The fake-Pollock cover that the US fans are familiar with.
#475
Elvis Costello and the Attractions, Armed Forces
Release Date: 1979
Previously Owned: Yes
Impressions: It's hard to imagine now, as Elvis' presence nowadays is merely tolerated or ignored by most people (his collaboration with The Roots sounds great on paper, but that sinking feeling is there.) When Armed Forces came out back in '79, Elvis was considered "cool," or at least he was at his personal coolest. He also seemed kind of dangerous, like a permanently-jilted version of Buddy Holly on speed. This angry, young … Continue Reading ››
The album cover is the least weird thing about this albumImpressions: Okay, I loved this album back when I stumbled upon it in college. I'm 100% sure I 'll still feel that way, but we'll listen to it anyway... Starts off with George Clinton's opening spoken word schpiel about Mother Earth tasting maggots in the brain of universe and maybe drowning in his own shit, is just bonkers bizarre, but at least it let's … Continue Reading ››
For the year 2000, D'Angelo possesed the world's most famous abs.
D'Angelo, Voodoo
Release Date: 2000
Previously Owned: No
First Time Listen: Yes
Impressions: D'Angelo is never in a rush. Songs take as long as they need to (the shortest track on this album is still four and a half minutes.) He starts singing when ever he feels like it and he puts out albums when ever he wants to. Voodoo came out five years -an eternity in pop music- after his successful neo-soul debut Brown Sugar. Take the opening song; "Playa … Continue Reading ››
Why yes, I do remember New Day Rising.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 ››
Those corncob condos in downtown Chicago are as weird on the inside as they look on the outside.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 ››
Previously Owned: Sort of... have a bunch of MP3s from this one
Impressions: When this album first came out, someone threw MP3s from this album on my work server and I thought they were audio files from our company's management committee meeting. It's got that now-popular '80s-via-'00s sound by Flaming Lips producer Dave Fridmann that features big drums and bigger keyboards and some nice hooks. Parts funky, trippy and sarcastic without getting too, too annoying, Oracular Spectacular is a definitely an product of … Continue Reading ››
Impressions: Before this came out in the late '80s, there was music created by bands and music created by DJs. If you wanted to dance, you listened to music made by machines or samples, and when you didn't want to dance, you listened to music made by people. Okay, I'm oversimplifying, but it sure seemed that way back then. Outside of New Order, rarely did both strands meet without … Continue Reading ››
Previously Owned: Yes
Impressions: Well, well...I'm surprised this made the list. When I was a kid, I used to go from Evanston across the border to the Wilmette Public Library to ransack the music section for records, tapes and CDs. I check out the maximum amount, take them home, and dub them to add to my growing collection of tapes. Now, there wasn't anything too hip there … 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
