Impressions: Even though I've heard it a million times, "Love is the Drug" is still a hell of an cut. Funky, sexy, funny, catchy, just aces. I can't imagine the album keeping that pace up, but bright punchy "End of The Line" really does. So far, a tiny bit more commercial than their previous outings but still great, weird songs and Brian … Continue Reading ››
Release Date: 1995 Previously Owned: No First Time Listen: Yes
This is a soothing album cover. By Source, Fair use, Link
Impressions: Well, Mr. Browne...we meet again. I was pleasantly surprised by For Everyman. but didn't quite dig The Pretender. So, let's put on the tie-breaker ... Title track sounds a little closer to "For Everyman," so far, down-the-middle '70s soft-ifornia rock. Slow start. … Continue Reading ››
John Lee Hooker The Ultimate Collection (1948-1990)
Release Date: 1990 Previously Owned: No First Time Listen: Yes
Very, very early '90s boxed-set album cover design. By Source, Fair use, Link
Impressions: Uh oh. I'm doomed. 1948-1990. That's DECADES of music. Oh whew, it's only 2 discs. And it's great stuff, so no big deal. Wow, there are an endless amount of compilations out there of his music. But of course, this specific one … Continue Reading ››
Release Date: 1995 Previously Owned: No First Time Listen: Yes
The story is middling Brit-pop that doesn't really leave a mark. By Source, Fair use, Link
Impressions: This falls into Cheap Trick category for me: I should like this, in theory. These guys throw The Smiths, Stone Roses, Beatles, The Jam, Stones, etc in a blender and make a Brit-pop smoothie. … Continue Reading ››
Release Date: 1994 Previously Owned: No First Time Listen: Yes
Love a great '70s drawn album cover. By Source, Fair use, Link
Impressions: Well, if you want to try to win me over from the jump, throw a Phife cameo rap at the beginning that references A Tribe Called Quest in a almost Marvel comic crossover fashion. Good start. Sounds like vintage early '90s hip hop-infused new Jack Swingish, R&B. "Creep" showcases TLC at their best: solid samples, … Continue Reading ››
Release Date: 1975 Previously Owned: No First Time Listen: Yes
Love a great '70s drawn album cover. By Source, Fair use, Link
Impressions: From the first beat, this classic reggae sound fits like your favorite t-shirt. The sound is like Al Green on the 1 and 3, with the gruff vocals of Toots Hibbert (who to Americans serves as the Kevin Durant to Bob Marley's LeBron James.) R&B, Soul, Rock, Ska, Funk, it's all in … Continue Reading ››
Release Date: 2011 Previously Owned: No First Time Listen: Well, sort of. I used to try to download versions of this album during the old Napster heyday.
Impressions: Here. Here's a whole box of toys. Some are broken. Most don't quite match. I'm going to spill it out on this table and you can try to enjoy it, or better yet, figure it out yourself. Maybe if this Beach Boys … Continue Reading ››
Release Date: 1976 Previously Owned: No First Time Listen: No
Absolutely classic rock logo. By Source, Fair use, Link
Impressions: Proto-punk, proto-New Wave, proto-Talking Heads (with an actual future-Talking Head on keyboards)...but solid, simple...sounds perfect. Velvet Underground meets Punk or something. Again, weird I never really got into this album when I was younger. With the organ like in "Astral Plane", sometimes they sounds even Doors like, but swap Jonathan Richman's nerdy … Continue Reading ››
Release Date: 1978 Previously Owned: Yes First Time Listen: No
This album cover is made up entirely of smaller Polaroid photos. By Source, Fair use, Link
Impressions: Okay, now here is a second album! Not to mention one of my favorite album covers and album titles of all time. In some ways, More Songs About Buildings and Food really more like their actual debut. Talking Heads 77 was slightly … Continue Reading ››
A guy tries to listen to every album on the Rolling Stone Top 500 Albums of all time list, and some other stuff