Release Date: 1994
Previously Owned: No
First Time Listen: Yes
Love a great '70s drawn album cover. By Source, Fair use, Link
Impressions: Well, if you want to try to win me over from the jump, throw a Phife cameo rap at the beginning that references A Tribe Called Quest in a almost Marvel comic crossover fashion. Good start. Sounds like vintage early '90s hip hop-infused new Jack Swingish, R&B. "Creep" showcases TLC at their best: solid samples, … Continue Reading ››
Release Date: 1980
Previously Owned: Yes
First Time Listen: No
"Italian mobster/Shoots a lobster/Seafood restaurant gets out of hand"
Impressions: I'm going to lay it down now: the Clash could be is probably my favorite band of all time (I rate The Replacements as 1A.) Even so, I'm surprised that their somewhat infamous sprawling triple-album follow-up to London Calling made this list. Since it's so long, let's hit play and get started… Hard to imagine a better opener than the funky, almost-rap … 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 ››
You'd scream too if you were trapped inside of the cover of a terrible album for all eternity.
#464
Def Leppard, Hysteria
Release Date: 1987
Previously Owned: No. Unless I have a record hiding in my collection somewhere.
First Time Listen: Yes
Impressions: The path not taken. When I first was getting into music in the early '80s, Def Leppard's Pyromania was out. I was trying out a lot of different things and their hit single "Rock of Ages" momentarily intrigued me-- with that goofy count off at the beginning ("Unta glebin gloutin globin,)" … Continue Reading ››
"The album cover will be done by next Friday. Oh, you need it today?"
#466
Coldplay, A Rush of Blood To The Head
Release Date: 2002
Previously Owned: No
First Time Listen: Yes
Impressions: Ah, Coldplay. I find these guys very hard to get worked up about one way or the other. Listenable. Tasteful. Agreeable. Radiohead with the edges sanded off. Even the name, Coldplay, sounds like an apt description of their chilly post-U2 arena rock. Well, enough chatter, let's listen... From the beginning, "Politik" is listenable, tasteful, and agreeable. … Continue Reading ››
Impressions: Let's get this straight: I like Bruce. But, I'm not too knowledgable. I recall this album seeming like a weird deal at the time because it followed up Born In The USA, (which in hindsight seems impossible.) It still sold well, but sort of seemed like a disappointment. Let's fire up the Spotify and give this album a listen... Oddly, the spare, Bo-Diddleyish ditty "Ain't Got You" starts off the album a lot … Continue Reading ››
"A quick sniff test will determine if I need a little Speed Stick."
#473
George Michael, Faith
Release Date: 1987
Previously Owned: No
First Time Listen: Yes
Impressions: After being subjected to way too much Wham! on the radio/MTV, I mostly passed on George Michael's solo career at the time. I don't actively hate him, but I'm not coming at this album as a fan. Let's get this over with...."Faith" is a snappy Bo-Diddley/Elvis pop confection that is actually not bad. Actually kind of promising start. Then, we get "Father Figure," it features lots of "production." Same with "I Want … Continue Reading ››
Is Raekwon getting photobombed here?Impressions: The title of the album itself is a challenge: "Are you tough enough for this?" I guess we'll see. Hmmm, kinda takes a while to get going... "Knuckleheadz," production boring, but bouncy. Not bad, but seems a bit ordinary for '90s hip hop. "Criminology" clicked a bit more from me. This album's vibe takes me back to college; living in a post-graduate haze back in the "slums" of Champaign, IL, shooting hoop and … Continue Reading ››
Steve is going to go to town on that guitar.Impressions: Modern country isn't exactly my bag, but over the years I've grown to appreciate older country stars like Johnny Cash & Patsy Cline, and so-called alt-country artists like Uncle Tupelo, but the sheen of modern Nashville country still bores me. I guess lots of these newer country stars just seem to me like they are doing lame arena rock dressed up with a "country" packaging. Steve Earle seems … 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
