Recently I've obtained three great albums. I've been trying to slow down and listen to what I already have, but I've been bitten by the "A.D.D. music bug" and I'm already charting unfamiliar musical territory. It's not radically unfamiliar, rather music I haven't heard (till now).
- The Kinks, "Lola Vs. The Powerman & the Money-go-round, Pt.1", (1970), [Rock & Roll/Album Rock] This album (and the band performing) continue to impress me after each listen. In my mind I guess I've written this band off after only being familiar with their hits and quietly moving on. This is the next Kinks album I've decided on this year and just like the last one I listened to ("The Village Green Preservation Society"[1968]) it left a great first impression. It's like the Davies Bros decided on turning up the hard rock while still weaving thick strands of pop melody to soften the edgier sound. Some songs are brillantly saterical ("The Moneygoround", "Top of the Pops"), others are hard rock numbers ("The Contenders"), and some feel oddly influenced by The Band ("Strangers").
- Neil Young, "Tonight's the Night", (1975), [Folk Rock] I was wondering if there was more material as good as "On the Beach" and it turns out there is (Mr. Young probably has stockpiles of it in his private archive). This album finds Neil as personal as ever, and it's a working formula.
- Thelonious Monk, "Brillant Corners", (1956), [Jazz] I usually study (or do paperwork) in a silent environment, but this music makes somehow plays around me. Like coffee for my ears it sets a pace I can work to.
I "discovered" and listened to these yesterday. All great finds.
Wednesday, July 29, 2009
Monday, July 27, 2009
A quick shot...
Here's a few quick shots at what I'm listening (looking at, digging through, admiring, astonished by) to:
- Live concert bootlegs. Led Zeppelin, Pink Floyd, The Who, and any of the other notoriously loud live shows. I've been picking these suckers up at vinyl stores (if you're not familiar with vinyl as a medium for music, leave this page). There's loads of 'em (found on CD, vinyl, tape cassette). The one I'm currently listening to is Led Zeppelin's "The Destroyer" live in Cleveland 1977.
- Pink Floyd's "Animals". This album is a traffic killer. I usually follow it up with "The Wall" if the traffic might last a lot longer. If it's a real blockbuster I cap it off with "Brain Damage" a soundboard recording of fairly decent quality featuring a prime Floyd playing "Dark Side of the Moon" live.
- Reading "Wax Poetics". Excellent music rag with a spotlight on the lesser (but not quite) heard corners of the music universe.
- Finished "Comfortably Numb: The Inside Story of Pink Floyd" by Mark Blake. Interesting account that gives a fair picture of the band. Syd's increasing madness, Roger's increasing ego, David's increasing insecurities, Rick's aloof attitude, and Nick's sou-chef position. All there.
- Three (or five) great albums I've recently heard:
Spirit, "Twelve Dreams Of Dr. Sardonicus", (1970) - It's amazing what music gets forgotten through time. The lead guitarist, Randy California, was a friend of Jimi Hendrix (and was supposed to be his rhythm guitarist in Hendrix's band!) was quite a prodigy.
Pete Townshend, "Who Came First", (1972) - Pete channels his non-Who (Baba) material and leaves a spiritual mark in my eardrums. The country tinged guitar solo in 'Forever's No Time at All' is so slick, it makes me envious of Townshend's guitar skill.
Led Zeppelin, "How the West Was Won", Recorded: (1972), Released: (2003) - Live and loud. Very loud. Page's self-coined "urgent machine" blasts through L.A. in 1972. Each band member gets their chance to show off. Plant's was the most contrived, Page's was sloppy but impressive, Jones plays the bedrock, and Bonham booms away on the drums (even doing a 15min+ drum solo! Yes, he plays with his hands, very tribal...).
The Replacements, "Let It Be", (1984) - Yup, I did it. I made it back to the 1980s and I kicked it off with this little gem. I've only been listening to it for a week, but it feels like "without a care" style drinking music. Oh, and I hear the "80's sound" loud and clear.
Mos Def, "The Ecstatic", (2009) - Scary new territory (for this musical journeyman) after I pillaged 1966 to 1986. This is inspiring music. Backed by loads of talented producers (some are of the Stones Throw variety) while Def channels an optimistic (but skeptical) attitude.
Parting shot(s):
Lots and lots of music.
I'm about to test my meddle against a self proclaimed music guru (I plan to take her down a peg). I don't think I'm a guru either, but if I can catch her with "Man in the Mirror" I think she's sloppy (or acting sloppy). We'll see.
I've been listening to avant-garde orchestral arrangements, "Einstein on the Beach". Alarmingly comforting music.
I'm trying to formulate a 24 hour BBQ mixtape. So far I've gotta get beyond laying down a day's worth of music and "shuffling" it.
Also, it's time I take a break from digging through the past and working on current music. I just got Mos Def, Mars Volta, and various other current artists. Or maybe I should head back into the 1950's? Hmmm. Workin' on it.
Hope to be back soon. With loads of musical ammo.
- Live concert bootlegs. Led Zeppelin, Pink Floyd, The Who, and any of the other notoriously loud live shows. I've been picking these suckers up at vinyl stores (if you're not familiar with vinyl as a medium for music, leave this page). There's loads of 'em (found on CD, vinyl, tape cassette). The one I'm currently listening to is Led Zeppelin's "The Destroyer" live in Cleveland 1977.
- Pink Floyd's "Animals". This album is a traffic killer. I usually follow it up with "The Wall" if the traffic might last a lot longer. If it's a real blockbuster I cap it off with "Brain Damage" a soundboard recording of fairly decent quality featuring a prime Floyd playing "Dark Side of the Moon" live.
- Reading "Wax Poetics". Excellent music rag with a spotlight on the lesser (but not quite) heard corners of the music universe.
- Finished "Comfortably Numb: The Inside Story of Pink Floyd" by Mark Blake. Interesting account that gives a fair picture of the band. Syd's increasing madness, Roger's increasing ego, David's increasing insecurities, Rick's aloof attitude, and Nick's sou-chef position. All there.
- Three (or five) great albums I've recently heard:
Spirit, "Twelve Dreams Of Dr. Sardonicus", (1970) - It's amazing what music gets forgotten through time. The lead guitarist, Randy California, was a friend of Jimi Hendrix (and was supposed to be his rhythm guitarist in Hendrix's band!) was quite a prodigy.
Pete Townshend, "Who Came First", (1972) - Pete channels his non-Who (Baba) material and leaves a spiritual mark in my eardrums. The country tinged guitar solo in 'Forever's No Time at All' is so slick, it makes me envious of Townshend's guitar skill.
Led Zeppelin, "How the West Was Won", Recorded: (1972), Released: (2003) - Live and loud. Very loud. Page's self-coined "urgent machine" blasts through L.A. in 1972. Each band member gets their chance to show off. Plant's was the most contrived, Page's was sloppy but impressive, Jones plays the bedrock, and Bonham booms away on the drums (even doing a 15min+ drum solo! Yes, he plays with his hands, very tribal...).
The Replacements, "Let It Be", (1984) - Yup, I did it. I made it back to the 1980s and I kicked it off with this little gem. I've only been listening to it for a week, but it feels like "without a care" style drinking music. Oh, and I hear the "80's sound" loud and clear.
Mos Def, "The Ecstatic", (2009) - Scary new territory (for this musical journeyman) after I pillaged 1966 to 1986. This is inspiring music. Backed by loads of talented producers (some are of the Stones Throw variety) while Def channels an optimistic (but skeptical) attitude.
Parting shot(s):
Lots and lots of music.
I'm about to test my meddle against a self proclaimed music guru (I plan to take her down a peg). I don't think I'm a guru either, but if I can catch her with "Man in the Mirror" I think she's sloppy (or acting sloppy). We'll see.
I've been listening to avant-garde orchestral arrangements, "Einstein on the Beach". Alarmingly comforting music.
I'm trying to formulate a 24 hour BBQ mixtape. So far I've gotta get beyond laying down a day's worth of music and "shuffling" it.
Also, it's time I take a break from digging through the past and working on current music. I just got Mos Def, Mars Volta, and various other current artists. Or maybe I should head back into the 1950's? Hmmm. Workin' on it.
Hope to be back soon. With loads of musical ammo.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
