Geez, I have so many personas going on these days I don't even know what to think and who to be. I am doing a variety of things to keep myself busy, but blogging about music has not really been one of them.
I can only offer this humble reco for today. If you are a math-rock fan, do check out a band called Battles. They are quite amazing and have a level of sophistication for both instumental and lyrical music that I haven't heard from a modern band in a long while.
Hope to be back with more Beatles analysis soon.
Best Albums of the 00s Decade
Saturday, February 27, 2010
Friday, February 5, 2010
Let Me Take You Down, Cuz I'm Going....
There is lots of Beatles news going on these days. Rumours are that Paul McCartney is getting married this year in a secret ceremony to his new American sweetheart. Ringo has a new album out and has apparently found God after many decades. The John Lennon museum in Japan is closing down after 10 years. And George... well, okay I don't have any George news.
But it's time to re-invigorate the intent of this blog as a music appreciation source, and what better than to pick up where I left off with the Beatles. I wrote an article claiming that the Beatles' Sgt Pepper is the most overrated album in the history of music, and I've received a lot of flack for that. But I stand by my statements: Beatles Sgt Pepper Overrated
However I've been listening to Pepper a lot and I think it's time I sung it's praises a bit as well, lest my readers think I am not the Beatles-bleeding fan that I actually am.
It's not that 'Pepper' is not great, it's just that it's got a few holes that need fixing, next to the bright spots. Let's talk about those bright spots. "Lucy in the Sky With Diamonds" is easily one of the best Beatles songs, a truly inspired (and drug-induced I suppose) wonder from the fertile minds of John Lennon and Paul McCartney. There are some other songs from the 60s that paint this sort of colorful dreamscape, but none do it with the panache and combination of childlike wonder and professional songwriting sophistication that you find on this track. And unlike some other Pepper tracks that I have a problem with, LSWD is served perfectly by the production stylings and overuse of stereo on this track, as it is meant to shock and surprise the listener by virtue of its sonics as well as it's lyrical imagery and melodic bouncing.
Another track on Pepper that is not widely discussed is the opener of Side 2 (back when there were actually sides), and that is the brilliant George Harrison composition "Within You, Without You". Many people are bored by this tune because it is really not a Beatles song (none of the other Beatles even played on it), and doesn't quite fit the rest of the album because it is so exotic-sounding. However, as I've gotten older this track has really seeped into my soul, for reasons having to do with the complex musical mix going on in it, as well as the spiritual and holistic message of the words... "you will find peace of mind is waiting there.... life flows on within you and without you". I always thought he meant "without you" in the breakup sense, but now I realize he just meant inside and outside, in a spiritual sense. It's a wonderful lyric, and the indian music combined with a decidedly Western pop sensibility makes this track unique and special among any music made by the Beatles or by any other band I can think of.
Why aren't there any artists around anymore who even attempt to make music this way, by virtue of experimentation with new instruments, odd song structures, served up in a melodic pop context. Can you even name one? There's lots of little indie bands that I love who write tuneful music, but no one seems to pursue the grand ambition that the Beatles had... maybe there's not a market for it anymore, or maybe the record companies talk them out of it. And to think... the Beatles were putting out a record every 6 months at the time they made Rubber Soul, Revolver, and Sgt Pepper.
Beatles USB Box Set
But it's time to re-invigorate the intent of this blog as a music appreciation source, and what better than to pick up where I left off with the Beatles. I wrote an article claiming that the Beatles' Sgt Pepper is the most overrated album in the history of music, and I've received a lot of flack for that. But I stand by my statements: Beatles Sgt Pepper Overrated
However I've been listening to Pepper a lot and I think it's time I sung it's praises a bit as well, lest my readers think I am not the Beatles-bleeding fan that I actually am.
It's not that 'Pepper' is not great, it's just that it's got a few holes that need fixing, next to the bright spots. Let's talk about those bright spots. "Lucy in the Sky With Diamonds" is easily one of the best Beatles songs, a truly inspired (and drug-induced I suppose) wonder from the fertile minds of John Lennon and Paul McCartney. There are some other songs from the 60s that paint this sort of colorful dreamscape, but none do it with the panache and combination of childlike wonder and professional songwriting sophistication that you find on this track. And unlike some other Pepper tracks that I have a problem with, LSWD is served perfectly by the production stylings and overuse of stereo on this track, as it is meant to shock and surprise the listener by virtue of its sonics as well as it's lyrical imagery and melodic bouncing.
Another track on Pepper that is not widely discussed is the opener of Side 2 (back when there were actually sides), and that is the brilliant George Harrison composition "Within You, Without You". Many people are bored by this tune because it is really not a Beatles song (none of the other Beatles even played on it), and doesn't quite fit the rest of the album because it is so exotic-sounding. However, as I've gotten older this track has really seeped into my soul, for reasons having to do with the complex musical mix going on in it, as well as the spiritual and holistic message of the words... "you will find peace of mind is waiting there.... life flows on within you and without you". I always thought he meant "without you" in the breakup sense, but now I realize he just meant inside and outside, in a spiritual sense. It's a wonderful lyric, and the indian music combined with a decidedly Western pop sensibility makes this track unique and special among any music made by the Beatles or by any other band I can think of.
Why aren't there any artists around anymore who even attempt to make music this way, by virtue of experimentation with new instruments, odd song structures, served up in a melodic pop context. Can you even name one? There's lots of little indie bands that I love who write tuneful music, but no one seems to pursue the grand ambition that the Beatles had... maybe there's not a market for it anymore, or maybe the record companies talk them out of it. And to think... the Beatles were putting out a record every 6 months at the time they made Rubber Soul, Revolver, and Sgt Pepper.
Beatles USB Box Set
Thursday, January 28, 2010
The Soothing Sounds of TOOL
Is it possible that Tool is actually an easy listening band? It's weird, I don't normally like anything metal or too aggressive, and there are tons of crappy bands who churn out this sort of LA heavy rock that I just can't stand.
Free Quality Link Directory
But Tool is in a different category to me. They are intelligent, deep, almost alien, and do not neatly fit into the "metal" category, despite the intense razorburn guitar sound and mammoth production style. I actually find them soothing. Maynard's voice has a lilting quality to it that is oddly comforting, and the wash of bass and guitars working with his voice, over a strange math-rock rhythm, just makes me feel like I'm listening to music that improves my brain.
All Hail Tool!
They are on my best of the decade list, which you can see here:
Monday, January 11, 2010
Radiohead: In Rainbows, an Appreciation
So I've chosen Radiohead's In Rainbows as the #1 album of the past decade. Not a huge suprise to many rock fans, at least those who have moved into this century with us and are listening to modern rock bands like RH to begin with. However, many best-of lists have put Kid A at the top, and I love that record, but going back and listening to both I think that In Rainbows deserves the top honor.
Kid A was a revolution for many music fans, not only a great record but also a moment in music when a band that had been given the reigns of rock decided to take us all in a deliberately different direction. Kudos to RH for that, and the album is gorgeous, spacious, colorful, and very at home in the new century.
But In Rainbows represents something more... it is a synthesis of everything RH did on Kid A, combined with lessons learned from the ensuing decade, and their excellent followups Amnesiac and Hail to the Thief. While Kid A was a lab experiment, In Rainbows represents the Masters thesis, using the full palette of what RH can do on one album. Guitars are back, mixed in with the digital bloops and blips, and sometimes disguised as them. The luxurious production is there, and so is the wonderous rythymic stew that RH do so well. The opening track "15 Steps" is so perplexing from a rhytymic perspective, that I often amuse myself with the puzzle of trying to count along with the beat and know exactly when the guitars and vocals are coming in.
Mainly the songs are better on In Rainbows, just a better set of writing, lyrics, melody, etc. It's almost as if RH is inching back to a place where they can make a true followup to OK Computer, with a full embrace of rock, mixed in with Thom Yorke's sad Arias and musings on emptiness, presented as a group of songs rather than a breakthrough in studio wizardry.
Either way it's like comparing your favorite cake with your favorite pie... all RH to date, going way back to Pablo Honey, have been top-notch accomplishments, and each one represents a step forward in one way or another.
For more on my top 10 album picks for the past decade, Look here for reviews of those albums
And here are the urls i am working on these days... ...http://www.squidoo.com/toptenalbumsofthe00s.http://www.squidoo.com/buy-beatles-usb.http://www.squidoo.com/n-scale-model-train.http://www.squidoo.com/model-train-repair.http://www.squidoo.com/scale-model-train-layouts.http://www.squidoo.com/z-scale-model-trains.http://www.squidoo.com/make-money-stuffing-envelopes-at-home
Kid A was a revolution for many music fans, not only a great record but also a moment in music when a band that had been given the reigns of rock decided to take us all in a deliberately different direction. Kudos to RH for that, and the album is gorgeous, spacious, colorful, and very at home in the new century.
But In Rainbows represents something more... it is a synthesis of everything RH did on Kid A, combined with lessons learned from the ensuing decade, and their excellent followups Amnesiac and Hail to the Thief. While Kid A was a lab experiment, In Rainbows represents the Masters thesis, using the full palette of what RH can do on one album. Guitars are back, mixed in with the digital bloops and blips, and sometimes disguised as them. The luxurious production is there, and so is the wonderous rythymic stew that RH do so well. The opening track "15 Steps" is so perplexing from a rhytymic perspective, that I often amuse myself with the puzzle of trying to count along with the beat and know exactly when the guitars and vocals are coming in.
Mainly the songs are better on In Rainbows, just a better set of writing, lyrics, melody, etc. It's almost as if RH is inching back to a place where they can make a true followup to OK Computer, with a full embrace of rock, mixed in with Thom Yorke's sad Arias and musings on emptiness, presented as a group of songs rather than a breakthrough in studio wizardry.
Either way it's like comparing your favorite cake with your favorite pie... all RH to date, going way back to Pablo Honey, have been top-notch accomplishments, and each one represents a step forward in one way or another.
For more on my top 10 album picks for the past decade, Look here for reviews of those albums
And here are the urls i am working on these days... ...http://www.squidoo.com/toptenalbumsofthe00s.http://www.squidoo.com/buy-beatles-usb.http://www.squidoo.com/n-scale-model-train.http://www.squidoo.com/model-train-repair.http://www.squidoo.com/scale-model-train-layouts.http://www.squidoo.com/z-scale-model-trains.http://www.squidoo.com/make-money-stuffing-envelopes-at-home
Saturday, January 2, 2010
Additions to Best of the Decade List of Albums
In scanning iTunes I came across some honorable mentions that are important to include. Again, no particular order... I'm not even comfortable ranking the top 10, but I did do that, so here are some more that come somewhere after 10:
Creeper Lagoon: Take Back the Universe...
Ranier Maria: A Better Version of Me
Ryan Adams: RocknRoll
Badly Drawn Boy: About a Boy
Bright Eyes: Cassadaga
Arcade Fire: Neon Bible
Belle and Sebastian: Dear Catastrophe Waitress
The New Pornographers: Electric Version
The Postal Service: Give Up
Stars: In Our Bedroom After the War
Zwan: Zwan
Film School: Film School
Kanye West: Late Registration
My Morning Jacket: Z
The White Stripes: Get Behind Me Satan
Band of Horses: Cease to Begin
Eddie Vedder: Into the Wild (Soundtrack)
M.I.A.: Kala
Ryan Adams: Easy Tiger
Wu Tang Clan: 8 Diagrams
happy new year again! Here's the link to my original top 10 list:
Best Albums of the Decade
Best Albums of the Decade
Friday, January 1, 2010
Best of the 00s
I've gotten some good response and feedback on my top ten list for the decade. So much so that I've created a Squidoo lens to really fill out the info, show the album covers, and provide links to Amazon to buy the records. If you want to see what I've done, go to this site:
Best Albums of the 00s Decade
I'm particularly proud of the write-ups on Amy Winehouse and Tool, both of whom made albums this decade which maintain a special place in the heart of my iPod. Tool in particular is a band that deserves a more full discussion. I saw them in New York once and it was a mind-altering experience. I have never been hit as hard by a band as I was by Tool, with the possible exception of Nirvana, who were also pretty damn loud.
Anyway, I've gotta do some specific blog posts on each of these albums, and I will, as I'm trying to get back to the purpose of music appreciation for which this page was created. Until then, enjoy this list, and the site with the detail on each album.
http://www.squidoo.com/toptenalbumsofthe00s
Until next time, have a great decade...
Thursday, December 31, 2009
Happy Celebration of the Decimalization of Time!
So I've been thinking about the past decade in music, and I figured I should put up my own personal list, to add to the myriad of "best of the decade" lists out there. Before I start, I must honor my late, great, wonderful father by pointing out, as he would have, that it is not actually the end of the decade yet, and that we'll all have to wait another year before doing the best of the decade lists. Most people don't consider the fact that there was no Year Zero, and therefore each decade of ten years begins with the "1" and ends at the end of the "0" year, so really 2010 is the last year of the decade.
Album I wish I had made:
But no matter!! The mass media feels otherwise, and so I will indulge those who want to look back on this first "completed" decade of the new century and talk about what it all meant. Among all the incredibly fucked-up things that occurred over the past 10 years, thankfully there was some great music, and here is my list of the top 10 albums of the decade (sorry, Dad)!
1. In Rainbows - Radiohead
2. Back To Black - Amy Winehouse
3. Kid A - Radiohead
4. Is This It? - The Strokes
5. Turn On The Bright Lights - Interpol
6. Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots - The Flaming Lips
7. Elephant - The White Stripes
8. Yankee Hotel Foxtrot - Wilco
9. The Blueprint - Jay Z
10. Lateralus - Tool
I can honestly say that each of these albums was very important to me, and that I explored every inch of them, many times, as a FULL album, and they became part of my soundtrack as a result.
Ok it's hard to stop at 10, so here's the next bunch, in no particular order:
O - Damien Rice
Come On Feel The Illinoise - Sufjan Stevens
Figure 8 - Elliott Smith
Her Majesty - The Decemberists
The Grey Album - DJ Danger Mouse + Jay Z
The Milk-Eyed Mender - Joanna Newsom
Relationship of Command - At The Drive-In
The Libertines - Up The Bracket
Lifted, or the Story in the Soil... - Bright Eyes
Gold - Ryan Adams
Return to Cookie Mountain - TV on the Radio
The Marshall Mathers LP - Eminem
TransAtlanticism - Death Cab For Cutie
Chutes Too Narros - The Shins
Sky Blue Sky - Wilco
Amnesiac - Radiohead
Hail To The Thief - Radiohead
Greatest Album No One Heard of or bought:
Eyes Adrift - Eyes Adrift
Album I wish I had made:
Here We Stand - The Fratellis
I will have to create a site for these albums to spread the word beyond this humble blog, but if you read this and have any comments, arguments, citations, etc, please let me know. Happy Decade!
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