Physical Graffiti

Rolling Stone Rank: 70

First off, sad to see Wacko Jacko go. Thought the coverage was a bit over the top, but still it's a tragic loss. Apparently he was just about to launch a comeback tour.

PG is a solid rock album, not a lot of depth to the music but it doesn't really need depth to rock hard. RS called it the last great Zeppelin album, I think I have to agree. The double album is a bit too much for me, but I can't point to a song that I hated so I guess I'm bitching about nothing.

Had a thought this weekend, I'm kind of disappointed I'm not going to any weddings this summer. They weren't my favorite thing in the world, but they sure are interesting. Anyway, I'm sure if I went to the two back to back that Justin went to, I'd be complaining how boring and expensive they are. Can't decide whether it's an a/c night or not....

Stats

Album: Physical Graffiti
Artist: Led Zeppelin
Year: 1975
My Favorite Song: Ten Years Gone
Next Up: Neil Young

Superfly

Rolling Stone Rank: 69

Awww yeah, now this is an album. Love it love it love. It reminds me of the rides we take in Justin's Jeep in high school. let me take you back to a simpler time..

Saturday morning, I'm sitting patiently in my kitchen. Just finished an omelette, 3 eggs cause that's how I roll. Anyway I was just sitting enjoying the day, waiting for the activities to begin. And then I hear it, off in the distance, the rumble starts filled with trumpets bass and a hi-hat. Up pulls Keirans, sporting aviators as was the custom for us back in those days. Anyway, as we roll to our first garage sale Justin blares the funk. Shining Star, Brickhouse, the jeep is rocking as we cruise through suburbia finding our precious random crap. We pick up Kowal, Corcoran, and our posse is complete. By the end of the day, we've assembled quite the haul. Keirans bought a Cosby sweater, Justin got pants, KC scored a suit, and I got a hat with wings on it. And this happened just about every Saturday the last few years of high school.

It was fun, and the music made it even better. This album takes me back, but it's the same time of year helps in the comparison. Here's to sleep!

Stats

Album: Superfly
Artist: Curtis Mayfield
Year: 1972
My Favorite Song: Superfly
Next Up: More Zeppelin!

Off The Wall

Rolling Stone Rank: 68

Not sure why this album is so high on the list...I'm sure this isn't one of the top 100 albums of all time? So please, enlighten me as to why this is great.
Oh also, It reached triple digits on the thermometer today. I expect that from July, maybe August. But not you June, not you...

Stats

Album: Off the Wall
Artist: Michael Jackson
Year: 1979
My Favorite Song: Don't Stop 'till You Get Enough
Next Up: Superfly

The Stranger

Rolling Stone Rank: 67

Great album, the RS article does a fantastic job of explaining the significance of it so I won't. I agree with what they said, except I'm not so sure about the New York stuff. Such an East Coast bias, or at least I think so. But then again, I like songs written about specifically about Chicago =)

Had a great weekend, summer is so nice.

Stats

Album: The Stranger
Artist: Billy Joel
Year: 1977
My Favorite Song: Only The Good Die Young
Next Up: Michael Jackson

IV

Rolling Stone Rank: 66

Sure was hot out tonight. So, in my travels through Lake Bluff I had a few thoughts. The first was that I can't wait till I have a house so that I can grill outside and not live in an apartment. The second was that I really have skipped in my mind, I've skipped the how I get to the house part from where I am now. All I know is that I can't wait to start living my life, but I'm not really show how to get there. I think I'm just scared to make a choice and go with it, but I know that's what I have to do. I know that's what this summer needs to be for me.

Need to stop there, before I trail off into more. Have a good Thursday night everybody...

And as we wind on down the road
Our shadows taller than our soul.

Stats

Album: IV
Artist: Led Zeppelin
Year: 1971
My Favorite Song: Can't beat Stairway
Next Up: Billy Joel

Moondance

Rolling Stone Rank: 65

Loved the album. So consistent with his sound, yet completely different from the first Morrison entry to the RS list. A lot more fun and "pop"y than Astral, I think he got more of his Irish heritage infused into this one.

Also, I had no idea that Into the Mystic was a Morrison song. I fell in love with that song on the "Once" soundtrack, check out the youtube after the post, tell me which version you like better.

As you might expect, I'm not in the best of moods due to today's baseball game. But, another one of the goals I had this summer was to not let sports affect me as much as they did before. Actually, I had a really good talk with Matt about that a few weeks ago. Hey, maybe that's why I shaved my head =)

Stats

Album: Moondance
Artist: Van Morrison
Year: 1970
My Favorite Song: Into the Mystic
Next Up: Zep

Back to Mono

Rolling Stone Rank: 64

Great stuff, but probably a bit longer than it needed to be. I mean, I guess Phil was proud of his work, but I didn't need to hear three full disks of it.

The wall of sound was an unbelievably innovative idea, and there's no jury of his peers that can take that away from Mr. Spector. So take a listen to some of these tunes (although to be honest, once you've heard one, you get the general idea) and let me know what you think about his breakthrough in sound editing.

And yeah, this is a compilation, but since it's a showcase of a producer's work I think it's ok to include in this list. It was a rough night tonight, so I'm just gonna get on to bed.

Stats

Album: Back to Mono
Artist: Various Artists
Year: 1991
My Favorite Song: You've Lost That Lovin' Feelin'
Next Up: Moondance

Sticky Fingers

Rolling Stone Rank: 63

The Summer of Brian has begun, and it couldn't have started with a better day. School was great, I was a little worried because I didn't know my class list until...this morning. Anyway, the class seems great, lots of younger kids, which I like.

Came back here, read some. Yes that's right, from beginning to end. In that order. Oh, and I finally used the digital music stations that comcast has. Who knew, right? Well aparently that college I went to paid off, I recognized 2 out of the first three songs. So yah for classical music =)

OK, so on to Sticky Fingers. We've hit the mid-stretch of the list here, now on the 3rd Rolling Stones album. As a whole, it's not that cohesive of an album, but it's got some strong singles. And sadly the best ones might be the country twang ones. Goo.

It still had that good old rock and roll, like Brown Sugar, although don't think too much about those lyrics...

btw, that book thing was a Seinfeld quote, in case you didn't catch that...

Stats

Album: Sticky Fingers
Artist: The Rolling Stones
Year: 1971
My Favorite Song: Dead Flowers
Next Up: Phil Spector? OK

Achtung Baby

Rolling Stone Rank: 62

Is it me, or does every U2 song sound the same? Well, to me it does. Eighth note rhythms on the guitar and bass with Bono pontificating over it. Sometimes it works, sometimes it's ok.

The only song worth anything on this album is One. Oh, and I guess the other thing is that with all those running eighth notes, it was a pretty nice album to exercise with.

Well, the school year is over, so I can finally relax and enjoy all this great weather we've been getting lately. It sucks that school went so late this year, and that we start so early next year. It'll boil down to not that much of a summer break. I've got high hopes for this summer, so I've got to squeeze it in.

Have a great Sunday

Stats

Album: Achtung Baby
Artist: U2
Year: 1991
My Favorite Song: One
Next Up: Stones

Appetite for Destruction

Rolling Stone Rank: 61

Ahh, Good hard rock. This of course is pre-Axel craziness, so try and put that out of your mind. Loud, fast, and high pitched. This is rock at its finest. Great album, the songs flow well together, and The Jungle is one of the best openers to an album ever. Another great memory, at the end of every band jam back in high school (yes in the north shore we have community sponsored rock and roll shows...soooo punkrock) all the bands got together on stage to play Paradise City. Kind of like a suburb-white-kid version of a hootenanny.

Here's a quote that pretty much describes:
1. Pretty accurately how passionate music make people relate and like an album
2. Why Axel Rose is crazy, and why it worked for that short time
3. Why I'm not gonna be a great songwriter

"A lot of rock bands are too fucking wimpy to have any sentiment or any emotion...unless they're in pain." ~Axel Rose

Stats

Album: Appetite for Destruction
Artist: Guns N' Roses
Year: 1987
My Favorite Song: My Michelle
Next Up: U2

Greatest Hits

Rolling Stone Rank: 60

Hey another compilation, lazy RS. The groove is solid, it's good music. But it's not a cohesive unit, it's not what an album should be.

Agree? Disagree? I'm going to bed (last day of school tomorrow!)

Stats

Album: Greatest Hits
Artist: Sly and Family Stone
Year: 1970
My Favorite Song: Everyday People
Next Up: Woah, moving up a few decades, G 'n R baby

Meet the Beatles

Rolling Stone Rank: 59

So meet them Beatles, huh? It should be called "Hey America, y'know that band that's playing across the pond? Well, the record company thinks they should issue an album just for you, even though they've had albums in Britain for awhile. Well, ummm...Meet them!"

Now, here's where you might be tempted to get on your high horse and inform me of the incredible American bias of RS. Well, you might be right, but I think that this is just more of a reflection of the disconnect between the two countries during the 1960s. Think of how far we've come today, can you even imagine not being able to hear a new band.

As far as the music goes, It's pretty much bubble gum rock as you would imagine it...But I love it =)

One more tonight

Stats

Album: Meet the Beatles
Artist: The Beatles
Year: 1964
My Favorite Song: I Want to Hold Your Hand
Next Up: Sly and the Family Stone

Trout Mask Replica

Rolling Stone Rank: 58

Crazy, Crazy album. If you like Zappa, then you'll love this stuff. The music is impeccably performed, something which might be hard to understand for non-musicians. I read that the vocals were mostly recorded separately from the instrumental parts, and that The Captain could only faintly hear the backing, what comes from that is this detached style. Very avant-garde, and I loved it. This is definitely one of those albums that you either love or hate, though. I don't think I could convince somebody to listen to this, so take it or leave it. I'll take it, thanks

Another thought before I hit the hay. One more week left in school, and we start way earlier next year. Somewhere around August 20th or so. So basically what that leaves me with is a pretty damn short summer, and that sucks. That's all, just a little bummed about that, plus worked sucked today.

Hey have a great night.

Stats

Album: Trout Mask Replica
Artist: Captain Beefheart and His Magic Band
Year: 1969
My Favorite Song: Frownland (yeah I know it's the first song, but I love the lyrics)
Next Up: Some guys named the Beatles...

Beggers Banquet

Rolling Stone Rank: 57

Final post of the night, I listened to this while running. Sympathy for the Devil is one of my favorite songs, and it really gets you going. Way better than Start Me Up I'll tell you that.

Actually I don't have much to say other than that, the Stones' are in their American mode. recreating that country rock sound. Some might say even inventing the sound that we now know.

Anyways, please allow me to introduce myself, I'm a man of wealth and taste...

Stats

Album: Beggars Banquet
Artist: The Rolling Stones
Year: 1968
My Favorite Song: Sympathy for the Devil
Next Up: Captain Beefheart, umm I've never heard this before...should be interesting....

Songs in the Key of Life

Rolling Stone Rank: 56

Great double album, Stevie's songwriting is fantastic. It brings to mind some of the stuff I've been reading about music and the brain. I mean, there's evidence that shows that blind people have heightened aural skills. But, does it make them better musicians? Not sure, you have any thoughts?

The other thought I have on this album is possibly the unfortunate use of synthesizers. It really dates the sound. And I think it's unfortunate that great music might get left behind because of its reliance on a old technology. I just can't picture kids today getting behind the sound. What do you think? Oh also, I had no idea that Gangster's Paradise was a rip-off from Wonder.

Stats

Album: Songs in the Key of Life
Artist: Stevie Wonder
Year: 1976
My Favorite Song: Isn't She Lovely?
Next Up: Rolling Stones

Elvis Presley

Rolling Stone Rank: 55

Wow, I'm just on a roll today. Or Saturday's are boring. Either way, here's Elvis:

Actually I wasn't really blown away by this album. Pretty tame if you ask me, I like his Sun Sessions compilation a lot more than I like this. That being said, this is the first official album that Elvis has on the list (not a compilation I mean). So, there's neat about hearing this album the same way that all those lusty girls heard it back in the '50s.

Yes, Elvis has a very deep and sexy, but this music wasn't all that exhilarating. Other than Blue Suede Shoes, there was nothing else that knocked my plain white socks off. Feel free to explain how his version of Blue Moon made your heart melt.

Heading into the city tonight, gonna try and not make an ass out of myself this time.

Key word being try...

Stats

Album: Elvis Presley
Artist: Elvis Presley
Year: 1956
My Favorite Song: I Love You Because
Next Up: Little Stevie Wonder

Electric Ladyland

Rolling Stone Rank: 54

Just kidding, one more album.

Listened to this on the way to my brother's graduation ceremony. The younger one. I must say, high school graduations are not as exciting as they were when I was in high school. I mean, even the first brother's graduation was better. I also didn't appreciate driving an hour into Hoffman Estates just to see it. Gotta hand it to LF, they have some weird stuff going on, but at least the graduation is on the lawn.

OK, well back to the album. Great stuff, Jimi experimented a lot throughout the album. This third one is where Jimi stretches out all the studio techniques, and guitar experimentation. Some crazy shit going one, some of it great, some of it crazy, but that's how it goes with albums, right? In the grand scheme of things, we don't remember all the experimentation. All we know are the songs they play on the oldies stations, all anybody cares about are the singles.

And I guess that's why I'm enjoying this, hearing the songs that history won't remember.

Stats

Album: Electric Ladyland
Artist: Jimi Hendrix
Year: 1968
My Favorite Song: Voodoo Child
Next Up: More Elvis...

The Birth of Soul: The Complete Atlantic R&B

Rolling Stone Rank: 53

Well, It's been awhile since I listened to this collection. Surprise, surprise, I listened to this whole thing about the same time I saw "Ray". It's a great collection, any of that early stuff is a wonderful look into the beginning of the soul movement. I love the idea that artists trained on such pure and holy music, would use it to create this new style dripping with sexual tension and immoral motives. And Ray was a master at it, he could take any song to that double entendre place that we all think about in the back of our mind. Wow, I just realized I wrote "wonderful look" two sentences ago. Must be too early to actually think about what I'm typing.

Have a great Saturday, stay dry

Stats

Album: The Birth of Soul: The Complete Atlantic R&B
Artist: Ray Charles
Year: 1991
My Favorite Song: Mess Around
Next Up: Jimi

Greatest Hits

Rolling Stone Rank: 52

Man, this album is great. I think the RS review uses the best adjective to describe Al's singing. "Honey-Voiced". Yeah, that's just perfect. I love his voice, and I think he's better than Marvin Gaye.

But alas, it's tough to judge this as a whole, since it's a compilation. It's great to listen to, but it's his best over a six-album period, and doesn't really reflect a singular aim. Interesting man though, and an interesting story about how he turned his life over to god.

Had my final concert of the year yesterday, glad it's over. Can't wait till summer =)

Stats

Album: Greatest Hits
Artist: Al Green
Year: 1975
My Favorite Song: L-O-V-E
Next Up: Ray Charles

A Bridge Over Troubled Water

Rolling Stone Rank: 51

Hey, another album I love. Solid. I think for me this one falls into my own top ten. The three singles alone (Cecilia, BOTW, and The Boxer) make it one of my favorite albums, and the other songs only help to complete the perfect sound on this final album between this feuding duo.

Similar to other albums I listened to on the walk from the high school to the library, I established a pretty deep bond with these songs. Which means I'm probably not the most objective person to rate this. Oh yeah, and a former girlfriend introduced me to Mr. Simon and his songwriting, so again more emotional baggage to add to these songs.

Anyway, I guess the song that needs the most addressing is Bridge Over Troubled Water. A really great song, yes, and another one of those things in music history that could have completely gone the other way. Why do we love this song? One, the lyrics are touching and two, Art Garfunkel is a ballin' tenor. But, in doing the research on this post, I learned that Art never wanted to sing the song at all. Paul insisted that Art sing it. And who knows where we would be without. Who knows if Art would have thought he could make it on his own. Who knows if Paul would have resented Art for singing his song.



So what do you think? Really. Anything would be nice. Hey, ummm sports, how about that? Or, hey, it's the first day of june how crazy is that? Ok, well have a great night out, later

p.s. this is hilarious.

Stats

Album: Bridge Over Troubled Water

Artist: Simon and Garfunkel

Year: 1970

My Favorite Song: Cecilia
Next Up: The Reverend Al Green