Monday, March 29, 2010
Vampire Weekend: Contra
After dipping into Vampire Weekend a few weeks ago, I decided today was the day to explore their second album, "Contra." I think that "Contra" is a more polished effort than Vampire Weekend's debut disc. They cleaned up their song writing a bit and sound more professional the second time around. To me, it is apparent that Ezra Koenig spent some time working on refining his vocals. His voice voice doesn't break this time and he has a smoother delivery. The band stuck to making songs with an Afro beat that sound similar to their debut. The big thing missing on this album is an upbeat song akin to "A-Punk." Most of the songs are slow or mid-tempo. My two standout tracks are "Run" and "Diplomat's Son." "Run" might be the most upbeat track and I like the horns. "Diplomat's Son" is the biggest step forward from the debut. I guess I didn't really get "I think Ur A Contra." It was a ballad with nothing to identify it as Vampire Weekend besides Ezra Koenig's voice. Overall I liked the album, just not as much as their debut. I guess I was looking for more of a step forward as opposed to more of the same.
Sunday, March 21, 2010
A Night with the Big Pink
Last night, I had the privileged of seeing England's The Big Pink. The name of the band is kind of awful but the music is not. The concert was held at one of my favorite venues, the Metro. I like the Metro because it is a fairly small club but it is easy to get swept up by everything around you there. The two opening bands were Gatekeeper and A Place to Bury Strangers.
I'm pretty sure I saw Gatekeeper open up for Crystal Castles last year at the Bottom Lounge. I actually thought they were more interesting that time because their music more resembles that of Crystal Castles as oppose to the Big Pink's. Gatekeeper play an all electronic type of music with a drum machine, synthesizers, and computers. I saw a few people really getting into them. They are not the type of band I normally want to go see live. In fact, they would be perfect for writing an uptempo video game score or a retro 80's movie soundtrack. Really, if I ever meet someone in the video game business, I would refer them to Gatekeeper for their scoring needs. The two guys in the band just look like video game freaks too, not that there is anything wrong with that.
The second opening band, A Place to Bury Strangers, were much more in my wheelhouse. I was standing in front up the stage front and center. I could not hear all of the acoustics properly from that spot. That is probably on me for picking a stupid place to stand. Anyways, I thought this band played with a lot of echo and feedback, two of my favorite effects. The bass guitar used looked as if someone had used it in a bar fight a few times and it had vast amounts of water damage. The drummer almost always played up the tempo so the band was always rocking hard and full of energy. The guitarist and singer seemed possessed at times especially near the end of the set. The band's last song ended with strobe lights and the guitarist throwing around three different guitars at different times to gain incredible sounds. At one time he even played two guitars against each other for some weird sounding feedback. When he was throwing around his guitars with the strobe light going, I thought I was going to get smashed in the face. He even broke off his whammy bar three feet from my face. It was probably the first time I was scared for my safety at a concert because of the band. I met the guitarist after the show I told him how I felt about the show and how I feared for my life. I'm pretty sure he assumed I was a drunken idiot (I was not drunk).
Finally the Big Pink came on the stage. The guitarist was set up directly in front of me. Until he adjusted his mic stand, I would have smacked my head on it unless I ducked down. The Big Pink were a combination of the opening bands but mostly leaning towards A Place to Bury Strangers. The guitarist had two effect boxes with a combined 14 pedals. I'm not sure if even half of these were used. I had never heard any of the Big Pink's music before but walked away impressed. I'm not convinced that they are the best song writers, But I enjoyed the live experience. My favorite moment was a cover of the Smashing Pumpkins' "Mayonaise" which was followed by the new song for the tour. It kicked up my energy for the rest of the concert including a the slow set closer. I was standing next to a girl who was a huge fan of the band. During the last some, some woman walked up toward the front of the stage and started yelling at the band that they were "boring." This almost started a girl fight. How often do you see that at concerts?
I hung around after the concert for a small party thrown by MGD and the Big Pink. The band were DJs until 2am. I took advantage of the free pizza and three free beers. OK, they weren't free because I had to pay $16 to get into the concert. For that price, I got a kick ass concert, pizza, beer, and a bitchin' DJ set. They played a vast array of music until near the end of the set when they played a lot of Oasis, other 90's music, and the Stone Roses' "I am the Resurrection." It was just a joy to be in a room with people who enjoyed the same music as me. There is no room for complaints. I took advantage of this time to mingle with the bassist from the Big Pink. He seemed like a really cool guy. If the tour bus did not have to leave at 2:30am, we probably would have kept the party going in the bar downstairs. It was a blast!
I'm pretty sure I saw Gatekeeper open up for Crystal Castles last year at the Bottom Lounge. I actually thought they were more interesting that time because their music more resembles that of Crystal Castles as oppose to the Big Pink's. Gatekeeper play an all electronic type of music with a drum machine, synthesizers, and computers. I saw a few people really getting into them. They are not the type of band I normally want to go see live. In fact, they would be perfect for writing an uptempo video game score or a retro 80's movie soundtrack. Really, if I ever meet someone in the video game business, I would refer them to Gatekeeper for their scoring needs. The two guys in the band just look like video game freaks too, not that there is anything wrong with that.
The second opening band, A Place to Bury Strangers, were much more in my wheelhouse. I was standing in front up the stage front and center. I could not hear all of the acoustics properly from that spot. That is probably on me for picking a stupid place to stand. Anyways, I thought this band played with a lot of echo and feedback, two of my favorite effects. The bass guitar used looked as if someone had used it in a bar fight a few times and it had vast amounts of water damage. The drummer almost always played up the tempo so the band was always rocking hard and full of energy. The guitarist and singer seemed possessed at times especially near the end of the set. The band's last song ended with strobe lights and the guitarist throwing around three different guitars at different times to gain incredible sounds. At one time he even played two guitars against each other for some weird sounding feedback. When he was throwing around his guitars with the strobe light going, I thought I was going to get smashed in the face. He even broke off his whammy bar three feet from my face. It was probably the first time I was scared for my safety at a concert because of the band. I met the guitarist after the show I told him how I felt about the show and how I feared for my life. I'm pretty sure he assumed I was a drunken idiot (I was not drunk).
Finally the Big Pink came on the stage. The guitarist was set up directly in front of me. Until he adjusted his mic stand, I would have smacked my head on it unless I ducked down. The Big Pink were a combination of the opening bands but mostly leaning towards A Place to Bury Strangers. The guitarist had two effect boxes with a combined 14 pedals. I'm not sure if even half of these were used. I had never heard any of the Big Pink's music before but walked away impressed. I'm not convinced that they are the best song writers, But I enjoyed the live experience. My favorite moment was a cover of the Smashing Pumpkins' "Mayonaise" which was followed by the new song for the tour. It kicked up my energy for the rest of the concert including a the slow set closer. I was standing next to a girl who was a huge fan of the band. During the last some, some woman walked up toward the front of the stage and started yelling at the band that they were "boring." This almost started a girl fight. How often do you see that at concerts?
I hung around after the concert for a small party thrown by MGD and the Big Pink. The band were DJs until 2am. I took advantage of the free pizza and three free beers. OK, they weren't free because I had to pay $16 to get into the concert. For that price, I got a kick ass concert, pizza, beer, and a bitchin' DJ set. They played a vast array of music until near the end of the set when they played a lot of Oasis, other 90's music, and the Stone Roses' "I am the Resurrection." It was just a joy to be in a room with people who enjoyed the same music as me. There is no room for complaints. I took advantage of this time to mingle with the bassist from the Big Pink. He seemed like a really cool guy. If the tour bus did not have to leave at 2:30am, we probably would have kept the party going in the bar downstairs. It was a blast!
Monday, March 1, 2010
Kasabian' Debut
If you are board someday and go to the local used music store, do yourself a favor and look for Kasabian's eponymous debut album. You won't regret it. I picked up the album because I was aware of the band and had heard good things. I decided to take a chance and was rewarded with my mind being blown away. The whole of the album is a consistent feel to it, another worldly feel. It has a modern psychedelic sound combining old and new. The beats are modern and familiar as is the synth. However, the combination is new and fascinating. Thew first half of the album is especially great. Except for the short instrumentals, every song is memorable. You won't mind carrying one of these tunes in your head for the day.
The first track, "Club Foot," is upbeat and sets you up for everything you are about to hear. "Processed Beats" is just that. It possesses the most complex rhythm on the album and offers a different dimension into what Kasabian are try to accomplish. "Reason is Treason" is the most straight forward rocker of this collection. It only moves forward until the end. I'm not sure I enjoy the whiny background vocal though. "I.D." is essentially the same musical statement made by "Club Foot," only at a slower pace. It shows that Kasabian can deliver their message in more than a single way. "L.S.F. (Lost Souls Forever)" is the most accessible song on the album. It also might be the only song you can really sing along with as well. "Running Battle" is another slower number. This one has a good beat that is forward in the mix. The guitar and synth are in the back except for the synth runs between verses. It is very tasteful in its use of the instrument. "Test Tansmission" quickens the pace back up. Except for the vocals and beat, everything is swirling. It sounds absolutely fantastic with head phones. "Cutt Off" is almost a return to "Processed Beats" with a more complex vocal delivery. "Butcher Blues" is a slower number that is a sweet running bass line that drives the entire song with the vocals. The instrumental, "Ovary Stripe" leads into the album closer, "U Boat." "U Boat" is unlike any other song on the album. The first half of the song is the vocals up front accompanied with a slow repeating synth line. The song eventually picks up a beat and a complicated synth. It ends with a swirling synth line with a string accompaniment.
I was so moved by this album that as soon as I finished listening to its magic I gave to my roommate to listen to. I am not sure if he fully appreciated the gift I put into his hands. I am telling right now this album is worth your time.
The first track, "Club Foot," is upbeat and sets you up for everything you are about to hear. "Processed Beats" is just that. It possesses the most complex rhythm on the album and offers a different dimension into what Kasabian are try to accomplish. "Reason is Treason" is the most straight forward rocker of this collection. It only moves forward until the end. I'm not sure I enjoy the whiny background vocal though. "I.D." is essentially the same musical statement made by "Club Foot," only at a slower pace. It shows that Kasabian can deliver their message in more than a single way. "L.S.F. (Lost Souls Forever)" is the most accessible song on the album. It also might be the only song you can really sing along with as well. "Running Battle" is another slower number. This one has a good beat that is forward in the mix. The guitar and synth are in the back except for the synth runs between verses. It is very tasteful in its use of the instrument. "Test Tansmission" quickens the pace back up. Except for the vocals and beat, everything is swirling. It sounds absolutely fantastic with head phones. "Cutt Off" is almost a return to "Processed Beats" with a more complex vocal delivery. "Butcher Blues" is a slower number that is a sweet running bass line that drives the entire song with the vocals. The instrumental, "Ovary Stripe" leads into the album closer, "U Boat." "U Boat" is unlike any other song on the album. The first half of the song is the vocals up front accompanied with a slow repeating synth line. The song eventually picks up a beat and a complicated synth. It ends with a swirling synth line with a string accompaniment.
I was so moved by this album that as soon as I finished listening to its magic I gave to my roommate to listen to. I am not sure if he fully appreciated the gift I put into his hands. I am telling right now this album is worth your time.
Monday, February 22, 2010
Vampire Weekend's Debut
This past Saturday I found Vampire Weekend's debut album as a way to make up for an otherwise forgettable day. The first thing that immediately jumped out at me was Ezra Koenig's voice. I'm not going to say that he has a perfect voice, but to me his voice has a sort of unique edge to it. There are plenty of times his voice is about to crack. It is also in front of the mix most of the time. If you can't handle his voice, you should probably stop listening and find some new sounds to listen to.The album plays so precisely that the small blemishes sound enduring instead of frightful. The music also has a vibe to it that is not in music I typically listen to. For some reason, it made me think of Jimmy Buffet except not campy. I know this is because of the African rhythms, which are what separates this album from many others. The songs are mostly built carefully upon the rhythms. The album is certainly upbeat. I think that I would ideally listen to this album will relaxing on a warm, not hot, day or while I was taking a long bike ride or car ride on a sunny day. I just dig the vibe of the album but would probably not go out of my way to pay much to see them in concert. I will try to listen to more of them and try to find their new album.
Monday, February 15, 2010
The Milwaukee Brewers as Beatles Albums
In my preparation for spring training and the upcoming baseball season, I decided to find the Beatles album equivalent to current Brewers players. I used only starters or expected starts, staring pitchers, the closer, and the bullpen as a whole. I broke down the Beatles albums as they came to me in the recent Beatles Stereo Box Set. I further broke down the White Album and the Past Masters albums into separate disks so I could use more Brewers players. Here we go!
Please Please Me: The Beatles debut album compares best to Casey McGehee. Casey had a great rookie season in 2009. Please Please Me is on of the great debut albums in music history. While Please Please me was recorded in a very short amount of time, Casey put up his numbers a relatively few at-bats. He did not start to get any consistent playing time until May and then still did not really play full time. Please Please me is peppered with Lennon/McCartney originals as well as 6 cover songs. Casey split his time between second and third base last year.
With The Beatles: The Beatles sophomore effort compares best to the Brewers new center fielder Carlos Gomez. In my opinion, With the Beatles does not possess to many memorable songs; songs that you might still hear on the radio. Carlos Gomez will probably have little offensive impact on the Brewers. He should not bat high in the order as does not take many walks or hit for good average. However, Carlos Gomez is probably a superstar defensively. With the Beatles does have some of the bands finest cover songs and certainly is enjoyable just as Carlos will be fun to watch on defense.
A Hard Day's Night: Yovani Gallardo best matches the soundtrack to the Beatles first movie. It was the young Beatles first true masterpiece. Yovani is the Brewers ace pitcher while also being the youngest starting pitcher on the staff. Yovani is fun to watch pitch and hit. A Hard Day's Night is the only Beatles album to contain solely Lennon/McCartney songs. Many of the songs on this album still endure. Hopefully Yovani can also endure and stay with the Brewers for years to come.
Beatles For Sale: the Brewers young starting pitcher, Manny Parra, is the call here. The album starts out with a trio of mark songs written by John Lennon. Manny Parra has not had the bright start to his career that many Brewers fans had hoped for. unlike the previous album, Beatles For Sale is not a masterpiece even though it was now clear what the Beatles were capable of. This album also contains six covers songs when the Beatles were capable of more. Manny Parra has the potential to be great, but for the most part, has not lived up to his potential.
Help!: This comparison goes out to the entire Brewers bullpen, not just because of the appropriate title. The Brewers bullpen in 2009 was pretty solid outside of being overworked from time to time. Help! has some very solid Beatles compositions such as "Yesterday" and "Ticket to Ride" as well as a clunker or two and end with a cover song that I find annoying. Usually a bullpen is kind of hit or miss as well and there a few pitchers you never really want to see.
Rubber Soul: One of the Beatles absolute best albums goes to one of the Brewer's essential hitters, Ryan Braun. It was with this album that the Beatles started to consistently create memorable music. There are no throw away songs on this album. Ryan Braun is also consistanly great, rarely going into a hitting funk. Every one of Ryan Braun's at-bats is a must see event because of what he is capable of. It is with Rubber Soul that the Beatles start to experiment and sets up perhaps their greatest triumph just as Ryan Braun bats in front of the Brewers most feared hitter.
Revolver: Prince Fielder is the Brewers best hitter. He hit for average and power in 2009 while drawing over 100 walks, a big accomplishment. I believe that Revolver is the Beatles best album and is one of the great accomplishments in music history. There are some revolutionary things going on in Revolver including backwards tapes. Prince Fielder was the youngest player to ever hit 50 home runs. He has shown that he is no fluke and his 2009 season made him one of the elite hitters in baseball. The Beatles already were an elite band when Revolver came out but this made them THE elite band.
Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band : The Beatles most iconic album goes to the Brewer's big off season acquisition, Randy Wolf. Randy Wolf had a career year in 2009 in time to get a big payday. Sgt. Pepper's is the Beatles big payday. They made back to back masterpieces with Rubber Soul and Revolver. Sgt. Pepper's was automatically called the best album ever because of what was expected from the Beatles. However, I think this album is overrated and has some moments that are not solid. Randy Wolf. is by no means the savior of the Brewers nor should he be expected to be. I think he will be very good but not spectacular.
Magical Mystery Tour: This underrated album compares to Doug Davis. This album is probably just as good if not better than Sgt. Pepper's yet it is never recognized as so. Doug Davis is a solid pitcher whose signing only made a minor splash. He will be just as important to the Brewers 2010 season as Randy Wolf. Magical Mystery Tour contains music by the Beatles that had already been released as singles. Doug Davis is a familiar face to Brewers fans as he will be making his second tour of duty with the team.
The Beatles, Disc 1: The White Album probably has too many songs as it like the Brewers have too many starting pitchers. Dave Bush is the pitcher that comes to the first disc of The Beatles. The first disc has most of the album most memorable tracks yet still suffers from a few poor ones (come on George, "Piggies"?). Dave Bush has pitched some of the Brewers best performance in the past couple of years including a near no hitter or two. Previous to his injury last year, he was mostly solid but was susceptible to the big inning. I hope he returns to his pre-injury self in 2010 as the Beatles came back for their next LP release.
The Beatles, Disc2: The Brewers new catcher, Gregg Zaun, compares to the second half of the White Album. There is not a lot to get excited about on the second half except for "Helter Skelter" and maybe "Revolution 1." There is not a whole lot exciting about Zaun except for him being replaced by the end of the year by one of the Brewers young catching prospects, hopefully. Zaun is a veteran and handle a pitching staff well for whatever that's worth. He is a place holder just as the second half of the White Album holds place to the Beatles artistic overflow of the time.
Yellow Submarine: The only truly disposable Beatles album compare to pitcher Jeff Suppan. The second half of the album is the orchestrated soundtrack which almost no one cares about. Jeff Suppan is the player on the Brewers that most people wish would be off the team. He usually has a negative impact on the game. However, he is a vetern and occasionally throws a gem. George Harrison drops a gem on Yellow Submarine with "It's All Too Much."
Abbey Road: The Beatles studio finale is comparable to the Brewers closer, Trevor Hoffman. Abbey Road is the Beatles final masterpiece. 2009 was one of the all time saves leader's best seasons in his very long career. I think Abbey Road has the best production of any Beatles albums perhaps because of all the time the Beatles had put in the studio before making that album. Trevor Hoffman comes across as a true professional perhaps because he is one of baseball most veteran players. He is on the last legs of his fine career just as the Beatles were on theirs when they recorded Abbey Road.
Let It Be: This album compares to current Brewers fan whipping boy, Corey Hart. Let It Be might be the most disliked, especially critically, of any Beatles album. The album has many strong points but certainly it's share of flaws such as "Dig It" and "Maggie Mae". Corey Hart has shown some flaws in his game recently. He also has not endured himself to fans by complaining about booing. If Corey focused on his game, he has a lot of tools to do great things like another 20?20 season or even a 30/30 season. Let It Be closed out the Beatles releases. If Corey Hart can't turn his game around, 2010 will probably be his last as a Brewer.
Past Masters, Disc 1: The first Disc of the Beatles odds & sods album compares to the Brewers young shortstop, Alcides Escobar. Alcides has a lot of potential to be a solid major leaguer, especially as a defensive wizard. The first disc of Past Masters has some of the young Beatles most memorable songs. It also has many B-Sides that do not match their famous A-sides. Escobar will most likely not be an offensive machine in 2010 and be protected as a B-side is protected by the strong A-side of a single. However all the potential.
Past Masters, Disc 2: The second disc of hodge podge compares to the often injured Rickie Weeks. This album is probably as loaded as any Beatles record. However it is a compilation. Rickie Weeks has shown brilliance at times but either falls off his production or get injured. Many believed he had the same abilities as either Prince or Ryan Braun. He played like it for the first month and a half in 2009 before injuring his wrist and missing the rest of the year. While Past Masters has so many memorable tracks, it does not necessarily flow very well and has a few toss away b-sides such as "The Inner Light," "Old Brown Shoe," and You Know My Name (Look Up The Number)." Hopefully Rickie can put a full season together with his potential be comparable to a full album in the future instead of bits and pieces of various works.
Hopefully this will be the first in a line of comparisons of various artists and album to sports players, teams, and other pop culture things which I enjoy. I am always trying to think of new things to write and new views to find wit music.
Please Please Me: The Beatles debut album compares best to Casey McGehee. Casey had a great rookie season in 2009. Please Please Me is on of the great debut albums in music history. While Please Please me was recorded in a very short amount of time, Casey put up his numbers a relatively few at-bats. He did not start to get any consistent playing time until May and then still did not really play full time. Please Please me is peppered with Lennon/McCartney originals as well as 6 cover songs. Casey split his time between second and third base last year.
With The Beatles: The Beatles sophomore effort compares best to the Brewers new center fielder Carlos Gomez. In my opinion, With the Beatles does not possess to many memorable songs; songs that you might still hear on the radio. Carlos Gomez will probably have little offensive impact on the Brewers. He should not bat high in the order as does not take many walks or hit for good average. However, Carlos Gomez is probably a superstar defensively. With the Beatles does have some of the bands finest cover songs and certainly is enjoyable just as Carlos will be fun to watch on defense.
A Hard Day's Night: Yovani Gallardo best matches the soundtrack to the Beatles first movie. It was the young Beatles first true masterpiece. Yovani is the Brewers ace pitcher while also being the youngest starting pitcher on the staff. Yovani is fun to watch pitch and hit. A Hard Day's Night is the only Beatles album to contain solely Lennon/McCartney songs. Many of the songs on this album still endure. Hopefully Yovani can also endure and stay with the Brewers for years to come.
Beatles For Sale: the Brewers young starting pitcher, Manny Parra, is the call here. The album starts out with a trio of mark songs written by John Lennon. Manny Parra has not had the bright start to his career that many Brewers fans had hoped for. unlike the previous album, Beatles For Sale is not a masterpiece even though it was now clear what the Beatles were capable of. This album also contains six covers songs when the Beatles were capable of more. Manny Parra has the potential to be great, but for the most part, has not lived up to his potential.
Help!: This comparison goes out to the entire Brewers bullpen, not just because of the appropriate title. The Brewers bullpen in 2009 was pretty solid outside of being overworked from time to time. Help! has some very solid Beatles compositions such as "Yesterday" and "Ticket to Ride" as well as a clunker or two and end with a cover song that I find annoying. Usually a bullpen is kind of hit or miss as well and there a few pitchers you never really want to see.
Rubber Soul: One of the Beatles absolute best albums goes to one of the Brewer's essential hitters, Ryan Braun. It was with this album that the Beatles started to consistently create memorable music. There are no throw away songs on this album. Ryan Braun is also consistanly great, rarely going into a hitting funk. Every one of Ryan Braun's at-bats is a must see event because of what he is capable of. It is with Rubber Soul that the Beatles start to experiment and sets up perhaps their greatest triumph just as Ryan Braun bats in front of the Brewers most feared hitter.
Revolver: Prince Fielder is the Brewers best hitter. He hit for average and power in 2009 while drawing over 100 walks, a big accomplishment. I believe that Revolver is the Beatles best album and is one of the great accomplishments in music history. There are some revolutionary things going on in Revolver including backwards tapes. Prince Fielder was the youngest player to ever hit 50 home runs. He has shown that he is no fluke and his 2009 season made him one of the elite hitters in baseball. The Beatles already were an elite band when Revolver came out but this made them THE elite band.
Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band : The Beatles most iconic album goes to the Brewer's big off season acquisition, Randy Wolf. Randy Wolf had a career year in 2009 in time to get a big payday. Sgt. Pepper's is the Beatles big payday. They made back to back masterpieces with Rubber Soul and Revolver. Sgt. Pepper's was automatically called the best album ever because of what was expected from the Beatles. However, I think this album is overrated and has some moments that are not solid. Randy Wolf. is by no means the savior of the Brewers nor should he be expected to be. I think he will be very good but not spectacular.
Magical Mystery Tour: This underrated album compares to Doug Davis. This album is probably just as good if not better than Sgt. Pepper's yet it is never recognized as so. Doug Davis is a solid pitcher whose signing only made a minor splash. He will be just as important to the Brewers 2010 season as Randy Wolf. Magical Mystery Tour contains music by the Beatles that had already been released as singles. Doug Davis is a familiar face to Brewers fans as he will be making his second tour of duty with the team.
The Beatles, Disc 1: The White Album probably has too many songs as it like the Brewers have too many starting pitchers. Dave Bush is the pitcher that comes to the first disc of The Beatles. The first disc has most of the album most memorable tracks yet still suffers from a few poor ones (come on George, "Piggies"?). Dave Bush has pitched some of the Brewers best performance in the past couple of years including a near no hitter or two. Previous to his injury last year, he was mostly solid but was susceptible to the big inning. I hope he returns to his pre-injury self in 2010 as the Beatles came back for their next LP release.
The Beatles, Disc2: The Brewers new catcher, Gregg Zaun, compares to the second half of the White Album. There is not a lot to get excited about on the second half except for "Helter Skelter" and maybe "Revolution 1." There is not a whole lot exciting about Zaun except for him being replaced by the end of the year by one of the Brewers young catching prospects, hopefully. Zaun is a veteran and handle a pitching staff well for whatever that's worth. He is a place holder just as the second half of the White Album holds place to the Beatles artistic overflow of the time.
Yellow Submarine: The only truly disposable Beatles album compare to pitcher Jeff Suppan. The second half of the album is the orchestrated soundtrack which almost no one cares about. Jeff Suppan is the player on the Brewers that most people wish would be off the team. He usually has a negative impact on the game. However, he is a vetern and occasionally throws a gem. George Harrison drops a gem on Yellow Submarine with "It's All Too Much."
Abbey Road: The Beatles studio finale is comparable to the Brewers closer, Trevor Hoffman. Abbey Road is the Beatles final masterpiece. 2009 was one of the all time saves leader's best seasons in his very long career. I think Abbey Road has the best production of any Beatles albums perhaps because of all the time the Beatles had put in the studio before making that album. Trevor Hoffman comes across as a true professional perhaps because he is one of baseball most veteran players. He is on the last legs of his fine career just as the Beatles were on theirs when they recorded Abbey Road.
Let It Be: This album compares to current Brewers fan whipping boy, Corey Hart. Let It Be might be the most disliked, especially critically, of any Beatles album. The album has many strong points but certainly it's share of flaws such as "Dig It" and "Maggie Mae". Corey Hart has shown some flaws in his game recently. He also has not endured himself to fans by complaining about booing. If Corey focused on his game, he has a lot of tools to do great things like another 20?20 season or even a 30/30 season. Let It Be closed out the Beatles releases. If Corey Hart can't turn his game around, 2010 will probably be his last as a Brewer.
Past Masters, Disc 1: The first Disc of the Beatles odds & sods album compares to the Brewers young shortstop, Alcides Escobar. Alcides has a lot of potential to be a solid major leaguer, especially as a defensive wizard. The first disc of Past Masters has some of the young Beatles most memorable songs. It also has many B-Sides that do not match their famous A-sides. Escobar will most likely not be an offensive machine in 2010 and be protected as a B-side is protected by the strong A-side of a single. However all the potential.
Past Masters, Disc 2: The second disc of hodge podge compares to the often injured Rickie Weeks. This album is probably as loaded as any Beatles record. However it is a compilation. Rickie Weeks has shown brilliance at times but either falls off his production or get injured. Many believed he had the same abilities as either Prince or Ryan Braun. He played like it for the first month and a half in 2009 before injuring his wrist and missing the rest of the year. While Past Masters has so many memorable tracks, it does not necessarily flow very well and has a few toss away b-sides such as "The Inner Light," "Old Brown Shoe," and You Know My Name (Look Up The Number)." Hopefully Rickie can put a full season together with his potential be comparable to a full album in the future instead of bits and pieces of various works.
Hopefully this will be the first in a line of comparisons of various artists and album to sports players, teams, and other pop culture things which I enjoy. I am always trying to think of new things to write and new views to find wit music.
Wednesday, February 10, 2010
Highway to Hell or Back in Black
I feel like debating which is the better AC/DC album, Highway to Hell or Back in Black. While BIB probably has better songs pound for pound, HTH has Bon Scott. For early AC/DC fans, this is no contest because Bon Scott was the embodiment of AC/DCs lyrics. He just seemed like he was that much of a preditor. Brian Johnson is only trying do his best impression of Scott, especially on his early records. I am not exactly sure why nobody has every brought up the fact that Brian Johnson's voice never matched what he did on BIB. His voice was perfect on it.
As albums go, both of these albums start out with great songs, "Highway to Hell" and "Hells Bells." The first is a tribute to the way Bon Scott lived his life, the second a tribute to Bon Scott in death. The second songs are "Girls Got Rhythm" and "Shoot to Thrill." While "Shoot to Thrill" can still be heard once in a while on the radio, "Girls Got Rhythm" has left me to only be heard on my iPod. I think "Girls Got Rhythm" is a better song and it's a shame that it has kind of gotten forgotten in the wake of BIB. I think this happened to a lot of HTH. A lot got forgotten or left behind when the big BIB hit. HTH made AC/DC a high charting touring band for the first time in America. BIB made AC/DC superstars with a momentum they still possess for the most part.
The third track from HTH is "Walk All Over You." I don't think there is an AC/DC track that has a more clear background vocal than this one. It might be the only time the background vocals are not trying to be menacing, a technique that AC/DC should have tried more than once. Maybe none of them had the chops for a repeat performance. The fifth track from BIB has one of the best titles ever, "Let Me Put my Love Into You." It also happens to be my favorite track from that album. It is also the track from BIB that have heard the least often on the radio.
Both albums have killer track sixes. HTH has "Shot Down in Flames" while BIB has its title track. "Shot Down in Flames" is the AC/DC track that got me hooked on the band so it holds a special place in my heart. I say that phrase quite often in life for various reasons. It's always fun to have music to put to a well like phrase. BIB's seventh track is also a great one, "You Shook me All Night Long." This one gets everyone moving no matter where you are.
The closing tracks for both albums might be the slowest tracks on their albums. HTH closes with "Night Prowler" while BIB closes with "Rock and ROll Ain't Noise Pollution." On "Night Prowler," the menacing background vocals actually add a lot. It's a shame some serial killer got attached to this song and ruined it for the common man. This song works wonders as a stripper's song. On "Rock and Roll Ain't Noise Pollution," Brian Johnson is preaching to the choir. Rock and roll does make good sense. It's a perfect way to end a perfect album.
Now which one is better? My personal choice is Highway to Hell in part because it has not been over played to me. I also prefer it because I enjoy Bon Scott's filth than Brian Johnson's dirtiness. I enjoy the songs more as a whole than I do on Back in Black. However as an outside observer, I would expect BIB to be the pick. Every song is strong from start to finish and Brian Johnson still adds a unique performance to this album. No matter what, you can't go wrong!
As albums go, both of these albums start out with great songs, "Highway to Hell" and "Hells Bells." The first is a tribute to the way Bon Scott lived his life, the second a tribute to Bon Scott in death. The second songs are "Girls Got Rhythm" and "Shoot to Thrill." While "Shoot to Thrill" can still be heard once in a while on the radio, "Girls Got Rhythm" has left me to only be heard on my iPod. I think "Girls Got Rhythm" is a better song and it's a shame that it has kind of gotten forgotten in the wake of BIB. I think this happened to a lot of HTH. A lot got forgotten or left behind when the big BIB hit. HTH made AC/DC a high charting touring band for the first time in America. BIB made AC/DC superstars with a momentum they still possess for the most part.
The third track from HTH is "Walk All Over You." I don't think there is an AC/DC track that has a more clear background vocal than this one. It might be the only time the background vocals are not trying to be menacing, a technique that AC/DC should have tried more than once. Maybe none of them had the chops for a repeat performance. The fifth track from BIB has one of the best titles ever, "Let Me Put my Love Into You." It also happens to be my favorite track from that album. It is also the track from BIB that have heard the least often on the radio.
Both albums have killer track sixes. HTH has "Shot Down in Flames" while BIB has its title track. "Shot Down in Flames" is the AC/DC track that got me hooked on the band so it holds a special place in my heart. I say that phrase quite often in life for various reasons. It's always fun to have music to put to a well like phrase. BIB's seventh track is also a great one, "You Shook me All Night Long." This one gets everyone moving no matter where you are.
The closing tracks for both albums might be the slowest tracks on their albums. HTH closes with "Night Prowler" while BIB closes with "Rock and ROll Ain't Noise Pollution." On "Night Prowler," the menacing background vocals actually add a lot. It's a shame some serial killer got attached to this song and ruined it for the common man. This song works wonders as a stripper's song. On "Rock and Roll Ain't Noise Pollution," Brian Johnson is preaching to the choir. Rock and roll does make good sense. It's a perfect way to end a perfect album.
Now which one is better? My personal choice is Highway to Hell in part because it has not been over played to me. I also prefer it because I enjoy Bon Scott's filth than Brian Johnson's dirtiness. I enjoy the songs more as a whole than I do on Back in Black. However as an outside observer, I would expect BIB to be the pick. Every song is strong from start to finish and Brian Johnson still adds a unique performance to this album. No matter what, you can't go wrong!
Thursday, February 4, 2010
Favorite Album of the 1960's
Without doubt, my favorite album of the 1960's is Neil Young's Everybody Knows This is Nowhere. While there maybe a song or two that I may not be crazy about, the parts that I am crazy for define the basic elements of rock music that I love. I have been a late comer to the Neil Young lovefest but I have staked a significant claim. Everybody Knows This is Nowhere boasts four songs that I could listen to on an endless loop for the rest of my life and I would never complain.
The opening track is "Cinnamon Girl," a rough sounding song that is very primal, unpolished. You can thank Crazy Horse for this. The band adds so much to Neil Young's songs that probably went unappreciated at the time. This really brought garage music to the forefront, at least for me."Cinnamon Girl" is so simple, which might be what makes it so enjoyable. The same refrain gets played over frequently, some that happens in a lot of songs that I love. The title track I discovered thanks to the great movie Almost Famous. My favorite part of the song is the song "La la la" at the end of the choruses. I also really like the name of the song and may use it from time to time to make a point in something I am saying or writing. The lead guitar again sound very unpolished and direct. It is by no means flashy.
The first epic of the album is Down by the River. I remember discovering this song on the radio when I was in high school. It is not often you hear a song this long on the radio. I noticed it because the song played almost my entire 15 minute drive across town. It has a guitar solo that I tend to get lost in. Whenever Neil sings, he always sings the same line. Again, I really enjoy the background vocals supplied by the band. They add a touch that makes it distinctive to me.
The second epic is "Cowgirl in the Sand." This is my favorite song on the album. It has a soft intro before turning into mid tempo rocker. I remember discovering this song sometime in college and sing it with a girl at a party two weeks later. The lyrics to this song have a bit more meaning, I think, than "Down by the River." I think the woman in the song is just out of the narrators reach. This has happened to every guy, I am sure. The guitar playing in this song is certainly not meant to sound pretty. It rarely sounds linear. This song reaches me at a level that I cannot explain.
There are three other songs on this album which sound quite a bit different from the above mentioned songs. They are more of country ballads which sound pretty but not revolutionary to the mind the rest of the album. Everybody Knows This is Nowhere is one of the reason I love music. It is over 40 years old but could not really sound any better today as it did then.
The opening track is "Cinnamon Girl," a rough sounding song that is very primal, unpolished. You can thank Crazy Horse for this. The band adds so much to Neil Young's songs that probably went unappreciated at the time. This really brought garage music to the forefront, at least for me."Cinnamon Girl" is so simple, which might be what makes it so enjoyable. The same refrain gets played over frequently, some that happens in a lot of songs that I love. The title track I discovered thanks to the great movie Almost Famous. My favorite part of the song is the song "La la la" at the end of the choruses. I also really like the name of the song and may use it from time to time to make a point in something I am saying or writing. The lead guitar again sound very unpolished and direct. It is by no means flashy.
The first epic of the album is Down by the River. I remember discovering this song on the radio when I was in high school. It is not often you hear a song this long on the radio. I noticed it because the song played almost my entire 15 minute drive across town. It has a guitar solo that I tend to get lost in. Whenever Neil sings, he always sings the same line. Again, I really enjoy the background vocals supplied by the band. They add a touch that makes it distinctive to me.
The second epic is "Cowgirl in the Sand." This is my favorite song on the album. It has a soft intro before turning into mid tempo rocker. I remember discovering this song sometime in college and sing it with a girl at a party two weeks later. The lyrics to this song have a bit more meaning, I think, than "Down by the River." I think the woman in the song is just out of the narrators reach. This has happened to every guy, I am sure. The guitar playing in this song is certainly not meant to sound pretty. It rarely sounds linear. This song reaches me at a level that I cannot explain.
There are three other songs on this album which sound quite a bit different from the above mentioned songs. They are more of country ballads which sound pretty but not revolutionary to the mind the rest of the album. Everybody Knows This is Nowhere is one of the reason I love music. It is over 40 years old but could not really sound any better today as it did then.
Wednesday, January 20, 2010
Favorite Album of the 1970's
Of all the decades, the 1970's are easily my favorite for music. A lot of different things happened throughout the decade that I mostly enjoyed. This is also the hardest decade for me to pin down a favorite because I have so many. If yo put a gun to my head, I would go with Led Zeppelin's fourth album. This album defines everything that Led Zeppelin is all about. There are the hard rockers, there are the acoustic numbers, and there are the epics. Led Zeppelin was clearly at their apex as they made sure that there was no weak performance in the album.
Everything kicks off with "Black Dog" and Robert Plant's banshee wail. I would describe this song as really heavy blues with an attitude. It is clear that Led Zeppelin is playing for keeps; there is no messing around. The next song is "Rock And Roll." I knew this song before I knew Led Zeppelin. John Bonham's drum intro, Jimmy Page comes in flying in with his guitar, and John Paul Jones lays down the running eighth notes on the bass guitar. There is a sonic whoosh to it that take me away. There is no fighting it. It may have been a long time since Robert Plant had rock and rolled but you won't stop rocking until the final drum fill at the end of the song. Zeppelin decides to take it down a few notches with "The Battle of Evermore." Every fan of Lord of the Rings should take the time to listen to this song because it is about the on coming war on Gondor in the Return of the King. For some reason Robert Plant has an infatuation with these novels. Led Zeppelin should have been the sound track to the Rings trilogy films.
At the end of the first side of the record is a song many people consider the best rock song ever created, "Stairway to Heaven." This song is the record and Led Zeppelin in a nutshell. It starts out slow and acoustic. The pace of the song keeps picking up as the song builds up. More layers are added to the song as it goes on. The drums come in and the song begins to creep even faster. The break in the song comes and you wait for something incredible to happen. What you get is an epic Jimmy Page guitar solo with the song finally rocking as a Zeppelin song should. During the final verse, you can feel you heart pumping as the song is now moving along like a rocket until the song finally ends. Come to think of it, is this whole song just once big musical metaphor for sex. At the end of the song I feel like I just climaxed and want a cigarette.
Side two kicks in with an upbeat "Misty Mountain Hop," another Lord of the Rings song. This song is a rarity in the Zeppelin canon because they have so few upbeat songs. I really like the song and has really strong drums on it. The next song, "Four Sticks," is actually played with four sticks on the drums. IT has a bit of a weird key signature, I believe. You try head banging to hit; it does not come naturally. "Going to California" is the sweet acoustic ballad that we had come to expect from Led Zeppelin by this point. I think that it has a different feel from the rest of the record because it does not feel epic or heavy, just beautiful and heartfelt.
"When the Levee Breaks" is the finale if this grand album. Every time I hear this song, I always think this song is being sang to me because of the line "...Going down to Chicago." Living in Milwaukee, there is not to many other people who would go "down" to Chicago, just us Wisconsinites. Anyways, this song has the heaviest drum sound I think I have ever heard recorded. The sound is immense! I think this album is the best Led Zeppelin created and should ranked along side the best of the decade. Everybody has rocked out to "Black Dog" and "Rock and Roll" at some point in their lives. "Stairway to HEaven" and "When the Levee Breaks" should be played to anybody who has never heard of Led Zeppelin or rock and roll. This is what is is all about.
Everything kicks off with "Black Dog" and Robert Plant's banshee wail. I would describe this song as really heavy blues with an attitude. It is clear that Led Zeppelin is playing for keeps; there is no messing around. The next song is "Rock And Roll." I knew this song before I knew Led Zeppelin. John Bonham's drum intro, Jimmy Page comes in flying in with his guitar, and John Paul Jones lays down the running eighth notes on the bass guitar. There is a sonic whoosh to it that take me away. There is no fighting it. It may have been a long time since Robert Plant had rock and rolled but you won't stop rocking until the final drum fill at the end of the song. Zeppelin decides to take it down a few notches with "The Battle of Evermore." Every fan of Lord of the Rings should take the time to listen to this song because it is about the on coming war on Gondor in the Return of the King. For some reason Robert Plant has an infatuation with these novels. Led Zeppelin should have been the sound track to the Rings trilogy films.
At the end of the first side of the record is a song many people consider the best rock song ever created, "Stairway to Heaven." This song is the record and Led Zeppelin in a nutshell. It starts out slow and acoustic. The pace of the song keeps picking up as the song builds up. More layers are added to the song as it goes on. The drums come in and the song begins to creep even faster. The break in the song comes and you wait for something incredible to happen. What you get is an epic Jimmy Page guitar solo with the song finally rocking as a Zeppelin song should. During the final verse, you can feel you heart pumping as the song is now moving along like a rocket until the song finally ends. Come to think of it, is this whole song just once big musical metaphor for sex. At the end of the song I feel like I just climaxed and want a cigarette.
Side two kicks in with an upbeat "Misty Mountain Hop," another Lord of the Rings song. This song is a rarity in the Zeppelin canon because they have so few upbeat songs. I really like the song and has really strong drums on it. The next song, "Four Sticks," is actually played with four sticks on the drums. IT has a bit of a weird key signature, I believe. You try head banging to hit; it does not come naturally. "Going to California" is the sweet acoustic ballad that we had come to expect from Led Zeppelin by this point. I think that it has a different feel from the rest of the record because it does not feel epic or heavy, just beautiful and heartfelt.
"When the Levee Breaks" is the finale if this grand album. Every time I hear this song, I always think this song is being sang to me because of the line "...Going down to Chicago." Living in Milwaukee, there is not to many other people who would go "down" to Chicago, just us Wisconsinites. Anyways, this song has the heaviest drum sound I think I have ever heard recorded. The sound is immense! I think this album is the best Led Zeppelin created and should ranked along side the best of the decade. Everybody has rocked out to "Black Dog" and "Rock and Roll" at some point in their lives. "Stairway to HEaven" and "When the Levee Breaks" should be played to anybody who has never heard of Led Zeppelin or rock and roll. This is what is is all about.
Monday, January 18, 2010
Favorite Album of the 1980's
The 1980's is probably my least favorite decade of the rock n' roll era. Finding a favorite album from this decade took a lot of thought. I came to the conclusion that I enjoy Black Sabbath's Heaven and Hell album the most, just a hair more than Apitite For Destruction. First off, Angels smoking for an album cover is spectular, so good that Van Halen ripped it off a few years later. The thing that hits me the most as I listen to this album is the energy. I know it is a hard rock album, but I can't help but feel that the band is rejuvenated here. The main reason for that is the great Ronnie James Dio. He is the prototypical voice of rocking hard. Another influence that I have not heard but is probably there is the growing punk and new wave of British heavy metal that was bubbling up at the time. The band could not rest on past accomplishments with hot new bands ready to take their place.
The album starts out with the roaring "Neon Nights," a song that sounds like it was shot out of a cannon. This is the latter day Black Sabbath's version of "Paranoid." Yeah, the fantasy lyrics can become a bit much from time to time, but I do like to be transported to an alternate universe from time to time. "Children of the Sea" is more like an old Sabbath tune as it moves slowly but with power. It could not be a Sabbath album without it really. "Lady Evil" starts out with an interesting moving bass line which I really like. No hard rock album should ever keep the bass in the back of the mix. "Heaven and Hell" is the obvious centerpiece of the album and it is an all time rock epic. Just the name "Heaven and Hell" is cool as hell. My favorite song on the album is "Die Young." When the song get moving in the middle and end, it is a real burner.
It is a shame that Dio and Black Sabbath only created three albums together. I think this album stands up to Sabbath's best work with Ozzy Osbourne. They could have rocked with the best metal bands of the 80's like Metallica and Iron Maiden among others.
The album starts out with the roaring "Neon Nights," a song that sounds like it was shot out of a cannon. This is the latter day Black Sabbath's version of "Paranoid." Yeah, the fantasy lyrics can become a bit much from time to time, but I do like to be transported to an alternate universe from time to time. "Children of the Sea" is more like an old Sabbath tune as it moves slowly but with power. It could not be a Sabbath album without it really. "Lady Evil" starts out with an interesting moving bass line which I really like. No hard rock album should ever keep the bass in the back of the mix. "Heaven and Hell" is the obvious centerpiece of the album and it is an all time rock epic. Just the name "Heaven and Hell" is cool as hell. My favorite song on the album is "Die Young." When the song get moving in the middle and end, it is a real burner.
It is a shame that Dio and Black Sabbath only created three albums together. I think this album stands up to Sabbath's best work with Ozzy Osbourne. They could have rocked with the best metal bands of the 80's like Metallica and Iron Maiden among others.
Thursday, January 14, 2010
A Night with the Cribs
I spent the night of January 13, 2010 rocking out with the Cribs. I have been a Cribs fan since Men's Needs, Women's Needs, Whatever. I wimped out on seeing them at the Double Door in 2008. This time around they have a new album and a new band member, the legendary guitarist Johnny Marr. That alone would have worth my admission, but I a got a night with a few surprises at Lincoln Hall.
Before the opening band, the incidental music was played by a DJ upstairs. More venues should do this as it kept me moving and my back from not hurting. The first opening band was the Dead Trees. I thought the lyrics were quite great, very introspective. The music that accompanied the lyrics could have used a bit more work. It felt like I was watching a well above average bar band. I don't have any single moment that sticks out from their set except that the bass guitarist had a pretty sweet looking mustache.
After a bit of a break, the next act came on. It was none other than Adam Green of the Moldy Peaches. I did not realize this fact until halfway through the set when someone shouted something. For those who may not know, the Moldy Peaches are responsible for the song that Ellen Page and Michael Cera sing at the end of the movie Juno. Adam was backed by the Dead Trees. Adam Green was a character. He moved around the stage as I would expect Iggy Pop or John Lydon to move and act. I kept waiting for him to fall into the drums or off the front of the stage. He crowd surfed at the beginning of the last song. His lyrics were weird if not rude at times but the accompanying music absolutely rocked! His act grew on me as the performance went on. He almost sang like Joey Ramone because of the baritone voice and the dark humored lyrics.
After another short break and an equipment change, the Cribs came to the stage playing the only song I know from their new album. They play with a lot of energy. Ross Jarmin, the guitarist not know as Johnny Marr, constantly smacked his mouth on his microphone while literally spit out his lyrics like Bill Cowher. Johnny Marr played with a stoicism like he had been there before because, well, he has. He looked like a professional on stage with a bunch of young punks. The Cribs played songs not only from there new album but a bunch of favorites including mine, "Mirror Kissers." There were only maybe 300 people there to watch this spectacle and rock legend. I guess it goes to show my more unique music tastes. Should the Cribs come to town again, I will probably be there. I will for sure try to pick up their new album when I get the chance.
Before the opening band, the incidental music was played by a DJ upstairs. More venues should do this as it kept me moving and my back from not hurting. The first opening band was the Dead Trees. I thought the lyrics were quite great, very introspective. The music that accompanied the lyrics could have used a bit more work. It felt like I was watching a well above average bar band. I don't have any single moment that sticks out from their set except that the bass guitarist had a pretty sweet looking mustache.
After a bit of a break, the next act came on. It was none other than Adam Green of the Moldy Peaches. I did not realize this fact until halfway through the set when someone shouted something. For those who may not know, the Moldy Peaches are responsible for the song that Ellen Page and Michael Cera sing at the end of the movie Juno. Adam was backed by the Dead Trees. Adam Green was a character. He moved around the stage as I would expect Iggy Pop or John Lydon to move and act. I kept waiting for him to fall into the drums or off the front of the stage. He crowd surfed at the beginning of the last song. His lyrics were weird if not rude at times but the accompanying music absolutely rocked! His act grew on me as the performance went on. He almost sang like Joey Ramone because of the baritone voice and the dark humored lyrics.
After another short break and an equipment change, the Cribs came to the stage playing the only song I know from their new album. They play with a lot of energy. Ross Jarmin, the guitarist not know as Johnny Marr, constantly smacked his mouth on his microphone while literally spit out his lyrics like Bill Cowher. Johnny Marr played with a stoicism like he had been there before because, well, he has. He looked like a professional on stage with a bunch of young punks. The Cribs played songs not only from there new album but a bunch of favorites including mine, "Mirror Kissers." There were only maybe 300 people there to watch this spectacle and rock legend. I guess it goes to show my more unique music tastes. Should the Cribs come to town again, I will probably be there. I will for sure try to pick up their new album when I get the chance.
Tuesday, January 12, 2010
Favorite Album of the 1990's
My favorite album of the 1990's is by a band that is considered a one hit wonder in the US. That album is Urban Hymns by the Verve. This is the last real triumph of 90's Britpop. The Verve are considered one of the top bands in Britain from the 90's and had big hits before even releasing this album. This album should have launched them into stardom in the US except that they broke up during the ensuing tour.
I love this album because every song has multiple layers and resonates after every listen. The opening track and most recognizable track is Bitter Sweet Symphony. The string loop immediately brings you in and keep you going with the song never breaking apart. It truly is a masterpiece. Something this album features heavily which is not used as much as it should anymore is guitar echo. It is all over the place here. The Verve try different approaches through out the album from sweeping ballads to dense noise experiments. I think the Verve work best in their sometimes unstructured jam songs like "Come On."
The song on the album that really brought me in for another listen is "Lucky Man." It has a cool psychedelic feel to it with layers of echo and lyrically thoughtful. "Space And Time" always appeals to me as an engineer and a studier of physics mostly because of the time alone, but the song itself is fabulous with a great build up from chorus to chorus until the final call of "There is no space and time." A good build up should always have a worthwhile payoff and this album does in spades. The final song of the album, "Come On," is itself the payoff of the build up of the album with the final shouts of "come on now!"
People who enjoyed the Britpop era should find this album immediately as it is a must listen. The Verve should have been more than they became, but maybe that is their fault. There is no denying the power and greatness of this album.
I love this album because every song has multiple layers and resonates after every listen. The opening track and most recognizable track is Bitter Sweet Symphony. The string loop immediately brings you in and keep you going with the song never breaking apart. It truly is a masterpiece. Something this album features heavily which is not used as much as it should anymore is guitar echo. It is all over the place here. The Verve try different approaches through out the album from sweeping ballads to dense noise experiments. I think the Verve work best in their sometimes unstructured jam songs like "Come On."
The song on the album that really brought me in for another listen is "Lucky Man." It has a cool psychedelic feel to it with layers of echo and lyrically thoughtful. "Space And Time" always appeals to me as an engineer and a studier of physics mostly because of the time alone, but the song itself is fabulous with a great build up from chorus to chorus until the final call of "There is no space and time." A good build up should always have a worthwhile payoff and this album does in spades. The final song of the album, "Come On," is itself the payoff of the build up of the album with the final shouts of "come on now!"
People who enjoyed the Britpop era should find this album immediately as it is a must listen. The Verve should have been more than they became, but maybe that is their fault. There is no denying the power and greatness of this album.
Wednesday, January 6, 2010
Favorite Album of the 2000's
My favorite album of the just completed decade is the debut album by Hope of the States, The Lost Riots. It may not be the best album, but no other work of music moves me as much. The is a tone to this music that I am not sure I have heard before or since. It is not all out rock music or folk music but a healthy blend with a very dark edge to it.
It is important to note that one of the bands guitarists, James Lawrence, committed suicide just before the album was released. This feeling pops up repeatedly as the album plays. This would be the last album I would recommend to someone who is suicidal because I am not sure if it really offers any real hope. In fact, the last song, a hidden track, has the darkest message on the album. However, if your feeling a bit down, this album really works wonders. I listen to this album and I feel that there is someone who feels the same way that I do. I find something in the lyrics to relate to while the accompanying music perfect fits the lyrics without being void of a spark of vital life.
My favorite song on the album is Goodhorsehymn. I think this song is from the point of view of someone who had everything go wrong and is now lonely. The center piece of the album is a song called Black Dollar Bills. The sounds on this song at times seem like a soundtrack to your last moments on Earth, or may from out of this world.
If you can keep yourself together while listening to this album, you will be treated to a unique soundscape that will stay with you well after you are finished listening. It evokes pure emotion from me and that is what I expect out of the best of the music I listen to.
It is important to note that one of the bands guitarists, James Lawrence, committed suicide just before the album was released. This feeling pops up repeatedly as the album plays. This would be the last album I would recommend to someone who is suicidal because I am not sure if it really offers any real hope. In fact, the last song, a hidden track, has the darkest message on the album. However, if your feeling a bit down, this album really works wonders. I listen to this album and I feel that there is someone who feels the same way that I do. I find something in the lyrics to relate to while the accompanying music perfect fits the lyrics without being void of a spark of vital life.
My favorite song on the album is Goodhorsehymn. I think this song is from the point of view of someone who had everything go wrong and is now lonely. The center piece of the album is a song called Black Dollar Bills. The sounds on this song at times seem like a soundtrack to your last moments on Earth, or may from out of this world.
If you can keep yourself together while listening to this album, you will be treated to a unique soundscape that will stay with you well after you are finished listening. It evokes pure emotion from me and that is what I expect out of the best of the music I listen to.
Sunday, January 3, 2010
Welcome
Welcome to my new music blog. In the weeks, months, and hopefully years to come, I plan on using this medium as a way to voice my opinions on music, particularly rock music. I hope that people find the things I write to be insightful, and at times something to discuss. I want to write about the things that I find to be interesting, things that maybe have gone unsaid, or things that really should be said. I will write about music and artists that are overrated, underrated, or not rated at all.
Let me qualify myself as a music critic. I have a very large music collection and get very emotional when I hear music I like and can get angry when I hear music I don't. I prefer listening to rock music that, in general, has a bluesy feel to it. My examples of this are Led Zeppelin, 70's Rollings Stones, and the Faces. I like Motown and old school Soul and R&B such as Stax records. I like listening to layered psychedelia but also music from or influenced by the 70's punk revolution. I find that I cannot get enough of British Indie music whether it is art house more rock or punk focused. Of the modern bands, my favorite is Arctic Monkeys.
There is so much music I do enjoy, but I feel unqualified to judge Pop music, Country music, Rap or new school R&B. That is not to say that I do not enjoy listening to this music, but I do not spend nearly the same amount of time listening to these types of music. I may comment an opinion on Pop music from time to time but I do not listen to Pop radio.
I am not sure of my writing style as of now. I guess I somewhat aim to be the Bill Simmons of music, but I think that I will develop my own style in time. I do not have to much experience as a writer and may have some grammatical problems from time to time. I found out that I really enjoyed writing while I attended college and this is my opportunity to fill my writing itch.
My goals with this blog are get my opinions down in writing for all my friends and the rest of the world to read. I invite people to write me back to agree or respectfully disagree with my posts. Ultimately, maybe this could lead into a real job as a music critic. This that being said, if musicians and bands may wish me to review their music, I will take my time to give it a go.
Everybody buckle up and get ready as we take this journey together!
Let me qualify myself as a music critic. I have a very large music collection and get very emotional when I hear music I like and can get angry when I hear music I don't. I prefer listening to rock music that, in general, has a bluesy feel to it. My examples of this are Led Zeppelin, 70's Rollings Stones, and the Faces. I like Motown and old school Soul and R&B such as Stax records. I like listening to layered psychedelia but also music from or influenced by the 70's punk revolution. I find that I cannot get enough of British Indie music whether it is art house more rock or punk focused. Of the modern bands, my favorite is Arctic Monkeys.
There is so much music I do enjoy, but I feel unqualified to judge Pop music, Country music, Rap or new school R&B. That is not to say that I do not enjoy listening to this music, but I do not spend nearly the same amount of time listening to these types of music. I may comment an opinion on Pop music from time to time but I do not listen to Pop radio.
I am not sure of my writing style as of now. I guess I somewhat aim to be the Bill Simmons of music, but I think that I will develop my own style in time. I do not have to much experience as a writer and may have some grammatical problems from time to time. I found out that I really enjoyed writing while I attended college and this is my opportunity to fill my writing itch.
My goals with this blog are get my opinions down in writing for all my friends and the rest of the world to read. I invite people to write me back to agree or respectfully disagree with my posts. Ultimately, maybe this could lead into a real job as a music critic. This that being said, if musicians and bands may wish me to review their music, I will take my time to give it a go.
Everybody buckle up and get ready as we take this journey together!
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