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...
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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....
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.
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Album: Songs in the Key of Life Artist: Stevie Wonder Year: 1976 My Favorite Song: Isn't She Lovely? Next Up: Rolling Stones
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...
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Album: Elvis Presley Artist: Elvis Presley Year: 1956 My Favorite Song: I Love You Because Next Up: Little Stevie Wonder
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.
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Album: Electric Ladyland Artist: Jimi Hendrix Year: 1968 My Favorite Song: Voodoo Child Next Up: More Elvis...
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
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Album: The Birth of Soul: The Complete Atlantic R&B Artist: Ray Charles Year: 1991 My Favorite Song: Mess Around Next Up: Jimi
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 =)
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Album: Greatest Hits Artist: Al Green Year: 1975 My Favorite Song: L-O-V-E Next Up: Ray Charles
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.
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Album: Bridge Over Troubled Water
Artist: Simon and Garfunkel
Year: 1970
My Favorite Song: Cecilia Next Up: The Reverend Al Green
