Current Events > My journey through "1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die" topic 3

(+) Yeah! (+)

Dissident_77 posted...

Is it heresy to say I prefer Bowie's cover?

Not at all. That entire album (Heathen)is underrated.

trentpac posted...

Not at all. That entire album (Heathen)is underrated.

I have it as my #12 Bowie album, which considering his discography, is pretty damn good

Surfer Rosa is one of those albums that would have made a much bigger impact at the time than it does now. The manic energy of it all, and the quiet/loud dynamics, there wasn't anything like that back then.

It's been so influential that it's almost become difficult to fully appreciate. But it is fucking amazing. Doolittle is a fuller, richer experience, but Surfer Rosa is like being punched in the face with a taser, and I can't think of any reasons why it's not a 10/10 album.

Album #196
The Mama's and the Papa's- If You Can Believe Your Eyes and Ears (1966)
USA
Runtime: 34:10
1st time listen
Recommend a listen? Sure

The Mama's and the Papa's are a folk rock group that my girlfriend adores. For me I've always been content with just owning their greatest hits album and after listening to this I still feel the same.

This record includes their absolute classics, "Monday, Monday," "Go Where You Wanna Go," and "California Dreamin'." There's too many covers on this record...to name just a few: The Beatles- I Call Your Name, Bobby Freeman- Do You Wanna Dance, Dobie Gray- The In Crowd and Ben E. King- Spanish Harlem. In all cases the original versions are better. That being said they're all done well enough. I personally enjoy the tracks that they wrote for their voices better.

The real highlight here is the group's tremendous harmonies. Their voices blend together perfectly. And while this album didn't blow my mind or change my opinion of the group, it was still a good listen. Recommended.

Highlights:
Monday, Monday
Go Where You Wanna Go
California Dreamin'
Somebody Groovy
You Baby
The In Crowd

https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLNPGM2D7aODeskK9iVXyOqvGBdqaOJGcF&si=PVQNm_rLx8Id_yhH

Recommended out of the 1001 so far:
173/196
New album listens for me so far: 74
Heard it before: 122

Album #197
Leonard Cohen- Songs from a Room (1969)
Canada
Runtime: 33:51
Heard it before
Recommend a listen? Yes

Singer/songwriter/poet Leonard Cohen has four albums in this book. So this will be another quickie. I have always been hot and cold on Cohen's work. His songs either really strike a chord with me or they don't at all. There's not a lot of middle ground. But man, when they hit for me, they hit hard.

To me this albums 2 best songs on the record are "The Partisan" and "Bird on a Wire." It's a good record, but do I love it? Probably not. I love parts of it. That being said I definitely recommend a listen, because you'll find at least a couple tunes that'll touch your soul.

Highlights:
Bird on a Wire
Story of Issac
The Partisan
Seems So Long Ago, Nancy
The Butcher
Lady Midnight

https://youtu.be/9AZ1mg-1U0M?si=s1T9bvLpk9nhV1tz

Recommended out of the 1001 so far:
174/197
New album listens for me so far: 74
Heard it before: 123

I saw the Pixies in '91 for the Trompe Le Mond tour. They were really late starting the show, like over an hour if I remember correctly. They played polka music on the sound system before the show, and the music would come to an end, everyone got excited like Ok they'll be coming out now, and the polka music would start up again, happened like 5 times. Kind of funny.

Album #198
Cheap Trick- Cheap Trick At Budokan (1979)
USA
Runtime: 42:27
Heard it before
Recommend a listen? Yes

Cheap Trick are an incredibly underrated rock/power pop band. They're about to release their 21st studio album. And what's even more incredible than that is that they've rarely had any missteps. There's very few bands that have as many quality albums. Four of them and this live album are essentials for your record collection. Absolutely pick these ones up. (If anyone wants help with what to check out in the rest of their discography, just ask)

- Dream Police
- Heaven Tonight
- S/T (1977)
- In Color
- Cheap Trick at Budokan

The whole album is great. Some versions of the songs here sound better than their studio album counterparts. I, as does most Cheap Trick fans, consider this version of "I Want You to Want Me" to be the superior version of the song. It just feels a bit more energetic. Rick Nielsen (their lead guitarist), is in excellent form here, as per usual. He should get more love and should be in more conversations about the all time best guitarists. It's a great record and one of the better live albums. Highly recommended.

Highlights:
The whole album

https://youtube.com/playlist?list=OLAK5uy_knnyHI0sxuLUJtq-6QE2VgJqM2CyeDLxY&si=vo7kgRoH8ZSENlhr

Recommended out of the 1001 so far:
175/198
New album listens for me so far: 74
Heard it before: 124

I saw them do a show for free because I worked the venue a handful of years ago. It was a good time.

trentpac posted...

I, as does most Cheap Trick fans, consider this version of "I Want You to Want Me" to be the superior version of the song. It just feels a bit more energetic.

Funnily enough I heard a factoid on the radio the other day that the version of "I Want You to Want Me" that gets the most airplay was taken from a live recording at a show in Japan; Robin Zander was deliberately over-enunciating the intro "I want you...to want...me!" for the benefit of a non-English speaking audience. He's mortified every time he has to re-hear it and hates that this became the de facto version of the song.

You probably already knew this TC, but I'd never heard that factoid before and it finally made clear after all these years why that intro always sounded a little awkward.

I always find it funny that Cheap Trick look like two people who are actually in a rock band, joined by their accountant, and a dodgy children's entertainer.

masterpug53 posted...

Funnily enough I heard a factoid on the radio the other day that the version of "I Want You to Want Me" that gets the most airplay was taken from a live recording at a show in Japan; Robin Zander was deliberately over-enunciating the intro "I want you...to want...me!" for the benefit of a non-English speaking audience. He's mortified every time he has to re-hear it and hates that this became the de facto version of the song.

You probably already knew this TC, but I'd never heard that factoid before and it finally made clear after all these years why that intro always sounded a little awkward.

I actually hadn't heard about that. Lol I'll never hear that the same again.

ai123 posted...

I always find it funny that Cheap Trick look like two people who are actually in a rock band, joined by their accountant, and a dodgy children's entertainer.

I love how they're very self aware of that fact. Front and back of their In Color record.

https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/a/forum/6/65053f22.jpg

https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/a/forum/e/e6ff3d96.jpg

Rick Nielsen is semi-local to me in Madison, WI so he fairly often plays benefit shows and free local festivals and such with his solo family band so Ive seen them do Cheap Trick songs but never the actual band

tbh theyre not a band I dislike but not one that resonates with me particularly strongly. I think theyre coming to town in a couple months

trentpac posted...

I love how they're very self aware of that fact. Front and back of their In Color record.

https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/a/forum/6/65053f22.jpg

https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/a/forum/e/e6ff3d96.jpg

That was great.

Cheers!

Album #199
The Beau Brummels- Triangle (1967)
USA
Runtime: 26:08
1st time listen
Recommend a listen? Yes

The Beau Brummels are a folk rock band out of San Francisco. They also have some psychedelic elements to them as well. They are most known for their singles "Laugh, Laugh" and "Just a Little." I think that's all I have ever heard from them prior to this listen.

Lead singer Sal Valentino's voice is a bit nasally with vibrato on it. He kind of reminds me of Arlo Guthrie in places. I initially had luke warm response to this album, but somewhere along the way I really started to enjoy it. To me the real standout is the eerie psychedelic track "Magic Hollow." Van Dyke Parks joins the band on this song, playing the harpsichord. Another favorite of mine is "The Wolf of Velvet Fortune."

This album is considered to be their best. Their follow up album (Bradley's barn) is supposedly very good as well. I'll be checking that one out too, because I really liked this album. If you're a fan of this genre of music I highly recommend giving this record a shot.

Highlights:
Are You Happy?
Only Dreaming Now
Painter of Women
Nine Pound Hammer
Magic Hollow
Triangle
The Wolf of Velvet Fortune
Old Kentucky Home

https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLzGotn8LeP0fdqW9He91taV9kKRVR1E8E&si=5a8IlHHZ9MBj8-Xq

Recommended out of the 1001 so far:
176/199
New album listens for me so far: 75
Heard it before: 124

Yeah, Triangle is pretty good. I sometimes get their version of Old Kentucky Home in my head.

Bump. I'll try to get to another to another review before the end of the day.

Man all this 60s folk stuff is so uninteresting to me

this beau brummels music could be literally any 60s band

Album #200
The Damned- Machine Gun Etiquette (1979)
UK
Runtime: 36:28
Heard it before/own it
Recommend a listen? YES

Well here we are at my 200th review and what a great record to review to mark the occasion. The Damned are a punk band that eventually drifted towards more of a goth rock sound. They clearly are inspired by a variety of genres and it shows in their music. I'm really only familiar with their 70s and 80s output, so let me know if any of their later material is also worth a look.

Plan 9 Channel 7 and Smash it Up are probably my favorite tracks, but all the other songs I put in the highlights are all contenders.

What I love about these guys, is that they expertly walk the fine line of keeping grit in their sound and yet still manage to sound so tight and polished. Great band and a really great record. Highly recommended.

Highlights:
Love Song
Machine Gun Etiquette
I Just Can't Be Happy Today
Melody Lee
Anti-Pope
Plan 9 Channel 7
Noise, Noise, Noise
Smash it Up (parts 1 & 2)

Side 1:
https://youtu.be/uXiWK3Y0Gi4?si=hqQaqEHRVaqO6xWX

Side 2:
https://youtu.be/PpufXzfhMnk?si=xZ6yQ0vAa1YduuI6

Recommended out of the 1001 so far:
177/200
New album listens for me so far: 75
Heard it before: 125

I think The Damned had a bit more musical ability than most of their UK punk peers.

I am a huge fan of the Damned. I've seen them the most live out of any band. Their first 7 albums are always in rotation for me. Fantastic in concert if you ever get the chance.

As for new stuff, their last album Darkadelic was really great. I saw them perform most of it when it came out and loved it.

Garlands_Soul posted...

I am a huge fan of the Damned. I've seen them the most live out of any band. Their first 7 albums are always in rotation for me. Fantastic in concert if you ever get the chance.

As for new stuff, their last album Darkadelic was really great. I saw them perform most of it when it came out and loved it.

Their last tour got canceled here in the States...I don't think I ever found out why. I'll definitely check that album out.

I've heard MGE before, but don't remember liking it as much as their debut.

Hit up some $8 records on my way home today. Not a bad haul for only spending $80. All are in Ex/EX+ condition. My poor excuse of a replacement for today's review...

Jefferson Starship- Red Octopus
Definitely one of Jefferson Starship's best albums.

Golden Earring- Cut
A mid- tier album by them. It's still a pretty solid record. Contains their big hit Twilight Zone.

Kansas- Leftoverture
One of their best albums.

Tower of Power- Urban Renewal
Solid funk record. Mid-tier album from them, but what slaps, slaps HARD. Only So Much Oil in the Ground is worth the price tag alone.

Bad Company- Straight Shooter
This album or their s/t is their best album. I can't decide which I like more. Bad Company has a few garbage albums. This isn't one of them. Great hard rock record.

Triumph- Just a Game
Best album from Canada's Triumph.

Dire Straits- Making Movies
Top 3 Straits album.

Camel- Rain Dances
One of their more jazzy records. I'd probably rank it somewhere in the upper middle of their discography.

Camel- Breathless
Shit sandwich record. Lol, it's really sort of a mixed bag record. It starts off awesome and then turns embarrassingly bad in the middle. Worth it for the first couple tracks. Echoes is a phenomenal song.

Pink Floyd- Ummagumma
One of my least favorite Floyd records. Double LP. It has its moments.

https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/a/forum/3/3800bd4d.jpg

Tower of Power, nice.

That's a nice little haul for $80.

I sometimes find that the effort involved in playing vinyl makes you listen a little bit harder to find the good, and can raise an album in your estimation.

Probably not going to work with Ummagumma, though.

Listening to Camel- Breathless right now. It's not as bad as I remember. I still really hate Wing and a Prayer, Down on the Farm, and You Make Me Smile. Terrible Camel songs. Replace these songs and there's the makings of another classic Camel record. As it is...like I said, it's a mixed bag.

ai123 posted...

That's a nice little haul for $80.

I sometimes find that the effort involved in playing vinyl makes you listen a little bit harder to find the good, and can raise an album in your estimation.

Probably not going to work with Ummagumma, though.

Truth detected.

ai123 posted...

That's a nice little haul for $80.

I sometimes find that the effort involved in playing vinyl makes you listen a little bit harder to find the good, and can raise an album in your estimation.

Probably not going to work with Ummagumma, though.

Agreed.

Im the type of person who would rather dig through the used/discounted bins for cheap stuff.

some people buy all their absolute favorites on vinyl, and I do have some of those, but the bulk of my collection is lesser stuff I got for cheap that I wouldnt necessarily choose first

Shotgunnova posted...

I've heard MGE before, but don't remember liking it as much as their debut.

I like their first two more than MGE, but they're all fun

Man I love me some 70s era Bad Company. Paul Rodgers is so good in that time frame. I do like their self titled debut the most but Straight Shooter is a great follow up. My dad played these guys so much in the early 80s and they became one of my favorites.