The Who, A Quick One
Release Date: 1966
Previously Owned: No
First Time Listen: Yes
Impressions: The Who's second album. When it comes to the Who, I probably respect them more than I enjoy them. Let's go...."Run Run Run" okay, but smells a little like the second album lull. "Boris the Spider" is pretty nutty and, of course, being a John Entwistle song, bass heavy. So, I guess everyone in the band wrote songs? Even … Continue Reading ››
RS #385: Bob Dylan, Love and Theft
#385
Bob Dylan, Love and Theft
Release Date: 2001
Previously Owned: No
First Time Listen: Yes
Impressions: Another late-career Dylan entry. Okay, let's get through this... Bluesy, rockabilly opener. His craggy, nasal vocal style doesn't really appeal to me, but this sounds lighter and looser already. Unpretentious production. Something about "Mississippi" snuck up on me: he's older and been through some stuff and it seems lived in with lyrics like "I'm … Continue Reading ››
RS #386: Steely Dan, Pretzel Logic
#386
Steely Dan, Pretzel Logic
Release Date: 1974
Previously Owned: Yes
First Time Listen: No
Impressions: Holy crow, it's been a while since my last update! Let's Pretzel...The Dan seems kind of polarizing, so I'll just say up front that I'm a big fan. I've mostly heard their songs broken up by a mix or as a part of Citizen Steely Dan boxed set. So we'll see how these songs work … Continue Reading ››
RS #387: Wu-Tang Clan, Enter the Wu-Tang Clan: 36 Chambers
#387
Wu-Tang Clan, Enter the Wu-Tang Clan:36 Chambers
Release Date: 1993
Previously Owned: Yes
First Time Listen: No
Impressions: I've always liked Wu-Tang but I never became a fanatic. Let us enter the 36 Chambers here... "Bring Da Ruckus" is a ('90s term coming up) slammin' opener that establishes their mix of kung fu samples, brash choruses "BRING THA MUTHAFUCKIN RUCKUS," hard beats, and nine, that's … Continue Reading ››
RS: 388: Various Artists, The Indestructable Beat of Soweto – Vol 1
#388
Various Artists The Indestructable Beat of Soweto- Vol. 1
Release Date: 1985
Previously Owned: No
First Time Listen: Yes
Impressions: Looking forward to this one. Well, not speaking the language, it loses a little in translation for me. But it's chockful of catchy, quirky tunes that are light, funky and don't have a ton of "world music" baggage. Rubbery basslines, … Continue Reading ››
#389 – RS #500: Don Henley, The End Of Innocence
#389
Don Henley The End Of Innocence
Release Date: 1989
Previously Owned: No
First Time Listen: Yes
Impressions: Okay, let's give this a spin. (Listens) Hmmm, must have placed a Bruce Hornsby CD on by mistake...no? DON: "Hey Hornsby... don't forget to bring over your piano and drum machine for this track." Sounds like 1989 for sure, with a … Continue Reading ››
RS #390: White Stripes, Elephant
#390
White Stripes Elephant
Release Date: 2003
Previously Owned: No
First Time Listen: Yes
Impressions: Well, even though it's been played to death..."Seven Nation Army" is a real winner. I must confess it's pretty undeniable. What's not to like? I mean, that massive riff... dummmm dum dum dudumm! It's perfect. Jack and Meg White are like the proprietors of … Continue Reading ››
RS # 391: Jackson Browne, The Pretender
#391
Jackson Browne The Pretender
Release Date: 1976
Previously Owned: No
First Time Listen: Yes
Impressions: I was surprised by how much I liked his previous album on this list. Let's see if he can keep it up... "The Fuse" is tasteful, well produced, but kind of a bore. I can see how people got tired of this stuff in '76 and … Continue Reading ››
RS #392 — The Beatles, Let It Be
#392
The Beatles, Let It Be
Release Date: 1969
Previously Owned: No
First Time Listen: Yes (unbelievable!)
Impressions: Their worst album?...And the start of 10 Beatles albums on this list. Which is, what, 0.02% of the list? Let's get to work... Well, even though it's not technically their last album, the whole deal has a down-cast, end of the road vibe. I always liked the stomping acoustic guitar … Continue Reading ››
RS #393: M.I.A., Kala
#393
M.I.A., Kala
Release Date: 2007
Previously Owned: No
First Time Listen: Yes
Impressions: Intriguing hip-hop British/Indian multicultural mash up. Opening songs like "Bamboo Banga" are fragmented, percussive, cool but can get a bit numbing, "Jimmy"opens up into a disco cover. "Hussel" sounds of 2007 with big throwback keyboards and tribal drums, yet still unique. Sometime M.I.A.'s rapping veers dangerously close toward Debbie Harry "Rapture" style, but generally she gets by pretty … Continue Reading ››