The Way We Go…

January 31, 2010 at 5:18 pm | Posted in Miranda | Leave a comment

I promise I’m here. Things have been busy and I have been listening to music, just no time to write. I will soon I swear. For the time being things will be like that, more listening and less frequent writing. Still a few times a week though. We are alive! xoxo

Looooong time no see

January 31, 2010 at 11:54 am | Posted in Jesse | Leave a comment
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It’s been a busy few weeks, and my listening has been pretty pathetically paltry. By my calculation (which is probably wrongish, seeing as I’m mathematically impaired) I should be listening to my 144th album today. I’m currently at 93. So yeah, I have some catching up to do.

I have been giving it the good old college try though, here’s what’s graced my ears for the past few days:

94. The Byrds – “Younger than Yesterday” – I thought this was a good album on the whole, and represented some kind of shift in the Byrds’ songwriting. The songs were a lot trippier and weirder, not bad though, just absent that really great sound the Byrds had in their earlier stuff.

96. Jefferson Airplane – “Surrealistic Pillow”

99. Merle Haggard – “I’m a Lonesome Fugitive” – this album coincided nicely with me seeing the movie “Crazy Heart,” I must have been on a little bit of a country kick.

90. The Who – “The Who Sell Out”

101. The Electric Prunes – “I Had too Much to Dream (Last Night)”

86. Tim Buckley – “Goodbye and Hello” – this was pretty good folk stuff, I think I kind of lost interest in the album and tuned it out a bit but I did really like the first track “No Man Can Find the War,” and I was a little envious of Buckley’s awesome fro.

448. Pink Floyd – “the Wall”

And right now I’m enjoying Clapton’s cover of “Little Wing,” by Jimi Hendrix, on Derek and the Dominos’ “Layla and Other Assorted Love Songs.” I’m almost done with this album, and it’s got a really great blues-rock sound. Very laid back guitar jamming, just further proof that Clapton is indeed one of the “Guitar Gods” of the history of rock.

All Apologies

January 30, 2010 at 12:44 am | Posted in Maria | 1 Comment

I know I posted something on my own site, but Miranda brought it to my attention that some have wondered where I’ve disappeared to…and that I should probably put a post up explaining myself. Sorry. L

Basically, I am taking Honorable Mention from the project – the rest of my life and its need for my complete, undivided auditory attention took precedence, as could have been predicted. That being said, when I do trip over an album that’s on the list, I may post something, but for now I let Miranda and Jesse take the reins while Classical music (and all the work that goes with this major) proceeds to kick my big, theorist-in-training butt.

Sex, drugs, and rock and Peace, love, and all that other stuff,
M

Baby, Baby Please…

January 23, 2010 at 12:57 am | Posted in Miranda | Leave a comment

I knew it was going to be a busy week before it even started. This is a combo of yesterday and today –

Genesis – Selling England by the Pound

Van Halen – 1984

U2 – Joshua Tree

Cowboy Junkies – Trinity Session

The Cult – Electric

George Michael – Faith

Police – Synchronicity

Quick and painless ladies and gents. The Genesis album did not sound at all like I expected it to. I don’t know really what I wanted out of it but I was expecting a lot of Phil Collins and when that didn’t happen I got thrown for a loop. The album consisted of a few, long songs. Decent, but not amazing. Van Halen’s “1984”, that was amazing. I got to listen to that one on vinyl and it sounded fantastic. Lots of hits, pretty much no misses. Van Halen is a group that works together so well it’s very hard to find something to nitpick in this album. “Joshua Tree”…pretty darn good. I am not a big U2 fan. Well actually that isn’t true, I like OLD U2. The pre-retarded sunglasses days. This album is those days. Not long, elegant and upbeat. Thumbs up for this one. “Trinity Session”, again I don’t know what I was expecting. Any band that has the word junkies in their name I hope for some umpf, didn’t really get any. The album was slowwwww. It was mumbly and difficult to stay with, not too much of a fan. The Cult’s “Electric”, goodddd album. It is bright, funky, rocking and out there. There are some cover songs in there that are a little odd but besides that mucho bueno. “Faith”, come on…it’s “Faith”. Hoppy, poppy, fun, hip and as danceable as it gets. Something that bothered me, damn that man has some really good and LOUD backup singers. My only advice, don’t listen to it in the car, your hips don’t get to go very far. The Police, I definitely have my opinions. “Synchronicity” is as good as they get I think. The music is memorizing and all the musical elements of a band pull together. Sting’s voice does a lot of justice to the music. I told you short and painless, carpal tunnel does not want me writing tonight. Much love and music to come xoxo

Wheels On Fire

January 22, 2010 at 4:26 pm | Posted in Jesse | Leave a comment
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The past day or so has been like a ’60s soundtrack, here’s what I listened to:

93. The Doors – “The Doors”

105. The Jimi Hendrix Experience – “Axis: Bold As Love”

120. Big Brother & the Holding Company – “Cheap Thrills”

85. The Monkees – “Headquarters”

77. Nico – “Chelsea Girl”

83. Love – “Da Capo”

82. Moby Grape – “Moby Grape”

107. The Rolling Stones – “Beggars Banquet”

138. Creedence Clearwater Revival – “Bayou Country”

127. The Band – “Music from Big Pink”

78. The Beatles – “Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band”

Yeah, a lot isn’t it.

I think that if you were going to set a movie in the ’60s, this would be exactly what you would put on the soundtrack, I mean you’ve got the Doors, Jimi, the Band, the Stones, Janis Joplin, and the Beatles doing the whole trippy flower-child thing.

“Beggars Banquet” was a tamer sound for the Stones. I mean, yeah, it started with “Sympathy for the Devil,” but the whole album sounded less young and angry and a bit more calmed down, still showing off their mass amounts of talent.

I really liked the Monkee’s album. I grew up watching repeats of their on UPN 9 (remember when that existed?), and so I was sort of predisposed to liking them even though the only music I can remember by them is the nauseatingly catchy theme song (“Hey hey hey we’re the monkees/people say we monkey around…”). They had a sound comparable to the Beatles, and definitely fit into the pop scene at the time with the Beatles and the Beach Boys, even if they didn’t actually write any of their own music.

And then there was Creedence Clearwater Revival. This was the first CCR album on the list (there are a few more coming), and I was looking forward to this. I think John Fogerty’s voice is so uniquely American rock, and the Southern rock sound that CCR captured is a national treasure. I think everyone likes songs like “Proud Mary” and other later CCR songs, and if you don’t, you should probably be deported. I watched in horror as someone on American Idol wrongly called “Proud Mary” “Rollin’ on the River” and then credited it originally to Tina Turner, but that just shows how broad CCR’s influence was.

Not so Beau

January 21, 2010 at 5:02 pm | Posted in Jesse | Leave a comment
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So I figured out a system that keeps me from forgetting what albums I’ve listened to in between each post- digital stickies. I just write down what I’ve listened to as I go along, and then clear it when the next post goes live. Genius

What’s not so genius was “Triangle” by The Beau Brummels. I mean, they weren’t terrible, but there’s definitely a reason I’d never heard their name before. They had an interesting diversity of style, and they seemed pretty experimental, but they just weren’t that great, and the album just kind of fell flat for me.

Two albums I really enjoyed recently were the Velvet Underground’s “Velvet Underground & Nico,” and Simon and Garfunkel’s “Bookends.” Velvet Underground just have that groovy sixties sound, and carry it so well. S&G harmonize, and if I’ve learned anything about myself it’s that I love harmonizing, so damn well, and again Paul Simon is one hell of a poet.

Listening to Johnny Cash’s “Live at Folsom Prison” made me really appreciate live albums, which I wasn’t so much a fan of before. Johnny’s performance is crisp and near perfect, but there was also so much personality in his banter with the audience, their reaction to parts of his songs, him talking in the middle of songs and the prison announcements he reads throughout. It’s also full of great Johnny Cash music that I didn’t know before (mainly because they weren’t on the greatest hits album I got from the library). On the song “Jackson,” a duet with June Carter (not yet June Carter Cash), June’s voice sounded to me like it never had before, and she really had this awesome fire in her belly that made the song so much more honest.

And of course, I enjoyed the smooth jazz of Coltrane. I listened to “A Love Supreme” and was bobbing my head along with the beat.

I’m wrapping this post up with “Black Monk Time,” by the Monks, which I’m listening to right now. It sounds kind of like a watered down mix of the Doors and the Rolling Stones, and although I’m not hating it, I’m not particularly enjoying it. That may be because I’m not always into punk, and even though I liked the proto-punk Sonics, the Monks just aren’t hitting my punk nerve.

The Dirty Undertones Of Rocket Queen…

January 21, 2010 at 1:23 am | Posted in Miranda | Leave a comment

I have gone below my average again, this time not for lack of commitment but for enthusiastic dedication. I am currently transferring vinyl albums to my computer with a very sweet turntable device I have. I like being at school listening to my ipod knowing that the “Frampton Comes Alive” that is blasting out of my speakers is the crackly old vinyl that it originated from. The downside to this cool contraption is that you have to sit with the album while it records so you can flip it over and make sure no one slams a door or anything. What I forgot is that even though the sound on my computer is off the track still leaks (loudly) though my speakers unless I plug my only pair of headphones into the computer. Kinda kills all my listening options. I don’t know why I don’t have coffee, my import stack includes some Cream, a lot of The Who and a Genius of Les Paul album. …I’m going with List necessities and some personal picks. So what did I listen to today? Well after I watched Con Air again (really, you need to see it) I listened to R.E.M’s “Automatic for the People”, Oasis’ “(What’s the Story) Morning Glory?” and Guns N’ Roses “Appetite For Destruction”. The last one I listened to on vinyl, god it was good. I guess I’ll talk that one first. I love Guns N’ Roses, more than Queen and marginally less than Foo Fighters. I’ve seen Velvet Revolver as many times as you can count on two fingers and I have opinions on Axl Rose’s corn rows. “Appetite For Destruction” is iconic. It is the definition of sex, drugs and filthy, dirty rock and roll. If this album doesn’t make you want to get a bottle of Jack, a skull and cross bones and tattoo and a bed (aka a bar, a brawl and a brothel) you aren’t listening correctly. Everyone needs this album once in their life, take the dose and enjoy it.

“Automatic For The People”, is excelente. Just a few songs and right to the point. Michael Stipe, sing your heart out cupcake. “Man On The Moon” is one of the most singable, danceable songs they have. If you have not already, I really request you jump on the R.E.M. bandwagon. Oasis, ah Oasis. I wish they loved each other as much as I love them. The perfect blend of trippy, relaxing , dreamy, deep music. “Champagne Supernova” – classic, “Don’t Look Back In Anger” – fantastic. Got a lazy day in the car? Take this album and hang your feet out the window. You won’t regret it. Love

Define Irony…

January 20, 2010 at 1:04 am | Posted in Miranda | 1 Comment

“…Bunch of idiots dancing on a plane to a song made famous by a band that died in a plane crash.” This is the part where I admit that I watched Con Air instead of catching up on music. I’m kind of thinking it was worth it…I really like that movie. If you have no idea what I’m talking about, please leave my blog. Now. Getting back to what I did listen to in the past two days. Again I list –

Stan Getz And Charlie Byrd – Jazz Samba

Phil Spector And Various Artists – A Christmas Gift for You

The Monkees – Headquarters

The Doors – The Doors

The Electric Prunes – I Had too Much to Dream (Last Night)

ZZ Top – Tres Hombres

Queen – A Night at the Opera

I really am trying to stay in a 60’s state of mind but sometimes I can’t resist! “Jazz Samba” was cool, I have to admit that I think I need a few days break from Jazz or I’m not going to be able to talk about it accurately. It’s starting to mush together and all the Jazz albums are so different it isn’t fair to put them all in the same place by just saying “eh”. As much as I want to keep plowing through the 60’s I really do think I will try to take a small Jazz break, just so I can drain and recollect my thoughts. Phil Spector’s “A Christmas Gift For You”, pushing away the timing (it is the 19th) the music is good. It is an excellent compilation with many great voices. The music is light and festive, I only wish I had listened to it a little sooner. “Headquarters” just put me in a good mood. It’s hard to explain how this is working in my head, but to me The Monkees always had a Beach Boys feel. They don’t sound much the same, and they don’t quite the same style. Maybe they look alike? I don’t know. I always used to get the two flopped in my head. I’ve finally got two distinct pictures, and sounds to match. The Doors self-titled album, well I picked this album as a “What the h**l” kind of whim. I love Jim Morrison’s voice and I swear to god I am the only crack pot in this world that follows the insane theory that the dude is still alive (Look into how he died, it’s just too damn weird). When the album starts The Doors sound like, well, a bit like everyone else at the time. Jimi Hendrix flashed into my head as well as Iron Butterfly. If you keep going, sit yourself down and listen, the album is good. Really good. It also has “The Doors” signature stamp on it, they sound like everyone else but did everyone else have Morrison’s voice? Nopes.

The Electric Prunes, this album was plain weird. Butthole Surfers weird? No, but still odd. Again the name kind of gives it up a little. After my sister stopped gasping for breathe over imagining the prospect of wrinked old men who play electric music (I said they were young at the time, she asked why they weren’t called grapes…you tell me), the first song is good. “I Had Too Much To Dream” has a good parody on words and the single was darn fun. The rest of it, it was just a little much for me. ZZ Top, I’m a fan and I was eager to hear the early stuff. They also crack me up, my friend and I have a running joke that I’m sure a million other people have that the only guy without a big ass beard is the drummer Frank Beard. It’s stupid but it will make you remember who they are. “Tres Hombres” was good, it’s less funky than the popular stuff they spit out but still classic ZZ grooves. Okay, “A Night At The Opera” I’m going to be a quick and concise as possible I promise. I could talk about Queen all day, or until my hand falls off or my keys pop out. Okay staying short – obviously I love it. I think it’s one of the best albums they have. Do NOT fight me with “Queen Live Killers”, I just don’t love it as much. Drum roll please, short and sweet – I think it’s hysterical that “Love of My Life” about Freddy Mercury’s girlfriend of the time and if I had the room I would tattoo “Bohemian Rhapsody” down my back, fortunately for my parents and whoever I marry, I’m too broke and too short.  Ta-Da! Night! x0x0

Hybrid happy

January 20, 2010 at 12:23 am | Posted in Jesse | Leave a comment
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The album count is 68 because I just finished Bert Jansch’s “Bert Jansch.”

I thought it was a pretty good album, it sounded to me like what you would get if you took Bob Dylan and Cat Stevens and threw them into a dryer together and left it alone for a while. Jansch was really a good fusion of Dylan’s folky style and Cat’s soft-rock crooning.

I also listened to Donovan’s “Sunshine Superman”, which also sounded kind of hybrid to me. He had the poppy Beatles sound mixed with the more psychedelic Byrds sound, with the great guitar distortion especially. The Beatles thing rings especially true because I’ve heard a lot of people falsely attribute Donovan’s “Mellow Yellow” to the Fab Four (and I kind of missed it on the album, being as its the only Donovan song I actually knew beforehand).

Speaking of Bob Dylan though, I managed to listen to yet another Bob Dylan album, “Blonde on Blonde.” More Dylan, what’s left to say? He is what he is, and you know it coming into the album, so no surprises there.

Onto Jacques Brel, with his album “Olympia 64.” I loved it. It was all in French, and I couldn’t understand a word (except for when he repeated “Amsterdam” in the song “Amsterdam”), but his attitude bled through the music, and his voice is one of those awesome voices that result from too many cigarettes, but just few enough that it’s not weird.

In other listening:

44. Solomon Burke – “Rock ‘n’ Soul”

54. B.B. King – “Live at the Regal”

67. The Mamas & the Papas – “If You Can Believe Your Eyes & Ears” which I realized I knew more of than “California Dreamin'” to my pleasant surprise.

There’s probably one or two more, but one of the side effects of this project is that I’m forgetting more and more what I listened to the day before. I think the book should come with a disclaimer that says “Side effects may include memory loss, your brain leaking out of your ears, runny nose, depression, diarrhea, or spontaneous combustion.”

I remembered!

January 18, 2010 at 3:23 pm | Posted in Jesse | 1 Comment
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I remembered the album that I couldn’t remember yesterday, and I remembered what I wanted to say about it too!

I listened to “Disraeli Gears” by Cream on Saturday night. Again, I was lacking in knowledge of Cream/Eric Clapton but figured it would be a good intro. It was. The bluesy-psychedelic rock was great, and I kind of regret never really getting into Clapton before.

I especially liked how the album ended, with the song “Mother’s Lament,” which lacked the guitar, bass, and drums of the other tracks. Instead, it was a simple piano and the Cream boys singing together, and frankly sounded like a few drunks in a pub. It was a really fun way to end the album, and a really nice and distinct contrast to the rest of the music.

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