Catch a Fire

Rolling Stone Rank: 123

The album that introduced America to Bob Marley and his Whalers. Now, when I think of Bob Marley, for whatever reason, I think of the happy-go-lucky form of reggae, so this album kind of blew me out of the water. Lots of angst, pent up aggression, and passion just poured out of the record. I really enjoyed the edginess, and I can see how it caught the public's attention, really great stuff. Thoughts?

Stats

Album: Catch a Fire
Artist: Bob Marley and Whalers
Year: 1973
My Favorite Song: Concrete Jungle
Next Up: more Byrds

Pearl

Rolling Stone Rank: 122

Fantastic album, totally underrated. This album should most definitely be in the top 100. Joplin conveys so much in her voice, its impossible not to be moved. On a completely unrelated note, this week's SNL was probably the best one of the season. Much more sketches with storylines instead of the old crap where they make awkward stares at each other. Although while it may have been the funniest episode, Shakira is just god-awful. And on that note, goodnight!

Stats

Album: Pearl
Artist: Janis Joplin
Year: 1971
My Favorite Song: Me and Bobby McGee
Next Up: Marley

Moby Grape

Rolling Stone Rank: 121

Good album, and another album that I had never heard of before this list. I always like finding artists this way, its an interesting way to listen to them because I immediately compare them to all the bands and music I know from that era. For most of the music that I'm listening to on this list, it's more of a re-introduction to albums that I already love. Listening to stuff like this is finding the hidden gems in eras I thought I knew pretty well, and I guess that's the great part about music. Even now, as most people can attest, if you're current on music and pay attention to all the right sources, you'll still find some bands that slip through the cracks.

Stats

Album: Moby Grape
Artist: Moby Grape
Year: 1967
My Favorite Song: Changes
Next Up: Janis!

Raising Hell

Rolling Stone Rank: 120

Yeah, this wasn't nearly as bad as Public Enemy. It was even entertaining at some points, not that I want to start a whole East Coast-West Coast thing...Anyway it wasn't that bad, Jam Master Jay may be the best part of the trio, all the cuts and samples were put together in a really smooth way. Oh, also, this was a Rick Rubin produced album, not sure if he had the ZZ Top beard yet, but he sure can churn out the hits

Stats

Album: Raising Hell
Artist: Run-DMC
Year: 1986
My Favorite Song: Tricky
Next Up: Moby Grape

The Harder They Come

Rolling Stone Rank: 119

This was a lot of fun to listen to, the entire soundtrack really encompassed the sounds of the island nation. Like many other times, it was the Gimme Gimme's that introduced the title track to me, only I didn't know it at the time. One more post to go, in what is becoming an all-to-familiar multiplepost saturday...

Stats

Album: The Harder They Come
Artist: Various Artists (Though most of it was Jimmy Cliff)
Year: 1973
My Favorite Song: The Harder They Come
Next Up: Run-DMC

Stand!

Rolling Stone Rank: 118

Sorry I haven't written in awhile, had our last football game of the season last night. Thank god. it was our 4th game in 3 straight weeks, so I'm really really glad that I have an extra day off to recover from the season. Although, when I really think about it, most schools have a much more rigorous schedule, but still. 4 games in 4 weeks.

Really surprised that an album this good was not higher up. In fact, you could make the argument that this is Sly's best album. Your thoughts?

Stats

Album: Stand
Artist: Sly and Family Stone
Year: 1969
My Favorite Song: Everyday People
Next Up: The Harder They Come

Sweetheart of the Rodeo

Rolling Stone Rank: 117

Still on Glee, it's just, show me a high school that sings that anywhere near the voices that these kids sing at. Would it be so terrible to have a more realistic sound? I dunno, maybe I'm just being picky. Oh, y'know what else, that stutter girl, only stutters on the beginning of her sentence, not sure how i fell about that.

Well, The Byrds do a pretty fantastic job with country rock. It was fun to listen to, not exactly an emotional experience, but great music and lots of fun.

Stats

Album: Sweetheart of the Rodeo
Artist: The Byrds
Year: 1968
My Favorite Song: One Hundred Years From Now
Next Up: Sly and Family Stone

At Last!

Rolling Stone Rank: 116

I'm on to Glee, an interesting show to say the least. I think people are excited about this show, because it's about a show choir. But I don't think the show is all that great, it's not that funny, and the music is disappointing. I understand that it's exciting to hear popular songs sung a cappella, but the sound it just so overproduced, meh.

Anyway, back to back heartbreak albums. Lots of blues and soul on this one, a great album that brings together the glory days of the Chess recording studio. I had never listened to any of her other songs, other than At Last, and I was really surprised at her performance in all of them. Lots of energy pumping throughout the entire album, she never takes a song off. Thoughts?

Stats

Album: At Last!
Artist: Etta James
Year: 1961
My Favorite Song: ummm, At Last!
Next Up: Byrds

Layla and Other Assorted Love Songs

Rolling Stone Rank: 115

On a side note, I'm watching The Good Wife right now. It's pretty good, but that's another post...

I can't figure out how this album didn't crack the top 100 in Rolling Stone's eyes. In my opinion, it should be in the top 20, maybe even the top 10. Yes I know, the album wasn't groundbreaking. It wasn't an innovative new style, or the invention of a new genre. But I'll tell you what it was, it was the blues perfect. It was a man bearing his soul for an entire album. This was the first time Eric stepped behind the mic, and he did a fantastic job.
I really could listen to this album for the rest of my life, it's such a great emotional journey that Mr. Clapton takes you on. Oh yeah, and the guitar play between him ad Duane Allman is phenomenal. A must-listen for anybody and everybody.

Stats

Album:Layla and Other Assorted Love Songs
Artist: Derek and the Dominos
Year: 1970
My Favorite Song: Layla
Next Up: Etta James