Tag Archives: Unowned

RS #390: White Stripes, Elephant

#390

White Stripes Elephant

Release Date: 2003 Previously Owned: No First Time Listen: Yes
"I pledge allegance to the red, white and black album cover... " by Source. Licensed under Fair use via Wikipedia.
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
"Oh Jackson, I’m sorry the ’60s had to end" by Source. Licensed under Fair use via Wikipedia.
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!)
"The Beatles, Let It Be" by Source. Licensed under Fair use via Wikipedia.
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
"M.I.A., Kala" by Source. Licensed under Fair use via Wikipedia.
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 ››

RS #394: Randy Newman, Good Old Boys

#394

Randy Newman, Good Old Boys

Release Date: 1974 Previously Owned: No First Time Listen: Yes
"Randy Newman, Good Old Boys" by Source. Licensed under Fair use via Wikipedia.
Impressions: Woah, Mr. Newman comes out firing with "Rednecks.," which sports some quite provocative lyrics about institutional racism over a jaunty country/rag. Seems to be that was his '70s modus operandi. Odd to think a guy who'd sing stuff like "we don't know our ass from a hole in the ground/we're rednecks!/We're keepin … Continue Reading ››