Music 365

[DanGarion]

Originally Posted by Alf

Different continents, different pop-rock culture.

Have you ever heard of Telephone, Noir Desir, Dyonisos ?

I'm just saying, Tom Petty is one of the most recognizable rock icons of the 70s and 80s in the US. Forgot you weren't in 'Merica.

[Grover]

Day 023: Medeski, Martin & Wood - End of the World Party (Just in Case)

The first appearance of a fully instrumental album and it only took 23 days. Even if you're not a big jazz fan, MMW can pull you win with a bit of a pop overlay without sacrificing any of the jazz sound. It's a great album for a party (see album title) and for having a good time in general. The craftsman ship of all three members is evident, each of them highlighted along the way. A can't miss album.

Favorite tracks:

2. End of the World Party, 4. Bloody Oil, 5. New Planet, 7. Shine It, 12. Queen Bee

[Carman Bulldog]

Originally Posted by Alf

Different continents, different pop-rock culture.

Have you ever heard of Telephone, Noir Desir, Dyonisos ?

I can see that argument for some artists, but Petty? Maybe not as universally renowned as Aerosmith, Springsteen, and The Eagles, but certainly in that next tier. I'm somewhat surprised he isn't a bit more well known in Europe.

[Grover]

Day 024: The Last Shadow Puppets - The Age Of The Understatement

In my opinion, the best album of the 21st century. It sounds so modern, but at the same time recalls the lavish sounds of the late 60's and early 70's. Alex Turner and Miles Kane work together with drummer James Ford and Owen Pallett of the London Metropolitan Orchestra to create an album that is urgent, beautiful, deep, full, lush. It is outstanding. Easily in my top five albums of all time. If you like the Arctic Monkeys or indie rock in general, you will most likely love this. Give it a try.

Favorite tracks:

1. The Age of the Understatement, 3. Calm Like You, 4. Separate and Ever Deadly, 7. My Mistakes Were Made For You, 11. The Meeting Place

[Butter]

Last Shadow Puppets, this was a great album. Good call, and good summary.

Also, liked the Jose Gonzalez callout. "Cycling Trivialities" is a personal favorite.

[Grover]

Day 025: Screaming Females - Ugly

Hooky, filled with riffs and jam packed with guitar-worship goodness. Screaming Females produce a sound on their fourth album that sits somewhere between Sleater-Kinney and Dinosaur Jr. It's fun, high energy, and catchy. The power trio has no use for anything fancy, they deliver pure, solid rock and roll.

Favorite tracks:

1. It All Means Nothing, 4. Red Hand, 10. Doom 84, 11. Help Me, 12. Something Ugly

[Grover]

Day 026: Peter Bjorn And John - Writer's Block

Pretty much the perfect indie rock album. It deserved every last iota of hype it got in 2006 when it was released. Even though the album is about relationships (mostly the lows), it still comes across as happy, bouncy and positive. It's one of the catchier albums I own, every song has its own style, but still fits within the framework of the album. Phenomenal piece of music.

Favorite tracks:

2. Objects Of My Affection, 3. Young Folks, 6. Up Against The Wall, 7. Paris 2004, 8. Let's Call It Off

[Grover]

Day 027: Supergrass - I Should Coco

More Britpop brilliance from the mid-90's. The trio's debut album is a fun romp through all styles and decades of British rock from stompers to psychedelia to music hall rave-ups. It's pure fun, catchy, you'll be nodding your head and tapping your foot.

Favorite tracks:

1. I'd Like To Know, 3. Mansize Rooster, 4. Alright, 7. Strange Ones, 9. She's So Loose

[Grover]

Day 028: Cream - Disraeli Gears

One of the best psychedelic albums ever. The power trio move from the blues driven rock of their first album to psychedelic rock and the transition is phenomenal. The album is British as British can get, right down to the core. Clapton's guitar, Bruce's rich voice and Baker's driving drums. Cream paint a picture like few other bands can.

Favorite tracks:

1. Strange Brew, 2. Sunshine of Your Love, 4. Dance the Night Away, 6. Tales of Brave Ulysses, 7. Swlabr

[Grover]

Day 029: Interpol - Antics

Ah, this one holds a special place in my heart. It got me through a rough patch and I am eternally grateful to it. This is a fairly low tempo album with infrequent bursts of energy. More than the music for me, it's in the lyrics. That's what I take away from Antics.

Favorite tracks:

2. Evil, 3. Narc, 4. Take You On A Cruise, 5. Slow Hands, 8. C'mere

[Grover]

Day 030: The Doors - L.A. Woman

The perfect driving album. The Doors at their bluesiest on their final effort with the original quarter. Some of their best songs. I've got a lot of history with this album too, lots of great times. It's my favorite album of theirs and contains one of my favorite songs of all time, the title track.

Favorite tracks:

2. Love Her Madly, 5. L.A. Woman, 6. L'America, 9. The WASP (Texas Radio and the Big Beat), 10. Riders on the Storm

[Grover]

Day 031: Joy Division - Unknown Pleasures

If you've never heard (or heard of) Joy Divsion, you're really missing out. Guitarist Bernard Sumner was an inspiration to sludge metal guitarists. Peter Hook's bass was both enough to get you moving, but also make you feel dread. Morris' drumming smacking above the noise, and then of course Ian Curtis' synthesizers and harrowing vocals. This is a perfect album with a band at it's peak. It's dark, melodic, moody, heavy, upbeat... it is a roller-coaster. And it's one of the best albums of all time. Seriously.

Favorite tracks:

1. Disorder, 5. New Dawn Fades, 6. She's Lost Control, 7. Shadowplay

[Passacaglia]

Nice one. I saw New Order in concert a couple weeks ago (without Peter Hook, but whatevs). Some of you may have seen me post this on FB, but I'll post it here, so everyone can laugh at Sumner's lame dance moves and gestures.

[Grover]

Day 032: The Kings - Lola Versus Powerman and the Moneygoround, Part One

This is an album filled with angst and anger. Ray Davies had been beaten down by the record companies and execs and this album takes the gun and turns the sights on them. Davies takes shots at publishers, ex-managers, label executives and society at large. However, the album is as funny as it is angry. It's one of the band's best works. Classic rock perfection.

Favorite tracks:

2. Strangers, 4. Get Back in Line, 5. Lola, 6. Top of the Pops, 11. Apeman

[Grover]

Day 033: Mother Love Bone - Apple

A band who truly ended well before their time, unfortunately so due to lead singer Andrew Wood's heroin problem. As many know, Jeff Ament and Stone Gossard helped form Pearl Jam after the end of MLB. But enough of the history, about the music: it's hard rock. Fantastic hard rock. Soaring vocals, screeching guitars, thumping bass and drums. It's an interesting album for 1990 Seattle, especially with grunge coming into full force at the time. It's very possible that this could have been the best of the Seattle bands of this era. This album is phenomenal start to finish, so sad it's the only one there will ever be.

Favorite tracks:

1. This is Shangrila, 2. Stardog Champion, 3. Holy Roller, 6. Stargazer, 9. Man of Golden Words

[Grover]

Day 034: The Stone Roses - The Stone Roses

Absolutely, without a doubt in my top five albums of all time. It is perfect. The Stone Roses were the leaders of the 'Madchester' movement in Manchester, England. Madchester was typified by guitar pop fused with drug-fueled rave and dance culture. While Ian Brown's laid back, nonchalant and almost arrogant vocals are very, very important to the sound, it is songwriter and lead guitarist John Squire who shines. His effortless hooks, the layers of simplicity that come together into something much, much more than the sum of its parts. A must own piece of music. One of the best albums of the late 80's - early 90's British music movement and one of the best albums of the 1980's across all genres, period.

Favorite tracks:

2. She Bangs the Drums, 3. Elephant Stone, 9. Made of Stone, 12. I Am the Resurrection, 13. Fool's Gold

[CraigSca]

Represent!

[Grover]

Day 035: Neil Young & Crazy Horse - Rust Never Sleeps

I'll be honest, I love Neil Young more than any musician except for Noel Gallagher and Tom Waits. This album has a certain something about it and I think it stems from the concept of starting out acoustic and over the course of nine track, progressively turning into hard rock, complete with Young's signature guitar sound. 'Thrasher' might be one of the greatest metaphorical songs ever written and is an underrated tune in Young's vast songbook. The scope and breadth of the album captures all of Young's various styles, his imagination and daring.

Favorite tracks:

2. Thrasher, 4. Pocahontas, 6. Powderfinger, 9. Hey Hey, My My (Into the Black)

[Grover]

Day 036: Neutral Milk Hotel - In the Aeroplane Over the Sea

Ah... quite possibly the best indie rock record of all time. It's massive in scope, the album flows from song to song without relenting. It's either a completely genius recording or completely insane. I'm guessing it lands somewhere in between. It's a must own for indie rock fans and anyone who loves 90's music in general.

It also possesses the only song in the world that can reduce me to tears, so there's that.

Favorite tracks:

3. In the Aeroplane Over the Sea, 4. Two-Headed Boy, 6. Holland, 1945, 8. Oh Comely, 9. Ghost




Note: I realize I missed yesterday. I was going to double down and listen to two albums today, but I plan to launch this project through my website in January, so missing a day or two here and there won't be so bad. Plenty of time to make up.

[britrock88]

A friend of mine posted a video to Facebook wherein the Avett Brothers covered "In the Aeroplane Over the Sea." It was pretty cool... but the audience had no idea what was going on. And that's part of the chasm I perceive between fans of the Avetts before and after they signed with Columbia.

[britrock88]

Dola, I also caught Jeff Mangum at an early date on his recent tour... it was excellent. Played pretty much the entirety of this album, along with some other interesting stuff.

[Grover]

Originally Posted by britrock88

Dola, I also caught Jeff Mangum at an early date on his recent tour... it was excellent. Played pretty much the entirety of this album, along with some other interesting stuff.

Awesome news, he's coming to my neck of the woods soon, I'm definitely grabbing tix.

[Grover]

Day 037: The Verve - A Northern Soul

With their second album, The Verve left some of the shoegazer elements of the first behind, but still managed to craft a album that is epic in scope with more traditional elements of psychedelia. Lead singer Richard Ashcroft and guitarist Nick McCabe are at their best on A Northern Soul, the group created an album that is harrowing, intense and was created under reportedly heavy drug use. I personally find this album to be better than Urban Hymns, but it really is a toss up between the two of them. This album is why The Verve is in my top five or six bands of all time. It is simply fantastic, from psychedelic rockers like A Northern Soul and This Is Music from the beautiful, but terribly sad songs like History or Drive You Home. Add this album to your collection.

Favorite tracks:

1. A New Decade, 2. This is Music, 3. On Your Own, 5. A Northern Soul, 8. History

[Grover]

Day 038: TOOL - Lateralus

Progressive rock at it's finest. Reminiscent of Pink Floyd during their "Meddle" days and King Crimson, Maynard and Co. push the envelope with this epic album. Filled with the band's signature time changes, metaphorically loaded lyrics, Maynard's incredible voice and Danny Carey's ridiculous drumming, this is an album current prog-rock and metal bands could learn to take a page from. This is an album that cannot be accepted at face value and needs to be listened to a few times to fully understand the scope of... and to be quite honest, I still don't understand it. What does it mean? There's plenty of theories out there, but my guess is that only Maynard truly knows what Lateralus' message is.

Favorite tracks:

1. The Grudge, 3. The Patient, 5. Schism, 7. Parabola, 8. Ticks & Leeches, 9. Lateralus

[Grover]

Day 039: The Beatles - Revolver

Revolver is the album where it all started to change for the Fab Four. Expansions in their sound and lyrical content, they have started to discover a little bit of the psychedelic undertones that would come in subsequent albums. George Harrison starts experimenting with Indian music and the sitar, Lennon even writes an ode to his drug dealer with 'Doctor Robert.' While Sgt. Peppers' may get all the acclaim, this is the album that forged a new path for The Beatles and is still as emulated today as it was back then.

Favorite tracks:

1. Taxman, 2. Elanor Rigby, 9. And Your Bird Can Sing, 13. Got To Get You Into My Life, 14. Tomorrow Never Knows

I have to say that thus far, this has probably been the most difficult album to pare down the "favorite tracks" portion. The quality is stunning throughout and if you ask 100 people, you'll get 100 different answers on this.

[terpkristin]

Man, these last two are two of my favorite albums. Good selections!

I'm hoping to do something similar, possibly on Jan 1. Right now I'm still doing my photo365 project.

[CrimsonFox]

Originally Posted by Grover

Day 037: The Verve - A Northern Soul

With their second album, The Verve left some of the shoegazer elements of the first behind, but still managed to craft a album that is epic in scope with more traditional elements of psychedelia. Lead singer Richard Ashcroft and guitarist Nick McCabe are at their best on A Northern Soul, the group created an album that is harrowing, intense and was created under reportedly heavy drug use. I personally find this album to be better than Urban Hymns, but it really is a toss up between the two of them. This album is why The Verve is in my top five or six bands of all time. It is simply fantastic, from psychedelic rockers like A Northern Soul and This Is Music from the beautiful, but terribly sad songs like History or Drive You Home. Add this album to your collection.

Favorite tracks:

1. A New Decade, 2. This is Music, 3. On Your Own, 5. A Northern Soul, 8. History

They actually made more than one album?

[CraigSca]

Yes! Their first EP was awesome as well!

[Grover]

Originally Posted by CrimsonFox

They actually made more than one album?

They have four.

A Storm in Heaven, A Northern Soul, Urban Hymns and Forth.

The first three are outstanding, the fourth is merely very good.

[Grover]

Originally Posted by terpkristin

Man, these last two are two of my favorite albums. Good selections!

I'm hoping to do something similar, possibly on Jan 1. Right now I'm still doing my photo365 project.

Awesome!

I'm going to start putting this stuff on inherentlymeaningless.com in January. I'm hoping to try and get some others involved!

[Grover]

Day 040: Rory Gallagher - Tattoo

Rory Gallagher is bar-none my favorite guitarist of all time. He's one of the most underrated to boot. Tattoo catches him in fine form, recorded in the midst of a full tour and laced with passion from Rory's voice to the sound of his guitar. If you've never heard any of his work, this is the place to start.

Favorite tracks:

1. Tattoo'd Lady, 2. Cradle Rock, 7. Who's That Coming?, 8. A Million Miles Away

Also, Jimi Hendrix was once asked by a reporter what it was like to the greatest guitar player in the world. Hendrix responded: "You'd have to ask Rory Gallagher."

[Grover]

Day 041: The Smiths - The Smiths

Morrissey and Marr. Two things that just fit together perfectly. Marr's brilliant rhythm, hooks and songwriting paired with Morrissey's challenging, quixotic and thoughtful lyrics and his crooning, completely unique voice. It just works. The Smith came into 1984 with an album not unlike most British rock, except it wasn't dominated with synthesizers like everything else at the time. I've got a lot of love for The Smiths, especially this album.

Favorite tracks:

1. Reel Around the Fountain, 4. Pretty Girls Make Graves, 6. This Charming Man, 7. Still Ill, 9. What Difference Does it Make?

[Grover]

Day 042: The Rolling Stones - Let It Bleed

The first album in the post-Brian Jones era, though he does play on two tracks. Let It Bleed furthers the rock and blues fusion from Beggars Banquet, though the lyrics have become darker and much more sexually driven. Like most Stones albums, there are a couple of filler songs, but this includes songs that are among their very best.

Favorite tracks:

1. Gimme Shelter, 5. Let It Bleed, 6. Midnight Rambler, 9. You Can't Always Get What You Want

[Grover]

Day 043: Oasis - Definitely Maybe

The debut album that took England by storm. Loud, guitar-oriented rock and roll penned by songwriter Noel Gallagher. The album encapsulates the best of British rock and roll from The Beatles to the Stone Roses all in the space of 11 excellent songs. Noel writes tracks with grooves and melodies, doing both better than most of the post-punk bands of the era. An album to get your hands on.

Favorite tracks:

2. Shakermaker, 3. Live Forever, 6. Supersonic, 8. Cigarettes & Alcohol, 10. Slide Away

[Grover]

Day 044: Muddy Waters - Hard Again

After a series of below average albums came Hard Again. The comeback album of comeback albums. Muddy Waters at the top of his blues game proving why he was one of the most important men of blues history. Great, great blues.

Favorite tracks:

1. Mannish Boy, 2. Bus Driver, 7. Deep Down In Florida, 8. Crosseyed Cat

[Grover]

Day 045: Two Gallants - What The Toll Tells

I found Two Gallants quite accidentally in 2007. I was perusing the shelves in Bullmoose Music and stumbled across this album cover. Something about it caught my eye and without ever hearing the album, I purchased it. That could have been a great mistake (it has been before!), but when I slipped the CD into my car's stereo system I was taken aback. The music, melodies, songcraft, interplay between drummer and guitarist are simple phenomenal. This is lo-fi indie rock, with elements of folk, bluegrass, country and punk thrown in for good measure. It's a terrific album from a band who deserves more attention than they've gotten. They're one of the more talented musical duos and could be the next hugely popular music pair in music if their trajectory continues pushing upward.

Favorite tracks:

1. Las Cruces Jail, 2. Steady Rollin', 5. The Prodigal Son, 7. 16th St. Dozens

[Alf]

I seem to have similar tastes as you do and do not own several of those "gem" albums. Rolling Stones one for example.

[Grover]

Day 046: Pulp - Different Class

Jarvis Cocker and group's masterclass. The music is theatrical, synth-pop spiked with new wave and even some slight disco flourishes. Cocker is brilliant at writing songs about sex and social class, delving deep inside the characters of the songs and making them come alive. Not to mention the album contains one of the biggest and most influential singles in the history of British music, Common People.

Favorite tracks:

1. Mis-Shapes, 3. Common People, 4. I Spy, 5. Disco 2000, 8. Sorted For E's & Wizz

[Grover]

Day 047: Jeff Buckley - Grace

A man taken far too soon, far before his time and well before he had ever reached his musical piece. Grace was his debut and only studio released during his lifetime and it is an outstanding and audacious effort. Sweeping choruses, a full backing band, deep and searching lyrics, and one of the sweetest, most incredible voices in all of music. It also includes one of the best cover songs ever, an absolutely brilliant version of Leonard Cohen's "Hallelujah" that Buckley completely makes his own. So sad that such an outstanding album was the only one Buckley ever had a chance to record in full.

Favorite tracks:

2. Grace, 3. Last Goodbye, 5. So Real, 6. Hallelujah, 9. Eternal Life

[Grover]

Day 048: Supertramp - Breakfast in America

Such a brilliant prog-rock album. For the most part, Supertramp are a pretty hit-or-miss and self-indulgent band on the remainder of their albums, however, Breakfast in America is ace. Absolutely, positively ace. It's a perfect album. It spawned three top-20 hits, while topping the US charts for four weeks in 1979. It's a must own album.

Favorite tracks:

2. The Logical Song, 3. Goodbye Stranger, 4. Breakfast in America, 6. Take the Long Way Home, 10. Child of Vision

[britrock88]

Way to get back on track!

[Grover]

Originally Posted by britrock88

Way to get back on track!

Did I get off track somewhere along the way?

Also, today feels like it could be a double album day, I'm not sure though. I'm still technically two days behind.

[Grover]

Day 049: Stereophonics - Language. Sex. Violence. Other?

The Welsh rockers were brash and on full blast for this album. Their previous efforts had glimpses of their potential, which is fully realized here. The song titles, much like the album is to the point, only one word titles with the exception of one track. Thick, merciless riffs and Kelly Jones' rough vocals make this a fun album from start to finish.

Favorite tracks:

1. Superman, 2. Doorman, 4. Devil, 5. Dakota, 7. Pedal Pusher

[britrock88]

Originally Posted by Grover

Did I get off track somewhere along the way?

Heh, not really. We jive for the most part, but my knowledge base drops off considerably after the late '70s (Buckley is one exception). I'll probably actually use this as a way to explore, whenever I get around to it.

[Grover]

Day 050: Ocean Colour Scene - Moseley Shoals

Traditional rock and roll enthusiasts OCS hit a home run in 1996 with Moseley Shoals. It's a loose feeling album, a bit funky with some heavy R&B influences reminiscent of the Small Faces and Paul Weller's solo work. There are also callbacks to The Beatles and Stone Roses and a little bit of prog rock flair thrown in. This is one of my favorite albums of the Britpop era from start to finish. It's an album that makes you feel pretty good about life.

Favorite tracks:

1. The Riverboat Song, 2. The Day We Caught the Train, 5. Fleeting Mind, 10. The Downstream, 12. Get Away

[Grover]

Day 051: Foo Fighters - The Colour and the Shape

The Foos' sophomore effort finally sees Dave Grohl introducing a band into the project for a studio album. Although, he did do all of the drumming himself, and why not? He's Dave Grohl. This is highly polished, well produced and slickly engineered. Grohl's got a knack for precision and and crafting song and melody. This album is one of the defining sounds of post-grunge rock and roll.

Favorite tracks:

2. Monkey Wrench, 3. Hey, Johnny Park!, 7. My Hero, 11. Everlong

[terpkristin]

Originally Posted by Grover

Day 051: Foo Fighters - The Colour and the Shape

The Foos' sophomore effort finally sees Dave Grohl introducing a band into the project for a studio album. Although, he did do all of the drumming himself, and why not? He's Dave Grohl. This is highly polished, well produced and slickly engineered. Grohl's got a knack for precision and and crafting song and melody. This album is one of the defining sounds of post-grunge rock and roll.

Favorite tracks:

2. Monkey Wrench, 3. Hey, Johnny Park!, 7. My Hero, 11. Everlong

I love love love love this album. Their best, in my opinion.

/tk

[Grover]

Originally Posted by terpkristin

I love love love love this album. Their best, in my opinion.

/tk

Agree 100%, it's my favorite of theirs too.

[CrimsonFox]

Could we have cookies for breakfast, mommy dear, mommy dear...

[britrock88]

They've got to have them in Texas, 'cause everyone's a millionaire...