26 August 2012

 The Casket Lottery - Moving Mountains - 2000 - You can certainly tell that this band belongs to the genre spawned by Sunny Day Real Estate. Post hardcore (which just means not as aggressive) confusing time changes and poorly executed vocals, but there is something visceral that you can't just manufacture or plan.

 Sex Pistols - Never Mind the Bollocks - 1977 - This has to be one of THE most annoying yet widely influential albums ever. Talk about staring genres. They are really just blues songs played a little quicker and poorly, but with such a sardonic (anti?)British sneer that you can't ignore it. The title is kind of ironic also if "bollocks" is "nonsense" then really it reads "never mind the nonsense, here's the garbage"

The Cars - 1978 - This album is truly amazing, it is a perfect rock record. Let me explain, "Just what I Needed," "My Best Friend's Girlfriend," "Let the Good Times Roll," "You're All I've Got Tonight," "Moving in Stereo." Just go buy it. Now.

Asobi Seksu - Rewolf - 2009 - This band is typically very VERY loud, but this is an acoustic album. Kind of like a greatest hits but re-recorded quietly. Hauntingly beautiful sounds a little cliche, but that is the best way to describe it.  

The Smiths - 1984 - The Smiths always make me think of sitting in a bedroom alone staring at a wall. Kind of like rain on the windows. it's foggy. 

23 August 2012

 

 Broken Spindles - 2002 - Imagine if you will, an entirely instrumental electronic album that, at times, sounds like an old Nintendo game, creepy industrial music, 80's house music, 70's glam, and you'd have Broken Spindles. The really cool thing about this "band" (pretty sure it's just the bass player from The Faint) is the live show. He had a large screen set up at the edge of the stage which he stood behind and performed, whilst projecting different videos that corresponded to the music he played. pretty keen.

 Talking Heads - Fear of Music - 1979 - This album sounds more mature to me, more of a combined effort, and Brian Eno was involved, so it is good. "Life During Wartime" is the song you know.

 Tristeza - Spine and Sensory - 1999 - All instrumental ringing slow rock. Piano with the sustain pedal held down, open string picking and asymmetrical drum beats make this record interesting. 

Heart - Little Queen - 1977 - Who would've thunk that a chick could sing like Robert Plant, go figure. This is 70's power pop at its best, a little angry, a little sad, but mostly just ROCK. "Kick it Out," "Barracuda," those names ring a bell? 

22 August 2012

 The Who - Who Are You - 1978 - This album is as sad as it is good. Almost every song recognizes that music must change, it can't stagnate, see you later disco. But at the same time, as the cover clearly illustrates, The Who are surrounded and encumbered by the decadence of arena rock. As much as Pete Townsend tried to be the catalyst of change, it would be for the next generation (not yours Pete) to make those innovations. This is also Kieth Moon's last album, marking not only the end of the original Who but also one of the most mental and adventurous rock and roll drummers.

 The Promise Ring - Nothing Feels Good - 1997 - Take equal parts of the raw energy of punk, the intelligence of jazz, the sheer fun of pop, poetic lyrics that sound like they're written by T. S. Eliot, and a touch of mid-western malaise, and you have this album. Really though Promise Ring are a good old rock and roll band who happen to play extraordinary music.

 The Police - Zanyatta Mondatta - 1980 - I know, I know, The Police are all amazing musicians, I could never do what they have, but let's face it Sting is a creepy weirdo. For example, "Don't Stand so Close to Me," Voices Inside my Head," "De Do Do Do, De Da Da Da," "Man in a Suitcase." I think David Byrne of the Talking Heads wrote "Psycho Killer" about Sting.

Cruddy - Negative World - 2011 - Maybe it is just my limited knowledge of punk rock but these guys ensure me that punk is still alive. They remind me a little of a less interesting Dead Kenedys, and a less quirky Black Flag (both band's earliest albums). They seem to grasp the philosophical ramifications of punk music too, just look at their band's name.

Led Zeppelin - Presence - 1976 - Again this one is not one of my favorites of Zeppelin. It always seems like it's their "prog" album, but then there is that smoking old time blues in "Nobody's Fault but Mine," and the last track "Tea for One," and who can argue with obelisks?

21 August 2012

 Sunny Day Real Estate - Diary - 1994 - For one thing this as a "no skip" album, every song is awesome. Then there is the content, it really is like an introspective and melodramatic teenage diary. Yes it's all "Holden Caulfield," but there is something Shakespearean about it, almost like ancient Greek tragedy. And then there is the intelligent and astounding rhythm section. AND this album started a genre!

Big Brother & The Holding Company - Cheap Thrills - 1968 - This record is a little scratchy, but it almost seems more appropriate that way. This band is so unadulterated, which fits Joplin's voice. And it's approved by the "Frisco" Hell's Angels... rock.

 Black Sabbath - Paranoid - 1970 - This album is very accessible. Yeah it is "dark" and mostly about drugs, but Sabbath's humility is the most obvious thing in their music, that and their lack of polish. No other band writes as heavy and catchy grooves, e.g. "Iron Man" and "War Pigs," not to mention my personal favorite "Electric Funeral."

 

The Psychedelic Furs - Forever Now (US release alternate cover) - 1982 - First of all "Love My Way," really is an amazing song. I can't deny the allure of sarcastic British vocals and synthesizers.

The Faint - Blank Wave Arcade - 1999 - I'll never forget the first time I heard this album, it was such a departure but also the next natural step. They are kind of an 80's throw back band, bass, drums, guitar, and heavy synths that buzz and scream like a Nintendo plugged into a distortion pedal.

Mott the Hoople - All the Young Dudes - 1972 - Granted I heard the title track for the first time in the movie "Juno." To be fair I already liked Glam... I don't know what I'm trying to justify. It is a great song. This album also has an early version of "Ready for Love" which is a Bad Company song according to the internets. Also there is a sweet cover of "Sweet Jane" originally by the Velvet Underground. huzah!

20 August 2012

Vampire Weekend - Contra - 2009 - Ok, What if Paul Simon was a twenty-something hipster yuppy who wanted to be a punk = Vampire Weekend. Well, I still like it... a lot.

19 August 2012

  

The Pixies - Trompe Le Monde - 1991 - I like the absurdity and that this is a formative indie rock record. The title track and "Subbacultcha" are proper.

 

David Bowie - Pin-ups - 1973 - a collection of Bowie's favorite songs can't be bad.

 

The Spiders from Mars - 1975 - This band backed Bowie. They shouldn't have quit, without him they are lacking.

 

Pink Floyd - Wish You Were Here - 1975 - shine on you crazy diamond. No drugs required this album is a trip on its own. The whole album is good.

 

Yes - Tales from Topographic Oceans - 1973 - I know epic is an over used adjective but this album has two discs one song per side and each song is roughly 20 minutes long.

 

Led Zeppelin - In Through the Out Door - 1979 - This isn't my favorite led zeppelin album but the songs "fool in the rain" and "all of my love" make it worthwhile.

 

Styx - Equinox - 1975 - "Lorelei" is a great song despite the imperative to premarital cohabitation. If you like synths this album is right up your oscillator.

 

The Talking Heads - More Songs About Buildings and Food - 1978 - frantic jangly guitars, white boy funk bass lines, and vocals that sound like the homeless guy on the corner screaming at you from across the street. This is the "new wave."