#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.

#392: The Beatles - Let It Be

The Beatles - Let It Be

May 8, 1970, Apple

1. "Two of Us" - 3:37

2. "Dig a Pony" - 3:55

3. "Across the Universe" - 3:48

4. "I Me Mine" - 2:26

5. "Dig It" - 0:50

6. "Let It Be" - 4:03

7. "Maggie Mae" (Traditional) - 0:40

8. "I've Got a Feeling" - 3:38

9. "One After 909" - 2:54

10. "The Long and Winding Road" - 3:38

11. "For You Blue" - 2:32

12. "Get Back" - 3:09 

RESULTS

Rate: 10/10

Best Song: Across the Universe

Worst Song: Dig It

Comments

I've already told you about my previous obsession with The Beatles, yeah?

This Album was their final Album, thus, making it one of the most important Albums in music history. I mean, yeah, it wasn't their last song together, but it was their last Album.

This also marks the very first Album that I've completely listened to before starting the list.

I don't realize how much I like the Beatles until I actually listen to them. They are just so catchy. When they're sad, you're depressed. When they're happy, you're ecstatic. When they're trippy, you wonder what they were smoking when they wrote it. But it's so good.

Alot of people say they're overrated, and, yeah, from a personificational look, they are pretty stupid.

George Harrison got all hooked up on India or some shit, forever turning the mysterious man into "The Love Guru",

Paul McCartney looks like your British lesbian Aunt Betty-Sue,

John Lennon got whipped and chained voluntarily into fucking Yoko Ono's weird-ass metaphors,

and Ringo-

Actually, Ringo's pretty sweet, not gonna lie.

Their music is not overrated, in my opinion, though. It was never before heard, it was revolutionised, it was a beautiful symphony of the perfect goodbye, and it was all thanks to drugs and some asian chick!

Go to hell, Yoko!

#393: M.I.A. - Kala

M.I.A. - Kala

August 8, 2007, Interscope

1. "Bamboo Banga" - 4:58

2. "Bird Flu" - 3:24

3. "Boyz" - 3:27

4. "Jimmy" - 3:29

5. "Hussel" (featuring Afrikan Boy) - 4:25

6. "Mango Pickle Down River" (with The Wilcannia Mob) - 3:53

7. "20 Dollar" - 4:34

8. "World Town" - 3:52

9. "The Turn" - 3:52

10. "XR2" - 4:20

11. "Paper Planes" - 3:24

12. "Come Around" (featuring Timbaland) - 3:53

RESULTS

Rate: 9.5/10

Best Song: Paper Planes

Worst Song: The Turn

Comments

ALL I WANNA DO IS

AND A

AND TAKE YOUR MONEY

Love the song, and my first experience with this Album was really good. It's dance music that takes some of it's parts from different cultures, like India and South Africa. The diverse and expressive cultures definitely solidify the foundations of the electronic and rap, making it very unique.

It got weird sometimes, but it was for sure a good weird.

Plus, the immortaly nostalgic "Paper Planes".

M.I.A. rocks.

#394: Randy Newman - Good Old Boys

Randy Newman - Good Old Boys

September 10, 1974, Reprise

1. "Rednecks" - 3:07

2. "Birmingham" - 2:45

3. "Marie" - 3:07

4. "Mr. President (Have Pity on the Working Man)" - 2:45

5. "Guilty" - 2:30

6. "Louisiana 1927" - 2:54

7. "Every Man a King" (Originally by Huey P. Long, Castro Carazo) - 1:02

8. "Kingfish" - 2:42

9. "Naked Man" - 3:06

10. "Wedding in Cherokee County" - 3:07

11. "Back on My Feet Again" - 3:30

12. "Rollin'" - 2:53

RESULTS

Rate: 9/10

Best Song: Rednecks

Worst Song: Lousiana 1927

Comments

Well, this Albu- WAIT A SECOND

THIS IS THE DUDE FROM TOY STORY

That's right, my childhood soundtrack singer! Let's hear all of the groovy upbeat songs about friendship, love, compassion, shari-

"They're gatherin' 'em up from miles around

Keepin' the niggers down

We're rednecks, we're rednecks

We don't know our ass from a hole in the ground"

Jesus Christ.

It's always hard when someone you've always admired for their friendliness and happiness hits you hard with reality.

I write this article in the midst of the Ferguson trials/riots, in the wake of the death of Mike Brown.

If this is still remembered of the time you are reading this, you will understand the full chaos and the state that America is in right now. It's all circling around one big subject. One gaping subject that people either abuse to their power, or ignore completely. No, it's not "Should we teach our officers to handle situations as non-lethally as possible?",

It's Racism.

This entire Album challenges the hypocrisy and bigoted minds of racism. It challenges Southern culture, and retorts North culture. Newman wrote the songs from a position of a man named "Johnny Cutler", a southern everyday man who sees the racist world he lives in. In the beginning, after seeing TV make fun of the South's racism, he judges how bigoted the North is, pointing out black ghettos and how they're treated, such as the Bronx. By the end of the Album, the miserable Cutler just accepts the fact that racism is all around him, and it always will be.

This isn't an Album, it's a whole goddamn story.

The music is still the same Randy Newman, but the subject and concept behind it is pretty amazing, so, yeah, I really liked it.