Tag Archives: 3.75 stars

RS #403: Lynyrd Skynyrd – (pronounced ‘lĕh-’nérd ‘skin-’nérd)

#403

Lynyrd Skynyrd, (pronounced ‘lĕh-’nérd ‘skin-’nérd)

Release Date: 1973
Previously Owned: No
First Time Listen: Yes
Lynryd Skynrd
Other bands named after gym-teachers: Alice Cooper, Led Zeppelin, The National, and Das EFX.
Impressions: Lynyrd Skynryd's weird name (in honor of a gym teacher,) Southern-fried boogie rock, tragic plane-crash history and long soloing is all very easy to make fun of. Most people (especially us who are not Southern By The Grace Of God) do this reflexively, like those smartasses that shout "Freebird" at any concert, without … Continue Reading ››

RS #408: Sinead O’ Connor, I Do Not Want What I Haven’t Got

#408 Sinead O' Connor, I Do Not Want What I Haven't Got

Release Date: 1990 Previously Owned: Yes First Time Listen: No
Intense.
Impressions: Coming out just before Nirvana changed the whole popular music landscape, this huge-selling album made Sinead a one-of-a-kind cultural touchstone due to her strident no-bullshit attitude, trademarked bald head, and great pipes. Haven't heard it in years, let's get to it… The tone for the album is set with the slow-building, string-backed "Feel So Different." For all the mockery she's taken over the years, her cathartic emotional voice still manages … Continue Reading ››

RS #418: Wings, Band On The Run

#418

Wings, Band On The Run

Release Date: 1973 Previously Owned: No First Time Listen: Yes
Impressions: I know the song. You know the song. But, still, let's play the whole album…I'm pretty sure we are all in agreement that the song "Band On The Run" is a goddamn nutballs masterpiece? Right? It's three different epic songs perfectly arranged into a breezy five-minute mini-suite about a band. A band on the run.
Wings, Band On The Run
SOMEONE STOP THAT BAND!
Outside of that, I got no idea what most of the other songs are about, but at this point … Continue Reading ››

RS #426: Cheap Trick, Live At Budokan

#426

Cheap Trick, Live At Budokan

Release Date: 1979
Previously Owned: Yes
First Time Listen: Yes, but I don't really remember too much.
Cheap Trick, Live At Budokan
Again, the record company puts the pretty ones on the cover, but neglects the, uh, talented ones...
Impressions: Okay. I've already tried to articulate my weird indifference for the hard rock/power pop of Cheap Trick, but maybe a live album of theirs will change things up. Let's fire this one up!... Energy is great from the beginning. "Hello There" is a classic intro, … Continue Reading ››

RS #430: Vampire Weekend, Vampire Weekend

Vampire Weekend, Vampire Weekend
Futura. Of course.
#430

Vampire Weekend, Vampire Weekend 

Release Date: 2008 Previously Owned: No
First Time Listen: Yes
Impressions: Fairly popular band with the kids of now. Let's hit play… Trust-fund angle to the packaging, music, lyrics…even album titles like "Oxford Comma" and "Cape Cod Kwassa Kwassa." They describe their mix of sounds as "Upper West Side Soweto." "Mansard Roof" starts off with a galloping beat and some tremelo guitars. At least, singer Ezra Koenig is trying to question his privilege with a chorus of "Who gives a fuck about an Oxford comma?" He's got a very … Continue Reading ››

RS #433: George Harrison, All Things Must Pass

George Harrison, All Things Must Pass
This album passes.
#433

George Harrison, All Things Must Pass

Release Date: 1970
Previously Owned: No
First Time Listen: Yes
Impressions: Heard good things about this one, lots of people consider it the best post-Beatles solo album any of them ever made. Let's put it on: Beautiful hazy opener, with George's (first names only, please) wonderful guitar lines weaving their magic. "Oh My Lord" is fantastic, builds so beautifully. Nice strings, great lead guitar, heavenly chanting... a very pleasing listen. There's something gentle about George's approach that's very appealing without being mushy. He never … Continue Reading ››

RS #438: The Cure, Boys Don’t Cry

The Cure, Boy's Don't Cry
EGYPT TRIP 1978!!!

#438

The Cure, Boys Don't Cry

Release Date: 1978
Previously Owned: No
First Time Listen: Yes
Impressions: Much like the way I enjoy the Smiths, I like my mopey served up with a side order of catchy. The Cure certainly fits that bill. Boys Don't Cry is an early compliation of The Cure smashing together stuff from their first album Three Imaginary Boys and other singles for a US audience. Let's put it on...The title track is still a simple classic single-- with a chiming guitar and lean production that … Continue Reading ››

RS #440: The Pogues, Rum, Sodomy and the Lash

#440

The Pogues, Rum, Sodomy and the Lash

Release Date: 1985 Previously Owned: No First Time Listen: Yes
The Pogues – Rum, Sodomy and the Lash
I guess I'll take rum...
Impressions: Irish folk-punk rock. A very narrow little sub-genre, practically invented by The Pogues, that I enjoy in small doses, like a musical version of Jameson's Whiskey. Definitely not for everyone, but if you are open to its aggressive fiddle/banjo/accordion/mandolin/whiskey driven sound, it can be quite bracing. Let's have a shot… The first few songs get right to the point … Continue Reading ››

RS #444: War, The World Is A Ghetto

War, The World Is A Ghetto
Lot going on in this cover.
#444

War, The World Is A Ghetto

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 ››