I guess it's hard to fit nine band members on the front of the LP cover. Sorry, guys to the left!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 ››
Let's not get carried away... she's only 'somewhat' unusual.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 ››
I enjoy the jauntiness of this drawingImpressions: 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 ››
Impressions: Having been exposed to ZZ Top in the dreaded '80s, I grew upthinking 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
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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 ››
Release Date 1972 Previously Owned: No First time listen? Yes
Bonnie Raitt's for no manImpressions: Having always heard Bonnie Raitt in the context of admirable but moderately boring blues/rock on WXRT, I was not really psyched for this one. But this record sort of hung in there as an admirable, nicely-performed California soft-rock/bluesy/folk/soul brew that went down pretty easily. The songs are short and had enough surprises to keep me interested (mostly in the form of fun New Orleans-flavored horns on tracks like "Give It … Continue Reading ››
Release Date 1969 Previously Owned: No First time listen? Yes
The ScaggsterImpressions: I wasn't expecting much. I don't think I was quite aware of Boz Scaggs and his name was kind of a weird turnoff to me. Boz. Scaggs. (shudders) I mentally lumped him in with other '60s/70s artists who were ostensibly tasteful, yet low-charisma blue-eyed soul/rock "regular guys" like John Hiatt, Dan Fogelberg, Randy Newman, George Thorogood. In other words, not really my cup of tea. Album starts off solidly with "I'm Easy"-- a … Continue Reading ››
Release Date: 2001
Previously Owned: No
First Time Listen: Yes
It looks like that shadow on the left is holding a dogImpressions: Pretty simple on the surface: dirty guitar+bashing drums+straightforward vocals= garage to counter the digital era. It works. The opening song, "Dead Leaves and the Dirty Ground," fulfills that formula. But after that, they throw a few extra tricks: some acoustic guitars on Hotel Yorba and then keyboards on "I'm Finding It Harder To Be A Gentleman." Some nice, hummable tunes, especially the needle-in-the-red punk rock "Fell In Love With … Continue Reading ››
Previously Owned: No First time listen? Yes
One day, I'll pronounce "Aquemini" properly"Impressions: Eclectic, Southern-fried hip-hop that is at times wildly creative, yet still funky enough to please most hardcore hip hop heads. I got no idea why I missed the boat on them at the time. I'm positive I would have listened to this a lot in 1998--as I was starved for quality hip hop. There was a huge gap in the mid '90s after gangsta rap took over where I lost … 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
