Release Date: 1972
Previously Owned: No
First Time Listen: Yes
Impressions: In college, I had four roommates, so every one of us would get to choose one CD and throw that into the 5-disc changer for parties. Then we'd put it on uber-shuffle, lock the door and let it go all night without taking requests or having anyone mess with the music. A few of my roommates were big into War, so usually one of their CDs would make it … Continue Reading ››
Release Date: 1976
Previously Owned: No
First Time Listen: Yes
Impressions: Like many red-blooded American males who have spent time at Boy Scout Camp, I have an appreciation for the occasional Steve Miller Band jam. My SMB dosage usually came in the form a tape of their greatest hits played loudly while tooling around Wisconsin in a Trans Am. Let's turn the clock back… Whooshy, familiar keyboard opening, woah, man. Then, it comes in: … Continue Reading ››
Release Date: 1970
Previously Owned: No
First Time Listen: Yes
Impressions: All I knew of the Motor City 5 from before was "Kick Out The Jams," and, for whatever reason, they didn't win me over. Let's just say I respected them more than I enjoyed them. Time for a deeper dive… They waste no time with a pretty lean, mean rocking opening cover of "Tutti-Fruitti." The sound is a little compressed and thin at times, but it's exciting to hear this proto-punk, uber-garage band … Continue Reading ››
Release Date: 1978
Previously Owned: No
First Time Listen: Yes
This album is no day at the beach, that's for sure.Impressions: As mentioned earlier, I'm pretty smitten with Big Star's catchy, influental '70s guitar pop. But, I've never touched their third (and last) "experimental" album that barely got released. Seems weird to review these in reverse order, but here we go….Oh man, from the first few notes on "Kizza Me" this album makes me anxious. With Chris Bell long gone, this is Alex … Continue Reading ››
This seems like the ne plus ultra of '70s soft-rock album covers.
#450
Jackson Browne, For Everyman
Release Date: 1974
Previously Owned: No
First Time Listen: Yes
Impressions: Oh, here we go... Jackson Browne: another regular-guy '70s singer/songwriter that seems to over-populate this list. Luckily, his distinct hair insures I don't get him mixed up with some of the other sensitive performer types.Browne always seemed a little wan to me, but let's put the album on and give it a shot... I didn't know he co-wrote "Take It Easy" with Glenn Frey. Strange that he opened with … Continue Reading ››
Release Date: 2006
Previously Owned: No
First Time Listen: No
Impressions: Oh, Winehouse. Your tragic, tabloid-ready life story could overshadow your music. That would be a shame, I mean, on top of you already dying. Years of drug abuse, bulemia, personal drama and old-fashioned alcoholism led to you to drinking yourself to death in 2010. So sad, but life must go on and so must this review..."Rehab" is the big hit from the album and, it's kind of hard to … Continue Reading ››
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 ››
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 ››
When I see this record cover, I immediately have a flashback to a yard sale or church basement.
#459
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 ››
How will Los Lobos survive? With a combination of endlessly touring and recording great songs, that's how.
#455
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 ››
A guy tries to listen to every album on the Rolling Stone Top 500 Albums of all time list, and some other stuff
