The Way We Go…

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

Baby, Baby Please…

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

The Dirty Undertones Of Rocket Queen…

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…

“…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

When It Rains, It Pours…

Catch up day! I got a lot done! I shall list –

Jimmy Smith – Back at the Chicken Shack

Booker T. And The M.G.s – Green Onions

The Beach Boys – The Beach Boys Today!

John Coltrane – A Love Supreme

Aerosmith – Toys in the Attic

Short and sweet I swear. I’m trying to concentrate my listening in the 60’s but every once in a while I feel the urge to stray just to get the contrast I need. “Back at the Chicken Shack” and “Green Onions” were albums that I file into a Classic 50’s category. Which different styles, they both had the 50’s feel of upbeat tunes and bands that were just damn happy to be making music. The Beach Boys is what I’m wrapping up right now. Let me tell you, with this crummy weather being able to look out the window with “California Girls” on makes it a little less cold. I forgot how much I like “Help Me, Rhonda”. Every tune is catchy and swinging, you could really see teenagers of the time getting very into this music. It has the “dreamy” quality every teenage girl looks for. “A Love Supreme” was fantastic. A different twist that was an album that had only a few songs but each was long and had a heart. The first song the words “a love supreme” are murmured over and over and it gave me the chills. Coltrane is in the jazz-liness is godliness category. Yes, I made it up. Last, “Toys in the Attic”, an album that was particularly helpful as I scrubbed down my bathroom today. It is the first Aerosmith album on the list and is packed with the hits people love. It was nice to hear “Walk This Way” without Run-DMC. Of course the song “Toys in the Attic” is an opener like no other. It will have you singing into your duster. I bid goodnight, who knows what tomorrow brings.

Never A Silent Moment…

Today was NOT a quiet day, and that’s a good thing! Today my speakers were blessed with Ray Charles “Modern Sounds in Country And Western Music”, The Byrds “Mr. Tambourine Man”, Jimi Hendrix “Axis: Bold as Love”, and Butthole Surfers “Locust Abortion Technician”. I’ve decided that variation is more important than order, it makes listening to a lot of music easier and more fun. Ray Charles was well…good ol’ Ray. The music is not as country as the album name suggests but it’s mellow beat and lazy-cat tunes make it distinct and fun. The Byrds album was excellent. Their cover of Bob Dylan’s song “Mr. Tambourine Man” is a great way for the album to kick off. The light mood carries the entire length of the album, weaving through all the music. Jimi Hendrix, what can I say? I was never a big Hendrix fan, I have a friend who worships the Jimi Hendrix psychedelic afro god. After getting bouts of “Why do you not fall to your knees at this man’s f**king music?!” I kept more of an open ear. Plus I was always intrigued by the urban legend of Hendrix putting strips of LSD under his headband before performing so it would seep through his skin.  Did he really? Who knows, but a dude who would light his guitar on fire is a bit of a mystery all around. Back to the music, we have a few Hendrix albums to knock down in our journey and I like the way I started. “Axis: Bold as Love” was not a long album and not full of trippy, squealing sound effects. I was happy to find that Jimi Hendrix’s voice dominates the album.  The guitar is sweet and the music is raw, exactly like I want it to be. Lastly, Butthole Surfers “Locust Abortion Technician”. I think you can assume from the band name and album name what your diving into. The album is just. plain. nuts. Butthole Surfers are at the odd end of the music spectrum. Take Willy Wonka, give him some acid, a surfboard and a veggie burger and you would get this album. Did I hate it? Hell no. The only way to explain it is just really, really interesting. Try it. I’ve definitely turned out more than a few unnecessary images so sit on that and listen to some music! x0x0

Herbs Of Paradise…

It’s been such a busy week, so I bulked up on all this music yesterday and then planned on writing about it last night. Instead I actually made a good dinner, turned a movie on and fell asleep in the middle with all the windows open and the lights on. Now after quite the terrible sleep, here we go…

Bob Dylan – The Freewheelin’ Bob Dylan

The Rolling Stones – Rolling Stones

Simon & Garfunkel – Parsley, Sage, Rosemary & Thyme

The Everly Brothers – A Date with the Everly Brothers

James Brown – Live at the Apollo

Depeche Mode – Music for the Masses

A little bit of everything. Bob Dylan is still a concept I’m trying to wrap my head around. I don’t know exactly how to classify him music, but I don’t think I have to. I am not a Rolling Stone’s fan. In many conversations I have had, books I have read or magazine articles I have seen it is stated that in the music world there is a hierarchy. At the top of this triangle The Rolling Stones, The Beatles and Led Zeppelin are eternally beating the s**t out of each other for the top spot. In the meantime there is no definitive “top spot” and there will always be a rolling debate regarding three bands bouncing back and forth. I personally don’t believe this at all but you come to expect a lot when listening to any of these bands. The only thing I really got out of the self-titled Rolling Stones album was a long, internal debate about how the hell Mick Jagger is still alive.

“Parsley, Sage, Rosemary & Thyme” was very good. My Simon & Garfunkel listening has been very limited. I love “America” but had not gone much past that. This album was calm and collected. It was not short but the entire listening experience was nice. For anyone who is hesitant about Simon & Garfunkel, this is the album I would recommend first. The Everly Brothers album was good, it was literally a date with them. If you listen to the lyrics the album is very cute. James Brown’s “Live At The Apollo” was very….James Brown. It was loud and strong and so far all of the live albums have that little extra, sometimes you can’t hear him sing because people are screaming. Last was “Music for the Masses”. I like Depeche Mode, a lot. This was not my favorite album of theirs. Known for their odd sound effects this album took that on a little too much. I think I was expecting “Black Celebration” and walked into something else entirely and got thrown for a loop. More today!

From A TO B…

Tis a dragging week. Again, it was a busy Tuesday and Wednesday to the point where I had the chance to listen to little music and post only once in two days. I apologize, it looks like we’ve had a bland 48 hours on here. I listened to Muddy Waters “Muddy Waters At Newport” and The Beatles “With the Beatles” on Tuesday and  The Mamas & the Papas “If You Can Believe Your Eyes & Ears” today. I have no quantity, I certainly did not skip quality. Muddy Waters has always had a nagging place in my brain. I had a very intelligent professor mention the name a few years ago and whenever I hear it my ears perk, but I never took the time to hunt an album down and listen to it. I’m happy I finally got my chance. I declare Muddy Waters “jazz with smooth edges”. Like Julie Andrews would say “A spoon full of sugar helps the medicine go down.”, Muddy Waters was not hard to swallow. For the past week I’ve been cringing every time I put a jazz album on just because the genre is getting repetitive and I’m layering it on very quickly. Muddy Waters was a nice break. Next I knocked out another Beatles album. There are quite a few of them we will be going through. “With The Beatles” was some of what I expected and some not. It had the hits that everyone knows and that “Across The Universe” eternally damaged. There were also a few tracks I had never heard before and it was a generous surprise. The hits are mixed with the lesser known songs (to me at least) and it evened the album out beautifully. For someone who can place The Beatles as overrated (sorry Jesse) I am warming up to them quickly. I’m surprised, I thought that I was going to have to drag my boots through every album but I’m starting to think I might enjoy myself. I tend to warm up to things I can sing and dance to faster. Today was The Mamas & the Papas “If You Can Believe Your Eyes & Ears”. This was an album I was looking forward to as soon as I typed it onto The List. Unfortunately, after a terribly depressing episode of “Celebrity Rehab” on VH1 last week I could not get Mackenzie Philips out of my head every time I looked at the album title. Today I decided to man up and listen to it and hoped the scarred past of the band would not get in my way. I hate to say it did indeed have a small effect. I love “California Dreamin'”…remember – song + dance = happy me. I had a moment of “Oh, so they wrote this song”. The album was upbeat and the vocals were stunning, male and female voices alike. There were moments that I listened to lyrics and wondered what the meaning behind them was. Some of them were strong, and drugs and family issues could absolutely be the cause behind them. I have no interest in digging further. Instead I laid on the surface of the music and enjoyed myself focusing on the MUSIC.

As a final note I want to add a bit about my titles. I like creative and interesting titles to my posts and usually spend quite a bit of time staring at the screen or researching songs to find exactly what I like. For the most part they are cute or just puns on the music of the day. Sometimes an inside joke or a way to slide into my writing. Every once in a while, such as today, the title is a twist – something you cannot get by looking at it. A bit of mystery is fun but there is always oppertunity to ask. Goodnight x0x0

Peace, Love & Orange Crush…

For the most part, a very 60’s day. We had – R.E.M.’s “Green”, The Beach Boys “Pet Sounds”, Cream’s “Disraeli Gears”, The Sonics “Here Are the Sonics”, and The Beatles “A Hard Day’s Night”. Massive f**k yes to getting five albums done in one day. I listened to “Green” in the car. I think by now you can assume that I’m an R.E.M. fan…and that I like to listen to them in the car. I’ve seen them live a couple times and they put serious thought into their political speeches and lyrics. “Green” is a good album of theirs. I will give that it too is hard to sing to because sometimes (most of the time) Michael Stipe is just going too damn fast. That would probably be why it’s so good to listen to in the car, no one can really hear you completely massacring the songs. After the first few I gave up singing and just decided to listen. Almost everything by them I have heard before but it never gets old. “Stand” is a pretty grounding song that makes you think about life probably more than you want to. Not my favorite album of theirs, but thumbs up. The Beach Boys was a random pick for today. It was what I expected it to be, the Beach Boys have a very distinct sound. The album was peppy and beachy, overall it made me hate this freezing weather even more and consider moving to Hawaii. The only thing that really caught me was the actual song “Pet Sounds”. It is the song the album is named after and I was laughing because it was my least favorite song on the entire thing. There is no vocal track and it’s very short. The song right after it has actual pet sounds…there was a dog barking. I was really enjoying myself until I got to that point. Next I was going to go after some Simon & Garfunkel but Mom piped up with Cream. As soon as I saw the cover art I had an “In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida” flashback. Indeed, another classic hippy album. While it was very much different from Iron Butterfly i did feel like the love beads were roping me back in. I had fun with it. If anyone sees me with a flower behind my ear ban me from listening to the 60’s for a bit okay? Next was “Here Are The Sonics”, you can probably say I had a 180* music change. It is a very punk/grungy rock album. Instantly I pictured a group of guys that emerged from Mom’s basement. Then again, what band didn’t? A lot of the album was cover songs which surprised me. Yet, if you have a debut album with a bunch of friends and your new at the music thing, you probably wouldn’t have a lot written down either. For good measure I listened to “A Hard Day’s Night”. Sometimes you need to know that when you have something it is a good staple. For example, this album. It was classic, steady Beatles sound…if that makes sense. It wasn’t new or thrilling, but I was happy it wasn’t. This was my first Beatles album from the list and I’m glad I picked it. It was short and classic, a good introduction to what will be many more Beatles albums. I am very happy with how productive today was and I can go to bed pleased with how excellent this is going so far. One thing that would make this even cooler, comments! A lot of people pour over from Facebook so say hi while your here! x0x0

Fun Is Pain…

This fun new project has re-enforced a lovely case of carpal tunnel that was dormant for a while. In leu of wanting to chew off my left arm, let’s hope it goes away. Today – Ella Fitzgerald’s “Sings the Gershwin Song Book”, Don McLean’s “American Pie”, Joan Baez’s “Joan Baez”, and Iron Butterfly’s “In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida”. All in all it was a very fun day. I have finished the ever-so-long Ella Fitzgerald singing the Gershwin Song Book. Between yesterday and today I listened to it while just mulling around. “Let’s Call The Whole Thing Off” is a very funny song. The whole album was “light and fluffy” and was not as dense as I feared it was going to be. The rest of the day I treated myself. I love “American Pie” (the song), so I figured why not knock out the whole Don McLean album? The entire album is fantastic. It did take the entire album to do the dishes from last night’s dinner fiasco. “American Pie” is a great album to dance and sing to, even if your alone in your apartment. Actually sometimes it’s better that way. It’s something I would file in my “Roadtrip Collection”. It just has that sunny, upbeat vibe. Joan Baez’s self-titled album was great. Also very festive, her voice is unbelievable. I stuffed a towel under my door and had the speakers cranked, so my speakers weren’t very happy at some points. It’s kind of hard to explain but there was a hippy vibe to it. Joan Baez was really oozing the 60’s. Ah so, what to follow up with? “In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida” for sure. There is no album that better says “Yup, we SO did drugs…but look how cool our music is because of it”. Start with the title – In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida, which was supposed to be In The Garden of Eden. The story goes, the drummer asked the vocalist what the title of the song was, the dude was so stoned that he couldn’t get the words out. He managed to mumble In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida and tada, pretty damn cool name. Very cool day. Now I have a Flaming Lips album to pick apart, more on that later. Night!