#401: Red Hot Chili Peppers - Californication

Red Hot Chili Peppers, Californication

June 8, 1999, Warner Bros.

1. "Around the World" - 3:58

2. "Parallel Universe" - 4:30

3. "Scar Tissue" - 3:35

4. "Otherside" - 4:15

5. "Get on Top" - 3:18

6. "Californication" - 5:21

7. "Easily" - 3:51

8. "Porcelain" - 2:43

9. "Emit Remmus" - 4:00

10. "I Like Dirt" - 2:37

11. "This Velvet Glove" - 3:45

12. "Savior" - 4:52

13. "Purple Stain" - 4:13

14. "Right on Time" - 1:52

15. "Road Trippin'" - 3:25

RESULTS

Rate: 9.5/10

Best Song: Scar Tissue

Worst Song: Easily

Comments

My first concert was the Red Hot Chili Peppers. Good show.

This was a really cool, chill, and laid-back Album. Lots of good content, and the bassline on "Around the World" is soooo golden. But the winner of the cake is the always touching "Scar Tissue". Kiedis' voice just matches the song's essence so flawlessly. It brings up the weird question of "Is 'Scar Tissue' a sad song?" Yeah, the lyrics are a bit depressive, but the song in general...

Is it sad?

#402: Nas - Illmatic

Nas, Illmatic

April 19, 1994, Columbia

1. "The Genesis" - 1:45

2. "N.Y. State of Mind" - 4:54

3. "Life's a Bitch" (featuring AZ) - 3:30

4. "The World Is Yours" - 4:50

5. "Halftime" - 4:20

6. "Memory Lane (Sittin' in da Park)" - 4:08

7. "One Love" - 5:25

8. "One Time 4 Your Mind" - 3:18

9. "Represent" - 4:12

10. "It Ain't Hard to Tell" - 3:22

RESULTS

Rate: 9/10

Best Song: Life's a Bitch

Worst Song: The Genesis

Comments

Yeah, it's good and all that but I have one question.

Why do rappers but a picture of themselves as kids on the front Album?

I can just imagine Tupac or some shit coming home with the gang after a bank robbery or drive-by or some shit, just to pop on some of their jams, and one of his homies picks up the Album and is just like, "Awww, Baby Tupac had the cutest dimples!" as Grandma Tupac comes in and is all like "Ahhh, yes, Sonny, this one pick is of learning how to potty train" and Tupac is just "Nana, please, I'm with my friends."

Like just put a picture of yourself holding a gun or something

#403: Lynyrd Skynyrd - (Pronounced Leh-Nerd Skin-Nerd)

Lynyrd Skynyrd, Pronounced Leh-Nerd Skin-Nerd

August 13, 1973, MCA

1. "I Ain't the One" - 3:53

2. "Tuesday's Gone" - 7:32

3. "Gimme Three Steps" - 4:30

4. "Simple Man" - 5:57

5. "Things Goin' On" - 5:00

6. "Mississippi Kid" - 3:56

7. "Poison Whiskey" - 3:13

8. "Free Bird" - 9:09

RESULTS

Rate: 9/10

Best Song: Free Bird

Worst Song: Mississippi Kid

Comments

I have this friend who plays guitar a little too much, and so everytime he picks it up, I jokingly yell out; "Play Free Bird!"

We then proceed to laugh because it's Lynyrd Skynyrd.

However, I've actually never heard Free Bird before.

The whole Album I thought was going to all sound like "Sweet Home Alabama". It kind of did, at first.

Until Free Bird played.

The guitar solo in that song blew my mind because that was one of the greatest solo's I have ever heard.

The rest of the Album was kind of a build-up towards the finale. I love how the finale is the best song, rather than the first song in most Albums. It really adds more impact, and helps you remember how awesome the Album is, even though I almost fell asleep.

Free Bird sounds an awful lot like Stairway to Heaven.

But who stole from who?

#404: Dr. John - Dr. John's Gumbo

Dr. John, Dr. John's Gumbo

April 20, 1972, Atco

1. "Iko Iko" - 4:16

2. "Blow Wind Blow"- 3:15

3. "Big Chief" - 3:26

4. "Somebody Changed the Lock" - 2:43

5. "Mess Around" - 3:13

6. "Let the Good Times Roll" - 3:58

7. "Junko Partner" - 4:30

8. "Stack-A-Lee" - 3:29

9. "Tipitina" - 2:09

10. "Those Lonely Lonely Nights" - 2:33

11. "Huey Smith Medley" -  3:19

12. "Little Liza Jane" - 3:00

RESULTS

Rate: 7.5/10

Best Song: Blow Wind Blow

Worst Song: Those Lonely Lonely Nights

Comments

Dr. John has a very raspy type voice. It's like he's been shouting for 30 years, and it gives me the benefit of the thought, which is, "Is this guy a black blues singer gone funk or is he just some white guy trying to pull that effect off?"

It's the latter, and it doesn't sound half bad. 

Funk from New Orleans is typically good, not gonna lie. This Album was pretty savvy, and his version of Stack-A-Lee, while not as good as Nick Cave's, is still pretty cool, as it's more traditionally sung by Dr. John than, umm, Mr. Cave's.

To sum it all up, a pretty good Album to introduce someone who has never heard funk before to funk.

#405: Big Star - Radio City

Big Star - Radio City

February 1974, Ardent

1. "O My Soul" – 5:40 

2. "Life Is White" – 3:19

3. "Way Out West" – 2:50 

4. "What's Going Ahn" – 2:40

5. "You Get What You Deserve" – 3:08 

6. "Mod Lang" – 2:45 

7. "Back of a Car" – 2:46 

8. "Daisy Glaze" – 3:49 

9. "She's a Mover" – 3:12 

10. "September Gurls" – 2:49 

11. "Morpha Too" – 1:27 

12. "I'm in Love with a Girl" – 1:48

RESULTS

Rate: 5.5/10

Best Song: Mod Lang

Worst Song: Morpha Too

Comments

At first glance, one might mistake this Album for that of a new wave Hipster band.

But, that Hipster would be very struck down to discover that this Album is pretty much a group of try-hards looking for a #1 hit by trying to replicate the sounds of The Beatles and Bob Dylan. The point I'm really pushing to get across is,

It's shit.

The entire Album sucks. It's alright at first, but it gets sooo repetitive, it's like listening to the same song on repeat over and over again. That's not passion, that's trying to earn profit.

Still, at least it's actual music and not some robo-

Oh, I've already used that insult before?

Nevermind, carry on.

#406: PJ Harvey - Rid of Me

PJ Harvey - Rid of Me

May 4, 1993, Island

1. "Rid of Me" – 4:28

2. "Missed" – 4:25

3. "Legs" – 3:40

4. "Rub 'til It Bleeds" – 5:03

5. "Hook" – 3:57

6. "Man-Size Sextet" – 2:18

7. "Highway 61 Revisited" (Originally by Bob Dylan) – 2:57

8. "50ft Queenie" – 2:23

9. "Yuri-G" – 3:28

10. "Man-Size" – 3:16

11. "Dry" – 3:23

12. "Me-Jane" – 2:42

13. "Snake" – 1:36

14. "Ecstasy" – 4:26

RESULTS

Rate: 9/10

Best Song: Rid of Me

Worst Song: Man-Size Sextet

Comments

Such a good Album.

A very haunting piece of, er, music, but it still wraps up to a wonderful sound.

It was good.

Some songs were a little bit...off...but the music was still wickedly insane and loaded good jams. I think I like this Album better than the other one I listened to. Not to say it wasn't garbage, I just prefer the sound of less-effort rock that still has blazing amounts of passion to it. The sound of a blown out amp and the screeching sound of guitar getting to close to the amplifier just sounds so awesome.

What's with people covering Bob Dylan?

#407: The Clash - Sandinista!

The Clash - Sandinista!

December 12, 1980, Epic

1. "The Magnificent Seven" - 5:28

2. "Hitsville U.K." - 4:20

3. "Junco Partner" - 4:53

4. "Ivan Meets G.I. Joe" - 3:05

5. "The Leader" - 1:41

6. "Something About England" - 3:42

7. "Rebel Waltz" - 3:25

8. "Look Here" - 2:44

9. "The Crooked Beat" - 5:29

10. "Somebody Got Murdered" - 3:34

11. "One More Time" - 3:32

12. "One More Dub" - 3:34

13. "Lightning Strikes (Not Once but Twice)" - 4:51

14. "Up in Heaven (Not Only Here)" - 4:31

15. "Corner Soul" - 2:43

16. "Let's Go Crazy" - 4:25

17. "If Music Could Talk" - 4:36

18. "The Sound of Sinners" - 4:00

19. "Police on My Back" - 3:15

20. "Midnight Log" - 2:11

21. "The Equaliser" - 5:47

22. "The Call Up" - 5:25

23. "Washington Bullets" - 3:51

24. "Broadway" - 5:45

25. "Lose This Skin" - 5:07

26. "Charlie Don't Surf" - 4:55

27. "Mensforth Hill" - 3:42

28. "Junkie Slip" - 2:48

29. "Kingston Advice" - 2:36

30. "The Street Parade" - 3:26

31. "Version City" - 4:23

32. "Living in Fame" - 4:36

33. "Silicone on Sapphire" - 4:32

34. "Version Pardner" - 5:22

35. "Career Opportunities" - 2:30

36. "Shepherds Delight" 3:25

RESULTS

Rate: 7/10

Best Song: Career Opportunities

Worst Song: Mensforth Hill

Comments

So, here I am, getting excited about The Clash, expecting a fully loaded 2 hour long punk Album, when I play the Album aaaand...

REGGAE IMMEDIATELY PLAYS.

FOLLOWED BY WALTZ, FUNK, JAZZ, GOSPEL,

AND EVERY MUSIC GENRE EXCEPT PUNK.

Yeah, it killed my hopes and dreams, but, it was still a decent Album. Joe Strummer portrays strong passion and very talented vocals, alongside all the musical personnel who played alongside him. The mixed genre keeps the flow of the Album interesting, and the only real complaint I have is that it got really weird near the end.

I dislike to like the disliking of liking, I suppose.

The Late 500

I'm back,

and fully loaded with new ideas and perspectives on life, beauty, art, and everything that comes with that.

Stay tuned, and get ready to read more biased opinions!

-Jacob

The Wait 500

Hey everyone!

I'm working at a children's camp throughout the Summer, so I'm going to put this project on hiatus. I'm not ending the whole thing, just taking a 2 Month break so I can take the time to work out in the wilderness of Alberta. No internet, so I can't really work on this, and there is no time to do so either. I apologize if this causes any problems.

But if you are seriously affected by me taking a break, maybe you should take one too, because that's really weird.

Anyways, I'll probably be back in Early September-ish, so I'll see you then!

See you soon,

-Jacob

#408: Sinéad O'Connor - I Do Not Want What I Haven't Got

Sinéad O'Connor - I Do Not Want What I Haven't Got

March 1990, Chrysalis

1. "Feel So Different" - 6:47

2. "I Am Stretched on Your Grave" (Originally by Philip King) - 5:33

3. "Three Babies" - 4:47

4. "The Emperor's New Clothes" - 5:16

5. "Black Boys on Mopeds" - 3:53

6. "Nothing Compares 2 U" (Originally by Prince) - 5:10

7. "Jump in the River" - 4:12

8. "You Cause as Much Sorrow" - 5:04

9. "The Last Day of Our Acquaintance" - 4:40

10. "I Do Not Want What I Haven't Got" - 5:47

RESULTS

Rate: 7/10
Best Song: Nothing Compares 2 U

Worst Song: I Do Not Want What I Haven't Got

Comments

O'Connor's "Controversies" I've found more irritating than revolutionary. She's courageous about what she does, but she makes a way bigger scene about it than she actually needs to.

Personally, I find her irritating. However, she is incredibly talented.

She tends to lean towards a more Acapella tone in this Album, with softened instrumentals, and belted out lyrics that rattle your bones. Yes, Sinéad, we get that you can sing. Now make some music with a guitar, or organ, or percussion set.

Really, the whole Album is a showcase of vocal abilities. Deep lyrics, but no beat. Strong cries for help, but no rescue team.

Maybe that's just me. But I like music that has it all. Not just talent in vocals, but a good guitarist, and the teamwork needed to make music together. I loved being in bands, just because everybody was needed, felt important, and was just having a great time making shitty music together.