#475: Elvis Costello and The Attractions - Armed Forces

Elvis Costello and The Attractions - Armed Forces

January 1979, Columbia

1. "Accidents Will Happen" – 3:00

2. "Senior Service" – 2:17

3. "Oliver's Army" – 2:58

4. "Big Boys" – 2:54

5. "Green Shirt" – 2:42

6. "Party Girl" – 3:20

7. "Goon Squad" – 3:14

8. "Busy Bodies" – 3:33

9. "Sunday's Best" – 3:22

10. "Moods for Moderns" – 2:48

11. "Chemistry Class" – 2:55

12. "Two Little Hitlers" – 3:18

RESULTS

Rate: 8/10

Best Song: Accidents Will Happen

Worst Song: Green Shirt

Comments

The first I ever heard of Elvis Costello was in "Austin Powers". As a kid, I kind of hated him and found him really irritating.

But, as a teenager, I actually appreciate him alot more.

Most of the songs are pretty happy and upbeat, and have a good momentum to them. I can see why they are considered classics. Costello doesn't have quite as much as a voice as I anticipated for, but I feel that just having a generic voice makes it sound alot more....comfortable.

But he should stop the "Buddy Holly" look.

#476: The Notorious B.I.G. - Life After Death

The Notorious B.I.G. - Life After Death

March 25, 1997, Bad Boy

1. Life After Death (intro) - 1:40

2. Somebody's Gotta Die - 4:27

3. Hypnotize - 3:50

4. Kick in the Door - 4:46

5. Fuck You Tonight - 5:46

6. Last Day - 4:20

7. I Love the Dough - 5:11

8. What's Beef? - 5:15

9. B.I.G. (interlude) - 0:48

10. Mo Money Mo Problems - 4:12

11. Niggas Bleed - 4:51

12. I Got a Story to Tell - 4:41

13. Notorious Thugs - 6:07

14. Miss U - 4:59

15. Another - 4:15

16. Going Back to Cali - 5:07

17. Ten Crack Commandments - 3:21

18. Playa Hater - 3:58

19. Nasty Boy - 5:34

20. Sky's the Limit - 5:30

21. The World Is Filled... - 4:55

22. My Downfall - 5:27

23. Long Kiss Goodnight - 5:19

24. You're Nobody (Til Somebody Kills You) - 4:56

RESULTS

Rate: 8.5/10

Best Song: Kick in the Door

Worst Song: My Downfall

Comments

This Album is different in Raekwon's in the sense that Biggie seems to be aggressively targeting someone. The Album descriptively puts you into the West Coast vs East Coast war of America.

And Biggie is pissed.

Anyways, wonderful album, very descriptive lyrics,

Perfect to make you feel like a badass.

And feel black.

#477: Merle Haggard - Down Every Road

Merle Haggard - Down Every Road

April 1996, Capitol

1. Skid Row - 1:46 

2. Sing a Sad Song - 2:33 

3. You Don't Even Try - 2:16 

4. Sam Hill - 2:32 

5. (My Friends Are Gonna Be) Strangers - 2:29 

6. Just Between the Two of Us - 2:44 

7. If I Had Left It Up to You - 2:23 

8. I'm Gonna Break Every Heart I Can - 1:59 

9. Swinging Doors - 2:52 

10. The Bottle Let Me Down - 2:47 

11. High on a Hilltop - 2:58

12. I'll Look Over You - 2:09 

13. The Fugitive - 2:57 

14. House of Memories - 2:46 

15. All of Me Belongs to You - 2:40

16. Mary's Mine - 2:56  

17. Someone Told My Story - 2:32 

18. Go Home - 2:34 

19. Whatever Happened to Me - 2:57

20. Loneliness Is Eating Me Alive - 2:34 

21. I Threw Away the Rose - 3:20

22. Branded Man - 3:06

23. You Don't Have Very Far to Go - 2:19 

24. Somewhere Between - 3:05 

25. Sing Me Back Home - 2:48 

26. The Son of Hickory Holler's Tramp - 2:58 

27. Seeing Eye Dog - 1:58

RESULTS

Rate: 4/10

Best Song: Sam Hill

Worst Song: Mary's Mine

Comments

Jesus Christ.

The original Album is a compilation album, with over 300 minutes of country music by the same person. The album is split up into 4 quarters, for each decade of music he partook in in.

Luckily for me, The Rolling Stones didn't specify which decade, so I just listened to the first quarter, because I'd probably end up depressed if I had to listen to 6 hours of Merle Goddamn Haggard.

It was shit, as predicted.

The same old heartbreak songs about self-pity with a slide guitar. It was better than the other country albums in the sense that it felt way more tough than Bonnie Raitt and such, but it was still no excuse to include 27 songs mashed into a small quarter of a compilation album.

Don't listen to this album.

#478: Loretta Lynn - All Time Greatest Hits

Loretta Lynn - All Time Greatest Hits

May 23, 2002, MCA Nashville

1. "Wine Women and Song" - 2:03

2. "Happy Birthday" - 2:04

3. "You Ain't Woman Enough (To Take My Man)" - 2:09

4. "Don't Come Home A' Drinkin' (With Lovin' on Your Mind)" - 2:09

5. "Fist City" - 2:12

6. "You've Just Stepped In (From Stepping Out on Me)" - 2:18

7. "Woman of the World (Leave My World Alone)" - 2:55

8. "Coal Miner's Daughter" - 3:00

9. "After the Fire Is Gone" - 2:39

10. "Lead Me On" - 2:26

11. "One's on the Way" - 2:38

12. "Rated X" - 2:39

13. "Love Is the Foundation" - 2:31

14. "Louisiana Woman, Mississippi Man" - 2:32

15. "As Soon as I Hang Up the Phone" - 2:42

16. "Trouble In Paradise" - 2:09

17. "When the Tingle Becomes a Chill" - 3:02

18. "Feelin's" - 2:59

19. Out of My Head and Back in My Bed" - 2:38

20. "Somebody Somewhere (Don't Know What He's Missin' Tonight)" - 3:01

21. "She's Got You" - 3:06

22. "I Can't Feel You Anymore" - 3:15

RESULTS

Rate: 3.5/10

Best Song: Louisiana Woman, Mississippi Man

Worst Song: Feelin's

Comments

Please, Rolling Stone magazine, no more country.

After another unbearable country album, I've learned that the music I hate is the passion of others, and I should really tone down on the negative comments.

But I won't.

Seriously, the only reason this is getting any points is because of Conway Twitty.

#479: Funkadelic - Maggot Brain

Funkadelic - Maggot Brain

July 12, 1971, Westbound

1. Maggot Brain - 10:20

2. Can You Get to That - 2:50

3. Hit It and Quit It  - 3:50

4. You and Your Folks, Me and My Folks - 3:36

5. Super Stupid - 3:57

6. Back in Our Minds - 2:38

7. Wars of Armageddon - 9:42

RESULTS

Rate: 7/10

Best Song: Super Stupid

Worst Song: Maggot Brain

Comments

This Album got progressively better until "Back in Our Minds".

This was supposed to be Funk, but ended up sounding more psychedelic than anything. Still, I was digging the rock presence to it, rather than the funk.

Here's what I want you to do: Listen to "Super Stupid". Right now. Stop whatever you're doing and listen to it. I'll be waiting.

Tell me that ISN'T Jimi Hendrix. Hendrix was dead by the release of the Album, so it couldn't have been him, but it sounds EXACTLY THE SAME. It's awesome.

Also, what kind of drug was the person who made the album cover on?

#480: Raekwon - Only Built 4 Cuban Linx

Raekwon - Only Built 4 Cuban Linx

August 1, 1995, Loud

1."Striving for Perfection" (featuring Ghostface Killah) - 1:43

2."Knuckleheadz" (featuring Ghostface Killah & U-God) - 4:03

3."Knowledge God" - 4:24

4."Criminology" (featuring Ghostface Killah) - 3:47

5."Incarcerated Scarfaces" - 4:42

6."Rainy Dayz" (featuring Blue Raspberry & Ghostface Killah) - 6:02

7."Guillotine (Swordz)" (featuring Inspectah Deck, Ghostface Killah & GZA) - 4:22

8."Can It Be All So Simple (Remix)" (featuring Ghostface Killah) - 5:38

9."Shark Niggas (Biters)" (featuring Ghostface Killah) - 1:38

10."Ice Water" (featuring Ghostface Killah & Cappadonna) - 3:38

11."Glaciers of Ice" (featuring Ghostface Killah, Blue Raspberry, 60 Second Assassin & Masta Killa) - 5:20

12."Verbal Intercourse" (featuring Ghostface Killah & Nas) - 3:31

13."Wisdom Body" (featuring Ghostface Killah) - 2:38

14."Spot Rusherz" (featuring Ghostface Killah) - 3:13

15."Ice Cream" (featuring Method Man, Ghostface Killah & Cappadonna) - 4:13

16."Wu-Gambinos" (featuring Ghostface Killah, Method Man, RZA & Masta Killa) - 5:39

17."Heaven & Hell" (featuring Ghostface Killah & Blue Raspberry) - 4:56

18."North Star (Jewels)" (featuring Popa Wu) - 3:58

RESULTS

Rate: 7
Best Song: Criminology

Worst Song: Glaciers of Ice

Comments

Is this really a solo album if every song features another rapper?

Pretty solid album, wicked beats. Compared to the Outkast album, its alot more aggressive, and features way more samples. I also enjoyed the gangster life more in this. I guess certain words are used more when you're black though.

Stupid white people.

#481: D'Angelo - Voodoo

D'Angelo - Voodoo

January 25, 2000, Virgin

1."Playa Playa" - 7:07

2."Devil's Pie" - 5:21

3."Left & Right" (feat. Method Man & Redman) - 4:46

4."The Line" - 5:15

5."Send It On" - 5:57

6."Chicken Grease" - 4:36

7."One Mo'Gin" - 6:15

8."The Root" - 6:33

9."Spanish Joint" - 5:44

10."Feel Like Makin' Love" - 6:22

11."Greatdayindamornin' / Booty" - 7:35

12."Untitled (How Does It Feel)" - 7:10

13."Africa" - 6:13

RESULTS

Rate: 8/10

Best Song: Devil's Pie

Worst Song: The Root

Comments

Right off the bat, this album is sexual.

The entire album is about love and sex.

But its soo groovy with a side of funk.

"Devil's Pie" is quite the song. It's got perfect fluidity and momentum, I love it. The album itself gets a bit tiring, but still manages to give a good beat. The groove could kill a man, and impregnate a woman.

Stay away from this album if you value your virginity.

Also, don't listen to it with parents. It'll be weird. And awkward. And unwanted in general.

#482: Steve Earle - Guitar Town

Steve Earle - Guitar Town

March 5, 1986, MCA

1. Guitar Town -2:36

2. Goodbye's All We've Got Left - 3:25

3. Hillbilly Highway - 3:38

4. Good Ol' Boy (Gettin' Tough) - 4:00

5. My Old Friend the Blues - 3:09

6. Someday - 3:49

7. Think It Over - 2:17

8. Fearless Heart - 4:08

9. Little Rock 'n' Roller - 4:51

10. Down the Road - 2:39

RESULTS

Rate: 2/10

Best Song: Good Ol' Boy (Gettin' Tough)

Worst Song: Hillbilly Highway

Comments

Now, before I leave you to gouge out my eardrums, let's do a review.

This album sucked ass. I'm pretty sure this is where all those country song stereotypes come from. Steve Earle manages to sing about Pickup Trucks, Beer, and all those other goodies in a single album. Plus, watching him perform live is like watching a southern and older Freddie Savage try and look cool.

I can tolerate some country, but not all. This is one of those examples.

I did, however, like the drums. Lots of country songs take percussion for granted, but Earle did something right, and made it one of the prime factors.

That could just be me trying to drown out the sound, though.

#483: Gang of Four - Entertainment!

Gang of Four - Entertainment

September, 1979, Warner Bros.

01. Ether - 3:52

02. Natural's Not In It - 3:09

03. Not Great Men - 3:08

04. Damaged Goods - 3:29

05. Return The Gift - 3:08

06. Guns Before Butter - 3:49

07. I Found That Essence Rare - 3:09

08. Glass - 2:32

09. Contract - 2:42

10. At Home He's A Tourist - 3:33

11. 5.45 - 3:48

12. Anthrax - 4:23

RESULTS

Rate: 8/10

Best Song: 5.45

Worst Song: Return The Gift

Comments

Holy Bass.

The bassline is each song is Godly. Everything else is tuned to be punk at its finest, but that bass would give a Flea shivers.

Overall good album. I have no idea what the singer is saying in each song, but a glance at some of the lyrics tells me that was for good measure. I was pretty indifferent about all of the songs, to be honest. Nothing was really good about them, but nothing was really bad. It's just something you can sit back in listen to, while doing something else. 

#484: Mott The Hoople - All the Young Dudes

Mott The Hoople - All the Young Dudes

September 8, 1972, Columbia

1. "Sweet Jane" (Lou Reed) – 4:21

2. "Momma's Little Jewel"  – 4:26

3. "All the Young Dudes" (David Bowie) – 3:32

4. "Sucker"  – 5:03

5. "Jerkin' Crocus"  – 4:00

6. "One of the Boys"  – 6:46

7. "Soft Ground"  – 3:17

8. "Ready for Love/After Lights"  – 6:47

9. "Sea Diver"  – 2:53

RESULTS

Rate: 5/10

Best Song: Momma's Little Jewel

Worst Song: Sea Diver

Comments

This Album is the love child of Lou Reed and David Bowie.

The whole album is classified as "Glam Rock". It's seems promising at first, start up with yet another cover of "Sweet Jane" by The Velvet Underground. Awesome. But it slowly spirals out of control into a sea of boredom, getting worse and worse in each song. Repetition gets boring.

However,

I did like the effects they put in. The album tends to break the 4th wall more than once, which includes Studio chatter ("No, no, don't cut it, keep going"), and a phone call in the middle of a song.

Rad, but Bad.