Tapestry

Rolling Stone Rank: 36

Hey all, sorry I hadn't written in a while. I have a concert coming up next week, so I've been running pretty ragged. But, never fear I have thoughts, and have been listening to music and such.

Tapestry. This is the reason why I started listening to these albums. To find the hidden gems that I had overlooked in my life. What a fantastic album, what fantastic song, and most of all what a fantastic singer. The story behind Carole King is pretty fascinating. Well, let me start that again. It's not fascinating to us now, because we've heard this story too many times to count. Anyway, back then it was a fascinating story. OK, sorry, moving on. She started as a song-writer with her husband, wrote a bunch of songs, most notably for guys like James Taylor. Well, one day, Taylor says to her "you should put out an album where you sing your own songs". Novel concept right? so she does it, and the "singer-songwriter" is born.

* Note: after some research I see that she actually released an album in 1970, one year before tapestry, so move the story back one more year, when she released a commercial failure. THEN she released Tapestry and her career was off the ground

I highly recommend taking a listen to this one, it's got all the hits you could have sworn that somebody else wrote. It's always amazing to realize that all this genius you thought was spread out over 10 different groups, was coming out of the same mind.

Starting another goal for this summer tomorrow...Golf.

Stats

Album: Tapestry

Artist: Carole King

Year: 1971

My Favorite Song: Man, so many...how 'bout: It's Too Late

Tomorrow: Hotel California

The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars

Rolling Stone Rank: 35

Great album. Really enjoyable to listen to, something that I think everybody should do. It's been kind of a lazy Saturday, so I'm not much in the mood to pontificate about the impact that Mr. Stardust had upon the music instrudy. Except to say that without Bowie, would we have the pleasure of being introduced to Sasha Fierce? Or the giant face posted to my right--->


J/K, In no way do I mean to compare the works of Bowie to those of Beyonce and Garth Brooks. And in no way are those two albums anywhere near as good as Ziggy Stardust. It's a little light rock, but I think that comes with the territory of 1972 releases. I like this album, although I'm not as avid a fan as many others. So please, Bowie fans, feel free to preach the glory of Bowie, I'm off to chicago.

Stats

Album: The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars

Artist: David Bowie

Year: 1972

My Favorite Song: Ziggy Stardust

Tomorrow: Carole King

Music From Big Pink

Rolling Stone Rank: 34

I really had no idea who this band was until two weeks ago. I mean, I guess that I heard my dad mention them one or twice. But really, this is first band on the countdown that I really had no exposure to in my life thus far. Wow, I was really missing out. What a fantastic album, and what a fantastic band.

Doing a little research on The Band, I found out that they were Bob Dylan's back-up band. Actually (well according to Wikipedia...) Dylan offered to play on the album, but The Band turned him down. They said they wanted to make it on their own. How awesome is that? Musicians so confident in their music that they turned down some free publicity from Dylan.

Now, the big hit on this album is The Weight. You probably know if from those Singular commercials, thanks America. Anyway, that song is pretty representative of the album. Nice Country rock feel, very laid back, but with some good lyrics and solid music. I listened to this album a few times on the bus ride from Florence to Sienna. This flowing and groove really went well with the hills and wet atmosphere outside. It made the trip melt by.

Not much else to add, except that I think I'm getting a cold. But, I'm in a good mood.
I found an ipod touch outside our apartment two days ago. Anyways I put up a sign, and somebody finally called today, amazingly enough it was the guy who lives next door to us (the guy who Justin and I think works for the Bears...it's a long story, ask me sometime). Anyways, it was his son's who was visiting over the weekend (divorce, I think). He looked so relieved, so yah!

I leave you with an interesting cover of this great song. Please to enjoy...

Stats

Album: Music From Big Pink

Artist: The Band

Year: 1968

My Favorite Song: The Weight

Tomorrow: Ziggy!

The Ramones

Rolling Stone Rank: 33

Well, what is there to say about this short little ditty? As you would expect, since it's the first real punk album recorded, it's not the most polished or most effective album; but, it's historical value is immense. To be honest, listening to it is not the most exciting thing (especially when you're on a tour bus with 50 high schoolers). If you look at the time in which is was made though, you can feel that energy and angst bubbling through the lyrics and music. Still, its not really comparable to the punk music being made today.

That being said, I wasn't alive to hear this band in the late 70's. I don't have the perspective, blah blah blah, you know. Anyways, I think the Sex Pistols sound 100 times better, and hell of a lot more real. Please feel free to disagree.

Maybe I'm just in an arguementative mood, but let me address one more thing.
I'm sick already of the "Go Cubs Go" facebook updates. So stupid, at least tell me something about the game, or where you're watching, or really anything other than "Go Cubs Go". I hate that stupid song, and I hate that stupid team.

Stats

Album: The Ramones

Artist: The Ramones

Year: 1976

My Favorite Song: Blitzkrieg Bop

Tomorrow: The Band

Back From Italy

Hi,
Got back from Italy today, just in time to go to work tomorrow =/
I woke up this morning at 4 am Italy time, which is 9pm Chicago time. I'm trying to stay awake so i don't wake up at 3 am ready for work.

Anyways, that's my disclaimer about this post...
First of all, I listen to a lot of music, so I'll get to those posts when I can get my head thinking clearly.

The thing I wanted to talk about here was the fear that all people have, that nobody notices, or cares when you're gone. On the trip, I didn't bring a computer, or check my phone. And it felt great. Well, parts of it felt great, I had quite a few memories of my previous European trip.

And not that I was expecting anything really, but...no calls, no emails, no nothing. Doesn't help that I came back to an empty apartment, and spent the last however many minutes surfing the fb.

Aaaaand now it's snowing.

Ok, this must be just because I'm tired. I really did have a good time =). More thoughts about this trip later, tomorrow maybe
~Me

Let it Bleed

Rolling Stone Rank: 32

As an album, I'm not sure what ties these songs together, and to be honest I'm not sure if they fit together. OK, that being said, two or three of these songs individually are the best the Stones have to offer. fantastic riffs by Keith, stirring vocals by Mick. This is what the Stones are known for.
Starting this album off with Gimme Shelter, a fantastic choice. The song is perfect for getting your juices flowing, it builds up slowly with a good 45 seconds of instrumental before Mick comes in. ::side note, it's hard not to remember the opening to The Departed::
After Gimme Shelter, the album takes a kind of country twist, including Country Honk. Not my favorite song, but an interesting twist on their classic.
Let it Bleed is another favorite for me. A very simple song to remember and sing along, it's a powerful song for anyone to listen to. Right now I'm reading a book on music, and it's affect on the brain. Anyways, in the book, the author talks about how refrains that repeat the same few lines with little changes (like the line, "we all need someone we can _____ on") ingrains the music into our brain. That our brain enjoys the little game that the musician has created, not consciously, but unconsciously or brain is enjoying coming up with all the possible rhymes with Bleed
Lastly, what a perfect song to end an album with. You Can't Always get What You Want. Such a perfect mantra to live by, there's not a lot that I can add to this song, it's one of the greatest songs ever written, and it's the reason this album is #32 on RS list.

Stats

Album: Let it Bleed

Artist: The Rolling Stones

Year: 1969

My Favorite Song: You Can't Always Get What You Want

Tomorrow: The Ramones

Another Album-less Post

Hello readers,
It's been quite awhile since I wrote, mostly cause I've been up to a lot of stuff. I wrote before that I finished up my jazz season, and just a few days ago we had our spring concert, which was quite stressful in itself. It went well, although I'd love to pack a house one of these days.

Referencing one of my earlier posts, I didn't get that drumming gig. Not because I wasn't good enough, but the scheduling didn't work out. So, ummm, sigh. So because of that, there hasn't really been the excitement in my life that I had thought there would be about now.

I've spent the last few weekends focused on fantasy baseball, which is all fun and good. But as I've said before, part of the fun of sports is the escape from your life that you feel while watching. Well, if nothing's going on in your life it's not as exciting.

I'm going to Italy next week, I'm really psyched for the trip. Looking for book ideas if anybody has any? It's a long flight...