epic)
Tomorrow: Fleetwood Mac

Innervisions

Rolling Stone Rank: 23

Wonder nails it. He nails the American landscape with his style of R&B. His voice is so young though, that I felt like i was listening to the ramblings of 20 year old. Not to say that I didn't enjoy the music, there were times when, because he was so young, I had trouble taking what he said seriously. His songs did a great job to get me moving, and to get my mind moving. The song Living for the City is a great description of life for minorities at the time.

His riffs had me humming, and of course since I know how his life turned out I have a great respect for these early songs in his career. Anyways, these song show a great artist ready to bust out. Songs that get right under your skin, and you can't help but love them.

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

Stats:

Album: Innervisions
Artist: Stevie Wonder
Year: 1973
My Favorite Song: Higher Ground
Tomorrow: James Brown

Plastic Ono Band

Rolling Stone Rank: 22

Well, now we're into some serious music. I loved this album, and maybe it's because I saw Chapter 27 a few days ago, the story of Mark Chapman, but it really made me appreciate John just a little bit more. It's a far far far cry from his Beatles days, and in fact he spends most of Mother actually screaming and crying. Sardonic, sarcastic, honest, and beautiful. The album takes on a variety of subjects, but most of them are just an extension of Lennon, the whole thing is a sort of musical therapy. There are many times through the album that it sounds like he is doing a spot-on Kurt Cobain impression. Now, i know that sounds crazy to some, but to me it makes perfect. I, like most my age, have a sort of backwards way of looking at things. But doing things like listening to this album helps me orient myself historically.

One more thing I'd like to point out to any budding young songwriters out there. There seems to be a pattern in these top albums. Revealing your soul to a large group of people sounds like the perfect way to make a hit record. it's not a gimmick either, people like hearing about the problems of other, people enjoy the suffering it helps us to relate. It helps us to connect, and that's the goal isn't it? To connect with people at an auditory level?

Whatever the goal was, John figured it out. He figured a way to use his music as a message, while still being an entertainer. He connected with me, I hope he does the same for you.

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

Stats:

Album: Plastic Ono Band
Artist: John Lennon
Year: 1970
My Favorite Song: Working Class Hero
Tomorrow: Stevie Wonder

The Great Twenty-Eight

Rolling Stone Rank: 21

The Great Twenty-Eight is a collection of singles made by Chuck Berry between the years of 1955-1965. It, like the Elvis collection I listen to awhile back. Actually it's essentially the same thing. So, while it's not really an album, I still liked listening to all of Berry's hits. Many of them sound similar to each other, they all mostly use that "boogie' style. That being said, they all are different and they all represent a slice of life for Chuck Berry. It's great to hear the beginnings of rock and roll, Maybellene is possibly one the best songs Berry ever wrote, we all know Johnny B. Goode, and many know the rock classic Roll Over Beethoven.

One more thing I like to think about while listening to these tunes. A thing that I don't talk about too much, but it is another transcendent thing about music. The Beatles covered Roll Over Beethoven because they wanted to emulate the sound that Chuck Berry was creating. Back in the 60's, there wasn't email, or video streaming, or anything like that. So, its fair to say that all those four guys in Liverpool had were these recordings. These songs shaped the minds of some of the greatest musicians ever, and (here's the neat part) I am listening to these exact same songs. The exact same way (OK, i was listening on my ipod, but you get the idea). I think that is one of the great parts of music, bringing people together.

Take some time, take a listen, post your thoughts.
(Here's the Beatles' Roll Over Beethoven)

Stats:

Album: The Great Twenty-Eight
Artist: Chuck Berry
Year: 1955-65
My Favorite Song: Maybellene
Tomorrow: Lennon

Thriller

Rolling Stone Rank: 20

Second post in August. So, on the plane rides to and from LV i had a lot of time on my hands. With this free time I listened to some of the albums on my list, so these next few posts will be in rapid fire variety. I apologize to my readers that actually enjoy some time to think between posts. But, y'know gotta keep movin' on. So here are my thoughts on Thriller:

Great album, Jackson's voice is so unique and recognizable, it's impossible not to incorporate all that I know about him now into the listening experience. I know some of this comes from the book i just finished, Blink, but it's hard to separate the man from the music. The style of the album does a good job with that, though. Since most of the songs are very reliant on synthesizers and beat machines, it brings me back to a certain frame of mind. Although to be fair, I don't have an actual time to go back to, since the album was released before I was born. Nevertheless, the album represents something nostalgic to my mind, even if it's not real.

OK so beyond that, the album is full of pop and entertainment. While I won't say that I was totally impressed with the quality of music, I will say that I was dancing in my seat to the tunes. Jackson, and Quincy Jones of course, put together a fantastic album containing every single style imaginable. It was built to sell singles and to merchandise, but in the process it became a part of the American music landscape.

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

Stats:

Album: Thriller
Artist: Michael Jackson
Year: 1982
My Favorite Song: Billie Jean
Tomorrow: Chuck Berry

Astral Weeks

Rolling Stone Rank: 19

Hey! First Post in August! What better way to kick off the dog days of summer than with this prolific album. I think we all know and love Van's Brown Eyed Girl, but this album is something different. It really is a window into the soul, something rarely accomplished by the average songwriter. In fact, something that Morrison would not attempt again. For me, growing up the 90's, i relate this album to Weezer's Pinkerton. Both Rivers and Van opened up their heart for the songwriting. Although, I can't really compare the two musical styles. While Weezer is decidedly rock-pop, Morrison creates a folk jazz, almost Celtic style.

A laid-back style, with Morrison exploring the range of his voice, crooning about a variety of topics. And the topics, are mostly love related, although at times it is hard to understand what Morrison is talking about. Either way, the music behind the lyrics are so relaxed and easy that it just seems to right to roll along with the song.

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

Stats:

Album: Astral Weeks
Artist: Van Morrison
Year: 1968
My Favorite Song: Astral Weeks (Title Track, I know I'm lame)
Tomorrow: Michael