#381: The Beach Boys - Smile (2011 Version)

The Beach Boys - Smile (2011 Version)

October 31, 2011, Capitol

Movement one 

1. "Our Prayer"-1:05

2. "Gee" - 0:51

3. "Heroes and Villains" - 4:52

4. "Do You Like Worms (Roll Plymouth Rock)" - 3:35

5. "I'm In Great Shape" - 0:28

6. "Barnyard" - 0:48

7. "My Only Sunshine (The Old Master Painter / You Are My Sunshine)" - 1:55

8. "Cabin Essence" - 3:30

Movement two 

9. "Wonderful" - 2:04

10. "Look (Song for Children)" - 2:31

11. "Child Is Father of the Man" - 2:10

12. "Surf's Up"- 4:12

Movement three 

13. "I Wanna Be Around / Workshop" - 1:23

14. "Vega-Tables" - 3:49

15. "Holidays" - 2:32

16. "Wind Chimes" - 3:06

17. "The Elements: Fire (Mrs. O'Leary's Cow)" - 2:35

18. "Love to Say Dada" - 2:32

19. "Good Vibrations" - 4:15

RESULTS
Rate: 7/10
Best Song: Heroes and Villains
Worst Song: My Only Sunshine

Comments
Sorry about the absence. I really wasn't looking forward to this Album.

Actually, this Album  turned out okay. Better than I expected. Kind of.

I'm not big on The Beach Boys. They just are the kind of shit you laugh at with your friends and forget about for the rest of your life.

This Album was kind of like "Guys coughing...SONG...Bells Ringing....SONG...Clarinet...SO-"

And out of nowhere, the creepiest rendition of "My little Sunshine" comes out of NOWHERE.

Like y'know in horror movies when the chick hears singing in the baby's monitor? It's identical to that kind of thing. I pretty much had to go out and buy new pants. If that was the point of the song, then 10/10. But it was supposed to be a romantic/cute gesture. It backfired.

Like I get The Beach Boys was kind of following The Beatles in the start of the whole "Boy Band" thing, but they just...suck. It's not even surfer music. It's not even teenage girl music.

It's "Bee Movie" soundtrack music.

#382: Modern Lovers - Modern Lovers

Modern Lovers - Modern Lovers

August 1976, Beserkly

1. "Roadrunner" - 4:04

2. "Astral Plane" - 3:00

3. "Old World" - 4:00

4. "Pablo Picasso" - 4:15

5. "She Cracked" - 2:53

6. "Hospital" - 5:31

7. "Someone I Care About" - 3:37

8. "Girlfriend" - 3:51

9. "Modern World" - 3:40

RESULTS

Rate: 9.5/10

Best Song: She Cracked

Worst Song: Someone I Care About

Comments

Never heard of these guys, super glad I did.

Again, some more Proto-Punk. This is like The Talking Heads mixed with a darker version of Gang of Four. It's super good. The lyrics are just so thrown out there, like:

"Well, some people try to pick up girls

And they get called Assholes

This never happened to Pablo Picasso"

Like what the fuck are you talking about, Jon? 

Frankly, I don't know, and I don't  care. Albums like these show that music isn't about how well you can sing, and whether or not you have a bucket of money to try and "Fix" your piece of shit track, layering it over and over unironically with autotune and electronics. It's about the effort you put into it, the attitude, how you see what you made. Modern Lovers is a unique example of some band scrapply put together in some dude's garage on $1000, and they went; "Let's be like Lou Reed, man. Let's just put together an Album that'll be forgotten in a year's time." And it worked. This is like a work of art hidden beneath the shadows of time.

It's art, man.

#383: Talking Heads - More Songs About Buildings and Food

Talking Heads - More Songs About Buildings and Food

July 21, 1978, Sire

1. "Thank You for Sending Me an Angel" - 2:11

2. "With Our Love" - 3:30

3. "The Good Thing" - 3:03

4. "Warning Sign" - 3:55

5. "The Girls Want to Be With the Girls" - 2:37

6. "Found a Job" - 5:00

7. "Artists Only" - 3:34

8. "I'm Not in Love" - 4:33

9. "Stay Hungry" - 2:39

10. "Take Me to the River" (Originally by Al Green) - 5:00

11. "The Big Country" - 5:30

RESULTS

Rate: 8.5/10

Best Song: Take Me to the River

Worst Song: Warning Sign

Comments

I've always had a sweet spot for Post-Punk. The Stooges, 

Erm...

Lemme try again.

I've always had a poser sweet spot for Post-Punk. The Talking Heads I haven't heard alot of, but what I did hear was always this dark, gritty, but characteristically fun tune that just makes you appreciate everything you've got. This Album is juiced up with just brilliant harmonies, but I think hearing them all side-by-side rather than one every once in a while made it sound pretty overwhelming. 

I've also discovered just how prevalent Brian Eno is in the music industry. He's like a creepy uncle version of David Bowie, which is so rad. He plays the Synthesizers on this one, and also helped produce it, as you can easily tell. But he's been trailing down this 500 list like some kind of weird pop-up name that shows up every 10 or so Albums.

Rolling Stones also used the words "Funk" and "Gospel", which I concluded meant that The Talking Heads had a terrible music phase, but it actually rolled out pretty sweet. They meant that they were covering a Gospel and Funk song, "Take Me to the River" in the cultic symphonies that they utter out. The result is pretty incredible.

#384: The Who - A Quick One

The Who - A Quick One

December 9, 1966, MCA

1. "Run Run Run" - 2:43

2. "Boris the Spider" - 2:29

3. "I Need You" - 2:25

4. "Whiskey Man" - 2:57

5. "Heat Wave" - 1:57

6. "Cobwebs and Strange" - 2:31

7. "Don't Look Away" - 2:54

8. "See My Way" - 1:53

9. "So Sad About Us" - 3:04

10. "A Quick One, While He's Away" - 9:10

RESULTS

Rate: 9/10

Best Song: Boris the Spider

Worst Song: So Sad About Us

Comments

Boris the Spider will forever be the best Who song.

I liked The Who since I was a kid, and the older I get, the more I like them. This is more of an earlier piece by them, which means it has a different sound than the usual Who, but it's still really good. The Album fell all wonky and weird near the end, which makes me think that it's like the Andy Warhol of Albums, but it still produced a terrific sound quality, and I ended up enjoying the first half, while strongly thinking about the second half.

"A Quick One, While He's Away", is the 9 minute title track, which is technically 6 songs put together, but is only branded as 1 big song. It's a song about Infidelity and Forgiveness, but the lyrics are so disproportionately weird and almost disturbing, that it ends up sounding like a Monty Python song if they all did Acid. Not my favourite, but not my least favourite.

In general, the song was a new direction for The Who: Strange Keith Moon era.

#385: Bob Dylan - Love and Theft

Bob Dylan - Love and Theft

September 11, 2001, Columbia

1. "Tweedle Dee & Tweedle Dum" - 4:46

2. "Mississippi" - 5:21

3. "Summer Days" - 4:52

4. "Bye and Bye" - 3:16

5. "Lonesome Day Blues" - 6:05

6. "Floater (Too Much to Ask)" - 4:59

7. "High Water (For Charley Patton)" - 4:04

8. "Moonlight" - 3:23

9. "Honest with Me" - 5:49

10. "Po' Boy" - 3:05

11. "Cry a While" - 5:05

12. "Sugar Baby" - 6:40

RESULTS

Rate: 6/10

Best Song: Tweedle Dee & Tweedle Dum

Worst Song: Cry a While

Comments

<Insert Edgy 9/11 Joke here>

Bob Dylan has made a massive imprint on music. The raspy, twangy sounds just fit so perfectly into his quiet sounds.

This Album is just way too bluesy for my tastes.

The lyrics are, without a doubt, meaningful and such, but it's kind of a dull and forced sound that shoots out of the tones of rasp and sadness.

I don't really know what to say, other than "It was okay, but isn't for me."

Love Bob Dylan, don't like it when he pulls off Blues. I like his Folk, and love his Rock, and he has the perfect voice for Blues, but it's just not for me.

#386: Steely Dan - Pretzel Logic

Steely Dan - Pretzel Logic

February 20, 1974, ABC

1. "Rikki Don't Lose That Number" – 4:30

2. "Night by Night" – 3:36

3. "Any Major Dude Will Tell You" – 3:05

4. "Barrytown" – 3:17

5. "East St. Louis Toodle-Oo" (Originally performed by Duke Ellington) – 2:45

6. "Parker's Band" – 2:36

7. "Through with Buzz" – 1:30

8. "Pretzel Logic" – 4:28

9. "With a Gun" – 2:15

10. "Charlie Freak" – 2:41

11. "Monkey in Your Soul" – 2:31

RESULTS

Rate: 8.5/10

Best Song: Rikki Don't Lose That Number

Worst Song: Any Major Dude Will Tell You

Comments

I always thought Steely Dan was just some pushover Jazz-Reggae kind of guy who performs weird hippie music and children's songs, but he's actually pretty good.

With one of the lamest Album covers, Album name, and just Band name in general, they actual fare pretty well in the music world. A cool breeze of Rock and Jazz, entwined together with the rope of a very poppy voice, it's kind of refreshing, but also strange how this followed up Wu-Tang Clan.

Still, I suppose Steely Dan ain't that bad, but I wouldn't expect it in my playlist anytime soon.

#387: Wu-Tang Clan - Enter the Wu-Tang (36 Chambers)

Wu-Tang Clan - Enter the Wu-Tang (36 Chambers)

November 9, 1993, Loud/RCA

1. Bring da Ruckus - 4:11

2. Shame on a Nigga - 2:57

3. Clan in da Front - 4:33

4. Wu-Tang: 7th Chamber - 6:07

5. Can It Be All So Simple / Intermission - 6:53

6. Da Mystery of Chessboxin' - 4:47

7. Wu Tang Clan Ain't Nuthing ta Fuck Wit - 3:36

8. C.R.E.A.M. - 4:07

9. Method Man - 5:51

10. Protect Ya Neck - 4:51

11. Tearz - 4:18

12. Wu-Tang: 7th Chamber, Part II - 6:09 

RESULTS

Rate: 9.5/10

Best Song: Wu-Tang: 7th Chamber, Part II

Worst Song: Shame on a Nigga

Comments

Whenever somebody brings up Wu-Tang,

Unbelievably enough, I throw up the gang sign, even

Though I've never really listened to them. It's

Almost like I'm trying to be a poser, or some other kind of

Neurotic fan-acting douchebag. Either way,

Gangsta's are very prominent in today's nearly

Forgettable underground society, but they do exist.

Originally, they were extremely badass, as evidenced in the early 90's.

Rather lately, there was been a decline in such badassness, instead,

Every single man or woman who puts on a bandana is deemed "The Next 2Pac".

Very few "Gangsta's" are deemed as scary, or serious, which is,

Evidently, very good. The satirical spin on modern day Gangsta's is exactly where it should be.

Right here. In our very own hearts. This Album brings back the gangsta in everyone.

(If you can see what I did there, then yay!)

But, yeah, the Album is cash, and just when I think that the next song can't be any better,

Poof!

The next song is my new favourite!

WU-TANG FOREVER

#388: Various Artists - The Indestructible Beat of Soweto

Various Artists - The Indestructible Beat of Soweto

1985, Shanachia

1. Awungilobolele [Can You Pay Lobola for Me] - Udokotela Shange Namajaha - 3:50

2. Holotelani [Daughter-In-Law] - Nelcy Sedibe

3. Qhude Manikiniki [Fair Fight] - Umahlathini Nabo

4. Indoda Yejazi Elimnyama [The Man in the Black Coat] - Amaswazi Emvelo

5. Emthonjeni Womculo [The Stream of Music] - Mahlathini Nezintombi Zomgqashiyo and the Makgona Tsohle Band

6. Sobabamba [We Will Get Them] - Udokotela Shange Namajaha

7. Qhwayilahle [Leave Him Alone] - Moses Mchunu

8. Thul'ulalele [Just Stop and Listen] - Amaswazi Emvelo

9. Sini Lindile [We Are Waiting for You] - Nganezlyamfisa No Khambalomvaleliso

10. Ngicabange Ngaqeda [I Have Made Up My Mind] - Mahlathini Nezintombi Zomgqashiyo and the Makgona Tsohle Band

11. Joyce No. 2 - Johnson Mkhalali

12. Nansi Imali [Here Is the Money] - Ladysmith Black Mambazo

RESULTS

Rate: 8/10
Best Song; Awungialolile Awongoliabbeu Awen (Can You Pay Lobola for Me)

Worst Song: Nansi Imali (Here is the Money)

Comments

It's...Good?

It's actually pretty interesting to here music from other cultures. It's a good break every once in a while. Even though I cannot sing to this, It's still...Erm...Fun?

And that's all I have to say about that.

#389: Don Henley - The End of Innocence

Don Henley - The End of Innocence

June 27, 1989, Geffen

1."The End of the Innocence" - 5:16

2."How Bad Do You Want It?" - 3:47

3."I Will Not Go Quietly" - 5:43

4."The Last Worthless Evening" - 6:03

5."New York Minute" - 6:37

6."Shangri-La" - 4:55

7."Little Tin God" - 4:42

8."Gimme What You Got" - 6:10

9."If Dirt Were Dollars" - 4:34

10."The Heart of the Matter" - 5:24

RESULTS

Rate: 4/10

Best Song: I Will Not Go Quietly

Worst Song: The End of the Innocence

Comments

Eh.

I guess I just don't like soft rock.

This Album is laughable because of how serious he tries to make himself. However, if you are trying to have a serious song about becoming a man, or if there really is a God or not, don't add ridiculous electric guitar effects, synthesizers, Axl Rose as a harmony singer, and wind chimes all into the same song. 

It's really....I don't know. I've never enjoyed soft rock, I suppose, and it took me a while to even like The Eagles, so maybe this was just bias, but-

Well, it's an opinion blog, I guess I'm supposed to be biased. 

I don't know. I wouldn;t listen to this again if someone offered. Ha. I can just imagine hanging out with a group of friends, and going; 

"Hey, guys, wanna rock out to Don Henley? I've got 'The End of Innocence' on Cassette!"

#390: The White Stripes - Elephant

The White Stripes - Elephant

April 1, 2003, V2

1. "Seven Nation Army" - 3:52

2. "Black Math" - 3:04

3. "There's No Home for You Here" - 3:44

4. "I Just Don't Know What to Do with Myself" - 2:46

5. "In the Cold, Cold Night" - 2:58

6. "I Want to Be the Boy to Warm Your Mother's Heart" - 3:21

7. "You've Got Her in Your Pocket" - 3:40

8. "Ball and Biscuit" - 7:19

9. "The Hardest Button to Button" - 3:32

10. "Little Acorns" - 4:09

11. "Hypnotize" - 1:48

12. "The Air Near My Fingers" - 3:40

13. "Girl, You Have No Faith in Medicine" - 3:18

14. "Well It's True That We Love One Another" - 2:43

RESULTS

Rate: 9.5/10

Best Song: Hardest Button to Button

Worst Song: In the Cold, Cold, Night

Comments

Basically this is The White Stripes response to all the people who hate minimalistic garage rock.

It's so good. Like, really good. I know that Meg White is a terrible drummer, that's no lie. It's not just about her style, as I actually like the simplicity of that certain style, it's her drumming itself, and just watching her drum is a cringe-inducing nightmare.

But Jack White is a true musician. He's the bassist, the guitarist, the vocalist. He's the talent behind The White Stripes, and although I don't really agree with his opinions on other musicians, such as The Black Keys, he's phenomenal, as per seen and heard on in this Album.

This Album features their biggest hits: "Seven Nation Army", "Hardest Button to Button", and ending in the adorable "Well It's True That We Love One Another", which features Holly Golightly and Meg on the vocals, co-leading with Jack.

It's just a really relaxing and carefree Album, that shows that music doesn't have to be about the complexity and hardcore composing to music. As long as their is a level of passion in it, the music shall be good.

#391: Jackson Browne - The Pretender

Jackson Browne - The Pretender

November 1976, Asylum

1. "The Fuse" – 5:50

2. "Your Bright Baby Blues" – 6:05

3. "Linda Paloma" – 4:06

4. "Here Come Those Tears Again" – 3:37

5. "The Only Child" – 3:43

6. "Daddy's Tune" – 3:35

7. "Sleep's Dark and Silent Gate" – 2:37

8. "The Pretender" – 5:53

RESULTS

Rate: 6/10

Best Song: The Pretender

Worst Song: Daddy's Tune

Comments

So, the history to this album, was this:

During writing this Album, Browne's wife committed suicide, merely two years after giving birth to their first son.

So, with that tragedy in mind, in due respect, I was expecting some hard hitting violins, with a dark cello, and almost mysterious ambient to it, all layered on top of the sadness that must have overwhelmed  Jackson Browne.

But the songs were surprisingly cheery. The lyrics were dark and gritty, sure, but the depth of the music and how Browne performed was just boring, bland, and not as mesmerizing as I had hoped. The songs dragged through the same riffs, the piano's tapped against an empty shell of a beat, and Bonnie Raitt strikes again in the background vocals.

Yeah, this Album wasn't really my favourite. I wasn't too interested in listening to it, either, and eventually pushed myself forward, with better music in mind ahead.