John Prine, John Prine
Release Date: 1971
Previously Owned: No
First Time Listen: Yes
Impressions: I've mentioned this before, but I mix John Prine, Warren Zevon, and Boz Scaggs together for some reason, even though they aren't really musically quite alike. Maybe it's their demographic? WXRT seems to like him a lot, (reads his Wikipedia bio) and that's probably because he's from Chicago. Let's put this album on. Opens with a funny country drug number called "Illegal Smile." His voice is kind of plain to my ears. The album defininely got … Continue Reading ››
RS #453: EPMD – Strictly Business
EPMD, Strictly Business
Release Date: 1988
Previously Owned: No
First Time Listen: Yes
Impressions: EPMD. Erick and Parrish Making Dollars. These guys were popular when I was in high school. Well-liked, but always seems to be overshadowed by some other act (LL, The Beasties, NWA, Run DMC.) Let's put it on... The opening track "Strictly Business" samples "I Shot The Sheriff" and, not surprisingly, these guys get down to business. These guys come across as no frills, workmanlike, solid, but that's probably because they rap in such a low-key style, like they were just talking to … Continue Reading ››
RS #454: Alice Cooper – Love It To Death
Alice Cooper, Love It To Death
Release Date: 1971
Previously Owned: No
First Time Listen: Yes
Impressions: I only know of Mr. Cooper through his second career as a reliable guest-star "freak" on TV and his love of golf. Musically, I know very little. Let's put this on... Well, off to a great start with the rocking "Caught In A Dream." Cooper's brand of greasy glam rock seems a bit different than the heavy metal crowd that Cooper gets … Continue Reading ››
RS #459: The Drifters, Golden Hits
The Drifters, Golden Hits
Release Date: 1968
Previously Owned: No
First Time Listen: Yes
Impressions: Many of these songs are so fully integrated into the landscape of oldies stations that they almost cease to be music. After I had trouble finding this actual collection on line, I eBay'd a CD. Let's put it on... "There Goes My Baby" seems to follow their recipe: smooth doo-wop singing on top of sweet strings and proto-Phil Spector-esque Wall of Sound production, with a … Continue Reading ››
RS #455: Los Lobos – How Will The Wolf Survive?
Los Lobos, How Will The Wolf Survive?
Release Date: 1981
Previously Owned: No
First Time Listen: Weirdly, Yes
Impressions: Unbelievable. I love these guys. I think they are one of the most-criminally underrated bands in rock and roll history. Completely stylistically diverse, both experimental and crowd-pleasing, with tons of chops and heart. They hold on to their Chicano roots but allow for anything else to enter the mix. Possibly one of the top 5 American bands of … Continue Reading ››
RS #456: Marvin Gaye – Here, My Dear
Marvin Gaye, Here, My Dear
Release Date: 1978
Previously Owned: No
First Time Listen: Yes
Impressions: There's a unique backstory on this album. I know, most on this list have a story too, but this one is one of a kind. Marvin "gave" (half of the royalties) his ex-wife Anna Gordy in a weird divorce agreement. At first, Marvin tried to make a "lazy, bad" album for her, but then he got inspired by his conficting emotions from their distintegrated relationship … Continue Reading ››
RS #457: My Morning Jacket – Z
My Morning Jacket, Z
Release Date: 2005
Previously Owned: No
First Time Listen: Yes
Impressions: Don't know much about these dudes. This entry smells like an effort to get some new millenium representation on the RS list, but we shall put it on and give it a fair chance like every other album... Opens with a nice, slightly-off kilter modern track that confortably mixes R&B, dub, and trippy Flaming Lips-style production. Lead singer Jim James has got a clear, high voice that fits snugly into the lush dreamy tracks like "It … Continue Reading ››
RS #458: Elton John – Tumbleweed Connection
Elton John, Tumbleweed Connection
Release Date: 1970
Previously Owned: No
First Time Listen: Yes
Impressions: Not well-versed in Sir Elton outside of the big hits. I considre myself a fan nor a hater. Let's give this a spin... Weird choice for only his third album: a very loose old-West-themed concept album by two guys (Elton John, lyricist Bernie Taupin) who had never been to the US at the time. Hubris (and drugs) can only be the reason they'd do this. Oddly, this fake country … Continue Reading ››
About entry #459…
Number 459 is The Drifters Golden Hits; which is not on iTunes or Spotify. I tried to cobble it together track by track but I'm not sure I'm getting the correct versions of all the songs. So I'm waiting for a CD version ($2.95 on eBay!) in the mail since I want to give this album a fair chance and not be listening to some dumb karaoke verisons of the songs. I'm all about fairness.
It might take a while to come in the mail since I'm cheap, so I'll skip ahead and put my entry … Continue Reading ›› RS #460: Hole – Live Through This
- #460
Hole, Live Through This
Release Date: 1994
Previously Owned: No
First Time Listen: Yes
