#465: The Magnetic Fields - 69 Love Songs

The Magnetic Fields - 69 Love Songs

April 1999, Merge

Vol. 1

1. "Absolutely Cuckoo" - 1:34

2. "I Don't Believe in the Sun" - 4:16

3. "All My Little Words" - 2:46

4. "A Chicken with Its Head Cut Off" - 2:41

5. "Reno Dakota" - 1:05

6. "I Don't Want to Get Over You" - 2:22

7. "Come Back from San Francisco" - 2:48

8. "The Luckiest Guy on the Lower East Side" - 3:43

9. "Let's Pretend We're Bunny Rabbits" - 2:25

10. "The Cactus Where Your Heart Should Be" - 1:11

11. "I Think I Need a New Heart" - 2:32

12. "The Book of Love" - 2:42

13. "Fido, Your Leash Is Too Long" - 2:33

14. "How Fucking Romantic" - 0:58

15. "The One You Really Love" - 2:53

16. "Punk Love" - 0:58

17. "Parades Go By" - 2:56

18. "Boa Constrictor"  - 0:58

19. "A Pretty Girl Is Like..." - 1:50

20. "My Sentimental Melody" - 3:07

21. "Nothing Matters When We're Dancing" - 2:27

22. "Sweet-Lovin' Man"  - 4:59

23. "The Things We Did and Didn't Do" - 2:11

Vol. 2

1. "Roses" - 0:27

2. "Love Is Like Jazz" - 2:56

3. "When My Boy Walks Down the Street" - 2:38

4. "Time Enough for Rocking When We're Old" - 2:03

5. "Very Funny" - 1:26

6. "Grand Canyon" - 2:28

7. "No One Will Ever Love You" - 3:14

8. "If You Don't Cry" - 3:06

9. "You're My Only Home" - 2:17

10. "(Crazy for You But) Not That Crazy" - 2:18

11. "My Only Friend" - 2:01

12. "Promises of Eternity" - 3:46

13. "World Love" - 3:07

14. "Washington, D.C." - 1:53

15. "Long-Forgotten Fairytale" - 3:37

16. "Kiss Me Like You Mean It" - 2:00

17. "Papa Was a Rodeo" - 5:01

18. "Epitaph for My Heart" - 2:50

19. "Asleep and Dreaming" - 1:53

20. "The Sun Goes Down and the World Goes Dancing" - 2:46

21. "The Way You Say Good-Night" - 2:44

22. "Abigail, Belle of Kilronan" - 2:00

23. "I Shatter" - 3:09

Vol. 3

1. "Underwear" - 2:49

2. "It's a Crime" - 3:54

3. "Busby Berkeley Dreams" - 3:36

4. "I'm Sorry I Love You" - 3:06

5. "Acoustic Guitar" - 2:37

6. "The Death of Ferdinand de Saussure" - 3:10

7. "Love in the Shadows" - 2:54

8. "Bitter Tears" - 2:51

9. "Wi' Nae Wee Bairn Ye'll Me Beget" - 1:55

10. "Yeah! Oh, Yeah!" - 2:19

11. "Experimental Music Love" - 0:29

12. "Meaningless" - 2:08

13. "Love Is Like a Bottle of Gin" - 1:46

14. "Queen of the Savages" - 2:12

15. "Blue You" - 3:03

16. "I Can't Touch You Anymore" - 3:05

17. "Two Kinds of People" - 1:10

18. "How to Say Goodbye" - 2:48

19. "The Night You Can't Remember" - 2:17

20. "For We Are the King of the Boudoir" - 1:14

21. "Strange Eyes" - 2:01

22. "Xylophone Track" - 2:47

23. "Zebra" - 2:15

RESULTS

Rate: 7.5/10

Best Song: Fido, Your Leash is Too Long

Worst Song: Experimental Music Love

Comments

The Album is split into 3 disks, each covering over 1 hour of music.

Stephin Meritt covers every instrument known to man, including, but not limited to

vocals, Digitech vocalist, Roland harmonizer, vocoder, ukulele, baritone ukulele, Kaholas ukulele, Admira classical, acoustic-electric 12-string guitar, lap steel,fado guitar, bass guitar, mandolin, autoharp, Marxophone, ukelin, tremoloa, violin-uke, sitar, zither, violin, musical saw, keyboards, synclavier, Moog Satellite, piano,harmonium, Wurlitzer electronic piano, organ, rhythm units, recorder, ocarina, pennywhistle, Maestro wind synthesizer, Hohner melodica, Paul Revere jug, rumba box,xylophone, kalimbas, Radio Shack 75-in-One Project Kit, drum kit, cymbals, rain stick, chimera, maracas, conga, bongos, triangle, bells, tambourine, washboard, steel drum,Chicken Shakers, finger cymbals, springs and Slinky guitar, pipes, bamboo harp, spirit chaser, sleighbells, fingersnaps, thunder sheet, cabasas, cowbells, and gong.

Also, Lemony Snicket is on this.

The Album resembles The Smiths, but happier. When I first started listening, I though I was going through a Beck album by accident. Every song is plastered in a variety of genre. Some songs are sad, others fun, and most are just plain weird. Growing up is realizing that people can play the Satellite. 

Pretty interesting music, can be good, but mainly just awesome to weird out your friends and look like an absolute hipster.

#466: Coldplay - A Rush of Blood to the Head

Coldplay - A Rush of Blood to the Head

August 12, 2002, Capitol

1. Politik - 5:18

2. In My Place - 3:46

3. God Put a Smile Upon Your Face - 4:57

4. The Scientist - 5:08

5. Clocks - 5:07

6. Daylight - 5:28

7. Green Eyes - 3:43

8. Warning Sign - 5:31

9. A Whisper - 3:58

10. A Rush of Blood to the Head - 5:51

11. Amsterdam - 5:19

RESULTS

Rate: 9.5/10

Best Song: The Scientist

Worst Song: In My Place

Comments

Now, before I start reviewing, I understand that I probably really only like this album because I'm a teenager who goes through constant mood swings and puberty and blah blah blah.

BUT.

This was a really good album.

Whenever somebody goes through a nasty breakup, they always head straight to Coldplay.

Everything about this Album is almost godly. It all had that melancholic style, the incredible talents of each musician in the band, perfect synchronization, it could be considered perfect.

The lyrics could kill a 16 year old girl, if the voice of Martin hadn't done it first. It was so perfect.

I know that in 5 years, I'm probably going to regret the score I gave it, though.

Also, sweet cover.

#467: Bruce Springsteen - Tunnel of Love

Bruce Springsteen - Tunnel of Love

October 9, 1987, Columbia

1. Ain't Got You - 2:11

2. Tougher Than The Rest - 4:35

3. All That Heaven Will Allow - 2:39

4. Spare Parts - 3:44

5. Cautious Man - 3:58

6. Walk Like A Man - 3:45

7. Tunnel Of Love - 5:12

8. Two Faces - 3:03

9. Brilliant Disguise - 4:17

10. One Step Up - 4:22

11. When You're Alone - 3:24

12. Valentines Day - 5:10

RESULTS

Rate: 6.5/10

Best Song: Cautious Man

Worst Song: Ain't Got You

Comments

Bruce Springsteen definitely has a certain style of music.

This Album is littered on what look like trashy romantic poems when on paper, but sound like soft love ballads in music. Springsteen wrote this Album after a short-lived marriage, and if one were to skip over the lyrics, the entire Album would sound as if it were dedicated to a soul mate.

Too bad it just sounded so average for a "Masterpiece".

Good voice, Meh instrumentals, but combined just sounded so normal. There was nothing too unique.

Maybe at the time, it was considered genius, but from my point of view, I've heard it all before.

#468: The Paul Butterfield Blues Band - The Paul Butterfield Blues Band

The Paul Butterfield Blues Band - The Paul Butterfield Blues Band

October 1965, Elektra

1. "Born in Chicago" - 2:55

2. "Shake Your Money-Maker" - 2:27

3. "Blues with a Feeling" - 4:20

4. "Thank You Mr. Poobah" - 4:05

5. "Got My Mojo Working" - 3:30

6. "Mellow Down Easy" - 2:48

7.  "Screamin'" - 4:30

8. "Our Love Is Drifting" - 3:25

9. "Mystery Train" - 2:45

10. "Last Night" - 4:15

11. "Look Over Yonders Wall" - 2:23

RESULTS

Rate: 7.5/10

Best Song: Look Over Yonders Wall

Worst Song: Thank You Mr. Poobah

Comments

After a break regarding time issues, I finally got around to listening to this album.

Pretty great album, alot of traditional Blues aspects, but with a much happier and upbeat tone.

Now, Usually I'd berate the vocals, comparing them to the fantastic instrumentals, but,

I really loved the vocals.

The vocalists completely made this album. The instrumentals got kind of boring, but the vocals really sold it to me. "Thank You Mr. Poobah" was purely instrumentals, much to my displeasure, but "Look Over Yonders Wall" had the real passion behind vocals that Blues gets to know and love.

#469: The Fugees - The Score

The Fugees - The Score

February 13, 1996, Ruffhouse/Columbia

1. "Red Intro" - 1:52

2. "How Many Mics"- 4:29

3. "Ready or Not" - 3:47

4. "Zealots" - 4:21

5. "The Beast" - 5:37

6. "Fu-Gee-La" - 4:20

7. "Family Business" - 5:44

8. "Killing Me Softly" - 4:59

9. "The Score" - 5:02

10. "The Mask" - 4:51

11. "Cowboys" - 5:24

12. "No Woman, No Cry" - 4:33

13. "Manifest/Outro" - 6:00

RESULTS

Rate: 7/10

Best Song: How Many Mics

Worst Song: Family Business

Comments

Rad.

This hip-hop Album was even more rap than LL Cool J's "Radio".

The Album has a dangerous ghetto feel, but you can tell that the singers were really having fun when they made this. Other reviewers use big terms like "Acrobatic Lyrical Techniques" and "Restless Intelligence", but it's really just a fun album to hang out to.

Nothing big and crazy, but it doesn't suck.

#470: L.L. Cool J - Radio

L.L. Cool J - Radio

November 18, 1985, Def Jam

1. "I Can't Live Without My Radio" - 5:28

2. "You Can't Dance" - 3:37

3. "Dear Yvette" - 4:07

4. "I Can Give You More" - 5:08

5. "Dangerous" - 4:40

6. Untitled - 1:18

7. "Rock the Bells" 4:01

8. "I Need a Beat (Remix)" - 4:32

9. "That's a Lie" (featuring Russell Rush) - 4:42

10. "You'll Rock" - 4:44

11. "I Want You"  - 4:51

RESULTS

Rate: 6.5/10

Best Song: I Can't Live Without My Radio

Worst Song: I Want You

Comments

This Album got worse as it progressed.

I was particularly fond about the rap part, as I think LL Cool J has a pretty awesome voice for rap, but by the end, it was all just Hip-Hop.

Shitty last minute made Hip-Hop.

Still, I pressed on, and "That's a Lie" has a little spark, but by the end, no gold.

Had potential, though.

#471: Richard and Linda Thompson - I Want to See the Bright Lights Tonight

Richard and Linda Thompson - I Want to See the Bright Lights Tonight

April 1974, Island

1. "When I Get to the Border" - 3:26

2. "The Calvary Cross" - 3:51

3. "Withered and Died" - 3:24

4. "I Want to See the Bright Lights Tonight" - 3:07

5. "Down Where the Drunkards Roll" - 4:05

6. "We Sing Hallelujah" - 2:49

7. "Has He Got a Friend for Me" - 3:32

8. "The Little Beggar Girl" - 3:24

9. "The End of the Rainbow" - 3:55

10. "The Great Valerio" - 5:22

RESULTS

Rate: 9/10

Best Song: Withered and Died

Worst Song: We Sing Hallelujah

Comments

When I first popped the album on, "When I Get to the Border" came on, and it sounded like a slowed down version of "The Vaselines". I thought; "Meh, probably 7/10 or something". 

As the Album progressed however, I was thrust into a world of darker, deeper, and more sympathetic folk rock.

The vocals were absolutely flawless. The two voices never seemed to sing at the same time, which made the Album seem more like a Love story than an album. The instrumentals could be a little harsh at times, but for all the right reasons. It was sooo good.

The Album just got so good after. I was not expecting how much I would really appreciate the music in this.

Wish I could've heard more from this band, but, I must venture onto the next Album.

#472: George Michael - Faith

George Michael - Faith

October 30, 1987, Columbia

1. "Faith" - 3:16

2. "Father Figure" - 5:36

3. "I Want Your Sex" - 9:17

4. "One More Try" - 5:50

5. "Hard Day" - 4:48

6. "Hand to Mouth" - 4:36

7. "Look at Your Hands" - 4:37

8. "Monkey" - 5:06

9. "Kissing a Fool" - 4:35

RESULTS

Rate: 8/10

Best Song: Look at Your Hands

Worst Song: Monkey

Comments

Somebody please tell me that I don't like George Michael.

The album is slow, romantic, and a bit sexual. Still, it keeps a constant groove, and the beats are pretty laid back. The lyrics are well-defined, and George Michael's voice could kill a man.

But it still didn't have that "Oomf" that really makes an Album.

Overall, I really liked this album. Provided some good feels here and there.

I'm scared to tell my friends that I like George Michael, though.

#473: The Smiths - The Smiths

The Smiths - The Smiths

February 20, 1984, Sire

1. "Reel Around the Fountain" - 5:58

2. "You've Got Everything Now" - 3:59

3. "Miserable Lie" - 4:29

4. "Pretty Girls Make Graves" - 3:24

5. "The Hand That Rocks the Cradle" - 4:38

6. "Still Ill" - 3:23

7. "Hand in Glove" - 3:25

8. "What Difference Does It Make?" - 3:51

9. "I Don't Owe You Anything" - 4:05

10. "Suffer Little Children" - 5:28

RESULTS
Rate: 6.5/10

Best Song: Miserable Lie

Worst Song: Still Ill

Comments

A wise man once said that "Insanity is doing the same thing over and over again."

This Album is insanity.

The Smiths lead singer, Morrissey, has an extremely deep voice. The kind of monotone voice that kind of puts you to sleep. If it weren't for the rad instrumentals, this could be mistaken for some kind of depressing lullaby.

Other than that, sad but overall decent album. Gets way too repetitive, though.

Like, REALLY repetitive.

#474: Manu Chao - Proxima Estacion: Esperanza

Manu Chao - Proxima Estacion: Esperanza

June 5, 2001, Virgin

1."Merry Blues" - 3:36

2."Bixo" - 1:52

3."El Dorado 1997" (Chao, François Meslouhi, Tito Velez)- 1:29

4."Promiscuity" - 1:36

5."La Primavera" - 1:52

6."Me Gustas Tú" - 4:00

7."Denia" - 4:39

8."Mi Vida" - 2:32

9."Trapped by Love" - 1:54

10."Le Rendez-Vous" - 1:56

11."Mr. Bobby" - 3:49

12."Papito" - 2:51

13."La Chinita" - 1:33

14."La Marea" - 2:16

15."Homens" (Chao, Valeria dos Santos Costa)- 3:18

16."La Vacaloca" - 2:23

17."Infinita Tristeza" - 3:56

RESULTS

Rate: 7/10

Best Song: Merry Blues

Worst Song:  Papito

Comments

This is my first Latin album I've ever listened to. I was not disappointed.

The album is filled to the rim with a mixture of Latin and Reggea. The songs are also not purely in Spanish, as I first believed. I heard English, French, Portuguese, and even Galician and Arabic.

Manu Chao manages to play some pretty soothing guitar, which really adds effect to the songs itself. Still, I can only handle so much Latin, and ended up a little unsure about Latin near the end. Good songs to sit back and listen to, though.