- #484
Mott The Hoople, All The Young Dudes
Release Date: 1972
Previously Owned: No
First Time Listen: Yes
Impressions: A great Bowie album, without Bowie's voice (mostly). A cover of Velvet Underground's "Sweet Jane" is no-brainer slam-dunk, and although it doesn't dispell the weird feeling of imitation, it's beautifully done. Lead singer Ian Hunter has a lot of Dylan, a lot of Bowie, and a sharp sense of humor and self awareness. The band plays pitch-perfect glammy rock that doesn't get … Continue Reading ››
RS #485: Pearl Jam, Vitalogy
- #485
Pearl Jam, Vitalogy
Release Date: 1994
Previously Owned: No
First Time Listen: No (I went to college that year, c'mon)
Impressions: Let's start with this: I don't hate Pearl Jam, nor do I love them. For whatever reason, they generally fail to leave a mark, but let's give them a fair shake shall we? Album ON! The dry, unadorned production helps the songs like the opener "Last Exit" and the punk-tempoed "Spin The Black Circle" and the hits like "Not For You" "Nothingman," "Better Man." But these songs seem like they are aiming for classic rock radio rotation twenty years in the future: solidly played, lean … Continue Reading ››
RS #486: Earth, Wind and Fire – That’s The Way of The World
- #486
Earth, Wind and Fire, That's The Way of The World
Release Date: 1975
Previously Owned: No
First Time Listen: Yes
Impressions: Not sure why, but I had a feeling this was gonna be a monster. But, I realized for the benefit of the blog, I must manage expectations and approach this album dispassionately. I was so dispassionate that I went on Spotify and listened to the wrong album. As it turned out, I listened to the … Continue Reading ››
RS #487: Cyndi Lauper – She’s So Unusual
- #487
Cyndi Lauper, She's So Unusual
Release Date: 1983
Previously Owned: No
First Time Listen: Yes
Impressions: Ah Cyndi, I was numb to your music when this album came out, as your hits were so hard to get away from. Radio. MTV. Commericals. I couldn't even find refuge in pro-wrestling because you'd show up there too! Let's give this a listen... Not a bad guitar-driven opening number, "Money Changes Everything" almost sounds like Psychedelic Furs or New Order-ish (although it's two minutes too long.) "Girls Just Want To Have … Continue Reading ››
RS #488: Hüsker Dü – New Day Rising
- #488
Hüsker Dü, New Day Rising
Release Date: 1985
Previously Owned: Yes
Impressions: Back in junior high (mid '80s,) lots of friends of mine started getting in to hardcore music. They got mohawks, would wear punk t-shirts to school and go slamdancing at shows at the Caberet Metro or Aragon Ballroom (aka the "Brawlroom.") Naturally, I was interested in hearing what kind of music would make someone shave their head for it. I couldn't really find any of this stuff on the radio, so I gave … Continue Reading ››
#489: KISS, Destroyer
- #489
KISS, Destroyer
Release Date: 1976
Previously Owned: No
First Time Listen: Yes
Impressions: When I was in first grade, I would avoid getting beaten up by older kids by drawing pictures of the KISS on other kids' folders and textbook covers. I vividly recall referencing photos in magazines of KISS members rocking outlandish costumes, having pet tigers, crazy pyrotechnics at shows or shooting fire and/or blood out of their mouths onstage. It all seemed so larger than life. I was too young to buy their records so I never actually heard … Continue Reading ››
#490: ZZ Top – Tres Hombres
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- #490
ZZ Top, Tres Hombres
Release Date: 1973
Previously Owned: No
First Time Listen: Yes
Impressions: Having been exposed to ZZ Top in the dreaded '80s, I grew up thinking these guys were just weird, long-bearded curiosities who made goofball music videos and spun guitars around their midsections. But this rockin slab of '70s blues/rock shows they can play a little when those guitars stop spinning. "Waitin for the Bus" starts off the set with a catchy, crunching riff and from there there's no let up ("Have mercy! I've been waiting for the bus all day!") Fun, no-nonsense tracks with airtight production and
Continue Reading ››
#491: Albert King – Born Under a Bad Sign
- #491
Albert King, Born Under a Bad Sign
Release Date: 1967
Previously Owned: No
First Time Listen: Yes
Impressions: Pretty rocking, soulful Stax-influenced blues record that came out during a huge year for music, but doesn't cop to psychedelic trends of that year. Still fairly modern and you can see why everyone stole from Albert King's stinging guitar style. The arrangements and funky back up from Booker T. & The MGs are predictably excellent, even for overly-familiar songs like "Kansas City." Songs are rock solid, and occasionally … Continue Reading ››
#492: Eurythmics – Touch
#492
Eurythmics, Touch
Release Date: 1983
Previously Owned: No
First Time Listen: I think so
Impressions:
I thought I was in for a real '80s electro-pop treat but after the majestic, icy sweep of "Here Comes The Rain Again," this album surprisingly, became a little bit of a slog. Must have sounded good on a Walkman at the time, but much of the album's dated, clunky bass and percussion wore on me. Dave Stewart's Kraftwerk/Art Of Noise affectations made the second … Continue Reading ››#493: Wilco – Yankee Hotel Foxtrot
#493
Wilco, Yankee Hotel Foxtrot
Release Date: 2002
Previously Owned: Yes
Impressions: Nice. Well, I'll admit I'm a huge fan of this era of Wilco and I'm glad to see this album make the cut.
The oft-told back story of this record is enough to fill up this whole blog alone: longtime members fired, label initially rejected the album, Wilco bought the album back and, later, resold it back to the record company for more than initially … Continue Reading ››